Dip Mix....from Pam

When Pam came back from her visit to Pennsylvania for school, she brought me back this dip mix from Intercourse, PA. Yes, you read that right.....SEE???

It really says Intercourse. Gotta love it!

It reminds me of a place called Climax, ND. I have actually played golf on the 9 hole course built by sugarbeet farmers in Climax. A great group of guys that even gave me a shirt when I fell into the mud after teeing off. Ok, it's a long story but suffice it to say there were only 2 women on the course and there was a lot of jockeying to get us in their carts.

Anyway, the dip is mellowing as we speak and the buttonhole bag is about 2 rows from being finished and ready for felting. Don't worry, I'll post photos.

I also got a really nice email from the red prayer shawl recipient. It means a lot to me that the recipients really do like them and "feel the heartfelt prayers" knit into the shawls! I really get great joy out of doing it whether I know the recipient or not. It doesn't matter.

And for the salsa lover's.....if you have ever visited El Sol Bakery in Chandler, you love their salsa.

After getting my van back from the Dodge Dealer (the transmission pump went out), I was driving past El Sol and thought, hmmmm....maybe I should get some salsa at El Sol. I didn't because I was going to Sam's club and didn't want it to sit in the car while I was inside. When I went into Sam's, I checked the salsa/deli area and found the El Sol salsa for sale and thought, that's right, they were going to start selling their salsa at Sam's in Gilbert & Chandler. I got a quart of salsa for $3.96!!!!!

That is less than it costs me to get a pint at El Sol. Believe you me, that salsa is now a staple at Sam's club!!!

Mamma's Got a Brand New Bag

And here it is!

My friend, Tamara, who I call a college friend but whom I did not meet until two days before finals, sent it to me for either a late birthday or early birthday present.

How did you meet Tamara, you ask? Well, she was friends with one of my roommates, Kristi. She called Kristi on Sunday after she had a keg party in her apartment and said, "Why don't you come over? I'VE GOT BEER AND CUTE YOUNG MEN." What's not to love? And a friendship of 13 years was born even though I don't drink beer!

Since my birthday is right around Christmas, it is very often forgotten.

As many of you know, green is my favorite color! Tamara knows this and so, here is the nifty neon green bag. I am quickly knitting Tamara a buttonhole bag for her birthday next Wednesday. I think she will be able to use it as a lunch bag or a small purse when she goes out!

I am safe talking about it because she doesn't read my blog! What kind of friend is that?????

Just kidding!

Sunburst Sling Bag

I have quite a bit of recycled silk left in my stash...even after I finish my unbiased hobo bag.

Hmm...maybe I should order this pattern.

I will have to think about it.....because we all know I have more yarn and projects than I will finish in quite some time!

On the bright side, I wouldn't have to buy yarn for this project! Oh yeah, that's the saving grace....I only have to buy the pattern!!!!!!

Editor's note: Ok, I broke down and bought the pattern and I am going to rip out the unbiased bag from knitty.com. I am not loving that bag! The odds are far too high that something will fall out!

Tuesday & Wednesday in Review

Hannah loved coming home on the bus on Tuesday. Of course, it was 30ish minutes late and she was sweating like a little piglet when she got off after waiting outside in the sun for all that time. After she came home yesterday, she decided maybe I could pick her up at school until it cools down a bit.


Lookie here what I got from the MVD on Tuesday in the mail. A nice letter telling me who towed my van. Hmm...they don't think I would not have tried to find it BEFORE Tuesday?



Simon got a nice outfit from Grandpa and Grandma Linda. When he saw the hat, he put it on and said, "I look like Grandpa." My Dad wears a lot of bucket hats and it was cute that Simon noticed!





The usual suspects and some others were at Coffee Rush. Here was have "old lady" Nancy who will be 34 soon.


Leah and her friend whose name I can't remember for the life of me!


Heather & Michelle.


Illanna trying to hide with her new haircut and tan.


Alison in her Loop D Loop top that showed off the new water bra cleavage to perfection.


The stocking I am copying for a friend with a new baby on the way. Her now dead 92 year old Grandma knit one for everyone else in the family and she wants one to match. I will make a little $ to buy more yarn!



The Kiki & Steve were there too but hiding from the camera and giving me a lot o crap about that stocking. Melanie came with here ballettee dress a la Kiki too. It was really pretty colors!

Pam was working on her tofu sweater, some wrist warmers and tank for her sister. A busy crochet gal!

And finally, Simon got this from Grandma Barb. He has been talking about how he can do that every time we pass a building site with a crane. He was in hog heaven yesterday!


Sophie sleeping on Pam's desk at the house. That cat LOVES Pam.

