Saturday, April 28, 2007

Lookie what I got!!!

Here are the pictures of the kitchen swap goodies that I received from Mimi....Are they not wonderful??







A wonderful Crazy Cloth (it is perfect Mimi!), a Tunisian Dish Cloth (great work- congratulations on your first attempt at Tunisian!!) Two lovely coasters (I love the edging on them....how did you do it?), some Anchor and Cannon cotton (check out Mimi's web site if you would like to order some!), a cute magnent, veggies and a little french package with flowers inside.

Mimi - thank you once again so very much - I have enjoyed swapping with you! I hope that you like what I have sent in my package to you! *hugs*

Friday, April 27, 2007

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats right folks. Its Friday lets hear a "Hip hip hoo-rah" from the peanut gallery!

Today is starting off excellent!

Not only is it once again around 70, sunny and blue skies, but I received my Swap Package from Mimi!!!

I am thrilled to pieces with what she sent me! I can not wait to show it all off to you, but I need to get home so I can arrange and properly photograph everything! it is all going to go to great use and I am amazed at the talent that Mimi has - thank you so very much for your generosity and kindness Mimi!

Pictures to come.....

This Friday is also my last day of work for, get this, FOUR whole days! I actually get to take the public holiday off for a change! I'm not sure yet what I am going to accomplish for the weekend, for taking a look at my WIP listing on my sidebar, I sure as heck had better finish a few things!

Okay, I need to get to work and get a few things done today so I can leave for my 4 day break with a clear conscience - I hate having things left unfinished!

Mimi - Thank you again! I will be getting your package out Priority Air-Mail to you tomorrow! I hope that you will be pleased with what I am sending.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Destination.......Shanghai!

I think I left you all hanging on where my big vacation is.....Sorry!

I am going to China for 10 days to visit my friend Zori! She has moved there for 6 months to work. I am so very excited! We are talking about possibly going to Beijing and Tokyo Japan as well......exciting times.

Anyone know of yarn shops in any of these locations? =) I'm going to try to take very little with me - its only for 10 days, so hopefully I can have room to buy souvenirs.

Here is a conversation I had with my 6 year old nephew Andrew.

Me: Guess where I'm going on vacation!
A: I don't know.
Me: I'm going to China!
A: CHINA!!!!!!!!
Me: Yup
A: That is sooooooo cool Aunt Kim
Me: Ummm...why is that cool?
A: Because they have lots of toys in China! You can bring me some when you come to visit in the summer.

lol - how he equated China right away with all of the toys that are made in China, i don't know, but connect the dots he did!

The dragon and the kitty purse were big hits with my co-workers children. ALthough the girl said right away "I want a green one too" lol I guess thats yet another Dragon on my to-do list of things to make.....I think I have 5 now to make - 2 green, 1 orange, 1 pink and 1 "Pink with a Red tail"

Monday, April 23, 2007

Meow.....meow......

For the past 2 weeks I've been watching my friend Lauras cat. He is a crazy guy....when they came to pick him up for the first time in two weeks he decided to hide.....First behind my closet doors, and when he was found out, he hid under the couch. When my friend's husband pulled him out, the cat dug his claws into the floor in a futile attempt to stay under the couch and in my apartment - it was too cute.

Anywho in honor of the Cat, I decided to find a cat pattern to make. Here is what I found to make: http://naidascrochet.tripod.com/patterns/hellokitty.html

And my finished project:


It worked up very quickly (about an hour, excluding the face details). Instead of using felt for the eyes and nose (no clue where I would buy it!), I used yarn as well and embroidered them on.

This is going to one of my co-workers little girl, Elise, as her twin brother has come down with viral meningitis - not good! They are 3 years old, and its hard for her to understand why her partner in crime is not able to play with her. For her brother, I am giving him my nephew's Charzon Dragon - I'll make my nephew a new one before I go to visit in July. They say that it is going to take Roman 6-8 weeks to recover...poor little guy!

I am off to take the bf to work. We went to my favorite Lebanese restaurant to eat dinner.....I had to be rolled out the door I ate so much!

Have a great week!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Trains, taxis and metros

I took a whirldwind trip to my favorite city in Europe, leaving at 7:30 am and getting home at 11pm to give training to several co-workers. In the title are those places where I had the pleasure of crocheting yesterday. Did not finish anything, but made progress on seveal items. It is only an hour and 20 minutes on the train, so not a whole lot of time.

Here are a few pics I snapped with my cell phone - I did not bring my camera as I was not sure if I would have time to actually visit the city (the office is about an hour south-west of the actually city - mainly due to traffic congestion which is HORRIBLE!). but I was able to find 2 hours to do a quick walkthrough of my favorite buildings.

In real life this was a cool snap shot, but the cell phone darkened the sign too much, c'est la vie.



The Walls of a museum near the Eifle Tower (I forgot the name of it - apologies) - a faux front covered with plants - very cool in real life!


It does not matter how many pictures I take of it, I always take more..something magestic about it rising out of the sky ilne like it does.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Kimberly Kimberly bo Bimberly

Banana fana fo Fimberly.......
Mee mi mo Mimberly.....
KIMBERLY!

Introducing my take on the Name Game! I've seen this on several blogs recently.....Sara, Netter, Sue......

Here is my version!

Your Name: Kimberly
Famous Artist/Musician/Band: Kelly Clarkson
3 letter word: Kip
Street name: Kimberly Drive (My Aunt and Uncle live on it)
Color: Khaki
Vehicle: Ka (Ford)
TV Show: Knight Rider
State/City: Kansas City, Kansas
Boy Name: Kyle
Girl Name: Kimberly…..okay, Kristen
Alcoholic Drink: Kamikaze
Occupation: Knight
Flower: Kansas Feather (not really sure what this is…..googled plant names….I cheated!)
Celebrity: Katie Couric
Famous Leader: King Arthur
Toy: Kite
Animal: Kitten
Food: Kippers
Something found in a kitchen: Knife
Reason for Being Late: Killer traffic
Something You Throw Away: Kleenex (used of course)
Cartoon Character: Kanga (Winnie the Pooh)
Type of desert: Key Lime Pie (yummmmmmmmmmy)

When I woke up this morning.....

