It is still September, right?

I swore when I looked at the calendar that it was still September! You wouldn't perhaps guess it from our weather.

This feels like a chilly, windy, dreary, late November day. It got down to 45 degrees last night. Yesterday, by lunchtime, my nose was running (while in the house) and the tips of my fingers were cold enough that it made spinning difficult. (Spinning was the PERFECT thing to do on a cold dreary day) - Playing with the fiber made me warm and fuzzy inside! The thermostat said 66.

Now, these days, I am ALWAYS warm. I think it is the stage in my life where instead of wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants in the house in the summer while the air conditioning is on, I am in shorts and a tshirt and STILL warm - this was the first summer that I don't think I even pulled them out of the closet. I was surprised that I was cold yesterday. Maybe, it was the dampness getting to me - as we had a roaring storm go thru Sunday night. So, I broke down and warmed the house up to 70 (so I could spin, of course) then turned it back down.

So, I have been spinning! I finished Joy's fiber - I think it turned out so pretty! I will see her Wednesday to give it to her. It is a bit more 'green' that shows in this picture (I have noticed that my camera does not photograph dark greens well - wonder why that is)

And a closeup:

I am now working on some absolutely lucious, as in, want to roll around in, fiber - it is a blend of Alpaca and silk - It is so soft and airy. I am spinning it to be more of a dk / sport weight than a worsted weight so I can make a more lacey decorative scarf. I 'may' have a pattern in mind - but, not 100% sure on it yet. I purchased 3 ounces of each color and am going to ply one strand of each color together - should give me a nice, heathered type look (I hope) - Here's a pic of the fiber before spinning: I have the cream already spun and am a tad past half way thru the brown. It would be so nice to finish this today! (As I look around the house thinking what can I put off - cleaning wise - in order to finish spinning this up - LOL).

I have multiple knitting projects going which I don't normally do and don't like as it preys on my mind that I should be working on 'x' and not 'y' - but, in all fairness, I had to order a skein of yarn to finish the one - could not find the color locally. And, I need an opinion from the knitters in our group on how to finish another (which I'll hopefully get tomorrow night) - and then of course, I have a sock going - (I am allowed 2 per month - and this is my 2nd for September :) ) And a bigger, ongoing, Christmas present project that I am just working on steadily as it will take me a bit to complete - but I am 30% complete on it - so am actually happy with that.

Doing my share to help the economy...

This weekend was the expo: Stitches-Midwest held at a big hotel/conference center in Schaumburg, IL. There is just no way to describe it. For the horse folks - like going to a National Show and having booths and booths of vendors with everything horse and bling related to tempt you. For guys - like going to McCormick Place for the Auto Show -

There is just so much. It is definitely overwhelming and is most certainly not for the weak (as far as being way too tempted by all the goodies).

I was 'somewhat' weak, but, did "ok" - at least 1/2 the items I purchased had specific projects in mind and 1/3rd of what I purchased was to make gifts (both birthday and Christmas). I actually attended 2 days - (went with 2 different sets of friends) - thus my 'weakening overnight' - gave me too much time to think about things and to rationalize purchases - hahah

So, here's a picture of what I added to my stash!

I had stated to all my knitting friends that I was ONLY going to purchase one skein of sock yarn for socks... And I stuck to that - so, that was a GOOD thing - because I could have gone completely insane in the Miss Babs booth! I did purchase 2 other sock yarn skeins to use for other types of gift projects - which were on my list to purchase - so no harm there.

I planned to buy some fiber and I did. I bought 3 different colorways of Miss Babs fiber (which she really NEEDS to add to her online store) - 2 different blends. I didn't mean to buy 12oz of the SAME thing. Here's a story to show how predictable I am: On Friday, I bought a 4oz bundle of fiber - loved the blend (Merino - Seacell) it is in pencil strips (the fiber is long strips about a pencil width) which is how I like to spin - but usually have to waste spinning timing breaking up a braid of fiber INTO pencil widths- it is awesome to have this done already! On Saturday, because of how pleased I was with this fiber upon further inspection and thrilled to already have in pencil widths - I decided to purchase more - thinking an 8oz grouping to get more yarn for something a squoish bigger (more yardage) - So, I picked out a lovely colorway. When I was putting everything together for the photo - imagine my surprise that I picked out the same darn colorway? Two separate days, with different folks, so, now I have 12oz of said fiber. Not enough to make a sweater, but, more than enough to do most anything else with. I am just so predictable err consistent when it comes to choosing colors I like - HA! Here's the gorgeous consistent fiber:

