Happy New Year!

It is still 45 min. to midnight here but I figured I wish everyone a Happy one now. After this post I am off to bed. No exciting party for me. I just realized I have had this blog for over a year now. I posted pretty regular at the beginning and then slacked off quite a bit once the weather got nice. I hope to be better this year. I am getting better about taking pictures and knowing how to download them and get them to where I want without having to ask the boys every time. I just finished knitting a hat for the eldest's girlfriend and hope to get a picture soon. I also crocheted myself a cloche during our stormy Christmas and will post that as well-- before the weekend is over. I find that crochet is still quite a bit faster for me so am on the hunt for some cardigan patterns in crochet. We shall see. I have at least 3 knitting projects on the needles now with a good many in the much wanted cue using some Christmas stash enhancement.. I also have at least 1/2 doz. sewing projects cut out and waiting to be sewn. Now I want to add crochet and I haven't spun since last winter I think. Everyday life just gets in the way of creating. I will leave you with a couple pictures from our Christmas snowfall.

Ready for Christmas?

I don't think I am ready for Christmas. I feel like I have run out of steam and of course I wait too long to start some of my gifts. I freezer paper stenciled some t-shirts for my nephews, but I don't seem to be able to find the pictures on my computer. That's what I get for having the b oys download them for me, you never know where they're at. I also crocheted what I called monster balls for the younger nephews. They were a hit. Just round, soft balls with legs and a face, but the boys loved them. I will post pictures when they are located. I am working on a couple of baby sweaters and I am in the mood to try and crochet some socks. I am so much faster with crochet so maybe I can get a pair completed.

Sorry for the disappearing act

I have done alot of refashioning lately. I hope to show you a few here. I have made some more underwear and have 5 more pair cut out ready to sew. I used a thrifted sheet to make scrub pants for work. You should have heard them at work when I turned in the $4 receipt for reimbursement. They wished everyone was so thrifty. I also purchased a fun cowboy/western themed sheet that is cut out and ready to sew a scrub top. I hope to get that one done today so I can wear it tomorrow. This top I made from fabric I got at the second hand store. I have gotten a lot of comments on it. I have been keeping up with reading wardrobe refashion site and have gotten a few ideas for sweaters now that it has been colder outside. I'll take pictures as soon as I can. I'll post some pictures for you of my flowers when it was still warm out. I hope to make posting on here more of a regular thing this fall. Enjoy!

Summer is flying by

I can't believe it is the middle of July already. I need to add at least one more month to the summer before the kids go back to school. I just looked at the school calendar last week and the boys go back to school on Aug. 21st. It makes me slightly upset. That is during the week of a local county fair. Not the county we live in but the county my boys are in for 4-H. That means they will not be able to participate in some of the things they would normally do. Is there a reason we need to start that early in the year? I think not. My husband feels a little differently, but I will be letting the school board know how I feel. This also makes me feel like the rest of the summer will be rushed. Not very relaxing.

Onto some recent fashions. I knit this cute little sweater for a coworker who was expecting her first child. Obviously she knew she was having a girl. I also knew she would appreciate a handmade garment and she loved it. It is small toddler size so I will have to wait a while before I get to see her in it, but I know I liked receiving gifts that I could save for later. I know I should link the website where I got the pattern, but I am too lazy to go search out the pattern. It was a free pattern and if you really want it jut leave me a comment and I will find it for you. I was very happy how it turned out. It was fun to knit something small and girly. I don't get to do that much.

Next post I will show you some of the new additions to our animal family. Enjoy your summer!

Still here

Sorry for the long absence. Between a busy life and computer issues I haven't been around. There has been a lot of sewing and a little knitting going on around here. Unfortunately, Maggie is no longer with us. Her medical issues compounded quickly and we had to put her out of her misery. She was a good dog and protected her boy as much as she thought she should. We miss her but know she is out of pain now.

Here my first BSJ. I say the first because I am sure there will be more in the future. The recipient loved it and said it was perfect for her little guy. I did not put buttonholes in it, instead I sewed on elastic loops for the buttons. I like the way it turned out.

Next up is one of my favorite wardrobe refashions. If you are of a delicate nature you may want to skip this one. I took some really soft t-shirts that weren't getting used as much as they should.

I made a pattern from my favorite pair of ready made underwear and cut up the t-shirts. I took some other underwear that were in my drawer that didn't fit right and cut the nice elastic off to use on my handmade ones. I have a total of about 6 or 8 pairs and rarely wear any others. They are so soft and fit me great. I plan on making more in the future as needed. Try it, you'll like it.

