Midweek Surprise

Well another long day at work came to a nice end, when I got home today I had a surprise in the mail . My October dishcloth swap partner package arrived. I will send mine package on Saturday. Two beautiful dishcloths in great colors and a postcard. On knit or crochet today. Still reading the latest knitting mystery by Sally Goldenbaum. Two more day's to go and my weekend will begin. Yes this weekend I will pick up the needles again and add a few more row's to my sock. Then start a shell crochet scarf there is a great crochet scarf pattern on YouTube. I really would like to give it a try. I have enough RedHeart to crochet several scarves in that pattern. I know, I know acrylic! please don't hate. I have an acrylic budget when you earn less that $35,000 per yarn you can't buy good yarn all the time. You have to compromise. Maybe once or twice a year I have the chance to buy good yarn. If it is on discount because no one wants that brand or if I am lucky enough to get a tax refund. The picture is of the dishcolths I received from my swap partner.

Another Podcast Tuesday

Things started out a little rocky tonight trying to get started listening to lion brands pod cast. I had to restart my computer once because the first time I turned on the computer the Internet would not connect. I think it is my computer it needs a little work. I brought it in 2005 and because of downloads and other things it runs very slowly. I need to add some memory and get it cleaned up. So it was a good podcast about cold weather knitting. Idea's for shawls, afghans and socks. While listening to the podcast I added 4 rows to the last 12 rows of the afghan, only 4 rows left. Then I need to weave the rest of my ends I have been weaving ends as I go so it wont be that bad to finish the last few rows. I might take it to work tomorrow to show to my friends. Still reading Patterns in the Sand, by Sally Goldenbaum. So far a great read that is in my opinion I like easy reads. I also read While My Pretty One Knits, by Anne Canadeo this month another good read again just my opinion. Love mysteries but very bad at figuring out who dun it? Love the cool nights and trying very hard not to turn on the heat until November. Still trying to decide which dishcloth to send to my swap partner. Last day to send off is the 24th.

Podcast Tuesday

I look forward to lionbrands podcast every two weeks. Today it was all about Halloween crafts. I am not into Halloween crafts but it was still relaxing to listen to the podcast and work on my crochet ripple afghan. Picture in previous post. On Friday night I ripped back several rows and on Sunday, Monday, and tonight I finished the spring greens rows. I started the afghan with 11 rows of spring green and 4 rows of turqua(blue). So maybe tomorrow I will start what will be the last 4 rows of turqua(blue) I want the afghan to end with 11 rows of spring green. You know I only have so much yarn and I have 2 full skeins of spring green and 2 half skeins of spring green, 2 full skeins of turqua(blue) and 3 half skeins. The scraps will be used for granny squares. Since this afghan is crocheted with 2 strands held together it is heavy so 15 mores rows will be enough. Well happy, happy middle of the week.

Ripping back a few rows

Well on Friday I ripped back a few rows of a crochet ripple afghan. I started this project April 22, 2007 put it down for a very long time and then tried to start it over. When I did I think I started with the wrong row so on Friday I ripped back 4 rows and I think I have figured out how to start the afghan again. I think I should start with row 2 and continue with row 2 until I have finished the afghan. I started reading While My Pretty One Knits, by Anne Canadeo I picked it up at the Greensboro Library on Saturday, my local library did not have the book. It is a good read to me so far I love cozy mysteries. I need to get started on my October dishcloth swap. Maybe tomorrow I will start the dishcloth. Posting a picture of my UFO ripple.

October

The first day of October the 10th month of the year. Only 3 months left in 2009 time passes quickly when you are working and struggling to pay the bills. I have a crochet afhgan UFO to take to work tomorrow so that I can get some help with the finish. I have all the squares done and now all I need to do is stitch the afhgan together and do the edge. It's Friday eve and I am happy about the up coming weekend. I have nothing much to say tonight. Since it is the first day of the month and I wanted to start the month off with a post.

Swapping!

My swap partner received her cloth yesterday so I can post a picture. I am ready for the weekend we have 3 days to go. Tomorrow is payday and it is already gone. When will I catch a break. I started reading Mama Dearest, by E. Lynn Harris his last book he died this summer. He was a great author. Books are waiting for me to pick them up at the Greensboro Library so a nice little road trip on Saturday will be in order. So far no knitting or crochet this week. I feel the need to cast on maybe tomorrow the last day of September. I am posting a picture of the dishcloth I sent my September swap partner and the dishcloth I did not feel was good enough to send the my partner. I signed up for the October dishcloth swap and I have a dishcloth in mine for this swap. Happy crafting. The picture on the top is the swap partner dishcloth and on the bottom the one I did not think was good enough to send.

Where did my weekend go?

