Pay It Forward Swap

Thanks to Dorothy, I'm going to be part of a "Pay It Forward" swap, as I've joined via her blog. This is an awesome idea! The Pay it forward swap is based on the Helen Hunt movie "Pay It Forward". Here are the details, as explained from blog to blog:

"Here is how it works! I'll send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange! I don't know what that gift will be yet, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week...LOL... but you will receive it within 365 days, that's a promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog..."

If you're interested, let me know by posting to this blog, and I'll start planning your project!

Thank you, SP9 Pal :)

Thank you, SP9 Pal! I love the cappuccino colored 100% cashmere yarn! I'll try it out soon. Also, my pal sent my 2 wonderful skeins of colorful Interlacements "Toasty Toes" 100% Superwash Merino Wool, along with some wonderfully scented Chocolate soap, and a pattern for a child's felted hat. Thanks again, pal. :) Yarn on the left is Toast Toes "Carbon Dioxide"(color 202) and on the right is color "Las Vegas Brights" (color 206). Colors on Interlacements website are more true to life.

Knitting at a Beach

Is it really that odd to knit at a beach? I finished up a pair of Monkeys yesterday for a swap while at Pawtuckaway State Park beach, while picnicking with a friend and her children. It was a perfect day for knitting, not too hot or cold, and I had a great seat in the shade by the lake beach, watching my 8 yr old swim endlessly for hours with his friends. Within 5 minutes of "kitchener-ing" the sock toe, I knit a gauge swatch for my niece's Koigu neon pink socks.
A lot of "looks" from other beach goers, but one lady ran up to me and said "I'm a knitter too, what are you knitting?, and we discussed yarns, the Monkey pattern, tension, pooling, etc. So, it felt good to be "validated" by a fellow knitter, whomever she was...and I thank her. :)

Of course, I'm lining up my knitting projects for our vacation to NC next week, along with plenty of small projects to take to the beach every day while there. Of course.

Now...in today's papers....knitting humor just for us. I get "it", but my hubby didn't appreciate this as much as I did:

A day with my 15 year old...

I love my teen. I love my teen. Yes I do. Enough said. :)
Time to go knit.

Knitty Socks are Finished!

These Monkeys are for Jennie, my Knitty Sock Swap pal, and they're knit on US 1.5 dpns from a potluck Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, in a bright and bold colorway that has no name! I tried to
match it up with their current colors, but did not find it. This wild yarn was given to me by a swap pal from last year(seen as a yarn cake above), and Jennie said I had the choice of colors for her teeny sized feet (size 5 1/2, I believe!). The photo here shows the socks not blocked as of yet. Lots of color pooling as noted in the photo, of oranges, turquoise, green and many other colors. It's like Joseph and the coat of many colors! These photos don't show the depth of the orange and turquoise. However, the pooling is unbelievable. I've never had such pooling before!




She asked for a 5" leg, 2"" heel flap, and 8" long sock...they're so teeny, compared to my large duck feet!


MY Large Duck Feet Shown Here

Outer Banks, Here I Come!

Farewell, Fall leaves and acorns...and the squirrels that I think chuck them at me while I walk Annie early in the morning...Farewell dishwasher, laundry and the phone...I'm off to the Outer Banks (of North Carolina, of course!)...to the beaches....no phone...lots of BBQ at Pigman's , a great knitting/yarn shop called Knitting Addiction...and lots of family time. Woo Hoo! Poor pup will be at home while we're at the beach...she's not the type to get her paws wet and sandy. Oh yeah...we don't leave for a few days, so I need to focus on tasks, knitting, packing, and life at hand. :)

Sending Off First Son to Norwich U.

