Hot Cocoa Swap

I just joined the Hot Cocoa Swap! Trying to get the button on my page here.
They are at
Mmmm....Hot Cocoa*
Sounds yummy, doesn't it?

Tribute to Violet

Both college kids are off to their respective states, and DH and I are left here with youngest son and dogs and cat. Our guinea pig, Violet, has been adopted by a person today whose(1 of 2) guinea pigs died and the one left was very sad. Violet will be very happy with her new friend, Margaret, and Margaret will be happy, to, to have a new BF. Violet just did not get enough attention in this house, and she will be happier with a new buddy. Sad, but happy, too! Goodbye, sweet Violet! We still love you, and since this is an open adoption, Violet's new owner has agreed to let younger son visit her and Margaret!! A happy ending, what I strive for.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you!! We had fun today! Santa came early this morning and used his snowblower on our driveway! Imagine that........ We made caramels, laughed a lot, and decorated 3 1/2 gingerbread houses! We watched "A Christmas Story" on TV tonight, and love Ralphie and Randy. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Day tomorrow. We'll get up early to see what Santa brought this year, and I am making a special birthday cake for Jesus tomorrow.

Birthday Fun

I forgot to tell you that hubby gave me a SURPRISE Birthday Party!! Here... My 2 sisters from Michigan flew in for Thanksgiving (Hubby's family was also here) and they gave me a surprise party after a long day of shopping the day after Thanksgiving! It was so awesome, very fun! Older son is a musician and wrote me a song and played it for me and framed it as well, daughter painted me a picture with colors that reminded her of me and gave me a spa gift certificate. It was so fun, I am so blessed. Above is a picture of the cake!! Wow!! Love it! I am knitting in the picture! ha ha !very cute......and below is a picture of my car after one of my neighbors came over........hmmm..... :) !!

Overall, had a wonderful time, and just loved seeing everyone!!!

Gracious!

Oh my! Time does fly! Had a HOUSEFUL at Thanksgiving, and loved every minute.....spent 3 days washing towels and more towels and sheets, etc.. but wouldn't trade it for the world! Today I tried out a gingerbread cookie recipe, meet these two little gingerbread people, surprised that I would take their picture, but happy!

Oh yes, I finally blocked my hubby's scarf and it is very nice!! Also finished knitting the blue scarf and red doll sweater. Red doll sweater was already sent to my mom, as she said her doll desperately needed the red sweater as part of her Christmas finery!! Finished most of the felted bags, but alas, have not started grandnieces jammies...oooo..socks are still coming....... :) :)
4 season back porch is nearly done, and is beautiful, too! Let's see, surgery went well, 50th birthday went... well I guess, I do not feel older, though. Feeling very good, as a matter of fact!!!:) ........Next week, already the big kids will be home again from their colleges, and we will have lots more fun!! This time, we will celebrate as a smaller family unit--just our immediate family! 21, 20 and 8 year old all together with us!!! YAY, so looking forward to it.
Busy time of year, hope you all have a Merry Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year. I will try to post again soon!

photos

I'm thinking of taking photos of things I've made and putting them on Flickr. Anyone who may read this--is it relatively simple? I'm sure it is....... My 50th birthday is next week and I was kind of hoping for a camera besides the 2 new porches I just got.......not sure if that's gonna happen....(!) things are good and getting ready for pre-Thanksgiving prep...older son and friend come in tomorrow instead of today. Life is good!........

FO's!

I finally finished 2 more felted bags. I just have to sew on the beads. I will post pics when they are fully complete. Now they are drying..... I started the sweater I promised my mother, it's a miniature red sweater for a doll I made for her.
I'm sure wishing I had a better camera. The photos I take are not too good.....now, would that be the camera,or the photographer? heh heh
Spoke to older son last night and he is coming home with friend from Purdue on Monday. Older daughter is coming home Wednesday night, she and friend are flying in from Tucson. DH's 2 sisters and families are coming, also, for Thanksgiving. Very exciting, you know. I love to cook for everyone and just have a lot of people around!!!
Confession: I have never knit a sweater, I knit a cool poncho, which I should also take a picture of, anyway, someone once told me that if I knit these little sweaters, then I can knit a person sized sweater with no sweat...is that true?

Wow! Thanks!!!!! A gift from my Knitter's Coffeeswap Pal!

I got home today, and I found a white box on the porch...it was a gift from my pal Guinifer! Oh, and I am so so spoiled. SOO spoiled! OH!


