Learning to be thankful

I Really Miss This Kid!

2009-07-15T11:17:00.005-05:00

Joy #2 is on his 4th week out at Nebraska Youth Camp. 4 WEEKS! Ok, I've not been away from him for 4 weeks. Only 2 and I was doing ok until about...today. I really miss him. 3 more days and I get to hug and smooch him. If he let's me...

Here's some photos I got off the website. I think he's having fun!

I Love Living Out of a Suitcase!

2009-07-10T10:37:00.003-05:00

June 19-27th- I spent a week out at Nebraska Youth Camp. This year I was the crafts teacher. I had a great time with my friends and the kids out at camp.

June 28th-July 4th- Lance & I left the kids for another week of camp and went to Cheyenne, WY, & Colorado Springs for a little vacation.

Today I'm going back to NE for the weekend. I'm starting to think I should sell my house and become a gypsy. I think I'd like it.

Some pictures from my trips are here.

***** Debbie, I'm sorry I didn't get a note sent out for your birthday! It dawned on me once I was out at camp and I didn't have any internet connection. Trust that I was thinking about you! I hope H did it up right. Oh and I'd love to see a blog post about those new puppies. Though, who am I to ask for a blog post!

Let me Catch up

2009-06-04T14:50:00.004-05:00

My niece and me at her graduation

In the past few months I've:

Worked hard to get through tax season
All my free time has been devoted to my family and friend
Either traveled or had company every other weekend since the end of March
Kids participated in LTC (Leadership Training for Christ) again this year
Knit almost nothing. 1 baby bib. I haven't even woven in the ends.

Oh man someone cut that hair!

Things you would be shocked to know:

I've cooked very little since January. That is almost 6 months of eating whatever. What happened to the days of fresh bread and culinary delights?
The knitting...very little. I'm going camping this weekend and I don't even have anything to bring with me to knit. I was on Raverly today and found some projects to start but I don't have any yarn. Why am I not a stasher? And the chances of me getting out to a yarn shop before I leave are 3%. I've been tempted to call Wayne in my knitting group to see what he has that I could buy. Sad.
I did plant my herbs garden but have done very little with it. Thank goodness for square ft gardening or else it would be a total loss.

Things that haven't changed:

I still do very little house cleaning. Wow is that all that hasn't changed? No wonder I haven't blogged. I don't have anything to report. :)

Life is good though. The kids are still the perfect blend of entertaining and frustrating. Getting older and wiser (cough) everyday. I added some pictures to assure you that all is well. Those of you in Kansas know that all ready but those of you in Canada might need some reassurance.

I remembered my password!

2009-04-24T11:58:00.002-05:00

My knitting buddies were right. It has been a long time since I posted. Life is good. Kids are good. Joy #2's hair is still growing strong. I'm headed out to Women Walking with God conference in Wichita this weekend. I'll think of something interesting to post about when I get back.

Oh, I lost my knitting mojo. I hope to find it soon...

(Mary don't you dare post a comment!)

2 weeks and 16 rows later

2009-02-24T20:23:00.002-06:00

My four rows a week is adding up. Slowly but surely...
Only 2 more weeks left of Snow Creek and then life will be a little more normal. A little more time in the evenings to do the things I enjoy.
It's not all work and no play though. I'm taking the weekend off to hang out with some friends who are coming to town for a visit. I am so looking forward to it!
Joy #2 turns 12 Thursday.

What I can do. What I can't do.

2009-02-11T13:01:00.002-06:00

Things are great here. Busy but great. This tax season is different than all the rest. Mostly because I'm working a weird schedule so that I can continue to fulfill my commitment out at Snow Creek. The ski season will be over by March 15th so I only have about a month let of this. Because of the weird schedule and just overall business of work I've come to the conclusion that some things have to fall by the wayside. And honestly they make me pretty sad.

I can eat, but I can't cook dinner. We've been eating out or fending for ourselves. I miss real food. My mom has brought me lunch and dinner a couple of times and that was great.
I can only knit about 4 rows a week. This is a total bummer. So no project will really get worked on until after March 15th. I really miss my knitting.
Housework is out of the question but as a collective we've been able to make sure the laundry is mostly done weekly and the kitchen has gotten cleaned once a week. My house smells like stinky dog but once you're there for awhile you get used to it.
Homemade V-day gifts were a crazy, unrealistic idea.

Other than having to curb anything domestic related things are swell. Really, I'm living a man's life right now only he would come home to a clean house with dinner on the table. I've only got time for work and for family and that's all I need. I have no guilt whatsoever that my house is dirty. Only a little sadness for not having enough time to enjoy homemaking. And here is the difference from me and many other women out there. They beat themselves up for not getting to it all. I accept the fact that my time is well spent providing for my family and as long as I get to enjoy my kids I could care less if the dog chewed up a styrofoam cup and it's been laying on the landing for 4 days. It's obviously not bothering anyone else or else they would have picked it up right?

Frogging

2009-02-04T07:09:00.002-06:00

I do not like the boot socks I'm knitting for Joy #2. I can't remember ever chucking a whole project. However, the time is come to make peace with the fact that I don't like the boot socks. I've knit one and I just don't like it. Maybe it's the wool I'm using (Knit Picks Swish), it's very soft and squishy but is not giving me the kind of fabric I think boot socks should have. So I'm frogging it and now need to find something else.

I still like the idea of socks but I don't know if I can whip a pair out by V-Day. And because I don't stash, I'll have to make them using leftovers of what I do have. I like the idea of homemade V day presents but homemade for boys is hard.

Ah, what to do, what to do.

Finish, Progress, Started

2009-02-02T08:10:00.004-06:00

Finish: I've finished a tea scarf for my friend Shay. We had Joy #1's sweet 16 party at her family home. She was such a big help at the party that I wanted to make her something. That and the fact that the Christmas goodies I made her never got to her and we had to eat them before they went stale. :)

Progress: I picked this lovely up again this weekend. I worked on it for hours on Saturday and am now at the back neck decreases. Sadly, this knitting needs focus and I won't get a chance to focus on it again until next weekend. I'm also really hoping it fits!

Started: Boot Socks for Joy #2 for Valentine's Day. I'm using Knit Picks Swish. It's very weird knitting socks in worsted weight. I'm not sure I like it at all. But you can't make boot socks out of fingering weight yarn. Here's hoping I get them done by V-Day!

Hemlock Ring Blanket

2009-01-24T11:54:00.004-06:00

Pre-blocking state:

I couldn't resist trying it on as a hat.

Blocking:

Hemlock Ring Blanket : 5.25 skeins of Wool of the Andes Bulky, taupe

The color looks kind of boring in the pictures. It's still plain in real life but not nearly as boring. I really liked knitting this. And somehow I finished it within 2 weeks. I hope it blocks quickly because it's on my bed. I don't really want to sleep on the couch tonight.

Those final 5 rows take forever!

2009-01-23T11:57:00.002-06:00

I am so close to finishing the Hemlock Ring Blanket! I've been working on the last 5 rows since Tuesday!

Tuesday, 5 rows from the cast off (which I imagine will take a while with so many stitches) I broke my cable to my needles. Yep! It was exciting. I was sitting on my sons bed watching StarDust with him when it broke. I did my best to not freak out and loose all those stitches. I hollered for a circular needle, any circular needle STAT! Joy #2 ran to my room and brought me one back before things got ugly. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty impressed he knew what a circular was. I didn't drop many stitches but I didn't have anything big enough to use to finish up the knitting.

The next day I was able to borrow a large, cable for my Boyd Knitting set from Sandra and was back on track.

Last night I managed to complete 2.5 whole rows at knit night. Now I've got 2.5 left to knit. It's all straight knitting from here and then the cast off. I hope to finish knitting on Saturday and block on Sunday!

I'm so glad I took the plunge on this one. I think I'm gonna love it! Next up I'm going to make so V-Day Presents for my Joy's. Another pair of socks for Joy #2 and a bag for Joy #1.

One FO and One Blob

2009-01-18T16:42:00.002-06:00

Noro Cash Island Scarf. 1X1 ribbing My favorite scarf to date. It is so soft!

And here is my hemlock ring blanket blob. I'm up to a 350 + stitches on the needles. This is still flying off the needles considering how little time I've had to knit on it. I can't wait for the magic of blocking lace.

My freak out in Aldi's

2009-01-17T20:41:00.002-06:00

Today, amongst the long list of things I needed to take care of I decided to go to Aldi grocery store. I haven't been to Aldi's in a long time, about a year. It was right by 2 other stores I needed to go to.

Let me back up...since the spring I have done my best to eat real food. Nothing packaged, boxed, canned, or food like products. I've been cooking from scratch and eating from the garden. I had read Animal, Miracle, Vegetable, and the 100 mile diet last winter and those books opened my eyes to what food really is. I'm not a fanatic. I eat what people cook for me but when I shop I buy real food. I didn't realize how ingrained this has been for me until I tried to shop in Aldi's.

I got my cart and started down the isles. I picked up this and that, mostly packaged foods that I haven't bought in a year. As I continued to shop, I started feeling like yuck! I don't want to eat any of this stuff. Yuck don't they sell real food here? I had my moment when I was in the frozen food section looking at BBQ ribs in a box. It was then and there that I realized, I didn't want any of this food. I didn't have much in my cart so I just pushed it to the side and walked off and out to my car, with the quarter still in the cart. I got in my car and went home.

I, my friends, am a wacko. And I'm ok with it. Somewhere between cooking from scratch and picking up my farm produce over the past year I've come up with a standard that I can't sink below. No matter how hungry I am I'd prefer a banana and cheese for dinner to bbq ribs in a box. So I'm sticking with my regular grocery store where I can buy what I want and dream of the garden that will be here before I know it.

This is the year I'm starting the strawberry patch!

Oh, and my sincerest public apology to Joy #2 who in fact did not misplace the camera but instead found it under a cushion of the chair. Pictures to come!

Checking In

2009-01-14T14:04:00.003-06:00

Our camera is still MIA. I have no idea where it is. I suspect Joy #2 used it and forgot it somewhere but he swears it wasn't him.

I've been wearing my Noro scarf and I love it! It is so soft and beautiful. It looks like this only finished. (man I really want to know where our camera is)

I'm cranking out the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I finished the middle flower part in a flash and now I am now working on the fan and feather portion. I'd say I'm 50% done based on how much yarn I've used. There isn't much time to knit in the evenings anymore. The real job is kicking my behind this week. I hope to work on Saturday and get everything caught up so next week won't be so intense.

It is freezing here. Really, negative degrees and all. I don't know how those poor people wearing acrylic are making it!

I don't know what's got into me

2009-01-10T10:43:00.003-06:00

I finished the beautiful and soft Noro scarf. I love it! No picture because our camera is MIA. I surprised myself with this project. As I've said, I don't enjoy scarf projects. They drag on and on and 1X1 ribbing I thought would be a pain. I had fully intended to dread the process and love the product. Surprisingly, I love the process AND the product. Weird.

To top that one I've casted on for the Hemlock Ring blanket. This one I've had in my queue for awhile but knit a blanket? that's just crazy!! I learned to crochet last spring so I could make an afghan since "There is no way I would ever knit a blanket." Yet, here I am on row 14 and I'm excited. And guess what I'm using to knit it?

Wool. So not only am I knitting something I thought I never would I'm using a fiber that I will have to hand wash. I am totally off my rocker here.

Who knows what's next! I'll probably crochet a toilet cozy soon.

Swee16

2009-01-08T13:48:00.003-06:00

Here are a few pictures of "the party". A great time was had by all. Joy #1 had a friend come in from NE and stay the weekend. Between the main event and taking them to every shopping center in a 25 mile radius they wore me out! I was glad to get to the office that Monday so I could get some rest.

Ahh rest. I'm already looking forward to resting in April once tax season is over! Funny 'cause it hasn't even really started yet. Working out at the resort is turning out well. At first I was overwhelmed but I cut back my hours and now have a pretty good system. Joy #2 is enjoying getting a lot of time in at the slopes. He skied with the college age crowd last night and taught a couple of them to ski down the hill backwards. (Why?Why, I ask you does anyone need to ski backwards?) It was funny seeing him instructing grown men last night. That kid's got confidence. Before those of you think he's just off meeting who knows who, Snow Creek is heavily staffed and I've made sure all the key people know who he is from hill manager to restaurant.

