January Sock and More Yarn

I have finished my January "socks" for the sock a month kal. They are fuzzy feet. They haven't been fuzzed yet :). I have to have my sister come over so I can form them to her feet, but they are all knitted. Here is a pic of them. It is the pattern from knitty.com and is done in wool of the andes.

And without futher ado....her is my yarn from Roxanne. This is all superwash wool and beautiful. I have one more skien coming....and then I really should stop buying and start knitting. :)

Olympics

Okay so I have joined the knitting olympics. I wasn't going to because I didn't want the stress but I just got my new yarn and it is calling to me. So I am going to knit a pair of Jaywalkers....probably in pink passion....no definetly in pink passion. I am very excited about this. The only problem is....I can't remember were to find the pattern for jaywalkers. :) Any help would be appreciated.

I also joined Team USA and the Team USA Socknitters. :)

So Excited

I got my first shipment of yarn from Knit Purl Zen!! I just love it. Here is the pictures of it. I can't wait to knit these up into socks. Yummy, comfy, socks!!!! It's like heaven. My favorite is the pink passion. I just had to have that even before I saw the actual yarn. :) Go check out her store and watch for more yarn to come from her....but you'll have to buy it quick before I do. :) http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055

Wish List

Okay so I found some knitting bags that I just have to have. I have to of course wait until I can afford them. But here they are :)
Stripe Tote Knitting Bag in Leopard
http://dellaqimports.com/TW062k_Details.html
Needle Case
http://dellaqimports.com/TN001_details.html

Pictures

Okay so I have had a bunch of stuff I have needed to take pictures of and post but in the move I haven't had time....so without further ado....

Here is my new knitpicks yarn. It is Shine in Cherry something or other. :) It is for my Picovoli for the Sexy Knitter's Club knit a long.

Here is my "swatch" for the project. Yes I do realize it is kinda large for a swatch but it was easier for me this way okay? :) I do love my new needles. I am hooked on Addi Turbos!!!

Here are a couple of the new books I bought this week at my LYS. They are Not Just Socks and Not Just More Socks. There are some patterns I am very excited to try out in there.

Here is some yarn I bought to make hats. My parents as teachers nurse wants me to knit her a hat. She wanted one like mine but they ran out of that color of yarn. So she said she wanted pink so the two pinks are to knit up and see which one she wants and then I will take other one. And then the fun multi-colored one just jumped in my bag. :)

Here are the beautiful stich markers I got from my Secret Pal. I got them just before I moved but haven't been able to post or say thank you. They are great!!

Here is my newest knitpicks package. I got three different colors of sock memories. Some other yarn...not sure why....don't even really like the color. :) I must have had a reason but who knows now. I also got two hanks of wool of the andes to color. I am very excited about this. I believe I got it in sock weight but I also can't remember that at the moment. I could get up and check but I am too lazy. :)

And here is our new cat. Well she is actually Ben's cat. They go play together in the play room, it is very cute. Ben hands her toys and she plays with them. She is so sweet to Ben and cuddles up with him. He doesn't always like it but at least she lets him get near her and pet her and such. She is a great cat. For right now her name is Kitty. Mainly because that is what Ben calls cats and I don't want him to get confused with a name. :)

Happenings

Well, I'm all moved....well okay almost all moved. I just have to finish moving my office. It is all packed I am just waiting to get my dad to help me move it over here. I love my house. It is huge. I also love how the sun shines in the windows. It is so bright and cheery here. I just love it. I got a washer and dryer today and I am doing the first load of laundry at my own house in over a year. I am so excited. I love that I can have laundry going whenever I want to and still be home. I don't have to cart my laundry anywhere. It is great. I also finally got my fridge today. I love it has well. :) I am so blessed!

In knitting news, I got the yarn for my Sexy Knitter's Club KAL. I am working on the swatch right now. I decieded for this project I would try addi turbos. I am loving them. They are great. I was afraid they would be to slick but they aren't. I think I found my new favorite needles. I also bought two new books today. Not Just Socks and Not Just More Socks. I am so excited to try some of the patterns in these books. :)

Messed Up Fuzzy Foot Becomes Hat

I figured out what to do with the messed up part of the fuzzy feet. I put it on my son's head and it fit perfectly. He has a new hat! It is so funny. He loves to wear it around the house and laugh. No I won't make him go out in public like that. :)

Tagged!!

