Life Is GOOOOD!!!!

First thing this morning, a bunch of my best knitting buds met at Starbucks for some energizing beverages.....then it was off to Heaven.....or as the owners call it:

Yarns Downtown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


FINALLY.......Trussville has a GREAT yarn shop!!!!

Yarns Downtown is the perfect name for this shop....it is upscale, friendly, open, and absolutely BEAUTIFUL......and I haven't even started on the yarn!!! The full inventory should be in sometime in June, but oh my.....to know there is a dreamy shop just a few minutes from my home makes me downright giddy....and slightly afraid!! LOL!!!! I fear I shall have to get a job to support my Uptown Yarn habit!!!!


The owner and employees were genuinely friendly and always close by to answer questions or assist in any way needed.......just can't say enough about the experience, one I plan to repeat on a VERY regular basis!!!!




L to R:

Rebecca, Paige, Suzanne, Moi, Cindy, Jessie. (Not shown, Carol).

Not a better group of women around...and oh the trouble I fear we will be getting into!!!

Friday Fill Ins and Late Whiskers on Wednesday

I missed Whiskers On Wednesdays........



Bella's version of helping with the laundry.

























And...here we go!






1. I was MEANT TO BE THIN AND BEAUTIFUL!!!

2. I _________ and I left my book _________. (Couldn't think of a fill in for this one.

3. Why DOESN'T MONEY GROW ON TREES???

4. NEW YARN was in my thoughts today.

5. One of my father's favorite sayings was WAKE UP...TIME TO GO TO THE LAKE ...oh wait....I think that was MY favorite thing to hear my Dad say!! LOL!!

6. CRAZY PEOPLE--I know that feeling!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to RESTING, tomorrow my plans include CLEANING HOUSE (UGH) and Sunday, I want to REST!

Back To Friday Fill Ins

And...here we go!

1. Where are my MAGIC POWERS DARN IT???

2. If wishes were horses I WOULD HAVE A HERD.

3. I'd like to see LESS OF ME.

4. When I was a teen, I thought I WOULD N.E.V.E.R. GROW UP AND LOOK LIKE ALL THE "OLD" PEOPLE!! (Wow...and here I am)!! LOL!!

5. One of my mother's favorite sayings was .....hmmm....I don't recall a favorite saying....other than "Get off the phone" and "Clean your room"! LOL!!

6. I'd have a hard time doing without my COOKIES!!! (I'm dieting).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to RELAXING AND KNITTING, tomorrow my plans include LAUNDRY and Sunday, I want to KNIT!

Whiskers On Wednesday & DANGER!!!

Heidi enjoys relaxing with a good adventure flick!!

DANGER!!! Prior to this photo......despite throwing out about 6 or 7 pairs of socks due to HOLES.....(and one of my husbands wool suits).....we had not seen any signs of moths in the house.

I have NOOOOO idea where this fella came from, I was at the kitchen counter pouring a cup of coffee when out of nowhere he is hovering. Maybe he just needed a jolt of caffeine after all the wool munching that has been going on. All I know is that he is now a DEAD moth....whacked on the head and dragged across the counter top for good measure!! (enlarge photo for gory details).

Pruning and What Else....SOCKS!!

11 years ago this June we moved into our house. At the time, we were "into" yard work, wanting the "glory" to be ours.....yeah. well....not so much now. LOL!! Ohhh.....to have someone come in and overhaul our yard!!















What we originally planted was junipers to fill in underneath the Crepe Myrtles, to soften the retaining wall with tiny bits hanging over.





What we GOT was 4 truck loads and numerous trips I made, pulling branches to the edge of the woods for future burning.























Can't tell by the picture, but some of the branches are thick as my arm!! Obviously, the junipers were mislabeled!! We will finish cleaning the bed, pull up the stumps (too large to dig up)....and go with Plan B....as soon as we come up with Plan B.



In the meantime......off the needles:

Hubby Socks.....after bringing it to my attention that the ratio of HIS socks to MY socks was WAYYY less, I decided to knit him a pair!! One down, one well on its way

Fortissima Colori Socka Color by Schoeller Stahl. Color #8

Knitting Tells A Story

Does your knitting tell a story?

I have quite a few pieces I have knit that I remember: a specific project I was knitting for, something in particular that was happening at the time I was knitting, who I was knitting for, where I was when I was knitting, etc.

I have "busy" hands....I can't sit idle without something to do, so most of my knitting is just the day to day kind of ordinary knitting we all do. The kind that you don't give much thought to.....like "T.V. Knitting"...or waiting for an appointment kind of knitting. I always have socks on the needles for just such times.

These socks have a story:

(stay tuned for future update on the brown spikes)

I started these socks awhile back....I think I started 6 or 7 pairs of socks one week and this was one of those. I occasionally would dig them out and take to knit night when I knew I was going to be helping someone or just in the mood to cut up and have a good time, just in case I decided to knit a stitch or two, something I didn't need to concentrate on, no serious knitting. Nothing special, just my version of the vanilla sock: K3, P1. Never making much progress.

