Stitches and Stories

Gettin' a Grip in the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:55:00 +0000

My neighbors are on a little vacation this week and so I am tending their garden as well as mine. We both have several cucumber plants and one thing I enjoy about cucumber plants is the way they reach out and grab onto things as they grow.

I don't know how well you can see it in this first picture, but it has reached over and wrapped itself around a hot pepper. I guess cucumbers like to spice things up once in a while. (Neighbors garden)

You can tell these photos were taken of my garden as I have the little fence around them to keep the girls out of there.

I haven't harvested any cucumbers from our vines yet. My neighbor has though. My hot peppers are quite prolific and I noticed one this morning was blushing at having her picture taken so early in the morning.

In knitting news, I am nearly finished with my scarf project. It is turning out nicely and I can't wait to block it. It is from my Weekend Knitting book by Melanie Falick, it is the lopi lace scarf. And the yarn I am using is Caron, the colorway is Bone. It is so smooshy soft.

I haven't done any spinning yet this weekend, and I need to do some of that as well. I am in the middle of spinning up some coopworth and I have visions of loveliness in my head for that. I need to get it done because I have some silk and cotton I want to ply as well.

So much yarn so little time....

Before and After DOT

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:17:00 +0000

Molly agreed to pose for the Dogs on Thursday photo shoot this week.
We haven't had a horribly hot summer, but it has been hot enough and Molly was starting to look a little miserable. She wouldn't want to play outside and would run in and lay down in front of the fan.
So I decided a hair cut maybe in order to help her out a little.

Molly before....

Molly after.....

now before you accuse me of having no clipping skills she looks a little mottled because a) I sprayed her off with the garden hose to get rid of any loose hairs before she went back in the house and b) she had a very Chow undercoat and it is while and orange and sticks out in all directions. It smooths out in a day or so. I didn't want to clip her too short because I don't want her to get sun burned either. She is much happier now and runs and plays in the back yard like her normal self.
But is still happy to lay in front of a cool fan when she comes in.

In knitting news, I am close to finishing my scarf and will need to decide on the next project. Any thoughts, I'd like to make an interesting hat to go with it something with YO's .

Happy Knitting.

Always Keep Your Promises

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:17:00 +0000

As promised here is an FO picture of my socks. These socks were made from the left over yarn from the socks I made the hubby. I used the Lion Brand Sock Yarn and had enough yarn from two balls to make two pairs of socks. Now, my pair are ankle socks so the leg portion is only 4.5 inches. I used a basic toe up design with stockinette stitch for the foot. And then ribbed design from More Sensational Socks for the cuff. I think they turned out rather well.

Socks just hanging around...

I am also on track this month with my goals. I have started a scarf destined to be a Christmas gift for someone, from some yarn I had in my stash. It was reclaimed from a shawl project and I have lost the tag for it so I'm sure what it is exactly. It is very soft and a worsted weight.

Other activities this week have included tending to the garden. I have several beds around the yard either raised or with little fences to keep the dogs out. The hot peppers are doing great! I have had several peppers already from them, so much so I had to give some away. I am drying several now that will be made into a salsa sauce or chutney of some kind once I have some ripe tomatoes.

Some like it hot...

Speaking of tomatoes, they are doing good too, and I have several just waiting to get big and ripe.

And the cucumbers are taking a stroll around the garden.

We have had lots of rain lately and that is helping everything, but we need more really, a second fire has broken out in the Great Dismal Swamp and they are still trying to get the first one out. The peat in the swamp is burning and they can't get that out. They are pumping water in from a nearby lake, dropping water from the air, but nothing is working. I am concerned for the Swamp itself, it is a beautiful place, but I'm worried about the animals there are a lot of black bears that live in there, and that is where the stray ones that come from other areas and get into the residential areas are relocated to. They are going to have to flee to someplace. It is also is home to the largest stand of long leaf pines left here. They used to cover this area, but they have all be cut down or died. So if anyone has got too much rain, please send it this way!

I Blame the Fumes

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Fiber Fumes. I haven't posted much this week because I have been spinning and knitting and maybe a little motorcycle riding. I finished my slouchy socks and started a lacy scarf that will be a Christmas present. I promise to post some pictures this weekend.
But you know how it is, not enough hours in a day sometimes.
But, I'm here and enjoying smooshy yummy yarn. I will share with you.

