First Swap of 2008 and ABC Along!!

While I'm not yet in the grip of the Winter Doldrums....no doubt the excitement of yesterdays snow (see previous post) will soon be gone and I am SURE the Doldrums will set up housekeeping at some point in the near future!! I think this swap will be just what the doctor would order for the Winter Doldrums!!!!!






1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? Knit


2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Aluminum


3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? I have only used Sugar and Cream...not a huge fan of Peachs and Cream yarn. Is there any that you've been wanting to try? I'm open to anything!


4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)? My kitchen is brick red, bath is sage green.


5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Most any colors! Least favorite? Not a fan of "neon" colors.


6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends? LOVE Winter!!


7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps?
Shop for Yarn and knit!!


8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps? Anything Chocolate.


9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa? Coffee and Cocoa.


10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do? Fiji Islands...lay on the beach and watch the waves...drink little umbrella drinks and KNIT!!!




11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of? None.



2008 ABC Along

The ABC Along is a year long project where you take a picture of anything you would like which corresponds to the designated letter of the week(s).



First up is January 19th deadline......the Letter A:

A is for ANGEL

SNOW Day and First FO of 2008!!!

See it?? Can you SEE IT??? It's SNOWING.......In Alabama.....and it isn't even April!! LOL!!! (Which is when we have had record breaking snow/ice storms in the past.)

I believe this is what is referred to as a "dusting" of snow...but hey...it's snow.....I'll take it any way I can get it!!

Bella said, "Accckkk".....you can keep it.....too cold for me!!!!

TERRIBLE lighting.....

STR Hollyday lightweight yarn.

K3,P1 pattern.

I LOVED this yarn while in the skein, when I rolled into a cake I loved it even more.....not so much when knitted!! The heel looks the most like the true colors of the yarn, which is a beautiful golden yellow, orangy-red, dark forest green and a tad brighter than olive green with just a tiny bit of a cranberry color.

For some reason when knitted the colors changed......the yellow just looked different with the other colors....no longer a pretty yellow....the colors sort of "meshed" together and lost their true colors.....yet on the heel, where it actually striped it looks like the true yarn color.

As much as I LOVE STR yarn, and I have over 30 skeins.....I am sort of falling out of love with it. Pooling doesn't really bother me....but when a yarn takes on a totally different color once knitted, well, that just bothers me!!

What Yarn Are You????

I saw this on Potter Craft News. Take the quiz and see for yourself!!

I'm ANGORA!!!!!

Angora – Soft and warm“Angora has a warmth that rivals cashmere and softness that rivals qiviut. Best of all, it comes from cute little bunnies that look for all the world like furry footstools with ears.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Angoras are eager to please and are highly sensitive. Flexibility and adaptability are your strengths and sometimes your weakness, as well. You are essentially a warm and feeling person, and little escapes your impressionable mind. You are generous with others and strive for harmony in your relationships.

A Walk Around My Yard

I took a walk around my yard at lunch, here is what I saw:


A Fallen Angel ...

Chaos in the Herb Garden .....















Japanese Iris....NOT onion grass!! LOL!!



















An apparent bunny altercation.......



















Peeling Bark ......
















Gazing ball experiencing it's last glimpse at the world.


















Assorted moss and fungi were all around.....



As well as some plants that are confused and think it is Spring....silly plants...this is Alabama!!



















The weather man whispered the "SF" word last night........SNOW FLURRIES, possible this weekend!!!! Between the warm weather and frigid blasts of cold weather and the unlimited possibility of weather options between now and the Spring I thought I should see what may or may not be blooming this Spring!!!

Distaff Day Spin In a HUGE Hit!!!

What is it about sharing like passions with a group of friends that brings such infinite joy???

We are all different ages, different careers, different stages in life.....some with little children, some with no children.....some are old and dear friends, some are new friends and some are newly met.....yet when we get together in one room it is as though we are all one and have all known each other for a lifetime!!


The easy conversations that flowed, the good natured joking around.....(comments overheard.....my goodness your bobbins are so small......OH MY....look at the size of those big bobbins........Wow....you don't even need a hook for your orifice it is so big.......and one didn't even HAVE an orifice (which we were all jealous of)LOL!!!!! Oh my.......the laughter, the cutting up, the sharing of information on fibers, techniques and tips on spinning was shared by all!!! Tiny bits of fiber fluff could be seen floating around the room.....and attached to some of us!! LOL!!!! The wonderful food and drink......I can't say enough.....so I'll show a few pictures....going around the room.

