2008 Resolutions

You betcha I make them. I even write them down. Alot of years, I don't get past day 1, but each year it is kind of cool to reflect forward and backwards.

There are things I hoped to accomplish before I turned 50. It didn't happen. Now, I am hoping at least one of them makes it during my 50th year, but if it doesn't, there is always the 60th year!

5 Months from today, Baby Boy A will be getting married. There will be the Knitting Room when he moves out in place of his bedroom, or a room I think I will call the Home of PJKNITS! Like the dollar allowance, I used to spend 100 ways, there are 100 things that I need to put in that room, but alas, we will save that for a post later this Spring!

I have spent alot of the past week trying to decide where I want to be knitting wise for 2008 and I see that some of the things that were on the 2007 list are making a return engagement to the 2008 list. Funny, some of the non knitting things are making a return engagement to the 2008 list too!

My 2008 List (not really resolutions, lets just call them hopes, want tos, lofty ideas or just whatever)

WIPS - work on getting at least 6 of them done, okay maybe 2

Bills - work on a cash basis, if I don't have the cash, don't buy it! Well, unless, it is like a major repair

New Yarn Acquisitions - not really a yarn diet, just a little more watching of what comes home in the Yarn Mobile. I am kind of a stickler, when I knit at a shop, I like to be knitting on yarn that I purchased there. So, only buy yarn as needed for this.

Weight and Exercise - they go hand in hand....wouldn't it be nice to be a little thinner/toner by the wedding?

Be prepared. Don't wait for the day before the birthday, baby shower or holiday to finish the gift. Yea, right!

Use the techniques/lessons that I have learned from EZ/Meg. Or rather, re-learn them and then use them. Like a running coach once said, you can't expect to run the race, if you only run on Wednesday nights!

Be happy. Surround myself with happy people. Be thankful for good health, great friends and loving family (even when they drive me nuts. Make the most of every opportunity given.

So, until tomorrow, have a happy and safe New Year's Eve. I love you! --Penny

Looking Forward

I've spent a little bit of time these last few days contemplating and working a few swatches trying to decide what I want to be working on when the new year comes around. You know what I have come up with? Nothing!












I know that I want to concentrate on things that I have learned at Knit Camp, but as far as nailing down anything specific, it just did not happen this past week. I spent more time working swatches and thinking about what I wanted to be knitting on than I did coming to any conclusion as to what I want to knit on.

Then, there is the never ending WIPS. And the yarn stash. And the never ending bills. Oh, heck and then the weight issues. They all need to be whittled down.

So, looking forward to the new year, I guess I have another day to ponder....tomorrow, 2008 Knitting Resolutions and one or two others while I am at it.

Looking Back

During the year, I keep a sort of paper journal. I keep track of the things I have started and finished with info about the pattern, yarn, etc. Then at the end of the year, I tally it up to see what I have completed in a year's time. Funny, in 2007, I finished just about as many sweaters as I did in 2006. It surprises me that I have not finished more. It sure seemed like I was knitting more.

9 Scarves
4 Sweaters (Adult)
2 Shawls
2 Baby Sweaters
3 Pairs of Sox
1 Felted Bag
2 Misc Baby Stuff

Maybe I should tally up what I started? Tomorrow....looking forward~

No Time For Blogging

I have a nail appt at 1:00 and I am in planning mode. I have declared 2008 to be the year of EZ/Meg Knitting for me and I am nailing down a few want tos today.

Linda and I have been noodling for a couple of days over the new post by Brooklyn Tweed. I was going a direction and she steared me back!

I am so pumped! More tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to my Mom today! Gotta Gooooooooooooooooooooooo! The days are shootin by.

Yuckin It Up!

I forsee this will be the last year we get to get these fun pictures of the two boys. Next year, Baby Boy A will be married and probably won't be here for Christmas. Every year the two of them yuck it up for the camera on Christmas morning. I'll miss the laughs.



Baby Boy B does a lot of shopping on Ebay. Look what he found for his mom! I love it. A yarn basket with Snoopy.....what a kid!

I'm still in pjs at this posting. Don't ya just love it! No where I have to go today. Going to take my tree down after I get dressed, so I can get to my knitting books. I'm in planning mode again today. What to make the January sweater out of? I might have to phone a friend and get her input. Linda has made some Arans and she will have some good advice for me.

