7 More Days till Christmas

Ho, ho, ho! I hope Santa can find us as we're heading to New England for Christmas, then to the North Georgia Mountains for New Years Eve. Nothing like spanning the globe. I've kind of missed the Christmas Shopping, decorating and dinner planning but I guess there will always be next year.

So, to whoever reads this blog (besides me) I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a New Year that is good to you.

See you in 2006 and Knit On!

Still Rogueing Along

Libby says: "Merry Christmas"

Wow! I had a comment! So, since the comment was about Rogue, this entry will be about Rogue.

Yes, there are cables - cables everywhere! I just finished the front last night (I"m doing the cardigan) and I'm surprised the world didn't hear me holler! Even the dogs barked. I have ripped this thing out and redone it so many times I was one happy kid when it was finally done and done right.

There are cables under each arm on the sides, cables on the front sections and cables going around the hood. The sleeves have cables too. I've done cables before, but this one has kicked my butt. It's not the pattern, the pattern is great, if you follow the pattern. I decided I'd rather have a cardigan and those directions aren't so clear, but, I've done it, somehow.

I very rarely make myself sweaters, or anything to "wear" because they never fit. I did my swatch on this one and came out to the same needle size as the pattern but I tried it on this morning after doing the shoulder seams and it seems a little small. I'm hoping I can add an inch or so when I do the front button bands, if not, some lucky person smaller than me will be getting a new sweater sometime. THAT's why I never knit myself anything!

So, if you're going to do the Rogue, go for it, just have lots of sticky notes to mark your place and lots of patience! But, this is one sweater that you won't get bored with and that's why I decided to make it. I've got the pattern for Eris and will do that too, just a bigger size and I'm doing it exactly as the pattern says, no more changing things for me, it's too much work.

Enjoy! And thanks for the comment lv2knit! It's nice to get comments and mine are very few and far between.

My New Collectables

Aren't they cute? The big one is from my oldest daughter and the little one is from Canada, in Disney World. I also bought a little, wooly keychain at my local yarn shop on Thursday but he didn't get here in time to make it into the picture.

Christmas Traditions New and Old

I was reading http://zeneedle.typepad.com blog and she was talking about Christmas Traditions, so thought I'd share my memories of Christmas on my blog too.

Up until we moved to the south we had Christmas with both sides of the family. On Christmas Eve we'd head to BTB's (my new name for hubby) Mom and Dad's house for the traditional feast, tree decorating, gifts and lots of talking around their big dining room table. There are 5 kids in the family so by the time you add on all the spouses and kids over the years, it was quite a croud. They were originally from PA. so it was a learning experience for me to see how different Christmas Dinner could be (I started going there when I was 13 years old). And, while growing up, the kids always thought that Santa brought their tree on Christmas Eve. Thus, the reason we decorated it on Christmas Eve - after dinner, after the dishes, and then the mad rush to decorate because no presents till the tree was done. The kids used to get a little carried away with the tinsel, being the last thing on the tree. Thinking back on it though, I think it was their Grandpa that taught them how to throw it all over the tree, to hurry it along. He loved the gift giving part as much as the smallest child.

On Christmas Day we'd go to my Mom and Dad's for more! We always had our tree up a week before Christmas, so that part was different, and Mom is such a kid at Christmas, we usually did gifts as soon as we walked in the door and got our coats off. Years later, when my Grandparents were getting older, somehow Mom waited till after dinner, but in the years that my kids were little, we didn't wait. We'd have the big feast with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, squash (winter), turnip (my favorite), Grandma's homemade yeast rolls, lots of pies, some fancy cranberry relish my Dad makes every year (I'll take the cranberry sauce), fudge, Mom's delicious butter brickle (which I am finally old enough to have the receipe for) and sugar cookies of every shape and description. After eating all that food and doing the dishes Mom always wanted to go for a walk, which now, at this age, seems like a wise idea, but back then? We were so tired from putting toys together until late Christmas Eve and all the rushing up until Christmas Eve, BTB and I usually crashed on her couch and had a nice, long nap while she, my Grandmother and the kids went for the walk. Don't think she liked it too much, but dang, we were full and really tired!

Now we're in the south and everything is totally different. I don't want to put a frown on the holiday, but it's just not the same. Our son lives 4 1/2 hours from us, my oldest daughter and 3 grand kids are an hour from us and my parents are 6 hours from us. We all try to get together for Christmas but this year it's not going to happen. Bob's mother is sick so we decided several months ago to go back home to Rhode Island and spend Christmas with her and all his family. His Dad passed away 1 1/2 years ago and this could possibly be the last year we can celebrate the holiday with her. I'm dreading the 20 hour ride, worrying about the snow storms that might pop up while we're driving and not spending the holiday with my kids, my grandkids, my Mom and Dad and not being home! I didn't bother decorating, didn't bother even putting up the tree and haven't bought gifts for everyone yet. My mother-in-law wants no gifts exchanged so we're going up there with an empty sleigh. Kind of a sad, meloncoly time of year. After spending almost 2 weeks up there we'll head to the mountains and have New Years Eve with my parents, my Baby Girl (who will be with us anyway), our oldest daughter and her 3 little ones. We'll have Christmas with the kids sometime after we get home. Two weeks away from home on Christmas is really weird and we've only done it once before in all of our 30 years of marriage and that year we went to Disney for Christmas and never had Christmas in RI again as we ended up moving south the following August.