I have been knitting. I am a few rows from casting off my Noro Scarf. It is beautiful and shockingly I've enjoyed knitting it. I thought the 1X1 ribbing was going to drag on forever. I don't know if it's because of the yarn or because I needed something simple these few weeks but I'd cast on for another if I had the yarn. That's saying something because I am NOT a scarf knitter!

The Giraffe Purse is to die for

2008-12-31T07:18:00.002-06:00

Hi. How ya been? Have a good Christmas? Our Christmas was a great, whirlwind. That's what happens when you have lots of family close by, friends in town, and special birthdays to celebrate. Joy #1's sweet 16 was special. She was spoiled rotten not only by me but by others who love her. I'm waiting to get the photos back from my friend who was the photographer for the evening. I knew I wouldn't get many pictures so I made sure someone would! I will write out a full post later so I can remember the night and how much fun we had. Here's a shot. You can't tell but she is opening a beautiful, diamond, snowflake necklace from my brother and sister in law.

Last night I met Leah (from Knitting Giraffe) and her mom in Shawnee Mission. She is in town for the holidays and I was lucky enough to get to meet her for coffee. We knit and chatted and it was nice to be able to sit still for a couple of hours. I'm so glad we were able to meet up. It's fun to meet Internet people! I've now met the Yarn Harlot and Leah. :)

And I've started a new project. A Noro Scarf out of the Noro Cash Island. It is so soft, must be the cashmere. :) I'm not much of a scarf knitter but this one is moving along. It's the yarn.

Thank You Santa!

2008-12-25T11:41:00.002-06:00

A stocking full of Noro Cash Island.

Thing that I've really enjoyed this Christmas

2008-12-23T13:37:00.004-06:00

I can only remember one Christmas that stressed me out and I felt like I couldn't get anything done. It was a few years ago and if I remember correctly the holiday fell on a weekend. I was jiped of those extra weekend days to get shopping and baking done. Thank goodness Christmas falls in the middle of the week this year.

I am really enjoying this holiday season this year. I don't know if it is because Joy #1 is jazzed up for her birthday or if it's because I'm sharing it with you all. This year I've done some additional stuff that I feel is extra and I do if I want to. Now I'm wondering if these things should be manditory and the rest is extra.

Example A: Christmas Cards. I have never sent out Christmas cards, EVER. Shame on me I know but I've never been a great card sender. I've always thought that this was time consuming, expensive, and a pain. Guess what!? It's not! I had so much fun putting the cards together, addressing them, and putting a surprise inside. I don't know if I got everybody I should have but when people popped in my head they went on the list.

Example B: Giving gifts and tokens to neighbors. I knitted a special hat for my neighbor who does more yard work in my yard than I do. He techinically isn't my neighbor since he doesn't live next door. His mom lives next to me and he comes over and takes care of her yard and throws mine in when he can. The fun of this gift is that he was not expecting it. I love giving gifts to people who you wouldn't (or I wouldn't) normally give to. I also gave baked goodies to his mom and my other neighbor across the street.

Example C: This is another example of giving a gift to someone who doesn't expect one. My mailman. I remember my mom used to always give our mail carrier fudge. It was the norm and somehow we've (I've) gotten away from the norm. I put a card thanking him for delivering even when we don't shovel or get rid of our ice very well and when the dog barks at him. He also got a package of baked goodies. It was so much fun to think how shocked he was at our package. I've lived there 7 years and have always had the same mailman. He wasn't expecting anything from me. Trust me.

I hope you all are having as merry a season as I am. And if not...go find someone who looks wipe out and buy them some coffee. Then you'll find the merry that I've got!

Gearing Up

2008-12-21T18:37:00.002-06:00

Behind the scenes...getting things done...

Ski mask knit for the boy CHECK (pictures later)
Another mitten on the needles CHECK
Christmas baking CHECK
Most presents purchased CHECK
Christmas Eve party planned CHECK

Still need to do

Wrap Presents
Tie up loose end for Sweet 16 party
Finish up Holiday Cards

I love the holidays! I think it's because I don't stress out easily. Merry Christmas and I plan on photographing the recent knits soon!

Grandma's Snowflake

2008-12-17T21:23:00.003-06:00

Many years ago at a Christmas party my grandmother gifted several crocheted snowflakes to whoever wanted one. My grandma has created a large family ( 6 children, 19? grandchildren, more great-grans than I can count!). Obviously, she doesn't gift to everyone, that would be insane. Instead she would make something or give out calendars. I have always treasured the snowflake.

This year when putting up the tree I pondered Grandma's snowflake. Hmm, I wondered if I could find a pattern and make my own snowflake. That same week, Colleen at my knit night brought us a snowflake crochet pattern. Her timing couldn't have been more perfect!

Let it Snow Doily by Susan Lowman; AuntLydia's bamboo crochet thread natural (Sorry for the blurry photo)

I have made 2 snowflakes so far. I'm not sure how many more are in my future. This snowflake thing was harder than I thought! Crocheting into tiny stitches was not soothing. The second went much faster/better. And thank goodness, once you get them wet and block them everything smooths out and it looks like a snowflake!

Grandma's snowflake browned with age.

Thanks for coming by. I'm enjoying blogging through the holidays. Someday when I'm older and have forgotten the little things I hope to look back and remember.

Random knitting

2008-12-16T10:13:00.002-06:00

I had a little bit of Telemark still left after crocheting the scarf so I decided to make a cowl.

I'm almost out of yarn (since I don't stash) and am out of ideas of things to knit. I will be at a conference Thursday and Friday will ample knitting time. I guess I'll need to start something new. Another pair of mittens?

2 More extra knits down

2008-12-15T09:44:00.002-06:00

I finished up Tess's mitered mitts Friday evening.
I'm dreaming about another pair of these in Noro. How many mittens do I really need? I've only have 4 pairs. Last year I knit 10 pairs of mittens. I was shocked when I looked at my Ravelry notebook and saw that I have made 10 in 2008, though I only kept 1, so far this year. There are still a few weeks left in 2008.

I also whipped out this scarf.
I've been dreaming about making this scarf. It's crocheted using several balls of Knit Picks Telemark. It is hard to get a good picture of this scarf, not that I usually take good pictures but this one looks great in person.

I made it with the intention of keeping it. However, as I was working on it I decided I'd take it to our ladies holiday party tonight. We do a gift exchange/steal game at our party so I may just choose my own gift, unless there is something better I want!

I had a little amount left of the Telemark so I started a cowl. Never not knitting around here. :)

PS) Did you know there are only 10 days until Christmas? Isn't that crazy!?

Christmas Traditions

2008-12-13T12:06:00.005-06:00

A long time ago I told you about Joy #1 and my Christmas stockings. Remember? Well, to refresh the newcomers, Joy #1 and I are both born in December. We were also born at the same hospital. Actually all 3 of us were born at the same hospital but just Joy 1 and I in December. I digress...The hospital gives every baby born in December a stocking that is big enough for the baby to fit in. It is so sweet to see a tiny newborn in the stocking. I came home in my stocking and so did Joy #1. We use our hospital stockings every year. There has never been another stocking for me or Joy #1. These are very special to us.

Joy #2 was born in February therefore he did not have a hospital stocking. He uses a stocking my mom made and gave us many years before he was born. It is a cute little stocking but he's always been kinda bummed that he didn't have a hospital stocking. I think it's because you can get a whole lot in our stockings.

Well, this year when I was getting out our stockings I had an idea. Why not make Joy #2 a stocking to match our hospital stockings? I don't know why I've never thought about it before. What a simple solution!

So I did!

I love the way it turned out. I think the green is masculine. I am going to wait to put it up on Christmas eve though. I think he'll be surprised and appreciate it more if I wait. I love it when my ideas turn out!

Succeeding & Exceling

2008-12-12T08:41:00.004-06:00

I am doing really well completing my Christmas knitting! I have 2 knitting lists, the have to finish as a gift and the wouldn't it be nice to make lists. Well, I am proud to say that I have completed the first "need to get done list" and have moved on to the "wouldn't it be nice" list!

Must Knit for Christmas:

The wouldn't it be nice list has only item on it right now. That is the beauty of the wouldn't it be nice. When I finish one, then I think about another and jump right in.

Wouldn't it be nice to knit:

Mitered mittens for Tess (business partner) in progress
What ever else I feel like making and gifting :)

Someday I'll have to get back to the Ivy League Vest. I'm loving the quick projects right now! I hope you all are having as good a luck with your Christmas knitting and crafting!

Trying not to brag

2008-12-11T10:55:00.002-06:00

My birthday was great! My girl went out of her way to make my day special. We had planned to have tea and presents when I got home yesterday evening. She had the table set with the good china, had the water boiling for the tea, and even made me a cake. Joy #1 made the best egg nog cake ever. Very moist and delicious. I've never even heard of an egg nog cake but she saw it as a footnote in the cookbook and decided to give it a try. Yum.

I received many lovely gifts yesterday which was a nice surprise! I received a poinsettia, 2 books: Tales of Beedle the Bard & Harry, A History (love), a warm and beautiful robe, bookstore gift certificate, a Dora the explorer video (Joy #1 is soooo funny), and beautiful handmade cards from my friend Bonnie. This is the second year Bonnie has made me cards and she out did herself this year. They are so beautiful!

Gayle & Del out did themselves too! Gayle asked for my grocery shopping list and did my grocery shopping to include putting the groceries away for me. She said they were trying to give practical gifts this year. She saved me at least 1 hour if not more of my time this week! Awesome. My mom also gave me a meal from Social Suppers. Having dinners ready and planned will be so nice the next couple of weeks!

Ok, so maybe I did brag a little. Only on the people who were kind to me on my birthday and made it special! Thank you Janai, Donnie, Mom, Del & Gayle, Toby & Jenni, Bonnie, Debbie, Wendy, Bob, and Tess. I love you, too!

For unto us a child was born

2008-12-10T09:49:00.003-06:00

ME!

Today is my birthday. I started celebrating yesterday with lunch with my mom and business partner. Today I will have lunch with my dad, drop in on "The Party of the Season" hosted by MidAmerican bank, and then plan to have tea and open presents with my Joy's before bible class tonight.

I'm guessing that I won't get much work done today.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me notes via facebook, ravelry, and email.

And a SUPER, HUGE THANK YOU to Debbie who gave me a subscription to Interweave KNITS. It is most appreciated and I think we should make the holly mittens.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2008-12-09T09:20:00.003-06:00

We put up the tree last night. I am so glad to have it up. I used to never put my tree up before my birthday. That was before I had a Christmas loving fool in the house. Joy #1 LOVES Christmas. Not only is it her birthday but she loves everything that comes with it. She has been listening to Christmas music since November 1st. I tried to ban it before Thanksgiving with very little success. Enthusiasm like hers is catchy and now, we put up the tree as soon as we can and we always go with a real tree.

Santa & Mrs. Claus were made for me by a lady a church. I love these! Every year I get them out and marvel at the detail and gush about them to my kids. She crocheted the outfits. Beautiful!

This corner of the the living room is my new favorite knitting spot. I have a great view of the tree and I can sneak some chocolate out of the advent envelopes if I want! :)

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Parade

2008-12-07T21:30:00.003-06:00

The back seat driver My "Chauffeur" Ms. Debbie is the president of the Women's Division of the Chamber of Commerce.
I glammed it up! Thanks to my friend Andrea who lent me the fur.

The"celebrity and driver"

Shh...don't tell anyone but I have never been to our town's holiday parade. It's dark and cold! This year was fun though. The fur and car kept me warm. :) It was a nice time with entertainment and a tree lighting ceremony. Plus free hot chocolate and fireworks. I'm glad we went and Debbie was very nice to not only be my driver but decorate her car and dress up.

