DAMN...

I don't know exactly how to say it, but... Wow it's been so long since I've been here that I almost forgot how to get back into my account. Bad, I know. Well, there's so much I haven't done since I last checked in, much wanted to do but just couldn't. Weird how you can stand in your own way of happiness. So here we go...

My kids are now 14 (15 in August) and 3. The oldest is now a sophmore in high school (ugh!) and the little one is on wait list for preschool. There have been two additions to the White brood, a nephew now 9 months old and a niece only 5 weeks old. We now officially have the makings of a super group - music or sports, take your pick. It's nice that estrogen count has gone up a notch, 4 boys & 2 girls. It' crazy having 5 kids in 5 years especially when we get them all together absolute madness! If your wondering about the line up, here it is: Khari (14), Jah (5), Sulu (4), Kai (3), Zuri (9 mo.) & Saelia (5 weeks). I hope I can get them all together long enough to hold still and take snap shot to post, they are really incredible.

As far as knitting goes... It's not really going anywhere right now. I completed my second clapotis about 5 months ago and haven't been inspired to do any knitting since. I did however pick-up Tunisian crochet, soooo FAB! I went to the '08 Stitches West in January with some friends and picked this new technique and I must say it is so much fun. But of course, I haven't picked up where I left off on the scarf I was making either. I don't know what it is right now, but it's driving me bonkers not knitting. I've been in real funk for the last couple of months, but I'm hoping to get back in the saddle soon.

I'm going to force myself to go to my tried and true yarn store (Article Pract) and maybe sign up for a class or two or three this summer. My mother is coming into town tomorrow and she'll be here for about 6 weeks, so maybe I sneak off for a couple of hours of yarn fun while she hangs out spoiling the kids. 

I really think it's going to be a great summer for everyone, including me.

Oh my... How time flies!

Happy New Year to everyone! My birthday was this week and not too shabby. My sisters and I went to brunch on Sunday... hooray for mimosas! A coworker took to the Cheesecake Factory on Monday... hooray for mojitos and cheesecake! And the love of my life forgot to call me... he's in the doghouse even with the apology.

I cannot believe how long it's been since I blogged last. It is my promise to myself this year to try and blog at least twice a month. Work has been so overwhelming it's all I think about sometimes when at home, even on the weekends. I do have the occasional dream of quitting altogether and home schooling the baby, but alas those damn bills won't pay themselves. It wouldn't be so bad if could even work from home because going into all the trainings and meetings over the last three months has given me more gray hairs than I can count. It's so bad now that while brushing my a few weeks ago I thought I had clump of conditioner in my hair, hah! It wasn't, it was a forest of gray hair!

I've put so many knitting projects on hold, I've lost count... and the projects themselves. I never did start the blanket I wanted for Kai, who is now almost two, but I completed a clapotis. I honestly thought I'd never do it if left to my own devices. Thank goodness Christina decided to teach a class last summer. The chart she created for it made the project so much easier to handle. I must say it is very beautiful, not at all what I expected. I used Four Play yarn from Brooks Farm I bought at Stitches West last year in a varigated colorway they no longer carry, but that striped in a most unexpected way. It came out so nice that one of my coworkers got the knitting bug again and made one for her daughter for Christmas... sweet!

I'm almost finished with an entrelac scarf I'm making for my brother. I'll definitely have to buckle down and make something for my sisters too, and actually finish the projects. Another promise to myself is to finish what I start. I really want to start making socks, but I'm deathly afraid of double pointed needles, don't know why. I did take a sock class at Article Pract last year using circular needles, but I don't remember how to get started. I wish I had had the time to take the Magic Loop sock class this month. I hope they offer it again soon, new techniques are so nice to look forward to.

Promise #3... Learn to post pictures and such to my blog. As gadget happy as I am, I just haven't jumped that hurdle yet. I really want to show off what I'm working on, I've put so much effort into my completed projects, I just want to show 'em off to everyone. So, I'll try to have something posted next time write.

Relaxed!

What a wonderful Mother's Day! Beautiful weather and great kids to enjoy it with. It's surprising to have two Mother's Days in a row where I got to sit back and relax. I usually feel that I have to help out with every little detail of special get togethers because I have a hard time letting others do things for me. I'm definitely one of those people who does for everyone else before myself, I can't help it. I'm finally chilling out and opening up to it though. My best friend will be very proud of me.

I've got my knitting bug back and even though the weather has been in the 80's here, I'm knitting a beautiful scarf from RYC Cashsoft DK in lilac. Hey, this weather can't last forever and for anyone who's spent a summer in San Francisco knows the fog is an ever looming presence. It'll be pretty though and maybe my little sister will finally get something, she's been after me for a couple of months now. I need to find a nice shade of yellow for her though, her favorite color, then find a cool and hip project to go with it. Once I'm finished, I'll begin the baby initial blanket from "Simple Knits for Cherished Babies" for Kai that I've wanted to start since he was about 3 months old, he's one now. I think it'll be really nice for the stroller or just when he's zonked out on the sofa.

It's nice to have knitting to relax with again.

As lovely and tardy as ever!

