From Portugal, With Love

Okay, I am a bit late on this, but better late than never!

Here are some pics I snapped in Portugal.....from the bus (sorry about the window glare) and from the boat ride that we took!

I'm still waiting for the official pics to come back from the photographer.....one of these days!

A Portugese Sunset:


Just exactly how fast was the bus moving to get this picture......


Portugese Fishing Boats


The Eastern Atlantic Coastline


Picture of Lisbon from the Boat

Blogthings....

Bored at work for a change.....

You Are The Stuffing

You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together. People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

You Should Rule Mars

Mars is a planet that shines brightly and loops wildly around the solar system. You are perfect to rule Mars, because you are both energetic and independent. Like Mars, you seems attractive and bright to others - but you're difficult to pin down. You are a great thinker, but you only think in the present and ignore the future. Full of enthusiasm and inspiration, you are into your own thing... and rather insensitive to others.

What Planet Should You Rule?

You Are

A Drunk Pumpkin Face You would make a good pumpkin martini.

What's Your Pumpkin Face?

Your Haloween Costume Should Be

A Sexy Bunny

What Should You Be For Halloween?

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?

Ping..ping....ping ping ping ping ping

Ping..ping....ping ping ping ping ping

What you do not want to hear while you are beading. Honestly!

I thought that I would be a good person and get started on some Christmas gifts and pulled out my beads and wire to put together some earrings and of course some stitch markers for those in my life who knit / crochet.

While gathering all of the paraphernalia to set on the kitchen table I thought to myself that perhaps i should wait and start when I was not that tired but I convinced myself that all would be okay.

So away I start working, sorting beads and trying to find some inspiration. I decide that I want to use the middle seed beads that are in my stacking tower. I grab the stack and start to untwist totally not paying attention.

Twist...twist.....twist...ping....ping..ping....ping ping ping ping ping "Oh crap!!!!"

Yup, if you have not figured it out, I untwisted upside down. I luckily caught it before all of the beads came pouring out. A good number did escape.....some fell onto the rug underneath the table and gave a little bounce and stayed put. The ones that fell on the hardwood floors....well I think that I will be finding beads when I vacuum for months! I never knew that beads could jump so far across the room.

I cleaned the mess up, made a few more items up and now I've called it a night. Hopefully I've learned my lesson to pay attention when I start opening containers with lots of small round things that can go all over the place!

My Celeb Collage

Showing my version of the recent blog craze!

I have seen these so far on Deneen's blog, Vik's blog and Mimi's blog!



Heres a hint to you as well.....make sure your hair is not pulled back! I tried it first with a picture with my hair back....not a good idea! According to that picture I look the most like Ozzy Osbourne, Dan Rather, Dermot Mulroney and James Gandolfini!! How scary is that! There were 2 females at the bottom of the list of 8 - Hayden Panettiere (I can see that one) and Son Ye-Jin.

Hawaii Earthquake

Well, my parents are okay after the earthquake! They were at Kona this morning on a cruise ship when the quake hit! My Mum said that the boat was tossed pretty heavily, but all are okay!

What a thing to wake up to...I'd imagine it was the same feeling that you get when you are on one of the old waterbeds and someone jumps on it and you are tossed all over the place!

Sunday night knitting.....

I am sitting here with a glass of wine and several unfinished and finished projects surrounding me. Although since the wine bottle is over half gone, I am not sure how good some of the kntting (and a little crocheting) has been going!

I am making progress on my Brea Bag - so far so good! I am doing it in the same green yarn that I did one of the One Skein scarves in - matching bag and scarf pattern!

The blue jeans are slowly being cut into strips to start that bag. Its a slow process as I quickly loose the desire to keep cutting. The first pair of jeans is done and I started on the second tonight.

I finished blocking my Broomstick scarf - I'll have to get a picture of it up! I am stil trying to decide what to do with my pattern. Jenny says that I should try to get it published.....I might try submitting it for the 2008 Crochet-a-day Calendar....decisions decisions!

I am also trying to work out a few other broomstick patterns - a second scarf, a dishcloth, a hat and a shawl. The designs are there, I've written out my general scematics for the ideas, but my issue is finding the time to actually crochet that much! I am a notoriously slow crocheter, so pattern design is a wee bit difficult for me!

Okay I hope that everyone had a great weekend and that you all have a great week!

Pretty much me.....

Saw this on Deneens blog and Veras....potentially on others as well, but I am trying to catch up on blog reading after a hectic week finishing up my budget for 2007, doing the quarter end report with the US and a ton of other things!

What Color is Your Brain?

ORANGE:

At work or in school: I need to be "hands on": I like to play games, to compete, and to perform. I enjoy flexibility, changes of pace, and variety. I have difficulty with routine and structure. My favorite subjects are music, art, theatre, and crafts. I often excel in sports. I like solving problems in active ways and negotiating for what I want. I can be direct and like immediate results.
With friends: Planning ahead bores me because I never know what I want to do until the moment arrives. I like to excite my friends with new and different things, places to go, and romantic moments.
With family: I need a lot of space and freedom. I want everyone to have fun. It is hard for me to follow rules, and I feel we should all just enjoy one another.
Take this quiz!








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Hello from Dublin!

I am sitting in the airport terminal waiting for my flight back to brussels - its been a long week and weekend - first in Portugal and then in Dublin. Had a great time in both though! I met up with an old friend in Dublin and of course stopped into a few of my local bars from when I lived in Dublin.

I have not gotten really any crocheting or knitting done, but I've relaxed some which was well needed!

Will get busy this coming week as I have tons of things to do!

Talk to you all soon! I'll have to get busy and catch up on bloglines and blog reading!

Cheers!

Broomstick Lace aka Jiffy Lace

I have been fascinated with Broomstick Lace for years. Yes, years. And yes, I've only been crocheting for just under 2 years.