Where did my weekend go? wow they pass by so fast even when you spend most of them like I do with no money and nothing interesting to do. Well at least it was the weekend and that meant no work and barely talking to anyone on the phone. On Friday when I got home I had a nice surprise waiting 2 very pretty crocheted dishcloths and 2 postcards from my September swap partner from the Ravelry group dishcloths ar us, JanetMB is a great crocheter. That was the highlight of my Friday. Saturday was slightly cool and rainy the only place I managed to go was Walmart to take my Mother to the Pharmacy. Then we came home and the rest of the day I tried to clean my closet and sort through my yarn. I have a lot of yarn and I am trying not to buy anymore yarn until I have most of my stash either knit or crocheted into something. I placed most of my UFO's and I did not have as many as I thought in one place. The list goes like this 2 granny square afghans, 2 crocheted scarves, 1 crocheted ripple afghan that I really think I need to rip back at least 3 rows, because on the first attempt at picking up an unfinished project to complete I think I started with the wrong row it looks slightly off, 1 crocheted market bag just the band and the straps to go, and last but not least 1 knit scarf weaving the ends and making and attaching giant pom-poms to go. Absolutely nothing to watch on tv on Saturday, so we watched 48 hours back to back episodes. Today I watched Peyton Place love the movie it reminds me of why I hate small town's they are not as wholesome and people might think, to me they are places with gossips and self righteous people with sticks up there ass it reminds me of the town where I was raised and the town in which live and pay taxes so before you get started since I do pay taxes here I have the right to complain so do tell me if I don't like it move this is why I go to work and come home and limit the number of people in my circle, and cooked a leg of lamb, I think I left it in the oven just a little to long. It was not as rare as it should have been. This was my first attempt at cooking a leg of lamb sad but true this just let you know what a poor and sad existence I suffer though year after year and before anyone gets started I know there are people that have worse lives. I digress even though the lamb was a little to done it was not tough and had a good favor. I used olive oil, sea salt, oregano, cumin, and pinch of cayenne pepper also several sprigs of rosemary cut from my very own rosemary bush. So basically no knit or crochet and no longing at crochet stitches on youtube to brush up on my stitches. Well maybe next weekend. The picture is of the beautiful dishcloths I received from my swap partner. Oh by the way the closet is shaping up and not looking half bad.

Oh it's Friday Eve!

Damn, Damn, Damn one more day and it is the weekend! I am not sure why I am so happy about this because I am broke and can't go any where or do anything. This means the the weights that I feel on my chest will remain because I can't get out of town even for a few hours. Oh well what can I say my life sucks and then I will die. On the bright side the Grey's Anatomy season premiere was great and very sad George died. I loved George and I wish TR Knight would have stayed around. In a few scenes I wanted to cry. I did not wait until this weekend to finish knitting the Bias Scarf I posted about yesterday , I worked on it and did the bind off tonight while watching Grey's Anatomy. Today at lunch I knit a few more row's on my sock. The plan is to add a few more row's tomorrow during lunch. I have a skein of Duo jarbo Garn it reminds me of homespun and I am not sure what to do with this skein of yarn. Maybe a nice scarf but what pattern should I use for the scarf. After listening to the lionbrand podcast yesterday I took a look at a scarf done in Vanna's choice that I might try with this yarn. It was a very pretty crochet scarf. This weekend I will post a picture of the finished bias scarf and maybe the almost finished crochet lace shells afghan. Happy Friday ever.

Wednesday update

Well there was no knitting in the car at lunch today because I did not have my car. Gin had to use the car for work today. So after eating lunch in the break room lunch time knitting was done in meeting room A at department of social services. It was semi dark and quite, the break room is just to loud keep up with your stitches. I love this new show on fox Glee! it is so funny. Two day to go until the weekend happy, happy. Lionbrand's podcast was good very enjoyable to listen to the podcast while knitting a few rows on a long time UFO Bias Scarf. This UFO aka: UNFINISHED OBJECT has been hanging around for a very long time. One past podcast this weekend should do the trick and the scarf will get finished. Then a trip to YouTube and a few practice rows the double and triple crochet to start adding rows to the Crochet Lace Shells that I started in maybe 2006? Very red and very pretty. The picture is of the second sock only a few more rows and it will be time for the heel flap.

Fall Equinox

Today is the first day of fall. I love fall the weather cools off the leaves change colors. The only thing I don't like are the spiders. You have to be very careful when you walk out the door every morning. Well I had a long hard day at work, I am trying very hard to get all my case for the month processed by the end of the month. It is going to be hard. The day had a great end because tonight I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants with some very dear friends. My daughter was there her best friend home visiting her family, two of my friends and my friends mother. It was a lot of fun to catch up and laugh after a long day at work. We went to Macaroni Grill. I did not get to listen to the lionbrand podcast tonight so I will have to listen tomorrow. So no knitting today I will catch up tomorrow and do a little knitting in my car at lunch time tomorrow. We can no long eat lunch in our offices and sometimes it is hard to concentrate no your stitches in a lot of noises. So I plan to work a few rows in the car. Yesterday I finished reading Casting Spells, by Barbara Bretton. A very good book about a witch that owns a yarn shop.