So, if you're all celebrating Christmas, I hope it's very Merry. And I hope you all have a much better attitude about it than I do this year.

Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, safe New Year.

Peruvian Sierra Aran

Well, I was going to show some stash enhancement but either Blogger or AOL decided otherwise. Anyway, I got my box of yarn from Elann today. It's 45 skeins of Peruvian Collection Sierra Aran in the most scrumptious shades. I got enough to make the Emelia Earhart Cardigan, the lace cardigan that is free on their website and also enough for the shawl/poncho on their website. Yummy stuff. I also got a "My first glove" pattern because, well, it was only 35 cents and the one I tried didn't work out so well. So, when blogger or AOL gets in the mood to show pictures on my blog, I'll post them.

The Builder is taking me out on a date tonight! Just the 2 of us. The Baby Girl is at an Honors Band Program at a college in the big city so it's just us tonight. She's doing so well with band, and this being her Senior year, she's having quite a ride! The director of bands at the college she's at called her band director yesterday morning and asked if Baby Girl would play her A-tude for the Clarinet Masters Class today so they could hear how it's supposed to sound! She was so excited about that, not to mention she made 2nd chair in the honors band. Also got her SAT scores last week while we were in Disney (thanks to a friend, who has a computer and checked it for her) and she raised her math score 20 points. So, hopefully her final score will be good enough for the college she is dying to go to. Keep your fingers crossed. I was going to put a picture of her on here, but I still can't get the pictures on here. We're going to that said college Sunday so we'll be there bright and early on Monday for College Day, where the high school seniors can go and check out the college. She's been going there for the past 3 summers to their band camp and knows that's the one she wants, really bad! So, I'll have lots of knitting time up and back and hopefully the college will decide she's the one they want.

Okay, speaking of knitting. I think I've finally figured out what my problem is with Rogue. I'm about to forget the whole thing because I just can't get past Chart B without a ton of mistakes. My brain just can't understand that the [ -] on a right side row is a purl and a knit on the wrong side. I've done it over so many times now I've lost track and I'm also afraid I've messed up where you bind off for the back. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it; keep going or rip it out and say forget it. One thing I enjoy more than anything in the world is my knitting, but not when it gives me a major headache and is nothing but stress! So, I'll just see what happens with the old brain if I do try it one more time. Somethings gotta give.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and hopefully sometime soon I can get the dang pictures in here!

Happy Knitting

Disney Hangover!

What a fun vacation! Every year I think my feet are going to fall off but the Builder and I have such a good time at Disney World. This year we were pretty much on our own as our Baby Girl took her friend so they did their own thing each day. It was a much more relaxing trip for us because we didn't have to rush into the park at opening (the kids always love doing that) and we could have a relaxing morning (knit a little) and then go to the park around noon and stay till they closed. We only went into Epcot and MGM this year. We were busy every single day though and put on about 8 miles a day (I took my podometer). Thanksgiving was nice and shopping afterwards at Downtown Disney was great fun! It's good to be home but going to take the rest of this week to recover from my "Disney Hangover."

Rogue, Cactus and Disney World

Here's my Rogue. I just love this sweater and can't wait till I can wear it! I'm not too good about making sweaters, 1st because they take so long and because I get so bored so fast. But, this one is different. Working in the round, doing both back and front at the same time is so quick! And, doing the cables up both sides keeps it interesting. I've just divided for the front and back, though I'm not sure why I ended up with a weird stitch on either side of the bind off. Anywho, it's coming along. Might be able to wear it by Christmas if the sleeves don't put me to sleep.

This is my Christmas Cactus, but I'm wondering if it's a Thanksgiving Cactus as it's full of buds. This is a first for me! My Mom keeps starting them for me and then slowly they die. With this one I followed her instructions to the letter and it is full of the prettiest pink buds. So, if you are a killer of Christmas/Thanksgiving/Easter Cactus like me, this is what you do. After it's thru blooming put it in a dark corner and when it gets warm enough outside (not freezing at night) put it out under a bush, or tree, forget about it, and it'll be ready to come in in the fall. Well, that's just what I did and it worked! I asked her for a peice of her white one so she's started it for me. Maybe I'll have good luck with that one too. White against that dark green is just so stunning. I can't wait till this one is in full bloom! Thanks Mom! I'll try not to kill the white one!

Off to Disney for our annual Thanksgiving vacation with Mickey. The hubby loves the place, the Baby Girl is taking a friend this year and sleeping in a tent instead of the camper and I just look forward to all the good food (we eat in Germany at Epcot) and have my spa manicure and pedicure at the Grand Floridian! Clothes are almost packed and we're just counting down the days! This is the first year in a long time my Oldest Baby Girl and her 3 little ones won't be going and my Baby Boy won't be going, but they're all going to their Grandma and Grandpa's so I'm sure they'll be well fed and well taken care of. We'll miss them, but they're all so busy I'm sure they won't even notice we're gone.

