No Posts For Awhile

My home computer crashed....lost pretty much everything. I lost all the many, many blogs I had in my favorites, all my saved patterns as well as links to blogs with patterns....just lost it all.

Why didn't we have a back up you wonder???? We DO...or DID. For some reason, Windows will NOT allow us to use the back up....everything is completely and totally messed up!!! AND....that neat little feature that XP Professional has that when you have a problem allows you to "simply" choose a previous date when all worked and back up to that date and start over???? Didn't work!

Until the hubby has time to get the hard drive wiped out and all the software loaded I won't be posting. Boo HOO!!!!!! Which with the holidays it may be awhile.

I am SICK about losing all the hundreds of wonderful blog links!!!

Hmmm.....I wonder how much of my stash I would have to sell in order to buy a MAC?
Did I mention how much I LOATHE WINDOWS operating system???? XP Professional version to be specific???

If you don't hear from me for awhile, please drop me an EM....because my database was lost too and I have to start over from scratch on that too!!!! Radhouse@mindspring.com


Me :)

Malabrigo.......

Evil Temptress Suzanne was bragging about the Malabrigo sock yarn and of course being the good follower that I am had to give it a try myself!

O.M.G. This has GOT to be THE softest sock yarn I have EVER touched!!!! I knit my sister a pair of Alpaca socks last year and I do believe this is softer!!!

I can't WAIT to get started on a pair of socks!!

BUT.........imagine my surprise when I received a LARGE box in the mail from The Loopy Ewe!!! Turns out......I'm now a LOOPY GROUPIE!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

Inside was the Loopy Ewe tote bag,

BEAUTIFUL sock pattern, chocolate kisses, AND....Araucania sock yarn!!!

The picture doesn't do the sock yarn justice....it is deep brown/turquoise.

My sister LOVES this Vera Bradley color/pattern and this sock yarn looks as if it were dyed to match.....so...I'm thinking a pair of socks for my sis are in order!!

On My Needles: Socks X several, Fuzzy Feet

Off My Needles: One pair of Fuzzy Feet, hat for my nephew, baby gift.

ABOUT to be on my needles: Fuzzy Feet (third and final pair for now), cap and scarf set for nephew, 3 Ladies scarves for Christmas gifts, socks for my sister, and hopefully that is IT for Christmas knitting!!!

The Woolee Winder Verdict is IN!!!

The Charge: (copied from website)

Product Guarantee: As the owner of Designs by Robert Lee & Son, I, Nathan Lee, personally build each WooLee Winder by hand. Through this individual attention every effort is made to see that each WooLee Winder is of the highest quality in both craftsmanship and performance.

I am confident you will find that your WooLee Winder will change the way you spin forever, exposing you to a whole new world where spinning is smooth and bobbins fill effortlessly.

If you don't agree that your WooLee Winder is one of the best spinning equipment purchases you ever made, simply contact me for information on how to return it for a full refund of your purchase price.

The Verdict:

Ahem.....we, the members of the Jury, (oh, O.K., just me).....find the Woolee Winder.....GUILTY as charged!!!

OH MY.......after reading NUMEROUS blogs and reviews about the Woolee Winder I had sort of mixed emotions and expectations, but with a money back guarantee figured I couldn't go wrong.

After all the research I assumed that I would have to fiddle around with setting everything just "so" and was concerned about all the tension issues I have read about. NOT SO!!!! I swapped out the flyer and Bada BING.....I was in spinning heaven!!!!!!

I truly think that the double drive vs single drive/scotch tension is what the difference is!!! It seems like 99% of the folks with tension issues are using single drive/scotch tension wheels. It sounds like the tension is so much different than with the regular flyer.

I think if you have a single drive wheel and are considering buying a Woolee Winder, GO AHEAD AND GET IT.......it sounds like you are going to have to be patient and work with it to get the tension set....but once you do, it will be well worth it!!! (some smart person should make a utube video on how to set up with a single drive wheel).

I have read a lot of reviews from folks that just gave up on getting the tension set but use it to ply and swear it is worth it's weight in gold if you use it for nothing more than plying.

AND....with a money back guarantee, you can't go wrong!!!!!

