I have had a GREAT few days! On Thursday, I took a half day off and spent the most delightful few hours with the Daytime Knitters of the Peoria Areas Stitchers Guild. This is a group of mostly retired ladies. What fun it was sitting around Norma's table knitting, eating dessert and drinking coffee.

After the ladies departed for home, Norma and I went over to Mary's in Eureka to see what was new there. Then we for a great dinner at Katy's in Washington. After all it was time to eat.

After Katy's we went to Knit Night in Morton and the new yarn shop Ewe-nique Yarns. One of our Radical Knitters, Linda joined us. Since I was just about done with my Suede poncho, I needed to stock up on yarn for a new project (I like to knit on yarn from the shop I am sitting in) so I got Debbie Bliss Aran tweed for Carol Anderson's Tunic Sweater (I made one years ago when I was much heavier). Now it is time for one that fits. I won't get rid of the too big one because it is nice and comfy at times. Weight Watchers would tell me to get rid of it, but I really like it so I am keeping it.

And then today, Norma, Jo and I went over to Needleworks in Champaign, mainly to buy yarn for the unofficial knit a long that the Radical Knitters are doing of Twisted Sisters Pythagorean Theory Sweater. Jo and I bought yarn for it, Norma bought a pattern book from them that has a different cardigan in it that she might get more use then the one we are doing.

I can't begin to tell you how gracious the ladies and gentlemen over at Needleworks are. I had not been there in probably a year, but they welcomed us like we were one of their regulars! Sharon is the sweetest women, she wound all of Jo and my Twisted Sisters Yarn (Jo had what 12 and I think I had about 16). Jo went to have lunch with her son and Sharon told Norma and I that we were going to eat with them. They were celebrating Matthew and all other April birthdays and there was an table full of food. Janice grilled hotdogs, brats and sausages. Kate had a great Ramen salad that she gave us the recipe for, Ray brought fruit and dip and there were sweets and breads galore.

We bought yarn, ate, sat and knitted and vistited like we were a part of the group. Needleworks is my kind of yarn shop, the kind that you always dream about owning or if not your own, one you want to be able to go to. Kind of like Cheers where everyone knows your name. If you get a chance you have got to go visit them and tell them that Penny sent you.

And now to complete the great few days I have been having, I am going to go sit with my coffee in front of the t.v. watching Cardinal baseball, and Knitting! How good can life be? Not any better. Pictures tomorrow-hopefully! Thanks to all of my knitting friends for everything you do with me!!

Char, Linda, Jo, Jan and Norma- Check this site out for prices on the kits for the Twisted Sisters Jacket.

http://www.greatyarns.com/kitsyarns.htm

and check Needleworks website for colors

http://www.cu-needleworks.com/news.htm

Hard to believe but my sons are 22 today! And this is probably the only time they wore the sweaters I painstakingly knitted for them. I am now the proud recepient of both. And my vow after these two sweaters was that they would have to ask me to knit for them if they ever wanted something. So far, Roger on the left, asked for a long scarf this last winter when it was so cold and he was working at Sears bringing carts in. Willie (Will to his friends) on the right, wanted a scarf too, but alas it got too warm before I finished it. It is currently a WIP sitting in a plastic bag with the knitting books. Maybe next year, I'll get it done. Time does fly doesn't it? 

Do you think I have enough jewelry? This is what keeps me busy when I am not knitting and yarn shopping. My two obesessions. This week begins an interesting week with the lia sophia business. I have back to back parties next Saturday and Sunday and then yesterday I got a wild one when I wanted to book one more for the month of April. Of course I gave the soon to be hostess and incentive, if she booked a party in the last week of April (which means she has to be fast with her guest list) she could choose out of a little box of discontinued jewelry! So she did and now booked it for next Tuesday which is Tuesday Knit Night at Lakeview Library. So I will miss this one knit night, something I said I would not do when I started selling lia sophia, but could not pass up getting one more party in for the month of April. Need more info on lia sophia? Check our catalog out at: www.liasophia.com/pennyhalverson Sorry, I have not spent enough time figuring out how to direct link the website, maybe that will be a Summer Project! 

This weeks challenge: To duplicate this sweater from this picture to written pattern. It is crocheted and I could do that but the fun of it all is turning it into knitting instead. Done of a very light weight cotton, very simple and just a slight cap sleeve. Of course those of us with fat arms would never wear it (another reason for getting those weights into the hands and off of the floor!) 

Are you sure you don't want to go to Stitches with me?? Char? Linda? I can be alot of fun! 

Not a knitting picture, but I sure do like this one from two years ago. It makes me smile and reminds me that it is now time to get out and be serious about running! Tomorrow night is Week 2 of Building Steam (preparing for the Steamboat Run) and I am not near ready for tomorrow night! It usually takes me about one week of bringing up the rear of the pack to get my brain wrapped around going out more than once a week!! Even if I have to do it myself. Gasp, Wheeze and UGH! To be continued... The reward is a beer at the end of the run. 

This pic is from Stitches 2 years ago when Horst Schulz did the Thursday morning session ( I was going to do the pic of Char, Linda and Char knitting but thought I might want to ask their permission first). I put it out there just to let you all know that the classes for Stitches Midwest 05 are on the Knitting Universe Website. I priced out the 12 classes that I want to take, the Thursday morning get together, the Fashion Show and the Student Banquet separately and for about $30 more I can take two more classes! Guess I better get serious now about a room mate! Any takers out there???? And I need to put my vacation request in, maybe I ought to do that first huh! 

I will see you a lime green and raise you 8!! There is a new yarn shop that opened in Morton a week and a half ago. They are open on Thursdays til 8 and I just could not resist going over and doing a little shopping since our regulars that I knit with were otherwise occupied. So I, swore I would never knit another poncho, just had to buy the suede for one. It is my color and lately I have been wanting to start something new and just did not know what that may be. Can't wait to do a guage swatch and begin. The other is Crystal Palace Summer Net that I am going to do a drop stitch scarf with. I am so excited! New Yarn Shop (knit night on Thursdays), new yarn and the sun is shining! 

A vice has been born. I am starting to decorate my son's room in the beach theme. The walls are already Orlando Magic Blue and I have started adding some accents to it. And of course the basket of flip flops with eyelash yarns are going to be part of the decor. One of the girls I work with gave me the idea to mix a sand type mixture to the paint when I get ready to change it and paint 1/2 way up the wall, making a beach. What a hoot! The only problem, it may have to go on the back burner until said child gets a job after his internship somewhere this summer. But I will file that great thought away for future reference. Until then, he will have to live with the semi beach theme! 

Some flip flops for my friend Kristy who is going to be married in Mexico in a week and a half. I gave her a little present of appropriate Mexico vacation stuff including these. The best thing is my friend Norma was my personal shopper. She picked up the flip flops for me and some other items and then she let me shop in her stash! I never had to leave the comfort of her home!