Family Junk

Pregnant Jyll with Eryka, Jayda and Trysten..just thought I'd share. Wyatt (my son) cut Jylls hair.....not bad.

Knitting is still occuring. I finished a shawl for the new baby. Have two sweaters going and like I mentioned below..lots of other stuff.

Been helping my youngest son, Marshall, get his new Apartment fixed up. Bought him some Japanese block print..prints. This is a corner of his new living room......biggest one bedroom apt I've ever been in

Looks nice so far Huh.

And the Knit goes on

As they say, "No rest for the wicked" .. I must be truely wicked! I show up for 30 min at Saturday knit group (I have a thursday one too) and Terri sets one of her new mittens down in front of me and says "can you finish these?" If you've been reading her blog you know her life has been less then Ideal lately. So, of course I say yes! I love the mittens she's making for her book. I actually burst into tears the first time I saw them cuz they were so beautiful. I figure I can post this picture because its the same one she has on her site. It gives a hint to how intricate they are. I'd never done knitting like this before. I've finished one pair for her already and after ripping and frogging and screaming ..and not to little hair tearing..I learned how to strand. I'm hooked. If I can do it .. its not that hard. I can't wait till her book comes out.
Oh, and the reason I only had 30 min to spend with my Saturday Ladies was that I needed to go to an open house for my son Wyatt and his wife Jyll. They had a house warming party for their new house. Friends and family filled the place. I think the party was a huge success. I hear the garage was set up like a boys dream. Beer fridge, Tv, dvd player and all their old couches from the apartment. LOL. I never made it downstairs. My leg was really bothering me and I was lucky to get upstairs in the first place. The house is coming along. I was impressed at all the work they have done.
Oh, and not to leave her out! Cynthia from my Thursday knit group and fellow game player (final fantasy xi) is Pregnant and due in November. I really am gonna have to dust off my Bond knitting frame if I'm gonna get threw baby season! Congrates Cynthia...fingers are crossed that it all goes smoothly. Cynthia is a new knitter. She's mastered hats,scarves and fingerless gloves..I'm going to have to find easy baby patterns. I know I must have a ton in some book.. somewhere. I think I own one of every book ever published on knitting....sigh...yup... to many books not enough time!
My next house is gonna have a library for all my books.

A Few of the Things I'm Working on

A Bunting and a sweater from Oat Couture
And a little cute cable sweater from Plymouth yarns
There are 2 of my own design that are half done and a couple baby blankets made of Homespun or Baby homespun
and I've gotten several patterns into my Estonian garden shawl.
Hopefully, I will be knitting more for Terri
Who is putting together a book of Antique Nordic mittens patterns. She recently had her house broken into and her laptop stolen. All that work...Pfft.. gone!!! But, in the process she learned some new ways of doing things. So, it hasn't been a totally bad thing. I'm loving some of her more recent knitting for this book. There is nothing quit like it... wishing her all luck. Not just because I've done some knitting for it too ..lol.
Oh and for myself I ordered this pattern. I LOVE the back but I think the sleeves have gotta go! I'll think of something else.

Kellden Leonard Coles - March 24,2006

Yup I know, Babies babies babies!! This young Gentleman is the new son of Jami. Jami is Jylls twin sister.
Heres a picture of J&J together. Jami is the one without the hat.
Congratulations Jami!!
And yes, Jyll is the other one that is pregnant. Not to be out done by her sister.
Its confusing I know. Jami had a boy and Jyll(my daughter in law) is expecting a boy late this summer.
Whats even funnier is that Jami's oldest daughter ,Nikki, calls me "Grandma Aunt" ... which I love.
The amount of baby knitting I have planned is beyond HUGE..I'm so behind that I'm finishing things that I started for one or two babies back!!
No offense ladies.. but you can both stop now!! Please

Can You Believe IT!!!

Wyatt and Jyll are in their new house. She had The Ultrasound today!! I'm gonna be a grannie to another wild and crazy BOY!
Gonna have to get my knitting needles clicking and digging threw the patterns. I've been waiting for this news so I'd know what to make.
Please send links to cool patterns.

Mystery Tour

I've been working on Nordic Mittens designed by Teri Shea
Its hush hush..lol. See her site to look at what we're doing.
Its been a challenge because the only fairisle I've done was on the knitting machine. But, I'm in love!

