Burning the Candle at Both Ends is not good or wise!

Well once again my over acheiver alter ego has surfaced! I found out if I work really hard I can earn my Bachelor degree next May instead of 2 years from now. But I have to just about kill myself do this. Okay ...not really kill myself, but make a lot of sacrifices and plan the heck out of my life. Not one of my strong points since the creative side emerges whenever it feels like it. The new man in my life is not really on hold but he wants to take it slow and right now that is fine with me. Okay not really but I will worry about men issues later. I too old for my wants to hurt me....and just young enought to care....

The class I am taking at the moment is so intensive. It is a fourteen week class crammed into 7 weeks. It is just about to take me down.....but I will make it through.

I have been so busy that I have even knitted in about a week. This has frustrated me but I also have had to work late at work all week. Exhaustion has been my middle name. Why does it seem like everything hits the fan at once?

I did recently order some beautiful yarn to knit some washclothes and soap bags for Christmas presents. The pattern is so beautiful....it looks like a Victorian set. I got the pattern and yarn from Patternworks. Will have to take pictures and post some of my WIP and some of my other stuff.....today is my thought gathering day and I will be getting organized! Wish me luck!

I am Calm Now...Men are really okay...

Thanks to all who were so kind. I emotionally wrote my blog the other day....not good. I will not give up on this one. We started out as good friends and this can not change. Good friends are hard to find. But I truly believe this one will eventually be more than that....It's in Gods hand and if he feels it is right it will work out.

At least I wasn't non productive from my emotions...I cleared and cleaned a lot of my past life clutter. There were so many closets and stuff in my house from my ex husband that I needed to clean out. And I have! Amazing how much you can throw away when you are on a mission. Thank goodness for being a older wise women...you can snap right back into your thought pattern of " I am women, hear me roar....I am independent and I can go and do what I want..!!!!" Now let me tell you all a little secret.....my sweetie is 10 years younger than me...maybe I was more women than he anticipated...but continuing to being good friends is very important to me....I can handle this and I will.....I am too much of a good person which he readily admits to....he is really a good one....can you imagine a man with a good moral compass...one who values friendship even though he wants more.....we work more closely than I let on in my earlier post. We work in the same office, same department, and same team.....But we came over from the other component to headquarters the same day and we worked at the other area for 2 years.....how do you spell destiny......I am not giving up.

I took a class on Sat. to improve my intarsia technique a little better. Great class...only two of us in there so we really got a lot of hands on help. I will post pictures later....I have to do homework now. My summer class for my degree is "Financial and Managerial Accounting" ...how load can we all say YUCK! Only 6 more weeks to go....and I will be one more class ahead.

This driven women is going to call a friend for dinner and relax her tired self.

How do you spell broken hearted?

Well...what I thought was a budding realtionship turned out to be not one at all. "He" decided that a work relationship was not working and would be better that we stay friends. I am so crushed. I don't know if I will ever trust a man again. Right when I thought doors were opening they have been slammed in my face....again. I have cried my last tear over a man...I am done. Don't feel sorry for me...I know that I am a pretty terrific person and I know that God loves me and I guess there is a reason for this.
I will have several good cries and move on. A sad day. Trust is a very hard thing to give and when it is broken...well....it just hard.

The Weekend ...thank goodness!

This has been the week that takes a good women to her last nerve! If it wasn't for my new sweetie....I think I would have just lost it!

I tired to get a hair appointment 3 times and with me not being able to make it or my hairdresser not being able to keep the appointment I finally gave up and made it with her partner. I teased Tammy, my hairdresser, telling her that her new found happiness in marriage is making it hard for us. She has changed her schedule and it is not good for the rest of us loyal customers....LOL....we will adapt! We are happy for her. Anyway....I also had to cancel my other vice for pampering ....my monthly manicure and pedicure...I have to work on my day off so I had to reschedule my pampering day....oh well......another day will be okay.

But my new sweetie told me I was still pretty....he is a real keeper! Can't go into too much detail ....we are in the early stages of our relationship and hopefully it progresses......we have know each other for 3 years....and this just started to get to be a little more than just friends.....oh yeah! BIG OLD SMILE FOR ME! Enough gushing for now.....will gush more later.