I will try to post more regularly in the future.

Dog update

Maggie is still limping along, only it's the left leg that is giving her trouble now. ( For those of you, I ran over her on Friday the 13th) I noticed yesterday that she has some lumps on her right hip, but they don't seem to bother her when I press on them. I don't know how much longer I'll let her keep struggling. She just has so many issues and I don't think it's fair to make her suffer. We have had a few nice spring days and she has enjoyed those by laying outside in the sun.
On to knitting updates. The socks are still a UFO. The reason for that is I started a BSJ finally. Two girls I work with are due to have babies this spring so I figured it was the perfect time. So far it is going well. Yesterday was very productive on the refashioning front. I recently cleaned out the closet and took out a few t-shirts that had shrunk in length. Perfect for making some new underwear. I also cut the elastic off of some underwear that had just been sitting in the drawer because they just didn't fit right. Voila! 4 new pair of underwear that fit me great and are so comfy soft. The t-shirts I used had some lycra in them so they are perfect for this application. I used an existing pair that I liked and traced a pattern from them. It has worked well and I now have 6 pair I love and a couple others (my first attempts) that are wearable. I will post pictures soon, I promise. I just didn't have time to download the pictures this morning. The boys have solo band contest this morning and then I'm off to work.

Friday the 13th

Wow! Time really flies. I don't even know where it has gone. I thought the day (for a Friday the 13th) was going pretty well, until this evening. I went to pull my car in the garage and I ran over one of our dogs. I think she's o.k. but I feel sooooo BAD. She already has enough problems. she's old and the others started picking on her so bad we had to bring her in the house. Her back right leg is pretty sore, but looks normal. She is stiff and has a hard time moving as it is and now I have to help her get up on her legs and then she can start moving. Morning is going to be rough I'm afraid. We had a couple of really cold days after freezing rain and moments of blizzard like weather but things are finally warming up. Our garden seeds arrived in the mail the other day and I need to start planning the garden. I am so ready for spring and everyone had better help with this garden. A nearby town is having a freezing and canning seminar at the community center and I happen to have the evening off. That means we need to purchase a much needed freezer. Maybe with our stimulus money. Won't get started on that. I really want to get the boys to eat better and I haven't been a very good example. I love vegetables, but I didn't make the kids eat them after they started on table food. I'll just keep offering them and when they are fresh from the garden, even better.

I have been knitting, but no FO's. Working on socks with a Chevron pattern, trying a knitting loom and making a rectangular shawl, and a difficult to describe shawl/sweater based on one a coworker was wearing. I'll leave you with a kitty shot. They love each other. The black one is named Tux, because he has a patch of white under his chin and on his belly. He sticks to himself and doesn't seem to require much from us. The orange one is Cosmo and he got sent back to the barn this week. He was spraying and I could never catch him at it but we knew it was him. Now Tux is around and wants to lay by us more. I think is enjoying not being tackled by Cosmo everyday. He is blind in one eye and I don't know if he will be as good a mouser as Cosmo. We'll see. Have a good rest of the day.

Wardrobe Refashion

I love doing refashions! With the state of the economy, this is essential for me to feel like I have a "new" wardrobe. Most of my ideas have been seen elsewhere on the net (lots of surfing). Sometimes at work there are used scrubs that people are tired of or are not the right size anymore. A while back there was quite a large pile of x-large and 2XL tops. I like the prints and figured I could just size them down to fit and be a little more flattering.

Here are 2 that I did using a uniform top pattern I had already. The purple one had set-in sleeves so I cut them off and reattached at the appropriate size after removing the excess fabric. I also added a piece of elastic on the back to bring is in at the waist to make a more flattering shape. The floral one I just took in the sides all the way up and into the sleeve as it was all one piece. Then I took some bias tape and attached it for an empire waist and also put a couple tucks underneath it to take in a little more of the fabric. These tops were FREE and took very little time to resize. They are some of my favorites as they have more of a shape than my store bought uniform tops. I have made a couple of scrub tops using the Ellinor pattern from Burdastyle.com. I added inseam pockets and sewed the front center seam a little higher at the neckline. I used elastic at the empire waist. I really like these tops except that the upper sleeves are little restrictive. Does anyone have a tip to fix this problem? The darker one is my favorite as it is Tinker Bell. Fun scrubs are allowed at work and we do not have to match each other as I am the only tech in my area. Gotta love Tink! Hope this inspires someone else to do a little wardrobe refashioning.