Up too early

2008-12-06T06:15:00.002-06:00

Joy #1's alarm went off at 5 somthing this am. It is Saturday. She spent the night at a friends. Now I am up.

Randomly here is what is going on in my life or mind.

It's too dark here to take a picture of the hat I'm working on. I'm using black patons yarn and I'm knitting up the Jacques Cousteau .
The coffee is ready but I don't want to go to the kitchen to get it.
Our tree isn't up yet. I'd like to get it this weekend. I used to never put up a tree before my birthday (December 10) but now I do.
I am training this weekend and a couple of days next week to work at the local ski resort. The one I talked about last year. This year I am working there and getting the awesome ski discount! Not for me but for Joy #2.
I get to be in a parade this evening. As business woman of the year, I was asked to be in the holiday parade. It is themed Hollywood Celebrities. I am just gonna glam it up and the president of the women's division of the chamber is going to be my driver and dress up like a chauffeur.
I've not done any Christmas shopping yet. I'm actually thinking about hitting this pawn shop in town to see if they have an electronics my kids are wanting. I've shopped thrift but not pawn. It should be interesting.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Bloglines is down until tomorrow so if you post I may not know.

So helpful

2008-12-02T14:56:00.003-06:00

Photo from the weekend. Cousins making rootbeer at our annual "BratFest"

My little Joy's are very different when it comes to Christmas time. Joy #1 is very specific. She wants to make gift giving as easy as possible for me so mid November she emailed me her Christmas wish list that included pictures and links to retailers that stocked what was on her list. Nowadays, I find web addresses for places like Aeropostle, Abercrombie, PacSun, etc in my drop down menu. If I click to the store guess what!?! The shopping cart is all ready filled and if I so chose I could click, click and buy Joy #1 a few gifts. E commerce these days saves your shopping cart for almost 30 days.

She is so subtle.

On the other hand, Joy #2 hasn't made a Christmas wish list in years. I know in general what he would like but he never directly says,"This is what I want for Christmas." Usually, I have to prod him. Would you like this? How about this? Lucky for him I know just what he'd like. Handknit socks and mittens! Oh and maybe some tools.

Happy December!

2008-12-01T09:15:00.004-06:00

Thank you all for your congratulations. It was great to get so many nice comments in my inbox. We had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday. I was off for 4 days and did very little housework but lots of visiting with friends and family and a bit of holiday crafting.

A few months ago I mentioned working on an advent calendar. Well, thanks to my mom who helped me at Thanksgiving it is complete! And just in time to since today is the first day.

Joy #1 asked me what I was going to put in the little envelopes and I said, "Funny sayings, inspirational messages, stuff like that." She looked at me very seriously and said, "If there is anything in them besides candy I will cry."

So I guess they aren't old enough to enjoy inspirational messages. Candy it is.

I am almost done with the Slytherin socks too. Have I told you how awesome they are?

I have one more snake to duplicate stitch and then the toe and they are finished.

Once these are done then I can start adding more items to my holiday knitting! These and the Knucks were "must knit" items. Anything else will be gravy.

No autographs please. Well ok maybe just a few...

2008-11-26T05:48:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, I received a huge shock and honor! I was named Leavenworth-Lansing 2008 Business Woman of the Year via the ATHENA award.

My mom, me, Joy #1

I didn't know I was up for the nomination. 8 women in my area were nominated and I was selected. Turns out 4 people wrote recommendation letters on my behalf. The award is presented at our annual "ATHENA" luncheon. I went in like normal. Visiting with folks, laughing, overloading my plate at the buffet and in general enjoying myself. We had a great program with a woman who did a living history presentation by being Amelia Earhart (she was born in the next town over). Her presentation was so interesting and she stayed in character the whole time. I love "living history".

After the speaker, it was time to name the award winner. I had my back to my table so I couldn't see the faces and chatting going on behind my back. Then they started saying all these wonderful things about the award winner (they say the name at the very last to enhance the surprise). Honest, hard working, warm, friendly, sincere...dedicated to our town and it's revitalization...Lion's club member, volunteers at her church...at that point I thought hmm...then they said single mother....

I turned around at look at my table mates and my friend Andrea popped up a camera to get my expression. Then I knew for sure and turned around quickly so she couldn't capture the tears welling up only to see Joy #1 pop up behind me. And that was it...I started fighting back tears and kinda stopped listening to the speaker waiting for my name. He continued on "mixture of Dave Ramsey and Betty Crocker"... "Jennifer Brenneman".

It was overwhelmed, excited, and proud all at once. Grinning ear to ear I hugged Joy #1 and my business partner Tess, then made my way through the crowd to accept my award. When I got to the podium I saw my family standing in the very back. They were waiting in the hall, hiding from me. I rambled something off in the way of an acceptance and told the audience that if they wanted a full speech they should have given me a heads up so I could have prepared something.

I did thank Tess and my family and my opening line was, "They said I was humble but...I have a speech prepared...no no just kidding I am totally shocked." That is all I can remember of what I said. Thankfully, they had written down all the nice things they said so I could go back and reread it (since I stopped listening half way through).

I was truly surprised. I am honored, but I am also very proud.

At 17, I had a beautiful girl. At 21, I had a handsome son. At 23, I graduated from college. At 27, I got my CPA. At 27, I opened my own accounting firm. And at 32 I received the ATHENA award. God is good.

Show off

2008-11-24T09:19:00.002-06:00

Here is my new wool skirt I made. Like the thumb print on the picture?

And these socks are going to be soooo awesome. It will be sad if they only last a month! But I knew that going in...

This project is the first time I've tried to do duplicate stitching. Mine isn't the best but it'll work. I'm getting ready to duplicate stitch a snake on the foot. I think that one will go a bit better. Joy #2 is going to love these socks. I'm kind of surprised he hasn't said anything about them considering I've now measured his foot 3 times and I've knit them sitting right next to him.

Knucks #3. These are more green than in the pictures. Man my photography skills stink today. These are waiting on some embroidery too! Just like the other pair...

Another one of THOSE weekends

2008-11-21T15:57:00.002-06:00

If all goes well I will:

Embroider those mittens and then they will be finito
Sew a wool skirt (fabric from the lovely thrift LAC)
Do some laundry
Minimal housework
Watch Twilight
Christmas crafting?
Work on the slytherin socks that I can barely put down. These are going to be so awesome.

I know people who are overcommitted up to their eyeballs. I am so glad that I learned early on what was extra, busy stuff and what was neccessary; what was fun and the pleasure of not being so busy I couldn't enjoy my home or family. And now I'm reaping the rewards! Home life, weekends filled with only what I want to do, and the peace of not running around with my head cut off. Life is sweet.

Driving Joy #1 nuts

2008-11-19T07:01:00.003-06:00

This is driving Joy #1 nuts!! And has for months now...

Not just him alone. That hair! For myself, ehh it's just hair. And I am convinced that anyone who can, will grow a huge afro if not once a few times in their lives.

I do prefer it when he just lets it dry curly and doesn't brush it out.

I found this picture from Feb. 2008. He definitely goes to extremes.

I'm on my final Knuck! Just added the thumb and it is all downhill from here!

The Lovely Scarf

2008-11-17T06:44:00.003-06:00

Barb gifted me some lovely yarn this summer and with it I made this lovely scarf.

I used the chevron scarf pattern from Last minute knitting gifts. It was the perfect choice for this yarn. Grace is a blend of blue, greys, purple, and a bit of orange. It is a bamboo blend so it feels silky. Very lovely.

It did take me awhile to knit. I kept this project in the car at the beginning of the school year so I could work on it while waiting to get the kids from school. Then I would work on it in between other projects when I wanted something simple or transportable. I finally finished it after taking it to a conference where I knit on it all day! I was surprised when I got home to find out that I was still a few inches shy of 77 which is what this pattern calls for. I cranked out a couple more inches and then blocked it. Blocking allowed it to grow to 88 inches! I am able to wrap it around my neck a few times which is perfect.

I love this knit. Thank you Barb for picking me up some great yarn. Your kindness and generosity is something I'm trying to imitate.

Santa's Workshop

2008-11-15T09:37:00.003-06:00

Knucks #2 are done! These one's will be my favorite. I like the charcoal color and they look very manly. Perfect for Joy #2. The final pair will be on the needles shortly. I've had a hard time taking pictures. Even though I've been working on them in the open, I don't want to ask anyone to try them on for fear of questions. I shouldn't be afraid though, I measured Joy #2's foot a few days ago. He was sitting in a chair, playing Runescape on the computer. I just walked up and measured not saying a word and neither did he. Either he knew what I was doing or he was so engrossed in his game he did not care. Once again, everyone is desensitized to my knitting and it is working out in my favor.

PS, Like the new blog look?

Small stuff

2008-11-11T15:43:00.005-06:00

I finished up a few things in the past couple of days. Well mostly finished!

Thursday I realized that amid all my planning for my niece's birthday knits that I forgot her mom's birthday knits. My sister's birthday is Nov 10th and I always make her something. Well, always as in the last 4 years. :) Unwilling to let my sister down with a store bought gift I casted on for the Ellen cowl using wool of the Andes pumpkin.

It's hard to tell by the picture but there is lacework between cables. I worked the stitch pattern until ran out of yarn. I think I wound up with one extra repeat of the pattern. The cowl is very warm. Now I know why everyone and their mothers are knitting up cowls this season!

Next, I jumped into Knucks number one. This pair is going to Shelby our neighbor. They are completed except for the embroidery. I think I will wait until 3 pairs are knit before I add the embroidery. I pushed myself to get these done. Knitting these will be not my most favorite knitting but they will produce great gifts. Anything with fingers is fiddly and with one pair down (not that they take much time) I feel confident I'll get the rest finished up by next week. All pairs will be knit with knit picks Telemark, my all time favorite mitten yarn. I used royal heather colorway for this pair.

Here's hoping continued success for my Christmas season knitting! Which needs to be over by December 1 cause I have too many other things to do in December!

Oh No He's Just Like Me...

2008-11-10T20:58:00.002-06:00

When I was in the seventh grade we were told that we could choose elective classes. Classes that you could take for a semester that was out of the ordinary. I remember we could choose from newspaper, pottery, some type of gym class, choir things like that. I happily signed up for pottery, newspaper, archery, and whatever else was interesting. Anything and everything but choir. Imagine my shock when my third semester elective was choir. I tried to explain to the choir director that there was a mistake and I was not supposed to be in her class, I didn't sign up for it. That was the year that I found out that "elective" in the public school means that they will put you where ever they want to and they don't care what you signed up for.

I did the only thing I could do. I refused to sing. They could force me into that class but they couldn't force me to sing. I sat there quietly, not doing anything the whole hour. I was boycotting the class and doing my best to let the powers that be know that I was not a mindless student that they could just put anywhere.

Needless to say, I was not the teacher's pet and it probably upset her more than anything by not singing. I was sent to the office once and explained my position. I don't really remember how that went. I just remember that it did not convince me to sing. The sad part is that I still feel righteous indignation toward the whole incident and still feel that I was right.

Today I got an email from Joy #2's choir teacher today saying that he was getting a detention for disrupting the class and not "being on task". When I questioned him after school he basically said, "Choir is stupid, I didn't even want to take the class and I've been trying to get out of it for 2 weeks." He might of even said that something along the lines of he shouldn't be forced to take an elective he wasn't interested in. Eek!! I went on to tell him that he should just suck it up, behave and get through the class the best he can, it's only a few more weeks. His response was, "They can make me sit there but they can't make me sing."

Oh no! I feel like I'm about to relive 7th grade choir all over again. And I haven't even told him my story! Calgon take me away....

Akastasia crafting

2008-11-06T07:45:00.003-06:00

I am going with our youth group to another youth rally this weekend, Akastasia. Why it is called Akastasia no one of our group really knows. We will be traveling up to Omaha, NE for the weekend and in addition to normal packing I need to figure out what crafting I should take.

Youth rally's are the perfect time to get some handwork in. I usually sit in the auditorium most of the day visiting with other parents or listening to the lesson and worship. I will meet up with several friends this weekend who will bring along their handwork too, so we make a nice little sewing/crochet/knitting circle.

