Another excuse to knit; Christmas gift swap

At my job outside the home, they do a Christmas swap.

You purchase an item for the name you draw, luckily for me the name I picked belongs to a really nice young man who’s  very crochet /knit worthy… so along with the prepaid visa card that he can use wherever he likes  (he has a wife, and a little baby, so I’m sure he can use the money for his family — if he chooses to do so) I’ve decided to knit him something.  The thing is, I’m not sure what the ‘something’ will be… but I’m leaning towards a scarf or mittens, or perhaps both! We’re supposed to get a lot of snow this winter. I’ve made all my Christmas handcrafted items already so I’ll have plenty of time to work on whatever I make for him. The party isn’t scheduled until mid December.

In other knitting news…

I finally got around to making my daughter the fingerless gloves she loves so much. I made one for her last night while we watching the Monster High: Ghoul’s Rule movie. I’ll knit the other this evening. Hopefully I’ll be able to post pictures this weekend.

I cry…

Sometimes I cry when I chop onions. It’s the only time I “cry”. But today I didn’t “cry” while chopping onions.

Earlier this afternoon, I was craving Indian food, so I made my own version of dry chana masala, but I didn’t use garbanzo beans.

Not exactly a dry chana masala, but still delicious!

My daughter hasn’t had this dish in several years, but she thoroughly enjoyed it, and before I knew it, it all disappeared into her stomach.

When I first heard the song I Cry, I instantly thought about Piano in the Dark by Brenda Russell (scroll all the way down to hear that song). It’s always nice to hear my old favorites get brought back to life with a new twist. I’d like to think ,that regardless of my age I’ll still have an appreciation for all types of music.

 

 

Flo Rida: I Cry
I know
Caught up in the middle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go
Oh no
Gave up on the riddle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go

[Flo Rida]
I know you wanna get behind the wheel Only 1 Rida
Eyes shut still got me swimming like a diver
Can’t let go I got fans in Okinawa
My heart to japan quake losers and surviours
Norway no you didn’t get my flowers
No way to sound better but the killer was a Coward
Face just showers, the minute in a hour
Heard about the news all day went sour
Lil mama got me feeling like a limit here
Put you in the box just the presidents cigarettes
Give em my regards or regardless I get arrested
Ain’t worried about the killers just the young & restless
Get mad coz the quarter million on my necklace
DUI never said I was driving reckless
You & I or jealously was not oppressive
Oh no I can’t stop I was Destined

I know
Caught up in the middle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go
Oh no
Gave up on the riddle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go

[Flo Rida]
Champagne buckets still got two tears in it
And I put that on my tattoo of Jimi Hendrix
Get depressed coz the outfit all in it
Coz the press tell it all get a meal ticket
Clean next get a call just a lil visit
Sacrifice just to make a hit still vivid
Rihanna kiss you on ya neck just kill critics
Buggatti never when I’m rich, just god fearing
Look at me steering, got the bossing staring
Mr mike caren, tell his Billie Jeans
Im on another planet
Thank E-Class, Big Chuck or Lee Prince Perries
Buy my momma chandeliers on my tears dammit
Thirty years you had thought these emotions vanish
Tryna live tryna figure how my sister vanish
No cheers I know you wouldn’t panic

I know
Caught up in the middle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go
Oh no
Gave up on the riddle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go

When I need a healing, I just look up the the ceiling
I see the sun coming down I know its all better now

When I need a healing, I just look up the the ceiling
I see the sun coming down I know its all better now

When I need a healing, I just look up the the ceiling
I see the sun coming down I know its all better now

When I need a healing, I just look up the the ceiling
I see the sun coming down I know its all better now

I know, I know, I know, I i i, I think of letting go

I know
Caught up in the middle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go
Oh no
Gave up on the riddle
I cry, just a little
When I think of letting go

Adding to my yarn stash

I had no intention of purchasing yarn today.

Earlier today, I took my daughter to A.C. Moore so she could select a Springfield doll. She wasn’t expecting the doll, and was thrilled when we went to the doll section and I told her to choose a doll.

For those familiar with American Girls doll. The Springfield dolls look a lot like the American Girl dolls, but instead of paying over $100, you can purchase Springfield dolls for a little over $20.00. You can purchase Springfield dolls at AC Moore, JoAnn Fabrics, and Michaels department stores. If you have a 50% off coupon, you can get them even cheaper. You can use AC Moore, JoAnn Fabrics, and Michaels stores coupons at each others stores. Perfect for when you want to take advantage of a 50% coupon. I’ve noticed that AC Moore seems to offer those coupons more than the other two stores. So use the highest coupon when you visit the other craft store!

I’m loving these colors…

 

Since we were there, I decided to check to see their selection of wool, and I came home with three skeins of Patons Classic Wool. It was on sale for $3.99 per skein. I’ve never used Patons before, but I’ve been wanting to make some felted projects for a few gifts and I’d read that this brand felts well.

