Guatemalan Cutie!

For those of you that are not following my daughter and her hubby's trip to Guatemala to visit their soon-to-be-adopted son...I will post a picture of the little cutie. He is Logan Michael and about the cutest little man south of Miami! They are visiting him for a week with their other little cutie...Mia, their daughter adopted from China. If you would like to keep up with their escapades you can find their blog here.
Other than all the excitement about the new grandson, things here are winding down after the holidays. I am soooo tired. I don't know if it's my diabetes or just the after Christmas blahs. I feel like I could sleep for a week. I'm not a napper so I never get any extra sleep. I get up at 4:30am so I'm guessing I just need to get to bed earlier...starting tonight. Good night...

Blessed Christmas To All!

Merry Christmas to all! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve night last night at my brothers and today we stayed home and celebrated with our children and my mom. I made an egg and sausage bake for breakfast with the ever popular caramel rolls. You know, the ones made with Rhodes frozen bread dough and vanilla pudding mix. Yumm! We opened presents while the brunch baked and then feasted. This is the first time I've ever made an egg bake and it was a success...loved by all. Sort of reminded me of a crustless quiche. It was big, made in a 9x13 cake pan and we ate it all! That's what happens when you have 3 sons! We also managed to devour the caramel rolls. I guess it's diet time when the new year rolls in. I used a recipe found here for the egg bake. This site is a great recipe site, one that I refer to often.

We are getting snow...lots of snow! It sure looks like Christmas out there. I took a picture out our sliding door looking into our backyard. Snowy wonderland, but that's okay, I love snow! It's so peaceful and quiet when it snows, I like that. It will be a bugger to drive to work tomorrow but thankfully I only have to drive 2 miles! Lucky me, I live close to where I work.

My daughter, son in law, and granddaughter are in Guatemala! They just arrived there! They flew out of Miami and landed about 10 minutes ago in Guatemala City. They get baby Logan tonight! What a Christmas present that is! Stacey, my DD, decided to start a blog so anyone who desires can follow their trip. You can follow their week with Logan here. They were so excited! I can't wait to hear all about my little grandson.

I have a confession to make that I am not very proud of. I never finished Mariah's second mitten. No real excuses other than I was about half way done with the second one and realized that I had knit another left handed one! Big DUH! I wasn't paying very close attention while knitting at our monthly group and that is what happens! I did give her one mitten and promised the second one within a week. She's so sweet that she was only disappointed she couldn't wear them because she thought they were so cute. I love that little gal! Another person, or should I say canine, who enjoyed their gift was the greyhound Summer. She loves squeaky toys...and I mean LOVES them! She opened this one all by herself and has carried it around ever since.

Well, another Christmas is almost gone. I love this time of year so it makes me a little sad to think that it's all over until 2008. Everyone liked their gifts and I got some good stuff! I think the reason I like Christmas so much is that my family is all together and we are all blessed with wonderful children and our health. The Lord has been good to me and mine, and I thank Him for another year. Hope all your holiday's were filled with love and family.

I leave you with an adorable performance by my 3 year old grand daughter Mia Belle. She is not only cute but talented also. Enjoy!

Jack Frost Visits Minnesota

Yesterday morning I awoke to the most beautiful sight! Everything outside was covered with a heavy layer of white, sparkly, frost. In the cold weather this happens when there is excessive moisture in the air and it causes frost to form. All the trees were covered with white, it looked like they had been sprinkled with glitter. I took pictures as I walked the greyhound but the pictures don't do the frost justice. I guess you'd have to live in a cold climate to realize the beauty, I am one of those fools that like winter...what can I say?

I dragged the hubby shopping yesterday much to his chagrin. I have to admit, he was better than usual. He actually liked shopping at Home Goods (T.J. Maxx) and even bought a couple presents for co-workers and ME! I think he bought me the wine glasses I was oogling. They are awesome! Blue hand blown glass that fades to clear with tiny flowers right in the glass. I'm hoping that's what he was paying for when I wasn't supposed to be watching! I managed to pick up a few things at the mall but still can't find one kitchen item I want. I guess I'll have to order online and hope it arrives in time. I got hubby the new Dean Koontz book. He's read everything that man has written. I've read quite a few and really enjoyed them...recently I've read, The Husband, The Good Guy, and Intensity. Like a dummy, I read the first few pages of this new book and now I'm wondering if I should read it before I give it to Steve for Christmas! Would that make it a "used" book? I also bought Paula Deen's biography "It Ain't All About the Cookin'" for a friend at work. She loves Paula and I thought she might like to read about how she got started in her cooking career. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to read and knit all that I want!

With Christmas just around the corner I am starting to bake (I really should finish shopping, clean the house, finish Mariah's mitten!, wrap the presents I do have, and put up the tree!). Last night I made the ever popular Saltine Toffee. I know that everyone in the world has heard of this recipe and made it...but for those of you who aren't fortunate enough to know this recipe...here it is!

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (NO substitutions!)
1 cup packed brown sugar (light OR dark, doesn't matter)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tube (1/4 pkg of 16oz box) saltine crackers
1 12 oz bag choc chips (I use milk choc)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or almonds, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and lightly spray with non stick coating, like Pam. Lay the saltines in pan in single layer covering the bottom. Bring butter and brown sugar to rapid boil and start timing...boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Slowly pour over the saltines and spread to cover all the crackers. If the crackers get out of line just move them back into a single layer using a fork. Bake for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with choc chips. Wait 5 minutes and spread melted chips to cover, sprinkle nuts on top if desired. Cool in frig until hard and break into pieces. Wonderful, tastes like a Heath candy bar. I have read that a lot of people use the saltines without salt on top, and that some use unsalted butter. Either way, these are a favorite around here!

I have decided that I want to knit the Central Park Hoodie, which I understand is all the rage on the internet now. Interweave Knits has made the pattern available for download for $5.50 and people are freaking out! They feel that the price is way excessive since this pattern was offered in one of their Knitscene magazines. I guess it is a bit high since it is a download. No paper, ink, or postage involved. Anyway...I think I will plop down my hard earned $5.50 and buy the pattern. I am a little bit concerned about the yardage requirements. I thought there was a type-o since the largest size requires 3660 yds of yarn!! I want to knit the 52" bust that requires almost 3000 yds at 17 spi! This is so weird. I've never seen a sweater, even with a hood, that requires that much yarn! I emailed Interweave and they said it's correct. Now my problem is...I don't have enough of any one yarn in my stash to knit this since the yardage is so high. I almost don't believe them and want to try and knit it with what I have, but I'm afraid I'd run out right in the middle of the dang hood! Anyone out there knit this beast yet and have any pointers?!

I haven't blogged for so long that I feel a bit chatty! I got my hair cut a couple weeks ago. I told the cutter I wanted it shorter in back than the sides. It felt like she was shaving my hair in back up to the center of my head! I was a little nervous but it turned out pretty cute...or as cute as my hair can get. Since menopause my hair has started to thin and this makes me nervous. Not so much as to be noticeable to anyone but me...but still, I have this image of myself, years down the road, as an old lady with blue, thin, hair and a shiny scalp showing through! Let's hope that I'm wrong, wrong, wrong. So, after I got the crazy cut I came home and colored my hair, which I do every 6 weeks. I used Loreal this time instead of my usual Clairol and I think I like the color better. I am hoping that it doesn't fade as badly as Clairol does. After 6 weeks with the Clairol dye my hair is a completely different color than I started with. Oh the joys of being 55!