Your Birthdate: July 19

You are resilient, and no doubt your resilience has already been tested.You've had some difficult experiences in your life, but you are wise from them.Having had to grow up quickly, you tend to discount the advice of others.You tend to be a loner, having learned that the only person you can depend on is yourself. Your strength: Well developed stability and confidence Your weakness: Suspicion of others Your power color: Eggplant Your power symbol: Spade Your power month: October

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourbirthdatemeanquiz/">What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

One Quarter Century

Yesterday, 11/11/80, was my Baby Boys 25th birthday. How can he be 1/4 century old? Seems like yesterday!

Date: 11/11/80
Time: 4:48 a.m.
Weight: 8 pounds
Length: 20 inches
Name: Nicholas

25 years later

Weight: 250 pounds
Length: 6 foot 3 inches


How time does fly! He was born feet first and fast! 45 minutes from when I got to the hospital. The cord was around his neck 4 times, but he came out kickin' and a screamin'. I can remember it like it was yesterday! Now he's got his own place and lives 5 hours from his Mommy and Daddy! Wow, time flies! My Baby Boy is all grown up. Did I mention time flies?

I love you Nick!

Happy Birthday!

Startitis! or is it Finishitis?

For some reason I can't get into anything knitwise. I've started the Rogue sweater, which I love, but am already bored with it. Started the peacock feathers shawl and decided I just am not going to get along with this zephyr yarn, so ordered some Baby Alpaca from Elann in Peacock, which hopefully is a tad bit heavier than the zephyr. Today I started a scarf for Grand daughter #1 in Knitpicks sock yarn because I have a ton of sock yarn and just cannot get into making socks. So, a scarf. But, a few things I have finished. I think I'm in one of those "make something little, quick and get it done modes." I did the Bow Tie Scarf pattern (free on the web, I googled and found it) and just love it! I think I'll make another one in a thinner yarn for my Mom. DD#1 brought me back a scarf kit from a recent trip she took and I whipped that up in 2 days. It's the potatoe chip scarf done in blue cotton and then the outside edge done in one of the laddering yarns. Really cute, but I'm going to give it to her, I don't think it would look too hot on me. Also made my #2 grand daughter a headband/ear warmers and the pulse warmers out of some new yarn I found at my favorite yarn shop. It's from Laines Du Nord and called Korall Fancy. My son liked it so much he asked me to make him a hat with it, so tomorrow DH and I are going to the big city while our Baby Girl takes her 3rd SAT test! and to the yarn shop to see if she has any more.

So, since this is such a dull blog, I'll include these pictures taken at my Moms in July after she and my father took me to my favorite yarn shop in the mountains. I was supposed to put them in here when I got back but................



Have a great weekend and I sure hope you all get more knitting done than I have!

Nantucket Baskets, Parents and Kids!

Wow! What a week. My parents were here for my Baby Girls Spring Band Concert Tuesday night and Senior Night at the football game last night (we won, 40-6) and this morning they headed home. I hate it when they leave but I think we had a good week. My oldest daughter and 3 grandkids have had a few problems and I can't go into it, but I've been worried sick about them. Seems they're all safe and sound and seem content. My Baby Boy is going to start coming home on Sunday nights to work with his Dad Monday - Thursday then he'll go back to his house near Atlanta for the weekends. Me, I'm just pooped out! Worrying is such a crappy thing! I am SO looking forward to getting away at Thanksgiving. A blissful, busy week at Disney for our annual Thanksgiving trip.

Not much knitting to report, been too busy, but my Oldest Daughter and the 3 grand kids brought me home the cutest knitting kit from their trip to RI. It's the first time I've ever gotten yarn as a gift! It's one of those new potatoe chip scarves, so when it's done I'll give it to one of the granddaughters. I have the same yarn in my stash so I'll make the other granddaughter one in a different color.

Oh, the picture. That's my Dad's Nantucket Baskets that he makes. He needed a picture for the class he's going to teach at the John C Campbell Folk School (www.folkschool.com/) so we took all the ones he's made me outside and put them on a table with my round shawl I made. If anyone's interested, he also sells them! Not sure of the website for the school, but I'm sure you can google it and find it. They do a lot of folk art, crafts and they even have a class for knitting, which I'm going to try to take someday.

So, that's it from here. I'm ready to go sit, put my feet up, relax and knit!

Rome? Me?

You Belong in Rome You're a big city girl with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better? What City Do You Belong in? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Rome? I don't even like cappuccino! Didn't even know how to spell it. Well, I guess the part about big city girl with a small town heart could be about right. Living out in the middle of nowhere gets kind of old sometimes, but I've never in my life lived in a big city! Would I? Yeah, I'd like to live a little closer to civilization but not directly in the middle of a big city. To be able to run out for milk in less than an hour would be wonderful! My Baby Girl would love to live in a big city, the big city as a matter of fact; New York City, downtown Manhattan! I'll go there and visit her.

