Nevada State Fair

The Nevada State Fair was held last week. I didn't have anything entered, I wanted to but time got away from me. (WORK) However two people I know did enter. Miss Caroline the supreme sock knitter mentioned in the last post entered some socks...and won a blue ribbon! (First place in the category) YEAH CAROLINE! Have not seen her yet though to congratulate her.

My friend Kathy entered a sewing project and a knitted bag. She won blue ribbons for both. Honey and I went with her to see if she had gotten a ribbon. This was the first time she had ever entered anything and was kind of nervous. When we got to the fair she kept procrastinating about going to the exhibit hall and seeing if she had gotten anything. I finally had to drag her. She entered a sewn sculpture piece...the category was toy...but its way more then a toy. It is a sculpture of a Dragon which she calls Starlight. The other item is a knitted bag that she named Vikkie's Dharma with Bells. (its my belated bday gift) She was soooooo excited. Couldn't stop squeeling LOL..yup she did. I was so excited for her. I have won a couple of ribbons at the Fair in prior years for paintings so I know exactly how she felt. Here is her happy face next to her pieces on display:


The bag is the bigger stripped one.

Knitting in the Park

A couple of weekends ago Florrie from Deluxe Yarns set up "Knitting in the Park" (August 19th). It was a really lovely day though if you were in the shade for the first part of the day it was a little chilly but then warmed up though there was a good breeze all day. We have had a horrendously hot summer here so it was a nice break. The company was lovely. My lovely friend Knitty Otter was there and others who I have missed knitting with this summer because WORK (that damn 4 letter word I swear!) got in the way.

Someone even brought a portable spinning wheel. We ate, we laughed, we spun....oh yeah and yours truly FELL. Right on her face! Sheesh...my flip flop caught a piece of raised walkway just right and I went sliding across the cement ...lunch everywhere. I went sliding...face first and scrapped up my elbow pretty nicely. At first I didn't think it was anything more then a scrapped up elbow. But has night came, at home, I went to stand up and my hip and knee where shot through with pain. I went to straighten my arm...the scrapped up elbow one...and couldn't. The elbow was swollen up like a below and bruised badly, my right hip had a huge black bruise and my knee did as well (my knees are already in bad shape so this doesn't help). It was so bad I couldn't get up and move to go to work. SHEESH! Only me! It honestly didn't feel that bad when it happened. It is all healing very nicely now though. But thats not what I needed lol.

Anyway ...one of my knitterly friends brought a huge wicker basket with her...at the request of Knitty Otter I was given to understand...of her socks. Caroline is a talented talented knitter of all kinds of items, but especially socks. The fantastic thing about her socks is that she makes very large socks...lol...like for someone who wears size 10 shoe and up (makes socks for her son who wears a size 13 shoe) and they are also wide. Pretty big socks...and she knits them on size - dpns. Yup! Fast too! Her socks come out with a beautiful fantastic fabric, if you didn't know you would think they had been machine made. So, when the basket was opened she had 52 pairs of the socks, and said she had given away at least as many. WOW...we of course HAD to take pictures. Of course! The cool thing for me is that Miss Caroline has similar tastes in sock yarn as I do...many of her completed socks are done in yarn that I have in my stash that I have not been able to match with a pattern because I wasn't sure what the stripping would do. Now that I have seen them knit up I have a better idea and can match them better with patterns. So here are her socks:

Yarny Adventure

For some reason I keep forgetting to write up the post about my little trip up to North Star. On June 30th about 12 of us from my area (including my friend K, Monkeysocks, Freddie and Knitty Otter).

We began the day by having a really nice lunch at the River Ranch Lodge, which sits on the Truckee River. And I do mean it sits right on the river. They have an outdoor patio and bbq grill which juts out over the river (just a little). The service was really nice and the food was great! Gourmet hamburgers and fries.

