My SP 10

Dear Sunnyme,

I received your package in the mail a while ago, and I know that I emailed you and shared how excited I was (and J to --lol--), but I haven't shared how wonderful you are with everyone here in B-Land.

I still can't believe how wonderful you are! I love your emails, your personality is just fantastic, and your just fun to talk with! I always look forward to your emails and reading what you have to say!!

Your package was filled with so much love and with things I totally needed and didn't even realize it until I opened everything! I haven't dug into my special bath stuff yet, I wanted to wait until my cold went away so I could smell it all. Its gone now and WOOHHHH, everyone better watch out at my house now!! lol

Here is a picture for all of you to see how much my SP10 (Sunnyme) has spoiled me rotten! Don't get jealous now, you might get her next time, but for now she's mine! Muuuahhh ;c)

Other things:

School is finally over! Yayaya!! I got a horrible, horrible cold the last week and it just wiped me out! I'm not sure what I got as grades haven't come out yet. I "think" I got an A in Anatomy and Physiology, A in medical Terminology, B in Math, and probably a C in English but I am really hoping I will slide with a B. Of course I could be way off on any of them!! But I'm hoping..

I would like to give a BIG HUG to ALL the people who have supported me this last few months... Of course Sunnyme, NancyMaria, my Aunt Sarah and my Parents have been real supporters among several Others and I REALLY appreciate it!! It really got me through and helped me push my self when I was starting to slack because of kids, house, cars not working, and all that good ol' daily living that side track you...

As for knitting, I finished one sock using my Lorna's Laces (pictured in a very early post), using THIS pattern and have cast on for the second. I frogged back a few rows on Jack's Austermann sock because I found a hole, and now I'm on the toe decreases! Finally!! lol I can't wait to get these done! Soon I will probably be doing some baby socks and maybe something else for a neighbor of my Aunt who recently helped her and is expecting their first grandbaby..a little girl! I'm not sure what I will do besides socks, so if anyone has any ideas or pattern links, please pass them along! :c)

Well I better get going, I have something I will be sharing soon in another blog and I have to go take care of it... ;c)

April in SC

Just the List..As I Check it Off...

I think it will be easier to check off what I've done in a post of just the list and updates. :c)

What's left before Tues???

A/P:
15 question to still look up
3 short Essay questions to do
7 654321 labs to write up
5 DONE labs to finish (as best I can since we didn't cover some of those labs in LAB class) oh and that means 5 more labs to write up
7 6 5 4 3 21 Extra Credit essays
possibly 2 critical thinking "things" to write up

Med Term:
Take home test Done
Study for test on Tues
Study Abbrev for quiz on Tues (days: Sat/Sun/Mon)
Extra Credit for chapter on test (which is the 80 question review at end of chapter)
Extra Credit for chapter test on Tues (80 questions)

Math:
Study entire chapter 7 for test on Tues
Last of homework for chapter 7

English:
Write up 3 21 essays for class essay on Tues. In this class he gives a list of possible "6" essays, but he will only pick 3 and we don't know which ones until we come into class, so I like to pick at least 3 and write up a ruff draft or the entire 3 before hand, although its not necessary to do.

Makin' My List, and Checkin' it Twice.....

Updated list, Sat night....2 more days to get everything done... and still no knitting, been almost a week...starting to feel weak, think, having, withdrawl....lol

Tonight I'm using this as my check off list, course I have "check off lists" running around my house every where! But for this weekend the more the merrier, anything and everything to help me remember all I have to cram in my brain. :-)

I have 15 questions left to look up out of 130. Course it took me all day to look up all the rest since it was almost all information that was NEVER covered in class...yup, we never went over it. So I had to go through 15 chapters that we never even talked about in class! I suppose we are suppose to have gone over those chapters in the course but heck, we only made it to chapter 10, and at that we won't have time to test on it.....at least that is what he said, that doesn't mean that is what he'll do...sigh.....

What's left before Tues???

A/P:
15 question to still look up in
3 short Essay questions to do
7 labs to write up
5 labs to finish (as best I can since we didn't cover some of those labs in LAB class) oh and that means 5 more labs to write up
7 Extra Credit 6 Extra Credit essays I can do (which I will, the can be short though)
possibly 2 critical thinking "things" to write up

Med Term:
Take home test DONE
Study for test on Tues
Study Abbrev for quiz on Tues (did do that today/Sat)
Extra Credit for chapter on test (which is the 80 question review at end of chapter)

Math:
Study entire chapter 7 for test on Tues
Last of homework for chapter 7

English:
Write up 3 essays for class essay on Tues. In this class he gives a list of possible "6" essays, but he will only pick 3 and we don't know which ones until we come into class, so I like to pick at least 3 and write up a ruff draft or the entire 3 before hand.

So anyone gonna wish me luck?? LOL IF I get a 90% or above I don't have to take the final in A/P and I'm SO hoping to get this!! In Med Term if we get 80% or above we don't have to take the final either, that should be easy...its the A/P I'm worried about! So I need to make sure all this stuff is perfect before I turn it in...and I admit I'm under pressure for a bit of it because I waited to do it (extra credit stuff)...I have no real excuse except the teacher is so all over the place that his class is difficult...would be different if he was actually teaching the class...... O'well, I'll get it done.. it looks like a lot in the list but honestly its not to bad. This will be my "worst" weekend in an entire semester, seriously that is not bad!

I probably will not keep posting a new list as things get done....I will probably just edit this one and cross things out....

OH and I have NOT knit ALL week. I'm totally freaking out as I keep rubbing my socks and holding my needles!! LOL If I get enough work done between the rest of tonight (yea right, its 1:30am) and tomorrow I "might" take some knitting and knit for awhile at my aunts before dinner...maybe...we'll see...

I hope everyone has a great knitting weekend!!

April in SC

Happy Easter!

Okay, I'm a few days late but Happy Easter everyone!! I hope your day was beautiful!

