Its been a long time.

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted! Well, on the knitting front, I am on my last bedroom slipper, & am so THANKFUL! Whew, did not think I would ever get through those. I have some fantastic cashmere/mohair that I am treating myself to next. On the home front, my son is safely esconsed in Flint, Michigan, working at Louhelen Baha'i School. He says it is cold/snowy as of this writing, but, hey, what do you think, its Michigan, lol! I have connected with some old friends at classmates.com, & that has been a real treat! I don't think that I am going to have any more health scares in the near future.

Recovered!

Well, I have recovered from the awful gallbladder surgery! Keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else bad happens around here anytime soon. My son just got back from Flint Michigan to see about a job up there-the one in Chicago fell thru. He took some awesome pics while there.

On the knitting front-I am still working on the bedroom slippers, I have 5 pair made so far, I am almost halfway thru the 11th one. I will not let myself start anything else until I have these made. I have joined yet another dishcloth group! I have home made dishcloths coming out the wazoo!

I heard from another long lost friend via email the other day, it was really nice & interesting. I even had to tell my mom about it. She is learning to cope with writing me via a new isp, netscape free. Time Warner dropped AOL, so we are now AOL free!

gallbladder out, what next?

Well, the latest news is that I had my gall bladder out last night after literally months of pain in that area. I have 3 incisions on my abdomen, they take it out thru your belly button! Who knew? I still feel like I have been kicked in the gut, literally.

I have found the coolest site: http://destash.blogspot.com/ I am going to attempt (and mind you, I say attempt) to put their button on my blog. Here goes nothing!

bedroom slippers

Making 9 pairs of bedroom slippers right now for dh's classroom! I think my hands are protesting too much! Having some gall bladder issues, will visit a surgeon Monday.

B'day

Today I celebrated with prayers my departed Dad's b'day. Its been 12 years now. He still talks to me in dreams. In tooth news, my lower lip (the left half) is still numb, but at least there is no pain. The only "pain" I have is that I chomp on my lip every so often because I can't feel it. Kinda like I had a shot of Novacaine there. I found the tomato hornworm that has so totally decimated my tomato crops this year, & mercilessly put the garden shears to him so he is no more. (Sorry if you are squeamish!)

Stolen from another blog

Birthday [Month]::
January------------i married
Febuary------------i lied to
March--------------i stole
April--------------- i ate
May----------------i bitch slapped
June----------------i kissed
July----------------i killed
August------------- i smoked
September---------i choked
October------------ i played with
November--------- i watched
December----------i loveDAY
NUMBER] YOU WERE B0RN 0N
1-------a spork
2-------my friends pants
3------- myself
4-------a football player
5-------my true love
6------- p diddy
7-------a lawn gnome
8------- snakes on a plane
9-------a banana
10-------my best friends boyfriend/girlfriend
11-------a ruler
12-------an ipod
13-------my neighbor
14-------a sandwich
15-------a goat
16-------a pickle
17-------bigfoot
18-------a spoon
19-------a monkey
20-------a mexican
21-------a ninja
22-------a fireman
23-------a noodle
24-------a gangster
25-------1000 people
26-------your mom
27-------an alien
28-------a squirrel
29-------my science
30-------a hobo
31-------my uncle

finished a placemat!

yeah, I made lace & made a placemat at the same time! We had very little damage here from Ernesto, just a lot of wind & rain, could have been worse. My son is selling Star Wars stuff on ebay, anybody out there interested???????

5 days, still black & blue

Well, the offending tooth is out out out in 20 pieces, (which i have proof of in a small baggy). The drugs, well, I hate to say it folks, they are pretty good right now, but alas, a junkie I will never be. I am still black & blue along my lower left jaw, it looks like someone took a good punch at me, & I am still numb! I think my diet has become entirely liquid, which really sucks (sorry folks) for a steak gal like me. On the good side, I have made enough dishcloths to last a year. My son (who will be departing for the windy city soon) will have a large stash to begin housekeeping with!

Oral surgery over,

Well, they removed my infected, impacted wisdom tooth Monday. It came out in 20 (yes, 20) pieces. I look like somebody has punched me on the side of the face. My jaw is quite swollen, and starting to turn blue. I am still in quite a bit of pain also. Oh well, time heals all wounds I guess. I have made 3 dishcloths in this time, trying to while away the hours in a productive way.

oh, my tooth!

