Fiberit

webstie

2011-11-12T11:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you still visiting my website I must apologize for the information posted on it. I have a new computer and I cannot access Front page anymore (it doesn't exist) so I cannot update my website any longer.Therefore no new updates posted on it.

We are still meeting at currans everyother Sat at 1PM - if you are interested in joining just show up, like today, or send me an email that you'd like to be on the list. bonny@creativefibers.com
We have a great group of women in this group and more keep joining. Curran's is very gracious to us and we love it there.

I have started a new job!!!! I met a woman in Chaska on Monday nite at Dunn Bros and taught her and another friend to knit. We were talking and she said where she worked and I said, Are you looking for anyone? and she said, Well, Yes. Are you interested? and I said, yes! Interview the next day and hired that week to be a part time receptionist. After a week one of the agents left because she was moving across town and so they asked if I wanted to get my license and they would train me. WOW!
After a week long class and three tries at passing the test, I became an insurance agent. I have my own office, business cards and I'm still training. This was a huge leap for me, changing careers at 65! It has given me alot of new confidence in myself after the grueling 4 years of working for some not so nice people. I finally have an income that I can support myself with.

I have started a new knitting group with people at this new job on thursday nights. There are 4 beginners and one very practiced student. Two of the 4 are quite needy. Want their stitches to all look perfect!!! This is always a challenge for me. They are so afraid of knitting, like it's the end of the whole world. One gentleman has joined this group and wants to make a Toque for his historical reinactment group. He caught on quite quickly.

Projects: I working on several, of course, fingerless mittens, a new chunky vest that Julie gave me the pattern for and I love it, making it out of yukon - photos when I get it done. A new sweater for Josh and I'd like to make myself a new scarf. I have great free pattern from Tentenknits called 5th Avenue Infinity scarf. So, I have lots to do as usual.

I have also made the three grandchildren coat trees for their rooms out of old dowels I found at an antique store and had the antique dealer put them together for me to make coat trees.

A friend of mine made me a cement birdbath shaped over a large leaf so you can see the veins of the leaf in the bottom. I have painted it and then I need to put a patina over it and spray with laquer so it can go outside in the spring.

I am sewing and smocking dresses for Ellie and somehow she keeps finding more things for me to make for her, dolls clothes, stuffed kewpie dolls, etc.

There is not end to crafting!

New Blog template

2011-06-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged for a very long time. Life just keeps getting busier. I have lots of yarn for sale. If you are interested in Galway, Plymouth Encore, Mini Mochi, Classic Elite cottons, and Cascade. Just give me a call and I'll send photos. I hope to post them on my website this week also.

I continue to be active with two knitting groups - one in Minneapolis at curran's restaurant where the pie is fabulous and $1.oo after 2 pm. We have 8-10 Knitters every other Saturday. The next one is June 10th.
I also have a group in Chaska at the Library on Monday nights 6-8 PM. I also have lots of spinning fiber and still teach kntting and spinning one on one.

I am working three jobs right now - for an appraiser in Chanhassen 4 days a week, One day a weekend at chico's and right now at the GGBG Hut in Chaska in the evenings until next week. It's fun but exhausting.
Today is June 3rd and it's almost 90 degrees and the humidity will also be that high. Hoping my son gets my air conditioner in the windows tonight.

I am fostering a very nice dog called Nikita. She is 6 -8 mos. old, looks like a hound, lab, Irish setter. Don't know how long I will have her but she's doing very well. I found her through Ruffstart, an organization of volunteers that find foster homes for dogs and try to adopt them out, so you might get a new dog every few months.

I think I mentioned I got an angora bunny in March. Buzz is delightful, very tame and now comes when I call him. he loves mango chunks. I found him a great hutch with an outdoor fenced area attached so he can hop in the grass. Took him to Josh's school a couple weeks ago to demo spinning and Buzz. They liked the spinning wheel the best.

I also have a parakeet, names Angel, and she is almost all white, with a little yellow and blue. She thinks she is a dog, and walks on the floor everywhere. She will find me whereever I am in the house and stand inbetween my feet until I pick her up. She cuddles under my chin and is very easy with the grandchildren.

Now if I can just get some exercise this year, I would feel great. I am feeling not so great about my weight.
I tried yogo and threw out my neck, so now I might try just walking.

Happy knitting and spinning

I'm alive

2011-04-14T06:13:00.000-07:00

Hey, I have not posted for a very long time. Just too busy and really nothing to add here. I am working full time, which is good, and I'm still knitting, spinning and sewing. I will catch up with projects another day.

JANUARY 2011

2011-01-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Finished 3 of these hats for the grandchildren for Christmas plus three elfs .This hat was made from my handspun, handdyed yarn carried with Karabella Aurora 8. Ellie wanted the handspun when she saw it on the spool!

Ellie's Elf - the boys were red and white

Every year we have a re-enactment of the Christmas story - this was Josh, Megan and Elizabeth(cousin). There were not enough partcipants this year so Josh had to play the King and Joseph. Quick costume change on the side!!!

Marge always makes us fimo angels for christmas. The two laying down are Josh and Ellie. Now I just need Logan.

Christmas was saddened by the death of my 89 year old Aunt Vi. She had congestive heart failure and was doing great until December. My mother was her twin sister and my mother had died on Dec. 3, 45 years ago and now her sister died Dec. 17th. What a happy reunion that must have been. Aunt Vi was the last of the Gilbertson children. She will be missed!

Then the grandchildren, Nicole and Pete all came down with the flu for Christmas Eve. We had Christmas dinner on Christmas Day instead. Jenna and my sister were home. It was quite busy but always Great!

I am just finishing up a sweater for me from Knitters, Winter 2009 - Page 74, The Lapis Jacket. When it's done I'll put up a photo - but it's similar to a sweater I bought and I wear all the time, so I think this will be a hit. It's fast knit out of a Bulky yarn.

I have a new job at an appraisers, two days a week and for the holidays I worked at Home Goods, which I loved but they couldn't keep me on as a regular so I'm interviewing at Chico's Tuesday. Hope I get it.

I got a parakeet for Christmas. I asked for it and wanted a hand fed bird. I talked to a pet store in Excelsior who said they were getting hand feds in the next week. Well, she kept saying she was getting them but never did, so Dan (He and Jenna gave it to me) went to Petco in Chanhassen and bought a cute little blue parakeet. After three weeks of trying to tame this bird, I gave up and took it back. But before I did that I stopped at Bird Store on 50th and Bryant to see what he had. He had a plastic swimming pool full of parakeets. Solid yellow, white, green mix and blue mix birds. I had never seen a yellow before - looked like a canary BUT they were so tame, they stayed in this open pool and let you pick them up. I was so impressed, I took the one back to the store. I found a beautiful white baby that is already pirching and is very tame. He's so young I cannot get him until Jan. 22nd. This way I will have a chance at training him and having fun with him. I have always had birds except for the last 8 years. I have had parakeets that were so tame they would talk, play catch with a tin cup, take a bath under a dripping faucett, come when I called them down from the drapes, sang happy birthday, unfortunately learned a few cuss words, called the dog, "here tina" and were very affectionate. I can hardly wait to get my new bird.

Enough of that - Hope you all have a wonder New Year

winter blizzard

2010-12-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

Fimo Angels adorn my Christmas decorations. Marge makes this every year and we are the lucky recipients. She also makes them of the children's Holloween Costumer. So talented.

I finished one pink elf for Ellie. Have had a tough time finding the yarn for this as no one has much eyelash yarn left in their stash at local shops. The beautiful boquet is from Carver Country Flowers as a thank you for helping with the Soiree we had on Dec. 2nd

This is my Christmas tree this year. Simple

Winter Blizzard No 2 is in process right now. It looks great I just don't want to be out in it. I want to knit Elves.

Trip to Wild Rumpus last week with Grandchildren. Ellie and Maddie playing with the Chickens. Had a great time.

I've been busy.....

2010-11-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

These are two chemo hats that I made for a friend who has lost her hair. The blue one was a little too big out of Karabella Aurora 8 so I downsized the needles and the second red one came out better. I don't remember where we got the pattern but I think it was on Ravelry - just search "Chemo Hats".

This is Dan's annual hat. He started it but never finished it - so I did. I like the way the top is finished on this hat. It's divided into four sections.

This pattern we found by Jared Flood, called Turn a Square. I think he does a great job on patterns. You can find him on his blog "brooklyn tweed" or Ravelry.

This is a cute hat pattern I got free on the internet. I made this one for Ellie out of my handspun and some Karabella. It is knit as a bulky so I stranded my handspun with the Karabella to get the guage. She love the yarn when I was spinning it and asked if I would make her a hat, so I did, of course. The pattern is by Kirsten Kapur called Thorpe and I think it was on either Ralvery or Knitty-it was FREE. Knit up very quickly

HOLLOWEEN 2010

Ellie as Tinkerbell

Logan as Buzz Lightyear

Josh as "Cat in the Hat"

The weather was perfect for Holloween and they had a fabulous time.

I have also been sewing polar fleece hats and scarves for the kiddos. It is soft and very fast to make. The pattern was online - http://www.sewing.org/

I have also been reading a great deal. I finished the "Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" trilogy, the Moveable Feast by Hemingway, listened to a couple non-descript books on tape and a few movies. My new favorite on PBS is Sherlock Holmes - you can catch it on your computer if you miss it on TV. It's great fun with a couple young guys.

Bungee knitting was bursting at the seams last Saturday. We had 10 women knitting, visiting and eating at Curran's last saturday. This means, Fall has arrived. I love to be able to join them because they are all knitting something different. Next one will meet on Nov. 13 1-4 pm. This is very flexible - you can join us anytime and stay as long as you can.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the Fall and getting some knitting done.

OCTOBER ALREADY!

2010-10-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I knew it had been awhile, but really, August!!! I guess when I closed the shop in New Prague it was difficult to blog. I just kept putting it off. I need to download new photos and I just couldn't do it!

I have been busy! These are a few of the projects I've been working on: Ellie's ruffled socks

Mini Mochi Hat

Fleece hat and scarf for the grandchildren

Tree cut down and a pile of logs and brush to.....

Burn - Cally enjoying the fire!

Logan was over for the weekend so he got to cut the pumpkins - a little smug, do ya think? This pumpkin looked a little like a watermelon.#1

# 3 pumpkin-the largest

#2 pumpkin

At least we got 3 this year. Some animal kept eating the flowers - we had miles of vine but only 3 pumpkins - we'll do better next year. We did get sunflowers!

finished off the garden with sunflowers!

We have had a great group for spinning on the third sunday. Yesterday I made a banana bread with Logan and everyone loved it so here is the recipe:

Basic Banana Bread

1 1/2 c. mashed bananas

1/3 c. plain yogurt - fat free

5 tbsp. butter, melted

2 large eggs

combine these four ingredients and beat, then add

1/2 c white sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

Combine the ingredients below and add slowly to the mixture

1 1/2 c. flour - all purpose

1/4 c. flaxseed-ground

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground allspice

Pour batter into a 9 X5 greased pan - bake at 350 for 55 minutes. This batter looked really soupy when I poured it in the pan but it firms up as it bakes and is delicious.

You can add a frosting if you like:

1/3 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp low fat milk -

combine until smooth and drizzle over cooled bread. I didn't do this because I didn't feel it needed it.

Enjoy - I'm off to Monday night at Dunn Bros.

2010-08-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

FUN AT THE LAKE LAST WEEK!

Yes, we were up to the lake past Brainerd. Had great weather, so I even got in and floated on the raft. Sat. night we had thunder storms and hail started falling and I thought "Oh, sure, just got a new car and now this". No damage, however. Drive home was exhausting, lots of traffic. It was a whirlwind of four busy days for my sister.

I have closed the New Prague location and everything is in storage for now. I will still be available for teaching and knit groups but I need a real job with a real paycheck so I will be focusing on that for awhile.

I enjoyed my time in New Prague but sales were low and it was not sustainable. I will miss hanging out there as I really enjoyed that little town.

Because it has been so hot, I've been reading and staying inside knitting and cleaning the house. The basement really needed it and I was able to go down there and vacuum and clean this week and not be scared of bats! The garden, however, is in serious need of weeding. We have gotten some great yellow cherry tomatoes and cucumbers so far. Hoping for a few red tomatoes soon.

Have a great august!

Summer produce

2010-07-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Just picked last night!

The ones on the right are heirloom beans! Purple and cream!

Well the garden is booming - it may have been hot and rainy but it sure is good for the garden! Flower are flowing everywhere. I love it., except for the weeds.

I'm knitting away on all my unfinished projects - when I get bored with one, I pick up the other. I'm hoping to finish Ellie's socks this week for her birthday. I'm trying to organize and clean the house this month. Do catch up on all those projects while hoping for a new job soon.

Soon I will be cutting down the tree that I look at everyday outside my office window. It's more than half dead but the part that faces me is still living and I love watching the birds, squirrels and rabbits run around it. It needs to come down and soon.!

Sister is arriving in August and we will go to the lake cabin for a few days before Ellie's birthday. I'm looking forward to getting away for a few days. Which, reminds me, I'll have to board the dog.

It's been a crazy week. One friend thinks she broke her leg while picking berries in the garden - I hope it was a muscle or tendon but at any rate she's out of commission for awhile, another found a lump in her breast and needs to deal with that next week, and then it's my situation. I'm going to be closing my location in New Prague this month. It's been a great time, but sales are not picking up as expected so I need to close and move on. I will continue to do my knitting/spinning groups and teach but just not have a retail shop. I really need to work full time and not have the distraction of running a retail business. This has been a tough decision but it has to be done.

HOWEVER, This is not as difficult to deal with as is breast cancer and a broken leg! As I am out of a job right now I can support these two friends and feel helpful to them. I will be okay!

Summer

2010-06-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and the Hut is closed for the season. I'm searching desperately for a new job. It's very difficult keeping the spirits up while trying to find a job.

I am working on socks for the little grandsons right now. Also working on this cute T using Enigma yarn. I love it and should have had it done last year but it was put in the UFO bag. I hope it looks good on, after all this time.

Weeding the garden, because the rain has grown a bumper crop of weeds. All my gardens are thriving!

Going to cut down my tree on the side yard this summer. It's half dead, but I will truly miss it because it has alot of activity going on during all months of the year and I look directly at it from my office. Here is a photo of it in the Fall. I will have to just gaze at my lilacs after it goes.

Hydrangea's are blooming, hostas are blooming and the fake indigo pods are turning brown.

Monday night in Chaska - looking forward to another lovely evening knitting with friends.

Summer in the country

2010-06-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

Before!

AFTER! This is a picture of the garden in full bloom! Yes, overflowing ferns!

Mini Mochi Mittens using two colors of mini mochi and a free pattern on Crystal Palace's website. There is also a hat to match. Check it out.

Another new project on needles - this black shell from City Sheep Patterns - knit in a 6 knit, 6 purl pattern so it is reversible!

FARMER'S MARKET IN MINNEAPOLIS - FOUND ITEMS

Beets in four colors - made a great salad last night - sliced beets, lettuce-shredded, blue cheese crumbles and a vinegrette dressing. Ummmm,good!

AND STRAWBERRY RHUBARD PIE - recipe from Martha Stewart - easy and delicious!

I have been busy being a homemaker - trying to get my house in order, as they say. Finishing up at Holasek's Grandma's Gardens in a couple weeks. Looking for a new job. Anybody have any leads, pass 'em my way.

Meanwhile, I am also offering classes in Carver and New Prague this summer. Join me for a sit and knit or a class. I do attend a knitting group in Victoria on Tuesday mornings 10:30-whenever. Have great food so you can stay for lunch. Also, there is a Thursday night group that I want to visit at the American Legion in Chanhassen from 7:00 pm - ????

