Secret Pal 5

I have signed up Secret Pal 5. I joined SP2 and SP4 in the past and LOVE it so much! I can't wait to get know my newest SP as well as am curious who is my SP.

Here is the information for my SP5....
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- a nd/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I'm really yarn snob. I prefer natural fibers and nicer yarn such as Noro, Lamb's Pride, Koigu, Colinette, Manos del Uruguay, Debbie Bliss, etc. I'm not too crazy about Red Heart or Lion Brand although I made few scarves.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
No, I got low spindle and fiber and haven't learn how to spin yet. I learned how to crochet when I was little.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I'm allergic to cigarette smoke (especially really not liking the way it smells, at all), pollen and ragweed.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I knitted when I was little but stopped till last year, I became addicted to knitting after my friend showed me Sally Melville's books.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, I do but I don't know how to post it in my blog. (Help!!)

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
French vanilla and lemon candles and any scents for bath products - especially any stress-free products!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Not really but I do love licorice and jelly beans. I'm not crazy about chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Quilting, cross-stitching, sewing, painting and making primitive dolls

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I don't listen any music because I'm profoundly deaf.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
Green is my FAVORITE color along with maroons or wine.... I like dark colors - brown, black and blue. I don't like any pastel colors.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm married to my wonderful DH for almost 16 years. No children or pets

12. What are your life dreams?
To build beautiful log cabin in front of the lake in somewhere in the country and make living with crafts.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Debbie Bliss yarns, Noro yarns, any alpaca yarns

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
100 % arcylic yarns

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
sweater, top and socks

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
felted bags and sweaters

17. What are you knitting right now?
Soleil summer top

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I love ponchos!! I made one for myself and plan to make more

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I prefer circular needles more than straight needles.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like Addi Turbos circular needles (either aluminum or wooden ones)

21. Are you a sock knitter?
I just finished knitting my first sock few months ago and have not start second sock yet.

22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was little girl. Mostly I taught myself by reading a lot of knitting books and magazines.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
For my poor DH's cardigan - one year old!!

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Nemo (from the movie "Finding Nemo") He is my inspired one as I'm much related to Nemo. I'm hearing impaired and still fighting that I can do anything but hear.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween and Christmas

26. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect Santas, pins and primitive dolls. Yarns, of course!!

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Creative Knitting, Interweave Knits, Knitter's Magazine and Vogue Knitting

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Am trying to figure out how to post my Wish List button

Photo..photo...photo....

It took me two days to recover from the trip. I know three hours different from Las Vegas and here but I was so wimp! I finally caught up some sleep. We took over 400 pictures --- good thing that we have ditigal cameras!! I'm not going to show you all pictures but I picked out few pictures to show you.

Las Vegas was so different from here. You can see a lot of casino slots around at the airport and all over the places, even in gas stations!!! I played and didn't have much luck! I'm not too crazy about spending money on betting machines or card games. We spent a lot of time sightseeings around the town and out of Las Vegas. Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyons were my favorite sightseeings. Of course, few great hotels at the new strip were so neat to visit.

Three nights are not enough for us but we will go back again in the future. I'm so envious of our cousin who live in Northwest of Las Vegas. She has really nice home and her house is right location where you can see the mountain around her. I feel so relaxed staying there. The temperatures were so right for me..... not too hot or humid but dry!

So enjoy looking at the photos below.

Perfect view from our cousin's house! Our cousin is so lucky to live in right location where she can see the mountain, the lights from the strip and of course, the moon!!! 

Yes, I took the trip to Paris!!!! No no, I was in Paris, Las Vegas! I really love there so much....so frenchy! We went up to the tower and it was so unbelievable beautiful view from the top! We stayed there for an hour and really didn't want to leave there. 

Of course, I knitted! 

I was in Red Rock Canyon. I really love the environment so much. So beautiful! 

We were in Hoover Dam - between Neveda and Arizona. The weather was amazing beautiful. 107 degrees!!!!! 

Oh.... here is the evidence! I was standing between two states!! 

Beautiful show up the ceiling in Old Strip mall 

Casino in Freepont 

We were in the plane back to DC. We were so tired from a long trip but it was worthwhile!!! We are definitely going back to Las Vegas in the future! 