You were on my mind, you were on my mind. I've got troubles oooooh oooooh........

I do so hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend! Mine involved spending an obscene amount at the Grocery store, doing another 10 loads of laundry (still have another 10 to go.....honestly!), a little bit of shopping (books and clothes and 1 crochet hook) and a whole lot of nothing!

Crocheting and knitting you ask? Well I did work a fair amount on my cross stitch project - I have 2 of the 4 characters outlined, I need to finish Tigger and Eeyore along with a few embellishments on Piglet that I've not done yet.

I've also been working on the items for the kitchen swap with Mimi.....heres a snap shot of one of the items.....notice the dreaded ends? Lets just say that I am not even half way done with them being tied in.....tonight hopefully!

I also made Mimi a hot pad that is my own design....I saw a similar one on a blog and it stuck in my head haunting me so I sat down and figured out how to do something similar.....its not the same as the one I saw, but along those lines.
As for the Cro-tatting, it is coming along - I've actually managed to finish a few of the loops on my first project. I'll have to stick at it - I might try switching hook sizes with the yarn I'm using - perhaps that would make things easier for me. I found a few different Cro-Tat pattern books in my collection, so I have a few patterns that I can try out.
I did buy some cream colored thread this weekend. I have a runner pattern that is worked in motifs that I've been thinking about doing for over 2 years now......I figure that now is as good a time as any to start it, and hopefully it will be done before Christmas!
Have a wonderful week everyone!

Friday, April 13, 2007

Friday the 1"th Foddie Friday

*gasp*

She actually remembers to post a Foodie Friday? It can not be! *grin*

Here it comes...

Spaghetti & Meatballs

1 1/2 pound of ground beef 3/4 C fine dried bread crumbs
1/2 C milk 1/2 C Parmesan cheese
2 beaten eggs 1 Tbsp. minced parsley
1 1/2 tsp. Salt 1/8 tsp. pepper
Dash of garlic salt

Combine all ingredients and make into meatballs.

Pan fry til brown in about 3 or 4 Tbsp. olive oil.

Remove when browned.

When all meatballs are browned add 1 C minced onions and cook til tender for 3-4 mins.

Add 2 Tbsp. flour to oil to thicken it up. Stir.

Replace meatballs in pan, add following and simmer 1 hour:

1 large can tomatoe juice 1 tsp. worchestershire salt
2 small cans tomatoe sauce 1/4 tsp. pepper
6 Tbsp. minced parsley 3 tsp. sugar
6Tbsp. fresh chopped green peppers 2 small bay leaves (crumbled)
2 1/2 tsp. salt

Cook pasta, serve with garlic bread and enjoy!

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Cro-Tatting Anyone?

I bought a while back a Cro-Tat set - a few hooks, instructions booklet. I think its all written in Greek though as I can understand nothing!

Yeah, I know, I really should NOT be starting any more projects, but I was trying to find an awesome pattern to use to make something for my partner (Mimi) in the Fiber Freaks Kitchen swap.

I figured Cro-Tatting would be something unique, and how hard can it be, right? I have instructions, a fairly well functioning brain and a fair to good knowledge of crochet.

Ugh!

I got stuck on the very beginning of the pattern when you start to do the Cro-Tatting special stitches.

I don't have the pattern here, but it went something like this:

Chain 6, form circle, 12 sc in circle, attach with a sl st to first sc. (so far, so good)

So far, so good, I think I can handle it so far. Then the one that is confusing me:

Reverse sl st

Huh? I gotta do what? The instruction on this stitch say: "working left to right, insert hook in next st to the right, yo, pull lp through st and lp on hook." Left to right? I put it in the previous stitch? Perhaps I'm just not thinking, perhaps my hands don't work this way, but every time I try to do it it seems like I am doing something wrong as I just can not coordinate.

I do wish that there were better picture tutorials out there.....the first stitch of a "new technique" for me and I can not get it right.

Back to the drawing board to find a different pattern that does NOT include the Reverse sl st!

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Roaring and ready to go!

I've shaken off the last of the cold and I am now fit as a fiddle!

Before I forget - does anyone have a MySpace account? I don't use mine much, but my friends from back home have been pestering me about it, so I am trying to get better about accessing it and visiting others pages. Here is mine: http://www.myspace.com/kaml2000

Oh ugh! Last night I passed the shop that is located in the ground floor of my building and had a WTF moment. This is what was in the window:

I really care not to think about how much money they are asking for it. Its literally a bag with pieces of shinny raffia (I think thats the word) cut up and plastered all over the bag. Not my cup of tea......I really wonder how long it will be until someone buys it. Perhaps on Saturday I'll venture in to see what the price tag is. For comparison, they were selling a piece of ribbon to tie back your hair for $50 and a simple stockinette scarf in acrylic for $75. Some flip-flops with seed beads were going for $125

Okay, its now been 9 months since I met the BF...where is the time going? Here is a picture of the two of us that I snapped with my cell phone this weekend. Apologies for my windblown hair look - we had just arrived to a bar to watch the soccer matches and had walked the 5 miles from my apartment in rather windy conditions.


Ooooohhhhhh! I was in HEAVEN last night! I had Dominos Pizza - yumm!! There are 4 shops here in Brussels, and I finally passed one of them the other day. None would deliver to my apartment, so it was necessary to go pick it up, but I could never find them. Needless to say, now that I know where it is, I will be going back for more! Even the bf agreed with me that it was better than the Pizza Hut here!

