Ever have the wind knocked out of you?

Boy, did I have a shock yesterday. Dear friends of mine are going their separate ways. I don't want to divulge any details here but his is something so extremely unexpected from the male person that I think he's had a personality transplant. This is going to be a difficult time. It is not my family just so you know.

I find it more and more difficult to understand why people continue to hurt each other so terribly, the deceit and sneaking around is so unneccessary.

I know from my own experience of being married for 30 years, the ups and downs are always there no matter who you are married to. You just hope one of you is strong enough at the time to carry the load and make the first step to reach out and remember how it was at the
beginning.

Lucky for me and I am blessed in this, my ex and I spend all the holidays, birthdays, all special occassions together with our children and grandchildren. They love it and enjoy and relish in the fact that we are able to be friends, continue to parent and support them and actually enjoy being around each other again. Of course, this didn't happen overnite, it grew over 10 years. We have our separate lives but after being married for that long, I find it difficult to not be friends.
We are so blessed to have healed from this and can continue our lives.

Didn't mean to get so deep but wanted to get this off my chest. I'm so sad for this family and things are so uncertain for them. The only advice I have is to take it slow and see what happens.

my mantra is "love and peace".

The flu

Yes, it hit me like a ton of bricks on Sunday. I felt a little iffy when I woke up but told the grandchildren I would come over and make pancakes and bacon. So, off I went. Breakfast went fine. Nicole stayed upstairs with Logan cuz he was still sick from the flu - running a temp and just laying on the bed - so pathetic when they are sick. He came downstairs with Mom and went to his highchair. I put him up there and he just sat down with his little hands in his lap and stared at his mom, "like, okay, are you going to finally feed me real food?" He was so adorable. We were giggling and he was NOT! He was dead serious! Poor baby.

He did get some crackers and then the tylenol kicked in so he felt better.

I took Josh home with me cuz Ellie was not feeling good and I thought I'd give her a break and enjoy Josh for awhile. He was thrilled. We got home and had peanut butter bagels, tea (he wanted to try it) and chocolate milk. It was snowing and blowing outside so we made some holloween cards with stamps and punches. I started feeling really icky about 2:00 so I thought I better run him home before I got worse. It got worse when I arrived home again.

Cally was helping me in the yard on Sat. and I wanted to get her photo - this is the cooperation I got!

I have had a day of loafing and napping today. I feel better so I'll be off to work tomorrow.

Saturday I brought in much of the yard art and found a few lovely photos.

WIP

Fall boquet from the Farmer's Market last saturday.

I am working like crazy - multiple projects - hoodie is coming along nicely - about 8", then hood and sleeves. I stopped to finish a couple projects for the Carver Creek Dry Goods going on this weekend. I made fleece lined mitten kits, mohair mitten kits, pumpking hat kits, domino baby hat and I found some heavier yarn to use the "Pumpkin Hat" pattern for kits.

I died about 8 pots of fiber - lovely colors I must say and some roving. I have another source for undyed merino if anyone needs some, let me know. $8.00 a l lb. ball.

I finished reading "The Virgin of Small Plains", a novel of suspense by nancy pickard. It was a fast read and really kept me wondering until the end. It was a little too predictable but enjoying.

It's been a fun week of knitting and reading.

Rain and Gray

Not my favorite kind of day, gray and rainy, but Nancy brought me lunch and that cheered me right up. We had a nice visit - she brought another cute "Domino hat" which I will use as a sample this weekend.

We're going to see Annie Modesitt at Garrison Keillors book shop "The Common Bookstore" in St. Paul on Sunday. Annie will be signing her new book. I haven't seen her for a couple years so it will be good to catch up with her. She has had one stressful month!

It was very quiet at work today so I read and knit alot. I brought treats from the Mexican Bakery in Chaska. We had dinner at the VFW last night - tacos for a buck - cannot beat it. The bakery is across the street and they have quite a selection. Ymmmmy!

It's been a little crazy trying to get labels all on the kits and finding the right yarn, etc. It's always hectic right before the event. I have to deal with signs in the morning and dropping product off downtown. I will be there on Sat. from 10-2 PM if anyone is coming my way, hope to see you.

Have a great evening!

New Shop

As most of you know I am now open in Carver and New Prague. It's been almost a year since I closed in Minneapolis. I couldn't stand it, I needed my shop. Sales are increasing and so is interest. It gives me hope and keeps me afloat! This weekend is the special open weekend in Carver. I've ordered in new sock yarn from Southwest Trading in several colors, so if you are looking for new sock yarn to play with, come on down! I've also ordered the Lucy Neatby pattern to make a domino hat with sock yarn. I have fulled mitten kits, hat kits and some scarf samples for sale.

