sheep in the city

Boo at the Zoo...

...and a happy Halloween too!! Every year the Denver Zoo has an event called the Boo at the Zoo. Little kids of all ages come, dressed up, and get to trick-er-treat at the zoo. How cool is that?! I tagged along with my sister and her family and it was so much fun. I loved tricke-r-treating when I was younger, and it was so cool to see kids running everywhere with their fun costumes on. I have to say, costumes are much more elaborate now a days then they were when I was little. I think I was a clown for 10 of the 12 years that I dressed up because that was my only option.

This is my sister's little family...aren't they so cute?! My brother-in-law went as the farmer, while Whitney was a scarecrow and Alice was a little black crow! We went to Boo at the Zoo last year, but Alice was so teeny-tiny that she just slept the whole time. Ha! She had no trouble getting around this year!

Look at her go! You'd think that she was going to use those feathers and take off flying! And for those of you wondering if I dressed up...yes, I did...but I just randomly pulled it all together at the last minute so those of you that want to see the pictures are going to have to click here. I'm not feelin' the love on my look, so that's the only way you're going to see it. I did get lots of comments from little girls about my hair though! :) Happy Halloween everyone...stay safe!

What a cutie!

I had lunch with my sister, my niece, and Julie last weekend at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants here in town, Kokoro. I hadn't been in months, and I was trying to give Julie a sample of some of my favorite local places. Since I haven't posted any pictures of the world's cutest niece lately...here's one outside of Kokoro:

Over the weekend we managed to eat at:

•Kokoro-(Japanese)
•The Original Pancake House (the best breakfast around)
•Hacienda Colorado (yummy food that they call Mountain Mex) I ran into a local knitblogger that I haven't seen in months eating with her family there!! It was great seeing you Libby!!
•Romano's...my all time favorite Italian place!

mmm...lots of yummy food!

It's Monday to me...

...because my work week is just starting today!! I had a friend visiting me from out of town this past weekend, and boy was it fun! I took a couple days off to hang out with her. We were able to be lazy, watch movies, eat ice cream, hang out with other friends, knit (or she watched me knit:), and just enjoy hanging out. Do you have those type of friends that you can see once in a great while, but you're immediately at ease with? There is no awkward getting-to-know-you-all-over business. That's Julie. We laughed so much, at one point I got the hiccups so bad it was painful. It doesn't help that I was driving at the time...on the highway:) So...what was I knitting? Well, let me show you:

That would be felted clogs. I am proud to admit, I almost have the pattern memorized because this is the 14th pair that I have knit in the last 3 1/2 years. I do have to give props to my mom who helped me knit these up quickly over the last 2 days, she knit the soles while I knit the top. Then I sewed them together (which she hates doing) while she knit the second top. It was actually pretty fun! A few years ago I knit these clogs for a bunch of my friends, and Julie was the only one that didn't get hers. So, better late than never!! Here's another view of them at the airport right before Julie left this morning. These will forever be the Ninja Turtle/Kermit the Frog slippers. Thanks for visiting Jules!!! I had a ton of fun!!

**edited to add---The pattern I used was from Fiber Trends and it's just called 'Felted Clogs'. It is usually at most stores that carry Fiber Trends patterns. You can see a list by state of stores that carry these patterns, here. I have always used (in all 14 pairs) Brown Sheep yarns. I prefer using one strand of Bulky, but you can (and the pattern calls for) worsted weight yarn doubled. That equals bulky yarn in my books! If you use bulky than you need two skeins of the color that will be on the bottom, and one skein of the main shoe color. You'll only use about half of that second skein, so technically you can make two pairs of clogs with 5 skeins total.**

Also over the weekend I received another package from my secret pal! She rocks! I just realized that this whole time I've been thinking that she was from Arkansas...duh! She's from Alaska! The abbreviation for the state of Alaska is AK...the abbreviation for the state of Arkansas is AR...I need to go back to elementary school and learn my states apparently?! Wanna see what she sent me?

Oh...alright...check it out! Holy crap! Oh wait...you wanted to see inside the box?! Ha! Click on the picture above. That is 5 skeins of a Noro yarn that I've never seen before, but in the description on the tag it says love. I'll need to consult my Noro expert and see if she knows what kind of yarn it is. It reminds me of Silk Garden, but it's solid colored and a little bit scratchier. Then there was fun Halloween treats, some yummy citrus soap, gummy frogs, a fun card, and even some treats for Jesse!! (he loves the new catnip!!) Thanks so much for including the treats for him...awww, it means alot to me that you'd send him treats! Thank you secret pal...whoever you are?!

