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".)

New Month = New Post

Well, I have to admit that I am glad that June is over. I was stopped in my tracks last week with some earache thing that I am extremely glad is over. I really didn't get much knitting done last month either, which I guess is another reason for being glad that June is over.









I did finish spinning this.








Which became this.
248 yards of fingering weight yarn in Gale's Art Fiber's Black BFL in the Grape Vine colorway. I think it might become this or this. (Ravelry Links) The colors are more accurate in the above photo compared to the finished yarn photo.





I am STILL working on the Mockery socks. I really have no idea why they are taking me so long. I like the pattern and I love the yarn. I guess I just haven't had much motivation to work on them since I won't be wearing them until the fall. I have finished the first one and I am on the leg of the second one. Hopefully they will be done soon.

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.

The Story of the Meret

I had some beautiful handspun that I thought would make a great Meret.
(Ravelry Link)










It did make a beautiful Meret. It was just a little big. Okay it was huge. I mean massive huge.











So I washed it. It felted a little. It fits much better now.











Looks even better on the Punkin. It was a perfect hat for a tea party this afternoon.

First of Many (Hopefully)

Last week, we did some landscaping improvements around here. We tore out some old landscape timbers in a couple of our flower beds. This was the before picture.






This is the after picture. We moved 110 of these landscaping stones. Each one of these stones weighs about 30 pounds. I have mucho respect for people that do this for a living. I felt a great sense of accomplishment after completing this job.




The girls have "learned" to use the camera. They have been very busy taking self portraits of themselves and other things around the house. I am going to show off some of these photos in the future. This is the first of this series. This is Punkin. I am so glad that they aren't using film.




There will be some knitting and spinning posts coming up. I promise.

Would-a, Should-a, Could-a

I would-a been blogging but it has been really busy around here.



I finished these footies. They are pretty comfortable but not sure if I like them or not yet. I know if I make another pair, I should have enough for a few more rows of the cuff before starting the foot. I actually did a short row heel (which I hardly ever do).





I should-a posted about the girls last days of school. I took this on Thursday after making the final lunch for the year. Friday was their last day but they ate at the picnic at the park. I also went to school on Thursday to visit a plastic company that is in our small town and to take freezer pops to the children in Punkinbug's kindergarten class.




I could-a posted about the dishcloths that I churned out earlier this week. I made five in five days. I made these for the helpers in the girl's classrooms. I had one already done from a while back it just needed the ends woven in. I wove in the ends the morning they took them to school.




These posts might have happened if my son hadn't become the little computer geek. I mean geek in the best way possible here no offense intended at all.

This And That

The wind caused this. This is our street sign on our corner that blew down due to the terrible winds we are having right now. The weather people say that they should die down here in a little while. I also know that I didn't really miss hot weather all that much. It is too hot to knit even. I am not willing to turn on my air conditioner just yet especially when it is supposed to be back in the 60's tomorrow.










One bump of this roving.











Became that yarn. Which is about 482 yards of lace weight or light fingering. It might end up being a Shetland Triangle Shawl, I am not sure yet.








This is the reason why the Mockery Socks from the last post have not grown any. I am trying to finish up some projects that were in my knitting and this seemed like the easiest one to finish up first. Socks go pretty quickly when you are working on size 3's.

Friday Post

I have been doing some spinning this week. This is the current wool on the bobbin. It is a Bonkers fiber that I got last summer on vacation. I am trying for a three ply fingering weight and it is going pretty well so far. I haven't spun much of it yet so I still have a long way to go. Spinning finer yarns takes a lot more time than worsted weight.





I was trying to find the bottom of my knitting bag and this project was in the way. I have started working on it again. I am hoping to have it finished by the end of May.








My current "new favorite" sock pattern, Mockery. I love this pattern and this yarn. I am using Malabrigo Sock in Velvet Grapes. This yarn is so soft. I am not very fond of the really thin spots but I am enjoying this yarn otherwise.

Have a good one, I think I am going to go knit.

They're Done

The Boring Brown Socks are done. They will head to their new home tomorrow.
Stats:
Pattern: Undulating Rib Socks from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk in Brown
Needles: Hiya Hiya 0's (I love these needles)
Duration: Started them sometime in March 2009 and finished May 11, 2009






Here is an up close shot of the Handspun Adamas Shawl.