Hope to see you soon!

Lush

2010-06-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Lush is the word for my yard. Wow, everything is green and blooming. Makes me want to dye fleece every color that is out there. Look out world!

I have added classes this summer in the evenings in Carver and Wednesdays (daytime)in New Prague, some Saturdays at both.

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE IN CARVER ON THE JUNE 11TH - Felting Demo and Wine plus refreshments. Cannot beat that combo. 6:30-8:00 pm - CARVER COUNTRY FLOWERS NEW WORKSHOP SPACE.

A new Spinning Group is starting in Carver at Carver Country Flowers workshop space. Third Sunday of the month 1-4 PM. FIRST ONE IS SUNDAY, THE 13TH.(BECAUSE OF FATHER'S DAY) If you are a spinner, please join the group, even if you just want to knit for the day, that's okay too. I think in this economy when we are all stressed it's good to sit down with other folks, have some coffee and just relax a little bit, go to our Happy Place!

I am busy knitting up socks for the grandchildren, fighting bats, working at the garden center and feeling a little beat up! When there are rodents in my house, which is every 10 years or so, I am frozen with fear! I know it's silly but I cannot help it at this point. Flying bats make me shudder and finding them in my bed and in my sink is just too much. I've been holing up in the upstairs bedroom with the dog. It's got TV and air conditioning so it's quite comfy but I want my bedroom back. I feel I need to take back my house soon.

Monday night is Knit Night again at Dunn Bros. in Chaska and I really look forward to that evening.

BATS!!!!!!!

2010-05-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

YES, I HAVE BATS IN THE HOUSE! This is the 4th one this spring so I called the exterminator, but last night was the end!!!

I knew there was a bat in the house because it had flown through the living room the night before, but I wasn't sure where it was. I had closed my bedroom door during the day so I thought I was safe, I was keeping him out. Welllllll, I went to bed and was trying to relax and not think about where the bat might be. I had my broom and the dog with me. About 11 pm I was dozing off and I heard this scratching noise. I thought it was Cally scratching with her nails,ignored it, then heard it again, so I got up, turned on the light, looked around and under the bed. Nothing! I went back to bed, covering my head, and heard the scratching again. I got up, lifted my PILLOW and there it was!!!! AGGGGGHHHHH!

I screamed, grabbed the dog and left, shutting the door and running upstairs to go to sleep for the night. I mean, really, under my pillow. My sanctuary was gone! I called the Bat people this morning and hopefully we can take care of this once and for all.

I do have some other knitting news. Carver Country Flowers has lots of space now that the antique shop moved out. She has cleaned the floors, and made a sweet little classroom space in the back where her flower shop used to be. I am going to offer classes in Carver again. Beginning in June. I will post the new schedule on the website as soon as we confirm all the dates.

I will also be in New Prague on Wednesdays and some Saturdays. I will host sit and knits during the day in New Prague and Carver in the evenings and some Saturdays. I am very excited to add these classes for people and I am sure we will have a great time.

More announcements later this week.

Well, where have I been?

2010-05-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

Boy it's been a month since I blogged. Sorry about that - it's just been really busy right now. I am currently in New Prague just on Wednesdays until July.

I've been working on my gardens and some unfinished projects. I am making a circular sweater for Ellie out of Pink and Green and it's really cute except I had to rip it out and start over because I don't think I got enough increases in there to make it lay flat - She won't wear it until Fall so I have lots of time.

I have no photos (except this one)at this time due to a camera problem. This time of year makes me want to dye colors because every where I look there is color and I can envision it in a yarn or roving. The one photo I have is this lovely roving - I haven't had time to spin up a sample but it is inviting!

I have enjoyed working a couple part time jobs this summer. Both involve driving in the farm country. I pass by this one farm every time I go to New Prague - it has a gorgeous horse that lazily walks around their big property. This spring part of it flooded and I didn't see the horse for awhile. Last week I caught "Horse" laying at the edge of the newly developed pond with his head up and looking around and then he rolled over with legs in the air to one side and back again. Put his head up and looked around like, "did anybody see that". He was cooling off and taking a bath. I also have seen "Turkey Vultures" on my way to Waconia. Huge birds with brown and white spots, looks kind of like a large turkey with a long vulture like neck. They were feeding on a dead possum. I really enjoy the rolling farm fields and the great patterns they make in the soil.

The one thing I don't enjoy is BATS. Another one came flying through the living room a couple weeks ago, I covered my head with a blanket and went screaming around the living room until I accidentally trapped it in my office. I had my friend go in there every day looking for that Bat and he could not be found. Finally, I gave up and went to work on my computer again and there it was, still alive, in the bottom of my black wastebasket. My friend came over and disposed of it. YUKKKKKK!

Enjoy your summer. I have some great new cotton yarns and am working up a cute summer shell out of BERROCO WEEKEND - GREAT YARDAGE FOR A GREAT PRICE! I also got the Berroco Sox in several colors - love it.

New Colors in dyed fleece

2010-04-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

New Colors in Roving and Fleece

A new friend, named Tiny - he's my cousins new lab. He has a hole in his stomach and they were going to put him down and my cousin said he'd take 'em. Isn't he cute.

I finished the felted Boku Bag - Free Pattern on my website - uses 2 skeins of Boku.

I made these dessert plates and am using them for roving until they sell. It's a recycled project. Old plates, crystal glasses and candlesticks.

Have been working two jobs alot this week. It will be busy until the end of June so I will only be able to be in New Prague on Wednesdays. If you have questions or need something please give me a call.

Tonight is Monday Night in Chaska, looking forward to seeing everyone.

I've been working on a sock for Josh using the new cascade sock yarn. Photo coming!

TOADS, = SPRING

2010-04-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hunting for Toads!!!!

Help, let me outa here!

It's a great spring so far. Been working in the garden rather than blogging. Sorry about that.

I have had some critters in the yard this spring. One day sitting at my computer and large Tom Turkey came strutting through the yard. I went for the camera and of course, batteries depleted, couldn't get cell phone to work fast enough so I missed the photo. Rats!

Today, grandchildren were over and we found 4 toads in the window well. Thus the photos at the top. At one point all 3 toads we standing up trying to escape. We did let them go in the garden.

Have been doing alot of dye work and spinning to show what the colors look like when spun. I just did some quick singles to give you the idea.

These are for sale at the shop or by phone order. $2.50/oz. plus $3.00 shipping

The bridges are finally open again so I can make it to New Prague without going through Eden Prairie. Makes life alot easier. I will not be there on Saturday because I'm going to the Knitter's Guild "Yarn Over" in the morning and to Bungee in the afternoon. Hope to see some of you at Yarn Over.

Have you seen the pattern for Yoga Socks? So cute. No heel or toe to these. Quick but great for Yoga or pedicures. The pattern I found was on Ravelry by Rebecca Bathje. Have fun.

A new bunny

2010-03-30T08:19:00.001-07:00

Look what I found yesterday! Isn't it cute. It's part Rex and part regular rabbit. I saw the mother and she is a full Rex. They have fur like a chincilla. Beautiful. I got this one for the grandchildren and then it will go to my cousins farm. It's very cuddly!

This is Ellie's vest with cables. I writing up the pattern. It has a cute little hood. Cables and seed stitch up the sides. Size 4-5

This is a new dye color - Spring in rovings only. I love these colors.

I am working on getting lots of fiber dyed up for Shepherd's Harvest. Hopefully I'll be able to get some spun up for samples.

SHEARING DAY!

2010-03-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

Seriously! This sheep would not leave the shearer alone. It was like he was hunting for his fleece. "Hey mister, where is it!?" " Can I use the won you're taking off of her?"

My White Fleece - Beautiful Ice

My Gray fleece

ALL DONE

Easter egg time is once again upon us! Dyeing eggs is serious business!

Having a virus this week and flooding over here on the river has kept me stranded for a few days. The Grandchildren were over this weekend. I asked them, "Where did I get this cold, who gave it to me?" Logan, in a sweet, matter of fact voice said, "I did Nana, I didn't want it anymore." Like he was doing me a favor!!!! Too funny

I've never lived where it floods before, so I find it quite interesting trying to drive from Carver to New Prague. It took me an hour the other day, so I decided it wasn't worth the drive until the river recedes. The Minnesota River did not flood Carver but it came darn close. Actually, it's great to see the water up this high instead of brown grass where the water should be, but I don't want homes to be destroyed, but it's nice to have water levels up again.

I have been knitting and finished Ellie's sweater: Photos are not great so I need to get her to model it for me and then I'll write up the pattern. First photo is laying on the side for blocking. Second photo is hanging and it's the front view but you cannot see the detail very well. I'll try again when she's cooperating and will actually leave it on for a few minutes.

I'm finishing my lavender sweater from Garn Studio and will have a photo as soon as I finish putting it together. I have started a "Swirly Sweater " for Ellie and will post a little later when I have more than 10 rows done.

This weekend I have decided to go to Minneapolis, Curran's Restaurant for the afternoon on Sat. If the flood doesn't recede by then in Jordan, I will not be in New Prague either.

Found a great new artist this weekend in Carver Artist Show. She makes these adorable Monster Dolls for kids and is writing a book to go with each story. Check out her website

http://www.myshiznits.com/ and let me know what you think. I was thinking of selling Them in New Prague.

A new knitting group has formed on the third Thursday of each month in Chanhassen at the American Legion. I think it was 7 - 9 pm. Let's check it out!

Have a great one!

21st Birthdays

2010-03-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is the only green thing I could find for St. Patty's Day

My son turned 21 on Saturday. We had a wonderful celebration at the "Local" on Nicollet Avenue. We went there because he wanted to have some micro beer. He was just diagnosed with Diabetes so he had to be careful of his blood sugar.

It was a pretty special 21st as he just became the proud owner of his own condo in February. His girl friend and I have been commissioned to paint art for his walls. Abbie got hers done first and it is fabulous. I'm still working on mine and it is a stretch for me - a huge piece on a board using acrylic paint (oil would have been too expensive) and I'm not used to using acrylic paint. If it turns out at all, I'll post a photo.

A note about downtown Mpls. on a Sat. night. Quite the people watching spot, outside and inside. It was close to St. Patty's day so many were in their green attire. I wondered if they started on Sat. and just kept going or if they took a break in between the drinking. I have not been in a bar scene with young 20's-30's for quite sometime and it was enlightening.!

At one point a bus pulled up with 29 people on board and as I was walking to the bathroom the hostess was beside me telling the bar tender that 29 people just arrived. I turned to her and said, You mean they didn't call ahead, they just pull up and drop off 29 people???? Yep!

I guess it keeps them off the road! YEA!

Thursday was quite the day. Brought my car into have the oil changed and that little bit that broke off the side mirror when I was pulling out of the garage at Christmas (ice did it, made the car swerve). That little piece cost $300!!!! At any rate, it had to be done, meanwhile, I received a free manicure, shoe shine and a chair massage. All for just being there on Thursday. It's Feldman Nissan's customer service that keeps me coming back for $300! or more.

Up to the hood on Ellie's vest. I seriously will get a photo - I've just been too lazy. I had another great Saturday in New Prague. Gave a spinning lesson, felting demo and had lots of curious customers. The curiousity was due to the squeaky wheel. It needed oil and squeeked like we were torturing a baby kitten! Not funny! I could not believe I didn't have my oil with me, nor could I find any kind of lubricant to help the cause.

I did receive a New Joy Spinning Wheel from Ashford this week, a Knitter's Loom
and student drop spindles. Love the Joy wheel.!

Next Saturday is the shearing at Sue Ross's Farm. I cannot wait to go - I'm only getting one fleece this year. http://www.woolenmeadowfarm.com/

It's so gorgeous outside it's difficult to stay in and work on projects, but I'm committed to finishing the inside before I go outside.

march

2010-03-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

March is a busy month. I definitely have the itch for Spring to be sprung. These lovely sunny days in the near 40's get me thinking about my garden plans and the 3 or 4 knitting projects I have unfinished from last summer and some new ones I want to get done for this summer.

I developed a head cold this last week so blogging has been on the back burner. I have been working on some felting projects for Easter and hope to have them done by the weekend for New Prague. I am doing a felting demo in New Prague on Saturday morning for anyone who would like to stop by. We'll be doing some shoelaces for hockey skates and some three dimensional needle felting.

I am currently designing a cabled vest sweater for 5 year olds. It's out of Karabella Aurora 8 and it's coming along quite nicely. I'm up to the arm holes and then I'm going to add a hood per Ellie's directions. Photo later.

I'm also looking at some cottons for summer projects - Louet has a great pattern out of their Linen yarn that I'd love to make up into kits. It's a summer shell with lace sleeves.
www.louet.com

I have taken a booth at Shepher's Harvest this year. I will have my felted jackets, purses, slipper, mittens and trivets. Also, I'll be bringing some handdyed fleece and roving. Really excited to be a part of this event. I love going as a customer and I'm sure I'll enjoy being a vendor.

I taught Josh how to knit last weekend. He has been bugging me for years (he's only 5) and finally I felt he was old enough to sit still for 5 minutes to learn. HE DID IT! It was amazing. It wasn't perfect but he got the technique right away. He wants to knit hats!

Have a great day!

Spring Events

2010-02-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

Someone said to me last week that she always wanted to learn how to knit but just didn't have time, she couldn't sit still that long. There was always something to do, dust, dishes, make food, make beds, etc.

I think being a knitter or crafter person, this has always taken precedence over my housekeeping. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a clean house but I can live with disarray for a few days before I have to vacuum up the dust. I'm so glad I can sit and knit and create pieces of art.

It certainly makes my world better and brighter. I'm not the best knitter, weaver, spinner or felter but I enjoy the process.

I rarely knit a pattern the way it is supposed to be knit. This is mostly by mistake, my daughter calls it ADD but it doesn't really matter to me "why". Now if you are a perfectionist, this would probably drive you crazy but I can live with a few mistakes. I Enjoy the process, I learn something with every mistake.

EVENTS:

I have notice of several events coming up alread: Woolen Meadow Farm shearing is April 3rd, in Delano. www.woolenmeadowfarm.com for more information

Yarn Over is April 17 - Saturday only at the Hopkins High School - Vendors, classes, Cat Bordhi is the speaker and also offers classes. Not to be missed. www.minnesotaknittersguild.com

Shepherd's Harvest, Mother's day weekend May 8 and 9th (they have angora bunnies, if they have babies I may have to have one). I'm hoping to have a booth this year with felted jackets, purses, etc. plus some handdyed fleece. www.shepherdsharvest.com

All of these are great events for knitters, spinners, weavers and felters.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T10:12:00.001-08:00

This looks like two snow people (with out heads) watching the traffic go by.

Happy Valentine's Day. A little something pink for the Baby. Finished the circular baby blanket - so soft and cuddly.

The Frosted Pane just got these great tiles in their shop. I couldn't resist putting them on my blog. You can hang them any where, use as a valence, wall decor, etc. This is the only one I took a photo of but there are many more.

Zimmerman's Tomten jacket - finished. I have other colorways available if you'd like a kit for this - check out my website at http://www.creativefibers.com/

It's a gorgeous day today. Trying to stay focused on the house. Had a great massage yesterday, good day in New Prague and had the grandchildren for the evening. So fun and so busy. I gave them new little notebooks and the two older ones wrote stories. Josh's was about a monster, of course cuz he's all about scarey, and Ellies was a picture of each family member with their own personal mug. It was actually quite clever and cute for a four year old, Logan drew a picture of me (lots of circles).

