Linky and just a little note

Okay - go here to see the sweetest seasonal stitch markers ever.

I am doing well - have finished my socks for me and have recuperated from flooding hell as my bro's and parents arrived to help with the front yard, shed and porch roof.
The renovations are scheduled to be done this year sometime....but primer has been put up.
We've already had snowstorms and negative Celsius weather and the drive home that took an hour, so we are well into the winter weather - however it is not yet winter and most of the snow is melting (come on snow melt).
I hope to return to regularly scheduled blogging with pictures after I buy myself a camera that works...

Still alive, but kind of sloshing...

Wow - I went from once a week to just nothing. Sounds about right!
Do you want to know what's going on?
If not, I recommend not reading any further.

I am Iron Deficient - had this with my second pregnancy but other than that considered myself fine. My iron read 5 on a scale of like 13 to over 100. Not so good. So I am taking an iron supplement and being a little more careful of what I eat. It was a relief to find out as I have been sort of off for a couple of months and had similar issues last spring - I just put it down to stress and allergies and wrote it off, but now there is something that I can work towards. I already feel better - we don't count PMS as that is a well, life. It is not diet based, but likely female based, so I may need to work on this for awhile - lots of tests and doctor appointments.

Gurlz - are good. I mean they are 7 and 3, so they are never perfect, however with the recent time change we are all getting up rested and on time and out of the door reasonably. They were very negatively affected by my iron issues as I had little control of my attitude, minimal energy and no patience. Again - definitely seeing an improvement, but also working to correct myself.
Norah is toilet trained - some accidents occur, but that is normal and except for the fact that my carpet was involved this morning, I am pretty good with it.
We won't discuss her attempt to dive? tumble? totally freak her mother out? this evening as she fell down 8 stairs while I was dealing with the sloshing in my home.

Sloshing? well -
Monday I washed some 'accident laundry' and when I went to empty the washer, the basement floor was wet. Checked the sewer line - running smooth, so must be internal - plunged and sprayed and plunged. pulled hair balls out of 2 drains. also mopped.
Tuesday - bathroom sink (plunged and plunged and baking soda vinegared night before) will not drain. I did what I swore I would never do, however the bottle was there and not empty (purchased prior to notification of issues) I poured an entire bottle of Draino Max down the drain - obviously a bad clog as hairballs were not there - and it did not drain the sink until at least 10 minutes had passed. Went back and ran hot water. Sink fills up and up and up. Ignored bottle which stated do not plunge and plunged - sink was full of water and therefore, nothing would be splashing me in face - and after about a minute, sink drained - with gurgle pop ... Ran hot water at least another minute - down all sinks. Things appear good on this front.
Wednesday - come home, just after five o'clock as children good with time change, we all happy, going to make supper (after I pee) and ....
I step in a puddle. In the middle of my kitchen floor. The ceiling has many wet spots. Puddle on counter. Fetch tenant praying she spilled something - no she didn't. Evaluate situation. Visit basement - find puddle there (far from drain of Monday night). Send Norah away from dangerous situation, call current contractor (who has not been around for a bit due to other obligations) and as state - No. I'm not joking, there is a puddle in my kitchen. Norah falls down stairs - lands on foam play mats I laid there to keep feet warm. (that was a good thing). I throw phone at tenant/her boy toy and scoop up my baby and fly up stairs. She is crying but fine. Praise the Lord for the bouncability of children. Ponder why shoe rack that is in alcove, also fell with her, try not to whine about squelching tights and puddles.
Put video on for kids, feed them cheesesticks, chips and cucumber as boiled eggs and lovely salad is not an option as ceiling light/fan in kitchen is making electrical water sounds. Don't cry. Go Pee (finally) change pretty skirt and sodden tights for comfy pants and sweater. Wander semi aimlessly until Ivan shows up. Wait for him to figure it out - the rubber ring on the overflow drain for the new tub is loose/dislocated/ LEAKING. i don't blame him. I don't blame Tammy. Although she accepts the blame - this isn't the first bath and it is the first leak. Ergo - fault of no-one. Argue with Ivan about fact that water and electricity do not mix and it is not good to have light on in kitchen. He tries to remove, but previous owner installed/had installed light and therefore like everything, it is not possible. He will come tomorrow to figure out.
Drink wine mixed with orange juice to calm my nerves. Call mommy. Mother my gurlz (homework, baths, cream on eczema, read stories, snuggle, tuck in bed) Read blogs. Vent on blog.
Knit on my mindless self patterning socks with gift yarn from parents. marvel over fact that don't match and I don't care.
Go pee again.

