#130 post

This is the 130th post since I began and the 31st of January. This must be good luck - I'll have to buy a lottery ticket.

I'm on the hunt for a cute valentine idea for Joshua. He wants to make valentines for everyone in his pre-school class. I want a heart punch or heart shaped paper that he can glue onto something. I have lots of heart stamps and ink so we'll be using that also. I'm on my way to Michaels and Archivers for ideas.

I'm back again. Found some cute stuff at Michael's. Picked up some foam heart shapes - different colors and sizes, some sparkle glue and paper.

The grandchildren were so excited. Josh loved the sparkle glue the best - they stamped and glued for a half hour - then he was done. Ellie woke up and was not quite into it but this morning they all woke up at 6:40 AM ready to make Valentines! There mother was so please. I'm sure in her wildest dreams as a young teen did she ever imagine being up at 6:40 AM making valentines. My how things change. Soooo good for a Mother's heart.

WIP
I finished the vest from Fleece artist and will get a photo up here as soon as I get home this evening. Well here it is. It was a little short so I added some length to the bottom with left over yarn. What do you think? I do think it is an improvement. I haven't blocked it yet.

I started the sock and found a great pattern from Moutain Colors called "Montana Wheat Socks". I think it will work with this yarn. Remember this yarn from "Yarn Ahoy" on Etsy? Well this is what it looks like knit up. I thought it might be a jacquard pattern but when it wasn't I thought it needed something so I'm knitting the Montana Wheat Sock pattern.

I also started the AFGHAN from Collinette that my sister gave me a couple years ago hoping I would knit it for her. It will be gorgeous and it's a fun knit. I believe the color is "MISTY MORNING". This is it laying on the carpet.

This is it on needles. This will be quite the project, I'm not sure I can take it along because you keep changing yarns and it might be difficult to carry along. May have to be the couch project.

Going to Bungee today. Excited to see everybody and see what they are working on. Happy knitting - it's snowing a little, excellent day to knit and have some hot cocoa at Betsys.

Love those sunsets

I love when the sunsets in the evening! I have always loved this time of day. It just calms me down and in the winter it makes me want to cozy up and read a good book or watch an old movie with a glass of wine. In the spring, summer or fall, I only think of "Wine or Marguretta time.!" sitting on my front porch.

This was taken outside my back door a few days ago. Beautiful day and a lovely sunset to boot.

I have been busy. I finally finished this vest from Fleece Artist. I love their yarn. It is a wool/silk blend but the pattern is not quite what I had in mind. It looks great on her (in the photo)and on my friend Lora (who finished hers first) but it's not quite long enough for me. So I picked up stitches along the edge (because I had yarn left over) and I'm going to try to lengthen it by knitting around the bottom. If it works I'll get a photo up here.

Meanwhile I had find my swift and ballwinder to start another project with the new sock yarn I got last week. Some thoughtful person put this extra table next to my stove - It's a piece of counter that sets up with a piece of wood underneath the counter. It works perfect for my winding station. I started the socks but I don't think they will be a jacquard pattern so now the dilema is - what pattern should I put on the sock.? I've been looking through all my patterns and have not come up with the exact one yet. Will keep you posted.

I have had this awful cold crud for the last couple days. It is the worst I have had in a long time. Boy I hate having a cold. I stayed home all day saturday and read a book called "Innocent" by David Hosp. It was a thriller. I could sit as long as I could breathe and then I'd have to get up and get another lozenge. I cannot take any cold medicines, they make it worse.

Saturday, much better, but still running a fever so I cleaned the house, made a loaf of bread in the bread maker (anyone have any suggestions on how to get these loafs to be a little denser? They are so airy there is no taste to them or substance.) I also made cookies for Dan to take back to the dorm. He stopped in to get his new insurance card for his new Audi. What a lucky kid! So, I solicited his help to get salt for the water softener as it was almost out. Good for a couple months, I hope.

Then I made a favorite chicken dinner. It's a sweet/sour chicken using chicken breasts and adding a sauce made up of:

1 package of onion soup mix

1 bottle of russian salad dressing

1 small bottle of Orange marmalade

Pour this over the chicken and bake for an hour. Serve with rice and pineapple chunks. It's a great winter dinner.

Finished Jenna's scarf out of the Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky (white). I think she'll like it. Then I cast on the edge to the vest and finally fell asleep! Enjoy this warmth for a couple days.!

