It's That Time of Year...

This morning I dropped my (oldest) baby off at HIGH SCHOOL and The Big Guy took my other baby to MIDDLE SCHOOL.  BIG BIG DAY for us as parents thinking back to years ago dropping them off at Kindergarten. I'm sad that time has flown by like this, but at the same time, I'm so glad they're back. They missed their buddies, and I think were more than ready to go back.  It won't seem like that by the end of the week (I can bet), but we still had a good start and that's awesome. I had so much fun those years of school, I sure hope they enjoy it as well.

On the knitting front I am getting some things done. With my Mom's health ups and downs it's been my comfort and companion. She's doing much better now (Thank You for all the good thoughts and prayers) and life is getting a tiny bit back to normal around here.

I got a couple of hats done for my friend Mona's expected (and I think first) Grandson:

The first one came out sort of big! So I made a second one a bit smaller. Baby's do grow after all!

This was the scarf I almost LOST at the hospital the day my Mom had her latest cancer surgery:

Pattern: Gathered Scarf
Yarn: Yarn Nerd (overdyed for a more vibrant fuchsia pink color)
Needles 4 and 7.
Mods: Did 8 repeats in the ST st section, and only 6 of the garter.
Thank goodness the lady at the hospital found my bag on a chair and put it aside for me. We had dropped my Mom off for her surgery, then left to go get lunch and to run by a book store. I thought someone had PICK-POCKETED my KNITTING!!! I was fit to be tied, but, turns out I'm just the same old scatterbrained girl this summer.

On my own health front, it's still up and down (mostly DOWN), now they say I'm exhausted due to a b-12 deficiency and "possibly" an under-active thyroid.  So more blood gets taken and still: not any real clear REASONS (except fibro) for how lousy I feel all of the time.  Insomnia is still a problem but now that I have to take my daughter to school, I guess it better work itself out pretty darn soon! Watch out other morning drivers! I'm on the road again!!

Well, getting up early has it's advantages, I got a lot of housework done already and need to go switch the laundry now. Can't wait for my Babies to get home! Happy Back to School!! & Happy Knitting!!

Whiskers On Wednesday

BLOCKING WIRES? WHO NEEDS BLOCKING WIRES??

"WE MUST HOLD THIS SCARF DOWN FOR MOMMA" - Sasha & Sophie. 

(Excuse the mess, I always block on my bedroom floor, not always on BettyBoop, but any towel. My kitties are COMPELLED to ALWAYS help in the process)

In my House:  "No Knit is complete without CAT HAIR".

"AND I'LL EAT THOSE PINS SO THEY DON'T RUN AWAY TOO" - Sasha.
(This was awhile back, again excuse messy chair in bedroom - I TRIED to keep it covered but between cats and kids...that was a big big funny).

Happy Whiskers On Wednesday!

A Great (Birth)Day

I've started counting backwards now (so Birthdays aren't so painful) but I always love a reason to have cake!

Here's my Birthday (& next Anniversary, Christmas, New Years, & Valentines) day present:

My Ashford Joy DT along with fiber to practice on from The Woolery in Frankfurt KY.  I'm really glad I went in person and tested out different wheels before I bought one. I thought I had my heart set on a Kromski Fantasia (and almost just ordered it). It looks really cool with it's more "modern" design, but after trying out several there in the shop, the Joy was THE ONE.

She's awfully pretty, very petite, and quiet as a mouse.  Great travel wheel.

She's hoping her new owner practices more and keeps her busy. I'm really enjoying spinning but realize just how much practice I need! Well, at least I know she'll be patient with me.

A BIG Thank you going out to my blog buddy Dawn for the fluffy goodness and other birthday goodies (my lotion was already in use and didn't make it to the photoshoot!)! I've been having so much fun picking up different fibers and can't wait to try these out too! Thanks for thinking of me! ♥

Off to spin some more.....Hope everyone had as great a day as I had. :O)

Drive By Prayer Request

When will I get back to blog land? I hope someday soon.

