Music Monday

Today....was Monday HELL!!

"I've got dreams in hidden places and extra smiles for when I'm blue." ~Author Unknown



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Oh....So True~~

"Good fortune shies away from gloom. Keep your spirits up. Good things will come to you and you will come to good things." ~Glorie Abelhas




I saw this on Juniper Moon's blog...and had to share myself from THIS BLOG--
OH so true, except for me the three distractions would be email, facebook and ravelry!

Head on over to Sandra's blog and enter her contest!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Dogs on Thursday

"When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you've growled all day long." ~Author Unknown





Under the baby blanket is the bed I spoke about yesterday...amazing how big that bed was.




Seems he is always "falling out" of his bed!



The latest picture (I posted it up the other day) -- same bed, flipped inside out. That's something he's mastered when he romps & plays with his bed...and when he's really tired he chews on the inside corners.
Just like Linus and his blanket, Rudy loves this bed. When we travel, the bed goes with us...when we go camping...the bed goes with us, not so much that he actually sleeps in it...he just has to have it. I've sewn and repaired it several times. Oh, I can get him another but it won't be the same as this one. Let's hope it doesn't simply disintegrate to ash...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Whiskers on Wednesday

"Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left." ~ Hubert Humphrey


Well, it's been a while but Ole Ace is doing VERY well. Seems Rudy has been a GREAT brother for him. He's livened up, actually plays with Rudy in the morning....for about 1 minute. He makes a mad dash through the house to get Rudy to chase him and then he's off to his bed to sleep for the rest of the day. That's about it for his boost of energy. Besides the fact that Rudy keeps him young when I discovered the perfect food for Rudy, Nutro Natural Choice, I decided it must be good for Ace too. Well, has it ever...he's gained weight, his coat is shinier than ever (he still sheds like crazy but that's just a cat thang) and he has these little energy boosts. Dr. says he'll be around for a while...

About the picture--that's NOT Ace's bed...



...that's Rudy's bed--his security blanket...his bed he's had since he was a wee thing (watch for Dogs on Thursday tomorrow). He's trying to "tattle-tale" on his feline brother. Can't you just hear him now---Momma, Ace is in my bed...and stealing my sunbeam!



....and Ace says....(I'll let you fill in the blank)

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

See....I've been knitting!

Babies are bits of stardust, blown from the hand of God.-- Barretto







My hair stylist is having a baby in March, and for a change someone's going to have a little girl!!! Needless to say I'm very excited, this pattern has been one that had to be for the right baby. Knitting from my stash...yep, still on the "yarn diet"...I had this nice fingering yarn that would make the perfect heirloom bonnet. At what little girl goes without a nice pair of booties? If you haven't knit this pattern yet, it's a must for instant gratification!!!

(wow...I still need to post up the pics of my Christmas knitting...I'm so behind)

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Can you spell Cabin Fever?

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart" ~ Confucius




UGH...I'm so tired of winter...I'm tired of being cold...I'm tired of being cooped up in the house...I'M TIRED OF WINTER!!!

Okay, that was the negative--here's the positive ~

Today we went for a ride to Floyd, VA. For those of you who are not familiar with this Town/Community it's such an eclectic and interesting place. Hubby and I have been making this a regular stop since we started dating (I remember as a kid being in LOVE with the hardware store--but then again I've never grown up). There's lots of artist owned shops including the famous Floyd Country Store, it's on the Crooked Road Trail, Schoolhouse Fabrics (3 floors of FABRIC-some of which has been there since the beginning of time--I'm talking double knit polyester) funny I still like going there--hearing the sound of the wood floors creaking underfoot as you move from room to room, the Jacksonville Center for the Arts, also the new Shooting Creek Brewery and Hubby found Mitchell's Music-they want to sell some of his dulcimers! Down the road a bit are the Villa Appalaccia and Chateau Morrisette Wineries, Mabry's Mill and the quaint little town of Meadows of Dan.