Well, fellow bloggers, time to get that tree decorated. The kids call it a Charlie Brown tree, and not in a nice way! I bought this tree 3 years ago when I moved into this house. I wanted a narrow tree that looked real and was "rustic" looking. I like my little tree. It's cute, and old fashioned looking, and yes...a bit Charlie Brownish. When I get it decorated I will take a pic and let you decide if it truly deserves to be called a Charlie Brown tree.

Cheating Is Fun!

Not cheating on your spouse, or cheating on a school exam...I'm talking about cheating on your knitting! I have decided to drag my Legare Circular Sock Knitting Machines out of the closet and into use once again! I am going to crank out a couple pair of socks for my sons for Christmas. When you consider the time factor, using a CSM (circular sock machine) is an unbelievable time saver. I can knit a PAIR of socks in about 2 hours from start to finish. Yes, they are plain stockinette stitch but that's what the boys like. Above is one of my CSM's. I have 2 so that I can keep them set up at different tensions for differing yarn weights. One will knit fingering and the other sport weight yarns. I bought mine when they were reasonably priced. Now I see that "refurbished" machines are $2000.00. That is craziness! One of mine is from eBay and I paid $150.00 for it, and took it apart and painted and cleaned it myself. It was fun to work on, and I have to admit, I was amazed that it worked after I reassembled it! I still prefer to hand knit my socks, but when time is crunched, and I need gifts for the guys...my CSM comes to the rescue. Below are some socks I've knit on my machines. They are very basic with a short-row heel (not my favorite) and a mock ribbed leg. Easy, fast, very basic...but they keep your feet warm and that's what matters! Two of my sons work outdoors year round so they need toasty feet. In Minnesota that means wool socks and lots of them!
It is getting WAY cold here in the Minneapolis area. When I walked the greyhound this morning I was cold! By the time we had walked our mile my legs were stinging and burning from the wind blowing right through my jeans. I was so happy to get home and have a nice hot cup of Constant Comment tea. Supposedly this weekend we are getting snow...up to 6 inches. Snow's fine, it's the bitter cold I don't like. Winter is here for at least the next 4 months...it is the best knitting months of the year!

I am going to get my CSM's out now and set them up so I can start cranking. I will post any socks that I make. Have a great weekend and stay warm!

One Down, One To Go!

I have finished one of Mariah's mittens! This is a cute pattern but written only up to an adult size small. I don't quite get that?? Why not a medium and large size also? Anyway, it was a quick and fun knit and I've already started the second one so they will be ready for Christmas giving. Now I need to get the last 2 inches of my moms sock knit. I am giving her one of my many socks that have languished for years with a half-finished mate. I have been working on finishing the mate for a complete pair. My mom loves hand knit socks! She has to wear special shoes for a foot problem and the hand knit socks are so much more comfortable. If I'm really ambitious I may try and finish another pair for my elderly aunt.

We have had an offer on our little Victorian house. I have such mixed feelings about that. I raised my 4 kids there and lived there for more than half my life. The people haven't made an "official" offer yet but our realtor seems to think that they will. Life can be complicated some times.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! One of my favorite holidays surpassed only by Christmas. We will be celebrating at my nephews. I have to bring candied yams and have been searching the internet for a recipe. Some are very basic and some are what I would call "gourmet". I love the recipe site Recipezaar. It is one of the best recipe and food sites I have found. Check it out...you can find a recipe for about anything you want. I like that they give the nutritional info for all their recipes since I am diabetic. There is also a newsletter you can request and some fun communities to join. Bon Appetit!

Baby it's cold outside! It is starting to feel like winter here in Minnesota. Still no snow but the temps are getting into the brrrr range. I don't mind the cold but I wish we could have a little more sunshine. It's been dreary and dark since the beginning of October. I need a little sun to take the blues away.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, food, and fun! Count your blessings and all the things you are thankful for.

Logan, Mittens, and Houses

My daughter and son in law Jon just got an update on the cutie from Guatemala! This picture was taken at Logan's 4 month check-up. He weighed in at 14 lbs 8oz. I guess they don't need to worry about him not getting enough to eat! Looks like he's lost most of his hair but he still has those adorable lips and big brown eyes. I can't wait to get my hands on this little guy. Stacey, Jon, and Mia will be leaving for Guatemala on Christmas day for a week with the little bugger. They are so excited. I think they will have a difficult time leaving him behind when they come home, but hopefully they will get him in February or March and then he's theirs forever! Fortunately, the elections were successful in Guatemala a couple weeks ago and the new president is pro-adoption.

I have been knitting! I am working on a pair of mittens for Mariah for Christmas. Mariah is my son Tyler's girlfriend and she LOVES the color pink. So I bought some pretty pink Galway and am knitting her a pair of Maggie's Rags cable heart mittens. They are turning out so cute. The pattern is fun, but not that well written. Mariah wears a black jacket so I think that pink mittens will look nice with it. If I was really ambitious I'd knit her a matching scarf. It will depend on time, working full time really cuts into the knitting time. My goal this year was to have all my Christmas shopping done by Dec. 15th so I could relax the week before Christmas. I am shopping today with my Mom but she wants to go to Kmart and that is one of my least favorite stores. I am going to look at sheets, big deal...

We are having Open Houses on both the houses, one every other weekend. It is a real pain in the behind to have to make sure that your house is spotless every second of the day. It's not me that's the problem...I blame any messiness on Walker or Summer the greyhound. She sheds, not a lot, but enough. Walker has a tendency to leave dirty clothes wherever. He even had a little pile next to his dresser that I found after the Open House last weekend! Oh well, we do live here and people can't expect it to look like a model home. I am still so undecided as to which house I want to sell. I have set my mind to the fact that whatever house sells, that's the way it's meant to be. I will be happy in either.

Tomorrow night is our monthly knitting group, we meet the third Thursday of every month. We are a fun crowd (Deb S. you should join us!) I was thinking that next month it would be fun to have a stash exchange for Christmas, or maybe a gift exchange. We usually have a little Christmas party with cookies and cider. Most years Janet makes us make an ornament...one year we made little needles out of toothpicks and knit a tiny little square and glued this to a tiny little ball of yarn. It was cute! We used left over sock yarn, the needles were round toothpicks with a seed bead glued to the end. It gave me a new appreciation about knitting on "small" needles! This knitting group is a fun group, if you live in the Minneapolis area and would like to join us please email me for directions.

We had our family room (picture above, white lines by sofa are sunshine!) and the bedroom next to it recarpeted last week, just in time for the Open House. I have to tell ya...I am impressed with Lowe's. They were very nice to work with, quick, friendly, and best of all...they did a great job. Every time I've tried to get something done by Home Depot it takes HOURS of waiting and filling out papers and they never have enough people to help. Not so with Lowe's. We were helped quickly, she was knowledgeable, and we bought our carpet, set up the install date and left the store all within 20 minutes! That makes me happy! And the family room looks great! Now all I need to do is go to the fabric store for fabric, and make those valances for the windows. I've been going to do that for the last 3 years! Now I'll get it done and the house will sell and I won't even be able to enjoy that room. The things we do for love...

Lot's Happening!

