Has it really been amost 2 weeks?

Goodness, I had not realized that I had been so remiss in posting. I swore it was just a couple of days ago... really... Just shows how fast time is flying, I guess.

The first weekend in October, Bree and I took a roadtrip to Gordyville, IL (think Rantoul), it is about 2.5 hours from us. Gordyville is a horse arena/show barn place. Bree has shown there before when they hosted a big Appaloosa show each spring. The IL State NBHA show was being held there.

We knew 2 people who were running in it and this is the Association that Bree will be running in next year, so we thought it would be good for her to watch.

It was a big show (for what we're accustomed to)- 270 open participants and 50ish youth. There is one girl, Ashley, who was finishing up her youth career and is (and I'm not sure of the actual stats) the No 1 youth in the country that just blew everyone away. She ran a 13.7 SECOND pattern. No one in either the open or youth was within a half second of her. It was just amazing.

The other good part of going was we got to hook up with Miss Paige, Miss JoD and we met Miss Lori and her BF, Darren - who was participating - It was so nice to catch up with everyone and kick back, laugh, talk and just relax!

Lori had brought some wine that she had been talking about with a 'chicken' on the label, so we all had to try it to see if it was 'all that'. I'm not a drinker, as most of you reading this know, and it was ok. But, we had to prove we drank 'chicken wine' - so here's the photo that Bree took with Paige's camera!

On other news, of course, I've been knitting and spinning. I have finished another Christmas present, have 2 more on needles and spun some lucious deep blue/purple varigated Baby Alpaca and Merino. It was 7.6 oz (from The Fold) and it is so rich of a color! As usual, I have no plans for it, I just like to spin!

The weather has just not cooperated for doing much. Bill and Bree put up the Halloween decorations this past Sunday. If we ever get a day without rain or dreary, I will take a photo. I joked that they probably should have put up the Christmas decorations considering this weather!

Big event this coming weekend... A landmark... More on that later!

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)

It finally arrived...

So, now I can post it... It only took roughtly 17 days shipped PRIORITY mail (which they said 2-3 days) -

It was kind of an early birthday present for Miss Paige - encompassing 3 of her favorite things -


Orange
The Illini
Horses

It's made with cascade superwash wool (so it can be washed) -



Too bad it didn't arrive when it was supposed to - she could have used it during the awfully cold weather they had!

In Accordance with

In accordance with the 'over-analyzing', 'spreadsheet queen' (named by Paige), and the curious side of me, I like to do jigsaw puzzles. Seems like every year around December - I start to get the urge to do puzzles - usually they are between 1,000 and 1,500 pieces. Maybe its the cold weather - I don't know. But, I do.

In 2007, when the group of us went to Indian Creek (Cason's place), her Mom was working on one - I asked first (because some folks do NOT want you helping with their puzzles) and we spent some time working on it together. Paige laughed her arse off because naturally like any good analytical (ok, obsessive) mind works, I lined up ALL the pieces in rows and columns all facing the same way just like a spreadsheet. She thought this was just hysterical coupled with her knowledge already of my spreadsheet obsession-ess. I think she even took a picture.

Bree starts out helping me, but, then moves on to something else.

I finished this puzzle around the 20th of January, started the 2nd one, finished that one today (no pics yet), and am going to start the next one - hmm.. maybe when I'm done posting this, or tonight - we'll see.

I like the quiet thinking searching for that ONE piece that looks like no other, looking at the connector tips and divets, trying to match colors and seeing if it can beat me.

If you notice in the puzzle, a piece is missing. No, it's not really missing, Bree took it out AFTER I finished the puzzle and hid it - so that she could say SHE finished the puzzle... LOL! I think its evenier funnier because I think I used to do this too.

So, here's the puzzle pic - gotta run to start the 3rd one (after I take pics of course before I destroy this one).

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...

Happy Feet.. And in this weather WARM feet

The following are 2 Christmas presents that I made for my Niece and my SIL. They are the Fiber Trends felted clogs (made from wool then "felted" in the washing machine).

It always cracks me up when you make these as prior to felting they look like Bozo shoes (how many of you remember Bozo Circus)? They're HUGE and then you felt them (like putting a wool sweater in the washing machine and it comes out like a baby sweater - LOL)... They're pretty cool... SO KEWL (as Bree would say) that I made a pair for myself, but have to refelt them as they're not quite shrunk enough...

