Two naps a day

I am exhausted - took two naps today! Graduation was wonderful as you can see in the previous post! Marianne's speech was by far the best - everyone said so! My family was all here and we had a lot of fun together. The gods where shinning on us - Friday was the only nice day of the week - so the picnic was outside, the flowers where blooming and the wind and rain went away. We celebrated Marianne and had a great time. The graduation ceremony was wonderful - I did shed a few tears - I can't believe it's the last one.

Of course yesterday we had to go out and start spending some of her gifts - you know - dorm stuff. It was fun. I had gotten so frustrated with my camera during the celebration - I had to pose every picture because it's so slow - that I bought myself a new camera. Shopping is good.

Today I've been trying to get my knitting mojo back. I've got three projects on the needles - the Celtic Cardigan (Still!) - these great socks - I'm half way down the cuff of the second one. I've

also started my Sockapalooza socks - not enough to show yet - but a pretty green hand-dyed that I picked up recently. More to follow.

This was also the Portland Rose Festival Parade - we often go up for the weekend. Next year maybe. But the recent rose additions in our house make good picture practice. This first rose was a gift plant from my ex husbands girl friend to me - it brought me to tears - she said she had been through the last graduation too and remembered what it was like for her. This was the second time she brought me tears. During the graduation ceremony - we were sitting at opposite ends of the row - and she offered to trade places with me so I could see better. My ex is fortunate - she is a really nice lady. I hope she can put up with him! If circumstances were different - we might be friends. Weird.

This second rose is from the bouquet I gave Marianne after graduation. The house smells so good - they were still almost buds on Friday and they've really opened up since then.

The big kids are on a backpacking trip in the Trinity Alps in Northern California - they left early Saturday morning - it was so fun watching them pack and repack and repack and repack thier backpacks - each trying to weigh less than the other - who has the coolest gear. It was like listening to knitters gab! REI techno-speak!

This will be a busy week - lots of planning meetings on new development project - the final land use hearing is week after. Last two days in Camp Sherman - lots to do there. My sister's surgery is on Friday and I will be going up to look after her when she gets home from the hospital on the following Tuesday - then at the end of that week is Black Sheep!!! I better have my mojo back by then!!

I am so proud!

What a great family!

The Graduate and her mom! This is my sister and my accomplished niece. What a lucky aunt I am! We all had a great weekend with the cousins, very hectic and short - but lots of fun. Now home safe and sound and starting to panic about getting ready for our graduation on Thursday night. Of course we will all be together again. I feel so fortunate that we are all great friends - here are all the kids......

My own cousins were also celebrating with us at the party afterwards - one cousins daughter also graduated with my niece so it was really a family event. I also really enjoy my cousins and every time I am with them I wish we lived closer! My children feel the same way about thier cousins too.

Although I didn't knit a stitch - I had to wait to pick up M1 son from work on Friday and funny thing - there is a little yarn store next door to his office. I found some great sock yarn for my Sockapolooza pal - just the colorway she suggested - not that I probably couldn't find any in my stash - but it's always good to plan ahead!

I plan on doing some major stash enhancement when I go to the Black Sheep Gathering later this month.....I'm going to be looking after my sister following her surgery - she's having a total masectomy and then can bop down to Eugene and feel the fibre and spend the night with M2 daughter.

I've got a lot to do this week to get ready for graduation and company - so you probably won't hear from me for awhile - I do hope to get some knitting in - I'm afraid I will really need yarn therapy!!

Dream Knit Peace

Knitting - what's that?

Happy 18th Birthday!

First the Birthday girl - she's in the middle! What a kid - she won three more big scholarships at the High School Award assembly this last week. She's going to the college of her choice - Go Wildcats! I couldn't be prouder! The graduation frenzy has begun.

Garden up-date - this is the before.

You will have to wait a few months for the after....but the veggies are all in the ground! My back hurts! But this is the advantage of only working part-time these days (the only advantage). My yard is looking good! The kids gave me two beautiful hanging baskets for Mother's Day and this is one...

I love my Irises - next year I need to move them to a more productive spot. I've even got some scented ones!

Knitting - oh yea - I remember! I still do that, I'm actually making some progress on the Celtic Cardigan - only about 30 rows left on the last front - then the sleeves (easy), then the button bands (hard) then put it all together. I'm afraid it's going to turn out bigger than I thought and I did check gauge many times before I started. Hopefully I can block a little of it out!

On the work front - the Camp Sherman job is gearing way down - doublt I'll work out there at all next week - bummer. But the new job is gearing up - but not fast enough to make much of a difference - It looks like I'll have tons of leisure time for a few weeks. Luckily I refinanced my house awhile back (to help Molly pay off some of her student loans) so I have a little reserve. Unfortunately I have a 'got it? -spent it!' habit.

