Here is the the best buy I got at Sedalia Fiber Festival. Natural 100% alpaca, brown and silver. Probably the prettiest, softest, most luxurious yarn I have ever knit with. It was a great buy as well. $22 for 660 yards. I got 3 skeins. More than enough to make a sweater and maybe some mittens, hat, and socks as well.

I like the way the stitches are. I am going to need a camisole or something underneath it. Very drapey, and just the tiniest bit see through.
I CO another sock. This time Marcelo's Seven-League Boots for DD #1. Leftover sport weight yarn. I have so much of this yarn, I can probably knit another pair of adult socks for a Christmas present.
My latest acquisition from CyberFyber, aka, David Simpson. Aura. It is going to be lace weight for my second attempt at the Bee Fields Shawl. I MADE SURE I had enough material for it this time. Almost 1.5lbs, more or less. These are the 1st 2 skeins of what I think will probably be 8-10 skeins.
This is what I call my 'found' alpaca. The lady from Riveranna Farms gave it to me. I had just made a small purchase and she said to take from her bags of 2nds..... as long as I didn't spin it.
Folks, giving me fiber and telling me not to attempt to spin it is ludicrous. I told her I was going to spin it. She said I could have it as long as I *wink, wink* promised not to spin it. Okey, dokey....*wink, wink* I won't spin it. There you see, I haven't *wink* spun it.

I had all kinds of funny things to tell you about, but, blogger failed me when the creative juices were flowing earlier. The dingbat pictures refused to upload. Lost all the fun stuff. So, the driest, knitting post ever. Hope to do better for you next time, Dear Reader.

Your Friend,

Catie

Been doing many things these last couple of days.
Setting twist and finishing yarn to knit.
Trying to figure out what to knit with 150 yards of orange, hand spun boucle. Ideas? Anyone? Anyone?
Finishing up sock #1 of An American in China sock. Sport weight yarn. Size 4 needles. Wool by David Simpson in Carnival colorway.
The closest yarn, that I have seen, to resemble this yarn is Alice Starmores from her Virtual Yarns website. The yarn is multi-faceted and complex. You can make it stripe, or better yet, let it spin as it would and it creates it's own heathered color.
The DIY Man socks. Again, David Simpsons fiber, 3ply, light fingering, size 1 needles. I really spun this yarn way too tight and it is quite ropey. BUT! I have learned that sock yarn should be spun tightly to help it wear longer! So, Andy gets rough socks. It might even wear the hair off his legs.

You know it's hot when.................

You know it's hot when:

• Your dog has drank so much water, it doesn't even realize it has to go and pees on your Aubusson rug.
• You forgot the dog probably needed to go out because you didn't want to open the sw facing door FOR ANY REASON.
  

• You also don't want to open the sw facing door to let kids play in the kiddy pool, for same aforementioned reason. They think any door is revolving and they must be able to have complete access to anywhere AT anytime, at ALL times. Regardless of Mom crying out that it is hotter than the blazes out there and MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
• DH thinks it is cold in the bedroom when it is 84 degrees.
• You can't sleep with DH because he is hot, snoring, and restless (he wasn't cold, what IS his problem).
• You sleep on the downstairs couch with window open and at 4:30am, the Siamese cat starts to meow at you from the other side, cuz the window is open and she can smell you. You are rather ripe after all.

• You know you need lots of H2O in heat like this, but this causes the post, have had 3 baby bladder to feel the need to pee.
• You barely get pants down in time, cuz they stick.
• You stick on the porcelain.
• Can barely pull them up, yet again, sticking. End up doing a 'happy dance' pulling them up, much to the entertainment of 4 yo son who has yet to leave you alone while you do any sort of personal business.
  

• You carry the Aubusson rug out the SW facing door to rinse it well with vinegar and water to kill the pee smell, which, if left unattended, would flow thru the house in a matter of hours.
• DH decides to vacuum under where the Aubusson rug was and made the entire downstairs at least 3-4 degrees hotter due to the exhaust.
  

• You are hungry, but, the idea of cooking makes eating a bad idea.
• Alas, you ARE hungry. You boil noodles and the steam kills the appetite of the entire family. Noodles you say? That was nuts. Well.... there was truly nothing else to eat and going to the store and walking across that hot pavement didn't bear pondering.
  

