THEY DID IT!!!

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

2008 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!

Happy Anniversary!

Thirty years ago today, The Tim and I got married.

I've heard people say that the longer a couple is married, the more they start to look alike ... but to be honest, I don't see it ...

Personally, I think we are very well matched.

Spoils

A few months ago, I came across a new (to me) blog, Molecular Knitting. I really enjoyed it, and when Brenda had a blog contest in September, I was the winner! Which of course, meant a package in the mail (be still my heart!), this time from California.

I received the package weeks ago, and even though I made sure to write and thank Brenda right away, I realized earlier today that I never showed you what she sent me. I expected the yarn prize, but it turned out to be a box full of surprises.

It was so much fun to open everything, and such a nice collection of things. The yarn is merino sock yarn from Creatively Dyed Yarns, and I immediately decided that it will be socks for moi. It is about as soft as it's probably legal for yarn to be ...

She also included a package from Charles Chocolates, which is near where she lives. It contains (well, contained) candied pieces of hazelnut in bittersweet chocolate. There was also a package of roasted almonds with sea salt, which is also now long gone, as I decided that both could be considered healthy foods. And I am all about eating healthy. Lastly, a pretty little pear scented candle, packaged to look like a small can of pears. The note she included said that everything was from places where she lives, or has lived in California. I think it is such a great idea to get to know other places through local treats or crafts.

Thanks so much, Brenda! Every single thing was something I liked.

Tomorrow, The Tim, Seb, and I are heading to Baltimore. My niece Amanda and her husband Pat are having a Halloween party. My other niece La Liz will be there with Greg and Zach, as well as some other friends of all of them that we know. (According to Amanda, one of the couples even changed their plans to come to the party once they found out we would be there. Do they need a life or what??) We are taking a Holiday Cheeseball and a pumpkin cheesecake, and there will be all kinds of other food and drink, so I'm sure a good time will be in store for all of us. I'm sure many pictures will be taken, for better or for worse ...

Oh, and one more thing - have you seen this site? Carol sent me an e-mail from it, and I laughed myself silly. Enjoy!

Knitting Arizona

The Southwest Socks, they are finished!


After fighting with the toe of the second sock, I finally finished it on Sunday evening. The colors are a little bit brighter than in this photo, but this was the best one I could get, and it's not really too far off.

Here are the details:

Pattern: Yankee Knitter Classic Socks for the Family
Yarn: Dancing Leaf Farm Sock Hop, 1 skein
Needles: US size 2

Comments: I'm pleased with how they turned out, though they gave me problems from the get-go. Not so much with the pattern, since it was just a basic sock pattern, but I had to restart them several times, and then just as there was about 1 inch left to knit on the foot of the second sock, I was pulling yarn from the center pull ball, when a huge tangle of yarn came out! (I think it was Carol who called this phenomenon "yarn vomit," and that's just what it's like.) Anyway, it took me two evenings to untangle it to the point where I could continue knitting. Then when I got to the toe, I kept dropping stitches - grrr! But they are finished, blocked, and ready to be gifted, and I do like the final result.

They are a Christmas gift for my nephew's wife, Liesl, and the colors remind me of the Arizona desert. They live in Tucson, so I hope the socks will feel at home there.

If you are dying to see the Ravelry entry, it's here. Go crazy.

I'll Take 'Potpourri' for $80, Alex

Ah, "Jeopardy!" How I used to love that show. Even after Alex Trebek took over, and I decided that he was just unbearable, I could still watch. But then they dumbed down the questions, and it was just too frustrating and painful to watch the contestants miss questions like "What state shares part of its name with North Carolina?" to which they would answer "Delaware."

Anyway, I am feeling somewhat scattered at the moment, so "Potpourri" seemed like a good description for this post. (Maybe another time, I'll do "Potent Potables" ...)

In any event:

1. Office supplies - one of my co-workers sent this picture around in an e-mail, and I think it would be an excellent addition to practically any office's supply closet.

The Evil New Boss asked me if I had seen the e-mail when I had one of my approximately 600 daily meetings with her. I said I had, since the person had sent it to everyone. ENB said that it "disturbed" her to even think someone would create something like that even as a joke. I said nothing aloud in response, but my brain was working overtime. Good grief.

2. In late September, when Doughboy visited, we headed up to Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia for the Carnavale of the Dogs 2008, an event sponsored every year by Commerce Bank. It was a lot of fun, though I think Doughboy was stunned to see so many dogs all at once. One part involved a costume contest. We met a full-bred Newfie (Doughboy is half Newfie-half Chow) who was dressed as Barbra Streisand:

Doughboy found her quite fetching.

Then we saw this pup, who is the opposite of Doughboy in every way, but was thrilled to see him nonetheless.

3. The Phillie Phanatic - I got a couple of e-mails from people who saw my last post, and wanted to know what type of a creature the Phillie Phanatic is. Duh, he's a mascot! (And that is everything I know about the Phillie Phanatic, really.)

4. The election and digital TV - I will be happy when the election is over, as I am tired of the campaign commercials, but I will be even happier once the switch to digital TV occurs in February 2009. Those commercials are bugging me even more. Yet you know there will still be eejits who are puzzled when it happens, 'cause they had no idea.

5. Knitting news - I have an FO that is blocking as we speak! Yes, I do actually finish things from time to time, believe it or not. I'll show you a picture in my next post. Yep, I can show a picture of this one. Gives you something to look forward to, huh?

6. Zach Attack - I've saved the best picture for last. The weekend before this past one, my niece La Liz, her husband Greg, and Zach came for a visit. The weather was great, and we had such fun with them. Zach and Jetsam wore each other out, and we did a lot of walking around. But of course our first trek was to the playground, and on the way, we stopped in Fitler Square, where there are several animal sculptures that kids especially love. La Liz took this great picture of Zach by the turtles.

Now is that one cute kid or what?? And I have to say, he is one of the nicest, most well-behaved little kids I've ever been around. (And though I am biased, I've also been around LOTS of little kids. Most of whom behaved appallingly. The little darlings.)

OK, I guess that's enough rambling for now. But don't worry, I'll be back with yet another fascinating post soon!