Knitting for Boozehags

I finished knitting the magie noir, blocked it, and it is currently drying as I write. Later, I will cut out the lining and sew everything up. I also stepped on the handle with my clod-hopping boots and now I must find some glue!!!!!! I'm a mess and so are my projects.. If it weren't for bad luck..well, I guess I wouldn't have ANY luck, haha.
Here's some shots to tide you over. And I *may* have made it a *smidgeon* too big, but hey, I'm an everything but the kitchen sink kinda gal anyways. Because I can't put in the pattern instructions without a photo (DRAG!), I have to finish it 1st..(double drag!)

Now, I promised some fellow craftster's I would scan in a needle card, so that meant going to my mondo moolah lys. I bought a new book (which I really don't like, except for the ONE pattern! 26 dollars!) and 2 beautiful pink skeins of manos del uruguay (11.50/ea)..... So here's my next project

Even though I really dislike the book (I had to double check the copyright just to make sure it didn't come out circa 1984!), the cute baby poncho was worth it (I hope)! I'm one of those impulse shoppers that marketing brainiacs make a fool out of.
I'm going to add in the card because I need to have it hosted to put up on craftster.. so here that is... I think...


Okay, here's an update on the magie not purse.. It's either the handles or the color fabric, what should I change? Here's a preview of what it would look like as is (I haven't sewn it or anything yet, I just wanted to see how it would look before I did anything permanent)

Hello mah ladies, hello mah babies, hello my knittress gals...!!!
I am in a very nerdy, silly mood, RARE FORM, so beware.
I'm giddy on white ladies and msg-laden chinese food, I can barely breathe. I DO however have makeup on and am even wearing "real" clothes, teehee. Helena is napping and Anthony is engrossed in his new Metallica movie, bless his little hesher heart.
It's been a busy past couple of days.. Yesterday Helena and i had to get up at the ungodly hour of 8 am so we could go to our mommy and me class. Basically I shelled out 60 bucks so she can have absolutely no interest whatsoever in the other kids or activities but rather run herself ragged on this mini-trampoline screaming "jump!" to which I say "Go ahead and..... Might as well" ( apparantly I am the only mom in the group that has listened to Van Halen much.. ) Strangely enough all of the snobby soccer mom's have been chatting it up with me. One mommy kept staring at me the entire class, finally came up to me and said "I thought I knew you from somewhere but it's because you look like Liv Tyler" I thought to myself, hahah, you mean MIA Tyler!!" (chrys, that was a* JOKE* ) So anyways, the gals that I go with don't like the other lexus driving moms, so here I am stuck in the middle AGAIN. I like anyone who is nice to me, (I know I tend to generalize a bit harshly with the whole june cleaver crowd though) *note to my younger readers* You must quicky throw away any notions that the people in your 'older, more responsible' life will be any different than it was/is in high school and or college!! Sorry, I wished it were different, too! People are pretty much EXACTLY the same, just maybe less hair and more wrinkles. The basics will and still always apply, it's sad but true!
So after that I went where else but shopping, bought me a new shirt which I just realized makes my knockers look even bigger than my nearly d's already do! I used to be a B cup! I don't know why these dang bazoonga's are hanging around. I hope they dissapate some before I end up looking like something straight out of national geographic, with me knockers to me knees if not only so my husband stops staring at and groping them with his dang man paws all the time! I am starting to understand everyone's obsessional hang-ups with gravitational pull! FYI-they aren't saggy, YET! I know most people would love bigger boobs (I was never one of them)- be careful what you wish for! When you, too, sink into the rather discouraging revelation that you do in fact own a bra by gargantuan southern hell belle Delta godamned Burke, you won't be laughing either! That entirely way too long rant aside; I also got a lovey turquoise suede medical bag,

