Frog-along hops towards a finale....

Welcome jpknits! We're so happy you could join in.

Today's post will have to be a two-parter, as Flick'r can't seem to upload all my frogg-ariffic shots just now.





Know that I, Too, have frogged.

And it feels GOOD!!!

Photos pertinent to said frogging (including the finest handmaiden a knitter could ask for) will be posted ASAP, which will likely be later tonight if I'm not completely toast after my softball game.

Keep up the good work, and report in here when you've met your goal (or Waterloo...) I'll put together an Honor Roll at the end of the festivities.

Peekaboo!

This beautiful logo belongs to The Frog Capital of The World! As they were considerate enough to be hosting their Frog Festival at exactly the time I wanted a Frog-Along, please take a minute to pop in here and see what today's events are.













And now, back to our regularly scheduled blog,
where much frogging is already in progress...




I see you all out there......

I see Susan, who has reaped a large amount of yarn and lost some truly unusual pants (or at least part of pair of truly unusual pants...)

I see Della(all the way over in Dorset!) who has freed some beautiful yarn from a puzzling sock pattern...(mine will follow suit on the morrow).

Go for it, froggers!

And we're off!!!

YAY! The frogging has commenced!

Eva jump-started us (hee-hee) by revving up and re-working some great orange yarn.

Noo has joined and promises some frogging from across the pond! Welcome, Noo! Spiffing to have you here! (I lurve me them Brits...*sigh*)



For those not presently blessed with items waiting for the eve of destruction (which is tonight, coincidentally), we still are more than happy to have you here, cheering us on. Ya'll can have a tremendously valuable and much-sought-after Why Not? Rain Check, redeemable at some undisclosed future time when a hideous eyesore of a project is causing much furrowing of brows and growly "hmmmms..." and fretting and biting of lower lips as you ponder whether or not to rid yourself of said offensive item. When that fateful day dawns (and dawn it will, sister, as you know only too well,) draw upon that hidden reserve of strength, peer upon that horrendous creation, and RIP, BABY, RIP!!!

I'll even send you a real Why Not? Rain Check, iffen you want one....just let me know and email me your snail-mail address!

Heck, I might even do up some Certificates of Verified Frog-ation if you participants would like...the weekend is upon us, and I could likely whip some out...let me know!

Now go take evidentiary photos, pre- and post-, and show 'em off!

P.S. Go visit Siri for her wonderful blog--today, she's featuring two of the cutest tadpoles ever---and they're holding---wait for it--- a FROG!!

Time Warp

Does anyone else remember this?

Ah, wasted youth...whether the arcade took tokens or quarters, I willingly fed them into machine after machine....Space Invaders...Asteroids...and there was one called just plain "Frogs", but here it is.....

The incredibly appropriate game for all of us come this Friday.....

FROGGER!



But down to business....

Ok, here are the newest recruits...Jennifer and

(are you sitting down?)

Kay!

Yes, THAT Kay!

We gotcher real-life, published,co-authoress, hilarious celebrity knitter aboard!

I am a happy woman. Kay is one of the uber-funniest co-authors of both a book and a blog beknownst to humankind. (Her Ann ain't no slouch in the funny department, neither.)(And they're both crazed knitters, so I'm a-lookin' forward to peer in a most-nosy way at what might be frogged from the vicinity of Chez Mason-Dixon.)

Ok, step up, step up...who's next?

Grenouille du jour

Here are the participants of the Frog-Along to date:

(Besides me, that is...)

Mandella, Mindy, Angela, Eva, Emily, Martina, Carrie, and Susan (BTW Susan, the beauty of the three-day fest-o-rippin' is that one has time for NUMEROUS projects to be.....rewound, shall we say? Heh-heh...)

Thanks to all you loverly ladies for coming over to play.

Catch o' the day

Halibut Two Ways

My dear hubby caught a couple of halibut while we were in Alaska last month, and we just got them back in fillet form. Did up half in a yummy teriyaki sauce (Soy Vey from Trader Joe's) and the others done with an Almondine (Almandine?) recipe from my mother-in-law. Both yummy.
And there's more in the freezer!!




