Spring finally has started

I am behind and getting things done outside. Spring came in with a blast of snow this year and I really put things off that should be done so other then a few rows on my anklets there was no knitting this weekend. I did have Jade come and visit. She and I planted seeds and did a "project." (Anything I craft with the grandkids they call a project.) Jade made a Ghost mobile. It went home before I got a picture but I am sure she will find somewhere to hang it up until the next project takes its place. I also got a surprise gift or I should say gifts. I have raspberry bushes. As anyone knows who has these pesky things, raspberries taste great but they mulitply like rabbits. I am always looking for someone to give them to as I hate to toss them away. My youngest son brought a friend from work that needed to replace some of hers and she brought me switchplates. I have one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. I will have to get some brass screws or touch up the ones I have with a brush of gold paint but I am tickled with them. I am guessing that for the next few weeks knitting will take a back seat to working outside. Today, when Jared and family brought the friend, they helped clean out the pond. So water needs to go in and plants pulled from the garden where they were buried for the winter. There is also lots of weeding out there. Stay tuned and I will post as I work my way through.

My answer Hogwarts Swap

I am not sure if I am supposed to post my answer on my blog or send to my hostess. Just so I am covered I think that is Ron talking about Dobby.

ANOTHER GREAT HAUL

Wow, look what my secret pal 10 sent. Gorgeous hand spun yarn in deep vibrant colors, the most wonderful smelling herbal soap...that I think she makes herself and green tea to sip while I sniff and knit. I can't express how much I am enjoying her packages and email. Kudos to you secret pal

More for Hogwarts

I love the books and think this will be so much fun. So another post for Hogwarts. You never know if they will give points for posting your house.

Hogwarts Swap housepoints everyone

Keeping busy

This weekend I had to put in a little time at work so didn't get as much done as I planned. Sera, my youngest son's Shar Pei came to play with his "cousin" Chewie so Logan decided that it would be a good time to stay at Grandma's house for the evening. In the morning he helped me wind some yarn. Actually he helped me wind lots of yarn. He did up 9 skeins for me. I think it is going to be a sweater for him with elephants but I am not certain so I told him I wasn't sure what I would make with it. I did manage to sneak in a few minutes to start some of the yarn my secret pal in Secret Pal 10 sent. She said the skeins were somewhat short and suggested I start from the toe up. I thought I could always finish the toe in white but then after looking I decided this would be the perfect color for anklets with blue jeans when fall again comes knocking on the door. The colors in the picture are not at all good. The yarn ranges from a soft pink through blue and lavender. I fooled around with the hue and satuaration but just made things worse. Maybe I can get a better picture when they are done. Anyway, I have started even though I swore I would get a shawl done for my neighbor first. You know what they say, the best laid plans of mice and men.

I'm slow this week

I have spent the week looking at new projects but not starting anything. I did manage to get out my swift and yarn winder and get the wonderful yarn my secret pal sent to me ready to go. My excuse is the weather. I am putting a picture of the tree off my patio on so that you can see that it has been snowing in Midwest. I also have a picture of Chewie resting after playing in the snow. I will be back soon with more things. right now I really need to get a package together for my secret pal. Have to work a bit this weekend so I may not get to a new project just yet but give me a chance and away I go. I have to make a tee shirt for Logan and a shirtdress for Jade so I can't put things off too much longer.

Easter Collar

Okay, I have to admit I have a weakness for, of all things, dog collars. My youngest tells me it is my way of dressing the dog. He's probably right because I don't like the kind of dog I have in cutsie outfits so I just get seasonal collars. Anyway, some of those special collars can get kind of pricey so I decided to see if I couldn't make one myself. Here is the results and both Chewie and I like it. It was ribbon marked down from over $3 a yard to 5o cents, stiffner and a suede cloth backing. As you can see, the materials cost a little of nothing. I think I might be on to something. He can have collars for everything.