As for me.......I could not be MORE happy!!! BEST Birthday Gift...................... EVUH!!!!!!!!

A Halloween Story

Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.





One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.





The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.





After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, "I think Iam going to have a little whisk broom!





""IMPOSSIBLE !" said the groom broom.





Are you ready for this?
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Brace yourself; this is going to hurt!!!!!!



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"WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER YET!"


Oh for goodness sake... Laugh, or at least groan.

Life's too short not to enjoy...Even these silly
....little cute.............And clean jokes!!!!!!!!!!!!!





(Sounds to me like she's .............been ....sweeping around)!!!











Thanks Rhonda for sharing this little story!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!

Whiskers on Wednesday

BEWARE!!! It is HALLOWEEN Whiskers On Wednesday.

This is a picture I took a couple of years ago of my kitty Gracie, who is no longer with us.

I call this one DEMON kitty!!! LOL!!


Happy Halloween Whiskers On Wednesday!!!!

Socks, Socks and MORE!!

Woo HOO......it is Halloween Week!!!

I LOVE Halloween!!!! Unfortunately, living out as we do, we don't get any Trick Or Treaters!! We used to get TONS of kids when we lived in a sub-division....sure do miss it!!!

SOOOO.......I do a bit of decorating for my own personal enjoyment, buy our favorite candy, pop Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin disc in and call it Halloween!! LOL!! (We watched the original Halloween a few nights ago). FAVORITE cheesy Halloween Movie!!! LOL!!!

I finished the Hedgerow socks....(note these are the ones by Jane Cochran, you can find the Ravelry link here) Super easy to knit!!

Socks for my sister......this is the Spring Forward Pattern from Knitty, knit with STR yarn.....and in my usual fashion have NO clue what I did with the ballband. I believe this is the Socktopus, but not positive.

AND.........Birthday gift from my sweet sister arrived!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

The same sister that doesn't knit, doesn't know a knit from a purl.....yet she heard me talking about a Woolee Winder, contacted Cindy unbenownst to me to find out about them!!

I have a knitting project I am finishing up (hopefully in a couple of nights)....and then I am going to start spinning.

My wheel is a double drive wheel. Once I got everything "set" on it I have not had to adjust again, no matter if the bobbin is at the beginning, the end or plying!! My single drive Ashford wheel has scotch tension and I adjust regularly while spinning.....but it isn't a problem to adjust and I don't mind at all. It is all part of the process and I love them both!!

I have read a lot of opinions on the Woolee Winder and from what I have read, the scotch tension or single drive wheels require a bit of adjustment as the fiber pulls differently than with a regular flyer. What I have researched about the DD wheels has been very positive so I am VERY excited to get started!!!!

Awwwww.........Wendy awarded me with the I Love Your Blog Award!!!

Ahem.........I would like to thank the Acadamy...(oh wait....that's not right).

THANK YOU WENDY for the honor!!! Your blog was one of the first ones that I found and have been hooked ever since!!!! It is always a treat to see the beautiful photographs you take as well as your AWESOME knitting skills!!!!!!

Now....I must choose 4 blogs!! That is TOUGH...there are SOO many great blogs!!!

1. Yarn Miracle: Emilys blog is THE very first knitting blog I found online.....and I have been bugging her ever since!!! LOL!!! I was a new knitter and spent HOURS going through her archives, drooling over all her fabulous knitting.....and dreaming of the day I could knit such beautiful sweaters!!! (Still dreaming)!!

2. Deep Fried Kudzu: This is THE blog to go to for what is going on around Alabama (and around the South).... Ginger has THE sweetest little boy and just had baby boy number 2 Friday!!!!!! Ths blog should come with a warning....you will be hooked and want to create her crafts, recipes as well as take to the road for travel!!

3. PJBKNIT: Paula is another one of those knitting blogs that inspires me to knit!!! LOVE all her wonderful knitting!! Such a variety of projects with just the right amount of "life" thrown in for good measure!!!

4. Alabama Fiber Dreams: Come on....have you read this post??? LOL!!! Jessi does EVERYTHING.....and sometimes all at once!!! Always fun to see what is going on at Chez AFD!!! GREAT knitter, spinner, dyer and crafter of the BEST, lightweight, stitchmarkers!!!!

