Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A last minute finish and new yarn........


I wanted to finish one more item before the end of the year and I did.  This is my Ohio State Cowl.
 

Do you remember the hat I made for my son that I just loved?  The yarn pooled in such a fascinating manner.  I was so intrigued with it I had to try and make something else with the same yarn.  Just after this yarn arrived I was watching a taped episode of Knitting Daily, in the episode Laura Bryant, the owner of Prism Yarns, was discussing how to make yarn with a longer color change, pool.   You have to make sure the yarn repeats on itself by casting on the right amount of stitches and match up the color repeats just so.  I think I got really lucky with the hat because it all worked out without any calculations.  With the cowl I had to plan a bit more.


She also had this great idea to change the stitch pattern with the color change.  So while I knit this in the round, every time I changed colors I had to knit or purl depending on the color.  Does that make any sense at all?  The thing that is fascinating about this type of pattern is that it adds such great texture to the project and the cowl does not roll in on itself like it would with straight knitting.


I used about 200 yards of Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash Multis in the color Checkerboard, with size 10 1/2 circular needles.  I have lots of yarn left over for another scarf for Mr. 21, just in case he loses yet another one that I have made for him.
 

There was yarn for Christmas from my husband.  Now this is the part I need you to be nice and not judge me about.  I think it is so fantastic that my husband found a small store in Dunedin, a near by town, that sells yarn in two rooms of the store.  They sell lots of other things also, but in these two tiny rooms they sell yarn.  He went there and picked out a lot of yarn for me and I felt so lucky.  But, and there is always a but, it was all sock weight and had a LOT of blue in it.  You see his favorite color is blue and I guess he assumes mine is, too.  Every year he has blessed me with a LOT of sock weight yarn, and every year I try to make things with it and am totally frustrated becasue I don't knit socks and am not fond of that weight yarn.


This year he asked me if I wanted to return anything and I was honest with him.  I told him I loved the fact that he went out searching for yarn for me and picked it out.  But the thing is I rarely use blue yarn, and I rarely use sock weight yarn.  I am trying hard to not add anything to my stash I am not going to use, and I know this yarn would be there waiting for me to try and figure out something to make with it for years.  It was beautiful, don't get me wrong it was just so blue..... and thin...... and well blue.  All the yarn was blue with the exception of two skeins of the pink above.  I LOVE that yarn so I gladly bought two more skeins of it so I would have enough of it to make more than just a scarf. 


 I went to the store with my bag of yarn, my head hanging low and confessed to the lovely woman behind the counter.  She laughed at my situation, remembering my husbands visit she said she tried to get him to purchase a gift certificate but he wouldn't.  I returned the yarn, with the exception of the pink and bought all you see above.  And I have to admit I am thrilled with all of it. 


I also bought these gorgeous crochet hooks from Bryspun made from Forest palmwood.  These are such a treat and feel so smooth in your hand.  I love a fatter handle on a hook but so many larger hooks don't have a thicker handle, these are perfect.  

So that is my story and I hope you do not think I am horrible.  I came home from the store and gushed over everything right in front of my husband and thanked him profusely for his kind gesture.  I have already cast on with the cream yarn, I think a rib cowl would be perfect for it.

I worked this morning and came home and cleaned up all of Christmas. Hooray, I am so glad it is done.  Tomorrow after work I will be cleaning sheets, doing laundry and doing the final clean up of the year.  I am going into 2015 with a clean slate.

Oh and just for you Kathy B here is a picture of Little Buddy's train from Santa.  He loves it.


When it becomes disconnected he says, "You got to be careful."   Yes you do Little One.  He has learned how to put it back together already, he is a smart one.

I hope you are all careful tomorrow night as the year comes to an end.  I am staying home where it is nice and safe.

Happy New Year if I don't get to chat with you before the year comes to an end.


Sunday, December 28, 2014

The time in between..........

It is a strange time, this time in between holidays.   The big stuff is over, but it doesn't' feel quite like it should be.  We had a really wonderful Christmas.  All of my boys had a wonderful day.


