Yoooooo-Hooooooooo....anybody still here? Just in case...

Holy CRAP....where does time go? Between general "life stuff", work, training/running, knitting and the "time suck" better known as Facebook...I seriously have no excuse.
Work is still "crazy" and can't help but feel the life being sucked from my body while there--hence, my running schedule being what it is. I feel so much better when I run!

Let me see if I can at least get you caught up a little bit~~warning, lots of photos to share.


Hmmmm, last post was at St. Patty's day...I ran the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon/Half-Marathon/8K in Virginia Beach to celebrate! The weather was perfect...a cool morning was followed by a BEAUTIFUL day.

Now, 10 days before race weekend I caught a horrible cold...thanks to a "considerate" co-worker, one who needs to attend kindergarten again to learn how to cover when she coughs and wash her hands when she spews into them...or better yet DON'T COME TO WORK WHEN YOU ARE SICK!!

Anyhoo...I was determined after training so hard to attempt the race. I had to stop at mile 2 for a short coughing spell, then I was back on to finish the 8K race. I finished 5 minutes slower than the goal I had set for myself but considering being sick I gave myself a pat on the back.
Then there was the after race party! You see, the motivation I had for this race was that each runner gets "FREE BEER"!!

THIS IS THE PARTY TENT!!! (the tent on the left...the one on the right was for VIP's--and that didn't include me) Believe me it was huge....

A view from inside...yep, we had a GOOD time!
Funny story~just how good a time we had, and how old I'm getting! The race started at 8am...I finished in 50 minutes, hit "The Tent" by 9am...got my first glass (of several) of free liquid carbs...listened to some good music, let the dogs play in the sand, when the band left we decided it was time to maybe get something to eat, so we headed back to the hotel...where we (Hubby, Chase, myself, Milo & Rudy) proceeded to pass out...we woke up 3 hours later wondering what the heck had happened...and we were STARVING--a diet of liquid carbs won't go very far...as we found out! Don't worry, we did have a good meal and ice tea to drink! ~wink~


Early April I went on a "Me Trip" to Gatlingburg, TN...I'm sure many of you know if you have little people, fur-babies or a spouse you have people dependent on you--I just needed a weekend to myself...to rejuevenate. Ahhhhh, it was refreshing...even if I did miss my guys a lot!



A few weeks later we went on our first camping trip to Claytor Lake, seems that this is our inaugural trip every year. We had rain but had a good time anyway. As you can see from the picture Rudy was the picture of relaxation!

Oh...and my Mom and I enrolled in golf lessons--Oh, Hubby and I play Par 3 at the beach every year but I've never had formal lessons, but my Mom is preparing for my Dad's retirement. Oh no...he doesn't play, she's just preparing to get out of the house while he's there!! We had a lot of fun, and have been playing quite a bit.

The last of April & May I've been hard at work getting my garden going...I've made a pact not to buy produce from the grocery store--and I haven't...well, except for banana's but I've yet to find a homegrown banana here in Virginia!


I've utilized my patio as additional garden space...

...of course, my assistant Rudy has to make sure everything is okay!


Whew....I think I've gotta break this up into a few posts. Hope someone is still out there to read my rambling!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Producing Produce

My little garden plot is beginning to feed us for the summer, well...I still go to the farmers market and buy items I don't have room to grow, like green beans. But everything you see here came from my garden.
Two weeks ago I had my first toasted tomato sandwich...MY summertime favorite! Yum-Yum!



Now I had to put up a makeshift scarecrow because the blue jays were helping themselves to my tomatoes. Talk about something that brings the fight out of me!!

This is not one of my Granddaddy's shirts but it sure looks like one he would have worn...Granddaddy was a towering, scary fella when we were kids! So far it seems to be doing it's job!


My cousin posted on her blog a few weeks back about our Granny & Granddaddy's garden. I could only wish to have one the size they did, but then again I remember all the work it too. She has pictures of it on her blog. When you visited them it was customary to go on a walk around the garden and see all that was growing, and before you left you had a bag of veggies to take with you. Boy...what I wouldn't give to take one of those walks today.

Saturday I took a 6 1/2 mile run from the house to downtown, and ran by my Grandparents old house. It looks the same, the house is still painted white...the little shed out back still has the ladder hanging on the backside, both utility sheds are still in place (Granddaddy had a lot of tools)--there are some pieces missing...the white picket fence is gone, Granny's flowers are for the most part gone (I have her birdbath in my backyard) AND there's NO garden out back. This makes me sad...for as long as I can remember in the summertime you saw every sort of vegetable growing healthy in that garden.

