Just a whinge....

Not to much going on round this neck of the woods...
I managed to make a ham, boiled taters and carrots, along with some stuffing for Thanksgiving on that Friday. Mark picked at the ham and had some sandwhiches from it. I had dinner twice it was so yummie!!!!
Now on the knitting front well Ive done about 4 rows on my toothpick socks and about 10 rows on the gift. Yes I have decided what I am knitting is actually going to be a gift to send to my sp along with whatever else I find to send her in the next lot. I have ideas I just havent gotten anything yet. The first package I sent her she loved. :)
The other day I went on a spring, okay winter clean and while I was scrubbing things my hand found a peice of glass that I thought I had cleaned all up from a broken pot lid (yeah I thought those werent meant to break either but umm the do when accidentally left on an open flame then picked up! *Mark honestly didnt know it was in the flame*). But my hand found the small piece of glass and I got a nice cut just below my thumb from it. It looks nasty.
As well I got a mouth ache. I would call it a toothache but my teeth dont hurt its just my wisdom tooth trying to come all the way through I swear thats the problem. So Ive just been wanting to lay around and cry about that and my hand the last couple of days.
Now off to go get under the covers and moan some more about my mouth. :) btw, TCP taste NASTY but it is making my mouth feel better. :) And keeping it clean while my wittle toofie is coming out...

Turkey Day....

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Well at least those in the states celebrating.
I will be doing my dinner tomorrow night, having a sweet ham, mashed taters, boiled carrots, and fresh yummie stuffing! :) Was going to make the dinner tonight but seeing as though its not celebrated here in England Marks gotta work late tonight and get up in the morning and have a rush day at work to make it home in the afternoon for a docs appointment. To much food will slow him down, thats why I will be making it Friday. :) A day out aint bad? :)
Soup I made yesterday turned out YUMMIE! Mark took 2 bowls worth to work with him I ate a bowl and a half last night it was so good and he of course had a bowl as well, Ive had half a bowl for my breakfast... yes yes yes I know its not breakfast food but hush, its good!... and tonight I will eat some more for dinner and hopefully be able to find Mark a side of cow hes been good eating chicken and fish he needs some beef now and again... And I think after my dinner tonight means that pot of soup will be gone, it was a big pot as well! But about right 6-8 bowls of soup in each pot of soup we have made...
The knitting is coming along, I knit about 16 rows on my secret project and 2 rows on my toothpick socks. See heres my problem with my toothpick socks. I have a naturally sweaty problem. Regardless what I try to do how high/low I keep the temp I either have cold hands and feet or sweaty hands and feet. Mark refuses to hold my hand for long periods because of how bad they can get. Ive always been like this, and hey lets not forget I have oily skin/hair. I would love to know what its like to be able to wash my hair every other day... anyways I digress!... So my problem with the toothpick socks is due to my hands being sweaty and the needles being so small my hands being pretty much closed and trying to concentrate on the small work makes my hands even more sweaty and lets face it, sweaty hands and knitting dont mix... But I get times in the day I have dry hands and I make the most of it and knit as much as I can. But of course that only lasts for a couple minutes hence the short amount of rows completed.
Now Im off to dry my hands, which heres another problem I have, because I have such wet hands my hands are often dry and irritated, specially in the winter I get little red skin rashes on them, I do try lotions but give up on them after they just make my wet hands worse! UGH! Oh well... at least I can knit. :)
Off now to try and knit on me socks...
Happy Thanksgiving once again! :)

Its soup time...

