New Years Resolutions

Crafting Resolutions that is....

1. Knit a Shawl 100% 

Yep I've got one in progress! It's the Loving Comfort Shawl by The lovely Grace at http://lovincomfortknits.blogspot.com sent me the pattern. She made it you know. The yarn is knit picks which I lost the ball band so I can't give you the fiber content, but it was hand dyed by yours truly. I'm thinking I may try to dye it with wine. Then it could be called Loving Wine Comfort Shawl. :-) 

2. Knit another pair of socks.

I sooooo love my new socks that I finished just before fall that I"m now more than ever inspired to keep at the ol sock knitting. That's going to be my Feb project I think. Now which pattern should I knit? I've got the yarn all over the house. LOL

3.  Expand my Crochet abilities

I REALLY need to get my hook on cause there are so many things I'd like to crochet. 

4. Christmas Stockings for All!!

I want to knit Christmas stocking for my crew so that would be 5 min by Dec 2011. If I finish early, I'll knit up some more for the ya baby and his mommy & daddy. 

5. Tatting Gone Wild!

I want to learn some new motifs and maybe make a big thing out of them. I'm still debating. I've been tatting from a couple of books I have and also from some of the tatsters online. Tatting is one of those things I can do in between to keep the boredom to a min. 

6. Also make a baby gift stock pile as well as a few for Threads of Love. Yep I'm still rocking it with those lovely ladies. 

7. Sewing: I'd like to sew something. Anything and learn how to really use a sewing machine. I just kind of wing it for now but I'd actually like to be able to say "why yes, I can sew very well I've taken the class to prove it." Sometimes you just need someone to say hey you are doing that wrong. You know?

Alrighty with that said and out of the way...

Box completion is at 50% awaiting some prices.

Sym is in the OMMS Winterguard this year. It's their debute year at the Middle School and she's loving it. She's involved in an extracurricular activity!! Woot!! She's doing great too I'm sooo proud of her. If I can catch her twirling I'll record and post it.

Have a good one!!!

Disappointing but satisfying weekend

Due to horrible storms, I couldn't take Chy to the baby con in tuscaloosa. :-( Was sad. Also I was going to get a desk on Sunday but that fell through too. :-( However, I did get to drink some good wine, Tat, and hang with a couple of little girls that were grounded. Was nice not having the tv on cartoon network or video games going on for 48 hrs straight. However the constant, can we's can get a bit annoying. ;-) I enjoyed my weekend. I also finally got my hands on the latest three comics of The Unwritten and enjoyed rereading all of them. I'm hooked. I love this comic. What led me to it was the cover artist Yuko Shimizu for whom I absolutely adore!!
Who is a total geek? Yes that is me.

Alright, it is time to do some things that do not involve internet. Will take and hopefully post pics tonight. I know I say that alot but do you know how hard it is to look at a computer 24/7? Yeah.

BTW I leave you with a Pic of Sym and Van Friday Doing the Cha Cha Slide with Deputy Ivy from their school. If you see some cops on top of walmart go say hi and give them a donation for special olympics. :-)

Where does the time go?

I thought it had only been a week since I last blogged but looking on my blogger dashboard, I see that it has almost been a month! Good Lord where does the time go?
As you can guess I've been mostly busy doing non crafty/interesting things like working however I've found little pockets of time for tatting and knitting.
Currently on the needles:
Shopping bag. I started it back in Feb maybe March however I've not completed it yet. Mostly due to tatting distractions. ;-)
My apologies for not posting pics of my completed works or even the ones in progress.
I've not even been going to crafting in the past month. In fact this week was the first time I've actually been! Again, noninteresting things have been keeping my mind busy and body tired.
Last Saturday I had the honor to spend most of the day with my boyfriend's daughter Van and we had a blast making beads and other sculptures out of clay. Fimo/Sculptys rules!!
This Saturday I'm taking my boyfriend's other daugther Chy with her friend Jo to a Baby-Con in Tuscaloosa. I'm excited for this will be my first time to take her off somewhere fun. And I get to dress up. And the Con is free. Woot!!! No worries. I shall take lots of pictures and hopefully actually upload them to the old blog or trusty facebook.
I've got my eye on an awesome knit tank top for me to wear over some spaghetti strapped tanks. It will be groovie that's if I actually get the bag finished. On top of it all, I have 3 girls requesting Bugerloos. Sighs....Eventually right?
I leave you now with a pic of Sym and Van climbing a rock at the Botanical Gardens.