On a good note, I finished my Old Shale Shawl last night. On a bad note, I have an infected impacted wisdom tooth that I have to have cut out Monday, the dentist sent me to an oral surgeon because he was afraid he would BREAK MY JAW! YIKES!

@#$%^&* hornworms!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My tomatoes & peppers have been absolutely loving this hot rainy weather we have been having, so in the past day or so I was delighted to find that all my plants were in full bloom with itty bitty veggies. Today, I went to grab a cucumber for dinner, & to my horror everything had been eaten down to the stalks!!!!!!! Nothing I have tried works on these suckers. Anybody out there got any ideas? I would welcome any input, believe me. On another note, my Old Shale Shawl is turning out just beautiful. My son is getting ready to head to the windy soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hotter than love in August..............

Gosh, the whole country is dying, (literally) under the opressive heat. I am working slowly on a new project; my "Old Shale Shawl". It is so pretty, I am knitting with 2 thread, a combo of a Carolina blue, & white cotton. I think that it will be nice for those cool days ahead if they ever get here. I will plant some lettuce once the weather cools down. I have put in a second crop of beans & they are already about a foot tall. Still getting cucumbers & tomatoes, although everything is requiring a lot of water right now. My peppers love this hot weater. School starts back soon, so I guess that means heading back to my after school job. My oldest son has gotten a job!!!!!!!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!

The growing group!!!!!

The discloth group I host has grown to 52 members strong!!!!!!!!! wowee!!!!!!!! I am still making my caffina top, & am also working on a beautiful shawl for winter. (hey, its never too early). I got my package in the mail today from Joann. it contained every size of convertible needles. So pretty & nice. All of my circulars are old & worn, I am going to throw a lot of them out out out!!!!!!! It is the 3 h's in Wilmington, hazy, hot & humid!

wip as of now.

I am still working on the caffina top, alas I am getting sidetracked. I also am the listmom of a sucessful (so far, that is ) dishcloth exchange group, so I have several cloths on the needles. I am getting lots of cucumbers right now also. My menfolk are in Georgia leaving me alone to pine away the hours, lol!

ACK!

Well, it is the 3rd of July, & we officially hit triple digits today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My a/c is doing double duty all the time. So far, in the garden: beans, beans, everywhere. I have picked 7 cucumbers so far, & have lots more on the vine. I have picked 1 Jalapeno, & have a bunch of little ones. Lots & lots of cherry tomatoes still green, & my better boys are slowing getting there. I still am eating lots & lots of basil. It is great in a homemade vinegarette dressing. Yum. I bought another mandevilla vine the other day, this one in yellow, & also a stunning bouganvellia plant. The flowers are loving this tropical weather. As far as knitting goes, I am making lots of dishcloths so I don't have to worry about having them done every month. I have a couple of great patterns that I can't wait to get into. The 4th is tomorrow, what are you having for supper?????????? hhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

New Movie!!!!!!!

Went to see The Da Vinci Code today & thought it was terrific. I am now in 3 dishcloth swaps, & had to go to Micheal's to get some more sugar n cream in various colors. I am just going to make a new cloth per day until I have about 20 made up. I also bought a new book, "Exquisite Little Knits" by Iris Schreier. Looks promising.

started the front!

Well, I have officially started the front to my orangina top, & am being super careful with it. I got my Creative Knitting mag yesterday, a new sub. I might add, & there is an adorable summer top in it I am going to make, & it calls for white cotton/acrylic yarn, & I have just that! My new dishcloth exchange is going just great & already I have gotten 3 dishcloths, all of them very nice. I don't think that I will ever buy dishcloths again, when I can whip one up in an evening in front of the tv. I have already picked green beans 3 times now. Today I also picked another cucumber, & I have made pickles. My son is still home from Bolivia with his never ending job search. Someone out there...do you have a job for him, lol!

Officially here!

Well, it has to be summer because my a/c is going full force, & it is in the 90s outside. Everything is wilted, including me. I am still making my summer top, although I have been having lots of arthritis in my hands lately, so I am at a standstill. Hope I recover soon!

Amazing!

Well, I am finally branching out & finding some amazing patterns out there, not the free kind, either! I am finally picking cucumbers & making homemade pickles. I have little squash, too!

