oosh ...need to post

Oops! I haven't posted in a while. Life has caught up, as you know we moved in August from MN, and I just got the final "swat" of extreme business! I have so much to say and to catch up on!! I will post more this weekend. Have a great one!!

Raggedy Anne....

Here is a photo of the pincushion I sent to my pincushion swap partner. I make folk dolls, and she mentioned that she likes Raggedy Anne, and, although this pincushion is sewn, not knit, I made it anyway! Well, I DID use yarn for the hair!! Hope she loves it as much as I do! Here are some photos:






Also, I made her a little card with Raggedy Anne and Andy on the front:

I'm getting in the mood for doll making now!!

Pincushion Spoils

I received a swap package from my swap partner in the ravelry pincushion swap! The pincushion is a wonderful little knitted pumpkin! It's so cute! Here is a picture:
It looks a little lopsided in th photo, but it really is cute!!! She even put leaf shaped pins in it!! She also sent some coffee, soap, and a cranberry candle (yum..)
Thanks, Bette!

Got my package off!

I joined a fall pincushion swap on ravelry, and it is so fun! I just mailed my swap partner's package. I just love to make and send cool suprises! Of course I love to receive, too! heh heh.... I am knitting some wrist warmers for my older son. Hope he might possibly like them and wear them in those chilly Indiana winters..... the pattern is "Toasty" and I am knitting them in a beautiful dark gray semi solid superwash wool by Queensland yarns...can't remember the yarn name offhand. Knitting time has diminished lately, as it seems the days are rushing by, almost like in the movies where everything runs into a blur...

Lovely Autumn

Autumn is my favorite time of the year....the weather gets cool and everything seems cool and crisp! Our trip to the mountains in Mew Mexico was wonderful, because we saw so many trees and forest and the weather was soo nice! I am posting some photos of my DH and youngest son on one of our fall hikes:


Soon winter will be here, and that's all right...then beautiful spring, and the hot summer....Fall is definitely my favorite season! It's also a time to get ready for all the holidays coming up and time to getready for all of our family to come home!

Amazing Autumn Coffee and Yarn Swap!

Well, I found another fun coffee swap! To see details and join, go here. Sign ups end October 15th....I participated in Coffee Swap Three last fall and really enjoyed it... here is my questionnaire:

Questionnaire

About Your Yarn Passion
1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? When did you first learn? I knit. First learned in third grade at Junior Girl Scouts (knit some mittens). I re-learned about 3 or 4 years ago..

2. Do you like using a particular type of needle or hook? (wood, metal, straight, circular) Is there something you've been wanting to try, or a particular size you always seem to be short on? The only metal I like so far are addi's... love wood needles. I use both straight and circular, depending on the project.

3. What kind of projects do you enjoy making? Any types you just haven't ever gotten into as much as others? I love knitting socks. I have knit a poncho and a couple of sweaters, scarves and several felted bags. I guess I love socks the most, but bags are second.

4. What's on your needles\hook right now? What's your oldest UFO (unfinished object)?Right now I am finishing a pair of socks. Oldest UFO would be my striped dog hoodie from the book Knitting for Cats and Dogs.

5. If you were going on vacation tomorrow, what project(s) would travel with you? Socks or a bag...maybe wrist warmers...or beaded scarf or bag...or baby stuff...........

6. What are your favorite types of yarns? Any you're allergic too, or just hate working with? Anything in particular you've been dying to try? No allergies, love sock yarn and worsteds, wool, alpaca, merino wool,bamboo, soy, corn...I don't care for 100% acrylics. I want to make lots of socks! Want to try making a Noni felted bag. I have a pattern for the metro bag I've been looking at...

7. What sort of colors do you love in yarns? Brights? Pastels? More muted colors? Variegated? Are there any you can't stand? Hmmm..sock yarn, love variegated and solid. Worsteds...love almost any color but bright yellow or bright green. I love green, but not "neony" green. I love rich colors. Also, colors that contrast and look wonderful together, also like textures, but textures as in different yarns knitted together...I live to make bags, too, felted or not...

