Sad Days...

Sad days ahead...we have to make that mournful trip to Gettysburg I spoke of last week. Thanks for all the kind sentiments, but we knew it was only a matter of time.
Spent the weekend trying on everything in my closet with high hopes I'd find something appropriate to wear that fits! I did finally put together an outfit! I really didn't want to go shopping...I'm not a good shopper, that is unless its for fiber or yarn! Speaking of which...you know The Mannings is not far from where we are staying....Hmmmm!?! I seriously don't need any more yarn, or fiber...but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! Thanks for all the kind thought but we knew the days were upon us. I'll be gone for a few days and away from my computer. I'm sure GoogleReader will be full when I return...(if you haven't checked into this you've gotta try it!)

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Eye Candy Friday??

I've never participated in this ritual before...I'm not so sure this qualifies, but I needed to pass along my enthusiasm for this weekends EVENT!

This is the BIG weekend Oriole Fans have waited for for a long time...I just wished I could be in Cooperstown in person to watch.
Hubby was at the game when he tied Lou Gehrig's record...and when he broke it! Me? Well, we hadn't met yet but I WAS watching the game on TV here at home. I did get several chances to see him play in person before he retired...I haven't gotten his autograph~~yet! Not that I hadn't tried!

I hope EVERYONE has a great weekend...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

The Mystery Continues....

Well, I've FINALLY caught up to all the other participants of MS3...I've started clue #4!

This is a very fun pattern to knit, and trying to figure out the "theme" of this stole is a real brainteaser! It supposed to be knit in either black or white...it's suitable for a bride to wear...or to wear to church. Hmmmm...I have NO clue what the theme is!
Of course, the rebel that I am, I didn't want my stole to "match" all the others so I went with the pale pink.

The knitting continues on my Rockport Vest, I haven't picked up the Monkey socks...except to go to the Avalanche game last week and never knit on them not even one stitch. I need to start the second baby blanket for a friend...I need to start on Mom's Sweater Vest...I need to start on Rogue....I need to start....
I think you get the picture!

We may have to make an abrupt trip to Gettysburg in the next few days...Hubby's Great Uncle is not doing well, and the worst is expected. Keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Let The Celebrating Begin...

Okay...so Marianne gave me the "Go Ahead" to begin celebrating early! I'm gonna grab that "Wild Chicken" and have a blast! What an appropriate card...and check out those cute Celtic stitch markers! THANK YOU MARIANNE! I love them!

It's been a while since I've posted any pictures from my garden...well, there's been NO rain here! I think we have about a 6 inch deficit...
Here's one from my pond...the one place water is at a constant level!




Last year this water lily didn't bloom, I think it's making up for it with this years beauty!

There's lots of knitting going on...trying to play catch up with my MS3 project, I'm still one clue behind! I must be the one who "hit the dog" (Poor pup...the dog is fine...I guess he'd crossed that road all his life and never thought on that day it would be any different...the rider/bike took the brunt of the accident) in the Tour de France Fleece, I'm seriously behind and I believe coming in last!
My fiber room is somewhat organized now...lets see how long it will last...No, I'm not posting pictures of it! Through the process it does make me realize just how much my stash has grown! Oh well, she who dies the with most....WINS! I think I've been topped, check out this Chick's stash! WOW!! Thanks Bobbi for posting about this last week, now I know I'm not out of control.

Thanks again Marianne!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

2 Weeks and Counting...

Look what came in the mail today!

Marianne sent me a package...but do I have to wait to open it? I can do it you know, it may drive me crazy but I can wait if I have to!

I've wore myself out today...trying to get my fiber room in a somewhat usable order! I'm not there yet but close! This is one of those on going projects that continually kicks my butt!
Now I'm ready to sit down and knit...I'm tired!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin!
BTW~Thanks for all the comments about my WONDERFUL Hubby and his flutes, I'll let you all know the minute he receives a response!

Let Me Tell You About....

Warning**No Knitting Content! Okay, so I'm getting ready to brag about my wonderful hubby...

Aboard the Rebecca T Ruark~Tighlman Island 2004

If you've been reading for a while you know Hubby makes and sells Native American Style Flutes, woodworking is to him what knitting and fiber is to me. He has a website but mostly sells his flutes on Ebay. While on a camping trip earlier this summer my mother told us about something she saw on the news~~Operation Happy Note, a charity to provide our soldiers overseas musical instruments for their entertainment, and I'm sure to forget the sights and sounds of the day.
My sweet, wonderful Hubby made 3 flutes and shipped them off late last week! I know stringed instruments do have a calming note (pun intended) but there's something about the soothing sound of a Native American flute that you get lost in. I'm hoping that there are some Native American soldiers who will receive one or all of these flutes, something that will bring them "home" as they play! With each flute Hubby wrote a letter offering wishes of getting satisfaction from his flute and a safe return home and asked for the recipient to please contact him. It's going to be so exciting when he gets that first note! If anyone else out there has an old, unused instrument they'd like to donate please go to the link and find out how and where to send them!
Okay...I'm done! He is WONDERFUL you know!

