My hands have almost stopped shaking...

But not quite. Everything in our life seems to be falling into place kind of, well, miraculously. Truly we were at an end to all things that we were familiar with and now paths are open to us. We even have enough money to have a semi-normal life, whew! And great thanks to my mom and step-dad who made this possible.

In knitting news, I am 2/3 of the way through the back of the Cul-de-Sac vest by Elsebeth Lavold, which I have been wanting to knit since it came out a couple of years ago. I have been slowly learning her technique of cabling and it comes out just lovely (except for the mistakes). I think I have frogged and tinked more on this little back than I have on any project, possibly save for the BLUE RIBBON WINNING handspun socks for last year's County Fair. Those toes must have been knitted twenty times. Here is a picture of my progress.



Other WIP's: Wool socks for DS from the same issue of Knitter's, socks made out of diamonds. I've made these before and they're really cute. I tried a pair of one row stripes but he wants so many colors, they had a big lumpy line of color change and I didn't think he'd wear them in the end.

And I have joined the Knitting Olympics! Thanks, Yarn Harlot, for hosting this fun challenge (I think). I will be knitting the Branching Out scarf from knitty and hoping to finish my first lace project. I can't say I've never done lace, but I can say that nothing has ever stayed knitted. Baby sweater has been sewn up and now needs buttons and washing before the shower on Saturday. I'll post pictures of the whole shebang when the buttons are on. The sweater is uber-cute. With matching socks and hat.

So if you have a yen, head over to www.pilgrimla.com and check out the show my DH has been cast in. We've been involved with it for ten years, off and on, and it's really good. The music is great and catchy and fresh, the story timeless, the characters compelling. And being a working actor is a great boost to morale!

Hope you're all as happy as we are!

What news!!

Oh, my!! I can hardly believe it but...

My DH is going to be in a BROADWAY SHOW!!!!!!

We got a thanks-but-no-thanks email the other night and we were so dejected, as this was going to be the Last Audition. But tonight, HE IS IN!!!!

Thanks be!!

I've been tagged for the first time!!

I'm so excited! Silly me. I guess I'd better start posting some pictures in case anyone ever visits...

So, before I do the meme, here is a photo of the handwarmers I knit out of my handspun last week. It was dyed in the roving by me at a dyeing class at Weaver's Cottage. They are super warm and I will definitely use up some more yarn making more to go with more outfits!



Four Jobs You Have Had In Your Life:
1.Singing Bumble Bee at the Macy's Flower Show (Worst Job Ever)
2.Legal Secretary
3.Soprano Solist at my church (still am!)
4.Temporary salesperson at trade shows. This was fun and led to many, many lovely Christmas gifts for my family (at wholesale)

Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over
1. Lord of the Rings
2. The American President
3. Rear Window
4. Love Affair

Four Places You Have Lived
1. Brooklyn, New York
2. Eden Prairie, Minnesota
3. Fanwood, New Jersey
4. Burbank, California

Four TV Shows You Love(d) to Watch
1. Sports Night
2. Survivor
3. Amazing Race
4. 24

Four Places You Have Been on Vacation
1. Rome, Italy
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Cornwall, England
4. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Four Places You want to visit
1. New Zealand
2. Tuscany
3. Australia
4. Florence

Four Websites You Visit Daily
1. Americablog.com
2. Jabberwonk.com
3. Yarn Harlot
4. e-bay

Four of your Favorite Foods
1. Prime Rib
2. Tiramisu (at this specific restaurant in Rome, heavenly!)
3. Key lime pie
4. Pretty much any kind of pie other than cherry or apple

Four things currently on the floor in your car (truck)
1. Toys
2. Empty coffee cup
3. Knitting book (Modular Knitting by Iris Schreier-I just am not good at this yet)
4. Church choir music bag

Four Bloggers You are Tagging: I don't know any other bloggers, really!
1.
2.
3.
4.

Thanks, dudleyspinner, for tagging me. Maybe someday my blog will be one people check every day, like yours is for me!

Filibuster Alito!!

With apologies to the blog I got this from...

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

"The idiot light reads green."

I like this meme. I even like the quote. Especially after the hearings this week. Let's get on the ball, people. This guy will help to deprive us of our civil liberties for decades to come. Our daughters will not be able to be vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus before they get cervical cancer. Our sons will be drafted into a war that is unending. When we get old, they will try to kill us off before we get any Social Security by depriving us of health care and pharmaceuticals unless we are as wealthy as they are. Our children will not be able to attend college and so will attain no level of power to control their own world.

Ho, idiots! Let's start something!

Give me liberty or give me death.

We are back!

Here we are, back again in sunny SoCal! And it is sunny and lovely after all the rain and cold (not too cold, but we've gotten awfully thin blooded). DS wore shorts to school on Friday and I didn't even put on a sweater.

The Christmas gift hats seem to have been a big hit, especially the ear flap hat for the "extreme sports" type nephew. My poor SIL is so overwhelmed by her life she didn't even realize I knit them till I asked her how she liked them. I'm praying she gets some respite soon.

And DD's teacher's hat seems to have gone over well. I won't push the issue as a green and white jester hat with three points and tassels is kind of a thing you love or you hate. Designed by my almost-7 year old to her specifications of color, etc., it was a crapshoot. But fun except for the first one, which was gigantic and felted down to a VERY WIDE, shallow thing. DH claimed it before I tossed it and it was worn by my brave youngest nephew at a varsity hockey game! I almost gave him his Christmas present right there and then just to get that silly hat off his head!

I've been tracking the political scene while I've been away and will be avidly listening to the Alito hearings this week. I'm continually horrified at the antics of our administration (read monarchy) and their ways (corrupt). I find it amusing that they're trying to track down all photos of King George with Jack Abramoff, as if destroying them will prove they never met. I did read a sobering post about how difficult it really will be to take back either house this year so I hope the Dems can really get it together and make sure there's a challenger in every race. That way, when they get sucked up into the corruption inquiries, there is an alternative to the incumbent. May Delay go down in infamy!!

On the knitting front, I made lots of progress on the boring baby sweater while I was away. I have all the pieces and have sewn together one side. Did knit the button bands as well. Now I'm doing the matching socks (should finish tomorrow) and then a hat. I'm not giving this gift until February 12, so all should be well. This week is all about DD's birthday and CLEANING THE HOUSE so that people, actual living, healthy people, can attend the party on Thursday afternoon. Plus I need to work every night if possible. Plus dental appointment, babysitting, an AUDITION (first one in years) and the start of children's choir/dance class on Wednesday afternoon. Oh, yeah, homework, piano practice, girl scouts. Sheesh!

This is a perfect week to practice finding the peace in my daily life. So I will find it. Actually, I'm finding some now. Peace be with you, as well.