Welcome Back Me!!!

Long time, eh?
I have been laid up for two weeks so far with an injured knee. Oliver, now known as Crippler, clipped my left knee in his excitement to be groomed. The knee shifted one way and then back and it was never meant to shift either way. So an ER visit, Orthopedic visit and MRI have led to an Orthopedic appointment tomorrow also. I am hoping to get back to work next week or week after at the latest. But this has curtailed my house painting and dog walking and general getting about.
Anywho..
DM came for a visit in April. We all had a great time, shopping and visiting and dog walking. The pups tried to get DM at one point as they each went round her and their leashes being held by me also went round. Fortunately they are trained enough so she was not injured. Phineas took quite a liking to DM as she is a little lady and he likes to herd little things, LOL.
We have additions to the family. On Mother's Day we adopted two kittens. Our intent was to get one male and we saw him two weeks before we could get him, so cute. A few days before picking him we were asked to consider taking his sister who's adoption had fallen through. It was a wise decision as we could never entertain Artemus enough without Annabel's help. Annabel is a fawn colored full tiger tabby
and Artemus is grayish fawn tiger with white mittens.

They currently weigh 2.5 and 2.3 pounds respectively. The dogs are getting used to them and no longer are surprised when this"toy" comes to life.

Here is Annabel trying her very hardest to look menacing...I just laugh at her.
The kittens were tube and bottle fed and lived in a foster home with a dog so are mostly ok with the puppies. they are very interesting to watch all together. Fun fun.

DH has excavated the area of the yard where the deck will go as the land slopes away from the house. He and DS2 seemed to have fun with the oversized Tonka truck!! This week holes, inspection, cement pouring and then we can start. Of course the knee is not allowing me much involvement :( We did replace the fence that is between the barn and the house. The older worn was falling down and no longer dog proof. The new composite one is 6 feet tall and we placed the pickets so the dogs could see through just fine. I love it. We built it ourselves, got the individual pickets rather than a prefab fence so we could make it to our liking.

Much much Wollmeise has been added to stash, very lucky. This is a picture of most of the stash.

These lovelies are not in the big picture.



The WM group is having a Summer of Wollmeise trying to work down our stashes and then replenish in the fall. Hmmm..that means not adding WM over the summer, maybe not adding more than 10 skeins..heehee
Woolgirl has offered a Wizard of Oz Sock Club and I was lucky enough to get in on some and a Peanuts Sock Club. the first Oz shipment came today called "Over the Rainbow" Can you believe this package?
Lovely. Wizard of OZ is my most favorite movie followed very closely by Willy Wonka. A Wonka Sock CLub would be grand!!! Hmmm......

My Catriona Knee Socks by Wendy in Pillars of Fire are coming along nicely, but I need something with two colors soon. I want to finish this first sock and cast on the second before starting something else though. And I finally succumbed and have cast on a Clapotis in Saami Wollmeise.

I am going to post this and will update links and pics...I am out of work this week and at least two more....

Hi Mom

Congratulations to my nephew Greg, he married Crystal this past week, they are both Marines, very brave young people.

And my niece Cassy, is getting married this Saturday. I was planning on attending but this knee will not allow me to sit in a car for the length of time the drive will take :( I am hoping to see many pictures.

DS2 has a job he is thoroughly enjoying and finished his second year of college. Wow next year a Junior already....and DS1 and GF moved out, yes that is right. Gone....they are living in a lovely home and have gained back a lot of their life that was spent commuting. I think it is a very wise decision to want your free time to be your free time.

Wonderful Wollmeise

I was lucky enought to hit an update or two a few weeks back, as well as make a few trades and have almost all of my WM that is meant to live with me lately...so these are the groups of packages..

Most of the Gummy Bears that get sent along with each package, I ate one(hey I needed the energy to open the packages)
And the very beautiful Wollmeise....I present
4-Terra di Siena medium intensity 100% Superwash 2-Honigtopfchen 100%SW
Serpentin Laceweight 4-Serpentin 100%SW
4-Der letzte Versuch-Medium-100%SW (1 to someone else)2-Poison Nr 5-Medium- 80/20 Twin 2-Der letze Versuch-Dark-80/20T (1 to someone else)
7-Ebenholz SW (4 are going to others)
3-Schwarz 100%SW(1 traded) 1-Versuchskaninchen 2 100%SW(NEW FAVORITE!!!) 4-Admiral 80/20 t(1 traded)
1-Campari Orange laceweight-Dark 1-Miss May Laceweight-dark(traded)
4-Herzblut-100%SW 3-Indisch Rot-medium-80/20T
2-Tiefer See Wild Thing 80/20 Fluffy-medium 2-Amazonas Wild Thing -medium-80/20T 2-Pfefferminz Prinz-medium-80/20T 2-Farn(from trade) 2-Barist"O" laceweight-medium(Iwould get a better pic but both have gone to new owners in trade)But what a beautiful color... VergiB(purchase from Ravelry) and my first yarnissima Kit Spina de Pesce(?sp)
Ok, I must go and pet my yarn...another update regarding knitting tomorrow.

Hi Mom, all this yarn comes from Germany. pretty neat eh?

Warmer weather, Wollmeise and Weary Wednesday

I have started three updates in the past two weeks and never finished them. I have been stalking WOllmeise, yes yarn. Not just any yarn, Wollmeise, wondrous, wildly colored, wool Wollmeise. If one were to peruse my stash they would take note I have some, much compared to some stashes. I am not so much into sock knitting at this time and want quantities to make sweaters and shawls. I stalked for 8 months before actually hitting an update three weeks ago and two weeks ago I hit two(with the help of DH). At times, it is very convenient to have a DH working the same schedule as you especially when an update happens in the very wee hours of the morning. I obtained a bit, a bit more with DH help after having hit an early afternoon update. I am still waiting for the delivery of all the yarn and some has been promised to others in repayment for trades or just because they were looking and had looked for me. That is how it works. I am actually stalking as I type and hope not to miss another update even with all the yarn coming,lol. Truth be told if i miss it is ok, there are a few people I would love to grab a skein or two though. But there will be other updates and Claudia will make more yarn. I was lucky enough to get in on the first round of her sock club. quarterly we receive two exclusives colorways and a pattern. The shipments have always been gorgeous and we all went in with the very common sock club understanding of maintaining the exclusivity of the yarn until the club was over. Sadly there has been controversy as someone sold the current shipment on EBAY for more than $300!! Economic hardtimes were stated as the reason but the controversy that arose and the subsequent listing of sock club shipment has caused a sad feeling. It is only yarn but people agreed to behave a certain way and then add in the factor of hardtimes and wow!! Hopefully this will not sour the possibility of another club.
Here is this month's shipment the colors are glorious and I hate to use them as they will be offered down the road and I would like more,lol.
As you see the colors are very Oriental, rich and candlelit colored. The little pouch holds a stitch marker. I love these colors and can see them combined with more solid colors.
This is also Wollmeise, Schwarz-an almost solid black
and Herzblut-a red red
I obtained in a trade these two wondrous skeins...I have wanted to see them live for some time and they do not disappoint
Sultan

and Iris
I am hoping some of the other packages start coming in today.
Also, as always, the Loopy Ewe Sock CLub in all its magnificence

Yes indeed that IS Handmaiden Casbah...pretty awesome, eh? Sheri always tops the previous shipment, not sure how but she does. See the extras. a needle gauge and a tape measure with a built in pen on a caribiner...how ingenious. Love the color!
And we have the latest in the Chameleon Colorworks Sock Club, lordy this is too cute. I was looking at the yarn and the pattern and thinking great how exact the placement must have to be to get the yarn just right to come up in pattern...nah!! The skein is two half skeins, each being one of the two colors needed. These may get cast on immediately
and it is the BAMBINO, love bamboo, love Bambino..love Chameleon Colorworks.
This is the reverse side of the mittens for No More Humdrum Mittens Swap 4. I love these but will happily send them along as my pal is a cat person

Madli, poor poor Madli, she got frogged due to this

Too dang difficult to pick up with all the yo's so restarting, this time with beads. Hopefully a picture worth posting by Monday since I got a daylight lamp and hope to be able to see at night to knit.
Moving on to infinite coolness
The Zauberball, it looks huge doesn't it, naw about the size of a softball but alledges to have very long color sequences...here is another view

That came from the Loopy Ewe along with this limited edition Nyoni from Fiesta

Very limited run , very good yardage, very inexpensive($20)
While stalking for Wollmeise with the crazies over on Ravelry I was turned on to two new yarns, this being one,Squoosh Fiberarts the colors are Tangelo, Blackberry(both merinos sock) and Fissure(fat sock) very fast shipping, very "squooshy"yarn.

The WM Crazies also have me convinced I must learn to spin, drop spindle first. I received this from Vampy in the UK made for me as I "talked"with her online. Is it not gorgeous?
Can you see the sparkle in it? It is a batt that will I will spin into yarn...what am I thinking?
Another lovely from the Loopy Ewe

I love SheepPaints yarn, then I discovered it is also a German or European yarn which I seem to have a hankering for lately
OK one of the pups in their new beds, I ordered them thinking they were sherpa free but as you can see...almost sent them back but the pups do seem to like them

A big hullo to Mom, we went to a family bridal shower this past weekend, very lovely.

LINKS will be added over the next few days

Sunny Springy Sunday

Hmmmm...wonder if that is why it is called SUNday? OK let's see...well the cardigan is finished and as cute as the buttons upon it...
The pattern is a Ravelry download(pay) and is called "A Cardigan for Merry" It has the most delightful reversible cable border on it. It is a child version of the Arwen sweater. I loved making it. I used Lionbrand Microspun, a sportweight washable oh-so-soft yarn. the pattern asks for toggle buttons but seeing as I really couldn't find any I liked and the Mom of the the little girl I made it for loves butterflies....

A little tip from me to you: Since I put on a flat button I sewed a shirt button between the butterfly and the sweater for added height so the loop would sit correctly around the button.

These are the cat mittens I am making for my pal in the No More Humdrum Mittens Swap 4. I love this swap a lot. Deb does such a good job keeping us all the straight and narrow. Deb has started designing socks as of late. Do take a moment and check out her patterns. I am using Louet gem fingering weight. I initially planned a Lorna's Laces pinky yarn for the background but it was swallowing up the design so redid it in blue and black and am quite happy with the results.

Have you seen this magazine? Yes it does say Debbie Bliss. I, and others have had some problems with her yarn, splitty, knotty, broken, etc. but I do so love her yarn and patterns. Long long ago in a galaxy far away..oh wait...long ago when DS2 was born, actually even a short time before that when I didn't know he would be DS2, I made a jumpsuity outfit from a DB pattern, just the cutest...I have recently come across that pic and must scan it into the computer.

I have gone off the wagon...eleven weeks of no yarn purchases for self and I broke...yep...I finally, FINALLY caught a Wollmeise update, woot!!! I can't wait for the new navy yarn from Claudia. Lordy what fun that was to be in on the rolling update. it was a search and destroy mission. But I got some that I wanted so I am a happy camper. Unfortunately while waiting and stalking the other WMers turned me on to two other sites and I bought some of their yarn as well. OK fingers start knitting....

I found this yarn at Joann's...it is Merino superwash if I remember and under 5 dollars a ball!!! I love the colors and can't wait to see how it stripes up!

This was a birthday gift from my good friend, Michelle. It is rayon and has a metallic thread running through that is copper!!! COPPER FPS!!! I love it and will make a beautiful shawl from it!!

This is the yarn from my latest Chameleon Colorworks Foot Club...it is the bambino blend which is incredibly soft!

I am expecting the third installment of the Wollmeise sock club and the first of the third round of the Loopy Ewe sock club. WOW, what a great week this will be!!!!

ETA: This is the Sock Club shipment from the Loopy Ewe , what wonderful goodies Sheri always includes. Look at the carabiner with needle gauge and tape measure/pen! So cute and useful!!
I am also casting on for this shawl, Madli. Dear Bev asked if wanted to join her and Helen(both mermaiders)in an impromptu KAL...the date was March 1 but I have been to busy and am ready to go now.

I have loved this jacket since first seeing it a year or so ago at Kpixie ...today I got an email it was 40% off, another savings code and nearly 50% off!! I got it in the black colorway...it doesn't say if I need buttons or they come with but either way!!
Funny thing, Kpixie is in the same town as me but no storefront,however it means very quick shipping!!




We closed on our refinance of the house and did quite well so have started the projects going again. Soon it will be warm enough to finish painting the house, then the porch, the barn(but first install a new garage door and a new window in place of the hayloft door). Also the plans are drawn up for the deck and once we check into permits that will be a go. it will be a rather large deck, possibly as large as 22' x 24'. We have purchased a screened gazebo to set upon it at one corner and some Victorian looking resin wicker furniture. We thought about the standard table and chairs but will get much more use out of the sitting arrangement. Of course the dogs will have outside beds.

Ahh the dogs...so darn cute. Poor Phineas has come to need a diet, he is 5-10 pounds overweight and has been definitely diagnosed with lameness. I knew it from day one. SO he is on a lower calorie food and we are trying to get him an extra walk or three a week. He seems to already have slimmed down a bit. I will take him in for xrays in a few weeks and see how bad things are. Luckily for him, this is what I and DH do, radiology, so we will look at the images and not be talked into something we don't feel is necessary. Of course we do love his vets so...but he has been taking glucosamine and his food has some in it. He seems springier than before and has managed a few jumps onto the bed. Great yes, but not good for his hips so we almost have to discourage the jumping. Poor little guy. I heard dome whimpering a week ago and tracked it down to the kitchen. there sat my little guy with his paw on his bowl and his head on his paw whimpering for food. Saddest thing I ever saw. Yes I did give him something. he is a puppy...and he has me wrapped around his finger...and he is a puppy... They both got hoodies today, LOL. I have to reorder as they are a tiny bit small. But this is the boys modelling them. Phineas looks striking in his brown and green seems to be Oliver's color!!

The pups also got some new stuffed rabbits. What fun they are having! The rabbits seem to land on their feet when tossed around, most of the time. It is well worth the money spent on them for the entertainment factor alone.

We have a new 52" HDTV...lordy...the people on the screen have larger heads than mine, it is freaky. The boys are enjoying it for video games and I am sure I will like it for exercising once I get used to it. We have a new tv stand coming which is very period appropriate for the house.

My DM, Hi Mom! was to come for a visit this past week but we got hit with another storm and the visit had to be postponed. I love the winter, love the snow, love the gloom and darkness but enough is enough. I want to paint and plant some around the house and ride my bike. Enough!

ETA: As I writing this(Monday) it hs started to snow yet again!!! Perhaps 6-8" is the latest guesstimate.

In January I was fortunate enough to get the Zuma bag from Namaste in eggplant. Sheri has them at the Loopy Ewe. This is the Buddy that goes with it to hold notions. The inside cover is magnetic to keep your needles in place. It is a worthwhile purchase!!

I was given this yesterday as a somewhat belated birthday gift from DH...can you see what it is? I am sure it will get some use very soon.

OK I think that is enough for you all to digest for the moment. If the sock club shipments are here in the next day or two will add pics.

I will add links and more pics later tonight (Monday)

Take good care and tell your children how special they are.

Happy Birthday Mom!

So today is my Mother's birthday, we will not mention how many although I believe she would not mind. My Mother and I share a birth month, love of sparkly things, handcraftiness, interior design and Victoriana, among other things. I was the first girl after two sons and my room was appropriately girly. Apparantly I spent most of my young life in frilly dresses,LOL. I am sure this is where my love of purple stems from. So today Happy Birthday, Mom and thanks for your part in making me who I am.
I will depart from knitting a bit more to say Happy Birthday also to my SIL,Linda(also today) my sister,Dorene(tomorrow) and my newest SIL, Kim ( a bit later in the month). Hmmm...there may be one BIL in there as well somewhere. Happy February birthday to us all. May they be filled with sparkly amethysts.
OK tomorrow this will return to a knitting update, lol.

CABLES

I guess you love them or hate them...I, for one am in love. Always have been. Many many moons ago I made Aran knit sweaters for Mom and Dad and children from acrylic. Lordy.....Mom gave me back Dad's sweater after he passed and I treasure it. It is acrylic and it is old, but I made it with love. Now I make most things from wool, bamboo,alpaca or some combination of...However, today's fiber folks have done wondrous things with acrylics. The "Cardigan for Merry" I am making for Ana is a microfiber, it is so soft and perfect for a baby. It has the cables from the Arwen Cardigan. They are magnificent reversible cables and I want to put them on everything. They are sturdy and tactile and this is the kind of cable I want on a sweater I will design. It works grandly when there is a hood where both sides of the cable band are visible. The same knits and purls you use for everything moved around a little produce these wondrous things we call cables. I have always loved them braids, gum wrapper braids, all of it. Look at what I am gushing over...

I finally have a picture of where the mittens have stopped as well.....
Just a brief interruptioon...I fully anticipate the sweater being done by Monday night and then back to the mittens. It will be good to have some things finished. Next week also will show progress pictures of the swap mittens....
OK just a quickie post, getting ready for work and will post again Sunday night.

Hi Mom, right now 90 percent of our snow is gone, I will not be fooled though I know there is more coming. But when the snow melted we had a sudden blossoming of dog toys. I picked up 20 so far that were buried so they are currently in the dishwasher.

Hot Dawgs!!!

will add pics Friday morning....promise...please check back

I don't mean my puppies all snuggled under a blanket, I mean real hot dogs!!

I am watching the travel channel and they are on Coney Island eating N*th*n's hot dogs....is it me? I LOVE HOT DOGS!!! I love them boiled with a soft bun, onions,mustard, relish...grilled with a toasted bun and onions and cheese,sliced up into spaghetti and a small amount of sauce....but the very best way to eat a hot dog is raw...peel it like a banana and eat it, it is like a very little roll of bologna. And yes I do love bologna...the best is on two slices of lightly frozen white bread with a slathering of yellow mustard. I have not had raw hot dogs or bologna in years! You get to be a grown up and the medical community says these are bad things...I have had hot dogs on a plate no bun, or IK*A hot dogs, c'mon they are like 2/$1.00 or something like that....Perhaps my birthday meal of choice this year will be hot dogs or bologna sandwiches or fried eggs and fried bologna or spaghetti and hot dogs or....

Knitting is moving along, I wish I could report the mittens were done, but I cannot but I do have this much done...

