I think I was 12...

when I cut my finger. Washing dishes to do my part in the house, a glass that I had just shoved my hand inside of to wash had popped open and cut a flap of skin open on my pinky. I remember crying but not for pain but rather because I was bleeding quite a bit. Dad took me to urgent care and I got three stitches and 20 years later I have a little half circle scar right around the first knuckle of my pinky.

Today I'm 30 and I've done it again. Washing dishes last night cuz we haven't done it in a while and the kitchen needed cleaning. Same scenario, same finger, little further down and larger laceration. Again, not crying because it hurt, that part isn't too bad really, but crying because I was really irritated with myself for letting it happen a second time. This time 4 stitches and orders to find work that for at least 2 days puts as little strain on my pinky as possible. (That includes less typing...weird to be a tough typist who can't use her pinky.

Brian & Mel's wedding

Scott's cousin was married May 3rd. It was a beautiful day and we had a grand time, even though his aunt decided to mention in front of all the friends and family that we should be the next ones to be married.

We love you guys, congratulations.

My Hedgehog

Henrietta #2
Originally uploaded by ssplam

I found a pattern on Etsy a few months back by Yvonne Boucher

The pattern is called Henrietta Hedgehogand she sells it for $3

Such a cute pattern and truly easily worked. All done on straight needles with very easy to work shaping then seaming at the back to make it round. The fur also works up super easy. Total project time for me was less than 4 hours. (I really think it was a lot less than that if I would actually have just worked on it and not stopped to eat lunch or other things at the same time.)

Shelley & Jasons house

Shelley & Jasons house
Originally uploaded by ssplam

After our visit with Steve, we headed further south to Modesto to be there for Shell's birthday. Had cake with her family then her and her husband took us back to their house. Hung out with them for a while, had a bit of dinner and caught up on old times.

Happy Birthday Shelley

What a great visit.

(L-R -Shelley, Mike, Josh & Me - sorry J, we'll get you in the pic next time)

Steve's new place

Steve's new place
Originally uploaded by ssplam

We had an impromptu and smallish Grange reunion last weekend. A friend was having her 30th birthday party so Josh came to my house from Auburn, Mike from Chico, then the three of us started off on our little road trip. Stopped in Stockton on the way home and visited with an old friend named Steve. The house he's staying in is beautiful and we had a great visit. (Picture L-R - Steve, Josh, Mike, Me)

My knitting Roll

My knitting Roll 1
Originally uploaded by ssplam

I've also made a roll for knitting needles. While I like the I received from my grandmothers stash, the slots weren't quite big enough to hold everything. I've also got quite a few needles I just don't plan to use. So this one has become my primary and is a little bit larger than the grandma roll. The grandma roll has become home to the misfit needles (those without mates) and the ones I just don't like to use (like the plastic ones that are all bent out of shape). I just used some remnant fabric that I got from a bin at Walmart, about a half yard. Had some ribbon left over from my crochet roll that made a perfect color matching tie. Also added one modification to make the fold double thick, mostly because its prettier than the "wrong side" of the fabric.

My knitting roll 3 Originally uploaded by ssplam

My knitting roll 2 Originally uploaded by ssplam

My DPN Roll

dpn roll 3
Originally uploaded by ssplam

So I finished this one a little while back but never got around to posting "finished" photos. In my post For Robin I provided a link for where I found a pattern to make a DPN roll from some elastic and a store bought place-mat. Except for the part where my machine kept binding up on the elastic itself, it's an easy project. This other picture is of the roll all closed up, I used an iron-on dragonfly to decorate it and sewed an old button on with some elastic tied in to close the roll up.

dpn roll 4
Originally uploaded by ssplam