This little girl is the opposite of the Memashiba/ Totoro cross in size. You can see how tiny this girl is by the quarter she is sitting next to.  The yarn is left over from my "Light and Up" shawl. 

I played WOW yesterday. Since I haven't in a long time it was really fun.  My level 90 is running around a level 12 area just cleaning up the quests in an attempt to get "Lore Master." My level 88 is not so much fun.  It's not bad but of the four hers might be the least fun.  My panda is starting Northrend and I always like Borean Tundra.  My hunter is just starting Outland, and as much as I don't like the area, it is so much easer with a hunter than a mage.  I'm kind of excited to get back into it.  Today is a podcast day.

The shawl I'm working on is simple right now but apparently not simple enough to watch TV.  I'm taking a bunch out and it's disheartening.  I'm going to work on my daughter's socks today.  I really don't want to and I think it's the yarn.  I bought the yarn because it has a bright rainbow but the repeats are not the way I want.  The dyer clearly stated the length of the repeats but when I bought I it I didn't really realize what that would mean knit or crocheted up.  I knew it wouldn't be self striping but I thought it would pool in interesting ways.  Sadly it doesn't and so it doesn't look good to me. I'll finish them (well one is done) but it's just not exciting. 

The kids and I got all the presents wrapped that we have to give at my family Christmas on Saturday and we got the house mostly straight.  Today we'll see if we can get some work done on their rooms and make some "thank you" cards.  My husband is home today and that always throws my schedule off but we are doing ok so far today. This is the one day of the year I get to say, "See you next year."

Happy New Year!  

The shrug pattern that I tested is out so I can show it.  Yes it's the back but I like my hair in this picture.  The pattern is Turtleback Shrug by Shyama Nivas ($6).  I like testing patterns.  There are some that I wouldn't test with a  ten foot pole but there are other ones that are interesting. 

Today is the two year anniversary of my friend's death.  My Facebook is full of sadness.  Many of my friends are mutual so everyone is a kind of down.  I wish I could help his wife more but she is surrounded by a lot of help.  I wasn't that close with him but I still think of him when I hear Star Wars on my "classical" Pandora station. 

On a happy note one of my sisters got engaged over the weekend.  I wasn't really surprised.  My family tends not to date till they are ready to marry and if she liked this guy enough to change her face book status in July I figured it was only a matter of time.  I haven't met him yet but we should at Christmas (yes it's late).  I tend to buy a new dress when family gets married so my son said that I should buy an orange one if she gets married in fall. 

As far as crafting goes I finished the scarf and got it entered for NerdWars.  I cast on a shawl and did a little work on my daughter's sock.  I also watched some Running Man,  I'm up to episode 101.  I'm actually planning on playing WOW today.

The back of  leg has been hurting like I pulled a muscle but I didn't do anything.  Because of that and the fact I haven't exercised in a wile I just walked in place for 15 minutes.  Maybe my sisters wedding will give me a little extra motivation to work harder. 

That's it for today.  It think I can get back to a some what regular schedule now that the Christmas craziness is over.  See you tomorrow.

Here's the sweater.  I'll get a picture of me wearing it sometime though I'm a little embarrassed. The buttons are a bright green.  I am going to add making this sweater again to my list of things to make.  Maybe I'll make it in green then I can use the same buttons.

I got 1000 views!  Thank you so much.  I know not everyone stays to look but it's fun any way.

Mostly I'm just trying to finish the scarf I stated last Saturday so I can enter it for NerdWars.  It ends tonight at 11:00 p.m. my time so I have to finish it, take a picture and write it up before then.  I keep changing my mind on how long it should be.  I still have a few hours. 

Other than that nothing interesting is happening around here.  Just trying to get back on a regular schedule.  The kids have one more week off school and my family Christmas has been moved till next week. I'm trying to figure out if my brother will want an alpaca hat.  If he does that's what I'm saving up for next (alpaca is expensive). 

That's it I'll talk to you next week. 

 

This creature is a cross between a Mameshiba and Totoro.  My son requested him.  It's made from a chunky yarn held double.  If you want to know what a Mamashiba is just look it up on YouTube.

I got a view from Serbia, that is so cool.

The kids really enjoyed their Christmas.  We spent it sitting around playing video games and eating junk food.  I finished the sweater but I'll talk about that later.  Because my husband had to work from 9 p.m. till 6 a.m. I let the kids stay up till midnight, watching The Hobbit, so they would sleep in.  It's almost 11 a.m. and they are still asleep.  If they aren't up by noon I'll drag them out of bed. 

For my family The Hobbit  isn't really to violent.  My 7 year old doesn't like the loud scenes or the fighting ones but we just tell him when to cover his eyes.  He had more trouble with the movie Mouse Hunt because it was more "real."  What the kids can and can't watch and for how long is a great debate in our house just like it is in many homes. 

Ok so the sweater of doom.  :)  It's finished and the ends are (mostly) woven in. I don't know it is the yarn or what but the ends aren't weaving in well.  It turned out giant.  It would fit two regular size people in it.  I'm still going to put buttons on it because it will work as  a transition piece for when it's to cold for a regular sweater but not cold enough for a winter coat.  It's like wearing a blanket because, lets face it, it is a blanket.  I want to make another one where I just use the bigger needles and do exactly what the pattern says and if it's to small use that as motivation to get in better shape.  When I do that (it could be a wile) I'll rip this one out. I'll get a picture later.

I learned a lot.  I made a list.  1. Chunky yarn on big needles may be fast but it is heavy and can be painful.  2. I actually dropped down and fixed stitches.  3.  I'm not good at math since it came out so huge.  4.  I did wrap and turn short rows.  I have never done those before.  5.  I may not mind knots in my knitting as I thought. 6. This sweater in it's original form is not so hard and I'm not as bad a knitter as I thought. Finally I still have a lot to learn.  I probably shouldn't have made it once first before I tried to alter it, just like a cooking recipe.

I used some Christmas money to order real project bags.  She seems really nice to work with and I assume I'll order from her again.  I'll show them when I get them.

Since I want to give my husband some quiet time I'm taking the kids to a yarn store (for buttons), McDonald's (play land) and Hobby Lobby (thank you note supplies).  If I do this right the TV may not go on today at all and that would be a victory.

See you tomorrow.

More orange(ish) socks for my son.  These don't really have a pattern just knit till it seemed time for the heel. 

Ok so I haven't written in a bit.  On Saturday we went to my husband's family for Christmas.  It wasn't so bad.  My son was a bit bored and there was some problem with waiting for people.  My daughter got an Easy Bake oven and she is really excited about it.  We need to go to the craft store so we can make some "thank you" notes.  The sad part was that my husband's grandma doesn't seem to be doing well.  I'm going to as my husband's mom if there is something I can make for grandma like a lapgan or something.  It's really the only thing I know how to do. 

I really wanted to go to church on Sunday but the weather was really bad. My husband was going to come home on his break from work and switch the car with me so we could go but he said he had trouble driving.  If he is having trouble driving the less (fewer?) than two miles to work I don't want to go farther with just me and the kids.  Hopefully the weather will be better next week. 

