Doing some planting...

in the blog award garden! My terrific fiber friend from Wool & Cotton has given me an award! Thanks Alexandra! The rules: Accept the award and post it on your blog with the name of the person that gave it to you. Pass on the award to as many bloggers as you wish and let them know you chose them for the award.

I give the award to:

Tink-n-Frog

Shortly

Missus.Mint

JJewelry

Darcy

Knitspun

Nean the Bean

Angelina

TP

This is too funny!
I have to make this. For a gift? For myself?
Ravelry link here.
Original web link here.

The (no so) random photo tag

Tink tagged me for this photo post. Here's how it goes:

Open your first photo folder
Scroll down to the 10th photo
Post that photo and story on your blog
Tag five friends to do the same

When I saw my 10th photo, I laughed. There's no way I'm posting that picture. But in keeping with the idea, I changed my mind. However, I am posting the 11th photo because the 10th is a little too graphic. Yes, this serves as your warning. After reading this post you will either be laughing with (at) me or running for the hills never to come back again. I hope it's the former since I've enjoyed playing in the sandbox with you.

We have two cats. One is a big huge 22 lb. scaredycat that will do just about anything for a little loving and some treats. The other one is the little 7 lb. queen. She is in charge of everyone and everything, and makes sure that you know it, every day.

The story goes like this:
Before we were married Hubster decided that he was sick of cleaning the litter box (thankfully always was his job). Not that I blamed him. He had heard somewhere that you can train your cat to go in the toilet. Yes you read it right. Dear friends, toilet training the cats was now underway.

So he joined a Yahoo group dedicated to the very subject. He researched online and began the four step process toward litter box cleaning freedom.

And it worked too. Here's a link to that more graphic 10th photo I mentioned, if you dare! The people in the know about this thing also say that you can teach kitty to flush (remember in "Meet The Parents") but we happened to have harder than usual flushers.

It was great for about 2 years. When we bought our house we spent every free moment of the entire summer ripping out carpet, installing tile floors, painting every surface, and all those things young (child free) home buyers do to save money and try to make the money pit they just bought livable. The queen of the castle wasn't too happy about not having a lap to sleep in every evening. She let us know by rebelling against the toilet. When we moved into the house we tried again to get them to use the toilet but the queen issued her edict to us about that. When the time comes for her to retire to the big catnip farm in the sky (oh, not that I want that at all), we will try again.

Are you still here?
Ok taggees, here you go!

Liz
Missus.Mint
Alexandra
the Ohio Girl
JJewelry

Why I Love Blogging

Here's a little story about why I love blogging.

When I first started blogging, I felt like I was talking to a wall. Remember that feeling? Then slowly people start peeking in. I joined the Blogging group in Rav and did the comment train a few times, which brought me over to the Tink-n-Frog blog. It just so happened that she was asking for some advice on her Etsy shop banner. Not being one to shy away from offering advice, I commented. Probably a little more critically than I would have if we were face to face, seeing as I didn't even know this person. Well, the comments turned out ok, because besides being supportive in all my blog ramblings, we have spent a few nights laughing with each other over in Ravelry, too. We have become bbf's. No, not best boyfriends. (Yes, I looked it up and that seems to be the going meaning these days.) Ok, maybe we're bbb's. Best Blogging Buddies. We're on completely opposite sides of the country but yet it feels like she is next door sometimes. She never fails to make me laugh or cry, and I can only hope to meet her in person someday. Anyway...

A few weeks ago, I bought some of Tink's Infi-knity bags because I'm planning a contest/blog giveaway in a little while here (hint, hint!). So instead of sending me the beautiful bags I wanted, she sent me the beautiful bags AND a ton of goodies to go along with it! I felt like it was my birthday all over again. See the little knitted acorn cutie? I got a kick out of this. It goes along with the acorn award! Oh, and if I turn into a sock addict we will all know who is responsible.

I'm Baaaaack!

Yes, I am back from my little mini vacation. I missed the kidsters' kisses and hugs and smiles. Missed that from Hubster too. I didn't miss the screaming and fighting amongst brothers. Luckily they missed me too and were super tonight, even playing together for a bit.

