Whew, its over!

November's National Blog Posting Month is over and I'm glad. I didn't quite do it everyday, but I think I put in a pretty good effort. I missed one day in November before I knew about nablopomo, and 3 days afterwards. Things will be slowing down in the posting frequency in the next weeks.

I just noticed that I'm on blog post 108! Wow, I never thought I'd get that many. I did my first post on Jan 16th so 1 year of blogging is coming up soon.

The sunset was pretty tonight and I wanted to share pictures with you. This first one looks like it was raining but it was just foggy.

This second picture was actually taken a couple of seconds before the other photo, just on a different camera setting. It's amazing how much different looks.

Friday Fill-Ins # 100

1. My stomach hungry right now.
2. Either chips or hamburger is what I ate the most of on Thursday.
3. The yard at my parent's house is swishy because we've had lots of rain this week.
4. In the sun is where I'd rather be at any given time.
5. The smell of mandarin oranges reminds me of Christmas.
6. Chocolate is what I need right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to L's open house, tomorrow my plans include job hunting and Sunday, I want to church, knit, and read!

Getting to know me - Christmas style

I found this on Wendy's blog and thought I'd play along.



Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends, here’s what you're supposed to do. Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tips the Season to be NICE!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for family, but bags for friends.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I prefer real, but will be using artificial this year.

3. When do you put up the tree? I think I'll put up the fake one tonight (or this weekend), real ones go up 2-3 weeks before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime during the week after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Not sure of my favourite, but one that stands out is a baby bed for my doll that my grandma made.

7. Hardest people to buy for? My dad (if you know how to wrap "I just want everyone to be happy" let me know.)

8. Easiest person to buy for? My sister (we both love new clothes)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I want one. Maybe this will be there year I actually buy one.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A photo album made from natural materials.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Mickey's Christmas Carol

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Hopefully in November (depends how organized I am).

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Croquettes (dutch food item)

16. Lights on the tree? Of course!

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Little Town of Bethlehem

ETA: Where are you Christmas by Faith Hill is a great one too!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home (well, mom and dad's home, it just 5 mins away).

19. Can you name all 20 of Santa's reindeer's? No

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Never in the morning 'cause we go to church in the morning. Last year was the first year we did Christmas eve, usually it's a couple of days before Christmas.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? crazy busy malls

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Angels

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Stuffing

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? new clothes or yarn (although I don't trust my family to buy nice yarn).

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Whoever is looking for blog fodder.

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? People who hate memes.

I hope everyone has fun decorating and preparing for Christmas in the coming weeks!

WIP Wednesday

I haven't had too much time to knit this past week, but here's the progress I did make:

Here's the Swiffer Cover:

Below is the beginning of the Green Gable sweater:

Yarny Goodness!

When I opened my mailbox this afternoon it had a big package in it. I opened the package and here's what I found:

I received the first package from my Secret Pal 13 swap! One skein of beautiful teal Malabrigo! I'm super excited to knit with this yarn for the first time. The pattern is perfect for me because it only requires 1 skein (which is all my short patience is likely to allow me to knit). I plan on leaving the skein laying around the house until it's knit because the colour is just so cheerful. I find myself smiling whenever I look at it. :)

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read
Let the book fall open to a random page
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Do NOT post anything that could spoil the plot of the book!!!

This is not my current read yet, but it is next on the TBR list. Also this is not a random page. It's the page that I opened to in the store and it caught my attention and made me hungry!

"Marty cradled the phone between his neck and shoulder as he spread schmears of cream cheese on warm, crusty sesame bagels and wrapped them up in waxed paper. One ofter the other, as the businessmen and businesswoman stopped in on their way to the subway and work downtown, he fixed breakfast bagels. Many of the his customers were regulars whose faces and orders he knew by heart. His favorite customer of all time, however, was having a panic attach on the phone."

From Kate Jacobs' new book Knit Two.

I'm still reading The Red Tent, but hope to get to the above book soon!

Have you ever? Knitting Style

I found this on Tami's blog and thought I'd fill it out.


It is a list of knitting techniques, you are supposed to bold the ones you have tried, italicise the ones you want to try and leave the rest in plain text.