This one really enjoyed opening up presents.  I was proud of him, he played with each one, one at a time, and continues to enjoy them all.


Christmas is Max's favorite day of the year.  We are all together in the family room, and he LOVES presents.  He can find which ones are his under the tree.  He also took a piece of turkey off the platter during Christmas dinner, he can still be a bit sneaky even at the age of 10 1/2.


Even big brother's had a good time putting things together for little brother's.   We had a wonderful family day, and minus my Dad becoming suddenly ill and needing to go home at dinner time, it was just perfect.   I think it was so special to have Little Buddy with us to make us all remember how magic Christmastime can be.


The day after Christmas this lovely package arrived in the mail for me all the way from Ontario.

My dear and lovely friend  Deb sent me a surprise in the mail.  I was so excited and so very touched.  Deb is an incredible artist, you must pay her a visit and see just how wonderful she is.  Just look at the Santa on the front of the card, amazing isn't he?



Inside was this gorgeous fellow all wrapped up to stay warm in the cold north.  This lovely card with buttons sewn right on it and of course my favorite........


A miniature Max for my Christmas tree.  Something you may not know is that Max has his very own box of Christmas ornaments.  I will add this to it next year, but for now this sweet Max is going to be out where I can see him year round.  Deb you have surprised me and just made me so happy.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness, I am so grateful for your generosity.  You can find Deb here at this link to her blog and also at her Etsy store vintage sparrow studio, where you can see all the beautiful art, cards, photography and stitching she sells.  Pop into her blog and meet Archer her beautiful and soulful lab, he will delight you.  Deb's blog is an amazing place to visit, her outlook on life and her beautiful photography will astound you.


There were also some presents for me, this wee sheep from my knitting friend Kaylyn.


And my sweet Sofie (on the right) now has a sister Sarah.  Sarah was given to me by my friend Lynda.  Although they look like twins, Sofie is older and wiser.  I wonder what kind of trouble these two will get into? You can tell by their cheeky grins they will be up to no good in no time at all.

I have made myself stay very busy today so as not to dwell on the fact my son left to go back to Ohio this morning.  I took our tree down, put the ornaments away and cleaned up all the dead needles.  I cleaned all the bathrooms, changed our sheets and did four loads of laundry.  I cleaned all the huge planter shelves way up high in my house, a once a year job which always make me feel my house is a dust-ridden mess.  Then of course everything under them had to be dusted, polished, vacuumed and washed.  It is a big job, but it kept me busy and I feel like things are cleaner.  It is hard these children of ours leaving, I never get used to it and this time seemed harder for my son.  He will be fine once his buddies arrive back in the house they share and then I will be here worrying and he will be just having a good ole time, isn't that always the way it is?

I am working the next few days, but am planning to have all of Christmas put away before the New Year.  I like to start my New Year with a clean slate, everything flesh, organized and cleaned up.

There will be time for knitting, oh and there is some new yarn, but I can't show you everything right away now can I?

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas and miracles big and small

There are still miracles that happen everyday.  Some so small we don't even notice them and some so huge it changes our whole lives.  Little Buddy is our miracle, he should not be alive but he is thriving, and helping to brighten our family each and every day.

There is the miracle of love, in all its different shapes and forms.

There is the miracle of healing.  Things we take for granted like antibiotics that are rapidly making both Little Buddy and I feel so much better.  There are those huge miraculous healings that occur for reasons unknown, like for my dear friend Holly's son.  He is a young man I absolutely adore who has been beating the odds this week with spontaneous healing of his kidney's that shut down for some unknown reason during a brief illness.  He just might be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, on Christmas day, after we thought he might be in the hospital for weeks and weeks.

There is the miracle of family, some close and some far away.  The love that binds us through the generations is so powerful.

And there is the miracle of friendship.  The miracle of blogging friends you connect with around the world who listen to you complain, (please see my last post) rejoice with you, lift you up, make you  laugh, and send you love when you need it.

To all of you I wish you a special day.  Christmas is not the easiest time for many.  Some people don't celebrate, some have lost loved ones or feel alone.  I am sending you love.  And I am thanking all of you for sharing your lives with me.