Yesterday was the first day of winter break (if you don't count the weekend) and having the kids home threw me off.  We also spent 4 hours in Walmart.  That wasn't out intent.  The plan was to go and get snow pants and a couple of other thing then go and get blank cards to make "thank you" cards and maybe some other shopping.  There were some problems.  Firstly the car door didn't want to shut.  I didn't want to try to drive holding the door shut.  Secondly we had lunch there. Thirdly the kids slow me down.  Also even though I had a list I was kind of scatter brained and ended up wandering back and forth a lot.  And finally my daughter decided to spend some of her Christmas money to get her ears pierced.  So by the time we did all that and got through the line it was time for my husband to get off work.  It was not what I had planned for yesterday.  Today I think we can get back on track. 

I did knit a little but haven't gotten much done, it wasn't even on my sweater.  Today I plan to listen to podcasts and try to finish the sweater (besides chasing the kids around to get some cleaning done).  Once I have the sweater done I need to go to the yarn store and look for buttons and I have a couple questions for them.  I have so many projects to do I really need to knit faster (they are almost all knit, that's weird). 

I don't know if I will post tomorrow so Merry Christmas everyone.

My first experiment in felting on purpose.  It' ok but the handles are too floppy for my taste.  I'll take it to my sisters and see if any of them want it.

It's been crazy.  I don't know if it's Christmas or I just don't feel like blogging.  Mostly the day just slips away from me so I don't have time. 

Tomorrow we are going to my in-laws for Christmas.  The difference between his family and mine is so strange for me sometimes.  In my family there are a lot of kids and some grandkids now too.  There are spouses and sometimes even some friends, like this year one of my sisters is bringing some international students that can't make it home for Christmas.  So lots of chaos and noise and fun.  At my husband's side it's quiet and kind of boring.  My husband's brother will be 38 in January and there are no children between him and my 10 year old daughter.  It's a much smaller family and his Aunt, who is a nice person, keeps trying to get people to debate subjects.  I wouldn't mind having a lively discussion with her at other times but at Christmas dinner I'd rather talk about happy things.  I find that Christmas more stressful than my family and my husband probably feels the opposite. 

I finished the test crochet!  I like it mostly.  It is a little boring doing the same thing for 42" and because I'm big I don't think it fits me as well as it would someone smaller.  When I write my notes to the designer I will mention this.  It's time to finish my sweater.  I have to find where I put the instructions.  I know I put them somewhere safe but I'm not sure where that safe place is.  I kind of tried it on and it looks like it will fit at least a little.  I may not be able to button it but that's o.k. since I wear my sweaters open most of time. 

I've been watching  tons of Running Man.  I loved the Big Bang episodes.  It was so sweet to see G-Dragon smile, he doesn't much in his videos.  I even watched them with my daughter and she enjoyed them as well. BoA was on two episodes and she is so pretty.  Since I have watched the older episodes, it's fun to see them making references to the those episodes and feeling like I'm getting an in joke.  When Jae-suk and Haha are in the Alice in Wonderland episode making fun of the super power episode saying "The one who snores all night" just cracked me up.  It was also funny when they were in the "escape from jail" episode and they got handed dumplings to eat, almost all of them said "what is this, Old Boy?"  A lot of the time I feel like the humor has a "you had to be there feel," so it's hard to explain to other people.  

Hopefully the roads will be clear tomorrow and the kids behave at great grandma's.

This is a shawl called Light and Up by Caroline Wiens (free on Ravelry).  I really like it and want to make another on that is bigger.  I loved they yarn too.  It was one of the most expensive yarns I had ever bought called Huasco by Araucania.  I couldn't tell you exactly why I like the yarn but I really do. 

 I'm not doing much but watching Running Man and working on the test crochet.  It's going slower than I thought.  I only have about 30" and I need 42." This is going to be a hard race to the finish. 

I got new glasses so the world is wobbly until I get used to them.  I did my exercises but my heart wasn't in it.  I guess that's all for today, maybe I'll have something interesting to say for tomorrow. 

I made this sweater for one of my sisters.  Eventually I will do one for all of them but it will take a wile.  This is the Saturn Sweater by Linda Permann.  She has another one almost exactly the same but a pullover that she calls Pluto Pullover.  I didn't plan it but she is the same designer that designed the sweater I made for my mom. 

900 views! 

Yesterday my son had an appointment in the afternoon so I didn't have time to blog before and after I was really down.  Life happens like that sometimes.  I feel mostly better today.  On another note, my husband is home today but I am ignoring him and pretending he's not here so he won't mess up my schedule.  I think he thinks I'm mad at him. 

The shepherds costumes are done! Not only that but the pastor's wife has them so unless she has some last minute hemming, that project is checked off and on to the next.  I'm working on the test crochet right now.  At last measurement it was 24" and I'm sure it has grown since then.  It's not a hard pattern but it does become a little tedious doing the same thing for 42", (I can't figure out where that comma goes it looks weird before and after the quotation mark) and I have about two rows to the inch so that is 84 rows.  It just has to be finished by Saturday.  I want to get it done early because the designer lives in India and her definition of Saturday and mine might be different. 

Wile I was sewing I listened to a ton of Knitting Pipeline podcasts.  I am finally caught up so that is good.  I am a little sad though.  I really wanted to go to her retreat but the registration opened this week and I can't register till after Christmas.  I'm afraid it will be full by then.  I'm a little burned out on podcasts for a few days.  Wile I'm working on the test crochet I am watching Running Man.  I didn't really recognize anyone till today.   Oh Ji-Ho was on but because I saw him first on Queen of Office, where he played a "bad guy,"  I have trouble rooting for him.  Also he looks weird in any other hairstyle than that one.  The big thing was thought that I got to episode 84.  Big Bang is on this episode!  Ok if you are not into kpop this means nothing to you but it's my favorite kpop group.  I think it's fun to see the singers in a different situation than in their videos.  TOP seemed to not be having a lot of fun and confused.  It was funny to see Daesung scolding TOP and teaching him how to play.  G-Dragon was cute for lack of a better word.  It's definitely not the image he portrays in his music.  I'm really enjoying Running Man right now but I think by the time I get done with this test crochet I may be ready for something else. 

I did get my exercises done yesterday so hopefully I can keep it going.  Other than that nothing interesting is going on here.  I'll try to remember to post tomorrow. 

I know that this hat doesn't look like much but I really like it.  Two of my sisters went to Ireland a wile ago and brought me back this yarn.  I love having a hat that is made from Irish wool.  The pattern is "Divine Hat" by Sarah Arnold and is free on Ravelry.  I love this hat pattern and have made it more times and in more sizes than I care to count.

Yesterday I listened to Knitting Pipeline and worked on the sewing.  The grey shepherd's costume is done and so is the hemming.  I think I'm about half done with the redish one maybe a little less.  Once I finish the costumes I need to work hard on the test crochet.  I know this is a tiny post but I really have nothing to say except that it snowed last night. 

Here is the hat.  It's supposed to look like fire.  It has a slightly odd fit but I don't know it that is the pattern, if I modified it or if it's just his little head.  The pattern is "Magic the Gathering White Mana Hat" by Nicole Dana which is free on Ravelry.

I hit 800 views!  Thanks!

I really didn't get much done yesterday.  I got all the yarn that I ripped out of the sweater wound up.  I also made the gray shepherds costume.  I have to make the belt and then do the burgundy one.  I have some hemming to do as well.  I'm falling behind on the test crochet but I think the shepherds costumes are more important.  I don't understand why I have to wait to the last minute.  I need to budget my time better.

