Way overdue THANK YOU to my Knitty SP8

Yarnnut - she's my very own special pal from the knittyhead coffeeshop....and it is her job to spoil me. Dang she is doing a GREAT job. Look what was in my second package.

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Yup that is 2 skeins of Zepher laceweight [I have already cast on for a lace shawl -- put on hold for a bit, cause right now I need mindless knitting -- but I hope to get back to it this weekend] And see that white bear. It is just the cutest tape measure and she didn't even know that I am t.bear in a former life [nickname from college days - and that t didn't stand for teddy either]. Very nice stitch markers, which I used right away on the cast-on shawl. Now I just need the RIGHT home for the "Knitting is Knotty" bumper sticker.

So once more Yarnnut -THANKS. you are the bestest

Yarn Picnic at the Homestead

Tis "Flash your Stash" time and I realize that I actually have a small stash. I thought, since it was such a beautiful day, that nice outdoor shots would be best. In addition to my knitting I have my antique tractors. What better place to show off the yarn than on my favorite Cub Tractor. -------
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Hope you enjoyed my little day at the homestead

edited to add - No yarn was harmed during the picnic. I have well behaved tractors

My first yarn - from a drop spindle

My first drop spindle yarn
From my wonderful Secret Pal 8 Yarnnut I received a VERY nice drop spindle and some white roving to learn on [see previous post]. Well it has taken me a while, but I did finish the yarn spining and even plyed it - here it is still on the spindle and a little bit closer""

Since it is not very even I just knit it up in a swatch. It was very nice to knit, soft soft yarn.



I sure had fun working on it, and hope to get brave enough soon to spin the hand dyed roving Yarnnut sent me.

SP8 Yippeee

Look what I got [I actually received this last week, but due to my hectic schedule this is the first opportunity I have had to blog it]

Check out the cool stuff from Yarnnut [my Knitty SP8 special pal]. A beautiful drop spindle, notebook to record my spinning experiences, a wonderfully delicious chocolate bar, really cool erasers that look like little chocolates and....... roving. Roving for me to learn how to use the beautiful spindle [I am a complete novice on spinning.

Notice the blue/purple roving YES, gorgeous isn't it....she dyed it just for me. I am going to do my learning/practice with the white. I sure want to know, at least a little, what I am doing before I try my special roving.

I played a bit with the white the night I received this. Obviously I need a LOT of practice. I am also going to look to see if there are any classes I can take. I think this maybe something that can't really be learned just from reading and the Internet. I will play more [that is if I EVER get a free moment]. I can't wait to get comfortable with the spindle, cause I really want to spin up my special roving. I just know it will be the most beautiful yarn.

YARNNUT you are the bestest!!!!!!!

Well it is about TIME

Months, I mean months have passed since I last blogged anything. My most common used excuse....I want to put pictures with whatever I am going to post ...and I haven't taken the pictures or I don't have them accessable on this computer. Pretty lame excuse huh.

Well I do have one picture that I really like. Believe it or not we actually had quite a freeze here in So. Ca. Over the New Year's holiday we took a quick drive thru the mountains and I got this shot. Ice crystals on a simple roadside weed. Cool huh. Well we were sure impressed. The light was just right as we drove, sun shining on everything making it look like a crazed elf had covered the mountain in glitter and tinsel. I never really understood tinsel on christmas trees [loved the look, but didn't see where the idea came from], now I do. It was absolutely beautiful, we took more pictures...but you know...I don't have them on this computer.

I swear I'm going to get my picture taking done and uploaded [I really need to do it cause I want to show you what I got from my SP8 Yarnnut!!!!]

Meet our Wild Cats

Stripes

O.K. this picture has been hanging up here unexplained for months now, I suppose at least something should be said [I am editing this now at the end of Jan 2007].

Stripes is one of two remaining feral cats we have from a loooonnng line of cats. 12 years ago when we move out here to the country we got 4 kittens [unrelated to each other]. Since then we have had their descendants but each litter has gotten more and more aloof. Stripes and his [sister?] Fuzzy are the last. We live at the base of a mountain and kitties are born on the mountain. We usually don't even know about them until they are long past opening their eyes....and believe me they are LONG past putting up with any human.

I have been able [on very rare occasions] to pet Stripes, but I don't believe Fuzzy has ever been touched by human hands. They do come down to eat of course and I am sure they help with the rodent control. They appear healthy - quite wild but healthy. I do care for my wild cats and wish them the longest life.

O.K. I took one of those "What are you?" tests

I'm a Mercedes SLK!

