Family Affair

Grandma's china and silver

I love special occasions and this weekend I had the chance to feed my family on real china and real silver, a first for me! The china belonged to my mother in law.  Her brother was stationed in Japan during the Korean War and he brought her back this beautiful set of Noritake dishes. Our Easter dinner was simple but got rave reviews which is a lesson for all young cooks out there.  Tried and true, traditional dishes are good for family events. (Save the experiments for small affairs, don't ask me how I know this!)

I have lots of memories in my small mind, of family dinners with and without drama.  My three most vivid are these:
1. Broccoli casserole topped with potato chips made by my grandmother back in the 70s, which I  lost later that night calling Ralph on the big white phone.

2. Biting into a piece of buckshot,  eating what must have been deer meat; I'm supposing someone tried to pass this off as beef, but I made the deduction that this might not be true, thanks to my handy-dandy Nancy Drew detective skills.

3. Playing outside with my cousins and running inside for a quick drink from someone's large red Dixie cup. It was not watered down coke or iced tea as I presumed,  but instead was Boone's Farm Strawberry wine. I know this because of the warm feeling I got once I swallowed approximately 4-6 ounces in a single gulp.

Papa, Josh and Amber

Betsy and Adam

Our discussions are lively these days and I have a tendency to change the subject like a crazy lady, whenever I feel the topic has strayed into inappropriate territory.  I got this skill from my mother, and I'm sure she got it from her mother.

My garden is growing very well, in spite of the unusual weather.  Here is lettuce, spinach, kale and Swiss chard.  I also have planted turnips and sweet potatoes, they're doing great too!

spring garden greens

I washed and felted the booties for my future grandchild.  Love them!

wool baby booties

And I'm plugging away with the pink shawl.  No hurry here - the priority is low until next fall.

Rorschach Booty

With all the opportunities I have to learn, this one takes the cake . Or the booty if you will.
I started to make the first of two baby booties and found no diagram on how the thing would be put together.  Usually when you buy something that has to be put together, you get a little picture, even if its in Chinese and the grammar is wrong. At least there's a picture, for goodness sake!

But when I had made over half of the first little shoe, it was looking strangely like one of those Rorschach ink blot images.

I had to really turn it around a few times to figure out what went where.  I have made clothes and have some idea how to fit pattern pieces together, but I haven't made any shoes lately.  (Where's Gepetto when you need him?)

Somehow, when I turned it about the fiftieth time, I saw where the toes would go and how the back of the heel sections would need to be sewn together.  Voila!

I am pleased with how easy this has been and I realize that making a few pair will be a lot of fun, adding little touches once I find out if the baby is going to be a boy or girl.  Not too much bling, mind you.

Last week, I had a little friend come over for a knitting lesson.  She is a natural and after we'd looked at what she'd made since the last time I saw her, I asked what she'd like to learn.  She said she wanted to make a hat for herself.  Now flat knitting is one thing and I figured that wasn't what little V was looking to do. I knew this would mean knitting in the round, which is a big jump for a beginning knitter.

Well let me just say that before the hour was up, she'd made two little practice hats.   (I told you she was a natural!)

Great Expectations!!!!!

 Okay, I can finally say it, on national TV, or at least on my blog.  My son and his wife are gonna have a baby!!

Wow!  I have waited to post this, waited to start any knitting projects, and waited to go baby yarn shopping until now.  Today it became official, i.e. the internet, that I'm gonna be a grandma, so I can now officially begin posting baby knitting!

One of my favorite books is the classic Debbie Bliss Baby Knits book and my first project will be a practice pair of the Garter Stitch shoes.  I don't know the gender of the baby yet, so I'm just starting with some gray wool and a very basic bootie pattern.

But I WILL be yarn shopping very, very soon!  We have had some car issues the last few days, but as soon as we are back in business, I'll be at my LYS making a real yarn purchase for a real baby, that's due around the end of Sept. or the beginning of October.  I think I can knock out a pair of booties by then. Whaddya think?  

Southern Girl

Apple tree gifted from my parents the year my youngest graduated

Sitting indoors on a very warm March afternoon, wearing some flip flops and trying to get in some more rows on the shawl, I owe you at least a couple of pictures! 

foggy bottom camera lens

I will probably think of the Deep South every time I wear this, because I'm listening to The Partner by John Grisham while I knit.  I also have been reading Ford County Stories by the same author so the South is on the brain.