The Sheep Swap

Look what I got and all the way from Canada when the partners were only given out days ago. I think this primitive sheep is perfect. It arrived at my work and we were working on making a pattern so we can all make some. I have been so lucky with the people I have paired up with in the swaps. Now off to the rest of the computer. Can you believe I deleted my inbox instead of my spam file and then went on to trash and got rid of it forever.... before even finding out. So...if some of you don't hear from me please drop a line because I have really done it this time.

Blue bonnets and the Sheep Swap

I came home in time to see that I had been given my partner in the sheep swap. It is one skein of wool yarn and something that is a sheep so I am sending a picture of what I will be sending my swap partner in Germany. Hope she likes it. I am also working on updating you on the TX trip, I seem to be doing this in small increments. It is Blue Bonnet time in TX. If I remember correctly that is the TX flower and in certain areas of the State the roadsides are covered. Here is my youngest Texas grandson among a patch of bluebonnets not far from his home. He is a cutie and the imp in his eyes is for real.

What a wonderful Pal!

I'm back from TX where it stormed every day but two. We did manage to get some planting done and I have a sandal's mark so when it was sunny it was hot, at least compared to Wisconsin. i used to live in TX so I know it is going to get much much hotter. The big news is.... What did I return to? A great package from my secret pal in Secret Pal 10. I love every item. You would think that she had known me for years. I wanted to get this up on my blog right away and so will make this short and sweet with more from TX later. Last night as tired as I was I had to go through the Folk Shawls book. One of these days I see a Sampler Shawl in the works. That is after I finish all those other items I have in mind. Anyway, here is my haul and a wonderful one it is. The fingering weight yar is alpaca and silk from the UK. she said she really loved it and I can hardly wait to try it out. Oh, the picture of Chewie is because I wanted to put the chew toy she sent him in with the rest for a picture but you can see that he is not moving his little (maybe I should say big) paw to let me take it.

Getting ready

Why does it always take me so long to get ready to go any place? I am not leaving until Wednesday AM. True, I am working Monday and Tuesday but still how much should I have to do? I will have all the convenience of home except more things. If I need something there will be a store available. Now tell me....why did I have to clean out the refrigerator? My neighbor and kids will be sharing the care of Chewie. Both have seen my refrigerator when it is stocked with those little mystery green filled containers. Oh, and then there is the need to hem my pants. I hemmed pants for people at work last week. I have no problem just rolling up my jeans at home...but no, here I am snipping and pinning. It isn't that it is hard. It does take time and when you add in the refrigerator and ironing, well, you get the idea. So no knitting at the present. I am enjoying looking at the garden catalogues. I am even thinking about buying lottery tickets and telling the Chewie caretakers to scratch one a day. I did see that my secret pal got her first package. She seems to like it and I am having a wonderful time reading her blog. It is just packed full of things plus it sounds as though she has a really interesting job. Not to forget that in secret pal there are both the spoilers and spoilees. My spoiler has been a great communicator. I can hardly wait to read her blog. she has already helped me find a pattern and to top it all off she spins and thinks I just might be interested in some hand spun yarn. YES! I might might might be interested. How lucky can you get. Two great people. Now off to soak and get out the kinks. If I am lax in the new week or two I will be back.

Done

I did it. All they need is blocking and I am ready to put on the Birkies and pretend it is summer. As you can see Chewie isn't sure if he is impressed.

Secret Pal 10

Because I am leaving for a short vacation soon I wanted to get my first package out for my secret pal. She loves blue and hates pink. (Sorry about the bath soak pal). she said she also loves lavendar and showed a picture from her garden so she can plant the seeds in a pot or outside when the weather warms up a bit. Hope she likes she first haul. Oh, the funky socks have arrived at my granddaughter's house so here is a picture of them modeled on her slender leg.

It's an orphan but I hope not for long

Here is the funky toed sock I said I would post a picture of. My hope is to get time to make the match, put them on when I leave for TX and grab them off when the plane touches the ground. I hate to wear shoes in the winter. My birkies are calling.

