Tibbs rescues my mom

We have certainly been busy around here. This is my favorite season and I want to make the most of it. We have few traditions in our family but one that is my favorite is apple picking. When my kids were little I always took them apple picking and then came right home and baked some apple goodness. This is Vince’s first year of apple picking so it was really special.

Look at all these apples on just one branch!

He liked picking the apples and putting them in the basket. But his favorite part was eating the apples off the tree.

That is always the start of my fall season. Another part I really like is fall decorating. I just love the colors of the season. This year Tom’s mom gave us a buffet that has been in the family for years so I went about decorating it.

I found these cute boxes at Joann’s.

This is another thing we got from his mom. It’s an old butter cooler.

I finished a vest that I made for Tom. It’s the Classic Camel Vest and I made it with Brooks Farm yarn. It was really easy to knit but I wish I had made it a little longer.

Then finally, let me tell you a little story about my mom. As many of you know, we took in my mom after my dad died.  She had polio when she was little and in her golden years it has made her so she can’t walk anymore. She was first and foremost a nurse. Her whole life revolved around nursing. Nothing gave her more pleasure then helping people who were sick. Well, our kitten Tibbs just got declawed and fixed. The Dr told me to try to keep Tibbs from jumping and running.  That’s a little hard around here with two dogs chasing her through the house. I decided, since my mom is immobile to give her the job of trying to keep Tibbs still. Well, that just unlocked her inner nurse. She has Tibbs on her lap all day. If she has to go to the bathroom she calls me into the room to hold Tibbs while she’s away. Now she has brought Tibbs food into the living room by her chair so as Tibbs lays there she can offer her food. She lets Tibbs sleep with her so if she needs water in the middle of the night she can get it for her. I think I might be at the end of my rope now. Just the other day she asked me if we can start putting Tibb’s water in a glass because she likes to drink out of a glass more then a bowl!

Not much accomplished

I can’t believe I didn’t post at all in August. I guess I must not have knit anything but it sure seems like I did.  We did have a busy month with a certain little boy turning 1.

Meg had a big party for him. This was her first party she hosted and she said afterward “Maybe I should have a smaller one next year” She’s a fast learner that girl. I made cupcakes for the party and they turned out so cute.

 

And I did finish some socks I was working on. They are from The Loopy Ewe's sock club. The yarn is wonderful it’s Sanguine Gryphon bugga in the colorway “Rusty Willow Sawfly” and the pattern is from Wendy Johnson and it’s called “Phoebus Apollo”

I love this yarn! 

Now I’m going to start decorating for fall. Oh, how I love fall.

Busy summer

I haven’t updated for quite awhile. Let see, first off, I did have 3 weeks vacation and most of the time it was spent making this.

It’s the Girasole by jared flood. It was a lot of fun to make but when you get to the outer rows, 1 row took almost 1 hour to do. I’m glad it’s done.

We did have some fun when I was on vacation too. Tom and my friend Jackie from work went kayaking down the Chicago River one day. They had lots of fun. I decided to go shopping while they were kayaking. I was too afraid of tipping the darn thing over and getting stuck in it.

My niece Julie was in town from Arizona and she came by to see Meg and Vince. She’s just too darn cute. I love you Julie!

 

I also went to the Midwest Fiber Festival. I caught up with some friends from the Spring Fling. It was great to see these girls again.

And finally, my little Tibbs, was lost for a few days. She somehow got out and I was a nervous wreck. My neighbor had her and she’s back causing lots of havoc around her.

Ok. This picture is deceiving. She really is causing havoc when she’s awake.

The life of a stay at home mom.