We had a good Easter here, the kids woke up and did a little Easter egg hunt in the house. It was cold outside so we didn't do it out their this year. Than they found their hidden baskets and then proceeded to eat a bunch of candy. :c) Jack even got me 2 chocolate bunnies!

So I'm gonna back up just a bit...I had talked about a small project I was working on last week and it was a scarf. It was a super easy pattern that went by very fast, it was called the Mock Cable Scarf and can be found HERE . If your ever looking for a VERY nice pattern that is fast and easy this would be the one, it came out great, unfortunately I only got one pic of it and its a super goofy pic, I hadn't brushed my hair at all yet and just the way I had it wrapped around made me look like a goof ball.... However, I can laugh at myself so here it is. :c)

By the way, long ago I talked about not being able to decide if I should get the glass's that showed my funk/librarian side...Well I did, and I'm wearing them, course I was laughing so they were falling off, I need to get them adjusted!

To show off a bit better pic of me, here is one that is a little better, the kitty is my beloved Voodoo.

As for socks, I didn't get to knit much on any of them last week but I am working on THIS pattern with my Lornas Laces, it kind of picked this pattern and I guess I will save the other one for another sock yarn that says its okay. I'm just picking up gusset stitches on the first sock. On Jack's Austermann sock I appear to have a hole and can't find where I dropped a stitch, so I haven't worked on that until I get a good pic and see if anyone can help me, maybe this weekend, if I'm lucky......wait until you see my school load this week!! Thank goodness only 3 more weeks left!!!

So if I'm MIA for the next few weeks you all know its because of school and finals and all. Here is my homework load from now until next Tuesday.

Anatomy and Physiology:

Read 2 chapters and do review sheets before Thursday ~ Do 3 chapters in work book by Thurs. ~ Over weekend I have about 4 lab reports to do and 4 or 5 works sheets to complete (20 Q's each)

Medical Terminology:

Do note cards for abbrev words ~ study 2 chapters before Thurs for tests ~ And study over weekend for test on Tues.

Math:

Homework before Thurs, homework on Thurs and some extra over the weekend, and get ready for a test next week and review for upcoming final.

English:

Work and finish 3 essays this weekend for essay on Tues, study for test next Thurs.

Okay, so that doesn't look like much but it feels like it!! LOL And I keep feeling like I forgot something in there, thank goodness I have everything written down!!

Anyway, its midnight and I'm going to finish up a bit of homework before I go to bed. I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and gets some knitting done for me!! :c)

April

I must say....

I don't care where the darn string bow came from..it was the coolest thing!! ;c)

Having said that...I now need to get to bed...its 4am!!!!!! What am I doing??? LOL

However, I leave with you a song for the day...or at least one that fits my present mood..



Beyonce Flaws and All

My Secret Surprise!!!

Okay, I promised I would share my secret surprise with all of you today and I believe I'm ready to do that... :-)


My secret surprise was a HAND MADE Birthday Card from my SP10!! How freakin' cool is that?? I've NEVER gotten a hand made card like this before and I can't say how excited I was!! I called everyone, my mom and dad, my aunt, told my daughter and a few of my friends (although I did that in such a way that they didn't feel bad..lol).... I am SO hyped about this darn card, it has REAL string on it tied in the BEST bow!! Here are a few pics of it...if I can figure this out..lol





I can't thank you enough SunnyMe!! My card was a wonderful surprise and one that I will cherish for all time! It is going to be hung up on the "art wall of fame" in my kitchen..which is the largest wall in the kitchen and is being loaded up with all the best hand made art that I just love (even if most of it is from the kids..*wink*..)

Hugs to you! For all your kindness and for such a thoughtful gift!!

While I was yet again googling over my home made birthday card I decided while I had my camera actually out and working that I would finally take those picture I promised weeks, upon weeks ago of my very first yarn order...so here are some more pictures.. :c)

Okay, here they are...all but the one I would like to trade and that will get it owns post. I will also post the names and colors soon if anyone wants to know what they are. :c)

So for now I'm outta here..I'm gonna rest my neck and maybe get some knitted on my easy project.

April in SC

MIA......

Well I went AWOL for a few days...here's my story and I'm sticking to it... ;-)

I groomed 7 of our animals on Sat...okay that was cool, woke up on my birthday super sore but I was dealing. I had a pretty relaxed birthday, just went to my aunts for dinner, and of course that was perfect, she is such a fantastic cook!!! I can't even begin to tell you how I am spoiled on a weekly basis by that Woman's lovely cooking..not to mention all the other little things she does for our family, she's just such a giving person!!!

So I took some knitting and didn't have to do much on Sun...than Monday comes around and I'm still sore but decide I'm going to get some darn things done around the house, ya know those things that suffer when you get busy but that really bother the heck out of you...and of course they are things everyone else in the family can see or do but doesn't...They will just mosey right on by it like its perfectly dusted...ladeeda... So I get to working, and working, and ohh working some more...than after working myself and the kids for several hours I decide the kids still have to much energy so we go for a walk, not a long walk but a walk, where I proceed to tell them they should race...lol... So they race down the road to the dead end and we all walk back (I took Kodiak with me and he had a hard time not running with the kids!)...

By evening I'm exhausted and funny but the kids were to, they went to bed wayyy before there bedtime.. Our youngest (6) didn't even say goodnight, she just went to bed and was asleep by 7:25....lol.... Now that alone should have been my clue as to how I had over done it, but ohhh no, I wouldn't catch on to something that simple... So I'm tired, my neck is killing me, my right arm and fingers are uber numb but I got a few things picked up and some laundry folded and minimal dusting done, and also went through some clothes I know our family is just not gonna wear and got tired of it hanging around.... I didn't think how bad it would be the next day.....

