Patches & Molly Taking a Nap

Molly & Patches(now deceased)

Patches (now deceased) grooming Molly. Patches died Father's Day June 2005 of old age. She is greatly missed by everyone in the family.

Kitchener Stitch Attempted...

I joined the Cran-Knitters at Barnes & Noble Wed. night. As Jane would say, "A good time was had by all." I finished the second sock of a pair today, except for the kitchener stitch. I closed the toe with an attempted kitchener stitch 5 times and took it out 5 times. Jane has offered to walk me through it one more time. Bless her.

What Soothes My Soul

Hiking @McConnell Mill State Park September 2005

Booze-n-Books Book Group

Tonight I joined Jennifer and Karen at Jennifer's house for our Booze-n-Books group. We discussed My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I liked the book, except for a few unrealistic or too good to be true parts. I plan to read another book by Picoult. Next month we are reading The Time Traveler's Wife.

Friday Night Knits @ Beecher's

Looking forward to knitting with Friends tonight at Beecher's. It is difficult to concentrate on knitting while talking with friends, but it is fun to get together with other knitters to pick up tips and tricks & get ideas and patterns.

40 Things about myself

1. I was born in Peoria, Illinois on October 4, 1959
2. I raised in a very racist small town outside of Peoria, Ill. (I rarely admit this because I am ashamed to be from that town.) My high school mascots were "Chinks," a boy and girl dressed like people from China. We were the Pekin Chinks.
3. I graduated from High School in 1977.
4. I started college at Wheaton College in Chicago.
5. My junior year I transferred to Bradley University in Peoria to pursue a computer science degree (not offered at Wheaton College at that time).
6. I graduated from Bradley in 1982.
7. I earned a second Bachelor Degree in Mathematics in 2003 from North Carolina Central University (A Historically Black College)
8. I'm single.
9. No children, except the four-legged variety.
10. I love to read. (Not trashy or mindless novels)
11. I love to hike
12. I love to camp
13. Nature soothes my soul
14. I take piano lessons and am a beginner player.
15. I like Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, soft rock and folk music.
16. Music soothes my soul
17. Brad Yoder is my favorite local musican
18. I am quiet, but enjoy being with people.
19. I enjoy being alone also
20. Besides computers and math, I am very interested in physics.
21. I'm 5' 0" tall.
22. I want to run a marathon
23. I want to thru-hike the appalacian trail
24. I want to read everything C S Lewis ever wrote.
25. I moved to PA in October 2004
26. I love animals
27. Molly, my dog, is my best friend
28. I don't watch TV
29. I'd rather read a book than go to a movie
30. I am thrilled to be a part of a knitting circle
    
31. I love my job at Barnes & Noble
32. I don't like to shave my legs.
33. I hate Bras.
34. I've never attended a High School Reunion
35. I'd like to attend a High School Reunion to see what people are like now and what they are doing.
36. The price of gas is killing me
37. I'd like to restore an old VW Camper Bus
38. I'd like to travel the USA in a restored VW Camper Bus
39. I want to become an accomplished pianist.
40. I've found it easy to make friends in PA.

JamKnitter Knitting a sock as usual

I thought knitting Karen a pair of socks for her July 3rd birthday would be a nice gift. I started the socks at the beginning of June. Here I am knitting the first sock at Nora's Knitting Party. It is September 14 and I will finally complete the second sock in a few days. Poor Karen. I wonder if others have this same problem? Next time I knit a gift, I'll get an earlier start.

I'll work on getting pictures posted

I'll try to find some pictures of my "family." I'll have to borrow a camera to take pictures to download into the computer of finished projects and what I am working on now.

It is now 2:40AM. Too much on my mind to sleep. This Blog stuff is fun.

It is 1:30AM...I'm going to bed

I spent 4 hours tonight trying to figure out this blog stuff. I'm tired and need to get up in 6 hours. This reminds me of my computer programming days. Good-night.

SP Pittsburgh Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I don't like Red Heart. I've used Lion Brand Wool Ease for socks and was happy with them. I'm not experienced enough to be a yarn snob, yet. I must admit, I did knit a scarf two years ago with Red Heart. Not my favorite.


2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I do not spin, but I do crochet. Or have in the past. I once crocheted a really nice Christmas Tree skirt, with crocheted applique pointsettas. I was very proud of it. I gave it to my mom (1988). But now I have it back.


3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

No Known allergies. But I am a non-smoker and am sensitive to cigarette smoke.


4. How long have you been knitting?

My mom taught me when I was about 5 years old. I knitted a little in middle school. Some in college. I became an avid knitter two years ago when a male friend started knitting.

5. Do you have an Amazon, Knitpicks or other online wish list?

Not yet. I will make a Knitpicks and Barnes & Noble wish list. Just give me time.


6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Not into bath products or candles (too dangerous for wandering cats).

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Unfortunately. I love Barnes & Noble Frappaccinos--Vanilla Bean and Tazo Chai my favorites.


8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I sew a little--curtains, valances, pillows, hem pants, ...I quilt a little.


9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like Jazz, Folk music, Bluegrass. My favorite local musican is Brad Yoder.


10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Blue. No question about it.


11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Single. Three four-legged children: Molly, 12 year old pug; Rosie, 9 year old gray tabby & Sophie, 8 month old light gray tabby.


12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Foster children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect.
Thru-Hike the Appalacian Trail.
Run a Marathon.
Maintain my ideal weight.
Get and stay fit & trim.
Own a home
Learn to knit sweaters
Become a master knitter



13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Wool. But that is because I like wearing wool socks. I don't like Fun Fur or Eyelash. I like the looks of ribbon yarn and Homespun, though I've never knitted anything with these yet.


14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I prefer not to knit with acrylics.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Socks

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love tube scarves. Socks. To be honest, that's all I've knitted in the last two years: scarves and socks.


17. What are you knitting right now?

I am currently working on three pairs of socks. Two pair for myself and one for a birthday present for a good friend.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

They make me look fat.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Depends on the project.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

When I knit sock I use bamboo DPNs. Scarves plastic. I used bamboo circulars once and ended up with a nasty sore on my finger. Next time I'll try plastic circular.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Yes. I took a sock class two years ago.

22. How did you learn to knit?

Mom taught me.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

Knitting - 18 months. Crocheting - decades.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

My favorite animals are Molly, Rosie and Sophie. And recently deceased Patches, a calico cat.


25. What is your favorite holiday?

??? New Years Day. Because there are No Party or Family obligations. It symbolizes a fresh start to life. A time to reflect upon my life and look at what I want to change or doing differently. A time to set new goals, or renew old one. It is a Bright Day.


26. Is there anything that you collect?

Blank journals. Author autographed books. Baseball caps. I know I'm forgetting something. Let me think.



27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None.


28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Check my wishlist at Barnes & Noble. I'll provide how in a future post (as soon I figure it out).

First Ever Blog Post

I learned to knit when I was about 5 years old. Mom taught me to knit, crotchet, embroider...all that good stuff. I did not become an avid knitter until two years ago when a guy at work taught himself to knit and started a knitting craze at work. Shortly after this time, I took a Sock Class in North Carolina, where I was living at the time. For my own socks, I prefer to knit with wool worsted weight yarn. I like heavy, hiking type socks. I plan to advance to knitting a sweater with the assistance of a good friend Jane from Cranknitters, a knitting group that meets at Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, PA.