My plan is to take the chevron scarf that I started at the beginning of the school year. It is a beautiful scarf made with Briar Rose yarn gifted from Barb. This project was my knit in the car while waiting for kids project or in between other projects. It has seen very little knitting since September. We have the timing down pretty good now with school pick ups and haven't had any in between time.

I also thought I may take my embroidery for the advent calendar but I'm not sure I'd really work on it. Knitting is so easy to pick up and put down I'd probably just stick to it.

***
I bought a spaghetti squash to cook for tonight. I've never made spaghetti squash. I looks easy enough but I'd love a really good recipe. If I want the kids to jump in and love it I probably should serve more than just the squash with butter. Any recommendations?

Christmas List

2008-11-05T07:02:00.002-06:00

I've been looking at my Ravelry queue and checking it twice. Since my main gifts for family will be jelly and marigold related I don't have much Christmas knitting. Or so I though. I don't usually knit Joy #1 or #2 anything for Christmas but I think that it is time to start a new tradition of handmade.

Joy #1 is getting her birthday sweater (which still needs buttons sewn on). Her birthday is on Christmas but that isn't Christmas knitting, it's birthday knitting.

Both kids have requested knitted items over the past couple of months just in passing. Joy #1 wants a pair of knucks. Actually Joy #1 and the girl across the street both want a pair of knucks. I had almost forgotten about the request until I remember that I ordered the yarn for not just 2 pairs of knucks but 3. I thought Joy #2 would like them too. So I will be knitting up 3 pairs for the holidays. Doable yes, but I don't usually enjoy knitting the same thing over and over again. I'll have to push through this one for the greater good.

Joy #2 requested a pair of socks. I was unsure at first because I know these socks will only last a month or more because he is so hard on socks and with his wide feet it would take some fiddling to get the right fit. I trolled around ravelry and found some I could get excited about. Slytherin house socks. I have Charmed Knits already and they have the pattern already worked out to fit wide men's feet. I was kind of torn between gryffindor socks or slytherin. Everyone wants to believe that they are Gryffindor and yes there are 2 gryffindors that live in my house but Joy #2 is just Slytherin through and through. Being in Slytherin house is not bad, I mean Snape turned out... well I won't go into it in case you haven't read all the harry potter books. Needless to say I'm making slytherin socks and they are green with silver stripes which will go with more things than gold and crimson.

I'm also inspired to make some Holiday decorations. I've seen some really cute stuff out there in blogland. Easy and nice. I usually don't decorate anything but the tree. But this year I'm thinking of creating a winter forest and maybe even sending Christmas cards! That will shock everyone!

No redos

2008-11-03T19:23:00.004-06:00

I have such few bad days that when I have one it ALL goes to pot. Here are some highlights from my day...

Car accident in front of my house right before school/work(we were not involved as we were still in the house) It was high drama, school bus and another vehicle. No major injuries though just cuts and bruises.
Joy #2 got suspended for 2 days and it is all his fault and it could have all been prevented had he used the brains God gave him.
A car turned right in front of me and I had to actually turn the corner to avoid being hit.
Our cell phone bill is outrageous and we've done nothing different. I really think they've screwed up our bill but dealing with phone companies was something I couldn't do nicely today.
Joy #1 & #2 got into a fight and #2 looks like he has a broken finger. Long story involving a hot head and a Longaberger plate, let's just say #2 started it #1 finished it.
I refused to take #2 to the ER and waited for a nurse friend to get home. It's not broken but banged up really bad and he won't be able to use it for awhile. It's all swollen and bruised.

I am going to spend the remainder of my evening hiding in my room drinking tea.

Moving right along to Christmas

2008-11-02T19:19:00.004-06:00

The marigold seeds drying on my table seemed a little weird to me at first. It almost seemed like I had crossed some line. I'm not really sure what line that is but I have crossed it. I have a HUGE envelope full of marigold seeds. Enough that I think I could reestablish the earth with marigolds in the event of some marigold disaster.

I can't wait to make up some cute envelopes and spread the Christmas joy via little envelopes of Jennifer's Giant Marigolds.

I finished the Turn the Square hat number 2 for my nephew at college. I am going to go ahead and send it to him in a care package. No point in waiting for Christmas.

And for wondering minds...Yes! 4 inches of afro will fit inside a turn the square hat written as is. Joy #2 is testing the sizing out on his own nogging and afro.

And this..I picked up this project I started earlier this year. It is an advent calendar of sorts. I loved this one so much that I knew we needed one of our own. The hard part will be decided what to put inside. I'm thinking notes, riddles, stuff like that.

And I'm thinking up some creative gifts I want from the Joys! Like a 30 minute sit down dinner every night from Dec 1- Dec 25th where we can open the advent goodies, eat dinner, and just be together without anyone rushing from the table. I hope they buy into it. I can almost hear Joy #1 saying nah, we'll just buy you something from the store. :) Teenagers...

And speaking of children...Joy #2 is in the kitchen cooking up rock candy. Hot boiling sugar water poured into glass jars. Never a dull moment!

Turn A Square one

2008-10-30T07:55:00.003-05:00

Turn A Square

Yarn: Noro & Cascade 220 Grey

Modifications: I started out with a cast on of 80 stitches. I read where a few people on ravlery sized down. The next one I will make as written.

For: Joy #2 and now I know why. The Noro went from grey to navy to orangish purple. The rest of the skein is a mix of green, black, and grey which will be better colors for my nephew.

Concerns: It fits me fine and Joy #2 is at school right now so I won't be able to try it on him. My concern is that his afro is so huge that it might not be big enough. It will stretch but seriously that afro is huge! At least I know that when he decides to shave his head (which he always does) it will fit.

Wool wonderful wool

2008-10-28T08:48:00.004-05:00

I started a Turn the Square hat last night. Casted on just before bed and I almost couldn't stop knitting. Now if your not a knitter/crocheter my next few statements will sound wacko! I couldn't stop because the fiber felt so good in my hands. I am using Cascade 220 & Noro for this hat. I didn't realize how long it has been since I've knit with worsted weight wool. My Ivy League vest is wool but finger weight wool is so thin you don't really get the "feel" of wool. The other projects over the weekend I used cotton and (gasp) acrylic blend yarns.

There was a feeling of peace, joy, relaxation? while working on the hat. I got it again today. This is my first time using both Cascade & Noro. There will be more Cascade in my future for sure. It's affordable and lovely.

And while I'm confessing all kinds of craziness today, I realized that this hat I'm knitting, which is supposed to be for my nephew, is actually for Joy #2. Does that ever happen to you all? The project changes it mind (or my mind) and becomes destined for another recipient? Initially, I thought I'd make my nephew the hat first and then Joy #2 with the left over yarns. Somehow, I the order is reversed. I'll have plenty for both of them so I'm not sure why I have a strong feeling that this first hat is for Joy #2.

In my normal life, I cooked my first pumpkin of the season last night and roasted its seeds. Now to decided what to make with my pumpkin puree...

I just had to finish something!

2008-10-25T21:39:00.004-05:00

I went a little crazy this weekend. I'm a project knitter remember? I love the finished project and the anticipation of finishing something up. Well, my Ivy League is not at the finishing it up stage so I jumped into a project that would satisfy the project knitter in me. Crochet.

In 12 hours I crocheted 4 baby hats and one scarf. And then I knit the final thumb in my mitered mitts. The ones I was going to give away but that I can't know because they are awesome and go perfect with my new scarf. I used Debbie Mumm's Traditions yarn for the scarf and mittens. The yarn was meh to knit with but crocheting was just fine. Which is great because i like the colorways of this yarn. I could crochet more scarfs just like this one if I had more of this yarn.

The mitered mittens remind me of elves. Like real elves not Santa elves. Ok, like storybook elves, I know elves aren't "real". It must be because of symmetry and pointy tip. Or because I've been listening to Brisingr all weekend.

Snap Shots

2008-10-24T09:18:00.002-05:00

The current status of my Ivy League Vest. I'm a few rounds past the beginning of the arm hole steek. Does it look any bigger? We have been playing furnace wars the past 2 weeks. Last night Joy #1 was super whiny about not having the furnace on. Nothing like a teenager on a mission. Here she is warming up over a pot of potato soup.

And then the oven after the shortbread came out...

And as soon as I left to go to knit night her and Joy #2 staged a coup and turned on the furnace. Ugh...so I lost furnace wars. It was 58F when I left so not terrible. I do not want to discuss that what she was wearing when I got home! A tank top and sweatpants. Really!?! I think I was duped.

Formulating a Plan...

2008-10-23T12:45:00.003-05:00

My business partner and I are big into budgets. Personal and business. I live on a budget every month and it is a good thing. Knowing where my money goes and why is empowering. Self control is a fruit of the spirit after all and my budget keeps me in control. Tess (my business partner) and I have recently sat down and looked at the numbers for the rest of the year and unfortunately we are going to have to suck it in for about 3 months. "Sucking it in" in small business terms means the owners take a hit.

It would be really easy to get discouraged over the finances but if God has taught me one thing through owning my own business is that He has taken me through the lean times of those first years and He can take care of me through this season too.

So...today I'm counting my blessings. I am thankful that because of my business I am able to be a more hands on parent. My desire for being a stay at home mom is not possible but this is the next best thing. I can pick up and drop off after school. I can be there anytime rain or shine they need me and they can come to the office and hang if they choose.

I am thankful that thanks to my super fab budgeting skills everything should get paid. There won't be any extra and December is questionable but I think I can squeeze by.

I am thankful for my family. Because of them (my mom especially) Joy #1 will get her yearbook and Joy #2 will get a winter coat. They were the only things I was really concerned about.

I am also thankful for spiritual growth. In the past I would just sucked it up. Live in denial, went without and pretend everything is fine. I've recognized that it is pride and even if I wind up with a part time job at Walmart that's ok. Being honest and earning a living for my family is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not asking for a hand out. I'll work for what I have and God will provide.

And...I'm thankful for the never ending Ivy League Vest knit using finger weight yarn and small needles. This project keeps growing and the yarn barely looks touched.

Rainy Day

2008-10-22T12:37:00.002-05:00

I wanna go home and knit on my vest. I picked it back up and am working on it as much as time allows. I've started the arm hole steeks. I'm back to feeling like I'm progressing. I'm also enjoying listening to Brisingr while knitting. Love the Eragon series!

Ok, done whining...back to work.

My weekend summed up

2008-10-20T08:20:00.002-05:00

The Liberty church of Christ hosted a wonderful weekend. Their theme was Fruit of the Spirit: Gotta catch them all. A play on words from Pokemon. Great lessons, classes, and singing. And those kids are so much fun!
I stayed at a members house by myself. Well, the host couple was there but, other than that just me. I slept so well!! And get this, they had house guests earlier in the week. They had come up from MO to see the Yarn Harlot. Crazy!
I ventured off to a yarn shop Old Mill Stitchery.I picked up a skein of Noro 1/2 price and some grey Cascade 220. I plan on making my nephew a Turn the Square hat. This will be my first time with both these yarns. I'm hoping to have enough left to make Joy #2 one too.
Did a little knitting but wound up going with some ladies to the goodwill. Actually that took awhile because we used Stephanie's GPS and hit every thrift shop in a 20 miles radius. It was fun but can you believe I didn't find anything? GPS are cool.
Finished one baby hat and a few rows on the Ivy League Vest.
I chaperoned 9 kids and they were all perfect. I didn't even have to tell anyone to please stop horsing around in the church building. This was also Joy #2's first "official" youth rally. He has been attending with us for 4 years and now he is "of age" to really be apart of it all.

Grape Jelly and Yarn

2008-10-17T09:55:00.004-05:00

This weekend I am taking our youth group to the Liberty Youth Rally. Liberty is only 45 minutes away but we will stay there the whole weekend. I am so not ready to go. Big shock. The past two days I have been in constant motion only really sitting still while I was at knit night last night. I plan to get a lot of knitting done this weekend but have been kicking projects back and forth. I think I've decided to bring the Ivy League Sweater and some baby hats. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to deal with 8 balls of yarn on the sweater but really, I won't be moving around much so it shouldn't matter. If I can work on it at knit night I can work on it there. And the baby hats will be the simple project for when the sun goes down and the lights are low.

