Knitter in Progress

Knitting: (1) Knit Washcloth--sugar and cream--Mountains and Molehills pattern (2) Baby A's Blankie squares--Tahki Cotton Classic--Mitered Blanket/Mason Dixon (3) Knit Washcloth--sugar and cream--Round Dishcloth Pattern (4) Knit Washcloth--sugar and cream--Octogonal Swirl pattern (5) Baby Bolero--Encore Colorspun Worsted--Baby Bolero( One Skein ) (6) Jaywalker socks--RRFW Aspen sock--Jaywalker (7) Trekking is for Necking scarf--Trekking XXL--TifK pattern(Nipperknits) (8) Basic Socks--Opal--Classic Beginnings Socks for the Family(Wymans) (9) Bella's Fingerless Gloves--Knit Picks Swish--Stitch-n-Snitch (10) Rage's Lapis socks--STR Lightweight--Classic Beginnings Socks for the Family(Wymans) (11) Horcrux Socks--Jojoland Melody--Six Sox Knitalong (12) Winter Hat--Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport--Knitters Handy Book of Patterns(Budd) (13) Felted Backpack--Lamb's Pride Bulky--Bags, a Knitter's Dozen (15) 40+ Barn Raising Squares--various sock yarns--Knitalong St...

The final group of squares for the year. This project isn't finished but it's about halfway there :) These five squares I finished randomly since I last posted about the blanket. Here's the big picture: Happy New Year everyone!

Taken from my January 1, 2008 post: Knitting: **Log all stash onto Ravelry-- NOPE, honestly, it gets very boring and tedious doing that. **Finish all outstanding WIPs-- no, I really need to work on that one. Stitching: **Finish HAED QS Swimming with Dolphins(Tate)-- no but I did finish a page **Finish, at least, 2 pages on HAED I Love Thee(Seed)-- I finished 1.5 pages **Start and finish HAED "K"(Fenech)-- started didn't finish **Work on Provence Sampler(Lavender and Lace) during HAEDless SAL weekends-- I did until I got disqualified in the fall I believe Reading: **12 books/average out to one new book per month(excludes rereads)-- Oh YES, I read a lot for me this year (you'll have to see tomorrow's post)

I did this last year and it was more "knitting-centric". This year I've altered it to include just about everything I've been up to this year. 1. your best FO of the year: Honestly, my Bella's fingerless gloves . I use them all the time. 2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to: The Big Red Barn Raising Blanket --love the color and I love the reason behind it(I even made four squares in it). 3. best yarn you tried: Dream in Color Smooshy --love the colors and the yarn 4. best new(to me) book/mag/pattern of 2008: Book: The Black Dagger Brotherhood series (which I plan on rereading soon), Knitalong (love that book--it was huge inspiration this year), The Gentle Art of Domesticity Magazine: Artful Blogging , Clean Eating , Oxygen Pattern: Mandala Shawl (on Ravelry) Hedwig Owl Cowl ( on Ravelry ) 5. best new technique or gadget you tried in 2008: You know, I'm pretty stumped on this one. I didn't try any new knitting techniques or gadgets this year...

Stats: Pattern: Fabulous Felted Backpack from Bags: A Knitters Dozen. Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Victorian Pink I have actually had the knitting and felting done for a couple of weeks, but it took me forever to get around to sewing the strap to the bag. This is the second one of these I have made and a lesson that I have learned is that, at least for our washing machine, one felting is enough. Both of the backpacks I have made I felted twice and that seems to lose just enough definition. It is kind of a toss up because I think that one felting would keep stitch definition but two felting makes it sturdier. This will probably be my last project of the year--unless I finish Rage's hat in the next few days.

On the 23rd, we spent the evening decorating cut-out cookies. The kiddos love doing that. Here's what we came up with: This is my favorite new cookie cutter. We bought it on our Disney trip and I've been waiting until now to use it. I love that it is a Mickey head and that it makes HUGE cookies.