Yes, I am still alive and well, just a bit stressed out! My estranged husband, Steve, and I have decided to give it another try! We have put both our houses up for sale and are just waiting for one of them to sell. We will live in whichever one doesn't sell until we decide where we want to move. I would prefer to stay in either of the houses but Steve thinks it would be nice to start fresh in a different house. The house he lives in is the one we raised our family in, so I have a lot of attachment issues with that house. Mine is newer and more modern, a 4 level split. The old family house is a little Queen Anne victorian, photo above is a bit blurry. I like them both so I guess it doesn't matter where we end up. I feel like my family is whole again and we belong together. He's been my sweetheart since I was 18. I am happy.

I haven't been knitting much since all I do is clean this dang house! Have to have it ready to show at any moment. What a pain in the behind. I did find this pattern that I would like to try. You will need to click on the far right pair of socks to get the free pattern. It is for socks knit from the toe up that have a funky sort of gusset. They are very cute and look like an interesting project. Anyone out there knit these yet? I have some pretty pastel yarn that would be perfect for these. Just what I need, another sock project to go unfinished for decades!

Well, I just needed to check in quickly to let the 3 people who read this blog that I am still among the living. I do need to go mop floors now and then rip out the carpet in my family room since it is being re-carpeted this Friday. Work, work, work....sucks!

I Love Not Working...Does That Mean I'm Lazy?

It is so nice to sleep in until 7:30 instead of hearing that annoying alarm buzzing at 4:30am! I'd probably sleep even later if Summer the greyhound would let me. We get up at 7:30 on my days off so I'm sure she figures it should be the same for my vacation days...goofy dog. We have to take our morning walk of a mile and then it's home to tea for me, and kibble for her. I wish I was rich and didn't need to work to pay for frivolous things like...food, heat, shelter, etc. But I'm just a working schmuck like everyone else. Maybe, someday, I'll meet a rich guy who thinks I'm great and wants me to stay home and bake him bread and knit him socks. That's my kind of man!

I got a phone call from my daughter Stacey yesterday to tell me "Mom, go check your e-mail, I just got updated pictures of Logan!" Our little guy was in for his 3 month check-up and the doctor always takes photos for the adoption agency. Thank goodness for digital pictures and e-mail! Think about this...the doctor in Guatemala took some pictures on Monday, e-mailed them to the agency in Texas, who e-mailed them to my daughter in Florida, who e-mailed them to me in Minnesota....who sent them to everyone she knows! I love the internet! You'll notice that Logan is eating well and is getting a little baby-budge. He is up to 13 lbs! Love the big brown eyes, he's a cutie for sure. I also have a recent photo of Miss Mia a.k.a. The Princess. Do I have cute grandchildren or what? I am truly blessed.
I was "browsing" the internet for free knitting patterns, one of the best things about the internet is the great people who share their talent, and I found this sock pattern. Way cute, way hard to read! It is in German but I think I have the main pattern figured out. I may cast on with some of my own hand- dyed yarn and give it a try. Just what I need, another project that will go unfinished. I am so bad...I have so many single socks that need their mates, yet here I sit, ready to start another! It's a sickness I tell ya!

It is starting to look and feel like fall around here. The wind is really strong and gusty today so the leaves are all being blown off the trees. The temps are cool, in the 50's and the sky is gray and dreary. I actually like this kind of weather. It makes me want to get ready for the winter ahead and prepare to "nest in" for a few months. I always think of winter as a resting period. Everything goes to sleep for a few months and then is awakened again in the spring. That's one good thing about Minnesota, we do have 4 distinct seasons, and all of them have their good and bad.

I am off to the grocery store. The kid and dog need grub. With the cooler weather I can actually turn on the oven and make some cold weather meals. Tonight is beef, vegetable, and barley soup served with popovers. I am so lucky that Walker will eat just about anything and appreciates home cooking. Have a great day and keep those needles clicking!

Free Sock Pattern...Old but Good!

While looking through my computer files I ran across this sock pattern I wrote a few years ago. It is a cute and fun slip stitch pattern that is perfect for beginner sock knitters, but fun enough for advanced knitters. You can use any colors but be sure they are contrasting enough to not blend into one another. You want the colors to POP! Two solids is good or a solid and a variegated. Have fun! This pattern is really an enjoyable knit that looks so cute when done.

Garter Bar Slip Stitch Socks
Wren'sNestDesigns©2001


Materials

Yarn: 3-50gm skeins of fingering weight sock yarn that will knit to gauge...two skeins of variegated and one skein of solid color. Yarns should be coordinating colors but different enough to contrast. Or, go crazy and use wild, unmatched colors that hurt your eyes!

MC= variegated yarn (main color)
CC= solid color yarn (contrast color)

Needles: size US 1 set of 5 dpn (or size needed for gauge)

1 st Marker

Gauge: 9 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
Size: Fits average womans size medium (adjust foot length for different sizes)

Cast On:
Cast on 72 stitches.
Divide the stitches evenly on 4 (18 sts on each) needles.
Join, being careful not to twist stitches.

~tip~My personal favorite way to join is to slip the first CO st unto the end of ndl 4 and the last CO st unto the beg of ndl 1. Simple, efficient and it looks great.

Place marker at beginning of round (between needles one and four) where tail end of CO yarn is. This marker will always be considered the "beginning" of any round. Use a split marker or a little safety pin and move it up every few rounds.

Work K2, P2 (or K1, P1 or K3, P1) ribbing for 1 1/2 inches or desired length.

Leg:
Start Simple Slip Stitch pattern (slip all sts as if to purl):

rnds 1-4 (MC): knit even
rnd 5 (CC): *sl 1 (twice), k4 w/CC* rep
rnd 6 (CC): *sl 1 (twice), p4 w/CC* rep

~reminder~the slipped stitches will be the MC yarn, NOT the CC yarn. The CC yarn will only be used for the k4 and the p4. And of course, the heels and toes.

Work 9 reps of the 6 rnd pattern. End after round 2.

Heel Flap:
The 36 stitches on needles 2 and 3 for instep are not worked. You will be knitting back and forth on the 36 sts on needles one and four only. Knit heel flap in heel stitch, slipping the first st of EACH row.

Knit the heel flap:
Knit to end of needle 1 with MC. Turn work. Cut CC yarn and attach here for colored heel.
S1, and purl back the rem stitches on needle 1 and 4. Turn. Start heel stitch with row 1 (right side) of pattern.

Heel Stitch Pattern (CC yarn):
Row 1:(right side) *sl 1, k 1* rep across
Row 2: sl 1, p across

Repeat these 2 rows until heel flap is square or about 2 1/2 inches long. If you desire a longer heel just continue until the length you want. Remember, the longer the heel, the more gusset sts you will need to pick up. End after a row 2.

Turn Heel:
This is a standard round heel:
Next row: (right side) slip 1, knit to center marker, k2, SSK, k1, turn.
Next row: slip 1, purl 5, p2tog, p1, turn.

*Slip 1, knit to within 1 st away from gap between the sts, SSK, k1, turn.
Slip 1, purl to within 1 st away from gap, p2tog, p1, turn.*

Repeat from * to * until all stitches have been worked, always working together the 2 sts on each side of the gap. End after a purl row. Turn.

