Just call me Ms. Cranky

I have been so cranky for, oh about 4 days now.  Today has been somewhat better and I feel the atmosphere lifting off of my head so I must be clearing up.   This gloomy weather hasn't been helping either.  Its cold and gray which is how I feel on the inside.  I feel like the rainbow and the planets on that Jimmy Dean commercial.  They are so down and out, then "wham" they eat the breakfast and get their color and vitality back.  I have to do better!!

I am almost finished with the socks.  I have one finished and 1 about 3/4. Too bad I misjudged something and these socks won't fit my big foot, but maybe one of my sisters.   I finished 4 more rows of the lace.  Now just 12 more and I can start clue 5.  Since clue 6 came out this last Friday, I am way behind.  Oh well, as long as I finish it.  I have also started a baby blanket.  I have 2 friends who are baking babies so I want to get those going.   
Something that I am really happy about:  I am out of debt!  Well, I still owe just a tich to my parents but that is another story.  Back in 2006 I was having these feelings of having too much stuff and my bills stacking up.  I owed for college that I was paying,  a host of medical bills were piling up, and some credit cards from traveling.  My Church was having a Dave Ramsey class on finances and I signed up.  As soon as the class started, the retina in my left eye detached and I had to have 3 surgeries that fall.  It was horrible.  Of course that didn't help!  Anyway, I followed the class rules and even though I have slipped some (at times quite a bit) I have really tried to cut back.  I paid my last big bill this month and I am so excited.  I need to get my little car bump fixed and I have a trip to take to see my brother but I have no debt.  I have no debt.  Wow.  I'm telling you, his plan works.  I don't see myself ever becoming a millionaire like Dave but getting out from owing creditors is wonderful.  Now to reduce the clutter in my life and I will be so light!  I have been doing better and have reduced quite a bit over the last 4 years.  Of course when most of my life is in two rooms, how much can a person have?  Well, a lot actually!  lol   
Okay, that's enough griping or whatever for tonight.    I'll try to post pics tomorrow of the socks.  :)

Books and such

The socks are being knit with Berrocco Comfort Sock on size 3 dpns.  The Evenstar lace is being knit with Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lace on size 3 Circulars. 

I have to start back on the lace shawl.  I am already a whole clue behind.  Clue 6 comes out Friday and I am still on 4!  AAK!  I also have to get busy and order the 3000 beads that will be added on clue 7.  Talk about a challenge.  I have not knit anything this complicated before! 

What else is going on in my life?  I have been reading a lot lately.  Too bad its all junk.  They have made me laugh though.  I have two more Sookie books to read.  I just finished "Jane Bites Back" .  This book was funny too.  It is about Jane Austen.  She is really still alive and a vampire.  LOL  No, I'm not really obsessed with vampires and don't believe in them at all.   I just seem to be into this weird reading for awhile.  I think it takes me out of reality or something. I only like the funny ones though, not the seriously strange. I also went to the library yesterday.  I checked out Jane Austen's "Persuasion"  which I am going to attempt to read.  I have tried to read her books before but I have a hard time with them.  I haven't quite figured that out yet as I love to read and they are supposed to be classics.  I did listen to Sense and Sensibility on audio book and liked it pretty good.  I wanted to smack several of them though as I thought they were senseless.   I also have Julia Childs book, "My Life in France"   I enjoyed the movie Julie and Julia.  Since I took French, I have a fascination with France and would love to visit.  She is really quite interesting. 
Nothing else new this week so far.  Went to knitting guilds sit and knit last night.  We had a good time laughing.  Knitters can be so funny sometimes.  That's all I can come up with right now!  Bye!

This is the picture of the socks that I am knitting on the double points.  They have been quite fun, not at all what I expected! 

Start of Evenstar Lace Shawl

I wanted to post a picture of the Evenstar lace shawl from the beginning.  This was after just a few rows.

Evenstar Lace Shawl

Well, I finally found where I had my photos stored.  This is a photo of the lace shawl that I have done so far.  Since it is still on the needles and circular, you can't see the whole thing.  It is going to be amazing though.  I am up to clue 4 of the pattern. 

Day Two

Day Two: Well I can't figure out this photo upload thing. I don't think I have my photos saved in the right location. This is going to take some work..... Today has been so tiring. My patient D has been sick for about 3 days now. We thought he was somewhat better but he has been up most of the night again. So, today hasn't been too productive. At least for knitting. ha ha I did do a little ironing, clean some scum out of the pond and walk down to the mailbox. That was enough to wear me out! I have to get some sleep tonight. I am afraid that I have been staying up just a tad too late reading. I am currently on the books by Charlaine Harris featuring Sookie Stackhouse. They are quite funny I think and even though they are about "ahem" vampires, they aren't scary. I just take them with a grain of salt. Light and easy reading.
I also started a new pair of socks last night. I am learning a new technique (at least new to me) using dpns. That's double point needles for non-knitters. It is sort of like knitting with porcupine needles going in all directions. I normally use the Magic Loop method and do both socks at once but my friend and fellow knitter Carmen thought some of us in the guild needs to learn new things! So I bought a set and started the pattern. I have about 3 inches done so far. As soon as I figure out this photo issue I will post. Unfortunately, I have not worked on my lace in a few days. I have to be able to concentrate and with D sick, I can't get too involved with it. The socks and two baby blankets for charity are simple enough for now.

Beginnings

I decided to start a blog. This is after considering it for about 3 years. It took that long to come up with a name! Then recently I was knitting away feverishly on my lace shawl and had an "aha" moment. I am always counting stitches, so what could be better? I hope to use this blog to show some of my handiwork. Who knows what else it may have on it. I tend to get into other things at times like cooking, reading or working on the pond.

So, I am a knitter. I used to crochet and still do at times, but always wanted to learn to knit. I really love the craft. I love most crafts and wish I had more time to do them all. There is just something about yarns that I just love. I HAVE to go to the yarn shop and just feel up the yarn. Great satisfaction. Well I could just feel up my stash but its not quite the same. All those rows and rows of yarn just calls my name. That's all for now. I am going to try to post some pics of the lace shawl soon!