And Friday Fillins!!
1. Where are my ___size 9 bamboo dpn's__?
2. If wishes were horses ___I'd be broke from feeding them all____.
3. I'd like to see __a famous person doing something totally boring and random__.
4. When I was a teen, I thought ____I knew everything, HA boy was I wrong!__.
5. One of my mother's favorite sayings was ____come on chick-a-dees! (Oh I hated it!)_.
6. I'd have a hard time doing without my __add crafting endevours______.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to ___hanging with Sym and J__, tomorrow my plans include __Hitting a Con with Chy & Jo___ and Sunday, I want to __get a new desk and knitting all freaking afternoon___!

Hello New Year!

Yeah I'm a bit late getting to the blog. Alot has been happening in our lives (Sym's and My life that is).

2009 was fun with a year end of new. We had a new addition to our family, Miss Darky. New Home to live in (that will be ours when I pay off the mortgage in 30 years). New relationship, a prince that's appeared with a daughter Sym's age, one that's older, 17 and 2 others that are adults and are all wonderful. New venture to a place that began with the letter T.

It's wild. 2010 I'm looking forward to you. I hope that many many new things are to come.

Anyway, I thought I would do a friday fill in today that I totally ripped from Grace. Love ya hun!

1. The lesson I learned yesterday was __that there's a rumor going around a place that begins with a letter T that I'm pregnant with twins. Who knew? I sure as hell didn't___________.
2. __Baby Showers_______ where friends and family meet.
3. All these years __and I've had more fun in the last 2________.
4. ___She bit her tounge and slowly backed toward the door____ when I arrived.
5. The truth is _is better than lies and rumors__.
6. ___The laughter from her lips and the smiles on her face_____ are what I remember most from that day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __DATE NIGHT!!___, tomorrow my plans include __fabric shopping, knitting, tatting and slinging pizzas___ and Sunday, I want to _knit and be lazy but I'm passing on lazy to go to a bridal faire thing with my dear engaged friend Helen and BF Bonnie__!

Places I wish I could have gone or go to...

Ok, so when I have down spells in life I hit the web. I start looking at stuff that peaks my interests. For instance....

This past weekend was Dragon Con in Atlanta. If you haven't heard of it, well, you aren't alone not many people that are not into sci-fi and comic books are. If you have heard of it, but couldn't go (like me) then you probably hit a few websites to see what everyone was wearing. ;-)
I came across this on AJC.com (newspaper website in Atlanta)


Way cool if you ask me!! IF you keep lookin around at AJC.com you will see some pics of the Dragon Con Parade. They have it every year in Down Town Atlanta. Yeah I really wish I could have went. More than likely my arse will be there next year. ;-)

Another cool thing spotted on the web was this!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/theater/06lyal.html?_r=2
Jude Law playing Hamlet. All I have to say is why didn't I know about this sooner so I could have made arrangements to fly to see this guy? I mean come on!
After reading the article above, he will be performing for 3 months on broadway. That would be an awesome show to see. I'm intrigued with the snippet from the NYtimes site above of his performance in England.

Monday funny, cause we all need one

see more Lolcats and funny pictures
That's probably my fave one yet. ;-)

Happy Monday all!

Now I think I have it....

Alright, I turned 31 on the 27 of Jan. It was good. Knit, read, ate sushi, got a Dremel! Yeah cause I'm a crafty bitch like that! I need this (once I get my glass cutting bit) for more outdoor mosaic fun. Ya'll didn't know that I did that? Oh yeah this is a knitting blog. ;-) My friend Kris rules! Love ya buddy!

The Sunday after my birthday, my knitting ladies, who I adore, came over to knit and we had lunch. Pizza, salad and an incredible cake made by an incredible lady, Mary.
Check this out!!!

Love love! They also brought me gifts! These lovely ladies! 2 of which I've only known for a very short time (3 months maybe), but have both become very dear to me too!! Mary brought me awesome Stitch markers that she made herself. She sells them too. She is still in the process of her etsy store. But here's her blog.
Helen gave me some REALLY REALLY soft nice Bamboo yarn!! YUMMY!!! Love ya lady!!!
Bonnie gave me some REALLY Good yarn too!! 2 skeins of Knit Picks Imagination, Damsel. Love ya lady!!
These ladies keep me looking forward to Sundays! I'm getting a pic of all of them this Sunday plus some because the last time they were over here I got distracted by Mary's Little G. See! Wouldn't you get distracted by those blue eyes?





