2008 - Looking Back

Wow, can you believe a year has gone by?

Something that's never done here is a "Year in Review" so here goes...

January brought new adventures & new "fur babies" to the family - I challenged myself to a steeking project in 2007, this month the time came to actually CUT MY KNITTING!

February more steeking, mailbox surprises and new dyeing adventures...remember Eva Braun?

March button adventures (for Kauni), "grandpuppy" sitting, grandson visit, my favorite season...BASEBALL is back...renewed hope for a better season (only to feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you by June)! AND...as every March brings our semi-annual trip to Hawks Nest for the Spinners Retreat!

April the beginning of growing season, camping - including "false Bigfoot" and scary, bad news about my brother's health, but it turned out fine.

May more camping, fibery stuff, another month of sadness with the passing of my 4 legged nephew, Hank...and our trip to Kentucky, where Hubby made local headlines!

June WWKIP Day and our first Stitch & Pitch at our local Minor League baseball park, lots more stuff from our trip to Kentucky, our "Top Secret" Anniversary trip I had planned for Hubby, the dreaded Friday the 13th included me wrecking my truck, still more fibery goodness going on...and Hubby's birthday!

July my post remembering the 145th Anniversary of Gettysburg, lots of Ace & Milo antics, garden shots, knittin' with my niece and that video that brought everyone to tears in 2008!

August brought my birthday...and my very first 5K race! Milo came to live with us for a couple weeks (we were so sure he was going to stay for good) it was so sad to see him leave, sad news came from a friend afar-my thoughts and prayers are still sent to her on a daily basis, lots more fibery goodness...including an eye opening realization I have a HUGE stash issue, putting up for the winter (which we are still enjoying today) and Ravelympics. August 20th became a very special day in our lives...you learn later what that's about.

September still more fibery goodness goin' on, Landon's 1st birthday - which meant literally driving through a hurricane to get to his party! Finishing a very special project for my very special friends wedding day! The long awaited beach trip where we met a camping buddy and a blogbuddy!

October the big news this month was the introduction of our new "fur baby" - Rudy (who was born on Aug. 20th--see August)

November brought the loss of my blogging mojo...but thankfully not my knitting mojo (otherwise known as my sanity), Milo's birthday and baseball news that is very exciting (okay so maybe I'm the only one excited) and my second 5K race on Thanksgiving day.

December found my blogging mojo (or I made myself do it), more knitting projects...of course! Found a new use for Youtube--Music Monday's and I entered the "digital age"! Yet again we lost another neighbor.
I can't say that Christmas was the best...a VERY unwanted visitor came on Christmas Eve that pretty much put me out, good thing I had all my stuff done...the family just had to wait on me. I got well enough to go to Williamsburg only to have Hubby come down with the dreaded bug on Saturday while we were there!! Rudy had a blast and thought that it should be called "Rudyburg"! I think I'm going to have to call the breeder and ask for a commission, I gave out his name so many times!

Here's to a fantastic 2009, I raise my glass to everyone in a toast -- "In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want"!

Thank you all for continuing to read my blathering!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Music Monday

Since Jesus is the reason for the Season my last Music Monday will be my favorite Spiritual songs...but again, there are so many to choose from~


Who doesn't love Andrea Bocelli?



I love this version...a blending of new & old voices (well way back when, I remember watching this special when it first came on).


Again, my celtic roots choose Enya singing in Gaelic!


I don't just love Kenny Rogers because he looks like my Dad.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Mine didn't start out so well yesterday...I have a stomach bug. I'm having an impromptu Pajama Day(s) till I feel better!

We're supposed to be leaving for Williamsburg in the morning, I seriously need to feel better.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

WoW~~It's Christmas Eve!

Scrooge Kitty is now living at our house...His stocking is hung but with this attitude will Santa leave him anything?



On that note, lets have a little Kitty Christmas Music to lighten his spirits~~~






I couldn't choose just one, lets just hope that something happens to change his outlook...maybe a V-A-L-I-U-M

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'...

Happy Little Accidents...

Years ago I dabbled in oil painting...loved to watch Bob Ross, hear his soft voice, hated his hair but loved when he referred to those "happy little accidents" that happened when freehanding a painting.

Now a "happy little accident" has appeared in my knitting! I've been working on knitting from my stash...had some leftover Patons Decor (yes, I know it's acrylic, actually it's a wool/acrylic blend...but it is soft) and started another last minute Christmas gift. Darkside Cowl (rav-link)~another fun cowl to knit. Little did I know that the yarn would knit up this way...like I painstakingly used 4 different colors to spiral this cowl! How cool is this??



Are you ready for Christmas? Have you been watching Holiday movies? Does this remind you of anyone?



Check out those eyelashes! Through the holidays he'll be known as Rudy Lou Who!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Music Monday

Pop/modern music

Christmas in Dixie

...we may not have a white Christmas but it's still Christmas!!

Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan


Another Sarah favorite


I won't say it was a mistake but I watched this movie for the first time on Saturday and now I can't stop crying every time I hear this song (I think I'm going to have to fa-la-la when I hear the song come on the radio). I've always loved the song but now I have the movie in my head. It ripped me up when she asked her husband to dance with her one last time.
Yet another movie that shows how we may touch some one's life and never know it.

What are your favorites?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Celebrations, Traditions & Rituals

I was on such a roll, I can't believe I missed a post yesterday!




Happy Winter Solstice! Today marks the day that the days begin to get a little longer as each day passes...meaning Spring is right around the corner.







This is a fantastic little video, beautiful music as well (R.Carlos Nakai is a favorite of mine):








For those of Jewish faith tonight is the beginning of Hanukkah

What ever you celebrate here's wishing you the Happiest & Healthiest!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

FO Friday!

HP is GREAT! My laptop made it's way home today...fixed! Yipee!! What a turn around, I sent it off this past Tuesday!!

Now, on to the order of the day, without having the computer around I was able to get some knitting finished!! These are Christmas gifts so I will not say who they're for, since these days you never know who's lurking! (All pattern links are RavLinks)



This is Noble Cowl, a fun, quick knit.
I may have to make one for myself.





This is Scrunchable Cowl, which I'm sure you will notice looks like it's still in the WIP stage...well, no it's finished only I wrapped it before I took a final picture. Maybe I can get the giftee to model it for me...






The Norwegian Star Hat (I didn't do the earflaps...I don't think the recipient would be real fond of them) I LOVE this pattern, a great stranding project...especially if you want to learn how to strand knit. I want one of these too, this one's made from pure alpaca yarn.




I'm so happy I found this pattern, what do you do when you need a quick project for an unexpected gifting need? The 75 yd mitts !! You'll notice that it's made from the same yarn (Patons Classic Merino--Palais colorway) I still had a little left over after both projects.

I have one more project on the needles.

Whew...5 days away! Are YOU ready??

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Work Bloggin'

...and I'm not supposed to!

I just wanted to ask for thoughts my Mom's way, her 10 year old Bassett Hound isn't doing well. The test results come back this afternoon...it's not looking good.

Thanks....

M-I-A~~

No post today...I'm computerless! It's sick and has gone to TN for fixin'!

This does mean I have more knitting time!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

WoW~~

Bah-Humbug~~



How much more humiliation will they put me through?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Ah Geez....I had to ask?!

47 Years...and counting

Mom & Dad!
(honestly, my Mom deserves a major award or something...)



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Music Monday

Today's selection come from my holiday movie collection~~

Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

The porcipine on the right reminds me of Rudy! I LOVE this movie, have always loved the muppets. The storyline of this little movie has a great meaning.

Elf

Who knew Will Farrell could sing?

Christmas Vacation

Though the version in the movie is Bing Crosby, I LOVE me some Jimmy Buffett!

A Christmas Story



Homecoming-A Christmas Story

in the movie it's really Cleavon Little's version but when I found this I HAD to use it. This really was the beginning of The Waltons (another movie said to be the beginning of Walton's was Spencer's Mountain)...growing up this was a FAVORITE to watch at my Grandparents house.

Polar Express

Josh Groban has such a wonderful voice!

...and Hubby's favorite!

