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I am not sure how we always rope Carol into posing for pictures with our knits, but she never seems to mind.  This Log Cabin Lovely is my friend Kathy's creation.  She's sending it down south.  Kathy's from Georgia and she's a peach.  She knits sweaters that fit her.....and she knits Log Cabins when I cave.  She knits on the train.  She loves trains.   Thanks for the help with today's post Kath. I have deconstucted the prototype hat  after Fireman quickly shook his head and said what I knew all along.   Time to cast on  anew and try it all over again.  I don't mind.  I knit in Lucy Lou's room and watch the kitten babies.  It is better than TV.... What's better than TV in your life?

Zach shot this picture two nights ago.  This is Fixie with mommy Lucy Lou.  Fixie is always crying and fussing. She is the biggest kitten of the litter.  She must be closest to her mom's face and she must have the nipple closest to her mom's face too.  She's big she's bossy and she gets her way.  Ahhh Nature.  She happens to be very very cute too.  Lucy babies her.  I'm glad.  Fixie was the first born and Lucy ignored her.   Lucy had labored long and hard and had 5 more kittens to deliver.  I was her kitty-natal nurse and had to dry, stimulate and tear her cord from the placenta.  Good thing she was fiesty.   Lucy actually just dropped each baby kitten and walked away after a few minutes licking them.   It wasn't until after number 4 that she laid down by them and nursed.    When Pippa had her litter, the first one I witnessed, she was a kitten birthing machine.  She did it all and she did ...

I went for a long walk outside this morning.  This is momentous as I cannot recall the last time I walked outside since before Halloween.  It felt wonderful.  What a treat for today.  I am 20 inches into my blanket and I still love it.  Easy stockinette, with a color change here and there.  I'm plugging along; I don't want to stop for fear I'll leave it by itself to get into trouble.  The aqua color is all done.   I only wanted a splash of aqua to  perk up the darker colors.   Fireman found a new project. I am sooooooo excited about it.  He is taking some of the bookshelves down and making a desk for ME!!!  (Well, for him too)  I"ve never had my OWN space in the house. Fireman would laugh and argue that the house is ALL mine the way the yarn finds it way about. Seriously, he has a big workbench and a big garage he putters in.  We went to see Silver Linings Playbook yester...

  That's right.  I have no business looking at this Pattern.   I have a blanket that is not at the halfway point yet. I have A sock and a -half-  knitted, and Zach has asked for a new winter hat.  Seems his friend's dog ate one of his favorites. His homework was apparently spared.    I love this winter hoodie however, and it seems to be calling my name.  Not to mention that I have 25.00 in a punch card coming from Mosaic Yarn Studio.   I am also spending an awful lot of time completely mesmerized by the Lucy Lou Litter.  They've all been named.  Sprocket Spinner Bonk and  Fixie. (Bonk is when a cyclist has to quit a hard race....he "bonked" A Fixie is a fixed gear bike. )  All the kittens are over 6 ounces already on day 3 of life.   Fixie is the biggest, the loudest, the most active.  I think she's a girl..... I have yet to check for their sexes.  I am not...

  First Let me thank everyone who ordered during my Avon online party.   I received lovely Hostess gifts from Karen today. A big selection of body wash, body lotions, shower gels and deodorant.  I love all those goodies.  Karen is a great Rep and if in the future you find yourself looking for an Avon representative you know I'd recommend her.  I also ordered a few things during my party:  I LOVE the cuticle conditioning pen.  My cuticles are terrible in the winter.  I love their lip stains.  Finally, Avon sells some things for kids now.  I ordered an adorable lady bug towel for my great niece.  It is even cuter in person;  the hood is the black antennae part of the bug.  So Ding Dong, my party is over.   This week involved some new recipes tested in the Irisheyes kitchen.  The Sweet and Sour Cabbage soup was good, but a tad too strong in the vinegar department.  (and we love vineg...

Lucy Lou and her 4 kittens are thriving this morning.  It was a rough go yesterday.  She had trouble laboring.   The last two of the 6 kittens were born much later than the others and were dead.  Kitty angels.  Circle of life and all that.   But the 4 that were born alive are  thriving this morning and  Lucy Lou is feeling great.  She's eating and drinking and running to meet me at the door.  Then she runs back to show me her babies... 2 grey 2 black.  Even though I've seen many babies born, in my nursing career, it is always a thrill.   This is my third time bearing witness to cats give birth.   I'll really enjoy knitting in the NURSERY room today watching all the kittens and their sweet momma.   Thanks for all the well wishes.  I haven't looked to see if they are girls or boys yet....I like to stay hands off in the beginning.   We can just bring her pink and blue flowers. ...