You appreciate the finer things in life. You have a split personality - wild or conservative, depending on your mood. Wherever you go, you like to travel first class. Luxury, style, and fun - who could ask for more?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Not sure if this really fits me....but it is a cool looking car yes. I would expect my answeres to come up with something more like a VW.

Well they are probably correct on the split personality part, I always claim that I could write my autobio several times and you wouldn't know it was the same person. The bio would all depend on what years of my life I selected.

Lucy's first outdoor outing

Meet Lucy - our newest kitty. She is about the tinyest kitten, sometimes we wonder if she will ever get any bigger [actually we have had her about 3 wks and she is finally starting to put some size on]. She finally got to go outside, we have an area that is dog free so I didn't have to worry about her hiding somewhere I wouldn't be able to reach her. She had quite a time and got to meet our other two [feral] cats. As soon as I have time and blogger cooperates I'll post more pictures....I have lots of cool pictures of all my kittys [Rocky, Lucy and our two feral cats - Stripes and Fuzzy].

Rocky kept a good eye on her, in fact he was pretty protective of her around Stripes. I think she is saying to Stripes "My you're a BIG cat!"

Rocky came over to reasure her and let Stripes know not to mess with the little one. I could almost hear the conversation.

I also got lucky and managed to get a couple of good pictures of Stripes and Fuzzy [for Fuzzy this is VERY rare since she has never allowed anyone to even touch her]. Unfortunately blogger is not uploading the pictures. Try again tomorrow

Why I LOVE the Company I work for

Look what they [actually I know it was Pat that put this together, THANKS Pat] gave me for my birthday!!!!!
One Skein Tote Bag [which I have been enjoying - great to quickly stash project and take anywhere];Yarn; pattern booklet; stitch markers; needle caps; a whole packet of neccesary notions; BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS; cake [oh yeah that's gone!] and sparkling cider.

Dang I think I'll stay around this place. Actually I love my job and the people I work with. It is a small family run company [8 employees] and we are all treated with respect; ya' just couldn't ask for more. I get to set my own schedule and I am left to do my work as I know how. I am the Office Administrator so all the paperwork goes thru me [contracts, billing, payroll etc]. I have my busy times and my down times but the variety keeps it fun. My boss trusts me enough to let me handle my responsibility [I have worked for companies that micromanage their employees...can't. stand. it.!] Besides all that they gave me such cool birthday gifts!!!

More WONDERFUL Gifts from my SP7

Lucky, lucky me!! Look at the pretties I got from my Secret Pal....who I now know is Tocspaw from the Knitty Coffeshop. No she didn't send me the kitty..believe it or not that is Rocky. You remember Rocky, he is the little kitty we got back in May. Well he is growing up to be quite a healthy boy. He enjoyed the gifts also and wanted to sniff up the yarn.



She sent me this cool looking knit kit that makes a felted Iris;

a set of beautiful stitch markers [did you make these??? Tocspaw???] and and and look at this fantastic yarn [it is an almost perfect match to the yarn I used on my Sunrise Circle jacket].



All I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Kiwanis Convention Time

Not much knitting time lately [I did finally finish an IK sweater-have to take photo] cause there have been a lot of things going on with Kiwanis. Both my husband and I are quite active in Kiwanis [what is Kiwanis you ask...let's see if I can post a link Kiwanis International ...seems to work]. At any rate this past weekend was the Ca-Nev-Ha [that's California-Nevada-Hawaii District of Kiwanis clubs] held it's annual convention. This year it was in San Diego, close enough for us to attend. This is the first time I have been able to attend the full-on convention. I love meeting other Kiwanians, hearing their ideas, the ways and things their clubs do to "Serve the Children of the World". There is so much need, but I also know that there are so many ways to help - both big and small ideas. Many of the San Diego clubs support Children's Hospital, clubs up in the Sacramento area actually have a house where parents and family can stay when a child is sick in the hospital up there. More groups are trying to make a better life for the thousands of orphans in Romania, and the list goes on and on [makes me so happy to be part of such an important organization].
We attended seminars, socialized and generally had a great time.

It was also the time to elect the person to lead our district for the year 2007-2008 [2006-2007 was already elected]. This person is called the Governor. This year for the first time [I think] there were 3 persons running for the office. Usually who ever is going to be the Governor is basically pre-selected by the established leaders, not this year! This year a man from our own Division [Division 31] also ran. Oscar Knight - he was an incredible driving force to help re-build Crest & Harbison Canyon after the devastation from the Cedar Fires of 2003 . The established guard thought he had no chance to win, but they did not count on the rank and file and our ability to SEE the true leadership that Oscar will bring ...as you can probably guess I am a HUGE supporter of Oscar Knight. It was nerve racking as the election went on and they had to have two voting sessions to receive a majority vote but OSCAR KNIGHT did win and he will lead Ca-Nev-Ha in 2007-2008.

