bye-bye

Well, I've gone and done it! I have a new blog over at Wordpress. It is not a knit blog, but includes knitting.

Farewell catie-catknits. I learned much from you. Thank you Robin for your help getting started.

Here's the address. Come visit if you like. Very basic right now:

Beloved's Garden

Hope to see you soon,

catie

My History, So Far.

My History, So Far., originally uploaded by blessed_wild_flower.

History.
Future?
I am hoping,
Fantom Farms.
Bohus?
Yoke?
That is yet
to be
determined.

A New Era!

100_1608
Originally uploaded by blessed_wild_flower

Well, it is almost the end of the year. I have not blogged much this year, BUT!!!! It is December the 1st and my 2nd annual homeschool hiatus has begun in earnest! This is the month where we do no math, no formal language arts, and generally mess around as much as possible. This could include cleaning, IF I feel like it. This could include making cookies, IF I feel like it. It most certainly WILL include as much knitting as possible!!!

Check out our new toy. Take a second and play the video, and if you are unable, so sorry, I am NOT able to help *sigh*

Well, it is almost the end of the year. I have not blogged much this year, BUT!!!! It is December the 1st and my 2nd annual homeschool hiatus has begun in earnest! This is the month where we do no math, no formal language arts, and generally mess around as much as possible. This could include cleaning, IF I feel like it. This could include making cookies, IF I feel like it. It most certainly WILL include as much knitting as possible!!!

Check out our new toy. Take a second and play the video, and if you are unable, so sorry, I am NOT able to help *sigh*

The Joys of Homeschooling

In my ever, continuing battle against clutter, I bring you..... The Bottle Project. The DIY man does work for a little, ole dude out in Salem who built his house in a gully and raised his yard to street level by bringing in some sort of dirt. My kids have been excavating at the bottom of the gully, and I bring you......

Bottles. Who knows where they came from, or were used for what. They are ancient. Before the days of plastic. That blue one there is an old Vicks bottle. Thank God, I understand about compost, dirt, and God's clean up crew, aka: worms, bugs, and various other micro organisms. So, I know they are clean.

Folks. This is the joy of homeschooling (I'm being slightly sarcastic here). I am not *allowed* to throw that crap away. I will have 3 weeping and wailing kids on my hands. I have no earthly idea what they are doing with those bottles, but the kids are doing *something*.

Here are my projects lately:

BABY SURPRISE JACKET #2

FELTED CLUTCH

KNEE HIGH SOCK

YET, ANOTHER DECEMBER LIGHTS TAM

Welcome to the Twilight Zone.........

What? Me? As if!!!!!!

You're Dune!

by Frank Herbert

You have control over a great wealth of resources, but no one wants to
let you have them. You've decided to try to defend yourself, but it may take eons before
you really get back what you feel you deserve. Meanwhile you have a cult-like following
of minions waiting for your life to progress. This would all be even more exciting if you
could just get the sand out of your eyes.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Knitnana gets to be The Mists of Avalon. I am so jealous...............

Been Busy.

Been busy. Life has gotten the better of me, and this time, worse than usual. Is this normal? Is this what life is? One 'crisis' to the next? Thank God I can knit and spin. Besides my children, these are the pleasures I have on this earth that I cling to.

This is the lace wing moth section of the Fiore di Melanzana stole. Handspun from David Simpson. Robin helped me decide how many oz. I'd need. I am pretty sure that it is an uneven lace weight up to some sections sport weight yarn. Glad it is for lace and not a fitted garment.
Finished up Wallaby #2 for DD#1. Great pattern, but BORING! That is that huge pack of yarn from Knitters Knook. Forgot what it is called. I affectionately call it the 'Z-Pack', as it is from New Zealand. But wait? A Z-Pack if a type of antibiotic. Oh, well. Great yardage, cheap, and best of all wool to keep my kiddoes warm.

Oh, guess what? We are getting a wood stove next week. We have an oil furnace and radiators. Great heat. One problem. We only bought 1/2 a tank of oil and the price was INSANE! In 2 years, we will have saved enough money heating our house with wood to make up for the cost of the stove. Better for the environment too, just a little added bonus for me! Right now, on Oct. 3 at 9:16 am, my house is 65 deg. F. I REFUSE to turn the heat on with all the wool sweaters I have been knitting for my kids over the last 2 years, they are gonna have to actually wear them.

So, DH, is going to have another reason to support my knitting and spinning habit. The sock there is a knee high (I am so into knee highs right now) made with Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn. L-O-V-E T-H-A-T Y-A-R-N!

I am so grateful to God for so many things in this season of my life. I think I'll make a list. This is as much for me to remind myself of His goodness TODAY! Here goes:

• healthy children
• healthy self and husband
• distance between my crazy family and me. Oh, about 6 hours or so :)
• I have a spinning wheel
• I can knit so very, many cool things
• I have shelter
• there is a wood pile bigger than my mini-van in the driveway
• it is sunny today
• it is my favorite month today
• I am making pasta for dinner
• Andy still has a job!
• Andy is off next week
• Mom is safe, and secure, for now, in a nursing home
• I have all the advice I need to make a competent decision for mom's care
• dad had foresight to leave enough money to care for his wife after his death
• I have many, many friends
• I have high speed Internet
• I don't have a cell phone!
• I love this high pressure in the area now
• did I forget to mention my stash?

I could go on forever. I make this list to help resist the temptation of self-pity. This has been a hard month. But, life is good and I am looking for the positives today.

OK. nough of that, gonna go feed my kids breakfy.

My Favorite Knitting Tool!

Like all knitters, I like my tools. However..... after a few years knitting now, I have rediscovered an oldy but goody. You may think that I am going to say row counter, or Addy Turbos. And yes, I love those things. But I am thinking something older and better. A simple machine based on simple physics. Look at the following pictures:

My finished fair isle vest. Drat. The hem is rolling up AND it was 4 inches too short. What is a girl to do?
A closer look. Houston, I have a problem. Now. In the past, I might have actually *gasp* thrown it away, cuz guess what? Fair isle DON'T PICK OUT WELL. What a waste. What a shame. Well. I live in a new knitting paradigm. The paradigm of the SCISSORS!

Yes, Dear Reader! My favorite knitting tool is the commonplace, household/sewing scissors. So may knitting DISASTERS may be adverted with the judicious application of this simple machine! This is not for the faint of heart, but with a wee little bit of research, and some very careful planning (you MUST be very careful WHAT you cut, after all. Don't go crazy and hack away), you can fix a doomed project!

So...... I took a size 2 needle and picked up the left leg of the correct row for each stitch. Then, got out my tool of choice..... my serrated kitchen shears , and carefully cut off the offending roll. Then proceeded to knit again, in the opposite direction, in pattern for the correct amount of length. SUCCESS! Sorry, I'll have to post a finished picture later.

Then we have Mia's sweater: I took a pair of scissors to her EZ yoke sweater, cuz her Mama made the thing too small. Hmmm. It was cold earlier this summer and when I pulled it over her head, it was too tight. This time NO planning. Got same kitchen shears and helter skelter, cut up the middle, then sewed down the edges. Picked up some stitches, and knit on a button band, got some cool buttons... and the rest is history. She loves it and WEARS it now. Lesson learned. Kids don't like tight.

In non-scissor knitting news. Another tam:
Plums and greens, for me. Knitpicks. Love, love, love Knitpicks Palette. Completed the ensemble with fingerless gloves:
I have been doing many things. This stuff here is old news. Maybe, I'll be able to document what I am doing now, later. *sigh* Life is busy. Be well, Dear Friends. catie