Shameless cross-promotion

Okay, so I do work in the advertising business after all...

Cass is having a contest!

Get over there and enter quick, the list it's gettin ridiculously crowded over there but fab-u-lous prizes are to be had.

It's her 444th post and she's giving cool stuff away. And don't forget to tell her I sent you over there, you can never have too many entries in one of Cass' contests. ;-)

ahem, making a little curtsy, so how was that, Cass? xxxooo

the road to recovery

Yay! The Saint is feeling better although it is so bitter cold outside he still can't leave the house and that's makin him a bit cranky. I guess he's going back to work tomorrow. It's been a long week.

I did get the jigsaw puzzle finished.

One of the most difficult puzzles I've ever done. If it wasn't for Rena helping I'd still be swearing under my breath at it, LOL.

And I whipped up this hat for the Knit Michigan, the pattern is the Helping Hat by CanKnitian and it's made of James C Brett Marble. I have this same yarn in the light blue shade that I'll be working on this week during lunch. The hats are being collected and displayed at City Knitting.



It looks better on a model though...here's Lorilee owner of City Knitting...hey Lorilee!


Don't you just love her sweater? She made it with yarn scraps and it's fabulous! She's on Ravelry and I'll bet if you go over there and ask she'll tell you how she made it and while you're there you should ask her about the Lyra Hat kit she's put together too. It's pretty cool and I saw her putting together several kits yesterday while I was in the shop in different colors, oooo pretty...

My EZ ASJ is within a couple hours of finished. I've done the dusting and read the paper so I can sit down and work on it until it's done. Yeah, after I do a bit of surfing to find a Crosby Stills Nash and Young disc...they were doing a retrospective on David Crosby this morning on CBS Sunday Morning and it reminded me how much I like their music. Ah, those were the days...

Thanks everyone for stopping in and wishing The Saint a speedy recovery. Thanks too for your sympathy on my part, hehehe. It's a relief to have him feeling better. This past week has made me focus on how spoiled we are and how much we take for granted our good health and relatively non-dramatic life. I want to send some special good vibes to Nichole for her Mom and her good friend's Dad. Who are battling illness. Also to The Fairy GodKnitter who amazes me daily with her determination and positive attitude in the face of adversity. And a super special wish for a safe and injury free week for Cass, lol.

Have a great week. I'll check back in when the ASJ is finished. I'm hoping you'll see me again yet today.

Chez B under quarantine...

These have been the tools of my trade the past couple of days...



The Saint has the flu. All together now...awwww, poor Saint! He's a wreck. But today he is less of a wreck than yesterday and we have hope for better things tomorrow. A large man with a hundred and two fever is not a pretty sight. (think 280 lb 8 year old) I'm glad that the fever broke about 10 this morning and he could at least sleep all afternoon while I snuck off to the office to get a bit of work done.

I'm hoping I won't have to sleep on the sofa again tonight. Guess I could wear some earplugs...do you think that's cold?

I bet he won't be whining next year when I tell him he should get a flu shot...

Well, I know you're probably sick and tired of looking at my EZ ASJ but here's another shot of it, off the needles - for a moment - the body is done, now I have to pick up the stitches at the end of the stumpy arms and make them long enough. I'm thinkin it shouldn't take me long to get them done. Certainly not as long as it has taken to get it this far, lol.

Here's a closer-up shot of the beau-ti-ful miter I did on the front, just don't be lookin at the neck miter, not so good...

Now that it's almost finished what do you think of the colors we chose?

Well, I didn't get 3rd place in the Knitting Daily drawing, drat! There's still 2 places left though. I'm keepin my fingers crossed.

Thanks everybody for stoppin in to say hey. You know I love havin comp'nee. I even had a visit from someone I've never heard from before. Yay!

I really appreciate all the nice comments about my sock bag. Yep, Rena wanted it, real bad, but she's not gettin it! I'll have to show her how to make her own, yeah, in her spare time, ROFL.

I'm off to say hey to a few of my blogging friends. Now don't be rushin around cleanin up...cause...you're family...

Hope you all have a great week.

A Brief Intermission...

from knitting for a bit of sewing. I'm amazed I remember how...


Whipped up this new sock bag last night with some left over fabric from Rena's wedding quilt. I finally got tired of that crinkly sounding plastic bag, lol.

How do you like it?