Knit to the center of needle one, this is the needle with the heel flap sts on it. Stop, you are now once again at center back of your sock (be sure your marker is between needles 1 and 4) Your sts should be set up as follows:

needle 1: 10 heel sts
needle 2: 18 instep sts
needle 3: 18 instep sts
needle 4: 10 heel sts

Gussets:
Pick up for the gussets:
Drop the CC used for the heel. With needle 1 and MC yarn, pick up one stitch through each slip stitch loop on edge of heel flap. This number will depend on how long you knit the heel flap. Use a crochet hook for ease. Slip the picked up st onto needle one with the 10 heel sts. Continue to pick up sts along the heel flap until all edge loops are done. You will have the original 10 sts PLUS the picked up gusset sts on needle one.

Knit across the instep stitches on needles 2 and 3. The foot is knit in plain stockinette stitch.

With needle 5, pick up one stitch through each slip stitch loop on edge of heel flap. When all loops are picked up, knit across the 10 heel sts on needle 4. You will have the original 10 sts PLUS the picked up gusset sts on needle four. You should have equal amount of sts on needles one and four. You are once again at center back of your sock and ready to start the gusset decreases.

You should have:
1} half the heel stitches and the picked-up gusset stitches on needle 1
2} half the instep stitches on needle 2
3} the second half of the instep stitches on needle 3
4} the second group of gusset stitches and the second half of the heel stitches on needle 4

Knit 1 round even.

Now decrease for the gussets:
Needle 1: knit to 3 sts from end of needle, k2tog, k1.
Needles 2 & 3: Knit even in stockinette st.
Needle 4: at the beginning of needle, k1, SSK, work to end.

Knit one round (all 4 needles) even.

Alternate decrease and even rounds until 72 stitches remain, 18 sts on each of 4 needles.

Instep:
Knit all rnds in stockinette st. End when the foot length is about where your big toe is attached to your foot or approx 1 3/4 inches shorter than your foot. Stop at the marker between ndl 1 and 4. Change to CC yarn for toe and knit one rnd.

Toe:
This is the standard toe shaping. Start at the beginning of needle one where marker is. See how important that little marker has been?!

Decrease round:
Needle 1: K to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to end.
Needle 3: K to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1.
Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit to end.

Knit one round even.

Alternate decrease and even rounds until 9 stitches remain on each needle.
Knit decrease round every round until 4 sts remain on each needle.

Place stitches on 2 needles. The 4 sts each from ndls 2 and 3 onto one needle and the 4 sts each from ndls 1 and 4 onto one needle. Graft together. Weave in any loose ends.

Knit another sock to match!

Wren's Nest Designs© 2001

Taking Some Time Off!

Yippee! I decided to use up some of my vacation time (I've got almost 5 weeks to use) and take a little Fall Break. Unfortunately, I will be staying home for my vacation and most likely spending my time cleaning and getting ready for colder weather. BUT, I do plan on one last try with the purple yarn and the "difficult" cardigan. It's not that the pattern is hard, it's just that I've had such a difficult time getting the dang thing to behave! I do have to knit a pair of mittens for a Christmas present for Tyler's girlfriend, Mariah. I thought I would start early and actually have them finished on time! I am going to knit them in pink, Mariah's favorite color. If I was really ambitious, I'd also knit a matching scarf. Miracles do happen!

My little Mia Belle turned 3 on Saturday. She is such a little spitfire! I wish I could have been there for her party, but Florida is a long way from Minnesota. The highlight of her party was a Dora the Explorer pinata. My daughter said that the party was lots of fun, but a madhouse. Kids and parents both attended and they had a pizza bar for making your own pizza. Sounds like fun! I am waiting for her to send me a few pictures of the party and then I will post them for all to see my adorable 3 year old granddaughter! There is no news on Logan other than bad news! The Guatemalan government is making foreign adoption very difficult, but hopefully, parents who have all their paperwork in by the end of 2007 will be allowed to continue their adoptions. Please say a prayer that we can bring baby Logan home to the USA and his family here who wants him so badly.

My mouse problem is declining...I think. This is gross, but...this morning I found a dead mouse in my kitchen sink! Yuck! I put out the d-Con mouse poison a few days ago so I am hoping that they get the hint and move on. The house next door is nice, maybe they could find lodging there for the winter. I really hate to kill the little buggers but enough is enough! They raid my kitchen every night and then I have to spend a lot of time with the Clorox spray cleaning the place up. I still haven't figured out how or where they are getting in, but when they leave...it will be in a body bag. Okay, more like a Ziplock bag.

Last night my estranged (I love that word!) husband Steve and I went for a drive looking at some local townhouses. It's a good thing I will be living there without him because every townhouse he liked, I hated. He likes the row style that are 3 levels, tall and skinny with about 12 units per building, and have a neighbor on each side. Think crowded! I like a twinhome that shares only 1 wall with your neighbor. He liked the big complex with hundreds of units and a swimming pool. I liked the small complex set back on a game preserve and park. No wonder we can't live together. :o) Above is a photo of the twinhome I am looking at. Pretty cute, huh? It is only 4 years old and in a nice quiet area. It is a 4 level (I know, I wanted a one level but they are way expensive!) and has a walkout in back. Below is what the living room and deck look out onto. It is a huge park with walking trails (that's what you see in the photo) ponds, marshes, and wooded acres. I like the idea of looking out onto that scene rather than another townhouse. I still have to sell my house, which is a bad thing since the market is so slow right now. I guess if it's meant to be, my house will sell and I will be able to buy this. If not, then I trust that there is something better waiting for me.
I think I will make a quick trip to the local yarn store for the pink mitten yarn. Maybe I just need a small project now to get me back into the knitting swing 'o things! Have a great day! Leave a comment...it makes my friend Janet happy!

Diving Into The Frog Pond!

Head first, here I come! I cannot believe that I have started my much awaited purple cardigan for the seventh time and need to frog it AGAIN! As you can see by the photo above, the size is way off. Yes, I checked my gauge...twice. I must be knitting tighter than when I knit my gauge swatch because there is no way that I am anywhere near being on gauge. This sweater will be small, about 42", which will not fit a busty gal like me. I was knitting the 54" size since I wanted it large enough to be comfy and to wear t-necks underneath. So, I guess this means I rip out again and start over with size 10 needles instead of the 9's I was using. I am so bummed. Do you think this yarn is cursed? Maybe it wants to be something else. All I know is that I really want it to behave and become the cardigan I so want! I'll give it one more try. If it's another failure then the yarn gets a time-out and I knit something else. I feel that 7 attempts is quite enough.

I have started to look at townhouses even though I doubt I will move until spring. There are quite a few in the area where I live that I like. I hope that I am making the right decision. Both Walker and I are sick of yard work and snow shoveling. When I have a day off I want to relax and enjoy it, not pull weeds and mow the lawn. I know that Walker will move out someday and then I would have all the work to do myself. The idea of a townhouse really appeals to me. As long as I have a deck or patio so I can sit outside and read or knit, I will be happy. I'm not a gardener so I won't miss the yard. And as far as Summer the greyhound goes, we walk 3 times a day now so that won't be a problem. She'll probably miss the fenced yard a bit but she's getting old and doesn't run around much anymore. I found some one level twinhomes built in 2003 so they are nice and fresh. Problem is, they rarely go up for sale. I talked to a resident there to get an idea of what the neighborhood is like. She said it was quiet, and loved living there but there has only been 2 units for sale since they were built! I suppose that's a good sign...the owners like their place and stay! The twinhomes are on a quiet street and there are only about a dozen units. They are one level with walkout basements and the backs face a game preserve that will never be built on. There is a marsh area with a pond and woods. It would be beautiful to sit on the deck and have a view like that! Plus, there are walking and biking paths near by for the dog and I to take our daily treks! Please say a prayer that I can snag one of these units for my own. Yes, there are lots of others townhomes in the area, but I sort of have my heart set on one of these. I believe that all things happen for a reason and if I am suppose to live there then it will work out. Fingers crossed!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Okay, so he's not really a baby, but he is my youngest, and to me, he will always be my "baby". Walker, the youngest of my 4 kids, turned 20 on Saturday, Sept. 22nd. I didn't get a chance to post on Saturday since I worked all day and we had a party for him that night. So today is the day that I will embarrass him and post a few unique facts about Walker.

