New Blog

In case you have problems with the link here is the URL to the new blog:

http://www.redheadskydiver.blogspot.com

5:13 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

GiddyUp

Well, I've decided it's time to move my blog. I think I've outgrown the MySpace blog but it was fun while it lasted. I'll still come by to say to everyone here so don't worry about that. But if you want to read my blog from now on, head over here.

4:32 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Arrghh, Myspace ate my Blog Post

I know I posted a blog 2 days ago and now it's gone! Where did it go??? Ok, it was really long so I'm going to make this a little shorter.

I had a blast at Stitches West and it was great getting to see friends and meet new ones. I also came away with quite an impressive stash enhancement.



I went through amd described everything in first post I did but I don't have it all in front of me again. If you want to know what something is, just ask, ok?

I also finished the endpaper mitts on the flight out there.



I loooove the way they turned out! Then I started swallowtail and just finished it a couple days ago and blocked it.



I think it's a little smallish personally but I still love it since it's my first lace project! It's done in Gentle from the Yarn Place.

I also updated on my weight watchers progress in the first post. I've lost 15 pounds so far. That's in 8 weeks on the program!

Sorry, the other post was a lot better but this is the best I can do for now.

3:22 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Stitches!

Well, we survived Mardi Gras and had lots of fun. We caught tons of beads and the parades were a lot of fun. Now I'm off to San Jose to Stitches West for the weekend!! I can't wait to visit with everyone and buy some yarn!

I finished the first endpaper mitt and am about halfway done with the second. I should finish it today on the plane.

Well, got to run to airport but I promise lots of pictures when I get back!

5:06 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Home ownership

We closed on our house! Wow, what an experience. All of our stuff has arrived out of storage and we've been busy unpacking and making the place cozy. Everybody has asked for pictures so here's a couple of the kitchen.





I haven't had a chance to take any more yet but here's one that shows a little bit of living room. And my new sweater I finished!!








I apologize for the quality of the pics. I have determined that DH is not very good at taking photos, especially ones that you really want to be flattering. Oh well, I'll try to get better pictures later. The sweater is from Big Girl Knits. I knit it in the Large size which is the smallest size in the book. I was worried that I might have needed to make the XL because my measurements were between the two but I'm glad I went with the smaller size. The yarn is Mountain Goat. I'll have to find one of the bands if anyone wants details on the color or anything. I knit on size 7's to get guage and used about 6.5 skeins of the 7 I had. I think it turned out pretty good for my first sweater and I get tons of compliments when I wear it. Nobody can believe I made it so I must have done something right.

I also finished knitting the sushi wallet. Here it is unfelted. It is in the washer right now getting felted (fingers crossed, first time attempting to felt anything!). I'll post pictures again when it is finished.



I'm working on the Endpaper Mitts with yarn that CJ sent me now. They are turning out so cute!

Well I'm off to get ready for the superbowl, yeah for HD!

1:05 PM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Weight Watchers

Warning, no knitting content ahead.

Ok, so I need to lose weight.  I have acid reflux and arthritis in my ankles. The doctors keep telling me it's only going to get worse if I don't lose some weight. Not to mention that my migraines are much more in control when I watch what eat. So when they started up a Weight Watchers at Work I decided to jump in. I've tried just about everything else. I lost about 80lb once through mostly execersize but then life changed and I wasn't working out like I used to and it all came back and brought some friends too.

I've been doing the weight watchers for two weeks and have lost 5 pounds. I'm surprised at how easy it is to follow the program. After we move into the house I want to get an elliptical or something (any recommendations?) to work out at home too. Maybe I'll get some work out videos too.

My goal is to lose ~95 pounds. My BMI starting out was 43 and my goal BMI is 25. I know this has to be a lifestyle change and I have to find something I can do forever.

I've also set up mini goals and rewards for every 10 pounds I lose. After the first 10 pounds I get to pick a movie to go to. After the second 10 pounds I'll get a pedicure. And so on with the rewards getting a little bigger every 10 pounds to help keep me motivated to stick to it.

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

5:44 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Birthday surprises

Wow, it's been crazy. My birthday was the 18th, last Thursday. It was a work day so didn't do anything crazy but DH took me out for a nice dinner. CJ sent me a wonderful birthday package with tons of goodies! Take a look at this!