More later...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

W-I-P Progress!

Yes, I do have some knitting progress to report! What does 6 hours riding time in a vehicle get you?

Waa-La~

The back is almost complete! Ya-Hoo!

I still need to get caught up on Mystery Stole 3 and the many other projects I have in the works! But at least I can report on this one.

The baby blanket was a hit...and a little spooky! I think Bobbi is starting to wear off on me! She has this ESP or some kind of telepathic ability that I experienced when my step-daughter opened my gift. Earlier in the afternoon she gave us a peek into the baby's room, so cute...we saw ultrasound pictures of the "little peanut" (that's what I used to call Julia in utero). They are not finding out what the sex is of the baby, but I asked if they had any names picked out yet. For a boy--Jaden (not sure of the correct spelling on either of these) and for a girl...are you ready for this...Rhiannon or Rhianna! Cold chills spilled all over me...she had NO clue that I had made a baby blanket. When she opened it and I told her the name of the pattern...we all FREAKED! So...do you think it's going to be a girl? Step-daughter #2 does! Anyway, we had a most wonderful time with them.

I'm still trying to catch up on things...KnitNana tagged me for being~~

I'm going to tag:
Bobbi
Shona
Sue
Mary
Terri

Gotta run...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Friday the 13th and a FO!

Fresh off the needles...and just in time! See...I really have been knitting!

I still have to give it a little blocking before I wrap it up!

Now for all the specs:
Pattern used-Fiber Trends Diamonds for Rhiannon
Yarn used-Bernat Softee Baby (yes, acrylic...it has a very soft touch and besides, what else do you use for babies who make little "messes" that need easy clean up?) It took almost 3 balls to complete
Needle size-US 6

Now...I have so much waiting in the UFO basket~~Monkey Socks, MS3, Rockport Vest, Civil War Shawl...OMG, I'd better get busy...'cause there are so many other items I want to start. I'm seriously an A.D.D Knitter!

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! Thanks for all the comforting comments left yesterday...it's nice to have so many great Blog-Buddies!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

H&LL Week...

I’ve been a bad blogger…shut up JH.
I just hope you’ll understand when I tell you this has been H-week for me and my family. You'd think that after having such a "Lucky" Saturday that things would glide by....NOT!! I’m not going into the specifics…because frankly it’s embarrassing to tell anyone! Let’s just say life has been like a really bad (or good depending on if you're a fan of the show) episode from the Jerry Springer show! I wonder if he'd want to buy the story???! Remember TGFH (the girlfriend from hell...no, I can't bring myself to say her name)? I think I mentioned her last Christmas...She's out of the picture for good, but is trying to get the last word in~~sort of like trying to get gum off the bottom of your shoe!



No, it didn’t involve Hubby…it just looks like he’s behind bars! We found the most excellent place in Scottsdale…Dos Gringos. Reading all the signage in every nook & cranny of this place was amusing…not to mention all the bras hanging from the ceiling at one of the inside bars! Go HERE for their main page…

Dealing with all that and trying to get this baby blanket finished before Saturday has been taking up all my time and at the same time has kept me sane! Pictures to come...I PROMISE!

Today...pottery class!! Now I like to call it Clay Therapy....I can pretend the clay is a certain someone's head!

More later...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Lucky 7's

First I must apologize for being so behind...I'm behind in EVERYTHING! I've been working like gangbusters on finishing up the baby blanket I'm making for my Step-daughter. We are having a shower for her the 14th...of this month! I'm about halfway on the edging (about 95% done)...it's a knitted edging that's kicking my butt! I'll post pictures of the completed project.

I'm not one to let grass grow under my feet, life's too short! So...I'm taking a pottery class once a week! I've wanted to do this for a very long time! I think the last time I sat down to a potter's wheel was in the 6th grade...trust me it was a long time ago! My first class was this past Thursday...so exciting! Next....WEAVING...Julia I need your bedroom for a larger Loom/Fiber Room!