Afghan

I-cord - well, not so much want to try, but will have to try when I start to make my felted bag.

Garter stitch

Knitting with metal wire

Shawl

Stockinette stitch

Socks: top-down

Socks: toe-up

Knitting with camel yarn - Ewwww, gross!

Mittens: Cuff-up

Mittens: Tip-down

Hat - I've made one baby hat and want to make an adult hat for myself

Knitting with silk

Moebius band knitting

Participating in a KAL - sounds like a fun idea, but I doubt that I would knit fast enough.

Sweater

Drop stitch patterns

Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn

Slip stitch patterns

Knitting with banana fiber yarn

Domino knitting

Twisted stitch patterns

Knitting with bamboo yarn

Two end knitting

Charity knitting

Knitting with soy yarn

Cardigan

Toy/doll clothing

Knitting with circular needles

Baby items

Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn - I don't spin but would use someone else's. :P

Slippers - As requested by my sister

Graffiti knitting

Continental knitting

Designing knitted garments

Cable stitch patterns

Lace patterns - I've started a lace scarf.

Publishing a knitting book

Participate in an exchange

Scarf

Teaching a child/teenager to knit - I taught my sister but she's in her 20's

American/English knitting - I hold the yarn with my right hand.

Knitting to make money

Buttonholes

Knitting with alpaca

Fair Isle knitting

Norwegian knitting

Dying with plant colors

Knitting items for a wedding

Household items - dishcloths baby!

Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars

Knitting with someone else's hand-spun yarn

Knitting with dpns

Holiday related knitting

Teaching a male how to knit

Bobbles

Knitting for a living

Knitting with cotton

Knitting smocking

Dying yarn

Steeks

Knitting art

Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously

Felting

Knitting with wool

Textured knitting

Kitchener stitch

Knitted flowers

Purses/bags

Knitting with beads

Swatching - Sadly yes.

Long Tail CO

Entrelac

Knitting backwards - When I make a mistake, does tink-ing count?

Machine knitting

Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn - I don't like self patterning sock yarn.

Stuffed toys

Knitting with cashmere

Darning

Jewelry

Knitting with synthetic yarn

Writing a pattern

Gloves

Intarsia

Knitting with linen

Knitting for preemies

Tubular CO

Free-form knitting

Short rows

Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers

Pillows

Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine

Rug

Knitting on a loom

Thrummed knitting

Knitting a gift

Knitting for pets

Shrug/bolero/poncho

Knitting with dog/cat hair - Ewww, gross!

Hair accessories

Knitting in public



If you post this on your blog please let me know so I can read about you!

Friday Fill-Ins # 99

1. The last band I saw live was Bon Jovi. (and they were awesome!!!)
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is stuffing. (and I had some in October for Canadian Thanksgiving)
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is about 1/3 of the way done.
4. Thoughts of warmer weather fill my head.
5. I wish I could wear sandles (but it's way too cold).
6. Bagpipes are so very Scotish.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to woman's tea with L, tomorrow my plans include a movie with A and a potluck dinner and Sunday, I want to relax!

WIP (Wednesday) Part 2 on Thursday

As promised yesterday here are the pictures of my works in progress. We start with the finished fetching, made with Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran:











Next is the Swiffer Cover being made with Lily Sugar n' Cream:











And finally here is the first slipper being made from some acrylic I found the "stash".












As an aside..... is it Friday yet? Although I'm putting in less hours at work I feel more tired this week than last.

WIP Wednesday

Saw this idea on someone's blog (but can't remember who). Here's what I've been working on this past weekend.

Got some more work done on The Slippers for my sister.

Started the Swiffer Cloth for my friend L.

Finished and measured the swatch for The Sweater. I will need to use 3.5mm needles.

It's late and I'm tired so pictures will come tomorrow.

What are you working on?

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

"The next day, the bondswomen joined Jacob's wives for the moon days, but it was more like a funeral than a feast. No one asked the pregnant woman to recount her symptoms."

From: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Word

Found on Cass's blog. My response is bold.

