A BIG UPDATE: Since a picture is worth a thousand words this is a BIG blog post....he he he
(let's not even look at the date of my last post, okay?)

January:

I turned 32 and got a new camera (one that is small enough to fit in my purse


And here I am celebrating with some Knit Friends:


Then went to a Scrapbooking Retreat with my sister.....we had so much fun! I have been several years in a row and in a weekend I can usually finish nearly a whole year of scrapbooking. This year I finished almost all of 2007, I just need to go back and do a bit of journaling. But of course I am already behind for 2008.....maybe I can find a free day to get caught up on that now that my blog is getting there :-)


February:
I was so blessed to go visit my Best Girlfriend from High School in her new place in Atlanta. I hadn't seen her in nearly a year and she has recently relocated to Atlanta, along with her Dh and 1 year old son. WHO TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS TO ME WHEN I GOT THERE!!!!!! It was a PERFECT Auntie Moment! We went to the Atlanta Aquarium which was an amazing day. I hope it won't be another year before we see each other again.


Then we were invited to attend a Hockey Game with 1-800-GOT JUNK. We had so much fun cheering on the STARS from box seats and a visit from the Ice Girls:


At the end of the month, an amazing thing happened: ALL THREE SISTERS IN ONE PLACE:


In March:

DH turned 33 and then promptly left for a temporary assignment in Lexington, KY. I went
to visit and we took the Bourbon Trail tour. It was BEAUTIFUL country and a lot of fun to learn about the history of Bourbon Whiskey and how it is made.


And so far for April:

I attended Fiber Fest and didn't go over budget with the vendors!!! but forgot to take photos. Other than that it's been busy with family visits (DH home from Lexington and cousins from New York) and this weekend I am taking another Chiropractic Pediatric Seminar. Should be really fun.

On the Knitting Front: I have officially put my Custom Escada Inspired Sweater in TIME OUT!, worked on my Brooks Farm sweater (which I LOVE), started and finished a dress for Barbie and a baby dress. I am also taking an Entrelac Sock Class at Yarn and Stitches

Well, there you go, an update on the first part of 2008.....More news to come....hopefully before July, but no promises....

It's my birthday and I'll bake if I want to......

After working this morning, my dear friend Andrea took me out for Brunch at Mimi's Cafe and I had Cornbeef Hash with eggs....YUM! I always consider ordering something else at MiMi's but then I just can't miss out on the hash....today I enjoyed it so very much along with an entire hour with Andrea.

Now, I am home and putting my 2008 birthday plan into action. When my family asked what I wanted for birthday dinner I said "Orange Khoresh" and they were confused. I am the only one in the family who makes it and it's not easily found at a cafe or diner....then I said "I want to bake and cook on my birthday"....they all cheered!

So, I am using my birthday gift from Mom and Dad:

to make these from The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I was so excited when I saw the recipe, I just knew I had to find a day to bake....TODAY IS THE DAY!
I am nearly ready to add the yeast.

and since I am not big on birthday cake (although I had a DELICIOUS Chocolate cake on Wednesday that has me reconsidering cake), I am also going to make this for dessert. YUM! Apple Pie is one of my most favorite food groups.

Okay, but those are all SWEETS, what about the dinner....okay, here is the photo from the cookbook....mine is not yet finished so let's all pretend that mine will look like this :-)
. It's a delicious chicken dish with saffron, carrots, onions and oranges. I will serve it over saffron infused basmati rice. YUM!

I am now going back to my quiet house, podcasts and baking.......ta ta for now

COOKIES 2007!

Every year my baby sister and I have a cookie marathon. We plan all year, talk it up for weeks and then finally we bake until we are too tired to stand and make plans for less cookies next year.

This year we had trouble working out a full day so we spent two 1/2 days BAKING and singing out hearts out to Christmas music.