I also came across a new vendor called Maple Creek Farm - hadn't known them before - but, they had the nicest Alpaca-Bamboo yarn - the dyeing and colors were just fantastic - so, I had to get me some of that. It's a gorgeous two tone brown - rustish- Heck, I don't know how to describe it - so here's a picture -
I was thinking about making this wrap/shrug type of thing that Dr Kate made when she worked at The Fringe - (I emailed her for the instructions if she remembers what / how she made this) - It's basically a rectangle type stole/wrap and I believe she added buttons to the edges that when buttoned would become sleeves allowing you to wear it as a wrap unbuttoned or a shrug - I think this would be gorgeous in that way.

I also picked up some cute accessories, notions, do-dads and the like for gifts and such - so I can't show you or else I would have to kill you and if you are perhaps on the list to be a recipient of one of these - that wouldn't be fun -

We all had a fantastic time enabling each other, seeing new fibers, yarns, patterns and the like and I am so thankful (so is Bill) that this only occurs one time a year!

Knitting News...

Yes, amongst Squirrel trapping, horse shows and the like, I have been knitting. I have been keeping in line with my restrictions of only 2 pair of socks per month! As of today, I have completed 17 socks. And have found time in between to knit other things too! (or crochet)!

My latest has been having fun knitting the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. One of the ladies in our bunco group is due in the beginning of November. It's so nice to know of a "little" one to knit for! I knit this BSJ and hat set.

Also, back in May, Jackie, a friend I met thru Paige and the horse forum had a baby girl, Annaleigh, and I made these for her!

These are Fleegle's Seamless Saartje Booties:

And I have to post a few socks, now don't I? These are a test knit pattern I did for Linda Welch, called Socks for Christy. I used Sundara Sock yarn in the Jump for Joy color. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this color. These are a toe up sock and it is a great pattern!

These have to be one of my all time favorite color/pattern combinations! The name of this sock is Shur'tugal Socks by by Alice Yu and I used Plymouth Happy Feet in Jade Green (color 14) - they were an incredible easy knit and the pattern just flew by!

And lastly, our knit group held a "Christmas in July" swap to kick off our knitting of Christmas gifts! I am proud to say, I have 2 gifts completed and 1 on needles! But, for the swap, my person is ALWAYS cold, so, I made her the warmest gloves I could think of. These are the My Bagatelle Thrum Mittens. I used Cascade 220 for the glove in a dark plum and the thrums are a roving with glitter (romney) from Esther's Place in big rock - they were a big hit! Fun to make as well! The beauty of warmth in these mittens is that the wool thrums (a piece of roving about 6" long folded in half - think like a Q-tip) - is held together with the yarn when knitting every so many stitches. The ends of the Q-tip piece of roving are on the inside of the mitten and feels like a fleece seat cover, keeping your hands extremely warm.

That's just a mini-recap since my last post back in April! I signed up for this cool internet site tabulator for knitting called "knit meter" - and you enter in your projects and it tracks for a month or year the amount of yardage of yarn you have consumed. Well, year to date, I have consumed 21,715 yards of yarn. How cool is that?

Still waiting on No 2 to get into the trap!

Well, rat with a tail no 2 - seems to be a 'wascally wabbit' - um.. oops - wrong cartoon.

We are still waiting. NOT patiently I might add. I still hear 'it' and it still wakes me up. I'm getting to be a very cranky person. (so, what's new, I know)!

we spoke to the Mr Animal Tracker - and if by the end of the weekend, we still have not caught 'it' - then we will switch to a walnut in the trap - we've been told that they cannot pass up a walnut - must be like a catnip thing. I don't care if we have to put filet mignon in the trap. I want to sleep past 5am. Really I do.