Spring fever

Spring is finally coming to Wisconsin. When driving home last night I saw the ice on the river had broken up. We are supposed to have a bit of snow tomorrow and maybe Friday but I can't help but think that is about it. I finshed one sock of a toed sock so I can get into my flip-flops early. My feet will be so happy to breath again. Will post a picture later. I purchased this merino wool from ebay and I love the colors. I have found that I really like the superwash wool for socks but I will take exception to this one. Off to work for a few hours and then home to start the spring cleaning out. I really do get that spring cleaning feeling. It started last weekend and although the intensity is going, it is still with me. Thank God, it doesn't last forever. I like a clean and tidy home but enough is enough. I'm more anxious to get into the gardens than clean. The seed cataloges are worn from paging and it's getting to be time to place an order. On the 28th I will be flying to Texas to visit with my oldest son and his family. Lots of grandkids to hug and spoil. They are planning to put some raised veggie gardens in his new home and I can't wait. Tomato plants here I come. By the time I'm back it will be garden time in the midwest. Yeah!

I've been lazy

I have certainly been remiss in blogging the past couple of weeks. With the snow and winds I have felt more like curling up with a good book then getting on the computer. Plus the computer keeps wanting to be shut down before it works correctly. Anyway, the good news is I finally finished the toed socks for my granddaughter in Texas. I hope the gold doesn't itch her toe. The back is cabled all the way down the heel but it is hard to see in the picture. I really like this pattern and will have to make myself a pair of socks with it one of these days. Chewie has had the last two injections for heart worm so I am busy trying to keep him quiet. He really loves his painkillers. He must feel no pain but certainly gets a high. I have to keep an eye on him so he doesn't try to sneak out and go to the neighbors hoping that someone has had a tooth pulled and might have a bit of medication left over in the medicine cabinet. Secret pal 10 starts soon so I really need to get back in the habit of getting an entry on my blog every few days. I am back and promise to do better.

I GIVE UP!

I don't know if it is me or the pattern. Here is a tank top and shrug I knit out of bamboo yarn. The gauge is correct but the shrug was really small and had to be adjusted. Being brave or let's admit it somewhat stupid, I went back to it and knit the tank top. The top is too large, go figure...I didn't make any adjustments because I thought that I would adjust again when finished. I even put the top in the dryer on high. It's still too large. Maybe this is just one of those projects that is not supposed to be, or maybe the person was slated for wants something really loose to work in the garden. I have been under the weather the past few days but as long as I am sitting in my chair I might as well have needles in hand so at least this is finished even if never used and I am thankful to be working on something else. Toed socks next. I will let you know how they come out.

Another package ready to go

I finally got together the rest of my package for the stitch markers swap so here it is. I took a picture of the markers earlier. I have been remiss at blogging the past week or so and really need to get going. I just ordered some sock yarn from the internet that looks wonderful and if it is half as yummy when it arrives I won't be able to wait to get a picture on my blog. Repeat after me, I will not keep buying sock yarn. I like to knit socks but there are things I would rather knit. Oh, but sock yarn seems to come in the most wonderful colors! This one is hand dyed and one of my presents for Christmas was a yarn winder. I love watching it wobble around and get the yarn all tidy. It is so nice to not have to wind from my swift any longer. I is still cold in Wisconsin but I have to bundle up and get to the storeand post office. Got to get that package in the mail. Chewie has about little over a quarter of his heart worm treatment finished and is giving me a disgusted look because I told him it was time to clean the house. He hates it when the vacumn makes it's growling noises. He doesn't run, but he sniffs it and keeps a close watch.

