Schools

I just got some schools for work approved. I will be going to Telford PA in August and Madison Wisconsin in Sept. The school in Telford is close enough to where my Brother and his Wife are that I am planing on driving down to visit them. I am very excited.

It has been difficult to get everything set up for the Drager school. They just give a list of 8 hotels and the 2 closest airports and tell you that when you fly out that you should plan for at least 3 hours between the end of the last class and the flight check in. I had to figure out what hotel was closest, whether or not you would have to take a toll road to get there. None of the hotels gave a discount.

To set up everything for the GE school they have a preferred hotel, with a large discount and they will pick you up from the hotel and take you to and from the school. The hotel will shuttle you most anywhere in Madison. It works out nicely.

International Scarf Exchange 4

Yeaa!! I got in. I did the last one. It was fun. I made my first lace scarf. This is a great way to make something that I would not normally make.

Winter scarf swap

Wow! the stuff I got is so cool. I like the pattern and love the color of the yarn. But my favorite item would be the stitch markers.

Books I have read so far this week.

These are not in the order that I read them, just so you know.

Innocent in Death by JD Robb
Very good and I got it at 46% off.

White lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
Ok, good for a library read but not a buy in hardback, maybe in paperback. It is the first in a series.

In fury born by David Weber
Very good, I think that this one I will buy. He expanded the original novel. It is I think one of his better novel, it is in many ways a space battle book.

Some golden harbor by David Drake
Ok, a library book. This is a space opera, not quite as good as In Fury Born. Not bad though.

Vice cream : over 70 sinfully delicious dairy-free delights by Jeff Rogers
I will most likely never make any of these Ice Cream recipes. Most use cashews and that just costs to much.

Sleeping with the fishes by MaryJanice Davidson
Ok, as a library book only. Her book just do not have the reread ablity that they used to have.

Knitting in process

The Monkey Socks, I went from here to There. The first one I finished was loose and not very tall. I have more yarn left so I am going to make them taller. How ever they are now a little hard to get over my heal. I am thinking of unknitting and making the pattern a little wider but I am trying to figure out how to make sure that they are not to loose on the top. Maybe if I do the top in a ribbing for 2 inches it will keep everything up. If not I think that I will change my pattern.


Shawl

The great bookmark exchange

I got you the box from my partner for the great bookmark exchange Saturday. The felted kit is very cool. I love the pretzels and I have never read that book before.

Knitting projects

I finshed the forest canopy shoulder shawl and I am almost done with the Monkey socks. Now I need to figure out what to make next. I am thinking of making a pair of thrumed mittens. I am trying to figure out what my other project will be. I tend to have at least 2 going at one time.

stuff

I went work pants shopping and it took 1 1/2 hours to find 2 pairs that fit. The only good part was that I have gone down a pant size, I now wear size 14.

The weather has been very nice this weekend, of course now the weather people are saying that it will snow on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Ahh, that is Colorado for you.

I have been trying to think of what to make for the bookmark swap. I finally come up with some origami bookmarks. This should come out pretty cool.

My kitchen is mostly clean. This took a few hours.

I had to do a a budget, it was worse than I thought it would be. I need to have my brother start to pay rent, or some of the bills. I am thinking of having him pay the internet bill because he uses it most anyway.

It looks like at this point that I will need braces, first I will have to go though wearing a splint for 5-6 months, 24 hours a day. Not fun, not cheap. Which was why I had to do up the budget. I need to have Shawn start paying for stuff.

I hope to have pictures Monday.

Secret Pal 10 and the Questionnaire

Yaaaa!! I am in Secret Pal 10.

The Questionnaire

By Kerry

Here are is the questionnaire for SP10. Please be sure to post it in a spot on your blog where your pal can easily find it. Since your pal will use this to help create your packages you'll want to have it posted to your blog no later than the last day of February.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I really like Socks that Rock, Lorna's Lace, Fleece Artist. I can not knit with Cotton, they make my hands hurt.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I use a pencil case to hold my double point needles and most of my circular needles are hanging on a hook.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting for less that an year. I took a class last year for my birthday. I consider my skill level to be at the intermediate stage.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes, but it is mostly for books that have not come out yet.

5. What's your favorite scent?

The food kind, fruity flavors and so on.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, dark chocolate and black licorice.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I quilt and sew. I am thinking of taking a spinning class this year for my birthday. I take a class of some kind for my birthday every year.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like bluegrass, county, oldies, celtic music. My computer can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like jewel tones. Blues, greens, purples, reds. There are not any colors that I can not stand.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live with one of my younger brothers. I do not at this time have a pet. I have been thinking of getting something.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I wear mittens when it is cold and I have a scarf that I can wrap around the top of my head as well as my neck that I wear when it is very cold. I do not know If I would wear a poncho.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks, felted bags and shawls, mostly socks they travel well.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Monkey Socks from the toe up and the forest canopy shoulder shaw

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like the knitpick circulars, they are pointy. Other than those I tend to use dobble points, I do not tend to use straight needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Not old, I try to not have any and I have not been knitting that long.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

One where my whole family can get together. Other than that I like 3 Kings Day.


19. Is there anything that you collect?

Books, fabric, yarn, not so much the knit knacks.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I am thinking of getting a subscription to interweave knits. The only book that I can think of right now is A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi and Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Making Cables.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes, I do not know off hand. I do have size 9 1/2 feet.

23. When is your birthday?

It is in Jan.

Aggravation

I changed my schedule to go to an Orthodontist today and He blew me off. No pictures were taken, he looked at my panoramic x-ray for less than a minute and told me that the pain that I have been having is all in my head. He blew off my concerns with TMJ and said nothing about the fact that I have worn away part of my left joint. He said that if I felt that something needed to be done he could have me in a night guard 24 hours a day for five to six to seven months and see what happens to my bite then. He was very condescending. I am not going to go back there. He got me very mad.

Compared to the one I went to last week I was not impressed at all.

Winter Scarf Swap

• What colors do you like/dislike?

I like blues, greens, purples. Jewel tones. Colors that make me go ick are oranges and yellows.

• Are you allergic to anything? (wool, pet hair, smoke, nuts, etc...)?

No.

• What level of knitter are you (beginner, intermediate, advanced)?

Intermediate

• Where do you knit? Will you make this scarf while doing something else (such as watching TV, passenger in car, etc.)

Most likely I will knit the scarf in front of the TV or at appointments, maybe a little of it at red lights, they last 2-4 minutes here.

• What weight of yarn do you like to work with? (lace weight, fingering, worsted, bulky)?

I prefer fingering or sport weight yarn.

• Do you want it to be machine washable?

Yes please.

• What fibers do you enjoy working with?

Wool, alpaca. I can not work with cotton.

• Are there any particular styles–Fairisle, Nordic, Aran etc. you like or would like to try out in a scarf?

I would like to try Aran or cabling.

• Do you have a favorite scarf now? Why do you love it so?

My favorite scarf is 1/4 of a yard wide, it covers my head as well as my neck.

• Would you like a traditional scarf pattern or would you prefer something else such as a gaiter, cowl, gaiter, or capelet type of arrangement? If you would like a traditional rectangular pattern--do you like short scarves that you tuck in your coat or a long one that you can wrap and wrap around

I cowl pattern would be cool.

• Several of the people who signed up for this swap are crocheters. Do you crochet? (I don't but if you want a crochet pattern and supplies I'm happy to accommodate.)

Nope, I do not crochet.

• What kind of cup, mug do you need/like to drink out of?

Big, with a funny saying.

• Do you have favorite sports/teams?

No, not really.

• What do you want to drink in that cup or mug?

Hot Cocoa please.