HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

May you be blessed beyond all reasoning in 2009.  Let God guide your heart and mind and it certainly will be your best year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  Please take a moment from all the festivities of food, family and gifts to thank the God of all for the birth of His son, Jesus Christ.  His birth gives us all the choice to live eternally. 

Matthew 25:40 says:  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done  it unto one of the least  of these my brethern  ye have done it unto me.  

There are so many people who have no one.  Please take time to just say “hello” no matter how strange that person may look or smell or act.  I’ve seen so many times how that one word can light up the face of a homeless person.   Acknowledge that the person exists.  They’re not invisible.  They feel aches and pains; they bleed; they eat; they sleep just like us.  They’re human beings with emotions, desires, wants and needs just like us.  They have a soul.  They have a heart.  If you see someone in need, lend a hand if you can.  It only takes a minute to hand someone a warm hat, scarf or blanket during cold months.  It only takes a minute to run through a fast-food joint to grab someone a burger and a drink.  I don’t suggest giving money but please take an extra minute to lend a hand.  If nothing else, turn your thoughts to that person and direct a silent prayer to him or her.   

During this season and throughout the year, I pray that you will be healthy, happy and surrounded by family and friends.

Still rollin’ …

Finished another WIP (work in progress) this morning.  A Patons SWS stripes scarf using Natural Plum and Natural Earth.  I alternated each skein, knitting a 1×1 rib for two rows each.  I like the way it changes colors.  The next time, I’ll choose more drastic color changes.

I’m on a roll …

I love the decreases in this hat.  It’s called The Boy Hat Pattern and can be found on Ravelry.  I made this using the leftover Moda Dea Washable Wool from the helmet liner.  This hat is for another uncle.  I’ve got enough of the coffee color to make a stripe on another hat.  lol  I hate to waste any of this yarn because I really love it.

Two down …

At about 9:45  last night, I noticed something “flitting” outside the window.  I got up to see a blizzard!  The ground was soaked with water from the constant rains we’ve had and now it’s completely white!  Throughout the night, I looked out the window (I kept my bedroom curtains open just to see) and it was pouring snow all the while.  When I took Samson outside this morning, here is what we saw: 

Samson loves the snow.  The problem he was having is: the line that his lead on was covered in snow and ice.  It prevented the pulley from rolling.  He didn’t like that very much.  I took him out later in the day and he got to enjoy it better after the ice melted a bit.  He loves to eat the snow.  And yes, I’ve told him not to eat the yellow snow.    The temperature never got above 32 degrees today.  It started snowing again about 5 p.m. and is still coming down at 7:15 p.m.

Another Christmas project marked off the list!  Only a few to go.  Here is the helmet liner I knitted for my uncle.  I used Moda Dea Washable Wool, color: coffee.  I very much like this wool.  It washes well in warm water.  It does say not to put it in the dryer, however, I did put it in the dryer for about 20 minutes.  It came out perfect.  No distortion; no felting.  I’ll definitely use it again.

I actually had enough (I hope) left over from the second skein to make The Boy Hat Pattern.  That will probably be the next finished gift.  Hopefully … it will be finished tomorrow.

One down …

It’s still raining! I hope I don’t end up having to build an ark! I’m not finished with Christmas presents and just don’t have the time. lol

I did get one gift finished. It’s called My So-Called Scarf by Allison Isaacs. I got the pattern from Ravelry.  It’s a great site for knitters and crocheters.  You have to be a member to view the patterns, etc., but it’s well worth the time to sign up.  It’s a free service, too.  It’s a must for fiber addicts. 

 

I frogged this scarf probably a dozen times before I got the rhythm of the pattern then it was smooth sailin’.  The yarn is LionBrand Jiffy; color avocado; size 11 needles. I wasn’t satisfied with the normal bind-off method because it looks so different from the long-tail method of casting on. I searched on Google and found Elizabeth Zimmerman’s method called sewn bind-off. It’s perfect! Can you tell which side is cast on and which is bind off?  This is for a cousin for Christmas but I’m not sure which one yet.

