KnittingGardener

wishcasting wednesday

2011-05-11T10:17:00.003-05:00

Jamie asked us this Q: what do you wish to stand up for?

Today, I'd like to stand up for clean water! I wish more folks understood the connection between their daily activities at work and at home and their local water source. If folks adopt better habits on a personal level...it will translate.

another wishcasting wednesday

2011-05-04T16:46:00.001-05:00

Jamie asks the Q: what do I want to know?

I want to know what is next. I've had quite a few changes over the last few years and I'm wondering what is next for me? and how will I know?

My Quilt Festival quilt

2010-11-05T14:31:00.001-05:00

This is the quilt I chose to share in the Fall 2010 Quilt Festival. I finished this quilt over 8 years ago and I still love it. I don't recall the pattern or designer. I recall starting this in a quilt class and then finishing it up at home...probably several months past the class. I love log cabins and this was a great design. My favorite colors are in this quilt; I'm not a big blue clothes wearer...but I like to have it in my stuff surrounding me.

Wishcasting Wednesday

2010-10-27T16:00:00.002-05:00

What do I wish to shed?

three things....

the pile of stuff in the basement. I've been harsh in throwing away...but not harsh enough

these 20 lbs of medicine weight I've gained over the last 2 yrs

this little attitude I've got going about a certain topic

with breaths it will all come.

It is my bee month

2010-10-11T23:39:00.010-05:00

and while it took a bit more time than I had ever figured it would (--that is going to be my motto for this year! the whole year.)

Anyways, the bags are packed and headed out to the door to the other participants. This month I'm going to make a quilt I'm calling Chocolate Cherry Mint. I'm using all of these strips to make a spiderweb quilt. I used the quilt here as my inspiration. I made some modifications and decided to use a 12.5" block. I think this site also gives darn good directions.

After cutting my 12.5" square in half, I ended up with 2 triangles that look like this: ETA, please cut those triangles in half and then begin adding the strips.

The triangles need to be marked for specific fabric placement in order for me to get a quilt with 1 large circle and 1 smaller circle:

Also, I need to remember that in order for the quilt to come together that I need triangles marked for right and left.

After sewing on strips...and over time I will also get wonky with sewing on the strips..this is what the individual spidey arms will look like

I need to trim these and sew together. I will update the blog with the pictures when I complet them. I am excited to be working on this quilt and cannot wait for the spider blocks to come back from the other participants.

Catch up

2010-09-22T17:30:00.001-05:00

Yes, Yes I realize these are horrible pictures. I am still getting used to my Samsung phone camera....and it was cloudy when I took these!

These are 3 "bee" blocks I finished today in order to get them in the mail...long past their mailing date.

Time with my mom this past year has kept me pretty handicapped in terms of being able to finish what I've started. My UFO list is usually pretty long...but this year's takes the cake.

For wishcasting wednesday: I am asking for the abundance of energy and time to tackle the list. From quilting bee blocks to helping DH finish resurrecting our basement after the Central Iowa of 2010. I'm going to need all the help I can get!

what do I want less of

2010-09-08T14:02:00.002-05:00

It is wishcasting wednesday... and the prompt was: what do I want less of

Have you ever started something and then had little roadblocks pop up to test your willingness/ability to follow through? right, who hasn't...

recently I started working out in a fitness bootcamp....starts at 530 am. should be easy enough, I'm an early riser and no time conflicts. HA! I went the first week struggling with staying asleep all night due to migraine med changes. It is very hard to get up and go, let alone stay, at a hard workout when you've actually been up since 2 am all week long! So, there has been little things here and there, not precluding family crisis. Last nite my husband and I spent most of the nite at Iowa State University's Vet Med Animal Clinic. One of our dogs has been coughing and it accelerated to coughing so much he could hardly breathe. Very scary, just like when our 24 yo had croup as a child. After exams by student vets and staff vets and a chest xray, they determined he prob has a form of bordatella. our regular vet told us this am that it is going around and some dogs are getting it without contact with an infected animal. Surprised us! Oh well, he is on antibiotics and cough suppression. I'm so glad we went in though as he is worse today, can't imagine what he would be like if we hadn't already started the antibiotics.

So, needless to say, I'm ready for the distractions--of any type to Not Be Present.

My daughter is getting married and I need a smaller A**

time to sit on my ass

2010-09-01T16:40:00.003-05:00

today's wishcasting prompt over at Jamie Ridler studios got me thinking....what do I really want to begin? I have tons of thoughts floating through my head all the time..but where to start?

I keep telling myself I'm going to start meditating. So, now I need to begin. short time every day. all I have to do is show up.

and it is the fall...back to school..means learning a new subject for me. see you there.

Wishcasting Wednesday

2010-06-30T11:57:00.003-05:00

Today is Wishcasting Wednesday inspired by Jamie Ridler.

Today's question is what do I wish for my well-being?

It doesn't take much thought to come to the realization that I wish for some peacefulness on a relationship situation I am dealing with. And unfortunately, it is not one I can just walk away from..nor do I want to. Watching your daughter grow up is difficult at best, watching her grow up unhappy is painful at the least.

Today when I spoke with my (wise) grandmother she said...this age is a like mixing a cake, Anita. It is just all crumbles and keeps falling all apart until finally all the moisture gets worked in and everything smooths out. I simply cannot describe to you how much I love this 90 yo woman.

I think what I'm going to need to do is devise some sort of releasing ritual. And if I have to do it every single day in order to release the anger and frustration at how we are being treated and manipulated, this is what I will need to do. I need to get back to seeing my girl's shining beautiful face.

Suggestions welcome.

hello, again

2010-06-25T15:34:00.003-05:00

Will that be the title of all my posts? ha!

just trying to work updating here back into my schedule...and one of these days I will be more successful at it.

I'm part of a project this summer called The Happy Book. I've been slow to answer the weekly requests to share what makes me happy--one because May is a tremendously busy time in the garden for me, and two because for the last 8 weeks I've had a migraine every Friday. no rhyme or reason, but definitely not something to be happy about. As such, no bursts of energy.

Have one today, just powering through. (I'm a recalcitrant migraneur...my migraine calendars are all over the charts..and I've tried everything...one of these days, it will all make sense. )

So, today what am I happy about? I powered through a couple of items on my to-do list. One of which was a sticky convo with someone. I'm not sure if I made any progress, but I started it.

Two, it is continuing to be beautiful here in central IA. and, three, I'm sooo glad to be home from vacation. (who says that?) I'm just glad to be home and getting rested up.

And, My garden is amazing. even with weeds. and especially without the ones I've been removing.

Ok, moving slow and easy on to the rest of my to-do's.

Hello...I'm back

2010-03-10T17:53:00.002-06:00

Wow.. what a long four months it has been...

First the death of my dad, then all the hassles with my stepmother...good grief. then Mom getting so sick. then the small TIAs she had, and dealing with that--in Phoenix. and worrying and worrying.

and all the other issues that piled up one right after another--smacking me in the face, reminding me that I'm not in charge and life is a highway. One issue at a time, I could have dealt... the accumulation at the threshold? let me just say, I'm darn glad it is spring.

My mom is better at least. One issue, the tediousness and stress of additional breast tissue scans and tests turned out to be for nought! WOOT!

The other ones? time will resolve and right now however painful they are, they aren't mine to resolve at this time.

The snow is melting and I can see sweet woodruff starting to grow in the shade this makes me a believer.

And it is Wishcasting Wednesday over at Jamie Ridler Studios.

What is my wish? to say NO to the shadow comforts. to say NO to hiding. and Yes to getting up off my chair and moving.

Life is tough. time to face it with movement.

A Flea Market Giveaway

2009-11-20T07:50:00.004-06:00

Sewtakeahike flea market giveaway! Terrific prizes--you should take a look!

I almost didn't want to let folks know... reduces my chances!

Wishcasting Wednesday

2009-11-18T10:41:00.003-06:00

It is wishcasting wednesday hosted by Jamie Ridler Studios

What do I wish for myself?

I wish for me to embrace the inner girl in me, soothe her fears and face the challenges ahead.

Here I am...

