Project Complete

I am Pleased. Here was the before More pics to come. :-) Some may recognize it. It was the cake topper from my wedding day to the ex. Why in the world did I keep it all this time? I have no fucking clue, it just happened to follow me. All I know is that it was white and it deserved to be black. It was still in the original box, with the $24.95 price tag from back in 1999. It even still had cake on it. EW!! Luckily my dear, dear friend Utini cleaned it and painted it black for me. Thanks hun!! Check out his blog. You'll know why I got him to help me with the base coat and cleaning. ;-)
I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I honestly had a million ideas for this thing but ended up just letting go and let it flow. I put all the color on it. My camera crapped out but will take more pics when the battery is charged. They will be on flickr. XOXOXO

Something crafty, and something Spring

The top secret project is not finished yet. :-( I have to fix it. I don't like how I painted it before my date due. Oh well.
I have been painting though. Did SipsNStrokes with my mom and sis Nat last weekend. THAT WAS FUN!!!
Here's a link of the pic the class was to paint.THIS IS FROM THE WEBSITE! NOT MINE

Here is mine:
Used the camera phone instead of the super nice digi cam I have because I am lazy and didn't want to fool with uploading. OH well! Ya'll get the idea. I'm happy with how it turned out!! I'm waiting on my sister to upload her pics from the night cause my mom didn't paint what the class painted. She wowed everyone! Remind me to tell ya'll about my mom and her painting talent. Ok I'll tell ya now. She took classes when she was around 12 that right 12. When I was a kid she would pick up a brush every now and then for one of our school projects. She rarely picked it up for just the enjoyment once she became a "grownup". When my birthday came around and I wanted to give my sisters and my mom something too. Especially mom. She inspired my crafty. When she picked up the brush and painted the wine bottles It was like riding a bike for her. She painted it perfectly!! My mom can paint an image by looking at it. That's why she decided to paint something different this time. My sisters, mom and I have decided that Sips N Strokes are our birthday thing from now on. It gave us all alot of joy to be able to bring home something we made after hanging out with each other for an evening. Love my sisters and my mom!!
Update*** I was a little bored being up this early and decided to go ahead and take a better pic.

I also took a video of a bird that was almost as loud as a freaking concert. Love early am birdies. Be sure to turn your volume down a bit. He was about 25 yards away in a tree branch. It's like animal kingdom early am. I never hear birds around here. I guess that's what you get when you live off a busy ass road like I do. Sure there are geese that hang out at the lake in the complex but nature! Ha!! That's a laugh around here. I miss real nature though. I grew up on 100 acres and could see the stars. I hope to be moving sometime this year. I want to buy a house or town home in a close area with less lighting. ;-) Sym has a telescope that we have barely used this past year due to too many lights around here.

I've been a horrible knitting blogger....I've been a good book reader in 09 though

I guess I never really professed to be a "knitting blogger". I just write about the stuff going on in my own life which happens to have a good deal of knitting thrown in from time to time.
I have been knitting, I promise! It's just been hard to find the right opportunity to do so without the interruptions of the rest of the world. ;-) Also I've been reading alot of trash books lately. No I do not have a problem......yet.
I am offically caught up on the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton. I'm trying to get my hands on the Anita Blake books from my lovely sister. In the mean time I have already finished the first 2 Sookie Stackhouse books by Charline Harris.
Ya want my opinion?
Merry Gentry books (The series as a whole)
These books are a great fantasical read for the politics within the world of Fairie, the drama of one lady with LOTS of hot guys that are in love with her, and of course the sex in almost every chapter. Let's face it, when you are a single mom you got to get that imagination cranking somehow. These books have ALOT of sex in them. You are warned and encouraged. ;-)
Sookie Stackhouse Series so far books 1 and 2
I saw the first season of True Blood before I started reading the books. I LOVED the show, the books well they don't ruin the show for me. It makes me realize why they wrote the show the way they did for the first season.
I do like Sookie's character in the books more so than the show however I do really like the show still. In fact I think I may rewatch the first season again after reading the 3rd book "Club Dead".

I just realized that since October last year I have read probably over 20 books. Not just the books above but other little ones as well. Go me I guess but I keep finding that I have to REALLY catch up with my house work after I finish a book. Go figure

OMG! OMG! OMG!!

THE SPRING KNITTY IS OUT!!!

Loving Absinthe and also the beret. Pattern number 2 in the list. It's slow though. Be patient lots of crazy kniters on the server.


www.knitty.com


Love Love Love!!
More blogging later. Promise!! Must drool now. ;-)

The Project

No Details at this time. This is the before.....

I think I may have promised pictures at some point in time....

I went to this groovie place called Sips N Strokes. I went there for my birthday. I didn't say much about it because only my sisters & my mom went. We had a blast and I have spawned a new birthday tradition amongst us. The wine painting is from my birthday of course lots of wine!!