Secret Pal 10 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like about anything that is soft. I really prefer the natural years but that is not saying there are not some acrylic blends out there that are very nice

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a very old hand made needle holder for my straights, my circular are in a tote and my wonder pal in secret Pal 9 made me a holder for my double pointed needles

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting since I was about 8 or so. I am really not sure the exact age. I was taught by a family friend who used to knit for a living. I think they probably did to give me something to keep me busy so I didn't bug them all the time.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No, I use them but I have never filled out a wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent? it depends upon the season. In the spring I like Lilacs, fall is apples and pumpkin well you get the idea. I am not fond of some of the vanillas out there. There are so bad ones.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes, Yes Yes I have many sweet teeth. I like almost all kinds of candy and love to try different things but I have to say that my favorite would be chocolate

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I sew, so a small amount of counted cross, quilt, crochet. I would love to spin but want a castle wheel and that is currently not in the budget.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My computer can play MP3s but I am 60 percent deaf and so music is really not one of my "things"

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I like them all but vary between the rich bolds in fall and winter and the pastels for knitting for the spring and summer months.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live alone although one of my sons and his family live very close so I am with them frequently. I have a dog that is currently going through heart worm treatment. Hopefully he will come out fine.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I have about all the scarves I need unless it is the type you wear for decoration and not for winter weather. I have quite a few pair of mittens but can always use more warm ones. I haven't worm ponchos in years but I think it might be time to start again now that they are back in popularity.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? whatever catches my eye. Sometimes it is a felted bag, some times it is a sweater. It is fun to knit for my grand kids.

13. What are you knitting right now? Finally finishing a long put off tank top with matching shrug of bamboo. I keep running out of yarn. Hope this does it.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes, there are so many creative people out there.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like circular because I can use them as straight or circular. I have some of all types and it depends upon the yarn. Some are better with bamboo some with aluminum etc so I can't say I have a favorite.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I own both a swift and a yarn winder

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I threw a bunch out years ago and try to finish so I would have to say this top I am working on. I started it last fall about September or October. that makes me sound better then I am. When I gave the toss to the Good Will I had UFO's that were years and years old.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Hard to say...If it is by Christmas I say Christmas. If by Easter I say Easter. It changes with the seasons

19. Is there anything that you collect? Reproduction and antique prints, kitchen gadgets

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Nothing in particular. I think that my subscription to Interweave Knits is about up and that is the only magazine I had coming in the mail. there are some interesting looking ones out there though.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? If it is new and looks interesting I would be interested in giving it a try no matter what it was.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I knit socks but ear a size 10 shoe and my foot is quite wide so if someone needs exact measurements I can email them.

23. When is your birthday? February 11th.

EVENING ROSE GARDEN

One of the skeins of yarn I recieved from my knit kit partner was an incrediable soft bulky wool called Evening Rose Garden from Rose Garden Fibers. I have really large hands and the kids are ready for winter so since I couldn't wait to try out something with this great stuff I decided it was time to make a bag to hold the beads and things I use to make stitch markers. This is the result. The knitted button is a little large but it works and I love the colors in the yarn. My partner spoiled me so I have lots of other yarn for mittens and this bag beats the zippered plastic bag I was using.

A Present for Princess

I love stitch markers. It is kind of an obsession so when I saw a swap for stitch markers I had to join. Lucky me, I got someone with the nom du plume (or is de plume?) of Princess Kate so I hope she likes her markers. I also want to thank my pal Stacey over at www.http://www.peaknits@blogstop.com for inspiring me to make some stitch marker bags. So friend, here is one with ribbon and one with the buttons. Oh, and yes, the buttons are not quite level. Pull the fabric Princess, they will even out.

Back at it

Wow, I must have made things sound much worse on the blahs then they really were. Thanks to all the emails and notes to keep my chin up. Honest, it was more like what my mother used to call being at loose ends. Nothing is just right and nothing captures your imagination. Anyway, I have been busy trying to keep Chewie calm now that he has started his heart worm treatment. Curses to being told he was heart worm negative and finding out he was positive. So that takes some of my time. It is also really cold here so I am trying to do nice cozy warm things. I did make another felted bag. I am not sure where this one is going to find a home but it looks to me like it belongs to someone who wears blue jeans and doesn't need a huge bag. Now off to find something new to try. I will keep you posted.