My mother from time to time has ventured into the craft world. On her current plate right now is knitting. And knitting one pattern, and one pattern only. She makes slippers from time to time when she has the time. I do believe that I have a pair floating around my apartment, I'll have to take pictures! But I digress. She has in the past also sewed, knitted other objects and crocheted, although the last two well before my memory time span.

One of the objects she made was an afghan made of Broomstick lace that is light and airy. She also made a baby blanket that we used for years as a doll blanket for our Cabbage Patch Kids which my nieces are now using!

My Grandmother recently moved and cleared out her stash of yarn and patterns. I gained 4 bags of yarn (almost all acrylics) and several pattern books, including one with instructions for Jiffy lace.

Several of you have mentioned wanting to learn / try the Broomstick lace so I thought that I might list some links to Tutorials that I have in my collection! For those of you who do not want to spend the money on purchasing the large knitting needles just to try this pattern, it is possible to use a ruler (one without sharp edges that will catch the yarn), dowels or even the original broomstick.....

Here are the tutorials:

Crochet Cabana Broomstick Lace - Nice with pictures

South Bay Crochet Tutorial - written, no pictures, includes tips and tricks

Crochet By The Hook - Includes pattern for hat with instructions

While not a lot of patterns exist out there for broomstick lace, I think that the possibilities are endless!

I have a few ideas floating around in my head of finished projects - a unique finish on a sweater, edging on a hat, edging at the top of socks. Scarves as I've shown in my swatching this morning. You could easily work this into several designs for afghans.

The technique is flexible - you can use three, four, five or even six loops at a time for the pattern repeats, making sure that you have the correct multiples in the patterns. You can even change it up for variety....using multiples of 15 will allow you to switch back and forth between groups of 5 and groups of 3, multiples of 12 between 6 and 4 or even 6 and 3!

I would love to see what people can come up with using this over looked technique!

I do believe my missing Muse has been located.....

Patterns, patterns everywhere....

And of course, NOT the one I want!

I spent last night going through stacks of patterns, skimming page by page through instructions books, the Crochet bible, Knitters instructions everywhere!

I've signed up to do a Scarf Exchange. Dumb butt me. You would have thought that by now I would have stopped signing up for things like this, but of course I still do. Its not that I hate sending things to others, I hate the pressure I feel behind those gifts.

Is it something that they will like, is it the right size, the right color, the right pattern. Will they hate it? Is my crocheting skills pathetic and are they going to laugh at what I send. The pressure for perfection is on me every time. And every time I agonize over what I am sending.

Now I'm feeling the pressure to make THE perfect scarf. I've been swatching and digging through my stash. Trying to find the time to go to the yarn store to see if she has something that is going to scream "use me use me" to create the perfect scarf.

I am by no means close to a decision on final yarn type, color or pattern. The only limits I have is that it can not be wool or mohair and it has to go with a black coat, preferably red, blue or purple.

I had though something in this pattern but I can not figure out for the life of me the stitches used - anyone else? (sorry that its sideways)

I origianlly thought it might be a form of broom stick lace and started 2 swatchs of that:

Then I dug through pattern books and found this pattern, but I'm not really liking it: (sorry that its sideways)


I know that I can do the One Skein Crochet Scarf fairly quickly & nicely, but I wanted something different. I've poured through the books, looked at crochet and knit patterns. Nothing, nada, blah and drab. My creative muse is missing, if someone finds her please send her back before I start having anxiety attacks on this scarf.

French Knitting

To start off, I am by no means an expert knitter, actually a fairly new beginner in the grand scheme of things!

With my showing the patterns in French, I thought that I could at least help those who might be interested in branching out into a whole new world of patterns!

One excellent resource that I have found on the web is Tricotin.com With their Trico-Dico which translates knitting terms from French to English and vice-versa. They also have a Yarn Dictionary which translates the yarn terms. They also offer basic instructions in French which might be helpful, including FINALLY some on-line instruction on how to use my little French Knitting Bee to make an I-cord which I have been looking for.....they say a picture is worth a thousand words and they are right!

Using the Trico Dico I have been able to read my way through several of the patterns in the Explications Tricot.....I am still not 100% sure if I will be able to actually knit them. I am going to start with a basic childs scarf pattern and go from there. No promises on when I'll be able to give feedback on this as I am a little bit behind on other projects right now.....before Christmas at least! =)

I'm going to start searching out other french knitting sites and patterns which I'll post as I find anything of note.

Bergere de France

I was sooooooo excited at work to get the most recent catalog from Bergere de France. Along with the catalog I got their Explications Tricot in both paper format AND CD Rom format. The catalog is fun because it includes samples of all of their yarns for this season and the different colors! The Explications Tricot because it has the patterns for ALL of the samples in the book! And as a bonus the CD Rom has even more patterns from the past few catalogs that Bergere has sent out! In all, 277 patterns for under 10 Euros!!!!!!

I will say that a lot of the items in the book are way out of my skill level and others I would never even consider making.

Here are a few of the items that caught my eye:



I really like that white tank top, although it would need to be done in a color other than white for me! And I doubt if I would wear it at my current weight.

I love the sleeve ends on the Grey sweater - the little flare out bell is tres chic, and the ribbon is a wonderful touch.

The turquoise would need to be without the belt and without the hand warmers. i love the classic rib sweater, and that neckline is my favorite....well, along with turtlenecks on a sweater.



Not sure what my fascination with the kids clothes is, but the dress is adorable as is the little sweater. I am actually thinking of trying the dress. If I do it in a size 12 months, I might have it finished in time for my niece to wear it.

Did I fail to mention that there is one catch with the patterns in the book?

They are all in French! Yeah, I'm not sure if I have my head on straight when I think about trying one of these as I can barely knit in English! I have a co-worker who is a native French speaker who knits, so I figure that she'll be able to help me should I get really stuck on the directions.

Off to peruse the catalog and dream about the yarn I would order if only I had enough money!

