problems with email

I have no idea what is wrong with my e-mail (calling verizon today ... grrrrrr... I hate verizon) if my SP needs to reach me, solimar31 AT gmail DOT com. I have to see if I can check my blog from work because I don't have time this morning to check my comments! Apparently people leave em and blogger still doesn't send em - or maybe it's the spawn of satan (verizon) not letting them through!

I wasn't ignoring you if you left a comment!

B is for

B really is for busy! A typical Friday night around chez Stacey? Studying, taking pictures for the ole blog, some knitting in the corner and the pink thing in the background, that's the hamper... doing laundry too.

I'd include a picture of my desk at work - to show you how busy it is there, but then I'd have to kill you. :)
I couldn't take a picture even if I wanted to because they don't allow cameras where I work. I can't even take my PDA in.

B is for bad boss. Yes, I have a bad boss. But I really love my job, so I try to live with it. For those of you who are familiar with the GS system. She was a 5 and they re-wrote a position that was an 11 target 13 and made it a 5 target 11 over a period of 3 years. She can't handle the job. A little stress and she loses it.

Here's the great needle holder I got from my SP... along with some Highland Chunky from Elann... and my little Tao holding the yarn down for me.

Just a quickie!

I just wanted to thank my secret pal for the beautiful needle holder. It is already in use!

I will get a picture this weekend when I have good light.

THANK YOU SP!!

Can I just say

I love Jen and La! Brutal honesty, likkered up Friday night posts, humor, love for all creatures great and small... God bless us everyone... oops, wrong thought process there. But you all know what I mean.

Go check out Jen's olympic buttons... I spit soda out of my nose (yes it hurt) when reading the Canada, US, Great Britain ones and now Jen added France!

I worked on my purse today while watching The Shield. I'm having a netflix marathon. I love Michael Chicklis! I remembered him from the Commish and I can't even picture him as that character anymore. I am so addicted! Why didn't I notice this when it started. Although my falling for it is the kiss of death... China Beach? Found it in it's last season. 30-something, same thing. OZ... found it in 2002... they killed it in 2003.

Secret Pal... I loved the card! I was so happy to get the mail and see something other than bills! Lucky you being from San Diego! I hear it's beautiful! It's on my list of places to see while I'm still living in California. By the way... I like smaller packages too!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Today was the big monthly shopping trip and I decided to head out to Ridgecrest. So, to the normal person, it's not a big town, but after living in the middle of nowhere for 3 months...it's the big city!! THEY HAVE A STARBUCKS!! AND A GROCERY STORE - 2 actually!!! No yarn shops, but I took care of that little fix online. I'll admit it... I miss L.A. I was lucky enough to live in Silverlake (now don't get excited... I was on the Echo Park border) right off of Sunset. I miss my laundry guy and the quirky little shops. The Crest Diner, my dog groomer. A quick trip down the 2 and I was at Swain's or Barnes and Noble. Don't even get me started on Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. What I wouldn't do for some Trader Joe's english toffee. Enough kvetching.

I might hit the big time and smoke some of that Silk Garden crack from WEBS. I'm thinking Lady Eleanor. In either reds or blues. I've never ordered from WEBS and I know there is something closer - and a little more expensive - but I'd get it faster. I've also been busy buying little things for my SP. I was thinking I might do it a little different this time. I was spreading the love out evenly for the last two, but I might send one FANTASTIC package and cards or candy or a little teaser (like one skein of yarn) before that.

What's your favorite way to get Secret Pal-ed?

Pizza Night!

Since tomorrow is my RDO (regular day off - I work 5 days one week and 4 the next) I decided to try my hand at BBQ Chicken Pizza. The dough is busy rising, the chicken is simmering in Sweet Baby Ray's (the sauce is the boss ya'll .... honestly... the only BBQ sauce in a bottle I don't mess with.. go .. now.. try). I can't wait! A little bacon sprinkled on top ... YUM!

I want to figure out a pizza that I had last week. It had some type of thick ranch sauce instead of red topped with cheese (of course), grilled chicken, onions and sweet pepers. If I could just figure out the ranch sauce. Thicker than dressing, but it wasn't sour cream or cream cheese. I might try mixing with some ricotta and give it a whirl. If anyone has a clue, please let me know.

Finished my psych for the week.. YEAH ME! Read my western civ at lunch... double YEAH ME! Tonight is mine all mine! Bring on the knitting!

I'm not feeling Banff or Frills... or the purse for that matter... I want to dig into that red stuff I dyed so I'm going to cruise knitty.

B is for busy busy busy

Ok, so I'm cheating a little. I'll post my B pics if I survive the weekend.

