Look What I Made!

Yesterday we had, literally, a TON of people here for my DD's birthday. It went very well and I was very surprised that I remained calm and collected the entire day. It might have been the milligram of Ativan that I took before everyone got here, LOL. I made a 3 tiered chocolate and vanilla cake that was almost gone by the time everyone had their share. My Mom made a HUGE rib roast, pork roast, manicotti and broccoli and everyone ate AND we still have leftovers for dinner tonight! My sister was a no show (big surprise) and no call about why she didnt show. My Mom had it out with her but she wont talk about it. I am not going to either.

Today my DH had to go speak to my DD's principal about some changes that were made with how they dismiss the kids. I was very impressed how he handled the situation and very happy that he is doing such a wonderful job as my DD's new principal. He has a mess to clean up from the one that was before him. I thought at the time that she was pretty good but now realize she wasnt. When my DH approached him in the drop off circle he immediately knew who he was and my DD's name! He even knew my son's name and he doesnt even go there yet. He is in the special ed program and the principals get a file on the child a year before they begin school. That makes me feel so much better about him transitioning into the system. Anyway, what I thought was going to be an issue isnt and I am thrilled.

Afterwards my husband and I visited the new HOBBYLOBBY they opened in town. WOW! What an awesome store! Model airplanes, boats, ships, games, remote control helicopters, trains, you name it, it was there. The owner of the store took our picture because we were his second customers! It turns out they JUST opened that morning at 10 am so we were really the second customers. Maybe we will be in the papers, you never know. We bought my son a THOMAS the TANK ENGINE puzzle, an army parachute man (I am sure everyone reading had one when they were kids that you throw up in the air and it parachutes to the ground. I love it!) a MELISSA & DOUG magnetic resonsibility chart for the kids. It has chores and responsibilities that you put a reward magnet next to it for every day of the week. I have to do something because my kids are rebelling against our authority as children do. They have been sick for the past 3 weeks with a nasty cough/cold that wont let go and finally yesterday my DH and both kids started Augmentin because they had developed low grade temps. Thats probably one of the reasons they havent been behaving as they should. My DD has her 7 year check up appointment next month and the pediatrician wants PFT's (Pulmonary Function Tests). She might need to be on a daily asthma medication because she is always getting sick and it settles in her lungs. I am a little nervous about that. My Grandmother was annoying me yesterday saying that the reason she has asthma is due to all the animals I have. She also told me that I have a fat ass yesterday in front of all my guests. She said, "Look at the size of that ass and how wide it is!" She should look in the mirror more often before she makes nasty comments about other people. I already know that I need to lose weight and I am working on that and I dont need to hear it from her. My DH had the perfect come back. He said, "If you had gone through the treatments, chemo and surgeries that my wife has gone through this past year, you would be dead! I think my wife is doing pretty well considering and her ass looks fine to me." I love it!

We hit the bookstore after HOBBYLOBBY and I headed for the knitting section where some lady was leaning on the bookshelf with all the knitting books screaming into her cell phone. Hey lady, do you realize this is a BOOK STORE and not your living room? Oh, and get yourself off the bookshelf so OTHERS besides YOU can look at the BOOKS!! They didnt have anything new so I just picked up a magazine with some cute patterns.

I am trying to get rid of a migraine that I started the day with but it wont leave me!
Finally, I will address the title of my post. I had some supplies to make stitch markers so I whipped these babies up, sorry for the bad picture but its really hard to get a decent one with my old digital:

I plan on giving them to some knitting friends and I also want to give a set to Sally, my sock/dog sweater knitting teacher. I would love to sell these on Etsy or eBay but need to make a large quantity before I advertise them. They dont take much time or money to make so there is nothing stopping me! I should run them by owners of the LYS in town and maybe they can sell them. I would donate a percentage of the profits I make to breast cancer research and the AVON WALK that my Mom and I will be doing in October. Each person who participates has to raise a mimimium of $1800 to walk and I think this is one way we can do it. 5% of the profits would go directly to BC Research. If anyone is interested in purchasing these stitch markers from me please feel free to leave a comment here.

One of the LYS that I frequent is closing down for good. I received an e-mail last night and I am sad about it but they are going to have some HUGE sales soon. Maybe there is some 50% off cashmere in my future?? Hmmm...

The Quakers & Calorimetry

This is a normal sight at the birdfeeder in my back yard.

They are Quaker Parrots and there are literally hundreds all over Fairfield County. There is huge flock located by the beach in my town. There is also a huge debate going on with the electric company about these parrots building there nests in the elecrtical transformers, destroying them and the electrical company has been gathering up these beautiful birds and euthanizing them. Some think they are a nuisance causing all this trouble but I dont think its right that they kill them over it. There has to be another way that we can co-exist with these birds even though they are not native to this area. If you Google: Quaker Parrots in CT, you'll see the whole story.
Here are two Calorimetry that took me a few hours each to make. I love this pattern! The first one is made with Artyarns Supermerino which I used a size 7 needle and followed the 120 CO stitches that the pattern suggests and it fits perfectly.

The second one in this picture is made with Patons SWS yarn in Earth Tones. I CO 108 stitches instead of the 120 with the size 7's because the yarn is thicker than the Supermerino. You can see that there is really no difference in the size with them next to one another.


Yesterday I received my Patons pattern in the mail and I cant wait to start it. It looks a bit intimidating but I am going to do it. I would have started it yesterday but I have my Cabled Dog sweater class this weekend and I have to work on that and also the Finishing Class homework is due soon. My Aunt's birthday is Feb 22 and I changed my mind about the gift I am making her. I was making the Voodoo Fingerless mits but now I am crocheting her half-mittens that I designed instead. My Dad's birthday is Mar. 8th and I am making him socks with Artyarns Supermerino using the Thuja pattern from Knitty.com .

