Happy President's Day!

Happy President's Day! I just love these public holidays where the kids all have off from school but of course my company does not give us the day off as well. There are all these great holidays here in the US that us office slaves have to...well....slave away during them....Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day...if we were a more religious based country, we could have more of those holidays like many European countries have as well - Good Friday, Holy Monday, Ascension, Assumption, Pentecost, All Saint's Day...the way I figure it, I am being cheated of 10 nice days off of work...okay, so if you don't want to take the Religious holidays we could do like the UK and Ireland and have "Bank Holiday Mondays"

 

Ah well...such is life in the Land of the free and the overworked, overstressed overeverything!

 

Crocheting and Knitting continue. I've been busy working on a new play yarn food collection for my youngest niece. I finished up several tarts and cookies this weekend, along with 2 of her requested blueberries. I asked her what she wanted and as if she knew what I hated to make, she smirked at me and goes "Blueberries" Do y'all realize how tiny blueberries are??? So, I suffered through making up two small blueberries and the rest of the blueberries were "made" into a blueberry tart! Hopefully that will work for her! lol

 

Of course I forgot to take pictures of them all...they are still at my parent's house so I will see if my Mom can grab a picture before she gives them to Abby. If not, more are still on the way for her as I need to make her as big of a collection as my other niece has!

 

No progress has been made on the Star Afghan....I am still trying to mentally pep myself up to take on the task of all of those little granny squares and all of those pesky little ends that need to be weaved in!

 

I am feeling the urge to start crocheting with thread again as well. I might try another of my foreign language patterns - I always find those an interesting challenge, especially those in languages I do not speak at all, like Flemish or German! Thankfully a chart is a chart in any language and aside from deciphering exactly what the symbols represent the only challenge is in the special note sections.

 

Have a great week everyone!

Finally Finished!

With the never ending Baby Blanket!  I did not really think that I would ever finish it, and yet let night I weaved in the last of the ends.

 

Overall, the project was really really easy - each motif was fairly simple....the only downside was the number of ends to weave in...which we all know that I despise doing. So of course I kept putting this project into a bag and shoving it in a corner - out of sight, out of mind! Occasionally guilt would get to me and I would start to work on it....only to be easily side tracked so back into the bag in the corner it would go!

 

I love the colors.....if I did it again I would probably make it larger by using more motifs.

 

Pictures you ask? Well, I am having slight technical difficulties in finding my camera cord - once it is found, picture will be uploaded.

 

I bought recently yarn to make a new Star Afghan in colors which match my family room. The first Star Afghan I made goes well with my living room chairs, so it has been moved out there permanently, so I am in need of another afghan for the family room to cuddle under. I hope that this time around the afghan goes much more smoothly for several reason. First of all is that I actually know now what I am doing - as a reminder the Star Afghan was my first Crochet Project that I started. Second is that I have the errata report which should help prevent me from going crazy wondering why the directions would not work correctly. Third and final reason I have written all out a graph with the color directions for using 3 colors like I did for the first afghan which should allow me to go faster since I will not have to think about color patterns this time!

 

I really want to do some thread work, so I might start a project there - perhaps some snowflakes and a doily.

 

I've also been busy on the house - putting up some pictures and rearranging furniture and plants. I need to go out and buy more hangings for the walls - I need at least a few more pictures in the living room / family room along with some thing for my bedroom....once I decide on what the color is going to be in the bedroom. The walls are a tan color, so I've been thinking about either going with a white or perhaps red and black accents.

As promised....

I finally fulfill a promise...pictures!

Where to begin right?

Well, let s start with the house for today.....more picture will be coming once I find more time - this weekend was rather filled with taking down all the lights and decorations.

First, from the outside - during the day and then all decorated for Christmas....

While I have been living in the new house almost 3 months, I am still getting it put together and looking like a home. Furniture has slowly been added, so I now have the majority of what I needed.

My dining room set came from my Grandparents - after my Grandmother died my Grandfather gave to me her formal dining room set as seen here....

Although I went to Michigan for the holidays I felt that I had to have a Christmas tree....here I am decorating it:

I spent some time this weekend finally crafting again. I finally got all the pieces of the baby blanket I am working on put together and started on the border - hopefully it will be done real soon! I also picked up some yarn last night.....I have decided to once again do the Star Afghan, but this time in colors to match my family room furniture.....hopefully this time will go a lot smoother since I have the error corrections which I did not have last time....talk about frustrating and wanting to pull my hair out!

Okay, have a great week everyone! Happy Crafting!

Howdy Ho Good Neighbors!

Howdy Ho Good Neighbors...ummm...do I have any neighbors left after my self imposed sporadic year + of non-blogging?  I hope so!  For those of you needing a more than sporadic input from me, I can be found on Facebook where you can stalk me to your hearts content...once you friend me that is!  The e-mail address I use on Facebook is kaml19****at**** yahoo*****dot***** com  hopefully that is not picked up by the spammers and I end up with a slew of spam  mails now!

 

I had a reason for blogging today...and of course I got side tracked and have lost what I wanted to say...don't cha hate when that happens?  It's like going to the fridge opening it up and then forgetting what you wanted to take out.  Oh well, if I ramble long enough it is sure to come back to me right???  Or else I'll wake up at 3 am and remember then!

 

Snow season is in full force here in the Chicago-land area.....I blew out the driveway last night after work of a few inches of snow....only to be met this morning with what looked like 10 more inches of it...according to the weather guy we got over 6, but they must be using an oversized ruler because that snow came over the top of my poor little snowblower which was chugging and coughing as it struggled to deal with that much snow!  I've been afraid to look out the window while here at work in case it is still snowing...I might cry as I know that I need to still blow my sidewalks off when I get home.

 

I got my new glass finally!  After a year of broken glasses which entailed my only wearing contact for 15.5 of he 16 hours I was awake I saw the eye doctor and got some new ones.  They have a funky retro rectangle shape and I love them!!!  I'll have to get some picture of me wearing them.....its been a while since I have posted pics...this weekend....pinky swear promise! 

 

Still can not remember what I wanted to blog......perhaps tomorrow I will remember!

 

Happy Crafting!!

Kimberly

 

 

 

Roll on 2010!!!

The year has started and its off to a roaring start!

 

After some last minute Christmas "play yarn food" knitting and crocheting I am ready to see what 2010 brings me in regards to creative urges.

 

Top on the list is to start an afghan to match the colors in my family room.......just as soon as I finish that pesky Baby Blanket I've been working on for ages....that is on my list for this weekend since I am taking it easy!