Ohhh.....but 4 isn't enough!!!! I feel like I am being disloyal to all the others in my Favorites File!!!! There is Elizabeth, Tonni, Grace, my list goes on and ON!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again Wendy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween Sock Swap Surprise!

Woo Hoo.......my Halloween Sock Swap package arrived yesterday!!!

Want to know the freaky part?????

I was stalking Ravelry a week or so ago, trolling for sock patterns/yarns and ran across a sock picture, which lead me to the owner's blog.

As I was reading the sock post I saw THE MOST ADORABLE BAG.......I was in a hurry so I bookmarked her site with plans to go back when I had time to see if this is something that she sells/takes order for, etc.

SOOOOO............imagine my surprise when I opened the box and THERE WAS THE BAG!!!!

I was absolutely stunned still for a minute!!! I K.N.E.W. I hadn't contacted her.....but there the bag was...right in front of me!!! FREAKY......in the BEST kind of way!!!! LOL!!!!

Anita did an OUTSTANDING job on the bag, the socks and all the goodies!!!!!

First Up: AWESOME SOCKS!!!!!

The detail on these socks are incredible. Anita used the Crircle Rib pattern from the Knitting On The Edge Book.

I will most DEFINITELY be getting this book to add to my collection!!!!

There was a bath bomb (which was WONDERFUL........enjoyed last night)!!

A VERY cute Halloween pin which will be on my knitting bag for the holiday!

A CUTE bead bracelet in a great neutral color that will go with absolutely EVERYTHING!!

A very realistic pumpkin candle!

A teeny, tiny pair of knitting needles.......(I already have a couple of ideas on how to use these).....AND.....CANDY!!!! Specifically peanut butter bars....YUMMMM!!!

Yarn Crawl And A Visit With Franklin Habit

What a DAY!!!! After a fast drive to Huntsville (because time can't HELP but fly by when you have 5 women in a car!).....we arrived at Yarn Expressions!!

Denise and I were accepted for the 1,000 Knitters Photo Shoot!!! Alabama was the last stop for final pictures!! I can't tell you how excited and NERVOUS I was about this!!! What if Franklin turned out to be not at ALL like his blog? What if he was one of those folks that was only personable in his writing and drawing???

Ohhhh......I should have known better!!! What an INCREDIBLY nice, funny, personable, SO at ease with his surroundings kind of guy!!!

When it was my turn for the shoot, he sits me down, looks straight at me, smiles big and tells me not to be nervous....to pretend we were at my house sitting around knitting....then proceeds to ask questions about my knitting and chatting about his knitting, etc.....and COMPLETELY and TOTALLY putting me at ease all while clicking away with his camera!!! (and I am so very self conscience.....I do NOT like to be the center of attention AT ALL).....just ask Cindy . I am down right annoying about it.

This was one of those situations where you have contact with someone for only a few minutes and immediately feel like they are your friend!!! It is a true gift that he has!!!

We had been notified that Franklin was bringing the first box of his book "It Itches" so we had the double excitement of being the first few to receive an autographed book!!!

Denise and Suzanne knitting away.....

Did someone say Sparkle Monkey??

Jessi knitting.....(with her "guess what I'm up to" smile).....

Holly, the picture of innocence......

(which she has down to a FINE ART)! Waa Haa Haa!!!

AND......the "Star" himself!!!!

In between some shots, Franklin would stick his head around the screen and chat with us!! He even asked if we would hang around until he was finished so he could have someone make a shot of US with HIM!!!!! (SQUEE!!!)

Franklin didn't just scrawl his name on a book like some authors do....he chatted with each and every one of us, making eye contact and never rushed a single person!!! What a GUY!!!!!

I hate that the time was so short....only a few hours! If we had been better prepared we would have come up with a plan to kidnap him and bring him back to Trussville......if we could have only gotten to Delores first, with a promise of a wee bit of alcohol and a carton of Pall Mall cigs I'm betting we could have pulled it off!!! LOL!!!!

AND.....this wasn't the cheapest gas in the area!!!!

Last but not least, flowers from my sweetie!!!!