1. He is called, by his 3 siblings...Baby Walker.

2. He is also called Deeds. Long story. When he was little he wanted a cat. Tyler, his brother, is deathly allergic to cats so we could never have one. For Walkers second birthday I bought him a stuffed, life-size, orange tabby cat. He loved it, actually, he still has it! He couldn't pronounce the words "kitty cat". Whenever he tried, it sounded like "deedle dee". For years he got called Deedle and then it was shortened to Deeds. His older brother still calls him that...much to Walkers chagrin.

3. Walker has a tattoo of a circle of flames with his initials in the middle spelled out in Chinese characters. He cannot pronounce them either!

4. Walker has broken each arm, the left while biking, the right while playing rugby. He also had to have surgery twice...once for each break. We sincerely hope this trend has ended.

5. There was a time when orange was the only color Walker would wear. We are sincerely glad this trend has ended! While in this orange phase, he also wanted to eat only Ramen. Thank goodness, neither one of these "trends" lasted long.

6. Walker is my only child that has curly hair...and I mean curly! His hair is thick, dark, and if allowed to grow, produces big spiral curls. Beautiful! This is why Walker always has short hair!

7. Walker is extremely patriotic. He loves America and isn't afraid to say so.

8. Walker thanks me every time I make him a meal. Really. There isn't a time that he doesn't tell me...thanks for dinner mom. Good meal mom. Thanks for the grub mom. I guess I raised him right.

9. Walker has never made a Christmas list. Unlike his brother Tyler, who usually had a 3 page list of wants, where they could be purchased, the costs, and how he wanted them wrapped! Not Walker, when asked what he wants for Christmas or his birthday, he always says...surprise me, get me whatever you want, or even...I don't need anything. Amazing, ain't it?!

10. Walker weighed over 10 lbs at birth. Actually, 10 lbs, 1 oz. He was an adorable baby that has grown into a great young man.

11. Walker says good night to me every night...even if he has to wake me to do it!

12. Walker thinks that one day, he will win the Powerball. I SINCERELY hope he's right!

Happy Birthday Deeds! You are precious and I love you always!

I have started the purple cardigan and it is awesome. I finally got it going without any screw-ups, amazing, I know! I am liking the KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Chunky and their Options needles. It is knitting up fast and I am hoping that it will be done by next winter! Yup, I can't put anymore stress on myself so I am giving myself a year to finish it. I don't think that's unreasonable considering I work full-time. I am looking forward to retirement so I can knit for long periods of time without falling asleep!

Did anyone catch the premier of "The Bachelor" last night? It looks like it is going to be a good season. I thought last year was a bit bland, but Brad, this years bachelor, looks to be a lot more exciting. Should be fun! I love the dynamics between the women...it's so dramatic that it's hilarious. They always seem to be half tanked! I think the network keeps the booze flowing freely so they can get some good footage of the women making asses of themselves. It's sort of pathetic, but I still love it!

I Have Uninvited House Guests...

MICE! Luckily I don't hate mice, nor am I afraid of them. But, they are not allowed to reside in my home unless they sign a lease and pay rent! I thought I had seen a little flurry of fur under my stove the other night but didn't think much of it. Last night I dropped a few kibbles of dog food on the closet floor and left them thinking I'd sweep today. Well guess what, those little kibbles were gone this morning! Somewhere, probably under my stove, is a stache of dog food waiting to feed some hundreds of mice babies. OMG...I have to get the poison out since I can't do the trap thing. I hate to have to "dispose" of the bodies. I know, pretty juvenile, but it seems that every time I use traps the dang mouse is never actually dead. He's always just caught by his toe or foot and then what do you do? Last time that happened I felt so sorry for him that I let him go...outside of course. I have even used "live" traps. Yes, they work, but not very good. The mouse tripped it about 6 times before I actually caught him. Then I walked him over to the field near my house and let him go. Am I too nice? Should I be hell-bent on wiping out these little suckers? Maybe I'll try the poison...again. We used to live in a house in the country where we got lots of mice, there were horse and corn fields around us. I used poison once and the house stunk for weeks! When I moved to this house I never saw any mice. Until lately. I caught one in the live trap in the spring and hadn't seen any since, until now. I suppose they are trying to find a warm place to hunker down for the winter. Well it ain't here! I'm bringing out the big guns, figuratively speaking of course, and dishing up the poison tonight! Adios furballs!

I got a new KnitPicks catalog yesterday and was really impressed with their new needle line called Harmony Wood. They are laminated, colored wood needles and a real thing of beauty. Since they are laminated sheets of colored wood, squeezed together under pressure and glued with a special epoxy (my father was a wood worker) they are probably very sturdy. I plan to order some of the tips since they are compatible with the Options set I already own. I'm not usually a fan of wooden needles, too much drag, and the tips are so fragile. But these may be different. We will see! They sure are pretty to look at, and once again, KnitPicks doesn't pick your pocket with high costs.

On the knitting front...not much to report. I am in a knitting slump. I need to get back my knitting mojo! Since I am off today I have 2 things I want to do...make choc chip cookies and cast on the purple cardigan! Again! For good this time! Since our monthly knitting group in tomorrow night (if you live in the Minneapolis area and would like to attend please e-mail me, we'd love to have you join us!) I feel that I should have that darn cardigan going at least a couple inches. I've been saying I was going to have it finished in time for cold weather, which in Minnesota will be a couple months from now. I best get going on it NOW. My right hand is sore, especially my fingers. I fell last night while walking Summer the greyhound. It had rained all day and the ground was soaked. I was walking on the side of the road and a car came around the bend quite fast so I stepped off the road unto the top of the curb. Bad move, the ground there was slippery mud and my feet just flew out from under me and down I went. I landed in the grass so I didn't get hurt, other than my dignity. But today my right hand and wrist are sore. Maybe knitting will loosen it up and help make it better. Oh...the people in the car watched me fall and just kept on going. Nice.

I am off to pull Big Blue (my Kitchenaid mixer) out of his garage (the pantry cupboard) and start those cookies. Walker will be thrilled to see some homemade treats when he gets home from work. What will I do once he moves out? He is such a joy to have around. He'll be twenty on Saturday, and as much as I hate to think about it, someday he will leave home and I'll be alone. That may be a couple years since he wants to go to school but hasn't a clue as to what for! He'll figure it out, they always do. He'll be the last to leave home, the baby, and it will be hard on this ole mom!

Nothing New Here...