Nephew conversation = Stash Fears

As I've mentioned, I am very close to my 6 year old nephew even though he lives in the US. Hes my Little Man. We talk on the phone several times a week with updates and the usual 'When are you coming home again' questions.

He had his birthday Sept 12th, and I had totally forgotten to buy him a present when I was home in August and leave it for him to open. I called him 2 weeks before his birthday and gave him the option of my sending him a present in the mail or waiting until Christmas and we'd go shopping together to buy it. The shopping (to Toys R Us) won out over a present now.

While talking on the phone yesterday we had an interesting convesation that shows he listens to me and remembers everything.

Me - What we doing when I come home for Christmas?
Andrew - Going Shopping. To toys R Us.
Me - Really? What are we going to buy there?
Andrew - My birthday present....We can buy something for you too Aunt Kim.
Me - We're going to buy me a toy?
Andrew - No, we can go buy you yarn!
Me - Why yarn?
Andrew - Because your favorite thing is yarn, yarn, yarn and more yarn.
Me - And how do you know that?
Andrew - Because I know. You really like it. We can buy you what you like if you give me the money.
Me - We'll see.
Andrew - You have lots of secret yarn in Grandmas basement that you never use, you can get some there.

LOL - even my nephew knows where my stash is hidden - its really not safe at all! And hes a boy whos not remotely interested in yarn at all.

Miscellaneous Turtle Parts, Flakes and more....

Well, I have been a productive little bee here lately at the Maison de Kimberly!

My serving tray has become a Turtle Factory...or perhaps a Turtle Hospital!

I have rounded up all of the miscellaneous turtle parts that I could find, and these.....




have become these.....



I am hoping that I can continue to make at least 3 a week until I go back to the US. I finished the 2 yesterday and sewed the ends in today along with crocheting up some replacement parts for those I used. I still need to do the eyes on these little guys, but I'll wait and do all of the eyes at one time.

I've also been getting ready for Christmas! I finished the first 4 flakes of the season. I've not had time to block them yet - will wait and do a mass blocking of them!

  

Here is a picture finally of my first green One Skein scarf and the second one that I finished yesterday for my College Roommate Ashley. Ash is 6 feet tall, so she asked for an extra long one....I think that I went a bit overboard on the extra long part, but she'll like it!



I finished after work tonight my next Garterlac - this pattern is so much fun!



And finally, a look at one of my next projects.......



I cleaned out my wardrobes and these jeans have been casulties of time, washing and fashion trends to be turned into a free form of yarn as I will attempt to make the Injeanius Bag! I've not figured out yet if I'll go with jeans about the same color or mix it up with those that are lighter and darker. Any one made this bag have any feedback?

My crocheting niece, Bekky

I don't think I mentioned that while I was home in the US that I started to teach my younger sister's step daughter Bekky to crochet. We first attempted last year when I was home in June and I did not do a very good job.! Bekky asked my sister if I would show her how again when I was home this summer, and of course I said YES!!!!!

This time I came home with some colored plastic hooks in different sizes and I bought a Children's Crochet book which had pictures for both right and left handers since Bekky is left handed.

We sat down one day together and I showed Bekky the basics of chaining and a simple single crochet in a loop so that she could finish the first item in the book, loopy flowers. We ended up teaching her right handed as that was more comfortable for her!

Here is a picture of Bekky and her FIRST finished item:



Being a creative and resourceful child, she quickly saw that she could attach the starting and closing ends and create a necklace! Sorry that the picture is not the best of the flower - it actually turned out very well, but in the picture its fallen partially closed.

Bekky left me a comment on my Lighthouse Cloth that she has been practicing the flowers! Keep up the practice Bekky and when I am home for Christmas we will sit down again and go farther in the book!

The Sarcelle Pattern...first glance

Several of you have been wondering on the Sarcelle pattern that I bought yesterday.

I've looked through the pattern, and while the stitches used are fairly straight, here is where I think that I am going to be challenged:

The first note references that is worked on the bias - ummm, I might be a little bit obtuse here but can someone explain this statement to me? I know what a bias is...As in you have a bias against something, but what is it referring to in this usage?

The pattern instructions were written using a combination of written instructions and a chart - the instructions refer you to knit specific rows of the chart. I am not that comfortable with charts, although a knit chart for me is a lot easier than a Crochet chart!

Overall, from my first glance I would say that a beginner / easy knitter would struggle with this pattern...I feel that I am going to!

I'll try to get it on my needles relatively soon and give an update on my opinion once I start to take a stab at it!

Swapna - what is your opinion on the pattern? I think that you are a bit more advanced in the knitting front than me, so you might have a different opinion!

Saturday morning jaunt...

Lets first start off with saying that I normally HATE IKEA here in Brussels. Long lines, tons of people, children running amok, carts blocking every conceivable aisle and pathway as their owners walk away for what seems like hours causing long traffic jams and fierce tempers.

Well, when I was awake at 8 am on a Saturday with nothing to do, I decided that I would head to the grocery store. On my way out to Carrefour I decided to run around to Ikea and deal with the chaos to buy some new pillows and odds and ends I've been needing.

I get there, the parking lot is almost empty - as in I got a front row right at the door spot without having to fight for it and basically being able to choose one of multiple different spots. Cooooool!

I take a deep breath, walk toward the big massive doors, and prepare myself to enter hell. The doors slide open and silence reaches my ears...wheres the noise from the screaming kids in the play land? I slowly ventured into the building, riding the escalator up to the show floor where I expected to be greeted with the sight of children running around, playing tag, hide-n-go-seek and other assorted mayhem.....nothing. A few people my age wandering around looking at furniture.