Yesterday I had a plastic surgeon appointment. He couldnt thank me enough for the scarf I made him for Christmas and we got chatting on the subject of knitting for a few minutes. I showed him the socks I was wearing (Cascade Fixation-pink socks) and he was amazed at all the different stitches in the sock. He was pointing to the stitches of the heel, leg and foot saying that he didnt know how I did all those different stitches. I tried to explain to him by showing the socks that I had in my bag (the ones I have been working on since Thanksgiving) pointing out the different parts of the sock. I told him that he should take up knitting because lots of men did it and its relaxing. He did say he needed to relax but he expressed fear of being made fun of from other men if he did knit. I told him to Google: Men who Knit and see what he came up with. I am still planning on making him socks in the near future and the Briar Rose Fibers might be a good choice for a nice thick hiking sock. Thats the wool I bought in Rhinebeck and I have more than enough to make him and my DH socks. Its a 500 yd hank that I rolled yesterday and it took me a while because it was so big. In medical news, my next procedure with the PS is going to be in March.

Nothing Going on but the Knit

Not much happening around here, except knitting. My hair is growing and its getting into the weird stage. Its about to that point where the curl is coming back and it goes in every direction known to man. I am trying to do other things like wear hats, scarves, whatever to get through this awkward stage. I do not want to get it cut right now, I want it to grow. Thats one reason I started CALORIMETRY. It the head wrap design thats on Knitty . There are lots of people doing it right now, probably for the same reasons I am. Its cold and I am sick of wearing baseball caps. I want something thats stylish and shows off my hair (as if thats possible at the moment! LOL) I am using ARTYARNS Supermerino 6 (or 8, I cant remember. Its 104 yds a hank and the pattern calls for 93-98 yds). Its variegated and has lots of cool colors in it like maroon, green, & light green in it. I'll post a pic on my blog when I am done with it. The cabled dog sweater is coming along nicely and I am so proud of my aran cabling! Its going to look splendid on my black and tan doxie. I just hope he likes it as much as I do! Tomorrow there is a STITCH n' BITCH meet up at YALE and I really want to go. I havent been to one since November and there are a lot of knitters going tomorrow. Its at a bookstore no less so thats another great reason to go. I have a HUGE migraine right now so I am going to play it by ear and see how I feel tomorrow.

Yesterday we got our living room furniture delivered!!! We now have a living room for the first time since we moved in July of 2005. All we need now is a rug, pillowa, some pics on the wall (I have lots of those in the closet I just have to figure out where to put them) and a chair with an ottoman or a chaise/recliner type of chair. I absolutely LOVE the whole set. Its the first time I have had a sectional and my favorite spot to sit is right in the corner of the couch where it bends. The dogs have a new "perch" on the top of the couch due to them being vertically challenged. Now they cant look out the windows in the front and they are so excited about it. At least in this house they CAN look outside. In the back of the house we have all glass doors that go all the way down to the ground so they are small dog friendly. In the old house the only way the dogs could look outside was when the front door was open and they looked out the screen door or if they hopped on the back of one of the couches and looked out the windows to the back (where there was nothing to see). I put a couple of afghan throws on the couch so the dogs dont ruin it before we get a chance to sit on them ourselves! The cats have already discovered a new place to sleep. All I can say is thank God for roller brushes. BJ's sells them by the bushel in these HUGE packs and guess who buys them? Hmmm...

This morning I received a very nice phone call from the co-worker of my DH whom I made the 1st baby kimono (yellow). I was so worried that it was going to be too small but she reassured me that he is a small baby at a little over 6 lbs at a month old. He was 4 lbs and change at birth and not a premie, just small. She couldnt thank me enough for it, said it fit perfectly and couldnt believe I made it. Well, she said that she didnt know how talented I was. I thought that was so nice of her to say and my head swelled a little bit. Its so nice when people appreciate homemade things like that. Maybe I'll make booties to match the kimono, after I finish what I am working on that is. (NOT!)

I am anxiously awaiting my PATONS Street Smart Hoodie pattern from JoAnn's. Maybe it will get here today. Remember a few months ago I mentioned that my LYS was offering a class on Baby Argyle socks and that the class was totally full when I called to take it? Well, it turns out they had such huge resonse to that class that they put all the people that wanted to take it but where closed out the 1st time on a wait list. I received a call from Sally (the sock guru) the other day that they were going to offer it again in April!!! I checked my DH's schedule and called yesterday to sign up for it. Could you believe that the class was almost full, AGAIN!!! I am so happy I made it into the class. I am hoping that I can adapt the pattern for an adults size foot. What an awesome gift that would make.

My DD's birthday was this past week and my sister called me. She didnt ask me how I felt or address how she treated me and my kids on Christmas but she did tell me she would be home (at my Moms) for my DD's family party which she thought was tomorrow. I told her that it was changed to next week and it was going to be at MY house not my Moms. She said that it was her boyfriends birthday and she wasnt sure she could make it. Was I expecting some other response? I didnt know that a 28 year old couldnt celebrate their birthday on another day, like my DD was doing. I think everyone does that. Cant take an hour out of her day to come over for some cake with her God daughter, of course not. If it were one of her friends she would find a way. I am so sick of her immaturity and I am sick of wasting words on a good for nothing sister.

Project Spectrum

I officially joined Project Spectrum . This explains what it is to people who have no clue what I am rambling about. It doesnt have to be a knitting project but any craft thats hand made. It starts Feb 1st and the colors are Blue, White and Grey for February/March. I dont know what I am doing as of yet but I am brainstorming about it. Oh! I just remembered!! In the Finishing Class I am taking I am assembling a mini-blue sweater that we have to seam up for the class! I think I have my 1st project spectrum project!!! Wow, that was easier than I thought. Its actually a sweater that will fit a doll, thats how small it is but it still counts. I will be posting pictures of all my Project Spectrum Projects when they are complete.