So I wake up Tues and I can hardly move...I think I'm gonna die or be paralyzed or that I will live forever with the numbness (oh wait, I feel that way almost all the time anyway...sigh..)... So I get up because I have to and sit on the couch, turn the lap top on and look over some email, I might have even answered some, not sure....I literally did nothing else really! I just sat their staring off into space or staring at my knitting, or staring at what I could still be doing or at the things I would like to be doing....like painting my daughters closet, putting my book shelf together for my school work, or just dusting the small dogs out from under my couch (we have to do this weekly and its my week...well it was...probably not now..).... By evening time I'm tired of being tired and I'm frustrated from just sitting and I'm frustrated with the pain...such a small, itty bitty accident, and all this damn pain....its not like our car was totally crunched into a box...course it was totaled, but really I don't think the lady was going 40mph, I'm sure it was way less than that, yet I pitied myself all dang day...smiling at the kids and wishing I could just MOVE body in some way that would be productive...

Okay....so yesterday comes around...I feel a bit better and of course realize that I'm allowed the occasional day of pity for myself but I'm not that type of person that can just sit and be like that, so although I didn't get much done yesterday either, I was in a way better mood. We went last night and got J's and our youngest son's hair cut and got some groceries. By the end of that I was in so much pain my hands were shaking a bit. I don't think it was so much from pain but from just being in pain for a few days. It seems the longer this goes on the less tolerance I have to pain when it happens, and the side effects are me trying to not be grumpy and shaking... Not as bad as it sounds, but that's because I'm not the type of person that likes to show weakness, I usually feel like I have to be strong for everyone else and they can't depend on me if they can't see I'm strong...So for the most part I try and hide how I'm really feeling, which of course J usually see's through, but not always...

I did start knitting something light last night, after like 3 Advil...lol... I might be able to work on my beloved socks tonight but I think I will wait and stick with the easy project until tomorrow though...

I also got something SO special for my birthday that I will be sharing with you later today. Right now I need to start on some studying, for all that we had the week off for spring break I really only had a few days and took a few more than I had anticipated, so now its back to the grind... :-)

So for anyone reading this today...I should have an nice long post later today with a special share that I got from someone VERY special!!!

April in SC

P.S.......................

P.S. I've started a new blog. I did this because unlike others who have found it easy to modify their blog here at blogger I have not. And I really wanted something I could modify a bit easier, since I don't feel I have the time to learn right now, maybe this summer. Anyway, I decided to try Wordpress and see what theirs was like. So far it seems much easier in some ways and harder in others, so over all I haven't decided. The same thing is over their that is here. They have a handy import tool that is awesome. So you won't miss anything but sticking with this one for now, I just thought I would tell you about it. If you want to check it out you can HERE it is under the same name since I'm not imaginative enough to think of anything better...lol..

Happy Birthday to Me!! :c)

Okay, so I wasn't born until 8 something in the morning and its just after 1am, and I'm not THAT anxious to become a whole whopping 33..LOL...ohhh bring out the scary!! ;c)

Well I have had a busy week. I got my English paper done and turned in on Friday. Our instructor only gave one actual paper for the whole semester, but it was one of those that if you didn't turn it in you failed the entire semester and had to take the class again...yikes!! So got that turned in on Friday and now I'm on spring break...can we say that again?? SPRING BREAK!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAayayayaay!!

So to start off my spring break I groomed today...and it was a LONG day! First I shaved Kodiak down to help with his skin allergies and just the over abundance of hair that was floating around, and than I proceeded to bath him and Sage our other dog. Well, its spring and I couldn't be done there..no not me.. So I than bathed our 5 cats - Maji - RunyB (pronounced as RuinyB, like you ruin something with a "B" at the end because that stands for something special..lol) - Druid - Voodoo - and last Mojo... It took me all afternoon and I can tell you cats do not like water, not at all!!! But oh are they fluffy and soft now, and my two babies Mojo and Voodoo have already forgiven me. :c)

Tomorrow (today) we are going to my aunts for dinner, and that is about it, I guess you could say I've always been a bit lame on my birthday..lol.. But for the first time in a few months I don't think I will be bringing any homework, just knitting... And although I would love to do nothing but knit my whole week of vacation I can't.. Spring has hit here and I have loads I want to do. I won't be able to do any of it very fast but as long as I take good breaks, don't life anything and be mindful that my right hand goes numb and just drops things I should be fine. I'm pretty excited about having a week with just my two youngest this week also, it should be fun!!

So I have restarted THIS sock pattern about 3 times and think I finally got it, maybe....lol.... But disaster struck in the stupidest way and I'm not sure what to do now... I always keep a pad of paper and a pen near me when I knit to mark rows or make notes...Usually I use a pen that clicks closed or has a cap, well I happen to crab one I personally would never use, but I made sure to keep it away from the yarn. Well my daughter got into my lap and I didn't notice it had rolled and guess what?? It LEAKED on my sock!! I'm so upset!! I'm not sure if it will come out or not....sigh.....

Anyway, I really have to stop now, I'm so tired and honestly very, very sore from using my neck and shoulder so much today. So its off to bed for me! I hope everyone out there is having a good weekend!!

April in SC

No test and I have the best SP10!

So I get to class today and the teacher (Mr. W), decides we won't have our math test today but on Tues..I was SO happy. I have down what I need to know, but I'm still really slow at working out the problems, so the extra time to "practice" won't hurt me at all. :c)

Took my English test today. I thought it went well, out of 80 Questions there were only 4 I felt a bit unsure on. Not to bad I thought, more than I would have liked, but I think I can live with it.

So last night my SP10 and I were emailing back and forth a bit and she sends me this great website on knitting swaps and stuff, you can find it HERE . Wow, was I in heaven! Course it was super late and I should have been in bed, but hey, I gotta take life when it comes and this WAS life baby, I'm tellin' ya!! LOL

I'm having so much fun with the SP10, its just awesome to email back and forth and learn about each other, my SP10 who has been affectionately nicknamed "SunnyMe" is fantastic, funny, practical, silly and everything in between and I just get really excited when I see an email sitting there waiting for me to delve into. And after all, you have to love someone who when you tell on yourself by staying up to late browsing the internet, tells you very nicely just like a best friend to get your butt to bed. ;c) How great is that??