Your Coffee Passion
1. Do you prefer caffeinated or not? caffeine, please

2. Whole bean or ground? For what type of pot or press? either. I use a Capresso drip. Want to try french press..

3. What types of roasts do you enjoy? Are you more the light and lively or dark and robust type? dark and robust, definitely!

4. How do you 'take' your coffee? Creamers? Sweetener? Other add ins? Sometimes black, sometimes cream.

5. That first morning cup - is it about the taste, or the caffeine? taste!

6. Do you enjoy going out to coffee shops like Starbucks? What are some of your favorites?Yes, Starbucks. I love nonfat sugar free caramel macchiatos......otherwise I get black coffee..

7. You've just made the perfect cup of coffee - is it in a thick mug, or a thinner cup? Where would you sit to drink it? Regular size mug. I drink while running around. Usually if I sit it would be in the office.

8. You're enjoying that perfect cup, and have a magic cabinet in your kitchen - when you open it, magically, your favorite treats will appear to enjoy alongside the coffee - what are they? Are they sweet? Crunchy? Soft and flaky? ooo,biscotti or cookies, so crunchy and sweet.

All about YOU!
1. Do you have other hobbies like spinning or scrapbooking? Yes! Scrapbooking, painting, writing,sewing, making art dolls and altered art

2. Do you collect anything? Not really. Used to collect unusual pigs or little sheep... ha ha ! now I collect yarn!!! ;). I love gel pens or pens that write well..also like vintage buttons, photos, pictures, sewing scraps, fabrics and trim.....love Amy Butler type fabric--I also sew and like to make cool stuff...purses etc..

3. What is your favorite part of Autumn? Weather, leaves in the Midwest, smell of apples and pumpkins, decorating, having everyone home for Thanksgiving...

4. What sort of scents do you enjoy? Any difference in what you like for your house versus what you like for your body? Yes, for home I like harvest, spice, apple, pumpkin, linen,warm homey scents. For body I like Philosphy's Amazing Grace body wash.

5. Are you allergic to anything? no

6. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID? Yes! MariaE

7. How would you spend an ideal fall afternoon/day? Like I did last week in the mountains watching the trees and beautiful sky

Renewed....

There is so much to say about the outdoors. We hiked and hiked and and enjoyed the woods and the mountains. The drives were spectacular....Oh I love this country. We stayed in The Palace Hotel in Silver City, taught Alex about Billy the Kid (he had a billion questions), we stayed in a rather (kind of) remote cabin in Pinos Altos...we went the the Gila Cliff dwellings, the Catwalk, and just hung out in the perfect weather and outdoors. Ahhhhh. I would love to live somewhere there in a little cabin with my knitting!!! Oh, and my family, of course!!! I took loads of photos and will post them soon....
Well, meanwhile I won a prize in the Carefree (or not) Holiday KAL!!!! Yes! ME! Won a prize!! Can you believe it???!! (GRINNING) I won some Merino5 from Crystal Palace Yarns and I chose Red Cinnamon...going to make some Genome Socks without the frilly edge.... I saw a photo on ravelry of the exact sock I want to make!!! ooo, thanks Carefree (or not) KAL!!! for picking MY name from that huge container of names!! :D

Also, I was TAGGED by Corrine, of Craftyloca's Sanctuary: She has a great blog, I like to go there because I feel so at home there!


So here are the rules:

list six details about myself
tag six fellow bloggers
leave them a comment so they know they’ve been tagged.

Six details about myself:

1) Hmmmm.. I wear contact lenses AND reading glasses....when knitting, creating art, reading or writing. I don't want to have lasik surgery. I have worn glasses since I was 5 or 6 and have always been far-sighted.
2) I love to change rooms around and move all the furniture around when I get in the mood
3) I love to paint things like furniture and walls
4) I always seem to get into trouble in one way or another
5) I love people and my DH wonders at the way I can converse at length with a perfect stranger
6) I can't stand to eat any kind of bbq ribs...don't know why but they make me feel sick...

