2009 On The Porch Swing Reading Challenge

Here is the 2009 On The Porch Swing Reading Challenge. Each challenge should be a different book.

1. Pick a title with the word "marriage" or "marrying" or "married" in it
2. Pick a title with the word "friends" or "friendship" in it
3. Pick a title with the word "summer" or "winter" in it
4. Pick a title with a flower name in it

The 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge.

There will be three sizes of challenges.

• The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
• The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
• The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.

Here are the rules:

1. You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2. This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
5. Our goal is to read 12, 25, or 50 books checkout from our local library in 2009. Please decide which when you sign up and don’t change it.
6. These can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.
7. Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.

I am signing up to listen to 12 Audio Books.

Here is my list:

1. Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
2. The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
3. The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike
4. Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
5. Goat: A Memoir by Brad Land
6. Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
7. I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
8. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
9. The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
10. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
11. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
12. Two For The Dough by Janet Evanovich

Click here to join me in this challenge.

1st in Series Challenge 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 1st in Series Challenge.

The rules are:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
2. Read 12 books that are the first in any series. You may read & list your chosen books any time during the year.
3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.
4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

Click here to join me in this challenge.

2009 Audio Book Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 Audio Book Challenge.

Here are the rules:

1. You can join anytime as long as you don’t start listening to your books prior to 2009.
2. This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your audiobooks will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
5. You do not have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to, you can change them as you go.
6. Our goal is to listen to 12 audiobooks in 2009. No need to list your books now. You can do so as you go.
7. Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.

Here is my list:

1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
3. The Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin
4. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
5. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
6. The 19th wife by David Ebershoff
7. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
8. Testimony by Anita Shreve
9. The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard
10. Looking For Alaska by John Green
11. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
12. Skin Hunger (A Resurrection of Magic) by Kathleen Duey

Click here to join me in this challenge.

2009 E-Book Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 E-Book Reading Challenge.

The rules are:

1. Read 10 eBooks in 2009.
2. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.
3. You do not have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to, you can change them as you go. Feel free to remove or add titles as needed.

I already have five pages of titles to choose from on my Kindle.

To join me in this challenge click here.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!!

BRRRRRR!

Holy thermal underwear Batman!! It is currently -2 degrees outside and snowing. I have never been more happy to be inside with no reason to go out.

So what's a girl to do?

Drink Starbucks and Kindle!

I wish I could say there is no knitting in sight but I am looking at a pattern as I write this. I did promise to take the day off to give myself a break. Sounds good right? Trust me....tomorrow I will be bitching about how I really should have knit today because things will never be done in time. You'll see. Stay tuned for the bitchfest tomorrow.

Hope everyone is staying warm!

Knitting Schmitting

I am one tired, very burnt out, knitter. I have been trying to get gifts done for people and it is at the point where I don't like knitting anymore. Yes we have reached the breaking point. It's my own fault for not starting gifts sooner. In my defense I didn't come up with this idea until recently. I tried to OD on caffeine but that didn't work. Caffeine makes me sick so it just added to my misery. I tried late nights and early mornings. When a person doesn't get enough beauty rest.....the knitting gets ugly real fast. Through it all.....I knit on. All I can say is "Are we there yet?"

Good Luck Cowl #2 - Plucky Knitter yarn in the colorway: Grand Central Station. My picture is horrible. The yarn is a pretty golden brown color not the dull crap shown here:

Another mystery gift - DONE

I am in the middle of a ruffle scarf with the Malabrigo below. The colorway is Glazed Carrot. Mmmmmmmm. I think I am keeping this one for myself unless a family member claims it. So speak now or forever hold your peace. Some people do not care for orange. I do!

Dear Santa - Follow Up

Dear Santa,

I'd like to think you had your hand in steering me to the right place at the right time. The Kindle was over nighted and waiting on my door step when I returned home this evening. I guess this means I have not only spent all my good girl points from this year but sort of dipped into next years supply. Yeah that's what I thought.

Thank you Santa!

KellyGirlKnits

So how did I do it? While staring longingly at the Kindle on Amazon I noticed they had listed a refurbished one for sale. After a few minutes of humming and hawing I jumped on it. The thing that sealed the deal was the lowered price and that it comes with the same warranty as a brand spankin new one. DONE DEAL! Because I had to have one asap and am a Amazon Prime member I paid $3.99 for the over night shipping. WOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Ok enough chatter I must go and play with my precioooouuuuuussssss.