 

I am going to be sad to take down my Christmas tree.  I had several snowflakes I had made decorating the tree...hopefully next year I will be able to have even more ready.....assuming I don't give them all away like I tried to do this year!

 

What is on your 2010 Creative To Do list?

 

Aside from the afghan and snowflakes, I foresee lots of play yarn food for my youngest niece, along with scarves and hats and several doilies and household decorations for the new house.

 

Happy Crafting!

Another year has ended......

Okay, I'm jumping the gun on the whole end of the year by 3 whole days, but since I've remembered my poor neglected blog I figured I had best write a year end summary BEFORE I blinked and it was already mid-January.

 

It has been a busy year for me....from the hectic travelling around Europe, organizing the move back to the US, finally moving back and then the subsequent house hunting and move in madness while trying to settle into the new job...chaos! 

 

Crafting has taken a back seat for obvious reasons, but that has not stopped me totally!  I did find the time to work on a few doilies, snowflakes and of course play yarn food! 

 

2010 looks like it will be a fairly busy year for me as well.  Aside from the job stress, I will be doing some personal travel around the US to visit old friends which I have been unable to do the past few years. 

 

I also have decided that I will be taking a retreat of some sorts to figure out where my next steps in life are going to take me now that I have settled back into the US.  A feeling that all was not right with my life has slowly been growing the past few months since I have been back in the US.  As if something was misplaced that I could not find.  A rather strange feeling to be having with all of the changes going on in my life.

 

Okay, I must be off....here is hoping that everyone had a great Christmas and wishing everyone a very Happy and Joyous New Year!

 

See you in 2010!

 

 

 

 

Christmas approaches....

And as it does I really must take a step back and wonder where on earth the year has gone.  I've been in my new house for just under 2 months now, and I am still not fully unpacked.  I have slowly decreased the boxes in my bedroom from 20 to 3, but the boxes are still piled high in the office and still a few in my craft room. 

 

Things have gone missing - for the life of me I can not find where my crochet hooks are stashed.  I have located a few and bought a few new ones, but the storage box that I kept them in is AWOL.  I have found the storage box with my knitting needles so hopefully the hooks are not too far behind! 

 

I did a quick put up job for the holidays in regards to indoor and outdoor decorations - just not enough time to get what I wanted done before the bad weather hit!  I also need to have an electrician come out and do some work adding an addition breaker box and some outdoor outlets and a few outlets in the kitchen that I want for my Dept 59 houses which I plan next year to have up on top of the cupboards in the kitchen if I can get power outlets installed up there to avoi having extension cords dangling down the walls. 

 

My Christmas tree is up - it stands about 9 feet tall and is gorgeous!  I have put up all of my ornaments, including all of the handmade ones I received in years past!  I can not wait for next years tree - I hope to have some more snowflakes and hand ornaments for it.....along with it being bigger and potentially artifical - I love the smell of the real tree, but I fear if I go too much taller it would become a problem guaranteeing that it will stand up and not fall over.  With all of the glass ornaments from around the world that I have collected I would not want this to happen!  

 

Take care and enjoy the holidays!!

 

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served our country in honor.  A thank you too all who came home and a thank you to all who sacrificed everything and never made it home.  You are not forgotten.

Right down the drain.....

My resolution to blog more once back in the US that is!  I can not believe that 3 months has passed by so quickly!  My first few weeks were filled with car shopping (I am the proud owner of a 2010 Chevy Equinox) and house shopping which lasted more than a few weeks!

 

I finally found my dream house up in Gurnee Illinois, and moved in my furniture and belongings finally 2 weeks ago.  It was a crazy and hectic period but the house is finally getting into shape.  I plan on taking pictures this weekend of the finished rooms for everyone to see.  I still have several rooms that are teeming with boxes, but the main floor is mostly done and the guest bedroom is completed and currently occupied by my best friends from Argentina who is up visiting for 10 days!

 

The new job is going good - it keeps me busy and fully occupied.  Its a big change from the job I did in Europe which I sorely miss.  I am already trying to plan some trips back to Europe to visit friends and places I did not see while I lived there!  Its a good thing I hit my 10 year work anniversary this year and will have 4 weeks of vacation in the US finally....although it is still 2 weeks less than I had in Europe!

 

Crafting has been on hold once again during the moving chaos.  I am trying to work on a Swifter Cover for my Mom, as well as working on those unfinished blankets that are lying around hidden from view and thus hidden from my getting a guilty conscious when I see them!

 

With the new house, I am planning on having a craft room upstairs with the hopes of keeping all the yarn clutter contained within those 4 walls with the exception of 2 projects which I have decided can go in a basket next to the couch in the family room.  My goal is to finish those 2 before bringing anything else out of the craft room....will see how long that lasts right? 

 

I've been slowly collecting bead kits for jewelry....will try my hand on a few projects to see if I have something new to work on or not!

Invasion!!!!

Halloween has invaded this place that I work!

 

The hallways are crawling with all sorts of folk!

 

Monsters.....skunks....spidermen galore

 

Princesses and dragons and fairy tale lore

 

Raggedy Ann, but no sign of Andy

 

Muscle men, zombies, even a toad

 

A robot, a sorceror, a Witch and a Lion!

 

Wonder Woman and BatMan with Robin the Hood!

 

To inifinity and beyond!!!  Screamed Buzz as he passed

 

In rolled a pumpkin, followed by Pooh,

 

Dorthy from Oz and a Ninja Turtle too!

 

The halls were a burtsting with giggles and more,

 

Spooky sounding spiders and streamers a fly

 

The treating has ended, the chaos is done,

 

Now back to work, a spreadsheet awaits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have arrived.

 

And that is about all I have to say =)

 

No, honestly its been a busy 9 days since I have arrived here in the Chicago-land area. Its been very busy as I got off the plance on Sunday, managed to get my car and apartment located, and then started work on Monday morning! Talk about no rest for the weary!

 

I am living right now in Glenview Illinois on an old Naval Air Base. My parents came to help me house hunt (more on this later) and while walking around the shopping area my Dad got to talking about how he could not believe that he was on the Glenview Base. I guess several of his old military budies had either been stationed at Glenview before shipping overseas or had gone to Glenview when they returned stateside. So for him it was really cool where I am living.

 

My parents drove over from Michigan last Thursday and we spent all day Friday looking at 13 different houses. Several issues popped up during the day - i.e. an electronic key not working, another key not turning the lock, but we were able in the end to see all but 1 of the houses on the list and then narrowed the list down to 4 possibilities. I am going back to re-visit the 4 houses today after work with a colleague to try to finalize my decision in my mind. I think I have it narrowed to 2 but I want to make sure about that as I can honestly see myself living in all 4 of the houses.