Alpaca

I hope you can see this yarn. It is my handspun alpaca/silk blend. It took a little net surfing to figure out how to spin this soft fiber. As I've said, I'm a fairly new spinner and had only worked with wool until I acquired this fiber. It was a whole different experience. At first I was a little frustrated and wasn't sure I'd made a good purchase. Then I found a some info and spinning from the fold. That was the trick. I was still a little unsure of the end product I was achieving. Well, after I plyed it and gave it a quick soak, it bloomed and plumped and I love it. I was pretty proud of the end product. I got approximately 145 yards of 2ply out of 4 oz. I'd guess it is between a sport weight and a worsted weight. I haven't done a wpi yet, but i did make my own yardage measure that doubles as a "spool" holder for plying. I only have a drop spindle right now and then I wrap my fiber onto empty toilet paper rolls. One full wrap around the outside pegs is one yard. When I want to ply, I place each roll on a peg then they spin freely so I can ply. I have only done 2 ply so far, but I hope to acquire some more fiber soon and I will work on trying to spin finer so I can maybe try 3 ply or if I'm feeling brave, maybe Navajo ply for some sock yarn. We'll see what happens, but I need to finish the alpaca and am planning on knitting a wrap with it. Did I say I was proud of myself? I soooooo am. This could become a major obsession. It is so transportable to take to work to do during downtime.

Socks

I have sock yarn in my carry around bag that has been there for 2 weeks and they still aren't started. I have been obsessed with spinning. If I could afford to buy a spinning wheel I would have one, much to my husbands regret I'm sure. He's already cranky about the yarn stuff laying buy my chair as it is. I have only been spinning since Christmas and it is all I can think about. It just amazes me how I can do this and I'm getting happier with my results.

Back to socks.

These 2 pair actually both fit me. The green pair is very stretchy and are very cushy and comfy. The other pair was supposed to be superwash but seem to have felted and shrunk a little since I took this picture. I guess I will have to hand wash them in the future. I hope they still fit. I really love wearing my own homemade socks and need to get busy and knit a few more pairs. I only have 5 pair with one being a bulky slipper pair that I am wearing right now. They were the first pair I knit using kitchen cotton. Unfortunately my husband doesn't understand my pride and is embarrased of the colorful socks. Maybe I will knit him a pair and then he will understand. Not sure I'm ready to put the effort in not knowing if he will appreciate them. We'll see. My times up since I have to share the computer. More later.

Going digital

Well, we hooked up our digital converter box, which only cost $9.95 after the government rebate. It was the amped up antenna that cost $40 that was the kicker. But, I tell you what, it really makes a difference, even if it looks like something from outer space. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0642818&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=39715&lid=1003762We get several PBS channels and I'm hoping that one of them will have Knitting Daily TV on other than at 3am. I would really like to catch an episode. Tonight I plied some of the alpaca/silk blend I have been spinning. I love how it turned out. It is so light and soft. I did some research today and found out a little about having a balanced twist. I think I did a better job than the wool I plied this weekend, though I am very happy with it also. I need to get some more so I have enough yardage to actually knit something with it. I should have enough of the alpaca/silk for at least a small wrap. I can't wait. It will probably be warming up before I get it done. I'm not even finished with the first 4 oz. yet. I'm really enjoying spinning it. I promise to get pictures posted as soon as Technoboy helps me with the hard drive.

Finally!

Finally it's friday. It seems like this week took forever. i had 3 very late nights and I am feeling so fried. I don't know how much I will get done today. I would like to just go back to bed, but I'm going to try real hard to not do that. I do have to go out and fill the horses water tank, but someone left the hose out so it was all froze. Do you know how heavy hoses that are frozen are? It was a workout just to get it rolled up and hauled into the house to thaw. I think it is thawed enough so I should probably go do that. One of the boys is having a friend over tonight so it will probably just be a pizza night. I want to construct a piece so I can measure out my handspun yarn and also be able to put my toilet paper wrapped rolls on to attempt to do some plying. I have the dowels cute thanks to Hathead, but I need to find an appropriate length of 2x4 to drill holes in to insert the dowels. I will post a picture when I get it constructed. Unfortunately I am having issues accessing my back-up drive so I can't post any pictures right now. i will have to wait for one of the boys to help me out after school. I'll just leave it at this for now.