Mr Rogers and The Beagle

Just some random pics today for your entertainment. The first is a UFO that I recently finished 2 days ago. It was supposed to be a throw that was to lay accross the back of a pink chair thats in my bedroom but it was the project that dragged on FOREVER and I wanted it done so it turned into a wrap instead. I started it in June of last year when I started to crochet again after many years of not doing so. Its a griddle stitch with eyelash yarn edging:

My son was asking me to make his Beagle whose name happens to be "Beagle", a sweater-coat because he was getting cold. Yesterday I whipped this baby up in 20 minutes with some leftover Lion Brand Thick & Quick:

In 2004 my Grandfather died and my Mom gave me his beautiful cashmere sweater that she had purchased for him and he never had a chance to wear. It still had the tags on it! It was an XL or XXL, I cant remember but I gave it to my DH and he put it away in the back of his closet. I reminded him that he had this beautiful cashmere sweater to wear a few weeks ago (what do men know of this fiber they call cashmere!) and he started to wear it. Somehow he brings back memories of when I was a little girl and used to watch MR ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD on PBS. Now you tell me, doesnt this remind you of MR ROGERS? Well, MR ROGERS with less hair that is! LOL:

My DD took the last 2 pictures with her Fisher-Price Kids Digital Camera that my cousin bought her for Christmas. Just to explain the bad photo quality. I think you can upgrade the quality somehow with a new photocard but who cares? She's taking a million pics of everything. I am not going to print all of them so it doesnt matter.
Hope you enjoyed my pics!
I am currently working on the cabled dog sweater, some wrist warmers for my Aunt whose birthday is 2/22 so I have time (I think), the homework for the finishing class in Feb., and the same freakin' socks that I have been working on since Thanksgiving, I promise not to mention them again until I am done.
I almost forgot to mention that today is my DD's birthday. I cant believe she is 7 years old today! Happy birthday to you!

Future Sweater Endeavor and other WIP's

Yes, I have plans. Plans to make a beautiful cabled hoodie for myself. I first saw the gorgeous sweater on Lolly's Blog I ventured out to find the Paton's Street Smart Booklet that contained the pattern but it didnt want to be found. I e-mailed Lolly and she was kind enough to point out that JoAnn's had it. I cant believe that I didnt think of looking there! The book not only has the pattern for the hoodie but a couple of other great patterns. I am hoping that this is not going to be to difficult for me to pull off but since I am so positive and determined to do it, I think I can. Just like the Little Engine that Could. I chose a pale pink color in the Paton's Merino (of course you knew it had to be pink). Choosing a lighter color is best (in my opinion) for a cabled sweater so you can see the detail especially when you are working on it. If its too dark the cables get lost in the darkness but to each his own. Who am I to say what color it should be? Anyway JoAnn's had a coupon to get one item 50% off so I picked out an instructional DVD on how to do 2 socks on 2 circulars. It was $12 with the discount!! AWESOME! I always wanted to learn to do that and I was going to take a private lesson at my LYS but its $12 people! Much cheaper than a private lesson and it got good reviews. I learn best by watching something visually so its going to work out great. I hope there is instructions on short row heels in there too! LOL

I am proud that its only Jan 15th and I am keeping to my #1 resolution for the new year (I rather call it a goal) of constantly honing my craft. Last night I finished the pink baby girl Kimono that I have been working on for the past 5 days. Pretty quick but not as fast as I want to be. It could have been done in a couple of days but since I havent been feeling well I havent been working as efficiently as I want. I wrapped the Kimono up and put it in a lovely Disney Princess bag with some tissue paper and gave it to my DH to present to the Dr he works with. I hope he and his wife like it. Instead of sewing the ribbons on it I threaded them through the knitting and made a loop so they can be removed or tied for washing (whichever is preferred by the person who is doing the washing). I regret that I didnt take a picture and this morning after my DH left for work I cursed myself out. My mind is mush lately. Well, it looks just like the other Kimono I did except its pink with pink satiny ribbon.

My LYS is offering a class on making a baby Aran sweater and I am pondering the thought of taking it. I am not sure at the moment but I really want to. I think that I can probaby do it on my own since I made other things on my own through trial and error. So OTN's right now are the Cabled Dog Sweater which WILL be worked on tonight (I swear), the homework for my Finishing Class which is making the back, 2 front sides and 2 sleeves for a mini-sweater that will be assembled in class. It will probably be owned by my DD's Cabbage Patch doll after the class is over and the socks that I have been working on since before Thanksgiving. My great Aunt's birthday is coming up the end of February and the plan is to make her some fingerless gloves so they will be started soon also.

I have been thinking about the Afghan that has been lingering in my project bag since June. Its the pink and lavender one that I am crocheting to match the chair in my bedroom. I have NO desire to finish it. I have 3 skeins of yarn to go and I cant imagine making it any bigger without me going into convulsions of boredome from doing the same stitches millions of times over. So my idea's for this so called "Afghan" are: Give it to my cousins baby as a baby blanket or embelish it on the ends with some fancy tassles and add a loop with a bug button on it and make it a wrap for over the shoulders to use around the house on a chilly day. Two great ideas but I will probably pick the later because its much longer than it is wide and I would have to make it a bit wider if it was to be used as a baby blanket. Something to think about. I have some cute furry eyelash yarn in pink and lavender that would look great as a border around the edges! I just remembered that I had them!

I know I use lots of abbreviations in my blog but for those who have no clue what they mean here are some explainations:

LYS-local yarn store or shoppe
OTN-on the needles
WIP-work in progress
DH-dear husband or darling OR if you are in a bad mood you can substitute with another "D" word. LOL!!
DD-dear daughter
DS-dear son

Cabled Dog Sweater Class

In Knitting News I re-paid for my sock club so I can stop having heartburn about not being able to get into the club due to the banks screw up. I frogged a few projects that I either messed up on or that were not really interesting me anymore. One of them being the Voodoo wrist warmers. I found a mistake that I tried to fix to no avail and it was better to just start over. I plan to do them using the magic loop method the next time. I also said good-bye to my Patons Soy Wool Stripes Scarf that was boring me to DEATH! I had finished one of the Jingle Bell Rock colorway socks from BMFA and since they are a Christmas colorway and Christmas is over I decided to put them away and finish the second sock next Christmas when I would be in the mood. I wouldnt wear them if I finished them anyway so away they went. I feel great now starting with a clean slate to concentrate on the other projects like the Cabled Dog sweater (I had the 1st class yesterday) and the pre-homework I have to complete for the Finishing Class in February. I am a few stitches away from finishing another baby kimono that I started a few days ago for a Dr that works with my DH. He and his wife had a baby girl and I was dying to make something in pink. There is so much pink in my stash that I have to use it sometime for someone other than me! I am using Red Heart Soft Yarn for the Kimono. I know its acrylic but its VERY soft and washable which is the best thing for a newborn.