This continues as I wandered the pathway, weaving my way in and out. I finally hit the stairs down to the section where the fun begins and I start buying. Empty. Yet again a few folks looking about. I grab a cart from the full to overflowing cart corral and begin weaving my way through the shelves like a Roman Chariot Race driver. I go straight, I go left, turn back around, head right, another right, around the bins, grab the pillows, dodging displays not people. I see the exit and slide my cart in sideways to the cashiere...woo hoo!! No bad tempers, no screaming, no crying kids.....shopping at its best!

I pay the bill...after cringing at the total...it seems with the lack of crowds I was able to see more things, hence I was able to throw more things into the cart. Like I really needed that bread baking pan! I rush to my car....wait a minute, this is not the same parking lot. Every spot is filled, people are honking, I can taste the bad tempers of folks as a steady stream of bodies head toward the doors.

Success was mine. I relinquish my parking spot to another, and head off down the road....thanking the powers that be for a shopping experience at Ikea that I am sure will never be repeated!

You oughta know whatcha gonna get in me!

What's new Buenos Aires?
I'm new, I wanna say I'm just a little stuck on you
You'll be on me too

Hello, Buenos Aires
Get this, just look at me dressed up, somewhere to go
We'll put on a show

Stand back, Buenos Aires
Because you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of star quality

I do believe I am going to be singing this song for the next 86 days.....

And this is because, in exactly 86 days I will be landing in Buenos Aires for a quick 6 days visit before going to Michigan for Christmas!

You can not believe how happy this has made me. I went from barely able to put together a coherent statement while talking on the phone today from sheer exhaustion and mental overload to bouncing around the office and totally excited.

VIK - are you ready to go shopping with me and Zori?????????? I'm not sure yet what Zori is going to be planning (she has a ton of ideas for the 6 days) but I've told her that I need time to visit you and she said of course! Aside from the shopping she is thinking dinner one night at her home perhaps.

Enablement at its best....

Swapna posted about the Sarcelle pattern today on her blog.

I of course had to go check it out!

And not only check it out, but buy not one, but two! Two you ask? Of course! How could I buy one for myself and not buy one for my favorite friend in India?

On other crafty fronts, I am well on my way finished with the second Garterlac dishcloth. I have been working on it on and off at work today while waiting for files to run / open / refresh. So its literally do one or two rows of 8, put it down....type....type...type.....do one or two rows, put it down....type and so on and so forth.

I finished one snowflake last night using the Anchor White with Silver metallic thread that I bought from Mimi. I love how it turned out! It seems to sparkle like all good star should! I have to get it (and the other flakes I've made recently) starched and blocked!

Well, my report is finished running, I am off to finish some work for the day!

Merci Beaucoup!!

A giant thank you goes out to the wonderful person who sent me a box full of Skittles!!

They are going to come in VERY handy during this upcoming busy period that I will have at work!

Merci Beaucoup!!!

A shameful disgrace and abuse of power

WARNING - SLIGHTLY POLITCAL RANT AHEAD - I am not asking you to agree or disagree - just stating my opinion and take on a speech given yesterday, September 11th by George W. Bush, President of the United States. I rarely talk about politics and country leaders as I believe that we all have a right to our own opinions and that as an American living in Europe, my views and outlooks have changed dramatically from when I was a sheltered Midwestern girl growing up. I no longer believe what I hear on the news, nor what words come from the mouths of "Leaders". I've lost my innocence and faith in my fellow humans, and I find that to be a good thing.
____________________________________

I am appalled at the speech that the President of The United States gave yesterday to commemorate the attacks on September 11th. Instead of using the speech to remember those fallen and that day, Mister President sued his speech to defend his foreign policy and current actions. That speech should NOT have been about that in any way shape or form!

Two minutes were a tribute to the fallen victims, and the rest was mainly an attempt to link Sept 11th to why we are still involved in Iraq. Mister President has said that Sept 11th had no links to Baghdad and Saddam, and yet he spends the majority of the speech referring to the War in Iraq. Why not focus on Sept 11th, the changes to Afghanistan, to National Security, to the American way of life now versus before the attacks. There are other times and places to defend his actions and the actions of his staff, yesterday was not that time nor place.

I found a quote by Senator Kennedy to be fitting:

The president should be ashamed of using a national day of mourning to commandeer the airwaves to give a speech that was designed not to unite the country and commemorate the fallen but to seek support for a war in Iraq that he has admitted had nothing to do with 9/11. There will be time to debate this president's policies in Iraq. September 11th is not that time.

KALs and CALs Galore

I have been bitten again by the urge to do what everyone else is doing, so I've joined several CALs and KALs recently and plan on joining a few more. I always am a glutton for punishment.....those long forgotten WIPs are doing just fine in those Rubbermaid containers...honest, they are! =) So I am going to show you several *gasp* finished item. Yes, it is amazing that I actually finished something, but as they say proof is in the pictures, here you go!

First up is my first finished dishcloth of a Dishcloth KAL I am participating in. It is the Lighthouse Dishcloth designed by Rhonda K. White. I worked this one up over a few days a little bit at a time - the pattern worked up quickly, I just was not able to dedicate that much time to it.

Next is my One Skein Scarf in white. I also did this in Green but for some reason the picture that I took of it corrupted and will not post.....very bizarre! The white one as I mentioned has walked out my door already with Sandi, and the next one I am making in Green will be sent to Ashley. I worked on the green one some yesterday during a conference call I was on - finished the first two rows - one more row to go and then the border!

There you go folks - some finished items!

I am still working diligently on the cross stitch sampler, as well as the baby blanket. I am having some guilt about the Princess Frog, which I will get around to finishing someday. I am still mad about the mistake I made on her foot so I am putting off frogging that mistake since it involves the one foot that I actually finished, sewed and stuffed! Argh!!!!!!!

A surprise visit!

I had a wonderful surprise last night when my college room mate was able to stop in Brussels for the evening on her way from Amsterdam to London! It was wonderful to see Ashley and her friend Sandy.

I picked them up at the train station and treated them to a mini sight seeing your of Brussels - I drove them around the main sites and walked them around the Grand Place - I of course introduced them to the glorious taste of the Belgian Waffles - yummy!