Shawl gettin' squishy on the circular needles

Yesterday I went to get my annual patio umbrella.  I also picked up some cushions for the chairs as well.  Every year we have at least one good storm that tears the tarnation out of the umbrella.  I used to have a glass top patio table and it got flipped more times than I care to remember, so now I have a black wrought iron table that's only been flipped once in about 5 years.  I try to close or completely remove the umbrella whenever there's a storm, but sometimes I'm just not quick enough.

Summer cushions and my favorite clothing catalog

It feels like summer outside already and I am downright itching to plant some vegetables in the garden.  Eighty degree temps everyday does that to a Southern girl.  I was sure we'd get another cold spell and maybe some snow before Easter, but I admit I must be wrong.

Snow Ball tree from my master gardener friend, Mary

I bought my new flip flops and a few other items at Old Navy when I got the patio stuff.  We're taking a trip to California in a couple of months, so I couldn't resist buying some beach-y clothes before the stores get all picked over for Easter.  One white peasant skirt, one white cotton drawstring dress, two very lightweight cardigans and a couple of colorful sleeveless tops.  Now I just have to toss about a bazillion black tops from the past five years.  Black is out, you know, and color is IN!

I'll take your word for it

The weather lately has been more than unpredictable, but I am neither complaining nor rejoicing in the weather we've had today.  Mostly because it has run the gamut all day long.  Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and bright, but I have my doubts.

Today was the Cherry Blossom Festival downtown but I didn't even consider going because rain was forecast for the day. And it did in fact rain.  Then it stopped. Then it rained again. Then lightning popped twice so we unplugged everything and the storm passed in seconds, it seemed like.  I'm not making any serious plans for tomorrow afternoon to grill out. 

What does all this have to do with knitting and spinning?  So glad you asked.  Nothing whatsoever.

Picnic basket repurposed for yarn stash hiding

 I did clean out the garage this week, though. (Including some of my stash!) I reorganized and collapsed boxes and sorted tools back into the tool box, and tossed some icky paint cans that have seen much better days.

I did all this because we had to have our air conditioner fixed Thursday and I had to clear a path to the attic.  The repairman came in at one point grinning, it seemed like, with the news that we probably would have to get a new unit.  To the tune of 7 grand.

Seven thousand dollars?

 Then it looked more like $1,700 which was still a lot for a repair.  And then after much prayer and offering of sacrifices, he got it down to $700 as he only had to fix a leak in a pipe. That is still a boatload of money if you ask me, but it sure beat the first figure.

 We are now prepared for replacing two units in the future, one upstairs and one downstairs.  I am still praying that it will be at least a few more years, but who can tell?

The best part of this week was Friday afternoon when I had the chance to meet a friend for a bite to eat.  We originally met as participants in a ladies' support group, that reaches out to wives of men in ministry.  My friend and I hit it off right away and have kept in close contact ever since we met online last fall.  Yesterday we met face to face for the first time.  She and her husband were traveling through our area on their way to another city.  My hubby came along and the four of us had a wonderful, wonderful little dinner together at a country restaurant on the edge of town.  She made me a beautiful wreath and I hung it on the front door as soon as I got home.

Easter wreath

It inspired me to do some creative stuff today, so I made two aprons this morning, before doing some alterations on my husband's blue jeans.

apron strings are ribbons from my daughter's wedding flowers

 They both turned out great and I think I may be going to the craft store before Easter gets here!  Not to make an Easter dress, but definitely to make something for the table, maybe a flower arrangement ??

Its in the bag

*Update on wisteria in the back yard.  Looking so good!

Lately I've gotten pretty good at keeping only certain items handy in my knitting bag.  Trying to be concise, precise, using my noggin, I've whittled it down to some pretty basic things.

• A gadget box, which in my case is a tackle box, serves me well every time I go to knit. I always need stitch markers, and I am way too lazy to traipse upstairs to get a few extra markers when I'm knitting in front of the TV at night. 
• Scissors are a must have.   Nothing replaces them, not nail clippers, knives or sharp pointy teeth. 
• Needle gauge, because it seems like I am forever checking the size of the needle for some strange reason. Don't ask me why, I just do. 
• Sticky note pad.  You can use these for so many purposes, but mostly for taking notes or marking my place on a pattern row. 
• Pen/pencil. *See above.
• Ruler or tape measure- for checking stitches per inch and for checking progress on a project. Like making sure the arms of a sweater will stretch from the ceiling to the floor, that kind of thing.
• Reading glasses.  Usually I have already grabbed a pair, but just in case, its good to have them already in the bag. 
• And last but not least, Ziploc bags.  Great for taking projects on the go, in the car or packing in a suitcase.  Some people will begrudge me for using the brand name, but its just how I roll.  Like Kleenex or Duck tape or Tide.  So leave me alone on this one - okay?

