Monday, June 30, 2008

More Hats...Plus Socks...

While hanging out with my knitting friends at our Friday group, I happened to mention The 300 Hat Project. Right away my friend, Marilyn, said she had a few hats that were knit out of wool that she would give me to send.

So we caught up with each other this past Friday for lunch and she presented me with these six beautiful hats. She knits so many beautiful hats...and each year she does a bunch for the Head Start kids here, too.
She has a lot of patience to do colorwork in changing all the stripes - but, she does make good use of all her yarn...and her color combinations are always pleasing to the eye.
Hard to pick a favorite here -but, you know some people are going to be warm!
In addition, she gave me some socks - five pair - are they not adorable. I think she said she uses a pattern called Warm Woolies.

Marilyn, thanks for the donation. My friends over at 30o Hats are going to be thrilled.

So the total from this corner of New Hampshire is 22 hats and 5 pair of socks! And they are shipping out this week!

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Bummer...

My first pair of socks for Summer of Socks 2008 are bumming me out...They are my usual pattern that I've always made - but, last night as I was looking at them there was a hole in the heel area - and I had dropped a stitch! No matter how hard I tried to pick it up - it wasn't happening!

Ended up ripping back to the beginning of the heel and now I'm back to where I was last night...feel bummed about it! But - I am not giving up!!!!

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Saturday, June 28, 2008

Friday Fill-In #78...



1. Birthdays are a time for remembering and celebrating.

2. Spring is my favorite season because it looks and feels like everything is renewing. It was really hard to decide because I really love each season for different reasons. When I lived in Florida we had Hot and Hotter than Hell for seasons - but, New England is awesome for seasons.

3. I feel my best when my life seems to be flowing along as it should and there are no major dramas.

4. A really good hamburger that is cooked perfectly is my favorite food! They are hard to find!

5. First impressions are not always the best - and I like to look beyond that first impression. I would not have some of my friends if I had based getting to know them on my first impression.

6. The best piece of advice I ever received was to live each day to the fullest and enjoy life and the beauty around you.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching movies, tomorrow my plans include watching movies and knitting and Sunday, I want to just kick back, relax, and probably knit on those socks!


You can find the Friday Fill-Ins here!

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Friday, June 27, 2008

My Baby Girl is 32 Today...

Tara Danielle
June 27
Happy Birthday, Tara!!!
We love you!!!

Tara Danielle and Mom (yes, that's what I looked like 32 years ago!) Tara was 6 weeks old when this photo was taken. We had the entire family there - her great-grandmother, grandmother, me and my sister. She was wide awake until we went in to get the photos done - then she fell asleep...So, we have photos at 6 weeks old of her totally asleep...

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Out and About...

Recently on one of our sunny days took a ride up toward Cornish, New Hampshire. I'm always in Cornish as that is where my quilt guild meets - usually at the school and in the summer at either the church or the new fire station!

Passed this beautiful red barn with the stone fencing. It just looked so peaceful around it...
A bunch of iris surrounded the stop sign...they just seemed to welcome one to that particular corner.
As I was driving along - spotted this tree - yes, that is mushrooms growing on the tree ... really!
Since I had never seen that before - I thought it needed further investigation...Yep...mushrooms - and not dainty little things either!
And, this would be the underneath view...
I found it totally amazing!!!!

Oh, I'm past the heel on my first sock in the Summer of Socks 2008!!!! I have said I was going to make 3 pair...by September...

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

300 Hat Project...

Recently my friend, Julie, mentioned something about helping out with The 300 Hat Project! I decided that I could knit a few hats for the project too...

While at my local yarn shop HodgepodgeYarns, I mentioned to Sue (the owner) that I needed to get some worsted weight wool yarn to make a couple of hats for this project. She asked if I could use some hats to send them...and I said yes. She mentioned she had a couple that had been at the shop without selling for a while and she was looking for a charity to give them to. She walked back with a bag full of hats...

So, these beauties are on their way to keep someone warm!!! 16 of them! Thanks a bunch, Sue!







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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Ten on Tuesday...

Ten Inventions that Have Made Life Easier

1) The Internet: Never in my life did I think that I would be able to communicate, get information, or just search for things that interested me in a flash!

