Before we evacuated and left in a hurry my friend Jenn made me a scarf and sent to me as a surprise! I didn't have a chance to blog about my wonderful gift until this morning! She really likes to keep me hanging on when she has a surprise for me and teased me every chance she got!!! I had mentioned to her a while back that knitpixie had a neat scarf pattern I wanted, she did the next best thing, she made one for me:) below is another pic of it. It has a very neat pattern to the neck part of it!


Okay everyone knows that I evacuated to my Brothers house in Lafayette LA....Did anyone notice that it turned toward us? Well, it did at the last miute and we got slammed with 74 mile/hr winds and more!  It went on forever!!! Here is a satelitte view....

This is the back yard  Saturday morning... by that time we had lost all power. You really can't tell but those tree braches are absolutely HUGE!!!!!!

Oh and this is nice:) not 1, not 2, but 3 trees fell in the middle of the road a couple of houses down from us.  The water had gone down a lot when this picture was taken.

This is the other side of my brothers street.  Debris is everywhere!!!

This is the same photo as before, this one was taken before people came out of there homes to clean their driveways....

I guess you could call us idiots, but we heard that I-10 was open all the way back to Houston so we went for it!  Lake Charles bridge was out so we had to use 210 loop to get around.... There were few cars on the road and the interstate was littered with cars that had run out of gas...I-10 from Lafayette to Houston had nothing open and most of the exits had cops closing them!!! no gas, no food.. so if you broke down you were screwed just like everyone else in the area! Rest stops were closed b/c of fallen trees... and we had to dodge trees that had fallen on the interstate... I tried to take pics of all the destuction we passed but this is the only one that came out, this was in Orange TX, where part of the eye had passed

Trust me it was depressing to see everything flattened! From Lafayette until Beaumont you could see roofs torn off , trees fallen mobile homes flattened, and much more....
So thats my little chronicle of Chris and the kiddos first hurricane..

Evacuated...

We are doing well, thanks for all of ya'lls concerns:) it really made me feel better!!! We are at my brothers house in Lafayette LA..We drove in the middle of the night... I10 was a nightmare going west... Thankfully we went east and it was light traffic, wish I would have taken pics of the mess for your viewing pleasure!

Rita's not welcomed!

This is Rita and her projected path as of 6am Wednesday morning. She is alrady a Cat. 3 and growing fast....We are located an hour or so inland, but still can expect hurricane force winds, tornadoes, power loss, and lots of rain.. My husband has expressed his concern if she grows to a Cat. 4 we are evacuating...I maybe hard to reach after today, so if ya need something this would be the day to ask me:) I am hopeful that she will turn and be no threat to our area, but as all the predictions go the "dirty" side of the storm is due to hit us just right.....Evacuations of the coast have already begun and our local grocer and gas station looks like war zones... I picked up supplies on Monday and filled my tank, thank goodness for my husbands foresight. He is from California and has never experienced this before...I have been through several hurricanes.... Send some luck! :)

I-cord or I-crap?

Yes folks you heard me! Absolute I-Crap!!!! The first time I have ever done I-cord and it looks terrible! Some poor little preemie is gonna stick out like a soar thumb in the NICU! I am hopeful practice makes perrrrfect....There is a lot of love in that hat and I can't wait to finish the five I plan to do. It is suppose to be a cute pumpkin hat but I have no clue how to crochet the leaves....Anyone have a pattern for a small leaf? Please send in a hurry:)


I got tagged by Dani
Ten Years Ago:I was at LSU meeting Chris for the first time:)
Five Years Ago: proud mother of hillard just moved from Arcata, Ca...!
One Year Ago: Exactly what I do now, but I hadn't discovered the joys of knitting and blogging yet:)
Five Snacks: Pretzels, sunflower seeds, bowl of fruity pebbles or fruit loops,take five candy bar...pretzels?
Five Songs I know all the words to: anything by MTX (Mr. T. Experience) Brain Stew (green Day)
Five Things I would do with $100 Million: pay off bills and give to fam. and friends... invest the rest!!!!!
Five places to run away to: australia, UK, South Africa, any place else they speak english:)
Five Things I would never wear: thong undies, hot pants, go go boots, red lipstick, busy clothing....
Five Favorite shows: LOST!!!!! CSI Miami, ABC afternoon Soaps, Desp. Housewives
Five Biggest Joys: My hubby, My children, My knitting, My family, My friends
Five Favorite Toys: Knitting,......?
MAIL CALL!!!! I had to edit my post b/c I got goodies in the mail:) This first one I won off of ebay"tropical Knitter" all the way from Singapore... Got 4 addi 40" for 37 dollars!!!!!

And this is from Romy!!! What a great RAOK:) Thanks Romy girl...What can I make with this yummy yarn!!! I love it maybe a shawl?

Long Day send Coffee!!!!

