Hip Mountain Mama is having a giveaway.From now until February 27th you will have a chance to be entered into a drawing for Namaste's newest bag, The Zuma!There are 3 ways to enter so head on over and let her know I sent you. Thanks and good luck

3 more days to enter my :Follow me" contest

On Jan 31 I will be counting my followers and doing a random number generator thing to pick a winner. If you are joined in my followers you have a chance to win. And what is the prize? I will give 2 skeins of Felici self striping sock yarn from Knit Picks to you, the winner!!

I'll have you choose the color you want and then I'll order it , pay for it and have it sent to your address. Way cool ! So Good luck to you all.

wool socks

Here is the progress I've made on my wool socks. Yep it's the left over yarn from my doggy's sweater. My fave color is blue so it's perfect. Since I have short and fat legs. I'm going to be doing the heel in a few more rounds. gonna do it in blue.

Sweet Give Away for a 100th Blog

In celebration of her 100th post, Kimberly Walus is giving away some fantastic prizes. Go take a look. It is an amazing blog. The prizes are just perfect for Valentines day! http://bittybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/2009/01/100th-post-giveaway.html

Smooth knitting finally

Yesterday I worked hard on my sock. For some reason I had too many stitches. So I fixed that. Then I didn't have enough. grrrrr so I ripped back to the cuff and started on the pattern again. Again I had the wrong count. during all my counting and ripping my gd Monica was chatting away to me. I told her I was counting so hush, but noooooooo she hasn't learned how to do that yet (she's 14 so I think it's impossible at that age to hush!! lol). Finally I was so frustrated that I snatched all the dp needles out of the yarn and tossed the yarn into the corner of the room.
After cooling down I reread the pattern and realized that I was reading the pattern wrong. Monica and I laughed at that and I ripped out the tossed yarn and rolled it up and started all over again. This time I got it. above is the results I have so far. Not bad. But now I'm thinking that I'd rather have some thicker socks. I should have used some Patons Classic wool for some winter socks. The blue sock will be fine for spring tho. I'll keep on making them but wishing all the time they were wool ones. sigh.

Aren't you wondering

Aren't you wondering Why I was up and blogging so early on a Sat morning? It's because my daughter Rue and her family finally got moved into next door. And at the buttcrack of day there is a knocking at my door and little voices yelling, "Mema, get up!" I hobbled to the front door and there they stood, all smiling and happy, Monica in her jammies and Javie with a hand full of little cars and bikes.They just wanted to say hi and get something for their mommy. after they left I went back to bed, covered up , got the doggy settled and then knock knock, mema!! BAck again to visit and watch cartoons. So I got up got some coffee and turned on the puter.Now as I was just sitting here working on my socks, they were playing xbox 360 and one started humming and then the other one started and before I know it I'm keeping up with them in my head and I lost count!!! aaaahhhhhhhhhh NOw I appreciate music as much as the next Mema does maybe more but when Im counting I don't!! so had to put down my sock and write this.Maybe I will just go take a shower and try it again after I'm clean and fresh.

Twiggy Bobble Hat

The project I made for my swap partner Joy has been received so I can now show it here. She says she loves it and I bet she really does! it's a sweet hat.

Got the pattern from Ravelry. It's called the Twiggy Bobble hat by Andrea Tung. After I made it I just pushed all the bobbles to the inside and turned the hat inside out becasue I liked the knit side better.

Happy Birthday Dennis

Today is my oldest grandson's birthday. Dennis would be 19 today. Happy Birthday Den, we miss and love you as always.

Love Mema

Today is Frogging Friday :(

Yep that's right, it's a frogging Friday today. That flower power dishcloth was frogged and so was the cast on sock. Big time bummer. altho I should be sad, I really can't because my gd MOnica is leaning all over me reading this as I type and is giggling away. now she is on the floor. she is such a nut. They are finally moving in next door so maybe she is just happy to be so close to her mema. hahahahahaha

did I say I had cast on for a sock????? hahahahahah

Ok so this is what I'm dreaming of. Lots and lots of pretty warm fabulous socks, knit by me. But my dream hasn't come true so far. The sock I cast on? Well I frogged it. I decided I wanted to try a different sock.