This is technically only my second day off of work. I took 3 weeks vacation all in a row. It’s so freeing, I can’t explain. I’m not getting enough sleep only because I tell myself “Hey, if I need to I can take a nap”. So I’m busy knitting and cooking and baking. I’m the most domestic person you’ve ever laid your eyes on right now. Of course it is just day 2! Talk to me on day 20. It will have probably all changed by then. So here goes. At Christmas I saw these wreaths and really liked the idea. So at the after Christmas sale I went and bought a bunch of packages of ornaments. I got the cheapest ones, not because I’m cheap but my daughter really likes this color. The problem is they’re so cheap, they’re plastic. And they come apart when you touch them. UGH. If I have to I’ll use my trusty glue gun. But so far they’re staying together when I’m not fooling around with them.

Next, I finished my Heart to Heart scarf. I’m so happy with it. It’s the first time I’ve beaded. I’m glad it didn’t have too many beads. They’re so tiny I was always dropping them when I was on the train. Then I had to hunt for these tiny little beads. Not a pretty sight. But here it is.

Here’s a close up, because I know you want to see more.

Well, I must go now and do more womanly things. TaTa.

We have a new kitty!

I finally did it and got another kitty. I’ve wanted one for a long time and when son #2 returned to Camp Pendleton leaving his wife her with us, I thought it would be a good idea to get her something to cuddle why he’s gone. She’s got a really bad cold right now and is quarantined in DIL’s room. But the little contact she’s had with the dogs has been all positive. They don’t seem to bother her at all. The other kitty isn’t too happy, but she’ll get over it.

Here she is, her name is Tibbs.

 

She’s almost 3 months old and we got her from the local shelter. She’s also very curious and really wants to explore.

I also finished my Clapotis. I know, I’m probably the only knitter in the world that hadn’t made it. Well, now I can say I have. I had my DIL model it for me.

It was a very simple pattern and I love the looks of it.

I made it with Brook’s Farm Duet and love this yarn. It’s very soft. I have to make a mental note to buy some more.

Happy Spring

I have been so busy with no time for blogging. I’m trying to figure it into my schedule. I sure wish I was one of those people that could blog everyday.

 

First let me start with a gift I got in the mail today. One of the forums I’m on in Ravelry held a Summer Swap. The girl who got me saw that I really want to learn to knit lace without pulling my hair out. She sent me this lovely package complete with pattern, yarn, and needles to complete a lace scarf.

I can’t wait to get started. But I also joined a lace club this year to really get me going. It’s the Wool Girl lace club and this is my second package I’ve gotten from them and let me tell you I LOVE IT!

 

 

 

Here’s  a close up of the scarf, which is so pretty.

 

The first package I got from them I wasn’t crazy about. But this totally makes up for it.

I also had to get a new computer because mine finally bit the dust. I did loose a lot of pictures but the really important ones I had saved on my back up hard drive. Thank God.

I did finish one pair of socks I can show you. It’s from the Loopy Ewe sock club. I know, I’m a sucker for those clubs. But it’s so fun to get packages that are a total surprise.

They’re called Kinvara, the pattern is by Monica Jines. The yarn is Dye Dreams Luster Sox in the Shades of Ireland colorway. This yarn is soo soft. I can’t wait to wear them.

And now to show you my little guy, who is now crawling. It won’t be long and he’ll be driving me crazy trying to keep up with him. But I plan on loving every minute of it.

Knitting love

 

 

I have returned from a long weekend of knitting love. I was one of the ones lucky enough to be chosen to go to St Louis for the Loopy Ewe’s Spring Fling. What a wonderful time we had. The weather was great, not a sprinkle the whole time. And of course the company was the best in the world. I’m usually a pretty introverted person, but I got to tell you, I was talking up a storm the whole time. My poor vocal cords need a rest now. One of the knitting blogs I read, her niece was doing a flat Stanley. So I took it with me. I’m sure the kids won’t know who these super stars of knitting are but I’m betting the Aunt will.

 

Her is Wendy Johnson from Wendy knits.

And this is Cookie A

 

And then there was Anne Hanson from knitspot.

And I can’t forget Sheri from The Loopy Ewe. Who is a rock star for putting this all together.

I think everyone had a wonderful time and I’m hoping I can go again next year.