2) Television: Who would have ever thought that there would be more than 3 channels and that it would be in color!

3) DVDs and CDs - what a pleasure not to have to worry about them getting ruined in the car by either heat or cold.

4) Computerized sewing machines: They can make sewing so much easier and there is the option of so many stitches that were never available on the old machines.

5) Rotary cutter: a quilter would understand how much easier they have made cutting when working on a quilt pattern.

6) Slow Cookers (Crock Pots): Not only do they cook well - but, they save so much time because you can be cooking dinner while at work or doing other things.

7) Photocopy machines: For quilters or knitters they are a life saver as you don't have to mark up your books when making a pattern!

8) Color printers and scanners for the home: How wonderful to be able to scan your photos or print out photos and information!

9) Digital cameras: This has to be my most favorite invention!!! Not only do I use it more than I have ever used a camera! I don't waste money on film or developing photos to see if they turned out okay.

10) Washers and dryers: Even though I love the smell of clothes hanging on the line - I still am thankful for washers and dryers...and the convenience they bring.

You can find Ten on Tuesday here!

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Monday, June 23, 2008

In the Nick of Time...

Finished these socks on Friday evening! Just in the nick of time to have my Size 3 needles free to begin the Summer of Socks 2008! Considering that I began these socks in February 2008 - it was about time that I got them finished!



Yarn: Brown Sheep Company Handpaint Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn
75% Washable Wool/25% Nylon
Color: SY-06 Symphony Dye Lot 007

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Sunday, June 22, 2008

K is for...

Killian! My wonderful cat of 12 years!!!!
and
Knitting!

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J is for...

Jams and Jellies...especially those that are homemade! These are sitting at my local farmers market just waiting to be taken home and enjoyed!



I have great respect for those who make jellies and jams - I know how difficult it can sometimes be...and have fond memories of doing a lot of jelly making while living in Tennessee!

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Happy Me...

My first time in a canoe was at Summer Spa...I was so proud of myself! Here Linda and I are taking the canoe back to the other dock...I was actually paddling! And, it was the second time I did that...the other two times in the canoe were spent sitting in the bottom of the canoe with more experienced paddlers!

I so loved learning how to paddle a canoe - and was not the least bit scared! Maybe I'll get another chance some day! (By the way - it was on my list of things to do - 101 things in 1001 days!!!!)

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Friday Fill-In - #77


1. A smile is contagious.

2. Mahjong is my favorite board or card game.

3. I would love to have more time in my life and less bureaucratic bullshit.

4. When I think of the Summer Solstice, I think of the celebrations in Tennessee with Scarlett and Tammy.

5. I just remembered I need to get my yarn together for the Summer of Socks 2008 which begins at midnight.

6. One of my favorite song lyrics goes like this: "Oh, What a night. Late December back in '63. What a very special time for me, 'Cause I remember what a night."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing the pair of socks that are on my needles so I can begin the SOS 2008, tomorrow my plans include wandering around downtown, going to the library, and maybe the Cornish Farmer's Market and Sunday, I want to see what the new Sunday School class is going to be like and if I'm going to enjoy it or not!


You can find the Friday Fill-Ins here!

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Summer Spa - Part 2...

Of course there was shopping...and it started before I even arrived in Massachusetts. The drive down was on Interstate 91 through Vermont ... and there was a sign for Putney. Green Mountain Spinnery is in Putney! And, they have a very small shop there.

This is what I bought - 2 ounces (180 yards) of wool/tencel in this great purple color! It was a very nice little place to take a short break.

Saturday afternoon we headed into Sturbridge and an adorable yarn shop called Knit Witts. It was one of the best shops I've been in - the owner was very knowledgeable about her stock, her patterns, and she was very friendly!

This is Ariel...made in Italy by Filatura Di Crosa. 50% Cotton, 40% Viscose, 10% Polymide. Color 1 - Dye Lot 0010 - 164 yards a skein. It will be either one or two Crossed Drop Stitch Scarf - one of her give away patterns.
Dawn would be the gorgeous yarn above. It is made in New Zealand for Naturally Hand Knit Yarns and is distributed by Fiber Trends. The color is a cranberry color - named Shade 2 and it is Batch 1 - 50% New Zealand Wool and 50% Silk. It is so soft to the touch...
The Dawn yarn will become the Angel Lace Shawl pictured above! I am so excited!!!
This is one of my finished projects - a beautiful dishcloth. It is knit in Sugar 'n Cream - Colorway Tea Rose. The pattern is called Baby Fern Stitch.