Okay, now it's my turn to tag six fellow bloggers:

Kathy at Aunt Kathy's Place
Lori at With Six You Get.....
Monica at Rubys N Purls
Lorri at Let's Talk Over Coffee
Adrienne at knitting in the bellybutton of california
Liberty at My Words Come Tumbling Out

Knitting Hopes and Dreams

OK, so no takers on the carefree knitting holiday thing... well, I thought it was a great idea, and furthermore, I am going to do it. I even have some things picked out: Toast and Toasty wrist warmers, Seafoam Towels, socks, Fourteen Cowl and Ridged Lace Cowl, and maybe a scarf.

Coming up next week we are going to New Mexico for some hiking and exploring in the Gila Wilderness:




and then we'll travel north to Albuquerque to visit Oma and Opa (my parents). Little guy has fall break so we are going. We are looking forward to this trip. The little guy will miss a soccer game and 2 practices, but it'll be ok. I am bringing him plenty of nightly reading and even some math facts for those evenings!! ha ha - don't tell him....

Well, I guess I'll even post a picture of a half done tesserae sock:

Done in Sanguine Gryphon's Eidos sock yarn in Phaedo colorway. Kind of a gray- green. Great yarn, by the way!

Hmm, I started thinking that I am going to start writing again...my writing is so rusty - downright normal anymore...

Well I'm off.

Carefree Holiday Knitting KAL!

Prizes! Fun! No Pressure! I just joined this awesome KAL for some stress free holiday knitting. There are prizes and lots of great people to help encourage you to complete your projects! They are also on Ravelry! Tell them I sent you, and post on your blog as well! There are patterns and lots of suggestions as well! I can't wait to get started. Join by October 1st. Happy Knitting!

I picked this up from Guinifer's blog:

This is what you do:
1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list in your own Blog

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94.The Alchemist, Paulo CoelhoT
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

so, I am not underlining because I have to go pick up Alex from Awanas.
I am hibernating (or frogging) the lace anklets because I am mad at them right now....... I started Tesserae socks from Knitspot with Sanguine Gryphon's Eidos hand painted sock yarn in"Phaedo" colorway.....really liking it so far!!!
Now I have to go get in the car!!! Happy knitting!

Thanksgiving!!?

I just made reservations for oldest son to come home from Purdue in Indiana for Thanksgiving.. I can't wait to see him! Everything seems perfect when all five of us are together! It's hard to imagine Thanksgiving already, isn't it. Halloween is a stretch, too, and the stores sure aren't wasting any time......
Well, I got a Chicago Bears shower curtain for Alex's bathroom. It's a Jack and Jill bath with the office, so Russell is very pleased, as well...today I got blue and orange towels and rugs... oh yippee..
I like sports, I just don't REALLY like sports....
I started and frogged and started and frogged and started and frogged, OH, AND...started and frogged and finally RESTARTED my lace anklets with that Panda Cotton yarn. The color is gorgeous(Strawberry and Kiwi or something like that), but it splits. I'll show you a photo later. I didn't take one yet and I'm too lazy to take one now. I'm resting up for Alex's first soccer practice tonight! (lol) He love sports. Loves to run, compete, etc. Right up his alley!! Well, gotta go feed the boy!

Tuesday Eve

I just have something very important to share and it cannot wait. If you have a bible, go to John 14:16-17.
It is Jesus, and he is speaking to his Disciples. He is telling them to trust in God, and he says.."And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. Th world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.."

All I can say is "wow".... I'm telling you, you have to read the bible. Your eyes will open, even if not right away, keep at it.

Sending all of you love!!

Finished 2 Felted Bags! (almost).....