As for knitting I did get a few rows done on J's Austermann sock, only about 3. I want to knit so bad yet I find myself browsing around on the computer instead of using my time as wisely as I could be. Its totally addicting, have I mentioned I'm a pattern junky? Ya, I'm sure I have..lol..

So I won't be around much over the weekend. I have a HUGE english paper due next week and will be spending my weekend getting that done, please pray for me on this! lol Its already complicated my life, I'm not sure why, its not a hard or long paper, but I'm having major anxiety over it for some unknown reason.

I wanted to make a note on my "swap" ball of yarn, you remember, the one I don't like the color on?? I don't care if its solid, stripped or whatever, as long as we agree on the color and its sock yarn, and of course of equal value (again I only paid 6.75)... I "think" I put in my other post that most of the patterns I've been looking at called for solid sock yarn, but I didn't mean that I would only "swap" solid for the one ball I have...there is ALWAYS a sock pattern I love and can do... lol... ;c)

Well I need to get going, I was up late last night and its already midnight, I need to get to bed!! No more website browsing or anything else tonight! lol

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

April in SC

SP10 ~ My favorite accessory

It's pathetic I know, I don't really have any "accessorys"... I guess I'm cheap or something..lol...

However, I do have one, and that would be my needle gauge.. There is a little spot in my purse that it just fits perfectly, so of course it goes everywhere with me! :c) And that might be why its my favorite. I can't tell you all the times I've used it. I've used it for sizing, measureing knitting and non knitting items, and I've even used it to measure the tops of my pages for APA format at college to make sure I had the full 1" all the way around the paper!! LOL Its just the handiest tool to have in so many different ways.

I don't have a picture of my own, but I found what I have online and here it is:

Its awesome and I don't think I could live without it. :c)

April in SC

The Dreaded Flu & Trade me Sock Yarn?

Well, the dreaded flu hit me starting Sat/Sun, and than my 16 yo got it today. I'm finally feeling better and actually ate something that had substance today. :c)

As for knitting, I Finally finished my Trekking sock!! Yayaya... 1 complete pair! I finished them Monday night right before bed, and wore them yesterday to school. A bunch of them were amazed and excited for me as they've seen me knitting on them inbetween or before class.. So in a sense they took part of that exciting journey with me.

I'm also past the gusset stitches on J's Austermann sock, the first one and I'm looking around to for a pattern to CO with my Lorna's Lace. I've been really looking and asking questions about this pattern HERE . It's a PDF so you know. Its an ankle sock with what looks like to me a pattern similar to the Jaywalker?? Anyway I'm not 100% sure but I'm leaning that way. :c)

Looking through some of my saved patterns I realized that a lot of the patterns I have require solid colored sock yarn, which I don't have.... The reason?? Well so far I've only knit with my Trekking and now the Austermann, and soon to be the Lornas Laces... I'm not sure what I like yet, and figued I would knit up what I have and than make a decision on which yarn I either want to try next or to buy in solid colors.

Now my secret...I have held off on this secret because I wanted to do pictures... You know the ones I promised over a week ago?? sigh... yea, those pictures...sigh...

Anyway, a few weeks ago now I bought some yarn that arrived in the mail! I was SO excited. Here is what I got:

1 ball ~ Fleece Artist ~ Color Woodland ~ For me

1 ball ~ Opal ~ Color 3704 ~ for daughter

2 balls ~ Regia ~ Color 5455 ~ for me or J

1 ball ~ Fortissima ~ Color 9045? ~ Small project for son

1 ball ~ Opal ~ Color 15 ~ for J

1 ball ~ Regia Cotton ~ Color 5420 ~ for me

Now my last ball. This looked SO different online. It 100% taught me to look at other websites to see if the color may vary...because to me it looks nothing like what the picture showed. When I actually get the time I would like to show the difference. Anyway this is what is:

1 ball ~ Online ~ Color 787 ~

Anyway, I relooked a the color online, and the color looks right, just a lot lighter...at least to me, maybe its not and I just don't like it. For some reason I thought it would be darker, the yellow is just to chipper for me I think...I have nothing that would match the 'lighter' tones...but it does feel really soft, I will be buying more soon, just in a deeper color... :c

Either way I don't want this ball.. I paid 6.75 for it, I got it onsale, not sure what it would be anywhere else, but if someone would like to trade for a different sock yarn equal to the 6.75, just let me know! I do have pets (cats, dogs, parrots), and it has been around smoke in the sense that J will smoke a cigar outside of our home, but does have it on his clothes.

Its the bottom picture (787) and its much lighter than the picture..more like spring and summer (I guess the summer in the name should have gotten me (Online ~ summer 787) but it didn't). So just think all those colors just much lighter... ;c)

Well I better get, I have to do one more short blog and than I need to get to bed. I have a math test tomorrow and a huge test in english.

April in SC

About Me~

It became obvious to me today glancing lightly through my blog that I suppose I never really introduced myself properly or even really gave any idea of what is going on in my life. Which of course means that all my rambling means nothing to anyone who reads it....well, duh on my part eh?? So I guess this will be a meeny me life story post. :c)

Wow, writing that was the easy part, telling about myself now seems a bit hard..lol...

Okay, I will be 33 in April. I had my first daughter very young at 16. I got married at 16 to, that lasted about 6 1/2 years, I met Jack about a year after my divorce started, we decided to wait to get married since we both had been married before and well, that has turned into 10 years later and still not married, but we are planning for it this year, seems fitting after all we have been through and of course it being our 10th. I have 5 children and one step son. Three of our children live with us, which would be a whole different story, and not short as its a bit twisted like most blended families tend to be.