Sym was jealous because she LOVES to paint! So what's a mom to do when the place seems to only cater to adult women who bring their own boose to a place and paint? WELL, the mom goes online and checks for a Kids class of course!! We went the following Saturday. Here's Sym painting. YEP it was one of those out of place spring days so that's why she's wearing a tank. She also wore a hoodie so don't judge!!
Here's Sym's Painting! She loved doing it so I'm determined to replenish our supply of acrylic paints and stock a few canvases just for us to paint a bunch more. ;-)
Oh yeah! Here's mine:
We had a blast! Love paints!!
Also tonight... I've offically started the Anti-Anniversary project. ;-) he he he Ya'll will see the before stuff later..... toodles!!

The weather has been weird lately. It's constantly going from Winter to early spring then to harsh winter, then to Sping severe weather. It's enough to drive this knitter crazy!! I'm just getting tired of the chaotic weather that the ham offers. I think I may need to get away for a while. If anything just to relax, read and knit. I have seriously been contemplating getting the stitchin ladies to go on a weekend stitch-a-thon. I'm so needing it!! I also want to get my walk on, but the damn weather won't stop being bi-polar so that I can. GRRRR This time of year.
Here's a pic from the other day...It was dreary all morning long! Then it rained for a long time finally slacking off so that I could get home. I was sitting on my balcony when I noticed the sky and how beautiful it looked. There was severe weather all over the area. After seeing this, it made me feel hopeful. So I captured it with the trusty phone.

I'm ready for some new projects that have been churning in my thick head. Knitting, I really haven't done much HOWEVER I'm planning and plotting various groovie things to make that's not knitting. I guess I'm feeling a little uninspired with the needles. Mostly I've been knitting on calamorities and baby crap. I want to eventually finish Sym's sweater but it has turned into "damn do I really have to knit this? It's too mind numbing and tedious"
So I'm thinking PAINTS, Hot glue, Mosaics, Collaging, lots of fun!

We'll see what turns up. My special Anti-anniversary project is beginning phase 1 tonight just before Battlestar Galactica. WOOT!!!
Alrighty folks. Gotta get back to work!!
XOXO
Lesley

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.

What's happened?

Okay so where did January go again? Did the cat eat it? Izzy! You need to stop eating things you aren't supposed to. Silly cat
I am now without words. Seriously. I guess I'll try again later.....

Pardon my absence but here's what I've been doing

1. Knitting a Baby Sweater in order to get the hang of knitting garments in 1 piece.
2. Reading the Merry Gentry books. OMG I'm addicted. I need help.
3. Completeing alot of work crap
4. Helping Sym figure out how to combat a bully. Hopefully this issue will be resolved alot sooner than later.
5. Enjoying my knitting ladies, my BSG Boys and my dearest friends whom I love their company and we don't necessarily share the same hobbies/TV interests. I treasure them so much!!
6. Figuring out ways to become more financially savy and be able to start saving the dough for a trip to Europe (FINALLY!)
7. Expelling user trash from my life. Yep. Those that take advantage of their friends generosity, willingness to help and love should be shot, hung and castrated. Although if they were to REALLY apologize to me and mean it, I would reconsider the above statement.
8. Trying to UPdate Ravelry. I know I suck at updating
9. Facebook vortex- Yeah I've been sucked into that which is Facebook more so than the myspace. Why? Cause my knitting ladies hang there more than Myspace.
10. Filling out surveys. What? yeah why? IDK so I've decided not to fill out anymore until March or April. One-2 surveys about my interests etc is enough to guage.

IF you would like more to read: Go Check out Amanda Palmer's Blog. It is a very empowering read on making light out of the darkness. I hate how society likes to keep things that are sad and depressing, sad and depressing.Just go read it! I adore reading her words and I love her music.

XOXO

Hey! What's going on?

2009 What a year we are going to have huh? First Black President took office last week, gas prices are the price they were when Bush entered office, stocks are low just begging to be bought, I get another car after my wreck back in dec. Yeah Emery is gone. :-( I'd rather not talk about it. It just brings up too much pain. Now I have an egg car. Yeah I like my egg car. It's a Chevy Aveo. Nice gas mileage. ;-)

I have started Jan off ok. I just have to finish these lovely things I keep starting.

Ravelry Links:
A drop Stitch Scarf



Calorimetires?
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lesleyd/calorimetry-2
All I have to do is find a needle that will go through the button holes. UGH!! I really need to get them finished.




Sym Sweater
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lesleyd/syms-sweater
I plan to finish it hopefully this week. I have 2 days off for my birthday. I don't believe in working on your birthday. It brings bad luck when you do. ;-)
Sorry I don't have a latest pic for ya'll. I'll take one tonight.

Okay that's it. ;-) I've got to get a cleaning. Got knitters flocking to my house to knit! Woot!! Love Knitting!!

nataliedee.com

I love Natalie Dee!! She rules!!

And then the rain stops

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." -- Anne Frank

For the past 2 weeks it feels like it has been raining nonstop! You would think that I lived in Forks instead of Birmingham AL! The dreary yet humid weather during Christmas, and the nonstop rain since New Year's eve has had me a bit down. So to see that sunset from my balcony last night gave me a new hope for a promising "Fine in 09".

