Book Tag

Tagged! Thanks to Nikki for this one... 1. What was the last book you read or are reading? The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Hadden for the Knit One Read Two bookclub 2. Where did it come from (library, bookstore, gift, etc.)? the library, most of my books come from the library I check them out there and buy books at their book sales 3. How many books do you read per year? Huh, I really have never counted before but I usually read 3 or 4 books a month so I guess that means that I read about 36 books a year. 4. What is your favourite genre? I will try anything, but lately I really love the classics and for some reason I have rediscovered a love for Jane Austen. By far though my favorite book and author has been Marge Piercy "Woman on the Edge of Time" if you have not read that book I highly recommend it. 5. Who will you tag now? Lets see how about Felicia, Suzi and Kerry

My gift to you...

So I finally learned to use paint and I decided make myself a button. You may take it if you like and link to me, but please do not steal my bandwith. Thanks much for linking me!

On another note look at this isn't this a cool way to hold your circulars? I like it I might have to see if I can make one.

Other cool things on the web...

I ran across some cool blogs that I will be adding to my favorite places you can see them first here:

Nikki check out her dilly dolly! Clari she has a cool cable sweater Kellann her felted flowered bag is so cute midnight knitter a great resource for so many things Oslofia look at all her hello kitty stuff! Liz her winter photos are pretty. That Girl her cat is a rebel Leslie her felted bags are so cute

Also has anyone heard of BlogShares this is a fantasy stock market for web bloggers and you are valued by your incoming links and you can invest in other blogs. It is sort of cool, you should check it out.

Well that is all for today blog ya later...

Happy knitting... Amanda

When animals get knitted

They happily pose for the camera... And they volunteer to hold your place in your book... I found the bookworm pattern here and modified for knit. Thanks to Dandy for the pattern.

Book Review

"The Plot Against America" by Phillip Roth I have had this saved on my computer for I do not know how long and I forgot to post it... This is a "What if" book. What if in the 1940s Charles Lindbergh who blamed the Jews for selfishly pushing America toward a pointless war with Nazi Germany, became president of the US instead of Roosevelt. We follow the Roth family through the nightmare of the Lindbergh presidency. Quickly after he is in office the Roths see oridinary people turn their hate on them. There is a whole scene where they take a trip to Washington DC that truly shows the change in people. Herman Roth is confronted in the Lincoln Memorial because of his views on Lindbergh. They were kicked out of their hotel because they were Jewsish after only one night, and treatened in a caferteria because they were praising Roosevelt. As we continue on the journey we attach more to the youngest son Phillip and how he deals with the chaos. At one point he decides to run away to become an orphan. This is an amazing book and a wonderful mix of fact and fiction. I picked it up to read for the knit one read two book club but I was unable to get it from the library in enough time to participate in the discussion.

When Harry Met Lola...

Although Lola was getting along with all my bears she felt a little lonely. In an effort to cheer her up I made Harry. They were instant friends!

PS...you may have noticed a new link just above the doodleboard titled Patterns this is a link to a new blog that I have started which will contain the patterns I create and those that are free on the net that I have used or will use. It is still a work in progress but I just wanted to let you know that it is there.

Happy Knitting

A little under the weather...

Hi all- I am going to take a couple of days for a break, feeling a little under the weather should be back to blogging later this week. Amanda

Hey that is not socks!

So I was working on my socks the other day when I discovered that the yarn I was using would look really nice as a handbag... Yep you guessed it I ripped the socks (not that I had much progress anyway) and I made myself a cute little handbag. So now I need to once again find sock yarn and make myself a pair of socks. Husband's comment on it all "You are such a nut!" Here is my little bag that killed my socks.... Up close and personal with the "not socks" handbag... Happy Sunday!

Gardening News...

Everything is planted and by late next month I should start to see spourts! I cannot wait. We planted:

Bell Peppers, Green Onions, Cherry Tomatos, Cucumbers, Black Beauty Eggplant, Parsely, Lettuce, Oregano, and Echinacea.

Boy oh boy I cannot wait!

Introducing Lola!

Here she is Lola! I decided pinkie just was not a good name and after watching "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" I decided she is a Lola. This was so much fun to make even those tiny legs!

