Diagnosis: Pecan Pie-itis

I'm not sure if I've eaten too much turkey or stuffed myself on pecan pie, but I'm feeling a bit poorly. We've had family in town and I've been waiting on them the past few days. Sleep has been very limited and I it might be catching up with me, because I feel like I've been hit by a truck. My body aches and I have no energy. I might be sick or I might be craving some alone/me time.

I have had very little time to myself so project progress ground to a halt. I had done some knitting but a certain little puppy has decided that it should be his chew toy and snagged it off the couch and did some damage which I just finished fixing. It appears that he's a little confused and thinks he is a kitty, because balls of yarn fascinate him. Maybe he's getting back at me because he heard me talking to the vet about getting him neutered. (although who could blame him for that). Any tricks on how to train your puppy/dog not to eat your knitting?

I did get some sewing time in with Madison on Saturday for some doll blankets for her American Girl Doll bed. I was pretty impressed with her eye for design and how she told me what she wanted and went a very different direction than I had planned. It almost bought a tear to my eye.

Hopefully I'll find a minute tomorrow after company leaves to take some progress pics.

I'm tired and I need to head to Bedfordshire and relax.

Before I go:

The winner for the "Sweet" Sundara Giveaway is:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:2
Timestamp: 2009-11-30 03:31:22 UTC

Jessica from RoseKimKnits!

Sweet

In England we refer to Candy as Sweets. "Please Mummy, can I please go to the Sweet Shop?"

The holidays always gets my sweet tooth salivating. I spend quite a bit of money stocking up on some of my favorite British sweets (as well as American. When it comes to sweets/candy, I do not discriminate). Some of the holiday necessities include: Box of Maltezers, Box of Roses Chocolates, Chocolate Eclairs, Lots of Flakes, Cadbury Milk Tray, Twiglets (okay not a sweet, but still a snack must have for all Holly Jolly Brits!), Quality Street Chocolates, .... okay, the list could go on and on (good job, I'm married to a dentist).

In keeping with the "Sweet" theme of this post I dug in the stash to see what would tie in nicely for a Thanksgiving Giveaway.

How about some Sundara Sock Yarn in Creamy Toffee?! This yarn is delicious, just like the name implies. I love knitting with this yarn. You will too!

Want some Creamy Toffee?

Just leave a comment with what your favorite holiday sweet is and what you'd like to make with this sweet yarn.

Get a second entry if you link this on your blog (just leave a second comment leaving the link to your blog).

Winner will be picked on Sunday at 8pm central time and posted on the blog.

In the meantime, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Whether you live in the USA or elsewhere in the world, take time to pause and be grateful for all you have.

.

I'm grateful to the Cute Guy, wonderful kids, true friends, a strong faith .... many other things not forgetting sweets, yarn, and something to be passionate about like knitting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Watch Out

I'm super tired. The Cute Guy's family flew in tonight for Thanksgiving and I'm always a bit ridiculous about cleaning my house before company to the point of crazy cleaning. I reorganize every cupboard. Clean cabinets. Clean behind refrigerators and ovens (again, I know, no one will be looking there - but I'd know).

Am I the only one who does this? Should I call my therapist?

Now, they're here I've got some serious baking to do tomorrow.

However, watch this space! In the spirit of being Thankful, I want to share some of my over abundance of stash with you.

Check back tomorrow for giveaway details!!!!

Amnesia

I forgot!

I forgot that kids would still need to be ready and on the bus by 6:50am.

I forgot that another child would need to be driven to their school for an early morning meeting.

I forgot that I still had a preschooler to care for, drive to school, and have a play date.

I forgot that less than three hours of sleep is pushing it, even for me and my insomniac self. (3 is my minimum, 4 hours and I can function well)

I forgot that it's a bad idea when you're tired, the mountain of cola that you've pumped into your system so that you'd keep being pre-holiday productive would eventually wear off and you'd not be thinking very clearly.

I forgot that it's probably a bad idea to grab a few rushed minutes to cut out backing for the "place mats" (in case you were wondering what they were) as I ended up with cutting them too small.