A finished project

I finally weaved the needs on a scarf I started month's ago. I cast on beginner's basic Ribbed -for -Her Pleasure Scarf Feb 08, 2009 an today I finally finished weaving the ends. The scarf is for my Daughter. I am on the hunt for 2 skeins on Lamb's Pride Bulky M250 Cranberry Swirl so that I can knit a hat to go along with the scarf. I cast on and finished knitting a new Filippi Scarf this weekend. It is not as long as I like and I am considering ripping it out and starting over again with a larger needle size. Maybe that would make the scarf longer. I used romni wools . I have one skein that I received in a yarn swap through crochetville. I am watching the season finally of True Blood and it is very interesting. Well the season end was great and I am not sure what happened to Bill. The wait will be so long. The picture is of the scarf I knit for my daughter.

A Good Faith Effort!

Well tonight while listening to the new lionbrand podcast, I cast on and knit a few rows on my sock that I have been trying to get done since my sock class in the spring. I love to listen to the podcast I find it relaxing and the knitting also helped in that effort. Only 3 days before the weekend I am so happy about the short week. This was just a update to let everyone know that I am working on my sock once again.

Weekend cooking

I decided to cook today. I have a Knit along with Debbie Macomber the Cedar Cove Collection knitting pattern book, at the end of the book it has recipe's. I tried clam spaghetti. Great recipe. Quick and easy is what I am all about when it comes to cooking. although I want to get one of Juila Child's cookbooks the art of french cooking. The movie that's out reminded me of how much I loved watching Julia Child Saturday's on PBS when I was young. This was the days before I knew anything about cable and if I did you would not be able to get it in Brutonville right outside of the city limits on the big Candor with it's one stop light. It was years after I was grown and living in Asheboro. It took awhile for cable and satellite to make it to the area. I think satellite made it first then cable. So if you had was channels 4-45 if you had a good antenna. All the good cooks did shows on PBS. My swap partner dishcloth is going well and I have just a few more rows to go. I checked on half.com and amazon you would not believe the price for this cookbook they go from reasonable to outrageous. I need to spend a little time knitting so that I can finish the dishcloth and make a good faith effort on the socks that I have been working on since this spring. Happy long weekend. The pictures and of the dish I made tonight. The first is the red pepper, garlic, and onion sauteed in olive oil, next is the finished product. I love the smell of garlic and onion.

Quick post

Well we did not get to do our midweek girls night out. My friend from work had an unexpected surgery and has to be out of work for the next 3 days. So it looks like we will have to make plans for another night. Oh well the bright spot is only 2 day's to go and I will have a nice long weekend. I have a good start on another dish cloth. I might send to my September swap partner. Happy crafting.

Not so marvelous Saturday

So I spent the entire week looking forward to my weekend only to be kicked in the knees by the fact that my Mother spent the day babysitting here at the house. My Mother moved in with me 3 years ago, and I knew but was not prepared for the fact that this would go along with the territory! and I find it hard to deal. Please don't get me wrong I wish no little child ill will because I once was a little child and I gave birth and had a child and my nieces and my nephew where and are still children and I love my child and I love my nieces and nephew, and my cousin . How ever between the ages on 0-12 if I had a choice I would not spend more time than I need to with them. I am not a young child kind of girl and really could put off grandchildren for a very long time. So my Mother had to and as I am writing this is still babysitting my cousin her great-great niece who is 6, my niece who is 10 her granddaughter has finally gone home. I wonder when I will be allowed to become the hermit that I am. Well when I got up this morning I made a quick trip to Walmart to pick up some olive oil to use while I tried to dry some of my romas tomatoes and for tomato sauce out of some roma tomatoes. I think they are the last of the tomatoes out of my garden. I forgot to take a before roasting picture of my tomatoes but I am posting and after roasting picture. It is nice to have friends on the Internet. The recipe I was looking for a blogging friend of mine sent it to me after reading one of my post. He blog at www.threemilesinmyshoes.blogspot.com . The recipe is from tom grey and his blog for some reason I could not find the post with the recipe. My possible swap partner dish cloth is going well I am on row 45 only 7 more row until bind off. I watched the funeral mass for Senator Ted Kennedy today it was great and then watched some of the last few minutes at his finally resting place. He was a great person. I wish I could have met him. I am posting a picture of the roasted tomatoes and the sauce I made today.