Last post I decided to host a little contest. The lucky Learning to be Thankful blog reader will receive a skein of Knit Picks Shimmer Turquoise splendor 440 yds and a pint of Jennifer's spectacular grape jelly. Excuse me while I hope over to random.org....

I'm back and our lucky number is...3 Tracey from Wool Windings. Congratulations. Tracey, will you send me your address again. I can't find it. Oops. Debbie I can hear your disappointment all the way from Canada. Maybe you'll find something cool in your post office box too.

Have a good weekend. Enjoy the cool weather and put on some wool.

How about a little contest

2008-10-15T09:31:00.003-05:00

How about some more Yarn Harlot pictures? These were taken by CurliSue. Stephanie asked if she was my paparazzi. Funny!
And this guy made my day when he politely interrupted our chit chat to find out what kind of yarn I knit my clapotis in. He was featured on the Yarn Harolt's post about KC too. He was so nice. Are we all nice? Surely there are crazies that are apart of our group too. I wish I knew what his ravelry tag said. BTW- I used knit picks shimmer tripled. Turquoise Splendor.

Back at the homestead...the other day I put all the jars of jelly on the dining room table to snap a picture. They are still there but I have noticed that every day they are arranged differently. They were in a circular pattern Monday evening and last night they were in a three dimensional eight shape display. I think I'm going to leave them out just to see what they will be next. I suspect Joy #2.

Contest

So since I have managed to talk about grape jelly in just about every post for the past 2 weeks I'm going offer a little contest. You all deserve something for me going on and on! Comment on this post, only this post by Friday to enter. I'll randomly draw a name and the prize will be a pint of Jennifer's amazing grape jelly and a skein of KnitPicks shimmer in Turquoise Splendor (plus a little left over from the clapotis project). Enter to win! Tell all your friends or not. It may increase your chances of winning.

Fun only knitters can have.

2008-10-14T15:27:00.004-05:00

Top L-R:Sandra, Mary Ann, Me, Renee, Mary :Bottom L-R Colleen, & Laura

The Leavenworth Yarnies had a fabulouso time at the Yarn Harlot event. Well, I think we've decided it was more like an adventure. We started our adventure to the city with dinner. We ate at Maker's Mark which was very cool. It is in the middle of the power and light district and thanks to Mary's husband we got the chef's table. I splurged on my meal and it was very good! Striped bass stuffed with crab and some fancy sauce. Yum. We relaxed and enjoyed each other's company so much that we were a tad late for event. Oops.

We arrived at around 7:15 or 7:20pm. The Yarn Harlot was already well into her speech. She was witty and spoke with much love about herself, knitting, and the value of what we do. I really look forward to reading this book! If you look really close she is there in the photo. All blurry and yellow. I don't know why my camera couldn't take a decent picture in the hall but it couldn't. Use your imagination.

Next, it was onto the signing. We all had ordered our books and tickets separately so we were in the signing line at different times. Here's my ticket. Do you see...do you see...

I had ticket #1. Out of ALL those knitters I was the first. Not that we stood in line by number or anything. But I was so excited to be the first person in KC to purchase her book from the event. I felt like I had the golden ticket from Charlie in the Chocolate Factory! Which is nuts because the ticket really didn't mean anything except that I was in the first group. I guess it's like being number one to comment on her blog.

We all got our books signed and she told me that she loved my Clapotis. I didn't say anything special or tell her how much I love her blog or anything. I just said hi. I should have rehearsed something witty ahead of time.

Then we hung out and visited with other knitters. Admired all the lovely handknits and try to recognize people off of Ravelry. Met up with Sue who came all the way from Oklahoma City by herself. That's a great knitter right there!

It was a great time. I really enjoyed an evening out on the town with my knitting peeps. They are great ladies and I'm glad I was able to see the Yarn Harlot with them. If I didn't have them I wouldn't have eaten a great meal, at an exclusive table. Or looked like a maniac running around a parking garage looking for the car. Or navigate to the event while loosing half the caravan we had. Or listen trying not to laugh while 3 people tried to tell Laura how to get back on track to the event via cell phone. Or enjoy their company and conversation while listening to a knitting icon. Things are so much better when you share them and even better when you share them with knitters.

PS)Bloglines hates me. It hasn't recognized my blog in over a week. I hear I'm not the only one.

Happy Yarn Harlot Day!

2008-10-13T08:54:00.004-05:00

Tonight I get to go see the Yarn Harlot! I am so excited she is stopping in Kansas City. Our knitting group is going out to dinner and then to see "the show". Full report tomorrow!

I finished the Gretel hat for my niece. It turned out lovely. I hope she likes it. I made the fitted beret version. Next time I make one I think I'll go for the in between version, somewhere between fitted and slouchy.

In grape jelly news, I think I may make 2 more batches and call it quits. Then I will have about 41 pints. Enough to give away and enough to keep. We have already gone through one pint at home and it's only been 2 weeks since the first batch. I'm not sure if it's because it's really good jelly or because I've been baking a lot from the River Cottage Cookbook. I made shortbread for breakfast Sunday morning and it was so good the dog ate the leftovers while we were at church services.

Well, I'm off to work. Gotta be productive since I'm skipping out at 2:30 pm.

Up before 6 am

2008-10-12T06:16:00.002-05:00

Somehow, I managed to awake before 6 am. Instead of making a lovely breakfast for my lovely family before church services, I'm online.

Saturday Recap: I managed to do some stuff on my list for the weekend. The grape jelly count is up to 21 and I have a little less than a gallon of juice left. Plenty for more jelly! I think I may have enough to start gifting. Maybe. I do plan on making one more batch and then maybe I'll feel comfortable enough with gifting. Reality says I do not need 32 pints of grape jelly but somehow my head and heart is having trouble with that message.

I knit some more. I have 16 more rows left on my Gretel hat. A lovely design. Ysolda's pattern are beautiful and very well written!

And, hmm I bought some shoes, ate some ice cream, and used my new reusable grocery bags at the grocery store.

Yep, that sums up my Saturday! I'd take pictures but it still looks like the dead of night outside. If I calculate right I can knit for 1.5 hours before I have to get ready for Bible Class. Sweet.

No thank you.

2008-10-10T16:48:00.003-05:00

This weekend I could be doing lots! Fall festivals, ice cream socials, downtown fun. But I've not committed to anything this weekend. Not. one. thing.

The past 2 weekends I've bowed out of a lot. Social, civic, and just plain fun events. I've bowed out because I don't want to be so busy doing, that I don't get done things that I'd like to do at home. Last fall, I fell into this trap. (ha read that sentence again, last fall...i fell...into this trap. I crack myself up!) This fall I'm hoarding my time and actually being productive around the homestead. The yard is in pretty good shape. More to do but I'm leaps ahead of last year.

So this weekend I'm thinking...

more grape jelly
pumpkin butter
apple pie
clean floors
clean bedrooms
lounging
knitting
planning my Yarn Harlot outfit

And if I get all that done then I may wander out of my own space and enjoy the cool stuff going on.

On a random note (as if I had a topic)I scored a futon for Joy #2's bedroom off of Craigslist. $40 and get this. The people selling the futon live 2 blocks from me!

I hope you enjoy your weekend too!

Whoa is me

2008-10-08T20:23:00.003-05:00

Excuse the picture I was too lazy to take the vegetables out of the bags. Just one more week and our CSA season will be finished. What am I going to do?? This week fresh eggs, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, patty pan squash, some other kind of greens, apples, and radishes were delivered to my front door. Just one more week of lovely farm food and then what? Shop at the grocery store?? Buy substandard vegetables? I don't know if I can do it. The way I cook and look at food or meals has changed so dramatically since April. My pantry which used to be stocked with canned goods and boxed foods is down to nothing. I have one can of stewed tomatoes and one can of sweet potatoes, some pasta and rice and baking stuff. A drastic difference. Everything else is fresh or baked fresh.

I will say it does take some thought and time in the kitchen but I find that I really enjoy cooking this way. And those kiddos, though they grumble and almost cry when we pass the cookie isle, are coming around. Joy #2 loves cooking for us. Joy #1 not so much but we've had a lot less whining about nothing to eat. She's even cooked a few things for herself recently. See while we were transforming our ways, she was at camp being feed 3 times a day like clockwork with no effort on her part.

So, back to the original question. What do I do now? I'll have to start making plans because right now I just cook what shows up. Anyone else having end of season anxiety?

Very Cabley Mittens

2008-10-08T10:56:00.004-05:00

Finished Object: Very Cabley Mittens, KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Tidepool Heather.

I loved these mittens. They turned out perfect. I highly recommend the pattern.They are for my niece's 18th birthday. I also plan on making a Gretel hat to go with these. I haven't knit on my Ivy League Vest in a week. I really want to get back to it. It just sits there and begs me to knit on it. I am so anxious to get it done. But the Gretel hat is calling...her birthday is Oct 30th. Oh the drama...

Everything can be traced back to that Cookbook!

2008-10-06T09:26:00.004-05:00

My fascination with the River Cottage Family Cookbook led me online. Of course! There I found Hugh's (author) UK TV shows. Awesome. The one that really hooked me was the Smallholdings. They took a few families, gave them space in a city and they had to turn it into a small holding. The space to begin with was overran by weeds and brambles. The families spent a little time and got the space all cleared out so they could plant vegetables and raise pigs and chickens.

Standard TV right. But not for me. The thing that impressed me was that they cleared all this out using hand tools, nothing special, and a lot of hard work. Once again, right down my alley. I don't have many tools and don't really care to spend my money on them.

This short clip really inspired me. I have a lot behind my house. It has been the baine of my existence for 7 years. It is overgrown, weedy, and brushy. I can never keep it under control, even though it is at the top of my yard work list constantly. In addition to the lot I have this hill. Ugh. This hill has so many little trees and yucky weeds (all of which I am allergic to) and it is too steep to mow. The hill is such an eyesore that I pretend I don't own it.

All that said, I love this bit of land. I can imagine it a beautiful garden with a gazebo or something cool. A little oasis in the middle of town. Joy #2 pictures it as an awesome skate park, throw down some concrete and ramps and whatever else skaters need, and my neighbor would love to build a garage on it, but it's mine not his. :)

Soooo guess what I did on Saturday?? I cleared off the hill! Yes, I did, thanks to that hard working boy of mine and some determination on my part. We worked from 8:30- 2:30, well Joy #2 went until 3:30 pm. Using branch cutters, a weed eater, and lawn mower we got the entire hill finished! It is beautiful, and a major step in getting the rest of the lot in tip top condition. In order not to get overwhelmed, I mentally broke the hill into sections and just worked a section until it was clear of growth. My plan worked and I am anxious to start the rest of the lot. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could get it looking nice by the end of October!?!

I went out to take a picture for you but the camera battery was dead. Instead I present a representation of the actual hill...
God Bless Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Sometimes you just gotta SEE the progress

2008-10-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

What up?

2008-10-02T08:00:00.004-05:00

I have been very good at staying on task at work. I think I just needed to "put it out there" for no one but myself to get motivated. Nothing like a little confessing to cleanse the soul.

{This is not a staged photo. Jaeda opened The river cottage family cookbook and started looking}

In spring, I find myself asking why did I waste all those good weekends in the fall? I should of been working in the yard and getting it under control! Well, now I know. There are tons of stuff to do in the fall. We get invitations to all kinds of neat things and every charity or organization I belong to has some major fall fundraiser that I attend. Last weekend I had several things I was invited to. All really cool and fun but I skipped them all. I told myself that I had things at home I wanted to finish and when I was done I'd go hang out. By the time I finished the jelly and a few other things I didn't want to go anywhere so I didn't. I'm taking notes and plan on doing the same thing this weekend. I really want to work on my lot that is overgrown and needs lots of tending to. I'm allergic to everything on it but I think I will feel so much better when it is cleaned up.

