Last week

Yes, last week I was busy and didn't get to work much on knitting. that didn't mean there were no projects going on as Jade and Logan were at my house for a couple of days. Melissa, a teacher had spring vacation one week and they had it the next so the grandmothers each did a couple of days of play. The projects got sent home but we did computer t-shirt transfers, made tissue paper flowers, Mod paged some boxes and baked shortbread dipped in white chocolate with, of course, spring sprinkles. There were games, reading and puzzles so I really didn't get much else done but they only stay little a short time. Remember there was a time when it was fun to do the dishes instead of putting them in the dishwasher. Logan is already getting past that stage and would just play computer games if he had his choice. When spring comes they can help in the garden. My mother always said that if it was planted by a child it would grow and she has proved right through the years. I also put in a picture of the newest member in the Texas household. Seems to me that Nathan has found himself a protector. I'm told that Elmer spends each night curled up by his buddy Nathan. With all the activity managed to mess up Melissa's top and had to pull out to the setup row and start again. That happens when you are in a hurry and think you know what the instructions are going to say so you just go ahead and don't bother to read carefully. I have been suitably chastised and am once again knitting away. I have also ordered some yarn from a new supplier and will post about it when it comes in. I also included a picture of the Chew since Lady Jane with her dynamic weight loss got to be front and center the last post. Meanwhile...don't worry about the mud and have a happy spring.

And the Biggest Loser is.......

You guessed it. Lady Jane. If you look carefully you can now see that she actually has a leg bone. She gives all the credit to her trainer Chewie who runs her daily and her Mom who continues to give her good for you cat food even though she would rather have the McD's type. LJ says she will always be a big cat but it is nice to jump again especially when trainer Chewie comes barreling after her for her evening exercise. Now on a more depressing note, we just had another snowstorm in Wisconsin. This winter has been about two years long. I once again couldn't get out of the garage even though I stayed home on Friday so the Easter Bunny is made in the old style where you use what you have in the house and cut it out of a regular round cake pan. Actually, the snow this time of year isn't quite as bad. You know it can't last too long so you can grit your teeth and bear the storms. While snowed in I also got a good start on a sweater that I am making Melissa. The color reminds me of an aged bourdeau. Lucky Melissa with her wonderful coloring can wear what most of us can't so it is always fun to find a special color I want to work on and make it for her. The man who does my plowing has finally done the drive and off to Walmart to find a vacuum belt. Issy is great on the floors but yesterday I wanted to go over the walls and of course it was only minutes before I smelled that burnt rubber odor. Murphy's Law strikes again.

A touch of Spring

Here is Jade's top from the sister act. I started the hat but decided that she would have more fun with the tote so one of these days I will get going on that. Meanwhile the yarn arrived for her Mom's top. It is called simply Grape and it does look the color of a glass of grape juice. Maybe I can get that cast on tonight. Spring continues to inch its way to Wisconsin. The college kids are out in their shorts although I see no one was wearing sandals yet. Maybe I will be the first one to do that. Now it is once again off to a cup of hot tea. Sometimes it seems that there is just nothing happening and I hate to be repetitive when I post. Does anyone else have that problem? Maybe that is because my life is pretty calm. Not that I am complaining. I have had my share of chaos and am willing to accept things going a bit more smoothly.

Sister Act

My youngest grand-daughter is 4 years old and lives in Wisconsin. Just like her grandmother she had a difficult time with family relationships. She insists that my oldest granddaughter, age 16, who lives in Texas is her sister. She thinks Meghan is perfect and so when I had some yarn left over from making Meghan a top I thought Jade would like one that was the same color as her "sister's." I am not crazy enough to make one that is quite as time consuming for a 4 year old who will be growing out of it at a lightening rate but I did find a cute pattern in the Family Circle's Easy Knits for Kids book that looked like a fast knit. So here is the start of Jade's top. If the weather keeps staying below normal I should have it finished before too long. I know I am not the only one have a problem with the winter in the mid-west this year but I am starting to act like a mummy that just sits, drinks tea and reads while dreaming of the coming spring. That , of course, does not mention that since I feel the need to bake in cold weather I also am busy stuffing my face and taking things to work so that I don't finish them off myself. That's the bad news. The good news is there are tulips up on the side of my house. Most are still covered in inches of snow but this brave bunch is where I shovel by the steps. Uncovered from the ice pack and snow mound the stems are at least 3 inches above the ground. Yeah! Spring must really be coming.