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04/20/2006
the best swapper pal EVER!
I'd like to start this post by apologizing to everyone who did NOT have Tam as their colorswapper, because y'all missed out. Big time.
Oh, Tam. I do love you so. You totally outdid yourself, sister.
Look what I got today, y'all. Oh wow.
some great schoolish supplies, some yummy candy, some AWESOME yarn, a cool magnet, some burts bees lipstuff, and that bag!!! That amazing bag that I have been SALIVATING over on Tam's site! 
here's a shot of the inside... 
Tam, you are OFFICIALLY the greatest. Ever. Wow.
22:26 Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
04/18/2006
Planet Dog and the Colorswap Questionnaire...
First of all, some funny dog pics from the weekend... 
Zoe snuggling with her Loofa dog.
A dog's eye view of the world...
And now for the questionnaire.
These are always fun to fill out...
Are you crafty? I'd like to think so!! I have a craft room and everything!!
Would you enjoy things like: Buttons, ribbons and
embellishments? I definitely enjoy these things, but often forget to incorporate them into my projects.
Do you dye your own wool? I have done some Koolaid dyeing, but not extensively.
Do you like to scrapbook or make homemade cards? I like making my own cards.
What are your favorite scents? Lavender, warm vanilla sugar, brown sugar and fig, pumpkin
Do you like stationary and cards? Yes!! The funkier the better!
Do you like to sew or embroider items? Embroider--no. Sewing?? I've been eyeing the Amy Butler swing bag pattern, and I'm leaning towards buying and sewing it! So, eventually, I probably will begin to sew!
Do you like beads? I like beads, but don't use them very often.
What kind of candy do you like? Dark chocolate with peanut butter, real red swedish fish--like from the bins in the candy store.
Do you like hand lotions or soaps? lotion, yes.
Do you like to wear costume jewelry? Necklace,
earrings, bracelets etc. I love funky jewelry. My ears tend to flare up with fun earrings, but bracelets and necklaces are definitely fun!
Do you like to make/or use stitch markers? I TOTALLY use them, and have made a few as well. I am in love with the sushi stitch markers on amyville.com
Do you collect anything? weinerdogs
Do you have any allergies?: Smoke, food, fiber, pets,
etc. nope!
Do you have any hobbies? knitting, knitting, and knitting.
Do you like scented or unscented candles? scented!
Are you a fiber snob? um, yes.
Do you like to play cards or board games? YES, YES, YES!!!
Do you like neon colors, pastel, light or medium
ranges in the color of the month? any green (other than the heinous 80's neon) is great with me!
Do you like kitchen magnets or key rings? yes! again, the funkier the better!
Do you like picture frames? yes!!
22:45 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/14/2006
Orangetastic, and other stories...
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a finished object. Well, maybe. I may be completely anal retentive and re-sew down the neckband, because it may slant just a smidge. We'll see how it looks once I block it. But other than that? I. Love. This. Sweater. I love the yarn. Who knew that the orange would have hints of red and fuschia in it? Who knew that it would be so soft and cozy? Who knew that the shaping would hit each of my curves in EXACTLY the right place? I tried it on for the boyfriend, pre-3 needle BO, and his words, or word I guess, was "Wow."
I really enjoyed knitting this, because it was the PERFECT in-the-car knit for our weekend drive to Columbus, Ohio. Can't wait to wear it. But, considering the, as our weather man so eloquently put it, un-seasosnably warm weather that we are experiencing, it appears that waiting is what I will have to do. Nobody wants to wear long sleeves, ESPECIALLY wool ones, when it is 82 degrees outside...
I'm so proud of myself with this sweater, because I didn't cheat. At all. Well, maybe a little. I didn't start my next project, the Somewhat Cowl, until all that was left of the Orangetastic Hourglass was weaving in ends. For me, such an impressive feat. I am a little weirded out, however, that I am knitting Cotton Fleece on size 4's. Ick. I guess we'll see how it goes...
