KnitSteph (that almost said @Knitsteph, as I’m sure my PlurkBuds will appreciate) tagged me and I said I would play along. And then, Jennifer got me too. 2 people in a 24 hour span, I was powerless to say no

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
in 1998, I was working full time for the company I thought I would spend my entire career at. I was very happily involved in so many emerging techy, geeky, fun, things, learning so much from some really great people. I had just met the man I credit with teaching me some of the most important business lessons a person can know, and pretty much just doing my thing. Had you told me then I woudl be living 700 miles away I would have laughed.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today? (The day is over, so I will go with tonight’s agenda which is simple since I am home alone tonight and have the luxury of a quiet uneventful evening)
>Finish this blog post
>Make/eat some dinner
>Turn on the idiot box
>Knit
>Knit some more

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Popcorn and goobers (yes together), Peanut butter pretzels (a la trader joes), chips and fresh salsa

4. Places I’ve lived:
Chicago, Ft Lauderdale, many (many!) towns on Long Island, Charlotte

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1st few things off the top of my head - insure my family and friends had a safety net, travel a bit, create scholorships funds for fiber and other creative artists, open a knit store/cafe/safe haven.

I’m supposed to tag 5 people but as usual with these things, it’s running rampant. If you want to play along, go ahead and snag the questions - but be sure to leave me a comment so I can come see your answers too!

Tomorrow is a crazyyyyyyy busy day and I cant wait! Lots of good fun on the menu, which I will likely post about on Sunday. Happy weekend everyone!

I’m trying to convince myself that just because I don’t have a ton of things to blog on and on about, there’s no reason to just blow it off. That’s what led to my last 3 week unplanned blog-cation (if it isn’t already a word, it is now. Because I said so) I tried to list out some things I could write about to try and spark some flow of words. I thought about some of the pictures I had planned to use in upcoming posts.

I thought about sharing the books I got from the hurt book sale… (and realized that shot is missing 2 books, and contains one I didn’t get thru the sale)

I could have gone off on a rant complaining about the 2286 spam comments I got hit with overnight (but that were thankfully caught by Askimet. Oh how I love thee Askimet!) NO, really - 2,286! When you consider that I have received 2625 total since I started the blog a little over 3 years ago, that 2286 received today is quite a staggering number

click to see full sized - makes it easier to read

I could have even used the old stand - a meme type thing floating around… a Wordle based on my blog

or based on my Del.icio.us links

Shocking - they have similar content!

But really, all I want to do is go spend some time knitting before bed. Forgive me?

Baby steps… that’s what I’m taking. I have been thinking about writing again, starting posts in my head and never getting around to actually doing it, so I cut yesterday’s post after my thank you’s to leave myself a bit of content today and to try and give myself an enticement to write. I’m here now, so I guess it worked.

Our side door neighbors are very sweet people. When I found out they were expecting a girl, I decided to knit them something. June 21st was the last time I posted any status on that baby sweater, mainly because despite the easy knit, it was growing slowly. Turns out, I don’t like knitting plain stockinette in all bubble gum baby pink

One night, as the baby’s due date was looming, I was sorta challenged by Wendy and Megan to stop procrastinating and just finish the stupid thing already. There was a bet that I couldn’t finish it by 1am EST that night, and hourly progress pics were required. It was exactly what I needed.

click to “embiggen” all pics, as usual

I finished the sweater, and had about enough left to make a matching hat, so rather than leave that small amount sitting, I took the pattern from the sweater, and applied it to a simple roll brimmed hat

not yet washed, so it looks a little wonky shaped

I sewed some buttons on the sweater, and viola, matched set! The pictures were taken pre blocking, and of course I forgot to take pictures again before I gifted it. Ravelry link to the sweater here, and the hat here

I was going to move from that to the Hypotenuse shawl I had been working on, but due to unfortunate events, it is no more. I will eventually repurchase the Alpaca Silk and make that shawl - I loved knitting the pattern and how it was coming out, so this is not the end.

I picked up the two up toe ups I had started and decided to make them Seaweed Socks (rav link). I have some of the 1st repeat done, and hope to spend some time on them this week. Pics as there is something more than toes to show. I was going to start the Nanner socks (rav link), but have decided to try project monogamy for awhile as my knitting time is still kinda limited. (Erm, mostly monogamous that is…. there’s a small side project I have brewing that will take a good long time. but it’s ok - a big project in small chunks which can be a diversion here and there. I may or may not blog that project as it grows, may just wait until it’s done in 100 years )

So there you have it, 2 posts in two days. Back to work tomorrow so I’m playing it by ear. I do have hurt books to talk about and a trip to a new sorta LYS as well, so it’s possible. For now, I’m going to work on the socks (or maybe that side project?) and call it an early night.

