Question 6

For many people, Winter is a time of cold weather and snow - and many fun outdoor activities that can only be enjoyed during those times! What's YOUR favorite activity in Winter, and is it even outdoors??

This year my favorite activity for the winter is baking. I have been having a lot of family come in from out of twon and cookies and coffee or tea or cider have been really nice to have when they come to visit. That and it makes the house smell so good! I have also been knitting more that the weather has cooled off. I haven't made mush progress on my sweater, but it's cozy having it puddled on my lap!

Question 5

I want you to make coffee talk with someone new either by blog post or email where available that you don't know and make a post on your blog about what you have learned about someone else other than your secret pal or the friends you already know. You can talk about projects they are working on, coffee they like to drink or this Wintery Season in your part of the world right now. Some of my best blogging friends I have gotten to know, were from just going down the roll and checking out blogs and leaving comment on their post. So, that is it. Go, fix you a hot cup of coffee and find you someone to chat with.

I visited Melissa B. just by chance. She sounds very nice! I got a kick out of the fact that she got hooked on coffee in a Starbucks. Makes my seattle-bred-heart happy! We seem to have a bit in common: both being sahms and have younger and multiple children. Her Calorimetry is really pretty! I wish the one I made last Christmas came out that well! :P And I do have to say that a white chocolate peppermint mocha makes my mouth water!
Also, for Melissa, if you read this, I hope your foot is all better! That looked really painful.

Silliness and Procrastination

You Are a Gingerbread House

A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you.

What Holiday Food Are You?

I couldn't help doing this quiz! It was on Lara's blog a few posts ago and I got a kick out of it! lol :P

As for knitting...I have been procrastinating on my shrug. The ribbed edging is killing me. It is taking forever! It's almost done, but 250+ stitches per row makes is stretch into eternity even when you only have 5 or 6 rows left! Okay, enough whining. Back to knitting!

P.S. Go to food network and make their Pistachio Biscotti. I used pecans instead and they turned out fabulous. Happy Holidays!

Question 4

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

I've really thought and procrastinated on this question. I still don't have an insightful or inspiring answer. The best times I have had that involve coffee have been with my family, usually after a meal, sitting and bs-ing around the dinner table drinking bottomless cups of coffee until the late hours.
This does remind me that my Dad is coming to visit next week and we will be able to have this scenario again! (Just insert tea for me!)

Knitting content soon. I am still finishing my Blackberry shrug. I swear, the ribbed edging is taking as long as all the pieces put together. Or the seaming. That was painful. I do have to day that Stephanie (Yarn Harlot) has a point. A glass of wine is a great thing when seaming. Unfortunately, I had to sub this with sparkling cider. Not the same. Festive, but it didn't dull the act of seaming! lol!
Trust me, pics soon! I found my camera, but now am in the process of finding the usb cable. (Darn thing.) Then I will lay everything out, tackle the friends and family that have been given some of these projects as gifts before photographing, and take some crappy photos for you all. :P

Quick Update

Finally did my sonogram this last week...
It's officially a boy! (Yes, another.) And we will be expecting on or around the 15th of February.

Question #3

The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

There really is a lot for me to be thankful for right now. I am constantly thankful for the fact that my eldest is happy and healthy. I'm tickled that my dad and step-mom are able to come and visit us this year. (I can't travel right now - wouldn't get to see them until next year if they couldn't come down!) I'm excited that I get to cook Thanksgiving this year. A little overwhelmed, maybe! I'm also thankful that even through the hardships, we have been blessed with enough that we can share with others less fortunate. In my church there was a giving tree. Karma, or what? I had to take a tag. (It was for a 2 yr old little boy. How could I not?) I'm really looking forward to the holidays and I hope they are special for you all, too.

Question 2

As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself?

Now that it is getting colder, the sweater patterns in the magazines look more appealing! I am also making more hats and gloves. I may also try some knitted ornaments. I work on things for others sporadically through the year, so it doesn't change much now that it is getting close to Christmas. (I am NOT knitting all my presents this year!!!) I think this winter I will end up working on items more for myself. I need good maternity tops and shopping for maternity stuff is just downright depressing! Who knew that you had to look frumpy and pay a lot of money to do so when you are expecting?!? I have bookmarked several shrug and cardi patterns on Ravelry and in magazines I have at home and am determined to have a cute pregnancy wardrobe! :P

Contests!

Nope, still not from me...I'm having too much fun participating in others'!
Anne is having a contest to gather favorite patterns. Go on over and enter - just make sure to include that you heard about it here! I will get another entry!
Cass is also having a contest. You get to brag about your fav knit gifts! And again, please tell Cass that I sent you over!
Happy knitting!
I will post pics of my FO's soon...I think I have almost reached the box of miscellaneous computer stuff at the back of the garage. Hopefully... :P
(There are only a few old pics, but you can see what I'm up to on Ravelry also! I'm under ksknitchic.)

