One Fish...Two Fish...

Yellow Fish...Blue Fish...


I finished my mini-goal of 10 fish for the month and added yellow to the mix! I'm up to 70 fish knit (out of my goal of 160)!

Here are the colors in my fish palette:



I'm already planning on creating a chart to plan out how the colors are to be arranged...@nal/obsessive..I know!

Speaking of fish...I found someone else who is also making a fish blanket: Amanda ! Although I think she's taking a break from knitting fish to create such awesome patterns as this..and it's in yellow! Be sure to check out the pics!

Also finished in the past week was this book:



It wasn't my favorite knitting themed book I've read but still a good read. I'm more than willing to pass it along at the SNB on Sunday-first come...first get...

One of the sections that really stood out to me was this:

"There's lots of skill to knitting, certainly, but if you ask me, a lot of it is all about the muscle memory," said Georgia. "One day you'll just find your fingers making the moves and your brain will go to this deliciously soothing place, and all the knots in your brain will unwind just as your fingers make knot after knot after knot in the yarn."

I totally relate to the muscle memory and that deliciously soothing place my mind goes. It's become part of my morning routine at work (before the students come) and really relaxes me in a meditative type way.....When I'm not messing up that is...

Traveling Fish

Here's the view from my new favorite knitting place:



This was the view I had as I knit on the balcony of my hotel room in South Padre Island. I absolutely loved listening to the sounds of the waves and seagulls-not to mention the view. It was such a fast-paced weekend I didn't spend as much time on the balcony knitting as I would have like.

Fish adventures:

Fish on the balcony


Fish in Progresso, Mexico



I spent the weekend on S.Padre Island with my best friend (sans DH's) saying "good-bye" to my folks before they head back to Minnesota. It's so hard saying good-bye to Mom (and Dad). It's only been two years since we dealt with Mom's breast cancer and chemotherapy (which required me making weekly trips to Harlingen for awhile). She's cancer free now (but also has had a double mastectomy and removal of several lymph nodes which is causing other side effects with circulation). As they get older (and me too) it gets harder and harder to say good-bye. I always have a fear in the back of my mind as to what the next year is going to bring to them physically and try to savor every moment we have together. We had lots of laughs, ate good food, and most importantly, made more memories.

Singing and Dancing

I borrowed this topic from here.


What song is guaranteed to make you speed in your car? Dance in your seat? Sing out loud?

That would be any of the following songs:

"Bat Out of Hell" by Meatloaf
"You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth" by Meatloaf
"Livin On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi
"You Give Love A Bad Name" by Bon Jovi
"Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard

These are great songs to clean the house to as well!!

Somehow I don't think knitting and high adrenaline music will mix!

Swatch...Shmatch

I used to think:

Swatch...shmatch....

Gauge...Shmauge....

I fought the swatch...and the swatch won...



Mission: Knit a 12" X 12" piece for a project.

Step 1: Choose a stitch pattern from a resource such as this .

Step 2: Announce to your fellow SnBer's on 2/11/07 that you hate knitting swatches and plan on knitting the piece "cold." Besides, how difficult could it be to knit a 12" X 12" square? (The knitting Gods are snickering at this point)

Step 3: Realize Gulls and Garter is not as easy as you think when you get to this stitch combination in Row 4: insert RH needle under strand 2 rows below, k next st on LH needle, drawing loop through st on needle and under strand in one motion. Ummmmm...WHAT???!!!

Step 4: Announce after your first "gull" attempt in the pattern looks like it has broken wings that this will indeed be a swatch.

Step 5: Seek assistance. Realize after many deformed "gulls" that you didn't like the stitch pattern anyway.

Step 6: Knit another swatch in a different stitch pattern. Decide you don't like that one either.

Step 7: Settle on a third stitch pattern to try: Sugar Cubes . Knit a swatch. Figure out your gauge. Cast on 61 sts based on your calculations.

Step 8: Realize you didn't get a "C" in college Algebra for nothing when your piece ends up being at least 2" too long.


Step 9: Cast on for the umpteenth time. The magic stitch number was 49! Knit up the piece....Finally Finish!!!

Step 10: Enjoy some coffee with your "Sugar Cubes."




Step 11: Cast on for the second square. This one is progressing much better!!!

6 Quirky/Weird Things Meme-The Pet Version

I've done the "6 Quirky/Weird Things" Meme myself twice and decided for a twist to do a pet version. So here are 6 quirky things about Sophie, my 8+ year old Cocker Spaniel.

