Stitches and Stories

Winter/Spring, Spring/Winter

2012-02-18T10:54:00.000-05:00

Today it is in the 60's and sunny, with the promise of spring! I have clothes on the line and took a little walk this morning while collecting food for our neighborhood food drive.

Tomorrow's forecast, SNOW!, Seriously. And then it is supposed to be in the 60s the rest of the work week.

Well as usual if we get any snow it won't hang around, but February is like that, and March will be cold and then April will be soggy and warm one day, cold the next. I can't wait for June!

Happy Knitting!

Snow....snow....snow

2012-02-12T09:56:00.000-05:00

Last night we had thunder snow, lightening, the wind was blowing so hard it was snowing sideways!
And this is what it looks like this morning......

It is a bit disappointing for all of the nature dramatics, don't ya think?

The Namaste Boardwalk Bag

2012-02-11T17:35:00.002-05:00

I just brought home my newly adopted Boardwalk Bag. Love. It. It is a Valentines Day gift from Mr. Sheep Shack!

I was at first worried about roominess, but it has plenty of room for knitting and non-knitting gear.

Fresh from the store

Rear view, with zipper pouch

Open, notice zipper pouch on the back panel and two open pouches on the front

My Macbook Pro, iPad and two balls of yarn

Closed with all my gear inside

I purchased my wonderful new bag at Knitting Sisters, they have the best price on this bag too!

The ladies there are always wonderful. I had my name on the call list for when the bags arrived. They called me as soon as they came in and held one for me to pick up the next day! Thank you so much Sisters!

Cool Blog of the Week

2012-02-07T16:49:00.000-05:00

I met Jenn on G+ and from there found her website. She has a wonderful site and blog:

Midnight Sky Fibers
Stop by and check it out and tell her hello.

And if your not on G+ yet, come on over! I have met so many new and fun people there! You can look for me under Milly Story or millyknits@gmail.com

You spin me right round.....

2012-02-04T17:00:00.004-05:00

Today, I adopted two lovely antique but functional spinning wheels.

The two wheels and the cobblers bench were made by the father of a friend of a friend about 50 years ago. I just need to get a new tension band, some extra bobbins, and give them a little love and oil and they will be spinning again in no time.

Olive approves.

Sockupied!

2012-01-28T11:48:00.003-05:00

Just bought and downloaded the spring Sockupied emag. I can't want to dive into it! But there has been so much going on here and I have so many WIPs it really is quite sad.
I did finish a cute little pony hat and matching scarf for a co-workers little girl, knitted all in pink and white, so cute.

I am now working on socks, a shawl, a cardigan, a languishing mitten, and have this beautiful red variegated yarn just begging me to knit into something cozy and warm.

But, I am also taking two online classes and have to spend as much time studying as possible that cuts into the knitting time, although I have downloaded the lectures that are available in audio so I can listen and knit at the same time.

Plus, the part time bartending gigs are heating up, I worked last weekend, I'm working this weekend and next, I think I have one weekend off and then another event is scheduled. Plus, things continue to be busy at the full time job.

So right now things are crazier than normal around here, so I apologize for the lack of pictures.

But I found a lovely new blog to share:

My Corner of Life is a lovely blog by Christine, stop by and say hello to her. And hey, she is new to spinning to let's cheer her on!

No Fear

2012-01-24T19:22:00.002-05:00

If you are not familiar with Imogen Heap, I highly recommend her music. I just recently discovered it myself and I love it!

I especially love this song. It could really apply to so many things. But I think it is such a beautiful song.

Enjoy!

Minds without Fear

We should never fear the unknown, it is an opportunity. We never fear honesty, for the truth really will set you fear.

Something Fishy

2012-01-03T20:19:00.001-05:00

I delivered a dead fish scarf and hat for a co-workers little boy today. She was very excited.

New Year, Fresh Start

2012-01-01T12:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Reader,

I'm not one for resolutions, I kinda like myself the way I am and if I need to change something well it's best not to wait until January 1 to take care of such things. I wanted to share with you my feelings on 2011, overall it wasn't a bad year. I mean sure globally things could be better, economy, war, yadda, yadda, yadda. My philosophy is I can only effect change in my corner of the world and if everyone managed their corner of the world all the corners would then add up, and the positive changes would spread and eventually, poof global change.

I do not believe that standing outside a bank building, the capital, the UN and screaming my protest of something will change anything, no one inside of those buildings are going to hear me and even if they did, they aren't listening. So I quietly effect change in my corner of the world and encourage you to do the same. That kind of change will be heard louder than any screams or protest signs ever will. Change by action not by voice.

You can also choose how and where you spend your money either by choosing to shop local or handcrafted or free trade items. You can vote out the people who you think are doing a bad job, vote in people you think will do a better job, you can choose to live green or greener you can volunteer to improve the lives of others.

