Hi Heather!

Well I almost titled this post "my beaver" but thought that might just be asking for too much trouble so never mind.

Heather and I were chatting tonight on ravelry about the PBS auction and I mentioned my Nyland planter. She googled it and the second link is to here, and my mentioning that I don't have a picture of it.

Well I dragged my tush off the couch and now we have pictures of the infamous Nyland beaver planter. And as a side note - I flipped it over and I've had it for 12 years now. I bought it during the 1996 auction.

Please ignore the messy table!!!

This is a picture from above - you can tell that the interior is unglazed and it's actually designed to be used as a planter. Just in case anyone is wondering - I have NEVER put anything inside this, nor do I ever plan on putting anything in it.









Isn't his little face just the cutest thing? I love the clover too.

My first OFFICIAL MeMe

Well I have FINALLY been tagged for a meme!!! Heather tagged me for the seven random things meme.

The rules:

Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

Let them know they are tagged by leaving comments on their blogs.

OK I won't be tagging 7 people (mostly because I don't think I HAVE seven friends with blogs.)

Random facts:

1. I have one sister and she is 31 years older than I am. Her three kids are all older than I am as well.

2. I keep track of all of the books that I read. This started when my dentist's receptionist mentioned that I was always reading a new book when I came in (yeah I'm there every six months) and she wanted to know how many books I read in a year. I had no idea so I started keeping track. Now I do it all the time.

3. I was the hockey reporter for my college newspaper. For two years I also travelled with the team, and believe me one female checking into a hotel with a bus full of men gets some SERIOUSLY weird looks.

4. I have had three birds at various times. Two of them were actually rescues that were found. My first bird, Wylie, was a great little cockatiel who I found walking around my street one day. He was the best bird that I ever had.

5. I have a list of things that I guarantee would get me fired from work that I swear I will do if I ever win the lottery and don't have to worry about being employed any more.

6. I believe that my aunt visited me before she died and that I had to tell her I would be OK before she would move on. I also believe that my sister was visited by our dad when she was in the hospital last summer - in part because I told him he wasn't allowed to let her die since I still needed her here.

7. I have "dress crocs" that I wear to work. They are black MaryJanes and I am so glad it's warmer again so I can wear them.

OK so now who to tag:

LeeAnn

Ann

Faith

Evil Science Chick

Just stuff

No real point (or pictures) for this one. Just felt like posting (especially since I've been up since 5:30 this morning).

Why was I up so early you ask? Well even though today is my day off and I COULD have slept in - I got up for the 6:15 abs class at the Y. Yep.... me - I got up (willingly) and did it so I could have Tony make me do crunches for half an hour.

Then it was off to the Wal-Mart to buy some towels and ant traps. No relation other than I needed them.

I must say it was a little wierd to have worked out, shopped and had breakfast all before 8:30 am on a day off. I already raveled (not topless! - long story unless you're a member of the CPAaGg on ravelry) and now I need to get ready to do the laundry.

I think I'll take the car in for the dumbass e-check that I have to get because I live in Cuyahoga county. Ummmm yeah it's a good thing to protect the environment and I'm all for that part but it's dumbass because not EVERYONE in the state has to do it, only those of us that live in certain counties. Like no one from the other counties drive their pollution belching cars into my area.

Plus I need to make some phone calls regarding the BYOD (Buy Your Own Dinner) birthday party I want to have for the rather SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY I have coming up next month.

Right now I am leaning towards Lolita or maybe Lola (but Lolita is ahead by a teeny tiny bit). Sokolowski's University Inn is still in the running too but for some reason I REALLY want to go to Lolita's. Of course this being a "hot trendy" Michael Symon restaurant I need to see how soon they would have to have a reservation for my event.

Ahhhh things to do!

Nom Nom Nom

No knitting in this one but LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!!

Yep that's right - single serving Ben and Jerry's!!!

Just to show how tiny the carton really is I included my camera case behind it in this one.

But look --- it's more than JUST ice cream! They even give you a tiny little spoon under the lid to eat it with. I suppose that's in case you have an ice cream emergency on the way home from the store or something.

My only real complaint is that there only seem to be three flavors available right now (or at least my store is only carrying three flavors). And none of them are my favorites, I can't wait to see a teeny tiny serving of Chubby Hubby or New York Superfudge..... NOM NOM NOM!!!

Sounds about right actually

What Mary Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

They do say Spring ahead, right?

Well the saying is spring ahead and that does happen tonight but you would never guess that based on what is outside my door right now.





Yep snow ... lots and LOTS of snow.....