Swapping

My swap partner received her dish cloth today so I will post a picture. I have signed up for the September swap. I love swapping and the dish cloth swap is the best because I can afford to swap. If you are a member of Ravelry visit and join the dishcloths r us group. You can swap every month. I have a large stash of cotton yarn so full skeins and several partial balls left over from crocheting or knitting other cloths. I need to find a quick easy grocery bag and use all my scrap cotton yarn to make the bag. Today a friend of mine from working invited by to join her and her daughter and 2 ladies her daughter works with to a midweek girls night out next week. We are going to Flying Pig Food and Spirits. I am wishing my life away but I can't wait until next Wednesday. Another friend of mine told me that the pizza was great and a good price. I hope the sale margarita's I am not driving so I think am midweek week margarita will hit the spot. Recast a dishcloth tonight it might turn out to be the cloth I send to my September swap partner.

Last full week in August

This is the last full week in August and in our area both in the City of Asheboro and the County school started today. I still have one niece and a nephew in school and two nieces in college. Summer as almost come to an end summer coming to an end in North Carolina means nothing I am sure we will have hot day well into October. Only four months and 2009 will come to an end. I wonder if my year will end better than last year, I am not holding out much hope that it will end any better the last. I finished up last night and mail today my August dishcloth swap with the dishcloths ar us ravelry group. I will post a picture when my partner receives her cloth. I have lot of roma tomatoes and I need to find something to do with them. I had planned to dry them out in the oven but I can't find recipe I found online last week. So I have a cookbook I brought years ago when I was part of a cookbook book club. Smith & Hawken The Gardeners' Community Cookbook , compiled and written by Victoria Wise. I think I will look for a nice sauce for the romas that I have left in the garden. I might cast on a dishcloth for the September dishcloth swap. It so nice to go out in my backyard and clip off sprigs of rosemary when I need it to cook. We put a Boston butt in the oven on Sunday and I clipped a few sprigs of rosemary to add a little something while the roast cooked. This is Rosie the rosemary.

Summer Flower's

Summer is slowly and hotly winding down. I still have a lot of Roma tomatoes in the garden and both my green and Japanese eggplants and Cheyenne peppers are still producing. I can't make it out to my fig tree's before the bird's and bee's. I guess with the fig's I need to check everyday. Lionbrand podcast was out today and I listened while working on the dish cloth I need to send to my swap partner at dish cloths r us group at Ravelry. Just to relax my plan is to read a few more pages of The Beach Street Knitting Society And Yarn Club, by Gil McNeil. It must be a wonderful and awesome thing to be creative and able to write a book. It seems to me it would be very exciting and satisfying I wish I had this gift. I have no gifts and therefore I spend most of my time at this that are draining and and unsatisfying they add nothing to my life. Reading, knitting, and crochet add to my life time with my family and close friends. Maybe one day I can add to that list. Happy crafting. I need to win the lottery. I need to buy ticket's so that I have a chance to win the lottery.

Lovely weekend.

I love Roma tomatoes! They are great for sauces and wonderful in a salad. I have a lot of them this year in my garden. Next year I will put a few in large container's and see how well the produce. I think I am to lazy for another full out in the ground garden. It is to much work if you have to work 40 hrs per week. When I get home from work I am to tired and depressed to go out and work in the garden and by the time it cools off enough to work in the garden it is almost time to go to bed. A container garden will be easier to maintain. I had to recast they dishcloth for my swap partner over on Ravelry. It is a good thing that we have until the 24th to get our cloths in the mail. I had the day off on Friday spent most of the day trying to clean my bedroom and made great progress. Then went to Books-A-Million and picked up my copy of The Beach Street Knitting Society And Yarn Club, by Gil McNeil first published in Great Britain as Divas Don't Knit in 2007, so far a good read and a very pretty cover. I am watching Merlin and I am ready for True Blood later tonight. The picture I have posted is of the Roma tomatoes in my garden. I have more ready to take off the vine. I hope to slow roast a few in the oven this year to freeze. So that this winter I can use them to make sauce or soup.

August Dishcloth Swap

I had a long day at work today but it was all good because when I checked the mail box today after I arrived home from work I had a package from my August swap partner at Dishcloths ar us on Ravelry. I received a beautiful dishcloth and postcards and a bar of soap. It is so wonderful to receive something besides a bill in the mail. I am still working the dishcloth I plan to send my partner. I love my Slow Cooker! have everything laid out to put in the crock pot tomorrow. I have country-style spareribs the only ingredient I am missing is celery seed. So I think I can to with out it and move on since I have all the other ingredients. This is the second time this week I will use my Slow Cooker. Sometimes I forget how helpful a slow Cooker can be if you work.The recipe I used is from Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook Feasting with your Slow Cooker, by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good. The picture I am posting is of the things I received in the mail from my swap partner.