I always wondered when I would be loved enough to be tagged. I guess once you buy enough yarn from Knit-n-Purl Zen she tags you. :) LOL

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:
1. Secretary
2. Construction Loan Servicer
3. Bookkeeper
4. Tutor

4 Movies You Could Watch Over & Over:
1. Pride and Prejudice-Of course I mean the 5 hour A&E version :)
2. Rat Race-Don't ask me why but that movie makes me laugh so hard
3. Clueless-Stupid movie but I love the clothes
4. Encino Man-Yeah I know corny but in high school my friend and I watched it over and over and over and over and over

4 Places You Have Lived:
1. Southern Coast of Oregon
2. Coffman Cove, Alaska-It's on Prince of Whales Island....only has 100 people, 75 in the winter :)
3. Many different places in LA-Upland, Covina, San Dimas, Canyon Country
4. That's it for me....although I hope to move again someday....when the right guy sweeps me off my feet....who knows maybe he already did :)

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch:
1. Alias-although I watch it on DVD after the season is over
2. Sex and the City
3. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
4. Whose Line Is It Anyway?

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation:
1. Vacation??? I don't think I have really every taken a vacation. Sad.

4 of Your Favourite Foods:
1. Gnochi from Benetti's (local Italian restaurant)
2. Deep Fried Ice Cream
3. Steak from Outback Steakhouse
4. Chocolate Tower from Outback
(Notice none of those are things I have to cook....I do love to cook and I am a great cook but I love going out and not cooking)

4 Bloggers I’m Tagging:
I just picked the first four blogs that I found in recent emails :) I also don't know how to do links so you'll have to just live with urls
1. Coarine-http://knotmakers.blogspot.com
2. Missemilysmom-http://knittingandsuch.blogspot.com
3. Polly-http://polliwannablog.blogspot.com
4. Dani-http://www.danisown.com/blog/ (I just love reading her site so there you go)

Do It Right

Okay so I did a fuzzy foot right this time. I finished one of the pair correctly....yippeeee. Thank you to everyone for all your help. Although I do have one more question....everywhere I read about the kitchener stich it just tells you to keep doing the same thing until all the stitches are gone. So what do you do when you have one on the top and one on the bottom? You can't do it like you have been you don't have 4 stitches. Thank you for any help on this. Okay so here is the pic of the correctly knitted fuzzy foot.

Can you tell which one is right and which is wrong? (I realize the lighting is bad so you might not be able to but let me tell you in person it is pretty funny.)

I Feel Stupid

So I was knitting my second part of the fuzzy feet and realized what I did wrong on the first one and what I was doing wrong on the second one. First of all when it said to knit stockinette stitch I did it as though I was knitting on straight needles. Duh...I know better than that. So mystery number one solved. Then I figured out that I had been knitting some of it inside out and then other parts the right direction. Don't ask me how....I'm just very talented. :) Lastly on the heel where it told me to slip I sliped knit wise on the knit rows and purl wise on the purl rows....just like you should right? Well no not on this pattern...as I was reading through it the second time I studied it better and was like oh well duh. So yeah....I've definetly learned a lot....about fuzzy feet....about reading patterns....and about socks. Plus I still need to learn stockinette stich but I nearly had it on the last one so I think if I just do it when I am awake and not at 3am we will be good. :) So I frogged the one I was working on hoping to be able to reuse the yarn....oh nope that didn't work....all sorts of problems there. Thank goodness it is Wool of the Andes and cheap so I wll get rid of all that and get out the extra two I bought and start knitting. Now don't ask me why I bought two extra skiens but I am sure glad I did. :) So I will post a new pic once I get one done that is actually right. :)

An Actual Knitting Post

Okay so I have been busy and haven't posted in awhile. I've had a couple thoughts in my head of what to post but just haven't got around to it. :) To start with last week I checked out a LYS about 20 minutes from here. It is much more organized than my LYS and has some yarns that I have been looking for such as Lorna's Laces and Cascade. The owner of this LYS and the owner of the one in town used to be partners. They still talk and carry different types of yarn. Actually I think the lady at the new store used to be the partner with the lady before the lady who owns it now. It is a whole confusing knit store soap opera. Anyway the new shops website is http://www.yarn-store.com. She does most of her business through the internet. The store is in the basement of her house. So of course I had to buy something. I got some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in pink. Then I went to my regular LYS and used my gift certificate to get the sensational knit socks book and some size 6 double pointed needles. So now I am all ready to knit my first pair of socks. Here is a pic of all my supplies.

