The best birthday ever!!!

Yes, I turned 44 years old last Friday!!! I don't feel any older at all!

For my family, friends, FiberRAOKers and bloggers - thank you so much for the birthday wishes and emails. I feel so LOVED!! I reaI had a GREAT birthday weekend.






Jerri Lyn brought me a beautiful FLOWERS last Friday morning. Thank you so much, Jerri Lyn!!!! Hugs hugs hugs!!! My secretary brought me lovely balloons to decorate in my office.

After work, Craig gave the wooden box and I opened the box. I was so shocked and CRIED!!! I got so beautiful three diamonds necklace. I had no idea that he planned to give me the necklace although we agreed not to get me something but going to visit Longaberger Basket Company in Ohio for a day next week. He said the diamond is forever and I deserve the diamond necklace. Awww...I'm so lucky that he is the BEST man in the world.

My DH took me out to The Melting Pot for dinner. I really enjoyed myself so much!! It is a fondue restuarant. We had four courses dinner - cheese fondue course, salad course, entree course and the best of all - chocolate fondue!! We picked Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue. Fresh breads, vegetables and apples were served for cheese dipping. I was so surprised that Craig LIKED it. He doesn't eat any cheeses at all except for pizza. He really liked the cheese fondue so much! Yay!!! Wisconsin cheeses are my favorite - you know why! I grew up in Wisconsin!! That's why! *giggling*

I had mushroom salad - 75% mushrooms and 25% lettuce. It was soooooo DELICIOUS!!! Craig doesn't eat any salad. He is really picky eater!! ( really serious case!!) I had Surf & Turf for my entree course. My DH ordered Signature Selection - all different meats (he gave me all of his shrimp and I gave him all of red meats out of my plate)

I could not believe that I ate all of the seafood!! I was so stuffed!!!

My DH could not decide which chocolate fondues - there are 9 different flavors. He finally picked out what he wants - he sure is picky eater!! Chocolate fondues came with fresh strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, tasty marshmallows, pound cake and brownies. I'm not too crazy about chocolates but this chocolate fondue was so unbelievable delicious!!!
Oh boy, it was BEST dinner!! We stayed in the restaurant 3 hours - dipping, eating and talking all night! We were so lucky that the waitress was so wonderful to us. She used sign languages to communicate with us all night. She explained us how to pick out the menu, how to dip (cook) the food and served us well.

This Wednesday, I will be going out of TOWN - not business trip but VACATION with my DH!! We will go to Newark, Ohio and stay overnight for a night in Bed and Breakfast place. We plan to go to see the Longaberger Basket Company on Thursday. Hopefully, I will weave the basket. We will go over to Indiana for the weekend to stay with our friends. We plan to go to see Brickyard 400 this coming Sunday.

Not much knitting news - I had to rip all yarn out for Soleil yesterday. I goofed up some laces. I knitted all night and finally finished the lace parts this morning.

So sad that the weekend is over but I'm not complaining that I will work only two days this week! Have a GREAT week!!

I *HEART* my SP5

Yesterday, I came home and found the package waiting for me. I opened the box and my jaw dropped to the ground! *no kidding* Look what my SP5 sent to me.... soooo fabulous goodies!! Wooolwash product, Bee Naturals cuticle and nail oil, yarn earrings, two sets of yarns from KnitPicks - Essential and Alpaca Cloud. The yarns are so SOFT and stretchy. I really love the colors!!! Thank you..thank you...thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the BEST!

I tried on the earrings and LOVE them so much.
I'm going to wear it tomorrow for sure!!!!!!!

Essential yarn would be perfect for the sweater - I have not decided what pattern will I use this.

I will definitely use Alpaca Cloud yarns to make the shawl. The color is midnight. I'm going to look up the Folk Shawls book that I got from my SP2 and see if I find something I like. There are so many designs that I would like to make.

Cathay WON the battle!!! Soleil is on the progress!!!!
I did two gauge swatch of Cathay and All Seasons yarns. I voted Cathay because it's lighter for the summer top than All Seasons yarn. I started knitting Soleil right away last night. No wonder why the knitters rave about that yarns! I really love Cathay!!

