Briley Knits is having a blog anniversary! In honor, she is having a contest.
http://brileyknits.blogspot.com/2008/04/blogiversary-contest.html
Here is what she says.....go check it out! Please tell her I sent you so I can get an additional entry....hey, I want to win too!

"This photo show 4 different types of roving from my stash. They are all 100% a single fiber (no blends). Guess what type of fiber each roving is.To enter the contest leave a comment with your guesses listed left to right (they must be in the correct order to be considered correct guesses), by Monday April 28. Any guess will get you an entry in the drawing for a prize.To get additional entries:
A correct guess on two or three of the fibers will get an additional entry
A correct guess on all four fibers gets you 4 additional entries
If you enter this contest and have ever commented on either of my blogs before you will get an additional entry
A link to this contest on your blog will get you an additional entry (you must let me know you have done this)
Any comment in which someone tells me you referred them to this contest will get you another entry.
So, the number of entries you can get is limitless.The Prizes:
a custom needle roll-up
a 4oz hank of hand spun merino wool
a hank of hand painted cotton yarn
I will announce winners on Tuesday, April 29th. The first place winner (the first name I draw out of a bag) will get to choose whichever prize he/she would like. The second place winner will get his/her choice of the two remaining prizes, and the third place winner will get the remaining prize."

One month smoke free.........

Today is a big day for me. I have been smoke free for a month now. Well, sort of. (I know, I know....that is like being 'sort of' pregnant) I did smoke one when I was at Sweetie's house friday to see her get her first kindergarten award but I'm not counting it so there!!! I think it's pretty good for going cold turkey and I need all the help I can get.

Tater and Peanut didn't get to come to spend the night tonight. Mom and Dad just didn't have the gas to drive 400 miles round trip so they didn't get to have a night out in Dallas. I don't know how young families do it today. So I have spent the day trying to finish UFO's (that's unfinished objects in blog knitter's land). Finished a dishrag and am now doing the toe on a sock for Saucy Socks Spring Swap. Have until June to finish the pair, so far right on schedule. Once I finish the first sock I will work on Joni's purple socks. I am almost to the toe on the first one of that pair also. Vicki was so nice she put together a contest for the knitters that didn't get to go to LSSK's WHIBSIB Retreat. Whoever completes the most UFO's during the time everyone is gone, wins a prize. She also sent the link to 2 puzzles (links here if you want to try them:

http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/daily-jigsaw

http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/9C055D50F6E7?z=3)

and whoever completes them in the shortest time each win a prize. Knitting prizes of course..the best kind. Well, better get back to knitting. I LOVE free yarn!! Good luck to the others who are participating in the Pity Party for prizes.

laters,

Barb

WHIBSIB Jealously...........

I belong to the Lone Star State Knitters Group. It is a really fun group that shares patterns and life in Texas. All you have to do to join is to live in Texas while a member. They are the nicest, kindest group of ladies with hearts as big as Texas. It doesn't take long to feel like you are part of a big caring family. Groups meet in the various towns once a week to knit and bitch! Each new baby, child or grandchild of a member, gets squares knitted by any member who wants and can then make a LSSK's baby blanket (patterns in group files). There are all kinds of contests with 'knitty' prizes, you can knit preemie items and send them to Jennifer who forwards them to our chosen hospital..........the list just goes on and on. Posts are sooooooooo entertaining!

Only one problem.....well, for me anyway. This weekend the group is having their WHIBSIB Knitting Sleepover.............I'm going to be sneaky and say if you want to know what WHIBSIB means you have to join the group!!!!! hehe............
I want sooo much to go. And I can't....yet.... It isn't the money.

(dragging out my soap-box and swallowing my pride)........................

It is just really hard for me to do things outside of my home because of post traumatic stress disorder, double depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. I'm a lot better than I was 15 yrs ago and have learned so many tools to use from the greatest therapist in the world, Johnnie Bonner (who is now retired from the Dallas VA Medical Center). She was the first person EVER to be able to really reach me and make a difference in my life. The only answer I have ever been able to come up with for why it worked was that she was willing to let me see that she really cared about me. If you've ever talked to someone, friend or therapist, and felt they were listening but they was 'holding back' for whatever reason (not understanding, professional style, etc..), then you will understand what I mean. She wasn't afraid to 'feel' what I was telling her and really shocked me every time what I was saying made her cry. It is still hard to believe anyone would really 'care' like that for me...little 'ole me! For years after I divorced and the girls were grown (actually it started when my youngest was a junior in high school, so sorry Sunshine), I spent most of my time laying in bed being depressed and crying on and off. In 1993, the day came when I needed to go get the groceries and I couldn't leave the house.

I don't have group or individual therapy anymore and can pretty much live my life but it is still hard to take that step and leave the house. Most things will eventually get done, whatever it is that needs me to leave, just might take a few hours or days to get going, lol.

Knitting has been a life saver for me. I have been knitting hats for preemies for several years, knitting for Dulaan until it stopped a few years ago, and knitted warm hats for the homeless in Dallas that I would see on the bus or trains. (I don't drive anymore.) That is my contribution to the world. That and connecting with children I see who seem to have an abusive parent (I try and catch their eye, smile and wink to try and get them to smile since that always made me feel 'connected' when I was a child and like someone, somehow knew what I was going through. Got me through some hard years so I try and 'pay it forward' and would encourage YOU to try it also. Even a young child can be suicidal......did you know that......and that smile maybe the one thing that keeps them here.)

OK.....getting down off my soap-box now.

Where was I......oh, yes. Maybe all that helps you understand why I am so jealous of my friends getting together this weekend and I just can't do it yet..........BUT I WILL.

