Here we go.........again

This post is picture-less. I'm supposed to be packing to leave for Son #2's wedding which is on Saturday. We're leaving tomorrow morning. I would've been packed and ready but it seems there was a snafu. I have asked husband for 3 weeks to try on his suit. He refused and fussed that it was fine. I was not convinced and I reminded him that he had not worn the suit for a few years. He continued to insist the suit would fit. Well he tried it on this evening and guess what? The pants did not fit. So we had to make a last minute run to find dress pants. I'm curious. Do you think it is the evening bowl of ice cream that caused the pants to shrink? LOL

You should've seen the shirt he thought he was going to wear (eye-roll here). No, it wasn't the old flannel but it was close. Husband is a casual kind of guy.
We found the pants on sale and a new dress shirt that was on clearance in the first store. Not that we have a lot of store choices. So we were fortunate.

The knitting bags are packed. Yes, I said bags. One never knows which project to work on for the car ride and the down time during the visit.

Off to finish the packing........Have a good weekend!

Friends

Chan presented me with a Friend's Blog Award. Thank you, Chan.




“Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers.Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers.”

So, my eight are…

1. Anita

2. Jessi

3. Ann

4. Diana

5. Laura

6. Shelly

7. Becca

8. Gaylen

Spin Forward

Knitting is on a roll here in between the spinning. Chan is making one of these so I had to snoop and find the pattern. Found it! Now to look in the stash for yarn. Found that too!
I bought this cotton fingering yarn at MD Sheep and Wool ions ago. I have no intention on making cotton socks. So I put the two together and started another project.
It's easy. It's mindless and I need this right now. It is a great project to drag along in the car. Love it!






This is a blend I finally spun. It is a mohair/wool blend. Those Mo's are a little scratchy (lol) so I'll be careful to make something that isn't close to the tender skin. I don't spin for perfection, I spin for enjoyment.

Spinning has taken a first seat to knitting these days. Of course, I have no support or encouragement from family members.
As Mr. Smarty Pants DH put it to the DD,
".....oh your mother gets on this wool thing every year at the same time right before the MD Sheep & Wool."
On top of that, Lil Miss Smarty Pants DD had the nerve to ask last evening, "...so how long is this spinning/wool thing going to last?" (she's just like her father)
I have no idea what these people are talking about. I admit there are a few rather large bags of wool in the spare room. Wet wool is drying on the deck and containters of batts and roving are in the rec room patiently waiting to be spun.





I love summer food. Although I'm still purchasing at the market, I just love the food choices. Baby greens, cucumbers, red peppers, strawberries & pecans. Add a little poppy seed dressing and Yum!

Quiet Thoughts

Forgive the photographer and her lack of camera skills:).
It's morning and I wanted you to see that I did a little yard work/planting this weekend. Do you see Phoebe and Molly waiting at the door?

We hung the flag earlier than normal this year. I think we all need to be grateful for our freedom and human rights. So often we as Americans take our freedom for granted. I salute our military who sacrifice so much so that we may have and enjoy that freedom.

The DD attended a tea luncheon this weekend to benefit her flute teacher's missionary work in Ethiopia this summer. She and the DD played duets for the luncheon and it was a very nice Saturday afternoon.







I finally finished this project. I love this pattern.
The DD's flute teacher will be presented with this at the recital later in the month.
The colors are perfect for her and I know she will appreciate the shawl.







This shawl is a comfort shawl for my future DIL's mother. I named it The Angels' Hug.
Our #2 Son is getting married May 2, 2009. i will be certain to post pictures after the wedding next weekend.
In January I mentioned there was a family illness that I would disclose later. Our future DIL's father was diagnosed with brain cancer.
This wedding will be beautiful but bittersweet.








On a slightly lighter note I drum carded some pink BFL with cashmere. Reminds me of cotton candy. I love the color and I can't wait to spin it into some beautiful yarn.

