What a nice surprise!

I had to run an errand today at lunch. I had to get mom's present and card in the mail. People at work found out I was going to the post office and suddenly everybody wanted stamps. So, off to the mall I went. Thankfully, the line was short. I turned around to walk out and there was The Pattern Slave running the same errand with EvieBelle in tow. So, we had lunch, chatted a bit, and played a bit with Evie. What a nice surprise. Now back to the grind...


oh, and do I have a deal to tell you about, but that will have to come later. I still need to download the pictures.


For Sherrie:
Via Dolorosa
Evelyn Nesbit

On truck repairs and knitting and crafting and stuff

Since last I posted, I have been back down to Florida for a third time. That makes 3 consecutive weekends. I am still recovering. And, my truck is still not exactly right. The transmission is good and I now have new plug wires. As I was trying to leave, it started acting up again, but this time, my brother was able to experience what I had been telling him. So, I am not crazy, there is something wrong, but, he has no idea what it could be. He thinks it's in the exhaust system. Oh joy. This means I may not pass emissions. We will see. I am not worrying about it today, though.



I have been knitting like crazy. I finished Miss Muffett for Skeeter. Need to sew the buttons on the back. Made a set of 2 baby bibs and a burp cloth for a lady at work. They are pea green with a big pink button. Very cute. Finished the BBS for Socks for Soldiers and 4 washcloths out of leftover yarn. I am now gathering bits and stuff to add to a care package. I am now knitting lace for Mom..probably to be her Christmas present.



I got some new roving to dye and some new to spin. I have been dog sitting this week, so I haven't been at home to do any spinning. Can't wait to get back to that. I have done a bit sewing, too. If you call sewing bandannas together to make a tablecloth really sewing.... Anyway, that is 3 sewing projects done. One to go.



As you can tell, it has been busy in my neck of the woods. I am not complaining. I am just glad to be able to stay in town and get some things done.



And, remember this little mishap?

Yeah, I got a call from Brother today. Guess how much it cost? You wouldn't think it was that much, right? Well, what you can't see is that the back quarter panel is cracked, which means I broke his truck. Not only is the bumper bent, but it broke the fiberglass, too. Yeah, when I mess something up, I do it good...anyway, Brother said it was $1800 worth of damage. And insurance is paying for it. I offered to pay his deductible. He won't let me. Not this time anyway. I told him this is exactly why I don't like driving his vehicles. Because, something always happens to them. ALWAYS...

Back in Florida

I am back in Florida this weekend to pick up my truck. Brother has been driving it all week and has announced that it is cured. I drove it last night and it seems good. Everything seems tight, but that is probably because I got used to driving his truck. It will be alright though. I will leave in a bit and head home. I am looking forward to that.

Look, my baby got a bath!

So, I went all week, being very careful with brother's truck. I was so good, making sure I didn't scratch it or anything. I even picked up some new batteries for his key fob. Yesterday morning, on my way out of town, however, I had a little disagreement with a concrete pole.


I told him. He wasn't mad. Thank goodness. Not that I thought he would be. It is after all, just a truck. But, I am still mad at myself for it. I can't seem to drive a vehicle of his for any length of time without something happening. The last time I almost got stuck in a drive through bank window and ruined some very expensive custom wheels by dragging them along the concrete. The truck was too wide to fit. I had no idea. This time, the damage will probably be less expensive. And, there is insurance.

So, as promised, here are some pictures from Pensacola beach.

KateyJ taking pictures. By this time, she was soaked. She kept going down to where the waves were. I would do the same, but I backed up quickly. She got soaked by the waves, I didn't! And she said later she couldn't understand why I was backing up...until she got wet...hehehehe.

That's my foot.

There were fisherman.

There were waves. In those waves, we saw dolphins. Very cool.

This is one of the new boardwalks and picnic areas that have been built since Ivan. Each of the pavilions has a barbecue. There was even a bathroom area. It is all very nice.

This road has become a road to nowhere. It used to go out to Fort Pickens. The road was destroyed during Ivan. It goes nowhere now.

I have a couple of pictures from the Yarn Harlot event at Knitch, last Sunday, but I will post those later. Need to get ready to get back on the road!

It's confirmed, I'm not crazy....

I knew there was something wrong with my truck. Granted, there was never a witness to said something wrong, but this truck and I have been together for about 13 years now. I have known her for 161,000 miles. I knew something was wrong.

So, KateyJ and I got on the road at the butt-crack of dawn on Wednesday. At that point, Murphy's Law went into full effect. We drove 6 hours with not a hint that bad things were happening within the innards of my transmission. We got to Florida safe and sound, and to add insult to injury, used only a 1/2 tank of gas for 325 miles. Got exceptional gas mileage. Dang.

Thursday morning, my brother took my truck over to Mr. Mechanic who is currently charged with fixing it. Of course, he gunned it on the main road, way exceeding the speed limit, and again, nothing happened. He declared that truck runs like a champ. Whatever. I still stand by what I have been saying. Something is wrong.