All MSN groups are closing in February, unfortunately. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my knit and crochet group. There are about 14 members and maybe 7 participate. I’d like to move the group to another site but I’m just not sure. Having a small group is a more personal level of learning. We have had a few crochet-alongs (CAL) and knit-alongs (KAL). This is when we vote on a pattern and crochet or knit it together. I usually post a few rows or rounds every few days. If someone has problems or questions, they’re posted to the group board and someone answers them. We usually try to make it a challenge for each person so we can learn together.   From mid-June through October, we made a 20-square-afghan, with each square crocheted in a different pattern.  It was fun to do.  I’ve still got to sew mine together and will post a photo as soon as I am finished.  Hopefully, it will be a Christmas present. 

I will post here when I decide what the final decision will be.  My co-manager is not in good health and cannot be expected to continue … I just don’t know what to do yet 

Hopefully … I’ll have another finished gift to post tomorrow!

Until then … have a great time at whatever you’re doing! 

I made rice krispie treats … I hear them calling my name between the snaps, krackles and pops.

‘Tis the Season …

I have a knit and crochet group on MSN, as I’ve mentioned before.  We had an ornament exchange among a few of the members.  I received my package from a lady named Peggy from Massachusetts.  Here is a photo of its contents.  There is a pretty angel towel; a tiny doily basket with holly and berries; a chicken amigurumi; a bag of autumnal-scented simmering potpourri and a bag of homemade rocky road chocolate candy.  It was awesome!  Absolutely melted in my mouth!  I love it all and thank Peggy very much.

The weather yesterday was so spring-like.  It was about 60 degrees with a slight breeze.  Then … as the night came upon us ….  the rain did not stop for even a minute.  I awoke to water everywhere this morning.  On my way to the chiropractor, I saw flooded land all along the way.  It stopped during the day but has started again this evening.  It is supposed to turn cold and the rain turn to snow tomorrow night.  If we have as much snow as rain, we’ll have to use skis to travel!

I’m knitting a gusseted helmet liner for my uncle for Christmas.  He is diabetic and doesn’t deal with the cold very well, particularly on his face.  I thought the helmet liner would help him.  It covers his head and face, except for the eye area, of course.  I’m using Moda Dea Washable Wool in brown.  It is actually 100% merino wool superwash but feels like cotton.  This is my first time using it and I love it.  I’m almost finished.  I’ll have a picture soon.

Have a great evening … I’m going to make some hot raspberry tea and eat some rocky road candy! 

Happy Thanksgiving …

 

I wish everyone who passes by my blog a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

No matter what the economy or what party is in or will be in the White House or what your “society status” is, if you’re American, you’re one of the luckiest human beings on this EARTH.  We have much to be thankful for. 

I’m thankful for:

1. Life.  There was a time it was slipping out of my hands.  God held it in His and gave me longer time here.

2. My pets.  How did I ever survive before they came along?  lol

3. Water.  Because I love having a hot bath or shower every day.

4. My home.  Because I was without one for a while and that is no fun.

5. America.  Because I can worship GOD without persecution; I can go where I want; I can dress as I please and I have free speech.

6. Family.  I have no immediate family but am thankful for the extended ones.

7. Friends.  I can’t live without them.

Dogs …

This bulldog is known as Max.  He owns my aunt, Elenor and my uncle, Andrew.  He is two years old and as cute and cuddly as he can be.  I laugh when he walks.  He’s duck-footed; flippin’ and flappin’ as he’s happily walkin’ down the road. 

This little darling is Lacy.  She is a miniature schnauzer.  She owns my cousin, Donnetta.  She’s precious, as you can clearly see.  I love the silvery color and she is silky-soft.  Her eyes are not blue … just a poor attempt at removing the red-eye created by the flash.

 

This is my dog, Samson.  He’s a ditch-dog … because I found him in the ditch on 9 December 2003; also because he’s got too many DNA combinations to identify.  He’d laid there for a few days after being hit by a car and was numb from being in cold water.  It was one of the coldest winters I recall.  When I realized he was alive, I had someone put him in my Blazer and took him to the hospital, where he spent three days.  We’ve been best friends since that day. 

A great day …

A friend and I went to the local lake last week for probably the last time this year.  It was an awesome day … bright sunshine … perfect temperatures.

I love the water.  It’s so soothing and peaceful.