Secret Pal 13 Question of the week

The next question is: Are you doing any Christmas knitting?

NO - have not been able to do much knitting at all for the past several months. My eyesight has not returned as I had hoped and has kept me from knitting very much. I have real difficulty in seeing sometimes. So no knitting for anyone this year - other than a hat for me that is almost finished. It was put aside for a few days for another little project that is finished.

When is a secret not a secret?

About 2 years ago, I created a yahoo email address solely for the purpose as a secret identity for Secret Pal's, Swap-bot, etc. Have used it ever since as such, thinking it was secret and showed the email address – that I thought was cute – and used as other ID's. But……………last week, I used the post to a Secret Pal on my KnitTalk list and got a surprise. When she replied to me on the post, I saw my name there, big as could be! Not the cute ID I had created or expected, but my big fat name! My current hostess in Secret Pal 13 tried to give me a hint, I see now, and I didn't catch it about my name showing. Soo, it has taken me several days to find how to change the name shown with the email address – so it is finally done! And I am sorry to all of the SP's of the past, taking away a little of the surprise!!

Here again!

I have lapses in posting - seems the cause is always the same lately - another eye surgery, and my vision is not rebounding like I had hoped. Makes knitting a little difficult. Started a cute little women's lace hat - Ravelry pattern here- have almost finished the lace edging - so the body part should go fast. But am having difficulty seeing clearly enough to do the lace part - and it is real simple.

Time to get to laundry and housework - doesn't take much vision to do that!

Secret Pal 13 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like to knit with soft, flowing handpainted/variegated yarns. Some natural yarns (wools, cotton) mixed with some acrylic ok. No box store acrylics, fun furs etc. No bling for me.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Everything from a sewn needle case, to a wine bottle cover to a plastic storage container.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? About 5 years - off and on, depending on my RA - I am still at probably the Intermediate stage.

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

5. What's your favorite scent? Allergic to many scents - I like vanilla, but can tolerate candles in small doses

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? A big one, front and center! Love Chocolate, but also like many other Christmas favorites. Don't like licorice - but people probably wouldn't send it!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Don't spin - but can crochet, have dabbled in a lot of other needle crafts -

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Behind the times - only can play MP3's on my computer, like Christian gospel, Smooth jazz, classical piano,

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Love jewel tones-favorite is fuschia, but really like purples, magenta, teal, turquoise - no pastels.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Just hubby and I - lost our Min Schnauzer last fall - I am looking for another one - husband is not!! LOL

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Scarves, hats - a lot of hats, head wraps - I have trigeminal neuralgia and an eye that is very sensitive to the cold air. No ponchos - I am fluffy and don't need more than I already have! Love stoles, shawls

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Right now I am learning to knit lace shawls so that is my favorite at the moment

13. What are you knitting right now? Dishcloths for Thanksgiving gifts, shawl, and Tudora and a hat for Christmas gifts

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Love to - I enjoy thinking about the person who would put time and energy into making something nice for me.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circulars, bamboo, but am also loving my Knitpicks

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I would love a ball winder

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Recently cleaned up my UFO stack so probably only about 2 weeks

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Love holidays, like to decorate, Observe Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Angels

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Need some tips for my Knitpicks, currently not subscribed to any mags

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Socks are next on my list if my hands can handle the small needles

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? not yet - wear a size 9 xw

23. When is your birthday? Jan 15

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? kn1tg1rl - working on getting my personal things in - can spend hours window-shopping!

Nice people in the world

I had to drop out of SP12 due to eye surgery. However, my partner sent me a great little box any way - shows that there really are nice people out there - Wendy is one of them!




Some really nice cotton yarns, plus being in the summer, some Welchs fruit snacks.

Then in another swap, with the TeaTime Knitters we had a final swap as the group closed.

