Empty Nest...Part II

Empty Nest Part I brings me to this post. Chem girl has returned to college. We patiently waited for Hurricane Irene to exit and make the move.

Packing the car is always an interesting endeavor with DH. The pillows were 'smooshed' on top of the packed trunk.









The backseat was full to the top of the car and this was all I could see of her during the trip.























For the first time she has a spacious room with not one but two windows. Drywall vs concrete block walls which she dubbed 'prison walls' makes her feel as if she's home. She also has air conditioning which is another plus. She has not had air for the past 2 years and the heat and humidity were horrible in the concrete block dorms.




















She dragged the flamingo lights and this little guy with her. What is up with this kid and flamingos? LOL





















Just like the Cardinal family in Empty Nest Part I we've encouraged the baby to take flight. We now have an empty nest once again. Time is moving quickly and in another year or so we will have an permanent empty nest.
There will be another post of Mr. Bettis and his antics while we were gone but that will have to wait.
In the meantime I am in the process of downsizing and cleaning out. Everything MUST GO! well with the exception of my yarn ;)

Copycat

Remember in an earlier post I wrote that our eldest daughter requested a look-a-like shawl for her honeymoon? Well thanks to Chan I now have the required amount of yarn in the perfect color.

Her bridal shower is July 30th and I plan to have this finished by then.

This pattern had a chevron design but I opted to forego the main body pattern in lieu of a larger shawl with a full ruffle. The larger shawl ruffle will result in a zillion or so stitches (by my estimate ;). Another reason to skip the chevron pattern. I want to do the ruffle in k1p1 instead of st st which would cause it to curl.

And if anyone knows me they know how much I dislike k1p1. I'll keep you posted on the progress. So far so good. I hear the heat and humidity are returning so the air conditioner will be cranked so I can knit away.

Disguised blessings

Been absent for a little while. There have been many blessings in my life and when I don't choke up I'll blog about them but for now just know that I have the best friends in the world.

I've been quiet about a few things and hesitate to post too much but feel I should at least inform those who read this blog. Our eldest daughter has been dealing with serious medical issues for quite a while and after much testing we are heading to a University Hospital for further evaluation.

This picture is a repeat pic and forgive me for re-posting it but I absolutely love it. It describes our daughter to a tee. She's a laid back kind of gal and has an infectious personality. Quiet but full of little quips that make you laugh. Loves animals and as of this writing just called to tell me that she captured a stray dog and is transporting it to a new found home.

I love snow and hope we get a good snowstorm although it's not looking too favorable here. However that could be a blessing in disguise as we'll be in the car for several hours traveling to the hospital. I'm packing the knitting bag and a few snacks (gotta have snacks you know). I'm starting on Christmas gifts already. There have been quite a few gift requests from my crew and trust me, the list is long ;).

What are you knitting?

Is it a plane? A bird?

Lacking finished knitting/spinning projects to post I'm taking a trip down memory lane.

I don't know if any of you remember the DD took a trip to AZ with Earthwatch last year or not. But she and I were reflecting about it over the weekend and remembered I didn't post the Themis photo.
She was one of 6 students to work the Themis camera on Mars. They captured a picture that was not previously taken. It was immediately sent to NASA and has recently posted on their Themis site.


This is the picture.
Quite fascinating (although I have no clue about it). She has prattled for days about the discovery. If you go to the picture site, you will note the description recognizes the MSIP: Earthwatch SCAP 2009 for capturing the photo.
It's hard to imagine it's only been a year since she took off on her first plane flight and her first time away from home. As I told her, "you've come a long way, baby."

I promise I'll have a more interesting knitting/spinning post soon ;).

You're Coming Home

Country roads, take me home, to the place, I belong.........
The college DD has finished her freshman year and is home for the summer :D.
We left yesterday to pick up the second load of "stuff." The vehicle was packed to the brim. I think she took everything but my kitchen sink and it's piled on the deck and kitchen floor waiting to be stored until next year.




Chester survived his 3 week ordeal on the 8th floor of her sunless dorm room. We were greeted by the DD's friends holding onto Chester refusing to let him go. Seems he made quite a hit with the dorm and will be sadly missed.
He will be officially planted tomorrow.