Grace is showing Wendy how to get started spinning. I got two GREAT shots of Wendy toward the end of the afternoon.....spinning away with the BIGGEST smile on her face, unfortunately they were blurry and I wasn't able to repair them! Sorry Wendy! It was AMAZING to see Wendy go from NO knowledge of spinning and by the end of the afternoon she HAD IT!!! Smiling and spinning!!! I'm thinking there will be a scarf perhaps in the near future knit from some BEAUTIFUL Crown Mountain blue roving she was spinning!!!

The picture doesn't do it justice, but Grace is wearing THE MOST PHENOMENAL Central Park Hoodie!! Angora, soft, warm, the red is beautifully cabled and is truly one of the prettiest sweaters I have seen!! What an awesome job!!!

I was particularly tickled to get the finally meet Wendy in person!! We have emailed for over a year and this was the first opportunity we have had to meet!!! Just as personable and wonderful in person as she is in her emails!!! I hope to see you again soon my friend!!


Everyone was so excited to meet Carrie!!!!!


Carrie has an AWESOME business on Etsy, Funky Carolina....and sells THE most wonderfully hand dyed BFL roving....other roving as well as yarn!! What a TREAT to get to meet her and watch her spinning technique!!! Carrie and Wendy both have a Louet wheel (those would be the ones with the large bobbins! LOL!!).


Jessi is spinning next to Carrie on her new Ashford Traditional wheel that her husband gave her for Christmas!!


I was spinning with some beautiful BFL roving, dyed by Ms. Funky Carolina herself that Jessi


gave me awhile back.....I absolutely LOVE these colors!!!

Jessi also has an Esty shop, Alabama Fiber Dreams and sells the CUTEST stitch markers, bracelets, yarn (which I have an inside tip there will be an update with new yarn any day now).







Cindy was spinning some beautiful roving that she received with her wheel, a Kromski Minstrel....which is SOO pretty!!






















Bibby is spinning a most "envious" green roving on her new Ashford Traveler wheel (which I covet by the way....add this to the will list)! LOL!!!





















Here is Tonni dilligently spinning away on her Kromski Sonata she got just in time for Christmas!! Love the walnut color!!! Tonni has info on her blog about a Spin In that is later this month in Destin.





















Last, but absolutely not least is Elizabeth spinning some amazingly thin yarn, to be cabled for a future sweater......and if it is half as amazing as your SAFF sweater it will be incredible!!!

What a gracious host and such a warm person!!


Thank you SO much for getting this first Distaff Day Spin In together!!

Your spinning skills amaze me!!! I could sit and watch you spin for hours!!!! I love your Majacraft Rose wheel!!!

Your house was absolutely perfect, I had a WONDERFUL time and I can't wait till we are all able to work out a time/place to meet again!!!!

No Title Saturday

We had our first fire of the season, much to Bella's delight!!!

She is such a cold natured kitty......so I had a basket lined with towels and a heating pad ready for her the first evening of the bitterly cold weather......but as soon as the fire was built she was so enthralled with it all that she kept poking her paws through the mesh screen!!!

I pulled her basket around to the front of the fireplace......she hopped right in and didn't move for about 5 hours......mesmerized by the flames for the entire night!!

The next day I discovered that during the night (and apparently after the embers died out).....a nice little pile of silvery, sooty ashes had been artfully displayed all along the hearth, and dainty little paw prints on the carpet leading away from the scene of the crime!!!!

Good thing I just got this!!!

Something tells me this is going to get a LOT of use this Winter!!!!

I'm heading to Elizabeth's tomorrow to meet up with a group of ladies to spin!!

I haven't done any spinning since Thanksgiving and I am SOOO looking forward to the entire afternoon of spinning and seeing all the different ways everyone spins and seeing all the different fibers everyone will be working with!!!!

Annie and A GREAT Scarf Swap!!!

Ginger treated the Chicks With Sticks girls with tickets to see Annie last night!!!! We had SUCH a great time!!!! It is always fun when you do things with a group of friends!!







Despite the bitterly cold temperature, and a mid week performance there was a good turn out and it was most DEFINITELY worth it!!!






The kids in this play were phenomenal......the dog....oh my....perfectly trained and never missed a cue!!

Ginger also offered a ticket to include Princess Cupcake (she is after all one of the official members of our knitting group.....the summer group)......and she had SUCH a good time!!! The Cupcake is now 12 years old and wants to do more "grown up" things like going to Broadway Plays and Ginger (already one of THE most thoughtful, genuinly nice people you will EVER meet).....wanted to include Princess Cupcake in the "Girl's Night Out"!! Ginger....you are a sweetie!!!! Mwah!!!!!!!!!