AWESOME day, great gal pals.......just couldn't have asked for anything more......well.....except for that whole bringing Franklin back to Trussvegas thing!! LOL!!!!

A Few Thoughts On Friday And A New Recipe!

Kitty Brownies:

Take One Kitty, Mix with Brownie Mix, Bake until done.

I S.W.E.A.R. I turned my back to grab the can of PAM, turn back around and there sits Bella......what IS it with this cat and "containers"??? She wasn't even in the room when I started!! (And YES....I washed the pan before proceeding)! LOL!!!

Just A Few Thoughts:

1. The love of Friends and Family is the BEST!! (Especially knitting friends)!

2. A simple bouquet of flowers brings me great joy!

3. Every Single Day I say a thank you for just being here and for all of lifes' many blessings.

4. Cake for breakafast is a GREAT way to start the day!!

5. Sally O'Malley is 50 Years OLD!!!! LOL!!!!! And so am I.....but I've STILL got it...even at 50, I'm FIFTY.......Book 'em Dan Oh......I'm FIVE OH!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Whiskers on Wednesday

Remember this picture from last year???

I could sort of guess that Bella was trying to tell me I needed to "dignify" her dinner a bit with a splash of wine perhaps???

Well....this morning I go to fill up Bella's bowl and find THIS:

Now.....I'm not sure what a bread tie in the food bowl is indicative of.....just not getting the "message" Bella!!

Yet ANOTHER Bowl-O-Bella Picture!!! I sat this bowl on the floor for two seconds......Bella's antennae immediately went on alert!! LOL!!

Last but not least, Bella displaying her dissatisfaction with Sunday's forcast for rain.....hmmmm....makes me wonder what she had planned for Sunday!! LOL!!!

Monday, Monday!!

I finished the first sock for my Halloween Sock Swap Pal last night!!

I do like knitting this pattern!!

I decided to go with Hill Country Yarns....this yarn is a tad thicker than I typically knit with, but my pal lives in a much colder climate than I do so I'm thinking this will be a good match for her!!

I also started the second Caramel Apple sock....stopped upon completing the heel flap.

I plan to work on both socks tonight.

Have a GREAT Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's FRIDAY!!!!

I finished this sock last night during the debate......Shibui yarn....SOOO soft!! The color reminds me of a caramel apple!!

I love this color and love this pattern....Hedgerow...not THE Hedgerow pattern but A Hedgerow pasttern....apparently there are TWO Hedgerow patterns in the world.

Also....Halloween Oreo's. (A favorite).

My sister and I have had long and convoluted round table discussions about the Halloween Oreo's. We have tested NUMEROUS packages of these cookies (STRICTLY for the sake of science)......these are just DIFFERENT than regular Oreo's or regular double stuffed Oreo's. We can't Q.U.I.T.E. put our finger on what it is that makes the Halloween version oh so much better than all the others.....but we have vowed to keep at the research until we come up with a conclusion.

Another favorite is THIS yarn!!

Mentone '08 sock yarn, commissioned by Wendy and created by Jessi.

I LUV this yarn!!! The colors remind me of Brach's Fall Mix!!!

I am still debating on what pattern to use....the Monkey pattern is whispering in my ear....but we'll have to see.

Last but not least, I leave you with a kitty pic (since I forgot to post Whiskers on Wednesday).

Bowl-O-Bella-Kitty.....with the ever jealous, watchful Heidi!!

Now that the cooler weather is starting to arrive, Bella is looking for any place she can find to curl up and stay warm. She is THE most cold natured cat I have ever seen!! Heidi on the other hand....is up with me first thing in the morning to rush onto the porch to enjoy the cool mornings......of course, she is like me and has ample insulation so the cold doesn't bother her as much!! LOL!!

Mentone Retreat 2008

Warning: Long Post!!

The Mentone Knitting/Spinning Retreat of 2008.









A group of 6 from our Knitting Group went to Mentone for a fun weekend of knitting and spinning (and a wee tiny bit of shopping)! LOL!!! . Diane, one of our knitsters owns this absolutely PERFECT house in Mentone and graciously invited us to spend the weekend! The views are absolutely breathtaking!!!!