Nothing new on the Crafty Front.....will see if I can actually get something else comlpeted this week. The pattern on the scarf has been hand written - now to just type it up and get it posted!

Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Random thoughts for the day.....

My Aunt sent these to me, so I thought to share with all of you!

1. A day without sunshine is like night.
2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.
6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.
10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.
14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?
15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don*t get sucked into jet engines
19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?
20. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, "What the heck happened?"
22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.
23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your rear tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day today!

Monday, April 02, 2007

On the road to recovery....

Many thanks to all of you for the get well wishes - they really meant a lot to me to read! I am starting to get better - I am now left with a plugged nose and a hacking cough.

My fever peaked at about 102°, which is for me the equivalent of 103° - my normal body temperature is not the 98.6 that we all have pounded into our heads, but right around 97.4 - 97.6 I'm a cold blooded type of girl I guess!

I did get my submission in on time on Friday, which meant that I had the WHOLE weekend off - no work, no e-mails, no text messages checking on progress......nada! The weather was nice, so I bundled up and went for several long walks with the boyfriend from my apartment into the center of Brussels. A nice walk, and the fresh air and exercise is helping me regain some equilibrium after working so much and then getting sick and still working.

On the Craft front, not a whole lot accomplished. This having a boyfriend does seem to limit the time that I can craft...for some odd reason he wants my attention to be on him and not my yarn.....go figure!

So to recap my list from almost 2 weeks ago that I wanted to get some items knocked off plus the addition of my other WIPs that I can think of:

Peach Doily *** No updates
Triangle Potholder * No updates
Monkey (1 of 2) ** No updates
Hat *** No updates
Sideways B-lace Scarf * Finished - need to get the pattern posted
Crazy Stitch Potholder ** 10 of 15 rounds
Cabbage Patch Bathing Suit * Finished!!!!!!!!
Baby Slippers * No updates
Doll Sweater *** No updates
Baby Blanket *** No updates
Blue Jean Bag *** No updates
Cross Stitch Wall Hanging ** No updates

* = small time required ** = moderate time required *** = large time required

I hope that having to keep re-typing this list will give me some incentive to start working on them.....soon

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Ahh....Ahhhhh....Ahhhhhhh....chooie!

Ugh!

I've got a cold. A nasty head cold which is not helping the work situation out at all. This is my final week of insanity as we prepare a 5 year plan. Its been chaos, and everyone is afraid that I am burning out....I accused them this morning of working me to death!

I left work today at about 6.....first time in months that I've left work when the sun was still out! Woo hoo! Its in the mid-60s here today so its lovely - all of my doors are open letting in fresh air and hopefully chasing out the sicky bugs. No worries - yes I understand that mid-60s feel warm, but its not really THAT warm, I am wearing a thick sweater and socks and have a quilt over my lap. And I'm drinking hot tea like its going out of style!

I finished the requested wings for my nephews Dragon, so I am working on sewing them on today. Hopefully I'll get a little bit more things done tonight before I crash and fall asleep.

Cheers!!

Pssst - Swapna - how am I doing on the exclamation points? I am trying to keep them down and not use them every sentence! *grin*

Monday, March 26, 2007

Is it Friday yet?

Nope, its only Monday. Friday is my goal, my bright spot at the end of the long tunnel I've been running through lately!

I did not get a lot done over the weekend due to having to work Fri night, Sat & Sun once again. But I have made some progress.......here are the most recent updates:

Peach Doily *** Have not even touched in the past 5 days
Triangle Potholder * I have 2 of four triangles now finished
Monkey (1 of 2) ** Finished the body and arms. Hands, Butt, Legs, Feet and tail to go!
Hat *** Worked a few more rounds, still in infancy really
Sideways B-lace Scarf (& the pattern written and posted) * Almost finished!
Crazy Stitch Potholder ** 9 of 15 rounds
Cabbage Patch Bathing Suit * Finished!!!!!!!!
Baby Slippers * One of two done

* = small time required ** = moderate time required *** = large time required

Here is the Cabbage Patch Bathing suit that I made as the first draft for the ones that I am making my nieces......this one will stay with me so I don't have a naked baby sitting my house =)

Actually this is because I used the size hook (G) that the pattern called for, but in the end it was slightly too small on the sides. I used some *gasp* Red Heart that I have in my stash and a pattern from a booklet that was sent to me a while back. I will re-make as it was VERY easy and quick, although with a H hook this time!

Luckily you can not see the doll to closely...she is filthy! She was my very first Cabbage patch that my Grandmother gave to me for my birthday when I was 6 or 7 I think it was. Shes been VERY well loved and used, and can now claim international travel! =)

I hope that everyone has a great week - I can not say that I'll have tons of time to crochet and knit, but I am going to try very hard to finish a few more things!

Toodles!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Adventures ahead......

My next break away from the hamster wheel I am running on these days has been scheduled for May, 3 days after my new co-manager starts....welcome to the group, I'm going on vacation.......rather nice of me eh?

I mentioned on another persons blog today that getting onto an airplane is something I love, and its true. Just think what happens after you walk into a metal tube. You sit down, wait for a specific length of time, read, crochet, sleep, eat, drink.........but when you walk off that plane a whole new series of adventures await you in someplace new. It could be somewhere you've been to a hundred times, or somewhere that you've never been to but only dreamed of. Regardless, new experiences await.

This time when I board my plane, this will be waiting for me to explore.......



Any ideas on where I am going? =)

Caught between goodbye and I love you......

Not really sure why this song is in my head, it just is. The Carpenters are always a good listen!

Only thing I've been thinking of ditching lately is the I-Pod *gasp* What? Yup, I'm getting rid of my I-Pod this summer....just to upgrade less than a year after I bought the first one! I've maxed my 30 GB out to the maximum capacity and of course I can not delete any song.....I just might be in the mood to listen to it one day and be totally upset when its not there!