Happy Knitting!

And the Walls Wallpaper Come Tumbling Down

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:24:00 +0000

Well, what does one do with a three day weekend? Home projects of course! Today, I worked on getting more bathroom wallpaper off the wall. Tedious, is not the word, whew. But, much progress was made.
But, as with any hard job, you need a break and so at much encouragement from the hubby,(he could probably read the look in my eye that said, a sledge hammer would be a more efficient way to bring down this wallpaper), I went to Colonial Fiber Arts for a bit of Sunday Spinning. But much to my surprise and pleasure, Nettie wasn't spinning today she was trying to load one of her larger cotton looms for weaving and lucky for me needed some help. So I spent the afternoon as a cotton loom apprentice. And while no actual weaving was done today we did load 11 yards of cotton twist onto that bad boy and let me tell you that is some hard work! Constant combing and untangling and rolling. Whew. Good times.
No other potential spinners came in today so it was just Nettie and I and in between her customers and tourist coming in and out of the shop we had a blast, not that some of the customers and tourist weren't a blast, many of them were very interested in what we were doing and watched and asked questions. Some were not so impressed. But, that is okay too.
Before I left though I bought a hemp backpack shopping bag and a small basket handwoven in Guana with elephant grass and goat skin handle.
Nettie does business with a co-op there and sells the ladies baskets for them here.
They are truly beautiful works of art and completely functional!
I plan to put roving in mine!

Are't the colors amazing. They have some that are much larger too. I would like to get one of those, but as with everything else where to put it? This one is easily carried and can be tucked away on a shelf without too much trouble. I think I will probably use the hemp back for knitting projects as well.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and if you had a three day weekend for the Fourth, I'm sorry tomorrow is Monday. :-(

Happy Knitting!

Surprise! TaDa!

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:20:00 +0000

I have a brand new shiny toy! A 2008 Suzuki Boulevard S40! Oh I love it! I had an old '83 Suzuki 650GS and that thing was a clunker and a little difficult for someone as vertically challenged as myself to ride. But this new one, is sweet and the seat height is perfect! I was a little nervous about riding it home, because it has been at least a year since I sold my old bike and I have not done much riding since. But it took about five minutes and it was like I had been riding it everyday!

Here is a picture of the old bike "The beast"

It was a good first bike because frankly if can ride this you can ride anything. It was a seat height of 27 or 28 inches my feet never hit the ground flat it was top heavy and weighed about 500lbs.

Now the new bike, it is also a 650cc like the Beast but the packaging is so much better.

And a front view

I have a few accessories planned for her, some saddle bags, a windshield, engine case guard and light visors. She is running a little rough right now, only had 7/10 of a mile on her when I picked her up tonight so she needs some breaking in. I'm thinking maybe a sissy bar on the back so I have something to strap the spinning wheel to! What do you think?
I need a name for her, any thoughts?
I'm thinking about a name that bike contest but I have to think of a good prize and right now I can't think of anything. So just any thoughts you have on the subject would be appreciated at this point. LOL.

Hey Knat, what do you think?

Happy Knitting Everyone!

I have so much to tell you....

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:44:00 +0000

I don't know where to begin. First of all is this summer just flying by or what? I can't hardly keep up.

Yesterday was a totally fun girls day. I met my friend Anna at Colonial Fiber Arts for a spin in. Every Sunday is spinning Sunday and anyone who wants just tramples on in with their wheel and you just hang out and spin. I learned so much in the two hours we were there from the other spinners it was amazing. Nettie (owner) and Anna were both spinning mohair, Natalie was plying around crochet thread making a speciality yarn, that was just gorgeous. And I was spinning Coopworth wool. So soft and chocolaty. Nettie got the kinks worked out with my wheel and the user and we are in spinning business now!

Here are the ladies:

Then afterwards I followed Anna over to her farm to help with her horse and donkey. She has a lovely place built in 1830! Just picture postcard beatiful!
So I got to meet her Romney sheep, her Angora goats and her Alpaca in addition to the horse and donkey. I stayed way later than I thought I would, but we had such a good time! And her husband is just one of the nicest people ever!

I hope to have some good pictures of my spun coopworth for you soon.

And one more surprise coming, but I can't tell you just yet, maybe tomorrow.

until then Happy Knitting.

