SUNDAY IS A GOOD POSTAL DELIVERY DAY

Knitting Goodness
Yes I know today is Sunday. I also know there is no mail delivery on Sunday BUT I received a package. It was delivered by the postman who drives the truck to make sure that the week day workers are not inundated with too many parcels to deliver. So this afternoon I received my Fall Felted Bag Exchange. Look at all the goodies I got.

Here is the bag. Leslie my partner who lives in Nova Scotia wrote in a note the bag was to be the constant companion felted bag but it went all wonky in the washer and this is the salvaged version. Leslie had to cut the bag and sew it. This is what it ended up being and it is quite nice. The colors are black and pink, faves of mine.
Here is the magnetic snap sewn in the center to keep the bag closed. I think I may put in a couple more. One on each side. The bag isn't heavy so it will be really nice holding a knitting project.
Close up of the goodies I received showing two patterns and a book. One pattern is for the constant companion which I really want but have yet to get around to making and the other is for a bag that is smaller and quicker to knit and felt. The book has some very cute patterns. I even found several I would like to knit.
Not only did I get a pattern for a quick knit felted bag but Leslie also included bamboo circs, stitch markers and the wool yarn to make the bag with. In fact, there were two sets of stitch markers. Did you make these stitch markers Leslie? I am going to try to make some. I have the required supplies just not the how to knowledge yet. And there also are some Halloween chocolate candy balls wrapped in orange (see top photo of all the goodies) which are slowly disappearing.

Not only did I get goodies but there was a treat for Solara also. She has already lost one of the little balls.This is what she thinks of it all. She does have a thing for wool and for felted items. An hour after this photo and she is still sitting in the same position on all the swap goodies.
So where have I been all week?
I have been busy taking photographs of my stash (and I have lots more photographs to take) and playing on ravelry. Some of the photos I took I couldn't find when I tried to put them on ravelry. So I started deleting photos from flicker only to discover that it didn't take away from the amount you were allowed to upload each month on the flicker's free service despite the removal of photographs providing more space. Funny how some of the missing photographs did show up for me to use on ravelry but others didn't. So for now the monkey socks I did remain without a picture until November. I will be going back to ravelry later and putting some more stash and projects in. I have more books to list but they are not in the ravelry's database so I have to wait until they are in the database for me to list.

My whoduknit trick and treat swap has been received by my partner. I haven't received my package yet but it should be here shortly since Halloween is Wednesday. My monkey swap partner has a card to go and pick her package up or have it redelivered. We do not get re- deliveries even if it is the post office's mistake and someone was home waiting for the package. My monkey swap partner emailed me and told me she hopes to mail her package to me by the due date which is Wednesday. Tomorrow or Tuesday I will be mailing my KTS4 package out and my partner should be mailing hers about the same time. My package is going out a few days late but I had to wait to get money for the postage. Again there was more month than money. The package is otherwise ready to go. I have finished my Harvest Sock for my partner and after I washed it and put it in the dryer to bloom it is lovely and should fit her. At least I hope it does and that she likes it. Here is a photo of the finished sock. I love the colors of this sock.I am going to make something especially for her. All I can say is HEE HEE!! I also need to find a few treats to add to her package and it will be ready to be mailed.

I am quite upset with the Purl When Ready pattern and socks. The pattern is probably fine BUT.... I purchased the Opal "Tiger" yarn which I had Mona specifically order for me and it seems that there must have been another Opal "Tiger" sock yarn as I can't get the purl when ready sock pattern to work with this yarn. AND it seems that it really isn't the same color pattern as shown photograph with the?????? I have seen several other pairs of these socks knit at the Opal site and I really have to say this yarn does look different.

As I am doing my blog I have been thinking where oh where has the month of October gone? It seems just a few short days ago it was only the beginning of the month. Gheez. it seems as if only a short while ago it was summer. In fact, the year seems to have just flown by. I know 24 hours is still 24 hours and there are still 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour and a day continues to have only 24 hours. If that is still the truth and I haven't read anywhere of any changes than why does time seem to be going a lot faster? So if anyone has any ideas please let me know. I know what my grandmother would say. If that is true than I am afraid to go to sleep as I may wake up and I will be 100 years old or at least 80.

I will leave you with photos of my furchild doing what she does best, go in boxes. She really doesn't care if they are empty or have stuff in them. She just likes to sit in boxes. This is a box with clean clothes just out of the dryer and folded. What a life, eh?

WINTER WONDERLAND COFFEE SWAP QUESTIONNAIRE AND CONTEST

I am planning on joining the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap. You can find it here: http://wintercoffeeswap.blogspot.com/2007/10/introduction-and-contest.html

There is a contest already.