Quiet weekend here. The Baby Girl and her Daddy went on a football trip/competition and I stayed home with the puppies. It's been a long quiet weekend and I haven't accomplished a thing. Not used to spending so much time all alone! They should be home around 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning! They'll both be asleep most of the day but atleast they'll be here and my honey's snoring will keep me company. I don't expect to see either one of them too early, and the Baby Girl says she's getting up and going to church! More power to her!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Scarves

This is the beginning of my Peacock Feathers Shawl that I started last night. This is my first time using Zephyr yarn and wow, it is little but so silky soft. I ordered the pattern and yarn from Fiddlesticks and that is the nicest woman! She even e-mailed me when the yarn came in (it was backorderd cause so many of you bloggers were doing Peacock Feathers) and was really very helpful! Even long distance. So, progress reports on this as they happen. This is up to row 17 of the chart.



This scarf is one I'm doing to practice Shetland Lace patterns. It's also done in Debbie Bliss but this one is Cashmerino and so, so soft! The color is more like light butter but I couldn't get a good picture of it. This is from the Shetland Lace Workshop at Yahoo and is so much fun!

I can't find the book for this pattern to even tell you what it's called, but it's in one of the lace books. I copy the charts then put the book back in the bookcase and for the life of me can't remember which on it is, but, here it is. Lots of fun, easy pattern. It's going to be a small scarf/triangular shaped. It's done in Debbie Bliss Cathay and yes, it's red. My favorite color. I'll put up specs when I get my sh-- together and find the book.
This blog is giving me fits today and won't put the pictures where I say to put them! Hopfully it's readable. I think I finally figure out this blogging thing and something else messes me up.

The poor husband is getting grilled cheese and soup for supper because I still have to eat soft food, but I did make him an apple pie for dessert, so he should be happy! Cherry's his favorite but I like apple, I don't like cherry.

Happy Knitting!

Not one but TWO!

Here's my Morning Glories, they climbed up the Martin house pole. They are so pretty. I'll post knitting content pictures tomorrow.

That's it for me today. Another pain pill and I'm off to snuggle with the pug. Had 2 teeth extracted today instead of just one. One on top, one on the bottom, so I'm having a pitty party. Dang! It hurts!

Happy Knitting

Pacific Northwest Shawl

This is the Pacific Northwest Shawl in all its glory. It seemed to take forever, but really only took about a month. I like the color I used, which wasn't something I would have picked, but it worked. I think this will get a lot of use since it's mostly wool, not heavy at all and not a real expensive yarn. And, thanks to my Baby Girl for holding it up for me! Do I list the specs? Okay, gotta go dig it all up.

Pattern: Pacific Northwest Shawl from Fiber Trends
Yarn: Phildar Preface (I guess that's the name but not sure) 70% Wool, 30% nylon.
Needles: Size 6 addi turbo circular
Enjoyed working on it and loved doing the edging. Now someone needs to make a pattern for an Atlantic Northeast or Southeast shawl, complete with star fish, quohoags and seaweed.

Me? Mohair?

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well, okay, but mohair makes my nose itch, my eyes water and tickles my face. But, I'll take it.

Just a few more shells on my shawl so hopefully will finish it tonight, then I have to do the I-cord edging, which I guess will take me another week. Jeesh, seems it's never going to end.

Too busy watching Rita to say much, but for those in her path, please stay safe and EVACUATE!

Old, Loved and Well Used

I have been looking everywhere for a size 13 steel crochet hook to try the beaded knitting method done by http://fluffyknitterdeb.blogspot.com/and unless I ordered them online, couldn't find them. Well, I remembered today that my Mom had given me a big basket full of knitting needles, hooks, etc that were my Grandmothers and decided it was time to go thru it and this is what I found! I have sizes, in steel crochet hooks, from 1 - 13! I also have several that are really, really old, there isn't even a marking on them from the company that made them. Some were a quarter, some 35 cents. My Great Grandmother, Nannie, made doily's, crochet edgings for pillowcases (I still have mine she made for our wedding that have wedding bells along the edging) and even full size bedspreads - all with crochet thread and these little tiny hooks. Wow! I was so thrilled to see them that I got tears in my eyes. My Great Grandmother was a terrific crocheter and my Grandmother was a terrific knitter. I learned from both. Now I can use their hooks and needles. I also found tons of stitch holders and bunches of the yarn bobbins for doing color work, needle sizers, scissors - what a wonderful basket full of knitting supplies! Grandma is in a nursing home now and doesn't knit anymore but I'm am so happy to have some of her knitting things. She celebrated her 90th birthday this past August. My Great Grandmother would have been well over 100 by now but until her death at age 83 she was crocheting. Two great ladies and very influential in my love of all things fiber!

12 more repeats on my Pacific Northwest Shawl edging and then it's blocking time. Maybe pictures next week if I ever get thru these 12 repeats!