In medical news I have a couple appointments with the PS and breast surgeon next week and I will find out when the nipple reconstruction will take place. I have also been suffering with flank pain that has not abated since my period ended and its starting to annoy me. I thought at first that it was just due to my period OR might be because of the back surgery and just a strain to the muscles but its still bothering me after a couple of weeks. I have to make an a appointment with the oncologist this month. He wanted to see me in January anyway and then I have to see the GYN because its been a year so between the two of them it should be figured out. I'm praying that its nothing to worry about.

Stupid Banks

I received this e-mail from Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin' Socks Club 2007 referring to how DUMB banks can be. Here, I'll let you decide:


SUCCESS IS SWEET . . . SO THEY SAY?!
Please read this for IMPORTANT credit card information.
The sign-up for the Rockin' Sock Club 2007 has been a resounding success. So much so that our bank thinks we are running some type of elaborate yarn scam and is refusing to accept our members' money! So, you know what they are doing? You are not going to believe this. They are sending all of that money back! Unbelievable and astounding!

Here are the details. Within the next ten days, all of you who signed up for the Sock Club by paying either $210.00 (domestic) or $240.00 (international) between December 31 and January 5, will be getting a credit back onto your Mastercard or Visa. It is the Sock Club only, all other yarn orders placed will go through and you will be receiving your yarn soon.

Do not panic!

Everyone affected by this incredible situation is guaranteed their spot through the end of January, including those on the wait list. After you receive your credit, just go to our website and use your same registration number to pay for your Sock Club (yet again). The website is temporarily under construction in order to install the new bank’s (who has guaranteed us they will have no difficulty accepting your money!) system. The site should be back in full swing in the next couple of days. In the meantime, you can view products and place phone orders.

If you have any problems, call or email us and we will gladly help. Keep in mind that there are a lot of you involved! It is going take us some time to sort through the mess the bank has so graciously created for us. Remember, those of you that ordered other products from the Blue Moon website during this period are fine. It does not affect your orders! It is the thought of a Club for knitting socks they cannot get their heads around.

This certainly is NOT how we envisioned starting the New Year, the launch of our website upgrade and the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club! We cannot apologize enough for any inconvenience this causes you. To honor all of your dedication and patience, we are including a coupon in your first shipment to help compensate for this.

How DUMB can a bank be? Lets see, a yarn company getting orders for YARN people! Whats so scandelous about that??

Organizational Skills & A No Sew Fleece Blanket

A couple of days ago I went to Target and bought this cubicle thingy to organize my knitting books, patterns and yarns. Here are just a few pictures of my 'mad' skills.
This is what next to my bed looks like now:

I wish I took a before so you could say WOW but unfortunately I didnt.
My closet looks like this now:

Bottom of the closet with all my sock yarns:

These are the other containers located 'around' my room:


This is the No Sew Fleece Blanket I made yesterday with my cat Dom smack dab in the middle:

Some other views with and without a flash so you can see the color. If you look really close you can see the pink breast cancer awareness ribbons with a flower in the middle of each all over the blanket:

I am becoming quite crafty and was even looking at sewing machines at JoAnnes yesterday. I told my DH that I wanted one for my birthday. Not one of those expensive ones but a cheaper one for a beginner. The cheaper but decent ones are around $150-199. I am going to see if I can find one for less. I also picked up some Thomas the Tank Engine fabric to make my son some pillowcases.

2006 Knitting Review

I didnt take pictures of all the projects that I completed this year and I apologize for that. In 2007 I will take pictures of all FO's.
The tally for 2006 was 71 Projects, 5 Frogged and 4-5 WIP's that were carried over to 2007. Pretty good, at least thats what I think. I started to knit the end of June, beginning of July so I only had 1/2 the year to do all these plus I was teaching myself to knit from books and online videos. Out of the projects I completed a pair of Artyarns socks for me (the green ones) and a pair for my DD with the left over yarn. A pair of KOIGU that I learned to do the Magic Loop way and a pair of Cascade Fixation (pink), a total of 4 pairs in 2006. I am going to try to complete as many projects as possible in 2007 and try to complete a pair of socks a month. I am not sure if I can do that with all the other things going on but its a goal.

First Finished Project of 2007

Well, its done. I started this baby Kimono on the 27th of December and finished it on the 4th of January. Its for my husbands co-worker who just had a baby on the 18th of December. Its newborn size because thats what the pattern called for so I stuck with those numbers to see what it would look like. Now I can adjust the pattern to fit a 6-12 month old. I'm going to make a couple for my cousins who both had babies in July.



I am not sure if I mentioned it here before but I signed up for the Cabled Dog Sweater Class at my local yarn store and I am so excited about it. I picked out my yarn for the project and its a gorgeous bright pumpkin color. My black and tan mini-doxie will look really good in it. He's getting a sweater 1st due to his lack of hair (he's a short hair and my other 2 doxies are long haired).

While I was at the yarn shop yesterday I was talking to the owner about finishing (seaming) the kimono I made and how I would LOVE to learn the proper way to do that. It so happens that there is a class being offered in February on Finishing for the non-finisher or beginning finishing it should be called. When I got home I checked my DH's schedule and it so happens that he is working a half day on the 1st day of the class and off on the second day of the class. Its only January and I am well on the way to sticking to the goals I made for the new year! I always want to be learning and improving my knitting skills and not stay stagnant like many older knittters out there. Not that thats a bad thing because many people are happy for 50 years making the same old things over and over. Personally, I would not be happy doing that.

Today is Jan. 6th and the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. My Christmas Tree remains up as it does every year on this day. I am planning on taking it down this week sometime but believe me I am not looking forward to it. Its a big job and seems to get bigger every year due to the aquisition of Chistmas ornaments as gifts.

I had some blood work done this past week because I wasnt feeling quite right. I thought it might have been my thyroid but the Dr called me yesterday and said that everything looked well and in normal range including my TSH and Free T4 levels. My hematocrit was a tad low but not enough to panic so that can be why I get exhausted at times. I will not take iron because its not really been proven to work with pills. You are better off eating more lean meats or veggies that have iron like spinach. I'll stick to the veggies thank you.

My current knitting projects that I soon will be finished with:
One BMFA sock in Jingle Bell Rock Colorway, then I have to start the second one!
Voodoo Wrist warmer, 25% done with the 1st one, then of course (you've heard this before) I have to start the second one.
Soon I have to add learning the 2 socks on 2 circulars or Magic Loop to my goals for the year. One of the girls who works/teaches at the yarn store said that she could teach me. Its going to have to wait until I am done with the 2 classes I signed up for!