Spring Into Action

It's Spring and I needed a pick-me-up so I convinced the DH to paint the bedroom. It was a dull drab taupe and I wanted something cheerful.
I found this color and fell in love with the color. It is a soft yellow and the vintage flowered bed spread that I purchased a while back matches perfectly.

Mr. Bettis swiped his tail on the wall and he threatened to tie a paint brush to his tail so he could help paint. Gypsy ended up with paint on her head and I have yet to figure out how that happened. Unless of course, Mr. Bettis swiped her head with his painted tail.
The end result of the room is pretty and cheerful and I like it.



I still have "Startitis". I found this pattern to use up left over sock yarn. It started out as a pram blanket but it is going to end up as a rectangular shawl for yours' truly.








This project has been started many times only to be scrapped in the end. The sock yarn blankie with Square #1 finished.

We'll see how far I get on this one. I've seen pictures and I really like the finished look of it. So......here I go again.









As if I have nothing else to knit, I made these to celebrate Spring. Talk about gratifying knitting, I love 'em. They're quick and fun and were made yesterday afternoon.
I plan to gift them to a few little girls that I spoil from time to time.






This yarn took a dunk and it's mine. All mine. Not sure what to make with it but I like the color.
I'll ponder this one for awhile.

I haven't forgotten you, my blogging friends. I still read blogs even if I don't comment. It's just a busy time this year with Son #2's wedding, DD's events and her upcoming graduation. So please bear with me.

Happy Easter

It's A Good Friday

These are my best friend right now. I have the classic symptoms of a virus. Sore throat, body aches, neck pain etc. Keep your dpns crossed that it really is a virus. I'm hoping Mr. Lyme didn't decide to return for an Easter visit.
Puffs with Vicks is the next best thing to sliced bread. Love 'em.








Princess Aurora was stalking the spare room window. I took a look and sure enough a nice fat Robin was hopping within 1 foot of the window. Of course the screen keeps her inside but she was licking her lips and staring for a very long time. Those Robins know the cats can't get to them so the taunt every chance they get. Much like the squirrel's antics with Mr. Bettis.
As you can see Mr. B was nosey about the fuss I was making with Aurora so he just had to see what was going on at the window. Nosey dog.



I finished them! YAY!!!! This is the Eunice pattern from Cookie A's new book, Sock Innovation. I love this book. I have a nice collection of sock books but this one is my absolute favorite. Did you get your's yet, Jess?
The color is not quite my colorway and I have no idea why I purchased it but they're finished and they're MINE!
The cuff is a bit shorter then I like but I was running out of yarn so I didn't add another repeat. I wish STR would add another 25 yards to their fingering weight yarn. (sigh) I'm dyeing another yarn color and there's 400 yds to the skein so I know it will be safe to add another repeat to the cuff.






Peanut butter eggs just in time for the Easter Bunny.












Good Friday is preparation for Easter Sunday in this household. New beginnings.
We will be celebrating with church and dinner. What are your plans for Easter?

Spring Startitis

It's Spring. Which means it's a new beginning and a fresh "start." It's also fishing season and time to "cast a line."
Spring also means allergies and in this knitter's knitting nest, a bout of "startitis." So here we go again. Keep in mind this disease is non-curable. Once a knitter has contracted startitis they have it forever. It can go in remisssion but rears it's yarn ball head any time when least expected. I have found if I even think of finishing a WIP, WHAM! Startitis hits and it's like a yarn ball unwinding, it's becomes a tangled mess.
Startitis causes one to cast on for projects that said inflicted knitter knows for a fact there are projects cast on that will never be finished. Case in point. I cast on to make a knit tote to carry my knitting. Now I'm even asking myself, "WHY?" But logic goes right out the window and I'm digging in the stash of yarn and needles and casting on anyway.

I have cast on so many projects I couldn't even post all of them. Stupid blogger only allows 5 pictures on a post. So get a cup of tea or coffee and watch this knitter' bout of startitis take control and the "logical" excuses for starting new projects.





Fresh start means starting a new project. Right? So I cast on for the swallow tail shawl.

Deadline? May 2, 2009








I saw this project on a knitting site and just had to start this project. A Baby blanket.