Finished the Fiesta del Sol bag, finally, at least my version! I also finished the Caledon Hills Bag, except for finishing the trimming and putting on the magnetic clasp and button!!! Here are photos:
Here are some photos of Alex and our dog Lalo swimming in the backyard:

Tuesday

Today I am tired, just got home when I picked up younger son from school at 2:45. He had a pretty good day, I think, but they have lunch at 10.40 a.m.! I send a snack, but he has been eating it before lunch and drinking all his water as well! (he says they water at school is nasty because it tastes like "art water"........ does that mean he's sampled watercolor water while painting??...hmm- anyway, I am going to start sending 2 snacks and give him a bigger breakfast and 2 big bottles of water. He gets downright impossible when he is hungry and/or thirsty... As soon as we got home he ate a giant cheeseburger (all if it) and a drink pouch and wha-la! he was sweet as pie!So, besides running late for Bible Study, losing my phone temporarily, cutting my finger, and having a conference with Alex's teacher early this morning (there was a "mean" sub yesterday! - Alex got in trouble.....) the good thing was that I started a new class! I am taking a Kay Arthur Precepts class on Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua over the course of this year! Yay, it is a lot of work, but very good. I also did a bunch of errands that I needed to do. Well, I have to go now to watch Alex go swim for a while.

Wednesday, Fairy Day?

Here were are, Wednesday, and I must get down to the craft room and clean. It's the only room where there are still way too many boxes. Can't walk or do anything in there, and I know that the cords to my printer and speakers must be down there somewhere! Still have to unpack some boxes to fill the curio cabinet upstairs, and finish the dining room. I did finally put the Tupperware- type stuff away. Then I have to dust, vacuum , clean the bathrooms...Arghhh, can't I just call the magic moving fairy to come?

OOPS! This one above is not her! Where could she be?



or is she this one, on the left????
If this is a possibility, it could be grave, because it appears as though she is TRAPPED in a glass case....well, I have to say that dreaming of magical fairies who do your housework is nice, even though I don't really believe in fairies, they are fun to imagine....especially because instead, I know that I could be here with these sturdy waschfrauen women: Well, now, how do I really feel about all of this??? This next picture says a lot, and yes, I am on my way to the front lines to do the washing, scrubbing, cleaning, organizing, and fluffing of it all:
And with this, I bid you adieu. You know, if this little blog had more readers, or more readers who commented, I maybe just could have a little accountability action going...as of now, I can sit back and eat bon bons and nobody will know....

Fiesta del Sol bag

hey hey! I am almost finished with the Fiesta del Sol bag! I don't know if I am going to add the pom poms like the pattern directs, though.....MAYBE I can take a picture of it to show!! It's very colorful, though not as long as the pattern, either, because I ran out of red yarn.....no worries, though. I improvised and I like it... SOOO..... now I have started the Caledon felted bag which I hope to whip up quickly. Then, contrary to my queue on ravelry, I think I might try socks OR socks and the Hobo Bag by Stitch Poet simultaneously!!!(oooo)

Yes, we are here!

Yes, and I am crawling in and out of boxes.....can't find the cord to my printer and speakers....but I do have my camera (I think I know where it is!!) Everything is upside down...oh dear--but I think I am handling it pretty well.
It has been hot and we have been making great use of the pool, and we even taught puppy Lalo to swim, and now he loves it! Maya would bark at him at first, because she doesn't necessarily like swimming. She will wade but that's it. When Lalo went for a full fledged jump in, Maya about had a heart attack and barked at him as if to say "You Fool!" --but she then realized that Lalo was having a blast. Now she puts up with all the attention he gets. Oh, to be wild and crazy. - Oh, to be sensible and calm....
Hopefully soon I can post a pic or two of our new digs.
Knitting wise, I am almost done with my felted Fiesta del Sol bag, and I finished Karin's cami. She likes it, although she is long waisted; I'm thinking I could have lengthened it a bit.

Welcome to Scottsdale

We have been here since very late Sunday night (actually, Monday morning!!) We close on our house August 11th, so we are in temporary housing until then. Things are fine, nice, great, what have you.....I am loving the sun and the landscape and visiting old friends!! Thanks for yur prayers. God has just been so good to us during this move! We are going to Tucson Saturday to visit oldest daughter!! YAY can't wait to see her and her new puppy!!
Gotta go for now---

The Movers Are Here

.....and all of a sudden the whole aura of the house was transformed into a bustling center of moving things, packing, lots of people........ music playing from radios........the sound of plastic being ripped from large rolls, paper rustling, boxes being assembled and tape guns searing across them...... I would take photos, but I ran out of batteries and my camera isn't working.......these guys are fast!