2006, the Year in Review and 2007's Goals

I was thinking all day about what kind of post I wanted to make as the last one of 2006. It could be about the year in review but I might bore everyone to death if I do that. It could be about what I accomplished in this year and even though it was overall a very difficult year I think I learned a lot about myself and others. I learned that one cant judge someones situation just by looking at them. You never knows whats going on in someone elses life unless they tell you whats going on. I learned not to complain about petty things, well at least not obsess about them! I learned that my hair is not as important as I thought it was but I sure do miss it! I taught myself how to knit and not just knit and purling. I have progressed to sock making and found that I am addicted to sock making and yarn hording also. One can never have to much sock yarn! I think that if I didnt get sick I might not have discovered knitting. Some might think this is crazy but knitting has changed my life. When I am stressed I knit, when I am bored I knit. I knit in the car, at the doctors offices, the therapists office, friends houses, my Mom's house and anywhere else you can think of knitting. Oh, dont forget crocheting also. I have learned who my real friends are :waving: and who are not. I have even realized that I have a sister who doesnt give a sh*t if I live or die and I am not exaggerating when I say this, its the truth.

I have goals for 2007 but you have to realize that for the past 7+ years there has been something medically wrong with me every year and it seems that each year the diagnosis get worse. Its hard to be positive but I am going to be. So here are some of the goals for the new year:

1) Start going to the gym again and losing the weight I gained during chemo.
2) Get a tatoo commemorating my journey through breast cancer this past year. I am still trying to decide what kind I want and find someone who will do it where I want it.
3) Take more knitting classes to expand my knowledge and skills in knitting. Starting in January I am taking a Dog Cabled Sweater class and I am so excited about it!
4) Go to the STITCHES EAST 2007 knitting conference with my knitting buddies.
5) Join the BLUEMOON FIBER ARTS SOCK CLUB (which I am pre-registered for) and actually knit the sock patterns they send me even if they are challenging. If I get stuck I can go to my LYS and ask my sock guru (Sally) to help me out. Complete at least one pair a month, at least I said.
6) Learn to knit a sock toe-up
7) Learn short rows in sock knitting.
8) Make a sweater for my husband and myself
9) Be a kinder and more compassionate person
10) Still try to get a job at a yarn store no matter how many times they say, "we dont need anyone right now."
11) Go to the dentist (havent been in over 2 years)
12) Garden more.
13) Try to pay bills ontime (this one is a losing battle)
14) I am sure there are more but I cant think right now and I didnt want to end on #13, call me suspicious.

Happy New Year to all!

How I ruined Christmas?

Sometimes I feel like all I do is complain and that there is a lot of negativity in my writings but I have no other way to get it out then to write it down. I do apologize to many who read my journal or blog and say I am sorry for bringing you down and I promise that in the new year not to put so many complaints in here.

I hesitated to write about Christmas Day because it was horrible and I have been upset since but I have to put it down into writing because it helps me move on and beyond and hopefully prevent future mistakes on my part like thinking it was a good idea to be around my sister and also thinking that she would keep her promise to my Mom not to ruin Christmas.

I will start with when we arrived at my Mom's on Christmas Day. My sister was hiding up in her room again and the kids wanted to rip right into the gifts that Santa had left at my Mom's. Asking them to wait wasnt right and then she got mad that we werent or that they werent waiting for her. We all exchanged gifts and then sat down to eat dinner. It was just my parents, my grandmother, Great Aunt, my sister and us and we were all dressed nicely. Not overdressed but dressed presentable. My sister was in her pajamas at 4pm in the afternoon! That wasnt right, she's not a teenager, she's 29 years old! It just wasnt right but my sister gets a free pass as always but you never hear me complain about that in all the years we were growing up that she was allowed to get away with murder because of the road that I paved before her. In the middle of dinner she disappeared, to her room no doubt. The kids especially my son was very overstimulated and because of his problems that he has thats an issue that has to be dealt with all the time. There was so much stuff going on that he didnt know what to play with. In the end he went back to the simple Thomas toy he got from my cousin the night before. No one was helping me or my DH with the kids, no one. My Mom was busy cleaning up so I am not referring to her when I say no one. I am referring to my sister who hasnt seen the kids since Easter which was April (8 mos ago) when I was at my Mom's for dinner and she said that I embarrassed her because I was emotional about something. Gee I wonder what it could have been that I could have been upset about? I had started chemo in March so maybe that was it??? DUHHHH!!! She hasnt seen them in that long and she couldnt come out of her room to play with her Godchildren?

Then my Dad brings out a shoe filled with change to give to the kids, which was a nice thing to do but there was so much going on that it was just too much. He gives them all this change and rolls to roll them then goes back downstairs to watch football or play on the computer I am not sure what. He should have sat down and rolled the money with my DD instead of dumping it on them and disappearing. I told my DD to put the 2 bags of change in my bag and we would deal with it later because there was too many toys and things to play with. She didnt listen and dropped the bags spilling change all over the kitchen floor. This is when I lost it and started to cry. No one was understanding why except for my Aunt, I think. I was tired and in need of some help with the kids. My DH was trying to deal with my son but he was losing it also. I was home with them the whole week due to them being sick and after a while you lose it. I wasnt supposed to be lifting for another 2 weeks at least and I have been because I have no choice. When my son isnt behaving he doesnt want to get into his seat or car seat so I have to put him in myself. My Mother told my DH in the beginning not to take extra time off work that she would help and he wouldnt have to lose time or money at work and then she tells me that she cant be around the week before Christmas? She had things to do and prepare. I am not saying that she has to be here all day but maybe send my Dad up here for a few hours to play with the kids while I rest? Maybe that was an option? Or maybe not putting those expectations on yourself when you know that someone needs assistance? No one was coming on Christmas Day and the only person whose expectations had to be filled was hers. She cant say, I cant do this because my DD needs help? I just dont get it. Anyway, I lost it and started to cry and say, "Where is everyone? Why cant they come down here and play with the kids? Where is Daddy and T (my sister)?" My Mother said, "I am cleaning up I cant play with them?" Well I wasnt talking about you! So then after I lost it and went downstairs my Mom and Dad sat down with my DD to color and play with her. If I didnt get upset my Dad would still be missing. My sister never came out of her room. I think my Mom went up to talk to her but I cant be sure of it. It was sad because the kids would go to the bottom of the stairs and call up there for her to come down and play with them and she never did. My DD kept asking me if she could sit next to my sister and then added, "Is she going to come and play with us?" over and over all night.

