1st vest finished last fall

Cardigan without a pattern finished Spring '09

Finished a 4 part bargello series shown hanging at work
Our latest addition, Mickey, an Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier who is the love of our lives

Sewing - none other than home dec for daughter.

Lots of knitting going on. I need to post more pictures. It does help to remember your password in order to blog :)

Long time . . . well, let's see. Over Thanksgiving, I started knitting and it finally clicked. I just fell in love with it! I had made 3 scarfs last year but just couldn't get the rhythm going but over Thanksgiving it started falling into place. I finished our daughter a scarf out of off-white baby alpaca and it is so soft - and she loves it. I finished it in the car on the way to her house where we spent Christmas.

Then . . . (Project 1) I decided it was time for a sweater so I started a drop shoulder raglan for me. I wanted something simple to wear with jeans just to see how it all goes together. The back on that is done and just a few inches on the front.

Then . . .(Project 2)in November our local yarn shop had a class on a vest. I decided what perfect timing and that it should be a great first garment. It was good timing and it is a good first garment. I think it is a little big but I do like it and it is finished and wearable (which I think is pretty good for a first garment).

Then . . . (Project 3) in January DH says he wants a sweater also. I choose the Cobblestone Pullover, downloaded the pattern, purchased the yarn from Yummi Yarns (our local yarn shop) and thought - hmm, his birthday is in Feburary, wouldn't it be nice if . . . yeah right! His birthday isn't until the 23rd but I'm not that fast. I have only about 1" to go on the body until it seperates and then I need to start on the sleeves. DPN will be a first and looks like it will be quite hilarious. My sister gave me some basic instructions but I will be at the yarn shop a lot for help. I love the yarn and the pattern. I hope it will all work.

I will try to get pictures of all the knitting this weekend to post. From what I see online, my are very, very basic and beginner but I will post for my future reference also.

Sewing - absolutely none! DH is astounded - I think he enjoyed having the living room to himself (with the TV full blast)and me upstairs in the sewing room. Everytime I go in there I just look at all the projects and I want to start again but the sweater has kept me away. There is so much I want to do. Now that the days are getting longer, I am walking again and feeling more motivated to do everything all at once.

I have just read sewing blogs that I have missed for months and I'm really motivated. Work is slow, we have laid off 4 people out of 8 so I may have more forced time sooner than I want it. I knew it - that is what the stash is for! LOL

It's good to be back but I don't think I will ever be a great blog poster. I really do appreciate the time everyone puts into theirs - it's good inspiration for all of us.

Ahhhh Friday - 10 days off - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Plans - none. Only Thanksgiving dinner with my Mom and family - wonderful. Other than that - absolutely no plans at all. Can't wait to see what evolves.

Hope everyone enjoys the Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family.

11/30/08

I have saved this post since I received in May of 2004. To me it is that special and I hope and pray I NEVER forget it. I read it every year and always forward it to friends and family who may be sick of it - but I hope not. Here it is and I hope you will pass it along also - we ALL have so much to be grateful for.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SPOUSE WHO IS NOT DOING DISHES BUT IS WATCHING
T.V., BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE/SHE IS SAFE AT HOME.

FOR THE TAXES THAT I PAY, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM FINANCIALLY
SOUND.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK, BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE
SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS
THAT NEED FIXING, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE IT MEANS
THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT,
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH
TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL, BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH THAT SINGS OFF KEY, BECAUSE IT MEANS
THAT I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES
TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE IT
MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, BECAUSE IT
MEANS THAT I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY.......

FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING
OF ME.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!

Ahhhh - home; clean house; caught up at work; just caught up reading favorite blogs although not taking time to comment; our two labs in the house totally focused on rawhide bones; cold, windy, rainy outside- I think there may be a prediction of light snow tonight; cats napping - I think I can make it.

It was a very very very busy, stressful few weeks but I think we made it through with flying colors! Our daughter is doing great. Surgery went fine, biospy great and she is recovering nicely. I loved spending the time with her and have more admiration than ever for her being single and taking care of her dogs the way she does. She has a 10 month old Newfie and an 8 year old lab who are both just wonderful. She is the type of "mom" who thinks these pets have to walk and play a lot each day or the world will end LOL

I stayed a little over a week and then she and the dogs came home and stayed with us for another week. Last Saturday I drove her and the dogs back up and then flew home on Sunday. Monday was definately a house cleaning day - it was horrible. Do you guys know how much Newfie drinks and slobbers? Whew! But they are really sweet and worth it on a "GrandMom" basis.

Sewing - no, plans to sew - no. Tomorrow we are planning to go to SC and winterize the camper before freezing temperatures hit. Today, was the first full day we have had to relax and that is exactly what we are doing. I finished "The First Patient" by Michael Plamer and am anticiptating what to start next. Jack did the grocery shopping this morning and we will grill NY Strip steaks for supper along with a baked potato and salad.

At work we are switching to QuickBooks Enterprise and it seems very easy. However. that type of transition is never easy and I know stressful. So I may not be posting often but then again sewing definately reduces stress.

i really appreciate all of you who blog frequently - that definately takes a committment and time. You all inspire me and I thank you because you bless my life, help keep me sane, and help me to realize that sewing does the same for many others.

I love Thanksgiving (it is my birthday season) since I know how very much I have to be thankful for. Life is good and I hope you think so too. There is an email I hope I have kept and will share it with you if I can find it.
Susan

No sewing going on here of any kind. I will be leaving to drive to our daughters early tomorrow morning for her surgery on Tuesday. My sister is traveling with me and I am so glad. I love being with her and it will be very nice to have her along for the 7+ hour drive and also to have her support during the week.

I am taking yarn and hopefully she can coach me on knitting. I ordered enough yarn several months ago for a sweater but I am just learning and it will be so nice to have someone right there to ask questions. Yes, feel free to take pity on her - lol. She is very patient - thank goodness. She is also taking yarn for socks so it will be fun.

I am typing on the new laptop and with a 17" screen - it is sweet. It will be traveling with me. I've never been gone from work at the end of a month before so this will be interesting. I can log in remotely and close October if I have to but the plan is for me to wait and close on Tuesday 11/4. I should be home late on Monday, 11/3. Jack will be driving up that day to stay a week with her. We won't see each other for 2 weeks - that is a long time! We've never been apart for that long before but it will be ok.

Our daughter is having a fibroid tumor removed and they will be cutting through the abdominal wall - so some pretty major recovery time. The main problem is her dogs - one 100# lab and one 100# Newfie puppy. I'm not sure how we are going to handle things after the first two weeks. We have decided to play it by ear and decide what to do as we go along. We have suggested bringing her and her dogs home after the first week but we don't know if the doctor will allow that. Then we also have 2 labs and 3 cats so it could become a 3-ring circus. I don't think she can handle the dogs for at least the first 3 weeks so we'll see. A lot is up in the air at this point and that makes me nervous - I like to know what is happening and when so I can prepare. But there is just no way to do that in this situation.

Today will be spent doing a little cleaning, laundry and packing. Prayers and good wishes would definitely be appreciated. I want to make sure we do things in the best possible way for everyone concerned.

No new pictures to share due to computer problems - again. I'm going to try a new video card and if that doesn't work it will be time to purchase a desktop replacement. I have a HP picked out and it looks like it will be a great laptop for what I want. I just really didn't want to buy one right now.

I may sew a little today on the mohair coat and maybe finish a wrap knit dress. Jack and Duffy are at the lake and I'm just taking a weekend to relax. I started and finished a book last night so a trip to the library is necessary along with several walks in this wonderful weather.