Better get moving!

Merry Christmas~

Day 3

Did I just say a couple of days ago that I was going to stay in for as much of the break as I could? Well, on Day 1, 2, and 3, we have went somewhere. Today, just does not seem like Christmas Eve. In the last 31 years we have went over to the tall guy's parents house for Christmas Eve dinner and opening of presents.

This year, our neice started a new job and does not have vacation time that she can take to come down for Christmas Eve. That and combined with having a new son, they came down on Saturday and we celebrated! We had a great time, but tonight, seems so odd for it to be Christmas Eve and we're treating it like any other weekend. Just weird.


Given all of that, it was kind of nice for the tall guy and I today. We went to Peoria to shop for us. Went to Barnes and Noble and I used my gift card for a new book to read. Then, to Gander Mountain for some new sox for me, (Smart Wool which costs as much a pair as if I had knitted them) and ammo for the tall guy.

Then to the grocery store to pick a few things so we DON'T have to go out the day after Christmas and finally home for hamburgers. Not your typical Christmas Eve. One of the twins is sleeping because he has to work at midnight and the other is down at the corner bar with friends.

Nope, not your typical Christmas Eve! I'm not sure I like it all.

Day 2

What a change from yesterday. We are out and about in sweatshirts yesterday, today, we can't get enough clothes on. The winds are whipping and a little snow is swirling.

So, tonight, I am covered up in my new electric blanket, knitting on my taos jacket using my new lazy susan yarn holder that Marv and Karen gave the Radicals for Christmas. It is so cool, the yarn stays put and just spins around, keeping it from rolling all over the floor.

To keep the arms warm, I'm covered up in my Fleece Artist Shawl with my new shawl pin also from Karen and Marv.

Add a glass of wine from my birthday and I'm keepin warm on the inside!

Day 1 - 48 Degrees Already

One of nine whole days off! I have been like a kid waiting for Christmas!

I have a list of things I want to do while off. What a surprise to those who know me! Most of the list includes knitting stuff.

Sorting of years of fabric purchases is on the list. 20 years ago I worked for a sewing store in Peoria and bought lots of cool fabrics to make garments. Back then, I sewed like I knit now. And I have saved the stash of fabrics all these years. Now, I have to be realistic, I'm never going to sew like I did then. I am going to knit into eternity...so it is time to rid myself of them. The wools are going to Linda who some day may do a rug. The others were going to maybe Goodwill, but I am not sure even they would want them at this point in time. I think I am going to just toss them.

Also, getting my other business organized is on the list. It is time to start seriously getting back into lia sophia selling mode. The discontinued list is out and it is time to do some sorting and rearranging and setting of files.

But knitting is high on the list! Ravelry has a new group that is knitting through the Almanac (something I want/try to do every new year and fail), and I know just what yarn I want to make January's sweater out of.

My plan for the next nine days is to only go outside when we get groceries next Friday and go to Norma's for New Years Day Fun. Well, that is after we get together with some family tonight for our early Christmas get together. After that, let the snow fly, I have my knitting to keep me warm!

Holiday Knitting Finished

Done and Gone. And I have started on the next pair. Now, that does not mean that I won't be still working on them this time next year, but they are started.

This pair is new for me, and from my birthday present book from Linda.

The Farmington Scarf is done and wrapped, even though we are not getting together until after the new year.

What a relief to now be able to go back to knitting for me! For MEEEEE! What shall it be?

The Gift of Yarn

Getting It! My friends are really cool. I don't have to tell them I love receiving yarn, they just know it and they get the right colors too! My boss gave me a gift card to Barnes and Noble for Christmas and a Starbucks gift card for my birthday. He gets it too! Because after yarn and knitting related gifts (needles etc)books and coffee are the next best thing next to knitting related gifts. Aren't they neatest people?

Giving It! I don't normally exchange with the gals in Accounting in work, except for one that I have known and worked side by side for ages, but our new gal knits a little. I bought this yarn for a scarf for the other gal and Norma came through with some better yarn. So, instead of messing around with taking this back, I am gifting it to the new gal and knitter. Her son is a football player and this will make a great scarf for her. She'll love it!