My Mom came downstairs where I had retreated to so I could calm down and started to tell me not to ruin Christmas. ME?? Is she on crack? She should have been yelling at my sister not me. I didnt do a damn thing! This pissed me off even more and I tried to explain what I was feeling but she wasnt getting it. I tried to tell her that if she was in my place she would be equally upset over the situation. My sister cares more about her boyfriends Dad then her own sister and her neice and nephew! How would that make her feel?? Plus, my sister NEVER asked me how I was feeling or anything to do with me and what I have been through. I didnt need a disertation but she could have just asked how I felt because she hasnt spoken to me since August 16th, the day after my bilateral mastectomy. Oh, she did call to say thanks for her gift that I gave her for her birthday (in Oct) but that was a 2 minute conversation and didnt go into anything else. It hurts so much to hear her talking about him (her boyfriends Dad) with emotion in her voice and then not give two sh*ts about me, her sister or her Godchildren. Its shameful and discusting behavior and no one makes her accountable for it so she continues to get away with it. In the 2 days we spent at my Moms she had nothing good to say and never spoke to me other than when we were opening gifts and eating dinner, to pass the salt. I told my Mom that she has no idea where I am coming from and doesnt understand. She said that she does know because she has gone through it with me. OK, OK, I know you have been there with me while I was going through it but YOU DIDNT go through what I did no matter how much you convince yourself you have. Its just not the same. She hasnt had cancer and she hasnt been through chemo, many surgeries and reconstruction and she is not in the same mind that I am. I was the one with cancer and it very well might return. I hope and pray it doesnt but there is that chance and I have to live with that every day of my life. I know someday I will die I just dont want to die from BC.

So now she is STILL upstairs in her room and its getting later and later. I think it was 7pm. I have to get the kids home because they are still sick and DH has work the next day. My DD keeps calling for my sister up the stairs and I roll my eyes because I know she is not coming down. Now, get ready for this one because its truely unbelievable. My sister finally comes downstairs to make a plate of food to heat up for herself to eat. She is actually dressed now and out of her PJ's. She pours a glass of wine and places it next to my Mom in the dining room where we are all sitting having coffee and cake. She is in the kitchen heating up her food and saw that my Mom made a package for me and my family to take home with leftovers from dinner and it wasnt even a lot of food mind you. Just food from Christmas dinner, no food from the Christmas Eve dinner which would have been nice to have. Anyway, she askes out loud, whos food it was and why was my Mom giving HER food away. It sounds like a joke and I thought at 1st she was just kidding but she wasnt. She said it several times. My Mom finally realized that she wasnt kidding and my Aunt also realized this. You should have seen their faces when my sister was going off on her tyrade. Meanwhile I hear her mumbling and grumbling and I say, in a low voice, to my Mom, that this is what I expected and that I didnt want the food, she could have it. Did my sister realize that the food was for my kids and not just for me and my DH? How selfish can someone be. I was shocked that this was actually happening in front of my eyes. She then came into the dining room and grabbed her wine in a huff and retreated back to the kitchen. My Dad was in the kitchen with her and was saying something that I couldnt hear. I am not sure what it was and I really wish he would have told her off. Instead I am getting madder that no one (my Mom) is calling my sister out on her HORRENDOUS behavior and instead my Mom is telling ME to stop getting mad that I am ruining Christmas!!! I think my sister ruined it a long time ago and it had nothing to do with me. Does she think its easier to blame me than have someone be responsible for their behavior? I am perplexed, shocked, mad and I really wanted to leave.

Right after this situation occured, I got the kids dressed in their PJ's and ready to leave. We are headed out the door and my sister didnt get off her a** to say goodbye to me or us. Everyone else came to the door and said goodbye but not her. I didnt want to start another arguement so I didnt say goodbye. After the whole "taking food home fiasco" and all the other things she did, I dont think she deserved a goodbye. So we just left and I cried the whole way home. I cried because I was the one who lost my cool (momentarily) and ruined Christmas, I was the one who looked like a looney because I was actually present there and not hidding in my room. The funny thing is that I heard my sister (as I was leaving) talking to my Aunt or my Dad, I am not sure, about taking her boyfriends Dad to his chemo session on Wednesday. It made me so mad and hurt. I am crying now thinking about it. If I needed help (which I have and asked her for over the past months so I know from prior responses what she would say) even if I was on my death bed, she would not help me. I say this because I actually called her one night asking for help and I was crying because I needed someone to come the next day for a couple of hours otherwise my DH would have to call out sick to help me and she said, "No I cant. You know I have a life and Mommy is going on vacation in a few days and this is my last chance to go out because when she is gone I have to watch Nana." Oh, how unfair life is to you, my narcisistic sister! What the hell should I say then after almost 8 years of bad health and no life! You have got to be kidding me! It was like I asked for a pint of blood or something. Doesnt anyone see her behavior or is it just me? Are my parents blind to this? I just cant believe that I was the one that was yelled at on Christmas and not her. Maybe they did it later after I left but it wasnt right to do it to me. Dont I deserve better? I know there are others who have been through worse and I am not trying to play the martyr here but after all I have been through I am treated like this? I dont want to spend Christmas there again. Its not like it used to be years ago and nothing like I remember. Its not even about the gifts, its more than that. I couldnt care less about the gifts.

The other day I received a letter from the YOUNG SURVIVAL NETWORK. In the letter there were lots of facts and stats on BC survivors. One that cought my eye and sticks with me is this one:

Only 50% of women diagnosed before age 40 go on to live past the 10 year survival mark. **PLEASE SEE JUNE 28, 2007 ENTRY ON A CORRECTION THE YOUNG SURVIVAL COALITION POSTED OR GO TO: www.youngsurvival.org/appeal-statistics.com
THE NEW STATEMENT ON STATISTICS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

The latest available 10-year survival statistics are based on treatments through 1993. For those diagnosed between age 25 and 30, the 10-year survival rate is 60%; for those between age 30 and 35, the 10-year survival rate is 65%; for those between 35 and 40, the 10-year survival rate is 70%; and for those diagnosed between age 40 and 45, the 10-year survival rate is 77%.

