Ready for Winter to be Over

Yes, I said it! As much as I like winter, I am ready for it to be gone. Especially after all the storms we have had. Jan 27th brought snow, and lots of it...then it also brought ICE. I could have done without the ice. Even though it sure was pretty to look at.


The snow storm came and brought with it an ice storm. Which left a couple inches of ice on everything! Needless to say the trees and power lines could not stand the added weight and snapped! Leaving us without power and more importantly… HEAT! We hunkered down in the one room with a fireplace. Day 5 and the house at 40 degrees, with sub zero temps coming; I wondered how much longer the firewood would last and if I would be able to keep the kids and pets warm. Thankfully day 5 around noon the power was back on!

The next week brought a high winds storm. 30-40 MPH with 65 MPH gusts…just enough to knock whatever the ice hadn’t and with the water drenched grounds, whole trees toppled over. We only lost power for a couple hours this time! Sheeeesh!




The kids and I did some yard clean up after a neighbor was kind enough to cut the HUGE limbs into carry size chunks. It took a couple of days, but most of it has been dragged out to the front curbside. Supposedly, the town is going to have debris collection. I hope so! No truck here, so if they don’t come get it from the curb…that’s where it will stay. :)

Of course I have been busy taking the kids to all their practices and activities! Teen Queen has practice 6 days a week lasting 3-4 hours. Boy Wonder has practice 2-3 times a week. Thank goodness for our Hybrid car!!!

The school year will be ending later this year due to all the days we missed. We missed a week of school in Aug/Sept due to the hurricane...yes, you read that correctly... hurricane in KY! We missed another 5 days or so due to the snow and ice storm that wiped out power in over 300,000 homes and businesses. While the roads were clear for travel, no one could very well send their kids to school when the school's have no power or heat! It's looking like the first week of June will be our last week. Unless, of course we have another severe weather issue!

Knitting and yarnie stuffs~ I made and sent off 2 more pairs of team knit Socks for Soldiers. I have made a couple pairs of leisure socks and a gazillion washcloths. Also moving right along on my Mystic Star Lace Shawl. I am on the last clue, which has a squigillion stitches, so each round takes quite a while. It will be stunning once it is complete!

Boxes are being sent off to Rambo at the rate of about one a week. I try to have on on the kitchen counter in progress at all times. He enjoys the little stuffs from home as well as the necessity stuff, like soap. :) Of course, you do know he gets some handmade washcloths too!!!

Yarnie happiness in the mail....2nd edition in the 3 month club from YarnBearer...as always if you like yarn or want to send ME yarn, go check out her EtsyShoppe!

Whew! First Post for 2009

First off..... one word

OBAMA!

I was thrilled during elections, but the Inauguration....amazing! With it being such a significant historical inauguration, I had my kids stay home to watch it in it's entirety. The teachers flat out told them they would not be watching it. I would have assumed it would have been streamed throughout the schools...what do I know!? Granted we live in a red state, but c'mon...no matter who you voted for; this was history being made! Which brings me to a gingerbread house we saw over x-mess.....




There was a entire village of gingerbread houses. It was quite impressive! It was in Indianapolis. We took a detour on our way to IA. The trip to IA was snow filled fun! Initially, I was missing the thought of my 4x4 Chevy Trailblazer, which was traded in for a more economical car last spring. Which has been FABULOUS!!! However, the thought of snow and my lil Toyota Hybrid Camry gave me the shivers. Of course having grown up and learned to drive in snow country up in New England sure helped in how my car would perform in the snow. One stretch of highway we counted no less than 28 cars slid off the road and into the ditches. I asked Rambo (yes he was able to spend the holly-days with us...yaaay!) to check the weather on his phone, I had feared BLIZZARD... and not the fun, yummy kind from Dairy Queen! Sure enough, blizzard warning! **eeep!** At times seeing the road was damn near impossible, there was blowing snow and cars were zipping off the roads at alarming speeds. One point we were driving 20 mph on I74. Once we were on I80, the roads were in much better condition.