2009-11-05T08:05:00.002-06:00

When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
~Author Unknown

I'm following Jamie Ridler's Studio's wishcasting. And, this is my wish for myself: I wish to experience peace and joy with the decisions I've made, or those I'm going to make in the coming weeks!

Ok, that wish was a stream of consciousness. Let's see where it takes me.

And, what a way to welcome myself back to the blogging world.

Hello Blogworld!

2009-05-22T11:02:00.000-05:00

Here is some flowers (nasturtiums to be exact) from my vegetable garden as a way to say hello! Aren't they pretty on this spring day? although I've been complaining about the very very cool spring we've had here, it sure has been good for the flowers and the trees. can't complain about that point!

and I've been knitting and sewing, I'll have some pictures to post soon on that front.

And, the dogs got busy this morning also....

Catchup

2009-01-29T15:50:00.003-06:00

Lets start my catch up with my amazing swap package I received in the mail today. Isn't it cool! Schaeffer's sock the vote yarn --Hillary of course--how will I ever knit this up? My first ever skein of the infamous Wollmeise. A book from my to reads list on goodreads.com. A two patterns from my queues, one on Ravelry and one from loopyewe.com. Now this girl was thoughtful! And check out those mittens. And they fit perfectly! Laura, you did one heck of a job--thank you very much.
And here's some projects I worked on recently... a hat for my DD's boyfriend, called oddly enough, the boyfriend hat.
And, a cowl for my mother-in-law. now, her son just needs to get it down to her! Yummy malabrigo. and then, my souper sekrit loupy pal project. almost done and ready to go out the door! Woot!

Here's two pictures

2008-12-19T14:37:00.000-06:00

Here's two pictures that made me smile today. One, a late fall blooming sedum in my yard. I love how deep the color is on this flower. and the second, is my female cat madaline, who has taken to sleeping in my sock yarn basket. Guess we all need a little warmth on these cold wintry days.

One more 2008 FO

2008-12-19T13:40:00.000-06:00

Here is another FO for 2008. It is the Petra Lace Scarf. This was a wonderful knit. Easy pattern to follow, and the yarn? Yummy Yummy yummy. I used elann peruvian baby cashmere. I hope my SIL likes it as I made it for her for a christmas gift. I haven't done that very often--made gifts for others outside my immediate family--in awhile. Mostly because the ones I did weren't appreciated and they are so much work. easier to not do it than feel angst over the process.

2 months and counting

2008-12-05T17:05:00.002-06:00

So much time....

and, what do I have to say for it?

Well, we have a new president elect. I'll let time speak for him. He was handed an awful economy. I hope he keeps his chin up. and in these days of record level job losses, that those mavericks on Wall Street, have the toughest time finding new ones.

I've been knitting, quilting and reading. doing my job during the day and letting the dogs in and out. making new friends on ravelry.

and, dealing with massive major migraines. yeah. but I've got pix. not of the migraines. I'll load them later.

oh give it up already

2008-09-26T11:56:00.003-05:00

I think I've made it clear my democratic candidate of choice was Hillary Hillary Hillary. but we've got Hope instead.

well that is a lot better than this guy: Ole suspend my campaign so I can sit here mute in washington

experience my a**

and Palin. oh yeah, well she sure scored some pointed with us Americans on her interview with Couric didn't she? whew, that woman, was she even in the room with Katie or was she doing her own interview somewhere else?

and then we've got proposals for spending $700 billion of my tax money to save large financial institutions who should have known better--that was there job. who by the way, lost my money too--so, now we're throwing good money after bad?

how about spending that money on infrastructure on states, etc? food for the poor, homes for the homeless, etc.

Last Secret Pal Post

2008-09-25T09:02:00.002-05:00

If you were told you could never again buy yarn, would would your last yarn purchase be?

hmmm..... Ok, I'd divvy up the money I have to spend and I'd spend it at my two lys's: Rose Tree Fiber Shop and Knitted Together and then spend the rest at http://www.theloopyewe.com/.

If you were told you could never knit again, what would be the last thing you’d knit?? I think this: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/08/hemlock-ring-blanket.html

In a given year, how many times do you buy yarn?
monthly

And what is your favorite place to buy yarn from? A festival? A shop? Online? Dish your favorite places!! see above, but also include Ravelry. I've found it to be a sweet place to find yarn

Lastly, with Fall in full swing in many areas, what is the one thing you look forward to most?

lovely surprising weather days, cool mornings, beautiful skys and foliage

Breaking up is hard to do

2008-09-24T13:46:00.000-05:00

But we're parting our ways. I'm done with these guys. probably for simply one reason: to quote Veronica, boy socks take forever!

and while I had fun, the fun eventually had to end, as with all relationships.

I am a starter knitter, heck, I am a starter project person. I'm a process person. I'm all about ideas. and I'm a scanner. I used to worry about my often hysterical curiousity, but no more. I'm too old to worry about it. If I get bored with doing something, because the process no longer interests me, I just set it aside for another day. Learning as much as I can about different things, sure makes me a better environmental consultant.... but it can lead to comments from well meaning? folks regarding my projects like, uhm you still aren't done with that? or wow, how long have you been working on that? I just sigh inwardly and say to myself, I don't ask you to explain yourself on your choices, lets not start on mine. Outside, I just say yep. I used to say, I'm ADD on projects, but then I rethot that line because that is an actual disease and flailing at it is not fair to those folks that actually have it. perhaps I just need to ask them why it bothers them so much or why they feel the need to comment?

And Zhenya, we need to get me started on those toe-ups--next project, I promise. I ran out of yarn on the second sock... same yarn, same process, etc. so if you could see the second sock, you'd see about a 1/2 inch extra Lorna's Laces on the toe. I did find someone on Rav that had the Claudia's but I got impatient and just wanted to be done.

Now, to the pattern details: Garter Rib by Charlene Schurch in Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Claudia's Handpainted Yarns, Fingering weight, Color: Boot Camp
Yarn: Lorna's Laces, Fingering Weight, Color: Chocolate

SP Questions 11 and 12

2008-09-02T12:29:00.004-05:00

#11
What is the best thing you’ve ever received in the mail/post?
clearly anything from Zappos.com or Theloopyewe.com

#12

I’m sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you’ve tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??

I'm really proud of the wonderland shawl I just completed for the loopy swap. so proud I didn't take pictures, yep.

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

a sweater, very expensive, nicely done. and my very first lesson in gauge.

Life is hard... or, am I getting older?

2008-08-15T09:26:00.004-05:00

This has been a hard summer for me. Is hard the right word? Stressful, yes. Feel like I'm getting older? DEFINITELY!!!

First my cat, then I get sick and take like what feels forever to get better. Then my dad gets sick again--but he's better now--WOOT. Then, my husband's father passes away suddenly 10 days ago... then we find a suspicious mass in my breast--not cancer--WOOT. then a friend goes in the hospital with chest pains--he's good now--whew. I'm definitely good and full with the ups and downs.

usually I love summer. usually my birthdays don't bother me. I'm not so sure about this one. I think I'm definitely feeling my age and those of the loved ones around me.

I love autumn more, hopefully it is easier on my heart.

SP Question of the Week #10

2008-08-14T19:27:00.002-05:00

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?

hmmm... what event would they give out medals for beginning lots of new projects, seeing lots of finishes in your lifetime, having all the materials you could want and the endurance? but just not the time apparently...

opening ceremonies count? the pentathalong? steeplechase?

Rain Garden '08 update

2008-08-05T09:49:00.000-05:00

check out these rain garden photos! and my buddy, isn't (s) he awesome? this is the second year of my rain garden... and all the rain this year, has made it extra special.

it is performing exceptionally well. it can take a 2" rain without overflowing. unfortunately, we've seen a lot of the 4" in variety this year.

the neighbor kids love all the butterflies and caterpillars. we do too! and I saw one of the cats batting at one the other day also.

its always active around here.

check out that red cardinal flower. wow!!

my favorites in the spring garden

2008-08-05T09:44:00.001-05:00

In anticipation of some upcoming photos... let me show you some of my favorites in the spring garden. I love these little guys. they are called fritillarias. or checkered lilies. I would like them everywhere. and, I'm working on it.

and, once again, I score!