You Are a Tree You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you're goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree! What Christmas Ornament Are You? I do actually have a couple of Christmas tree ornaments on my tree ;)

Diva's winter hat is done. It's Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Bittersweet, size 4 needles. The pattern is from Ann Budd's Knitters Handy Book of Patterns Now onto Rage's hat. It's Cascade 220 Heathers in orange, size 8 needles. Same pattern.

And the icing on the cake is knitting time with the crew. I'll be cooking up a storm tomorrow. We just got back from Diva's choir concert and boy did that bring back memories of my time in band. It was a lot of fun once I got past the stench wafting our way. There was this person sitting behind us who must smoke at least a pack a day because this person absolutely reeked of cigarettes. Do smokers realize that the smoke smell sticks on them all the time? Their skin, their clothes, everything? I tried not to breathe through my nose the whole time(which I'm sure was really attractive) but I still got a good whiff at various points during the concert. I guess the saving grace was that the concert was only an hour long. I'm off to bed. I'll put up come cookie pictures when we're done with them this weekend :) Oh, and I got 95% of my gift wrapping done. That is a huge undertaking and I'm usually doing it late into the night on Christmas Eve so I'm thr...

This is a crazy week here at Casa KiP. Monday--I volunteered in my kiddos school library--I love it there, I'm a book girl. Tuesday--Jury Duty--ugh--what a waste of time. I know it's my civic duty and all. Wednesday--finish last minute shopping stuff before kiddos are off for break and Diva has dress rehearsal for her choir concert. Thursday--finish last minute shopping(it's Diva and Rage's last day of school until 2009) and Diva's Choir Concert(the FINAL winter concert thank goodness). Friday--Cooking--cookies and knitting goodies :) Saturday--babysitting for neighbors That's just the "extras" there is also everything I normally do during the week. I'm going to need a break after this week ;)

I want this pattern . I can't wait until it comes up for sale on the Ink Circles site. I think it would look stunning in DMC 115.

You Are an Argyle Sweater You are contemplative, brainy, and serious. You don't take much lightly - life is too important for that. You are a very determined person. You don't let anything stand in your way. You think out your actions and act deliberately. You don't waste time, money, or resources. What Kind of Sweater Are You?

I'm thinking more along the line of "challenges" this year rather than actual resolutions. Mostly having to do with my health(mental and physical). I may add in some having to do with knitting and stitching but not for a while. So, anyone out there reflecting on this year and looking towards the next?

It's getting to be that time. . .Christmas cookie prep time. My favorite cookies are cut outs; they are the only ones I make. I've taken my annual inventory today and next week will be cookie prep week. Two days for two batches and one day for frosting/decorating. It's my last dessert hurrah for the year, so I'm going to make it a yummy one.

Today I am too tired and too cranky to have anything of value to say(but this should still count as a post in my December posting quest). I'm going to bed :)

Snow--at least 6 inches of it--not enough to close schools but enough to make driving this morning a challenge. I drop Diva and Rage off at school and on days like this they usually let the kiddos line up inside. Well, not this morning. They wanted them to line up outside. Diva has no problem with this--she loves to be out in the snow--and I can trust her not to make a break for it. Rage would have no problem with it either BUT since I have to stay with him until he goes inside I have a BIG problem with it. I did the whole "freeze your A$$ off outside" thing during my K-12 experience and the day I got my diploma I vowed to NEVER stand out in the cold again--which is what I told the admin who insisted to me more than once that the kiddos were supposed to line up outside. The only plus I have seen with Colorado snow is that it is very powdery so at least it's easy to shovel. When I was growing up near Buffahole(I mean Buffalo), I hated shoveling. The snow weighed a TON and ...

