Bird News

Nest-O-Birds, ready to leave......





By 6:00 a.m. this morning there were two.







By 6:05.....all gone. The cats are really ticked too....they were thoroughly enjoying the constant "show"....by 8:00 they were completely bored and taken to stalking each other for entertainment.




Other Bird News: Yesterday afternoon I spotted a wren in the mailbox....of course once I got back to the mailbox with camera in hand, she was gone. BUT.....we have EGGS!!!


I called the post office......I put my mail delivery on hold until further notice.





Ahhh......the joys of a fertile Spring......now if I could only get a money tree to grow in the yard!!!

Knitting News: started on the foot of the second Trekking XXL sock, will post pics and once completed I will deal with Ophelia.

Weekend In Review

Bird Update:



No eggs in the mailbox nest....if there aren't any by this afternoon, I'll probably clean out the mailbox and have the mail delivery started back.



The Baby birds by the back porch are just about to leave the nest....I am guessing they will be gone one day this week.






I thought to check my Boston Fern prior to watering....and sure enough.....





The new beginnings of another nest........ we are nothing if not fertile ground for birthing birds around here!! LOL!!'



KNITTING:








Despite my intentions to finish Ophelia, I didn't knit a stitch on it. I did finish up a Prayer Shawl for donation to a local Hospice.



I kitchnered the toe on a pair of socks......that I don't like. (I can't believe I'm even saying that)!





I have never.....EVER wanted to throw a project in the trash....I H.A.T.E. this yarn!!! Noro sock yarn.....this yarn was so thin in places, just pulling from the ball would break the yarn!!! I am a HUGE fan of Noro yarns and understand completely single ply yarn, don't have a problem with vegie matter, etc. But this yarn was just aweful. I tried several times to chunk the whole project....but the "thrifty" part of me just couldn't let myself throw away yarn.

I have a skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn and I sure hope it won't be the nightmare this was!!


So they are completed and will now be shoved to the bottom of the sock drawer.

I also finished the cuff on a pair of Trekking XXL socks........

Soooo.........that was my weekend!

And...here we go!

1. There TRULY is no place like home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been anything quick and easy and gets me out of the kitchen quickly!!

3. Max says bark! bark! bark! but not like he used to!!

4. A nice long walk is good time to talk to God.

5. Our family could use some good news.

6. When all is said and done, it isn't about what you had or where you went, but rather how many people you loved along the way

.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillin with my DH, tomorrow my plans include catching up on some housework, get to work hand carding some rolags to spin, and Sunday, I want to hopefully finish Ophelia and get that off my list!

Whiskers On Wednesday!!!

Does this table make my butt look big???
















Poor Heidi, she obviously thinks she is about two sizes smaller than her actual size....she is forever going places that are simply too small to accommodate her....girth.

Birds, Birds, Birds

It has been quite a busy time around here!!

We are on the SECOND set of baby birds.....different mother, different species, same nest oddly enough!! If you clicked the link and look R.E.A.L.L.Y. close you will see some fuzzy white at the top of the nest...that would be roving that I placed on the tree branches several weeks ago.

We did a bit of yard work this weekend and despite digging deep into the bushes to be sure there were no birds nesting we found this nest AFTER cutting the bush down.....no eggs, thankfully!!

When I rounded the corner to the mailbox this morning I saw the door was open and the mail was half out of the box!! I have a VERY sweet mail lady and I know she wouldn't just throw my mail in the box like that unless there was a reason......imagining a snake I was surprised to see this:

Which interestingly, was NOT there on Saturday when I got the mail!!! This has been one busy bird!!! I guess I'll head down to the post office to have them hold my mail......not sure what kind of bird is making this nest.....guess word is out....baby birds welcome!!

And...here we go!

1. It's cold and wait, this is Alabama and it is May....so it is HOT and HUMID!!

2. I love the smell of tomatoes, right as they are pulled from the vine.

3. My favorite health and beauty product is Philosophy Supernatural tinted foundation primer. LOVE all the Philosophy products!!

4. I enjoy getting away for a nice long ride. (Primo knitting time)

5. Well, first of all, I shouldn't have worried!!

6. Me and someone I didn't recognize, those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was GOOD!!!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, watching the final Tonight Show with Jay, tomorrow my plans include hopefully a bit of yard work and Sunday, I want to knit (of course) and bake cookies.