I've got to get started on my Sockapalooza project - I think I'm going to do the Diagonal Rib Socks from Knitting Daily. I have some stash that would work well. Or I might do the same "Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Socks" that I did last year. That would be appropriate it. My sister is trying to decide how to treat her breast cancer - as it turns out not only did my mom have it - but her mom too. Now we're trying to decide if we should get the genetic tests - My sister is going to have a total masectomy anyway - seems safer in the long term - but we both have daughters, so the test might be a good idea. She is trying to convince her Insurance Company to pay for it - the first family member is the most costly, then the rest of us could do it - or at least I could. I think the girls should wait, in the years to come the cost will come down and they might know more too. I'm also not sure I want to burden them with the knowledge that they carry the gene. It's a dilemna.

Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend - it's going to be very warm here so we will enjoy it although we have NOTHING planned - kinda nice - but boring!

Knit Peace

7 Random Facts:

1. I make my bed everyday! Usually as soon as I get up. It’s easy, fast and makes me feel as though my bedroom is neat – except all my shoes are out of the closet under my dresser!

2. I have worn silver bracelets for 40 years – a few of the same ones and some additions. I lost my favorite (a totem pole) a long time ago.

3. I gave my red hair to my children – literally – with each pregnancy I lost a little more. Theirs is beautiful red, mine is now blah brown (I’ve enhanced it a little!) My mother’s was red the day she died at age 80!

4. I have a love-hate relationship with weeds. I hate to get started – but once I’m going I’m hooked. I love pulling them up! Weed therapy.

5. I love my house – hence I’m making sacrifices to stay here (no retirement fund) despite the fact that it’s built for a large family – not a lone person. My private yard is wonderful – lush and green – a sanctuary in the high desert.

6. I do not have a ‘youthful’ figure – but am often pegged for being much younger than I am so it may be worth it!

7. I haven’t knit a stitch in three days – I did hold the latest project for a few moments though!

Kim tagged me for this so thought it was a good excuse to get some content on my blog - I am so busy these days I barely have time to read the latest - but after graduation things will settle down and I'll have a moment to write the details. All is well - just busy.
My schedule this week:
Monday: Work at home (job related); clean house and cook dinner for book club here tonight.
Tues: Work in Camp Sherman all day - then to other job for a few hours
Wed: Work in Camp Sherman all day - then High School Awards Assembly (Yea - hopefully it means more scholarship dollars!
Thurs: Work at home
Friday: Take Marianne and friends to Kah-nee-ta for a day of swimming in the hot springs pools - it's her 18th birthday and senior skip day.
Saturday: Work
Sunday: Plant veggies, fertilize lawn etc.
It actually doesn't look so bad on paper - it's the work stuff - there is a ton of tasks that must be completed this week to get ready for big important events coming up - land use hearings, neighborhood meetings, finish budgets, (OMG - there is a beautiful Wilson's Warbler outside my window!) redo of plot plans to meet Oregon's every changing Land Use laws (they change daily at the whim of State agencies) the list goes on - but I'll get it all finished I'm sure - knitting will not get accomplished I'm afraid - oh well there is always next week...
I did have a great weekend - actually spent two evenings with all of my children. Molly was in town for the weekend and we all met Morgan for dinner in Bend on Friday night - then on Saturday night we celebrated Marianne's Birthday with thier dad at his house. Two in a row!
On to this weeks adventures!
ttfn and Knit Peace!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of us! We deserve it!

Roxie had a great idea - especially for those of us who have lost thier mothers - write down a special memory of your mom to share with others. I think those memories so tend to fade with time, so save them for your children and grandchildren.

The thing about my mother is that she had so many friends - it still amazes me. First there were the "Snotty Nine" - these were 9 buddies that she kept in contact with since grade school - they did a Round Robin letter to each other for over 60 years. I completed her last entry just after she passed away and have remained in special contact with one of the nine. They all lived in different parts of the country - but you would have thought they had coffee over the back fence every day.

Then there are the friends that she made when she moved to Portland as a young bride. Mostly these were families that my father had grown up with. They welcomed mom like she had always been there. They are a huge tight knit group, aging fast and we are losing them often.

There were the friends from work - she was a nurse and volunteered in a clinic run by the hospital interns. Our holiday dinner table always had an orphan or two and her weekly batch of cookies were always a hit with them. She adopted the whole bunch.

She always listened and never had a bad word to say about anyone - and I'm sure she knew all the dirt as everyone confided in her. She was polite to a fault and always insisted that her children and grandchildren be the same - this has been an extremely valuable attribute for my kids especially - even in this day and age they always get compliments about how polite they are. It has served them very well and I know it's my mom's influence. She never criticized - which occassionaly was a problem. Like all new moms, I really was counting on her help when I started my family - but I had to always ask - "what do I do about....how do I...." She wouldn't offer advice unless you asked - she thought it was intrusive!

