Knit 1, Crochet 2

Secret Pal 8

I'm sorry to be so late with this. It will be nice when my life is a little more back to normal.

1.What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love handpainted yarn and yarn that is very soft. I don’t like novelty yarn or scratchy yarn.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I store my circulars in a binder and my straights in a jar. My crochet hooks are in a tool kit.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I’ve been knitting for 3 years and would consider myself intermediate. I’ve been crocheting for around 30 years and would consider myself advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Sure do, here at Amazon.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I like spicy scents for candles and lavender for bath things.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Unfortunately, I do. But summer is upon us here in hell the desert, so it probably isn’t a good idea to send any. Plus, my butt is too big anyway.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I’ve tried the drop spindle with varying degrees of success. I also bead and cross stitch.

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 just about everything, but country and opera. I can play MP3 and I also have an iPod.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I’m partial to blues and purples. I really like most colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I’m married to my best friend and we have 2 delightful teenagers. I also have a desert tortoise named Luna and 3 cats – Zoe, Tigger and Sadie.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Not really. It hardly is cold enough here.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Felted bags, socks, shawls.

13. What are you knitting right now? 2 socks at once on 2 circulars, a shawl and a sweater for Knit for Kids.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Most definitely. I believe that handmade gifts are a gift from the heart and I treasure them.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I only knit with circular needles. The material they are made of depends on the project. Some yarns work better with certain needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a winder, no swift.

17. How did you learn to knit? I taught myself from a kid’s how-to-book.

18. How old is your oldest UFO? Probably a year.

19. What is your favorite holiday? My birthday, Samhain (Halloween) and Yule (Christmas).

20. Is there anything that you collect? Teapots, thimbles and yarn!

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’d love to get more felting yarn. I have more patterns than I could knit in my life and I’m pretty set on needles. I don’t have any subscriptions because I usually only purchase the Spring/Summer editions (see reference to living in an inferno).

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Fair Isle. Which goes really well with living in said inferno.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Sure am. My foot is 10 inches long but I always make them for a 9 ½ foot so they fit better.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) December 12th.

25. Do you have any allergies? I’m really sensitive to strong smells and I’m allergic to smoke.

Posted by Heather at 11:07 AM 1 comments

I'm here

Like many good friends have told me, it is getting better. I'm finally where I'm not crying off and on all day. Finally where I don't just want to curl up in a ball and sleep. I knew letting Olive go would be hard, but I didn't know how hard. And I didn't know how much I would miss her. I still have to remind myself she is gone. When a furry head nudges me in my sleep, I have to remember she is gone. I nearly lost it when I went to give the cats their treat of canned food and took out 4 bowls instead of the 3 I now need. And Zoe (the black cat) has been crying for Olive.

But I have to remember the good things. Of how much she loved us. And how peaceful her passing was, in my arms with us whispering that we loved her and what a good kitty she was. The vet and the nurse were incredible. Very caring and compassionate. I wish we could all go like that. I turned some of my grief into a project for Olive. I went to Old Town Needlework in Scottsdale and purchased a hinged box with a cut-out for a small cross stitch piece. I stitched Olive's name, her dates of birth and death. It turned out really nice and her ashes will be sealed inside.

I cannot say enough good things about both the vet - McClintock Animal Care Center and Old Town Needlework. The vet's office was the best. I'll be taking all my animals there from now on after switching from our old vet. They weren't bad, there was just something missing, you know? At Old Town Needlework, Alice was so kind and helpful - everything a shop owner should be. I had been crying all morning and started up again when I went there and told her what I was looking for. I'll be shopping there from now on.

On the other hand, I will NEVER EVER step foot in Attic Needlework ever again. I called about purchasing a stitchable porcelain bowl from them, telling them what it was for so that I could be sure it would be big enough. The lady was very nice and told me she would call the distributor and call back with the details. 2 days later I called again. She had forgotten and would call on Monday. Ok, things happen, right? No call Monday. Called again. She forgot again and would call me back. Never heard back from her. Nice, especially since she knew what the damn jar was for.

Ok, moving on. Thank you so very much for your kind comments and emails. Through this blog and my knitting group I have made such treasured friends. Your kindness has touched my heart and has gone a long way in healing it. Knitting (and crochet! Imagine that.) content will resume very soon. I've been working on a few projects, finished a couple, threw a few more under the couch. Pictures to follow.

Posted by Heather at 10:16 AM 7 comments

Goodbye, my friend

This weekend we will spend saying goodbye to my sweet baby.




As much as it is breaking my heart, it is time. She is having a tough time more than not. She is truly the sweetest animal I have ever known. I will miss her hugs (yes, she really does hug), her head butts in the middle of the night, her stinky kisses and her fur all over me. I will miss the way, when she snuggles up with you, how she puts her little paw on your cheek. I will miss her following us around, crying, wanting to be picked up. I love her so very much and because of that, I don't want her to suffer.

I apologize for no blogging, unanswered emails and a few packages I need to get out. Work has been crazy, home just as busy as ever and worrying about my Olive every day.

Goodbye my dear, sweet, furry baby. I love you.

Posted by Heather at 7:31 PM 18 comments