And finally, the Lost Points Shawl is out of the marinating chamber (a great term from Ashley) and back into its original state. I am going to knit it again on bigger needles and with a garter stitch edge. The darned thing was super small AND the edged rolled. I like the idea of the pattern but the pattern itself left a lot to be desired!

I love my ball winder! It made it so much easier to take it apart!

Hannah's First Day of 1st Grade

Wow, where has the time gone?

I could have sworn she wasn't old enough to go to 1st grade!


Here is her friend Kathlyn from kindergarten. We had a meet and greet with her teacher yesterday and Hannah is happy to have a friend in her class from last year.


Walking up to the school.






And here the big girl is with her teacher, Mrs. Croswhite! Hannah had Mrs. Croswhite last year in Kindergarten and is excited that she is teaching 1st grade this year.


We'll get the whole report about eating lunch at school when Hannah gets home today. She is going to try hot lunch for awhile and see how it goes. If she doesn't like it, we can pack a lunch.

A Slew of Photos.....

We have a lot of leftover ice cream cake so we had some last night for dessert. Of course, the kids had to put on the party hats the kids found in the cupboard.

Contrary to Simon's photo, he really was excited about having MORE ice cream.





And the "Red Hat Lady Shawl" with the fringe you unravel after you've finished the whole darned thing.

I had to get creative with the yarn I had since I only had about 2 foot of the slubby red yarn left when I was finished so there are a couple of sections with 4 rows of the "other" red yarn in there to stretch it out.

Who does Simon look like????

Let's see....who does Simon look like????

This is David with his siser Ann, who he swears lived in an orphanage until she was 10, and Grandma Bridger. David can't remember who the bloke in the hat is....it looks a bit like Grandpa Bridger, affectionately known as Rabbits.



And another one with Ann.


And here is his Auntie Betty, Uncle Peter & his cousin, Christine, sometime circa 1958-1960.

Cake & Presents!!!

We got an ice cream cake for Simon's birthday and as usual, it was really yummy.

Someone, who will remain unnamed, got a finger or two to the edge of the cake.


I added some bugs because Simon is currently obssessed with "hunting" bugs. He loves picking them up and flushing them down the toilet.

It works out pretty well since Hannah is deathly afraid of bugs. She just calls Simon and he takes care of them for her.





Open some presents...and then it is all over until presents come from the Grandparents.

Jonelle's 40th Birthday at SWTC

It was a nice evening at SWTC. A lot of yarn to be bought and yummy treats to be eaten. Here are some random photos fo knitters.

Jonelle, the birthday girl, at the end of the table.

Fran from Tucson's, Statue of Liberty. The first one hangs in the museum at the Statue of Liberty.

Here is Fran on the left and her friend who is buying the sparkly zippers.

Here is my "felted tote" test knit from some time back on my blog. it is now a box! Yes, you read right, a box, because the #$# thing was so darned HUGE it could not be a purse.


See? Here it is pretending it is a bag. Yeah, right.


And, my yarn purchase last night. It was $30 for the bag of 10 skeins at 244 yards per skein. I figure it will easily make 3 prayer shawls and a scarf.






I know many of you (ok, everyone) has probably noticed how many shawls have been knit as of late as prayer shawls.

Here is WHY, I do it.....this is an exerpt of the note I got from the recipient of the green lace shawl this week.

I am writing you instead of calling for the simple reason I would blubber all over you if I called right now!

The shawl is absolutely gorgeous and the reason you knit it for me is so special. (Yes, I cried when I opened it and I am still sniffling.) I can't begin to tell you what it means to me. When you lose someone close to you, people are there right at the beginning, but as time passes, they do not think to send cards, email, or call to ask how you are doing. I guess in this crazy fast-paced world of ours, people expect a person to get over these personal loses very quickly. It just doesn't happen that way.

Then there are people like you who step out of the ordinary with their thoughtfulness, caring, kindness and giving. I truly will treasure the shawl always. (And the color is so perfect for me! Big smile.)

That one note will keep me going for YEARS!

Happy Birthday Simon!!!

My baby is 3 years old today. Here he is at 5:45 am on his big present, a new "bike". He is really getting the hang of pedaling and will be giving his sister a run for her money outside!





My baby at 3 days old.


1 year old


2 years old

Look at this great book!

I got this book from Overstock.com.



It is really interesting. It not only includes patterns but history and background on patterns. There are the Faroese shawls, Pi shawls and information on how to adapt patterns, etc. I think I will get a lot of use out of this book, not only from the patterns but also the information.

The recipient of the Flower Basket Shawl got it yesterday and loves it! I am glad. You always like to know the that the items you knit for people makes them happy and it certainly did for this very nice lady.

On the way to dropping the kids off at daycare/preschool this morning, I heard the best song......"Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles. We had it on loud and the kids were using their legs as drums as we are driving down the road and singing along!

See Honey, I don't always make the kids listen to country music!!!!!