Let's talk about the WEATHER here!

In past few days, the weather were so unbelievable HOT and MUGGY as if it was like 450 degrees oven!! The humidity were over 75%. Last night, the heat waves finally broke out by heavy rain, thunders, lightening and high winds. The temperature dropped down to 72 degrees in 45 minutes. Good thing that we have power and no trees were down. In some areas, there were no power for 24 hours and many trees were down. Today, we finally sat on the deck and ate dinner. It was so NICE and breezy! I hope the weather will be that way for this weekend!

My DH is going to surprise me something for my birthday tomorrow, so I'm so curious what he is up to!

I'm so tempted to buy the book!!!

I love Noro yarns so much that I have some in my stash basket. I looked up for any more ideas through the internet. Naturally Noro book comes out few months ago and I WANT to buy that book. Three projects are on my eyes!















I promise myself NOT to buy the Naturally Noro book till I complete Soleil top first. Hmmm... I'm going to rip Soliel yarns out tonight!!!! Yes dear, I''ll make the gauge swatch to decide which needles I use for my Soleil top. I'm still debating which yarn will I use - Rowan All Seasons Cotton or Debbie Bliss Cathay. I will test both yarns and decide from there. Wish me good luck!!

Happy Knitting!

FO tonight!

I'm thrilled to finish only one sock tonight. I really like Nancy Bush's book "Knitting on the Road". Knitting cables is so much fun working on the sock.

Yarn: Opal "Gem" Pure Merino Wool
Pattern: Whitby
Needle: 12" circular - size 2

















Now I'm not sure what next project I'm planing to make. I have few UFOs that need to be completed. Check out my blog entry - March 21, 2005 for pictures
* cardigan sweater for my DH
* Marnie sweater for me
* Robin top for me
* Coast to Coast sweater (undecided who should I give)

I plan to frog the yarns out for Soleil top and am thinking of switch different yarns - Cathay. Hmmm...how's about shawl that I always want to make one? Oh oh..I didn't forget to knit one more sock that match the sock I made today!!! Winks!!!

Ready for tomorrow? Not me but am looking forward to this weekend! My special birthday weekend!!!! I have some ideas what I plan to do on my birthday this Friday!! Wait and see!!

Have a good week!!!!!

Milwaukee Story

It was sooooooooooooo GREAT seeing my parents last weekend. We went to downtown see the Blue Angels which was awesome. We enjoyed watching the show. Geez... the weather was HOT and HUMIDITY just like Washington, DC!!! After the shows, we walked down the streets to see the Bastille Day event. It was so crowded. We drank beers and listened some music.
I went to the The Association of College and University Housing Officers-International conference on Sunday. I was so shocked that they didn't schedule for sign language interpreters for me all day for three days. They thought I need interpreters for the keynote sessions and banquet. What an ignorance!!! I missed few sessions which was very disappointment!! They eventually got me interpreters on Monday afternoon and all day on Tuesday. I enjoyed four sessions and will definitely make some changes in my department. I met new people there. It was worthwhile for me to attend the conference.
Instead of going to closing banquet, my parents wanted to treat me for my early birthday dinner. They made FAVORITE food for me in the world! Salmon on the grill....so yummy!!!! I thought I die and gone to heaven! I realized that I have not gone home for my birthday for almost 20 years. It was soooooooo GOOD to be with my family for my early birthday treat. I wish my sister is here with us.
My favorite birthday dessert - Angel food with strawberries!!!! Really yummy!!!!

My mother, the "Dr. Green Thumb"!! She has really amazing little garden and beautiful landscape on her front and back yards. She takes very good care of flowers, plants and garden. I wish I can be like her but I'm so terrible taking care of plants. I took several pictures of her yard.
I really love sitting in the kitchen and staring out the window all day. There are different birds flying in around the tree. My mother has several birdhouses hanging in the tree backyard. It is so fascinating watching the birds eating seeds from the kitchen window. I wish I have the tree in back of my house and could stay here all day watching different birds. Thank you, Mom and Dad for everything!!! had a GREAT time with you and enjoyed all the talks we have. I wish I could have stayed longer. I really miss you so much and can't wait to see you again this Christmas! This time, my DH and I will be going home for Christmas!!!!!! Of course, my sister will be there, too!!!