my knitting, diapers and other stuff fits in it neatly! Now I can pretend I am a stylish medical woman or m.d. *which I was in a life long ago, illegal albeit, haha!
Today, I took Helena sledding, or rather tried to, I was up to my thighs in snowy white substance.. We had fun, and her new favorite snack is icy cold snow, she can't get enough of it. It's like white gold. Then I went to old navy and bought more clothes with a left over gift card. Got my husband some new (read: CLEAN and STENCH-FREE) black sweat bands, a pair of pink bell bottoms, and a buncha clearance shirts.. OOOOH and a new jean jacket that I fell in love with. I look like leather fricking tuscadero! YES! 3 Stars! Yeeesssssss!
I found MAGIE NOIR!!! You'll never guess where~ IN MY KNITTING BAG! DER! I also spilled a full cup of piping hot coffee all over my not your average sweatshirt! YES! I RULE!!! So I washed it with some h20 and it's fine now (god bless you 3.99 cheapo acrylic/wool plymouth! You have gained the elite status as my new best friend, you are so kind and forgiving, better still you bend to my more slovenly and klutzy ways! I love you Plymouth Encore!)
A very special thanks to Sarah and Melissa (san diego knitter) for the kind words they wrote! I can't believe ANY of you actually read my blog, but I sure am glad you all do! It gives me the warm and fuzzies and I love you all! Y'all RULE!
What else? There's alot more, but I am going to go and finish the hood on that sweater and get some pics up tomorrow, because I am too lazy and tired to exert my sedentary ass!
Manana, mi mama's, manana!!!

Well, I am currently finishing the stupid twirl poncho, I finished the neck and have 1/2 the fringe to finish! Pics tommorrow.
I am feeling ever so bloggity lately, it must be the weather.
I went and organized my yarns and ufo's. It took me almost the entire day.. I ripped out 2 sweaters I never finished for Helena and will recycle them someday..
I'm NOT going to pick up the sweatshirt untill the poncho is done, I still can't find my mysterious magie noir purse!
In other news, I FINALLY heard from my long lost and most beloved friend Ian. And EXCELLENT news; he's starting up Quitter and Roadsaw again.. For those of you who aren't in the know- YOU MUST RUN OUT AND BUY the QUITTER album, it's on tortuga recordings.. Check *it out here* Great stuff. I PROMISE you all, you will LOVE it. I can't wait to see him playing again! Ian totally rocks!
And another long lost pal, Andy, called me today. But he's not exciting as Ian. He's a nutjob. And even more neurotic than ever..
I'm really living up to my disheveled housewife image lately... I say that and it still sounds so foreign. Where I used to be a beautiful scumbag, when you throw the "mom" part in, the line becomes blurred and one finds oneself teetering dangerously close to being white trash.. Any and all extra time I have I devote to knitting, but I could sure use a day at the salon, let me tell ya.. I should really try and break myself away from my precious yarn and pluck my damned eyebrows or paint my toenails.. It seems the ritual of prettifying oneself has become this monstrous time sucker.. Now, finally I can understand and sympathize with those 10 minute beauty thingies you always read about in the magazines for the gal on the go.. Only there's really no place to go around here.... I'll be brutally honest with y'all. It's 8:30 p.m. and I'm in my pajama's. Don't get the wrong idea ladies, I'm not going to bed early, they are the ones I wore last night! IT'S NOT PRETTY!
I am 31, in my slept-in p.j.'s, my hair's greasy, I'm sipping a cocktail and I am on the computer.. Oh, I AM a sight to behold!

Anyways, if you keep drinking THESE CONCOCTIONS you wouldn't care either.. It's like a refreshing party in your mouth..

Christine's FABULOUS White Lady (and let's face it, I AM white, but I don't know about the lady part)
2 jiggers each: Cointreau, Gin, fresh sqeezed lemon juice
2 tbs. sugar (or in my case splenda, the cancer candy)
LOTS and LOTS of ice..
Dissolve sugar with booze, throw in ice cubes and forget about the fact that you are living in R.I. AGAIN
side note: click on the ingredients.. I love how it says "welcome to the world of cointreau" I'm like "ahhhh, yessss, I'll come right in, I love your intoxicating citrus nectar!" Like it's a vacation spot or something.. well, it does conjure up tropical nights.

Okay, well I decided to cut it out with the pracrastination and un-finished projects and was going to finally finish the magie noir purse today..
I got my fabric out
I got my handles out
But I CAN'T FIND THE PURSE!!!! Not to worry, it's stashed somewhere. I really need to organize things.. space is limited so it can dissapear very easily amongst all of the other ufo's..