Okay in other news....I cast on my sister's fuzzy feet. I am using Wool of the Andes from Knitpicks in navy blue. It was pretty simple although looking at other's pre-felting...I am thinking I messed up somewhere. I know I messed up on the kitchner stitch but I think I messed up a few other places as well. Oh well I am doing my best and trying to follow the pattern. :) I am hoping the felting will be forgiving. I am excited because this has given me confidence to do socks. The heel shaping wasn't hard at all. I really enjoyed it actually. I am to the heel part on the second one. Should be done soon. Here is a pic of the first one.

I have a question I just thought of for you all while I was posting my pic. Everytime I do it it puts the tag at the top of my post. Does anyone know how to change this? It is frustrating to have to scroll up to the top and copy and paste it were I want it. Any help would be appreciated. Now I am sure your last question is how is she coming on the clappy.....we know she has said she won't cast on more than one thing at a time so she must have finished it. Oh no you are wrong my friends.....I have broken my own rule for good I believe. I am still working on the clappy and have the fuzzy feet on the needles. I know it is unbelievable. I love having two projects to work on. So here is a pic of the progress on my clappy.

I am half way through the straight section...well a little over half way. The end is in sight I believe. I am loving the pattern but it does get a little old.

Personality Tests

I took lots of personality tests today because I've been reading this book about finding your soul mate and how you can know in two or fewer dates, even in the first 10 minutes. Part of this is learning about yourself so you can create a picture of what you want in a mate. It is a really good book written by the creater of eharmony.com. Anyway, I took the quizzes and then was posting different results into a post and then I tried to submit it and it didn't work and then I lost it. Uggghhh. :) Basically what they said is that I am extroverted (duh), I do things usually by my emotion, I am spiritual (God), I care about others, I am kind, I am observant....can't remember any others.

SP7 Questionaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
I'm a little bit of a yarn snob. Okay, I'll admit it....I'm a total yarn snob. I definetly avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I do crochet. Someday I'd love to spin but not yet.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Right now I have a nice handmade needle holder that a wonderful friend made for me...but it deosn't hold all the needles. I am still looking for the perfect solution. And my circular needles are just in a plastic bag.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for about six months. I would call myself an intermediate although I am willing to try most anything. I love to tackle hard projects. :)

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a amazon wishlist and a knitpicks wishlist.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Jasmine, Lavendar, Vanilla....but I don't really need bath products becuase I sell Mary Kay and use that. :) But candles....I love most scents....just not outdoorsy scents. I love baking scents.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yes I have a sweet tooth. I love most all kinds of candy....as long as it has chocolate. :)

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I scrapbook and make cards. I also love to do interior decorating and make stuff to go around the house.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Christian....worship, rock, ect. Yes my stereo plays MP3's.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Pink....I love pinks and reds. I also love spring colors. Not really any colors I can't stand.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am a single mom to an adorable 16 month old. I don't have any pets but I am moving in the next couple weeks and plan on getting a cat after that. I'm not a huge cat person but my son loves them and I think it would be good for him.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Sometimes....it doesn't get extremely cold here.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Don't really have a fave yet.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Acrylic hurts my hands....some wool does but I still knit with it to felt...I just suffer through.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
My obsession is knitting. Don't really have a specific one yet. :)

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
No fave yet. I love to knit trendy looking things though.

17. What are you knitting right now?
The clappy for my mom. I also need to start on fuzzy feet for my sis, a felted laptop bag for me, and a felted purse for my sis. I have all the yarn just need to do them.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I do.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I own both.

22. How did you learn to knit?
A very distant ex family member taught me and then I learned the rest through my lovely lys owner and knittinghelp.com

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
I only work on one project at a time....although that may change....so it is like a month old.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
My favorites have become what my son likes for now :)...so that would be veggie tales....specifically Larry....monkeys and frogs.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas....although holdiays are tough now

26. Is there anything that you collect?
I work very hard not to collect anything. :)

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweaves, Vogue, and it seems like there a couple more but I just subscribed so I don't remember. :)

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
The books I really want are in my amazon wish list. :)

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I really want to learn to knit socks.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am not a sock knitter yet and I don't know what measurements you need. I have a size 10 or 11 shoe if that helps.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
May 12