Wile I was working on the sewing I decided that I would rather listen to podcasts than whatever TV show the kids were watching (we were kind of in the same room so it's hard not to watch).  I listened to old episodes of Knitting Pipeline,  a few episodes of Wild Ideas, The Fat Squirrel Speaks, and Homespun.  I love how Paula (Knitting Pipeline) loves all the seasons.  She likes to take each moment as it comes because time is the only thing we can't get more of.  I'm not quite so good at that.  Wild Ideas is really interesting.  I am learning a bunch of things about prairie nature.  It gave me an idea about some things we (the kids and I) can do.  There is a little bump (not even a hill) by the golf course that I thought we could walk over there when it's warm and look at any nature we can see there.  I was even thinking we might be able to go over there on the first of every month and take a picture and by the end of they year we would have an interesting series of pictures. 

I haven't played Wow or watched kdrama lately and sadly that is probably not going to change anytime soon.  Since I must get this sewing done I think I'm going to listen to Knitting Pipeline till I catch up.  I usually listen to Pandora wile I clean but I think I'll just stick with podcasts as long as I'm in the same room. 

I volunteered today at the school.  I love to do that.  Today one of the teaches said she felt bad having me do this but I told her it was fine.  She was teaching so I couldn't tell her how much I enjoyed it and if more teachers asked I would help them too.  I really wish that was an actual job.  Nest week is the last one before Christmas break and I thought I wouldn't be needed as everyone would be finishing the loose ends but one of the teachers wanted me back so I'll go.  Now that I did my "work" at the school I better do my work at home.  See you tomorrow.

Here is a knit beard I made for my son to keep his face warm in the winter.  It just buttons into the stitches in the hat.  He wore once but he hasn't worn it again.  It's a free knit pattern on Ravelry called Ginger Beard by Jessica Mounts

Yesterday was a little weird in that it felt very stop and go.  I dropped the kids off at the bus stop and was home by 8 but at 9:15 or so I had to trade the car with my husband.  I got home and could do a few thing but had to leave again to go to the kids program.  I got home from that at 2:30 and the kids get out of school at 3:30 and we had to go pick up their dad.  I did listen to some old episodes of Knitting Pipeline and work on my test crochet.  I'm about a year behind on the podcast now and I found a new podcast to listen to when I get caught up.  It's called Wild Ideas and it is a nature podcast (audio) not a knitting one.  I think it will teach me more about the nature around here.  They do broadcast out of Ohio but I think it's close enough.

I left the house yesterday at 12:30 for the 1:00 performance.  I thought that would be plenty of time since we only live about five minutes from the school.  I was wrong.  I forget because I never had family in town that some people do.  The parking lot was not filled with just mom and dad but grandparents and other extended family.  The school is not that big of a building and has had additions in the past, however the parking lot is still the same size.  So that was full and people were doing some creative parking (parking on the side where you weren't really supposed to).  There was pretty much no space left even on the side streets.  I ended up parking in a parking lot for a fitness place and felt a little bad if they had any customers that day.  The creative parking didn't really bother me but people had started parking in dangerous places (making it impossible for a fire truck to get in or anyone to get out). The gym where they were holding the performance had standing room only.  I found a corner to stand in a started crocheting.  Another parent I knew came over near me and we were chit chatting before the start.  She says in a laughing almost smug way that her husband said if they mention God or Jesus he was filing a complaint.  That kind of made me upset.  It's a public school so I don't expect them to sing Silent Night but to plan out making formal complaint over it  seems excessive and made me think less of her that she thought it was funny.  The thing that made me really irritated though is that many people leave after their kids performance.  I find it horribly rude that after the kindergarteners performs a quarter of the audience leaves.  Since this a common problem the principal asked people to use the back exit door and some people still left through the front  Rude and can't follow directions.  It peeves me but it meant that for my daughter's performance I could get a seat.

I did throw the camera in my bag but didn't use it.  From my little corner I could see my son but he was on the complete other side of the gym.  There was no way I could get a good picture of him.  I was surprised to find out later he actually saw me.  He must have some really good eyesight.  When over half the audience was gone I got a seat with a really clear view of my daughter.  I could have taken some nice pictures of her  but felt that would not be fair to her brother.  The kids did really well and the program was really cute.  They are selling DVD's for $10.  I don't feel like I need one for me but I want to talk to my husband about getting one for great grandma.

Because of the weather the school called last night and gave everyone a free pas if they wanted to keep their children home today.  After much discussion my husband and I decided to.  If we had two cars so I could drive them or the bus picked them up at the door we would have sent them.  At this minute they do not have snow pants (they are supposed to get that for Christmas) so standing in the cold blowing wind waiting for the bus seemed like a bad idea.  I'm still going to make them do some school work.

Today's crafting plan is to finish the two shepherds costumes and keep working on the test crochet.  I'm up to 12" so I am over a quarter of the way done.  I really like the look of the fabric it's making.  I really would like to get more than 4" done today but that seems to be may average.  See you tomorrow for another update. :)

Ta-da! Here are the socks.  They are done and I'm not planning on making him anything else soon since he didn't seem so excited.  I teased him about not being excited and he said it's because I'm not making the things he wants.  He wants the original 151 Pokémon in amigurumi form or gloves that look like the infinity gauntlet.  Neither of those projects sound fun to me.  I also got to enter these in many groups.  Wolfe Farms have a December finished object thread and they are doing a Sock(er) along.  Skein after Skein has an Epickalcal (knit along/crochet along) that I entered the socks in.  Dramatic Knits has a Race to the Finished Object and a ribbed sock thread.  Finally I will enter them in NerdWars. :)

Yesterday my husband was home so we watched a lot of shows.  We watched some episodes of Ergo Proxy, two episodes of Almost Human and two or three of Leverage.  You know my husband always throws my schedules off.  That and being Tuesday I couldn't really play WOW anyway. 

Wile I was doing that I worked on my test crochet.  I'm up to 8" and I really like the pattern.  My problem is I thought I would be faster and I can be a bit but I don't think I will finish it by the 15th.  I think she extended it to the 21st so I'll have to check.  I don't want to get in "trouble" on my second test. 

The school Christmas program is today so I have to leave soon to go see it.  Am I a bad mom that I plan to take crochet and not a camera?  In the past there has really not been an easy way to take pictures but crocheting wile I listen to the cute little kids sing sounds good.  I might also be able to snap a picture with my phone but I can't really send it anywhere. 

Ok that's it for today, I'll tell you about the program tomorrow.

Ruffle scarves have been so popular.  I made these and donated them to a charity called "Handmade Especially For You."   They give the scarves to abused women in shelters. It's supposed to be a reminder that someone is rooting for them and that they are special.  I personally don't like this style but I thought that since the scarves and easy, popular, and have nice colors that someone would love them.  See thinking of those women is making my eyes water.  This is why I don't watch sad movies or the news.

It seems I have had a couple views from India and The Netherlands.  Hi!  I hope I have some thing fun or interesting for you.

The maintenance guy finally came at 2:30 which isn't very helpful as my kids get home at 3:30 so I still couldn't start something.  It seems that I wasn't the only one who failed (he had a list) and said "I knew you would be fine." That made me feel a little better.  The temperature has dropped.  I feel bad sending my kids out to wait for the bus.  I need to get them long underwear and/or snow pants.