The twins on Saturday

I also want to harvest the rest of my basil and get the gardens pruned out a bit. I've also been kicking the idea of planting a couple apple trees. Now is the time if I'm going to do it. And plan a few more raised beds. (are my incomplete sentences driving you nuts yet?)

So much to do but such worthwhile stuff.

As for the knitting. My Ivy League Vest is still coming along. I'm am at the neck decreases, while continuing the bust shaping, and paying attention to the armholes that are coming up. So much going on at one time! It is challenging but I love it. I will not be able to take it to knit night though so I'll start something new. Mittens for my niece! Oh and did I tell you that I will be going to see the Yarn Harlot in 2 weeks?!? I think our whole knitting group is going now!

I think that is it. I have successfully emptied my brain. Have a happy Thursday.

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off To Work I Go

2008-09-30T08:37:00.003-05:00

I have been dealing with the terrible syndrome of procrastinationits at work. Every morning I think, I'm going to go in to the office and get some of these nagging little projects done and be superproductive.

And then I get there, do a few things, the ASAP things and surf the internet the rest of the day. I go through this every year about this time. I just don't want to work. I'd rather be at home nesting. While I am at work all I do is think about the things I could be doing if I was at home.

Now, before you think I'm milking the clock, I own my own CPA firm and I get the job done. It's just that this time of the year there is little to keep me busy. Just a few deadlines here and there and a lot of little things that really aren't interesting or hard but have to be done, even halfway.

But not today my friends! I awoke with the thought that I do every morning. I will be on task all day long! And today I am going to actually do it. So, today there will be no blogs, personal email, or youtube on company time. Ok, to be honest I'm cringing a little but I'm going to give it the best I've got. I may check back in on my lunch break to give you an update. Crazy and wild life I lead right? Forcing myself to work and writing about it.

EDIT:: I (mostly) did it. Stayed productive all day and there were several times I had to force myself onto the next. I'm not promising myself anything for tomorrow. :)

I could be a homesteader

2008-09-27T11:08:00.006-05:00

After obsessing about it while at work, reading whatever google would produce under "grape jelly" I jumped in. I went ahead and purchased a water bath canner and some jars, printed out visual instructions and made my own grape jelly. Unfortunately, the grapes from the farm didn't produce enough juice to match my recipe. I decided that I am not experienced enough (ha!) to fiddle with the recipe so I went ahead and bought 100% grape juice with no additives from the store to take care of the short fall. Before researching I had no idea you could make your own jelly from store bought grape juice. So half the grapes in my jelly are local and the other half have traveled the world.

Canning is time intensive but I didn't realize how much time went by until I was finished. It took me about 2 hours to make 11 half pint jars. I tasted it before canning and it is yummy. It was not hard and most of my time was waiting for things to boil. Thanks to my blog friends who have been showing off your canning skills. It was what I needed to jump in. I thought crept into my head, "These would be so nice to give as gifts." Then I cringed from the thought. I want to hoard the grape jelly all for myself. It may take me a few more canning sessions before I stop being selfish and am able to give away my own hard work.

Oh and here is a picture of breakfast. Using my new fab cookbook, I made pancakes British style. They are like a thick crepe, dusted with powder sugar and a blob of whipping cream on top. Traditionally, they are served with a squeeze of lemon and powder sugar. My version was sooo good. I loved the cream on top. It melted and was heavenly.

Food

2008-09-25T09:12:00.002-05:00

Thanks to my new favorite cookbook I have cooked tons of cool stuff this week. Well, as cool as tortillas are.
So far we've made:

Baked apples
Tomato & Basil Salad
Tortillas
Whole wheat bread
Soda bread
Strawberry smoothies
Cheesecake

I have the ingredients to try my hand at yogurt and cream cheese. Can you tell I've read through the flour and dairy chapters? One of my favorite things about this books is that you don't need equipment. No food processors or anything like that.

In our CSA basket yesterday we received leeks, apples, tomatoes (just a few), various hot peppers, and grapes. Grapes! I've got to find a jelly recipe or something. I've also got to figure out how to pit them. If you know anything about grapes, grape recipes, or jellies please let me know.

Oh to be retired so I could knit and cook all day...

Bragging Again!

2008-09-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm bragging again but after 16 years of being the only one who cooks around here I am loving the new interest by the boy.

This is what I found in my new cookbook, The River Cottage Family Cookbook.

In case it's hard to see, that is a paper doll with the words Cook Me on it. A subtle hint that someone wanted cheesecake. How could I resist? A request out of the book I've been carrying around all weekend!

I had planned on making it after dinner, but he jumped into it before I got the chance.

This cheesecake was 100% produced by the 11 year old. How awesome is that? I didn't have to cook it and it is really good. I mean really good. I have no idea how he does it but it is even better than what I make.

Awesome!

Happy Lions Trash Bag Day

2008-09-22T09:56:00.004-05:00

Joy #2 and I got up early Saturday morning to do a little community service. Our city gives trash bags twice a year to it's residents. Some smartie who worked for the city and was a member of the Lions club approached the city and proposed to have the Lions club deliver trash bags as community service and a fund raiser. We (the Lions club) deliver all the bags in one day for the city. The city in return doesn't have to pay their crews overtime to get the bags delivered or add additional duties to the already busy city workers. It used to take them 3 weeks. And since they all go out on the same day it is easy to determine if someone got overlooked or their bags taken. The city pays us around $4,000 a delivery ( we deliver around 16,000 bags) and they are still saving money. It's a big job and we were short on teams but our team delivered 1,075 bags between 7 am & 1:30 pm. It is a fun project and you get to see parts of Leavenworth that you don't normally see. It is satisfying helping the city and making a large chunk of change for the club.

The rest of the weekend I found myself lost in this cookbook.

I read a review of it on Soulemama and ordered it immediately. Something I don't normally do sight unseen. I'm so glad I did. The book focuses on real food, from scratch but not hard. The authors assume that you are using all fresh ingredients and nothing from a can or box, yet all the recipes are so simple. They also had their own families cook all these meals together and the photography is of what the food really looked like with all those hands in it. Not staged and perfect. I am reading it cover to cover. Chapter 1 was flour. They discuss the process from plant to mill and then expand on all kinds of recipes. I made tortillas for the first time in my life using their recipe. It was awesome, took a little bit of time but not very much and it was so satisfying. In addition to the tortillas I baked some apples from the farm using their simple recipe and we ate them for lunch. Joy #1 & I ate our tortillas separate from the apple but Joy #2 chopped up his apple and made a roll up.

This cookbook is just down our alley since we have been trying to cook from scratch and avoid the pantry items. If you too have been moving away from boxed food and ingredients I highly recommend this book!

WIP

2008-09-18T21:10:00.006-05:00

I didn't get a chance to photograph this during daylight, but here it is. My slow progress on the sweater. I'm so glad I went ahead and took it to knit night so I could push through the decreases. Now joy of joys I get to knit only the pattern for 7 rows and not have to worry about waist shaping. This sweater is challenging. Not hard but just a lot to pay attention to. I'll have to put it aside soon to work on my nieces mittens and beret. I'm looking forward to a quick knit.

TaDa

2008-09-18T21:10:00.005-05:00

Here is the faucet. Very plain jane sheek right? I through in a handknit just for fun. You guys are so much fun. Thanks for indulging me. I love the fact that you don't think taking pictures of a sink is nutty. I don't think my kids bought it though. I heard one mumble, "Sure there are no pictures of me when I was 4 or 5 but we'll be certain to have a picture of the faucet installed in 08." Good Times...

I worked on my Ivy League vest tonight at knit night. I'll take a progress picture tomorrow when the sun is up. It's coming along!

Oh the drama of a new faucet.

2008-09-17T14:14:00.003-05:00

I woke up this morning to water all over my kitchen floor. My faucet has been at the leaky stage for oh, a year but only recently did it start leaking down the sprayer underneath the sink. I tried some duck tape and a bucket. That lasted about a week. So I decided I would bite the bullet and get this sink fixed. I went online and watched a lovely YouTube video of how to install a kitchen faucet. It looked easy and doable.

Next, I went to the local hardward store for tools and with my promise I'd be back to purchase a new faucet and whatever else I needed. They were so encouraging. Changing a faucet is no big deal for them but they were just as excited at the prospect of me doing it myself as I was. Love Gronis hardware!

I get home, tools in hand and tackle the hard part. Dismounting the faucet that has been attached to my sink since, oh before I was born. I'm guessing the 60s. No easy feat, though I was making progress. That was until I started to feel sick. Apparently, I cannot lay on my back and work above my head without wanting to throw up. It was taking forever because I would work for 10 minutes and lie down for 15 minutes. When I realized it would be midnight before I'd even got the old fixture out I called Papa. Thank goodness for family members who are retired and home during the day.

Papa came over and finished unhooking the old faucet in about 20 minutes. A much quicker pace than my sick stomach would let me work at. I headed down to Gronis's for my new faucet and supplies. Papa told me that putting the new one in is much quicker and I should be able to handle it even with my stomach upset. And he was right. It went in very smoothly. I had to take my time tightening the lines but it was all working out! I was so proud of myself. It only took me all day it seemed but I would have a new faucet!

And then it happened. I was tightening the last supply line to the water source and I heard a crunk. The pipe under the sink broke off. Ugh. I ran downstairs to turn off all the water to the house and sighed. Then I called my plumber and proceeded to tell him my triumph of replacing my own faucet and the derailment of that joy by the pipe busting. He was able to get over to my house quickly and soon discovered that the pipe in question was barely attached to whatever it was supposed to be attached to. He fixed it then tested my faucet. It worked!!! He said that if he would have installed the faucet the pipe would have done the same thing so I should ignore the pipe issue and having to call him and be proud of myself. After all, all he did was fix the pipe and keep water out of my basement. I on the other hand installed a functional kitchen faucet.

I was about to take a picture and then decided that I was walking on the line of crazy. Who takes pictures of their kitchen faucets?

Scarf done, check!

2008-09-16T20:58:00.003-05:00

As you can see the Special Olympics scarf is completed. You'd think the hard part about this project would be the crochet. Nope. It's getting the package ready and mailing off!

Special Olympics Scarf

2008-09-13T05:04:00.004-05:00

A lady from my knitting group alerted us to the Special Olympics Scarf Project. The Special Olympics World Winter games will be held in Boise, Idaho February 2009. The organizers have requested 5000 scarfs to present to the athletes as a gift and to help raise community awareness regarding their cause.

I am crocheting a scarf for the project. The deadline is in January but I got the urge to get started last night. There is a great group on Ravelry that have inspired me to get going. They have 516 members right now and already have 142 scarfs completed and sent. I've not done much charity knitting. I seem to find other ways to help out because sometimes charity knitting just takes awhile. But charity crochet is up my alley. And I love how this scarf is turning out.

If you're interested there are only a couple of rules.

The yarn must be Red Heart Yarn Color 0885-Delft Blue and 0311-White Length: Approximately 4 ½” x 50” . I'm not a fan of this yarn but they want all the scarfs to be the same. And it must be washable. It really wouldn't be that bad if it had some softness too it. All that said I think it was a good choice on the organizers part to pick something that is readily available across the country and inexpensive.

Once finished, place scarves in plastic bags with your name and address on a note card along with a personal note to the athlete and mail them to:
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project 3150 W. Main Street Boise, ID 83702

Simple right! I can't wait to see pictures of the athletes sporting their individual, yet similar scarfs.

Not much

2008-09-11T07:17:00.004-05:00

Not much going on here. Nothing new or exciting. This weekend will be a whirlwind so I guess this is the calm before the storm. I was supposed to harvest grapes today with my CSA but with all the rain we've had in the last week or so they aren't ready yet. Tuesday I was able to knit most of the evening and have finished the corrugated ribbing on the Ivy League Sweater. I've made it to the fair isle pattern. Last night when I worked on it I caught myself thinking "just one more row". Fair isle does that to me. I can't wait to see what the pattern looks like with one more row. I'm glad I'm seeing progress. This is my first sweater using finger weight yarn and tiny needles. Tonight is knit night. I don't know that I will haul this sweater to the group. Maybe I'll just work on the chevron scarf. Simple, so I don't have to pay attention.

