Christmas 2008

I love Christmas. I love everything about Christmas. I love all the trimming, all the tinsel, all the magic, all the "stuff". I just love Christmas. And, I love being on Holiday especially since that means that I can sit here in my new counting sheep pj's and sip on a steaming cup of hot coffee at 11:57am and not worry basically about anything!

We have had a huge, wonderful, glorious Christmas. Our Church is decorated with greenery and ribbons with candles. It is just gorgeous and so very touching. Our grandson was a shepherd in the children's play. He stood (this is the wiggle child)perfectly still and looked at the baby Jesus the whole entire play. And, he was a toy soldier in his school play. Costume by "me ... and friends"!!!!

We have enjoyed the company of family and friends. And the eats (or should I say the sweets) which have totally taken over the kitchen counter. We have played with new gadgets and tried our hands and bodies (LOL) at games and competitions ... we got a Wii!! We have new puzzles and books to ponder over during quite times. And yes, Fonzie and I do have a bit of knitting on the needles.

Did I mention that we have a Scottie Dog Christmas tree? It is a 7 foot tree in the foyer. It is decorated with older solid red, green and gold ornaments, counted cross stitch ornaments and Scottie dog ornaments with plaid ribbon wrapped around the tree. Actually one of 6 Christmas trees. Like I said, I love Christmas and all the trimmings. We have a Peanuts Tree with lots of Snoopy's and the main tree which has all kinds of ornaments from hand made to collectibles. Then in the kitchen there is the Santa tree and in the den we have two trees that are covered in Hershey Elves and Hershey Kiss collectibles.

I love Christmas even the picking up and packing away which will not happen for a few more days. We have one more family gathering to go after New Year's Day. So, a few more days to enjoy and cherish this wondrous season.

Fonzie and I decided that we needed to carefully plan our knitting and homemade gift giving. So, this year we only have two projects that did not make it under the tree. But, technically one was started on Christmas Eve morning and stopped as we decided we did not have enough stitches to fit over the curly head of the wiggle boy! And, the other gift was really a "just when I get it finished I will give it gift". Of course, after Christmas, we have started on another gift to give but this is a January birthday. We have 9 days to get this item finished.

Three rows knitted ... four rows out!!

Why is it when you can just fly along knitting that you suddenly look down and realize ... oh no ...a mistake!!! And of course it is not a mistake on the row that you are knitting or the row you just finished. It is at least 5 rows below like a blinking neon light. How come it didn't blink when it was stitched incorrectly? Oh, no one would ever notice. But, you would notice cause you know it is there, and it is blinking! So goes the story of knitting at our house the past couple of days .... three rows knitted, four rows out!!

Current projects are varied: an almost finished Christmas present knitted in a wonder Merino Wool, a ready to start Christmas present, the second Special Olympics scarf and the decreasing of the crown of five Chemo Caps. The Chemo Caps are from a conference where participants gave a few minutes of their time to knit. Several folks learned to knit and some renewed their knitting skills. In a couple of short hours we had 15 caps.

I truly believe in giving to the community and in doing so you reap great benefits. It is wonderful to be able to give so freely of a hobby to others and see their appreciation. Knitting gives the knitter an opportunity to count not just stitches but their blessings. The peace in knitting allows the knitter to work through problems and really think about solutions not just sit and worry.

My very first ever knitting project was a very bright yellow potholder. I'm thankful that I had a Brownie Scout Leader that took the time to teach 17 little second graders. Can you imagine the patience that woman had? Thanks, Mrs. Maxwell.

A little update on the Fonz ... he has had an ear infection which ended up in a trip to the vet. He is all better now. Next week he has a haircut. But, with the temperature dropping rapidly, I think we shall just have a slight trim. He is all curled up on the couch dreaming sweet dogie dreams. And, yes he is laying next to my knitting, or rather our knitting!!

Special Olympics Knitting

Well, we finished another project ... a scarf for the 2009 Special Olympics. This was a very quick knit using Red Heart yarn. The pattern was February 15th Houndstooth Pattern from a pattern a day calendar. The colors are 0885 Delft Blue and 0311 White. The scarf should measure 5 3/4 by 60 inches. The only problem is this scarf rolls up ... it does not lay flat as my Mom did not add an edging. But, it is still cute and most important ... finished!!!

We really have not been knitting as much as I like (to cuddle). The EZ Surprise Baby Sweater is still on the needles but no progress as Mom has a brain snap poo and has one side off 1 to 3 stitches!! It think we are going to start another Special Olympics scarf as they need 5000 and last count we heard they had 1000. So, we might do one more and hopefully it will be flat. You think??

Then there is Christmas knitting ... or the lack of!! We know we will be knitting a gray wool blend scarf for a family member and other than that we have no thought. We don't even have anything picked out for the little man (grandson - my little buddie). But, as long as it is red he will be happy.

We did clean up the craft room ... you know Mom should take a picture as it really is clean and organized for the moment until she starts looking for something!! She found some cross stitch patterns that she has been wanting to stitch for Christmas. If she started now do you really think she could get one finished and hanging on the tree by Christmas 2008?? We'll see but don't hold your breath!!

