Jimmy Stewart - A Dog Named Beau

My neighbor sent this to me this morning:


We miss Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Carson, and Ed McMahon. We also miss even more our loyal friends we call dogs, who have passed on. They are wonderful companions, and so much more, but they do remind us that we are mortals who one day must pass on as well.
If you're a dog lover, how could you not end up with tears in your eyes, after watching this??
This is a film clip from a 1981Johnny Carson show

I wrote her the following response:

I'm balling like a baby,

that is Igor, to the tee,

Duke, Rocky and Lily,

I'm sure, you'll agree~

…oddly, Miss Pepper has decided she likes unsalted peanuts. I bought a 25 lb bag of NC-grown peanuts in the shell at our local Feed Supply, where I  keep them out in a corner of the garage. I originally got them for our Winged Friends, to help them survive the bleak winters when pickin’s are slim. The Crows and Blue Jays love them and will come when I call, "Peanuts, getcher PEEeeeea-nuts!"

Our Boy Igor knows where I keep them, and begs for his daily ration of peanuts, while we stand around with nothing better to do. If there's noone around to beg off of, he helps himself, diving nose-first into the big netted bag, shells them in a neat little pile, and eats them, leaving me a nice little Outback Steakhouse peanut-shells-on-the-floor MESS.

Now Miss Kitteh must haz peanutz! she begs off me by climbing my leg, claws and all, until I shell one and break it apart for her; she actually *eats* several, then when done, plays with the shells…

Fickle Four-Leggeds~

Today, I turned the heel on Sharon’s Wisconsin Winter Socks,  got my gussets all in a row, and am moving on to the toes; they should be done by Sunday, if not sooner~ WOOT!

These darn socks defy every attempt to take a good picture; the colorway is  Lion Brand Wool-Ease  Pines Print, a deep spruce green and navy blue. I'm hoping for a sunny day, before they are ready to be gifted.

I took a break from the socks this evening, and instead worked on the Agatha Cardi, 2nd front panel, while watching a movie on Netflix:  Rabbit-Proof Fence. Peter Gabriel directed the music. It was an amazing (true) story, and would watch it again.

Agatha in the Morning

I need to keep a journal.

but what is this, you ask? It’s merely the remnants of my day, bits and pieces of what’s left of my scattered thoughts, condensed. By the time I get done with work, I can barely remember what I did in the morning; then it’s time to go to bed. All I can think about at the end of a long day, is getting comfortable and knitting.

I had a simply marvelous morning, Dahlings! I got up at the crack of dawn, before it was even light yet, another 5-hour night behind me. I noticed the neighbors still had one of their small Christmas trees up; I could see the twinkling lights, as I headed for the kitchen and the coffee maker, with plans for taking down all the holiday decorations.

But by the time I got comfortable with my cup’o Joe, wrapped in my blankie, with Igor curled up on the other end of the sofa, I was not in a big hurry to dismantle the Christmas tree just yet. It was just too pretty to turn off, so I left it on until well past 9am. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll take it down…

Last night, I finished the Agatha LEFT front panel. All along, I had been thinking I was working on the RIGHT front panel, until I read the instructions for starting the other side, which told me then, I was on the RIGHT side now. Okely Dokely, still not sure…

I’ve already got about 17 rows of the mirror side started, and when I laid them together side-by-side, the match was pretty close. I had a moment to worry that the second panel would look far better than the first, (I’ve got the hang of the pattern now) that the difference would be so noticeable-would I have to redo the first panel over again, so they would match in the end? It turns out they are not that far off, and I’m content to leave well enough alone~

I worked on Sharon’s WI Winter Socks this morning. Oh, what a time that was! I got both heels turned, using a set of dpns, easy peasy. Then I had to sit back and study the path to get the circular needles back on track. I made a couple passes going the wrong way before finally getting it right. Needles in position, the socks are ready to go, and tomorrow I’ll begin the gussets. Then on up to the toes, a cake walk. I lost my morning sun too soon, so hopefully, progress pictures will be taken and posted tomorrow.

I did get the dining room table cleared off and got a little creative with the new centerpiece. Viola~

It’s nice to change things up a bit, and I always did love my cobalt glass. Mom’s Big Cup and Saucer is now on the breakfast island, out of harm’s way; if it’s not at the center of the room, it’s no longer a constant reminder of past transgressions.

Time to hit the hay, tomorrow’s another day~

Igor sez "just come to bed, Mom~"
g’night!

Learn to Knit Magic Loop Socks - Part 1-2

Learn to Knit Magic Loop Socks

Turning the Heel

verypinkknits
And before I go, I wanted to share what I got from my next-door neighbor (the same Sharon I'm knitting the Sharon's Wisconsin Winter Socks for) I'm getting ready to turn the heel on her socks now, so the video will come in handy~

 The "vase" is a cutout of a cook book, isn't that clever? She fashioned the "roses" from ribbons, the colors inspired by my favorite rose, Blue Girl.  I just love this new beauty, it picks up the subtle blues in my Mom's table runner.