the January Blahs

The month of January has hit me with full force. The grey sky is so sad it almost seems as though it will press down and force tears from eyes. It have all this wonderful new yarn and keep looking through all my patterns but nothing seems to excite me enough to get started. Today, once the regular housework was done, I sat in my cuddle (a fuzzy zipper blanket that I figured is at least 25 years old) and was content to read a book and drink some tea without having at least a hundred projects going through my head. Maybe we need this time of rest. It might feel lazy but it also might be a time of reflection and renewal. Sometimes I think that we could all benefit by using a bit more introspection so maybe the blahs are really the Yeahs and we should be happy to have these lazy days to grow in knowledge and perhaps self understanding. I doubt if this will last long so I might as well enjoy it.

Another wonderful package

I just got another wonderful package from Petra, my now unveiled secret pal in secret pal 9. The shadows of evening show on the picture but I could not wait to get this up and on my blog. Petra has done a wonderful job of spoiling me and continued right to the end. This time the package included among other things, some wonderful yarn, a book that has not only sock patterns but the history of socks. (I am a pushover for this type of thing) needles... knitting and other, and best of all a needle case that she made herself. She always includes candy and treats for my dog as well as a paper item. I have been so very fortunate to have her as a pal to introduce me to the world of longer term "swaps." I only hope that she had someone spoiling her that was at least 1/2 as nice as the way she spoiled me. Thank-you again Petra Oh, and I don't know why but Chewie is in love with the blue/green yarn I have to zip it up in the tote because he wants to snuffle it all and time.

It's done Well, almost

Whenever Jade gets something she says is that "my cute little _______". so in this case her cute little dress is finished. Well, I do have to hem it but as it is lined I don't want to guess and have to do it again so I will wait until she tries it on. It is a drop waist so there might not be much skirt when it is hemmed. Time to get back to my knitting. The weather here is cold and it will be nice to cuddle up in the recliner and listen to the click of the needles. I get lazy in the winter. With all of the yarn my secret pal sent me in the Mitt kit exchange I really need to get a top I have on my needles finished. I have put this off because I am afraid that I don't quite have enough yarn and am not sure where to get more. I also am a basket case because my dog that was supposed to be heart worm negative starts his heart worm treatment this coming week. I don't know any way to keep a young dog quiet for weeks. My vet keeps trying to reassure me that it will be fine and even gave me the information they have on the treatment. It still makes me really nervous. I really really like this dog and there is always a possibility of a problem with this treatment. Enough rambling. Off to my chair and those knitting needles.

Lucky Lucky Me

I just got my package from my secret pal in knit kit and I hit the jackpot. Wow, did she ever send me some wonderful things. There is not 1, not 2 but 7 skeins of yarn. Two knitting magazines and a knitting book. Tea with a mug and lots of candy for holing up during the cold winter weather. If that wasn't enough there are two bags for knitting. One of them she did some hand work on and it is so adorable. To top it off she sent all kinds of beautiful stitch markers. Oh, I know I am the luckiest person there is.

The dust cover is off

I finally got the dust cover off of my sewing machine. It was a bit mad at me and I had to put in a new needle to show it that I meant business and was not planning on deserting it after only sewing up a pulled out seam. I will admit that the majority of today was dedicated to reading and just being lazy but I did manage to get the bodice of Jade's dress put together. I have a tendency to go off the beaten path and that goes for my patterns as well as my life. I have used eyelet with the dotted swiss and now am wondering if I didn't make a mistake. What do you think? Oh well, I am out of elastic button fastening tape and will have to make some so this will be put off for a little bit anyway. Maybe by then I will have decided if it looks more old fashioned if I take out the eyelet. Jade will probably love it no matter what because there are beads on it. They aren't big but they are beads. Chewie is whining for attention. He starts his heart worm treatment soon and that scares me to death. I was told he was negative but when I got him and took him to my vet, no such luck. Of course by then I was in love with him so here we go. I don't know how to keep a young dog quiet for all of at least a month. I must tell the vet that I will be the one who will need a tranquilizer to get me through this.