The concert was fantastic. Or, to use a phrase used around here far too often...wicked awesome! I scored a nice concert tee shirt so I am representing in style. I could go on and on (an on, and on, and on) about it I loved it so much. Maybe a separate post about it soon!

I am so far behind in reading all your blogs! I'll catch up with all of you over the next few days, I promise. And I have a bunch of posts all lined up (in my head) for all of you dear readers. It's going to be a little difficult for me to get them out since school is over and everyone is always here (aka no time to myself), but stay tuned. I have something interesting coming!

What am I doing here still?

Newark.

If you're from New England, than I've just explained it all. If you're not, then let me sum it up. I had a 5:00pm flight from Providence to Newark (but my plane was coming from Newark). Checked on the computer before leaving the house to make sure everything was a-ok. Got through security and found out flight delayed until 7:00pm. Seeing as I would miss my connection to Columbus, I had to be rerouted. Since there were no planes in PVD (or seats left on the planes that were there) on any of the other airlines either, getting there tonight was impossible.

The good news...
I am back in the comforts of my home instead of sleeping in the airport in Newark.
I got a bonus night of kisses and hugs from the kidsters. Kidster #1 was especially gushy.
I'll still have most of my weekend with the parents, and I will not miss the Clapton concert!

The bad news...
I have to get up at 4:00am.

My Knitting Checklist

I found this knitting wish list on mamakass's blog Knits in a Lively Breeze. Please use it and pass it on then leave me a comment so I can go check out your list. I'd like to see what you've done, want to do, and what you want no part of!

Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing:

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip-stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity Knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/Doll Clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Household items: dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…
knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
Dyeing with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Olympic Knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/Felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed Toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a Loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

The thing with Thongs...

Google will not let me upload the Door Thongs pattern PDF file to my googlepages or to Google Docs. Are they having a problem with the fact that it's called "thongs"? I don't know why, I have sure come across much, much worse out here.

But I'm pretty excited because the thongs are a big hit!
It's been in a forum post on Ravelry. No, the other post that was not started by me.
It was picked up by Knitting Pattern Central without me even having to submit it.
It's listed in a Yahoo group called LinksLinksLinks.
It's linked in AllCrafts, somewhere, not finding the linky right now...
And apparently it's being talked about in Groupbox, but I'm not a member so I can't tell what they are saying.

My blog traffic jumped way more than when I released "just" a purse pattern. My returning visitors went from averaging in the 20's to the 80's. Now 20 I can believe since I know people lurk, but 80? It's obvious from who's playing in the sandbox over there that a lot of you...no, MOST of you are lurkers. And that's ok with me, really. I lurk too sometimes. But how about leaving a comment today?

Win a laptop!

Well, I'm not even sure you can call it a laptop since it's so small and lightweight! It's the HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition clutch, and you can win it by going to the Blissful Style website.

Yes, I am in a bit of a contest mode lately, but only for stuff that I really need (like this), or want sooooo badly (like this). Plus there hasn't been any knitting, so I thought I'd at least let you know about something exciting. Thanks to Missus Mint for the tip off. Good luck to all of us who enter!

Progress

I'm reworking the cable handle bag pattern I wrote for the sage purse a little so that it will only use up two skeins of yarn (Patons, Galway or Cascade all run around 220 yds). Since I only have two skeins of this blue color, it's a pretty important point. That and I want to release the pattern soon, and I think others will be more apt to make it if they know they can do it with only two skeins. I know that if I need to break into a third skein for only a little bit I get cranky.

I've managed some progress on the blue bag!Only a little bit on the tan one. Well, It's been rainy. No knitting when we're all inside since I'm too busy being referee. I did manage to get to the first cable row. But that means keeping track of my rows...so now I am wondering what I will do outside for those five minute instances when the kidsters are actually playing together nicely (snicker). Hmm, dare I start a third project? Oh boy, I'm not sure we're all ready for that.