Here is Einstein

So here is Einstein thus far. Actually she is just a bit further along, as I did some knitting at my meet up this evening and so the sleeve that you currently see without any dark blue on it, now has some dark blue on it. I will post again after I get it seamed and cast on the collar. Maybe I will even get buttons when I go to class.

The Secret Pal Questionaire

Yes, I have finally found the Secret Pal site and am very excited to finally be a part of one of these. So without further ado, here is my Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
So far I cannot say I have a 'favorite' yarn so I guess any and all are good for me. I have found that I am not really into the ribbon yarn type fibers.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
A Burt's Bees Demo Bag (sock needles), and original packaging for all others

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit Christmas of 05' and I would consider myself intermediate. I have taught myself lace knitting, and enjoy doing all kinds of socks. Have not yet tackled cables.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I think I have an Amazon whish list, will need to check on that.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Fresh Lavender

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
OH BOY do I!!! My favorite candy is European Dark Chocolate especially Ritter Sport Halb-bitter and Dunkel Voll-Nuss. In a pinch Dove Dark Chocolate is a good stand in.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do counted cross stitch but not cutesy things usually more involved projects.

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 New Age type music, Classical, Country, and Celtic. My computer can play CD's but not sure about MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like blues, purples, colors of Sedona Red Rocks, and mauves - the can't stands would have to be neons, primarys, and especially orange and green

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married to my Beloved and we have 3 sons that live with their mom. We have two 4-legged daughters Misty and Naya.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do like scarves, but more accessory type than warmth type (due to where I live) not so much mitten, and no hats. Ponchos if they are light in weight might be nice.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks and Shawls (right now)
13. What are you knitting right now?
I am finishing my Einstein Coat, I have 2 pairs of socks on needles and a lace shawl, oh and a sleeveless top for me.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh yes, as I know the love and care that goes into them.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like both straight and circular needles and both bamboo and aluminum but not plastic.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes to both and am very willing to share its use with anyone.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Probably the sleevelss top it is about a year on the needles.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
I would have to say Christmas as I am a Santa collector - anything neat or unusual
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Santa's and unique ornaments, and of course sock yarn
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
No subscriptions, (trying to keep the clutter at bay), books any of the Yarn Harlot's would be lovely, and Alton Brown's I am just here for more food.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would like to be able to get better at what I am doing and learn cabling.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes to being a sock knitter and my measurements Leg Length 3.5-5inches; Heel to toe 7inches; Toe length 2.25inches; Heel flap length 2.25inches; Foot circumference 9inches. I wear a size 8-8.5 shoe (US) or a 39 (European)

23. When is your birthday?
May 20th - by the way Emerald Green is the only color green I like, but only in small quantitites.

So that should cover it all.

I Promise...

Yes, I know I have not posted anything except news about appliances lateley. That would be because my life has been ALL about appliances lately. You have seen the washer, the dishwasher was installed the day before my Beloved left for a month. Although along with the dishwasher came a brand new garbage disposal, because when he disconnected the old dishwasher from the old garbage disposal it basically crumbled in his hands. Unfortunately the locking ring that held it in place did not crumble it had just corroded into place. So after 3 hrs of fighting with it (gently of course so as not to damage the sink) he used his 'saws - all' and cut it out. Installing the new one took all of 15 min.
The hotwater heater from h**l is due to be replaced (yes, the new one is being replaced with another new one) on Wed Mar 7th.

So if we put it all together chronologically it looks something like this:
Dec - New Hot Water Heater
Feb - New Washing Machine
Feb - New Hair Dryer (mine chose to grab a good size chunk of my hair and then burn up)
Feb - New Dishwasher
Feb - New Garbage Disposal
Mar - New Hot Water Heater

SO FOR GOODNESS SAKE CAN WE PLEASE BE DONE WITH THE APPLIANCES!!!!!!!!

On to the really good stuff. I promise later this morning I will take a picture of Einstein where I am currently at and post it. It really is looking like a coat. I am almost done with the sleeves. Tomorrow evening I go to my knitting class to seam up the arms and shoulders and probably cast on the collar.

My LYS is going out of business!!! Bummer. She asked if I wanted to buy the store... much as I would like to have that kind of access to all the yarn I want I think the price would be too high. So I will continue to knit from stash and find other places. Good thing I have my groups.