We're almost on our way!

Tomorrow the packers come and will be here Thursday and Friday, and they are going to load the truck on Monday and Tuesday.........wowee it's going by fast!
We are going to have a little birthday party for youngest son on Saturday at a fun place here. Today is his 9th birthday!! Can't believe he is already 9!! wow!
I am working on daughter's cami and packing knitting projects for the road-- have a pair of ankle socks and 2 purses to felt....fiesta del sol bag by Kristin Nicholas and the Caledon Hills Felted City Bag from Yarnmarket. I figure those should give me PLENTY, as IF I was not going to be crazy busy anyway!!! Oh, I may as well take the Exploring Stripes Bag.. as well...... stuff for the road....
Wish us luck in this move, and that we all get there safely - animals, too!!!!Thanks!

Hey Ho!

Hi,

Well the most exciting thing so far today is I found out that I won a prize from Aunt Kathy's contest from her blog!!! oooooweeee! I won a cool sock knitting tote from BeaBinneys Etsy store!! Wow and have I been admiring those, too!! Who knew?? Wow thanks Kathy!!!
The second exciting thing is that we are waiting for an answer to our offer on a house in Scottsdale.... We are ready-just need a house to live in!!!
Youngest son is outside playing with a bunch of kids and I let him take out a bag of Cheetos Puffs to share...he seems to be pretty possessive of them but is happy to share......I usually don't let him do things like that. Otherwise, I continue to change my mindset to a moving on one....have been knitting my daughter a beaded cami to calm the nerves...here is a picture:

It has been fun to knit so far. I hope it turns out cute and fits her. She is tiny!!
Well, what else can i say. Please pray for my cousin Mary as she has a job interview on Thursday of this week.
Have fun knitting!!!!

Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge

Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge
Originally uploaded by wobbly85

I spent this morning on this ride: SpongeBob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge Roller Coaster, with youngest son. !!!! Older daughter and my sister wanted to go to Mall of America, so we did...had fun- although I had sworn off roller coasters, I went on this one and just didn't let my mind go to the sane place it does sometimes when I am scared....... I didn't fall off or anything severe, just closed my eyes the whole way and laugh-screamed..... sister and daughter had fun shopping, and I offered my sanity as sacrifice for everyone to have a little fun..it wasn't so bad. I might actually do it again!

Knitted Babe #4 is done!

Well, she is finally done..... I have to make clothes for all of these little babes, though. So, mom has 4 now. I guess the initial thrill is gone for me!! I still want to make a Frida Kahlo one, though. Think I'll try to make some of famous artists and writers or something!!

We had a wonderful 4th of July here at our house, and 2 more of my aunts even joined us from Chicago! So (these are my mom's sisters and a cousin--all in their 70's and 80's)! We had a blast and at night did fireworks and put Mexican music on and danced!!! Good food, too........ Of course you know there were young people here too!!

Saturday we traveled to the bustling metropolis of Mason City, Iowa, for the bi-annual Vega Family Reunion...(my mom's side- my dad is from Germany..) it was fun and we had great Mexican food! What a treat! Tamales, a pinata for the kids, met people I never knew, etc. etc.

So, my arm is doing great, too, thanks for the nice thoughts!!

My parents and sister are still here, oldest son left today and oldest daughter leaves Sunday.

What a fun exit from Minnesota!

We Sold Our House!

Well, we sold the house in a record 10 days. God is shining down on us. We went to AZ to find a house, found several, but haven't made an offer yet. Things are moving quickly now.

