Here we are.....

It's now February 2018, 4 months since my last post...I'm trying to get better here!

A lot has happened--The day after my last post my baby girl turned 30 years old!

My baby boy became a father (2 weeks early) to a beautiful baby girl named, Emmeline Mae, I'm in love!

Thanksgiving and Christmas flew by, as usual!

Christmas lights at the Hotel Roanoke

Then January happened....

(This was a "warm" day...)

So, I finished a couple sweaters:

Comfort Fade Cardi
(Madelinetosh DK)

Mon Manet (a test knit for Laine Magazine--yet to be released)

I used Lolodidit yarn in the Hippo for New Years colorway.

....and I picked up a hibernating UFO--

Torino (no longer in print)

I bought the pattern during the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics--started it during the 2012 Sochi Winter Olympics and put it to bed till NOW.  It's well over halfway done but I guess I just got distracted.

This is going to be the year of the garment for me.  I've focused so much on gift and baby knitting, it's time for some sweaters.

Now.....let's see if I can post again within 4 months!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

OH MY.......

I'm so sorry...I've been such a bad blogger!! 

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!!  Now the Christmas season is upon us and life is busier than EVER.

Lots of stuff going on around here...I'm still working and training for races, my next 1/2 marathon is coming up in January at DISNEY WORLD!!!!! I'm so stoked...I haven't been to Disney World since 1977--a teenager full of angst.  Shoot..Epcot wasn't even finished at that time!  I'm working my way to doing a triathlon this spring....I'll let you know how that works out.

Because of the economy and a bunch of stuff we've been working on around the house Hubby's taken a part-time job. He's learning that working "retail" and customer service is a REAL treat at this time of year!

Lots of knitting going on...OF COURSE...Christmas is right around the corner!  Number 1 Niece has gone crazy knitting...she's making all her presents this year.  Warms my heart to know that she's loving the hobby I love---and taught her.

Well, gotta run---If I don't get back here before the BIG day is upon us I hope you all have a Merry Christmas...How do you like this years card?

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Kat-chup...

Wow....over 2 months have past, where does time go? 

Yes, we are still missing Mr Ace...there's not a day that goes my that I don't expect him to be underfoot or visiting me while I'm having "private time" in the bathroom!

I know my posts haven't included much in knitting content but not to worry, I have been very busy.  Since March I've been in "Baby Knitting Mode"!  I have so many ideas and Ravelry queues for patterns that I want to make. Last Sunday we had the baby shower so I can finally reveal all the knitting that I've been doing.

The first item was a knitting kit I bought in Va Beach after my 1/2 marathon this past March...in fact, I knit a good portion of it on the ride home.

I didn't get a picture of it with the little pink buttons on it before I wrapped it....I guess I was too excited!

Such a sweet cardigan, not to mention it was a quick and easy knit!




Then there was THE ONE that I've held WAITED to knit for one of my kids when they announced they would become parents.  It was back in 2005 I volunteered with a natural dyeing program where we used indigo, osage orange and cochineal...then I "over -dyed" to get the additional colors of orange, purple and teal.

When I first saw Yarn Harlot knit this pattern I KNEW it was the one MUST knit for my grandbaby!!


....and I had the PERFECT yarn for it!



Tulips Cardigan

Then came the baby blanket...OH MY GOODNESS....what a slow knit!  The yarn kinda pooled a bit, which at first I wasn't happy with but it turned out well.

I did have to take a break halfway through for some "instant gratification knitting"

 

One of my co-workers was expecting a little girl (yes, I am speaking in past tense--Katherine Elaine was born just a over a week ago!  So I knit her these adorable Saartje's booties~~

Don't you just love the little "sunshine buttons"??

 

Then of course there was still MORE "Granddaughter Knitting" to be completed!  I made another pair of Saartje booties for her....           



....as well as a bonnet.

Oh....this isn't the end by any means.  I have so many more project ideas that I don't think I'll ever knit for myself again! We are on the countdown till we finally get to meet her...and learn her name! 4 weeks to go!

There is this one special little girl that comes to the Y with her mom who has wrapped her little fingers around my heartstrings....she's been "grooming" me for Grandparent-hood!  I've knit for her too.

I used some of my handspun to knit these little soakers~~

Little Strawberry Soaker

I've been spinning too...I'll get some pics to post up soon. In the meantime....