For the most part I've been a stay at home mom, although I did work for a few years in there and also went to college. We decided with our last two children that I would stay home until the last one went to school full time, which was this year. I was born and raised in Alaska, moved to Michigan with my ex where I spent about 9 years, went back to Alaska for 2 years and than moved down here where I've been for almost 4 years.

I have a lot of companion pets...2 dogs, 5 cats, 1 turtle, and 6 parrots. I have a ford truck which started having break problems today, but its my baby and I love it. Although everyone tends to make fun of me because I have to use a body pillow doubled up to drive it since I'm only 4' 11".

I don't prefer cooking and love easy recipes, which since I don't prefer cooking means I'm usually to lazy to look them up. I'm not a bad cook, I would just rather fold laundry, mop, clean the kitty litter or even the toilet instead. ;c) Thank goodness Jack loves to cook so we trade off days.

I do like fishing, camping, reading, cross stitch, did I mention reading?? lol.. and of course my pets , family and the biggy knitting.

I don't collect to many nick knacks, we've moved a lot the last 6 years and also because of our parrots, which could fly into them and break them, we do a have a few treasures though.

mm...I don't like to shop much, unless its a craft/yarn/bookstore, I love, love, love coffee and tea, unfortunately I'm pretty stuck on decaf with only an occasional live cup in my hand. Although I don't go have it professionally done I believe everyone woman deserves to treat herself to a nice night of tea, good movie and painting her toe nails. Maybe its because I'm not much of a foot person but I think woman's toes look better in sandals with a bit of color... kind of a me thing I guess. lol...

Last summer I was in a car accident and have a bulging disk in my neck and possible facet joint damage. I've had 3 epidurals with my last on Dec 11. I thought it was getting much better but it has been bothering me again, which means it feels like the muscles in my neck are trying to crawl into the back of my skull while my right arm and sometimes part of my leg goes a bit numb and just causes general annoying pain. Still it could be worse, and I just want to get it fixed...especially since its keeping me from getting that last of my 6 year old baby fat off! LOL

Right now, I'm going to college full time, hopefully to become a nurse. I just started back this school year and even if I complain I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be doing this.

I have an awesome family and our family spends almost every Sat night having dinner at my Aunts house, now she is a fantastic cook! Yippy!!! I have two great older sisters that both live in AK and my parents are total life savers, they are open, communicate well, are understanding and except their entire family with no reserve. I can actually say that about all my close family, I'm very fortunate, and hopefully my parents will be moving down here to SC sometime this year, we'll see. :c)

Personally right now I feel like I'm in transition and I'm not really sure where I'm going. After staying home for the last few years and now reemerging into the outside world where its not just kids and more kids I'm finding out things about myself that have just changed or is changing. Its an exciting time and I never know where I myself will be going or what I might be thinking about next. Its totally something I've needed and everyday is always a good day to experience something either about the outside world or something about myself I didn't know before... A good example is knitting...When I first started I really wanted to learn socks but felt I needed to get some other basics down first...you know, learning to knit right?? LOL So while I'm doing that I'm looking at all sorts of sock patterns and yarns and pictures online and I'm thinking to myself two things 1. wow, sock yarn is expensive and 2. I don't think I would ever be so bold with my color, don't sock knitters knit with solid colors?? So fast forward to about Jan...I decide I'm ready for socks, but now its different, something changed in just a year, and even from the few weeks before Xmas, because all the sudden 11.00 doesn't seem so bad and OMGosh, I LOVE color, still most of the warm tones and not anything loud, but honestly I can't imagine doing many sock patterns with solid yarn...there are only maybe 2 cable patterns that just wouldn't look right on anything else...but now I just love the color, not sure what changed but thankfully it did.... Its great to step out of my comfort zone and just go with life, to stand inside that fire instead of outside looking in...

Well, that got long...if your still with me, thanks, and maybe its time for a potty break?? ;c)

Its almost 11:30 and I'm bound and determined to be in bed by midnight tonight! I'm crammed again in homework and I haven't even knit yet today...sigh...probably not gonna happen tonight, but if I go to bed and get up early I bet I can squeeze some time in...whoo hooo!!!

April in SC

P.S. I thought knitting was addictive, and it is...I could never give it up, but once long ago I looked into spinning but where I lived at the time there wasn't anywhere to learn, and it was before the Internet even came to that area to....but now....Oh Boy, the world is opening up and this might be something in my future...we'll have to wait and see since I'm just reading up on it...lol...

SP10 ~ Update

I got my secret pal today!! :c) I just checked and had the email, I'm so excited and yarn and giving is on my mind now!

I have my questionnaire posted in a previous post, but will be posting it again and I will probably change a few things in it. I have no idea why those things are hard for me but they sure are! Either way, its all good and I'm really excited!

Good Luck to all the SP10'eners out there, I hope you all have a fabulous time!!

April in SC

What's up Doc??

Well had a pretty good weekend, felt like I ran around town all weekend, which I kind of did. We went to the mall on Friday, than we went on Sat, and than I went yet again on Sun, this time to get an eye exam. Yup, found out I need new glass's, not that I've been good, I haven't had my eyes checked in about 4 years. So nothing new that I needed new glass's. Now I just have to actually pick some glass's...do you think this was easy for me?? Of course not! I found a pair I really liked, they would be what I would call my "funk" side, which is a side I don't show often, I really think knitting is bringing that out in me..at least it sounds like a good excuse..lol... So Last night we went to another mall to look at glass's and the only ones I found between two places that looked remotely good had Barbie on them...yes, they were kids, I have a small face...but Barbie?? I think not..lol.. So either I go with my "funk" side or keep looking.. I really dislike choices like this!

In-between this we went to my Aunts on for dinner Sat like we always do (I swear, I wish I could share her cooking, its great!) and FINALLY handed over her Birthday gift, and of course spent the rest of my free time studying and knitting.