Socks.......AGAIN!!

I just can't stop with the socks.....I am totally hooked on socks. I think about other knitting....quite frequently...but just keep coming back to socks.


Here are My Top Ten Reasons for knitting socks.

10. They always fit!! (Compliments of Laura)

9. Shopping for sock yarn is stress free....you typically buy one skein, no calculating yardage, weight, etc.

8. Portable, you can shove in your purse and take ANYWHERE.

7. There are unlimited sock yarns available.

6. There are unlimited sock patterns available.

5. Shopping for a new sock project is WAY cheaper than shopping for a new sweater project. (Edited 5-27-09, Emily brought up an EXCELLENT point......MORE opportunities to wear socks in Alabama than sweaters)!! SO TRUE :) :)

4. Socks save energy.....wearing woolen socks keeps your feet warm and warm feet = warm body = lower thermostat setting!

3. The money you save on your power bill allows for extra sock yarn purchases!

2. Knitting socks in public creates quite a stir.....especially when knitting with DPN's.

1. And the NUMBER ONE reason I like knitting socks........it makes me happy!!!!!.





Nutkins knit with Frances Patrick sock yarn, Deepest Forest color.




















Bubblewrap socks by Sock Bug!! What a FUN knit!! Knit with The Unique Sheep sock yarn, Geranium color.

Friday Fill Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. Moving on/forward is the best direction to go.

2. I wish yarn were free.

3. My best quality is ...hmmm....do I have any??? LOL!!

4. It is all in the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I have lost and gained the same 20 lb. MANY times!!.

6. Winning the lottery is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a nice dinner at home , tomorrow my plans include coffee and knitting with some buds and Sunday, I want to knit or SPIN if my fleece arrives in time!!

Whiskers On Wednesday AND FO!!

A Whiskers On Wednesday post.......by me.......shocking I know.

Seems as though the cats haven't done anything (or sat still long enough) to get any pics for this post in awhile.

This picture just seems to describe these two to a "T".

Heidi being...well Heidi, just a big old duffus cat....doesn't care what she does or how she looks doing it....Bella (aka QUEEN Bella)...on the other hand is FAR too superior to be caught...ahem.....grooming any of the "unmentionable" areas....you might occasionally catch her delicately licking one of her dainty paws...but that is it. She is WAYYY too regal to indulge in anything so mundane as bathing in public....EGADS!!

Bella prefers to bask by herself in the sun, although Heidi frequently bashes her quiet time with such vulgar, public displays as below!! LOL!!

(Click on pic to enlarge for full effect)

AND.....there's a new Baby Mama in the hood!! Shortly after the baby birds left a NEW Mama bird staked her claim to the abandoned nest. She did a bit of housecleaning, brought in a bit of her own nesting material and has been on the nest ever since. Considering how high in the nest she is now sitting, I'm betting the eggs have hatched!!

Off my needles: The Nutkins socks.......still slowly, ever so slowly working on the Ophelia....but I am just not enjoying this knit!!

I'll post pics later.

An Unsolicited Plug For Woolgirl.Com

Indulge me.....because sometimes a girl has just got to share!!


First of all......If you haven't heard of Woolgirl.com...Bless Your Heart and get over there ASAP!!!


I am not sure if I found Jennifer's blog first or her shop ,Woolgirl.com, but both are so wonderfully entertwined I guess it doesn't matter which came first!!


I have shopped a lot.... a LOT..... I meant to say a LOT of yarn shops in the past few years.....and just felt like I would be remiss if I didn't take a minute or two to share what a wonderful experience it is to shop with Jennifer!!


Jennifer's blog is a joy to read, her pictures are always very enticing, her photographic skills show yarn, knittng projects as well as non knitting related subjects all to their best advantage!! Not to mention, as a Schnauzer owner ....I am always tickled to see pictures of Abby, Jennifer's schnauzer!!


Don't get me wrong, when the mailman throws a box of yarn on the front porch and rings the bell.....my heart always picks up....YARN.....at my DOOR...Woo Hoo!!! BUT......when you order from Woolgirl you are always in for a treat!!


Despite knowing what I have ordered, it is so much fun to open the box!! Everything is individually and carefully wrapped in colorful tissue paper, enveloped in a clear plastic sheath and tied with ribbon....like a colorful, shiny, classy gift, waiting to be peeled open, layer by layer!!