• You decide to do something relaxing, like knit. Good idea in theory, but the yarn refuses to slip thru your fingers due to excess hand moisture.
• You must give up on all projects but socks, as wool in the lap is intolerable.
• You break a sweat while blogging.

Current temp of upstairs: 88 deg F.

Current temp of downstairs: 85 deg F.

Mental status: sane, barely

Plans for tomorrow: made dental appts for kids so we could go somewhere with a/c

What are those pictures: Well, with no knitting to show, I thought I would flash some hand spun stash!

Guess who is going to knit?

A "Little Bo Peep."


She has actually done quiet well. Amelia Joy,(aka DD#1, aka Bee, aka Mia, aka Mia Bee's, aka Budget) is 8 and is starting to get the dexterity to do this OK. I still have to sit right beside her and chant, "In, around, out, off. In, around, out, off." over and over. But you know what?

She is one of us now.

ps: She is knitting with Nikki's handspun!

tornado!

tornado!, originally uploaded by Relentless_Photography.

God is GOOD! Here's the story:

Last night the DIY man was on the computer, kids watching a video and I was on the phone with Tanya. My friend and I had been speaking for quite sometime when she said a storm with lightning was at her house and she needed to get off the phone. NBD. Until I looked out the window.....

The sky to the west was completely black. I tell the DIY man to come and see. He leisurely gets up and says, "Yup, it's dark out there." I went upstairs for something, I don't remember what.... I went into the girls room and whammy. It was on us. I lost all visibility out the girls window. There was a HUGE white oak that my grandma planted 70ish years ago and is slated, by the city or Rke., for destruction. I put my hand out, in prayer, to the tree and asked God to keep the tree up.

As fast as the storm came, it was gone. Less than a minute or 2. VERY scary. Hail, wind, no visibility. After it was over, we looked out the garage. A big, but more minor, limb had come down and missed my car by inches. Across the street a very healthy maple had dropped huge limbs in the road. But! our white oak still stands and dropped not a major limb. I couldn't believe it.

Later, we found out that 1/2 mile away, a tornado touched down. There hasn't been a tornado here for almost 40 years. I am sure Sallee has something to say about this, as it came close to her as well.

Letter to a sister of the heart.

Dearest Jenny,

We are gearing up for our day here for school. Amelia has finished 2nd grade and Madeline 1st. Ethan is 4 and I am starting him on learning his letters. God has been faithful! Amelia is reading exceptionally well, and Madeline is just starting. Math is not great, but I have my marching orders and we will make that our 1st subject of the day for the next year and that should take care of it.

We are living in the same house. Andy has the same job. We are quite boring, but I like it that way. The thing I am most grateful to God about right now, is that my house if finally coming together. After living here 7 years, 11 years of marriage, and 3 children...... I am getting my act together and pulling out garbage bags and throwing the mess all out!!!! I am ruthless. If it doesn't have a place, it's outta here. By and large, besides my mom, this has been one of the most serious struggles in my life.

We are currently going to Grace Covenant here in Rke. It is part of something called the Grace Network. Kind of non-denom/charismatic. Not Andy's cup of tea, but the thing is, there is no where else to go. There are Baptist/Bible churches..... that is our past. There is the Episcopal thing.... past as well. House church thing (let's not go there). I really don't know what God has for us. So, this is a sweet little church and I am quite comfortable there,but DH is not. *sigh*

My days are filled with feeding kids, keeping up with the laundry, educating kids, trying to keep the house relatively clean, and in my spare time (ha ha ha), I knit and spin on my spinning wheel. Believe it or not, that hobby keeps me VERY content here in the home. Andy is so funny. He'll watch me doing that and he will actually say that he likes the fact that I knit and spin. That it is one of the most wholesome activities he can think of. (The wholesome note: What? Me? Wholesome? I'm not sure I would describe myself that way. Earthy? sure. Edgy? occasionally, yeesh Andy, you've taken the wind out of my sails).

Jenny, I really believe that God led me to the knitting and spinning. What else is there for a woman of God to do? I really feel called to be home. As in: be home, in the home, at home, working at home, living at home, tending my 'garden', and any other thing you can think of to describe being a fully present, in the home mom. I love the way 1 friend put it...."The industrial revolution took a lot away from women, and now, what was basic social, productive activities are being rediscovered by women of God."