Off to my busy day, so more later...

OUT with the OLD.....

This poor old washer has done quite well by me. I personally have been washing clothes with it since I met my beloved back in 1996. He got it from his Aunt some time after she passed on, but it sat at his parents ranch until he needed it for a couple years. The guy who swapped them out said this old girl is at least 15yrs old. Gotta love Kenmore - but they just didn't have what I wanted for my new washer.
You will take notice to the wing nut that I have been using as a knob for oh so many years (at least 6)
May your rest in peace and go to the happy resting grounds of wash machines in the sky (or wherever it is that washers go to their final peace at).

...and IN with the NEW
Yep, I got a new washer, I got a new washer, (du de du de du du - can you hear the sing-songy joy in my voice??)
The girls had to check everything out just to make sure it was all up to snuff and could be allowed to stay in "their" laundry room.

Bosch was sweet enough to include handy little magnets with tips and trouble shooting items (in both english and french I might add) and also a little lingere bag.

Now if I only had time to actually start playing with my new toy today. But alas work calls and one needs to do something to pay for said new toy (especially since there will be a dishwasher joining it soon). The cool part is, this one had a tiny little dent on the front therefore it was 10%off and then Bosch offers their annual green sale discount of $100 rebate. All in all a very good deal.

Rachael, just one more way for you to feel right at home here in VA Beach when you come.

Romance isn't completely dead

See, I got quite creative yesterday during my wildly romantic day (not exactly). For me Valentines Day consisted of doing laundry, researching Dishwashers and Clothes washers, until I was absolutely bleary eyed. Baking, as can be seen above, cleaning up the kitchen from the last 3 days of ... well we won't go there.
Then my Beloved came home. Now right in front of this lovely little message brownie made by moi was 5 sheets of paper fanned out, all with Dinning Certificates for our favorite restaurants. He literally had to be encouraged to look at the table as he blithely passed by and what did he focus on first.... the pieces of white paper, and then walked toward me. I could tell by his eyes, he had not even registerd the plate with the brownie so nicely positions 2.5" from the papers. So I said HEY!! go back to the table! So he turns and it still takes him about 3 seconds to register what else was there. Once he figured it out I hear "Wow that is a brownie" (to myself - 'do ya think???' "You have been busy today".

I guess it just never ceases to amaze me that men figure if you have made a brownie, and printed out some pages from the computer you have obviously had a busy day. I am lucky enough that he often asks "so how was your day and what all have you been doing". It gives me the perfect opening to say "...well there are the six loads of laundry washed/dried/folded/& put away, the vacuuming, the cleaning of the kitchen, and oh by the way the 5hrs worth of research so as to get the exact wash machines I want at the best possible price." The good thing about my man is he is very adept at then saying .."you have had quite a busy day, sounds like you got alot accomplished. I guess he knows the more he fluffs my feathers the more likely I am to fluff his.

So with all of this said...My beloved gave me a book of photos with captions titled Why I Love You. It is really quite neat. After oohing and aahhing over everything he asked me, so what do you want to do with our evening??? I very honestly looked him in the eyes and said "Honey can we go take a nap?"


PS - I must add, a great dinner of left-over Taco Guaca-Salsa Salad followed our nap. All was well in the Griset House (and yes there was brownie for desert - he claimed the part with the heart and I claimed the 'I')

Oh Dear not another online yarn site.....

Well, this is what I get for sitting at the computer instead of sitting and knitting. I came across another really nice online yarn store. The Loopy Ewe . What I really like about them is they still carry Inox sock needles and in the odd sizes (2.25mm and 2.75mm), as well as they have these sizes in 6" needles. While I totally realize that I am still quite the Newbie to sock knitting and such, I have already decided that I really only like 6"needles. Mainly because I can handle them comfortably.

So if you would like to go and check them out, please feel free to do so. If you register on their site, not neccesarily buy, but just register they give me some credit as well.

I plan to have some pics later today to post. Almost done with Einstein's right sleeve and have made more progress on Rick's sock.

See you all later.

Yes, I really do have a family.

