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Vacation, all I ever wanted, vacation, I had to get away...-The Go-Gos

Obviously, a child of the 80's, I have this line in my brain as we have not had a vacation in two years. This month DH and I are doing a little roadtrip to the heart of America and I want to hear about your vacations, so here's the rules:

1. Post on your blog any of the following: wacky vacation story, photo from wacky vacation, or photo of wackiest vacation memorabilia.
2. In the comments of this post let me know it is posted. Make sure to include your blog's address so I can read it.
3. Have fun!
4. The prize will be some Lorna's Laces sock yarn.
5. The deadline is August 10, 2007.

My confession? So many, ok, when I was very young we went to Disneyworld. Everyday they would have a parade of the characters. They were running late or we had ten minutes to wait and I finally told my parents it was time to leave because I didn't wait for Mickey. Maybe, if I knit back then I would have waited. I lacked patience at a young age.

Sunneshine. I have ordered from her etsy shop a couple of times for various swaps and this time she will be getting a gift from me. Email me at callingkahlo@gmail.com with your address and vital information.

I will post the new contest tomorrow.

I am working on a secret project for Midnight Purl's new cat Starbuck. Go check him out he is adorable! I would love to post what I am making but we will all wait until she receives the package (it may be a while I just started last night).

I picked this up on the last day of the stix sale. The Ella Rae was on sale for $4.00 plus that poker chip. I have been eyeing the House Slippers from Knit 2 Together for a while. What I have been thinking about is making house slippers for the guest room (feminine and masculine). So, as you can see I am going to try and make in the red and black the tartan looking ones and the pink ones may have a flower with a button or a bow. I may even try this after I finish my impromptu cupcake hat.
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We received the Thank You card from Floss for her new lead. Included in the card were the new UK Harry Potter stamps. These are the benefits when your in-laws are the Postmaster and Postmistress of the Post Office in town.
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Ok, guys, I am closing the Ribbit Contest next week on July 27th. I have another contest which will start after that.


Don't forget to make a comment in that post on a knitting disaster, or a hair disaster (just as traumatic sometimes).






For those of you not in the know, DH is from England and has been here for three years now. Sadly, we have not ventured through a lot of the United States. His knowledge of the US includes, Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Scottsdale AZ, and Boston (granted not a state but we hung out one July 4th there). When the folks offered pick of their timeshare (which was about to expire) we leaped on that and with the short notice our choices were limited so we picked Atlanta. Yes, Hotlanta. I realize it will be a bazillion degrees, but we will be out of our locus of the area and there should be air conditioning.

We have finally decided to skip the plane ride in favor of driving down in the car. So, the plan so far includes stopping off in Outer Banks, North Carolina on the way down. Granted this is a small detour, why not? I always wanted to go and I finally get to hang out at Jeanne's Knitting Addiction. I met Jeanne and her husband on line (in an actual line, not online) of one of the vendors at Rhinebeck last year.

Then, we will hit Hotlanta for two days and visit Knitch and Why Not Knit. Yes, you are probably noticing this is my to do list, not DH's. There are other things we will do : Southern Cooking, Coca-Cola, Underground, and CNN....

On the way back, we booked a night at a hotel on a vineyard. We will hit the wine tasting (yes, Anna Banana I don't like wine, but it's fun), walk in the vineyard, and eat at their restaurant.

This way, DH will expand his knowledge of the US to Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia (those are our stops). And, we can hit a few others at another time. Our East Coast list includes: Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Tennessee (my Uncle leaves there although I have never been to Graceland).

NK: No Knitting. I have had no time to knit, at all. Very sad about this. I don't even have socks on the needles because I lack the time or the energy to cast on. Sad.

I ripped the Wicked sweater and will recast on in the Fall. I finally picked Malabrigo yarn for the Sanpoku pattern from Berroco which is so cool looking. I am very excited and started a swatch last night. I need to get 20 stitches/4 inches except that I used a size 8 needle last night and got 19. So, I tried a 7 this afternoon and 22. I am going to try again tonight with the 8 and just loosen my tension.
HG (Homegoods) the coolest shop is where I took Dh yesterday. I found these adorably bright Pucci inspired boxes.
These boxes are perfect for sock yarn and my new sweater stash. Pictured below is the sock yarn. I should probably start cataloguing stuff for Ravelry. So far, I got Lorna's Laces (Pink Flamingo, Vera, Purple Iris), VanCalcer (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw), Brightdyes (Gryffindor), Socks that Rock (Lucy), Colinette (two different colors I don't remember), Cherry Tree Hill (assorted ones) etc.
I have been posting photos of Maya, so here's ...Izzy.
You should have more photos of me, I am the Izzy.

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Someone rocks Maya's world. Look at her very cool fashion bandana sewn by someone who we will call Sew Chic . Maya doesn't want to reveal her secret seamstress as others may flock to her and ask for something just as fancy. Maya ran away from the paparazzi so the press caught her later relaxing on the floor.

