Photo of my lovely packages

Here is a photo of the lovely dishcloth and needles that Sharon sent me. Thank you Sharon!

The tea package has arrived!

Here it is just opened.

And here is a photo of all the goodies. Thank you so much Susan S!

I got spoiled by two wonderful ladies!

It's Parcel week!

It's been parcel week for me and its only Wednesday. Yesterday I received my dishcloth from Sharon in Kentucky. I love it! Its done in the Chinese wave pattern and in multi coloured yarn (purples, greens and beiges). And she sent me a cool pair of bamboo needles.! They are Clove Takumi 4.5mm and they are so smooth. Can't wait to use them. Will post a picture later.

Then! Today my tea swap pals package arrive! Its awesome too! Thank you Sharon in California. She sent me Chamomile Lavender Herbal Tea (100% organic), Butter crisp bisquits, a vanilla candle, white tea vanilla berry relaxing bath rea, and 2 skeins of lovely mint green 100% hand spun wool. Can't wait to drink, eat relax and knit with it all. Thank you soooo much secret pal!!! Will post pictures later.

Zellers fashion yarn

I thought Zellers sale started today for their yarn. Turns out I didn't read the date of the pull out flyer. Duh!! On thursday and friday any fashion yarn is buy 1 get one free. Well! What's a girl to do! So I was shopping and picked it up now and will go back on Thursday and have them do a refund repurchase.

I picked up:
2 balls Bernat Cotton in sage green
4 balls of Bernat Matrix in acid axis (green and light blue tonnes
6 balls of Bernat Satin in evergreen
2 balls of Bernat Satin in snow

With the Matrix I am going to make a poncho or a cool top from the Lace booklet they have. The Satin I will use for a neat sleeveless top for me. Now don't know when these will all be done but I have lots and lots of new yarns to play with. :)
May have to get more on Thursday! Oops! Did I say that out loud. lol

Hey I could of done that colour of the month thing with all the greens I got! hehe

They had alot of different colours in Boa too. Not a big Boa fan but if people are thing Christmas gifts (I know for some its too soon to think) now is a great time to stock up. That's what I am doing with some of these yarns. Can't wait to get started on everything I've boughten over the last two weeks.

Will try and post pictures later.

Weekend Update

Well I finally got the laundry caught up! I just have to do the rugs. Thank goodness! House got vacuumed, Sparks stuff got sorted (sort off), and I bought some more yarn.

Shhh!! Don't tell my hubby! hehe Zellers had there Bernat Soft Boucle (bag of yarn ) 300 yard for $9.97, well....what's a girl to do. I grab one and will make the poncho that is on the band.

Also, while I was there I picked up some Bernat Matrix - three had three balls, plus a pattern book with 4 patterns for $ 9.97 grabbed one of those as well! Going to do the Lacey poncho that's on the cover. Also, went back today and picked up another package plus one extra ball for the "clubbing" shirt. I think its cool or I will do the shawl on the back cover. Picked up earth shades for both though the second time I wanted to switch the yarn in the bag for some of the green on the shelf. Didn't think that was right so I didn't.

When I was at Walmart and browsing I saw a cool beach bag and thought WOW that would make a great yarn bag and the price was right too. Got it home and put the 2 sweaters I have been working on in it, with the extra yarn plus the front of Miki's sweater. Holds alot of stuff!! Quite impressed with it. And I could still use it for the beach of holidays.

Worked some more on the 3 crosses dishcloth not done yet but within the next few days. The next KAL dishcloth starts tomorrow and I can't wait. And on the 2nd I will find out who I will be sending a dishcloth too. Also, the tea exchange will be starting shortly too. Can't wait to do that one too.

Well its getting late and I have to be up early in the morning.

Have a great night!

Leigh

what kind of icecream are you?

You Are Chocolate Ice Cream

Dramatic. Powerful. Flirty.

http://ynr.blogthings.com/whatflavoricecreamareyouquiz/

Who's Your Inner European?

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Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's" Your Inner European?