We made:
**Cut outs
**Ricotta cookies (my MILs fabulous recipe)
"Mary's Cookies" (my husband's Paternal Grandmother's recipe)
***Mandel Brot (MY Paternal Grandmother's recipe)
Ginger Spice Cookies (from our Divine friend Kate)
Chocolate Crinkles (Betty Crocker)
Amaretto Chocolate Chip Cookies (new recipe this year, it has Amaretto, Chocolate Chips, Almonds and Coconut....AHEM!)
**Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Peppermint Bark


** Double Batch
***Triple Batch

We packed up the cookies into 8 lovely containers for delivery and kept some for nibbling. Last year we kept too many and many cookies spent their last days in the trash....it was so SAD. So this year, we gave them away with reckless abandon (hence the additional batches for freezing and later consumption).

But, fear not baking and cooking are not complete. DH made Chili for dinner this evening and we are cooking for Christmas Eve dinner at our house. Brisket, Sweet Potatoes, Cabbage, Salad, Corn Bread and Pioneer Woman's BACON treats. There are days I wish I had not read PW's blog as she makes me want to bake and cook and EAT way too much!

I have started the Gathered Pullover sweater so I am knitting a bit here and there, but the weather is cold, the tree is up, family is in town and I just want to BAKE and EAT! It's only for a few more days...

Eat and be Merry!

Fiber Resolutions:

My friend Dawn started a trend and I didn't want to be left out...so here are my knitting resolutions for 2008:

1) Knit and wear a sweater for me from my Brooks Farm Yarn
2) Knit and wear the "Escada" inspired sweater with the Knitting Fairy (this is a cheat because I am already signed up for this class...but I will have to finish it in the next 12 months)
3) Knit with my Socks That Rock yarn (I joined the club this year and have not knit a stitch of it)
4) Knit more from my stash than I purchase in new yarn (Okay, so I am being bold by adding a stash statement but it's really a ratio, not a diet. Because it's all about balance).
5) Try Entrelac knitting

Okay, that should keep me busy for the next 12 months. :-)

Tonight is Blogging night....I am getting somewhat caught up.... except for knitting content (but that is all on Ravelry....so just look me up: KnittingAunt). The following post has been marinating in my brain for months, I am not sure it's ready yet but it's time to get it at least started:

Planned Parenthood:

Many couples become parents overnight, either with joy, uncertainty, terror or a mixture of all of these and many more emotions. It's a completely different ball game when pregnancy doesn't surprise you but you have to work at it, or become a mother via foster or adoption.

I spent YEARS not wanting to become pregnant. It wasn't that I didn't WANT to become a Mother or have a family but it was the wrong time (too young, in school, family issues, moving, new job, etc etc etc.....LIFE). Then finally we wised up and realized there was NEVER going to be a "right time" and we were not getting any younger. So, we began to "try" to become pregnant. And after three years discovered that we were going to have to do MORE if we wanted to have a family....

Hubby and I have discussed, ad nauseam all of the options for becoming a family, how we feel about becoming parents, what skills are needed to be good parents, how badly we want children, how far are we willing to go emotionally, physically, financially to have them etc etc etc. There are days we want to throw in the towel and just stay a happy, healthy, adventurous, satisfied COUPLE...but of course there are far more days we dream of having a little one of our own. I feel a bit bi-polar because I wish every parent had to go thru the self evaluation that we have gone thru about our ability and desire to become parents BEFORE they became parents and yet I wish we had been able to become parents with surprise and ease.....SIGH

About 2 months ago we began our Subfertility Adventure. Our doctor doesn't call it infertility because strange things happen. Women with polyps, endometriosis, cysts, one ovary, tipped uterus etc all become pregnant without intervention and women with no biological or scientific reason for infertility are never able to conceive without intervention.

So we have had several rounds of testing....some simple and some PAINFUL! So the results are in and there is still HOPE for us to conceive on our own....YEAH! We don't feel we are candidates (emotionally and financially) for artificial implantation so we are really happy about the results so far.

The down side is that I will need surgery. So a few days after Christmas, I will go in for the first surgery of my life. It's a hysteroscopy and laproscopy, which are both short day surgeries. I am totally FREAKED OUT! But getting better day by day. I really do want to know what is not working right now and if there is more that can be done to help my body function at it's highest potential. It feels like an extreme step but as a lovely friend said (and I am paraphrasing) "thank your body for preventing pregnancy when the time was not appropriate, have the surgery so that you can start the next phase in your life and your body can work properly for this next phase". She is wise and it made me feel so much better to accept that there is not something "wrong", but that I am moving into a new phase.