Tomorrow daughter and older son are both flying in, as is my sister Marta and my mom and dad! Friday we'll have a huge party here with 2 more of my aunts, their husbands , and a bunch of cousins! One aunt is coming from Iowa, the other from San Diego. We'll have a wonderful 4th! I am still trying to knit clothes for my mom's knitted babe dolls,with everything else. I'll just give them to her when she gets here instead of mailing them.
When we were in AZ, Frankie, our cat got really sick and had to be transferred from the kennel to the vet. He was so stressed that he couldn't pee and he wouldn't eat. They got him straightened out, though, and the vet kept him the rest of the time he was there.
The night we returned from AZ, I was baking cookies and burned my left arm pretty badly. I would take a picture but it looks nasty. It has been healing well, though.

Off to Arizona

We are leaving tomorrow to find a new house! Hope it goes well. I have been knitting some little things for mom's knitted babes dolls--she doesn't know about the three new ones yet...I wanted to get them fully dressed before I send them back to her! I made a swimsuit and some undies for one of them.
These pictures are placed a little strangely... can't get them to behave. Don't have time right now to fix them,but I will later!

It's Beautiful

A beautiful day! Perfect! Took the dogs to the dog park while we had people looking at our house..yes....we are moving!! We are moving back to sunny Scottsdale AZ this summer. We are excited, as we have friends there and we miss them! So, the cleaning and organizing and fluffing and froofing of the house has been taking place! So, it's a good thing. I am working on some knitted babe dolls, and also a cami for daughter and getting ready to start a summer sweater. Things are in a bit of a frenzy, though, with the moving thing nearly upon us. We'll go house hunting next week for 9 days, then come home, have lots of company for the 4th of July, and go to a family reunion together in Iowa. Found a pattern for a really cute 4th of July bib . Isn't it adorable?

Hmmm...

Today is Friday, June 6. Still blustery, 64 degrees or so, cold and windy. Is there spring? Summer? It's almost fall ......just kidding. I have all but given up hope. One day we will wake up and we'll have to get the saddles out to put on the giant mosquitoes...and it will be humid as all get out......help me be positive about the weather, please....
Well, yesterday was younger son's last day of school! yippee! I am working on a couple of knitting projects at the same time and have to admit that I have kind of been wandering off from my knitting projects. Things have been very busy and I can't sit down long enough to enjoy knitting. Tonight son and DH are going to a Father/Son Camp-In at our church!! They will have fun! Let's see, Yesterday I made Pecan Parmesan Crusted Salmon and rice with peas. It was good. What else? Younger son had pizza at a neighbor's end of year party. They had a big jumpy thing in their yard, and water balloons, fun and games, although it poured for a lot of the time. They had a blast just the same! He went over again this morning to extend the fun....!!

Finally, a decent day!

This spring has shown us pretty horrendous weather. Today, May 31, is really a nice day-- around 70 and sunny!
I finally finished my sweater, Silverlake Shirt pattern from Oat Couture. I like it. Very simple pattern. Used 8 balls of RYC Soft Tweed in Thistle. Now I am starting a surprise for my oldest daughter: a beaded cami in turquoise cotton........ of course there are also various other things going on...... little son had a soccer game at 9:00 am today, a baseball game at 10:30, and baseball pictures at 1:00! So we ran around all morning.....it is so fun!! Now I am supposed to be cleaning and organizing but the computer has turned into a black hole where I disappear in ravelry!! Ha ha ha I guess I'll have to KNIT a cover for it and hide it, or an least make it harder to get to!!! A computer Cozy!!!!!! ;) Well, see you later!

What Age Do You Act?

You Act Like You Are 31 Years Old

You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! You're responsible, wise, and have enough experience to understand a lot of the world. You're at the point in your life where you understand yourself pretty well. You are figuring out what you want... and how to get it!

What Age Do You Act?

Frankie!

DSCN3788
Originally uploaded by miasfolkart

a couple of things

Well, I clearly have not been posting things I've been knitting on this blog, but I finally have done so on ravelry. The latest things are these two baby items: a bib with a vintage button and a berry baby hat. Fun to knit!

Time Flies!