Ginger left her sweet hubbie home with the baby and brought her friend Leslie as her date for the evening!! Leslie is a SUPER sweet girl and I would LOVE for her to join our knitting group (hint, hint Leslie)!!!

Anyhoo........Leslie and I were complimenting each other on our scarves (unfortunately I don't have a picture of my scarf).....mine was knit using Noro yarn in beautiful shades of purple/lavendar and green, pattern from the One Skein Wonder book, pattern interestingly enough is called the "One Skein Scarf"....the pic in the book is not impressive looking at all, but knit up with the Noro was quite pretty!!


Leslie's scarf was knit with handspun yarn....I love, LOVE, LUV the thick/thin, chunky, homespun consistency of this yarn .... I am YET to be able to make any like it!!!!!

SO......after a bit of complimenting, etc. we negotiated a trade and I came home with Leslie's GORGEOUS scarf (the pic doesn't do the color justice)......and I couldn't be more tickled!!!!!!

Thanks Leslie!!!!!!!!!!! You did an awesome job on the scarf and I'll think about you every time I wear it!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

First Day Of 2008!!!!

I have a long standing tradition of starting the first day of the new year spending the entire day in my P.J.'s (I'll spare you that lovely vision).......sipping Mimosas all day, eating Panettone (you know, for that last minute chance to add a few more pounds before starting the first of the year diet)......and in the past few years adding in knitting!!



Working on a pair of socks, Socks That Rock yarn.....Hollydays....a gift from my best bud Cindy...just a simple K3, P1 rib....very easy and soothing to knit!!



I had grandiose plans of working on my yarn stash today...and I did think about it this morning.....but as soon as that thought came to mind I just poured another Mimosa.......yarn stash can wait until another day!! LOL!!

Just a few Christmas decorations before they go back into storage:











Made by my Grandmother in the late 1970's.


Caroler........

Glass Christmas Balls......





This fella is NOT going into storage...he has a new home on a shelf in my kitchen.....thank you SOOO much Wendy!!!



I LOVE him!!!!!!






A little candle glow......






Fluffy sheep/reindeer mutant.....









Happy little Gingerbread Man!!!!




Now I'm off to cook the traditional Southern New Year's Day meal.......turnip greens, black eyed peas, cornbread, ham.........YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Wishing everyone a safe, fun New Years Eve!!

Resolutions at a glance: (For Starters)

1. Organize and post on Ravelry

2. Organize massive yarn stash

3. Learn to knit two socks at once, Magic Loop method.

4. Knit a cupcake.

5. Knit a Clapotis

6. Post more actual knitting/spinning content on this blog.

7. Work on finishing techniques

8. Finish vest started 3-4 years ago

9. Exercise more

10. Oh...and lose weight.....AGAIN!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that everyone has a most WONDERFUL Christmas!!!!!


As adults, between the shopping, planning, endless running, etc. it is hard, if not down right impossible to remember what it was like to be a child at Christmas.!!!! Remember how much fun it was????


I remember going to both of my Grandmother's houses for Christmas....I remember the fresh coconut cake and fresh ambrosia that my Grandmother so lovingly prepared for us each and every year. It was a tradition!! Sometimes I was lucky enough to be at her house when she was preparing the coconut. I remember always being amazed that a round, hard brown harry ball could be cracked open, there was "milk" inside and when poured out the "rind" could be shaved into such wonderful goodness!!! I remember blue electric candles in the window....always Blue....hmmm....I think I'll change mine next year to Blue!!!

I remember going to my Mama Grace's house where there was always a HUGE crowd of family....aunts, uncles, cousins.....TONS of food.....TONS of presents under the tree. I just remember how excited I always was....I never knew just which one was mine....it could be any one of the many assorted size presents under the tree......I would always try to peak and see which one had my name on it!

I remember driving home on Christmas Eve, watching the sky to see signs of Rudolph!

I remember going to bed with such a feeling of excitement and anticipation.....half of me wanting to stay awake so I could hear Santa when he came and half afraid he wouldn't come if I was awake and trying to MAKE myself fall asleep!!! LOL!!!

Oh to be a kid again and be filled with such a sense of excitement and wonder.......being an adult with all the wonderful entitlements it comes with is highly over-rated sometimes!!! LOL!!!


So many wonderful memories!!!!