10 years ago, this week was a pretty significant to me. It was the week I found out I was pregnant with Sym. I had missed my dec period and it was on the 11th of Jan that I went out and bought a prego test. Sure enough all 3 tests said I was pregnant. Then a doc visit a week later confirmed it as well. God it is hard to believe she is almost 10!! I'm a little beside myself thinking about this. I'm going to be 31 on the 27th and I have a beautiful daughter whom if I didn't decide to have her, I would be totally alone and lost. I'm so glad I didn't listen to him. It has been a hard 10 years but I am blessed to have such an angel in my life. She keeps me smiling every day. I'm so lucky to be in her life!

The sun is out in full force today. Not a single cloud in the sky. Beautiful blue above me, mushy mud at my feet. I just need to remember not to look down. ;-)

Love to you all!!
Lesley


Ps To add to the fun.......A Quiz!!

Which creature of the night are you? Your Result: Vampire   You are a social pragmatist, as likely to kiss as to bite. Your sensuality and social pragmatism is the counter-balance to your existential angst and your tendency toward depression.
Werewolf
Demon
Incubus/Succubus
Cthulu Spawn
Sorceror
Ghost
Which creature of the night are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Happy 7 Days into 2009

Alright I've been a horrible blogghead lately. There's been so much going on in my world right now that I can't even think of a place to start. So since this is a new year and I'm all about the whole "New Years Resolution" concept I shall share mine with you good knitters of the world. What do you think about that?

Lesley's 2009 Resolutions
These are as always in no particular order but are divided into categories which of course is just so much easier to guage. ;-)
Speaking of guage....
:-) Knitting Resolutions (-:
*Complete at least 3 projects a month.
~ these can be big or small ones just as long as I complete 3 a month!
~ Projects must be declared & shared on my blog and/or on Ravelry
~ One of the projects must be for Threads of Love
*Knit with my Knitsters more often
~ I miss ya'll. The holidays were so hectic now is the time to get together more often and knit a bunch of stuff
*Finish my 2 sweaters
~ Sym Sweater must be completed ASAP so she can wear it!
~ My Cherie Amour must be started! I have all that yarn just freakin sitting there!
*2 Pairs of socks knit for the year
~ I have a love hate for socks yet I want to love them so bad!! Must complete a pair
~ One of the pairs can be a UFO
*Take lots of pics! (I finally have a REALLY good camera!!)

(-: Mind, Body and Soul Resolutions :-)
*Journal daily
*Read More books!
~ Complete Merideth Gentry series and start Anita Blake series
~ Finish Stranger in a Strange Land
*Get Healthy!
~ REALLY quit smoking
~ Lose some weight
~ Start working out/Exercise!
*Eliminate my debt!
~ Pay off all bills and get credit looking awesome!
*Save more cash!!!

Okay so that's it for now. I've got more I'm kickin around in my head. There's so much to do in life and it is really hard to get it all done or even know where to begin planning to make it happen. Resolutions are good for that. You write down the ones you are most focused on accomplishing and you accomplish them. Simple enough.

Happy 2009 my friends!

Yeah I know I post this every year...

but it makes me laugh everytime! ;-)
Lots of laughes and good cheer to all my friends on the interwebs. ;-)
Love you lots!!

Quiz thingy

I love Twilight oh yes I do! ;-) Ripped from my good friend Jenger


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

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

Attack of the Brain Slug

I was on Ravelry the other day. My new North Alabama Knitter pal Sarah on Ravelry has a brain slug as her prof pic. I found the pattern and went to town. The Slug must have taken over my brain at some point because I agreed to have a Root Canal and a crown installed on the same day. Yeah. So as the numbness has started to fade, I popped one of those bad boys! I feel nice now. Just waiting on my chili to cook then my night is set! Back to the Slug, Last night I made one and a half. I used Vanna's Choice yarn instead of Lion Suede. He's pretty cool except his eye looks like a nipple from the side. lol
I'm ready for my chili now so I leave you with the brain slug.

Look out folks! They are coming for you!!!

He got to Sym first.....



Then he hopped over to my head


I think I'm going to try to get Vogue involved. Let's start a new trend!!

Okay So I am being bad today....

Yes. Indeed.

After busting butt all week I've been doing knitting research on the internet. Thank you Daily Chum for helping me get side tracked at work. lol

Okay if you want to know what to get this lady for Christmas Continue to read. If not, you can go back to the other blogs. It's ok. I won't hold it against ya. I still love ya and thanks for stopping by.

A few Knitting Things in no particular order that you can get LesleyD for Christmas or what I may just get you!! ha ha!
@ TinkerandPo etsy shop has such geeky stitch markers that I'm all over it!!! You may see these as a gift from me my knitting friends. ;o) Twilight Stitch Markers OMG!! I've been into these books this fall and I'm all about the movie coming out next week. There's also Buffy Themed AND My other fave, Monty Python and the Holy Grail themed

@ Twist Collective Winter Issue has the most incredible patterns!! I'm droolin ya'll!!! Droolin over Sylvi OMG! I love it just not the point in the hood. I don't like for my hoods to have an erection. I'm sorry ya'll may but I just don't. Love Gnomes but just don't want to look like one. Also I was about busted by folks when I saw Vivian by Ysolda Teague. OMG!!! I so want those patterns!!!