And now for the contest. It's simple!
Make a post on your blog, telling folks about this swap, and letting them know registration opens on October 24Th DONE
Comment here and let us know that you posted! DONE
Contest Ends October 23rd!

Oh and anyone can enter the contest and have a chance at winning and if you decide to join the swap you have more chances to win prizes in contests in this swap. So go on and give it thought.

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Questionnaire

Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!) I am a bit of a coffee snub and if I can get the fancy kind I certainly do enjoy them such as Starbucks, fair trades, Second Cup and Gevalia. I even like Dunkin' Donuts brand coffee and Tim Horton’s. There are others, of course.

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?
I have a grinder so either is fine.

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? Do you enjoy special blends?
YUP!!! I love flavored coffees and for the holiday I enjoy Eggnog flavored coffee. The only flavored coffee I really don’t care for is Irish Cream and I can’t say why exactly. I just don’t care for it. Oh and anything with a black licorice flavor which includes anise and fennel.

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf?
I like cream and sugar or Splenda and coffee mate or flavored coffee whiteners. I have even been known to put honey in my coffee. I also like coffee iced and lattéd.

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?
Oh a nice big mug for me unless I am at a dinner party (LOL) then a lovely cup and saucer.
Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!

What is your favorite part of Winter?
I really do not like winter but if the snow is sparkling, white and clean then I don't mind it for a very brief period such as light snow on Christmas Eve. Well I do like looking at the snow which could be just as nice if I was looking at a picture. I do like to be the first to walk in that lovely white sparkling stuff and have even been known to make a snow angel or two but I guess if I had my way I would go south where it is warm during the winter. I guess b/c it so cold here it can be hard to enjoy with layers and layers of clothes. Sometimes when it is too cold or snowy to go out and I can snuggle up on the couch with my knitting and/or a good book (and the computer now) is fun but anytime I can do that is fun no matter what the weather. I would love to add it would be nice when it is cold to have a fire in the fireplace but I can't since I don't have a fireplace. I guess I am just a dreamer. I really don't like the cold, damp cold, and bitter cold weather but then I don't like when it is too hot and humid either. Don't ya think this is a great answer.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?
I like to celebrate both Christmas for the holiday and not the religious aspect as I am Jewish and Hanukkah. I love the Christmas lights, lighting my Hanukkah candles and the food. Living alone though it is hard to really celebrate holidays.

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?
I used to when I had a small one but it was in such disrepair I had to get rid of it. It was a nice small one with fiber optic lights. I even at one time had a second small tree I put editable treats on. That was an easy tree to put away. I have some lovely decorations but they are in my locker and we are not longer allowed to access the locker area. I do have a few decorations and my menorah in my apartment.

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?
I rather have a winter themed package. I just don’t want any Christian items. I would have to pass them on to someone who would have more use for them.

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snowflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?
I collect angels, fairies, cats, Americana, yarn, books, magazines and fabric for the time when I will be able to sew again.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?
Where I live most definitely YES although I really don’t like hats unless it is bitterly cold out. I more often use scarves and/or the hood on my jacket.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?
Shortbread cookies with eggnog coffee.

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
I am a knitter. I have knitter ever since and I am decades old. How horrid no OLD that sounds. LOL I do crochet but very little and I don’t really know how to do crochet items that require shaping. Also, I don’t read or understand crocheting instructions as well as knitting instructions.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?
For socks I like wooden, and Bryspun. For non sock knitting I tend to use my Denise Cirs as straights. If I do use short straights I like wood and Bryspun also. There are occasions when a metal needle is needed. I usually find that out after I have broken the wooden one that I knew was not strong enough for the particular pattern I was working on.

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?
My most favorite is socks, sock, and socks. Then I like totes/bags including felting, shawls, toys and other odd items. I also enjoy dishcloths as they are a fast completed items. Of course, I knit scarves, baby items, afghans, wrist warmers and hats. I do not knit too many sweaters as I am always afraid it won’t fit. AH see I limit my self to items that do not require any fitting.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?
I have become a yarn snob and love all the yarns I can’t get locally and in Canada.

Do you spin or dye?
I have dyed yarn with Kool-Aid twice and will be dying yarn for the third time in the Hand Dyed Yarn Swap 2.
I am taking a 2-day spinning workshop in November and am very excited about that.

