Happy Endings

This is going to be long....

Can you believe it? Hockey is over, we had our final game last night. Now we are hockey free until....................June 5. HA, the boys are skating once a week in June & July, because you know, the season never really ends :) and then we are back to training camp early August. Oh well, I will savor in my 5 rink-free days. Back to cooking every night, oh, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays (baseball).

Yesterday was also the last day of Preschool, we had our "Teddy Bear Picnic". All the classes were there, playing games, eatting lunch and saying goodbye to friends. Some are off to kindergarten, some are off to different preschools and some are off to different teachers (but within the same preschool). I had a GREAT first year and I'm looking forward to a whole new batch of children next year. I couldn't have done it without all the love and support and friendship of everyone in my classes, so THANK YOU to all the moms and Mrs. T too!

SP10 is also winding down, I think June 15 is the end. I've had a great time, even though my pal figured me out early on, I still had tons of fun making up her packages and sending her notes. My upstream pal has been very secretive, she finally will reveal herself (I think) in the last package.

I've sent off my swap-bot small knit kit to Chile, should be there in 5-10 days, I'm waiting for my package. I know LaurieC received my beaded stitch marker package, my package is coming from England, so I know it will take awhile.

ITE IV matches were sent out earlier this week, I've been in contact with both up and downstream pals :) I'm bouncing back and forth between 3 patterns, I'll have to chose today, as I'm off to the LYS to buy the yarn.

Comerica Park is participating in Stitch & Pitch this year!! YES, I've got my ticket for the Sept 9 game vs. Seattle. It's going to be a blast, hope the weather is nice and the Tigers are winning. I have no knitting friends locally, would any of you cyber-pals like to make a trip to up for this fantastic event?? It'll be fun.

And finally, I am knitting, I have 2 different socks on the needles, that darn LL sock, I have turned the heel, finished the gusset and am making my way down the foot. I can't even believe I'm going to have to make the mate uugghh
I've also got some Cascade Fixation going from my friend, she wanted taller than the ankles, so I'm making 2-tone, very cute, I'll post when finished. Then my friend, the chef, wants me to make the ankle socks for her and her daughter. And if that's not enough, I even bought more yarn to try the Magic Loop method. I really need help here, does anyone have a pattern for easy Magic Loop socks? I'm not sure I'll be able to translate a regular pattern (all that changing needles and etc.) Let me know if you do.

There, that's it! Told you it was long. Since I'm not working T/Th/F anymore, my second grader wants me to come have lunch with him, so I'm off for popcorn chicken!

Dishcloth swap

Received my package this week, in the midst of the electronic issues!
Beautiful cloth and wonderful goodies! Thank you so much!

I've got my package ready to send to Chile for the swap-bot small knit kit exchange, I'll go to the post office on Tuesday.

And FINALLY names go out on the 29th for ITE IV!! Cannot wait. I've got a few bags picked out, I just need color choices from my partner.

So sad, last day of preschool was Thursday. We packed the school away that night, and now we have the big picnic to look forward to! That is going to be on Wednesday. My kids get out of school on June 15th, so I have Tues Thurs and Fri all to myself until then!! I still work at their school on Mon and Wed.

P.S. HAVE YOU NOTICED? MORE BOOKS ARE BEING READ THAN PROJECTS ARE BEING KNIT AND COMPLETED. I HAVE 3 MORE BOOKS ON THE SHELF TO READ!!

Electronic issues

I have been having MAJOR electronic issues these past few days. Computer has been "iffy" too many updates and it doesn't like to work.

I had purchased myself a brand new ipod nano last Monday, it decided to stop working today (or yesterday or Monday after I loaded the KnitPicks podcast) needless to say, I was at the gym, ready to get on the treadmill and the darn thing was stuck between 2 screens.

I came home and tried everything listed on the Apple website to make it work, nada no good zippo. Called Apple, explained the situation, and the girl makes me go through EVERYTHING I HAD JUST DONE!! Finally she realized it was majorly messed up and said I could return it to Target for a new one.

After working all afternoon to get this new one going, I think the original one I had purchased had been returned...hmmmmmm maybe because it didn't work properly?

Anyway, funny story, I had purchased the lime green one (HA you even had to ask) and the original Target store had only pink, silver or black, would I care for one of those? I said, Miss, see what I'm wearing (lime green shirt, green ring, fancy green bracelet from my sp10 downstream and my green keychain) do you think I want pink or green or silver? I think not. :) So I had to call another Target and put the only green one they had in stock, on hold (see, green is everyone's favorite color).

ITE IV - REVISED

. Name and blogger handle: Leslie aka LeslieJ

2. Blog URL (if applicable): a purse a day

3. Do you want a purse that is felted/not felted/surprise me: Love felted!!

4. Color/fiber likes and dislikes: I love green (really?), or any color, except orange, OK, I HAVE DECIDED I DO NOT HATE ORANGE SO MUCH ANYMORE, A LITTLE BIT OF TRIM OR MAYBE SMALL ACCENT OF ORANGE WOULD BE OK :) (see I'm branching out)

5. Do you tend to be dressy or casual? Very casual, I work at a preschool

6. Prefer a pal who lives in the USA or international? Either works for me

7. Miscellaneous info (anything you want to tell your pal): This is my second ITE exchange, I had lots of fun in the first one and can't wait to get started again.
I have 2 boys who play hockey, so I am always driving them around.
I (sometimes) scrapbook and I love to read.

