Nothing happening on the knitting/crocheting side of life. I am knee deep into the book Ireland. What a great read. I'm going to recommend it to my book-loving brother, Don. I need to get off my duff and find his recommendation: A Million Little Pieces. I saw an article about this in the paper this morning. The author of the article was slightly dissing the book since it talks down about AA. I guess that part wasn't necessary but if it helps someone else out of their hole, I'm all for it being included in the book. Whatever works to extend a hand or some insight into overcoming addiction to something that is ruining your life.

I find this story pretty funny and I have yet to tell anyone about it. A little background: I'm not a full fledge Texan since I am not addicted to country music. As a matter of fact, I find it tough to listen to an entire song. So ---- I set the alarm to play country because I won't just listen and enjoy. I'll either turn it off and get up or hit the snooze. Well, the other morning a song about Texas played - something like "you can thank Texas for..." I must have let it play a little because later on when I was passing by the bathroom, I hear DH singing that song! I wanted to fall on the floor laughing. Here is a 52 yo man, sitting on the can and singing about the greatness of Texas. Of course, he was born and bred here but this is some funny shit. I'm hoping for a repeat performance.

Another note about the book: One of the stories from the storyteller in the book is about Saint Brendan. I immediately sat up and took notice of every word since my dearest GB shares that name. How cool is this? --- the book states that Saint Brendan was born May 16, 493. GB was born May 17, 2000. I guess he was destined for the name. In my opinion, he is also destined for sainthood. How is that for a proud Granny?

No knitting or crocheting last night - I finished the book! This was The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. I also brought it with me to work yesterday and read during lunch/breaks. While it sat on my desk waiting for me, I had a curious onlooker and a coworker who loves the series as much as I do. She tells me there is another book in the works --- yeehaw! Now I'm onto Ireland by Frank Delaney. It is already a good and quick read. I'm glad it'll be quick since it is almost 600 pages and it is a library book. Yeah, a stinking due date. I also have library book Night by Elie Wiesel waiting its turn. I don't normally enjoy Oprah's picks but I have read at least one book by this Holocaust survivor. It is a very thin book and I sure very insightful. Oprah is heading to Auschwitz (sp?) with Elie ---- I can't imagine the intensity of that experience.

Side project: Working on some felted heart coasters and possible a felted heart candy dish. I saw on the internet that Fiber Trends has this pattern out there but I'll be darned if I can track it down so I thought, hell, I don't need no stinking pattern. I can do this!

Driving around in the nasty rent car. Yeah, I'm pleased that it isn't costing me a dime but I still can't wait to get my own ride back in the driveway.

This picture shows the 10 stitch markers I made week before last. Yeah, they're some Pampered Chef thing(s) that I bought at a garage sale. I'm not really sure what they were meant to be but I know what they are now. I finally purchased some jump rings at HL. I "just happened" to be in there when I spotted that the jump rings and other jewelry making things half off. Good time as any, if you ask me. One of these is stitch markers is a NASA charm. Yeah, a $15 charm is now a stitch marker. You know what is really crazy? I don't even like stitch markers. If I ever find a project where they'll come in handy, I'll have them.

Even though I did zip knitting/crocheting, night before last I finished the neck and one button band on the vest. One more button band and I can zip the sides up and call it an FO. Well, I will have to dig through the button stash, choose five and sew them on. Knock 'em out, Chica.

Pretty Baby Girl Teagan received her hats, blanket and pillowcases. DC Ruthie says that Mommie Tracy said Teagan kept oohing and aahing. I could just picture her lying down with the blanket --- grinning to beat the band. Little ones are so precious. I'm really pleased that Teagan liked her mail.

Here is a pic of two bargains I got last Monday from the thrift store. The thing on the left is the pattern for a Pumpkin Bag. As you see, it kinda hangs like a pumpkin. I thought it might be fun to carry a project or if I like enough, make smaller as a purse. The thing on the right is the handles and inside of a purse/bag. You make the exterior which is changeable because it just buttons onto the interior. I loved its 70's style. These just had to come home with me. Hell, the pumpkin bag pattern retailed for $7.50. Some people must have all the $ but I still prefer my cost of 50 cents.

