Cute or Torture?

http://www.christinelandry.com/

What someone with to much time and to much yarn may do. They are cute but the Cats are not amused. My black cat would poop on my pillow if I did this to her.
Check it out tho......

then look here...Crazy Aunt Pearl is at it again!!

Catching UP

First....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARSHALL
He's a whole 26 today! I can't believe it.. thats my baby!
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Finished Marshalls sockies. Almost done with the bolero for Jayda. Just need to do the collar. YEAH!!

Whats next? mmmm... Shawl and Fingerless Gloves for some friends. Hopefully, by Christmas
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On the home front.. the Bathroom is done. I went knitting last Saturday and came home to the hall closet upstairs, emptied out into the hall and bedroom. The Bedroom we just dumped out into the hall and cleaned. Poor Hall. I'm almost afraid to go Knitting. I am grateful that these things are getting done. Don't get me wrong. Its just the mess and sorting. I hate change.

I don't believe I missed any of the questions!! But..

Your Vocabulary Score: B+

You have a zealous love for the English language, and many find your vocabulary edifying. Don't fret that you didn't get every word right, your vocabulary can be easily ameliorated!

How's Your Vocabulary?

New Project

No Ginger, I did not intend to copy you. Its just that Jyll and lil Jayda came knitting with me at VY&T. To keep Miss Jayda busy I had her look for all the pink yarn in the store..her favorite color. While playing this little game she went OOOOooo ,I like this!! Can I have this? A lovely lavender acrylic/wool blend and while looking threw patterns she jumped on this one. Go figure. So, A Lavender bolero gets started today.
So many patterns .. so much yarn.. so little time. I really am going to have to make some things up on the Bond knitting frame. All the yarn is getting oppresive..pretty soon I won't be able to breath for all the yarn!!

Spinning!

I LOVE my new Woolie Winder!! LOVE LOVE LOVE.. I finished Emma's "Tidepool" Roving. It went so quick and compacted extra lovely.
I started the pale green mohair which the consensus was that it smells like machine oil. Its not yummy wool smell. To bad the outside spinning season is over.. cuz of "rain".
Oh, and I believe our Saturday group will be moving back to Third Place Books. It was hinted that we take up to much space. Regardless of the fact that at least 4 of the people in the group can be considered vendors of this shop. We've been unwelcomed .. sigh!!
On a fun note.. JERICO is making DINNER!! I'm so happy!! BBQ chicken Calzones. yummm yummm!

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival with Friends

Friday morning at 4:30am, about the time my husband gets up to go to work, Ginger taps on my living room window and we're off to OFFF before I have time to register that I'm even awake! Next we pick up Emma. On Gingers site you should see how thrilled and awake we all were. She was snapping pictures all over the place.
Most of the trip was a blurr. It was still dark till we hit the coolest gas station that looked like it belonged on some castles grounds. There besides getting gas we got a great view of Mount St. Helens with the sun behind..just coming up.
We got lucky and got to park inside the first day. At first we thought.. is this all there is??? The Festival actually didn't start till Saturday. We walked around and saw that very few people had set up and this place had the potential of being HUGE! Ginger had a class right after we got there so Emma and I sat and spun for a few hours..moving here and there to either get some sun or avoid it. We all got very burned.
Sometime during that day we hooked up with Betty and her mom Martha and Teresa. Betty has the coolest and most unusual spinning wheel. If you saw it there..you'd remember. LOL!
Well, I won't get into the day by days. Lets just say we all had a wonderful time. Bought way to much!!
I in particular felt horribly guilty about my purchases. It seems I left my glasses somewhere on Friday. The ones my husband had given me so much crap about buying in the first place. I knew I was gonna "get it" when I got home so.. mmmm.. should I buy more and just roll with it.. I mean I'd already be in trouble, right. Or, be more conservative? Really, how often do I get to these things? Like never!! Ginger was surprised to find out that this would be the first time Bill and I had been seperated for more then a day.. ever! I'll get back to the glasses story in a bit.

Ginger, Emma and I shared a room at the Super 8 motel in beautiful Wilsonville. I was a bit worried. After all, I'm nearly twice their age. Not been away from home or family for probably 35 years. Used to Scratching ,belching and farting at will. LOL!! I think we all slept very well except for me on Saturday morning I went to shift/ turn in bed so as not to shove Ginger out and flipped my stupid self outa bed onto the floor on my knees!! OH yes I did too fall outa bed. How embarrassing!

