What I've been up to

I told you I had been knitting....Here are the squares for the blankets, because of other commitments on Saturday I was missing SNB, but I had the newspaper clipping from Wednesday's paper saying the Knitting Frenzy would be held in the Old School Park next saturday the date and time. I thought DH is at work I have time to drive down and knit abit before going to friends party in afternoon.
I got my knitting together, my chair and headed off down, I got there and no-one was to be seen, I thought they must have packed up as the weather was turning cold and wet looking. So I went and got some supplies for party and the alcohol (most important) and headed home, only to read the date and it is Saturday 1 October. So I will drive back down this saturday morning and knit a bit. I always get confused with the "next saturday", I take it that it is the saturday coming up not the one after.



I have been knitting the tops on some kitchen hand towels, which should keep me going for a few more years to come. Some are Christmas hand towels, but they will be used all year round. They are all different in colours and patterns, which is the beauty of having a timber kitchen, with black benches and white tiles, any colour matches.



I am working on a blanket for my in-laws for Christmas, I am not sure on the colours, but I am trying to use up this ridiculously huge stash, so I am trying to match up colours the best I can. They are a blue and lemon colour, so hopefully when finished won't look to bad.

My DS #2's girlfriend (damn what a mouth full), was looking at the book I got from the Bookman who comes around work, I was going to get it for my niece, but it had some useful things in it so I decided to keep it for myself. So the girlfriend said last nigth she would like to learn to knit, so she said she would have a go at it from the book, I left her some needles and yarn out on the book this morning, so maybe when I get home she may have started. Would be nice if the dishes were done, the washing folded etc, but that would be just too much for my heart to take......

I'm Back......

I have been off work for a week and a half sick with this damn virus head cold thing. I fought it off for about 3 weeks, a girl at work was a sick as a mongrel dog but hey she kept on coming to work each day, well isn't she a martyr, it really floored me when it finally hit. I was so sick on my birthday, I hate that.

The day before my birthday DH rang me in the middle of the day and said he would get pizza for dinner, you beaut I thought, as I don't have any taste so if you all want pizza then go for it. I did think it a bit strange also as we would be having something special for my birthday the next night. Scott's partner was flying to Melbourne on my birthday, so I though with her away, they will be over for pizza. I had a shower around lunchtime and washed my hair, I know what has that got to do with it all. Well, I forgot to put the hair stuff in my wet hair, you know that stuff that when you blow dry your hair, it sometimes looks OK. Around 3 o'clock, I thought I should do my hair if the kids are coming over for dinner, took a look in the mirror and I looked like shit, so I didn't bother with the hair, anyway it is only pizza...Right!.

Steve gets home, I ask is he going to order pizza and drive into Kiama and get it and what time. He rushes downstairs to see Tim (second son), he then rushes across the road to see Scott (first son), he then comes back and as he is getting in the shower he annouces.....Well I have to tell you, we are taking you out for a surprise dinner. Well I nearly had a heart attack, I took another look in the mirror....NOPE, nothing in this world is going to make me look or feel better to be able to go out.

I went and looked for something to wear, jeans are always good. I put some of that hair stuff in the hair and blow dried into something presentable. Put on the makeup, got dressed and I was ready. We had a really nice dinner, presents, and a Chocolate Mud Birthday Cake with candles and song. Well didn't they all make me feel special. The card from the kids was the best thing ever, I know I get a bit soppy about cards, but it really made my day/year. Seanna wrote the following:

To dear Mum (Anne),

We hope you have the best birthday,

with love from your boys Scott and Timothy

and your girls of course Seanna, Abby and Ruby

Woof, Woof. XOXOXOXO


The card was one of those mum cards, with Now that you have spend all your time running after us, being there picking up after us etc etc etc, it is now time for your to relax and take it easy..... inside the card read: Yeah Right! - to the most amazing Mum.

It was so special, the boys had borrowed our car at lunchtime to go fishing down the river, they hooked up the little tinny boat and off they went. They got home about 4 hours later. When at dinner and they gave me my present, they told me that they unhooked the boat in front of an aunties place opposite the river, then drove out to the shopping centre to get my present and card, then came back and did a bit of fishing.... I wouldn't like to be relying on them to eat fish, we would have starved long ago.

Seanna's dad came along for dinner as well. They all made my birthday so special. And a sick as I was, It was the best.