Of to enjoy the day!

Models

2010-02-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

Logan's finished hoodie! I finally got him to try it on. Doesn't he look like a little gnome!

Modeling my felted jackets!!

This cute little model was in the shop on a Sat. with her mom and consented to model my felted jackets. They look so much cuter on a model. I wanted to spin her hair!!! (just kidding)

Well, to prevent breaking my neck, I shuffle to and from my garage every morning and evening. I need cleats on my boots this year.

Mary was in the shop and I asked her to model the Karabella sweaters! She's the perfect model for these sweaters. Doesn't she look fabulous.

I just ordered a classy scarf pattern from ILGA LEJA, called "Norway scarf". I already have the yarn and I will try to get a photo up here from her website if I can. She has fabulous patterns.

http://www.ilgaleja.com/

I'm nearly finished with the fluffy pink blanket and will show it to you this weekend. It's so cuddly. I have a class on Sat in New Prague for a top down baby sweater class using sock yarn. Just show up on Sat. and I'll get you going.

I'm working on a felting project. Felting shoe laces, I think the first ones are too thick, so back to the drawing board. I may have to spin this first, we'll see.

Went shopping with my son to get some essentials for his new condo. We got some really good deals on Fiberware cookware, non-coated, and new dishes and silverware. He wanted to get the mini coffee maker, like mine. It makes one cup at a time. It's a Kurig. I love it. You can also make tea and hot cocoa. We found some clearance drapes at Target and found a bookcase for his room. Unfortunately, I have been saving all this furniture for him and now, of course, he has changed his mind. Somebody will want it, right?

I am nearly finished with knitting the baby sweater from Elizabeth Zimmerman's book, the Tomten. I just have a few inches left on the sleeve.

Happy super bowl!

2010-02-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

It is a beautiful winter day Feb. 2nd. The snow coming down last night was amazing - it was shiny/sparkly and light fluffy stuff. Loved it. The groundhog has decided we have 6 more weeks, however.

Stopped at Dunn Bros on the way home last night and found one lonely knitter waiting for me. We didn't stay long due to the weather and my tired eyes but we had a nice visit.

I'm doing a beginning baby sweater class on Wed/Sat in New Prague. We're using sock yarn for a small baby. I'm making one for a new baby in the family. Join us, if you can, it's not too late.

My newest experiment is making shoe laces out of roving, either twisting it or spinning it first, and then felting it. I'll post some photos once I get a chance to try it. Thought it would be a fun class for kids this summer.

I started a vest for Ellie out of Karabella. It's got 3 cables on it and is a knock off from an adult version, sort of. It's one she picked so hopefully she'll wear it. If it works, I'll write it up.

I've been busy working and being in New Prague wed/sat. Hopefully, come spring we can do some evening classes. I'm also considering some space in Carver to host classes in the Carver Antique building. Would be a great space to knit/spin or weave. I'm hoping to get the attention of more spinners and start a group once a month on Sundays down there.

Went to see "UP IN THE AIR" last weekend. It was good. A movie for todays audiences.

Interesting twist on the male/female relationship. I sure hope this isn't what is going on out there.

Have a great day - sit and knit somewhere!

Trunk show

2010-01-22T13:21:00.000-08:00

How did it get to be the 22nd of January already. I guess I have been having so much fun that I didn't notice. Actually, that is true. I've got my shop moved, working on new samples and some are already done. I found an adorable sweater for Ellie that I want to knit and if she approves I will reveal it later.

Karabella Yarns, Trunk show is Sat 23rd and I have found some really cute hors douerves to share. Hopefully, the weather will hold and we'll have a great crowd. Bring your knitting.

Everybody is getting strange weather again, tornados, floods in Calif and Florida, 30 degrees in Minnesota!!!!

Several people I know are on a cleansing/Detox diet. I'm not sure about this because what if you take all that stuff out of your body, Let me pause here a minute, YOU MUST NOT EAT ANY SUGAR! or GLUTEN, and then you re-introduce it again, slowly, well what if you find out you cannot ever eat sugar or bread again.????

I know someone who did this, it also involves drinking a shake of some sort every day, and she forgot her shake mixture on a short 3 day trip. She thought, well, I'll just try to eat carefully and start again when I get home. Well, by the time she got home, she could hardly move, her whole body hurt so bad she couldn't work. Now, I say, what do you do about that. She started the shake business again and felt better by the end of the week. This is not a quick fix folks. You have to be very serious about it. Your headaches and other aches may go away but will they come back when you add regular food in again or can you never have sugar or gluten again?

Boy, I hope I never have to do this!!! I think exercise is the key for me!

See you saturday

Crazy weekend

2010-01-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

Had a great class on Saturday and several customers. Also, shirley came out from Minneapolis to see the shop, knit awhile and have a great lunch at Chameleons. We tried to get into Schumacher's but it was swamped and we couldn't get in right away, we were hungry and it was 1:00 pm already. It's very nice in there and I was glad to see them doing well.

Food is always upfront for me. I love food, almost any kind, I'm not fussy. So, my next stop was Victoria House to pick up their Pepperoni Soup (signature soup for their restaurant). I wanted to serve it on Sunday when my aunt and uncle came out for a visit. Also, my son, son in law, friend and grandchildren were all arriving for lunch. It was a hit! It's a broth type soup with hamburger or sausage, tomatoes, onions and great spices and you top it off with chopped pepperoni and parmesan cheese. Ommmmm, good! Did I mention the guys that own Victoria House are opening up in Chaska (where Paulys used to be). I am very excited, they have great food and great prices.

So, Sunday was crazy busy but lots of fun, watching the game, the children running through the house, fixing food, doing dishes every hour was a hi-light (if you know what I mean). My friend brought his 1 year old springer over and Josh ran around with him outside playing tag. The dog was definitely faster. A good time was had by all.

Josh wants to learn to use the spinning wheel, my lendrum was being driven for most of the day but I figured it needed some spinning. He also wants to learn how to knit, really bad!!!
I tried Ellie's new vest on to see if it would be the correct size and it looks like it will work. I am making up this pattern as I go, so we'll see.

Dan stayed for awhile and we got to catch up on all his news. He bought his first Condo this week and moves in in February.

Still working on the fluffy blanket and Ellie's vest. Photos soon. Tonight is Monday night in Chaska - such a great group.

A dreary day and it's Friday

2010-01-15T12:41:00.000-08:00

My mood is springy but the weather is gloomy!

This week has been crazy - Moved the shop in New Prague to the back space, Love it, much brighter and better space all around. Everyone has been so helpful and given me such support.
Thank you to Mosaic Alley women - you are the best.

This weekend was going to be a trunk show from Karabella Yarns but due to TNNA it has been delayed a week. Next Saturday will be the trunk show along with great Treats!

I do have a beginning knitting class this Sat at 10:30 - looking forward to meeting some new knitters.

A beaded Knit class is coming up on Mon. Jan 25 and Feb. 1st at 6:30 pm-8:00 at the Chaska Library. We will continue to meet at Dunn Bros. Coffee most Mondays except for these two nights. If you don't want to take the class you can always go to Dunn Bros and enjoy a knit night.

I have finished one more pair of slippers, my sweater from Garn Studio except for the edging and Logan's sweater now has a photo.

I am working up a circular blanket in Plymouth Yarns, and us turning out quite luscious.

2010 HAS TO BE A BETTER YEAR!

2010-01-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

Lots of news around here. Moved the shop, again, to the back room space in the same building with Mosaic Alley. It's a better space in that it is well lit, has a window and back door. Now, if I can just get it put back together by next weekend when I'm planning to have a trunk show from Karabella Yarns, Featuring "Runway Knit" by Berta Karapetyan. We will have refreshments, yarn, garments to try on and touch.

NEW YEAR'S EVE - HAT, MOVIES, FUNNY FACES ??!!!(I seriously don't know what these scared faces are about, we were watching a chrismtas cartoon that was pre-taped) You notice the stoic one! No comment!

I have already received two new books this year from my customers in New Prague. This was found on my chair when I arrived last week. This customer received an extra copy and thought I might like it. WOW! It is a great book. I love the hat in the lower corner. There are 3 designs so, of course, I want to knit them for the grandchildren.

This one was brought in by a customer direct from the publishing company she works for, the author is Lexi Boeger. It is a spinning book and is excellent! I am going to try some of these techniques this winter. It makes you drool, it's so good.!

I just started a pink baby blanket out of plymouth's Heaven Lite. It's lite and fluffy and excellent for baby blankets. Makes a great gift for a new one. This pattern is done in the circluar - there is a square blanket pattern as well.

Happy Knitting and I hope to see you next Saturday!

Dec. 27th - it's over!

2009-12-21T10:56:00.001-08:00

2 DEGREES IS THE HIGH FOR TODAY - JAN. 2ND.

Sorry this post is so late in getting posted. I've been a little busy babysitting the grandchildren overnight and didn't have time to finish this. Now I will.

I stayed home all day yesterday and got so much done.(dec. 21st when I first started this blog) What joy to have a day all to myself.

I finished the drapes last week. Made it to Bungee on Saturday. Small group but we had a great time. Had dinner with Jenna, Dan and Abby at Maude's. Jenna was working so we had dinner with her. Good to have her home.

Finished my felted slippers. Soooo cute! photo later. PHOTO OF FINISHED PRODUCT-PATTERN IS "FRENCH PRESS FELTED SLIPPERS" BY MELYNDA BERNARDI.

Well, back from Dunn Bros. I am so impressed with these women. One has knit 12 sweaters in less than 12 months. Sewed buttons on her finished sweater last night and it was perfect!!! Another is knitting an adorable dress for a baby, another finished her first top down sweater for a child, another is knitting a sweater for her daughter and last but not least we have a beautiful crocheted blanket. We have some serious knitting going on here!

I have finished a couple more jackets - one was an inspiration I saw at a play a few weeks ago and the other is the sheep - seems to sell like crazy.

A great time was had by all at Christmas. Heard from old friends from far away, family and friends. The children were adorable - they got a new jumping thing that fits in the basement. I was jumping on it with them, a real feat at my age. I was fine until I tried to get out when Ellie pushed me on my butt and I went sprawling on the floor. Laughing so hard I could not get up. Children looked puzzled.

Christmas day they all came to my house and I don't know if you took advantage of that great snow storm but it was perfect for building forts and snowmen. Jenna, Josh and Logan making the fort. Josh and Jenna couldn't come in for dinner so they took their pizza outside.

Sister and my daughter saw a movie about the "morgans". Very cute! I recommend it.

I just got the new book published by Laurie Perry, "Crazy Aunt Purl's Home Is Where The Wine Is". Good read.

Ginger Bread Houses

2009-12-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

A view of the shop - display of yarn, Cards created for Creative Fibers by Pure Joy.

Two new hat patterns available at CF only. The Rudolph Reindeer hat was Nancy's design a couple years ago. The Red (I know it looks pink) is a santa hat made from "Sprinkles" and a red worsted weight yarn. So fast and fun. The Reindeer pattern is $2 and the Santa one is free.

Finished my little purse on the Knitter's loom. So fun and fast.

Nancy knit this - it's Elizabeth Zimmerman's Rib warmer. I found a cute button and small dbl pt. needle for a closure. Everyone should have one of these.

I just found a great elastic bind off for the tops of socks. It's in the Fall Issue 2009 of Knitty.

www.issuefall09/FEATjssbo.php Jeny's Surprisingly stretchy bind off. Have fun

I'm just finishing josh's mittens and then you'll get a peek! I'm going to make the girls the French Press Felted Slippers next. I bought it, it's by Melynda Bernardi. Check out the Yarn Harlots blog - she's finished a pair already. http://www.frenchpressknits.com/

You are gonna like these!

Today is the day! We are making our gingerbread houses - I bought them last year and we are making them today. I put them together and the children will decorate them. Photos later!

This is a photo of the Helen Hamann corkscrew scarf. I have three kits available and only one single pattern left. This is so cute and you can weave another silk scarf in with the knitted scarf.

I've been busy.

Donkey Basketball

2009-12-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

I was invited to Shakopee High School last night to see the Donkey Basketball game. It was played by students, teachers, firemen and policemen. It was hilarious! The donkeys were not very cooperative so the people had to keep jumping onto their backs or pulling them to the basket and hopping on to make their final shoot into the basket.

One donkey had it down pat. He was not going to give in. As soon as someone jumped on, he bucked (pushing the person forward) then dunked his head so the person slid right off his head. He continued to do this through the whole first game and finally in the second round someone was able to stay on long enough to make a basket. (they had to walk him by lead to the basket, but was able to stay on him long enough to make a basket before sliding off his head)

One donkey just stood and I swear he was sleeping while a person sat on him. Several tried to run away with their person in tow. It was worth the $10 donation.

This is a lovely Alpaca Neck scarf - pattern is free with purchase of the Plymouth Baby Alpaca.

December was a very good month at Creative Fibers. A Big Thank you to all the customers that came out to visit.

Swirl Scarf

2009-11-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

Well, again it's been awhile since I blogged. Sorry, life just keeps getting in the way. My only excuse, and I'm sticken' with it.

Had a great Bungee on Sat. Nancy sent me home with lots of ideas (see below) and the group has decided to go to Stockholm, WI (yes, Wisconsin) for the day on Sat. Dec. 5th for the Holiday festivities they offer that weekend in Stockholm. If you want to carpool, meet in Edina at the parking lot adjacent to Tavern on France,69th and France at 9:00 AM.

I just ordered the pattern, Swirl Scarf, from Jo Jo Land, http://www.jojoland.com/

The Yarn Harlot has a photo on her blog. It's gorgeous! Thought you might want one too.

Thanksgiving was great - had a great sale in New Prague on Friday/Saturday. I was only able to be there for a short time on Friday due to feeling a little ill.

Nancy made me a sample of the Elizabeth Zimmerman "Rib Warmer" from her book Knitting Workshop. It's very simple and can be used with any yarn. Nancy also brought me a Kitten Hat designed by Joan Gilbertson but I don't have the photo to show you yet, next post.

Helen Hamman, http://www.helenhamann.com/ has a Cork Screw Scarf pattern that is adorable and can be worn as a huge fashion statement. I ordered 3 kits and some patterns, should be in next week. You're gonna love these new patterns.

I'm working on Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Tomten Sweater" in the same book, actually, it's in a couple of her books. I'm using Mini Mochi and Land O Lace's ShaSha. I love the colors and the texture. It's very drapey and should feel wonderful on a baby.photo later

I'm making mittens for the grandchildren and have finished one, so far. They also want hats, good luck to Nana.

More Ideas than time is my mojo this Christmas.

Dove Moebius Scarf and Hat, As Seen on Epsiode 303 - Knitting Daily

2009-11-20T06:47:00.000-08:00

SNOOD IS THE WORD FOR KNITTERS THIS SEASON- click on the link below for a FREE lace mobius

Dove Moebius Scarf and Hat, As Seen on Epsiode 303 - Knitting Daily

I have made two of these Mobius patterns and have them as samples in the shop. I am working on a third one that is a free pattern from Garn Studio. They are so fun to knit, fast and make a great fashion statement. They can be made in any size, loose or fitting around your shoulders. These would be impressive gifts for the season.

NEW PRAGUE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEK END. FRIDAY NIGHT 4-8 PM, SATURDAY 10-4 PM.. These women are so creative you will not want to miss this event. 20% discounts for these two days from all vendors.

Tealightful Treasures will be serving tea and scones all day saturday. Michelle Lason of Humingbird Garden will have tasting of salsa and jellies. All the boutique shops in New Prague are open so you can get all your shopping done with very unique gifts for the whole family.

