My Fish

Ok here are my inside fish. I love these guys, but they are growing so large that I worry about the tank size??? These 2 are my Albino Oscars, or "ketchup" fish as my granddaughter likes to call them. I got them in 2000 when they were about 3"

long and they are now pushing about 10". They are top feeders so they get along with this black shark we got in 2001 that is not suppose to be compatible. However he is a bottom feeder and has grown from 4" to 14" !!! WOW!! Our 85 gal tank is getting smaller and the last fish, a plecostomous is my alge eater who is the funniest looking fish I have ever seen. He is also getting really big!! Ok he's not this big, but he looks the same but maybe a bit smaller as he is about 10" long now. We had 2 Red Tailed Tin Foil Barbs that were the size of the Oscars but unfortunately we lost them in our move. The fish transporters said it happens a lot to scale fish with the added stress of moving fish. I may get another set, but with the size of my existing fish it is debatable??? Maybe I should check the Online Aquarist? The Oscars love to bite at the bag as I feed them and be a bit intimidating to anyone watching as they will jump right out of the water!! The shark likes to play with them and chases them around the tank causing them to hit the cover and actually splach water on the floor. They are a great stress releaiver and I just love fish! Now for our outside pond. We just signed up with Tray to build us a new Oasis in our yard! It will be 10' by 11" with a 4' waterfall and plants and lights and tons of rock. I cannot wait. We signed the contract this am and he will start August 26th. It will take approximately 3-4 days and when he is done it will become a paradise back there...DH will then add decking and paths and we are going to go plant shopping and add palms and other plants to turn the yarn tropical!! I cannot wait and will be posting progress photos as the work is done. So be sure to come back to take a peek!

Granddaughters Baptizing

Yesterday my granddaughter was baptized and I was able to go and watch it. She was so scared as you can see in her face as she stands next to my daughter awaiting the minister to help her into the bathing area. Poor little thing she thought she would drown....But all went well and she was happy afterwards just a little wet and soaked hair!!! We then all went to lunch and she was back to her bubbling self.

Pointy Boob Bathing Suit!

Ok i saw this and just had to post it. Remember those movies with Frankenstein and Cloris Leachman and how pointed her "boobs" were? Well check out this crochet bathing suit ladies....

Do you think that the horses in Young Frankenstein neigh every time Frau Blucher's [ Cloris Leachman] name is spoken because "blucher" is the German word for "glue?" (because glue is made from horses, ya know). The joke employed in the film is a take-off on the hoary melodramatic film device of inserting an ominous organ riff or clap of thunder and having actors react with visible fright whenever the villain appears on-screen or a character refers to something evil or threatening. (Indeed, an ominous flash of lightning and clap of thunder accompanies Friedrich's first encounters with both Igor and Frau Blucher.) The "horse" bit is funny because the Frau Blucher character is neither evil nor a villain (but a disagreeable-looking harridan), because the horses are scared by the mere mention of Frau Blucher's name but are undisturbed by her physical presence, and because the gag is used ridiculously often throughout Young Frankenstein. (Horses are heard whinnying at any repetition of the words "Frau Blucher," even in settings — such as the interior of Frankenstein's castle — where no horses are present!)

Harry Potter is Here!!!!!

Oh Yes it is HERE!!!! All you HP fans the wait is over. Have you got your copy yet? I even see it's on sale at Ralphs grocery store!! I can't wait to read it!! And Now I hear that she is putting out another book after this. SO this won't be the last one fans!! And read more on my reading blog.

Tag Your It!!!

Tag your it!!!!

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about yourself. People who get tagged need to write on their own blog their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
6 Weird things about me:
1. I love books! I cannot go into a book store without buying not one not two not even three, it is usually 4 or more books that I have to have. I bring them home put them on my book shelf and say I am going to read them. But the truth is that I have 4 book shelves filled actually over filled with books "I'm going" to read" and I am have not read them. Oh I do read books all the time, but I still keep buying more. And garage sales I go crazy buying all sorts of paperbacks because they are usually just a quarter, so I but tons. I have enought reading to last my lifetime and I still want to go and buy more! I'm a reading addict!!
2. I'm a "Clotheshorse" as my hubby calls me! I save every piece opf clothing even when it is out of style thinking that I will use it someday for some event. I have clothes that don't fit me anymore but I am sure someday will! Right! I have outfits from 30 years ago in my hope chest that I I just loved then and so I cannot seem to part with them now. :( And who knows why I keep them??? I have old shorts, pants, and way too many coats and jackets. Now I live in Southern CA, and I even have a heavy Raccoon coat???? WHY???? I just cannot part with any of it or give it away. I have started to "TRY" and I use those words strongly to donate some of my clothes that do not fit me to the Goodwill, but it is a SLOW process!!!