 Part of the reason I wanted to start a blog was to have some where to write the thoughts that swirl in my head when I try to sleep.  I may start to write some of them.  They are a little touchy so I might offend people or bring the trolls.  Nothing big like pro choice/life or Christian vs. atheist but things about ADHD or parenting styles. I still want to keep this light and fun but I may occasionally talk about those thing. Since anything you put on the internet is there forever if I do say things I want it to be clear. 
I'm still deciding.

Yesterday, after maintenance came, I listened to podcasts and worked on my test crochet.  I listened to Wolfe Farms, The Fat Squirrel Speaks, Handspun, and Knitting Butterflies. On Handspun it was interesting to hear about the different traditions they celebrate in Germany.  On Knitting Butterflies she is starting a photography segment so that should be interesting.  The special stitch for the test crochet is a little similar to a double crochet so when I started I had to watch myself because my had wanted to make a double crochet.  Muscle memory is a funny thing.  I posted that I was concentrating on it and the designer said "I'm sorry you are having trouble."   I told her I wasn't I just had to think about it a bit more but that comment concerns me.   Sadly personality doesn't translate well over the internet and I would have said that with a smile in person and I think it would have been more clear it wasn't a problem.  I don't want this designer to think I'm complaining or having a problem.  See look at me feeling guilty over things said on the internet.  When I last measured I had 4" done and I need to go 42".  I need to measure again. 

I still have two shepherd's costumes to do and after my test crochet I have to work on my "dissertation."  Not to mention I still have to take a picture of my husband's socks.  I better hurry and get my chores done so I can do more crafting.  lol

This is the monster I made for my daughter that matches my son's orange one.  She likes pink.

I didn't do much this weekend.  Mostly I just watched a bunch of episodes of Leverage with my husband.  It snowed all yesterday.  I think we have two inches but this time it might stay.  I'm not trying to be fussy but I really don't like this weather.  I am not a winter person and I feel like I will slip and fell on the ice.  Luckily we don't have any ice yet. 

Right now I'm just sitting around waiting for maintenance to come and check the closet.  I feel like I can't do anything till they get here.  I have projects I could do but they are involved or messy and I don't want to start those projects until after the maintenance guy comes. After he shows up (which could be till 5pm tonight) I was thinking of playing WOW and I need to work on my test crochet.

The designer and I have been trading messages back and forth because I just couldn't figure out her new stitch.  No one else seemed to have a problem with it so I was confused because I usually a good crocheter.   It turns out there was a typo.  I don't know why no one else noticed it.  Now I understand her new stitch and I don't think I've seen anyone do it purposely before.  I want to start working on it but I have to wait.  I did try to chain the proper number for the start.  You were supposed to get 38 inches, I got 50.  I will be going down a hook size. 

I think that's it.  I will try and get a picture of my husband's completed socks. 

I made this shawl from yesterday's handspun.  It's Age of Brass and Steam and it's free on Ravelry. 

Yeah! 700 views!  Thanks guys.

I'm posting so late because I wanted to finish Secret first.  It's different from what I usually watch which is mostly romantic comedy.  It had some interesting camera shots.  I'm not sure if because the plot of the first episode revolves around a car but I feel like there are more than the usual amount of scenes shot through a window (not the whole scene but the beginning or end).  It also seemed like someone was trying to be a little artsy in some of the shots.  Something bad is going down so the scene is filmed in the dark reflective tiles of the ceiling so every thing looks upside down, that sort of thing.  The one thing I predicted did happen but I couldn't predict much.  The "naughty girls" said rock bottom was about episode 10 and I agree.   The show has a satisfactory (to me ending) but almost turns into a comedy for the last five minutes. I think I would recommend it.

Ok on to other things.  For about 14 years of marriage I have slept on the same side of the bed.  We rearranged the bedroom and I ended up on the other side of the bed.  You wouldn't think something like that would make a difference but it does.  It feels so weird.  I'm sure I'll get used to it but until then I don't think I sleep as well.  The kids got new shoes and my daughter got some pink zebra high tops.  She loves then so much she slept in them.  I have a cold starting.  My nose is beginning to look like Rudolph.  I feel like I spent the day yelling at my kids.  My son ruined a couple of ornaments because he wanted to see how they come apart and my daughter seems to suddenly get head achs or stomach achs whenever it's time to clean.  I got the storage room organized and I finished my husband's socks.  Ok well they aren't finished yet because I haven't woven in the ends yet but other than that they are finished, pictures to come later.  Now it's time to start on the test crochet. 

I think that's it for tonight.  I want to vacuum before it gets to late.  I hope I sleep better tonight.  

I spun this yarn in July of 2012.  Tomorrow I'll show you the Shawl I made from it. 

Yesterday I went to get the tire fixed.  I took my husband's sock to knit wile I waited.  The people came to inspect our apartment.  Technically we failed.  It was because the utility closet wasn't clear around the water heater.  The reason it was a mess in there was because every thing got thrown in since they were coming.  I will straighten it out tomorrow and they will inspect it again on Monday.  I know I'm weird but that stressed me out.  I ended up doing more or less nothing from then till today.  I did watch kdram and frog a sweater I have been meaning to frog for a wile.  The pieces are soaking and hanging in an attempt to get the wrinkles out. 

The drama I've been watching is called Secret.  It's different and I would call it a melodrama .  I would love to say all my feeling on it but I really don't want to spoil.  I started it yesterday and I'm on episode 9 now.  Basically it is the story of a woman in love and the bad choice she makes for that love and the fall out around it. The other girls in the Ravelrey group (I call them the "naughty girls" because some of them are about their biases) were call her a doormat and in need of a spine.  I disagree.  She is naive and made one critical bad choice but other than that she is doing the best she can in the situation she is in.  As a supplement to this story is the decent of a man from idealistic and noble to power hungry and malicious.  There is a scene that is very interesting where he is watching something unfold and his look of anger and madness as he is laughing and crying at the same time.  It was kind of creepy.  I cried so you might too.  If you are looking for this be careful because there is another show with the same name (I think it's Taiwanese) about music school or something. 

A wile back I made a purple sweater from a plus size crochet book I got for .25 at the library.  I had interesting bell sleeves but other than that it didn't have shaping as it had one button at the bust.  Because it was a cotton linen blend I threw it in the wash on cold and laid it flat to dry.  There was a mesh section on the sleeves and it stretched so the sleeves where very weird and big.  I've been meaning to frog it for a wile now but hadn't gotten around to it.  I signed up to test a shrug an it calls for the yarn that is in the sweater (well dk weight) and so I had motivation to frog it.  The designer has made a new stitch so this should be interesting.

As a side note to be clear, most of the pictures I am showing are older unless other wise noted.  I didn't know if that was clear.  Once I run out of old pictures I will put more in progress ones of what I'm working on right now.  I think that's it.  I'm writing so late I may not really have much to say tomorrow.  Sorry. 

I made this monster for my son.  You can tell it's for him with all the orange.

I have 600 views!  Thanks everyone!

Sorry I skipped yesterday.  It turned out to be a weird day.  My husband was off work and that always throws me off.  My son stayed home from school "sick."  He wasn't really that sick it was more that he had a lot of trouble sleeping because of his runny, stuffy nose and just really couldn't wake up.  When he usually wakes up fairly easily and after 10 minutes of prodding him he's not waking up I figured he really needed the sleep.  At some point it's useless to send him to school that sleepy because he won't retain anything.  I did warn him that this was his only chance and made the rest of the day as boring as possible so he won't try to fake it.  We also got a flat tire.  That was an adventure I wasn't looking forward to.  To top it all off the building owners (or some upper management) are coming to do inspections tomorrow so I was cleaning a little more thoroughly than I usually do. 