Almost finished with Judys Shawl II..in Gold Lyon brand homespun. Its knee length so has taken awhile.
Started working on the Estonian lace shawl(picture below, somewhere)....finally... got the cast on and 3 rows done!! I'm on my way.
Today with luck...Jyll and Wyatt move into thier new house. I'm not sure which house is theirs but closing is SUPPOSED to be today. We shall see!!

Happy Valentines Day

Its Valentines Day. Wanted to Send a special message to all my readers.. all 2 of you..lol. Hope you had a wonderful day.
NEWS: Jerico is home from California for a month. He works 2 months on 1 off. Glad to have him back for a little while.
Knitting: Working On TOP SECRET mittens. OMG they are so fun and easy. I'm hooked on fairisle now. Also, working on a Golden shawl for my friend Judy and will be starting several for myself when finished with hers.
Threw my back out last week Cleaning out cupboards..strained my back getting off the floor.. DOH! So, been taking it easy.
Sascha.. my Epal in Australia.. of the Lamb story below. Sent me the most fabulous Christmas care package. Full of Socks and my favorite..purple yarn! She knows me pretty well. Sent Licorice (my favorite) and lots of cute Australian stuff that I love and so do my grandkids.
Lili, another Epal from New York state, sent me a bunch of little balls of wild spun stuff. Cotton spun off the bole.. so she could pick the seeds out as she went! She does the most interesting stuff. I've tucked them away already.. I'm sure I missed something important.

Don't Remember

Stolen from Teri Shea's blog

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL MEMORY OF YOU AND ME.

It can be anything you want-good or bad-BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When your're finished, post this on your blotg and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

Things are Moving Along

Been rather busy this month. I had yet another cold. Hopefully the last. Got my new glasses...I can SEE!
Children have been moving. ALL of them.
Jerico moved to Oxnard California to work for a shipping company. He seems very happy there.
Wyatt and Jyll have been searching for a house to buy. They are Pregnant again..due in July. We think they finally found a nice Manufactured home, North of Marysville. Thats if the owner will fix the roof, broken window and some water pipe issues. He says he will so ... Fingers crossed.
Marshall has decided he'd rather live up here then in Redmond. He rented an Apartment about 5 min from Us. If things go right. Moving day is today. So, this will be short.
Been working on Fingerless gloves for a couple people. Almost done with all of them. They go fast. Pictures when they're done. Also have a Gold shawl in progress for my friend Judy who liked her Red one so much she asked for another.
Went to St. Distaff day put on by the local spinners guild. 168 people were counted. I know a couple didn't get counted so the place was JAMMED. I thought it bad when I first got there and found a stamp size spot to put my wheel. Then a couple I met last year showed up..I squished them in.. then Liza showed..squished her in on the other side. Unbelieveable. We had a Great time. I bought a lb. of lavender blue roving of Merino and tensil. The color just kept calling me. It hasn't stopped either. But, I'm being very good and finishing one thing before I start another.

Christmas morning..

Merry Christmas... Many Creatures were stirring. Marshall (youngest son) and my brother Mike came for the day. To the left you see my middle son Wyatt and his Children Trysten, Eryka and little Miss Jayda. Wyatt's wife, Jyll, is Pregnant and couldn't get on the floor with them. We also, had Grandma Rose up for the Weekend.
It was a day of Laughter.. screaming and Joy. One of the best Holidays I've had in years.
Only one we were Missing was Jerico and he managed to call us from California.
I'm so relieved its done!!
Can't wait for next year..

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Its Coming... OMG.. I gotta get to work. Not going to list what I'm making just going to say that most of it involves Alpaca. Mmmm, What could it be?

Think think..hee hee.. Maybe, she's making socks? Maybe, she's making Scarves? Mmmm, MAYBE, she's Knitting a New House for Wyatt and Jyll (wish I could do that). She could Knit a car cover for Marshall?

Ok, My Darlings..your just going to have to wait and see!!

Maybe I should mention here all the family excitement! Jayda will be 2 next Friday Dec.18..can you believe it? Twin sisters- Jami is 6 months Preg and Jyll(daughter inlaw) is 1 month Pregnant.. yes readers.. I'm gonna be a grandma, again! And, a Grandma Aunt. They are just trying to keep me busy.. I see what their doing! Can't fool me.

Marshall has Rented an Apt. close to home and will be moving in Jan. Right across the Freeway from us... A meer 3 traffic lights!! I'm so excited. He really did need to move far away to begin with. I think it was very Maturing.. for both of us. But, now he's realized all his friends and family are here and finally he has started to miss us! The business he works for is moving into downtown Seattle so it all works to our advantage

Oldest son Jerico, got a new job. He will be working for a large off shore shipping firm who will send him to San Diego to work on a research ship. No more wading hip deep in Fish guts and scraping Ice off his glasses. He's a happy happy guy.