Well I have cast on at least 5 times in the last hour. Once it was too loose, rip rip, next it was too tight as I changed to a size 1 dp needle, rip rip. Then I tried casting on for a toe up sock by wrapping 6 times around 2 needles, .........rip rip. NOw I just almost had a cuff down sock all cast on using the twisted german cast on but I didn't allow enough of a tail, grrrrrrrrrrr........rip rip.

That is where I am right now. I want to knit a tightly knitted pretty sock to wear but I need a simple enough pattern but since I want to challenge myself I fell like a simple basic sock pattern won't do.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have made a pair of socks, and then one sock and then a pair of baby socks. That's it , well except one time I crocheted a pair of socks. HELP!!!!

Proof that a sock has been started!

Here is my fabulous new sock being made. lol yep I just had to show you. I'm soooo proud.

Socks are cast on

I have finally cast on my socks. That's as far as I got. lol But that is a start. My house is full of peeps so I can't really concentrate right now.
I spent the morning watching President Obama's inauguration before and after. It was thrilling just to see it on tv so I can't imagine how it felt actually being there for it in person.
So I look forward to having a better President than before and hope that more people get involved with their community and be more kind and tolerable of all others. Just because someone looks or speaks differently does not mean they are not equal to you. They are equal, just different but the same.
Yea Obama!!!

nope it didn't get finished or frogged. what????

I just couldn't make it happen so it got stuck back into it's jar. Want to finish it today but doggy and me ate some chicken nuggets last night and now we are both sick. He threw up early this morning and I have the runs and a terrible ulcer pain. So took some imodium and a prilosec and just waiting for the pain to go away. got a feeling it's gonna hang around all day. darn it.

can't relax enough to cast on my socks so putting that on hold as well. just not feeling good.

Finishing Friday

Today is Finish or Frog Friday. Every Friday I will post a project that I have either finished or had to frog. I think this is to encourage me to actually finish a project rather than have it laying around forever.

So I have finished the project I was working on for the cloth and one skein swap on my knitting circle group . I'm not going to post a photo of it until my partner gets it. Am mailing it off tomorrow so next week maybe by this time it will be posted.

I also have one dishcloth that I started about a year ago and it's been sitting in my knitting jar for over a year. It's a flower power cloth and I really don't want to frog it so I'm posting that I will have it done before I go to bed tonight so it will legally still be Friday! So I gotta get off here and pull the darn thing out of the jar and get it done!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeee

And tomorrow I cast on for my socks finally. see the blue yarn behind the jar next to the coke zero? That the yarn for my socks.

Another Project Finished

Wow I just finished another project. Can't show you what it looks like until my swap partner (Hi Joy!) gets it. But It turned out real cute. And I turned it inside out instead of how it's suppose to be. So that should get your curiosity up. lol
Ok I'm now trying to finish another ufo before Friday so I can post about it instead of frogging it.
Right now I;m listening to Prez Bush saying Farewell. I can't wait for the 20th to get here so I can watch the inauguration of Prez Obama. I don't remember a President ever jumping in so much before their inauguration before. Have you? I really appreciate all the talks he's had and questions he's asked and all the government participation he's done before he really has to. I foresee a great leader in Obama. and I wish him the very best while in office.
Obama Rules!!!!!

Happy 14th Birthday Monica gurl!

This is our oldest gdaughter, Monica. She is 14 today.

LOve you from Mema!!!

Phat Fiber Kip bag give away

Gurls I don't know why but I am finding some really good contests. Ha I know why I was just trying to be cool. I've been readin some way cool blogs and so find the best contests on them.

Anyway Phat Fiber http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/01/kip-bags-and-giveaway.html is having a kip bag give away and I know how sweet those bags are because I bought myself one a couple of months ago. It's purple and gold brocade and it's soooooo pretty. I love it.

American Idol is Back!!

Whoooo hoooooo, It's back! Good thing I've got 2 dvr recorders so I can record NCIS and my other programs on one tv and watch Idol on the other.

Cool contest

There is a cool contest going on here at http://timeforelevenses.blogspot.com/2009/01/competition.html
The prizes are way cool so I am going to enter it. Why don't you go check it out? And if you do enter and you've come from my blog don't forget to tell her where you got the news from.!

Want to win a new lunch tote???

