New Swaps

Hi all!

Check out the swaps that Crochetoholic is hosting. They're all fun, create-a-package ideas. I'm particularly excited about the Hat/Scarf swap.

Hope to see some of you there!

FFBE Weekly Topic

As of this weekend, the season has officially changed on the calendar - but what makes Autumn feel like Autumn to you, and why?

My husband is a teacher, and I was too before kids, so autumn starts the first day of school, regardless of the weather. But, it REALLY feels like fall when there's that crisp in the air, especially in the mornings. The kind that makes you want to bake bread or an apple pie. The best mornings are the ones when you need a light jacket to take a walk (and it's still a little chilly, but you know it will warm up soon), and you crunch leaves as you walk.

I can't wait to read everyone else's responses!

Secret Current Project

I know the picture is kind of blurry, but I've tried to give a hint of the pretty pattern without giving away the project. I wasn't going to post it, but I feel like I haven't shown any knitting off lately.

I actually haven't been knitting all that much. The kids have been kind of stressing me out lately, and I'm lacking energy to knit. Which isn't good, because Christmas is coming!

I am excited about the above blurry project, although I'm a little concerned that it will be too small. Also, it's contributing to the lack of knitting. The lace pattern isn't difficult, but it does require attention, and it's hard to work on unless everyone is asleep.

What's going on in your knitting life?

I am Mohair

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.


What kind of yarn are you? Take this quiz to find out.

Football Swap

Look at all the great stuff I got in the mail today from Kristina!



Merino superwash from Lavender Sheep in Buffalo Bills colors - which I'm going to use to make Little Boy a winter hat. I'm sure there will be extra - maybe even enough for a hat for me! A Buffalo Bills antennae topper which I am so very excited about! Stitch markers and point protectors, all handmade by Kristina, and perfect for all football related knitting. And finally, some very nice hot chocolate.

I LOVE IT ALL! Thank you so much, Kristina, for your thoughtful package!

Random Questionnaire

This seems to be floating around a bunch of blogs involved in the same swaps I am.

1. Were you named after anyone? Two great aunts.
2. Birth place? Denville, NJ
3. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead? Read
4. What are your nicknames? Does Mommy count?
5. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Rarely
6. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why? Italy or France - I love to cook!
8. A Person you look up to most? My parents
9. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? Lack of patience with adults
10. One word that describes you? Capable
11. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple
12. What is the weather like right now? Raining
13. Last person you talked to on the phone? My husband
14. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it? A Mom - and yes, I am!
15. Favorite Drinks? Diet Coke
16. Favorite sport? Baseball
17. Favorite Food? Chocolate, ravioli
18. Last Movie You Watched? Movie on cinema? Um...I don't know
19. Most money spent on 1 pair of shoes? I once paid $80 for a pair of sneakers - they were so worth it too! My feet were very happy in them.
20. What Book Are You Reading? I just finished The Bell Jar for Knit the Classics. I try to read from my Bible every night.
21. Computer Screen Wallpaper? My kids
22. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? Burn Notice on USA
23. Favorite Smells? Lilacs, baking bread, warm chocolate
24. What's the farthest you've been from home? Arizona, from the East Coast
25. Where is your favorite knitting spot? Club chair with feet on ottoman

I worked on Big Boy's scarf last night - straight garter stitch gets boring, so I've decided to do one block for every project I finish. I have to decide if I'm going to cast on for my knit the classics project or a pay it forward project. (Or, maybe I'll combine the two - or is that cheating?)

FFBE Bag is FINISHED!

Hooray! I knit up the handle this afternoon (with the "help" of little boy who kept grabbing the yarn and running off) and felted it after the little ones went to bed. I am TICKLED with the way it turned out - I might even make one for myself!

No pictures yet though - I want my Pal to be completely surprised! Once she gets her package though, I'll publish the bag's diary.

I just ruined a cable purse that I had made. Literally, ruined it. We won't discuss it, except to say, I am a moron. And the thing is, I really wasn't sure I liked it until today. But then, I was loving it. And then, I killed it. Poor bag. I'm going to tell myself it's a learning experience, and then let it go.

You know, that's something new about me since I've had kids. Things just don't bother me the way they used to. For example, I'm playing softball this season, and the first game, I made an error. Not a game costing error or anything, but something that would have bugged me the rest of the game. At the end of the inning, my coach offered me some encouraging words, and I seriously had to think about why he was telling me everything was okay. I had forgotten that I made the error three minutes after it happened!

Don't get me wrong. I think I have a healthy level of competitiveness, and I always want to do my best. But, I just can't spend a lot of energy beating myself up for mistakes that aren't all that important. And I mean important in a really, deep, eternal kind of way. My family is healthy, and I believe they are in good places regarding their relationship with God (because to me, that's the most important thing EVER. Curious? Ask me - I'll tell you all about it!) And so, I don't think it's right to worry about the small things. Really, it's not right to worry about anything. I SHOULD be trusting God to take care of it all. He promises that He will!

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25,26,33,34

I'm not so great at not worrying at all, but being responsible for children really helps to put some things in perspective for me, and I think I worry less about small things.

So, I'm bummed about the bag. But, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.