Poor little Lamb

Got an Email from my friend Sascha in Australia. I thought I'd share the story with you. Living in the City, I never would ever dream this could happen.
Sascha was on her way to her sisters lavender farm. A very long trip from home(14 hour drive). She was about half way when, what did she see on the side of the busy Highway...this little Lamb!! Realizing it was alive she quickly turned back. Thinking that it had strayed from some local farm, she drove around for hours trying to find its home. But a local vet told her, they are born on the trucks and fall threw the slats sometimes. She was a very long way from home. Going back was out of the question, she continued towards her sisters.
She tells me that the lamb barely weighed more then a cat and was very little trouble. She bedded it down in a laundry basket. All the tourists at the Lavender farm loved him. Sascha agonized about taking him home with her but she lives in the mountains. Very cold, wet and rainy. One of her sisters friends owns an animal farm. She promised to take good care of him and she could visit or at least get updates via her sister about his well being.
Must have been horribly hard for her to leave him. She's always talking about her Cats and the local animals that wander around her property. I love the stories.

Birthday

It was my Birthday Nov.6th. Got many lovely gifts. Set of Chinese Chests(hubby), Gift Certificate (from my brother) for the LYS..bought Denise needles and some alpaca to make someone a Christmas Present. A Gorgeous bracelet from St.Croix my oldest son Jerico brought back for me. And, Dear Liza from my Saturday knit group gave me this Estonian Lace Shawl pattern and the alpaca to make it. I have been lusting after this shawl for months. They had one hanging by where my Thursday Knitting group meets. Can't wait to start it!!

Other things I've been working on. The last of the Purple sweaters has about 1 in. left. One of my Gaming friends asked me why so much purple!! He decided it was because I'd been working so hard to get my game character her Purple Dragoon Armor. I think he's right.

This is a Picture of Pixx. My Character in Final Fantasy XI online.
What do you think. Did this start my Purple obcession?
Well, I have a Green and Lavender shawl waiting and the Estonian Shawl (lavender) so its not over yet. THEN a pink light weight sweater. Finally another color..lol

Happy Halloween-no knitting content

Trick or Treat!!- These a 2 or my 3 Grandchildren. Trysten(3.10) and Jayda(1.11).
No Knitting content..just proud Grandparents.

What I've been doing

Haven't been to inspired the last few weeks. Did finish a beautiful feather and fan scarf made of lornas lace worsted and JUST finished these little fingerless gloves. Made of Knitpicks white Peruvian Silk ..the pink is Cascade something(I forget) Flowers are from Knitpicks Sampler peruvian wool.. I bought the sampler. I'm so in love with it. But, my brain over heats when I look in the box!!

What Annie Hates:

It occured to me that what "Annie Hates" might be more interesting






Annie Hates:

-President Bush, Passionately
-people who sniff in public........ snort
-Pink Bikes
-guns
-every picture that is taken of her
-bad smells
-beauty pagents
-having her hands bound (well, maybe)
-horror movies
-frogs in her underwear drawer
-tomatos
-her thighs (doh!)

I'm Trying

Been a long couple of weeks. I've had a terrible cold and been so Whinney you wouldn't have wanted me to post anything!

On Knitting.. I finished the Lornas Lace Scarf. Turned out lovely. No pictures.. won't do it justice ,anyway. You'll just have to believe me. I have no Idea what I'll be doing next. BUT, I have to pick something or my brain will overheat. Not a pretty sight!

I'm not ready for Summer to be over. I look in the backyard and its all gold Maple leaves.. snivel, cry. I hate winter! Well, the upside is I get to wear all my pretty cardigans.. guess I should shut up and enjoy.

My friend, Marie, got sworn into the Marines this month! Its what she always wanted.. to blow shit up! Whats funny is she has to grow her hair -out-! She has been shaving her head for years. I think its hysterical. It has to be at least 2 in long..lol. I -AM- going to miss her when she goes. Sniff! I'm sure Nate, her fiancee, will also. But, we are all very Proud of her. She worked very hard getting her "legal" High school Diploma and loosing 50lb. She's a lean, mean . . blowing shit up. . machine. LOL!

Well, I'm off to dig threw my yarn. I know I have at least 10 sweaters I "could" make. Sigh..