Love ya'll ladies!! Also I've been fighting the urge to play mother hen. This weekend my grandfather taught Sym how to drive a 4-wheeler. (yes I said my GRANDFATHER, her Great-Grandfather) He's superman I swear! That man is made of steel. I leave you now with a video clip of Sym driving.
Just ignore my horrible laugh in the back ground.

Which Holiday am I?

Ripped from my cyber bud Grace.

You Are Halloween

You are a dramatic, wild, and even weird person. The dark side of life fascinates you, and you enjoy being a little terrified. You enjoy the hidden sides of life. You are interested in what lurks deep in people's hearts. You are playful and creative. You enjoy pretending you're someone else. What makes you celebrate: Anything bizarre, unusual, or freaky. At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The entertainer. You really like to get into the mood of the holidays. On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Insist on a theme party of some sort.

What Holiday Are You?

Sorry I've been away for a bit. More blogging to come. The muses attack me in spurts. There has been knitting going on. Also I've read the entire Twilight Saga and I'm about to start the Merideth Gentry books a friend told me that I should read. So in a nut Shell.....
1. I've turned into a bookworm
2. I'm still knitting and have a completed project or 2
3. I can cook a turkey right all by my self without the aide of a red pop up thingy.
4. I am Halloween.

I hope ya'll had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I sure did. That will be blogged later as well

Maybe you should sleep

Welcome one and all to the ever impressive life of one LesleyD. Watch in amazement while LesleyD not only attempts to knit (2 sweaters, and a scarf), play with her daughter, clean her apartment, work 2 jobs, begin to build a new business, make stuff and sell it on Etsy, all the while pulling her hair out over her current full time job during one of the busiest times of the year! Look out world! NO ONE can Stop this freak of nature as she boldly attempts to keep it all together all the while remembering to go to the bathroom at regular intervals!
What will happen?
Quite honestly it isn't all that bad. My family keeps asking me when I ask one of them to watch Sym for me, if I have a hot date. My response, "Dating? What's that?"
Seriously! I wonder how that would affect one of the already MANY things I have on my to do list each day.
I just finished a little knit hat I made for a friend's birthday. They seem to be avoiding one LesleyD lately though. They are in town for a visit yet they seem to not understand that this lady has a bazilion things to do daily (even though I've told them such) and she just can't drop EVERYTHING to go visit them a billion miles away when gas is horribly scarce here.. See Here's the equation right now, Me + Man = Neglected man. I only have time for one person daily. Her name is the invincible Symi-D who flies in with her magical ability to get her mommy laughing when she is at her pentacle breaking point. I love that kid.
We went to Burger King the other day and she got a weird Neo Pet Toy. I asked her what the name of the pet was. Expecting the actual name of the NeoPet, she instead said "Jub-Jub". I then busted out laughing in the middle of BK. It was the way the kid said it so matter of fact and serious that just threw me off. Damn I needed that laugh. I hadn't laughed like that in a week. Heres' the Grundo named Jub-Jub.

Go Check it out on Burgerking.com. They are pretty groovie toys if you ask me.
I love free gifts with purchase; a funky toy and a nice outburst of loud laughter in a restaurant with only 5 other people in there.
See! Who needs to date when they can have a kids' meal with their angel? Now if I could only get that kid to massage school early, I could really have it all. My back has been killing me!

Cheers ya'll!!

Ps just found this. I definitely wouldn't want my name on this.