Have you noticed my 3/50 Project button on the sidebar? If not please check it out, I saw this on my friend Pam's blog and made note of my contribution to this idea. I can count 6 local and Virginia based business that I visit or do business with on a weekly basis. I think this is a great idea and makes lots of sense to me. I for one am afraid to buy produce or other products from other countries with all the scares we've had in recent history. If we keep our money in our localities everybody wins!

Come on give it a try...will ya?

Check out my Hibiscus, the blooms are the size of a small dinner plate!




Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

I'm Beat!!

Wow...what a weekend, I accomplished a lot -- and have wore myself completely out! I think I need another day to recover.
Thankfully today it's rained all day so I've pretty much stayed on the couch.

My Saturday consisted of walking Rudy, getting a 3 mile run, doing my normal cleaning, reorganizing a room, switched out spring/summer for fall/winter clothes, weeded my flower gardens and fertilized them, cleaned out the pond (more of that still to come as more crap falls from the trees) and planted my garden -- lettuce, herbs, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and peppers.

Shall we say that Spring Cleaning has begun?!

I have lots of beauty showing up in my garden too~~

My MUCH loved Blaze Azalea



It's magnificent this year...the color and size of the blooms are AMAZING!

...and the ants are hard at work on my Peony this year ~



Has anyone else ever heard this "mountain tale" before? My Granny used to always say that the ants are working to open the buds, I'm not sure that it's true or not but I do know that while watching the buds, all the ones that do not have any ants on them shrivel & dry up...the ones that have more ants are the biggest. My Hubby's first year here he didn't know this "tale" and said he would spray them for the ants...I screamed "NO!" you can't...and explained my Grannyism! He is just as amazed as I am each year as we watch the ants work.

I can't report very much knitting was done...I was too darn tired to even pick it up, maybe tonight I'll get around to it.

This is my last week of training before this coming Saturday's race ...and this is my last week to raise money, if you'd like to donate please click here or on my sidebar (hey, it's tax deductible)~~Thanks to all those who have donated, I appreciate it so much. Pssst, I'm 3rd on the fundraising list!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Welcome~~

(click on the picture)

Aaaaaah ~~ today is the first day of Spring!

For me Springtime gives the sense of renewal...after a long winter of cold & dreariness. I always feel so revived when things begin to "pop"! I love watching my garden emerge...seeing what survived the winter and what has multiplied. I get real camera happy when this happens so be forewarned for pics to come!

I also have this renewed energy that leads me headlong into my exercise & yoga practice....AND MY KNITTING & SPINNING!!

Most know I practice yoga...I love my yoga...it keeps me grounded & sane! As I have learned it's not all about the poses or asanas...there is the spiritual side that leads you to a peacefulness. I know from my upbringing yoga raises eyebrows in the sense that most people think you are Buddist or Hindu just because you practice. My Grandparents would immediately think I joined some "cult". I believe that the principles of Yoga can be translated into ANY religion. For me the Yamas & Niyamas (I've put the examples below) lead me right back to the Bible and my Christian upbringing. Personally, my Mantras are Bible verses (one of my favorites is Philippians 4:13) and I use my meditation time for prayer.

Yamas-

Ahimsa: Nonviolence.
Satya: Truthfulness in word and thought.
Asteya: No stealing, no coveting, no entering into debt.
Brahmacharya: Divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when married.
Kshama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
Dhriti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.
Daya: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings. (truthfully, I struggle with this one...especially with one person at work)
Arjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
Mitahara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little (nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl, or eggs) (this one is hard for me...I tried to be a vegetarian one time--only to find out I'm a carnivore...sorry)
Shaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind, and speech.

Niyamas -

samtosha (contentment)
tapas (asceticism or chastity)
svadhyaya (study)
ishvara-pranidhana (devotion to the Lord)

(Yama means moral restraint while niyama means discipline)

I grew up with the Golden Rule...and always remind myself before I do something that might hurt someone else or "if I would appreciate it if the shoe were on the other foot". Which again if you click on the link you'll see that it translates across ALL religions.

Don't you think if we ALL lived by these simple principles...the world would be a better place?

The things I work hardest on are not judging others and kindness (especially with those who are not kind to me or, as I stated above, with the ONE I work with)...sometimes if you can't say anything nice it's best not to say anything at all, which I do a lot of!
I have learned to forgive those who have wronged me in the past...another that's a hard one for me to do...but by holding on to that anger and hatred only internalizes it and makes me unhappy.
I strive to surround myself with positive people & positive energy, though I find myself complaining at times I quickly remind myself that things could be worse!

I believe in our lives we will have many teacher and mentors to reflect on. You've heard me talk about my Granny...but there's another family member who I look to for inspiration. I mentioned my cousin Kim in one of yesterday's posts, she's the closest one to me in age (me being the oldest) and actually is as close to a sister as I'll ever get. We grew up spending practically EVERY weekend together at our Granny & Grandaddy's house, and if we weren't there we were at one or the others house spending the night. She is one of the kindest and sweetest people I know, I can only hope to be more like her. I think she embodies more of my Granny's qualities than anyone in the family.


OH!--the other great thing about Springtime?? It means CAMPING SEASON!!!

HAPPY SPRING -- hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Dogs on Thursday

This week the subtitle is "Buds"!


Best Buds...


Milo was in this past weekend and Rudy was the happiest pup around! With the GLORIOUS weather we spent most of our time outside, where I managed to get some "action shots"! Since Milo only makes it in about every 2 weeks or so he finds that Rudy is bigger, stronger and faster each time.

Here's a sequence of Rudy's "takedown"~~


I Love You Man!!



ONE MORE VOTE FOR RUDY NEEDED! Our local TV station has a "Cute Pet of the Week" contest...please click HERE and vote for Rudy (I hope they get his name straight...they have him listed as "Ruby"!)

Flower buds....



These were taken on Sunday, the Bradford Pear & Daffodils have completely opened, now I can't wait for that beautiful sweet smell of the lilacs!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Fabulous~

We had a FABULOUS weekend...the weather was VERY unseasonable, in fact, I sat on the deck knitting on Saturday and actually got a little sunburned! Who would have thought I'd need sunscreen in March?! I certainly didn't think about it.

We didn't get that ride on the Parkway like I'd hoped...Hubby started a "fix-it" project that, of course, blossomed into a major repair that took all weekend long. I was the perfect supervisor, when called upon I supplied necessary tools & ice tea!

I hope to have a FO by the end of the week (happy dance)!

How was your weekend?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Misc....

Could it be that Spring is upon us? The weather has turned cold again with some wintry participation but check out my garden~~

My crocus, daylilies, daffodils, freesia and columbine are all coming up! The trees are even budding out!



Hubby did bring me some beautiful tulips for Valentines Day~~


I wished I'd had a video camera to show you all the shearing while we were on the farm, it was quite fasinating...so I found a short video on YouTube to share~~



Thanks for all the great comments on my reproduction sewing, I do miss it at times. With my huge collection of period pictures and reproduction clothes I only have but one question...


Is it real...or reproduction?

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend. Do you have anything special planned?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Happy Half Birthday Rudy...he's 6 months old today!

They're Ba-ack!

THIS is such a nice sight...



My Winter Jasmine is blooming!!

If you remember last year they were blooming in February and encrusted in ice. We've had some very mild temps as winter goes...my daylilies are even beginning to peer out! Could this be a sign to an early Spring?

Flowers blooming in my garden...the wind and rain have finally stopped...Knit/Spin night is tonight...ahhhhhh!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Garden update~

Mary, Mary quite contrary...
How does your garden grow?

Well...my name is not Mary, but my Grandaddy always told me I was "quite contrary"!

Of course, if you know the origin of the nursery rhyme you know it has nothing to do with "gardening" - I thought it was the best lead in to my gardening post.



Remember this picture?






Well it has started blooming and the hummingbirds are very happy! This is my Crocosmia I planted it 3 summers ago and never regretted it.



Pretty huh?

My veggie garden is producing, each day I'm getting something to prepare for meals. I'm anxiously watching my first tomato turn, my mouth is watering...seeing as how I haven't had a tomato in months!

The butterflies are even enjoying my garden...


It's been a VERY busy week here, I don't know if I'm coming or going at this point. I'm seriously ready for a vacation.

I've received my HHHH Swap partners, both are very nice. This is going to be so much fun, the first "spinning" swap I've participated in.


Until next time...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Buds~~

I have Best Buds, Knittin' Buds and

Flower Buds...do you recognize any of these?
Some of the latest "stars" about to emerge in my garden.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Saturday Sky

Yeah..Yeah...I'm copying other bloggers (I'm not a member of the ring). But while working in my garden this morning I had to take a picture for this post.

This is my Maximilian Sunflower given to me by one of my knitting buddies. The weather has cleared so much here the blue sky behind it made it a picture worth taking.

Well...gotta go enjoy my pond with some knitting in hand....

Have a GREAT last day of summer!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Bloomin' Good Time!!

A break from knitting....
I want to start off by showing you my May calendar...with a wonderful quote from John Muir!

"Keep Close To Nature's Heart"

Here's what I did yesterday....

This is just 1 of 3, of course, they'll look better in a few weeks after they fill out.
Other flowers blooming in my garden...

My very pampered Blaze Azalea!









My Clematis I thought the freeze had killed!












One of my many Columbine varities...I even have a *double* that's so dainty!












Lily of the Valley....no, the bunny isn't real!











And the first bloom from my Yellow Flag Lily...yes, the fish are real!

Now back to your regularly scheduled knitting!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

More Pretty Faces...

More colors are popping in my garden....

Red Tulips...the yellow ones will be open tomorrow!

And...

Purple! I forgot I planted these and had to go back and look up what it was I planted...Glory of Snow, which are supposed to peer up through the snow covered ground in February...little late, but pretty to see!

Stay tuned I have many more "happenings" in the garden! And YES, my allergies are kicking into high gear...but I LOVE Spring...called the Doctor today for more meds!

The knitting goes on...

Today was the last of the Knitting Classes with my 10 year olds...what a great group of girls, one mother told me that her daughter doesn't go anywhere without her knitting! Am I good.....or AM I GOOD? JH and I can be called "Enablers Are US"!! We were all a little sad it was the last time we would meet...and all were wanting us to come back to teach again, I don't think they get the idea that they are to learn "different" skills with each Spring & Fall session!

Looks like a trip to Urbanna is in order for next week...so I'm getting all my knitting projects started for the trip. Started another pair of sock, these are going to be thong/toe socks for wearing with my Chacos; the Clapotis that was to be a gift for my MIL but I'm liking it a little too much...as well as the a couple already started--Civil War Shawl and the Baby Blanket.

Well...gotta go enjoy the outdoors, another beautiful 80+degree day!! Barefoot and lovin' it!

Keep on Knittin', Spinnin' & Walkin'!!!

Happy Smiling Faces...

I love spring time...the feeling of renewal after a hard, cold winter! I love to hear the robin's and other birds singing in the morning...and I love my flowers! I know this is a knitting blog, and you will all get tired of my posts the next few months...because I'll be documenting all my flowers as they emerge!



My Bradford pear is in FULL bloom, thanks to the very mild January we had.





My Forsythia is also in full bloom...















My yellow Daffodils are open...but I'm afraid my pink ones have reverted back...not to mention they haven't got a bud on them! So much for buying something different!




It doesn't seem as though my garden follow a particular color pattern....next will be the purples from my lilacs and phlox-which the dogs have managed to kill most of peeing on my mail box post).


On to my fiber fetish...



I'm sure you are aware of the fun I'm having with the merino fleece I bought! Well, I washed the first small batch of teased locks...and OH MY!!! If you remember from an earlier post about the beautiful crimp of the fleece--and Mary--yes, crimp is a good thing! Take a look at this after it's been washed and combed...

Here's the batch some still drying and the basket is teased out and ready for carding....yes, it's as soft as it looks!

I will admit this fleece is a lot of work, but it is going to be worth all the hard work...I can just *feel* it!

I'm just know I'm going to finish dead last in my KnittingNascar KAL...I'm so into my spinning these days I can't get much of my knitting done! I've finished up my Week 3 of my Civil War Shawl KAL ...

and I'm making slow progress on the Baby Boy sweater (that needs to be finished my mid April)...and I've started the new Grandbaby's blankie! I've got another pair of socks to cast on.! Someone just needs to tear my away from my fleece and wheel!

On walking...
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...after my walk today I'll have only 10 miles or less left to go...and 7 days left of finish up!

Keep on Knittin', Spinnin' & Walkin'!!!