  I am in love with Pier One flameless candles.  I just found out they also have timers on them.  I purchased the one above for my sister-in-laws birthday.  They even have scents.  Why didnt' I think up these candles?  Safe, beautiful and they last forever.  I think they are reasonably priced too, at 14.95.   This lovely Madonna and Child was my Christmas gift from friend Jennifer, last night.  I think it is lovely.  Sometimes Holy things are spooky to me.  My great aunt and my Grandma lived together after their husbands'  died.  They had a picture of Jesus with a crown of thorns and his heart showing with thorns around it too.  I think It is the Sacred Heart of Jesus depiction. It creeped me out as a child. I hated to even walk past it in their hallway !  This statue is soft and lovely.  Even the Babe's hands and fingers are expressive and joyful.  Thanks Jen even though you don't read ...

Al is modeling her gift hat.  This is a late Christmas finish for one of her most favorite Virginia ER nurse friends, Keisha.   I recognize the pattern from a cowl she knitted last year. I wonder if she just adapted it to a hat.  AL?  When you wake up from nights can you give us the pattern, yarn and yardage please?? I"ll be giving my the last of my Christmas 2012 gifts tonight at my girlfriend Jen's house.  I will be gifting some Life is Good shawlette scarves that I knitted last winter.   We never manage to get together until well after the Holidays are over. We celebrate two of their January birthdays at the same time.   ` The trouble with knitting the blanket for my family is just this: I don't have much new knitting to show on the blogola.  Kitten WATCH: Lucy Lou is all too comfortable.  I don't suspect there will be babies today but anything is possible.   I'm guessing 5 babies, Fireman is guessing 6. ...

  It is that time of year again...Kitten season is upon us.  Seems folks still aren't getting their cats spayed and neutered... Meet Lucy Lou.  She's my new houseguest.  She hasn't stopped purring since we brought her home yesterday. We have already bonded... What's your guess?  How many kittens are in that enormous belly? and when will she deliver them?  I can see them moving under her skin. She hasn't eaten more than a morsel since she arrived, either... sometimes that means labor will start soon.... While we wait for kittens, I'm winding yarn for the Blanket.  Maybe someone should boil some water..... (have you seen kittens or puppies born?)

  If you know MajorJennifer and her dog Wilma, you will see a resemblance in the Tank image today.  Wilma always has her tongue out.... Tank usually does not.   I finished one Cherry Tree sock yesterday.   There is a whole lot of knitting going on as my new work schedule is feast or famine.  When you are Resource team or Float pool, you work more when the census is high and you don't work at all when it is low.   This is a big change for me. If you are wondering how I am doing off the night shift, wonder no more.  I'm lovin it! My fellow blogger Donna over at QUIET LIFE often posts landscape images.  Fireman and I were out in the country on Sunday and the sky was all Feather and Fan.... I can give a few other fellow blogger shout outs today: Channon: Did you like the First Lady's boots? Araignee:  You have me thinking about mother/baby gifts.  I am thinking matching hats would be easier than matchin...

  While I'd never be President, I love history and it is fun to imagine living in the White House.    *There would be knitting baskets, red white and blue, in many of the rooms of the White House.   I think I'd have them designed to look like fishing baskets.... *I wouldn't use the basketball court, but The pool would get lots of use.   Of course, I'd have a couple of golden retrievers and they would be invited to swim with me in the pool.   I'd have my friend Gee train the dogs and then I'd love to work them and give them treats.. White house dog treats.... *There are 35 bathrooms in the White House.  I would insist on lovely foam soap in each one of them. I love soaps that foam.   Best part of all, I wouldn't have to clean any of them.  *Presidents have loved jelly beans, pretzels and popcorn.  Andrew Johnson loved popcorn.   My White House popcorn would be hull-less and I love white popcorn.   ...

I found this wallet at the resale shop last weekend.  It is so vintage....I imagine  Lucille Ball went shopping with a wallet like this one.   The old Lucy and Ethel black and white shows are my favorite.   They always made me laugh.  Laughing is good when I'm a bit under the weather.   I'm certain Tank snickers when I drop a stitch.    Cat's are like that... If my back pain continues through the weekend I'll need more comic relief.  I've never seen Caddyshack.....I've never seen Animal House... are these BOY movies?   DO you have any funny movies that Tank and I might enjoy while I drop a few stitches today? 