 

While I was still in Europe on my last trip to Zurich I picked up a magazine from a stand off the motorway in France. it showed a techinique called Hardanger - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardanger_embroidery Whqt gorgeous patterns qnd designs! I can not wait to try my hand at this - has anyone ever done this?

 

I have not had much time to knit and crochet since being back, but I did pick up some yarn. One of my new colleagues is pregnant so I thought to make up a quick baby blanket for her upcoming new arrival.

 

This is all for now! Enjoy the rest of the week!

The end of the road......

The end of the road......and the turn onto another has begun! 

 

Lots has been happening here lately and my apologies for again the long gaps in blogging.  The e-mails and other avenues of communication that I have been able to share with everyone has been great!

 

So, what is going on?

 

After 14 months of searching and waiting and worrying and stressing and every other "ing" possible my move back to the US becomes reality in 4, thats right FOUR days!!!  I will be moving back to Chicago where I will start the process to buy a house and settle down.  I am very excited about the opportunities that are being given to me and can not wait to jump on in to the new job.  I will be doing a special project implementing new accounting and reporting software which is something totally different than I have been doing - lots of changes!

 

All of my belongings, including almost ALL of my yarn was shipped back last Friday, and I'll receive it in 6-8 weeks in Chicago.  I kept out a few smaller projects and the one baby blanket that I am STILL working on - it is getting there though!  If I totally go into withdrawl there will be all of the lovely yarn shops in the Chicago-land area waiting for me.  Although I expect that I will be too busy at first house and car shopping and settling into a new routine.

 

Project wise I finished a few Swifter covers to use in my new house along with a few dishcloths.  I am working on several doilies and recently picked up multple new french doily pattern magazines which have everything graphed so I do not really need to speak french that well - I've also recieved similar mags in Flemish and Spanish from friends.

 

Once I am in my new house I am sure to be working on lots of new home type projects - I really would like to try my hand at crocheting some curtains, depending of course if I have the right type of window for curtains.  I also want to make some dishcloths to color coordinate the kitchen as well as some doilies and runners for my tables and china hutch.  I have a ceramic figurine for my dining room table named Minnie.  Minnie is a mermaid and came to me when I received the dining room table from my Grandfather after Grandma passed away last year.  Minnie was a fixture on the table at my Grandma's and when I was given the table, hutch and chairs, the first thing that I asked was if I could have Minnie too lol!  My Grandpa said yes and went running to get her lol  I must make something for her to sit on!

 

Okay, this will probably be the last posting from Europe - will "see" you all when I reach America!!!

 

 

Where is the time going?????

I can not believe that it is already mid-June! Seriously, it was just yesterday that it was new years right????

So I'm sure you want to know whats been on at the Casa de Kimberly. Well.......I've been trying like mad to find what appears to be an elusive job back in the US. I am seriously stressed and depressed and pulling my hair out in frustration here. I really do not want to leave my company since I seriously enjoy both the people and what we do in the world to help others have better lives.

And now for the real reason that you read my blog......crafting!

While I have been busy i have been working my fingers off whenever possible. I am almost finished with a baby afghan and I've finished a few thread projects here and there. Here are a couple of the things I've finished recently:

First up is a Jean Greenhowe design from her Little Men and Monsters Collection - a T-Rex which is sitting on my Dad's bookshelf currently back in the US. he was made using Wibra acrylic and took forever since I was too lazy to take the 10 minutes to sew him all together.


When I was in Spain back in April, I bought a Thread Doily magazine. It is in Spanish, but thankfully the designs are charted so I can just read the charts and figure things out from there along with my very basic Spanish skills I possess for reading the instructions. The first is a small design that I made as a starter Spanish Project using Size 10 Coats Eldorado White thread:



The second doily is way more advanced and ovaly! I loved the look of it as being something different. I first crocheted the round middle section and then added on the two ends before crocheting around the entire project for a few rows...novel concept eh?



I did hit a stumbling block on another small project I am working on. I've never seen this stitch pattern charted before and I can not for the life of me figure out how in the world it can be done based on what is written in the chart! And of course there are no descriptions anywhere on how to do it! I'll have to see if I can write out a portion of the chart and see if anyone knows how it can be done!

What else is on the hooks and needles you ask?

Why another doily, but this one is from a FRENCH pattern book with a Flemish pattern waiting right behind it! Also a few scarves (its summer I know, but I need these for gifts) and some dishcloths and patterns I am testing for others and creating for myself!

What is going on in your corner of the world?

Spring is here!!!!

And with the arrival of spring comes allergy season and of course, spring cleaning!  Or at least that is the plan for the weekend at the Maison de Kimberly!

 

My apartment has next to nothing when it comes to storage.  I have 2 closets, one filled with coats, and the other filled with suitcases, ironing board and the vacuum cleaner.  I have 2 wardrobes for my clothes, and one small little dresser.  That is it.

 

Hence the reason the bookshelves are over flowing, clothes are piled up on top of boxes, crafting supplies litter the living room, and overall general chaos exists in my apartment.

 

I hate it.

 

I really do.

 

I can exist and live happily in it, but at the same time it annoys me when I actually stop moving at a 100 miles an hour and actually take a look around.

 

So I have decided that this weekend will be a cleaning weekend.  Ruthlessness will come out and things will be thrown away.  Those papers I've had for the 6 years I've lived here?  Gone!  Out the door.  The miscellaneous odds and ends I've kept just in case.....binned!

 

We will see if I succeed or not.....but away I go to dive into the deep end...cluttered bookshelf number one your minutes are numbered!

 

And within that cleaning spree is the decision to finish the gazillion unfinished projects i have lying around or else frog them.  

Travels galore.....and some crafting!

First up the travels! I am done for a few weeks now. Lisbon was great fun - I really enjoyed it - had a fab time at the Hard Rock Cafe which was most conveniently located across the street from our hotel - bonus!

First up, me and 2 co-workers I travelled to Lisbon with - Karl and Jon. There was 5 of us in all there celebrating my friend Te-Keisha's birthday.

We spent one day out at the beach - lovely time - nice and sunny and I enjoyed splashing in the water, even if it was FREEZING!!!!

