What's On Your Door?

When we installed a new front door, we made sure we had a metal one. It's very convenient. We can leave notes on the magnetic white board. We can stick pictures of our loved ones on it so we will remember them as we come and go. There's a memo pad there if you find yourself needing a sheet of paper on the way out. And, as I recently found out, it's a place for the children to leave 'important messages' for us. This is what I found the other day upon walking into the livingroom:

I had gone to bed before the kids. They are late, late night people and I am finding out that I definitely do not fall into the same category. Apparently, while in the kitchen, the kids saw an interesting specimen crawl out from under the cabinet in the kitchen. They were not sure if it was a black widow, but when in doubt, assume it is - or that was their motto.R drew the above wanted poster on the white board.
L wrote the note, or should I say news flash. The signature on the bottom answered a lot of unanswered questions I had...like who really is in charge in this house. We all knew the answer, but I was in denial.

On a happier note, I got some sewing finished. This isn't the best of pics, but you can make out what it is. I saw this kit on sale at Michael's for $7. I couldn't buy the pattern and the fabric for that, so I jumped on it. I still have to put a button or snap on the flap, but other than that I'm good to go.
Look who's making their come back! I love those hostas! I think we counted thirteen in this little area and then I have four more by the birdbath.
The azalea's down by the drive way are in full bloom too. The picture doesn't do their color justice - at all!
I also found this on my way down to the mailbox. Thought it was a cool picture, so that's why I'm sharing it.

On the knitting front, a pair of socks are in the works. R has a really neat knitting pattern she's creating. As for the family...we are waiting to hear from another doctor in Gainesville regarding RLs Dad. Surgery may be an option. We can only hope and pray that the right decisions will be made.

Socks Hot Off the Needles

It took about a week, but these babies are finished. I dug through the stash and found this old Knit Picks colorway. I used the generic sock pattern - which I should have memorized by now. I thought this was a nice spring color. The photo below shows how there's just a hint of purple between the green and pink stripe. I like those little surprise colors!
The dogwoods in our neighbors yard are in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous. Spring is such a pretty time of year in North Carolina.

A recent trip to Knit Picky brought this little fellow to our attention. His name is Buster. When I was six, I broke my right shin playing miniature golf. It's a gift, what can I tell ya! When I was seven, I broke my right shin playing at a friend's house. When I was 26, I broke my right foot when a porch swing I was sitting on fell on it - it wasn't properly in the ceiling. A few years later I walked across the room with a load of laundry I couldn't see over and rammed my right foot into a toy box causing a stress fracture. Three years ago, I fell while walking for exercise and it caused a stress fracture - repeat after me - in my right foot. When we found Buster at the yarn store, I felt a connection. The kids picked up on it right away and said I needed him. I told them if it was the right leg that was broken, I would buy it. What do you know - Buster's right leg was broken so he came home with us!

I feel his pain.

Cakes and Casting On

While I was fretting over what to cast on next, R was fretting over how to decorate a birthday cake. Years ago R met a little girl in Girl Scouts. She has the nicest family and we have slowly become friends. R also taught their youngest daughter how to knit. When they found out R was a cake decorator, they thought they would give her a try. I guess she's their official decorator now, because we get a call every few months for a birthday cake. Sometimes they want a cake for no reason at all which allows R to get as creative as she wants. They normally give her free reign anyway and that lets her imagination go as wild as it can, which is pretty wild sometimes! This year she decided on a pickup truck with flowers in the back of it. I thought it turned out very cute!

Last year's cake had dogwood blooms all over it. Can you tell that this family owns a landscaping business?!?!?!
I decided to cast on the same old same old, generic sock pattern in a Knit Picks colorway from a few years ago. I'm trying to use my stash and not our money!

The house is open today because we are in the 70's. The wonderful temperatures shouldn't last long so I'm enjoying having the house open for the day. Apparently I'm not the only one enjoying it. If this cat got any more relaxed, she'd look boneless!

Gatlinburg

In the last post I mentioned a trip to Gatlinburg, but I forgot to show some pictures. R was the official photographer of the Gatlinburg adventure. (Although 24 pictures were taken, the place that developed the pictures deemed only 12 of them worthy to be developed. We are going to attempt to take them somewhere else to see if they will do the rest of them so maybe you'll see more in the near future.) The above photo was taken at Cades Cove.
Here are some wild turkeys. They were everywhere! We even have some pictures of deer that were taken from the car, but I haven't figured out how to get them cropped the way I want. I will have to call on one of my computer geniuses - the kids - to take care of that.
Here's some of the fibery goodness that R bought at the Smoky Mountain Spinnery. As you can see, half of it is spun and half is not. It's strange how the unspun looks more colorful than the spun. Even the spinner commented on that.
Look! Spring has sprung and the dogwoods have started blooming! What a pretty combo.

I'm trying to figure out the next project for my knitting pleasure. It will probably be socks - what else would it be? R informed me that if I kept more than one project going at the same time I wouldn't have this lull. I'm sure you're familiar with it - going through the stash and the patterns, trying to find just the right project to start next. Meanwhile my hands are saying, "Find something to knit. NOW!" I'm off to find something knit. Wish me luck!

There's a Dryer in the House! YES!

RL, the kids and I headed out to find a deal on a dryer the day after our other dryer died. Lucky for us, Home Depot and Lowes are across the street from one another. First a trip to Home Depot. We found a nice dryer but would have to wait four days for delivery. For this family of four - that would have been truly detrimental. I don't know what happens to the towels in this place, but they get dirty very fast. The kids and I have just a few pairs of jeans and we have to do wash at the very least every two to three days. (Well, we could just stay home with the blinds closed until the laundry was caught up, but that's just not right.) We headed over to Lowes and found a couple of dryers there that we were interested in. Of course the cheapest one was currently sold out. They had a dryer like our old one (but it worked!), but it was discontinued. However - do I have a deal for you! - our salesperson gave us $50 off. We took it home with us and have had wonderfully dry clothes ever since. It's amazing what pleases me these days. So sad.

Not only has Ginger been working on my socks, she is using them for a pillow. R caught this picture the other day of a totally relaxed cat. Her head is cradled right between needles. How she did that, I'll never know!

Aha! Caught in the act, but looking quite innocent!

I tried something different with this pair of socks. I decided to reinforce the heels. Someone, who will remain unnamed - MOM - goes through the heels of her socks like, well, I don't know what. I am experimenting with different reinforcing methods. She suggested kevlar, but I don't know if they sell that in yarn form..... I like the way the heels looks different with the reinforcement yarn in them.
Here they are with a very inaccurate depiction of their color. The skeins have the same dyelot and in this picture they look the same. However, in person - nope. The sock on the left is darker. I used the yarn I got for Easter - Plymouth Yarn Co. Happy Feet. I liked the yarn just fine and the socks are very, very comfortable. I thought it was odd how the pattern worked up different in each sock. Oh well. I know it doesn't sound like it, but I really do like them.

Isn't my new little lamb adorable? This came from the Apple Barn in Gatlinburg. He just had to come home and live with all the other little sheep in my collection!

This also is from Gatlinburg and had to come join my sock yarn collection. Sheepy goodness from the Smoky Mountain Spinnery. It's definitely medieval blue. I took lots of pictures, but this one is probably the closest. It's kettle dyed so there are variations in the blue. I've got to find a special pattern for this yarn!

Okay, you're all caught up now. Keep praying for RLs Dad. His appointment is the 15th and we are all very anxious and prayerful for good news.