proud as a peacock

Brett had a swim-a-thon this morning for the "Iceworm Swim Team". They would swim for 2 consecutive hours or 200 lengths of the pool, whichever came first (the swimmers are up to 8th grade). I didn't have any idea how many laps B would swim and he was guessing around 20 or so. So I (as well as some friends) pledged 25cents per length. Well I now owe 22.50 because he swam 90 laps! He swam 1 1/4 miles! He didn't stop (except to adjust his goggles & take a drink of water), he never once complained that he was tired, wanted to be done or anything! I can not tell you how proud of him we are. There were lots of kids (his age as well as younger) who swam a lot more laps, but it was not about the number at all. He just kept going. He's so awesome. But we were in a bit of a hurry getting out the door so I forgot my camera, so no pictures. But anyway, he raised $149 (there were a few kids who earned upwards of $600-$700), so that's a pretty good contribution to the team I'd say.
And then this afternoon Jeff helped B's Cub Scout den earn the "Readyman" badge (that's the one with first aid & such). I volunteered him for that (hehehe). They try to get all the parents to help with a badge, and when I heard them talking about asking one of the EMTs from the fire dept. I told them Jeff's the "doc" on the boat! So they were happy to have him do it, and he's happy it's now done and over with.

Knitting goodness

Here are a few pictures that I took of some of the knitting I've been working on since my camera broke...


this is Roxy modeling B's Harry Potter scarf (she really wanted to get in the pictures, so I made her model instead of just get in the way haha)

I made this scarf for myself, it's seed stitch & I just used what was left of the ivory from a hat (Thirteen Mile Lamb & Wool Co.) and the blue was on clearance here - I just knit until I ran out of yarn.

I am made this shawl (secret gift) and I finished it last night after this picture was taken, but I have to block it & then I'll get more pics.


and I'm also working on this helmet liner. A neighbor asked if I'd be willing to help - she volunteered to make some for someone else and since she knows I like charity knitting... lol, and the yarn was donated (it's Cascade 220).


I have other things I'm working on, but I'm not going to blog about them until after the holidays :D

new pictures

So here is a few pictures I took yesterday while we were at the store (and it rained/snowed today so I did not want to leave the house).




I'm going to load the software & read the manual some more (these pictures were taken before I read any of the manual, only the "quick start" manual, so that's why they're nothing special). And then maybe tomorrow I will also get some pictures of the knitting I've been doing, so I can update that as well.

supreme happiness

My hubby is home! So very happy to have him home. He's been gone for about 2 months, and it can be hard with 2 stubborn kids who love to test me & push their limits. And this year his boat has been gone for an unusually large amount of time - about 8 or 9 months of the year when typically it's about 6 months. So yeah it's been a long year.

Anyway, he didn't bring home everything he bought while they were gone, but just a few important things - 1 being my new camera!! Yay! I have taken a few pictures and started reading the user's manual, but we've just been hanging out mostly. He does have to go to work in the morning, so maybe I'll take the kids out and try it out more - get some pictures of otters, eagles and other nature. It's a Nikon D60 and it will definitely be a (long) process of learning how it works & all the great things it can do.

What's in a Name?

So I changed the name of my blog (haha again, if you hadn't noticed). I could never think of a good title, but I think I like it now. I'm trying to figure out how to add an image (okay, so there's an image there yes, but I want it to fit the whole header, not just be a square). I also added a "virtual model", and I'm unsure if it will stay (do I really want the world - or the few that read this - to see how much I weigh?) but I kind of like seeing the progress that I've made so far in a little cartoon chick.
I am so very low-tech, and really I do not need anymore reasons to sit at the computer, but I'm trying to read & find more interesting blogs to keep up with. I'm really just a lurker in the cyberworld.
Oh and I'm on twitter now too.

Nothing to show

I have been doing a lot of knitting, but have nothing to show you. J will be home soon with my new camera & once I figure out how to work it I'll take lots of pictures and show off all my stuff. I just realized that B did not wear his Harry Potter scarf that I made him for his halloween costume, so the pictures that my friend took that night did not include it! I don't know how I forgot it, but he did wear it for the Halloween party the weekend before.

Now I'm having a problem thinking of what gifts to make for certain family members for Christmas. For my mom I have made her a scarf, hand/wrist warmers, socks, a Calorimetry (because she does not wear hats)... And then for my stepmom I've made her a scarf, a felted bag, felted slipper boots, and I've also made them both soap sweaters & wash cloths. So now I'm having a hard time thinking of things that they'd like or use. They live in a bit warmer climate than I do (and I don't think they share my love of a different scarf & hat every day)so they don't have a big need for scarves, hats, gloves/mittens. My mom has anew house filled with new furniture & color schemes in all the rooms, so I don't even know what type/color of pillow would look nice on a bed or couch, or if she has a teapot that needs a cozy (she does love tea, but I think she microwaves a mug of water), etc.

If you have any suggestions please let me know (I knit, scrapbook & can sew, but do not know how to crochet, so keep that in mind :D). Well, I'm off to scoure the internet some more.