First Picking!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I picked my first cucumber today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have several (7 that I have counted) on 1 vine, they are doing great, the weather is finally turning hot; it was in the 90s this weekend. I have lot of little bitty green beans too. Oh, & the jalapenos are about as big as a dime. My oldest son remains at home, he got notice today that he did not get the job at the UN that he had been hoping for. Today he found out that he needed a new contact prescription. He is spoiling us with the cooking he learned while in South America.

Lacy top

I am now making the Orangina top...a really tedious but lovely top, I am making it out of orange cotton. I have also started a dishcloth exchange, which is coming along quite nicely, everyone seems to enjoy it. I am really loving having my eldest son home, he & my dh went to the new Xmen movie yesterday, got a dose of man-violence. I am posting some questions for my blog readers:

1. What is your all-time favourite (worse) yarn to knit with ?
Well, right now I am hooked on cotton. Maybe my answer will be different this time next year. I really dislike working with 100% wool.

2. Your favourite needles ?
Gotta be my short plastic ones.

3. The worst thing you ever knit
My first knitted garmet, I didn't read the directions right, & it was HUGE, I ended up frogging it all.

4. Your favourite pattern
Gosh, I have bought so many books, there is always something I can't wait to get started on. So far, I love the way this Orangina top looks.

5. Most valuable knitting technique
Wow, thats a hard one. I know how to cast on just using my thumb, & have taught this to several people. Someone taught it to me when I was 12.

6. Best knit book or magazine
Some of the Intarsia mags, for sure.

7. Your favourite knit-along
sad to say, I have never done one of these.

8. Your favourite knit blogs
wow, I have lots that I try to go on & post regularly, but I really like to read Trincotine.

9. My favourite knitwear designer
Kim Hargreaves, Debbie Bliss, Erika Knight and Adrienne Vittadini.

10.The knit item you wear the most?
I have made several winter garments, now with making the Orangina top, I imagine that I will be wearing it.

quit!

Well, I have quit the sweater I have been working on. Since it was expensive yarn, I frogged it!!!!!! I visited quite a number of sites last night in my in new Interweave Knits mag, & actually ended up buying a new pattern online, it looks so much nicer that those freebie patterns I am used to getting online that usually look pretty crappy when made. My cucumbers are coming along swimmingly, (really, they are, we have had so much rain lately, combined with hot weather). I am really pleased. I went out & covered the soil around them with diatomateous earth today.

veggies away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it has finally happened, I have tiny cucumbers!!!!!!!! I also have little flowers on my sugar snap vines, so it is just a matter time for them. I have little tiny peppers that are making thier presence known also. Seems like some good things are happening around my life, for once in a long while. My son brought back a lot of presents from Bolivia, which was so exciting. How did everyone celebrate Mom's day???????? I went out for a very expensive brunch, then bought myself a few goodies from some exclusive shops downtown....hey, we are allowed a once a year treat, right???????????????

WONDERFUL present!

My son came home last night from Bolivia South America after being there 1 year! So, the house is very happy this am. He brought home lots of presents for everyone, including ones for my son who is not here. Thanks guys for all your support. Since I have gotten lots of requests for the lemonade recipe, here goes: (this is an authetic Mexican recipe, btw), (I do this to taste, too). I take about 1/2 a watermelon, & juice the insides in a blender. Then I take about 4 lemons, really get them juice from them too. Then, I put it all in a big pitcher & mix it with lime Perrier water. I guess it would work too with regular water, but I really like the fizz & flavor from the Perrier. Add sugar to taste. Since this costs a little to make, I make it for parties, & it is always a big hit. You can add any other fruit that you want, like a banana or strawberries.

Whew!

Well, I have the back to the summer tank done. It really did not take long when I put my fingers to work full time. I had a Cinco De Mayo party last night with a taco casserole, guacamole, Mexican lemonade (made with watermelon), churros, & jicama salad. Everyone loved the food, and I had NONE left! On the gardening end, I have teeny tiny jalapenos making their presence known, & I used Osmocote around all my little seedlings this year! BAM! As Emeril would say, they are shooting for the sky! I am so excited that my oldest son Richard is coming home from Bolivia South America next week, it has been almost a year since I have seen him! I am hoping that he will be able to talk some sense into his younger brother. I pray to my Dad every day to watch over Robert & keep him safe. If anyone else out there has any other suggestions, please let me know.