The joy I get from "opening" a package from Woolgirl just can't be beat!! There is always a hand written note and a special "treat" included with the order....it might be wonderful chocolates, a beautiful stitch marker, but ALWAYS something yummy and/or useful!!


Despite the state of the economy, I am blessed enough to be able to indulge my desire to buy yarn from time to time....(albeit not like I have in the past)...but you can rest assured that when I buy....Woolgirl.com is my first choice to shop!!! The obvious care and time that goes into each package I have received is GREATLY appreciated and should be duly noted that this is one business that truly cares about their customers!!


Today I received a surprise package from Woolgirl.com!!!


The Woolgirl Club!!!!! You won't believe the page long list of "perks" of being a club member!!

A really GREAT bag!!! (And what knitter doesn't love a bag??)....tape measure, sticky pad (great for holding your place in a pattern)....highlighter/ink pen, note cards, stitch marker, AND.......Unique Sheep sock yarn with pattern!!! OH MY.....the yarn is the most BEAUTIFUL shade of periwinkle which just happens to be my most favorite color!!!!!!

Now.....GO.....SHOP!!!!!!!!!!! Do your part to stimulate the economy!!

Friday Fill Ins!!

It has been a week........not a lot of knitting, thank goodness for Friday Fill Ins!! LOL!!

And...here we go!

1. If we had no winter, how could we possibly appreciate the miracle of Spring?

.

2. PEOPLE are a perpetual astonishment.

3. If I had my life to live over I would have taken better care of myself!!

4. A lot can be accomplished inside of four and twenty hours...(if one isn't interupted).

5. If you've never been thrilled.....then what is the point???

6. To be interested in the changing seasons is exciting...I love the anticipation of all that comes with each season...the holidays, the weather itself. I love it all!!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting on a vest that I am not interested in knitting, I want the vest, but tired of knitting it , tomorrow my plans include working on the abyss we call a basement and Sunday, I want to veg out, and try to knock out a large portion of the vest I am so not enjoying knitting!!!

Weekend In Review

Or maybe this should read.....Socks in Review:



One Nutkin down, one to go.




















One Twin Rib sock, knit with Trekking XXL, been marinating in my stash for at least a couple of years!!
























Garter Rib Sock, knit with Noro sock yarn...which I H.A.T.E., but for whatever reason, will not allow my self to get rid of!!






















Bubble Wrap Sock Pattern, knit with Unique Sheep sock yarn, Geranium color.













IF it will ever stop raining I will take some pictures outside as opposed to being forced to make pics in the kitchen, with the awful under counter flourescent lighting!!


Ophelia: She is still in the basket....I just do NOT like knitting garments. I guess I am going to have to force myself to knit one row a night...FIRST thing before allowing myself to pick up the socks!!

My sweet sister told me the Kitties and Max
enlisted her help in getting me a Mother's
Day Gift!!


Apparently my "furbabies" have good taste as my
sister said they told her I needed another Vera Bradley
knitting bag....something "Sunny" they said!!


What a sweetie to help out the pets this way!!!! MWAH!!!

I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Thank you VERY much....totally NOT necessary....but VERY much appreciated)!!!!

Whiskers On Wednesday!!

Well.........it's no Pile-O-Kitties, but it is the closest these two have been for more than just a second or two. (Not that this heart warming scene lasted very long). Bella didn't immediately realize that Heidi had assumed the "superior" position ....but didn't take long!! Bella IS the Queen after all!!

Heidi LOVES my light cube!!!

I HATE that Heidi loves my light cube!!

I generously gave up some of my knit time to acknowledge

Cinco de Mayo!! Ahhhhh......I do love the Holidays!!! LOL!!

Weekend In Review

It was a funny (not in a ha ha kind of funny).....sort of weekend. Like being here....but not really....just a strange feeling.

We attended a wake for a friend we had not seen in several years, on the very day he would have turned 55.

Dodged some very bad weather on Sunday.....with a bit of knitting thrown into the mix.

Nutkins Socks: Knit with Frances Patrick sock yarn in Deepest Forest (HA....bet you thought I had already lost the ballband)!

And NEVER underestimate the amount of time it takes for an old, arthritic, BLIND, dog to sniff out the bag of trash and COMPLETELY destroy it!!!!

Thank goodness for floor steamers!!!