I've been knitting and spinning as usual, trying to get into some semblance of a routine now that Bree is back in school. She just finished the first full week. She's gotten into the groove and is just cruising along.

Next week it is my turn to get into a groove! We've got some fun things happening this weekend, so hopefully by Monday, I'll have some pics to share! (if not pics, then good and also funny stories!)

Lots of knitting and spinning!

I haven't blogged lately - I think about it- get distracted and don't get back to it - but, I'll have several in a row, I'm sure -

An easy one, of course, is all the knitting and spinning to get caught up on!

I don't even remember where to begin. Mom's birthday was March 17th - so I made her:

It's a pin cushion, wood sunflower box - a kit I got at The Fold in Marengo by CiDDesigns - it's cute and uses scrap sock yarn!

Then I also made her this - inspired by Jen (Knitting Like Crazy) - who made one and I thought it was awesome!

I also made Bree this quick scarf (all the kids are wearing what I call the 'indoor' scarves!)

Then, since I hadn't knit her socks lately - I had found this conjoined creations flat feet tye-dyed yarn at Gene Ann's in Barrington just her color way - the pattern is Twisted Tweed - As usual, they are almost knee socks and I felt like they would never get finished (plus I ended up redoing them 3 or 4 times so they would fit)

Then, I started these socks from Cookie A's new book called Glynis - I am using a super wonderful, fantastic, phenomenal yarn from Zen Garden's Harmony Club called "Be Mine" or as I like to refer to it as Chocolate Covered Cherries - It is merino, cashemere and nylon - 450 yards... And I ran out of yarn with 20 rows left on the 2nd sock - how in the heck do I use up 450 yards? I dunno. But, I know Val has some of this and I'm going to beg, bribe and offer up some other yarn to get enough to finish! They're gorgeous!

I've also been taking regular lessons at The Fold on my Ladybug Spinning Wheel - I know have completed a couple of things - I have realized I need to spin thicker! (2 ply sock weight isn't going to do much - as you need 3 ply for socks) - But, the first is corriedale wool in two tone browns (med and light)

And the 2nd is a two color polworth wool - one a rust/burgundy which was a beast to spin with as there was alot of vegetation and 'nubs' in it - and an awesome blue-jean blue that spun like a dream! It's too fine by itself - I will need to double it or run something with it to knit - but, I am, if nothing else, consistent! haha - I also learned NOT to ply at night with dark colors - you cannot see the amount of twist you're plying - and my first skein is uneven - but, ok, I learned. I have a ton of yardage though (4 oz of each color) -




While at The Fold last week, I came home with about 20 different kinds of wools and other fibers at sample amounts to get a feel for spinning other fibers so I know what they're like if I want to purchase in qty! I think I'll make a notebook with my samples and notes about spinning them - I'm looking forward to the BFL, Ingeo (Corn), the blends and all the different breeds of sheep wool!

I think that's the result since my last blog post - but, I'm sure I'm missing something - more to come!

I was doing so good...

I was doing so good about posting every couple of days - and then I slipped - I don't know why though -

I was talking to my Mom yesterday and she mentioned that she was 'rearranging' some furniture as she had an 'itch' to do so. That got me thinking... There are so many itches we hear about - the 7 year marriage itch, we are past that we are on year 14 - (does the 7 year itch go in multiples)?

The 'itch' to buy something? (Did that - see spinning wheel post) - at least I'm thinking that counts.

The 'itch' to join something? (Did that) - a friend is starting a Ladie's Night Out Bunco group - once a month - we start Friday, March 13 - is that an omen?

The 'itch' to rearrange furniture or house project type thingies... Ah... Now that one I can relate to - It's called the "10 year old house - everything seems to be breaking, dying or looking ugly" -

We are in our house 10 years this April. And in the past 2 months, my garbage disposal has decided to give up the ghost. (this is not something Bill can replace - he is not 'handy' - don't even get me started on this - it would be a PhD dissertion length post - not his fault though)

So, need to get a new disposal.

