The Adventures of Poor Luci and Beth

Vote Republican!

2008-06-23T19:41:00.001-06:00

Spring Break Sucks & Chickens & SPOILER

2008-03-17T09:27:00.005-06:00

Spring break and summer vacation really suck. Seriously, they do. Here I am with a house full of kids who have nothing else to do buy fight and bitch at each other. Even the little one does not have preschool this week because they follow the school schedule. Why? I have no idea since I have to fucking pay them. It is asinine, it really is. There is nothing for these kids to do, kids do not play outside anymore, apparently. I have been told that since it is Holy Week, which I am not sure what that is, there is a lot going on at the churches, but I do not feel comfortable with that, so I just sit here and listen to them fight and scream all damn day. So, here we are falling behind in the world in terms of scientists and engineers. Those damn kids should be in school.

Those are my new chickens, a spur of the moment purchase that I am seriously living to regret. Not because they aren't neat and fun but because the kids won't leave them the fuck alone for 5 damn minutes and because I cannot seem to motivate my husband to build them a coop so I can get them out of the playroom, which, of course is where the kids congregate and therefore, easier to constantly fuck with them. The point is eggs, you see. We are hoping, but being as they are constantly stressed out, so I have lost all hope in eggs, just hoping to keep them alive.

The socks I just finished for Shirley, the little girl we sponsor in El Salvador. Embossed Leaves using Louet Gems. very nice.

The 7 Deadly Spins package. ... very nice, though I am hearing the pattern is a little messed up, lots and lots of errata posts. I am a little disappointed it is a sock, I was hoping to break away from socks, maybe next package. I had some excess funds and used it to join each and every sock club I could get my hands on.

can't upload pics, except this one

2008-03-11T09:18:00.004-06:00

Well, blogger must be down, that is all I have to say. Not really, but check out my Seething Revolutionary library. I am becoming quite fascinated with Mr. Hitchens, as you can see and I am currently making my way through all his books. Not as easy as it sounds, as they are pretty in depth and you actually have to read them, as opposed to skim through them. So, I got my 7 Deadly Spins package and my Easter package, thanks to excess student loan funds and I would love to show them to you, but Blogger is going down. Oh, and I finished a sock! yay me. So, later, I will definetly post those pics. And did I mention I lost 5 pounds? Just thought I would!

Feeling Crappy and Peter!

2008-03-04T08:51:00.003-07:00

Ugh, sick sick sick...but isn't everyone? The Easter sock kit is a bit of a cheer up but between the drastic weather shifts and the rain and the multitudes of bugs and viruses my kids drag home to me, I just may well be dying. Oh, and of course 2 million damn papers due on crap I couldn't give a rat's ass about. Such is life. But, yay, Peter Gabriel turned 58 on 2/13. So, I give it up for the most amazing beautiful talented person on the planet.

Easter Sock Kit, YAY

2008-03-03T18:22:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

My wool girl easter sock it, those are the best of days! I am addicted to them and even if I buy no other yarn, I have to get those.

dirty damn dog

2008-02-16T20:21:00.001-07:00

dirty dog 001
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

My god, will you look at this animal? He has been digging in the dirt like bad Peter Gabriel song. And now I get to wrangle his ass into the sink and attempt to scrub the muck off his face. Stupid mutant ass Cairn terrorist too-long tail having bitch....p.s. I love wine night!

happy V Day

2008-02-14T07:29:00.001-07:00

Vday socks 002
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Happy Valentine's Day and all its over commercialized ridiculous glory. I just finished the Wool Girl Valentine Day socks! ON Valentine's Day! yay me! They were a lot of fun and I loved Magic Loop, it is the only way I am going to knit socks from now on. Now, i am of to cast on even more socks!

Even more snow...

2008-02-13T09:28:00.001-07:00

more snow 002
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Crazy ! look at this, we are in ALABAMA! It should not snow in ALABAMA! But it is (ask me how many times I slipped down those steps trying to take a picture. See the butt-print).

Its Snowing! WTF!

2008-02-13T08:06:00.001-07:00

snow 003
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Its snowing here today ! I for one cannot believe it because I keep checking TWC and it says it is going to be 54 and Sunny, but it is 29 and snowing, so I say WTF!!!! They have no clue. If you look real close you can see the snow in the pic, it is starting to pile up a bit. So, it is just the kind of snow that makes driving hard but not fun snow you can play in. It is very odd, yesterday it was 70 degrees. (But, no worries, climate change is a myth perpetrated by the Godless Liberals.) Now, back to my boring stupid paper on the Meso-Americans.....

Happy Darwin Day

2008-02-12T16:25:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

happy Darwin day everyone! Let's all thank him for the glorious theory of evolution! I am so glad man evolved enough to invent DIC Smooshy in Butter Peeps! (another V-day present)!

Valentine's Day

2008-02-12T06:00:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Don't you hate Valentine's day? It is such a rip off and full of ridiculous expectations and let down. I don't care for chocolates and flowers seem a ridiculous waste of money once you have CC bills and a mortgage. So my enterprising husband got me Noro Sock Yarn! Much better than flowers. I cannot wait to cast one and see how this stuff knits up. I have heard all the rumors and just want to see how bad (or good) this stuff is for myself.

dog class graduation

2008-02-09T15:50:00.001-07:00

dog class graduation
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Yay, he can sit! There is the entire graduating class, Me and Crowley, I know I look horrid, chubby and pale (ugh), Tucker the Havenese, and Kimber the Pomeranian. Don't you hate pictures that make you realize just how much weight you need to lose and why you should always do your hair before leaving the house?

Crowley the voting fool

2008-02-09T15:48:00.001-07:00

crowley the voting fool
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Here the Crowley, 6 months old, with his graduation toy, He just graduated from puppy class, so we are very proud, but unfortunately, he is a jack ass of a dog.
He voted for Obama! Yes, we can!

NO!! I do not know who I am voting for!

2008-02-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

SO THERE!! All that hard word and time and exasperation and everything, gone in one Farewell speech from the ghettos of New Orleans. Well, who can blame him? But cheering me up these days is the fact that i have finally learned Magic Loop and I am doing a super fun KAL, called Mitten of The Beast. Apparently, a Christian group saw these mittens and became very upset. So, the crazy kids at the AAC board took it upon themselves to bring a bit more evil into the world and we are all knitting them. Check out our KAL!
Get yourself a copy IK Winter 2007 and starting knitting some Mittens of the Beast for yourself! Or a friend! When I am not knitting those, I am playing with that worthless mutt and finishing my Valentine Socks from Wool Girl! Super fun! or admiring my finished Groovy Socks using Sock Pixie. YEAH!

It's Over :(

2008-01-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

I guess it is over, John just dropped out of the race. Me and thousands are heartbroken but, hey, it is a dirty game. But what do we do now? I wish I could buy some new yarn...

February 5th is coming! Please vote..

2008-01-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

The primaries are almost here! I have been doing a lot with the John Edwards campaign. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears. So... Please please please VOTE! (Preferably for Edwards) :)
Hasn't Crowley gotten BIG!

Suprise in the mail!

2008-01-10T15:59:00.001-07:00

Vday sock kit 002
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Look what came in the mail yesterday, I had forgotten all about it! I am glad I had forgotten about it! It is the Valentine's Day Sock Club from Wool Girl. She does one for every holiday, this one was my favorite so far. It came with that awesome hand sewn bag, a cute pattern, and the White Oak studio yarn. I am on a serious yarn diet, so this was so much fun to get in the mail.

Look at this book!

2008-01-09T07:35:00.001-07:00

book 002
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

I just got this book yesterday. I am so excited, it is how to knit two socks at once on one long circular needle. How amazing is that? Hopefully, I will have the guts to try it (unlike the other one). I think next week, while the Evil One is at pre-school, I will get me a long needle and give it a shot!

