New Years Blizzard 2011

After spending about 5 months in CT, enjoying Christmas with the new baby and his family in Florida, dropping our oldest son off in Duluth, MN we are stuck in Moorhead, MN in a blizzard. This is the 2nd night we have had to stay over and probably will tomorrow also as I-94 will probably be closed. We are supposed to get about 12 inches of snow and winds at 35 miles per hour. The wind chill is in the -20s to -30s.  Brutal.  If we could drive for about 1.5 hours on 94 we would drive out of the storm but no such luck.  Florida continues to look better all the time. At least the first night we were stuck in Walker, MN at a casino, although it did cost me some money it was still fun. You would certainly pack differently if you knew you were going to get hung up for a couple of days in a hotel.  Thanks goodness I have my knitting with me.

Working on my knitting goals for this year but need to get home to finalize them and then will post.

Danielle and John are with me, moving to ND and she hates cold weather. We'll see how long this lasts. Hopefully a good long time so she can get a productive life going.

They're gone

I'm sad.

Getting Done

I found a really easy, plain, uncomplicated, non fussy hat for my son Chris for Christmas. He doesn't like cables, bumps, decorations, colors, patterns, etc. Just plain. The most boring kid to knit for, but at least it makes for quick knitting.

The color is black, although the picture looks charcoal gray. I am playing with a new camera and haven't gotten it all figured out yet.  Unfortunately I think it may be too big on him but we'll see. He will appreciate the gesture even if it is too big. I have plenty more yarn so can scale it back, or I was thinking on the next hat of adding an inch of K2P2 ribbing to make it a little tighter. I'm not convinced that would look the best but may try knitting a sample.

Yarn:  Galway Worsted (Purchased at Black Sheep Yarn, Kent, CT)
Needles: Size 8, 16 inch circulars, Clover
               Size 8, double point, Susan Bates
Pattern: The Boyfriend Hat

It rained and poured today, cats and dogs. At this point at least it is not snow. Actually all of our beautiful snow is gone.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

What an eventful week. New grandson is home and doing well, as is mama.  Tina said he sleeps more during the daytime than at night, so we'll see how that goes.

We are having a horribly rainy day which we are hoping beyond belief will not turn into any of the snow the Midwest has gotten. Mom, you guys can keep it. I have traveling coming up!!

Spent about 4 hours last night knitting Chris a hat for Christmas, about 2/3rds done.  When finished I will take a picture with my new handy dandy Canon. It has been fun trying the different settings and learning what to do. Still would love to take a class and get better.

Finally It Looks Like Christmas

Finally, finally, finally we got some snow.

I love New England stone fences.

I love how the house looks all decorated with snow.  The tracks in the driveway are mine, I shoveled the whole darn thing.  Took two hours. Who needs the gym? It is snowing again tonight so tomorrow may be a repeat.

Our lane in the quiet of the morning when the sun was trying to rise.

Okay, last picture.... (of snow)

Lots of hungry little birds. I had already scared some away unfortunately.

Finally finished one of Alex's gifts (Tina's unborn)

Kind of silly but I had fun with it. The mitten pattern was actually from a WorkBasket magazine from the 1960s.  Since they are in Florida I made this out of sock yarn so it wouldn't be too warm.  The baby sleeper has 3 buttons sewn on but I need to go back to JoAnn's and get more of the bigger buttons. I made the buttonholes to large so rather than sew them partly shut I just decided to use bigger buttons. It looks cute.

Danielle is winding down school, two weeks left. She will then have to take a class starting at the end of January, on-line, and will receive her diploma in May. I am so pleased she decided to do this.  AJ, her husband, is coming on Thursday and they are all leaving a week from Friday to spend the holidays in North Carolina.  Then I have to clean like a crazy person to get the house ready.

Treasure Finds #3

Here are some of the highlights from the 3rd box from the estate sale. One more box and a big garbage bag full of stuff to go through yet.

I'm thinking I will probably finish up these 5 (the fabric is folded) dolls and donate them, but will sew with the sewing machine. The one doll that is stitched together on the right is hand done. Easier on the machine.

I don't know what kind of fabric this is but it is heavy (thick) and shiny. Beautiful blue color. There is may be 1 to 1.5 yards, a piece has been cut out so truly not a full 1.5 yards.

I love old fabrics, will have to check if it is reproduction or truly older. It feels different than the reproduction fabrics I already have so am hoping it is old. On the blue jean looking fabric the red flowers are raised.

Now I know we all keep an old hand forged nail in our fabric so here is the one I found, all rusty and neat.

Miscellaneous bigger pieces of fabrics.

Triangles, small squares, bigger squares already cut out and ready to be sewn back together and quilted. This winter I'll probably separate the difference sizes. Some of the fabric is really nice and some of it isn't. All personal preference, I'm sure he thought it was fantastic (the gentleman in the family was the quilter).

We are supposed to be getting snow on Thursday. It will be fun to see John out playing it in. I have a feeling he is going to love it.  It is definitely getting a chill in the air so this weekend we are preparing, turning off hose water, finishing stacking the wood, double checking that all the windows are fastened, moving the patio furniture undercover, etc.