The psychology professor? She needs some therapy. Quiz on chapters 1 and 2 by Friday. 2 - 200 word posts, 2- 100 word replies by Sunday. (It's a short week, so it is understandable) Yeah, I know I should be working on that instead of blogging. Luckily, no mid-terms or finals... just 2 papers. I can handle that!

What about Western Civ you ask? How about besides the text book I have to read the following:

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh
2. The Iliad
3. Meno
4. The Aeneid
5. Dante's Divine Comedy (the whole thang... not just the Inferno)

Now, the Iliad and the Aeneid should be easy, I had to read those in 10th grade Latin... in Latin. (Yeah... I was a nerd... YA GOT A PROBLEM WIT DAT?) I'm thinking reading them in English should bring a little bit better comprehension.
One paper on the 5 books, one mid-term and one final. Easy peasy!

Knitting to be done in the next week? I'm going to say none, but I'm sure I can be easily moved to do so.

Blogging to be done? Well, it's a good diversion. Besides, I needed to write this post so I could tell my SP: Thank you for the card and I can't wait to see what's in the box!!!

Wasted day

Was there knitting or spinning or studying done? Heck no, I sat on the couch about 12 and passed out cold until almost 5. If little Frankie hadn't kept slipping off of me (and digging his little kitten claws in) I probably would have slept straight through until tomorrow.

Apparently it was quite a scene. Momma kitty behind my knees, Mac on my feet, Tao by the front of my knees, Frankie on my hip and NYTBD (name yet to be determined or yeti for short) curled up by my neck. I told my mom next time it happens, take a picture!! Didn't she know it would have been great blog fodder?

I'm going to make a hat with the stuff I spun... or maybe a beenie depending upon how much I have!

I love the color of the sockweight stuff, but I really don't know what to make with it, so I might take Allena's suggestion and RAOK it. I wish I would have done that color in the heavier stuff.

The red... mmmm I just love that color. I.must.find.something.to knit! I've pulled out all of my knitting mags and am looking for something - maybe a wrap - that only needs 440 yards. I found a cute messenger bag pattern, but I would need another 100 yards :(

What's that you say, I already have 5 projects going (if you count the socks that aren't going anywhere) ? Why start another? Cause it's yarn... and I think it's pretty... and I can!

Last relaxing weekend.

Since school starts tomorrow, I figured this was my last relaxing weekend for a while. I was busy, busy, busy!

First up, Friday the 13th sunset. There are some great things about living in the desert! The sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. Let's not forget the moon either. I want to get a better camera so I can take better night time pictures.

Up next, the purse I'm working on. I've included the book so you can see what it is going to look like. The colors are maple syrup and pumpkin from Knitpicks Wool of the Andes. I'm going to expand upon the swirls and do some type of design with cranberry.

There has been spinning too!! I finished up the merino that I dyed last summer. Not the best, but I was trying to go with Noro-ish thickness.

I even did a little dying. This is 440 yards of Knitpicks merino dye your own. Lemon lime and berry blue koolaid. Any ideas what to do with this?

2 skeins (for a total of 440 yds) of the worsted weight dye your own. I started out with grape, berry blue and black cherry, but it looked HORRIBLE! So, the next day I stuck it on the stove with 2 packs of tropical punch, two packs of cherry and 4 packs of strawberry. I wanted it saturated with red. Now it kind of looks like your hands after you pick (and eat) wild blackberries. Kind of dark purple with deep purply red. 440 yards - and again, no idea what to do with it! HELP!!!

Oh! Hi there SP! For some reason I'm not getting all of my comments in my email. I see you commented last week and just wanted to let you know I wasn't ignoring you! I'm going to have to remember to come and check my comments.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Showing my sky

Because of the lack of knitting content:
Sunrise from yesterday I think.

No one was hurt in the fire. The guy had already left for work. Although, the fire investigator was back today and took some things out. I still have to get a picture of what is left.

The one girl that the investigators were asking about (apparently the daughter of a neighbor's girlfriend) was blasting her music tonight - loud enough for me to hear it, in my house, two houses away - and I gotta tell you, I was a little afraid to do anything about it. I mean, when the fire was happening, a cop on scene said to her "I think this is the first time I've seen you without handcuffs" I may say something to the landlord tomorrow. (he owns the 3 houses starting with mine and ending with the one next to the fire)

Three rows done on banff, none on frills, nothing done on the cross stitch... oh and the purse I'm "working" on... I keep forgetting about it.

WHOO HOO! IT'S A 3-DAY WEEKEND!!!

Books

I picked up the books for my classes today and almost didn't make it. The campus bookstore is about 45 minutes away and I zigged when I should have zagged and took a nice detour through Red Rock Canyon State Park, which was pretty. According to some of the websites, the best views are from the highway. Too bad I missed most of it speeding and trying to get back to where I should have been.