I got a really cute little teapot for one, plus some yarn and tea. But the greatest thing was a cute little wrap that Deborah had knit for me. Deborah and I have hit up a great internet friendship that I wouldn't trade for anything. And she knit this shawlette while suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as well as other things. So it is really special to me. Now just waiting for some cold weather to wear it!

Pre-Halloween Fun

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

Last night was a nice night for family. The "boys" of the family were in CA on a Sales Meeting for the week so that left the girls here alone all week. So we got together last night and had dinner at our house. One had to work and the addition of our daughter made a fun time. It was also pre-birthday for the Dad of the house - he is a Halloween Baby - so we had a good time.

To me - things like this are what makes good times. It doesn't take dinner out, or a movie or a trip somewhere to warm my heart - it is family that brings the warm willy's to my heart! Just a little softy!

Happy Halloween to all! And Happy Birthday to my Honey!!

Dear Diary…uuhh Blog,

I have been a little AWOL, recovering from another eye surgery, but all is well. Waiting on healing to let me know the final verdict on vision – some improvement but nothing spectacular!

Fall is slowly creeping down into the south. Temperatures went below 70 and saw the sweaters and sweatpants and jackets start appearing – the early birds so to speak of fall. Always kinda laugh to myself at this – is it a race to see who wears the first sweater? Sometimes it seems like it. I will have to get my container of misc fall things down from the attic and put up the shorts and some of the crop pants for their winter sleep. Sure that they are looking forward to a nice long nap. Sounds good to me about now too! Husband woke me up when he was getting ready this morning, not sure why he wanted me up. Guess he felt like it was time for me to get up.

So on that note, will end for today. So have a nice day ya'll – and come back soon! Will promise to write again soon!

Why my blog was lifeless!

I again have let my poor blog's feelings get hurt and lonely! Months and nobody paid any attention to it-especially me, its mama! However I have reasons....err....excuses??
I had another eye surgery, seems to not have helped my vision any, actually it seems worse. Then have had 2 bad falls, messed up one knee, have had fluid drained 2 times, and broke my thumb which had to have a pin put in. So not even knitting time here. So that wimper in the corner you heard was from me. I go back to my hand surgeon tomorrow and will see what he has to say. Maybe will be free from this little velcro cast - am tired of it, and summer does wonderful things to them that even Febreeze cannot help!

So here's to health - each of you please appreciate what good health you have. I really have come to be thankful each day for the good things in life.

Graduation Day

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Today is a nice day to add a new post to my blog - my daughter is graduating with honors from UT at Chattanooga. She will have a degree in Micro-Biology with Highest Honors from the biology department. Months of work on her research project paid off its dividends. I am very proud of her!

SP 12 Question of the week

What's your favorite summertime drink?

I am living in the South and am Texan by birth so Sweet Tea is always the answer. I now drink less sweet because of the sugar but still tea is my drink - even with breakfast at times!

Most southerners drink their sweet tea unadulterated, nothing but tea and sugar. The recipe is simple: Brew 3 family sized Lipton tea bags in two cups of water, pour it in a gallon pitcher, and add a cup and 1/2 of sugar while the tea is hot. Fill the pitcher with ice cold water and ice. Serve over plenty of ice.

That's what a southerner wants when they order tea. "Tea" in the south means "sweet tea."

Here is a recipe for a great summertime special tea that I like to make - Called Summer Tea

6 oz frozen orange juice
6 oz frozen lemonade
1 cup pineapple juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
10 cups cold water
6 small tea bags with 4 cups water

Brew tea. Add sugar and cool. Combine remaining ingredients. Makes 1 gallon.

I am so glad to have a computer again, withdrawal was really rough! I enjoy reading emails from my groups, looking up new knitting patterns, seeing work others have done, all of it is really inspiring and makes me want to knit even more.