See you there!

Friday the 13th

2009-11-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Yikes! I'm at work, made it safely, now just to get home! Kidding

I'm not surperstitious, just try to be aware of my surroundings.

I am up to the hood on Logan's sweater, I cannot believe I'm almost done. I am also working on a mobious out of Alpaca and another capelet from a natural yarn from Cascade and a couple other unfinished projects before it gets really cold outside.

There has been alot of interest in yarn from "Dream in Color". I guess they have some lovely blends. Check em out and if you want some, let me know. I've been trying to find some affordable Quiviut. Check out Bijou Bason and send me some feed back.

Had a little dinner at the Good Earth last night. I love their Chicken Melt sandwich and their cracker bread. Delightful. B not so much, he had shrimp curry that did not sit well.

Hoping to get the yard work done this weekend and visit the Arboretum on Sunday with grandchildren. Weekends go way to fast!

Next week we are having an open house in Mosaic Alley, Creative Fibers and the new Vintage Shop called Frosted Pane. We are having a Tea Tasting as well as specials on Holiday gifts.

I'll try to get some photos up when I'm back home.

Deer Hunting Facts:
Last year only 13% of the fields were still in the ground and this year 69% are still in the fields as of the opener. That could account for fewer Deer getting shot. I can just seem them hiding in the corn stalks with the pheasants and turkeys and whatever else gets shot this time of year.

I'll stay home and knit thank you anyway. Tomorrow is Bungee!

Dontcha just love it

2009-11-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

Humingbird Garden jellies and Salsa are now for sale at Creative Fibers. Michelle from Excelsior makes these incredible salsas and jellies. For sale this week at the Holiday Open House.

I sure hope this weather holds until Thanksgiving. That's how long it will take me to vacuum up leaves!!!! A little progress on the leaves, 8 bags and 2 hours down. At least 4 more piles.

I finished the adorable waist pouch from Norwegian Handknits. I needle felted the front instead of embroidery but I think it turned out real cute. (lost the photo of the embroidery will add later) I love this book.

I am up to the neck on Logan's sweater - almost done and not too soon. His mom is knitting him a hat and left it on the nite stand and Logan saw it and tried it on with the needles still in it. "He broke it", he told his mom. It's lovely alpaca yarn that I gave her awhile back and it will make nice hat for him.

Vivian finished the other Mobius for me. It's gorgeous. Here is the photo. She used Aurora 8

I have a great gift idea - "Country Flowers" in Carver made this little arrangement for me this week and I added the knitting needles. The arrangement was $20.00 with the vase. You can order from Annette and add your own little accessories for a great holiday gift. carverFlowers@gmail.com

Joshua showed me at lunch how he used a marker and drew a map on the underside of their wood kitchen table today. I asked why he did that? He said, "I couldn't find paper big enough to draw this huge map". I gotta give it to him, he's logical, just not practical.

New Felted Jacket with Turtles !

Nov. 1st

2009-11-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

The Magician - he even knows tricks - like removing his nose!

Mary Had a Little Lamb! she really had a lamb and she takes very good care of him. The lamb in costume below. This was the after party!

The Lamb! So happy!

Happy Holloween!!! So much fun! Before Trick or Treating! We had pizza and lots of candy. The weather held so they were able to be out quite long.

This is Logan the Bug zapper. He carries my little vacuum around all the time zapping bugs, even outside. He and Cally are on the hunt.

Sunday they came over to help rake leaves, sort of!

Holloween 2009

2009-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is the blanket of leaves on my huge yard! I haven't quite figured out what or how to dispose of them as yet - I've been hoping for wind but alas none has come to help me.

Well, here we go again. I grew my own pumpkins this year. My daughter took the large one for decoration and I carved the smaller one (yes, I only got two out of my garden, the others were still green and didn't make it).

This one became my Jack O Lantern - see the little lights on the table - those are great for Pumpkins. I also learned a trick today, You carve the pumpkin from the bottom and the seeds just fall out (practically). This great pumpkin did not have alot of stuff inside and was super easy to carve.

This is my new fast project. Its from the Book, "Norwegian Handkints". this is a little messenger pouch - I'm just finishing the 78" I-cord strap and then it will go in the washer.

Logans sweater is coming along - I finished the body, 1 sleeve and then we re-attach sleeves to body.

I have been bouncing all over the country roads this week. First Carver to NP, NP to Minneapolis (1 hour), Mpls to Carver. Next Day, Carver to NP, NP to Victoria, back to Carver, Carver to Edina and Back to Carver. It is crazy and all necessary.

Today is wet, wet, wet and I'm heading over to Victoria for Ladies Night Out at the Deer Run Golf Course. I have never been to this but Noelle of Tealightful Treasures is having a booth and thought I check it out.

2009-10-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is sock/shawl weight from Land O Lace. Handdyed at a very nice price. She sent me two scarf patterns and everyone at Bungee loved this yarn. She also has handdyed lace in merino/silk blend. www.landolace.com

Cascade Heritage is another new sock/scarf weight yarn that arrived last week.
and of course we have to have Cascade Tweed for sweaters, hats, mittens and felted projects!

We had a great time at Bungee again. Everyone is working on something new or finishing an old project. The mixed berry pie alamode wasn't bad either!

Weaving student finished her scarf in one day on the Ashford Knitter's loom. Such a fun loom, you can weave a scarf faster than you can knit it on this loom. This particular customer has a great stash to work from to make many lovely scarves.

This week is Holloween and we are having a book signing in New Prague by an author who writes children's books. This is his second, I believe, about the old days of trick or treats in the Country. Very cute book.

I have a lawn covered in a blanket of leaves and now I'm praying for a nice strong wind to come blow them away. They are too wet to rake or mow so that's what I'm hopin' for.

I'm up to the arm pits on Logan's sweater, started a sleeve and then had to stop so I could start this cute little purse (felted heart shape) in the book "Norwegian Handknits" by Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel (Minneapolis native, works at Three Kittens Yarn Shop) This is designed after the Leather Waist Pouch dated to 1795-when men carried leather waist pouches because their garments had no pockets. This version is knit and felted and then embroidered. I love it! Mine is purple and I'll get a photo when I get more done.

First snow

2009-10-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

First Snow - October 13th, 2009

I'm not liking this! It is pretty but really, I have not cleaned out my garden yet!

If you don't receive newsletters from Knitting Daily, you should. They have a new tutorial on there today showing a video on how to cable without a cable needle. Now, I know that this would send some of my students into arrest, because you need to take your stitches off the needle for a minute and put them back on but it is quicker and more efficient, especially if you are doing alot of them like the famous "Central Park Hoodie" (Ravelry). Oh, plus you get a free pattern of a cabled cardigan on Knitting Daily website. http://www.knittingdaily.com/

Ravelry, again is the wonderful website for designers to show their work. I just bought the Summer Soltice pattern from Heidi Kirrmaier and when it printed (it cost $7), it came out in another language that I don't recognzie. (Probably Scandinavian) I emailed Heidi and she immediately sent me an english version. Neither one of us can figure out why this happened. My computer is not set for a random language so the evil elves were are work here. Its a very well written pattern and I love the design of this buttonless cardigan.

Another great pattern source is Knitty.com/ISSUEfall09 is now available. I just printed off the Colonnade Shawl Pattern - I love it and the designer is a MAN, Stephen West. He has a blog and some other great patterns that I will want in the future.

So many patterns, so much to knit. I just started a sweater for Logan out of my beloved Karabella, Aurora 8 yarn, using the wallaby pattern from Carol Anderson but without the pocket so it's called an un-wallably!

Ellie had her first dance recital this week! Great job Ellie! Now she's going on to Jazz, Josh is too!

Had a visit with my 85 year old Aunt and Uncle last week. He had a back procedure where, he says, they inserted cement into his deteriorating disc. He figured if they could do that between each vertebrae he could grow another 2-3 inches. (he's lost 2-3 inches over the years). He also said, when they have nothing else to do, which isn't often because they are busy people, they go to Walmart and park in the parking lot and people watch. Never thought of that myself! I knit!

Snow!!!!

2009-10-12T06:04:00.001-07:00

Well, need I tell you I have not done a thing in the garden yet? Hopefully, we will have some mild winter yet so I can clean up this mess. The trees have not even dropped their leaves yet!!!

I did get this pumpkin out of the garden last week. It's a keeper!

I've had a busy week. Worked a temp job at a great company. Had Ladies Nite Out on Thursday in NP and "my oh my" the Barbie look alikes I saw. Women really got into this with wigs and different outfits. Who knew?? It was alot of fun. Friday night class and Saturday class were great. Great customers.

Sunday evening we had a little party for Jenna. She's moving to LA on Wednesday. I wish her the very best but will miss her terribly. My sister moved away when she was in her 20's and has never considered moving back, so I'm preparing myself for Jenna's move. She just feels she needs a change and warmer climate will help.

Working on a new mobius - I finished the one and it turned out cute. The new one is a pattern from Garn Studio (free) and made out of Alpaca. I'm using Plymouth's Alpaca in White.

WIP :

Socks with possum yarn

Logan's blue sweater

Alpaca Mobius

Afghan in blue blocks

I finished the Mermaid scarf using Elsbeth Lavold's silky wool. I love it - it's light weight but warm around the neck.

Monday night in Chaska is tonight ! Hope to see you there

Brought in the pumpkins

2009-10-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last night Josh stayed overnight and while it was still light out, we brought in the pumpkins so they wouldn't freeze. Photo later (you know why)!

Had a great evening watching a Casper the ghost movie, baking bars to go up to the family gathering in South Haven today for buggy rides at my cousins house. Nicole ran her first 10K today so Uncle Dan stayed overnight at the house to wake up with the other two and Josh and I went over later for breakfast. We had a great time.

I finished the mobius last week, the mermaid scarf, the hat with my homespun yarn and started the cable scarf and Logan's sweater. I'm finally getting something accomplished. Photos later (YKW).

Off to the party - have a great day, knitting, I hope.

New felted jackets....

2009-09-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Watching Joshua play socccer and trying to keep warm!

New felted jackets:

It's been a while between posts because I wanted to get some photos on here but something is wrong with my camera and my computer - they don't like each other. Sorry no photos of new projects this time. Finally got the photos -

Last Sat was Art in the Park in Carver and I sold two jackets right off the batt. I had four new ones ready for the show and one of those sold. It was a jacket Nancy had embroidered a fishing frog onto the lower edge, I added a pocket, buttons and some needle felted cattails. It was very cute and I hope to get the photo up soon even though it sold. It was a beautiful day even though the streets were torn up in Carver.
Sold this one at 10 am sharp.

Lots of interest in the Knit shop from customers around this area. Hopefully, they will meet with us on Monday nights at Dunn Bros. in Chaska. This group is growing, up to six people so far. The one thing I love about doing these shows is the people you meet and get to visit with.

I met Edie from a Dry goods shop in Hudson. Drove out there on Monday and had a great time looking at her fabulous fabrics. She also has antiques, some linens and gift items. Next door is a fudge shop so we had to stop in there for my chocolate fix. Great destination. I recommend it highly.

Mary found some great wool coats that I'm going to try felting on for adult women. I am repeatedly asked for this, so hopefully they will sell when I get them finished.

Just wanted to give you a brief update and will add more later , too late and too tired.

Okay, I think

2009-09-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

The shop is going very well and changes every week. Above is my version of yarn cupcakes!

Okay, I think the months have switched themselves around. It feels like August but it's getting dark earlier every day so it must be September, hmmmm?

Vivian is selling these fantastic felted purses in the shop!

Working on the Knitter's loom - not sure what this will be yet, but it sure is fun and fast.

I worked the Junk Bonanza for two days and found a couple great buys. A cool black/red checked wool jacket for $20, a herringbone vintage swing coat (reversible) for $20. Lots of great ideas and fun people.

Then I had a busy saturday in New Prague with Dozinky Days. Lots of knitters and a few weavers came by, a few old friends and lots of new ones. I had two groups of teens and pre-teens. They came into the shop to sit on my sofas and take a rest, so I got them knitting. We had a great time. I overheard in the conversations, "My Mom doesn't even know how to do this, wait til she finds out I'm at the Knit Shop" and "This is great, now I'll have something to do after school so I won't be so bored". Great group of students!

Today a group of prayer shawl knitters came out to NP to visit the shop. We visited quite a long time, they shopped and then it was time to end. Hopefully, they will visit again.

Tonight I'm sewing little dresses and finishing the felted jackets Nancy embroidered (photos when they are done) I will sell these in the Park in Carver this saturday. I have a booth. Lots of Antique Dealers in the City Hall for the once a year Antique Show and of course, the Shops in Carver will be open with all their vintage ware. Bungee group is coming out for the afternoon and a lunch at Harveys.

wip

2009-09-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Circular sweater from Vogue Knitting spring/summer - Botanica Medallion sweater. Believe it or not the circular part is the easy part. I'm having difficulty getting the right number of stitches on the flat part or straight part, whatever!

This little white sweater for summer, heh heh, will be for next summer but it's a knit along that you don't have to think about, so I can take it anywhere.

This is a fun little pattern using Elsbeth Lavold wool silk that I had left over. It should feel great and I love the open weave.

I'm also felting new sweaters for the Art in the Park even in Carver of Sept. 26th. I believe I blogged about this earlier and thought it was during Steamboat days, but it is separate along with an huge Antique Sale in town. Steamboat Days is a celebration in town with a parade, food vendors, etc. Sorry if I confused you - I come by it naturally!

Spending alot of time in New Prague. It's been fun meeting all the knitters and Crocheters. Crocheters are huge in New Prague. I'll have to beef up on my skills for this group.

Went to Josh's soccer game last night. What fun! 5 and 6 year olds. I was impressed, they actually knew what direction to go and could kick the ball. Have a great Holiday weekend everyone!

Having fun again

2009-08-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

Update on New Prague! I'm having so much fun meeting new knitters, wannabe knitters and experienced knitters in and around NP. There seem to be alot of travelers right now from all around Minnesota. There should be more in the Fall because Schumacher Inn is reopening. YEA!

NP is so convenient, I have the Post office and UPS right across the street, a Office Supply store, Lau's Bakery, the Chameleon Coffee Shop (highly recommend her scones), several boutiques like the Mosaic Alley, so I don't have to go far to find a gift anymore, everything at my fingertips (or down the block).

Sept. 11, 12 and 13th is "Steamboat Days" in Carver. I will be in the park with a booth for the three days and all the shops will be open - if you can come on out for the fun. www.carver.com

I'm working in Sept. 17 and 18th at the "Junk Bonanza" at Canterbury Downs. I'll be in the Coral at the Register. Should be very fun -looking forward to finding some great stuff! All the "Shabby Chic", Antiques new and old people will be there. Don't miss it! http://www.junkbonanza.com/

Finally, I'll be in NP for Sat. the 18th for Dozinky Festival - Czech fall festival - the whole town comes out, street are closed to traffic, vendors line the streets, Czech Beer Garden and food. I can hardly wait! www.newprague.com/dozinky

Lots to look forward to this month. This month is your chance to try weaving on a SOARI LOOM. I have a couple classes scheduled this month in NP - first one next Tuesday - check out the class schedule on my website: http://www.creativefibers.com/

I am working on several projects right now, The Swirl Sweater on the cover of Vogue Spring Summer. I have a scarf started in Elsbeth Lavold's wool/silk and, of course, the afghan and a new pair of socks from a yarn which includes Possum. So soft and will feel great on your toes.