And another post for today

Just received this package from my SP10.
Very cute stitch markers (beach themed), spices, a bookmark and a tiny scrapbook kit (really need to get back on track with that)
Thank you so much. Who are you??

I will be sending a package to my SP10 on Monday, also my Beaded Stitch Marker Swap package to TADA....LaurieC! (Hope it wasn't a secret swap)

SP contest #6

Here is my current (and only WIP) and it has been in progress for almost 2 months.
It started out as a "Sensational Knitted Sock", but it was going to be too big (I wrote earlier about the frogging). It is now a Nancy Bush sock, but I am getting bored with it. I did actually start on the heel a few nights ago, but I haven't been back. You will notice the sock is RED, but the one pictured is GREEN. I am branching out (teehee)

Also, I have decided that I am not totally against the color ORANGE. I received some Orange flowers last week at preschool (from the kids) and I think they looked quite lovely. So I may try and branch out and start using maybe a SMALL amount of ORANGE as an accent color in my next big extravaganza (that's a 3's preschool word) I'm not planning on knitting any orange socks or anything :)

I WON!

How cool is that? I won contest #5 for SP10. My hostess Robyn, has sent me a virutal sock pattern for winning! (Now, if I could only figure out how to retrieve it! I am having issues with Adobe)
I'll keep you updated!
9:52 am - we are good to go! Robyn re-sent the pattern and I have received! Now, which yarn to use?? :)

I've been tagged!!

Here's how it goes. . .each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others & list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you tag a note in their comments letting them know they have been tagged & to read your blog. So here it goes! Here's my lucky 7:
my downstream sp10, my upstream sp10, Jane, TeAntae, Anne, Juli, Robyn

1. Before I read a magazine, I have to tear out all the inserts
2. I only turn LEFT into parking spaces
3. I have to have syrup on my bacon
4. I pay off the credit cards every month
5. I only chew 1/2 a piece of gum at a time (even Trident)
6. I plan a menu for 2 weeks and make the grocery list accordingly
7. I live on a budget of $100/week

Mother's Day Lunch at school

Yesterday I had a very special day with my 2nd grader; Kevin.

We had lunch with our special 2nd grader, we watched a video of how they've changed this past year, we were given presents, we were sung to, and we danced together.
And if not enough tears were shed, the teacher closed the presentation with this book.

I don't know how she was able to get through the entire book, but she did and it was great.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MRS. P FOR A GREAT MOTHER'S DAY LUNCH!! XOXO

My sp10 pal..............is the best

Now, mind you, this is the pal I send packages to, she figured me out a while ago, and she has been sending me packages!! Is she great or what? This latest package was for Mother's Day - a great magazine, stitch markers, smelly soap (she makes it), a bath mitt and car air freshener.
The boys have stolen the mitt, they say it makes a great goalie glove! Oh well.

This next week will bring lots of mail to my inbox: ITE IV pal, swap-bot pal and stitch marker pal! YES, means more packages arriving for me! I will be sending my dishcloth for the Yahoo exchange on Friday.

Who wants to take a guess as to how I'll be spending this Mother's Day? Yes, hockey rink! 10am game and then hopefully a championship playoff game at 1pm.

3 questions

1 - What is a sock blocker?
2 - Do I really need one?
3 - Where would I find one?

I'm making good progress on the new LL socks, but then I had to frog back almost 10 rows due to dropped stitch UUGGHH couldn't figure out how to get it back on track. I was reading ahead in the pattern and at the end it says to "block on sock blockers" is this important? Help me out all you much more experienced sock knitters. Thanks.

Reading Reading Reading

Well, I am just cruisin' through all the books by Monica Ferris, just finished the latest one, A Murderous Yarn. They are quick easy mystery reads and I love to read entire series. Just put the next 2 in the series on hold, Hanging by a Thread & Cutwork. I also have upstairs to read: Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh (it's the May read for Whoduknit) and also The Memory Keepers Daughter.

It was tough, but I had to frog the Lorna's Laces sock that has been sitting untouched for over a month! Well actually, my hubby frogged it while I re-wrapped the yarn. I cast on a new sock, less stitches (the first one was going to be way big) from the book my good friend LaurieC sent for my birthday, by Nancy Bush. I have finished the K1P1 ribbing and have finished about 5 rows of the pattern; K3P1 (way easier) I'll keep you updated.

Sent a small package to my SP10 pal for Mother's Day, she said she mailed me one today!! Yea! Trying to put together her May package, and then only 1 more to go :( I can't believe it's going to be finished soon. Had her give me some additional ideas for the last package.

SP Contest

My favorite place to knit is stretched out on the couch! I love to knit while watching baseball (Tigers) or hockey (Red Wings), but since my hubby usually has control of the clicker, he whips through all the channels and we really don't get to watch anything! I've been known to also knit at the hockey rink (practice only), tennis/golf lessons and riding in the car while on vacation!

Thanky thanky sp10 pal!

Look at the very yummy sock yarn and the cool sock book I've been wishing for......it came in the mail yesterday; courtesy of the very best sp10 pal!! Thank you so much, can't wait to get started.