Ever have one of those days when you think you could fall asleep walking? A few exciting things are going on...1. A nice lady called Chris to tell him he is a possible "match" to be a bone marrow donor to a man in Europe with leukemia. 2. We pre-ordered our copy of King Dork, Dr. Franks first book (young adult). 3. I might not have my monthly migraine after all! great new pills I am taking now-a-days! 4. Its the weekend. 5. I have the best secret Pal 6!!!! 6. I just did a banner and blog for my niece and here it is...http://virgiesews.blogspot.com

Here are some pictures to keep you interested! Brandon and is hair! We have sworn off cutting it until after Halloween, we want to dress up as the "Punk Rock" family...We plan to mohawk his hair and paint manly colors:)
What are these? I got them in the mail from one of my stitch marker swap pals but she didn't give me her name or blog! Thank you I love the cute fish beads!!!
Look folks its the waving lace sock that's way too big:)
Now it's modeled on a foot! Picture is blury b/c I obviously can't stand on just one foot!
Good Heavens is that Lornas Laces I see? Airy scarf is going well...I love this colorway..Goldhill...Okay blogger won't let me put the rest of my pics up!I can take a hint, purchased some great rosewood needles for me and my needle exchange pal!!! Couldn't resist! Have a great weekend ya'll.........

I lost My template!

okay, don't know what happened but everything just kind of crashed on me....I had back up for my template from months ago and used that for my links...basically as you can see I had to start fom scratch. I took advantage of my past banner and I forgot how much I really like it! Thanks again Missa from Moonarts! No more LSU purple and gold theme, hurt my eyes anyway:)
As you can see The past two posts have been for Swaps and stuff, back to knitting! No pics today but all of my projects are moving along. I have been working on mommas sweater the most...I think in January I will make the hourglass sweater for me, I like the pattern! Waving Lace socks are coming along and if I actually buy myself some silky wool, I might even start branching out one of these days:)
Here are some photos of really cool stuff I have received in the mail!
These are some stitch markers I got last week! The mail was alittle rough with them and the two brown ones broke:( Thats okay though I can still use the jump rings!
These scarves I just got in yesterday from Rox! I got them off of the Katrina Releif website she and other knitters have started. And look what I found at the bottom. Bathsalts! Waht a nice surprise! Thanks Rox!

SP6 Questions Answered!

Hi everyone! I got my SP6 pal today!!! I signed up just as a back up and I replaced someone who dropped out....sorry for them, but yey for me! he are my answers:)

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 am a yarn snob, although I have found my self liking some Lion Brand, Caron (Mia Cara & Bliss), and,and Carn simply soft for the preemie project.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? Nope, tried spinning once...

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

4. How long have you been knitting? 9 months

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

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) lavendar, chamomille, ocean and outdoor scents....

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Who doesn't! I really LOVE sunflower seeds more than sweets....

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I like beading, but I don't do it too often.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My husband and I love Punk music... always have always will:) yes we have ipod and all that neat stuff to play music

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? i really don't like neon's... i am more of an earth tone girl... If the colors look good together I like bright colors too!

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Just me and my husband and two boys 15 months old and 4yrs old....no pets yet.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)I feel like I am living a dream! Short term goal, I would like to design a shawl or garment of some kind...I want it in Knitty!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I love Alpaca of course. but I love: Plymoth encore, lambs pride, lornas laces, organic cotton, anything from Knitpicks!!!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? 100% acrylic

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? lace shawls, socks, scarves...

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

17. What are you knitting right now? socks, irish hiking scarf, hourglass sweater, airy scarf, preemie hats...

18. What do you think about ponchos? they are growing on me... like the ones in loop-d-loop and Poncho Viva(don't own those books by the way ;)

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? circular to be honest, but i love the look of straight needles....

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? bamboo, addi turbo, wouldn't mind a fancy pair if you can find a good sale!

21. Are you a sock knitter? YES!!!

22. How did you learn to knit? taught myself from the computer, and a friend on the phone.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? 5 mos.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I like sheep, llamas..

25. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween.. wierd I know, but it symbloizes the start of the holiday season for me..... and I love those 2 months!!!!

26. Is there anything that you collect? just yarn:)

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Interweave knits

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on? viva poncho, loo-d-loop, a treasury of knitting patterns......

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?? i love patterns! there is a scaf pattern i love on knitpixie.com from loop-d-loop... and I love all of the French Girl patterns on jimmybeanswool.com And I love the Lace Leaf Shawl pattern from Fiber Trends. If you see any that you think I might like I probably will!!!

Needle Exchange!

here are my answers for the needle exchange!

1. What do you like to knit or crochet? (socks, sweaters, etc.)I usually have socks on needles at all times...when i finish a pair i have to start another:) i love sweaters, scarves and i want to do a lace shawl.... i knit just about anything!
2. What fibers do you like? i love anything but novelty yarn.... i am not to much of a yarn snob....
3. What type of needles do you use most often? i use circs. most often, i don't have to many pair of straights....
4. Do you like to knit in the round? yes
5. Do you use a magic loop method or any other we should know about? Are you interested in learning a new method? i use magic loop and i just stocked up on addi turbos 40"....shame on me
7. Do you have a favorite place that you shop online? (knitpicks.com, knitpixie.com, jimmybeanswool.com....)? i love all of these places......
8. Do you want to be surprised? then erase all your answers above and write surprise me!!! I LOVE SURPRISES TOO!!!!!

