Happy Bloggiversary to Me!!!!

Yipppeee! It's the 4th Anniversary of my little baby blog. Well, it's more of a preschooler now! he he

Here are the posts from every March 31st since I started this blog, if you're interested in reading them. Most are boring, but one might be cute!

2005 Blog Post...about Lobster Pot Cashmere.

2006 Blog Post...about the Baby Breeze Cardigan.

2007 Blog Post...about a new podcast and visiting The Yarn and Fiber Company.

2008 Blog Post...about the Dragon Scarf and the Phiaro Scarf.

My blog posts have definitely become less frequent since I started, but I think my skills have improved and my interest has definitely deepened. I love spinning, too, and have completed three handspun yarns for projects since January, which is a miracle, in my mind. LOL! I've actually had this obsession with crochet lately and I have this feeling that I REALLY want to crochet the Sweet Pea baby blanket (it would be for me....he he) shown in the newest Lion Brand catalog. But, maybe with something other than that yarn. But, I'm not discounting it. The colors are pretty cute. I wish the Cascade 220 Superwash came in the same colors as the 220 regular. Then, I'd be using that in a second!

Anyway, not much going on this week so far. Been doing a lot of yoga (I signed up for a class at the Yoga Sanctuary in Windham, NH and it's a great class), exercising and trying to lose 2 more pounds in the next 2 weeks. One of my goals is to lose 60 pounds in 6 months, which ends April 15 th. Wish me luck!!!

Knitting: Working on finishing up Tim and Ben's Hai-Riyo dragons (see progress pic at start) before Easter. They're very easy to knit, but have a lot of little pieces and there'll be a LOT of sewing up.

Spinning: Just finished knitting the Amy beret with my 4oz. of Polward handspun (red/pink) and hope to post pictures very soon- just blocking it on a plate now...had NO idea you had to do this.

Quilting: Didn't start on my quilt yet, but I think I'll start it right after my birthday in May - that way I'll be done with all of the knitting toys I'm making and I can at least start cutting up my blocks and figuring out a layout for them. The colors are soo pretty and soothing. I can't wait to get going on it. I know people have said I'm crazy, but I'm going to do all of the quilting by hand. Though, I might do the piecing by machine. We'll see....

Anyone have any great tips or links for very easy, patchwork quilts? (not tied, though) I've never made one, so I'll take all the help I can get. Thank you!!!!

Hug Hug, Kiss Kiss
oooo, xxxx

Silly Picture and FOs

So...here I am making the silliest face in the world while Ian was taking my picture on my NEW bike- an Electra Townie 21D. Isn't it soo cute??!! (and, for those of you who don't know me personally, I'm REALLY short - 5'1" - so the bike may look very small, but it's actually the perfect size for me) LOL!

Ian, the kids and I had a blast riding our bikes up and down our street (and down to the local playground). The kids had the most fun watching me wobble and tilt on my bike because I haven't been on a bike since I was about 11 years old. They thought I was sooo funny - and I was slightly humiliated and embarrassed. Tim was very nice and rode his mountain bike next to me down to the playground, "just in case....I...fell". Thank, Tim. (half sarcastic, half gratitude)

This past week, though crazy, was pretty productive - knitting-wise. I was able to finish the Golle Molle Baby Cardigan (Ravelry link), start the kids' Hai -Riyo dragons (Ravelry link) for Easter, finish knitting and designing a new free pattern (will be up on Ravelry soon!) for Ivy Brambles, and finish up my Polwarth handspun yarn for this pattern (Ravelry link). (Which I hope to start today!!!)

Don't have too much time for blogging today, but I at least wanted to share some pictures of my FOs.

Spring Savasana Socks by Gina House for Ivy Brambles



and...side view....with 1x1 ribbing going down through the heel flap:



Golle Molle Baby Cardigan by Randi K using Rowan Pure Wool DK in white



Oh, and I'm up to 54 pounds weight loss on Weight Watchers. Woo-hoo!!! I've gone down 5 pants sizes, 1 bra size and 1 shirt size. I've been walking 12 miles a week, doing yoga every day and lifting weights - light ones for now. Only bad thing about that is...I'm sooo super hungry all the time. Argggh!!! I've had a craving for thin spaghetti with meat sauce (not just ground turkey, but real meat!), garlic bread and a chocolate milk shake. Man, I wish those meals-in-a-pill from the Jetsons cartoon were already invented.....

ReadY, SET, go! (Yarn, Snowfigures, Erasers and Townie!)

Not a lot of time to chat today (kids home, snowing, I'm cranky and crampy...), but I realized how LONG it'd been since my last post. So...here are pictures and somewhat short (and possibly babbling) descriptions.

Okay, here we go!

1. Erasers



I love erasers and all cute journaling/writing accessories (Lora already knows about my journal buying addiction!). When I saw these erasers at the toy store we visited in Vermont, I just HAD to have them. Not only are they friggin adorable, but they erase really well, too!

2. Yarn



Yarn that I bought in Vermont at the Northeast Fiber Arts Studio (whose sign reads, "Oodles of Yarn...The Candy Shop for Knitters"...love that) - skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted for me for crocheted bunny slippers (I know, I know....I'm going over to the dark side!) and skeins of Lopi for Ben's felted mittens (from the book, "Sunny's Mittens") that he wants to knit. Not sure if he'll be knitting them anytime soon, but we found the perfect color blue for him. (and white for me)

3. Snowfigures



Ian and the kids spent Sat and Sun building some new snowmen - and a snowbunny (which I think looks more like a cute dog) - and here's Ben showing off their creations.



Tim and Mike mostly made the one with the ski goggles, purple scarf and London Fog fedora.

4. Townie!!



On Saturday, we visited the Alternative Bike Shop in Goffstown/Manchester - just to take a look at the bikes. And I ended up putting a downpayment on this one!

It's an Electra Townie 21D - in a bright, leafy green. I can't tell you how cute it is - even cuter than the picture shows - and I'll be adding on a wicker basket, a bell and a pink flower to the front. At least, as soon as I can get some more money saved up. That sucker is expensive! (But going to be worth every penny!!!)

We're all planning on riding our bikes when the snow melts - Ian rides his bike to work everyday during the good weather and Tim spends all his free time on his bike when he's not swimming - and, for the first time, I'm looking forward to it, too. First, though, we have to get Ben to practice riding his bike without the training wheels. You can do it, Benji!

Hmmmm...I think that's all for now. I'm finishing up decreasing the yoke on the Golle Molle Baby cardigan and then hope to start the bonnet on Wed night at knitting group. I cannot wait to finish this. It's cute, but....on size 2s!!!

Hope you're all having a super day and THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all of the lovely, encouraging and just awesome comments on the last post about my weight loss. I couldn't do it without all of you!!! (BIG HUG)

P.S. Did I mention that I lost 2.4 more pounds last week? Woo-hoo!!!

Oh, and a pic of Ian's grandparents, sister and all of us in Vermont from last weekend....



If only Tim would smile......