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Post Race High....

Hope everyone had a GREAT St Patricks Day!  We did for sure...

Still riding high after the best ShamRockin' Half Marathon!!! We had a great time...enjoy the pics~~

The Boyz see me off on the start!

One of my "Forrest Gump Running Moments" (a great reason to run early in the morning)

Feeling GREAT....2:17 a personal record!

Enjoying my FREE beer!!

Later we went to the pub for dinner and I had an Irish Car Bomb!!  YUMMY!!


And.....the BOYZ had a blast on the beach!

Rudy says....I'm POOPED!!

So is Momma Rudy!!

We stopped at a really REALLY nice yarn shop on the way home...where I found the cutest knitting kit~~Let me just say......LET THE BABY KNITTING BEGIN!!!  (pics to come)

This grandbaby is going to be well dressed in knits....now if we can just find out the gender!!  I think they ALL want a little boy...fingers crossed.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!



So.......

How did you spend your weekend?  With my last long run in the books I'm preparing for Sunday's race and crossing that finish line! With a few more challenges ahead of me I may be competing in my first triathlon in June...I'm still trying to talk myself into this.

Another season of an hour of sleep lost...but I LOVE the extra hour of daylight!!

I took advantage of the warm temperatures to do a little dyeing...

Inspired by a favorite beach towel (and longing to be back in the sun & sand) I went headlong into this without knowing what was going to happen.  Needless to say I'm VERY pleased!!  I'm still playing with a colorway name for it. The first thought was "Seaglass" then "Ocean" ~ Oh, and of course "Beach Towel"......anybody have any other ideas?

I had a silk scarf blank that I couldn't resist knotting that sucker up and painting it to see what would happen...VERY PLEASED!!

....and Rudy graciously modeled it for me!



(I hope none of my friends see this on me...really I'm not a sissy dog--my Momma just makes me wear this stuff)

Now to decide what I'm going to knit with it...always my dilemma. But I WILL be sporting a new silk scarf this spring!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Stashbusting!!

During these slim times I continue to hit the stash for my projects--not to mention the fact that my stash has gotten WAY out of hand. With that said hubby brings me not ONE...not TWO...but THREE HUGE bags of alpaca fleece. More about this later...

The latest finished object is my Holden Shawlette I call "Stardust Wrap" (that's the name of the fiber I spun up for this yarn a couple years ago).  Mindy created a fantastic pattern here...a VERY quick knit!

Of course it's snowing today so I had to show off the shawlette against the freshly fallen snow.

Yes, I love BLUE!!

So....about the alpaca fleece.  On a recent trip to Richmond, hubby was introduced to a friend of his brother's--who happens to have alpacas.  He went there to get wood for dulcimers...he came home with wood AND alpaca fiber.....FREE alpaca fiber--one black, one white and one chestnut colored!!!  I've packaged it up to send for processing, in the time it will take to get it back maybe--just maybe I can make room for it. So now my fleece stash has increased significantly....I'd better get busy!!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Believe it or not.....

Yes...I have the FIRST FO of the new year! 

My Blue Lagoon Socks.

Yarn sent to my from my friend Shona finally became a pair of socks!!  I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the color.  She knows me so well...Thank You Shona, you ARE the best!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Happy New Years Eve!

Wow--another year has passed, as always leaves me saying "where does time go?" I guess I've been so busy taking life day by day I forget to look back till we get to this point. I know I've been a bad blogger, I'll try to do better but as always I really don't like "resolutions"--they always get broken. So I choose to have "intentions" for the coming year. No, I won't make them here but instead on a day by day basis, also known as my "bucket list."
As my bucket list increases one of those will be achieved tomorrow morning at 9am...I WILL begin my year running! This run is a challenge put before us by our local running group--Here's the Route if you are curious or want to join us!

In 2011 I added swimming to my already busy schedule, which adds another "item" to my bucket list...if I can conquer the stupid bicycle I may give a triathlon a shot! Training has begun for my next 1/2 marathon in March. I'm helping to coach the 1/2 marathon/marathon training team at the Y...let's see what else I can add to the mix!

While 2011 didn't start out so well with the loss of my Uncle the year has come to a close on a good note as we welcomed 3 new members into our family. DS#1 got married, I have a new daughter and 2 granddaughters out of the deal!!