Oh, yeah. And the job. I often wonder if its really all worth it. The distance from family and friends. The insane hours. The lack of personal time. Expensive yarn. (had to put that one in)

Darn it! I've been really whinny lately! Apologies....and apologies for the apologies.

What is this blog supposed to be anyways? Its a tracking of my voyage into the realm of fiber arts. And I would say a look at the progress I am making in the fiber art skill sets. April 5th is coming which is my 2 year anniversary. I do need to do something again for that day......perhaps another contest. Will think on it and let y'all know!

I joined the Kitchen Swap over at Fiber Freaks. yeah, I said no more swaps but I could not resist this one! An added bonus.......I'm swapping with Mimi! I need to get busy thinking of something superb and spectacular to send over to her!

I did actually find time to work on my WIPs last night. I was jumping around, but I did make some significant Monkey progress, along with working on my Crazy Stitch dishcloth, and the Broomstick lace scarf.

I also saw a few more last night that I forgot on the list........ugh! But as Su says "variety is the spice of life"

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Plodding along...

As my co-wrokers are saying I am way too happy to have been working for 2 solid weeks every day, often until 11,12 and my latest night 1:30! But I feel its either smile and luagh or break down in a little ball curled up in the corner and crying out of sheer frustration and overwhelmtion (I don't think that is a word, but it should be if not!)

I did find time on Saturday to sneak away from my computer while a report process was running and head down the street to the yarn shop. Where I picked up several balls of Noro to make cabled hat (out of season, but I'm strating early for next year!) and a find that has made me SUPER happy!

While its still not SnC or PnC, I found Coats Lyric cotton which is an 8-ply, 70m, 50g cotton yarn that has a similar feel to it as SnC. It is slightly smaller I think, but not enough on the ruler to be noticeable, although it does work a little bit differently than the SnC I think. I only picked up 8 skeins at the shop, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be going back for more!

While trying to shove at least a little bit of food into me last night before going to bed after I got home, I started counting all of the WIPs that I could see...I'm embarrassed to say that from my table I counted 10 WIPs in various states......that includes the 2 new ones that I started this weekend....I have to stop this madness.

My goal is to try to cut that list in half over the next week. Here are the projects that I think could be reasonable to finish (ie they are not a massive project that would require more time than I have available):

Peach Doily ***
Triangle Potholder *
Monkey (1 of 2) **
Hat ***
Sideways B-lace Scarf (& the pattern written and posted) *
Crazy Stitch Potholder **
Cabbage Patch Bathing Suit *
Baby Slippers *

* = small time required
** = moderate time required
*** = large time required

This is 8 of them.....will see what I can accomplish! Those that I know I can not finish - Cross Stitch sampler, Baby Afghan

Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Ready to run!

Run away screaming that is! I realize that I complaign about work a fair amount, apologies for that! But, once again its kicking my rear end! I was in work yesterday at 8:30 am and left at 11:30pm, to come back in again at 8:30 today. Tonight should be another late one, and then I have a 7:30 am meeting tomorrow with on of the VPs. Oh joy....I detest morning meetings, and to make it worse, its one on one!


Okay, enough with work.


The weekend went very well! My friend from Argentina, Zori, stopped in Brussels on her way to Shanghai where she will live for the next 6 months! Of course I am planning a trip to go and visit her! Probably in May, but it depends on my work schedule!


I had a few e-mails about the pattern for Chloe.


The book is called Crochet Les Doudous de Cendrine, autour du monde. And is by Cendrine Armani. Yes, the instructions are in French, but I think anyone with basic crochet knowledge should be able to work them out....there are resources available that explain the terminology from French to English on the web. And of course I would be more than willing to help anyone who gets stuck!



I started the Monkeys this weekend. They will be 17cm tall when completed with the Size 5 thread.



And my following projects after them will be:




The Pig will be about 30cm tall and the others will be 32 by 34 cm. So they are not very big, but they are super cute! I wonder how they would look done in yarn.....perhaps one day!

As for the other outstanding WIPs in my life.....

Peach Doily - round 11 of 35
Baby Blanket - 10 of 25 repeats
Sideways Scarf - 4 of 5 rows
Pooh Cross Stitch - about 90% done - just the outlining to do

Progress is being made on my goals....slowly but surely!

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Introducing....Chloe!

Well, my long outstanding UFO / WIP that I've hinted about the past few weeks is finally finished. I persevered through several stupid mistakes that I made, a few pattern errors and finally have my first completed French project!

French project you ask?

Yes, the pattern came from a book I bought in French. I crocheted and assembled the pattern from the French version.....hence a few of my initial mistakes.

The details - Size 5 thread from DMC called Petra (this really should be sold in the US - the colors are wonderful & the thread is wonderful to work with). Start Date - around July 18th 2005!!!!

In all of her glory and magnificence, I introduce you to Chloe.....my Frog Ballerina Princess!


I am tempted to keep her for myself, but she will go to my niece as intended. From the same pattern book I am wanting to start a Monkey - I don't currently have all of the right colors, so I'll need to get them ordered.

While waiting, I will continue to work on the Baby Blanket for my other niece - I finished another section over the weekend, as well as a few other assorted WIPs that are around my apartment!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Pictures pages...time to get your crayons and your pencils!

Sorry that I've not been blogging much - working 14 hour days at work is killing me! I am not even taking my computer home at night. I scan through bloglines quickly every day, but can not take too much time to comment - I am reading though!!
My nephew's Dragon "Charzon" (he named it) is completed! I started on my nieces purple one, but it was looking like Barney, which is a no-no for my BIL's house! I have convinced her that the dragon can be pink, although she is requesting a red tail and that it be named Dora!
The pattern is located here: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=42777 I found it to be a really easy and fun pattern! Put it on your to-do list!

