SunshineKnits in the land of LabsAndSticks

What American Accent Are You?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

I found this at Cara's blog - It's funny too me that's it's very heavy on the south but where do I get Philly and Inland North??  I think it's possibly that I was taught English well - even in a Southern public school system.

Just so you know, I'm still walking - I missed last weekend which I hope is not going to be my undoing.  I need to walk at least 8 miles this Saturday but we're also in the midst of moving my 83yo mother out of her apartment and in with my little sis so that should all be fun.  I have been knitting on my River Rapids Socks.  My socks on 2 circulars handout I got at my LYS was missing a page.  I've winged it on finishing the heel flap/turning the heel on one of the socks and am halfway through the 2nd heel flap and I'm starting to think I may have to move one of the socks to my DPN's to get to the foot part for it to work.  I tried knitting yesterday evening with Lucy, the "Devil Dog" as the guys call her and for the most part she didn't bother with what I was doing as she lay esconced on the couch beside me.  I haven't knitted much at  home the last few months because she has been so "into" everything I did.  We'll try again tonite - maybe I will be able to get around both of the socks - but right now I just can't see it.

Rob

Fill 'er Up

No knitting - my poor organizational skills are my only excuse BUT since when did I associate knitting with organizational skills.  I walked 8 miles on Saturday - I was supposed to do 10 but my walking buddies weren't with me and my plan was to add an extra 1 out and back at the end of the walk BUT I've discovered that when I'm approaching the "finish line" as in within 1 mile - I BECOME ALMOST ABSOLUTELY UNABLE TO EVEN PICK MY FEET UP MUCH LESS WALK ANOTHER 2 MILES!!!  I'm going to try again this Saturday but I'm going to measure another mile past my 4 mile mark so that I'm approaching the finish line at 10 miles instead of 8.  Here's a meme I stole from Cara and ya know if feels strange calling her "Cara" as if I really KNOW her or something - if I could have a "life" mentor I'd choose her just for her creativity BUT then I almost think your mentor should be someone that you could possibly almost rise to their level and BABY - I ain't got a chance.

48 Things You Could Care Less About

1. FIRST NAME? Robin

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no and as the 5th of 8 children, I think I'm the only 1 of the 8 who isn't named after someone - go figure.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? October 15, for no good reason - just had one of those overwhelmingly sad moments.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, it's kind of a cross between cursive and printing but it generally pretty recognizable.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Oscar Meyer bologna

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, I think I'd be best friends with me.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Just the blog and I suck at keeping it up to date!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No way hosea - parasail, sure - bungee, unh-unh.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Peanut Butter  Cap'n Crunch - although I never eat it - usually Cheerios of some variety or Grape Nuts.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Never

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yeah, It takes a lot to get me down?

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Moose Tracks.

14. SHOE SIZE? Doesn't everyone wear a size 8?

5. RED OR PINK? Red for sure!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My weight and the sad thing about it is that's something I SHOULD be able to do something about!

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my two brothers who passed away and my husband who passed away in '98 - just sometimes think of a lot of what if's and it makes me sad.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I don't have that many blog readers so I'm not expecting much

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Tan, lime green, blue/white tennies.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? A Krystal sunriser.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the heater on my desk coming on, a fax coming through and typing (keystroking, whatever!)

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Orange is my favorite color but Midnight Blue was always my fav crayon.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Yankee Candle Autumn Leaves - prolly only 'cause that's what I'm smellin' right now.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mary from the bookstore

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? EYES.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Don't really KNOW her but I really, really, really like her blog.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Coca-Cola - just want to be sure that's understood - here in the South everything get's called "coke" and I wouldn't want anyone to confuse that with the "P" word!!

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Tennessee Vols Football (but I do love to play softball - just haven't done it in  a while)

29. EYE COLOR? Blue

30. HAT SIZE? XS (in a motor cycle helmet)

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No, glasses

32. FAVORITE FOOD? A really good fluffy baked (not steamed in aluminum foil) Idaho potato with real butter, ranch dressing, shredded cheese, real bacon, salt & pepper - all in just the right amounts - see why I have a problem with weight!