Finished at last

I have been somewhat remiss in blogging during the past few days. Nothing terrible happening just staying busy. I did finally finish Logan's socks and now if all goes well I have an appointment with my sewing machine this weekend to start Jade's dress. I know it thinks it has been abandoned and I really need to spend some quality time with it. I go in "spells". I do a lot of different crafts and sometimes one takes priority for a while but I do manage to even things out. If our crafts reflect our lives then everything comes out in the end, or as my mother used to say, "everything comes out in the wash." Oops, that reminds me those socks of Logan's need to be blocked. Got to go but more later.

The Last Two are ready to Go

The holidays are over and its time to get my last two swap packages in the mail. The Mitt Kit doesn't go out until the 16th but the one for my Secret Pal needs to leave now as it takes a while to get to Canada. I have enjoyed the swaps but may take a bit of a break unless one comes up that I just can't resist. So here are the latest goodies and back to working on Logan's sock. More later.

Once again

My granddaughter, Jade informed me that her sparkle socks were too small and she was correct. That will teach me to guess the size of someone's foot. Anyway she wanted blue sparkles so here is the replacement pair, with a much bigger foot. The blue is a mesh and would probably be itchy so I made a regular ribbed turn down top. Now to see how these fit. With a new pair for Jade that means Logan is also in line. I started a pair for him this morning. Will see how they work out and post a picture when they are done.

Reflections

New Year's Eve is always a time to reflect. I hope that this doesn't sound like a pity party because I have so much to be grateful for. I just paid my taxes and had the money to do it. My new baby welcomed me home this evening with tail wags and snorts from his soft velvet snout. I am sitting here typing on a blog, something I thought I would never do. The house is warm and I certainly have more then enough to cover not only my needs but a bunch of wants. What happened is a Lawrence Welk Show on television. Now I have never been a Lawrence Welk fan. But...There was nothing but football and paid programming. Dare I say in Wisconsin that I am not a fan of football of any type. Now, I suppose I will be run out of the State. Even the history channel had war stories. I have had enough of killing, so I thought I would listen to the music from the Welk program while working in another pair of socks for Jade. The song that came on said when we have gone our separate ways, we will have these moments to remember and it set me off into the reflective mode. So please bear with me while I think about some other New Year's Eves. Let's see, there was the night of the aluminum foil dress. I have only told a couple of people my age that I am blogging. They are the only ones that might remember. In the 60's there was a push that we would all wear disposable clothing. I had this silver foil dress. Luckily it made it through the night without ripping into shreds. That was Madison, Wisconsin. There were several welcome to the New Year in Zion, Illinois. Those were the classic ones. Out all night and breakfast in the AM before going home. One year I had this great lime green dress with a matching scarf that had a rhinestone design. My ex said that dress doesn't look bad even on someone like you. Hey, I hung in there 24 years so don't think I took it too personally. However, there are some things you don't forget. Lets see, back to Wisconsin and more going out but Illinois once again loomed in the future. Seneca would have been fondue and pinochle or subs and charades. I usually had the party at my house. That way I put the kids to bed and was feeling a bit safer then being on the road. Back in Wisconsin we had the Year of the Blizzard. Some friends came down and unknown to me they were in the other room doctoring their coffee while I was cooking. Everyone insisted we go out. The weather was terrible. I don't know why I thought it would be safer if I went along. I wasn't the one driving. (Do you remember "friends don't let friends drive drunk") that always made me so mad. Did you ever try to take the keys from a drunk that doesn't want to give them up. Good luck. Anyway away we went. Once we hit the nightspot all I wanted to do was go home. By this time the roads were closed but that didn't stop the Ex. Lucky that there was a snowmobile that found us and took us to a four wheeler that was patrolling the roads. I think that was the last News Year's we went out. That one even stopped him. There were the years in Bloomington with Harry, a friend of ours and I falling asleep before midnight and everyone else waking us to bring n the New Year. I think that happened at least twice. There were a couple of Church parties in Brodhead. I really kind of liked those. We did games and had potluck as well as a prayer to issue in the New. In Texas the parties were at my house again. Always something going on. Now, it seems strange to be alone and remember. There was always so many people. Years and Years of people. Good times and Bad. The song is right. I will have those moments to remember. Lets make this one a good memory. Happy and Bright New Year to all. May you have lots of New Year's Memories to share.

