Monday, March 31, 2008

Spring?

Where the heck did Spring go? Though we need the rain it could be warmer! Friday it was 75 degrees, it hasn't been out of the 40's for the past 2 days...I'm chilled to the bone! Oh, and yesterday morning when I got up there was sleet on the ground!? I better not complain too much, it'll be hot & humid before we know it.

So what does a cold, wet Saturday & Sunday get me? Spinning time!

My spun singles...




Navajo plied...12 wpi.




Approx. 265 yds and another 6 oz's of fiber left to go...



Milo is home and doing much better, I can't wait to go see him! BUT...Ace is not feeling so good. I don't know if everyone is aware but if you need some background please read THIS....now that you have read that~~The Old Man has apparently thrown out his back! Either that or his arthritis is flaring. While in the Dr's office I read a chart that showed that Mr. Ace is in his "Geriatric Years" and at the age of 93. I guess he believes in the old saying "use it or lose it"!

Well, now that I've left you with that thought...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Playball....

Tonight's the night!!


The Boys of Summer are back!!! I know baseball/sports doesn't interest everyone...but I LOVE BASEBALL!!

Our local A team opens their season this Friday night...I'm going~~knitting in hand, along with a nice tall cold one...which makes if very hard to knit. Maybe I need to get me one of those hats!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Milo Update...

(Yes, I had to show another picture of this cute little face...after all, I'm a Grandma you know!)

Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers...you don't know how much it's appreciated!

I called the Hospital this morning and Milo is improving but they are still going to keep him till tomorrow morning. He's out of the oxygen cage, they still have him on some heavy antibiotics. I want to go see him so bad but I know he'll think I've come to take him away from that place. It's amazing what a good little fella he is!

Thanks again...you guys are the BEST!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

I Need Your Help...


...Yet again I'm asking for your help!

Our little Milo is in the hospital, he started having trouble breathing last night. I met Chase at the Dr's office where they admitted him. Apparently he has a bacterial infection. We don't know when he'll get to go home. Bless his heart, he's in an oxygen cage and looks so pitiful. He wanted to come home with me. Breaks my heart...
Please send positive energy, prayer and good thoughts his way!

Thank You!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Red Skies In The Morning....

...sailors take warning! Yes, I married into a waterman family. Bad weather is on it's way.

Sunrise and a UFO~~

Check out this morning's sunrise~~

This photo is completely unaltered...amazing huh? Boy I LOVE color!

Speaking of which, Flirty Tank is DONE!!!!

This pattern is unbelievably fast to knit, started on 3/11 and finished 3/27. I can't wait to wear it.

Two posts in one day, pretty amazing but I HAD to share these shots with you.

Only 3 movies left to guess...wow, you guys are sharp! Six correct guesses in no time.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Movie MeMe

I read this on Carole's blog and thought I'd "reveal" a little of myself. These are all movies in our personal collection...they do have a common theme. Now you'll find out just how obscure our movie collection is.

Here are the Rules:
1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them on your blog for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. Looking them up is cheating, please don’t.


1-"Those considerations are subordinate to the interests of the Crown" Col. Munro in Last of the Mohicans guessed by Gourdongirl
2-"There's a story going around 'bout how some 20 Redcoats got killed by a ghost or some damn thing, carried a Cherokee tomahawk" John Billings "The Patriot" guessed by Mari
3-"The Cheyenne admire bravery. Let's just hope they don't put you to the test" Prof. Lillian Stone in Last of the Dogmen guessed by Gourdongirl
4-"Ride due west as the sun sets. Turn left at the Rocky Mountains" Robidoux in "Jeremiah Johnson" guessed by Margene
5-"Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie? Josey in The Outlaw Josey Wales guessed by Gourdongirl
6-"I'll bet someone back east is going, "Now why don't he write?" Timmons from "Dances with Wolves" guessed by Carole
7-"...it appears the Virginia Military Institute will be heard from today" General Stonewall Jackson in "Gods & Generals" guessed by Carole
8-"It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom" William Wallace in "Braveheart" guessed by Mari
9-"Then tomorrow is the Fourth of July" General Robert E Lee in "Gettysburg" guessed by Carole
10-"Name a shrub after me - something prickly and hard to eradicate" Capt. Jack Aubry in Master and Commander guessed by Gourdongirl

Good Luck!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Look Mom...No Cavities!!


