I got this from Hy's Blog (a fellow NJ Knitter) who got this from Shelby, one of the SP9 Hosts. Ah, so much sharing....
List your favorite:
Actor - Ewan McGregor; Kevin Spacey; Denzel Washington
Actress - Diane Keaton, Angelina Jolie
Animal - Penguins; Wolves
Band - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Book - 1984 or Animal Farm by George Orwell;
Candy - Maynard's Wine Gums
Color - Sage Green; Burgundy; Chocolate Brown
Drink- Mountain Dew
Flower - Orchids
Food - Thai, Chinese, Japanese
Lip Balm - Burt's Bees, Kiehls, a lot (I collect these things!)
Lotion - A fruity scent from Bath and Body Works
Movie - Harry Potter films, Usual Suspects, Joy Luck Club
Place - My home
Song - most songs performed by Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday
TV Show - Law and Order SVU, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I don't care it is no longer made), Battlestar Galactica, That 70's show
Yarn- Malabrigo, Malabrigo, Malabrigo
Vacation Spot - New Zealand (my dream vacation); Costa Rica (my dream vacation I actually went on)
I joined Rhinebeck Bingo. B-I-N-G-O! Yeah! I am going to Rhinebeck with DH and Margaret (still waiting on a final confirmation).
So, I am now not only a Square, I will also be a player. It should be fun to meet so many people. But, I am extremely shy, so this will be a challenge.
I have also received a very nice greeting from my SP9 pal. As well, I have picked a few little goodies for my spoilee. Tomorrow, we have our Open House, so fingers crossed somone will buy our place.
Ok, so now I return to studying for Career Counseling and attempting to join another KAL.
DH is a good sport. Here he is modeling the cable malabrigo hat. It seems he was slightly jealous I posted all the photos of the kitties on the blog and not him.
One of my co-workers is pregnant with her second child. They threw a baby shower for her so I knit these two hats. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. And technically these were knit in the last minute. I used Sugar and Creme which is cotton and can you guess it is a boy?
To my Secret Pal,
Here is my answers to the Survey. I tried to answer thoroughly but please let me know if you have additional questions. 
I am so excited to participate in this and I want to thank you for participating in this event. This is my first interactive project and I can't wait to hear from you.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like wool, alpaca, and silk. I don't like acrylic or mohair. I love Malabrigo (it is butter), I like Debbie Bliss, I am learning to like Noro, and a lot of other yarns.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have some needle organizers from The Organized Knitter. I want to keep my needles in vases in the future. I also picked up a cool DPN needle case.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My friend Katie taught me to knit. I believe I am intermediate somewhere. I haven't tackled lace but I am overcoming my sweater fears. I have been knitting for two years.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I can make a wish list but right now I don't have a site.
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I love Cranberry Orange candles by Illuminations, and I love trangerince cranberry (I think) from Yankee Candle. I have one of those wax tarts which I am enjoying because it has less smog. I like clean and fruity scents but I don't like floral scents. I like Pacifica candles had a scent that was lemongrass a Thai scent.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I have got sweet teeth. I love sugary candy but can't be hard (no Skittles, rock candy). I don't like chocolate. I like things like Wine Gums (from England), Dulce de Leche (from bodegas), and I LOVE White Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter cups. I am trying to remember some candy from any store in the US...
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin, but I do scarpbooking. I was a Creative Memories consultant so I got a ton of goodies. I plan on making an album for the kitties.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love a lot. I love the Chili Peppers. I love jazz (Ella, Ninna Simone, Billi Holiday). I love hard rock (AC/DC, Korn) and I love Spanish Rock.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love earth tone warm colors, browns, greens, burgundy, etc. I don't like blue. I appreciate blues and purples but have difficulty wearing. I haven't made up my mind about yellow and pink is a love/hate relationship.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married with five cats. Oh yes, I did say five cats. I volunteer for a local shelter and we just fell in love with our kitties. We love them dearly and we hope to add some dogs to the mix when we are settled in the house. No kids. Not yet.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear ponchos. I like scarves and mittens, but I will rarely wear a hat.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I have always knitted scarves but recently I have fallen in love with sweaters. I have been knitting a lot for DH's 2nd cousin. She is so cute and I am enjoying practicing the sweater mechanics and making cute clothes.