Well it did stop raining, but its back now, and boy is it getting cold. Okay not as cold as Canada, or well from what my mom told me they are having a high this week of -19c where shes living on her farm..... them poor mini donkies and horse! Oh yeah and poor her and John! :) hehe...
Anyways today we decided that we were going to have a nice tomato bean chicken soup.... YAHOO, I never made fresh before! So yesterday I bought all the tomatoes, all 30 of them! Today I peeled and deseeded them and prepared them in the food processor. Meaning I turned it on to chop them into bits without making mush out of them. That took me 1.5 hours and included the clean up. Not to bad if I say so myself! :) Im getting good at making light work of tomatoes after all the fresh pasta sauce Ive made. But I keep forgetting when dealing with the things that if you have a wee cut on your finger its going to find it and sting from time to time.. Oh well its worth having a yummie meal! Soup is now simmering away so Ill be looking to eat in a couple of hours. Cant beat a nice warm fresh bowl of soup! :)
So anyways enough about weather and food I know what you guys want.. you want to hear about knitting.... Ive made little progress on my toothpick socks. Maybe thats what I will actually name them!... I have a complete 3 repeats of the 16 row repeat finished. I probably have another one or two to do before I even thinking of doing the short row heel. But its coming along! :) I have also started another project. I know I know Im one to stick to one thing at a time but Im cheating on myself! The other project is something Im not sure about yet, and unfortunately I cant say much about! See Im not sure if Im going to keep it or gift it! I know I know thats being selfish! But I like spoiling myself! :) So depending what I decide to do Ill let you all know more! :)
I want to eventually get into town and buy the knitting pattern a day calender. We have a new store that opened up and it sells loads of calenders and I spotted the knitting one! So soon that will be mine... I also want to get Mark one that has facts and pictures on space... It just looks cool and hes interested in that sort of stuff, my only problem is would he use it? Or would it sit in the corner of his desk collecting dust.. hmm.. Ill have to think some more....
Thats about it for now... Off to go stir the soup... :) oh yeah and knit!

Always carry an umbrella

This is why in England when they say on the news its going to rain and their are grey clouds in the sky you should ALWAYS take your umbrella with you!

Now I dont mind getting wet, but come on! It was COLD! and every time I walked past a corner I got a cold breeze which made it even colder I stopped and only buttoned up one button becuase it was raining to hard and I just wanted to get home.... All for the love of hot chocolate! :) Now Im towl drying some of the rain from my hair and sitting in my pj bottoms while my jeans are on the heater drying and my coat is on the back of the chair facing the heater drying.. UGH! and oh listen.. its raining again, man sounds heavier Im glad I am home and not getting wet anymore...
Why is it that when your a kid you LOVE running and playing in the rain but as you get older that just isnt the way anymore? Okay so secretly I enjoyed walking in the rain but I was glad to get inside, I just hope I dont catch another cold now from this. :)

All things fun...

So I took the plunge, I went to the new blogger and then I even went to the new layout style. Okay so it took some fiddling to figure out how to get the site meter in there, and then again how to try and add a picture to the side bar.. but all in all I am happy. Hey look I changed the colours of the fonts and all that, Now that makes me HAPPY! I like pinks and pretty things and now Im all pretty, AWWW. :)
Watching tv this morning I spotted a fashion bit that made me laugh. Wearing a sweat jacket and gym shoes (trainers) with a nice fancy party dress. Now see this makes me happy that its cool to do that, I shall run out and go buy me a new party dress, sweat jacket, and trainers! HAAH YEAH RIGHT! As much as I dont need an excuse to get dressed up I would NEVER wear trainers with a dress, no matter how much I HATE heels, only because I cant find ones I wont break my neck in... But man how good is that to know you can walk around in gym shoes and your party dress and know you look cool??? Come on everyone should go out and do it, be like nations party trainer day or something? HAHAHAHA
So the socks are socking along SLOWLY! Who knew that knitting with 2mm needles would be like knitting with toothpicks every move you make afraid your going to snap the things in half! I was doing only 1 row for a couple of days, and then yesterday I did like 6 rows.. I know moving FAST.... about fast as a turtle anyways. haha It is coming along and I cant wait to have them finished, love the look, and the blue I am using. Its a Rowan 4ply Soft, OMG! I need to make a sweater with this stuff, okay will take AGES to make but its so SOFT and LOVELY! and I can see myself cuddled up with my socks and sweater in it on the couch on a coldish day... okay so it may be NEXT year by the time its finished but who cares!....
Off to start dinner, a nice long slow cooked stew, yummie! Then Im going to knit another row on the socks. :)

Interesting things about me...