I have ignored my blog for awhile and now I feel guilty! Funny how that works?! I have been very busy at work and having to stay later than usual. Hopefully work will calm down this next week, I don't handle stress at work very well and I hate that rushed feeling. Other than that, life is pretty much the same day after day. I haven't knit much, just a little on the Baby's Breath Socks. The pattern is very pretty and easy to remember, a good pattern for a first try at a sock that is other than stockinette stitch. It is a Jean Townsend pattern and she sells it at her blog. All her patterns are very nice. I'm using KnitPicks Essential sock yarn and liking it O.K. It has a tendency to "fuzz" and look fluffy. The pattern will get lost if it gets too fuzzy! I'm knitting them on 2 circulars, also from the KnitPicks Options line of needles and loving them! I keep trying to order more but they are always on back-order.

My daughter Stacey got some new updated pictures of Logan. He is a doll baby! He is 2 months in the photo and is up to 10 1/2 lbs...just a little pee-wee. My last two baby's (Tyler and Walker) both weighed over 10 lbs at birth! Yikes! They are both tall and handsome now! Walker will soon be 20 years old and I will no longer have any teenagers. My baby is growing up. Good thing I got grand-babies to fill the void!

I dragged out the old bread machine today. I haven't used it in a couple years but I decided we needed some cinnamon rolls. They are rising as I type and will most likely be consumed before the days end. Since the weather here has cooled off immensely, like highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's, I feel like cooking and baking. Not a good thing for my diabetes but I do try and control what and how much I eat. I went to the doctor yesterday for my blood work and hopefully my A1C will be at or below 7. That is the true test for diabetes and my last A1C was 7.7 Not bad, not great, just okay. I know that if I'd lose a few of these extra pounds I could probably get rid of the diabetes all together! That would be awesome.

Has anyone seen the new Cat Bordhi book "New Pathways for Sock Knitters"? It looks very interesting to say the least. I have called all the local yarn shops and no one has it in stock yet. Maybe I will try Amazon, save myself some money too. The book has gotten good reviews and sounds very different...but then isn't that what Cat Bordhi is all about. Being unique? It's a bit pricey for a sock pattern book, around $30.00.

And for all you sock addicted knitters be sure to check out Maia's blog. She is doing a mystery sock knit along and it looks to be fun! Very fancy, and she has charted it out so it's easy to read. Looks to be for the advanced knitter though, sort of a complicated pattern. She is such a wonderful knitter and her patterns are truly great...you rock Maia!

Undated Logan Picture!

We finally have an updated picture of the cutie from Guatemala! Here is Logan with his foster mom. He is getting so big even though he is only 2 months old. Stacey and Jon are chomping at the bit to get this little guy home to Florida as are his grandparents in Minnesota! We are still hoping that homecoming will be sometime in January or February. They are waiting on the DNA tests before they are allowed to go and visit him but they hope to spend a week at Christmas with him in Guatemala. I can't wait to get my hands on this little guy! Being a Gramma is so much fun!

I tried out the new aebleskiver pan! It actually worked! You are supposed to turn them with a knitting needle...seriously, that's what the directions say. Well, I am not about to pull out my Addi's or Option needles for cooking so a bamboo skewer had to suffice. I rolled the warm aebleskivers in cinnamon and sugar...they were okay, but next time it's fruit syrup for me. I'd like to try using some fresh blueberries also. I guess I would just push some in before I flip them. They are fun to make and taste sort of like a cross between a pancake and a cake donut. I see lots of aebleskiver experimentation's in my future. Too bad these babies aren't low cal or low fat!

My dear friend Janet is very concerned that I don't get enough "comments" on my blog. What to do, what to do. A few of my favorite blogs, namely Janice's and Maia's, get LOTS of comments. I noticed that they have contests. Maybe I need a contest too! I certainly have enough sock yarn that I could easily part with for prizes. So what kind of contest should I have? How about something like...what is your favorite sock yarn and why do you like it? Or...if you were a yarn, what yarn would you be? Let me think on this a couple days and then I will post "The String-Slingers Sock Yarn Contest"! And the 4 people out there who read this blog can pass on this wonderful and exciting contest to their friends and fellow knitting bloggers so that Janet will mellow out about my lack of comments! Love'ya Janet!

At this time of year I always start to feel "antsy". Right now I am feeling particularly antsy about my house. I do not live with my husband. Although we are married, we have lived apart for the last 3 1/2 years. This was his idea. I have one child left at home, my youngest son Walker. My house has 4 bdrms, 3 baths, a living room and a family room and is really way more room than Walker and I need. Plus, there's the cleaning factor. Cleaning a house this size is way more time-consuming than I like. So I have been looking online at townhouses. No more yard work, no more lawn mowing, no more shoveling snow (remember, I live in Minnesota!) this all sounds good to me. Walker will be 20 years old next month and as much as I hate to think about it, he will leave home some day. My husband and I are good friends, the best. We talk daily and he only lives 2 miles from me. We get together for dinner and movies a couple times a week. In a perfect world he would want to live with me and I would sell my house and move back into the house where we raised our family and he still lives. Will this ever happen, I don't really know. Is this even what I truly want? I don't really know. See why I feel antsy? One thing we both have realized since Brady's suicide is that our kids are the most important thing on earth. We love them so much and want what is best for them. Family is top priority. Always will be.

Knitting. What's that? I have been so busy the last couple weeks that I haven't even touched my needles. Nor have I read any good books. When I get this antsy feeling I tend to not be able to concentrate very well. I know it will pass, it always does. I am determined to get that darn purple cardigan done no matter what! Since I have today off, and have no pressing plans, I will cast on once again and pray that I don't screw it up!

I'm Back and Feeling Good!

Hello! After the hectic and sad last couple weeks, I left town for a few days and feel much better. My good buddy Joyce, took me up to their cabin in northern Minnesota. We had fun! We ate, shopped, ate, gambled at the local casino, ate, read, ate, took walks, and ate. Their cabin is on a beautiful lake so we also did a lot of deck sitting. We went antiquing at one of the local antique malls where I bought an antique wooden box that is divided into 5 compartments and has a handle. Very cute. And very reasonably priced too! We were also fortunate enough to find aebleskiver irons on a clearance rack! What is an aebleskiver iron you ask?! It is a cast iron pan that makes little donut hole type Danish treats. My grandma used to make them and they were delicious. She had an aebleskiver pan that she bought from Denmark but no one seems to know what happened to it :( I have seasoned my pan but have not actually tried making any aebleskiver yet. Maybe today! Thank you Joyce for being such a kind and gracious hostess, it was a nice quiet and peaceful 3 day getaway that I needed. I missed my sons and the wonder greyhound Summer. Sometimes getting away makes us appreciate all we let behind.



Yesterday was my middle sons birthday, he is the young man on the right with his brother Walker. The top photo is 9 years old, so Tyler is 13, and Walker is 11, Summer the greyhound is a little over 2. The second photo is him and his girlfriend Mariah. He no longer has the dreadlocks...thank goodness! Yesterday my Tyler turned 22. He is my 6'5" baby boy and always will be. We had a birthday dinner and I cooked his requested menu. B-B-Qued baby back ribs, augratin potatoes, cole slaw (recipe below), and corn on the cob. I also made him a strawberry jello poke cake! I haven' t made one of those in years and it was really tasty. I frosted it with Cool Whip and fresh sliced strawberries. Yum. We all pitched in and got him an iPod which he has been wanting (whining about) for months. He was shocked and surprised when he opened it. It was a fun night with family and friends. I am blessed to have 3 wonderful sons and a great daughter! Happy Birthday Tyler!