My Fisherman's Rib scarf, made with Noro Kujaku in color 5.
(What an inspired name, five...
doesn't it just conjure up images of a dreamy lakeside glen, or nymphs dancing in a forest clearing...)
  

 
  
Actually, I'm calling it my Northern Lights scarf. Firstly because I bought the yarn in Ketchikan at a very nice yarn and bead shop, and secondly, I think the little wrapped bits that make the colored loopies bring to mind the Aurora Borealis, even though I've never seen  those  beauties  in  person.
  

 
We here (that being me, myself, and I) are thrilled to report that a handful of you fab-o knitters have enthusiastically RSVP'd for the Frog-Along! The Blogging committee (see the list of "We", above) will soon make an attempt to show a roster of those delightful participants. If you've not yet signed up, there's plenty of time! Bring the kids! Make it a family event. You know, join in!

C'mon and Frog!

  
 Sorry about the duplication of the last post--let's us blame Blogger.

Thanks to Mandella and Angela for spreading the word! Come one, come all! Bring tadpoles and newts and let's have a jolly frog-in time!

Will try soon to get photos posted of an FO NOT to be frogged and something yummy.

Frog on a blog!

In honor of the socks which I have started and stalled upon,

And in conjunction with the Rayne, Louisiana Frog Festival, (but without their knowledge or consent)

I hereby decree that in this year of 2006, the dates

September 8, 9 and 10 will constitute the

First Annual Why Not? Frog-Along!

Please consider this your invitation to participate!!

* * * * * * * * * * *

The requirements are simple and few, and may be interpreted as loosely as you like.

1. Find an item, knitted, sewn, or otherwise crafted that you either cannot stand, cannot stand to finish, or are somehow dissatisfied or unhappy with.

2. Prior to or on the dates listed above, photograph your doomed item and post to your blog.

3. On the dates posted, FROG IT! (See, three available days, no real pressure)

4. At some time following the frogging, preferably before your wild fervor dies down, photograph the end result and again post.

As I am so lame I can barely post to my own blog, I cannot offer a button, but if someone wants to try to whip one up in the short time provided, run with it!

Please, please, please, PLEASE invite as many froggers to the party as you can! The more the merrier! I love a froggy chorus!

If you participate, please leave me a comment here so that we can all come and pat you on the back for bravery towards previously-intimidating projects.

Go thou, and plan to FROG!

 

Frog on a blog!

 In honor of the socks which I have started and stalled upon,

And in conjunction with the Rayne, Louisiana Frog Festival, (but without their knowledge or consent)

I hereby decree that in this year of 2006, the dates

September 8, 9 and 10 will constitute the

First Annual Why Not? Frog-Along!

Please consider this your invitation to participate!!

* * * * * * * * * * *

The requirements are simple and few, and may be interpreted as loosely as you like.

1. Find an item, knitted, sewn, or otherwise crafted that you either cannot stand, cannot stand to finish, or are somehow dissatisfied or unhappy with.

2. Prior to or on the dates listed above, photograph your doomed item and post to your blog.

3. On the dates posted, FROG IT! (See, three available days, no real pressure)

4. At some time following the frogging, preferably before your wild fervor dies down, photograph the end result and again post.

As I am so lame I can barely post to my own blog, I cannot offer a button, but if someone wants to try to whip one up in the short time provided, run with it!

Please, please, please, PLEASE invite as many froggers to the party as you can! The more the merrier! I love a froggy chorus!

If you participate, please leave me a comment here so that we can all come and pat you on the back for bravery towards previously-intimidating projects.

Go thou, and plan to FROG!

  

Look what I found!

No knitting, but click on it anyhow. Great fun for a Friday night!

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

Look! Knitting! Don't faint...

This is a Mason-Dixon dishcloth in action; wielded by yours truly. It does a boffo job gathering crumbs and bits of broccoli from the table, scrubs the stovetop nicely, and can then be flung into the washer. Knit them and send them hither and yon--I am. Also plan to try some of Alison's entrelac--she'll tell you from whence they came iffen you take the time to find them on her blog. (Go. Print. Knit.)