I cant remember who I stole this from, but its all over the blogs anyways. :)
1. FIRST NAME? Jennifer
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I will have to ask my mom..
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I think it was thrusday while watching Greys Anatomy. AHAH (and Im only on season 2 so shhh dont tell me anything)
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes when I take my time but when Im rushing I think it looks like chicken scratch..
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Anymore ham or chicken....
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, because Im nice.
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? yep right here.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I would LOVE to! But Id probably puke my guts out before I even got to the top and would have to be pushed off. hahaha
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Rice Crispies
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No, but I try to remember!
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Strong minded, yes, strong physically, HA!, but I am stronger then people sometimes think I am but I think Im weak compared to my mom who can push her piano all over the house and it takes me 10 minutes to push it out of its spot not even a centimeter away.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Vanilla, cookies and cream, or cookie dough, depends what they have at the store when I go to get me some. :)
14. SHOE SIZE? 7 or 8 depending on the shoe.
15. RED OR PINK? Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Inability to take criticism constructively.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mommy.. even though I talk to her nearly every day I still miss her!!...
18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? If Im sleeping, NOTHING... If Im just kind of laying there, chocolate...
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No pants, or shirt, or shoes! Geesh... Im wearing my fuzzy tigger slippers got as a gift from friends last year for xmas/bday... and Im wearing a black with white polka dots wrap dress... See I am not sitting here naked!
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Toasted cheese sandwhich, yummie!
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? This Old House and also the washer...
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple, not to dark but not to bright colour either.
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Cinnamon, fresh baked bread/cookies. :)
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Actually that was Mark this weekend. Needed to know what he wanted from the store because I fergot what he told me before I left...
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Smile/eyes
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? I cant remember who I stole it from.. but its on blogs I read and I wouldnt read them if I didnt like em! :D
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Sprite or hot choccie
28. FAVORITE SPORT ? BLAH! I hate sports.. sorry its my fathers fault for shoving them down our throats growing up and not allowing us to watch anything but... But if I were playing? Softball...
29. EYE COLOR? Brown
30. HAT SIZE? Err the hat I just made was 22in around I got a big head its for all my brains. HAAHHAHAHA
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no but I wear glasses I cant stick my fingers in my eyes anymore...
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Mac and cheese, chicken
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, I love snow
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs, they make you feel safe..
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Creamy cheese cakes
38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? The left, Im not sure why, its just where I started sleeping the first time I climbed into bed.. and I like facing the wall while I sleep (evidentually I dont snore on my left side?)
39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? Well Im not married, and I dont have a family, but Im in a serious relationship... If I werent here Id probably still be in Canada living on a farm with my mom and step dad. hahahaha
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? On the Run by Greg and Gina Hill
41.WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Mark doesnt use one.
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Friends and Judge Judy...
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? I suppose Mark saying goodmorning and my mom on the phone?
44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? hmm Im not sure I like things from both of em and dont like things from both of em..
45. THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? What counts as home? from where I was born England, but first Canada, but then that was home, and now this is home so like I say, what counts as home?
46. WHAT IS YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can knit, make people smile and look on the brighter side of things...
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Cincinnati, Ohio
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? No one I stole it from someone, just cant remember who...

Cuteness and Sockness

I thought I would start this post off with something cute....

This little guy is at the very top of a tree on a TINY branch taking a nap... I was doing the dishes and looked out the window and there he was so I ran got the camera, opened the window and zoomed into getting him because he was in the neighbors tree on the other side of their yard... but aint he cute just sitting there sunning? :)

This is my swatch blocking for the pair of socks that Ive decided I wanted to make. Of course designing them myself with using the toe up formula from knitty.com...

OMG LOOK!!! That is my FIRST crochet cast on THAT ACTUALLY WORKED!!! And it came undone easily!! :) I found a site (cant remember where nor cant find it now) that said just crochet AROUND the needle and then your loops were already on them. Well I doubled the needle, ie held both ends together, and then crocheted around so that the crocheted cast on was nice and loose. This morning I took it off and was HAPPY with how easy it was and if I had to do it again I will because in the past I failed miserably each time Ive tried doing them...

