I'm a Lucky Girl!

Why am I feeling so lucky, you ask? Beacuse my Secret Pal 10 spoiler Megan, rules!!! Let me refresh your memory a bit... in March, this yummy package arrived and then in May this sock-alicious package... you say, well how could a spoiler top that? Here's how... the "Made in Maine" installment arrvied earlier this week!

OMG - how amazing is Megan?!?!? She sent me a marvelous Bark Harbor tote bag filled to the top with 5 skeins of Maine wool, beautiful stitch markers and Lobster treats for my kids from Bark Harbor! I heart my new knitting tote & the wool! Oh my goodyness, have a closer look...

Presenting 2 gorgeous skeins of 100% wool sock yarn... on the left is beautiful Carlisle Brook Farm wool (which Megan sadly reports is no longer available - can you believe she gave me a skein for her secret stash?? I feel so not worthy, but can't wait to knit it up... if I can stop fondling it long enough!) and on the right is a delicious multi-color wool from End of The World Farm in Fayette, ME. You can also see the amazing stitch markers that Megan made for me.

Here we have 3 skeins of Bartlett Yarn, which I understand is still made in an old fashioned mill in Maine. Love the colors! A hat and mittens may come of some of this...

One of the most touching things of all, she thought about my kids! These extra special Lobster cookies were a present from her dog Zoe, who hand pawed... eh, picked, them from her favorite store and sent to my kids (they gobbled them down too fast to actually take pics of them with their yummies... sorry!).

Thank you Megan aka Ebinla Birks! You have been so thoughtful, you really got to know me and what I like, and I look forward to getting to know you now! SP10 was my first secret swap experience and you sure did make it outstanding! Of course, now I'm hooked on swaps... take a look at my side bar "participation ribbons" and you'll see! I just signed up for Secret Pal 11 - did you?

So... what has everyone been knitting? I've got a gazillion WIP's going... see?

Don't see any knitting? Well that's because nothing is substantial enough for a photo, so those are some of my WIP bags piled up there in my knitting corner! I had to FROG my Cabin Fever tank eariler in the week, as I had realized it was impossible to join those gazillion stitches in the round without twisting I twisted the darn thing somewhere along the way. Kind of a good thing though, as when I pulled it off the needle, I realized it was way too big. So, I recast it on and went down a size (oh knitting goddess, please be kind and don't let me find out in a few week that it is now too small). Its only about an inch of ribbing right now, so photos will wait. I should've finished my headband by now (even with the Coronas!), but I keep tossing it aside for other things. I cast on ankle sock #2... Then, I got an itch for instant gratification, so I cast on and knit this sunflower washcloth over the weekend.

Ah, the joys of dishcloths... cheap, quick and easy!

I also have been getting the itch to "clean sweep" my house and felt like I was having de ja vu reading Criquette's post today. Long lost twins, separated at birth??!! Maybe! I too have recently come to the conclusion, after 32 long years, that I just don't need so much stuff! Not only has it outgrown our home, but my patience as well... and so now comes the wonderful feeling of throwing things away (and purging some to Goodwill, listing some on eBay, etc)! Saturday I decided it was time to clean out the closet in the room which will hopefully become our office/my craft room by fall... 3 bags to Goodwill, 1 bag of eBay goods and 2 1/2 bags of trash later, I give you this...

A closet full of plastic bins and bags of yarn, fiber, beads and other related goods (as well as some winter coats pushed to one side, our pretend-we-have-a-life clothing "dress up clothes" to the other. Its no where near where I want to get that room eventually (think butt loads of shelving, a big book case, table space, etc), but its a start and it gets a lot of my stash out of the living room. Although I will admit, Matt was right... my stash has gotten much bigger than I had thought! What you can't see is 2 huge bins pushed to the left inside the closet... plus I have 3 of the 3-drawer rubber maid plastic do-dads on wheels in the living room still (full of mostly sock yarn, luxury yarn, etc.)... and several bags scattered about! And yes, I am going to be shopping at the Knit & Crochet show this Saturday... keeping in mind my newly adopted "do I really need it" philosophy (wish me luck).

As you know, my Baby Girl turned 5 last week. Here are some photos from our little family "party" (yea, no... it wasn't a party at all... but she did get cake!)...

Did somebody say c-a-k-e??!!

She's really not this dainty!

Birthday portrait with Mommy...

Presents!!! She got a gigantic, hot pink Bobo!

Which Teutul promptly stole...

It's mine... no it's mine!