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else?
I quilt and sew. I almost completed my apparel design course but had to stop when it was no longer possible for me to sew in my apartment. I used to do needlepoint, embroidery and crewel but all those items are up in the locker area I can’t access anymore. I have started two cross stitch project a couple years ago and they are now UFOs. I don’t scrap book as I have nothing to scrap book. I have been known to make cards occasionally but I find it very expensive. Also, I used to do various other crafts but no more. I miss some of them.

General

When is your birthday?
Feb 4

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!)
One feline fur toddler Solara who also likes to knit. She will be two March 3.

What are your favorite colors?
Pink, blue, red, purple, black and white. I don’t mind dark greens but not really lime green, yellow, orange and brown although if they are not predominate color in variegated skein that would be fine.

Do you have any allergies?
Wasps but I don’t think anyone would send me any. I do not like black licorice or anything with that flavor which includes anise, All Sorts and fennel. AND I don't smoke and don't like items that smell like they came from a smoker's home even if they have been and especially if they have been wrapped in dryer sheets.

NEW BLOG ENTRY SOON

I am working on my blog entry but blogger is giving me problems AGAIN with the photo uploading.
I am off to dinner now and will try to finish it up and also put my answers to the the Winter Wonderland Coffee swap questionnaire in when I get back home.

WHERE SHOULD I START......?

....since I last wrote on Monday. How about Tuesday?

Tuesday was my knitting get together night. I really look forward to going to them. Imagine meeting in a bookstore and knitting. KNITTING and KNITTING BOOKS. How perfect can that be?
Shelagh gave a demonstration and instructions in how to do the Russian Join for those that didn't know how. AND, of course, there are photos of her doing that. Trust my handy dandy camera to know when it is needed. There is a link to the Russian Join on my sidebar. AND, of course, here are photos of some of the other gals Tuesday evening.


I didn't come home empty handed either. It seems I never do. I wonder who in the many many swaps I am in will get one of the magazines. The other will be mine. AND the book is mine all mine. I even have plans for several of the tea cozies and who they will be gifted to. There was something else purchased BUT I can't show a photo as that would give it away.

I did go to the doctor and had my head checked. I was told I could have a bruise on my skull. A hairline fracture and a subdural hematoma couldn't be felt. The twitching eye was another problem possibly but as the time is passing since I really banged my head the twitching of my left eye is slowly diminishing, I still think there was a correlation between the smacked head and the twitching eye. The area on my head is still sore especially if it is touched. I could feel a very small scab or something but I never got a goose egg and it never bled. I feel lucky that after hitting it so hard and almost loosing my balance, I didn't actually loose my balance and end up falling in my old fashion bathtub and knock the other side of my head.

Oh and on Thurday I mailed out my Monkey Sock Swap and my whoduknit Trick and Treat Swap.

Knitting Goodness

Thursday I received my second puffy from Susan L in the addictedtoknitdishcloth exchange where we send small exchanges to each other monthly for three months.
I received a lovely dishcloth she made with yarn I previously sent her in her first package. The pattern she chose is from the 365 Perpetual Calendar date October 24 called waves. I also received three packets of instant grits and four different teas. I have already had the first, a Jasmine Tea by Stash and it was yummy. Susan included some free patterns also.

Friday I received my third of four packages from Sharon in the yearly weluvknitting exchange. I received many items including three skeins of a wool blend yarn from Joanne's, a large cat calendar to hang on my wall and a mini size of the same to carry with me (sorry but I left it out of the photo). There was a fairy puzzle and some scrap book goodies but since I haven't opened the puzzle yet I don't know what they are. Sharon also send me Halloween candy (some wrapped to look like body parts but they sure tasted good) and some of it missed the photo but not my mouth. There were treats for my Solara to eat and play with.
I received a sewing tomato pin cushion with pins. Funny how I need these pins and good straight pins are very expensive. I told Paula she also needed pins when I was at her house last weekend. In the box were some Halloween spider tea lights, an autumn pumpkin candle in a tin, a board to put up and stick items in, and several postcards from Texas from when she visited family. I also got corn and soybeans but they were dried and dead. The last two items represented the part of the swap where she sends something from where she lives.
Here is a close up of the yarn I received from Sharon. I have been busy working on my Harvest Sock for my pal. I am knitting a Yukon Leaves pattern and here is a photo of how much I have completed so far. AND here is a close up of the sock leg. It is not a difficult pattern and reminds me a little of the monkey sock pattern. I hope my partner will like the pattern and the color choice and enjoy knitting the matching sock. I should have them competed soon and will then start the fun process of shopping for her. I have ideas. No hints.