Two Cabinet hinges have 'sprung' - one door (where our kitchen garbage can goes - which is opened 100 times a day) will not stay shut - Socks has learned how to use his nose to open the cabinet now and see if anyone 'missed' hitting the garbage can. If you open the other cabinet door, it sounds like the pop of a handgun - when you forget and open it - it stops your heart. Plus, it has sufficiently freaked Socks out - that he goes into hiding if we forget and open it. His hiding spot is our Powderroom shower stall.

The grout in both Bree's bathroom shower and our shower is cracked and needs to be redone before we have water leakage behind it.

We have a floor to cathedral ceiling brick fireplace - the cement tuck pointing needs to be redone as it is cracking, drying or whatever it does and you find grit on the hearth.

Why does it seem that it all happens at once? Did the house magically say - hey, it's year 10 - time to cause the family issues? How does it know its time to breakdown? There are other things I'm missing too -

Well, I'm making a list, checking it twice and a handyman will have a field day here doing all the various repairs. What's next? Furnace, Water Heater, Air Conditioner - oh I must bite my tongue.

On another topic.. (is that allowed combining non-related topics?) I have finished a couple of knitting projects. I made these Thrum Mittens for Bree - for those non-knitters - you use roving (wool before it is spun into yarn) - in my case Romney Sheep roving and you break off pieces, roll into like a q-tip shape and knit with it every so many stitches. Thus, when you put your hands into the mittens - it is filled with warm sheep wool! And it is WARM... Very WARM! I used Cascade Ecological Wool for the mitten in a nice milk chocolate brown.

Here's a picture:




I also was asked/hired - LOL by Buc to make her a pair of clogs - They are drying (from being felted). They are a nice coal black and grass green!

I'll have another post catching up on Bree's Basketball soon!

Thanks to Paige!

My thanks go to Paige for gently prodding me to join Facebook. I finally did a few short weeks ago, and I'm delighted to say how very cool it is!

I've reconnected with high school friends whom I haven't seen/heard from in 25+ years (yes, I am that old), and reconnected with friends I had stayed in contact with but, over the past few years, lost contact.

I've found that many are still in the general Chicagoland area and some have very similar families (kids around the same age), interests and are happy to get reacquainted again also!

Yesterday, Brenda, Marcia and I actually met for lunch up in South Barrington at a wonderful place Brenda selected called, Millrose Restaurant and Brewing. The decor is rustic/cabin-like on the inside and the food was great.

The best part was that the 3 of us sat and talked like it was 2 days after graduation! We talked about family, our memories from school (grade school on up), teachers, and current interests! Brenda and her hubby started a PT Cruiser Club up near McHenry and Marcia and I both KNIT! Who knew? We even brought our current knitting projects to share! Marcia is now inspired to try socks (ha - the good enabler I am) and on her way home stopped at Gene Ann's in Barrington and purchased a sock book, sock yarn, sock needles (and some other yarn too)! I cannot wait to see her progress!

We've decided when the weather breaks and we can arrange a day without time constraints (Marcia and I both had to head back to pick up our kids from school), we are going to try to gather as many folks as we can for a get together!

It was a great day! I am so glad I joined Facebook and it was fantastic to see Marcia and Brenda again and I cannot wait to see more old (in time, not age) friends!

(Ps - can you believe NONE of us brought a camera? AND, I didn't even think until last night about the camera on my cell phone - I know - bad me)

Wow.. No knitting pictures in 2009...

I just realized looking back that I have not posted any knitting pictures since Christmas. How could that be? I have knit!

So, this post is dedicated to getting caught up showing the finished objects (all but one that is, since the recipient has not yet received even after mailing 1 week ago today)

So, let's start with socks! We all know I love knitting socks - so MUCH so, that I decided to limit myself to 2 pair a month. I don't think that will kill me - but we'll see. I had my 2 pair done in January before the 15th - so I am very anxiously awaiting Feb 1 to start my first pair for February.

The first pair I made was from Zen Garden Yarn "Squooshy" in the Evergreen color which was the yarn club shipment for the month of December. It was such nice yarn that Mom liked, that I got an extra one for her - which she received in a care package this month.

The pattern is Traveling Vine by Charlene Schurch out of the book "More Sensational Knitted Socks". I love this yarn and the pattern was fun to do as well.