Little Buddy and I wish you a wonderful Holiday Season.


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

It is almost here and some lovely gifts.........

If you are not ready for a good whine session please proceed to the pictures and the more positive part of this post.
Okay here is the thing, I stink at this Christmas thing.  I am not saying this so you will say , "Oh Meredith you are so organized and everything, blah blah, blah...."   I really do stink at it and now that my head is all stuffed up and ready to explode, I am not in the best of moods.  Our tree is finally up.  I had to almost get in a knock down drag out fight with my husband to get the darn lights on it today, yes it is December 23, and we just got the lights on the tree.  It still needs decorations, and as far as I can see there aren't going to be many put on it as it is already losing needles at a rapid rate.  I. Am. Over. Christmas. Already!  You work for months, shopping, wrapping, mailing and decorating all for one day.  And to beat it all I am definitely allergic to the darn tree in question as every year I get sick when it comes into my house.  I know, I know, get a fake one already!  I am going to after this year, I am over feeling horrible every year right when I should be able to relax, just so my family can have a real tree 

I gave out Little Buddy's presents to his teachers and therapists at school.  I got back several thank you notes saying, "Thank you for the crochet trivets and bar of soap." Now really why would I give trivets and a bar of soap?  They are washcloths and I thought the lovely natural bar of soap provided with the dishcloths would be a good clue about what they were to be used for.  I forget that everyone does not understand a homemade present.  My husband, yes the one who has put the lights on the tree so late, actually said to me, "Who has ever heard of a round washcloth?"  He might be lucky to be alive at this point, after all he did sit near me as I made 40 dishcloths, yes 40, not 4. Next year they are each getting a $5 gift card to Starbucks for coffee or tea.

The cowls and the shawl I made Little Buddy's private therapists have been greatly appreciated, so at least I am thankful for that.
Yes Little Buddy will make it all fun, but he has been under the weather the last few days, first with an upset belly, then a small fever and now just fussy.  Maybe he and I both need a big three day nap.  Many people are buying him presents even though I have asked them not to.  I do not want him thinking that when someone visits he automatically gets a present.  I would rather people come to see him and just spend time with him, isn't a visit a really special present?

There are so many people in need of positive thoughts and prayers out there, many of my direct friends in fact, so I know I should not be complaining.  I know I will pull myself together, get that darn tree decorated (with the help of two very unwilling young men) and go to bed early tonight to get some rest. I don't think it helps that I am working this week, and will be up until tomorrow at noon.
However not everything is doom and gloom here in Holiday-land.  No one comes to your rescue like good blogging friends.  Friends that think about you weeks in advance and send you a surprise in the mail just when you really need it.


The lovely, generous and wonderful Teresa sent me this darling stocking.  She made it herself and I just love it.  Teresa, you are the best and I so appreciate you thinking of me during this busy Holiday Season (and all the rest of the year, too).  This will end up on the tree even if nothing else does!


The fabulous Betsy sent me a package that arrived on the same day as Teresa's.  Look at this darling sea gull who is ready for the slopes.  Betsy has used this cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby and sent me some to try.   I love the color don't you?


And look at this beautiful necklace Betsy brought back with her from her recent trip to Maui.  I have never visited Hawaii, but now I have this gorgeous necklace to look at and dream about going someday.  Betsy got all this together after returning from her trip and before she hopped on a plane to visit with Teresa, Gracie and Taci for their annual Christmas lunch.  I know all of us would love to join them so we could hug, chat, hug, eat, hug, laugh oh and hug some more.


Look what popped up in my mail yesterday, the very sweet and wonderful  Gracie, sent me this beautiful ornament she made.  It is so delicate and sparkly.  I just love it and I am so touched that she thought of me, there is something so special about Gracie.

 I appreciate all of these gifts so much.  They have brightened my day and helped to steer me away from the doom and gloom I have been feeling.