If you could use a new tote and would like a chance of winning one, well run on over to the $5 Dinners before Jan 14th at 5 pm. Read the rules there and pretty soon you just might have a sweet new bag from Springs Los Angeles.
I just put in my chance to win. Good luck to you too!!

What's Your Blogging Pet Peeve??

Mine is bloggers that don't post for days and days and days. Especially ones that I love to read. I know that other stuff can get in the way of blogging like family and kids and work and responsibilities but what about your responsiblity to your readers????? huh? Loyal readers deserve your commitment to blog often. And to post lots of photos with your posts!

Sometimes I sit here hunting and looking thru all my fave blogs for a post that I haven't read yet and I am really really in need of a new post ya know. Almost like I need my coffee soon as I get up in the morning.

I NEED to see what my friends (at least in my own mind) are up to. I love looking at your kids and grandkids and at all your knit projects or get togethers or even you frogging episodes. I have lots of you I go to every day so if you could just remember that I'm sitting here just waiting for your newest post, I would be really grateful.

Thank you

Finish or Frog it Fridays KAL

I just joined this group on Ravelry, stole the idea from my friend Aunt Kathy. So check it out here to see what it's all about.

http://majorknitter.typepad.com/major_knitter/2009/01/finish-or-frog.html

Who's a Happy Knitter?

Ha I am!! As you all should know by now, I opened up my Etsy shop 2 months ago. Well I made enough money with my sheepy items to buy myself a little yarn swift. And because I made the money on Etsy, I bought the swift from and Etsy store called the knit store. Etsy products are all handmade items.

I chose this one so that I can place it on the floor, much easier for me to handle that way.

Here is a photo of it at work, along side a photo of my yarn ball winder working in tandem. I am just loving it. Now I can wind up all the hanks of yarn I have laying around waiting to be knitted.

cast on a new project

i cast on for this project today. It's for a swap so I'm only going to show a bit of it.

a few of my grandkids

These guys are spending the nite with us and are enjoyin a few minutes of xbox 360 before bedtime.

Who's that cute dog???

Look at that sweet doggy in his new sweater!!! Awwwww. Well I see I made it a tad too long and it needs to be a bit tighter around his belly. Next one will be much easier to make. I really like this pattern, it goes really fast. well the dog is only 4.6 lbs so he doesn't need much to cover him. You should see him walking around next to the sofa and chairs trying to get close enough to take the sweater off but not close enough to actually touch any thing. what a duffuss dog Rayo is.

From his shoulders down to his tail he has almost no hair. He was born that way so maybe his mom is a hairless chihuahua and his daddy is a short haired one. or vice versa. lol

Rayo's sweater amost done!

I'm almost done with my doggy's sweater. just a few more rows with the blue is needed. I think altho the pattern doesn't call for it, I'm going to add a few rows around the leg openings. I know Rayo will appreciate the added effort. Will post a photo of him with sweater on when I get it done.

Another Mema and Cole photo

This is the photo taken just before the one I posted yesterday. See that face? He's saying cheese, he really is. cracks me up. what a little ham! Then he put his face on my shoulder and gave me a hug. I came home with chocolate all over the shoulder of my new blouse. But I din't care, I use Shout. lol

Birthday lunch

I had a totally good time at Tina and Dades today. Always love spending time with my kids and gkids. While we were all eating cake, Cole wanted me to hold him and feed him cake. As he has a face full of chocolate icing I told him, ha no way kid but how can I refuse such a sweet baby. Here is a photo of us after he gave me a hug.

He is the sweetest and funniest little boy. love him!! See the different spots of yellow paint on the walls. yeah they are trying to decide what color to paint their kitchen and Tina loves to paint spots on the walls and then live with the color a while to see if it is really the one they like. You should see the bathroom off the hall. there is some soft blue and a purple of some sort in there. I like the blue tina.

Here is the birthday girl with her bd flowers from her hubby and kids and dog. Thats Dade in the background. He is the chef in their family. The lunch was way tasty as usual. Thanks Dade.

Happy Birthday to Tina!!

Today is my youngest daughter's birthday. Happy Birthday Tina gurl!! This is a photo of her and Dade and Cole and Mia Bella taken in Dec 2008. I LOVE this photo.