I was in a car accident last June which resulted in a bulging disk in my neck and possibly some facet joint damage. I've had 3 epidural injections into my neck area, and they seemed to really help, especially after my last one on December 11. I was starting to not have pain just sitting, and only when I over taxed those muscles. I was actually after all these months feeling half-way human, not fully but halfway. Until about a week and half ago. I'm not sure what really happened but slowly my neck and shoulder started to hurt again, then I started getting numbness again in my right arm and now into my leg at times as well. I'm a bit frustrated with the whole thing as my right side is just SO weak (thank goodness its not my "good" side).... Anyway, its going to be off to the Doc again to see what he says, hopefully it will be something as tonight it got really bad after trying to sit all day in class, and its getting difficult to drive again...sigh...

For the knitting I haven' worked much on my last Trekking sock, this sock is like the sock that never ends..lol...My own fault of course, I got hooked on working on Jack's Austermann sock, I am on the gusset decreases right now.

It's getting late at 10:30 now, but I still think I'm going to try and get at least a few rows in on one of the socks I'm working on, and probably some homework. Tomorrow is loads of homework, hopefully some knitting, and again seeing about some glass's. I wonder, should I go with my funk side, or my normal side with just some regular ol' wire rims?? I'm just not sure the geeky librarian pocket protector is me, than again, I did kind of like it. ;c)

April in SC

Test in Teams, Test Alone.

So Tuesday we find out we have a practical test in lab for A/P over about 8 or 9 chapters, of course we are only on chapter 7, but hey, it's all good. It was even better when our instructor said we were taking the test as a team with our lab partners "teams". So after class my team gets together and we decide to of course study all of the material but to also break up the subjects and specialize between us. Cool, that worked for me, although I was a bit nervous that I would forget my "specialty" at the last moment with having test anxiety and all, but still it was all good.

Fast forward to this evening, I walk into the school and everyone it out in the hallway waiting, the teacher is not letting us in yet, and the first thing I hear is that we are not working in teams but alone....all alone...

Good thing I didn't just "specialize" eh??

That is how this class is, you can't count on anything the instructor says, things change in that class faster than ... well... maybe.... I better not say here..lol.. You get my point, and its horrible. Nothing like wanting to learn, liking what your learning, knowing the teacher likes what he teaches and knowing that the whole class including you feels like they are not learning half of what they could be all because of a lack of organization and structure, and of course the instructor letting us know exactly what we need to know and being accurate on that information.

Now for the good part of my day, in fact great part of my day... I got SOCK YARN in the mail!! My very first time!! I'll give way more details tomorrow and I'm going to "try" and be firm about getting my pictures up! The only reason I'm kind of lazy about it is because I use my laptop and in order to do pictures I have to go use my desktop and load my pictures onto my flash drive and transfer them onto my laptop. I need a adapter for my camera memory card, I know they don't cost much, I've just not be up to walmart to check recently...its on the list. :c)

I'm only a few rows to until I'm at the toe decrease on my trekking socks, and I CO for Jack's sock on size 1 with the austermann. After fiddling with my gauge and CO formula I just decided to try 80 St and go with it. I'm not doing a really long sock and I'm doing it with a 1x1 ribbing and than I'm taking a pattern that was called "broken rib' and goes like this : Row 1 and 2 knit, Row 3 and 4 2x2 rib.. I hope it works and if not I won't have to frog back far since I'm not giving it much leg. :c)

Guess that's about it for tonight, its getting late and I want to get another row on the Jack's socks before I head off to bed.

April in SC

I made it through today!! Now on to Gauge stuff...

Okay, nothing really exciting for the heading I put except I made it through another day of school AND got several rows done on my second Trekking sock during my Anatomy and Physiology class tonight.. I'm so ready for this darn sock to be done so I can wash and wear the pair, I'm getting there and it shouldn't take me long now.

Tomorrow and Thursday will be big days for me so I probably won't get an update put up here, and I'm not sure I will get the pictures up I had wanted to yesterday before Thursday night or Friday. I found out tonight that we are having our first practical in A/P Thursday night and I have loads to study as it covers 8 or 9 chapters and is all hands on (AND I have some sock yarn that should be delivered that day, how am I ever going to learn all I need for A/P Thursday night when sock yarn is coming that day? LOL). The good thing is that we get to do it in our lab teams, so tonight after class we split up the work and each of us 3 will be "specializing" in our own topic along with just doing a general study of all material covered to date....Wish me luck, its a lot of information and since we are behind in chapters some of the stuff we haven't even gone over in lecture..and I know I need some luck to remember all the surface muscles of the body along with lipids and protein reactions from a previous lab.. Good thing I not only took notes but also made out a tabled lab report I can now study off of. :c)

Okay, for the gauge thingy that is going on over here..

I am knitting my Trekking on my size 0 needles, I CO and started knitting a swatch with the Austermann I just got on my size 1 needles...and I'm getting 11 Spi on both.. Okay, I was told this can happen, no biggy. What is confusing me is that if I use the formula of (Spi x Ankle Circumference) with 20% deducted for ease it still seems like I'm going to have CO a large amount for Jack's socks. Here is what it comes out to be:

With my Trekking I CO 68 which was really snug, I don't think I could do that with anything but a plan vanilla ankle sock, I do like my socks snug though so for the pattern I used this is fine. But here is what my CO would be for me and Jack, if anyone has any ideas on this at all please let me know.

Using (spi x ankle) with 20% ease

Me:
70 sts -- which seems okay

Jack:
88 sts -- which seems like a lot

How many of you out there cast on 88 sts for socks? And since I did take the 20% off for ease how do you think it would effect the size if done in a rib pattern that is carried down the leg and top of foot?? Should I only take 10% or would the 20% with the 88 sts be okay??


Any and all answers or suggestions would be wonderful and much appreciated!

Okay, its midnight and I have loads of studying to do tomorrow, I hope everyone had a great day and I want to thank everyone who has left me comments, they are all much appreciated!!

