Woodland Ferns and Lace for E~

I'm working on a Christmas project for a friend, and am almost 2/3rds done!
This one is for E~ who lives across the Big Pond from us and is a fellow Woods Dweller.
The pattern brought to mind ferns, so I am trying a  new color, something 'woodsy'.

Woodland Ferns and Lace Doily

South Maid Book 364, Special Doilies For Special Times by Coats & Clark Inc

Woodland Lace #1, featured in Ravelry.com

I finished my Mail Lady Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless Gloves to keep your wristies warm

thumb gusset closeup

Checking out for now, back to E's doily~
Me~

Hair Length Updates | November 2009

I’m keeping track of my length for LHC, so disregard this post unless you can find that missing stitch marker somewhere in this mess, you can disregard this personal hair journal...

Poodle Woman, 1975

…wait, wrong length shot…

Here we go!

as the color goes away....

shot in the dark

and to sum it up for the year:

Hair shots 2009

That just about does it.  Now I’m considering doing without the color and see how long I can hold out.
Let the games begin~
Me~

Gifts from the Heart and Magazine Back-Issues

I'm not always clever when it comes to titles for my blogs, so I just mention what I am blogging about. Makes it easier to categorize.
I just got the most precious and wonderful gifts today from a dear friend, and had to share!

Bracelet and Eye Glass/Charms Holder Necklace

DH was up on the ladder today, fixing woodpecker holes-those buzzards have the whole woods and they pick our house to ravage. I spotted, while Igor ran around chasing his ball and pouncing on the neighbor who arrived home unawares.
Igor loves his buddies, but is a chicken when their two Shiz-tsu's come out to play.  Lily, the little girl Shiz, chases Igor back home and tells him in no uncertain terms, " STAY IN YOUR YARD!"
It's too hilarious watching him run from that tiny little dog!!!

Got the bird feeder back out again after 2 years. I was so tired of the cat terrorizing the birds, I didn't want to invite them into harm's way. So, we packed it up for a while. Now it seems Miss Pepper isn't too interested in chasing birds.  She's just too fat to bother with them anymore, and doesn't like getting her feeties cold in winter.
I washed and filled the feeder with bird seed we picked up at the local Co-Op. It didn't take long for the Chickadees to show up.
A neighbor told us if we put about an inch of cat litter in the bottom of the feeder, then fill it with seed, the litter keeps the seed from getting soaked and absorbs moisture. Not sure how that will work when the snow flies, but worth a try.
Now I can watch them through the winter months, as I sit here at my desk. The window looks out at ground level, and is a perfect vantage point for bird, deer and critter watching.
It's going to be a mild winter, I think. Snow from Thanksgiving day didn't last long, and it's turned cold again. It was bound to happen, it is Wisconsin. :)

I'm wanting this issue of Vogue, missed it when it was on the grocery store shelf, and now have it saved in my Watched items on eBay-Hope to win it next week if nobody else bids. I want that shawl pattern~

VogueKnitting Spring 2009

I was sent a link to a fellow Blogger today, so I checked her out-a fellow knitter who has visited the Andes ~ WOOT! I will be following her now, in my spare (?) time... :) Enjoy!
MidwifeKnits-LisaW

back to work, stay warm~
Sandra

Days of Lavender and Mom

And on Sunday, She rested.

I was beat! The events of the past days and weeks finally caught up with me.
Saturday promised to be probably the last good day for cleaning up the remains of the summer, so DH and I got up early and started out fresh.

I pruned back the Ornamental  Crab tree while DH cleaned out the gutters with his new Echo Leaf blower. He was just about done when the extension arm literally BLEW off the end of the machine and flew through the air with the greatest of ease, down 16 feet to the grass below. I was there to watch it fall, but not able to catch it. It fell undamaged, my Orna-crab broke its fall.

I tried my hand at the Wondrous Leaf Blower, it was a very powerful and handy tool. I’m glad DH finally broke down and got it-he had no say, I kept nagging, saying “Just DO IT!”

Sunday, I had biscotti to bake, and a doily to finish for a Christmas gift.  I set to work on the last two rows, and worked between timer beeps, and whipped out both a completed doily and not one but TWO batches of biscotti. I am Power Baker, hear me roar!