Here it is, resting on it's grubby laurels. I love you, MD dishcloth! I do not shrink from forcing you into dirty situations, be they dribbles of apple cider or coffee grounds splattered across a cutting board. You are a workhorse, and your name is COTTON.




We spent the day doing some tidying-up on the patio. My redhead came into the house after starting the sprinklers out back this evening and said, "There's a blue thing stuck to a piece of cardboard with pins out there." This is his way of asking me why there is something cluttering up the now-tidy patio.

I replied, "It's being punished."

He asked no more questions, but began to cook dinner. Good man.
This will hopefully morph into a very cute birthday gift in the next 48 hours.
Arizona in August is a fabulous place to block wool, people.




And here is something else all in blue to warm your heart. She tried a new school for a week this summer, and decided it was for her. Now she's going there full-time, has already been warmly embraced and made welcome, has already been to the first birthday party for a classmate and is planning a sleep-over with another. We are SOOO happy, I can hardly contain myself. Go Marion!

Look! Photographs! Don't faint....

Here, at long last, is the photo of my birthday present from Marion.





In the interest of full disclosure, I am able to post photos using Opera instead of Internet Explorer. Blogger did try to tell me that, and I (grudgingly) apologize for not listening.

(Harrrumph.)

These are the additional Arizona sky shots for Sandy:


  
 

 
It's Friday. I have birthday wine (thanks Mom and Dad!), knitting to get to, and more photos to post very soon. This weekend, there is nothing that I HAVE to do, but lots of stuff I WANT to do. YAY! That's my idea of fun.

I hope everyone else has a wunnerful Saturday and Sunday.

Blogger is a liar

It says it's uploading your photos, but is it really?

That would be no.

Fine, I'm going now.

Skies for Sandy

There are others, but Blogger is again editing my posts. AAARRGGHH!

Now we are 44

Yesterday was delightful. Marion presented me with this treasure: a dish of stones, smooth shell bits and agates she found while beachcombing in Oregon:

(Blogger has posted half the photos I wanted--will add this one in as soon as Blogger pulls it's head from it's arse.)


We helped S with a job, got lots of yummy stuff to nosh and beautiful flowers at AJ's (posh local grocery),


then M and I wandered the thinning aisles of Craftmart (yes, 50% off now, but A) Heather was right, they've marked up so as not to go broke marking down, and B) only have novelty yarns left, so no yarn purchased) and I did get a few other crafty bits and bobs--







felting needles, fabric, rubber stamps, and this neat little guy:

















We went out for dinner with my in-laws and then had them over for birthday apple pie (a first for me--none of the cakes looked right) with amazing Italian gelato. Go there on the weekends for the pistachio and the Vesuvio. Mmmmmm.

Today, I got home from work and found a BIG package waiting for me....




I didn't have enough patience to take a picture before I opened it, but here's what was inside: 2 skeins of Mission Falls superwash Merino (YUM!), A couple of great-looking patterns, beautiful beads (which may find their way into something jewelry-ish made with wire and some of the agates Marion gave me), some sunflower seeds (package already opened and half-empty as of this writing), and some truly sumptuous bamboo yarn from Southwest Trading in a very earthy/sexy brown/green/blue colourway. All this courtesy of the superb Swim Mom herself--Thanks Mindy! You really have me pegged, lady!

Feed the blog, tuppence a bag...

Today I let the photos do the talking.
Details on the Flickr site, iffen 'ya like, so just click on the photo if you need to know.

Blog chow

Ok, so it's more like a TV dinner, but it's something. Actual knitting content to come in the next 48 hours, I promise.

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Here's a preview

We started in Vancouver. The terminal has a wonderful native art area, set as a nature trail, and I only got a couple of good photos, but this is one.




















Granville Island is one of the coolest places I've ever been. The market is superb.




















Juneau Public Library; some of the ever-present flowers in Alaska.



























The islet was near Sitka, seen while we sought (and saw!) otters.
The stand of trees is at Icy Strait Point on a short trail not too far from Hoonah.
Our party agreed that Icy Strait was the best stop on the cruise--I spent ten minutes after this short trail standing beside a small pond, giving myself whiplash trying to look at and identify all the birds that I'd never seen before. It was fabulous.