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary Movies

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER for sure - I suffer a bit from depression in Jan & Feb

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs & Kisses.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Appleby's warm blond brownie w/ice cream - rarely have this but I love it!

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no clue

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no clue - could be no one

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? From a Buick 8 by Stephen King

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? at home Mickey Mouse as the Wizard, work - plain 'ol Dell pad

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Gilmore Girls and WTF do they think they're doing with Lorelei and Christopher - she has GOT to get back with Luke - they don't even have to get married - I just can't see her with Christopher.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Waves on the beach, waterfall, splashing pool - just moving water.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Bayville, Long Island NY or Geneva, WI - not sure which is further - I drove to the first one and flew to the latter.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Convincing other people to do/try something new

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Vicksburg, MS

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? stole from Cara

Okay - whoever you are - if you read my blog (all 2 of you) either do this in yours or send me an email!!  I'll even make it easy - send it to rferrell@utmem.edu - pretty darn simple huh??!!

Bad Blogger! Bad! Bad! Bad!

I'm a very, Very, VERY BAD BLOGGER - it's been soooo long since I've blogged I'm ashamed of myself.  Here's an update of what's going on with me WITHOUT pictures 'cause I've not taken any of those either.  1) Lucy has started and completed a 6 week obedience course - I've got to call Lynn and get her set up with a couple of private lessons so I can get started on either competition obedience or agility - I'm thinking competition obedienece 'cause she's really too young to start in with too much jumping on/off/through stuff.  2) Reason I've not called Lynn is my FIL had a small stroke the Thursday after Lucy graduated and I was the designated overniter on the two following Saturdays and then there were several mid-week visits to add in there.  3) I've been training to walk a Half Marathon - St. Jude Marathon - December 2, 2006.  Now mind you, I'm not in particularly GREAT physical shape - could afford to lose about 50 pounds but me and two of my girlfriends have been training since late September and I have 3 six mile walks under my belt as well as an 8 mile walk.  This Saturday we're supposed to walk 10 miles.  So far I've had no major blisters - feet and legs are tired after the long walks but seem to be okay the next day.  My plan is really just to finish in time to get a medal.  4) on the knitting front, I'm afraid I've been a slacker there too.  I actually started a scarf while I was hanging out in the hospital, however I had the misfortune to leave the bag with the needles in the back seat of the car where the grandson sits in his carseat - he thought those needles made great swords while his was riding with PawPaw somewhere.  The yarn is rather fussy and I just haven't tried to get in there and find the stitches.  I've lots of great yarn for socks but I haven't started another pair 'cause I still have a pair on 2 circulars - I'm at the point of knitting the heel flaps and the directions I have were missing a page but I think I'm supposed to knit the flaps and pick up stitches on each sock individually and then start picking up stitches - I've got to get back by my LYS as they were going to try to get me the missing page.  I see lots of knitters with "On-the-needles" stuff and I just haven't progressed to that point - if I have one or two projects going I just don't feel like I "should" start another until at least one is finished.  I've really accumulated a good amount of needles - it's just a thing I have - I'm sure I'll get over it OR I'm going to have lots of stash sitting around forever 'cause I see so much yarn I think I've got to have.

Oh well, that's it for today, I'll try to do better!!

Black Labs and White Lace

Just had to get this post up.  Two of my "grand-dogs" mama & daddy just got married.  George and Gracie had to get in on the festivities.  Presenting Wayne and Linda Wojciechowski of Bayville, NY and their proud "kids!!"

It's amazing to me sometimes that my little southern Sadie has babies in NY, Illinois, North Carolina, East Tennessee and Arkansas!!  Could you ask for better lookin' Ring Bearer or Flower Girl???