Here is one of the poncho's I made a while ago... I'll be giving out the pattern soon.. but I need to re-work it because I decreased on the knit row twice and you can see how that broke up the pattern a bit... But it was a "prototype" anyways.. this is like 'the practice poncho' so bear with me.. I'll re-knit it so you can get a better idea..

Hey my fellow blogspirit knitresses, I created a new Knitting group for those of us who speak english... Not to be elitist or anything, but I can't speak nor read german very well, so you can join this one if you all want..
I still like looking at the "foreign" blogs, but this one is so I don't have to scroll forever to read yours (San Diego Knitter, Don't Panic and SnB teacher)

also, i am not usually politics-pushing, but given the current situation with our so called "leader" who is marching us right into destruction (whether it be literally or figuratively) I SUPPORT OUR DEMOCRATS and also the FEW SENATORS that are standing up for us and up to Bush. We need change and here is one small way you can help.. It's not about donations, so don't be scared..

Senate Democrats open the 109th Congress steadfastly committed to keeping the promise of America, the promise that all Americans who work hard can build a stronger and brighter future for their families. By embracing and affirming our core values of security, opportunity and responsibility, Democrats are united to help America fulfill this promise.

We need to show them our support. Cosponsor the Democratic Agenda by visiting:

http://democrats.senate.gov/cosponsor-form.html

This is what I've got done today so far:

And now, the winter wonderland shots.... Branches in the snow, my window, and the drift.

Hoo boy, my lovely ladies! It is been declared "a state of EMERGENCY!" out there! They're saying it's the worst since the blizzard of '78.. I was 5 years old then, but old enough to remember that this one PALES in comparison! The drifts are pretty cool though, OH! AND A BIG BRANCH fell onto our car and thrashed the antenna! Good thing we got that insurance.
So, for any of you leaving comments, I am responding to them in the comments section, so please don't think I am ignoring anyone, because I am not!
Also, for the blog-addicts (like me) I have put in a BUNCH of new links to MORE KNITTING BLOGS, most of them fellow craftster's, so please check them out!
Now that I am snowed in, I have been knitting A.D.D. style of course! The poncho is sewn! the neck still awaits! The orange lopi cardigan that i had EVERY intention on finishing is temporarily on hold.. Why? you may ask... I RAN OUT OF YARN!!!!!! I have 5 rows left on the last sleeve and I ran out! Which means I have to get another skein, in another dye lot! Arrrrrgh. Plus I knit to the exact gauge!!! I am grumbling with annoyance. This one is a total bitch..
BUT, knowing that I was going to be house-bound, I had the fortunate foresight to trek up to the fabric place and purchase MORE YARN!! So I have just started the "not your standard sweatshirt" from the yarn girl's guide to simple knits.. I got a dirty oatmeal color of some cheapo (but soft and washable!) Plymouth "encore" yarn that was on sale for 3.99/skein! AND I added an extra 4 stitches, JUST IN CASE.
Pics probably tommorow..
I also got a big old honkin' mondo-skein of some cheap ass black worsted that I will be re-knitting some of those promised patterns with..
Current theme of this month is : BROKE!!! Poor (literally) ME!
I made a delicious soup, I give you my secret recipe!

1 whole red onion, chopped
1 package kielbasa, quartered and chopped
1/2 package bacon, cut into small pieces
6 stalks of celery, plus leaves and heart chopped
4 carrots sliced
4 LARGE leeks or 6 small, halved and cut into moons
1/2 red bell pepper (or yellow or orange)
8 - 10 potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 -4 cloves garlic thru a press (or minced)
32 oz. chix stock
2 cups milk
1 cup cream
pepper, salt, tarragon, basil
1 tbsn butter


