Tagged!

I've been tagged by Kim for the 8 Random Things meme. Here are the rules:

- Players write a post describing eight random facts about themselves.

- They then “tag” eight bloggers to write similar posts, including the rules.

- The players then leave a comment on blogs they've tagged to tell them about the meme.



1) I don't have internet at home. I love to blog and read blogs and play on ravelry and order yarn online and bank online, and yet I do all this remotely. FYI-lots of local fast food restaurants are starting to offere free WiFi but you would not believe the weird looks you get when you set up camp in a McDonald's.

2)I must be one of the few knitters out there that is not productive while watching tv or movies. I never sit down to watch tv without my knitting in hand, but unless my husband is playing video games I don't get anything done. I'm too easily distracted. I will knit one or two rows and get totally obsorbed in the tv until the commercials.

3)I am deathly afraid of anything that flies and buzzes like bees, wasps, hornets, etc. I realize that this isn't that odd, but my fear is totally irrational. We have a problem with hornets buzzing around our porch light at night and if I see them out there I will not leave the house. Period. There is no amount of consoling, rationalizing, or sweet talking that will get me out of the house if I see a buzzing thing.

4)I'm not that fond of spiders either. When Doug and I first moved in together we lived in a tiny cabin way out in the woods. There were spiders galore. I hate them, but I don't like to kill them either. Yet I can't stand the thought of letting them get away because then they are just somewhere around me. I used to turn coffee cups upside down over them so they couldn't go anywhere but I didn't have to kill them. When Doug came home he'd have to pick up lots of little coffee cups. Our living room looked like a war zone.



*halfway there! It's so hard to think of things about yourself that others might think are unusual...to me they are just normal, me.



5)I have really blonde moments all the time, but I am a generally intelligent person. Like the other day I was eating fruits and cheese snacks with my mom and sister. There were strawberries and a container that I read as "whipped cream". Yum, right? So I eagerly dipped my strawberry in the creamy white substance while my mom and sis exchanged a strange look. Yuck. Not whipped cream....whipped cream cheese. Not at all the same thing. I do stuff like that all the time.

6)I wear the same jewelry every day, despite the fact I have a pretty extensive collection of stuff. I very very very rarely switch it up, only if there is some sort of occasion. So what do I wear everyday? Simple silver hoops, my fossil watch with a little bit of bling, my wedding band and engagement ring (of course!), a few hair elastics on my wrist, and my Tiffany knock-off necklace (it looks like their popular bracelet with the exaggerated chain and heart pendant).

7)I am an avid list maker. I make lists of everything. Lists of things to do, grocery store lists, etc, the ususal, but also lists of things I want to do, make, see. I have a Christmas card list, a birthday card list, lists of my cds and my yarn, lists of things that I should do around the house, lists of bills. I buy a 4" spiral notebook to keep in my purse with all my lists and I go through one about monthly. Sick, right? I think my husband has always held out hope that I'd grow out of this phase, but recently I discovered an old scrapbook I had from the first grade. On the back cover, in my first grader sprawl was a list of babysitters and a list of friends. I think he was a little disappointed.

8)I go through chick lit books like candy. The really good intelligent books take me a little longer to get through, but you give me a Nora Roberts novel or something by the Little Red Dress Press and I'll be handing it back to you the next day commenting on the ending. It doesn't matter how many pages it is, I can't put the damn things down. I go through spells where I read a lot and then I just don't for a very long time. I'm in a spell right now. I've already read three this week. It's actually very detrimental to everything else that I'm supposed to do, like housework, sleep and knit. Nothing gets done.

So there you have it, my "weird" 8 things.

I think this one has been around blogland a few times. So if you are reading my blog and you have not been tagged yet, consider yourself tagged! Leave me a comment if you are now tagged so I can read your 8 things, or however many you come up with!

Christmas in August and Secret Pal Stuff

I have begun the laborous task of picking out my Christmas knitting projects for this year. Based on the low success rate of last year I am trying not to go overboard. I also picked out a project for the side....a scarf for the Red Scarf Project. No pics today, so I will do an update later with some teasers. For now though, more questionnaires!


1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
Hmm... I've recently become addicted to my chart keeper from Knitpicks, I don't know what I did without it. Other than that...I have a little sock bag from Trek that I carry around with my smaller projects like my socks. It's getting a little worn, but I love it.
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?
Of course! I tend to take several projects. I have a problem packing for trips anyway, always take way too much clothes. I try to take smaller projects, like socks or mitered squares, but I take a few different ones in case I get bored. Also, I always take all the yarn I have for the project b/c I always overestimate the amount I will get done.
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?
Jamaica, baby! Negril is a small fishing village on the western most tip of the island. It is the most peaceful, romantic spot I have ever come across.
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
I can't pick just one. I love all the "Yarn Girls'" books and I want to get their newest one, Knits for all Seasons. I have also picked up Favorite Knitted Socks several times and can't bring myself to get it just yet. I think I'm going to acquire that one soon though b/c I want to make the Embossed Leaves Socks.
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
No, I'd like to.
6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be?
Geez. I guess it would be blue? I like that blue can be so many different shades and remind you of so many different things-the sky, the ocean, etc.
7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do?
It depends on how much interest I have in the project. If it's something that is fun to knit and I wouldn't mind doing it again I would rip back, but more than likely I would try to find a way to mask it and live with it. Call it a "design feature".
8. Where is the most unsual spot you've ever knit?
In a barber shop? In a church? I don't think knitting anywhere is really that unusual. At least not for me, my knitting goes Everywhere with me.