The Sound of Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:00:00 +0000

I live in an area with a lot of military, we have Fort Monroe (Army)Ft. Eustis (Army), Norfolk Naval Base, Oceana Naval, Langley Air Force Base, Cheatham Annex, Yorktown Naval Weapons, and the Coast Guard Station at Yorktown. Just a little bit of every thing around here. And there is usually summertime celebrations open to the public at various bases, one is the Air Power Over Hampton Roads at Langley Air Force base. I have lived within the flight path of Langley for about 32 years, almost my whole life, you get used to the noise and the planes and things like that. I moved away for a short time and since our return we have not been to an air show. We can see parts of it from our front yard if the planes are high enough and I went as a young person. But this year I decided we were going, the hubby and never been and I thought he would enjoy it.

So we off we went, we did have to sit in traffic for about 45 minutes because we should have gone earlier, but it was okay. We got parked and went through the security and onto the field! Hooray, they had all kinds of static displays from all the branches of the military.

This is a NASA plane

I couldn't tell you the types of all the different planes, the hubby could, but they had some that were big...

Some that looked fast...

And one that was huge! It was the visiting Royal Air Force, it brought over their Red Arrow Squad, this was the biggest plane I have ever seen!

The Air Force K-9 units were out and about, beautiful German Shepherds and here is how they travel in style complete with AC...

That is also where they took their breaks during the day, they stalls with the closed doors had dogs in there resting. If you got too close they let you know they were in there too!

Some of the plans I did know was the stealth bomber, because just how cool is that plane?

And the F-22 Raptor, which can do amazing things, I never knew an airplane could do, they just stop and turn and the pilots are just really amazing people!

They had planes from previous generations this picture represents 30 years of military aviation, there is an F4 jet, an F22 and I'm sorry I couldn't hear what the announcer said the third one was.

There were sky divers which to me is just one of those things you couldn't pay me enough to do, but they made it look so easy. They brought down with them this flag it is 5,000 square feet in size!

And as I mentioned the Brits were visiting. Frankly, I can't say enough good things about them the them. The pilots were walking around and they were very friendly and they are sooo incredible in the air! I wish I could describe the precision in which they fly together. I was very impressed.

Here they are with one of our Raptors.

And here is something I didn't expect to see, just to the right of the port O potties was three monks enjoying the air show. I kinneared them.

It was a great time, we spent the whole day and got lovely matching sunburns,I mean tans to go with it. I had on my sunblock but still got a little pink. It was worth it. We had fun.

There was much more to see and do, just too much to talk about here I wish I had taken my big camera, but they had said to bring only small camera bags. But the photos are a little better on the slide show. There are more pictures here:

Air Show

Hope everyone is having a great weekend too!

Good Times

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:49:00 +0000

This weekend I had some relatives and friends in town for a little history tour. They came for the weekend and wanted to see the sites of the Historic Triangle (Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg)two of the guests had not been to the area before so were very excited to see everything. A weekend really isn't enough time, but we did the best we could. Saturday they had a fun filled afternoon of shopping at the various outlets, my aunt was the tour guide for that portion of the trip, she lives not far from Williamsburg.
Today, was my turn to be the tour guide and I was in charge of the historic portion of the trip. We had a grand time! We started our day early at 8:30 and went to Colonial Williamsburg after breakfast.

Here is three generations in my family: My aunt (dad's sister), my great aunt (also on dad's side) and myself. Now, my great aunt is in the middle does she look 83? I don't think so. She is amazing. Not shown were two family friends, the ones that had not been to the area before. They were taking the pictures.

Then it was off to Jamestown Settlement and then to lunch where we were joined by two more local family members. My second cousin, Cindy and her husband, Rick. I didn't think to get a picture were all laughing and having such a good time at lunch. I felt really sorry for our waiter, but he was excellent at his job and a very good sport as much adou was made over his cologne.

Finally, we ended our day at Yorktown we arrived in time at the Riverwalk

To see the fife and drum corp perform, they are very good and all children!

The Riverwalk was recently created in the past few years and the old pier was improved at evidenced today by the cruise ship that was visiting.

I even gave a little lecture in one of the store that had some Leicester Longwool fleece on display regarding the process of skirting, cleaning, spinning and knitting. I just couldn't let a chance for something wool related to be included. But, sadly we didn't see any of the Leicesters out this morning.

