Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Don't You Love It When a Plan Comes Together?

We'll get to knitty stuff later... for now, we need to catch up on what's been going on at Casa de Thatcher.


We headed to the 'Boro the weekend of November 10th for my Aunt Jean's 50th SURPRISE birthday party. I emphasize surprise because normally she makes it a point to know everything about everybody and the fact that Amy, Kristen and Ginger (the daughters, my cousins) could keep it secret, and have everyone invited to the party keep it a secret, is monumental and worth mentioning. In fact, she was so surprised that it took her a minute to come in the door. So, here's a snipit of the reaction:
And for the cute baby photo of the night, I give you baby Kole - complete with his matching camo jacket and bappy. Can I get a collective "AWWWW" from the crowd? He probably should have been wearing this adorable gray wool sweater, but I digress...
In other news, my friend Joy's albums are FINALLY out (it only took 2 years...I'm just sayin'). You'll remember that I had the privilege of singing back up on one of the songs on her Christmas album - I was part of the live choir that did back up for O Holy Night - there were only 40 of us but it sounds like a lot more - good acoustics in the church we recorded in. Eventually (the week after Thanksgiving) you'll be able to buy them on CDBaby and iTunes (search for Joy Waters Fowler when you get there) but for now, you can only order them direct from the record company - Red Arches Records. Let me know if you're interested (thatch10ATbellsouthDOTnet) and I'll email you the order info. Or call me - if you're family/friend and have my number. Anywhoo, the albums are won-der-ful; the first one is all the hymns you used to sing in church (before praise and worship music took over) and the second one is all Christmas music. I'm sure you'll be thrilled with them - she's fantastic.

I'm almost finished with the Monkey socks! I only have the instep and toe to finish on my second one and I'll officially have a REAL PAIR. And they FIT! I know . . . shut up. I have a new pair on the needles - made out of Wick in a colorway called Painted Daisies. The pattern is from a book I can't remember but I'll look it up and post pics as soon as the batteries are charged in the camera.

I'm sure there's more but I can't remember what else I need to post. More to come...

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Biggest Looo-zer

Can I tell you, my absolute favorite show on TV (next to Grey's Anatomy) is The Biggest Loser. What an inspiring show and such fun to watch every week. I've been addicted to it for the past 3 seasons. The only thing I hate is the D-R-A-M-A of it . . . it could be an hour long show. Instead, it's an hour and a half because of all the drama before and after the commercials. I totally need TiVo. I'm buying it for myself for Christmas. I just decided. I can't even believe that I don't have it yet. Am I like one of 4 people in America that doesn't? Hello?

I've got one of my Monkey Socks finished - except for stitching up the toe. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see something finished. I told Bill that I'm going to wear them all the time and show them to everyone - even complete strangers! That should make for interesting conversation in the checkout line at Publix.... "Hi. I'm a knitter and I made these really cool socks. See!" "Uh, Security? Anyone? I think she's a few skeins shy of a sweater."

That's all for now; I just wanted y'all to know I'm still here. Oh, and a random thought . . . it's way too early for Christmas decorations on the light poles in the Publix parking lot. I'm just saying. . .

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Catching Up

Alas, I am a bad, bad blogger - again. Can it really be 2 full weeks since my last post? (Uh, yepper, I counted. 14 days. Last time I checked that was 2 full weeks.) So, here's what's been happening:
HALLOWEENIE (giggle)

Punkin was Ariel.
Apparently we're slowly working our way through all the Disney Princesses.
Remember Belle from 2005?
And don't forget Cinderella from 2004....
(We own the Tinkerbell costume, though to this point, that one's only been relegated to the dress up closet. There's still next year....)
She made off with a decent haul of candy, most of which she'll never eat because she only likes chocolate. (That's my girl.) As for me, I just left our candy in a bowl on the porch with a sign that said "Take Some. When it's gone, it's gone." And you know what? When I got home, it was gone! Who knew? Probably went to the two 12-year old vampires we saw dragging pillowcases full of candy. To be expected on Halloweenie. The best costume of the night had to go to the Golden Retriever we saw dressed up as a parrot. She was walking with her two owners (girls dressed as pirates). The dog had on wings and had been "painted" with colored hairspray to look like a parrot. Too funny, though I'd hate to know that after traipsing all over the neighborhood I had to go home and wash the dog. Every good pirate has to have a parrot.

KNITTING
I've been working on the Monkey Socks - on double points. And they're coming along S-L-O-W-L-Y. But when you only work on them one complete pattern repeat every other day or two, what do you expect? Bill says that if I sold them, based on the time it's taking to knit them, they would cost $200! I guess that's why people give them as gifts instead of selling, huh?
I got my invitation to Ravelry! (For my non-knitting family and friends who reads this, that will make NO sense to you whatsoever - it's a knitting thing you wouldn't understand.) I haven't gotten a lot of time to play around in there yet, but I'm SO looking forward to it.
I'm not working on any of the other "projects in process" right now because I'm up to my eyeballs in my work at the Deathstar. Maybe with Thanksgiving coming up I'll have some down time to finish up the stuff I have that's almost done but not quite. There seems to be a recurring theme with all the projects in my life . . . almost done, but not quite.
OTHER STUFF
Guess what I'm doing tonight? Singing backup (in a choir) for my friend Joy's upcoming Christmas album (due out on 11/27/07 - I'll link when it's ready)! She said it's not a "paying gig" but we'll receive full credit on the album jacket. Who cares? It'll be fun and she's great so I'm totally in!
More later...