I just received my order from Blue Moon Fiber Arts..Socks that Rock....colors, Lunasea, Little Bunny Foo Foo and Love in Idelness....they are beautiful.....I have other projects to finish and then I am going to dig in! They are yummy, yummy, yummy!!!

Well...off to bed to dream about my sweetie ....hmmmm.

Secret Pal 10 Contest #5 - My Favorite Knitting Spot

My hostess from Secret Pal 10 has a new contest! I am to describe my fav. way to knit. So here it goes...............

My favorite place to knit is in my recliner. I snuggle down in the chair and put my bag on the side and knit my little heart out. I like to have a good cup of hot coffee on the table beside me sometimes and I ususally have the TV on to a favorite show which could be any HGTV show or a "who done it show". Sometimes I recline back some and knit very relaxed.....but this can be deadly....because I usually fall asleep and this is not productive! Oh I want to start to knit.....so I think I will endulge myself and knit for awhile....
Keep those needles clicking!

I am Greatful!

I was off from work yesterday and not feeling well so I just watched TV and knitted. I was watching a show about the generosity of people in disasters and I started thinking how grateful I am to be who I am and what I have. In the last 14 years of my life I have accomplished so much and have done a lot with my life....even though some may look at it as it has been a very small accomplishment....But I think it is huge. A few facts about me in the last 14 years.

1. I was a stay at home PTA mom when my husband decided to leave me and move on to what he said was his view of happiness and it didn't include me. We had been married 23 years by then. I had never worked so I was scared and frightened.

2. After a number of extremely poor years and worrying to the point I thought I would loose my mind, I decided to go back to college. It took me awhile, because I wanted to get my daughter through. In the meantime I worked very small odd jobs to make ends meet and prayed a lot that I would not loose the house or my mind!

3. At the age of 46 I entered community college and received my Associate Degree in Business 4 years later. I graduated with honors and I knew then the world was at my feet.

4. I had the opportunity to start working in the Federal Government and that lead to an internship. I have moved up rapidly in my job (both financially and career wise and today I am comfortable and able to support myself and do the things I have wanted to do.

5. I enter college again to earn my Bachelor of Professional Studies majoring in Leadership and Management. I have maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout my college days and I will graduate a year from now.

There are times where I get very lonely and frustrated with the opposite sex, as proven in my rant a week ago.....but I am proof positive that you can do anything you want to do and do it well.

I am so grateful for my life, my family, my daughter, my grandson and my son-in-law. I am in fairly decent health and I have good friends I can call on. Above all of this I have the love of GOD and without him I nor would anyone else have the blessings we have today.

My point to all of this is to stop when you are angry, count your blessings and see just how rich you are. Riches aren't always counted as money....they are the gifts we give others and how we receive gifts back. Look at all the talent when we read each others blogs! Wow....I find it amazing and overwhelming at times.

We all have so much to share and to be grateful for and I wanted to just express it today. May God Bless you and may you go forth and rejoice for what you have and what you can share. All of have gifts, whether they are sewing, knitting, cooking, or just being a good friend. Dig deep and figure out what your gift is and freely give it. You will find your gift will come back to you many times over.

With all my sincere sisterly love,
Iva

A Lazy Weekend!

I can't believe I left my rant up so long. I intended to post this week end but.....I was just out of it. Thanks for the positive feedback Kaki! It's great when you have new friends that post nice things.

After working so hard for my great grade for my class....I have become the all time slug! I have been so tired. But this is the allergy season and it seems worse than ever. I start back to school May 21st and I am not really looking forward to it. But it will be one more class down and the light at the end of the tunnel for graduation has finally shown brightly! I went to my counselor and found out that I can graduate next May if I really put my nose to the grindstone....and you better believe I am. I love attending classes but I am so tired of doing homework. But the rewards for all my hard work over the years has been worth it!

I still haven't talked about my class with Melissa Leapman. My daughter and I had such a good time. We learned several different types of edgings and I can see using them on socks purses and of course sweaters. I was so enthralled with learning that I forgot to take pictures at the class.....can you believe that. Both my daughter and myself had our cameras and we forgot to take pictures. I will take some of my samples and post later. However, we did get our books autographed by her. At least part of the old noodle was working.

