Today is the day!

Mason-Dixon Knitting is having their Teeny Project Runway today and R has entered her design. The kid worked on this almost all weekend, except for a couple of hours of sleep Friday and Saturday nights. I would love to see her win, but it looks like some other designs are starting to pass her up. To everybody that has already voted for her, thank you. If you haven't voted - what are you waiting for?????

All Good Things Must Come To An End

What an eventful time it has been around here. Well, it's rare when it's not eventful! Spring is slowly 'springing' even though it's February. The daffodils are starting to bloom and are gorgeous. I just hope we don't get an ice storm. It normally happens just when they start blooming and reminds us that it's still winter out there people! Today I went down to cut daffodils so we could at least enjoy some of them.

R has entered the Mason-Dixon knitting contest. Their blog address should be over on the right, so you can go check out her entry as well as many others when they are on the blog. I think you're supposed to vote for your favorite - and I know you'll love hers, so go ahead and vote for hers. I would post a picture, but I don't know if I'm supposed to yet. If the contest doesn't start on their blog tonight, I think it will start tomorrow. We'll keep you posted. I will tell you that her model is Mr. Potato Head. Somehow I don't think he got asked to model too many designs.

Now to the title of today's blog....I went to the doctor for my regular blood work the week before last. It's so routine I just don't worry about it too much. When you're on medication, you just know they are going to check your liver function from time to time. Well, the doctor was checking me for all kinds of things and had been for the past few blood tests. Turns out the old Thyroid is giving up the ghost. Yep, it's dying. I was in shock. I would have cried - I'm a big time cry baby, especially at the doctors. I didn't though. I just sat there and asked just when did this happen and how did he know and why did it happen....yada yada yada. He said he had been testing for at least a year or more and each test was getting worse and worse. This last test showed what he thought, it was on its way out. It just happens. No, I'm not too young - I asked! So, another prescription at the drug store for me. My Dad also has this problem, so I guess I should have expected it. Does my Mom? No. Does my sister? No. I have high cholesterol like my Dad. Mom? No. Sister? No. I told the doctor if I developed prostate problems, I was making an appointment with him and inviting the National Enquirer along for the visit! He assured me that I would NOT develop prostate problems. He had better be right! :-) I told the kids when I got home about ye olde thyroid. My son offered to play taps on his trumpet and my daughter said, "rest in peace." Such sweet, caring kids.

Here's a picture R took last week or the week before. The sky was a gorgeous Carolina blue and the moon was just visible enough to look this pretty.

New Stuff

I got onto Patternworks website the other day and found their sock of the month club. Some of the things I like are: you can buy month by month and not commit to the entire year and it's really affordable if you consider how much this yarn costs per skein and it comes
with a free pattern. Well, it's supposed to come with a free pattern. They forgot to ship it to me, but said they would when I called. I'm anxious to try this stuff out, but I'll wait until the pattern gets here.

Here's a pair of finished socks. I love finished knitting! I used my same old sock pattern found in the Yarn Harlot's book 'Knitting Rules'. I love the pattern because it's almost mindless. The sock yarn is from Knit Picks and was a Christmas gift from my family. This was some of the yarn I was told to knit into socks for myself. So far I've knit two pairs and I really like them. I did these a little different than usual because I knit the cuff on one and then the cuff on the other. The leg on one and the leg on the other and so on. I like to do it that way because when I'm finished, I'm finished...no second sock syndrome here! It does tend to get monotonous when you are just knitting and knitting the legs and the feet, but, like I said, when they're finished, they're finished! (Oops, I started to say 'done' instead of finished, but my sixth grade teacher came back to haunt me. Mrs. Bryson used to say, "Cakes are done. Your work is finished." Somehow you just don't forget things like that!) I could have worn them today, but I wanted to take a picture before they got on the feet!

I really, really wish you could see this picture all blown up. R decided that she needed to shake Ginger's hand. I don't know why she felt the need. I don't know why she feels the need to do half of what she does, but it's not up to me to make sense of it all. Sometimes we just let her do whatever it is and then it makes sense to all of us. However, this didn't make sense at the time....doesn't make sense now....probably never will. Ginger however, enjoyed it as much as she could - which, as you can see, was not much! That poor, long suffering cat!

Today's blog is brought to you by the letter 'K'

My sister and I were talking yesterday about the high price of everything! She was on her cell phone calling from 'a major discount store' and I was asking how much this or that was and she and I would compare prices. She lives in Florida so the prices are a little different. I mentioned that I had seen a 10 pound bag of huge potatoes the other day at the grocery store and they cost $8.99! Then we got to talking about the price of eggs - no, not in China - but where she lives. She lives in a rural area and one of her neighbors sells eggs....a dozen for $1! Naturally she buys them from her neighbor! Yesterday she e-mailed me and the title of her e-mail was: One of these things is not like the others......

First of all, I think it's cool that they are all different colors. But look at the egg on the bottom left. Wow! She said it was HUGE! She asked the lady if she was raising ostriches now! Can you imagine the squawking in the henhouse when that egg was delivered? Unbelievable.