Toss in a really cool gift bag and I hope this brightens her day. She has been dealing with a real pain in the ass this week at work!

Two days til 9 whole off! Yippee Skippy!

Don't Ya Love These?!

They were a gift from Char last week. Have you ever fondled a needle? This one is fondlable. They are so smooth. The points are so sharp. I'm thinkin they would be great for lace knitting. I might have to investigate that one.

And the colors, aren't they just the coolest?!

So Much For Shopping

I had a plan to get up early on Saturday and go into the Mall in Peoria and finish my Xmas Shopping. I must have missed the weather forecast, because, I woke up to this and it did not let up all day. Er goes the trip to the yarn shop in between.

But, it wasn't a bad thing. I stayed home and finished the black eyelash scarf. Worked on some finishing details on a scarf that I'll show tomorrow. Drank some coffee, then drank some wine...watched alot of movies...wrapped the presents that I had.

Today, we went and did a little shopping around Pekin and narrowed down what I needed to get in Peoria, so I might not even have to go there this week!

What's Next?

You know there is kind of a let down after you have completed a project. You are glad to be finished with it so you can move on to the next one. And for me, after the socks were finished on Tuesday, I just sat there. I could have knitted on something, but I just sat there contemplating what next?

I really wanted to go back to the Taos jacket for me, but a couple of other things are calling to be done for Christmas. But, wait, both of them don't really have to be done until right after the first of the year.

If one of the presents I ordered from Avon comes in next week, it will be substituted for this black scarf which can be saved until mid January for the recepient's birthday. But, if the Avon is out of stock then it will have to be done by next week. The good thing is I probably can get this finished tonight when the Radical Knitters get together.


This scarf in Farmington like colors is another that does not need to be done until the second week in January and I am not really sold on the yarn yet. What I really wanted was an Eyelash in Farmington colors (again cause the eyelash ones are so quick), but so far the three places I have looked have not had it. And if I can't find the eyelash, I'd prefer Encore to this yarn.

So a trip to the LYSes might still be in order for it. Darn, that's just too bad isn't it! I'll have to fit that in with all the other shopping I still have to do.

One Down Two To Go

I have finished one of the holiday gifts. Just two more to go. Both are scarves, one will probably take a couple of nights, the other maybe a week. The good thing about the last is that it really isn't needed until the new year, hopefully!

Thats all the blog for now, back to regular scheduled knitting.

Another Yucky Weekend

Ice, Freezing Rain and General Slickyness again this weekend. Seems that is what it wants to do around here on the weekends. But, it has made for some nice knitting weekends. I am at the heel flap on the second sock and am hoping I'll have it finished mid week!

I did manage to get my tree up on Saturday and the other Xmas Decorations and even a little cleaning done on Saturday too.

It's hard to believe that Christmas is just 15 days away. I still have tons of shopping to finish! And I am waiting for Knitpicks to get somethings in that they advertised in their catalog a few weeks back. Why do companies do that? I know why and I know they have to print so far out, but still, here we as the consumer sit, waiting and wondering whether they'll get them in time for Christmas shipping or not!

Hmmm....someone needs a little holiday spirit it sounds like, now doesn't it?

Gift Knitting

I made a pact with myself. Other than the socks that I knit for the holiday season, I was knitting nothing else as presents. Now, I am starting to think of a couple of things that I could knit for some giftees. Do I have time? Well, of course not!

Someone stop me.

Remind me - I still have one sock to finish. My friend from work does not need a scarf in the colors of her son's school (she has been laid up since June and is now able to make it to his games). I don't have the yarn for it and I would want to do it in Encore. I don't need to make two new scarves for the two ladies who helped me at the Holiday Party we had on Thursday, do I? A nice thank you is sufficient isn't it?

And then there is the stocking for the fiance....I don't need to do it this year do I? I could wait until next year when they are married right?

Someone jerk me back fast!

It's Been A Crazy Week

I have not had time to sit down let alone blog. I am knitting, but nothing major to show. I am in charge of a Holiday Party at work and it has been all time consuming that I have been charging off to work early and at night, just vegging in the chair.