Why won't the paparazzi leave me alone?
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Last night at 7pm, Wicked looked like this. The problem is that I learned or rather realized that I was knitting it too large.
So, at 10pm last night this is what Wicked looked like. A great improvement? Nope. I had to reprint the pattern and get everything all ready again. So, what do I do today?
I buy this. Oh, Pure Merino (originally $7.00) at $5.60 each plus the 30% off chip= 3.92 each. As Rachel Ray says, yumm-o! Did I mention that you get an additional discount on top of sale and clearance items. So what did I do then?
I bought this. Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Originally $8.00 a hank, it was on sale for $5.60 each + 30% sales chip= $3.92 each.

That's all I got. But, Louet yarn is an additional 20% off plus whatever sale chip you pick, and Debbie Bliss is an additional 15% off, and Noro was an additional 10 or 15% off, and oh yeah Cherry Tree is an additional 20% off.

Do I have ideas for the sweaters? Nope... but I am thinking about it. There are so many possibilities.

Paper Update: I have finished the final draft of the Methods paper. I now have to do my powerpoint on Thursday.

X-Files Update: Netflix messed up so now we had to send the disc back that we already got. We are still on Season 6. Spender jsut got killed.

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Remember how I was talking about Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ? Well, here's the fotos (finally). We actually have 63 so here's a selection (primarily because Picasa posts four at a time).
Hm, this pose looks comfortable. Maybe, I should start going to yoga again?


Geometry Revisited.


While, these guys didn't look too happy waiting in line, maybe they should have hooked up with ....
the knitters in the park. Just an idea.



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Did you think I put down the LCB? Not really. I did for a while and then picked up for the last two sit n' knit nights at stix. I added the large brown bar at the end. Now, being one to listen to advice, I did not save the labels for the yellow and red in the blanket and I need more. ahem. I am reading your mind (it goes something like "What!?"). I am debating which color to put next to the end that is falling off the sofa. I don't want the light beige color to be dead center, I rather it is on the side. Yellow, red, green? And here I am on the internet attempting to locate the missing yarn. Agh.

Maya says, "Oh, is that my new blanket?"
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Just in case you didn't get the message...


On July 23rd. stix-n-stitches will celebrate our second anniversary!
From now until that date we will be having a super sale!!!
On arriving at stix-n-stitches you will go fishing for a special savings chip.
This chip will give you 15/ 20/ 25/ 30 % off your entire purchase.
Many items have been reduced prior to the sale and will also apply to the savings.
You may come as often as you like, however you will only be able to select one chip per visit.
Knitting needles will not be included unless they are on sale.
Yarn, notions, knitting bags, books, accessories, patterns- will all be on sale.
Hope to see you for this Birthday Celebration!
Sheila


**Ok, I just learned that there are additional discounts on yummy stuff like Noro, Cherry Tree Hill, Louet, and Debbie Bliss.

Well, I have finally completed my Community Resources paper with 2.5 hours before class begins. I can now sit and watch the best programming ever, yes, I Love the 80's. No, it's not the best but it is certainly guilty pleasure. I can turn it on whenever I want and not be lost in a complicated plot and it adds so much knowledge to my education. For instance, as I type this they are discussing the impact of Police Academy on pop culture. Ok, I jest, it is really just background noise for more important things, like attempting to take photos of Maya.

You like her picture? It seems Maya is camera shy or rather she has created a game out of the camera. Everytime she looks oh so adorable and the light goes on signifiying the camera has focused Maya leaps out of the shot. The photo above is an example of this newly invented game.

Ok, this is backwards. I should probably have posted the knitting information first and then random personal stuff like pictures of furbabies. Oh well. So, here is my preparation for the next knitting project, the lacy sweater from Adorable Knits for Tots. I have the Frog Tree merino wool in teal. I have needles. I have the photocopy of the pattern (which I own the book so that is okay) with my notes and the repeats darkened out that I don't need. I have two hours before class begins.

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Well, I started this project a couple of weeks ago and it actually goes very quickly. I think my larger problem completing the project was more my time constraints with summer classes.
So, I have finished the dog leash for the MIL's new dog, Floss. Floss has the same coloring as Maya so when you scroll down you can imagine the results. The dog leash is knit in Noro's Daria and only took 1.5 skeins. Considering stix has a few skeins of the yarn left for $6.00 that is not bad (half price). I picked up three skeins, so I will be knitting another dog leash down the road for someone else.

Up close shot of chaotic cutie! Can you read her mind, she is asking, "Have you submitted an entry for the knitting disaster contest?"

Oh and Maya has a new collar but we have to take it to the shoe cobbler to add a grommet or two as she has the skinniest neck. Although, bandanas look fabulous on her and she wears them well.