Here is the first toe that I did, nearly finished with the short row shaping. I did each toe seperately to get ready to pick up the stitches and then I joined them together on my two circular needles. I was going to do both at the same time but just sort of started the first and kept working on it and then went OOPS! Ill do the second one when Im finished.... :)

Heres the two toes with the stitches picked up and the first row of the pattern worked and look at those BEAUTIFUL stitch markers. I was gifted those by Annarella Check her stuff out shes brilliant. :) .... But see those socks are being worked at the same time on two circular needles. Ive just split the stitches in half which happens to be 64 total so I got 32 on one and 32 on the other. Front of the sock is on one needle and the back is on the other. You just work the 32 sts from the first sock drop that yarn pick up the yarn for the other sock and knit the 32 sts for that one turn the sock around so your working the other side now and repeat. Once you get the hang of it, its so easy to work both at the same time and you never get the single sock syndrom and all your socks will have partners. Now its only up to you to finish them or you will just half half done partners. hehe

Not entirely why I took this picture just felt I had to, perhaps to show you the inside of the toe? or maybe to show them on the circular needles? I dont know really! But thats me socks as of now.... Again Im writing what Ive done so I can do a pattern if anyone wants..

Now Im off to go shopping and come back and knit on my socks.. Last night I made soup with a little help from Mark and it turned out YUMMIE!!! Having some more tomorrow night just dont fancy more again tonight even though I could... instead Im going to eat it for lunch today. AHAHAHAHAHA Btw, its ham tater cabbage soup with some mixed beans and carrots..... its yummie and thick and loads to much on in it. :)

My Celeb Look Alikes....

I know 3 of those people.... hmmm is that a good thing or not? Doesnt really matter I kinda like thinking I may look like a famous person.... haha

Book worms attack!....

Well its gotten cold here now... Thankfully I knit my hat just in time as well!! :) Ive gotten comments while I have worn it how people like it and when they find out Ive knitted it say they would like one as well.. Thing is people have asked me to knit for them, I always turn them down. They offer to pay but yet I turn down why is this? Probably because no one realises the time and money it involves and while I knit for fun I never want it to feel like work. So thats why Im more easily to say no thanks I dont knit for others... Makes me sound highly selfish but I am more then happy to spend money of my own and time of my own and happily knit away and give a present to someone I know and love thats not a problem!! I just wont knit for people I dont know and offer to pay me becuase it seems like work in my mind..hmm.... Though one guy did comment on my hat said he liked it and had one similar at home. I said thats nice but you dont, becuase I made mine... His reply was "but yeah mines designer" I laughed and went may be, but so is mine, its a Jenn design because I did it all on my own thanks... he gave a smug smile and left it at that.... pft I dont care if you spent 100£ on a hat and I spent what 4£? I cant even remember what I paid for the skein.. but thats not me point.. me point is I MADE IT! HA!

So I still havent casted anything on my needles its been almost a week.. OMG! Whats wrong with me you ask? Ive turned into a book worm thats whats wrong.. that ever growing pile of books is starting to grow smaller... Ive read 2 books this week, well Im half way through the second one I know alot of people would have read it by now but I do read slightly slow even if Im always reading the book....

Book I read earlier this week was A Theory of Relativity by Jacwuely Mitchard I really liked the book, didnt want to put it down and couldnt wait till I woke up in the morning to finish reading it, which seems odd becuase I thought the book was scatter brained and sort of went from talking about one thing into talking about another thing. The story itself is about two families fighting for custody of this baby girl named Keefer. Her mommy and daddy died in a car accident and the moms brother (babys uncle) is one trying to get custody while cousins of the father are trying to fight for custody. Sad story but good. Would I recomend it? yep I would!