Here is an ornament stocking that I made from a pattern sent to me by my friend in Texas...sorry that its sideways....tilt the head =) Its not perfect by any means, but I'm happy with it! My knitting skills are slowly progressing. I used some Carmencita Acrylic Yarn that Mimi sent me a while back when I placed an order for thread from her!

Here is a picture of my wonderful present prize from Yasmin..... apologies for the bad color - the pictures are taken on my cell phone. The Doily is a wonderful purple color!!

That is all for now. I've been working more on my youngest niece's baby blanket....she just might get it as her first birthday present in July! I am not quite half done. I am using the Fanned Feather Afghan for Baby pattern and I've done about 10 repeats out of a needed 25 or so! I'm going to try to finish at least one repeat a week until I go home in July.....that calculates to 18 additional repeats....perfect!

I am setting a few goals for my upcoming months crocheting......finishing at least one doily a month (already behind with no February) buying no new patterns until July, finishing at least one new pattern a month from a book I already own, finishing all of my WIPs, writing 4 new patterns in 2007. Is it all possible...I don't know, but at least having some goals might push me in the right direction with my crafting!

Friday, February 23, 2007

8 down more to go....

I have had a slow start on the weight loss process, but on my weigh in this morning, I've lost 8 pounds since I decided to start losing weight.

What have I done to lose those 8 pounds?

Not a thing but be really stressed at work.

Honest!

I am still drinking coke, eating sweets, eating dinner at 9 or 10 at night, not exercising......

I have not been drinking that much alcohol related beverages, but thats been a theme for the past few months really, so I am not counting that one!

Lets hope that I can just continue this trend....and hopefully become a little less stressed and over-worked so that I can start exercising and of course I need to start eating healthier / smaller portions.

No big plans for the weekend, so hopefully I can get some crocheting / knitting done and have some finished objects to show off.

Bron has been on a kitchen bender, and has me wanting to break into my sacred stash of kitchen cotton and start creating masterpieces! We shall see what happens.......

The mail this week brought me a pattern magazine from the US and a box of yarn from Bergère in France to start knitting some French patterns that I've been hankering to try.......we shall see how it goes!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Arrived home safe and sound!

I had a great trip to Zurich and back. The weekend was spent with a co-worker - had great fun watchign movies, gossiping and catching up. The drive there went fast - only 5.5 hours, travelling through Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland. I plugged my I-pod into the Radio transmitter, opened up a package of pretzel sticks and I was in business! The GPS system worked wonderfully too I might add! No need to look at a map!

The drive back was a little bit more exciting. It took in all 6.5 hours to get home due to going a different route (what was the GPS system thinking this time?) and traffic. The way home included the previous countries, plus Germany....which means AUTOBAHN!!! Vroom vroom! I will not say how fast I was going, but lets just say that in the US my license would have been suspended for a very long time! *grin*

A wonderful surprise (well I knew that it was coming) was waiting for me when I got back to Belgium. A while back I won a contest on Yasmin's blog. She sent me a wonderful little package. I'll have to put photos up later, but she send me a wonderful purple doily and a few other little items. Yasmin, thank you so very much for the wonderful little gift - I love it all!!! It has been wonderful reading your blog and getting to know you!

Friday, February 16, 2007

Off she goes, driving across Europe!

As you all know I've been working a lot, okay a TON in Zürich the past year (omg its been a year almost since I moved into this team on a 'short term' basis! eeek!)

I am going to try something new this weekend and drive to Zürich! I am leaving tomorrow afternoon, hopefully arriving sometime before dark, and driving through Belgium, France and Germany before getting to Switzerland. Should be exciting....lets hope my GPS system works and I don't end up in Poland! =)

On the crafty front, I am busy as always. My taking forever WIP project has hit a snafu with the pattern...followed the last section exactly and it ends up twice the size....I'll need to re-do it once I get in the mood....which just might take me another year to find!

I have finished one doily in a light Peach that is 9 inches across and done with DMC Cebelia I think it was:

And have all of the parts of a Dragon for my nephew finished and waiting to be assembled...the picture is missing the scales, which I finished last night. No ambition to sew it all together and weave in ends.....perhaps this weekend

And I finished another Crazy Cloth Dishcloth. I really do enjoy this pattern. It is perfect for sticking in my purse and working on it while I am out and about...waiting for the boyfriend, waiting for my food at the Pita Restaurant, waiting / riding the tram......

My goal for February is still to finish up some of my WIPs that are laying around my house. I'm making progress, so we shall see!

I've also decided that I want to make one doily for every month of the year....12 does not seem like that big of a number, but when one considers how fast I crochet, plus how busy with work I am, plus all of the other projects that I want to make...well, it will be a miracle if I can do it. I've started my second doily already, so progress is being made towards this goal!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

It came once again......

Last year I prayed that it would not arrive and explained my whole philosophy on the dreaded V-Day But what do you know, its come once again and this year is worse for me due to the added strain of the boy friend.

Last night I explained ever so gently after he asked me if I wanted to go out together tonight to "get a beer" (very romantic boyfriend have I got) that my plans today were to go to work, and then go promptly home and sleep for the next 10 hours. I don't think he understood when I said "Je n'aime pas a demain" that I was referring to the holiday. He seemed puzzled and perplexed. I said that it was just another day. He replied that it was a holiday. I said that it was a stupid holiday an he gave me a look like I was insane.

Really folks. I can not stand this holiday. Granted, Sweetest Day makes me want to slit the wrists of the card marketing person who thought that one up, but Valentines Day comes in a close second for wanting to destroy the person who decided that it should be a commercial holiday.