They are warm and beautiful...

They were not done as we spent a lot of time getting ready for the appraisal and then I worked. I have been knitting a lot the past two days as I am making a sweater for a friend's very young daughter (This sweater is the pattern, not my sweater,lol)
...I had aspirations of finishing this by Saturday, we shall see...I just cast on Monday and am through the back and 1/3 of the way through both sleeves. I am saving the cabled parts for last but don't anticipate much trouble. I am just not sure I have adequate time for finishing but I will try very very hard. You never know what people are willing to put on their children or have much time they have to devote to care so I am using a microfiber acrylic yarn. It is very soft and drapey and splity, but it is a small sweater so I will deal.

I have received my Wollmeise from my anniversary gift order, look...yes that is Poison Nr 5
and Barista
...gorgeous eh? AND In hopes of doing some color work I procured two skeins of Schwartz.
Claudia is doing some solids and I keep missing her updates but my stash is telling me not to complain so...I have held off other yarn purchases, have made it through one month so far, 5 to go.(except Wollmeise, DH says it doesn't count, LOL).

I am again in the No More Humdrum Mitten Swap and have decided on these mittens
with these yarns(from stash)
I will use the top yarn in the Lorna's the pinks.
I have been observing others mittens and they seem rather short to me so I will be adding length and hope for the best.

SO let's see, working on sweater, mittens and then finishing Love Song which I have added another skein to...yea!!! I cannot wait to get to the saddles at the shoulder. I also got the new Vogue Knitting and really want to make Jared's new gloves.....have you seen them?
I ordered a 000 circular needle once I discovered this scarf
in this magazine
is made from yarn in my stash....I think it makes a very lovely male scarf and will make one for DS1.

We have been buried again in snow, yesterday we were hit hard again. DS2 slid over a small median and we had to tow him off, he was fine, thank goodness and his car was fine. When he was taking driver's education his dad enrolled him in a class that takes place in the winter. It teaches driver's how to react in winter situations, they have them speed up and slam on the brakes to spin, etc...it is very weather dictated as they want similar conditions . Such a unique and worthwhile class to take. DS1 and DSGF both slid in the exact same place DS2 had gone over the median but they managed to stay off it. Again, thank you. This is a snowman DS2 and I made after a long day. We splashed some of the red food coloring accidentally on his chest which then became intentional and murderous.
OK my latest stash entry is up to 615, not skeins just entries, FPS...that is a lot of yarn!!! I will add the individual skeins and post a total as soon as I know it...prepare yourself.

I have two incredibly sweet puppies hoping for a walk even though in is in the 20s so I will end here. I had them weighed last week and Oliver, 13 months is back up to 87 pounds, and Phineas, 7months yesterday, is 71 pounds. That is a lot of dog to walk when I hold them in one hand, LOL. But here we go.....
That is not a picture of Oliver, it is on a pet magazine and is frighteningly similar to Oliver. The closest I have ever seen....

This sugar syrup
Whips up into this fluffy sweetness
Which becomes these chocolate dipped marshmallows, decadent.....


Hello Mom, hope you are all dug out, do they make snowmen on the golf course? they should..

A little sidebar, I am so disappointed they suspended Michael Phelps. I realize what he did was wrong, I am so against drugs, but there are so many more important things to focus attention on. He was a young man giving his all in a sport that is suddenly in the forefront. he brought much honor to his country. You cannot overwhelm someone so quickly with fame and attention and not expect to find a flaw. We spy on and harrass our superstars to the degree that no mere mortal person could ever measure up to. It had nothing to do with the anti doping standards. Yes, it was a mistake, but especially in a country where the laws regarding marijuana are loosening ... It is a shame he had to be made an example of. I wonder if he would have been had this been prior to all the gold he won? Just my opinion on my blog. I am confident he will come back from the three months stronger than ever before, and also a little wiser.

Surprise Readers

Well, it is bitter cold here and I never thought I would say it but I am ready for the warm, not hot, maybe 40's. When your thermostats seldom sees 62 40 is quite warm, lol. It is hard on the dogs and as I walk them at the same time, which is interesting enough, but on the ice this 150 pounds of dogs pull me like I am riding the Iditerod(?sp) They have to investigate every puddle and have saved me from an attcking snowdrift(Oliver was quite suspicious of it so climbed it and beat it down until it succumbed and I could safely pass) and the attack of a patio table unmbrella(Phineas barked and barked and as we walked and it disappeared from our view he was quite confident he had scared it away). Snowmen are a group of marauders we have not yet ended the war with.

So I would like at least the ice to go away.