I forgot that after 9pm on the night that you got less than three hours of sleep would be a bad time to decide to quilt place mats.

I forgot that I'd have shaky hands.

I forgot that I was trying not to swear anymore.

I forgot to immediately fix my mistakes.

I forgot to go to bed early so that I wouldn't make bad judgement calls.

But.....

I just remembered. I'm off to "Bedfordshire" and will try to remember tomorrow.

Midnight

I had planned on putting a better post together today, but time got the better of me. From kids ballet, to listening to Caleb's solo and first time as First Chair in Orchestra, it just didn't happen.

I'd post something really cool right now, but...

I'm heading out to go have late/early breakfast with the girls and then off to watch the midnight showing of New Moon.

Pathetic? Maybe.

Excited? Absolutely!

Mature? Possibly not! But that's no surprise.

Enjoy your zzzz's.

And it begins!

Holiday crafting and gift making has officially begun here today. Besides the usual mountain of chores, today I got to work on some holiday projects.

I'm about half way there on this project.

Can you guess what it is?

Time changes everything

Growing up in England, whenever we had a friend visiting the states I would beg them to bring me home some Suzy Q's. They were my favorite treat.

Yesterday while doing some grocery shopping I spotted a box of Suzy Q's who literally begged me to take them home. I'm such a softie and couldn't resist their oh so sweet plea's.

As soon as I got home and had given Ethan his lunch, (and after snapping a picture of the box for blogging purposes) I ripped open the box and pulled one out to devour. I think angels were singing, and possibly there were fireworks, I can't be sure. Then, I took a bite..... "Hmmmm, that's not how I remember it." So, I took another bite, and then another. I finished it off, but with a lot less enthusiasm than I had started with.

It was so ordinary and I felt so let down.

Some things are just better in our memories.

Has this ever happened to you?

Moving on....

Finally fixed a little problem with the sewing machine and finished up the two blocks for my Tethered Threads Block Party.

Wednesday, I plan on getting lots of sewing done on a gift project for a friend. I really should be getting my house ready for Thanksgiving and starting all of the baking I need to do. We have family coming into town and I'm nowhere need ready. Still, procrastination isn't just my middle name....

Now what was it you were all waiting for???

Oh yeah! Now I remember! You were all so excited to see my new Socktober Mystery Socks pictures. Made in Sanguine Gryphon Bugga in the Carabus Colorway on size 1 needles. (smallest size, although I wonder if I should have done the larger size)

This yarn is truly to die for. It knits like Butter! I definitely plan on getting some more of this. I actually bought some more and had gotten two skeins of Mystery Bugga. One of the skeins was the Carabus colorway again. I'm debating what to do with it. We'll see....

I loved knitting these socks. The pattern was interesting, but not so complicated that you couldn't easily memorize the lace patterns and knit away on them. In fact, I watched some Netflix DVD's with the first season of Lie To Me while knitting these. (such a great show)

Today, the Cute Guy and I had our monthly mum and dad/kid "Catch Up's" with the kids. Having four kids (plus lovely puppy Sir Winston) keeps us so busy that if we don't schedule to sit down individually and chat with the kids about everything from school to church to friends to chores, that important information can be missed. Don't think that we don't take special time for them other than once a month, it's just that I've found that our kids like the formality of scheduling a time to sit down one on one with us and have as long as they need to chat, just about them.

We've been concerned lately that something has been bothering our oldest son. He really is the perfect kid. I'm probably jinxing myself by saying that, but he's just been so easy to raise (so far). He really made it easy for us to want more kids. I think he's been 40 since age 5. For example, for his 5th birthday he asked for a suit and a robe. Why? Because he wanted to be like James Bond. Please note: we are unsure where he ever learned anything at age five about James Bond - still trying to figure that one out. However, he's just seemed a little off lately. After talking with him, we've found out he's fine. Just normal teenage stuff, but just to be sure, I informed him during his meeting with us that I could read his facial features and decipher whether he was lying to me and what each facial expression he made meant. Of course, it was complete trollop, but still... I had him going for a while there. I think I may use it on the younger kids, they're much more likely to buy it. (insert evil laugh here)

Anyway.... I know why you're all here today. Although my new socks are lovely, you want to know who won the Wollmeise.