Now, that it is all over, hopefully, I'll have something to blog about.

Happy Hanukkah

Thursday Was Such A Good Day

In short, I knitted all afternoon at Norma's with the Daytime Knitters. We went to dinner. Then we joined all the other Radical Knitters out to Knit 4 Together in Dunlap and knitted all night.

It was a good day.

It's A Good Feeling

Both are finished. One is blocking, the other I'll block tomorrow. I tried both on and they fit reasonably well. Cobblestone on the left did not need even one of the extra balls I ordered to finish, but I am sure glad that I got the same dye lot. This was fun to make.


Cottage Creations Adult Babies and Bears Sweater from Cascade Tweed also. I do love this yarn, but now it is time to move away from it.


Today, it is back to the Taos Diagonal Jacket. It's interesting when you finish a couple of things. Now, I am wondering what I'll start next? The Mermaid jacket? Perhaps, and the Gansey needs attention too! And of course there is that holiday gift I still need to finish. But, that is the only one for now that has a time frame. I like this no pressure stuff.

Unplanned Time Off

I felt a bit off Monday after I got up. I went to work. I was talking to a co-worker telling her how I could have used one more day off to the weekend and wishing I had. All of a sudden, 20 minutes after arriving at work, I decided, rather my gastro system decided I was getting an extra day off. Nothing major, just enough to keep me home for Monday and Tuesday.

So, I took advantage of the forced time off. Monday, in between running to the bathroom, I finished a couple of easy scarves. Yesterday, still feeling a bit off, I stayed home. Feeling good enough to knit, I finished the green tweed Adult Babies and Bears Sweater. I love it and will show pics later this week after I find some good buttons to go with it. I am not crazy about my buttonholes on it and I will need to do a little work on those. But, despite it all, it fits well, and although I like it, that is the last one I'll do for a while. I've made two so far this year.

After finishing the Babies and Bears, I picked up the Cobblestone and hope to finish it tonight or tomorrow. Then, it is back to some holiday knitting and the Taos Jacket. They are both on the last of my Focus on Five list I made last week!

Then it will be time for a new Focus on Five List.

The Pelerine

From Knitting Workshop out of Unspun Icelandic. I tried Elizabeth's on at camp last summer, and knew that I would have to make one for myself.

I love how the colors work together. I do have to say that while it is blocking, it smells a little of wet sheep, not that I ever got close enough to a sheep to smell it when it is wet, but as it dries, the smell is going away.

I could not resist throwing it on before it was blocked. So, it will look a little better once it is, but I loved working this.

This is going to be great to toss over the shoulders at work. Especially since it goes with just about any color black, brown, beige or even navy.

No Pics No Pelerine

Only four more rows to go and the Pelerine will be finished. I hope to be done with it by now, but I have gotten side tracked the last couple of days. And who would know 8 ridges would take so long! I do hope to be done with it today.

I spent most of yesterday and all of this morning, cleaning and packing up in anticipation of Christmas decorating later next week. Normally, I would try and clean, put stuff away and put my Christmas decorations up all in weekend (except for the tree). And then I would be as bitchy as I could be. So, this weekend, I decided to clean and pack up and save the decorating for after the first of December. What a job! But, finally, it is clean, well as clean as it is going to be this week.

We bought three of those Rubbermaid tubs and in one went all of the normal stuff I would have sitting around. The other two, has yarn in them, that was in various bags sitting around. I made a list (really!) and now I can add it to Ravelry or my Palm and I will know exactly where it is.

Just another load of laundry to do today and I will be done. Tonight, is for sitting and knitting and enjoying the rest of the long weekend!

Hope you all had a good weekend, cause tomorrow (for some of us), it is back to work! Except I am taking Thursday off for a fun day!

What Are The Chances?

Look what showed up in the mail yesterday! The yarn to finish Cobblestone. Now, look at the tag on the right. This is the new stuff. Look at the tag on the left, this is from what I bought at Webs over 3 years ago at Stitches Midwest.

The one on the right is from Ebay. What are the chances that they would be the same color and dye lot?

I am feelin good. Mom got a new furnace installed yesterday. And I got the same dye lot. Better, quick play the lotto!