DD loves Flamingos. I have no idea why but she does (I think because they're pink ;). Anyway this was in the spring study package that we sent to her. She and her roommate inflated him and hung him from the ceiling pipe as a little reminder of their final countdown.

She's come a long way from the homesick kid that we dropped off last August to a well adjusted young woman. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring break came and left in a flurry.

It's hard to imagine just 3 + short months ago her school was closed for a week due to the massive snowstorm/blizzard. Where does the time go?

Dear DD,

You left the freshman year with top grades and you should be proud of yourself. (Your dad is so proud, he could bust a few buttons ;). Secretly, we knew you would do your very best and you did.

Keep true to yourself and you'll go a long way.

You're home girl, so go ahead......Dance in the Rain.

Love,

Mom

Puddle-jump

My knitting needles were flying pre-surgery. I made MC a sweater vest. Using stash cotton with silk bits, it looks like an Easter Egg.

I forgot to take pics before we left the house so I took one in the car. Not the best picture but I love this pattern and my DIL seemed pleased with it.







There was an odd ball skein of unknown yarn in my stash and it was begging to be used. I grabbed a crochet hook and made a scarf. Took one hour and it was finished.
I need to find more yarn similar to this one. Long color repeats and only 100 yds makes this little beauty.







Intoducing Miss Puddlejump. I knitted this little pattern in a few hours. Love how she turned out. In case anyone is wondering, it's an Alan Dart pattern in the UK Simply Knitting Spring issue. A very quick knit with great results.














Miss Puddlejump is taking a trip. We can't get the college DD home for the Easter holiday :-( so Easter is coming to her.
The Rabbit put on his thinking cap and came up with a great idea, Build-a-basket!

There's a collapsed basket, colored grass, eggs (no, not real ones), candy, homemade peanut butter egg and many other goodies. She can build her own basket.
Jessi, please tell Mr. Tooth there's a toothbrush packed. Rabbit has always put toothbrushes in the baskets around here.
I think she'll have fun with this package.

Spring Break

Spring Break! Yay! for the college daughter who is home for a week. Boo! For the dreary rainy weather that followed her home. But we'll still have fun for the week.
Of course anytime a college student enters the home door they bring laundry and requests for home cooked food.








Hanging out with her BF, the cell phone :). Within an hour there were issues with the phone and we thought her world was going to crash LOL. A phone call to the provider and five technicians later we discovered the phone inner workings needed to be re-set as they were working on the towers. Lo and behold while I was on the phone we found there were charges on the bill that didn't belong to us.
May I just suggest it would be wise for companies to skip the screamin-meaming music on the hold feature and instead replace it with soothing music for the frazzled customer.


Eldest daughter hanging with her best friend, the cell phone:) and Mr. Bettis who wanted his seat back.
He won.











Since Mother Spring decided to grace us with showers for the weekend, Mr. Bettis is restricted to outside play. Mud is no fun for the care-takers which mean we must tolerate the ripping, racing and play antics inside.

"Why Mr. Bettis, what big teeth you have.........."







".....and Mr. Bettis, what big ears you have..."

The daughter is settled for the week and I know it's going to fly. I'm off to do some serious baking and cooking.........oh........and the laundry.

So where's his attorney now?

He did it again! This dog NEVER quits.
He taught himself to head butt (I never said this dog was bright, did I?) the storm door in order to let himself outside at any given time. He did this a zillion times a day. After all, there are squirrels, a possum, a raccoon and occasionally a bear to bark at. There's also the neighborhood dogs, kids and occasionally a butterfly that needs his immediate attention. The list goes on and on.
We debated on installing a doggy door but then the inside cat would want out. Headbutts took their toll and the handle broke. It fell off the door yesterday morning. Which meant he only had to nudge the door to get out and of course the door wouldn't close. So Miss Aurora took every opportunity to follow him Every. Single. Time. He did this stunt. It was a very lo-o-o-ong day with Mr. Bettis yesterday.







Mr. Bettis's owner was told to stop at the local hardware store on the way home to purchase another door handle.