Back to knitting updates. I will be starting a new sweater for Gracie (2nd cousin) in Frog Tree merino wool in a teal color. The yarn is oh so soft and I think I finally found a pattern that will do it well. As well, I have been working on the LCB, so Robbie watch out! I will post a photo of the blanket later this week as it is at that annoyingly heavy stage.

X-Files Update: Cyn mentioned that Season 5 has some of her favorite episodes and I agree. The vampire episode with Luke Wilson was fantabulous! Saturday we finished Disc 1 and 2 of Season 6. My favorite was Bruce Campbell in Terms of Endearment.

Paper Update: I finished 5 out of 7 pages for one paper and need to rewrite the last page of the other paper. I finished references for on paper but not the other paper.
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I mentioned earlier that I received my last package from my Secret Pal who is Karen. Karen has been creative with each package, and this one has a green and blue theme to it which includes Knitpicks yarn, Yankee Candle votive, handmade journal, some yarn soak, and knitting cards. Thank you for all the great packages!
Speaking of great surprises, I have met Hy (and Marlis). When I was at stix a few saturdays ago she had stopped by looking for some Jade Sapphire yarn which she had bought during one of Sheila's super sales for only $12. Ironically, I was the person who bought the last two skeins. I did some karma cleansing and let go of the yarn as Hy was in desperate need of that color. Well, irony of irony Hy also went to Atlanta and dropped me off this wonderful binder listing information on Atlanta. Did I mention DH and I are travelling to Atlanta in August? And, she also gave me this wonderful pattern of a starfish dishcloth which she picked up at Knitch. What a wonderful surprise!

X-Files Update: DH and I came across a major obstacle when Costco stopped carrying the X-Files seasons, so we switched to Netflix. We cruised through Season 5 and we are now on Season 5. Ok, let me get back to my papers as one eight page is due Tuesday (which I have not started as of now) and a six page is due on Monday (which I need to type three more pages).
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I received two packages : Knitty HP Pal and my SP10 pal. I promise to my SP10 Pal to post a photo of the package because she has been very thoughtful and generous in this round. Right now, I do have the photos of my HP Pal (still a mystery to me). The blue tissue is indicative of my Ravenclaw status.
Check it out! My own knitted Errol, potions, jelly slugs, book marker, magic knitting needles, the informative book on Hogwarts Beasts and Quidditch. Now, there was also Bertie Bott's beans. Here's the funny thing: I have been eating the Jelly Belly beans which say Grass but is really pear, but these Bertie Bott's are well pretty nasty. I actually tried the grass, bacon, rotten eggs, and blegh. So, what am I to do? I am bringing them to stix tomorrow so Sunday can try this hehehehe...... Thank you Weasley Chick!
Why has the chicken landed? Well, I thought I brought my digital camera to snb at stix last night and I didn't. So, I got everybody in a panic including my exhausted self that my camera was missing. And the friendliest people Alyssa, Kelly, new-Crochet-girl, Lucy, Margaret, Janis, and Fran were all looking in the store lifting baskets and yarn. I completely convinced myself that I had the camera and even better I thought I took pictures with the camera. I ran home to find the camera on the ottoman. So, I call the store (because I left the snb early) and told them:

Me: The Chicken has landed (this was Kelly's idea so DH wouldn't freak out if I did lose the camera)

Sheila (in Sheila's voice): What does that mean you found the camera?

Me: Yes (whispering so DH doesn't hear me)

Sheila: Where was it?

Me: Where I left it.

Sheila: Where was that?

Me: On the sofa.

What Sheila should have said in response, "I told you so! I told you it was on the sofa at your house"

So embarassing. And what's even better was I just had finished a quick impromptu lesson on split and splice to Alyssa and the group. So, here I am feeling all proud that I can explain something and then I cause an uproar and demonstrate that I am not spazz. As you can see based on this story, I have more than a few disasters.

Tell me about some of your disasters and participate in my knitting disaster contest.
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What's your worst knitting disaster? Did you have to rip out a whole shawl? Did you spill coffee on cashmere yarn? What were you thinking when it was 75% off? Fall asleep knitting and woke up entangled in a mess? Tell me about it.

I am sure this contest has been done before, but how else can I tie in the prize.... the Clover Kritter Notions Frog. (The Rip-it sounds like ribbit the noise a frog makes, and when I type posts I have the need to explain things.) I have the notion to throw in some extra goodies.

Rules:

  1. You need to comment on this post your knitting disaster.
  2. If you don't have a knitting disaster, then congrats! Post about your worst hair cut.
  3. Post on your blog and if someone mentions they found this contest announced on your blog in the comments section you will get an extra entry.
  4. Ideally, I would like to close this at 75 comments (and this is my positive self speaking but it would be rare if the blog got that many hits)
  5. The winner will be selected via some form of a number generator (please send recommendations on how this is done).