2008-08-01T17:02:00.000-05:00

Look at this LOOT! My secret pal, only identified as from Massachusetts.... sent this huge box of awesome goodies to my door. 4 skeins of handdyed sock yarn, a needle holder, SOAK, OLIVE GREEN worsted weight yarn, a pattern in my que, with yarn to go with it, candles, a Vogue specifically on green, spa girly stuff, tea, burt's bees and cookies. Where do I start? Thanks Secret Pal. I hope you have a great weekend! I am, I am going to be going through my goodies!

My Madaline

2008-07-27T10:36:00.007-05:00

Madaline, my cat, is a tortoise. She's over 12 years old, sometimes ornery, but she's all mine. She recently went through, and put us through, some significant trauma. While we were on vacation she suffered what the vets believe is a stroke to her spine. We came home and she was completely paralyzed on her right side. Poor thing. This cat is all about independence. So for about two weeks, we excercised her, took her to the litter box, etc. We also engaged a vet to give her accupuncture treatments. She was doing some movement on her own, perhaps by dragging. Then, one saturday afternoon, she just stood up and started walking. She looked like she was drunk, but she was doing it. And everyday since then, she has gotten a little bit better. She's not afraid to try anything, even if it doesn't fare well for her. She's learned that her front leg isn't going to respond every time like she wants it to, so she's compensating for that in how she moves off of furniture and down our stairs. I really admire her fortitude and compuncture. I saw this post this morning about the sacredness of animals and was inspired to write a little about my Madaline.

Through all of this, we learned about not only the steadfastness of our love for our animals but their trust and love for us. Madaline knew that not all was well for her, but she trusted me to keep taking care of her. In additiona, we engaged a vet that does accupunture and a friend that does chiropracty to help Madaline along. While Mad wasn't excited about the treatments, she looked to me in trust while they were occuring to keep her safe. And as an aside we know that these alternative treatments really made a difference in her recovery. Mad showed significant progress following both types of treatments, and both provided immediate pain relief for her of one type or another at one time or another. We're both excited to be back in the sunshine!

New Question

2008-07-25T08:20:00.003-05:00

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit?

anywhere in my house. I love upstairs in my living room, or downstairs in front of the TV. I also love outside in my garden, where I'm very inspired. the mosquitoes are a bit tedious this year though.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?

water to drink, sometimes an audio book, and my imagination.

One more Cookie A pattern

2008-07-22T11:35:00.002-05:00

Look what I received today from my Secret Pal... Gothic Spire from Cookie A. WOOT. I can't wait to start knitting. Thanks Secret Pal. I'm off to be a hospitality volunteer for the Register's annual great bike ride across Iowa (better known as RAGBRAI. This year it is going through Ames. What is a hospitality volunteer? Well, I'm going to cheer all those 15000 bike riders as they come into Ames.

2008-07-17T18:08:00.004-05:00

This game is making the rounds of various blogs. It also appears to be a good way to avoid your mundane tasks.......

Create your own by creating your answers and placing them into the Search feature on Flickr and then copying and pasting the URLs into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name? Anita

2. What is your favorite food? pesto

3. What high school did you go to? Yankton High School

4. What is your favorite color? olive green

5. Who is your celebrity crush? dwight yoakum

6. Favorite drink? water

7. Dream vacation? italy

8. Favorite dessert? banana split

9. What you want to be when you grow up? a gardener

10. What do you love most in life? flowers

11. One Word to describe you. virgo

12. Your flickr name: knittinggardener

Do you think bylooking at this that it actually gives you a pretty good picture of me?

Secret Pal #6

2008-07-16T14:22:00.002-05:00

What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

I take it all. I always over pack projects to take along. I never ever know what I might want to work on. something simple, something hard. I take too many books, cuz I want something to pick from. I take my embroidery hand projects too! And, they always take up space in the car--plan on it! LOL. and then sometimes all I do is lay in the sun. but I always work on something in the car. I'm glad of the variety though, keeps me stimulated.

Hey secret pal, wave to you! I recd your postcard. Mount Sugarloaf looks to be a very pretty area! Iowa is not all flat either, nor cornfields. LOL

Secret Pal Question #5

2008-07-16T14:17:00.002-05:00

1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?

I love water water water. combine that with bike riding and family and friends that would be awesome!

2) Where is one place you’d like to go?

Italy, that would be cool.

and considering I just got out of the hospital after a surviving a ruptured ovarian cyst... I'm up for anything right now!

Another SP Question

2008-07-07T11:50:00.003-05:00

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?

Hmmmm....this one I have to think about. I am an impulse buyer when it comes to yarn, so, oh wait, I know.... I haven't fulfilled any of my desires on the STR line and I don't have any Cider Moon. plus I would just love someday to purchase the peacock yarn that the harlot used by perchance to knit.

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

I just adore yarn by claudia's handknits. and I do like the bamboo yarns, they are so nice to use, and feel so good against your skin. oh, and shuibu.

another SP question

2008-06-29T22:23:00.003-05:00

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

hmmm.... so that when I saw yarn in the perfect color, I already had it.

I totally struck gold

2008-06-29T17:05:00.007-05:00

Can you believe all this rockin' cool stuff my Loopy Pal from Rolla, MO sent me? Coffee, multiple treats, an awesome lacy scarf I can already picture 3 outfits to wear with it-summer and winter!

this totally cool bag that so says summer? does she think I'm going to use it just for knittin'? heck no. this is my July bag for sure! note pads, pattern tamers!!! a cute little sock she knitted in one of my fav colors--already went onto my key ring. and great ravelry buttons. and check out the amazing stitch markers she made--aren't they beautiful? and malabrigo lace yarn. My partner rocks!

and just in time. with all the crisis around my house this last two weeks, I definitely needed a pal who could read my mind. now I need to get my bum in gear and fulfill my promises and bargains. Thanks Loopy Pal!

Secret Pal 12 Question of the Week

2008-06-23T13:32:00.001-05:00

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

Books Books Books and even more books. all I did during the summer as a kid was read. then as soon as I was given permission to ride my bike to the lake, I rode to the lake and read. then drove and read. I loved water and books--still do!

SP 12 Questionaire

2008-06-09T22:18:00.005-05:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really like to make socks, so I love the indies. and in the summer I really really like to work with bamboo. it is sooo nice. I'm not a fan of some non animal fibers.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? a big horrible bag that needs to be organized. blech.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? since my Gma taught me as a child. it depends upon the project... intermediate probably.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? see the sidebar? I'm greedy!

5. What's your favorite scent? I love almost anything if it is a true natural scent. fragrance oils and perfumes give me headaches. so essential oils? Yummy! lavendar, rosemary, sandalwood....

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? brach's milk maid butter rums. no chocolate for me, migraine inducing. altho I have been known to steal a peanut m&m once in awhile....

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I'd love to learn to spin. I quilt, stamp, collage, sew, embroider. garden garden garden

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD). I just ordered a brand new sansdisk! I like country, a little of this and a little of that... chick music, bonnie raitt, dixie chicks.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? orange, green, blue; not a big fan of muddy brown.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm married with a 22 yr old daughter. I have two dogs and two cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats and shawls.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? socks.

13. What are you knitting right now? socks and shawls.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? AWESOME!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?circular, bamboo, unless ADDIS

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? NO, rats.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?EEP, > 5, that is all I'm saying for now.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween.

19. Is there anything that you collect? besides Yarn? and garden plants? fat quarters?

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? see wish list on the side.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? combo knitting

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes, 8.6" long, 8 around.

23. When is your birthday? August 24

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? knittinggardener

Blooming in my yard? glad you asked

2008-06-03T09:30:00.006-05:00

here's a little video...

a beautiful coloumbine, sweet williams, jacob's ladder, poppy and peony buds, alliums galore, irises, daisies, ganzanias, and a happy cat. did I miss something? got questions? let me know.

Dean has become an awesome photographer, I appreciate being able to take advantage of his work! Our garden looks even better when he takes the shots!