In a large soup pot, put in butter, kielbasa and bacon.. Cook till crispy, (Med hi) transfer to some paper towels and allow to drain and cool.
Pour out most of the fat but leave a little in to gloss the next part..
Now put in the leeks, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, salt, pepper, tarragon, and basil. Saute over med-lo heat untill translucent.
Now add the potatoes and add chicken stock. Turn heat up and simmer till potatoes are cooked thru.. Add the red pepper.
Cook a little longer till the pepper is tender-crisp..
Here comes the fun part. Use a hand mixer (or potato masher if you don't own one) and beat it till' it's a chunky puree.
Add milk, cream and the meat, adjust seasoning if necessary, and warm it up..
Eat it with some crusty ciabatta and you have got some COMFORT FOOD! Let it warm all of my east coaster's little tummy's!
Of course, everyone is enjoying this but me.. Damn ATKINS!
More later on knitting stuff.... I'll be bored so I'll be back!

So here are some more photo's for y'all. First up, family farm yarn from Block Island. I'm going to take my time deciding what to do with it, it's special, sentimental even, sniff sniff. But I do really love the fact that it's from my aunt Eveline, more so because she's no longer around.


Block Island Wool

Carded Wool: This isn't actually gray, it's more of a sage-y PALE green. It's absolutely gorgeous and my stupid new camera does not give the colors the justice they deserve. I'm going to leave this as is and maybe spin in some pieces of contrasts here and there. I think it has the potential to be a very soft, fluffy and yummy yarn. Hopefully it will heed my novice hands, I'd hate to ruin it!



Gray Hanks: 3 large hanks that my mother spun, AFTER she got the hang of it- I have brown and cream hanks upon hanks of very thick and very thin itchy wool that doesn't translate well in knitting. (I never thought I'd say that about thick and thin, i love it so) I did make Helena a pair of cute mittens from those though, now I need to figure out something to make from the other million yards of it.


And finally, my husband, modeling the back of the twirl poncho! His picture taking abilities are decidedly horrendous, but I think he makes for a better model anyways! I don't know why I have been slacking so much on this stupid million dollar poncho. I still have yet to piece it together, godamnit. And I am eager to be sporting it around, too! My mind and it's conflicts.


So there you have it!
And, Shannon, I replied to your post as a comment. I think I WILL be picking your brain with some ideas I'm toying with and see if you can give me some input on if it'll work or not! Thank you so much!

So, as promised a loooong time ago, I am starting to put together some stuff for the free patterns, I'm digging out all of my chickenscratch notes and I'm going to re-knit most of them so I can give you all proper directions. There's so many things that I have made and given away without taking photo's, and also I always write as I knit, so I need to go over them and make sure it's correct.
Last night I FINALLY blocked that damn poncho, I will be sewing it today and picking up/finishing the neck, then onto tedious tasslehoffs!
I'm 3/4 done with the orange lopi cardigan, which I am going to have to beat into submission via some agressive blocking and bludgeoning!
I'm thinking about using my abandoned blogger account for the patterns page, I'll have to chat Chrys up about that, I might be an internet nerd, but I'm more of an internet idiot savant. I eke my way, I'm the equivalent of the missing link when it comes to technology.. I don't have the time or patience!
I was thinking about putting up some yummy recipes for hootch and nibblies, because they are deliciouso and for you gals out there who host/attend knitting groups.
Speaking of which, I'm supposed to be doing that and really should start organizing mine, which was supposed to start in like november!! It's just a bunch of us local gals, but impossible to get us all free on the same night. And I'm a total procrastinator.. I don't know where to begin, everyone is of varying levels so I need to organize projects accordingly.
My insomnia is killing me! I've been up since 5 am, after getting a mere 2 and 1/2 hours of restless sleep. On the bright side, I finally got to watch an episode of Nigella Bites! I just love that gal! She's a woman's woman! I love how she's not afraid to be filmed in her p.j.'s at midnight, grabbing a BIG slice of cake with her fingers and tearing into it.. and she looks good doing it!
Talk about erratic blogging, feast or famine.

Okay, I know there's more to post up, but here are a few of the moss stitch scarf (ends unwoven, naturally) and the hat I made for Helena (actually ON HELENA),

AND for some comic relief, MY 10th GRADE KNITTING ENIGMA!!!!!!

Jess, I'll put up a pic of the wooly mammoth later today! Oh and the poncho (still not put together) and the cardigan (unblocked back)