After lunch we went up to The Village at North Star (a popular ski area) and visited "Loopy at Tahoe" yarn shop. The shop used to be located in North Lake Tahoe (under the name "Three Dog Knit") but has recently moved to North Star. The owner (Judy) of the shop was featured last year on an episode of Knitty Gritty with her kids in which Ski patterns were featured. It is a small shop but very nice welcoming atmosphere in a lovely spot. Judy couldn't have been any nicer and didn't hesitate when I asked if I could take her picture for my blog. Thank you Judy! I didn't buy much but what I got I really like. Going to make a felted bag with the yarn. The booklet was a great find, had not seen it before and it has given me some really great ideas. Not only for bags but for some other things. Love when that happens. :-)

After the yarn shop we strolled down the path and found a great bead shop. Nice service and beautiful beads. Though the shop was in a high price area I found the prices to be comparable to other bead shops in less afluent areas. The service was great (which seemed to be the way it was on saturday...every where we went we were treated really well). The shop is called Farrah Rale. Not only do they sell beads but if you are not a jewelry crafter and you find some beads and trinkets you like they will put it together for you right there. I found a really nice large bead that will serve well as a closure for a bag, plus some interesting beads that will make nice stitch markers. Now I need more beads like I need more yarn and more books (my bead stash is 3rd in size only to my book stash and my yarn stash). lol

It was a really nice day with some really nice people. My friend K was able to come as well and she got to meet some of the people I talk to her about. She lives sort of far out town and doesn't get to participate in some of the yarny things because of distance. I love going to my LYS (Deluxe Yarns) and playing yarn there but every once in while its nice to see what else is going on. :-)

Thrift Store Finds

1. 2. 3.

1. These two old crochet books ("Crochet Your Way" and "Family Circles: Favorite Needlecrafts", the 2nd one I believe is out of print and can only be found used) were donated and the manager just grabbed them for me. There are some nice ideas in them even though the patterns are old fashioned but they can be simply modernized.

2. Rosearts "Knit & Gem Machine": I am really excited to have gotten this. Lots of people are after this "child's toy" and they are hard to come by used never mind new. The only thing that is "wrong" with this one is that funny little stickers were put all over it, which I will remove simply enough. All the parts and book came with it.

3. The 50 cent Black Bag: This still had the tag on it! Yes it only cost me $0.50 (U.S.)! Its lined and the "label" on the front says "Rosetti: New York". I have no idea if thats a good label or not, I am not a label type person nor am I into "trendy" or "in-now" kind of things. I like what I like whether its in or not. lol I usually go for things that are totally against a trend anyway because I want to be different. :-P~~~ It has great inside pockets, is lined and has nice outside pockets. I love it!

I have also come away with about 10 8" wide leather belts (black, navy and brown) that I thought I could up and use in a creative way. Also found some pins, earrings and belt buckles that could be used as embelishments.

I live with an enabler...

...I am so lucky. Have some new goodies to share. Some came from my honey the others came from the thrift store at the non-profit I work with. The manager of the store finds things of a "yarny" nature and saves them for me. Sometimes the items still have the tag on it. The store gets a lot of things donated but its small so she just passes some items on to me. Lucky me. As for honey...well he just loves me and I am spoiled. LOL...might as well admit the obvious.

First from the honey:

Three new books:

"Mason Dixon Knitting", I didn't know how funny the authors are. I am not crazy about the cover because it really doesn't give you a clue as to how nice the book really is on the inside. Thank goodness that I know better then to judge a book by it cover. ;-) I am liking it alot.

"World of Knitted Toys", I really like this one because it is different from other 'toy' type books. The animals are not cutsey cartoon types, instead they are made to represent realistic animals around the world. I am especially in love with the section on animals from the frozen parts of world...having lived on Antarctica for a tiny portion of my life I have an affinity for the animals that survive there.

"Beautiful Knitting Patterns", this is a knitting stitch dictionary/encyclopedia book. The stitches are as beautiful as the title states...but what I like about it is that the majority of the stitches I have not seen before even in bigger books of its types. Always looking for the unique and different.

Knifty Knitter Handloom: This comes from the Knifty Knitter Loom people. Its a mini-hand loom. I have recently complained how I can't find handles that I like or that are unique so when I saw this I thought it might be an interesting way to create handles for bags that would be my own creation and would stand out. Shall see how it works. :-) I can't seem to find a link for it. Honey got for me at Ben Franklin's craft store.

Crafters on the Go Bag: Has lots of pockets for needles and notions and a good size for projects. Again can't find a link for the bag but it was purchased from Michael's Craft Store.

JJ's Specialty Yarns: This came from New Zealand. Love the colors and I think it is destined to become a felted bag. Shall see.

Next post: Thrift store finds, and the one after that trip to Tahoe. :-)

RAVELRY!

Ok...FIRST: OMF-ingG! Ravelry has to be one of the most fantastic ideas to come to the internet that I have come across in a long long time. If you have not heard about it or come across it somewhere in blogland...THEN WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? LOL....