I have been getting some knitting done while sick. A have done about 20 squares for the local Rotary club's Knitting Frenzy which will take place this saturday, they make blankets and send to Peru, and other countries in need for the winter.

I even knitted the tops on kitchen hand towels as all my older hand towels were looking pretty shabby.

I have started a blanket from Knitters Universe magazine, I will give it too Steve's parents for Christmas, I plan on doing one each for them.

Photos will be coming, YS borrowed camera and has it full of car photos, I will have to download them so I can take knitting photos.

Secret Pal Gift

I got home yesterday and had a huge box on the kitchen bench for me. It was from Danielle my Secret Pal. Wow, you should have seen all the great stuff. The Stitch N Bitch Handbook, I was really hanging to get that, which reminds me I must cancel the back order I have for it. Well I will just put the picture here for you all to see, the lollies are nearly all gone, Hersey Kisses are yummy! Two things didn't make it past customs, that was 2 packets of microwave pop corn. The letter from customs said that I could put them through quarantine and then pay $42.50 to get them or have them sent back to the sender for a cost of $42.50 or just let them be destroyed for nothing, sorry Danielle but they will be destroyed. Thank you so much for all the wonderful gifts, I have an idea on what to knit with the burgandy/pink wool and maybe a baby thing with the homespun, it is such a nice colour. The lip cream is great, I used it on my lips going to bed last night. Ruby took her ball and play bone thing to bed with her last night. The teddy bears are great, the tiny white one with the knitting is in the china cabinet with my other two larger bears who are also knitting.

Spring is looking good.... abit of rain & sun

Spring is only a few days old and already we have had a nice bit of rain on Father's Day, a sunny but a bit cooler day yesterday, we had a flexi day each yesterday, got heaps done, it would be really nice to have every monday off.

I finished the bandage for Leprosy, I haven't taken any photos of late as I have to remember to buy batteries for the camera. I have finished the knitting part of the poncho but still have to sew it up. I started on blanket squares for the local Rotary Club, they have a knit a thon one day in October and make the squares into blankets and send overseas to needy countries. I thought I would get more done this year, so I have started them now. I just knit the squares on the triangle, you know start with two stiches, increase at beginning of every row until desired length then decrease at beginning of every row until two stitches left and cast off, the squares I am doing are 18cms so that was increase until 53 stitches on needles then start decreasing.

Random thoughts.....

I have a lot going through my head at the moment.......wouldn't it be nice to be able to just put your arms around all the sadness in the world, give it a big hug and it would make it alright. Wishful thinking I know......but one day!

I finished the scarf's for the little girl and her teddy bear my Mum was going to knit. I will post them off today to my Mum on her holiday. This little 4 year old has been with the grandparents for a short time, they didn't know she existed until recently when someone called them, her Mum is away until Christmas time for doing something wrong, this little thing couldn't even talk, I am seeing a different side of my Mum which is so heart felt, she has always been a caring person, but now I know where I get all these feelings of fixing up all the problems from, From my Mum. Anyway after a few weeks away with her grandparents and meeting my parents she is talking alot. Someone who needs a huge hug to make it better.

Then there is Katrina and now didn't she let loose on New Orleans and surrounds, what can we do we are all wondering, maybe we should just start knitting all kinds of things for them, the children, the adults I don't know but they will be coming into winter soon, is their winter cold like say in New York, or do they have mild winters??? See being an Aussie I don't know these things. If there is anyone In America who is going to be knitting for these people and passing things onto them, let me know I am happy to contribute.

When it comes to doing things, sometimes I think the actual item is better than money, as with most charities it takes up to 75% for administration costs, that doesn't leave much from your donations going to the actual cause. There are some highly paid CEO's heading most Charities.

Then Baghdad...all those people killed from a stupid rumour which would have made them totally freak out and try to save themselves. Some people are just so cruel, you can only hope the person who started the rumour got hurt, Yeah I know that is not very nice, but hey, it isn't nice what the others are going through either.

Anyway it is Friday and the weekend hopefully will be good, and we will be thinking about all the people in Baghdad and New Orleans.

