Sunday, October 26, 2008

Just A 'Lil Bragging...

I mentioned in the previous post that my son had won 3rd place in the local paper's Halloween Story Contest and today I checked and they had his story posted on the website. *so cool* Being a Mom...we feel this uncontrollable urge to brag so here's his story for your Halloween reading pleasure. :P They give them the first part of the story and they have to make up the rest. His part is in bold print.

Wayne just barely heard his mom’s voice over the video game he was playing.

“Stay out of the snack jar,” he heard her say. “I’ll only be gone a half an hour, and I’ll be bringing supper back.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Wayne murmured to the computer screen as he heard her car pull out of the driveway.

He soon paused the game and headed to the kitchen when the lure of the jar became too much.

“I’ll just have one,” he thought, as he ran up the stairs to the kitchen. “Mom will never know.”

The jar was always filled with cookies and mini candy bars and snack cakes. He didn’t know what to grab. Maybe he’d get one of each.

As he stuck his hand in, he looked into the side of the snack jar, which was made of heavy, bumpy glass that distorted and blurred the contents.

“Aaaigh,” he yelled suddenly as he saw what was in the jar. He tried to jerk his hand out, but …

…Something had grabbed his hand. He struggled to pull his hand out, but he couldn’t break free. Instead of trying to pull his hand out, he picked up the jar, and smashed it on the counter. He saw what was grabbing his hand, “What is that???” he yelled. It was another hand, but not just any hand. It was very bony and a weird shade of green. Its fingernails were long and sharp as if they’d never been cut.

“Oh! My God! It looks like it had just been ripped off!” said Wayne.

After a few seconds, he realized that he’d ripped it off, and that it also had an owner. “Where’d that hole come from?” He was speaking of a strange hole where the cookie jar was. He’d never noticed it before, but it seems to have been there a long time. He opened the bottom cabinets and saw that there was nothing there but a little door in the back. “Hey, I think I see a light in the door!”

As he went to open the door, he heard a beastly shriek. He jerked away, but went back to opening it. He placed his hand on the doorknob. It was warm, as if someone were just touching it. He opened it, the light went off, and it was pitch black. He stared into the darkness of the doorway, and something reached out and grabbed him. He was being pulled in! “Help!” he screamed, but there was no one to help him.

“Wayne, I’m home,” said his mom, as she walked in the door. Seeing his game still paused, she figured he was in the kitchen. She looked, and he wasn’t there. She looked everywhere and couldn’t find him. She looked, and looked, and looked but still couldn’t find him, not yet aware, that she never will.

Third place
Skaterboy
8th grade



Friday, October 24, 2008

Rambling

A post of random rambling.....

So am I the only one who didn't get the memo about how "someone" reduced the numbers of hours in a day so that now there is no possible way to accomplish what you want to accomplish in one day? I totally missed the memo but it had to happen. It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little I need to do or how well I plan to do this much or little...I never have time to get it done. I am soooo far behind on my blog reading...it is downright embarrassing. I haven't forgotten you all...I promise to get caught up.


Just because I cannot do a blog post without a photo...it drives me insane...I'm weird that way. I took this photo a few days ago...it's autumn....why the daisies and the bees? There should be lots of colors and leaves on the ground. This looks like Spring. Actually now...there is some color and leaves are falling. It's cold today and it's raining...not complaining. Just saying....

I have managed to get a lot of new dishcloth designs charted up and they are being test knit as I type. Most of them will be sets with a flat towel and a hanging towel. What I NEED to be doing however is knitting Christmas gifts. Of course, it would help if I knew what I was going to be knitting but I haven't figured that out yet either. :P I'm thinking something fast, easy...no brainer sort of thing.

My oldest daughter has received two acceptance letters this week from colleges she has applied to...YAY!!!! She's worried she won't be able to decide which one she wants to attend. I reminded her that she's blessed to be able to choose from more than one college...not all kids will have that opportunity. Just wait until she gets a few more letters...then I can really watch her sweat it out. lol

Skater boy had a good week too. He won 3rd place in the local newspaper's Halloween Story Writing Contest. He got a nice certificate for his efforts and his story will appear in the paper on Halloween.

The only other random fact I can think to share is that I finally got the buttons sewn on my little sweater for Ms Thang's baby doll. I wanted to post a photo but it's too dark for photo taking now.