It is fantastic, they are still in beta testing because they are adding things and improving things and just opened up in May 2007. But I have to tell you I have been a beta tester for many geeky type things over the years...and if this site is still in beta test I cannot imagine what it will be like when its full fledged!

What is it? Well it is a database, organizing tool and network for fiber artists, designers and hobbiests. It is the best pattern, yarn and project organizer I have ever seen. I would challenge you to find something better. Seriously! It is simple to use, verstile...and get this...FREE! You have got to see it for yourself. There is a tour of it here. The tour does not come close to showing you all that the site has to offer.

Since they are still beta testing, joining is by invite for now. But all you have to do to get an invite is put your name on the list and you will get an invite. It takes awhile to get because of the HUGE response they got. They are doing things right...doing it little by little so the site doesn't crash and so it will work as advertise. They are two young people who had an idea and the talent to put it together. They aren't charging for it and want it to be as great as they invision it. Here you can find a detailed letter that explains how and why they are doing things the way they are.

So go put your name on the list! When you do my id on there is Yarnatic...come play yarn with me!

The Bag Issues

Finally some knitting...I know amazing!

Even though I haven't posted in over a week I have been knitting. I had to knit...needed it for stress relief from all the work I had to do for the intensive 3 credit class that I took in just 3 weeks. Wow was it a dozy...I have only taken one summer class once before but it was over an 8 week period. This was a new experince for me. I have to say though that it was well worth it. The Professor, Dr. Jennifer Ring, was enthusiastic, extremely intelligent and passionate about her topic. The course was called Race and Gender in the U.S. It was under the heading for the Political Science Department and the Women's Studies Department. Excellent, course! Challenging with the amount of reading that I had to do in the last 3 weeks and with having to write a term paper (10 pages AFTER cutting it back from over 20!)

Anyway, on to the knitting. As you can see from the opening picture I have made three bags. I finished two last night. They are scheduled for "shrinking" (a.k.a felting/fulling lol). Thought before I subject them to the process of size reduction I would post about them. I have wanted to do some bags for awhile but have been in "The Sock Zone" for a while. So while taking a break I did these. They went really fast. I have a fourth one on the needles still and hope to finish it by early next week and will then process all 4 together. I have made 3 other bags prior to this but they have been on hold due to issues I have with them which I will discuss below.



First, "The great purple bag" (as I am calling it). I pulled together several patterns to come up with this one. It is basically a typical messenger type bag. I have been wanting my own funky knitting bag. There are many cool knitting bags out there for purchase but they are a bit pricey for my budget so I figured that I could come up with my own and then it would be unique. Pre-shrinking this bag is huge and though I know it will be smaller I hope it won't shrink too much. Here are the specs:

Yarn: Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride. I used 4 colors, black and 3 purples; about a skein and 1/2 of each color.

Needles: Addi turbos, U.S. 9, 36" circulars.

Pattern: Part from "Knitting for Peace" (a book that I want badly!) messenger bag and from 2 other sources plus my own ideas. I have written all down and came up with my own pattern by combing things I liked from the other patterns and my own ideas. It was done all in one piece, from bottom to handles.

Size:
Bottom: 16 1/2" x 5"
Body: About 20" in length (5" per color) and approximately 60" in circum.
Handle: About 4" x 61" (about)
Flap: 19 1/2" x 18 1/2"

Notes: Really easy to do. We shall see how much it shrinks, will be interesting. I know that Brown Sheep felts to a nice texture. It really is a lovely yarn to work with (as I have mentioned before).




This was a REALLY quick bag to do. Super easy and cute. Here are the specs:

Pattern: Knitting Daily's "Amanda's Squatty Sidekick Bag".

Yarn: Paton's SWS, in variegated pink. Really nice and soft to work with. I read somewhere that it felts fuzzy, but if I don't like the fuzziness I can use one of those clothing shavers to smooth it out and then it lays nicely. I am not really big into fuzzy so will see. I bought the yarn a long time ago to see how it felts. It is part Bamboo and was meant for felting projects. Everyone who has seen this bag so far, pre-felting, thinks I should leave it as is. However, the problem with doing that is that it would need to be lined so that it would be sturdy. I DO NOT sew and DO NOT care too...I have never liked sewing. I could pay to have someone line it for me ...but geez who can afford that! lol...so it WILL be shrunk. (SO THERE ;-p~~~ ) Oh btw, it was done in one piece and I only used about 200 yds, which was about 2 balls. Not too bad.