Today being Monday is even harder to get motivated but I really need to get into the swing of work. I really should have come in on Sat. to work...but like the little child I can be..."I didn't want to!".

I did get to see a friend from high school who was in town from FL. We got to visit for a few hours....it was nice and I hope she is able to come back up and we can get together again....maybe I will make the trip down there. I need to start planning a few trips......need to find more yarn shops! LOL

My daughter is visiting a friend in CA and I called her last night. She found some really neat yarn shops and she said she is bringing me home some treats. I can't wait. I have the best daughter in the world!

Well better actually earn my living.....until the next post....keep those knitting needles clicking and new yarn shops on the horizon.

A little Irritation Please!

Well...yesterday was an all time aggrivating day. I dropped my car off at the dealers (first big mistake there) to have the oil changed, tires rotated and State Inspection. Now mind you my car is only 3 years old. No problems noted and none that I could see, feel or hear. Well....they called me to let me know that my breaks needed to be replaced. I only had 48 thousand miles on it. When I arrived my bill was almost 2 car payments. I hit the roof. I managed to get them to remove some charges that they couldn't seem to explain, but now you know where my tax refund it going. I was planning on buying some new yarn....maybe take a little extended weekend trip or what ever.....but no this has to go for something that I know I was totally ripped off. I know this is because I am a women and they saw me coming.....well....no more....I told them I would not ever return nor would I recommend them. I hope I gave them a bad evening....I wasn't ugly...just firm.

And my other rant.....I have been separated and divorced for 14 years. I have put my nose to the grindstone and put my daughter through school, myself through (I am actually going now and almost finished) gotten a very good job and taken care of myself very well. I have no issues or at least very few...fun to be with, a good cook, a hard worker, pretty decent to look at ....so what's the problem.....MEN...what the heck do they want. I have not dated much and at my age it's hard to find them alive and kicking (LOL). I subscribed to EHarmony and I have had a lot of matches, but the men don't communicate.....they close me before we can even get to know each other......usually its the checked box..."I don't believe there is any chemistry"....How the heck can they tell?????? By a few questions?????? To have chemistry folks you have to get to know someone....my big issue with myself is my weight and I belive MEN are looking for one thing....a roll in the hay and they can profess being a Christian all they want but I know they have one thing on their mind and if a women doesn't look like Barbie or act like they haven't a brain in their head....well some of us are just left out. I know that a lot of you have wonderful husbands, but you are lucky.....some of us are not. I would give anything to have a wonderful partner in my life to share things with......but I guess right now it is not on the horizon for me....in the meantime I will wish, hope and pray that God will give me a good man before I get so old I won't know what to do with him! LOL....Rant over.

Will post more tonight when I get home.....have to tell all about my knitting class with Melissa Leapman....fun, fun , fun......

Wow! Two packages this Week!

I received two packages this week from the two swaps I am in....Knitters Treat Swap and Secret Pal 10....and oh how they spoiled me! I received from my Secret Pal 10 a skein of STEP sock yarn( I love this yarn and I love the color!), some knitters ointment for my hands,(and I really need this!) a package of wool wash and knitters pins (can have enough of these). See the pictures below. Thank you SP10! Can't wait to for you to revel yourself!

Secret Pal 10

And my next wonderful package is from my Knitters Treat Pal! Thank you Kati! You were super with this. I received green tea (yum), a cable holder, the cutest stitch holders that look like mini donuts which are better on stitch holders than on my hips!, a handmade card, the prettiest shawl holder which was attached to my (Yippees) Jitterbug yarn! Yummy, yummy!

Knitters Treat Pal

Thank you so much to both of my secret pals! Yummy...yummy..yummy......

Spring Felted Bag Swap Questionnaire

I joined yet another swap....I think I am rather addicted to giving! This is the Spring Felted Bag Swap. I am learning to swap now. My daughter StephanieCake has done a lot of felting and she has been helping me. I have my first one on the needles and I hope to finish it soon! I carry a felted purple one she made me for Christmas. So here are my answers for the questionnaire.....

1.How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? I learned to crotchet about 35 years ago. My mother taught me and I self taught for knitting about 33 years ago.