Friday Fill Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is knowing who to give the cookies to.

2. I have never eaten fresh clams.

3. When I think of carnivals I think of how excited I was when the County Fair came to town.....the thrill of seeing the lights glowing in the sky long after driving away.....how many poor goldfish I "won" by throwing a ping pong ball into a bowl of water and how I don't think a single fish ever lived beyond a day....cotton candy.....corn dogs....corn on the cob!!

4. Jonquils (as my grandmother called them) are my favorite spring flower.

5. Things on my desk include, glasses (reading), zillion patterns scattered about, stapler, bills...uhmmm this could get long if I include everything on my desk.

6. People that waste their entire lives never able to look past themselves to see how truly blessed they are makes me wanna cry.....especially when they had a good life ....and then they die young.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending some down time with my hubby, tomorrow my plans include chilling, cooking some comfort food and Sunday, I want to spend the day knitting!

Bye Bye Birdies....Bye Bye

I knew it was just a matter of time before the babies flew away...I really thought it would be over the weekend.



Things have been a bit "crowded" in the hood for several days now.























Uhmmmm..........so if I don't learn this flying thing the first time I'll end up WHERE?????? That's a LONG way down......THERE!!!!




















I think the thought of "down there" prompted all the practice flying!!!



































And then they were gone! I had hoped to see them actually leave the nest....I went inside for a few minutes, came back out and they were all gone. I noticed Mama Bird was at her usual perch......several feet from the nest where she has pretty much stayed for the past few days....she flew back to the nest, saw it was empty, flew into the woods and hasn't been seen since.

Mission accomplished!!

Weekend In Review

Ahhh....the best laid plans.

Hubby was out of town this weekend, and I had an entire weekend of fiber/knitting/reading all planned out!! Not so fast........

Ended up getting sick Friday night and didn't start feeling semi-human until last night!!! BUMMER!!!!!!!

To catch up....Off the needles:

Duckies

Festooned Frippery Socks

Ophelia is resting comfortably in the basket, plans are to pick her up tonight and hopefully make some progress.

We have been bird watching lately.......the babies are just about to leave the nest!! We have enjoyed watching them and will miss them when they fly away, which I truly thought would have been this weekend, judging by the overcrowding in the nest!! LOL!! Here are a couple of pictures....the quality isn't too good because the only way to get a picture is through the screened porch, so they are a bit fuzzy.

Three Little Babies:

Another Friday Fill In

Good GRIEF.....where has this week gone???

7 days.....and not much to show for it!!

Forecast for today is 87 degrees......Woo HOO.....Spring time in Alabama!!

My best buds are off to Stitches South yesterday/today and I know they are going to have a BLAST!!! I can not be trusted to look without buying and I have an embarrassingly large stash...last count over 100 skeins of just sock yarn....couldn't bring myself to count the other yarns.

Needless to say I have a problem with sock yarn!! LOL!! So I opted out for this year but hope Stitches South is a WONDERFUL experience for those that go and that they will consider the South "worthy" of returning next year!!

I have bought some carders and waiting on some fleece samples to arrive so I can choose a fleece. I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bit of knitting this week, but I'll post that later.

And...here we go!

1. Apparently there's some sort of weird electronic conflict in this house, every day it is something new that doesn't work or work properly!! UGH!!

2. I do love me a sunny day.

3. 2009, has been a very blessed year so far.

4. Once I took a long hard look at my stash, that was it.....must stop the madness!! LOL!!

5. For too long I've been putting off exercising, eating properly and taking care of myself!! I just don't LIKE to do all that!!! By the time you reach 50, you should be able to eat what you want and do what you want!!!!

6. I am not obsessed with collecting yarn ; I am not! (STOP laughing).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to possibly going to a wine tasting party or staying home, ordering a pizza and chilling, tomorrow my plans include heading to my BFF friend Cindy's house to help her set up her wheel for double drive and setting up her new Woolee Winder and Sunday, I want to stay in my p.j.'s all day and do whatever I darn well please,catching up with my buds that went to Stitches to hear about all the loot they came home with!! LOL!!

Friday Fill Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. Join me in running away....far, far away!!!!!!!