She always did the right thing and put up with a family that I don't think she was prepared for. She was a great sport - trailing after us on backpacking trips, camping in the Canadian wilderness with my dad on flyfishing trips and one last camping trip with all of us in Yellowstone. One year she walked the entire Rouge River Trail - while the rest of us floated the river! Five days! My mother was not athletic! She was a Southern California beach girl - thrust into a family of outdoor enthusiasts!

And now that she isn't here - we know she is 'intruding' all the time. We laugh when we say "mom would have" or "Grannie Annie would". I think about her everyday - especially when I'm doing something I know she wouldn't approve of - does she know? - I hope not! She is a constant positive influence on us all. We were fortunate to be part of her life. We miss her. Happy Mother's Day Mom - we love you.

I do so knit....

I do knit - really. I'm almost finished with the first front of the Celtic Cardigan - remember that? - started it maybe last year! But I am really working on it - when I haven't fallen asleep in my chair. So what am I really doing...besides working of course.....

This is only about half of what I've got to plant - then there is the vegtable garden - at least I have all the plants and the seeds. Now I just have to til it up!


I am going to finish this weekend. I am going to sit and do nothing on Mother's Day - I might knit. And I might not.....I miss my mom.

It hasn't been a great week - my sister was diagnosed with Breast Cancer - but it's the non invasive kind and it's very very small - she's young and healthy - she'll be fine. But we've been down this road before (my Mom died of Breast Cancer) so it's still very scary - but I'm the Pollyanna type - so I'm convinced she'll be just fine! I'm not going anywhere else with those thoughts!
(Yes my annual mammogram is scheduled for June-I didn't forget!)
So all you who haven't - get a mammogram on a regular basis!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommys - aren't they wonderful!!

I'm still here

I have been so busy I haven't even had time to read blogs much less write in mine.

I have been: (In no particular order)

1)Painting another bedroom, buying a bed and bedding. Now I have a guest room - although I am considering moving into there myself after M3 goes to school next fall - it's in a different part of the house and I can almost close off the back bedrooms and maybe save a little on heat. The room is much bigger - but futher from the family bath (no master bath in this house) - so we'll see.

2)Visiting with M2 daughter - who I wrote about in previous post. She has had meds changed and is doing sooooo well - It is so wonderful to see her blossom into a self assured young women - she's witty too! Had M1 son over while she was home - gosh it was fun to have them all here.

3)Working two jobs - I'm getting confused - which job is tomorrow and what tasks are on my list? Really - each job has two companies involved so it's easy to get mixed up - who does this bill go to? Am expecting to give up the Camp Sherman job in the next month or so - I will miss the location and the drive - but not the uncertainty!

4)I went hog wild - new cell service. M3 and I had same provider - but when she goes to college in the fall she will be out of range - can you believe it - something about being away from home for more than 50% of the time - and they would cancel her and charge us for the left over contract...so I paid off the contract and went with Verizon - M2 is already a Verizon customer so we brought her over to our new family plan - and it will save us all money and we get better phones and much better service. What a deal.

5)I went hog wild again - bought a new computer - had to - my old laptop was at the end of it's daily useful life. But since you can't buy a new computer without Vista on it - I've spent the last day trying to get everything installed and/or copied from my old computer. The Easy Transfer Software isn't...But I'm almost there (Copying my iTunes folder as we speak!) I also had to buy new Office - OMG - but I got the home edition - decided I didn't need Publisher and bought Outlook separately - less expensive and girls can upgrade thier laptops too.

6) I haven't been knitting much - but a little on the Celtic Cardigan. But look what Barb (bloggless) did.... 16 Beanies for Preemies!!! OMG but they are cute

The boys at the High School had their big night last Thursday - they raised $13,000 for the NICU - and thanked all the knitters!

7)Tomorrow I'm gardening - have to get going - although it's been freezing here at night - so no pots out yet, but the Round-up has to get started on those weeds and the lawn needs Weed and Feed.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the spring. I've been going to fast to really enjoy it - but soon!

Knit Peace

Letter to "Talk of the Nation" National Public Radio

Saturday, President Bush wondered how to make treatment available to those who suffer from Mental Illness. Today (Monday) Talk of the Nation discussed ‘Forced Treatment” for the mentally ill. The tragedy at Virginia Tech has brought this issue to the forefront of many peoples concern. It has been my top concern for a long time.

My daughter has a mental illness and I say this with her full permission and encouragement.

The real issue is that Mental Illness is not recognized as a medical condition. Not by many doctors, certainly not by insurance companies or the general public. Most people account the symptoms of the mentally ill to just bad behavior.

My daughter is at times a threat to herself, but much of the time she functions just like you and I - Has a job where she is very valued, lives away from home and has supportive friends. She is on medication that helps smooth out the daily rough edges.