Here are some pictures from Rome - first up me outside of Saint Peter's in the Vatican:
And next, a group shot of us with two Roman Soldiers we found outside the Colliseum!
Last but not least the dishcloth - rather springy is it not? I also have finished almost a second doily - will get it finished and then block both of them at the same time along with some snowflakes I have done recently - nothing like putting it off huh?
I am slowly getting back into the swing of things for crafting. I need to pick up the needles again, which should happen soon hopefully!

My neice has requested more Play Yarn Food - this time she only needs 5 pieces of bacon, 2 doughtnuts and just a few grapes. She was so cute while asking that I could not say no!

I was touched by my nephew the other day. They got a new puppy and we were talking about how he was taking his stuffed animals. I said "oh no thats not good that hes chewing on your animals" to which Andrew replied most seriously "Don't worry Aunt Kim. Super Turtle and Charzon are up on my shelf where he can not get to them. The others were bought at a store, but yours you made for me which makes them super special!"

I did not think he really respected the fact that I made him something, but he does! I made him the little turtle probably 4 years ago, and with all his toys and junk I am surprised he has not lost it in the mess of his room / closet!

Okay, I am off for bed - have a great week everyone!!

Crafting returns!!

I am finally getting back into the swinging of crafting....about time I know! I've finished finally the dishcloth along with a quick Spanish Doily....my skills in foreign language crocheting are quickly increasing!

Now pictures. Ummm...sure....tomorrow perhaps since my camera batteries died right as I snapped the last picture. Typical right?

I had a great time the past two weekends in Madrid and then in Rome - I just love visiting different cities. I did find a yarn shop in Madrid where I bought some hooks, a hook case and a booklet of Spanish doily patterns. The shop is El Gato Negro and is right in the Plaza Mayor - easy peasy to find!

Wanderlust strikes again....

Or at least thanks to some really great air plane flights I am going to be travelling a lot the next few weeks!

I spent the past weekend in Nice France and Monte Carlo Monacco - had a great time and really enjoyed seeing the sun for 2 days - I think that living in Belgium I sometimes forget what the sun looks like!

I have found time to update my places I've visited map.

• Create your own travel map or travel blog


• Travel Info at TripAdvisor

I still have a large number of places that I would like to see! One day and one city at a time I guess!

I am off to Madrid this upcoming weekend, followed by trips to Rome and Lisbon with tentative plans to go to Morocco in the upcoming months!

Crafting? Ummm....I have finished a couple of snowflakes along with starting progress on a dishcloth.....but have not blocked the flakes yet so pics will be coming soon as I find some spare time to get them blocked and starched.

I want to make something.....

Honest.  I really do want to knit or crochet something.....I just don't know what.  I am itching to dig into my stash and start churning out projects again.....but I just can not get over some weird subconscious thingy that is drawing me away from the yarn.  I stare at my yarn, look at patterns and others finished items and yet there is no great big epiphany on what I will create. 

 

I guess I gots me the crafters blues.

 

*sigh*

 

Soon, I promise I will overcome this malady that has me unconsciously turning away from my beloved yarn and reaching instead for solace at the bottom of the nearest pint of Ben & Jerry's.......

 

Taking it easy....

This week will hopefully be a quiet one for me.  I spent the weekend near Ramstein Germany and I really need to recover.  From the 3 hour drive there and back plus a night of dancing - my feet feel like they want to seriously fall off my body!

 

I have a TON of upcoming travel planned.  I will spend this upcoming weekend in Brussels, and then the weekends after that are as follows:

 

Normandy - near Caen, spening time visiting the beaches & Mont St. Michel

Nice - Sightseeing - first time visiting

Madrid - visiting my old co-workers

Rome - Sightseeing

TBD - For my friend Te-Keisha's birthday

 

Plus there are tentative trips planned for Dublin and Amsterdam, along with the necessary work trips to Zurich.....crazy!!!!!

 

This is all in hopes of seeing everything possible before both myself and TeKeisha move back to the US.  I still do not have an exact date planned, but it is going to be in the next 6 months as my final Visa is ending June 30th.  If I choose to stay longer than this, I will switch to a permanent European contract which I have not wanted to do for various reasons.

 

I am off to lunch and then hopefully to get a TON done this afternoon rather quickly so that I can have an early night at home to catch up on some laundry and of course sleep!

Proof that I am still crocheting! Here is a snowflake that I made from a pattern magazine I picked up in Argentina! My first Spanish project.....I feel so proud! =)

And just a fun little pic of me and the girls from our weekend adventures.


I do not have a pic of the doily I am working on....can not find the camera cord....it is around here somewhere!

I just want to sleep...

Honest, I am not asking much.  Just a full night, of 8 hours, of 100% uninterrupted sleep.  No more tossing and turning and coughing so hard it feels like my lungs have left my chest and splatted against the wardrobe doors across the room.  Monday night it was almost 5:30 before I hit exhaustion, Tuesday was around 4:30ish, last night it was actually around 3:30. 

 

I am going through the motions at work on auto pilot right now - brain has left the building.

 

I did start a crocheted dishcloth - yay, as well as work on the next section on the french doily I'm working on.  No knitting though - just can not find the mojo to start going.

 

That is it from my side for today!  Pictures will be coming soon!

In the top 10.....

This Valentines Day weekend has to be in the top 10 of my life, if not the top 3. 

 

Meti has started working nights again, so I am all alone.  I knew he was going to be working this past weekend, so I did what every "single" person would do and planned a Girl's Weekend.  Friday night we included 2 of the guys that we go out with, which ended up being a lot of fun, even though I was sick. 

 

Saturday was spent lazing around one of the girl's apartment until we got up enough energy to go do a whirlwind shopping trip to find THE outfits for a Girl's night on the town.  I ended up scoring the cutest little black dress....and wonders of all wonders, it fit me wonderfully!  We went out dancing, I had my hair down and let's just say we painted the town red! 

 

Sunday was spent doing brunch at one of the apartments and laughing and reading Cosmo.  We found the energy to get dressed eventually (we all live in the same building, so it was sleep pants and lounge clothes all day long) and went to see a chick flick, The Women (great movie!) and since our calorie intake for the weekend was already sky high, ended the weekend with a fried chicken dinner.

 

It was such great fun with the girls - laughing and joking and just having a great time.

 

It did not even bother me that I saw the boyfriend for probably about 5 hours in total over the weekend, and that he totally blew off Valentines Day.  Who needs a man when you have your girlfriends right!!!!!!  =)

 

I got two wonderful Japanese craft books from my friend Genevieve.  She went to a show in Paris and brought them back for me. One is a Hello Kitty Amigurumi book and the other one is a Desert Type amigurumi book - too cute!!!  I can not wait to make something from them!