More plantin' & knitin'

I got some more beans into the ground this weekend. I think my lettuce has about had its day, it really hates the hot weather. That means something else can go into the lettuce pot! I also bought a hot pepper bush, with teeny hot peppers already on it. I am still making the blasted summer sweater, my mind is on other things right now so it is hard to do. My son is coming home from Bolivia South America & I can't wait to see him, it has been nearly a year now. He has lost over 50 pounds! Speaking of which, I am back into the gym regularly, although it is really the last place on earth I would like to be. Last night they were serving PIZZA to all the members! Argh!

Does my garden grow?

Well, lets see. I have sugar snaps climbing the chain link (had to get something to cover that UGLY fence), my bush beans are about 5 inches high. My cucumbers have got their second leaves on them, & my tomato plants are about 1 inch high. My radishes are really large, they are about ready to pull. All of my lettuce got burned last week in the extra warm weather we have been having, so I am afraid that the lettuce is gone for good until fall! I have been enjoying home grown basil & cilantro with almost every meal, as well as sticking a spring of rosemary into chicken when it bakes! I am finally getting some lavender established this year, & I have 2 Carolina Jasemine vines growing heartily. Tonight I bought a hot pepper plant (the super duper hot kind), & plan to dry the chilis. Tell me, what have YOU been growing????????? HHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMM?

Making changes!

Here I am, first of all trying to recover from a visit to my kinesologist this afternoon (ouch, my poor bones!), and am working furiously on the Leah sweater: http://www.berroco.com/189/189_leah.html It has turned out to be HUGE, & I frogged my first attempt, then started it in a smaller size, and lo & behold, it was still huge! "Well Cathy", I said to myself, "this simple sweater will not be my undoing". So I started it yet again, in 1 thread instead of 2, & on smaller needles. I think that 2 threads, as suggested in the pattern, was simply making the thing humongous. It looks so much better now! yay for once!

High Holy.....

In my Faith, this is our Highest Holy Days, the day when the founder of our Faith entered the Garden of Ridvan in Bagdad & recieved his message. All of the worlds religions have their Holiest days at this time, i.e. Easter, Passover, etc. If anyone else here is a Baha'i, please let me know, I would say "wowee", lol! I have started my knitted garment over because I just cannot stand the "rolling effect" I was getting, so I decided, on the advice of another knitter, to start out on 4 rows of knit. I am liking the looks of it much better now. Thank you for all your prayers & good wishes. I just pray daily for God to watch over my son & to keep him safe. I guess that that is all I can do right now.

New things happening!

I know I have not posted in a few days, so here goes: I have decided to start making a new summer tank out of cotton. It is the "Lauren" from Berroco. So far I have about 2 inches done, so I have a ways to go. We spent the Holiday weekend in Greensboro NC visiting with my son who is in Guilford College. I am in a blue funk right now because, alas, my 19 year old son has decided to test his parents, (as a lot of 19 year olds do). I will not list the troubles he is going thru, but safe to say, I am worried about his Dad's health. Whatever religion you are, please remember him in your prayers, his name is Robert.

Finally finished!!!!!

I went to see my kinesiologist today & am a little achy in the back & shoulder area, & was told to take it easy today, so I have used that time to finally FINISH my shawl!!!!!!!!! I am doing the happy dance right now!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am going to start on some summer garments, I have some fabulous cotton/rayon mix that I am just dying to use. I also went to Lowes last night, bought my first bag of Miracle-gro for the summer, (I am sure I will be buying more), & plan to transplant my little veggies that have sprouted from seed into my containers soon. My little cucumbers are almost an inch high! I also bought some squash seeds, not the "normal" kind, but an odd shaped variety, that makes you go "hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm""""""""....As Arsenio would say.

*snif*

I am really touched by how much all my fellow knitting chicks out there have posted; you guys have offered so much sympathy regarding my hurtin' hand....but hey, I found somthing that works, should any of you (and I'm sure you do) get to ailing from time to time.....use some of that spray with glucosamine in it for arthritis. I had a freebie sample of it lying around, & thought "hhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm," and sure enough, it worked!

Alright Everybody!!!!!

Lets all join this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/capsforacure/

Whittling away that stash!

