Sunday with the Girls! (July 27th, 2008)

Today was a great day!!  I went to Knitch with blogless daughter Jess, Claudia, and Brandy aka Pixie Purls.  It was DUCK DAY SALE at Knitch so the place was hopping and quacking and just plane crazy.  I bought some “babyBoo” yarn in the color oatmeal with fresh plums.  What I think is really neat is that the local dyer was inspired by Haley, a darn good knitter (that is only 13 going on 33) and I know the infamous Haley.  Very cool indeed!!!  I also purchased two grab bags.  Yes …. I did cheat and peeked before buying.  My daughter said I was taking the fun out of it.  I told her that being the analytical person I am, the fun was in the knitting and not in the anxiety as to whether or not I could find a project for the surprise grab bag yarn purchase.  I am not sure she totally grasped that thought as she is quite in love and spontaneous at the moment.

After Knitch Claudia came to my house and we had dinner and then a lesson in blogging.  I think I need more than a lesson and I may need to take the full semester course.  Did you know there is a separate blog language out there?  Neither did I and frankly I struggle with the English language so I am not so sure how well I will do with this HTML blog lingo.

The big exciting thing Claudia taught me was how to get some Flickr pictures importer to my blog.  I did not even know Flickr was spelled without the “e” so I am sure that you true blue bloggers are feeling Claudia’s pain.  She may think twice before she offers to help me with my blog again and who could blame her?

Well, I wouldn’t want this picture lesson to go unnoticed so here is my picture of Claudia’s lace scarf.  I knitted this for her for a birthday gift and it was my very first attempt at a lace project.  I LOVED knitting this scarf.  I never understood you sock knitting maniacs but after knitting this lace project I now understand your addiction better.  

 

Today was a great day!!!  I got more stash, knitted with friends and even learned a blog thing or two.  I hope your day was as nice as mine.  Until the next time our paths cross ….. I hope you’ve got beautiful stash too!

Two Minds Are Better Than One …..

School will soon be starting … and how do I know this?  First, I received a letter today from the high school telling me to start setting my alarm clock earlier and earlier each day as summer will be soon over.  Second, I spent the day planning out the school year with one of the teachers I will be working with.  Two minds are truly better than one as I believe Erica and I came up with some great ideas for our 10th grade Language Arts classes.  I am getting so excited about the forth coming school year and my big career change!

I have really enjoyed knitting the past few weeks.  I finished my first lace project - a lace scarf for Claudia. It was knit from HandMaiden Flaxen yarn (65% silk and 35% linen).  Nell @ Knitch designed the scarf.  I love it so much that I hope to make myself one someday.

I also finished a shawl for Jess.  It was a simple pattern of knit and yarn-over drop stitches.  The real beauty to this shawl is the yarn.  It was knit from Berroco Ultra Silk yarn and it is sooooooo soft to the touch.  I bought the yarn at Yarn Garden Knit Shop in Lawrenceville at a super 50% sale.  I am so glad that I picked up enough yarn for three separate projects.  I’ve finished two already and have one to go.

My son is doing great with his knitting.  He finished his first scarf and he is already working on a second scarf - a multidirectional diagonal scarf.  He loves knitting and I love to watch him knit.  He is a real natural at it!!

<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/22560941@N03/2675056733/” title=”Paul’s first multidirectional diagonal scarf by GotStash, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2675056733_55199c87a3_m.jpg” width=”180″ height=”240″ alt=”Paul’s first multidirectional diagonal scarf” /></a>

 

Okay … Word around town is that my daughter wants to learn how to knit socks.  If she does and knowing how competitive I am, let’s guess how long it takes me to try knitting a sock again.  Maybe I could actually finish the first pair I started almost a year ago!

As soon as I learn how to upload pictures I will post pictures of my recent finished projects.  Until then …..

I’ve been tagged …. Thanks Claudia

Okay “Blogless Meg”, I guess you’ll have to remain blogless one more month.  Since Claudia tagged me and my own sister has been ribbing me about not updating my blog I figured it was time to finally make my second blog entry.

Much has happened. in my life.  I turned in my notice at the bank and I am leaving the corporate world to go back into teaching.  I have not taught for 31 years so this should be interesting.  I will be a Special Ed teacher at Collins Hill High School and teach English and Business. I am both excited and scared.  Keep me in your prayers.

Hubby is going to the Neurologist next week.  Hopefully he will get the okay to begin driving again.  It has been a long 6 and a half months.  I am sure he will be just as happy to start driving himself as I will be to not have to drive him everywhere.  For a man who must rely on me to get him from one place to another he sure has been extremely critical of my driving skills.  I know I am not the best driver out there but seriously, my driving must be better than walking!