Odds and Ends

I like to kind of finish things up this time of year. I had a bunch of little pieces of yarn left over from Jade's purse, her sparkle socks and some wool sock yarn so decided to see what I could so. The fingerless mittens that my pal sent me her pattern for are the result. I don't think the three colors do justice to her wonderful pattern but it does give you the idea. Now off to more sparkle socks. I didn't take the take to measure Jade's foot and I guessed wrong so they are way too small. My fault. Now I owe her another pair. She has picked dark blue sparkle. I don't know how the micro fiber is going to work up but I am about to find out.

To honor the season

OK, I am all right at knitting but what I am really good at is sewing. I have not touched the machine in weeks and have had an old throw pillow that I needed to recover. I love bold as an accent and thinking of all the gifts, I finally took an hour this morning and went to work. I am not sure it even took an hour so shame on me. I really need to get back to my machine but this time of the year it is so easy to pick up my knitting needles and dump myself in the recliner. Anyway, The afghan is a counted cross one that I finished last year. I like it but it needed something that was bold to bring it out. So here is the result. I should finish up a pair of gauntlet today. My secret pal created that pattern and when she sent me a pair I asked for it. I think it is great. I may have to make another pair also but will see what transpires. There is so much I want to do. You all know what that is like.

The Smells of Christmas-cinnamon, nutmeg and burned brussel sprouts

Just a note to those of you who are running around trying to get that last special gift for you little one and think that when the kids are grown all will go smoothly. This Christmas as I will be at my son's house and have a new dog to adjust to his new home so I kept the Christmas decorations to a bare minimum. That's saying a lot for a person that has 5 trees in the basement of various sizes and materials. Anyway, things were going along so smoothly that when I looked up at the curtains over the patio door and decided they needed to be washed it was a simple no brainier to get them sparkling white for the holidays. I love the smell of fresh washed fabric and between the clean curtains and the spices permeating the house it was really, I mean really nice. Now I admit it. I am one of those people who love brussel sprouts. My kids go yuk, little cabbages, but I have no one to please but myself and bought a nice large container. I cleaned them up and put them on the stove with just a tad of water, then I started to work with some wonderful yarn that my secret pal sent me in an earlier package. It was so relaxing. I have the last present wrapped. The ice cream is made. The house smells fresh and clean....WAIT A MINUTE. It stinks. Of no, I got so carried away with the knitting that I forgot I had the brussel sprouts on the stove. Nothing smells quite a bad as burned brussel sprouts. Hummmm...the only difference I can see with the addition of years is that as much as the house smells I am somehow finding it funny. Thank God for the ability to open the doors and the new sprays. So what is wrong with a lilac smelling Christmas? Nothing that I can think of. That will teach me to feel smug. Merry Christmas to all of you out there and may just a little something go wrong because there is no perfect. Better yet, I hope you enjoy the bumps in the road..they are what keep us alert.

It is almost here

The 23rd already and I am still wrapping and cooking. Chewie, my new baby, does not understand why an rational human being would be up and in the kitchen at 5 AM. He is lying on the hassack and manages to list one eyelid to take a peak now and then but that is it. Smart dog. The last gift arrived by Fed-X last night and things are finally getting finished. I must just remember to breath deeply and slow down - everything always has gotten done and it always will. Anything I don't finish was not meant to be finished so it doesn't count. The 21st was my grandson Logan's birthday. We do only a small celebration because it is so close to Christmas. He gets a half birthday in June that is not so taken over by the Christmas holiday. Hummmm...I wonder what happens when Jade, his sister, figures out with a birthday in April she hasn't been getting a half birthday. She has a mind of her own so that should be interesting. Now, off to make peppermint ice cream. The kids like to watch it freeze so I will take it over to their house.