We ended up back at my place where they stayed the night with me. They were amazed by my yarn stash....I wonder why *grin*

They both loved my One Skein Crochet Scarves that I've been working on. I gave Sandy my white one, and am now in the process of making Ashley a green one - the green one that I had made was too short for her. I'll hopefully have it completed in time to meet them in Paris towards the end of their visit.....always assuming that I can get out of work to head over there!

I was thrilled to have someone I know visiting in Brussels, even if it was only for a night - excluding family, Ashley and Sandy would be my first visitors! My other visitors have been my Aunt and my parents.

They were also able to call and talk to their family from my place. I have downloaded the new Yahoo Messenger with voice and added some credit to the phone calling. With this tool, I am able to call the US for the low price of 1 cent per minute! I tested it with my family and it works extremely well and is extremely clear sounding as well as very much same time. The old phone via computer was often slow and had major delays so you would end up talking over each other! I would highly suggest this if you are on a fast connection to the internet.

The Belgian Beer Festival Pictures!

Here we go folks.....I finally got the pictures downloaded off my phone. My cord is still MIA so I beamed them over using the infra-red port...lets talk about a sllllooooooowwwwwww process that one was!

As my public service announcement:

The gang from the first night:

Me and Russ:

Glasses of all shapes and sizes:

You are not seeing things on that last glass! It has finger grips and is shaped for a perfect pour into your mouth! Called Le Meme Chose in French, in English it is The Same Again!

See you there next year!

I ate Burger King!!!

You would not believe how excited I was to eat at Burger King in the Zürich airport last night! Its not even been a month since I was back in the US, but I made the realization that I did not eat a single hamburger the whole time I was there! So when deciding last night between pizza or a whopper meal, the answer was easy to make!

I actually think that I might like travelling to Zurich if I can get a whopper every time I leave to return to Belgium! All that we have here in Belgium is McDonalds, so I'll often go months without a burger! I'm a BK girl through and through - can not eat at McDs except for Breakfast!

I worked at BK for around 6 years through high school and college - they were great for working around my class schedule and giving me hours whenever I wanted! I think I could walk into any of the stores owned by the chain I worked for and have a job without question!

I am back in Belgium, and I have a lot of catching up to do! My friend Kim is flying in tonight so we will go for dinner and drinks once again - I'm pushing for us to go for mojitos this week!

Will work on catching up on my blog reading!

C'est la rentrée!!

Its September, so that means school is back in session here in Belgium.....idiot students are walking randomly across roads, dodging cars, attempting to get run over by trams and buses.....what fun it is to be driving a car here!

I slightly modified my goal of having 50% of my WIPs done before I start my CAL and KALs for September. Instead I have joined Wendy in a challenge to have ALL WIPS done by the end of Sept! I can do it!! Well, perhaps! It is budget season here for me in bean counting land so that means lots of hours and travels to Zürich.

I did finish 3 snowflakes, one turtle (parts done, needs to be assembled) two repeats on the afghan and more work done on the cross stitch! The flakes still need to be blocked, I've decided to wait until I have a god number of them and do them all at one time. I will try the sugar water again as it seemed to work wonderfully last year.

This weekend is the Belgian Beer Weekend (here is last years pics and my summary about Belgian Beer) - what fun!! My friend Russ is coming in from the UK for it, and a large group of us from work will be there. Should be once again an interesting weekend!

I fly to Zürich on the Monday morning 7:30am flight - my boss said that we would have a whisper only Monday and that sunglasses would be allowed to be worn! =) I just might need the sunglasses and the whispering for the first part of the day!

Have a great weekend everyone! I will try to take pics to share with everyone! Happy crocheting, Knitting and whatever else you may be doing!

Can't we take a vote????

I mean, a vote is the democratic way. Why should one group of men sit around and decide the planetary fate of the whole universe? What about a Grandfather Clause? I mean come on! Its been acknowledged as a planet for years and years.

How am I going to remember the planets now? Do you all recall....

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas

Which represented:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.

I'll probably say the same thing but then correct myself... "Neptune and Pluto...oh oops! Thats right, Plutos not a planet anymore.

So how will kidlets in science classes around the world recall the planets now......My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us.....

Nicotine??? Nah, she would not be very educated then
Nothing??? Nope, again that would show a lack of education in our starvation
Nerds??? Tooth rot and decay here we come....not a very smart Mother
Nutella??? The Swiss rejoice but those with nut allergies perish

I think that we should listen to what the masses have to say....a world wide vote to restore the status of our beloved little Pluto as our 9th planet!

*sigh* I really need to come back to reality as the "educated" egg heads have spoken.....

Pluto....we will miss you!!

My Goal before the start of the September Scarves CAL

I have joined a CAL at Fiber Freaks to make this scarf (and as many others as I can in 1 month) for a September Scarves CAL.

I looked today to decide on what yarn I am going to use and have been taunted by the yarn ever since to start the project.

I have decided that since I seem to want to make this scarf so badly, I will set myself a pre-beginning goal of having 50% of my outstanding WIPs done before I pick up the hook to start this scarf!

To the best of my knowledge, here is a list of my outstanding WIPs:

*3 doilies
*The Princess Frog
*Miscellaneous turtle parts
*baby blanket for my sister
*Christmas card snowflakes (not a chance I'll get enough done)
*1 dishcloth
*Cross Stitch project (almost done.....)

WIP but not counted in the numbers:
*2 scarves (not the one for the CAL....these are both in infancy, so I will finish them during the CAL)
*2 doll blankets (these are in the US though so they can not count)

My goal to consider the turtles done would be 4 turtles, and for the snowflakes 5.

Knowing my own limits and speed, I will say that 50% will be completing 2 of the doilies, 4 turtles, 5 snowflakes and the dishcloth while making some progress on the blanket and the cross stitch project!