Happy Birthday, Big Sister!!!!

Kim turns 45 years old today!!! I'm very lucky to have wonderful sister. She is my true and special friend in the world that I could not trade for anyone.

A very happy birthday to you, Kimbo!! I love you and miss you sooooo much!

A Brief Absence

I will be going to another business trip for 4 nights starting tomorrow - Guess where will I go this time?

MY HOMETOWN - Milwaukee, Wisconsin!!!!

I will be in town for the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International conference. The conference is not far from my parents' house. Of course, I will be spending my times with my parents. I'm really looking forward to seeing my parents, eating my parents' yummy food, sleeping in my old bedroom, looking around the neighborhood, and visiting LYS if I have times.

I will be back next Wednesday night - hopefully will share more knitting news.

Have a GREAT weekend and happy knitting!!!

Moi?

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.

What kind of yarn are you?

It was very GOOD weekend for me!!

Last Thursday, I finished knitting the second Sock!!!

Book: Knit Socks! by Betsy Lee McCarthy
Pattern: Classy Slip-Up
Yarn: Artyarns Supermerino - Color: 101
DPN: US #1

The socks are really pretty! Perfect socks for winter. It's really thick and warm.

I really enjoyed my weekend with my DH. We spent two nights at a baseball game, the Bowie Baysox (minor league) and watched fireworks after games. They were so awesome!! The weekend was so perfect for me - be with my DH and more time knitting. I really enjoyed knitting sock so much and decided to make more sock. See pictures below.

Another sock in progress....

Saturday

Pattern: Whitby
Book: Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush
I'm using Opal "Gem" supermerino yarn that I purchased in Unraveled Yarn Shop.

Tonight

The sock is growing!!!

Cool fireworks!!!

Aren't we look dorky???

We decided to buy 3-D glasses to see the firework!!!! It was so stunning!!! Real farout to see all the special effects from the fireworks. Trust me, you will love it!!!

Special effect!!

Sorry, it's not the best shot but you could see all the special effects from the glasses.

It was BEST weekend for me.

I'm sad....

For London people,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and hope all London bloggers and their families are safe.

Hugs,

Susan

---------------------

I was so appalled to hear the news at lunch time. My DH dropped me off at the subway this morning but learned that the subway was closed temporarily. I didn't understand why (we are deaf and could not hear the radio at all) but decided to drop my DH to work then drove to work. It was so unusual to see so many people driving around the city after 9 a.m. My DH paged me explaining about the incidents at London. I was so shocked and could not understand why would the terrorists decide to end their lives to kill other people. I do not understand the world we live in.

My Trip to Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington

Happy Indepenence Day!!!!

Last week was so wonderful. It was great experiences living in the West for a few days. The weather was really opposite where I live here. Little sunny, mist morning and very cooooooool weather. Good thing I brought my sweater and demin jacket.

My colleague, Travis and I flew to Portland, Oregon on Tuesday morning and arrived there at 1 p.m. We rented the car and drove to two stores that were set in my mind.... Powell's City of Books...the largest independent bookstore (that carry used, new, rare and out-of-print books). It was HUGE store althought you may see the picture that looks small.

Powell's bookstore


I brought four books.... two for myself and two for my Secret Pal!!!

More stories/pictures below......

Next trip to LYS....

Only four blocks from the Powell's City of Books. I was so thrilled that I had an opportunity to stop by......

Knit Purl Store

Inside of Knit Purl Store


I really love that store....so neat and organized!!!

Few things I brought from Knit Purl Store

My quick project

I brought the book and Dalegarn "Stork" yarn for the dishcloth. Took me two days to finish it. I really love the color and yarn so much. I really like the book so much.

Lorna's Lace yarns

I could not resist these yarns... colors are PERFECT for the socks.