April in SC

Yarn Goddess's

Well the Goddess of yarn visited me this weekend...umm..er...I guess I should say my Fiancee took me to a local yarn shop..LOL... Of course I got some yarn and boy am I excited! I got some Austermann and Lornas Laces in colorway Black Watch. Hopefully pictures will be coming some time today. :c) And I was SO happy to find out that one of the wonderful Ladies who works at the yarn shop is left handed and knits backwards to! woo hooo!!

Well Friday Jack came home and put a new muffler on one of our cars, I had been at Lowe's earlier that day and picked up some really beautiful lavender paint for some shelves for my youngest daughter, so I painted those up. Saturday Jack got up early and served me breakfast in bed (yes, I've been very spoiled like that almost every weekend for 10 yrs this year!), we talked and had coffee together and than got ready so he could take me to the yarn shop, after that we went to my aunts house which we usually do on Saturday nights and had a great visit and wonderful food (she is a GREAT cook). While we were at my aunts I got a few rows done on my Trekking sock. When we got home we put in a movie and I started a swatch on my size 1's with the Austermann, these will be for Jack and I think I finally got him excited about a pair of socks. Now he would rather have a sweater..lol..but I think this yarn has caught his attention and he's looking forward to having them. Boy, I'm not sure how others have felt about the Austermann but to me it feels SO soft, almost slippery its so soft. I can't wait to actually get the sock on the needle. Since I'm almost done with my Trekking socks and I like using my size 0's I decided instead of using my size 1's for my Lornas Laces (picture showed in earlier blog post) I would go ahead and CO on size 1's with the Austermann and wait to use my size 0's for my LL. We were both so tired that we didn't watch much of the movie. Sunday I studied all day and the same for today. I'm hoping if I can get done by early evening I will have time to do some knitting. We'll see, Mondays are always big study days before my tests on Tuesdays.

Well that's about all that is going on here. My dog Kodiak is still doing just fine, strange, but we are very thankful.

I hope everyone out there had a great weekend and got to enjoy lots of enjoyed hours of knitting!

April in SC

SP10 ~ I'm In!!

I'm SO excited to be able to say I joined SP10 . I'm so excited and so nervous at the same time! And this questionnaire was so hard for me, I'm not used to talking about myself so much, and will probably end up adding a few things since I feel late in getting it up I kind of rushed through it.. won't change it more than once more though, I wouldn't want to confuse anyone. :c)

Anyway, here it is in all its glory!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I am SO into sock yarn right now! I don't really have a favorite since the Trekking and Lornas Laces on my blog are my first and I haven't even started on the LL yet. I don't usually use bulky yarn, but there are a few scarfs I wouldn't mind trying, and I would love to try some lace and some sweaters (adult ones, I've done baby/children's). I really prefer superwash wool/blends, although with lace and bulky I know that can be hard. I don't have much on my "want to do list" that involves acrylic, but I suppose there is always a pattern to be found that you just have to do..

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Right now a zip lock or in my knitting bag. Bad I know. I'm working on my very first felt project, we'll see how it goes and if its not bad I'll post it, if not I know I have a pattern saved somewhere for a felted case done with cables that looked really beautiful, now I just need to find it again, I think I'll try and find it and post it to see if anyone had done it before and if they liked it.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting active for about a year now. I'm self taught and I knit totally backwards. From my right needle onto my left...I'm left handed and its just easier on my brain..lol.. As for skill, I'm not sure how to answer that. I still consider myself a beginner, but I have done baby socks, almost done with a pair for myself, cables, fingerless gloves, and baby sweaters...right now, its all about socks and hopefully a few adult sweaters will be in my future.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I don't, but I've been thinking about doing an Amazon list for ages..I'm an avid reader when not knitting or studying, my wish list isn't that long but I have one. :c)

5. What's your favorite scent?

For perfume I'm an Estee girl..beautiful to be exact...and for all natural, wow, that's hard. I love vanilla and lavender...like the new downy fabric softener that's out...I love getting into bed at night and smelling that fresh smell. Mint, gardenias (sp?), tea roses, lily of the valley and ohhh my very fav herb kind of scent is patchouli...its just smells so earthy to me..

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Does anyone remember when jolly rancher had the fire sticks?? Not the little candies they have now in small cubes but the actual "sticks"....can't find those anymore..darnnit... I don't eat a lot of candy, but don't turn down chocolate when offered either. When I read I eat salted sunflower seeds, I can crack those faster than none other, or at least that's what I'm told..I don't prefer dark chocolate or white, I chew a lot of gum, usually a spearmint flavor, I love, love, love chocolate covered coffee beans..wow, were those made in heaven or what?? LOL

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

No sadly I don't spin, maybe one day I will learn, it has always fascinated me. The one time I looked into it in a previous state I lived in the store had closed not a week before, It was sad. I do like to cross stitch and will do a few rows when I can pull myself away from knitting..

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

We are big music lovers here. DH plays guitar, mountain dulcimer, banjo, and mandolin and I sometimes pick at the banjo a little bit. My computer, portable CD Player and Ipod all play songs. :c) I listen to EVERYTHING, almost literally. Bluegrass, country (from current to older..I'm talking old, like flatt and scruggs to the carter family for the old at least), rock (mainly new stuff, I like some of it, and what I don't like I'm at least trying to keep up with what my oldest daughter listens to, so I know..lol).. I like rap, classical, blues, and I'm not much of a jazz person but I would never turn down a new musical experience. I also listen to some new age'y' type spiritual stuff, chants, Indian flute music, meditation type music, ohhh and best not forget an almost weekly sound in this house...bagpipes, Irish melodies and stuff like that...