I am loving this cool weather...it is awesome. I am drinking lots of French Vanilla Cappuccino which will most likely begin to appear in places I do not wish to see it appear. But it is cold out and cappuccino is a cold weather requirement.

And Brian...I promise to get busy with my lessons soon. All this charting has me cross eyed temporarily. :O) Thanks so much for the wonderful photos...it's going to be a big help.

Hope you all have a great weekend. TGIF!! Hopefully, I will be back soon with something a little less random. :P I just wanted to let you know I am still here.
Hugs!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Freebie Day!!! Some Coasters For You.

These are some little coasters we did our group as a quick little surprise KAL. They're quick to knit and all 6 can be done with one ball of cotton. The patterns are written for only one color but you can change them up however you'd like. I hope you enjoy them.





Coffee Cup Coaster

©Designed by Melanie Thompson

Test Knit by Shirley Smith

US Size 6 needle

100 % Cotton Yarn

Cast on 22 stitches

Rows 1-5: Knit

Row 6: K2, P18, K2

Row 7 & All Odd Rows: Knit

Row 8: K2, P18, K2

Row 10: K2, P3, K9, P6, K2

Row 12: K2, P4, K7, P7, K2

Row 14: K2, P3, K13, P2, K2

Row 16: K2, P2, K10, P2, K3, P1, K2

Row 18: K2, P1, K12, P2, K2, P1, K2

Row 20: K2, P1, K12, P1, K3, P1, K2

Row 22: K2, P12, K4, P2, K2

Row 24: K2, P18, K2

Row 26: K2, P18, K2

Rows 27-31: Knit

Bind off and weave in the ends.




Salt Coaster

©Designed by Melanie Thompson

Test Knit by Shirley Smith

US Size 6 needle

100% Cotton Yarn

Cast on 22 stitches

Rows 1-5: Knit

Row 6: K2, P18, K2

Rows 7 & All Odd Rows: Knit

Row 8: K2, P5, K8, P5, K2

Row 10: K2, P4, K10, P4, K2

Row 12: K2, P4, K2, P6, K2, P4, K2

Row 14: K2, P4, K7, P1, K2, P4, K2

Row 16: K2, P4, K2, P6, K2, P4, K2

Row 18: K2, P4, K2, P1, K7, P4, K2

Row 20: K2, P4, K2, P6, K2, P4, K2

Row 22: K2, P4, K10, P4, K2

Row 24: K2, P3, K12, P3, K2

Row 26: K2, P3, K12, P3, K2

Row 28: K2, P3, K12, P3, K2

Row 30: K2, P18, K2

Rows 31-35: Knit

Bind off and weave in the ends.







Pepper Coaster

©Designed by Melanie Thompson

Test Knit by Shirley Smith

US Size 6 needle

100% Cotton Yarn

Cast on 22 stitches

Rows 1-5: Knit

Row 6: K2, P18, K2

Rows 7 & All Odd Rows: Knit

Row 8: K2, P5, K8, P5, K2

Row 10: K2, P4, K10, P4, K2

Row 12: K2, P4, K2, P2, K6, P4, K2

Row 14: K2, P4, K2, P2, K6, P4, K2

Row 16: K2, P4, K2, P6, K2, P4, K2

Row 18: K2, P4, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P4, K2

Row 20: K2, P4, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P4, K2

Row 22: K2, P4, K2, P6, K2, P4, K2

Row 24: K2, P3, K12, P3, K2

Row 26: K2, P3, K12, P3, K2

Row 28: K2, P3, K12, P3, K2

Row 30: K2, P18, K2

Rows 31-35: Knit

Bind off and weave in the ends.






Knife Coaster

©Designed by Melanie Thompson

Test Knit by Shirley Smith

US Size 6 needle

100% Cotton Yarn

Cast on 22 stitches

Rows 1-5: Knit

Row 6: K2, P18, K2

Row 7 & All Odd Rows: Knit

Row 8: K2, P7, K2, P9, K2

Row 10: K2, P7, K2, P9, K2

Row 12: K2, P7, K2, P9, K2

Row 14: K2, P7, K2, P9, K2

Row 16: K2, P7, K2, P9, K2

Row 18: K2, P7, K3, P8, K2

Row 20: K2, P7, K4, P7, K2

Row 22: K2, P7, K4, P7, K2

Row 24: K2, P7, K4, P7, K2

Row 26: K2, P7, K3, P8, K2

Row 28: K2, P7, K1, P10, K2

Row 30: K2, P18, K2

Rows 31-35: Knit

Bind off and weave in the ends.