What Annie Needs:

Try typing in "(your name) needs" into google and see what you get. Thanks Teri this was fun.

Annie Needs:

-To stop demanding so much and be grateful for what she has.
-Some Assistance
-A Resurrection
-A job
-A group of 6 people and a room big enough to hold them all and about 2 hours.
-Needs Love
-Some LUCK, right NOW!
-HELP!!
-Sex
-to be unexpectedly fulfilled when she meets up with Sailor Jim.. wait, thats sex again isn't it?
-To be where the action is
-To grow into a Lady ......Pfft!!

All in One Day

Go Figure.. All in one day.. The vote not to Strike
My BEAUTIFUL Leather couch came... I'm a HAPPY girl.
And, I finished Judy's Shawl. Hee hee

Quick Catch Up

So, I was talking to my, longtime, friend Judy. When she lightly suggests I make her a BIG soft fluffy shawl. Absolutely plain. No lace..no beads..Just warm. So, here is Judy's Shawl made of Lion brand Homespun in Candy Apple color. The only feature is the yarn over increases. It should come to her knees or just below. I have about 3 inches left or 12 rows.

Been another quiet week. I did finish the blue wrap/poncho and will post a picture when I figure out where I left it..probably in the car.

Bill is still on strike. Love having him around. Maybe, I can stand to have him retire.

Still waiting for the couch. It was supposed to have been shipped the 15th of Sept. Hopefully, it will be on the delivery truck tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

My eldest son, Jerico, has been vacationing in St. Croix Virgin Islands. He was supposed to get home on Thursday but we haven't heard a word. A bit worried because of all the Hurricanes down that way. Of course, they might have just put him back to work as soon as he got home.

Late Night Ramblings

Still watching for that couch. Due next week, they say it will be on the truck the 15th! Fingers Crossed. I'm a slightly happier girl.. or maybe a more resigned girl..sigh. Geez, I hope I don't hate it when it gets here!!

One ball of yarn into the feather and fan scarf. The Lorna's Lace yarn I'm using has a hand dyed look. Darker and lighter but very subtle. I'm really Likeing it. To bad the picture doesn't show the dark bits.

The entrelac sweater is a goner. Decided the yarn was just to harsh to wear next to the skin. I'll make pillows or a rug out of it. Something I can whip up on my Bond Knitting frame. I made alot of it...5 medium skeins. Haven't weighed it so I can't tell you exactly.

Started another poncho/capelet. The first hot pink and Noro multi I made had young girls coming up to me asking if they could buy it somewhere.. but in blue or whatever. This one is Dark blue that I spun a long time ago. You start at the neck and work down adding stitches every 3in or so. I'll write it up..really I will!! I'm writing the blue up as I go. The Pink only comes down to the elbows and is just enough to be warm but not enough to look like a tent. I haven't decided what yarn I will use with the blue yet but I do have a Noro Iro waiting..and also a Manos del Uruguay multi colored. Both have a dark blue base with torquoise and pinks. I'll save my final choice till I have another couple inches of the blue done.

The strike is still going on.. in case you don't watch the news or aren't from the Seattle area. My husband and I are having fun. He spent a week researching Smoked salmon brine recipes then went and bought a prepackaged one. Saturday they soaked all night. Sunday, he put 3 salmon fillets in his makeshift smoker and basted them with honey and spices off and on all day. Watched it like his favorite dog whos having puppies. He did an awesome job!!
OMG.. its so yummy!! Its all I can do to not go and get little pieces. Smart man put 2 in the freezer and made small packets (ziploc snack size) of the 3rd, so we both don't OD.
So, now he's researching smokers.. all day.. all night!! I think he's going to build one out of an old washing machine tub he saved that is stainless steel. The man likes to make stuff...lol.. thats what really brought us together. We both like to make stuff..lol.

We're on Strike

Yup yup, We're on strike. This time its not even about the money. Its about the darn Pension and Health plan. The company keep changing the health plan and not for the better. Don't know what they're thinking.
Have a look here..if your interested. IAM
I'm glad to have my hubby home. I get tired of talking to myself ..lol

Nothing to Rave About

Been rather quiet this week. Only story I have to tell is... Last Friday Hubby called to see about the delivery of our new leather couch and was told it would be on the truck Monday or Tuesday. I made a point of staying home both days and no Couch. So, I call and they tell me...."its not on the list". Well, that wouldn't be so bad except that Dear Hubby took the OLD couch apart on Sunday to make room.
-This is not a happy face- I am not a happy Girl!!!-
On Wed. the guy who sold us the couch calls the company to see WTF and is told that there was a run on the color of leather I chose this summer and they haven't even -started- to make it. That it won't be here for 2-3 WEEKS!!
-This is not a happy FACE-I am NOT a happy Gerrrrl!!!-
Hubby took the cushions from the old couch and put them on the yard lounge.. Gawd..wish I had a picture of THAT. But, now he has the old recliner in the Living room. Its kinda tore up. Was gonna recover it soon.. but its better then squatting on the floor (basically).

