Sock Update

On Thursday I finished the first sock. Here is a shot of how it looked as I was finishing it up. I hadn't totally finished the toe in this pict....I had to call my friend who taught this cool way of using round needles how to bind off the toes. She told me I could try a kitchener stitch. I had no idea what that was, so I dug out my Vogue Knitting Guild and looked it up. Well, the nice picture in it failed me for the first time... so, I found a web page that walked me though it, step by step. Look here for the website I used. It looks really cool when it's all done. ^_^

Friday I started my second sock. I finished the 2x2 ribbing on the top and now I'm starting the body of the sock. Here it is with the finished right foot sock!

My Little Gardens

Here are my tomato plants. One is a big boy and the other is a better boy tomato.

Here is my strawberry plant:

Here's how the backyard look this a.m. before I dug it up and Martha came by to help me plant: Here it is after planting, Hubby helped me put in the trim, and mulching it: We also made a second smaller garden behind the garage:

My Inner Gardener

So my war with the weeds has now started to bring out my inner gardener. I went over to a friend's house this evening to relax and take a quick swim (and drink some wine) to unwind from this crazy day. I had to take a student to the Principal's office today. That was the first time that her actions have been so serious that what she thought was a joke turned out to be a major problem.
So, here I am relaxing at my friend's, who by the way is channeling Martha Stewart in her garden, home, and life in general. I tell her about my new found obsession with Round-Up and how I'm on a killing rampage with the weeds in my lawn. I tell her how I want to be a gardener, but so far all I can do is kill stuff. She has tomato plants and I've always wanted to grow tomatoes. She also tells me that she is willing to dig up some of her plants and help me start my own garden.
We did stop at the Home Depot to get me my own tomato plants and I got a strawberry plant too. I have no idea, but with her guiding me, I think I'll be OK. I'll stop my killing rampage and go to a growing one. I've very excited about my tomato plants! It's my first time to grow something that I can eat!
Martha (as I'll call her now) said her hubby has to work tomorrow so she is free to play in the dirt with me. However, I have to go out and dig up the dirt first. Tomorrow morning, my job is to get out there and turn the dirt so we can plant stuff. I'm excited about this gardening thing... I'm trying to channel my inner gardener, but all I'm getting is my inner mud pie kid.... hummmmm. I'll see what tomorrow brings with Martha helping me to learn about plants and dirt and outside stuff! ^_^

Strawberry Shortcake

There is no pict of the actual strawberry shortcake as we ate all these strawberries last night and tonight I already ate the one I was going to take a pict of.... yummmmmm ^_^

Sock Crazy

Yesterday was my guild meeting. My friend who knits socks on rounds was there to show me how to do the next step. I think I can get to the end on my own now! Here is the first sock so far:

At the guild we always have show and tell. I showed off my red lace up opera gloves. I was asked to model them for our 2008 calender. Every month we have to bring in a different color yarn or project that we have made with that color. May's theme color is purple. I brought in a purple skein that I had spun up for the picture. The photographer asked if I would show off my red gloves so that she can added it in as a side pict for another month. Cool! I have put skeins in for March and now May. It's cool that our hard work will be displayed in a calender. I'm excited about this. One lady yesterday showed off a COAT! She spun lilac color yarn and then wove a whole winter coat, lined, with pockets and everything! I wish I was that cool! My sock friend and I signed up to work at the fiber festival that our guild puts on in September. That should be fun. We will work a two hour shift and then we can shop for the rest of the day! We chose a post that we could sit and just give information while we sit and spin. I'm so excited about the festival. I've been to it the past two years on my own and now I get to be a part of it! Love it!

Yesterday after the guild meeting before Hubby and I went out I continued my war on weeds in my lawn. Last week I went nuts with weed killer so that my lawn looks like a lawn and not a dandelion patch. I'm slowly taking over one side of the yard! However, my neighbor sees no problem with weeds. This is the frost year that I've cared about my garden or my lawn. It's hard work! I ran out of weed killer, so today I have to make a trip out to get more. After that war was waged, I went out back and cut a few fresh lilacs for the house. They smell so good! ^_^

Happy Mother's Day!