Today I made a new discovery! Woolly Jumper Yarns....YES, a yarn shop! I met the owner Michele, who's your "A" typical Floydtonian - if that's a word...anyway Floyd is well known for it's friendly people. I explained to her that I was currently on a yarn diet but asked if I could still "pet" her yarn. The store is small but it has a very good selection of what you might need for a new project. I know I'll miss something but I noticed Rowan, EcoWool, Cascade, Debbie Bliss, and some local yarns I know as well, Alpaca from Ed & Joan Kinser and Greenberry House in Meadows of Dan. The have knit night every Thursday night from 6-8pm -- too darn bad just like The Crooked Stitch, it's so far away from me! I'm very ashamed to say that I haven't gotten to The Crooked Stitch yet...even though one of my knitting friends works there...yes, I'm hanging my head in shame.

If you are in the area or if you decide to make a special trip you've gotta check out Floyd!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Turning the corner??

“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” Zig Ziglar


Maybe my positive thoughts are working...I have a job interview on Tuesday!!
(oh please--oh please let me get this job)


Do you see Mr & Mrs Snowman? When we visited my Uncle while he was in the hospital, my aunt took us to the Phipps Conservatory. Their Christmas display was amazing...there were these types of snowmen -- and evidence of where some had been all throughout the MANY rooms, one water feature just had a couple of hats and scarves laying beside it--leaving you to ask is the puddle the snowmen? or are they skinny dipping? The orchid room caused my camera lens to fog up but I did manage a few shots...check out the color on this one:




Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Renewal

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill




Every day is a promise of a better day...(see I'm being positive)

I'm SO tired of this winter season...the dreary and bareness of the trees. I'm ready for the renewal of Springtime. What brought all this on? My new heirloom seed catalog came in the mail. I'm planning out my garden already, I only have a very small space so I'm trying to put as much as I can in.
I'm playing with the idea of creating a greenhouse so I can have some veggies (or something GREEN) over the winter months.

I miss my farmers market!!! Oh, we have a group that comes every 2 weeks with farm fresh eggs and root crop but it's not the same as seeing all those fabulous colors and hearing the hustle & bustle of the people at the market.
Oh, I've been doing pretty good on my 3/50 Project The only items I have to buy from the grocery store are cleaning supplies & paper products...oh and bananas--I've yet to find Virginia grown bananas.

I think Rudy's even tired of winter....



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Just Maybe~

Things are beginning to turn around? I won a blog comment contest...and how appropriate a prize. A book mark with this poem:

~ The Weaving~
"My life is just a weaving
Between my Lord and me.
I cannot change the color
For He works most steadily.


Oft times He weaves the sorrow
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.


Until the loom is silent
And the shuttle cease to fly,
Will God roll back the canvas
And explain the reason why.


The dark threads are as needful
In the skillful Weaver's Hand
As the golden threads of silver
He has patterned in His Plan."

~~~~Author Unknown ~

Thanks Sandra! She's dealing with some difficulties of her own these days...if you have a chance stop by and give her a cyber-hug!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

I'm trying....

Really-really trying to be positive. With all the negatives that have been happening here at The Coop lately I'm working really hard to find a positive each and every day.
I found this article in a Richmond online article--which reinforces the things I've been doing at work...and believe me I work with some of the MOST NEGATIVE people in the universe! With that said I don't need anymore negativity. I know this is going to sound negative but I've been kicked in the ankles, knees, gut, teeth & head these past 7 months I'm working to try a positive quote each day.

"When life knocks you down....only YOU can choose to get up"

On the knitting front, I am working on some things. I knit up a baby bonnet & booties for my hairdresser's baby shower in a few weeks. I have some socks on the needles...OH, Celtic Vest is still hibernating--I just can't wrap my brain around it right now.
I'll try to get some pics up soon. I'll leave you with this one:



My little male bluebird sitting in my dogwood tree. Boy nature can paint some beauties!

Thank you all for the kind thoughts after the passing of my Uncle...he fought such a hard fight.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Goodbye....

This was the last time I saw my Uncle (over Thanksgiving)



We had one more birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas with him...I just wished he would have made it home.

R.I.P
Earl Wayne Fields
Nov. 20,1945-January 3, 2011

Happy New Year

Today's not only a new day...but a New Year!

Happy New Years!!!


Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!