It's a bit clashy with my new Amy Butler bag but that's ok. Maybe Rena will be jealous and want one and I can pass this one on to her when I make another one with a fabric that is more complimentary to the Amy Butler. *devious snickering goes here*

Hey Rena, love you!

Here's an inside view...That's the mate to my Neopolitan Monkey languishing in the bottom of my new bag. Maybe this will motivate me to get it done - after the EZ Adult Surprise comes off the needles...maybe.


Howdy and thanks to everyone who stopped by and said hey this past week. It's so great to hear from everyone. Have a great week!

Conspicuous Consumption

One last look at the tree before disassembly...


Am I spoiled?

Every year when Christmas has passed and the tree is out in the back yard serving it's next life as a bird haven for the winter I assess the holiday bounty.























As in past years The Saint went totally overboard in my opinion with the gift giving. This whole issue makes me crazy. I have so much and yet he insists on adding to it every year. Don't get me wrong here, I do enjoy the gifts and no one else goes without in the family as a result of his giving to me, but I still think it is too much.

Here's the list this year:

Canon camera
Zen mp3 player
diamond earrings
Amy Butler knitting bag

Maybe if I weigh these gifts against the loads of laundry washed, dried and folded, sinks full of dishes washed, toilets scrubbed and toe nails trimmed, yes, I trim his toe nails *shrugs a shoulder* that I aka Gretchen rack up during the year it equals out. Doesn't it?

I try to be a good wife, mother, step-mother and grandmother to all. I know I have my days just like anyone else but I put a lot of effort into having a positive attitude in general. Guess it's paying off. I am thankful every day for the loving and caring family I find myself surrounded by. Love you all! Thank you for loving me back in a big way!

I remember many years in my previous life that I prayed for strength to get through to a better place. I promised that if I didn't have to be afraid everyday and hold my breath waiting for the next disaster that I would be a better person. I stand before you as hopefully the better person I promised to be. Thanks to everybody that stuck by and helped me to get there. I think that blogging has made me more acutely aware of myself and more willing to assess my mental "place". Nothing like a little additional accountability, eh?

Today, after The Saint took the tree out, I was trying to figure out why the vacuum didn't work worth a crap anymore...opened it up to check the bag - which was full - took that out and found a filter inside the cleaner that I don't believe I've cleaned since I've had it which is probably two or three or 6 years, lol...keeping in mind that we have 2, sometimes 3 dogs here that made for a lot of crap caked on that little filter. ewww

I scraped off the bulk of the dirt then washed the filter out and voila! the cleaner works like new again. Who knew?! Maybe I should get out the instructions for that thing and read through them again to see what else I've missed in the routine maintenance of a vacuum cleaner...nah, we're good for now...we don't need no stinking instructions! hahaha

Tomorrow I'll be heading over to the "Y" for my first official exercise of the new year. I think I'll start with a tour and a good walk on the track. I need some exercise so bad! Winter just isn't conducive to outdoor fitness activities. Since I quit walking everyday I've noticed the pants are getting a wee bit snug, lol. Or maybe it's the cookies and chocolate candies that are everywhere this time of year. Out damn goodies! I'm back to my good eating habits starting tomorrow! Anyone want to join me? I believe that if I work now to get that extra 5 off it won't be as big a deal as getting 44 off was.

Our friend Ronnie was taken off the ventilator on a few days ago and was able to breath on his own. They moved him out of intensive care, where he had been for 9 weeks, and into a regular room. We got word yesterday that they may be sending him home today but haven't gotten an update on that yet. Thanks for all your good thoughts on his behalf.

Here is the obligatory knitting content...

I am actually making progress, maybe by next weekend I'll be on the last leg of this project.
So, I'm off to work on the ASJ and/or my puzzle for a bit. This is how I have to work a puzzle in the office/sewing room...space is limited in here, lol. Hope nobody wants any fresh-baked cookies, hahaha!

Have a great day. See ya!

Do I have to take down the tree if it isn't dead yet?

Hey Yarny Peeps! How's your weekend? I'll be glad when all the leftover cookies, nuts and candy are gone...why do I feel compelled to eat it all? Ack!

I signed up for a 3 month membership at the YMCA yesterday...good thing...my jeans are getting a bit snug, lol.

Cass asked what kind of camera I got, hey, Cass! It's a Canon PowerShot SX100 IS. I hope I can figure out all the buttons and dials and make some decent pictures soon. I think it's going to take some time though.