The rest of the weekend was kinda a blurr. I'll try to remember. Saturday I hung out with Martha, Betty's mom, cuz we both move kinda slow. We looked at all the animals.. goats, sheep, yaks, llamas, alpacas and 2 young camels. I bought some beautiful alpaca that was spun by the ladies selling it which was made from a combo of all these ladies alpacas. I also bought some a hank of silk roving and a hank of merino roving in the same colors.. Deep purples. I think I'll spin them seperate and then ply them. I went to wander threw one of the buildings looking for Ginger and came across the wooly winder guy. I don't know why I thought they wouldn't have one that fit my Ashford Traveler but they did. I couldn't buy it fast enough!! It didn't even matter how much it cost. Which leads me back to the glasses............

Sunday morning, I check with lost and found for the umteenth time and still no glasses. Sigh!! I wandered threw one of the buildings with Ginger and Emma for awhile and run into Sam and Jen at Sheila's booth glassnut booth, afterwards, I decided to go outside to sit. So, I sat at the same table I'd been sitting at on Friday. All day Saturday a group called PDX bloggers had been sitting and knitting/spinning. I'd given up finding the glasses ever. I turn to look at the booths and there in the middle of the table are "MY GLASSES.. WTF!!!" Some guy sitting near started laughing(I'd said it rather loudly) and told me that things happen for a reason which I took to mean I needed to BUY MORE!! But, since I found some of the members of the afore mentioned group to thank them for my glasses maybe I was supposed to make new friends? Who knows!! After that I relaxed a TON and bought some more.. lol

Here you see most of "the Spoils". On the bottom is a brushed Alpaca shawl from Peru..left to right.. very pale green (kid mohair) roving (1.1lb) the purples I mentioned above. Some Aqua squeeshy stuff (1lb) that I had to have. A PINK drive band for Beatrice (my wheel) and a Woolie winder also for Beatrice. the black and white is a little over a lb of Jacobs fleece (like the sheep on the left) from a 5 mo. old sheep named "Thistle" I had to buy it. NOTE: One of my favorite Vases ,that I made years ago is called "Amy and Thistle" the painting is of a young girl with a Fairy sitting in her palm. The girl is the picture is a remake of a drawing my mother made of me when I was 14. The Fairy was just for giggles. Anyway.. I had to have Thistles fleece. The gentleman that sold it to me told me her brothers name is "Thorn" and her mama "Bramble" I love that little touch of history.
Here are Emma,Ginger and I after buying our fleeces.

September Update

Ok.. here are some pictures of the new bathroom. Its slowly coming together. I will be doing a painting across those doors of a branch and cherry blossoms. Just waiting for Bill to quit messing with it. See the cute Frog door pulls he found? Awesome!!
All Wood surfaces are a rich Mahogany. The colors here are washed out by the flash.

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Countdown.. 2 days till Oregon Flock and Fiber. Looks like its Ginger (driving) Emma, Jane and I. Hope we all snore. Cuz, I do. I'm so nervous..and excited!! I don't have a decent camera anymore so hope someone brings a digital.

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Jerico gave up on buying a Sailboat. He went out yesterday and Paid cash for a Landrover!! WHITE! It was noted that if I traded my Bronco out for the Lil Mercedes around the corner ( that I LOVE and is for sale ) that we'd all have WHITE cars!! Is that a bad thing?

Its September

Time is moving way to fast! Where did the summer go? I think I only saw a few days that were actually hot! Sigh... I hate being cold!
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The bathroom remodel is coming along slowly. At least the shower is done..so we're clean. Now, we are working on a Linen closet. I painted and primed the shelves that are now a lovely Aloe green same as the walls around the shower.

Next come the doors. Bill has been working on them for weeks. Seems an Old neighbor gave him just the perfect doors, when they moved away.. 10 years ago. They were so perfect he had to add wood at the bottom and add a piece of mahogany to the inside edge. OH, and so things don't get damp he fashioned a dealie to make round holes the size of CDs in the top and bottom of each door. He spent all day yesterday making mahogany slats to fit in the holes. One little strip at a time.. amazing. I will be painting the doors today. With the slats they should have an Oriental feel. I have planned a simple mural across them with minimal branches and leaves and a few red berries. Its a theme I use on alot of my art projects. I may have to put a light spray of a willow yellow where the mural is going because I think the green will wash out the leaves. I can maybe use the airbrush for that. Haven't used it in years. Thinking with my fingers again..lol
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On the Knitting scene......working on socks for Marshall out of Dalegran Falk in a not to annoying charcoal color on size 5's. Going really fast.

Bought (I know I said I wouldn't buy anymore yarn, so I lied) some mushroom zephyr to make the lily of the valley shawl out of. Can't wait to start it but need to finish Marsh's socks first.
Jyll came knitting,at Village Yarn and Tea, Saturday. It was wonderful. I miss having my daughter inlaw close by. She made me (pfffft) buy pale green tofutsie sock yarn.