Well, I have effectively sold all my acrylic & wool, & whew, does it feel good to have all that yarn GONE! I am going to concentrate on getting the higher quality stuff, like good cotton. I have have also joined an online group that makes caps for people undergoing chemotherapy, & they too have requested that cotton only be used. The azaleas are in bloom, it was 83 today! My tomato, pepper, & cucumber seedlings are coming up, as well as my sugar snap peas which seem to be happy along my fence. I made a great spring salad today. YUM! Had my first visit today with a kinesologist, & feel a bit "off" this evening.

New, plus a wip, still!

I am still knitting on my shawl, (wonder if I will ever finish it???), plus I have made this: http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/clothzig.htm. It is the first item I have made for my dishcloth exchange, & I am excited to see what I get in return! My yard is starting to look very pretty as the warm weather closes in; I have little sugar snap peas sprouting up, as well as radishes. I've even picked my first lettuce for the first taste-of-summer salad, along with home grown basil in it!

Could it be?????

The 1st of April already? I associate this time with many things: my parents' anniversary, (Daddy, are you looking down on me right now?), when I found out I was preggers 24 years ago, & called my parents up & gave them the news as their anniversary present! Today was just a beautiful day, highs in the 70s. Flowers are a-blooming everywhere down south, & pollen is everywhere in the air. I am continuing to work on my Mom's shawl, although I hope to finish it soon so I can get started on summer things. I found an online coupon the other day for $15 off $15 at Joann, & bought MORE summer cotton! ACK! And I was so proud of myself for whittling down my stash & selling my wool. Gotta feed that addiction!

good things..............

Well, I still had a bit of birthday funds left over yesterday. I walked into Pier One, & they have always had this nifty 3 tiered basket which I have absolutely loved, but have not gotten because of the cost...$69! Yesterday I walked in, & it was down to $39, so you better believe that I picked it up & almost ran to the cash register. Now it sits proudly in my living room with my finished products on the bottom, my cotton in the middle, & my circular needles in the small top basket. Now, I wonder if my kitty will find this an enticing place to lay? HHHHMMMMMMMM.......I am still knitting away on my Mother's Day shawl, but I expect to finish it up within a week, then I am going to start making some summer shells on the cotton I bought, the lys has it it all sorts of yummy pastels.

I DON'T think its nifty................

Ok, so today is my birthday, the big 5-0. Was treated to a trip to the lys, bought a lot of cotton for the summer. Then, bought plants for bedding, (they may have to live in the car for a few days!) Whew, am dead tired.

Still yet ANOTHER project.............

I have decided to make my mom a knitted shawl for Mother's day...yes, I know it is a long way off, but it will be one of those projects to do at night while the tv goes. I have some yummy homespun in my knitting basket that I think she will just love.

A new project awaiting!

Even though I still knitting on my scarf, (which is coming along nicely, btw), I have found a new project which I intend to start just as soon as I get it finished; a summer tank top!

New scarf!

This is the new scarf I am making, it is very tedious on small needles! Argh! http://www.plasticsoul.org/manlylace.html

What to do...............

With the leftover Homespun from my vest??? Make a scarf of course, for one of my dearest friends who is visiting Chicago in a few, which happens to be one of the coldest places on earth, outside of the Artic, I think. Can you believe the Heels lost? Oh well, another year.........

yyyyyeeeaaa!

It is 11pm my hands are dead tired, but I have finally finished my vest! (alas, I can't sew a button on it because my needle is too big). Whew. What to make next????

Ah, spring is in the air.........

Took a knitting break today to plant away.......lettuce is already growing, along with peas. Yum!

Helping out....................

Today I went & participated in a nationwide event "empty bowls." For a ticket costing $12, a person may purchase a hand thrown pottery bowl, buy a bowl of soup, along with bread & drink, & keep the bowl. All of the money goes to help feed the homeless. Gives you a warm feeling in you heart.

I'm Feeling it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has spring finally sprung? Ah, the flowers are in bloom, & its in the 70s every day. It will time for veggie planting soon. Isn't it hard to knit in the summer?

We made the papers!

Cute-as-heck pics and story on our lovely StitchNBitch group in yesterday's Wilmington Star News! Just wanted to congratulate you ladies on the groups success!http://wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/NEWS/60313035&SearchID=73238646172705

My first venture!

Right now I am in the middle of making my first knitted garment: http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-quickVest.html?noImages= I have done the back & the left side.

My new blog

I hope I can work this one!