@ BOOKS! Knitting books! This one! The AntiCraft Book!

@YARN or Gift card for any amout at these fine retailers Knit Picks, Fire Lizard, Little Knits, elann, webs, scout's swag
Any of these Etsy stores!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5324808
This Yarn

Okay all for now. I must refrain and get back to work. TGIF!!

Totally Random and nothing to do with knitting

Just found and now like. ;-)

Knitting Accomplishments

I did this meme a while ago like a year or so I guess. I totally ripped it from Jenger who nabbed it from Eslpeth's site.

The official rules are mark with bold the things you have knit at least once, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl (but not completed)
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Zombie Apocalypse..would Lesley Survive?

Oo I need to change these odds. Maybe buy a sword? (don't like guns) Hmm also need to stash some food. hmmmm.. I'll take it again after the elections. That's if the zombie apocalypse doen't happen before we get the results. Yikes! Okay gotta hit wal-mart. Anyone have a Sam's or Costco Card? ~Thanks Jenger!

44%

Created by OnePlusYou - Free Online Dating

OMG OMG OMG!!!

Franklin posted a summary of his 1000 Knitterstrip to Huntsville on his blog. See if you recognize anyone in the group. ;-) (I'm the second one in case you were gettin a little lost.)

Okay Today I'm on cloud 9! Not even work is gonna take me off this cloud. ;-)

Happy Thursday ya'll!!!

Sym's Sweater Progress

Last night I finished the back panel while watching Sex and the City online until 1:30 am. Yeah I know it sucks doing that when you have to get the kid up by 6:20 at the latest to get her on the bus. I'm proud though. I don't know which one I'm currently more obsessed with, Sym's Sweater or Sex and the City. ;-)

Pattern notes:
So far this is an incredibly easy sweater to knit. The only complexity is changing colors at the end of each row. I think tonight I'll go ahead and weave my ends in. I wish I had done it along the way but I was a little obsessed with completing this portion. I want to finish it before Sym out grows it. Hopefully I'll have it completed by November. That's my goal. Let's see what happens. ;-)

The colors are so Sym. She picked them out herself. On the ravelry, I had a darker pink color, but she didn't like it so we switched to a pale pink. The colors in the sweater are so her it is scary. As I'm knitting along, I think of only here even if she is only in the other room sleeping. I'm constantly thinking of things about Sym that I just adore.
5 things about Sym that I adore...
~ She always has a silly song to sing. (This week it is the Chicken Dance)
~ She has to match her earrings to her shirt of the day. (totally cool!)
~ She is a future Craft Diva (She started her first Cross-Stitch project yesterday.)
~ She says some of the wildest things when you least expect it. (you never know what she'll say publicly or privately. Almost always guarentees you to laugh)
~ She is thoughtful and helpful to others. (My grandmother called and bragged about her behavior last weekend)

Thanks for reading! I'll keep ya posted on the sweater as I have details to report.
XOXOXO

My Weekend, yeah I know it is Tuesday

In the wee early morning hours of 6:30 AM on a SATURDAY, my butt was up and getting ready for a nice drive to Huntsville Alabama.
I know you Birmingham folks are saying in your heads right now "Why the hell is Lesley going to Huntsville at 6:30 AM on a SATURDAY?"

The Franklin Habit!! Yep came all the way down her from Chicago to take pix of the lovely Alabama knitters for his 1000 knitter Project. Not only did he take pics but a special pre-release on his book "It Itches!" kicked off! Too freakin cool! For the record this lady is one of 1000, and now owns an autographed copy of It Itches! ;o) Ya'll look for me when the 1000 knitters is published. ;-) Promise? I'll be like knitter number 96?-97?. (no clue which number but it will be toward the end.)

I was the second person in line to get my pic though. yeah cause leaving the house at 7 am on a 2 hour drive gets you there by 9 am instead of 10am when the event begins. Yeah. Can you tell I was excited? No not me.

I got to meet some super groovie folks!! By the way, thank you Meg at Yarn Expressions for hosting the 1000 knitters project and lettin all us knitters overrun your store all day Saturday!!

I met SEVERAL super cool folks from North Alabama. I wish I lived up that way. Just so I could hang out with these amazing folks again. :-(
One of which CraftMonkey Took pictures. Needless to say, awaking so early and still having problems with the brain after 2 hours of driving, I alas forgot to take pics to commemorate the moment. Not even with my camera phone. I suck like that. ;-)

I met a few of the Skanky Knitters Ravelry Group! Those folks Rule!! Also met some of the North Alabama Knitters too. Ya'll Rule! So does Franklin, and Delores! Ah fun Saturday!!