Stats:
Pattern: Adamas Shawl by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Hand spun Bonkers Raspberry Superwash Merino
Needles: Size 8 KnitPicks Options
Duration: Started April 6, 2009 finished May 8, 2009





Punkinbug has really taken a shine to this shawl. She asked me if she could wear it to school. She told me she wanted to wear it on the day when she was the Line Ender so nobody would pull on it. I think she gets that she is supposed to take care of the handknits.

Can You Say Gorgeous?????

My hand spun shawl is done.












I am pretty pleased with it.

Making Progress

The sweater is getting longer. I have finished the increases and joined to work in the round for about 14 inches of stockinette give or take. It is great for TV knitting. I don't think I will get a chance to wear it before this fall though so I have plenty of time to finish it. I also have about three more sweaters I want to make this year too. We shall see.









I am FINALLY on the second Boring Brown sock. I am just starting the heel flap so I am hoping to have them done by the end of the week.











Just a cute picture of a little boy.

Spring Has Sprung

At least here in Minnesota. We have had a large range of weather here this week, Thursday was almost 90 and yesterday it was 41. I kind of wish the weather would make up it's mind already. Since Spring is here that means that grass is growing so I mowed for the first time this afternoon, actually I just finished.




I have been working on my handspun shawl today. I have almost done a whole repeat today which is saying something considering the rows are getting pretty long. I think it is turning out pretty good so far. I am hoping to have this done soon.

Not to Me

I was making dinner the other night when I told Punkingbug that I was going to use Penne pasta instead of elbow macaroni to make it.





She claimed she didn't like that kind. I told her the ingredients were exactly the same and showed her on the box that they were the same. She still said, "I don't like that kind." I told her they were just shaped different and they tasted the same.




She replied, "Not to me they don't"

Bathrooms, Boring Brown and Beautiful

It has been pretty quiet on this blog for a while. I kept meaning to post and then something would happen and I wouldn't get around to it. I have one really good reason for being quiet lately.



I was busy painting and redecorating the bathroom. I thought about the before picture as I was starting to paint the yellow on and then I thought "Nah, don't worry about it". I wish I had though because I think it looks so much better.




I have been knitting this brown sock too. It is wonderful yarn (Regia Silk), a great pattern even though a little fiddly with the knit purl knit all in one stitch but I like how it looks though. I think it is just the brown that I don't like. I know the color isn't right here but it is a chocolate brown.






I really haven't been spinning much either, I did get a little time in today. This is my current spinning project.

Happy Easter (there is Knitting Content)

Happy Easter to all my blogging friends. I am so thankful for a Savior that was willing to die on a cross for me. The best part is He came back to life how amazing that is to me. I hope all of you are having a great day.




I started a shawl out of my Raspberry Bonkers fiber. It is moving along rather quickly. I am not sure quite how big I am going to make it but I think I will really
enjoy it once it is done. I also have a couple of dresses that will go with it for church which I think is pretty cool.






I finished some spinning this week. This is some Gales Art BFL, I really like this fiber ALOT. It was so easy to spin and the colors that she comes up with are amazing. I already have more of her fiber on a bobbin already.










In an effort to use up some of my stash I dug out this Cascade Fixation to make a pair of anklets. I am not sure if I should rip them out and start over with more stitches since when I tried them on it looks like ribbing and I am not sure how comfortable that would be to walk on. I did have some success with a short row heel though.

Serious Aunt Pride

Check this out.

That is my nephews sculpture that is headed to New York for the finals.
Way to go, Jake.

Happy Feet

There is a little girl in Kindergarten today with very happy feet. I finished up these socks for the Punkinbug yesterday. She wasn't feeling very good so I think they cheered her up a little bit. Her older sister, Punkin, is wearing the pair I made for her today too. It is great that my girls like handmade socks.




I had a gift certificate from the Loopy Ewe that I was having a hard time spending. When I get a gift certificate I usually wait until I am sure that I can get something really good or a very good deal. This is the haul from that gift certificate. Five bumps (or whatever you call the way roving is put up) of Gales Art Fibers Black BFL aka Spinners Crack. From left to right, Stormy Sea, Grape Vine, Gum Ball, Deep Blue Sea, and Proud Peacock. Now I just have to decide which to spin first.

Handspun Gorgeousness

I just had to show off my latest finished handspun. I think I have enough to make a small shawl out of it. I am planning on the Adamas Shawl. (Ravelry Link) I have about 500 yards of it so I think it will work.