Takin' Care of Bizness

Well, flickr appears to be having brain farts, so instead of spending hours (well ok, minutes...but it SEEMS like hours!) waiting for all of your lovely pictures to upload on your blog post, I guess I'll take care of some business:

First up is the Sock-it-to-me Sock Swap questionnaire. Now I realize this is fascinating stuff, especially to those of you who are not participating, but it is a secret swap. I am instructed to answer said questionnaire on my web page, so as not to ruin the surprise. Those of you who can think of better ways to spend your time, please DON'T quit on me. There is more post to follow. Feel free to skip down, although I did my best to make it entertaining reading.

1.What are your foot measurements? (Please give shoe size, length and circumference.)

Clodhopper (You want specifics?) Size ten, (Yeah baby!) 9 1/2 in. from tip of big toe (who am I kidding? They're all big.) to heel, 9 1/2 in. around at widest point.

2.How long have you been knitting? How would you rate your experience? (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.)

I have been knitting since I was twelve, with time off for good behavior. Guess that qualifies me for advanced status.

3.What is your favorite color? Your least favorite color?

Favorite colors are God- made, found in nature. Least favorite? Anything that screams, "MAN-MADE" like day-glo colors.

4.Do you have a favorite fiber? What type?

I like merino and tencel best, but believe in equal opportunity for all fibers.

5.Do you have any allergies to certain fibers?

No. The only thing I am allergic to is housework.

6.Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? (If so, provide the link.)

The things I wish for can't be purchased in a store: love, hope, faith, peace, gentleness, & charity. I don't have a link, but if you do, please share.

7.What techniques, if any, would you like to learn?

I've always wanted to play the piano. Oh! I'm sorry! You wanted knitting related techniques? Hmmm... the only thing I can think of is more design experience.

8.Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks?

Coffee, not tea. Wine, not beer. Mayonnaise, not Miracle Whip. Diet Coke, not Pepsi. Dark chocolate, not milk. Homemade cookies, not Oreos. Goat cheese, not Velveeta. Sourdough, not Wonder bread. Natural, not processed.

9.What is your family situation? (Children, Husband, Pets...etc.)

My family IS a situation. Oh fine! One (and only) husband (for 28 years) two children (one grown & gone, one grown, but not gone - yet- any takers?) two furballs cats.

10.Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Metal, plastic or wood?

For socks: Crystal Palace bamboo dpns. Cheap and easy to replace when I pull too hard and break one. Everything else, Addi Turbo circulars all the way.

11.Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit?

Currently on a lace binge, but I knit everything I can get my hands on. Are you going to eat that spaghetti?

12.Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try?

Personally, I try to knit a pattern before it gets into mortality issues. Beats the alternative. Big time.

13.Do you like to read? What are you reading currently?

Love to. It's summer, so I am in "beach read" mode right now - detective novels all the way. Proust doesn't like to get sand in between his toes.

14.Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.)

I wouldn't call it collecting, but I do have an 8g. Ipod with sufficient entertainment value to keep me toe tapping. Or tush swaying, if you prefer.

15.What kind of music do you listen to?

Classical, plus a mix of jazz, folk, country, and pop with an emphasis on female singer songwriters. Hey! I'm a writer. It's all about the lyrics.

16.Is there anything you collect?

Besides yarn? I like books a lot and my husband would probably open our closet and point out the Imelda Marcus commemorative shoe collection.

17.What are your hobbies, aside from knitting?

Picking up stray men in bars. Not what you were looking for? OK. I spend most of my time doing three things - knitting, reading, and writing. But as, writing is my profession, I'm not sure it qualifies.

18.Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs?

Affirmative on that one. First swap victim participant. KALs: Knitting Nature KAL , Inspired by Nature KAL (if I can ever figure the blamed thing out. Posted yesterday, or thought I did. I submitted for review and promptly lost the whole post into the ethernet) Sock a Month KAL, Posh Knitters, and Briar Rose Fibers KAL.

19.Do you have a favorite scent?

Cedar, sea breezes, fresh, crisp linen hanging on the line, that spot on the side of a baby's neck...

20.When is your birthday? (You don't have to add the year if you don't want to, LOL.)

September 26, 1956. Born on my father's birthday. As my blog states, fifty years young.

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Okay! Now that that's out of the way, check these out:



Clean bookshelf - check.










Clean knitting basket and book rack - check.







Clean table - check

Wait a minute. It's not that clean? Tough euroflax, people. This is as good as it gets.

Clean is a relative term.





Clean desk - check.








What? You don't see anything?

My point exactly...








Clean counter tops - check.


And in case there was any doubt as to the serious nature of my intentions...





That's real dirt on that cloth, folks!

I love the smell of Murphy's in the morning...