DOG FIGHT

Man, I was in a dog fight ... kind of !! My Mom was taking me on our daily walk down the hill. Well, I knew that two boxers had moved in ... I could smell their scent. All of a sudden two very big boxers charged down the hill. The female came close. She wanted to play. The male boxer went back to the house. OK!! New Friends, or so I thought.

On the way back up the hill the big male boxer was waiting. He was huffin' and puffin' up a storm. My Mom (being the yuppie that she is) had her cell phone in hand and me being the stubborn Scottie that I am, would not come to her and suddenly we were all twisted in the leash with the big boxer trying to get me/smell me/eat me/play with me/ etc. etc. My Mom had on a skirt which added to the confusion as she was yelling and swinging her arms and trying to grab me up. The boxers owners ran out and immediately the big dogs went to the house. Not me ... I was ready to charge up their hill and investigate them out more thoroughly. Never mind the fact that I had just about got my head bit off!!

Hummm this little adventure is now going to change my daily walks up and down the big hill. Where is a pup to go? Think I will go help my Mom knit ... that should settle her nerves!!

I had to stay at home :(

My Mom and Dad went on a week trip driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unfortunately, most (all) places of rest do not want 4 legged babies....bummer for me. So, I had to stay home and be babied by Aunt Sherry who faithfully visits me, walks me, feeds and waters me and LOVES me!! Thanks Aunt Sherry.

And would you believe, my Mom bought yarn ... yes bought yarn!! After she faithfully promised in the last blog to straighten up her act and finish a project before she bought anything. According to Dad she needs to finish about 30 projects before she buys yarn. I just want her to start knitting so I can curl up on the sofa with her. I love to cuddle and remember, I have a week of cuddling to make up!!!

Where Have We Been???

Goodness ... July 31st!! 44 days since we have posted!!! I'm ashamed :(

Well, we have basically not been anywhere!! Work ... work ... work!! Fonzie has a big job of overseeing not one but two very lazy cats. He has to define the limits of comfortable living in the pet area. This includes but is not limited to: who eats first, who enters and exits the pet door, who touches his toys, who gets to hang their head through the railing around the deck, and who gets to sleep by the front gate. He is just SO busy.

Oh my gosh!!! We spent all of last weekend cleaning up the craft room. It looks so good ...now!! Fonzie's owner seems to have a fetish for items stored in bags and boxes of all kinds. There were at least 15 paper, cloth and plastic containers each with not one but two and sometimes three knitting projects in each. No rhyme or reason. Just stash and projects hurriedly crammed in a container/bag so something else could be grabbed up. We found at least 15 started and no where close to being finished projects. So, Fonzie's owner can not buy any yarn/book/supplies until one old project is complete :(

The current project that is being carried about is another Fiona shawl for a good friend. Haven't decided what will be finished next. Just one project at a time, just one project at a ........

It's a Wrap!!!

 

 

 

 

The Fiona Shawl is finished ... all 484 yards!!!!

What About This?

 

Fonzie seems to have grown very attached to Fiona yarn! It appears to have good texture for chewing! This may be the yarn of choice for the 2008 Olympic Knitting. We'll look through our projects and think about this a bit more before we make a final decision. Gosh, we have 12 more days to chew on this! We could change our minds at least 96 times!

Pondering??

 

In honor of the 2008 Olympics August 8th - 24th, Fonzie is thinking about all the wonderful things to knit for the 2008 Olympic Knitting Event. The rules are very simple:
1. Select a pattern to knit.
2. Select yarn and needles.
3. You may practice swatch now.
4. You may challenge yourself or just pick something simple. This is suppose to be fun!!
5. Start the actual project with the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
6. Be completed with the knitting project by the closing Olympic Ceremony.

So, what are you going to knit Fonzie?

Fonzie Dreams of Knitting

Fonzie has had two very busy days. Monday was haircut day. He came home exhausted as he is an only pup and not use to barking Schnauzers!! They are so cute but just not as laid back as the Fonz.

Today, I came home from work and saw the neighbors black cat ... no wait ...IT WAS FONZIE ... walking toward me!!!! He had gotten out of his fenced lot and had been roaming the neighborhood probably ALL DAY!!!!! So tonight, we have a very tired little Scottie!! Matter of fact, he is already in bed as I type.

This is a Lilly in the front flower bed. I have another getting ready to bloom with 15 buds on one stalk.

Fonzie Examines the Knitted Bunny

I am assisting with a knitting class. To encourage participants to practice the stockinette stitch I assigned a very cute knitted bunny made out of a 6" square of stockinette. Of course, the Fonz and I did not try our needles at this until the night before the class. Now remember, I had already assigned this ... So, to make a 2 1/2 hour long story short, this is how the bunny turned out!! Maybe the next one will look better. There's going to be a next one??

Fonzie got a knitting magazine!

Wow!! We got great mail!! Fonzie is enjoying the Fall 2008 Knitsimple. It is full of tempting knits such as hats from the top down, basic shape sweaters and 6 handbag designs. I think I might attempt one of the four patterns in Four Ways With a Rectangle.