Happy Knitting to you all and may you find some nice old, loved, well used needles or hooks to give you inspiration!

Here's the Pug. No, she's not pouting, or sleeping, she was looking thru the cracks of the decking! Tried putting this in above but it didn't want to I guess.

Thank You DJ!

How do you like my "redesigned blog?" I can't believe how much better it looks. DJ, from the EZasPi Yahoo group (check out my sidebar, I have my groups on there!) offered to help me and did she ever! Doesn't it look great? Thanks again DJ! Awesome!

Stash Enhancement!


This is Shimmer and Shadow from Knitpicks (top photo) and the box full at the bottom is Palette - 100% Peruvian Wool, also from Knitpicks. Wow! Wish the picture had come out better, but this actually takes my breath away every time I open the box. I think I'm going to order another box, to use, and just save this one for looking at. It's the colors of the color wheel plus neautrals. Isn't it something? Hey, if you don't have a box, order one, it's a GREAT price for one of each color.

I'm still plugging along on the border of my Pacific Northwest Shawl. I'm loving it, but am so ready to go on to my Peacock Shawl that I'm dragging my feet. And, having to do 28 shells along the edge is a little, um, boring! As for the Peacock shawl, I got the pattern and yarn yesterday plus 2 scarf patterns and ruby and copper zephir for them. I started one of the scarves just to see how I manage with that little itty bitty yarn but doing an oblong object, not a provisional cast on. Hey, not bad, I'm on row 8 or 9 already but, it's still some itty bitty yarn!

Going to the big Louisianna/Monroe vs. Georgia Bulldogs game tomorrow! The hubby and baby girl are so excited! She had a special invitation from the Director of Music. We get lunch, the football game, she gets a private lesson with a music professor and then the football game. After the football game we get to watch the Post Game performance of the Red Coats. What really sucks - we have to leave home at 3:30 A.M.! Dang, at that hour I can't even knit on the way - it's still dark isn't it? What time does the sun come up? Well, it'll be a fun day and we're looking forward to it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Birthdays Galore!

My granddaughter Lyssa turned 8 years old on Sept 4th. AND, her mother, my oldest daughter, turned 28 on the 3rd. Jeesh, time sure flies. Happy Birthday to you two.
We had a party for them both, and yes, they both got a cake but evidently I can't do two things at once, ie; hold a cake and take a picture! I wouldn't let my daughters birthday go by without her favorite spice cake with peanut butter frosting. YUCK! She gets that from her father. Lyssa's cake is more my speed - chocolate with white (purple) frosting. She's like her Maamaa.

I've been working like crazy on my Pacific Northwest Shawl and am now doing the edging. That'll probably take me as long as the shawl did. Doing the same thing 28 times is a little boring, but it's getting there. I should have my Peacock Feathers pattern and yarn by this weekend and I want so bad to get his one done so I can get started right away on that one. It is so pretty. Then I ordered MORE lace yarn from Elann. Someone on the Seasons of Lace group announced a sale on their Baby Silk yarn and I bought enough for a shawl and 2 scarves. I also will be getting 2 scarf patterns and yarn from Fiddlestickes with my Peacock Feathers Shawl. I wonder if a knitter ever lives long enough to make everything they want to? Don't think this one will! :o)

So, still no pictures of my box of yarn from Knit Picks or my Elann purchases but I've been spending every spare minute on this shawl and haven't wanted to take the time to get all that out for pictures. I will leave you with this picture though, which I think is beautiful, not something I see here everyday. Amazing colors!



Happy Knitting

I'm Here!

I can't believe how time flies! I was going to put in pictures of all my latest creations a week ago and still haven't. Well, can't today either cause the camera is packed and ready to go on a weekend of nothing but sunshine (I hope) and knitting. I'll post pictures when I get back. Until then, have a great weekend and stay out of Ophilia's way! She better not rain on my knitting parade.

Here's something to keep you smiling. It's my adorable pug, Liberty.

What am I missing?

I have read and reread how to do this blogging thing and I just can't get the sidebar the way I want it! Okay, I'm great with the computer, can do just about anything on it you'd need, but this part stumps me every time. I tried to put a cute little thingy on the sidebar and it moved my whole sidebar down to the bottom of the page. Why can't blogger write a step by step instructional page for those of us who aren't computer whizzes and who don't have anyone close enough to walk us threw it? I have the most boring looking blog out there and I want to pretty it up! Guess I'll just go back and read some more and see if it clicks in yet.



My newest Lace project during my "Summer of Lace." This is soooo soft! It's the Lace Scarf pattern in Nancy Wiseman's book Shawls, Stoles and Scarves and was a really fun knit. I started it on August 22nd and finished it yesterday, August 28th. I love this yarn, as does everyone who has used it. It's Cathay by Debbie Bliss in color #12009 - almost the exact color of my Crape Myrtle flowers in bloom. Wish you could feel this scarf, it's so silky soft.



