I've been on a seemingly never ending spiral the past year and a half. Life has changed for everyone within my family; I've lost my Pop and my Father-in-Law, who was more like the Father I never had. My mother got increasingly frail and was placed in a nursing home. Nothing more humbling than a visit to a nursing home. It puts you in your place, you stop complaining about the traffic, the job, the long line at the food store. You savor the sunrise, the sunset, being able to spend an endless day walking on the beach.

This experience has taught me the value of the short time we are given, we never know the time we have, don't waste it. Getting mad while waiting in line, does it really matter? Are you late getting home by five minutes...will it matter a year from now? Treat each other with kindness and respect, what a wonderful world it would be if everyone could remember to do so.

Trapped

So, it is early and I am in my living room checking my mail online. I hear, what I thought, was someone using a weed whacker outside. No, oh no...there is a bee in my living room that is large enough to eat a small child! Seriously, if this thing stings me, I am a goner!! (allergic) Anyway, hubby is still in the land of nod and if I wake him, he will not be a happy camper, as this is his only day to "sleep late". So now I am in my craft room, upstairs until this man wakes up and does something with this thing!!!

Just don't know how everyone does it.

I have tried many different things - adding buttons, progress bars, etc, etc, etc. I give up! Nothing works right - I read the directions, helpful hints and still nothin'!

I will just have to be happy with my blog the way it is and not covet everyone else's "fancy" blogs.

Hapy New Years eve, eve!

Coffee anyone?

I am 79% Addicted to Coffee

Meet California Singles

In Search of....

On Tyra Banks show yesterday - 15 Fall Fashions - she showed a Snood Cap. Very cute, but I know I can make one. I have been looking for patterns; so far I am only finding the ones from the 20's etc. Anyone have ideas? http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/show_recaps/show_recap_wed107.html

Summer?

Ok - where did summer go? Where did this year go? Only 91 days until Christmas!? Do you notice -- the older you get - the faster that damn clock goes? Who is the keeper of that clock? I WANT TO REPORT A MALFUNCTION!

What have I been up to all summer? Working - the beach - sleeping - eating. That's about it!

The only knitting & crochet I have been able to get done is for my swaps. 12" sampler squares & 7" granny squares. Well at least it is something.

Well kids, I have to make some breakfast and get myself to work - got to pay for my addiction some how.

Until next time, (hopefully, not 6 months later) - take care

Strange Day

So, today I went to a neighbours daughters wedding - we have been friends since the day we moved in, 23 yrs ago. Nice wedding, but here was the strange part of the day. I hubby and I were seated with two other women I used to know when they lived in the same neighbourhood, many years ago. They all kept in touch with each other. Pretty much neither of these women choose to keep in touch with me. Whatever! It made for a very uncomfortable day. Even though we were only there for 3 hours, it felt like 8! Other than the usual chit chat, what do you say? We were happy when the dancing part started, we watched for a few minutes and then left. I don't know if anyone else has ever been put in that situation, but I would never do that to anyone. When we had our daughters wedding, there was no seating arrangements, no one felt awkward. I would have rather been sitting alone, just the two of us and had a much better time. Oh well, just had to vent somewhere!

No knitting to report - I have been doing some crochet lately. Made a couple of granny squares for practice, really like the way they turned out. I am thinking of making more for a blanket.

Then I made a dishcloth

I know it looks kind of big, but if you think about it; it is made from cotton, it is going to shrink a bit, and don't you just wish that the dishcloth you are using was just a wee bit bigger? It is about 12", not to bad I think.

This was to get back into to the swing of crochet, I haven't done it in a couple of years and I joined a sampler square swapping group. I didn't want my work to look like crap, so the practice/refresh my fingers projects. I wish I had taken pictures of my JIC squares before I sent them off - I was quite happy with them. Oh well!

Spring!

WooHoo! the first full day of spring, but it sure doesn't feel like it! But it's ok, tomorrow they are calling for 70 degrees! Woot!
Not much going on in the crafting world right now, my craft room is a mess, I am in the middle of re-organizing it. Yeah, this will take some time, let me tell you. I have lots of stuff. I am waiting to here if I can join a crochet exchange group. I sent in my JIC (just in case) requirement and hope to hear soon. I am looking forward to being in an exchange group and having the opportunity to "meet" so new people. Gee, just had a thought, should have taken a picture of my squares before I sent them - oh well.
I am still working on my daughters shawl - even though she is now married...six months can you believe it?! I was unable to finish it in time due to surgery. I want to have it done for her 1st anniversary. Let's hope I can do it! It is my first lace project. I will post a pic once there is something to take a pic of.
Well, time to go for now, Survivor is coming on, Wednesday instead of Thursdays..March Madness thing. Then American Idol...Will Sanjaya go?