I even have picked out my project for the whoduknit group October book Slipknot project. I have decided on what I will be making for Nancy who is part of the birthday club in the addictedtoknitdiscloth group. Her birthday is in December. I hope she likes it. I am ready to start on my Purl When Ready Socks. I even have decided on what is going in my SP 11 gift package #3. Oh and I have been slowly gathering goodies for my other swaps.

Friday I went out and delivered some Avon orders. I have only a few more to deliver. The weather wasn't that great yesterday either but I knew I needed to get it done and I waited until later in the afternoon when it had stopped raining. It may have been cool and drab out side but it was definitely not cool inside. Cooking soup certainly didn't help with the heat in my apartment. I had the window wide open. The radiators were blasting the heat as if the temperature was already 40 below zero outside. It really was a soup day even if was hot in the apartment. I made tomato hamburger macaroni cabbage soup based on my basic tomato macaroni soup. The recipe for the basic soup is below and you can adapt that to how you want.

Tomato Macaroni Soup

3 tbsp butter
2 large carrots “grated”
2 large onions diced
6 cups ripe tomatoes skinned and chopped
or
1 28 oz. can tomatoes diced (if whole need to break them up)
1 tbsp basil or to taste
oregano if desired to taste
¾ tsp sugar to taste
salt and pepper to taste
dill weed if desired
veggie or chicken bullions mixed with 6 cups water
(I have been known to use six packages of veggie powder and always more water since I tend to make a pasta dinner if I don’t add enough liquid)
¾ cup elbow macaroni*
OPTIONAL chick peas, hot sauce &/or even curry seasoning
(be creative and after you have made it once adapt it to your liking with other spices and veggies. I have even added some barley but then do add more broth.)

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven,
Add onions and carrots.
Cook till onions and carrots are soft.
Stir in tomatoes and seasonings.
Bring to a boil.
Simmer about 15 minutes.
Add broth mixture, hot sauce and bring to a boil.
Add macaroni.
Simmer until macaroni is cooked.

* If you add to much macaroni you will have a pasta dinner and not a soup.
**You may need to add more water.
*** You could even add hamburger and turn it into a hamburger soup.
The possibilities are endless. Believe me I know as I have had this recipe for years and have had it many different ways.

For the version I cooked yesterday I sautéed the onions and carrots in white cooking wine and the liquid from the onions. I did add hamburger and browned it with the carrots and onions. I also added a few shakes of hot sauce when I added the can of diced tomatoes. I used three of the double sized herb and garlic flavored bullion and I used nine cups of water. I added an entire small cabbage cut up. Then last minute I put a few spoons of pasta sauce in. I didn't have macaroni so I used penne pasta as that is all I had on hand. I even tossed in the remainder of a can of baked beans I had left after my dinner. So you see it is an all purpose type soup. It smells so good and tastes even better.

Genie came over last night while we gabbed and watched TV (Ghost Whisperer and Moonlight) she crocheted and I knitted on my Harvest Sock Pal's sock. We had some soup just to make sure it was tasty.

So now we are up to today. Today I cleaned the flatwear and draw in the kitchen, played on the computer and went out for dinner. My friend Lori picked me up and we went to Casa Grande to use up the last coupon for that restaurant in the 2007 Entertainment Guide. It gave us $17 off and we split the bill. We had the G-dfather pizza, the extra large hugh big giant size. Want to see it. Here it is. You can't see it clearly and need a larger closer up photo. I can accomodate that request. AND what we didn't finish we had the waiter divide it in half and took it home. I love left over pizza.

More knitting news
I have been accepted into The Hand Dyed Yarn Swap 2. This will be my third time dying yarn with Kool-Aid. I found a new swap the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap. I have put the button and also a link on the side bar but sign ups aren't until Tuesday or Wednesday. It is by the same hostess who had the Fall Felted Bag Exchange and the Knit One Tea Too Color Swap. My questionnaire will be next in a seperate blog.

Last week I managed to share in some treasures that my friend Janice found. Look at the goodies and check out the prices for them. This first photo is of some Kid Mohair. There were five 20gram skeins in each package and I got two packages. They were $4.99/package of five.

This next photo is one of sock yarns. Now I must admit they were divided among two bags and the bags contained other different yarns (sayelles and fluffs) but the bags were again only $4.99 each. The top row of sock yarns in the photo are wool with some nylon and the top right also had a card with matching thread. The two bottom grey tweed sock yarns are a cotton blend. There were several balls of acrylic sock yarn and also several skeins of cotton that appear to be "Grace". All in all, I think it was a great bargain. Thanks Janice for finding it. This was not all she found. There was a rich blue mohair and I think an alpaca yarn but the color of that was just NOT me. Of course, there was yarn she kept for herself which was good it was in plastic or I may have drooled all over it.

