I'm Throwing in the Towel!

First, a sky picture for Sandy. By the time I ran in for the camera it had moved by so much you couldn't see the hole as clear as it was when I first saw it. I could actually look right thru it and see the blue sky on the other side. Cool, huh?

Remember this shell? I'm putting it away till sometime in the future when I can deal with it. I had one of those nights when the brain thinks it's time to get up at 3:15 a.m. and decided it was a good time to knit, since it was just st. st. I'm at the point where I'm casting off for the armholes and neck on the front and realized I hadn't done it right yesterday while working on it. I decided to take it off the needles and rip back to the beginning of the armholes and when I took it off the needles I was so surprised to see how HUGE it was! Like, maybe 2 sizes too big. I don't know why I can get gauge when I swatch and then evidently my gauge loosens up tremendously when I'm knitting away on something. I don't seem to be able to make a fitted garment, like sweaters, that fit. So, I've decided for awhile I'm just going to knit things that don't matter; like shawls, scarves, stoles, maybe some socks. I'm just tired of putting in all this work and the dang things never fit. And I loved this shell, and the color, but I'm throwing in the towel on this one and probably Cece too. I'm to the sleeves on that but I'm just not ready for 2 disappointments in one day, so, they're going to the UFO pile in my yarn closet.

So, what have I been working on since 4 a.m.? My Leda's Dream stole. It's relaxing and so far, easy knitting. I copied the charts this morning (again) so that I could cut them up and try getting them on one page. There's 3 charts I'm working from and having to shift the papers around is too much trouble. So far it's working out good and I don't care what the gauge is, it's a stole (but, I did do a gauge swatch and although it isn't like the pattern because I'm not using lace weight yarn, I like the looks of the lace).

Maybe some of my moodiness is because we've had some really sad news from New England. My mother-in-law, who has also been a very good friend, is not doing well and we're just waiting for the word to head North. My father-in-law passed away almost 2 years ago (in August) and now I have to watch BTB go thru loosing another parent and it's rough. So, we get up at 3:15 a.m. and look at each other and wonder if "today's the day" and hope to God it isn't, not yet, we're just not ready. So, for all of you out there that really like your mother-in-laws, call them today, or hug them, or somehow let them know that you love them. I wish I was close enough to mine (in miles) to do just that.

Okay, enough pitty party for today, I'm going to go work on my Leda's Dream.

Happy Knitting

Amazing Lace Race

The Amazing Lace Race

Peruvian Collection Baby Cashmere

Lantern Moon size 7 needles

The knitter, Scrappy Knitter

We're ready for the start line and looking forward to having a nice, warm stole to keep warm with this winter in "This Old House."

I wasn't sure if the fingering weight yarn on size 7's would work, so did a little of the pattern and think it'll be just right. I wanted something a little more substantial than lace weight, I tend to be very cold in this house in the winter.

Let the race begin and I'll see you all at the finish line.

Knit on!

Life is Good!

I'm back! Wow, what a busy couple of weeks I've had. In order:

1. Watched my youngest and oldest grandkids for 8 days
2. Baby Girls Senior/Awards Night
3. Graduation and a house full of company
4. Graduation party and a yard full of company

My Granddaughter is doing fine and they've changed some meds and added a new one so she's on the right road. It was a long 8 days being cooped up in a hospital, but the other 2 and I made out great. Oh, and their Mom enjoyed 8 days in a king size bed between running across the street to the hospital to spend time with the middle grandchild. She could only visit from 11a.m. till 8p.m. so got some much needed rest every night/morning.

I ran back and forth from their home an hour away to my house, to clean and get ready for the graduation and party the next day. We made it, the party was great, everyone seemed to have a good time and the last guests left at 10:30. I figure that's a good indication that it went well since they all arrived around 3!

The Baby Girl is now officially out of high school and cannot wait for college to begin in July. She starts early and has to move in early because she's in the marching band. She got her diploma, graduated with honors and got the music seal and the college prep seal on her diploma. That's what she's been striving for these past 4 years and she did it! She wore a pink cord which is for being in band for 4 years and keeping up her A average in all classes and she also graduated with a gold cord and gold tassel for graduating with honors. She will go to college with a full scholarship, which will last all threw college as long as she maintains the A average.

Me, I'm still knitting when I find the time. Actually I got quite a bit done while staying with the grandkids, but didn't finish anything like I'd hoped. I've only just picked it up again after about a week of no knitting at all. Sometimes life just gets in the way. I haven't even used my May shopping for yarn day yet, but I'm hoping to order a few things and go to my LYS next week sometime when I go to the island to have my oil changed. Even my car is feeling neglected!

I've caught up on everyone's blogs and my e-mail, so now I'm going to spend the rest of this day in my jammies, working on my CeCe sweater, which I hope will be done really soon!

Here's some pictures to keep it all less boring.
CeCe

Libby, Morris and Maggie enjoying the sunny deck with Mom

A flower, my favorite color, in a dish garden on our deck

Happy Knitting.

Friends, Prom, Awards, Music

Now that I have practiced putting in links on my blog, I would like to say hi and thanks to some great blogging friends that have left me comments. It's taken awhile to figure this all out, but I think I've got it now. First, Catherine, who was kind enough to tell her friend Shelley about my blog and that I was "wineing" cause I never got any comments and thanks too, to Mary Ann,for stopping by. Thanks guys, you make my day every time I have a comment! Another commenter is Rebekah, who also is hostessing the Yarn Focus Challenge that I joined. She has the cutest dog, Abner, that will let her do just about anything! So, thank you all for your comments. I think there's a few more out there too but now that I have it all together (I think), I'll try to get back to you when you leave the comments. It's just hard getting all this straight, plus trying to get some knitting done and maybe some housework once in awhile. When I'm not so good at something (blogging)and can't do it just right, I tend not to want to mess with it. I'm working on it, but there's a lot to learn!