3. I love swapping! I swap on so many sites that I will soon have to get a second job to pay for all my swaps and especially the postage. I swap on my own blogs and Swap-bot, Sp10, Felted Bag Swap, Sox Box, Pen Pal, HP, Fridgies, All Around the House, Granny Squares, ITE Swap, Virtual Vacation, and now I found another one called a Knit one Tea 2, Fat 1/4 Swap, Kawaii Swap, Kaleido Swap, Coloriffic Swaporama, Knit the Classics, Bag Ladies Swap, and I want to be in Dog Day Dishcloth Summer Swap but I missed it! Boo hoo...now what's a girl to do???

4. I eat everything with no condiments on it. I mean I eat a hanburger from a restaurant with out everything but the bun, meat, and tomato, and maybe avacado, but so sauce of any knid. Everytime I go into a restaurant I have to order specail and it bugs my DH to death but I have eaten that way for so long now that I cannot eat any other way. So it's "hold the lettuce, hold the mayo, hold the mustard, hold the onions, hold the cheese, and hold it all, but do please give me the meat and bread!!!"

5. I do not like elevators! I will do everything possible to avoid them even if it means walking up 3 flights of stairs. And if its more I use the elevator but hold my breath that the doors will open for fear of being locked in one. Now my sone repairs elevators so I am sure I could call him if I did get stuck in one and he would come and help me, but I just hate the closed up feeling!! "Claustrophobic" that's me!! If I ever have to get a MRI I am in big trouble...!!!

6. I save gift bags and reuse tissue paper. Everytime I get a present I open it real careful so that I can save the paper and use it again for some other present. I take all the paper at Christmas especially and carefully refold it to try and keep the wrinkles out so I can use it next year. It has become such a thing for me to do that I now have my daughter and son doing the same thing. So we all keep exchanging the same gift bags and tissue paper back and forth over the holidays. We have one bag that has been going around for over 5 years now! :) What can I say??? I'm a little weird?????

Okay, now it's my turn to tag! I am choosing to tag:

1. Shawnee

2. Priscilla

3. Patt

4. Briley Cat

5. Crochet Obsession

6. Kerry

Ok gals....now that your tagged lets hear from you!!!

Ferrari made of Wool??

Ok.... this is an unbelievable feat! Check out Lauren's Ferrari I mean who has this kind of time??? But its true ladies its all made of wool!!!! This is one busy lady...

Fat Quarter's Swap Pin Cushion

I received this cut little ice cream cone pin cushion from my "Fat Quarter" swap partner today. It is so adorable. I really needed on etoo because my box I keep my pins in just broke. I really like fat quarters to use in the lining of my purses or to use to make some bags too.

Well Happy 4th of July everyone!!!!

Fishing and Knitting

I just joined this fun group called "Bits and Bobs" and their "Sister" blog. It is so cute. You make fish in knit or crochet and then hook them together for an afghan or other projects. I have not started my "fishes" yet, but I am excited to get going. If you like fish and like to crochet or knit then this is a great group for you. they give you the pattern and all you do is make it on your own...

For my Sister

I made this for my sister as she is always putting a napkin over her coffee cup and I decided to make her something to carry in her purse. I call it a "Coffee Cup Hat". I have seen a simular design called a "Shoo Fly". This one is my own pattern made with her favortie "Kitty"theme. It was made with crochet cotton thread and glass beads...I will be posting the pattern on my URL.

Here I am at my knitting group with my butterfly dishcloth I just finished and my hat I made. it was "show n tell" time and we all had something to share!
And here we are on the way to the yarn shops on our field day. What a grand day that was. Yarn Yarn and more Yarn. Here we come!!!

My Fun Knitting Group Field Trip

I had so much fun in Velona's yarn store during my knitting group's, Stitch n' Chicks, yarn shop field day Saturday June 9th. I couldn't get enough "touchy feely" of their wonderful yarn! There were rows and rows of every kind of yarn I have dreamed of. I was in yarn heaven. What a great find! I bought several different brands of yarn that I am excited to work with. I bought some Katia, Unger Skol wool and Lopi Lite wool. The owner told us how Lopi is the original unchanged yarn. It is great for felting. I also found Plymouth Jelli Beenz and I got it in the prettiest blue along with some Plymouth "Oh My" simply the softest yarn I have ever felt. What a great day of finds!!! And here is the loot at the end of the trip....

WIP National Knit in Public Day

Guess what is happening????? KIP day is tomorrow Saturday June 9th. Remember to take your knitting and crocheting in public Saturday the 9th everyone!!! Beware though you might run into some "muggles" on that day.I am off on a field day yarn shop browsing with my local group Stitch N' Chicks of Long Beach and I am going to bring my knitting with me to show and do at our lunch break. A great project to take along to knit would be the HP hat that the Charmed Knits-Along blog does. Get the official HP beanie pattern to knit. Go to Amazon for the new HP Charmed Knits book it's on sale now. I can not wwait to start mine and I hope to get the book soon...