I left at 3. I wish now I could have hung out a little longer but I really needed to head back to the Ham (Birmingham that is). On the way I saw a sign for Ave Maria Grotto so I decided to stop on by and see it since my friend Gary whose website is down otherwise I'd link ya'll to him.

My brain had stopped farting so I was able to think to take some pics with the ol camera phone that works better than my digital cam anyways.
Here are some pics of Ave Maria Grotto. Ya'll enjoy!

Don't Vote

Must Share! Must Must Must!!!

Must Must Must Share!!!

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.

Friday Fillins

Friday Fill-Ins #90
And...here we go!


1. There is no need __to smoke but I keep wanting them________.


2. Where in the heck did the __milk go? I know Sym didn't drink it all in one day________.


3. __Worked, did laundry, play on the puter, and go to a football game________ is all I managed to do.


4. Prospects for __a normal guy to date is looking gloomy_______.


5. ___Consistency_______ is the message. (I left yours Grace. I liked it. ;-) )


6. Simplicity and tranquility are __bliss________.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to __going home________, tomorrow my plans include __working________ and Sunday, I want to __sleep (as always but can't)_______!

My Weekend

Hey everyone! Did LesleyD knit much this weekend? Yes!! She knit on Sym's Sweater, Swatched for Cherrie Amour and started a hat only to frog it. Yes lots of knittin.
I took Sym out to a Chinese Restaurant too, Golden City. They are the coolest! They are one of the oldest in Birmingham and they have the groovie decor of a Chinese Restaurant too. IF you are ever in the Ham, go swing by there! Just love their many dragons.


Also I went out solo Saturday night! woo hoo!! For the first time in a bit I went out solo Saturday night. I haven't been anywhere where solo in quite a while. Why you ask?
5 Reasons Not to go to a bar solo..
5. You have to buy your own drinks - Can cost you big time but not always!
4. You have to pay the cover charge - Which can be half your drinkin money!
3. You get lots of funny looks from other women. (aw poor you all alone or look at my man and I'll gouge your eyes out.)
2. Men presume you are there to get laid. - Can't woo them too much with your charm. (Least I choose not to.)
1. NO DD! (Which can really end up saving you money cause you drink less)

I decided not to let any of the above reasons bother me. For the first time in quite a bit, I really didn't want to go out alone Saturday night. Weird. Very Weird. Could it be maturity? Used to, I'd do it! Loved the opportunity to be able to meet whomever and strike up a conversation. But with reason number 2 looming, I didn't want to deal with that. It always looms. Men Love ya but sometimes a lady just wants to go out and NOT get laid.
Well Saturday night I was glad I went out! I paid a cover charge, bought 2 Jack and cokes, 2 beers, 3 hours of good music and nice people for a grand total of $22.
The band was Mellowship. They are a cover band, but really good. They even got me off my bar stool when they sang Shimmer by Fuel and it was all down hill from there. I totally enjoyed their lead singer Lane. He came up to the bar for another shot and some water. He was very nice and we chatted a bit. The Lead Guitarist was playing with them or the first time, William. He is a natural big time!! He was wailing on your familiar songs, (normal cover band lineup STP, Pearl Jam, Fuel, 3 Doors Down) but then they did some Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton to show off what Willie can do. Quite impressive that Mr Willie was. Overall a damn good cover band with very sweet guys willing to talk to a lovely lady who was out for some good live music and a few drinks!
Thanks Guys! Here's their pic. I'm quite impressed with my camera phone. It took a good pic despite the cig smoke and funky bar lighting.



That's about my weekend. I did have a talk with a gentleman about a business proposition that will get me on my way to living a more fulfilling life. Send good strengthening thoughts my way if ya'll don't mind.


Take care! Time for me to get the youngin up. ;-)

I leave you with the bathroom door of Pizza Hut. It has been covered with stickers to create a groovie piece of art. Just love my boys at the hut.

Frig art

I realized when I was commenting on Jen's blog that I haven't been showing off Sym's art in awhile!! My darling daughter is really talented at 9 ya'll! I'm not just saying that cause I'm her mom either. I think she has something.

She's after my heart with this one. ;-)


This one is blurry. I need a freakin scanner. I will probably take this to work on Monday and try again.

The details are incredible!!!


I tried with my digi camera to zoom in on the mermaids but FAIL.



Last Sunday I worked at the Hut and she went with me. ONe of the drivers is a sketcher. He had some good paper and graphite pencils. Sym drew EVERYONE IN THE STORE! It was Hilarious!!
I'll see if I can get that one scanned too. ;-)

Happy Saturday! No hula-hoopin was done today. Instead laundry going to be moved to today. ;-)

I leave you with a pic of a wash cloth that I knit up a week or so ago. Don't remember which pattern though. I'm special like that. ;-)

Happy Saturday!

