2nd Blogoversary Giveaway!!

Welcome to my 2nd Blogoversary Giveaway!!  Woohoo!  I'm fairly certain when I began to write about my crafts and my life on 2/28/09 that I fully expected to abandon it before too long and stop writing.  This always happened when I was a kid and I got a new diary.  But this experience has been very different.  People I don't know stop by and visit, if only for a minute or to click on the links for other blogs or websites.  Friends and family let me know they follow my blog and enjoy my posts.  Thanks so much!!!

To thank everyone for their readership, however long you've been reading, I'm having a giveaway today.  But you already knew that, right?!

Here are the items I'm giving away to the three lucky readers who will be selected by random.org.  The winners will receive either a skein of Scheepjes Invicta Coloris wool/nylon sock yarn from Holland, a cute knitting needle roll pattern from Sue Spargo, or a collection of 26 5" Batik charm squares.

The contest ends at 9 pm EST on 3/4/11.  The rules are too darn simple:

• Leave a comment saying what you like MOST about Winter!  Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you on Friday night.

The last time I had a giveaway one of the winners did not leave an email so I had to give her prize to someone else -- you don't want that happening to you, do you???

Honestly, thanks so much for stopping by and reading.  It's good to know someone can relate to all that's been going on in my life for the past two years.

Panic...

...is setting in.  I had so many things I wanted to accomplish before going back to work.  There just aren't enough hours left before Tuesday morning.

I selected the wool for the front panels of my wool jacket and cut out the pieces.  They all now reside in a plastic tote that used to be beside my bed, housing lusted for alpaca that I bought 25 years ago.  I know you think I'm exaggerating but I assure you, I am not.  The alpaca has now taken its rightful place in my craft room beside other cherished skeins of alpaca.

I put away bundles and bundles of dyed wool fabric that were not selected for this jacket.  I feel so much better about my craft room -- it was in disarray for several weeks because of this project.  I'm placing yarn and the designated pattern for future projects in their own little canvas bags.  Lord knows I have plenty of project bags -- you too?????

Next up -- a dreaded giant black garbage bag -- waiting to be filled with all the useless nonsense that has been living on my night stand, my dresser, a side table, and the top of my bed.  See -- this is what happens when you don't deal with things.  I'm being ruthless.  Well, a little bit, anyway.  I think the clutter in my bedroom is contributing to the clutter in my head and causing me to sleep poorly.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I have one more day to make things right in my craft room too because after Tuesday it will serve as my home office.  I nearly had a meltdown yesterday when I was trying to write up four contracts for quilt guild speakers and had so much junk in my way I was spazzing out.  My computer desk is looking better today and I installed a new wireless mouse which rids me of that crazy cord that ALWAYS seemed to be caught on something.  I know you know what I'm talking about.

When things are organized and junk is gone I'm sure I'll be in a better mindset and ready to face the challenges my new job will present.

I'm watching a bit of the Oscars while I clean.  I haven't seen a single nominated film.  Sad, so sad.  I really need to take time to do such things.  Sitting in the dark for 2 hours would get in the way of my knitting, though.....

Oh, oh, oh --- almost forgot.  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow.  It's my 2nd Blogoversary and I'll be announcing my giveaways.  Yes, that's plural!!

Color Scheme Designer

Are you looking for help in designing color work?  This website could be used for quilting, knitting, or even home decorating.  I'm adding the website to my sidebar list because I think I can use it in the future.  Have fun playing with colors!

I Lied

A bit more tweaking and I was able to upload the pictures.  Have I solved the problem?  Definitely not but tomorrow's another day Scarlett.

Here are the two new baby knits books by Debbie Bliss:

Both books are full of adorable knits.  Decisions, decisions.  This new grandbaby of mine will never be naked or cold or lonesome!

Well, crap

I was all set to post pictures of my new books and prospective projects but I'm having computer issues.  A friend got a bug that was sent out to everyone and her brother in her address book.  I had 17 Trojans removed from my computer with the last virus scan this morning -- thanks to my anti-virus software from Secunia for averting disaster.

Now I'm having trouble loading pictures.  Guess I know what I'll be working on tomorrow.

Today I got a phone call a little after 4:30 pm.  In a most uncomfortable way, the voice on the other end was advising me I'd have to pay back my pro-rated severance BEFORE I could start back at work next Tuesday.  This wasn't a surprise but really, could you wait any longer to tell me?!  I received the email from her advising me of the details at 4:46 pm.  -- the last mail pick up at the post office is 5:00 pm.  Yikes!  I ran around the house, writing a rather large check, looking for an envelope, stamp, address label.  Zoomed out of the house and down the road to the post office, arriving 3 minutes before closing.  Phew!  Not sure my check will get to Pennsylvania before Tuesday.  I might just have to not work that day, after all!

Hope you all have a great weekend.  Be productive whatever you do!

Count Down to Work

I've got only four days left until I go back to work.  How in the world am I ever going to get all my little projects done before then?  Simple -- I won't!  I'll have to squeeze them in between learning my new job.  No problem.

Today I had lunch with Holly's mother in law, Bonnie.  We had a good time but I have to say, it was the first time we've been together, just us, so it felt at times to me like a blind date.  Trying to make conversation with someone you barely know.  The purpose of our meeting, besides having a delicious lunch at Olive Garden, was to start planning a baby shower for Holly.  Bonnie had already contacted a pizza place that Holly thought of and brought along their menu options.  I think it will be great -- besides pizza, they offer salads and pasta, including Fettucine Alfredo -- Holly's favorite.  We'll have help from a couple of other gals and together we will have a wonderful party for Holly.

I was running low on gas so I stopped at Costco and paid $3.26 per gallon.  Yuck.  I sure hope this mess in the Middle East gets sorted out quickly.  I heard some quotes from Moammar Gadhafi today where he said the U.S. and Osama bin Laden were in cahoots together to overthrow him and that everyone was on drugs.  Scary!!  Sounds like he's  the one on drugs.

Tomorrow will be a busy day:  sewing up the Imagine sweater, sending out four contracts to quilt teachers, lunch with former co-workers (if the weather is NOT as bad as predicted) and poring over my new books -- they arrived today and I'll show them to your tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Only three days until my second Blogoversary -- look for a fabulous giveaway on Monday's post!

City Data

Today I clicked on the 'Do I Need A Jacket' button in my right sidebar.  I typed in my zip code and lo and behold, I DO need a jacket today.  Duh.  I knew that by looking outside because it's pretty nasty out there. I clicked on another link on that page that I'd never gone to before and discovered all sorts of data about my little area of the world.  Just about every statistic you could ever need is found here.  The data for my area is from 2009 but that's pretty close.  You can look up areas you might consider moving to, places where relatives or friends live, or just dream about living in warmer climates, like me today!