I did meet a wondefully mannered young brindle boxer named Mason who gave me a kiss. She and her human were out walking for socializing skills. She was doing wonderfully.

Hope everyone else had a lovely weekend. And lets all keep the folks in Iowa and other parts of the midwest in our prayers.

Also, part of NC is burning and now so is the Great Dismal Swamp. They smoke here has been terrible the past couple of days. Send positive thoughts and prayers to the firefighters they can bring it all under control soon. Some rain would help.

Happy Knitting.

Where to Begin?

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:33:00 +0000

Seriously, where does the time go? I can't believe today, much less the weekend is already over.
I have been trying to keep everyone indoors and cool this weekend as it has been officially 100 degrees. Naturally, the AC in my car went out, it is a compressor thing we think, in other words $$. It is just going to have to wait right now, I have another car we can drive with working AC for now, the gas mileage isn't as good, close but not as good at the other car, but it will have to do for now.
Things at work have been better this past week, I sure hope that trend continues.
And the Big Easy vest i made for hubby has found a home. My friend Anna whom I have mentioned before, who is a wonder at raising sheep, alpaca, goats and chickens. Is an amazing spinner and knitter is alas blogless and frankly computerless. But, among her other talents she happens to be the perfect size for the Big Easy vest, so I gave it to her. In a strange twist of fate, she knitted her husband a similar sweater vest, although hers was spun from one of her own sheep then knitted, but it was too big for her hubby, but guess what, it fits my hubby perfectly. So we swamped ill fitting vests! We got a big kick out of that. I will post pictures of the Beatrice vest (Beatrice is the sheep that donated the fleece) soon, but I have been catching up on blogs and have run out of daylight!

On the needles, I have a second Big Easy vest, but it has beent too hot to have that laying in my lap, so I am working on anklet socks for myself. Nothing else new has been started although I have had tons of ideas.

I found a great recipe for making homemade cheese so I am going to try that soon. I was thinking next weekend, but I may have family in town (not sure yet) so that might be something to look forward to in the near future.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

Logo - A Go-Go

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:23:00 +0000

It is with great pride that I present to you dear reader the official Stitches and Stories logo. It was created by a very gift artist Alexandra Prillaman, whom I have not yet met in person, but came highly recommended from a professional graphic artist Carolyn August and I am grate to them both.
To Carolyn for being so willing to help and for recommended Alexandra and to Alexandra for her wonderful gift and talent, her ability to squeeze in all the little components I wanted.
Alexandra actually came up with this logo before I even told her what I had in mind. My contribution was the suggestion of the sock on the hoof and the spinning wheel in the background. She thinks like a knitter! How Cool.

My many thanks to both ladies and if your ever in need of a logo or similar product let me know I will refer you on to Alexandra.

Happy Knitting!

I'm Back Among the Living!

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:07:00 +0000

Well I went back to my dentist this morning because I am just tired of being in pain and apparently I am going to live. So far he has never lost a patient from wisdom tooth extraction even all four at once. He did feel the need to remind me that I was not 20 and therefore the healing process was slower. I really felt like testing that theory on his nose, because everyone person I have spoken to when ask how I'm doing and I say I still have what I feel is too much pain they respond with "...well you know it's different when your twenty" Thanks for that little tip.

So since have neglected you dear readers, I will try to make up for it with some pictures and FOs! Hoooray! Who doesn't love FO's on a Friday!

So here is the Big Easy Vest I made for hubby in size...too small.

Here are the socks for hubby, basic top down pattern with 1 x 1 ribbing.

The plants are still small in the vegetable garden but the flowers are growing, here is a rose that is called blue rose, but due to the Ph level in my soil it is not so blue.

Here are some lilies and geraniums:

And today it is going to be warm so what better treat than a strawberry, kiwi, watermelon slushy!

Hope everyone is planning a wonderful weekend!
Happy Knitting.

A Little Cheese to go with that Whine?

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 25 May 2008 21:11:00 +0000

If you can't whine on your own blog, seriously where can you whine? So the dentist said that Sunday I would really feel "it" and yesterday I laughed because I had felt pretty bad already but was feeling good enough to go outside and keep hubby company while he painted the garage door and some shutters on the house. Yeah, well enough to watch paint dry, living on the edge I tell ya!