Best Free Place in Town

2008-09-08T20:33:00.004-05:00

Tonight while on babysitting duty for a friend Joy #2 and I took the girls to the library. Our house is fun and all but we have to work to make it so for the little ones. We have no toys and a few books. We make do by playing in the sink, coloring, and wandering around the yard. Sometimes real things are more fun than toys. Tonight however was rainy so we decided to check out the learning center at the library. It is a cool playroom with tons of stuff to keep the imagination flowing.

The girls and Joy #2 played for over an hour. They loved Joy #2 playing with them. It is so much fun watching the girls on Monday and best of all...they go home when I get tired. :)

On it!

2008-09-08T09:04:00.003-05:00

Thanks to that burst of energy the house is now back in one piece. My room is finished, minus arranging stuff on my walls. I was also able to put the rest of the house back in order and get the laundry done. It's amazing what you can get done when you work non-stop. :) By late Sunday afternoon I was able to sit in my comfy chair in my room, put in a book on tape (InkSpell), and cast on for the Ivy League Sweater. Working on this sweater is so soothing. Or was yesterday. I love fair isle and can't wait to get back to it. Unfortunately, it won't be tonight. We watch 2 little ones on Monday nights and they get all my attention. But when they go to sleep, I'm back on it!

I'm Tired

2008-09-06T20:07:00.003-05:00

Friday after work I decided to tackle my bedroom paint job. Now I remember why I had put this off for so many years. You have to move out all the stuff, clean all the stuff and then put it all back neatly. That's a big job!

Before

After

I do like the color I chose. It is a burnt orange and goes great with the afghan I made this summer and my new oil painting. I purchased the painting at the Meals On Wheels auction that was held the end of July. Now that the painting is done I am tackling the job of putting everything back. Ugh. I have 2 huge piles of books to get rid of and some yarn. Organizing my knitting stuff was about the only part of the "putting back" I didn't mind. Well, that and making the bed.

New Oil Painting

My view laying on the bed exhausted but not finished!

I'm going to keep going until I totally tucker out. And then tomorrow I'll tackle the rest of the house. I started working on my room when the rest of the house was tidy. Now it is all a mess, I'm not sure how I managed that!

Bather

2008-09-05T07:36:00.002-05:00

One skein of TLC's Cotton makes 4 newborn hats.
Joy #2 is off today to Dads N Lads out at Nebraska Youth Camp. It is our last camp event of the year.
I haven't casted on for the Ivy League Sweater but plan to tonight.
Our knit night just keeps growing and growing. After months with 4 regulars we've had lots of new people. Thank you Ravelry.
It's cold and raining here. Sock weather time! It almost makes me want to cast on for more socks but I have way too many projects I want to get done by the end of the year.
Too many projects going at once makes me ancy.
Anything else? Oh yea...
All of Joy #1's friends have gotten cars or are getting cars within the last month. The most recent is her friend that got a Mustang (2004 I think). Come on people, where is your solidarity? No more cars for 16 year olds! I can't keep up.
That's all. Happy Friday.

Knitting Update

2008-08-29T08:58:00.003-05:00

My knitting group is knitting baby hats for our local hospital. We decided to use the same yarn and pattern. We are using TLC Cotton Plus, Lavender. It is perfect. I am writing up a pattern for us to use. As you can see this is not original. I have just adjusted the size of what I normally make for a newborn. I knit quite a few hats a year so I just cast on and go. Once again nothing original.

This lovely Tidepool Heather will become a beret, Gretel by Ysolda and a pair of mittens. I am leaning toward the cabled mittens from Charmed Knits. These will be for my lovely niece's 18th birthday. I have until the end of October to get them knit. Plenty of time.

And this yarn will become...

I am looking forward to casting on for this monster! I love fair isle and it's time to kick it up a notch from hats and mittens to this! Now which to start first!

Weekend words

2008-08-25T08:37:00.004-05:00

Here is some text to go with Saturday in Pictures. The first picture is a photo of a miter mitten. I am using Debbie Mumm's Traditions yarn. It isn't like working with wool but the final project is lovely and it isn't terrible so I think I can stick it out. The trick is working the afterthough thumb. If it works ok then I will consider this yarn for more "small" projects. The yarn is a wool blend but the way it is plyed or whatever is why it is weird to work with. It's like the wool is spun loosely around one ply of acrylic.

The other pictures are taken of Joy #2's treehouse. He has played in one of our large trees in front of the house forever. Finally, he took the plunge and built a fort. He and his friend started the hammering at 8:30 am and finished up around 4:30 pm. I went up to check it out but whoa it is way up there. They constructed a wooden floor and made 4 corner posts. With that alone it was a nice landing to sit on in the tree. However, not enough like a fort. They were going to use plywood for the walls but decided to go with super thick cardboard. They used the cardboard for walls and used paint tarps for the roof. It really is awesome and sturdy. I watched them for awhile and the branches were very sturdy as they hammered and climbed. the wood is pretty light too.

Sunday every boy in a 3 block radius came over to check it out. I made a rule that no more than 3 at a time could go inside. The others could hang out on branches but not go inside the treehouse. I heard talk of passing a test to be able to be allowed inside. At first I thought, well that's not fair, but then I realized that Joy #2 was overwhelmed with all the boys and just wanted to hang out in his tree with his close friends. I stayed out of it. I'm really proud of his work. No adult help, (like I'd be any help) and they actually got it finished. I'll try and get another photo if I can. It is so high up and buried in the branches that photographing is difficult. Maybe I'll get a better shot in the winter.

Saturday in Pictures

2008-08-24T14:16:00.000-05:00

FO-28Thirty

2008-08-22T07:50:00.005-05:00

This should be the last you hear about this sweater until December. (If I remember to talk about it then) The 28Thirty sweater is finito. Well, ok, there are no buttons yet but that is normal around here. The sweater I designed for myself last tax season still has no buttons. Doesn't really stop me from wearing it either. But I will sew buttons onto this bad boy.

See the tiny amount of yarn left over. It was a close one!

This sweater is a bday gift for Joy #1. I have been working on it in front of her non-stop and sneakily showed it around at knit night last night with her one row over. I used Peace Fleece worsted wool in Hemlock Poasja colorway. It really is beautiful. It will be super warm when she needs it. Which will be anytime she's at home since I'm not sure we will even be able to afford gas this winter. :)

Joy #2 was in just the right mood this morning to model it. He's been watching me knit this too the past month, never inquiring about it. when I asked him to wear it this morning he said, "Why is it for Joy #1 (ad libbing)?" I did not give a direct answer but he knew.

I really like the pattern. It was easy and full of great details. I am kind of kicking the idea around of making my neice one too. Not at least until October though. I'm not a fan of working on the same pattern over and over again. Although now that I say that I am reminded that I just ordered yarn for a beret and mittens for her. I think I'll stick to that plan.

Whirling of Mind

2008-08-21T11:00:00.003-05:00

This space has been quite a few days. I've been supermom and superknitter at the same time so no time for superblogger. School has started. That is going well, both kids have established their own routines and I've just taken on a supervisory role. Joy #1 leaves for school just when I'm getting up. Joy #2 has been making the coffee and getting himself ready too. Not much for me to do but shower and drive Joy #2 to school. Then I have a whole hour to do whatever before work. That whatever has been a mixture of housework and knitting.

I have 1" left on the second sleeve of 28thirty. I should have it finished before knit night tonight. I love the details on this sweater. I have so many other projects rattling around in my mind. what to start next...I'm also working on a chevron scarf . I'm not a fast scarf knitter so I decided to leave it in the car and knit on it while waiting for the kids to get out of school. I'm using the yarn I got from Barb and it is lovely.

Well, let's hope there are pictures tomorrow for you! I leave you with the chevron scarf as it looked 2 weeks ago.

Phelps Phan

2008-08-17T08:05:00.004-05:00

I have been watching the Olympics here and there this year. The first few nights I was faithful to the games, then I found I could watch it online at my leisure. There is one guy I have not missed a swim for. Has anyone? Watching Michael Phelps swim has been awesome. Every time I watch him or his team I am excited and full of pride. There has not been one medal ceremony that I haven't teared up for. I'm not sure if it is because they always pan to his mom and sisters or if it is because of him. I'm proud of Phelps not only because he is an amazing swimmer but because he has become a gracious competitor. The last games he was younger, obviously, but he didn't know how to handle the immense attention he was getting. He almost came off as uninterested or cocky. I think he wanted to retreat away after every race because he wasn't prepared for that kind of attention. These games he is able to deal with the press and isn't self conscious like last time. So not only do we get the most amazing swimmer but a humble man as the image of the US. Awesome. I also think it's awesome that the President went to watch him not just once but twice and the US basketball team cheer him on as often as they get a chance. I'm sure there are more cool people in the audience. I've really enjoyed being a Phelps Phan this year. So much so that I keep thinking I need to start swimming. I could start now and buy 4 years I may be able to swim a couple of laps and have muscle. :)

A Blue Ribbon Event

2008-08-16T07:37:00.003-05:00

We spent the evening browsing the Leavenworth County Fair. It has been a few years since I'd been. Up until my short break from the fair we went every year as far back as I can remember. Joy #2 and I walked around looking at all the cool stuff the fair has to offer. The items I was drawn to this year were different than when I was younger.

As a kid I remember the food, the animals, the free stuff at the booths, and the rides. As an adult I was drawn to the art, the woodworking, the crafts, the vegetables and canning (I do not remember this at all from my youth!). There was a boy last winter that demonstrated spinning to our knitting group and he had tons of fiber stuff in the fair. Hand spun, weaving, fulling, needlefelted art were just some of the items of his that wowed us. He spins on a wheel he got many years ago. Babes Fiber Starter and he's still spinning on it. This wheel is inexpensive (relatively) and made it affordable for him to get spinning. Now he sells his hand spun to those who ask for it, for money to buy more fiber I'm sure.

We may go back tonight. Joy #2 wants to watch the demolition derby. I don't know if I'm going to get out of that one since we miss the Mud Run last night!

Joy #2 buckling into the Ring of Fire.

My view from the ground, while Joy #2 is suspended upside down. We decided that it is scarier to watch than ride.

Going about doing good

2008-08-14T06:37:00.005-05:00

A few weeks back a knitter in my knitting group asked if there was any charity knitting going on in our group? The answer was no, not really, there is a group of senior women who meet and knit & crochet prayer shawls for recent widows but other than that, nothing. We got to talking about it and decided to investigate at the local hospital to see if they would like baby hats or it there was something else they might need. That was a few weeks ago...

Yesterday at a Chamber of Commerce coffee I final got over to talk to the volunteer coordinator for Cushing Hospital. I asked if they had any need or want of knitted baby hats for the newborns and she got all excited. Jeanne knows I'm a knitter and knows about our knitting group. She said they would love newborn hats, and would love if we would knit them in the hospital's colors of purple and white (we decided to go with lavender rather than KState purple) . Other colors would be great too but they really would like the lavender. Then she went on to say that at year end she would give us a tax donation receipt that values each hat at $10. She felt that with supplies and time that would be an acceptable value. I agree. And in addition she will give each 4 hours of hospital volunteer hours for each hat. I'm not sure what that means but I'll take it, and will be invited to the volunteer appreciation banquet. Pretty cool!

Cushing Hospital also gives every baby born in the month of December a stocking large enough for the baby to fit in. Joy #1 and I both were born at Cushing and we have the stockings to prove it. Jeanne said that if anyone was interest in making stockings they would be even more thrilled if that were possible. I told her I had 2 stockings I could use as guides, one retro (mine) and the other 16 years old. Which doesn't seem that old but it is, or will be. I'm totally excited about the possibility of sewing up some stockings for new December babies. I have loved my stocking for as long as I can remember and love the story behind it. Both Joy #1 & I came home in our stockings. Joy #1's first baby picture is in her stocking like she was a little present. I love the way the world turns sometimes.