Wow, it has been almost a year since I was here last. So much has happen in this past year, don't know where I would start. Well, I think, for now, we shall just leave it at that. Just dropped by for a quick hello...actually, I was wondering if my blog was still here...I guess it is!

Oh My Gosh!

Has it really been over a month since I have updated my blog?! I didn't think it had been that long. Well, for those who read...my apologies.

So, what has been going on? A friend from 31 years contacted me! She moved to Wisconsin and I never heard from her again, until last month. She contacted me at Classmates. Wow - we were the best of buds - closer than sisters. We have been emailing each other and have talked on the phone a couple of times. It is nice to be reconnected with someone you have history with.

Thanksgiving was nice, a house full of kids - just the way I like it! Lots of good food and fun times.

Knitting? I have completed a gift for someone, who checks in every now and then, so I cannot say what it is. My hubby asked me to make him a hat - about 2" left before I can decrease - I wanted to get this done before it got to cold. To late for that! It is friggin' cold!

What else have I been up to? Well, I have been doing some sewing. I love to sew! I have made two holiday throws, two stockings, four pillows and I am working on a couple of table runners. Once the holidays are over, I am going to start working on the living room drapes - only about three years in the making. Hey, you have to let the fabric age just right! LOL

On the work front - I may have mentioned this before - my company is laying off the rest of my department at the end of the year. Well, they are keeping me on - kind of happy, kind of sad. I have watched my department go from a group of 30, down to one. My supervisor told me, you get to manage yourself - ha ha - not really amused by his statement.

Well, this is all I have for now - Hope you are listening/watching Elton John in Las Vegas! What fun music. I love his music - just feel good. My two birdies are enjoying the music to. My conure is singing and dancing along.

Wedding Dress

So in my last post I mentioned wedding dress shopping. She tried on a few different ones but we all thought, this was it!

So, for those of you following along - I am looking for a pattern, it was going to be a shawl, but we have re-thought that to a stole. I don't want to block the beautiful embroidery in the back. I would like to find something lacey, maybe with a flower pattern in it. Will be making one for her and her bridesmaids as there dresses will also have flowers to complement her dress. Imagine black dresses with white flowers at the top of the bodice and on the back just where the knee bends to the bottom of the dress with the same flowers.

If anyone has ideas, please let me know. I plan on going to my LYS and looking in the library, but as my great grandmother would always say, "Many hands make light work" And who doesn't like helping with a wedding!

Felted Bag

Last night I finished my first felting project....fun times! I am amazed at how much different the bag looks now. Needless to say I was just a bit freaked at first putting it in the washer, but I am happy with the results. I used 100% wool from Carodan Farm - it is their wool. It was wonderful to knit with and I cannot wait to make another project using their wool.


Here is the bag before - look how small my phone looks! The before measurements are from the opening to the beginning of the bottom, see the ridge? It measured 12" and across the middle it measured 14".

I didn't twist my handle as much as the pattern showed, but I like it!

http://www.magknits.com/warm04/patterns/sophie.htm

You can see the pattern here. Now, here is the finished product......




Look how much larger my phone looks now...amazing! The handles did not shrink very much, so I put a small knot at the top just to try it out. May take it out after I take it out for a spin tomorrow - wedding dress shopping with my daughters.

Anyway, the finished size is:
Top of opening to start of the bottom ridge - 8"
Going across the middle - 12"

So cute, but I was thinking I need to embellish it a bit more somehow, give it a bit of pizzaz. I am always trying to build a better mouse trap, maybe this time I should just leave it alone.


Let me leave you with a picture from the DC Knit-Out on Oct 23rd. Must be the worlds largest needles! She tried to get me to use them, that is just to much needle for me!

I need what??!!

I promise I will give you an knitting/birthday weekend update in the next day or so - but I just had to do what everyone else in blog land is doing...... What does Genia need? Directions, go to Google, type your first name in along with the word needs, make sure you put it in quotes! ENTER

Well.....