Pushing The Limits

Today's blog post is about limits and pushing them. Yesterday, I pushed a couple of them. Eating too much (didn't ahere to a word the Weight Watcher Meeting told me), but, it was all good and today it is back to normal. The other limit I pushed yesterday, was how long the Tall Guy could hang around his family. We had not planned on staying much past 2 or 3, but I was having a good visit with my nieces and nephew, that I just did not want to leave. So, we ended up having dinner and then coming home. What an enjoyable day.

My mom is pushing the limit today. She is having furnace issues that have been on going. She called me no less than 7 times on Wednesday night about the furnace. At 9:30 pm, her furnace man came by (the guy never sleeps) and gave her what now is a temporary solution. Now, this morning the problem is back and I can see the start of a day of phone calls about the damn thing. She is pushing the limit on what is supposed to be MY WEEKEND! No wonder I have this annoying pain up my neck!

And the final pushing the limit for today (and it's a good one)-- the Pelerine. It is on tap for finishing today. I am on the last colorway (10 ridges to go) and then the icord up the front. I am not sure how many stitches I have on the 24 inch needle (I'll count them right before it is done), but it sure is alot. I keep having to push and shove the stitches around.


I am ready for this to be done, so I can wear it. Well, and yes, because then I can work on finishing another project. Next project to finish -- the Cobblestone.

Do you think I can do both this weekend? Limits.

Happy Thanksgiving

No, I did not knit this. And no, I am not going to. But, somewhere someone did.

I just want to say I am thankful today for family, knitting friends like you, and good health. We are Blessed. Enjoy the day!

Be safe and don't eat too much. Happy Knitting after the Feast!

What A Dreary Day


We got out of work a little early today. So, I'm baking my pies and doing a little laundry. Sure glad this is rain and not snow. I think it is definitely going back to sweater weather.

There is a chill in the air, and who knows what will come tonight. Everyone is home tonight or at least close and I am thankful that I don't have to go out tonight. Hopefully.


But, I have my knitting to keep me warm. Doesn't that sound like something Meg would say? In my case, I have some scarves to knit this weekend, and I would like to finish the Pelerine. A scarf will be nice to take along tomorrow. We don't plan on it being a long day, but I like to be prepared!

Okay It's Here!

What do you think the chances are that I wait until Thursday night to start watching it? I am chomping at the bit right now.

I found my yarn to finish Cobblestone on Ebay. I am hoping it comes this weekend so I can wind it and finish Cobblestone.

I have so much planned for my four day weekend. I can hardly wait for it to get it here. But, before that, I gotta work one more day. And is it going to be hard to do that tomorrow. It is going to be a lonnnnng day.

It's The Yarn's Fault


You see it calls me. No, really it does.

I really was in a finishing mood yesterday. But, that lasted about one hour after finishing the baby sweater. My Taos yarn just sat there calling me to start it.








So, I did. One day later, here it is. The color name is Sea of Cortez. I'm just a tad disappointed in the way the colorway. I don't think the original color swatch I had showed this much purple in it. I was actually hoping for a little more navy.

It's not a real problem, I like purple.

Fini! Finally! Yea!


It's Done! And am I pleased. The baby is due any day now. Not exactly a great picture, because it is plain white with a little shine to it. Since, we did not know what sex the baby was, I went with white, which will coordinate well with Norma's beautiful afghan.
I found these cute buttons to go on it so it doesn't looked so plain.

Not exactly great pictures either, but that is what you get today. I feel like doing a little finishing today.

It will keep me from casting on yet another project, maybe.

It's Here!

My Mermaid Kit! When the boys told me I had a box, I figured it was my Schoolhouse Order. Imagine, when I noticed it wasn't. Then I get an email from Schoolhouse. My order should be here on the 20th. Just in time for Thanksgiving vacation and knitting.

Yippee Skippy!

Stash Is Good

Eeek! I said, I am missing a color, there should be 7 and I only had 6. But, smart me, I remembered years ago when I bought my first Unspun Icelandic for the Dubbelmossa hat that there was a darker gray that I don't think I had ordered. Sure enough, and since I had not finished the Dubbelmossa yet and because it is the contrast color, I pulled it and used it my Pereline.