Today was the weekly Coffee and Knit time at my LYS Genuine Purl in Chattanooga - a great shop if you are ever in the area! - and I took my new JaggerSpun Zephyr silk/wool lace weight yarn to work the "homework" swatch for the KAL the shop is doing. It is a pretty shawl and I have wanted to jump out and start one for a long time. So the time has come - if I can manage the laceweight yarn. It is going to take some getting used to - I have knit some with the fingering weight, and in comparing the two sizes, didn't feel that there was that much different in them, I went ahead and bought the laceweight yarn. So today was a session of feeling clumsy like when I first started knitting, so I need to practice and get the "feel" for it. It is a beautiful soft pink - called Lady Slipper.

It really is a beautiful yarn! I made my first swatch with size 6 needles but think I will try the 7 for the next little swatch. I knit kinda tight and I think I will get a better fabric with the 7. Wish me luck!

SP 12 Questionaire

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

My favorite yarns are merino wool, cottons, wool blends. Specifics I like: anything by Lisa Souza, Socks that Rock, Rowan. Acrylic mixed with natural fibers are ok if they give it soft smooshy texture (like Rowan Cashsoft, Tapestry or Calmer)

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

A cloth needle roll, my Knitpicks case, a plastic storage bin for my circulars

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 about 3 years, took a class then joined a group that met weekly until everyone kinda went their own way. I am probably a fearless advanced beginner/intermediate - haven't tried a sweater for myself yet.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, need to check and update my Amazon list - the list is HERE


5. What's your favorite scent?

I am allergic to a lot of heavy floral scents. Like some fruity scents like strawberry, apple, or light single floral scents - rose

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

A large one front and center!! Love milk chocolate, or mixed with caramel, mint or peanut butter or, or, or...

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

I knit and crochet primarily. Really want to quilt. Don't have a yen 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)

Only one around without an iPod, probably can play CD on my computer, listen to cable TV's music - jazz, old rock and roll, Christian, classical, swing

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

I like jewel tones - fuschia, turquoise, bright colors. Pastels, yellows oranges and lime greens aren't great on me.

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

Married for 34 yrs, 3 grown children in town, recently lost our Schnauzer of 13 yrs.

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

Scarves and hats - yes
Mittens – no, no fingerless gloves
Ponchos – no, but love shawls - I am "fluffy" so need longer ones

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

Learning socks and shawls, baby items for friends and relatives, scarves, dishcloths for quick gifts


13. What are you knitting right now?

A baby sweater, a baby hat, starting a shawl in my LYS KAL

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

They are great - appreciate the time someone spends on me.

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

I use circulars primarily – have some in bamboo, and my Knitpicks options

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

No, unless you count my living room chair!


17. How old is your oldest UFO?

The baby sweater is maybe 1 mo old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

I love holidays - like to decorate for them.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

T-shirts from places I visit, like postcards from different places

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 don't have any mag subs right now - they have not been in the budget. But I enjoy them a lot. I really enjoy books too.

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

I haven't mastered mitered squares, entrelac, am in the process of working with laceweight yarn for the first time.

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

I am new at knitting socks. I have a large foot - size 9 1/2 WW

23. When is your birthday?

January 15

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

kn1tg1rl - working on my inventory of books, yarn etc. Become my friend!

I'm Back!

I have returned - not actually from the dead, but from the heap of dead computer land. Mine died, rather suddenly, a complete and final gasp, leaving me in severe withdrawal pain. I have had withdrawals from prescription meds that were not as bad as this was. I would go to the library and use their computers, but time was limited and not always comfortable if I got one of the ones on a stool.

So to catch up the past few months - I am slowly still healing from the broken leg - able to walk with a cane and my brace. Have healed from my eye surgery - but have little functional healing. Very little sight in the eye and no one knows why. Very discouraging after 5 surgeries, much much pain, and money to have almost no sight in it. But God knows and holds my future, so am waiting to see what the future holds.
Do have a computer, a cast off from my future DIL, but it runs and after de-bugging it, and ordering more memory it is up and running. Am now in process of ordering software and installing and all of that stuff.