Thank you so much CJ!

I've been working away at my sweater and I have all the pieces done! I started on the seaming and finishing this weekend but there's a lot of trim and stuff to do. Hopefully I'll finish it off soon.



I also started working on the Sushi wallet. It's going really fast. I think after I finish the sweater I'm going to work on the Endpaper mitts with some of the yarn CJ sent me!

The closing on the house is next week! It's been incredibly hectic trying to get everything ready for it. We are so ready to get out of this hotel!

I think the whole city here in New Orleans had a big cry last night over the Saints loss. It was disappointing but they still did better than they ever have before so that's something! Look out next year!

And just because I love this picture.

3:50 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Burrr...

I got a package from my PRGE pal, roxtarchicknits! She's so awesome! Look at all these goodies!



Let's see there's the yarn, lipstick, perfume, snowman ornament, jelly bellys, handmade soap and the really cool skully hankerchef! Thank you pally!

I've been working on this sweater from Big Girl Knits. I've finished the back and the left front. I started on the right front but then realized I was little burned out on it so I went to the French Quarter and found this cute little yarn store called the Quarter Stitch. They have an awesome selection of Koigu and some other favorites too. I picked up the new copies of Vogue and Knit 1. I also got a couple of skeins of malibrigo to make this balaclava that was in the Knit 1. It only took me a couple of days to finish. It's perfect for under my motorcycle helmet for those cold frosty mornings. They wrap up your purchases so nice at the Quarter Stitch. It's like opening a present when you get home!



And here's the finished balaclava.



And I'll do the 6 weird things Meme that's been going around.

1. I once sat on a sea urchin at the beach in Galveston. One of the spines broke off in my cheek and I had to go to the ER.

2. When I eat candy with multiple colors (like M&M's or Jelly Bellys) I have to eat them so that the number of each color stays the same. So for example, if there's 3 of each colors, then I'll eat one of each until there's 2 of each color, and so on. If they start out uneven then I have to eat them so they are even first.

3. I fell down A stair once and twisted my ankle so I was on crutches for a week. I'm such a clutz and yet I've never broken a bone or had stitches (knocking on wood).

4. I'm allergic to Latex and DEET. You can't imagine how many things have latex in them. I tried to use one of those nose things that's supposed to help you breath when you have a cold by lifting your nostrils. Woke up with my nose all huge and red, yup they have latex in them.

5. Our cats are names Frodo, Sam and Gimli. I'm a sci-fi freak.

6. I've never lived in the same house for more than 2 years my entire life, mostly due to being an Army brat, but also as an adult. It's a little scary buying a house and thinking about living there for a long time.

Happy New Year!

7:24 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Finally a FO

So, I found the camera and the cable, yippee. Not so lucky with the printer cable, think it got packed with the stuff going to storage. On the house hunting front, we have found a house we really like and want to put an offer on it, just waiting on some more info from the realtor. Keeping our fingers crossed.

On the knitting front I finished the socks out of the yarn I died myself, called Daffodils. Here's a shot of them as I was still working on the gusset on the trip across country before I realized that knitting made me car sick.



And some finished shots.







And here's a pic of Al on the road, with his snazy sunglasses.

4:21 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Welcome back!

Well, this may come as a surprise for some but we're back in New Orleans! After 5 days on the road, we finally made it!I was going to tell you all about it before the move but things got so hectic I didn't have time to blog about it.

We decided we missed New Orleans and wanted to come back so I am transferring back to my old job. Al also has a job lined up to start next week. It feels good to be back. We haven't had time to really go anywhere or see anything yet.

The camera is in the truck somewhere still so no pictures today. I'm working on a pair of socks out of some of my own dyed yarn, I called it daffodils in a previous post. Just finishing up the gusset. I was hoping to get a lot more done on the trip but found out that knitting in the car makes me sick! I'm not normally too prone to motion sickness anymore but something about the knitting just wasn't working!

Just got a call that we were preapproved for a mortgage! Hopefully we can look around this weekend and get a feel for things and make final decesion on whether we're going to buy or not. Not sure if now is the right time or if we should wait a year.

Well, that's it for now, more later.

2:59 PM - 3 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment