Thursday, February 28, 2008

Since you asked....

The yellow dishcloth is made using the Feather and Fan Dishcloth pattern. It is one of my favorite patterns...

As you know from previous posts...Andy was bringing the new girlfriend home from college for the weekend...I neglected to address that part of my weekend...

Let me assure you - She was as perfect as the rest of the weekend...She seemed to be a part of our family from the very start of the weekend...She fit right in - I even shared a bathroom with her as we did our "womanly" things before church....It was awesome having another female in the house and someone I felt so comfortable with....and...she will be welcomed back with open arms....

We are going to pick up Andy in the cities this weekend since it is his spring break. I contacted Shelly to give me some hints on some yarn stores to stalk...she came through with a whole list!!! I am hoping to stop by the one where she will be teaching and maybe meet her :) Stay tuned to this station to view the goods...hee hee

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

What the.....



..this was the view as I pulled into the driveway after running errands on Saturday morning....



...and ...we did have unseasonably warm weather...as evidence by the letter jacket laying on top of the roof...it was about 30 degrees out....



I picked up some self-striping cotton on Friday night - found a Ben Franklin store 20 minutes south of the school that I didn't know about....The picture is not doing the colors justice...the stripes of blue, combined with the ripples and waves remind me of water dancing....




Here is a belated picture of the two discloths I sent off to my Defeat the Winter Doldrums Partner. The snowflake on the blue one isn't showing up very well - It looked kinda cool...and I really like the ripple/fan pattern....

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Check this out...

This is pretty cool... free radio on the internet

...and what is so cool about this site? Well...

...register using your email account...start by selecting an artist or a song.... and it plays similar music...all day long...until you tell it to stop...

The site gives you the option of streamlining your play list by saying either you really like or don't like a song or artist...

How cool is that?

Now, I know some of you are thinking...why bother when I can just listen to my personal i-pod type thingy...well, I don't have one of those - so this gives me a chance to listen to only the music I want to hear and commercial free....

It's right up there next to sliced bread in my world...really.

Friday, February 22, 2008

It was a good weekend...

...it all fell into place...doesn't it always?

The confirmation service was beautiful - The musicians were awesome....I cried through most of it....started with Amy Grant's Thy Word...gets me every time....

At one point, I looked down the pew to see my four boys, now almost grown young men, my parents, my ex husband and his wife, his parents, his brother and his family....It just touched me that after so many years of hating...we are finally able to co-enjoy our children's accomplishments....that's huge. I cried.

Here I am with my four "little" boys....Note: I am 5'8".....



Here they are, left to right Nathan, (15), Jeremy (22), Chris (17), and Andy (20)...Aren't they handsome young men?



...and Chris with the Bishop....



It was all good....

I felted the purse that I finished knitting...It turned out okay - I ran it though the wash cycle twice, hoping to get it a little thicker than how it ended up...but, no luck...again, not as excited about the yarn as I was...



I do like the colors - but am concerned that the handle is really going to stretch out with the weight of items inside...will have to see...

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

On second thought...

A couple posts back...I was contemplating making a sweater using Boku yarn...I went to my LYS and bought one skein - included with purchase was a free pattern for a small felted purse. I thought I would check out this yarn before I spend $75+ to make a sweater with it.....

The verdict: nope.

I did however, finish the small purse pattern. I have not taken the time yet to felt it...

I changed the pattern just a bit...the pattern says to knit for 16 inches, reserving enough yarn to make the second handle...well, how do you calculate how much yarn you need to make the second handle? I used the other end of the skein and started a second handle. I then knit across both pieces and then purl back across both pieces...thus, they are of identical length and I used up all of the yarn...I used a three needle cast off to create the bottom seam....



I thought the yarn was too light for a sweater. It also tended to fray and unravel while I was sewing up the side seams...I just didn't get excited about the yarn....

I promise to show pics of the finished purse.....

So...back to the drawing board...looking for a simple cardigan....help!

Defeat the Winter Doldrums

Weekly Topic #5

If money were no object, and the day was just perfect - not to hot, not too cold, sun shining, slight breeze - how would you spend a perfect day out that had been given to you in the middle of a cold and blustery winter?

Ohh...I know it would be at a beach...either one of our awesome lakes here in Minnesota or enjoying the sands of the Gulf of Mexico....All of my boys would be there...a couple friends....some who are now very far away (TNteacher)...and some who are still close....there would be sunshine, laughter, knitting, chocolate, swimming, good food, and comfy chairs....all smushed together into one awesome day.....

Friday, February 15, 2008

I am a spoiled woman.....



He showed up in my classroom yesterday at lunch time...bearing lunch and roses...

How absolutely awesome is that!!!!!

Tonight is the night...boys are coming home, along with the new girlfriend...I can hardly wait...

Those of you who have children away know exactly what I am talking about....

Lots of pictures coming soon....promise....

Happy Friday!!!!!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Still trying to clean house....

...off task - that's what I am...definitely off-task...

Chris is being confirmed next weekend...which means everyone is coming to the house...including the ex-husband, new wife, ex-in laws...and Andy is bringing his new girlfriend home with him from college...AUUGGHHHHH!

Breathe....

I am not totally concerned about all of the "ex"s...they were a part of my life for 15 plus years... they know me...and it's not like I am a total slob...I am just not a perfectionist when it comes to my house - it is lived in.

It's the new girlfriend that has me freaking out....I have met her - I think she is a wonderful girl and she compliments Andy very well - I want to make a good impression - I want her to feel welcome in my home.....

I am trying to clean my "craft room"/"computer room" /"I don't know where to put it so throw it in here and shut the door room". It is taking me forever. Every little item has to be looked at and pondered.....

It's going to be awesome when it's done and organized...but...right now...it's getting me down.....

It's still cold here - bitterly cold.

I am thinking about a different cardigan than the previous post - I'll post a picture when I have time - right now...I should be cleaning....off task....

...definitely...off-task....

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Defeat the Winter Doldrums

Weekly topic #4

"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" for some of us we get the doldrums and others don't.

For the ones who get doldrums what helps you get rid of them?

For the ones who don't get the doldrums, what helps you keep them away?


January and February seems to just drag by...the weather is cold...the days are short...(although getting longer)...no days off from school....

When I am down - I eat...chocolate seems to help......Might be why my backside needs a "wide load" sign by Spring :)

I know I don't get enough exercise...I am seriously trying to figure out how to fit some exercise into my life. I also realize that once you start exercising, you gain more energy and it becomes easier - I struggle now just to find the energy to start....

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Defeat the Winter Doldrums

Topic of The Week #3

Post a picture of your stash and your notions....



My stash.... OMG!!! I think I need to buy more...I hardly have any.....I was very surprised to see how small my stash has become...for a while, it seemed like I bought cotton every time I went to either Michaels or Wal-mart....

I need to have stash available when I get the urge......although, I may never run out of yellow, blue or the ugly variegated pink...what was I thinking??????



I usually use my short #8 metal straight needles. I have another pair...but they are too long - they hit the side of the rocker....

I snoop around the internet for most of my patterns. I do have these three books that I have used a couple times. I have a three-ring binder with all of my patterns in sheet protectors - that is truly my "source" for most of my dishcloths....

It's Pajama Day...



Ahh - the perks of being a teacher :)

{{{{{Momentarily forget about the chaos of the rest of Snow Week}}}}}

Along with the robe, I have on pajama bottoms and my felted slippers that I made myself...

Modeling with me is one of my bestest friends...Becky...

Saturday, February 2, 2008

What I am doing instead of cleaning house....



I am looking at ordering this sweater from Patternworks.

Am thinking about this yarn...bottom left corner...forest




(I couldn't figure out how to just grab one square of the color...)

Anyone knit with Boku before?

I like the pattern in general - am not real crazy about the tie string closure - would probably eliminate that and add a couple buttons...I dunno - also - am not sure what the garter stitch edging will look like....

And...I still have my blue nightmare that should be finished sometime...

I have been looking for a simple casual cardigan to make - that can be worn with jeans....

Longing For Spring Swap

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?

I learned to crochet as a child from my Gramma - don't we all learn from Gramma? I picked up knitting in the last 3 years or so..a little obsessed with knitting....

2. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? What are your least favorite yarns/fibers?

I like yarn to be soft - I am not into novelty yarns - Don't really know a lot about yarn - due to being somewhat of a newbie at knitting...

3. What are your favorite colors? What are your least favorite colors?

Probably earth tones - greens...reds - subtle shades - rich tones - blues - not much into neon, artificial colors...

4. What ‘warm weather’ project are you looking forward to making this year?

I would really like to make more socks - and would like to try a cardigan - which isn't really a "warm-weather" project

5. What are you favorite scents? Least favorite?

I like light fresh scents...clean linen - scents that remind you of the outdoors...don't like heavy scents or peaches.

6. What is your favorite flower?

My favorite flower...hmmm.. am not sure - I love the scent of lilacs in the Spring...or the first Lily of the Valley that show up in the flower bed. I enjoy the colors of mums in the Autumn...I don't know that I have a favorite.

7. What are you favorite spring time hobbies/activities?

Being able to get out and walk - being able to walk around the yard and check for buds on the apple trees, lilacs along the back of the yard...checking to see if my "hens and chicks" survived the winter...shooting some baskets with my boys....

8. Do you have a garden? If you do, tell us a little about it. Do you like to plant flowers or vegetables?

I have a couple flower gardens that I would love to give more attention to than I seem to have time to...I generally just plant some tomato plants and green beans as far as a vegetable garden...I am in a hollow of sorts - surrounded by large hills - thus I get very little direct sunshine.

9. What are your favorite sweets?

Dark chocolate...chocolate and caramel....Easter brings black jelly beans and I absolutely love black jelly beans...

10. Do you collect anything?

Does knitting needles, patterns or yarn count? I seem to buy them whether I need them or not?

12. Do you have any allergies?

Maybe allergic to house cleaning - although it has not been confirmed - would have to participate in said activity to verify an allergic reaction...

13. Do you have any pets?

We live in my cat's house - don't all cat owners? She allows us to share her space...I also have a dog - cute Max...who tries daily to torment my poor cat :)