Guess Who's Knitting

The trouble I can get into

Today is Sunday.  I have too many things that I want to do and lots of things that should be done.  So what have I been doing all morning.  Sitting at my computer, drinking a nice cup of coffee and reading blogs, reading websites along with my faithful companions, Emma and Missy and Mastercard.  That's right.  Mastercard is not a pet but it should be.  I have been ordering things.  The trouble I can get into when I'm home alone.  Oh the stories I could tell.

So my latest endeavor is going to be NICE PEOPLE NICE THINGS.  It is an Australian quilt designed by Helen Stubbings of Hugs N Kisses.  Man, she designs some cute stuff.  Got the pattern from a really nice US store (online) called Treasured Threads.  Shannon has decided to take the plunge and offer all the nice Australian patterns that we can't find over here in the States.  Great job she is doing and her service is EXCELLENT.  Check her out at http://www.treasuredthreadsonline.com but be warned, you will need your trusty friend after looking at her blog.

Also, there is going to be a group doing the NPNTs blocks.  A wonderful gal in Wisconsin is heading this up, Colleen.  Thanks so much for doing it.  You spurred me on to buy the pattern after oogling it for months.  If anyone I know wants to join in, let me know so we can possibly get together to stitch on our blocks.  If you'd like to see the pattern, you can view it at Tresured Threads or go to http://npnt.wordpress.com to see the designer's blog and on the right side there are links to the quilt.  Let me know if anyone in Virginia is going to do this.  It will be so much fun.  Below is a little picture of one of the blocks.  There are 104 of these and some really cute sayings.

Until later, I'm off to see what's new on EBAY.  I must cut this computer off.  Someone tell me how?

Robin

where does the time go?

Its July and I can honestly say that what happened to June?  I know it passed by because of my June 30th birthday, I became one year older.  But all my great plans on what I was going to accomplish?  Gemme a break, not one of them got done.  The greenhouse went up in late May and I still don't have a floor in it, do have a potting bench to go inside but no floor.  Gardening came to a halt with the hot weather we have been having.  The flowers are surviving thanks to daily watering but I'm not going out there and cook trying to plant anything else.  ICK!  I hate really hot weather.  Give me the 70s any day.

 

Well, I am officially stating that I intend to get my sewing life back on track, been in a funk for it, the knitting took over but now I feel the call of the needle.  Hopefully I can do both and get some much needed things done before too long.  Also, every year I think after the fact that I should start gifts for Christmas in July, WELL, IT'S JULY!!! let me put on my thinking cap and see if it will work.

 

Two things to ask, anyone out there have a greenhouse?  I have questions about that and if anyone who reads this is busy getting Christmas stuff together, please send me a little bit of your energy and motivtion!!!

I think I need it because mine is missing!

 

have a nice cold drink under some shade tree and take it easy.

 

Later!

one last post before it's June

where does the time go?  I seem to have all these great ideas and plans and then POOF! another month has passed by and I didn't do one thing that I had planned to do.  Does anyone else suffer from this malady?  if so, what is the cure?

We have been a little busy working in the yard, trying to tidy up some and plant a few flowers.  We are going to try the upside down tomato baskets to see how they work.  Have you already tried them?  What did you think?

if you read my post way back on March 30th where you saw the concrete box we made and I asked if you had a clue, well we finished the project.  Here are the results.

A cute little greenhouse.  Not a big one but I've always wanted one.  Do any of you readers out there have greenhouses?  What did you use for the flooring and what about benches, etc?  have any good sources for greenhouse accessories?  I can't wait to get it finished completely and have the little flower beds around the sides.  We are also going to put raised beds in for flowers/veggies.  Not worrying much about this growing season, it's a work in progress.  Besides our neighbor keeps us in tomatoes.

That's my sweet son who helped Ray and I.  This was a bit hard on the old bones...

Well, it's Friday afternoon, thank goodness, I'm off to hopefully a productive and fun weekend.  Hope yours is the best!

where has a Month gone?

I have been around, lurking in all sorts of blogs reading wonderful stories and seeing lots of awesome projects in knitting, quilting, needlework and cooking.  The biggest question I have for most of these people is where do you find the time?  I work 40 hours a week, go home and ponder what dinner will be, ask my DH and then some times off we go to dinner out.  I like to cook, I like to eat out.  Home cooking is much healthier for you but sometimes you just need a change.  If we go out, forget doing anything when we get home.  I need time to relax before bed and another day starting.  So I try to cook at home.  Problem is that I'd really rather do something fun, sit and knit, sit and sew or just sit and read a book.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a chef come in every day and cook healthly wonderful tasting food and all we had to do was eat it?

What a nice dream!

Anyway, to my friends who read this blog, forgive my lack of posting.  I love reading blogs but most of the time feel that my own is lacking.  I should do better but only time will tell.  I have been doing some things.  Can't say it's knitting. I'm having some issues with my left arm/hand and depending on the day some times I just can't knit.  It hurts.  There will probably be surgery in the future, just not sure when.  UGH!  hate the thought of it. 

Have been to MS&W.  Enjoyed it.  Enjoyed our time with Cathy T and Chris.  We had some great food and nice visits together. Saw some TNK ladies, Patsy, Jane, Mary and Robin H.  I'm sure more were there but I was too busy looking at wool.