So, mmm, and as far a knitting goes. I started a feather and fan scarf out of a lovely tourqoise Lorna's Lace worsted weight. Which after all the sweaters is just what I needed.

Finally done

The Eggplant sweater... done, finished, over with. Guess what? Liza D.V. said she thought it looked oriental so I played with the idea of Frogs instead of buttons.. but the more I worked the more it looked like a Gi. So.....after all that yatta yatta.....no buttons. I'm going to use a stick pin instead. Will post pictures tomorrow.. ahem.. after I make the pin. :)

Button Band

For those of you keeping track. The button band was completed and as I bound it off I realized it was total crap!! It was to soft and fell and hung and was really ugly. Talked over solutions with some friends and decided to Rippit (frog speak) all out and knit it in garter stitch on slightly smaller needles but the short way.. horizontally. Then sew it on. I'm still praying the buttons work but if, for some reason, they don't I've been reminded, Pffft, that I'm a potter... I can make my own freaking buttons...lol

Spindle Spinning

I've been recently asked how to spindle spin. I won't bore you with the long explaination but I thought the resources I gave this lady might be helpful to people cruising my blog.
I'd like to recommend the book:
Connie Delaney, Spindle spinning Novice to expert.
also this website: I can spin
which has quicktime videos on several methods of spindle spinning.
There are tons of sites but these 2 things helped me the most. Terri Shea was also a HUGE help making everything make sense.
See..even Dark Crystal spins... she weaves too..all over the house!!

Eggplant Diagonal Sweater

Well its almost done. Half way threw the button band. Had to take a picture now!! Couldn't wait!!
The yarns are both handspun. It started out to be a vest.. but somewhere along the line I realized..HELL, I don't wear vests!! So, I had to design sleeves. I had to find a yarn that would compliment the body.. I RAN OUTA YARN!! Thats why it took 2 years to finish. While I was moving my yarn in to Marshalls old bedroom (now known as the Blue Room) I ran across my very first roving (God, I love Ebay). Marie and I had nicknamed it "The Bloodclot" its actual name is "Midnight Rose". Either fits it. It has bits of the same eggplantish color in it. So, I spun up the rest. Its hard after spinning for 2 or 3 yrs. Perfecting my thin and uniform yarn to have to go back and spin like a Noobie.. fat skinny. But thats what I had to do. You see I'd spun up about half of it already. It had to match.. didn't it?
I worked a little chevronish pattern up the sleeves. To make it match the diagonal knit body .. which was actually knitted diagonally. I thought that it would be a challenge but turned out to be real easy.
The Buttons in the top picture are VERY old. I'm not certain how old. They are Plastic or Bakalite (spelling). My mother told me they came off Great Aunt Goldies Mink coat when mom cut it down to a Jacket. I still have some of the mink. I made antique doll coats out of it. I used to collect dolls. Anyway, Goldie would be 105 now so...who knows how old the buttons are. I checked them with the Magnifier and they look solid. Cross your fingers they don't disintergrate or burst into flames or something.

This is Marie- who also Knits and Spins

Entrelac Sweater to start on Monday... I hope!

This is what I hope to be starting this week in the yarn below in the multicolor with the lime for the sleeves. It will be much more pastel then the picture. All colors are Plied with white..lol. But, I was playing with the dumb little Paint program that comes with windows and this is what I came up with.
These are the actual colors I'm working with.

For the last several weeks I've been working on the sleeves for a Grape colored diagonal sweater that I knit 2 years ago. I've been having to spin the yarn as I go. I think that part of the work is done but the knitting is only about 95% done. I will post a picture when its done.

Also, this week, my husband Bill and I worked on a dresser for our Grand daughter Eryka. Bill found this for $15 at a local junk store. It turned out beautiful with fresh paint and new gold trim. The Mirror was on Wyatt's dresser when he was a child. It looks really nice all painted up.