Anyway, the books - by my calculation, $111/ inch of thickness. That's combined. the one is not quite an inch thick and the other is just a little over. Oh, and they aren't even hard cover. Not a bad racket to get into. Class starts Tuesday and I have a 3 day weekend before hand, so I'm going to spend some time reading this weekend.

must.sleep.now.

p.s. Let me preface this by saying I know I'm not the best at spell checking and grammar, but PEOPLE!! USE PARAGRAPHS!!! PLEASE!

WIP's and a GREAT DAY!!

Banff progress, with momma kitty looking on.


Frills progress...I know, not much.







A cross stitch project in progress. See what it will look like eventually. Do you think I can finish it by Jan 24? My mom was looking through my cross stitch magazines and fell in love with this because it was her grandmother's favorite hymn. I thought "Hey... what a great birthday present for my mom!" I think I bit off more than I can chew.

I work for a wonderful company. The owner of the company came out from headquarters (in VA) for his yearly visit. He has an award ceremony and meets with everyone individually to see how things are going and what their career goals are. During my chat with him, I told him that yes, I did want to go back and finish up my degree, but had to un-register this semester because I didn't have the money for the books I needed. (umm can you say the academic book publishers have quite a racket - $220 for two lousy books - my tuition was only 150). The man whipped out his wallet and gave me the money. Of course, when I get the reimbursement from the company when I pass the classes, I have to pay him back, but STILL. I'm writing him a personal thank you note. I almost burst into tears right there. I never expected it.


And I leave you with this. The house that is two houses down from me. On fire. This morning. There is almost nothing left - just a corner. I'll take another picture tomorrow. The fire investigators asked for copies and asked some questions about the guys (who don't live in the neighborhood) who asked me to call 911. I'm thinking they think it's shady.

If you're not my SP... keep on going.. boring post!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? I'm open to pretty much everything except red heart. Although... it is often less expensive to go with Elann or Knitpicks and get good yarn.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? Oh yeah... I spin. I also know how to crochet, but I prefer knitting.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Something I quick whipped up. The fabric is a little to heavy, but it does the job.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? About a year. I think I may be an advanced beginner. I just started my first sweater and I'm playing around with intarsia for the first time.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, I have Amazon and Froogle lists. I also have a knitpicks, but I'll have to send that to you!

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)I'm citrus-y for my bath stuff. Mandarin Mango, lemon-y, limey. For candles (using Yankee candle just as an example of scents)Home Sweet Home, Apple, Midsummer's Night, Clean Cotton. I also love Pier 1 Oceans scent.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I don't really have a sweet tooth, but I've never met a chocolate I didn't like.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Cross stitch, paint with watercolors, handpaint needlepoint canvas, polymer clay, beading.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My computer can play mp3's and I'm very eclectic when it comes to music... anything goes!

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I love fall colors and ocean colors. While I like greens (sages, blue-greens, etc) ...I can't stand green-green.. like rainbow green, St. Patricks green.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? My mom lives with me and I have 3 cats, 1 dog and 3 kittens ...until some find homes anyway.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves and mittens daily (yes, 60 is cold) - hats sometimes on the weekends and never ponchos (flashback to the 70's)

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I really enjoyed Noro and Manos. Anything wool that will felt! I love to spin alpaca but despite all of the alpaca blend yarns I have (all lace weight) I haven't knit much with it. I think because it is lace weight.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Just the redheart supersaver or pounders. It just doesn't feel nice. I also have arguments with ladder yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? felting

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? purses... I get the most use out of them. Gifts for others

17. What are you knitting right now? Banff , Frill , a purse from Bags: A Knitters Dozen (actually the one on the cover in different colors) .
I want to start the entrelac wrap from Scarf Style but I don't have a yarn picked out yet. I also want to do the market square bag - I just haven't bought the yarn.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Love my Denise set!! Prefer circs

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? See above... but if it's not denise, I like bamboo.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Sadly, no.

22. How did you learn to knit? Taught myself Christmas 2004

23. How old is your oldest UFO? A year! LOL

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Character - eeyore. Animals - sheep, roosters, black and white pigs

25. What is your favorite holiday? My birthday... just kidding. Actually, it's Memorial Day - the start of summer! YEAH!

26. Is there anything that you collect? Besides yarn? Not really.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Creative Knitting, Interweave Knits.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Elizabeth I, Artyarns, Cat, and a girl can always use more NORO!!

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Socks on two circs. Maybe I could actually finish a pair.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Sock being the operative word. One sock at a time. Never a pair. 9 in long

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) April 12

A is for........

Avocado
I had never eaten avocados before I moved to California. Now, I can't get enough! I love them sliced with either a raspberry vinigrette or ranch dressing drizzled over them. How did I ever live without avocados? I don't know.