Fun Little Me me

I forgot to let ya'll know who I snagged this from. It was the beautiful and talented and always finding cool stuff to post Grace

The rules:
A.) Go to musicoutfitters.com

B.) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year

C.) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate (in my case I put a frown in front of the ones I don't like)


Alright so I graduated HS in 1996 and I had no idea how much R&B/Rap would be on the top 100. lol Some I recognized but alot I didn't and had to look up. Was worth the memories though. ;o)


:-( 1. Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), Los Del Rio
:-( 2. One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
:-( 3. Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion
4. Nobody Knows, Tony Rich Project
:-( 5. Always Be My Baby, Mariah Carey
6. Give Me One Reason, Tracy Chapman
:-( 7. Tha Crossroads, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
8. I Love You Always Forever, Donna Lewis
9. You're Makin' Me High/Let It Flow, Toni Braxton
10. Twisted, Keith Sweat
:-( 11. C'mon N' Ride It (The Train), Quad City Dj's
12. Missing, Everything But The Girl
13. Ironic, Alanis Morissette
:-( 14. Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Whitney Houston
15. Follow You Down/Til I Hear It From You, Gin Blossoms
:-( 16. Sittin' Up In My Room, Brandy
:-( 17. How Do U Want It/California Love, 2Pac
:-( 18. It's All Coming Back To Me Now, Celine Dion
19. Change The World, Eric Clapton
:-( 20. Hey Lover, LL Cool J
21. Loungin, LL Cool J
22. Insensitive, Jann Arden
23. Be My Lover, La Bouche
24. Name, Goo Goo Dolls
25. Who Will Save Your Soul, Jewel
26. Where Do You Go, No Mercy
:-( 27. I Can't Sleep Baby (If I), R. Kelly
28. Counting Blue Cars, Dishwalla
29. You Learn/You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette
30. One Of Us, Joan Osborne
31. Wonder, Natalie Merchant
32. Not Gon' Cry, Mary J. Blige
33. Gangsta's Paradise, Coolio
34. Only You, 112 Featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
:-( 35. Down Low (Nobody Has To Know), R. Kelly
36. You're The One, SWV
37. Sweet Dreams, La Bouche
38. Before You Walk Out Of My Life/Like This And Like That, Monica
39. Breakfast At Tiffany's, Deep Blue Something
40. 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New), Coolio
41. The World I Know, Collective Soul
42. No Diggity, BLACKstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre)
43. Anything, 3t
44. 1979, The Smashing Pumpkins
45. Diggin' On You, TLC
46. Why I Love You So Much/Ain't Nobody, Monica
47. Kissin' You, Total
:-( 48. Count On Me, Whitney Houston and Cece Winans
:-( 49. Fantasy, Mariah Carey
50. Time, Hootie and The Blowfish
51. You'll See, Madonna
52. Last Night, Az Yet
53. Mouth, Merril Bainbridge
54. The Earth, The Sun, The Rain, Color Me Badd
55. All The Things (Your Man Won't Do), Joe
56. Wonderwall, Oasis
57. Woo-hah!! Got You All In Check/Everything Remains Raw, Busta Rhymes
58. Tell Me, Groove Theory
59. Elevators (Me and You), Outkast
60. Hook, Blues Traveler
61. Doin It, LL Cool J
62. Fastlove, George Michael
63. Touch Me Tease Me, Case Featuring Foxxy Brown
64. Tonite's Tha Night, Kris Kross
65. Children, Robert Miles
66. Theme From Mission: Impossible, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen
67. Closer To Free, Bodeans
68. Just A Girl, No Doubt
69. If Your Girl Only Knew, Aaliyah
70. Lady, D'angelo
:-( 71. Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First), John Mellencamp
72. Pony, Ginuwine
73. Nobody, Keith Sweat
74. Old Man and Me (When I Get To Heaven), Hootie and The Blowfish
75. If It Makes You Happy, Sheryl Crow
76. As I Lay Me Down, Sophie B. Hawkins
77. Keep On, Keepin' On, Mc Lyte
78. Jealousy, Natalie Merchant
79. I Want To Come Over, Melissa Etheridge
80. Who Do U Love, Deborah Cox
81. Un-Break My Heart, Toni Braxton
82. This Is Your Night, Amber
83. You Remind Me Of Something, R. Kelly
84. Runaway, Janet Jackson
85. Set U Free, Planet Soul
86. Hit Me Off, New Edition
87. No One Else, Total
88. My Boo, Ghost Town Dj's
89. Get Money, Junior M.A.F.I.A.
90. That Girl, Maxi Priest Featuring Shaggy
91. Po Pimp, Do Or Die
92. Until It Sleeps, Metallica
93. Hay, Crucial Conflict
94. Beautiful Life, Ace Of Base
95. Back For Good, Take That
96. I Got Id/Long Road, Pearl Jam
97. Soon As I Get Home, Faith Evans
:-( 98. Macarena, Los Del Rio
99. Only Wanna Be With You, Hootie and The Blowfish
100. Don't Cry, Seal

All around the Internet Saturday....Sharing the Love of Other Peeps Blogs!

Blogiversaries
Check out Ms Grace at Lovin Comfort Knits. She is having her Blogiversary. Congrats Grace! She's also having a contest too. Go check it out why don't ya?