Last evening at 8:30 pm a new door handle was installed. He'd better not bust this anytime soon. I've caught him headbutting the door but the new latch is working and he cannot get outside on a whim.

I'm sure I'll be hearing from Mr. Bettis's attorney shortly.

p.s.The college daughter is on her way home for a visit. I haven't seen her in over a month and I'm baking up a storm. YAY!!!!!!!

All's Quiet

It is quiet here. TOO quiet.
We took the DD to her college today (sniff). So I'm off to spend the remainder of the evening with Puffs.

On and on......

Life has been challenging but it is what it is.

Took the DD to her orientation at college. She seems to be adjusting well with the exception of the teensy, weensy room. Little rant here, considering her tuition is out of this world, wouldn't ya think the rooms would be a bit larger? She waved good-bye with a smile on her face and otherwise all is well. Not sure if we're both putting on a good front or we really are adjusting to the upcoming transition but I think parents know when "it's time." I believe her 2 week stay in AZ was a wonderful and mature experience. Hey Jessi and Chan, I'll post more pics of her trip just as soon as soon as she uploads them to her mother:).


Alita is moving along. S-l-o-w-l-y. I'm on Row 115. There are a zillion stitches. Okay. Not quite a zillion but you know what I mean. I try to put on a few rows everyday and I'm on the downward stretch. I like the pattern so that helps.









I decided I needed to start more projects. Gets difficult when all of my needles are in use on UFO's......lol

I started the Forest Canopy shawl from Poems Sock yarn. I'm not sure how this yarn would wear if I actually made socks from it. It is a single ply thick and thin yarn and it just doesn't appear to be durable enough for sock wear. But I do think it will make a gorgeous shawl.






I dug around in the stash and found this skein beggging to be cast on. Forget the fact, this will be the 4th pair of green socks on the needles.
Now what which UFO do I hibernate so I can cast on these babies.....lol

As my non-blogging friend Sara says, "knit like the wind." I'm going to do just that:).

It's a Goody Kind of Day

It's a goody kind of day. Look what arrived from Anita.
She doesn't like to use dpns so she sent them my way. Four whole sets ranging in size from a 2-5. Little furry balls were included for the cats that reside here and if you notice Anita, the blue one has already been snatched by Miss Aurora. She is meowing in the room guarding her prize.

It's difficult to see but if you look on the left she included chocolate kiss stitch markers. They're adorable and if you don't have any of her wonderful talent on your WIP go here and check out her markers. They are a must have item.
Anita is so sweet that she and Jazzy included treats for Mr. Bettis & Co. The little treats are for Miss Molly and Miss Gypsy. The bigger ones are for Mr. Bettis (which will be swallowed whole). Thank you Anita and Mr. Bettis sends big sloppy kisses to you and Jazzy. (He just loves cats, you know. LOL)



A yarn shop was having a 20% off sale. The DH had a little money stashed and he gave it to me for Valentine's Day.
After 24 yrs it has finally hit him that gifts such as a salad shooter/swiffer/broom just don't make the little woman happy on Valentine's Day (now to work on him for the rest of the holidays:).
I snatched this lovely yarn @ 50% off out of the trunk sale. It is Aruacania worsted for the DD a sweater.





I bought this magazine and the DD chose this pink Aruacania sock yarn at 20% off for the Marlena socks in the magazine. It's a Cookie A pattern and I'm anxious to cast on.
Thank goodness Anita sent those dpns in the nick of time:). 'Cos everyone knows I don't have needles..........LOL

Next I found this yarn and it is so soft. It will grow up to be a baby surprise jacket. I have a feeling I'll get two of them out of this yarn.

I stepped out of my baby color range box for this combo.

The DD went along on Saturday and sang (in a rather obnoxious manner) in the car. She chattered and sang throughout the 4 hour car trip and the DH laughingly stated she was easier to take when she was younger. She slept back then.

That statement only prompted more singing and more chatter......LOL

It was fun and we had a good day.

When we arrived home the DD whipped up heart sugar cookies to put in the cookie jar. I'm still lovin' this cookie jar.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.