Absence

People/places and things...
My best friend Meagan... the one who upped and moved cross country.

I don't have any pictures of my dad readily available, or they would be here too.

How about some pictures of home? The famous Pagoda
I was trying to find some pictures of my favorite places and am coming up a little short.


I miss hiking on Hawk Mountain... which, by the way is right near the Appalachian trail!

and some Amish... HA! There's another A

Ackkkkkkkkkkk

I have tried and tried and tried and tried. I cannot get blogger to use an image for a background. I've viewed sources for other blogger templates and copied what they've done and I can't get it to work.

Help.... some one.... anyone.... please?

Here is what I've been doing. In the body section of the template where it says background, I type the following

url("the place where the image is") repeat;

From looking at the source for other blogs, this looks like what I'm supposed to do. Can anyone help? I want a fresh look.

I just can't stop

**** edited on Sunday, 8 Dec 06 - I couldn't take looking at her ugly mug and removed it. I didn't want to lose the great comments.

My name is Candy... I'm no ho... I'm just looking for a date! I'll take my baseball bat to your head if you try to rip me off. Oh and for an extra $30.........


***edited to add... when you change your avatar and put in the link, they all change :(
Luckily, I saved monkey grrl for another day!

JenLa's War

**** edited on Sunday, 8 Dec 06 - I couldn't take looking at her ugly mug and removed it. I didn't want to lose the great comments.

Yep... they got me.

I finished it!

This is a Dimensions kit that I purchased (and started) back in June of 2004. I'm not usually one for kits, but Michaels was having a sale and it seemed like a great idea. My friend Meagan and I bought kits at the same time so we could have a little stitch and bitch every once in a while. I had just moved to the Antelope Valley and gotten rid of the roommate from hell...she had recently moved back in with her parents. We had a great time. We usually got together 2 nights a week... not a lot of stitching actually got done... there was a lot more bitching, and watching movies, and eating. Then I started knitting and that was pretty much the end of this project! At least it is done (I don't think hers is yet, I'll have to email her) and it will look good on my wall.

Yes I did

I know, I know, not the best of pictures, but I did spin a little yesterday. I finished off a bobbin of that merino I dyed myself. This was taken in my laundry room since it is still drying. I got a little wild at the end and began spinning madly so I ended up with a few slubs. Oh well, I know I was rushing. I tried to make it a little thicker, more noro-ish. We'll see when I knit it up!

A still life of my coffee table. Yes, I did start a sweater yesterday. I didn't have bulky yarn, so I doubled the yarn and cast on for baniff. I was over-analyzing patterns a little too much and thinking "I can't do this" and then I saw someone's post where she was told by someone at her S&B that "Honey, it's only yarn". (if anyone knows where it is, please let me know and I'll link it) So yeah... what's the worst that can happen? Next to my sweater ( I looove saying that!) is the neverending cross stitch project. It's all done except for the backstitching. I worked on it a little and have half the basket to backstitch and do the "special stitch" stems. (sorry don't remember the name of the stitch).


I think I figured out the comment problem. Although I changed my email on this blog, I never changed it on my main blogger profile. (DUH) So, hopefully I'll be receiving comments soon.

Dinner was fabulous ( I love sauerkraut - don't ask, I don't understand either) and I had enough potatoes left to make some perogi filling. Yeah, I'm too lazy to make the whole perogi. A nice little tradition in my family was to save any leftover perogi filling (from the Christmas Eve Perogi Fest) have it Christmas morning. Little potato cakes- YUM!! Imagine (your arteries screaming NOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo!!!!!) potato, cheddar cheese and fried onion formed into little patties and fried... in... butter!! Yummy breakfast, although now I don't want to move.

New Year

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.
~ Brooks Atkins

Hope everyone and their loved ones made it through New Year's without incident and without too much of a hangover!

I'm off to start a couple of new projects... one knitting, one cross stitch and get in some spinning and embroidery. Yeah... I have to listen to those old wives tales where either a) you need to start something new or b) what you're doing on New Years is what you'll be doing all year. Of course, pork and sauerkraut is on the menu ... along with knedliki ( I never know how to spell that) I don't have a "real recipie" since I learned it with my grandmother who always did "a pinch of this and a pinch of that" ... "just keep going til it feels right" kind of cooking.

Boil about 5 potatoes
Save the water.
Mash the potatoes
Take about 1 1/2 cups of farina (cream of wheat cereal... you shouldn't use the instant) and mix with mashed potatoes and an egg
Add the potato water and more farina if needed
Mix it all together until it gets to where you can form little dough balls that stay together
Boil the knedliki
Toss in with your pork and sauerkraut and let it soak up the flavor.


Since there is no phone service because of the storms and since I'll be busy today, I'm hoping I have a quiet and productive 2006 and I hope you all do too!