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I'm not much of a yellow/orange/bright green person. My favorite color is nice deep purple, you could probably look at the Lornas Laces on my blog to see the colors there. The trekking sock was bit out there for me, but I love it. Right now I seem to be running towards the neutral colors, dk purples, tans, browns, beige's...but the more I knit and the more I learn about color the more I've learned I know nothing about color at all or how beautiful it can be in different combinations that I would never have thought of.. So I'm always open to stepping out of my comfort zone and having others show me how beautiful life can be with wild and lovely color.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Okay, to make this short..lol...We have 3 children that live with us full time, and three that don't. Ages - that live with us - 16, 7, 6 - that don't live with us - 15, 12 yo twins - We have 2 dogs, 5 cats (I have no idea where half came from!! lol.. just kidding, they needed homes and suddenly my DH who didn't like cats felt we needed to take them all in?? Strange man to change his mind after almost 10 years together!)..1 turtle and 6 parrots. I swear I could probably charge the neighborhood children at the door to come see my zoo, but than again I don't think my companion pets would like that... ;c)

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Mittens yes, yes, yes..I have early onset of arthritis in my hands, have had it since my early 20's, hats possibly if there in kids size's..lol.....not really scarves or ponchos.. Not that I don't love them, its just that I'm only 4' 11" and if the scarf or poncho is to long they make me look even squatier, if that's a word...lol...

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks right now, I'm totally living in my own little sock world and its fantastic. I also like fingerless gloves/gauntlets, scarves, and baby things, except I don't have anyone to make them for.. I really like little projects that I can take with me to college and work on in between class's. (or sometimes during class...shhhh)

13. What are you knitting right now?

Socks, and trying a round pattern for table mats. My aunt has a round glass table and hasn't been able to find mats she likes in the right shade of green. I'm also working on a pair of fingerless gloves for my uncle (which should have been a LONG time ago, but I got stuck on my socks and school..)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Most of my friends aren't that crafty, so honestly I've not ever received many. I know I would love it, how can you not just knowing how much effort, time and love someone put into it?? It would not matter what it was (even the knitted uterus...lol)...it was made with love and..well..I'm extremely appreciative and sentimental that way..

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Socks I knit on DPN's but that's because I haven't gotten any circulars to try them on. I have some circs but not small enough for socks. For the most part I like everything but plastic. I haven't tried those but they don't look very appealing. So far I believe I have DPN's in size 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Straight in 10, 10 1/2, 11, 7, 13, 6, and I think 5 not sure on that one, and in circ's I have 10 1/2, 8, 6 and I think 13's.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Nope..but I have a very, very patient DH. ;c)

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About 4 months old. My uncles fingerless gloves.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween hands down.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Not really, we moved around for a few years so it was hard to keep anything like that, and now we have parrots that could accidentally fly and break something, so we are limited to breakables in certain parts of the house. I would say for collections I probably have movies, the books I read, DH has lyrics to old country/bluegrass songs...and of course patterns, yup I think I can say I collect those...rather a junky if I say so myself...lol..

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I will probably have to come back and modify this one, I don't have a list..lol.. I don't have any subscriptions, and only 2 knitting books so far (stitch n Bitch, and Cables Untangled), I would love to get my hands on the Dixie Mason book, a book on doing socks on circs, and any other good sock book of patterns, as for patterns, yup..I'll have to come back to that, but really I love cabled patterns and socks that have designs like the Monkey sock or like the Eagles Flight . Of course I haven't tried them yet.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Socks on Circs, and eventually I think I would like to try toe up, just about anything, except maybe dish clothes, as fun as they are, I use sponges at home and so does everyone else I know, except of course my knitty online friends. lol

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I don't wear socks that are very high, as you can see what I'm making in previous blogs, but here are my measurements:

Foot/arch -- 8.5 inch

Ankle -- 8.5 inch

Heel to toe -- 8.25

Provided I measure right, which I think I did. :c)

23. When is your birthday?

Sadly my parents thought it was beautiful and fateful that I be named April for the month I was born in and because of the "special" day .... April 1, 1974.... Ya. I'm so glad they have that kind of twisted sense of humor to strap me with that until my end of days.. ;c)

Good Days and Rainy Days

Yesterday was a good day, it was sunny out, I studied all day and the only thing to mar my day was no knitting, not even a row. Be that as it may, it still could not ruin my day, I had felt so behind after chaperoning a trip my daughter 2 weeks ago that it just felt good to start feeling like I was catching up. After all, if I'm caught up I get to knit more! I also did it, yes I did, hopefully I will be excepted into the secret pal 10 . I can't wait to get my confirmation email saying I will be able to do it. I'm also very, very nervous. I personally think I'm the worst gift giver in the world, as in actually picking the presents. I LOVE to give though and have never had any complaints, so either people are being nice or I'm being a bit hard on myself, either way I can't even say how excited I am!!

Today its rainy and I may even have to cut this short as I thought I heard thunder in the distance. I couldn't sleep last night, I was still lying there awake when DH's alarm went off at 4am..sigh... I finally got to sleep right after that but had to get up at 6:30am. OMGosh, everything looked so gritty and blurry. At 32 I think my party days are long behind me because honestly I just can't do that anymore..lol.. So I didn't make it to my first 2 class's today, I hated missing them but I would have been at school, having to drive in the rain with only 2 1/2 hours of sleep in over 24 hours, so I went back to bed and made it to my English class, a bit later in the morning. That went well and now I'm home again and studying for tonight's lab and quiz in Anatomy and Physiology....after that its my FRIDAY (tonight after class)!!! Wooo hooo!! I can get caught up on email's like I promised, watch Greys Anatomy and just do some math online. And hopefully get a few rows done, I can't believe I'm not done with my sock yet for as excited as I am!! But I would rather be able to sit not stressed out and know in my heart that all my work and study is done...wouldn't want any mistakes ya know!! :c)

Well that thunder is to close now, so I will have to end this early. Hopefully it will pass by the time I get home tonight, but if not I apologize to anyone who doesn't get there email and I won't be able to do math online, so I guess I would just have to knit. ;c) What hardship life is!! lol

Take care everyone!

April in SC