I did watch a couple of Running Man Episodes.  I find them funny but they are hard to explain sometimes.  I found out that my son thought that Kim Jong-kook's nick name was "Sparky" instead of "Sparta."  I got a good laugh out of that.  I'm watching Running Man again today because it's so easily broken down I can get things done.

I didn't do any yarny crafts yesterday but I did finish Mary's outfit.  The pastor's wife came over and got them (I couldn't take them to her because of the tire) and gave me two more.  She seems to be ok with my "measure here cut here" meathod.  I'm probably not going to get anyghing crafty done today either.

Even though I'm not getting any crafts done today I did get my exercises done so that's something.  Other than that it's scrubbing and chasing the kids to work on their rooms.  Such an exciting life I lead, huh?  lol

Aren't my husband's ankles tiny?  See I got one sock done and the other just needs a cuff. 

I didn't play WOW much on Saturday so I played some Sunday too.  I got one toon to level 88.  It's really interesting because she seems to be skipping quests or can't find them.  We'll see where she ends up when she gets to be 90.  I'm going to wait to do the farming till then.  I got my panda out of Outlands as soon as she turned level 68 but my hunter just got in.  I hate Outlands so much.  Today I'll listen to podcasts and work on my sweater.

I worked on my sweater a little yesterday and I don't think I should have stopped working on it.  First of all I misplaced the pattern.  Now I can re print it but it had all my notes on it about my modifications.  I did find most of the pages so I think I'll be ok, at least I hope so.  Also after working with sport weight yarn this feels so big and heavy.  I attached the sleeves and now it's awkward to turn and maneuver along the cord.  I don't think I'm giving too much away to say that you attach the sleeves on the top/ shoulder side and when you are done with the sweater you use a three needle bind off for the under pits.  The stitches that are connecting the sleeves to the body of the sweater seem very stretched  and misshapen.  I don't know if that will block out once the sweater is finished or if I need to stitch through them to tighten them up when I bind the under arms.  It's definitely a learning curve again.

I did finish all the belts, the shepherd's costumes and Mary's head covering.  The only thing I have left to do is Mary's outfit.  I need to finish that and get back to working on my husband's socks.  The spinning will be put to the side for a wile till I get some more projects done.  It's hard because I have so many ideas and more things I want to make.

We tried to put the Christmas tree (it's a fake one) up but two of my stings of lights were burned out.  My husband will buy more when he gets paid on Thursday.  Till then it's going kind of sitting there, naked, till then.  I did not sleep well last night at all.  I'm very tired but I'm going to try to do a little bit of exercise.  I'll at lest try to walk in place but I'm not going to work really hard.  I think that's about it since I have to get chore/ housework done before I run out of energy. 

I made theses gloves for my daughter from the same pattern as the one I tested, with the left overs from the baby blanket.  I lengthened the cuff and made the space between the thumb and the knuckles smaller.

I have 500 views! Yeah!  I hope at lest some people are entertained or get ideas for projects.

So I watched Running Man yesterday and spun.  It's hard to recognize people sometimes because they reveal them and say who it is quickly.  They said Jung Yong-hwa was from CN Blue (which he is) but I recognize him from You're Beautiful.  When it comes to Korean names I never know it the dash is appropriate or if it's ok to leave it out, I've seen it both ways.  My computer was glitchy last night and irritating me so I think I've had my fill of Running Man for a wile. Today I'm playing WOW. 

I thought I finished a shepherd's costume last night but I realized I did it inside out.  I have to rip part out and fix it and I'm running out of the brown thread.  Not that I don't have more but it's not quite the same color.  Today I'm probably not doing may crafts except trying to fix the costume.  Tomorrow when I get back to podcasts I'll try to finish my husband's socks. 

Ok that's it for today.  Time to chase the kids around and make them pick up.  Not my favorite part of the day.  Wish me luck. 

These are the fingerless gloves that I test crochet for.  The pattern is available now.  It's the Easy Textured Fingerless Gloves by Titti Sigillo, I think it's around $3.  It's really easy and quick if you need some last minute  Christmas gifts.  My only thing is that I would like the cuff a row or two longer but that's an easy fix.

My husband had to work yesterday from 5pm till 2am then again today from 11am till 8pm. (I will not get on my soap box about how Black Friday should start on Friday not Thursday).  I purposely kept the children up till midnight last night so they would sleep in and be quiet for him.  It worked but it made the day get started late.  On the plus side even with the weird schedule I did get my exercises done.  Yesterday was just a quiet lazy day. My daughter  made me a purple wool shop with a herd of colorful sheep in the back using Mincraft creative mode.  I thought it was really sweet.

On Wednesday I listened to a lot of podcasts.  Mostly old episodes of Knitting Pipeline.  I'm up to episode 101 in that.  Yesterday I watched Running Man.  I liked the grasshopper hunting episode.  I'm only on episode 70 of that.  I'm watching more Running Man today also, I just don't feel like playing WOW right now.

Wile I listened to podcasts I worked on my husband's socks.  I got one done and turned the heel on the second but didn't get them done in time for this round of NerdWars.  I did submit them for half points.  I'll post a picture in the next few days.  I've been spinning wile watching Running Man because even thought the sock pattern is simple it's too complicated to read at the same time especially when they talk fast.  I feel like I'm finally making some progress on that.  I also almost finished a shepherds costume yesterday too, it just needs to be hemmed.  We got the names for name draw and they aren't getting hand knits/ crochet so that's off the list. I feel like I'm making good progress even if I am running late today. 

I feel like I had something else to say but I don't remember right now so it must not be important right?  I hope everyone had a great day yesterday. :)

 

 

Here are the pieces of my sweater so far.  You can't really see the leaf pattern but it's there.  I really want to get this finished because it's cold and I want to wear it.

Ok here are some random things.  Yesterday I was picking my daughter up from church and someone was saying something to me and I look over and see a hat.  I turn to my daughter and say "see that pink hat?  Someone made that for her because I recognize that yarn."  I turned back to the lady and said "sorry I'm a little weird."  Today it's cold so we were wandering around the house singing "It's very very cold" to the tune of "Very Good" by Block B.  It really wasn't cold in the house but the kids thought it was.  One of the little girls at the bus stop was crying because her hands were cold.  I tried to help her by telling her to put her hands in her pockets, wiping her tears, distracting her with silliness, and lending her my gloves.  She had gloves on but they were the thin "magic stretch" kind and I don't know how long she was out there before we got there.  And the last thing is that exercising in jeans is not easy.

I did play on WOW a bit but I spent most of the day listening to/ watching the Eat Your Kimchi music awards. Today is podcast day.  I think not as many people are putting out podcasts this week because of Thanksgiving so I will be able to work on catching up on Knitting Pipeline.

I did do my exercises today but I was not as motivated.  I usually walk the kids to the bus in my work out, yoga type pants.  Today was to cold so I just put on the jeans I wore yesterday till after I did my exercises.  The jeans are a little long with shoes but with out (I exercise without shoes) they are really long.  I kept tripping over the bottom.  I'll have to figure out something else to do for the rest of winter. 