Then I moved on to a Sundara yarn color called "Spiced" - it's a cross between pumpkin pie filling and a golden mustard. The pattern is Ribbed Lace, another by Charlene Schurch but out of her Sensational Knitted Socks book. I was amazed with the yarn listed at only 350 yards (compared to others that are 400+) how this yarn just seemed to grow as I knit. I like these too! >













I had made my Mom a scarf I think 2 years ago and when my folks were here for Christmas, I noticed the scarf was starting to look a little ratty, worn, pilly, etc.. So I decided to knit her a new one! This is called The Prismatic Scarf by Huan-Hua Chye and I used a Mountain Colors Twizzle yarn which is a combination of Silk and Wool! Very soft and nice to work with! Mom received it in her goodie package back on Monday. With the ice storm and cold they are experiencing this week, it was just in time.

I knit this second scarf for myself - it is made with Zen Garden Sock Yarn with cashmere - it is to die for - the brown is called Coffee Bean and the pink is It's a Girl - The pink is really a real, real, real hot pink and I think the brown tones it a bit otherwise you'd need sunglasses! It is the Chevron pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. It's near 85 inches long so it'll wrap around pretty nice!



Then I made a silly, fun project - for those who have seen or actually have a pair of my felted clogs - this is a summer style - these are felted flip flops! They're 'ok' - a little floppy - no pun intended! They are of course, for me - as you can tell by your blue jean yarn.

As one of my knitting new year resolutions, I decided to knit at least one 'charity' project per quarter. So, a group of us are working with Project Linus to knit blankets. Here's a picture of the 'boy' blanket I made. I'm hoping to make another with girl colors! Project Linus is having a "make a blanket" day on Feb 21st - so that's the deadline. Here is a link to their information, if you're interested! http://www.projectlinus.org/

And, I continue to work on my jacket - picture in a previous post - I have finished the bottom charted designs and now am up to around the waistline. It's pretty and I'm really liking it and I am taking my time, enjoying it and making it sure it is done correctly!

Well, that's my January 'stuff' - I have put aside my thrum mittens for the moment, trying to get the guage right so they are not either to big or too small is causing me headaches, so it is 'resting' at the moment.. LOL!

Is there such a thing of 'never enough'..

Yarn, that is.

I went to a yarn store today that I had not been to before.ever. It was filled to the brim. More yarn in a yarn store than I've seen.

I bought 3 skeins. All three were purchased to make Bree things. All primary rainbow colored. One will be socks, and the other 2 skeins will be used for felted FLIP FLOPS. These should be fun!

You would think I would have enough yarn. But, I do not think there is any such thing of 'enough' yarn. You never know just when that one project, that one cool, special, gift or such that might come up at the last minute and you need to have the yarn at your fingertips. Kind of like people from the depression era stock up on canned food. Not me. I stock up on yarn. That way, I may not be able to eat, but I'll be knitting. Or like horse people having that extra saddle pad, extra headstall, extra brush. Just like that! (wait, that's me too - I see a pattern here)

I finished my 2nd stealth project since Jan 1. Pictures can not be shown until the recipient receives, though. And I did cast on my jacket. (Jacket pictured in previous post). That is going to take a while.

Question is what to cast on next.. I have to have a smaller project to carry around. The jacket is not going to fit in my purse - ha! Socks? maybe. Felted flip flops is a good possibility as I really want to see how these turn out. Perhaps, another stealth knitting project - another illusion scarf - looks like piano keys. Socks, maybe. probably. then a scarf or flip flops.

Ooooh, and I saw these cool mittens today. They were "nordic", "latvian", "fair isle" type mittens with colorwork. Pretty cool. I see something like this getting added to my list to knit. Hmm.. I wonder if I have any yarn for something like this? I bet I don't. Looks like I'll have to go yarn shopping. oh darn.

Ok, Someone talk some sense into me!!!

As I posted below, while at The Fold on Thursday, I was so serious about thinking about deciding on getting a spinning wheel. I've been looking online, emailing with some folks about ideas and the like.