This may be a boring post to many, but I do encourage you to look at what you can do for your community...and maybe even consider joining a Kiwanis club in your neighborhood.

I'm Bored ---- or the teenager's lament

No I'm not bored [don't I wish I had time to be bored] but

Yep, we have a teenage grandson visiting with us [one is still here] and yesterday I heard it....yep I knew it would be coming...that teenage lament "I'm Bored". I will grant you that where we live it is quiet, rural and there is basically nothing to do. But I had to laugh cause I know even if we were in the middle of all the hustle & bustle of a big city it was only a matter of time before I heard "I'm Bored". I resisted my usual response which is "What I wouldn't do to be bored; you really ought to enjoy it while you get the chance". I know now that myself and every other adult I know would love the luxury of being bored..of having NOTHING to do. Ahh just sit back for a minute and dream upon the thought of nothing to do...I mean NOTHING, not that little nagging voice that says you need to..clean something, file something, work on something..you know whatever, just imagine NOTHING. For me, at least, that little voice never shuts down. I digress..back to the bored grandson

I am trying to remember it is his vacation and we have tried to give him things to do and even a few people his age to met. But inside myself I have to chuckle cause I knew it was just a matter of time before I heard the old "I'm Bored". Ah well it is just about the weekend..so we shall see what we get up to in the next couple of days.

Gifties from my Secret Pal!!!!

Wow look at all this COOL stuff I received from my Secret Pal. What/who is a Secret Pal? you ask [jealous aren't you]....I belong to "Knitty Coffeeshop" which is about the neatest bunch of folks on-line..anyway periodically they have what are "Secret Pal Swaps" and this time I got to play. So these are the gifts sent to ME by my secret pal. Now I don't know who she is but I think she lives in Arizona

There is a little notebook with a band to keep it closed which will go right into my sock knitting bag [love the band for closure, cause I am always wrinkling up note pages otherwise]; some wonderful Burt Bees Lip Gloss which has already found it's way into my purse and onto my lips mmmmmm; some gumdrop pops bound for the local Bible School kids [yeah let's get them hopped up on sugar; a pencil case with more zippers than I have ever seen - will be great for holding little notions; then also the coolest pattern book "Last Minute Gifts" - I've already mentally picked out several patterns that just need to be knitted.

AND..AND..AND can you say PURPLE..yummy, yummy purple yarn
Gonn'a have to think on what is just the right pattern for this loveliness. Gee I might have to just look at it and pet it for awhile. My mind loves to knit up several possible finished projects [so much quicker than actually knitting them]. Ah but this yarn deserves the right pattern!

SO THANK YOU TO MY SPECIAL PAL [cause I know you check my pathetic blog from time to time] and I still have NO CLUE as to who you are. I am terrible at figuring out coded names; I never can figure out what someone has on their car licenceplate -- so if your name is anything like that [and I think it must be] I will remain clueless. Anyone out there that can interpret Doaner82to7 ??????

How much food can one Teenager EAT!!!

Oh. My. God. I was warned, I thought I was prepared, I thought it wouldn't be too bad....but oh my, oh my.

O.K. what is my problem...well we have not one but TWO teenage grandsons visiting us right now [one for 4-5 days and one for about 3 weeks]. We picked them up on Thursday and since then have spent over $200 on groceries [mind you my husband & I probably only spend about $250-300 per month for ourselves] and I have to go shopping again tonight. To top it off they eat an entirely different diet than we do, so we are having to buying stuff that isn't in the pantry. We are low-carb eaters but I don't think that is good for growing teenagers, especially ones that could eat me out of house and home. Bad for the budget, bad for the diet [cause I fix dinner and we end up all eating together] but GOOD FOR BONDING WITH THE BOYS. I guess I need to remind myself that this is the most important part - GETTING TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM. In a while they will be gone [visit over] and then they will be grown-up and off on their own. This little shock time will be over and I am sure I will look back and laugh at myself.....but Oh.My.God can they EAT


p.s. I still need to take pictures of them [cousins that don't see each other except every few years] so I can post them. Try to get pictures tonight. [after I get home from the grocery store!]

Before & After

I mentioned in an earlier post that we had been doing alot of work on the house. Well my husband sent me these two pictures.

Before






After

The painting continues and we have since changed the trim from the dark brown to a very light yellow. But the biggest change is covering up the front of the mobile home...and we did such a good job that several of our friends have come over, notice that we have changed something but can't figure out what it is. This addition of the wall is something we have wanted to do for a LONG TIME.

