My how time flies!

Yes time flies when you have too much to do, doesn’t it? It's been over a week since my last post, I'm so sorry! What have I been up to?

Well I've been working on a secret personal project, that for now I can't share, but maybe someday soon, I'm aiming for later this year. It isn't related to knitting, but I can't say that knitting won't be a part of it. It's a different passion of mines that I've always aspired too, and hopefully I'll make it happen. It's the right time in my life for me right now to do this, so wish me luck 8) I would shed more light on "what it is" but for now, I need to keep it under wraps.

The project I've been working on requires a lot of research, a lot of soul-searching and a lot of time to think. I've slowly started trying to balance my other passions, like knitting, which I love, and need to focus on balancing it more. On top of this, there's the normal work grind and raising my kids, although their both completely self sufficient, they require more "mental" support from me and my husband. When your kids get to the teenage years, the game changes, and a lot of questions are asked about decisions for their future, about life in general.

It's too easy when their big to forget about them in the sense that you don't have to "babysit" them, as it once was required. You know when their babies, toddlers, little kids, they can get into anything, and it involves a lot of "physical" stamina to keep them safe. There's also planning the college layout for my daughter, which has actually turned out better than planned, because my daughter put the effort forward and was promoted to a TA for her class. Lastly, there's my son who begged to go to a completely different High School than my daughter, it was first a deliberate "NO" from me, but eventually I reached a compromise with him and I think it was probably the best decision I've made thus far for him. It means a lot of commitment on his part, like being responsible for his own transportation, keeping his grades in the A range, and also getting involved in sports. He is now on the wrestling team, it was a major surprise to us, but he did it and now is learning the brains of wrestling. Ok, so are you sick of my life now? LOL!

Onto the more fun stuff and exactly what this blog post needs!

Granted this is a late share, but hey, better late than never!

My Stitches Loot, yes it's small, I was practicing restraint the whole time, and now that I see what I bought, I'm amazed at how little it is!



From Plymouth Yarns, Baby Alpaca, in a black tweedish colorway, so soft! Suri lace, now this, it is the green ball you see there, this fiber is the softest I've felt ever, and that little ball has over 400 yards! There's also some naturally dyed fiber from "A Verb for Knitting" in black. I love this so much, I just had to buy some when I saw it and I have to say again, WonderMike is the nicest! He was working the booth when Marisol and I visited. Another friend, Leslie a.k.a. Tapmouse, was working the BMF booth and she aptly pointed out the LSS goodie in my hand in the Muddy Bottom Breakdown colorway as being a "Rocky" color, and she is so right! I love it, the beige is just too gorgeous, I just don't know what to make with it! Lastly I purchased the cutest bull magnet, cause I love magnets! And that's it for the loot, not a lot, but definitely pleasing.

Now, I have some knitting time scheduled, that's my plan, to block out specific times to knit otherwise I'll get lost in my private project if I don't.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Photo Tag

I was tagged by Minerva Wood, my super special spoiler from both my HSK7 & HBLOES swaps recently, so now I'm passing the tag torch on 8-)

Here are the rules:


1. Go to your pictures on your computer


2. Open the 6th folder


3. Choose the 6th picture


4. Show the picture on your blog and write something about it.


5. Invite 6 new people to this challenge.


6. Link to them and let them know they have been tagged.

Well is it no surprise that my picture is this gorgeous guy? Who I'm just a huge fan of now, and I can't seem to get enough info on him.



This is Rob Pattinson at the 2009 Oscars, he looks very handsome and I love his temperament, I'm especially eager to see Little Ashes which is set to open on 3/27/09. Rob first really caught my eye in none other than the Twilight movie, but he was on the radar when he played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. Did you know he's also a musician? I'm scouring the web for anything on his music, I bet he plays well.

Ok, now for my tag, these peeps are who I'm tagging now!

Marisol
Tapmouse
Nell
Opal
Batty
Rosann

Stitches Experience

I went to Stitches West 2009 this past Friday with Marisol. It was my second time going to Stitches and this time I was more prepared than the first.

The first time was an overload experience, where any and all fiber I encountered seemed irresistable. I bought up almost everything I got my hands on, including gadgets and jewelry. I was the novice shopper, easily preyed on by all vendors. I think, if I'm not mistaken, I tallied my total purchases at about $700.00, if not more. I did suffer from buyer's remorse aftwards, but quickly occupied my mind with other thoughts to forget about it. I did promise myself that I would set a reasonable budget for my next time.

And so I did set a budget, I came in my second time under a whopping $200.00! I'm so proud of myself, and at the same time upset, I really should've splurged, but oh well, there's always next year.

Marisol and I ran into some good friends, Tapmouse, who was manning the BMF stand, and also Mike from Yknit, who I have to say is the sweetest person!

Here's our little group hug (left to right, Marisol, WonderMike, and ME (burgundy):



After all the shopping and touching of everything soft, I was pooped! We had started our day off at about 9 a.m. and finished about 4 p.m.