Insert Drumroll here.....

The winner is (by random number generator - care of Random.org)

Number 49 - Philigry

I just spent the past hour reading through each comment and reading their blogs if linked. It was so much fun. Some of the comments made me laugh; a couple made me tear up. I loved discovering more blogs to add to my list to read.

I think I'm going to have to do this again. Maybe with that lovely Carabus skein. Hmmm, maybe this next week.

Philigry please email me at knittinbrit at charter dot net to claim your prize. I'm looking forward to seeing what you think.

For everybody who participated, thank you. It was fun!

Rust

I was teaching a class tonight at the Black Purl and one of the students asked about a problem she had with her blocking. She didn't have any blocking pins on hand so had used regular pins which then rusted leaving small rust marks on her white baby sweater.

Any tips on how to get them out?????

Don't forget to enter for the giveaway.

Wollmeise Pay It Forward Giveaway

Last December I posted about my frustrations of not being able to get my greedy little mitts on some Wollmeise. No sooner did I have my little vent, the lovely Tonia paid it forward and so generously sent me a package of some delicious yarns including... Wollmeise. Knitters really are such a generous bunch - I'm still a little shocked at that. (unless of course, you are at an amazing yarn sale - then they'll gouge your eyes out with their knitting needles so that they can get the last of the Socks That Rock bargain skeins).

As mentioned earlier this month, I've been on a bit of a shopping spree lately.

Notice that the yarns on either end are the same. Wollmeise Twin yarn in the colorway Kurbis. It felt a bit greedy to have two of the same colorway when I only need one. So it's time I followed Tonia's example and paid it forward.

To enter for the drawing, leave a comment stating why you're thankful for yarn (let's go with a nice thanksgiving theme - now isn't that special!) and check back on Sunday evening around 9pm ct for the winner to be announced.

You can get an extra entry if you link this giveaway/pay it forward on your blog. Just post another comment with your blog addy.

Can't get ruddy easier than that, can you?!

I must dash now as I've misplaced (please do not say "lost") a cord for my Addi Clicks. I hate it when I can't find things, so although it's after midnight and everybody else is asleep, I'm going to be digging around my house until I find the darn thing. If I make a lot of noise, accidentally on purpose, and wake up the Cute Guy, I'm going to make him search with me so that he can have the pleasure of helping his sweetie. I'm a giver that way!

Dear Cute Guy

Dear Cute Guy,

If you happen to be reading our blog (which you had better be doing on a regular basis) I thought I'd make life a little easier for you this Christmas and put together a grouping of items I'm loving and maybe you could pick one (or two, or ten) for my Christmas gift. I should probably warn you that if you ignore such very obvious hints that I will be forced to utilize your credit card on your behalf. I know how much you like to make me happy and I can assure you that any of the items on my wish list would make me happy, very happy, almost as happy as your H2 makes you happy. Remember the car I bought for you (okay, purchased with your credit and then handed you the payment book - which I still consider one of my greatest scams yet).

You've told me before that you'd give me the world if you could, but luckily for you, I don't want the world - I've never really been fond of Ohio, Arkansas or France, so I'd settle for a nice new coat or lovely new pair of boots and purse instead. A bargain at half the price!

Thank you in advance for the wonderful life we life together with our four lively kids and the cutest puppy in the whole world (who secretly I know you love, even if you continue to call him Little Turd when you think I'm not in earshot). I look forward to many more happy years with you.

love and hugs,

Your Kimmy

Kimmy's Christmas List 2009 by knittinbrit featuring Burberry bags

Items in this set:
Joe's Jeans jeans, $235
GUESS? outerwear, $198
Maruione.jp coat, $188
Toast.co.uk cardigan, 155 GBP
Joe's Jeans jeans, $139

P.S. This may or may not be a test!!!! Ignore at your possible peril!