A Christmas Package

My wonderful secret pal came through just in time for the holidays. What a wonderful box all the way from Germany. Beautiful autumn colored lace weight wool yarn, lots of German Christmas goodies (I can hardly wait to try them) a very large chocolate Santa and a wonderful book to curl up and read with a holiday cup of tea. I am so lucky to have this secret pal. Happy holidays to her and to all my friends out in blogger land.

Secret Pal 9 Answers

The hostess is running a little "contest" where we get answers from our secret pal. I have a wonderful pal that not only spoils me with gifts but stays in touch on a regular basis so here are her answers to the questions. Another way to get to know someone well. Thanks pal I am fortunate to have you.
1) the oddest gift you have ever received (not asked for)
a bottle of hardwood floor cleaner from my mother for last mother's day (no, she didn't want to give me a hint, at least I don't think so because for that matter she would be pretty direct ;-) )

2) the oddest gift you ever asked for
a breast pump for my birthday right after my daughter was born. The one I wanted was rather expensive, so I asked my In-Laws.

3) the oddest gift you ever gave
that is still the joke in our family: I was rather young like 10 or 12 and money was short naturally and the sources where to shop in our town wasn't too good either. Anyway I gave the partner of my grandma some birdseed for Christmas (they had a bullfinch that he had found badly injured at his workplace. The bullfinch lived several years with them)

4) the worse gift you ever got
there are several but one was a plastic capelet (the ones you use for hairdoing so loose hair and dandruff won't get on your clothes) and shower cap from my MIL for one x-mas while we lived in the US. So fortunately I didn't have to look in her face when I thanked her ;-) Needless to say I don't use either of those things (and they didn't exist for too long in my household)

Nap time

I've been remiss in blogging for the past few days. Hopefully the picture tells the story. Meet my newest family member. This is Chewie...Because he makes sounds just like Chewbaca in Star Wars. He has some health issues that hopefully we can get all cleared up. He loves everyone and everything-even kittens and that is saying a lot for a Shar Pei. Knitting has taken a backseat for the time being.

Little Lucy

Things are a little hectic right now. The holidays are coming up and I am not even done shopping - much less wrapping. It looks like I should have a new companion soon. If all goes well he will be picked up in Illinois on Sunday and home that evening. He is coming from Arkansas and everything I have heard makes him sound so very very special. Pictures will follow once I get him home. Here is the Lucy bag for my granddaughter. I don't know why I keep thinking they are Anne bags, but I do. Off to the store to find a neat pin for it and it is one more thing ready to wrap. Wow, is anyone else as flaky and behind feeling as I am? Next week I start a little vacation and maybe I can get caught up then.

AT LAST!

I finally finished the second mitten. This is why I have to finish one thing at a time. Now I am trying to make Jade a quick little purse. She liked the Anne bags so I will see if I can get a small one done for her. I have never made as many of one item. I have a short bordeom factor, but this is the exception. I am still bored with all the plain knitting but they do go really fast. I am using a sports weight alpaca that is supposed to felt great so I will let you know.

Solstice Magic ball

I have really become addicted to these swaps. I have met some wonderful people out there. So I keep signing up. Here is what I am sending my latest partner. Her mother is battling cancer. She is getting a knit cap from the yarn so this is a soft suede acrylic so that it is not scratchy. My prayers to my partner and her family. Meanwhile, I was snowed in yesterday and I can't say that I really minded. The plow that gets me out didn't get to the house until about 4 PM so I had lots of tea and managed to finally get a book read in one sitting. I am currently finishing a mitten that is cabled and then on to other things. I am also now on a search for a new companion. I am sure that there is one out there just waiting for his/her new home. Meanwhile I have found a lot of caring people. Will keep you updated.