Life Goes On

Since my last post had no pictures, I'll make up for it tonight. Sunday night, back to work in the morning.
I had a very good weekend and just finished one of my favorite sandwiches; a tuna melt. With a sugar free cranberry lemonade!

I have gotten some really good cloud pictures so that's where I'll start. The one above is from my cell phone; grocery store parking lot.

I understand that the blue sky is not actually blue but it appears that way for scientific reasons. I like it anyway.

My friends came over Saturday night to watch a movie so I did some cooking on Saturday. I made some homemade rye pizza for my husband who's counting calories (doctor's orders) and I made some potato soup and brownies for me and the girls. We also had salad, cheese & crackers and wine. Strong coffee at the end to keep us awake through an almost 4 hour movie.

Proofing the yeast and adding the flour.
Ready to heat and eat when hubby got home. Then Potato Soup and Cocoa brownies with Fudge Frosting for the girls!



And while we watched our movie, I knitted the back waist band for the Deep Purple Pullover. Two short sleeves are finished.

And I finished spinning and plying a bobbin of silk - so very pretty.
My daughter and her husband joined us for lunch today - they spent some time with friends and his family so we only saw them for a short time this afternoon, but it was worth it! I love my kids! My husband had to go back to work this evening so I watched a little TV and will hit the treadmill soon enough. I am helping him do some things with his business and I think I've got a good lead on someone to help with his website. It needs some updating and my son is pretty wrapped up with school, church, work and a serious girlfriend. Life is going by so fast!

Basic Instincts

Whether we realize it or not, some things are just IN us. We are born with certain basic qualities and needs that just don't go away. I know that the need to eat, breathe and sleep are pretty much at the top. I love to eat, I love to take a deep breath, and I love my bed.

Last night I got a good night's sleep after a fun visit with my son and his girlfriend. I had already planned to cook from a Saving Dinner recipe; chicken was thawed and ingredients bought over the weekend. It was a surprise to have company, so what a treat to come home and cook for 4 instead of 2!

Amber mentioned that she wanted to learn to cook more fresh vegetables and I gladly shared some recipes I had that all used very fresh ingredients. She took my notebook home to try some out and I was immediately inspired. This morning I read a bunch of cooking (foodie) blogs and am inspired to clean out my pantry and fridge!
We will probably make a trip to Costco today, and maybe a health food store. The popular ones today are a far cry from the old school earthy ones from years ago. Now they are just like the regular supermarkets, selling high priced fancy stuff. I used to shop at two really great stores when the kids were small. One was basically a soul food grocery store where you could buy brown paper bags of turnip greens, cheap bunches of broccoli and major bags of potatoes. The other store was a health food store that sold small amounts of cool things, and had a large bulk spice and grain section. My mom always bought our fruits and vegetables at Jimmy Lowe's fruit stand, on our way home from school. They're still in business by the way!
Tomorrow some girlfriends are coming over to watch Gone with the Wind. My friend's daughters have never seen the movie and we both thought it would be fun to have a girl's night. My daughter might be joining us as well, although she and I have both seen the movie. I love the part where Scarlett is foraging around in the trampled garden and finds a small root vegetable. She's very hungry and gets a resolve to never let this happen to her again! You go girl!!

(sorry for the blurry shots - it's raining!)
Update on lettuce and spinach~

They're here!

I have been patiently waiting for the snow to melt long enough for my little seeds to sprout!
I can't believe they finally came up. It's like seeing your first sonogram (almost). The soil looks so dry but I think the little guys actually needed to dry out and get in some sunbathing. Aren't they darling?

I think I planted them about the same time I started these socks. I'm making good progress with my cables; no cable needle around, just using the spare DPN.
Two cables on the sock - one on each side. First is cable forward. Second is cable back.
Here's the forward.
On Monday I had a tummy ache and came home; what a blessing that it was such a warm, lovely,sunny day, I wrapped up in my sweater and sat on the patio for a while. I really needed the vitamin D.
Things are changing at work. I'll be leaving at the end of next month so I'm trying to think ahead for the next guy/girl who takes over my position. I do hope it's successful for them. I'm sure they will do very well. As for me, I'm looking forward to my future and what I'll be doing. Everyday I get more and more excited. I can hardly wait!
While I was sitting around the house on Monday afternoon, bored, I decided to put on a big pot of water to boil and add some vinegar and yellow dye.

SUNFLOWER!
Can you tell I'm looking forward to spring? And daylight savings time is just days away!!

Yarniverse

Yes, you read my title correctly. I went to Yarniverse in Memphis and I did buy something; a sweater pattern that my daughter just loved. Nice cabled boatneck sweater.


I also ate at Cafe Eclectic which was just the kind of place I love to visit. Not like a cattle call (buffet), not an open, airy, look-who's-here place, not a pricey, snooty, waiter-thinks-he's-all-that kind of place either.
(knitted lamp post cozy in front!)
Just a cozy, warm, bakery like cafe where they bring you good coffee, food and check on you only when they see you're out of something, otherwise they leave you alone to eat and visit in peace and privacy.
(Can you tell I have a thing about eating out?)


