This is "Clover" and he is such a beautiful cat that I have to share him with you. This little guy is 13 or 14 years old and such a pal. He doesn't carry yarn around the house like Buffy does, but he is a great talker and cuddles quite a bit.

This is the sweater that lovely Lucy made for me. I made this sweater first but it was so big it would never have worked. Partly it was weight loss and partly it was my tension. So, Lucy offered to rip it out and make it for me and well with an offer like that, how could I resist? She did a beautiful job. The day that she completed the sweater it was over 90 degrees and so it was not going to be able to be worn until the fall. But lucky for us we got a cold spell and I was able to wear it twice. The sweater is made with yarn from New Zealand. It is called Naturally Sensation which is 70% Merino and 30% Angora. It really feels nice next to your skin. The yarn that was added to the neck and sleeves was Blue Heron Rayon Metallic yarn. Then with the rest of the Rayon Metallic yarn I am making a necklace and I am using the Mag Knits magnet is brushed silver. What is so nice about this yarn is that I can wear it with this green sweater and I can also wear it with the one I am currently making. I am not sure what color the one I am making is but it is in the deep purple family. Purples and greens look so nice together. I will post the picture of the completed necklace next time. I am almost at the point where I am going to start Heather's shrug. Heather as in my daughter.

Secret Pal you are wonderful!!! Okay you guys, check out that really beautiful ladybug card. The wings spread out and then there is a lovely message from my Pal. Oh my gosh did she ever go all out!! There is a magazine with several sock patterns using Regia yarn. It is really very nice. Then there is enough sock yarn in beautiful greens and purples to make a pair of socks. I cannot wait to have the time to make these socks. I just wish there were more hours in the day. I have so many socks that I want to make and well you know.........so little time. Now, we are not done yet....there is some very pretty Noro yarn that I have not seen before. The name of this yarn is Cash Iroha and it is so nice. It is 40% Silk, 30% Lamb's wool, 20% Cashmere and 10% Nylon. It feels really nice and my pal sent me two colors of green. It really is lovely yarn. Ok pal....what do you suggest I make with this yarn? I am thinking about this too of course. Last but not least is the Lantern Moon tape measure. It is kind of funny because I have purchased this little Lamb tape measure for others and always thought it would be fun to have one for myself and now I do. Thank you so very much Secret Pal. You are wonderful!!! I think I am one of the luckiest people because all of my secret pals have been the best. Lucky for me my hostesses have really done well! This is such a fun thing to do and I have a fun pal that I am sending to as well. I hope that this goes on for a long time because it is very enjoyable.

This is the back of the sweater that I am currently working on. I am on the front portion now at the point where I will begin my decreases for the arms. Once I finish that I will be making the sleeves and with any luck I will be able to wear this soon. I do have a small problem and I guess it could be a major problem but apparently my tension was different on the back to the front. I think I have something like 92 rows to the decrease point on the back and 88 rows on the front. They both measure out the same so I am a little nervous about the seaming, but I have a great deal of confidence in my Mother's seaming skills so hopefully it will all be fine. I will update you when I get a little further along. The front of the sweater is on the right along with a very poor picture of the pattern.

I just thought that you should see how beautiful the yarn was that I made Patricia and Victoria's shalls from. It was the most delicious yarn to work with. The colors were very spectacular. I have spent the last two days concentrating on the sweater that I am making for myself. I can't wait to complete it and hopefully I will be happy with the results. We had a cooling trend here the last few days and I was able to wear the sweater yesterday that Lucy completed for me. I have to explain that I made the sweater first and it was huge. Well a large part of that was some loss of weight that I had been able to get rid of. It took me so long to make this sweater because for some reason I measured incorrectly and was making it long enough to be a dress. Just kidding, but it did turn out to be much much longer than it should have been. So, lucky for me Lucy offered to take it out and start over. What a love she is. I am so grateful to her for making it and I very much enjoyed wearing it yesterday. Chow.

This is the shall that I made for Patricia. Lucy is the model in this photo. This again was made with Blue heron. I will try to get a close up of this yarn so that you can really appreciate the qualities of it. This is a relatively quick project and one that I was able to do with my hurting wrist, elbow and shoulder. I used a size 13 needle so it went fairly quickly. This is some of the nicest yarn to work with. It just feels so nicely. More pictures to follow tomorrow. Just don't hold your breath.

ok, upper left is my daughter Lindita wearing a sweater that I made. I actually made this sweater for Yirley, but Lindita saw it, tried it on and said she would love to have one. So, that is now on my project list. I picked out some yarn for it and will have it ready for her this Christmas when she comes home. The next picture is Lindita holding Alejandro. What a love he is. Ale is the one that I made the baby blanket and hat and booties for. In this picture he is wearing a Pooh outfit that I took to Costa Rica when I went to visit. The bottom left picture although not very bright is a picture of a shall that I made for Victoria. I didn't get a chance to block it, but it really was very pretty. I made it out of Blue Herron and it had the gold fleck in it. Lovely lovely yarn. I made another for Patricia which will show up on the next transfer. I have finally figured out how to add pictures with little pain so I will be posting more. For that I am excited. I am still working on the lace scarf and will take a picture of that today to show my progress. Same with a sweater that I am making for myself. I have just reached the decrease portion for the arms for the back. But, truthfully I have not been able to knit much due to an arm and tendons that hurt way to much and the knitting only made things worse. Fortunately for me, my doctor gave me a shot and life is much better now. The garden is beautiful now with everything in bloom. Even my alergies are in full bloom. Ohhhhhh........sneeze..........eyes that water and itch.......well I think you are getting the picture. My family is all getting better after hospital visits and doctor visits. Wow, that was a difficult time but everyone is on the mend. Lucy and I will go to the LYS today just to hang out. It has been so long since we have actually just done that. Lucy has taught some classes, but just to hang out....not for awhile.
I got a card from my Secret Pal yesterday. I think she has a sense of humor. The SP6 and SP7 were wonderful so I am really looking forward to this one as well. I will catch all of you later with more photos.