On a lighter note and something a bit funny....I was checking out my secret pal's blog last week and wanted to make a comment, I thought about it as I didn't want her to know who I was, so I made up a false blog site address, and bugger me if it wasn't a real website, it was in Australia luckily as it was www.topsecret.com.au. I don't think I will do that in a hurry again. I had to then email my secret pal on my secret email address and tell her that it was a made up address and it wasn't me.

On the needles, is a cotton bandage which the knitters guild send overseas for people with Leprosy.

Anyway, hope everyone has a great weekend.

The Big Reveal part 2

I have just got an email from the secret pal who has been spoiling me, not with who she is but to let me know my next package is on its way, she did leave some more hints as to who she might be, I got right onto it and have worked it out, hope I am right. I have added her to my side bar under the Secret Pal 5 button. It is so good to be out in the open now, and be able to get to know the person more through their blogs. I have really enjoyed this secret pal thing, but I don't know that I will be in Secret Pal 6, I think I will just do this once a year, So I will wait until next year and join another Secret Pal then. Thanks for spoiling me so well Sassy-gina-d.

My wild child started a Pre-Apprenticeship Mechanics Course at TAFE today, he will attend two days per week and do work experience at the local mechanics, which he will be able to walk to. Hopefully this will keep him on the right track from now on.

It is the first day of spring today, and what a lovely day it is, I was having Friday off but my boss will be out of the office all day, so he as declined my day off. So I will just have Monday off, which works out better I guess as DH will be off. Don't you just love this DH thing it can stand for Darling Husband if the mood goes that way or DickHead if that is more appropriate at the time of writing. I guess I am in the middle on this with having Monday off with him, as you know how I like to have time every now and then by myself.

Fathers Day this Sunday 4 September, haven't made any plans as yet, my Dad is away, and I don't know what Darling H wants to do with his, and the boys haven't made any suggestions on what they want to do either. Might just have a barby if weather is good like today.

The Big Reveal

I have just emailed Yarntherapy to let her know who I am and that I am her secret pal. I have listed her blog under the Secret Pal 5 button.

When I hear from the lovely person who has been spoiling me, I will add her to here as well.

It is all getting so exciting, I can't wait until Laurel reads her blog and learns who I am and I can't wait to find out who has been spoiling me. I have read so many if not all of the blogs listed and I have no idea who she is.

Stitch N Bitch on Saturday was another great afternoon, it is really hard to make a move at 5pm to head home, next month we are going to go out for dinner, as I made a mistake and thought September was the dinner afterwards, but it was August, so a couple went for dinner, I haven't read yet how it was or where they went.

I got the Patons Patonyle Family Accessories Pattern book on Saturday from the local Spotlight store, it has so many great patterns for socks (the main reason for buying it), scarfs, hats, mittens, a lacey wrap, all in Patonyle 4 ply.

At the moment I am knitting for my Mum, she was going to knit a feathers scarf for a 4 year old girl and her teddy bear, but when she broke her foot, the fall has damaged the bone in her arm and elbow, which she didn't know about, and is having trouble knitting, so she rang the other night and asked if I could do it. Mum & Dad are off travelling around and I will have to send them to Mylestone (near Coffs Harbour) next week as they will return there for another week before heading home.

Hat of all sizes

Decided to take out my bitch about work and holidays, that damn mind of my, felt I shouldn't talk bad about work things, so on knitting issues - This week I have knitted two premmie hats for a girl at work's baby born last friday, he is just over 4lbs (I know we are in metric, but I grew up on imperial sizes and metric came in the last year I spent at school - 1974) I finished the second hat last night just before the last episode of Lost started. I did two different sizes, both are very tiny.



While watching Lost I decided to get the Lobster Pot Cable beanie on the needles ready for SNB on Saturday and guess what a few hours later and it was finished. Cece said it was a quick knit, it is gorgeous. This wool and pattern are from Lobster Pot Yarns in Cape Cod USA, both from a wool swap with Cece.

The wool was great to knit and the cable pattern is easy. I must become a hat person, just that hats look good on some people and I am not one of those people, even though I love them.

I still have the poncho on needles so looks like that will be my project while at SNB, or I might dig out some cotton yarn from the stash and do some more leprosy bandages for the Knitters Guild charity knitting, they are simple and don't need my concentration, so that means more drinking, eating, chatting time.