King Tut manages to get both Bobos...

All the while big brother Zeus just laughs...

And does some birdie "watching" - remember how Daddy got them the longer lead for out front? He can now reach the tree where we hang the feeders (oh smart Daddy...now instead of laying in wait near the stairs and then jumping to make the birdies scatter, he can sneak right up on them even closer...)..

I'm so happy tonight is knitting night! See some of you at Joanne's?

Calling all dirty doggies...

If you live around the Lowell, MA area and are in need of a wonderful grooming experience, please check The Grooming Emporium!

The Groomin Emporium was just opened by my good friend Tanya, who is a wonderful, dog loving person ... and just also happens to be an experienced groomer and new business owner! I am proud that she has asked me to help her out with her marketing efforts and I will be doing a lot of her flyers, advertisements and other collateral materials (how do you like her flyer above... hint, hint). And yes, you can use the coupon on that flyer above... its good thru 8/31!

I don't have any knitting news today, except that I mailed off my final goody box to my Secret Pal 10 person and also the box to my Summer Dishcloth Swap gal. I'm not sure when or how we were supposed to "reveal" ourselves, but I did so inside both of these boxes. I hope they both enjoy their goods!

I also forgot to download more photos of cutie Dottie off the camera, but did snap this cute one on the camera phone of my honey & the little girl from Saturday (when we had to bring her down to Mass for the quarantine). Her new family will be picking her up this evening and I'm looking forward to hearing from them!

Oh How I LOVE Surprises!

I appologize to my wonderful secret pal for being a little late in posting, but that stupid thing that always gets in the way work has been busy and by the time I get home, no time to post... but anyway, look what I found at my post office box on Monday afternoon (and I didn't even have to stalk the lovely post office people!)... which is post marked "Mount Dessert Island, Maine." I am assuming my secrel pal lives nearby (unless she's extra sneaky...) and want her to know how much I adore her area. We used to vacation in Acadia at least once year... until we got the house & dogs and it made it a little harder to take off tent camping on a whim!

Yeah! It's my first goody box from that wonderful secret pal of mine arrived and lookie here what I found inside...

My loot is great!!! I got 4 hanks of Knit Picks Sierra wool/alpaca blend in a wonderful spring green colorway called Lettuce. I love the color and you know what, I don't think its one that I would have bought for myself which makes it even better to get it as a gift (I tend to doubt myself and lean towards my "safe colors" when buying)! I've already stalked the free patterns on the Knit Picks site and am thinking about a few, including this chunky cabled bag or maybe this cable pocket shawl if I can scoop up 4 more hanks (hello, paging secret pal... just in case you know of any around, lol).

Now have a looksie at this gorgeous stitch markers, hand made by my secret pal!

Love them! They are the coolest, funky little bubbly beads. I'm not sure if she also made the beads herself or not, but how cool are they??!! I also got treated with some luxurious goodies, a yummy smelling travel candle and a super cool "Bee Bar," a body lotion bar that I can't wait to use!

And my pal definitely read up on me... which I love! She even sent me 2 of my most favorite sweet tooth addictions, Sweedish Fish and Haribo gummy bears! Thank you secret pal - for an absolutely wonderful surprise package and for taking the time to get to know me. I am so looking forward to the next 2 months!

On that same note, I mailed off a box of goodies to the secret pal that I get to spoil and am waiting to hear back from her. I hope I got it right with the goodies I sent! I've already started picking up things for next month's box to her and am having so much fun with my first Secret Pal exchange!

We had a fun and very filled weekend, with Brandon's meet & greet (the infamous "lost dog in Derry" who now has his own website - his Mom Lisa just posted pictures from Sunday!) and Isabella's first birthday party. Here I am with Brandon (on the left) and hostess doggy Jasmine, commanding attention with treats in hand...

I can now show you the absolutely amazing teddy bear that I commissioned my Mom to make for Isabella...

Isn't she absolutely stunning (thanks Mom!)? These crocheted teddy bears are a specialty of my Mom's and only certain people are intitled to get them (she's very picky, but I don't blame her... these bears take a long, long time to make and she needs to know the recipients are going to take good care of them!). Since I don't crochet, I've been fortunate enough to hire Mom to make some for a few very special little girls! Mom has taken to adding a little something, something extra and special to each bear. The one for Isabella is the first one to include rhinestones and a cute little handbag (which plays "Happy Birthday" when squeezed!).

Still not a whole lot of knitting going on in my house, with Dustee the houseguest still here. This is most of what's been happening...