As I mentioned, there are a few more photos in my Flickr set if you're interested.

M is off to Oregon with Seth's folks tomorrow, and Seth and I are still deciding if we are going to San Diego for the weekend or just hanging out at home. Both options sound good, and from what I hear, the weather is about the same either way! The fact that we have friends in SD who we've not seen in some time may well tip the scales.


And here, because all of you fashionistas DEMAND it, is herself in the latest summer coif......enjoy.

Honey, I'm home!

(Blogger won't let me post photos right now....ok, FINE)

Ok, here I am! The trip was wonderful, relaxing, stress-free and COOL!

Vancouver was as delightful as I recall it, and the people were just as kind, too. I love Canada. I speak Spanish pretty well, so I'm about ready to tackle French so's we can git on to the eastern parts of the Great White North as well.

The ship was wonderful. My hubby used to work for Holland America, and it was very interesting to see him go aboard as a passenger this time. He took the change quite well, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the captain was someone he'd sailed with (and liked) before. He went fishing and two mid-size halibut are flying here as we speak. YUM.

The Inside Passage is just stunning. We had great views of the land all the way along, and the naturalist on board said that we were getting to go more slowly and see more than most ships he'd been on previously. I'd been lucky enough to take that same trip almost 10 years ago, and my memory served me well. It was just as gorgeous, and all the towns along the way (Ketchikan, which has a SUPERB yarn store, Juneau, Sitka, and especially Hoonah) were terrific.

My photos are none too good, but you can see them on my Flickr set. For anyone who wants truly spectacular Alaskan vacation photos, may I please send you post haste to Siri's blog? You will not be disappointed.

Anyhow, the return to the heat and the mountains of laundry (both clean and not) have slowed my blogging return, and we may well pop out of town for a few days this weekend, so fear not iffen youse don't hear from me for a few days again. I am trying desperately to catch up on everybody's blogs, and falling far short. But oh well.

Talk more at you later.

Auf Fwee Gogh!

Heading off for about 2 weeks--

VACATION! YAY!

Photos and stuff when I get back.

Party on, dudes & dude-ettes!

Probably more than you want to know...

For the August Birthday Swap!

(And if my partner is a tech-minded person, I'm not ashamed to say I'd love a tutorial in saving the birthday button from Abigail's blog! You can tell by my rag-tag collection that I have yet to master this part of blogging.)

What day is your birthday?

August 6th. My 44th this year, and I'm not ashamed to tell anyone!

Are you crafty?

Well, I like to think so. I'm a dabbler and I do like to try new things. Knitting is something I've really stuck with, and I like playing with wire for jewelry and figures, and noodling with wood is an interest as well...

Would you enjoy things like: Buttons, ribbons and embellishments?

Yes! I'll find a use for almost anything.

Do you dye your own wool?

Haven't yet, but I'm game.

Do you like to scrapbook or make homemade cards?

No on the scrapbooking, yes on the cards.

What small project would you be interested in making?
Socks, mittens, scarf, hat, baby items, wash cloths, doilies, shrugs etc

I'm still working on my first pair of socks, but anything in the list would be worth a try.

What are your favorite scents?

I haven't yet found a cologne/perfume that I like for me, but I'm partial to citrus-y scents, and I like things that have really clean, cotton-y smell.

Do you like stationary and cards?

Yup.

Do you like hand lotions or soaps?

Soaps, yes. I'm picky about lotions--most are too strongly scented for me.

Do you like to sew or embroider items?

I'm in remedial sewing with my very patient mother-in-law as my mentor, and I'm starting to embroider, so yes (with training wheels).

Do you like beads?

Yup.

What kind of mail-able snacks do you like to eat?

Salty, crunchy or nutty things. Can't really mail chocolate here this time of year (sob).

Do you like to wear costume jewelry? Necklace, earrings, bracelets etc.

I have a few pieces of jewelry that I wear every day, so not really, but I'm always looking for interesting earrings, so they're a possibility. I like small ones and mostly wear the French or fishhook style.

Do you like to play cards or board games?

Yes!

What are your favorite colors of yarn?

Greys, greens, deep reds and purples.

Do you like solid, variegated, heathers, or self striping yarns?