The wedding plans are coming right along - will be Sept 6 so already have dress, wishing I could wear pretty sandals, but am happy I can walk down the aisle. Hope I can dance at the reception - at least once or twice.

Many everyday things have gone on - but will stop here - all are happy and healthy - and getting skinnier - have lost about 30 lbs this winter and spring - being home and not grabbing fast food and cokes while out, I think has helped.

Have a great day - weather here was great - 75 today!

Family Matters

I have been a little behind in keeping posts going on here. Have had a lot of family matters going on that have taken up my emotional as well as actual time. Have had my share of doctors appts - they always seem to fall together for the 3 mo, 4 mo and 6 mo checkups. So have been on the doctor merry-go-round recently.

Also have had to deal with family issues in Texas. My beloved grandmother passed away Feb 19 at the age of 99 years, 9 mos of age. We were so hoping that she would make her 100 birthday. But in the last few weeks of her life, it became evident that she probably would not last that long. I was able to catch a last minute flight from Chattanooga to San Antonio via Atlanta. My sister picked me up and we drove an hour to her house where I spent the next day until she finished her day teaching and her daughter finished class and drove up from TAMU Kingsville. Then we hit the road northwestward, spending the night in Fredricksburg. Would have liked to have gotten there earlier to have seen some of the historic town, but was glad to just have a bed to fall into. Got up the next morning and drove another 2 1/2 hours to Abilene. Just throwing in some town names in case anyone reading is from Texas - gotta share my Texas roots! The service was nice - about 3/4's of the chapel was family. After the service one of my cousins had reserved a room at a local restaurant, and a fajita buffet. There were 3 step-sons left of 7, 29 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren. All but 2 of the grandchildren were there - my brother who was in Hawaii - he isn't getting home until today - and one other. It was so nice to see cousins I haven't talked to in years and years. And to see their families, and pictures were flying all around of various families. Everyone wrote down email addresses, and completed family trees so our book can be updated with new additions, new spouses, and all. It really was a celebration of a great family.

I have now come on out west to Andrews, to spend a little time with my dad and step mother. A chance to visit my mother's grave, and just a time to be with my dad. He isn't getting any younger. And we just got word that his brother that was unable to make the funeral, has pneumonia and isn't expected to recover. He lives so far away, they are deciding if another trip is in them right now or not.

Valentine's Day

This past week as I mailed a few Valentine's cards it brought back memories that I think all of us have had at one time or another. Sometime along second and third grade, was the time we really got into Valentine's. Making the boxes that each student put their cards in, but also the anticipation of that one special card - that one that surely was chosen especially for me, as I looked over all of my cards - over and over before picking out the one that would go to that certain person! Surely he was doing the same, then debating whether to write, I Love you, as I too made the decision. Risk writing it and being laughed at? Or finding that he too, at least for one day, felt the same way?

As I received my Valentine's last week, I remembered all of the young folks going through the same agonizing selection. Hopefully someone found their "true love" even if only for one day.

Eye surgery

Well, been there and done that, again! For the 4th time. When my mother told me not to run with scissors, I would fall and poke my eye out - I should have listened. I had my surgery the day after my daughter's birthday (see last post. I would have put it off as long as I could, but knew I had to bite the bullet and go ahead and get it done. So it is done! And hopefully it will be the last for this particular problem. I have a little sight in the eye, but just enough to cause problems. Last night I was going to make a dump cake, and re-read the recipe before going to the store - and I thought it said to put cornflakes in the topping - so like a cook, who hasn't done this one in a while, I bought some cornflakes. When I got home, I used the ingredients for the topping, and realized that it said a cup of something else, and a cup of coconut flakes - not corn flakes! Yuck! I did it again! These things are common for me - and as I sit here and write this, I realized why it was so dry and kinda yucky - I didn't melt the sticks of butter and pour over it before baking!! My brain just doesn't kick into gear sometimes, especially on days I don't feel well and yesterday was one of those. Since I began to get more ill, it is crazy, the things I think and do. My family has to suffer along with me on my crazies. So this is my dear diary entry for today!