once a week posting....Controlling the Clutter

So since I last wrote, i have completed
Blithe - except for the blocking;
Monica - except for the ends and blocking;
sots III - except for the ends and blocking;
Moeibus - except for the seam and blocking;
Ascot scarf - except for the trim, ends and blocking.
I am sensing a slight trend here....
I have started:
Ascot scarf mentioned above - now complete (black)
Triangle scarf/wrap for me - black
Qiviut scarf for Mom - black.
And I finally wore my Grasshopper scarf today, but plan to block before wearing again.
Also awaiting blocking - sots I.
And my grasshopper head wrap is waiting on a button and Megan's pop scarf is waiting embellishment...
Can anyone tell where I have issues?

On the purchasing front - I have purchased only the current magazine issues for Interweave Knits, and Vogue Knits along with a new magazine called Living Craft. The gurls have received some new DVDs - and me too, but that is entertainment and...
I didn't do too bad and got rid of a number of unnecessary items this past month. I am going to work on this for the next month also, however I do need to purchase some fibre products for a swap I am involved in, so...I will be purchasing some yarn/fibrey goodness this week.
Anyone have some Merino/Tencel roving in manly colours?!?!??
I did pretty well considering we had to buy some pants for the big gurl as she grew a bit, but all in all

A little of this and that

On October 5th, 2005, my beautiful Norah was born. Yesterday she turned 3. Ahhh. Time flies when you are having fun. However, there are no photos as the camera I purchased when she was born has died and well, my Dad didn't send me any pictures yet.
Blithe is mostly complete- straps to do yet.
Sots iii - I am on the first of the decrease rows.
Everything else, is on the back burner.
But this past weekend was filled with housecleaning, furnace turning on, yardwork, curtain hanging, partying and life. So that is good too.
New yarn was acquired from my parent's trip to Holland. Regia - 4-FACH HALTBAR, in 4-faidg Jacquard Color # 5241. 2 skeins. Thanks Mom and Dad.
I am home for the fifth or sixth Monday in a row - Megan had too much fun this weekend and is all done in. Either that or she's coming down with something again. We are not going on vacation until after April 1, 2009 now.... (used up all my family days from work and am eating into vacation time now.... C'est la vie.
My tenant was able to use her bathtub on Friday - just like was promised. Imagine that - a contractor that lives up to his promises. I am going to ask him to give me a quote on my bathroom, my front door and her kitchen. Of course, I am also going to start playing the lottery now. Worth every penny he is though.

A week and a half and what to show for it...

.. some knitting has been done - hint 6 of sotsIII is complete and 7 is just waiting for me. Little gurl's birthday Blithe is coming along - 4 inches of skirt done. I have a week - She was born at 11:45 pm (this time 3 years less one week ago, I was probably puttering around yet as labour didn't start until after 10:00 pm when my water broke). Other knitting, well the February sweater has one skein of yarn done and the next has been wound up, so progress could occur. But the stole and Blithe are both on deadlines of sorts so....
The stupid dumb contractor has been fired. After I spend a weekend trying to find a mint condition FREE clawfoot tub cause the one I bought 5 weeks ago wasn't going to fit and .... this of course from the guy who said he would be basically done in 2 weeks. A new guy starts tomorrow - he says a week and she will be able to use her tub again.
If you don't hear from me for some time after today, you know the second floor collapsed onto the first and then all the way to the basement (the yarn stash is a good distance from the work area).
For some winter knitting inspiration, go see some of Monica's FO's. I'm not sure when I can cast the first one on... and I am in total agreement with her ravelry comment. If it is only available on ravelry, great, but if not, GO TO THE SOURCE folks. (I only linked to Monica, cause her pics of FOs are inspiration enough.

