Major Knitter

450

With this little post, I will have posted 450 times in 2008.  Now the big question remains... will I post every day in 2009?

It Was a Very Good Year

366.  I did it.  I can't believe it.  I even blogged twice on some days.  I didn't take February 29th off.  I just blogged, and blogged, and blogged.  And yet, you're all still here.  Amazing.

Normally, I end the year with a photo recap of the projects I finished during the year.  This year I decided to follow Vicki's lead and post the first sentence from every month.  Here goes.

1. Well, it is definitely going to be the year of the caper for BF and me.
2. Vicki has always been an inspiration to me.
3. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.
4. I actually managed to finish my Skip Along Socks from the Knitting Central Sock Club while I was home this past week.
5. I just signed up for Summer of Socks.
6. I like to create quick and easy baby blanket patterns for others to use.
7. Today I had my friends over from my Assumption Parish charity knitting group.
8. Flowers at Chicago's Navy Pier brought to you courtesy of Eye Candy Friday.
9. Remember I told you that I switched the methodology of my Fair Isle knitting?
10. Today, The Sally Gals met for another edition of the Kaffe Fassett Club.
11. I finished two of the basic baby hats already.
12. I can't believe it.

Hmmm.  I think that my resolution for 2009 will be to write better opening sentences.  This is an interesting exercise though.  These twelve opening liners do define most of my year.  Once again, following Vicki's footsteps, I selected one picture from each month to highlight my activities in 2008.  Some of the most important events in my life for this year include:

Preparing wedding invitations

Marrying my best friend

Saying Good-Bye to my father

My honeymoon in Italy

My knitting friends - ALL of you - and here are just a few at a special Charlene Schurch class at Knitting Central (Ann, me, Charlene, Jean and Betsy)

Helping my niece and nephews pick out sock yarn at Susan's Yarn Garden in Sioux City, Iowa for their very own handknit socks by Aunt Jennifer.

Bronx Zoo visit with Ms. Judy and Secundogeniture and his friend Dylan.

Boy Scout activities - here's a picture of the kayaks at summer camp

My Kaffe Fassett Floral Jacket class with Sally at Knitting Central.  I've learned a great deal and met some wonderful friends.  Hey Sally, Jackie, Kathy, Lisa and Joan!!

 

My boys

Wilma the Wonder Dog

BF and my annual holiday party - one of the highlights of our year - every year!

I am so grateful for everything I have - health, happiness, a wonderful family, great friends.  I am especially grateful for my knitting/blogging family.  I have made so many wonderful friends through knitting that I would never have known otherwise.  I feel truly blessed to know everyone.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2009!

When Young Men Die and Go To Heaven

When Young Men Die and Go to Heaven, I think it must be something like today's adventure.  I took the boys into Manhattan (with 3 additional friends).  Our first stop was the Intrepid Air & Space Museum - recently re-opened.  We had a blast and saw great things like this:

On top the flight deck we saw all sorts of great aircraft.  This is one of my favorites

The boys liked all sorts of things - like this lifeboat exhibit on a waterbed-like substance to demonstrate the dangers of "Don't Rock the Boat"

And what boy adventure would be complete without a gun turret?

or a climbing adventure?

Or a stealth aircraft?

And let's not forget a MiG set against the backdrop of Midtown's west side

After all this excitement and adventure, we had a leisurely meal at a favorite Brazilian restaurant complete with steaks, rice, beans, fries, Guarana and a Brazilian fudge cake for dessert.  As if that weren't enough, we topped it off with a trip to the Dakota at 72nd and Central Park West to pay tribute to John Lennon

Imagine a better day for boys.  I think they all had fun.  I know I did.  I think I need to catch up on my sleep now.  More adventures lie ahead.  Zzzzzz. 

Z is for Zzyzx Road

Z is for Zzyxx Road.  BF and I drove right by this sign in August on our drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.  I couldn't believe it.  I had to take a picture of the sign to save for December's post.  This was also the same trip where we paid over $6 a gallon for gasoline.

Now this is a word I'd LOVE to play in Scrabble or one of those other word games.  I wonder how many points zzyzx would be worth?

You know how hard it was to keep that little surprise all to myself for over four months?  I simply can't believe I made it through the entire year.  Thanks Vicki for hooking me into this fun endeavor to keep me on my toes.  It's been a fun journey. 

Boy Scout Sock Ornaments Are Officially On Sale

I decided to knit up four more Scout Sock Ornaments and post them to My Etsy Shop (user name:  majorknitter)

Here they are adorning Primogeniture's Boy Scout uniform.  I already received one request from London for a swap of Scout Stuff.  This could be lots of fun!

Giving the Gift of Love

Stacey of Sheep in the City finally finished the Barn Raising Quilt for her Dad just in time for Christmas and also in time for Dad's last treatment.  Click HERE to see the great post with pictures of Stacey and her Dad with the amazing red blanket filled with lots of love. 

Grab the Kleenex first though.  Don't say I didn't warn you!

I was only able to send in one square - but was glad to help.  Stacey was my Secret Pal way back when and made me the most gorgeous personalized knitting bag.  Knitting one red square was the least I could do.

Please stop by and give Stacey a big hug.

Mom & Dad Get Miniature Socks, Too!

I shipped off the holiday gifts to my family.  Remember I mentioned a stealth knitting project?  Well one of them was for my sister and her husband.  I made Ellen a baby pink mohair miniature sock and her husband got a black "gold toe" sock.  I couldn't resist such a creation for the man who has everything!

Happy Holidays! 

PS - I just saw the pictures from my sister's Christmas celebration.  The kiddos liked getting their own miniature stockings and it looks like Mom & Dad liked getting theirs, too!

UPDATED Free Knitting Patterns for American Girl Doll

During Christmas season every year, I get a big surge in traffic from people looking for free patterns for their brand new American Girl Dolls or other 18" dolls.  In February 2005, I wrote a post that linked to several free links -- but unfortunately, over the years, many of the links have expired or the sites no longer exist.  So today, I finally updated the original link. 

Click HERE to see the updated link for free knitting patterns for 18" dolls. 

I hope you have fun knitting for that little girl in your life.

Organizational Skills

Generally, I am a very organized person.  But since I've transitioned into a stay-at-home-Mom my life has become quite hectic and chaotic.  Things are messy more often than not.  This drives the born-organizer in me really crazy.  But this quiet holiday I decided to finally organize my knitting needles.  I don't even want to tell you how many US Size 1 40" long Turbo Addis I own!  Every time I need them, I can't find them, so I buy two new pairs (because I knit both socks at the same time).  This is really getting to be a little embarassing as everyone at Knitting Central knows I just purchased the same needles only a few days before!  But no more.  Today I sorted my needles, put them back in their pouches, and placed them all in this file box with pockets for sizes 000 to 15

Please keep your fingers crossed that this time the method to my madness will work for me. 

Weary Wilma

I think this picture says it all.  The holidays are over.  The exhaustion has set in.

Wilma is a weary old soul.  I think I could use a nap, too.  How about you?