Good Riddance

The Man Cowl aka. Mowl

"The Cowl" craze continues!

I am currently knitting a Man Cowl for the HHBL. I like to refer to it as The Mowl (rhymes with howl) for short. He doesn't know it but this is going to be his best friend this winter. The boy did not ask for one. He probably will not wear it. I am going to knit it and quietly leave it on the passenger seat of his vehicle. I'll be at the ready with my camera in case we have any Mowl sightings.

"The Mowl"

Here are the details:

The FREE Pattern: Man (or anyone) Cowl
Yarn: Cascade 220 Paints
Colorway: Davids Eyes #9922
Needle Size 8

What the Weirdness!?

Dear Blogland Peeps,

I do appreciate all the letters I have received asking if I am alright. Since you have asked I will answer:

1. No, I did not fall and hit my head really hard.


2. YES! I am still knitting.


3. No, I have not traded in my knitting needles for a book light.


4. Yes I can enjoy more than one hobby at a time.


5. NO! My stash is NOT for sale!

Sheesh a girl joins a few book challenges and all hell breaks loose!!

If there is anything that comes close to shadowing my fiber stash it is my book collection. I was a reader looooooooooong before I was a knitter.

Yours Truly,

Kelly Girl Knits and reads

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.