Got to play with the grandkids when we went home. Always amazes me to see them. They grow to fast!! My middle son is 31 now..to me he's still that dreamy looking 17 yr. old. He used to have lustrous waist length hair that I would braid and run my fingers threw while he sat at the computer. He's buzz cut it all off.. can't get used to that.
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Ginger and Emma tell me I'm going to Oregon Flock and Fiber with them in a couple weeks. I haven't gone anywhere without Bill in so long....will be really wierd. I'll try to have a good time tho. I'll have to buy yarn.. or roving.. its like a rule.. isn't it? Oh my goodness.. sigh.. whatever shall I do!!

Life as I know it

Just a quick catch up. Life has been a bit more interesting then usual. Not in a totally bad way.
My Eldest son, Jerico is staying in the "Yarn Room" till he can get his own Apt/boat.. whatever. Trying to talk him into sharing an apt with Marshall but so far I hear. I'm 40 and I need my own place. So, whatever! So.. ahem.. he lives with his parents. Oh well, its only till November when he goes back to his ship. He got a few months off.

Its interesting having him around. I always enjoy his humor. There is Alot of laughing when he's around and alot of running around it the car. Usually, its really quiet around here. So, it livens up the joint. Till it gets old.. anyway. I never heard anyone discuss heatedly with the Tv set ,like he does. And, laugh wildly with the same old commercials. Its amusing.. for the moment.
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I am knitting. Socks mostly. I can't seem to resist the new sock yarns. I mean.. I don't really 'wear' socks. I'm a barefoot person. But, they are just so pretty!! On the needles now I have a pair of blue/purple megaboot socks. I had to cut off the toe and make them longer. Do you ever just wanna get them done NOW and do that? Well I guess I did. Also, started a pair of Grey socks for Marshall, who actually wears them. He's told me he LOVES them and even ventured into Village Yarn and Tea to pick out yarn for more pairs. Theres a good kid for ya.
I seriously(eyes to heaven) want to make the shawl that I posted below. Every yarn I've tried so far is to fat or to something. Annie's Pearl isn't going to work. I have to much of this yarn and not enough of that. I guess, I should just suck it up and buy more yarn but I'm trying reallly hard not to buy more yarn. Theres no more room in the drawers!

Its September already.. where did the summer go?

Mammogram Bus

Village Yarn and Tea has had the BIG Swedish Hospital Mammogram Bus every summer since they opened (I think). I missed it last year and everyone raved about how easy it was. This is never easy for me. I won't get into specifics......lets just say I hate it.

I signed up this year. This is always the hardest thing for me to do each year. I hate it. OH, I said that. Well, I'm hoping the bus will be better and being with friends will make it easier. Plus, I think they are giving Goodie bags which might be worth all the pain and mental anquish. Might!

Comment or the Kitten Gets it!!

fell in love

What I left Thursday knitting group with.

Don't check this out if easily offended

My daughter-inlaw Jyll sent me this link. I was drinking coffee at the time and had to clean my screen after. It is a Knit and Craft sight.. Don't check this if your easily offended. Anticraft
She actually sent me an Archive post.. crack me up!! Look here.. Knitted Condom

Baby sitting

Jayda(almost 4) and Trysten(5) Saturday at Grandma and Grandpas house. Don't they have amazing Eyes? Then theres Eryka (11) and Bryce who is just over 1.. oh and Grandma who needs make-up and maybe some haircolor. Scared myself. I look like my mom!! Eww!!

Knitting content .. at last

After over a month of the "Knitting slump" I'm back in the groove. It took alot of spinning(which isn't technically knitting even tho it feeds it) and 2 pairs of fingerless mitts. I've made..mmm.. who knows..how many pairs of these mitts, maybe 10. I kinda sorta, made up the pattern myself and will post it when I figure out how to word things. Its "kinda sorta" cuz there are about a gazillion fingerless mitt patterns out there. Mine can only be a teeny original, I'm sure.

I finished spinning "Annies Pearl" Dyed by the "Ever Popular" Emma. It will be going into a shawl from Lace Style .
Altho my handspun yarn isn't LACE weight it is very thin. I think if I use a larger needle that it will be somewhat Airy.
I have actually figured out the provisional cast on (I think) and done 2 rows. I read over the pattern and didn't stare into space going "HUH"? Like I did other lace shawl patterns I'd looked at. Why do charts have to be so damn complicated!!? I really DO love knitting lace as long as it doesn't give me a Migraine. My brain doesn't work like it used to.
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As for the Bathroom..its coming along. Work goes slow but at least it goes a little further each day. Bill had me pick up a rack for the ,dry side of the shower,for my shampoos etc. because the built in soap tray isn't bottle friendly. It has little ridges to keep the soap from getting slimey but shampoo bottles (full.. brand new bottles) tip and fall on your foot and possibly break a metatarsal. Which the bruises on my right foot might be. I don't know but it sure is colorful. Mostly I think it just irritated some bone spurs I've been fighting for years..so..owie owie owie.
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Got to babysit my friend Cynthia's son, Jaden for the whole day. What a joy he was. Never cried except when she left for work. I forgot, however, how energetic 9 mo olds can be, as he climbed me like a tree every 5 min. While hanging on to my hands for support. I slept for 2 days after.
Today, Saturday, I get to baby sit the Grandkids. Not sure if its 3 or all 4 we get. I rarely see them anymore. Wyatt and Jyll bought a house in Granite falls. While not being on the moon, exactly, is still a long way away for someone like me who doesn't drive more the 5 miles from home..ever. So Saturday Knitting Ladies and Roger..and Brad.. I won't be there this week. I will miss you. Sniff!