I did manage to shovel myself out (in theory because I didn't actually try to move the car) and hopefully I will be able to make it to the grocery store tomorrow. Of course I know I need to shovel some more tomorrow - it's been snowing all day long and the winter storm advisory is on until tomorrow at 4 am.



You know it has to be bad when CHURCHES cancel services...... AND the bingo place closes down for the day!

Alice?

Which Alice in Wonderland character are YOU? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Alice You scored Alice! You are kind-hearted and curious and give yourself very good advice, but seldom follow it, which leads you into trouble. You always try to be courteous and polite, but you become cross when people speak in nonsense to you and scold them sharply. Alice 92% Queen of Hearts 83% March Hare 83% Cheshire Cat 83% Carpenter 75% Mad Hatter 75% Walrus 75% Caterpillar 67% The Dormouse 67% Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum 58% A Playing Card 58% The White Rabbit 42% Flamingo 33% Oyster 33%

Brace yourself

Rumor has it this is occasionally a knitting blog. That being the case I figured I might show some actual knitting content. This was a gift for my friend Kristen's bachlorette party in January. What do you give someone for an adult toy party? Well an adult toy cozy of course! You may want to avert the eyes of any small children in the room!




Turns out this is a pretty good use of leftover sock yarn. Several people suggested I might want to try and sell these - maybe I'll look into it!

St. Brigid's Day

Technically I am a day behind since yesterday was actually the Blogger's Silent Poetry Reading in honor of St. Brigid's Day. Well figuring better late than never ....

Siren Song by Margaret Atwood

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:

the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see beached skulls

the song nobody knows
because anyone who had heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don’t enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.

I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song

is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique

at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.

More sock-ventures

Yep the sock had another adventure last night. OK it is a different sock than the one that met authors last year but whatever!

My book group (yes the three of us constitute a group!!) had a guest last night. Casey Daniels joined us to discuss her latest Pepper Martin book, Tombs of Endearment. This is her third book in the series and despite my usual reservations about reading a series book out of order I bit the bullet and dove into the book. I enjoyed it and will go back to read the first two books since as I told Casey last night with my usual reading quirk not knowing what happened earlier was JUST enough to make me slightly nuts!! but you don't have to read the first ones to enjoy this book.

She was a great guest and even willingly posed with the sock.



Oh yes it might help that she is also a knitter!

A Meme (with pictures)

Once again I am swiping a meme (well most of it) from someone (since I never get tagged for them!). This one comes from melliesmama a ravelry friend.

1) Answer the questions below

2) Take each answer and type it into Photobucket (whoops I used Google Image!)

3) Take a picture from the first page of results and post.

4) You can’t copy the persons answers who posted this before you!

1. The age you will be on your next birthday:


40


2. A place you would like to visit:



Alaska

3. Your favorite place:



on the water

4. Your favorite object:



couldn't find a picture of my Nyland beaver planter so this one has to do

5. Favorite food




I really can't decide so I picked two!

6. Favorite animal



I would love to get a dog and always thought I might like one of these.

8. Favorite color



Red

9. Your hometown




Cleveland


10. Name of a past pet



Skittles

I know I know

OK I swear I am not dead and have not run off to Tahiti (although the second option sounds REALLY REALLY tempting right now). It's been super crazy with work and work (oh yeah and WORK) plus the holidays didn't help either. I promise I will come back and post a real post soon - with pictures (of actual knitted items (yes knitted by me shut up!!!)). Got to get ready for a bachlorette party tonight......

Shhhh we don't want to startle her

I was on vacation the week before last and I finally started cleaning out my craft room. I was ruthless and went through all (well almost - sock yarn still needs to be done) of my yarn. I tried to be realistic and realize I was getting into SABLE status (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy) which leads to the question - what in the world am I going to DO with all of this yarn????

(Sorry no before pictures of the stash - it was too unruly to pose)

Luckily for me one of my online friends is a much more prolific knitter than I am and does a great deal more knitting for charity than I do as well. I aspire to knit for charity the way that she does but alas I am not there yet.

Anyway, I sorted the wild and unruly stash into four categories: 1) stuff to use to knit for ME, 2) stuff to use to knit for gifts and/or charity 3) stuff to go live with Ann and 4) stuff to give to the St. Vincent DePaul society for resale (most of this is partial balls - enough to do some small things with or for kids crafts).

This is the yarn that is going to St. Vincent DePaul - yes that is five bags of yarn.


















Now this is why we don't want to startle Ann - she knows that I am sending her some yarn but she has no idea HOW MUCH yarn......
This is what it looks like looking into the packed box.