Just think if everyone did just one of these things in the new year, what kind of changes could we bring about 2012?

"Things that make you say mmmmmmmmm."

1980 Something

2011-12-17T11:56:00.000-05:00

A group of us were having a discussion on G+ the other day, it started with music of the 80s, posting youtube links to our favorite videos/songs and then it went over into fashion. It was so much fun I thought I'd share a little bit of it here.

Do you remember getting home from school to try to catch your favorite video on MTV before your parents got home?

I graduated high school in the mid 80s and some of the songs I remember most are
Mandolin Rain and The Way It Is, by Bruce Hornsby
Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
Our House by Madness
Come on Eilene, by Dexy's Midnight Runners. (Honestly the thing I liked the most about that band was the name!)

Some of the bands that were popular my senior year were Wang Chung, Boy's Don't Cry, Nu Shooz, (love Nu Shooz), and Pet Shop Boys. Really there are too many to name but if you want a good source for remembering some of those songs you thought you had forgotten Ultimate 80s Songs is a great site!

Now about about some of those fashions! Cuff boots were my fav. I wore mine all the time, my favorite look in high school was my high heel cuff boots with my long black wool trench coat. Don't ask.

Of course, there were the parachute pants, okay I admit I had a pair, but only one pair! And of course the Michael Jackson jacket, honestly I never got into that so didn't have one of those. But I did have the bat winged sweaters! And lets not forget the Baja Hoodies! OMG I loved my Baja, wish I still had it! I had my share of sweater dresses and wide colorful belts too! And a pair of checker board vans, I mean who didn't?

So imagine me sporting a hair do similar to the guy from Flock of Seagulls, a screaming yellow bat winged sweater (v in the back of course), stirrup pants and cuff boots! Blue eye shadow, a small seagull drawn on the side of my face with my eyeliner pencil and my twisted bead necklace! You couldn't tell me anything! So that was the look for Friday, Monday was something more like my jeans, vans and baja hoodie, sans the blue eye shadow and drawn on seagull. LOL.

And then lets not forget the arcade, my friends and I spent a small fortune on Pac-man, Space Invaders, and Galaga. I still play a pretty mean game of Galaga.

Top movies of the 80s? Risky Business, for sure. But my fav was 16 Candles, and one quote that seems to get left out of the best movie quotes of the 80s is "They F*&*& forgot my birthday!" classic.

So what are your favorite memories of the 80s? Don't be shy fess up!

Book tree

2011-12-11T09:32:00.002-05:00

What sort of christmas tree does a librarian have? A book tree!

Cool Website for Writers

2011-12-02T21:06:00.002-05:00

I found this website through a google circle today, Enjoy!
The Writers Alleys

I'm a Winner!

2011-11-27T12:52:00.001-05:00

Well I did it! 50,000 words in 30 days, National Novel Writing Month is complete for me!

I actually finished up with 56,402 words, I have to say it was quite an experience and I can't wait until next year.

We return you to your regularly scheduled life.

4 Days 2 Pairs of Socks

2011-11-25T10:28:00.001-05:00

While needing some down time for creative thinking for my Nano writing. I needed something more soothing than the sweater for the KAL. My default knitting is socks.

And so I managed two pairs, both from Wendy's Johnson's Toe Up Socks for Everybody.

Adopt an Indie

2011-11-21T08:11:00.001-05:00

I found this great website through one of my Google Plus circles and wanted to share it with you. It is a great resource for indie writers, if your not a writer check out it find the names of some great indie writers and their work!
Adopt an Indie

Weather or Not

2011-11-17T18:54:00.001-05:00

The beauty after the storm. . .

Sunset

Coming Soon! - WAE Network

2011-10-30T17:48:00.000-04:00

Coming Soon! - WAE Network

In Support of Writing Programs

2011-10-30T17:02:00.001-04:00

Dear All,

If you wouldn't mind taking a few minutes to read my little message below. Any donation amount would be greatly appreciated, especially the Young Writer's Program!

Tranquility

2011-10-30T09:02:00.000-04:00

October 27, 2011 Along the rivers edge

Would Now be an Appropriate Time to Panic?

2011-10-29T20:10:00.003-04:00

There are officially 2 days, 4 hours and 4 minutes (at the time of this writing) until NaNoWriMo starts! (National Novel Writing Month) and I had the crazy idea that it would be brilliant to participate this year! The question now is, who.is.in.charge.of me.!? Who let me think this was a brilliant idea.

I have notes, I have characters I have a plot, without a definite ending but a plot in general. I know how I want it to go, but I want to build some juicy twists and turns to keep any potential reader hooked on the character and the story. That I am having a little problem with, well that and the fact that I have never done anything remotely like this and oh yeah there is the whole 50,000 words in 30 days.