We ate lots of food in IA! My SIL and I made a wonderful xmess dinner. We stayed warm in the farmhouse, even though the temps were typically below zero. The coldest was -22. When it was above 0, the kids went out and played in snow drifts, building tunnels and forts. They had a blast! Time was short and before we knew it, it was time to drive home. Time flew by and then it was time for Rambo to head out again. No matter how many times we do this, it never gets any easier.

Of course for sanity's sake I keep busy with the kids insane schedules and my yarn. In previous posts, I made flip top mittens for Boy Wonder. Well, Teen Queen had to have a pair! I finished them right before we left for IA!




While in IA, I worked on Soldier Socks for Rambo. He wanted them taller than the usual patterned socks...so instead of 12 inch legs he got 15! Took 4 skeins of yarn, but I did it!



I have since completed 2 team knit pairs and sent them in. I finished a beanie/skull cap for Rambo to wear under his kevlar helmet. Last but not least I am working on 2 more pairs of team knit soldier socks which will be sent out shortly.

Sock clubs were my gift of choice this year! I enjoyed them so much this past year, I decided to repeat it. This way, every month I am getting wonderful yummy yarn in the mail! I love surprise yarn in the mail! Of course the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rawk club will be shipping it's first edition out this month. A new sock club I joined was through one of my LSG gals; The Yarn Bearer. If you like yarn, or want to send ME YARN... please check out the link to her Etsy shoppe! This is my first skein from UberSock and it's so pretty and smooshy!



Speaking of my LSG gals.... Chile had to be chic and go bald. So, we are all making and sending her hats! It is so amazing to me that we are seen as a bunch of rough around the edges, don't give a shit kind of gals by those who scorn us LSG'rs. Yet we are a very close group, especially for an online community! Here are a couple hats I made for our girl Chile!




And last but most certainly not least....a MYSTERY SHAWL! I did my swatch for Mystic Star. If you dig on shawls, are addicted to lace knitting, or want to learn...there is still time to get in on this KAL! GO HERE for details!

Here is my swatch. Size 6 needles, Jaggerspun 2/8 color is Amethyst. The color is darker in real life, my flash washed it out. This is what I get for taking pictures at 2am!



WHEW! So... that's been my 2009 so far.
Well that, and I had a birthday in there...39 baby! Sneaking up on 40, yes I am.

Getting Into the Swing of Things~

As many of my friends with school age kids are just starting school this week, we have begun the fourth week.

We are still not fans of waking up at the crack.

Sporting scene... 

Teen Queen~ Magic Softball has wound down until spring training for next year.  High School Field Hockey is going strong.  Runner up in the Apple Tournament, and so far undefeated in regular season play.  Season runs all the way through October 10th. 

High School Fall Ball (fastpitch softball) also begins this week.  

Boy Wonder~ Fall Ball (baseball) begins this week.  In October he will try out for his Middle School team.

Busy time again for the Wicked/Rambo family.  As we brace ourselves again for mobilization.  Here's hoping the ride is not quite as wild as last time!  Not sure how much excitement I can handle in one lifetime!

With Ravelympics over, I have been able to catch up on some regular ole knitting.  

For Halloween~ Nothing like dressing up the kitchen with some Spooky Dishcloths

Green is a bat, Orange is a Jack o Lantern, Black ones are Cat and Raven (even though it is impossible to see in the photo).  The duo color ones are called ball band dishcloths.  I have named the black and green one "franken-cloth"

I have also cast on for Terra.

It is my dream to be able to make and wear it to CT this fall.

My yarn is Beaverslide Dry Goods McTaggart Tweed in Mountain Mahogany. Unfortunately, being the tight knitter I am... my gauge is off and I have since had to frog out the ten inches in this photo!  Chatting with the designer, I will have to go up another needle size or so.  

I would rather frog it, and be able to wear my hand-knit pullover this fall. 

Below is some lace knitting!  Secret of the Stole 3.  

