A life in progress

I don't know which way I want to turn next. I love reading the decorating blogs and look at the lovely things people do in their houses. It just seems to come so easy for some. I'm not included in that. I'm trying to figure out how to do these things seamlessly. It's not coming naturally to me. But I do love the blog world for ideas. I took a fall decorating seminar at The Little Traveler on Monday. It was wonderful and they even had a little fall fashion show. Too bad they don't offer things in my big size. But I did come out with some great ideas for decorating, and I'm proud to show you what I've done.




Then I just loved these boxes that these Halloween things came in. So I decided to group them together on my counter in the kitchen. I bought this Halloween wine too. A wine snob, I am not. I bought it for the cute bottle.



And finally, I did finish some knitting! I had to take a little break there for awhile. But I'm back at it. I made these socks for a guy at work. He says he loves them. It always makes me happy when I can do things for other people.

Time Off

I've been off of work for a week. I barely got anything done except going and playing with my new Grandson. He's so cute! I did do a little fall decorating.










I also got my closet cleaned. I won't bother showing you pictures of that. But it looks good. For now. But most of my time was spent with little Vince.




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Who could resist that? I'm back at work now and hopefully back to knitting.

FOX Attacks Obama Like Kerry

This makes me sick!

He's here

May I present to you, my Grandson, Vincent Austin Marra! He was born Monday, August 25th at 7:17pm. He weighed 8lbs 4oz, and is 20.5 inches long. I am so happy I'm beaming. Really, I wish you could see my face. Already they are home from the hospital. I went this afternoon to pick them up. Mother and baby doing well. Grandma on the other hand is a bit of a mess. But I was that way before so I can't blame them. We had 8 people in the waiting room when she was delivering. I snuck by her doorway which was a little bit open and heard him take his first breath. When we finally got to go in and see him he was bright eyed and looking around wondering where the hell he was. He even moved his eyes in the direction of the person talking. He's a genius I just know it. My son-in-law is an artist and drew this on Meg's board in the hospital while we were waiting for his debut.

Here's mama and baby bonding. Isn't it a beautiful thing?

And so he's not left out here's my son-in-law giving him his first bottle. Meg can't breastfeed because of her medicine she takes from the liver transplant.
And here's just one last picture of him because I can't get enough. Sorry.You'll be seeing him alot around here.

Still Waiting

I keep putting off a new post thinking that I'll be able to show you my new grandbaby any day. Well, it still hasn't happened. But I did take my daughter to the Dr yesterday and if she doesn't go into labor by next Monday then they are going to induce. So it will be soon!



I've been staying busy knitting. The Summer of Socks is almost over and this will probably be my last pair for the summer. I'm making them for a guy at work who has said he wants a pair. I hope he likes them.
One of the perks of having my mom live with me is I got a cleaning lady! It's so wonderful. I usually divide my cleaning into sections. I do certain rooms on different days of the week. On the week that she comes I don't have to do anything. It's great. I have free time that I didn't before. And Suzanne, in case you're wondering she lives in Elburn and comes highly recommended by me.



I've also been busy with two of my nieces. I had them all day a couple of days ago and we made cookies. Thanks to Tanya's recipe for Peanut Butter surprise cookies. They turned out great. I have never tried anything from her site I didn't like. As we were smooshing the cookies down we were singing the Cookie Mash instead of the Monster Mash. They had lots of fun.



And finally, we got our first tomato. I'm not a good gardener. I hate the heat. But sometimes I go out and weed and try to keep things alive. It is fun to see things growing. And here is my Karen keeping me company as I wait for the little one to arrive.

What a beautiful Buzz!

Have I ever told you I love the Stones. I really, really love the Stones. It might be because they are older then me and still going strong. That they are even still alive after the abuses they have put their bodies through. I don't know, but whatever it is it makes me really love them. Especially Mick! Tom and I go to all their concerts, he thinks it's to have a nice date night with his loving wife. I think it's so I can plan how to sneek backstage and wow Mick with my womanly ways. Sorry Tom. It's just a dream really because I am now a middle age, overweight, almost Grandma. EEE GADS. Really the only thing I could wow him with now is I could make him my killer lasagna or knit him a pair of socks. I don't think that's what he wants. Luckily it is what Tom wants. Anyway, my son, just bought me this video that just came out. Oh, how I love to dream.It really is very good and has great duets with Christine Aguilara, Jack White, and Buddy Guy.
Now on to what I've been doing besides dreaming of me and Mick. I have been working on these socks. I got the kit from The Loopy Ewe in my sock club. This is a killer pattern. It's taken me almost 2 wks of knitting, and I'm not even half way done with the second one.

The pattern repeats every 24 rows so you can't memorize it.I also took out my sewing machine and dusted it off. I made my mom some curtains for her bathroom. Now remember I haven't sewn for years.I really want to start quilting. There is a nice quilt store just a couple blocks from me and I'm trying to hold back. Do you think Mick would like them????

Playing Hookey

I took the day off of work today so I could get ready for my daughter's baby shower. We have people coming in from out of town, including my favorite twin girls! So today I went shopping. If you've never been to Geneva, Illinois you are missing lots. Especially if you're a shopper! It's a quaint little town with tons of great shops. I don't think you could do it all in a day. Maybe a weekend. So today I'm taking you to some of my favorite shops. Before we go we have to get cash, lots of cash.

The first stop is The Little Traveler. It's been around since I was a kid and I'm not going to tell you how long ago that was! It's grown since then but it keeps getting better and better.My husband says my eyes light up when I walk in here. You'll see why. Oh, aren't these pretty?I must stay out of this department.Ahh, yes, this is where I need to be today.They have the cutest baby clothes. And I'm all about that today. Oh, man I can't wait. Here's something that would great in my dining room. Just in case you wondered why I took a picture of it. Ooops, $2800, can't afford it this trip.

I don't need to go in this room. But I did anyway and bought some copper ornaments because the colors I'm using this Christmas are copper and sage.Darn I wish she was having a girl. I could do girly things so well.I'll have to stick in this corner from now on.

Next stop the Paper Merchant so I can get wrapping paper and ribbon.They have the cutest cards here.

Ok That's done. Now I need to go home and wrap everything. I'll take you to more Geneva stores later. It's a lot of fun. Even Ellen DeGeneras had a segment on how fun it is.

Before I forget, here's my latest socks. They are the Nutkin pattern in Wollmeise yarn in the colorway of Spice Market. I really like how they turned out.