My daughter would be able to function better and avoid the extremely painful aspects of her illness if therapy were available – she has a wonderful therapist – but she cannot afford to go often enough to have a long term benefit. Her insurance only covers 20 visits in a 24 month period! That’s less than once a month. Consequently her therapist is only able to assist her during a crisis – not beforehand as preventative care.

This is not an illness that goes away after 20 treatments; this is a lifelong chronic issue. Can you imagine telling a cancer patient that only 20 doses of chemotherapy are available? Then you’re on your own? My daughter is fortunate that she is educated enough about her illness that she knows she has to work at it everyday, but the threat is always there. Her body is scared by the abuse she has inflicted on herself. She has been on suicide watch many times and has been hospitalized for her attempts. Yet she bounces back, learns new methods of prevention, and goes on with her life, always moving forward. She is a true survivor. I am incredibly proud of her. But no one should have to suffer and hurt like she has.

Until we wake up and acknowledge that mental illness is just that – an illness – just like cancer is an illness, there will always be those that don’t get help. There will always be those that go over the edge. And there will always be those that are discriminated against because they are brave enough to admit they have a mental illness and they need help.

Thank you NPR for your thought provoking broadcasts. Hopefully bringing this issue to light will help those that suffer from Mental Illnesses. The tragedy at Virginia Tech is horrific, and so are the lives that are lost to Mental Illness.

Hurray Hurray FO

I actually finished a long time project - my Wave scarf....I can't remember when I started this - but have enjoyed it a lot....Nature's Palette - dusky purple and two Kiogu that had been sitting around so long I've lost the ball bands. One down and two more to go - the most important being the Celtic Cardigan. I've got to finish that!! And of course there are socks in my bag.

This was prom weekend - this is the last one thank goodness! It seems it costs more each time. She had a great time and slept most of yesterday - party on!

I am having the worst time with my blogger template - I can't get my sockapalooza button to show up....It's driving me crazy. But I am participating and looking forward to meeting new friends. The pal I knit for last year doesn't have a blog - so it was hard to keep in touch. Abigail who knit great socks for me has just had a transformation - check it out - she is beeautiful!

After a raining and cold weekend - today is lovely and I actually found a few blossoms in my garden - but unfortunately the apples got frozen - so the won't be very pretty. Unfortunately I also found a few of these in the grass and will have to work at using the dreaded weed killer....

Hope everyone enjoys the week ahead. I'll be working on producing more FOs! Yea!

Knit Peace

edited: I wish blogger would show you what your post really looked like in the edit window - the pictures keep moving around...grrrrr

And the winner is....

I drew a name - and the STR is in the mail!!
Thank you all for your hard work and beautiful efforts. The Preemie babies at St. Charles Hospital will be warm and cozy!! I'll be delivering 27 hats - and I think more to come. I've got yarn to do more - they are such fun very quick projects.
Thank you all again.

Waiting for one more delivery

I haven't forgotten to draw for Beanies for Preemies - I'm waiting for one more package to arrive - I think - Barb are you out there??
By the way - I did two more hats yesterday with the yarn that Mary sent me...thanks!

I am overwhelmed!!

Oh my gosh - today the mailman brought all kinds of goodies.....

Beans for Preemies and special things for me - you all just don't know how much it meant to me - it's been a very difficult week and this is just what I needed.

Beanies for Preemies.....

These are from Teri Oh they are so cute! Look at that tiny blue one on the right!

These are from Kim - so very soft! I love the Debbie Bliss yarn!

These are from Pat - with extra treasures for me (How did you know I've been looking for a calendar for my desk at work and I LOVE National Parks?) Everyone can use more refrigerator magnets too - (I got two today!)

Ladies - I just don't know what to say - I wish I had some more STR to send to each of you - but will draw early next week in case there are any stragglers. I am so appreciative of your generosity!

Then the postman also brought me this from Mary. I sort of guessed the location of her vacation and she was going to send me a refrigerator magnet - instead I got the magnet and all these other goodies - to knit more Beanies - which I will!!! She bought the yarn in France and it is so very soft - just right for those tiny heads!!! I really need the note cards - so this was perfect! Thank you so very much!

It had been a particulary difficult week - M2 daughter is having a tough go of life and I went to spend a few days with her. Missed two days of work which I can't afford - there wasn't enough to keep me busy anyway - but still. Daughter is doing much better now - as they say 'sometimes life just comes at you hard!'

Then I get all these goodies in the mail today - I just can't thank you all enough for your kindness!

I'm off to finish the painting and maybe just sit and knit for awhile!

Knit Peace

Poor Dove

I've been painting the spare bedroom today - about half done - but am soon to run out of paint - Murphy's law.

While painting I had the window open to air out the room and listened to the many birds in my yard. I've got lots of English Sparrows that bother everyone else and thier song is obnoxious. Then there are the Chickadees that I love. Both are a little put out (pun intended) - I covered up thier access to my attic! Was tired of hearing the pitter patter of little feet before I was ready to get up in the morning. And of course the Robins are busy talking to each other. I've also got a covey of Quail (Dan and Marilyn's family) that Pumpkin tries in vain to capture. The calling sentinel (Dan I assume) is pretty viligent so Pumpkin doesn't stand a chance.

Then there is the Dove - poor thing - he doesn't have the melody down at all - he sounds like a barking dog! I've seen the girls visit him - but they leave as soon as they hear him. He needs some singing lessons!

I'm sure spring is just around the corner (It's snowing on the pass today) because in the evenings the frogs are making music. I had one on the back patio the other day that had the dog cowering in her kennel - what a dork.

In Camp Sherman I listen to the Canada Geese all day - they're searching for the best nesting sites now. There is an old tree house out my office window - all that's left is the platform. Everyday the geese check it out - it would be perfect but I think they'd have a hard time getting into it - it's pretty protected by big limbs.

My favorite bird to hear (and a great one to watch dance!) is the Sandhill Crane - I don't hear it here very often - but once in awhile. They nest east of here quite a ways - but I've seen and heard them while camping on high Cascade lakes and sometimes I catch a flock flying on thier way to nesting areas. (Did you see Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel last night - I've always wanted to go to the Artic when the snow geese arrive!)

I have been knitting - finished one sock! But have vowed to finish something else before I start a new project - there are just too many half complete projects.

1) Wave scarf -

2) Celtic Cardigan

3) Interlacements Shawl

4) Another Scarf....

But I have some new treasure - wonderful Blue Moon Seduction in a very pretty green - Footzey-Foo. I want a scarf - haven't picked a pattern yet. Have to work on other things first.

So I'm off to rest my weary body. (Oh yea - worked outside a lot yesterday - between rain showers) I'll be knitting and trying not to fall asleep in my chair. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

The STR Prize has arrived!

Socks That Rock - Fairgrounds.......for the Beanies for Preemies drawing! Above picture is really too dark. It knits up like below - I'm lovin it - especially for Easter weekend!
Enjoy the weekend - it's going to be beautiful here - I'll be in an office working so no knitting in the sunshine for me, but I'll still enjoy it!
Happy Easter to all - hope your eggs are all chocolate!!

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post - busy girl! It took a long while to get over the crud - many sleepless nights. Have been working a ton - which is very very good - new job in the works and I am tickled pink (or green)!

Took a quick trip to Portland to visit with my family and to get M3 a prom dress - Red satin, backless for the 007 Prom!! It's amazing how little choice there is. We shopped maybe a dozen places in a big city - I bet if I tried I could come up with half the cost and twice the selection on eBay....oh well this is the last one I have to buy - sad but yea!!!

Had a wonderful dinner with the family - my brother had just returned the night before from a three week adventure to New Orleans - he lived there 25 years ago - went to visit some old friends and meet up with his Oregon fishing buddies who towed their boat down. They fished a place called "The Dome"? he got a 125 pound yellow fin Tuna - he was in fish heaven! He brought home some smaller Black Fin Tuna which we ate for dinner along with 15 pounds of fresh Louisiana Jumbo Shrimp - glad I don't clean shrimp for a living - it was wonderful!! 15 people for dinner including 6 teenage girls and one boyfriend - he had a great time! As did we all.

This has been a busy week as well - lots of interesting work again - more set up process for new client. M2 daughter and a friend were here for a few nights this week - gosh it is nice to have the house full of young people. We watched Babel - interesting movie - a little raw for me - not really entertaining - but definitely thought provoking.

Spent all day Friday working in my yard - I could hardly move by mid day - but got a lot done - spring is coming and I might be ready for a change. I'd better be because everyone will be here in June for the Graduation!

Have really not done a lot of knitting - funny thing - I keep falling asleep in my chair. But am working on some socks and finally started a shawl in the Interlacements I bought last summer. Haven't made enough photo progress yet.

Those of you that are working on the Beanies for Preemies - please get them to me by April 15th. I've had a lot of fun with this project. Hope you all have too.

KO'd

I think I have finally rejoined the living - M3 daughter was sick last weekend - still is but she too is much better - and I came down with it Monday afternoon - oh my gosh I don't think I have ever been this sick - really! In a matter of hours I hurt everywhere, my head was pounding, disoriented - the works. Spent the next 24 hours flat. It isn't the same flu I got my shot for that's for sure. You know I was sick if I didn't pick up the needles for two days. But by this afternoon I am feeling much better. Went to work for a few hours yesterday and most of today. I must be recovering because look at these....

I am really having fun with these. The blue and white snowflake hat was really fun - did a braided edging from Folk Socks - hard to manipulate but great results. This is the best way to learn new things and use up all those left over sock yarn.

Today it was 74 degrees out!!! We get a nice weekend and I've got work to make up tomorrow - but on Sunday it's time to hit the garden again. While I was trying desperately to sleep the other day I could hear my neighbors tiller working...a little early for me as it still is freezing at night, but definitely something to get ready for. I've unfortunately got a huge pile of rubbish to burn that's sitting in the middle of the vegetable garden. Maybe the weather will hold and let me do that on Sunday. I plan on enjoying the sun while it lasts! I doubt winter is over yet.

I'd like to take a moment to be thankful. Yesterday I was watching Oprah - which was about Mothers around the World. I complain because I can't afford to cover all my kids college education, I can't buy the prom dress they want or a thousand other minor things. I live in a modest but wonderful home, I have a job that allows me to more than adequately provide for my childrens health and safety, they have incredible education opportunities, they are never hungry, they sleep in warm and safe beds - the list goes on. I don't mean I'm not appreciative - I just think we don't stop and think enough about mothers in other places that don't have any of the opportunities that make our lives content. Every moment is a struggle for so many. I will stop and think more often. Imagine how much we spend on yarn a year - "Congolese mother M'Sevumba, was widowed twice and left with 10 children to raise—ranging from 2 to 17 years old. In Congo, the deceased husband's brother is supposed to help the family after his death, but M'Sevumba was left on her own. To support her children, M'Sevumba works as a porter, hired to carry items such as mattresses up and down hills and long distances. In order to carry the weighty loads, M'Sevumba relies on balance, strength and endurance. For all her effort, a morning's work earns her just 25 cents."

I will stop and think more often.

Dream Knit Peace

Hats Hats Hats

Oh my gosh are these cute or what...I'm glad I don't have babies to knit for - it would be too hard to decide what to do! The socks and hat on the left are for a gift and the other three hats are for Beanies for Preemies. I used two balls of Cascade Fixation for the yellow and tourquoise - four hats (the other is in last weeks post) and a pair of socks. The pink hat is left over STR from M3's socks and there is at least enough for another hat. I think I forgot how tiny babies are! What fun they were. I'll be continuing my stash search for enough left over combos for more Beanies for Preemies.
We had incredible weather yesterday and today seems the same - it was 74!! Unreal for March. So I pulled weeds and cleaned up flower beds - still have a long ways to go. I think I'm just going to hire a couple of teenagers with a pickup to spend a day with me to get all the stuff hauled off, there is just too much to burn. I realized I had to have the yard and flowers all ship shape earlier this year as my family will all be here for M3's high school graduation. I'm having a difficult time wrapping around the fact that this is the last one - what on earth am I going to do with myself. There has been a child in my house for the last 24 years!
This weekend was the sick child routine. M3 has a fever, extreme sore throat, achy etc....she was really miserable. I even broke down and took her to the doctor - all the blood tests were fine, I always worry about mono or anemia with her (she is skin and bones). She went to school this morning - it's finals week - just to take a test and will be back soon. She also had to finish a few scholarship applications that are due this week. Not a fun time for her.
On Friday I made the big search for new shoes - I hate buying shoes. I love them in the store - they fit great and then after a few hours of wearing them they hurt my feet. I went into our local running shoe store where they take time to watch you walk and really fit you. Little did I know that it was the annual 'big sale'! Lucky for me they still had a few pairs left and I spent time trying on and walking. I've worn them for two days and my feet feel great - a huge accomplishment - at 20% off even!
I also had a wonderful lunch with M1 - what a nice young man he has become - actually he always was a nice kid! (I know you're reading this! - What kid subscribes to his mom's knitting blog?)
So all in all I've had a great weekend! Will be doing more hats this week and will post pictures of my progress. I've still got other WIP - remember the Celtic Cardigan - I've got to finish that!!
Enjoy your week. Knit Peace

Quick question of the day....

Can I knit a infant size sweater with 350 yards of STR Heavyweight - 6 stitches to an inch?
Want to do a little stash enhancement as I order yarn for the Beanie for Preemie project.....I'll post pictures of my work tomorrow - they are soooo cute.
Gardening weather today - so I'm out there!!
ttfn

Not the greatest button - but a button! So far I've only got two participants - come on knitters - this only takes an evening of left over yarn.

I'm working on a great little hat - am thinking this is more the right size....will have pictures soon - but it's less than 10" around.

Here is a start for patterns - there are others out there I'm sure.

Remember - this is what you might get - plus the statisfaction of helping all those tiny babies!

Knit Peace!

Beanies for Preemies

The Redmond High School students nominate 10 senior boys to compete in the Mr. RHS pageant. The boy's mission is to raise money for the St. Charles Hospital NICU (Last year they raised $10,000!). They put on this great evening event in May - like a beauty pageant - the boys do "Talent", modeling, answer questions, walk with thier mom's - the works and it is so fun to see these guys strutting thier stuff!

While I was knitting these socks I said the yarn would be so cute for a baby - one thing led to another and I'm knitting Beanies for Preemies for the Mr. RHS project. (Just finished the socks so don't have a hat in this yarn to show).