Well the sweetest Carebear I have ever known had her 22nd birthday birthday on Jan 21. I was busy getting ready for surgery and didn't have time to post that day. Here's wishing her another 22 and another 22 and so on forever. Maybe someday, and not soon enough for her liking, she will drop the carebear label, but never in my heart. She has been called that all of her life and I still do half of the time when she says hi on the phone.

Yarnfloozies Anniversary

For her blog anniversary, she is having a contest to come up with a rectangular stole to use up some lace weight yarn she has in her stash. I immediately thought of Sivia Harding's Moonshadow Stole. There is a KAL on her Yahoo site featuring this stole now. I wanted to start it, but have waited because tomorrow I am having my 4th surgery on my right eye, in 9 mos. Not knowing the outcome, and how much it will impact my life for a while, I have held off on buying the yarn kit. But if it goes as the dr thinks, I should be back up and running soon. Keep me in your prayers.

Dishrag or dishcloth - topic of the week

When I was growing up, we always called them dishrags. Using that word now, brings back memories of when I was a child running around in the house, and being called to get a dishrag and clean off the table, or set the table, or help with the dishes. I often, when not concentrating on it, use the word still today - college education put aside! My MIL used the word all of the time, and so does my husband. So I think it is a Southern word that is used still today in many households. Would be interested to read a Northerner's blog and see how they feel about the word.

Defeat the Winter Doldrums Dishcloth Exchange

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? Primarily Knit

2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths?
My 16" circulars but would like a Knitpicks US7 16". Love their needles
3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try? I only have access to a range of colors in Sugar and Cream. Would like more of Peaches and creme and maybe try some other cottons.

4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)?
Old - not vintage - just old! Dishes are Fiesta, so like bright colors
5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Least favorite? Kinda answered earlier - bright, vibrant colors

6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends? Count the days until it ends, however, we don't always have much winter here in the SE US.

7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps? Get out among people, Knit

8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps? Unfortunately, chocolate, or anything sweet

9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa? Tea mainly, no coffee

10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do? Maui, and find the waterfalls my son rappeled down

11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of? Severe allergies to cats and cigarette smoke

To all my friends who sent me best wishes in 2007,
or promises of good luck if I forwarded something;

it did NOT WORK.

For 2008, could you please just send either money, chocolate or gasoline vouchers.

Thank you

Holidays are over!

Well Christmas has come and gone - at least in most places!

This house, however, leaves most items up all year long. Minya and Eric couldn't resist a photo of Chattanooga's picturesque Christmas scenery!!

Eric and Minya are in Panama right now - with plans of riding bicycles northward through Central America arriving either in Texas and visiting relatives or straight on through to Tennessee. They arrived in Panama on the 29th and have had to wait until today the 4th to get ready to ride out. One of their bicycles, which was crated and on their airplane, only arrived yesterday. So they have spent countless hours on the phone with Delta searching for it. Eric's patience was runnig low the last time he called, but today the enthusiasm was back. Eric is my child with the most adventurous spirit as far as seeing different countries. My others are just as driven, in different ways.

Carrie, my daughter and youngest child who will 22 next month, had taken this week off to go hiking in the Smokies, but we had a cold front come through. It was 16° here last night, so she made a good choice to stay home until the weather was better.

Jeffery, my middle son, just spent a week climbing Mt Washington - and for those not familiar with either New Hampshire or mountain climbing - it is noted for the highest wind gusts in the world. And Jeffery and his partner did it in a blizzard. No sense - in my book. Stay home in front of a fire!!

Don't really know where the children got this wandering spirit - other than my DH hitchhiked from Central Texas to Yellowstone the summer between his junior and senior year in high school. He also did some backpacking right before and after Eric was born, 30 years ago.

So may each of you reach higher for the goals that you have had in the back of your mind - anything is possible if you want it enough!