Greetings from LV

Just want to drop a short note... The city of LOVE is soooo fabulous!!!! The weather is so unbelieveable beauuuuuuutiful!!! So perfect! I'm sitting outside in the sun typing the message thru my pager!

Yesterday we went to Hoover Dam - the world largest dam. The temperature was 107 degrees!!!!! Yet I was not sweating at all. I did some knitting during travel but spent so much sightseeings! The strip are so NEAT!!!!! I love Paris!!!!!! Will go back to the stripe today and see more places.

So Much to DO!!!

I'm so stresssssssssed!!!! Hard week for me - three days of retreat (work-related) and I was so behind with paperwork! I spent all day catching up all the paperwork. The weather here is NO help at all! Raining raining raining makes me so BLAH!!! But.............

Now, I'm all packed and ready for the trip to Las Vegas tomorrow morning!!! Wooo hoooo hooo.... spent all night washing clothes last night! Got haircut today. We will leave at 5:30 am to go to the airport!!!

Soleil top and Bellini Lace Shawl are coming with me for the long weekend....hope to give you full report when I get back next Tuesday night.

Happy Knitting!!!

I'm going to bring Soleil to Las Vegas!!

6 more days to go!!!! We are going to Las VEGAS for three nights. Just for FUN!! I really can't wait to go.

I have decided to make summer top for my trip. I don't want to bring my current WIP - wool vest for my DH. Too big for me to bring, and may be too hot for me to knit wool yarn there!! I browsed around the patterns through internet and books. I decided to make SOLEIL top. I want to use Rowan All Seasons Cotton yarns. I have no experiences reading the lace chart and practiced knitting. I messed up three times and could not figure out how to make right lace. I emailed Alexandra who designed the Soleil asking for help. Maybe you can help me...can you translate what the chart says into written instruction? I really want to make that top for my trip to Las Vegas.

Here what I wrote and am not sure if is it correct?

Row One: Knit 10
Row Two: Knit 1, yarn over, knit 3, slip 1, k2tog, psso, knit 3, yo
Row Three: Knit 10
Row Four: Knit 2, yo,knit 2, slip 1, k2tog, psso, knit 2, yo, K1
Row Five: Knit 10
Row Six: Knit 3, yo, knit 1, slip 1, k2tog, psso, knit 1, yo, K 2
Row Seven: Knit 10
Row Eight: Knit 4, yo,slip 1, k2tog, psso,yo, knit 3

What...isn't it Thursday????

Oh boy....the week goes toooooo FAST!!! I have not knit anything since last Sunday!!!!! I was so sick with sinus infections again last Sunday and Monday. I start feeling better now. Tomorrow is Galladuet University Commencement Day!!! Yay yay yay....which means I will have a loooooong lunch break and knit while watching commencement event on Gallaudet cable TV in my boss' office!!!!! The colleagues of mine will be staying in the office partying (of course, no alcoholic beverages allowed!)

I must tell you how much I really ENJOYED myself at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last weekend! I was so overwhelmed seeing so many people there on Saturday. My DH and I agreed that there were more people coming here than last year. The weather was so perfect....not too hot and not too cold! My dear friend, Sue meet me at noon and we stopped in every booths. I really enjoyed petting all the yarns!!! Of course, I brought several yarns.

Here's some of purchases at MDSW.

Melody's Shawl

This is Morehouse Merino. I really love that they come in kits. The color is so lovely. I can vision myself wearing it with my turtleneck sweater and slack.

Another Morehouse Merino.

Bellini Lace Shawl

I could not resist this and decide to get it for myself. My friend, Sue brought it, too.

I HEART Green Mountain Spinnery!!!!!

Slip Stitch Cardigan

I spent more than 30 minutes in Green Mountain Spinnery booth and drooled all the sweaters and vests. I know I'm weak but brought the pattern and yarns for Slip Stitich Cardigan. I love cardigan so much more than pullover sweater. The yarn is 2-ply Green Mountain Spinnery.

I know I'm WEAK!!!

The Spinnery Jacket

I decided to get another pattern and yarns for The Spinnery Jacket. For who? Of course, it is for ME!! Dark Brown Green Mountain Spinnery Yarn Over yarns are most soft wool I ever feel.

Mini-Zoo!

I must show you some of cute animals at MDSW.

Alpacas!!!!!! Aren't they CUTE!!!!!!!!