Oh and I found this quiz on Suzi's site... I am Blue
© What's your Inner Goddess Color?? © Jen Have a happy weekend everyone!

Cool site and cutie pie quiz

Has anyone ever been to Get Crafty? This is an awesome place! I signed up for free and I get an email every couple of days with cool new crafty things to do. Last email had these two patterns which I am going to have to add to my list of projects... Sock Craft Monkey and Sock Monkey. Aren't they cute! Okay for more cutie pie stuff here is this quiz I found on Tami's site... I'm Hello Kitty Water Fairy! made by: Jen Well that is all for now folks I am headed out to the greenhouse...

Uh Amanda what is that????

Welcome one and all it is time to play "Uh Amanda, what the heck is that thing?" Questionable thing number one: Questionable thing number two: And lastly questionable thing number three: Okay folks are you ready to have those odd objects revealed????? #1 Uh that is my attempt at socks so far, hey look I can knit small circumference on two circulars...uh well sort of. #2 that is little pinkie caterpillar she still needs more legs a face and antenna, she is coming along #3 That is hubby’s favorite coffee drink mix before the mixing (instant coffee, coco, and chocolate syrup) Thanks for stopping by... blog ya later!

Flowers and such...

Yesterday I finished up the flower that I wanted to put on my sisters bag but.... Well I think it is a little to big so I probably will make another one a little smaller but I love the way this flower came out so I am going to keep it. I still question the stem, what do you all think? Also I wanted to share this little tidbit with you guys... you remember me gushing about my greenhouse well recently hubby contacted them because our soil hooper cracked a bit and they responded to his email the next business day happy to replace the cracked bit, a personal response not a email bank! It is not often that you get that kind of service from a company, not only do they have a great product but they also have great customer service. To read more about them or their products you can visit Thinking Outside.

Another knit along!

I just found this one on bluFelicia's site (her link is in my favorite places). It is for any level knitter and it is dedicated to those you like the color pink, any pattern you choose. Head on over this little puppy starts today! What to knit????

I am taking a chance on socks!

So I decided it is time to try socks! I have made things that looked like socks in the past (my christmas stockings) but I have not actually made a sock. Tomorrow is our day to head into the city to stock up on supplies so I will pick up what I need to make my first pair. Before I actually knit the socks I have found some helpful links and I am going to practice with plain old redheart until I can get the hang of it (I hate using pricy yarn for projects I have never attempted before so my usually practice with the $2 redheart first). Anyhow there is a new sock knit along that has tons of helpful links, and it is currently taking members so head on over! In other news... I was looking around on the web to see what I would need to get going on my first pair of socks when I stumbled into this... Sheepy Tape Measure How cute is this! Pull the little sheep's tail and out comes the tape measure! I love it but I cannot reason spending $9 plus shipping for a tape measure. But still it is cute to look at. As for my current knits I have the flower for my sisters purse done, I changed it up a bit with a pattern I found on Georgia's site. I made the one that looks like a star fish...where did I put that picture...... umm I will put that up later I am organizing my photos into folders and pictures are all over the place on my computer all 3000 of them! Well got to get back to my photos...happy Sunday all!

Hubby's Hat Pattern...

I love this pattern it is so easy and it takes no more then an hour to knit even for the those of us who are very much begginers. When I wanted to learn to knit I went to Fred Meyer in Newport Oregon way back in May 2004 and picked up a lionbrand Learn to Knit Kit and the hat was one of the patterns here it is.... (this pattern was written for lion brand chucky usa yarn size 11 (8mm) knitting needles Cast on 60 stitches Knit every row (garter stitch) until piece measures 9" long 20 inches wide Bind off all stitches and fasten off last stitch. Sew back seam of hat. Closing the top of the hat: Fold hat together, centering the back seam. Stitch back to front at center point at top (1 and 3). Bring the center of two open sides (2 and 4) to where you have stitched the back and front at the center point at top of hat and sew together. Simple as that! I make my own little alterations with this pattern by changing the needle size (for hubby's I used 7 circulars for 50 first dates I used 13 circulars) pretty much I just cast on according to needle size and type of yarn. Happy knitting...