Ace survived yesterday's annual Dr. visit...but for a while was walking staggering around the house like "Otis". I'm sure if he could sing he would have been. Poor thing was so drunk...sat in the middle of the living room watching the room spin. I even saw him in his bed with one foot on the floor!
He appreciates all the sympathy comments...of course he'd have you believe we put him in the closet.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Indignity!


Ace here...

Can someone call the "Pet Police" for me...I don't have thumbs?

The female "Maid" took away my food and water last night. Two nights ago the "blue thing" I don't like came into the house...

...some thing's going on!

King Kat is NOT happy!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Flirty WIP!


Progress on my Flirty Tank is going well, now if the weather would just get warm! I REALLY love this yarn...find a LYS that has it and give it a squeeze...sort of like Charmin, thank goodness yarn shop owners aren't like Mr. Whipple!



Also working on some spinning, and St Brigid...I NEED to cast on some socks, I guess I've also lost my "Sock MoJo" too?!
I simply need more hours in the day to accomplish everything!

Go on over to
Anne's for her contest...tell her I sent ya!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!


Monday, March 24, 2008

The Weekend Report...

I had a GREAT weekend & Easter...



How about you?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Day 6

I'm taking Day 7 off!!!

Traditional or Digital? This is my dilemma...
I love my traditional SLR camera, my forever favorite formats are B&W and slide film, 'cause this is what I learned on!
Hubby has the digital SLR camera, which of course I use, but not like my 'antiquated' SLR. I can't get the hang of white balance...I have difficulty working with several of it's controls, so basically I point and shoot then touch up with Photoshop.

With my SLR I can get very creative with my shots...play with all the features and get pretty good results. The problem? Well, since I use the digital for all my blog shots my SLR rarely comes out unless we are on a trip which means sometimes film will remain in my camera until it's all shot (I know that's not always a good thing). While we were at Hawks Nest I had the opportunity to finish up a roll of film (slide), I had no idea what else was on it until yesterday...and BOY was I surprised!

I love surprises!!

I did use a split filter on this shot, but I must admit the shot taken without the filter was just as beautiful (if I do say so myself)!



The Grand Canyon at Sunset

Taken last June on our trip to Arizona. I see a yarn colorway here..do you?

Will I go digital? Maybe someday but right now I'll stick with what I know!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Friday, March 21, 2008

Well...

....are ya? Tired of hearing from me? I can't believe it, I've managed FIVE days of blogging!!

I don't have much to post today except to send you on over to my buddy Chan's for her 1st Blogiversary contest. Hurry...it ends on April Fool's Day!

I've been busting my arse this week getting the house in order for the arrival of DsD and family (this includes little Landon!!!)...I'm not great at housekeeping so there are some leftover Halloween decorations (cobwebs) that must be taken down along with all those darn stink bug carcasses I keep finding, is anyone else have an issue with this things? We seem to be inundated by them! Mopping floors and cleaning windows...you know the normal "spring cleaning" routine. I'll be the first to admit I'm a pack rat and tend to collect "stacks" of things here and there...so they have to be gone through and thrown out. I don't know why I squirrel things away the way I do...maybe it comes from my Granny. My Mom's not like that...
I would much rather work outside in the yard than clean house....yuck!

I'll leave you with this pretty face from my garden!



Have a GREAT weekend and Happy Easter!!
Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Happy Spring!

Day 4....can you believe it? Do you think I can make it 5 days in a row?

Spring? So the calendar says...

So, yesterday I told you about playing with polymer clay. I'm not as talented as Anita & Jillian to create such cute little miniatures as they do. However I was given an challenge idea...




This I like to call...."The Blob"! Creative...huh?

...takes me back to my childhood and playdoh...minus my Mother yelling at me for getting "crumbs" on the floor.



To this...



Back to this...



I worked this clay so much I got a cramp in my hand! I know you are asking what is the point of all this...what is she doing? (I asked myself this quite a bit)


Tah-Dah!!!