Ram Getting Haircut!!!

Black Ram

So much fun watching.....

Sheepdog Show

Something for my DH

Here is my new WIP! Artisan's Vest - Green Mountain Spinnery

My DH and I wandered around to each booth and he saw the vest hanging on the wall. He asked me if I could knit that vest. It looks easy to me and asked him why. He said he would love to have one. I asked him if he is so sure that he would wear it! I never seen him wear vest. After he left to see more animals, I sneaked and decided to purchase it. He rarely tell me what he wants or needs. I tend to grill him what he wants for his birthday or Christmas. He kept saying "tools and tools!!" I was so surprised that he finally tell me that he would like that vest!!! I started knitting last Sunday night. He didn't know what I'm working on new project. He probably assume the project is for me. Hee tee unless he read my blog! *Hi Craig!!*

I'm so glad that the instruction is so easy to follow. I'm using Green Mountain spinnery worsted weight wool. I really like the yarn so much.

For you, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!!

Here is my favorite family picture that was taken last November.
(my dad, my mom, my sister and me... my DH took the picture)

Photos tomorrow of MSWF....brought a lot of yarns!!! Yippeeee!!!!

Right now, I feel so yucky!! BAD sinus headaches all day!!!!

I'm ready for this weekend!!!!

My Tote Bag

I forgot to post this when I recieved the tote bag that I ordered for me and my dear friend, Jerri Lyn from Maryland Sheep and Wool Bloggers. Thank you, Mia, so much!!!! I wish I had my camera with me to work yesterday. Jerri Lyn had no idea that I got the bag for her. She was so stunned and loved the bag. We tend to spoil each other by giving surprise gifts or books.

I laughed so hard when reading Jerri Lyn's blog. She really made fun of me by calling me "Sueby Doo"!! Oh yes, I despise that nickname!! Well, she knows how extremely busy I am just like I run around without my head!!! Hey, I'm not shamed of my office at all. I love all the papers piling up on my desk so I can think more clear. Jerri Lyn's office is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay way way opposite of me. No worry, I will take *cough cough* picture of her office someday to show you the real Jerri Lyn! JL - Beware!!!

I really can't wait to go MSWF this weekend...definitely go on Saturday and Sunday. I can't wait to meet knitting bloggers as same time I'm pretty shy and timid by meeting new people, especially hearing people because of my deafness. I hope I have courage to meet knitting bloggers and want to let them know I really enjoy reading their blogs. If you see me there, please do let me know as I really want to meet you!!

Show and Tell from Little Joey!

Awwwwwww....Joey and his Wee Willie Whistle Sweater

I'm so surprised that the sweater fits him perfectly!!! I was hoping that the sweater would be little big so he can wear it all year long. He looks soooooo adorable with the sweater!!

Today I found out my Secret Pal 4 was Jena. Thank you so much for all that you have done!! I really love the goodies that you gave me.

There are only five more days left until wild wild wild weekend - of course, Sheep and Wool Festival! Now, I have HOMEWORK!!!!!! (I'm not complaining this time!) I will have to look through all my knitting books and make notes on what yarns and the sizes of needles I need to buy. Excited!!!!

Joey's Special Day

Joey's Baptism Joey was with his parents, Beverly and Larry and Father Joe.

Today was special day for me to witness my godson being baptized. The ceremony was very small and beautiful. Joey behaved very mature during the ceremony and didn't understand why Father Joe poured the water over his head. He is almost two years old. I wish I could explain his facial expressions but it described thousands words. (He looked so shocked and pondered why his head was wet) I could not stop laughing and thought he was soooooo cute!!!!
We had small reception after the mass. Tonight, Joey will open all the gifts. I know he is not too crazy about clothing but I know Bev would be impressed with the sweater I made for him. I will ask Bev to take some pixs of Joey and the sweater I made.

Secret Pal 4 is over now. I still don't know who is my Secret Pal. I hope she will reveal herself real soon. I revealed myself to Lynette tonight as I have not heard from her and don't know if she got the package that I sent her two weeks ago. Hope she will respond soon as I'm curious if she likes my goodies.

So sad that the weekend is OVER and tomorrow is "BLAH" day!!! I will have to go to the dentist tomorrow morning then back to work.

My Sweet Godson, Joey!!!!