First day of Preschool

2008-01-08T08:47:00.001-07:00

firstday 002
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Glynis started school today, there she is with her little ladybug lunch box and new outfit. She was so excited! Then, when we got there, she threw a horrible fit. Jeez! But, I am hoping she does ok, I am sure she will. How can you not with a ladybug lunch box.

One Sock Down

2008-01-06T17:39:00.001-07:00

onesockdown 001
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Alrighty!!! I finished my first sock, it went pretty fast and I love the yarn, I really do adore this Sock Pixie stuff. I just wish we were not in monetary lock down so I could buy some of her new stuff.
The sock turned out well, but i am not real crazy about these short row heels. At first I was and then ....ehhh. they leave little holes running up the sides and you really have to keep a good count of what you are doing. I imagine there is a trick to it that I haven't figured out yet. But, other than that, I love the pattern and the striping. It is a very cute sock. My first for myself. So, off to CO for the other one and then next up....
Embossed Leaves (again)

oooooooooooooo!

Iowa

2008-01-04T18:50:00.001-07:00

grv sovk 003
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Why on earth is Iowa first in every election cycle? This bothers, Obama winning in Iowa bothers me, so much I couldn't sleep, so I knit. Don't get me wrong, nothing against the man and I think he would be a vast vast vast improvement over what we have now, but Gee, I sure had my heart set on Edwards...........

Thank Goodness December Is OVER!!

2008-01-02T10:27:00.001-07:00

How happy am I that December is over? Ugh, first we have Christmas............hate it, hate it, but at least we are not swarmed by unruly annoying family members with questionable political beliefs...YET! It is just us and our ugly tree. We actually kept ourselves to a pretty strict budget this year, so we will be back being caught up by February or so, thank goodness. But why is this so stressful? It really is a ridiculous holiday, it truly is. Next year, I vote for Boxing Day.
Happy people with lots of loot. I stuck to the essentials this year and let the grandmother go ridiculous overboard with the Xbox and stuff.....Did I mention the two birthdays? That's right, two

ONE (she turned 2)

(TWO)

That's right TWO, ugh. But, everyone had a Happy Birthday.

I finished a baby hat!! I used Shibui sock yarn, that is great stuff! It works up like DIC which is wonderful. I am on a strict yarn diet, sue to money , just like everyone else so I am using stuff in my stash, but, luckily, my MIL send me some great sock yarn this year. Pretty Pretty stuff.

Unfortunately, I had to pass up on the new crop of Sock yarn clubs that have popped up in January. The one that really hurts is Wool Girl, I really really wanted to join that one, but I keep telling myself there is always next year!

Gratuitous Crowley shot, because he is so cute!

My latest sock OTN, Sock Pixie La Vie En Rose, quite possibly my favorite sock yarn. The colors are great and the yarn is so soft. Plus she has free patterns, what more could you want?

happy New Years Everyone

Finally a camera cord!

2007-12-15T12:03:00.001-07:00

I finally found the camera cord! Thank goodness, because with X-mas and birthdays and everything else......
So....above is my little one playing in the leaves in front of our new house, leaves are not scarce here, they are everywhere! I have never seen so many leaves..........
Me, (yes, still holding on to the baby weight, maybe after the holidays!
Our new house, with my husband fighting the never ending leaf battle..........I love this house, it is not new, or in a master planned subdivision, but who cares? I love it, I love the sitting room and family room, I love the giant yard, I like the neighbors AND it is 1.5 miles from the yarn store here, Yarn Expressions, which is a great yarn store. 1.5 miles, I know because I checked and that is what made us buy that house.
Crowley!!!! The new cairn terrier puppy................
Glynis, who turns 2 next week.
And below is Lucifer, chilling in the sun, it was 68 today and we were all out celebrating my son's 14th birthday.
Merry Christmas Everyone...........

ThanksGiving

2007-11-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

Happy Turkey Day to Everyone!!
(I will find my camera!!!!!)

I wish I had a camera!

2007-11-02T07:15:00.001-06:00

Hodges
1995-2007
A Good Dog

Well, I have a camera, I just don't know where it is at the moment. I am on the verge of giving up. It will magically turn up when I do not need it. But things are better. I have a knitting group to go to, where everyone is fun and interesting and uses yarn worth being jealous about.
We had poor old Hodges cremated and his ashes placed into a beautiful wood box.
It is a comfort to have them, but I can't articulate why. Poor old guy.

The movers came and most of our things are either broken or missing, my son's bed is completely destroyed. He is sleeping on a mattress on the floor until we can pressure them to do what they said they would and pay for him to have a new bed. My vegetable rack is broken, my husband's drill is missing, the bookcase is broken, the nightstand is missing two legs.......it just goes on. It is awful. I have never seen a worse move. And, of course, they are trying to blame us. Did I mention the loveseat that they left behind in Utah? Then, the movers refused to put anything together and dropped all our boxes in the garage, they couldn't even bother to bring them in the house. It is just awful, I will be glad when we are finally unpacked and settled.

I got a little black kitten from my friend, Sarah. He was a cutie, just some little stray that wandered in her yard. Then, I took him to the vet on Tuesday and he was FIV positive. So, poor little guy, I had to have him put down. I just wish I could go to bed and not get back up. I think the kids are shell-shocked.

Then, my husband buys me a little cairn terrier puppy! What a cutie! But, ugh, puppy! But it sure has cheered me up. His name is Crowley, I wanted to name him Alistair, which inspired my husband to sing "Mr. Crowley" for hours, and unfortunately, Crowley is what stuck. And when I find the camera, I will post pictures.

Sooooooooooooooooooooo....................as soon as I have a camera, TONS OF PICTURES!

Hodges

2007-10-23T08:17:00.000-06:00

We are finally in our new and beautiful house
but because I insisted on the surgery to remove that bump on his back, my little doggie passed away in a horrible cold lonely veterinary hospital thinking we abandoned him
I didn't abandon you and I loved you so much
I am so damn sorry
I didn't know
I just didn't know

YAY!

2007-10-18T08:29:00.000-06:00

We are finally going to close on our house tomorrow!
or, to quote the Bard from the Scottish play:
"tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow".

But, of course, the movers screwed us, because that is how things are for us, so instead of coming tomorrow like they said, they won't be here until Monday. So much for the Boeing super VIP account. This move has been a long awful nightmare from day one. Everything just went wrong, so I am hoping for once, things will start going right.
and we can get out of here and get my stuff back.
On the other hand, I found a great fun knitting group full of friendly interesting people and that has been keeping my sane. And I may be getting a new kitty! Yay!
I think I will name her Agatha.
Double yay!
Hopefully I can post some pictures soon.
Did I mention it was raining? I love the rain! Yay cubed!

We are never getting out of here

2007-10-15T07:22:00.000-06:00

NEVER
NEVER
NEVER

We are still sitting here, stuck in temporary quarters, waiting ....for something, anything. Everything else is done, the sellers want to sell, we want to buy, lawyers at the ready. Mortgage ready to be called in, just waiting. So, why are we still here? Because the 401K people keep finding excuse after excuse to not give us our downpayment money. It is one thing after another, and here we are, on the day we were supposed to close, and we can't, had to extend because they find it impossible to get their shit together. Every time they come up with a new demand, we jump through hoops, finding notaries and overnight delivery services and they just sit and twiddle their thumbs. While we remain in limbo. For over a month
Next week, our lease here will be up, we will have to get out, and where will we go? None of us have a clue.
So, I try not to spend too much money, but it is hard when you are bored and stuck in a tiny place with an anxious toddler. I have way too many new knitting books, that I don't need, that I keep buying to make myself feel better for a minute. And yarn and Knitpicker bags, (aren't they awesome?) And, of course, my ex, once again, did not pay his child support.
Ugh!
So, hows your day?