This is my Branching Out scarf done in Mountain Colors yarn. Love this yarn too, and love this scarf. It's so soft, light as a feather and just perfect for the chilly football games on Friday nights. It was fast, fun and an easy knit. Might just keep both of these scarves for myself.


That's the latest from here. Still working on the Kiri shawl but the Pacific Northwest shawl is calling my name now that I found some yarn that's not as dental flossy as the Alpaca Cloud I tried doing it on. I am going to try to wait till Kiri is done, but by then my Peacock feathers shawl pattern and yarn should be here so then I'll want to start that one. So many choices! I also just got my box of Knitpicks new yarn, one of each color (can't remember the name) and I just want to keep all those beautiful colors in the box so I can drool over them! Wow, what a great deal - all 30 colors, one of each, for 44.00! Also got some lace weight (not sure why, can't figure out how to knit with that stuff yet), the Lantern Moon bag and a set of row counters. Will try to remember to take a picture for the next blog since this shawl knitting is kind of slow, so might not have any knitting content for awhile.

For all you in Katrina's path, stay safe!

Summer of Lace knitting

I made a scarf last week from Wildfibers yarn. It is so soft! And, there's enough in one hank to make 2 scarves. I took pictures, but they're really blurry so I'll try to take another one later today when I have a model. I'm also working on another lace scarf that is worked one side at a time - first time I've tried that and I love it! It's in the Nancy Wiseman book of Scarves, Shawls and Stoles. I'm doing it in a light mauve Cathay Yarn from Debbie Bliss. Oh, it is so soft. I think I might keep it for myself, the other one too.

So, until I get some good pictures, that's it for today. Lots going on around here so I've been busy. I have to try to get better at this blogging, alteast a few times a week. Boring blog, I know, but it's for keeping my work in order and recorded, so for that, I'm doing okay.

STAY OFF THE ROADS! My Baby Girl got her drivers license last week!

Nicky Esptein Class

What an awesome woman this is! I had so much fun and learned alot from her class. I also bought her new book, Knitting Over the Edge. She signed it for me and signed my copy of Knitting on the Edge and Knits for Barbie. I'm so glad I signed up for the class (my very first knitting class ever!) and was thrilled to meet her. She is such an easy person to talk to and visit with, like you could invite her to your house for supper and she might just say "yes." Great time I had.

I just found out that my LYS is going to start a web site. I still can't access it but I'll keep trying and will include the web address when I find it. Great place, fun, helpful and I'll always remember that's where I took my first ever knitting class.

Lots to Tell!

This is Toby, aka Jug Head, Stupid Cat and anything else that comes to mind. This is my Mom's cat (well, really, my fathers) and he's a trip! And eat? All this cat does is eat and stalk birds (for which he gets called a really bad name that I won't mention on here).

This is one of my Mom's sunflowers. She didn't plant them, the birds did. They are all over the place and so pretty. While I was out knitting on her porch one morning I watched a squirrel come and pull the top right off of this sunflower, run across her driveway to the neighbors yard, up their tree and leave the head of the sunflower in the crook of their tree! It was SO FUNNY (my father didn't think so, it was the biggest sunflower of them all) and I have a picture of the squirrel running with it in his mouth. Check this out!

More later, but wanted to get these pictures of my trip to the mountains in here before I forgot. Had a blast, spend bookoo's at the yarn shop up there and will show pictures soon.

Happy Knitting.

12 Days of no Blogging? Not Good!

Well, it's been a very crazy 12 days, believe me! First, we had school shopping. Took the 3 grandkids first - what a trip they are shopping with! Then of course, had to take my own baby girl, their Auntie (for you southerners out there, that's NOT prounounced like an ant, we're from New England remember) and got her school stuff. Why is it I can buy several outfits, shoes, socks, undies and backbacks and school supplies for 3 little ones and it doesn't cost near what it costs to buy all that same stuff for one 17 year old? Man, she's a big spender! Anyway, they're all properly dressed for back to school and started on Monday the 8th, except the oldest granddaughter, she started Friday the 5th. The reason? Her little brother and sister were supposed to start that day too but he was given the wrong medicine by the pharmacy and ended up in the hospital from the 5th until the 7th from an overdose! If nothing else becomes of this blog, READ YOUR PRESCRIPTION LABELS CAREFULLY! If in doubt, DON'T TAKE IT! My poor daughter! She's been thru the ringer and back again, but it was the pharmacists fault, not hers, and to make a long story short, she has a lawyer. Whew!

So, that's why I haven't blogged in 12 days. My laptop finally came back sometime during all that and I didn't even have time to play with it. But, we're back in action and I have some pictures to share.


This is my feather and fan shawl from the Gathering of Lace book. I didn't do all the repeats, I got really sick of those 3 knitted rows, but it's plenty big enough. Here's one of my little granddaughter modeling it for me (she loves to be my model).



It is a beautiful shawl and was fun doing, until I had enough of the thing, and then it was big enough anyway. I did it in some KPPPM that I bought a few years ago to make the Alligator shawl. That was horrible trying to get thru so my hubby and I undid what I had done and I used the yarn for this. Kind of a practice thing, if you're wondering why all the different colors. It looks kinda neat though, doncha think?