I have been dyeing fiber this weekend and I leave it out to dry in the basement. Cally, for some unknown reason, loves to get into it and spread it all over the basement. I know it's her because she has some caught in between her toe nails! Busted again! She loves the smell of it, I guess. Sometimes she even eats it and then we're in big trouble. I'll get some photos up when I get home. There are some beautiful colors. There is a little problem in the basement, something is squeaking quite loudly down there so it may be a few days before I get photos. I hate rodents in my house so I've taken all the precautions and now it's just wait em out time.

I saw a very cute site this weekend and wished I'd had my camera with me. I was coming into Carver off the hwy and this guy was riding his bike with a Cat perched around his neck. Looked like this was an every day occurrence for them.

I had another busy weekend. Saturday, we went to the farmer's market first thing, got beets, spinach, green beans, brussel sprouts, honey crisp apples, pumpkins, and my boquet. Came home and I dyed fiber, made three more jackets (photos later), cleaned the house, a little, ran errands, came home and worked on some pin cushions and my felted jackets. Sunday, I watched the news shows and finished knitting a hat, I love Sunday Morning shows. I baked two banana loaves, made a taco hotdish for Dan who was on his way over to help with some projects.

Dan arrived and we moved the air conditioner out of my office window, cleaned the gutters with my new extended ladder. This never is an easy task, but Dan was a huge help. The beetles were kinda getting to him so I sprayed with soapy water again. Then finally, we got the bedframe upstairs for the bed I have sitting on the floor. Now I can finally finish that room and start on the one next door.

Dan left and I went to Nicole's for carving pumpkins with the grandchildren. They were so excited. I dug them out and carved a couple faces and then Jenna arrived, their adored aunt, and she finished the carving. They had to put their costumes on and run around the yard. A swinging skunk and butterfly were pushed on the swings to their hearts content.

We had a lovely roast dinner and ice cream and it was time for bed. I headed home and collapsed on the sofa - knitting away in my sleep.

Another great day

I just finished reading"Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kingslover. You have to read this book to understand what the title means. It's a fascinating book about adoption and the American Indians traditions and beliefs. Because I am an adoptive parent it was particularly interesting. Not sure what's next for reading. Heaven knows I have a bookcase full downstairs. Any ideas, pass them my way.

This is a photo of my half dead tree. Looking at it from this angle, which is the angle I see out of my office window, I cannot see cutting it down--it looks great. My neighbor however has a very different view and made a comment last week about THE tree. I really hate cutting trees down. Josh loves this tree and so I might just cut it down part way and leave enough for him to climb around on. It would be a great climbing tree. Maybe next year!

I am into dyeing fiber big time right now. Not sure what I'll do with it all - maybe someone will buy it. I'll get some photos when it is dry.

Beautiful

That is all I can say about this weather. I am itching to get up north. I've been checking out the last minute deals. I'm just not sure when this job will be done so I can get away for a couple days.

I've been doing some dye work again. I'll get some photos up real soon. If you need fiber for spinning or felting just give me a holler.

It's been a hectic but lovely week. I went to a new apple orchard on Tues. morning with the grandchildren. It's out on Hwy. 5 just passed Victoria, called Deerdorf orchards (Waconia). You turn on Parley Lake Rode. There is a historic farm on the front of the property and then you follow the road around to the apple picking site. It's very kid related, it has animals, a shop, wagons and hayrides. I believe they are closing at the end of the month.

We had a great time. Logan got his first taste of an apple, they are all organic, and he just sat in my lap giggling at the wonderful taste. He was pretty funny. Josh and Ellie just ran around in the field of leaves having a great time. They also both picked a bag of apples each.

While I was waiting for them to arrive I sat on the road leading to the orchard and the farmstead had two horses sitting by the barn (1835 circa.). I took some photos and got in and out of the car a few times, knitted on the hoodie, and suddenly I realized that these two horses had not moved since I'd been there. The kids pulled up and I said, "You know, I think those horses are fake." They must be for show cuz they have not twitched an ear or tail or hoof for 15 minutes." Just as we drove away the white one moved it's head to watch us. I have never seen horses stand that still before and I've been around alot of horses.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CHER

I received an email from Cher yesterday wondering when the next Bungee group meets and where it meets. Thanks Cher for your kind words, I miss it too! We will meet on Sat. the 25th from 1-4 pm at Betsy's Back Porch on 54th and Nicollet. I was not able to respond because your email as it was not shown in that format. If you send me your email, I will add you to the Bungee list. You can also check out the website at www.creativefibers.com

What a gorgeous weekend! I left work early on Sat. and really got nothing done. I was going to a birthday party that night so I got the present ready, took a short nap, changed clothes and headed to Burnsville. Do you know #42 is still under construction in Burnsville - I think it's been two years now.