Raining, again..... nice that we don't have to water, but the ground sure is saturated and we have some plants not fairing so well with all this water... like the caladiums in the backyard... they are drowning. I think I might have to pull them out of the ground and temporarily into pots. We'll see how they look later this week, if I can wait that long.

look at this

2008-05-26T16:48:00.000-05:00

isn't this a cool ATC card? I made it for the earth day swap. I also recd some cool ones. I'll upload those later. I'm so behind on my pictures. I think the lack of spring until "today' has made it hard for me to get motivated. at least this is my excuse and I'm sticking to it! I've got a long list of "to-do" but also a huge work list as usual this time of year. so it is all a balancing act--especially with the big gardening balancing act with the crazy weather. May is just darn weird this year! now, if the weather is going to be nice, you may just find me on the hammock outside. actually I hear it calling now!

WOOT! its really May

2008-05-20T11:10:00.002-05:00

the temperatures are climbing and staying warm... although cool in the mornings, our garden is (almost) in, soil temps are climbing. Yep, I'm calling May here in central Iowa.

I died in Sock Wars on Saturday. The pattern was nice and didn't confound me as much as it seemed to others. I certainly didn't like the cast on number. a 72 stitch start for a sock that begins at bottom calf is way too loose.... oh well, maybe that works for some folks, but I'm guessing not for most. I've had more "unfun" with Sock wars than fun--at mostly with pattern issues, or lack of communication with the moderator; this was my last time.

I did meet a new friend through SWIII--wave to Della. She's way cool. Head on over and meet her too. She was my target, since my death, she's been granted a reprieve.

I've got tons blooming in my yard... you'll have to wait for pix as my dear husband hasn't put them in the shared pictures file yet. He's turned into our yard photographer. As he's doing an awesome job, I'm content to let that continue!

I've also got plants that have gone missing in my yard.... between 2007's late frost and this year's hard winter, they said, ciao! It has given us an opportunity to assess some structure in our yard. I'll never never stop being a plopper, but maybe with some forethought? maybe. I went crazy, again, at the native plant sale last weekend. and the last few mornings have been planting different species in different spots throughout the yard to determine where they will do their best. Only time will tell. I did try to get plants that will bloom throughout the summer--cannot wait for the show.

Loot!

2008-04-26T13:53:00.000-05:00

My Caffeine Swap Partner, Susan, sent me ALL this! Look, Panda cotton, POSH yarn, Online, TWO mugs, and Trader Joe decaf. plus CANDY--WOOT! I love Swaps. Never know how much you are going to get spoiled. and it sure is a way to try new yarn you just might not have tried. Thanks girl!

Spring took a left turn and headed out of central IA. we're watching temps and looking out for frost advisories now. WTF? And my husband just doesn't want to watch his tulips take the beating they took last year, so he is cringing as they are all budding out. We're looking for a cloudy night tonight, and hoping this wind will stop bringing in more cold air. Good grief. Isn't there enough damage between last year's freeze, this year's cold winter --NO more I say, NO more!!!

Hard to believe in global warming this year......

Another finished pair off the needles

2008-04-23T09:31:00.007-05:00

I finally finished my pair of SKP (sock knitter's pentathalon) socks for March/April. (SKP2008 is closed for this year, but stay tuned for next year!) It was a nice pattern to follow. I will probably do it again. Please do not enlarge pattern to view mistakes. I used Sandness Garn Lanett for the yarn which I bought at my friend Amber's shop MisKnits in Kansas City. I really really liked this yarn for socks! On the gardening front, it is SPRING. I'm calling it it my yard. I have tons of green pushing its way to the sun. and blooms galore and blooms teasing me. I do have some daffodils not blooming that should be that I'm wondering didn't take a harder hit in last years' freeze than I thought. Some need to be divided so I will be doing that also this year. Always a to do list, isn't there? The peas we planted about 10 days ago are poking their heads through, grateful to see the sun and feel the warmth. We do see some problem areas we need to address, last year's freeze thaw did hurt some grass areas that see heavy traffic from the dogs, as much as we are iffy on grass, we don't want "dirt" so we'll be fixing that, today, as a matter of fact. Also, we found garlic mustard last year, along the creek, and in one spot in the garden we have along the bike trail. It is back. So, I hit it hard with foam roundup, and we'll need to keep it on our weekly watch list. Garlic mustard is very invasive and can take over an area fast! I'll leave you today with some images of a new crocus in our garden. The crocus is crocusma "remembrance". I bought with some birthday money I received last year. O course, I bought it from one of my favorite place... White Flower Farms. pictures were taken by my husband, video made by me and picasa2. we're still learning but I think it turned out great!

look what the postman delivered today

2008-04-14T15:26:00.000-05:00

another little package from the loopy ewe. I LOVE the LOOPY EWE. Sheri has the most amazing selection and she's always ready and willing to answer questions when I want to make pattern substitutions.

and this little treat I received today? just one more thoughtful package Sheri put together. Its called don't be blue. its for those of us that didn't make it into the 2008 sock club this year. I ordered on sat, recd today. ROCK on. smooshy yarn and a pattern called ankle biters. right into the queue it went.

last week I ordered my yarn for the loopy swap. I can't wait to spoil my partner. and with that order, I became a loopy groupie. we'll see what happens next.

ssshhhh. don't tell anyone, but spring may have arrived. temperature forecasts indicate no more freakin' snow. we'll see, last year we sure we're surprised! but my yard is yearning for the sun, ME too. I'm trying to stay positive and am just grateful for the sun today.

I'm also grateful that I'm 97% done with taxes, and that once again, I managed our money well enough to only owe the govt $200. This is my goal every year. I refuse to use the feds as a savings acct (uhhmm, interest free, duh!)so I strive for no refund, and yet, who wants a big tax bill? its been a little bit more interesting since I've become self employed but its worked out ok both years.

Dead, again

2008-04-08T18:05:00.000-05:00

Look what arrived today!!!

Aren't these beautiful? new socks from a knitting partner in a game called sockquest. and little treats too, aren't I lucky?

and aren't they smashing on me?

and now, I send, my socks back to her... I learned a new technique working on these socks. Two socks at one time on magic loop. WOOT! It was a little fiddly at first, but then it flowed well.

hmm, I wonder what my next project is... oh, yeah, that's right, sock pentathalon socks.. dean's socks.. Jess's projects, a new quilt, my garden and that pesky thing called work!

catch up

2008-04-07T19:53:00.001-05:00

Hey look!! I'm done with the scrap quilt I was making for my friend called "pie chart.". once I figured out that you really do need to follow the pattern directions, it moved right along. I've actually been done for awhile, just needed to post pix. This is what I was working on during my 10 minutes per day quilting time inspired by http://quilting-diva.blogspot.com/2008/02/quilt-every-day.html. I will use this pattern again, I did like how the pattern turned out--and it worked out great with scrap fabrics!

In other news, I didn't make it through round 2 of sock madness... bummer! the pattern for round 2 really slowed me down. I did however learn how to make a garter stitch short row heel! this was cool. I will definitely try again next year.

I'm in another sock game. just started last week and I've already been notified my socks are on their way. this is ok, I'll just keep knitting until they arrive, the pattern is fun.

I'm not sure spring is ever going to seriously arrive here in central IA. my crocuses are up, tulips are pushing their way, other plants are budding, yet snow/rain mix predicted for the rest of the week. blech. I need some seriously sunny days. We did get some good yard clean up done (without the sun) on sunday, and our peas are planted!

Made it through round 1 of sock madness

2008-03-21T22:30:00.000-05:00

Woot Woot! I'm done. Round 1 and it looks like I made it.

The Zombies strike

2008-03-20T17:30:00.000-05:00

I have finished sock one of SockMadness2 round 1. I am on the foot of sock 2. Yarn? lorna's laces cherry jubilee.

Spring is around the corner, its hard to stay inside and focused during the day! I'm waiting for my first flower now that the snow is FINALLY gone!

and, I'm alive....

