For Bo The Rebel Knitter

What you doing lady?


I went back home to Bessemer today to help my Mom unload her stuff from her move back home. Yep She's moved back home to AL from NC. I'm glad to have her back. (I"m still going to go visit you Kitty!!!)
It was such a beautiful day and the horses were grazing. My family lives on 100 acres (which I refer to as the Commune) and my Aunt boards horses for other people. So Rebel Knitter if you are reading this, this blog is for you hun!! I know how much you love horses especially painted ones! This blog is picture heavy so if you are on dial up I apologize ahead of time. :-)

First here's me and my Mom (I think I get my fear of the camera from her. She doesn't really like to have her pic taken either. LOL)

Here's the pics I don't think ya'll need captions. Enjoy! Lots of love to ya'll!!!
XOXOXOXO






















I call this one freckles! LOL I don't know his real name.



Here's some more pics of the Commune: I hope ya'll enjoy!

TGIF!! Now when is 5 going to get here?

Hey folks!! I'm in such a happy mood. You know why? Because it is friday that's why!!! I'm still at work though and I'm between things to do. I'm kind of bored with the work and am wishing I was at home knitting right now! I need to find a job where all I do is knit all day long. That is this knitter's dream!
I went to my Fave LYS In the Making and took advantage of their moving sale. They've out grown their small parcel and moving to a bigger one next door tomorrow! I'm so excited. Ya'll when I am stressed at work and need to get away, I go there and smell the fibers. I love the way that store smells!! It almost always calms me down.
The store owner calls me "Pizza Slut". Yeah, I had to show off my Pizza Slut cash bag to her. She absolutely loved it and remembers me by that! LOL I'm excited about the new store too! I wish I worked there!
I showed off my sock to them too and picked up another skein too just incase I run out. I have big feet ya'll! They absolutely loved how the colors were knitting too! These socks are my spring socks. I'm almost finished with the first one. I've still got another inch or two for the foot then I have to do the toe decreases. Then I"ll be ready to cast on sock number two!!! Yay!!! Go me!
Oh I picked up only 3 skeins of yarn today. 1 of the Tahiki CCC for my socks, Tan Cotton Fleece (80 cotton 20 merino wool) and Tatamy Tweed Carnation (45 Cotton 55 acrylic) and the total price for all 3..... $13.25 Not too bad on the wallet. :-) I'll take some pics later for you!

Well, I guess I'd better get back to work :-(
XOXOXO

Wow too purfect! My 100th Post!! Thank you all!!!

I just noticed that this is my 100th blog post!! I can't believe I've posted this many! I need to go back and read them all! LOL

Celebrating Post number 100 I announce the winner of my first ever blog contest. There were six names placed in the hat from the contest post. (Ya'll know who you are!!!)
I'm breaking down the drawing event. There are pics ya know! LOL
Here is the Hippie hat (I had to model it for you you know!)
I could write SOOO many stories that are associated with this hat! I've had it since my college days. I was wearing it when I gave birth to my angel even! I kid ya'll not!
Here's the name picker My lovely angel Sym

Here's her picking the name out of the hat....

OHH I can't wait to see the winner!!!! Can you?
See I told ya'll that I have alot of stories to go with this hat didn't I? Well one of them was a trip to City Stages in Downtown B-Ham. It started raining and the dye in the hat bled through and turn parts of my hair blue!! LOL
Did I mention that I gave birth to my daughter in this hat? Yep. All the pics of me in the hospital involve this hat. I didn't even wear or bring makeup because well I don't really like wearing it.
OH the winner. He he he See I told ya'll that I could go on and on about this hat! LOL

Drum Roll Please.....

It's Scarlett!!!
I'm sending you an email chica send me your addy!
Thanks ya'll for reading my blog. I never would have made it to 100 posts if you weren't reading them! I love ya'll dearly!!
Big Hugs!!!
XOXOXO
Lesley

Finally the prize & Other Sock Related Ramblings

Sorry guys! I was supposed to post this pic Monday and Pick out a winner of my blog contest but things have been rather crazy at chateau Lesley. I couldn't do it yesterday for two reasons. One, darling hubby dear has been dominating the comp at home trying his best to tweak his myspace(current version check back for finished product). He's not finished but it is going to kick ass when he is finished. Two, I hate tuesdays. So what is a girl to do? Knit socks. LOL
Thank you for the comments for the contest! I've loved all your tips!! So guess what! You all Qualify for the prize!!! Yay!! Sym will draw your name out of my hippie hat tonight. (Don't worry I'll take pics of my angel for you!) So I guess you maybe wondering what the prize is huh? Well it is a hand made recycled item by yours truely! Yep I'm crafty like that!!! It is a table top straight needle holder and it is sock themed!!! Here it is!! It is almost finished, I just have to laminate it so I had to take a pic of it before hand to show you its glory!!


