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)

My new toy!

This past week, I received a late Christmas present, an early birthday present and even earlier Christmas (this year's Christmas) present.

I am now the owner of a Schacht Ladybug Spinning Wheel! It is all set up and ready to go - I just need to get some 'practice' fiber to spin with which will hopefully occur this week!




In the meantime, I am trying to finish up some of my knitting list projects as I know this will cut in on my knitting time - or I'm going to petition for longer days to be able to do both equally!

I wasn't going to purchase a wheel, but came across this deal and even Bill agreed it was just too too good of a deal to pass up!

I'm going to be scheduling some spinning classes for both Bree and I as she has decided to forge her own 'yarn-making' business! Such an Entrepreneur!

Stay tuned for progress!

Games - BBall and Puzzles and some knitting

This is going to be a quick update - A 'new toy' will be up in the next day or so!


But, the Michigan State girls lost their game yesterday to the Illini (14-4)- they did not play well at all. There seemed to be about 50 turnovers. (Thankfully, Bree did NOT turnover the ball) - but, the other team were 'scrappers' - they wanted it more and our girls HAVE to learn that once they cross half court (in this age group/league - you are not allowed to defend until crossing half court) - that they either A) MUST keep their dribble - they seem to want to stop 1 foot over the half court line and then the other girls are in their positions and not many come up to help out and B) If you DO stop 1 foot past the half court line you do NOT hold the ball in front of you like offering a gift.

Bree had 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 knock away and 2 shots off the rim/board -

She actually handles the ball very well and is patient to wait for the team to set up their play that the coach calls out BEFORE crossing the half court line!

She is learning to defend her person BEFORE that person has the ball and to anticipate if the person may be involved in the play.

I've also completed 2 puzzles and will now need to find more to do. They are like therapy - kind of like my knitting - keeps my mind on task and blocks out everything else (which can be good and bad, especially if I have other things I really should be doing)

Here's a pic of the last one - I cannot find where I saved the other one - eh, no biggie
And finally, my other form of therapy! Finished this pair of socks called Welt Fantastic by Charlene Schurch, from her book Sensational Knitted Socks, made from Socks That Rock Lightweight color called "Rare Gems". Bree's modeling them - but made more for me - thus why they look a tad big on her.

After I finished these on Wednesday, I started a pair of Jaywalker gauntlets for Bree's Teacher. Bree has a pair of these made from Cascade Fixation and one day she wore them to school and her teacher just loved them - so Bree asked if I could make her a pair. Had to modify my design that I made for Bree's - both in size and the fact that the yarn she picked out to use - was not stretchy like the yarn used in hers - so, Thursday I worked on it and completed the first one on Friday and am about 90% complete on the second one. (I'm already thinking, "What should I knit next?" hahaha


This is Socks That Rock in Mediumweight in the color called "In The Navy" and the pattern is modified from Grumperina's Jaywalker sock pattern and a typical mitten thumb gusset with ribbing on the end of the thumb sleeve as well as the finger tips.

This is pretty cool... And hits home for so many!

My Mom, who all have read about, sent me this link - I think she got it thru some quilting threads and I thought it was awesome! In her email of this link, she asked if us 'knitters' could top this...

I don't know - but, these are fantastic - take a look!

http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm

Breast cancer hits home for so many of us. My Mom is a survivor going on 8+ years now! Yippee!

What a great group from South Carolina paying tribute to 'ta-tas'!

Enjoy the photos and the artwork - all hand made!

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!

Spumoni anyone?

I'm working on my 1st pair of socks for February - I have decided to 'limit' my sock knitting to 2 pair a month - I know - blasphemy... but it does allow me more time for knitting other projects too!

So, my Feb 1 start sock is a design by Charlene Schurch called Welt Fantastic - it's along a chevron line of pattern - the yarn is Socks That Rock - Lightweight - Color - Rare Gems and everyone who sees it says it reminds them of Spumoni Ice Cream - it has rich milk chocolate color, along with the pink strawberry flavoring and a neat mint green thrown in for good measure. Yesterday, I swear some of the gals were stopping at Baskin Robbins on the way home. Decide for yourself: (pics do not do the color justice, however)

So, the first sock is completed and I'm almost to the heel flap on no 2. I figure I can 'stretch' these out to the 15th so I can start pair no 2 for the month - it's nice that Feb is a short month too.. yippee..

On another good note, Bree's Michigan State basketball team won again on Saturday - 14-8 they played Northwestern. Bree had 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 knockaways and 2 shots off the rim. Not bad.