Size:
Bottom: 9 1/2" x 4"
Body: About 8 1/2" in length and approximately 27 " in circum.
Closure Tab: 4" x 3 1/2" at the base and 1 3/4" at the tip
Handle: 3 1/2" x 21 1/2"
Needles: Addi turbos, U.S. 9, 24" circulars



This was the fastest of the three for some reason. LOL. I was sent the yarn as a gift for my bday and it went perfect for a bag that I have been wanting to do for a very long time. The person who sent it to me (who asked me not to say who they are though I have no clue WHY! Silly woman! but I love her so its cool), said that when she saw it that it screamed to her "VIKKIE!!!" She was right of course...she said that it the lady in the craft store said it was perfect for "shrinking", lol, I am sure the lady told her that it felted but that is what she told. When I asked her "shrinking? or felting" She said "Whatever, if I put my cashemer sweater in the wash it will shrink...so what the hell is the difference. It shrinks and I knew you would love it because of the colors and I don't know one damn thing about yarn so shut up!" LMAO LOL! So here are the specs:

Yarn: Poems (I could not find a link for this yarn, a search only gave me links to actual poems about yarn and knitting...sheesh) in two colorways....and umm I was so excited to get the yarn that I ripped off the labels...which my dog promptly grabbed and shredded so umm yeah. I could google it but I am lazy today so...no. It has a mat sort of finish (unlike SWS and Lamb's Pride which has a sheen). It isn't that soft but the color patterning is nice and even. Transitions from one color to the next nicely. I used about 3 balls of the colorway with the purple and one ball of the graduated blues. (Edit 09/07/07: Wisdom Yarns Poems; 4 Stitches to the inch on US 7s, 109 per ball, and I used colorways 550 and 558. I just found it online)

Pattern: "The Lucy Bag". I was gifted with the pattern. Even though everyone around here (in my area that is) is making this bag, and I don't usually like to make the same projects everyone else is making, I love the way the bag works and looks and have wanted to make it for a long time. It worked up really fast. I had started in Lamb's Pride in blues but when I got the poems I ripped it out and started over. I basically made it in about 3 days. It was also made in one piece from bottom to the handles. I chose to do the smaller version.

Size:
Bottom: The bag is constructed in the round. You cast on the bottom and join into a small circle and increase to a certain number of stitches. At the end of the increases it is 7" diameter.
Body: 16" in length and about 24" in circumfrence.
Handles: The longer one is 3" x 25", the shorther one is 3" x 16 1/2"
Needles: U.S. 7, bamboo, 24" circulars



The first bag is made from Sari Silk remenants and was completed back in the fall. The 2nd bag is an Entrelac bag that I did a few months ago (with Noro) and then felted. The last one is a Booga bag (in Berroco Hip Hop and Cascade Pastaza). I am not going to post details on these at this time because of the issue that I will discuss below. I loved making the bags but the lack of being able to totally complete them as me disappointed. When and if I can work out the issues then I will post details about them.

Issues:
Ok so here are some issues I have been having with all the bags.

Closures: I am having difficulty selecting closures for my bags. I do not want the same (typical) closures everyone else uses. Like buttons or beads. I want things that are different and unique. But, what? Does anyone out there have ideas? I want original, unique and different....NOT typical. But exactly what that is I have not figured out yet! LOL...so I am open to ideas.

To line or not to line?: The entrelac bag and the Sari Silk bag definetly need to be lined because they just aren't sturdy enough for use. But as I said I do not sew. Do not know how too (well barely)...so not sure what do.

Handles: As with the closures...I want different and unique and not something that everyone else is doing. I made handles for the entrelac and Booga bag but they are what everyone else has done and they really do not call to me nor do they do anything for the bags. I really love the entrelac bag and I want something classy and special for it...as well for the Booga Bag. Any ideas?

Well I have more to post about...but not about bags. I will save it for the weekend so I will have another subject to post about. Plus this has ended up being a long post and if you are still with me at this point you probably are saying "Enough already!" LOL...plus I want to go knit and play yarn! Woohoo.

Lang's Mille Colori

I have had these done for a while but for some reason I failed to post about them. don't know why, because I am really in love with they way they came out. I used the same yarn for both projects. It is Lang Yarns' Mille Colori line. It is made up of 50% New wool and 50% Acrylic and gives a gauge of 15 stitches per 4 inches on US 10 needles. Each ball contains about 92m. It is absolutely lovely to work with. It is a bit fuzzy but lays down nicely after washing.


