Spinning and Knitting

This is what I'm spinning!

My sister finally got into see the doctor about her leg. Before she got in she fell last week and probably did more damage trying to protect it. Anyway, she told the doc her history of when it started etc. Well, he fixated on her falling and did not pay any attention to the details of her saga. She was so frustrated. He thought it could be arthritis. It just started the day she arrived here and continued to get so bad she had to use a cane and a walker.

As she was leaving, he said, "Oh, are you using a cane?" Yeh, I cannot put any weight on my leg, brain surgeon ( she didn't say that but wanted to). So, she is still hobbling around taking anti- inflamatories. What a joke and she has to pay him for that advice.

Good news, this week she seems to be doing better and is off to her place in New Mexico!

Cotton with a strand of Tofutsies for color variation.

Still working on my two sweaters - the three stranded cardigan and the summer shell. Hopefully, I will finish both soon because I found a cute summer cotton shell in Knitscene Winter2008/spring 2009 issue. I looked through all my knitting magazines and found this cute easy "nymph tee" by connie change chinchio using mission falls 1824 cotton. I think I still have some of that in white. Perfect!

dye work

BEFORE

I over dyed these shorts, capris and t shirt last weekend to brighten them up a bit. I think it worked.

AFTER

I used cushing yellow and diluted it down a bit. These were cotton and I think it took color well.

I'm working on a curtain, drapery project. The first fabric is for the kitchen and look at all the colors of thread I have gathered through the years! The sewing is going a little slow as we had a measuring mishap, if you know what I mean. *&*%$


Work has been very exciting lately. Nearly every day we have had to chase goats. Usually just one escapes and I can get her quickly as she wears a collar. Yesterday, we were looking out the back door and Chris said, (she's new), "Are the goats supposed to be out?". C and I looked and all four of them were out grazing happily on the most tenderest of bushes.

I said, "Let's get 'em" (Chris looked at me like I was crazy but she came along) we ran down to where they were, they just stand and stare at you, grabbed the moms and the babies followed. Whew, got 'em all in again.

As we watched they all scampered, actually leapt in the air to get to the hole in the fence before us and ran right out again.

Well, this will seriously need more action. So, we gathered them up again, C watched the hole and Chris and I ran for supplies. I got some heavy duty bricks to place at the bottom of the fence and she got more ties. Apparently momma goat would put her head down and lift the fence from the bottom and let everyone escape. So clever these goats! I just get such a kick out of them. Great entertainment.

I have most of my garden planted and hopefully will finish tomorrow as I only work half a day.

Happy knitting and gardening.

Memorial weekend

Well, it has been quite the week. Last Sunday I had the grandchildren over for dinner and grabbed the frying pan which had been in the oven with my left hand and burned the whole palm. It hurt so bad, I cannot tell you. I have not done that for a very long time.

I iced it, I ran it under cold water, I tried aloe, benedryl, everything I could think of. Took to aleve and went to bed with the cold pack. Next morning it was tender but not stinging so I was able to go to work with a glove on that hand.

I'm sure this garden center is wondering who they hired. First, she limps all day due to planter's faciaitis, has a rash all over her face and eyes that have bags down to her chin from allergies and now she burns her hand and cannot use it for a couple days. (I didn't even tell them about my hand).
Kay stop by to visit while I watered evergreens the other day and said she had had planters before so she understood what I was going through. (she's one of the owners).

I was pulling the hose, two lengths of hose, across the parking lot to water under the sign and it took forever, plus they were heavy and I had to pull them all back in every day.

Finally, I said, there is a sprocket out there for water, can we turn it on!!! Well, one response was, no we've always watered out there and never used it. (d*7%$#&), my response in my head. So, the next day I was told it was ON! Yea, went out to check and no it was not. Dragged the hose again!

Next day I was dragging the hose out and Mark (owner) drove by, swung his car around and said, "Is that sprocket not on???" I said, "NO". "I'll turn it on right now, stay out there and check it". OKAY!
Now we're getting somewhere. Took him two seconds and presto - water. So excited! and thanked him profusely.

Next day, walked in to water and my yellow short hose (I was going to use to water) is damaged.
The end got run over and is now oval shaped instead of round. BUMMER! That was the hose I was going to carry out to the sign because it's lighter. So, I said to two of the managers, now it would be great to have a short hose out there to leave and water out there whenever we need it.
Blank stare from both parties. Well, we don't have one of those, you could check down in the barn and see if we have a damaged one we could rig up or put the yellow one in a vice and make it round again. Well, I have tried this before and it never works again to fit on the sprocket and that did not happen yesterday. I think I will buy one and bring it out there and then take it when I leave at the end of the season.

Problem solved!

Have a great Holiday weekend.

Daffodils

Daffodils in the garden! What a happy site.

Finished! Just in the nick of time. I finished the tofutsies baby sweater that Kris Olson designed and I found the perfect sock buttons to match the colors in the sweater. I hope she gets publsihed.

I was too busy to make it to Shepherds harvest this year. I also had a rash on my face that made me look like I had two black eyes. Finally figured out the rash dilemma. It's allergies to we think plants. Probably overload from working in the nursery but I've never been allergic before so it was quite the mystery.

I feel so bad - my sister had a sore leg when she was here and it now has progressed to walking with two canes and hopefully going to the hospital this morning. She doesn't remember hurting or bumping (she calls it trauma to the leg) so we're hoping it's an easy fix but she cannot walk.

I offered to fly out and stay with her while she recovers!