I'd like to say a hearty Hey! to Joan, Linda, Clarabelle, Nichole, Grace, Jess, Purl, Birdsong and you too Novice Knitter. Thanks so much for stopping by and making your presence known from time to time.

Rena gave me sock blockers! Don't they look good dressed in my Neopolitan Monkey? Thank you Rena, for more than just the blockers...love you!


Some actual knitting has been done here at Chez B.

Mom's Irish Hiking Scarf in lavender heather Philosopher's Wool with a super cool shawl pin that Rena gave her. Doesn't she look cute?!

I believe she really liked the scarf.

She never has done any type of handcrafts herself but does appreciate the time and love that goes into them. Her area of expertise is apple pie. Just ask The Saint, hee hee.

Love you Mom!







I've been snuggling my new Amy Butler bag The Super-Sneaky Saint got me for Christmas.


It's roomy, lightweight, has lots of pockets inside for all my knitting "stuff" and when it's full of knitting goodies, like yarn and things, you can give it a hug and it is comforting like a big teddy bear.

And, it looks so cool on the sofa! lol

The purchase of this bag was a cloak n dagger affair.

A couple of days before Christmas The Saint and I had a couple days off work to finish up our shopping. We stopped by City Knitting so I could pick up some yarn for Chef Wes' Christmas present hat.

Wandering around the shop I saw this Amy Butler bag and commented on it. I think I said something like "Isn't this pretty?". I didn't even gush about it or anything.

While I was around a corner looking at some "sale" yarn he was sort of lagging behind pretending he was looking at some other stuff and chatting-up the owner, Lorilee. This is not unusual behavior for him, he likes to chat with ladies in fabric, yarn and book shops. He's real social that way. What he was really doing, with sign language while I wasn't looking his way, was letting her know that there was something he wanted to buy and he'd be back to pick it up later. Lorilee snuck a sticker to him and as he continued to wander he walked past the bag and placed the sticker on it so they would know exactly which one. After we left the shop they popped it into a box and he went back later, picked up the box and dropped it off at Rena's house (she's always his Christmas-wrapping-elf).

I love that he does things like that. He's done it several times in the 10 years we've been together. Love you Honey!

Jared and Tammy got me a gift certificate to City Knitting and I redeemed most of that yesterday while I was hangin out with Rena, doin our usual Saturday hangin out. I picked up a copy of 101 Designer One Skein Wonders. I want to make the Marialis scarf from the book with some of the lace weight yarn I got a few weeks ago.

Yeah, after I finish that blasted EZ Adult Surprise Jacket...I'm finally working on it again and feel like I may actually be getting close to done...that sure is a lot of garter stitch! I was knitting until 1 this morning trying to make some substantial progress so I would be motivated to continue working on it today. Nice try, it's after 5pm and I haven't gotten around to sittin n knittin yet. Maybe when I finish visiting with all of you I'll get to it. lol

Max got a new sweater, knitted by Rena. Pretty spiffy! How do you like the turtle neck?

Back to the grind

Well, I was back to the old routine at work today. And I am so glad.

I am a routine kind of a person and when I get out of that routine, doing busy stuff, with someplace to be or rather, several someplaces to be every day for 6 days...it's a bit much for me. I'm exhausted.

I think I'll hibernate for a couple of weeks now. No more parties please!

On to the knitting... I got all the hats done in time.

Exhibit A: Chef Wes' hat. It was a bit big but when he decided that it would fit nicely over his billed cap it worked out pretty neat. A new style is born. Hat design and yarn called Sheherazade

Exhibit B: Jared's hat. Basic black, nice snug fit. Made of Patons Classic Wool.

Exhibit C: Tammy's hat, looking rather elfish in this pic. Green heather Philosopher's Wool.



Group Exhibit:All photos will biggie size if you click on them.

My greatest accomplishment however, was for Rena. It's the Mason-Dixon Knitting Moss Grid Towel. I thought I would never get it done! But, I plowed on through, sneaking around working on it at lunch and when I knew she was working and there was no way she'd be stopping by with that bossy little Winston, lol.

I took this picture of the towel and the two Ballband Dishcloths I made to go with it just for you, Cass! ;-o The color of the bottle label complimented the knit items nicely too.

I have a really fabulous bag to show you. The Saint spoiled me rotten, as usual. I'll show it to you next time after I install the software for my NEW CAMERA! Can't wait to see how the new pics turn out. Until then, have a great day and stay safe and warm. You'll be amazed at how cool this bag is...