I've Been Very Fortunate

It started back in December when one of Mandy's friends (Hannah, I taught her to knit) gave me some yarn for Christmas. I've started knitting a pair of socks with the Araucania Ranco Multi 310 already (that's Monica's Lace-agon pattern), the Trekking is patiently waiting.

Then in January, I won The Loopy Ewe Quarterly Challenge and got this Claudia in the Freesia colorway. It is waiting patiently too.

Susie (Perchance to Knit) is so sweet. She sent me a hank of her Black Rainbow to knit. It is so beautiful, I don't know what she washes her yarn in but it smells wonderful (yes I am a wool sniffer). It too is waiting patiently.

Monica's family came over last weekend to help us celebrate Mandy's 18th birthday and we finally got to have our Christmas too. My niece, Kaitlin gave me this cool skein of Meilenweit. I've already picked out the pattern for this yarn.

Monica gave me some yarn too (and a pair of socks that I totally forgot to take a picture of)here is the yarn : Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in Gypsy Rose and some Artyarns Ultramerino 4 for a pair of Monica's Ribblets fingerless mitts. And if you look at the picture of my Lace-agon sock you will see the Knit Picks Harmony needles Monica gave me too. I love them, I may have a new favorite brand of needles (Crystal Palace has been my favorite up to this point).

Back in December I joined the "Top 10 Stashbusting group. I made it to the end without buying any yarn and I also got all ten of my projects done. My name was picked out of the bowl and here is what I won. These are some great prizes too. I received my yarn yesterday, Shelridge Farms Heather - Loganberry ( I just finished a pair of socks in this yarn in the crocus colorway and I'm looking forward to knitting with it again) and a Vera Bradley Large Cosmetic Bag in the Mod Floral Pink design. It will be the perfect project bag for my sock knitting. Thanks Nachaele for the great KAL and the great prizes.

I should have warned you that this was a picture heavy post (but I couldn't leave anyone out and I hope I didn't). Have a great weekend! More later.

Added: Kathy is having a contest. Well go on over and tell her I sent you!

My Baby Turned 18 Yesterday

It was my plan to do this post yesterday (on her birthday), but life got in the way. Here is a collage of pictures of her through the last 18 years. I can't believe how fast it's gone. She will graduate high school the end of May and start college in the fall.

She had a scavenger hunt party with her girlfriends last night. They had a blast (can I just tell you, 8 teenage girls are very loud, but very fun). Here is the cake I made for them (I'm making another for the family get together today). Her friends are so sweet...they told me when they go to other birthday parties they don't eat the cake there, they only eat mine because it is so good (I have ruined their tastebuds for anything else but mine). I'll post a picture of the family cake after I have it all done. Have a great day and weekend. I'm going to go bake a cake!

Here is the family cake (on the left...with the "happy birthday" candles). I think it looks much nicer than my first cake. Everyone had a good time and it was sad when my sister and her family left (Mandy always cries).

So Fun, So Easy (and fast too)

I finished my Swirl Socks tonight (I had 3 repeats done on the leg of the first sock when I picked it back up last week). They were so fun and fast to knit.

Monica called me back in December and told me she was emailing me a new pattern, would I please knit at least one repeat of the pattern and let her know how it worked for me. The yarn I chose (Shelridge Farms Soft Touch Heather - Crocus) is a little fatter than regular sock yarn and I didn't want to knit it on size 0 needles, so I cast on 60 stitches (rather than 70) on size 1's and away I knit. They are so pretty and fit great.

Sheri at the Loopy Ewe asked to have it for the first Loopy Ewe Sock Club pattern (all members have it now so I can show mine and not divulge any secrets about what it looks like) and Monica agreed.

Well it is past my bed time and that's all I have for right now. Have a great week!