Today the shop is open in Carver and hopefully some visitors that want to start a knit group will come visit too. It's cold out this morning and the wind is not helping. Thank you for the Sun though.

now back to my unfinished projects that have been waiting patiently. I also have a huge sewing project looming over my head. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Moms Day

Hope all you moms out there are having a beautiful mom's day. It looks like a gorgeous day, weatherWISE.

Went to a family wedding last night and had lots of laughs. Nothing better than getting together with the cousins. Now that we are the senior generation, we have all of these second and third and fourth cousins running around. It's hard to keep track of who belongs to who. That is why it's so important to get together every now and then, so we can keep track of who we belong to.

My children, unfortunately, don't know many of the younger crowd, only my generation and they don't see them too often either. It's sad to me because when I was growing up we always got together on Sundays (especially) at my Grandma's house. We all knew each other very well and felt like brothers and sisters. We have a genuine fondness for each other to this day.

My cousin Ralph was there last night, he just had a heart attack and discovered he has diabetes. He's vietnam vet and has farmed most of his life since returning from the war. He's a bachelor, by choice, and has the admiration of all of the second cousins, who he spent alot of time with on the farm. It was so good to see him feeling better. He's quieter, than before the health problems started. He and I were Grandma's favorites. I think because we spent the most time over there. He has always been a good friend to me.

I'm going on and on but it was a good night to catch up with everyone and honor the bride and groom. They were married in Las Vegas but had a reception in Rogers at "Nursing Home" with a large Ballroom. When I arrived I thought, well, if we party too much I wonder if we can get a room? It was beautiful, the food was great and the company fantastic!

I'm meeting Dan for breakfast this morning and then I thought I might go over to Common Good Books, Garrison Keillors bookstore. I've never been and thought maybe I'd take it in today.
We are going to Marge's later today for dinner and see the rest of the family at that time.

I watched the 3 grandchildren on Friday. They were so fun. Logan is almost two and he can convey all of his feelings in one single word, "NO". I'm serious, he uses it like, NO! (definitely not), Nooooooo (indecision), No (don't want that) No (I don't want to do that), No! (don't take that away) No! (I don't want to go to bed) etc..... you get the point. He also can ignore you like nobodies business! What a stinker, Ellie says.

HAPPY MOMS DAY!!!

Chocolate

When my sister was here last week, she asked if I had any of these little delights? I said, sadly, No. In fact, I have no chocolate! That is highly unusual for me, no powdered, no chips, no nothing with chocolate. We scrounged around til we found some carmel sauce in the back of the frig, which I'm sure had expired BUT when desperate for a treat women will do most anything. (even fear of botulism) So, we got out the ice cream and added the carmel sauce topping. We ate it with enthusiasm.

I had these three skeins of handspun from Ireland and did not know what to do with them, so I dyed them with cushing, Sky Blue, and this is what I got. Now what do I knit?

This is the baby sweater, top down, pattern that Kris Olson designed for City Sheep. I'm using one skein of Tofutsies sock yarn. We are going to enter it for publication for a new book of one skein sock yarn patterns.

I need to explain the Donkey thing a little more, I guess. I work at the Mustard Seed outside Carver on new #312 (212) and the owner's have several donkeys. The baby is new this year. (I'm not certain why they have donkeys except that it's a Christian based organization and they give children's tours at Christmas, thus the donkeys) They also have goats and chickens. They have trees, shrubs, nursery for annual and perennials, ponds with KOI fish and several landscape designers. It's a lovely place with a great gift shop.

Yesterday was Bungee. We had a great time. Eight of us sat around and had lunch and knit and Nancy helped several get their projects back on task. We've welcomed a newcomer, Deb, and hope she will come back. We're kind of a rowdy group, ya know. We do have a good time. Next one is May 16th and if the weather is nice, they will make the annual field trip to Carver. We will shop downtown and then back to my house for knitting and dessert. Please join us if you have that saturday open.

I mowed the yard last night for the first time on the Huskavarna. I'm sure my neighbors were getting a few laughs at me as I made circle after circle in my yard, trying to figure out a logistic way to mow this big space. At one point I was scared of tipping over going down my slight hill. I must have picked up some speed and felt a little tipsy. I continue to get hung up on the left side where there is a little wheel, it always catches a pole, like the stop sign or clothes line pole. Backing up is a real kick. It's an adventure every time, but I really enjoy it.

Today it's back to blowing leaves and uncovering my tender little plants.

Donkeys

I have a new friend, Molly. She's a donkey, a baby donkey at the Mustard Seed. I got to scratch and pet her yesterday and she is very sweet. We also have pygmy goats, which are for sale if anyone is interested. They are very mischievious, try to escape whenever possible. Where can you work with animals and plants at the same time?

I have a few wishes on my list this May.
1 . A screen house for the yard
2. A Soari loom
3. A free electrician
4. Free from planters

Maybe one of these will come true.

I'm working diligently on the baby sweater and I promise I'll get a photo up soon. I made a goof and had to tear out so I'm re-knitting. It needs to be perfect for this project. I'm not much a perfectionist, I'm more of a "it looks okay, no one will notice." kind of person.

I think the Farmer's Markets have opened this weekend. Yea, I love to go to these in the summer. I think we should have a Knitting/Fiber Farmer's market in the summer. Good Idea, Bonny!

Sorry, not much blogging going on, I'm trying to get out in the yard as much as possible. Have to go pick up dog poop so I can mow for the first time.

Bungee is this afternoon.!