Happy Memorial Day

THANK YOU!

Saturday Randomness

Has anyone noticed that the quality of knitting books has increased? I haven't been knitting for long, but I've seen a change. Three out of the last 4 books I purchased have been homeruns! The latest added to my list of must haves? Mason Dixon Knitting . If you don't have it, go buy it. I understand why there is a bandwagon to jump on.

Have you also noticed the decrease in the quality of patterns in knitting magazines? Is it because everyone is writing a book?

I'm wondering if I should renew my Interweave Knits subscription. On the plus side - I'm nowhere near a LYS so I can't pick one up easily or even review the patterns to see if I really want it. On the bad side - I've only received one magazine when I should have. I've consistently had to email customer service asking where my issue is. They have no problem getting the renewal notices to me - just the magazines. After a year, the last issue is the only one that came on time (or at all). It very well could be the post office.

Semi wasted the day today. I drove about an hour each way (yes, in CA you don't have miles...just how long it takes you to get there) to go to the big town of Kramer's Junction. I'm not even sure if it is really a town. It's the intersection of 58 and 395... and really, it is just an intersection. 2 gas stations, a diner and a gift/cactus shop. The highlight was the gift shop. I picked up a bunch o' cacti for my back "yard" and fell in LOVE LOVE LOVE with all the wonderful pots and pottery. The selection of plants (both succulents and cacti) was worth it. I'll be going back... maybe next time I'll keep driving to Barstow and hit it on the way back.

Came home and took a 5 hour nap. YUMMY!

Any one have any idea what's in Barstow? Anything fun to do? Any yarn shops? It's closer than L.A. and really, choosing between Ridgecrest, Tehachipi or Lancaster for going shopping is getting old. (When you start calling Lancaster "the BIG CITY" you know it's bad)

Sometimes I wish I still lived in L.A. (or at least closer) I miss the choices and the excitement. I also miss the pay. Yeah, it's more expensive, I know.

I've been working out almost every day. With relatively no change in diet, I've lost about 10 lbs in 6 weeks. I'm thinking if I cut out my soda addiction I could increase that greatly!

Got a great review at work. My boss loves me and the customer loves me. Please give me a good raise! I'll find out 1 July what that raise will be.

Have I destracted ya'll enough from the fact there is no actual knitting content?

Sent out my Dye-o-rama yarn. I used knitpicks dye your own and I was disappointed. Both skeins I dyed had knots and thin spots. That's why I sent one full skein and one partial. If there had been time to order more and actually dye it, I would have. Big apology to my pal who is going to have to fight with those knots. Sadly, my pal doesn't have a blog so I can't point you in that direction. From her emails she seems really nice.

La, I promise I'll post more pictures soon.

For La

These aren't that great, but it's a start! The little black girl and the black and white boy. He has a little black smootch on his nose and always has a little bit of wet food left on it. I've just been calling him Boopers for now.

He's a suave little man and already knows how to suck up.



This is Einstein the 5 month old male. He follows me around, comes running when I get home, cuddles with me on the couch and enjoys long moonlit walks on the beach.

He only has 8 lives left since my mom tried to kill him She threw some steak fat away and he got in the trash can and choked on it. It took a lot of shaking and a pair of needle nose, but it finally came out.

Despite all of his cuteness, he has a bit of attitude:

I feed them wet food twice a day. If you go in the kitchen around those times and don't actually feed him, he swats at your ankles.

I thought you'd enjoy the evil cat looks. Honestly, he's going to be the hardest to let go...but I can't keep all the babies. I'll post some pics of the big black boy and hopefully some daytime shots this weekend.

Another purse

Yep, another felted purse. Again from Bags a Knitter's Dozen!

I finished it 6 May and have used it since then. I used Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool in Daffodil. Of course I used my trusty Denise's.

Oh...I almost forgot. My SP7 gave me a gift certificate to Amazon and I got Weekend Knitting and Big Girl Knits. I've already started a tank top. although I don't know if you can call 6 rounds a start.

One word

Bellinis!

I've been making raspberry ones. What better way to cool off? Yes, it hit 100 here today...and the swamp cooler took another dump.

What temp is it at 7:20 p.m.? Well according to my weather bug, it's 80.

Fans, Bellinis, very little clothing and a fabulous outdoor misting system are the only thing keeping me sane. But, misters mean no knitting. :(

::::::: getting on my knees :::::::::::::::::

PLEASE LET THE LANDLORD GET HERE TOMORROW BEFORE IT GETS HOT!!!

I'm alive!

Yes, I have survived the season know as Finals and Papers. I think I bit off more than I could chew. Once I got the promotion, I had courses to take for work and I was already past the drop date at school. We'll see how it went.

Work has been super crazy. I work in a Safety Office and I never realized how much safety is involved in everything! Someone wants to tie their shoe? You need a procedure. Blow your nose? Procedure. I'm working quite a few extra hours because of the nature of the job.

No knitting has occurred. The purse? On the bind off row - for two weeks. Really, all I have to do is bind off and I'm done. Lady E? Who's that?

I'm also quite thankful to be on this side of the dirt. Tuesday, I had just gotten off the freeway on my way to work(speed limit 70 - actual speed...umm a little higher) and as I was pulling out from the stop sign, I had a blow out. Luckily, I was only going about 20 miles an hour and had just passed the point where the embankment leveled out. I was safely able to guide my car into the desert. I ended up getting 2 new tires because something wasn't balanced and the inside of both front tires was rubbing them. I'm going to have to get new struts too. I was bummed about the cash flow ... until someone pointed out to me that I could have blown it on the freeway.

BTW, I joined Dye-o-rama and have heard from my dyer. Hi Anino! The person that I'm dying for doesn't have a blog, so I'm having to ask a ton of questions - which is incredibly fun.