Just you wait and see! I was able to finally stop smoking March 27 this year!!! Almost a month now...hum, wonder if there is a counter out in internet land that would count how many days it is and post to my right column. If you know, leave a comment. That would sure be encouraging.

laters,
Barb

Out of the mouth of babes.......

Completed 2 projects. Finished knitting the first of 2 dishcloths for April with the Monthly Dishcloth Group "In The Meadow". I used Peaches and Cream yarn. Going to knit a button on dish towel to match by lengthening the pattern and adding the top.

It's a little hard to see since I have to 'squish' it in my scanner to get a picture. The 4 flowers are on top of a hill (in a meadow) and the bloom is made by knitting one bobble stitch. I like the sun peeking out of the top left corner, too. This is a great group. One pattern is posted the first of the month which is themed to fit the month or season. It is designed to look best knitted in a solid color. The middle of the month a pattern is posted for varigated or fair isle yarn in an all over pattern. If you choose to knit a square you can post the photo but it is not a requirement to join. The patterns alone are really good!!!

I also created a new 'antique' sachet (4" x 4" outside of the lace). I took antique lace and material that had a hand embroderied lavender already on it and made sachet. Wonder if that counts as 'antique"? Doesn't matter...it turned out really sweet and dainty. I love victorian decorating!

The following is a sweet story out of the mouth of a 4 yr old I happen to love delightfully. If you are easily offended by ANYTHING REMOTELY OF A SEXUAL NATURE....read no more.

Otherwise, enjoy the pure innocense and tender concern of this sweet baby girl nicknamed Tator:

DD#4 has recently started babysitting a couple of days a week. Being a christian wife and mother, she is very protective of her two daughters, Tator 4 1/2 and Peanut 1 1/2. Now you need to understand that Tator doesn't know the physical differences between boys and girls. Since she is now taking care of a tiny baby boy, she decided this might be a good time to be more casual about Tator seeing her change his diaper. The day came when Tator just happened to be in the room and it was time to change a diaper. Sure enough she came over. She adores babies!!

So Mom quietly and slowly continued to change the wet diaper. Wet diaper (keep that in mind, now....You can see where this is going, huh). When it appeared that Mom thought she was through wiping baby, a frown came to Tator's face,

"Mommy, you missed some poop poop." she said with concern.

Mom replied, "No, boys look different than girls."

(She may have told me she said more but I don't think so. We've talked a lot about only answering what is asked and see what comes, next to avoid confusion or giving too much information unnecessisily.)

Several lllooonnnnggggg seconds passed while Tator thought about that one! Then a look of revulsion came on her face.

"Mommy!, does he taste his poop poop?!?!"

Now this was really puzzling, but this Mom is one cool cucumber! After a few minutes the 'light bulb' came on! Tator was really thinking hard and she was right. It really did look like a little mouth with a tiny tongue sticking out................what other conclusion would she come to!!! So Mom explained a litttle bit more and Tator gave a big sigh........

"I'm glad cause that would sure taste yucky!" Bless her sweet caring heart!

Kid's, Cat's and Knitting..................

Finished another dishcloth.....this pattern is a past release of the Monthly Discloth Group on Yahoo. I am also knitting 2 more that I can't show. They are for my Dishcloth Swap 5-Spring Has Sprung secret pal. I am wrapping a 'token of spring' also. Mine will be a tiny bird nest that I found in one of the birdhouses on my apartment patio last spring.

The birdhouse was given to me by Shannon, my daughter, and looks like a black and white cat face with the door the cat's mouth. I have 2 cats that have a cat door leading to the patio and I think that is why the nest was never completed. I did get to watch them building it for a few days while I kept the cats inside but I didn't dare let them work long enough to become prey for Prissy and Cinder. Prissy is Cinder's older sister and their mother lives in Virginia with my second oldest daughter Tami. Prissy is a yr and a half and Cinder was from the next litter and chosen by my oldest daughter's child Mandee. Mandee also has Ella (get it...... Cinder-Ella named with help from Aunt Shannon). Ella is a very gentle calico, about 6 mths younger than Cinder. Mandee decided that Cinder is just too rambunctious for Ella and didn't know how to protect Ella so I suggested that Cinder come for an extended visit with me and Prissy. It has been about 2 mths and they get along great. Cinder LOVES the cat door here. She was the Houdi-cat at Mandee's and ran out everytime the door was opened and into the street. Having control of my home has made her a very happy Nana OWNER. I don't have a camera to post their current pictures but they said I could post older ones since they make their hips look thinner!

Do you need an Ewok interpreter.................

I have the cutest grandkids ever!!!

My daughter Shannon left this in the comments....just had to add it!

"We were watching Star Wars the other night.
Blake was quite in tune watching with his little head tilted to the side like Forest Gump.
The part with the Ewoks came on and he said,

"I know what he just said."

"You do?", I asked.

"Yup, Andrew (his 7 yr. old buddy) taught me how."

Barely able to hold in my laughter I asked (naturally) what he said.

Never taking his eyes off the TV he answers,

"Well, he didn't teach me all of it.
I don't know........
I'll have to learn some more first."


So all of you who all of these years have been wondering what on earth the Ewoks were saying,
just ask Blake... He speaks Ewok!

The Adventure Begins

Today is the first day of my blogging life. I don't have a way to enter pictures yet but I am hoping to have a lot of pictures of my artwork and knitting. Don't know if anyone other than my family will ever read this blog but it just might be fun to put my thoughts here. I am a self taught artist. I work with graphite pencils, colored pencil and ink (all dots) and love doing portraits. You will be able to see examples my work in the right hand column. Some are in progress or may never be completed.......who knows. Please realize that I know nothing about creating a blog so it may look a bit rough for a while. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHh!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't realize how hard it is to do this, lol. Well, what you read is what you get...