Pattern: Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole by Kathleen Power Johnson from Interweave Knits' "Scarf Style"; page 52

Needles: Addi Turbo circulars, U.S. 10

Yarn: Lang Yarns Mille Colori in colorway 0053; used 10 balls

Notes: I absolutely love this pattern. I did not add the netted fringe the pattern called for because I thought the yarn didn't need it. It is super soft and the yarn makes the wrap stretchy. The yarn also has a nice upscale sheen to it. I need to find a nice simple one color dress or suit to wear it with. I had so much fun see all the color changes that occured in every square. The pattern was super easy but the changes that are required for an Entrelac pattern kept it interesting. Finished it came out to about 70" by 25", so pretty large but I was surprised at how fast the pattern went. I was a little sad when it was finished it because it was so much fun to make. My honey actually wanted to turn it into a lapghan! No way in hell was that going to happen after how much all the yarn cost me (don't ask). LOL

Pattern: umm yeah pattern...well I found it free online somewhere but do not know where I put the printout. Yes I know ...duh!

Needles: US 8, Brittany's

Yarn: Lang Yarns Mille Colori in colorway 0046.

Notes: After I completed Lady Eleanor I was so in love with the yarn that I wanted to make something else with it in a different colorway. This pattern worked well with the colorway since it wasn't as busy as the other one. I believe that this will be going to someone special that I have in mind, next Christmas. Someone that I know loves purples.

Progress Report:
I have finished knitting up two of the bags I am going to felt and working on the 3rd. I will post pictures of them after felting. I took a break from sock knitting but I am getting the itch again. Also craving to get back to work on my lace projects. Oh yes and still working steadily on my "secret project" at my LYS. I work on that one when I go there in order to keep it a secret. shhhhhhhhhh....

Birthday Update.

(Delicious Blue Pacific Martini from Chilis, this was my frufru drink for my bday.)

I realized that I didn't say much about my bday afterwards. We went to the book store where I spent my gift card from my Honey on these two books:

The one on the left is "The Knitters Bible: Knitted Bags" and the one on the right is the new Harry Potter themed book, "Charmed Knits". The first one has some really great and unique bag patterns. Its really nice and got the creative wheels turning. There are some things in it that I had not seen. Now as for the HP book...the patterns are great! The instructions are easy to follow and they range in skill from beginner to advance. What I also love is that all the patterns though based on the Harry Potter stories can be adapted to anything the knitter wants to change it too. As with the other book there are patterns in it that I had not seen before.

I also recieved these three skeins of yarn. Yes three! Going from right to left:

1. Colinette's Jitterbug line in the "popsicle" (146) colorway. I LOVE the colors. Totally me! Its 100% Merino with 267 yds.

2. Mountain Colors' Mountain Goat line in the "wildflower" colorway. It is 45% wool and 55% Mohair with 230 yds in the skein. The picture doesn't show it up will but there is a bit of a mustard and rust color running in between the purples. Makes a really nice contrast. I like high contrast in my colors.

3. Mountain Colors' Twizzle line in the "goldrush" colorway. I love warm colors. I have not used this line before but I know I will enjoy playing with it because its so soft. It is 85% Merino and 15% Silk with 250 yds.

I have to say that for color vibrancy and fiber feel Mountain colors is one of my top favorites. I love all their colors. Jitterbug goes into the top favorite category for colors. Colinette does a great job with unique and bright colors that I love.

Happy Birthday

Well...to start with today is my birthday...yuppers. I am 42...blah...I do not have a big thing about age actually but for some reason I just don't like that number. Yes I know the alternative to getting older is not getting any older so that isn't that cool...so of course I would rather take the larger number. lol


I awoke to several surprises. Honey, got up earlier and cleaned the place up...went to the store and purchased special breakfast stuff and a Little Mermaid balloon (no not flowers, he gets me flowers all the time but see...I have this "thing" for balloons...don't know why but I love balloons...yeah I know, strange but oh well!)


So anyhoo...in the living room I found the balloon hovering over the coffee table. Then there was a brightly colored gift box with a card on top. Inside was a funny card with Bugs Bunny on the front (yes I LOVE bugs...he is way cool...sorry I like cartoons and comics...and today we are going to see Shrek 3... :-P) Inside the card was a generous gift certificate to the bookstore! I happen to be addicted to books as MUCH as I am addicted to yarn. Its pretty bad.