New Prague

2009-08-23T08:16:00.001-07:00

The Knitting Lounge in New Prague - isn't that the cutest setee? Mary borrowed it to me for the shop. Most of the furniture I'm using for display is also for sale. We will continue to add pieces as they sell. Great Idea from these talented women that run the Mosaic Alley.

I have had great response in NP so far. Have a great schedule laid out but it seems most people just want to learn how to knit so far. This has peaked some interest - designer felted balls!

The weather has turned in our favor. Great knitting weather is upon us, plus the state fair. Another bit of good news is Schumacher Inn in NP is reopening. A little more casual but great food, plus he will have 5 rooms available if you want to stay in town. More on this later.

I am working on a mobius wrap. If you've never tried this before I think you should. It's not that difficult and very fun and fast to knit. Kat Bordhi has a tutorial cast-on on youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4. Makes it very simple and once you're on the needles you just fly. The one pattern I'm working on is Harmonia's Rings Cowl by Sivia Harding. http://www.siviaharding.com/ I have them for sale if you are interested in purchasing. Another one on Ravelry is the Easy Mobius Capelet by Haley Waxberg, it's free. Drops Design has a very sexy looking one is Alpaca that is also free on their website. Moebius Shawl in Alpaca and Vivaldi. It's also free.

Have fun and let me know if you finish one, I'll post some photos on the website.

I'm also working up a scarf in Elsbeth Lavold's wool silk which is a quick knit, light weight scarf. Photo when I get a little more done.

If I only had six hands I could get alot more knitting done. This time of year, I go crazy trying to decide what samples I want for the shop, what I want to knit for the Grandchildren, etc.
Speaking of which, I babysat last night. We had such a great time, riding bikes, drawing on the easel, eating snacks and watching "Dora" before bed. Everyone got a bath, and were put happily into their little beds.

Suddenly, I get this feeling. It feels like a urinary problem, if you know what I mean. I called Nicole to come home because I know this malady progresses quickly and Urgent Care closes at 10 pm. They got home at 9:45 - the URgent Care was just at St. Francis so I ran in there and this wonderful woman rushed me thru so I could make it into UC before they closed. She also was surprised at the big number I had entered under AGE! She even took a double take. What a compliment if I wasn't in such duress.

So, I finally got the results about 11 pm, now where do I get the prescription filled because this is what I really came for. Well, it's one of those machines in the Lobby. Yes, thank you. Feeling a little better today.

out to enjoy the outdoors!

A new way to use Fiber...

2009-08-10T17:53:00.001-07:00

First, Happy 4th Birthday, Ellie! A swimming time was had by all the wee ones.

A NEW USE FOR FIBER! I was busy in the other room and walked in to find these two with roving wrapped around their bodies. She was a bumble bee with a stinger and Josh had some kind of armor on his body. I thought it was very clever, who knew???

My sister was here and we had the two children overnight for the first time. Ellie slept upstairs with Tia and Josh slept in my bed until the first storm of the year hit! Dontcha know!

Ellie woke up wanting her mom so Tia brought her down to me. I had already crawled into bed with Josh cuz he's scared of storms so I gave up my couch position and crawled into my bed with him. He sleeps like a log.

Ellie crawled in between us and of course starts talking. She said, "Tia woke me up from snoring too loud" Tia said, "She kept rolling around and hitting me in the head and then her hand would get caught in my hair and she'd pull my hair when she yanked her hand out." I'm not going to be the referee here, but it seems to me those two cannot be put together again.

So, I finally fell back to sleep and Josh woke up at 6:30 exclaiming, "Time to get up, Nanna". "Say", he says, "We can all sleep in one bed". Yea, isn't that perfect! Until next time!!!

That morning was Ellie's Birthday so we had pancakes and canned peaches. We had a great day!

Monday, We had lunch with Shirley at Salut on 50th. Great Food! Took Sandy to the airport, then drove home and ran out to New Prague for a quick delivery. Tuesday, Noelle helped me move a bunch of stuff out to New Prague and Tomorrow we will get set up for the weekend. Hooray! I can hardly wait! There are some great coffee shops in NP and a new Wine Bar is going into the old Schumacher Inn. Wine and Yarn do mix in case you're wondering!

Fairies

2009-08-05T11:54:00.001-07:00

Check this out - so cute! Flitter Fairies! I can hardly wait to show the grandchildren. They are a little delicate for 2-5 year olds so I'll keep it at my house. (haha).

So far the only place you can get them iS Carver Flowers - These are so much fun - there is a little thread attached to her and you attach the other end to yourself with a hair clip and flip the switch and she flutters around you. She also has a magic wand for special tricks. as well as a parking station, mine is on the mirror. It came off in the middle of the night and scared the heck out of me. Didn't know what fell! (my heart) and each fairy has a book. There are four different ones. Call Annette at Carver Flowers to order one - better hurry they are going fast.

This is the afghan knit along project. I've started the next square in green. This so easy - it's a take along project so far until it gets too big. It's out of Lamb's Pride Cotton Fleece. It will be wonderful to curl up with this winter.

Got word the new sign will be up in one week in New Prague. Sister is coming tomorrow so I won't move much over to New Prague until next Tuesday.

LAWN MOWER IS BROKE and my grass is ankle length around the perameter of the house. I found 4 hornets nests last night and got all of 'em. I noticed a few more so I'll have to pick up a can before my Sister gets here.

Finished sewing Ellie's dresses but still no photo of her in it. Will get that later.
Happy knitting outside in this great summer we're having.

Inspired by the garden

2009-08-04T08:06:00.001-07:00

Inspired by the garden - I just did this in the dyepot and walked outside and looked at the garden and there it was. It's in your head even when you don't know it. Your eye sees it!

I'll be selling this roving in New Prague so I'm really into dyeing fiber right now. I just got a call yesterday that the three bags of wool I sent to "Wooly Knob" is being shipped back all clean and carded. Can hardly wait.

In the Dye Pot as we speak!

These are the first red tomatoes - I love these little cherry tomatoes - they don't last long in my garden, but I have the promise of some Romas and Big Boys on their way.

These are clematis that I believe have lost their petals but look at the little spire they leave behind. Fascinating!

I'm working up a sample of the Knit One Below scarf for a class I'll do in New Prague. It is really fun and feels almost "naughty" like I'm making a mistake every time I knit in the stitch below. I've made a few mistakes and had to pull out because it's difficult to get your stitches back on correctly with this pattern. There is a four row repeat and you have to watch carefully that you do each one in sequence. Well, you know I have trouble with lace, so this is equal to that for me. It's not difficult but you have to pay attention. My ADD kicks in when I have to pay attention.!

Ordered more yarn yesterday to stock New Prague. I can hardly wait to get all set up.

Just the way I like it

2009-08-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

This weather is incredible. I love this weather - I can knit every day in comfort. Actually, I've been doing alot of sewing. I made this little sundresses for Ellie this week. I do have a pattern made for the pillow case dress for a size 4 if anybody would like one - email me.

I'll get a photo with her wearing it. So cute and so easy.

Well, lots has been happening this week. I have decided to expand in New Prague in the back of Mosaic Alley. I will add Creative Fibers at the bottom of this sign so you can easily find me. It's a great space and affordable so I can have classes. Working up a class schedule as we speak so if anyone is interested in teaching some kind of fiber arts, watercolor, needleart, just let me know. I'd love to share this space with a quilter - we would compliment each other nicely. I will have the class schedule up next week on the website.

Meanwhile, I'm working up new projects and ideas - it's very energizing. No jobs out there right now so why not try this. I love New Prague! Cute little town with some good restaurants that don't break the bank but have great food. Come for a visit and sit and knit on Tuesdays, anytime during the day. There is a cute little courtyard in the back....

News

2009-07-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

This is downtown Carver, sat morning - If you are a biker - this is your destination point. All summer we have folks coming here to have lunch/dinner/whatever at one of the three bars in town. Cute historic Carver!

New Prague is my news. I'm expanding the shop in New Prague - I will be there weekly, ready to help with all knitting questions, offering a wide range of classes and fiber. I will be offering felting, spinning, weaving and knitting/crochet classes. I am very excited and hope to have everything moved in by Aug. 15th. I will continue to be in the same location but am taking over a larger space.

My newest dye work - I will be doing alot more of this for the new shop!
These ropes are approx. 6 oz. each and are $20.00 - just call to order or email me.

Knitting progress - still working on the summer shell (summer is only a month left), the log cabin blanket has one square completed. I have several new projects I want to start before fall.

Most of my time will be spent setting up shop over the next month so I can get classes going in September. Besides this sewing project and a few others, I haven't had much time to blog. I cannot believe I'm doing so much sewing right now. This is a little sun dress for Ellie and then we're going to try to make a couple "pillow case dresses" . My daughter saw them on Etsy and wants to try to make some. Very cute.

Bungee Knitters was on Sat and again this coming Sat. Aug. 1st. Great group - everyone is working so hard and accomplishing so many finished projects I feel left out of the loop. Here is Julie tearing out her beautiful scarf. She doesn't mind though, she a true knitter! She wanted it to be perfect. It will be!

Keep checking back here or my website for updates.

UP TO THE LAKE

2009-07-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

There is a loon in the first photo - everytime I aimed, he dove. Here are the kids and their Dad. They swam like fishes, I sat on the dock - It was not hot enough to jump in that cool water.

New projects:

I'm working up a shawl in "Knit One Below" by Elise Duvekot. I'm teaching a class using this unique technique. It makes a lovely fabric for nearly anything. Check it out at XRX books. I'll get a photo up when I get a few more rows done. I'm teaching at the Yarn Garage in Rosemont. Schedule is in the works so be patient.

I learned two new knitting techniques this week:

One, I received a video of --when you are knitting in the round and don't want the join to show (who does want that jog to show?) you simply join the yarn, knit one round and when you come around again to the first stitch, knit in the stitch below and your jog will not be noticeable. It is so cool.

Nancy called last night and she learned a new technique for knitting socks. If you would like a nice finished cast on at the top of your sock plus more elasticity, simply cast on the number of stitches you need. Knit around the first round by increasing one stitch in each stitch. On the second round, k2 tog. See how you like it. Then just continue as usual. This was in Charlotte Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks book. Nancy swears by it

Well, it has been an interesting couple of weeks here in Carver. I am currently healing from my planter's faciaitis (I don't know how you spell this malady). At any rate, I'm seeing a chiropractor, Eagle Creek in Prior Lake, and they are doing accupuncture and cold lazer on my heel. It seems after continuing on at the garden center, I've increased the inflamation so now I have to work to get that under control. Two treatments and it's about 40% better. I am not working at the Garden Center any longer. I am working for Steven at the YARN GARAGE!!!

YEA! It is so much fun and so dangerous cuz I've already found about 5 new things I want to knit. Steven has lots of news too. He's opening a second spot in Minneapolis in an old Fire Station in the Fall. Boy, this has got my creative juices flowing again.

Keep knitting!

No, I'm sorry Miss Bonny cannot come out to play...

2009-07-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

This came in the mail last week - It'll probably be Bumblebee like when I get to spinning it.

Bette Midler's song from Beaches keeps running through my mind today. I cannot remember anything except that title line. I have been very under the weather. Swollen foot and rash on hands and finally a diagnosis of bladder infection. I think this is the culprit. It sure put me under for a week. At least it was cool and cloudy outside.

I watched "Chocolat", " When Harry Met Sally" and several other TV shows. I dosed quite often so reading was tough.

I did manage to start three new projects. A new Shell, which I think I mentioned before. Yes, it will roll at the bottom.

Leg warmers for Ellie. She's been taking dance this summer and thinks she's a ballerina.

KNIT A LONG WITH ME. Go to the "Mason-Dixon Knitting" blog and copy this pattern for free. There are two patterns, "Moderne Log Cabin Blanket" and " Moderne Baby Blanket"

I found some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in blues and greens that I can use for this. I'm doing the "moderne Log Cabin Blanket. It's easy and fun and I'm trying to make myself "Pick" through the whole thing. I'm doing pretty good.

Well, gang, back to the couch.

Now this is more like it!!!

2009-06-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Mustard Seed has a Farmer's Market on Fridays and I brought the Grandchildren one Fri. for a visit to the donkeys/goats and chickens. We also have a great playground.

Well, that Friday a woman had a bevy of Pug puppies she was selling. Two different litters. There was one all black one but he must have been off somewhere when I took the photo. Josh was in heaven; Ellie was a little unsure and Logan was not going to get into that mess of puppies no way no how. You can just she his orange crocs at the top of the photo and that's as far as he got. He wears those crocs everywhere. I had a pug once (the pug from hell) and now I Know Why I bought her cuz they sure are cute when they are babies and at the time I needed to nurture something. This woman said, she thought I got a bad one. I sure did.

Now this weather is lovely. Carver has been hoppin downtown. They had several articles in several papers regarding their shops and people showed up in droves all three days. Wow! I met a new neighbor today too. Her house is on the Historic register and she has a gorgeous backyard. She had it open to the public today. She has Beautiful plants and she's a knitter.

I pulled out the yellow shell I was working on - it was too big, so I started a new one. I'm using some leftover Merlin for this cute Nymph Tee published in Winter 2008/spring 09 issue of Knitscene.

Its start a new project week. I started a pair of short socks from the Drops magazine No.111 using some self striping sock yarn I had. I'll get photos up eventually. Then I saw a great afghan on Mason Disxon blog. It's a moderne log cabin blanket. I loved it and found some Brown Sheep cotton I can use for it. I'm so all over the place right now. Reign me in somebody. My creative juices are flowing.

I just finished a great book called the Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton. It's a New York Times bestseller. The story is a rediscovered classic, unforgetable saga of the heartland families. It's a good read and tells the story of a family in western missouri during the first half of the twentieth century. How the bonds of love hold a family together through thick and thin.

That's what summer is about, reading, knitting (crafting), planting and enjoying these lazy days of which we have few.

Did I miss summer????

2009-06-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

Boy, has it been cold at work this week. Not fun! Also, got a bat in the house probably because he thought it must be Fall. Everyone's confused. I was crawling into bed and just getting comfy when the dog perked up and looked like she was expecting someone ??? Suddenly a bat came sailing through my room - I screamed - it left - I shut the door and went to sleep. I'll deal with it in the morning.

Morning, no bat to be found - walking around tentatively - left for work - came home - still no bat to be seen - friend came for dinner - eating dinner and this creature comes crawling across the kitchen floor - OHHHHHHH! EEEEEE! I hate the sight of those things. Hit it a few times, threw it outside and it must have been just stunned because it is gone later. We were feeling bad about the beating but it's them or me!!

Did some dye work a couple weeks ago: It's all for sale! Wants some ?

email me - aqua is 5 oz. each $15.00/ea

Green - 6 oz.

$16.00

Red/brown -6 oz - $16.00

Shipping $3.00

Took a field trip to "Yarn Garage". Have you been there? You have got to go! It is loaded with every kind of yarn you can imagine. It's just heavenly! Steven knows his stuff - has great patterns, buttons, everything!!!!

Hummingbirds attack woman in garden center

2009-06-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I was walking through the garden center at 7:15 am and I felt something brush my hair, I thought at first it was a drip from a pipe but then I noticed this little thing frantically flying around trying to get out of the green house. It was a hummingbird who actually dive bombed my head. I opened the doors so he/she could escape and it did eventually.

Must be the time for critters - "Crazy Aunt Purl" in california found a baby possum on her door step and it was injured. You have to read her blog to see what all she went through to save this possum.