Sally Sells Seashells Doily

Seashell Ruffle Doily by American Thread Company Star Book No. 143
I hope its namesake likes it

I ran across this doily while cleaning out the Guest bedroom before DD’s arrival. I had totally forgotten this was in the room, buried beneath some mementos of Mom.

Shades of Pink and Lavender Doily, Star Doily Book No. 104

I made this doily the year Mom redid her bathroom, all in lavenders and lilacs. It sat on her bathroom windowsill until the day I packed everything up before selling the old Home. I can still hear the joy in her voice the day she called to tell me it arrived and how she loved it~

Oxy-clean brought out the faced yellows, and made it brand new again-the pictures do it no justice.

Faded Beauty, Mom's Favorite

a closer inspection

I love the old patterns, can’t get enough of them~ Thank you Mom, for giving me these to share with my friends.

If you’re listening, if you’re still there- I love and miss you, Mom.
Sandra

Visit with Teh Babeh and Wrist-ies©, Part 1

Mommy, Baby and Gal-Pal arrived at about 4:30 on Thursday evening, just as dusk was settling. They made it in under 5 hours, without incident and only minor road construction along 294.

I fixed a freezer-full of French Bread Pizzas, we had way more than enough.
Rhonda sure has gotten big, what a cutie!

Rhonda and CJ Nov. 09

We went for a ride to Sorg’s for a little taste of Wisconsin cheeses, meats, sausage sticks, beef jerky, brats, pies, frozen vegetables, and award-winning sausages,  and of course, a little scenery for the Out-of-Towners. Rhonda was a hit at the Deli counter, got all kinds of looks from the ladies behind the counter!
Sorg’s is located in Darien WI. Family-owned since 1943 and everything is done on-site. Located on US-14 1/8 mile south of the intersection of 14, WI-11, and WI-89. Mon-Friday 8 am -5 pm, Sat. 8 am-4 pm. phone:  262-742-5554
Friday night, CJ started to put together the Door County Breakfast Casserole, but discovered after the sausage was fried and all the Cheddar cheese was grated,  we didn’t have enough milk. So, we put that off for the next day.
Saturday, CJ and her GF went out for a bit to go grab some essentials at Walgreens, and picked up more milk for the Breakfast Casserole. Later that night, I finished putting the casserole together and baked it up for Sunday morning. I fixed Chicken and Rice for dinner, so with the oven already heated up, the casserole was done in an hour.
Sunday we hung out and lounged in our sweats, watching bad TV. I finished the first of my Mail Lady fingerless gloves (not to be confused with Wristies®:  http://www.wristies.com/) Thank you, Susan Gregory for pointing out this amazing coincidence-it’s a small world, after all!

Mail Lady fingerless glove, keeps me wristie warm

Monday, the girls took a road trip to The House on the Rock, in Spring Green, WI. I stayed home and watched baby, she was such a joy to keep, didn’t fuss at all. She took a couple short naps, and slept through the night until they got up to leave on Tuesday morning. By 8:45 am, they were on the road back to IN.
The time went by too fast, as it always seems to do when family comes to stay, never long enough.

Rhonda Nov. 09

Back to me knitting…
Me~

Ostrich Plume Lace Capelet Pattern

I was admiring a fellow Ravely member’s lovely shawl and found this Free Ostrich Plume Lace Capelet Pattern by Celia Ng. I’ve saved it for future references, the pattern is just lovely~

I’m almost done with Sally Sells Seashells Doily for my dear chat-buddy Sally. She is clueless, I can’t wait to gift this to her!

Sally Sells Seashells Doily

The pattern is from the American Thread Co. Star Doily Book No. 143. I’ve made 4 of these, so far.

Tomorrow looks like a good day for finishing up the last of any yard work. I need to trim back the Ornamental Crab in front, while DH tries out his new Echo Leaf Blower on the gutters. The sun promises to shine, and even if not, we’ll be outside for what remains of our fall.

We went to the store today and picked out a 12 lb.  Jennie-O turkey for next week. DH thinks if the weather is nice, he’ll grill it outside again this year~ there’s nothing like turkey wrapped in bacon on the grill,  and a side of Marinated Potato Wedges.