Today the kids get out of school early, in fact they should be home any minute.  My daughter and I will make Jello and instant cheese cake for tomorrow (I'd let my son help too but he doesn't want to).  Also I will mix up the ingredients for the ham dish we are having tomorrow so I can just pop it in the crock pot tomorrow.  We are a bit laid back this year.  I probably won't post tomorrow so have a happy Thanksgiving 

Here is the blanket for my niece.  It is bright but what I find interesting is that there is about a stitch worth of black between each color and it doesn't show up in the picture.  I also need to figure out what anime or comic I can tie this too so I can enter it in NerdWars.

I spun and watched Running Man yesterday.  I feel like I didn't get much progress done on the spinning.  I think it will feel like that until I get near the end. Running Man was fun too.  I kind of want to watch more today but today is a WOW day. 

I need to get the card done and get my son to finish his.  I also need to figure out how to tie in my projects to NerdWars.  I didn't make a project page for the fingerless gloves because they were a test and I didn't know if she was keeping that under wraps till the release of the pattern.  I think I need to ask her if she wants a project page now and if I can use it for NerdWars.  Other than that I just need to sit down and write the challenge submissions up.  Still have shepherd's costumes to make.

I forgot to mention that I got a page view from Italy.  I think that's so cool.  Not that I expect them to stay but I like seeing all these countries.  I know I'm easily amused. That's it for today and so I can go get something productive done. :)

This is a picture of the baby blanket I said I was carrying around in my bag.  I didn't notice till I took the picture that I missed a shell.  Oh well we'll call that a design feature. lol

I didn't do much this weekend except listen to podcasts and watch a little Running man.  Paula (Knitting Pipeline) put out her first podcast since the tornado but I haven't listened to it.  I'm tempted to even though I'm still behind on her podcast.  I am watching Running Man today.  Next kdrama day I'll go back to Sungkyunkwan Scandal.  I liked that one but I keep getting distracted by other dramas.

I did get a lot of crafting done.  I finished my niece's baby blanket, a pair of fingerless gloves for a test and one sock for my husband.  I'll post a picture of the baby blanket tomorrow.  I joined a test group on Ravelry for crochet patterns and tested my first one.  The fingerless gloves were easy and quick but I'm not sure I can show them till the pattern is released.  Since I finished one sock for my husband I'm working on the other.  I did find out that even though the patter is easy I can't really do it wile reading subtitles so I'm spinning today.  I also posted for the halfway mark for my NerdWars dissertation.  I feel like I got a lot accomplished.  I still have a bunch to do though, shepherd's costumes and making a card are the two on the top of the list. 

I did my exercises today without fussing.  Usually I have to almost guilt myself into it.  "Come on Sarah, you know it good for you." kind of thing.  I feel like I'm a little inspired by some news I got.  The news is that there is a chance that I may get to see a personal trainer at a reduce price.  I think this would be good for me.  Knowing I have to check in with someone will make me less likely to eat badly as well.  I really need to follow through with this.  I have dropped the ball on other things (like getting a "Y" membership) and I really want this to work. 

I may not post every day this week since it's Thanksgiving on Thursday.  Since my husband has to work we are having a small meal and we aren't even having turkey.  I just hope the black Friday craziness doesn't get him to badly. 

These are some of the first socks I knit as opposed to crochet.  If you can't tell they were for my son (he likes orange).  They are in worsted weight wool.  I think they may have gotten felted in the wash but I have plans to make him better ones. 

I did play WOW a little yesterday.  I ran around a level 20 area with my level 90.  That was fun.  I'm half way through finishing the area for the "Lore Master" title.  I did listen to a couple of podcasts and I'm ok with that.

Today is podcast day.  I was planning on working on my daughter's other sock but I bought yarn for another project that has a time limit.  I think I said before that I usually give a baby blanket but when the newest niece was born my sister had asked for diapers.  My son really wanted her to have a blanket and my daughter picked out some neon yarn.  The one time I timed a blanket it took me 3 hours.  I'm timing myself again but this time instead of trying to do it as fast as possible I'm taking my time and crocheting like I usually do.   I finished the first ball (of three) and so far I'm at 1 hour 15 minutes. The other thing is the other blanket had a thinner yarn I think.  If I finish the blanket (ha) I'll work on my daughter's sock. 

Once I finish the blanket I will be done with any Christmas knitting or crochet unless I get one of two people for name draw.  If we decide to put some soap and lotion in the grab bag I'll make a washcloth to go with it but that is easy and not I'm not even sure we are going to do that.  The kids and I do plan to make some ornaments but those should be really easy.  The Shady Cels group on Ravely is also doing a card swap that we will make a  couple of cards for but again not much.  I just want to finish this baby blanket in time to enter it in NerdWars and nothing else will be done. 

I think that's it.  Nothing new or exciting but that can be a good thing. 

Here are some "monsters" I made and donated to Pine Ridge Reservation.  The pattern is free one called Alfo the Monster by Stacey Trock.  I changed the mouth and when I made the unicorn for my daughter I learned a technique for crocheting the arms in instead of sewing them on after so I did that too. 

Ok I did something "wrong" and this might be a bit spoilery.  Kdrama can be a bit formulaic so I had a suspicion about how Flower Boy Ramen Shop was going to end, so I looked it up on Wiki.  Yeah it's not going to end the way I want so I'm done.  I wanted to yell at the TV and say "there is a great guy right there and you are going to go for the whiny rich brat?" I complained about this a little to my Kdrama group on Ravelry.  One of the other girls said that she though "second male leads" were invented to torture her since that is who she ends up rooting for.  I do to sometimes. I should have know this would happen.  I rarely have to invoke the "watch three episodes" rule.  I usually know right away. The only other exceptions I can think of are Nail Shop Paris where I kept hoping it would get better and it didn't and Shut up and Lets Go (or Shut Up Flower Boy Band) where I didn't like the first episode but the twist in the second tells you that this is not a romantic comedy. One of the other members of the Kdrama group says that it is kind of comforting to know that the actress and second lead in Ramen shop are dating in real life. So I threw my temper tantrum and drowned my sorrows in Running Man.

Some episodes of Running Man are better than others and the ones I watched last night were ok but not the "fall out of your chair" funny.  I did recognize Tiger Jk from the Drunken Tiger interview with Eat Your Kimchi.  I couldn't remember his name before they introduced him but I knew he was in that group. 

If you want to know more about Korea I think Eat You Kimchi is great.  It is a married couple from Canada who went to Korea to teach and fell in love with the country and stayed.  They make YouTube videos on Kpop, kindi, Korean food, interesting locations and even some commentary on things like how race and gender are seen in Korea.  The do have a bit of a dirty sense of humor and swear a bit but have some interesting videos and I have learned so much.

Today is a WOW day so I won't get much crafting done.  I did spin yesterday but there is so much fiber if feels like it will take forever.  I think I'm almost done with my husband's socks, well the first one anyway. I'm excited to get a pair of functional socks done.  I usually have one problem or another with socks so this will be good.

I think that's it for today.  Time to go make all the things. :)

I made this hat with some Easter Egg dyed yarn.  I tried to add less vinegar so it wouldn't be so neon and it turned pastel.  It was my first attempt at self striping and I think the repeats turned out short but ok.  The pattern was Spring Spirals Beanie by Tasha Walsh, it's free on Ravelry.  The fit of the hat feel weird to me but I don't know if it's me or the pattern.

