Or in my case, knit! This week I went on a yarn shopping trip with two fellow crochet and knitters, Monique and Ciara. After looking up local yarn shops on Ravelry, we realized there was one right in our backyard. The Tanlged Web at 7900 Germantown Ave. It’s nice little shop filled to the brim with yarn of every kind. The sales people were as friendly and helpful (even when I asked a dumb question about the yarn winder thingey).
There will be moving to a new and larger location soon which promises to have a place to chat and create inside or outside. Sounds like we’ve found a new place to hang out this summer.
After leaving there we made our way to a thrift shop I used to frequent in Norristown. I went to find off to find yarn and needles and the ladies headed for the shoes and purses. By the time they made their way to the craft section, I’d found a $3 bundle of 9 sets of needles and a few bags of yarn that looked interesting. Can you believe that? Nine sets of needles for 3 bucks. I was a happy camper.
Then it was time to hit Michaels on the way to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I found some yarn to break up a red blanket I’m working on (crocheting) and some chenille that was on sale. Of course, when I got to the register, it wasn’t on sale. The yarn was in the wrong bin. Fine. I put it back and we headed off the Factory.
Three lunch specials and a Coach bag later, we were on our way home with our goodies. Now we actually have to make something. Oh, and I did share my 9 pack with fellow knitter Ciara. She got 3 sets of needles out of the deal.
I’ve gotten 1 of 11 squares of the Pink Camo (MC) done using the garter stitch. I really link this color combo so I will probably use it in another project some where down the line.
I am so excited! A few weeks ago I signed up to the invite list (yes, there’s a waiting list) of Ravelry.com. It’s an online community for knitting and crocheting complete with forum, free patterns and tons of tips (wow, that didn’t sound dorky at all).
This is an awesome little community where people who are crazy about knitting and crocheting meet to chat, troubleshoot, share patterns, yarn, and share tons of other useful information. It was started as a way to find everything that you need in one place instead of spending hours searching the web looking for yarn, patterns, etc. It’s not live yet, but there are so many people here you would never know that.
It’s also like an online notebook to track your tools, yarn stash, library and projects. There’s even a status bar for current projects. There are some really nice looking pieces on this site.
I’m still getting my "room" set up but it does put me in the mood to create.
Last year the new Nintendo Wii came out and everyone lost it. The game became hard to find around the globe. The Christmas season was ushered in with people sleeping out in front of Best Buys to get the golden ticket to one of the limited number of consoles. It was unbelievable! I knew I wanted the game, so I sat back and waited.
Now, my wait is over! Last Sunday I was leafing through the circulars and found the game headed for Best Buy & Circuit City. After a few phone calls I was able to head out and finally get the game. It was a spur of the moment purchase, but I figured I could help the economy and…well you get the picture.
Ladies & gents, I have to admit it. I am now officially sucked into the Wii. I haven’t bought any of the cool games yet (the console was on sale for $249), but have played the 5 sports that comes with it. And, let me tell you, it will have you sweating.
The game that will give you the most calorie burning has to be boxing. After 2 bouts, which I won with 2 KO’s, I was beginning to feel the burn. It was great! I think I found my new fun way to get healthy & burn calories.
You’ve got to try it! Most consoles are set up at the stores so go give it a whirl.
FYI - the games don’t seem that hard to find, but the consoles are still in great demand. The store I went to only got in 18 and I got one of the last 4. So, if you’re able to, grab it as soon as it becomes available.
My cousin Toni, who I affectionately call my twin, has come into town from Maryland this week. The occasion is somber, her father passed. She’s very heartbroken over the loss as you can imagine.
She called me at work to give me the news and asked if she could go see mom. Ah…of course! I know mom would love to see her. So, we met up after work and headed home.
Once she hit the door, the laughter never stopped. When we’re together it gets out of control. In a good way. The first thing she asked me to do, once I changed my clothes, was to take her to Paganos Steaks on Ogontz Ave.
They make the best massive beef and chicken steaks. If it’s a steak sandwich she wants, so it’s a steak sandwich she’ll get. I haven’t had a chicken cheese steak in about two years and now looked forward to the treat.
During the drive, I tried to explain that the shop makes a huge sandwich and it usually takes me a few days to eat it. She didn’t believe me.
We watched them make the steaks and then they placed her steak onto the foil to be dressed and wrapped. I looked at her and said, “That’s yours.”
I have to pause here and apologize. I was without a camera and missed a Kodak moment. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers and she last her words. The sandwich was massive! You cannot close this sandwich. Naturally, i laughed while she tried to answer the man behind the counter asking what she wanted on her steak sandwich.
It’s never a dull moment when we’re together. I’m happy I was able to make her laugh a little instead of crying.
Around this time, mom was bit by the crochet bug and was working on blankets, blankets and more blankets. I thought, since I taught myself this in high school, I should be able to get right back in the swing of things. I was right and started crocheting here and there.
Then the guilt set in. Did I really give knitting a chance? Not really. So, I gave it another whirl and took the project into to work. It was then I learned most of the women I work with were knitters or crocheted. AWESOME! Now, I had someone to ask my stupid questions.
And Away We Go
So, I happily gave knitting another go and finished a scarf using the only stitch I know. Knit. Three scarves later, I think I’m ready to learn another stitch.
Thank you so much for your loving prayers and well wishes as I take this journey. It’s nothing but God’s hand on me that I feel wonderful and sound so positive about this journey. There is nothing to hard for God!
The first part of the journey is moving on and the second part is forming. Therapy, chemo and radiation. So, I’m asking God to direct me on this part also, and to keep me in high spirits throughout both treatments. To keep me from any side effects. His will, not mine, be done.
Also, I’m asking the children of God to continue to pray for me and Clesha. We don’t know when therapy will start. We are standing on our faith that God will bring us through this too.
God Bless you all and also your families. Love you all!
Today is Easter Sunday and, like most Christians around the world, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This Easter was calm and filled with laughter. Mom and I were invited to the home of her best friend Nicky for dinner. Nicky loves to entertain (she’s very good at it) so I was expecting a lot of church folks laughing and sharing Easter lamb. That so wasn’t the case.
When we arrived, we learned that we were the only guest. Great!! No, I really mean great. I love when she has a house full of guest because I get to be a fly on the wall, but this Easter I was enjoying the solitude.
The dinner was de-li-cious! There was lamb baked with fruit, baked chicken, beets, greens, seasoned cheese grits (a new dish), and orange pound cake for dessert. Everything was delicious and I, of course, ate a bit more than I should have.
I tasted everything on the table. I say this because I usually don’t eat beef or pork. Today, I had lamb. And it was good. <sigh>
The conversation was just as good and taught me a lot about old Philadelphia, Keeping Up Appearances and a few other BBC shows I never heard of. It also lead into a family debate that got more interesting and passionate as it went on.
Soon it was time to head out. We all had to get ready for work the next day. We gathered the goodies Nicky had for us and headed home. Today was a good day.
. It seems simple enough.
, 
There’s a shade of green in the Pink Camo yarn that I wasn’t able to find so we’ll go with this for now.