Here's the finished product:



I did use 2 colors to see which one would work the best...I'm still not sure about the purple. We'll see...
So, have you figured out what this is all about?


Buttons for Kauni!! Still haven't REALLY decided if they are "the ones" yet. The color is a bit off...oh well! What is a girl to do?

Hang with me while I work up a post for tomorrow!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

You'll Catch a Fly....

....close your mouth, YES~I am posting for the 3rd day in a row!

Remember yesterday when I said I has some more stitch markers to show?! Well, they arrived in the mail today!
***Be Warned...extreme cuteness ahead***

How many of you have visited WeeOnes Etsy shop? If you haven't yet...YOU MUST!
She packaged these...a box in a box...


Then when I opened them I was teased yet again...so I'm teasing you guys now!




Right about now you are saying..."What the H3LL are they?"


Well....






My very own Milo Markers!!!

Aren't they ADORABLE???!!! Go ahead order...some, Jillian goes out of her way to make sure you are pleased with the finished product. Now I have 2 favorite Etsy shops for stitch markers!!

I've recently been messing around with polymer clay...no, I'm not making stitch markers. Hey, did it just get brighter in here? I'll have a 4th post for this week...stay tuned!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Bloggin' Mojo?

Where, oh where has my Bloggin'-Mojo gone?
(Bloggless JH is prodding the "you know what" out of me to update...someone needs her own blog)

Hey..two posts in two days, do you think it's back?

The time changed really did it's number on me, maybe next year (the Fall time change doesn't bother me) I should plan a vacation for the week after?!

So what's been going on at "The Coop"?

Knitting...

Spinning...

and

Puppy Sitting!


Ole McFergus had a farm e-i-e-i-oh!

While catching up on my blog reading, Chan posted about her stitch markers purchased from Anita...I knew I HAD to have a chicken...then it occurred to me that I needed a barnyard of animals! So Anita kindly created this set for me...aren't they cute? Check out the chicken's bellybutton! She even threw in an Easter egg marker.
These are not the only stitch markers I've commissioned lately...stay tuned to see my next set! (I see a 3rd post in the future)

I've cast on for St. Brigid...boy, swatching for this really kicked my butt.


This is most definitely "thinking knitting" so don't look for it to be completed quickly. I am beginning to "see" the pattern which will make the knitting go much faster...this is NOT one of those patterns you will easily memorize but you can "read" the knitting, that is after you get going on it.

I also cast on for a new summer top called "Flirty Tank Top" by Y2Knit.


If you are ever in the Funkstown, Md area you must visit this shop! I'm using Rowan Calmer and loving this yarn...it's soft, squishy and has some spring to it. Love it!!!!

The weather is warming up, my Bradford Pear is blooming...and my allergies are starting up. I LOVE Spring~~but it doesn't love me! We had Milo over the weekend, obvious from yesterdays photo, he is SO much fun. Saturday was so nice, contrary to the weatherman's prediction of 90% rain ALL DAY, we spent the morning working outside...hubby on the roof replacing the many shingles we've lost over the winter...me in my garden...with Milo's help.

I didn't get a picture but he also decided to go for a swim in my pond...needless to say he had a bath.

Well...I'm sputtering here...need some caffeine...or a nap! A nap is out of the question as I glance at the clock...gotta go fix supper!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Top 'o the marnin' to ye!



Hope ye be warin' tha green!!



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Top Ten~Spring Edition


This morning, while reading GoogleReader and visiting my favorite blogs. Carole posted her ten favorite things about Spring...and asked readers their ten favorite.

My Top Ten for Spring:
1-warmer weather...no coats!
2-flowers and the smell of my lilacs (even though my itchy, watery eyes and the sneezing is a result of this)
3-open windows
4-birds singing
5-spinning & knitting by the pond
6-camping, canoeing, hiking & fishing
7-sandals
8-vacations season!!
9-BASEBALL SEASON
10-Did I mention....camping?
Now I ask you...what are yours?
Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Decisions...Decisions....

A decision has been made!



Eva Braun will become...


St. Brigid!!!
I've had this pattern in the back of my mind for years! While searching through pattern after pattern I went to my Ravelry queue...and the light bulb came on!!
The color is perfect, the weight is perfect and when else would I come up with more than enough yardage to finish such a project?