Coffee Swap 3 Questionairre

2007-10-10T08:06:00.000-06:00

1. Whole bean or ground?
Either, but whole bean is always nice

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
Fully loaded, otherwise what is the point

3. Regular or flavored?
Both
4. How do you drink your coffee?
with cream and sugar

5. Favorite coffee ever?
Ubu coffee, that I had in Japan

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
slightly fussy, but not too bad

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
usually just alone

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
no
9. Yarn/fiber you love?
sock yarn

10. Yarn/fiber you hate?
none

11. What's on your needles?
A wallaby and a air of knee high socks for my toddler

12. Favorite colors?
lavender, blue, pink, anything pretty

13. Allergies?
no
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?
I really like things that smell of lavender
off my chest: If this house does not close soon, I am going to jump off the balcony of this awful temp housing

Our First Full Week

2007-10-02T07:17:00.000-06:00

So, we are starting to get into the Alabama groove. I guess. The kids have gotten into school, my husband has a desk, so the days here consist of me, Baby, and the dogs just kind of sitting around. It is really kind of lonely. I spend alot of time trying to get stains out of the floor (carpet). This is a nice apartment, just too small for us. And carpet is always a bad idea. I finished my fuzzy pink scarf, the one from Scarf Style. can't remember the name. I have no way to download my pictures to my laptop. It kind of sucks. btw: Misty Garden is the the name of the pattern
But, on a happier note: I finally got into Ravelry. What fun! There are some great groups out there. My favorite this week is Craft Li. They are reading Tristan and Isolde and I never knew med evil Lit could be so suspenseful. I miss being a Lit major. I told my husband that I think when I finish this degree, I was going to go back and get a Masters in Lit.
We took the kids to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. They had a great time running and jumping. Then, we got to the water gardens. I looked away for one second, heard a splash and there was the baby lying on the bottom of the pond. I snatched her out of there! What goes threw a baby's head? Why jump into a deep dark pond full of giant goldfish that may eat you?
Who knows!
On a yarny note, I have yet to make it to one of the knit nights here, but I really want to. I would be content just going to the yarn store a this point. Maybe soon, I hope. I got my Halloween Sock Club kit from Wool Girl!!! It is so cute, I wish I could post pictures of it somewhere, still waiting on the chameleon Color works kit, though. I have kind of given up on that one, I just hope the PO forwards it. I am thinking of trying a sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. I am really getting into the older vintage patterns. I have been reading "Victorian Lace Today' and feel so inspired, I just wish I had the guts to try one.
School is going craptacular, that's all I am going to say about that!

I have no pictures (sorry)

2007-09-25T08:13:00.000-06:00

We made it to Alabama and survived the trip. 5 days in a mini-van with 3 grumpy kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 15 rats, 4 tortoises, and one grumpy ass hamster. We kept all of our suitcases on the roof, so of course, Murphy's Law dictated it RAIN the entire trip. Which it did. And when it wasn't, the air was like bath water. We are still getting used to the humidity ( by not leaving the apartment).
Did I mention a bag of wool was ruined by the rain? Including my Wallaby pattern!!!
We stayed in a few really nice hotel (Homewood) and a few bad ones (Econo Inn), complete with giant cockroaches. It is the south and the humidity makes things bigger, I guess.
But we made it!
We are still in corporate housing, which is in reality a three bed room apartment, which is nice, except it is not a home and we feel a little disjointed and temporary, the way you do when you are unrooted and unfamiliar. But it beats a hotel. My poor 12 year old terrier cannot walk up the steps to the door so he must be carried on every walk. Which is humiliating for both of us.
But we are enjoying be soooooo close to things. We can even go to Target! Whenever we want! And not Walmart, TARGET! Which, I may add, is a Super Target.
I am struggling to keep up with my course work, and I need to find a testing agency soon, but what I really want is my house to close so I can stop feeling uncomfortable about this place and our smuggled animals
Oh, and my sock club yarn to get here. I want that too!!
COMMENTS AND ADVICE PLEASE!

Anyone tried?

2007-09-11T10:27:00.001-06:00

My latest projects....................the second Embossed Leaves sock for my MIL! And the Misty Garden scarf in mohair yarn. Yum yum.....
I really really want to learn this method? Anyone else able to do it? There is a class at the LYS in Huntsville and I can't wait to sign up for it, but in the meantime there is this book!! That LYS in Huntsville looks awesome!! I can't wait! The house we are buying is 1.5 miles from it. I checked, that was a big selling point! Must be near Yarn Expressions! Hopefully, the people there will not think I am a goon and a loser@!

I have been remiss.....

2007-09-11T08:01:00.001-06:00

Look what I got!!! Barnes and Nobles- 60% off!!!! Are they crazy? Who cares!!! I got all of the above for 60% off.
Then I went to the yarn store, Three Wishes, to be exact. I got the above, because I am crazy and I got my limit on my CC raised. So, I got the new Interweave book and some Sleeping Dragon in the Roses and Chocolate colorway, which I plan to present to my MIL when we get to New Mexico.
The move is going, that is all I can say about it. The house is coming along, the inspection was yesterday, we are still waiting to hear. The packers will be here on Thursday, the movers on Friday. Very depressing. Don't know why, because I really hate this place. But THIS WEEKEND!!!! the long awaited Fiber Festival in SLC! It will be our last stop before heading out of town on our 4 day Love Cruise across the country. Can't wait!
My Tea Swap partner got her stuff! I think she liked it. Once again, Kudos me. I am slowly losing all vestiges of sanity, hence the choppy sentences!

Math Test

2007-09-06T08:06:00.000-06:00

I PASSED THE STUPID EXAM
BY TWO STUPID POINTS!

.........we are leaving on the 15th for Alabama. I am sad, I don't know why. Strange...

Tea Swap Early Bird Prize ( and a math exam)

2007-09-05T07:26:00.001-06:00

0Got my Early Bird tea prize, very nice! Just what I needed to take my mind off things. Cute cute stitch markers, from Alabama Fiber Dreams, ironically enough, some jasmine tea, a tea towel and scone mix! Well, I say, Yea me. And boo on math tests.

Today is my dreaded, yet long awaited math exam. I have to be at the proctors office at 10. There are only so many ways to dread things, but I have covered them all. I have studied, but Math, especially this math, is my absolute worse subject. All I have are my wits and my trusty TI-85 calculator, which was my husband's old calculator in college. I will be soooooooo glad when this is over with, failed or not.

Wool Girl!!

2007-08-29T15:24:00.001-06:00

I put in an order to Wool Girl to make myself feel better and it came today. I mainly just needed to get some things for the Tea Swap, which I have been neglecting. But, of course, I had to indulge in some Seacoast Panda Sock. I got Chocolate and Caramel (above)and Desert Rose (below) for my own sweet, stressed out self. I like Wool Girl, she wraps everything real pretty, she ships super fast and emails me back real quick when I have questions. I have never used this type of yarn before but I am hoping I like it. The colors in this line are always amazing. I can't wait to live near an actual yarn store and be able to touch yarn before I buy it, though I will still be spending too much money at Wool Girl I am sure.
Here is part of the stuff for the Tea Swap. I got cheesy and ordered everything online, sorry, i am way more busy than I thought I would be. I got her some Polar Bar soap from Biggs and Featherbelle, a stitch marker shaped like a tea cup, and a hank of Seacoast Panda in Raspberry Truffle. I am just waiting on the tea I ordered and some more cute little things.
On the house note, it is now under contract ( I think). We gave them the price they wanted and they are throwing in a lot of the furniture, including a fire pit!!!!So, I think everyone is happy, or at least I am. And, I took everyone's advice ( I am listening to you guys!!!) and scheduled a home inspection for next week and the seller's are providing a home warranty. In case anyone is interested, the MLS# is 250899. I would love some feedback on our new purchase, or semi-purchase. For me, back to untangling the Anne .

So, our realtor calls us and says...

2007-08-29T06:52:00.000-06:00

That the realtor of the owners of the house we bid on called. Even though we turned down their counter offer, they would like to talk some more. They even said they would take off the lawyer stipulation and the give us the closing date we wanted. Hmmmm.....Why the change of heart?