Now for reference this is the box next to the foot stool (according to the box itself and the lovely lady at the post office who had to measure the box because of it's ginormous size it's about 20 inches high)

As a side note, please please PLEASE someone remind me the next time I decide to mail a package the last weekened for Chrismoose mailing. The line was literally half an hour long. Luckily there were several nice people in line with me and we had a nice time chatting. Plus I got in some nice knitting time on the purse sock.

You might very well be asking yourself at this point "Gee I wonder if Mary has any yarn left for herself at this point?" Don't fret about that .... this is the no longer unruly stash.
I think casa mary will be OK in the yarn department for a little while.

Chris-moose knitting

Chris-moose is coming and I have my first knitted gift done!!!


It's the gelato bag from Fiber Trends and I made it with Paton's Classic Merino in Look Pink!




















It was pretty darn close on the yarn. This was all I had left of the two skeins I purchased for the project. Believe me I was starting to sweat it near the end!




















This is a close up of the button I found for the decorative closure. There is actually a magnetic snap under the flap to really close the bag.

OK this is insane

I went to Wal-mart yesterday to pick up a few things (yes I know they are evil and horrible and all of those things but they have products I can afford to buy so whatever). I really wasn't paying attention to the cashier and how she was packing my purchases (I was too busy making sure all the prices scanned correctly) and was STUNNED by how many bags I had when I put them into the car.

Was it that I bought that much stuff? Nope (although I did spend more than I planned but that is another story). I came home and counted - I bought ELEVEN things and came home with...... FIVE bags!!!!

What did I buy: a diet coke 20-oz not even a two litre (she put this in it's own bag, actually this purchase got TWO bags since there was a new bag stuck to the one the soda was in)

underwear (three pair), some razors (two packs), chapstick stuff, concealer (gotta look all pretty sometimes!), tooth brushes (one pack of two) - this she managed to squeeze into TWO bags. Apparently brand new undies might contaminate everything else since they were sequestered in their own bag.

a gift bag for Chris-moose which was placed in it's own bag.

a digital key chain photo frame (again in a bag alone).

and a mailing box which was too big for any bag.

This is INSANE!!!! I know I could have solved part of this problem by taking my own reusable bag with me but I didn't have any in the car with me. I do try and take my own bags to the grocery store each week but don't always remember to keep an extra bag in the car for stops like the one yesterday.

Even so I think that I could have easily left that store with one bag (two at the most) - there is no way that I needed 5 plastic bags. I do recycle my bags (those that I don't reuse for small garbage bags) so I try to reduce my impact on the planet. But all I can think of when things like this happen to me is what about all of the people that DON'T reuse or recycle their bags.

As I learned from Martha (Stewart for those unfamiliar with my obsession) there is the equivalent amount of petroleum in 14 plastic bags as there is in ONE GALLON OF GAS!!!!

OK I think I'm done now... does anyone have a ladder so I can get off the soapbox?

It's here!!!

My Shaun the Sheep kit finally arrived from England on Friday! If you want to see a picture of it for now there is a picture further back on the blog from when I first ordered it. Edited to note I fibbed - I don't see a picure of it on here so here goes -

Of course I have my first Shaun to finish before I start this one. And I have some Chris-Moose knitting to get done as well. I'm making a Gelato felted bag for someone (refusing to say for whom in case they are reading).

Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.

I'm trying to remember and remind myself of all of the things I am thankful for in my life on a more frequent basis. It has been a year of some pretty big highs and lows so I am most thankful for all of my friends that have kept me sane (OK OK sane may be a questionable concept). I don't know what I would do without all of you this year!

We're just wild about Harry

Potter that is....

I am part of a geeky family (shhhh don't tell them I said that... Oh heck they already know that) that is completely obsessed with Harry Potter.

When the final book came out we had eight people there to pick up four books. And the books were all for people over the age of 18.

My eight year old nephew can practically recite all of the Harry Potter movies he has seen them so many times.

What does this have to do with knitting? Well for Halloween the above mentioned nephew decided to be Harry Potter. Of course he needed socks in Gryffindor colors and his Aunt Mary was the knitter of choice. OK so I'm the only knitter the kid knows - shush!

And now may we present Harry Potter socks....

Such a sad day

Ignore my previous post of the day lamenting my crappy day at work - that is silly and immaterial now. I just discovered that someone that was a very dear friend while we were in college passed away last year. Tom Neziol was an amazing person, a fantastic hockey player and someone I am blessed to say was my friend.