All of the above.

Do you like kitchen magnets or key rings?

Yes to the magnets, but I'm well-covered in the keychain department!

Do you like picture frames?

Yes, if they aren't too fussy or foo-foo.

Do you like to make/or use stitch markers?

Yes.

Do you collect anything?

Elephants (again, not so much the fussy or uber-cutesy ones) and things with realistic leaf motifs or designs.

Do you have any allergies?
Smoke, food, fiber, pets, etc..

The best birthday present I ever got is one I get each year since I was pregnant. My husband quit smoking. Can't stand cigarette smoke.

Do you have any hobbies?

I putter in the garden, I birdwatch, I play softball. I have a concertina, but haven't noodled with it in some time. Like to doodle, knit, read and spend entirely too much time on the computer perusing interesting blogs!

Do you like scented or unscented candles?

I'm not a candle collector, but probably would go for unscented if the candle holder was attractive.

Are you a fiber snob?

I guess I'm becoming one. I like wool, and I like having the option to felt or not to felt. I'm starting to use cottons as they are a good desert option. Wouldn't complain about any natural fiber--would love to try hemp.

Too Fun To Pass By

Go visit Pea Soup for the geneology of this once. Heck, go anyway, 'cause Suse is hilarious and someone I'd love to sit and yack with if only the mighty seas wouldn't keep us apart...*sniff*...

YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME
(grandfather/grandmother on your father's side, your favorite sweet/lolly):

Eileen A. Roca (nee Toffee)


YOUR FLY GIRL/GUY NAME (first initial of first name followed by "izzle", first two or three letters of your last name followed by "dizzle"):

Kizzle Murdizzle... 'nuff said.


YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favourite color, favourite animal):

Brick Elephant, or perhaps Leaf Seahorse.


YOUR STAR WARS NAME (first 3 letters of your name- last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name repeated twice):

Katler Spospo (That's MRS. Spospo to you, buster...)


YOUR SUPERHERO NAME ("The", your favourite color, the automobile you drive):

The Grey Mighty Max. And you'll never, ever see me without my super X-ray specs, so don't even try to catch a peek...

Margarita

My first attempt at the bottlecap pincushion.

I'm a believer now! If you haven't seen this
wonderful tutorial, go NOW!!!!

Book Meme:

a) pick up a book which is the closest to you at the moment

b) open page 123

c) find the third sentence

d) post it in your Live Journal (plus the instructions)

e) don't choose the book, just pick up the one closest to you


Ok, today we bring you:

Barnes & Noble BASICS: using your digital camera

written by that huge literary wunderkid, Dave Johnson.

"To find them, look in the menus of your image editor and keep an eye out for words like Filters or Effects."

Once upon a time, on the way to Mongolia....

Friends like to cuddle warmly and share a good book.

















What a useful thing is a horn!























This little piggy is happy that someone will go
to market in this sweater without shivering.





















A boy and his dog read about "The Long Winter."























The elephants like people to think that they
are twins, even though they are not.


















More books about peoples of the world.


Happy Dulaan Project, everyone!
(Click on Ryan below if you need an explanation)
Ryan, feel better soon.
Pam, thanks for sharing the yarn.
Love and peace and Arizona warmth to all.

Just a few thoughts

It's very hot here. 109 today. Oh well, it'll only last until October or so.

Miss M is trying a week of summer school at her new school. We've found a private school that all of us like, and she's having a great time with "Science Week". They made ginger ale, salt and sugar crystals, and today she came home with a big Ziploc baggie full of "Gak", slimy white ooze. She loved the fact that it caused me to shriek lots of comments like "Eeeeeeeew!" and "Yuck!" and "Get that stuff away from me!" I'm glad she seems to be enjoying this place.

I really need to turn off the computer and go finish seaming up the sweater. Last year, M saw a play in which there was a knitting giant who was covered in tangled red yarn. He said, "I like knitting, but I hate casting on!". Substitute seaming for casting on for me, please. Must fill box for Dulaan Project and fling it up to Flagstaff.