Take time to stop, spend just a few minutes and try to recapture that magical time!!


While I'm counting my blessings I am most grateful for my family, for all the precious people in my life.....I am so blessed to have so many friends....and not just "friends" but many TRUE, GREAT friends!!!!





I am so very grateful that I was raised "in the church" as we say down here in the South. I could not make it in this world without my Savior.....Jesus....who gets me through each and every day!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chicks With Sticks Christmas Party

Last Sunday was The Chicks With Sticks Second Annual Holiday Party!! Cindy so graciously hosted this event (as well as last year)......and what a party it was!!!



We had the MOST fantastic lunch!!! Cindy is an AWESOME hostess......every detail was covered and everything was presented in the most beautiful way!! I failed to get pics of the house which is decorated so beautiful.....but Ginger has a great post from Monday with pics of a few of the decorations.



We were served some incredible spinach, artichoke, parmesan, appetizers that were OUT of this world!!! Two choices for soup....both of which were just FANTASTIC......Cindy's famous Salad, hot rolls, home made chocolate bread pudding that there are just no words to describe it is so good.........and then cookies.........lot's and lot's of homemade cookies!!!








There were Mexican Wedding Cookies made by Ginger.....

AND.....the MOST fantastic Pralines by Ginger!!

And just WAYYY too many cookies to post pics!!!

Everyone brought several dozen and we had great fun loading up our tins with an assortment of cookies to take back home!!! (Because you can NEVER have too many cookies)!!

Cindy made everyone a very clever ornament last year........and another creative one this year!! Perhaps her inspiration came from the sheep we saw at SAFF???

A bit of decorating is taking place around here.....better late than never I guess......this is our first Christmas with Bella and before the tree was decorated we wanted to "test the waters" so to speak as to how she would handle it.

After a great deal of munching.....yes.....she was EATING the tree....she finally decided while the "greens" were tasty.............

the sap was a pain to deal with.....and she hasn't touched the tree since!!! (Or perhaps I should say SO FAR)!!!

More decorating will commence but I DID somehow managed to decorate my favorite thing in the house last night!!! LOL!!!

















And just to prove this wheel isn't for decorative purposes only..... I have indeed spun a little something on my wheel....just not time right now with all that is going on with the Holidays.....but I am already looking forward to several nice January weekends by the fire spinning away!!


This is some GORGEOUS roving that Jessi gave me.....it was purchased from Funky Carolina (Here in Birmingham)...it is SOOOO soft and the most beautiful green and lavender!!! Jessi also makes the CUTEST stitch markers...... check her Etsy shop here. Her stages of knitting markers are tooo cute!!!!

Santa "Claws" Is REAL!!!!!

There seems to be a mystery swirling around my house that for the life of me I just can't figure out!! Now, don't get me wrong...... I LOVE a good mystery, but this one is so thoughtful I feel like a ginormous "Thank-You" needs to be issued.....but I don't know WHO to extend my heartfelt thanks to!!!!

I got home from Christmas shopping (which I didn't finish by the way).....and found a package at my front door. My mind was whirling as to when exactly I had COMPLETELY lost my mind because I couldn't remember for the life of me WHAT I had ordered!!!!




I was so very, VERY tickled to discover so many
THOUGHTFUL gifts!!!!

The bell ornament is AWESOME....so much detail!!! I absolutely LOVE it!! I love anything that is handmade....so much time and effort!!!

Truffles?? TRUFFLES????? OH my......what could be better than TRUFFLES???????? I LOVE Lindt Truffles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


And.....Jim Shore....I love Jim Shore's work!! Was this a lucky guess or is my "secret santa" someone that KNOWS I love Jim Shore!!! Hmmm??????

I have not seen this Jim Shore figurine....and the sweet little sheep? Do you see that sweet little sheep Santa is holding???? I am going to keep this Santa on my shelf all year....as a reminder that even though I may not always be in the "moment"....it is there for the taking and I just need to slow down and appreciate and be especially grateful for all the wonderful, thoughtful friends I have in my life!!!

I can't thank my "secret santa" enough for such an incredibly thoughtful.....wonderfully timed gift!!!!

I am so far behind on shopping/decorating/baking that I have been feeling I have missed the boat this season........thank you "Santa Claws" for getting me back on track!!! There's still time!!!

*Oh....and don't think I didn't examine the box for a clue as to who you are.......but I guess "Santa Claws" doesn't use the regular postal stickers because oddly enough.....the city this was postmarked in was NOT on the label)......who says there isn't a real Santa Claws??????????