Okay, next up is the Baby Girl. Are you tired of hearing about her yet? Sorry, but I have bragging rights, don't ya know. Tuesday was Awards night for band, complete with a banquet. Well, the Baby Girl came away with the top award given to a graduating Sr.

"Since its inauguration in 1954, thousands of U.S. high schools have presented the John Philip Sousa Band Award to their most outstanding band student. The award recognizes those young musicians displaying superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, loyalty, cooperation, and other qualities of conduct which school instrumental music programs strive to impart. The Sousa award is the top nationwide prize in the school band field, both in prestige and appearance. It promotes the entire band by encouraging musicians to greater achievement and enthusiasm while providing an inspiring stimulus for potential instrumentalists. The handsome award reflects credit on both the band and the band director.

She was one happy kid! She also got the Concerto Competition Award; Master Musician Award; and a few recognitions for participating in different things thru the years. She will also be wearing a PINK cord on graduation day for participating in music and mantaining high grades as well as a GOLD cord for graduating with honors at graduation. She makes us proud!

Last night was prom night and I was a wreck. We haven't let her drive to the city before but she took a date who doesn't drive yet and insisted she didn't need us to drive her (can't blame her, but I was still a wreck). They had a blast and she was home 1 minute after her curfew! Whatta girl. Oh, pictures, you want to see pictures. Okay, here they are, the happy prom couple;

I didn't do this thinking of putting it on my blog, I just thought it was neat when they were admiring themselves in the door window. That's my neighbors red roof you see, and, um, the child didn't have her stole on too good, but, you can atleast see her dress. They were so cute!

She went to the big city (well, the biggest one we have around here) on Friday night and played with the college ochestra on the river. Her Band Director, assistant director and the middle school director went as well as the Band Booster President and his wife, just to hear our Baby Girl play. Not even graduated high school and she has a following already! Today at her church they had a surprise graduation party for her, but she's not home yet so I haven't heard all the details. She has had a busy, busy week! This next week is her last one before graduation practice starts. Did I mention she makes us proud?

So, how do we stay grounded? Did I mention I have 3 grandchildren? THEY keep us grounded. My middle granddaughter has to go into the hospital on Monday for some tests and will be there for atleast 5 days, with her mom, my oldest daughter. So, I get to go up and stay with the other 2. It's going to be a little crazy around here and I won't have access to my computer, so this will probably be the last post for awhile. I'm going to stay with the kids at their house at night, drive them to school each morning and then drive to my house, an hour away, so I can start getting the house presentable for the graduation party, then drive back to get them at school and back to their house for the night. So, by next Friday night (the Baby Girls Dinner Theatre Show) I'll be about pooped! But, with no computer access I plan to get alot done on my CeCe sweater, my green shell and maybe even my socks. So, keep that little one in your thoughts and hope they find the problem and she comes home all safe and sound. And, needless to say, her Mom (and grandmother, and great grandmother) is a nervous wreck.

I'm off to water some very thirsty flowers then I might knit awhile and then I'm taking a nice, long nap!

Have a great week and hopefully I'll post again in a week or so - complete with knitting pictures.

Busy, Busy, Beaver!

I have been a busy beaver the past few days! Want to know what I've been doing?

This is where I do most of my knitting and computing. It's my new sunroom, complete with wicker glass topped table with 4 chairs. There's a wicker rocking chair and a chaise lounge in the room too, but not in this picture. This picture shows what I've been working on the past week. On the right of the computer are the invitations to the Baby Girls graduation, along with the invitation list, graduation party invitations, the address book, phone, my water to quench my thirst cause I seem to get lost in it all and forget the time. See the pink and white bag on the chair? That's my sock knitting bag with half a sock in it. Behind the laptop is my little TV that BTB got me just for this room. I have to keep up with the news! And, to the right of the computer is my knitting. The pink is my CeCe sweater which I managed to get several inches done on this weekend. The green is the back of my green shell. The bottle is handcream my friend gave me when I went up to visit her the weekend I stayed with my Baby Boy (it smells SO good - just like cinnabons!) and then my little basket full of my knitting paraphenalia. I have 5 windows opposite this table, a 15 pane door and then on the end are 2 oval windows and another door, so this room is bright and sunny and always cheerful! If you're not cheerful, do not come in my sunroom!!!!


Remember a picture similar to this a week or so ago? This is the Baby Girl practicing for her concerto. Well, last night was the big night. Wow! She was on stage for 12 minutes playing Concertino for B Clarinet and I know I'm her mother but dang, that child is awesome! I wish I could include a sound bite in here so you can hear it. She ROCKS!




I have about 4 inches of the front of my green shell done and hope to have the lace pattern done today, then it's all st. st. to the end. That'll go quick since I have more time to not think about what I'm knitting with all the stuff going on around here. Thursday is the Band Banquet, Friday the Baby Girl is playing with her chosen college (they're actually paying her to fill in the base clarinet spot) in the big city and Saturday is prom. More tears for this soon to be "empty nester" to shed. Next week is on to washing windows, mopping and waxing floors (I have all heart pine floors and they need some shine!) and getting rid of some cobwebs here and there. I love having company and love entertaining, but dang I HATE housework! And I really need to go shopping and find something to wear to the graduation, there's food to buy, decorations to buy, and a car that needs an oil change really bad! Maybe I'll manage to get it all done. Ya think?

Happy Knitting!