Somewhere in the mix, these socks turned into a different kind of knitting. Knitting that was hastily thrown in a bag as I was heading out the door...so while I waited I wouldn't have to sit with idle hands....then they turned into socks that were knit when things were beyond my control and I was feeling helpless to do anything....so I knit...because that is something I CAN control....you can control what stitches you make, in what order you knit them and you KNOW the outcome of what you are knitting.

I started these "mindless" socks a long time ago, never thinking about what kind of socks they would become. I had so many hours of knitting I got SICK of knitting..... I put them down, picked up a book or three, read them straight through. I haven't done that in years!!! Not since learning to knit!!

But......eventually I felt the need to complete the process, so I pulled them out, finished them up, and have decided to keep them. I wasn't going to....I thought about who to give them to, but they weren't mindless knitting, not happy knitting so I decideded to keep them....... If for no other reason than to remind myself that life isn't always fair, bad things happen, and that no matter what goes on, no matter the circumstances.......every single day of life is precious!! There ARE no bad days!!

And as a reminder in the Fall, when I pull out all my lovely socks, I'll run across this particular pair and they will be a reminder of where I was when I was knitting them, and who I was with when I knit them and that she is no longer here. AND.......that it is time for my yearly mammogram, to STOP and make an appointment before time gets away!!!!!!

If you don't get mammograms or are late getting yours (like I am)........get one and encourage everyone you love to get one!! Don't let the fear of the unknown stop you!!!!

Whiskers On Wednesday and Throwing Down The Gauntlets

If you were this gorgeous

you would look at yourself

too!!!!

Would you like your gauntlets with or without a thumb????

Darning Day

Well.....I have been putting it off
but have finally decided, today is the day to darn some socks!!







OH DARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Throwing In The Towel & March Selection

I'm throwing in the towel on the 365/day project. Just call me a quitter!!

It sounded good at the time....take a picture a day, post, no biggy. But...seems like there have been as many days that I was NOT able to post as I have actually posted...so I'm quitting...There!!


(Whew....I feel better)!!

Now...on to today's post and update:

Family is all well.
Dog is hopefully about to turn the corner and get better.

March 1st was my 24th Wedding Anniversary...MAN....would somebody PLEASE slow down time???

Once again, my husband didn't believe me when I tried to tell him that yarn and fiber are on the official "Anniversary Gift List"....oh well....maybe next year!! LOL!!



Now, for the March selection for Sock of The Month!! Pattern is yet to be determined, will update when selection is made.

60/365

Sorry for the laspse in posts.....things have been crazy around here for a bit. Max had another "near death experience" and it has taken several days of having him home from the vet to get his routine back.

Also spent time with family while my husands stepfather was in the hospital for surgery. A scary time, but all turned out well!!

I am nursing a sore thumb...silly sounding I know. BUT.....when you start knitting at 7:00 a.m. and knit straight through without stopping (dumb I know).....until 4:30, you end up with a thumb and wrist that is not happy!! (Hospital knitting)

But .....I have the peanut butter gods smiling upon me today so I know all will be well.




Found this when I opened the pantry door!!

I love PB...and looks like PB loves me too!! LOL!!






It's good to be back!!!!!

48/365

I forgot yesterday was Whiskers On Wednesday........just pretend.

Her Highness loves to sit and contemplate....or ignore you, however you choose to interpret! LOL!!

47/365

Love the heel on this sock!!

44,45,46/365 Flowers, Snow & Knitting

Once again I am playing catch up.




We had some snow!!!!
















Valentine's Flowers!














And Knitting: Alice's Mitts





Manos yarn.
















Ravelympics Update: After a false start, I am on my way with a pair of socks for Team Ravelpaws!! Knitting will continue tonight and will post an update with pic tomorrow.

41,42,43/365 And SNOW!!

Oops......need to catch up!!

First UP: A sweet friend of mine and her too cute for words little boy came for a visit on Wednesday and brought me not one...but TWO surprises!!!

We both share a love of pottery, Jerry Brown pottery in particular and she brought me an apple baker!!!! NOTHING any better than an apple baked this way!!

AND........during one of her travels found a sock form at an antique store!!! (She knows how much I love sock knitting)

I am trying to come up with a good way to display the form...it is so pretty and I love how the wood looks at the top!!



















Completed: One Soybean Sock...and Apple Baker!!

To use the apple baker, you core an apple and place on the spike. Place a little pat of butter in the top, sugar, cinnamon, place in the microwave for just a few minutes to desired doneness and enjoy!! All the juices wil be caught up in the bowl and once you remove the apple you can drizzle all those juices back over the top of the apple. Just too darn yummy!!!!!