So, thank you, Kelly, for providing us with our blog today. 'K' is for Kelly. This blog was brought to you by the letter "K" and the number 'four' and the colors 'brown, white and green' and by one poor, sore chicken!

Here's My Surprise!

While RL was in Ireland, R and I begged him to bring back some 100% Irish wool. He tried to find a yarn shop and asked everybody from his Irish coworkers to the taxi driver. Finally, while walking through Newcastle, he found a wool shop and brought back some beautiful yarn for both of us. After he got back, I thought about this blog that I visit all the time: Celtic Memory Yarns. Jo, the wonderful woman who has this blog, lives in Ireland. While RL was in Northern Ireland and Jo lives in Southern Ireland, I thought maybe she would know of a wool shop up there. I figured it was either something she would know or could find out better than I could or it would be like asking someone in Florida if they knew of a yarn shop in Alaska! She said she would look around and let me know. Since several of RLs coworkers would be heading to Ireland, I thought maybe one of them would take mercy on my plea and drop into a wool shop for me and bring something great back for me. Jo was working on her end and I was waiting patiently on mine. She wrote and said she had some wool in her possession that was from Kerry Woolen Mills there in Ireland and she would send some to me. All she wanted in exchange was either some yarn from my stash I was willing to part with or some needles she couldn't readily get there. Since my stash consists mainly of Knit Picks or yarn that my family splurges on for gifts for me that I could never part with, I hit my LYS and found the needles in the sizes she asked for and let her know I was game for this deal if she was. This is what she sent me:

Three skeins of organic yarn, 400 meters each.

It smells wonderfully sheepy and I can't wait to work with it, but now I have to find just the right project for it. Three pairs of socks, I know already. But what pattern(s)? I can't wait! I'll wait until my current project is off the needles and then start thinking really, really seriously about it. It came on Valentine's Day, so it made my day very special! Gee, I guess some things are better than chocolate!

R got a huge order from Knit Picks today. If you haven't been there to check out there yarn sale, you really need to - unless of course you would rather by groceries!

Thank you Jo!!!!!!

What a Nice Valentine's Day We Had!

Although yesterday started off a little slow for us, it improved with time. R and L finished the baking frenzy they had started on the 13th and what a frenzy it was! The G-bombs were wonderful. L did most of the work on those. Of course the Buckeyes were also wonderful. It's difficult to eat just one, but it's not fun experiencing the sugar rush if you eat many more than that. RL came home from work with a dozen beautiful roses and made dinner. For dessert we had the terrific, completely made from scratch Boston Cream Pie that R made. She found the recipe in the February issue of Country Living. She worked her tushy off! She used a vanilla bean to get all the flavor for the homemade pudding. The cake was made with all kinds of wonderful 'cakey' ingredients and the chocolate....oh, the chocolate was the best. I don't have much experience with Boston Cream Pie because we just didn't have them very often when I was growing up. When R would turn to me with a question, I just drew a blank. She was definitely on her own.

But I don't need to worry about her. She makes do and gets the job done. She's fearless in the kitchen, just like her Dad. I like to follow directions a little too closely! Due to all this homemade goodness, the store bought chocolates are still sealed up tight.

I got the most wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday. I have to take pictures of it before I can really share it with you - so you'll just have to wait until tomorrow. I think it will be worth it. It wasn't really a big surprise to me because I was expecting something, but the something was much more than I could have ever thought it would be!

Tune in tomorrow - same bat time, same bat channel!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Look what I found on the computer chair this morning. Does the man know me or what??? Chocolate - which is always the right gift! A little lamb - which is also always the right gift. And, a very sweet card! What a nice treat to stumble upon first thing in the morning.

We had more snow last night after I posted. I think when R went out to measure it, we were around an inch. Now that doesn't sound like much to some of you in other parts of the country. However, here, it stops everything! School is closed for the day. Because we homeschool it doesn't really matter to us either way, but I am prepared for the typical 'snowday argument' I get everytime it snows. It appears there isn't much ice, if any, and that is great. The only problem I have around here is a lunatic daughter who likes to make footprints in the snow...without shoes...or socks. She gets it from her father. Honestly, I didn't know he was like that when I married him. It doesn't snow that often in Florida, so how was I to know he had this snow walking fetish?!?!? Nurture or nature? You decide.
The snow is melting very fast this morning because the sun is out and the sky is about a blue as it can get. I hate to see the snow leave because it is beautiful.

Yesterday R and L spent all day in the kitchen making chocolates for today. I think L may have sampled a few too many because he said he didn't care if he ever had chocolate again! Oh dear! Guess what I got him for Valentine's Day? I will personally take it upon myself to make sure his chocolate doesn't go to waste if he doesn't want it. As for the chocolates - they made buckeyes, something they call G-bombs (a recipe they got from Food Network) and chocolate covered strawberries, which R decorated as little tuxedos and L told her she had too much time on her hands. R was also working on some sort of cake. The kitchen is NOT a pretty sight this morning. I went to bed before it was all finished. I couldn't stand the mess or staying up all night!