I have become such a slacker when it comes to blogging. I have to give myself a break though as I really have been working a lot. Although in the interest of full disclosure, Plurk has become sort of an insta-blog, allowing me to share mini snippets of my day rather than a full on post, which has kinda kept me connected (and sane) thru this stretch of longer work hours and less play/blogging/knitting/outside world socializing. Either way, this blog has been sadly neglected.

Today though, I am chock full of content. I have 2 very big Thank Yous, and 2 FOs. Which might even leave me some stuff to talk about tomorrow - I know, I know, 2 days in a row seems unthinkable coming from me… but we shall see.

Anyway, I thought about calling this post “This Means WAR!” because apparently Ms Wendy and I have entered into a battle of the stubborns. It’s all in good fun, and I am having fun with it. I’ve already plotted my next attack package, just need to figure out the execution for my plan - enter mischievous evil laughter here

So Wendy had alluded to a package coming, and just like last time, it arrived with impeccable timing. I had had a pretty tough day on Thursday and came home to a package of SQUEEEEEEEEEEE

Yes, that is the VERY elusive Wollmeise, in the DANI colorway

I brought it to work yesterday to show to Cat who said it matched me in my jeans and my new Woot shirt

I think the colors are much prettier in the skein than on me - look closely! (seriously, click em all for big!)

So yea. Wendy? It was all fun n games, but now? Now it is SO on (joking aside, you really are amazingly generous and I LOVE my new namesake. It will be a while before I decide what to do with it, but I KNOW whatever it is, it will be very special)

I got another wonderful package in the mail, this one arrived today. Again, precision timing because the morning was a bit, erm, challenging. I don;t want to make it sound like I am unhappy at work, nothing could be further from the truth. I LOVE my job and the company and the people, but as with all new project rollouts, there are bumps. Sometimes those bumps get messy. (or to quote Wendy, “Other people are Hell”. Or something close to that. You get the point) Anyway, today started out a little messy with a few loose ends that we figured out and addressed with minimal pain. Then the iPhone started acting wonky again so in the middle of everything else, I had to deal with a support call and another trip to the Apple store to once again swap out my iPhone. It wasn’t awful, but I was a little cranky when I got home. Then I opened the mail box.

Those of you who don’t know Janet (Twisted Knitter) are TRULY missing out on a wonderful creative kind and talented person. She and I bumped into each other about 2 1/2 years ago online, and have what I think of as a special connection. When we decided to move to Charlotte in 2006, she was super helpful, as she had relocated from here to her present home a few states away. She has always been someone I can look to for honesty, inspiration, and just all round positive energy.

A few months ago, she posted about a pair of socks she was knitting that were going to be too big for her. I jokingly mentioned I had big feet, and she said if I wouldn’t mind waiting while they lived at her LYS as a store sample awhile, they could be mine. Today is that day!

She also sent me a CD by an artist I had not heard of (Priscilla Ahn - wow! what vocals! And the CD’s title is not only symbolic of how this gift changed my day into A Good Day, but where today’s post title came from) and a typically sweet Janet card. You can see the socks better in this shot…

My feet will be very happy and snuggly whenever I wear them.

I think with all these pics, I will hold off on the FOs till tomorrow. That’s kinda good actually as it will give me reason to post, and maybe 2 days in a row will help get me back on sorta track…

Now, I’m off with the man to Knitdiva’s new digs to celebrate her birthday and deliver a specially requested pumpkin cheese (bday) cake (Go wish her a happy birthday!!)

May your mailbox bring you as much joy as mine has of late, and your life be as full of good people as I have been lucky enough to surround myself with. I am a lucky lucky girl

When I was a child, my grandmother used to knit for me (and the rest of my family) all the time. Sweaters, afghans, hats, scarves, mittens - I had several of each of her hand knit creations. I’ll be honest and admit that then I didn’t appreciate what I was being given. She had taught me to knit, sure, but I hadn’t taken it all that seriously, and once I got past a few doll blankets and misshapen dishcloths, I lost interest. I had no idea I was being gifted so much more than an article of clothing, or a blanket to watch TV under.

Now that I am a knitter, I understand. I know that when she knit something, she was investing part of herself into every stitch. Her time, thoughts, experiences, hopes and dreams were all wrapped up into each stitch. Whether she gave that item away, or kept it for her own, she embodied that item. This is why on the few occasions as an adult I have been lucky enough to receive a hand crafted gift (of any style crafting) I of course appreciate the item itself, but what really touches me is how willing the giver was to share their personal touch with me.