Okay, I have been enjoying the Conversation Hearts that I picked up in the US. Chomping away. They do really need to come up with some that have Anti-Valentines messages on them. I.e. Go Away, Die, Leave Me, Its Over, I Hate You, Not!, No Way, Not Hot etcetera etcetera etcetera

*sigh*

Its almost over...only 12 more hours for me and then this day is done for yet another year.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

A bientot mes amis!

I am once again benig abandonned. Not one, but two if my very close friends here have left the company. One has returned to the US (Boston) and the other has moved to a Law Firm in London (lucky thing).

Here is a snap shot of my friend Kim's going away party:


From the left - myself, Kim and our friend Tanja who lives in Zurich. I will be going to Boston to visit...just as soon as I find the time, and the money!
I'll always have some awesome memories of my time spent with both Kim and Beatta (the colleague who went to London) including our time together in LIsbon - the three of us were called the Musketeers, and everyone thought that me and Kim were attached at the hip.....even our names were said in one long word "KimandKimberly"
Hopefully with some effort, our friendships will continue!
Until we meet again my friends.....A bientôt Mes Amis!

Dad...this posts for you!


My Dad has been whinning about not seeing a picture of my car. So this shows him the beast that I am driving right now.
It is an Audi A4 wagon, and lets just say that if it was not for the fact that it has a sensor on the rear bumper, parallel parking this would be an absolute nightmare! I live in the city, aside from a few spots behind the church, everything is parallel parking.
The car is a diesel (don't have many of those in the US anymore!) and is a stick shift (ditto the previous comment). I've really enjoyed driving the stick shift - makes driving a little bit more fun - it also keep you more aware of what you are doing.

Yeah, the car right behind mine is a Smart car......that lucky person! I can not count the number of spots I have to pass up because my car is just too big!

Why make me????

Why make me switch version of blogger? I don't want a google account...okay, I have one, don't use it, find switching meaningless, have heard horry stories from those who did switch....i.e. all of my sidebar links disappeared...how do I get them back.

Bah to Blogger.

*sigh*

I'm switching....morons

Monday, February 05, 2007

6 weird things about me.....

I was tagged, so here goes with 6 wierd things about me....

1) I can not stand to sleep with socks on - does not matter how cold my feet are, socks have to come off!

2) I have to finish every book that I read. To date, I think that I've only ever not finished one book, and it is still sitting their taunting me to pick it up and finish it

3) I can tell by looking at the cover of a book 95% of the time if I've read the book and also what it was about.

4) I often dislike mixing foods, and will eat all of one thing on my plate before moving onto the next thing on my plate.

5) I have an elephant memory about things....my parents will call me to ask if I know where something is (although not so much now that I am away for such long periods) and I don't forget things...like Mary Anne Wilder still owes me $5 from 11th grade, and Mike Gage stil owes me $20 from my senior year in college....granted I'll never collect on either, but I still remember! =)

6)I can not role my tongue....no way, not possible, not even a slight upwards bend happening

Word Verification Added

For all of those who comment, apologies for adding in word verification, but my anonymous spam comments have gotten worse over the past week - my record has been 21 in the past 24 hours!

I don't want links on my blog via the comments to such scintillating topics as plastic surgery, tax help, Viagra, enlargement of various body parts, pain meds and of course my number one favorite spam link so far today....

Men Showing their Butt Cracks!

Yeah, if I wanted to see that I would make sure that I was home when the maintenance guy was in the building / hang out by the numerous construction sites in my neighborhood.

So apologies for having to type in the word verification - hopefully this will cut down on my daily spam intake!

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Anons.......get away!

Okay, all of you stupid anonymous commenters who are spamming me like crazy the past 2 days.......SOD OFF!!!!!

I AM going to delete your comment ASAP. I am not going to click on it nor let my friends and family click on it. GO away, go far far away, do not pass go and do not collect 200.

Arse-wipes!

(all others - apologies for going off - they are just annoying the crap out of me)

Problems with my blog??

Have many been having problems with my blog? I've heard from both Yasmin and Mimi that when they open my blog, it closes Explorer on them.....I can open it still with my explorer, so I'm not sure where the problem lies.

The only thing that I can think of that I added is the Snap Preview feature.

Send me an e-mail and let me know if you can read this in bloglines but can not open it up to comment! kaml19 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Any ideas anyone?

A new pattern site.......

I've been getting e-mails randomly from a site called Catirina Bonet Designs. I've ignored them until I took a look at them today.......here is my feedback.

This sweater is kinda cute - I'm not so sure on that neckline though.

I love this bag

Frankly, I do not have the words in to describe this...... Winter Coat

I'm scratching my head over some of the holiday attire, as well as some of the hats!

I reaaly do like that bag.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Weekend working...

I spent the weekend working on a few different projects. I finished a thread angel for my Grandma - now I need to find the right size ribbon to finish her off.

I also am half way through a doily, my WIP project is almsot finished - I worked on it yesterday while watching a few movies on my new DVD player. After living here for 4 years I decided it was time to buy one, and I managed to buy one that will play both my US and European DVDs on it....bonus!

My boss is coming in this week to do my review which should be interesting. I know that I've done a fine job of working my arse off the past year, but I also know that there are areas in which I need to improve, including time management and being realistic in what I can and can not do.....as I like to say, there is only one of me and only so many hours in the day!

I am also starting to try to lose weight again. I was at the doctor over Christmas and almost chocked when she said my weight. I've since lost 5 pounds, but I need to get more active....minimizing what I eat is not enough, I need to start going again to the health club - I lost 25 lbs when I did that after I first moved to Belgium. OKay, that weight lose was a combination of borderline depression, not eating and working out. I can skip the depression this time around....my only issue is that when I am stressed, I like to eat and munch.....I did buy carrots this weekend so hopefully those can be my munchy stress food!