Rosemary is having her 2 year blogiversary too! Can you believe it? She's also doing a contest.

Random Hilarious stuff
My buddy Jen at KnittedSpecks has a hilarious video she ganked from Jennifer Mayers on myspace. It is hilarious I tell ya!

The Sneeze had another tree brain growing. You must read the back posts on the whole thing in order to get it. Check out the "Steve Don't Eat it!" too. ;-) Guaranteed to make you pee your pants in laughter.

More funny stuff. Here is Adolf our attack Cichlid to the sounds of Sym playing Madagascar. ;-) Ya'll enjoy! (Give it a while I just uploaded it to YouTube.



PS.
Okay after the upload finished I saw this! IT is pretty funny too. ;-)

Friday Fillins

Friday Fillings #88 Go check it out! It is fun!!! You like fun don't ya?

And...here we go!

1. If I was to walk into your life, ___I would hand you some wine, a ball of yarn and knitting needles and hope you don't stab me with them._______?

2. Catch a bright star and place it ___in Sym's room cause she needs better lighting_______.

3. And you can send me ___wine yarn or chocolate (or all of the above)_______.

4. ___I am searching for a new goal_______ but I'm dealing with a memory that never forgets.

5. I'm the innocent bystander / Somehow I got stuck _____by lightning when you handed me your umbrella_____.

6. What's keeping us apart isn't selfishness, __it's your attitude________.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to __knitting and watching Naruto___, tomorrow my plans include ___hula hooping cleaning and working__ and Sunday, I want to ___sleep__!

Undecided Sweater! Suggestions Appreciated!!

Just found out that the yarn for my sweater will be her by the 9th! I have 6 days to figure out exactly what to knit. I've been scowering Ravelry but can't freakin decide!!
so I need your help!!!

The yarn is
Uruguay Chunky
Fiber Content 70 % wool 20% Baby Alpaca & 10% Sily (Very Soft and great next to skin no itch!)
Total yardage bought 803 yards (but can buy more if needed)
Yarn ball Gauge: 3 sts to an in on US 10.5

Bought from the lovely website Littleknits.com.
Here's a direct link to the yarn: http://www.littleknits.com/proddetail.php?prod=UrguayChunky105



So far....Here are a couple of patterns I've been thinkin about (Remember, this is my first Sweater to ever attempt!):
Cherie Amour from knitty

Pugmama's neck from the Knitting fool Sweater Generator

That's all I got so far. HELP!! Please!

My First Sym Sweater

(Please excuse the pics. My camera sucks! I swear it isn't a user error.)
Okay 2 years ago I bought an issue of Knit It! magazine.


Inside this incredible issue were SEVERAL patterns I wanted to knit. The deal sealer on this issue was this pattern!


So Part of my stash acquisition was to buy the yarn for this sweater for the Syminator. She needs one quite frankly and if I don't knit it now she'll never be able to fit into it!!
She wanted different colors so here they are....


This will be my very first Sweater. I call it the Sym Sweater.
Yeah has a nice ring to it. That is all go back to your business.....
One more sweater project to happen soon as well. Just waiting on UPS to deliver it. ;-)
Toodles

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.

A fun little quiz. Take it why don't ya?

Grace I have been nabbin all the fun stuff off your page hun. I hope you don't mind lovely lady! ;-)

Your result for The Best Thing About You Test...

Honesty

Honesty is the human quality of communicating and acting truthfully. This includes listening, and any action in the human repertoire — as well as speaking. And you? You cannot tell a lie. Both loved ones and strangers should trust you, because you won't (1) lie, (2) lie via omission, or (3) sit there and let lies be told. (Can you even let a sleeping dog lie?) All 7 virtues are a part of you, but your honesty runs deepest.

Your biggest risk is hurting the feelings of your most sensitive friends. However, most appreciate you for your candor.

Honest famous person: George Washington, if you believe the propaganda.

Your raw relative scores follow. 0% is low, and 100% is perfect, nearly impossible. Note that I pitted the virtues against each other, so in some way these are relative scores. It's impossible to score high on all of them, and a low score on one is just relatively low compared to the other virtues.

YOUR VIRTUES

40% Compassion

44% Intelligence

63% Humility

67% Honesty

13% Discipline

57% Courage

50% Passion

Take The Best Thing About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Friday Fillins (Thanks again Grace!)

I'm starting to get addicted to these. Thanks Grace for getting dangling participles at me. ;-)

Friday Fill-Ins #87


1. When I'm sick I'm ___having to take care of myself. No one has ever babied me_______.


2. When I take a walk, I think about ___bills to pay, projects to knit_______.


3. Money can't buy happiness but it can __pay off all my debts so I can be happy________.

4. Cotton makes me __feel like spring________ and leather makes me __wish I had never given away my black leather jacket from High school________.

5. The strangest person/character I've had lewd thoughts about was __he he you would never look at me the same if I told________.