I'd like to ask for prayers and good thoughts for my Mom today. She's been having some serious health issues again and my being so far away hasn't been easy. Thankfully I have family that is taking very good care of her right now but the future has some unanswered questions in it and I hope this is the open door to make some positive decisions for my Mom's overall health and well being.

Many Thanks! ♥

California Dreamin

Fresh Cherries from my cousins tree. They picked cherries for DAYS from this tiny tree!

Watching my nephew play baseball. League champs!! What great summer fun!

Monterey CA. Aquarium and Deck. My daughter the mermaid. She LOVES the ocean. (which was very cold BTW).

Guess where?

I didn't get drenched but the kids and The Big Guy did! I sat on a rock at a gorgeous spot amid tons of tourists and found....solitude and profound peace.  Got a mega dose of the beauty and spirituality of this magnificent place. I hadn't been here in 20 years. So glad we went.

Can you see why? Miss You California. ♥

Testing Testing

Trying to test some fidgeting I'm doing on my blog.
If you could please see if you can post comments I'd greatly appreciate it!
If you have trouble please let me know!

Frequent Yarn Miles (?) I Wish!

I went through TN, AR, OK, TX, NM, AZ and CA but only bought yarn in TWO of those states! Wish I could've made stops in each place, I love "trip" yarns, they bring back memories each time I come across them in the stash or knit them up. There are some I have from years ago that I still can't part with. But, when you have a trip that long and a schedule to stick to, that yarn shop better be "RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE"!

From Nashville TN:

Some Noro Aya, ShiBui sock yarn, and Koigu Kpppm.  This store (Haus Of Yarn) was amazing! What a shock of color when you first walk in! They have a wall in the back of Koigu and other sock yarns that almost made me hyperventilate! I wanted to HUG it all!!! Thank goodness this store is somewhat close to me, I'll be back there one day I hope. It's worth the drive.

I tried out a couple of spinning wheels while there - a Schadt Matchless and a Ladybug. The Matchless was smooth as silk, the ladybug - not so much. But shop models can be a bit loose here and there I've heard. Ladybugs get decent reviews, I'd like to test one more to make sure.  I was hoping I could stop by a store or two in Memphis but the timing didn't work out for that going west OR east. Maybe one day.

CA Stash:

From Classy Knits in Bakersfield on the way home: Muench Touch Me (can't resist the PINK...er...and I may already have some of this colorway). Berroco Sox with the shiny bits in it and some Sidar Tinkerbell (so soft!).  Just impulse buys. This shop was "okay", not enough sock yarn for my preference but generally a decent variety.  They did have a whole wall in the back with sale items, yarns, magazines and patterns. Had I had more time I would've loved to have browsed through those.

Generally these trip "stops" are like "Nascar pit-stops" for us, I literally run in and run out as fast as my fibro hurting legs will allow me. The family "says" they don't mind, but I feel bad making them wait too long. As often as I've made them do this over the years, I think they're really good sports. (And making a fast get away helps the wallet too.)

A skein of sock yarn from Janna's Needle Art in CA:

Anzula Handpainted Sock Yarn, it doesn't have a colorway listed but it's the color I've been stuck on all year. Couldn't pass it up. That's all I found there...but it's a nice shop.

From "Swatches" in CA: Two skeins of Malabrigo in Ravelry Red and Rayon Vert and a skein of Ty-Dy Socks. This shop is small but very friendly and welcoming. Can't go wrong with Malabrigo either.

I found these items in CA too, a pretty (knitting?) bag from Ross. Some tiny size straights and DPN's I found in a couple of thrift/antique stores. I found the pattern books and the cute little sheep salt/pepper shakers there too. I just love treasure hunting. That was a fun thing to do amid the other stuff we had going on while there.

All in all I think I did better than I have in the past. I practiced a lot of restraint and considering my closet space, that was a good thing.  Too many things to knit, not enough time....

Happy Knitting! More pics coming soon...