After sleep pretty much straight through the first 24 hours it was a little hard to sleep last night so I tossed and turned and did manage a little sleep only to be awaken by this unreasonable pain. So I got up and took the vicaden I had been avoiding and managing quite well on just the motrin so far.
I thouht it would help me sleep it didn't really. But, this morning I took my morning dose of motrin managed an oatmeal muffin and thought it was time to get out of the house. I quick ride to the bookstore and the farmers market should be okay. WRONG!

I was in so much pain, I thought I would die, hubby got me home where I took a vicaden and the afternoon dose of motrin together and promptly went to sleep.

I still feel groggy, I don't think I can knit, but I can't sleep either, so here I am! ~~whining~~ blogging.

No pictures though, I mean you really don't need to see me looking like an overgrown chipmunk.
But I am hoping for some FOs pictures tomorrow so stay tuned.

Happy Knitting

Watch it Wiggle, See it Giggle

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sat, 24 May 2008 23:13:00 +0000

Hmmm, Jello and Jello pudding.
I had a very entertaining post all typed this morning to tell you about my adventure yesterday of having all four wisdom teeth removed. But just as I was about to hit the "publish" button the power went out, for now reason, it was a bright sunny morning no storms or anything. Needless to say I didn't really feel like being that clever as second time at six in the morning.

So I'm back 12 hours later to try again. If there is any way on this earth you are 40 something and can live with your wisdom teeth do it. If you are taking something like Boniva, my dentist says there isn't anything they can do for you so keep that in mind too.

I'm not taking Boniva, nor plan to, but boy it sure hurts. I am very sore today and still have some swelling despite the ice packs and warm salt water rinse.

Yesterday was rough but after two failed attempts at eating something I gave up and slept until this morning when I woke up having missed two doses of pain medication.

I didn't think I would be able to knit today but i have managed to come within an inch of the two decrease for sock mate. I had a great idea ( ~~stolen from the Yarn Harlot~~ borrowed from the Yarn Harlot's recent post to have the dentist pose with my sock mate, but by the time I got there yesterday morning after taking the necessary pre-procedure medications I didn't know my own name much less the ability to operate a point and shoot camera. Hubby wouldn't be caught dead asking another dude to pose with sock mate so that didn't happen. Just as well. I apparently needed help walking out of there yesterday as it was and so Hubby's hands were full.

So things are slow and mellow here this weekend is the bad part is I have missed two days of the biggest sale of the year at Knitting Sisters I think I will feel up to the ride tomorrow but I hope they have some yarn left!

Dogs on Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:55:00 +0000

Can you believe it is time for Dogs on Thursday already? The girls have been behaving themselves and not getting into mischief and so I have to give you belly shots today.

Rub my belly!

So I am still working on the sock, I am halfway down the foot so there is progress being made. But, I also have a a really good book I am reading right now and so it keeps pulling my attention away from the sock. The sock is not happy. It has rebelled by dropping it’s stitches off the needle when I am not looking and I can hear it snickering too.

The Tiger Lilies are blooming I just love their color!

I hope everyone is going to have a lovely weekend, I will probably sleep through it. And probably wont’ be able to post much for a day or two as I am having all four wisdom teeth removed Friday morning. So please forgive my absence for a few days, but I’ll be back.

Happy Knitting!

All in a Days Work

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:58:00 +0000

Did I say I wanted that sock finished by today? Hmm, well wanting is one thing I suppose, although I am about to turn the heel so I am very close to getting it done.
But this weekend was beautiful and I really only managed about an hours worth of knitting all weekend at least up until this point. I plan to go knit after I post this.

Yesterday, we enjoyed some time at the Farmers Market, we bought some mulch for the flower boxes which we put out today. And I bought a nice watermelon.

Today the hubby built me a box for cleaning my fleece. I think he did a nice job. I can shake plant material out of the fleece a little easier with this.

We built some more flower/vegtable boxes today (I didn't get a picture of those yet.) and checked the progress of everything. The pink climbers in the back has started to bloom here is the first of the season.Sorry if it is a little blurry there was a breeze today.

Here is what it looked like last year.

The Tiger Lilies are just about ready too.

In other news I have contacted Ashford regarding my problems with the spinning wheel and I am convinced it is not totally me. As I was able to spin on a different wheel (Kromski). The folks at Ashford have been extremely nice and helpful and are sending me replacement parts for free with advice on how to make certain adjustments.
I have nothing but good things to say about their customer service, they have been wonderful and I'm confident that with the new brakeband and springs I will be spinning away in no time.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Happy Knitting!