The Whole Shameful Story

2007-08-28T11:16:00.001-06:00

So, no pictures because I forgot my camera.
But, we are back and exhausted. First, my husband books us on those horrible little jets that shake up and down. I was so frightened the whole trip. I hate to fly anyways, but here we are on those teeny little planes with the winds whipping us all over. I am still having nightmares about that plane ride. We get to Huntsville and it is crazy hot. But I can live with that. We get to our very nice hotel, and Boeing has forgotten to pay them, so we have too. So, there goes half our earnest money. But, we settle in and call the realtor. She says she is at dinner and we can pick her up at her office in an hour. Pick her up? Yes, that's right, we had to try and navigate a strange city at night to pick her up. So, we find it and pick her up and proceed to drive her around with a screaming almost-two year old in tow.
She takes us to two houses at 8 at night, which are so obviously too small. We still have no relocation packet, no housing info sheets, nothing.
So, we say we are tired and go back to the hotel. The realtor says she is busy until 330 so we just sort of bum around the hotel most of the day. I am kind of mad about this because we flew in for a house hunting trip and we are getting some pretty bad vibes. You are probably asking why we didn't go look around, well, we had no corporate card yet, so we had to pay for the 700 dollar hotel and the 300 rental car and all the gas and food so we were damn broke.

So, we are thinking she is picking us up, but no, she calls and tells us to pick her up at 4. We had found some of those home magazines and we had a few we wanted to look at. This being all we had to go on because there was no info forthcoming from her about any damn thing. Now, you may be wondering why we are upset about picking her up. As we sat at the hotel all day, we noticed something....lots and lots of realtors coming in and out carrying nice binders and driving nice cars and having lunch reservations. They were there to pick up the relocation clients who were on househunting trips. People there for the same reason we were, but they had nicer realotrs. So, my husband asked one of them what he deal was and when ewe told them what we were putting up with, they were a bit shocked. But, I digress.

So, we pick her up and go to look at some of the houses WE had to find. She had no info at all and spent most of her time on the phone with the other realtor.
Finally, she says she knows a house for sale in town, in the area we like. So, we go. And it is perfect. I loved it and I wanted it. So we say fine, we want to make an offer. And guess what, she does not like our offer. It is too low (it wasn't, it would make the seller and his realtor mad, she wasn't sure if her boss would take it.
(we offered 148,000 on a house that was 154,000, in case you are curious, Gentle Reader). Too low? Maybe, but this is how the game is played, and considering the market, it was a fair offer. So, she is balking.........so we say fine, let's go. Then she says take me back and I will type it up and I want 1000 earnest money, well, all we have is 500 because WE ARE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING, INCLUDING GAS TO SHUTTLE HER AROUND!
So, she says go get dinner and come back in an hour, by this time the baby has had it! So we go back to the hotel and order in. Then at 9 she calls and wants us to come back up there, my husband say NO we are going to bed, so here she comes, after reading it, my husband says there is no way I am signing this.
Next morning: We find some more houses by digging sround online (WE FOUND THEM). We ask to see them, she says "Sure, but I am busy until 1130, then you can come pick me up at my house". Are you crazy!!!! Pick her up! At her house!
So, we have had enough. My husband says, I am done. So he fired her. Just like that, told her we were done. Then called ERA and told them we had a mortgage already and just wanted to buy a house. Sure enough, an hour later a realtor pulls up, straps in our car seat and away we go................
We even found another house, which we did not get because the seller had crazy demands, like close in 3 weeks and use their attorney, which our mortgage company balked at and refused to let us do, which is fine. It sounded shady anyways. HELLO! DO these people read the news, Buyer's Market people! The house will sit for another six months.
I guess Boeing gets mad when you fire the Realtor they hire for you, so now we are cleaning up that mess.
Comments, please

Warning

2007-08-27T20:36:00.000-06:00

So,this is what happens when you turn your back on a toddler and a brand new hank of Schaefer Anne. just so you know.....

Home !

2007-08-27T07:12:00.000-06:00

We made it home, at last. After 4 nightmare plane rides and two Realtors, we are home. I even got to go to the yarn Expression, which I must say, was very nice . I bought some Schaefer Anne, which my baby promptly tangled into a sordid mess.
More later, too tired now!
Oh, still no house!

Today is the day...

2007-08-22T04:55:00.000-06:00

Here we go, off to Huntsville. I am up at 4 am because there are few things that scare me more than flying. I wish I had some powerful drugs to get through this. But, nope. Wish me luck!

!!!!!!!!

2007-08-15T18:46:00.000-06:00

We Got A Mortgage!
(dance dance dance)
We Got A Mortgage!
(dance dance dance)
We Got A Mortgage!
(dance dance dance)
We Got A Mortgage!
(dance dance dance)

We Got A Mortgage!
(dance dance dance)
So no more of this stupid ugly house!
Yeah!

Waiting ........and Embossed Leaves

2007-08-14T09:17:00.000-06:00

This morning, we are waiting to hear back from one of the mortgage companies. We applied at two, Wells Fargo and a small company in Huntsville that deals alot with Boeing and the local market. I tend to have more faith in them, they seem to know more of what they are talking about and always call us back when they say they will. We have a small down payment and it is looking good, not great, just ok, I guess. I hate this waiting to hear from them stuff. It is nerve wracking and it feel like our whole life is on hold until we do. We have a few houses picked out but until we get a pre-approval letter, there is no point on going on a house hunting trip.
On another note, that is my Embossed Leaves sock I have started on for my mother in law. I am using Dream In Color Smooshy Sock yarn in Petal shower. I am so surprised by how easy this pattern really is, it is just flying by. And it looks great, especially in this yarn. And below is my way-cool Slytherin sock, I have put the other on hold for hte Embossed Leaves.
On a stupider note, I got up this morning and saw some guys leaning against my fence and freaked out and called the police. The police told me I was over reacting and it was a deer or something, so I feel really stupid right now. I have a serious paranoid streak.

Winning Stuff Is Cool

2007-08-10T09:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the great End Of Summer Party at the library. A lot of things suck here, A LOT, but not the library. It is one of the best libraries I have ever been to. Granted it is small, but it is a wonderful place to study, they have excellent WiFi and a really cool inter-library loan system. I once got a knitting book from Alaska! can you imagine?
So, they had their party and as you can see, Little G won herself a prize playing baby bingo. Woo-Hoo.

And..............Lizzie won 2nd place for having the most minutes read! Yea! It was pretty nice loot. I know because it is currently scattered all over my living room.

Them, a prize drawing!!Lizzie won a set of play golf clubs! Which have been used to torture and harass my cat all over greater Utah!
In other news, next week looks like it may become the big house hunting trip in Alabama. I am excited but after reading the very depressing news concerning credit and mortgages, I am not holding my breath on finding a house. I am a born pessimist. Boeing is quick, they waste no time. Now they are telling us we need to be there by mid-September. Jeez! Slow down.
Have a great weekend everyone!
p.s. Guess what? I AM STILL NOT BELIEVING THAT CRAP ABOUT SNAPE AND HARRY'S MOM!!!

Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!

2007-08-10T08:13:00.001-06:00

Found you!