Now before I close I want to thank you Andrea for your comment on why I couldn't get my photos uploaded. Here is what she found out and sent me

Blogger Status
Saturday, October 20, 2007

Blogger engineers are currently investigating problems with photo uploading, which is manifesting as the “bX-9pjt6o” error code when clicking on the image upload button.
Update, 9:00PM: This has been fixed. Photo uploading has resumed to normal operation.
Posted by Pete at 19:59 PDT

Closing with a photo of sleeping Solara. She is under my bed (a futon), lying on my linen which is in a zip up container where the zipper is broken. I have put a sheet over all the contents of the container as after I discovered this hiding spot I also discovered it was covered in cat fur. Now I only have to wash the top layer. I pulled it out enough to take the photo and I didn't even wake her when I pulled her out, took the photo and shoved her back under the bed.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID TO MYSELF

Last Wednesday morning I stood up from bending down to pick something up and I smacked my head into the medicine cabinet door, the pointed end no less. BOY did I hurt my head, the left side of the top of my head. I went and got an ice pack and kept it on my head as I got ready to go out. I was off to pick up soap from Hilltop for the study I didn't make this morning and I didn't have a lot of time to baby my head. More on the Hilltop study further down on this blog. BOY OH BOY did my head hurt. I really didn't feel a bump though. It still hurts and it hurts almost as much now again. The pain had subsided for a while. I noticed a short while after I smacked my head, my left eyelid started twitching and it is still twitching. NO I didn't go to the doctor. Maybe I should have but what could the doctor do? I had just seen the doctor October 3 and will be going again around Oct 31. Maybe if the pain is still bad in the morning I will call and see if he is in. It is just the eyelid twitching is driving me nuts as is the head pain again!!!!! BUT ask me if stopped me from knitting? Do I really have to answer that. I am still knitting but not as fast or for as long at a time but I am still knitting.

Today I had an appointment at Hilltop to try out for a study testing products on the lower legs. BOO HOO I didn't make it. An area on my left lower leg was too dry. I did sign up for another. I will pick up soap for it on October 23 and it starts October 28 going through November 3 for a total of 18 visits. There are more visits and it is more time consuming but it also pays more. I certainly hope I am able to get into this study. I really could use the extra money.

I just sent my questionnaire in for the Hand Dyed Yarn Swap which you can find here: http://www.thehanddyedyarnswap.blogspot.com/. If it is not filled and I get in I will put a button on my blog. Last years swap was a lot of fun. Last year my partner sent me yarn she dyed using Knit Picks Bare and I dyed Briggs and Little Dura Sport yarn for my partner. It was a secret swap. I loved the dyed yarn my partner made me and have already knit it up into a pair of socks. It was only the second time I dyed yarn. This will be my third. So if that is something that interests you hurry on over to check it out and sign up.

Harvest Sock swap partner I check my yahoo bulk folder daily and have not seen any emails from you there. All I can say is keep trying. I have changed my mind on the yarn I am using for your socks. I found another I like better. I think it will make a nicer sock in the same pattern. I should be starting it by the end of this week.

I am finishing up some flowers for my striped bag. I am on the last flower and have the leaves to do. I hope it looks as nice as the photo on the pattern.

Also, I have added to one my Knitters Coffee Swap 3 questions that I also enjoy Dunkin Donut coffee. AND I have corrected it as it is swap #3 not swap #2

More Swap Questions

Again from the Felted Bag Exchange:

It's a crisp, cool, sunny Sunday in October - the sky is clear, there's a bit of a breeze, and the leaves have already started to change. How would you spend your day to best celebrate and enjoy the season? Are you at home curled up with tea and a book and a window open to enjoy the breeze? Do you head out on a long drive and hike through the mountains to see the trees? Go find pumpkins and colored corn to decorate? Tell us about your special day!

That day was just like this past Saturday when I was invited for dinner at Paula's. We sat outside in her screened porch before dinner. Paula read and I knitted. I did need to wear a light jacket but the weather was just lovely. The leaves were falling from the trees and there was a gentle breeze.

After dinner Paula wanted me to help her redecorate her bedroom. She purchased two table cloths she wants me to glue to her Roman Shades and make a cover for in front of her TV. She also has a flannelette duvet cover she wants me to use to cover some pillow cushions. I told her if she lets me know ahead of time I will pack up my sewing matching and bring it to sew her cushion.