1) Genia Needs your Help. I want you to buy me a Gift membership because... (give me some time, I will think of something!)
2) Genia needs a log on account for the desktop. Also she needs an employee Number in FME (what?)
3) Genia needs lorazepam - This one is kind of creepy - (an antianxiety drug) I used to be on this stuff, took myself off of it along with Paxil. Bad stuff for you! I rather work through these issues than deal with they way I felt on these drugs.

And what I think is the funniest one.......

4) Genia needs to find a woman with a Harley? *snicker* (actually, I already have a friend, who is a woman, and has a Harley!)

Completed Bag

Finished the charm bag about a week ago, I really like the way it turned out. Fiber details are on an earlier post. I gave it to my oldest DD last Saturday - she just loved it! She can hardly wait for it to stop raining here so she can show it off. I so miss the sun...but by reading a lot of blogs lately - everyone seems to be under the rain gods spell. *sigh*

Anyway - here are a couple of pictures of the bag for your viewing enjoyment.


I just love the fuzzy edging and the pink
lining - this bag so matches her personality!

It really didn't take very long to make and I plan on making another one for me, (without the fuzz) very soon. I think I will use a different color - just need to decide. My favorite colors are black, purple, and pink. Seems a lot of my project center around these colors - I need to think out of the box here!
I want to try my hand at felting next - I purchased several hanks of 100% wool at the Va Fall Fiber Festival and am itching to use it! I was going to start it last night, but you know how that goes! I thought I could update my blog and then get to knitting...blogger was not being user friendly last night, gave up and then I was just to tired to start a new project. Tonight I will start working on it.

Well. I need to get ready for work - yippee.....(NOT!) Stress, stress, and more stress. As the days count down to my layoff - things there are, well....stressful! I have gone from a team of 30 down to 2, plus me. mind you, the work of 30 is still there. My laugh of the week so far -- "you need to pick up the pace" Ummm, ok, like there are 5 of you in NY working on this project in one system - there are well, 2 of us working on 2 systems here - sorry but, we cannot match your production folks! And so, I knit.......

Well....this about sums it up! LOL

I kind of knew this already! I haven't been knitting that long - looks like I have lots yet to learn! LOL But - I do know a knit from a purl stitch! I am amused though.



You appear to be a Knitting Novice.You might be just taking up the hobby and still
feel a bit intimidated by the whole process.
You might not know a purl from a knit stitch
and those cryptic codes that others call
"patterns" seem pretty intimidating,
but it's something you've been meaning to learn
and you are having fun trying.http://marniemaclean.com/

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by

Flat Tires Suck!

What a day! Or should I say afternoon - I leave work this afternoon, looking forward to going to SnB night and I noticed my truck looks like it is leaning. I think it was just the way I parked - I got in and yep, sure does look like it is leaning. Got out, went around front - almost flat tire. No! Well, I will just drive up the street to the gas station, just looks like it needs air. I get there in a couple of minutes, there is someone else using the air. I wait and wait. Finally he brings the hose back only to say, "I think there is something wrong with it, didn't work for me" I decide to give it try anyway. Made my tire even flatter, if that is possible! Now what? Called my daughter, she was on her way home. Her fiance' should be home soon - let her know if I need help. I am sitting there trying to figure out what I am going to do. Guy working at the gas station is throwing away trash, yells to me...."Hey, your tire is flat!" Yeah buddy DUH do you think?! Yes, I know it is flat, and your air thing does not work. "Are you sure?" he asks like 10 times. He plays with it and he gets air to come out. But put it to the tire and it does not work. You can tell something is wrong with it - hint, lots of black tape all around the top of it. So I bend it in almost in half and ta dah - AIR! Once the tire is filled, I see it. Big old ugly nail. So much for driving it home - tire could blow. So, I call the dealership - I am less than 5 minutes away...Service center is open until 8, it is only 5. If I drive it up there can someone please put on the spare? Well I get, "We can change it tomorrow" what the ____! I hung up. Call my daughter back - Help! They came over in about 10 minutes, 15 minutes later - on my way home. I so miss the days when gas stations really were there for the customer. *sigh*

Well, I leave you tonight with a picture that makes me smile. My grandcat - Nala


She is helping herself to a pretzel.