Diva had her choir debut at the HR Mansion on Saturday, so while she was warming up I wandered around and got a few pictures. Here is one of the lamps that lights the veranda. Since the house is over 100 years old I was thinking that these must have been lit with gas or oil at some point? These two are of the mansion itself--there is actually about 1/3 of it I didn't get into these pictures because of the position of the sun and my options for places to stand while taking the picture. This. house. was. HUGE. They were also giving hayrides and this is the team that took us around the property. Two lovely Percherons(and for size reference--Rage was almost as tall as one of their legs).

My sisters and I emailed this to each other so I thought I'd post my answers here. If you do it let me know, I'd love to see your answers :) 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. If I had an infinite amount of time I'd love to do really fancy wrapping with all my presents--you know with lots of ribbon. In a moment of insanity I have even thought about knitting "ribbon"--like I-cord or something more intricate. 2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial--I can't even keep a plant alive. A Christmas tree in our house would become a fire hazard in record time. 3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving. 4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day. 5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, or at least I used to. I have not had it in ages. Now my big treat is the occasional eggnog latte. 6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Breyer horses. For many years all I would ask for were Breyer horses. I still have them(at my parent's house). My abs...

I saw this when I was picking up Rage the other day and it reminded me of a Christmas card.

Happy Birthday, Little Rage! Mommy loves her best buddy :)

I bet you thought I'd be talking about the movie again--well you'd be incorrect. I bought the soundtrack the other day and, unlike the movie, I loved it! It's a great mixture of mellow and rockin' tunes. My personal favorites, so far, are: Supermassive Black Hole --this song just plain rocks Full Moon --this one is an odd one because it goes completely against everything I usually listen to Leave Out All the Rest --not surprising since I have 3 Linkin Park CDs Go All the Way(Into the Twilight) --Perry Farrell, who knew he'd still be cool. I loved Jane's Addiction. I'm actually listening to this one as I type this, love it! So, even if you really disliked the movie the soundtrack is worth a listen.

I need to get some mittens and hats made for Diva and Rage. Diva's hat is on the needles right now. Diva chose some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in the Bittersweet colorway. I'm on the homestretch with this hat then it will be on to Rage's Road Cone Orange hat. ******************** Last night we went over to our neighbor's to watch the unrated version of Step Brothers . That movie is hysterical and all the of the deleted scenes and the gag reel are well worth the price of the two disc DVD. John C. Riley's character, Dale, reminds me WAY too much of my own son, Rage.

NaBloPoMo for short. Did you know they did this every month and not just in November? I didn't but I'm going to give it a shot this month. This month's theme is Thanks! ; I am certain that almost all my posts this month will not follow theme. But today I can say thanks to myself for getting done with 85% of my Christmas shopping in November and getting most of the Christmas decorations up. I hate waiting until December to get shopping done. Now if I could only find my address book I could get Christmas cards done :)

December Goals: Knitting: **finish gifty knitting Stitching: **work on something Weight loss/exercise: **hold steady weight wise **log into Peertrainer at least every other day **keep a log of every BLT(bite, lick, taste) in an effort to stop the bleeding on the weight gain front **try for four sixty minute workouts per week Reading: **I may reread either Harry Potter or Twilight November Goals: Knitting: **finish the Horcrux/Socktober socks-- Yes **maybe finish a square or two-- started one square **gifty knitting-- finished one gift/started two others Stitching: **chip away at the two pages I want to finish on I Love Thee-- no stitching this month Other: **lose, at least, the 2 pounds I gained in October-- nope and not only that I gained 2 more--ugh **see if I meet my 60 in 60 goal this time(round two if you're counting)-- nope and I'm saving the next round to begin in January **finish my 4th Nanowrimo Novel-- no, because I never really felt "it" with this one(like ...