Our Labor day weekend

Sym and I had fun. Friday was Sym's B-Day sleepover and let me tell ya'll. Hanging with 7 little girls for over 12 hours isn't a picnic. Especially trying to get them all to "go along" with what you have planned.
I hate feeling like my efforts are fruitless but I keep forgetting that kids in the 6-9 range tend to not give a frag about any body else's feelings at times. I forget that they are just kids. I guess because Sym is so grownie.
Adults can be the same way too. Sym's 3rd birthday was like that. It was the first one I threw at our house at the time. I was serving hamburgers and hot dogs and my family had the gall to say, "Where are the onions and mayo? Oh you didn't get those? You should have. What's a burger without mayo?" (An EXTRA amount of disgusting white oil coating is waste of damn good beef if you ask me. Your breath is far better wtihout the onion. Trust me I'm saving you. None of that was actually said but seriously ran through my 24 year old mind at the time.) So I really haven't thrown a party at my home for Sym with family since. It was my first time doing it solo without my mom helping me. I never threw those kind of parties before and to have my family.. well let's just say I've forgiven them and moved on. This year was no different. The grownups had dinner with us at China Doll. I am still avoiding actually throwing a party that involves the grownups of my family.
It is amazing that sometimes kids take on that same kind of mentality. "I messed up and don't want to finish my project!" "I don't want to draw on pillow cases. I don't like them!" "I don't want to watch Harry Potter! I want to watch Lord of the Rings" OMG! I gave them all a lesson on demo-crazy Majority rules and you just have to fraggin deal with it! ;-) That kept me sane as well as my frequent balcony visits to smoke.
All in all the sleep over was great! The kids were good overall and I want to throw it again soon! This time I think I'm going to keep it in the 9-10 year old range.
Saturday morning was fun, I made them pancakes and took Sym and a few of the girls swimming. I had great adult conversation time with the parents. I felt sane again. LOL
I worked Saturday night at the Hut. Made some good cash and then for the first time in 2 years I went to southside with an old friend I hadn't seen in a LONG time. You might remember Eric? Yeah it has been about that long since I last saw him. It was he and his friend that I'll refer to as Cherry Pie. Reason being, she was dancing to hippie music (the band Earthbound) as if she was on that music video. ;-)
We had a blast. I danced all night with a nice gent that twirled me around till I was dizzy and I didn't even spill my drink or burn anybody. ;-) Go me!


Sunday was recovery day. Sym came back home around 3 with T & K. They ended up spending the night. Monday was shop till you drop day! We shopped with Sym's birthday money. I got to buy also some things for our apartment to make it not look so blah boring. Sym bought 2 Brat Dolls, a Barbie house, a case for her DS that had decals for it too, Sims Castaway for the DS and that's about it I think. I bought 2 small rugs (1 for bath 1 for kit), a cookie sheet, a 5X8 area rug, 3 pieces of art for our living room and more multiplayer video games. Also got yarn for Sym's Sweater that I'm starting tomorrow. It is getting to be sweater time ya'll!! It is about time I gave knitting one a shot! lol I'll show ya'll yarn pron and pattern etc soon. ;-) Also Misc stuff was purchased too. Like cutesy coin purses and funky bracelets and head bands. Loverly!
We had a blast and now I leave you with a pic of my new living room.

Yay!!! It's coming back!!!

Yo!! I'm so excited!!!
Dish Rag Tag part deux is around the corner! Woot!!!

http://yarnmiracle.com/2008/07/17/dish-rag-tag-the-sequel/
So excited!!!
Gotta knit dish cloths!!!

:o)

2 DAYS TILL 30

You Are Ani Difranco!

Honest, real, and well liked. You're not limited by any boundaries. "And you can call me crazy But I think you're as lazy as white paint on the wall"

Who's Your Inner Rock Chick?

He he! Describes me perfectly. ;-)

I took off work today....

I took off work today and did a little bit of christmas shoppin. I did so well that I had a little to spare and bought a little treat for myself...
I got new shoes!! Ya'll just don't know how little shopping I actually do for myself so this makes me VERY VERY HAPPY!!!
Here they are:


I love my new shoes!!

Also here's a little treat for ya'll!!


Ya'll enjoy my riches!!
XOXOXO
Lesley

Thankful for Life!

This is a thorny Thanksgiving. Thank God for the thorns because if all else I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is a lesson I will learn from it all.
I am thankful for all the experiences of my life. The good, the bad and the UGLY ones!!

I'm thankful first for my angel Miss Symi-D! Without her my life would be incomplete and there is no telling where I would be. She is incredible! I'm raising an incredible child who will turn grow into an incredible woman who I hope has all the qualities of the incredible women in my life! Like Mom, Mamaw J, Mamaw G, Natalie, Crystal, Brook, and Robbie.
I'm grateful for all of the great women bloggers out there!! Thank you all!
XOXOXO

When you think no one is looking out for you......