Question 1

When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell? Tell us how your passion began!
Coffee was always ingrained in my life growing up. I grew up in and around Seattle for my first 20 years. My parents probably have some cute stories about me and coffee, but I didn't actually start drinking coffee until I was in high school. I think I was a junior when I was actually drinking steadily. I love the smell of the brewing coffee, it will always bring up a million cozy memories for me. I can't think of a family household I have spent time in that didn't have a coffee pot! Getting back to the coffee...taste and caffeine are about 50/50 for me. I drink my coffee frou-frou. I love lattes and even the processed stuff you get a QuikTrip! (nifty gas station) My fav is when I take the time to pull out my espresso machine at home and make them myself. Mmmm... lol! Even though I am unable to drink coffee now, I am looking forward to when I can indulge in a latte soon! (Yep, pregnant!) I will miss out on all the yummy holiday flavors at the latte stand in town, but thank goodness for chai and hot cocoa!

Another contest!

Go on over to Tangled up in Knots and enter her contest! If you do, please tell her you read about it on my blog... I get another entry that way!
Happy Halloween!

Winter Coffee Swap Questionnaire

Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)

The favorite roasts that tend to be repeated around the house are french or dark roast blends. anything deep and rich and smoky. (I am going to be giving the coffee from this swap to the hubby! I am currently pregnant and cannot drink coffee. I do drink tea, though!)

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?

Right now we are doing ground coffee as the grinder was lost in this last move!

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee?

I haven't ever found an actual flavored coffee that I adored. When I do any flavoring it is either in the creamer or I will drink flavored hot cocoa. Mmmm... peppermint and chocolate are a weakness for me!

Do you enjoy special blends?

Nope!

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf?

When I am able to drink coffee, I take it with cream and sugar. The hubby drinks it dark, full-caff, and straight up, so no frills for him!

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?

I can really go wither way depending on a whim. I enjoy most anything that is unique, whimsical, funky, and/or cute. I am a big fan of tea and cocoa through the winter and the tea tends to get me feeling a little more girly! (Although, I won't hesitate to steal one of the hubby's big mugs!)

Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!

What is your favorite part of Winter?

My favorite part of winter is the snow. I moved to the mid-west in the last decade from the west coast and am reveling in the snow! I adore how you can wake up in the morning and everything looks all white and sparkly like a christmas card.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?

Chirstmas!

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?

YES!

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?

I would love items of either genre. I put up christmas decor through my house through december and then I do just winter items through january. So, either or both types of items would be used and loved!

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?

I don't specifically collect any one item, yet. I seem to go after whatever catches my eye at the moment. I am not super traditional, though.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?

I wear scarves, I like the fingerless gloves (can't wrangle children in mittens!), I wear the warm headbands or cloche-style hats.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?

Frangos! Or, for those of you who didn't grow up on the west coast, chocolate mints. Peppermint bark or hot cocoa comes in a close second. Or anything gingerbread!

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.

My favorite memories seem to alwasys be centered around snow and family. Watching the snow fall, waking up to a white christmas, making cookies with my mom or grandma, having christmas dinner with the extended family, etc...

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?

I learned to knit as a child, but I did not keep at it for many years. Almost two years ago I retaught myself how to knit. I recently (a little under a year ago) taught myself how to crochet.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?

Needles really depend on the project. I am somewhat indifferent. The only ones I won't use are wooden dpn's. I have been drawn to cute, embellished needles, but have not had the available funds to indulge myself! If I did, I would have an assortment of glass ones, too!

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?

I really do adore a lot of the sock yarn on the market right now and am finding lots of projects to do with that. I am working on a Dream Swatch Head Wrap right now. I plan to make some fingerless mitts and maybe a cloche-ish hat also. I would also like to try my hand with lace-weight yarn. I have a pattern for a lace scarf, but haven't tried it yet!

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?

I love superwash wools, alpaca, silks, tweeds, anything that has beautiful colors and textures.

Do you spin or dye?

I have dabbled a bit in dyeing. Gotta love Kool-Aid! I had a lot of fun with it and hope to do more soon! I am dying to learn how to spin. A gal in my knitting group is soing to teach a class on spinning and I can't wait!

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else?

I have sone some scapbooking, tried painting, did cross-stitch for many years, still do some beading...really whatever catches my curiosity at the time!

General

When is your birthday?

July 25

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!)

I have a 3 1/2 year old, a two year old, and one on the way in early spring!

