Oreos
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Peace and Quiet !
Topic: Babies

I've been so terrible at keeping up with my blog this summer. We recently adopted our ten year old Sierra and got a new foster placement.  D is a cute little nine year old who keeps me quite busy. She's decided she is staying with us so I think adoption number five will take place sometime next summer...

Mike, Karrie and Kat came up to visit for the 4th.  Kat had a great time eating Oreos on Thursday night with the girls.  She's growing up so darned fast.

 

 

Babette Blanket
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Knitting

 

Decided I needed to get some of my acrylic stash used up.  I am hoping to make each of our adult children a Babette Blanket for Christmas. This one is for Ben and Crystal.

Knitting Sheep
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Knitting

Western Reserve Knitting Guild will be knitting Sheep next month. Here's one of my samples. Isn't she the cutest knitter ever?

 

 

Weekend
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Babies
Got to spend three days with my favorite 19 month old, tiny, little Miss.  Don't you love the glasses?

 

Card
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: The sweeper is running

Had to show off this hysterical card our friends, Mel and Cathi got Wayne for his birthday!

 

 

Hummer
Mood:  a-ok

Sierra and Brandi giving our new dog Hummer some love. He's such a good boy!

 

More of the Prom
Mood:  lazy
Topic: Family
More prom pics

 

Beth and Matt at the Prom
Mood:  bright
Topic: Family

 

My 17 year old, Beth went to her first Prom on Saturday night. Didn't she look just beautiful?  My older daughter Jackie's former college roomate, Aquila had the sari made for us last summer while she was home visiting India. Beth lived in Pakistan until she was three and we wanted to show off her Indian beauty!  Matt's (her date) mom researched the internet to find the correct type of flowers to go with her dress and they were wonderful, several types of orchids and grasses.  Beth had a fantastic time and is just now catching up on all the sleep she missed.

Found a new attitude
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Family

Have I told you lately that I have very strange children?  Don't you love the attitude in this bunch?

New Friend
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Family
I am picking up a new play mate on Sunday. We are adopting a Rescued Great Pyrenees, named Dolby. Ins't he just the cutest thing?  Great Pyrenees are wonderful

alpaca guard dogs. Dolby is going to be a family pet but it's nice to know he'll be around with the alpacas if we are gone for a few hours.

Hi to my dear friend, Melanie.  Hope your trip is going well, that you get some rest and have a safe flight home. You and Sarah have a wonderful time at Maryland Sheep and Wool!  I'll be thinking about you! 

Alpaca Smiles
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Knitting

Aren't these just the cutest smiles to wake up too? 

 

New Arrivals
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Humming from the pasture
Topic: Knitting

 

Gor some "new yarn" today. Colossus and El Jefe came to live in the back yard. I'll try and get close ups later.

Mitten Blitz
Mood:  bright
Topic: Knitting

The Helping Hearts for Cheyenne River (Native American Support Yahoo Group) are doing a mitten drive for the reservation for the Winter of 2008/2009 season. Ann one of the moderators is having a contest.

Here are the rules:

The Roolz are simple:

1) Make. Knit, crochet, sew (yes, fleece counts!) and buy.

2) Document. Send me photos of the ones you hand make that I can post to this blog to inspire us all ( email to amcmanus@ptd.net)

If I see pictures from you of at least 8 pairs, you will be entered into the prize draw for one of 8 fabulous prizes.

3) Mail. Mittnz are to be mailed to Cheyenne River Reservation (CRYP P.O. Box 410, Eagle Butte, SD 57625) during the last week in September so that the Youth Project (the YP in the address) is blitzed with hand covers the first week in October when the weather starts its evil descent into winter.
 Note from Ann:

Interpretation of the Roolz: Handcovers need to be warm. And since little kids tend to prefer brighter colors, the small ones should be less conservative than the big ones. They need to fit human hands! Any size. Any color. Mittens, gloves, wristers, fingerless, thumbless. Beyond that, let's not "overthink" this project.

I will post all photos. If you wantt o send me a picture each time you finish a pair, great. Want to wait until you have completed the challenge (8 pairs), fine too. Include the ones you bought if you are so inclined. Send photos! They inspire us all.

 

Won't you join Ann and the rest of the group in knitting mittens?  I'll be joining in and hope to send at least 25 pairs.

 

Happy April Fool's Day!
Mood:  bright
Topic: Family

It's April Fool's Day and check out the girl's breakfast!

 

They had green blueberry muffins, bright orange butter, and purple milk.

Yummy, huh?

Silly Sunday
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Wayne's watchiing bowling
Topic: Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls have really been enjoying their Sunday.  They've been outside since getting home from church making a snowman and snow angels.  The snow is melting and is great for playing today.

 

Fingerless gloves
Mood:  bright
Topic: Knitting

Had a little extra time on my hands and one small skein of Regia yarn.  I came up with a light weight but warm pair of fingerless gloves in a Fan and Feather pattern.  My daughter Brandi is modeling them and she's rather tiny. They're rather big on her.

 

 

Mittens
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Peace and Quiet !
Topic: Knitting

 

We've had snow since last Friday and the girls were off school for five days...   I did have lots of knitting time and designed this pair of Fairisle mittens.  School is finally back in today so I'll finally have a bit of peace and quiet.  

Hemlock Ring Blanket
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Knitting

I finally got around to blocking my Hemlock Ring blanket.  I will be knitting it again in wool but, tried it for the first time in some old Sayelle Acrylic that was donated to me.  I loved knitting the pattern and especially enjoy how it turned out.  I killed the acrylic by ironing it so it is quite large. more than six feet around, I'm guessing.

 

2007 Christmas Trees
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Family

I had an opportunity to visit not only the National Tree in Washington, DC on New Year's Eve but, the Rockefeller Center Tree in Manhattan, NY the week before Christmas. I think this year was the nicest Christmas I have ever had.  Thank you, Jackie!

 

No More Humdrum Mittens Swap 2
Mood:  cool
Topic: No-More-Humdrum Mittens
How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? 44 years. Taught by a neighbor
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? advanced
What are your favorite colors? green and burgandy Any you dislike? pastels
Do you like Latvian type patterns? yes  If so, what are your favorite patterns? none in particular
Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child?  myself please
What is the measurement from your wrist to the tip of your longest finger? 8.5"
What is the circumference of your hand at it's widest point? 7 3/4"
What other things do you enjoy knitting? socks, sweaters, hats
What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) circs and bamboo
What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? none
What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? soy silk
What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook? sew, quilt, ballroom dance
Besides yarn, do you collect anything? green depression glass
What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? love anything except for coconut
Do you have any kids? Pets?  we have 6 biological children and 4 adopted, 2 dogs and 2 cats
What is your favorite part of Winter? snow storms!
What is your least favorite part of Winter? shorter days