Oops - forgot!

See you all in the New Year!

No Sleep Tonight

But not for the same reason the Faders mean - I am sick - I have had a head cold since Monday night - yes the same Monday night that was my 44th birthday - bah humbug!

I had a very nice day - just not the one I planned. David surprised me by taking the day off too, so I didn't have the day to myself after all. I did get my hair cut - I must be feeling retro cause I swear I had the same do in the 80's. So I spent the morning running errands, hanging with David and getting sick. That night we went to dinner - yes we went to our place: Sizzler - then came home and went to bed. I was happy to spend the day with him - I was just a little disappointed - I was looking foreward to some ME time.

The congestion seems to be moving from my head to my chest as I sit here drinking hot tea and popping cold pills while watching the Ranger game and blogging - I love multi-tasking.

Early birthday goodies

The boys gave me my birthday presents last night - The Delivery Man by Elvis Costello and the Veronica Mars Soundtrack. I have been listening to both since I opened them - I am am liking very much.  I teased David that he finally found a soundtrack that I would listen too - he has dozens - I have one (Party Party from way back in the 80's).  David also gave me a new laptop case.  It actually came in the mail a few weeks ago, I was home when it was delivered so I opened it then - couldn't wait to use it.  I really like it - there is lots of room and it is more comfortable to carry than my old one.

I am spending most of today cleaning up the apt so I can put up our tree tomorrow.  I finally cleared up a large enough area to put a small one up.  Now I have to go do laundry - Later..............

 

Step away from that ledge my friend

In 5 days I will turn 44. I have decided to take the day off from work and treat myself to a little much needed R&R. First up will be a haircut - I am looking very shaggy these days. Then I plan to hop on the F and head downtown. I want to make this:

Purl carries Alchemy patterns, but doesn't have it listed on their website - I just called and they think they might have it - if not they will order it. I am hoping to be able to pick it up with some yarn on Monday. I also plan to hit The Point and School Products and anything else that strikes my fancy.

I want to see Walk the Line too and since no one I know will go with me - I might try to catch the matinee some where. I love me some Johnny Cash!

Scarf update:

I have almost finished the first half - each side is knit then grafted together - I even picked up a great idea for the hat from Susan that is based on a doily pattern.

I just need to sit and knit!

look ma - i'm a cartoon

Yippee

Trevor Eve is back on BBC America - a new season of Waking the Dead. I love Mystery Monday and this is one of my favorites, next to A Wire in the Blood. I have also had a thing for Trevor Eve eversince I saw him in Jamaica Inn back in the mid 80's.

A Huge Thank You!

I received a lovely gift in the mail this weekend from Ginny in Indiana - beautiful beads from EarthFaire - one of my absolute favorite on line shops - I love everything they carry! Thank you Ginny - the beads are lovely and I will be sure to post pics of the projects they end up in!

When I woke up Friday morning - this is the site that greeted me:


fortunately by noon all the snow was gone, though Friday night was icy - all that melted snow froze and the sidewalks were slippery.

Friday night was David's Christmas Party - this year it was at The Times Square Brewery. We had a great time , though it was really crowded. The party was on the mezzanine - there were comfy chairs and sofas all around. Since it was a brewery I had a few beers before dinner - which by the way was excellent, beef, smashed potatoes and garlicky sauteed spinach! After dinner I tried a Key Lime Martini - yummy. The NYPD can though a good party


The crowd


the view of Times Square


me and David

Saturday, though I woke up feeling lousy. I had gotten my period and was crampy, achy and had an upset stomach, all I wanted to do was stay in bed, but David and I had to finish the boys Christmas shopping. I bought each of them new sleeping bags and some BSA stocking stuffers. I also picked up some snap swivels to make bracelets - I found the instructions on line. I have been making lots of jewelry lately - I love being able to design and create something in an evening - I love knitting, but I am sloooooww, so it takes me forever to finish any project - with beads - it is almost instant gratification!



I made both of these in 2 evenings - I wore the red set Friday night.

I bought more supplies at AC Moore and also placed an order with Firemountain for some lovely Czech glass beads, so you will be seeing a lot more jewelry here. I wanted to do some knitting last night but I was so tired I ended up falling asleep during the Hockey game - missed the OT.

Today I am feeling lazy and I am not sure I am going to do anything of value. I must go to my mothers to get her ready for the week, get her laundry and what not - but after that I am not doing anything.

Tell me how you do that thing - the one that makes me scream, she said

I just had to post this since the Cure has been a long time favorite of mine

The Cure Shares Your Taste in Music

See their whole playlist here (iTunes required)

Which Musician (or Group) Shares Your Taste in Music?

Snow!!???!!!!

David left for work this morning at 5:30, at 5:31 I hear him come back in - "What's wrong?" I ask - "I think it would be a good idea if I wore my boots today - since it is snowing and all" he says. "Snow! No sh#$" says I as I roll over and bury my head under the down comforter. I do love Sundays.

So I promised some pictures (By the way - thank you to everyone who left encouraging comments and emails - I appreciate your good thoughts)

First I want to show progress photos on the scarf I am making for the International Scarf Exchange:
and


Neither is true to color - it is more of a warm plum not a blue/purple. I like the pattern and the yarn is a dream to knit with. I am also knitting a hat. I have to make my own pattern since there isn't one available. I am thinking I will go down 1 or 2 needle sizes - the scarf is on size 7, so I am thinking a size 5 would be good - I am planning to start with about 1 in of stockinette before starting the pattern so the edge will roll then knit the pattern repeat 2x before starting the decreases. I am hoping this will work and look good. Anyone have any suggestions?

I also mentioned I had made some new necklaces - here are a couple of pictures:

This is made from some glass beads I picked up at the New A.C. Moore that just opened by me on Union Tpke - I really like they way this turned out.


This is made from a necklace I had bought over 20 years ago at Brentanno's when they where still on 5th Ave. It broke a long time ago - I saved the heart and as many of the jade beads as I could. I bought some gold beads and red jasper from Firemountain Beads and put them all together in this design. I really like the jade and red jasper together. I had enough to make matching earrings - I will also make a bracelet, but I need to buy a gold clasp to finish that.

This is a picture of some books I got from my bookclub and what I scored at The Strand last time I was downtown:

I finished The Rule of Four - If anyone wants to read it - drop me a line and I will mail it to you - I liked it - kind of reminded me of what the Da Vinci Code would have been like if written by Umberto Eco.

Now I really should go out and clean off my car, since it doesn't look like it is going to melt.

ETA: I went to go outside and found a package in the hall - my Crochetville Holiday Gift Exchange package came!!!! Melanie emailed my that she was sending it out on the 29th and since if was coming from West Yorkshire - I thought it would take longer, I am so pleased it came today. I have really needed a pick-me-up and all the wonderful goodies she sent have certainly done the trick!

Look:

Here is closeup of the fairy broach:


There is a beautiful wool capelet, a crochet wool purse, a wool skinny scarf, bath salts, chocolates, a trinket box, a crochet bookmark and snowflake. All beautifully made and gratefully received - Thank you again Melanie.

Here is a picture of my snowy car:


PS the color of the capelet in the top picture is closest to what the scarf color is like.