Wisconsin made it to Pasadena, TCU deflates Badgers

We spent New Years Day working on getting orders ready to go out on Monday. We started some new projects; DH is making leather bags and I've started another sweater, the Agatha Cardigan. It was business as usual, but with one very exciting highlight: The Wisconsin Badgers went to the Rose Bowl!!

Wisconsin airs it out, TCU deflates Badgers - USATODAY.com

We couldn't view the game on local channels, so a friend recommended http://www.espn.go.com for live streaming coverage. Miracle of miracles, we were able to watch the game live from my computer, while working in the background.

Great game, we almost clinched it until a 2 point conversion pass interference was snagged by the Horned Frogs; at that point the game was pretty much over- they won, 21-18.

During the game, I got some intense knitting done; 4 repeat patterns for the right front panel of the Agatha Cardi, and 2 more to go for the first panel.

All in all, it was a relaxing night, and tomorrow will be be another marathon knit-fest. DH is going to make our annual New Years Day (after) dinner: Angel Hair Pasta with Clam sauce and Mussels in garlic butter, mixed greens salad with House Italian, and Cole's garlic bread.Mmmmm-MMM!

The wind outside is frightful, right out of a Christmas Carol.  Some of our WI Peeps are enjoying the warmer climes of California; for us,  it's back to a frozen tundra with bitter cold.

Have a good night, and stay warm!

New Years' Resolutions: What's on Your Needles for 2011?

Today, the snow  is melted and all but gone. It disappeared almost as fast as 2010, fading away to reside in our  thoughts and memories like a melted Sno-Cone.

Now's the perfect time for planning new projects for the coming year, while clearing out the cobwebs of the past year. Time to empty those knitting baskets, so we can fill them with glorious yarn finds! The Tootsie roll canister is filled and close at hand (food for thought). My desk is not nearly as cleared off as I had hoped, but will be, soon.

I am compiling a To-Do List, things I want to make in the coming months. I'll check off my WIP list from Ravelry first, then fill in with ideas from some new books I received today:

1. finish Sharon's Winter Socks
2. The Agatha Cardigan
3. make a felted purse: Pursenalities: 20 Great Knitted And Felted Bags
4. make Igor a jacket from stash.
5. finish The Raven Doily by Halloween
6. start 99 new coasters for 2011 Christmas card inserts

I'll add more as I go, but this will keep me busy, for now.

I think the weather has the woodland critters confused. Today as we were driving back home by way of a country road, we saw a very large 'Possum on a fallen tree, a fallen victim of one of last Summer's random tornado episodes. He looked disheveled and confused.
Then tonight, I spotted a very large rabbit sitting at the bottom of the hill out back, shaking his ears.

He better be careful or he'll be a munchable for a passing Owl.

It is so warm outside tonight, you can hear the wind in the trees; sounds and feels more like late-summer. It's suppose to grow very cold overnight, but for now, it's weirdly surreal outside. I almost expect an Aurora light show, if not for the clouds overhead...

This is my last post for 2010. May we all find peace and hope in the coming days, weeks, months. We are all in this together, one World united by hope, peace and love of life. Tomorrow, we will begin our day with "business as usual"; but for now, let us will dwell with our memories of Yesterday.

~Happy New Year!!

Steady as she knits..

The Agatha right front panel is moving along. Well, I should say I'm moving along with it; as one fellow Knitter said, I may have found the rhythm, and it's going faster now, with fewer rip-backs...

Agatha close-up of a 2-pattern repeat

Agatha right front panel

 I found 4 new books today, am excited to get them! The felted purses looked interesting, especially after my first attempt at felting, back in Nov. during a knitting suarez over at Kellie's house. I'm linking to some Amazon listings,  while they are still available. In no particular order, it clogs up my blog a bit, but hopes it will help someone find a copy they might like.

The Variety Book of Crochet (No. 10)

It was a fair morning, the temp was around 29  F., (wind chill 11 F.) so I opted for a walk with the neighbor, just a couple miles. It felt good to get out again, to inhale the brisk morning air, to feel the tingle work it's magic in my nasal cavities. I woke up at 4:00am to a clogged face, and soon realized I was in the midst of an allergy attack. I had messed with the cat's bedding the night before, and although I made sure to wash afterward, it was already too late. By mid-morning, I was in a full-blown sneeze attack which came and went sporadically then hung around until late evening. I'm not liking this one bit, and will have to wash the cat's blanket at some point, but for now, I'll stay away from it. It's not bothering Miss Pepper, so I'll leave well enough alone, for now.

DD19 brought me home a container of Tom and Jerry Mix (recipe); they make it in her bakery! YUMS!

Miss Pepper misses Summer and being outside, as much as I do...

Igor is having a riot in the snow~

Liat Knits a Key Cozy - Videos Part 1 and 2

Liat shows us how to make a Key Cozy, using the Magic Loop technique. Good practice for beginners. *M1 (Make 1 stitch), shown at approx. 8 minute mark.