It just started to rain as I pulled into the driveway. It's Peter's 34th Birthday. He's making tamales for our dinner. The children wanted to play with some dough and they cut out shapes with the cookie cutter for their tamales - so cute. It was so delicious and fresh. My daughter makes her own salsa with roasted peppers and tomatoes, cilantro and garlic. She throws it in the blender and blends away. Logan wants to eat whatever everyone else is right now, so, of course he wants the chips and salsa. He loves it. He really wants to be a big boy right now. It's like he saying to us, "I've played this little baby thing for long enough, now I'm doing it my way." He has definite ideas.



We had a great white cake with chocolate frosting for Birthday cake. A good time was had by all and everyone was really tired on the way home.



Sunday I gave a private lesson to a young woman at the Dunn Bros. in Eden Prairie. She caught on very quickly and left happily knitting and purling away. She will meet us at Betsy's from now on cuz she lives in Minneapolis.



I met another woman while we were there and she wanted to learn to knit. She lives in Eden Prairie so that should work great. I'm trying to get a group together in New Prague but it may be slow putting it together. These are busy women.



Met my friend laura today at "The Mix" in Chaska for a quick lunch before she went to court. It was so good catching up with her. It's been a long time.
I forgot to post this so here goes with out any photos.

mushrooms

I found these at the garden center - in the sun they looked really gold. My photo does not do them justice. I wonder if they're poisonous???

No, not a hullucinagetic either!

We have had some great Fall weather and I hope you have all been able to enjoy it. I'm really into crafting at this time of year.

Sunday, my only day off, I washed all the windows, twice, inside and out and all three parts of those lovely combination windows. Now if the sun would shine I could tell if I got all the streaks out. I also trimmed the rest of my bushes in front, planted three lilac trees and a few perennials - let's say I was productive, NOT CREATIVE CRAFTING- Oh, I also cleaned the inside of the house - all completed by 6 PM. I'm tired just reading this.

Photo of the finished pumpkin hat - too cute - which is the pumpkin hat? Pattern on "Crazy Aunt Purl's blog". I felted some of the littler pumpkins in the photo

I finally made it to Bungee knitting on Sat. for a very short time but I picked up the cutest hats Nancy is making out of sock yarn. Lucy Neatby pattern, which I am ordering, so if you want one email me.

Nancy also made this sweater and hat from Zimmerman's books, the heart hat and the sweater, I forgot the name of the sweater, it will come back to me. "Surprise Sweater". These were made from Sock yarn, washable and very wearable. I'm giving this to my friend's grand baby. She was born at 28 weeks and is now 2.5 lbs. and doing very well.

Work has been very slow - I've been moving plants around, reading, knitting, answering the phone and helping a very few customers. I fear the end is near! Today it rained all day and I left early.
I started reading "Pigs in Heaven" again, by Barbara Kindsolver. I couldn't get into a few years ago so now I'm able to sit and enjoy it. I think I was too busy last time I tried to read it for a bookclub I was in.

Guess who is back??? The japanese beetles covered my door when I reached home last evening. B and I vacuumed them and got them sort of under control but I can tell it's going to take some major chemicals to get rid of them. I refuse to let them take over like last year. This is war!!!

Well, off to knit and watch the debates (maybe)

Oct. 1, 2008

Oct. 1st was my Mom's birthday, it is still her twin sister's birthday. I think they are 86 today!

Happy birthday Mom and Aunt Vi. They were twins, one violet and viola. My mom was always called Vi until she died and then my aunt picked it up, she didn't like Viola. Still miss her.



Cool, cool, cool the last couple days. I finished my pumpkin hat and gave it to Logan but forgot to get a photo. I'll add it later. It is so cute. I'm trying to get a kit together if Laurie agrees to release the pattern.



I brought Logan a pair of crocs just like Joshuas. He put them on and walked about 10 steps. He was sooooo proud! I brought new play dough over last night. I make it for them cuz it's nice and soft. I put it in a baggy and add food coloring and then they mush it together until it's one color. They love it!





Only 14 more inches to go on my hoodie!