Vest update: I redid the shoulder seam and got both sides complete. Then I have three rows of the neck complete. I don't feel quite up to full speed so just did a little. It is quite an accomplishment since I seem to want to put it in a corner when I hit a snag. With the new goal of getting the three remaining projects off the list, I forced myself to trudge through it. Felt good. Check out the progress bars! I'm getting there. Two projects were removed --- they'll be back at a later time. I just had to be realistic and not hate myself.

I did (almost) finish two projects while down and out. Here are pics of the really finished project - the purse to match the Firecracker Sweater I made last summer. It turned out really cute. Of course the test will be when I use it but so far it is better than expected. Check out the antique clip earrings in the corners and the 40's style button. I just think this is so adorable. How is that for button picking sister? Did I impress you? I almost finished the Penguin tissue cover box. I need to dig for a white pompon (not sure if I have) and glue that and the three holly sprigs on and it will be considered complete. Another cute-ass project that I'm glad is finished. I blocked the three pieces of the vest and tried to join the shoulders. I don't like what I did so that will come out. Once I get the shoulders joined I'll do the neck and button band. Then it'll be another FO! My goal-setting has paid off! I hope to get the list down to a project for work and a project for home. That is much more manageable. We'll see how I do.

Here is a pic of the Alpaca Scarf. I'm not normally very enthused with granny squares but I love this scarf. I've been looking for fuzzy grey and white yarn for a year - ever since I saw this scarf on Meg Ryan in a movie, I've been wanting one just like it. If my memory serves me correctly this is a pretty close, if not exact, rendition.

I finished all the stitching on Penguin Tissue Box. All I need to do now is stitch it together. Another almost FO.

I got a call from the library that one of the books on my request list came in - Ireland. Damn, now I'm gonna have to hurry and finish the Gabaldon and get going on this one. It seems Ireland is highly desired in my area. The librarian saw it and said, "I bet you had to wait for that one!." Now I'm desperately wanting to peel back the pages. I also grabbed a bunch of books on tape. Two of the them are Kinky Friedman ---- you know, Kinky for Governor? We'll see how that goes.

This is a picture of one of the things I finished over the weekend. This will be shipping off to D2ndC Teagan today. I made a regular sized pillowcase and one for the little travel pillows. The back of the blanket is from a twin-sized flannel sheet. I bought it at a thrift store a year or two ago and I let it hang out in the living room over the holidays to remind me to buy a piece for the front. I found the front piece at HL this past week and it only took a dollar to make its way home with me. How cool is that? I think this entire project cost under 5 bucks. I'm sure she'll get that much warmth out of it - what a fun blankie!

Today is first day of classes for the Spring semester here at UT. I guess we can carry on without Mr. Vince Young. I would've grabbed the 50 million if I was him so there is no blame coming from this side of campus. The majority of my employees remain the same - just a few new ones. I hope they work out as well as the ones I retained.

I'm almost at page 800 of the book I'm reading - I'm hoping to finish it this week. Over 900 pages is quite a book. I'm enjoying it but would like to knock out a few others. Only reading prior to bed really cuts down on the progress. Oh well, tis better than no reading.

I found a few things in the new Vogue Knitting magazine that I'd like to make. I wonder if the stash holds any of the yarns needed for these projects?!

Well, I'm off to start the day. Wish me luck!