Palms are starting to sweat, I somehow don't think the coffee is going to be necessary. I have already appropriated Mr. Sheep Shack's Mac Book Pro, so that I can write in every possible spare minute of every day.

And of course I still have to knit the three scarves and one pair of socks I have on the needles. One scarf is part of a commission set of two hats and scarves for some little ones.

What knit fish and donkey hats and scarves, socks, lace stole, reversible cabled scarf, prepare for the holidays, write 50,000 words in 30? Sure! No problem. I'll sleep in December!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

2011-10-22T21:03:00.001-04:00

Well, all the progress with Velvet has suffered a setback. I had to take her to the vet for shots, and while our vet is extremely good and takes excellent care of all our animals. She was not happy about being in the carrier or the car ride. She had gone back to hiding in extreme places and only comes out when we bring her out. Poor thing. And poor Olive is loopy because she had to be spayed and the pain meds are tripping her out. Only Lily is normal this week and she is so happy both cats are quiet and she is the boss of the house again, even if it is temporary.

In knitting news, the cabled scarf is seriously kicking my butt. I don't know why I have done cables before, but I seem to be messing this thing up every time I touch it. So I put it down for a while to concentrate on the sock and start a fish scarf. Hopefully I will have better luck there until the cable mojo returns.

Spent the day out and about so no knitting today as of yet. But it is only 9:00 pm so plenty of time for knitting yet this night.

Well, happy knitting ya'll!

Day 8 - Velvet and a Little Knitting

2011-10-15T07:38:00.000-04:00

Well between Day 3 and today, Velvet has been coming out at night when the other animals are not in her part of the house and eating. Last night we closed off the living room from Lily and Olive and just sat in there with her as she hid behind a book case. We tried tempting her with toys of every shape and color, but it was the wine corks that did it. She finally crept out on her own and started playing with the corks we tossed in her direction. Then she started running from me to Mr. Sheep Shack and back for pets on the head. So hopefully now we will see more her and I get some cute photos to share.

In knitting news, I am in the process of binding off my lace shawl. The problem I have it that you jump from US 7's to 11's for the bind off and the stitches are very tight, it makes things a bit difficult. But I will muddle through.

One More to Go!

2011-10-10T07:25:00.000-04:00

Well dear friends,

I have only one more row to go on the Knitpicks Seasons Summer Shawl. I will be posting before and after blocking picks soon. I have really enjoyed my first lace project, I think I will do a lace stole next. Along with the Serendipity Socks I am currently working on, a cabled scarf for Mr. Sheep Shack and oh yeah, we have what something like 77 shopping/knitting days until Christmas! Yikes!

I had great plans back in August to knit Christmas Stockings for the whole family, hmmmm. Haven't knit one single Christmas Stocking. It's sad really.

Oh and now, commission pieces to do as well. Thank goodness my family actually likes gift cards!

Well back to the needles, happy knitting!

Day Three - Velvet Watch

2011-10-09T18:09:00.005-04:00

Okay, this cat is not overly huge, but she is not petite by any means and I am amazed at the places she can squeeze into to hide. We find her we bring her out set her in our laps and pet her for a few minutes. Surprisingly the basset hound is not a problem. Velvet isn't over thrilled at the basset nose in her face. But the basset just can't wait for Velvet to come down and play.

Olive however, the very petite six month old kitten is the problem. She is having nothing to do with Velvet and does not want Velvet in the house. She makes quite a show of it every time they by chance are near each other.

Today we were outside for several hours working and came in and couldn't find Velvet anywhere. Mr. SheepShack was starting to get pretty worried. We looked under and behind everything in the house. Until, I found her on the table behind his computer. It's funny she hides behind his computer and when cramping herself onto the bookshelves, she lays on his books.

Well, I hope she comes out soon, and knows all is well here. I'm really starting to worry about her not eating.

In the mean time, I think I will show Olive some Simon's Cat movies.

Have you hugged something furry today?

Day Two - Velvet Watch - Updated with Pic.

2011-10-08T08:14:00.001-04:00

If you are on G+ you may realize that we have adopted another kitty. This one is a year old and her humans were splitting up so she needed a home. She is a very pretty black kitty, so we named her Velvet. We not have Black Velvet and Block Olive Dammitcat.

Velvet has let me hold for all of about 5 minute over the past two days. She stays tucked in a book case or behind the entertainment center. She hasn't eaten anything that I can tell.

Last night/early this morning at 2:30 am I found her on the sink in the bathroom, standing on her hind legs front paws on the wall. I don't know if she thought she would be arrested for being in the bathroom or if her new home is making her climb the walls.

Velvet hiding behind the curtains.