Sure, we'll miss our "couple" days of freedom and fun but I know we are ready to share our lives with a child. It's an exciting and emotionally THRILLING time....

For Dawn:

I have been meaning to write this post for a long time. My friend Dawn always asks me about my camping trips and especially our pop up camper.

So Dawn, this is just for YOU:

We have a Coleman (now called Fleetwood) Carmel. It's not the smallest Pop up out there and by no means the largest. It has a king size bed on one side and a full on the other. The mattresses are pretty thick. We have added the "egg crate foam" to our bed and it is quite comfy. We also have a dining table that easily seats four for eating or playing games. A sink, small fridge and three burner stove. hubby bought me a porta potty and now LIFE IS GOOD. (The newer models have potty and shower built in.) Under the seats is lots of storage. Our little pop up has power outlets, running water, lights and A/C built in. We have added a table lamp for evening reading and crafts, fans, space heaters for winter, an alarm clock, portable shelving and some throw pillows to make it feel more like home. Outside we add some lights, recliner chairs, patio cover (so you can go out in your bare feet,), and solar covers on the bunks (emergency tarps from Cabellas that reflect light/heat).

This first photo is our adorable camper all set up in our site. This is Thanksgiving weekend at the Thousand Trails campground on Lake Texoma, so yes, it's a bit dark and bleak but we had a WONDERFUL time.


Next is the camper in Pop-down mode. It usually takes us about 45 minutes to get completely set up/take down. But that includes loading the car, cleaning out the camper, and putting everything back in it's place.

Now we are wrapping it up. Hubby and I each have our jobs with set up and clean up. Sometimes we forget and get in each others way but most of the time we work like a "well oiled camping machine".


And finally the camper is all popped down, then we hitch it to the truck and we are on our way....


So a bit more enlightenment for you non-campers....a typical weekend goes like this for us:

I start to pack and plan meals on Wednesday or Thursday. We load up the truck as soon as we are home on Friday, then head out of town. I used to travel, set up and cook on Friday nights....but now we grab food on the way....sometimes I am smarter than I look...

As soon as we arrive we unpack, set up and get the heat or AC on, then head out for a walk or I sit and knit while Hubby gets a bit of fishing done before the sun goes down. We usually go to bed early on Friday nights. If we camp with other folks we'll sit around a campfire or sit outside for a bit before turning in. If the skies are clear and Hubby has packed one of his scopes he'll head back out for some Astronomy....I don't usually join him as I lack the patience and interest in millions of "little white dots" (except when visiting the National Observatory...WOW). But if he finds a galaxy or planet, then I come out and have a look.

Sat morning, we wake up EARLY, Hubby goes fishing and I stay in my Jammies with the dogs. We cuddle up and watch movies on my computer (in the photo, the dining table is down and the computer is up on the cooler which is how we watch movies together. When it's just me I sit at the table and watch) and knit or listen to podcasts and knit until he returns. Then we go out to breakfast, make coffee etc while I hear all about the fishing adventures. My husband is a great storyteller so this is usually the highlight of my day.



Next we work on crafts, chat with other campers, take a walk, play boardgames/cards or go visit the town that we are camping in. I love to go to small town shops, play golf, or sample local cuisine. Occasionally if the weather is bad we'll go walk around wal-mart (there is always one close by and many campers say you are not camping if you have not made a trip to walmart). Then it's time for a nap.... This is my next favorite part of camping....'nuf said.

Sat evening we'll cook, go out to dinner or just snack. Hubby returns to the water for fishing, I knit and watch another movie and then more astronomy, visiting neighbors or just going to bed early.

Sunday we wake up, repeat the Sat morning routine and then pack up to get home.

It's BILSS! Pure and heavenly bliss.....

One More Thing:

The secret is out......I got a Tattoo!

How to loose a guy in 10 days!