1. Sophie's obsessed with ice. If you are drinking something with ice, she will whine and paw at it til you give her some. I've even tried to trick her by putting an iced drink in a coffee mug, but somehow she still knows.


2. Her coloring for the most part is buff/white except for a quarter-sized patch of black fur she has on her neck. It looks like paint was spilled on her. I love that she's so identifiable!


3. She does not like to be cold. She dives for the covers if the temps fall below 50 degrees outside at night. She is definitely a "delicate southern flower."


4. Toys Toys Toys! She loves her "Squeaker" toys and loves even more to get them all in the same room. Here's a shot of the "trail of toys" she made in the bedroom. There are even two toys that were out of camera range. No wonder I ended up stepping on something making my "middle of the night" potty runs. Sometimes, all the toys will be downstairs so you can imagine how many trips she makes a day getting the toys to where she is.


5. Squirrel patrol! Her favorite activity is to chase the squirrels in our backyard. Of course the squirrels think this is a fun game for them too. They like to taunt her by hanging around the deck not seeming to notice her, until she takes off after them.


6. Celine Dion! For some reason, she howls when she hear a Celine Dion song, especially "My Heart Will Go On." There's just something about the notes in that song that makes her want to howl....loudly.....and for a long time....

What are some quirks your pets have??!!!

Knitty Delivery

Look what was waiting for me when I got home from work:


My prize from Kim's Blogiversary contest. I was gifted with 2 skeins of Paton's Classic Wool Merino in Regency and two hanks of the lovely Lorna's Laces in the colorway known as Wisteria. I absolutely love the colors of these yarns! Regency reminds me of the the colors associated with chocolate covered cherries (lots of shades reds/pinks/browns) and Wisteria reminds me of the colors in a Monet painting (blues, pinks, purples). I had never felt Lorna's Laces before and man..I can't stop fondling it!! Now I know what all the fuss is about-I think I'm addicted!!! And last but not least is my favorite candy in the world: jelly beans! What a fun surprise!! Thank you so much Kim-You rock!


A recent Am@zon delivery bulked up my knitting book stash:


My latest book additions are:
1. The Northampton Wools Knitting Book which I was able to buy for $4.99 on the particular day I was browsing Am@zon. The patterns are basic and in a classic style which is what initially drew me to the book (and the price).
2. The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook
3. Socks*Socks*Socks-70 winning patterns from the Knitter's Magazine Contest

Looks like I'm pretty set to start knitting socks! I can hardly wait!!

Sunday Sampler

First off- Brrrrrrrrr!!!!
Check out today's temps as of 4:30 p.m. near my Minnesota hometown:



No, do not adjust your screen. The high...HIGH...for today was -9 degrees!!! The low: -27 degrees and that's not including the wind chill!!! My younger sister called Friday night complaining about how cold it was...I don't know how I lived up there for 20 some years..That's just "freeze your nubbies off" cold.

This is why my DH can't say anything about my yarn stash. Check out his latest purchase:


He finally purchased his dream car: Mercedes 560 SL..and get this..he bought it off EB@Y!!!
In his defense, the car was located in S.A. and he was able to test drive the car and also happened to be the top bidder. I fully supported him in his purchase knowing it would get me lots and lots of "no comments" to my yarn buying.

I know I haven't been updating as much lately. I've pretty much felt like crap for the past 2 weeks. Yes, I said two weeks. Sniffling, sneezing, coughing, and now my ears are plugged up. I've already gone through a whole box of Cl@riton-D and am giving in and making a Dr's appt. tomorrow. So, there hasn't been a whole lot of knitting going on. Just continuing to work on my fish, green scarf, and gray hat when the mood strikes me. I also need to cast-on for a "secret project" this week.

Although I haven't been in the knitting groove lately, I have been reading more. I finished this book (pretty good read) a few days ago and have started The Friday Night Knitting Club and I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. So far I'm really enjoying both of them!!

I've also been trying to make English Muffin Bread. Last weeks recipe turned out like a brick(my fault I'm sure-it didn't rise) and the recipe I tried today was a little bit better but still not exactly what I'm looking for-or looked like the picture. In Minnesota you can buy this English Muffin Bread made by the Taystee company and it is to DIE for. I always bring some back from my trips and have been trying to make my own without very much success. If any knows of a good recipe, let me know!!