Saturday is going to be a better day, first thing in the morning I am having a haircut and colour, gotta hide the gray some how, then off to SNB, meeting Tiarne across from Novotel for lunch, I don't know what time, I hope to be there say by 12.30pm, then for a great afternoon with other knitters at SNB.

Knitting, magazines, diets and bikes...what a combination

I remembered to weigh myself this morning, and was very pleased with myself, 1 kilo off. I haven't change too much what I am eating, just trying to eat less. I have cut out the couple or so biscuits with my cuppa at work around 10am, instead I have fruit and I am trying to drink more water.

On the needles at the moment, I had some Fiddlesticks yarn in purple, green, yellow, and the yarn is from very thin to thick unspun like. I decided to knit a poncho, I saw an easy drop stitch pattern the other week and remembered most of it so when I got back to my car I quickly wrote it down. I didn't remember though if it had a border edge or not, I have been thinking while knitting that maybe is should have a border egde on each end, but hey, I am not one for ripping back if I don't have too, so I am not going to. I am just going to knit for about 75cms and make two pieces. I got my 8mm bamboo ciculars from Xotik yarns (thanks Donni) yesterday so I can start on the lobster pot hat with the pattern and yarn from Fiberfish, I will get this on the needles for Stitch N Bitch this saturday.



I finished another baby beanie this time in yellow, they are so easy to knit.

I also got my first issue of Interweave Knitting on Friday, and I must say (or whinge) I was not happy with the way it turned up, no packaging, bent ends, it looks like I found it in the garbage. I can't believe that they send a magazine through the post like that with nothing holding it all together.



This is for Tiarne - a picture of the mural Steve had put on his bike the other week. He had similar on the other fatboy, this is heaps better. Both our younger son and Steve have the same Ned Kelly tatoo with "Such is Life". YS got it first then dad decided he wanted the same.

Chocolate, Bourbon; Seafood, Bourbon...yummy

Here is the baby hat picture take 3, still not happy with the picture.



While grocery shopping I got a family size dark chocolate with nuts and was very good, I got home unpacked groceries, sat down and opened the chocolate and ate my 3rd and drank a can of bourbon while chatting with DH, we then went out shopping for some clothes for DH, he said we would get chicken and chips for dinner, I said I didn't want chicken and chips, so I went off to the fish shop and bought 1/2 kilo of prawns and 1 dozen oysters in the shell, we got home I sat down again and ate to my hearts content followed by another bourbon. So I felt that was pretty good going for me. DH had his chicken and chips.

It's friday and the weekend is all ahead of me. Saturday Knitters guild and Sunday ride with local HOG group. All in all a pretty good weekend.

Another notch in the belt

I didn't lose anything last week when I weighed myself on Monday morning, but this morning while getting dressed, put on the belt and guess what!.....went to the 4th hole in the belt instead of the 3rd hole. I will not weigh myself until Monday but I am feeling pretty good that I can see a bit of a change happening. Well that will be until tonight...shopping day today, I will rush around the supermarket in my lunchtime, and what happens on shopping day...CHOCOLATE HAPPENS...yes the good old family chocolate, which I do share with 2 others, DH has his own jelly snakes, so it isn't too bad as I only have a third of the chocolate, that is if I am in a sharing mood....have you heard the saying "doesn't share well or play well with others" well that can be me sometimes especially when it comes to Chocolate.

I have knitted a newborn pure wool dark pink baby beanie with hearts all around it, it looks pretty good. I am going to try and sell some stuff on Ebay, so I am going to knit some more things and see how they go, but on checking out ebay, there are so many items of clothing for all ages for sale.

I have put a picture here of the beanie but I plan on taking a better picture of it tonight, this one doesn't do it justice. Nah on second thoughts forget the picture until I take a better one.

I bought the CSIRO Wellbeing diet book yesterday, people at work were talking about it and some are doing the diet. I read about it a bit more on their website, and I liked it because it is like the Atkins diet, but you can have fruit and bread, which is what I really couldn't cope with while doing the Atkins diet before, I can lose weight easily on high protein, low carbs diet. So this might suit me better. I have that many recipe books and diet books of all kinds, so hopefully I am armed with a bit of knowledge on eating better, just have to put it in practices more often.

Knitting Guild this saturday can't wait to get together and see every ones projects and catch up.