Last but not least...I had the most wonderful surprise on Wednesday of this week! I finally heard the voice I've been imagining for quite some time...my buddy Shona from Scotland called me! NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER FACE TO FACE!! Shona, THANKS again for making my day! I told hubby that he'd better prepare for all-nighters...it's gonna be like we are school girls at a slumber party~~talking ALL night long!
In turn I had to call Bobbi and give thanks to her for pairing us up for Secret Pal 8! This "Chick" has a sixth sense about her...or a crystal ball!! Doogie? We had a GREAT time chatting, and she's another I can't wait to meet! There are just some people out there who "click"~~know what I mean? Bobbi is another GREAT friend!!

Now...a short Part 2 version of our trip:

This is the Gowan Lodge, which holds the welcome center for the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. This lodge happens to be the former home of one of Shona's ancestors, once I mentioned that fact we were treated like Royalty! The body of the house has been closed off to the public because of the support structure being compromised over time, it used to be a place where many could stay...can you believe that each room had a bathroom?! We're talking late 19th century here...my mother didn't have the luxury of indoor plumbing until they moved to the town we live in now...in 1953! This lodge is down in a very deep gorge, the road is so steep that back in the day of the Model A & T Fords they had to use reverse to get out! We saw some great OLD pictures of family members and people who "partied" at the lodge! Boy, they had some real interesting parties! If you look at the picture...the room at the top was where the bar was! I envisioned a FIBER ROOM myself!!


Which by the way is original to the house!
Speaking of which...the first thing I saw when walking through the forbidden door was this nice piece!

Truly I never imagined the house/lodge being so HUGE!

We packed a small picnic for the day and walked a few of the trails but didn't take the one we should have, simply because I'm not accustomed to dry heat hiking, this day it was about 105 degrees!


The Gowan trail was straight down to the bridge...which meant, we came straight uphill on the way back!

I'm sure most have heard of Virginia's Natural Bridge, which is about 35 minutes from my hometown...and when you compare the size, Tonto Natural Bridge is much larger (sorry the pictures just don't do it justice) .
Here's a shot we took from above:







This is a picture taken from below...borrowed from the Park Service.

See how big?! This still doesn't give you the image I have in my minds eye! Darn it, I should have hiked down to the bottom!





Here's Virginia's Natural Bridge:

Similar....yet different?!

Man...I have so much to talk about and no time to do it! I'm sorry but I've gotta get back to my knitting...baby blanket's gotta get done in the next 7 6 days!! I'm so behind on my MS3 project, clue 2 was posted yesterday and I'm still on clue 1...because of the baby blanket!!

I'll be back...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Happy 4th of July!!!

Celebrate Safe!! Hope you have a good one!

Pray for Peace...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Monday....again!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We had promised daughter Julia a camping trip since she'd been so busy working and going to school on our previous camping excursions. So, this weekend we took off to a nearby KOA for some relaxation...and yet again, it's back to reality.

I know I haven't been talking much about knitting these days, instead it's been about Arizona! Last week the humidity was so bad...or after a week in AZ I had acclimated myself to NO humidity...today the A/C's are going in the windows cause the weatherman is forecasting higher humidity heading into the weekend. Today was very nice, but as a native SW Virginian I know that's NOT normal for this time of year!

How about some more vacation?

Part 1 Yeah, I know you are going to get tired of this, but I promise I'll shut up...soon!

About Arizona...I've been going through my pictures to weed out find more pictures to post, lots of great ones but I can't post them all. So...since this IS a knitting blog I think I'll start by showing you WHERE I did a lot of my knitting (besides at the pool)...one thing to note, people in AZ really look at you funny when you are knitting socks~~Hey, they are silk!


In the evening we would venture up to change for dinner and find our place here...

The Vista Lounge, and OH what a Vista! Here's a small sampling of the "Wildlife" you could see.




While enjoying a drink and knitting we watched these cute little critters...

There were 9 little ducklings with their Momma every afternoon.




Desert Cottontails...were EVERYWHERE! Just call it Bunny Heaven! In the afternoon they would come out and lounge in the shade and the little ones would chase each other. It was as though they were employed by the resort and did their "thing" at a scheduled time!


This is the Gamble's Quail...I like to call the "Kramer Bird"...remember "Seinfeld"? The pair would come out, both have "the feather", as their head bobbed around that little feather reminded me of Kramer's hair! I'm sure he was wondering how to rid himself of that pesky feather!



The Saguaro Cactus where amazing, after reading up a little about them, it takes up to 75 years before they grow one arm! Look at this one:


How old do you think this one is? They are an endangered species because of their slow growing nature and "plugging"! Wanna know what that is? Read this story about one David Grundman, he even had a song written about him...too bad he's not around to hear it!
You can see Four Peaks in the background, part of the Tonto National Forest.

Well...plenty of knitting to do! Stay tuned...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!