I see the Knitters Coffee Swap 3 is having their first contest. We are to post a photo of our favorite place to sit and knit and have a cup of coffee. This is what I will be putting in. I would love to have a glider and an ottoman glider to sit in while I knit but I don't so I have to sit on my couch. Not that it is so terrible. I just think I would find a glider and glider ottoman more comfortable.

Goodness but not knitting

I received my pen pal swap from Emily today. She sent me a package of five mechanical pencils, an oven mitt and dish towel, two doilies and a small notebook. I am member of the month in the group and this was one of my gifties.

Here is the little miss sitting in the sink which is a favorite spot of hers.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE SUNNY DAYS AT LAST

What a difference the sun makes. The last two days have been not only warmer than all week but sunnier also. I hope this continues for several more weeks. It would be nice if it stayed like this for Halloween for the kids. BUT we have been known to have snow on Halloween. I even remember a year when it was more blizzard than just a some snow on Halloween.

It is swapping time again. I have received my Knitters Tea Swap 4 and Knitters Coffee Swap 3 partners. A while ago I received my Harvest Sock Swap partner and my Knitting Around the World partner. I have contacted them all.

My monkey swap package is ready to go and here is one of the treats I will be adding to the socks I made along with the other goodies I am sending. This pattern can be found at Yvonne's etsy shop here: http://www.yvonneknits.etsy.com/ AND for another swap I am sending this. LOL It is a roll of toilet paper. AND here is a side view showing the knitted roll the knitted toilet paper is wrapped around.
You can find the pattern for the toilet paper roll and toilet paper here: http://mochimochiland.com/weblog/?p=169. Thank-you Anna for this fun pattern. I hope my swap partner likes it as much as I do. I did alter the pattern a bit in number of stitches.

Now on to answering swap questions.

From the Fall Felted Bag Exchange which I hope I am not to late in answering.

How often do you change the purse or bag you're carrying? Do you change based on seasons? Outfits? Something else? What's your favorite bag in the world (and it doesn't have to be a knit/felted one!)?
I tend to change my bags frequently. In fact, very frequently especially since I sell Avon. So I do change way more than just seasonally. How often I change depends on what is new and exciting at Avon, what season it is, maybe even where I am going and what I am wearing. I tend to carry my personal items separately in a pocketbook from my knitted items in a tote. Yes, that does mean I have to carry two bags but oh well. I have a lot of favorite bags. My favorite bag is the one I am using at the moment which today is the pink tote I have received from my SP11 partner for my knitting and a really nice new pewter pocketbook from Avon that is no longer available. I even sometimes end up carrying two totes and the second one I have been using is the one I received my angel in the ITE4. I sometimes carry my knitted items in just a plain tote and other times in a knitted &/or felted tote bag. I have a couple of really really large tote bags when they are needed and one is from my partner is the whoduknit tag sale swap. Believe me when I type I have a lot of bags. I am an original bag lady in more ways than one. Some of you who know me know what I mean by that.

From my Secret Pal 11 hostess Robyn:

Contest Number 4 will run until October 21st, 2007. You will have to post a picture of your first finished object and your most recent finished object and talk about how you feel you've improved in your knitter since the first!
Unfortunately I can't post a photo of my first project since I did it way back when I was in school decades ago. It was a pillbox hat with little round things but they weren't sequins. Those things that change with the light. For the life of me I can't think of what they are called. I thought is was awful and too stuffy but that was required of us nubby knitters. After that I knit a grass green wool v-neck sweater for myself but couldn't wear it. It was wool and very itchy. The wool then wasn't soft like the wool now. I didn't knit much after that again until I was married. My latest finished objects are shown above. I enjoy knitting much more now. I understand it better, the yarn choice is better, my stash has increased immensely, my tension has improved and I find it much more fun.

To end here is a photo of my knitting kitty Solara in her Psi Felted Bed. It was taken after her Thanksgiving dinner which was a treat from one of her aunties.

1000

First let me apologize for not putting an entry on my blog earlier as promised BUT blogger was not being very co-operative. I was able to put comments on other blogs but not access my own blog.