(for those that don't know him Tom is the handsome fellow on the right)


We lost touch after he graduated (he managed to finish in 4 years while I took five years) but Tom was frequently in my thoughts during those years and I did try to use the net and our alumni web site to find out what he was up to with sometimes limited results.

Ironically Tom has been in my thoughts more than usual lately. I was just thinking of a time when he had a game curfew but wanted a sandwich from uptown. Luckily the team captain was his housemate so our only instruction was "don't get caught!" I still remember Tom sitting in my chevette, wearing my scarf over his head (to be more incognito) and making me get money out of the ATM for him so he could hide. Of course I had to run back to the car, praying his ATM card didn't get sucked into the machine - he forgot to tell me the code. When he told me he just looked at me like he couldn't believe I couldn't have figured it out on my own. And yeah for those who knew Nez - I should have been able to figure it out (and to this day I still remember it).

Tom and I became closer when he was seriously injured during a practice. His arm was sliced open by another player's skate and it was questionable if Tom would ever be able to play again. He worked so hard and came back to finish out his career at Miami and even went on to a pro career. I wrote my first article for a national publication on Tom's successful recovery. College Hockey Weekly had me write about everything Tom went through after I met one of the editors in the press box of some road trip we were on. After we finished doing the interview for the story, Tom rolled up his sleeve and said to me "Mary, should we include a picture of my scar?"

Tom was one of my three dearest friends on the team that came and sat with me the night my dad died. Steve, Paul and Tom made sure that I had company that night and tried their best to take my mind off of everything that was going on.

There are so many more memories and things I could say about Tom. He was a special person and I am saddened that he is no longer in this world. The world has lost a wonderful person.

Nez I will miss you.

Why why why......

why did I go back to work today?? Oh that's right I haven't won the lottery yet so I need the paycheck.

Today was one of those days that make you wonder why you can't just crawl under the covers and stay there for awhile (maybe until spring.....)

Sorry no knitting, no cake mania no nothing of interest. Just some whining (and if anyone has some nice cheese I'll take some to go with my whine)

Look Ma....

it is possible to visit three yarn shops and NOT buy yarn!!


Yesterday I visited three local yarn shops in search of knitting needles for some projects. I found a set of 2.5mm needles (only to discover when I went to actually start the project tonight that I really should have been looking for 3.0mm needles!!) and a set of size 11 dpns. Yep a wierd combination but two different projects.

I did come home with a new pattern - it's a felted bag from Candace Eisner Strick. The pattern is comprised of mitered squares with a variety of color changes in the bag. I think I might have enough wool in the stash for most of this but I haven't looked at the yarn requirements yet.

Of course my most exciting purchase of the day had nothing to do with knitting. I FINALLY found a cd-rom of Cake Mania for my pc. Not only is this "deluxe" version the original Cake Mania, it also has the newest edition of CM - Back to the Bakery. I promptly installed it last night and I think I played for about 2 or 3 hours.

So if my posts go back to their usual sporadic levels you have three choices:
1)I have to go back to work on Tuesday
2) I'm playing on Ravelry
3) I'm playing Cake Mania

Of course if it's 2 or 3 I need to make sure I remember to do 1!!

Ravelry

Yippee!! I just got my invitation to raverly today. I've already signed up and am now happily playing on there seeing what is what.

If anyone else is on (and if you're on the waiting list it went REALLY REALLY fast) please add me to your friend list. I'm maryw1968.

I actually have a "real" post planned for later on but that's going to be a little delayed now.

Dishclothes

I'm on a dishcloth kick right now. Partially because I had a wedding shower to attend last week and one of my standard shower gifts is some knit dishclothes. I do give the bride to be something else (in this case it was a movie night basket - a large ceramic popcorn bowl, plastic containers that look like the paperbags you get popcorn in at the carnival, popcorn, movie candy and a copy of The Karate Kid). The movie was a joke between me and the bride - we work together and one day she decided that I was her Mr. Miagi since she is often asking me questions since I've been with the company forever and as she says, knows everything.

Anyway - I also made her three disclothes (from yarn I had in the stash!!! Yeah me!!!)

First we have the nine-patch dishcloth from the lovely ladies at the Mason-Dixon Knitblog. It's a free pattern on the right hand sign of the blog. I liked how the colors worked together (please don't ask me color names - I don't remember and the bands are long gone. I do know the yarn is Sugar and Cream. The blue was purchased in Rochester NY last year and the orange was either Michaels or Joann)



Next we have a cloth in the bamboo pattern. This is one of my favortie patterns and I discovered it here. This place has A TON of dishcloth patterns. The yarn for this one was something I picked up at Walmart (I think it's Peaches and Cream).