2008-03-09T16:43:00.001-05:00

aren't these cool? they turned out so nice. these are my artist trading cards I made for the ATC swap for Project Spectrum. And I made them in the midst of my death, seriously bowled over by the respiratory influenza a. I haven't been this sick in ages. today, sunday, is the first day in 13 days I've felt close to being alive. and, it is just barely. I couldn't read, touch email, etc. and all I've done is cough. but I managed to get these out in time. and I was very happy with them. Woot Woot!

love, laughter, smiles, grins, hugs, and a hat

2008-02-25T10:44:00.005-06:00

This weekend was spent with family.. the best kind of family. Giggles, laughter--we had it all. spending time with our brothers, their wives and their children, it it simply doesn't get any better. we love and adore them, they love and adore us. and as adults we've forged bonds that cross the marriage spectrum also. dean and i are very blessed. and isn't it cool that they have children the same age? Our Jess got their total attention as a child growing up, now their children get ours.

I would say that there exist a thousand unbreakable links between each of us and everything else . . . The farthest star and the mud at our feet are a family; and there is no decency or sense in honoring one thing, or a few things, and then closing the list. The pine tree, the leopard, the Platte River, and ourselves--we are at risk together, or we are on our way to a sustainable world together. We are each other's destiny.--Mary Oliver

oh, and I finished a hat! the lollipop hat. little Eric, held by dean was the lucky recipient.

Global Warming--what do you believe?

2008-02-21T10:25:00.002-06:00

So, after all the hysteria from Al Gore has settled down what do you believe about global warming?

I believe we're coming out of an ice age. I've read several papers and understand that some of the data we're basing initial CO2 levels on is probably flawed. I also know that some places where we're capturing "baseline" temperatures whereas at one point they were in the middle of nowhere they are now surrounded by asphalt and cities, which can significantly alter their readings. I also know that capturing 50 years of climatic data, isn't a model of world changes. Hell, lets face it, we can't accurately predict the weather on a day to day basis.

On the other hand.... I also believe that, as a rule, humans are pigs and we, especially the last two gimme generations --and the one we're raising now, wow, can I see it in kids, believe that anything they want they can have instantaneously--and even more so, that they should. this has several (un)intended consequences. I use paranthesis because when we refuse to think about the effects of our actions, they become intended consequences. the whole plastic water bottle phenomena--is it really that hard to bottle water from your tap? plastic materials period... we all know, we've been told a million times that plastics are one of the hardest materials on the environment in terms of energy to produce and that once produced, here forever.. yet I don't see a lot of thought in folks as they merrily walk down the aisles of anywhere picking up plastic. esp junk plastic--that irritates me the most. or being unwilling to pay a couple more dollars for ketchup in a glass container. does it take more effort to be an efficient consumer and say no to your kids? sure it does. will it pay off in the long run? I'll let you work that out in your own head. we do it, it takes conscious thought all the time, and sure its easy to be lazy. but I just keep coming back to the idea of: I worked hard for my money and I want to spend it responsibly.

another thing that bothers me is the assumption that if it is on the shelves it must be ok... hairspray or thalidomide anyone?

the FDA or pharmaceutical companies haven't shown me they have my best interests at stake yet.

think for yourselves. its only your lives, and the lives of your grandchildren at stake.

Wow! I am so spoiled again...

2008-02-19T15:18:00.000-06:00

All this--on a cold cold day.

Thanks Daisy! What an awesome shawl! and it is made out of sea silk. yummy! and the yarn you sent me? ready for spring colors for sure!

Thanks!

Save the Date

2008-02-18T13:37:00.002-06:00

Be the change you want the world to see

just do it

http://www.earthhour.org/

unfinished project

2008-02-11T13:01:00.000-06:00

when is a quilt not a quilt?

when you take multiple numbers of blocks you have labored over and go to make the final strips

and, realize that half of what you've made have been put together wrong.

yes, this is why you need to read the directions.

I felt no need to post pictures, my pain was complete over the weekend.

the picture I posted here? done correctly.

yahoo! as the other candidates drop out, one pops in

2008-02-06T14:55:00.000-06:00

yep, you read it here.

Dolores has announced. details here.

Fibertarians Unite!

Are you Tough Enough?

2008-02-05T15:28:00.000-06:00

just one more reason to love cowboys..sigh

These guys have always had my heart. and now, one more reason!

I love a man in boots, hat and now, pink!

Thanks, Erica

2008-02-04T18:34:00.000-06:00

you made my day. and articulated my thoughts on Obama.

by the way Kristol, I'm proud to be a white woman. leading around all the men by being a problem. DEAL!

let's go super tuesday!

they're back

2008-02-04T17:07:00.000-06:00

why can't some things just stay dead and buried

like these pants...

I thought they were ugly the first time around, well ok, unless you were a three year old.

give me grace and patience, please.

I'm tired of this administration and this congress...

2008-02-04T11:07:00.000-06:00

Rather than support that decision by spending this rebate on consumer goods, we will:

1) pay down our debts.
2) invest the money in a savings account.
3) donate the money to those working for justice, peace, social equality, and environmental responsibility.
4) and if we must spend spend spend, we will use the money to buy local, environmentally sustainable goods and services.

and we plan to do the same with any tax rebate we get also.

Isn't this hot?

2008-01-30T14:01:00.000-06:00

Another monkey sock by Cookie A. I'm using ShiBui superwash merino in Orchid. guess who its for??? perhaps another loopy groupie? perhaps not....

and isn't it in the hot new colorways for Project Spectrum 3.0. I'm just right in tune.

a little quilting update

2008-01-28T10:26:00.000-06:00

This is a quilt I'm working on for a friend. I'm using old clothes and material from clothing she used for her daughter. we also picked out the pink as the background material. I'll keep you posted as I progress.

and, I'm dead again, or wow, am I a slow knitter or what

2008-01-28T10:22:00.000-06:00

ok, here's a picture of the sock I knitted in the time it took for my assassin to knit me these....
aren't they beautiful? I wore them this weekend. I love them. How did she know that these are some of my favorite colors? and they fit so well. I just hope my victim likes mine when she gets them. and that my co-assassin and I can knit well in tandem.

My reading challenge for 2008

2008-01-23T12:38:00.001-06:00

A Year of Living Dangerously. Time to push outside my comfort zone on reading. What's first? Great Expectations by Dickens. Better get going, I've got a late start.

Woot Woot one more blue item

2008-01-20T16:15:00.000-06:00

I think I predicted more blue items coming off my needles. and I'm meeting that prediction. The right hand mitten. still needs to be felted.
Pattern: Hand Jive by knitability. Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns.

In other news... I recd an email this weekend informing my of my impending death.... can't wait to see my new socks!

Death by Socks spoiler

2008-01-16T09:57:00.000-06:00

received the pattern yesterday but couldn't start until last night. woot woot. first time in this game that I could sit down and just wip something out in an hour or two. problem? love the pattern and this yarn. kind of cried. and my husband actually said, honey just go buy different yarn tomorrow and start over. hmmm... then I thought... no way, I'm not going down this time. I can get cool yarn any time. Claire, watch out!
aren't these monkey socks turning out cool? I love these in the zitron trekking... and in my colors too. imagine that...

I love a finished sock

2008-01-13T14:35:00.000-06:00

even if it is just the first one... and I dug right in and started the second one.

Garter rib. sensational knitted socks by Charlene Schurch

claudia's handpaints in boot camp. (soon to be my one and only sockyarn choice I think...) with contrasting yarn, lorna's laces in charcoal. I had a minor problem going to the lorna's laces that resulted in my favorite word being used once or twice. for the toe on the second sock, switching to wood needles or going down in one size, whichever works best.

best part, fit my husband's foot perfectly. yes.

First Knitted FO of 2008

2008-01-07T12:56:00.000-06:00

Yeah my first knitted project of 2008. A hat for Jess. The first of many blue projects that will come off the needles.
I modified the sweetie pie hat from the purl bee. I'm definitely going to use this pattern again. I used this yarn from Spritely Goods.
I love the crown portion on this hat. I would like to get it back and finish it closed more, but I can't have it back. It simply won't be returned.

I've also finished the Jessica project as much as I can. The rest is now simply up her.

