Anyone Still Out There...

• Devon can you hear us?

• Oh, yes here I am!

It has been a busy couple of weeks, with work, knitting, biking, and more knitting. I have completed another KoolHaas hat with another on the needles and one more to follow for me after that. But mostly I am trying to make my way through Rusted Root. I would really like to finish it by May. Wish me luck....

On Monday the 23rd was the Boston Marathon and Jason and I decided to make a morning of it and head out to watch the race. Let me just say, that had to be one of the coolest things I have ever had the privilege of seeing. Here are a couple of photos of the two woman who took first (woman on the right) and second(woman on the left). They were neck and neck. These photos were taken about 3 miles from the finish line. Here is the man who has won the marathon the last 3 years. This makes his 3rd win in a row. He has run 4 times with wins in 2003, 2006, 2007, & 2008 - Look no competition....the 2nd and 3rd winners came quite a ways back.

Winter had finally ended here in Boston (or so I think). Here are the Magnolia trees that sit across our street. They are such gorgeous flowers. They smell so nice. Their only problem is that they fall so quickly and make a hell of a mess. But one must savor them, no?

Now off to knit some more and work on my resume....

Randomness, Contests, and Socks

I am a bad blogger. I received some lovely gifts from my good friend Chan and I have yet to share the goodies. Isn't that tape measure too cute? This yarn is so soft and the colors are gorgeous - it is called mystic lake which is the perfect name.

I also wanted to share 2 of my birthday gifts as they were pretty freakin cool. My sockapalooza pal who lives in Portland, Oregon, who I got to meet on my trip home, made me an awesome bag. The funny thing is I had been salivating over this very fabric even before our plans had been finalized. She is a great gal, a great friend and it is all thanks to knitting and socks that we met and got to know each other. The other killer gift was made by my very talented mom. She knows exactly what I like in a bag - lots of pockets and compartments to keep my stuff organized (or at least allowing the attempt to organize)


Now for some knitting content: I am officially in love with toe up socks and knitting them at the same time on 2 circulars. This method is by far and away the best I have done yet. Although I may be jumping the gun as I have not gotten to the heal and gusset yet, but I still think I will love this method. I am knitting Azure. It is a great pattern, well written and beautiful. I probably didn't choose the best yarn coloring for this pattern, because the whale patterns gets lost - but I still love it. These are socks for the husband - who seems to think that he will be known as the professor with the cool socks. What he doesn't understand is that I just don't knit fast enough - or perhaps it is just that I do a lot of reading too? Or maybe I just need more hours in the day.

It will be a year ago on the 1st of March that I started this knitting blogging venture. It has been quite a ride. It all started from my friend Michele who started her own blog and I thought that was pretty swell so I jumped on board. I have made many a friend through this wonderful knitting/blogging community. Although my posting has not been as much as I would like since the dreaded holiday season I do hope to get back to my regularly scheduled blogs. In anticipation of my bloganniversary I am holding a CONTEST! I will have all the details up on Wednesday. Come back and play along - I promise it will be an easy one.

Did Someone Say Pie?

I wanted to wish those of you who are participating in the day known as Thanksgiving a very happy one - filled with lots of good food and family and friends. A day for giving thanks!

Head over to Chan's blog she is having a very thoughtful and wonderful contest that will benefit a charity of the winners choice.

Now for the pie.....Don't usually do these, but how can I resist pie? Being a pastry cook and all this little questionnaire spoke to me, thanks Chan!

You Are Pumpkin Pie

You're the perfect combo of uniqueness and quality. You're able to relate to many types of people with many different tastes. But you're by no means generic or ordinary. In fact, you're one of the most original people around. Those who like you are looking for something (someone!) special. You tend confuse people when they first meet you. You're not as complicated as you seem. Even though you have a lot of spice and flavor to you, you're never overpowering. You are a calm and comforting force in people's lives.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Yes, I'm Still Here

Still kicking, still knitting, and trying to finish way too many holiday knits. Why do we do this to ourselves, I said I was going to start earlier, but that never happened. Now I am in knit fast as you can mode - but then I some how volunteered myself to knit a baby shower gift for a friend. Oh the upside of volunteering I am knitting two new things and I have learned two new techniques - knitting with 2 circulars and the Magic Cast on found here and here.

No actual knitting to share currently but I wanted to share my awesome Ravelry beta T-shirt. It is a bit on the snug side, but it works. Yay for Ravelry!!!

And because I have no knitting here is a picture of how I keep my needles organized - jealous? I use a 12 slot folder normally used for bills and coupons and fold the top flap back and secure it with the elastic cord that comes with it and then I took out my handy dandy labeler and went crazy. Now in order to keep needles in there own slot with out slidding underneath the plastic I came up with card stock as a way of containing them. It works great! Then in an effort to make it just a little bit prettier I put it into one of those photo boxes you see at Michaels for under $5. The perfect solution.

Now I don't know about you, but sometimes I have multiple projects going on and my DPN are not where they should be so I have set up a system of writing the needle size, the number in the set and the location if 2 or more are being used on a random project shoved at the bottom of my bag or yarn bin. All in the hopes of organizing. SNOL

A Swapping We Will GO

Just a few little things....

• Knit 1 Tea 2 Questionnaire up and on the side bar.
  

• Knit 1 Tea 2 is still open for sign ups so head on over if you are interested...

• For those of you who love swapping - a lovely woman Jenna has made it that much easier, check out her Swap Dex sight to find your future swaps!

• Everybody loves a good contest so head on over to the Caffeinated Knitter and enter her contest as a celebration for the opening of her Etsy shop. Then there is the XMAS movie contest for a possible color way for yarn over at Jana's White Oak Studio.
  

• And finally I am working on my Isabella tank top, I may get it done before the summer yet. Wish me luck!

• Off to do some 'ACTUAL' knitting!