Well overall I disliked more than I liked about the movie. Pros: –James and Victoria–they were great. James was so good that he made anyone in a scene with him look bad. –Alice and Emmett--perfect casts –Jacob–although I’m not sure how they are going to make him the Jacob in New Moon; he'll need to start lifting(a lot) and growing(a lot) –Bella’s father–he cracked me up –Edward–I’ve liked RP since he was Cedric so he gets a pass from me :) Cons: –the staring–how many scenes were there where they were just staring at each other? Way too many for me. It reminded me of a really crappy soap opera. Dialogue(the audience can hear) is a good thing in a movie. –numerous little things-–starting with Bella’s hair blowing in the fan scene--that was sooooo cheesy. –the fact that Bella went from thinking Edward hated her to not being able to live without him in about 5 minutes. I’d be interested to know what the actual elapsed time for that was in the movie. To me that whole transition and acce...

What could be better than sitting in a comfy chair with a good read and a mug of something warm and steamy? I picked up the new issue of Artful Blogging today and while I was in Barnes and Noble I wandered into Starbucks and what did I find: Only the coolest cable knit mug which I had to have. I also got a new Laurell Hamilton book(the next in the Merry Gentry series) and Mary Englebreit's Home Companion--which has a great article on Amy Butler in it. And if you haven't seen Artful Blogging before check it out. It is kind of pricey but you could get a Starbucks and read it at the book store. I just found this magazine with the Autumn 2007 issue and it really is worth the $14.99. The pictures are stunning and the articles are interesting--makes me want to be a "real" blogger ;)

I'm a couple weeks late for Socktoberfest but here are the socks I was working on: Finally, after a false start(back in 2007) and a long vacation in the WIP pile, my Horcrux socks are done. Here are the stats: Needles: 2.5 dpns Yarn: Jojoland Melody Pattern: Horcrux socks from the Six Sox KAL I loved this yarn because the colorway is the same as the cover of the Half Blood Prince, but the yarn itself is kind of pain to work with; it's very splitty.

Feel free to completely disregard this post if you do not want to read my National Novel Writing Month Ramblings. I am having a crisis of sorts because I am absolutely NOT feeling "it" with my story right now. I have written 12,300+ words so far and so I am not behind but I have not written in the last two days. I think the first problem is that I am trying to bridge my story from my first year with a short story I wrote over the summer containing the same characters just in the future from where the first story took place. The bridge itself is not the problem. I have an outline of major storyline things that are supposed to happen along the way. The problem is that I need to focus on two characters. Two characters that need to develop a very serious relationship so that the bridge to the short story will make sense. I am just not in the "building a relationship writing place" if there even is such a thing. Also, I have a character in the story who I happen to love ...

October yielded some sock yarn shopping and even though I shouldn't have, I did :) Some Socks that Rock in Basan and two in Lenore(I have been lusting after Lenore since I first saw it as a Club offering last year). Some Red Rocks Fiber Works Aspen Sock in the No Repeat colorway. Limited addition and on sale--I just couldn't resist.

October Wrap Up: Knitting: **one pair of Socktober Socks-- almost one pair(sock 1 done/75% of sock 2 done) **gifty knitting-- Done, still working Stitching: **HAED SAL Challenge--QS Swimming with Dolphins-- Nope, and that's 3 strikes and out for that SAL for me. Other: **lose 5 pounds-- gained 2 pounds--ugh! I was not very focused this month. **finish half of my new 60 in 60 challenge-- I did not get halfway but I did workout quite a bit. I don't know my current minutes off the top of my head but I want to say that I'm around 1000. November Goals: Other: **lose, at least, the 2 pounds I gained in October **see if I meet my 60 in 60 goal this time(round two if you're counting) **finish my 4th Nanowrimo Novel Knitting: **finish the Horcrux/Socktober socks **maybe finish a square or two **gifty knitting Stitching: **chip away at the two pages I want to finish on I Love Thee

Diva, Rage, and I embarked on a trip to WalMart a couple of days before Halloween on quest for candy and a couple of random household items. Of course, we also took some time to wander around the store. Rage HAS to spend a good amount of time looking at the LEGO isle--the boy has a very serious Lego addiction. Diva also likes to wander through various sections of the store: toys, videos/video games, haircare products, nail polish, and bags. Of course, the last of which warms my heart as I have created a little bag worshipper much like myself. Truly collecting different knitting bags is almost as a much of a hobby for me as knitting itself. We were wandering around the area of haircare products and nail polish when I happened upon this little bit of girly skully goodness and knew I had to have it: Do you love it? Well, aside from all the pink, I do. I figured that since I have two Lexie Barns bags with a black and pink skully print this wouldn't be too much of a departure. It's ...