One of the 1st things God ever spoke directly to me was, "I want you to keep your hands busy and your mouth shut." I think I was either doing dishes or sitting on the toilet when that flashed thru my head like an axe. I am good at keeping my hands busy, but my mouth...... well, that is quite a bit harder.

That is not quite a list of my day, but a generality of my life on a day to day basis. I miss you. You became in a short time, a sister of the heart. All my love, Catie

Dear Dad. It is May again and I am thinking of you. The wildflowers are out and I am remembering all the good times we had in the woods identifying them. I wish you were here to see the Flame Azalea I found blooming in my neighborhood. I will always think of you when I see it. It is kind of rare and leggy, and spindly, and not very tame looking. Wild and rare, just the way I like them .

I have learned many new things since you have been gone. I have learned to forgive, I have learned to listen, and I have learned that you really might have known it all, sort of , that is.

The way I celebrate your life is by NOT celebrating your 'going home' anniversary. The date has come and gone, and on the day, I didn't even notice. Usually, Andy watches me and reminds me several days later, and I am relieved that yet again, life has gone on without you and my grieving has passed
Dad, I have learned to spin yarn on a spinning wheel. You would have thought that was cool. I entered this yarn in a contest because when I saw the flame azalea yesterday, I realized that I had the *exact* color of the flower in mohair and the *exact* color of new spring wood for the shrub part. The yarn is wild and leggy, just like the flower. It won't knit into something else because of it's uniqueness. Can't it just be yarn for the sake of being yarn? Can't I just be me? Just plain, ole me? Just a I am? Yes, I do believe that I can and am, just that.

Mom is OK. I guess you know that though. She is stable and lives a very, small life with your son. I wish she would have joined us on our walks, but I guess she just couldn't for whatever reason. Oh, yeah.... I have learned what the word GRACE means. I am learning to love mom, just the way she is with no expectations. I am content with that and am grateful that she is still with us. She misses you though, she told me so yesterday.

I think the most important things I have learned since you've been gone are these: I have found peace and I like myself. I no longer try to meet up with expectations that are unreasonable and try to be content in my own skin. I am plenty flawed but maybe that is what make us all different from each other.

I miss you too, but not with the hard grieving that used to be. I miss you now and rejoice knowing that you are with the One who made you and let me be yours for a while. I will think of you every May and probably create something of great meaning to me in your honor. So this is my tribute to you, kind of girly, sorry.

Flame Azalea Boucle. Mohair, spun S twist. BFL spun Z twist. Plied Z twist. Then the 2ply plied with another BFL single S twist. My 1st attempt at boucle. Didn't make much.


I will love you forever and will be with you again.... someday. All my love,
Your Kitty Kat

FO Saturday

Clapotis, 100% Alpaca Handspun

Barbara Walker's Seafoam Scarf

Sakina's Needles

Cockles
lace weight handspun

Happy FO day!!!! I do have a problem now.....

I have nothing to knit but socks. Oh well..............

Sprouts, flat cookies, blueberry vanilla granola, and lemon cake

I had started my day with the Today Show. Martha was on. She had the most divine, lemon coffee cake that I knew was the ticket for my own mother. Mom lives in NC with db and sil. This is an iffy relationship at best. Money is tight, and I had already investigated flowers. Too much.

Oh goody! A new recipe, let's see: I get to slice the 5 lemons paper thin, boil them for 10 minutes, then dry them on parchment paper. Make the struesel, refrigerate that. Make the cake batter and begin layering. Batter, lemons, struesel..... 2 times each. Bake in an angel food pan. Good night. This was getting more complicated and expensive by the second. I persevered KNOWING that my hard work would pay off!

The Fresh Market for sure would have Meyer Lemons. Nope, just organic ones for 99 cents each. Well.... how bad could it be? I checked my recipe, downloaded from Martha's website. I needed 10 lemons. I gleefully loaded up on my loot.

Then, our dear Martha also suggested homemade granola for you mom. Got that recipe too from the website. Gleefully, I started picking those things up. Dudes.... I was looking at a butt load worth of money for a mom who probably won't eat my hard work. Organic oats, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, and your choice of nuts and dried fruit. Mom would probably break her teeth on the stuff. (or more realistically, my wild nephews would probably polish it off for her, oh, and cake too).