She sent 3 different kinds of yarn, 2 Merino 5's, some beautiful Araucania Ranco, and some gorgeous Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn (Fido)...oooh, I am a lucky and very very happy girl!
OK, some size 2 dpn's with a cool holder! Some awesome smelling Peace Fair Trade coffee! The best Ginger Cookie Thins made! A Lucy Neatby book, Cool Socks Warm Feet! 2 packs of Burt's Bees lip balm sticks and tins! A cute happy sheep pin! A pack of SOAK wool wash! Stitch markers, both turquoise and abalone! A scented Bee Bar hand and body lotion bar in a cute tin!

Oh, Thank you, Guinifer. Loving it! Now I am going to knit socks! And more socks! Just can't wait! This is a wondrous day. Thanks! You are an awesome pal!

Today .....

Today I sent off my Coffeeswap 3 Pal's package (Guinifer)!
Had to run a few errands and now back to resting! Have to see what I can knit. I kind of really feel like sewing..........
Have to rest. I love life!

Just a Quick Note

I have been sick with this coughing thing, and I had surgery on Monday for something else. I will be posting again soon!!

I Found a Delicious Video!

Oh, this little video talks to me, sings to me! Makes me want to run and start crafting more dolls. Hey, I can knit their clothes!
Our youngest son is next door at a Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party, I am getting ready to go pick him up....He carved a cool pumpkin, bobbed for apples, played football, played "Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin", helped demolish a pinata, ate food, oh, and ate more food, was a finalist in "Guess How Many Candy Corns Are in This Jar". They also played "Roll the Mummy" or something- I wasn't there for that one but little son said that they rolled him all up in tons of toilet paper, which he just brought home. It was a fun time! Now we have tons of toilet paper lying downstairs...fun..for... puppy.....

This was a good weekend although I am still plagued by a ferocious cough. This asthma stuff really is getting old fast.
Am still busy getting a little something together for my Coffeeswap 3 pal Guinifer!!!!!
"And that, she said, with a wink and a sigh, is it for now"!

Where is Time Going?

holy mackerel,where does time go anymore?
I have been a little under the weather. A chest cold kicked my asthma(which I hardly acknowledge) into full gear and I have been taking meds to try and breathe properly without coughing up a lung. (Sorry for the graphics) But I am feeling better. My asthma only shows up in wild and sneaky ways, and it caught me this time. I HAVE been able to knit, I have started another felted bag, and finished DH's scarf (and he liked it!!). We celebrated older DS's bday from afar(He is a sophomore at Purdue in Indiana), and DH's birthday. All went fantabulous. Work also started on building our 3 season back porch with a summer porch below it. So, the dogs go wild when they see company-I have been taking them to the dog park double time to wear them out. I am also working on a secret project that I cannot describe here, at least until later sometime. Something exciting(At least I think so...)!!!!
I am also starting to read a new book for "Eden Prairie Reads". It is "The Weight of All Things" by Sandra Benitez......

Beef Burgundy Stew

OK, now I am going to share a very delicious dinner. Beef Burgundy Stew, taken from my Southern Living Slow Cooker Cookbook. The bottom photo is of the beef browning ( you cook a little bacon and brown a little beef before adding it to the crock pot). After that, you put the rest of the ingredients in, and "wha-la!" you have dinner. A delicious one, at that. Add a salad and some crusty hot bread, and you're in business.The top photo is of the ingredients right after I put them into the slow cooker.

Happy Halloween!

Monica from Rubys N Purls sent me this Halloween treat! Hootin' Anni started this goodwill gesture, and asks that we pay it forward to others...not people you talk to all the time, but new friends, or old friends too, it's up to you. If you receive this treat from me, please save the image to your server and pass the treat on to 1 to 5 others. Don't forget to explain that this originated with Hootin'Anni, and provide a link to her blog for the explanation.
I'll send this via a comment to Carole at Carole Knits (because I like those Peppermint Mocha socks) , Guinifer, because she is my new and awesome Coffeeswap 3 partner, Neila at Neila's Notes, Lisa, my first knitting friend who is wonderful, and Jessica at Rose-Kim Knits because I like the crazy photos in her October 3 entry. Thank you, Monica and Anni.

True Confession

"I love coffee, I love tea,
Soon I'll knit some socks,
Yippee!"

Yes, it's true. I have never knit a pair of socks. I haven't been knitting very long, but I have oooed and aahhhed at the beautiful socks I see on it seems like almost everyone's blog......my gosh, the gorgeous yarns, and patterns and the beautiful work!! Since I started knitting again, I have wanted to knit socks. I have perused the web, I have scoured books, I have stared and appreciated and been afraid (yes, a little intimidated) at the thought of starting on such a project. I have a feeling that once I start I might get addicted to these things. You see, I love to wear slippers and socks. I love to buy socks...and knitting them-not just for me but for my buds would be absolute heaven! Ah, yes, those of you who are seasoned veterans are saying "Pshaw".......to this seemingly (to you) easy thing. My virgin run will be soon, don't know exactly when, but I'll keep you posted.......

