Hah!!!

Hah!!! They are finished. I have no idea why it took me over six weeks to knit these socks when the I knit about half of the second one yesterday. I am just glad they are finished.

Spiders and Protecting my Neck

A little spider left the preschool on Thursday and I just had to keep him.










And then I had three vampires show up on Friday. They spent the night so I decided to take their picture this morning. I guess they think candy is going to show up soon.





I guess it is a good thing I started a new project yesterday. This will protect my neck from the vampires and the elements this winter. I am knitting it out of some handspun yarn.

First Day of School

The girls headed back to school today. From what they told me they had a great day. Punkin even had a little homework today too. I think they are even excited about going back tomorrow.








Little Buddy doesn't start preschool until next Tuesday. He is still enjoying his summer vacation.

Fun in the Sun

My wonderful husband had a day off today. Those don't come very often around these parts. So I thought I would share some of the things we did today with some pictures of the kids thrown in. First, he got up, and drove to get me breakfast at McDonald's and a Frappaucino. (These are some of the flowers that I planted after we finished the remodeling the flowerbeds, I think they are looking pretty good.)







For lunch, I made him home made pizza. While I was making the pizza Wonderful Husband and the kids washed the cars. (Cars= 1 Van, 1 Truck, and 1 Economy Car that helps our gas budget tremendously since the truck is a gas hog.) Punkinbug after she played in the sprinkler. Thanks again, dear, for washing the van and doing the windows.






A Punkin still playing in the sprinkler. She didn't want to stop playing but since she gets sunburned easily I had to make her. I actually ran through there with her a few times and I forgot how much fun it was.







And what would a Fun in the Sun post be without a picture of the Little Buddy. I thought this was an awfully cute picture of him.





On a knitting note, the yarn from yesterday didn't become either one of those projects but it is in the process of becoming something else that I am pretty excited about. (That is a Minnesota accent "about".)

Spinning and Knitting

Well, I have picked up my sweater again. We went and saw the new Star Trek movie last week so I took it with me since it was knitting I could do in the dark. I have to admit I didn't get much knitting done on due to the movie being really good and I dropped a stitch and couldn't get it back on the needles in the theater. I will admit I fixed the stitch in the ladies room where I could see after the movie was over.





This is my new spinning project I started last week. I can't tell you how much I love this fiber which is Gale's Art Black BFL in the Grape Vine colorway. I want a sweater out of this fiber really bad.





This is what I finished spinning before I started the yarn for the Meret that I made. This is Bonkers superwash merino in Calendula. It reminds me of Kansas City Chiefs so I am thinking of making it into socks for Sunday's this fall. I ended up with just a little over 400 yards of a three ply out of four ounces. I think I have finally made it to spinning for socks.



Punkinbug had a knitting lesson today and my Punkin is asking for them also. Here is Punkin holding my sweater this evening when I was taking pictures of it. I just hope if I teach them to knit they won't get in my stash.

Convenience Wins Again

My felted slippers have holes in the bottom. They lasted about a year or so. I am not really fond of knitting on size 13 needles so I decided that this time I wasn't going to knit a new pair. I probably wouldn't have gotten them done before the hole wore all the way through anyway.


When I went grocery shopping today, I picked out these. Actually the kids picked them out. They are soft and squishy so they will do for a while and they have rubber bottoms so they might last a little longer too. I like the knitted ones, I just wasn't in the mood to knit any right now.



I got that stinker sock frogged and started again. I am starting the third repeat so hopefully they will be done soon.




I am really trying to make an effort to have the kids do small chores around the house. Punkinbug really enjoys helping with the laundry. Punkin likes to help with dishes and cooking supper. Buddy is good at picking up sometimes. I asked Punkinbug to help with a basket of laundry and her little brother wanted to help. They were so cute, I had to take a picture and share it. Wish all movers were this cute and happy to help.

New Beginnings or Starting Over????

New Year's Day always makes me wonder about new beginnings or starting over to do better in the new year. I know that every day I should try to do better than the day before but I guess I just think about it more this time of year.



This year I will be knitting with a new iPod thanks to my wonderful family. It is good for video too. I tried it out last night and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the video.




The girls and I are also starting out the year with new manicures or pedicures. We were able to go have some "girl time" with NaNa and Auntie A on Monday. It was great to be pampered a little. Punkin is already asking when she can get her toes done.




Unfortunately, I will be doing a little "starting over" this year too. The sock on the left is quite a bit smaller than the one on the right. This means I will have to start it over. I am thinking of putting this pair in time out but I will probably plug on.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and I hope that good things come to all of you in the New Year. God Bless.

Busy Wednesday!!!!

The little people got out of school at 12:50 this afternoon. Punkinbug helped bake pies. I think she is going to be the one that likes to cook the most. Punkin is getting good in the kitchen also.








I think they turned out well.




Since we have been getting ready for tomorrow, very little knitting has occured today. I think I have knit five rounds on this sock today. So far it might be a keeper. I did have to rip it out since the last post due to a dropped stitch that I couldn't fix. I am on the second repeat now.






A day just wouldn't be complete without playing a game of "Squash Your Sister".

Sightings

I am glad the election is over. I was tired of the mudslinging about two months ago. I hope that the new government can work together and do something great for our country. We are very blessed to live in the United States and I am thankful for that. I have to admit I get kind of tired of all the political junk that comes with it sometimes.

Not much knitting going on around here lately. Don't get me wrong I have been knitting just not enought progress on anything to warrant a picture. Unless you count some dishcloths I knit up since mine were looking kind of ratty.

Now on to the sightings.



Fairies and Elmo. Along with goofy Uncle B.