THIS WAS SENT TO ME WITH AN APOLOGY LETTER ON JUNE 28, 2007**

When I told my Mom this she thinks I am being negative but I am not. Throughout this entire process I dont think I could have been more positive and I have every right to feel the way I do, I have earned it.

I dont know what else to say and I have wanted to call my Mom to see if she did anything or said anything to my sister when I left. I havent called because I know I am going to be upset, cry and argue. I really had higher expectations and thought it would have been the perfect time for my sister to apologize and move on but she made it worse and I want nothing to do with her ever again. My Mom says things change and things "come around" whatever the hell that means. Unless she says she is sorry, I want nothing to do with her. She has caused me so much pain over the past year I cant even put it into words. I know if someone hurt my Mom the way my sister hurt me she would not be so easy to forgive.

Edited to add: I made a mistake. The last time my sister was here was the day I had a pre-op appointment with my breast surgeon on June 15th. My Mom was in the city and couldnt watch the kids so she came up here to watch them. Big deal. She ran out of here like a bat out of hell when we got home

Christmas Eve

Yesterday we went to my Moms for Christmas Eve dinnner. We arrived before everyone else except my Great Aunt who had slept over the night before so my Dad wouldnt have to drive her home to late when all the drunk a** people are on the road.
My sister was there already, because she lives there. She's 29 and still with Mommy and Daddy-just a tad embarrassing in my book. No offense to anyone else who lives with their Mom and Dad because I know that everyones circumstances are different and I shouldnt judge but its my sister so I'm allowed to pass comments!

She remained up in her room hiding until we were done with the antipasto and working on the second course of the meal! My Mom had told me that her boyfriends Dad wasnt feeling well and he and my sisters boyfriend were staying home. When my sister finally came downstairs to join the living my cousin asked her about her missing boyfriend and she told him that his Dad's prostate cancer had spread to his bones and he was in a lot of pain with is back. This is old news with him because he has been treated for years with baby doses of chemo (which my DH said is not the way to treat his type of cancer and actually predicted this would happen because his Dr wasnt treating him properly. He even offered his help to him when he first told him about his health a few years ago but never took DH up on the offer) which my sister was taking him for every Wednesday and thats one of the reasons or I should say excuses she used when I needed her to help me. I have a lot of anger not only toward my sister for doing what she did but also toward this man who she chose over her own sister to help when I needed it most. I must admit I wasnt feeling to empathetic towards his plight yesterday. The funny thing is that when she was telling my cousin the details of what was going on with him, I heard her voice get very emotional and upset and I actually thought that she was going to cry! OK, now my blood was boiling. She never cried or let alone expressed any emotion like that about her own sister and she's doing it for a man who is not even her family? Thats why when people use the excuse for her that people react differently and strange when a loved one has a serious illness and they dont know what to say, blah blah bullsh*t, I say thats a load of crapola because look at the situation I just mentioned.

I forgot to mention, when she finally came down to join us she greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and said, "Merry Christmas, I have to talk to you when the kids arent around", I thought for a split second that I would get an apology. Later she said, "I wanted to know if you got the kids any toys with batteries because I bought rechargables and the charger and if you dont want it or have one already I can return it." Thats it, thats what she wanted to tell me in private. I havent seen my sister since the beginning of the summer and have had chemo, numerous surgeries, ER vists, without her giving two sh*ts and this is what she says to me? The entire night she pretended that there was no problems between us (queen of denial) and just had small talk but not much because we avoided each other. I just didnt want to cause any rage inside me to biuld up and make a scene. I wanted so badly to say something to her but I didnt want to ruin my Mom's dinner that she worked so hard all day to prepare. My DH happen to notice that she (my sister) escaped to her room a few times and when was taking DS to the bathroom he caught her coming out of her room with a cloud of smoke behind her. Now that would be a great explaination for her being so calm. Just thought I would add that in.

In other news, everyone liked my hair and commented on it all night. They said that it looks almost jet black and wanted to know if I dyed it! I kept saying no but my grandmother didnt believe me. She kept saying, "Is that your natural color?" I cant tell you how many times she asked. It was getting annoying after the 3rd time and she was getting kind of nasty because she thought I wasnt telling the truth. Others were saying how the curls are growing in nicely and that when it gets longer its going to look great

My Dad was the only one that said, "Oh its nice and WAVY, like it used to be when it was long." OK, no offense to wavies out there but my hair was not wavy, it was curly and spiraling curls mind you. Where the heck did he get wavy. We went back and forth about it for a few minutes and then my Mom said to him that my hair was curly like hers and how come he didnt remember? I said, "You cant even remember my hair? I cant believe you cant remember it.

We exchanged gifts with the people who were not going to be there for Christmas dinner today. All the people that I made gifts for LOVED their hand made gifts. My cousin LOVED the brown scarf with fall color stripes that I crocheted and said he had a brown winter coat to match! Then his girlfriend opened hers and she loved her wrist warmers and scarf. I wasnt sure if she would like the scarf because its a plush, soft semi-fuzzy yarn mixed with a Crystal Palace yarn that shimmers with little tied on ribbons. Its retro style and I thought since she is the youngest that she would get the most use out of it and I was right. My Great Aunt LOVED her scarf and so did my Uncle and his wife. I didnt give my parents, grandmother or sisters gifts out yesterday because we will go over my Mom's a little earlier before dinner and open them. I cant wait to see the kids faces when they see what Santa brought them! Yup, they are still asleep if you can believe it. They went to bed very late last night and so did I.

I was surprised that it went as well as it did last night without a major fight but we still have the entire day today to screw it up.

Its Almost Christmas!

Well, I couldnt wait until January for a shaping so I went yesterday to get a trim. I went to the same girl that did a great job last time and she did a great job yet again. I am very happy and I promised myself that I would wait until February so it can grow into its curl a bit. I bought some more styling products to hold me over when my hair gets to that awkward phase which will most likely be a month from now. When you see me complaining in a post dated Jan 20th or so you'll know why!