April Showers Bring May Thunderstorms!

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:51:00 +0000

Goodness we have had a lot of storms lately! But the bright side is very thing is fresh and green and smells so good, the roses, the jasmine the freshly cute grass.

Just ask Lily...

Or Molly...

But Rosie says that grass is itchy!

In knitting news, I am hoping to have the sock mate done by Sunday evening so I can start another Big Easy Vest for the hubby.

Happy Knitting!

What a week! Whew!

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:58:00 +0000

I am waiting for the bell to ring, seriously when will it stop. I have been so busy and I can't seem to get everything done that I normally do or want to do.
I had a deadline at work this week, which isn't really a problem other than I have to get the report approved for I send it out and I always send it for approval several days ahead of time and inevidibly it comes back to me the day it is due with issues or some sort, they found something I didn't or they had some history on the case I had no way of knowing and now things have to be revised. Although this time wasn't as bad I did at least not have to stand at the fax machine this time at 5:15 trying to get it faxed out to the applicant. And I did learn a lot from this weeks experience I just wish other people didn't want until the last minute. But that is okay just something to remember when I am in charge! LOL.

It was nice at the beginning of the week so I took sock on a field trip at lunch time.

I went outside to sit, but I needed to find a place where I wouldn't be bothered. So I went out behind our building there is a concrete sidewalk there, and a big green generator thing for the heating system so that wasn't running and then a huge field.
So I sat there because I figured no one would really be taking smoke breaks there and the shop guys grill out by the parking lot on their lunch break, which is cool but it was just a day when I wanted some peace and quiet and watch the clouds float by.

We saw lots of clouds. Little did I know how much rain those clouds were leading to us! And hail!

And I got some more eggs from the farm this week with one really funny looking egg!

It is a long skinny egg! LOL. We got a chuckle over it.

I finished planting the peppers this week after work, hooray!
I hope they do well I have never planted chili peppers before. I planted them in a different bed than the bell peppers, I didn't want those hotties to be a bad influence on the bells.

I also planted some geraniums...

While I was out planting I noticed this...

It is the rose bush I gave my mother her last Mothers Day.
It blooms every year for Mothers day despite my having moved it twice. And it blooms through the second week of September which was her birthday. It grows up to the gutters on the house and it had orginally been planted by the front door, but it was taking over the front porch and grabbing everyone coming in the house. It now as a knice place out back with plenty of room to grow and no one will bother it. I am thinking of getting an arbor for it to grow along. I think it would like that.

So to all you Moms and anyone to cares for someone else even if they have four legs instead of two, Happy Mothers Day!

Charity Knitting and Helping a Scout Help Others

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:46:00 +0000

Charity projects of all charity projects. There is a young lady named Kaitlyn who hasn’t been knitting very long but has already found away to use her knitting to help others.
She is a girl scout and as many may know the scouts are a service organization and one of the highest awards you can receive is based on your service to others. That is whay Kaitlyn is doing through knitting.
Here is her website Knitted Cap Knitwork If you would like to help Kaitlyn other young people less fortunate and/or experience a major medical event in their lives, please knit a hat or two and send it on to her. One group of knitters got together and sent her a donation of 82 hats! So that’s a good start but I bet she could use more hats, or other items to donate to young people in need!

Knit on!

Busy Week

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 04 May 2008 23:05:00 +0000

Seriously, I don't even know what happened to it. One day I was working the next day, weekend. Just like that. I haven't posted the things I wanted to when I wanted to, but I plan to make up for that.
Even though work has been busy, I got to leave early one day last week to go the retirement party of a former boss. It was a good time and got to chat with old friends (pictures coming soon).
Then this weekend we had a broken water pipe in the kitchen. I don't mean a leaky pipe I mean this thing had a hole in it! Much time and devotion was spent in that repair, but it is fixed and we can once again run water in the sink and wash dishes. Hooray!

The weather has been wonderful this week and the roses are loving it!

The Star Jasmine will be blooming any day now.

I planted some veggies too, these are in the early stages.

It is hard to tell at this stage but those are bell peppers and tomatoes with merigolds.

Here is the raised garden which will soon hold cucumbers along with the Hosta.

The girls are having a nice weekend.