Mother's Day. What a complicated and fussy business. All I really want is peace in life and for people (not you dear reader) to leave me alone. All of this brings me to my morning at Bible study:

We have been studying Exodus. Today's topic was the Sabbath. Sabbath for me brings up a huge list of DO's and Don't Do's. Guess what, I have had it all wrong. God wants us to celebrate His rest. He likes rest so much, He wants us to do it once a week. That is a 52 day holiday, each year. Man, I can really dig that. Especially with the MIL business from my last post and then my own mom and all the stress and angst that comes with her.

So.... God must have known what was ahead at Bible study while I was shopping my insanely huge, expensive, organic lemon and weird ingredient shopping list for an incredibly ornery, irritating, involved, complicated recipe for a mom who
1) probably wouldn't eat it
2) nephews would scarf it down in 10 seconds
or
3) not be noticed for the specialness that it most certainly be.

I bought already made granola (right behind me, would you believe it) and dried blueberries. Martha says packaging is *everything* so I got a handy, dandy Mason jar, from my cabinet, and layered it with the granola and blueberries. Throw in an already made bar of Bay Rum soap, run to the PO, overnight that sucker and, there you go......... Mother's day on the cheap, but not thoughtless.

Folks, I love people. I *love* to bake and cook. I love making soap. I love knitting and spinning. I love combining these things into special presents. But you know what? I was getting so stressed out about the money, baking, shipping, and the holiday itself, I was turning my joy into work. I had so much work to do that I couldn't enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I have thought that was a pile of bs for so many years. Wasn't He the one who was loading me up with the lists of To Do vs. Not Do? Guess what? It wasn't Him. It was all the rules that had been added by man that were wearing me down. I have tried so hard for years to be 'perfect.' I want to shout it from the roof tops now......I AM NOT PERFECT NOR AM I CAPABLE OF BEING PERFECT. EVERYONE.... BACK OFF!
Jesus told the religious leaders of His day that He was the Lord of the Sabbath and that the Sabbath was made for man and NOT man for the Sabbath. Hold on, does this mean I have God's permission to rest, relax, and enjoy family, friends and.... knitting when I could be working? I believe this is a big, fat "YES, YOU ARE BEGINNING TO GET IT NOW GIRL!"

So, here is my flat cookie. I followed the recipe with dd#1 and dd#2. DD#1 was upset because the cookies weren't right. I was so mad that I had tried so hard to please her and I didn't measure up to her expectations. The DIY man had to help me with that. The joy was in the time together and I needed to help her see that. How? Don't have a clue.

Sprouts, my new food. I do believe these are lentils, green peas, and a small red bean. I picked them up while at the Fresh Market. I think I am a sprout. Just beginning to grow. Nutritious and slightly sharp tasting, an *acquired taste*. What food are you?

Later, Catie

ps: don't you just love how everything all boils down to food and knitting? I do!!! ha ha aha ha ha

I have a lot to say today, so, buckle down for the ride!

Nothing is wrong, not really. I am just struggling today. This is nothing new. If you have read any of this blog before, then you know it is NOT just about knitting and spinning. It is more like a journal that I keep to chronicle my life to whomever wishes to read. I am glad you are here. If you don't agree with me, that's OK. I don't expect you too. Just be patient with me as I am just a girl who is learning how to wife and mother at the ripe, old age of 36.

I am going to start with a list.

MY STRUGGLES as of today, May 1st, 2008:
from least bothersome to most bothersome

• husband, this is normal, he is the least of my stresses today, thank GOD!
• recently had to frog a lot of knitting, this is OK, normal
• my water is turned off, again. Rke City can't keep anything going for any length of time without messing up!
• contentment in my own body
• current state of my own health, IE, cholesterol, etc
• planning for next years 2 & 3rd grade school for dd's 1 and 2 as well as a small preschool something or other
• the socialization word has been brought up by the #1 struggle on my list as of today,

• my MIL

She is well intentioned. She is smart and educated. She raised 5 children. She is still married to her 1st husband. She attends church and was a missionary in SA for 5 years. She gardens and does many things for people who need assistance. So, "what's your problem, Catie?" you may ask. Well..... having this paragon of 'virtue' as a shining example ...... I just don't measure up.... at least in her eyes.

We had yet another discussion yesterday. This one on her thoughts and concerns about MY children. We home school. So what? The dreaded socialization word was brought up. She sent her 1st 2 sons away to boarding school at a young age. What? I disagree with that decision. I don't get to tell her what I think, that was 30+ years ago. She even used the Bible on me.

Bad move folks, I attended Christian high school, Bible college (a little known factoid I don't advertise about myself), Christian college, and *gasp* a year of seminary! That doesn't make me qualified for anything except that I know my way around the BOOK and I can defend myself adequately from it. The only thing that kept me from whipping it out and retaliate is that doing that is WRONG (there's a great word for it, proof texting, but we don't need to get into that)!!!!!!

I struggle with what she thinks of me. Why? Good question friend. I think it is the leftover codependency from my youth that I still struggle with. I am learning to answer back with questions. The Master used questions to reveal the hearts of those around Him. Sounds like an art I could really use. So, I am gonna practice on y'all. It is like casting on. There are so many ways to do it and each one is good for different purposes.

1. uh
2. um
3. well..
4. oh, dear

I ain't got a one. That is bad. Don't think quickly on my feet too well.

Oh, the picture at the top are my hand spun, 3ply, fingering weight, sheep to shoe socks in the Undulating Rib pattern by Ann Budd. I have 2 more skeins of it. $30 for the roving and I could conceivably get 3 pairs of socks out of it. Not bad, not bad at all. Later, catie

RIP

bee2, originally uploaded by blessed_wild_flower.

DOB: 11/2007
DOD: 4/25/2008
Name: Bee Fields Shawl
Yarn: 100% handspun Alpaca, fingering weightish
Yardage: unknown
Color: Watercolors
Place of Birth: Etsy
Place of Death: my dining room table
Cause of Death: ball winder
Reason of Death: ran out of yarn
How far into project: 1/3rd
Primary Suspect: catie -------

Comments: I had begun knitting the Bee Fields Shawl in November of 2007. I had spent a lot of time spinning up 4.8oz of 100% alpaca and I was tired of it. I put it away and knew that I would fall in love with it again someday. That day finally came in early April of 2008. 6 months later. I bough...er.... borrowed the pattern from a friend. She has nothing to do with this, I swear.

I was just finishing up the 'bee hive' section when I noticed the problem. There wasn't going to be enough yarn to finish. Well.... I didn't worry, I had another 3.7oz hank of the same Watercolors colorway. I happily spun it up into 1 smallish skein and 1 large skein. This only took me 2 days to spin 2 singles bobbins and ply them. I reviewed the pattern notes and carefully counted up how many passes on the niddy noddy I had and multiplied by 2. There were ontly 380yards in the new hanks. I then KNEW, I just KNEW.

That night, I persevered thinking that there would be enough. There would be enough. If I just thought I could make it, I would. I studied the pattern and schemed about how I would finish the next 3 patterns in the shawl. I could get past the swarm, but what would I do in the 'Bee in the Field' section. And then came the final edging. I thought about different yarns. I thought about altering the pattern. However, this was too difficult for me. I Knew what I had to do. I knew that I didn't have a choice. I swear, I didn't have a choice!

I got up on Saturday am. 10:30 to be exact. I had my DD#1 hold the shawl, and I did it. I carefully set up my ball winder. I threaded it thru the hook. I laced the beautiful, alpaca yarn thru the slot..... .... and I began to turn. I turned and turned and turned. I carefully held the yarn in my left hand and marveled as it passed thru my fingers. The texture was/is tencel like and tough. It shed a little bit and I had to periodically shake my hand to get rid of the fibers.

After it was over, I reflected that 2mo of work only took 15 minutes to destroy. There. I have told you my story. I am guilty as charged. I have destroyed a work of art. Here is what's left.

That is my testimony.

I introduce to you "Cockles." My official entry into a lace spinning contest! 57wpi singles and 36 wpi 2-ply. This is a picture of the 2ply.
Approximately 596 yards for 3.7oz. From Sakina's Needles. I love the way the niddy noddy shows me how the colors are going to look knit up!
The spinning project I have in mind is a simple scarf in the Seafoam Pattern from Barbara Walker's 2nd Treasury of Knitting Patterns. I found this pattern in the latest edition of Spin-Off 2008. I chose this pattern because Cockles reminds me of the sea.
I found the color pattern repeats in the roving and divided them in half. The 1st bobbin I spun by stripping a small portion from the roving in long pieces. This created short color pattern repeats. The colors changed very quickly. The 2nd bobbin I spun, I tore off larger color segments for long color repeats. The idea was for the colors to ply thoroughly to create as many different color blends possible. I believe that this will make a FABULOUS seafoam scarf. I will knit this myself to be a gift for a friend who is moving away to her mother's home in VA. Beach.

Bee Fields Shawl

Watercolor roving. 100% alpaca. 2-ply. 25wpi. Spun up for Bee Fields Shawl.

bee2, originally uploaded by blessed_wild_flower.

It has been a long 5 days. The DIY man (aka, Andy, DH, etc) has been in Costa Rica. This is the organization he has been with. And if you are really interested THIS is the blog. 5 days and nights unbroken by any break from the wunderkinds. It has been good, but I am tired.

I was so grateful that last night it rained and washed some of the oak pollen from the air. I felt a good bit of relief, but I am still struggling with what I think is a mild sinus infection. Anyone I have seen in the past 5 days has been asked to lay hands on me and pray. My friends and even children have been so kind to bless me with the love of their prayers so that I could pick up and keep going. And God has been faithful! I have survived and you know what! It hasn't been that bad.

The house is a mess. I hadn't realized till now, how much the DIY man keeps us all going around here. His hands pick up the things that I just can't manage to get done in a day around here. Garbage, occasional dishes, putting the kids to bed, and just his presence........ I can't put words to the value of.

I have knit and spun a lot since DIY man has been gone. I don't have fresh pictures as DIY man took the camera to Costa Rica. I'll just sum up:

• finished spinning lace weight Cockles
• intense knitting of Bee Fields Shawl
• moderate knitting of the Rooster Rock, Sheep to Shoe sock in undulating rib pattern

Later, catie

Is this really necessary?

Nasal Cleansing Pot, originally uploaded by keek4jc.

In the interests of complete transparency, I bring you..... *drumroll please*...............

A Neti Pot!

I have been absolutely miserable lately with my sinuses. Claritin? check
NO it did not help

Advil and Tylenol?
check
Sort of. It barely touched the head pain.

Rest?
check
It at least put me out of my misery for a while.

Knitting and spinning?
check
But it just wasn't the same, you know? When you are in a light green h**l

So, I was whining about it to a friend of mine. (She is in her 60's and has kids my age who are far away. Couple her with a gal whose mom is absent, and you have a GREAT combo. She, needing a kid and grandkids, and me.... need a local type mom.) She told me of her secret weapon, the neti pot. She explained the mechanics and I was promptly disgusted. HOWEVER! I am desperate enough to try anything!

Folks. I won't lie to you. Nasty. BUT!!!! What a relief. Temporary yes. But, after I applied the simple physics, my headache was IMMEDIATELY gone.

I felt well enough to jump back into The Bee Fields shawl. It has been 4 months since I last knit that. Handspun alpaca (mine, of course). I got so sick of spinning it that when it came to knitting, I couldn't take it anymore. Hence, it was snoozing. Now, I AM LOVING IT! It is like a fresh new project. (No, pic as camera is in Costa Rica with DH, AND, I have recently had to wipe my harddrive and lost all my pictures)

allergies

allergies, originally uploaded by blessed_wild_flower.

Husband. Out of town. My head. It is about to roll off my neck. Children. They're around here somewhere. School. What does that mean?

FYI, this is not my picture, but it shows my exact feelings for oak pollen. This is the worst I have EVER had it. Don't worry, Claritin, Tylenol, and Advil to the rescue. A dirtly little secret tho, Claritin doesn't really work!

Funny. Yesterday, I got up. My BIL was here spending the night before Andy left. I came downstairs and was so bleary, I stood in the kitchen and could hardly remember if I had gotten dressed yet or not. This was crucial as DH's brother was here. I couldn't even taste my morning Joe. The saddest part is that I LOVE spring. It is just so pretty and bright. Until................ the oaks bloom.......grrrrr

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Terrarium and Sock

My family is gone this Saturday, and I have the luxury of having
lots of time to myself. This rarely happens, so instead of doing housework, as I ought, I am dingin' round the house. A little laundry here, a load of dishes there, a few random pictures of what I have been up to, a bit of blogging, and last but not least....... Eating my lunch in peace with NO interruptions! Glory! There is nothing better!