Last, we have a simple basketweave. No real pattern for this one, just alternate knit and purl blocks.

I swear it's not a sign

of the apocalypse..... but yes this is a second post in one day (and a third post in the last two days!)

First of all I am very excited by what I got to pick up at the library tonight. I was the first person on the waiting list for our own Crazy Aunt Purl's book to come out and I got to pick it up tonight. (Note to Laurie although I'm sure she doesn't read my blog... I promise if you ever make it to Cleveland I'll shell out the actual cash to buy your book just so I can get you to sign it. Oh heck I may end up doing that anyway!)

And then if that wasn't excitement enough for one day (and no I'm not being sarcastic) THIS was in my mailbox! And I am a total geek... I had to take my own picture of the pattern on my dining room table instead of using the one I already had from my post about the ebay auction.


Now I need to start searching for yarn to get knitting on Shaun!

Umm I'm not responsible

if any of my readers (Diane I think that's you!) falls over from the shock of two posts in almost as many days. I actually planned on posting this last night but blogger had other ideas, hopefully it will be more cooperative today when it comes to posting pictures.

I figured since we showed Step Out pictures that were a month old yesterday than we should show Knit Out pictures that are now a month (and a day) old today. The Knit Out was put on by the swell folks at Stitch Cleveland (hi Heidi, Megan and Shannon!).
We had fantastic weather (honestly if anything it was too warm - imagine saying that about the first weekend in October in Cleveland??) and the event was held at Voinivich Park which for those familiar with Cleveland is right behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For those unfamiliar with what a knit out is, it's exactly what it sounds like - people gather in a public venue and knit. In addition to just hanging out and having a good time generally the organizers will also make sure that supplies are available so that we can teach any interested passerbys how to knit.

This is a view looking south towards downtown. OK that makes it sound rather far but it's not. Keep in mind that I walked past all of this stuff the day before and the walk route was only four miles long.

Well these should be well aged

These pictures should be appropriatly aged (hey here at Mary Has a Knitting Blog we show no picture before it is sufficiently aged - just like good wine!!!).

Actually these are from my Step Out for Diabetes last month. The fundraising walk (and thanks to my generous supporters I raised $225 which was over my goal of $150) takes place in downtown Cleveland so I had to show the sock the sites.



Along the Cuyahoga river there are a number of bridges, including some that even lift to allow ships to pass underneath. This is one of the lift bridges.







Our walk took us along the lake front where we paused to show the sock the Great Lakes Science Center.

I haven't ever been inside (it's one of those local things - like the New Yorker that's never been up in the Empire State Building.) It sounds like it has some great exhibits and I think about going but you know what they say about thoughts and good intentions.






Finally we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (yes I have actually been inside this one... saw the John Lennon exhibit in 2000). The guitars in front are a fund raiser for the United Way. Each year various companies sponsor a guitar which they have decorated, later there is a benefit and the guitars are auctioned. Some of them are absolutley amazing.

I forgot who sponsored and created this one but I really did like the guitar lion.

Yippee

Well my quest for the original Shaun the Sheep knitting pattern has finally been victorious. I won this lovely pattern from England this morning.



Hopefully I'll have this one before my December vacation since I'm itching to get started on making my own Shaun. The knitting kit won't be back in stock until the end of November so I'll have to wait until 2008 to start on that one!

Phew....

Sneaking in a post before October totally slips away. I actually have pictures of the sock and I (well I suppose I can be considered in the picture if you can see my hand) roaming around downtown Cleveland earlier this month as we stepped out for diabetes and knit out... well just to knit out!



But today we are going to have show and tell with my latest obsession..... SHAUN THE SHEEP!!!



I have always been a Wallace and Gromit fan and enjoyed Shaun the Sheep when he was in Wallace and Gromit's films. Thanks to the new BF (just slipping that one in all casual like LOL - edited to note that he's decided he has too much going on in his life for a relationship right now. He does and I understand the having stuff but it still sucks) I have discovered that Shaun is a star in his own TV show in England. Unfortunately the shows aren't available in the US but I've still renewed my obsession with Shaun.



I have be scouring ebay daily to try and get my hands on the elusive Shaun knitting pattern. I recently lost my last auction but soon consoled myself when I discovered this kit in an online shop in England.






Yep it's a Shaun the Sheep knitting kit! Of course I ordered it and am now patiently awaiting its arrival from England. Hopefully it will be here before I'm on vacation in December so I can spend some quality time making my own Shaun.

Oh and in case anyone felt the need to ask - yes I know I'm a geek!