Look what came in the mail? This is from Sweetgeorgia yarns. They have a Fibre Club and this is Blue Face Leicester - the colorway she explains is from a restaurant in Vancouver, "The Foundation". It's the odd fern green chairs against pale aqua walls and warm woods. I cannot wait to try it. You can join this club at: www.ravelry.com/groups/sweet-sweetgeorgia or just go to their website http://www.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/

This is a fun little treat for me. I have been doing some dyeing also: I am spinning the peachy color now and have the other two for sale - $2.00/oz. email me if you are interested.

Great spinning weather outside!

Spinning and Knitting

2009-05-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-28T17:49:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-16T09:14:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-10T04:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

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.!

No time to play

2009-04-30T16:45:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the blogging. I have been adjusting to this new job and I'm dead tired when I get home.

I am working on a little sweater that Kris Olson designed and we're hoping to enter it and see if we can get it published. I don't have a photo yet but you must use one skein of sock yarn.
That's all I'm knitting right now and barely that.

My foot continues to give me great pain, so I limp all over the place, they are probably wondering what they hired. We have all the annuals in and most of the perennials. It looks and smells lovely. Today I learned how to catch KOI fish and sell them. We have 3 different sizes. Makes me want to have a pond.

My yard really needs attention but I haven't been able to get out there yet. My sister was here last week for Josh's 5th birthday and we had a great visit. I signed her up for eharmony and match.com (in phonenix). There are some great guys out there. I screen them and send her my critique. She insists she doesn't want to do this, but I will persevere.

Sorry, no photos today. Too tired. I'll try to get better before long. Have you read, "Crazy Aunt Purl" lately. She is such a hoot. She's having a dispute with her gardners again.

Bungee is saturday, May 2nd so I may have some more to blog by sunday.

What a week!

2009-04-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I worked every day this week, 2 half days. My planter's is still killing me so "B" and I went to the MOA to the "Walking Store". He thought he remembered where it was. Mind you I'm in agony after working half a day and he cannot find the d.....store. Look on the map and it's wrong, so he goes ahead to find it while I rest. He calls and tells me to keep going in the direction I was headed. I found it and I finally bought some gell inserts (which he claims fixed his foot). After walking the mall I was too tired (and in too much pain)to fix hamburgers so we went to the VFW!

Thursday night I was at Holasek's Nursery in Chanhassen for Ladie NIght OUt. It was terrific. At least 400 women came to plant their pots, enjoy a complimentary massage by a woman who used to be a policewoman (she has serious strength). She also massages race horses. She is in Shakopee. I had lots of interest for my yarn shop and several women interested in a knitting group in Chaska. It was very fun and I sure hope they some more of these. Very organized but messy.

Yarn Over is tomorrow for anyone able to attend - it's at the Minnetonka High School, I believe. check the website "Minnesota Knitter's Guild" for details. I may try and get to it in the afternoon but I have my shop open in the house tomorrow. All the shops in Carver are open. Lots of cute stuff for mother's day and gardening.

Do you believe this Pirate thing??? First it's terrorists and now it's pirates. What is next?

I'm too tired to think - more later

Knitting

2009-04-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

Guess where I went on Saturday??? Woolen Meadow farm had their shearing Day.
This sheep is about to get a hair cut. No lambs this year. They are taking a break. Lovely fleece however. I bought two, a white , named Ally and a dark named Boo or something like that. At any rate I'm going to send them out to be processed to Wooly Knob in Indiana, then maybe I can actually get them spun up.
Met up with Shelly, whom I haven't seen since I closed the shop and we had a very nice visit. Thank you Shelly!

I finished logan's sweater and it looks so cute on him. He pranced around modeling for us. This is a couple inches longer than the pattern calls for because my daughter requested that.

I love this pattern - thank you Carol from Cottage Creations. I asked Carol to make an adult version but she said she has been asked this quite a bit, and so far it has not happened. So, I encouraged her but we'll see. Josh wants one also but the largest size is 36 mos. and Josh will be 5 on May 1st. so I'd have to do the math to get his size on this one. Wish me luck.

I have been asked to be a part of Ladies Night Out on April 16 from 5:00 PM on at the Earl Holasek Greenhouses in Chanhassen. I will have my knitting stuff and am giving up some great knitting books for the Auction. This should be alot of fun - food, snacks, beverages, free stuff, bring in a pot and plant it for Mother's Day.

Same night is the Eden Prairie Art Center event at City offices in the Garden Room. Also, food, entertainment, great auction (I have offered my jackets).

We are working on getting a knitting/crocheting group together in Chaska. We have a few people and hopefully can get going this Spring. I will be there if you need help, otherwise it will be a relaxed evening of chatting and working on projects. Email me if you would like to join this group.

I will be very busy in the next few weeks. Working is going great and I hope you come out to the Mustard Seed to visit, plants will be in by May 1st. Check the websit for details. www.themustardseed.com

My sister is coming for Josh's birthday and I haven't finished painting upstairs so I will be truckin' to get that done.

Have a great Easter and if you live near by stop in at Carver Flowers for some wonderful gifts and great flowers. Annette does some stunning boquets.

Knitting away

2009-03-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

It is still cold enough to knit. I have made great progress on Logan's sweater. I am using Karabella Aurora 8 and the pattern is Mary Anderson's, Cottage Creation's pattern, "Lillie's Little Sweater". I love her patterns, they are easy to follow and always turn out perfect. You can change them easily, like the bottom of mine I don't want to pull in with ribbing so I just knit 10 rows and it lays very nice and flat. (although it is rolled in this photo,(bugger!) it really does lay nice) She has many patterns and if you are interested just give me a shout.

I've also make progress on my summer shell. I decided to add Toffutsies sock yarn with the Classic Elite cotton to get the gauge and it's working out great. I love the color variation and looks like summer to me.

Tomorrow night is Fish fry at the St. Nicholas Church across the street from me. It is now a fish bake because we couldn't get the fryers we needed to deep fry them. Wish us luck and hope they don't rebel on us. The People, not the fish.

Although have you seen that ad with the fish mounted on the wall singing, "don't eat that little fish, what if it was you in that sandwich, etc." I cannot remember the whole thing but it's quite funny and effective. Makes me think twice.

Saturday is my first experience with the Starving Artist Sale in Carver. I hope it goes well. I have no idea what to expect. I'll definitely post about it.

60 degrees today

2009-03-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

I think we will hit 60 today. I can finally finish painting upstairs - I can open the windows to air it out. This paint smell is very toxic in cold weather.

I'm on the search for new light fixtures for my kitchen. Now that it is repainted I feel the need to replace these odd fixtures over the sink.

I'm working away on PIP (projects in progress). My purple sweater has two pieces finished and only 3 left to go. I'm on the down side of the top down sweater for logan - only 6 more inches to go and then the sleeves and the summer cotton is turning out pretty cute. I've added Toffutsies sock yarn to the cotton and it gives it kind of a fiesta look. I'll get photos up this week, I promise.

Popular patterns at New Prague are "City Sheep" baby patterns. They are great to knit for beginners. I know they work up great in almost any yarn and fit the size they say they are going to fit. Thanks Barb and Kris for these great patterns.

Baby Pullover with hat (1), (made out of sock yarn, that patterns by itself) Fifth Floor purse(2) (knit in ribbon yarn or it can be used with wool and felted) Baby sweater and booties (3). (knit is alpaca in the photo and can be knit in any yarn). There are a couple more I don't have photos of right now, Garter Stitch Baby Jacket or pullover and Hooded sweater.

Just a short catch up note this time, more tomorrow!

An "Ah ha" moment in Knitting

2009-03-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Well, first of all, dontcha love this winter. I expected the snow but now 20 some below zero again.!

This is the photo of the "yarn over" stitch (2nd one from the right)

I was working on my sweater last night and kept trying to figure out this increase. It says, "inc 1 st. within the 5 front stitches. (the first 5 stitches are K2, p1, K1, p 6) So I thought it must, of course mean, right before the purl begins. A side note says, "yo for the increase and on the next row twist the stitch and knit as a purl stitch to look like the right side."

Well, I tried several versions and if I just did the "YO", it left a big hole and I couldn't figure out exactly where to place this increase so I tried a couple different positions and finally gave up and went to bed. It always makes sense in the morning (knitting and other things become clearer in the morning).

(2nd photo is the one of the hole created with just the yarn over)

(3rd photo is one of the correct finished stitch, cannot even see it)

This is what you are supposed to do to that stitch on the way back (purl side). Take it off the needle, twist it, put it back on and purl it. Now, I figured that out all on my own. I have never increased like this before and I couldn't believe that is what they really meant, but they did. Again, just read the pattern and do what it says, don't over think it.

I have started a new project just because....

I had this provence cotton sitting in the LR staring at me and I kept thinking about this cute shell Barbara Maeder designed several years ago. It fits perfectly and is very flattering. I tried swatching it with just provence and could only get close to the gauge on a size 10 (not a 7 which she used using Mission Falls wool). I got 4.5 on a size 10 and decided to use this Toffutsies sock yarn (with the provence)that kept screaming at me from the sock bin. It works up perfectly to 4.25 sts/inch on a size 10 needle. Wish me luck.!

I start my training the last week of the month for my new job - yeaaaaa!

spring ahead

2009-03-10T13:01:00.001-07:00

Yes, I guess I'm not the only one having trouble with daylight savings time. I didn't even know it was coming until Sunday when I heard it on the radio. Who changed this? I want to know. Several bloggers I read are having a difficult time also like, Wendy Knits, and the Yarn Harlot.

I do remember dreading this when the children were little because it WAS now lighter longer at night and they don't want to go to bed until it is dark.

I , however, went to bed last night at 10, my normal time. I tossed and turned and could not fall asleep. Probably because it was really only 9:30 pm. I thought it was because B and I went to dinner for my birthday at the Victoria House and had a great walleye dinner, baked potato, asparagus, salad, wine and a decadent dessert of Chocolate molten cake and a cup of coffee. (seriously this could have kept anyone awake).

I was having difficulty digesting all of this food even though we ate early. I figured the coffee was playing a role in my difficulty in falling asleep. Then, just about 10:30 pm the phone rang and it was my sister, who is definitely not tuned in to the new time yet, as she is in Phoenix, and it always takes her a few months to get used to the two hour difference in time.

She was wishing me a happy birthday so I couldn't be upset. She had sent me a bug vacuum for my birthday (because of the bugs in my house in the Fall) but I already had one. She was so disappointed. I will send it back and now she will have to come up with something else very clever.

Speaking of clever and very funny; I got a card from Shirley on Sat. It's two old broads, I mean, women knitting and one is saying, "I'm making mittens for my grandkids. How about you?" the other woman responds, "A g-string for one of the dancers down at Studz." open the card, "Age is all in the Attitude.". Thank you Shirley for a great laugh. Perfect.

I worked on my knitting last night and here is a photo of the hooded sweater for Logan and the back of my new sweater. I love the color of mine. It is knit with three strands, mohair, silk and metallic. Mohair likes to grow on you after it's knit so I love working a strand of something else with it to give it some structure. The silk and metallic should do the trick.

This is another sheep sweater I finished for the Starving Artist show in Carver on March 21st.

The best part of my birthday celebration was a balloon boquet from the grandchildren and then the fighting over how many baloons each of them would get to keep. I escaped with 3 of my own. That giving part is always difficult, isn't it???

I want to go on record to report this new storm we are getting, hopefully only a couple inches cuz it is HEAVY STUFF!

Happy Birthday to Me.....

2009-03-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, here it is again! Another Birthday! Yea, I'm glad I'm here to celebrate. It's a grey day outside, but about 35 degrees - our esteemed weather persons believe a huge storm is on its way, so look out tomorrow.

We had Bungee on Saturday and the four of us knit away eating dessert. Shirley has been rethinking her knitting career. She has made at least 3 garments, mittens, purses, etc. but is wanting to make something other than a sweater or give up entirely. We all (3 of us) howled, NO, you cannot quit. I think we convinced her by the end of the session. She knits beautifully and really gets the concept so I hope she just needs a little golf break.

Judith is knitting lace and as all of us do, got off somewhere on the pattern. Ripped back and was able to begin again. Jeanne cast on a new yarn for a shawl.

We never give up! We may lay a project aside for a couple years but eventually we get back and finish. Starting a new project is always great fun! It has been suggested that we start several new projects, so that is exactly what I have done. Photos to come later.

Dan came out on Friday night a helped figure out my camera dilema so hopefully I can get some photos up soon of my two new projects and two new jackets.

Today is a day for me. I am going to pick out paint for the kitchen, babysit for a couple hours and hopefully get taken out to dinner.

march madness

2009-03-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

That's about how I feel lately. Have alot of projects in the mix and not making much progress. To top things off I couldn't get the photos off of my new camera. I spent a couple hours this afternoon working on it but may have to wait for the son to come home. I got a major computer virus this week and spent $200 to get it deleted. Now I have to wait for Dan to add ram and some other program.

Meanwhile I worked on two more felted jackets for a "Starving Artists show" I'm doing in Carver on Mar. 21st. I'm entering my jackets and maybe some other felted objects. So, the shop will be open in the Town Hall of Carver that day. We have some new shops in town and they are spectacular.

I got distracted with removing wallpaper and now have got to get the energy to tackle the blue room upstairs. I did hire someone to paint the kitchen for me. I'd probably be in there all summer if I didn't hire it done.

New Prague is still going great. We are offering a class in a felted bag for beginners this month. 1st photo is unfelted and 2nd is finished felting. It's a "Two Old Bags" pattern. Very easy and fast! Great little summer purse.

I love visiting New Prague. I actually had a car stop in the middle of main street one very cold day and let me run across to the bakery. Now, that doesn't happen everyday. There is a great bakery in town, real homemade stuff and a huge cheeseburger with fries for $5.00 - unbelievable.

I also love Jordan. It has a great antique store - check the hours however, they are closed on Tuesday. Sorry I don't remember the name off hand. Great summer destination for you adventure seekers.

Went to see the movie, "He's just not that into you" last week. One of the main characters just about drove me crazy obessing over her dates. (the one with the dark hair). Some funny lines and I'd say "Cute". I also saw "Grand Terino" and thought it was well done. Great story.

Have you checked out the new knitting magazines lately. I picked up Debbie Bliss's spring issue and they were cute but nothing for me. I'm working on the sweater from New Zealand right now and I've finished the back. I will get some photos up asap.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

Is this not the cutest card!? I found it at an antique store. How perfect is that.

I cannot believe it's been 10 days since I posted. I'm having so much fun - NOT! I've been removing wallpaper on a friend's wall piece by piece. Nothing touches this stuff, scoring, DIF, steam, scrape, hot water - it still comes off piece by piece. Don't wallpaper people!
Finally the paper is off and we are ready to paint. I hate the pre work - just prep for me and I'll paint.

I am teaching classes in Carver this summer and in New Prague starting in March. We are starting with the Ann's Traveling Bag from Two Old Bags for the "Beyond the Beginner classes".

Fun group of women in New Prague. They are so ambitious and really want to learn, I love it.

Feb. 3

2009-02-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

I have spotted ROBINS! I don't care what the groundhog says, I spotted robins this week!

I just read a very cute blog on the Yarn Harlot today. Check it out - very cute.! I had a great knit class today in New Prague. I think we're onto something!

I'm also thinking ahead to spring - FAIRIES. Remember last summer I worked on the fairy house but got behind due to a JOB! Which I don't have yet this year. Bummer! I've been googling "Fairies, Fairy houses, etc. and found some great ideas. Now to get started. If it would just melt some more. I think it really is March, we're a month ahead according to my calculations! (that is mostly wishful thinking).

Think Spring!