Gardening News

The gathering of supplies has begun! Here are the seeds for my first crop. They were only 25 cents a pack how good a deal is that! How exciting! I still need to get soil and then I will be roaring to go. Keep ya posted... Oh and a quick little knitting note... here is hubby's hat, he likes it!

A conversation about knitting...

Hubby: you know that pink hat you made is nice. Me: thanks, I like the way it came out too. Hubby: you should make me a hat like that just not as thick and not pink Me: OKAY! Let me get my needles... The beginnings of a hat for my hubby.... PS...Happy 12th Birthday Adam!

Thursday just seems like a good day for quizzes...

My results:

You're Siddhartha!
by Hermann Hesse
You simply don't know what to believe, but you're willing to try anything once. Western values, Eastern values, hedonism and minimalism, you've spent some time in every camp. But you still don't have any idea what camp you belong in. This makes you an individualist of the highest order, but also really lonely. It's time to chill out under a tree. And realize that at least you believe in ferries.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

Hubby's Results:

You're A People's History of the United States!
by Howard Zinn
After years of listening to other peoples' lies, you decided you've had enough. Now you're out to tell it like it is, with all the gory details and nothing left out. Instead of respecting leaders, you want to know what the common people have to offer. But this revolution still has a long way to go, and you're not against making a little profit while you wait. Honesty is your best policy.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

Both these books are great, If you have not read them I recommend picking them up!

Tag I am It!

Oooo this will be fun...thanks Suzi 1. Total amount of music files on your computer:Uh only 36 Hubby keeps most of the music on his computer because it is faster and has a larger hard drive. I usually burn mix CDs from his computer. 2. The last CD you bought was: Gee when was the last time I bought a CD???? I think it might have been in 2000 when I bought Greenday's Warning (great CD by the way!) 3. What is the last song you heard before writing this message? The Shins "New Slang" (From the Garden State Soundtrack) 4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you: 1. "Here Comes Your Man" from the Pixies. I was first introduced to the Pixies when I met my husband and this song always reminds me of him. 2. The entire "Come On Over" album from Shania Twain because many years ago one of my sisters (she is now 21 and we communicate very rarely...I have another sister 15 and a brother 12) and I went to her concert in Portland OR and had a blast, whenever I hear the CD I always think about the week her and I spent in Portland. 3. "Time of your life from Greenday" it is just an awesome song. 4. "If I had a Million Dollars" from the Bare Naked Ladies because it always makes me smile :). 5. "If it makes you happy" from Sheryl Crow...words to live by, why do anything if it does not make you happy! 5. Who will you pass the torch on to (3 people) and why? I think I might be a party pooper and let this tag end here, but hey if any of my readers who has not been tagged would like to be tagged I will tag ya!

Mountain Currency

Recently hubby and I were approached by another mountain dweller here in CO who wanted to know if he could trade something for some of our trees. He was making a teepee (sorry I really have no idea how to spell it, seems close though) and he was driving by and noticed that we have a lot of tall skinny pines. So we asked him what he had in mind (how many trees and what he would offer in trade) he said he needed 15 trees which is not a big deal on our land it and that he would take the slash and all and was willing to take trees that looked unhealthy instead of our healthy trees, and he would trade whatever we needed and he had, turns out we had a lot of slash and other down trees that could be moved out and he had the time and a trailer to haul them away. Trade agreement was made and we got rid of a lot of debris he got his teepee poles! I love living in the mountains... Oh he also gave us some of the homemade arrowheads he made, I use them as light catchers, pretty huh...

Today is ambitious knitting list day!