The best kind of bag is big enough to hold the pattern, needles, and yarn for the project. Maybe not all the yarn, but at least a skein/ball or two.  I don't see the need in taking 12 balls of yarn everywhere I go, and its really just a waste of space, no matter how much you like the yarn.  IMHO.

In the midst of the storm

In the midst of the storm, we take comfort in knowing that it will pass.  Whenever we see the rainbow afterward, we are reminded of this fact.  There was a storm.  It passed. 

did not see the rainbow till after I took the picture

I am so thankful for the rains we've had.  They are necessary and since I planted a bunch of flower seeds in the yard this week before we got the big storm, I am especially grateful that the Lord did in less than a half hour, what would've taken me a couple of hours or more to do. Plus it was free. I'm talking about watering the flower seeds and soaking all the flower beds and vegetable seedlings. 

Can you see the frown it's making?

One thing I wasn't so thankful for, was the judicious pruning my next door neighbor did to my just-budding wisteria bush. I realize their house is on the market, and it was hanging over their side of the fence, but really. Really?? Right when its about to bloom?  Right when its about to look amazing and spectacular? 

Wisteria after un-wanted pruning

So I rounded up a lattice, some nails and re-routed the whole thing.  I'm happy with how it turned out, and frankly, like it or not, it probably needed the pruning it got.  So, enough of my whining.  Enough of that pouty attitude I've been carrying around.  Later I realized the neighbor had also dug up her beautiful roses as well. The ones that hang over my side of the fence.  I can't seem to grow roses and she's from Texas and keeps them looking great.  I don't know why she dug up the roses, but it probably gave her a lump in her throat to do it. 

And speaking of roses, (what a segue-way!), here is the progress on the rose colored Swallowtail shawl.

I've upped my needle from a 24 inch Addi turbo to a 32 inch Knit Mates combo made from two 16 inch cords.  I don't like these as much, but its all I got!! I needed the extra length to accommodate the extra stitches.  I think I'm up to 124 stitches at this point and it will only get bigger.  When I block it and stretch it out, it will be pret-ty darn big.  I cannot wait!

Pattern is easy and so far, so good.  No complaints and I've done 6 repeats of the 6 row chart after the initial cast on, top to bottom.

I've never done the crochet cast on, so I learned another new trick. So proud of myself!   And doesn't the model look calm and peaceful in this photo?  Don't you think I'll look calm and peaceful when I finish mine?  I will probably take a trip to the Middle East when I'm done and talk to those guys over there who are always fighting.  If they wore shawls like this one when they were throwing those rockets, they'd probably think twice. I know I would!  

Object of My Affection

Whenever I have some time to spend, all to myself, I almost always choose to go to the library.  I might go to the market or garden center or yarn shop, but I really truly love going to the library.  Today was one of those days.
I picked up a book by one of my favorite authors, and can't wait to get started on this novel. But I need to finish one I am halfway through; To Kill a Mockingbird and its going fast.  Easy read and very endearing.  Its the kind of book that lingers in your mind, and later little things come back to you.  She is such a good writer.

Me and Atticus

This new book, according to Stephen King is "on fire with suspense".  Need I say more?  I have read many books by Greg Iles, but I hesitate to recommend him, because occasionally things get graphic.  Murders and crimes are not glossed over, but written about realistically.  I have researched this book and its supposed to be one of his less graphic books.  Some are actually not recommended for juveniles according to his website.  I appreciate that.  I fall into that category.

Anyway, aside from my me time today at the library, I stole a little time in the flower bed, weeding, moving some plants and cutting a couple of tulips.

 I planted a bag full of bulbs at the end of last fall and they have come up, right on time.  Sort of salmon pink colored.  Very similar to the mohair yarn I've been spinning.