2. What are your favorite yarns to knit\crochet felted bags with? I have just tried Patons yarn so far.

3. What are your favorite needles to knit\crochet with? I don’t crotchet much anymore, but for knitting I love wooden knitting needles. Crystal palace, Brittnay, and Denise needles are what I use mostly. Addis are also my fav metal needles.

4. What are the last 3 bags you knitted\crocheted (include URL for Yahoo! or flickr album or your blog if you have them!)? You can also link to patterns if you don't have pictures of your finished objects! I am knitting my first one now. My daughter has knitted many and she has given me some patterns.

5. Do you carry the bags that you make, give them as gifts, or both? I plan to do both. I carry one now that my daughter knit for me. I just love it.

6. What is your favorite felted bag that you have made for yourself? I have not found a pattern yet. Still looking. I want to try a bag with beads.

7. What are your favorite colors? Do you like bags in these colors or choose other colors? I love purple, blue or pink. I also like green.

8. Chocolate: White, Milk, Dark, or not so much? Dark most definitely!

9. Coffee, Tea, or Milk? Coffee (Milk with my chocolate.)

10. Do you prefer sweet or salty treats? What kinds? Both! For sweets, I love truffles or creams and salty things I love bagel chips or pita chips.

11. If you went into Bath and Body Works and could only come out with one item, what would it be and what would it smell like? Even though I think it is Yankee Candle, I love the smell of “Clean Cotton”. I also love the smell of Freesia or any clean flower smell.

12. Do you enjoy any other crafts or hobbies? Do you collect anything? I quilt. I collect fabric like I do yarn! I also collect teacups and snowmen.

13. Are there any bag patterns you have not yet knit, but hope to someday? I am still looking at all the wonderful patterns. They are all looking good to me. Though I have to say totes are my favorite.

14. What is currently OTN (on the needles) for you? Wow..... I have several socks, a shawl, a bag and a sweater OTN. I need to finish them and not start something new! Yeah like that is going to happen. I did just finish a scarf.

15. What is your most recent finished object before that? A lace scarf. Very simple but a lot of fun.

16. What's cutest: Puppies, Piggies or Pixies? Puppies of course.

17. Do you enjoy reading? Books, Magazines, or both? I love both. I love anything about history. And this includes history on knitting, quilting, tools for both or history of an area.

18. Do you have any children? (kid-kind or pet-kind apply!) I have a daughter, but she is married and I have one grandchild (the sweetest little guy!). I love cats, but alas my Fluffy died a number of years ago and my lifestyle right now does not allow for a pet.

19. What are some of your favorite yarns for other projects? I love sock yarn of any kind, but I do prefer natural fibers. I love the feel of silk and some cottons are great too. I do not like scratchy fibers; they make me itch.

20. And for the final question, one I see debated all over: Novelty Yarn: Love it! Hate it! or It depends! It depends on what it is for. I have a pattern for a little Santa and it uses novelty yarn for his beard and it is total okay.

21. Is your home smoke free? Yes…I have trouble breathing around smoke, and if it is in fibers, it bothers me too.

22. Is your home pet free? Yes

23. Are you allergic to pet hair, smoke, or both? Smoke

I GOT AN "A" I am so Proud of myself!

Last night I felt a big weight lifted from my shoulders. I completed a great deal at work and I took my final exam at school for this course and I made an "A". This professor has us correct the papers in class since it is usually a multiple choice. I was really worried because I hadn't studied as much as I wanted to but I surprised myself. Knew more that I realized. Now I have about three weeks of relax time and then back to school for the summer session. I am knocking my classes out one at a time. Hopefully I will graduate within the next year or so.

One more day (today) and then I take the Melissa Leapman class....yeah! Will post more about the class and pictures this weekend.

I am a much more relaxed lady now. I know I will be able to enjoy my weekend.

It's a good day in the Neighborhood!

It is Thursday and only one more day unitl the weekend...hooorayyyy! My class with Melissa Leapman is on Sat. and I can't wait. I have all my samples knit and I am ready. I will be able to relax and enjoy myself. I finish with part of my final tonight and the take home part by Monday. Then I get about 3 weeks of fun and then back to the grindstone. I enjoy going to class, but I am like a little kid with homework....I hate it! I don't have that many more classes to take so I will just hang in there until I can achieve my goal of my degree. Why I waited until I was in my 40's and 50's to start to school....well I do know.....it was called survival after the divorce.