2009 Young Adult Book Challenge

• Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.


• Read 12 Young Adult novels. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.


• Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.


• You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

Click here to sign up.

RYOB 2009

• Set a goal for how many of your OWN books you’d like to read in 2009


• Read from your own collection between January 1st and December 31st, 2009

I don't know about you but I have piles of books waiting to be read. This is the perfect opportunity to read from what I already own and knock down some of the "to be read" piles.

To read the rules and sign up click here.

I am challenging myself to read 50 of my own books.

True Blood

Calling all Fang Bangers.......I have a copy of Charlaine Harris' book Dead Until Dark up for grabs. It is book number one in the Southern Vampire Mysteries. It is paperback and came with the Sookie Stackhouse Boxed Set I recently purchased from Amazon. I already own book one with the original cover art so I will be passing this second one on. The first person to say they want it gets it. Ready....Set......GO!

*UPDATE: The oh so fabulous Jodi from A Caffeinated Yarn grabbed the book. YAY! I hope you enjoy it. Send me your info and I will drop it in the mail asap.

Good Luck Cowl

One Christmas gift down....a million more to go.

• Pattern - Good Luck Cowl (free pattern)
• Yarn - Red Rocks Fiber Works - 70% Merino/ 30% Seacell
• Colorway - Playground
• Needle Size - 5 (16 inch circular)

*I still need to lightly block this to bring out the lace pattern. This was fun and easy. I will be making a few more of these in the future.

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,


I would like a Kindle for Christmas. Unfortunately delivery times are now 11 - 13 weeks out and I don't think you yourself could name drop and get on the list. I did see people* selling used ones at inflated prices from $549.00 - $1200.00 (how is that legal!?) and while I have been good.....I haven't been that good. Is there anyway I can save up my good girl points I earned this year and put them towards my gift for next year? Think about it and get back to me.


Sincerely,

KellyGirlKnits


*They are not people. They are crooks. Some might think it is a smart way to make a buck...I think it is disgusting.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day!

Twilight - The Movie

I finally had a chance to go see Twilight today. Some parts of the movie were ok but for the most part it was rather lame. I know the books are always going to be better than the movie but I had high hopes for this one. Will I go and see the next movie when it comes out? Maybe. Maybe not.

*Word of advice - Skip the movie and read the books!

From Crap to Clap

Have you ever bought a skein of yarn you fell in love with only to get it home and upon winding it want to throw it in the garbage? No? Well I have. This has happened to me twice. The most recent time was the Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb I purchased to make a Clapotis. Between the pattern and the ugly yarn this project was quickly dubbed CRAPotis. When I bound off the last stitch I knew there was no way in hell this would be worn. I couldn't even give it as a gift because three skeins in I ran out of yarn and had to purchase an odd skein with a different dye lot number. Think dye lots don't matter? Trust me they do! I had a nice dark corner picked out for this ugly mess. End of story? Nope. Mary Kay (she is now my hero) suggested I try and dye it another color. Hmmmmmm......I had nothing to lose at this point. She suggested black and without blinking I said yes! So with Crapotis in hand I headed on over to Mary Kay's and we proceeded to drop the ugly mess into a nice pot of black dye.

Drumroll please.......

Crapotis Before:

Clapotis After:

My new Clapotis will be getting plenty of use in the colder months ahead.

I LOVE IT!!!...and they lived happily ever after.

Blog? What Blog?

Has it really been a week since my last rambling? I have been busy going round and round on my Blankie of Many Colors. Several of you have offered to give it a good home when it's done. Thank you but I think I have become quite attached to it.

Novel Adventures

Now this is my kind of book club!

You can watch the first two episodes here. I think they are currently up to episode four. A new one will air each week.

BMC Update

I am still going round and round on the Blanket of Many Colors. I figured now would be a good time to stop and take a nice picture.

It looks a whole lot more impressive in person. My camera is not taking very good pictures.

Blankie of Many Colors

I have been in dire need of a mindless project. My brain has been begging for a vacation for a long time now. Since I'm not a mean boss I said ok fine. Hmmmm what project do I have that screams mindless? The Blankie of Many Colors from those wacky girls at Mason Dixon Knitting that's what.

When I see these colors they just make me happy!

So around and around I go.....wheeeeeee!