Iowa Votes

2008-01-04T09:15:00.000-06:00

And while I'm disappointed about how Hillary's placement, I'm also way pumped about the turnout. I don't know about everyone else's precinct but ours was PACKED. My husband had to drop us off and park two blocks away and we were at a new middle school! and all the kids my daughter's age that showed up--what an effect on them--for them to think they actually had an impact, because they did... and they'll come back due to the fact they were part of a transformative event! and that's cool. I know my daughter was excited and chattering with friends all night on the phone.

BUT Obama will have to come up with plans now... its one thing to say we want something different, we all do, but whats he going to bring to the table?

the other states voters will have to ask that question now. Meanwhile Hillary will continue to provide answers and be the Democratic candidate who can be the president on the first day.

GO HILLARY.

Our family word for 2008

2008-01-01T11:18:00.000-06:00

is Food source...

and here's a post that really sums up our continuing thoughts on food. We made a pledge as a family a few years ago to move our dollars to local foods and coops as much as we could. every year we do a little more. This year, we'll take these kinds of thoughts into our heads. we buy very little processed food as it is... as Pollan says, holding food in our hands and asking if our great grandma would have eaten it... that's a great question!

Happy New Year.

In truth I love Dennis too

2007-12-31T15:20:00.000-06:00

here's a great article written by Amanda at Common Sense. How do I resolve the peace loving idealism I feel in my heart for Dennis with my choice for Hillary? I want the world Dennis wants, but I need to pick a candidate this time around that I feel is electable. I can go caucus for Dennis, he won't be viable at my precinct and I'll end up moving over to Hillary. Maybe that's what I should do, in my mind it would work out perfectly, I could stand up and be counted for both! hmmmm.

2008 and resolutions

2007-12-31T10:31:00.000-06:00

I don't know about anybody else, but making resolutions hasn't really worked for me. Oh, I've made plenty... and probably the one that worked the best was the unintentional one about 11 years ago, when in the dead of winter post christmas, pre New years, I realized I'd gone three days without a cigarette and "resolved" to continue... and I have. Technically not a NY's resolution, but still... it worked.

but this year, I was intrigued and challenged and taken in by an idea Christine Kane has on her blog the other day, Resolution Revolution. Her idea was to pick one word, one word to be your word for the year. What an idea! and due to several thoughts, ideas and activities over the last few months, without a lot of contemplation, the word that sprang to mind and stayed with me throughout the weekend was: INTENTIONS. Intentions, to do my actions with intent. to do the actions I intend to do. I don't intend for this to be a heavy word for me this year, just a thought provoking and thought intending word.

What's your word for the year?

The Girl in the Cafe

2007-12-27T15:20:00.000-06:00

A while ago I signed up to receive a DVD on tour. The name of the DVD is called The Girl in the Cafe, info on the tour can be found here. Ingrid is doing a great job of getting this dvd on the circuit. (I personally am a one-person slow down) This movie is about one person speaking out and actually moving out of their comfort zone and saying/doing something about a situation they care about. This movie is about making you aware of a situation. Yes, the movie is centered around a G8 conference and whether or not the G8 nations are going to do something about international poverty. I felt the actual storyline was more than that... I felt it was about our personal responsibility to take a look around us and become aware of what is going on in our world. Become aware and informed. I've always felt that it is important to become knowledgeable about issues--we can't know about them all, so pick one or two, know them and care about them. share the information you have with your friends. and elect your officials based on their knowledge.

One thing I do know, global economics is not going to solve poverty issues, the only thing global economics is going to do is make money for Walmart; and they aren't helping poverty issues at all--at home or abroad--as a matter of fact, they create them. it is one reason why I simply refuse to give them one penny of my money. I work hard for my money and I refuse to hand it over to people who act and think like they do. Another economic practice we do at home, is to imagine the person's face that made the object we're buying--if we can't do it... ie it is a nameless endless factory issue, we really question whether we need or want it. we do this with all our purchases and have for several years. our practices may not stop poverty but we'd like to think they don't help create the economic black holes.

We also reuse, reduce and recycle as much as possible. I love consigment shops.

Economic responsibility begins at home for all nations. As individuals, we need to look at ourselves and see what we're contributing and also force our elected officials to actually make a difference. something we've obviously not been doing the last 8 years. giving doesn't come with strings. it comes with benefits.

Thanks for the DVD tour, Ingrid, I'm posting it now to New York.

Hillary for President

2007-12-27T13:04:00.001-06:00

Hillary Hillary Hillary

This is who I pick... for several reasons. I think its time for a woman president. We moved to a place in our world where the spirit of cooperation needs to reign and there are inherent abilities a woman brings to a position. Hillary also brings a wealth of experience and intelligence. I also admire her because although she has been attacked attacked and attacked again simply based on gender (nice one yesterday Fred) she has refused to do anything but stay on focus for issues over the last 20 years. I appreciate her focus on health care, and I think she is really the only one who can think like a mother, and its time a mother steps up and takes care of this country.

Hillary, its the right thing to do.

blue days

2007-12-19T14:13:00.000-06:00

Aren't these pretty? sensing a theme? I'm working on some winter projects for my daughter and she is a blue lover. One is the Classic Elite Lush scarf -- isn't that yarn gorgeous? and the pattern is working up so nice. the other is a mitten pattern from knitability.com called Hand Jive. the yarn is andy's merino from farmhouse yarns. I'll keep you posted as to the progress.

waiting patiently...

2007-12-19T12:36:00.000-06:00

A lifestyle return...

When we purchased this property back in '93, besides the house directly behind us, all we could see when we looked out our back window was farm fields. We knew all the land had been platted for building and it was only a matter of time..... and that housing buildup has come and gone. and the wildlife along the creek is slowly returning. and altho this image is a mite blurry; and shows the creek and treeline much closer than it actually is, it is nice to see that hawk sitting there. he/she gets chased out quite frequently by the blackbirds, but he/she returns. he/she also sits pretty regularly in the trees in our yard. and while our dogs chase out all other birds, they have a reverent respect for this one. and while I like seeing this one around I warn her/him all the time that my white cat is not food.

Look what I got in the mail

2007-12-18T13:02:00.000-06:00

Yes, I'm a slacker Secret Pal... it took me a few days to get to the post office. and then a few days to post. I apologize -- and I love your goodies!

Can you see all the goodies she sent me? I am soooo spoiled...

chocolate, stickers, two, two skeins of yarn, the book knit scarves (that I was just eyeing at the store) more lavendar, bubble bath fizz, notebook... it is endless. Thanks Secret Pal... you are a treat!

starts and finishes

2007-12-03T12:27:00.000-06:00

Here are some socks I finished and started in the last week or two. I finally finished my hogwarts socks.. way past the deadline.. poor pal. my fault for picking a pattern that, while beautiful, is tedious, and time consuming, even if worked on every single day, with size 1 needles. great sock yarn from dharfarmey fibers though!

The socks I started on are for... ssshhh.... but don't they look nice? Claudia's handpaints, lorna's laces for the heels and toes, and a nice pattern from charlene Schurch. great combos, as long as I remain a steady knitter!

Aren't these beautiful?

2007-12-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

I took a little time for one of my other loves on Saturday and took a quilting class. I've always wanted to learn how to make quilts like Karen Stone does. and hopefully I'm on my way. These are definitely process quilts though! First you need to select your colors, then do the cut outs--how long has it been since I used templates? and then, my favorite part, the paper piecing! and oh, the arc sewing--but that actually went together easier than I thought yahoo!

And aren't they pretty? only 34 more to go.

Gratitude

2007-11-27T14:09:00.000-06:00

The fourth Thursday of November is not the only day to give thanks, but a good reminder to list out loud what things we are grateful in our lives, so here, in no particular order Jess, in case this is the one day you decide to read my blog...

1. My daughter Jessica.. 22yrs old and graduating this december. the graduating is my expectations being met I know... but still I'm excited. She'll be moving away from central Iowa but its time we all grow up...

2. My husband Dean... who just this morning drove all the way back 35 miles so he could be with me while I tried to capture that rascal Spencer....

3. All the animals in this house... Gretchen, Madaline, Gabriel and yes, even that rascal Spencer who took total advantage of the nice guy at the dog food place and squirmed (yes Mr. Muscle) out of the car while he was trying to put the bag in... he then proceeded to run in the neighborhood (rural) for 45 mins before he finally came to me. Spencer will be spending the next few days in some serious call/recall training.