My Knitflix Swap package arrived yesterday and it's awesome. There were 10 clues on adorable cardstock with knitting graphics:
#1: Ask your soon-to-be ex to watch a movie where the plot is based on breaking up.
#2: Spend Your "date night" with your friends knitting instead (Starbucks gift card...YUM)
#3: Ask for your own display area for your sheep and Llama Figurine collection (adorable Llama)
#4: Tell him you are not in the mood because you are reading a "great, just can't put it down" knitting book (When bad things happen to good knitters, started reading it tonight)
#5: Learn to spin your dog's hair (don't forget-they must be rewarded for their contributions) (dog treats for Melon and Micron)
#6: Tell him you want children....like yesterday! And, you don't believe in spanking either. (Sour Patch Kids)
#7: Leave your sharpest Knitting needles on the couch to impale him in the ass (HARMONY CIRCULARS in size 2)
#8: Begin a really complicated knitting pattern at his friends party. (kool entrelac instructions and pattern)
#9: If all else fails, knitting him a sweater WILL MAKE HIM RUN (Blocking wires....YIPPEE)
#10 How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days movie!!!!


THANK YOU to Amy, the bestest swap partner!

I WON , I WON! I won a door prize at the Knit Out and Crochet Too! I won a gift bag from Yarns Ewenique: including OnLine Sock Yarn in City Color along with ChiaoGoo Bamboo dpns, size 2.




Fall has arrived!

But in Texas this means that the weather is "cooler" (90 instead of 100) and school is in full gear. But, if you are not in school and miss the cooler (less than 70) brisk weather and picking pumpkins and apples then October is not really fall in Texas. I am missing our old stomping grounds in New York lately. The falling leaves, apples everywhere in the orchards ....I made apple pies and applesauce every year along with crocheting afghans...I can remember it perfectly.....

In Texas I go camping in October, wear capri pants, sit outside on the patio and KNIT, KNIT, KNIT! It's all good here in Texas but this is the time of year that I miss New York the most.....Feb. is a different issue :-)


To catch up on my previous post, the very small and cute spinning wheel turned out to be decorative only. It has moving parts but it won't spin yarn.....oh well, I really didn't need a new hobby just yet.




Knitting is going well.....it's still my passion and what keeps me sane.....I am learning to knit TOE UP socks! it's really fun. I am nearly done with sock #1 and hope to start sock #2 on Wednesday. My next adventure will be two socks on two circular needles.

Life has become very stressful with work and family issues....thank goodness for knitting!

RETREAT!!!!

I leave tomorrow for a Knitting Retreat with the Knitting Fairy and 10 other knitting friends. I can hardly wait. We'll learn how to make a sweater, go shopping, drink worm buckets, eat delicious food....not clean or cook or possibly answer the phone :-)

I'll be back Sunday!

A fellow Rotarian who is a "treasure hunter" (read: Antique Dealer) found this spinning wheel and knowing my obsession with all things fiber gave me first dibs on it. So, she is bringing it in and I am going to look at it. It's "smaller" than an average wheel, solid oak and supposedly it works. DH doesn't know I am about to make a larger purchase nor that I am interested in spinning....but if it's in good condition I am going to give it a whirl (pun intended, of course).


Wicked Sock #1 is complete. It's for Hubby. I used Accidental Knitter superwash sock yarn in Wicked. I used a basic sock pattern with #2 circs so it's going really quickly. I can't wait to see him wear the pair of socks :-)

I am FINALLY on Ravelry, it's a great addition to my knitting obsession.....you can find me as the KnittingAunt

On the knitting front I am working on the Wicked Socks, finishing my Custom T-shirt Sweater and have begun the Knitting Fairy's Lace Scarf Class at Yarn and Stitches.....what an awesome class BTW.

Time to close up, head home and knit.

Here I am in "Knitting Aunt Heaven". Camping and knitting with my furry children. Don't we look happy? This was before all the rain. DH and I have not been camping in months due to the RAIN and mud and mosquitos. I am determined to get us out of town in August and begin camping again in the fall. We are happiest when camping.