The other item I finished was a cat snuggle for the local shelter - just an 11" x 11" square that will fit in the bottom of those metal crates to keep the kitties warm. It is just made out of odds and ends...and I am spending the 1/2 hour I watch Jeopardy each evening working on a snuggle.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Summer Spa - Part 1...

Summer Spa at Sherry's was just about the most relaxing thing I could have been a part of. The trip down to her lakehouse was about 2-1/2 hours long...but, of course, I stopped along the way - in Putney, Vermont (more about that tomorrow!!!)

The relaxing started once you hit the driveway - which was shaded, wooded, cool, and about a mile long...I could just feel the tension start to slip away.

This is the path from the house to the dock...Once four of us arrived - we headed out in a canoe to pick up another canoe partway across the lake! I have never been in a canoe...and it was awesome. I was like a little kid...Riding across was so fun...but, then on the way back I got to help paddle one of the canoes. It was so fun! And, so peaceful. No sounds other than the sound of the paddle dripping water and the small amount of conversation.

This is the lake - we just sat and looked out on it from a covered outdoor area where we sat and knit or spun all day. The knitting was fun and varied - everyone working on a different project. I actually finished two projects...and was about an inch away from doing the toe decreases on a sock when it was time to leave.

There were eight of us - and we had such a nice time. The food was just excellent! Everyone brought what they liked...and it all turned out so cool...because all the food just went together perfectly! From hamburgers, franks, sausage, two different kinds of quiche, lunch meat, fresh fruit, salad fixings, cheeses, chips, dips, and, of course, chocolate! There was more than enough to eat and I know I ate well!
Is this not the cutest spinning wheel...it is electric...and perfect for getting into a relaxed zone ... Sherry worked on roving in between knitting.

Slinky is the RV cat - and Sherry's faithful companion on the road! He is a lilac point ragdoll cat. Having never seen one before - I was amazed at how beautiful he is...and sweet...a total people cat!

Summer Spa - Part 1...

Tomorrow I'll share what I bought on our trip to the yarn shop!!!!

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I'm Home...

And, it was a WONDERFUL trip!

Lots to tell you! And, lots of photos! Some finished items, too!!!

I just finished catching up on my bloglines - I did no commenting! It was entirely too many blog entries to even try...but, at least I am caught up on reading!

Need to catch up on Ravelry...and personal e-mail...and then I'll tell you all about my wonderful long week-end!

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Going, Going, Gone...

Tomorrow morning I will be leaving for Summer Spa at Sherry's lake house in Massachusetts. I will be gone until Monday evening! No phone, no internet, no blogging, no e-mail...

Just knitting, spinning, sailing, swimming, lying around in a hammock, eating, talking, laughing, and sharing both good food and conversation.

See you when I return...Everyone have a wonderful week-end...

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

97...

No...that's not anyone's age...it's how darn hot it is here today!!!!

Have a cold pack on my forehead...and all the fans blowing as hard as they can...and I'm still HOT!

I lived in Florida for goodness sake - I should be able to take the heat...but, I'm too much of a New Englander now...and we are not supposed to get temperatures this high...

Am packing - no not because of the heat - but because I'm going away for a few days...more tomorrow...

STAY COOL!!!!

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Monday, June 09, 2008

Yarn Shop Dogs...

HodgePodge Yarns is where I hang out two Monday nights a month...it is close to me - in Newport - the next town over...

Henry is the permanent Yarn Store dog...he is cute and sweet. A very quiet little creature who just loves to be loved on! He is also the inspiration for Henry's People Paws pattern - some fingerless mitts.
This is Honey - she is a regular Monday night knitter tag-a-long. Her mom comes to knitting and Honey comes along for the loving, treats, and walk she gets to take to get to the yarn store.
They both are happy dogs...and bring joy to all of us that go to the store.

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Sunday, June 08, 2008

A Quiz...




You Should Live in a Small Town



You prefer a close knit community to the bustle of the city.