I took this pic about 30 minutes after it started snowing. It is coming down like crazy...will post more later today. We just don't get snow enough down her in the South to ever get tired of it!!

Tonight: It is the opening ceremony for Ravelympics...or for all you non-knitters....the Olympics!!! Go Team Ravelpaws!!!!

40/365

Homemade Pizza!!!

39/365 Dishcloths

5 dishcloths for my SIL......completed and will go in the mail tomorrow!! Now....back to the February socks.

38/365 February Sock Update

February sock is coming along....isn't it crazy how the yarn pools and with one change of a stitch it will start a self striping pattern??

These socks were originally going to be the Eleanor pattern, but I cast on 64, knit the ribbing and then discovered Eleanor is a 60 cast on!! Oh well...I'll knit them another time.

STR: Algae colorway

Soybean Sock Pattern

37/365 Birthday Yarn

My sister requested Alpaca socks for her birthday this year.

I made her a pair out of the Drops Alpaca yarn 2 years ago and she loved them!! The LYS no longer carries Drops yarn, but I did find this Berroco Alpaca Light, with a touch of nylon and to the touch feels just as soft as the Drops yarn.

Requested but not able to find today was a very light pink colorway. I got online as soon as I got home, found a distributor for Drops yarns and the pink is on its way!! I had NO idea Drops 100% Alpaca came in SO many colors!!!!

36/365 Socks and Heidi

A few rounds on my February Socks are completed.

Sometimes it just isn't worth the fight to get the bed made completely. Heidi can make a 2 minute job into a 10 minute frustration!!

35/365

I'm very, VERY blessed to be ABLE to pay bills......but sure don't enjoy paying bills!!

Knitting starts back tonight!! Woo Hoo!!!!! This will be our first night back for 2010!! There will be knitting going on tonight!!!!

34/365 Hearts For Hospice

Pardon the orange.....it's really red.

I spent the day working on these fleece heart pillows.

They really don't take too long to make, once cut, all you have to do is double tie each strand, stuff with fiberfill (which will be done in a few days) double tie the opening and you have a nice, soft, heart pillow to be given to out to local Hospice patients.

33/365 Cupcakes and Knitting Progress

Ohhhhh......175 possibilities...look out hips!! LOL!! I do love me some cupcakes!!




















2.5 dishcloths down, 2.5 to go!!

I have the Algae yarn wound and ready to cast on as soon as I finish the dishcloths. I have chosen the Eleanor sock pattern by Monkey Toes.

32/365 February Sock Selection

I let Heidi choose which bag to grab for my February Knit From Your Stash selection......

Excellent choice Heidi!!

31/365

One of my favorite things.

30/365 Warshrags

One down, three to go.

My SIL asked if I would knit her some washcloths and I chose this SUPER fast pattern. I am not a Nascar fan but I love the way I can "race" through this pattern!!

29/365

Yes.....I realize this isn't a picture I snapped today, but I just had to share this.

I was listening to episode 55 of Manic Purl Podcast last night, sort of listening distractedly while feeding the dog and heard SpringValley Yarns...I thought that sounded familiar so I turned the volume up and was so VERY TICKLED to hear THE most wonderful review of Jessi's Etsy Shop, SpringValley Yarns....and all the wonderful yarns she has available!!!

If you haven't already checked her shop....if you haven't purchased yarn...and heck....even if you have, head back over. She really does a GREAT job of dying yarn, the yarn bases are good quality and her colors are really pretty!!!! I have never been dissapointed with any of my purchases...and in fact, the first purchase I ever made through Etsy was from Jessi, several years ago....long before I knew her!

I was so tickled I had to share with everyone!!

28/365 Another FO!!

Hot off the needles!!! Burning Rings of Fire

STR Watermelon Tourmaline

Gift knitting.

27/365

Sometimes you just need a nap!!

26/365

Hmmm.....don't remember picking this up at Publix!

25/365 Off The Needles!

January socks off the needles!! Woo HOO!!

AND.....3rd season of The Tudors arrived today!!!!

24/365

It's been just that kinda day!!

23/365

CLICK TO ENLARGE

This big guy sat on the branch for the longest time.

I guess he and the "missus" had a slight disagreement....she was far enough away we could hear her...but couldn't see her. We have several nests in the area....so not sure if she was out "visiting" and he was stuck with the "kids" or what....but there sure was a lot of squawking going on between them!!

22/365

CHOCOLATE Cheerios??? AND.....it helps lower my cholesterol???

I'm IN!!!

21/365 We Have A Sock!!

One down and one to go.....

20/365 January Socks

January Sock for the Stash Sock Club

Pattern: Dash

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rare Gems

I love this pattern....goes quick too!! Good thing as it is almost February

and I am barely half way on my first sock!!

19/365 Actual Knitting

Off The Needles

L: The Guy Next Door Cowl, Lorna's Laces Worsted

R: Seawead Cowl, Lorna's Laces Worsted, Navy