Monthly dishcloth knit along

Now to figure out how to get these posted on the side bar. A few people have tried to tell me and I'm not getting it. Hopefully one of these days!

Bunny dishcloth

This is so cool! Was on knit pattern depot and saw the cute bunny dishcloth. Will definitely have to make this one! Post is dated Feb 11/06

Tea swap

Here's the knitter's tea swap emblem that I got form Suzie's blog.

Knitter's tea swap

Just signed up to be apart of the knitter's tea swap. This is what it all intails.

It's a one time swap.

You will mail your secret swap partner three-ish things:

1. A box/tin/container of your favorite tea. It can be hot, iced, green, black, herbal, just as long as it's your favorite!***Edited 4/21 I will try to match prefs as much as possible. Some people don't do caffeine, etc... Thanks!!****
2. A treat to accompany the tea. Cookies, candy, petit fours, etc...
3. 1-2 skeins of yarn from your stash. Must be enough for a small project or socks.

For example, you could send a 100gr skein of sock yarn or 2 skeins of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride. Let's say yarn should retail around $15.00.--Plus a note about your tea and treat choices and suggestions for the yarn.

Interested? I hope so! If you want in, grab a button and then email me at purlygates -AT- gmail -DOT- com with the following info:Name:Blog Address:Mailing Address:Restrictions on type of tea? Only green, black, herbal etc? Yarn color preferences?Sock knitter? Will you take an international pal?Sign-ups end on May 1 and you must mail your package by June 1.Thanks for participating!

A couple of photos of Harleigh

Harleigh begging for a cookie in the summer of 2004
Hey! What do you want. I'm snoozin' here. 2005

Hi mom! At Miki's 7th birthday this past February, 2006.

A few photos of Harleigh

This one was taken Feb 2, 2006 at my daughter's 7th birthday party. She was very photogentic.
Sitting up for a cookie at the farm in 2005.

Dishcloth patterns

I just joined the Monthly Dishcloth Kal group. (knit-a-long) and I am very excited about it. I love to do dishcloths as they are relatively simple, don't require alot of thought (especially with kids yelling in the back ground and they make great gifts!


Theses patterns are from http://www.thingsstitched3.blogspot.com/ blog. She has some other great links for dishcloths as well. I believe that they were apart of the Monthly dishcloth KAL ( so do not print for selling).

Little Shells Dishcloth PatternYarn: small ball of cotton yarnNeedle: 7 US = 4.5 mmCast on 43Knit

4 rows
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: K3, P37, K3
Row 3: K5 *YO, P1, P3tog, P1, YO, K2* repeat until last 3 stitches, K3
Row 4: K3, P37, K3
Repeat these rows until desired lenght stopping on Row 3.
Knit 4 rows
Bind off. Weave in ends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Little Fountain Dishcloth PatternYarn: small ball of cotton yarnNeedle: 7 US = 4.5 mmCast on 39

Knit 5 rows
Row 1: K4 *YO, K3, YO, K1* repeat until 3 stitches are left, K3
Row 2: K3, P49, K3
Row 3: K5, S1, K2tog, PSSO *K3, S1, K2tog, PSSO* repeat until 5 stitches are left, K5
Row 4: K3, P33, K3
Repeat all 4 rows 11 more times ending on row 3.
Knit 5 rows
Bind off. Weave in ends.

In memory of Harleigh (Octobre 18, 1994 to April 18, 2006)

This has been a bad week. I had to put my best friend down. Last week (around Apri 12th) she started shaking and wouldn't stop and she had this frightful/fearful look in her eye. Really bugged eye. I kept calling her name and holding and petting her but she didn't snap out of it. She did this a few times that week and was peeing on the carpets. She wouldn't bark when someone came to the door, or jump up on the couch. Just basically not herself.

Harleigh would walk right off of the couch, fall down the stairs, get stuck behind the door and not know how to get out. She would get and then go and pee on the carpet. She even let the kids hold her! We took her to the vets on the 17th and they said she had cateracts and thought possibly she had arthitis and diabetes - she was weighing 25 lb. She's a lapapoo. They wanted us to get a urine sample and they would test it. $134. dollars later we went home. She was actually pretty fine when we took her. She could walk on her own and not fall over and perky.