You signed up on July 18, 2007
You are #18590 on the list.
9977 people are ahead of you in line.
5910 people are behind you in line.
34% of the list has been invited so far

A Break From Socks, Sort of

2007-08-06T15:58:00.000-06:00

This is my "Oriel Lace Scarf" in Panda Cotton that I have just started. I found this pattern at my LYS, it was written by one of the instructors there. There was a sample of it at Black Sheep Wool Company
and I just had to try it. I have never really done any lace yet, but this pattern is really easy and the panda cotton is perfect fir it, I think. It shows off the color and makes it nice and stretchy.
My slytherin sock................what can I say. i think i just do not care for this yarn. It is really hard to knit with. It is splitty, does not hold the stitches well and pulls out of shape. But I must finish them
My sleepy baby.........and my brand new Dream In Color Smooshy Sock yarn in Petal Showers. Yum Yum.
On a crappier note, don't you hate when your ex decides to get cute with child support? That is always nice. Because you know you can always decide that you don't want to feed them that day, or buy them shoes, or even get out of bed to take care of them that month. I really think it is more important that he gets to make that payment on his sports car or his shiny new boat. I imagine it is some comfort for the jackass to know that even though he decided to drop their health insurance, their step dad will pick it up and make sure they have all their shots for school and new backpacks and lunch money. Sorry,i am really seething............really really really seething. But, on the other hand....SMOOSHY SOCK YARN YEA!
I am signed up for the super cool tea swap, ARE YOU?

Sigh........... (Ravelry)

2007-08-05T19:57:00.000-06:00

Found you!

You signed up on July 18, 2007
You are #18590 on the list.
10517 people are ahead of you in line.
4667 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far

Tea Swap Sign Up Day!!!!

2007-08-03T09:03:00.001-06:00

Just posting some pics of the birthday presents from my MIL. Cool sock yarn and books. Yes, that is the fall issue of Interweave Knits. It came in the mail yesterday!! But, it was not as great as I had hoped (sigh). But my yarn is super cool! There is some Regia, Lana Wool, and the new Opal line that is based on the Dutch guys paintings, I can neither spell nor pronounce his name, sorry.
Check out my homemade fly strips, they work great, are cheap, and fun to make. We have tons of flies all over the place because of all the deer. Flies are a horrible problem. I hate them! HATE THEM!

The many moods of her highness.

Knit One Tea Two Questionaire

2007-08-01T13:00:00.000-06:00

Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire

Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try? I like both, though I usually like bagged. I think I use mainly bagged because I cannot find my strainer since we moved and everytime I go to the store, I forget to buy another one.

What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)? My favorite tea in the world is any black tea mixed with lavender. But I generally stick to the black teas, especially Earl and Lady Grey, Darjeelings, with the occasional white tea thrown in.

Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up). Black tea is my favorite

Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind? Tea Pot, I own a Brown Betty and an Electric Kettle, but some times I get lazy and just throw a bag in a cup

What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself? A nice strainer, I guess and maybe those fancy sugar cubes

How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc). I love hand cream and anything that smells of lavender. I am a bit of a lavender fiend

If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why? Sock yarn, because it is just the coolest

If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why? baby booties, because turning a heel makes me feel clever

What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?) Probably a knitting class, i am always looking for classes that I can take so I can learn new techniques

What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?) scones and double devonshire cream and honey

When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute? It depends on the project, but I will usually substitute. I like to use what I like and I feel comfortable knitting

What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go? Of course, I am an avid sock knitter

Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting? I like BBC or Masterpiece theater type dramas. Period pieces mainly

Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match? I don't care if they match, but I do prefer drinking tea from a cup but I am not picky and a mug will suffice

Favorite childhood birthday party? i don't think I ever had one, though for my last birthday, my husband took me to Protea Cottage for Afternoon Tea. I even had a birthday cake in a tea cup!

Favorite type of scone and jam? Regular butter scones and devonshire cream is my favorite

If you use candles, what is your favorite scent? Lavender

If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead). Oscar Wilde, Huey P Long, and Thom Hartmann. Because that would be the most literal and interesting tea party ever conceived

You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear (formal or casual)? A nice knee length tweed skirt and sensible shoes

Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to? I have a marked preference for lavender

Anything we missed that you want your pal to know? I love lavender and I am a sock knitter. We are moving to Alabama this winter and I am in school getting a degree in Education, though my previous degree was in Literature. I love anything that has to do with Professor Snape or Slytherin house, even though I keep getting sorted into Ravenclaw!!! I have three kids, 13, 8, and 1 and a giant black cat called Lucifer, whom I adore. He is the reason I collect anything with a black cat on it, from quilts to sock bags.

Back On The Chain Gang!

2007-08-01T12:41:00.000-06:00

What a week! You can see how it wore out Poor Luci(fer). That is him sleeping on top of my lap top. We have been running around a lot, we had family down this week. There were 8 kids in my tiny house! But it was fun, my mother in law knits as well and always brings me great yarn as presents and she was true to form this time, I will post pictures soon. Today, I broke down and bought a hank of Dream In Color Smooshy Sock from Simply Socks Yarn Company.
They are a great store with a great assortment. I thought I would use it to knit my MIL a pair of Embossed Leaves socks for her b-day in October.
I finished the Retro Ribs!! It is a bad pic, I know. These were shipped out today to my school pal, Lisa. Speaking of which, my new term started today. Woohoo, back to the grind. It will be a late night tonite.
My new project, being modeled by a sleeping demon. My super sexy cool Slytherin Socks. These are for me! Finally, socks for me. This a really easy yarn to work with. I got it from Wool Girl, they had all the houses.
I wish I could take a nap! Jeez!

Still Not Buying It..........

2007-07-25T10:35:00.000-06:00

That's right, I am still not buying that stuff about Snape and Harry's mother. Sounds a little too contrived and convenient to me.
Anywho, I got my stuff i ordered from Biggs and Featherbelle today, I bought my own B-day present. I got their little kit of 3 for 16.99. You get a soap, a body butter, and a lip balm. I got all lavender, of course. And I love it! It is amazing, i can see my self ordering quite a bit from them.
One of my retro rib socks is finished, Yea! can't wait to start my Slytherin Socks. Wool Girl says Yarntini on the 1st. Woo Hoo, then I can use my gift certificate!

Who needs a hug?

I Am Back!

2007-07-23T10:09:00.000-06:00

I am so stupid! I just realized that only my pictures posted! Ugh!!! So, here is some interesting words to go along with my thrilling pictures!!! I will try to answer all the questions that my Blog Buddy, Anna sent me.
I had a pretty good weekend! We went and took the oldest girl to her knitting lesson, which she liked. I got her some nice Lamb's Pride bulky to practice with. The teacher said she was doing great, but now she refuses to practice. Everyone wants to knit but no one wants to practice.
After the knitting lesson, we went to the Protea Cottage and had afternoon tea. It was alot of fun, but there was no AC and it was 105 outside so we dying. They even gave me a birthday cake in a tea cup. Lots of fun! I wish I had taken a picture of it.
Then, we went back to the hotel, I took a nap and the kids went swimming. I needed my rest for the HP book party that night. Well, we got the HP party around 10, me sweatily clutching my little orange wrist band/ The line was around the block and no one was getting in. I was really disappointed! The kids all wanted to stay but I figured I would come back first thing in the morning and get it. So, that it what I did. Just walked right in, no lines, no people, grabbed the thing off the shelf and sauntered over to the cash register. Yeehaw!
This is my daughter refusing to get up the next day. Our hotel had a free breakfast so we were being all cheap and trying to make it in time. That is a nice shot of my husband's army. He liked to remind me all weekend that he was only 28 to my 34. sigh
And there it is! I got 2 copies, one for me and one for the kids to fight over. I finished it in 2 days. It was pretty good, I only say pretty good because I do not believe any of that silly mess about Snape and Harry's mother. I won't say anymore because I do not want to ruin it for anyone. the ending is a bit predictable and leaves alot out concerning the other characters.
My new haul!! Above is the yarn that snuck into my basket while my daughter was having her lesson. One is Louets Gems and the other is Reynolds Sea Wool. I have never used any of them but they were pretty and I thought they would look good in some of those great patterns in my Interweave Sock Book, even though next I will be knitting my Slytherin House Socks, in honor of Professor Snape, and I must add, the first pair I have ever knit for myself.