Go Tigers!

Okay, you guys may know it or not but I went to LSU...I had to get festive this season since I have a blog. I have been very busy pairing people up for the second needle exchange that I am hosting so knitting has been put aside for now. I plan to make up time while watching the LSU and Arizona game tonight. My Airy scarf is going well I should be finished any day now , and my sock is almost done! I ran in to a problem when I started decreasing the gusset...Chris had mentioned before that the sock looked really big and I just kind of nodded my head...He is right! Found out the gauge is suppose to be 9 stitches/inch, I have 6.5 stitches/inch....eeek! guess they will have to be house socks for my sister, unless she wants to buy all of her shoes one size up:)

I have started on my Preemie Project hats and I am anxious about the way the first will turn out. I have to admit I have never done I-Cord before...I figure if I can do lace and socks, I can do I-cord!!!

Something funny is going on with my hand when I knit...My hand goes totally numb, and I mean numb! It doesn't happen all the time, but enough to make me think twice before I pick up those needles. Any suggestions?
I will post my FO's very soon:)
GO TIGERS

Good things to come....

It seems that just maybe the disater is beginning to organize, and things can get moving to rebuild...Therefore, I have moved on and I am looking forward into the future and not looking back! I feel as though I have a great oppurtunity a head of me. My church and others in the greater Houston area are hosting 7,000 to 10,000 people in the George R Brown Conv. Center (GRB). FEMA will not be taking finacial responsibility, the churches and the congregations are. Everyone is encouraged to get Red Cross trained and help serve... So I think I may have to jump on this opp. I would love to help.. If you want more info about what Houstonians are doing for their neighbors click this link.
You may wonder what I am knitting now? I missed the socks that I finished last week so much that I started a new pair:) Mind you, I have 3 WIP's already, but I truly love socks! I am using the Waving Lace pattern that Jenn has just finished for her sock pal... Here are the pics I took this morning...I have another repeat done as of tomight!


The sock yarn I am using is by Blue Moon Fiber Arts...It is also known as "Socks that Rock" the colorway is Sedona. The prices and yardage have changed: you get around 350 yds for $16 now....
Rox has just written me today to tell me I am the winner of 2 auctions she's hosting. Both scarves are very pretty and I can't wait to get them..Did I mention all of the Funds go to Hurricane Relief? If you have some knitted goodies that you want to donate to be auctioned, or if you want to bid on some of the great stuff here is the link.
Good Luck and have a great holiday!

FO!!!!!

So here they are!! The Kool-Aid Scoks are finished:) I finished them while watching the all day coverage of Katrina.... More on that later!

here is some yarn I got from my SP! Finally found out who she is!!! here is her blog. blog.
Sorry for the fuzzy pic, but i had eaten and used everything since yesterday... she spent a lot of time at Adamsfamilyfarm.com this summer spinning and knitting...so she picked some stuff up for me too:)

Now on to Katrina...I have so much to say, it is really hitting close to home for me and my family!  First you all know my last post I said everyone was fine. well, that's before the second leavee breech and now everyone is still fine and evacuated but they have no homes to return too, no jobs to return too, absolutely NOTHING. I haven't heard from the ones camping out in Alexandria, LA... but the ones here are here to stay for a while...they are staying with my mother-in-law...
Second I found footage of my childhood town Ocean Springs MS...It was absolutely demolished! here is the link so you can see the footage for yourself.. when you click the link look for "Skycoptor on the coast, Second Tour" link here. This will show you the Gautier, Ocean Springs and Biloxi areas....
Third, there are people starving to death and we are watching them die right infront of us, ON CAMERA!!!! I have been crying a lot today and yesterday, especially when I see the hungery, thirsty babies and children... My husband spent a few yearsin the city of N.O.lived  next to UNO so his mom could finish college.. so he has fond memories of living there with his extended family....
Chris and I went to LSU in BR and took frequent trips (like all LSU students) to the party city...Heck chris only went for the muffelatas from Central Grocery!!! Luckily Central Grocery is in the French Quater so it is higher than the rest of the city, but I will bet you it has already been destroyed by looters....Looters; don't even get me started.  I see people looting grocery stores, thats okay they need to survive!!! But making off with a big screen TV??? What are ya gonna do with that?  Can't sell that on ebay, and their is no power in the city incase you haven't noticed FOOL!!!

Sorry to be such a whiner! But Chris and I are devestated, and we count our blessings that we live here in Houston and can help......Houston is really doing all they can to make the refugees feel welcomed... The school districts are enrolling the children, resturants are giving free food,Astroworld (six flags) is letting  refugees in for free, and now they can get Texas food stamps and free gas....The Astrodome will hold a lot of the people, but for how long? We are empting our pantry and closet tonight to donate to  the local shelters... thanks for listening:)