We decided that night that Brian would take her in and have her go to doggie heaven. At 4:50am on Tuesday morning I heard her downstairs and she was going in circles and falling on the floor. I sat with her for 20 minutes and talked to her and held her and kissed her and telling her she was a great dog and thanked her for the 11 1/2 years that she was with me. Called hubby down at 5:15 to sit with her so I could get my shower and go to work. So he laid on the couch with her. I went to work (why??? had to do something) and he got the kids ready for school. She went outside for a # 1 and 2, fell down the stairs, walked between the rails and the steps and my daughter caught her, my son had to help her out from under the computer wires as she couldn't figure it out. This was all by 8 am.

We believe that she had a stroke or several strokes. Brian took her to the vets and let her with the receptionist. Harleigh had been going there since she was 1 years old. She was put down around noon.

I went in after work and got to say good bye to her. I kissed her and petted her and cried on her She looked so peaceful and at rest. I got the kids and they said good bye to her too. I didn't want to do it but I knew she wouldn't be in pain and wouldn't want to suffer. I know I wouldn't want to suffer neither if it was me.

Its been a helluva week. The kids keep saying they see her by the door or on the couch with me. Especially in the first few days. She was my first baby and my life line that first year of marriage. She always knew when I need a kiss or cuddle from her. She was a great dog!

Harleigh I hope you are having a wonderful time up in Heaven and we will be together one day my friend.

Love always,

Mommy

Yard work day

Well after shopping for 3 hours and being among the masses I made it home. Thank goodness! I love to shop - don't get me wrong. But when the whole population of the city is shopping to make Easter special for their family too its not a pretty site.

After unloading the car and putting everything away I got two of my rose bushes planted! yeah!! I've put them in my veggie garden for now and will move them to the other bed after I get it clean out. Will also plant the third bush tomorrow. Then! I helped hubby unload a truck load of dirt onto the front load. He went back for a second and I said I'd clean the inside of the house. Not getting to far but its getting colder out! Hope my babies are doing okay.

Harleigh is doing better. Her shakes are going down and she's perking up. I cleaned her ears out really good this afternoon. I hope that's all it is as I do not want to take her to the vets.

Well brake time is almost over. Happy Easter everyone!

Leigh

Name 5 places you knit

From Kat-knits blog - Name 5 places other than your house or a knitting store where you have knit...Post your list on your blog & put a link to it in the comments of this entry. Whomever has the most original place as picked by my DB will get a little knitting gift packages from me. We'll pick a winner on Friday, April 21.

Here's my list..

1. around a camp fire at our farm
2. in the car during a snow storm ( I don't want to watch my husband drive during it or to watch him drive!)
3. sons baseball game
4. on a bench in the mall while on a break ( when I worked in the mall)
5. in the staff room at work. I get lots of complements on what I make!

Secretpa8

Here's the link to secrepal8. I've never been on one. Though I have read a bunch of blogs of people who have and they have really enjoyed there secret pals.


">Link http://secretpal8.blogspot.com/

Miki's sweater

This is Miki's sweater I started last night. Not sure if I will get any done on it today. Going down to see my parents and sister today. I hope you enjoyed the UFO's and stash. Go to Feb 20th to see more of the stash. This is what I had won from a craft store.

Have a great day

More UFO's and things

Here are some projects that I have finished and ends need to be tucked in.



The scarf on the left was made from 2 strands of Roxy yars, the two in the middle from Homespun and the last with 2 strands of Berella.

This was a baby afghan I started ohhhhhhh 7 years ago??? All the babies I decided to give it too are old enough to walk and talk and go to school. I am ripping it out and using the yarn for other things. Great pattern and has a cute dress that matches it.

My moose dishcloth is finished and it has a mate now!
These dish towels only need a button to sewn on. Can you tell I don't like to sew? hehe Hey I do have to find the right button too! lol

UFO"S

Here are some of the UFO's that I haven't completed yet.