This year Little Diva was ready to jump into the world of pumpkin carving. She chose the emoticon ;) , we chose to put it on the pumpkin facing the traditional way rather than sideways. I think she did a great job. And Rage, with possibly a little prompting from me--his personal pumpkin carver, choose a skull and crossbones. I loved carving that and I'm so glad he picked it because I would have had to go buy another pumpkin to do it myself if he didn't. We are being blessed here with extraordinarily nice weather for this late in the year and I have a feeling that our Halloween will be loaded with lots of Trick or Treaters. Nice weather + Halloween on a Friday = Lots of kiddos Don't overdose on candy everyone :) Happy Halloween!

First of all, where did this month go? I feel like it passed in a blur and as I have been sitting here pondering what exactly I accomplished this month I am hard pressed to remember what happened in September and what happened in October--this year seems to be quickly flying to a close. I do know that I made a dent in one of my HAED WIPs, I Love Thee(Seed). I am not sure how well you'll be able to see if from the pictures but I filled in a lot of stitches around Aragorn's bangs-- did you know this piece was a tribute to Arwen and Aragorn ( look here for other pieces in her Romance Series )? The stitched piece I am working on differs slightly from the original art pieces but the characters contained within are the same. I absolutely love working on this one and I am hoping to finish the two pages I am currently working on by the end of the year. Before(at the end of September): After:

**This was an interesting quiz. I was surprised by the results. Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test... Traditional, Vibrant, and Tasteful 10 Islamic, 6 Impressionist, -2 Ukiyo-e, -23 Cubist, -14 Abstract and 2 Renaissance! Islamic art is developed from many sources: Roman, Early Christian, and Byzantine styles were taken over in early Islamic architecture; the architecture and decorative art of pre-Islamic Persia was of paramount significance; Central Asian styles were brought in with various nomadic incursions; and Chinese influences . Islamic art uses many geometical floral or vegetable designs in a repetitive pattern known as arabesque. It is used to symbolize the transcendent, indivisible and infinite nature of Allah. People that like Islamic art tend to be more traditional people that appreciate keeping patterns that they learned and experienced from their past. It is not to say that they are not innovative personalities, they just do not...

write 1667 words per day for a month! For the last three years, I have spent the month of November participating in the madness that is National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo, for short) and this year will be no exception. I've loved doing it(and hated it on some days--when things aren't flowing particularly well). I look forward to completing my fourth year. Why do I put myself through it year after year? **I love the challenge it presents. **I love staying up really, really late at night--just me, my iPod, my computer, my characters, and my story(it's worth being exhausted by the end of the month) **I love that I can just let everything go and write completely getting lost in my story while letting my characters guide the way. **I love that it allows me to explore genres that I normally would not try. **I love having a 50,000 word novel at the end of the month that is just for me :) **I feel like I have to earn the T-Shirt I treat myself to each year. So, anyone out ther...