Gas Prices

Has anyone else noticed that gas has gone up 20 cents this week?  Lucky us.  We are up to $3.20 a gallon in Kent.  

Not much else going on I just needed to crab a little.

Yeah Wood

This is what you end up with when a young man from Vermont comes to see you and there is a chopped down tree in the yard.

This picture doesn't even show the whole pile of wood. He started at 7 before we were up and stopped about 9:30.  He certainly has more ambition than I. He really likes doing manual labor, says it makes him feel like he actually accomplished something.  I'm glad he likes to because now we can have a fire when it gets cold again. It was in the 70s yesterday, high 60s today, fantastic.  He just left, I miss him already.

Treasure Finds #2

The following are some of the contents from the 2nd box from the estate sale. It just keeps getting better and better.

I don't know what this is. It is embroidery and is beautiful. The edge is trimmed after it is embroidered. The stitching is beautiful and is done correctly with padding stitches under the final embroidery to make it stand out.

This is just a needlepoint sampler of different stitches.

Needlepoint pattern.

This is a really nice heavy upholstery fabric. The color isn't true in the picture, it is a dull orange color with cream. About 2 yards.

This is a beautiful table cloth. The picture below is a sticker that is still on the cloth.

Whoever owned this cloth liked embroidery, thus the initial in the corner of the table cloth.

This fabric is absolutely beautiful. The background is a a very limey-light yellow, but not bright. It is gorgeous. I have about 8 yards and will be keeping this. I think it is an upholstery fabric as it is a very heavy fabric.

This lace is absolutely beautiful. I have about 5 yards. There is a little tag attached to it, on one side it said W-67 and the other 3,521.02.  I'm sure there is a story and I would love to know it. There is nothing under the lace that is the camera flash. The lace is about 20 inches wide. 

Not that I took a picture of it, but the Schumacher fabric from the last entry I was so excited to find more fabric, about 6 yards of border and 3 inside panels. 

Last, but not least, 6 bags of needlepoint/embroidery thread.

Chris is down and visiting with a friend today. We purchased a maul and he is going to split some wood tomorrow. We had a tree cut down and one fall down in a storm that needs to get cleaned up.

Treasures - Now what to do with them.

A couple of weeks go Danielle and I went to an estate sale of a gentleman who was going into an assisted living facility. He was a quilter. It was the second day of the same and they were up for bargaining so I offered $20 after some negotiating for a table full of fabric and three buckets full. Tonight I went through the smallest bucket. It was interesting to say the least.  The following are some of the "treasures" I found.

I love this fabric. I thought I only had this little piece but it turns out I have about a yard.  I was thinking some neat pillows but Danielle suggested an apron. That would be perfect.

Mom (or anyone actually) this is the sleeper for Tina's baby. What color buttons?  The lighter flecks are almost a blue-purple, there is yellow, there is black, there is an olive green -- any ideas? This was not in the estate sale find.

I really like this but there is not really enough to do anything with. I want to google and find out about the Schumacher brand.

This fabric isn't anything special, a heavy cotton but I thought it was interesting that it had the date purchased. June 1956. I wasn't even born yet.  I wonder how much it cost, there was no receipt.

The is a rug hooking design. I'll pass this on as I really don't want to get into rug hooking, weaving yes, hooking no.  It is very detailed and very big.

Homemade tatted lace (I think) and buttons that are really unusual. They just look like pearlized buttons but they are really heavy and have very small cuts in the outer circle.  They of course are fabulous as is the lace.

Stencils, I'm not sure what for. Are they for quilting?

Embroidery table runner. I'll probably finish this. The DMC floss is with it so I have the colors that it was started with. It is long and has the same pattern on the other end. One side is a little discolored but I'm hoping that will come out with some special soap.

and Last but not least:

Of course blogger or my picture is giving me trouble. The last picture was a big bag full of various embroidery thread (I think), not DMC but almost thin cording. Some of it feels like cotton, some feels like linen. Also there are 5 spools of heavy cotton thread that I will be able to use for weaving rugs, mostly in white but also a tan and purple cone.

Danielle doesn't have school tomorrow night due to Veteran's Day being observed so will go to knitting and sew up the baby hat, it ended up being great. When I have it sewn and the flowers attached I'll take a picture. The yarn was fabulous to work with.

Cold and Windy

I'm sitting in bed posting this and the wind is just howling outside. The temperature shows 67 in the house but it feels much colder. Maybe I'm just not ready for winter yet. Maybe it can hold off for 2 months until I get back to North Dakota (probably not but you can always hope).

The above photo is the scarf for A.J.'s grandmother:

Feather and Fan Pattern

Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy - Color San Diego.