Below are some great finds too. On Saturday, on the way home I had to stop by the Unraveled Sheep (they had sent me a birthday coupon). There I found this great sock yarn by Sleeping Dragon, who is actually a local dyer. The one on the right is hers, it is called Winter Thaw. I love it, I do believe that Simply Sock Yarn carries it as well. They just opened back up by the way. The other is By Mountain Bearfoot and I bought it for a swap that is starting next month! Knitters Tea swap, sign ups August 3rd!
And my husband, he got me a gift certificate for Wool Girl! Yea!!! I haven't used it yet because I am waiting for her to get in her Yarntini! So, everyone write back and tell me what you think of the new HP.

New Needle Wednesday

2007-07-18T20:27:00.000-06:00

We survived the hotel hell ! It wasn't too bad, the kids got a little testy towards the end. We got home to a house full of power, apparently it had been on for hours but no one told us. There was also two more surprises waiting for me on my doorstep. New needles from Knit Picks and letter telling us we would not have power tomorrow either (did I mention how much I hate it here?). I guess since they knocked off early, they get to come back tomorrow and do it all over again!
I digress, back to the needle story; I have needles in the coveted "off sizes" for socks, sz 1 at 2.25 mm and sz. 2 at 2.75 mm. How cool is that? I have been looking for these everywhere. They are almost half sizes really. Everyone go get some before they run out.
Almost my birthday and the HP book party!! I am hoping my husband just gives it up and gets me a gift certificate from some place cool like Wool Girl or yarn 4 Socks. Unfortunately for me, I can't leave the house tomorrow because Boeing is sending another package that I have to sign for, so it will be my in the dark and hot ( I guess I don't need to mention how much I hate this place). But, I got a lot of knitting done today and probably tomorrow too.
These are just gratuitous shots of Glynis the Menace after being in a hotel room with her all day.
My pet rats!!!!Yes I have pet rats and I love them very much.

Hotel Blues

2007-07-18T12:11:00.001-06:00

So,
Here I am sitting in a hotel room. Can't complain too much, well, I can, but I won't. The Army Lodge let us have the room for a day for only 15 bucks. I thought that was pretty generous of them. They could have told us to piss off. We even have internet.
The details of the Boeing package back and I must say I am surprised. They are offering about 5 grand less then we expected but here is what they are offering and I think it makes up for it:

Relocation costs plus travel money and a rental car until our cars arrive

They will pay our closing costs on a house and a Boeing mortgage guy

Job assistance placement for me

So.......opinions please!!

VENT VENT VENT

2007-07-17T14:02:00.000-06:00

Isn't it amazing how fast things can go from ok to complete crap? Our illustrious housing office (we live in base housing, part of the package they used to get my husband to come up here to this dump ) decided that even though it is supposed to top over 100 tomorrow, they needed to do some maintenance that they said they fixed in March and we will not have power from 9-5. They tell my husband this at 4 Monday afternoon. And this house is built crappy, it is like a tomb. I hate that housing office with a passion anyways, they have done nothing but screw us since we got here. Which is anohter story. So, we will be without power all day in the middle of a heat wave. So, since we have to pay them for our electricity, we submitted a claim to have our rent prorated and our lost food costs reimbursed and the money we have to pay to the hotel I have to take the kids to reimbursed. Our renters insurance doesnt cover planned outages for some reason. Oh, and then I call the Protea Cottage in Salt Lake City where I have my birthday Afternoon Tea reservations and we are told that they redid the menu and do not allow children in during the day anymore so they canceled our reservations! Two weeks ago! And never told us and charged our CC! I am so pissed and have no idea what to do now. I guess I can figure it out while I am sitting in a crappy hotel room with three antsy kids for 8 hours. Oh, and pray my animals make it through the heat and my fish don't suffocate because their filters dont work.
F%$K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rain and a Vacuum Cleaner

2007-07-17T09:11:00.000-06:00

The heat is finally starting to break! It is even raining, complete with thunder and occasional lightning. It is such a nice break, but as soon as this storm passes, it will go back to being hellishly hot, now with humidity. So I am enjoying it while I can. So is crazy Lucifer. He has been working himself up watching the birds play in the rain. It is early morning and all the kids, including the baby are still asleep. I have a late sleeping baby. That gives me about an hour in the morning to drink coffee and try to wake up. The two older ones sleep until noon or so. How nice is that?
My bearded dragon, Rupert. I have no idea why I stuck that picture there. I just did. So, there he is, waiting for his crickets. I received in the mail yesterday and read completely ( I am an insomniac) a book called Peony In Love by Lisa See.
It was very good,which surprised me. It is about a girl in China in the 17th Century waiting on her arranged marriage. She dies and spends years following the man she was meant to marry around. So, much of it is told from the point of view of a ghost, which was really interesting. What it is really about is love and its many forms. Such a different book! Very refreshing. In the end, the author explains how there was a rash of deaths of young girls that were called the lovesick maidens. What they really were doing was starving themselves. Ugh, so there you go. That is how one dies of lovesicknesses. Not at all romantic.
Ah, my latest sock. Pay no attention to the dirty chair it is on. Hey, I have a teenager and a toddler. Nothing in my house is clean and if it is, not for long. That is the Retro Rib Sock from Favorite Socks (the sock knitting tome). I really love the green stripe the yarn is creating. This yarn is Northern Nights from Cherry Tree Hill. It is great yarn, my mother in law sent it to me for Xmas. I have never knit with such a dark yarn before, it is a little challenging, but I am getting the hang of it
And lastly, a gratuitous shot of my latest purchase. Yes, it is a Dyson, the Dyson of vacuuming fame. Does it live up to the hype? A resounding YES! This is greatest vacuum ever created EVER. This thing can suck out souls. I got mine at HSN, home of the flex-pay. I will need it to clean this house when we move, Yea , we are moving. We have already started looking for a house online. We are finally going to break down and buy our own house, I can't wait. I am getting a sunroom to knit in and a huge back yard and my very own chicken, for the eggs. See, I am so excited. Hopefully, nothing falls through.
PS. In other socky-goodness news, Sock Pixie has two new yarns just out today. I am resisting because we are supposed to saving money now, but they are as beautiful as the others. Sock-a-licious. But my birthday is on Friday and maybe I will just treat myself.

YEA!!!!

2007-07-16T10:05:00.000-06:00

WE ARE MOVING TO HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA!
(insert Lynyrd Skynyrd song here)

Harry Potter Yarns Are Here

2007-07-14T11:32:00.000-06:00

My order from Wool Girl arrived today. I was so shocked to see it, I was expecting Monday. And I must say that it was the best looking wrapped yarn I have ever seen. can you see it above? Each set of skeins was wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a ribbon. She even sent me two free skeins of Liisu yarn, which is a mohair/merino blend and absolutely beautiful. I order a set of Slytherin yarns, Gryffindor yarns, a Moonlight Knitter row counter bracelet, some Lavender hand balm, and she sent ,me a sample of Soak and a cute little sheep row marker, which looks like the sheep on her logo. It was like opening a birthday present, which is next week! Ugh.
Here is the bracelet and the row marker, cute! The bracelet went into immediate quarantine because of the curious year and a half year old.
Aren't they gorgeous? I can't wait to start. I have my needles and my copy of Charmed Knits ready. I told my husband I wanted a gift certificate to Wool Girl for my birthday!
There is that cute stitch marker!! Everyone run out now and buy tons and tons of things from Wool Girl!