Nothing new on the knitting front...just plugging away on some socks and I'm going to start the purple cardigan for the SIXTH time...yes sixth! I feel like a moron. The first couple times I read the chart as if I was knitting in the round, and I'm not! It is knit flat! DUH! So I restarted, and then I read the cable row wrong...what is my problem!? Not only did I read it wrong once...but twice! So I started again for the fifth time and was busy talking while knitting and I skipped a row! So now I am going to start once more and get it right, I think! You'd never know that I have been knitting for years if you judged me on this dang sweater! Oh well, live and learn. Or should I say...knit and learn.

Next week Joyce, Janet, and I are going on a yarn crawl! They both work for the school system so their summer is coming to an end. Since we all seem to be off work on the same day we decided to use that to our "yarn purchasing" advantage. We are going to figure out a plan for shopping and lunch. Should be a fun way to end the summer and start looking forward to cooler sweater weather! I think my favorite time of year in Minnesota is September through Christmas. I love the cool fall days, the first snowfall, and the holidays! Can't wait!

I want to leave you with a wonderful cole slaw recipe that is easy, tasty, and has a fresh flavor, unlike slaw made with bottled dressings. This is Joyce's recipe that she found in Taste of Home magazine years ago and it is good! For all you cole slaw lovers...enjoy!

Whisk together:
1/4 cup mayonnaise (do not use Miracle Whip)
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup half and half
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp rice vinegar

Pour over one 16 oz. package of Dole cole slaw (or use your own shredded cabbage). Toss and season to taste with salt and pepper. The slaw will look dry but after it sits it gets much more moist. Stir before serving. I usually make this a couple hours before we plan on eating it. It is such an easy recipe and so good.

Great Sadness

Minnesota experienced a terrible tragedy with the collapse of the 35W bridge last week. Many citizens are still missing and 6 confirmed dead. It has been a time of sadness and also a time of community togetherness. We all sat with a sad heart and watched the news coverage hoping and praying that no one we knew or loved was on that bridge at the time of collapse. We also prayed and hoped for the well being of the survivors and the families of the missing and those who perished. It has had a profound impact on the Twin Cities and has proven that there still are good people. Regular people, like you and me, jumped in to help with no regard for their own safety. It was a terrible tragedy, but also a triumph of the human spirit that proves the goodness of others.

After the bridge collapse last week I was not prepared to handle any other tragedies, but unfortunately, yesterday turned out to be a sad day that has touched my family and those I love. My son Tyler has been dating a wonderful young woman, Mariah, for almost 3 1/2 years. Someday I suspect she will be my daughter in law, and that pleases me greatly! Mariah's younger brother committed suicide yesterday. He was only 16. I have felt such a burden of sadness and grief for her and her family that at times it is overwhelming. If I feel this heartbroken, I can't even begin to imagine how their family feels. They are wonderful people...kind, great parents who love their children, a strong family full of life. How does something like this happen? Why does something like this happen? They are devastated. I am so sad for them and for their lost son. Please remember them in your prayers.

Introducing...Logan Michael!

I am a Gramma again! Above is a picture of my new grandson Logan. He is in Guatemala and probably won't be coming home until the beginning of 2008. My daughter Stacey, and her husband Jon are thrilled. They made the decision yesterday to adopt him and now starts all the paper work, although, they are not foreseeing any problems. Their agency said they can go to Guatemala and visit him as soon as his DNA tests come back. The US requires DNA tests to prove that the woman relinquishing her parental rights is the actual birth mother. The tests take about 1 month. He was born on June 27th and was a whopping 6 lb. 12 oz. Is he adorable, or what?! Jon, Stacey, and Mia will be flying down to see him soon. They will be able to have him with them the whole time they are in Guatemala. I am so thrilled for all of us! Adoption is such a wonderful way to have a family. They have been so blessed to have Mia and now they will add a son to their family! Time to start knitting some blue booties, and maybe a blanket!

I have a finished project! Yee-Haw...they are even done in time for the gift giving on Saturday! They are the Peach Petal Socks by Jean Townsend. Very fun pattern. I will definitely knit this pattern again. The yarn I used was a yarn called Twister that I bought years ago from a vendor in Germany. I don't think it is made any more. The ball was so big that I think I have enough left to make another pair of socks! Now that's a bargain since that ball of yarn was only $8.00! I'll pull out my digital postal scale and weigh the socks and then the leftover and see if there's enough for a pair of adult size. I'm sure my mom will love these socks. They will be given to her on Saturday for her 81st birthday. She loves hand knit socks and truly appreciates them. It's so much fun to give a gift you've knit to someone who will enjoy it.

I cast on the purple cardigan! I knit one row! Then the phone rang and all the excitement about Logan, Stacey and I talked for over an hour and I never got back to the cardigan. I plan on working on it today after I clean a little...very little! :o) I re-read the pattern and it's so well written that it will be a pleasure to knit. I hope to have it finished by fall. I know that's a long ways off but I do work full time so my knitting hours are squeezed in whenever possible. I'll post a picture once I actually have a piece of knitting to show...I doubt you want to see the one row! I am off to the vet to pick up Summer's meds. Then I will stop at the new Dollar Tree that just opened a mile from my house. I need a gift bag for my mom's birthday present, the socks and a pretty blanket I bought her. After all the "chores" are done...it's knitting time!

I Had A Blast!

I had a great time at Stitch and Pitch on Sunday. Good friends, Twins baseball, lots of knitting, and an air-conditioned bus ride to The Dome. Who could ask for more? I must eat my words (cough, choke, sputter!!) the Twins did NOT kick The LA Angels behind as I had predicted. In fact, they sort of got the snot kicked out of them...final score, 7 to 2, LA. It was a good game even if the Twins couldn't get a hit to save their hides. We had seats in the upper deck behind home plate so the view was pretty good. It was amazing to see all the knitters sitting together and working on their projects. I wish I had a count of how many knitters were actually there, I'm sure it was in the mid-hundreds or higher. But the best part of the day was when my friends sang on TV...yes, sang! Thanks to the bold and talented Janet (still blogless!) who wrote a song that is sung to the tune of Take Me Out to the Ball Game. She sang it on the bus ride to The Dome and who should be on the bus, but a lady whose husband is the media director for The Dome. She whips out her cell phone and calls him and tells him about the singing knitter, Janet. Once we get to the game, the husband decides that the singing knitter should be on TV! Janet of course begs Joyce and I to sing with her...NO THANK YOU! First, I can't sing worth a dang, second, I certainly don't want to be seen, not being able to sing, on TV. But sweet and wonderful Janet manages to snare, I mean, cajole some others in the group to sing with her. Brave souls. Above is a photo I managed to take while they were waiting to be taped for their national singing debut. Too funny! My hats off to all of you who had enough guts to get up there and sing the praises of knitting for all to enjoy!

Another great thing about going to Stitch and Pitch was that I actually knit for a couple hours and finished my moms birthday socks. Yippy! I made it with 6 days to spare, a record for me! They turned out very pretty, I will take a picture of them before they are gifted. Now that I have the socks done I am going to start the cardigan. The weather here in Minneapolis is brutally hot. Today the heat index is going to be near 100 degrees and tomorrow it's going to be over 100! I truly hate the heat. Give me a snowy blizzard and cold any day compared to this steamy, oppressive heat. But then again, come January I may eat those words. At least in January I will have a nice wool cardigan to slip into and stay toasty warm!