The house has 3 bedrooms, a huge sleeping porch, two kitchens, 2.5 baths...... so there was PLENTY of room when six women arrived, complete with wayyy too much good food, all the assorted beautiful knitting bags you could imagine, two spinning wheels!! (and the ulimate addition of a BEAUTIFUL and MUCH coveted antique skein winder)......ahem.....







Every bedroom had a view....this was the view from the room that I shared with Cindy. Don't you just feel so sorry for us having to wake up to such a beautiful view????






Diane was the perfect hostess, arranging all the activities in advance so we were able to pack a LOT into one short weekend!!!

First up: The Rising Fawn Sheep Farm!! WHAT a wonderful excursion....I could have spent the entire day there!!!! We met the owner Brenda, who shared many stores about her trips to Africa helping others to learn to spin and support themselves through their craft, farming, etc. Such a wonderful woman!!







We were also treated to an up close and personal visit with the sheep!!


























We were able to purchase yarn....(and I think there are going to be a LOT of fuzzy slippers in the near future).......I bought some of Sally's roving (Sally is the brown sheep)....and there were many other items to choose from in the shop.



After a run back to the house for a quick bite of the MOST fantastic soup and assorted goodies we were off and running.



Next Stop Pottery!!




Ohhhhh.......the pottery!!! We all succumbed.....that's all I'm saying!! LOL!!

The owner offered to take our group to his studio and while a bowl was being "thrown" explained the different stages of creating a pottery piece intermingled with his testimony and it was just lovely and very moving!!!


The story of Miracle Pottery can be found here.


Next: A wee bit of shopping and a few random shots......




SOOO.......in no particular order.








We celebrated Wendy's Birthday!!!!!






















Diane learned to spin......and she is G.O.O.D.!!!!


Her very first yarn....NO lumps, NO bumps, consistent.....VERY impressive yarn!!!!







Can you say MALABRIGO?????


She's GOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!


Ahhhh......I think we have a new convert......talk was in the air about calls to order a wheel......"next time we spin"........."when my wheel gets here".......oh yea.......we have another convert!!! LOL!!! WELCOME!!!!


AND.......didn't I read somewhere that Susanne may have gotten the fiber fever too???????

Diane VERY thoughtfully gifted all of us a notebook and pen to record the weekend!! What a great idea this was!!!!






We were all gifted a memento bag from Wendy to commemorate the trip.....with a little help from a certain fabulous dyer and crafter....


We all received a skein of "Mentone" sock yarn, a Mentone '08 stitch marker and a magnet...(does this mean this is the first in a series)?? LOL!!



A tiny little container to hold stitch markers so we don't have to worry about losing them....a notepad and pen....felted frame for the fridge, which will be perfect for this picture.










AND.........Susanne gave us a BIG bag of Halloween candy in a CUTE halloween bag (work with me here....SURELY you couldn't have expected me to leave it intact with that much chocolate inside and goodies...... included a black sheep stitch marker TOOOO darn cut.....and a BLING measuring tape....because what girl in her right mind DOESN'T want more bling?



Six different women, sharing a full, fun, relaxing,exhilerating, WONDERFUL weekend!! What a joy to be able to do this and everyone mesh so perfectly......as if we were all different parts of the same person!!!!


WONDERFUL MEMORIES!!!!!!! THank you so much Diane!!!!!!!

Knitting/Spinning Retreat

I'm headed to Mentone for a weekend of Knitting, Spinning, and just general good times with a bunch of friends from my Knitting Group!!

Ahhhhh.........

Whiskers On Wednesday

Is that a "Look" or WHAT????

Heidi routinely jumps in the "in box" on my desk....and gets ticked off because it isn't quite sturdy enough to support her....uhm....GIRTH shall we say!!

Despite numerous "adjustments"....she just can't lay down!!! If I ever learn to use my video camera I will post a clip......it is quite funny!!

Don't you just LOVE the "looks" that cats can give you??? Words are totally not necessary!!!

Football!

THIS is what Football Saturday looks like in our house!!!

Hubby on one end of the sofa....Max on the other....

After extensive research, it has been determined that this is indeed the best position to properly view a college game(s).....furthermore, the addition of strategically placed pillows and soft sheet for Max, will INSURE maximum viewing pleasure!!

GO TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!