A Second Surprise Arrives Today...Oh My!

The Angels are pondering...WHO
sent this lovely box of goodies on the left? It's from Debbie in Virginia!'ll This was a sock yarn exchange from Swap-Bot. You'll have to check the site out for all kinds of swaps.
Take a look what goodies are inside...
my family just couldn't understand why I was jumping for joy...but I'm sure YOU do.
I received: 3 skein "cakes" of Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, a tote of Bath & Body Works shower gel and body butter, 3 Valentine pencils, and a "who-done-it" mystery! I've taken pictures of the yarn outside, and my eldest son thinks I'm nuts...yarn in the azalea bush, yarn in the snow...trying to get it's gorgeous true colors. Debbie says this yarn is from EMTNESTR, an ebay shop...I took a look there, and I'll be back at this site to purchase some more stash. THANK YOU, DEBBIE!!!

A Sweet Surprise Arrived Today!

Look what the postlady brought! A package from Ireland! I couldn't resist reading the mailbag postmark. :) Oops. I received Simply Knitting Magazine (one of those European mags...can't wait to read it), a Knitter's Magnetic Needle Holder with Darning Needles, yummy all natural gummy bears, TWO types of hot chocolate, L'Occitane foot cream, candy, a sweet note in a Raphael card (see those two angels thinking about how to squeeze in more knitting time into their day?) and the most lovely handmade Valentine's card for me and my hubby. It is fantastic: stitched red hearts with a large woolen heart on the cover and a beaded interior...wow, my secret pal in the Knitty Mellow Swap is too good to me...and she's talented as well, the card proves it! Hmmm...whom can she be? I'll have to wait to find out.
My hubby took me shopping today (like a date...you know...no kiddos) for my FCS2 pal...I found many of the goodies listed on her survey...time to box it up and ship it out to...somewhere. :)
And closeup...
These are random pictures of my second quilt that I made about 2 years ago for a mystery quilt that a local guild sponsored...they give the pattern in sections, monthly, and tell you how to assemble it during the last month. As you can see, I used my stash of bright batiks, without any thought to colorway, or a theme. These are the colors I love, though. :) Besides, my teen boys tend to leave alone the things I make with pink or magenta in them. Thank the good Lord...this is Momma's woobie/blankie. It's good to curl up with while knitting and watching TV.

Day to Shovel Out, Stay Home, and Knit

Snow Day #2 for 7 yr. old son (aka: a day to knit socks)

My Sock Plant Growing Slowly...

This is my middle child, J, who is NOT supposed to be standing on my truck to shovel. Ahem.
We received only about a foot of snow up on our little hill. It's great to have teens to shovel, snowblow, and clean off the cars. :)
My VD project...to felt this little coin purse...AND IT IS TEENY! After felting, it's approx 2 inches long and 3 inches wide. It makes my ipod nano look gigantic. I like to felt, now that I've had the fun of actually doing a small project. The Booga Bag with 3 skeins of Noro Kureyon is next. This teeny coin purse used Cascade 220 Quatro in a lime and purple (sorry, I threw away the skein wrapper). My friend and I are making up these kits for swaps and goodies.


So...this was my adventure into felting. Next, you can see the SLOW progress on my sock...I had no idea that K2P2 could take so long on size 0 dpn...but it's relaxing. I have newfound admiration for those fast sock knitters. The purple cardigan remains on hold while I tackle the socks.
Here's my youngest,enjoying chocolate chip waffles on a 2nd snow day. Happy kid, eh?

Sweet Georgia Yarns Added to my Stash Today :)

I read on the Knittyboard on the 2000Sox board that Sweet Georgia Yarns will be not available for 6 months up to a year. Sigh! I love this yarn and the colorways. So...I hunted two skeins down. I couldn't find Slayer(below) or SnapDragon (also below)...which I'm seeking, but I did order Orchid (to the left) and Viola (right) in her Merino sock yarn. I'm hoarding, yes? But it's mine. :) Or...perhaps for a special knitty friend in a future swap.