I did a little bit of crodering last night - just the edging on two squares of the Alpaca grey/white scarf. I should be able to finish this over the weekend. I also balled up the Firecracker yarn for the purse so that is ready for completion. Yesterday I worked on the Penguin tissue box and that is coming along nicely. I hope to have all three of these projects at the 100% mark next week. With a three day weekend, that should be easy to do. I also have a Batman blankie for GB on the sewing machine. I was working on it will waiting for DC Ruthie to get off the phone with honey so we could IM. I did get one side sewed and then she popped back on. Oh well, one side = one side. Another thing in the works is a holiday blankie. I've had a twin or full sized flannel top sheet hanging around in the stash that needs a topper. I stopped by HL on the way home and found a cute snowman panel that should work perfectly. Hey, it was only a dollar and I needed to buy it in order to finish another project. I hope that serves as good justification. Knocking out the stash is a good feeling. I'm hoping to get it down to a more manageable level like: knowing what I've got and having a reason to buy more. Maybe even buying specific yarn for a specific project. Imagine that cuz I can't. I did use up all my stash at one point in my life. I was determined to get it up and outta here. It was at the house previous to the one we're in now. I had to store my stash on the shelf out in the garage and I just hated having it out there with the possibility of getting dirty. I even used up all the little balls of leftovers and made my favorite afghan - "Scrap Afghan." So, this lets me know that it is possible.

I know where I am and I know where I've been. In lieu of a picture of Camo Hat #2, I retook the Marnie MacLean Knitting Quiz. (If you want to see what Camo Hat #2 looks like, please refer to Camo Hat #1 - they're identical twins.) I know that when I first took her test, I was not a Guru at that point. I feel the results are fairly accurate - I do feel like I have jumped to a little higher level over the past year.

Anywho, I did knock out hat #2 last night. When you see light at the end of the tunnel, it is much easier to just do it. I want to try one of these on the GB head before I begin one for him. I may cut back a few stitches and I'm sure part of the length. This will give me an indication of what to do for DN, if I end up having enough yarn to make him one.

It is funny how I have never decided to make New Year's resolutions but they just seem to land in my lap. I am a sticky note writer, list maker, extremely organized person who likes a neat, tidy life. This part of nature does not always materialize because I have many people involved in my life that aren't made of the same material. They don't put the scissors back after they use them, they don't pick up the food they drop on the floor - yeah, you get the idea. Being only one of me and many of them, there is no human way possible to follow all of them around and do what is obvious to me and not so obvious to them. I always have so many "need to do" things pop into my head that I have to keep a list or it keeps popping back in there and haunting me. Since the beginning of the new year, I have been religious about keeping a list of things that pop up. This has helped me move a lot of things from the head, to the paper, and then to the crossed off area of life. This brings me to the list that started this whole dissertation - the list of Knitting, Crochet, Sewing or Cross-Stitch project I have above. My goal is to get the "in-progress" list down to one or two. The Wanna-Bes list will decrease as it is moved up to the one or two "in-progress" mentioned. This morning I grabbed the Penguin Tissue Box Cover and the Firecracker Purse project. Before work, I finished the main body of the purse. I have the handle to start after I zip the sides together. I also plan on adding a little of the Squiggle yarn along the flap and maybe on the handle. First, I need to get the yarn home and wound up on the baller - looks like they were having a party in the bag while marinating.

I also updated the 2004 and 2005 completed project lists. I went through the blog page by page to make sure I hadn't missed anything in 2005. I had a feeling that the list wasn't complete because there were only 31 things on the list. Yeah, there is a difference between the final count of 52 and the original 31. I'm still kind of surprised that I did 61 in '04 and 52 in '05. I'm thinking there were bigger projects in '05 --- off the top of my head I know there was at least one afghan and a lace shawl. Those take some time - as we all know.

DSIL, DMIL and I will be heading to the Sewing, Quilting & Embroidery Expo that they'll have in San Antonio January 19-21. I called DGF Jessica and she is itching to meet us there. Little did I know, Little Miss Jessica has turned into Miss Seamstress and is sewing her little butt off. This worked out perfect - we get DMIL out of the house, I get to see my friend and we're all interested in what we'll be seeing. I'm excited to go to this.

Busy day for me - Faculty Retreat Day is always crazy. I'll be glad for tomorrow.