Too many needles??

Is there such a thing ?? Too many needles?? I don't think so. I do however have a few projects going that I do intend to complete before casting on more. I have a pair of Kaylee socks going that I just cast on last night. I also have a pair of toe up Jaywalkers going and I am still going strong with my swirl socks. I am going to cast on again my BSJ (Baby Surprise Jacket) due to my gauge not going exactly how I want it to go. I think the yarn I am using is a bit small for this project so I am going to try a different yarn and a different set of needles. At the rate I am going right now that BSJ will probably only fit a preemie which if it does will be great because I can donate it but I would like to keep my first one. I'm going to frog it tonight and restart due to being at a stopping point on the Kaylees. I am only at row 5 but I cannot understand the instructions for it so I will be taking it with me to the LYS in Macon next Thursday for some further instruction on how to do the center.

Speaking of the LYS in Macon, GA which would be Creative Yarns. They are having open house on May 22 from 5 pm to 7 pm. They are having sock boot camp all that week to help new and more advanced sock knitters with what else socks! I unfortunately will not be able to go to it all week so I decided that I would treat myself to an early birthday present and take off of work just about an hour early so that I could make it.

The job is going great still.... I'm still trying to convince this girl at work, Kris, that she is knitter but she still refuses to allow me to teach her. She admires my socks in progress and always comments on them. Then another another one that is going to be working within my department as soon as we find a replacement for her told me she bought her first set of needles this weekend. I was so happy for her. I told her that if she needed any help I would be more than happy to teach her anything that I could. She aims very big too -- she wants to make an afghan for her first project.


Thankful:
1. I am thankful that my cousin loved my great-aunt Mim's shawl and decided to keep it for herself.
2. I am thankful for being able to spread the knitting bug.
3. I am thankful for the great mother that I have.

On to new things.....

I'm still working on my swirl socks in a Dancing color way I had bought on clearance a year or so ago from KnitPicks. I am working on getting both socks the same length so that I can work on both of them at the same time using the magic loop method.

At our last Purlin' Peaches meeting, Mrs. Hazel and I went to Creative Yarns where I purchased the BSJ (baby surprise jacket) pattern to try out. I have been wanting to make a sweater for sometime now and I think I may can handle this one due to being all knit in one piece. We have another lady at work expecting now so maybe I can get this test run knit in time to possibly knit one for her little one if all goes well.

I'm also working on a mitered square blanket from a past creative knitting magazine for G as a throw for when its cool during the winter. It has become a great stash buster. I have several small balls of yarn that I can get rid of now.

I am still enjoying my job at the bank; however I will be learning more things about my jobs as I get the work caught up that I already know how to do. I have some things that I should be doing daily but due to the circumstances around the lady leaving that I replaced I have had a lot of catch up work to do. I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel which means I will be able to take on more of my responsibilities of my position. My supervisors and I will also be getting an assistant as soon as we can find someone to fill her position in the bookkeeping department. I can't wait to work closer with S; she has such a great personality. I think it will be a smooth transition for all of us.

I hope to get some pictures up by next week. My dad informed me over the weekend that I could borrow a camera of his that he no longer uses so I could take pictures for my blog. I may go get it sometime this week or either use G's digital camera until we can get me a replacement.


Thanfuls:
1. I am thankful for the ability to do things for others.
2. I am thankful for sunny spring days.
3. I am thankful for cookies.

Moments of Silence

Hi guys --- Sorry for lack of posts theses past couple of weeks. I am taking moments of silence.

G's grandfather passed away April 10 and my great-aunt Mim passed away April 17. I hope that next week I will be back to my regular blogging. Please keep our family in your prayers during this time.



Thankfuls:

1. I am thankful that my great-aunt Mim no longer has to suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
2. I am thankful that G's grandfather is forever youthful and now is able to see his wife after such a long period without her.
3. I am thankful for being blessed with two more angels around us.

I have just about lost my mind....

The past week or so has been very horrible with the exception of the last Saturday night. Saturday night we had some folks over to grill out and everything went well considering the fact that it rained all day. Sunday, however, was a different story. G and I got up to go fishing and all Heck broke loose.
I was going to take my camera just in case we caught a nice size fish so that we would have pictures to prove the tale. Well as we were getting our fishing gear in the truck (the doors were locked) I put my camera on the hood of the truck so I wouldn't forget it.... Can you see where this is going???
Well I didn't think about the camera again until we got to my Nanny's house to start fishing. This camera had a huge memory card like 1-2 gigs or something. It had ALLLL of my pictures from our wedding rehearsal and our honeymoon on it. Lets just say it literally made me ill to find out that I had lost it. Then to make matters worse I lost my cell phone on the way home that night. We had stopped at a gas station and I was on the phone with my parents. I got out of the truck and saw that one of the fishing poles was standing up in the bed of the truck. I got off the phone and laid the phone on the side of the truck bed where it stayed until we drove off from there only God knows what happened to it. Sunday just was not a good day for me and electronics!
Naturally we didn't have insurance on the phone so I had to call Verizon using G's phone to get mine deactivated just in case someone found it and it was still in working condition. I now have one I bought from eBay being shipped to my house.

So as far as updating pictures on my knitting, there won't be any pictures until we can afford to replace it. The socks are going along great and I plan to take them to our next knitting meeting this weekend.