I was inspired to wash some more wool after listening to a podcast that discussed processing fleeces, even greasy ones. I have one that I soaked and tried to clean last year or maybe even the year before.  I can't remember, but its been a while and its sitting in the corner like a bad child.  I don't like to look at it, and frankly I'd lost hope that it could be salvaged.

dirty fleece

I had come to believe that I would have to use it for stuffing or batting.  But.....I followed some sage advice, washed only one lb. of it in a small dishpan in the tub, twice in very hot water. Then rinsed in equally hot water and set it out to dry.

white as wool

  I was amazed at how soft, clean and not-felted it was!  I guess I amazed myself by following directions like a good girl.  That always works out you know.

March Winds

Lately the weather has been pretty mild, but definitely worth sharing a few photos of. (Please excuse the preposition at the end of the previous sentence.)

View from the guest room upstairs

Lovely winds and mild temperatures make me more that happy that its already March and we've hardly had any snow.  I don't want to speak too soon, but hey, it is March, right? Kinda close to being in the clear, and we're probably only gonna get one more really good cold spell before its over.  Not warm enough to plant much yet, but I'm okay with that.

view from the back yard

view from the dining room

I have planted some spinach, kale, Swiss chard and lettuce seeds and all have come up.  Woo hoo!

Part of the booty from moving my father-in-law's stuff down here are some various gardening tools;  I'll try to post pics soon.  Its sooo cool to have an extra hoe, shovel, etc. for the back yard.  I kind of have two stations that I work from, one on either side of the house.  Most of the walking around in the back yard is me going back and forth to get tools that I left in 'the other flower bed'.  I need the walking around mind you, but its a pain when every little cotton-pickin thing requires me to get up off my duff and walk across the yard to round up the tool.  How nice it'll be to have a least one spare everything!

The lovely, and I do mean lovely pink Swallowtail Shawl is coming along nicely.  I am now speaking with a true Southern drawl, so as to emphasize the future I'm envisioning of myself wearing this shawl on cool summer nights sipping iced tea.  In reality, I may actually find myself sitting on an ice chest, but for now, I'm sticking with the more romantic fantasy, sans ice chest.

front left side

The pattern is not without snags for me, but I'm just correcting mistakes as I go.  I think I have the hang of it enough to cover my boo-boos so that no-one will notice.  An expert lace knitter would have none of that, but I'm no expert! 

back-side

I guess I'm on a little bit of a Southern kick, here lately.  I'm finally reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  Not the audio book or movie, but sitting down every night with a hardback book propped up in bed with my glasses on.  She's a great writer, you know,  Harper Lee.

  I realize now why I never read the book as a kid, growing up in Alabama just a short distance from where the story takes place.  Its because the language Scout uses as a first grader is worse than anything I ever said in my whole life up until I was in labor with my first child.  That part is not in the movie. Her cussing, I mean.  But she's adorable, and I identify so much with her descriptions of the town where she lives, and the way things are at that time and in the South.  Truly a Southern work of art.

Fragile or Fra-gee-lee

Last weekend we sorted and packed boxes at the former home of my father in law in another state.  He'd lived in the house for 30 years until he suffered a health issue that brought him to live with us.  His house has sold and we had one weekend to empty it of boxes, beautiful furnishings and various items.  All I can say is, Wow, I'm glad its over.

We are blessed in this nation to have so many things.  More things than we can care for and often so many things that we have to store them in a remote location.  I heard today that we only use 20% of our stuff.  I believe it!!

Before leaving on the trip, I made the decision to try to knit the Swallowtail Shawl.   I originally saw the pattern in Interweave Knits when it was first published.  Now its a trend and many, many people have made it.  That meant I had a slim chance of being able to make one myself.  I'm not a beginning knitter, but I'm definitely not an expert.  This pattern uses charts so I have been really intimidated until last week.


For some reason, I thought I'd give it a go.

So far, its pretty easy and I've ripped out a few rows.  Two lessons learned already that I will take seriously.
1. Use a life line. Just do it.
2. Use stitch markers. Just do it.

I can't imagine completing this shawl without those two things.  Especially the latter.  Once I got the rhythm of the pattern using the stitch markers, I got a little more confident that I would be able to finish it.

Its so easy to let fear of failure keep us from trying new things, or things we don't have confidence about.  Some people battle with their emotions, and mine is usually fear.  Recently I was asked to take on a volunteer role that I didn't feel really capable of accomplishing, mostly because I don't know where to begin.  But I heard an inspirational message today that really encouraged me to go for it, even if I fail. To regret not trying a thing is probably worse than messing something up that could be fixed later with some help from someone else.  So assuming I fail on some level, with this shawl or in my new position, I will decide now, ahead of time to ask for help.   Like they say, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!