Ketchup

Even though it's only been five days since my last post there has been a lot of stuff going on.

First the knitting. My sockapalooza pal received her socks last week safe and sound and they fit perfectly! I was so nervous the entire time that they wouldn't fit properly and she would have to work miracles to them or something like that. But apparently I am a genius sock-knitter and can knit socks for feet that are not present! Woo-hoo! So glad you liked them, Deb ! My socks have not arrived yet, but I have faith they will be here soon.

Next, the big family news. For those of you have been reading my blog for a while, you might remember that a few months back I announced my sisters engagement and posted some pics of potential wedding and bridesmaid dresses. What I didn't announce was last month they decided to postpone the wedding until spring for financial reasons. Then, two weeks ago she decided to join the Army Reserves. She leaves for boot camp on Wednesday, Aug 15. This past Monday I got a phone call from my sister asking what I was doing on Saturday. "Nothing," I replied. "Good," she said, "because I have some plans for you." Turns out that this is what she had planned.

It was a beautiful wedding and you never would have been able to tell we threw it together in four days. We had a flower girl, a ring bearer, matching dresses, a cake, a church, the works. Heather looked absolutely beautiful in her dress and Chad was just as handsome in his tux. We even had time to throw together a bachelorette party. It just so happened that the Chippendales were in town the night before the wedding so my mom, the other bridesmaid, and my other sister all took her out for a "Last Night Out". Of course, me being so crafty had to make these shirts for the wedding party. Iron-on letters from Jo Ann's. They were even on clearance!

It was such a great weekend. I'm just so sad to see her go on Wednesday. She won't be back until January 10th-ish. Good luck Heather!

SP11 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I really don't like the novelty yarns or acrylic. I am currently enamored with squishy merinos such as Aurora 8, etc.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have two handmade needle rolls, one for straights and one for DPN's, but I just keep my circs in their original bags in a stack.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I taught myself to knit using a do-it-yourself knitting instruction book about three years ago. I would consider myself to be intermediate, but a little towards the advanced side of it.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? nope, sorry
5. What's your favorite scent?6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I have a huge sweet tooth. I like skittles and other chewey fruity candies like that, like Dots and Jujyfruits.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? My biggest hobby other than knitting is scrapbooking, but I've also recently gotten into sewing. Just little things though, like purses and aprons, etc.
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 all kinds of music, and I also like discovering new music. I know everyone says that, but seriously I'm all over the board. I'm listening to my ipod now and I have country next to reggae next to pop next to hip hop next to bluegrass.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I don't think there are any colors I don't like, just ones I don't use as often, but I think every color has it's place. Like I wouldn't expect to see a fair isle winter hat in bright carribean colors, you know?
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have one loving pit bull, who is 5 years old and is my baby. I am also married and we will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary in September.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? yes to all but the ponchos. I did the whole poncho thing a few years ago when they were all the craze, but I'm over it.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I really like to knit in general. I hardly ever finish projects...I'm more of a process knitter, but I do get such a rush when I do finish a project. I like to knit socks and small things like mitered squares.
13. What are you knitting right now? I have a mitered square afghan in progress (from mason dixon knitting), a few different pairs of socks, a felted bag, and the central park hoodie that is soooo close to being done, among other things.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I don't think you can find a knitter who doesn't!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? No to plastic, yuck. I go back and forth on the straights/circs debate, it depends on if I want the knitting to be portable or not. I really like the slickness of metal needles, particularly the addis and the knitpicks needles. There is a case to be made for bamboo as well though....
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes i do
17. How old is your oldest UFO? Can I plead the fifth here? It's too embarrasing.
18. What is your favorite holiday? I love Thanksgiving. Our whole family gets together for a big feast, and it's usually at my house so I get to play hostess. It's also the last day of normalness before all the crazy retail shopping starts, and since I work at Target it's the last day to act like a human being until after Christmas.
19. Is there anything that you collect? Umm....I have a pretty huge movie collection. I used to collect shot glasses, but my collection got too big and now it's just in boxes. Yarn, needles, patterns, books, the norm.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? The new "Yarn Girls" book, Patterns for All Seasons looks really good, and I love their other books. I don't subscribe to any mags, but I love Interweave and Vougue Kntting.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? YES! I am dying to try a fair isle kit. I've been toying around with a mitten with a snowflake motif, but I'm not terribly happy with it. The guage is off, I'm not too excited about the pattern, and the yarn I picked is a little splitty. I am really loving the process though, and I'd like try something a little more involved like a hat. I also really love the mitten pattern that Eunny has on her blog that is so popular. I can't remember the name of it, but it's really cute.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yep. I likey the socks. I'm a size 6 1/2 shoe. My foot is pretty normal, not too high arches or anything like that.
23. When is your birthday? November 15
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Just got my invite today!! My ID is "knittykaren".

Yay! Let the spoiling begin!