Where is your mobile phone? purse
Where is your significant other? where are you?
Your hair colour? brown
Your mother? friend
Your father? provider
Your favourite thing? hanging with friends
Your dream last night? none
Your dream goal? working for a humanitarian organization
The room you’re in? dinning
Your hobby? knitting
Your fear? being alone
Where do you want to be in 6 years? married
Where were you last night? at home
What you’re not? employed (hopefully only temporarily)
One of your wish-list items? clothes
Where you grew up? Richmond
The last thing you did? eat a mini chocolate bar
What are you wearing? jeans & my new long-sleeve t-shirt
Your TV? on
Your pets? none
Your computer? a great gift
Your mood? neutral
Missing someone? my friend J
Your car? 96 Neon
Something you’re not wearing? shoes
Favourite shop? Reitmans
Your summer? long gone
Love someone? my family
Your favourite colour? purple
When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
When is the last time you cried? don't remember

A non-post post

Ugh! I've been having trouble posting something everyday for the last couple of days. I have nothing new to share so really this boring post (sorry!) is to say that I'm here, I'm alive, and I'll try to have something more interesting to share tomorrow.

I hope you're all having a great weekend!

Friday Fill-Ins # 98

It's a little late but here we go anyway:

1. Please feel free to leave a comment on my blog.
2. When I get a bouquet of fresh flowers I can't help sniffing it occasionally.
3. My favorite thing to cook is pasta.
4. Love is something I can't get enough of.
5. That's the thing I love most about love, then more you get the more you can give away.
6. People who drive straight with their turning signal on always makes me think to myself, what the heck?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner at mom and dad's, tomorrow my plans include getting my car worked on and Sunday, I want to go to church then come home and knit!

Friday Fave Five

Friday Fave Five is a way to reflect over the past week, and is hosted by Living to Tell. Visit Susanne for more details.

1) Lower Gas Prices: Yea, for better prices. I saw as low as 94.9 cents per litre this week.

2) Remembrance Day Statutory Holiday: It was great to have a day off in the middle of the week. It make the work week seem shorter.

3) Circle Craft: It was nice to be able to go Circle Craft Fair with Monica.

4) Change: Some change can be good. I will be changing jobs in the coming weeks. This is not by my choice, but I think this will be a good change, as I was bored with my job.

5) This quote: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, “I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.” Ann Landers

FO: Socks

Just because you asked, Chelle, here's a picture of both of the finished socks. They've been worn, washed, and worn again.

Yarn: Berroco Sox colour# 1426

Secret Pal 13 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I don't like faux fur etc. I like to try new yarns that I've never used before. I like to knit using worsted weight if I can get away with it (depends on the pattern of course). When I don't know what to knit (or want to restart after a break) I always start with a cotton dishcloth.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a cloth needle holder that was a Christmas gift last year. I also have a small zippered pouch for stitch holders etc.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting (on and off) for about 5 years, and I'm either an advanced beginner, or a beginning intermediate. (Make sense?) :P

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No

5. What's your favorite scent?

Something floral.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

YES! I love sweets, anything chocolate is my favourite.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I don't spin. I used to cross-stitch, and make cards but since I've started knitting both have fallen by the way-side.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like country, rock, and pop, but I'm not sure if my computer plays MP3. I've never tried. How can I tell?

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I tend to like a lot of blue (or mainly the darker shades of most colours). I don't like orange though.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I'm not married, I have no kids, and no pets......unless you count dust bunnies?

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves yes, hats sometimes, mittens no, ponchos no, gloves YES.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Last year I went through a huge dishcloth faze. They're quick, easy, and instant gratification. I'm not sure I have a favourite right now.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Fingerless mitts for a friend's Christmas gift, dishcloth. (Also see 2 posts below for more info.)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes, if the are practical or useful.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like both straight and circulars. I have just recently become a big fan of bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No and no.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a year.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?

I'm definitely celebrating Christmas. As a Christian it means more to me that the gift grab the stores make it out to be! My birthday is my favourite holiday....oh wait that's not a national holiday, then Christmas is my next favourite.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Umm... maybe books? I'm trying to make my own library of "classic" books. I have Pride & Prejudge, Les Miserable, (and lots of Christian fiction, and chic lit books).