4. Matthew.

5. Knitting and quilting and all things fiber.

6. Growing, every day.

7. Home, local foods and work to keep me busy.

Wow, I won!

2007-11-09T16:50:00.000-06:00

If I said, I hardly ever win... you'd say sure, me neither.

but today, I received an email from DonorsChoose.org informing me that because I blogged about my participation, I won in a drawing, and I had a gift certificate I could put towards another challenge. So, I immediately did. For the 3 or 4 of you that read the site... click on the site link, head over, check out the straw poll that makes a difference, or the bloggers challenge and working together with others just like you across the US, help teachers make a difference in the classroom. These teachers know what makes their students tick, and they just need a few dollars to bring some unique teaching tools to their classrooms.

Caffeine swap II on Ravelry--am I a lucky gal or what?

2007-11-07T09:30:00.001-06:00

Here's what I found on my doorstep this week

and all the goodies exposed: two skeins of sock yarn (yahoo!) in colors out of my normal colorways and I love them. stitch markers, dark chocolate, a new mug, green tea and whole decaf starbucks beans. My swap partner read my mind. I hope she reveals herself to me soon. Thanks swap partner, I'll be thinking of you often. Now, I must finish up my shopping at my LYS to get my package out the door so I can make someone else's day.

A Little Yarny Update

2007-11-01T14:10:00.000-05:00

Now that Socktoberfest is over, and I cast on several socks, but unfortunately did not finish a single one.. I've joined up here. This project commitment shall help me finish the projects I've started, resist the yarny calling and appreciate the stash goodness I already have. So help me Yarn Goddess.

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T14:15:00.000-05:00

How appropriate that I have an update for my
The first book is a collection of short stories. The book is titled: Strange Happenings: 5 tales of transformation The author is Avi. These short stories are tales of transformations the main characters of each stories undergo. I don't recall that the transformations are positive in nature and usually are the result of some lesson learned by the character; as such I would say these tales are fairy tale in nature. There is one about a cat and a boy, I won't give anything away, but this was my favorite of the 5, especially because the story line didn't give anything away.

My second book to write about today is The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. This story was written interview style about a woman developing her goddess spirituality, intuition and techniques over time. Also, what can happen to a person if they are perceived as a healer and gain a following. And, what conditions for acceptance can be placed on a person. A line immediately into the book: "no one places her dreams in the hands of those might destroy them. no one that is, but athena." really caught my attention. but also.. it made me think.. don't we all sometimes hand our dreams over to those who don't treat them well?

So, for the RIP II, I chose Peril 1, read four books.. I believe I've done this with one to spare, yeah me! and I've pushed myself to read books I wouldn't have read otherwise--cool ones too!

Voting for the presidency with your dollars?

2007-10-25T15:02:00.001-05:00

Hey why not? Corporations have been doing it for years... go to this website: and while logging a vote for your fav candidate--fund some educational projects in the classroom. and let your local teachers know about the projects at donorschoose.org also, there isn't any reason, if you live in IA, you couldn't be funding projects in IA.

Look what the postman delivered to me!!!

2007-10-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to receive this package... and it came in an envelope labelled Royal Mail. Since my husband in entered in Crown Tournament for the Kingdom of Calontir in a couple of weeks.... is this foreshadowing? Perhaps, but I think it is rather an indication of international mail.

Inside was so many goodies, I'm not sure I'm going to know where to start.. I received yarns from POSH! the Yarn Yard and some silk from Hip Knits. And if that wasn't enough, my SP spoiled me in lavendar--how did she know? I will be totally in the bath. Sorry honey, not my fault, blame SP... Thank You Secret Pal! I hope you are getting spoiled equally as much!

just another sunday

2007-10-21T16:15:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I finished Coraline by Neil Gaiman. This is another YA book. It is about a young girl exploring an alternate world in a flat next door to hers, inhabited by her "other mother" and "other father" and by the other folks that share the apartment building she lives in. I liked the nice touch about the cat that can be in both places. It was a good read, and I liked the part about being brave and overcoming fears. One might be wondering if all I read is YA books...nope but they are usually good stories, and lately, ones I haven't encountered before... I do find the sci fi ones particularly enchanting.

I'm also keeping busy with my socks.. altho I have no new pix to upload to show. I'm busiest with my hogwarts socks as I'm on deadline.. plus I want to get them done so I can cast on some new socks I'll be telling you about.

I'm also busy uploading my stash and project info to Ravelry. My ID is knittinggardener (go figure). I upload a few things and then I get distracted by looking all around. I think I've put 10k items into faves. A girl just has to have goals.

as I was just saying...

2007-10-18T11:01:00.000-05:00

I was just saying in my journal yesterday that I was going to start following the poster I have up in my office by eleanor roosevelt in order to move through some items on my work and personal task list... and then reading Carla's blog today, I stumbled across the link to this awesome project. You know, there is such a thing as synchronicity and flow. I have a list of items I need to get done. I am going to commit to this project for one month from today. Today's item? Finish up three old items on some overdue work lists--why do they scare me? I don't think I know all the answers... and for me, that is a difficult place to be in.

endings and beginnings

2007-10-17T08:47:00.001-05:00

I finished Neil Gaiman's and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens: the nice and accurate prophecies of agnes nutter, witch just this morning. and apparently I've been missing something all these years. it was great. I loved the storyline, and I love the type of humor that was in this book. I appreciated the tensions between good and evil and I think it would be funny to see an american version of this.. wonder what it would be like in a movie?

And I cast on for another project. We're headed to Phoenix for Thanksgiving to celebrate my dad's 25th wedding anniversary. We'll be joined by my darling niece and nephew so I cast on for a hat for my nephew Chase. Taylor already has one for Winter from me. I'm concerned about my tension.... I usually use the larger needles as I tend to knit tightly, but I may have to go up one more as I was ok on the natural color but got tight on the yellow color... I think I might take it out (gasp) and redo with size 7's just to see how what I get.. I do want it to fit after all... I do love Morehouse Merino kits. This is the second one I have worked on.. the first one was a scarf for my husband, and I loved it.

Books books books

2007-10-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

I love books. Recently I finished The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer. Book one of the dark reflections. This is another young adult book I just found fascinating. Set in Venice, in a timeframe oddly parellel. it is about orphans, light and shadow, water and stone. Venice is the island under siege. the world is a different place and egypt is under control, but Hell could help out! Flying stone lions, and mermaids are in this book, along with the Flowing Queen, is she a goddess, or an essence? read the book to find out!

and one more: A Harvest of Changelings by Warren Rochelle. This book was about a man (Ben) who married a Fairie and they had a son. This son, along with three others formed a tetrad, and they were called back to the Other world once they reached puberty. Ben must help his son get to the Fairy gate, amid all sorts of "happenings" around that crazy Samhein in North Carolina. This book mixed celtic beliefs and Christianity, which I liked. I was kind of confused about it all happening in NC, which was never really explained, and there were other parts that were skimmed over, but all in all an ok read.

Couldn't have said it better myself

2007-10-16T10:26:00.000-05:00

I think clean water is very very important and I think we are all PERSONALLY responsible for doing what we can to make sure the water around us is clean. and that means doing our part before we start pointing fingers.. and I can be a ranter when folks start pointing fingers before they've taken responsibility.. just ask me.

that being said... I'm tired of plastic water bottles.. I'm tired of folks not being willing to bottle up water before they leave their houses... (and please don't reuse plastic bottles not intended for reuse, they leach plasticizers, harbor bacteria, ech! and are generally unsafe) and the assumption that the sealed bottled water you are drinking is safe..huh...naive at best

but I'm going to let this link give you the other real scoop, the drain on our local resources that these water bottles are.. the water bottle scoop

Catch up

2007-10-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

Its raining outside, again, today.. so with a stomach full of some great cinnamon rolls my husband made for me this morning.. I'll try to do a little catch up. first things first.. My Secret pal overseas finally recd her first package I sent way back in Sept!! yeah. I'm so glad our guys don't do postal strikes. you know, I like mail... and I appreciate receiving more than the usual bills, so I'm glad we have more than email. and at the great prices we get for the service. I did try another way of getting her happy halloween package to her this month--we'll see how it works out.