Size 3 needles circular of course, yarn is knit picks shimmer; color is called cumulus and I am using silver lined crystal clear beads.

Close up of the stitches and beads, using flash.

Talk Derby to Me

Oh yah! Go Baby, Go. Talk Derby to Me (in your best Poison tune)

Louisville and the first Saturday in May = DERBY. For many it's par-tay time. For us, it's just another day.

For me, it was the day I blocked my MYSTIC LIGHT Shawl! Here is mine done in Dream in Color Smooshy Yarn - Lipstick Lava colorway.

I enjoyed everything about this KAL. The pattern, while easy to follow it had it's challenging areas, such as cables and knitting pattern on both sides. The yarn, fabulous; first time I had ever worked with it. So soft and very easy to work with. While it did rub a wee bit of red on my hands while working, that's normal for brightly hand dyed yarns and fibers. Before I blocked it, I rinsed throughly in cool water til it ran clear, so it's all set now.

progress pics

OK, I got off my lazy ass.... presenting clues 1 and 2 of Mystic Light KAL in Dream in Color Smooshy- Lipstick Lava



This is the cafe curtain hung up...of course, being the brainiac that I am....took it into the light *duh*

I will take another one tonight, perhaps it will be better.

What's a Goil to do?

What's a goil to do while waiting for new yarn to arrive for a KAL? Stash bust of course!

Realizing that I was sick and tired of mini blinds in our road facing bathroom, I made a cafe curtain. Denim Ombre kitchen cotton, and a vintage crochet pattern that I modified. I ALMOST have it perfect. I believe I will need to make another panel in order to have the folding drape to obscure the bathroom window. The photo is that of the panel drying and blocking.




Over Easter, also bored and bummed that I could not work on my Mystic Light KAL, I busted out some Lion Brand Homespun from the stash and made this Generic Granny! Pretty wonderful what a K hook and a week can do!



And last but CERTAINLY not least....my new yarn for the Mystic Light KAL!!! I had chose 2 alternate yarns and colors that I thought might work. As much as I loved my STR Rhode Island Red, the beautiful colors detracted from the lace pattern. Which quite frankly, what's the use in doing lace if you can't see it?!

The Loopy Ewe shipped SO fast! My Lipstick Lava colored Smooshy yarn by Dream in Color arrived last week. Which gave me plenty of time to get re-started on the KAL. I am happy to say that I was able to get clues 1 and 2 done before today! Which is when clue 3 is to be released. *whew* The second yarn, which was ordered from another company... has yet to even be shipped. Apparently, it is on backorder.

I will get a pic of my progress up as soon as I get off my lazy ass to take one. :o)

I am also working on my Blue Moon Fiber Arts Notorious Sock Knitters Club March edition. *loving it*

The children are on Spring Break here. Teen Queen and Boy Wonder are enjoying their time off from a heavily planned schedule. Boy Wonder does have a few baseball practices tossed in there, but for the most part it's all free time baby! Which for them, means ~~~VIDEO GAME TIME!~~~

Since January it's been a bit rough around here, ya know, with Rambo being told that his civilian job no longer exists. Talk about a wicked pissa!

It's never fun to be told you no longer have a job; but that damn job was nothing but a nightmare for us the entire time, good riddance! Thankfully, we still have the military. *never thought I would be thankful for that*

The time off from an endless work week and incessant traveling for no good cause for that damn civilian job has been good for us. Rambo has been able to spend some quality and quantity time with the family, which has been long overdue!

Aarrrgh! Colors vs. Pattern

Ok, here's the deal...
Another lovely KAL; because you see...I have an addiction. Mystic Light.
Here was my completed first clue...yes...was. It splashed into the frog pond last night when I realized I did not want to go on with clue 2 only to really not see the design pattern.










I was using Rhode Island Red from Socks That Rock, it is beautiful yarn, and a dream to work with, but it's too many colors detracts from the actual shawl pattern. IMO.