That would be lots of playing and wrestling with 4 doggies in the house... he and Lola are playing with "mousey" above. Dustee made the big mistake of checking out foster Mommy's knitting corner this morning while I was getting ready for work... he managed to tear apart my sheep tape measure, a lip gloss and a small ball of leftover sock yarn.... he's certainly got more "puppy" in him and is letting it all out as he gets comfortable in our house! Lucky for him I do love and adore him and he didn't get kicked out of the house when I found sheepy in 100 pieces this morning! After all, in the week and half he's been here, this is the only "no-no" incident. Dustee has been amazing - even going all day with no accidents in his crate while I'm at work (amazing, esp for a shelter dog... that's like 9 1/2 hours!). Of course, now I'm hoping the Easter bunny might bring me a new sheepy on Sunday... but unfortunately, I don't think my honey bunny quite knows where to find one. Any help and hints provide to the man would be much appreciate, lol...

On that note I will leave you with a close up of the card my secret pal included in the goody box... I absolutely love it! You just might find me later this week in much the same pose with a bottle glass of wine, letting foster Daddy take over doggy romper room (he's been escaping to band practice a couple nights a week lately and finding other silly things to do like driving to CT to buy a new gokart... I think its anything to keep from getting too attached to the little man if you ask me, but Dustee is going to meet his possible new family on Saturday morning and I think we'd both admit that we are quite attached as it is, this little guy is so captivating!)

I'm so glad tonight is knitting night .... I need my fix (and my new Sereknity colorways from Heather!). ..... and btw, for those of you non-locals, I feel you should know that we're expecting snow tonight... yes, I said friggin' snow!!!! argh. Happy Spring.......

Halfway to FO Friday...

This week has been a little crazy, which hasn't left much time for knitting... but at least I have half of a FO in honor of FO Friday! Here is Cabled Footsie #1...

I missed knitting night this week and instead headed off to the Mommies Who Shop event in Salem, MA with Stacey (aka "Simon's new Mommy"). It was a great girl's night out, complete with complimentary wine, munchies and parrafin hand treatments (well, not really complimentary since we did have to pay $15 to get in!). I think I might be addicted to this whole parrafin wax treatment for your hands now... oooh! I didn't buy much (would've been perfect if I had a friend expecting, but alas, I don't), however I did get a fantastic bag from my multi-talented hairdresser & friend Jenn's Seacoast Baby line (who still remains without a website or blog). I forgot to photo it though, but it is a great summer flip-flop fabric and is the perfect shape for an on-the-go knitting bag... a little tall and a little narrow. Stacey got a few things, including 2 amazing dresses from Babyfairies for Isabella, including the cutest little chihuahua doggy print reversible dress (perect for her to pose in next to her doggy brother Simon!) and the "rocker chic" sugar skulls dress - omg, how cute is that??? And how perfect given that her Daddy is a rocker, right??? Now wait til they see what Auntie Nichole has in store for her birthday gift on Sunday! I ordered something special from my Mom (thanks Mom!) and will post photos after Sunday in case anyone peaks...

The other big thing keeping me from knitting this week has been our houseguest, Dustee... whom I've nicknamed "Little Man." (and make sure you do click that link attached to his name for a cute pic!)

This guy is truly special and has led a really tough, young life. Long story short on how he ended up being fostered in Southern NH ... Dustee came out of a shelter in GA that is going to have to euthanize all of its dogs still left there as of 4/7 and made his way to Pet Matchmaker Rescue, for whom we are now fostering him for. He's a little 35 pound amazement. You can't tell in these pictures but he's got major injuries on his left side, for what the vet thinks happened when he was just 3 - 4 months old (and estimates he is now 1 year). She's guessing he was hit by a car or some other traumatic experience causing all sorts of fractures and injuries to his left side ... and is amazed at how hard his little body has fought hard to heal itself, even if in odd ways. He has major arthritic issues, a back leg that's about 1 1/2 - 2" shorter than the other one (the injury occured before his growing plates were done growing, causing the leg to stop growing as a pup), and so on. Even though we all thought his back leg was the major problem, it appears the front leg is much worse off for him as far as pain, arthritis and for long term. He walks (wobbles some) with a limp because of that back leg being shorter and his front left paw points out sideways like a flipper because of the fractures in the front leg and the bones not being lined up correctly, but man what a magnetic personality this little doggy has! He just wants to love and be loved... cuddles, scratchies and kisses ... and boy does he love toys! If you have dogs, you probably have a big 'ole basket of toys they haven't touched in years... we do... and guess who just thinks he hit the jackpot???!!! Its so fun and adorable to watch!