I also took the class with Nicky Epstein, who is TOTALLY AWESOME and I bought her new book, Knitting Over the Edge. I took pictures, but will blog about that tomorrow cause I'm on the PC and I want to put those pictures (still in my camera) on my laptop. So, if you want to see Nicky modeling some cute, adorable hats, stay tuned for tomorrows update.

I've knit a few other things since the Feather and Fan shawl and will do those tomorrow too. I've been busy, in more than just knitting!!!!

Oh, and the "Baby Girl" I blogged about awhile ago, driving the red Dodge - welp, she's going for her drivers license tomorrow and Mom's a wreck! Dad's taking her if I can get her appt changed to the morning, if not, I'll be sitting out there growing more grey hair watching her take the driving test. Oh golly! I'm not sure I'm ready for this.

Happy Knitting.

Pictureless Blogging Again!

The laptop is still at Dell and no word yet when I'll have it back. Their repair guy replaced everything in it except the modem and the monitor and still it didn't work so Dell said send it back to them so they could go over it. So, still no pictures!

Things around here are pretty glum. My DMIL was given 6-9 months after fighting with cancer so we're all sad. She's a wonderful woman and I love her dearly and this is just so hard on her oldest son, my hubby. Anywho.........

Still working on the feather and fan shawl but I think I'm going to call it quits after the next pattern row. I'm sick of it and I really don't like the colors, so this will be the end of it. I have so much lace yarn that I want to use for other projects and hey, it's my life, I can quit if I want, right?

So, another boring post with no pictures. Maybe by next week I'll be back in business.

ta-ta for now.

Still no Laptop - how sad!

Dell is sending someone to pick it up on Monday, so that means I won't have it back until atleast Friday or the following Monday. Guess I'll have to put the picture program in this computer, though I hate too. I have so many pictures on this computer now it's going to start spitting them out at me!

Took my 3 grandkids school shopping yesterday and boy! 3 kids can shop! We bought jeans, shirts, underware, socks, shoes and bookbags! They are so funny shopping, when they get tired of it and you ask if they like this they say "yeah, just get it." We had fun, spend 12 hours on our feet and then my oldest granddaughter and I went to my Baby Girls band camp at the school to watch the Womanless Beautyless Padgent. Talk about hilarious! Never saw such "adorable" guys in my life. Got lots of pictures, but..........

So, today oldest granddaughter and I are going to be crafty. She got a new binder for school we're going to decorate and a new tote bag for her baby doll stuff we're going to paint. So, I'm off to play.

Knitting? Well, still working on my lace shawl and my clapotis. They're slow, there's over 800 stitches on the shawl now and 3 rows are plain knit, so it's taking awhile. Hope to finish it in the next week or so. Started a Harry Potter scarf for my Baby Girl this morning, but that's my "I don't want to think" knitting.

Have a great summer - or, what's left of it. Mine ends a week from Monday and it was TOO DAMN SHORT!

Happy Birthday to Me!

It was actually yesterday, but I was so busy fighting traffic I didn't have a chance to blog. I also went yarn shopping and bought myself some birthday presents. I bought LOTS of yarn at my favorite LYS. Still no laptop so no pictures (how boring is a blog with no pictures?)

My sweetheart of a husband bought me something I never thought he'd spend the money on! I've wanted a Rachel Ray knife since I started watching her and that's what I got! My baby girl got me a fancy new wisk (yeah, I know, but I just got my new kitchen all done) and my oldest baby girl and her 3 little ones made me the cutest cards! They're more like pictures and I'll save them forever. Haven't heard from my baby boy yet, but the baby girl spends so much time on the phone he wouldn't have gotten thru anyway! He'll remember sometime or other. My parents gave me the cutest little green wagon for my new "almost done" sunroom, which I put a plant in. So, it was a good birthday, I just wish they'd stop coming so fast!

So, now I'm off to get things ready for 20+ kids that my baby girl is bringing home with her tonight after Leadership Camp. All 20+ are band officers. Sounds like my usually quiet neighborhood might get a little noisy tonight!

Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating on July 19th! And, to all the rest of you July babies out there.

I'm Home!

Our trip to the mountains was great! I woke up every morning at 7 a.m. and sat on my Mom's porch and worked on Clapotis until around 9, then we'd go touring for the day and then around 5:30 I was back on the porch knitting away - in a rocking chair! She has the best place in the world for knitting! There's not the humidity in the mountains that we have down here in the southern part of the state. I was in heaven!

No pictures to show cause my laptop needs a doctor. It runs but there's nothing on the screen - it's just black. So, tomorrow morning I get to call Dell and try to get the thing fixed. I took lots of pictures, but I don't put them on this computer, so updates of my stash enhancement and my clapotis when it's all better.

Enjoy your week and I'll be back tomorrow.