Spoon Coaster

©Designed by Melanie Thompson

Test Knit by Shirley Smith

US Size 6 needle

100% Cotton Yarn

Cast on 22 stitches

Rows 1-5: Knit

Row 6: K2, P18, K2

Row 7 & All Odd Rows: Knit

Row 8: K2, P8, K2, P8, K2

Row 10: K2, P8, K2, P8, K2

Row 12: K2, P8, K2, P8, K2

Row 14: K2, P8, K2, P8, K2

Row 16: K2, P8, K2, P8, K2

Row 18: K2, P8, K2, P8, K2

Row 20: K2, P7, K4, P7, K2

Row 22: K2, P6, K6, P6, K2

Row 24: K2, P6, K6, P6, K2

Row 26: K2, P7, K4, P7, K2

Row 28: K2, P7, K4, P7, K2

Row 30: K2, P18, K2

Rows 31-35: Knit

Bind off and weave in the ends.





Fork Coaster

©Designed by Melanie Thompson

Test Knit by Shirley Smith

US Size 6 needle

100% Cotton Yarn

Cast on 22 stitches

Rows 1-5: Knit

Row 6: K2, P18, K2

Row 7 & All Odd Rows: Knit

Row 8: K2, P8, K1, P9, K2

Row 10: K2, P8, K1, P9, K2

Row 12: K2, P8, K1, P9, K2

Row 14: K2, P8, K1, P9, K2

Row 16: K2, P8, K1, P9, K2

Row 18: K2, P7, K3, P8, K2

Row 20: K2, P5, K7, P6, K2

Row 22: K2, P5, (K1, P1) 3 times, K1, P6, K2

Row 24: K2, P5, (K1, P1) 3 times, K1, P6, K2

Row 26: K2, P5, (K1, P1) 3 times, K1, P6, K2

Row 28: K2, P18, K2

Rows 29-33: Knit

Bind off and weave in the ends


I hope you're all having a great weekend and nice weather. It's downright cold here tonight but I'm not complaining. Hugs!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Calendar Of Hope


I just had to make a quick post to let you all know that our Calendar Of Hope is up! You can find it at Knit Pink and all the profits from the sale of the calendar go towards Breast Cancer Research. The price is $15 US Dollars and it is an instant download. (PDF) I am so excited and honored to be a part of this project. I hope you'll go check it out.




This is my contribution. It's called Wings Of Hope. The photo was taken by Rachel and she does such a great job of making the cloths look good. I wanted to send out a huge thanks to Cindy and Rachel for their hard work getting this calendar together and for letting me be a part of such a worthwhile project.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Fall Is Here and Contest Goodies.

Fall has finally arrived!! YAY!! I love this time of year. We still have some pretty warm days and the leaves aren't turning colors so much just yet but it's getting there.

I'm sorry for being so long updating but I've been going another round with sinus issues and my left ear is so stopped up I can't hear as well out of it. It's driving me insane! Yeah, short trip. :P


So, finally I can get to posting my awesome contest winnings!!! Thanks, Christy!!! I have been wanting to try this yarn for a while. I just have to figure out what to make now. She also included that little soap....handmade goat's milk with the most wonderful smell. I hate to use it because it will be gone then and I can't smell it anymore. :P I keep it on my desk so I can sniff it. lol You just can't beat handmade soap.

I finally caught up on my blog reading tonight and now I must get caught up on my knitting. My poor little tea cozy is waiting to be finished and then I have to get the stand done...which is like a round potholder that the teapot sits on. I've also got several new designs for the group which I need to get written up and tested. I so hate to get behind...it seems to take forever to catch up again.

Hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods. Hopefully I won't be gone for so long before I post again.
Hugs!

* Don't forget to visit Aunt Kathy...her contest is in full swing.*

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

September Project 365 Mosaic

September Mosaic
My photos for the month of September for my Project 365. I started out with a theme (reflection) and kept it up for most of the month. The last row was just random shots. :)