About to pee my pants!

I love Ravelry. Did I ever tell you that? Oh, I did. And you are tired of hearing about it? Sorry. I just can't get over how awesome the site is. It is knitter's & crocheter's dream come true. If you knit or crochet, I highly recommend signing up for it. It is free, currently in beta testing, but will be soon open for everyone without signing up.

Anyway, about 20 days ago, I signed up to get the progress bar thingies that you see over to the left (scroll down). I couldn't figure out how in the eff to get the html code to work and after getting more frustrated than a one legged pirate in an ass kicking contest, I gave up. My online time is precious and quite limited. The topic was opened again today, so I looked at the thread to see if there were new tips. There were!

And there the are (the progress bars). Yippee, I am so freaking excited, I can't hardly stand it. If you are on Ravelry (be my friend, I am mhighfill), you can click the name of the project and whoosh, be transported to the Ravelry page.

Genius.

Peace.

Tuesdays are for reading

We went to the library last friday. I still am amazed at how nice the library is on this island. Blows Guam's out of the water completely. Since we are bookworms, we left with a bag full (a reusable canvas bag because that is how we roll).

I picked out:

Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich I *heart* this series. I can whiz through these books in about 24 hours.

The Teahouse Fire - Ellis Avery I thought it looked interesting. No other reason.

The Handmaid and the Carpenter - Elizabeth Berg Fictional account of the romance of Mary and Joseph. Looks like a quick read.

Saving Fish From Drowning - Amy Tan One of my favorite authors. This is a big book, so it may take me a while.

***********

Speaking of reading, I do try to keep up with my blog reading via my Google Reader. I am trying to carve out a little bit of time every day to leave a few comments, but I can't get to everyone's all of the time. I have had a bunch of new readers and have added you all to my google reader, and I pinky swear that I will get to your blog and comment soon.

I have taken my blogroll off of the sidebar (along with many other things). I am trying to streamline and update the look of my blog. I will be cutting the list down and then adding more knitting blogs to it though. I plan on making a post that has my "master" list and then just linking to it in my sidebar so that the sidebar isn't so clogged up.

I am still trying to figure out the Ravelry progress bars. I have been activated to use the code, I just can't for the life of me get it to work. I may just throw in the towel and use the progress bars as outlined here: Progress bars (for dummies like me). Since I am still mulling over switching to wordpress.com or not, I won't stress about the Ravelry bars since they aren't supported on Wordpress.com.

Oh, and if the wonderful Saipan blogger that posted a comment on my last post is reading this (which I doubt), please don't spam me with your drivel again. I don't appreciate it. I tolerated it once from Plutonic Pluto or whatever his alias is, mostly because I don't like to delete comments and censor. But, if it happens again, I will start deleting comments. Thanks much!

Peace.

FO Thursday

One week down, three to go. This NaBloPoMo thing is kicking my tuchus. I am having a hard time keeping up with emails, let alone time to waste browse on Ravelry. And I do so *heart* Ravelry.

Today's theme is FO's (Finished Objects). I don't have much to show, I just finished the Ball Band Dishcloth a little while ago and haven't taken a picture. So you will have to wait until next Thursday to see it. I keep calling it "Grinch Vomit". Seriously, this thing looks like it was made at the House of Fug. I think that I will try a different color combo next time around. But it is "festive".

To tide you over, may I present....the orphan dishcloths waiting to find their new homes on Christmas:

With the Ball Band dishcloth, that makes 11 done. I was hoping to give 3 per family/house but my knitting skills are s-l-o-w. I might only be able to do 2 per family/house. If the latter is correct, then I am half way done. I could always kick it into gear and just crochet them...I can do one a day hooking it. Decisions, decisions.

Little Grey Cat, you wondered about the two colors on the Ball Band dishcloth. And the Knifty Knitter. Well, this was my first time working with two colors and not cutting and knotting. Evidently tying knots to secure the thread is a big no-no in the knitting world (not sure what the punishment would be). I was totally intimidated by the dishcloth without ever seeing the pattern, but once I did and saw how easy it is...well. I just carried the color that I wasn't using up the side as I was knitting. It was a mess while knitting, but I didn't feel like weaving in eleventy thousand ends for one stupid dishcloth. Now, the Knifty Knitter...basically it is a loom (or set of looms) that you use to knit with. You wrap the yarn around the pegs and use this thing that looks like a torture dental device and knit away. I haven't used it yet, but am chomping at the bit.