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'm a big fan of free patterns, so ravelry is a great find for me. I don't subscribe to any magazines.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Toe-up socks, learn to knit a sweater.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I've knit my first sock, and though I love the warmth but it doesn't fit quite right. (I made it too big.) I hope to have better sizing on my toe up sock.

toe to heel - 9"; arch circumference - 8"; ankle - 8.5" I wear a size 7 shoe. (Canadian size)

23. When is your birthday? October 1st

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? juliabca

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- Lt. Col. John McCrae


I've heard this poem many times but this year I learned some new information about the author.

The red Flanders’ poppy was first described as a flower of remembrance by Colonel John McCrae, who was Professor of Medicine at McGill University of Canada before World War One. Colonel McCrae had served as a gunner in the Boer War, but went to France in World War One as a medical Officer with the first Canadian Contingent where he was killed in active duty in 1918.

**Please remember those who gave their lives for the wonderful freedom we enjoy today!



Click here for a cool pattern to knit your own poppy.

There ain't no doctor that can cure my disease!

I think I have a serious case of startitis! For every 1 item that comes off the needles I have another 2 or 3 that want to be on the needles.

Last month I finished this dishcloth:

Last night I finished this one:

I also worked on a second pair of Fetching fingerless mitts this weekend. (Christmas gift for a friend.)

What I want to be working on is:

Green Gable

Aunt Maggie's Slippers (another Christmas present, if done in time)

Cabled Rangoli Hat

Swiffer Cloth (gift, but likely not for Christmas)

Lace Ribbon Scarf (on the needles but not a current project)

Plus while looking through the stash yesterday I found a cowl I got sick of knitting last year. Now seeing it again I want to pick it up and start knitting it again. Ack! What's a girl to do?!!

PS. Title from a Jon Bon Jovi song....Bad Medicine!

Things I'm loving' today:

Fall colours and my new camera.

PS. And Sheryl Crow...I listened to her greatest hits CD as I took a walk.

Have you ever?

I saw this meme on someone's blog several months ago, but can't remember whose blog. Have you:

Gone on a blind date? No (but does a date with someone you met online count?)

Skipped school? Yes

Watched someone die? No

Been to Canada? Pretty much every day of my life!

Been to Mexico? Yes, three times.

Been to Florida? No

Been on a plane? Yes

Been lost? Yes, have you heard about my family's bad sense of direction?? It's genetic.

Been on the opposite side of the country? No

Been to the capital of your country? No

Swam in the ocean or waded? Yes, living by the coast we went swimming every summer.

Cried yourself to sleep? Probably, but not for any good reason.

Played cops and robber? Nope

Recently colored with crayons? Not recently

Sang Karaoke? Yes, after several drinks.

Paid for a meal with coins only? Yes, thank-you Wendy's.

Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes.

Made prank phone calls? No

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Yes, as a kid.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Of course! Why go out in the snow if you're not going to catch a snowflake?

Danced in the rain? Yes, in bare feet.

Written a letter to Santa Claus? I think so, but I don't think it ever got mailed.

Been kissed under the mistletoe? No, maybe someday?

Watched the sunrise with someone you care about? No.

Blown bubbles? Yes, I brought some to the cabin in the summer to play with L's kids.

Gone ice-skating? Yes.

Been skinny dipping outdoors? No, and not indoors either!

Been out of North America? Yes, England, The Netherlands, Kazakstan, Uzebekistan, Australia, and Japan.

Been in detention? Yes, in grade 9, it was a big injustice in my opinion!!

Regreted something you blogged? No.

I won't tag anyone but if you do it let me know so that I can come and read.

Friday Fave Five

It's the weekly review of your favourite things as hosted by Living to Tell. Visit Susanne for more details or to link your fav's to Mr. Linky.


1) Getting Compliments: On Saturday I helped a friend move, along with several of their other friends and family. The last item to be moved was a big couch that had to be lifted to the second story and taken in the sliding door. Well, since I had no intention of lifting a couch I started playing with the movees neice and nephew (ages 5 and 3) The children's mother saw me with playing games with the kids and asked if I worked with kids. I don't work with kids so knowing that she thought I did is quite the complement to me.