  If anyone is interested in purchasing Avon products, I'm having a Eparty.  Karen is my friend and Ding Dong, I mean Avon representative.   I love their Silk Glove for my hands and I love their watches.... weird I know. If you would like an invite to the eparty send me an email with your email and I'll get your invite going.  (harpnut@gmail.com) I'm serving pretend snacks at the party...... Pretend bagels with cream cheese Pretend Donuts Pretend Irish Soda Bread Pretend Mimosas Thanks again for the well wishes.  I have an infection but no kidney stone, so that is good. I am able to sit very still and knit my blanket....and the pain is beginning to subside..... Happy Friday to you and thanks for stopping in

Roasted Balsamic Sweet Potatoes ¼ cup decent balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp packed dark brown sugar ¼ cup butter 1 tsp salt 3-4 large sweet potatoes peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch cubes Heat oven to 400 degrees. In large skillet bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Reduce till sauce starts to thicken. Add butter and salt. Over medium heat mix till even. Place potatoes in pan and toss with sauce. Spread mixture into a baking pan and roast stirring occasionally till potatoes are slightly browned on edges, about 40 minutes. Serve immediately.

  I'll steal a theme from Channon this morning.  We'll call it Thankful Thursday, okay?  Thankful for all your well wishes....keep them coming please.   Thankful for Katherine's tip on the Salon Pas patches...they are so comforting.    Thankful for Fireman taking good care of me.  He served dessert last night ......this is the Crockpot cake with a scoop of ice cream. I like the two vest patterns that I' ve posted today.  The top is Interweave's pattern the bottom is YarnBarn's.   I saw a long down vest the other day in the hospital gift shop.   I have short vests that I wear on mild winterdays, but I've never seen a long one.  I loved it.   I think it had a hood too.   Have you seen a coat/vest in down lately?  Aren't they cute?

  Oh boy.  I'm having back/flank pain this morning.  All my plans for today are on hold..... Not sure what this is all about. Fireman and Al says its muscular.....I hope they are right.   Beatles is happy I'm hanging around the house.  Im missing a nurse friend's retirement luncheon at Cheesecake Factory...this doubles my pain..... I do think I can Knit, however, so all is not lost.  TO thank you for coming over today for a blogvisit, I'll post another recipe favorite : This is not my recipe and I've lost the author...sorry! Lemonade Chicken Grease a baking dish Place several boneless skinless chicken breasts in the dish.  Mix 6 oz frozen lemonade with 1/3 cup soy sauce and 1 tsp garlic.  Pour the liquid over the chicken.  Top with Pineapple slices.  Cover with foil.   Uncover the last 10 minutes  Bake at 350 and 40 minutes Serve over rice.  I made this so often for Al and Zach they ...

  First some knitting......... This is Karen's cowl for her daughter.  Karen and I decided we probably all have this Homespun somewhere in our stash..I always have a skein of Homespun somewhere.... don't  you?  It is kind of a knitter staple in our knitter cabinet......like dried oregano....or something Karen modeling the unfinished cowl.... I can see how gorgeous the pattern makes this textured yarn knit up.   Karen has a knack for many things Yarn.     Now for something completely different.  (Monty Python Fans unite)   Remember when we thought Monty Python was wildly irreverent?   Fireman and I saw the Book of Mormon last week.....there is a good message in the madness... but oh the madness is not for everyone.     I've digressed again....... Because I am a very very very monogamous knitter and I'm knitting a big blanket.....I fear I won't have much to show you in the coming days...so  I will...

  There once was a girl who loved cats she loved them all - that was just that This Guy is now Minion and in our opinion we hope he grows old and grows fat.  Welcome AL's Virginian kittycat.... he says Meow'll  Friend and AVON woman Karen, came over yesterday and gave me the honest news.  My log cabin was not going well.  So I ripped it out.  Well she ripped it out.  Then I Tried another method and ripped it out this morning.  I shall knit the above type throw, found on Ravelry.  I'll modify the pattern of course.  I didn't envision so much freakin froggin on my first weekend off.. but that's okay. Karen says good knitters do a lot of rippin' (If anyone needs an AVON rep.  Karen's awesome just let me know and I"ll give you her link) So welcome Minion, and welcome new throw pattern. WHEEEEEEE!   I slept like a baby all night. 

 * Starbucks yesterday with old Friend Helen and new Sock knitting.  * Log Cabin block knitting.   I'm just getting started....... I can guarantee there won't be any: Housecleaning Dusting Car washing Checkbook balancing and the like!  What Wont there be in your weekend?