I have been waiting, not so patiently, for months and it is finally here. The Opal Harry Potter yarn has arrived in Colorado and in an unprecedented move for me, I splurged on two of each skein :) **top row(left to right): Hedwig, Harry, Ron and Harry, Ron **bottom row(left to right): Draco, Tonks, Lupin, Dumbledore I have loved Opal sock yarn since I started knitting socks back in 2004 and this yarn is no exception. I love how Tonks and Lupin's colorways are somewhat related. Hedwig looks great too. My biggest beef, I guess, is that instead of a "Harry and Ron" combo colorway why couldn't they have done a Hermione? Or since it's a tribute to Half Blood Prince wouldn't Snape be a logical choice. Not complaining, just sayin' is all. And just because I like looking at them, here's another pic: And another that I messed with using my photo editing software(I can't really tell the difference though?):

I pulled out I Love Thee for the HAED background SAL. I just love this piece. Before: After:

September Wrap Up: Knitting: **finish 4 squares-- finished 3.5 **finish a pair of socks--nope, but Socktober is coming up **start some gifty knitting-- DONE Stitching: **QS Swimming with Dolphins for the HAED SAL Challenge weekend-- DONE Reading: **finish 2 books-- DONE, finished 3 Other: **lose 5 pounds-- lost 3 **finish my 3600 minutes in 60 days challenge-- ended up with 2498, so I fell a little short but I'm really not that upset about it. I will definitely push harder for the next round. October Goals: Knitting: **one pair of Socktober Socks **gifty knitting Stitching: **HAED SAL Challenge--QS Swimming with Dolphins Other: **lose 5 pounds **finish half of my new 60 in 60 challenge

I think I'm going to work on finishing up socks that are already on the needles. I Heart Gansey Socks: Horcrux(one or both colorways I've started): **the pictured sock is actually frogged, so I'll be starting from square one with this pair**

Tis Black Bess Cash here to regale you with tales from the pirate wench needles. Between me wenching and thieving I try to find the time to partake of this most glorious and honorable hobby you lubbers call knitting. Tis a banner day here as a new project has boarded the needles. Dyed with the blood of bilge rats who have crossed me, I am one repeat of eight into this epic quest. Going against me usual weapons of choice, I chose the large and threatening size 11 needle--smaller by a hair than me broad sword. Whether you be a jolly pirate or one who sails on the dark side, join the pirate revolution and partake in International Talk like a Pirate Day . Take me personal recommendation and peruse the New and Improved Pirate pick up lines .

This past weekend was the HAED SAL Challenge weekend and here's what I got accomplished. It's great to be hitting the bottom of the piece--it makes goal setting easier--get to the end of a column and I'm done :) Busy, busy as usual. I don't know when all the craziness here is going to let up. Happy knitting and stitching!

I feel like I should post something but honestly there just isn't a lot of "blog worthy" stuff going on here at Casa KiP. I'm fully enveloped in the getting back into the groove of kiddos in school--you know fighting about homework, fighting about getting up in the morning, fighting about when to go to bed at night. Plus, Little Diva has decided to get into some activities at school--which hurray for her, I'm so proud BUT at the same time boo for me who has to tote her everywhere. Also, fall has descended upon Colorado with a big thud and we have to replenish the kiddos closets with fall worthy items. Normally this isn't a problem but this year Diva has become VERY hands on as far as what she wants in her closet which means that mommy's clothes buying days are pretty much over(at least for Diva--Rage doesn't care what I get him, but boys are really boring to dress). Then there is the age old struggle I have with what to do with my limited free time. Do...

August Goals: Knitting: **no new cast ons-- DONE--I finished 1 Barn Raising Square and 1/2 a sock. Stitching: **QS Swimming with Dolphins(SAL weekend 8-11)-- DONE **Provence Sampler(SAL weekend 15-18)--not done, kept working on the above QS and consequently eliminated myself from the HAEDless SAL. **TT K (2 QS Wednesdays)--not done, see above Reading: **finish 2 books-- D.O.N.E. I read: Breaking Dawn(Meyer) Acheron(Kenyon) Lover Awakened(Ward) Lover Eternal(Ward) Lover Revealed(Ward) Eat-Clean Diet(Reno) Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook(Reno)--very little actual reading here Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids(Reno) Lover Unbound(Ward) Other: **workout for 1800 minutes-- 1396/1800--I need to pick up the pace if I intend to meet my goal of 3600 minutes total by the end of September. **lose 5 pounds-- lost 3 September Goals: Knitting: **finish 4 squares **finish a pair of socks **start some gifty knitting Stitching: **QS Swimming with Dolphins for the HAED SAL Challenge weekend Reading: **finish ...