I love the way the Unspun Icelandic looks and feels on a number 9 needle. So fluffy! I am thinkin seriously about a sweater knit in the round on a size 9 needle.

Every time I go to Knit Camp, I come home with one sweater that I am so excited and I just have to do. This is it.

Ding, Ding, Ding

The pact is over. That's what the tall guy said when he saw me taking pics of my latest yarn acquisition. Where was he last week or so when I bought the yarn from Knit 4 Together? And I guess, I have not told him yet about the two yarns I have on order for them. But, he does know about Mermaid that he and a friend of mine bought me for my birthday
The Unspun Icelandic came from Meg on Friday. And I cast on the Pelerine from Knitting Workshop on Saturday. I love working this.




This is EZ's finished sample that I took a pic of last summer at camp. I wanted to make sure that I had the color combinations right, so I got real up close for the pic. I liked the way it fits over the shoulders and just sits there, very nicely. And the Unspun Icelandic amazes the Tall Guy. He still does not see why it does not fall apart. Of course, I had to give him a little knit instruction as to why I don't wind it with my swift.


Ah ha, he is paying attention to my knitting. Maybe that is not a good thing.

50th Birthday - Finished!

I could go on a couple of more days, but there is soooo much knitting to talk about starting tomorrow, so this is it.

Day 3 of the 50th started with breakfast with the guys. A little obligatory grocery shopping and then dinner at a local pub here (Goodfella's, where Baby Boy B works on Saturday night). Baby Boy A bought beer and pizza and Baby Boy B cooked it.

Day 4 and the conclusion of the 50th celebration had lunch with the Tall Guy's family.

The final day brought (coming soon to my mailbox):







It was a good birthday! Thank you to everyone!

50th Birthday - Day 2

I love the people I work with. I have a great boss. And have made some really good friends there. Can you tell?

I went into work a little early on Friday, because you never know what to expect with them when someone has a major birthday. They do wheel chairs and walkers. But, I was spared. The day started off with major treats with coffee and just a shower of cards and gifts. With a 50th tiara and boa I wore periodically during the day.


We had a fantastic potluck at lunchtime and they sang happy birthday to me. The camaderie, for lack of a better word, just was amazing.

Then after work, I was "supposed" to meet two of my good friends for dinner. I was still stuffed from all the food at work, but I met them anyway. And those little turds, with the help of another very dear friend who worked really hard at setting it all up, through me a surprise birthday party down on the Riverfront at Kelleher's.



I was so surprised at how many of my co-workers showed up. I was overwhelmed again, at how many friends I have made at work. This party included beer and eats and balloons and more presents and cards.


One of our ex co-workers showed up and it was great to see her. She even has an outfit that I can use for the wedding! And many of the spouses of people I work with came to join the party. We had such a group.

The whole entire day was just simply amazing and a day that I will always remember.

Did I say how truly blessed I am? I am. And I am grateful.

50th Birthday - Day 1

Bear with me the next few blogging days. Today is my 50th! I love birthdays and I have since I was a kid. Mainly, because way back then, the day after my birthday was a holiday from school. Now, they celebrate the following Monday. But, wayyyyyy, back then, it was always the day after my birthday, so I got like an extra day off. I loved it! I thought it was special.

This year is just one big celebration as you will discover over the next few days. It started Thursday, with dinner with my dear friend Norma. And it was Knit Night and she had cake in my favorite colors! Look at what great gifts I received! A little bird (Carol) told her I was liking this scarf pattern and voila!

What a great way to start the celebration of 1/2 of a century. Knitting with my dear friends. I am truly blessed. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I am blessed.

It Ain't Over Until

The Radicals Sing....or at least give me their opinion. You know I had it all planned as to what I was doing with the new yarn? Now, I am re thinking it. So, tonight, I'll take both options to the Radical Knitters and see what they think.





In the meant time, I am knitting on two of the many choices.

Isn't There A Song?

"I'm all out of yarn, I'm so lost without you...." Here the Cobblestone sits. The yoke that goes on forever....and I am out of yarn. Now, the hunt will be on to find the color/dye lot or even something close. This means a trip to Morton on Saturday to see if they have the color. I'd be happy with something close.