 

I am off for home now though - still feeling under the weather - I need some more cold meds and some sleep.

Not a bone was broken....

During my 2nd skiing trip to France. This time we went to Les Trois Vallees to a resort called Les Menuiers. We had an amzing time - the views were spectacular, and the skiing was great fun.

I really progressed this time and even went off-piste (not on the marked trail) in the powder some which was amazing until I hit a rock and tumbled head over heels.

Here are a few pics.....

First up a picture of yours truely in the Powder (before the aforementioned tumble) with the resort of Val Thorens in the background.....

The views from the top of the slopes.....
The gang - Justin, Me, Andy, Erin & Marci - a great group of people to go skiing with - we are truely had a good time together with lots of laughter and fun!
Les Menuiers where we stayed.....
The view of the mountains with the ski lifts....
I did work a little bit on my doily that I brought, but no great energy to do more than just a little bit. I hope that I can get back into the crafting bug soon so I can start using up some of this yarn that I have bought and have sitting here waiting for inspiration to appear!

I hope that everyone is doing well! Will catch up more with everyone soon!

Hello from Paris!

I drove to Paris this morning - easy drive, and I am now sitting in the subburbs at our office here, and tomorrow it is off to the mountains and a week of skiing!   I am very excited about going skiing, although after my day skiing last week in Switzerland, I know that I am going to be VERY sore after 6 days....perhaps I'll lose some weight during this time - I can hope!  =)   I did not really pack any projects to take with me - I threw in a doily I am working on at the last minute, but just did not feel the mood.  I am looking forward to just relaxing and skiing and not thinking about work.....well, not thinking about it after my call on Monday that I need to take.....well, 2 calls actually.  No rest for the weary that is for sure.

Au revoir Mon Ami

What to do?   What to do, when the bad news arrives The unchangeable need to say good-bye What to do, when your hearts torn in two? The pain and the sadness, filling your mind What to do, when you need to talk But only silence answers your cries What to do, when you need to cry The tears won't come, for your eyes are dry What to do, when you're all alone Miles away no chance to go home What to do, when the curtain is closed But to say farewell, we'll miss you my friend   ________   Farewell my old friend.  You will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have a chance to have you in their lives.  I thank you for so many good memories, and I wished that we had had a chance to have more together, but we had to grow up and move on with our lives, while time and distance came between us.

And the year begins.....

With lots of travel and a snowflake!   I am in Zürich for a week, including staying over the weekend which will let me get in a day of skiing on Saturday.  I'm really excited about skiing and trying out my rusty skills before I go to France.   I am off to the French Alps the 24th for a week of zooming down the mountain.  I am hoping that I can get in some lessons again this year and improve on my very beginners skiing ability.  We are going to Les Menuiers which is part of the Trois Vallee region in France.    Hopefully I will have a few more trips planned in Feb and March which will keep me busy.  I still do not know when I am moving back to the US - I am living one week at a time almost waiting to see what the job hunt turns up.   The first finished project in 2009 is a snowflake from a Spanish magazine I picked up in Argentina.  The pattern was charted which allowed me to easily complete it, although it took me a few minutes to figure out which symbols were which stitches.  I'll post a picture of it as soon as I get my camera downloaded to my computer.   I brought the Granny Blanket which I did not finish in the US in hopes of making more progress on it.  I hope to have it finished soon and mailed to my cousin back in the US for her baby girl.  I also brought a doily I am working on and the Spanish magazine in hopes of making a few more flakes from different patterns.   Happy Crafting!!

A few Vacation pictures.....

Here are a few pictures from my vacations - all of people since I had been to Argentina before I did not take that many touristy type shots of buildings etc, but people are what makes the holiday great!

Included here are the Niece & Nephew with my parents Christmas Bears, Me & Miss Molly (Vik's dog), Me & the Llamas at the zoo, Me, Zori & Leen, and then Me & Vik.

A look back at 2008....

Part of the whole making resolutions each year is to look back at what was accomplished or as the case may be not accomplished during the previous year.

Before I go into a huge self analysis on my resolutions from 2008, I thought to show you 2 of the final 2008 projects that I made.....

First up is the Santa Cloth that I made for my Mom. Done in Katia Cotton in red:

Second is a hat made with some of the yarn I bought in 2006 in Argentina:


Now on to the 2008 failures and successes. The whole resolution list can be found here from last year: http://cityofcrochet.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-post-of-2008.html

Resolution #1: Yarn on Top 10 List: Only used 5 of the yarns - Failed
Resolution #2: 52 Projects: Over 56 if you count the yarn food - Succeeded
Resolution #3: 26 Projects with Stash Yarn: Done thanks to yarn food - Succeeded
Resolution #4: No more yarn bought: Bought way too much: Failed
Resolution #5: 2 Projects KPAD & CPAD: Failed
Resolution #6: Finish all existing WIPS: All either finished or frogged: Succeeded
Resolution #7: Weight Loss: Gained more - Failed
Resolution #8: Travel to 2 Places To Visit Before I die: Went to 6 - Succeeded
Resolution #9: Travel once per month - Succeeded
Resolution #10: Decision to go back to US: Made in May - Succeeded

Well, 60% or 2 out of 3 (just about) ain't bad! =) #4 was set out to fail - how could anyone not buy any yarn?

I still need to think about resolutions for 2009, perhaps some repeats from 2008 will occur, and hopefully all will be a challenge but more reachable than 2008's resolutions!

Look what I can do with my Yarn Food!

While home for Christmas my niece Megan pulled out her play Yarn Food that I had made for her, along with the two doughnuts that was sent from Anita. She got a huge smile on her face and said "Look what I can make Aunt Kim"

This was the result......



A little person made of food!

Megan is still saying that she is going to be a Chef when she grows up. She got an Easy Bake oven for Christmas and took great pride in making a cake and giving us all a bite of her masterpiece.

Happy New Year 2009!!

Best regards to all for a prosperous New Year in 2009!

2008 has been a difficult year in many ways. I am glad that it is over, but also sad that another year has passed by so quickly! I hope that everyone has has a great Christmas vacation!

My trip to Argentina, Texas & Michigan went very well aside from a few transportation issues, but I arrived safely every time which is all that matters at the end of the day!

Hola from Buenos Aries!!!!

A quick picture of me, Zori & Leen out and about in Buenos Aries last night. Having a great time down here will be sad to leave tomorrow but also happy to go on and visit 2 days with my Grandfather. Vacation is flying by faster than the speed of light - wish I had another week or two or three here to enjoy!