I'm also going to start a summer sweater/shell/vest using the Rowan Calmer (raverly link) I bought in AZ last summer.

I have lots of other projects I want to cast on for...including lots of socks!

WIPS~
I'm currently finishing up a BSJ for Landon.

I'm still on a spinning kick...

My 2 lace projects (Civil War Shawl & Honeybee Stole) are on hold...

Good News~~
Springtime is on it's way!!!
As I walked out the front door this morning I saw the first robin of Spring! Daffodils are blooming on Main St. The time changes this weekend and the winds of March are (and have been) upon us!
This is the time of year when I come out of the cave (just like an Ole Bear) greet the sun and feel so much more energized! Yesssssss!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Monday, March 03, 2008

Hawks Nest Spring '08


Whew...I'm back!! Miss me??
Warning, this post will be heavy with photos, links and some "name dropping"! I had my laptop with me but I found no time for posting...busy~busy~busy!!

Needless to say I had a FANTASTIC time. I must admit that I was a little put off prior to leaving and wasn't sure how the weekend was going to turn out.



(The only way to get a really good shot of the room was to wait until everyone was gone to dinner)

This was my sixth event and probably the best so far, it was the LARGEST I've seen! By Saturday night we had 27 spinners, 4 others learning and purchasing their first wheels and 5 vendors 3 of which were toting fiber & roving.
I learned a couple new techniques and have been enticed into the world of weaving, DD is going to lose her room sooner than she thinks!
I saw old friends I haven't seen in a while and my "teacher" who taught me how to use my first spinning wheel but also...this time taught me a new technique~~I learned to navajo ply!!!


See~~
After spinning up the singles I couldn't bring myself to 2 ply it so I fell to my knees and begged "My Teacher" to tutor me in this new (well~new to me) technique. Najavo plying only made the roving more beautiful! No "barber polling"~all the color runs stayed together.
This is the superwash merino that Krafty1 sent to me. It's called "Fruit Salad" the funny thing is that as I was spinning the dye came off on my fingers so I look like I've been capping strawberries! I'll rinse the yarn in vinegar and it should be just fine.



The other spinning I finished up was a merino/silk blend I bought last year at Smoky Mountain Spinnery called....Denim. This is a simple 2 ply...

Now I must find patterns for my finished yarn!

There was also a lady who demonstrated an ancient weaving or twining technique called Sprang also check out this link(pronounced sprong). The teenage daughter of one of the attendees immediately made herself a frame and started herself a project!

I spent the entire time seated next to one of the ladies I've known since attending this event but this time I had the opportunity to chat with her much, much more...the subject? No, not spinning...well a little but mostly about weaving! She's a local (Blacksburg) weaver who has stoked that fire in me to learn yet another hobby! See....DD is going to lose her room! Yeah~~like I need another hobby!

Are you ready for the "name dropping"!
Among those arriving on Friday night and Saturday there was Joanne, Margaret and Lawre (If you haven't seen her bags take a look at her website)! Of course David Simpson was there...I know many of you have asked me why his "fluff" isn't on his website, I think he has color cards he can send to you if you ask but his colorways are "limited edition" so when a colorway is gone...it's gone, he doesn't reproduce it. He just comes out with other colors, and let me tell you~~what he's coming up with next is going to be MINE...all MINE!!! Just kidding, I can't buy it all up!

Speaking of buying...I'm proud of myself, I didn't buy one single fleece even though Debbie Dull was there, she's Eva Braun's mom. There was also a new lady there selling Coopsworth fleece. Yes, I felt it, pet it and hugged it but I didn't buy it!
I DID buy this:

On the left is "Cinnamon Stardust" and the right is "Seascape"
I seriously didn't need to buy anything at all! Temptation gets the best of me!



The ride to Hawks Nest on Thursday it snowed on us...one word~BEAUTIFUL then on Friday it rained~hard all day. However, on Saturday afternoon Hubby and I did get a afternoon of hiking in.

Mark your calendars for the Fall Event....September 25-28, 2008! If you want more information email me at spinnerknitter at aol dot com

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!