Socks- Finished

1 more pair of socks finished. Since I can't surf the net at work as much as I used to, I knit during downtime. That makes a total of 5 pairs. I know it's not very many, but I love them. I have 2 more pairs in the que. I hope I can get at least one more pair done before it is sandal weather. I also finished the last pair of 4 sleep pants I promised the boys from Christmas. I'm not sure what took so long. It wasn't like it takes very long to sew up sweatpants. I'm glad they're done because that means I can sew something for me next. I do have a couple of presents to get sewn, but I think It's my turn next so I can keep up the momentum. I think this jacket is next. I have a blue linen look material with yellow and maroon floral pint to use. I wanted to get it done today, but I don't have it cut out yet and it is already 3pm. We'll see how much gets accomplished. Not much if I don't move away from the computer. I'll post a finished picture soon.

Like I need Anymore!

I went to Hancock Fabrics on my lunch hour today, just because it was convenient to some of the other errands I had to run. Well, Butterick patterns were on sale for $1.99 and I looked at the book. Like I need anymore patterns. A coworker just gave me about 10 from the 70's and I have purchased probably 6 others in the last 6 months alone. I am sure I will never have time to make all of them even though I probably have enough fabric in my stash to make a good attempt. Anyway, I have some fuchsia sweater knit type fabric that I was going to use another pattern for a jacket that I have already used twice before. I like the pattern. It is fairly easy. I just thought it was time to try something else, so I went looking and came up with this. View A&B are using a sweater knit fabric and I would like to make the longer version if I have enough yardage. I don't recall if I purchased 2 or 2 1/2 yards. I also like view C&D only with a straight hem. Of course, I also purchase this one. I think I would like to make one of the tops using some of the fabric from the kits I blogged about a couple of posts ago. The solid fabric is a nice double knit, but I don't know if there is enough yardage. This will probably cause me to purchase new fabric. Millend Textiles did send me some coupons for 60% off one cut. Might have to use that. So much to sew so little time. Too bad I can't afford to be a stay-at-home mom so there is more sewing and knitting time. Such is life.

What a Crock!

I can't believe the IT guys at work. Most of the websites have been blocked on the work computers. I can't read any blogs, watch any videos, movies or TV shows. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working, but there is quite a bit of downtime some days during my 12 hour workday. I am so bummed. I like to catch up on all the blogs that led me to wanting to have my own and now I have to try and find time at home. That leaves less crafting time. Not fair! I also can't catch up on the shows I miss while working evenings and weekends. What a crock! I'm hoping maybe it is only temporary because the computer wasn't working quite right today. I guess I will just have to work on my socks instead. It was just nice to have the background programs going on while I knit.
On to more interesting stuff. Here is a small sample of some of my first spinning. A little overspun, but not bad for my first attempts. I can't wait to finish up and knit with it. I thought I would also share with you my boys. These were done while we were on vacation this last summer. We spent a fun week at Okoboji with my family. This is a series of small lakes in northwest Iowa. This is Bud. He started playing the drums his senior year in high school. You can only do that in a small town. He is kind of a natural. I'm proud of him. He gets this nickname from when he was little. My dad always called him Bud said like on The Cosby Show from the 80's.

This is Technoboy. I decided to nickname him this because he is the one I always go to if/when I have a computer question. He seems to always be able to figure it out for me and is patient in showing me repeatedly how to do the same thing over and over again.

This is my youngest ( by a few minutes), Hat head. He usually has a Denver Bronco
cap on, except for this day. He was in trouble and his punishment was to not have his hat for the day. It almost killed him, I swear. That is the only reason he doesn't have it on in the drawing.

Hathead and Technoboy are identical twins. I enjoy looking at these pictures because the artist did a great job of showing their differences. I see them everyday, but when I see them in photographs I see the likeness they have. Sometimes it is tough to tell them apart in photos except they have different taste in clothes and I can usually remember who wore what. Hathead is very picky about what he wears and only has a few specific things he'll wear. He will wash a small load of his clothes every couple days just so he can have his favorites. If he wants to do it, more power to him.

Well I am being harassed again for the computer. Thanks for letting me rant and share.

I know it's been a while again, but like I said, I need my own computer. It's awful trying to share with 3 other people. Hubby has a control issue especially when it comes to the laptop. So, I will finally show you the last 2 hats I made for Christmas presents. The first is a stranded colorwork (my first) Thorpe hat.