A BEAUTIFUL Family!!!

There was a lot of knitting this year, though it seems I didn't post a lot about it here...again--'cause I'm a BAD blogger!
Christmas knitting was all about "hats"--each of the girls got an earflap hat. I used a great, FAST pattern from Juniper Farms called Sluggy Bonnet.

Sorry for the crappy pics but I forgot my good camera and had to use my phone to document them...yeah, I also forgot to photograph them BEFORE wrapping them!!
I think I need to make one of these for myself!!

MY project had to be put on hold with all the gift knitting going on. This is sort of the icing on the cake for my 2011 knitting!

I will use a Gaelic word--crìochnaichte--EVERYTHING about this sweater means Highlander!

From the fiber I spun called "Highlander" to the place where I spun it while on vacation--Grayson Highlands State Park--to the pattern named Highlander....to the North Ronaldsay ram horn buttons sent to me as a gift from my Shona in Scotland!! I LOVE THIS SWEATER!!!

Well...with that I'll get on with preparing for the rest of the day. Rudy & Milo are pooped from all the "busy-i-ness" of the holidays--Santa was good to them...and they deserve it--they have been really good boys! Hubby has been SUPER busy making his dulcimers. He is SUPER talented!

My Wahoos play in the Chick-fil-a Bowl tonight...My Cowboys play a BIG game tomorrow--hoping for the BEST!!

I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!! See you NEXT YEAR!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

It won't be long....

Till I get to see this again...



Training for my half marathon is coming to an end...the hard work has drawn to a close. The Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon happens in a very short 2 weeks!

Knitting on Highlander goes on....

Thinking of Christmas begins....ugh!! Anybody else have their holiday projects planned or am I just WAY behind?

Keep on Knittin & Spinnin!!

.....and "Re-Entry"

.....is VERY difficult!

The beach was great...the weather not so great but we did get a good bit of sunshine, just storms in the evenings. I got to see my friend Anita...toes in the water and a$$ in the sand...play golf...and knit.

Working on Highlander has been fun--that is if the dogs would let me!


...not a great pic--taken with the cellphone!

We are still unpacking and washing clothes, I had to return to work today but it's not all that bad. I happen to enjoy my job at the Y--and it's really nice being missed by co-workers and members! Well...I guess I'd better get back at it...more later!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Catching up....

Ok...lets see if I can cover the bases here without being too long-winded.

Jack officially retired the 1st of July...he's been VERY busy in the workshop--check out this blog & Etsy page!

In my last post you saw my new bag for the summer...WHICH I LOVE....and I'm going to hate having to change out later. I'm working on a new one in my head, lets see how long it takes me to hit the sewing machine with. It's been really hard keeping my head above water in the past few months, so I'll give you THE BEST news first....I QUIT THE "FREAKIN'" LIBRARY!!!!! Yes, I said good buy to "BIZZARO WORLD" -- listen, I don't want to step on toes here and I don't know if all libraries are like the one here but after 11 years I'm tired of being the round peg in the square hole! I didn't fit in....not at all! Yes, I love books...yes, I'm good at customer service....but after I was "demoted" last October because MY BOSS/SUPERVISOR went psyzo (literally) and I WAS DOING ALL THE WORK--I got the short end of the stick--I was told I wasn't a "team player"?! HUH?? That group of women wouldn't know what a "team" was if a baseball bat hit them in the head!! Anyway...I won't keep beating that dead horse.

Now I work in the "polar opposite" world at the YMCA. I'm currently helping to coach the half marathon team there and working the front desk. It's awesome!!

In August I ran my anniversary race aaaaannnnnnnnnnnnd........Finished 1st in my age group!!!!!! Yeah--you'd thing this would rank as the best news but it's such a close one. Currently I'm training for the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon (oh...and Rudy & I and Milo & Jack are training for the Doggie Dash too)







All the while....the knitting continues, though slow I have managed to finish a couple items...sorry no pics at the moment but I promise to have some soon!


Did I share THIS with you? I can't wait till the movie comes out!! I can pick out all the places filmed at Explore Park and I was there on the day that they had to do the water scene...it was very chilly!!

