25 February, 2013

Time Marches On

Wow. I think I forgot I had a blog for a little while. Life here is going well. We are trying to get the house back to better than normal for Sarge's homecoming. On top of that, I am also trying to get both cars running properly before he gets home. It's been a crazy month!
I did finish a couple of sweaters while all of this has been going on.
First, The Calligraphy. (ravelry link)

Without buttons:
After blocking

And buttons sewn on:
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The yarn is North Hampton Sport in Natural and the buttons are beach stones. I love the way it fits!

Second is Little Bear's Gramps (ravelry link)

The knitting on this was done a while ago, I was just waiting to find the perfect buttons. I think I found them.

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The yarn is Patons classic wool in marine and chocolate. The buttons are handmade leather look.

Back to cleaning!!

05 January, 2013

Happy 21st!

Boo turns 21 today.

First "Legal" drink
Boo turns 21

and her 2nd
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I'm glad she wanted to have lunch with me.
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Happy birthday!

21 December, 2012

Blessed Solstice!

One of my favorite days of the year! I never knew I loved this day so much until I moved to Michigan. It is the day we start getting the sun back.
Blessed be!

27 November, 2012

Thank you my friends

After news I received tonight, I thought about what to post on here.
My online friendships are so much more than just online friendships. I think anyone who reads this blog will understand what I mean by that.
In 1996 this poem came out on the inter-webs:

Friends without Faces...
We sit and we type, and we stare at our screensWe can't help but wonder what all of this means.With mouse in hand ...we roam through this maze,On an infinite search...lost in a daze.
We chat with each other, we type all our woesAt times we'll band together to gang up on our foes.We wait for somebody, to type out our nameWe want recognition, but it is always the same.
Soon friendships are formed - but - why we don't know,But some of these friendships, will flourish and grow.We give kisses and hugs, and sometimes we'll flirt,In IMs we chat deeply, and reveal why we hurt.
Why is it on screen, we are so easily bold,Telling our secrets, that have never been told.The answer is simple, it is as clear as a bell,We all have our problems, and need someone to tell.
We can't tell real people, but tell someone we mustSo we turn to our 'puters ...and to those we can trust.Even though it sounds crazy...the truth still remains, Most of my "friends" have no faces...and odd little names.
by Rusty Black
Today, we have web cams, skype, Google+ and so much more than IM's, but we still don't know the stories behind every Internet name we come across.

I am blessed to have each of you in my life.
Thank you.

21 November, 2012

HodgePodge Wednesday

Thank you Joyce for the list of questions each week.

1. Turkey-love it or leave it? White meat or dark? What's your favorite thing to make using leftover turkey?
I love turkey. Not as much as my husband loves it, but it is a go to meal a couple times a year for us.
I like the breast for eating plain or sandwiches and the dark meat for casseroles.

2. Gotta burn off all those carbs the day after a holiday feast so which would you rather do-run a 10K or climb a mountain?

I do not run or climb, so neither. I would walk a 10k, if that counts.

3. Do you feel like social networking has made your relationships better or worse? Explain.

With a husband who has been gone more than home for the last few years, I would say social networking has made my relationships better. We no longer have to wait for snail mail to communicate. We can hop on Google+ and skype now, it used to be MSN messenger that kept us together. I have also met a lot  people from the interwebs via social networking, who have become dear friends in real life.

4. How do you find and express gratitude for the hard things in your life?

The hard things have made me struggle, but have also made me stronger. I look back on the hard times in my life (and some going on now) and realize I am better because of them.

5. In the US, the day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed 'Black Friday'. Is most of your holiday shopping done live and in person, or is it done more through the magic of the Internet? How do you feel about stores opening at midnight Thanksgiving night? Will you be out amongst the masses on Friday?

I understand the fun of the hunt for a bargain. There have been times in my life that Christmas would not have happened with presents if I hadn't shopped on Black Friday. My kids are now at this point in their lives. I will be out on Thursday at 8pm to get one item I need at a good price (my steam cleaner broke and $100 off the regular price works for me). I have worked retail and I have been the shopper. I don't live in a huge city where people get crazy on the day. We all stand in line, tell stories, talk about turkey or the bargains we are after. It is calm and fun. I have to say though, I never liked the 3am get up, so the 8pm works better for me. However, we are not a family that has to have our special dinner at a certain time or on a certain day. Yeah- Thanksgiving will be celebrated in March or April again next year- as will Christmas.

6. Speaking of the color black-which black item in your wardrobe would you say is your favorite?

A black long sleeve tee shirt that fits me perfectly.

7. What do you appreciate about your life today?

That my immediate family will be with me today for dinner. My children and grandchildren will be here, we will do our big dinner, then settle in to watch the Classics (Charlie Brown) after.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This week has been all about the holidays. I am normally a one holiday at a time person, but with Sarge overseas and a 3-4 week shipping time, I had to plan early. Listeners of my podcast have been knitting, sewing and buying items to be sent to the troops for the holidays. Sarge is in an area that there are very few Americans. We decided to get each of them a box, what we called Santa sacks, for the holidays.
Yesterday Boo and I gathered all the items together and packed boxes and wrote out 36 customs forms (UGH!)
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The listeners even donated the shipping fees!!
I am thankful every day for these people in my life and that they are so willing to help my husband and his unit each time he deploys.
Sarge is thanking you as well (photo at last weeks retreat)
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Hope everyone has a blessed and easy holiday tomorrow.

02 November, 2012

Combat Knitters

Back in early September, Sarge contacted me about a soldier who was needing some knitting stuff. He said she was stuck in the sandbox without needles or yarn. Naturally, I could not let this go on, so I put out a call on my podcast, Twitter, Plurk and Ravelry and the donations came in
Yarn
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Project bags
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Notions and needles
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I mailed it all over in 6 boxes (and one person from the UK mailed another box)
After a couple of weeks, I received this photo in an email
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Yes, they are happy!!
Since then, they have figured out how to use the ball winder and swift
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Given yarn out to others who knit, crochet or want to learn
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Have been learning to knit (Or crochet)
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and relaxing the best way I know
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Thank you to everyone who helped me out with my call for Knitter 911.
I hope these pictures bring you as big a smile as they have brought me
For more photos


04 October, 2012

Jammie Pants!

It took two days and lots of frustrations with my sewing machine, but I now have a new pair of PJ pants.
I used this pattern

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and cut everything out like I was supposed to

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Only right side out. Oops!

I set up the sewing machine and sat down to sew.
I had a few problems and asked friends on Plurk for help and discovered that I put my bobbin in backwards. Who knew that something as small as this
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Would drive me to drink!

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See all those strings, yeah. I quit for the night!

The next day I was off an going with very little problems.
I had never done an inseam before, so the curve threw me a bit

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But everything got all sewn up.

I even made my first button holes.

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I still need to get some ribbon to put in the pants for a draw string, but they fit great.

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What? Did you really expect a picture of me in the pants? Yeah, that's not happening!