Sunday, August 26, 2007

No Progress and a Meme

I promised progress shots of Wicked today. But it was cloudy this morning and I spent the whole day learning about various cardiac conditions. Sorry about that!

But I do have the 8 random things meme for your enjoyment because Peaknit tagged me.

1. I'm afraid of frogs. I know it's silly. But I really hate how they jump unpredictably. Thank goodness I didn't have to find my prince that way.

2. My blog is called Chicken Knits because Brian calls me his chicken. I can't remember how it got started. But it's really cute when I come home and he yells "Chicken!" It just one of those silly things that couples do that no one but them understands. And sometimes, I'm not even sure I understand.

3. I'm obsessed with house flipping reality shows. My favorite is Property Ladder on TLC. They even give an experts advice to the flippers. And they never listen! So silly. But I have to admit, it's an intriguing business. Although, I'd have a hard time making everything beige to have mass appeal.

4. I hate talking on the phone. I'd rather email or even write a letter. I never know how to end a conversation. And I really don't have very much to say. Although, when I was a teenager, my parents were grateful that I didn't hog the line.

5. French fries are perfection to me. There's a restaurant here that puts asiago cheese and truffle oil on their lean crispy fries. It's pretty much heaven. Now you understand that difficulty that I'm having with Thin for Thirty!

6. I bite my nails like a fiend. I've tried 1,000 times and as many ways to quit. I admit, it's a nasty habit. And sometimes I make myself bleed. So gross! When I get a pedi, I carefully hide my hands so that the manicurist doesn't lecture me.

7. My perfect day would have no plan. Just me wandering around without a schedule or interference from anyone else's agenda. The best days are the ones that just happen. I can wander in a city for hours. Or if there's no traffic and a beautiful road, I'll drive past my destination to continue the feeling of freedom. Good weather, good food, and no definite destination is just the thing to relax me. I think I need a couple of these days in September when I have a break from school. The tough thing is you can't force it. Days like this just have to happen.

8. I would love to be a judge on Iron Chef America. The food channel should have a contest to win a chance to be a guest judge. That would be rad. Especially if it was French Fry day.

No formal tags. Just join in if you want to!

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Saturday, August 25, 2007

If you're not Dutch, you're not much

Don't be offended, it's just what we say in my hometown of Holland, Michigan where everyone is Dutch. And they have an annual Tulip Festival. Maybe I was thinking about my heritage this week when I went shopping on Etsy.

Dutch Kiss Necklace

Cute little Dutch kiss necklace from ReyNey. It's about an inch long and came with a nice chain.

Sand Dollar Charm

And she sent this as a freebie. How cute is that?!?!? The Dutch are notoriously frugal. So you know I love a freebie!

Dutch Girl Onesies

No one in my family or friends are pregnant right now. But I couldn't resist these onesies. They're hand embroidered from a modern home. For now, I'll have to tuck them away for future little girls.

And just to prove I thought about knitting a little this week. Check out the stitch markers I got from Entrelac.

Entrelac Stitchmarkers

They are Alphas and Omegas. I love their sculptural simplicity.

And last night, I came home to a great package on my doorstep. The August installment of the Rockin' Sock Club!

STR Lightweight- Flower Power

STR Lightweight in Flower Power. I have to start knitting on these socks. I'm in 4 or 5 sock clubs and I haven't knit any of the kits!!! What a bad sock club member.

Thanks for all the encouragement about ripping out the Hourglass Sweater. It hurt a little but it was worth it to make something that I'm really liking so far. I'll have progress pics tomorrow. And Peaknit tagged me for a meme. I'm thinking of random things and I'll have those tomorrow as well.

Now, I have to go pick up my car from the body shop. YAY!!!! The insurance company finally agree to fix the car instead of totaling it. Thank goodness Brian can be a jerk when he needs to be.

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

A New Start

I don't think I've ever shown off my first sweater. That's probably because there's not much to bragging to be done. Yes, it's a completed garment with two equal arms. It fits me. Kind of. But it's just not quite right.

Hourglass Sweater

See? It's just kind of... blah. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a lovely silvery beige color. But I think it's too plain for the pattern I knit- Hourglass sweater from LMKG. I love that pattern. It's just plain. It was a perfect first sweater. It taught me a lot. But I've never worn this sweater in public or even for more than an hour. And I could never get the neckline to fit well.

So I ripped it out yesterday. The yarn is getting a new start as this...

Wicked

The cable details are keeping this a little more interesting. And I think I've learned a lot in the last year and a half that'll make this go around a little better. Hopefully, a lot better.

Spoiler alert!!!

Yarn Pirate- Calamity

The new Yarn Pirate Booty Club installation- Calamity. Love it!

Finally, I know I usually do a goals update on Sunday but I've been slacking big time in that department. So, I'm getting a new start this week on those as well.

Back to studying...

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Prize Package

I told you a week or so ago that I won a prize from Val over at Shoeless. Looky what came in the mail yesterday!

