My SP6 has spoken!!

I was a little worried that I wasn't going to hear from my SP6 spoiler because the deadline had passed but found out she (I assume she!) was having computer issues. I received a lovely email from her (I'm just going to assume you are female!) in which she taunts me by saying she has seen my blog. Hmmmm....... that narrows it down a bit and then... check out the clever little tidbit I received from her in the mail today:A cute little postcard, indeed, of Alexander Hamilton but why is it clever, you ask? Well because it is FROM THE NEXT TOWN OVER!! Yeah, probably 15 miles from where I live! Hmmm, is it a trick like my SP5 who made me think she was from England but actually lives in Singapore? Or is this truly a neighbor knitter who lives in the town that has THE best LYS in the whole country? Somebody from my knitting group even? Wouldn't that be funny! The plot thickens...... Stay tuned.

SP6 Questions

All in all, SP5 was a good experience so I decided to do SP6. My spoiler was wonderful!! She sent such wonderful goodies and was so friendly! I didn't hear much from the person I spoiled but I had fun shopping for her. My answers are not much different than last time.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I have seemed to develop a preference for the nicer stuff. I like silk blends a lot.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

No.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

No.

4. How long have you been knitting?

Since November 2004.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No, I have a few books but I check a lot out of the library to review first and I haven’t found too many that I really need to own.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I like vanilla and citrus and cinnamon. I don’t like florals or other fruits.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes, I like dark chocolate, butter creams, caramels, coconut. And COOKIES!!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I sew and I read a lot.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I mostly listen to new country but radio is fine for me. I don’t have an MP3 player.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Purple and pink. I prefer brights to pastels and I can’t stand brown.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Married, 5 kids, 3 cats and a fish pond.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

To raise happy, responsible kids that remain close to me.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Wool blends, silk blends. I like cottons, too but built a huge stash this summer of various cottons and cotton blends.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Acrylic.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Shrugs! Love them! I also like ponchos and shawls.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

No favorite.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Oh boy – a bunch. A Sitcom Chic Cardigan in turquoise CottonEase; a Good Bias Shrug in a silky wool blend; Broad Ripple Socks in purple variegated Cascade Fixation; Clapotis in Iris Garden Lion and Lamb; a Cozy shawl in ecru Andean Silk; a cotton dish cloth. I have knitter’s ADD.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

Love them.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

circular.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like them all. I like bamboo double pointed needles for socks, Addi Turbos for wools and I picked up a set of Denise Interchangeable needles that are plastic. I’v e learned over the last year that no one needle is perfect for every yarn and have managed to accumulate quite a collection that probably suits all my knitting needs!!

21. Are you a sock knitter?

I’ve knit one and a half socks so I think I can call myself a sock knitter. Great project for airplanes – small and easy to carry.

22. How did you learn to knit?

My friend taught me to knit a scarf and I was hooked after that. I received a couple books and relied on the internet instructions a lot.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

I started the dishcloth last December. I pick it up every once in awhile and I can see the quality of my knitting improving!

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Not into any animated characters. I guess rabbits are my favorite.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

No (unless you count shoes.)

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None but I like to read Interweave and Family Circle Easy Knitting. Oh and Vogue.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

No

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??

I love the White Lies Angelina cardigan – GOR-JUSSSS! And I also saw the cutest mini poncho at a site called chiagu.com. It appears to have cables and that scares me – not sure why!

30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?

I wear size 8 or 8 ½ medium (9 ½ “). Love warm fuzzy socks to wear around the house in the winter.

My Secret Pal reveals!

Look at this cool stuff! Found out that the adorable Chrissie from Singapore was my spoiler from SP5! She sent me this gorgeous yarn and a nice pattern to make a scarf. See the beads that look like a bracelet? Well, it IS a bracelet but it's a cool row-counting bracelet. Clever, huh?

Chrissie, if you stop in.... you're the best! Thank you so much for spoiling me (you did an excellent job!) I can't wait to jump into the goodies.


Dear Mr. Boss:
I am quitting today because I have an awful lot of knitting to do.

Sincerely,
Bonnie

P.S. I would appreciate it if you would please continue to pay me...... the bills and all.

Not much knitting lately

Just got back today from a four day girls' trip. These are three of my best friends (isn't it nice that they let me be a token member of their blonde club!) and we had a blast staying at a beachfront home in the Isle of Palms (barrier island off of Charleston, SC.) Aren't our pink shirts cute? They say FLIP 2005 with a little palm tree. I had them made at EmbroidMe for a very reasonable price! FLIP stands for Fabulous Ladies in Isle of Palms. We narrowly escaped hurricane Ophelia and ended up enjoying wonderful weather. See the lovely ocean behind me? That was a view off of one of our decks. Does that look like hurricane weather to you? I don't think so!

I brought three knitting projects intending to make good use of some relaxation time away from the kids and husband but probably didn't knit more than 15 minutes total.

This last picture is three of us (dear Kimmie had to leave a day before the rest of us) having lunch at Vickery's which is on Shem Creek. Fun place - good food - very sweet server (order the cashew crusted tuna salad - it's AWESOME!) You can see all the shrimp boats behind us and the beautiful reeds in the water. Fabulous way to end our trip.

My New Ride!

14 years of mini-vans are D-O-N-E!! I've been tossing around the idea of looking at convertibles for a few months and last Tuesday, talked my husband into stopping at the "Auto Mall" to start the hunt. Two and a half hours later, I drove my brand new Toyota Solara home (didn't even test drive it first!) Check it out!

I actually still have the minivan. Will be taking the oldest off to college this weekend - she has a lot of stuff! ["Honey, did you READ the dorm room dimensions?"] Plus there's the drywall hauling that my husband will continue to do. I need a bigger garage..... hmmmm..... "Sweetheart, have you given any thought to a new house?" I'm just sayin'!