I finished 1 of the socks for my friend Micky but it ended up being a bit on the small side and I ran out of the mysterious yarn. However I figured out what it was Carron's Simply Soft Black. It actually made a very nice and warm sock. Now all I have to do is make a trip to the Evil Empire Wally World and buy some more. I've not really been in the mood for this trip. It isn't quite payday yet. LOL I decided to give them to the ole Darlin Hubby kins because I told him I would knit him some when I first learned how. Besides, I think Micky has a bigger foot and DH really needs a thick pair of socks. Micky will get a hat once the sock bug has subsided. Plus he is out of town so I've got plenty of time to work on it! Blah ha ha!
I have started on another pair though. They are for me this time!!! I'm using Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic Color with size 5 dpns. The pattern is pretty much the same as Dh's socks. Here it is

I've finished the heel flap next I have to pick up stitches and turn the heel. Not bad for starting yesterday at 6 pm huh? Hopefully I'll finish it tonight and then I'll start the second sock (maybe finish?) This is all after Sym draws a winner first. All in due time! :-) So I've got to get back to work. I leave ya'll with a pic of my pirate princess. LOL
XOXOXO
Lesley

Things accomplished in your life....

Things you've done in your life. I've bolded mine!!!

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (was the first time I ever drank lol)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had an amazing friend
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Let me know if you choose to answer so I can read your results too!!
XOXO

Living in the land of socks.....Oh My!

I feel like I haven't posted in forever but it has only been 3 days! LOL

I've been so into the whole sock knitting thing ya'll! Brooke and I met for Stitches'n Brews on Sunday. She couldn't believe that I was finishing up a sock within an hour and that I was knitting a sock on size 7 DPNs and Cascade (yes it was a pixie sock)! She and I both were under some dillusion that all socks must be knit on size 1's or 0's but after some reading that isn't always true. I think the sock bug bit her while we were hanging. LOL I've missed hanging out with her. We are so much alike that it is scary folks! Our moms were both born in the same month and same year, we were both in colorguard in highschool, we romped the same grounds in our highschool years but never met, just to name a few. Wild huh?

She's been crazy busy in and out of town the past 2 months. I can relate! Is it just me or does spring seem to bring out the bee in all of us? (you know busy as a bee? okay if I'm the only one that got that leave me a comment about it)
My bed every night has turned into a yarn bed. I'm constantly pulling out various stash yarns, swatching a little bit of them and trying to determine if I can knit a sock out of it or not. I didn't realize how many yarns I have that are knit with size 10 needles! I digress, it's time to go DPN shopping again. LOL

I've decided to knit my Applebee pal Micky a pair of socks for his birthday which is Monday. (Don't you just love how I wait till the last minute?)He's been helping me save money by buying me drinks for the past year. LOL Not to mention that I do not know how his foot size. OH why Lesley why! So I grabbed out my handy dandy book (that I had to knock the dust off last night) called "The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns".
It covers just about any guage or size. I'm working on a nice pair of black socks which I have no idea what yarn this is either.
**looks down and writes on To-Do list "MUST GET YARN STASH ORGANIZED!!!"**




Tell you what. I think a contest is in order. I've never had one before on my blog but hey what the hell. So here it is....
Sock knitting...
Who ever can send me a good pattern for socks that use size 9 DPNs will win something super cool!! I'll post a pic of the prize later tonight.
The contest ends on Monday because you know I hate tuesdays.
LOL
Ya'll Rock!!!
XOXOXO

Tired Sunday

Hey ya'll! I am exhausted but I had to share this joke with you!
I'll blog details later tonight!
XOXO



THE BOTTLE OF WINE:


For all of us who are married, were married, wish
you were married, or wish you weren't married, this
is something to smile about the next time you see a
bottle of wine:


Sally was driving home from one of her business
trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly
Navajo woman walking on the side of the road.
As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped
the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like
a ride.With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into
the car

.
Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make
a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old
woman just sat silently, looking intently at
everything she saw, studying every little detail,
until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to
Sally.


"What in bag?" asked the old woman.


Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, "It's
a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband."

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or
two.Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder,
she said:

"Good trade....."

Sock Glory!!

Finally I get around to taking pics and posting them! LOL
I have knitted 3 socks so far in Cascade 220 with size 7 dpns in the Socks101 trainer sock pattern.
Here's all 3


The first one I attempted was pretty off. LOL I didn't understand knitting into the back of the loop, I screwed up my round count and well I got this itty bitty screwed up looking thing. Here's a bit of a close up.


The second one came out MUCH better. However it was not to the pattern specs again. I knitted a couple of extra rounds here and there but the heel turn looks alot better! I did the knit into the back of the loop thing on it. I do like it better than the first.


The third sock was knit Wednesday night. I didn't knit in to the back of the loop on at the heel turn and I know why you have to now! There are holes all along where I picked up the stitches and that's Okay I guess. Lesson learned. This one was knit to the specs of the pattern to the T except the knit into the back thing.


I like knitting socks. All 3 socks took be around an hour each. They are small that's the reason. LOL I am going to continue this journey into the land of socks so that I can further my skills as a zen knitter. LOL
What do you think? Think I'm getting the hang of it? I sure do!
XOXOXOXO

Socks!!!