(It is folded over that is why there are two bottom edges)

Brown mittens for John

Pattern adapted from: 60 Quick Knits

Yarn: Cascade 220

Washcloth

Pattern: Monthly Washcloth Knit-A-Long

Yarn: Sugar N Cream Twist - Green Twists

The picture above is the baby sleeping bag for Tina's baby due December 1st.
Pattern: Knitting Pure and Single Baby Sleeping Bag. Unfortunately the picture doesn't show very much detail. The yarn is beautiful.
The pattern originally called for a zipper but I added the placket and will be sewing on buttons. (The yellow that you see in the middle are pins for blocking).
Yarn: Plymouth Tweed - Color 5324 (how boring, it needs a name)

Now on to getting the minister's wife's baby stuff done. She is due in 8 days. I will probably mail the hat first and then the sweater as there is no way it will all be done in time. The hat is about half done already. Thank goodness baby stuff is a quick knit.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TINA

I hope you have a fabulous day and are doing something other than running errands by this time.

Love you,

Mom

Working Day

The weather was beautiful today so Danielle and I worked outside while John slept. She stacked wood for the next cold evening so we can build a fire. I worked in the garage getting things back on the shelving units and off the floor. Also am continuing to go through boxes and have 6 boxes of donation stuff. There never seems to be an end to the sorting and pitching. So much waste it is pitiful.

Yesterday was a cooking day. Baked Spaghetti squash, made applesauce muffins, bisquits and cookies. For supper we had chicken pot pie which was a hit except it takes forever for John to eat when he has to pick out all the green and orange vegetables. He is meticulous with his separating out of all vegetables. Crazy kid.  He loves V8 fusion which are his vegetable servings. 

Listed 5 items on E-bay. I need to get going with that again. I'd like my PayPal account to get $200 in it again so I can transfer it to savings. 

Finished Alexander (Tina's unborn) bunting sleeper and it is so cute. I am washing it and blocking tonight, hopefully will have pictures (it still needs buttons but all the knitting is done). Also finished A.J.'s grandmother's scarf for Christmas, a pair of brown mittens for John and a dishcloth. Now I need to hurry and get our minister's baby sweater and hat done, she is due in 9 days. I'm positive it will not get done in time but will still be usable when she does get it. 

Dan said it was in the 60s in ND today, was probably in the 50s here in CT. I'm ready to get home. This has been a good productive time but it has been long enough.

A couple weeks ago I got the best book, The Backyard Homestead. Fabulous reference book and exactly the type of lifestyle I want. Now I just have to convince my husband, surprisingly it probably won't be that difficult.

Rhinebeck

Had a great time at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival this year (Rhinebeck).  Worked on Saturday with a friend and went back on Sunday to view the booths and animals.

I love this one. How in the world can he see.

It was lunch time, so hay in the hair.  

There faces are so soft. This one let me pet him.

I tell you they are so cute, I want one as a pet.

Taking a walk through the crowd.

Now onto the treasures.

This is really pretty yarn, the picture stinks. It is white with blue shades and silver metallic thread running through it. These socks are for me.  Ice Bear Holiday Yarns

Again, picture not great but I have wanted this kit for the longest time. Again, these socks are for me.

Kitri Check it out here much better picture. The beading on the black is what I really like.

You can never have too many sheep coffee mugs.

and finally,

These are glass needles, they are beautiful. I saw them 3 years ago and really wanted a pair then. I love the fiddlehead on the end. They are a dream to knit with.  Knitting Needle Company Super nice people also.

That is enough to show. I promised mom I wouldn't go overboard, so what she doesn't know about is probably a good thing.

Anyway had a good time, hopefully it won't be my last. In two weeks is Stitches East in Hartford, another big shopping event for which I "need" nothing. Next weekend Danielle, John and I are going to the CT Renaissance Faire. Hope we have great weather, it is kind of it and miss lately. Today was beautiful and was in the 70s, perfect day to be walking around the fair grounds. I think the next weekend we will just crash. We have wood to clean up from a tree we had cut down, yard to mow, the house needs cleaning, etc, but the running around is so much more tempting.

The one good thing about events like this is the motivation to start all kinds of new projects. Actually I'm not quite so sure if that is good or not, for me it is all good.

Great Thrifty Finds

This was the find of the weekend. A Martha Pullen Pleater for $7. They are $160 new. I'm not sure it has ever been used. Now I have to find some books and information and learn how. I love the magazine Sew Beautiful, they always have beautiful pleated children's wear.

Not sure what happened here but there are 4 balls of the blue and 3 balls of the black/white yarn. It is cotton, it was soft, it was only $.50 each so got it. I'm sure what to do with it yet, any suggestions?

Christmas knitting has begun as well as baby knitting. Tina is due in about a month, as is my minister's wife, as is a friend from North Dakota. Found out this week that the assistant minister's wife just found out she is expecting.

Cause and Effect

This is the Effect!!

This would be the cause. 

It is so blazing hot and humid the only relief is in a pool.  The air conditioner is running constantly and the house is comfortable but mid afternoon when the sun is at the hottest it can't keep up.  High 90s here -- did I mention it is 75 with a light breeze is North Dakota.  

Dan and Sam worked in the garden for a while tonight, got the tomatoes and the onions weeded.  They have a huge job ahead of them. Dan said it is really overgrown after being gone for 4 days. Too bad I am missing all the fun!!