So many things hoppin around here lately, it makes it tough to know where to begin.

The most tedious of things taking up my time lately was getting all the paperwork done to be ready to get the taxes done. Drove out to the Phoenix area on Sunday (where our tax guy now lives and works) and got that done and filed. Yeeeeeeeehaw!! Sooooo very glad to have that behind us for another year! Made myself a "late" New Year's resolution in regards to THAT scenario. I've always kept a large envelope for each month and then just had to total stuff in the end. From now on, I'm totaling EACH and EVERY month as soon as it ends! Then at the end of the year, all I'll have to do is total the totals. By January , 2008 when the hubster asks, "How are we coming on having the taxes ready?", I'll be able to tell him that they are DONE and we just need to wait for his W-2. When I told him about it, he had the audacity to LAUGH! With all the stuff for two businesses to deal with this year, it was a royal PITA, so I'm pretty motivated at this point to follow through with that resolution!!

First up and #1 priority on the needles is working out the pleated portion of the current mystery project for South West Trading Company and getting that finished up. It's being made up in the new "Craft" yarn from the Vickie Howell collection. IF and when I ever get out of STOOOOOPID mode, I'll try and put a picture in here. I've added it in several times now, and cotton pickin blogger keeps throwing it up to the top of the page which is NOT where I want it to be! Grrrrrrr

Since TNNA, I've made and sent my socks to my victim in the Death By Socks game and since been "killed off" by my assassin Liz with a gorgeous pair of socks made in Claudia's Hand Paint yarn in the "Purple Earth" colorway. I'm anxious to see what the first kit is from Blue Moon for the Rockin Sock Club too! That's supposed to start shipping out around the end of this week I think. I also did a quick test sample for Carol on one of her sock designs, and reknit most of the current "travel" sock (didn't like how it was coming out before) during the drive to Phoenix on Sunday. It's out of Socks That Rock in the Red Rock Canyon colorway. Will post pics of all these too when I can get Blogger to cooperate.

I've also made a number of shop samples for the shop over in San Diego too, tho I've only had the Modular Vest from "Modular Knits" on the needles currently since starting the project for SWTC. It's a quick & easy knit, as I don't have to think about what I'm doing, knit to pick up in between when I'm frustrated from trying to work out shaping and the inevitable MATH for different sizes. While that project has been a challenge, I've enjoyed it immensely! Plotting out directions from everything from a little verbal input to working from an old favorite or a picture is what I used to do working in the knit shops in the '80's, and I loved every minute of it. As if this project itself isn't enough of a challenge, the photo I've been working from was taken on a cell phone.

Oldest son Tod and his wife Stephanie are expecting again (due in July). She's been convinced all along that it's a girl. She had her second Ultra sound yesterday and Tod called last night to say... "Hey Mom! Code word is BLUE!" Hmmmmmmmm... Do I wait awhile and see if it's for sure, or start knitting baby stuff now? Fortunately I have lots of baby yarns in assorted variegate combos, both with the blue as the predominate colors and others that it's just there. Definitely need to get the Berrocco Suede out and do a pair of UGGS.

Ironically, if anyone had asked a couple years ago, I'd probably have told them that we have all the "grands" we were going to get. Last couple years would have made a total liar out of me for that one. We had 3 new grands in 2005, bringing us up to 21, and now this one will make 22. I'm actually afraid to tempt the fates and even think about where the end of that road is!! It's GREAT fun tho, so as far as I'm concerned, they can all have all they want! Just as long as the older grands stay smart and don't have any of their own for some time, cuz I'm NOT ready to be "Great" G'ma anytime soon!

Have had this draft saved for a few days now thinking I'd get over here to add on, but that hasn't worked, so I'll just get this one up for now and start another!

'Til next time.....

Here's hoping.......

that this year I'll finally figure out how all this actually works and can get further with it that my aborted attempt last year.

Unfortunately, there won't be time to get started on figuring out how to set up the side bar or put in buttons or anything else 'til sometime next week. Bags are packed and ready to go, car's washed and gassed, and I'll be heading out sometime in the morning for San Diego and TNNA. Yeeehaw!

I know I'll come home on sensory overload, and that it will take a couple days at least to unwind and come down from the "zone". I haven't been to TNNA in years, so I honestly don't remember if cameras are allowed in the "market" or not. While it's not the best of my cameras, I will have one tucked away in my purse just in case.

Youngest of the "Brat Pak" isn't too happy that Mom's not going to be here Saturday for the races. MUST remember to leave hubster the stop watch so he can get lap times for him (which I usually do from the stands). I'll definitely be on the phone with hubby off and on to hear how it's going. It's been an expensive season so far... Barely started and he's already on the 3rd transmission. Tax man LOVES the advertising deductions from sponsoring the car, but he doesn't have to watch the rest of HIS budget to keep paying for parts!

His other favorite "irony" is that this year's refund will pay the cost of next year's deductions!! Refund = $$$ to pay this year's stud fees which = next year's deductions! We're still in the mode of researching bloodlines of those we're considering covering our "girls". While it's relatively mild wintering here, best time for foaling weatherwise would be late March / early April, so we'll board them out with the studs sometime in April / May.

On the knitting front....

I'm trying to finish up the Sheer One-Piece Shawl from Modular Knits. Destined to be a shop sample for my favorite LYS (as are most things I've made lately). I need to remember to ask her permission to post details while we're at the show this weekend. Until I have that, Mum's the word!

MUST gather up "some" projects to take along yet too. I may or may not have time to work on anything once we're in the room at night, but Heaven forbid that I don't have a variety to CHOOSE from if I do!! I'm sure y'all can relate to THAT, right? There's already a sock in progress in my purse (STR - Red Rock Canyon colorway) that I'll work on whenever I have the chance to sit for a few minutes. I'll probably take the raspberry Euroflax for the nightgown from Mason Dixon Knitting and my burgundy lace weight circular shawl ( a la Elizabeth Zimmerman's pi formula) which is for my sister's "Mother of the bride" ensemble at my niece's wedding in May. MUST remember to wind the white and get my niece's shawl started too when I get back or neither will be ready in time for the wedding!! YIKES!

Hopefully I'll get some pictures posted next time if I can figure out how to thumbnail them!

MUST get this posted and get my backside off to bed or I'll really have a rough time tomorrow!

'Til next time.....