I can't believe how terrible I am at keeping this current. I have absolutely no excuse except that I hadn't been knitting much after my last post. I kinda went through a slump because my best friend in the world was moving. Not just moving out of town, but out of the country and I guess I just didn't feel inspired to pick-up the needles. Depressing I know, but it's all over now and I'm back on track! It's nice to dive back into the ten or so projects I had lined up for myself. I'm going to sign up for some classes at my local knitshop to keep my artistic juices flowing and frankly to just get out of the bloody house! Hopefully I'll remember to sign up for Secret Pal 8 by the end of the week and maybe that'll add a little excitement as well.

I take it everyone out there in the big world is doing fine, drop a line if you get chance and I promise to reply. Really, the meds have kicked I'm feeling just fine!

Haha!!, that's a joke for all the slow people out there. The meds part, not the replying, really.

I Didn't Forget!, I'm Just Slow!

I need to give my SecretPal a huge thank you! She sent me a birthday card and a great package about a week later! I said I wanted to learn to knit socks and crochet and she came through with yarn and crochet booklets. I greatly appreciate the thought and want her to know she rules!

I'm sending out a package to the SecretPal I'm spoiling and I hope she enjoys it.

Night All!

I've Returned

Okay so I didn't exactly go anywhere, I just haven't had the time or energy to update my poor neglected blog. So without further ado here's what's going on...

I've got three projects on needles now and not one is even close to completion. I've casted on for a matching beret to the cravat I finally finished, but that's as far as that project has gotten. I'm also trying my hardest to finish up two lace-style scarves, I don't know what I got myself into. There just never seems to be enough time in my day to knit as much as I would like. Working full-time, chasing a teething ten month old and staying on top of a twelve year old have been quite straining on personal time. But hey, everything will work itself out in the end.

I've made a promise to myself not to buy anymore yarn until my projects are completed. Haha, a promise soon to be broken when I enter Stiches West this weekend. Luckily I've given myself a monetary limit that will not be compromised 'cause once it's gone, it's gone. It's my first time to this event and I'm really excited, I hope to get some cool ideas for future projects.

I'm off now to spend some quality time with the baby, 'til next time... (I promise it won't be too long)

SecretPal 7 Questionaire

Well now that I'm all set-up, here are a few tidbits about myself:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
I'm not a yarn snob. I'll try anything at least once, but if it pills it's not for me.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I don't spin or crochet, but would love to learn to crochet sometime this year.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Currently I use a Latern Moon frabic needle case, but when there's no room I use the basket my yarn is in.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've only been knittin for six months and I love every minute of it. I'd consider myself an intermediate knitter.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon and Barnes and Noble wish list. I desparately need to update the Amazon wish list.

6. What's your favorite scent: (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I love pomegranate, mango and passion fruit scents.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I can thank sweets for my lovely curves. I love everything chocolate. My weakness is ice cream.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I enjoy making jewelry (PMC, link bracelets, etc) and like to tinker with electronics every once in awhile. I'm a bit of gadget junky.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I listen to almost everything - Jazz, Rock, R&B, Samba, Classical... (not crazy about headbanging/metal). My father's a musician so I've been exposed to everything. Yes, my computer/stereo can play MP3's.

10. What's your favorite color? Or do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you can't stand?
Blue is probably a favorite just because wear a lot of it, but I'm drawn to shades of red, brown and apple green lately. I'm not a bright/neon person.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm a single mom of two wonderful boys, a 12 year old and a 9 month old. I don't have any pets, but hope get a cat this year.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves, hats and gloves, but I don't think I look good in ponchos. I love wraps, shrugs and boleros.

13. What is/are your favorited yarn/s to knit with?
I love the Lana Grossa "Bingo" and anything Rowan.

14. What fibers do you absolutely "not" like?
Nothing acrylic.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Hats and scarves, I love accessories.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
So far accessories (hats, scarves, etc.), but I really want to practice socks more.

17. What are you knitting right now?
I'm working on a cravat and beret design from Debbie Bliss. The cravat is a bit more challenging than a scarf and I really like that.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
No preference. I definitely enjoy working on hats with circulars.

20. Bamboo, aluminum or plastic?
(1) Bamboo (2) aluminum, I've never knitted with plastic.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, but I'm going to get both by spring.

22. How did you learn to knit?
I signed up for a class with my best friend. My mother taught me to crochet when I was young, but I've lost all concept of how to now.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 3 months old. An unfinished, top down, no seam sweater.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Growing up, Winnie the Pooh but lately the characters from Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I love koi, pandas and butterflies.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving, I love having all the family together.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Not as a hobby, but I have a huge CD collection.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Oprah, InStyle, Vogue (fashion magazine) and Real Simple.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I have Vivian Hoxbro's "Domino Knitting" on my Barnes and Noble wish list.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to work on the cable technique and practice the front, back, front increasing technique.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
No, but I really want to learn to knit socks. I'm a US 9 or EU 39 or 40. Measurements, not sure I'll have to give them later.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
January 22

Happy New Year!

Time to try something new. Here we go...

I never knew what a blog was until 4 or 5 months ago, but this totally rocks! What an amazing way to communicate with people. My best friend and I are embarking on this adventure together and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. 2005 brought a new baby and learning to knit and a load of books on knitting and way too much yarn just lying around here, there and everywhere. (How many scarves can one person knit?)

I hope 2006 will bring more of trying something new. 'Til next time...