I have decided to challenge myself during the Olympics. I believe that knitting is a winter sport and the Knitting Olympics is the Harlot's domain. So I've decided that the summer Olympics, for me at least, are all about stitching. Starting with Opening Ceremonies tonight and going through Closing Ceremonies I am going to get 300 stitches in per day on QS Swimming with Dolphins. Wish me luck because in addition to all of the this stitching, we have the madness of "back-to-school" next week. Before(8Aug08): After: 25Aug08: Olympic Update. Well, my Olympic stitching was a bust. I'm like one of those countries with like two athletes neither of which have a chance to medal they're just happy to be there. I got 1201 stitches done over the course of the games. It sounds good but in order to have reached my Olympic Gold I would have needed 4800. So I didn't make it to the podium--frankly with such a poor showing I can't even see the podium ;) I did read 4 boo...

Here's the monthly update on the Barn Raising front. This is the big picture(so to speak). All the squares I've made to date stacked up. This picture is a little dark but these are the squares I knit for Diva and I this month. **clockwise from top: STR Sherbet(Diva), Cherry Tree Hill(me), Skully square/STR Rook-y(me, because I made all mine to trade and didn't have one left for me), and RRFW Burning Rubber(me). These are squares I got from Stacey and Wanda in exchange for a couple of Skullys(now I just need one from Miss Cynthia and I'll be all set--no hurry though). Finally, these are squares for Stacey's Dad. **clockwise from top: STR Ruby Slippers, STR Jasper, Great Adirondack in Cranberry Bog, and Opal. I will not get as much done in August because school starts and I have some stitching and socks I want to work on :)

July Goals: Knitting-- **no new cast ons--finish stuff already on the needles-- DONE, no new cast ons. ** I finished 6 Barn Raising Squares this month Stitching-- **QS Swimming with Dolphins(SAL weekend 11-14)-- DONE **Provence Sampler(HAEDless SAL weekend 18-24)-- skipped this month as my sis was in town. Reading-- **finish one book-- DONE, read Dark Lover by JR Ward August Goals: Knitting: **no new cast ons Stitching: **QS Swimming with Dolphins(SAL weekend 8-11) **Provence Sampler(SAL weekend 15-18) **TT K (2 QS Wednesdays) Reading: **finish 2 books Other: **workout for 1800 minutes **lose 5 pounds

If you are a HAED stitcher(Heaven and Earth Designs for the uninitiated) or you want to be one, now would be the time to buy a chart. Specifically, this chart: Ching-Chou Kuik is the artist and she donated this piece for Michelle and Bob(the brilliant duo behind Heaven and Earth Designs ) to use as a means of raising money for tornado relief. Their house and much of their property was destroyed by a tornado and they are overwhelmed with where to begin--to say the least. This chart will only be available for two weeks and then it's gone forever. If you would like to help out, go here for the details.

Sorry about the MIA-ness. It's been a busy July here at Casa KiP. First there was the excitement of the 4th of July. Then one of my sisters came out to visit--the first person from my family to come out since we moved here in 2005. She wanted to show her kiddos the mountains so we decided to take them to Glenwood Springs to swim in the hot springs . It's about a 3 hour drive from here to there and you definitely see a lot of mountains on the way. **left to right--Tank(nephew), Little Diva-in-Training(niece), Diva, and Rage My sister doesn't knit **gasp** or craft at all really **double gasp**. She runs, and runs, and runs, and then she runs some more. She came here to run in a higher elevation. There was much talk about her mile times and how ticked she was that she was running slower here. I just smiled, nodded, and said more power to ya. Why can't someone figure out how to get knitting/stitching to give you a runner's body? I'm jealous and envious of my sister...