Then today, in my New Year notebook (started a new one to kick off 2009), I started listing the things I need/want to knit. Things I already have yarn for. Things I already have 'planned' for gifts coming up in the next 3 months. Things I have patterns for. I am up to 10. And ONLY ONE of these is socks.

So, I shouldn't even be daydreaming about spinning. My list is extensive (well, kind of simplistic, but a project or two - like the jacket I posted about are complex). But, I am STILL daydreaming about spinning. What is it about the mystique of spinning that has me captured? I honestly do not know. Could it be something new? Perhaps the idea of making something from beginning to end (as in spin the yarn, dye it then knit it and finally gift it)? Is it because it is the natural progression of a knitter / fiber addict? Is it because it is just something different - craft wise - for me to add to my forte'? Do I REALLY need another thing to add to my forte?

I wish I could rent a wheel for say 2 weeks. Let me play, see if it is really something I want to do. If it is, then fine. If not, then I get this all out of my system.

I like the things on my KNIT TO DO list. They will be fun, different and challenging projects (ok, some).

I need to start thinking of the balance of the year and starting the gifts I need to complete NOW.

So, I shouldn't think any further about spinning...

Yea, right.

Starting the New Year off right...

I won! I won! I won!

What a great way to start off the new year!

Val, Lisa, Becky, Rachel and I (from the knitting group) all went to The Fold (Marengo, IL) today for their New Year's Day sale / open house. I can't think of a better way to kick off 2009, great friends, lots of sweeet yarn, a peek at some spinning wheels (I am SO jonesing) and on top of it all, I won a book as a door prize. It is called "Crocheting on the Edge" by Nicky Epstein and it is even SIGNED by her! How cool is that?!

We all did some serious credit card damage! And I think over the 6 hours we were there, I looked and looked and looked and looked some more and at a couple of spinning wheels. I do NOT know how I walked out of there without buying one. Sheer will is all I can think of! And, maybe the fact that I purchased yarn and was inspired to knit up some things and getting a spinning wheel would have prevented that from happend.

I purchased some yarn (Cascade Ecological Wool to be double stranded) for this jacket:

The yarn is Charcoal and a medium shade of gray.

I also purchased some Easter Pastel sock yarn for socks for Bree and of course, it wouldn't be me, if I didn't purchase some blue jean colored sock yarn - LOL! Ok, I confess, somehow, someway, some blue jean color wool yarn made it into my basket to make some felted flip flops.

And one skein of Rare Gems, Sock That Rock seemed to call my name. (ok, I KNOW I do not need any more sock yarn, but it is a cool colorway)!

I'm in a mad dash to finish the Traveing Vine socks I started on Saturday. I have 49 more rows. I am holding myself back for jumping right into the jacket!

I've decided I need to make a list of what I have in the 'que' to knit, then prioritize them and then start knocking them off one by one. I think that will be a task for tomorrow.

Other than that, not much is happening. Bree and I went to the barn yesterday and delivered Christmas gifts. That's always fun.

Last night some idiots (read this as teenagers who need to be shot) decided it would be funny to open gates on all the fenced yards. This morning, I was up early to get ready to go and let the dogs out. Well, after 20 minutes of Bailey (the Goldendoodle) not returning I went out in the yard. Imagine the heart stoppage when I see the side gate wide open. (It was not open at 11pm last night, when we let the dogs out for the final time). I yelled to Bree to get Bill, hopped in my truck and started driving around - knowing that she runs like a gazelle and had a 20 minute head start - hell, she could have been a county over or worse - dead on the busy street near our house. THANKFULLY... She was 3 doors down. Apparently, she walked down, saw THEIR gate open and thought it was her yard and was in their fenced yard. Talk about taking 10 years off your life. We walked down our street around the park area (where there are about 6 other houses with fenced yards and ALL gates were open). I swear if I ever find out who did this stupid-ass stunt, you all will have to send bail money as I will be in jail on an assault and battery charge.

PS - See, I am starting off the new year with a post. Yay me!

Checking things off..