More details on the trip to come. I did manage to find 2 yarn stores so far, will see if I visit any more tomorrow with Vik!

Only 2 more to go....

Days that is!  I leave Friday morning for my 2.5 week voyage.  I am flying first to New York and then on to Argentina.  I will spend a week there and then fly to McAllen Texas to visit my Grandfather for 3 days, and i will then fly up on the 23rd to Chicago and drive around to Michigan for a week with my parents and all my nieces and nephew!   A VERY busy time, but all will be well worth the time spent on airplanes and waiting in airports.    And did I mention that I am in Zürich tomorrow?  Ick!  But I am going for a good reason so that makes it worth the additional airplane time this year.   I am busy working on a few last minute Christmas presents - hopefully my time on planes and airports will be well spent!   I hope that everyone has a great few weeks and will talk to you all soon!!

Pattern Tester Needed

Anyone have a days time on their hand to knit up a charted dishcloth?  I have the dishcloth both charted and written out so anyone comfortable with either method would be able to knit my newest design.   If anyone is interested, please contact me either on Ravelry (user name: Kimberly) or via e-mail at KAML19 at YAHOO dot COM   As the cloth is intended for New Years, it would need to be knit rather quickly.   Cheers!

Foreign Country does not equal not understood

What is it about some people that make them think that just because they are in a foreign country others will not understand what they are saying?

While eating tonight in the hotel restaurant, I had the great experience of having a "lovely" American couple sitting behind me. I would estimate that they were in their upper 60s or so.

During their conversation I heard about their romantic life and what he intends to do to her tonight. Their financial status including the cost of this trip and how American Express cards work. A rant about foreigners in America...are we not all foreigners and children of immigrants? His own sense of self-importance.....how would the world function without him? That maintenance road workers drive around with the lights on top of their car lit up to make them feel more important the "#$*!&$# *!*$# !$*#@$*" and so on and so forth.

I really held myself together until the whole romantic escapades section came up and then I had to leave. I mean ick! I don't want to hear about that while eating dinner....well, I was done eating so while digesting my dinner.

Please, I ask everyone to consider when traveling to a foreign country to please realize that others around you just might speak your language!

In Dublin I had some French speaking people talk about me rather rudely after I told them in English that the chair they wanted to take was occupied.....the expressions on their faces when I told them after listening to them basically say how ugly and stupid and bitchy I was that "perhaps they misunderstood my English, but the chair is occupied by a friend so they can not take it" in French was priceless. Needless to say they quickly left the area.

*sigh*

Other than the dinner experience Zürich is good. Colder than Brussels with a covering of snow on the ground in places.

I did notice tonight that I have somehow managed to chip part of the ruby in my ring off. Not so happy about that one. Especially as I replaced not even a year ago one of the diamonds that fell out of the setting in the ring. It is not so noticeable unless you look closely at the ring, but now that I noticed it I can not help but look for it every time the ring catches my eye.

*sigh*

Okay, I hope that everyone has a great and wonderful week!

I think its done!

I've been working on an idea for a dishcloth, a knit dishcloth, and i think that I have it finally done.

I've charted out a design for a New Years cloth with a champagne bottle, 2 glasses & 2009 on the chart.

I just need to print off the instructions and go back through the written details versus the charted details to make sure everything is in alignment as I made changes to the chart several times as I went along.

Fingers crossed, it will be ready to be published by the time I return from Zürich on Wednesday night!

I've had several ideas for charted dishcloths floating in my head - its a nice feeling to get one onto paper. I charted it out using my handy dandy excel and then pasted the chart as a picture into my document, so hopefully all is readable! My only fear is that now every time I open Excel for work I will start thinking of knitting charts......not going to make my new boss that happy if my productivity goes down!

Okay, I need to finish doing dishes from the cookie making experience! Great fun was had - my french is getting better as I was able to converse with the 5 year olds with no problem, although a few times they laughed after I said something....must have said it really wrong, but none the less they understood - yay!

Cheers!

Today is cookie baking day!

I am so excited to be making cookies today! Yummmmmyyyy!!!

My co-worker Marjorie and her two children are coming over. Will be interesting to see how my apartment handles two 5 year old twins! I am figuring that the boy will not last that long with cookie making, so its a good thing I have the PacMan game and the Wii to keep him entertained afterward! I also pulled out all of my kid movies so those are also a fall back, but I think the Wii should keep him well entertained!

Pictures of the event will be coming along with pictures of the finished cookies!

I am going to Zurich tomorrow morning for 3 days. Some issues came up on Thursday and Friday last week so I am going to Zürich to straighten them out as best as I can. Or at least attempt to. It all depends on my new boss and the VP being behind my way of thinking which is at least more rationale than my colleagues in the US who started the issues.

Okay, must go get all the ingredients ready for the cookie making! I hope everyone is having a GREAT weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

To all my fellow Americans, I wish to you a very happy and joyful Thanksgiving! I hope that everyone is able to spend this day with family and friends as we give thanks to what & who we have in our lives.

I will be spending today working as it is not a holiday here in Belgium and then tonight I will do a big dinner with my fellow Americans who are here - it should be fun.

I am preparing a ham, and lets just say it will be interesting! It is a raw ham from a freshly butchered pig, no pre-cooking or curing done on it. I've never cooked a ham this way, so I am taking the butchers advice on this one and preparing it the way he told me to! Thankfully one of the other girls is preparing a Turkey, so we will have that as a fall back if only not really enough meat since there are 10 of us and the Turkey is 10 pounds.

I've been busy crafting. My Argentinian yarn hat is about 3/4 of the way done, my Santa Cloth is about 1/4 of the way done, and I am making some snowflake type things from a pattern in a French magazine a colleague gave to me. The flakes are charted and I've never seen a chart like this before so it is interesting. I've hit a point where I am a bit stumped by the chart and what it wants me to do, but I will figure it out I am sure!

Pictures are coming - I'm just too lazy to get them posted lately it seems....At least I am doing better on posting, so that is half the battle!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!

Snowflakes keep a coming!