We send our eldest off to college last week...he'll not like me for posting this fact, but as his mom for 18 years, I deserve the right to blog on my blog about sending my first kid off to college. It's 2.5 hrs from our home in Vermont....lovely scenery, but in the middle of nowhere (sorry, Northfield!). Beautiful campus, wonderful faculty, and I believe it happens to be the exact place where God wants him right now. He chose Norwich on his own, and it's exciting to see him start the new phase of his life as a Norwich Rook for his freshman year in Cavalry Company, 2nd squad while he majors in Criminal Justice. Rook Week and the Dog River Run are over, and now it's time for him to find out what life, college, and etc. is all about, as the Lord leads him. We were all pretty tired here in the photos, as we left for Norwich a bit after 5 am...and in these photos, after processing and oodles of events and sightseeing, we were a bit tired. Did you know that Norwich IS all uphill? I really thought it was a joke, but I don't think so. :)


I've cleaned up his room (aka the craft room for me), washed the sheets, did his laundry (you are welcome, son), dusted, and pulled out my knitting boxes of yarn to find yarn to begin Branching Out in Elsebeth Lavold, Silky Wool [65% wool, 35% silk; 190 yards /175 meters per 50g skein] or the Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl in some sport weight that I picked up at WEBS a week ago...can't find the stash I've hidden from myself...not sure which to cast on yet, as I'm also on the toe of some socks for dear Jennie, my Knitty sock pal for this round. I'm knitting her socks in the _______ pattern, in the __________colorway from one of my favorite yarns, _______. Sorry Jennie, you'll have to wait to see the socks!

Socks Have Arrived in NH (actually, a few weeks ago!)

As you can see, I'm "catching up" on my blogging...these are socks I've received this past month...and they're BOTH soft, gorgeous, and much appreciated! On the bottom, are Roza socks (pattern by Grumperina) from Erika, along with a great quote magnet and postcards from her local LYS...these will be hung in my craft room...they're too nice to send!
In the top photo, these are socks from the Knitty swap, and they're from Jennie...beautiful and soft in Cherry Tree Hill yarn, and in the "Wild Cherry" colorway. Jennie also sent along some chocolate expresso beans (I just opened them today, and they're awesome) and some Texas flower seeds!
The funny thing is, I knit my Sockapalooza pal the same pattern (unbeknownst to me) for Stella, but in Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Lover's Leap" colorway (photo below on the polka dot background).



This photo below has a great idea from Jennie that I need to copy....a sock band for hand-knit socks! It's cute as a button! Thanks for the idea, Jennie!

A Long Overdue Thank You to CC!

Thank you, CC! I received this bag a month ago, but just recently had time to take pictures with a borrowed camera(I'd love to get myself a new one soon!), and I'm home from traveling. What a great bag this is! It's so soft, roomy, and lined with a dark blue marbled cotton fabric that coordinates with the color scheme. It's sturdy, and I love it. :) Again, thank you, CC!
CC also sent some lovely Mosaic FX yarn, a crocheted coin purse (I'll be using it to hold knitting accessories), Mary Kay Embrace Fragrance Mist, and Lip Gloss, along with a great Manicure and Pedicure Set. I've been spoiled, and thank you so much, CC!!!!

Every Month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

OK, here's the short and sweet of it, from me...
EVERY month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Many friends, acquaintances, church family and now close family (my mom) has been affected by this form of cancer. So...here's my part.
Go here. Do your monthly self-exam, and get your mammogram...don't cancel that appointment!
And for my knitting friends, here are some patterns: the "pink ribbon"socks ..and one for a Boobie scarf (you must see it to believe it, and it's a pattern from Knitty.

Breast Cancer Awareness Sock \Pink Ribbons Pattern
Boobie Scarf (gotta love it)

Felted Bag Exchange 2 Fun Begins!

1. What is your favorite yarn for felting, and why? I adore Manos del Uruguay. It's a hand-spun and kettle-dyed wool that is a delight to knit with, full of textures and softness, and felts wonderful. The colors are deep and make me swoon.
2. Name one person in the swap who is not from the U.S. and tell us where they are from, and link to their blog. Chrissie P. is from Singapore!
3. Find one person in the swap who has a dog, and let us know the name of their dog(s) and link to their blog. I personally have Annie and Toby.
Mary B. is owned by her dogs, Storm and Lady. :)
4. Find one person in the swap who has a child or grandchild and link to their blog. Sarah G. has little ones!
5. And finally, tell us if you like October or November more, and why! (Yea, I know part of September and November are technically fall, but for this question, only October and November matter!) October, of course!!! Here in NH, it's THE time for peak leaf color, pumpkin picking, homemade applesauce, crisp nights and all the scents of the season. OK, Hubby's birthday and our wedding anniversary are in October, too... :)