2. Put a little Margarita in your day! (or maybe a large one???) Hee Hee!

3. Happiness is having family and friends that love you!! Oh...and YARN!!

4. Stressed, dazed and confused.

5. I'm waiting for MY time!!

6. Chocolate is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to eating a hamburger, tomorrow my plans include laundry, working in the basement, and Sunday, I want to KNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea, Yea, Yea.......

I know, I know......Ophelia is waiting, Spring is here and it will be perfect to wear ....and yet I knit another sock!!

Duckies pattern, knit with Miss Babs Sport Weight, color name to be listed once I find that ballband....I know...I KNOW.....I was going to do SO much better this year with keeping up with Ballbands..........(insert large sigh).

Some things/people never change!!! LOL!!!

Monday Update

Another Easter.........



We spent a day visiting with the family, did manage to sneak a bit of knit time and finish one of the Festooned Frippery Sock.



















This is such a fun, easy sock to knit!! I haven't worked much at all on the Ophelia vest....but did cast on for another sock....(I don't know why I even TRY to knit anthing else....I keep coming back to socks)....I think this last pair I cast on makes pair 34?????

Hi, My Name is Darlene, and I am addicted to knitting socks.

Friday Fill Ins!!

1. Anonymous...is all about being FREE!!!!

2. Getting older is a good thing....most of the time.

3. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, although I would rather STRANGLE you!!!

4. Watching everything bloom is what I look forward to most about Spring.

5. Who needs therapy when there is knitting!!

6. PEEPS MUST go into the Easter Basket!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting, eating BBQ, tomorrow my plans include the annual clandestine, late night hanging of easter eggs on the "Easter Tree" at my God Daughter's house and Sunday, I want to REJOICE.....and enjoy Easter lunch with my family!!

Happy Easter to those that celebrate it!

Weekend In Review

WHAT??????





























It's the invasion of the SOCKTOPUS!!!

Grace picked these up for me from IKEA....the PERFECT way to dry socks...of course Heidi isn't too happy, she can't knock the socks behind the dryer.....boo hiss!

The weather this weekend was GORGEOUS...of course we are back to cold temps and a freeze warning for tomorrow night!! Ahhh....Alabama weather!!

Between pulling a few weeks I managed to finish two socks for a total of 2 pair. The pair on the left are for me.....knit with Koigu sock yarn (my first time to use this yarn).....in the Groovy Socks pattern from Sock Pixie and this may be my new favorite pattern!!! Super fast, not much thinking involved....yep...I like it!! The pair on the right are a pair of garter rib socks knit with KnitPicks sock yarn for my DH.

The pulling of weeds (all 3 of them)...required a chocolate reward.....

I took this as a sign I should be knitting, ditched the weed pulling....(cute little bunny and sheep M&M's)!!

And cast on for another pair of socks...

Shocking I know!!

Mystery Parts.

And...here we go!

1. Angel or not, I will speak up, loudly if necessary to right wrongs.

2. If you show up with yarn you can have me any way you want me.

3. As my mother used to say, you're full of hmmm....I don't recall my mother telling me I was full of anything....perhaps I am in denial?? LOL!!!

4. I HAVE to take a shower after I'm done working out or doing something strenuous.

5. Even in the most crowded of rooms I feel self conscience.

6. Every Day is a day fraught with peril.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching ER as we lost power due to storms, tomorrow my plans include cleaning one flower bed (pacing myself..LOL!!)....and Sunday, I want to cook and knit, my two favorite Sunday afternoon activities!

Whiskers On Wednesday AND FO!!

If it is Wednesday, that means it is WHISKERS ON WEDNESDAY!!

After 6 days of recuperation from shoulder surgery, my DH is back at work!!

Not sure if Bella was waiving goodbye, best wishes on your first day back at work or if this is some international kitty symbol for "you are invading my space now LEAVE" message!! LOL!! Hmmmm....for some reason I don't think it was a "sweet" message! LOL!!

On my needles and a FO!!

I am finishing up two pairs of socks, should hopefully have them completed tonight or tomorrow, I have completed one sock and ready to start the mate.....I have OHHHH so many projects knocking around in my head that I want to get started on, just not enough hours in the day!!

Oh yes....my F.O. .....as in FUTURE OBJECT!! LOL!!

Blue Sky Alpaca cotton, so, so soft and destined to be Ophelia. I absolutely LOVE the cornflower blue color!!! This will be my first time to knit with cotton and hoping that Ophelia will play nicer than Juliet did!!!