Monday, February 22, 2010

It's a Knitting Jungle

I've wanted an excuse to make this adorable little elephant for quite some time. The pattern is easy and the result is too cute for words. I used two balls of Peaches and Creme yarn in the color Fiesta.
Meet Miss Ellie. She's ready for some hugs and kisses.








This is the Lacy Baktus. Quite the rage in blogland and Ravelry. Normally I choose the pattern then the yarn but this time the yarn chose the pattern.

I spun this from a small amount of roving that was purchased at the MD Sheep & Wool Festival a year or so ago. It's been sitting very prettily in a basket begging to be knit.






I called it Winter Birds because it reminds me of the birds hiding out in the trees during the winter storm.
I can't rave enough about this pattern. Love, love love it from start to finish.
Looks like everyone is getting a Baktus for next Christmas :).

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Knit 'n Spin

It's been a snowy month and a busy one for this spinner/knitter. There's not enough time in the day for me to accomplish all that I want to do. Add Mr. Bettis wanting in and out all day long and well...........you see where this is going.


This little shawlette scarf thingy (for lack of a better name) was knit from a skein that I spun. I love the spin to knit process. It's gratification in the finest.











This little sweater was gifted and received with appreciation.
It was made with Sirdar Bamboo and I can't say it's my favorite yarn to knit. I'm not a yarn snob and knit from just about anything including plastic shopping bags. Hey don't knock it, I must try something at least once. LOL
Back to the yarn review. The colors are beautiful and rich but it was a slippery yarn to knit. The only thing that saves it's little yarn soul is the end result. Finding the button was a task in and of itself but I found a lovely little heart button that was perfect. I will definitely knit this one again only in different yarn.


Smarty Pants #2 Son's afghan. Mr. Smarty Pants didn't want the "technicolor dream coat" afghan and requested a solid teal color. Not too sure he really understood the concept of the circular lace afghan but I think his wife appreciated it.
Hoping to accomplish some much needed spinning this coming week. Looks like the map is calling for another snow storm next week but time will tell. In the meantime, Mr. Bettis wants outside. Again.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Birthday Wishes

My grandmother turned 90 yrs old yesterday. We celebrated on a small scale and little does she know that today holds a surprise party. Well I take that back. My grandmother is sharp minded and we think she suspects there's a party in the works.
She enjoyed the small scale party and here she is holding her great-great granddaughter, MC.

My grandmother is the oldest of 4 children. I am fascinated with the story of her life. She was born to a young farming couple in the Appalachian mountains on a snowy blizzard day. Her mother almost died during the birth and was transported 10 miles by horse and sled to the nearest dr in town. Due to my great grandmother's grave condition the dr had no time to care for my grandmother and advised the midwife to wrap the baby and lay her beside the dog in a bed to keep her warm. Both of them survived and my great-grandmother lived to be 91 yrs old.
At the age of 7 yrs. my grandmother suffered the loss of her youngest 2 yr old sister to illness and 6 months later lost her father to TB.

She quit high school in her junior year and landed a job as a bank teller. Her math skills are sharp and believe me, she can beat anyone at a game of Dominoes 15's.
She met my grandfather and married at the age 18. One year later my mother was born. Six years later she again suffered loss when her second child (a boy) died at the age of 3 months.

My grandfather was called to service during WW2 and she volunteered her services on the homefront while working and raising her daughter.
She is a survivor of the Great Depression. At one point they closed their house and she and my mother moved in with her mother and my grandfather moved in with his parents. When asked why they didn't move in together to one house or the other her words are, " neither family could afford or house all of 3 of us and that's just the way things were, you did what you had to do." She remains politically active and has given quite a few warnings concerning our present government. I've learned to listen to the wise words of the elderly. They're no fools.

I spent weekends with my grandparents and thought it was wonderful when I could get "gussied-up" and go into town with them. Back then there were many specialty (quality) clothing stores in our downtown area and one had a tea room. She took me to lunch there many times and you can only imagine a wide eyed 7 yr old girl marveling over the dainty china tea cups, the little sandwiches and special desserts.

My grandmother has 1 daughter, 4 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter. She has spunk and if she thinks she's being bossed around she'll inform the self-designated bossy one to "Sit down. Who do you think I am? I'm certainly not an old woman." She still lives in her home with her little dog, Buffy and she remains active in her church and volunteers at our local fire department.

She has called me every year on my birthday to sing Happy Birthday. This year I surprised her by calling and singing Happy Birthday in my best singing voice (which is never good). We had a good laugh.

Happy Birthday Mom-mom!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

As if.........

We prattled around here for days, watching it snow, working on puzzles, playing board games and all in all appearing as if we had nothing better to do with our time. Until this morning.
Hubby got up to head off to work and as he entered the living room.......drip.....drip......drip.

Water was dripping from the living room offset. He had to shovel a path to get to the bay window area to take a look at the gutter.
It is packed with ice built up to 4 inches thick above the gutter. Not. Good.



He came inside and cut the drywall from the ceiling. Insulation and drywall are soaked.












What a mess! Looks like he's off for the day to take care of this little problem.









Miss Aurora was fascinated with the snow/water dripping into the bowls. I'm so glad this is amusing someone because it sure isn't amusing to us.

In spite of it all we are counting the blessings. It didn't happen during a torrential rain storm or during hubby's busy work season. So there are things to be grateful for even if we had to look hard for them.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Another Snow Day

Another Snow Day. I made pancakes for hubby. Just wait till he sees Mickey Mouse on his plate :).











No need for many words. I'll keep this short.
Icicles are everywhere. I have no idea why icicles fascinate me but they do.












I don't think anyone will be coming to visit anytime soon. There's no way they can get through the 35" of snow to the door.











The first flakes of Round #2 began around 3 pm yesterday.
It is still very pretty.











Mr. Bettis running through his tunnel. The snow is beginning to freeze on top so he is able to romp and play as needed. Thank goodness I was getting a bit concerned about him getting enough excercise. I can't afford losing stuff to his high energy antics.
You're on retainer Ms. Attorney because I have a feeling it won't be long till he will need you.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Round #2

The college DD is in her glory on campus. No school!
These are pics of the Monster Storm, Feb 5-6, 2010.
No complaints from this house during winter.
We love it.















The kids wanted to sled ride but of course they have no sleds so they became quite resourceful. Wasn't that the purpose of the required high school tech class? Some students "borrowed" food trays from the cafeteria until the officials discovered they were running out of trays.
DD unloaded her sweater under-the-bed container and found it to be a great sled. I'm so glad we have provided this kid with the perfect sled for college.....lol




We're finally dug out and waiting for storm round #2 tomorrow. We're anticipating a foot of snow. Not too sure where we're going to put it. Running out of room up here.








Hubby shoveling around his work car. Yep. That's a car underneath all that snow.
(ahem)





Firewood is stacked and ready. Hubby has made the second run for milk, eggs and puppy treats.
I'm ready to sit and knit tomorrow.
I am also armed with snowballs to throw at the first snowplow that plows the driveway closed.
Let is Snow!!!!



Saturday, February 06, 2010

Human Plow

The first snowflake fell at approx 9:13 am on 2/05/10. It is now 9:56 am on 2/06/10 and it's still snowing. There's an accumulation of approximately 2+ feet now.



Mr. Bettis needed to go outside. He loves to romp and play in the snow.

Little Miss Gypsy made the mistake of leaping into the snow. Needless to say we were scrambling to pull her from the avalanche. She promptly ran inside. Miss Molly took one look at the whole mess and followed Gypsy.






However, he gingerly tried the steps to the backyard and quickly turned around. He shot me a look as if to say, "you've got to be kidding. This was supposed to be fun."















Patiently waiting for the human plow to clear a much needed path.








This was taken at 8:30 am this morning. The mailboxes are almost completely covered. Rain, sleet and snow, the mail must go but I'm too sure that's actually going to happen today.










Wanna' take a dip in the pool?

Funny to think 6 months from now it will be so hot and humid one won't be able to breathe.












Into the woods last evening. I like this picture.












This was taken at dusk. I have no idea how I achieved the effect but Nichole liked it so here it is.
There's a mountain in the background but it was snowing too hard to be seen.

Let the shoveling commence. This is a HUGE storm and it's going to take awhile to dig out. Hope it doesn't melt too quickly. The last time a major storm dumped this much snow, it melted and we had a major flood in the area. Although I hear there's another snow storm coming this week.

Friday, February 05, 2010

We're ready!

The blizzard is on it's way. The national weather service has warned of paralyzing conditions, wind with snow possibly measuring in feet. Husband's work has been cancelled and we received a text message at 6 am from the college DD that her campus has closed for the day. I hear there's a snowball battle and sled riding in the forecast on campus:-).
Hubby and I are prepared.
Cell phones, laptop fully charged. Check.
Milk and bread Check.
Toilet paper. Check. (nothing like running out, know this one from a previous blizzard).
We're ready!


Husband's handknit socks, balaclava, gloves and snowshovel. Check.


















Wife's yarn, needles, markers, spindle, coffee cup, check.

oh but wait......are you saying my preparations are not snow related? ppffttt.....Sure they are, look closely there are snow markers made by Anita. I plan to start a lot of projects today.
I'm ready :).

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Friends

"Friends are angels who walk among us".

As you know there has been personal "stuff" going on in this household concerning our eldest daughter.
In spite of all that happens friends hold the glue in difficult situations. They wipe tears, encourage and even give constructive but loving criticism when needed all in the name of being a loving caring friend.




My daughters always tease me about yarn packages and threaten to open them upon arrival.
This daughter was visiting when a package arrived from Chan. She teased me about opening it as most packages arriving here hold yarn and much to her surprise I told her to go ahead. She was chattering away as she opened it and was quite surprised when she lifted the lid. No yarn but instead the box held a beautiful carefully packaged robe with her name engraved on the front.
The look on her face was priceless and the thoughtful gift brought tears of joy.
It gave such delight to see her smile during such difficult days. Thank you Chan for your gracious and very thoughtful gift and many warm ((hugs)) are sent your way.