Bad Girls Club

My friend Judy Gregerson's new young adults book is finally out!! I read all the reviews on Amazon.com and everyone has good things to say about it. I read the first half and put the book away.. securely.. I'll find it and finish someday ..lol
I met Judy in 1992. She homeschooled her daughters for a few years. Most people know I homeschooled my youngest..Marshall from 4th grade to graduation. Judy and I have remained friends all this time. She is very good about keeping in touch with me. I'm afraid I just get self involved and forget to call people. She tells me the phone works both way..lol. I'm very lucky to have her.
Please look at the book reviews at Amazon.com

Bathroom Update

Walls up ..Plastering being completed. The important plastering has been done and painted a lovely shade of green called Aloe (something). Its more GREEN then Mint. But, I'm loving it.

Guess What I'm reading

Enough Said!!

Bathroom Update

Just for those who care... The shower redo is nearly done. The Pan has been fiberglassed and looks wonderful. The pan has been laid and the walls puttied and braced. One wall a day for a week. There were 5 pieces. Its WHITE, CLEAN.. and I'm loving it!!
Still have my fingers crossed that I get a Linen closet next to the shower and that he finishes the upper walls with something. The plan is wall board. Which means paint. I can do that!!

Bathroom Chic

Some of you know the Saga of the Shower surround. For those of you who don't I'll give a short recap.
The Saga Begins: We built our addition starting when we were in our late 20's. Its never really been finished. But, it will work for now. When does make do become forever?
Many moons ago ..maybe last summer (and 30 yrs later). My husband finally found the shower surround he wanted for our upstairs bathroom(aka The "I've seen nicer bathrooms in condemned buildings). $700 later we had the kit arrive only to find out that it had been damaged. Box was torn and pieces munched a little. I called the company and they put through the Damage paperwork and about 3 weeks later we got another kit! This time it had wooden palettes all around and was perfect. I asked the secretary if we had to ship the damaged one back..hee hee.. Nope!! I like that! Maybe we can use the damaged one on the downstairs tub. Shhh, its a secret! Since that time the shower wall pieces have been in the hallway upstairs..next to my bedroom. I run my fingers over the faux tiles every night and dream.
The further adventures of a shower stall:
Saturday.. the weekend before the 4th of July.. out comes the shower pan. Ooops, broke the previously broken corner, again. We bought it in a salvage yard. Well, the first time we fixed it we were in our 30's..we know more now. Lets make a mold of the good corner so he can fiberglass it proper this time. Sounds like a deal to me!! I can help!! I've been a potter for 25 years. I've read many articles on mold making. Did some research on the internet and First mold was Plaster of Paris..to much water..crumbled.. Hello garbage can. #2 was a cement product.. worked PERFECT. Not to dramatic.. and very interesting. We love working together.

Three days of Fiberglassing and you can't tell it ever was broken. Three trips to Lowes to buy and return Cement backerboard etc. A Special Tub paint kit makes it so bright white and perfect ya need shades to look at it.
In between layers of fiberglass he took care of any rot in the floor (was a bit, mmm, well alot). Bill fixes all that... bang bang bang till all hours. It is 4th of July week we figured no one would really notice. So far so good!
Oh oh, What do you mean you put a screw threw the cold water pipe?! WHAT? We can't even use the toilet? SIGH!! Not that sitting on the toilet and talking to him in the garage through the hole in the floor was such a wonderful thing, anyway...lol. Not to worry. He'll fix it!!
So.. as of the 4th of July.
1. Shower pan refiberglassed- looks better then ever
2. Painted with special paint
3. Walls and floors ripped out and replaced with new wood. Do I want a Linen closet (HELL YA)
4. Cold water pipe replaced..lol.. these things happen. In the works as I type.

Tomorrow he's back to Boeing and can relax for a few days. I'm sure he'll work in the eventings on it. But the real nasty messy work is mostly over. Not to worry... we have a 2nd bathroom.
OH OH I hear water running in the Garage!!!!
To Be Continued