Since I have in the past, (and in my profile) alluded to the fact that I do have a family - I have finally decided to post some pics and news about said family. No I did not pay these people to pose as my family. Unfortunately the only one missing is my oldest who is off and away at college, but not to worry, because next time we are in his prescence I will snap his pic and plunk him down here so you can all see him in his glory.

But until then, here is my rag tag crew in all their glory.

1st in line is Rick (last night while he was preparing an absolutely fabulous dinner called Taco Guaca-Salsa Salad). Said recipe can be found on www.foodnetwork.com under Rachael Ray's Recipes.

2nd view would be Josh, my 6'2.5" (almost)18yr old. Accepted into George Mason University for the fall of 2007. He was being his ever so pleasant self as usual.

#3 is Matt, getting Math homework help from Rick (while he is working on above stated recipe). Believe it or not he is (almost)15 and at least 4-5" taller than me.

Then of course is the Oh so cute Misty. Quite the camera princess. Don't let all that cuteness fool you. She is full of vim & vigor (enough for all of us and then some).

Last but certainly not least is the Queen of the household - Naya. These days her age is showing, and we all know to bow down to her wishes lest she should not be with us forever.

So there you have it, my rag-a-muffin crew in all its glory. Loveable and laughable, and totally great. That is mom speak for I love them dearly even though some days they make me want to tear my hair out by the roots.

Hope you enjoyed the show.

Updated Knitting Pics

Here are some updated pics of the current knitting situations.

First in line is the newest start - which is Rick's requested sock. Mr Kranky Pants wants socks that are long, snug, warm, and that don't fall down - and if at all possible double thickness around the foot, but still fit in dress shoes. Nooooooo he is not too particular - especially for someone who up until a few days ago wanted nothing to do with hand knitted socks.

I am hoping that this pattern will cover all those bases. It is an 8 stitch Twisted stitch ribbed pattern that looks decidedly "Gentlemanly" In other words, it won't bore me to tears while making long socks for a very wide foot.
Next we the ever present Einstein coat at the end of Phase 2. 2 separate views of the very wooly coat. (Pretty fancy getting these pics to sit side by side don't cha think...huh? huh? huh?)

Now we have the said coat as it is aquiring a sleeve. The only 'sewing' required on this piece is to seam the sleeves/shoulders together, and to sew on the buttong (of which I have not obtained yet). I know what they look like in my mind. Now I just have to find them in the real world.

The mere fact that I am able to get these pics from the camera to the blog is just amazing in my world.
Hope you all enjoy them. Next there will a new post with pics from the family and some family news. Be on the look out.

Happy Knitting!!!

New Pics

I decided that I will post my new pics before I try to change over to the new beta version of my blog. So far everyone has had no troubles making the switch and I am counting on their experience.

So here are the new pics you have all been waiting for with baited breath (humor me OK?)


This is Dad's Sock #1. Yes it is true, my Dad has little boxes for feet. Believe it or not these socks fit him perfectly. I must say that from now on, the men in my life will have some sort of patterning on their socks, as every single one of them has either really long feet (size 13) or really wide feet (EEE). All but my dear Husband want socks. You will notice that all the lovely color changes in this particular yarn (Regia Havanna Color #4177) are on the BOTTOM of the foot. Go figure!!




So here are Mom's Socks - modeled even. Actually Mom wore them home the day after I shot this pic. She has decided that she likes them. Although I think that is because she is a Mom and that is what Mom's do. I must say they really are a nice sock and work up quite nicely. I think I will make a pair for me very soon.




Last but not least here is my Einstein Coat at Phase 2. The big long blue part is the bottom of the coat that goes around the hips and thighs. The light blue part is the Right front portion. As of today I will be starting the back section. By next Thurs I need to also finish the Left fron portion (complete with button holes). I really love the color and I already know it is going to be toasty warm. Hopefully it will stay cold enough for me to wear it this year.

Well that is it for the photo shoot for now. I have more knitting to do, an errand or two to run and more friends to chat with on the phone. I am really enjoying this 'day off' thing. I think maybe I should do it more often. What a concept. I must admit it does feel strange, and I have this nagging feeling that I have forgotten to put something important on my calendar for today. Alas, what ever it is, I will not be doing it.

Have a Marvelous Day!!