How do you live your life quiz

How You Life Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is. You are always tactful and diplomatic. You let people down gently. You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly. You tend to always dream of things within reach - and you usually get them.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Hopeful

On Yarn Therapy's blog she has information on this beautiful top by Jenna Adorno's Hopeful, as seen on DIY network's Knitty Gritty. You can purchase this pattern for $5US, with 120% going to a Breast Cancer Charity. It uses Rowan 50% Wool 50% Cotton.



As summer is just around the corner I think I may knit this. I am going to check out the closing down sale of my LYS, the only LYS in this town, looks like I am going to become very dangerous with my visa and online yarn and accessories shopping.

And the winner is...........The Socks

Well I have to say, I loved knitting the socks. I am on the look out for the new Patons Patonyle 4ply pattern book, it has some great sock patterns along with hats, scarfs and gloves. I called into the LYS at lunchtime to see if she may have it, as she has sold the shop and changes over in a couple of weeks. She just laughed, and the bad news is that the people aren't going to buy the shop now and the lease runs out next week so she is having a half price sale and shutting the doors in a week. Well I was already running late but I had to see the wool, well I couldn't think of what I wanted to knit so I rummaged through for a bit, then decided to come back on Monday when I kinda sort out what I might knit, and the budget has to be juggled again a bit, why does that always happen, all the bargains are around when I haven't got much money....bugger.

Anyway here are the socks, they feel great on.





I will keep going with the Christmas stash and finish the mohair scarf in the "Lacy Scarf" pattern from the Australian Creative Knitting magazine, I am still waiting for one of the needle sets I ordered, hopefully they will come today, otherwise I will have to wait till next weeks mail comes.

Socks are done

I finished both socks, photos to come. I have been off work sick the last two days, and did manage to get some knitting done. I am just waiting for the 8mm circular needles to arrive from Xotik Yarns, then I can get started on the Lobster Pot hat with the wool from Fiberfish, in the meantime I have started another scarf in that Mohair (you know the one) for another Christmas present. I am on my stash reduction as well as my weight reduction program....I even ate a home grown Mandarin for morning tea, no biscuits for me today.

Wollongong Stitch N Bitch July

Well what a great afternoon, the venue is great, about 30 knitters attended, 6 from blogland, Donni, Sharon, Ailsa, Donna, Justine and myself. We did manage to get a fair bit of knitting done, but the conversations we just rolling all around the room. The hot chocolate and profiteroles were yummy!

In picture is Donni (in blue), Sharon (in stripes), Ailsa (in black), Justine (in pink), Donna (in black - sitting), and me in orange.

The time goes so fast, and you walk away to head home, and I felt, wow! I don't want this to end yet. I can see the time being extended at times, with people just sitting around talking, knitting and having a great time. I think I may turn up earlier next month.

I finished my first sock on Saturday night, and got started straight away on its mate. I am really loving knitting socks, I was a bit scared as I had read so many blogs where people had so much trouble knitting socks and turning the heel, I did it no problem, and it even looks pretty good. Now my mind is trying to come up with the next thing to knit, I would love to get my stash down heaps to a more manageable level, if that is at all possible.

What great winter weather we are having around 20 celsius each day and sunny, we went for a ride to Bundeena for lunch yesterday with friends, what a way to spend a weekend, SnB and ride with friends.

I decided last night that it is about time I got serious about losing some weight, So TODAY is my first day of trying to eat better without any specific diet in mind. I did Atkins about 18 months ago and lost 10 kilos, which was great, but then after months of trying to eat better, I failed and put all my weight back on and an extra kilo. SO now I will go public and hopefully this will keep me on track. So I would love to lose 15 kilos atleast and by Christmas if possible. I will keep track of how I go (good or bad) here.

Idiosyncrasy - tagged again!

id·i·o·syn·cra·sy, Pronunciation Keyn. pl. id· i·o·syn·cra·sies -A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group. Write down five of your own idiosyncracies.Then, if you wish, tag five people from your live gerbil or friends list to do the same.

1. I have to clean my teeth before going to bed, it doesn't matter where I am staying, I can't sleep until I clean my teeth.

2. I can't go to bed without the trusty vaseline on my lips, otherwise wake up with crack lips....ouch!

3. Being a virgo and getting better/worse at it as I age, I like to deal with things as they happen, eg. if you use it then put it away. (not that you would think so by looking at my home - but that is the others who dwell there)

4. I wouldn't put green on blue, I don't care now (older and wiser - yeah right), especially pegs on clothes, I use wooden pegs only now.