Today I decided to make myself a little list of things I would like to knit in 2005, I do not know if I will finish them all but it is to give me an idea when I go to stock up on yarn. I of course have some things already in progress and there are other things I want to add to my knitting list so here it goes... Already on the needles... Scrap blanket...this is a large blanket (it should fit on my queen size bed that is an experiment in shapes and I am even trying new stitches. Right now I have about two feet of blue and white strips, I am working on small squares next and after I have some squares added I will post a picture (it is really a little boring to look at right now) Yoga Mat-- So my yoga mat idea may not have been so great but I thought it would still be cool to have a colorful little carpet to meditate on. Right now this project I am shopping for colors. More to come on this project. In the Que.... One of my little sisters is having a birthday coming up in April and I want to make her a purse but I am tossed up between two possible projects.. This cute little bag from lion brand or this from an issue of knitty And I thought I might try again this year to make some sweaters (last year I tried banff but ultimately gave up, I think this might be my year!!) These are possibilities... grace or marc So anyway that is my ambitous knitting list for 2005! Oh I almost forgot again Katt asked me awhile back for a good pic of my 50 first dates hat up close here you go Katt. It is a basic hat pattern, I think it is the one that lion brand gives in their learn to knit kit all I did different was take three colors I thought would look good together and knitted them up. Blog ya later...

My Valentines Gift Revealed...

So this is what my hubby got me for Valentines Day 2005. I have been wanting one for a long time and he decided since we rooted I might as well root some plants. Isn't she cute! There is still some work to be done inside (tons of shelves to go up and a work station) but soon I should be planting away. I mainly want to grow veggies (soybeans, eggplant, tomatos etc...)I have the best husband! Top left the front of the greenhouse top right both sides of the greenhouse have doors like this (barn style) Bottom left this is the back of the greenhouse Bottom right inside the greenhouse there are valuted ceilings with sky lights

Have you ever heard of...

Hello All- I decided to Google myself and I was surprised at how much came up that was actually related to me. Anyway has anyone ever heard of Waypath? I noticed that when I googled myself it came up so I headed over and it turns out that they are a topic streamer that will gather tons of blogs on tons of topics so if you ever want to read on a certain topic you have so many blogs to search through with posts on those topics. It was actually pretty cool, but there are a ton of things to navigate through on the site. Only 10 days to Valentines Day and hubby has already gotten me my gift. It is rather large and it has to be assembled. It will allow me to do an activity that normally I could not do all year up here in the mountains, any time of the year. With this gift I will get dirty, and I must add water. Can you guess what it is? Tomorrow I will post a picture so you can see what I am getting for Valentines Day. Anyhow I am off to read and knit...blog ya later

Hey it is Thursday let's have fun with a quiz

I am a hybrid of: Granola Girl Progressive Girl Click on the pictures below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Flikr.com works good...

Hi all- In my search for a good free photo host I stumbled on to Flickr. This was a little confusing at first to use, but once I played around with it I discovered that it is pretty easy to use. You need not resize your photos first like you do with photobucket, they actually give you the options and once you click on it they then give you the html to post. You can also blog it right from the site. This option was a little more difficult to use because they do not list it right with the pic like on photobucket (just above the thumbnail it has a little button to blog it). In Flickr you need to click on the pic then you are given all the options to resize, add notes, or blog it. So now between photobucket and flickr I have a good photo host replacement for Hello. Promise knitting content soon... especially now that I have reliable photo hosts.

test post from flickr.com

Take a look at that snow!!!

So this is the snow we got a couple of days ago, we have more now, but it is much too much to go outside and take pics. Good news, hubby spent a couple of hours and dug out our F250 and then I helped to pull the Pathfinder out with the truck. WE ARE FREE!!!!

So as it turns out resizing pics is really easy. Picasa 2 has a crop button that allows you to manually choose the size. Very easy to use.

Below you will see 50 first dates in action as I dig my way to the satellite dish so I could clean it off so I could get on the internet.

 

 

Snowed In and other news

We are snowed in! We have 2-3 feet of snow with drifts about 4 feet. We have two winter cars a Pathfinder and am F250 and both are stuck!!!! I cannot believe it usually we can get the Pathfinder through a bunch of snow and even that is stuck. It is dark already so we will wait until tomorrow to dig ourselves out. I would post some pics but... Hello still is having issues (uploading may take a few seconds...and it never uploads) And Photobucket well it posts pics but they have to be really small, so now I am going to look and see about resizing pics, because all of mine are much too big. I really would like to use photobucket because it is so easy to use. You can write on the post before you send it to blogger and with Hello I always have to log onto blogger and edit the post. So that is my internet mission. As for knitting I am working on my scrap blanket that I started awhile ago. Happy knitting all...

test post from photobucket