Mountain Greenery

Okay - there's a lotta' pics in this post (for me anyway) but hold out for the end - there is some KNITTING at the end! I really didn't take as many pictures while we were in Gatlinburg as I should have.  I truly regret not taking pictures of the chalet we stayed in - FAB - 2 bedrooms/2 baths - 5 person hot-tub on the 2 level HUGE deck. Indoor sauna (didn't use but it's probably nice in cooler weather), indoor jacuzzi with sitting area in the upstairs bedroom - just a great place to stay.  Check out GreatRentals if you're interested - the guy who rents it even checked twice to be sure we had everything we needed.  I'm thinking about going to the Southeaster Animal Fiber Festival in Asheville, NC at the end of October and I may stay here again then if I can get anyone else interested in meeting me there to go! When we went to the Biltmore in Asheville, I was so intent on traveling "light" that I left my camera back at the chalet.  They don't let you take pictures indoors but the gardens are fabulous.  If you get a chance to go you really should.  Here's the one good group shot I got - this is in Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountains.

Being from the relatively flat part of western Tennessee we're always impressed by mountains.  I really preferred the other group shot I had BUT this one had the best view of the mountains - so FOCUS on the mountains.  That's Kenny aka Vacation Slave, me aka Sun Goddess, Sweetie, Brenda aka Queenie, and Cheryl aka Beach Princess.  Okay, we usually do the beach but we managed to keep up with our tans at the relativelyl private pool we had at our chalet which was part of Panorama Point - and we were at the top of the mountains just adjacent to Gatlinburg - our ears would pop every time we went up and down the road - Ski Mountain Road - going back and forth from the chalet to anywhere else we went.

Here's a few more shots from Cades Cove - It's amazing how long the grave markers have lasted - I shot one from 1840 and then some detail from another that had a floral motif I thought was beautiful - I think calla lilies, daisies and roses.  There's also a shot of the Little Pidgeon River that runs alongside the road leading into Cades Cove.

Here's a few pictures taken riding the aerial tramway from Ober Gatlinburg.  We found out that we could drive to the top from our chalet and ride down/up quicker than driving to the bottom and riding it up/down.  We saw a bear walking up one of the mountain roads - pretty grainy picture but I think you can see it.   Obviously the view from the tram was amazing.

And last but certainly not least - I made a FIND at the Biltmore gift shop - a SHEEP Planter - combines my knitting and my master gardening.  Her name is Lola and she's showing off the fact that I actually finished 1 round of the pattern stitch in my River Rapids socks from SockBug.  I love this pattern but I'm stating again, at this point I think two socks on two circs (for me anyway) is tiring me out.  I'm wanting to start another sock JUST to start another sock.  I love this yarn and I'm loving the pattern.  Just sayin'!!

The pattern calls for three repeats of the pattern before you start the ankle BUT seein' as to how I'm on the short side, I'll probably just do two.

  Now I gotta' find some appropriate plants for Miss Lola so she can look good for this summer!

Back from the mountains

It's Wednesday and I got back from vacation Saturday afternoon.  It's always a rude awakening to come back to work but I'm off tomorrow instead of my usual Friday so I can let Louis have a 4 day weekend - Monday is his regular "off" day.  I'll get some pictures up tomorrow.  My "girls" were thrilled to see me but as usual Molly just wanted me to throw the ball and Sadie just wanted her belly rubbed.  We kenneled Lucy so my sister wouldn't have to worry about her getting out of the yard OR destroying any and everything in the house.  Lucy barked so much while she was at the vet's that they sent her home with prescription medicine for a strained throat.  She's a little quieter than usual so maybe she'll have learned not to bark so much 'cause it might hurt.  I feel bad that she might have learned it that way but it's STILL A GOOD thing for her to learn.  And can't wait to post a picture - my marvelous vacation find that combines me being a Master Gardener AND knitting - so cool!!  I only got another 16 rows knit on my socks - I think the thing I don't like about 2 socks on 2 circs is that it is so SLOW going, working on two at once.  I'm sure it'll be great to finish 2 at once but I think I like the speed of doing one sock at a time.