I took spinning lessons finally.  THANK YOU Sandy!!!  I can’t wait for the last class.  I have really enjoyed learning how to spin. I am glad I took the plunge and bought my wheel.  Now I need to join the Spinning Guild so I can spin with other spinners.

Many projects are on my needles.  They seem to be going nowhere very fast.  Work has been very crazy and I have worked some very long hours.  Plus I have been teaching five co-workers to knit so I’ve had very little time for personal knitting.  And very exciting … two weeks ago I taught my son how to knit.  He is a total natural!!!!  I am so proud of him and how quickly he has learned.  He’s ready to start a multi directional diagonal scarf.  It’s so rewarding to watch new knitters and how excited they get as they see their stitches turn into something special.  It’s almost as good as having your own finished object!  Almost.

Okay Claudia.  Thanks for tagging me and forcing me to get back to blogging.  I really am glad you did.

The Rules: Rules are posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their names. Then the player goes to each of the “named” people’s blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. If you’ve been tagged, you do the same, letting the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer. Your answer, of course, is the answer to the following questions. Here we go! 

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? 1998? I had two teenagers and spent most of my time either at a basketball game or at a school play.  We had a German foreign exchange student living with us and that was both interesting and challenging.  

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?  Just five?  1. Find 12 artist canvas.  For Jess’ birthday we are having a painting party and twelve friends/family will each paint their own canvas.  The twelve paintings will then be pieced together for one large art piece over her fireplace. 2. Pick up Jess’ contacs  3. Find that bakery in Lawrenceville that Jess likes and order her a birthday cake. 4. Paint Jess’ bathroom.  5. Knit!!!  (I actually went to to Yarn Garden in Lawrenceville after I found the bakery and knitted for an hour.  It was heaven!)   Did anyone notice that the first 4 items were actually Jess’ to do list that she had me carry out?  I am seeing a pattern here and it has nothing to do with knitting, which can not be a good thing!  I may get some valuable time back when I start teaching and we both have the same days off.  

3. Snacks I enjoy: Oh my, how much space do I have left?  I like snacks better than meals and my body is showing the results of this. If I have to choose I would say roasted red pepper humus and crackers followed with a fudge brownie and a dab of ice cream.

4. Places I’ve lived:  Auburn, N.Y. and various cities in the Atlanta metropolitan area. 

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:  I would definitely quit working and travel the world until my children gave me some grand children.  I would buy any yarn my heart desired and I would knit for my grand babies.  I would make sure my children were well taken care of and I would buy a home in Atlanta for my sister so we could spend every day together.  ( I really miss you Sis and I am so looking forward to your trip here.) I guess I better start playing the lottery because I would only need one or two million dollars to live this dream.  

The rules say I have to tag 5 people now. How about Jen, Regan, Katey, Stuart and Jenny.  And if you’re feeling left out because I didn’t tag you, feel free to swipe the meme and post answers on your blog, then let me know in the comments.  I am looking forward to seeing your responses.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

I did it!!!

Over the past several months, and I use the word “several” loosely,  I have enjoyed reading my friends’ blogs.  I have contemplated starting my own blog.  Those that know me well know that I am very analytical and I take forever to make some decisions.  

I researched the possibility of purchasing a spinning wheel for a whole year.  I read blogs, google searches, books, watched videos and quized my friends to the point of jeopardizing our friendship.  I spoke with the kind gentleman at Woolery.com for over three hours … and still no wheel purchase.  Finally my sweet husband said just choose a wheel and buy it.  And I did.  It was exactly one year from the date I began my search.  And what made me finally choose my wheel you ask?  It was not any of the features and issues I researched.  In the end I chose my Lendrum spinning wheel because I liked the aesthetic beauty of the Lendrum.  It was that simple.

I won’t tell you how many months I merely practiced pedaling my wheel before I actually began to learn how to spin yarn (… Sshh Sandy!) 

And so my dear friends, and you must be a dear friend if you are reading this, is why it is such an amazing feat that I actually started my blog after only a few months.  I must say a special thanks to Regan - evilsciencechick.com - Regan lead me to this blog site and until she helps me with the format you may suffer slightly.  Do not worry. I am sure Regan will help me to become computer and blog savvy very quickly.

So as you see … “I did it!!!” is a very appropriate title for my very first blog entry. Hopefully future blogs will have deeper content and will give you a little better glimpse of just who GotStash aka CatMomma really is.

 

Until then …. take care and knit much!