Oh, geez, can't believe it's been so long since I've posted anything. I will post more soon. Been hanging out at ravelry. I'm MariaE there. So, lots happening, the weather here has been simply atrocious, though. Disheartening..... but yesterday and today were nice days! School is almost out for our youngest, baseball season and spring soccer has started, and DH is coaching soccer. School is out for two college kids. Older son got an internship at Purdue for the summer and his first day was yesterday. Older daughter will be coming home soon!! Dogs are fine, enjoying our visits to the dog park and running around. Frankie is, well, just being a cat I guess. He is so lovey-dovey!!

Mitten Swap Goodies

I just wanted to share some cool yarn I got from a mitten swap on Ravelry!!!The colors are beautiful and the yarn is wondiferous!! Thanks, Sandie!!!! :) The variegated yarn is chunky/thin/chunky!!! the bigger ones are Araucania Magallanes color 312, and Araucania Nature Wool Chunky, color 120. The smaller ball is Zitron Filou, color 112. Aren't they gorgeous??? I can't wait to knit some mittens and/or wrist warmers with them!!

Sock Saga

Here they are:
My second pair of socks. The pattern is from Very Easy Circular Knits by Betty Barnden. A very easy pattern and I knit the first 2 pair of socks from that pattern. The third pair is started and the pattern is "Janis' Koigu Socks" from the internet but I am using SockPixie's Scarlet Pimpernel Yarn instead of Koigu. I also decided that I am going to use size 1 needles next time. I have the book Knitting Circles Around Socks and attempted to knit socks on two circs following the book, but I got frustrated and went back my size 2 dpns. So, I am half done with the first sock of the third pair already!! I think I love sock yarn and knitting socks, even though I am such a newbie........ I even joined Sock Knitter's Anonymous on Ravelry... ;) .

Sock Pair #2!

Well, I haven't taken a photo yet, but I am finishing sock #2 of pair #2!! Loving it, but still such a novice! Will post again soon in more detail!!

Longing For Spring Swap Questions

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft? Knit, about 2 years
   
2. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? What are your least favorite yarns/fibers? merino wool, wool/silk blends, sock yarn. Least favorite are scratchy type acrylics. Not so many novelty yarns, either.
   
3. What are your favorite colors? What are your least favorite colors?Favs are vibrant colors, blues, teals, purples pinks, magenta, violet, lavender, greens, reds....;)
   
4. What ‘warm weather’ project are you looking forward to making this year? I'm thinking a summer sweater, and also continuing knitting hats, mittens and so forth for charity.
   
5. What are you favorite scents? Least favorite? Love patchouli, spicy scents, and some perky type flower scents. Don't care for rose.
   
6. What is your favorite flower? hhmmmm all of them! like pink tulips
   
7. What are you favorite spring time hobbies/activities? walking, gardening(but not too much), reading, watching my son's basketball, baseball and soccer games
   
8. Do you have a garden? If you do, tell us a little about it. Do you like to plant flowers or vegetables? A little patch....I always plant lots of herbs and jalapeños, and sometimes tomatoes. Flowers, yes of course!!
   
9. What are your favorite sweets? Jordan Almonds, fruit, Chessmen butter cookies from Pepperidge Farm, caramel corn
   
10. Do you collect anything? I like strange and artsy stuff, art and unusual stamps, like from Somerset Studio and Stampington and Co. Magazines. I also like little pigs and sheep.
    
11. Do you have any allergies? no
    
12. Do you have any pets?YES! 2 wonderful dogs, Maya and Lalo, and a nice kitty named Frankie
    

Sock #2 is done!

Finished sock 2 of the first pair the other day...They are a little bulky and definitely a first try, but VERY comfy! I have learned so much and have already started another pair! I'm using size 1 needles this time with Lisa Souza'a hardtwist merino , color is Newtown.

Happy Valentines Day!!

Frankie Jr.!!