2008 Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar

Check it out...I am in the new 2008 Crochet Pattern-a-Day calendar!!!
And thanks to blogger Crochet and Other Stuff I learned that The 2008 Crochet Pattern-a-Day calendar is finished and I have not 1, not 2, but 3 patterns in the calendar!!!! I can't wait to get my copy! I found out which of my pattern submissions made it, since the Table of Contents was available to view. I was so excited to find this out and be included. This is my first time so I am pretty proud. My purses that are in the calendar: Allie-Cat Purse, Ocean Breeze Evening Bag, and On-The-Go Sunshine Bag. The 2008 calendar is not for sale yet, but it can be ordered at Amazon.com.
Check out the calendar for the 2008 CPAD and call for pattern submissions for 2009, many pattern titles sound interesting...I will have to get busy and design some more patterns to submit for the next calendar...

Tagged Your It!

Ok, Let's play Tag:
The rules: This is a fun tag game. Each blog that is tagged needs to write on their own blog 9 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write those 9 facts as well as the rules of the game on their blog. Then you pick 9 of your favorite blogging friends and tag them and include their names and blog addys under your "random" facts. Next you will leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. That's it! So include your blogging friends and make new ones and get tagging!

1. I live in Southern CA now but I was originally born and raised in upstate [Buffalo] New York. I moved to CA the first time in 1971 and was married with 2 kids. I then made trips back and forth from NY to Buffalo, across the USA 10 times. I finally settled, for good, here in Southern CA where I now live.

2. My first career I worked in the retail business as a meat wrapper for 12 years; and then I was an insurance Bodily Injury adjuster for the next 12 years; my last and present career I decided to become a grade school teacher. I guess your never too old to learn something new!

3. I married my DH 2x. [The love of my life] The first time around we were not prepared, but this time is the best time of my life! You know what they say, "If you don't suceed the first time around, Try Try again!" It works!!!!

4. I attended Woodstock in 1969. Yes.. Yes I was a hippy then, but I am.. what is it called now??? Oh yes... a "Yuppie" now! LOL...I must say that the experience was not fun, there was no food, no water, and no bathrooms. I actually slept under a semi-truck to get out of the rain..What things we do in our youth!

5. I collect Marilyn Monroe memorabilia and have her pictures and items all over my computer room. Of course I also collect Garfield so she has to share the spot light with him, too!

6. I used to own horses when I was around 12 years old and then in 1989 I got horses again for about 13 years when I lived in an equestrian town and I wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and danced a good two-step, too.

7. I used to own a "Curio" shop across from a college in Buffalo, NY in the 1970s. It was so much fun and I made crafty things. One thing I made was a nail art picture [remember them?] Anyways, one of my first orders for was from a motorcycle gang and when they came in to order it from me I almost cried I was so scared. But, I later found out that they were actually pretty business like and fun to talk to. Now... remember I was very young at the time!

8. I just started on my first pair of knitted socks! I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. I have bought Cascade # 220-Kauai and can't wait to see how they turn out.

9. I love to read, when I am not knitting or crocheting. Reading mystery and thrillers is my main passion, but I love Debbie Macomber books also. I am a nut about trying to figure out plots the spookier the better! I am also a big Harry Potter fan.

Now for who I tag. Hope you don’t mind.

Mary's Little Craft Corner
Crochet and Other Stuff
Karen's Knitting and Crochet Parlor
Good Hooking
Yarns and Musings
Patts Creations Madness
Crochet Obsession
Miss T's Mystery House of Yarn and Horror
Pumpkinmouse
Tryintaknit

Pink and Burgundy are my favorite colors....I made this in 2 strands of Red Heart to make it stiff enough...Looks like me...

Shopping Spree

Today I went to my favorite book store...Boaders and bought my swap partner's book. She likes Nora Roberts, so I got her "Key of Light" the 1st book in the "key" series. I could of given her one of my many many Nora Roberts books, but the problem with that is I cannot part with them. I had a 30% off coupon so I did save on the book. Then of course I had to buy other interesting things like a bookmark, buttons, a crochet book, cute post cards, pens, and an inspirational book for my DD. All and all a great trip down book haven lane! then I went to Lowes to spend my Mom's day gift card that DH got me...I got a verbena plant, gerber daisey's, some succulent ground cover, the purple flower ones, Black Eye Susans, and a beautiful hybred "hot pink" geranium...yum yum.....I had a plantastic day!!!! oh yeah a "booktastic" day too!!!! He..He...now off to plant and read!!! TTFN....

Ok I am starting a new book called "Two Little Girls in Blue" by Mary Higgins Clark and it is a good one gals...Its the kind that you never want to put down. Has anyone else read this book? Check out my new blog for reading. DH has a cold. :( I sure hope it doesn''t wmnder to me!!!

