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