The last two days have been weird.  My husband was home both days which is really unusual.  On Monday we watched some shows from the U.S. I knew that was going to throw off my schedule but I was not expecting Tuesday.  I get about sixish (more or less depending on how badly I'm sleeping) hours of sleep.  I know this is fine or even a lot for some people.  For me it's a little light.  I'm usually fine but about every two weeks or so I get, for lack of a better word, prickly.  I feel like yelling at people for just breathing near me. When this happens I say something like, "I know it's 8 o'clock but I'm going to bed now," and wake up the next morning fine.  This happened yesterday morning.   I got the kids off to school, which some days is smooth and yesterday was not, then I was just done.  I decided it was better to go back to bed then yell at my husband for nothing.  So my whole day was off and I got nothing but the most basic of chores done.  No WOW, no Kdrama, no podcasts not even regular TV.  I am glad to back to my regular routine today.  I even did my exercises, that I skipped on Monday, and everything. 

Today will be Kdrama day.  I'm going to watch more episodes of Flower Boy Ramen Shop.  I really want Yang Eun Bi to end up with Choi Kang Hyuk.  I'm so afraid they are going to end up being siblings or something.  It's the opposite of Your Beautiful. In that I wanted Go Mi Nam (or whatever name you call her) to be Hwang Tae Kyung's sister so she could be with Kang Shin Woo.  I didn't feel that way with Fabulous Boys.
If you like Your Beautiful I really recommend you see Fabulous Boys.

I'm going to spin today.  I did get pretty far on my husband's sock.  I think I'm almost done with the first one.  I really like this pattern and plan to make socks with this pattern for the whole family.  The only thing I don't like is since I'm magic looping it starts with a purl on each needle and I'm not a big fan of purling.  I did get one of the Shepherd's costumes done so I could show the pastors wife and see if that was what she was looking for.  She said it was fine so I'll make the other two that she gave me. 

I think that's it for today.  Sorry about skipping yesterday.  I feel like I'm back on track now so this should be good. 

I love this picture of my son.  Theses were the "book worms" we gave out last year for Halloween.  The yarn was reclaimed from the fist scarf I tried to knit.  The patter is
Michelle's Bookworm Recipe  by Michelle B. (free on Ravelry)

Lets see what I did this weekend.  On Saturday I played WOW.  It was really fun on my level 90 going back to some of the lower areas and just killing things.  It made it fun to play again and the quests are so quick.  I think for Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor getting Lore Master shouldn't be to hard. I almost have my panda out of Outlands but sadly my hunter is about to go in. It's also WOW's 9th birthday so I did a little toon hopping this morning to get the achievement.

Yesterday I listened to podcasts.  There was The Fat Squirrel Speaks, Homespun, and old episodes of Joeli's Kitchen. It's fun to sit and listen wile I'm making things.  It's like sitting with a friend that is showing you their projects.  It's also interesting to hear things about the crafting community in other countries.  Apparently in Europe Aldi sells yarn but not here sadly.

I finished the first of my daughter's socks.  I told her I need a little break before I make the other one.  Size 1 needles are not my friend.  I've been working on my husband's socks.   I really like the pattern.  It's toe up and I'm to the heel.  The heel always makes me nervous.  It's not that I can't make a heel it's just that if you make the heel wrong you mess up the sock. At least my husband's socks are in sport weight and not fingering.  It feels thick after working on my daughter's socks.  I've been trying to sew some for the shepherd's outfits.  I messed up the calculations a bit but it's fixable.

I did do my exercises on Friday but they were late and shortened. I'll do today's late too.  The day is just getting away from me.  That has a lot to do with my husband being home.  He's not a bad guy he just messes up my plans for the day.  Since he's home I'll probably end up watching TV with him and watching my kdrama tomorrow. 

I did want to make a little mention of the tornados yesterday.  We had a massive temperature drop in a short period, hail for about a minute and heavy rains for about 30 minutes.  I had no idea it was going to get so bad for those east of us.  It's always so hard to know.  The weatherman says "It's going to be bad" and most of the time it's no big deal.  "There's going to be three feet of snow stock up on bread" and we get a foot or less.  This time sadly the weatherman was right.  The tornado(s) took out a town about an hour and a half east of us.  The thing is that is the town that Paula of Knitting Pipeline lives in.  With the help of Ravelry it was reported that she was ok and her house wasn't damaged but there was no power and her cellphone was running out of power.  She has over 2000 people in her group and I feel like many of them are waiting, with hooks and needles in hand, for her to say what the town might need.  I know there are things like the Red Cross that always help with things like that but if she were to say something like "we need hats and mittens and scarves" the town would have a flood of hand knit goodness.   Also she is slightly Ravelry famous and I know many podcasters would say "Paula said they need this" and reach an even bigger audience.  This is all to say that I am grateful that we are ok, that Paula is ok and I have hope for Washington Illinois because of the generosity of crafters.  That's it for today.

This was another "Oh no! I'm broke and there is a birthday coming up." The girl this was for had a life size baby doll (it was weighted and everything) and I though she would like this.  The flowers all have pins so she could put them on wherever she wanted.  I did all these things in one day.

I'm up to 400 views!  I think it's people from Malaysia since I have a lot of views from there.  I wish I could say something wonderful about the country but I really don't know much about it.  I can locate it on a map which is more than some people I know.

I did enjoy watching Flower Boy Ramen Shop.  I love Lee Ki Woo's character.  For me he saved the show.  I would put the show higher on my list except for those horrid first episodes.  I found out that the new movie that TOP is in will be playing about three hours from me.  It's only playing in about 7 places in the U.S.  I'll have to wait for it to show up on Good Drama or Hulu or something.  TOP also released a new song.  I saw the video and it is kind of disjointed and surreal.  It was so weird and not what I was expecting I couldn't hear the song.  I listened to the song without the video and I liked it better.  It's not as catchy and a SHINee or Super Junior song but I don't hate it.  There are some YouTubers that go by the name Eat Your Kimchi.  They did a backstage interview with SHINee that is only 2 minutes and very superficial but what is more interesting is the explanation of what they had to go through to get the interview. 

Today I plan to play WOW.  I realized that my level 90 can work on achievements so that is what I plan to do with her.  I'm still lagging but when I'm leveling it's not too bad.  Maybe I can get some of my lower toons leveled up. 

I split my time, yesterday, between spinning and working on the sock for my husband.  The sock was big so I had to rip it out and start again but I like the pattern.  My elbows are still a little sore so I'm trying to take it easy.  The other thing I need to do is some sewing.  So many projects so little time. lol

This is the Easter egg dyed fiber drying.  I think it looks very colorful.  I need to do this more often but I they are so neon colored.  That is why I want to get food coloring colors so I can make less neon colors.

Lets see I did play WOW some.  My level 90 got all her cooking achievements so she is done till I either get a new computer or an expansion pack come out.  Every one is getting a little progress but it's not so fun right now. 

I've been spinning a bit and I found a sock pattern I want to make for my husband.  I want to make a lot of things I feel very inspired.  The down side is that I'm feeling some pain.  I have noticed that I still hunch my shoulders.  I try to stop every once I a wile and make sure they are down.  They haven't been hurting so that is good but my elbows have.  I broke my arm about 15 years ago near my elbow and so that one aches occasionally.  The thing is it's not that elbow it's the other one.  I think it stated because I was working on size 1 needles.  I should probably rest and not do anything but I want to make so many things. 