You like locally owned businesses, local flavor, and friendly neighbors.

There's nothing boring about a small town!


And, I do! Thanks, Janet!!!

Short on time and energy - my sister called with bad news about their dog, Russell. He is a Jack Russell and about ten years old. He is having surgery tomorrow as they found cancer. We are all stressed.

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Saturday, June 07, 2008

Summer Knitting Goals...

Can it be true? Summer is already here! I'm still trying to figure out where Spring went so quickly...

But, summer it is - and it is time to set some Summer Knitting Goals - or so Ali is suggesting! And, I tend to do better with actual goals or lists...so here we go!

1) Knit three pair of socks! I owe one from last Christmas; another person I know wanted a pair as a wedding gift; and I want more socks for me!

2) Knit a hat or two hats for the 300 Hat Project.

3) Lace! At least start a lace scarf pattern...I want to make one in fingering weight before I move on to lace weight yarn.

This looks like a pretty good summer goals list...after all I still have to have time to quilt!!!

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Friday, June 06, 2008

Friday Fill-Ins #75...




1. Idle hands are the devil's workshop or so I have been told.

2. I love to have the hot water run over my body in the shower.

3. My favorite time of the day is when the sun is setting and the different colors light up the sky.

4. The last tea I drank was Madegascar Red by Celestial Seasonings.

5. I like to sit by a lake or the ocean where I can feel the breeze and read in the Summer.

6. My mother always said "you have to wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident".

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to chilling and watching tv, tomorrow my plans include going to the Cornish Farmers Market and Sunday, I want to visit a different church and then just relax!

You can find the Friday Fill-ins here

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Thursday, June 05, 2008

Ten on Tuesday on Thursday...


I graduated high school in 1964...forty-four years ago! I lived in the South. Talk about different - I would think so!

1) The high school I attended was segregated. There were no black students there. We didn't have black neighbors and in most cases black friends.

2) Our restaurants were also segregated. Blacks were not allowed to drink from the same water fountains and had to ride in the back of the bus.

3) We didn't have calculators as we know them now. We had adding machines that had a tape that printed out. They were clunky and a pain in the you-know-where.

4) There was no cable TV - we only had network television. And, damn little of that! I can remember having networks added!

5) There were no DVDs or compact discs. Music came in the form of 45s and LPs (33-1/3). You played your music on a record player which needed electricity therefore you could not carry it with you. Eventually we had portable radios but they were big and clunky.

6) We lived through the Bay of Pigs thinking that we were going to be bombed at any minute by Cuba! (And, with Cuba being right at the end of our state - it was scary!)

7) We watch in horror as our President was assassinated...we cried for days - and watched his widow and her small children walk behind his casket. We thought our world as we knew it had ended.

8) There were no computers or internet. We wrote letters and used postage stamps to mail them. We used the library a lot - or if our parents could afford it we owned a set of encyclopedias. (We did) We did have typewriters - but no copy machines...so, it you wanted more than one copy of what you were typing or a copy for your records you used carbon paper...nasty stuff that left your fingers tips either purple or black.

9) We had no malls to shop in. Sears and JC Penney were the big stores in town and they were stand alone stores. Our downtown had Grants and Kress department stores. During Christmas holidays I worked in the candy counter at Kress. Yes, they had a real candy counter and you could buy candy by the pound or piece. We were allowed to eat as much candy as we wanted - and by the second day of working no one usually ate more than one or two pieces - if they ate any at all - because they got so sick the first day!

10) We did not have any big chain grocery stores - we had two local chain stores - Publix and Kash N Karry. I worked at Kash N Karry in my senior year as a cashier. I had to punch in the numbers of the items - there were no bar codes or bar code readers.

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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

An FO...


A new dishcloth has entered the fold - not sure if it will be a gift or go to work in my kitchen. The pattern is called Scallop Pattern - and is knit on a size 7 - with Peaches and Cream Shaded Denim.

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Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Trade...

I traded this:

Cascade 220 (4 skeins)
For this:

Berroco Bonsai (14 skeins) 97% Bamboo 3% Nylon

Edited: Oh, Susan noticed that I didn't put why I traded! I've been wanting to work with bamboo for a while...and this looked really pretty...Sorry, I'm a little brain dead today...

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