Learn more here, see patterns online here (although there are many more sites out there).

I am off like a Prom dress, I have this week's KAL dishcloth to cast on. We are doing the Darrel Waltrip dishlcoth

And I found the motherlode of dishcloth resources... Dish and Washcloth Mania. *nirvana*

One more picture (because posts are so much more fun with pictures). I love these:

Cupcakes AND Knitting? *swoon* These were made for a stitching night at a LYS (Local Yarn Store) (picture stolen from Ravelry).

Peace.

Mmm, Mondays are domestic

Continuing on with the theme days for NaBloPoMo, I have decided that Monday's theme is "domestic". I enjoy having a home of our own, that we can furnish and decorate however we want. I especially enjoy being a little like Martha Stewart, and a little like MaryJane Butters...but with a tree hugging twist.

Mondays are the days when I do linens. I love to do linens. Changing all of the sheets on the beds, swapping out towels, washcloths, dishcloths, etc. For some reason, it is such a simple act that makes a big impact. Plus, there hardly isn't anything better than crisp Egyptian cotton sheets that have been hung on the clothes line to dry.

I spent a few minutes picking flowers from our yard. I am not so hot at the arranging, but I wanted to bring their beauty indoors. I believe that they are Heliconia & Ginger Lily.
And the candle is a pretty (new to me) fragrance, Cranberry Chutney by Yankee Candle. Every time a trip to Guam is made, I always request a couple of these big jar candles. I also got a pumpkin one, but the cranberry is divine.

We also made Magic Cookie Bars today. Using fresh grated coconut from our tree. Yum! I put a half of a bag of butterscotch pieces in with the chocolate chips (reducing the amount of chocolate chips) and boy is it tasty! I remember eating these as a kid, Granny always made them. And they are so easy, perfect for kids to help out in the kitchen and "cook" (with adult supervision of course). For the nuts, we usually use walnuts, although I do have a few bags of pecan halves in the pantry...and more coconut...and more chocolate chips. Hmm. And since I can't hardly stand it...Adventures in Knitting!!! So, y'all know that I am completely crazy obsessed...about knitting that is. I belong to a group on Ravelry that does dishcloth KAL (knit-a-longs) every week. I.Love.Dishcloths!!! I really do. They are quick to knit, a portable project, perfect for trying new techniques and stitches, instant gratification, durable, soft, and just plain fabulous. This past week's dishcloth was a palm tree cloth. How apropos, eh? I finally finished mine tonight.
This pic is kinda blurry, but you get a better idea of the palm tree:

I used Bernat Cotton, almost a whole ball. #6 needles. It took me about 5 or 6 hours, only because this was the most technical pattern I have ever done. This made me step outside of my garter stitch box...I had to knit and purl alternately, a technique that has made me lose sleep in the past. But, I finally figured it out (without adding stitches like I used to). I just need to work on tension, but we are taking baby steps. I got this week's pattern today and I can't wait to cast on, too bad it is 10 pm.

Peace.

More yarn love

Did I mention that I recieved my invite to Ravelry last week??? WOO HOO! I was on the waiting list for most of the summer. I *heart* Ravelry. You can see other people's projects, search for patterns (free & paid), search for yarns, search for projects by yarn types, etc. And it is for chicks with sticks (knitters) AND hookers (crocheters).

Get on the list, you will love it!

And to answer Monique's question:

I keep the yarn in the deep freezer because 1) We lack storage space like nobody's business. 2) It keeps it nice and clean and pet hair free 3) I need to use this brand new deep freezer for something since power supply here on island is iffy at times and I would hate to have a freezer full of food spoil.

No, it is not turned on. Plus, it makes a nice cutting surface for my giant rotary cutting mat.