[Wow ... two post in one day---my gosh what is wrong with me?????]

Ummmmm Where did JULY go???

O.K. I lost a month. Where did July go?? No really I mean it where did it go? I can't believe I lost a whole month. I did go on vacation but that was only one week. Oh I suppose you want pictures from the vacation alright I'll upload some pictures [if blogger will let me] .


These are from Crater Lake, Oregon. Isn't the water beautiful.




This is my husband posing as a tourist and this is me.




We drove from San Diego to Vancouver Wa, took a week off and had a great time taking the back roads and stopping at out of the way little towns. We are always playing the "could we live here game" so we enjoy crusing off the beaten path.

Purpose of the Vacation was to attend the Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assoc. National Meeting in Ridgefield Wa [just north of Vancouver]. Had a great time there, saw lots of different antique engines and tractor, saw lots of people we only see at these events and in general had a great time. I have more pictures on my other camera, I will try to get them uploaded at another time [camera is not with me]. I guess if you know me, you know there is no reason to hold your breath on me posting something again in the near future.

Really I have plenty to say, just never enough time to say it....yeah what ever. Well I don't want to use all my stuff up in this post. So bye till next time [when ever that might be]

View from my New front porch

We have spent the last few months building a wonderful front porch [actually my hublet did the building, I earned the money]. We still need to add railings, although I am really enjoying it without the rails. So are our dogs .... Buddy here is surveying the domain.

I was trying to get the overall view [mountains way in the background] but it was just too sunny. Yes those are old tractors you see under the oaks, just another one of our hobbies.

Next on our never-ending list of projects is to landscape this front. We want to make a walk/path way up from the drive to the front door and possible even plant some roses. We do need to be aware of water usage as we are on a well and in So. Ca....not known for excess water. Oh yeah and we can't ever forget it is SummerTime now and the temp has been know to get to 110-115f. This means we gota be sure the watering system is set up before we buy the plants. Oh and also we need to be sure we don't melt when we are trying to do this said planting.....hum....looks like we ought to wait till the fall. But I want flowers and roses now sulks off into corner.

Helloooooo......anyone belive I am still here

Bad blogger doesn't even begin to excuse me. I have big plans when I start my day [the only time I can internet is at the office --- dial-up a home and real slow]. I should be able to take time during my breaks and lunch but time always seem to get away from me.

We did finally name the kitty -- Meet Rocky

When we first brought him home we were VERY careful with him around our two BIG dogs [we call them two stupid dogs....cause they are, but we love them]. We watched them and made sure they played nice with Rocky. He has no fear!!! Anyway it has been several weeks now and they dogs are quite use to him, in fact they find him quite the pest. We will catch them growling under their breath at Rocky. It is quite funny seeing such a little bitty kitty ruling our two stupid dogs.
Meet Buddy [the blonde lab] & Bentley [the Black Lab]. They are wanting to play with Rocky, but I made them sit for their picture.

Lately Rocky has been exploring the great outdoors and meeting our two feral cats. They like to call him over to play, it is quite fun to watch. I am sure he will rule them also before long.

Well once again I have run out of time.....so until next time [when ever that might be]...

Been a bad blogger

Well for anyone who reads my pathetic blog...sorry. I still haven't gotten use to making entries in this. I guess I figure my life is pretty boring. I have been on overload mode the last few weeks. I haven't even knit anything since I finished the Sunrise Jacket [and of course it is too hot around here to wear it]. I did pick-up some sock yarn the other weekend and some size 00 needles. Tried to cast on and knit....but we have a new kitten....and he thought the knitting and needles were just irresistible.

Yes we have a new kitty, no name yet. We are waiting for him to tell us what his name should be. I did get a few pictures of him the other night and I will try to upload them next chance I get [don't hold your breath]. Right now he is an indoor kitten cause we are trying to adapt him to our two big [horses] of dogs. They have a tendency to chase cats, however kitty will not run. In fact he walks up to them and bats them on the nose. They are SO puzzled by this, I really need to get a video of it.

Once again it is time for me to run off, HAIRCUT day. Can't miss that or be late. See ya

Finished Sunrise Circle Jacket

It's DONE; and I'm loving it!!!

Very nice fit, I love the length that my worked out to...it is a bit longer than the pattern shows but for me that works out great [I prefer my stuff long or else I am always pulling things down, I hate an exposed back]



I ended up using buttons instead of toggles. I received several sets of WONDERFUL vintage buttons from my bestest friend Nancy. She found them at a yard sale. One of the set was 4 [perfect #] wooden button in the shape of leaves. As my jacket color is Deep Forest they are PERFECT!!