Monday, August 20, 2007

Additional SP11 questions

Hmmm...I'd better answer these quickly to meet the 22nd deadline. I can be a spacecase about some things...

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? clearly for me it is stitch markers. I use them to keep track of where I'm at, different stitches, etc. They are real time savers for me. and I sure do like all the cute inventive ones out there. and this last week on vacation, my SIL taught me how to make some.
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project? I always take projects with me, the more the better, that way I have something to choose from regardless of what we're doing. I'm sure my husband gets tired of the project bags. Me, I feel rich with possibilities.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? The black hills of south dakota, followed by north carolina. and jamaica.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? no fav at the moment, altho I'd like to see that new Cat Bordhi book.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? on and off, i'm always looking for new ones and could always take some direction!

And, we're back

Well we're back from the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and I have great pix to post. I'll start with these two here: one of my nephew Chase and one of my niece Taylor. I couldn't love these two more.


It was a very good week and I have more to tell once I've recovered!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

when I grow up...

I'd like to be able to knit like this... simply stunning...

all I need is practice and needle time. I see it in my head, just need to see it on the needles.

It is like gardening. I see amazing gardens in my head. I need to get those gardens out of my head, on paper and into the dirt.

We're here in Rapid City.. the Black Hills.. one of the places I always feel at home. Dean and I are taking care of my niece and nephew while my brother and his wife enjoy NYC. Its around 100 here.. but its a dry heat. It is amazing to me how dry it feels here compared to Central Iowa.

Well back to the kids. a 4 yr old and 1 1/2 yr old take a lot more attention than a 21yr old --WOW am I ready for bed at night! LOVE it! and them.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Secret Pal 11

The questionairre has arrived.... whew looks to be pretty detailed.. but I'm totally psyched!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? My favorite yarns to knit with...hmmm.. mission fall wools. I love the color choices for big projects. and I like rowan. and I like blue sky alpacas... ok, I give, I pretty much like them all. Not a big fan of the fake furs, etc.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? ha! a big bag. not sorted at all. it is a silly game I play with myself everytime I need to find myself a new pair, and me, a sewer? and I haven't fixed the problem.

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 since fourth grade. My grandmother taught me. I haven't really pushed myself on hard projects--call it laziness--so with some skills I am still at the beginner to intermediate level.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I keep wish lists on my blog...

5. What's your favorite scent? almost anything Origins has to offer, but their spring fever is one of my favorites, followed closely by their ginger line.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? SURE I love Brachs milk maid flavored caramels... and peanut m&ms.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I love to quilt and make art dolls. I really want to learn to spin.

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 chick music: christine kane, dolly parton, bonnie raitt, dixie chicks... but I also like dwight yoakum, lyle lovett..

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? this summer my favs are blue and lime green. who knows this fall? I'm finding that over time I'm trending towards brighter colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm married, with a 21 yr old daughter. I have two cats and one dog.

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

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? today it is socks. tomorrow I want to try some fitted sweaters.

13. What are you knitting right now? socks and an afghan

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? it totally depends upon the project, but I do think I reach for my addi's more than anything else.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? no

17. How old is your oldest UFO? not admitting

18. What is your favorite holiday? halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect? zena moon candles..ok, don't collect them, just want them all.

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 keep that on my wish list.. I subscribe to Knitters, IK

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? dying wools and intarsia

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? yes, 8.5" long and 8.5" circumference

23. When is your birthday? coming up soon... 8/24

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? hopefully soon she sighs...

The green meme

There is a green meme going around and I'm jumping in the boat....

1. We have a rain garden and rain barrels. We keep as much of our storm water on our property as possible. And, the rain barrel water comes in mighty handy for watering my potted plants in the summer.

2. We compost... we compost it all if its not dairy or protein. We use the compost in our gardens. We think they like it.

3. We save the water from dishwashing --we don't have a dishwasher -- and from cooking and use it in our garden, or just pour it outside rather than down the drain. We like to keep our water, here, in our aquifers. My husband finds this task irritating and onerous, but he does it anyways.

4. We have a front-loading machine, we wash big loads early in the day, and we have always used cold water.

5. We use canvas bags to bring our groceries home. While this is normal at our food co-op, it can buy strange looks at the big grocery store..sigh. We buy local and organic as much as possible. It just makes sense to get my food from someone I knew who grew it and not from a truck that drove 1500 miles. And we have our own vegetable garden.

6. We buy used a lot. Used whatever as long as it makes sense. The day I read that it took 2 lbs of pesticide to make one standard towel.. that is the day I really started thinking about clothing.

7. We are slowly changing over our lightbulbs.

8. We buy quality goods all the time. We simply don't shop at Walmart. We apply the buy local principly as much as possible. Its my money, I worked hard for it, I want it to go to someone who worked hard and gets fair compensation for a quality product.

Wish list: wish I had a better way to collect all the green water in my house from baths and laundry. wish there was a better hybrid SUV.