There's a box of Cheez-Its sitting on the kitchen counter. Bad husband. He knows I could easily ingest the 3-pound double-bag pack from Price Club (I'm NOT going to call it Costco, thank you) in one sitting, and yet, he still buys them once in a while. I love him.

I am so ready to not do what I do for a living anymore.

The dog has now had all four feet trimmed, and looks very sheep-like; tiny feet and a furry, unkempt body. Will attempt to get the rest of him shorn this weekend.

Impending sewing adventure; my mother-in-law is going to tutor me through the process of sewing a scrub top. I am very particular in my fabric likes and dislikes, and she swears it shouldn't be a difficult project, so I've found some batik (complete with 40% off coupon!) and am hoping to start it up this weekend.

That's about it for now.

red

I find myself drawn more to red as I age.
The deeper ones; brick, maroon, poppy.
I don't have jammies like these,
and I dunno what we'll do when she
outgrows them.

Red silk pyjamas, sumptuous, made more so by the
Sylvester and Tweety-Pie print.

blue

My hubby gifted me with a bottle of Partida tequila blanco.
I love the little birdy logo.
The glass bottle is pretty, too, and has a tinge of azul in it.
The tequila is delicioso.

Grey

I love grey clouds, grey birds, and grey critters.
I don't even mind my grey hair!






















Seth gave me this little pachyderm long ago.
She landed an important job as my fixation device
while I was in labor, and now she lives on top of my
clock-radio where I can see her at the start and
finish of each day.

I love our patio. When we extended it, I stole the
idea of putting plant impressions into it from our
wonderful botanical garden.
The guys pouring the concrete thought I was
nuts, but it turned out well. This is a mesquite
cutting. I have different plants or seed pods
all around the edge of the patio.

Brown

A comfortable color.

Today we showcase brown PEI yarn
(soon to be Mongolia-bound),
brown bamboo salad bowl,
brown bamboo cutting board
(a new acquisition!)
held by my favorite
MERmaid whose hands are
sun-kissed brown, and
brown bittersweet chocolate.

Yum entirely.

White

Color week! Thanks for the invite to play along, Stephanie!














My two favorite serving dishes. I don't get to use them that often as they are large, and we don't entertain a lot, but they make me happy. The bowl has cheery flowers, and the leaf platter is really wonderful.

9

No photos today, but here are 9 things that have happened since my last post:

• Found my summons for jury duty which is coming up later this month.
  

• Gave the dog half of his summer haircut. It's amazing how much hair spaniels produce, and since I'm just using scissors, I've only had time to trim his front legs and part of his chest.

• Have finished and halfway seamed the first Dulaan sweater, finished and not yet seamed the second Dulaan sweater, and finished another Cloud Hat for the Dulaan box. I did up the top while waiting for Marion at ballet yesterday, and was helped by an eager young lad of 2 or 3 whose mom kept inexplicably apologizing for his interest in what I was doing. Heck, we had a great time; I dunno what she was so wigged out about.

• Seen my father-in-law (inadvertently) shower my mother-in-law with windshield wiper fluid as she and I stood chatting beside the car. He was in the car already and obviously didn't realize how poorly the fluid jets are aimed. (hee-hee)

• Participated in my 4th co-rec softball game. We've won 3 of 4--Go BlackSox!

• Gotten very fond of some fine blogs: this one, this one, and this one in particular.

• Came home from work early last week Thursday utterly exhausted and somewhat dizzy. Fell into bed and neglected to get up again until Saturday. Felt much better then.

• Gotten myself invited to a sleepover at the Desert Botanical Garden tomorrow night with the childie. It's the culmination of her first week of camp, and we are both very excited about it despite the warm weather.

• Arrived at work yesterday to see a huddled lump of feathers in the parking lot. Immediately started the "please don't be dead" mantra, and after parking, walked over to find a very stunned-looking young dove. It was so dazed it let me pick it up, and I kept it in a box with a warm water bottle until I could take it to a volunteer rescuer's house at lunchtime. Thanks for not being dead, little one. Thanks East Valley Wildlife!

Ballet recital Saturday. Expect plotz-inducing photo next week. Maybe some documentation of the Dulaan goodies a'fore they head up to Flagstaff. Have a delightful weekend, please.