Movie night

Went to see "27 Dresses" last night - it was better than we had expected. Very cute and well done. It was also good to catch up with my old neighbors from Braxton Drive.

I am going to our Bungee group this afternoon and cannot decide what project to work on. I'm dyeing to try out the new yarn that just came in the mail so I can get a photo of what it looks like knit up. I also want to finish Jenna's scarf. - I'll keep you posted.

Enough for now! more later.

Look what Came in the Mail this week....

Roving from Pigeonroofstudios.etsy.com

on Etsy.

This is called Hydrangea and she sent this little sample along so I could see what it should look like. It looks alot lighter in the roving form. I can hardly wait to try to start it. It is supposed to be washable - it's 100% merino and feels lovely. This is 5.8 oz. , 185 yds and cost $17.00

Now, this is from Yarn Ahoy at Etsy also. She has a yarn shop called Yarnahoy.etsy.com
This one is 375 yds for $22.80 -

superwash merino, sock weight

This one is called "Color Bombs" and might knit with a jacquard type pattern. Also from Yarn Ahoy and is 375 yds. for $21.80-superwash merino, sock weight

Now I'm inspired! I just needed something new to get me jump started this year.

I saw lots of reviews on line from TNNA - Annie Modesitt has blog and Knitty.com had some information. Check it out - there are lots of new yarns companies this year.

So disappointed today. I took my realestate test for the first time and did not pass. My head feels full of information and I cannot sort it out. I think I just need some time to get everything in the right category. The classes were overwhelming with information. I can take it again, so all is not lost.

I'll just knit or spin for a day or two and give the old brain a rest.! Happy knitting!

OMG

Oh My Gosh! - I haven't posted for a while cuz I've been busy studying 8 hours a day and several hours at night. This real estate stuff is really interesting but I cannot sort it out in my brain. There is so much information! Yikes! I take the test on Thursday.

Oh My Gosh, again! My son, Dan, had an accident on the 11th. He called to tell me about it and sounded okay and was not hurt so I didn't panic. The next day I had class and Sunday too so I didn't get to talk to him too much until Sunday night. Then he informed me, besides hitting a telephone pole and caving in the side of the car and breaking the windshield - the telephone pole broke in three pieces and came crashing on top of the car. He always wears his seatbelt and the side air bag protected him.

I was frozen with belated fear! I couldn't believe he was so calm. Now I was panicked just thinking of the "What could haves". On monday the insurance people were able to check the car out and Matt called to say it was totalled. He said, have you seen the car? I said, "NO, it's been in the impound lot until today." He said, "you probably don't want to see it. " I said, "Really? "That child is so Lucky.! He must have had a car full of angels with him."

I called Dan to tell him about the insurance I said, "I could not believe you have been this calm about this accident." He said, "Yea, it was scarey." SCAREY!!!!! I'm just saying thank you God, thank you God, thank you God! every time I think about it. He's never had any accident before, so this was a whopper. He lost control on the icy highway and tried to correct it and spun out into the pole. Well, we are past the worst and He didn't even have a scratch on him. Unbelievable! but VERY thankful!

No knitting news this week. I do have some presents to show you on the next blog. You'll be jealous! Keep knitting, weaving or spinning!

2008 has arrived!

Had a nice quiet New Year. Still fighting this cold so I watched some TV and knit and was falling asleep about 9:30 PM. Got into my cozy bed and my sister called from Phoenix to say she was ballancing her checkbook. Boy are we wild! So we talked for about a half hour. I sure hope I can get out there in March.

New year's day I had my friend and her two daughters over and we had bloody Mary's and pizza. I was so sleepy for the rest of the day. Went shopping in the afternoon with a friend. He wanted to get some X-mas decorations for next year. So we shopped for lights, which were cheap, garland and wrapping paper. Success. I hardly ever go to Walmart, I always shop at Target, so Walmart was whole new experience. Target was our next stop. More wrapping paper and some very funny cards for my crazy friends birthdays this year.

Then it was back to my house to try out the Champaign we had opened that afternoon and nobody wanted it after the Bloody Mary. It was okay!

Had a quiet evening again, still digesting, watching some awful TV and tried to read new book for bookclub "Away" by Amy Bloom. I'm knitting a hat for Jenna out of Karabella's bulky alpaca. Should be real cute. I'll get a picture up here when it's done.

My Horoscope sounded very hopeful today. It looks like my new adventure in realestate is the way to go. Wish me luck. Now if I could just get rid of this crud. It doesn't help that this job I'm on is incredibly boring.