It is an amazing thing how God takes care of you when least expected.
I did my delivery thing this weekend. I REALLY needed the money!!! After gas and all I was left with around $40 to get my girl & me through this week until day job payday. (yeah see what no child support gets ya?)
Anyways, Sym had a pumpkin project that I also had to use a little of this money for. It was due today. So we got the materials to make it yesterday and spend every bit of my tip money on it and other things we needed for Halloween. All that cash gone in a blink! Needless to say I was scrounging change this morning.
I was starving at lunch today. So I grabbed my bag and was looking for my phone when I found a check from this company I did a little work for earlier this year. It was $40.00 that I had totally forgotten about! The check was 7 months old though. So I called the company, went down there and exchanged the check! $40 richer! Then I stopped by to see my sis as I ate on my $3.00 veggie delight from subway (just because I'm 40 richer doesn't mean I'm going to splurge! LOL). She wasn't working and just as I was about to get in the car when one of my co-worker/friends at Pizza Hut hollered at me.
He said "Hey you need to pick up your check."
"What check? I have direct deposit." I said.
"Last pay period, they only deposited half the checks into everyones account and sent checks for the other half."
(see since I only work one day a week, my checks from there are only around $50 every 2 weeks. I didn't even notice that it was off last time!)
He hands me the check and it was for $26.00! He kind of laughed at it and I said "Hey when you are as broke as I am right now every little bit helps!!"
It is amazing how the big guy upstairs is looking out for us! Even when I'm at my lowest, I'm pulled out of it knowing that He's looking out for Sym and me.
XOXO
Lesley
PS. I know I am horrible about getting pictures!! I promise I'll take a pic of Sym's Pumpkin Project when I pick her up. Just for ya'll! It really did turn out good!!

Go Green Bay!!!

I'm feeling alot better ya'll! Thank you for your Get wells!!!
Bet you'd never see that one as a title huh? Yes folks I am a Packers fan and damn proud of it! I never talk much about football on my knitting blog. I try to keep most of my knitting maddness here but you know, there are so many things that I like and don't like that make up make up the Crazy lady that you read here.
Today, I was hell bent on watching the Packers game. I searched the net trying to find out what channel it would come on only to find out that I couldn't watch it in the privacy of my own home. Usually that's the best place for me to watch it because there aren't many Packers fans in Birmingham. Hi my name is Symone I am 8 years old what is your name and howold are you?
(Ya'll say hey to Sym! She had to add her piece to the blog today. ;-) LOL)
Being what seems to be the only Packer fan in Alabama, I sucked it up and went to the Fox and Hound to watch the game. Great place! Thank goodness they had the game!! I hate how they regionally decide which games to play where! Grr
Of course when you are solo going to a bar & grill and the only fan in the place you must bring your knitting! It's like a rule!
Luckily I wasn't too solo. My long time ago friend Adam was working behind the bar so it wasn't too lonely. I warned him immediately. I told him that I am usually in the privacy of my home or other football fans when I watch football. It doesn't matter the team! Reason being, I'm loud, and I cuss like a sailor. I didn't have Sym with me for that reason. The last time she had watched me watch football she cried because I was yelling at the Tv and she was afraid the Tv would stop working. ;-)
Anyways, Here I was watching the game. Green bay Scored and what did you hear? Why this lady Whootin and Hollarin for a team that NO ONE in the ENTIRE PLACE Cared about! That's what! LOL I tentatively watched the game talkin only during commercial breaks and knitting neck level! LOL Luckily I didn't cuss like a sailor! LOL In the forth quarter the Packers took the ball running 72 yards down the field, my butt came off the stool, and there I was jumpin up and down saying "go go go!!", I threw my arms in the air and yelled "Touch Down Green Bay! WOOO Hell Yeah!!!"
The Basic Sock and I had a great time watching the game even though I was the only fan!! The sock rooted for Green Bay too and the won!! 35-13 and Farve Broke John Elway's record for starting Quarterback with the most winning games 179! Go Bret!! Muwah!!

Here's the Basic Sock Progress..I knit about 7-10 rounds during the game (started getting fuzzy) ha ha Get it?


XOXO
Lesley

Grill Diva!

I grilled solo for the first time ever friday! I bought charcoal, doused and lit it then cooked cheesey sausages!! YUMM!!! Sym loved it and so did I! I was very proud that I didn't burn it or anything!
Here's the grillin goodness! Unfortunately none of the Hottie firefighters had to appear for business. I was a little disappointed! LOL NO! Jus kiddin ya'll!

XOXO
Lesley
The Grill Diva

Happiness is....

- A fresh bag of Twizzlers,(Damn they make my mouth happy!!)
- Godiva Liquor Truffles (or any other Godiva Chocolates)(Damn I wish they'd sell them in Alabama!
- A bottle of Mandrarosa at the end of a hectic work week (Yes I'm hitting the winestore after work!!)
- those first 30 minutes you spend with your daughter/son/whomever when they've been away for a week and you realize just how much you missed them. (Last week sym spent the week with her grandma down in FL. Me? I bummed around my mom's place & home alot.)
- Finish knitting 3 headbands, 3 dish cloths and starting Coachella
- Going home early on a friday!!
Ya'll have a great weekend. I'll post more later!!

XOXOXO