Full Bellies

With everything crazy that went on this last month I probably could have gotten away with not feeding the family very nutritious meals and hitting the take out lines regularly. Luckily, I had discovered this wonderful website and book that I cooked from on almost a daily basis.

Think Julie & Julia type blog, but using the slow cooker every day for one year. It's amazing what she came up with.



Not only are the slow cooker recipes in this book, not the usual casserole, soup, pot roast type recipes, but they are so fast and Stephanie O'Dea also shows how they can be made Gluten Free. It almost brings a tear to my eye. Fast and Gluten Free - who knew that the two went together. I think we should also add that the recipes are VERY tasty. Definitely not a word that comes easily to a GF menu.

Declan, who has been known to ask if I'm feeding him poop before (yes, he did get to see how tasty a bar of soap was for that rude comment) literally jumps up and down with excitement when he sees that I'm cooking something in the Crock Pot.

The Beef Bourguignon was delicious! As was the Pasta Fagioli Soup. I've made everything from Indian to Asian cuisine in the crock pot lately.

I love a good food blog. Others that I have been using a lot lately are Karina's Kitchen, Tasty Kitchen, and Bakerella. I'm always looking for good suggestions. What are your favorite food blogs?

Arrived

After reviewing the patterns I was contemplating for the Lustra, I arrived at a decision. I'm going with my original plan - Seneca.

Today, I was a little busy with taking a sick puppy to the animal hospital at 7am this morning. He's still there - should be home tomorrow - sniff, sniff.

A day spent Up North doing this....

And in between all the ups and downs of the day, I swatched for Seneca. Started with a 8 - what was I thinking. I'm a very loose knitter. Then switched to a 6 - perfection! (fun centered increase and decrease - it's the small things that make me happy!)

Now, I have to be strong and not go any further until I sew up Claudia. Unfortunately, I have no willpower. zippo. It's why I spend my life desperately trying to work off a few pounds - diets just aren't my thing. Again, it's that willpower thing.

Character flaws... I have many. What's yours?

Remembering

Per Carrie K.'s suggestion, I spent some time today going through my faves and queue on Ravelry to see if I could find whatever pattern I'd originally had in mind for the Lustra. Perseverance won.

I'd originally planned on knitting Seneca by Jared Flood from the Made in Brooklyn Booklet.

I'm still pretty sure that's what I'm going to knit with it, but during the search I came up with a couple of other ideas for it too. Now, I'm dithering on which to knit.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/novak-2

Novak from Twist Collective Fall 2009

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beryl

Beryl by Bonnie Marie Burns of Chic Knits

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mondo-cable-pulli

Mondo Cable Pullover by Bonnie Marie Burns of Chic Knits

Decisions, decisions, decisions! I wish I possessed the gift of Decisiveness, I'm so flippy-floppy! What virtue do you wish you possessed and why?

Evidence

Evidence that the yarn acquisitioning may have gotten a little out of control....

Around a month ago, I purchased a sweaters worth of this yarn.

It's Lustra by Berroco in Auburgine. Beautiful, eh?!

When I purchased this yarn, I had a plan. I remember making sure I had the right yardage and had Beth wind it for me to start asap. Only problem, I have NO idea what that project was for. I've searched high and low for a pattern and can't figure out why I bought it. Maybe a sign that the purchasing was getting a little out of control.

Any ideas what this yarn wants me to make it into?

Note: gauge is 4.5 sts to the inch.

More is More, or is it Less is More?

I still need to get you all caught up on my October going-ons!

As mentioned yesterday, there were some acquisitions - Wollmeise in Kurbis Colorway. It's a bit darker than this in person.

Wollmeise again, in Arlene.

Claudie hat. Whipped up while on a road trip in Shepherds wool. It's a little pointy on top, but fits my big ol' head just fine. I purchased the yarn and pattern at the Blazing Needles in Salt Lake City when I was there in February and promptly set it aside until road trip knitting was required. I've overlooked this yarn before, but it's beautiful and would definitely like to knit with it again.