This is the sweater I keep talking about. I started it back in 1992. I did work on it a few years ago. Ripped the sleeves out and restarted it. The second photo has the picture of what it is suppose to look like. What do you think if I did a smaller colar and not the big one that they have on it??



My purse that I have started. I may have to start over on this side as some stitches fell of and do not equal the row that my row counter says I should have.
Was going to do a purse for my neice but haven't started it yet.
This sweater was made in two days in 1996. All it needs is a button. I was making it for the baby we were going to have. I miscarried and never finished. No child will ever wear this one. Good news I did have two big and healthy babies after in 1997 and 1999. Miscarried again in 2003.

Flashin' the Stash part Deux!

For some reason it didn't want to add the other photos so I am going to do it this way. I'll post the UFO's separate.


Oh the embrassment! In this tote (160L) I have shetland chunky, alot of knitted worsted and odds and ends. Just didn't have time to lay it all out. Not sure what I will make out of the 2 big bags of knitted worsted. Was think of a sweater. Hmm... it may just go back to Walmart. Impulse buying at its best.

I bought two great big balls of green yarn to do an afghan. Well I started it and realized 10 inches in that I was using the wrong needles! Ugh!! Lesson: Never take kids shopping when you are looking for knitting needles. Apparently I bought the US size and not the MM's. I have since gotten the right size but haven't started it again. Also took 2 other big balls back last year.

The blue ball is just a leftover and the yellow and green shetland chunky are new purchases this year.

Flashin' the Stash!

Thanks to the person for suggesting flashing your stash as I just found a whole bunch of my needles in a tote! Thank you!!! I have taken photos of some of my stash and UFO's. I think I will do like Isabelle and say I will NOT add to my stash this month. Okay now on to the photos!





Well I guess I don't need to buy any more dishcloth yarn! And that's after donating 12 balls of Christmas colours to my CWL for dishclothes for our Christmas bizzars.













Baby yarn I bought in June of 1997 (I had the receipt and it had the date on it) to make 2 sweaters for my son who was born Dec of 1997. Got far on them didn't I. Baby yarn is NOT my favourite to work with as I find it too fine.












My scarf stash yarn. Not a whole heck of lot of it left now. But I think I will make my neice a scarf out of either the purple or Rocky pink.











I bought this yarn 2-3 years ago from Country yarns. I went back a year after and was able to fine 4 more of the same dye lot and it was still on sale! Jeanne, the owner is awesome and very knowledgable. I'll have to go and visit here again soon. Not this month.

Was thinking of making a cable sweater for my son. Hmmm.. maybe a vest for me. Its Polar yarn. Nice and heavy and thick.











Not sure where I bought this. I think I may make a sweater for one of my kids out of the Patons Aran.

April already. WOW!

I can't believe that March has flown by. Wow! I had a busy day today. Six loads of laundry later and I still have 4 left to do. I guess I shouldn't leave it for awhile eh. lol

I did finish my moose dishcloth off. I finally found it in the front closet where I thought it was but couldn't find it. NOW I am working on my daughter's sweater and its looking pretty good. NO! I haven't finished Matt's but I wanted to get part of Miki's down. Will try and post pics later. I linked up to TissueTunicKal for a lovely lacey top. Have to find the pattern if not will order it and do with the others. Gotta get the kids sweaters done or they will have my head. Or maybe hands! hehe

Well off to work on the sweater. Don't forget to set the clocks ahead 1 hour tonight.

Tissue Tunic KAL: Tissue Tunic....here's what it's about

Tissue Tunic KAL: Tissue Tunic....here's what it's about

Help!

Anyone that read this can you help me with adding those cute little boxes on the side. One for adding my friends - aka - fellow bloggers and to state how far I am on a project. Laymans terms would be great or step by step.

Thanks!

Another scarf I've made for our Girl Guide Appreciation Night

The yarn. I had the blue Libra since November 2005 and was going to use it as a Christmas gift but decided on another colour for my friend. I thought the yellow would go good with the blue for a scarf for our banquet we are having in April.

