Of Spring and Madness

Upon waking this morning, my lovely kidley, runs into the room, yelling "It's snowing Mommy, it's snowing!!" Not quite awake and there not even being rain in the forcast from my vague recollection, and half of mind maybe the satellite box wasn't turned on for his morning toons, I pull back the curtain, and danged if he wasn't right!! Spring being 21 minutes away when the pics where shot.

This was the gooood snow we had been waiting for all winter. Heavy, wet, perfect for packing. Unfortunately I don't think it will still be around when we get home :o(

Of Sock Madness....

It is that time of year again, when the squeaks of sneakers fill the courts, basketballs flying and March Madness overtakes the airwaves (No Survivor last night to watch, dang it!!) And for others, 199 to be exact the Divisions have been set (For Whom the Ball Rolls, Great Knitspectations, Purl and Prejudice and the House of Seven Cables) we're a literate bunch aren't we!!
Round 1 has begun with Mer-tini by Ronni Smith aka raspberry of Rav.


My progress as of 9ish this morning. Learning new things. A new cast on(Twisted German), an afterthought heel with flap(coming soon to a sock near you) and an e wrap cast on. Not progressing as fast as I want, taking breaks more frequantly and icing down the thumb and wrist. Icy hot is my friend, thankfully Andy likes the smell, lol.

News of other Importance...

Joseph turned 4

James turned 18(sorry no new pics of him :o(

Baby passed of lung cancer Feb 9. It was sudden, she suddenly was sick and we went to the vet and we didn't have any options, it was to far advanced, she passed peacefully.

We are heading out on vacation, sometime tomorrow. Driving to Tennessee, to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains, coming home via North Carolina and the BlueRidge Parkway. Will hopefully post a bit of the trip.

Take care ttyl !!

Recovery

Well it has been done. My hand surgery was yesterday afternoon. Ligament and tendon repair of the right thumb. See pics below.











Needless to say I am done knitting or crocheting for a while, as a functional leftie I am not, LOL.





Other updates, way behind in updating. Had awonderful Thanksgiving up at my Mom's in No-Cal. ended up with a total of 9 for dinner, with the family and guest(Danny wonderful new friend visitng from England). We all had a great week visiting. Sunset shot from Mom's backyard.


ok i am done, one hand and vicodin, is about done me in....will try to update more later. Have some wonderful family pics from Thanksgiving, souviner yarn....

Happy Holidays

Love jen

Travel and updates

Been over a month since the last update and
I have had a bit going on :P.

Lets see.....

Day tripped to Rhinebeck on
October 18 with some lovely ladies from my knitting group, Twisted Stichters, Holly, Karen and Carol, meet up with Ann later that morning. I had a wonderful time!!! Meet Diane from Creatively Dyed Yarns, had a scrumptious chicken pot pie and delicious mini apple crumb pie.

So much to see and do there!! Hit Autumn House Farms as one of my first must see and shop booths, and spent most of my budget there as intended for this:

First is Sagamore in Crabshack (shades of an olivey green blended with white). This is a cotton, rayon, linen DK weight.

Next is Summer Ice, rayon/silk blend, in Spruce:

and last Sea Island Tweed, a cotton/silk blend in Barnaget Bay:

I went by The Fold to check out the BMFA offerings as they would not be at Stitches East this year. Found three skeins of Rare Gems that needed a new home and just as
I reached the register saw a mill end in a lovely light blue/white color that wanted to come home with me as well.

Picked up some Icelandic Roving in a natual gray color and a new SPindle by Jesh:

I had a wonderful day, the weather was just chilly enough to be happy in the crocheted sweater I had. Some back ground on this sweater. This was my first "real" wool project. The wool came from Ireland, picked up by my Mother in law on her trip to said place several years ago(thinking around 1996-7) I didn't know how to knit then, I was a basic crocheter and found a pattern I liked and hooked away, pieced it together and was very unhappy. It was stiff, itchy, did not fit well at all. So into the closet it went. It cs since out a few time since, again not really thrilled so back into storage it went. As the years passed, I learned to knit and expanded my horizons beyond acrylic into more natural fibers, but still the sweater was, meh.

Then, epiphany, the Friday before I was to leave for Rhinebeck, I thought, what would happen if I took that sweater washed it and blocked it!!! Well duh!

Then we had Halloween.

Joey went as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

The Haul:

Updates and stuff

Updates and the like...

Secret Pal 12 went really well. Received my final box from Lindsey of Tennessee:

Another box of wonderful goodies, with wooden stitch markers and a great pair of yarn ball earrings with lots of great smellies and candies! thank you so much Lindsey!!

Joey and I went to the Alma Park for National Alpaca Farm Day

Had a great time, Meeting Rose and her family and learning a bit about spinning from LauraKathleen.

Handspun alpaca in a lovely color from alpaca at Alma Park, going into a cowl for moi!

Died in Hat Attack II. Took a while almost 4 weeks and 2 assasins. Died in pink and blue with some tasty chocolate and a hank of yarn to soften the death blow.

Finished a Clapotis, wonderfully easily and turned out great. pics up on my Rav projects page. Started a second using some Brooks farm Willow i picked up at Maryland Sheep and Wool this spring and it is coming along nicely. Stitch marker handmade courtsey of Lindsey!!

In a bit of a sock rut lately. Havent been in the mood and made a major booboo and the Raven pair I am working on currently. I think those will rest until I get some of the mojo back for socks.

Putting some time in on my Wolmeise shawl about 75% finished and coming along great as well, just time consuming the purl row back.

