a bit of a break

Well, it’s been a while since I posted… I took a little vacation then just got busy. Like several of my blogging (and real life) buddies, I’m afraid the time has come for me to put the blog on the back burner. I’m Not giving it up, I just am having trouble finding time to blog right now. I just started a 2nd job in the evenings and I just need to get settled in the new routine and my schedule. 

I haven’t forgotten about the Relay for Life raffle. I’m going to draw names tomorrow night and get addresses for everyone. 

and since it’s not goodbye… how ’bout I’ll see ya when I see ya?

a week?

It’s been a whole week since I last posted… hmm. Well, it has been a busy week… 

I finally managed to drag Mom to a knit night. She had a lot of fun and admitted she wished she’d come sooner. (and no, I did not say “I told you so!”)

Yesterday, a couple local Ravelers and I rode up to Chateau Morrisette (a local winery) for a Ravelry meet up. I enjoyed meeting everyone, especially Kimberly who came all the way down from Rhode Island just to knit and drink with us. 

Stephanie, Sallee and I “forced” her into coming back to Roanoke via the Blue Ridge Parkway where it was very beautiful despite the vast amounts of fog we drove through. We went out to dinner and then descended onto Barnes and Noble for dessert and coffee (or tea). It was over 12 hrs from the time I left my home in the morning to when I came back in. 

Despite the fact that I had my camera with me, I took not one picture (bad blogger…) but Sallee and Kimberly did so I’ll point you in their directions for pictures. 

I’m still working on my sweater. I’m on sleeve number one. I was afraid it’d be too big (they are apparently bell sleeves) but I’m slogging on. However about half way up the sleeve I think I will remove the needles (having secured the live stitches with scrap yarn of course) and make sure the sleeve doesn’t bell too much. What I’ll do then if it is, I’m not sure. I’ll just cross that bridge when I get to it! 

I’m still waiting on my wee tiny sock to get here but it’s coming from London and really, it’s just been 4 days. I’m not worried about it yet. 

And now, so my post won’t be entirely picture free, I’ll share with you a picture of the littlest heathen when she was very young. 

My baby Pepper

OH, I almost forgot, Rae has offered up as one prize in my Relay for Life fundraiser contest two of her bag patterns. Thanks Rae!

Weekend Update

There’s not much to show on the knitting front. I’m still plugging away on my sweater. A new picture doesn’t show much change although I am almost done with the waist shaping increases. 

Spring is here (although it wouldn’t break my heart if we start getting a little warmer…). I know for a fact it’s here to stay because my outside “buddy” Big Fat Groudhog is back munching on grass and whatnot.

Easter is here and almost over.I’m still playing on Ravelry (you HAVE signed up haven’t you??) 

I’ve been helping Dana and the crew out with the behind the scenes planning for the Sedalia Fiber Festival (May 24th. You will be there won’t you??) 

Oh, I signed up for the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. Link and such on the sidebar, there’s no limit to the number of participants and sign ups close on March 27. Socks to be mailed the 31st. I love these little socks! Those of you know know me in person have probably seen me knitting on at least one for my little sock blocker keychain…

Speaking of the sidebar, I’ve *finally* gotten the blog roll in there. I think it’s fairly accurate since I exported my google reader file but if you’re here and not there, please let me know!  

And now, so it’s not all blah blah blah… I leave you with an old picture of the heathens:  

And don’t forget about the Relay for Life Contest going on til April 17th (link also in the sidebar)

Movin’ right along

Yup, that’s right. I’m managing only to knit on my sweater. I’m done with the waist shaping decreases and am about 3 rows from starting the increases!

I’m very happy with it so far! I’ve seen on Ravelry that some of the necks are very wide. I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do yet. However I did find the perfect creamy tan tank top to go under it just in case…

Don’t forget to donate to Relay for Life to be entered for prizes!

Prizes!

Hmm, I guess I did forget something in the last post: Prizes! 

I have some Dream in Color Smooshy and a pattern by WendyKnits. 

There is a beginner spindle and some roving.

And the big granddaddy of them all will be some sort of loveliness that comes home from Maryland Sheep and Wool with me!  

I do have a few other prizes waiting “in the wings” so to speak so if there are a lot of entries I have more prizes! 

hey little girl (or boy…) want some fiber?

So… I think it’s time for a big ol’ contest!

The company I work for has a Relay for Life team. This year I decided to officially join and do my part to raise money.

This is where you and the contest come in. If you click on this link and donate to my Relay for Life team through me, your name goes in the hat for some fibery prizes!