Newer on the left (15.5 yo), Retro on the right (32.5 yo)

If anyone is interested in sewing or knitting for Cushing Memorial Hospital, let me know. I'd be glad to pass on info and you too could receive a tax write off for your knitting.

Post 100:And I didn't think I was chatty...

2008-08-12T20:21:00.003-05:00

Progress has been made on 28thirty sweater for Joy #1's sweet 16. It's like I'm talking in code. Anyway, the body is done and I've moved on to the sleeves. It is a testament that my children really have no interest in any knitting I do because I've been knitting on this thing in front of Joy #1 and she hasn't even asked what I'm making. No comment at all. They do the standard ohh and ahh when I finish something but other than that nada. So it's been really easy to make this for her birthday right in front of her. I had the neighbor girl try on the sweater once I was past the arm holes to make sure the fit would be right. She didn't even ask me any questions. I guess everyone in a 1 block radius of my home is desensitized to my knitting. This is why I blog and participate in the local and online knitting community. People who I can share my craft with without force. :)

A thought hit me the other day...I am strong enough to hold back this sweater for her birthday? Will I cave when the weather turns cold or she wants to go shopping for winter clothes? Right now I would totally cave so I'm going to have to make it and wrap it. And then pray for strength.

When it is done I think I'll have my niece model it so I can show you the final product before December. No reason you all should have to wait!

Easy Going Weekend

2008-08-11T10:02:00.003-05:00

The weather here was perfect this weekend. In the upper 70s with a lovely breeze, nice. Saturday was not only a lovely day because of the weather but the temperment in the house was perfect. Everyone was easy going, happy to do whatever they were doing, peaceful. What more could a mom ask for? No fighting, laughing, no can you take me here and then here and oh I need money. I knit, finished listening to the Tricksters Queen on tape, and watched some Olympics.

Around 9 pm Joy #2 and I went to Weston Bend State Park for the Owl Prowl program. It was great. They had a program about local owls and then taught us owl calls. Then we walked around the park calling them and then the owls hooted back. Really cool. We found 4 Great Horned Owls. Joy #2 really enjoyed this program.

A perfect weekend. Let's hope the peace continues...at least for one more day.

Jennifer and the Marigold Similar to Jack and the Bean Stalk

2008-08-08T19:00:00.003-05:00

Yes folks, that is a marigold plant. A huge marigold plant! Like over 5 feet tall!

Here I am with the marigold. A horrible picture! I really am not that pudgy, the camera adds pounds from this angle. Anyway back to the marigold.. I am 5"8 so this thing is huge! There are about 4 flowers on it with one or two budding.

Joy #2 is shocked at the size..

I got my seeds from the local hardware store. I was in there today and the lady said, "Save those seeds!" I never even thought of that. Some people are so smart.

So how are your gardens fairing?

Catch Up

2008-08-06T16:23:00.004-05:00

After 2 weeks with no camera, I can finally share...

Cable Bib, debating on buttons
Thrift shop find, US 6 nylon circ, 11"s. This has made baby hat making a dream.

Helical Baby hat. Matches the mittens.Baby hat to go with the crocheted booties
Helical Baby hat.
Saartjee booties revived.
Chevron Scarf using the lovely Briar Rose Grace

Beginnings of 28 Thirty, Peace fleece worsted

Hittin' The Road

2008-08-01T10:05:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow morning Joy#2 and I are hitting the road.

Our destination: Nebraska Youth Camp

Our Purpose: Family Camp

We will be a small crew this year. Just one other family, our good friends the Clarks. There are a few other activities overlapping family camp this year, hence the small turn out. We don't mind though! We will enjoy having the camp all to ourselves. Our own little retreat!

The lake all to ourselves!

I look forward to seeing Joy #1 too! It's been 3 weeks. I bet she's grown. :)

See you next week. You won't even realize I'm gone I'll be back so soon!

Note to Debbie: I'm not buying "the book" until I come back. If I start reading it at family camp I won't be able to put it down. I'm so responsible. :)

Random Wednesday

2008-07-30T16:00:00.001-05:00

Picture from NYC's website. I can tell it is their cabin. Look at the mess behind them!

I have a lone marigold that I started from seed. It is over 5 feet high and is just now starting to flower. Think Sunflower but it's a marigold. I planted it in my square foot garden to help keep away pest. I'm starting to think I have the greenest thumb in the world.

Joy #2 yesterday went on a rant about not sharing a bathroom when he is grown with any women. We have one bathroom ( well, a bath and a half) and he is always complaining about hair in the tub or in the sink. I laughed and told him his wife would be very happy not to have to share a bathroom and that not wanting to share a bathroom will make him a more desirable bachelor.

I ordered the yarn for Joy #1's Sweet 16 sweater.Yeay money! I chose the pattern 28thirty. Don't worry she doesn't read the blog. She thinks it is weird that I blog. Peace Fleece in a dark green, Hemlock Poashja colorway. I am looking forward to casting on for this sweater! Once again, she is so lean that it is like knitting baby clothes. Well, maybe except the sleeves. If all goes well with this sweater I may make another one for my niece who will turn 18 in Oct. Wow, I can't believe she'll be 18 that is crazy!

Christmas in July

2008-07-29T11:54:00.006-05:00

Be careful how you comment on Happy Handwork or Barb just might send you something! A few posts ago on Barb's blog she was talking about making something out of watermelon and asked if we could guess? I of course in all my smugness guessed watermelon salsa and was correct. Jokingly, I told Barb that I deserved a prize for my spot-on guess. Now, Barb has such a big heart and I gather, loves doing nice things for people took my joke seriously and sent me a package. Not a small token of friendship and fun, but a fabulous package that had me dazzled and jumping for joy. My friends, she sent me a skein of Briar Rose Fibers, Grace!!!

It is beautiful yarn! 450 yds of 60% superwash wool, 30% bamboo, 10% nylon, hand dyed with gorgeous blues and greens. Ack, and no camera for me to show the beauty! I hunted online and this is the closest I found. Lovely isn't it?

Barb also sent me WhipStirs Raspberry Lemonade that Joy #2 and I tried out last night. Very yummy.
Barb, you made my July. Thanks for your generosity. I hope to pass on the spirit of going overboard forward! Now off to Ravelry to find a project for that perfect skein of yarn.

Small Steps

2008-07-28T09:45:00.002-05:00

I wasn't up for working on any projects that I had to invest more than 30 minutes toward this weekend. VBS was the biggest thing I worked on this weekend. It lasted 5 hours. Joy #2 and I were tour guides for the 2-5 year olds, Asteroids, as we Blasted through the Bible's past. We enjoyed our group of kiddos but was totally exhausted when we were done. 9 toddlers will do that even when they are well behaved!

Small bits of accomplishments

Knit a white baby hat to match booties
Finished the final thumb on helical mittens
Knit a striped baby hat using the helical method (again)
Reknit a Saartje bootie. My dog at one of the first pair so I needed to replace it. I think the buttons drew her in.
Weeded flower bed #2 and remulched
Weeded flower bed #1
Hand washed 3 wool sweaters and 3 pairs of wool socks
Started planning further knitting projects

I am dying to order more yarn. August 1st cannot get here soon enough. I've had to be very careful with the budget in July so we could do all we wanted to and still pay the bills (hence small baby knitting with existing yarn). I am eyeing a fair isle vest project for myself and a sweater for Joy #1. She will turn 16 in December and I'm going back and forth on what I want to do for her.

Well, I think this will be how I roll this week. Tackle anything I need to do a little bit at a time.

Sidebar,as if this post was anything other than random. Camera battery is dead and the charger is with Joy #1 in Nebraska. I'm going to check with the neighbor girl to see if her charger will work on our camera.

Mind Boggling Booties

2008-07-25T06:30:00.000-05:00

Granny's Love booties

I crocheted this pattern 3 times before I "got it". I was hoping to make more but I think I just want to put it away and go back to my knitting needles. I "get" them.

Welcomed Noise

2008-07-24T09:16:00.002-05:00

As you can see the noise is back. Thank goodness! Joy #2 is so entertaining in general, can you tell? He was getting our dinner started. I think it is so funny that he starts it out "Hey YouTube". I had to let the wind out of his sails when I told him I was only putting this on my blog. We did a second cut that was better visually but he was a lot louder in this one.

Thanks for the feedback on the crochet booties! I did manage to complete 2 more last night. I think these are going to make the cut. I still have to sew up the bottoms and weave in the ends. I kinda did my own thing with the cuff though. They were too big crocheting by the pattern, imho, so I chained a few less. Not that I counted on #3 for #4 but they look close enough. I'm no Yarn Harlot, I go with the flow! I'll post the FO soon.

Baby Bib

2008-07-23T14:10:00.004-05:00

I knit this baby bib last night while listening to a book on tape (Tricksters choice). I did clean the downstairs and then started to work on this bib. Joy #2 is home now so no more worries about needing noise. Thank goodness.

Up next in my knitting queue is a crochet baby bootie. I have tried to crochet this twice. The second time went better once I figured out that the granny square instep is supposed to be the top of the foot not the heel, or bottom. It looked more like a bootie but not good enough to gift. I am hoping 3rd times the charm. I refuse to be defeated by a simple baby bootie pattern. I'm starting to think that I could have knitted a baby sweater in the time it is going to take me to figure out this pattern. Debbie...you should crochet this so I can ask you what I'm doing wrong.

We are going out to the farm to do our CSA pick up soon. I can't wait. Fresh produce is awesome. I'm also looking forward to putting those cute booties in Kristin's CSA box!

OK, I officially miss them...

2008-07-22T12:04:00.003-05:00

Both of my kids are gone AGAIN. Joy #2 went to Herman, MO with his grandparents last week, was home for 3 days and managed to get invited to his granddad's house in Gladstone,MO. He left yesterday morning and will be gone probably until tomorrow afternoon.

Last night I realized that I am tired of being home alone. I have stuff to keep me busy but I miss the noise. Gracie and I just aren't noisy people. (Ha, I hear you laughing out there. You know what I mean.)

I did manage to finish a pair of booties. I have 4 babies to knit for so I thought I would get cracking. I knit Christine's Baby Booties out of my left over Lorna Laces Huron colorway. I want to try crocheting some booties but I haven't found the right pattern yet. I did buy a cute bib pattern yesterday.

Well, one more night by myself. Maybe I'll go get a book on tape so it won't be quiet and do some housework. That's what normal moms do when the family is away, right? Housework.

Answers..

2008-07-21T16:46:00.001-05:00

It was tempra paint. Go figure, I'd have never thought it.

A full day

2008-07-19T18:09:00.002-05:00

Early morning trip to the farmer's market. Everything was plentiful and good.
3 loads of laundry and blackberry pancakes.
Knit 1 bootie
Swimming at Gran & Papa's pool
Bug discovery hike @ Weston Bend state park
Reading underneath the shade
Nap
Live Outdoor music by the Missouri River with the hope to finish bootie #2

I hope your day has been as lovely as mine.

Huh?

2008-07-16T09:12:00.003-05:00

I'm sure there is a story behind this picture*. I'll have to wait until August 2nd to hear it though. I hope she won't have forgotten the details.

*Picture on Nebraska Youth Camps website. Joy #1 will be there without me for 2.5 more weeks.

Built by Jennifer-Skirt Edition

2008-07-13T15:55:00.003-05:00

I finally got around to making the skirt out of Wendy Mullin's Sew U. I picked this fabric up while thrifting and thought it would make a great summer skirt. I think I was right! I am very pleased with the pattern and Wendy's great directions. I put in my first zipper on this skirt, something I have been avoiding for awhile now. I love the fit and the fact that it matches my new sunhat! The other thing I love about the pattern is that there are endless variations. Drawstring, zippers, elastic, pockets, short, long... I'm off to plan...

EDIT 6 PM: Skirt #2 finished. Fabric and bias tape both thrifted. I started to make this one a draw string but if I want to get it over my bum nicely, this style needed a zipper. I picture this skirt as a casual skirt to wear to the beach. If there were beaches in KS of course. It falls just below the knee. Another wearable skirt!