That has been my mantra for this past week:

Finished Beach Bag Class Sample for shop................Check
Finished test knitting Sarah's sock pattern.............Check
Finished 2nd panel for Log Cabin Baby Blanket...........Check
Finished collar for Bree's Little Bolero Jacket.........Check
Finished Designing and knitting water bottle holder.....Check

Finished updating Shop Work Schedule....................Check
Finished updating Shop Class Book.......................Check

Finished and presented 4H Craft Projct..................Check
Took truck to dealer before it completely died..........Check
Met with yarn salesman (and made spreadsheet)...........Check (see Paige someone else who loves my spreadsheets)

Attended Orientation for school gifted program..........Check (Bree has been placed in gifted program now) - I hate the word "gifted" as it has such an odd meaning in my head - I prefer accelerated coursework - but, heck, who am I?

Update Blog (am doing now, so it gets a check)..........Check

Not checked off:

Clean House
Schedule Bailey's Grooming
Clean House
Finish Bree's Socks
Clean House
Schedule Haircut (haven't had one since SEPTEMBER) - Yes, SEPTEMBER..
Clean House

Hmmm.. I see a reoccuring theme here.. Guess I will have to correct that tomorrow

I've had to finish things so quickly for the shop, that I haven't even taken photos - I'll have to steal them from the shop website once they are up!

Doesn't feel like I did much, but Bree was off from school on Monday for the holiday and then home sick on Tuesday (just a touch of stomach flu) and then I filled in at the shop Wed, Thurs and Fri (and today)... So, that really didn't leave time for much else...

Paige-asters? Or not, plus knitting

I have had a few, what could be classified as, paigeaster days or a week.

My microwave died about 2 weeks ago (thank goodness I have my spare from college - that was my Grandmothers - I'm not telling how old it is as that would be dating myself - suffice it to say I graduated college in 1985). Well we went and picked out a new one and it was scheduled to be installed (under the cabinet type) on Jan 31 - BIG snow storm hit, no install. The guy said he would put me on the schedule for this past Tuesday. No call. No show. So, I call their office. Leave a message. Call again - and talk to the "lady". She says - let me pull your paperwork and call you RIGHT back. Ok, 6 hours later, NO CALL. I call leave a message. 24 hours goes by from when I spoke to her. NO CALL. I call again, leave a message. NO CALL. I'm am freaking p'od at this point so tomorrow am, I'm going BACK to sears and telling them if that microwave isn't where it should be (above my stove) by the end of the day, they can shove it where the sun don't shine. That's BS. Still no reponse - time to call Sears and give them a good chewing.

Then, Wednesday, my poor, dear of a doll hubby broke a tooth off - so bad it could not be saved (to be crowned) and had to have it surgically removed yesterday - he's pretty sore. He'll be getting one of those "implant" type things instead of a bridge once it heals up. I was joking with him, that with the missing tooth, he could pass for a redneck horse person - haha. Poor guy though.

A few weeks ago, he took my Tahoe to wash it and broke my heated, power mirror and we decided that a $590 replacement wasn't worth it (it's still on there - its one of those that spring closes shut) and that we could put a "shimmey" in there to keep it from vibrating. Well, I happen to notice right around a week after that my antenna was snapped off as well.. W T HEck... My poor baby is broken and that makes me sad... It's been such a great vehicle for me (7 years old and 125,000 miles) - never letting me down.

Let's see, my new cell phone would not work in my house. Took it back in and the guy behind the counter and I started talking - turns out he is "horse people" and upgraded me to a phone more than a $100 more than the first one for FREE. Hmm.. am liking that.

I have been knitting, but silly me, mailed off the "goods" without taking photos, what is up with me on that? I did that at Christmas too. I finished my Brother's socks - which he should enjoy with his deer thinning out in the woods in the cold and snow task he has at hand for the IL Dept of Wildlife. And something else, that I can mention here. I also have Bree's little Bolero jacket about 75% done (one sleeve left), but I think I'm going to need one more skein of yarn, so I have to contact Mom's yarn store (With Ewe in Mind - great store if you're in the area) in Paducah about getting that. I also am test knitting a pattern for Sarah (a sock of course) on SIZE ZERO's using Jen's lucious hand paint yarn. I've turned the heel and am working on the gusset decrease. This has given me a new understanding to the number of rows on SIZE ZEROS that it takes to make an inch. I swear I was knitting the leg until the cows came home and THEN SOME. I cannot imagine what the foot is going to be like. I think they will be made for Bree's size - not that that will save me much knitting as NOW her feet are only a half shoe size smaller than mine.