OK, back to the title....I was perusing my email and had a lovely email from my DM(Dear Mother) who had read my blog!! I didn't know that so let me extend a cordial and hearty Hello to my Mom. Mom met my Dad when they were quite young, I would like to say she was 14 or 15 and Dad 4 years the elder. A strikingly handsome couple they courted, wed and raised a family of 11 children. If I do say so myself we haven't turned out half bad :) It is an amazing thing to stay home and run a household and raise children and be the supporter of your husband's endeavors. Dad was a carpenter, cabinet maker, entrepenauer and firefighter eventually retireing as a Fire Chief. He was a good hard working Irish Catholic who loved his wife, his children and God before all else. Yes I say was....we lost Dad 4 years ago in January. He passed as he lived, surrounded by his bride, all his children, many spouses and grandchildren. I regret he did not see DS1 graduate from undergrad or grad school, or DS2 from high school. In honor of his Pa, DS2 had a firefighter emblem placed on his high school ring and has a fire fighter decal on his truck and his laptop. I would also like that he could know DS1 does not work Saturdays. When DS1 was very young my parents were caring for him and seeing as both boys are brilliant and spontaneous readers before 2 years of age, you could have adult conversations with them quite early on. They both were reading high school and college level way before elementary school. SO on one day when DF and DS1 were having a discussion about finances and what DS1 would do in his future he replied he had no idea but he knew he would not work on Saturday. Dad always found that quite inciteful and quite humorous.

Dad and DS2 at Christmas in a very typical bear hug.

Dad, DS1 and Mom on the night of one of DS1's semi formals

DS1,DS2,Mom and Dad at the Crayola Factory in ?PA.

So this will be the first of all the future blog entries where I say hello to my Mom.

A New Day

So I spent the better part of the day yesterday watching the inauguration of our 44th President. There are one or two things I really insist on watching from start to end and this is one of them. It was a magical ,hope filled event and I was glad to have the opportunity to witness it. I have decided, regardless of who wins our next election, I will be in Washington to be part of the inaugural celebration.

During the event watching, I worked on stash, and knitted a bit. I finished the Big Ivy Scarf previously and here is a pic. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca so it is very warm. A good dog walking scarf.
I have not blocked or weaved in ends yet but that is a good work project. Seeing that I had some leftover yarn I started these yesterday...they are the Bird in Hand Mitten. I think they compliment the scarf nicely.
I am going to finish the mittens and then this sweater...I love this sweater Amhra'n'Gra(Love Song) and like that it uses so much yarn, it feels like I accomplish something every time another skein disappears. I showed DH and he seemed appropriately impressed...it is a terrific pattern by Bev ...you should go and see her other patterns as well. Then I will cast on for and finish the Delphine sweater by Lorraine . I did not make any knitting goals for myself this year except to complete three of Lorraine's designs. This will be my very first and I am excited. As I am trying to work from stash I will use the Knitpicks Palette initially planned for the sweater in these colors....I really like them and am looking forward to melting into the knitting of this beautiful sweater. I was lucky enough to get a spot in the second Loopy Ewe Spring Fling but let it go as one of my very good friends was not able to attend. I think we will both try again next year and hopefully have another opportunity to partake in the festivities. I also was so lucky to get a lottery spot in the Loopy Ewe Sock Club...terrific patterns, yarns and extras put together by Sheri. They are always a treat and it feels like Christmas every time a package arrives.

I purchased these books in the past few weeks, there are a few sweaters in each o my to do list.
This is what the pups looked like mostly when they were stuck with me when DS2 was away for a week. DS1 and GF did their very best to entertain and spoil the little guys and they were quite successful. Still, these are the faces I was left with during the day
Then, the boy came home.
I will add links later. I just walked the pups, cleaned their eyes, ears and gave baths and they have been dried and are napping. I am now soaked and wish I had a person to take care of me.....

I also want to wish my friend Hariamrit a speedy recovery. GoatLady was the extra special souvenir from SF 1...I have mentioned her often and think of her always. Heal quick friend.UPDATE..Dear Hari is on the mend but please continue to send her great thoughts.

Another New England Winter

I will add pics to the next entry which should be today, Monday ,Jan 19

It seems to be, that the snow storms of the past few years have coincided with my work schedule, always. Snowed Saturday(worked) will snow Thursday(workday). I am not sure why this phenomenon exists, but it is getting frustrating. I don't get the opportunity to sit and watch the snow fall or listen to the gentle sounds of the snow falling, but I do get to travel for more than an hour on the bad roads, then work(caring for those who have been injured due to the storm) and then travel in the aftermath home where what awaits is dirty snow. I am fortunate in that DS1,DS2 and DS1GF generally have shovelled the usable part of the driveway and have cleared the walkway, but I didn't get to make the initial foot prints in the snow and there is a certain smugness in being the very first one to leave your mark. It is a competition now, having two dogs and them needing to leave their mark rather than merely wanting to, but they generally head out back. I heard tell of a woman, family friend, who forbade anyone to walk across her front yard once it snowed, to preserve that pristine covering for a while. I am beginning to think it isn't such a bad thought. I am a New Englander, born during a blizzard. I LIKE the snow, mess and all. I am not angry with the snow gods for dropping ten inches on me nor do I moan out loud that there will be more coming. This is New England FPS....