She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain

Remember that song? Well, my Baby Girl and I are heading to the mountains tomorrow morning to visit and "bond" with her grandparents, my parents, for 5 wonderful days. No humidity up there, maybe some rain but in the 60's when you wake up in the morning, not in the 80's like down here. AND, I get to go to one of my favorite yarn shops while there. It's called Magical Threads and Bears Quilt and Yarn shop. So, quilt stuff for my Mom to peruse and lots of yarn stuff for me. Be ready for a stash enhancement picture when I return.

To all in Dennis' path, stay safe. See you in a week.

Wow! I'm Taking A Class!!!!!

With NICKY EPSTEIN! While shopping at my LYS (which is actually not local, takes me about an hour to get there) the girl who owns it told me that Nicky Epstein was coming to give a class in August. Well, you have to know, I live out in the middle of nowhere and have to drive atleast a 1/2 hour to get anywhere and NEVER meet anyone else who knits so when she told me this I jumped! I signed up on the spot and get to take a class with NICKY EPSTEIN! She's going to show us some of her techniques in her Knitting on the Edge book. I have to remember to take mine to have her sign. How cool is that? So, don't ask me to do anything on the 13th of August cause I'll be in the big city knitting with NICKY EPSTEIN! YAHOO

Stash Enhancement

I went shopping yesterday and got some yarn for my clapotis and of course, you can't buy just what you're shopping for. So, here's what I got.

The green yarn is ColaradoYarns Knitaly Print. I got 4 skeins of it. It's 100% Virgin Wool and the color is really pretty. The light green and dark green are Merino Extra from Valeria Roma and are 50% wool and 50% acrylic. I thought they'd make a beautiful scarf done in 2 color knitting. I also bought a short set of size 9 needles (Clover)just to have. The tin box was marked down for $1.00 at Michaels so I got it to keep my double pointed needles in that were my Grandmothers. Some of them don't have sleeves to go in and I need to keep them all in one place. And, my little Wooly measuring tape.

The Bass Pro Worm bag is for my circular needles. They fit and it's small, so easy to take along if I need to. I had bought a bigger one several months ago but I found it too big and too heavy (even empty) to take anywhere. So, this is my new little one. It's great!

My Feather and Fan Shawl Update

When I want to be doing something a little more interesting, I work on this


It's growing! It's getting boring now though because I end up knitting 3 rows, then a pattern row, but it's good TV watching knitting.

A Child Learning

This is my granddaughter, Lexie. She is learning to crochet. Even though it's a knitting blog, I do crochet too. She got my big fat crochet hook and some yarn and away she went. She's just doing a chain stitch here, but next time she's here I'll teach her to single crochet. Her little sister is the one that wants to learn to knit, and I can't wait to teach her. She can sit for hours and just watch me knit and I think she's going to be the one that picks it up and runs with it. But, we'll see. Maybe I'll end up with one that loves to crochet and one that loves to knit. Their little brother can't sit still yet, but you never know, some day he might ask me to teach him too. Crochet away Lexie!

A Picture?

Well, that only took 2 days! Here is the beginnings of my Feather and Fan Shawl. I know I was doing it right, cause I did the others below, but this blogging thing is going to drive me crazy! Wish I could figure out how to change and add stuff to the blog, but I've tried and have gotten nowhere.

Happy Knitting, and have a great "Summer of Lace"

Summer of Lace

This is the beginning of my Feather and Fan Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. This is Koigu KPPPM and the colors are exactly what you'd find in a basket of blueberries! It took over a dozen tries to get the 8 little stitches cast on with double pointed needles but once that was figured out it was an easy knit - I'm into my second ball of yarn already and I just started it yesterday. Didn't do much else on the 4th of July but work on it. I have to find someone that sells this yarn in this color - I only have 2 skeins. I have 10 skeins of Koigu in colors all related to this one that I bought to make the Alligator shawl but that was so boring I tore it out. Thought I might try the Feather and Fan shawl with the graduated colors but after working with this blue(berry) I think I want to do it all in this colorway. It's so pretty!

Pattern: Feather and Fan Shawl
Source: A Gathering of Lace
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM - Blue varigated
Needles: Size 5 Circular - started w/size 5 double points
Started: July 2, 2005 (includes the dozen times I wripped it out)

NOTE! I've tried a dozen times to get this picture in here and Blogger just won't do it, so, I'll try again tomorrow. Jeesh, can't anything be easy!!!!!!!!!!

I Went Shopping!

This is my newest knitting bag. I found the cutest little shop near where I get my hair done and she sells bags! This is the 3rd one I've bought and I'm sure it won't be my last. The best thing, it has several pockets on the inside for all my knitting stuff and it's big enough to hold a sweater in progress. I love the colors and I love the bag.

She's 2!

And here she is all grown up. She turned 2 today. Just like a kid too, we're going thru the "terrible two's." She has just started to get into my knitting but I think it's more punishment for not sitting in the chair in the morning for my hour of knitting lately. She likes that knitting time so she can lay on the arm of the chair and have a nap! But, she's a pug, you gotta love her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUG!

Happy Birthday America! Happy Birthday Liberty!

This is what Liberty (Libby) looked like the day we brought her home. She was so tiny!