Anyway...on another fun topic. I received a wonderful package from my SP10 pal.....I will post pictures later. It contained a wonderful skein of sock yarn, pins to hold pieces in place to put your garment together, yarn wash, and knitters ointment. I was so surprised. What a grand gift!

Thank you, Thank you to my SP10 partner.
Gotta run and study some more before tonight!

Knitters Coffee Swap Questionnare

Okay...here is my questionnare for my Knitter and Coffee swap!

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? I love whole bean and then grind my own, but if it is too hard to find, ground is okay.
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully Loaded....is there any other way?
3. Regular or flavored? Regular, sorta got tired of the flavors....need my hearty straight drink in the morning.
4. How do you drink your coffee? In a china mug....I love china cups ....okay whatever is clean....
5. Favorite coffee ever? Seattle's Best Breakfast Blend or Starbucks Breakfast blend...but I am game to try others.
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I am fussy. I like a good coffee, not a weak one...brand names seem to deliver.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? I love any type of bread. Plain, pastry, or cookies....shortbread, biscuit, and any English biscuit.
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? don't think so....
9. Yarn/fiber you love? I love natural fibers. They can have some blended fibers in sock yarn, but I prefer the natural ones.
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Squeaky acrylic yarn.
11. What's on your needles? Cystal palace, Brittney, Addi, Denise....I have them all...I recently tried the Knitpicks equivalent to Addis and I love them.
12. Favorite colors? Blue, purple, green, red, pink....okay a lot....but I don't care for brown or orange. They just don't do anything for me.
13. Allergies? None that I know of.
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I am not much of an issue person....I just really like to swap! I also love tote bags....little small or any kind of zippered bags. Bit of an obsession with me. I like gadgets too.

It's A Great Monday!

After having to work yesterday, I really had a hard time waking up. I thought...yuck...Monday!
Well...it turned out to be just fine so far! I heard from one of my swap partners, Miss Me, a gentleman I am corresponding with and knitters coffee swap with my new swap partner. I am going to shop, shop and shop this weekend to get packages in the mail. I am trying hard to finish some things I started yesterday at work, but I just can't seem to concentrate. Must be the sunshine....it makes me want to lay out in it and soak up as much as possible. I hope the day gets better and better. I am having dinner with my mom this evening before I head home. I was working on my Monkey socks and I made a mistake.....now I have to frog about 8 rows...oh well....I will have them done soon so I can post them.

Oh....almost forgot....Sat is my big knitting weekend with my daughter. We are taking Melissa Leapmans' class "knitting On the Edge"......yes I know this is a book by another author, but this is what her class is called....anyway.....daughter and I are so excited. I ordered two books for us to have her sign. Hopefully I can take pictures and post....

Knitters ....keep those needles clicking!

Sunshine...finally

The sun is shinning so brightly and it makes me so happy! I think our warmer weather is finally here. I realized a long time ago, I need sunlight to function. Unfortunately I work in a building that has no windows in my office area. Sometimes it is hard to concentrate....so it is so nice to have sunlight when I go home from work, now that we are on daylight savings time.

This is a complete change of subject, but I don't know how many have read much about the tragedy at Virginia Tech. My heart goes out to those students who died and those who had to endure those hours of uncertainty. I can honestly say I had an inkling how they felt. I was in Washington DC when 911 happened. The fear and worry you felt and the unknowing was a terrible feeling to have. Even now, when I hear of something unusual, you just wonder if it is happening all over. I, as I am sure, those students and their families have placed their trust in God and hope that with time all heals. Please keep Virginia Tech in your prayers.

I have to head to work today....boo....but it will help not stay late next week....so I will sacrifice.
I will stay with my mom who lives closer to my work. She and I will enjoy the evening and of course I have to take some knitting! I like to visit my mom and relax. She will treat me just like she did when I was younger. She will fix me breakfast and pack my lunch for work. I have the best mom!