Work continues on getting the stash recorded on Ravelry. It seems as though most of it is one place, which makes this a bit easier. I need to bite the bullet and devote one day to it and finish it up. Record what will be kept, box up what will be donated. I am hoping to use more of what I have this than purchase new. It is an amazing thing, the knitter and yarn, we need to possess it, the more the better. I am surprised at what I have as I go through it, some of it is like an old friend who I recall but not what they do, some of it I would swear never having seen before. I am hoping over the winter at least to finish some of the WIPs that have lingered and seriously consider frogging those that have lingered into a life support state. I have my first FO of the new year. The Big Ivy Scarf in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. It seems I want to make it longer, I have already added one full lace section more than the pattern calls for. According to my entry into Ravelry about the scarf, I should two more skeins of the main color and then could increase the length even more. But, instead, I chose to finish it out at it's current state/ I like it a lot, and would hope to male another in the future. It is a quick knit if you can practice project monogamy.

The next WIP that will receive attention is the secret Christmas knitting/ I am making a design by Bev, a frequently typed name in this blog. It is a lovely Aran sweater called, I had planned to give it to DH for Christmas and was on track for finishing it, but we agreed to knot exchange gifts this year and it sat quietly while I tended to house renovations. Now it is demanding some time, so time it will get. DH is a large man so Bev and I have been adjusting the pattern accordingly as I go along. I am using Cascade in a Celtic Green color. I showed DH the sweater in its current state and he seemed to like it/ I have finished the gussets and have divided for the front and back. I will knit on this for a bit and then add in another project.

The puppies are somewhat sad this week. DS2 is in FLA for a vacation with his father. The puppies are looking for him everywhere. They can be soothed by DS1 and GF for a bit but then they work and the poor puppies are left with me. DS2 will be back Saturday morning so it will be a long week for those not in Florida.

As I am on a self imposed no yarn purchases for me(DH thinks that should not extend to Wollmeise) for 6 months or so, I was wondering what I might like for my birthday next month. I have emailed the family and suggested a wooly board. They have fascinated me for some time, especially when I see the lovely sweaters of Marina displayed on one. I asked, if it were purchased, that it be the only gift, as I don't really need anything, but I was told that was emotional blackmail and my family should not be dissuaded from bestowing me with gifts to celebrate me. Who knew?? heehee

So I will post this, work on the stash, take puppies to vet for weighing an heart pill procurement, perhaps a walk, food shop, put away Christmas decorations and knit.

No More Humdrum Mittens Swap Round 4

My answers will be pretty much the same as last time around, I believe. Thanks to Deb for doing this again.

Questionnaire
Please post this questionnaire with your answers on your blog no later than January 15th
How long have you been knitting & how did you learn?
At this point I hate to admit about 42 years! I was very young. My aunt and Nana both knit and every year Aunt H would give me one of those octagonal cardboard knitting kits with the plastic needles(they had seams if I remember correctly) and barely enough yarn to cast one, LOL. I saved a few and one day cast on. Nana was there to fine tune but essentially self taught.
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I definitely consider my skills advanced....I say that with some humbleness as I have "met" so many wonderful knitters who also design(THAT is pure advanced) I am beginning to feel I may want to delve into the world of design. Maybe in the next year or two.
What are your favorite colors?Any you dislike?
I love jewel colors, deep, rich as well as bright colors, not so much with pastels unless paired with black or navy or...
Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns?
Latvian,fair isle , Norwegian,yes, my favorite types would be those with multiple color ranges, I do love a simple mitten, though as well as a two color only mitten. That didn't help did it?
Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child?
I think I shall say me again. First round I got for me(which I wear dog walking as they have a lovely grippy pattern on the palm) second for DS1GF(beautiful original design with bottom off tops,great for her commuting) last time me (I received gorgeous thrummed mittens, match my new coat exactly and were very toasty shovelling the big snows of new year Eve) So I think I shall say me again. Never can have too many mittens.
What is the measurement from your wrist to the tip of your longest finger?What is the circumference of your hand at it's widest point?
What other things do you enjoy knitting?
I enjoy everything, aran, fair isle the most. All items, I went through the sock craze like everyone and slowed that a bit. I am beginning to be enthralled with lace.
What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum)
Love the KnitPicks Harmony circulars, both Options set, love the Hiya Hiya circs, made mittens on two circulars this past time. Hoping to do two on two this time.
What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make?
Hmmm...maybe designing a sweater or a nice lace shawl
What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with?
I have Casbah but haven't yet used it...anything actually.
What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook?
I will be trying spinning this year. I do everything else, sew, quilt, crochet, anything you can think of.
Besides yarn, do you collect anything?
Eiffel Towers, Mr. Potato Heads, antique glass
What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty?Anything you hate or are allergic to?
New year, new diet attempt, no snacks please
Do you have any kids?Pets?
Two sons 19 and 24. Also a one year old pure lab and a 7 month old rescue dog, Australian Shepard/lib mix and we don't know what else he has in him.
What is your favorite part of Winter?
All parts, I was born in a blizzard
What is your least favorite part of Winter?
Dirty snow, slippery streets