Spending Money

I ran into a glitch last weekend. Well kind of. Friday was get groceries while big gurl was dancing and then because I was feeling feverish and extra sniffly, I went to the local urgent care clinic. I don't go to the doctor unless I have to. I dread that biannual appointment for womanly things. But I was feeling unwell enough to go. He gave me some antibiotics - just a minute, realized I forgot tonight's, cause we ate out (pizza - the gurlz love it and well, it's payday and there is no pizza in my house - with tip $28).(oh and I had a $.75 pop today too)
Anyways - $100 later I get my prescription. OUCH.
Saturday was little gurlz dance - returned her $31.44 dance bodysuit cause she fits her sister's. Then went to get running shoes for big gurl - took no time, only one pair of shoes in hand and the girl says: If you buy two or more you get 40% off. Even if it's a $2 pair. I had to think. I do need another pair for work. So I went back to the shoes I had drooled over but put back cause they were $30 (discount shoe place - you get what sizes are there, believe me I tried on a large number). And I go up to the counter with $20 running shoes and $30 brown suede loafers. She rings it in - it comes to $31.43. No kidding here. Then I returned an unnecessary item to Canadian Tire, putting me up a little bit once again. (forget what it cost)
Of course I then had to go get a second bodysuit at Zellers (but I did return something that didn't fit me), along with a few other necessities - batteries for camera (if they had had the dishwasher in stock it would be in my kitchen now cause I burned my hand cooking breakfast that morning and tried to potato peel my finger during dishes). We also went out for lunch.
Sunday - donations for church DON'T count. But I did return $40 of stuff to Home Depot, so that was good. Sunday night I had a financial nervous breakdown and cut up all my credit cards, reduced the limit on my MasterCard (cut up, but info retained for things like booking stuff online and maybe a little yarn....) But no regular shopping on it anymore. If the cash ain't there, no spend it.
Monday - I was sick at home, spent nothing. Did however get some money from big gurl's Dad - we worked through some of our issues - meltdown the previous night had me going to, well does it make sense to call him my best non-female, semi-platonic, but intrinsically involved friend? I think that would be a good description. Anyways, he is going to work on his support paying habits for me.
Tuesday - paid the Gas bill.
Wednesday - (see above) Payday.

On the knitting front: I finished hint number 5 on SOTS iii. Love this pattern.
My February Lady's Sweater is restarted - went to the large size as the neckline was not working for me. I am still working on the increases for the yoke.
I started Blythe for little gurl. Am 4 inches into the bodice and, well I guess going down .5 mm makes a big difference (especially if yarn is a little thinner weight too) I may cast on for Monica in the round for her as it is just stockinette. Am still going to work on Blythe as love the pattern, but maybe my niece will be getting it instead.
That's it for now.

1993

It's a meme. Came from Katie
So, here are the rules:
A) Go to musicoutfitters.com
B) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year
C) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline or italicize your favorite(s). Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about) I italicized the ones that are such fun.

