There was a little girl with a little curl...

right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good. When she was bad, she was horrid.

This poem describes me to a T.

Except maybe the "little" part.

I've lived my entire thirty-thirteen years with curly hair. Not kinky curly. But not wavy. CURLY. I've wanted my entire thirty-thirteen years to have STRAIGHT hair. Long, straight, blonde hair. I've never had it.

I've tried. I've bought straighteners. I have a CHI. I have hot curlers. But I've never really had straight hair. The CHI works pretty well. It works for me until I walk outside. I do live in Georgia, and the air can be quite humid. I grew up in Coastal Georgia, where the air is always humid. Therefore, my hair has always been curly.

Or, to be honest, my hair has usually been frizzy.

I spent my younger years with short hair. This was my mother's way to deal with my hair. She,too, has curly hair, and she knew it would be easier to deal with my hair if it was short. When I got old enough to take care of my own hair, I decided to let it grow.

Sometimes, I had nice ringlets. Other times, I looked like Janis Joplin. My hair was always a crap-shoot. I never knew what it was going to do. I have lots of barrettes and scrunchies in case I need to pull it back.

Fortunately, I received an invitation to Ravelry.

I joined, and I began to peruse groups. I found a group that really interested me. "Crafters with Naturally Curly Hair." Who would have thought? Others like ME?

So, I join the group, and start reading the message board. And there is a whole world out there that I never knew. The CURLY GIRL world.

I found out about a book, The Curly Girl's Handbook, and a website, www.naturallycurly.com. I am learning what to do with my hair. I now know that I am a CURLY GIRL, and that I'm not alone.

I'm learning how to work with my curls. And to allow my curls to work with me. And I am thrilled.

If you are a curly girl, find the book, find the website, and embrace your curls!

I am still out here!

I have been knitting. In fact, I've been knitting quite a lot. I am teaching a self-contained fifth grade class this year, and decided to knit them all a Christmas gift. I was going to make them all a wreath, but didn't like the sample, so I decided upon a bookworm for each of them. I allowed them to select a color, based on leftover Sugar'n'Cream that I had, and I set out to knit 27 bookworms. I used Sarah Bradberry's pattern, but altered it to include a chained tail, and a tassle on the end. I also personalized each of them with the initials of every student on the end of the tail. I glued googley eyes on every bookworm. They ended up being precious.

What I Love About Badcaul

I've discovered a new passion. I now understand what so many sock knitters are raving about. The toe-up two at a time magic loop sock. Wow!

I love not having to kitchener the toe. This pattern (Badcaul by Anna Bell) has a Turkish Cast-On. When I started these babies a year ago, I remember being totally amazed by this cast on.

I love this yarn. It is Step in Grass. I got it from Margaret last year for St. Patrick's knitting. It has jojoba in the yarn. It is so very soft.

I'm coming up on the heels. I know that I'll do one at a time, but I'm looking forward to a new challenge.

What I love best is that I'll finish both socks at once. I will be able to bind them off and put them on.

I may have to do all socks this way from now on.

Low Country Boil

One Shrimp Sock is finished. Please ignore the white leg attached to the sock.

This is a close up of the Double Eyelet Rib that is used for the Summer Solstice Sock. I really like the way this turned out.

I am not currently knitting a second sock. I'm taking a break from shrimp.

February Knitting

February began with an abnormal mammogram. Not mine, because despite the fact I'm thirty-thirteen, I haven't had one yet---Don't fret though, it's scheduled for March 21. It was my mother. And after a small and large needle biopsy, it was determined that it was breast cancer. She was given the choice of a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. She chose the latter.

I went down the 18th of February. We drove to Jax on President's Day and checked in to the Wyndham on the St. John's River. We had a fabulous dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House, and went back to the room to get to bed early for our hosiptal stay.

We were at Pre-Op at 8:15, and I began to knit fish. We were put in a holding room, and I knit fish. My brother came, and I knit fish. My cousins came, and I knit fish. We waited, and I knit fish. Mamma was finally taken into surgery at 2:30, and still, I knit fish. Her surgery went well, and only took an hour. The tumor was very small, and contained, and her lumph nodes were clear. She'll see an oncologist later this month, but we don't anticipate any chemo or radiation. Prayers really do work.

Mamma was able to go home on Wednesday afternoon. I headed to Fuzzy Mabel on Thursday morning to get some yarn to knit her a Tit Bit. I brought home 3 different silks, and a bamboo. She picked the bamboo. I finished it Thursday night, and she wore it on Friday. I'd love to show a picture, but I don't want my mother flashing her "knitty" (as she calls it!) Wouldn't that be a bit pornographic?

I went back to Fuzzy Mabel on Friday. Cynthia is relocating to Lancaster, SC, and was having a big sale. I went in to get Mamma some needles for a prayer shawl she's knitting (2 days after a mastectomy), and as I'm checking out, I spy this:

It is IsleDyllic Dream handpainted sock yarn in Low Country Boil. I met the artist in the shop, and just had to bring it back to Atlanta. It really looks like home to me.

I finally started a pair of socks with my Low Country Boil last week. They are the Summer Solstice Socks from The Sock Calendar.

The leg is a Double Eyelet Rib. I love the way it is working up. I'm using DPNs after a long hiatus from them, and am really enjoying using them again. I'm planning on wearing these, so no SSS this go-round. I'm off to knit!

It's Pre-Game Knitting!

Here is the first Warm Up America square I completed for Super Knit Sunday. I used Red Heart Kids in Bikini. It's a little like knitting dishcloths, only with acrylic yarn. Since the yarn was so busy, I decided to do a straight stockinette.

These are the other colors of Red Heart that I got for squares. I think I may be a little ambitious. I got Red Heart Kids in Lime, Orange, Yellow, Pink, and Happy. I'm doing the solid colors in some type of pattern. I'm doing a small gingham with the pink. I'm just kind of playing a little with the solid colors.

There are a couple of other variegated Red Heart Kids that I may end up getting, too. I'll try to make at least one strip of seven squares.

Super Knit Sunday

DIY network is sponsoring a Knit-In on Super Bowl Sunday for Warm Up America. Patterns for 7 x 9 " squares can be found here. I'll probably have to keep my husband company during the game, so I might as well be knitting for a good cause. I think my local Michael's accepts the squares. If not, I can mail them in.

A Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger. I haven't posted in 2 months. I can no longer access Blogger from work, so, I'm out of touch!

My cycle was a bust. I got pregnant. Saw that elusive second line. And then it was gone. Who else but me. My beta started at 10, and went down from there. We did a hysteroscopy and everything is fine.

I have one frozen embryo. I'll transfer it in the spring. I'll let you know if it works.

I've been knitting. I knit Argosy for a friend's Christmas present. I'll post a photo later. I'm sorking on Danica for a late present.

Thanks for all the HUGS!