FINISHED WIP

2009-01-31T08:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, I finished my Hoodie today - cast off the last stitch - now just to weave in ends and steam and I'll get a photo up here. I'm having trouble with my camera downloading photos so I haven't blogged for awhile cuz I wanted to show you some new stuff. Next time.

Photo is new colors in Karabella. You can order from me, shop at New Prague or Shop in Carver on February 21st, my house 10-3 PM.

Today is a gorgeous day, finally melted the snow on the sidewalk, but I'm having a day! Nothing I touch seems to turn out. I blocked my Hoodie, but no buttons. Started a new project and had to hunt all over for the english translation. (a sweater kit I bought a couple years ago from Garn Studio). I thought I had the pattern all together in the bag and pulled it out, no translation. Hunted around and found all my Garn Studio books and patterns (a good thing). Found the pattern and found another size 8 needle to cast on with and now I can begin a new probject. I also started a sweater for Logan from Debbie bliss using the Bamboo/Wool yarn I have in a soft blue.

The antique bed for Joshua was delivered but broke the foot board on the way in. I think it can be repaired but the mattress I bought at Ikea is too big. I really dislike going to Ikea. I hate the layout of their store. Now I'll probably have to return the mattress.

A young couple came out from Northfield. He had made a drumcarder from scrap metal and wanted to look at mine to see what was wrong with his. Well, his was great, just one little thing was incorrect. Great job on his drumcarder and it will last 12 lifetimes.

Movies:
Last Chance Harvey - Friday night out with the girls. It was good, but not great. Slightly entertaining but a bit of a disappointment. \

Clint Eastwoods new movie, Grand Tarino, saw tonight. I thought it was great.
Reading: Tony Dungy's new book - so far very good.

Enough for tonight - goodnight!

The Old Creative Fibers

2009-01-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

This is my old space in Minneapolis.! Can you believe it? It's a wine tasting, events restaurant called Armatage House. I love it!

I think we should have a gathering of knitters some night and drink lots of wine.

I had a great weekend last week at the house. I met some great women who already are knitting and crocheting and just want to get a group together in Chaska or Carver. I think we can find a place to meet. Noelle and Todd stopped by and we had a great visit. Todd even ate my chocolate cake!

FP:

I finished a pair of mittens, Jenna's hat, and I am now up to the hood on my Hoodie sweater. Photo next time.

I received new colors of Karabella this week. I love that yarn. New Prague was closed this week so I will bring back supplies next week. I have a knitting class on Tuesday morning and hopefully a Friday evening class on the 30th.

Spaghetti Dinner Sat. night the 24th from 5-8 pm at St. Nichols Catholic Church in Carver. Join us for a special evening - Garlic Breath is catering.

Enjoy this gorgeous winter before it gets cold again.

Saturday

2009-01-11T08:51:00.001-08:00

I finally got to visit the Bungee Group at Java Jacks on 46th and LYNDALE, NOT NICOLLET. Sorry if I led anyone astray. We are changing next months meeting place. Decided to try a few coffee houses and see which ones fit our personality the best. We are talkers, as well as knitters, and we need a place we can express ourselves. Nine women visiting creates a stir. Need I say more. We had a great time. Love to see what everyone is working on. Some of the beginning knitters are really great knitters now. Very adventuresome! I was just knitting a hat and felt pretty simple.

I have a new toy! My Bosch coffee maker - makes one perfect cup of coffee at a time. "B" gave it to me so he didn't have to drink my awful tasting coffee every morning. It's so great. I used to warm up my old coffee later in the day and it didn't taste so great. Now I can just perk a fresh cup whenever I want.

Finished Dan's hat and Jenna's hat - had to re-knit the top of each to lengthen them - this is the shorter version pictured here-Dan's hat is a knit 2, purl 2 in white, just like his black one he loves.

Now I have to finish mittens for tina, one and half done - photo next time and then back to my sweater. I'm on the second sleeve.

Keep drinkin' and knittin'

Hot sandwiches, cold days

2009-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is my new recipe find

Hot Sandwiches:

Make ahead (even better)

2 doz. silver dollar buns

9 X 13 pan

1 lb. deli meat of your choice

1 swiss cheese (or anything else you like)
Sauce:

2 sticks of butter (we used 1 and it turned out fine)

2 tbs. worschetshire sauce

2 tbs. poppyseeds

4 tbs. brown sugar

2 tbs. yellow mustard

bring sauce to a boil, cool and spoon over premade sandwiches. Cover and refrigerate overnight

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes covered and 5 minutes uncovered.

On the plane ride home, my sister informed me, she was all ready to watch a movie on her dvd player and eat her coveted "Nut Goodie Bar", when over the loud speaker she hears an announcement saying "Do not open or consume peanuts on this flight. We have a severely allergic person on this flight." OMG!!!! Dontcha know!

I'm sending off her package from Christmas, things left behind, and will include several Nut Goodie Bars for her. I have also included my great new finds in scrapbooking equipment. I went to Smudges in Chanhassen last Sat. for their make and take and really enjoyed myself. Therefore, I needed some new equipment.

I love this Tape Roller - I have had some in the past but I could never reload the darn things - this is so simply, I can do it. Love these new pens but they are $5.00 a piece so I only got two. They are refillable so that helps. They have a brush end and flat end for caligraphy, they can blend colors and the women at Smudges are certified for these so run over and learn something new.

Memento is a new stamp pad that I've never used before. It dries quick and you can color over it without running or embossing. I also found some beautiful double sided papers and an embosing machine. They are on my wish list.

Tofutsies sample done - I love this yarn - it feels great and is easy to knit with, comes in a bunch of colors, of which I am stocked for now.

My mitten is in the middle of the open book.

Finished one arm of my sweater and am now trying to finish these mittens for Tina out of Plymouth Alpaca (lovely stuff) and my favorite mitten pattern which I cannot give to you so you'll have to buy the book by Louisa Harding. What I love is the thumb. She doesn't put them on holders - she knits it with the mitten (increasing with Ml's) and then just sews up a little seam on the thumb. It's easy and you don't get those holes.

Happy Knitting!

the fun has just begun

2009-01-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

Jan 1st started off with cleaning the toilet and dropping the little velcro scrubber deal in the toilet just as I flushed and away it went - I knew immediately that the plumber was on my list to call first thing Friday morning. After three tries I finally found a great plumber that was open and able to arrive in the afternoon. Westside Plumbing if anyone ever needs one.

So, unplugged again we go off into the world of cleaning the rest of the house. So far this week, I have cleaned the over, the frig, taken down the ornaments, vacuumed and somewhat organized the basement. I definitely need to get out more.

I have been home 3 days now and find I need to get out at least once a day no matter how cold. Jan 1 I was invited to dinner at Marge and Dicks with the grandchildren. The grandchildren and parents went sledding, well Logan stayed with me and watched, but the others went zooming down the hill. Nicole took Josh with her on the big sled and we watched them with eyes bulging and mouths open as they slid under the evergreen tree branches and stopped at the base of the tree (slow motion). Josh was laughing so hard he could hardly walk and his mom came crawling out on her knees. I was amazed.

We had a great dinner with these hot sandwhiches which I will post the recipe here for your pleasure.

I made, which I thought was so clever, angel food cake cupcakes with choc. chips, no one liked them. Dick only liked the whipped cream I brought.
Knitting updates and recipe later.

2008-12-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

Snowing again - just shoveled and it's coming down again. At least the sub-zero stuff is gone for a while. The grandchildren got ice skates from Pappa for Christmas and they were able to come over on Sunday and skate on the outdoor rink by my house. They did great - took a chair with them until they got their balance and then took off. I babysat last night and they were so excited to show me the rink their Dad had shoveled off for them on their backyard pond. It looks great and now they can just go out their back door and get some use out of those skates.

There is nothing better than hearing, "I love you, Nanna".

I watched Logan for them while they skated with the older two. I have not had him by myself for awhile so it was a treat for me. He was very happy to be the center of my attention and would come up and take my hand when he wanted me to do something with him, like I wasn't always beside him, but he's very cute that way, leading me around. I'm used to it!, being led, that is.

Anyway, I was over at their house the other night and their mom was giving them some crackers, Logan got his first and Josh was just standing next to him watching and Logan turned to him and growled! What a kid, he doesn't say much yet, but he manages to communicate just fine.

I found a couple fake furs at consignment shops last week but they smell of perfume. I tried to have them drycleaned but they wanted to send them to a furier to have them cleaned for $30. We didn't pay that for them to begin with. Anybody got a good idea how to get the odor out of these lovely jackets?

I went to New Prague today to bring over new Encore colors and some Alpaca from Plymouth. We are trying to get a few people involved to use the backroom for classes. My knitting, felting and spinning classes, stamping, cooking, etc. I'd like to see it become the place in New Prague to take classes. We'd all chip in on the rent and everybody would win. I sure hope it works. We are scheduling classes for the end of January for Knitting and we'll see how it goes.

Finished a hat out of the new alpaca last night. I thought it would be for Jenna but it's too small for her. I dug around downstairs today and found some bulky alpaca from Blue Sky and I think this will work up better for her.

Adios!

Plum Pudding

2008-12-28T07:10:00.000-08:00

Happy to have the holidays behind us. It was so much fun and so very busy that it feels good to sit still for awhile and knit.

First of all, my sister arrived last Tuesday. Went directly to babies house. Home that evening to keep my sister warm; it was below zero and she had just arrived from Phoenix. Wednesday was baking day. I had promised plum pudding to "B" for his family gathering. I have never made this before. I got Shirley's recipe and then I found a True English pudding on Epicurious Recipes.

So, I soaked all the fruit in brandy for 4 days, then you add the dry ingredients, put in molds, steam for 6 hours. So, I did all that and realized the 6 hours would mean waking up at 2:00 pm to take them out of the oven. You can steam in the oven or on top of the stove. Well, the water had evaporated from the pan when I took the cakes out of the oven, so they baked a little. I tried a bite and it tasted like sawdust. The Old English recipe was not working.

The next morning I woke up and used Shirley's recipe which is:

Fruit I soaked: Raisins - 1 cup

Figs - 1 cup chopped

Chunky apple sauce - 1 cup

1 T candied orange peel

1/2 cup crisco

1/2 cup molasses

8 oz. of rum

Dry ingredients from Shirley's recipe:

2 eggs - well beaten with 1/2 cup milk or cream

2 cups flour

2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp soda

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp mace

1/2 tsp alspice

I emptied four cans I had in the pantry - 8 oz. and this filled three cans a little over half full.

Covered with foil and tied with string. Put them in a big pot on the stove and steamed for 3 hours.

You can check to see if they are done with a knife.

I made a hard sauce to go over the top:

White Hard sauce:
1 1/2 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 cup soft butter (unsalted if you have it, I didn't)
2 tbsp. Brandy or rum
1 tsp. organge peel
You should keep this sauce warm to pour over the cake when eating it.

This worked - "B" said they ate it at his family gathering. My sister has a recipe that she used years ago and she will send it to me.

After mixing up the Plum pudding I went on to making Dan his pumpkin bread and "pupcakes" for Ellie on Christmas Day with Pink frosting.

Then I did a chopped salad for Marge and Dick's that evening. I love chopped salad.

Recipe:
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 - 15 1/2 of can garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained
1 - red and 1 green bell pepper
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup fennel (if you like it)
1/2 cup crumble feta cheese (3 oz)
2 oz. thinly sliced and diced genoa salami
1/4 cup sliced Kalamata Olives
You can also add chicken or anything else you like in salads

Dressing: 6 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 small garlic clove, minced

Enjoy!

I am currently knitting a hat for Jenna and a scarf, Tina needs mittens and Dan found a sweater he likes. It's Drops Design - free pattern - Pullover in Alaska - I'm using Karabella but it looks gorgeous.

Dan bought me a new camera for Christmas - it's a Nikon Coolpix L18 - it's RED! I love it!! I have no new photos yet, however.

Had lunch with Shirley and Sandy at Maude's on Sat before the plane ride home. I have a photo of the inside of my old shop. It is now a wine bar. Hard to believe it was a yarn shop.
Sorry I cannot get the photo to scan right now. More later.

188 posts

2008-12-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I have only written 188 blogs since I started. That is shameful. You'd think I would be up in the 300's by now. I will try to do better. It's just that I don't always have much to say, although some people would dispute this theory.

I have been cleaning the house for the last week, seriously, getting ready for my sister's arrival. This may seem strange to some of you, but when I'm creating I don't clean very well so I have to play catch up. My favorite game when I'm at this point is playing the game, "What does not Belong". Remember that game, when you look at a picture and have to decide what does and what doesn't belong, in the picture. Well, this helps me immensely when I'm trying to put things back in order. I look at a room with fresh eyes and it's very clear what doesn't belong. You know what I mean, week old dishes on the coffee table, socks under the coffee table, dyed fleece in my office, you get the picture. Well, today I finally feel I have a grip on the situation.
FKP - Full view of afghans

Close up view
This was a relief. The middle photo is the afghan folded in half, it's really not the skinny. She will be thrilled.

Ellie's mittens, I just have the thumbs left. I actually get anxiety attacks over the thumbs. Does anyone else get that anxious feeling, like will I loose a stitch, make them too short??? Whatever. Did you notice one mitten is different at the top than the other. I will have to rip it out and make it the same. Ohhhhh!

Now, I have to finish Logan's mittens and my Hoodie and I'll feel good.

I am no longer at Uber baby. They were cutting back and moving back to Lyndale so I was low man on the totem pole. Bye Bye Baby.

I'm still working on the catering company and we are making headway. The website is almost up and working, we had an open house on Thursday that went well. I sold another sweater, the sheep one, and kim sold alot of sauces.

Bungee has moved to Java Jacks, 818 W. 46th Street - off 46th and Nicollet. Great Coffee, sandwiches and Gramercy Bakery next door. January 10 1-4 we'll meet again. Hopefully, I'll be able to join again. Boy, I miss those women.
I am not mailing out christmas cards this year. Wishing you all the best of New Years!

Baby it's cold outside...

2008-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

I have been busy - I'm not ignoring my blog but darn it's hard to sit down and work on the computer this time of year.

Hoodie: I'm up to the sleeves - had to stop to work on sister's afghan and ellie's mittens. I'll get photos of those up here when I finish them but am anxious to get back to my hoodie!

Well, I don't have to tell anybody this but retail is really slow this year. I am working in the Galleria and it is slow during the week. I think everybody is freaked out about the recession. I don't blame them. It is brutal. I know people still have money but fewer than before.

Betsy's Back Porch where Bungee always met, has closed her doors. She was so gracious and kind to let us sit there every other Sat. but the economics had finally got to her and she couldn't continue like so many others. So sad, but we will continue Bungee in January and will post on the website the new location. I am also changing locations in Carver. Carver Creek Drygoods is being used for a new business. Still antiques and furniture but new people will be there in January so I will be open in my House Jan 17 from 10-2 PM for any knitters, weavers or spinners. Stop by and visit.

I am working on a Catering business with a friend of mine and we will soon have her website up and running- I will get a link to her site from mine. If you are looking for great homemade, comfort, original recipes for your gatherings, Garlic Breath Catering, is the place. I'm very excited about this and we are looking for a new space to cater out of plus have women's retreats, showers, family reunions, antiques and knit shop. There are a few places in Carver that we are interested in so I will keep you posted.

Babysat last Friday nite and I'm proud to say, I made cupcakes or "pupcakes" as Ellie calls them with all THREE CHILDREN IN TOW. I wouldn't have taken this on when I was 20 years old so I don't know what my daughter was thinking when she asked me to do this at my current age. Surprisingly her children are so used to cooking with her that they were perfect. Josh loves to break the eggs, I crack them and he "SQUISHES" them, seriously squishes them. Oh, well, what's a few shells.

