NICHOLAS LOVES HIS HOODIE...

Had dinner with Grandma Pam, her daughter Emily & son-in-law Michael (Nicholas & Celia's Mom & Dad), Aunt Amanda & Grandpa Kenny (Pam's ex) last Friday and gave Nicholas his Hoodie & Funky Blanket.

START OF DRESS FOR CELIA. . .

My friend Pamela's new granddaughter Celia is going to get her knitted gifts from me quicker than her brother Nicholas.
Nicky is already 18 months and has not yet even 'seen' what I've made for him... I procrastinate so.
Here is the start of a 1 year dress which I started for Celia yesterday. I particularly chose this yarn: AUSTERMANN "Algarve Fashion Color" #201. I started this in the 1-year size and since Celia was only born 4 weeks ago I MAY begin another one in a solid color tomorrow in tghe 6 mos size so she can wear it this summer. Hmmmmmmmm yes - that's what I'll do !

HOODIE FOR NICHOLAS. . .

At the same time that I started Nicholas' "funky" blanket I started a sweater. Well, needless to say THAT sweater never got finished again due to procrastination, etc. Ultimately I started another sweater, a "hoodie" for the child in February... and finished it today! Pretty good for me!

((( FUNKY ))) BLANKET FOR NICHOLAS. . .

My oldest (( meaning known her the longest - s m i l e )) friend Pamela's daughter Emily had a baby boy 18 months ago for whom I started a baby blanket. She had said she wanted a "funky" one so I started what I thought to be sorta "funky" from scraps of yarn I had in my STASH (( Y A Y !!! )) - How often can one make a gift from their STASH. Well, It took me 18 months to finish it as I kept putting it aside as I ran out of a color and had to find more colors with which to finish it. Now Emily has already had her 2nd child, a girl Celia for whom I started a dusty pink blanket which I plan to finish by the end of April - the latest.
Here is a picture of Nicholas' blanket.

... BACKTRACKING once more but not as far as the Martha... is the BLANKIE I KNIT FOR JACK

One of our fave waitresses at EJ's, Bridget, was expecting a baby so - not that I don't have enough on my needles, I decided I wanted to knit the baby a Blanket.
Decided on tbe Baby Ripple, a very relaxing stitch to knit which I've done before for
a girl with a ruffled edge. For JACK I decided on the double twist edging in blue and red on the blue blanket. I was very happy with the result.

... gotta backtrack a bit - to the MARTHA cardi

I look at all the things I've knitted... or remember those which I've given away... and realize that I've never really been into 'taking pictures' of my finished projects.
NOT great for a BLOGGER (( smile )). Decided to take a picture of the MARTHA cardigan which I knitted for myself last year; hence I still have it, and post it for all to see. I LOVE IT! Wear it often and wouldn't mind making another one or a similar pattern in a linen blend or cotton blend for "summertime" as it is very comfortable and easy to wear over a T-shirt or sleeveless Tank Dress. This patern is from the Rowan Studio 2 book and made from Filatura Di Crosa ZARA yarn in a yellow/green.

ARLENE'S SWEATER. . . is FINISHED

I still have to make myself come HERE regularly with what I'm doing. Well, today I'm coughing (( haha )).
Stayed home all day to try to get rid of this ASAP. On Monday 2/23 I delivered to Arlene for whom I
knit from time to time - the latest jacket knit in Gedifra - Tabea.
All I can say is that she was very, very pleased with the results and has requested another jacket for summer wear.
This will also be done in yarn which she had purchased (Gedifra - Leola) for which I found a proper pattern to suite
both the yarn & the woman. It is #22 Fold-Back Front Cardigan from the Tahki Yarns book: 24 Simple Weekend Designs.
The gauge matches and Arlene approved of the style. My aim is to try to finish this by the end of March.
Off to work ! (( s m i l e )).

CASCADE SCARF CAL

Joined in on a crochet project CAL with friends from one of my Yahoo Groups. Pirk chose to do the CASCADE SCARF
and I joined in. Here is mine.

In The CLUTTER CLEANING area. . .

. . . . here is a picture of the LIVINGROOM almost (but not quite) clutter-free.