When Jessica was here for Knitting Camp she really encouraged me (read: strong armed me) into finishing some of those UFO's that have been hovering around. This is one. It's called Claudia, by Black Purl (it's strange that both knitted items I'm showing you today have very similar names - purely coincidence). It's knit in Organik, which is definitely not my favorite yarn - won't be knitting with it again - too splitty. It felt like the black hole of knitting projects but really didn't take that long in actual knitting time. I've just got to sew it together (this could cause major stalling for a few months if I didn't think that Jessica would hunt me down and beat me silly with alpaca). I'm a little worried about it fitting. I knew my gauge was a little off, but felt like blocking would fix it. However, I've gained a few pounds and am nervous the "Hi June" arms might not fit in the armholes. More to come....

Finally, we end with a quick glimpse of how the wrong yarn can really suck the joy out of a project. This is the Socktober Mystery sock which I started in this Trekking yarn. Yuck, it looked terrible. The color variation hid the pattern and I just wasn't having any fun. I set it aside to decide whether to plug on and see if it grew on me, but then my Bugga arrived and the naughty little skein just begged me to be the Mystery Sock. I'm a sucker to a begging bugga yarn, so cast on I did and it was Love, pure love. Too tired to take pics of those socks tonight, will get them posted soon.

Do you ever feel guilty about yarn acquisitions? Do you get caught up in the fun of snagging a wanted yarn and then fret later over whether you really need to have piles of sock yarns stashed around your house? or are you a frugal franny and only buy exactly what you need for that moment? How do you keep your yarn wants and needs balanced?

Catching up

October was a truly crazy month. It involved the following:

Clusterous Migraines (I'm new to these and don't want any more- she says stamping foot)
Football injuries
Preschooler falling out of bed and cutting his head open
A car wreck (poor black beauty - I miss you - hurry home to me)
1 suspected case of Pertussis
1 case of Flu
80's Murder Mystery Halloween party
One hosting of a baby shower
Trip to Madison to see Caleb perform in the Wisconsin Mid Level State Honors Choir - it was truly amazing - professional quality
Luckily, less puppy accidents than last month
Finishing of some knitting - woo hoo - still need to seem together one sweater that for some strange reason appeared to be the black hole of sweaters
Many friends families completely hit with Swine Flu - so many meals delivered to sick families
One funeral
New addiction to Sanguine Gryphon yarn - me likey's alot!!!

It's been crazy at times but certainly not boring. Now we're heading into the Holiday season and I've got a mountain of projects I want to work on.

Blog posting was set on a back burner for a few months really, but I'm feeling motivated to post again and get back in the saddle.

I have one quick question: I was at the gym today and the trainer had me doing lots of jump-roping to warm up. Which part of "I have four kids" seemed like this was a good thing to have me do. Having given birth to four kids and jump roping definitely do not go together. What strange thing did you have to give up after having kids?

While you mull over this, enjoy some pics from this past month. Bugga in Carabus - used this for my Soctober Mystery Sock. This stuff knits up like Butter. More Sanguine Gryphon! Someone stop me. The children's college funds may be at risk!!!!

Finally, he has a name - Sir Winston Humvee the First - seriously, it took us a month to come up with this. He normally goes by Winston. He's my baby and I love him.

My outfit for the 80's Halloween Murder Mystery party. My character was Polly Abdool. Winston is in the picture for cuteness factor. Adorable, isn't he?

Here's the one showing off the Queen t-shirt I scored at TJMaxx. I'll be honest, I love this. It will not just be for the benefit of the costume party.

Black Beauty in the shop. All I got to show for it was a bump on the head, a bloody nose, a miniscule cut on my finger and a major bruise to my ego.

Okay, maybe I didn't mention the Wollmeise addiction that got under way too.

Ouch!!!! Still he felt the need to tell his mum how he loved her all the way to space and back again while we were waiting for stitches.

His stitches before they took them out. This kid is sooo brave. I love him more everyday.