Some of the girls in the leadership class that also works on this project, are crocheters and a few knitters ....and M3 daughter volunteered that I knit too - so here I am. The girls are going to create hats for the babies and I am also. M3 daughter also mentioned that I have blogging friends - so this is where you come in.

I will send a STR in the colorway Fairgrounds to the name I draw for every preemie hat sent to me by April 15th. I would really like to send a lot of hats - The above I knit in an evening. The NICU is such an important service that our local hospital provides. My oldest spent a week there - he was 7 weeks early - a healthy young man now. I was so appreciative of the facility - and this is a little way I can say thanks.

This is a good way to use small bits of left over washable yarn - sock yarn works - hat should be about 12-13" around or so. I cast on 90 stitches of Cascade Fixation - 1/2" of ribbing for a total of 4 1/2" before the decreases. Simple and quick and I know it will be appreciated. I used way less than a full ball - I have another so I'm thinking two balls of this will make at least three hats. I'm also doing one with the leftover STR from the above socks - aren't they cute! Will post picture soon (Although there is trial and error going on with this one - you'll see the results soon). I'll post some links for patterns also.

Thanks to all the potential Beanies for Preemies participants. This is a good cause for our littlest wonders!

Cycling Web Ring

I joined a new Web Ring today - Cycling Knitter- I know but....
I bought a Touring bike 2 years ago with the intention of getting on the road so to speak. I used to ride frequently - but with kids and knitting etc - it just fell by the way side. So I took my tax return and bought a Trek Touring bike. That spring and summer I took a few rides in the neighborhood and surrounding area - just to get my bearings and to see how it felt. Well I loved it, but found it lonely - I needed a partner. I really needed more practice to feel safe too. Summer wound down and it got too cold to ride. I told myself that once spring came I would start riding to work everyday. I actually hated the thought of that because I'd have to ride in auto traffic and cross the highway at one point - I had big dreams. If you recall - I changed jobs last spring. There is no way I'm going to ride 45 miles to work everyday - and back!
So I've joined this ring to get myself motivated. I really want to ride. I want to get comfortable enough to ride with the local group during the summer. I want to be healthy. I want to do a real bike tour. I need a lot of practice before I get there. Am hoping this will help. The weather is not cooperating now (it's a whiteout outside) - but will soon I hope.
Wish me well!

AA Knitting

I've got to get more of this yarn - I think it's STR Fairgrounds - but it is so so cute - it would make the best baby sweater! It's from the Traveling Stash. I'm making short socks for M2 now and am sure there will be enough left over for me too. Watching the Academy Awards was fun - I've got to see The Queen!

Thanks for all the painting ideas. Ann - I've used that technique before and it works. In this case the green doesn't work - so am looking at carmel or muted gold or I don't know. It'll take me weeks to figure it out - and lots of test spots. The other main room in the house is a Golden Ecru - which I love - but want to be a little brighter in here. Then of course there is the hall - and it's 6 doors - Oh I dread the doors! When I moved in here 12 years ago we painted almost everything - but not the doors in the hallway - so there's no escaping it this time. I have two more bedrooms to paint too - The joys of homeownership!!

Remix

These are the remix of my folk socks - added another pattern before the toe - to make them longer and then redid the first sock to match - so now I have new socks for me - hurray!! I think I have enough yarn left from these and some other left overs to do a fun pair of stripped socks - wild but fun.

Other remixes were completed today also - M3 daughter rearranged her room and we moved some furniture around - also made a big pile for the thrift store. Washed her canopy and curtians in my office - oh my gosh they look crisp and wonderful. Also slapped a test paint color on the window trim while the curtains were down - I was trying for a sage green - but don't like it. It's too washed out and dreary looking. I'm having trouble coming up with the correct color - will keep trying things out. The room needs a repaint - want something colorful that will still be light - there are big windows in here - I love the natural light. Maybe a carmel color? I hate picking colors!!!

Tonight is new sock night - just a pair of short socks for M2 - a good project while watching the Academy Awards.

Hope everyone has a great week - they keep saying it's going to snow here - and although we've had flashes of rain and hail for really short moments - I doubt we'll get much. Have tomorrow off so it doesn't matter!

Dream Knit Peace

Had to share

I had to share this story - although I'm sure most of you will be in tears.
Middle daughter is part of a Sparrow Club - where they adopt a local child in need. This young man was the schools Sparrow last year. In the past few days his family was told he only will live another few weeks. His wish has always been to graduate from High School - so tonight they are holding a special graduation ceremony for him - community leaders, family, classmates - the works.
I can't imagine the agony that he and his family are going through. But what a wonderful thing the High School is doing. Knowing this community, the auditorium will be packed. My heart goes out to them all.