Rather ambitious, but I think that I should be able to complete the majority in the next week or so! Wish me luck!

OMG.......its finished!!!

In just a little over a day.......including 12 hours of sleep, a shopping trip and 1.5 books read I finished the Garterlac Dishcloth!

Here it is in all its finished glory - yarn used Peaches & Creme in Peppermint



When I do my next dishcloth, I will pick a color pattern that has more than one color change - I don't think that the dual colored yarn shows the pattern as well as others I've seen.

Lani - I totally agree that this was a fun knit!! It was so cool to see what happened next!

Wendy - Based on my time and Lani's time, I don't think that you need to worry about finding too large of a chunk of time to devote towards this dishcloth! I will be waiting patiently....well, patience is not one of my virtues, so I'll be waiting impatiently to read that you are starting in on yours!!

Deneen - Go for the knitting! Its such great fun.....I was so hesitant to start knitting, but I sat down and figured it out - I am still very basic, so this dishcloth will not be too far out of your reach! Especially as it is all knit stitch, with some basic increasing and decreasing!

Addicted!!!

I've found an addiction folks!

Knitting is a VERY slow process for me, especially when its something new or complicated....so I am still questioning what was in my mind when I decided to combine both new and complicated in the form of a simplified Enterlac project! *gulp* Yup, I said Entrelac which is a scary four letter world in my rather basic beginner level knitting realm.

I started this: Garterlac Dishcloth last night and as of 2 minutes ago I had started layer 5 of 7! Wow! I have never been so compelled to keep knitting than I have with this project!

It is a fascinating project that seems a bit weird when you start it (and a bit downright scary!) but if you stick with it and do exactly as the directions say without any right or left brain inputs, you will be amazed to watch it turn from three wonky little triangles into an awesome dishcloth! I kept knitting on it last night just to see what it was going to look like next!

I'd like to thank Deneen for pointing this pattern out, and Lani for giving me hope that I might be able to actually do it after seeing hers!

Okay, back to knitting!!

Back and in business!!

I arrived back in Brussels on Thursday and have managed to get over my jet-lag rather quickly this time! I am still a bit tired, but I think that is because I've been getting too much sleep!

No issues this time on my carry-ons as I checked everything except a few books, my PC and a Cross Stitch sampler I am making - did not want to risk loosing my hooks and needles...nor that lethal ball of thread! I tried to doze on and off for most of the flight while listening to my Ipod and watching the movie....it was something with Jake Gyllenhal (yeah, I probably spelled that one wrong) that I had no interest in, but it was fun to watch and make up in my own mind what was being said when I could not read the lips.

I have a ton to do at work now to catch up....yee haw!

My Aunt loved the Turtles - now to get busy and make some more for her! She said that one of them would probably become the Peds mascot...how cool is that? *grin*

I have been working on some designs for coasters - hopefully I can get the patterns written down soon!

Off to get some work done! Have a great Friday and a great weekend!!

Thing that make you go hmmm...

Hello from the US!!

I made it safe and sound. The security lines were massive. They pushed us through the metal detectors and x-ray machines fairly quickly (the US going passengers had their own scanner lines) and then we waited for almost 2 hours in a second security line to have everything personally searched and gone through.

It was hit and miss as to what they woulc allow you to bring. Some people were foreced to check their laptops which I would have been furious at as that is against my company policy. And to make it worse, some of the laptops checked never made it to the other end! I would be spewing right now! Luckily they let me take mine on with me.

I asked about my knitting needles and crochet hooks when I checked in and they said that they would be fine to take.

Come time for the security check of my stuff......they first looked at the needles - I explain what they are and say that they are the same as a pencil which I had in the bag.....they said okay to the needles and that yarn. The crochet hook they did not like....nor my ball of thread. The hook I can understand. The thread though????? What is the difference between that and yarn? What, am I going to do bop someone on the head with it? Strangle someone? Oh wait a minute, I have a sweater that was made out of a thin strand - I told the lady if she took my thread away that I could undo my sweater in 5 minutes and have another ball of thread....she glared at me but I did not care that that point. She put it in a bag and asked me to put my name on it saying that I would get it when I got to chicago. Not a chance! Thats one thread and hook I will never see again!

Oh well! I made it safe and sound and thats what counts!
I am off to pick up the neice and nephew - have a good weekend!

Its almost time for vacation!

I have to finish work today, then tomorrow and then its time for vacation! Woo hoo!!!

I am so excited about seeing my nephew and neices, especially the newest addition Abby! My older sisters two children are going to be fighting over who gets to have Aunt Kim sleep in their room - both are determined I think that I sleep in with them! I've also been informed that I get to take them both shopping.....imagine that! Andrew wants to go to Toy R Us and Target (not really sure why Target, but thats cool with me) and Megan just wants to go buy hair pretties. She also thinks a trip to the movies to eat popcorn and drink Root Beer sounds like a good idea!

I am still working on my trial run on the baby blanket that I am knitting - I am about 7 reapeats into the pattern of 25 repeats and so far it is looking good. I made a mistake on the first repeat as I was learning the pattern but it is barely noticeable so I did not choose to go back and frog it. I hope that I will be able to bring my needles on the plane with me so that I can get a few more repeats done. I switched from the aluminum needles to a pair of bamboo needles, so hopefully those will be allowed! I'll stick a crochet pattern in as well as a just in case since I've not had issues with my hooks going to America.

Spent a quiet night at home alone last night for a change. Meti was watching a football match with some friends and I spent the evening curled up on the couch re-reading a few old books. I'll meet Meti tonight probably - he asked to go for some drinks tonight after I get out of work.

Anyways it is now just under 2 days until I am on a plane out of here!

Its the final countdown........

Bit by the Tag Bug!

I've been tagged!! Stacey from Serenity Now tagged me for the 6 Weird Things Meme that has been going around....here goes!