Everything melted that we got yesterday but its finally started back up again.  Nice big fat snowflakes are drifting past my window here at work.  Really pretty if you overlook the view of the wet train yard.  It will not stick though since it's too warm out still. =(   Being in the Christmas mood I cast on yesterday for a Santa face dishcloth in bright Christmas red.  The pattern is really cute and can be found here on Ravelry:   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-santa-cloth   and here on the web:   http://krisknits.blogspot.com/2007/12/that-one-last-gift.html   This should be a fairly quick knit for me, but since I am working on 10 other things at the same time, who knows!   I'm planning a big thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with my fellow Americans here in Brussels.  My friend Te-Keisha has her mom coming in to visit this week and she's volunteered to make the Turkey which will help since we all have to work so dinner will be around 7 at night I think.  I'm bringing salad and desert.....still trying to decide what desert to make - perhaps apple pie, but I'll have to think about it.....if I had know I would have picked up premade crust and pumpkin at the Commissary last time I was there and made Pumpkin Pie!    Okay, I must finish up a few things and then I am heading home!  Have a great week everyone!

Snow flakes are falling....

And not a one is sticking. I love watching the snow come down, I only wish it would stick around!

It is super cold here in Belgium this weekend, low in the 30s which is almost as rare as the snowflakes we have seen on and off all weekend. I'm not complaining though -I love the snow in any form. I even wish that we would have more than a few days of snowfall every year.

The hat I've been working on is coming along well. I still have not decided on how big I am going to make it.....I would like something that fully covers my ears as several of the hats I've made are a little too short for super cold days.

Meti has asked for another hat, so I need to get busy making that one. Not idea which pattern I am going to use. He looked through several of my patterns and picked out one that I already made him. Not going to re-do that one so I need to think about it. I'm thinking something rather simple - ribbed collar and then basic stockinette, but I've been in the mood for cables lately.....will wait until I finish my hat to decide so I have several days to think about it!

I am off to snuggle into a blanket and get warm - my apartment is freezing today as the 2 working heaters are not enough to warm the apartment the whole way through it seems.

Have a great Sunday!

I do believe she is on a diet....

Otherwise the knit skirt I made for my niece's Cabbage Patch Kid would fit mine perfectly right????   I finished the skirt last night, grabbed my CPK doll to check the sizing out, and its seriously falling off her!    My doll is fairly old...about 25 years old, so I am going to live in hope that my doll has just merely lost her figure over time and slimmed down a little bit.....okay, a whole lot of bits!  I'll take the skirt to the US with me and see if it will fit, otherwise I'll tear out the decrease rounds and do them over on smaller needles with a tighter gauge in hopes of modifying it to fit.  The bright side is that I don't need to sew anything then this week - yay!!!  =)   Having this come out so huge has put questions into my mind on the sweater.....I don't want to spend the time on that and then have it be way too big as well....I'll need to think about this one a little bit!   Oh well, I'll work some on my hat then and get some progress / pics of that going.   Have a great weekend!!

Wow! Two days in a row! *grin*

I spent some time during my lunch to update my Ravelry projects with the few items I snapped pictures of last night -   A Purple Cabbage Patch Kid skirt and an Off-white Cabled CPK Cardigan for my niece for Christmas are on the needles - going rather slow, but progress is being made!  I bought a pattern book off of E-bay for these designs and when I received it I realized that several of the patterns were for sweaters that a neighbor made for my Cabbage Patch kid when I was little!   I'm working on a dinosaur from a Jean Greenhowe pattern.  I was to the assembly stage when I realized that the head just did not look right.....I misread the instructions and made it too small - that will need to be frogged and redone.   I'm also trying to figure out what to make with a few "one-skeins" that I have lying around the house include a skein of Malabrigo and some of the individual skeins I bought in Argentina a few years ago.   Speaking of, I leave for Argentina in 3 weeks from tomorrow - yay!  I was told today that several of my friends there are taking the week off of work while I am in town!  Yippeee!  I get in on Saturday and we are going to Celebrate Vik's birthday that night, and then on Mon-Wed I will be at the beach.  I'm back in BsAs then until I leave on Saturday. I need to work on the Thursday though as my boss is new and we have our monthly conference call with the US that I usually lead so I'll have to call in for that one for an hour or so.    Okay, speaking of the monthly call, November's is today so I had best finish preparing myself for that one!

35 days and counting.....

Goodness yet another year flying by with only 35 days until Christmas.....And I have yet to start the majority of my originally intended holiday knitting or crocheting - oops!! I seem to do the same thing every year and wait and wait and wait and then Wham!  Not enough time to get anything done.....a plot you ask to get out of spending time and energy into crafting something big......you got that right!   I did start a hat recently with some of the yarn I bought the last time I was in Argentina - it is turning out pretty so far!  Will see if I can actually finish it this year!   I also have a few other small projects on the hooks and needles which are close to being done and could become Christmas gifts if needed.    A few dishcloths and potholders should be put together along with perhaps some coffee cup sleeves or mug warmers!  Quick and easy is what I need this year, and a scarf is never quick or easy for me regardless of what others say - I have trouble staying focused on one project I think so multiple seem to be the way to go as long as they are small and fairly simple!   What are you planing for your holiday crafting?

Pattern Testing Photo Shots

I've been testing several patterns for the Yahoo Holiday Mystery Gift group. Here are two that have been published recently so I can finally show my pictures!

First up is a Lace Cap in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. It came out larger than planned as I knit with kidsilk really loose.

Next up was a Mystery Knit which turned out to be a holder for Chapstick / Lipstick. I made up several and even added a keychain holder to one of them.


I was kinda busy this weekend - spent the time baking some - a yellow butter cake with Chocolate frosting and some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - yummmy! I also found time to clean and pick up most of the apartment as well as going to dinner and drinks with friends.

I hope that everyone has a great week - I am in Belgium all this week so I should be able to find some time to blog more!

Just popping in to say "hi"

Things are slowly starting to slow down for me at work so hopefully I will have more time on my hands soon....although since my most recent spare time has been taken up by Meti begging me to play the Wii with him, I don't know when that time will materialize.

I am still living in Belgium - have not found a job yet back in the US to transfer to. Mainly due to there not being any open, and not me being picky. I am thinking that I will be here now through January or February - hopefully long enough for me to take a ski trip this year somewhere nice. I really would like to ski again, but we shall see if it happens or not.

I have been crocheting and knitting, although mainly all as a pattern tester for unreleased patterns so I can not show anything....will post once they are released though!

On the needles currently is a scarf in Malabrigo, but I am not liking something about it - not sure if its the colorway or the pattern I choose.

I did finish the Ball-Band Swiffer Cover:


And finally finished my Fat-bottom bag, although it does still need to be lined:


I've also finished some small instant gratification projects but they have all been given to home without pictures being taken. I am sure I'll be making more, so pics will be coming!

I hope that everyone has been doing well!

Is it over yet?????

Our budget process that is, and I have to say that I don't think so! Things have been going well, if not continually busy here. The work travelling has gone good - just too much of it! I look forward to being back in the US and not having to constantly be on planes and trains.