Ummmm....lets see....OH--all the animals are doing well. We are adjusting to living with a cat who is senile....really! I've come to realize when he's confused, have to talk to him even though I think he's going deaf too...unless he's just ignoring me. He forgets where his litterbox is...thank goodness for Rudy who lets us know where the poop is so we'll clean it up! He cries in the middle of the night....so now we keep a nightlight on for him. Milo has become his protector--he worries about Ace so much. He has a hard time moving around so Milo watches him to make sure he gets where he's going okay. Ace will turn 19 on the 15th of this month!

The Girlz have faired very well in their first summer. They are allowed to free range in the backyard...a couple of my flower beds have suffered but then again the hot, dry summer hasn't helped much either! They are a lot of fun to watch...there was a brooding period for a couple of them and we saw the pecking order change because of it.

Henny Penny is my favorite--she's a riot!

We made our annual 4th of July float trip with friends this year....last years was abruptly interrupted by a VERY ugly family drama. This year's was probably the best yet--I guess making up for what we missed last year!!



And Son #1 had a milestone birthday this year!!

Yeah I know...it makes me older too!

Well, right now we are getting ready for our annual beach trip...a much needed and deserved vacation is on the horizon!! Just about 10 days away now....

Okay, I think I've blabbered on enough now. I hope I can be a better blogger in the days & months to come. Please bear with me....and with blogger, apparently with a recent "upgrade" there has been some issues, one of which is while you are loading my page it will go to "blogrolling.com" for some odd reason and tell you this domain name is for sale. Just ignore it...if you can!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Insert Background Music....

MOMMA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG....nah-na-nah-na-na-na




With lots of pockets!!!



Well...yes, I am knitting but I also have a few sewing projects going too. I finally finished this one. Working really takes all the fun out of life...you know!? But I also needed a new bag to carry my knitting in. When "Amy Butler's Style Stitches" came into the library late last year I knew I HAD TO HAVE IT!
Like all my projects~they've been on the burner for quite some time...I just need the time to complete in one sitting!
Anyway, I'm pleased with it.

Keep on Knittin', Spinnin' and Stitchin'!!

FO Friday

Another FO Friday is upon us! ....oh, and it's PAYDAY....sorry to get so excited....

Well, I've had lots of baby knitting here lately--and still yet more to come, great for stash knitting!

Rudy's groomer is due this weekend and having a little girl. I made her a BSJ with some very special buttons.




Doggie buttons!!



Then there's the most difficult socks in the world...




Late last year you know about my uncle and his fight for life. Well, I started a pair of "prayer socks" for him...I had one complete when he suddenly passed away at the first of the year. So, I frogged them and began a pair of socks to give to my aunt. They were difficult not because of the pattern but because of the fact that I had a hard time wrapping myself around finishing them...all the while knowing they were intended for him.

Next on the needles? Another baby girl gift, pair of socks and I want to make Effortless Cardigan in linen for summer.
What do you think? Have any other suggestions for me?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Treasures...

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book





This is a wonderful surprise...a patron at the library commented on one of my handmade sweaters the other day, saying she wished she could knit. I told her if she wanted to learn I'd bring her a pair of needles...which I did. To my surprise, she brought me this! She makes them...isn't it cool? She remembered me saying one day that if I won the lottery I'd buy a tropical island...she had NO clue I had a "beach room"--this is the coolest nightlite for that room.



Well....I start job #2 today! I had 3 job interviews in 3 weeks...after 3 months of waiting. Is there a pattern here?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

FO Friday

~~a day late!!

"Physical strength is measured by what we can carry; spiritual by what we can bear." ~Author Unknown





...and the baby knitting continues! From the stash of course--this is a fun pattern to knit. VERY quick, can you say "instant gratification"?




You remember this post Well...my hairdresser LOVED THEM! She's going to send me pictures of the "baby girl" wearing them, of course we have a little bit more to wait before she arrives.

I have been sewing too...I couldn't post this till the gift had been "gifted"--but as you've probably read my favorite cousin had a birthday this week. I have had these items stashed away for quite some time now so the idea came to me to make these--


Can you tell what it's made from?



I know it may seem "garish" but these ties belonged to her father (my uncle that just passed away last month)and our grandfather. There's just more sentimental value to these than anything else.
I had intended (and still do) to make myself a "tie vest" but I thought it be more fitting to make Kim one first.

Are you ready for the Super Bowl?? My menu is set...started cooking today...it's all about the food, commercials and OF COURSE----FOOTBALL!!!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!