I started the scarf last night and about 3 hours later I was done. I used 9mm needles and 16 stitches and just gartered stitched to my hearts content.

Sweater for my kids

This is the sweater pattern that my kids want me to make them.

My son picked out his colours and they are: blue, white and red). This is the back of Matthew's sweater. I started it at 10pm on Thursday, March 16, 2006. It took me 3 hours to get to the begining blue row at the top of the the last repeat of colours. If I knew it was only going to be about 20 rows I would of finished it that night! Actually I thought I was doing my daughter's sweater and she informed me in the morning that it was her brothers. Oops! She was NOT IMPRESSED!

I started the front on March 17th in the afternoon and got it done that night. Hubby took me out for dinner. Forget what the place was called by the fish was good!

This is a photo of his sweater as it stands as of today. The sleeve was completed on March 18th and I just haven't had time to do the other one. Also, the sleeve is knitted down instead of from the ribbing up. I was kind of impressed though picking up the stitches were a pain in the ass!Needless to say my daughter wants me to finish hers as well. Maybe have to go and visit the in-laws so I can have some uninterrupted knitting! hehe

Final purchase at Lewiscraft

I purchased these during the March Break (Marh 17ht) at the Lewiscraft in Owen Sound. Boy am I going to miss this store! I do have a couple of others I love here in Sarnia - so won't have to travel too far.

Not sure what I will make with the Shetland Chunky. I just loved the colour!


Already know what I will make with this! A lovely scarf made with a stran of Aquarius and Libra together. Can't wait to get started!

Wow! I haven't posted in a Month!

I've been busy and haven't posted as much as I should. Finally I will post the slippers I made - though the very first pair I did went to my neice and I forgot to take a photo.

Scarves I've made

I made this one for a District Guiding Meeting for a door prize. I hope whoever wins it will like it. I made it from Foxy!


This scarf I made last year for my daughter Mikaela. It took two balls and I was surprised as it didn't have the yardage I thought it would. I think it was like 47 yards. Name of it escapes me. Will post it later when I find the band.

Enjoy!

Leigh Ann

Girls Rules!

I believe the Queen song goes something like this! We are the champions! We are the champions! No time for loosers cause we are the THE CHAMPIONS ..... OF THE WORLD!!




Repeat of Gold for our Canadian Women's Hockey! Awesome job ladies! The country is proud of you. Congrats to Sweden and the USA and all the other teams for a great tournament. We are parting from BC all the way to Newfoundland and up to our territories. This is our game!





Now if only our Canadian Men's hockey team can get their act together and sweep the hockey for us again! Definitely NOT impress with the mens team. And they're the ones that get paid the big bucks! No disrepect to Switzerland (they played an awesome game) but to loose to them! What were they thinking? Wasn't hockey I think! We should of sent the women in to play.

All comments here are mine and no disrepect to any teams or countries is intead. Just very happy that they won. Also, thought it would of been Canada VS USA again in both divisions.

Leigh Ann

I WON!!

I won a basket of yarn from Sarnia Craft. They had their anniversary and had a draw and you could choose the prize you wanted to put your ballet in for the prize you wanted. So I went for the yarn and won! I figured its worth about 150 dollars. Here is what the basket looks like:








The tag said it was donated by Patons. Here is a view of the pattern books and yarns.









Can't wait to see what I can make.

Leigh Ann

Happy Anniversary to my parents

Oops! Yesterday was my parents 45th anniversary and I forgot to call. Will make it up tonight. Surprise my mom hasn't called me this weekend.

I had to drive to Seaforth today and meet my hubby. He and Matt went to the farm but the truck wouldn't start. Sooo, my fil and mil met me half way. Miki and I had a nice drive and it only took 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there. We headed back towards Bayfield and had some nice snow flurries. Really nice to see snow again. Once we hit Grand Bend it was nice and sunny again. Only in Canada do you see weather change this much. hehe

Well off to be the dutiful daughter.

Leigh Ann

Olympics are On

Well its day 1 of the Olympics and Canada has its first gold! yeah!! In Mogels I believe.