Book I am currently reading is The Divide by Nicholas Evans It is a story of a girl on the run from the FBI for acts of ecoterrorism, when finally found shes been murdered. Im just over half way through the book and again I dont really want to put this one down either... I just want to find out more and more... Its not normally a book I would buy but its from the same guy who wrote The Horse Whisperer and I remember reading that in highschool borrowing it off of my english teacher after whatching the film and JUST HAVING to read the book... I loved the book just as much if not more then the film.. And so far this book isnt a let down.. :)

Last night we had to go over to the bfs sisters house to return her computer that he fixed up for her and I found she had The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom I read Tuesdays With Morrie (again borrowed from my english teacher in highschool) and I really liked the book I think I actually have that one out front I remember buying it but I dont remember if I lent it to someone and never got it back Ill have to look another day... But anyways I have heard from many people about the five people you meet in heaven being a must read book. I have looked for it on ebay and when and if your able to find a copy goes for stupid amounts of money and I wont pay more then about 4£ for a book... So soon as I seen she had it I begged if I could borrow it and of course she said I could so thats my next book after I finish the one Im reading now.. :)

Alright theres me update, no knitting at the moment just lots and lots of reading....

What colour should your hair be?

I was checking out Beverleys blog and she had a quiz on there of what colour should your hair be? So I went and took it, now I have to laugh at the results becuase I have dyed my hair in the past and when I did I went as close to a purple colour that I could get to without actually going purple.... now Ive thought about going the whole hog and dying it purple over the summer but decided I should behave and have my natural colour hair, why? I havent a clue! I suppose because I think I should act grown up and not like a spotty teenage punk any more? hmm perhaps.. but anyways heres my results. :)

Your Hair Should Be Purple

Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional. You're always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

I just went and did another test, because I can. hahah they are slightly addictive..... I will stop now and go brush my should be purple hair. :)

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.

What's Your Personality Type?

Socks and Hats and OH MY!

Finally I took pictures of my socks yesterday to post. While I was at it I took pictures of the hat that I created and finished. I messed up the first time as it was a couple inches to short so I tried to take the bottom rib out and then knit from there, but I messed it up BADLY and instead had to rip out from the top and start all over. Still took about the same amount of time. 1.5 days. Well actually it took more, but that was due to having a cold (again!) and no actually doing much knitting. On Wendnesday I ended up sleeping most of the day. Thursday thats all I wanted to do was sleep all day again but some how managed to stay up. Poor Mark had me snoring in very LOUDLY in his ear when I was sleeping on my right side so he tried to be nice and asked me to roll over on my left where for some reason I didnt seem to snore, or if I did it werent really all the loud and was toloerable. Then came the coughing. Now keep in mind Marks not felt good for the past month himself.... So once I started coughing I could see him whincing in pain and he kept asking me to take something for my cough becuase it was so how did he put it? oh yeah "aggresive" so I was jumping up and down from bed the last couple of days and running to another room to cough... he never asked me to do that, its just what I did...

Im not knitting anything at the moment. I am instead reading a book. Truth be told I got some wool out front Im just not sure what to do with it yet. I know two balls are going to be a pair of socks... I have yet to figure out which socks but I will fear not! :)

I know you only came to see the pictures and not read a load of rubbish.. so heres those pictures! :)

See my little diamonds?? :D These were knitin Rowan 4 ply cotton on 2.75mm needles. I got the patternish wrote down as what I did. Toe up socks. Basic help from knitty.com very happy with them!! :) Short row heels as well...

Just another view of them from the side, showing the heels, and the underfoot... they look a bit slouchy there, I know, but really they arent, they are a great fit, I have yet to wear them out for the day, but I am sure when I do they will be fine. :)

And a close upish of the pattern on the socks themselves. :) (and a slightly larger foto eeks...)

Now enough about the socks, lets get on to my hat!! And yep, I wrote down what I did for this lil guy as well, okay its more of a beanie then a hat but there you go. :) Was knit using Cascade 220 on 4mm needles. I will eventually take pictures of me wearing this thing but at the moment no camera is coming near my head... not when I look like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and have a very dry flakey nose.... no no no.....

Its got a 2x2 rib on the edge and then mirrored cables going around with a purl 4 ridge between each cable. I was trying to find something to suit Mark and in the end had given up seen the mirrored cabled look in my stitch guide and just went yeah Ill do that worked out the maths casted on and went a knitting.... I like my end product. Mark wont wear one like this, so he will get a store bought hat, and to be fair, he probably would have endedup with on anyways after he lost the hate I could have knit for him if I could have found something he liked.... Men are fussy... regardless what they say!

a quickie

I finally took pictures of my finished socks, and I have finished my hat and took pictures (not of me wearing the hat though!) hopefully I will get them posted soon! I just wanted to update and let everyone know that they are done and taken...
Now I am off to go cough and annoy my sweetie because I got a cold AGAIN! ARG! take care!

