Goodbye, Linden Avenue School…

Yesterday my son Daniel was part of the Linden Avenue School Second Grade Promotion.  There was song, poems, and fond farewells.  Everyone had a great time and excitement was in the air!  Today Daniel moved up to his 3rd grade class at Ridgewood Avenue Upper Elementary for the last day of the school year. Goodbye, Linden Avenue…you were our first school (and second home!). You will be fondly remembered.

CONGRATULATIONS DANIEL!

Rainy Day Knits

Seems like we’ve had a record-breaking amount of rain this month, plus cool temps.  Usually by this time of year knitting with wool is tricky because of the sweat factor. Not this year! I have a new FO to present, “Road Not Taken” from Lisa Lloyd’s book, A Fine Fleece.  I knit this scarf in Arucania Ranco Multi, a gorgeous sock yarn I purchased over a year ago at Modern Yarn. It is going to be a gift to my daughter Haley’s school nurse, in utmost appreciation for her care of Haley’s Type I diabetes.

Here is a close-up of the scarf, showing the simple yet elegant lace pattern:

This yarn blocked beautifully and is so soft and lightweight. I will definitely knit this pattern again, next time in a solid color. I have some bare Malabrigo sock yarn that is screaming to be dyed…

I am patiently waiting for SUMMER OF SOCKS 2009 on Ravelry to begin on June 21st. My Hedera sock needs a mate — I finished the first one a few weeks ago:

Thank goodness for knitting on rainy days — waiting for the sun, waiting for the sun…

Knitting is a Hoot!

Owls c’est fini!  Actually, it’s been finished for a week now but blogging amnesia overtook me ;o) I enjoyed knitting this, and am pretty happy with the fit.  It was even kind of fun to sew on 42 buttons for the eyes – not!  The Louet Riverstone Chunky became softer and fuzzier after washing and blocking.  This sweater is absoluely cozy and with the unpredictable NJ weather we’ve had lately, I’ve been able to wear it twice! (Photo courtesy of DD, that’s why it’s slightly out-of-focus.)

I’m also making progress on my current socks, Yukon Leaves by Lela Conrad.  The Madelinetosh Sock yarn is absolutely a dream to knit with, no splitting on those ssk’s or picking up yo’s. This yarn is strong yet cushy and I’m predicting this sock will get worn A LOT. Here’s a nice sunlit photo taken late in the afternoon:

I took advantage of the nice weather last Sunday by visiting Brookdale Park. While my son and daughter played on the swings, I took the opportunity to walk Ariel and Nikol. Here we are recovering after a wild romp in the dogpark area:

Ariel was quite happy to go about sniffing the ground while at the dogpark. Nikol had other things in mind:

This beagle girl has NO SHAME, and made quite a few friends (and was also snarled at on several occasions). AROOOOOOOOOOO!

End of Winter Celebration

I jumped on the Owls sweater bandwagon and hope to finish it before the weather turns too warm. I probably would have been done already if I knitted size 42 from the start, instead of believing size 40 would fit. After frogging and reknitting the body I think this is going to be a close-to-perfect fit. The design incorporates Elizabeth Zimmerman’s hourglass waist decreases/increases for shaping. I’ve been looking for a fun yoke sweater to knit and I’m looking forward to the finished results. Yarn: Louet Riverstone Chunky in Sandalwood. It’s a pleasing earthy tone in a nice easy-to knit-with weight.  It’s been something like 2 years since I knit a sweater so I’m enjoying this a lot.Here’s a shot of the yarn:

On the sock front, I’m just about finished with my Evolution Ribbed Socks using Jitterbug yarn in “Sahara.”  It’s a wild colorway with a lot of contrast. And you know how comfy Jitterbug yarn is. Of course the second sock is not pictured due to the fact I started Owls before grafting the toe. You know how that goes!

It’s been a long, freakin’ cold winter and I’m ready for spring, here’s the next sock yarn in the wings:

I’ve never knit with Madelinetosh Sock yarn before, and this looks like a real treat. The colorway “Jade” is perfect for the upcoming season. Most likely I will knit a lace leaf pattern, but anything can change ;o)

Got a Life – Or Not?

SUPPOSEDLY if you’ve seen over 85 of these films, you have no life.

There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste this. Then, put x’s next to the films you’ve seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show

(x) Grease

( ) Pirates of the Caribbean

( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest

( ) Boondock Saints

( ) Fight Club

( ) Starsky and Hutch

( ) Neverending Story

(x) Blazing Saddles

(x) Airplane

Total:4

(x) The Princess Bride

( ) Anchorman

(x) Napoleon Dynamite

(  ) Labyrinth

(x) Saw

(x) Saw II

( ) White Noise

(x) White Oleander

( ) Anger Management

( ) 50 First Dates

( ) The Princess Diaries

( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 9

(x) Scream

(x) Scream 2

( ) Scream 3

(x) Scary Movie

( ) Scary Movie 2

( ) Scary Movie 3

( ) Scary Movie 4

(x) American Pie

( ) American Pie 2

( ) American Wedding

( ) American Pie Band Camp

Total so far: 13

( ) Harry Potter 1

( ) Harry Potter 2

( ) Harry Potter 3

( ) Harry Potter 4

( ) Resident Evil 1

( ) Resident Evil 2

( ) The Wedding Singer

( ) Little Black Book

( ) The Village

( ) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 13

(x) Finding Nemo

( ) Finding Neverland

( ) Signs

( ) The Grinch

(x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Just watched the original movie for the first time last week!

( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

( ) White Chicks

( ) Butterfly Effect

( ) 13 Going on 30

( ) I, Robot

( ) Robots

Total so far: 15

( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

( ) Universal Soldier

( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events

( ) Along Came Polly

( ) Deep Impact

( ) KingPin

( ) Never Been Kissed

(x) Meet The Parents

(x) Meet the Fockers

( )Eight Crazy Nights

( ) Joe Dirt

(x) KING KONG (The Original)

Total so far: 18

( ) A Cinderella Story

( ) The Terminal

( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie

( ) Passport to Paris

( ) Dumb & Dumber

( ) Dumber & Dumberer

( ) Final Destination

( ) Final Destination 2

( ) Final Destination 3

(x) Halloween

( ) The Ring

( ) The Ring 2

( ) Surviving X-MAS

( ) Flubber [the original]

Total so far: 19

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle

( ) Practical Magic

( ) Chicago

( ) Ghost Ship

( ) From Hell

( ) Hellboy

( ) Secret Window

( ) I Am Sam

( ) The Whole Nine Yards

( ) The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 19

( ) The Day After Tomorrow

(x) Child’s Play

( ) Seed of Chucky

(x) Bride of Chucky

( ) Ten Things I Hate About You

( ) Just Married

( ) Gothika

(x) Nightmare on Elm Street

(x) Sixteen Candles

( ) Remember the Titans

( ) Coach Carter

( ) The Grudge

( ) The Grudge 2

(x) The Mask

( ) Son Of The Mask

total so far: 24

( ) Bad Boys

( ) Bad Boys 2

( ) Joy Ride

( ) Lucky Number Slevin

( ) Ocean’s Eleven

( ) Ocean’s Twelve

( ) Bourne Identity

( ) Bourne Supremecy

( ) Lone Star

( ) Bedazzled

( ) Predator

( ) Predator II

(x) The Fog

( ) Ice Age

( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown

( ) Curious George

Total so far: 25

(x) Independence Day

(x ) Cujo

( ) A Bronx Tale

( ) Darkness Falls

(x) Christine

( ) ET

(x) Children of the Corn

( ) My Bosses Daughter

( ) Maid in Manhattan

( ) War of the Worlds

( ) Rush Hour

( ) Rush Hour 2

Total so far: 29

( ) Best Bet

( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

( ) She’s All That

(x) Calendar Girls

( ) Sideways

( ) Mars Attacks

( ) Event Horizon

( ) Ever After

(x) Wizard of Oz

(x) Forrest Gump

(x) Big Trouble in Little China

(x) The Terminator

(x) The Terminator 2

(x) The Terminator 3

Total so far:36

( ) X-Men

( ) X-2

( ) X-3

( ) Spider-Man

( ) Spider-Man 2

( ) Sky High

( ) Jeepers Creepers

( ) Jeepers Creepers 2

( ) Catch Me If You Can

( ) The Little Mermaid

( ) Freaky Friday (the original)

( ) Reign of Fire

( ) The Skulls

(x) Cruel Intentions

( ) Cruel Intentions 2

( ) The Hot Chick

(x) Shrek

( ) Shrek 2

Total so far: 38

(x) Swimfan

( ) Miracle on 34th street

( ) Old School

( ) The Notebook

( ) K-Pax

( ) Krippendorf’s Tribe

( ) A Walk to Remember

(x) Ice Castles

( ) Boogeyman

( ) The 40-year-old Virgin

Total so far: 40

( ) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring

( ) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers

( ) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King

( ) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

( ) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

( ) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Total so far: 40

( ) Baseketball

( ) Hostel

( ) Waiting for Guffman

( ) House of 1000 Corpses

( ) Devils Rejects

( ) Elf

( ) Highlander

( ) Mothman Prophecies

( ) American History X

( ) Three

Total so Far: 40

( ) The Jacket

( ) Kung *** Hustle

( ) Shaolin Soccer

( ) Night Watch

( ) Monsters Inc.