Getting Better All The Time

2007-07-12T13:43:00.000-06:00

The Harry Potter yarns are here, can you see the happy children? They are very excited! Jennifer from Wool Girl just emailed me to let me know and the kids are so happy. I ordered our tickets for HP and the Order of the Phoenix today. Ordered them online and printed them out myself. Isn't technology grand? We are going Sunday morning. I never really got into the movies, just the books, but the kids are excited.
It has been hellishly hot here. But today is a little overcast and not quite as hot so everyone has been outside playing in the sprinklers and just having a ball. Including my husband's ridiculous basset hound, Nero. It is his solemn duty to attack any and all working sprinklers.
My latest CO, a chemo hat in Knit Pick's Ambrosia (cashmere and alpaca, softest yarn ever made) for a sick friend. And my old dog, Hodges, the cairn terrier. he is almost 12 and retired. Poor baby. My husband is still thinking on the Boeing job. They salary is smaller than we hoped, but still very very respectable and more than he makes now. And the benefits are amazing. They pay for us to move, live in a hotel for 30 days, and the closing costs on a house. How awesome is that? But, I told him to think on it through the weekend. Really hard! And if he decided no, then something else would come along. But, I would love to go to Alabama. And live near a yarn store and take classes and go to a Knit night or a Stitch and Bitch. Jeez, just to have a damn friend would be great!

Let's Look At It From Another Angle

2007-07-11T16:13:00.000-06:00

BOEING=
Alabama
God's Country
and the South!

Woo-Hoo and a New Sock

2007-07-11T14:21:00.001-06:00

Well, I must admit after countless do-overs and frogging, I gave up on the SWTC Tofutusies yarn. Sorry, I am grumpy and it was hard for me to follow. Probably because I am surrounded by screaming kids all day and I was losing count in the pattern. So, I gave up and CO these easy guys. This is the infamous Panda Cotton in Baby Blues. I actually like this yarn. It is a little splitty, but what cotton yarn isn't? And it is so soft..........I couldn't believe it. I really like the colors, too. The blues are so subtle and I love the way they blend into each other. All in all, I really like it. I am using the Cross Hatch Lace pattern from More Sensational Socks by Charlene Schurch. What a great sock knitting book. That woman is a genius, enough said.

This is what a job offer from Boeing looks like!!! Yea! I am still in shock. So, hopefully.............

Sloooooowly but Surely

2007-07-10T16:53:00.001-06:00

Another gratuitous tortoise picture: Pablo, Biko, Mandela, and George eating some breakfast salad in the morning sunshine.
So, I started the Tofutsies Sock Club sock that I got from The Yarn Grove. I really like the Yarn Grove, they ship fast and cheap!, they have nice organic yarns, and they always pack everything up so nice and pretty and throw in little gifts. So, I say Yea Yarn Grove.
Not good pictures but you get the idea. The pattern is a little different too, but I like it. And the yarn is very strange. I hope my HP yarn gets here soon so I can sport some Slytherin socks to the book party. Wool Girl says they are on the way so I am really excited! So Yea Wool Girl! Her store is cute too, they just got in the cutest stitch marker and row counter bracelets. My poor credit card.
As you can see, there are only 8 tiny little rows there, which took me all day !!! yes, all day. It is unbelievably hard to knit with this stupid brace on. But I must, don't know why, just must.

Two Socks and a Sulcata

2007-07-10T11:33:00.001-06:00

This is our African Sulcata, Pablo, who has snuck into the house again!!! he loves to come inside and eat dog food, sleep on the cat's bed, and bang his head on the refrigerator door to remind me to give him his romaine! He was hanging out under the computer desk nipping at my toes to give him his breakfast!
The finished socks! I am terribly proud of myself for these and my daughter is very happy. I think you can actually see my dirty little secret in this picture: I have no idea how to do the Kitchener stitch! Not a clue, I use the three needle bind off. I have tried to do that kitchener stitch over and over, but it always looks awful. If we lived closer to actual civilization I could take a class. i am really praying that the Boeing job comes through.
I cannot start any new projects! My wrist did one of its swelly numbers today. Sometimes I forget I have Lupus and then sometimes I am reminded ten fold. So I am just going to sit here and listen to Air America and try not be grumpy because I cannot knit anything!

Help Me Decide!!!

2007-07-09T12:06:00.000-06:00

Help me decide what socks to knit next!

a. Embossed Leaves Socks from My Favorite Socks book

b. Harry Potter House Socks from Charmed Knits

c. Sock Pixie Groovy Socks

d. Tofutsies June Sock Club Socks, Wild Kat pattern

Help! i am suffering from a block, please post your comments below!

New yarn Monday

2007-07-09T11:43:00.000-06:00

Yea! The mail came and brought some goodies with it! i finally got my order from Patternworks!! I got an order from Webs, they are always so fast! And my long awaited My Vie In Rose from Sock Pixie. It is absolutely gorgeous! There it is, above and below!! Very pretty! I can't wait to get started on it, which is soon, I think because I am almost done with the Online Sock. I have been beating myself up on which start to start next. Should I do the Tofutsies Sock Club yarn, the Sock Pixie, some panda cotton with a design from My Favorite Socks? It is too much,and I still have all those HP hats to knit, ugh!
The little one has gotten into my stash again and turned a skein of Panda Cotton in to a pet!

Here is my find from this weekend: Panda Cotton in Fall Herbs. I just thought this color way was gorgeous! And so different from what you usually see. I hear some conflicting reports about this yarn, but I figure the only way to form an accurate opinion is to knit it up myself.
My complete haul from this weekend at Three Wishes Yarn Store. Four skiens of Panda Cotton in Fall Herbs and Rosewater and another skein of the Online sock yarn in this cool orange color. No way I could pass that up!

Second Sock......OTN

2007-07-06T12:09:00.000-06:00

My second sock is on the needles!!! hard as it was not to just go ahead and knit up something with my Sock Pixie yarn, I gritted my teeth and fought hard against SSS, and won. Yea me. I think I should be done alot sooner with this one, than the first one, though I still have Harry Potter hats calling me all over the place. Luckily, or unluckily, I am still (yes, still) waiting for my Patternworks order. I have pretty much given up. I imagine it will get here three weeks after the new book comes out or some such nonsense. I did order more Encore, I just went to Webs. Their shipping is a little scary, almost 8 bucks to get 4 skeins of Encore, but I have it in 2 days. So no complaining, here, take the money!!!
Still no HP sock yarn, but Jennifer at Wool Girl is so nice, it is impossible to be angry or annoyed, so just pleasantly waiting for the opportunity to throw money at her, too. Sock Pixie yarn shipped today, I hope it is here on Monday so I can flaunt it all over this blog.
I booked the hotel yesterday in SLC. I can't wait......we are staying the night there because it is my birthday, which, happily enough coincides with the midnight release parties for the new HP book. I can't wait, I need a vacation and a break. I am going to the Black Sheep and buying all the Panda Cotton I can stand. I really need this vacation, all my husband does is work overtime and sleep, so I am stuck in this horribly hot place with three bored kids in the middle of nowhere, Utah.
So I am really praying that the Boeing job that they keep dangling in front of my husband comes through. How nice to be back among civilization. All I want it to buy my own house, somewhere quiet in the South, with a porch and a sun room, and a couple of trees of my very own. And maybe a chicken. Somewhere where there is no wrong religion and political affiliation, like we seem to be Somewhere I don't have to hide in the house all summer because it is too hot and all it does is cause flareups and swollen joints. It is topping over 100 here everyday. Well, enough feeling sorry for myself, back to my happy sock.

July 4th Extravaganzas and Broken Wings

2007-07-05T09:10:00.000-06:00

For the 4th, we decided to keep it excruciatingly simple. After the "Broken Glass" incident, I was not ready for anything that contained screaming children, bright lights, or loud noises. The Broken Glass incident being: Glynis found a glass, proceeded to smash it to chunks, then obligingly sliced her finger deep enough for me to hyperventilate and warrant a mad dash (all 45 minutes of it) to the pediatrician to get steri- stripped and pink bandaged). Then we came home exhausted with post panic jitters and gave the child every item of junk food in the house.

So, after this Joy of Parenthood moment, we thought that a nice walk would do everyone some good. It meant I had to put away my sock, (yes, the SECOND sock, which I actually started and I am halfway through the leg). So, we went on a walk............and saw lots of snakes and lots of baby deer. i swear those deer breed like rabbits. There were baby deer everywhere! In little sets of two. Very cute, though it did make the walk a bit poopy.