Awwwww!!

I forgot to put this picture in. We had a big snowstorm a week or so ago and the puppies had a ball!! Phineas was past his belly but they managed.

Happy New Year

Hope everyone's Christmas was spent with people you love and everyone remained safe. I return to work New Year's Eve, should have been Jan 2 at the first minute of the day, however I offered to come in earlier.

Our Christmas was spent in our new home.

The children are older now and the puppies need tending to, so it worked out all around.

I received some knitterly things.

This beautiful lace knitting bag and markers from my good friend, Hariamrit(aka Goatlady).
I met Hari through the LoopyEwe Spring Fling 08. Hari was the best thing about the entire experience. She is a treasured friend. The kind that you could talk with every day or once a month and there is never hard feelings or a loss of things to talk about. It is a very non awkward friendship, very rare. She is a very interesting lady and solely responsible for my knitting socks on two circular needles. that has been extended to mittens as well. I could, momentarily, knit two on two but have lost the knack. However I did receive from Ds1GF

Pretty neat right? ....yes I will soon be venturing into the world of spinning.

DS2 picked this up all on his own, and as with her other books, I am enjoying reading it.

Not knitterly, but DS1 gave me this requested book. I am not going vegan but so many of the recipes seem healthier and I am going to incorporate at least some of the theories into my lifestyle.
My friend, Michelle, (NeedelD1) accompanied me on the trip to WEBS year end blowout sale. Michelle gave me this beautiful coin purse/notions purse.
So sparkly..love it! Speaking of WEBS, we crossed the threshold shortly before 10am and were both convinced including the 2.5 hour commute, we would be home earl afternoon. Checking out in line someone said it was shortly after 2pm!! We literally had to stop ourselves from another trip up and down the aisles in the back room. This is what I got to add to my stash.
The yarn is for this sweater,
the corally color for DS1GF and the other for me. Sock yarn(which I held and thought it was as nice as the Cascade sock and the label on the bag actually said Cascade yarns.
Relabelled for WEBS or similiar I am not sure). I love the Cascade fixation and couldn't resist this colorway.
I had wanted this book for some time and it was 25% off so who could resist?
We tried to take Christmas photos of the puppies in their holiday finery. They were a bit confused at first.

We are not sure what prompted this pose but .......

I am trying to decide what I want to accomplish in knitting in 2009.....will think on it the next few days.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is planning a safe and joyous New Year Celebration.

Happy Birthday, Oliver!!!

Today our very first dog, our precious black lab, Oliver, turns one year old!!! I had always promised the boys when we owned a house we could get a dog. So, last December 18, when we passed papers on our first home the question ineveitably came up. Then it was pointed out we have a house, a large barn and land so...yes the decision was made that we eventually will end up with at least 4 dogs. March 15 we picked up our dear sweet Oliver. he was so much larger than we anticipated and he still frightened me(scared of most dogs).

His first night he was awake all night sick with kennel cough and when we called the kennel the next day they offered to take him back. DS2 stated he was his dog and we would not be returning him. So we all nursed this frightened little 22 pound puppy back to health.

Oliver and I reached an understanding the first night when we learned he couldn't maneuver stairs and I had to carry him up and down, shaking all the way. He also was quite tolerant when I was the only human around to give his pills as I waited for a yawn from him to throw the pill in his mouth.

We have come along way and he steals our hearts everyday. he is a wonderful dog, all lab, cute and loving and curious and protective and so happy to you return even if you were gone only a few minutes.

Oliver generously welcomed our second dog, Phineas, into the family in August. Poor Phineas was a very frightened little guy having been rescued from a kill shelter(what an oxymoron) and Oliver immediately became playmate, protector, mentor, big brother.

Our lives are all enriched with the daily unconditional love this dog gives us. He is a joy.

Happy Birthday, Oliver!!!