I'm also working on future class project samples, etc. for Peggy's Strands of Heaven (my local LYS and our Sunday meeting place). I don't think I'll get to any knittig for ME anytime soon... But, it's knitting and I like the items I'm knitting, so all is good.

There's more, I know there is, I just can't think of it right now...

A new toy... And its not knitting needles either...

Well, why yes, I've been knitting a bunch.

I finished the 2nd Gabi baby sock (pictured in previous post) and had SO much fun doing them, made ANOTHER pair!

I started another pair of footies for Bree out of some really nice Claudia's Handpainted yarn - it is so so so soft, it just floats thru your hand - I think this is the softest, nicest to knit with yarn I've experienced yet.

I started a pumpkin that will be felted (out of malabrigo)- in honor of Paige's deceased "Hannibal"

I started a pair of dress socks for Bill but, the pattern didn't work well so frogged it, redid the cuff (1" worth) and still didn't work, so frogged it AGAIN - geesh, with all the knitting that was frogged, you'd think I'd have another sock by now.

The "secret" project is nearly finished - yippee, skippee...

BUT, my attention span has been short because I've been spending time riding HER:


"She" is a 3 year old Appaloosa Filly just out of reining training - got cut 2 months before the "big" show - which works out well for me! She is bay (color) and this picture just does not do her justice!

I've ridden her several times since around Labor Day and just had the Vet out to check her out to make sure she's all that she's supposed to be (without any surprises) for a 3 year old.

The interesting thing is that she is a 1/2 sister to Bree's Mare, Tessa, - same Dads, different Mom's. And on top of that, I started riding "her" the SAME week I started riding Tessa 3 years ago and they are the same age at the time I got Tess. How odd, kind of "co-inc-a-dinkly". I think it was an OMEN! HOWEVER, and it is a big HOWEVER, the neatest thing is that she does NOT try to bite my arm off (at least not yet is what people keep telling me) - now that being Tessa's sister says something!

I was telling my Mom about her today and of course, my Mom having witnessed Tess' dislike for me, FIRST thing asks me if she's tried to bite me... I laughed.

Now, I keep calling her a "her" and a "she" and "the filly" cause I haven't settled on a name yet - Kind of like "Jaycie" (pronounced JC) but not sure it fits. I really like Jessie (but feel way too corny having "Tess" and "Jess") but kind of when I see her I think Jess. It took me FOUR, yes, FOUR months to name Tessa so, I'm hoping to beat that record. Of course, any and all suggestions are welcome!!!!

My version of STITCHES...

Since I was in Tennessee visiting my Folks and picking up Bree, I didn't get to go to Stitches this year - from what Sarah, Heather, Cindy and Joy emailed about their purchases, maybe I'm glad I didn't!

But, so much for that - Mom took me to a wonderful yarn store in Paducah, KY - if you get down in that area - it is a MUST stop and shop! The name is "With Ewe In Mind" and the owner, Maureen, is a DOLL! (In fact, we were there on Friday and she was packing up to hit the train to go to Stitches - how's that for Karma)

So, I did my Stitches Stash busting there...

Bree picked out this WONDERFUL Lorna's Laces in Swirl (Rainbow) Yarn in a chunky weight for her purse:



And then she spied this pattern which she "just had to have" - heee - and we picked out some lucious yarn - Plymouth, Baby Alpaca, Worsted Glow yarn - has a little metallic thread running thru it - but soft as soft can be -





I picked out 2 balls of Cascade Fixation in a "blue jean" color (9030) - you'd think after the Jaywalkers, I'd never want to see that color way again -

And I also picked up the Mari "Oregon Sweater" pattern - that has a neat ribbed yoke detail that will be nice - Haven't figured out what type of yarn yet.. (Gee, I have to SHOP for yarn - oh darn)



So, even though, I wasn't there with my knitting enablers in person, we were together in heart - LOL!