Forgiveness, Letting Go, and Moving On with Life

Today church was amazing.....very hard....but amazing. It started when Pastor Dave had people who were desperate for healing come to the front. My grandma (well my ex's grandma) has pre-cancer sells and has to have a hysterectomy. Well my ex's new wife's, Brenda, mom goes to my church. She looked back at grandma and took her up to the front for prayer with her. This was hard for me because I know the only reason they have a relationship is because of Jeff's affair. It was just another reminder of how things are changing and I feel so lost and confused. As though my life is staying the same and everyone is changing, moving on past everything as I struggle to deal with stuff still. So I went to the bathroom, cried, and then stood in the back of the church and cried. I couldn't go sit back down because I was sitting by grandpa and he wouldn't understand what was wrong.

Then I took Ben into the nursery and the nursery worker began asking me questions about Jeff and his visitation and then began justifying stuff that Jeff has done. It was very frustrating. Some of what she said was true but a lot wasn't and it wasn't the time. So that made the waterworks start again.

Then I went back into service. It was an amazing service with words from the Lord and worship. God was moving so much we didn't even have a sermon. But it all came down when Dave gave a word about forgiving and it being time to let go off all the garbage and junk that people have left on our lives...as a church and individually....and that we had to forgive and let it go so that we could move on with life. The great, blessed life that God has for us. That is what I want. I want to move on with my life. So I realized I need to forgive Jeff and Brenda. I thought I wouldn't be able to do that until things changed. But I wanted it...I just had no idea how or if I could let go and forgive. So they started playing a song right after that....it was fast and upbeat...not the kind you go to the alter during. But I just felt like I had to. I had to give it to the Lord...to lay it down....to stay there until I gave it up and could forgive. I didn't know how long it would take but I knew I wasn't budging until it did. So I sat there sobbing. When the song was over my Aunt....who had been leading worship...came beside me and began praying for me. Then Karen did and then Morgan (one of the girls in the youth group)....then I realized that Jodi was above me praying.....and Don Walden was waving a flag over me....I knew at that moment that I could let it go because God had given me so much more. I had to let it go so I could receive. I'm not saying it still won't hurt but I have given it to God. I know that I will daily, hourly, maybe even ever second remind myself of that and say okay God it's yours. But I have to trust God with it. Even if God chooses to bless them. I have to not worry about it. I have to set my face as flint to the Lord and what He has for me now. Which is an amazingly blessed life unlike anything I could ever imagine. But I can't move forward if I keep hanging on to the garbage of the past. I have heard that said before but I always thought of it as sin you had committed....not garbage in your life because of other's sin.

So I felt better...but I knew that when I dropped off Ben today I needed to tell Jeff and Brenda that I forgave them. It doesn't mean I agree with them or think they are right or anything....just that I forgive them and I give it to God to work out. Well I got a message from Jeff that he had practice so I would have to drop Ben off with Brenda or wait for him to come pick him up. Normally I would have waited for Jeff to come pick him up instead of driving out there just so Brenda has more kids to watch. But I knew that this was of the Lord and that I needed to go and talk to her. This would allow me to do that without Jeff around. It was hard. I got in the house and there was a picture of them above the TV and a wooden signs with their names on it. It made me sick...but I knew what I had to do.

So I told Brenda I forgave her...even though I didn't like it...it hurt...it was wrong...I forgave her. Even if she doesn't realize all she has done I don't care....I still forgive her. And then we talked....talked about different stuff. It was so good to hear that she wasn't angry...that she understood my recent decisions and that she tries to help Jeff understand. I shared some of my heart....things that I can't say to Jeff. It went very well. I believe she now knows were I am coming from and to better help Jeff with it all. And at some point I said something about how Jeff thinks a lot of things about me that aren't true....such as that I wasn't good at ministry. And she wanted to make sure I knew that that isn't true. It was so good to hear and so God. That is so what God has been working with me on. It is so amazing how God uses things for our good all the time.

So yeah it went good. I still need to tell Jeff I forgive him....I want to do it in person not over the phone or in a email. There is so much more I wish I could talk out with him and help him understand but I know that here are emotions he has to deal with first. No amount of talking will help him see.

God,
Give me the strength to walk out forgiveness. Help me to continue to give the situation to you so that I can move on with the blessed life you have called me to. Help me to keep my face on You and what You have for me. Thank you for your amazing grace, forgiveness, love. Thank you for believing in me and seeing what I can be. I love you Lord.
Amen