Take this Survey and Pass It On

Double Dips

Two names you go by:
Mom
Friss

Two parts of your heritage:
Scottish
German

Two things that scare you:
driving in big city traffic and being alone in the dark (really)

Two everyday essentials:
my glasses (bifocals!)
lots of coffee

Two things you are wearing right now:
my grandmother's sapphire ring and "I'm Really Not a Waitress" Red OPI nailpolish

Two of your favorite current bands/artists:

Great Big Sea (Celtic) and the Gaither Vocal Band.

Two things you want in a relationship (other than love):
Respect/Kindness
Humor

Two truths:
God is Good. Always.
Knitting is my therapy!

Two favorite hobbies:
Knitting
Reading

Two things you have to do this week:
Pay some bills and Clean out the fridge

Two stores you shop at:
Dunkin Donuts (um...for the coffee they hand me through the drive-thru window)
Target

Two shows you like to watch:
CSI
Fox News Channel!

Two things you'd buy if money were no object:
a second home in a little Scottish village and one in Tahiti
a retreat/inn on a lake for knitters to come to for a mini vacation

Two wishes for 2007:
to finish the Swallowtail Shawl (which I have yet to cast on)
to be closer to the Lord and to be more obedient to His Word

Valentines/Snow Day Tomorrow aka "Knitting Day!"

The news keeps telling us about this Nor'Easter storm that will arrive tomorrow for Valentine's Day. Bring it on! :) No school equals knitting time without the guilt.
A friend came over tonight to knit. She's making an absolutely gorgeous shawl made out of a sage green mohair laceweight...it's so plush and soft. Hooray for Chris to also work on her mittlets! Alas, still no pics because I forgot to buy batteries today. We also made up the cutest felting kits for coin purses...more to come on this tomorrow...you need to see these cute things...I whipped one up tonight and I'll felt it in the morning.
Happy Snowstorm Eve to us New Englanders! ADDDENDUM: PINK GIRAFFE IS COURTESY OF THERESA, THIS WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT SHE RECEIVED...FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW...IT'S FROM WALMART! (for Jessica) :)

VD Knitty Package Arrives and I Learn to Like My Big Bag...

Wow! What a surprise! A wonderful VD package from Stephie26 that is SO appreciated! See pics... I received a new bead magazine (will read early am with my coffee), 3 packets of gorgeous red swarovski crystals, a cute pink memo pad, and candy hearts. Thank you for the treats! I just couldn't wait till VD to open it. OH...my gosh! I forgot the best part...the cutest, wildest VD pop-up card was included! My camera batteries have died, so I'll pick some up tomorrow and post a pic then. It's a wild card, themed for the VD swap...
Thanks again, Stephanie! :)
On another note...I'm learning to like the Vera Bradley straw tote...dimensions say it's 12x11x7...but it's huge!!! However, I can put a large project in it...some reading...snacks...my ipod...and everything but the kitchen sink...
I wanted to show you my progress on my new socks, but alas...batteries are dead. No more photos tonight.
We're getting ready for a Nor'Easter storm in New England on Wednesday...we'll see what comes. We've got food, water, a snow blower, and lots of anticipated knitting time, I hope. :)

Caffeine Consumption and My Knitting...the correlation

I saw this chart somewhere...but my day starts at 5:20, and the coffee flows from that point on, and then follows this chart pattern. So THIS IS WHY I'm a morning knitter, and too tired and fuzzy-headed to knit in the quiet of the evening. :)
I had a hard time this weekend choosing which yarn to cast on for socks...the Hill Yarn (seen above) in the Valentine's themed chocolate covered cherry color? or the patterned Austermann Step with Aloe era in a blue? or my STR yarn in the awesome red shade of "Lovers Leap?"...
Although I said earlier I would cast on the STR, I chickened out and will wait for that, and I cast on the somewhat boring blue skein. Sigh. It's hard for me to take a beautiful skein and unwrap it sometimes.
Hubby is cooking up Hamburger Helper for lunch (thank you, dear) for the kids, which gives me time to blog and knit some before the evening service and choir practice.
Blessings to you on this Lord's day!