13. What are you knitting right now?
I am making right now a baby hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for a teacher at my school who is pregnant. I am also knitting the wrap sweater from Big Girls Knits. I am also working on two scarves for Christmas.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I think it depends on the gift. For instance, if the handmade gift doesn't reflect my style then no like we received something blue and it was very country country and it was supposed to hang on our walls and that was crossing some interior decorating line for me. On the other hand, I received pottery from another friends and I love it. Things like bags, stitch markers, and any knitting accessories would be loved.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I love bamboo straights and circulars but no metal. I love Addi Naturas but not the metal Addis. I love Bryspun circular needles. I love Lantern Moon straights on ebony. I pretty much stick with circulars.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope. I don't know what a swift is, but I am thinking of getting a yarn winder for the new home.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I don't know. I started a wrap which is a few months only because I packed the project into boxes. Oh-not true, I still need to sew the ends of my husband's HP scarf together from last year.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas, love, love, love and I love love love Halloween. I host Thanksgiving only so I can control the food served but I am enjoying that as I grow older. I love New Year's as well. I love a lot of holidays. The idea of spending time with friends and family and just chilling with lots of food.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really. I am not a tchotchky (spelling?) person. Aside from my yarn, I don't like to have lots of stuff. Although, we do have tons of mugs, large, gargantous mugs.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
For some reason, I haven't got any magazine subscriptions, but I do like Interweave Knits. As far as books, I don't have any Elizabeth Zimmerman books which I think would be an excellent addition to my collection.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I just learned and love cables. I am going to join the Central Park KAL.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I have not started knitting socks. Are foot measurements my shoe size? I am a 7 1/2 US.
23. When is your birthday?
April 19, 197X. I still pass for younger than my age, so I won't disclose the full details. I am an Aries on the cusp of Taurus.
Well, it appears with classes, work, and the stress of buying a home, I forgot the two year anniversary today. DH reminded me last week and I forgot. He also reminded me yesterday. I kept forgetting all day until yet again DH mentioned to me that he wanted to go out for dinner and I had class tonight. Not only did I have class, I was so focused on next week's exam.
Two years ago, DH and I celebrated with friends and family in New Hope, Pennsylvania our wedding. We had a small wedding as we wanted to enjoy time with visitors from England, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the US (Texas, Florida, and New York). We modified some of the ceremony and had poems read by close friends of Julia de Burgos and William Shakespeare. The picture above was of my Uncle Quique singing Ave Maria accapella during the ceremony from the balcony of the stone farmhouse. 
The mantilla I am wearing was worn by my mom thirty years earlier. The dress designed by one of my bridesmaid's mom to focus on the mantilla.
DH and I always talk about how we really enjoyed the wedding and can actually remember details from that night.
For the two years DH has been living in the US we have not had calm consistency. He has studied and changed careers while I had changed careers and began my Master's. We have had five new members of our family (the kitties) and we are looking to create a home together in a new house. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride, but DH has been there with his quirky sense of humor, empathy, and support.
Te quiero mucho, DH!
Oh yes, the Stitchy McYarnpants will be at stix-n-stitches on Thursday, October 19th, from 7-9pm. I heard a rumor and Ms. Yarnpants confirmed it via email. I heard so much about this book tour from Cyn so I jumping for joy (especially because I checked my calendar and I don't have class that night). Stitchy will be doing a book signing of her new book THE MUSEUM OF KITSCHY STITCHES, some talking, and I have heard there is a kitschy trunk show.
The compromise with DH is that he got the new re-re-release of the Star Wars trilogy (the good original set made in the 1970-1980's because I am still in denial over the last few made) and I got yarn to make my sweater. Saturday night, Margaret came over, we ordered some Tinga, and watched Luke, Leigh, and Hans Solo meet for the first time. We pretty much talked about nothing, did some knitting, and hung out.
After Peg left, we put on Empire Strikes Back. We finished watching Empire this morning and proceeded on to Return of the Jedi. Here's the title: "Illusions of grandeur". In Empire C3PO says to R2D2 that he had illusions of grandeur when he tried to fix the hyperdrive on the Millenium Falcon. OK, no big deal. Until we watched Return, when Hans Solo said that Luke had illusions of grandeur thinking he was a Jedi knight.
