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Showing posts from September, 2016

Keep Your Hat On

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  A good hat can mean the difference between a hike and a dash.  I like my ears covered.  I knitted a CAPUCINE for myself earlier this year.  Now, I'm knitting one for a little one. They are very easy to knit and can be done on straights for half the hat.  This gives my wrists a break.   Highly recommended hat!  My sister Patti Ann has taken up crochet.  She makes these darling hats in Arizona.  Aren't they cute?   Wisconsin weather forecasts include the RIDING forecast, for all the motorcycle fans.  Does your weather feature a local forecast twist? I wont be riding any bikes, Harleys, horses, golf carts  or the like until my tailbone is well healed.  Week 6 and I'm noticing improvement.  So grateful it wasnt' my arms!  (Did I not tell you?  I was standing on a kitchen chair the day before my birthday in august cleaning out a cabinet.  I was wear sandals.  I lost my balance and fell from the chair to the floor right on my tailbone....diagnosis: Pa

Photos : Lake Geneva

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  You know this face....   Cute beach pup    On the lake walk last night   For Channon.  This gal wears and loves LuLaRoe tights. My toes are cold.  It's fall!

Gifty Yarn!

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  Kim totally spoiled me with my Runner up  Win from Hunks and Chicks. That's koigu in purple, adorable cat rescue yellow yarn, Regia in blue and a fun multi in non wool.  She also gifted me the linens below. What??? I know.  Right?  (that's what all the young ones say? "Iknow.....Right?" ) Oh and there were more goodies, including makeup! Stitch markers and wool wash.  all for Kirsten Bell who FIREMAN told me I should nominate.  I'm fairly sure she was my winning nominee. So, in the moving department,  We have been trying to help our forest.  We have been covering up, spraying our clothes with Deep WOODS off and chopping down buckthorn.  I want a healthy woods.   How can it be magical if its full of buckthorn? We let some light in to an Oak Tree sapling.  We also gave some space to some Concolor Firs. There is a HUGE tree I have to show you soon from the woods.  How do you keep your woods healthy? 

Ordinary Thoughts ....and a knit FINISH

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I'm wondering:  if Zach is eating enough in Mexico.  His face is thin.  (Fireman said I needed to stop feeding him baked goods  when he lived at home, but what's a mother for? )  I'm thanking God: that Zach is having a fantastic time in Chiapas.     I'm grateful for: the barnwood and here's the finished headboard. (My pillows look sorry.  But we do sleep in our bed it is not just for show!)   I'm seeing: how the corn changes as the fall begins. (this country business is as if I walked through the door in the Wizard of OZ) There is beauty on a vast scape everywhere. )   I'm Comparing the size of Beatles next to Fezzik.  10lb difference.  (The neighbors who have come to our door are astounded at his size, we are just used to living with His Giantness)   I'm hearing: the leaves in the wind having a big old party as they hang on for a few more weeks before they fall.  I'm planning: to make my own tomato soup this week.  I've finish

Our 39th Monday q and A ....13 weeks left to 2016

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Hope you are still finding Monday Q and A to be fun and light! *Do you work better in groups or alone? I am horrible in groups. I grew up in a dysfunctional group of 9.   I would much rather work alone to accomplish anything.   *Butter or margarine? Butter. because it's worth it *For a day : no phone or no computer? Easy: no phone *Gym shoes: wear them out or replace regularly? Wear them out.  Hurts to spend money on them! *More likely to find in your couch cushions: money or needles? Needles of course *What kind of knitting hurts your hands/arms/fingers? Knit two together hurts and too much circular knitting hurts *How do you feel when someone asks you to knit for them? -delighted? -burdened Burdened.  Isn't that awful?   \ *I choose my patterns based on :  -the designer -the difficulty -ability to use stash on hand The difficulty ....I'm such an easy knitter *I store my yarn in : -plastic bags -project bags -bins and pots and pans Plas

