MEME...and My New Jewelry

As soon as I received the email from Dream Weavers Yarn, I rushed over to their website to check out the awesome new jewelry they are offering. It is Debra's Garden gauge pendant and it's sooo cool! At first, I wasn't sure what color I wanted (they all looked good), but then I settled on black...I figure, it goes with everything, right?

The pendant came quickly and I think it's worth every penny of the $16 I paid. Not only is it cute and attractive, but not-so-amazingly practical. I've used it at least a few times since I got it the other day. I've gotten a number of compliments on it and a few people have even commented that it looks like a seashell or nautilus. Excellent buy...and would make a great gift. Especially if you want something small and special for someone. It comes in lots of colors, too. Though, I do wish there was a very shiny silver one. (maybe someday there will be....)

I'm still in the process of cleaning out my house....old clothes, old books, and JUNK! It's a very l-o-n-g process, but very soothing and lightening, if that makes any sense. I can see why monks or the like would feel so free after giving their possessions away. I feel like I'm not so tied down to the house and all my THINGS. Now, if only I could stop buying more things. sigh

After that wonderful birthday I had, things are gradually becoming more calm. The family and I have been spending time in the pool (now that it's heated, it's so much better) and Ian and I rebuilt Ben's slide, which is very cool...and not so decrepit. I'm also in the process of designing two more sock patterns and that's taking up all my spare time. That, and knitting a lace scarf for Ben's teacher. Wanna see?



It's the Cocoon Lace Scarf/Shawl pattern from Fiber Trends. Very pretty and feminine looking. I'm using the rest of my Alpaca with a Twist "Fino" in the First Frost colorway (the leftovers from my Icarus). I hope I can get it done before the 20th. Cross your fingers!!

I got tagged by the lovely (and super talented) Kimberly of A Giving Flower blog for a MEME. So, here it is!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Well, we were living in Raymond and I was substitute teaching at the local elementary school where Tim was going...no Ben at that time...and I was 25! (omg...has it been that long?) I wasn't even a yoga teacher then!

2. What are 5 things on my TO-DO list for today?

On Thursdays, it's usually these things: laundry (wash and fold), bills (ick), getting anything packed I need to bring to the post office, cleaning a bit after the destruction of Wednesday nights when I'm not home and getting some knitting done.

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Oh, this is a dan-ger-ous subject! Chips, REAL strawberry ice cream (not that fake stuff) and things with chocolate in them....preferably in bar form.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionarie:

I don't think I would handle it well. I seem to do better when there is LESS money, compared to MORE money. When there is MORE money, I can't help but spend it. So, I'd rather NOT win the lottery or get a billion dollars. (Though, I would not refuse my mortgage being paid off or a new Subaru Forester.)

5. Places I have lived:

Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence and Johnston, Rhode Island
Amherst and Worcester, Massachusetts
Raymond and Londonderry, New Hampshire

6. Jobs I have had:

Assistant to the Guidance Counselor in high school, waitress, bus girl, candy striper at local hospital, babysitter, clerk at a gun store (yup), clerk at a craft store, substitute teacher, yoga teacher, clerk at a yarn store, and mom.

7. Bloggers I am tagging for this MEME:

Ericka of Armed With Pointy Sticks
Jackie of Hello Jackie
Lora of Lora's Keyhole
Laurin of Scrap and Knit (because she's WAY behind on her blogging)

Any bets on if I'll get that lace scarf done in time? I've got 7 repeats out of 30 done and I started on June 1st. But, I don't knit consistently on it...but in bursts. Any wagers?

Oh, one more thing....I'm going to do a NEW podcast next week or so for the announcement of a new pattern I have...plus other cool stuff. If anyone has anything that they want me to mention or talk about or whatever, lemme know. There will also be a contest to win some yarn and free goodies...so download the podcast when it comes up and you could WIN!!

Can a Spinning Wheel fit in a Forester?

Yup. It can!

On our way down to RI to visit my family for Easter, we stopped in Bellingham, MA (at the Whole Foods Market...why don't we have one in NH?) to meet lovely Ilene...and to pick up my new wheel.

Eeeeeek! It's great. Yes, at spinning on Friday, a lot of women were bashing Ashford wheels, but I still LOVE, LOVE my Joy and I'm so happy to get this new Traditional. It's how I've always thought a spinning wheel should look like. This one is for home and my Joy will still be for traveling. So far, I've had 1 minute (literally) to spin on it, but I'm looking forward to many, many more hours on it this coming weekend.

I've been up to my eyeballs (with my patience level at NIL) in packing and getting my older son (who is usually known around here as Cyberworm) ready for his trip to D.C. with his 8th grade class. There is a list 5 pages long of all the things he's got to bring, can't do, should do and what he should think 24 hours a day (well, maybe not THAT far...). But, it helps for me to know what he'll be up to all day long...not that it will make me miss him any less. He's been driving me BONKERS for the last week, but I know I'll be crying in the car all the way home from dropping him off. (Beware of me on the road if you live in Londonderry and plan to be driving around about 5:30 am)

Anyway, Easter was fun...I got to see my sister's new apartment (awesome! I wish it were mine...I tried to stow myself away, but Ian noticed I was missing...damn it!) and was able to give my Grandma her sweater....which she LOVED! My sister took a pic of her in it, so I can hopefully post that soon. She put it on right away and seemed very appreciative. It fit her perfectly...though it might have been a bit long (she's like 4'8" to my 5'2") and a bit roomy around the bust.

My mom and dad made a great lunch (Ben and I had turkey burgers!)...and everyone else had ham, potatoes and such. Ian and I took the kids to the playground (where I used to go as a kid!) and my sister came, too, which was fun. I REALLY wished that I'd brought my camera. After the kids got tired of playing (it was freezing out), my sister and I took the kids home and Ian did more geocashing. He is SO addicted!

My mom got the kids tons of cool toys and candy...she got me a Hello Kitty dvd and lollipop, some makeup and candy, too. Am I spoiled or what??? It was a fun time and I was glad I got a chance to spend with them. On the way home, Ben kept saying, "I miss her......!" (meaning my mom) So sad...

Good news, though. I got my fiber swap package from the beautiful and talented and super awesome Kimberly of The Giving Flower and, when I tell you it was FANTASTIC, I so mean it!

I got these:



[golden and blue fiber are 100% merino and the red (oh, Ericka, you're going to drool when you see this!) is merino and luscious tussash silk! Plus, a handmade herbal bag with lavender! Smells so good!]

and these:



[tons of yummy chocolate from Germany...do you know that those eggs have TOYS in them??? Not just junk, but very cool toys?? The kids went crazy over them!]

and this:



[PINK!!! Regia self striping sock yarn....oh, Kimberly, I love you!]

and, finally, these:



[Hello Kitty magazine (in German...so cool!), pencil and adorable notepad set in a cute tin...she even gave me the HK shopping bag in came in...oh, I'm a pile of mushy love!]

Thank you so much, Kimberly! BEST SWAP EVER!!!!

And, last Wednesday, I bought these yarns from the talented Heather:



Punky in Pink and Martian...aren't they awesome??

Finally, a pic of my progress on my Lizard Ridge....



Hope you all had a great holiday and my next post will be goodies to win if you send in a "Ask Sleepy Eyes" question. 'Night!

P.S. Here are some belated pics of the snow we got last week...it was disappointing because I thought spring had come! But, it was pretty....



and one pic looking up at the ceiling of the sunroom....