  This was the note on the sidewalk the morning Al and Nathan arrived home for Christmas.   Aren't I funny?     Al and Tank reunited.   Let's be clear, Al had this haircut way before that girl everyone says she looks like did... Ann somebody or other... My kids got their  love of boots from me.  Santa brought Al the Minnetonka's she'd been wanting for a long time. Zach bought his boots in Mexico...and I would steal them if only they would fit me..... Log Cabin Blanket is coming along nicely now.  I'm at peace with the pattern.  I am off until Monday.  LIFE IS GOOD! now any suggestions for celebrating my first weekend off ????

This is the B'hai Temple at night.   The Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, is the oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world, and the only one in the United States.  Wikipedia I can see the Temple in the wee hours of the morning as the sun rises from inside the hospital.  It is a beautiful building.  My little camera didn't do too badly; you get the idea.    I dont know how this image became the way it is...but I love it. I just point and shoot my camera and it does or doesnt do the rest.  This one rocked, I think.  ON my list today: Announce my winner of the Night Shift Contest: Suburban Prep. Leslie that's you right?? Send me an email please! Hit the resale shop down the block. I have a few things in mind..... Knit knit knit the log Cabin ...Im loving the new block design with less color changes...its a GO Wait to hear if Al's new kitten adoption went through in Virginia. Finge...

Enough Said....... I am the Boss of my knitting.   I changed my Log Cabin mind. I started over last night. I am knitting a modified Mason Dixon Log Cabin so I don't have such frequent color changes, and so many ends to weave in.... stay tuned Today's List is New Things  (or products that are new to me) that get the thumbs up : *Pakoras.  Friend Kath made them for us when we visited her in LA.  Fireman made them the other night..... absolutely delishy corny goodness *Crock pot Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal Its all about the PAM coating for me.... makes the clean up so easy.   *DavidsTea thermometer: Zach says it is awesome. You clip it on and it has preset steeping times for all their teas.  Just listen for the beep! *Food.com's Very Quick Homemade Dinner Rolls: awesome. They are  yeast rolls that you don't have to knead.  The are pinch sweet.  They are fantastic.  *Oh this should include knitting find...

Rachel added some LOVE to the knit necklace prize.  It is so lovely.   You still have a chance to win by telling us when was the last time you stayed up all night.  In addition to the necklace there will be really good COFFEE /TEA related items for the knit winner.     Contest ends Wednesday at zero dark thirty....

  Tank lays this way when he wants me to scratch his armpits.  This is classified information.  I learned this after many weeks of Tank living with me.  Sometimes it takes a bit to learn where ones' favorite spots are... Can you see his Semi-Siamese genes?   The Log Cabin is laying this way this morning.  I am knitting with "simplicity" by HiKoo a skacel yarn. Merino Superwash, Acrylic, Nylon Blend.  It is a little splitty but not bad.  I wish the pattern had more than 8 rows per color section.  I am lazy and I don't like changing colors so often.  I asked at Mosaic, for a lightweight worsted. Kathy at Mosiac suggested this yarn.  I do think it is the perfect weight. It hasn't hurt my arm or wrists at all yet.  I love lists.   Today's list is all about cabins: because they are our favorite Spots *My father had a cabin off Highway 51 near Minocqua.  It was our favorite pla...

IN celebration of the end of NIGHT Shift, here's a little contest.  This pretty knit necklace made by Hippy Chick at  StinkR (etsy) will be part of the prize.  There will be other goodness in the mail for the winner.  TO enter:  Just tell me the last time you were up ALL night.....

Our little Ice Globes are lasting nicely in the  icy cold Chicago weather.   I think they are cheery.   Here are my colors for the Log Cabin Blanket. Oh you cannot see the forest green in there too.   Picture that okay? Lots of bloggers did a 2012 recap so I'll join in  as it is not yet The Epiphany..... 2012: Biggest accomplishment:  hard to say. I have to pick between 10 flights in 3 months or Going vegetarian and making my stomach feel oh so much better or  Finishing  3 plus years of Weekend Night Program at the Hospital.  Best Movie:  Buck.   This is not to be confused with UNCLE BUCK. Best Surprise in Life: Allison falls in love with Nathan Best happy ending:  Fosters Puddy and Babka survive and thrive in the end. Best addition: Tank comes to live with us and comes to love us...slowly Best knit event: Well I did not knit 13 pairs of socks in 2012, but I did knit 6 pairs. Best piz...