Oh by the way---Have you heard the new George Straight song "I saw God Today"? LOVE IT!!! It is so wonderfully fantastic!

UPDATE: Al Capone has three more treatments of chemo and he will be finished. The doctors can no longer feel the lumps and think they may have it going into remission. Thank all of you who have kept him in your prayers.

Thankfuls:
1. I am thankful for each day I get to spend at my wonderful job.
2. I am thankful for my work family.
3. I am thankful for the small blessings in life.

Frogging

I've frogged my past two attempts at sock making, so knitting hasn't been that productive and I have nothing to show just yet. I am working on a mitered square throw for hubby from a recipe in a past Creative knitting magazine. Its a great stash buster. I am haven't started back working on my other mitered blanket from Mason Dixon knitting yet but I haven't made it an after thought either. I am currently working on a pattern called Swirl socks and as soon as I make it to my next Purlin' Peaches meeting and get my yarn wound up I will be starting on the Kaylee socks. I received my new circulars that I had ordered from KnitPicks yesterday and I love them for magic-looping socks.
I have definitely been bitten by the sock bug but I just don't have as much time to knit as I would like. I am able to at least block out some of my break time and lunch time at work to work on small things.
I hope to post pictures on my next post as to what I have been working on.
I've been doing a lot of house cleaning and just regular chores in order to get our house in order. We are getting a lot of our friends together this weekend to get together and grill hot dogs and hamburgers. We (the bridesmaids) will also be going to get fitted Saturday for my BIL's wedding but that will be Sat. morning so I will have plenty of time to get things together before they all come over later that evening.


Thankfuls:
1. I am thankful for spring.
2. I am thankful for the rain we received over the weekend.
3. I am thankful for seeing my family over Easter.

Birds, leaves, and toe-ups

Things are still going on pretty swell. I have little visitors now and they devour the treats I leave for them. I have two bird feeders on my front porch and lets just say the bird food goes fast around here. I took the pictures which include the birds only two days ago. The picture of the empty bird feeders is what I found when I got home this evening.





I also have been doing a little bit of yard work in the evenings which cuts my knitting down some but I do love being outside. I can't wait to get a place we own so that I can make flower beds and have a garden. Plants I have right now are in pots which will do for the time being. Here are a couple of pictures of my labors.





I was very sad to here that one of the Ravelry sock designers had passed away. The Purlin' Peaches are starting our own knit a long making the Beatrix socks and the Kaylee socks that mommamonkey of Monkey Toes designs had designed. I am in the process of knitting the Beatrix socks backwards from the instructions --- meaning I am knitting them toe up instead of cuff down. Not sure how they are going to turn out especially when I get to the lace part. I think I will just start with the last row and go in reverse and everything should turn out alright. Here is what I have so far.

I think it will work out. My gauge is a little loose but I can live with it. These are my first pair of toe ups and I can't wait to get them finished.


I have been trying to catch up on my blog reading so if I am a little behind the times with what is going on with you my friends I am sure you will understand. I will try to leave more comments in the coming days. I so enjoy reading everyone's blogs that I keep in touch with. It is so nice to know you are all doing well. Now that I have internet here at home, I will definitely have to listen to one of Gnat's podcasts.


Thankfuls:
1. I am thankful for longer days which means I can get out in the yard more.
2. I am thankful for warmer weather.
3. I am thankful for my crockpot for busy days when I don't have time to really cook.

Back to our regular scheduled blogging......

First off I wanted to say ---- I totally forgot my thankfuls in my last post, so with that I plan to post six today.

We have finally gotten our internet here at home connected and I must say I have been very busy catching up on my blog reading and my Ravelry surfing. I haven't been knitting very much but I have taught myself how to do a toe up sock on DPNs and I am now working on getting my first ever toe up sock finished.

I must admit I chickened out of the SOTSii. I was very intimidated by the charting of the whole thing and I just could not bring myself to attempt it. I am however working on some lacey patterned socks as my first toe ups as I just mentioned so that way I will be a little more prepared if I decide to go into something bigger.

I have missed my Purlin' Peaches meetings this month due to lack of internet but I do hope to get with the gals again before April approaches. I miss getting to together with them so much. I have missed all of my blog friends too. I feel like I have missed a big chunk of goings on with all of you since I have been without internet this past month.

My job at the bank is going along great. I could not be more happy. It is so much less stressful and such a quick (20 min) drive everyday. My mood has greatly improved since coming to this new job. The two ladies I work mostly with are the greatest ladies in the world. I was just telling my supervisor this past week that I do not think I could have found any better people in the world to work with. Everyone is so nice and more than willing to help each other.

I spoke with Al Capone this weekend. He has started his treatments and so far so good. He informed me that his treatments have yet to make him sick or to make his hair fall out. I intend on making him a cap if it does fall out though. He said he won't mind his hair falling out when and if it does---he's been waiting to see what he looks like bald-headed. He is in great spirits which I think is great.


Thankfuls:
1. I am thankful for my husband getting our internet hooked up.
2. I am thankful that Al Capone's progress is going as great as it is.
3. I am thankful for my great new job and co-workers.
4. I am thankful for the blessings the Lord has continued to give me.
5. I am thankful for cornflake candy (that my husband made).
6. I am thankful for all of my friends.