I just got my Cocoa Swap package from Criquette and it's wonderful! And my blah buster buddy is none other than Frankie Jr.!!! Our Frankie loves him already!! He hugged and kissed him!! Then Lalo the puppy tried to steal him so I had to put Frankie Jr. in a safe place... Oh Thanks !!! and, oh ! a whole package of goodness came! Dream in Color "Classy" worsted yarn in Blue Lagoon --oooo GREAT COLOR! I want to eat it! And Haribo Gummy Bears, Werthers candies (I'll have to hide those), Lake Champlain Mocha Hot Chocolate, size 1 CP bamboo knitting needles, Starbucks Espresso beans covered in dark chocolate, some gorgeous blue and silver stitch markers, flowers and a kitty!!! I tried to take a pic but those are blurry. A journal, a notepad with a pen, a brown satin round padded box, Mardi Gras beads (ooowhooo) Some Doggy Human breath mints, and a cat toy for Frankie Sr.!! Oh, Thank you Criquette! You are awesome! Here are some photos:

Finally! My First Sock!!!

Well, here it is.....my first sock. A little big, (ahem)..perhaps because I decided to use size 3 needles ? Didn't knit a test swatch? Who knows, but I am on my way! heh heh.. It was fun and sock number 2 is on the needles now, along with a pair of mittens from Louisa Harding's Knitting Little Luxuries....wow! Mark yesterday a day in history for me- February6, 2008. My first sock, which I just knew would materialize someday!

Another Try

OK!! Here is my sock. The sorry blue and purple striped one I had at Amy's was frogged. This one is going pretty well, and I LOVE the yarn. It's Sophie's Toes - a present I got from Guinifer in the Coffee Swap. I am such a newbie at knitting compared to all these knitter's at Amy's. But I will not give up. Socks may not be my forte, but I will conquer the knitting world! Argh! (someone help me quick get off here..) just kidding. I am really happy with how my latest sock attempt is going. And, yes..I am proud of my work. ha ha Gotta go take youngest son to school.

Cocoa Swap Question #4

This weeks topic:
What is your most memorable vacation? Where did you go? What made it memorable? My MOST memorable vacation was a family vacation we took in 1973 when I was 15. My parents, the adventurers they are, piled 5 kids and themselves into a gold white-topped Chevrolet Suburban, hooked up a travel trailer, and went south from Michigan. My father, being the German that he is, had planned this, of course, months in advance. My mother's parents are from Mexico, (she was born and raised in Iowa) and my dad was (and still is) deep into genealogy. He is from Koln Germany, and arrived on US soil in 1953. The trip had more than one purpose:
1) to introduce us to our Mexican heritage, and 2) to get original birth records from as many of my mother's family members as possible. We traveled all the way south almost to Guatemala. My father would stop the car before we reached each village or town, and would tell us all the things we were going to see and why they were important. It really was awesomely educational. (Even though I was very unhappy that I had to leave my first boyfriend behind in Michigan for 3 months..) I remember seeing cows on the beach in Salinas Cruz, and my mom jumping up and down in terror when I went out there because the waves were monstrous!! Well, there wasn't just me. I was the oldest of 5, yes, that is f-i-v-e children....15, 13, 11, 9, and 7. The trip took three months, and I would have to write a short novel describing the adventures we had! hahahaha maybe that's why I love Frieda Kahlo... My dad is not a "turista" type. He is "get there, jump in and get your hands dirty type".... which explains why we drove EVERYWHERE, or walked, saw EVERYTHING in Fodor's book and more, who knows, and we usually entered small towns and mountain villages the back way or hiking up a mountain so my dad could talk to the local police guy or whoever. Yes, he speaks Spanish and my mother, by the way, speaks German.......by the way , some small town near Tampico Mexico is where I first encountered a fish head swimming around in a bowl of soup...in a restaurant with blue adobe walls and hardly any light ,and long wooden benches to sit on, and probably the best tasting soup and corn tortillas I can remember. I didn't eat the fish head, no, my culinary tastes are wide, but fish heads, no thanks.
Anyway, thanks for jolting that memory out of the library of memories I have of life with the Kriechel's!!!!!!

Found Some Pictures

This one isn't very good, but it is younger son and neighbors playing hockey in the pond in our backyard.
Here is a picture of older son home from college at Christmas. He helped younger son make a snow fort on the side of the house.