I'll share the my goodies from Stitches later, for now I'll leave you with this good-bye shot of Marisol and I. 8-)

A Welcome Trance

It's been at least a week since I posted, so much has happened since then, and so little too. I'll share that I've been, not feeling well for sometime now, and finally ended up at the emergency room last week. For now, the outlook is good, there are tests I'm taking, but I feel it will turn out fine. I literally lost touch with everything during this past week, dealing with my issue, which explains my neglection to my blog.

I'm finally getting back on track, and now can start replying to emails, posts, comments, etc. I have a late swap package to get out to my Love Bites swappee, I feel so bad that it's late, but things kinda took a turn for the worse there, briefly.

I'll have to admit though, I have been in a trance, which has been most welcomed.

I've had the first novel of the Twilight series for sometime now, and yet I had never picked it up. I carried it with me everywhere, never reading more than a few pages. But since I started feeling, not well, I had an urge to pick it up and hoped that I would get lost in it, a distraction really. I was more amazed at my reaction, I was literally glued to Twilight. I immediately bought every book in the series and continued reading. I read all 4 books from a Thursday to a Sunday evening, feeling sad when I finished Breaking Dawn, knowing it was the conclusion.

When I say trance, I mean it, all I did was read, and really imagine the story. I made it to see the Twilight movie last Friday, and I loved it, though it didn't follow the book too closely, it was still one of my faves.

I'm now anxiously waiting for Midnight Sun, a character perspective, from Edward, his experiences with Bella. I've already read the first chapter, released on Stephenie Meyer's site. I can't thank her enough for sharing that chapter, but now I want more.

Because of my trance, I've completely neglected my knitting, and I feel horrible for doing so. My first true love has always been books, stories, reading, writing, all of it, before the fibery stuff came into my life. I think my hesitation to read Twilight originally came from me knowing I would have to fight my two passions, knitting & reading. I'm now trying to balance that and get my Swallowtail shawl finished in time for next week, Stitches West!

I'll find a balance, and can't wait to share my progress on my projects, oh and more to share of Rosie, my doggy. Thank you all for your comments on her, she really is a jewel for me, we love her so much. Pets, dog's especially, bring out another level of emotion that, like Edward's character in Twilight, you don't you have until you experience it. Sometimes I wonder how I ever went through my childhood without a pet?

Well, I better get going, to finish my Swallowtail, and of course I'm re-reading the Twilight series again, I went through it so fast the first time, I need a second look, although I can now get out of my trance like state.

Anyone going to Stitches West?

The Rhythm in the needles

I have so many WIPs right now, including new projects I need to start. Awhile ago, Leslie, invited me to the Socks that Rawk "Leyburn KAL". I quickly joined and was supposed to cast on back when I joined, but never did, as I gave more attention to the projects I had.

Well, this past Thursday, I kept thinking "I gotta get started on my Leyburns", and I finally did. The purpose of the KAL is to have everyone participating in it knit in Socks that Rock yarn only, and in any colorway, hoping to get as many different colorways knitted up for the "Leyburn" sock pattern by Mintyfresh. It has a lattice pattern look, similar to the lattice you would see going across the top of some fenced homes.

I casted on Thursday evening, got the toe and foot started, and contined a teeny bit Friday, but not really, and the on Saturday, kind of did nothing. That is until later in the evening when I finished up other tasks I had to do, and I turned the heel, and started the leg. I was all fine to keep on knitting, but I was tired from cleaning and other random tasks I finished during the day, so I put my sock down.

Come Sunday morning, and I was flying along, like my heading says "The Rhythm in the needles", and it certainly was. I had memorized the pattern and was knitting "blindly". I finished my first sock by mid-morning, even weaved in the ends. The pattern really looks very nice in the Dragondance colorway, and wouldn't yah know it, it's the perfect color for Valentine's Day!

Here's how it started, TOE UP, my fave way now:



And then voila, I got one down and another one about 50% of the way done!



I quickly casted on for the 2nd sock, but had to put it down to take Rosie, my doggy, to the doggy park to play with other dogs. My hubby and I left and visited a dog park in North San Jose, one we hadn't been to before, but it was perfect. Wide open, a bit smaller than a football field, with benches and chairs to sit. Rosie had a great time, she runs like a race horse and we call her Sea Biscuit when she runs like that. Golden Retrievers have amazing speed and agility, it's really neat to see them in full stride. She was a good girl, and got along with all the other dogs, who all were behaved very well. Here, she's resting, after having stole a tennis ball from another dog.



Oh, and she made plenty of friends, including this little guy who just wouldn't stop following her around



When we arrived back home, I started working on finishing the toe, and again, the rhythm took over, and I stopped at the leg portion, which I'll work on tomorrow. I should get these done by Tuesday, I'm giving myself some slack for working *-)

Now, I need to get my beauty sleep, work again tomorrow! And rain is in the forecast, which means I can bulk up with some of my knits, which I love!