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Nikki

Here are the official rules:

1. Donations up to $25 get your name in the hat once.

2. Donations above $26 gets your name in the hat twice.

3. If you blog about this and leave me a link – yup – that’s right, your name goes into the hat one more time!

4. Please make sure that the email address you use to donate is a valid email that you do check, this will be how I get in touch with you if you’re a winner.

5. Every dollar counts!! Please don’t feel bad if you can only donate a dollar or two…

6. The contest starts now (and the people who have already donated through the link in my sidebar before the contest began – your name goes in the hat too!) and ends April 17th..

So… as they say Give early and give often!!

And Most Importanly: THANK YOU!!!

ETA: Link to list of Prizes! 

Pepper love

Pepper is a Cat. Yes, Bartholamew may look like a cat but he doesn’t act like the stereotypical cat. Pepper does. So I bought my Cat a Cat Scratcher… Thankfully, she loves it!!

I found it from Crazy Aunt Purl’s blog. And thankfully, Pepper uses it for scratching not just lounging too.

I’m still not knitting. I can only manage this because I discovered I could spin easily in my brace.

Maybe too easily:

That’s the jumbo plying head flyer/bobbin thing too that’s cram full. The “joy” now is transferring to the niddy-noddy. Its only like eleventybillion yards… (phrase also somewhat borrowed from Crazy Aunt Purl).

The fiber is some I got at SAFF unknown wool, the colorway is persimmon. It’s been fun to spin. And honestly I am interested in knowing how many yards it is.

Lastly, I’d like to direct you to Dotty’s blog. She got her prize package from me today!

prize #1

Or prize #2… I’m not sure. 

Either way it doesn’t matter… Deb got her package today so I can show you what she got. Or some of it. I didn’t manage to take a picture!

She got two balls of Universal Yarn Co. Deluxe Worsted LP:

in shades of blue.

I also sent her some stitch markers (cuz we all need more of those right?) and a cute little sheep figure.

Deb also told me that she’s been involved in other contests where the prizes were never sent out. How sad is that…

Coming soon finished projects (I hope! well, I do have some finished ones but I want two more finished soon), and my first Ravelry swap! (in which I also forgot to take pictures before I sent the package).

Have a great weekend, y’all!

we have winners!

I decided that since almost 50 people entered my “little” contest that I would pick for two winners. 

First, I while chatting with my very best non-knitting friend through email, I asked her to pick a number between one and 48. She doesn’t read my blog because even though she doesn’t knit she gets the blow by blow on all my knitting and spinning issues. She’s really good and nodding and going “Oh, OK”. When I just need to get it out. She picked #23 - Dotty! I read her blog and hunted around and found her on Ravelry and looked at her stash – we have several yarns and groups in common so I think I know what to send her. 

Then, I called my Mom, who even though she knits she doesn’t read my blog (unless specifically directed to do so) and asked her to pick a number. She chose # 27 who is Deb! I went to Deb’s blog and read it and her Ravelry profile and think I have it narrowed down to what she’s going to get.  

After I hear back from our lucky winners I’ll let you know what they won!

A very large Thank you! to everyone who entered and I hope those of you who came over from Chris’s stay for a while.  

WOW!

Wow! That’s about all I have to say. OK, it’s not really but it sums it up pretty good! Talk about feelin’ the love! 42 comments! That’s a lot. Thank you all.

I wanted to respond to each of you personally but there was a glitch in the emailing of the comments and other things (that we’ll get into in a minute) and I just couldn’t. I’ll try to answer the main question here: I don’t know what kind of plant it is! When I moved into my newest office at work, I got a very wonderful window that gets strong afternoon sun. I’m not the best at remembering to water my plants so I went to the local neighborhood Wal-mart and bought me a cactus. A non-prickly kind so I wouldn’t hurt myself and so no one else would get hurt either. Thanks to Dad, I now know the little sprout is called a pup (in case you didn’t read the other comments – it’s OK, I don’t always read the comments on blogs I read).  

Now, the other reason I’m just not able to respond to everyone is I’m a little squished for time. My step-Mom (who’s the best step-Mom in the world and I really hate calling her my “step-Mom” just because it has such negative connotations with it)’s father passed away. It’s a little hectic and I promise to pick a winner when things settle down – probably this Saturday.

So please, if you haven’t already, go on back to Jan 19ths post and comment away until midnight Thursday 1/24.

And because so many of you came from Chris’s Chaos and Mayhems I bring you my two heathens: