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

New York City
Mood:  happy
Topic: Family

Jackie and I went to New York City on Wednesday and Thursday. We went to Radio  City Music Hall to see the Rockettes, visited Broadway, 5th Ave., Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. It was such fun and I do hope to go back and spend more time site seeing!

 

Guest
Mood:  lazy
Topic: Family
Had a few unexpected guests this afternoon.  They dropped by to clean up the chestnuts out of the yard.

 

Knitting Bag exchange
Mood:  happy

I received a lovely new knitting bag in the mail yesterday from my swap partner, Abby.  She made it from Lion Brand Cashmere yarn and it is so very soft. I love the pattern. It's self lined in the cream colored yarn.   Abby also sent stitch markers, a tape measure, row counters, a note pad, a skein of pink, orange and white Sockotta yarn and some chocolate soap!

Brea Tote Bag
Mood:  happy
Topic: Knitting

Just completed a Brea Bag (free pattern off the net) as a gift. I had such fun making this pattern. It's pretty shade of dusty pink and I lined it with brown suede cloth with pink embroidery on it.

 

Reversible Cables
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Knitting

I'm teaching two classes at North East Ohio's Knitter's Fantasy in April. One of my classes will be a sampler scarf of reversible cables. What do you think?

 

 

Hat and Mittens
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Knitting
Just finished some Holiday Knitting. I've made a lovely Fairisle set of Hats and Mittens for  gift.  They were so nice to make I plan to start on another set right away.

 

Mike, Karrie, and the baby as well as Jackie are coming in for Thanksgiving. Jamie, Becca, Onya, and Noah will be here as well as Katie, Sierra, Beth and Brandi. We will have quite a houseful.  I am so blessed and God is so good! 

Niagara Falls
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls didn't  have school yesterday. Wayne was able to take a day off so we headed to Niagara Falls. None of the girls had seen it before and had a great time.  We did the trip down below the Falls and got soaked! Right to left: Sierra, Gail, Katie, Beth, Brandi and Wayne in back.  It was a long day but good fun.

Secret Pal 11
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Katie's singing
Topic: Secret Pal 11

 

I received a wonderful package in today's mail from my Secret Pal. She sent me two skeins of Koigu which perfectly match my winter coat, jars of super flavors of jelly, a cute sheep glass, and Salt  Water Taffy.  I am a Taffy nut and so are the girls. I forgot to include in the picture a great tote she sent. It's green and has a matching smaller bag that fastens onto the side. I'll post a picture of it by itself.  Thank you secret pal!!

Onya Potatoe Head
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Sesame Street
Topic: Babies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My grandbaby, Onya is visiting Memaw today. She's decided she's supposed to wear all her Mr. Potatoe Head stuff.  I put her  picture on my computer desk top and she keeps running to see Onya Potatoehead.

Happy Birthday Kat!
Mood:  happy
Topic: Babies
My favorite 1 year old, my grandbaby Kat had her first birthday yesterday!  Happy Birthday Princess, I love you!