1. I prefer to go barefoot, and will take my shoes off at every opportunity, especially if they are sandals or flats

2. I like to sleep bundled up in my covers / duvet / blanket no matter what the heat is like - I find it impossible to sleep unless I am wrapped up

3. I eat mayonnaise on my French fries (not really weird unless you are an American!)

4. The sound of someone else brushing their teeth or filing their nails drives me nuts...its like nails on a chalkboard reaction to both

5. I can cry while watching just about any movie....I can find the one sad thing and turn into a watering pot in the middle of a comedy

6. I absolutely despise diet pop and will drink it only if I am about ready to perish from thirst....or if it is mixed with alcohol as in Slush!

Well, as for who I am going to tag in return....hopefully I can pick several folks who have not already been bit by the tag bug!

The lucky folks are..... Mimi ; Debi ; Vik ; Isela ; Marvie

Why? What drives us to return?

Have you ever found a TV show or web site or blog for that matter that is so awful that you just can not help but return over and over again and again and torture your eyes?

Why do we do it to ourselves?

If I really wanted horrible decorating tips, I would go visit some of my barely acknowledged relatives in Kissing Cousin Country....no Cousin Myrtle, those deer heads are not the thing to have in the dining room, and the green putt putt carpeting was not meant to go in your bedroom no matter what the cost was. And frankly, putting straw on your wall is NOT a good idea (saw that one on TV while I was home...ummm....okay)

You keep watching and waiting for things to get better and they don't.

I have an author that I used to adore - bought all of her books and continue to buy them out of habit even though I have hated the last 4....why you ask? Because she just might change her style back to how she used to write and I would hate to miss that!

Its like driving by a really bad car accident...you know that you should not look but you can not help but gawk like every other rubber-necker.

Why? What is it in our human makeup that causes us to inflict what can be construed as mental anguish on ourselves?

Anyone?

Whats YOUR bumper sticker?

Your Bumper Sticker Should Be

If you don't like my driving - stay off the sidewalk

What Bumper Sticker Should Be On Your Car?

LOL - The blogthing powers that be that decided that this should be my bumper sticker have actually managed to pick correctly!

Sidewalks here in Belgium are the 3rd lane...used for passing, swerving, driving, random parking, stopping, etc etc etc...its a free for all and lets just say that I've managed to hold up nicely so far......

Yes, I am starting to feel a little bit better after a weekend of sleeping - thanks for all of the get well wishes!!!! *hugs*

The cost of being sick in a foreign country.....

I visited the doctor today and also went to the pharmacy. Think about the cost of this in the US, especially if you do not have health insurance and need to pay for it 100% out of pocket.

Here is my bills.....

Doctors Office Visit € 25.00
5 days antibiotics € 10.98
Codeine Cough Syrup € 6.10
Nasal Spray € 9.18

Total Damages € 51.26 = 61 USD

Huh? Thats it? Woo hoo!! That is less than what I would have paid in the US with all of my co-pays and deductibles etc!

I have noticed that the cost of medical care and products is significantly less even when you are not covered by the national health care system.

Where are the Puffs Plus when you need them?

Scratchy ass kleenex....thats all that I can find here.

NOT a good thing when I have gone through 2 boxes of tissues in the past 2 days as my nose tries to see if it can be officially declared a stream source as it has been running non-stop.

I went like a good doobie to the docs today after 3 days of not being able to talk and dealing with this crap-o-la. Turns out I have a case of laryngitis and a mild upper respiatory infection....joyous. I am on amoxicillin, codeine syrup and some nasal spray....I am a bit confused on the nasal spray though. My nose is already running like water through a seive.......why would I want to put more liquid in there to see my nose run even faster????

I guess that my weekend has started early! I am cat sitting again but at their place this time, so I will have to find the energy to go down there this weekend. Their apartment is usually cooler and quiter than mine is so that might be a good thing!

Talk to you once I am feeling better!!

The Princess Bride.....

Those of you who know me well, know about my obsession with The Princess Bride! I LOVE this movie. I can quote the whole thing while watching it....much to my Dads dismay when he questioned that ability once! lol

Imagine my joy when I saw a quiz about which character of themovie you are....of course I had to go and take it!!

And..........



Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti

Which character are you??????

Thank you Mimi!!

An overdue public thank you is owed to Mimi of Crochet and Other Stuff sent me the most wonderful letter K a while back! I sent her a thank you via e-mail but forgot to show off the darling little letter....here she is in all her glory:



If you are a threadie, check out the thread that Mimi has available for sale: http://mycottonthreads.blogspot.com/

Thanks agani Mimi! It has been great getting to know you via reading your blog and our exchange of e-mails back and forth! Happy Crocheting!!

Proof is in the pictures....

Well, Sunday is over for me in 48 minutes. I highly doubt that I am going to find the time to finish anything else, so here is the final damage to the list including comments on the non-finished items as to their status:

K - Rainbow Boucle Wrap (WIP since April) Final Rows done - Finished
C - Duckie (WIP since March) Feet, wings and bow added - Finished
C - 2 Turtles Eyes sewn - Finished
B - 3 CPK Necklaces
K - 2 Washcloths - 1 done.....short on cotton for the 2nd....frogging!
CS - Wall Hanging - Main characters done, working on the outlining
K - Baby Doll Blanket - finished 1 repeat of pattern
C - Fried Green Tomato - tomato done, working on the eye
C - 2 doilies - frogged 1 of the doilies
K - Fun Fur Scarf - no new progress
K - Lace Scarf - no new progress
C - Princess Frog - Languishing in exile - no new progress

C = Crochet K = Knit CS = Cross Stitch B = Bead

A fairly productive weekend for me.....now here are the pictures of the various items:

First up is the Rainbow Sensations Boucle Wrap made with a boucle made by Tevoli Spinners in Ireland! This wrap will probably end up going to one of my Grandmothers as I am not that big of a wrap type of gal!
  