We also visited my son in law's new school building. He's a 2-L student and my daughter and he live in the heart of the city.

(Judge not lest ye be judged!)
The building is downtown and used to be a large post office. The renovation brought in imported Italian marble and beautiful windows with views of the Mississippi and Mud Island. Mud Island was featured in the movie The Firm and the little house that Tom Cruise and his wife were given in the movie is in my daughter's neighborhood. (lots of free trivia today, whether you want it or not!)
They are great hosts and treat us so well when we visit - chocolates on the pillows, tours of anything we might remotely be interested in, and never a bore to be around.
It's always a fun time for me. Last night we watched The Informant and I was cringing all the way till the end. You may not like this kind of movie, but it was pretty unsettling, since it was true.

I knitted just enough on my deep purple sweater-sleeve #2, but tried my best to not be preoccupied while we talked. I did enjoy the quiet mornings reading and praying. Very nice to not be in too much of a hurry.

Memphis Stomp

Tonight after work we'll be headed to my little girl's house in Memphis to celebrate a belated birthday - she turned 22 on Tuesday.


I plan of course to take my knitting, having started the second sleeve out of the deep purple yarn.

The Leroy Brown sock #2 is started and I've already made a mistake - the first half of this twist went the wrong way! Ha! Who cares? At least I'm knitting and having fun doing it!

Open House

Yesterday I hosted our spinning group and it turned into one of those ordained occurrences. Only a few were here, yet because of that I felt completely free to open up to my friends and share my heart.
You see, I turned in my notice this past week at my job, and if you know me, you know I would never take something like that lightly. I've wrestled with the decision for a long time and felt that the Lord used some very extra-ordinary things in the last few weeks to show me that now was the time. I am thankful that I have a relationship with Jesus that gives me complete confidence in Him, that even when I'm scared to death, I can trust in Him that everything is going to be all right.

So, for now, I'll post the show and tell from our get together. I'm still trying to figure out this camera, so some shots are blurry, others are not. (I'm learning!)

Beautiful lacy hat and scarf, not a set, but both handspun, and hand knitted. Love the colors of both! I want that hat!

Wonderfully calming, even soothing waves or feather & fan throw. Made with a variety of yarns, all wool, but each adding a unique contribution to the overall appeal and oneness of the blanket.

I spent the time spinning this lovely silk, getting closer and closer to a bobbin full. There are a lot of cocoons in this batch!

And during the Olympics the other night, I started a sleeve on this maybe-sweater. I like the look but not the bobbles. I know if I put on a sweater with bobbles, I'd be messing with them all the time, and pulling on them like a little kid. Mostly I just want to find a good basic pattern that fits me well. I'm using this vintage book that I learned to knit from. Great basic cardigan and pullover instructions. And as a knitter, there's not much better than knitting worsted weight yarn on medium needles. The ribbing is done on 3's and the stockinette is done with 6's. Nice drape and texture.
I read this quote recently and had to post it:

Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others.
Unknown

Yesterday I met a man who had escaped communist Vietnam, only to go back later to try to spread anti-communist propaganda. He was nearly arrested then and made it safely out of the country. He's going to school now, and runs a small business nearby. He shared with me how thankful he is for the freedoms we have in America, to express our opinions and views, even dissenting ones. It's legal! I realized after meeting him how blessed I am to have to opportunity to meet with my friends, to share my heart and never risk imprisonment for my thoughts!

For the love of Money

I love that song by the O'Jays. And the lyrics are so true! People are so hung up about money.
Day after day, we are becoming more and more aware of how much we love our money. No one makes a decision nowadays without 'counting the cost'. There seems to be no end of advice for folks who want to be prudent and not spend too much. I wonder what our world would be like if we all just became really, really generous. Not caring how much a thing cost, but rather looking at how much they valued or wanted something. To what extent would we go to get that thing? How much happier we'd all be if those around us just dropped all their inhibitions and gave their all every single time? All facets of life would change, don't you think?

I have one area of my life that really fits into that category. I have lots and lots of yarn. Its not hard to be generous, or extravagant with my projects, because I know I have lots of dyed yarn, undyed yarn and even fleece that's waiting to be spun and dyed. What a blessing to know this!!
There's no end to the projects I can take on, if I only had the time to knit more........

I have finally closed the toe on the first LB sock and have cast on for the second sock.



I've captured some really good cloud pictures this week. I'm so glad the snow has let up for a few days. The sky has been gorgeous!!
I love the 'sky blue' and I wish I had some sky blue yarn. I do have the sapphire yarn and I could surely have a dye-day soon, if the weather co-operates. I'd like some sky blue and hot pink!!
I miss my sister lately and am wishing I could go down to Tampa to visit her. I can tell my color choices are leaning toward the tropical. Spinning group is tomorrow, here at my house so I'm looking forward to getting some inspiration! Hope to post at least a couple of pictures Saturday!
By the way, in the picture above, I was sitting at a red light on lunch hour and realized that right above those blasted lights, was a beautiful gift from God, just for me. Next time, don't look at the red light, look at the sky!