Yes I'm knitting socks!!!! (I heard ya'll say Finally!) LOL
I've taken on the trainer sock pattern from Knitty's Sock knitting 101 and by jove I think I've got it!!! I'll post a pic in a bit. I'm trying to get ready for work but I wanted to fill ya'll in on my knitting. LOL I knitted 2 of the trainer socks. The first one looked horrible and the second one looked incredible!!! I'm kicking ass and soon I'll have some socks to wear while doing it!
toodles ya'll!! I hope you all had a Happy Easter Weekend!!
XOXOXO

I wish I could afford DVR!!!

I have cable tv & internet but alas it is killing my wallet!!! Hubby had uhm slipped up at work and they've taken him off the bar for a few weeks. I won't go into details but just stree that since being downgraded to server status he has taken a 300 a week pay cut for such. Face it folks. Bartenders make some cash man!!!

I subscribe to various blogs and most of them are our knitting celebraties like Yarn ball Boogie and Scout and their episodes of Knitty Gritty are airing this week and I can't watch them because I'm stretched so thin and I have to work!!! My bill for cable is $116.00 a month, which is rediculous but I have the movie channels and cable internet (can't live without the internet). They've swindled me into paying said amount by flashing the lovely discounted rate for 6months but if you downgrade to a "normal and affordable" amount per month including DVR, it ends up costing you same price for less service ie no movie channels. Damn I wish I would have only gotten the internet and that's it! I should have kept my netflix! I watch more movies than shows usually but I love the on demand. That is just too freaking cool!!! I'm getting off track here.
Okay so to sum it up if any of ya'll video tape these episodes instead of DVR PLEASE send me a copy!!!!
I'll send yarn or some kick ass cool creation in appreciation!!!
XOXO
Lesley

Spring and Art and Annoying Songs that Linger

I know ya'll are loving the "We just got a letter" title to the last blog. LOL I hope ya'll successfully got that song out of your heads!! LOL I haven't. Sym used to LOVE Blues Clues. It was her absolute fave so you can imagine all the funky songs I had stuck in my head when she was a toddler!
Sym has a book report to do but it was required that it be a flower for spring. (Yeah they like to do that now a days). 30 whopping points are for creativity! We had to present it in any form, but it had to hit the book points that made up the rest of the report. So instead of doing the old poster board thing we decided to get 3-D!!!
I posted this on my Myspace blog last night because I was on the phone with Mary and tellin her about Sym's Book report Project and she was just dying to see it!
I knew ya'll love to see the lovely art that comes out of our place right? Here's Sym's book report!!!


The center of each flower has the items like characters, setting, plot etc all that stuff that goes with a book report.
Here's another shot of it!

She did her book report on Junie B Jones First Grader Cheater Pants by Barbara Park. It is a cute book that encourages kids that cheating bad, um-kay. Yeah Sym is in the back ground there!
What ya'll think? Not bad huh?
It's due tomorrow. I just hope the teacher has a place to put it!! LOL
XOXOXO

We just got a letter, we just got a letter we just got a letter wonder who it's from!

The past two days, I've had so many great things coming in the mail!!!
I finally got my cafe press order!!
(I'll post pics later!)
I received a postcard from ShadKitty

She is so sweet!! She put a little note on thre to cheer me up about poor Emery!
I love ya hun!!! Thank you!!! :-)

My PRGE pal rocks!!! I was worried that the mail lady got jealous and took it my package because I've been getting so many packages lately (yarn, cafepress stuff etc). Yay!! I just got it today!!!
Here's what I got!!!


CHOCOLATE! (Can't go wrong with that), an adorable little notebook with a baby dressed up like a cow on it (remind me to blog sym's first halloween), bubble bath bathwash (not pictured it's by the tub) a book mark, a candle, Bernat Super Stripes, Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Ultra soft, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and some awesome fancy stitch markers!!!


Thank you SOOO much Pally!!! I love it!!!
Thank you!!!!
XOXO

And she is finished!!!

Tank Girl was finished Sunday just before I went to stitches and brews. yay!! Unfortunately it didn't fit me.

(see fat roll hanging!)
Well so I'll just have to knit another one this time a little bit bigger or hopefully I'll get smaller first! LOL
This was an easy pattern. I liked knitting it and it wasn't too boring to knit. I think the next time I do I will knit it in the round instead of flat knitting it. I really didn't do too bad of a job seaming it however you can tell I had sewn it together.
Also the different colored skein usage was a big hit. My friends loved it. Mary's birthday was March 19 so I ended up giving it to her and her tiny self with the stipulation that she has her picture taken in it so I can share it with ya'll!!
She loved it and it is branded a Bonnaroo tank now. LOL

I'm still trying out the sock thing. I think I may need ditch the 2 cir method and just suck it up and knit on the DPNs. The book is really meant for those who already know how to knit socks so I am getting lost in her terminology right at Picking up the Gusset Stitches. Maybe trying to learn the quicker way before the original way has caused me problems. LOL

Well gotta get ready for work now. :-(
XOXOXO