Logan loved it and Ellies does the pouring. We frosted and sprinkled and ate them with delight and then everyone went to bed and turned out the lights.

Have a great week. More later

Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

Here we go! I'm really trying not to be a scrooge this year. My house is torn apart most of the time due to crafting. I am involved in so many projects right now that I'm sure which end is up and I hope I don't forget to be somewhere that is necessary, like my job. Nothing, of course, is bringing in much money, which is what I really need. Maybe the government will bail me out?? Never know unless you ask. They seem to have alot of money sitting around.

It sure seems strange when someone, like me, wants a job, wants to work, and cannot get a job to sustain me is unbelievable. I guess I have been quite naive. I do have a small job right now, a possible new business idea brewing with a friend, and some money from my knitting shop and classes so all is not lost, it's just not enough.

I had a great time last week after work I met SJ and we shopped antiques, sales and had a lovely supper together on 50th street. It was so nice to just leisurely walk around and visit for a change.

Saturday, I worked at Carver Creek Dry Goods and met a couple new knitters/crocheters and had a great time watching the shop for a few hours. This weekend we are open from thurs-Sat again and I probably will only be there after or before my other job. This, sadly, will be the last time I will be at Carver Creek Dry Goods. Someone is taking over the whole space upstairs and there will not be room for me. I will continue in New Prague where things are going very well.
I will try to find a new spot in town but until then I'm on hold - I may be open at my house in January but will email everyone the new location.

My sister will be arriving shortly - it will be a busy holiday again. I'm so looking forward to her visit. I need some bonding time.

Received a new box of yarn from Plymouth today - it feels like old times. I love their encore yarn and I think my customer's will too.

Had a massage appt. today. I tripped and fell at the arboretum a couple weeks ago and felt I was really out of wack. Well, M, confirmed it - I was so sore on my left side. My shoulder is better and she doesn't feel it's frozen, thank god, and gave me some more exercises to keep it loose. I'm not sure about my feet, however, I cannot figure out how I keep tripping?? It's usually my right foot, so I'm wondering if it's antrifing (sp?) or something. I still have some planter's faciatis going on, so maybe I'm not lifting it off the ground. Unbelievable, once I trip there is no stopping it - I just go down, usually in slow motion.

ALMOST DONE WITH MY SISTER'S AFGHAN! I have put everything on hold until I get it done. Ellie has one mitten and now she informs me she needs another pair to go with her other hat she found. I need to finish my hoodie cuz I found a couple more sweaters I want to knit. SJ is knitting this very cute vest she found. I sure hope I get back to Bungee in January.

I sure hope you all have a great holiday!

Dec. 3, 2008

2008-12-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

Here we go again - nearly Christmas and I'm feeling a little behind already. How does it always creep up on me.

I went downstairs this afternoon - it was already dark - and I was trying to dig out X-mas stuff when the power went out. The basement was black and if you have seen my basement lately, there are plastic boxes of yarn and fiber all over the place, plus tables, ladders, chairs, etc. and I fortunately was able to feel my way back to the washer and dryer, with the dog staring at me like I was crazy, and find the right switch in the dark to turn on some lights. I guess I had too many things on at one time.

I was feeling a little squemish because I knew there was a dead critter somewhere down here. B came over to go to eat and he came down to help me find the dead critter. We found it under the chair and it was a BAT. I have no idea how it got into the basement but when it was still alive and squeaking that is exactly what it sounded like, I was just hoping it wasn't. So we sweapt him up and flushed him down the toilet in the basement, which after B dropped it in said, he couldn't flush it cuz there was no water in the toilet. You can imagine the rest of the conversation, but it did flush and he's gone. (the bat that is, not B).

I have been really busy and not been blogging much lately. I'm sorry but it's difficult to get at this when I'm running in 3 or 4 different directions.
*We are launching the catering business, Garlic Breath Catering, website should be up soon.
*I'm working odd hours at Uber Baby,
* helping with the grandchildren and trying to get my crafts stuff done for Carver Creek Drygoods next week. We are open in Carver this weekend just for Saturday so I finished up two jackets for that tonight.

*New Prague has a list of people wanting classes but then they never respond to my emails so I may just have to set a date in January and have them sign up. I hope it works.

I had my hair cut last Sat and there is this nice older lady that works at the shop and we were all visiting and she said, "there was a rumor going around last week that "B" died (this could be a man's or woman's name). I ran into a guy I know and he said, "Well, B I heard you died?" "I went down to Tom at the Mortuary and asked him if you were there and he said, No, he didn't know if you had died." Well, B, was incensed. So, she went down to the mortuary and said, "Tom, if I had died, you would know, You would have been the one to pick me up, why did you say you didn't know?" For heavens sake, small towns. This is the second time this has happened to her. This really happens in small towns.

One nice thing about working at the Galleria is that I run into old friends alot. Two women came in this week and I had not seen the daughter for at least 10 years. She had moved to Canada and was home for a visit with her baby son. It was so good to see them and catch up a little.

KNITTING PROJECTS:
I am working on trying to finish my sister's afghan this week. I need to finish Ellies other mitten and then back to the sleeves on the Hoodie. That's my update on knitting. No Christmas gifts on my list this year. I'm not going to be pressured into finishing something else before Christmas. No, not going to do it!

Keep on knitting. Call me if you have extra time to knit something for me.

Bummed out

2008-11-23T19:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not sure if it's the upcoming Holidays, or the fact that I'm a little under the weather but I'm a little low today. I think alot of my mood is due to no job outlooks in the near future. Retail at the Galleria is really slow. I'm thinking every one is waiting for the BIG DEALS after Thanksgiving, but the retailers are really hurting right now.

I finished Josh's other mitten this morning. Then I took off for the cities to do a little shopping at Trader's Joes. Picked up a few things, headed to Byerlys which was having a deal on pork chops and chicken. Huge, plump chickens for $6.00 - tasty too. Got home about 3 PM and crafted all night. I'm making these secret snowmen, I may show you later.

We had the sales at Carver and New Prague this weekend and I did very well again. New Prague is picking up too. Classes in both places will start very soon, I hope. I will post dates on the website for anyone who is interested. I made it to New Prague on Sat. morning for a while. It is such a cute shop. Lovely gift items for everyone.

Dan stopped home tonight. He and Jenna are staying with me Wed. night. I have to work until 9 pm but we'll have the morning and afternoon to hang-out (as they say) until dinner at Nicole's later in the afternoon. It is Nicole's birthday on thanksgiving this year!

Well, that's all for now folks! I'm heading to bed.

Friday should have been the 13th

2008-11-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

It was one of those days. I didn't work all day, so I thought I'd have the whole day to do crafting and what not.

The morning started off with Coffee at Dunn Bros., stopped by Bluff Creek to pick up check. Manager said he would deliver bricks to B's house today. Okay, B is going to be in a meeting over lunch and then hunting so I would have to be there to accept the load of bricks. No Problem-o.

Got back home, worked on a few projects, made phone calls and about 1:00 pm, Ryan called to say he was on his way with the bricks. I met him at B's house. Well, Ryan, who drives a little crazy stopped a little to quickly and all the bricks went sliding off the pallet into the back of the pick up - luckily they were not high enough to go through the window. He's a crazy kid. Therefore, we had to unload them by hand. So I built this great little wall on the grass. B owes me big time! He was impressed, so that helped. My hands were so cold they hurt and I'm not even sure about my back yet.

Got home, took off my filthy jacket and ran downstairs to throw in the washer. Came up to do some crafting and ran downstairs as fast as I could remembering my phone was in my pocket. Yes, it was soaked. Now I have to go to EP Mall and get a new phone, which is probably not insured. (never dreaming I would wash it). About $130 later, I head back home. Stop at the antique store in Carver (which I love) for some accessories to my new project. Meanwhile, Kim had called and she wanted to look at a rental property in Carver for her catering business we might work on together, Garlic Breath Catering. Great Food. There is a renevated space next to the adorable reconditioned gas station downtown. There is also a Victorian house some of us are looking at for a retreat center and we could cater out of there. So many ideas, so exciting, no wonder I washed the phone. My head is swimming with possibilities.

Kim came back to Carver with her daughter, Sam, who is already 13, which I can hardly believe, and we had hamburgers at Harveys. By now I'm too tired to pick up needles. To Bed.

My new manager is pissed off at me because I am trying to get another part time job. I told them that when they hired me but apparently she didn't know. We are hiring another person so it shouldn't be a big deal. It's a little disconcerting, however, to have conflict already. I work today so we'll see what the mood is.

Keep knitting

a little late

2008-11-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I didn't get all the gardens cleaned out this year. I did manage to get the Huskavarna in the garage, which was no small fete. I first had to dismantle the dog kennel, move things around, in the icy rain, mind you, until there was room for the riding lawn mower.

Now, how to manuever it into the garage, remembering the little incident with the stop sign last week, I was a little leary of driving it into a tight space. Moved the car out of the garage, came through the second stall, made the turn and parked it in front of the other garage stall. Perfect! Then B said, now you have to put some "stuff" in the gas tank so it won't freeze and pull the battery. Yea, like I know how to do that! He thinks I've led a sheltered life cuz I don't know how to pull a battery. I won't be pullin' any battery!

The hoody is coming along nicely. Now I cannot work on it at work anymore, so I have to make use of good time when I get home. When I don't get home until 9:30 pm it's hard to fall asleep right a way so I knit for a while and relax. I started the pockets and ribbing last night.

I picked up another sweater at ARC this week, so now I have 3 more jackets to make. I'm waiting for a little inspiration.

I don't like this cold, just for the record.

2008-11-11T11:15:00.001-08:00

I'm a little short on blogging this week. It's been hectic. I finished up on Wednesday at Bluff Creek - went into Uber on Thursday for training. Went very well. I had Friday off, so I took advantage of that day and worked around the house.

Friday evening I went to Nicole's and gave her a sewing lesson and we actually made Ellie a cute jumper in just a few hours. The woman at the fabric store told her she didn't need facing ribbon, so we had to make facings out of left over fabric. She also didn't give her enough fabric so she had to go back and get more. It was corduroy so we had to deal with the Nap. Anyway, I haven't sewn for years but it all came back to me. Awful Butterick pattern, however.

Sat. I worked again at Uber Baby and had a very bad tummy all day. (thank heaven for immodium) Made it through and then I was onto Dunn Bros. to teach a knitting class. Had a great time. Wonderful woman. We got her going on the thrummed mittens.

Sunday I picked up Ellie for the morning. Josh had gone to Grams for the day so I got Miss Ellie. We had a great time, filled her with hot chocolate, marshmallows, out to lunch for cheeseburgers, fries and an Ice cream sunday at Culvers. You think it was too much SUGAR???? She was a trooper, took it all in. Hopefully, she napped, I did.

Dan came home Saturday night for Pizza - had a great visit. I finished knitting the 12.5 inches of my sweater and now I can start the ribbing. I also started a sock out of Tofutsies. I just ordered in 50 different colors and couldn't wait to knit with it. It's great to work with. Look out Bungee group you are going to want some of this.

Sunday evening Uber Baby staff met at a restaurant in Edina for a little food and drink. It was very nice and I came home and watched my favorite show, desperate housewives. ( I admit it , I'm hooked.) and fell into bed.

Monday I worked at Uber for a couple hours training, M's last day. One staff already had to quit so I'm hiring. Anybody interested, give me a call. I interviewed at another part time position today. I think it went well, will let you know on Monday.

Get out those Christmas gifts and get knittin.

Change

2008-11-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

Change is the word for today - Big Change last night - I'm an Obama supporter so I was very excited. I have a little hope again for this country. It was very exciting to watch. We made a pot of tortilla soup, corn bread and wine and watched until about 10 PM. Finally, I couldn't watch anymore. Good news this morning when I woke up.

Recipe: This is a collaborative effort between Jeff (his wife) and Rigo (chef)
This was a hit with Bob - Very good - you can spice it up as much as you want but real mexican food is not really all that spicy, just great flavor. (of course today, Bob says he had such indigestion he woke up several times last night. He had two big bowls, Folks).

1 Med/small onion, chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 anaheim pepper, chopped
1 pallamo pepper, chopped
1 lg. can (32 oz) of chicken broth
1 can 8 oz. of Raul tomatoes w/ peppers (I used 2 cans)
1 8 oz. can of corn with peppers]
1 8 oz. can of V8 juice
2 chicken breast, grilled and shredded (I bought Pepittos grilled chicken)
1/2 c. fresh chopped cilantro

Fresh Chips and sour cream

Saute all chopped ingredients, remove from pan and blend in the cuisinart. Return to pan, add liquids and cilantro. (I did not use the cuisinart, I left mine chunky)

Crumble chips in the bottom of the bowl, ladel on the soup mix, add cheese and sour cream
Enjoy. You can spice this up as much as you want with more peppers.

Balmy outside - I guess there will be a big change in the weather by the weekend. Need to get those leaves put away.

Change Jobs:
I also have another bit of good news. I got an Asst Mgr. position with Uber Baby and Uber Expecting in the Galleria. They also have an outlet and a space at Kowalskis. Very cute shop and reasonably priced for parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. Stop by the Galleria and say hello. I'm only part time right now.

I'm also working with a friend of mine, Kim, and her catering company, "Garlic Breath Catering." This could also be alot of fun. Kim is very creative and loves to cook, so I'll be the business person, keeping track of things, website and sales.

My knit shop is doing very well. I'll be teaching this winter it looks like. New Prague said lessons are starting to sign up, So I'll keep you posted where I'll be - makes my head dizzy but all fun fun fun!

I need to sit and knit for awhile.

November

2008-11-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

It feels like 70 degrees today - cuz it is!!! I love it. I remember a few year's ago - probably 10 or so - it stayed really nice all through November - we walked outside after Thanksgiving Dinner in 50 degrees - no jacket. Not good for the trees cuz there was no rain either but it was lovely for getting ready for Christmas. I saw people stringing up their lights this weekend. I'm still raking leaves, cutting down perennials and sealing windows and doors.

I was thinking yesterday as I worked my tail off all day in the yard, wasn't I done with all this by Nov. last year? Yes, because I wasn't working so I had more time to clean up last year.

Holloween was great! Josh was a skunk and insisted on spraying everyone (real cute!) and Ellie was a lovely, somewhat graceful butterfly and Logan was an blue octopus. He really didn't get what was going on but when the kids arrived at his door in costume he thought just laughed and ran out after them. He would let out a greeting that was supposed to be "HI" but sounded more like a squeal. He just had a fantastic time. All of a sudden he's grown up. He was just smiles all over the place.

Dano came home that evening and we watched the DaVinci Code, which I never saw but read the book. I think the movie was a little confusing or else I'm just forgetting how confusing the book was. It didn't help that we started it half way through.

Saturday, I worked until 3 pm. Came home - did some yard work, baby sat at 6:30 PM and fell asleep on the couch at 9:00 PM.

Sunday, I worked like crazy in the yard and had my first ride on the Huskavarna mower. It was really fun except for the slight miscalculation I had with the STOP SIGN! I got a little hung up and couldn't back the thing up. I got off and tried to push it back a little - got back on - started it again and finally it backed up so I could get unhooked from the sign. I was thinking, "I cannot call Bob, he'll kill me".

At any rate, I did have a good time riding around the yard - I kinda had a hard time remembering where I was at times. I didn't plan to spray the leaves back into the rocks which I had just blown out with the blower but I just forgot which way I was turned. I'm sure this just takes practice.

With all this work, I got very little knitting accomplished.

Ever have the wind knocked out of you?

2008-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

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)