I was looking at a few other choices online. Shaefer Anne has 2 colors that I like; one is Clara Barton and the other is A-52. Another color that I think may do well with this pattern is from Dream in Color (smooshy), Lipstick Lava. These all seem to be a version of semi solid dyed yarn, rather than varigated yarn.

Of course I cannot locate any of these locally. Today I scooted around town in search, only to find nothing suitable. I was hoping to get it today, so at the very least I could get re-started on clue 1 before clue 2 comes out on Wednesday. Alas, it appears I will have to be ordering online. Which means waiting for shipping...aaarrrrgh!

Which color do you like???

Better to blog with no pictures or not blog at all?

Me??? I choose to not blog at all. After all, what fun is it without photos?

I have been steadily chugging along on my SotS2. Almost done with hint 3, I am SO behind.

I have completed Nephew #3's birthday ghan! Pattern here



Along with a dandy lil handmade tag! I am sure the next few tags will come out better, but not too shabby for my very first attempt! I learned this nifty how to from Futuregirl's tutorial. She totally kicks ass!




I have found and received the most perfect yarn for the Mystic Light KAL beginning later this month. It is from BMFA, Socks that Rock in Rhode Island Red.



That's about it! No progress pics of the Y4S Crystalline socks, or SotS2. Heck, I have yet to even cast on for MS7 with Goddess Knits! *bad Knitter*

Here is the sky this morning around 7am! Yesterday was 65 degrees, today it was 71 and the wind kicked up to bring clouds and rain for this evening. I thought the sky was so pretty, that I just had to snap a pic before taking my daughter to school.

Ahhhh... 2008 The Year of Shawls and Socks

Well, at least for this crafter it will be! Of course, the added birthday ghan or odd ball item tossed in just for fun and to mix it up a little. ;o)

So many Shawl Kals....
Currently on the needles are The Civil War Shawl KAL and The SotSii KAL.
Soon to begin are the Mystic Light KAL and Mystery Shawl 6.

The CWS..Why does everyone ask if I am working on a hat?


Apparently... I also have a new found affinity for SOCKS! Go figure. Last year I learned the Magic Loop method and I am hooked. No more DPNs for this crafty Goddess...it's magic loop all the way baby. Last year, I was a happy member of the Yarn4Socks Sock Club. Now keep in mind that when I say "member"; what I ACTUALLY mean is that I received the yarn and pattern. Nope... I never did complete one single pair of socks from that club. Though, I did and do love the sock yarn I happily added to my stash! (wickedly evil grin)

This year, Rambo Husband gifted me a Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin Sock Club Membership. I am happy to announce that I am well on my way to completing January's Edition!

Hahahah, bet you thought I was gona show ya. Check out my "Flickr Me Baby" widget for more pics.

I also have lingering on my table, the January edition from Harmony Semi Solid Sock Yarn club... taking my time to find a pattern to showcase this beautiful yarn. Last but not least ... yesterday, the mailman brought me even MORE sock yarn!!! That's right....Yarn4Socks February edition!

Woot! I plan on being up to my eyeballs in sock yarny goodness! You can clearly see why I said this would be the year of Shawl and Sock knitting for me. :o)

It's all good! Being the Mom Chauffer that I am...with carpooling the kids to and from school, back and forth to baseball and softball practices, as well as to and from games and tournaments; I will have plenty of sock knitting time on my hands.

With Great An - tici - PATION ...

As said with my best Rocky Horror Picture Show voice! *grin*

The SotSii begins in just 7 days....SEVEN DAYS people!

yarn ... check
needles ... check
swatch ... check check

Yarn is fingering weight Jaggerspun heather 2/8 in Hickory color.

Using size 7 needles.

Midwinter's Eve Shawl is Blocking

Completed MS6 on schedule. I am thrilled that I was able to complete this KAL with the group.

I love the name and the design is fabulous!


Pattern by Goddess Knits

knit in jaggerspun heather 2/8 in smoke colorway

size 7 needles



currently blocking on the guest bed.