What are your favorite colors?

I tend to lean toward saturated hues for myself. I enjoy neutrals, also. I love a lot of the colorways in handpainted yarn. My Ravelry account (ksknitchic) shows a few good examples of colors, etc. in my stash and favorites.

Do you have any allergies?

None that I know of!

Happy Wishes

Happy blogiversary Robin!
Go on over the The Knittin' Coop and wish Robin a happy one!

Lovin' the Internet

Thanks for the pattern J! I have begun the Dream Swatch Head Wrap. The lacy stitches were a bit of a trick at first, but it is coming out sooo well! I am using a skein of Claudia Hand Painted Sport in Peppermint Mocha. Check me out on ravelry to see a pic of the yarn! I will hopefully have pics of the head wrap when it is done...it is so smooshy and soft!
As for lovin the internet...I have been chosen to do test knitting for Knit Fit Knitting! I am really excited to be doing knitting on a semi-professional level! It's almost a job! :P I was freaking out a little bit...recently I had developed an odd tweak to my knitting. My purl rows were getting twisted and throwing off my gauge. Seriously, this took me weeks to figure out. Drove me crazy. Apparently I was wrapping the purl stitch backwards. Backwards. This has to be the hormones. I didn't do this before. And I was so relieved when I figured it out! (A little sheepish, too.)
Thank god that got fixed. I am now stuck on my shawl. Three rows of raspberry and no more yarn. I have to pick out a few new colors to finish the last three rows and the edging. I can't find a combo that thrills me. I am probably going to stash it for awhile and wait until I can get the rest of the yarn from the hubby's grandmother's house to see if there is either more raspberry yarn or maybe a better color to go with it than what is here.
More soon!
:)

I'm back!

Let me start off with the fact that my internet was down for approximately one week. Yes, one week. You can imagine the secreaming, wailing and hair-pulling involved in this, can't you? I am still catching up on email and reading blogs. I missed you all!
On the yarny front...I am about halfway done with my crochet shawl, but am almost out of my raspberry yarn. I am thinking of finishing in grey and edging in black...or maybe adding purple or blue...lol! Since I haven't reached that point, I really haven't decided. Any suggestions?
In other news, I have been slowly emptying boxes from the garage and trying to put them away in the house. How is it that I can't find space for all my stuff when I have more room than I had before?!?
lol
More later!

Flu Shots.

Poor Jenny. Jenny is the pediatrician's head nurse. She is a wonderful lady that has worked hard and been very helpful to us through all of the eldest child's sickness. Unfortunatley, the only time my two boys ever see Jenny is when they have to get shots! Hence, poor Jenny. We had to get flu shots for the boys today, and as soon as they saw her, both knew they were going to get stuck. Needless to say, they both howled. (Don't worry, they recovered in about 10 seconds!)
As for knitting, I'm still kind of stuck. I am crocheting right now. I started this shawl. I'm really liking it so far. I am using a worsted weight hand-me-down acrylic in a raspberry shade. I don't know if I will have enough, so far I've just closed my eyes and hoped for the best!
More soon!

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

Mmmmm....coffee and yarn. Go check them out! Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Registration opens on the 24th.

Still here.

Not knitting much, though.
We moved into our new house (yes house. not duplex, apartment, or whatever else would cause you to share a common wall with other insane people.) on the 28th. Hence, I have been doing everything but knitting. Lots of unpacking, organizing and cleaning. Yuck. :P
I have not finished my hubby's birthday socks.
I have not finished my Breeze socks.
I have not finished my M-I-L's fuzzy scarf.
I have not finished my cardigan.
I have not finished my crocheted owl for the baby.
Or any baby clothes.
I have started an afghan.
Go figure.
LOL...pics soon! (I just have to unpack the camera...it's in there somewhere...)

Ravelry

This could be addictive. I got my invite to Ravelry last night. lol
Knitting pics soon! I have a FO and everything! I completed Bauble for the MIL yesterday for her b-day, but haven't taken any pics yet.
Soon!

Belated Thank you

Dear Stephanie,

Thank you for coming to Wichita and sharing and speaking and laughing with us! (And for fondling my hubby's sock!)

Home, almost.

Yesterday, my oldest was finally allowed to come home from the hospital. (Yea!) Unfortunatley, we are not able to take him home to the house that he knows as home. Because of his illness and the medications that he was given in the hospital, he can't go back to the house with the wet basement. Thankfully, we have found another (newer, cleaner, for sale not rent) house in the town that the hubby is now working in to move into. It's just not available until the first of the month. So...we are staying with the in-laws for a week.
In knitting news...
there is no knitting news! I haven't barely knit or even got close to thinking of finishing a project in a month!
More soon!