3 times lucky?

Okay Im sorry still no pictures of my socks, I swear they are finished, and I swear they are still sitting on the front couch. I just need to run to town and pick up some sort of nylon like thread to sew into them before I model them. Why you ask? Because I knit them in 100% cotton and Im not going to stretch them out of shape until I have something in them that will hopefully hold them into shape! :)
I have decided pretty much Mark aint getting a winter hat knitted for him. He said he doesnt want a plain one, but then when I make test squares he says they are too "poofy"! So instead I have figured out a look that I LIKE and am going to knit the hat for myself I told him if he likes it Ill knit him the same one and we can have matching hats. I laughed with delight he looked at me scared... I dont think hes going to go for it! HAHAHAHA So last night while I was trying to figure it all out and thought I had I was wrong. But after today of recasting on for the third time I should have it right. :) Now once I get done with the casting on and knitting straight in the round for a couple of inches Im not sure what to do for shaping, Ill figure it as I go, rip a couple more times and in the end have a kickarsed hat! :)
I havent done much knitting since I finished the socks, but I did read Jodi Picoult The Perfect Match, sad book but ever so good. I think shes an excellent writer because she makes you feel like you are right in there with the characters so I love reading her books....
Now Im off to go do the things I gotta do.....

Feeling kinda geeky!

Im not alway serious I swear! HAHA But I do hate taking pictures of myself, so this is my "I feel like a really big dork pose"... But look its my finished sweater!! :)

This is my "I am finding this highly amusing now pose"... But this is only another shot of the sweater this time with the arms properly pulled down. I just finished the dishes as well...

Top down vneck raglan. Plain stocking stitch. Took about 2 week and a little over 7 50g balls of Artesan Alpaca. I love the feel of this sweater, its my fav now I think! :) I have 2 and a bit balls left becuase I got 10 thinking I would need them all. Im not sure yet what to make with them but Illmake something.

I also finished my purple socks. I havent taken pics of them yet so Im going to make you all wait for those. I just finished them this morning!

Getting to know you... getting to know all about you...

One of the Secret Pal hostess, Jody of Javajem challenged us to answer the following simple questions in a task of getting to know more about us... so heres mine. :)

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
If Im home alone its on the couch in the front room in front of the big bay window, lots of light that way and Im watching the telly. If Marks home from work its on the bed with my little light on nad knitting away while talking to him or watching telly with him.

2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
I would read and read. I love to read. :) Id probably find some other craft to go mad over like sewing....

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
Well I made my trip to England becuase I live there now. :) I grew up in the states so its not there, I spent two years in Canada, so its not there either..... I know, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Japan, or Australia! :) I would love to visit all of those places because each one holds interest to me for their own reasons...

4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
I always wanted to be a doctor! No Im not doing that now, in fact Im a stay at home gf. :) I suppose one day when I get an actual job it would be after going back to school for nursing, I may be 60 before that happens but I will do it one day. :)

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Cookie Dough!!! YUMMIE!!! Or if I cant find any, plain vanilla, I know boring but I love it....

Pictures finally!!!

I HATE having to take pictures of myself. I feel like a complete and utter idiot! With that being said when I took these it was due to wanting to start the sleeves and Mark wasnt home from work. But this is my sweater! :) Well that WAS my sweater before I added a neck line and sleeves.... I havent washed it yet so theres no finished pictures. But this is what I have so far of my sweater. :) Isnt it pretty, Im ever so excited that I can look like a complete prep and all to my own doing!

Here are the start of my toe up own design socks! :) I was going to do a lace motif style on them. But I decided I rather liked the diamond look to them and thats what I have done. I took these the other day so I do have a bit more knit then this and I am nearly ready to knit the heels. I am working both at the same time as you can see! :)

Heres is the toe of the sock, this is the purled wrap overs, and I find they are neat on both the outside and the inside... and that leads me nicely to the following....