My kids were so sick this week and my DD almost went to the hospital again but we averted that by getting her on her nebulizers fast and avoiding pneumonia again. She is on the albuterol and pulmacort nebs and its helping a lot. I am using the good old steam vaporizer in my sons room and it is working great.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we have the traditional Italian dinner with the 7 fishes and all the other foods. Christmas Eve is bigger than Christmas Day in our family and always has been that way. I am looking forward to it because its my favorite time of the year but I am also going to be seeing my sister for the 1st time in months and I am not looking forward to that. I dont want a fight to break out but I warned my Mom that I am on the edge and very angry over this entire thing. Its stressing me out and I have a migraine now because of it. In my dreams I am hoping she approaches me and apologizes but that is a dream mind you. If she says anything thats inappropriate I told my Mom that I would embarrass her in front of everyone and I dont care how it makes me look because I have held it in long enough and I have every right to get it out. Believe me, I DONT want this to happen but I have been extremely emotional and I havent been able to control myself so one never knows what will happen.

I am finishing up some last minute knitted and crocheted gifts and I cant wait to give them to their new owners on Christmas! I get more excited giving gifts then getting them and have always been that way. Here is a picture of a cake I made the other day:

Here is a corset belt that I crocheted for my Mom (her Christmas gift):


And finally the socks that I made with a yarn over cable with Cascade Fixation yarn. I finished these a long time ago and never posted about them:


If I dont get a chance to write again before Christmas then MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

In Memory of Blueberry Pancakes

Here is our beloved Blueberry Pancakes
Born Jan 2004, came into our family Mar 2004, Died Dec 16, 2006


Introducing Christmas (Chris) and Hannukka (Hanna)


I just love the purple spots on her cheeks!

2 Week Post-op Plastic Surgeon Vist

I forgot to mention that I went to my 2 week post op plastic surgery (PS) appointment on Tuesday this past week. Dr A. said everything looked great and that I can see him in one month to set up the next procedure. Hopefully my hair will grow a bit more before then so I dont look like such a dork! LOL

I gave him the scarf I made him along with a cute ornament that is a surgeons scrubs on a tiny hanger (its a Christmas ornament). When I handed him the gift I told him that I wasnt sure if he celebrated Christmas or not but I wanted to give him a gift. He said he celebrates all holidays so I felt better when he said that. The next day my DH caught him bragging about the "beautiful" scarf I made him for Christmas. Wow, I am glad he liked it. I hope everyone else that I made a gift for likes it as much as he did.

I have a lot of knitting to do so off I go!

Hannukka and Christmas

Today was a very sad day in our house. Our little budgie, Blueberry Pancakes, died today at 2 3/4 almost 3 years old. He hasnt looked well for a few weeks and he was moulting so I knew something was wrong. They always say they are more vulnerable when they are moulting. I was giving him extra vitamins and stuff but he was still feeling a bit bony to me. This afternoon when I was about to clean and feed him I looked at the cage and when I couldnt find him on one of the perches I knew immediately that he was dead, then I caught a glimpse of him on the bottom, extremely stiff and of course passed on to birdy heaven. I put him in a little box with his favorite birdie toy and a small blanket (paper towel to cover him). The box was a pretty purple that I had decorated in July with fireworks stickers and such. My DD and DS were both upset and my DD moreso because it was her bird. She couldnt stop crying no matter how much I comforted her. My Mom told me to go to the pet store with her to see if she wanted to get another bird, maybe two so they wouldnt get lonely. She was excited over that idea but still would cry every 10 minutes or so when she thought about the bird. She helped me to clean out his cage and disinfect it, just in case there was some type of illness the bird had that might have contributed to his death. I threw away all of the old toys and cups that held his food too.

We then went to the pet store which happens to be right around the corner and picked out new toys, cuttle bone, food and water cups and of course a mirror! I let my DD pick out the two birds that she wanted and they both happen to be one of each sex. I wasnt to concerned whether it was two boys or two girls or one of each as long as they got along with one another. There are two of them and here are their stats:
Girls name: Hannukka (Hanna for short)
Color: Yellow/Lime with purple cheeks
She is pudgy and cute also has a brown cere (nose) so we know its a girl

Boys name: Christmas (Chris for short)
Color: White with a blue cast has dark blue/black spots on cheek
He is smaller than the girl and a bit shy compared to her but I think he can hold his own (I hope! LOL) and he is definitely a boy because his cere is blue for a boy.

When my DH came home we burried Blueberry Pancakes in our yard with a wooden cross grave marker. We wrote his name and dates of birth and death on it. My DD wanted to write, "WE LOVE YOU" on it so we did. It was sad but we let her participate and she wanted to put the box in the hole DH dug and then said goodbye to him again. We cried and then I told her that we could plant some flowers there in the spring for him. She was happy about that. To comfort her some more I told her that Blueberry was with Grandma Angie and Poppy in heaven and that Poppy was the one that babysit him when we went to Florida in 2004 so he would be taken care of there with all his friends.

This was her 1st pet death and she will be 7 next month and I think she handled it really well. I am not sure my DS understands well enough but he did cry when he saw the bird was dead. He then stated that the new birds are, "not dead birds Mommy." He gets it enough I guess.

If Everyone Cared

IF EVERYONE CARED

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died

And I'm singing
Amen I, I'm alive
Amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen I'm alive
Singing Amen I'm alive

And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died

We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day when nobody died

~Nickelback

A State of Mind

A few months ago I visited the library looking for knitting patterns. I was in the knitting book section, which stinks in my library (there are books literaly from the 1950's and 60's-not that its a bad thing but how about buying some new ones?) and came across a book with a book mark in it. It was a fabric bookmark that was very old and was taped onto a piece of plastic to hold it together. This is what it said:

A State of Mind

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win but you think you can't,
it's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you've lost.
Far out of the World you find success begins with a Fellow's Will-
It's all in The State of Mind


There was no author listed on it so I am not sure who wrote it.
I thought it fit the moment perfectly and still does. Its funny how it was right in front of my eyes when I needed it the most. I am wondering why I found it. I think I was meant to find it now that I think about it.
Someday I would like to put it back in the book where I found it so someone else can find it and be helped by what it says.