Have a Happy Valentine's!

SNOW!!!!!!

It seems only logical for us to get snow tonight. This afternoon I noticed the daffodils were starting to bloom! Look how big some of those flakes are! Looks like popcorn falling from the sky. Beautiful! Hope it sticks.
Stay warm!

How Could I Forget????

Remember the Hallowig R made in purple last year? Well, she's struck again - this time with red. Whenever RL has something happen to him he feels is 'unjust', he tells us he feels like a 'red headed step child'. I don't know where that came from. I don't know what he's got against red headed step children. (I kind of feel sorry for red headed step children now.) Anywho, last week was kind of stressful, to say the least, and RL was feeling like - you guessed it - a red headed step child. R knew she had to make a red Hallowig for him. She diligently worked on that sucker and cranked it out in less than 48 hours. She presented it to RL, who, after a proper modeling session, promptly stuck it in his briefcase to share with a coworker the next day. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall, well, cubicle, when his coworker came around the corner and saw him wearing it! He said it created quit the riot. RL has a salt and pepper beard and to see him wearing it is definitely a sight to behold! No dignity involved whatsoever. However, would he willingly sit for a photo shoot? Nope. Actually, nobody would. Even Cindy Styrofoam head is hiding from me and that is saying alot!

One of Those Weeks

Ginger has the right idea. Enjoying the 'sunshine' from the lamp, vegging out without a care in the world. I might have to join her.

What a week this has been. Between all the crappy news - gotta love those politics - NOT, A reorganization at RLs workplace, bad news from his parents in Florida...well, it's been a week not to repeat!

In an attempt to get my mind off of everything, I ended up knitting this crappy little hat. I got the kit at my LYS. It was 50% off, so it's not like I spent big bucks on something I'm not wild about. I could rip off the leaf that looks like it's trying to swallow the pumpkin in one gulp. I haven't decided what to do with it yet. It's a baby hat and there aren't any babies in our neck of the woods, so I have plenty of time to decide what I want to do with it. Maybe Ginger will model it for us and we can decide then.

As for RLs Dad...well, we're not sure what to think. RLs Mom called on Wednesday and said that he had gone for tests - which were necessary since he had surgery due to the aneurysm. He has had one of the most remarkable recoveries they've ever seen, according to his doctor. However, before the surgery, an x-ray of his lungs was made and a spot was found. During the recent tests and x-rays of his lungs this past week, the spot has grown and is now referred to as a 'mass'. Although he hasn't smoked in years he started when he was about six (yes, six) and quit in his 60's. That's a heck of a long time to smoke. So we sit and wait until the end of this month for more results from a PET scan, I believe. So, once again, I ask for prayers on his behalf.

The stress level is a wee bit high around these parts, so I'm off to knit some socks and maybe do some laundry. Somehow I bet the socks win out!

Happy Groundhog Day!

According to what I've seen, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow. Six more weeks of winter, right? I guess as long as I have my knitting to keep me warm and RL doesn't have to travel anymore, it won't matter how long winter lasts. After I finished knitting my socks (mentioned in the last entry and being worn today! Great yarn! It feels so soft on my feet.) I decided to do some really mindless knitting. Since Morehouse Farm was having a terrific sale, I ordered their Bow Tie Scarf. (Check with them every Monday. The put five items on sale for good prices.) I can't remember what the colorway is, but it reminds me of fall. I wasn't paying any attention to the pattern when I ordered it, so I was surprised it was straight knitting, I felt like it was a gift from above. I needed a plan old garter stitch scarf to help my knitting funk!

It looks a little ragged in this above picture. Mainly because R has put it on the cat, tied it in every possible way, worn it every possible minute of every possible day or put it on me to wear when she is bathing. I didn't realize how ratty it looked until I starting taking pictures of it. Might have to wash and block this baby after all.

When I finished this project, I moved on to a project I already had the yarn for in my stash since last summer, at least, and the pattern. I needed something a wee bit more than garter stitch, but not too wild. This pattern came from my pattern a day knitting calendar. Shoot! I can't find the pattern to tell you the name. Oh well, I can tell you it's a ten cable baby hat and was a breeze to make. A little more complicated than garter stitch, but still easy enough to make it a 'take along' project. It's made from Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran - less than one skein too! That's a great deal! I started in the evening of January 31st, worked on it a little while RL was at the doctor and then finished it last night! I don't really have a specific baby in mind for this project, but our neighbors are trying to adopt and I figured maybe I should get prepared just in case this is the year they get a baby!

Knitting's not the only thing going on around here. R found this pattern in the same magazine she found the notebook cover from the previous entry. She's more daring when it comes to sewing than I am and jumped in with both feet. She did a beautiful job too. She told me she had the fabric to make mine, so I'm waiting.....and waiting....and waiting.....hopefully it won't be too long. Hopefully she's not wanting me to make it myself! That has been known to happen around here.

Believe me, this picture does not do this little bag justice. She did a great job on it!

Happy Groundhog Day!