Have a wonderful week everyone! Hopefully I'll have some finished works of art to show off soon!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Argentina.....part Dos

(Part Two of my Argentina Vacation)

Plans were being made to meet Vik. We decided to meet in the food court of a mall by Vik's apartment in B.A. Vik joined me and Zori as we were just finishing eating and joined us for coffee where we began talking like we had all known each others for years! Our first 10 minutes were the same as our last 10 minutes together...full of laughter!

We ventured out to the yarn district where all three of us looked for bargains! I spent way more than planned and picked up some gorgeous wool, silk, and custom blended yarn! I was in yarn heaven - the colors were amazing and Vik of course showed us to all of the good shops to visit!

We went to dinner that night, and had a few drinks. As we were all having such a great time together, plans were made to meet together the next day to go shopping....and to go out on the town dancing!

I spent a small fortune shopping the next day as well! Ooops! The clothes were way too cute and it seemed that the stores were running specials....how could I turn down bargains?

We met again that night and went to a dance bar for an evening of fun with the three of us, along with a friend of Zori's from work, Pablo! Great fun was had by all, lots of laughter and memories......as the Argentinian guy who tried to steal my pizza found out, don't mess with an American and her food when she is starving!



Friday evening was spent going to dinner with Zori, Vik and one of Zori's friends. More laughter and good food!

My last day was spent very quitely....too many nights out on the town I fear! Vik joined us at Zori's apartment from where we left to take me to the airport. One perk of flying so much is that I am in the members program of American, so I was able to check in the Business line which saved a lot of time! This left us time to go and grab something to drink.

Amazingly enough we found out while sitting there that all three of us love the Sound of Music......the guy at the table next to ours was highly entertained with our musical performance of our Favorite Things! =)

It was very sad to leave, but we promised (with a very solemn and 100% binding three-way Pinky Swear) that we would all meet again....whether it be in Argentina or somewhere else!

Great times were had and wonderful friendships were formed.

My sincere thank yous to both Zori and Vik for taking time from both of your schedules to show me Buenos Aries. I had an amazing time and I really can not wait to go back again!

Now to get busy making something with my yarn purchase!

Argentina.....part Uno

Okay, I finally have some time to write about my trip, but of course I am sure that I will not be able to give the trip the justice it deserves as it was an AMAZING vacation! I wish that I had been able to spend more time in Argentina and see more besides Buenos Aries....next visit, and yes, there will be a next visit!

After a fun quick visit to New York....where I went and visited Smileys Yarn, Rockefeller Center, and Barnes and Nobles (I ran out of reading material on the plane to the US). New York had lots of neat Christmas decorations around the town.





But of course Argentina had their decorations up....although for a Michigan girl, it seemed very strange to be seeing a Christmas tree when it was 90+ degrees outside and sunny!

Zori picked me up at the airport and after dropping off my suitcase....and taking a little nap, we ventured out for a walk along a river canal and my first (of what was to be many) tastes of Argentinian beef! Yumm yumm! We ended the first night in an internet cafe where Zori had to finish some work, so I sat and watched the movie CARS with no sound and Spanish subtitles....I learned what our grandparents / great-grandparents knew.....that one really does not need to hear (or read) to enjoy moving pictures! =)

The next morning was filled with sightseeing, including a visit to the cemetery where Evita is buried. I was briefly confused as to where I was while talking on the telephone...its seems oddly enough like I was in the UK, but the heat and sunshine quickly told me that I was not!

Lunch and the afternoon was spent at the Baxter Argentina Christmas party! The local team was kind enough to allow me to attend their party where we had a yummy lunch and then lots of dancing! I was able to meet several people that I have worked with in the past, but had never had the opportunity to meet in person! What great fun it was! We ended the evening going to a restaurant for drinks, appetizers and deserts with several colleagues.

While the days passed, plans were made for Tuesday....the yarn district and meeting Vik!

Monday, January 22, 2007

Frustrations and pictures part two!

Lets just say yee haw. I arrive this morning to Zürich, only to find out that my all day meeting tomorrow which was the main reason I was coming to Zürich has been cancelled....very frustrating! So now I'm stuck here, but luckily I have other things that I can work on these next 3 days.

To continue, here are more pictures from my trip to the US.......

A picture of me with my two nieces, their cabbage patch kids (Christmas present from 2005) wearing the outfits I bought them for Christmas this year!

En garde!! Santa Claus was very generous and brought not only my nephew a present but also a present for Grandpa....matching foam swords! While watching these two fight was entertaining, seeing my niece Megan take a go at sword fighting was hilarious - utterly ruthless showing excellent form and no mercy!

A snapshot of me and my really good friend Stormy.

Me and my sister Becky (the mother of my niece and nephew)

Last but not least, packing to go home.....I did not manage to fit everything in, although I probably could have as the airline did not bother to weigh my suitcases!

Next post.......Argentina!!

Here we go again....

I don't think that I've really talked much about my upcoming schedule.

My co-manager has quit, so we are in the process of recruiting for a newbie. Being Europe, it should take 2-3 months until we get someone in and trained. In the meantime, life is going to get a bit stressed out for me again. I've still not caught up from last years stress time.

I am off tomorrow morning to Zürich for 3 days for meetings, meetings and some more meetings, including a 10.5 hour meeting on Tuesday! Talk about a long day!

Spent the weekend being lazy. Some crocheting done - worked on a new doily as well as on my old WIP. Also read 3 books. I should have saved them for my trip, but I still have 2 others floating around to read, so I'll throw them in my suitcase.

I'm also going to be eventually moving my blog to my own site. This has been in the works for a while now, and while I've gotten the site ( www.cityofcrochet.com ) I've not found the time to start thinking about building the pages. One of these days I'll start. Don't expect it anytime soon though! =)

Okay, I hope that everyone has a great week!