 I was also the winner of a terrific giveaway from Helen, really how did I get this lucky?  This lovely package arrived in my mailbox yesterday just in time for the Holidays.  Helen made this gorgeous heart filled with lavender.  I am in love with it.  She also included these lovely felt coasters and a bit of chocolate.  Now let me say straight away that no one will be putting their sweating glass down on these lovely red snowflake coasters.  I think they are so pretty, maybe I will string them up and make a little bunting with them.

Thank you Helen for your kindness, for being a dear blogging friend, and for picking me as the winner of your giveaway.  I know I was a random winner, but I am so pleased to have won.


Nature has also given me a present.  My Amaryllis has bloomed and she is spectacular!  Just one stalk has six blooms on it, four are open with two on their way.

 Isn't she just stunning!

Okay, I hope your are well on your way to relaxing, and that your head is not all stuffed up, oh and that you are all wrapped and ready for a glass of wine.  Let the Holiday's begin.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Some things are worth bragging about, some things not so much..........


I have been decorated for Christmas for weeks........but still do not have my tree up.
 

I finished wrapping presents yesterday.........but my wrapping skills are completely rubbish.  I should take more time to do it right but I really don't care.  It is a big joke in my family, I can create some lovely things but simply can not wrap.


I try very hard to not buy more yarn..........
 

But I was so intrigued at the hat I made my son for Christmas, and how the yarn pooled I thought I might try to make myself a cowl.  I did use every yard of yarn I recently bought in Ohio for gifts, none was added to the stash, so I deserve this don't I?

I try hard to be a Superhero.........but that job is already filled at my house.
 

24 hours ago.......
 

12 hours ago..........
 

This morning. 
 I try to be patient for my Amaryllis to bloom.....but find I just can't wait for its beauty to unfold.
 

I tried to be patient yesterday at Little Buddy's small concert in his room.  He was a pistol!!!  He did not sing, he pestered the child next to him and tried to steal his bells.  Then I took a deep breath and looked around.  Not everyone was behaving.......and I am just happy he is a pistol because that is what is going to make him move forward with all his disabilities.


He did do very well meeting Santa.  He even tried on Santa's glasses.
 

I am not so great with all the Christmas stuff, I am a grouch that is for sure.  But my cards are done, the presents are bought, wrapped and shipped.  I am in a better place than usual.  Now it is just time to relax and enjoy.....but you know what I am not so good at that either.

How are you doing as the days until Christmas grow shorter?

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Princess, Her Highness and some wonderful gifts




 The gorgeousness battle continues between my lovely Christmas Cacti.  Princess has lead off with a brilliant display, but Her highness, who is much older, and wiser is in it for the long haul.  She reminds me that age is beauty in and of itself, I have to agree.  She may not have as many blossoms, but the ones she has are incredible.  They are the deepest red and a big beautiful size.  And as she also shared, she has been blooming on time for years, and that accounts for a lot.  The competition is all in fun as both plants know they are loved, and I am proud of them.  I have a feeling Princess can learn a thing or two from Her Highness, you can flash your beauty when you are young, but what you have deep inside you to share over time is really what is important.


Friend/teacher/therapists gifts are all wrapped and ready to deliver.  Hooray for that all being done!

I received two amazing gifts in the mail this past weekend.  Right when I thought my headache was going to burst my head open I received these wonderful, thoughtful gifts.  First are these amazing notebooks for knitters from my beautiful friend Anne of NaNa GoGo...in search of simple things. 
They were made by Jill Draper of jilldraper.com, and might I add they are wonderful.  First the cover is stamped with pictures of beautiful wool providing friends, and inside the cover is a weight conversion chart, small ruler and a needle conversion chart.  The blank pages are for your notes while making a project.  The idea is brilliant and I just love it.  Thank you so much Anne!!!!  Anne and I have shared a lot of things over the years, including our dear friends fighting for their lives as they battled cancer.  Anne is the very best, she is so talented with needles and a hook, and a kind word when needed, you are going to be in awe of all her beautiful makes.  Please pop in and wish her Happy Holidays.