(x) Titanic

(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail

( ) Shaun Of the Dead

( ) Willa74

Total so far: 42

( ) High Tension (Haute Tension)

( ) Club Dread

( ) Hulk

( ) Dawn Of the Dead

( ) Hook

( ) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

( ) 28 days later

( ) Orgazmo

(x) Phantasm

(  ) Waterworld

Total so far: 43

( ) Kill Bill vol 1

( ) Kill Bill vol 2

( ) Mortal Kombat

( ) Wolf Creek

( ) Kingdom of Heaven

( ) the Hills Have Eyes

( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman

(x) The Last House on the Left

(x) Re-Animator

( ) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 45

( ) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace

( ) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones

( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith

( ) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope

(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back

(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi

( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage

( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor

Total so far: 45

(x ) The Matrix

( ) The Matrix Reloaded

( ) The Matrix Revolutions

( ) Animatrix

( ) Evil Dead

( ) Evil Dead 2

( ) Team America: World Police

( ) Red Dragon

(x ) Silence of the Lambs

(x ) Hannibal

Total: 48

I totally thought I’d have more than this – guess I have a life after all!  BTW – I had never seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (’74)  in its entirety, the last time I remember seeing glimpses of it were at a party in the ’80’s and it was on one of those RCA video disc things – remember those?  One thing I don’t readily admit to my friends is that I’m a die-hard horror movie fan, the more disgustin’ the better!  This movie definitely fits the bill, my kiddos are NOT allowed to watch. They’ve been warned 😮

Thanks, Chris for posting this movie list , it was fun!

Newly Acquired Stash, WIPs and Beagles, of Course!

Recently I won Kim’s 200th blog post contest. I eagerly anticipated my prize’s arrival and this is what I received – yowsa!!!

This aweseome yarn haul includes 2 skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in “Watercolor”, The Sanguine Gryphon’s handpainted sock yarn in “Malta,” a skein of Prairie Silks worsted by Brown Sheep Yarn Co. in “Treasury Turquoise,” 2 skeins of Rio de la Plata Handspun worsted in “Hilado a Mano,” and a Flat Feet sock blank from Conjoined Creations. Also included: a cool little zippered tote with a sample pack of Soak wool wash and a vintage postcard of the location where W.O.O.L. is now held.

Wow! As you can plainly see I gasped in ecstacy from the wool fumes and boy do I LOVE prizes! Thank you Kim for everything, this will keep me busy for quite awhile :o)

Here is the first WIP, as you probably guessed it’s a sock!  I really do have other projects lined up for 2009, but socks come first. The pattern is Minestrone Socks by AstridKnits. I’m using up leftover yarn to do all the crazy Fair Isling and it’s a lot of ends to weave in, but fun and definitely a challenge:

The second sock I’m working on is the Narragansett Bay Socks by Lisa Lloyd. The pattern is in her awesome book, A Fine Fleece. I was inspired to dye some Malabrigo Sock yarn in burgundy for this project. I’m in love with this textured pattern – and what could be better than knitting socks with this yarn?

I entered some of my beagles’ photos in the “Picture Perfect Pet Contest.” I’m a total sucker for pet photo contests, and figure since they’ve had several non-paying professional photography jobs for the American Kennel Club and breed calendars, why not try for some $$$. Please vote for Ariel, Nikol, Ariel’s son Chester, or all three!

Here’s mother and daughter beagle rolling around on the kitchen floor, they’re real hams!

Cuteness Knows No Bounds!

2008 – The Year of Many Socks!

I am absolutely amazed at the amount of socks I knit in 2008. Ravelry was my inspiration and the knitalongs I joined were fun, especially Summer of Socks 2008!
I also took the plunge into yarn dyeing, first with Kool-Aid and more recently Jacquard Acid Dyes. I dyed my first sock blank last summer and sent it to a swap buddy all the way across the country. I like playing with the different hues and experimenting with different techniques.  I’ll definitely be spending more time (AND $$$) on this during 2009!

My knitting goals for 2009 include learning to knit a sock on 2 circular needles, knitting a toe-up sock and making a colorwork sweater. I’ve been practicing 2-handed Fair Isle with my current sock project and am ready to try it out on a larger scale.

Here’s a mosaic of my 2008 FO’s, mostly socks with a hat,  scarf and cowl thrown in for a little variety. Project info is available on my Ravelry page.

Beagle Birthday Alert!!!

Two years ago today Nikol, a.k.a. Foxfire’s Jumping Flash was born at 10:30 am.  She was the fourth of five adorable little girls and I knew immediately that she would stay with me. She still acts like a puppy and is tons of beagle fun and joy!

Happy Birthday, Nikol!!!

Nikol is the puppy in the middle.

Nikol (foreground) snuggling with sister Lucy.

Nikol (l) rolling around with her mom, Ariel (r)

Drumroll Please…

MUNCHKINMAMA!

Congratulations!!!  Please e-mail me your shipping info and I will send your yarn ASAP. I will be dyeing during the Xmas break so it won’t be long ;o)

Thanks to everyone who posted a comment – there were 50!

Breaking News…

Yes, it’s true!  I’m celebrating my 1-year anniversary of blogging today! A very big thanks to my knitting buddies who persuaded me to enter this enjoyable medium.
I used to be known as Blogless Nancy, not anymore bwahahahahah!!!!!

So, what’s the contest and more importantly, WHAT’S THE PRIZE???  Simply post your comment here before Tuesday, December 23rd, 10pm EST.  I will randomly select a name from all the posts and you will win a skein of Socks That Rock Lightweight yarn hand-dyed by ME!

Thanks again for your support and friendship, and here’s to more knitting in ’09…Happy Holidays!