On the knitting front, I have been taking classes from The Knitting Fairy: Lace Socks, Tips and Techniuqes, Don't Despair, Repair and most recently design your own T-shirt sweater. The classes have really improved my knitting and mostly my confidence. I can hardly wait to WEAR my t-shirt sweater in all it's purply goodness (see above photo of WIP).

I have taken up GOLF. It's harder than I expected and more fun too. DH and I bought clubs (mine are purple, of course) and the package is called Philosphy, isn't that nice? So I have to develop a philosophy for golf (maybe Lise and I can work together since she is working on her knitting philosophy) and DH's are called Vanquish. So while I am contemplating Zen things like our golf philosophy, he will be busy VANQUISHing the opponents. :-D I am looking forward to another hobby with my DH, we have so much fun together camping, crafting and discussing....well, everything, that Golf sounded good for us. He is VERY athletic and I am not, so this sport is something we can both do together without either of us feeling too left in the dust. He is just ecstatic that I said "Hubby, I want to learn golf". It took us only a couple of weeks to buy clubs, find free golf clinics and plan a golf get away together.

I think Knitting and Golf go well together. Both require concentration, focus, coordination and provide delightful inspiration for the senses. Both are great by yourself but better with a group of friends.

I have blogged......check! I am off to work on the other zillion things on my to do list for today some for work (phone calls to patients, vendors and advertisers), some for fun (knitting with the Knitting Fairy), some for home (feed the dogs), and lastly for golf (free ladies clinic).....

ta, ta for now.....

Knitting Aunt

not a professional


Okay, so I am not a professional blogger. I do love to READ blogs, just not so great at posting. I send so much email, it just seems redundant to re-write my life onto a blog....so here i go anyway.

A very quick and terrible summary of the past 3 months:
Lots of ups and downs in getting my business started but I DID FINALLY SIGN A LEASE. It's a simple and lovely property near my home. I will have adequate space for two chiropractors, a massage therapist and an office.

Christmas was very nice. A bit hectic but very nice. We went camping for New Years Eve weekend and were NEARLY hit by a tornado but it stayed on the other side of the lake....thank goodness. It did make for an exciting weekend.

DH has switched facilities at his job, it's been a stressfull and exciting adventure for us. I believe things happen for a reason and when it involves my DH, usually for a GOOD reason.....again, the patience thing....


We have decided to hold off on our decision to become Foster parents. It's a daunting task and we also feel we may have given up too quickly on trying to become biological parents. So we are going to try, try again.....it's a bit exciting but also kinda scary.

On the knit front, I have finished socks for FIL and MIL, they loved them. And I was so proud of myself. DH and I both want socks, so I am knitting away with some BEAUTIFUL yarn that I bought in Arizona.

I am also slowly but surely building a yarn stash. It's filled with such beautiful yarn....lots of new sock yarn, baby project yarn and a couple of really neat projects I may never start because I love to open the closet door and just PEEK in at my lace-weight yarn. It's almost too pretty to knit with....am I crazy?

Mostly I have made FRIENDS! My knit friends are the best ever. They have helped me to blow off steam, be more patient, learn new things, see new places, find things in common with total strangers, celebrate, LAUGH and sometimes cry. They have each changed my life in amazing ways.

I would love to sign off and promise to post more soon.....but that just might be a lie.....

Back home

I just returned from two weeks in heaven. Hubby and I drove from Dallas to Sedona to Phoenix to Tuscon and then home.

We spent our first week in Sedona. This is one of my favorite places on earth. It's natural beauty helps me to put my life back into perspective and also to dream bigger.

Hubby and I did some hiking, lots of eating, worked on crafts and made friends. The biggest score for us was in the form of WOOD and SHEEP. For those of you who play Settlers you know this is really KOOL! Last year we collected stones (from a salt mine), we have bricks at home and now are only lacking for wheat :-)

Seriously, Jay found some beautiful cottonwood, cedar and juniper for woodcarving. I met someone who is willing to give me his sheep wool in the spring. I am so excited to learn to spin and dye wool. It's a great new project and gives us an excuse to go back to Sedona in the spring....YIPPEE!