Finished!

Well - here is the picture of my finished shawl - WooHoo!

As far as I'm concerned this is done, I am thinking of adding an edging, we shall see.

I've started my next project, my version of the Chinese Charm Bag from the original SnB book; page 169. I have about 6" so far. I've decided to add some Fun Fetti at the top of the bag. I got this idea while roaming around AC Moore in Frederick. The inside of the bag will have a surprise - pink and black leopard print fabric - what fun!

The body of the bag is Homespun in Metropolis, black & white. The Fun Fetti is in Zebra Black. I still have to go through my bead stash to see what beads I have that will match. The pattern calls for charms, but I am going to use beads, in pink of course!

I am going to use the same type of handles as in the book, round bamboo.

That is about all for this post - take care.

Shopping!

Post is a bit late, but I've been shopping...

I purchased a couple of hanks of Casscade 220 in Quatro Fiji- pretty
and this too!


The Great Adirondack Yarn Co. in Montana Blueberry -100% wool - just yummy!

These were both purchased at my LYS Woolwinders in Rockville, MD.

Well more news , I completed my shawl - Yay! I love purple ( my favorite color) but, I really not sure I would like to work with any more purple yarn for a few weeks. While this is a shock - I have plenty of other projects that do not include purple. Don't worry my pretty - I will be back to you soon.

Here is a pick of the shawl just about done - I will have a completed picture soon. This is just have to do you for now. Reason? Well, I have been taking the pictures faithfully but I have not been updating my blog faithfully!

It is a simple K3P3 pattern. I am almost looking forward to the cooler weather just so I can wear it. I love the heat, but this is so soft a yummy, I want to wrap myself up in it!

On the non-knitting front. Hubby and I went to Philly the weekend of Aug 27th. Niether one of us had ever been there. We just wanted to see the Bell and have a real Philly steak - well we sort of got to see the Bell. It is in a building, but very well guarded. We could see it from afar, the crack was not facing out the window, but oh well - what can you do?

We wandered around a bit and I asked a ticket writer where Pat's Steaks was. He kind of chuckled and told us the easiest way to get there from where we were was to get a cab. We like to walk. Oh did we walk! But we made it! All I can say is - it was worth it!

Here it is!

And here are the steaks!

I had the cheese whiz, hubby had provolone - both were "wit".

For those that don't understand - (with onions!)

Well, I will post a picture of the finished shawl and my next project tomorrow.

Take care

I'v been bad...

I haven't updated my blog.
Work has taken all the energy I have - I just want to sit and do much of nothing. I haven't even done my knitting. And my shawl is so close to being done! I will try and get back to posting tomorrow. Time for bed.

Fun Day!

What a fun day I had...I have lived here all my life and have never really gone to Georgetown! Well today I went with one of my daughters. We took Metro to Union Station - nope, never been there either! We did not stay there very long, I wanted to get to Georgetown. We hopped on one of those new DC connector buses, nice bus and only $1.00. We got off on Wisconsin and M Street. I had to go into Lush - I have been wanting to check that store out ever since my oldest daughter told me about it and brought me a couple of bath bombs. We smelled all the wonderful soaps, and creams. I ended up buying soap bar for hair made special just for hard water! Having well water recks havoc on my hair - never looks nice. Had to get a bar of soap and of course a couple of bath bombs.

We had lunch at Le Madelines - very good wild greens with chicken salad. We resisted the baked goodies - let my tell you, not easy! Off and walking again, we ooo'd and ahhh'd at many things in windows. I really wanted to go to the tattoo shop there - I am excited now - I saw a tat very close to one I want! Yay! There is about 4 I have in mind, but I need a jumping off point. I found at least one - I want to have one done on the small of my back to commemorate my children. I want three hearts, with a design on either side. Well, they have one there that has one heart with the perfect design! I need to find out if they can change it and incorporate two more hearts. Now I need to find a fairy sitting on a crescent moon and a dreamcatcher with a wolf and an eagle (to commemorate my husband).
After the tat shop, we found Stitch DC - nice place, love the yarn! I will be back.

I guess I should have mentioned even before we got on Metro, we had to make a stop at AC Moore for some yarn. I purchased 6 skeins of Homespun for a sweater and another skein for a bag.

Well, this is it for me today - at least I got something related to knitting in!