The point to the story? I got an adorable picture of Churchill resting on my lap while I did more knitting on the Wrap Sweater watching a great film. 
Update on the sweater puts me close to arm shaping on the back with three skeins used. I am loving the feel of the Zara yarn but I think I need to block before seaming together. Man, knitting a sweater does take time. I am amazed when I see Wendy or Yarn Harlot go to town on sweaters and finish in a week or so.
No knitting news, pretty much working on the house, ignoring school, and watching Battlestar Galactica. I did want to share that if you ever suspect the neighbors living above you might be wrestling when there is a lot of banging you could very well be right. Last night, the usual suspects at 9:30 had a lot of banging. We shook it off until we realized 15 minutes into the noise they weren't stopping and well no one was ruining our season premiere of Galactica. After DH knocks on door to request the cease of banging he confirms they had a friend over doing martial arts.
Yup. This was much louder than Tuesday night when at 11pm (and yes we are in bed because we both have early starts to the morning) they had noises like they were moving furniture in the bedroom for an hour.
Yup. The house is looking more beautiful than ever before.
So, I have completed one paragraph of instructions (there is only four pages of instructions). Well, I picked up the stitches from the back of the band and have begun knitting up the back.
Oh-I also started the Poppy sleeve. Hmm, what should I knit tonight my back or the Poppy sleeve? Or, do some homework. Tough decisions.
Another sweater? Do my eyes trick me? Do your eyes trick you? Well, I am knitting up the Poppy (photo on the right) for Gracie as a Christmas gift. Due to her strawberry blonde inclination and through the confirmation of several individuals, I am using a teal shade. I have finished the front left and right sides and the back. Tomorrow, I will start the sleeves. I may possibly finish the sweater next weekend.
Yummy! Finally, the stash enhancement from stix-n-stitches is revealed. In case you missed my post on the sale, but after the purchase I hid it in my car not from DH but rather from the broker's opening. I consciously decided to pick up yarn for a sweater for me. And pictured here is the sweater I am knitting from Big Girl Knits. Also, I picked up my first Lantern Moon basket as well as a small gauge and needle accessory. Izzy is impressed with this purchase- he thinks it would make a lot of knitted mice. One luscious sweater or 150 knitted mice hmmmm..... I think one yummy sweater is the winner.
Future possibilities...Here it is up and close. The yarn is so soft and the stitch definition is wonderful...
Certainly, not me. Someone forwarded me the Modern Yarn Anniversary Sale announcement, so this afternoon I made a quick stopover. Izzy is modeling this latest stash enhancement, so let me go into the details. I picked up:
- Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Two and Cotton Angora books
- 5 skeins of cotton angora in teal
- 8 skeins Jo Sharp in greenish yellow Summer Soho
- DPN Needle Case
- Tilli T. fabric bag
The yarn acquired will be created into a bolero (DB in teal) and a sweater for Gracie. Tonight, I will swatch the Zara for my wrap sweater. Oh, I am so excited....
I finished the second cable hat last night at sns. I used the leftover skein of Malabrigo which I picked up from knitny (I had made the mistake rib scarf). The last hat was a little small so I decided to do a few more rows and it fits nicely. I was at the sit and knit for the first half hour, I had to leave for my Thursday night class. However, I will be there next week. I hope to have casted on my sweater by then. Oh yes. I did say it, ahem, type it. I am starting my first sweater. Ok, technically I did make a sweater for Gracie, but that was a baby sweater. I am going to make an adult woman's sweater for me. More on that later.
Puffy was the first one to smell the hat. She thought it was a nice color which compliments her well. She felt that as the Puffy she should check out the hat.
BTW, my greatest pleasure walking from sns to my car was a stopover at the liquor store on Glenridge Ave. and I see a young man with a ferret on his shoulder go into the store. OMG! I love ferrets, and I ran into that store to pet Scout. Scout had a red collar and a bell and had a fan club of folks petting him. Interestingly enough I told the story to DH and he mentions he saw a woman walking a ferret in the same area. We think it is Scout.
Churchill seems interested in the hat. He thought the hat smelled ok.
Ella even wants to smell the Malabrigo Cable Hat. Ninna is disinterested.
Puffy checks out the hat again, after Ella has walked away and Ninna watches from afar.