My Pal is Better Then Your Pal!

So neener neener!

I love packages. I love them so much that if a certain amount of time gos by and I have not received one, I will order something off line just to get it delivered.
The "something" is usually yarn. But books, wine, beer, magazines, cross word puzzle books..etc. have all fed the addiction. OK, I guess magazines and cross word puzzle subscriptions are not really "packages"..but they are something to look forward to.
(Speaking of magazines, I subscribed to Vogue Knitting and have not received the new issue yet. Hmmmm.)
But I digress.

A couple of days ago I got an e-mail from my pal letting me know she was sending me a package. So I did what I always do. I stalked the mail box, I checked my doorstep 15 times a day. (Because I live in a "split" house, I do not have a doorbell..)..Whenever I heard an automobile drive by the house, I checked to see if it was the good old UPS truck...

I had today off. I was recovering from The Madness. I spent the day drinking coffee and reading Mists of Avalon..great book, only have 100 pages left..and also working on the new clue for my Mystery Shawl KAL. (I will show you progress later this week. Promise!)
It was a sleep in until 11, lounge around in my pajamas all day type of day.
Now, the mail does not come by here until late afternoon. So I had not thought to check it. Imagine my surprise when B comes home from work at 2:00 and walks in with the mail and a package.
Needless to say I was excited. I squealed and said. "It's from my pal! It's from my pal!." B just laughed at me. I snatched the box out of his hands and ripped open the package (not before noting that the package came from Texas..my pal lives in Texas, that is so cool!), and squealed again.


This is why:

That would be a cute white sheep tape measure (how did my pal know that I have a fetish for cute tape measures? Yet, I did not have this one yet. Sweet...)

And those needles? Totally cool They have measurements on the needles. So swatching is a snap. That is really neat, I have never seen that before. B wants them. I told him he can't have them.

And then she sent me Knitting on The Road. This book has been on my Must Have list for a long time now, and now it is mine. Those of you that have this book know how wonderful it is. I want to make just about every sock in it.

And as if that was not enough, she sent me some beautiful yarn. 550 yards of Superwash Merino Wool from Fearless Fibers in the "Chocolate Pink Cherry" colorway. And trust me, this yarn is as delicious as it's name. But with fewer calories. And it smells good too!

But now I have a tough decision to make. Which pattern from Knitting on the Road do I pick for this yarn? Oh man, if all decisions in life could be like this one!

Thank you pal! Thank you very, very much!

YOU ROCK!

Because I am too tired for pictures, you get this. =)

The Secret Pal 10 questionnaire...I know you are so excited!!!!


(Hey, if you were my pal you might be!)


I'm not even sure if I am signed up for the dang thing. I was supposed to get a confirmation e-mail..but I have received nada so far. Or maybe I trashed it? Who knows.
So yeah, I am going to give the whole Secret Pal thing a try. It seems people love it or hate it..

Hi Secret Pal! (If I actually have one. =) ) Otherwise, Hi blogland!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?


Oh my...I guess I in this category I would have to say anything soft. I have been buying up sock yarn and lace yarn like crazy lately. I do prefer the natural fibers..but I don't mind acrylic if it's a "nice" one.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a needle storage "fabric envelope" that is overflowing at the moment..the rest are in a canvas bag. LOL

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I learned the bare bones of knitting when I was a kid. But I did not really learn until 3 years ago. I had a few people show me how..but it was not until I took a class and learned how to pick that I caught on.

I would say I am an advanced knitter. Anything I have not done, I am willing to try/learn.


4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope..not yet.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I like Jasmine, Magnolia, Vanilla, Coconut. And "clean scents." Not a big musk person or heavier smells (like Rose...I love Roses and their smell..just not on me.)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Heck Yeah! Of course I love chocolate. Especially if it has nuts or other yummers in it. I also like jelly bellies..and I have recently learned that I really like treacle toffee.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I crochet..and I used to cross stitch..I say used to because I do not have the space to start that hobby again (although I still have all the stuff.)
I took a drop spindle class a few months ago..but it did not "stick". I did not pick up on it right away, and I did not learn everything (like plying.) and so I have lost interest. I would like to get a spinning wheel and maybe try another class that was a bit more involved...but until then..I guess the answer is no.


8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like all kinds of music, as long as it is not death metal or gangster rap. I am a big fan of Tori Amos, Dave Mathews, Regina Spektor, Carbon Leaf, Death Cab for Cutie..but let's put it this way, between B and I we own about 500 CD's.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I would say my favorite colors right now are pink and green..but I love deep reds and blues as well. And I really like pink and brown together. and lately I have been really attracted to purples.
But seriously, I have never met a color I didn't like.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I got one man..we call him B around here. And one master..I am the pet. =) She would be a cat and her name is Scrappy..or as B and I have nicknamed her...Professor Meowsenshitz.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

All of the above, except for ponchos...Wait, do mittens have the fingers? If not then I don't wear mittens..I wear gloves..but I could always try them out and see what I think. =)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

What isn't? I love knitting socks, lace, sweaters, hats..never made full out mittens, or gloves..I would like to try someday..but I have done the fingerless mitts.

13. What are you knitting right now?

LOL. See side bar. A little bit of everything I am sure. =)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Heck yeah! Do I look like an idiot to you?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circulars 1,000 %. Bamboo, plastic, and stainless steel all work for me..aluminum seems to be hard on the hands.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Doesn't everyone?

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Wow! Knitting or crocheting?
Knitting...probably about 3 years.
Crocheting?......uh 12 years maybe? LOL!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Anyone where gifts are exchanged. =) I like Halloween too..although all the crazies have royally screwed up that Holiday. I don't even get any trick-or-treaters!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Yeah, yarn, yarn, and yarn. And books, and dragonfly paraphernalia..beer, wine (but these last 2 usually disappear before I can call them a collection.)

Did I mention yarn?

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I really have been wanting to buy Knitting on the Road and Sensational Knitted Socks. I have also been eyeing Lace Style, Fitted Knits, and Victorian Lace today.
I subscribe to Interweave and Simply Knitting (UK)..and just signed up for Vogue Knitting.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Hmmmmm. Let me think..all I can think of right now is maybe learning how to make gloves with the individual fingers and thumb. Or try out some of that crazy stranded Norwegian knitting ( maybe some crazy stranded Norwegian gloves? Hmm there's a thought.) I think I have tried most everything else. But I LOVE learning new techniques..so if you can think of something, feel free to hit me with it!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Uh yeah! Although I got no idea what my measurements are. But I wear a size 8..sometimes 9 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

Early November. I am a Scorpio baby!