After Sedona, we drove south to Phoenix to visit with our wonderful friends. Hubby and one of his oldest friends got to hang out and skateboard. The wifes went shopping, of course. I was introduced to a wonderful store called Penzey's Spices. It's fantastic.

Then on to Tuscon for Kitt Peak National Observatory where we spend an entire evening on a 20-inch telescope. We had the whole dome, guide and telescope to ourselves. It was amazing! This was my present to hubby for our 10th anniversary. We agreed this is one of the most spectacular things we have done in our 10 years of marriage.

On the way home we stopped to hike Carlsbad Caverns....WOW! We went from one of the highest mountains gazing into the heavens to hiking 1000 ft underground to see beautiful rock formations.

Now I am back home and trying to get all caught up.....it's a bit overwhelming.

Enjoy the photos....

Knitting Aunt

I feel like an idiot! I just posted a personal blog on one of the blog groups I am one.....DUH....so Here I go....let's try this again.

I had a great day. Took a private knitting lesson on fishing techniques, had lunch with a friend and joined SOCKTOBER FEST.

What fun!

I am off to try to remove my blog from the wrong list.

Knitting Aunt

Good Morning!

I have been knitting this week but having trouble with the "finishing" part. I have a BEAUTIFUL hat and scarf for my friend for her birthday (it's already late) but the ends keep unweaving themselves and fraying.....so I will try to fix it on Monday before sending it out. I am also working on a baby blanket for another gift.

Best part is that I started shopping for my Knitters Tea Swap Pal. I found some lavender tea and lavender chocolate....something tasty and different. I am still searching for the perfect yarn to send to her.....maybe I'll find something in Sedona while we are on vacation.

I found a neat tea website for Dragonwater Tea Company. They have some wonderful looking Rooibus and flowering teas. I ordered myself a small sample. Should be here by next week.

I have the whole house to myself for a few hours....I am off to knit.

The Knitting Tea Swap 2:

I am participating in an online swap. This is my first, didn't even know this type of thing exsisted until someone in my knitting group emailed a link. Then I did a google search and folks are swapping all over the internet. What a great idea! This photo is of my "tea stash". We were encouraged to flash our stash to the other participants. You can see that I enjoy herbal, white, green and black teas. It's been too darn hot in Texas the last few months to really enjoy hot tea but since it is raining today, I think I just might make up a pot.

This group has over 200 tea drinking knitters in it. We are exchanging tea, goodies and yarn for knitting. I am just too excited! but I am new to knitting so I will have to get some advice on what yarns to send to my swap-mate.

My knitting group has also decided to do a Secret pal swap. I signed up right away. We are exchanging goodies (chocolate and other such sweets), yarn and yarn accessories. It's going to be loads of fun!

Wifey, you need flowers

This is what hubby said on Monday during grocery shopping. Not only did he go grocery shopping WITH me but he bought flowers. So now I have some by the kitchen sink, some on the counter and a beautiful little vase next to the computer.

I feel loved!

Stitch Markers...

Today I made stitch markers! They were easier than I thought and now I will have pretty ones instead of pink plastic rings.


I spent the day on the computer, trying to give constructive feedback to the wonderful woman who is creating the website for my Chiropractic Practice. She has a great deal of patience with me, thank goodness. It's so hard to convey a feeling thru design and color, especially if that has to be done thru someone else first. Well, when it's ready I'll post a link for all to see ;-)

I am off to knit with the wonderful DFW Chicks with Sticks group tonight. I can hardly wait!

Another post today so that I can share my most recent finished knitting projects.

My very first felted purse. I used Burly Spun Charcoal Heather from Simpatico and the pattern from the One Skein book. I am so proud of this project. I knit it all by myself.... these days, that is amazing since I still have so much to learn.

Also a washcloth. I am adicted to washcloths. They are instant gratification and the yarn comes in so many different colors. This one was the first knitted washcloth that I started. I also practiced changing my knitting from "too tight" to a little "too loose" and then "just right". So it's a bit wonky in some places, but it's okay...and it will clean up dirt just like any washcloth.