While in Florida in March I picked up a booklet with the cutest baby duckie. I started making it and finished the body, and that was as much as I had done until this weekend. A gift for my sister's new baby Abby, I present to you Duckie...
  

I mentioned a while back that I was going to be making turtles for my Aunt to take with her to the Peds ward up at the hospital where she has her rounds. I spent a fair amount of time in this hospital and had the best nurses and care there.....even today there are still a few nurses left that remember me from my early stays in the hospital! Here are the first of hopefully many turtles that I shall make!
  

Many moons ago, we had a neighbor who loved to knit and make things for Cabbage Patch Kids. One of the items that she made were beaded necklaces. My doll Christina is still wearing her necklace, so I thought it fitting to make necklaces for the kidlets dolls that I have them for Christmas. So here is the original, and the new necklaces!
     

And finally, I leave you with the current look at my Pooh Choo-Choo Train Wall Hanging that I am finishing up for Baby Abby. I have all of the bodies finished, with the exception of 2 stripes on Tigers leg and I am working now on the outlining. I hope to have this finished before I go home on vacation!
  
I am off to bed! Have a great week everyone!!

Sunday morning check-in

It is amazing what a little bit of ambition and determination will accomplish!!

To update the progress of the list so far....

K - Rainbow Boucle Wrap (WIP since April) Final Rows done - Finished
C - Duckie (WIP since March) Feet, wings and bow added - Finished
C - 2 Turtles Eyes sewn - Finished
K - 2 Washcloths - One of 2 done and ends sewn in
C - Fried Green Tomato
C - 2 doilies
K - Fun Fur Scarf
K - Baby Doll Blanket
K - Lace Scarf
CS - Wall Hanging - Main characters done, just doing the outlining
B - 3 CPK Necklaces
C - Princess Frog - Languishing in exile - no new progress

C = Crochet K = Knit CS = Cross Stitch B = Bead

Fairly good results so far this weekend! I am already happy with what I have finished! I've also done some worj on the blanket and one of the doilies. I think that I ma frogging the 2nd doily - can not find the pattern nor remeber what size hook I was using....oops! =)

Git 'er done!!!!!!!

I am proclaiming this weekend "Git 'er done" weekend around the Maison de Kimberly!

Sitting my living room looking at my sprawling craft mess, I see a ton of unfinished projects languishing in various stages, from infancy to adult-hood, but all need to be finished.

Some of the infancy projects do not stand a chance of being finished - I am not that fast of a crocheter and knitter. BUT those that are almost finished sure as hell can be done!!

On the list of things to finish:

K - Rainbow Boucle Wrap (WIP since April)
C - Duckie (WIP since March)
C - 2 Turtles
K - 2 Washcloths
C - Fried Green Tomato
C - 2 doilies
K - Fun Fur Scarf
K - Baby Doll Blanket
K - Lace Scarf
CS - Wall Hanging
B - 3 CPK Necklaces

C = Crochet K = Knit CS = Cross Stitch B = Bead

Those are the ones that are in plain view as I sit typing this on my couch! I am sure that there are more hiding away from the shame and agony of not being completed!!

Will update as the weekend goes along the status of everything (and as I find more WIPs)

Its Mid-July already?

I know that I have been quiet lately - struggling at work with an ever overflowing in-box and to-do lists! First it was create the forecast, then close the month end books, finalize the ofrecast, explain variances in month end and foreacst, plus my normal projects and to dos. Crazy!

Partially why it has been so crazy is that my promotion is official!! I am now the Finance Manager for Europe for my division! A great promotion that brings more work and responsibilities!

I will be staying based in Brussels for now. I'll probably drive to Zurich every now and then for meetings etc. Yes, I said drive! I am getting a car as well! It looks like I am settling in more and more over here! As of right now it looks to be an Audi as that is what is available, but I am trying to negotiate!

Enjoy the weekend!

Welcome Abby!!

My newest neice has arrived! Abigail Marie arrived on Wednesday and both Mum and Baby are doing great!



I can not wait to go home in August and start spoiling my newest addition to my family!

Abby with her Dad, her two half sisters and her two cousins. My nephew was beaming at his newest cousin (although he did comment on wanting a boy cousin) and my neice Megan wanted to tickle and play with the baby!



My parents with their newest Granddaughter!

Calling all Barbers!

Okay, slightly off topic, but if anyone knows any Barbers in the West Michigan area, send them to the following E-bay Auction: Paidar Barber Chair & Backbar with Mirrors and Sink

My Grandfather is moving to an apartment and must sell the Barber Shop set that he has in his basement. Grandpa retired in 1989 (I think it was 89 at least) and since then he has cut hair for friends and family in his basement. After 40+ years, him and Grandma are selling the house and moving into an apartment as its getting harder for Grandpa to do the upkeep and maintenance - and at his age, he should not have to be out their shoveling snow, mowing the grass, raking leaves and doing all of the other house chores.....vacumming, cooking, cleaning, laundry...tahts right folks! Grandpa does it all! Grandma decided that when Grandpa retired from the Barber Shop, that she was retiring from being a housewife, and being the saint that he is, Grandpa did not argue with her, and took over all of the house chores!

So, if you know of any barbers, point out the wonderful opportunity to purchase a complete barber shop - chair, backbar, mirror, sink, sterlizer, floor mat....what a deal!

Road Trip!!

I have been given a mission that I have chosoe to except. Thankfully it was over the phone so nothing exploded and self-destructed! *grin*

My Dad has put me on the trail of some French bubbly wine from the loire valley region. The reason that this wine is so special that my father (who is NOT a wine drinker) would ask me to hunt some down....simple - the Chateau has our family name!

I really am going to have to arrange a visit to these vineyards! I'm also going to check with my wine-guys here in Brussels to see if they can special order me a case or two =) Just in case I can not make the voyage any time soon!

How cool is that?