I don't have to come in now, do I?

Lily wants to know where the fleece went that mommy was skirting earlier.

And I have been working on a new sock.

For those you made in to maryland Sheep and Wool i hope it was as awesome and I thought it would be.

Happy Knitting

Storms

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:12:00 +0000

We actually had a super cell storm here yesterday. It was really wild and strange all at the same time. We don’t normally get those types of storms here. Major storms are usually confirmed to Nor’Easters and tropical storms, if not hurricanes.

The tornados touched down in places all around us but we were not affected, thank goodness! Because DH was up at work and I was at my job and we were about 25 miles from home and were so worried the whole way driving home about what we would find when we got there, mostly we were worried about the dogs.

There were others that were not so lucky. Some people lost nearly everything, houses were severely damaged, some business just not even there anymore. They think the biggest tornado to touch down was an F4, we just don’t get those here, it is amazing in a totally scary way. At least one funnel cloud made land fall off the water and damaged some cars. We do get those from time to time.

My heart goes out to all the people who lost so much yesterday, especially in Suffolk.

Today is a day for counting our blessings.

The Weekend Round up

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:11:00 +0000

Well, I have logged on with the intention of getting a post up about four times this week and for one reason or another couldn't manage it.
So here goes, a week long collection of thoughts and pictures.

Since this week is getting completely out of control and I haven’t been able to post all the entries I have started I thought I’d give you a quick week in review as it stands so far.

First, I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and we are on the countdown to MSW . The weekends seem to be getting shorter and shorter for some reason. They should be longer because we have more light the evenings are longer I should have more time to do stuff right?
It has been raining pretty much constantly since Sunday. The patio is completely flooded and because things have been so dry I thought for sure it was drain off right away but it didn’t so now I have standing water outside the backdoor I am going to have to pump off of there if the sun doesn’t come out soon.

I am just about finished with the Big Easy Vest, here it is so far:

These are pictures from a couple of days ago when I had the front and back seamed and frankly I am quite proud of my seaming this time. Normally, it leaves a bit to be desired, due to my lack of sewing skills I think. But this time using the three needle bind off it looks really good.

I still need to get some buttons for it. But, I will do that this coming weekend most likely I don’t think I am going to have time this week to stop after work but you never know.

I got some good news this week. I have a new little cousin. My cousin and his wife had their second daughter, Morgan Haley. I can’t wait to meet her. Her older sister all of two years of age Reese Caroline is excited about having a baby sister too. I need to knit up a little something for her and I was thinking perhaps Reese might like a sock monkey or a bunny or something like that. I need to find a pattern and get rolling. Not that I haven’t known this little baby was coming, but some of us just work better under pressure. LOL.

I can’t believe April is almost over and May is almost here. May is booked too.

May 3rd – Maryland Sheep and Wool. A four hour drive from here. But hopefully some good knitting time if I can talk the hubby into driving.

May 23rd – 26th having wisdom teeth removed and recovery. Hopefully, some knitting time can be had during the recovery.

May 29th – June 1st Great Aunt and friends visiting from NC and will need entertaining and feeding. Probably not a lot of knitting time that weekend, but that is okay.
The garden tours will make up for it. There was talk of a trip to Busch Gardens but I think those plans have been changed so have to find something fun to do that day instead. Somehow I didn’t think my great aunt was the roller coaster type. And I’m sure they have many more things to do there than just the coasters, but not having been there myself in about 15 years I am not a good tour guide for that particular attraction. We do have President’s head park, which some friends and I thought would make a great paint ball course, but I don’t think anyone else thought it was a great idea.

But, I’m sure there will be great fun had by all by the time the weekend it over. I am going to need June just to recuperate from May. LOL.

I had a doctors appointment yesterday and I didn’t think I would have time to take the Vest with me and pick up stitches at the doctors office, so luckily I had the bright idea of grabbing some sock yarn and needles and taking that along instead, much more portable at this point. Sorry Vest. But as it turned out this was a fabulous idea, because I arrived 30 minutes early for my appointment (I had left in plenty of time because of all the ~~crazies~~ water on the road I thought it might take a little longer than usual. It didn’t. Then I cast on my socks and started knitting. I thought I was making pretty good progress when I measured an inch of K1P1 ribbing and decided to check the time, it was now noon! They were half an hour late on calling me back. As it turns out there had been some sort of emergency and the doctor was running behind. I waited a total of an hour and a half. Which is good for knitting time, not good when you really need to get back to work. I got in to see the doctor and was a little frustrated because it took her all of five minutes to look at the problem I was having and tell me she had no idea what it was and I needed to go to Dr. So N So and have him check it out. So I wasted 2 hours for this? She was admiring my sock and I was so frustrated I didn’t think to snap a picture of her holding it. Maybe the specialist she referred me to will be a good sport.