This is the knit side of wrap overs. The last I think it was two I did the knit two together through the back of the loops and I should have done that from the start, even though it doesnt say to, it just makes a neater edge on both the inside and the outside.

I got the generic toe up pattern off of www.knitty.com They also say to use a crochet cast on, I am RUBBISH as them, so I just did a backwards loop cast on over a bit of string on the needle and that held my loops so I do have a visible seam under the toes, but Ive put these socks on to try and make sure they are fitting nicely (and they are!) and so far I have no issues because the seam is sitting nicely in a spot that doesnt bother. :) not to mention on the inside there isnt a large thick seam to bother me anyways. :)

Now there are the pictures and the update, as you can see Mark installed photoshop for me so that I can at least resize and edit my photos, woo hoo! :)

Finished and Started

Oh yeah I rock, I finished my sweater on Thursday morning. Really I could have finished it on Wednesday night but it got to dark and so I stopped knitting and decided to hold the 9 rows off until Thursday. :) So ITS FINISHED!!! I just have hand wash it and let it dry then take pictures I will do that eventually....
I started my toe up on two circular needles. WOO HOO They are going great! Last night (Thursday) I started on them and finished the toe bit. This morning I picked up the bottom edge of the toe and have started knitting in the round for the foot, got 2 pattern repeats done. Just doing a small purled diamond motif thingy on them. They look good so far! And working them both atthe same time on two cirs is pretty simple, thought it would be slightly confusing but its not. Only part the was confusing was picking up the stitches and instead of doing it at the same time I did them one by one and had them backwards on the needle so I pulled the needle out and turned it the right way and quickly picked up the stitches before I lost them! :)
Hopefully be showing pictures of everything soon, Ill have to sort out something on this computer so that I can resize me fotos....

Knitting, eating, and drinking

Well I thought I would be posting today to say that I finished the sleeve, but I am not!
Monday some stuff went on that was rather upsetting and worrying that I got not a single stitch knitted. Thankfully everything is going to be alright and that makes me happy!
Yesterday normalish knitting service resumed. There were still things that needed to be done but I did knit and got a nice chunk done I suppose the sleeve will be finished no later then Friday night and I can sort out the socks I want to make as well as figure out how I would love my hat to look. Anna you gave a good idea of cables Im just not entirely sure Mark would go for that. Hes ever so picky but the guy is at least getting it in black as that will hopefully stay the cleanest when hes working.
On Monday before everything went pear shapped I went into town and I was rather excited because I found me some Kraft Mac&Cheese, okay so its the slightly rubbish one that you add milk and water to instead of the gloopy cheese ready to poor in, BUT its still yummy and its still sitting in my cupboard! :) I also found Cream of Wheat YUMMIE!!! I had some yesterday for breakfast and Ill be eating me some more as well! :) Also found some KoolAid, I only found the premixed with sugar one instead of the little packets thats alright I know where the packets are hopefully they dont charge an arm and a leg for them like the freaking mixed one was! Yes I drink the stuff and I know your able to dye yarn with it, you can also dye hair with it (just add some water and dip your hair in and it washes out) but I still drink it because its yummie! Anywyas, I was happy to find these things as the Ive not had them in the last 3.5 years, well minus the mac and cheese someone sent that over to me! :)
I also picked up some magazines, the newest Knit1 (that one from vouge) the TV issue, theres an alright looking hat and matching scarf, cabled of course in there that looks alright... Maybe if done in black I can pass it off to Mark (the hat) and he will wear it hmmm....... I also picked up the current Knit Today, Im still not entirely sure of it, though there were some decent intarsia/fairisle graphs in there that I am thinking of using to turn into wrist warmers in my ever growing Id like to knit pile. :) Also picked up Womans Weekly Knitting and Stitching Special, VERY happy with that, more I suppose for all the Alan Dart toy patterns, not that I play with toys, but the bears are ever so cute and the mice are ADORABLE! :) Theres also some nice cardigans in it as well. :)
Okay off to go make me some breakfast then knit on my sleeve.
(ps for easy reach I added the sp question link to the side, or look down for the post)