Now for the box...hmm well this is kind of strange...if you are a geeky type person you will totally get how cool this gift is...if you aren't well I'm sorry for you LOL ...you will just have to take my word for it....THIS IS A WAY COOL GIFT...my guy is unbelievably smart to have come up with it. So...he made me something...I am forever forgetting to charge my Ipod and like to fall asleep with it (long story) so lots of time I go to bed and realize its not charged...duh me. So, Honey figured that I needed a way to charge it or plug it in to the wall socket so that it would stay charged. Now, they sell wall charges for Ipods all over the darn place but do you think he would go to the store and simply buy one? Of course NOT...silly. He makes me one...and its WAY cooler then the one in the store because not only can I plug into the wall socket...but see the black piece attached to the HUB? That piece olds batteries, rechargable batteries so if I am some place that I cannot readily access a wall socket, I don't need it because the batteries will charge my Ipod for me! (the black piece is also removable) Can't buy those anywhere! So, as he said, its not the prettiest thing but its way functional and convient. He also included a pouch so that I can put everything in it and just carry it along. Ok...now tell me that isn't SUPER SMART! You can't I know! LOL I really love this gift...do you think that tells you how much of a geek I am? lol


Ok now onto more gifts...earlier in the week I recieved a great package from Ireland from the lovely Jo. She got herself a cone of 50% Suri Alpaca and 50% Blue Face Leicester undyed yarn. She wound some up for me (657 yds of some) and sent it to me. Wow! Its about a sock weight....and really soft. I want to do a special dye job. Jo did not know that my bday was coming she just sent it because she wanted to share with me. Is that not really cool or what? I really hope to meet her someday because I KNOW we would have a blast. I also know that she will fit right into our strange little group of yarn addicts. If you have yet to visit her blog you are missing out. She is a great and funny writer, her writting has a storytellers style and she also post gorgeous photos of where she lives.


As for the dye job, I would like to do something metallic looking like the yarn that Mr. Dave spun himself. I really think this yarn needs something special to really make it stand out and metallics would do it up right. Just have to figure out how to get that silver, gold, copper look.


Also, last Tuesday my lovely blogless friend, Monkey Socks, came in and handed me a skein of yarn and said: "Here for you", "Me? Why?" , "Well I ordered it and it looked different online, I don't like it as much now and I thought it just SCREAMED Vikkie" LOL....she is right it does and I love it. Its from Bright Dyes and its called "Easter Parade". I do not know what its made of nor how many yards it is. I have looked at the Bright Dyes page for yardage on their skeins but could not find it...so if anyone knows please drop me a line. Again, as with Jo, Monkey Socks did not know my bday was coming. hehehe...


Ok, one more gift. After opeing my lovely gifts from Honey, I checked email and found a message from "Yarnivorous". She had a contest at the beginning of the month. Someone else had one but did not claim their prize...Sooooo.....guess what? YUP! I won it. I get to choose from her shop any handdye OR handspun yarn up 100grs! Is that cool or what? She even has handdye roving...I do not know if I can choose from the roving but if so that would be cool, since as I have mentioned: I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPIN! LOL....She has really great colors so I don't have a prefrence there. I would be happy with anything! One more time, she had no idea that it was my birthday. LOL...good yarn karma. Oh, and she lives in Victoria, Australia! (Victoria is a beautiful place...its the area of Australia where Melbourne is located) Isn't that something considering my first name is Victoria? LOL...well I think it is. LOL My stash is getting an international flavor to it. How fun!


Oh and finally but not the least. My Mom sent me a really nice card...I mean its really pretty. Its covered in silk with felted flowers on the front. It came with the following message:


"Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation."


Lovely. The card also contained a generous gift for yarn shopping. Well I don't know if intended it for yarn but since its not specified that I should purchase something specific then I am getting some yarn that I have been coveting. Isn't there always some of that? LOL


For the rest of the day I will be going to the bookstore, and Honey is taking me to play Minituare Golf (which I haven't played in years, which I am really bad at, which I love because its a hoot) and then we are going to see Shrek 3 and then dinner. Not too bad for a 42nd bday. Especially since I really didn't feel like celebrating my bday...not sure why but I just didn't. LOL

Was just getting ready to post and had a lovely bday call from the lovely Knitty Otter lady! :-D Makes my day. My (baby...lol) sister called me last night just to make sure she didn't miss me today lol....thank you honey I love you!

Have a great Sunday all. I have been tagged to do a couple of meme's and will post those this coming week because I think this post is long enough. LOL