Getting ready for some trips. Day trip to Rhinebeck on Saturday with my knit group, mostly window shopping, checking out the spinning wheels(Christmas hint hint check with A for more details hint hint) in reverse order of preference:

The Hitchhiker

The Schact Ladybug

and a Kromski Minstrel

Next trip will be an overnighter for Stitches in MD. Taking one sock design class on Saturday and check out some favorite vendors, before heading home.

Big trip for Thanksgiving 7 days in NoCal with the Mom and family (sis, kids, Glen, etc).

Somebody Loves Me!!!

We are on vacation this week. Went to the beach on Monday.
Mom(me) and Joe

Dad and joe

Cutie!!



Tuesday my Dear Sweet Loving Husband was feeling crafty!! And this come out of the workshop!!



I has me a swift!!!! First wind was with StormMoonKnits Twilight Sock in 30 Days if Night.

Then play time with the Geo Trax.
The Dragon of Traxville!!!



In other news, knitting a little slow the past few days, thumb is bothering me agian. Hate to whine and complain, saw the orthopedist, had another steriod injection into the base of the thumb, uh ouch! MRI shows arthritis and partial tears of two of the tendons. If the steroid injection doesn't help, next will be surgery. oh yeah.

Ah well life goes on, hopefully be in form for Hat Attack in 2 weeks.

Ravalympics, Secret Pal question and swapiness!!!

In no particular order....

For this years Summer olympics, I joined the Ravalympics and decided to Tri-athalon. My chosen events were the Sock Put, the Hat Dash and the Cowl Jump.

I have to date medaled in the:

Cowl Jump with Ilean, using Celestial Worsted in Concerning the Hobbits by StormMoonKnits

<-----My medal !!

The Hat Dash The Amanda Hat in Berreco Peruvia

<----------My other Medal!!!

Onto wonderful swappiness!!!

Thursday arrived home with a package from my super wonderful Secret Pal!!

Theme BLUE

Overall picture click to flickr for notes. But A wonderful knitting journal, A lamenated pocket knitting guide, A to do list note pad(on the fridge!) a beautiful skein of Regia in shades of blue, some Soak, Absoulutely positively gorgeous cobalt flower stitch markers and earrings(close up below), the cutest knitter socks!!(close up below), garment labels, a notion bag, new tape measure(needed that!) DPN holders(just got some more orginazition is good!) a little note book for my notions bag. All lovely stuff!! Thank You Secret Pal I love it all!!!111!!

Secret Pal Question #10: What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?

I have been thinking about this one. Not really sure what event. My knitting style, slow and steady most of the time with an occasional project at a sprint. don't know what event that would be, any one knows please let me know, lol.

And another Secret pal update, have a package or two on there way to my pal this week. Hope she likes...

Secret Pal question catch up and Life Catch Up

Been a little behind in my posting, haven't been feeling very chatty the last two weeks. but thanks to my Secret Pal :0)(Thank you) I am catching a up a bit tonight!

Week #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening? Anything grilled. Usually a nice steak, occasionally chicken or pork chops. Up until this summer was using this wonderful bbq sauce left over from my family re-union in Arkansas. Great little bbq place just down the hill from the B&B we stay in may be in Winslow, not sure though. Pit BBQ. Sauce is truely the best I have ever had, mild with a nice bite of flavors, finally used up the last of the quart in June, sigh.

Week #9
In many communities, "the fair" is a great place to visit and spend
time with your family. It's also where many have entered one product
or another (jams, cakes, even knitting)...

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair?
Would you ever consider it? Nope never entered and never really considered, I guess I don't consider myself "good" enough yet.

I do enjoy going to the fairs, state and county , local events, and looking at the art exhibits and seeing the entries.

A little more update. I am entered into the Ravelympics for the Summer games. I am competing in the Hat Dash, The Amanda Hat. The Sock Put with Fruit Loops and The Cowl Jump with Ilean. All projects are posted on my projects page and I will post to the blog when completed.
Summer of socks goes on, Completed 3 pairs so far for that and a total of 7 pairs for 52 pair plunge and have 2 pairs currently on the needles, the fruit loops in appletini(Yarntini) and Reina(WoolGirl pattern yarn by Mama Llama).
Been lagging behind on the knitting a bit, getting the pain back in my right thumb and wrist. will be calling the orthopedist tomorrow for an appointment and see what he has to say this time. Hopefully can get by with just another steroid shot, fingers arthritically crossed, lol., IsMas knitting is falling behind.
2 more weeks and I have the week off with Joey. Hoping for a beach trip, he had been asking all summer to go and this will be the week if the weather cooperates!

Will be sending out my 2nd and final Secret Pal 12 package tomorrow as well. I enjoyed finding what I hope will be the right specials for her. Hope I didn't go overboard on the sweets though, I did put a couple of things back in the end, lol.

Hmmm. OH!! Official note, effective 2 weeks ago Joey is officially Potty Trained!!! No more diapers/pull ups!!! Still working on not flushing all 50 KanDoo wipes at the same visit though *frown*, LOL!

yarn diet is holding fairly well, 2 skeins gifted to me(swap and Mom) Mom sent me some Sock Ease from Oklahoma, now back burnered to decide which pattern to knit. and I did buy 1 skein of KP Essential in Jester to make Joey some socks, I havent decided whether to rip back the toes on the first couple of pair from this year that he has already outgrown. Kid is wearing a 10.5 kid shoe already, eek. that is 2 shoe sizes since spring. Clothes are holding, buying large 4-5T just to make sure we make through to winter at least. Pant shopping in a couple of weeks when the back to school sales start.