2) A trip down memory lane: My mom has been cleaning out the attic this week. On my visit to her I had a look though a bunch of old "stuff", keeping what is good and throwing out the unimportant. Things like childhood books, toys, and school work. There were so many things that brought back good memories. I look forward to more of the same, as mom is creating a box for each of her kids and when she is done we'll each get to look through our own box of special memories.

3) Being asked for: Sunday at church G&L were visiting with their one-year old daughter C. Although she doesn't usually go to just anyone when she saw me she held out her arms and wanted me to hold her. She did this several times during church and the social time. I made me feel so good that she trusted me.

4) Potluck: We had a potluck/games night with my bible study and a good time was had by all. (And my cheesecake when over very well.)

5) Digital camera: My new camera is definetely a favourite new toy for me!

FO: Pin Wheel Blanket

Just a quick little post to show you an unblocked picture of the pinwheel blanket.

PS. Best Buy had no trouble taking back the open package with the wrong size memory card.

Smile for the camera!

Last night I went out and bought my digital camera! It's like the one above except black, and it's really, really cool.

Small problem though.... the sales guy told me it used a SD memory card. So of course that's the type I bought. Once I opened the package and tried to fit the card in the camera it wouldn't fit! I know I've never had a digital camera before, but I have put a memory card in a camera before. (Thanks mom for having trouble with her's.) After trying to put the card in the camera in every direction possible I pulled out the booklet and it says I need an XD-picture card. Great now I have to go back to the store tonight and ask for a refund on the opened memory card! And also buy the correct memory card. (It's kinda too bad because the SD memory card was on sale and I got an 8GB memory card for 29.99, which is only $2.00 more than a 2GB.)

I'm a little worried that they won't let me return the open pack... Wish me luck!

Pin Wheel Blanket is finished...well, sort of.

Last night I finished binding off the pin wheel blanket! All I need to do is weave the ends in, and block it. I've never blocked anything before so it should be interesting. My plan is to buy some pins from the fabric store, wet the blanket, lay it out and pin it to my bed mattress. (I'll do it on Saturday when the sheets are being washed.) One of the ladies from my knitting group last night told me that because the yarn is a 50/50 cotton/acrylic blend it won't block as nice as wool, but I'm going to try it anyway. (besides I have nothing to compare it to, so how would I know the difference!)

I did a swatch for the sweater but the needles were too big and I forgot the 3.5 needles at home. (well, not so much forgot as walked-past-and-didn't-think-I-would-need-them-so-left-them-on-the-counter-on-purpose! D'oh!)

I have cast on for another pair of Fetching (fingerless mitts) for a friend for Christmas, as she noticed mine the other week and really seemed to like them. I'm making them in a dusty blue colour that I really hope she likes.

NaBloPoMo

I saw this on Monica's blog and thought I'd try it out. What is NaBloPoMo you may ask? Well, it stands for National Blog Posting Month. The idea is to post a blog entry every day this month. You're probably thinking: Yeah right that will never happen! (Ok, maybe that's just me!) For the girl who sometimes has trouble posting once a week this will be a real challenge for me. (And to be honest it's kinda freaking me out right now.) But the best way to grow is to get outside your comfort zone, right?

I've missed one day so far but so what? I'm gonna jump right in! Wish me luck.

PS. If you're interested you can go here for more info.

Knitting Update

Just a quick knitting update.... I'm almost finished the pin wheel blanket. I only have one and half rows to knit and the bind off left, but when each row has 380 stitches one row takes a while to knit.

I have the yarn for the Green Gable sweater I want to make. I'll order the pattern online after I have correct gauge. I'm usually not too picky about gauge (normally I don't even do a swatch) but I want the sweater to be my size! :) Unfortunately I can't start this until the blanket is done because they use the same needles.

I have cast on and the knit the first 4 rows of the Lace Ribbon Scarf. I had to do it 3 times in order to get it right!! Yikes lace might harder then I thought! This project is on hold until the blanket and sweater are finished.

PS. The digital camera I want is going on sale on the 4th. So hopefully I'll have pictures to post soon. :) Does anyone have digital camera advice? Do you love yours? Let me know what kind it is. Do you hate yours? Please let me know so I don't buy that one! Thanks!!