Claymation Christmas

We Three Kings

I never realized how hard this was going to be, so many great songs and not enough time to post them all!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

11 Days...

...and counting!



Pretty Amazing huh?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Who Can Deny?

That this isn't the cutest face in the world...okay, my world!



Awwww...whatever you want Mr Rudy!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Let the Fun Begin~

You just don't even know how BAD this week was at work. Thankfully I can leave it at the door as I leave "that building"!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend...have anything fun planned?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Christmas Knitting & Bargains!

I am working feverishly on my Christmas knitting...



...this years popular knit seems to be the cowl, so I'm making several (including one for myself!) There are so many nice patterns out there I have a hard time choosing which one to make for whom! Oh well, I'll just knit them up...wrap them...shuffle the boxes and tag 'em!
This is the Scrunchable (RavLink) I am knitting from my stash, this is Patons Classic Merino...love the colors!

BARGAIN ALERT!!

This may be a mistake on my part but I MUST share. Maybe some of you already know about it and others it'll be as big a surprise as I found. How many of you have a Tuesday Morning in your area? I found, at a great discount, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Cashmere 5 skeins of it there!!! There were other fru-fru yarns and some really nice angora & alpaca yarns, just not my color choices...and the prices were AMAZING!
Disclaimer~~if by chance you don't find these sorts of deals or yarn in your area (or my area) this is a "by chance" sort of place....either that or I beat you to the store!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

WoW

Wednesday again~~and Momma's got a new....(Buehler? Buehler?)





which doesn't amuse someone in the least!




Yes, I have taken the plunge. I'm now D-I-G-I-T-A-L! That thing I said I would NEVER do!



Never say Never!

I likey....

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Running....

...and watching for a good cause!


Brooks is donating five cents for every view of the Brooks Dream video between November 13, 2008, and December 21, 2008. Once the views have been tallied, Brooks will donate up to a maximum of $25,000 to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, earmarked for the support of breast cancer research.


Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Music Monday

The season is upon us, I don't know about you but music moves me in many ways. During Christmas it helps set me in the mood, even during those times when I didn't feel like celebrating and wished the holiday would just pass on over me. It occurred to me to share with you some of my favorite Christmas music and artists. I proclaim the next 4 weeks to be Music Monday! (This will also keep me on track with my blogging)
I hope you enjoy my selections as much as I do.

Many of you know love my Scottish heritage, much of my holiday music is Celtic. Today's artist is Loreena McKennitt...if you like these you really should buy one of her CD's!


(I'm not sure the name of the song, it's not on my CD...I was mesmerized by the beauty of the video)

"Snow" One of my absolute favorites from her!


"In the Bleak Midwinter"


"In Praise of Christmas"

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Day of Infamy...

As dawn breaks on the beautiful Islands of Hawaii, we remember December 7, 1941.




My ex-FIL was there just days later for the clean-up. He won't discuss much about it, but one can only imagine.

Christmas Meme

Carole strikes again...another great meme! (another great method to keep me blogging)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper but depending on the size & shape of the gift I will use a gift bag.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I prefer real but a few years ago bought an artifical tree (yuk). I do add artifical smell to the house to help me get over the fact I've gone fake!
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the second week of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Jan 2nd.
5. Do you like eggnog? It's okay, but I prefer Boiled Custard.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My first bike.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Definitely my father!!!!
8. Easiest person to buy for? Hubby.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, kitty cats!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? (this answer mirrors Carole's) My ex-husband gave me some pretty bone-headed things over the years but I can’t think of anything specific. The only thing I can remember is after opening it thinking "what tha hell?"
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...oh, but there are so many to choose from...
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I make a lot of gifts, and shop online...after working 3 years in retail I DO NOT like going to the mall or shopping in general!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Bourbon balls!
16. Lights on the tree? Why YES!
17. Favorite Christmas song? My favorite religious one is “Silent Night, Holy Night” and my favorite pop one is “Wintersong” but I have so many others...which gives me an idea...come back on Monday.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We do travel but usually a week before or after Christmas, to see the step-daughters.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Of course!
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We've always opened presents with the extended family at dinner on Christmas Eve, but here at home we wait till Christmas morning.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? How "commercial" the holiday has gotten, I like homemade gifts, spending quality time with friends & family with out all the $$$$$$$
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our tree is always decorated with blue & white lights, every ornament is special because I've collected one and dated it for each year along with all the ones the kids made in school.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? I really hadn't thought about it...
24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel...a very special one, I made it for my Granny some years back and when she passed it was given to me.
25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Oysters! But since my MIL moved to Florida I am missing her Sauerbraten Christmas dinner.


Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Celebrate the Weekend!!

Are you ready for some football??


The weather's not going to be very good...I'm sick...I'm ready for football!!

...and knitting!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Male Invasion!

Boys-boys everywhere! It seems that for the past 2 years everyone I know has had or is having a baby boy! There is only 1 little girl born this past August that I know of!!

So as of late my knitting theme has been BLUE!

Some of my "Baby Boy" knitting~~





I love Mason-Dixon's One Piece Baby Kimono...so quick & so easy!

Come on ladies....we need to even out the gender race! Let's have some baby girls!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Whiskers on Wednesday

All is right in the world....



...Rudy who?



Mr Ace is doing much better with the new addition to the family.
There was a very *BAD* moment that happened a couple weeks ago where the aggression was turned on ME. With no provocation while lying in his favorite spot on the couch (behind my head and in front of the heat duct--as pictured here) I turned around to talk to him when he struck me in the face, nearly hitting me in the eye! Drew blood...and lots of it.
So we went on a little "valium therapy" which has turned him into his normal self again!

Funny thing is he no longer wants treats...he meows at the medicine cabinet!! Have we created a monster or a druggie? Keep your cats inside...he may start selling on the streets!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Sixth Photo Meme

While blog reading Carole had this interesting Meme posted...so I thought it'd be fun, I kept my fingers crossed that it would be a picture I WANTED to post (no shots of me sleeping with drool on my pillow)!

The rules:

* Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.
* Pray that you remember the details.
* Tag 5 others. (I'm not tagging anyone, if you wanna play along I'd love to see your picture)

This was taken in April of 2002 on a drizzly, chilly day at the San Diego Zoo. I took this shot as these Capybara seem to be snuggling up against the elements.



Sweet faces!

Fiber related stuff:

I haven't had the spinning wheel out since Rudy came to live with us...but I will!

My spinning from our beach trip this past September I worked on fiber I had purchased from Scout called "Prepster". I navajo plied the first bobbin of singles and came up with this~



165 yds of DK weight. I only have about 2 ozs left to spin up of the fiber.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

December Already??

WOW...time really does fly! I'm going to try to get this train back on it's track, so I pick the busiest time of the year to do so!

I keep telling you I've been knitting...and I swear I have, but I first want to tell you about the Drumstick Dash! ...and of course show you some pictures.

Talk about cold...it was below freezing when I awoke Thursday morning and by race time it had only gotten up to about 32 degrees! But it was all for a good cause. With almost 5000 people registered,both runners & walkers I'd say it was a great success. (at the start of the race they announced that there were 4800 people registered with people still registering as the gun went off)


I met up with my running/pace partner and friend Dani at registration~~can you tell we're freezing? And she's from Canada.



Gratuitous Rudy shots...My little cheering section came along, doesn't he look smart in his little sweater!




Here we are at our starting spot...which by the way next year we'll move further up. The bottleneck was pretty bad and slowed our time down some.



My faithful Hubby and Lil Rudy are waiting for me at the finish, and of course I was Rudy's human salt lick as you can see.
I didn't get any pictures but among the walkers were my daughter, Mom, brother, SIL, favorite niece and their 2 dogs...Daisy & Duke.
Afterwards...I felt NO guilt about filling my plate and stuffing myself!

All in all another great experience. I didn't place nor did I expect to but I did better my previous race time by 4 minutes and my mile time by a whole minute!
Hmmmm, the Jingle Bell Run is in 2 weeks...can I do it? Hmmm.....

Oh...about the knitting, that'll give me something to blog about later this week!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!