Some fellow knitters are doing a Knit Olympic and I am not participating in it but will cheer them on. I have decided to finish off projects that I have been putting off for awhile. a 6 cable sweater that I started 13 years ago (give or take a few years).

I just finished a pair of slippers for Miki and they turned out cute. Also will finish a dish cloth that I started a couple of weeks ago.

To finish:

Six cable sweater
Dish cloth
Purse
Baby Sweater (not sure of this one)

I do have a bunch of cross stitches I could finish as well

Well happy knitting!

Leigh Ann

Slippers

I did it! Well I knew I could! But I just made a pair of slippers for Matt. I just need to add the poms poms.

Will post a picture tomorrow.

Well off to bed as 5:30 am comings to damn early!

Leigh Ann

Slipper Pattern

I got this slipper pattern from Isabella on another list that I am on. It is called Aunt maggie's Slippers. Isabella did an awesome job of hers. She made them in the Seahawk colours.

">http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/maggieslippers.htmlLink

Enjoy!

Leigh

Photos

Well I finally took a few pictures of the scarves I gave out for Christmas. I had my one friend at work bring it in so I could take the photo. Of course I had to model it. I like being on the other end of the camera. Need to loose a few pounds to do the other.

Will post them later. The batteries dying in the camera.

Off to wash the dog.

Leigh

Is it really Winter?

I can't believe the weather this week or actually this year. It is going to be 7C and raining today. Beautiful day yesterday as I could just wear a spring jacket. But hey! This is Canada! We are known for our snow and cold temps. I know I live in an area that doesn't see as much snow as other places but not to have ANY! Come on now.

Now I don't want a blizzard, just some nice fluffy flakes falling gently down and covering the ground. If would be very peaceful and tranquil. Also, colder temps can help me get rid of this cold that I have had for 3 weeks. At least I am over the flu I had. Ugh!! The whole family got it and we gave it to my hubbies parents (not me I had to work that weekend).

Enjoy the nice weather!

Leigh Ann

101 Uses for Velcro Brand Fasteners

Thought that this could be could cool to post. Hopefully I have done this right as I have never used the link button before.

LeighAnn


">http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayArticle?articleNum=ae0373

Questions to ponder

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:1. Customer Service Rep in a bank, 2. Manager of a restaurant, 3. Scheduler/ HR assistant, and my favourite job 4. being a mom

4 Movies You Could Watch Over & Over:1. Miss Congeniality, 2. Kate and Leapold, 3. Legally Blonde 1 or 2, and 4. any romantic comedy with Julia or Meg

4 Places You Have Lived in : I haven't lived in that many places. My home town and where I am know

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch: 1. CSI (actually any of them), 2. The Y&R, 3. Gilmore Girls, 4. Numbers - actually I have way to many to list.

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation:1. Cancun, Mexico2. visiting relatives in Montreal, Quebec, 3. Calgary, Alberta (and surrounding area) just because I always wanted to go there, 4. Pineapple Beach Club, Antigua (my honeymoon), 5. My farm in Owen Sound!

4 of Your Favourite Foods:1. Lasagna, 2. Wendy's cheeseburger's, 3. Orange Ruffy fish, 4. Brocolli and cheese soup

4 most Sweet Things: 1. my children, 2. chocolate, 3. sunsets/sunrises at the farm, 4. and my sweet, sweet niece.

Where's Winter

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted since Nov 5th. I have been busy knitting scarves and dishclothes. I did a couple of dolphin dishclothes, 3 beautiful scarves and am working on a sweater for my daughter.

I am working full time now as a Scheduler at our store. Basically I work for the HR manager. We get along great.

I promise to post more faithfully to here. lol Okay !! Okay! I will try

54 Days till Christmas!

I can't believe i haven't written in this for months! Where to start. Well..... at work I have been doing scheduling for the past two months. Once I got past the mind set it became easier. Thank goodness! I have straight days and no weekends - such a hard life eh! hehe

Well off to do the carrots finally.
Leigh Ann