Gardening.. end of year chores... as usual we've put them off lollygagging outside when the days were nice--its our usual way. today in btween cloud bursts, we'll try to get some bulbs planted, and I'd like to get some suet feeders filled.. we'll see how it goes, as I'm also aiming for the Elizabeth II movie this afternoon.

and for some knitting...

I've been working on some socks around here... I've got two in the works specifically because of Soctoberfest... let me show you how they look:
this one is my Monkey sock by Cookie A. I have wanted to do this pattern for a long time. I loved this Trekking yarn, hunted for it all over the place once I saw it on the internet.. and saw how someone used it on Ravelry and am loving how it looks. And it is so EASY for me. This next one I am calling my Halloween sock. I am using the Candy corn special edition yarn by Lorna's Laces. I am using the Wollmeise Sock pattern designed by Monica Jines. I downloaded the pattern off Loopy Ewe.

and here's a little preview of this... with this:

With all this knitting.. I'm getting a little TV time. perhaps too much for my psyche.

RIP update

2007-10-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

I finished The book without words: a fable of medieval magic by Avi this weekend. The tale was about a servant girl, a raven and two green eyed boys entwined after a sorcerer appears to be dead after completing some magic from his book. The book tells the tale of gaining trust between strangers, and what happens if you don't. It is also a tale of alchemy and medieval lifestyles and beliefs. I love the young adult stories that are out there today. Wish that as many would have been available when I was growing up. Keep writing Avi!

The red scarf project

2007-10-05T16:47:00.000-05:00

When knitting daily put out their blurb on the red scarf project, I looked at the pattern and decided I really liked it this one. I thot about doing the project last year, thot about it alot--right on past the date for doing it. But not this year, this year, I went out and got the yarn, Galway to be exact, and cast on--and this is my project to date. Like those nifty stitch markers? I made them myself... with some help from my SIL Tamara, and some inspiration from here.

An addition to our family

2007-10-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Meet Spencer!

I casually mentioned to my husband on Saturday that perhaps it was time we started perusing the selections at the local animal shelters. Gretchen recently turned 2 and she is pretty well trained for us now and she is so high energy (as a border collie/spaniel mix would be!) and coming on winter it was time to start looking for her new buddy. I don't think either one of us envisioned that we'd find one right off the bat, or that we'd get so lucky and he'd be so cute. Spencer is an 11 mos old german short hair pointer mix. he is our first wirehair. He is very well-behaved--so far! we'll see what I say two weeks from now. Gretchen and Spencer's energy levels mix well. We called our vet on saturday before we introduced gretchen and that was the one thing she said we would be happy about.... so far, so great! And, so far, Gretchen is IN CHARGE. Spencer likes us, and likes her too. He really prefers if one of us is around so that is good, we don't want him to bond too tightly to her, as that will make it hard to train him. And Gretchen still prefers her alone time, and her Mom time, so I'm making sure I'm paying attention to that also. Spencer came from a family home so he likes children and he's had some basic command training. He's had some trouble adjusting to ringing the bell to go outside, so btw that and the "new house" we've had a couple of accidents, but we're adjusting.

and, I can't even begin to express how excited Madaline and Gabriel are about a new puppy in the house....

its this hot in September?

2007-09-21T12:53:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how warm it is for September 21st.. 82 degrees at noon. and today, how windy. poor plants, they are really suffering today.

I took Gretchen on a walk today (small token on my runagogo goal) and despite temps you can tell that the trees, bushes, grasses and wildlife are responding to the less daylight hours and that the Autumnal equinox is almost here.

we have plenty left to do before we call it "fall" in our yard so I'm grateful for these temps that keep the soil temp up! mainly moving some hostas from one area to another, that is the one plant goal I have for this weekend.

on the knitting front, I am sending out a package today to my SP11 secret pal. I sure hope she likes it as I tried to send her a package for her. additionally, I'm working on my hogwart's pal socks, I cannot believe some are done already! and I'm totally in love with the scarf for the red scarf project.

and, I've already fallen in love with the tilted duster, due to Ravelry.

and you thought you'd never hear from me again....

Yahoo

2007-09-20T12:55:00.000-05:00

I received my invitation to Ravelry today...

and while I've only spent like 5 minutes there....

you may never ever hear from me again.

ok. just kidding, but its wonderful. but I'll try not to rave too much for those that aren't on yet.

and now I must get my camera rolling... after I get done looking at all the other gorgeous bits of inspiration there!

What's blooming in our neck of the woods?

2007-09-16T11:12:00.001-05:00

Despite the near freezing temps the other night our gardens are still growing strong. This was the first of seven predicted polar blasts this winter, per our ISU extension specialist. I'll have to keep track to see if they come true, and frankly, I'll take all seven if they are as mild as the other night! Our vegetable garden is still going, although it is in the last of its final push on peppers and tomatoes. yet again, no watermelon this year. I'm not sure what we're doing wrong but I'll try again in a different spot next year. We have several sedums throughout the yard putting on their final shade of colors. We also have purple (native and non native), pink, black lady and white asters blooming, and blue lobelia. Helenium was also blooming, I don't know if the cold spell will have knocked them back. Red nasturiums are blooming again in the herb garden. Zinnias and cosmos are still going, although the cosmos look a little worse for wear due to the cold. Scabiosas are blooming as well as some hostas and some heucharas. I still am harvesting rasberries everyday. Verbenias, petunias... native and some in baskets. Morning glories are awesome. And I have some hardy mums that just can't say no to this weather. I hope to pick up some of that beautiful kale this weekend as an accent, it sure looks pretty against frost--altho the weather man says we'll have warmer than normal temps now--good thing, we still have plenty to do outside.

On the needles? well, this september and my virgo urgings have stirred up the desire for new projects in me. I've adopted the red scarf project and picked the pattern from knitting daily. I got some galway yarn from my friend Amber's shop, MISKNITs in Kansas City yesterday and got started right, I'm hooked already! Plus, as usual, a couple of pairs of socks. and I'm definitely moving my sites to fall and winter projects regardless of temperatures.

My allergies are AWFUL this year... they are really keeping me in the house. it is too bad as this is one of my favorite times of the year.

And, its been awhile...

2007-09-03T11:16:00.000-05:00

Carl, has this awesome idea for a reading challenge, RIP II, and since my third favorite thing to do, is read! I'm all for it. I haven't decided which peril I will undertake, but I plan to do that before the end of the week. Gothic horror isn't my usual genre, but it could be this fall!

We recently scored big on plants--150 free ones to be exact so this last week has been busy with planting a few plants at a time. My fall allergies have been extreme so I can only be outside moments before I rush back in and wash off pollen and rest for awhile. We also added more plants to the cul-de-sac planting out front. We still have some to go, esp in the new patio garden we are putting in out back.. but we are taking today off literally. Altho I did have to go water some new plants we put in yesterday at one of my rain gardens in town.

On the knitting front, sad to say, but I died... my beautiful socks from Scotland arrived in my socks of death game. I sent my SIP's back to her. I couldn't get into that pattern, I found it boring and just well, very uninspiring.

I'm working on my HP pals socks and looking toward fall patterns.

Additional SP11 questions

2007-08-20T11:48:00.001-05:00

Hmmm...I'd better answer these quickly to meet the 22nd deadline. I can be a spacecase about some things...

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? clearly for me it is stitch markers. I use them to keep track of where I'm at, different stitches, etc. They are real time savers for me. and I sure do like all the cute inventive ones out there. and this last week on vacation, my SIL taught me how to make some.
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project? I always take projects with me, the more the better, that way I have something to choose from regardless of what we're doing. I'm sure my husband gets tired of the project bags. Me, I feel rich with possibilities.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? The black hills of south dakota, followed by north carolina. and jamaica.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? no fav at the moment, altho I'd like to see that new Cat Bordhi book.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? on and off, i'm always looking for new ones and could always take some direction!