SCARF FOR "Cousin" ANGIE

My cousin Ian whom I had never met before came to visit NYC from 12/22/08 - 1/5/09 with his wife Angela and two wonderful teenage sons Seth & Max. During their stay here they were able to see most of our hangouts Maryann's where Jimmy works in Tribeca (corner West Broadway & Reade Street), Dallas BBQ (3rd Avenue at 73rd Street),
Bounce (2nd Avenue at 73d Street), Tony De Napoli Italian Restaurant (2nd Avenue at 84th Steet).
During their stay I was able to get to know them and now know what I will knit for each of them. I'm posting here the scarf which I started for Angie the day they left NYC and which I finished a bit less than 2 weeks.
Now I just have to make a Beret to go with this scarf, a scarf & cap for Ian, and caps for Seth & Max. Actually Max had a fave cap which he rarely took off during his stay here so I am going to try to duplicate this cap for the boys.

STARTING OVER ESSAY . . . Hmmmmmmmmm

I think that's been my life.... ALWAYS starting over and not getting anywhere.
Well, I finally feel that particular self-produced 'rat race' is over. I've been staying home
which in this awful winter weather was quite easy to start doing. I never before 'enjoyed' staying in... always running out early in the morning, originally for work and then just as habit leaving me no time to 'do things around the house' as they say. Yesterday I noticed that this has now changed as I first went out at 4PM. My knitting projects are also being finished in a timely manner and I've finally been sticking to my Herbalife/WW combo program. I do the HERBALIFE shakes for breakfast & most lunches and then have a sensible dinner and have finally been losing weight. It's so easy with HERBALIFE. I count WW points because I want to be sure I don't go over in that "sensible" dinner (( smile )). Because of all these positive moves I feel that "starting over" will no longer represent 'me.' (( s m i l e )).

STARTING OVER ((( A G A I N ))) ?

((( heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeheh ))) Well, my resolution to keep up with this blog on a ... at least weekly basis... has FAILED badly.
I'm going to re-resolute ( ? Hmmmmm ) to do it now.
TO BEGIN - today I spent 1/2 the day cleaning clutter. That's probaby why I don't keep the blog current 'cause mostly what you'd hear about is my cleaning clutter. It's much better than it has been but there's still quite a bit to go. I'm having my friend Kiki come up this week to pick out some stuff for her new apartment. So far she's gotten unused flatware and dishes - both still in their original box. This week I've already put aside some towels, a throw, candlelsticks, a clock radio and she needs Bakeware which I probaby have in excess also. Walking around the apartment I find myself staring at spots which are now 'normally bare' which were STACKED with things for years. I MUST thank "H" here who has helped me more than he liked but has been a great help and without whom I could never even attempt this huge job.

MYSTERY SHAWL KAL - Started Over

I'm determined to finish this KAL; however, I'm back on Clue 1 (the others are already on Clue 5). I was behind anyway, almost having finished Clue 2 yesterday when I finally made the decision I should have made weeks ago... that I was not happy with the US#9 needle I was using with my Koigu yarn. So I frogged the entire piece and "started over" with a US #8 needle. Despite being even more behind now, I'm very, very satisfied with the resulting fabric.

A new business venture

I'm starting an on-line business (I had to figure out how to make some money) and will be a distributor for Herbalife. The Business structure seems to be really sound with a great chance to make good money from home... and the product which I have been taking for a week is a m a z i n g. They are a Weight Loss/ Management/ Health system. Been taking Kare N Herbs for years but since taking Herbalife I realize that I haven't felt this good EVER... sorta REFRESHED & ENERGETIC. Needless to say I'll be using THEIR products now. I started their Weight Loss plan yesterday so I cannot comment on THAT yet. You take a Shake for Breakfast and one for Lunch with snacks and a "sensible dinner" of anything you want. I'm still being 'trained' by my Coach who will stay with me as long as I feel I need her (on the phone, of course). I will have a web-site which is not set up yet and my Coach will show me and help me to find Customers... Advertise... and find people 'mostly' who are looking to buy these products. I hope this works.

STARTING OVER. . .

I've tried to 'keep up' a blog for several years and each time I make an entry... I forget about it for months at a time.
Last time I even forgot the SITE where I had blogged. F U N N Y ! Anyway, today I'm committing to blogging regularly.
I really want to do it - love reading others' and know I can do it. (( smile )).

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