We are driving up to Napa to have birthday lunch with them. Dade is making sopitos and rice and other yummy foods and of course a cake. I'll be riding up there with daughter Ruthie and family. So see you guys later on today!!

Jan 3

In Memory of Dennis Julias Gonzales, beloved Son, Grandson, Nephew, Brother, Cousin, and friend. With love from the Alvarez, Marcial, Sallade, Dominguez, Gonzales, and Ivey Families.

This is Dennis and his sisters and brother and MOm at Kaiser Hospital Christmas party in 2003

This is Dennis and his new baby bro Javie on June 7 2002 before Dennis got sick.

This is Dennis and his Aunt Tina on his first trip outside at the hospital after a course of chemo.

Today it has been 5 years since my oldest grandson Dennis passed away. He had Leukemia

Here is the photo of his family leaving in a limo for Disneyland for the Make a Wish trip. We had a total ball and made lots of memories.

Dennis we love and miss you like crazy.

First project finished in 2009!!

Wooohooo. The Striped Scarf is finished just now. Here is a photo of it.

and here is another.

I just did 4 rows of black and 4 of white using the k2 p1 k2 and repeat across for the pattern.

now gonna start on a little sweater for my chihuahua.!

Happy New Year 2009!!! And A New Contest!!!

I am so looking forward to this brand new year. Are you? I don't have anything super special planned for 2009, no resolutions to declare but I just feel an electricity in the air about the new year.
So to celebrate 2009 I am having a contest!!! Yeah! Starting today and ending on Jan 31 anyone joining my followers will have a random number chance of winning a sweet prize. Prize to be announced soon. Actually I will have the winner give me their choice of 3 prizes.
The contest will include everyone that is a follower of mine not just the new ones. So pass the word around about the contest.
Now I hope that each and every one of you have a wonderful New Years Eve and New Years Day and that you DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, EVER. Have a good time but be a responsible partier.
Now I'm off to read emails and to knit on that scarf.

Eric and my bear Ericarrrrrggghhh

Here is my grandson, Eric, and the build a bear he made me for Christmas! She's a pirate so I named her Ericaarrggghh you know as in "Argh matey, let's loot and pillage that ship!" or something like that. lol He is the one I am making the black and white scarf for. He is starting culinary school in San Francisco the first week of Jan 2009. So cool. I saw his first school book today. It has lots of cool stuff in it. I told him I'd help him study for all his tests!
The scarf is going well. I'm about half way done with it.

My Fave Music widget ohhhhh so cool

Hey Ya'll now while you are checking out my blog, you can listen the the music that I love. On the right hand sidebar right on top is my new toy. It is so cool. I love love love music. I listen to it every day. Now you can hear some of the songs I love the best. What do ya think? Like my music?

Alittle after christmas knitting

The first photo is of the sock I started. From the very beginning I don't like it cuz the cast on is yellow. and once I had wound the skein up into a ball or cake I didn't like the way the colors are. Hahaha Does that tell ya anything?

And the second photo is of the scarf I'm working on. very boring stuff. But I wanted to post something knit. I guess Redheart yarn is leaving me bored and lusting for more wonderful yarn to run thru my fingers. This yarn is super stiff and rough feeling.

Some Family photos My Grandkids

started a scarf, will it be done for Christmas??

So my adopted grandson wants me to knit him a black and white scarf. I started one last week and I frogged it last night and started it again. Before it was 20 row of black then 20 rows of white. Now I have it at 4 rows of black, then 4 rows of white ,etc...... Just doing a k2 p1 k2 repeat then next row p2 k1 p2 repeat. This one looks better with the smaller stripes and it's also a lot easier changing up the colors.

I also have a sock started but now I'm wondering if I should frog it and start a 2 socks on 1 circ using the magic loop method. I like the idea of finishing them both at the same time. And if I'm going to make myself a pair of socks I want to use my malabrigo sock yarn that I just got.
So will think on the socks while I work on the scarf. And yes, I know there is no way in he double l that I will finish the scarf in time for Christmas. But it is nice thinking it could happen. lol yeah I'm funny that way.

I still have work clothes to iron and a few presents to wrap before I'm ready for Christmas which we will be doing tomorrow around 5. HOpe I get it all done but I know I will. lol