I'm working away on my Harry Potter scarf. I'm going to catch a break by way of going to Arizona next week. I'll have lots of time to work on it, and catch up on my blog reading and writing. Hey all you Arizona knitters...let me know if you want to get together and knit a little. I'll be staying in Scotsdale, and I'll be there for a week this time! Whoo hoo! I am determined to take a picture of the HiP scarf that my sister is knitting...it's so cute! Only a few more weeks until the movie!! I can't wait!

A new favorite thing.

Here's my new favorite thing:

It's my new water bottle that I picked up at Shuttles last weekend. It makes me happy...it say's on the side, "Feeling unraveled...knit!". It has become my constant companion in an attempt to drink more water.

On the knitting front:
I've decided to continue knitting the Spork bag (I'm going to take some pictures when I get to the color change, right now it's pretty boring) and use Noro for the middle section. But, instead of using the Big Kureyon, I'm going to double up the regular Kureyon. We'll see what happens, yikes!

I'm also trucking along on my Harry Potter scarf...it's not looking like I'll finish the patterns 13 repeats, but I'm still going to try. I'm almost to the half-way pointAt times like these, I wish that I had some of Mrs. Weasley's charmed knitting needles. Wouldn't that be grand?! Go to sleep at night...wake up...and the scarf is done!!

I have a few other projects going on over here that I'm not ready to talk about just yet, but I'm having fun knitting again and that's what I was aiming for.

On the gifting front:
Yesterday I received an unexpected package from the Knitty Professor. (I just love that blog name...it always makes me smile:) Michaele is just too sweet! She sent me some Halloween socks (I don't think I've ever mentioned my love of all crazy holiday/themed socks, but I have some serious love for them!) She also sent a fun leopard print candle (love it!) and a funky blue journal (love it!). Thanks so much Michaele!

My friend Julie is visiting me this weekend...she arrived last night, and I'm so excited to hang with her this weekend! I'm taking a couple days off of work, which is always fun, and we're going to do some fun stuff around town. Maybe I can even talk her into learning to knit?! Next week my goal (besides knitting, knitting, knitting) is going to be to post more...no more of this once a week crap. I love it when people post everyday, or at least a couple times a week. So, in order to post more, I need to knit more. It all comes full circle, doesn't it?

Swatches abound!

I have been having fun playing with some of the yarn in my stash these last couple days. Some of it is for a specific project, some of it is just yarn that I bought on a whim. Here's a little bitty swatch of Debbie Bliss Cathay yarn.

A month or so ago I did a little trade with Jenifer because I fell in love with this A-Line sweater that she had made. I gave her some Interlacements, and she gave me some Cathay. I love yarn swapping! Since my Rogue trouble with guage, I've been a little freaked out and I've started swatching more. Before "the incident", I was loath to make swatches, but we'll see how long this lasts.

Spork:
I decided that I would use Noro for the middle stripe on my bag. I've had 2 skeins of Big Kureyon that I've been itching to knit something out of. I knit my two color options up:

Option one:

This one is knit out of Brown Sheep Autumn Harvest, Noro Big Kureyon in color No.2, and Brown Sheep Aubergine.

Option two:

This one is knit out of Brown Sheep RPM Pink, Noro Big Kureyon in color No.2, and Brown Sheep Aubergine.

Through much discussion and debate, I decided to go with Option number 1, the Autumn Harvest color. Even though I personally own a ton of the RPM pink and it's one of my favorite Brown Sheep colors. I do have a lot of pink bags as it has been pointed out to me (on numerous occasions)...so I'm branching out a little bit. Kind of branching out...because look at the yarn that is going to be the middle section of my bag! I don't think that it's going to stripe a ton. I guess the only way to know for sure is to just start knitting it!

So, I'm going to cast on tonight at knit group...and of course get a few final opinions from the masses. So, if you have an opinion speak now, or forever hold your peace! Have a great weekend everyone!!

These made me laugh...

This meme is hilarious! I found it through Larissa's blog. Here's what you do: Google “[your name] needs” and list the 10 best.

Stacey needs...
1. ...to graduate

2. ...$1.95 for a pack of gum.

3. ...understanding, not rejection.

4. ...the support of the Baby-Sitter's club.
(i did love those books.)

5. ...help getting her name out there.

6. ...a break!

7. ...just 63 points to become the Falcons career leader.
(who knew?!)

8. ...to set up a massage table.
(my Dad would agree)

9. ...to shut her mouth!

10. ...more signs.

Also, find and post the 5th sentence of your 23rd post...

"I knitted mainly on my Harry Potter scarf."

How appropriate that I am even now trying to finish up that same Harry Potter scarf more than a year later. I'm aiming to get this done by the next movie...what was that, another deadline? I can't help myself. I really should have chosen another scarf...but alas, the HiP scarf wasn't even designed when I cast on for my scarf. Michelle is half finished with her scarf...arrggh! (click
to see a picture)

Gummy candy...mmm.