Marinated Potato Wedges
4 large potatoes, sliced into wedges lengthwise
1 bottle Italian dressing
Wash and prepare potatoes, and then pat dry and place in a casserole dish. Cover with bottled Italian dressing, and set in refrigerator for at least 4 hours ahead.
Grill potato wedges until done, serve and enjoy!
Bon Apetite!

Fingerless Gloves : Whirlpool of Doom has been Conquered!

They didn’t tell me the pattern stays put on each dpn…I was taking this Spiral to new levels, walking it around the corner of each needle when I missed count at strategic intersections~DOH!

What the Whirlpool pattern is NOT suppose to look like

Here’s what my New Improved Technique produced on a second attempt at the pattern, and wonder of wonders! The count is correct this time and the pattern stays put on each needle

Whirlpool pattern, correctly done

I have stashed the botched Wristie-Cuffs© as a reminder of new patterns gone awry. I can always use the yarn for something else, if needed.
Maybe it will disappear into the Great Sock Black hole…
Me~

My Little Worry Fish~

Worry Fish

I have a little Worry Fish,
I like to sit and hold.
When I’m feeling sad or blue,
he chases away the cold.
My Worry Fish is always with me
every night and day.
When I rub him, I feel better,
Then Little Worry Fish can go outside and play.

Worry Fish, Side 2

My Little Worry Fish has lines on one side,
they look like Chinese writing.
Someday I may just rub them off,
and make them go away.
Stay with me Little Worry Fish,
you are my Bestest Friend.
And if someday you swim away,
I’ll bring you back again.
The End.
Me~

VOTE FOR IGOR- CUTEST DOG COMPETION

re: Fingerless Gloves for Mail Lady~Change of Plans

Change of plans:
I am not going to use the Baby Alpaca yarn for  Mail Lady’ gloves.

After careful consideration, I’ve decided the Baby Alpaca may not hold up to endless hours in and out of mailboxes, and the KnitPicks Stroll Multi Sock yarn colorway: Fruit Punch, being sock-worthy,  may hold up better.

KnitPicks Multi Fruit Punch

I’ll save the Baby Alpaca for myself, it’s more to my liking and I’m a professed Selfish Knitter~
Today we went to Muckwanago Super Walmart. One of our neighbors told DH that he found sushi at the store, and that was all it took.  We got up early,  10:30! and headed on the road to check the store out. We took my camera and I snapped shots of farms along the way-I’m into barns and silos and feel they should be preserved on film, to be later blogged.

WOW, is that Super Walmart HUGE. I do believe it’s bigger than our store here in Delavan. It went on for miles.

Igor got weirded out when we pulled into the parking lot-there were a lot of people, which shouldn’t have mattered. But he started to whine….I’ve never heard him do this before. He stood the whole time were were on the road, so we were pretty sure he thought we were going to DH’s sister’s house (and buddy), so when we turned off, it must’ve been a disappointment.
We were too weirded out by Igor’s behavior to concentrate on shopping, and rushed through the store,  only grabbing a few things before heading back out.

Igor was fine when we got back to the truck. We packed our findings in the back seat and headed home, the prospect of sushi for dinner making our mouths water with anticipation. We got Rainbow Rolls, Hot Chili Rolls, Smoked Salmon Rolls, and California Rolls for DD. They were delish!! DH started a campfire, and I smell like the great Fall Outdoors- Life is good!


Back to my knittin’-Later!
Me~

Fingerless Gloves for the Mail Lady~

I’m starting a new project, hopefully for a Christmas Gift for our Mail Carrier. My Ribby Slippers will have to wait, I’m in no hurry and the holidays are fast approaching as it’s now the beginning of November. Where does the time go?
I’m going to try a new pattern from Patternworks, using Plymouth Yarn, Baby Alpaca D.K. Baby Blue 4148 and was the first Monthly Club kit.

Baby Alpaca D.K.

The pattern is worked on #5’s needles, I’m going to adapt the pattern to work in the round instead. I'm using the Estonia Cast-on, as it creates a pretty edge.

It’s getting late and I want to cast on before going to bed tonight~
Later, Gator!
Me~