Pix #1: My terrarium. Love, love, love this thing. A little piece of nature in my kitchen.

Pix #2: Note my OPI toenails in , ahem, "Oh.... to be 25 again!" colorway. Let me tell you, 25 wasn't great. More confusing than the teen years for me let me tell you! But, back to about knitting.... I like the way my toenails EXACTLY match the Rooster Rock, Sheep to Shoe, sock! And I am also excited because this is the 1st try on here and BINGO! It fits perfectly. Tight and firm (wish the bod was that way as was when I was 25).



For those of you who actually know me, y'all know that I have
emphatically stated in the past that , "I am NOT a sock knitter! Nor will I EVER be one!" My how the mighty, proud, know it all have fallen. Gauge was the problem, along with the small needles. Now, I like size 1 needles. I like tiny stitches. I can hardly wait to try a 000 size needle for some delicate kilt hose, or whatever!

Fiddly, fiddly, beads. They warm the cockles of my heart. I can hardly wait for what the finished product will be. 4ish oz, have no idea wpi of 2 ply, lace weight. This is NUTS!



I am entering a contest for lace weight. I got this bobbin full of cobweb singles. Now, I am working on the 2nd bobbin, with beads. I am thinking that this is NOT a good idea. I sprayed beads all over my driveway. Good thing they are cheap!

A REVIEW OF MY YEAR
Idea from Dogs,Diapers, and Double Points
that is, Pam

JANUARY, 2007: Went to see mom. For those of you who don't know me, this is a big deal because she lives with my bro and they are both bipolar AND bro and his wife were po'd with me at the time. lovely

FEBRUARY, 2007: DD's 7th birthday. She is so lovely. This dd learned to read this year and I felt like a million bucks. We home school and dd has some diagnosed issues from a neurologist and school psychologist. Things like a low IQ, sensory issues and a little thing in the autism spectrum. She has overcome, IMHO, each of those (tho she still doesn't like her hair brushed, at all).

MARCH: DS turned 3. He potty trained the year before because I just took his pants off and he discovered the joys of a fire hose.

APRIL: Froze my arse off at Holden Beach. A Nor Easter blew thru. The foam was really cool for a newly turned 3 ds to filthify himself in. VT shooting while we were there. Felt so surreal to be so far away and it was happening in our area.

MAY: 10 year anniversary of my father's death. He was my best friend thru mental illness and growing up into womanhood. He died 5 weeks before Andy and I got married. That was hard, but you know what? God has healed that wound now and I am grateful that his life with mom is over. He is in Heaven and he made out like a bandit!!!!

JUNE: We planted a garden this year. Started in April with seeds. We, me and the kids, had so much fun up there. DD #2 made a fort out of the arches from the cherry tomato vines.

JULY: Andy and I have been married a decade this month. I never really thought that I could hold a relationship together for that long. God is good. I love my husband. He bought me a very simple, anniversary band. I cried. A lot!

AUGUST: Yearly trip to Ocean Isle with Andy's family. Let's see. 5 adult children, + spouses, 10 children, 1 set of grandparents..... all in a 5 bedroom house. You do the math. Next year, we at least have a 6 bedroom house, with more children.....

SEPTEMBER: DD #2 turns 6. Awwww. They are growing up. She has been pesting me to learn to read. Now folks. I've been teaching her to read. It don't happen overnight. This kid is brilliant!

OCTOBER: Took my wheel up to Sinkland Farms to do a spinning demonstration. ha ha. Me, at a spinning demo? Miss unorganized? Yup. Had fun with my gal pals!

NOVEMBER: I turned 36. Had a "spin and din" at a dear friends house. I am thinking this should be a new tradition. Invite some gals over, fix food, and hang out! Thanks Dear Friend! oh, yes.... I had to do a last minute T-day.

DECEMBER: School is out!!! We took the month off (we don't take summer off, soooooo). Historically, I get depressed during this time.... but this year, I did great.


I wonder what will be in 2008! Can't wait! Happy New Year! Catie