On a more discouraging note ... the model on the front cover is listed as a spokeswoman for the plus size community ... she is a size 14!!!! She really is very beautiful. I just think of plus size as being a bit more than a 14. Actually, I thought the "new" American woman's average size was a 14. Does this mean what I think it means that a goodly number of women are really plus size and we just don't know it??

Celebrating the 4th of July, 2008

We had a wonderful 4th of July, 2008. We had a family cookout with 4-H BBQ chicken. Absolutely delicious!!! Our grandson made cupcakes. I had an older copy of Country Living and these (or very similar) cupcakes were on the cover. He has wanted to make cupcakes for a week. So, yesterday was the day. Believe me, they were SO good!!

This morning, DH made blueberry topping for pancakes. These berries were from the last bag in the freezer. We are going to pick in a couple of weeks. DH also cooked breakfast. Lord, I'm glad he loves to cook!!

And last, these are several counted cross stitch pieces that I stitched last year. I had great plans to use the blue fabric for backing. As you can see, that has not happened yet. I did purchase two more Prairie Schooler patterns this past week. One is Summer and Winter Book No. 91 and the other is M*N*O Book No. 106. M is for Mermaid, N is for Nest and O is for Owl. A bit later, I will get all my PS Booklets and list them in a side bar. I am determine to own them all. I love to shop and find!

In our next post, Fonzie and I will be knitting. Fonzie was a bit under the weather this morning ... too much 4th of July! We will be issuing a special challenge for knitters. So, stayed tuned and keep those needles knitting.

Flower Boxes

We just returned from Charleston South Carolina. On every other antique house there were flower boxes. So, on the drive home we stopped at Lowe's in Spartenburg and bought the last two window boxes in the store. Evidently they are popular in Spartenburg as well! Since our house sets in the shade, we put the boxes on the fence at the road so they would get some sun.

This is Fonzie's fence. We fasten his leash to the fence while we are working in this area of the yard. He loves it as he can see the cat across the street and can chase our cats. Speaking of which, we have two cats .... Tipper Mia and Beamer Blue. I'll post a picture of them soon.

Even Fonzie needs a break from knitting!

Whew, Fonzie is all pooped out from knitting on the Diagonal Scarf! He loves to snooze on the top of the couch. I guess since he is such a little fellow that this perch gives him some height.

The Diagonal Scarf is knitted with Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran which is 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk and 5% Cashmere. The color is 128. This is a wide scarf that could easily be worn as a shawl. A friend gave me the pattern. It is just a basic stitch pattern that I have added 5 stitches of garter to each side to prevent the scarf sides from curving inward. One friend made this in creamy white wool and it was gorgeous.

Well Fonzie, we are about halfway through. What is our next project going to be?

Hero Needles

For a few days I played on EBay and actually won the bid for these Hero needles. Notice the ruler on the turquoise needle. Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I'll hopefully get better in time!
I got interested in the Hero needles as someone gave me a couple of sets from an estate. They have such a smooth tip and don't drag as you knit the stitch. I have some "new" plastic needles that have a ring around the area where the tip joins the needle. What was someone thinking when they designed those? "Oh hey, let's make a needle that doesn't knit smoothly ... people will never notice"!!

Fiona Shawl

The Fiona yarn by Feza is lovely to knit. This super easy shawl will be a nice light weight cover up for late summer/early fall chills. Fonzie is particular fond of this label!! I am knitting this for ME!! But, I want to make this again in pinks for a very good friend.

Fiona Shawl by Feza
Approximately 246 yards
2 skeins
Size 10 needles
Cast on 3 stitches. Knit 1 row.
Next row: knit 1, make 1, knit to end
Repeat this row every row until you run out,
leaving enough for the bind off.

Note - to "make 1" without a hole follow this simple increase of knitting into the front and back of a stitch.
Kfb - Knit in front and back of stitch
Insert the right needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle and pull through for a regular knitted stitch , elongating the loop. Do not pull the stitch over the left needle. Bring the point of the right needle around to the back of the same stitch and knit into the back loop of the stitch. Now, pull the stitch from the left needle. You have two stitches from one stitch.

Well, I finally took the plunge! I have enjoyed reading so many wonderful blogs and decided I need to do this to learn more about the computer and to develop my skills. What I really enjoy is knitting. Give me needles and threads and I can surprise myself. Give me a computer assignment and I have to hit the help button 15 times. Actually, that is part of the problem ... I hit the button too much!

Now, about Fonzie Knits. Fonzie is our Scottish Terrier. And, he doesn't knit but I really believe he thinks he can. He is very capable of chewing up knitting labels and wooden knitting needles and just about anything else that falls in the floor. But, he is such a comfort on a cold winter night as he curls up on the couch beside me when I knit. Fonzie is a little love.

What am I knitting on? What am I not knitting on would be a better question. I have 2 sweaters started for my grandson, two for myself, a shawl (for me), a scarf/wrap (really for a friend but I want it), socks for Bob, a sweater for my youngest daughter and about 10 other smaller projects such as baby hats and dish cloths.

Well, enough for now. Keep those needles knitting.