Chewy's Cat Treat Review for September

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  Sydney at Chewy sent us cat treats to review this month.  As you know we do not get money for this but we get free products to honestly review.  The Fancy Feast Variety packs are not in any of my stores yet.  We tried them.  The cats devoured them quickly.  I thought they were smelly..... a yes for them a  no for me. The Honest Kitchen Wishes treats were a hit too. Below you see a blurry action photo of Beatles sneaking away with a Wish treat in his mouth.  Again, the cats loved this type of treat.  It is like a dog bone for cats.  But the smell of the dried fish was overwhelming to me.  It permeated the cabinet .  I worry about cat smells in my home.  This will be an occasional purchase for me.  Have to give the cats the treats they love that are nutritious, but I have to keep the house smelling great too. 

Thank You Needles'n Pins Yarn Shoppe

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Today's Saturday post is a huge thank you to Gordon at Needles'n Pins Yarn in Delavan, Wisconsin.   Do you know where this is going? Al and I were busy as country bees inside the knit shop last week.  Fireman was patiently petting the spaniel outside.  Needles'n Pins has a huge selection of yarn in a warm inviting environment.  No need for shame, you'd feel comfortable bringing in your garter blanket for them to pick up the stitches without a raised eyebrow.  Doreen has apparently written several books on knitting.  When AL and I left the shoppe, I wont' mention time transpired, Fireman and Gordon were chatting it up.  Gordon hadnt' met us before so he politely asked the questions.  Once he heard Al was a nurse he was telling us his rather miraculous country 911 rescue.  I had this notion that I wanted Fireman to make me a simple headboard for the new house bed.  I asked Gordon, if he knew any farmers who sold barnwood

Infectious Autumn

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  Squeaker. Progress. Ready, set AUTUMN. I get all sentimental about fall. It feels like our shortest season. How can I not be in love with crisper, comfortable air masses and leaves turning colors? Yarn and fall just go together like naps and blankets.  My broken butt is healing.  I can feel some improvement.  Alas, no bike rides for me this fall.  Lots of walks, though. Have you caught the Autumn bug yet? 

AHA moments!

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Photo: Judy and I meeting on Monday.  Just look at Judy!  She looks fantastic. This is our 3rd meet up.  All thanks to Judy coming to my area. She says I have to go to Seattle and she's right.   We were so in sync we gifted each other knitted items this year. I love my blue cowl, Judy.   So soft, so blue.  I gave Judy a leaf scarf.  Judy and Dick and Jill and I talked a variety of topics. Thanks Judy for listening with your heart as I talked about my sweet mom.  In new knit news: I had carefully cast on 300 plus stitches and enjoyed the first 10 garter rows.  Then I realized I don't have enough yarn for the scarf.  That's 3000 stitches before the DUH moment.  I have no excuses, I have had plenty of coffee, I've unpacked my yarns, I am well past the moving stress. Never you mind, I am now hat knitting with the fabulous peruvian Alpaca yarn.  Also, we have been back to our hometown.. (that's just weird to say) twice in t

B's on Wednesday

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Okay I'm back on blogger.  Clapping, relief and joy!  Some of you already saw my little ONLINE hat.  Simple simple simple.  I don't like the yarn.  Can't really say why.  Just doesn't feel right.  Then again, I'm working with Peruvian alpaca now so anything is inferior.  If I can I will load my pattern photo of the alpaca scarf.  My bee busy mind was thinking of keeping bees here in the country.  The world needs more beekeepers.  I'm leaning towards no now. I"ve talked to a few who keep bees and they say it is a costly hobby.  I don't need a costly hobby.  The nice part was that Fireman loves honey and he was not protesting the plan at all.  What are your thoughts ?  I want to help the bees without necessarily being a beekeeper.  I think a nice pair of dwarf angora buns would be less work, less money and more fun.   Just dreaming.  The country air is good for my head.   Thoughts?  bees?  Buns?  books?  s o