On a yarn note: I finally broke down and order "My Vie In Rose" from Sock Pixie. I cannot wait for that to get here! And, I am really hoping that today is the day that Wool Girl
gets in her Harry Potter sock yarns. i am very excited about that, plus, she carries lavender hand balm, and I cannot resist anything lavender. So, hope is springing eternal around here!

FO: Gryffindor Hat

2007-07-03T10:02:00.000-06:00

I finished my first Gryffindor hat! Yea me. It is being modeled by a head too small for it, but that is ok because soon it will be thrown in the mail for my husband's nieces. These hats are so easy to make and I think they will be great this winter. Think of all the money I will save on Winter hats. I still haven't cast on that stupid second sock..................

One sock down, one to go...

2007-07-01T16:30:00.000-06:00

I finally finished one sock today, in spite of my finger. I grabbed a bottle of peroxide and a band-aid and soldiered on for Queen and country or whatever reason one soldiers on. I thought it looked pretty good, though i will not use such large needles again. Now I have to force myself to cast one the other one because I feel am impending case of second sock syndrome coming on, with a vengeance.

Socks and other problems ................

2007-06-30T09:24:00.000-06:00

These socks haunt my dreams a bit....they are the Embossed Leaves Socks from the Interweave Favorite Socks book. It is a bit unfair, I think. They look too hard, what with that star toe and all. But, undoubtedly I will get bored as soon as I finish the socks I am on and attempt to order the yarn for it. But not from Patternworks, because i am still waiting for my Encore!!!!! Yes, still!! Two weeks and counting.. Another one of the benefits of living here (as I tell my husband everyday "It is time to go home!" insert crying fit here). Back to the sock story..............I want to knit these socks but I have two obstacles:
1. Harry Potter.........yes, that Harry Potter. See, with the movie and the book coming out, I feel compelled to knit things Harry Potter-ish, such as hats and such. After the hats, I am going to try and knit some Harry Potter house socks, ala Charmed Knits. And Wool Girl has the yarn, or she will very soon. She even told me so. I have been driving the poor woman crazy, nagging and gnashing my teeth and being altogether very disagreeable. Not really, but she has kindly agreed to let me know as soon as more comes in, which should be early next week. Off topic, that is a nice store. I love looking at her great yarns. I picture my credit card being much abused there. And she is super friendly. I really think yarn stores are the last bastion of customer service.
2. My right pointer finger.......is infected. And is hurts alot. Why? From being poked too many times with a sock needle. A super sharp Knit Picks Option size 2 sock needle. Ugh, I don't have anything clever to say about this, but there it is.
So, the beautiful socks will be in my future and not the present. Unless all the chemicals leached into the soil here have my sprout extra arms overnight, which, judging by the looks of the local wildlife is entirely possible.

July is upon us................

2007-06-30T09:04:00.001-06:00

Hotdog Eating Champion
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

You can tell July is almost here when DPG stages its mandatory July 4th Celebration, usually around the end of June (don't ask, I may tell you). This is where the entire work force is required to sit around and go to "fun and informative" safety presentations by each division out here. Since my poor husband was required to stay there until 5, we kept him company a bit. But my anti-social, never leaves his room son actually decided to enter the hot dog eating competition, and won! For his trouble, he received a shirt and an upset tummy, not to mention the rights to horrify his vegetarian mother. Ahhhhhhhh, Utah.

Dramatic Music please ....

2007-06-28T09:39:00.001-06:00

007
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

I felt I would be remiss if I did not include a photo of Poor Lucifer's evil arch-enemy........
Princess Rosebud.
Do not be fooled by her appearance or underestimate those iron bars, she is bad.
She is also a He, which goes to show you how tricky he is.

Lucifer the fierce

2007-06-28T09:32:00.001-06:00

Lucifer the fierce
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Lucifer, who I found hiding on top of the circuit breaker box. Happy little girls are not his thing.

Happy mismatched girl

2007-06-28T09:31:00.001-06:00

Happy mismatched girl
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

This is what happens when little girls spend too much time with their dads. Note the two different shoes, the stained face, the too-large diaper cover. No one seemed too bothered by it but me and ..............

Gryffindor hat

2007-06-28T09:28:00.001-06:00

Gryffindor hat
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Ah, the latest on the Gryffindor hat...........I am slowly getting it finished. I took off with such speed and now I am slowly sputtering along with it. I am using the Plymouth Encore and I really like it, I say that because I am so surprised! I usually do not like acrylic but this is very soft and even has a nice sheen. (Please, please let me finish it soon. ) We are entering Harry Potter mania here..........so is everyone else, I think, that is why the yarn was so hard to track down. None of the LYS ( I use that term lightly because the LYS is about 85 miles away) carries it so I had to scour the internet for it . I ended up at two of the biggies, Patternworks and Webs. I ordered some from Webs and shipped it out in 2 days, after charged 3 bucks more for shipping but it arrived in 2 days so I forgave, still, 8 bucks for shipping is high. With Patternworks I am still waiting for my yarn, it has been 2 weeks and I still waiting for my yarn......ugh. So, there is something to be said for high shipping, I guess. Now,I am just waiting for Webs to restock the Ravenclaw colors and I will be raring to go.....

Enter the Gusset

2007-06-28T09:20:00.001-06:00

My sock progress
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

I am finally finally at the gusset. I am really beginning to worry about this sock. I think the size 2 needles I am using are too big. This yarn is really stretchy so I may have been better off using a smaller one. And I decided to tempt fate and not do a gauge swatch. I had knit enough Lorna's Laces to know I was knitting at 9 stitches to the inch with that and thought there was something wrong with me. 9 stitches to the inch, isn't tat a crazy gauge? Jeez, my socks were tight. I really need to do gauge swatches............................

Lizzie in hat

2007-06-26T17:09:00.001-06:00

Lizzie
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Here is my oldest girl in her freshly knitted Hufflepuff House hat!

Wigs closing in on my sock

2007-06-26T17:08:00.001-06:00

Wigs closing in on my sock
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Every single photo she has to be in.........................it is so hard to be 18 months old and cute. Here is my latest sock to be, in Online Beach Cotton, what great yarn!

Wigs in her Slytherin hat

2007-06-26T17:07:00.001-06:00

Wigs in her Slytherin hat
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Here is my completed Slytherin hat with its model, the Ham. Not bad I think.

Tofutsies June sock yarn

2007-06-26T17:05:00.001-06:00

Tofutsies June sock yarn
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

I think I got the last on the planet of this stuff! This is the June edition of the Tofutsies sock club yarn with Wild Kat pattern. This stuff is so soft. It is made of tofu, wool, and crab shell. I wish I had more time and hands.

Lavender garden Sock Pixie yarn

2007-06-26T17:02:00.001-06:00

Lavender garden sock pixie yarn
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

Look at this stuff! All I can say is WOW. I was so impressed with this yarn.

This is lavender garden from Sock Pixie, I have to say that woman is a Artist! It certainly makes me feel inferior but at least I get to knit with it, if I ever get finished with this Harry Potter hats! She has a few new colors, La Vie In Rose, (which means My Life In Pink, thank you Muzzy!) and Ladybug. As soon as payday comes around and my husband is not paying attention, I am all over them, all quiet and sneaky like.................

my pitiful sock yarn stash

2007-06-26T16:58:00.001-06:00

my pitiful sock yarn stash
Originally uploaded by Poor Luci

I have come to the conclusion that I could be a lot happier if I owned more sock yarn. This realization came to me other day when I received two new skeins in the mail, one from Sock Pixie and the other from the Tofutsies June sock yarn club, which my cat promptly attempted to consume.

My first blog

2007-06-26T08:55:00.000-06:00

I have decided to record all the things I have knitted, or attempted to knit, as well as all the attempts by my cat to dissuade the process.
More coming soon