Deadline? June 7, 2009










These are the Harlotty socks out of Cookie A's new sock book. I'm moving right along on this sock but keep in mind I have two feet therefore I'm not sure when the second one will be made.

Deadline? Fall 2009


p.s. this is not a "new" project as I started it 2 days ago but it has consumed every waking moment with the exception of breaks to start new WIP.



While working on the above socks my mind wandered (as usual) and I got to thinking about this skein of yarn. Since I like the pattern so well I decided to cast on for another pair. Now I know what you're thinking, "why did she start another pair when she doesn't have the first one finished?"
Answer? I really don't have one except to say, "It's Spring and that means a serious bout of startitis has hit this knitter."

Deadline? Don't have one.......thank goodness

mmmm.........I wonder......is there a documented case of finish-i-tis?

Enablers

My BFF called yesterday afternoon and said this book arrived. We ordered the books a week ago from Knitpicks. She was here in 15 minutes with the book.
This book is a keeper. I promptly went through the sock stash and grabbed a skein to cast on.

So far, the problem with this book is, I cannot tear myself away from the WIP to clean, cook or otherwise function:).










This skein of Harlotty has been hibernating for quite some time in the stash container. Again, it's a skein of color that I would not normally purchase and I'm still trying to figure out why I chose colors that are not in my normal color box. I have tried this skein in quite a few patterns and I just didn't like how the colors were pooling.
But the new book lends itself quite well to the yarn.
Thanks to Chan and Anita, I have plenty of needles now so I can cast away:)





It's a cast on kind of week. Dreary, raining and dull days results in my need to cast on new projects.
Grace creates the most stunning shawls from her needles. Go take a look. They are beautiful and inspiring.
So I will cast on this yarn for a lovely shawl.

Correction: this is not yarn, it's a spiiiider's thread(yep, I say spider with an Appalachain twang)!
If you look closely to the left of the skein you can barely see the yarn er spider's thread sticking out from it. Go ahead, get your magnifier and let me know what you think.
I'm going to look into stiletto needles for this stuff. Honestly I think I'd be better off checking in with the backyard spiders for their "yarn" vs. this stuff but I'm using up stash.


What is up with this? Mr. Bettis, Miss Gypsy and Princess Aurora? Taking a nap together on the guest bed? Since when? Oh that's right, this was taken yesterday on April Fool's Day. So that explains it.
Trust me, within the hour Mr. Bettis & Co were chasing Princess Aurora down the hall. So it was definitely an April Fool's joke.

p.s. Mr. Bettis & Co had better stay away from the new sock book.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I'll start with the Good.
A random photo, but Calico, the old one, wants her blog fame too.
This is Calico atop her "escape" perch. Far, far away from Mr. Bettis & Co. Can't say that I blame her but I have told her repeatedly to give a swat across their noses and they would leave her alone.
But she runs. Therefore they think she's playing chase. (sigh)







Two months ago I organized a few UFO's in the black basket. This basket has been sitting under the table. Until we arrived home last evening.







This is what greeted us.
Mr. Bettis & Co are in trouble. BIG TROUBLE!

They must have suspected that I would not be happy and they immediately went outside instead of greeting me with wagging tails. That was the first indication that something was amiss when I went through the back door.
Obviously they have a thirst for reading because chewing books seems to be the new thing.
Thankfully the projects were intact.
I just don't understand their logic (if there is any logic). We can leave them for hours to those dr appts, come home and there's no destruction. But if we leave for an hour. BAM! Something has been destroyed and it's always something of MINE! ggggrrrrrrr..................



On a final good note I finally finished my Leyburn Socks. They're not quite my colors and I'm still trying to figure out why I purchased this particular skein but I like the pattern. I wore them yesterday to the birthday dinner and they are comfy. Another pair has been cast on.

So how was your weekend?

It's a Birthday Celebration

Guess who has a birthday today. I'll give you a few hints.
He is an employee of an Ice Cream company.
He's the father of 4 children (a few of them have probably forgotten his birthday today:).
He's the owner of dear Mr. Bettis (who thinks everyday is one Big Party).