Project Spectrum Confessional

Okay, here's my confession.  I participated in PS early on and did my FIRST EVER postcard swap - I was amazed at how well my postcard survived the USPS!!  I tried to sign up again but due to overwhelming stuff going on at Lolly's I didn't make it back on to the list until June.  No problem - got my June contact, sent out an email with my address but didn't get anything back.  I contacted Lolly and got another partner and got started on my blue card.  THEN I got an email asking for my address and it wasn't until I responded that I noticed it was an "E" name, but a different one from the 2nd one I had responded to.  Now I had two people sending me a card out!!!!  Shortly thereafter I got two lovely bluesy cards -

They are very different and both very lovely - first Elizabeth's card - lovely blue ribbon and a crocheted flower with a gem center - the picture really doesn't do it justice!

Now we have Erica's card - lovely diecuts and stamps - she is very creative - you can see lots of her other cards here.  I really feel very guilty having gotten two cards, especially if there are those out there who got none.  I did semi-matching cards for them - I mailed them 'nekkid' so I'm hopeful they arrived as well as the first one's I sent out.

I feel much better now having confessed to being doubly blessed by PS in the blue month - not very blue (:-() for me, huh!!

Trekking-Opening Soon!

I'm a little slow getting started with my trekking - my yarn is on the way.  Hopefully I'll have my 1st pair done before I get to Gatlinburg on 7/15.  I'm going to start with #134 Spring Flowers but I also ordered #144 Spicey Trekking, #144 Purple Blossom and #135 Circus.  Truthfully I had a hard time finding the yarn - no one I could find had it locally but I finally found it at LittleKnits at a great price (I think???)  Is anyone impressed but me - I posted again without a picture!

It's A POOL!!!

This is going to be a very brief post but I did promise a picture of MY new pool, albeit not a very good picture.

This was taken this morning at about 6:00 a.m. just before I left the house for work.  there's still a LOT of dirt to move and grass to grow and a few little "tweaks" to the deck BUT I'm very happy to have it.  Also - the ladder in the foreground is not even attached to anything anymore since the "wedding cake" steps in the pool are now attached to the deck.  Gotta' get them moved and maybe get a ladder to get a better shot.  I love the fountain "thingy" - if you run it at night it will cool the water off some and I have been amazed at how quickly the water has warmed up this year.  The BIG breaking-in party will be on the 4th of July.  See, we've always put our lawn chairs on the driveway and watched the big Munford fireworks without having to go downtown - NOW we can float in the pool to watch - COOoooolllll!!!!  I'm ashamed to show a picture of my most recent knitting project - my socks are no further along than they were the last time I showed them.  Maybe I'll get some knitting done on the deck this weekend - hmmm, better be careful - I don't want chlorinated water to FADE my yarn!!!!!!!!!!

A New POOL is very distracting!

I absolutely cannot believe it's been MORE THAN a MONTH since I've posted BUT if I'm honest, it's actually been that long since I've knitted - my pretty socks still look like flower petals - sorta.  And I need to get over feeling like I can't post if I don't have a picture - I mean to me this is sorta like a diary W/pictures - not a picture album with notes!

My excuse is that we've been putting in a pool and a deck - nothing ever goes like you think but it is turning out well.  I'll take pictures this evening and post tomorrow! 

Okay - I took this meme from Cara - she is so FABULOUS - she has raised so MUCH money for Heifer International and has inspired so many to donate such cool gifts for the SpinOut in Central Park.  I wish I lived closer - I'd say I'd learn how to spin but I really need to focus on my knitting for now.

Okay, here's the meme I got from Cara - I'm not expecting to get anywhere near the responses she has gotten 'cause I just don't have that many readers but here goes!

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me — it can only be one word long. Then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word about you.

Go to it Chick-a-beas!  (I love that - if you didn't see the movie Nell you need to!)