Pitty Party Yesterday

I fell for the pitty monster yesterday. Tried so hard not to but it grabbed for me and caught me. I am totally swamped at work. Way too much to do and so little time. Needless to say my job falls into the political arena at times and this is extremely stressful. But I was able to see my daughter for a little while last night..we met for dinner and then she was off to her job where she has to stay overnight. It was on the way from my house so it was great being with her. I gave her a very early birthday present which she was so excited. I won on Ebay a swift and yarn winder and she was ecstatic. She had been using mine when she came down, which was fine, but as we all know....it so much better to have your own when the mood strikes.

Unfortunately I have to work this weekend, but I am going to stay with my mom so the commute is not so long and she is so good to me. She will treat me just like I was home again buy fixing me dinner and breakfast. She is so special. I just love being at her house. She treats all that arrive on her doorstep like they lived there. She works way too hard but she is the best mom ever! She is almost 82 and you wouldn't know it! She works rings around me. She still cuts her grass and keeps up with the house like she did when we were little. I just hope I have the energy she has when I reach her age!

Okay now I have put myself in a better mood. I will have to just plan and work through all this work at my job and complete my home duties and school stuff....oh my! Knitting on the train this evening will most definitely put me in a much grander mood!

Stash Pictures

Last week when I posted stash pictures and new buys I left out one of the pictures which documents most of the newest stash! I am so excited with these purchases. Some might become swap stash ...but I actually have patterns in mind. The colors did not turn out well. I still haven't figured out the resolution or tint or whatever you call it. I hate to admit this but I actually have some more stash that did not appear in the picture. One item I have on the needles and have almost completed. It is for my SP10. I love the colors...so I will post once I send it to her.

I have started a shawl for work. Work you say? Yes. I work in a very old building that we burn up in the winter and we freeze in the summer. The air conditioning just freezes us in my office area. I found a pattern that has pockets...I just love it. I will post a picture later this week.

Work is very stressful right now and I will probably have to put in overtime this weekend. I hope not, but it looks like I will so far......so knitting dreams are keeping me sane at the moment.

It's the Weekend for me - starting tonight!

In my job, I work 9 hour days so I can have every other Friday off. This is my Friday off and I am so glad! I am so looking forward to my pampering day and then Sunday with my family. It turned so cold here in Fredericksburg last night. You would think it was January and not April. I am so ready to shed the coat and just enjoy some spring weather. Not sure when that is going to happen since they are calling for snow flurries on Sunday. Just have to make the best of it.

I ordered some blue yarn from Knit Picks I hope is going to arrive today. I have wanted to knit a shawl with pockets and I finally found the pattern I want to use. So.....when I get it on the needles, I will post a picture.

I am working diligently to get my SP10's package together and in the mail on Friday.....I have some Easter goodies for her kids and of course her...and well...fortunately she only lives 50 miles away .....so it will be on time even mailing it on Friday...(I hope!)

Happy Easter to all!!!!

It's finally Wednesday!

This morning I woke to rain and the thoughts that I have just today and tomorrow, then my weekend starts. I am off on Friday and I have planned a "me day". Get my hair done and my monthly massage, hit my LYS and quilting shop and then spend the evening creating. Work has been tough this week and I am so ready for this weekend. And the best part is that it is Easter and I will be with all of my family....or at least some. They are calling for yucky weather though, but I am going to try to make the best of it. I am going to buy lots of chocolate Easter bunnies, marshmellow chicks, and chocolate East eggs to give to my grandson and my nieces and nephews and be the wonderful aunt and grandma that I hope I am....I just love to spoil the kids!

Happy Easter to all!
Keep those knitting needles clicking!

STASH Monster overcame me last weekend!

Last weekend my daughter and I did a little knitting shop hopping! As her mother, I showed absolutely no self control. I was like a little kid in a candy shop! Above are pictures of some of my stash and I have also posted some of my WIP and some finished dishrags. That evening after a wonderful dinner at a local Thai restuarant we came home and I order needles and a beautiful bead winder for some knitting with beads I am planning. This past week my living room looks as though Christmas came early. Not only did I buy but I ordered and I even ordered for my daughter. She got her birthday presents 6 months early....but she is not complaining! Ebay is a wonderful thing! It is now time for me to stop and get some of these projects done. I do have to fit work in though.....but then again I can knit on the train to work! Sleep will become a thing of the past. Or so I think....LOL