5. I can't sit and be doing nothing, so I continually knit while watching TV, I am getting pretty bad as I now sometimes knit while talking with visitors and I take my knitting everywhere while visiting just in case.

So now you can all have a laugh and think boy how odd, anyway it's all in fun, now who to send it too and not get them off side. All the people I actually know in person have been tagged with this so I will just have to randomly tag someone.
I tag Knitty Gritty, she is doing a beautiful job on organising us knitters in making squares for the Tribute Blanket.

Tagged by The Stripey Tiger

I had been reading some of these tags this week not ever thinking I would be tagged, but The Stripey Tiger got me.

I can't remember exactly 10 years ago or even 5 years ago, I can just remember 1 year ago, so if you are interested sit, relax and read on, I have given it my best shot for the 10 years ago at such short notice.

Ten Years Ago
Wow so much has happened in the last ten years, I have trouble remember things.
I was working where I am still working, my boys were teenagers, running amuck as they do, we were enjoying family life.

Then 8 years ago the eldest son was diagnosed with Crohns Disease, we were totally floored, son walked out of hospital put his arm around me and said “it will be OK Mum”. Well 8 years on and a lot of blood transfusions, iron transfusions and an operation to remove some bowel, he is doing OK, not as good as I would like, but he just gets on with life, work etc. It was something in our lives that just seemed to change us all in different ways, the way we acted with each other, the way we tried to cope with something we could never change, it is just so undescribable. I try to get my act together, be stong and pretend I cope, I feel so useless, for the first time in their lives I couldn’t fix it. I guess that is why I can't remember much of the last ten years, just try to shut most out.

Five Years Ago
The death of my hubbies Grandmother (big nana to all the great grandchildren) in August 2000 had such an impact on all the family. We were riding most weekends, enjoying life, the boys grown up, well nearly. I had my bike for a year and was loving riding, I just couldn’t get enough, every weekend, even in rain (I don’t do that now if it is wet). I love the freedom, the speed (not that I speed in the car), I was born to ride.

One year ago
This is getting a bit easier, we were getting ready to take on our retirement plan, after not having a mortgage for over 10 years, we took a giant leap into a home in the area where we wanted to live (where my husband, his parents, their parents and their parents – you get the drift - had grown up in this town). We found the house, needs heaps of work, we saw the potential it would have in the future and set our plan to fix up what we needed to move in then the rest to be done over the next 15 years or so. Then retire. It is a bit like “everyone loves raymond” at the moment eldest son and his girlfriend live directly across the road at her dads home, they are moving to Wollongong in August. I am very good, I am not like Raymond’s mum at all, or so I keep telling myself. Youngest son made his 21st Birthday this time last year, didn’t think he would, but he even has made another year last week, wild boy that one, but he is just adorable, they both are.

Today
Usual thing, get out of bed, shower, brekky, throw a load of washing or two in, feed Ruby, have a play with Ruby, empty dishwasher, check out needle size for wool and pattern Cece sent me, make-up on, get dressed, damn didn’t have time to hang washing out, ask youngest son if he would (I live in hope), go to work, shop for food for dinner and lunches tomorrow at lunchtime, can’t wait to get home and knit more of the socks I started last night.


Tomorrow
Same as yesterday morning, work, going to friends for BBQ to act as security (aka mature adult supervision) for their sons party he his having (I’m good at that).

5 snacks I enjoy:
Chocolate, Chocolate, Corn chips and mexican salsa dip (girl at work makes), Smarties – by the hand full (the only way to eat them), did I mention Chocolate.

5 bands/singers that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs:
I don’t know that I know most of them usually when I hear them I can sing along.
INXS, Rob Thomas, Suzi Quatro, Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson (I have mixed feelings now, but he is a great singer/entertainer, heaps of others, just depends on my mood.

5 Things I would do with $100,000,000
Pay my HUGE mortgage off, help my kids, parents, inlaws, some family, and friends. Set up Knitting haven, with SnB area, computer area for bloggers, hot/cold drinks, maybe cakes etc, and the best yarns and accessories imaginably, and open later in the day so as to stay open for a couple of hours after normal work hours for working people. Get in a cleaner/gardener/cook for home (so I can run Knitting shop). Set up something to help misunderstood/neglected kids.