So, Mr. Mechanic pulled apart the transmission. He called my brother. "How long has this been acting up?" he asked. Josh replies, "I don't know, but she (being me) drove it down from Atlanta yesterday." To which Mr. Mechanic replies, "WHAT???? Well, I just pulled this apart and I have never seen so many gears in the pan. It's a wonder she went anywhere!" Thank you Mr. Mechanic. You are truely a lovely person. I am not crazy. I knew something was not right!

So, my baby is having the transmission rebuilt. It should run for another 160,000 miles as long as the engine stays sound. I should have her back next week. I am currently in posession of brother's 4x4. It runs, I'm happy!

As for the trip, I dragged Katey all over. There was a lot of shopping. 3 yarn stores, 2 shoe stores, and everything in between. Took her around to the old haunts, most of which are not there anymore. And watched her knit and rip a sock about 6 times. I got a bit of spinning done, and we have determined that I should take my wheel apart and do some light sanding, and put it back together. What the heck, I need to know how the whole thing works, right? We went to the beach. Ate at Whataburger and went knit night at a local shop. Overall, it was a nice visit. I just can't wait to get my truck back!

Oh, and I have a few pictures, which I will try to get posted tomorrow.

And, the Yarn Harlot was here yesterday. I have a few pictures from that as well, but that is for another post.

Coasting to Pensacola

I am driving to Florida on Wednesday. Thankfully, KateyJ is going to go with me. See, right before Christmas, my truck started doing weird things. I can't even explain. It was just weird. So, I took my tax check and had some work done...brakes, water pump, belts changed, basically a ton of maintenance that had been neglected for quite a while. After that, my truck ran great. Then I got on the interstate and it started acting weird again.

I called my family. I told them I think the transmission is going. My brother, who I consult on all things automotive, has a truck very similar to mine in age an mileage. I described what was happening as best I could. He said his does something similar. Give it some gas, it will be fine. Famous last words.

So, I was driving on a surface road with a fairly steep hill. I hit about 45mph and gave it some gas to get up the hill and the truck was not happy. I gave it gas. It went THUNK, THUNK, THUNK. Apparently, giving it gas was not the answer. I immediately called home. Told brother the gas cure, not so much. He said, yes, then it was more than likely the transmission.

Ok, so what now? Well, I have to get my poor truck down to Florida. It has to live there for a while and get a whole new transmission. I am worried about this trip. There is a chance the transmission could just fall out altogether. That's the worst case scenario. It's not going to happen like that. I am probably worried for nothing. I know what the limits are. And, after all, it is mostly a downhill drive from Georgia.

So, Katey is going to ride down there with me. Just in case. Not that she could fix my transmission, if it did break. But, she will be along for moral support. So, for that I will be eternally grateful. Katey has never been to P'cola. This will be fun! And we will be back in time for the Yarn Harlot.

Wish me luck.

Bonsai Tunic

I finished it in time for Resurrection Sunday! I didn't think I would have anything new to wear, but I do. Since it will be about 43 degrees at 7:00am, this will be perfect with jeans and a long sleeved T...much like you see here.



This was unblocked, but I could not wait to wear it. It's a tiny bit big in the back, but I am not fussed about it. I love the way it looks and should carry me through spring and early summer. I used 11 balls of Elann's Connemara, thanks to Andrea! I have 7 left and have started Miss Muffet for Skeeter.
Also thanks to Nic for taking the picture.

The Snarkys (well, Katey) have created a group on Ravelry called "Snarky Knitters". Come by and take a look.

And to everyone out there, may you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday, and remember the sacrifice Our Lord made so that we might be free in Him.

John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

John 20:27-31 27Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with you finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." 30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Heard at knit night...

Katey: I am happy to report that the Yarn Harlot did not die in the Canadian tundra.

Nicole (in her best news anchor voice): Thank you Katey. Now for sports.

Maybe you had to be there. But it made me laugh. And I was definitely in a funk when I got there. It took me a while to actually pick up my knitting. Once the sinus pill kicked in and my head cleared a bit, I felt much, much better. I even ripped out about 2 inches of a sweater I have been working on. Of course, it looks like i am going to rip it out again, but that's for another post.

I have finished a pair of socks. I have started and ripped them a couple of times. I am trying to do my own design, and having some fit problems. Designing is hard. I ended up making a pair like I made for brother's girlfriend for Christmas. Except, mine are green. I used Dream in Color Smooshy in "Happy Forest". The design I went with shows off the subtle colors much better. And, I love this yarn.

The design is my own, but was inspired by somebody else's design. I did a cable coming off the cuff ribbing on the right and left sides. I love this look. I even had plenty leftover to make a mini pair for Jilly. Unfortunately, babies grow. Did you know that? Curious how that happens.

Oh, and here is Jilly, modeling the hat Aunt Nina crocheted.


Ok, time for Project Runway. It's the finale...gotta run.