Yesterday (Thursday) was a busy day cleaning before my Avon order arrived. Yes I do try to clean my apt occasionally, usually before Avon arrives except for the bathroom which it seems I am always cleaning. I much rather be knitting or playing on the computer.
AND my Avon didn't arrive until 10:30PM. We have to be home for 4:30PM on the day of delivery as that is when it could arrive and usually up until about 9PM to 9:30PM. I felt sorry for the delivery guy as he still had eight more deliveries to make after mine. He told me the person who was to do the deliveries on my route decided he didn't want to them. This also happened with the last order delivered but the girl who delivered it came much earlier. I only had five boxes the last time. I live on the second floor with no elevator. She told me no one wants to deliver this route. They only get $2.00 for each order they deliver. I don't think I would want to deliver for only $2.00 an order. This time I had seven boxes and two were brochures boxes. The rest of the flyers and there were a lot were scattered in the remaining five boxes along with the Avon products. Our items come in boxes and we need to pack into customer's orders. I am taking the weekend delivering orders and dropping brochures off unless customers want to pick theirs up. Tuesday before my Avon was delivered I called Avon venting as I had read my invoice online. I felt bad for the guy I was speaking to only I don't know what to do and who else to contact. AND yes I was polite after all it isn't his fault when items don't come. I have tried writing higher ups, sending emails and telling my manager. I hope that when reps phone their messages get to higher ups. Apparently, the phone staff do have meeting with Avon personnel I was told and the messages do get relayed. I guess I am not the only one calling to vent. BUT sometimes it works in my favor and the person on the other end will find something I have been told no longer is available. No luck this time. It is the same old thing. I didn't get any of my Halloween earring I ordered for my customer. NO they were not shorted they are no longer available. GHEE it was the first time in the brochure and like last year and most holiday items by the time my district's order is packed aren't available to ship. They also didn't send the beautiful Pewter Bag my customer ordered. It was shorted when she ordered it in the previous campaign and in this next campaign it is now sold out. I had several other customers sitting on the fence deciding if they wanted to order one. With Avon you don't sit on the fence you order or you may not get what you want and even when you order you don't always get the item. This same customer also ordered two of the Branch Wall Sconces and they also were shorted. In this second campaign, it now says they won't be available to order until C#24 which is the one after this one. Those weren't the only shortages. A friend told me she is now waiting three campaigns to get a demo item, the African Mask Set. She wanted it but a customer wanted to see it also to decide if she wants to order one. What good is purchasing demos AND yes we have to buy them if when our customers order them they can't get them!!!!! I am in my 10Th year selling Avon and in all this time I have had one order delivered that had NO SHORTS!!! Well enough of ranting and venting here on my blog. On to more interesting news.

WOW when I looked last night I noticed 1000 people had viewed my blog. I hope all of you find it interesting. I am sorry I haven't been able to put anything I have designed on my blog BUT maybe one day when I finally do design something. In the meantime, I will link to other designs I find interesting.

Knitting Goodness

Tuesday I received a puffy from my secret pal. This is three hours after I have started writing this and I can finally upload the photo and continue with my blog. What you see is a book on Americana crafts. I found a couple of items in the book I would like to make. There is a nylon back pack with the seal of the president on it from Washington DC, a skein of red, white, and blue stripped cotton yarn and a bag of red, white, and blue M&M's. My partner wrote in a card this was an early Thanksgiving gift. It was mailed on Sept 29 from Toronto and I got it the day after Thanksgiving on Tuesday October 9.

The very next day I got another puffy from my secret pal. Strange this one was mailed on Friday Oct 5 also from Toronto and I received it Wed October 10. Go figure the postal system out. I received more lovely goodies which included a really neat pink plastic tote bag with an attached small bag, pink large M&M's I thought would have nuts in the center but they don't. They have a cherry flavor, a Noni pattern for the Year of the Pig Felted Bag and a skein of Artful Yarns Fable which is 85% Pima Cotton and 15% Silk. Now I have to admit I hadn't been eyeing this particular Noni felted bag pattern but it is really cute and different. I like to knit things that are different so it is now on my to do list and I know just who is getting it. First I will have to get some pink wool that will felt to use for this project.Here is a close up photo of my Fable Artful Yarns but the yarn is actually a little lighter than the photo. It is a quite luscious yarn too. So thank you secret pal. The neatest news from my secret pal is that she is planning on visiting my lovely city the first weekend in November and wants to hand deliver my my third and final secret pal 11 package. Now how neat is that? She also want to go and see what Mona has at Woseley Wardrobe. I have something interesting to look forward to next month.

HMMM it seems that this blog didn't get published. My friend came by and I just left the computer and later shut the computer down. So it is now Saturday and I want to publish this now. I will put more in that didn't get in this blog later. I am now going to get ready to visit my friend Paula. She wants me to help her make something with fabric. She doesn't sew but "glues". I don't know what it is but I will let you know what we do after I get home. I am staying for dinner. She put a pot roast in the oven or slow cooker and I am bringing some potatoes to mash.