The second is the one for Bud's girlfriend. As I posted before there were numerous false starts before the final product. It looks huge, but I tried it on as I went. I'm not sure if she likes it or not but she picked out the pattern.
I think it's pretty cute. She has quite a few hats so I hope it goes into her rotation. I have been working on her sweater but the last couple of nights have been unproductive. I seem to be in a little bit of a slump. I think it is my winter depression. I need some sun and outside time. It happens every year about this time and I feel like winter started early and it is lasting forever. I shouldn't live in the midwest, but here is home. I'll make it. I always do. I did do some sewing the last 2 days. I made Hathead's pajama pants and have Technoboy's second pair cut out and ready to sew. I also purchased some linen type fabric with a larger floral pattern on it for $1.29 a yard. I spent time the other night going through my patterns and chose a nice 3/4 sleeve jacket to make from it. I hope to have that done before a surprise birthday party for a good friend in a week. It will have to wait until after the weekend because I have to work again. Speaking of, it is time to leave . Have a good day.

I want my own computer!!!!

I have been trying to get computer time at home so I can catch up on my blogging. First, I had to wait my turn so I could download the pictures I had been taking. Second, hubby says he needs to check on something. Then, it ends up back in the hands of the kids. UGH! Hubby doesn't understand the whole blogging thing I started. I'm not sure I can explain it to him. Between working, kids and the commute there just doesn't seem to be time (or money) to really keep up friendships. I work with some great gals and we get along good and have nice chats, but it rarely goes outside of work, mainly because I live 35 miles from where I work. I know, make a little effort, but that means valuable time and usually money. Gas was terrible a few months ago so I didn't do anything extraand now I'm in the habit and a fraid the prices will skyrocket again.
Unfortunately, we live paycheck to paycheck and we own horses. That takes a good size chunk of our income. I wouldn't give up watching my boys ride and it is the one thing we do as a family when the summer comes. Back to the topic, I really don't feel i have any close friends that share my crafty interests. Like I said, we have horses and the kids are in 4-H so there are those families we enjoy in the winter. They are all at least 45 min away from where we live. We did try to sell our house last year so we could move closer to where these friends live, but after a year on the market we called it quits. That was not a fun year. Very stressful.
I read blogs in my spare time at work and knit on my breaks, but there isn't really anyone else who shares that passion with me. There are a couple of dablers, but they are the garter stitch scarf makers and that's it. I've tried to steer them along, but they aren't interested really. I enjoy being at home and sewing and knitting. Gardening and horses when the weather is nice. But, that still doesn't include other people. My husband doesn't like to go places much and I get lonely. I need to express myself to other people who will understand and hopefully not judge. I guess that is what I hope to gain here. I don't know if anyone has found my blog yet, but I am enjoying getting myself out there and maybe in time someone will find me. There is so much i feel I have to say and share and would like to try. I don't think he gets that. He has a good buddy that drives truck, so they are able to talk on the phone during the day quite a bit. I can do that with my sister and my mom, but they are a few hours away. I seem to be more comfortable with the computer talking thing. I am able to use the computer at work but the pictures are on the laptop at home and some websites are blocked at work. It's not the same. I hope to get some computer time at home tonight. I need to list some things on ebay and share some photos with you here. Thanks for listening.

I'm Still Here

It's amazing how fast the days fly by. I can't believe it is past the middle of January already. We have had a lot of snow and freezing temperatures. I think we had quite a few days of below zero temps. 20F feels warm after that.

I went to our local Savers thrift store before Christmas and picked up to of these packages that included 2 different knits along with matching ribbing. I think there is enough for a nice top in each of these. they were only $2.50 each. Solid knit is what I think would be considered a double knit. It is nice and heavy. There is a little more yardage of the stripes which is a thinner knit. I need to just find the right pattern for these now. I have a few patterns I also picked up that day for 75cents each. Then a gal I work with brought me several of her mother's after they cleaned some things out. Most of them are from the 70's and a few from the 80's. I was really excited about them. Now if there was just more time in the day to work on my project list. I will show you a picture of my sewing desk later. I have been doing a little shopping on ebay and purchased 4 nice sweaters a week ago for less than $20 including shipping. I have to stop looking as I just won a lot of 11 tops for $15. I need to list some items that I took pictures of last night to support my habit. There is only one probem, I don't have a scale to weigh the packages so I can say how much shipping will be. I need to invest in one. I usually just weigh myself at work and haven't needed one at home. I hope to get these things listed by this weekendso I can have a little cash. I will leave you with a parting shot of a some of our pets. Here are Daisy, Reba and Cosmo.