Sweaters Hats and Things

Thought I would post a quickie. :)
My sweater is coming along most wonderfully!! :) I got to the first decrease for the second sleeve, not exactly half way down, but I will be by the end of the day, actually I hope to be further along then half. I should have been further along then I am but I got to talking to my dad and sister on the phone last night and sort of forgot to knit, I know how dare I do that! But when you talk to my sister its easily done. I also talked to my neice who started kindergarden this year and is learning to read and really likes her teacher and I talked to my nephew who got mad at his mommy because he was telling me about the toys he was going to go get to play with and she told him they were magnets. As hes still finding his voice but talks VERY well I kind of find it slightly hard to understand EVERYTHING he says so I thought he was yelling at me! HAAHHA I was corrected when my sister got back on the phone. :)
This weekend Mark said he would allow me to knit him a hat!!! WOOO HOOO now I just have to figure out how to make one properly, as I never have, but I dont see it being hard. Im going to make myself one first work out any kinks make him wear mine and make sure he will be alright and actually wear it before I go and knit him one. IF he doesnt complain then hes getting on knit for him, if he complains, hes getting a store bought one! Im not going to force it my hk hat on him, but I will try and tell him how lovely it is. hehehe...
Well thats it for the moment, off to take a picture of my sleeve before I finish it and FORGET! :) And then going to knit some more. Im not sure when Ill get the pictures up, but I will be speaking to my sweetheart about allowing me to install my rubbish on his computer so that I can edit me photos to a decent size. :)

SP9 Questions and Answers

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Pretty much all. Im easy. :)
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I HATE funky furs. *thats not animal fiber but I hate them*

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? The bags they come in and then in my knitting box, or big bag I have. I try not to loose them. hehe

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I have been knitting for about 2 years, and I taught myself from a book and online videos out of boredom and the want to make myself pretty things.
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Depends I suppose. I am learning every day! :) But intermediate to advanced on most things. :)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No I dont. But there are two books I know I will eventually buy myself, Scarf Style and The knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Mulitple Sizes and Gauges

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) Vanilla. Cinnamon/Spice

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Its my downfall. :)
Favorite candy? Orange chocolate things, and peanut butter chocolate things.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I want to learn to properly use a sewing machine. But just knitting and some crochet at the moment.
Do you spin? No but I would LOVE to learn. :)

8. What kind of music do you like? Country, rock, soul, r&b, hip hop, pop, easy listening, pretty much all types.
Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes it does.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Pinks, purples, blues, naturals.
Any colors you just can't stand? Neon colours!

10. What is your family situation? Live with my bf. No kids.
Do you have any pets? No pets. :(

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

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

13. What are you knitting right now? Top down v-neck raglan in grey Alpaca. Nearly finished and going to attempt a pair of socks on two circs working both at the same time toe up as well. :S Fingers crossed they turn out!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I would love something someone took time to make me. :)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Lately Circular needles. I tend to get plastic or aluminum purely because of the cost (ie they are cheaper)

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No but my table end or knees come in great for that! :) HAHA

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I gave up and tossed out some norwegain socks I started back in the summer just went off of them. Other then that I ALWAYS finish what I make. I tend to only work on one project at a time as well.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas, because its a time that is spent with family (they dont celebrate thanksgivinging in the UK that used to be my second fav for the same reason)

19. Is there anything that you collect? Does yarn/wool count? :) Books. I love reading a good book.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? See answer 4. There are a couple of cook books that I will be asking for at xmas time. :) I cant think of any that I want and havent gotten myself yet. *I know, not a big help*
What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Vouge knitting, Simply knitting *UK*, and I tend to buy the current issues of Interweave Knits as well. :)

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I cant think of any. :)

22. Are you a sock knitter? Ive knit a couple pairs before but about to attempt my first two up two at a time on circs method. :) Hopefully that will fully convert me!
What are your foot measurements? 9in long. 9.5in round middle of foot.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) December 23

If theres anything else you would like to know, please leave me a message and let me know, I will be glad to answer!! :)