1. I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
2. Whoomp! (There It Is), Tag Team
3. Can't Help Falling In Love, UB40
4. That's The Way Love Goes, Janet Jackson
5. Freak, Silk
6. Weak, SWV
7. If I Ever Fall In Love, Shai
8. Dreamlover, Mariah Carey
9. Rump Shaker, Wreckx-N-Effect
10. Informer, Snow
11. Nuthin' But A "G" Thang, Dr. Dre
12. In The Still Of The Nite, Boyz II Men
13. Don't Walk Away, Jade
14. Knockin' Da Boots, H-Town
15. Lately, Jodeci
16. Dazzey Duks, Duice
17. Show Me Love, Robin S.
18. A Whole New World, Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
19. If, Janet Jackson
20. I'm So Into You, SWV
21. Love Is, Vanessa Willlams and Brian Mcknight
22. Runaway Train, Soul Asylum
23. I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me), Expose
24. Ditty, Paperboy
25. Rhythm Is A Dancer, Snap
26. The River Of Dreams, Billy Joel2
7. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), Proclaimers2
8. Two Princes, Spin Doctors
29. Right Here (Human Nature)-Downtown, SWV
30. I Have Nothing, Whitney Houston
31. Mr. Wendal, Arrested Development
32. Have I Told You Lately, Rod Stewart
33. Saving Forever For You, Shanice
34. Ordinary World, Duran Duran
35. If I Had No Loot, Tony! Toni! Tone!
36. I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), Meat Loaf
37. Slam, Onyx
38. Looking Through Patient Eyes, P.M. Dawn
39. I'm Every Woman, Whitney Houston
40. Baby I'm Yours, Shai
41. Come Undone, Duran Duran
42. I Don't Wanna Fight, Tina Turner
43. I'd Die Without You, P.M. Dawn
44. Whoot, There It Is, 95 South
45. Hip Hop Hooray, Naughty By Nature
46. Another Sad Love Song, Toni Braxton
47. Will You Be There, Michael Jackson
48. Comforter, Shil
49. Good Enough, Bobby Brown5
0. What's Up, 4 Non Blondes
51. All That She Wants, Ace Of Base
52. 7, Prince and The New Power Generation
53. Dre Day, Dr. Dre
54. One Last Cry, Brian McKnight
55. Just Kickin' It, Xscape
56. I Get Around, 2Pac
57. Bed Of Roses, Bon Jovi
58. Real Love, Mary J. Blige
59. Here We Go Again!, Portrait
60. Cryin', Aerosmith
61. Cats In The Cradle, Ugly Kid Joe
62. What About Your Friends, TLC
63. I Got A Man, Positive K
64. Hey Mr. D.J., Zhane
65. Insane In The Brain, Cypress Hill
66. Deeper And Deeper, Madonna
67. Rain, Madonna
68. The Right Kind Of Love, Jeremy Jordan
69. Bad Boys, Inner Circle
70. That's What Love Can Do, Boy Krazy
71. Do You Believe In Us, Jon Secada
72. Angel, Jon Secada
73. Forever In Love, Kenny G
74. Again, Janet Jackson
75. Boom! Shake The Room, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince
76. When She Cries, Restless Heart
77. Sweat (A La La La La Long), Inner Circle
78. It Was A Good Day, Ice Cube
79. More And More, Captain Hollywood Project
80. How Do You Talk To An Angel, Heights
81. Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat), Digable Planets
82. What Is Love, Haddaway
83. To Love Somebody, Michael Bolton
84. Give It Up, Turn It Loose, En Vogue
85. Alright, Kris Kross
86. Check Yo Self, Ice Cube
87. Fields Of Gold, Sting
88. Ooh Child, Dino
89. Faithful w/ Go West
90. Reason To Believe, Rod Stewart
91. Break It Down Again, Tears For Fears
92. Nothin' My Love Can't Fix, Joey Lawrence
93. Three Little Pigs, Green Jelly
94. Livin' On The Edge, Aerosmith
95. Hey Jealousy, Gin Blossoms
96. If I Ever Lose My Faith In You, Sting
97. Anniversary, Tony! Toni! Tone!
98. One Woman, Jade
99. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Taylor Dayne
100. Two Steps Behind, Def Leppard

A little bit of FREE fun - and wow i didn't know why I loved some of these songs, but now I do.