It was another ordinary day, and that's o.k. I spent the day getting ready to go house sit with Bud for some of the best friends anyone could ask for. He will take care of the horse chores and I will help take care of the cats and dogs. They are needing some time together. He drives truck and she is going to go out on the road with him for a few days. They put up with Bud and all his anticks. He has pretty much lived with them off and on for the last few years. He has been helping them out this winter since she is alone a lot and that is tough. Especially when you have 20 horses to take care of and everything else that goes along with living on an acreage in the winter especially. This means quite a few nights of knitting time for me. Yeah! I hope to have some FO's to show you at the end of next week. I also plan on doing so spinning during the next week also. I'm really addicted. I have to tell myself that I need to complete the house cleaning first and then I can spin. It's terrible. I can't wait to get it all spun so I can knit something with it. It's a vicious cycle. Well, I better get the boys to help me get our chores done so I can head on over to our friends.

I'm Addicted!

I got a drop spindle for Christmas and I am hooked. I finally got a chance to sit down and spin a couple of small skeins last night. I'm hooked. I puchased a drop spindle and roving from Annie Mae on ebay. She might have an etsy store also. I also purchased some roving from etsy. I will find the store and post it with pictures of my itty bitty skeins. I am so hooked. Now I need to investigate how to ply. I think I might stick to some single ply knitting for right now and work of the plying later. My hubby will distressed to know that I will now have to stock up on more fiber. Like I said, I am now addicted. If anyone out there knows of a good site to help me better my spinning skills and learn to ply, I would appreciated it.

Dreary Day Perfect for Crafting

It is another dreary, grey day. Perfect to stay inside and work on the long list of projects I need to complete. First, another Christmas present. I made a pair of soft shoes for my youngest nephew. Unfortunately I don't remember where I came aross this pattern and had lost the assembly instructions. I managed to work my way through it on my own and I think they came out well.

The soles are cut from an 80's bomber jacket that I had. It has had lots of use by me, then by Bud and then by Hathead(that's my youngest-never without his hat). I am disassembling it to be used for, hopefully, many of these soft shoes. The tops are a fine corduroy and lined with a fun cotton robot print. I had also used these same 2 fabrics to make his older brother a messenger bag for his birthday this past summer. I, of course, do not have a picture of that fabulous bag. It has inside divided pockets and an outside back pocket. I wanted to make sure it had a place for all his games and necessities for his PSP.

I finished Bud's GF's hat yesterday after 4 false starts. I had to keep ripping back until I got the right circunference and then I crocheted even until I got the right length before adding earflaps. I will post a picture after I have given it to her. Hope it's what she was expecting. I will give you all the specifics in that following post.

Well, I best get a little laundry and cleaning done and then start on that long project list.

New Year!

I can't wait until this weekend. I need a nap and it is only 10a.m. I ended up working on New Years Eve even though it would have just been hubby and me at home for a nice quiet evening, but the boss lady needed help and made an offer I couldn't refuse. Not to mention, I felt I owed her since she ended working for me when I was sick awhile back and then had to get coverage for me during a snowy day on a weekend to boot. Soooo, I worked and was home in bed by 11p.m. Exciting I know but I had to work New Years Day as well. That is one of the holidays I chose to work this year. Now if I can just get through today I plan on sleeping in tomorrow. Work was very slow yesterday, so I caught up on a little blog reading and restarted Bud's GF's hat for the third time. It was coming out too big (no I didn't swatch) and just wasn't looking right. It was a free pattern from Lion Brand so I signed on and only then did I realize that the pattern stated that the picture was shown from the crochet pattern. No wonder it wasn't looking the same. Well, since I didn't have my crochet needles with me I had to call it quits. I watched a movie on Hulu and watched the clock until I could go home. It wasn't until I was laying in bed that I remembered that I had a sock in progress in my bag that I could have been working on. Bummer! I have been wishing they were done so I could keep my feet toasty warm and then I forgot all about them being in my bag. I swear my brain is losing cells by the second these days. Completely fried! I also plan on starting back up with the exercising tomorrow. The elliptical is being moved back up from the basement and put where the Christmas tree was (yes we took it sown already due to the cats insisting on playing ring-around-the-rosy under it) so it is staring me in the face. I think I will start with my mini-trampoline first and work myself up to the elliptical. I feel very fat and out of shape and think I need to start small. Of course I need to quit eating all the Christmas goodies that are left. One step at a time. Wish me luck!