Oops! Before I forget..... GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Better late than never (part 1)

Okay, I have 2 minutes before I need to skedaddle for a few and find something to eat. I've spent the day shopping, reading and *gasp* crocheting! I've started a New Years Resolution today to finish some of my WIPs, including a VERY old one which many will remember once its finished!

So, anywho, here are some pictures from my trip home.....Argentina and the story is still to come.....yeah yeah, I'll get to it! =)

Whats a kid to do with his present while waiting for the go-ahead to open them? Utilizing them as building blocks seems and excellent thing to do!

Ah, rest and relaxation for a few minutes with my Mom as I work on finishing a Birthday present for my niece Gracie (she was born on the 26th). I finished a granny square blanket that I made with yarn purchased in Spain. I've been working on this blanket (sorry forgot to take a picture of the final - oops!) for over a year before I finished it. I started it in Europe, took it to Michigan, left it there. My parents brought it to Florida I worked on it some more. Back to MI it went where I worked on it this past August and FINALLY finished it just after Christmas! She loved it - its perfect for her Cabbage Patch kid that I gave her last year!

The only Christmas present scarf that I managed to finish this year went to my niece Megan. Lets just say that it was a HUGE hit. She refuses to take it off and even wants to sleep with it! Yup, its one of those fancy fur scarves, but shes 3, and loves soft fuzzy things, so I caved and made her another one.

Gee Grandpa....whats that I see? Wine? Ah! Lets just say I know where I get my love of alcohol from and I show the appreciation for that love every year at Christmas! My Grandfather said one year when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas "Save your money and buy alcohol" Well I took those words to heart and have followed his advice every year faithfully! Last year was a bottle of Calvados from Normandy.....they call it a digestive, but I think its really Rocket Fuel in disguise! This year was 2 bottles of Chianti Classico from Italy - yummm!

I once again tried to find a few minutes to spend with my niece Bekky on teaching her Crochet. I wish that I was closer and could spend more time as she really wants to learn! She is coming along nicely though!

Band wagon jumping....

Did your mother give you what seems to be an age old line "Because everybody is doing it??? If everyone was jumping off a bridge would you want to do that to???"?

Well, I caved in this time. I jumped on the band wagon that is being driven through blog land called Snap A cool little code that you add into your blog code and it allows the reader of the blog to see a pop up snap shot of the link when they scroll over it....no more uncertanty on just where you will end up when you click a link on my blog!

So lets get down the whos who of bridge jumpers so far. Wendy jumped on first, and then like little sheepies we all followed.....Su, Deneen, Mimi, Sara

I am sure that there are more out there in blogland but these are the ones I've stumbled upon so far......

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Haunted by a book......

And not just any book, but a bubblegum romance novel that I last read probably back around 1994 / 95 when I was 16 or 17. Hows that for long term on the mind book?

Yes, I read the Harlequin books for pure stress relief. No thinking necessary, plots are all pretty similar, you know in the end the girl gets her man (or realizes shes in love with the one she already has) and life goes on. No need to really think and read, you occasionally learn some interesting facts, and when its done, its done.

I'm a serious book re-reader. I've re-read at least once practically every book that I own. For sure, I've re-read all of the books that I have here in Belgium. I'll get in a mood to want to read a book, and off I'll go to find it, hoping that I've not taken it back to the states for my mom, sister, aunt or cousins to read......I buy them, they read them. Seems to work well that way.

Anywho, back around 1994 / 1995 I let a friend borrow a selection of books, the missing one included. All came back, except that one. It was a favorite at the time so thats why the loss is memorable. And now, the darn book haunts me. But of course, the name and author of the darn book is long lost into the archives of my mind.

Nothing much is special about this book. It was probably one of the first romance novels that I ever read, and was probably published in the mid to late 80s or so.

The plot and characters you ask? Simple. Canadian girl named Allison. Lives with her parents and is engaged to be married. She turns down a job as the horse counselor at a kids camp. Then her finance ups and marries her sister. The camp owner, Clint happens to stop by the ranch to see if he can convince her to go for the job, of course she jumps and is whisked away by this man.

They arrive at the camp and it seems to Allison that Clint is involved with the Camp Shrink (I think Vicky or Victoria). Shucks for Alison. But theres always the poor little camper, Timmy, to keep her occupied, whose parents were in a car wreck and horse therapy seems the way to revive his spirits.

A bunch of drama, a trail ride with rattlesnakes spooking the horse that Timmy is on, a late night pool session or two, a hike to an abandoned cabin with Clint, and of course the moment when she realizes she is in love and goes to tell Clint on the day after camp has ended. What do you know, she catches Clint and Victoria in an embrace and goes running for home. She arrives and all is quiet.

What? He did not come after her?

Lo and behold, a telephone call about an accident and the fact that Clint is unconscious and has only mumbled her name. Away she goes tearing back to the hospital. Where she confesses her love to the unconscious Clint only to find out that he has been faking it in hopes that someone would call her. Victoria is explained as a hug with a friend who had passed her grad exams and had a great new job ahead. Life is rosey and they live happily ever after. The end.

Yup, I have a fairly good photographic memory and could probably re-write the darn book myself. It continues to haunt me seems that it will until the end of my days. *sigh*

I had hoped that writing about it might get it out of my head....will see what happens!

Friday, January 05, 2007

Happy New Year!!

Hello!!

Happy New Year!

I am back to Belgium - it has been a very hectic and fast 2 weeks in the US...heck 4 weeks for my whole trip.

I will be posting some updates and pictures as soon as I can, along with a few overdue thankyous for a Stitch Marker swap that I was in, as well as the details of my Argentina trip. I've also decided not to submit my scarf pattern for submission, so I will be posting that one on my blog soon hopefully.

My jet lag is almost zero this time around - amazing enough! When I came back in August it took me over a week to re-adjust and yet this time it has taken me less than 1 day. Will see how I am doing after the weekend though!