Alice in Wonderland

After spinning the gray Alice fleece, I had no trouble coming up with a name for the project I knit with the yarn. Alice in Wonderland of course. I am intrigued with a throw done in large cables and reverse stockinette on the cover of an old Lion Brand catalog. I may just use the Alice yarn for that throw. And I think I may dye the yarn green,...maybe.

I haven't picked a stitch of the week so I'd better get on it.
And I was very tardy getting out the invite for this month's spinning meeting. I had offered to host and even have it on my calendar, but didn't send out the email till today.

I'm drinking some hot chocolate and wondering where all that beautiful weather went. It was just so pretty all weekend and a tease is a tease. Very frustrating. Today is not cold, but gray and cold-looking from the window. Hurry up, spring!
I took the Leroy Brown sock with me yesterday evening to church and got in several rows.
I'm just about ready to decrease for the toe, which will be a welcome part of the process.


I also measured the purple round knitting swatch. Exactly 4.5 stitches per inch. I found a cute little short sleeve pullover but I'm gun shy about trying another sweater just yet. =(
Since I've had today off I've been cleaning house: dusting, vacuuming, mopping and washing. I started the year with a pedometer to track my steps each day. An average at-work day consists of less than a thousand steps. A stay at home day (today) had me at 7,000 by 9 a.m. It's after lunch and I've passed 11,000. I have to tell you that this continually surprises me.
Does it surprise you too?

I put away my last book - it took a nosedive about halfway through and did not look like it was gonna recover. I started a non-fiction book about Henrietta Lacks and a spiritual book called Crazy Love; both seem to be a vast improvement!

Boxcar Children

Last night after supper, while shopping at Wal-mart for some new pajama pants, we met a couple that reminded me of 'the good ole days'. Do you know what I mean? Those experiences that are so pleasant and wholesome, you just feel good for a while and savor the moment.
When my kids were little, we'd read books like the Little House series, Winnie the Pooh and the Box Car Children. They'd make you believe in a time and place where things were pure and innocent, free from the darkness that wants to invade our lives all the time.
This couple we met were older and did most of their shopping at Walmart and the Goodwill Store. They told us how they met. They were both 70 and had only been married to each other for 9 years, having lost both their spouses to cancer years before. They'd lived parallel lives, and finally met at their church, about 20 miles away in a community called Triune.

Today has been a wonderful, beautiful day. The sky is lovely, this morning cloudy, but now it's sunny and warm!! Wooooo Hoooo! Exactly what I need!

I went to a guitar show with my husband this morning. Saw an old friend that sells super expensive vintage guitars ( you could almost buy my house for the price of the one above - 1960 Les Paul Burst).
(Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple owned this Gibson SG)


DH has the day off and we've fired up the grill for tonight, since it's so pretty.

I've worked on my sock and it's going really fast; no counting rows, cables, ribs or nothin'!
I'm savoring this time after a somewhat stressful week. I'm making some changes and decisions about some things and although that can be very freeing, there's a certain amount of anxiety that can come with the unknown. Life is complex, and we're all are sure of that!

Games People Play

It's that time again - Olympics, you know! (a line from my favorite movie)
Ravelry, yarn harlot, they're all knitting some great project that must be finished by the end of the games. I have no such project but I'm happy with what I've got on the needles at the moment anyway.
Except tonight I realized as I made olympic effort to get to the heel, that I placed the cables on the front and back of the leg instead of the sides. Now I've got to tink (un-knit) to the afterthought heel thread. Bummer.

I did find a bit of color over the weekend, to knit. This is a lovely worsted weight purple and I'm swatching in the round on 8's. DPNs are recommended to get an accurate stitch count for a sweater, or anything in the round.
I've used this pattern before and have most of my calculations already highlighted, which makes this much more appealing. Less effort to get it started.
We've had snow again today and I was able to come home early, to beat the black ice. The commute this morning was tricky and I saw the last of 4 vehicles being pulled out of ditches - doubling my commute time. I'm so thankful I arrived safely! Tomorrow may be equally tricky....

We had a wonderful lunch Sunday with another couple we are good friends with. And my husband is giving guitar lessons to their son. He's proving to be quite a talented kid! He had no real interest in music before moving here last year. Now he's well on his way. I love that about kids. They are so real and don't play games about what they're interested in. They'll tell you in a heartbeat, "I love/hate that". Sometimes you really have to read between the lines with adults. They either want approval and aren't honest, or they have an agenda which is much worse in my opinion.
Listening to politics on the radio today, I heard that another politician is leaving the ring, citing too much polarization. I'm glad somebody's speaking the truth about our political parties. Both sides have gotten downright dirty, and nobody's getting anything done. I heard a poll that said a large portion of Americans believe a random sampling from the phone book could do a better job than the Congress we have now. How sad!