5 locations I'd like to run away to:
A cabin somewhere cold, snowing, with a big log fire and a rocking chair and my knitting stash naturally. My home. Canada, USA, Scotland/England/Ireland.

5 bad habits I have:
Starting to sound and act like my mother (sorry Mum I do love you) she is just a worrier, keep telling youngest son the same things to do over and over, high expectation of the people around me (to pick up after themselves etc), take many things to heart and worry.

5 things I like doing:
Being with my hubby and kids, playing with Ruby, Knitting, Riding my bike, enjoying friends company.

5 things I would never wear:
Well not anymore: - hotpants, low hipster anything, see through clothes, how bad is this I can’t think of anything else. I guess anything I don't feel comfortable in or think it looks horrible on me.

5 TV shows I like:
McLeod’s Daughters, CSI, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Outback House (well only for 8 weeks), Landline (not that I get time to watch it anymore).

5 movies I like:
Legends of the Fall, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Polyanna (showing my age – just loved that crystal lampshade), The Sound of Music and many more………..

5 famous people I'd like to meet:
Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Rene Zellwegger, Oprah, Noni Hazelhurst.

5 biggest joys at the moment:
My family
Ruby
Knitting
Catching up with people through their knitting blogs and SnB
Friends

5 favorite toys:
My motorbike
Are knitting needles toys???? Well they are fun
I have all our teddy bears from our childhood - mine, hubbies, and boys.

People I want to tag (and they can answer all the questions if they like) are:

Fiberfish – My blogger friend who sends me things I need.

Random Knits - A bloggers page I read

I don't know how Cece and Donna get to know they are tagged, I guess I post a comment on their blogs.

The Tag
Questions to answer – what you were doing:
Ten Years Ago
Five Years Ago
One year ago
Today
Tomorrow
5 snacks I enjoy:
5 bands/singers that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs:
5 Things I would do with $100,000,000
5 locations I'd like to run away to
5 bad habits I have:
5 things I like doing:
5 things I would never wear:
5 TV shows I like:
5 movies I like
5 famous people I'd like to meet:
5 biggest joys at the moment:
5 favorite toys

People I want to tag (and they can answer all the questions if they like) are:

Tribute Blanket Square

I have finished the square and will be posting today to the States. It is "Valentine Hearts" pattern, you can't see the hearts in the picture very well, I am hoping when it is put into the blanket they will show up nicely.

Completed hearts square 

Valentine Hearts Tribute Blanket Square 

I have put the picture of the Novotel Northbeach (Wollongong) that Donni has on her blog here, it looks just great, I can't wait for Saturday to come around as this is where we are meeting for SnB. It is in the hotel in the picture and check out the view.......I wonder how much knitting is actually going to get done on Saturday.

Stitch N Bitch Venue 

Finished objects

I put the French Market Bag through another wash last night, had the camera out this morning to take photos of other works and forgot to take another picture of bag, it is getting to what I want it to be, I may use it and then wash again in the future. Here are the before and after (after first 5 washes) pictures of the bag, the bottom isn't felting very well, but after the wash last night it is starting to look a bit more how it should, it will be put to good use anyway.

French Market Bag before Felting 

French Market Bag after Felting 

I received a great parcel from Fiberfish yesterday, we are doing a yarn swap, She sent me the bamboo dpn's I needed and a beautiful purple colour "Lobster Pot" yarn along with a pattern for a cable pattern beanie. Thanks so much Cece, your parcel should be on its way this week, I just have to get my act together.

Gifts from Fiberfish 

My hands were so cold last week at work (the joys of working in a very old heritage building without any heating or cooling), hot in summer, damn cold in winter. I decided to knit a pair of Fingerless gloves, they came out great, although with typing I think I may make another pair in 5ply instead of the 8ply I used, not as bulky. I made some stitch markers which you can see on the gloves, I am not sure if they are made correctly, but they worked. I am not too good at fine fiddley things.

Fingerless Gloves and Stitch Markers 

Last night I got out my stitch pattern book and found a pattern for the Tribute Blanket square I am making, hopefully I can post it this week. Busy, Busy, Busy.

Stitch N Bitch is on this Saturday at our new venue the Novotel in Wollongong, I am looking forward to catching up with everyone.