Yesterday hubby and I met my parents to go to the Lilac Festival! I won't see my mom today, so we celebrated yesterday! It was so much fun and every where smelled so good. I love lilacs. My wish for when we bought a house was to have a cherry tree and lilacs. This house had both already so I didn't need to plant them! I have a purple lilac and a pink one here. At the festival my hubby let me get a baby lilac plant. It will have white flowers when it is old enough to bloom. Here is my cherry tree in full bloom right now:
Mom and I also bought handmade glass necklaces. Mine is the tree of knowledge. It's greens and yellows with a black tree etched into it. Mom got a black necklace with these funky designs that looked like a face. My dad and hubby were kind of board that we had to stop at EVERY glass jewelry booth. Yesterday was arts and crafts for sale at the festival. Next weekend is another craft show. We like craft shows and mom and I always enjoy talking with the people and getting ideas for new projects. We saw a lot of jewelry for sale, and we are convinced that my grandmother should set up and sell her stuff. She made both of us (mom and I) the most beautiful beaded bracelets for Christmas.
Today I have to plant my baby lilac outside. Last year I got an even smaller lilac but I never put a stake in the ground to show were it was so it got mowed over... I need to find a big stake before I plant my new lilac! ^_^
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!

New Knitting Skills

Today I went to my spinning friend's house to learn how to knit socks on circular needles. It's SO much easier than on double pointed needles! These are the smallest needles I have ever used. I'm using size 3s and I love it! Here's how the sock looks so far!

A Mouse in the Class

Today there was a lot of drama at school. One of the classrooms that shares a wall with my room had their window open today. It was so nice and warm out! So in flies a fly... her kids go nuts!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... a BEE!!" the kids are yelling
"It's not a BEE, it's a fly! It won't hurt you." the teacher tells them.
"OK, then what is that????" one girl asks
A mouse was running around under the table. NOW the kids and the teacher have reason to freak out!
I missed this part of the day, as I was down the hall testing kids.
So, when I get back to my room I stop by this teacher's room to say hi. She starts to tell me the story
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" -me
"WHAT!?! It's just the story" she thinks I'm freaked about the story of the mouse.
"OH MY GOD!!! LOOK!!! IT"S BACK!"- me
It was not the same mouse since our principal carried the mouse across the street and into a field. There is a family of mice living in her room!
So, the principal comes back to see what we are yelling about. The teacher runs out as I point to where it was. He chases it towards me!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" -me
He did manage to catch it and again run across the street and into the field.
I'm so paranoid that their in my room.... they probably are. Oh well... and I was the one who wanted rats as pets for my room! I was so shocked by the mouse that I freaked out. Hilarious.

Sock is now SOCKS!

I did it! I finished the second sock! Here it is alone...

Together at last...

Finally, I can wear them!! I'm so happy that they are done! Next project is....hummmm... I have to think about it.

Sock Progress

Here is after I finished the top part and was trying it on yesterday.Here's the heel flap.

Here's where I was this morning when I picked it back up. Here's where I am now. I've turned the heel and I'm on the home stretch. I hope to finish it by tonight so I can get it off my list of unfinished projects!

Kentucky Derby Day/ The Run for the Roses

It's the run for the roses today. We were watching the coverage on it and I'm picking Nobiz Like Shobiz or the long shot Bwana Bull. The Queen of England is at the derby watching it live. I'd love to be able to see it run live someday! That would be so cool. I've been watching the races for the triple crown since I was a kid. In a few minutes we'll know who wins the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby!
Also, Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Picture Updates

First this is the craziest thing I could have seen while lying on the couch sick on Wednesday... check out my neighbor's cat who was trying to catch a squirrel!After are weird April snow storm, I didn't think my tulips would come up. They did! Aren't they pretty?

First steak cooked out on the grill for this year....yummmy!

Here is the red super wash all spun up on the bobbin.

Here are the lace up opera gloves that I made out of it!
Finally, I am trying to work on some knitted projects that I started a while ago and didn't finish. Last year I finished one orange sock... sad to admit that I'm still working on sock #2. Here's how far I have gotten.... I have a lot more to go. T_T Notice how messy my yarn is... I'm still working on winding balls of yarn. I just can't seem to get that skill down!