Here is a new soap dress I made yesterday. It is really a cute pattern I think?

I was surfing the blog scene and found a great positive blog and found "8 Ways to Spark your Creativity" it is a wonderful positive outlook on life. I also found a great Yarnival Newsletter for knit nuts and readers. I must add this blog to my regular blog surfing places.

This link has tons of great knitting sitches and the how to directions. http://www.knittingonthenet.com/stitches.htm

Well I found a pattern for Weasley's Sweater at Knitsmiths Blog at: http://alison.knitsmiths.us/pattern_weasley.html I just love it. What other patterns do all you HP fans have to share?

Here's an addicting Word Crunch addicting fun link: http://www.rocketsnail.com/wordcrunch/index.html

Some legal stuff I found to be quite interesting ....

What is a Logfile?

This information is For the people that have no idea with what happens on a www site....

EACH DAY, every domain and subdomain has a LOG FILE. It's a Word Pad type documents, that list EACH AND EVERYTIME someone accesses EACH PIECE you have on your www site.

If a person copy and pastes a background, a header...what ever...you get a list for EACH piece that was accessed.

It give you the URL of the site where that piece was called. They are hyperlinked, so all anyone has to do is click on that and it takes them right to where that piece has been copied and pasted.

So anyone stealing Bandwidth (and violating a designers copyright), when it is done you leave a calling card ....a trail a bread crumbs RIGHT BACK TO YOUR SITE.

If you are stealing large amounts of bandwidth, these people could actually sue you for loss of money. Off MSN, people has to pay for bandwidth. So you when you steal from them you are costing them more money.

It records the date time your ISP the image that was called, even tells what browser you used to call for the time, even tells if you are using dial up or DSL to connect and then lastly, it gives the URL that is calling for that item.

So when you steal from people on the www. you are leaving a calling cards saying "I am MSN groups yadadada I have this on my msn group" EACH AND EVERY TIME that someone opens the message on a message board with stolen graphics or each time a custom page opens.


(YOU MAY COPY THIS AND POST IT ON YOUR SITES!!)

I'm a Harry Potter fan. I love all the books and watch the movies. I am on book #2 right now. I am not slow just busy with my 9000 othe rhobbies. HP #7 is out soon and I am on order for it. can't wait. I did find a great site that goes with my other hobby knit and crochet KALs .

- Get Your Own


If you love to read and get new books explore new authors? then this swap is for you!
http://dabookladyswap.blogspot.com/

Wow...if your looking for some Springtime fun then check out my swap blogs! If you haven't swapped before be sure to check out the blogs at: http://crochetswapblog.blogspot.com/ and http://dabookswap.blogspot.com/ ... One swaps books and the other is crochet and knitting fun...
It was my Birthday on the 4th...and my hubby took me to Las Vegas...we got to stay at the Rio. That is some hotel...the rooms are huge and a beautiful pool that we were able to enjoy because it was so warm there. We also got ot see their show, "Carnivale" That was really something. Lots of dancers and lights and Mardi-Gras style party atmosphere. I didn't win big...just a little, but had tons of fun... Spring is here ladies......

March MEME:

Have Fun and Steal this and put it on your Blog!

[I stole this from ______ blog and thought it was fun!]

And be sure to link to my blog and leave me a note so I can add you to my links!

1. What project are you working on? scarf hood combo

2. When will you finish it? this week

3. What do you want to do next? a spring flower cape and purse

4. What do you wish you could do? finish my Intarsia tote bag

5. Do you knit or crochet? both

6. What other craft do you do? make tote bags and designer sweatshirt

7. Where is your yarn "stash" hidden? my spare bedroom

8. How big is your "stash"? too big...but I need more..:)

9. What is your favorite yarn/bead? frolic and Peaches n Cream

10. What is your favorite hook/needle size? sz J and sz 10

11. Are you in any groups? What? yes ..Patts Circle,Knitting and Crochet, M and M Crochet, Tinker's Dam, Crochet Friends and More, PBD Pen Pal Place

12 Are you a Red Hats Lady? YES...Too Hat Too Handle

13. Can you keep a secret? Yes...I think I can...well...maybe...of course..

14. What is one of your secrets? I have more yarn hidden in my upstairs sewing nook that my hubby doesn't know about...:)

15. Where is your favorite place to do your craft? at the beach on the grassy part overloonking the ocean

16. What is your favorite magazine? Crochet World

17. Do you swap? What? Yes...I have a book and crochet and Pen Pal swap blogs

18. What is your nickname? Crochetoholic and DaBookLady

19. What is your favorite color? Burgundy and pink

20. What is today? Tuesday "loose" day

Consider yourself tagged! NOW...copy and take it to your blog!!