What Gives?

I've been spending quite some time on Ravelry and I'm seeing a huge trend in Debby Downers. You know, the people who make complete asses of themselves while trying to do What? I don't get it. Why would you enter into a Fan group and go on an on about how the world doesn't revolve around you! sigh. Not to say I'm all Pink and Blue Happy Thoughts, but sheesh get over it.

It reminds me of the commercial on TV now days. It starts off with a guy messing with a printer in a generic office. He gets frustrated that the printer doesn't work and goes storming off in a huff. A woman then passes him by and says "How's it going Frank?" all chipper and upbeat. Frank then reacts with a very sarcastic ton "How's It Going Frank!"... then next couple of scenes are the office going ballistic.

That my friends is how some forums go on Ravelry. I'm not downing Ravelry...just some of the crybabies members.

Okay, I'm now going to distract you with knitting.



My latest obsession. I blame Tangled. It's the Pea Pod Baby Set (Ravelry Link) The set contains a sweater and hat. Since my Knit Picks order came in on Tuesday, I haven't put it down. It is definitely a fast knit. At first I was all "why do they call it pea pod"... but duh! the lace pattern has little pea pods..come on everyone, say it with me...awwwwww.

What a Weekend

First off, Saturday was filled with plenty knitting. Nana's Knitting hosts a knit night every first Saturday of the month. I LOVE this...as on some weekends when the kids are away with Grandma, I'm home knitting on the couch anyway. So, why not join along with others?

While there I got the chance to pick up the book: Things I Learned from Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (AKA: Yarn Harlot). Yeah, we're all pretty psyched that she'll be in town for the book signing on April 25th. Party Time!

Afterwards I headed to Becca's for another knit group meet up. What fun it was to fall in love with the new house and also to visit with Mo (AKA: Mother-In-Law) and Baby M. I came home with new yarn...which I will gladly share with you soon. I would like to give them the full attention of a single post instead of just shoving them along with a weekend update. They are yummy and deserve it.

While Saturday was filled with yarn and visits, we had a few visitors of our own this weekend. Guess who?



These little tykes are going on 6 months come the 16th of April. They are very serious and are truly unique and different. While sleeping they look very similar but once up and at'm they bloom into their own.



Nanaidia and Tyrin are coming along great and most certainly know how to run the show. After having them over, I can't honestly see myself having another. What energy it takes...I think as time goes on and kids get bigger, you forget about all the little stuff. Like spit up down your shirt as you do "bouncy, bouncy baby up". sigh. And I'm okay with all that. That is, the spit up and not having more kids.

I hear you! You say, With all these knitting session you must have progress? Of course my pretties. My "Gator" beach socks are on their way off the needles. Some of you had mentioned a possible pattern for this, as I really have just pulled it out of my arse... I don't see why that would be a problem. I can easily write up the notes from what I'm using now and post a PDF link to download. I do know however that this wouldn't fly on a Knitty submission as you can't blog about the project before or during submission.

I've also been concentrating on this:



Nothing like reading the Stitches Midwest 2008 brochure while knitting with Nature Cotton. This yarn is very lovely and super soft for a cotton. I just don't know what garment will work best and unless I try, I'll never full know. I had intended to knit the Cozy V-Neck Rib sweater from the Fitted Knits, but I just don't see this yarn working well for that. I had caved and figured I like the Wicked pattern so much, that why not try it out.

I've Survived

It's Friday ya'll and I've made it. I'm like a little school girl filled with thoughts of freedom. I can almost hear that last bell ring right before everyone dashes outside.

It's spring time and that means warm weather, chirping birds and little buds blooming... right? Not so much here in Chicago. The drizzle of cold rain falling this morning made for a frightful commute. It certainly was worsened when the Pace bus came early and all I saw was the tail end trailing away down the street. But it's okay. Because it's Friday.

My mood brightened when I escaped into my little knitting world. Sipping my coffee filled thermos, ear tuned to the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and my beach socks growing ever more in hands.



What really pull at the designer in me, is that the toe needs to have part of the cable on it. In stead of this rope cable just popping out of know where, wouldn't it be nice to see some sort of starting point?



They are turning out really great and I would definitely put this yarn into the category of Socks That Rock. I'm knitting on size US 1's and it's producing a fairly dense fabric. I would be curious to see how these would respond to a larger needle.

I find if I look outside and all I see is gray, I just open this photo and it puts everything back into prospective.

**SPOILER ALERT**

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The Rockin Sock Club is super awesome (now you have to say that with a "Valley Girl" accent..like totally) and one of those special treats that I'm happy I was able to afford this year. March's shipment is every shade of green you could imagine and appropriately labeled Lucky. The pattern again is not something I would have swooned over, but I'm pushing forward with combining the these two beauties.

The Sunny Side

The only bad thing about vacation is that it all eventually ends and life goes back to a regular routine. I was super lucky that I had my Rockin Sock Club package waiting for me at work. Monday didn't seem so bad knowing I had fiber waiting for me.

While I think back to all the great moments from my visit I'm providing a
LINK TO VIEW PHOTOS from the trip. Go check them out, some are seriously funny. I don't think I've laughed that hard since my last SnB meeting.

Here is just a quick look at what fun...



I love that shot... in fact I have it as wallpaper on my computer.

Can you tell I'm still on vacation mode? I like feeling like that. Not stressed out ready to go postal on the next victim to enter my office. Now, I just smile and say "suuuuure"..."nooooo, problem". Will it last? Not much longer.

So you might have seen me mentioning knitting on The Fulmar over holiday? Sure did, so much so that I started another yarn cake. You want proof? Sure, nooooo problem;)



And I can already hear you. "What's That There?" Yes, a new bag. I LOVE it. One of the places we visited was the Renaissance Fair in Tampa.



It's fully lined with a zippered pocket on the inside and small outside pockets. The vendors name is Gypsy Wings and unfortunately their website doesn't have the stuff I saw at the booth. Going to the Fair has really made me want to set a date for the Wisconsin Fair coming this summer. Now, where did I put my 1800 century French inspired Bodice;)