I know you are wanting a better picture than this. However my camera was being grouchy and this artsy fartsy picture was all it would allow. Don't worry I will try again when it's not looking.

Project: Kelly's Blankie of Many Colors

Yarn: Cotton Classic by Tahki Yarns

Needle Size: 6

You Been Served

This is how all elections should be decided!

Halloween Party

On Saturday night HHBL and I went to a Halloween Party at a friends home. We had a blast! Next year I will have to pick a costume that allows me to smile for the camera. I had to play the moody goth part. Trust me, it only looks like I am not having fun. We laughed our butts off!

Here's a picture of the ladies. I love my knit girls!

HHBL was instructed to try and look the part. You can see the smirk as he gets ready to burst out laughing.

HHBL tries to command Skully to float over to the bar and get him another beer.

Thanks guys for a great night! Party at our house next year!!

Getting to Know You

What Your Cute Monster Says About You

You are a very natural, real person. You're comfortable with who you are - and your spirit truly shines through. You are free of inhibitions and hang ups. Because of this freedom, you tend to be very creative. Your inner demon is greed. You can't help but lust after wealth and shiny objects. People think you're cute because you are so lively. Your natural glow makes you charming.

The Cute Monster Test

Long Distance Dedication

Does anybody remember the American Top 40 with Casey Kasem? Perhaps I am showing my age. The best part of that show (aside from the rockin tunes) was the long distance dedications.

My long distance dedication goes out to my sister because it is her birthday. So why is it I get to pick one of my very favorite songs? Because I am the big sister that's why!

Happy Birthday!!

The Sugarcubes - Birthday

In the words of Casey Kasem:

"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."

*Star Struck*

Last night I met some friends down at the Tattered Cover to bask in the greatness of two knitting goddesses. Two names......Leigh Radford and Wendy Bernard. If hearing those words doesn't make your heart pitter patter shame on you.

Let's start with my girl Leigh Radford. I worship her. One of my favorite knitting books of all time is AlterKnits followed closely by One Skein. She recently came out with another book titled AlterKnits Felt. I love Leigh but sort of avoided the book because I thought felting was dead. Boy am I wrong. There are several items in the book that I am currently lusting after. That Blue Jay Blanket is numero uno on my list followed closely by some super fun Christmas Stockings and Ornaments.

LOVE HER!!!

Now we move on to the cute and sassy Ms.Wendy Bernard. If you have never checked out her blog go do that. It is called Knit and Tonic. Why do we love her? Because her patterns rock! Let me just say.....Top-Down. Is there any other way to knit a sweater? Well I guess there is but we love that TD method of knitting. Her book is titled, Custom Knits and I highly recommend it. She also has single patterns you can purchase on her website.

Wendy had on the coolest pair of boots that I must track down and purchase asap.

LOVE HER!

It was a great night!

Triple "T"

The Tangled Twisted Thingamabob is going full steam ahead. I managed to finish the body last night and am just getting ready to cast on for the sleeves. So far the only thing I have changed is the length. I wanted it just a tad bit longer. Hopefully it will look OK.

For those of you who have asked I am using Rowan (whom I lust after) Felted Tweed. In shade #172 - Ancient. It is a gorgeous greenish grey color.

Ruby Slippers

I'll get you my pretty.....

Is exactly what I said when I saw this yarn. All I can say is you had me at sparkles. The yarn is from Red Rocks Fiber Works and the colorway is.....Ruby Slippers. While gazing lovingly into the sparkly skein I remembered some buttons I have tucked away.

Match made in heaven?

Dorothy meet Ruby Slippers. Ruby Slippers Dorothy.

I am thinking socks (nothing fancy) with a button on each leg.

Tangled Twisted Thingamabob

I am currently knee deep in the Tangled Yoke Cardigan. I have had my eye on this sweater for quite a while now. It was going a bit slow on the bottom portion of the sweater because of the k2, p2 ribbing. I managed to get to the end of that last night just before I went to bed. So we have some progress.

MUST GO KNIT!

Something Blue with a View

Here is a nice picture (as promised) of the bride wearing her "secret" gift.

LOVE IT!

Something Blue

The pictures from the wedding are starting to roll in. I was able to grab this picture showing the bride wearing a certain "secret" around her shoulders.

More pictures to come....I promise!

Work It

Pictures of Mr. Greenjeans being worked on the runway.