SP 8 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I am enjoying working with cashmere. I also like alpaca, rayon, cascade 220 and numerous others. I think if I were to pick a yarn that I would prefer to not knit with it would be some of the acrylics. Some are fine and then there are others that I would not want to spend time with. I am always learning about new yarns.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a couple of cloth needle holders although they are rapidly filling up.
3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be a beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting a year and four months. I would consider my skill level to possible be intermediate.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, Amazon wish list
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I really enjoy Beauty Control's Apricot Vanilla. I also love lavendar and some citrus smells, like the blossoms on an orange tree.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do try to stay away from sweets as they could be an enormous downfall, but I think that my favorite candy is made in Central America by Gallito and the name of the candy is Morenito. Whenever I am in Costa Rica I purchase this and my lovely family will bring it to me when they come to visit. Yumm.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I have never done any spinning. I am not sure that I have the time to spin and knit.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/sterio play MP3's? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like a variety of music. Oldies, Easy listening, Rock n Roll, Country, Classical and Folk music i.e. Limeliters and Kingston Trio. At this point in my life I am still trying to figure out how to use my new Razor cell phone so have not advanced to the MP3 player yet.
9. What's your favorite color? Or do you have a color family/season/palett you prefer? Any colors you can't stand?
I like most colors. I tend to lean towards greens. I also like blues, purples, browns, creams, black & white. I cannot think of any colors that immediately pop into my brain that I just cannot appreciate.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married and we have a lovely young lady from Costa Rica living with us until December. That would be Lucy and at this time I would like to introduce you to her blog. www.dimplesdesigns.blogspot.com/ We also have two dogs and three cats.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to scarves, hats and mittens, but no to ponchos.
12. What is/are your favorite items to knit?
I enjoy making new things. I rarely want to make a scarf, but love making socks and am getting into making sweaters. I also enjoy making baby things. I also made a couple of shalls that turned out nicely and I enjoyed them because of the lovely ladies I was making them for.
13. What are you knitting right now?
I have a pair of socks on the needles, a sweater and a lace scarf. I am sure that there are a pair of felted slippers out there and a cat bed also. It used to be worse. I am feeling pretty good about only having 5 items on needles now.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes of course.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Addi Turbo circulars are the love of my life, but I also enjoy wood straights i.e. rosewood & ebony. I have some straights that are plastic and don't use them much. They are light in color so if I am working a dark yarn lace I have been known to us them. I totally love the handmade needles from Costa Rica. There will be pictures on my blog eventually.
16. Do you own a yarn winder/swift?
No, and actually I don't see myself getting one as I am running out of space unless I add another room on to our house. Now, that's a good idea!
17. How did you learn to knit?
My lovely Mother taught me when I was a child, but I just didn't have much interest. I got a quick lesson from my neighbor and then took numerous classes from Heatherly (by the way, she is one of the hostesses of SP8) She is a sweetheart so treat her kindly!
18. What is your oldest UFO?
A pair of felted clogs that I am making for myself. I kind of got burned out on them after making them for others. I will eventually get back to them when the weather starts to cool off.
19. What is your favorite holiday?
I like Thanksgiving the best. It is a time to spend with your family and friends and to be thankful for everything. There is no pressure of gift giving, just good food, wonderful company and a great day.
20. Is there anything that you collect?
I have a huge collection of Barbie dolls that I want to dispose of once I learn the ebay method. And some other dolls as well. Currently the things that I like to collect are as follows: Yarn, knitting needles, accessories for knitting, knitting books and I love frogs and elephants. Quite a combo don't you think?
21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I am seeking out a pair of glow in the dark knitting needles. Actually I think they have a light in them. My friend Brook has a pair. I would like to know where to buy them so I can give my Mother a pair. I love looking at patterns and knitting books and I have so many of them. At some point I will prepare a list of the ones that I have. I have a subscription to Creative Knitting. I would enjoy another magazine in the mail.
22. Are there any new techniques you's like to learn?
Yes, I am always wanting to learn new techniques. Currently I am knitting a lace scarf by chart and it is my first attempt at charts. Also, I have mastered knitting socks on two circulars, but now I want to attempt knitting a pair of socks on the same needles at the same time. I know it can be done. First I need to complete the lace and sweater.
23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love making socks. I wear a size 9 shoe and don't have my tape measure handy to give you the length in inches.
24. When is your birthday?
I was born on March 7th at 7PM and I weighed in at 7#. Thus my favorite number is 7.