I am going to be a Gramma again! My daughter Stacey and her husband Jon are in the process of applying to adopt a baby boy from Guatemala. We will know today for sure what little guy they pick and the paper chase will begin. Luckily, they have all their paper work in order for their second China adoption so they are pretty much done with the time consuming, putsy stuff. They will leave their application for another girl from China active. Since the wait time for China is now 3 years, they decided to adopt a son between the 2 girls. I am so excited for them...and me too! Guatemala works the opposite way from China in their adoption process. For China you apply, do all the months of paper work, then wait. Months later (now it's years later) you get a "referral" photo and info on your child. You accept, or decline, the referral. After acceptance you get ready to travel to China in about 4-6 weeks where you will stay for 2 weeks and pick up your child. With Guatemala you get the referral first, then do all the paper work, wait 4-6 months and travel there for 3 days to pick up your child. It is faster and much less waiting time. The really fun option is...you can go visit you child whenever you want! They get to stay with you for the whole visit. Since Stacey and Jon only live 2 hours (flight time!) from Guatemala City, they plan on visiting their son at least once before they go to bring him home. I'll have pictures soon so check back to see my new grandson!

Snappy Title

As you can see by the title of this post...I'm having trouble finding something to write about. As far as my knitting, I am still working on the socks for my mom and the test socks for Jean Townsend. I will be bringing these to Stitch and Pitch on Sunday when I watch the Minnesota Twins kick the butt of the LA Angels! Hopefully. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather isn't too hot since we are all riding to the Dome in a school bus, without any air conditioning! Should be great fun!

What to write, what to write...I guess my life is pretty ordinary and I haven't got anything exciting to tell all of blogdom. Which is probably a good thing. I did just finish Dean Koontz's newest book "The Good Guy". It was good, fast moving, and suspenseful. I am reading another of his now called "The Husband", which I just started so I can't really say how it is. My friend Joyce read it and loved it, and since I trust her opinion, I'm sure it will be great. Now...who out there has read "Water for Elephants"? This book has me a bit perplexed. No, I haven't even read it and I may never read it. The perplexing thing is what people perceive as a "good" book. I read for entertainment, enjoyment, and fun. I have heard that Water for Elephants is awesome, couldn't put it down, loved it! AND, I've also heard it's, depressing, dark, sad, and , as one person put it...about as enjoyable as a bad toothache. Will I read it? Doubtful. Why would I spend my time reading something that doesn't make me feel good, leaves me sad, and has nothing happy or uplifting to offer? I know, I know, broaden my literary horizons, but I don't like to read a book just for the sake of being able to say...yes, I read the popular Water for Elephants. I'd rather spend those few hours of reading on a fluffy romance, or a good murder mystery (Faye Kellerman, Patricia Cornwell, Dean Koontz, Jeffrey Deaver, etc). In fairness to myself...I did read The Kite Runner! It was good, a bit depressing and sad, but good. Why is it that book clubs and Oprah (whoever decided she was the literary queen?) always lean towards dark, forlorn, and unhappy reading? Do they feel it makes them more intelligent, or that they come away from that book a better person? I don't buy it! There's enough bad happening in the world today...I sure as hell don't need to read a novel that embraces all the evils around us. Nope, give me the fun books, and the happy ending books, and the suspense thrillers. I want to read to enjoy it and maybe, just maybe, every year or two I'll read one of those "popular" bleak and depressing, annoyingly unhappy, books that we're told are superb. Or better yet, I'll watch the news and hear enough dismal stories that I won't have to subject myself to reading it!

I am going, with my mother and aunt, to my future nieces house today for lunch. It will be nice to sit with the "ladies" and chat and enjoy a bite to eat. Then tonight is our monthly Knit2Gather which is always enjoyable. Since it is the middle of vacation time (June-August) for Minnesotans, and it's been brutally hot, the turnout may be a bit weak tonight. You just never know. Either way, it's always good to get together with fellow knitters. If you live in the Minneapolis area and could join us we'd love to have your company! Just e-mail me for info and directions.

Same Old, Same Old

The 4th of July has passed and now it seems that summer is on the downward slide towards fall. I'm not complaining, I love the autumn season and look forward to it every year. It's at this time of year I feel like I'm in a slump, the same way I feel in the middle of January. I think I need a new knitting project to help me over the summer blues slump. Like just maybe, I should actually cast on for the purple cardigan instead of just talking about it! I have been chugging along on my mom's birthday socks and they are almost done. I will definitely have them done and in the gift bag, not just a promissory note telling her she's going to get some socks...someday! I am also working on the socks for Jean Townsend. I volunteered to test knit them and I am really enjoying the pattern.

My daughter Stacey and her Husband Jon, along with the beautiful grandaughter Mia, just returned from a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. They actually went to a place called Sesame Street Island! Who would ever figure that Cookie Monster and Elmo live in the Bahamas? Those lucky little furballs! They had a great time and above is a picture of them with one of the ginormous Sesame Street characters. Stacey said they had a good time and that the vacation was all-inclusive so all they did was eat and eat! Sounds like my kind of place!

My sweet friend Janet (who is STILL blogless) is taking me to "Stitch and Pitch" on July 22nd for my birthday. What is Stitch and Pitch you ask?! Well, the easiest way to explain that is to check out their website here. I will be going to the Minnesota Twins game, and luckily for Janet, I like baseball! We are really looking forward to it. We will take a chartered bus from the local yarn store (Coldwater in Excelsior) and some of our friends from our knitting group will be joining us. Should be a great day! Knitting, baseball, friends, who could ask for more? Let's all keep our fingers crossed that it's not hot that day since the big yellow bus has no AC.

Well, I guess I've sat on my fanny long enough and should get up and get my hacienda cleaned. Wednesdays are cleaning day for me and I am fortunate enough to have a beautiful, cool, summer day here in the Twin Cities! Once I get the dog hair swept and vacuumed and the bathrooms cleaned I just may cast on that wonderful Lisa Lloyd cardigan. Wonders never cease!


Update: While I was cleaning I decided that I needed to do a small "brag". I was dusting my Hoosier (a kitchen cupboard originally designed and manufactured in Indiana at the turn of the century around 1900) and realized just how much my antiques mean to me. Not in a monetary sense but in the knowledge of the traditions they represent. I love old things, I am an old thing! I have collected antiques since I first got married many years ago and they still thrill me to no end! If I was given $10,000.00 and told to buy furniture with it...I would head to the antique malls and the flea markets. I know that there are lots of people who look upon these aged treasures as junk, but not me! I love everything about them. They are a glimpse into our past, they carry marks and scars on their surface that someone caused years ago. They are personal, they belonged to someone before me and they have a history. I find that all fascinating and I feel privileged to own these pieces. Yup, my house is filled with someone else's things, maybe others would refer to them as "secondhand" but I prefer to call them mine for now. Someday they will go to my children and I can only hope that they will respect and treasure them as much as I do. The Hoosier cupboard is probably my favorite piece I own. It was given to me by my Aunt Ruth and it was literally "in pieces". I refinished it, I rebuilt it, I even reassembled the roll-top. It now sits proudly on a wall between my dining room and living room for all to admire. I don't know how many women loved that old cupboard in the past, but I do know that it is loved now, and I hope it will be loved long after I am gone.