These pictures are a little washed out - sorry. I spent the afternoon repairing. The top sock - Cherry Tree Hill yarn now has new toes. I was just going to darn it (pun intended) but decided to re-knit both toes. Notice how crisp the new stitches are and how fuzzy the rest of the foot is? The bottom sock my newest -STR - only washed a few times and it is fuzzy too. (No repair on this one) They both lost their stitch definition - the dryer I think is the culprit....any ideas? The color seems to lose it's brilliance too. I think we're going to skip the dryer from now on.

Also fixed heel blow out on two other pairs - so now I have a drawer full of socks again. So far my Trekking XXL has held up the best - no fuz, no holes. Also my very first wearable socks - Opal - are in great shape and they are at least 4 years old. No fuzz there either.

I'd be interested to hear from all of you what your experience has been with durability...let me know.

Beautiful evening here - the last for awhile I'm afraid - we're going to get the big snow this week I hear - we'll see.

Life has been pretty boring and ordinary around here the last two weeks. Last weekend I planned all this cleaning - but then put it off because I expected to work - but didn't - so knit on this instead. From Folk Socks. Molly gave me this last summer and finally I had some concentrated time. I wanted to do some stranded color work before tackling a big sweater. The knitting was fine - although I did add the cuff - they would have been way too short otherwise....wish I had added another series of something to the foot - they are a little short for me. When I am finished with the second sock we'll see what colors I have left and maybe I'll take out the first one. I'm not thrilled with the heel - afterthought - I think it's a little messy. Had to cinch up the corner holes when I wove in all those ends. I practiced hiding the jog - need more practice (I didn't show you that side) but it will work for socks. I find Nanette's blog so helpful and inspiring.

This has been an interesting week - eldest daughter decided to withdraw from college - just feels it is too stressful and she panics and in turn doesn't get her work done. I feel bad because I doubt she'll go back. A lost investment. She plans to work hard this spring and possibly move to Colorado this summer. She has a friend there and there is plenty of employment opportunities. It is time for mom to let her be herself I guess - I tend to enable her I think - I'm always sending her a few dollars more. That's the deal - in school I'll help all I can -otherwise don't expect it - she is doing really well and definitely has been very happy the last 4 months or so - I have been so excited for her. It has been like having a new daughter. So hopefully this will be a good path for her.

Spent all day yesterday shampooing the carpets - it was back breaking and gross work - I had no idea they were so bad. I'm going to do it again in a few months - I was still pulling out dirty water. But it sure looks better - I was amazed. Exhausted afterwards - afraid I wouldn't stay awake for Gray's Anatomy - I can't believe Meredith would really die - can't eliminate the main character can you?

The weather is predicted to be nice tomorrow - so maybe a walk is in the day - but am having a new hair day in the morning so we'll see. There will be plenty of time for knitting - oh have been working a lot on the Celtic Sweater again - really need to get it off my plate.

Hope everyone is surviving the cold east coast - we've been there done that and I'm sure we all will again.

Knit Peace

65 and a Warm Breeze!

Alpaca - wanting to go for a walk with us Can you guess what the above is?

Sunday Sky along the Deschutes
Yes, it was 65 degrees out - a warm breeze and just beautiful - in February no less! In Central Oregon. Molly and I went for a good walk - the dog is now totally exhausted - I was a little concerned because she kept trying to go for a good swim - luckily she is pretty smart and realized the current was really swift so didn't venture very far out. I doubt she'll move much more this afternoon.

A good time was had by all - (Marianne was too exhausted from Dancing the night away!) Now that dinner dessert brownies are baking and the Super Bowl is on - its time to put in a movie and knit!

Knit Peace
(So how do I get SOME of this text to be centered and the rest to be not - I tried highlighting just the bottom part and left justifying it - but then the whole thing is that way....gurrr)

STR and Beautiful Young Women

Oh my gosh - how fast they grow up!!

I like em!

Blogger....

I'm not liking this Google-blogger stuff - I never know what name to use as my sign on - Old blogger or New Google. I hate using my email address to sign on places - I'm getting lots more junk mail! I've thought about getting a gmail account - but then what happens to my hotmail account used to sign into everything.....When I try to comment on another blog I have to sign in again - blogger or google?
What I really wish Blogger would fix is this tiny edit window for posts - How can I make something look good if I can't see it - doesn't matter if you switch to Preview - you still can't see where the pictures are. Sorry I'm just ranting.
Very Very cold freezing fog today - my feet are ice. Since I'm working at home tonight - here at the desk - my feet are really going to freeze - I think the coldest place in the house is under my desk - OK enough complaining.
Later I can knit and finish my socks. I was thinking that STR is so wonderful - could I knit a sweater? It would drape, be comfortable and take forever. But it's something I'm going the investigate...know any patterns for such? OK I know there are still UFO on my plate - I'm getting there. Finish the socks and back to the sweater and one scarf for quick work....what a plan.
Knit Peace! (This is my new slogan - it says so much, to me anyway!)