Knitter's Coffeeswap 3 Questions

Here are the questions:

1. Whole bean or ground? Whole bean. Occasionally ground.
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully loaded, baby! Unless it's late afternoon.
3. Regular or flavored? Regular! I like the taste of real coffee.
4. How do you drink your coffee? Black, sometimes with ff half and half. Depends on my mood, I guess.
5. Favorite coffee ever? Hmmmm...had real good coffee in Paris and Belgium. Colombian is good, Jamaican Blue Mountain is WOW good.
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I like fresh roasted beans, or a good brand locally; not really that fussy. Here I like Dunn Bros.,Caribou and Starbucks. Like to try new coffees.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Biscotti, OR my favorite sandwich of dark Norlander whole grain rye with smoked turkey, horseradish cheddar and Dijon mustard. mmmmm......
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Like to always hold a cup, like a security blanket (ha ha)
9. Yarn/fiber you love? ooo cashmere, merino wool, love sock yarn and some novelty yarns
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? hmmmm.....Red Heart Super Saver- don't hate it, but really don't like it.
11. What's on your needles? a mistake rib scarf (Rowan Kid Classic/Berocco Super Alpaca), and a bag that will be felted (Galway 100% wool), also a striped dog hoodie from Knits for Cats and Dogs book.
12. Favorite colors? Green, purple, blue, pink
13. Allergies? Yes but they are seasonal only
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Hmmm, have to think about that one. I'm pretty easygoing. Love to knit and sew, and paint, and rearrange furniture(ha ha).

Frankie, The Sweater Hater

OK, I found a picture of the sweater I made for my little Frankie. He absolutely hated it. Why? It was a nice color, well made, he just couldn't bring himself to appreciate it. He wore it for only a short time. He refused to walk while wearing it.......

Whew!
We had a crazy and sad week. My grand niece died suddenly in her crib - she was only 13 months old. It was tragic. We are waiting for toxicology report because they can't explain what happened.
So we left Wednesday and returned Saturday night. Everything was a blur...dropped the dogs off at the kennel, got the neighbor to watch Frankie the cat, drove to the airport and took off.

I had big plans to photograph the things I have knitted that I still have: my first poncho, purses, slippers, etc, but I haven't had time. Look for it soon! Not that these items are incredible or anything.....pictures are always fun!

I got into Coffee Swap 3 and I am oh so excited!!! Another reason to visit a LYS! I may have to venture out and go to one in Maple Grove that I have been hearing about.....

Sallie Junior

Here is a picture of Sallie Junior the stuffed lab next to our puppy, Lalo. Lalo is a 6 month old English Springer Spaniel. He wanted to tear Sallie to shreds at first (all in fun, of course) but thought better of it. They are friends now, as long as they are supervised.

The Scarf

I decided to make my DH a scarf for his birthday and you can see it posted below. It's Rowan Kid Classic and Berroco Super Alpaca 6297. It feels so nice to knit with. I joined Ravelry (Yea!) but I am so new I can't navigate in a timely fashion around that place yet! I listed some of my stash, but there's a lot more to go! I love that place. I am also working on some felted bags and I will post photos of them very soon, and I can't WAIT to start socks!..... DS Alex brought home a stuffed puppy and a journal for "Sallie Junior"(said puppy's name) and has to write in SJ's Travel Journal. It goes home with each 2nd grader in his class. It's so cute! Wouldn't it be awesome to knit up a little sweater for her?? Yes, I do have a life, but going off on tangents is so much more fun.....
Meanwhile back at the ranch, DH is out of town tonight and I am taking full advantage of it!! In other words, I should be in there cleaning up the kitchen, but, hey, it's all good.

Mistake Rib Scarf

Wow!

It's been forever since I posted anything -- I am completely new to blogging but I LOVE to read them, so here I'll share my thoughts.
Well, let's see, I have a new passion, knitting. I first knitted a pair of brown mittens when I was a junior girl scout in Michigan a million years ago - I have never forgotten how I enjoyed knitting them- so about 2 years ago I re-learned to knit and have been slowly working my way around. So far I've made: 2 dog sweaters, (which my dog Maya just LOVES), a cat sweater (which our cat Frankie HATED), a pink and brown purse, a felted green and black bag, a few more felted bags, and numerous starts of things which have been ripped apart for new projects. As I am in love with paper, ahhh, so too now I love FIBERS!!!! and fabrics.... Love to scrapbook, make primitive dolls (so the name Mias Folk Art) and KNIT KNIT KNIT. It is so soothing.