So, yet again, upon returning from the kennel, the girldog got sick. Violently sick. In the form of some real stinky diarrhea. And what was REAL shitty (pun TOTALLY intended) about it is this: as I'm cleaning it up with my little hand held spot steamer, the piece of crap (again, totally intentional use of wordplay) springs a leak in the tank. And the shitty water (literally) got sucked into the fan, which then sprayed it all back at me. And all over the clothes that were on the ground, waiting to be put away. So, I had to throw (literally) it in the trash, shower AGAIN, and make my way to Hell-mart (you might know it as Wal-Mart) and purchase another steam cleaner. On the bright side, this one works much better. Also on the bright side, it pays to be a worry wart with this dog. Last Christmas, she ate some turkey and got sick, and the vet gave me some stuff to put on her food. When I called freaking out yesterday, they said she had Colitis, and I could medicate her with the stuff I already had! So I dodged a vet bill on THAT one... YESSSS! So, after a day of being completely pathetic, she is back in action, chewing on her tag. 
Had a very lucrative day at the LYS... Brought in 2 projects that needed to be fixed. Both had been bound off, ends woven in, etc. One, too small. 
One, too big. 
The way "Too Small" was solved went something like this:
Me: Hey, look at this. It is too small.
Sandi, the Yarn Goddess: Try it on, because I think it will actually fit you.
Me: Look, it is tiny.
STYG: You are retarded. Block it a smidge bigger and it will fit you.
Problem: solved.
As far as Too Big is concerned, we simply ripped back a few inches on the strap. Yay. Two pink projects: done and done.
Also during my visit... Picked up some materials for the next few projects: 
The Cotton Fleece (Rue and Truffle) is going to be a striped One Skein Wonder. The Cotton Fine (Truffle. Hello, my name is Amanda and I am addicted to the color brown.) is going to be Orangina. I also ordered some Cascade 128 to make Starsky. I can't WAIT to start knitting with that--it is SO soft!
To end what is quite possibly the longest post ever written, I thought I'd share a little gift I brought back from Ohio for y'all--boyfriend's sister in law's recipe. I ate almost 2/3 of the pan. It is glorious.
Super delicious hot wings without the mess recipe:
1 brick cream cheese
1 cup thick bleu cheese dressing--like T. Marzetti's is a good one***
1/2-1 cup hot sauce (we had it with 1/2 cup--I'd probably kick it up to 3/4 myself, but I tend to be on the semi-hot side of mild when it comes to spice)
2 small shredded chicken breasts
grated cheddar cheese
-preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-combine cream cheese, dressing, and hot sauce.
-mix in shredded chicken.
-bake 15-20 minutes to heat through.
-sprinkle with cheddar cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes.
-serve hot with tortilla chips.
Holy crap, is this good.
***Now, don't be intimidated by the bleu cheese. I, personally, am an active hater of the stuff. If I know it is in something, I generally refuse to go near it. This time, I had the good sense to try the dip first, and THEN ask what the ingredients were. And I continued to eat. And eat. And eat. So fear not. This is good shit. I promise.
16:40 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
04/03/2006
Jam packed (and how I beat the SSS)
So I made it through 28 parent teacher conferences. How did I celebrate? One word- Whirlyball. 
For more information on this terrific sport, visit www.whirlyball.com. I knew I would have fun, but this was serious fun overload. And I have the bruises to prove it.
Saturday morning, after about 3 hours of sleep, I got up and wanted to knit. And even though this
was OH SO TEMPTING, I resisted and finished the Embossed Leaves socks. Done and done.
Here's Zoe showing her approval... 
I absolutely love these socks, although they are a smidge big for me. I think they may be more slippers than socks to wear in shoes. We'll see.
Since I'd finished the socks, I rewarded myself by beginning the Hourglass. Finally. I've been wanting to knit it since I first saw it in Last Minute Knitted Gifts last spring. 
I decided to do a contrasting edge. I don't love being a big fat copycat, but it was too great an idea to pass up. Here's a pic of the inside. 
I think it could be a bit neater, so I may rip it out and re-do the hem. I more or less threw it together because I wanted to make sure I'd like it before I got too far in.
So what is next? Besides finishing my Wobbly Circles tote (which I am determined not to do until April 15), I'm planning on doing some Jaywalking in a groovy pink varigated, and Orangina with Brown Sheep Cotton Fine in truffle. I also have some Cotton Fleece in Olivette that I might make the Somewhat Cowl out of, and then I have some more in Willow that I'm thinking might need to be the Ribby Shell from chicknits. I'm also trying to decide what I want to use to make Starsky... because I MUST have that sweater...
In the oven right now??? Yummy tart from Miss Ashley at doggedknits.com. Can't wait to dig into that...
01:40 Posted in Knitting , Leisure , weinerdogs and whatnot | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this