Took Cathy T to Williamsburg/Newport News one weekend and added some yarn to the stash.  Also added some cross stitch to the stash too.  I'm getting the bug to stitch and quilt again.  If anyone else is, let me know, maybe we can meet sometime and sit and stitch.

Been working on our yard project.  Hopefully it will be finished this weekend and I can post some pictures.

That's it for now, not much going on, just the ususal stuff.  Miss everyone and hope to see you soon.

What a contest

for all my knitting friends, if you haven't seen this, go and fast

http://knitty.com/blog/2008/04/biggest-contest-knitty-has-ever-had.html

Knitty.com is having a contest to celebrate their 50 millionth visit to their blog.  Follow the instructions and you could win things that will take your breath away.  Good Luck All!

Emma

This is our big boy cat Emma.  Rarely does he sit for a picture but he wanted to pose so the pictures turned out pretty good.  He is a big man, 21.5 pounds and you never know what he will do.  A bit of a mean man at times....

But we love him and he is our family...wouldn't change a thing. 

Not much going on here

just trying to get through Tax season so I'm in a funk but thought I'd show you a few plants in our yard.

When we bought this house 16 years ago we planted Wisteria.  It grew and grew but never flowered.  So we cut one plant down and kept the other one.  It grew and grew.  No flowers.  We tried to kill it but it wouldn't die.  So we just left it.  Then about 4 years ago we looked and it had one tiny little flower bud, only one.  Then the next year it had a full strand of flowers but only one.  Last year it had a couple so we were excited.  This is how it looks this year.  There is hope but you must have patience.

and the other couple of pictures below are of the mound of vinca we have growing in the front yard.  It is really pretty in the sunshine and the tulips look nice this year.  We need more tulips, I think.

Don't you just love the spring colors popping up everywhere.  God just gives us such beauty.

Have a great week ahead!  after the 15th, I'll be better but poorer!

Migraines

Does anyone else out there in blogland get migraines?  I sure hate them.  I only started with them after turning 40 many years ago and each year is a different story.  Well, I thought they were getting milder and fewer but wham!  not so, I've had 3 this week.  Missed 2 days of work for it too.  There was just no way I could work with my vision so screwed up and my head pounding like a little man was whacking me with a hammer.  I take Axert which makes the pain tolerable.  I would like a cure.  Guess that isn't happening but if someone has some good hints, send them my way.

I'm back to the Neurologist the end of April.  Must make sure nothing whacky is going on.  The worst part of this is, I love to read, knit, stitch and want to start a quilt.  When you can't see that's impossible.

Thanks for listening to me whine!

The quilt I want to start is over on Quiltville- Orange Crush.  I think it will be just the thing to get me in quilting again.

April Fooled me...

Didn't work today.  Got a horrible migraine last night and have just been sitting around all day out of sorts.  Take a prescription that makes the pain bearable but just hate the things.  Why do they hit when we least expect it.

One thing I did get to do this afternoon is read blogs...such fun, so much inspiration and such talented people.  I found one blog that is giving away a free stitchery to whoever posts their website/blog link online.  So, guess what fans, here it is

http://wildcraftfarm.typepad.com/wildcraft_farm/

check out this talented designer from downunder....

one post before it's April

I have been hanging around, in the background, watching, reading, relaxing.  It is so hard to believe that April is here in a couple of days.  Gosh, it was just December and I had Christmas stuff to get done.  Where does the time go?  I guess even if we could slow it down that we would take advantage of it and still feel like we didn't have enough time.

I have been knitting a little bit, finished a hat for one of our friends.  Need to get a picture of him with it on.  I did get good compliments on it since he did get to wear it week before last out in Western Virginia where it was really cold.  It did the trick.  Kept his bald head and ears nice and toasty.

I actually am feeling the quilting bug again.  Lynette Anderson is a quilt designer from Australia and she is giving a free pattern each month of a Noah's Ark quilt that she designed.  It's not going to be big, just a wall hanging but is really cute.  You stitch the design with DMC thread and then add a border of fabric  strips around it.  The first block is of 2 little rabbits.  When I get the strips sewn on, I'll show the picture.  The next block starts in April so I want to be on schedule.  Just about done.  Then there are several other freebie stitchery blocks online too that I want to do.  It actually is very relaxing and enjoyable to sit and stitch for a change.

I also like to cook.  Don't do much of it anymore because work interfers with my fun and by the time I get home from work I'm pretty useless.  My job is not that demanding but just being there is tiring sometimes.  Anyway, I did make a nice cake for Ray's Birthday.  It is a Raspberry filled Whipped Cream covered with Coconut Angel Food cake that is just yummy.  Here's a picture of the cake and a slice of it.  You probably can't tell much but it's pretty easy and good.  It uses Chambord Liqueur in the filling.  Got the recipe out of Cooks Country magazine.

                                                                                           
                   

                   
   
                        
   

We have also been trying to get some things built outside that we have been wanting for a long time.  Here is the start...can you guess what it's going to be?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Well, it's Sunday morning, time to drink coffee, read the paper and plan the day.  What are you doing today?  if nothing exciting is going on, make it exciting.  Do something spontaneous, do something to make a memory!

later friends, I'm off to wake up a lazy hubby!