This past week, I was lucky enough to receive a wonderful, unexpected gift from someone I have only known on the peripheral. We’d exchanged a few blog comments here and there, and her blog has been the source of much information and inspiration for me, but until Plurk, I didn’t get much chance to interact with her. At the risk of sounding like a gushing stalkerish idiot, I’m glad that’s changed - she’s really incredibly nice, with a wicked sense of humor.

(And seriously? If you’re not on Plurk - GO. NOW.)

Wendy had commented not so long ago that she was having trouble finding the perfect foot model - a problem I myself have had issue with. I mentioned how much I loved mine, and she said she had been unsuccessful in contacting the company that manufactured them as they only sold wholesale. I thought I might have a way to help, and told her I would keep her posted. Fast forward a few weeks, new foot in hand (insert twisted giggle) I sent it off to her, hoping it would work as well for her as mine does for me. And happily, it did.

As a (very unnecessary but super appreciated!!) way to say thank you, Wendy sent me a pair of her GORGEOUS hand knit socks. They fit me perfectly and the color is fun and happy and I love them.

And while she has been modest and kind and said it was her pleasure to gift them to me, I am beyond touched by her generosity.

And Wendy? Remember the stubborn discussion? This does mean war

When I fell down the rabbit hole that is Plurk (if you haven’t joined yet, c’mon on over and play!!) I had no idea how much MORE of the amazing knitting community I would have the pleasure to get to know better. As a direct result of more time with some really amazing people, I found the Plurkette’s Hencircle. While the initial reaction was I don’t have time for MORE, once I thought about it, the more I read about the Henhouse, the more I knew I had to jump in.

I grew up in the suburbs. My mom had a very very green thumb and was able to grow plants all over the house, almost instinctively knowing what needed water or trimming or feeding or whatever secret things she did to make them all so lush and green. She grew a small vegetable garden in the back as well. I inherited a bunch of things from my mom but not her green thumb. I actually joked often about my Black Thumb Of Doom. Ya know those plants they say, oh don’t worry, you can’t kill it? Yes, I could. And did.*

But I’ve come to realize that being a farmgirl isn’t just about plants. It’s a spirit of community, learning and growing and sharing. There are merit badges and many areas in which to become a better person, for myself and for my sisterhood. When I clicked the link, I was pleased to find so many of them fell into areas I was already interested in exploring - but now, I can do it with people who I already share common ground.

I used to joke I was born in the wrong era - that if I could take my internet and some basic comforts (like indoor plumbing, AC, and a coffee maker) I would prefer to live in a time and space that truly fostered community - that exemplified expressions like “it takes a village to raise a child”, that was better able to take stock of the small pleasures in life. The older I get, the more I look around at the waste and greed and the growing sense of entitlement of the public at large, the stronger that belief is.

I proudly joined the Plurkette’s Hencircle in the hopes of doing more of the things that resonate true to me, while learning from and about my FarmGirl sisters, and nurturing the type of environment for me and my honey to live happily and healthfully. And to embody much of the love and human touch my grandmother held in such high regard. I carry her with me in my cooking, baking and knitting, and look forward to expanding the list.

*in the interest of full disclosure, I have been successfully growing a Pothos plant the past 10 months. And we’re in discussion to get started on some barrel planting in the next few weeks.

So the last time I was drive by blogging, I was trying to get some progress made on the baby sweater, with little luck. That hasn’t changed much, since I have been working some pretty hairy shifts the past week. I have made a little progress though, and when I finish up here, I will be getting in my Wii Fit time (can’t stop advanced step or rhythm boxing. Hooked is an understatement - I like the other stuff but those two are my faves), and knitting for awhile before headed back into work. Again.

I think I may have shared these, but Im not sure (sorry for the possible repeat)

That was then. This is now.

Slow and steady - I grab a row or two when I can. I need to can more though, since the baby is SO due soon… (unborn babies don’t accept bribes, right?)

Aside from working 80 gazillion hours, I have been sucked into the void that is Plurk. I have no idea how to explain it other than it is silly and fun an full of nanner goodness. Come over and see for yourself.

I also FINALLY succumbed to the goodness that is the Loopy Ewe. I don’t know how I witheld this long, but I am now 1/3 of the way to Loopy Groupy status.

There will be more details on that delivery tomorrow (and the Ravelry stuff in there too). I have a little reporting to do on a certain Little Loopy’s behavior! I just am about out of time if I want to get any knitting in after my Wii Fit before it’s time to head to work. Again.

Happy Saturday all!