But, here is my Niece's pair (her favorite color is blue). They are made from the Lamb's Pride swirly and the Lamb's Pride has a touch of mohair in it which makes them have a little "fuzz" to them!


And these are my SIL's which are the same yarn in Purple. I'm not sure that purple was her favorite color, but, well, the purple was pretty cool... Thanks to my Niece for modeling. (My SIL is recovering from surgery)

It's cold today down where they live so I hope they're enjoying them. I have pics somewhere of a "shrug" - kind of a short cardigan style thingie that I originally had started making for myself - but didn't like the fit, but my Niece loved it so it is now hers..... I need to find where I put those...

And if Paige would EVER measure her head, (I don't think she wants a cool firefly hat) we'd have some neat modeling pictures of her as well....

Deja' Vu? Another FO Sheep Tote...

During the same outing to Sheep's Clothing, Miss Sarah had convinced me to purchase some yarn that was being discontinued by the manufacturer (what a shame, it is awesome stuff)

Well, the color is the most perfect, exact, favorite of my friend, Paige - so, I just had to purchase it not having a CLUE what I was going to do make with it for her - so.. it sat (we went to Sheep's Clothing I think back in May?)

After completing my Sheep Tote and seeing how cool it is and knowing how Miss Paige chides me about my organizational obsession (even though she says she's impressed with it), I thought how perfect for her to have something to always remind her of my organizational mindset.. (ha, ha)

So, off to work I went and made up this for her, of course I had to add some "bling" to it with the button covering the snap closure - which I think will inspire her to whip out her "Bedazzler" and do her thing with it!



And here's a closeup of the "bling" button/closure.. Plus this picture greatly shows the vibrant orange/red/yellow color of the yarn -



The yarn is from Queensland Collection, called "Big Wave" and is a thick and thin 90%Wool, 10% Cashmere and is wonderful to work with and felt with - I am saddened they are/have discontinued it...

Finished Object (FO) Purple/Red Sheep Tote

As promised, I do have a few finished objects...

My first "real" project (supervised by Miss Kate) was the "Fabulous Felted Tote" by Fiber Trends - and though I love it - it is so DEEP - so, when Miss Kate made herself a Fiber Trends Sheep Tote - I started "jonesing" as it was rectangular and short and had pockets for organization (and you all know how organization is one of my most coveted words).

So, during our outing to Indiana to Sheep's Clothing, I purchased the pattern and yarn (Cascade Quatro in the Red Stripe and Cascade 220 in a purple) and finally made up my very own.

I SO wanted to make it like Miss Kate's (I LOVE the Malabrigo Chunky varigated she used) but, since every LYS I've been to does NOT carry it - and I take this PERSONALLY, I had to substitute. Just for the record - I like mine (although it is quite plain) but still LOVE Miss Kate's.

So, I've been toying with perhaps doing a needle felted "something" on it - but, nothing has hit my fancy as of yet - Maybe I should send it down to my "bedazzler" queen friend, Paige, for some bling?

Anyway, here is a picture - I followed the pattern as is - and used 2 strands of the Cascade yarns mentioned above.

New Bloggers..

A few of my "horsey" friends have started blogs this week - it is most interesting to read their little tidbits....

One of my favorites is the musings of JoD - she is a nut - I think she rivals Paige's amusing posts only more non-horse related.. Take a peek:

http://jodi-d.blogspot.com/

Another gal up in the great white north (truly the great white north) is a naval engineer or ship engineer or some such type thing and was telling us the story of where she "guest" posts about the Australian Navy paying for women's boob jobs - you can read here: http://dieselduck.blogspot.com/

There are just all sorts of funny things popping up all over - I like the exploits of this horse friend's first day at kindergarten - Can't wait to read more about "Mr C"... http://rundrums.blogspot.com/

Goodness, with all these funnies on blogs - it's a good thing I'm a stay at home Mom with nothing to do - When Hubby asks me what I did today - I'm going to tell him ghost stories about JoD's Dad, about Mr C getting in trouble and Boob Jobs -

I'm thinking he'll quit asking me right after that!

The Day of Pigs...