Tuesday is one of my favorite days because that's the day the Mountain Man comes around to our office. Oh yes, a truck full of candy and chocolate and nuts. This time of year they have the best selection because its almost Halloween. What did I get from the Mountain Man today?

That would be Gummy Teeth and Gummy Brains! My day is complete. Candy does make me happy. It may be shallow, but it works for me!

Where did the Fall go?

This is my car in the parking lot at work yesterday morning. I usually have a beautiful view of the mountains from this spot. Not this morning though. I knew it was going to snow, but I just didn't believe it when it was 87 degrees on Saturday. That's Colorado weather for you. I love it, winter is on it's way!!

Thanks for voting on the projects, I mean project, that I should knit next. I really appreciate everyones input. The Spork won by a landslide, there were 62 votes. Who doesn't love a quick felted bag?! The colors that I chose will be debuted tomorrow...I need to take pictures of the colors tonight. I have yet to cast on, but I will as soon as I hear how a certain someones bag turns out.

In second place we have the Shadow Shawl using 3 skeins of Koigu and 3 skeins of Silky Tweed. (all but one skein out of the stash, oh yeah that's what I like!) This one got 46 votes. I have a feeling it was the allure of the Koigu. If I had said I was going to make it out of Red Heart methinks that it would not have been voted on at all. Hmmm. Interesting. Don't get me wrong, I am just as drawn to the Koigu as the next person:)

In third place we have a sweater using Rowan Plaid with 19 votes. I did start a swatch with this yarn on Friday night at my knit group because it was just too tempting.

This yarn feels so soft, and it feels huge at 3 stitches to the inch. Click here to see those giant stitches on my arm.

Here's an image from the book of the sweater that I chose. The only thing that I would be changing is the neck. I want it to split like this one.

I have more to share, but I need to get this posted and head to the dentist. My favorite place.

I think I'm in a knitting slump.

I'm not really excited to work on any of the projects that I have on the needles right now. But I'm determined to get some of them done before I start anything else because that's the right thing to do, right? You know what I'm talking about. That self-imposed rule about having a certain number of projects going, or there being a 'Rule of 4'. Who makes up this stuff and why do I feel like I should follow these "rules". Here are the projects that I have on the needles:

•Crumpets...didn't get it done for the deadline, still have miles of stockinette to go, or so it seems.
•Clapotis out of SWT Bamboo. My grandma started making one, and so I cast on to show her how to knit it at the different stages.
•Salt Peanuts sweater our of Rowan Cork that needs to be ripped and restarted
•Harry Potter scarf that will be finished for the next movie!! (this is the one knit that I'm currently working on)
•Koigu Wristlets (seriously, I'm embarrassed that these are even still on this list, I have a couple inches left to go, sheesh!)
•tank out of Rowan Summer Tweed for a friend. This has been sitting in the back of my WIP pile for a while now, I just don't like working with the yarn that much.
•Poetry in Stitches sweater
•Rogue, it's officially off the needles, because I had to rip the whole thing, but I have the yarn and need to recast on. What a bummer that I had to rip it out...stupid gauge.

So, I've decided to screw the rules, take a little poll, and see what you guys think I should knit next. I need a project that will bring back the love. I need to jump start my knitting. I need a project that will inspire me to finish it. I'm casting on for another project! Here are the choices:

**if you feel that none of these are the right project for me, feel free to suggest something. You can also feel free to send me yarn to make the project that you suggest:) Ha! Just kidding! Do suggest stuff though!
**for some more inspiration, go check out the Koigu stash over at Caryn's! She had 88 skeins in her stash!! That's a lot of Koigu! Scroll down to Oct. 3 entry to see a picture. It really is a beautiful thing!

More fun stuff.

I received two packages last week, and they were both so fun!!! I received my needles for the "Gimme Some Needles" exchange from Catherine. She indulged my love of all forms of straight needles and sent me some Rosewood, size 11's. They are really pretty needles and look great mixed in with all the other kinds of needles in my pretty pottery jars. She also included some KnitPicks Wool of the Andes. I have yet to knit with any of the KnitPicks yarns, so this was a welcome gift! Thanks Catherine!

I also received my first package from my Secret Pal 6! How is it that we are randomly paired up with people and they can so quickly "get" me?! This was a great gift...everything from the retro feeling all over hearts tissue paper, to the card of a tattooed boy on an ostrich. (I have never mentioned my love of tattooed boys, have I?) So fun! Then there was the Lorna's Laces. I haven't ever been able to get my hands on the 'Bullfrogs and Butterflies' yarn...and now I have a skein in one of my favorite colorways, Sherbet! That's not all folks...there was the latest White Stripes cd, and a bag of gummi grapefruit! I have been throughly spoiled! Thanks secret pal!