Tuesday what is going on

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Oh boy i am having blog issues.  I am having other issues with bandwidth. I only know about bandwidth from other bloggers I was on the road to wordpress until you told me it is worse  Ok. Lets be positive: Ive cast on for a new scarf called The Trickle Scarf. My pal Abby gave the alpaca yarn to me and i cant stop petting it. I do think it makes me stuffy in the nose. My new shirt from Channons lu la rue shop is so comfy I dont know i am wearing a top. I am ridiculously sensitive to touch. I cannot walk near an evergreen without a rash. I am beyond oversensitive to fibers.  Cotton is the only thing for me. I itch at lace at lycra and at the thought of wool.  Channon this top is so so comfortable.  Im devising ways to buy more of these tops Is this an add for dear Virginia pal Channon mother of 3 fab dogs? Well it could be but it is really just joy over how i think clothes should feel I met Judy yesterday.  Yes washington judy a d husband dick and daughter Jill. Judy is

Monday Q and A Ready Set Play

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1. Are more likely to burn your tongue on dinner, or sit down to it already cold?  (burn my tongue, of course, I cannot wait to put the food in my mouth)(pizza you are a culprit in more ways that one.....) 2. Do you own a pencil? (I do.  Its broke and I dont have a sharpener.  The eraser is long gone. )  3. When are you most likely to drop a stitch ? :  during hat decrease?  in a complicated repeat that requires frogging to fix? knitting with zeros...period. (hat decreases have been known to undue me.  I watch those stitches more closely than I watch my knitting at any other time. Those little last stitches have a mind of their own)  4. Last board or card game you played?  (we played HIVE while Al was here.  A very very good thinking strategy game.  Not unlike chess, but much quicker and more fun.) 5. Flambeau or Going to Seed.  (socks that rock)  I pick Flambeau 6.   SimplySockYarn Hedgehogfibers:   Skinny Nutmeg  or Fools Gold  I pick skinn

Saturday Apple Recipe

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Allison and I had a little British Bake Off yesterday.  You should have seen the kitchen! This was my choice of recipe.  Easy.   I whipped 5 egg whites to a froth and then the rest was easy.  It doesnt' have a great SPONGE, but it is delicious! :) Happy Saturday .  Enjoy the fullish moon.

Finished..(in First Place)

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Kathy's hat finish. Second place.   Kathy finds it lovely and she loved the yarn.  The brim is not snug, so suggestions please.  Kathy has not washed or blocked it yet.  Kathy wants to remind you this is the riftstone hat Designed by James Emslie.  Book 8, Malabrigo IN CENTRAL PARK.  Kathy thinks it is weird when people speak using 3rd person, but today she thinks it is amusing.    Allison's finish, In first place, the Fireside Shawl from the book Weekend.  Allison used Frolicking Feet sock yarns which came in a 6 color kit.  Cost : 30 -40 dollars. Allison felt it was it was easily memorized.   4 pattern rows.  They had you do the increases and pattern rows on the wrong side, but it was harder for Allison to see the pattern that way. ( she had to turn it around during the knit up. ) Allison knit it in 2 weeks, and yes Kathy is bragging.  Allison wants a pin shawl.  The Division Champions are .... the First Place Chicago Cubs. First to clinch their Di

Fun TImes with Al

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  Do you like green eggs and ham? We will try them oh yes ma'am. The knit shop also sells green eggs, and is a wonderfully warm place in general.  Doreen, the owner,  has written and published several books.  I am going to offer them as a prize soon.   So Needles and Pins is the yarn shop near me.  Al bought the pattern for Cruces cowl there.  I bought some koigu for her and a hat book for me.  Fireman was outside petting the dog when Doreen's husband started chatting to him. Gordon is her husband and he generously gave us wood for a headboard that I want Fireman to make.  Cherry wood. Perfect wood.  He doesn't even know us and he said, sure you can take that just come back and buy more yarn.  (Clearly he doesnt know me. I was coming back no matter!)  Then we came home and played and laughed hysterically.  We unwrapped my wedding dress for fun, not because there is a wedding.  We laughed till we hurt. Why On earth did I ever think that d