Today I was planning to watch Flower Boy Ramen Shop.  It's still on probation but I'll probably finish it.  I'm going to alternate between spinning and working on my husbands socks wile I watch.  I am hoping that switching crafts will keep the repetitive use injuries away.

I volunteered at the school today so I didn't do my exercised today.  I need to do those today.  I'll try and do them but I'm not guaranteeing.  I may just walk in place.  I just don't sleep well so I feel bla.  Maybe the exercise will make me feel better.

I finally got a picture of my Hitchhiker by Martina Behm.  It was really easy and it would have taken me a shorter time if I had worked on it exclusively.

I did check back on WOW but the lag was so bad I listened to podcasts.  I listened to Wolfe Farms, Dramatic Knits and old episodes of Joeli's Kitchen and Knitting Pipeline.  I got the second sleeve of my sweater done and have decided I can't work on it any more until I finish all the challenges for NerdWars.  I also finished the baby blanket that was in my bag as the "waiting room project."  I started spinning some fiber as my new "easy" project.  I decided my daughter's socks will be my "hard" project and I may work on one more.  A wile ago I was trying to make socks for my husband.  I made one but the cast off was to tight.  I only have to loosen that but I did it so long ago I don't exactly remember what I did.  It's just the one sock so I think I will make another sock then rip the first out and make it to match.  That's the plan anyway. 

Today will be my WOW day.  I'm just not having as much fun with it lately.  I do go through phase so this could be one of them.  I think I will have to retire my level 90 and that is sad.  I know it's just a game but it still makes me pouty.  In between working on my toons I have another project to do.  I agreed to make some shepherds' costumes for my church's Christmas program.  So it seems I have enough to do without working on the sweater.  It looks like I have a full day ahead of me.

Here is one of the shapes I made for my nephew.  You can see the loop where the end is not woven in so that he can pull it out.  The pattern is from a blog.  I have never tried to link blogs but I can try.  The Royal Sisters  That might work.  They have some other "granny" shapes like a heart and a doily that you can use to make ornaments.  I had a horrid time with the heart but I think it was because the patterns are in a toutorial mode and since I know a lot about crochet I was assuming what was going to happen next.

Since my husband was home we watched Agents of Shield (US show), Hunter X Hunter (anime), Samurai Flamenco (anime) and Strike the Blood (anime).  I really enjoy Agents of Shield and my husband was laughing at me because I was getting weepy about the episode.  We have stayed caught up with Hunter X Hunter since the beginning and that is one dark anime at times.  Samurai Flamenco is just funny.  It's more or less the same idea as Kick Ass but this lead character is so idealistic as to seem childish.  For Strike the Blood we only watched one episode and the concept has potential.  It's about an island off the coast of Japan where all the demons, werewolves, vampires etc. live with normal humans.  A high school student becomes an important vampire and how he has to live with that now.  We will have to watch more and see how it develops.

I did watch more episodes of Flower Boy Ramen Shop.  I watched the first episode a wile ago and hated it.  Mostly because the main girl seemed to have no brain and the lead boy just made me want to hit him. There is a three episode rule for kdrama though so I figured I'd watch those than move on to something else.  The second episode wasn't really better but the third was much better.  She finally hit him (not that violence is the answer) and the introduction of the second male lead made me think I'll give it a chance. 

Today was/is supposed to be a WOW day.  Unfortunately my realm was shut down earlier so I was listening to/ watching a podcast I was invited to. There must be some sort of list or hosts look for names of people who are in other podcast groups.  This it the third podcast I've been invited to.  I will check on WOW again in a wile and if it is still shut down I will call this a podcast day and listen to my regular shows.

I did my exercises today.  Finally!  Now I just have to work on making it a habit and stop skipping days.  That's it for today.

I made this little guy as part of a birthday present.  It's a little off.  I think I will do better if I ever make one again

I got 300 views!!!  I think it's because I mentioned Malaysia yesterday.  I feel bad that I don't know much about that country.  If I was rich I would visit every where but I haven't even had the chance to travel around the U.S. much.

I really didn't do much yesterday.  I read many of "Fresh Stitches" old posts.  I used to read her blog more when she had a podcast.  She has many good tips and interesting insight.  I wish I could blog more like that.  I just don't have anything really different to say or any tips that you can't find on YouTube.  If you do have questions about things I have made feel free to ask.

Today I plan to watch at least two episodes of Flower Boy Ramen Shop to see if I like it.  If I don't then it's back to Running Man wile I pick something different.  My husband is home today so I may end up watching anime or something else with him.

I know I don't really mention world events (like the typhoon) and there is a reason.  It's not that I don't know they are going on or am not effected by them.  It's that I am prone to depression so I don't watch the news because I will end up crying and feeling bad.  I want to help but I can't with money right now.  If something comes up where I can use knitting or crochet to help I will. 

This is my favorite shawl that I made.  It's actually made from silk yarn.  The body of the shawl is easy but the border was kind of difficult.

I played WOW on Saturday.  I did get some leveling done.  My level 90 is one point away from getting all her banquets done.  Blizzard released details about the new expansion pack.  My husband is so excited.  I actually don't like new expansions.  I feel like I just get used to one and they have to go and change it.  I tend to be a laid back, slow player and all the fast ones are done with everything and bored.  I'm just not excited especially since many of the things are for raiders and I am not one.  Also I tend to like every other expansion and this is the "other" one.  I'm sure it will grow on me but right now I feel a bit like a scrooge. 

I listened to a lot of podcasts yesterday.  Fiberista Files, Knitabulls, Skein after Skein and Homespun. Heather (Fiberista Files) talked about her retreat.  It sounded lovely but I don't know if I will ever be able to attend.  The Knitting Pipeline one is closer so I have a better chance of getting to that one.  Something is weird with either the website or something but I have an hard time listening to Homespun.  I didn't even get to Dramatic Knits or Knitting Pipeline.  I'll have to listen to that next time.

Today I'm not getting much done.  The kids are home so it throws off my plans.  I even skipped my exercise today and Friday.  I have to get back on track.  I think tomorrow I'll watch Flower Boy Ramin Shop. I watched one episode and was not thrilled but the rule is three episodes. 

I made lots of little shapes for my nephew.  I may make one or two more but I think I'm done with that.  I usually make baby blankets for everyone but when my littlest niece was born my sister was asking for cloth diapers so I bought her that instead.  My son is very distressed that she didn't get a baby blanket like the rest of the cousins so I may have to do that for Christmas. Other than that I think I will buy the rest of the presents.  I made a doll once for one of the nieces and it was horrid I don't want to make that mistake again.

I really enjoyed getting back to my sweater again.  I worked on the second sleeve and got up to just before the second leaf pattern.  That means it's only 12 more rounds till I join the sleeves.  I'm nervous.  I think I may finish this sweater early.  As my NerdWars dissertation I planned for it to take me till the end of December.  At this rate I'll be 100% finished by the end of November (including blocking, weaving in ends and adding buttons).  The farther I get on it the more I really hope it fits. 

I was looking at my stats and it said that someone form Malaysia had looked at my page.  This made me smile.  My best friend from high school was born in Malaysia.  Her grandmother was from India and made the best food.  I don't know if it was Indian of Malaysian food but it was so good.  I'm afraid of going to an Indian restaurant as I don't think anyone's cooking can live up to grandma's cooking.  I miss my friend.