Yesterday was an interesting day... Bree and I went to meet my friend, Paige in Springfield, IL for a couple of reasons... First, to go to the horse trainers to pick up her horse, to hand off a saddle pad that Paige picked up for Bree, to have lunch, hang out and of course... Hand off 6 week old mini pot belly pigs that a breeder had down by her that several gals up North here wanted. They are about 2+lbs each - just bigger than an 8 week old puppy - but, they are like little "barrels"

Paige was keeping one of them for herself (see Paige's blog) and Bree and I were transporting 7 of the little things back here...

What a day.. We have NEW appreciation for the words "fast as a greased pig" and "STUCK LIKE A PIG" - Oh my goodness, they are fast little suckers (trying to catch them was like a "who's on first" comedy routine) AND once you do catch them I swear people 10 counties over could hear them YELL and YELL and YELL!!!

So, we transfer them into my 2 carriers - one is a larger dog carrier - we put 4 in there so not to "crowd" them and the other 3 in a container with a "flip" lid.. It was hot, hot, hot yesterday so we put one container on EACH side of Bree in the back seat and got the truck cooled down so they wouldn't get heat sick...

Well, the piggles like to climb on top of each other and look to escape every chance they get - so Bree basically had to ride the 2-1/2 hours with her little arms stretched over the top of the flip container to keep the 3 from escaping..

Now Paige told me the info from the breeder (that piggles have no body temp regulator - they can get overheated and overchilled without them even knowing it) - and I take my duties of being the transporting of piggles quite seriously! The gals from up North were going to be picking up said piggles from our house after 5pm.. I felt sorry for the little ones being handed off 3 times in one day - So, I called home to hubby as we were on our way back and asked him to:

Go get the bunny playpen and set it up in the garage and reinforce the bottom (because these little piggles can push HARD to escape) with landscape bricks and that we would be sure they couldn't escape (as it would be weeks to catch one since they are so dang fast) and he said he would have it ready for us..

We arrive home and he takes one container and I take the other and we enter the garage and I have Bree close the door JUST IN CASE one should escape during transfer to the playpen...

He gets a "lesson" in HOW loud pigs SCREAM - now in yuppyville, IL I was prepared for the neighbors to either a) call the police as they thought someone was being murdered from the blood curdling screams or b) that I'd have animal control at my house within the hour from reports of animal sacrifice...

Bill (hubby) or "The Big Nasty" as Paige has taken to calling him was frightened by their screams (I am CERTAIN he will have nightmares). The transfer is completed with no escapes! But they put up a fuss and got ALL worked up!

I was SO worried that they were overheated - so, I had to hook up a fan to blow on them, then I got SO worried that the fan would dehydrate them, so spritzed them with some water - then I got SO worried that they'd get chilled from the fan - so, I called Paige.

She said pick one up and cuddle (it looked like it was shaking) - Oh my gawd, I swear, that you could HEAR him 10 miles away - he did NOT like being held by me, I really did try to cuddle him, but he was not having ANY of it!

Well, by this point the humidity was about 90% and I was as dripping wet as they were - and I was still worried, so I pulled a chair out and my knitting (you didn't think I would miss connecting knitting to this post, did you?) and kept an eye on my responsibilities (all 7 of them) until the gals arrived

The gals arrived around 6:30pm and the process of catch and scream started ALL over again... After the piggles were on the road one leg closer to their destination homes, I finally relaxed..

Bree was such a HUGE help and good sport and knowing that we couldn't keep a piggle.. She was given a cute, girl, pink piggie all of her own...

Meet Pearl..

She doesn't scream, poop, require to be let out, nor run away...

Here are some adorable pics of my friend Paige and her hubby with their new bundle of joy... Meet "X" (they have YET to name him - poor little boy is going to have an identity crisis) - I suggested "Zucco" as in Danny Zucco as in "fast as a GREASED pig" - hahaha - If you have name suggestions, hop over to Paige's blog and leave her a comment (link is on my blog) -

Deja'vu another 8th in poles

Bree rode fantastic again today - she placed 8th in an event that last year she got DQ'd for her horse loping - so this is awesome - her best time ever...

Her time this year would have placed her in fifth place last year - the competition this year is so much tougher!!!

Tomorrow is her favorite event (keyhole) and also Fig 8 stakes - they start as the first class at 10am...

Paige made it down here - poor thing, her flight was quite delayed that she didn't even get to the hotel until 1:45am - so, we picked up some lunch and we're all taking a nap - LOL... Then off to do some shopping then a nice steak dinner!

It's been raining with isolated thunder storms since yesterday afternoon - ick.. We got soaked walking from our barn to the arena..