Here is my fur toddler sitting on the toilet. Maybe she thinks she is doing whatever it is I do when I sit on the toilet. LOL AND you have to push her off the toilet. She just won't get off. She also likes to hide and sleep under the tub. I have one of those old tubes on claw legs. Only there are no claw legs on mine but it is on bricks which I painted gold to go with my red tub and Americana red, white, blue bathroom.

KNITTERS COFFEE SWAP 3

I joined the Knitters Coffee Swap 3. It is not a secret swap and I will know who my partner is. AH another interesting swap.

Here are the answers to my questionnaire.

1. Whole bean or ground? Both as I have a very nice grinder.

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully loaded.

3. Regular or flavored? Both but I don't care for Irish Cream flavored coffee.

4. How do you drink your coffee? Cream/milk and sugar or Splenda sometimes I will use some form of coffeemate flavoring either liquid or powder. AND I love iced coffee both flavored and non-flavored and of course, lattes.

5. Favorite coffee ever? Starbucks, Tim Horton's, Second Cup, Gavalia makes a good coffee also. I love eggnog flavored, hazelnut flavor and other flavored coffees. I do enjoy speciality brand coffees. Oh and an addition I also enjoy Dunkin Donuts coffee.

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Not extremely fussy BUT I do like a good coffee so I guess not just any old coffee bean please.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Cookies I love cookies AND have a really bad cookie tooth. I am a real cookie monster BUT I do like cake and pie also with coffee.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Usually what I can't get here locally. I am turning into a real yarn snob. I love sock yarns, alpaca, soft squishy merinos, and feltable yarns. I love to try yarns made from strange sources (soy, milk, corn, bamboo etc) and would love to try yarn with sequins and beads or other items in them.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? PHENTEX and I don't need any acrylic at this time.

11. What's on your needles? Socks socks socks (several pairs), HA HA HA knitted toilet paper and holder, flowers for a felted bag, a pair of gloves, two scarves, another bag and I am sewing and stuffing a knitted monkey which I hope turns out okay after it is completed.

12. Favorite colors? Pink, red, blue, purple, black and white

13. Allergies? Wasps but I doubt anyone is sending those.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Please no lime green, yellow, orange or brown yarns. I am not crazy about those colors. I do not like anything with black licorice (anise) flavoring. I do not smoke and so I live in a smoke free home BUT I do have a feline furchild who likes to knit and add some of her fur to items in my home.

FLASHING MY STASH

My secret pal 11 hostess is having Contest number 3. Here is what we have to do .."you will have to flash your stash. Post a picture by Monday, October 8th, 2007, to win a prize." I am not posting all my stash just a small portion of it.

So here goes, photos of some of my stash.

Blue Sly Alpaca 50% Alpaca and 50% Silk (3 skeins) in an eggplant color
Cascade Yarns Cotton Rich (2 skeins) in a pink purple color
Cascade Yarns Sierra Quatro 80% Pima Cotton and 20% Wool (2 skeins) in pink tweed
Classic Elite Wools Mackenzie silk- wool tweed (1 skein)

Crystal Palace Yarns Cotton Chenille a pale lilac color ( 2 skeins)
Elizabeth Lavold Silky Wool 1 skein (lighter than this photo)
Four assorted mohair yarns
Hand Maiden Sea Silk (2 skeins - color C005 Berry)
Ironstone Yarns has more purple than photo shows (4 oz)
Italian Kid Mohair a bit deeper blue in color than photo (it is actually one skein)
Jaeger Alpaca 4 ply (3 skeins) off white color
Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Infusion Kid Mohair (1 skein) grey and cream variegated color
Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Infusion Kid Mohair (3 skeins) beige, tan and light brown variegated colors
King Cole Luxury Mohair (3 skeins) blues, purples and red variegated colors
Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud (2skeins each of Peppermint and Horizon)
Knit Picks Andrea Silk in Cranberry color (4 skeins)
Naturally Merino and Fur 10 ply (30% possum - 70% merino) 2 skeins in black
Rubi + Lana 100% pure wool lace weight in deep red (2 skeins)
RYC Classic Yarns Cashsoft Aran - a pale lilac (3 skeins)
SRK Ovation 75% Kid Mohair and 25% Silk (4 skeins) variegated colors
Misty Baby Alpaca in pink (1 skein)I decided to put photos of my smallest bag of stash. Now I will have to figure how to put these on Ravelry. I think I first need to put these on my flicker account and from there I can get them on Ravelry. A job for another day this week.

The next stash photos to put on Ravelry will be my sock yarns I think but I won't put them on my blog. You will have to check out Ravelry for them but as I previously wrote these photos will go on first. I need to take the photos of my sock yarn. You can find me under pennala if you are interested.