And aren't these lovely?

My dear blogless friend Anna brought these to me. She doesn't have a blog because she is too busy raising the producers of these, plus her own Romeny sheep, Alpaca and Angora goats. She had mad skills when it comes to spinning and knitting too!

Sunday Rainy Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:19:00 +0000

I'm sorry for the lack of content lately, it isn't for a lack of things going on but rather because so many things are going on right now. I have started so many blog entries only to be interrupted and then the not get back to it in a timely manner, not to mention actually getting something posted.
I'm just about finished with the Big Easy Sweater, a couple more inches on the back and then i am going to check the sizing make sure I don't need to make any adjustments and then I'll sew the back to the front. Only thing left after that is the ribbing edges.
It has been so much fun to make this, if it fits well and the hubster likes it I am going to make him one in every color! (that he'll wear) Of course he is computing costs the whole time wanting to know how many balls of yarn I have used so he knows how much the sweater costs. This is a skill that comes in handy sometimes, but frankly not over my knitting.
The girls are all healthy this week. We have found the source of Rosie's itchies and she now has new medicines to make her a brand new dog. I'm looking forward to that.

It is cloudy and raining here today. A good day for knitting!

Happy Knitting!

The Time/Space Continuum

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:10:00 +0000

Okay, I have no idea what happen to last week. I mean it completely got away from me. I usually at the least have a post typed up and ready to publish when I get one at least one day a week and usually my DOT in advance, but not this week.
And it was spring break and some folks at work were off which should have meant is was going to be quiet, but it gave me time to get a lot of others things done so I guess no so quiet.

I got book tagged and have been meaning to post that, which I will now, but I must forewarn you I do not read a lot of fiction and so my book choice may not be exciting to some.

Right now I am reading Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep, Breeding, Care and Facilities by Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius.

Page 123 is the terminology page so this is going to be fun. The rules are to turn to page 123 find the 5th sentence and post the next three. So here goes,

Fetch: Bringing something to the handler.
Gather: Going out and finding the sheep, gathering them into a flock, and fetching them to the handler; three related terms are outrun, lift and fetch.
Lift: The dog's first contact with the sheep on a gather, when the sheep determine how they will react to the dog.

How exciting was that! Sorry folks, I tried to go out and buy a fiction book that I have been anticipating and was going to use that but the store was sold out, so I had to come home and use my current reading.

With my shawl frogged completely, the socks and dog sleeper finished. It was time for a new project. So I started the button up sweater vest the hubby wanted.
I have the right front completed beyond the body and starting the left front. In the picture it is reversed just because I was working the wrong side when I took the photo. It is from Maggie's Rags pattern Big Easy Vest.
I love it, it is very easy to knit. Should have it done by next weekend.

Happy Knitting

Spring Swap

noreply@blogger.com (Milly) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:38:00 +0000

It was a cold rainy Monday here, not a day you really feel like going back to work, but would rather stay home and knit. But, when I got home there was a wonderful surprise, my package from Cindy my Spring Swap Pal!

There are filled chew hooves for the girls, some peanut butter biscuit (they love peanut butter) some pig ear chew alternatives! For me, there is a manicure set, an organic milk chocolate bar, YUM! Lavendar hand lotion, a brush and pumice stone, and yarn! One hank of creamy merino! And two balls of Cascade cotton yarn!

Thanks Cindy, it is all so wonderful!

Over the weekend I finished the socks! I know I didn't think it was going to ever happen either. But here they are:

I am not happy with how they turned out but, they will be warm and comfy.

I started a sweater vest for the hubby for summertime, it gets cold in his office with the AC in the summer, but a full blown vest is a little much so I am making the "Big Easy Vest" from Maggies Rags. He picked out the pattern and yarn, it is a very soft peruvian wool. And so far it is quite an easy knit.
I'm think this won't take as long as the socks. LOL.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and planning a great week!