Speaking of planes, I have to say that I've gone and done it again.....booked a ton of flights to go on in a very short period of time! 7 flights in all over 2.5 weeks of time! Here is the schedule......

Brussels to New York, New York City layover 10 hours, New York to Argentina
Argentina 1 week
Argentina to Dallas, Dallas to McAllen Texas
2 days with my Grandfather in McAllen
McAllen Texas to Dallas, Dallas to Chicago Drive to Michigan 3 h 30 m to 5 h (gotta love traffic)
Michigan - 1 weeks
Drive Michigan to Chicago 3 h 30 m to 5 h, Chicago to Brussels 8 h 5 m

I am so excited about going back to Argentina and seeing Vik and Zori. It should be great fun! I'm already thinking about how I am going to pack my suitcase with enough clothes for 2 very different climates. Last time I took 2, this time it will just be one case, so it shall be interesting!

I've been singing the following all morning again:

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

That is it for now - I will try to get some pics and things up on the crafting side soon - promise! I hope that everyone is doing well and thanks for sticking with me while I've been MIA with work and life! *hugs*

It has to get better one of these days....

Mu blogging that is!  I am ashamed that I have not been blogging that much.  Time just does not seem to materialize to where I can grab a few minutes.  Plus a major case of sleep deprivation leading to a mind that is numb and barely functioning does not exactly result in a stimulating blog post!   I've started another round of traveling.  I am in Zürich for 3 days this week, in Dublin for the weekend, back to Zürich for 3 days next week and then potentially off to Oktoberfest two weekends in a row depending on travel schedules of some friends.  Plus I want to take a trip to Versailles and Mont Saint Michel in France, perhaps visiting the Beaches of Normandy and the town Alecon where my family came from.    My return to the US is still not known.  It will be sometime this fall, but so far I have not found a job back in Chicago with my company.....anyone know of a company wanting to hire a finance manager with a lot of International experience?  =)   Crafting is at an all time low, just not the time as my work days have been 11+ hour days once again.  As I keep saying, I'll be back to normal craftiness one of these days!   One of the best parts about moving back to the US would be a return to more normal working hours, which should hopefully allow me more time for knitting and crocheting and other fun assorted projects.  Also better access to yarn, so when I have the urge to make something I'll have fast access if it does not exist in my stash.    I had best get back to inputting my budget - I hope that everyone is doing well and will be in touch soon!!

My 3 day weekend is over, and for the most part I was lazy.....if you don't consider the 12 loads of laundry, cooking and dishwashing that I did.....no cleaning - place is still a disaster, but I will fix that one soon hopefully!

I did drag Meti onto his first roller coaster in about 20 years....he was not too sure of it, but did say he had fun. But refused to even consider going on it again or anything else for that matter! I'm a HUGE coaster fan so that is not a good sign for our relationship *grin* Will just have to take my nephew how seems to share my "no fear" policy and has since his very first coaster.

The Flower carpet was in Brussels this weekend - absolutely gorgeous once again. They make this HUGE carpet of flowers every other year here. Simply stunning.


And last but not least, some crafting progress is being made! Lookee! I have 2 finshed dishcloths that flew off my hooks in no time at all, and the Crafting in Public shot...I pulled out my purse dishcloth and was working on that while having a beer and people watching at the Irish Pub next to the Bourse (Belgian Stock Exchange building)


Have a great week!

Vacation snap shots

I did finally get my pictures loaded from my Camera to my PC.....these are only the ones from the second half of the trip after I bought the new camera....still waiting for my parents to download their pictures on-line (hint hint Dad!)

A quick snap shot of my and the kiddies…Andrew was mad because we had to take more pictures, and Abby just want to get to the Piano to plink plunk away on it. So did I if I tell the truth! I miss not playing the piano and wish I had rented one over here…heck, I could have bought one and had it paid off in the 5 years I’ve been here! Will get back into it when I move to the US…..might actually decide to take lessons….nah, 30 years of self teaching has worked fine so far! I’m happy just to fiddle around with it.

Another Gorgeous Lake Michigan sunset. Saw this one with my big sis Becky.
Here are the kids in front of the Mackinaw Ice Cutter at the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven.
I think we have a new job career in mind…..she looked a natural sitting up there steering the Canadian Coast Guard boat we toured. Actually she is determined at this point in her life that she is going to be a chef when she grows up!
My Mom, my sisters and me.
Some pictures of the weekend and the most recent crafting come up! Stay tuned!

Yes, I am back!

Hi everyone.   I am indeed back from vacation now.  Just in a funk and not able to get back into the swing of things.  Jet lag seems to be really hitting me hard this year....I think I can blame it on the fact that I turned another year older while away....the whole jump into a new decade must have worn me right out!  =)   Vacation was great.  I spent 2 great weeks in Michigan with the family.  Spent a lot of time at the beach with the nieces and nephew - even managed to get my youngest niece to be unafraid of the water......took about 45 minutes of coaxing and holding her on my lap and slowly getting her in before she suddenly snapped and went off a trucking into the water!  we would look at her and her teeth would be chattering from the water and we would ask her if she was col and she would asy "Yes...coooold" so we would take her out and dry her off and set her in the sun.  Yet, within a minute she would be off and heading back towards the water - she really loved it!  She got over her sand phobia also and was bellied out in the sand pulling it towards her.  Too cute!   Did get the Cool Aunt award for my car this vacation!  I rented a convertible and the kids loved it.  Called it the Red Rocket and said it was the best car.  I took the kids and my mom into Grand Haven to see the Coast Guard Ice Cutters and on the way back to the mall for lunch I looked in my rear mirror while going down the highway and saw 4 little hands sticking up.  I glanced behind me and the 2 kids have their hands up in the air while giong down the highway and were saying "Whhheeeeeeee!!!" and giggling like crazy!    I did buy a new camera while home - mine had finally kicked the bucket so as a happy birthday present to me gift, I went out and bought a new one.  I really like it as it is smaller than my old one.  Still need to get the software installed on my PC so that I can download the pictures, perhaps I'll do that this weekend!   I joined the Mystery Stole 4....will see if I can actually not only start the project this year, but actually finish this one as well!   Joined up for the Ravelry Olympics, but I am behind and have not started my project yet....I'm considering myself one of the last events of the games =)   Okay, I really must run and get back to work.  Will start to write more and will show you what I have been working on.  I did finish a few small projects while home (play yarn food - sausage and bacon) but of course forgot to take the pictures.    Ciao!