Another bag popped into my mail box from  Chris at Chrissie's Knits Times.  This is not really a Christmas present, but rather a just because present.  Now who else but a blogger would send you a just becasue present at the busiest freaking time of the year?  You see Chris works a bit part time in a yarn store, (I know I am insanely jealous, too).  She saw this yarn and thought I would like it.  And guess what, she was right.  She knew about my dishcloth obsession these past few months and thought I might like to give this yarn a try.  This yarn is so beautiful, and I think perfect for dishcloths as it is a bit thinner than the Sugar'n Cream I had been using.  This is Sudz by Estelle Yarns, 100 % cotton yarn.  I think I am in love.


Look at these vibrant colors!  I love them.  Now my mind is spinning and I am thinking of things to make with these beauties, and it just might not be dishcloths.  Thank you so much Chris, please pop in and send Chris a big hello, and look at the absolutely stunning cowl she just finished.  She attempts all sorts of knitting I only dream of.
 

A lot of you are already closing down your blogs for the Holidays, to you I wish you a wonderful Holiday Season.  I will be here, trying to stay up with all the festivities as best as I can through these busy days.  I appreciate your visits all year long, and I appreciate all the time you take to connect with me though commenting especially this time of year when time seems so limited.

Wishing you a wonderful day.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Limpet Mitts according to Meredith and some Christmas

Way back in November, Sue of Mr. Micawber's Recipe for Happiness posted a CAL for her beautiful Limpet Mitts pattern.  I am not usually one to jump in but Sue's patterns are so fascinating and you learn so much from her.  I decided to get moving and try to stay up with the instructions.  Alas I have to admit I did not stay up, but I finished mine yesterday, well Limpet Mitts according to Meredith that is.


Here was the first section to the pattern.  I was so thrilled I learned about Sue's special way of joining rounds and I learned how to make Limpets.  They are so fun and such an incredible design element. 
This poor portion of the pattern remained all by itself until yesterday when I finally decided to get this project done.
 

Now Sue, don't be all embarrassed for me but I just could not do the thumb portion of the mitt.   First of all I got mixed up, and since I was nursing a pretty bad headache I had to read the directions several times (not your fault they were flawless).  When my heads hurts nothing makes sense even simple directions.  Then as I actually got it right I decided that the yarn I was using was too thick to make the thumb, there would have just been too much yarn between my thumb and hand.


I put them down for a while and thought about it.  What if I made it without the thumb portion?  Well I am no designer or even that creative, so I had to give this a lot of thought, and frankly my head was not cooperating.  I finally worked it out, going back and forth for four rows and then joining again in the round.  The problem was I should have decreased before going back and forth to make them fit better as Sue was decreasing at the same time she was making the thumb, well live and learn.  My yarn choice was also a bit to thick, I made a smaller size but really should have used slightly thinner yarn.


They are a bit wide across the widest part of my hand, but I do sort of have thin hands, they just might be perfect for someone else, but there is no way I am giving these away, I like them too much.  I used Jo Sharp yarn left over from one of the tank top/sweaters I made earlier this year.  So here they are Limpet Mitt's according to Meredith, minus the thumb, and a little too big........


Signs of Christmas are all over my house.  Little Buddy loves looking at these snowflakes slowly spinning in my windows.
 

My mantle has been decorated since right after Thanksgiving.  I don't like to decorate early but I know with my schedule it is the only way it works for me.
 

I collected Santa's for years, it was a great present for my parents to give me, as it always gave them something to look for that I would love.


My favorite Father Christmas I bought years ago at an art fair where my parents used to live in Michigan, he is sitting on my Father's antigue red bike.
 

Not the best picture here but I did want you to see Her Highness on the right, and Princess on the left, in relation to the other plants I have.  These two are ginormous for Christmas Cactus plants.  Princess was really 1/3 of the size when I bought her last year.  Do you see my tomato plant in the middle?
 

Little Buddy's face has healed right up.  By the next day all you could really see was the scratch on his face.  If you looked really close there was a tiny bit of brusing around his eye.
 

He says thanks for all your well wishes.

Happy Sunday.