6. My favorite color these days is ____blue, teal and marron______ because ___I look good in those colors_______.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _a slumber part for 7 little girls squeels and all____, tomorrow my plans include __seeing an old friend and delivering pizzas___ and Sunday, I want to _sleep____!

My baby is growing up ya'll!

She just turned 9!!! 9! Her last year in the single digits! Can you believe it? I sure as hell can't! Where the hell have the past nine years gone? Was my child ever a baby? She was a baby at one point. She had to be! How else would they have gotten her out of my belly on 8/26/99? They did give me alot of drugs. Maybe they gave her a magic potion that shrank her temporarily (I was all belly prego) and then when she came out she got the instant 9 year old syrup. Those tricky doctors. Ha! She's not really nine. She is still a little baby but wait, she's ALOT taller than the 21 and 1/2 inches that they measured her when she was born.


I remember 6 very well. That's when she started her violin lessons! Ah violin lessons. yeah



I remember her being 2, vaguely.

I love my girl! She keeps me smiling when the clouds are the thickest (like this week has been in the armpit of the south.)


Happy 9th Birthday Symi-D!!!
I Love you!!!
Love Mom

Friday Fillins

go to this site and get you one too!!
Thanks Grace!!

1. Dancing to the _music_ while ___naked__ makes me __feel sexy___.

2. The last time I ____went to a party______ I nearly ____didn't leave______.

3. When I drive I ___listen to punk or electronica especially when I am delivering_______.

4. I saw __my gnome steve________ standing ___on top of the TV this morning___.

5. Give me __yarn________, give me __wine________, give me ___time to knit_______.

6. Next week I am looking forward to __Sym's 9th Birthday________.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to __the back to school splash with the girls___, tomorrow my plans include _my dad and friends' 50th bday party____ and Sunday, I want to __SLEEP___!

DRT!!! Just got the box!!

Here's the box. Had it delivered to me at the office got it at 11:45 am. Went directly to LYS and bought needles to start


Ya'll ready? I am! LOL

Here's what Emily sent as a little gift


Here's what I've knitted so far


Yep 9 rows of seed stitch!!! I'm knitting more when I get off work! I will have it mailed to Jaymi hopefully first thing in morn at latest!!I'm off!!!

Time for an Update....

Times are quite crazy lately. Work is work, home is Sym and our BOY cat Izzie. LOL Yes folks our cat is a boy. I castrated him from the begining by allowing Sym to call him "Isabella" but alas, he is a boy. I started suspecting when I saw that he started formin a bump down in the nether region. We had resuced shim from the storm drain when it was little. Luckily Izzie could be a unisex name. If not oh well we like it and we are sticking to it!!

Adolf the cichild demon fish is doing well as well. He is still chasinig cat toys. Yes he chases cat toys. I swear if he was an amphibian he would have hopped out of the tank and eaten Sym and I already. He's such an aggressive little guy that hates EVERYTHING but his nice jug in the tank. I think he actually wants to infiltrate our tank. He does like the food I leave for him but do I get a thanks? No, he just tries to bite my finger off. Yes folks this is a fish I'm talking about.
Sym is determined to catch him on video with her handy dandy camera phone (bought b/c she took care of the crap phone for 6 mo) so as soon as we get the video to the internet, Ya'll will see exactly what I'm talking about.

Doing the DishRag Tag dance this year! I'm the Fearless Captain on the quest to make sure I knit this rag as fast as my fingers allow.
I love the DRT! I've got some buddies already! Let me give a shout out to my hommies on Team # 3-Expe-Dish-ous Raggers!!
I am so psyched to get started!!! I've started practicing a seed stitch dishcloth to practice my technique. I did the same thing last year too when we got to pick any pattern we wanted. I knitted the pattern 10 times (I was the last one to get the box too) and timed myself. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of practicing this time round. All good though. ;-)

Well I've gotta get back to work.

Holy Moley!!! Lots a going on...

Well ladies and gents, I've done it. I've returned to the part time job at pizza slut. I'm delivering pizzas again to build up my Sym Birthday and Christmas nest egg. I know ya'll are already used to me not post much anymore but it is about to get even more sparse unless I am at the day job and just bored.
I'm getting really tired of things at the day job but a little bit worried about just quitting. I would hate to leave my team lead. She's super sweet and both of us have put so much into our jobs that it is tough to just walk away.

On the knitting front, I've been rather sparse with that too. I've only been knitting on Callie's wash cloths in which I've already knit 2 and started a 3rd. I hope to finish it tonight and give them to her on Monday. That's if I am not totally exhausted after delivering tonight.

I was hoping to win the Florida lottery, but I didn't. Would be nice if I did though.
I have lots of things I need to take pics of for you lovely people. The camera in the D house stinks though. It is on my list to get a better one once I get the Sym stuff taken care of.

OH!! I've signed up for the Dish Rag Tag Sequel!! I suggest ya'll do the same! It is a fun Kal!!!
Go now and sign up if Emily has room!!!
http://dishragtag.yarnmiracle.com/people/new


Lots of love to ya'll! I'm still reading your blogs and leaving comments when I can. Big hugs!