The above color is Kimono, and I already have ideas of what I’ll be making with this yarn.  I did notice that my local A.C. Moore has remodeled their yarn section. There seems to be a lot more yarn too.  It looks really nice. Hmm… I just might have to add A.C. Moore onto my yarn stash list.

Transitioning to working out of the home… part-time

This week, will be my first full week working out of the home, for several years. I still have the same clients I did when I worked from home full-time, but I must say it’s nice to venture out of the home and interact with others even if it’s on a part-time basis. I stay busy with my working out of the home job, and that makes me happy. The icing on the yummy cake is working for an organization that I love. It also helps that I know a lot of people there.

This past weekend was busy for my daughter. She had a Father/daughter dance on Friday – I volunteered to serve food. She had a soccer game on Saturday — I cheered from the sidelines. My daughters choir performed in two services on Sunday– when she looked at me in the large audience, I reminded her to smile. By making my smile bigger of course. My sweet daughter is tired today, and to be honest so am I. Most likely, will both be turning in early this evening.

You know something? I still haven’t ordered my birthday yarn from Knit Picks, but I decided to hold off until the end of this month. Who knows, I might order everything on my Knit Picks wish list, which is about $200.

 

Some nights…

A simple knit for baby….

 

Besides knitted hats, I don’t think I’ve knitted any clothing for an infant. Sure I’ve made numerous sewn and crocheted items… but that’s not knitting. It’s time that I change that, right?

 

This knitted infant top is a quick knit of ribbed and stockinette stitch.

 

This is a quick knit, and I still have some work to complete but for the most part it’s finished. I’ll be adding a few cutesy adornments to this knit. Because of course, if I pick up stitches, I can always knit some ruffles.  And to make it extra special, this could easily be turned into a ‘set’ by making a matching hat, mittens, and tiny booties too.

Some nights, when I can’t sleep you’ll find me reading or working on some craft… like knitting.

The first time I heard this song, I instantly thought of the band Queen, I definitely here similarities of Queen in this song, love it!

FUN: Some Nights

Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for oh
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don’t know anymore…
oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh
oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh

This is it, boys, this is war – what are we waiting for?
Why don’t we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype – save that for the black and white
I try twice as hard and I’m half as liked, but here they come again to jack my style

And that’s alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Oh, who am I? Oh, who am I? mmm… mmm…

Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end
Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I’m scared you’ll forget me again
Some nights, I always win, I always win…

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don’t know… (come on)

So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?

No. When I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that’s all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like this one, so come on
Oh, come on. Oh, come on, OH COME ON!

Well, this is it guys, that is all – five minutes in and I’m bored again
Ten years of this, I’m not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks at home; Sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?

My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she call “love”
But when I look into my nephew’s eyes…
Man, you wouldn’t believe the most amazing things that can come from…
Some terrible nights…ahhh…

oh woah, oh woah, oh woah, oh oh
oh woah, oh woah, oh woah, oh oh

The other night, you wouldn’t believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we’d both agree
It’s for the best you didn’t listen
It’s for the best we get our distance… oh…
It’s for the best you didn’t listen
It’s for the best we get our distance… oh…

The most wonderful time of the year…

Fall and winter are my most favorite times of the year. I love the cool weather, and to be honest I cannot tell you which season I like the most…

Autumn brings along the changing of the foliage…which is lovely I must say, and gives me a chance to take numerous photos. Winter is always magical with a nice dusting or whole heap of snow. It’s makes a perfect excuse for my daughter and I to gather around out wood stove with a board game, good book, or something crafty while we create Smores, or I prepare food cooked on our wood stove.

Autumn is also a time for planting of fall crops, Hallows End (within World of Warcraft), and it’s when I do most of my soapmaking. This fall (since I’m working a few hours weekly out of the home) I most likely won’t do my fall soapmaking until next month. I use a variety of ingredients in soapmaking, but standard items are essential oils, and a variety of herbs/flowers that I grow in our yard.  Naturally I have people that I’ll be gifting with handmade soap.

If you haven’t used handmade soap, you really should. In many cases it’s much gentler than the soap you’d purchase from a store, and it tends to do a much better job of conditioning and keeping your skin soft too. Lye, a caustic chemical that is used in most soapmaking, is made harmless through a bit of chemistry. Did you know you can neutralize a lye spill by applying vinegar to the affected area.  I must say I get a chuckle at some of the anti-acrylic yarn rants that center around “I don’t use man-made yarns because they use caustic chemicals”. I’m guessing some of the same ones going on that tangent use the traditional soaps, laundry detergents that use those ‘caustic chemicals.

Naturally I’ll be gifting a few people with my homemade soap, including a few of my blog pals like Nicole (Happy Birthday Nicole!) and of course Curls & Q.