Playing in the leaves. This is a tradition that we have now that we have moved here and the kids love it. This year it almost didn't happen since I was sick but I pushed through feeling horrible and raked enough leaves so I could take our yearly picture. I had chills and felt horrible the rest of the evening but it was so worth it.



Talking on the phone with Papa. I think this girl will have a phone growing out of her ear in a few years or a texting bill that I don't want to see.







Napping. Husband is going to kill me for this one. There is nothing as sweet as a little boy and his daddy taking an afternoon nap together. Love you both.

Socks by 2, Shawl, and Something about Shoes

There is a very happy little girl in my house. She is wearing her very first pair of handmade socks. Mommy made her a pair since she has been wanting a pair for a long time. I think I got them pretty close to matching. She really likes them. She was telling everyone at school today about them. It is really exciting to have somebody appreciate your knitting.




My friend, Linda, bought some of the dreaded Noro Sock Yarn. I asked her what she was going to do with it and she said socks. I told her "Good Luck" with that. I guess she inspired me to try to use mine again. I am not a fan of toe up socks. I don't know how to to the heels very well but, I am giving it a go again. This is the Anastasia pattern from Ravelry. Yes, Linda, I am being a copy cat. I didn't have too much trouble with the toe but we shall see how the heel goes. If anyone knows some place I can look online to find out how to do a heel flap for a toe up sock let me know. I never like how my short row heels turn out.




I am really enjoying this shawl pattern. I am on the seventh repeat I think. I am not sure how many repeats I will end up doing. I am not really sure how big I want it yet. I know that I am constantly looking for triangular shawl patterns on Ravelry. I have decided that I like shawls that have repeats that I can memorize.




I am really impressed with this little girl. This little girl learned to tie her shoes yesterday. I only had to show her twice how to do it and she was off to the races. She even tied her own shoes for school this morning, which gave me time to get Little Buddy ready to go. Now if I can only get him potty trained.




Bye for now, the knitting is calling to me.

T is for

Trip.





Last weekend, I surprised the girls and picked them up from school around lunch time. I had the bags packed and we were off. Grandpa and Grandma P. were nice enough to let us come to Kansas to see this.







This being High School Musical on Ice. The girls loved it. Punkin sang and wiggled the whole time while Punkinbug was just in awe. They had lots of fun.





While the three children were spending the night with Grandpa and Grandma P. at the hotel Friday night, I was able to catch some football. Awesome Rose Hill Rocket football. See that number 53 (the second one from the left walking towards the center of the field), he is my nephew, who happens to be one of the captains of the football team this year. They won 56-26, the nephew didn't get to play in the fourth quarter due to the lead they had but it was fun seeing him play his senior year.

Today was a Good Day (although a little sad)!!!!!!!!

Lunches were made.



Two little girls went to school.





One little boy, ate pizza, cookies and played with his friends.














A little knitting was accomplished, along with dishes, cookie baking, pizza making, kid picking upping, and being a little sad as I realize that my little girls are getting so big. Someone needs to remind kindergarten teachers that it is hard on moms so the sappy stuff that makes us cry is hitting below the belt. Even though I do appreciate that they think of us.

Recipe for Happy Kids

Would you like a recipe for happy kids???? Here you go.

Ingredients

Two wonderful grandparents (they financed this operation)
One Aunt and Uncle with a spoiled rotten dog (they helped put it together)
Mom and Dad (finished putting it together)
Three kids (got the easy part they play in it)



A total mess in a box.




More of a mess in the back of the truck



A little bit of teamwork.

Add some persistence from Mom and Dad (trust me there were times when I wanted to burn it this last week).







And you get three incredibly happy kids and a swingset.

C.....

is for CHILDREN. I am very blessed to have three of them that are wonderful. Although this week the have been driving me CRAZY. It seems all I have heard is whining, CRYING, and fighting. I really love them alot and I am thankful that I have them even though sometimes they try my patience.




My two daughters are in school. Punkin is a first grader and Punkinbug is in preschool. I had a great Valentine's Day. I got some great handmade things from my girls and I really love them. I ask them on occasion if they will miss me when they are at school and they say "No, Mom, I will remember you." They are always so excited to share what they make and they are so proud that they made something for us.




Just in CASE you thought I forgot this was a knitting blog. I seem to have gotten a little of the sock mojo back. This is the first sock in a pair of Monkeys that I am making for myself. The yarn is the Posh yarn that has been seen in several attempts in the last month.

C is also for COCKY. I got a little too COCKY in my lace knitting and didn't take the time to move my lifeline and I had to frog about fifteen rows. At least it was only fifteen rows and not the whole project. I am plugging away at CLUE 4 and I hope to get CLUE 5 done this weekend since I think I will have other things to mess with next week.

Hey Hey it's a Monkey

I am probably the very last person in the knitting world that has not knit this sock. I am obsessed. I couldn't put it down most of the weekend. I had to for a little while because my arm started hurting from knitting on it so much. I really like this pattern and it looks so neat in just about any yarn. I am using the Knit Picks Memories in Fly Fishing. I cast it on Thursday night.



I also dug out a UFO out of the yarn box. It is the Branching Out scarf from Knitty. I didn't realize that I was about 30 percent done with it. I am hoping to finish it this week. We shall see.



As you can tell tell from the first picture, we managed to get out Christmas tree up over the weekend. I am a little irritated because one of the strings of lights are not lighting properly. Hopefully we will figure it out next year. I didn't want to take the time to figure it out this year.

We had snow and ice over the weekend so all plans were cancelled we stayed home for the most part. I am so not ready for winter this year for some reason. I want the pretty 70 degree weather back.