Prize Package

The Froggy notion case, Panda Cotton, and AWESOME stitch markers. Love it!!!

Panda Cotton- Strawberry and Lime

A close up of the yarn. So yummy!!! Thank you so much, Valerie!

BTW, Sheri at The Loopy Ewe did an update. Please go buy so I don't. I had a full cart and closed the window. I'm so proud of myself!

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Sunday, August 12, 2007

I know. I know.

I'm supposed to be talking about goals since it's Sunday. I'm also supposed to be doing laundry, reading, and doing a math test for school. There are a lot of supposed to's today. But I'm not really wanting to do any of them. Honestly, I just want to watch Tiger play golf and knit on my new sock.

I cast on yesterday for a Charade sock from I May Be Knitting A Ranch House. A very clever pattern that's easy to memorize and shows off varigated yarn nicely.

Orchid Charade- Cuff

This is the start of my Charades in merino cashmere from The Knittery. This is the orchid colorway. I know Sheri has this yarn at The Loopy Ewe and it is positively delicious! It's soft and fuzzy without losing stitch definition. And the color. OH! The color!!!! I love how it looks in the skein. I love how it looks in the ball. And I really love how it's knitting up.

I was able to cast on a new sock because I finally finished my Chevron Scarf!

Chevron Scarf- Done

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock- 1 skein each of Vera and Devon
Needles: Addi Turbo Size 5
Started: 3/24/2007
Finished: 8/11/2007
I have the fixin's for a couple more of these. I really hope they don't take me 5 months each to finish.

Chevron Scarf- Roll

This one lagged on the needles for awhile. It's one of those things were I got tired of it but really liked it at the same time. Finally, I just had to get off of my butt and knit!

Finally, I'd like to thank Jen over at Piddleloop for giving me an honorable mention as a Rockin' Girl Blog! Jen, you made my day!!!

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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Fall Down. Go Boom!

I fell off the wagon big time today. This is a pic heavy post. Sorry!

I had the day off from school. So I had lunch with a friend from my old job and caught up on all the gossip. Then, I went to Yarn, Paper, Scissors. I heard about this store from the Bay Area Knitters Group on Ravelry. What a great store!!!! Colorful, well lit, full of yarn, paper, and fabric.

Well, I left relatively unscathed with 2 yards of this...

Amy Butler Fabric for skirt

To make this...

Amy Butler Skirt Project

I've been wanting to try this pattern for awhile. And since it was there staring me in the face, well, I gave in.

Since I was on the peninsula and Nine Rubies was only a mile or two away, I popped over there. On the way I made a deal with myself that I would only go in if there was a parking spot. Of course, there was a spot right in front of the store. Shoot! Now I HAD to go in! This is such a cute store too. And the people working there are super helpful. Here's where I made the fatal mistake, I picked up a skein of malabrigo. It was all over. The delicious soft yarn sucked me in.

I think this...

Malabrigo- Sapphire Green

and this...

Malabrigo- Continental

Will make a nice scarf and hat set. So, so soft!

Finally, I scored some Zuluknitty from Scout before she went on vacation...

Scout's Swag- Zuluknitty

Aren't the colors great?!?!?!?!

I'm so glad that I don't have too many days off!

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Tuesday, August 07, 2007

One Swing

No matter what you think of Barry, I saw history tonight.

The thing that would make it absolutely perfect is not going to happen. I wish he'd get the ball back.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

I'm a Big Winner!

Val had a little contest over at shoeless. I had to name my favorite pie- rhubarb that my grandma used to make.

And, thanks to the random number generator, I won! YAY!!!!! I get some sock yarn and a froggy notions case. I'm super excited!!!! This is just more proof that yesterday was the best day ever!

I'll post pictures when the loot gets here.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Playing Hookey

Today was one of the best days ever. I got up at 5:15 to head out to clinical rotations. Got to clinical, things were going fine. Around 9:45, my instructor came into my patient's room to tell me she had to talk to me.

All I could think is... Yikes?!?!?! What did I do????? So I finished what I was doing with my patient and went to find my professor. As it turns out, I didn't do anything. The school had called her to let her know her RN license had expired. Since we (as students) are practicing under her license, we had to leave the hospital. This was around 10 am.

Well, what else could we do but go out to breakfast as a group??? It was delicious.

Now, the woman I carpool with is one of the most dedicated students I know. I thought she would want to go home and study. But she turned to me and said, "Do you want to go see a movie?" Hell yeah I do! AND, I have gift certificates for the theater near our house. Suh-weet!

So we head to the theater, Harry Potter is playing in 20 minutes AND it's on the IMAX screen. YAY! The last 20-30 minutes were even 3D. What a great way to see the movie!

When the movie finished, I went to the grocery store, bought some flowers, and headed home for a nap.

Seriously, the best day ever! I should have bought a lottery ticket.

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