These pictures do not do him justice and its so hard to show you the happiest, most outgoing little man you'd ever meet.... but let me try...

2 Happy Pups with Big Smiles, Teutul & Dustee...

Hey Lady, I dare (just a little) to stick my tounge out at you! Lola & Dustee...

The line-up... we're damn cute and you know it! Tut, Lola, Dustee, Zeus

Speaking of toys, Tut wanted to show you his new favorite...

And I just thought this was a cute pic of my big guy, so I'll share this one too...

Well, that's all for this Friday... TGIF!!! I'm having fun shopping for my Secret Pal and will be shipping her first package out early next week. I heard from my spoiler today and she said a package is on the way....oooh.... did I ever mention how much I LOVE surprises??!! Surprises gggooooddddd! :) I don't suppose I should set up camp at the post office though... those governement workers really give you strange looks when you get excited about mail... Have a knit-tabulous weekend and if you're local, don't forget Yarn & Fiber's April Fool's sale!

Friday Night Knitting Club .... on Saturday???

The lovely Kate Jacobs brought her Friday Night Knitting Club book tour to Manchester last Saturday night for a little talking and signing. Kate read a bit from the book, told us a little about her background and answered questions before sitting down to sign books.

During the Q&A, Kate's next novel came up and it was suggested that she call it the Wednesday Night Knitting Club given that most of those present (including Ericka, Chris, Gina, Jackie, Heather, Gigi, Lora and a couple newbies who I snagged from work) were from the Wednesday night ManchVegas and A Knitter's Garden groups... Of course, she said her next novel may not be about knitting clubs at all... darn it!

I think Ericka was first in line to get her book signed (after of course snagging a front row seat for the talk)...

Speaking of the multi talented Ericka, I finally snagged a few of her Down to Hearth handmade soaps, including the most delicious smelling Brownie Battter - can you say YUM-O??!! You'll find them soon at that link on the Sereknity website and if you're local, you can find them at The Yarn & Fiber Company in Windham.

Here's Jackie reviewing the mug shot of she & Kate together, with several Manch Vegans standing in line...

I got my mug shot with Kate too!

And she signed my book "Happy Knitting" ... you have to love it when an author writes Happy Knitting and not Happy Reading after just hearing a lady in the audience tell her how difficult it was to decide whether to spend her time knitting or reading the book and that the reading was progressing quite slowly because knitting usually wins!

It was a lot of fun to hear Kate speak and to meet her. She is really excited about the possibility of Julia Roberts turning her very first novel in to a movie ... who wouldn't be, right?!?!

So as you might guess, most of us were knitting during Kate's talk and I took it upon myself to start up a mindless project so I could knit and listen with ease. Here's my little bit of progress on the Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles Scarf. I'm using rose/grey moulinette colorway.

In other WIP news, I'm up to the foot on my first Cabled Footsie ...

The pattern is from Interweave's One Skein book and so far is a pretty quick and easy knit, however I did realize I missed a stinking frigging cable repeat for 12 darn rows! a bit of the cable on the far left and had to take those 4 stitches out 12 rows back and rework them. It was a pain in the arse gave me some good practice at fixin' my knittin'.... and I absolutely love this Tuscany colorway from Lorna's Laces, so I'm happy to say I can move on now that I've fixed my stupid, stupid, stupid mistake.

I finally brought Simon's little camo sweater and "Chick Magnet" shirt over to him. We got the t-shirt on him, but he was a little cranky so we didn't mess with the sweater. I'm hopeful it fits, but haven't heard from his Mommy yet...

Chick Magnet Indeed....

Pooped out from entertaining all the chicks....

As I'm playing blog catch-up, I'll leave you today with Zeus' 6th Birthday photos...

My gentle giant (notice the very dainty lick, as he's probably saying to himself "Enough with the darn pictures already... can I tear in to this thing yet?!?!?!)...

And finally, my handsome 6 year old, posing nicely while Mommy makes him do embarrassing silly things with his new birthday toy...

That's it... back to dealing with the turn-your-head-and-it'll-change New England weather! It was 72 degrees yesterday and now we're expecting a snow storm tomorrow to dump 6" or more of snow (some say up to 6", some say 6 - 13" ... in other words, they don't know!).... oh the joys! I'm also thinking about some wonderful goodies that I can start spoiling my Secret Pal with!!!