I'm sure you've figured it out. The birthday guest of honor is none other than the DH.
I won't tell his age except to say he's half a century + 1.
LOL..........sneaky aren't I?



Frugal living is still a way of life here these days.


We agreed to no gifts until the economy improves so we're planning a game of scrabble or yahtzee tonite.

This ball of yarn was calling my name. So I cast on for the Ishbel shawl. I'm now to the lace part and I'm lovin' this knit.

Of course it's sunny out which means Mr. Bettis thinks it's necessary to run in and out, in and out, in and out...........you get the picture.

He can't wait to spend quality birthday time with his owner and I can't wait for him to spend time with him either. He can get up and down to let Mr. B in and out all evening.

After all, it's time spent with man's best friend.

What better gift could he possibly have? ..............LOL

Sunday Morning Hostage

It's Sunday morning. Mr. Bettis & Co went outside for the morning ritual of racing and playing. All of a sudden we heard frantic barking. The kind of bark that alerts there's something out here.
I looked outside to see Miss Gypsy in this stance barking away.












Mr. Bettis was racing and ripping in a frenzy. Of course you know he was barking.

(take note to the bench in the background that he broke over the winter. Another task for his owner)





This was the reason for the frantic behavior. Now this may appear to be a good ole' trash can laying on the ground however there is a creature in there.
A POSSUM!
Now I know every creature has it's purpose in the world and yes, I know they have a right to live blah, blah, blah. However I have had experience with possums while growing up on the farm. Not-pretty.
Yes, they play "possum" and just when you think they're dead. HISS! JUMP! Baring of teeth. They can cut off a finger in one bite. Not interested in going near this one. They're NASTY!
Therefore we cannot get to church until this creature is removed from the premises. I'm held hostage by a POSSUM!
I have a sneaky feeling this is the mother possum we have had around here for years or one of her dear offspring. Of course the "country kitty" is out and about also. The smell is just so invigorating, you know:). The squirrel is busy running and playing just within barking reach of Mr. Bettis. I'm waiting for the rabbits to make their debut. (heavy sigh) It's going to be a lo-o-o-ong spring with Mr. Bettis & Co.

Yesterday was a percussion competition out of town for the percussion unit of the band. The daughter or better known as Miss "I-must-play-all-instruments" joined the percussion unit. She spent 2 months learning the bass drum. This was their second competition and they won 3rd place.

They were thrilled and excited.

This is just a small group of the kids that participated.

It's going to be quite busy around here for the next two months. Concerts, musical, award banquets, dance recital, graduation and the #2 Son's wedding.

I'm starting to "lose it" here. I can't believe the "baby" is graduating. Where has the time gone? I think I may need stock in boxes of tissues.

I seem to be getting off track with my knitting these days.

I did manage to whip up a soap sack. I found some Rowan cotton in the stash and just what does a knitter knit with 1/2 ball of soft cotton? A soap sack. I didn't have a pattern so I made up my own.

Anyone else ready for spring ?

UPDATE: Husband found the trash can lid. Donned his gloves and with a shovel as protection he took the trash can with possum in tow to the woods. He thought the possum was injured but OH NO! He was playing possum and as soon as husband kicked the lid off the trash can, Possum ran! I just know it's going to return & I'll be held hostage again.

Oh where, Oh where has this blogger been?

Saturday morning at 6:30 am we transported the Piccolo Pirate to her school. The band was leaving for a 5 day trip to Philadelphia PA and NYC.

Her first big trip to the Big Apple.

Kids (including mine) looked as if they had just crawled out of bed. But there was excitement in the air.




I managed to get a few of her friends to stand still long enough for a group pic.

7:20am (20 minutes later than the scheduled departure) and they were off.

The DH and I ran home to get ready to leave in the opposite direction for a bridal shower. We were running 1/2 late. The DH was driving and I was knitting. Approximately 10 miles from the house a little voice told me to ask the DH if he picked up the gift. And I think we all know the answer to that question.

We turned around and backtracked. Now we were 55 minutes late. Unfortunately along the way we were held up in traffic due to an accident. That put us 1 1/2 hours later then intended.

1:00 pm:
The shower was for my soon-to-be new DIL. She is marrying #2 Son in May.

Her favorite cake is carrot cake and it was decorated to match the shower invitations.

The spread of food was awesome and there was even champagne punch. No, I wasn't hanging out at the punch bowl the entire time although with the ex husband's snooty wife in attendance, it was a thought........LOL




I wanted to give her something special and I've racked my brain for weeks. Finally the lightbulb flickered. I am known as the "cookie mom". My kitchen was the home for the kids' friends to hang out over the years and they always raided the fridge for milk and the cookie jar for cookies.

So I put together a gift basket of necessary items to bake cookies.

A cookie scoop, stainless steel mixing bowl, chocolate chips, nuts, 2 knitted dishcloths, Pampered Chef measuring cup (love that thing for measuring shortening, butter etc), crocheted El Cheapo Scrubby, dish detergent (to clean up the mess), handsewn apron and a cookie scented candle in case the cookies flop and she can light the candle and serve Oreos to #2 Son instead.

Red ribbon and a handsewn apron ornament were the finishing touches.

Of course my sense of humor and I just had to make the apron a fun garment. I found this fabric and whipped up an apron just for the New DIL- to -be.
I also found a pair of #2 Son's jeans in a box and before I gave away the box I cut out a pocket from a pair of his jeans to be sewn on the apron. Just a little personal touch:) The ties are ribbon tape measure ties.
She loved it!











Here she is modeling the pin-up guy apron.



















To be safe and so her new husband wouldn't get offended (lol) by her pin-up guy apron, I made the pin-up gal dish detergent apron so he has something to look at while doing dishes.
I raised those boys to help in the kitchen:).















We played games and the toilet paper wedding dress game was fun.
The girl second from the left won for the best "gown".
Another girl and I "designed" this dress so we were quite honored. I think the bow in the headpiece was the deciding factor:).
We put bows on the shoes, bustle on the backside and tied a knot with a piece of the toilet paper on her finger to signify she "tied the knot". It's all about details, folks. LOL
The Bride-to-be received a lot of beautiful and useful gifts and I think she is very happy.

Unfortunately on the way home I recieved a phone call from the Piccolo Pirate & her friends sobbing on the phone. mmmmm...........I wonder if the band director is aware that I have pointy sticks and I'm really not afraid to use them. (eyes-raising here)

Books, Needles and Bears, oh my........

I purchased this book a few weeks ago. It sounds like a good book. I managed to read the first chapter. Imagine my surprise that it takes place in an area approximately an hour and 15 minutes from where I live.

I left to get a hair cut and before I left I was certain to put the book on what I thought was an unreachable place for Mr. Bettis.

I thought WRONG!

He swiped it from the table and as you can see (Mrs. Attorney), it is wet with slobber and there are teeth marks. I think he was in the process of a good time with the book when I unexpectedly arrived home earlier than he anticipated.

This is where I found him after my rant over the chewed book.

ON THE COUCH!

He is not permitted on the couch! Why doesn't this dog follow rules?

Perhaps because his owner (the DH) excuses his bad behavior constantly. I swear I'm gonna send him and the dog to obedience school.

(sigh) I posted earlier that I was running out of double point needles. First Anita came to my rescue, then Chan.

This package of dpns and a lovely card arrived from Chan so I'll never be in need again. LOL

Thank you Chan. I now have one set in use already.

For many years I designed and made jointed mohair bears for sale.

A few years ago a very nice lady asked me to make bears from her deceased husband's shirts. He passed away suddenly during the Christmas season. She requested 8 of them for her grandchildren and one for herself. I thought I would share a picture of them.

These bears have a job (as all bears do:). They are soft and cuddly and that is their purpose. To be hugged and loved and to help bring them some comfort during their mourning.