It feels like fall

This is going to be a very picture intense post. Things have been busy. Cody started Chess after school at the public Library on Monday and Tuesdays. It's a battle every morning to get Brock to go to school. He's only in 1st grade and he is already difficult. When will it stop?

This isn't the best picture in the bunch but it shows both of the boys' pumpkins. Brock's is the ghost with the headstone and Cody's is the other ghost. Cody did his all by his self and is mighty proud of it. We carved them Saturday night and Sunday morning Brock woke me to ask if we can light them. He's so impatient sometimes.

This bush is up by our house and every fall it turns a reddish-pink color. Hubby took this picture the other day because the color was so much more vivid than previous years. I love this bush and want to get pictures of the boys by it before all the leaves fall off. The trees have all finally turned colors and it is so pretty.

Cody's modeling this Chevron scarf because it is for his teacher. He picked the color because it's his teacher's favorite color. I loved the way it turned out. I hope she likes it. I am making the Old Shale Scarf for Brock's teacher but it isn't done yet. Soon though. I would like to finish several things for my nieces and nephews first.

I made this for myself of course. It's the Love Bites scarf. The yarn is the Twilight colorway and I plan on wearing it next month to see the New Moon movie. Hubby and I and a close couple of ours already have a no kid date night planned. Dinner then the movie. It will be the first time in over a year going out without the kids. Can't wait! Then the same friend, she wants to take her daughter to see it, so we will take the older kids after we see it first.

This is for my niece for Christmas. The Swing Thing. I started with the second increase as my cast on, thanks to some fellow Ravelers who recommended it. I then felted it because it was way to big. It will be a nice coat for Spring and Fall. I hope she likes it. I made the 2-3 year old size and like I said was way to big. Now I think it will fit her this Spring. I have one more of these to make for my other baby niece. It only took about 4 days to make so hopefully I'll start it soon.

I have a lot of projects that need to get done. I want something handmade for all my nieces and nephews and time is running out. I hope I can make my deadline.

All the patterns I've done are on my projects page. I didn't feel like linking today. I have things to sew for my dad and knitting to do before Christmas. So happy knitting!

Not Much

School has started a week and a half ago and I've been so busy. I've been busy canning from the garden and helping a friend can since this is her first time. Also I watched another friend of mine's little boy. He is so cute and such a good baby. I will have him again a couple of times next week because they are going to be painting there brand new house and she doesn't want him in the smell.

Today, I need to do beans and juice my tomatoes. So another weekend of cooking tomato sauce is on it's way. With all this going on I've neglected the laundry and house work. Knitting has been a nightly thing. I have startitis really bad. So last night I casted on for the Best Friends Scarf in Malabrigo Silk Wool in Blackberry. I love the color. It's a nice dark purple. So soft. I was going to make it for one of my good friend's birthday (she love purple) but I still have teachers to think about. I thought about making scarves for the teachers but don't yet.

Well the kids need to get ready for school so I should go. Hopefully I'll have more next time.

So Long

Boy, it's been a while since I last posted. So far this summer has been about lace for me. I don't know why, but it seems like every new year I start out knitting lace. Well this year it has stayed with me.


MiaBella I love. This shawl I knit with Malabrigo lace and have to say I am in love. This is the first time I've knit with this yarn and I won't quit either. It's so soft and yummy. The color in watergreen (I believe). I still have 1 skein left and am not sure what to do with it yet.

This last shawl is Spring Swirl Surprise. I knit it with Knit Pick Bare lace weight. I love this shawl. First time making a circle one. I think if I ever what to tackle this shawl again I am going to use worsted weight yarn and make a blanket. I love it that much. The edging took forever but it was well worth it.

On the home front, the garden is starting to come in. The green beans are unbelievable. I've frozen 10 bags of them so far. Good eat come winter. I have to register the boys for school next week. I can't wait. They are driving me nuts. The constant fighting is getting really old. Hubby is still working. He called me Friday afternoon to see if anything was going on this week because they wanted him to go to Wisconsin to check out a machine that is being built. So he will be home some time Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

That's about it. I need to go and work on the Victorian Romance shawl from Goddess Knits. It's okay. Maybe when it's done and blocked I'd fell better about it.

May Phat Fiber Box

Can you say yarnie goodness. I love this box. This is the first box that has had more yarn in it than the last 2 months before. I can't believe what I got. Love all of it and can't be happier.
With this being the 3rd box I've gotten I still am not sure what to do with the samples. I may try making a sampler blanket with all the samples. I know the yarns are different weights but I think I could make small and big blocks and strategically place them. I will try to continue to get a box every month. They sell out in about 30 seconds and I can't believe how lucky and grateful I've been to receive one.

On the home front, school is starting to come to an end. With all the snow days they don't get out until June 10th. Today Brock goes on a field trip, which is the first time he has ever ridden in a big bus. He is very excited. Yesterday I went to pick the kids up from school and the librarian was sitting on the roof of the school reading books to the kids because they reached their 3,500th book. The competition was the principal (3,000 books) would kiss a pig which she did last month. Great motivation for the kids I think. Our school is K-12th grade with maybe 400 kids so for the younger classes to read that many books is a great accomplishment.

We (hubby and I) have been busy planting the garden and just loving the time together with the kids still in school. We know it is coming to an end but I really can't wait for summer vacation. We still haven't heard if he is getting layed off. June 1st-15th is the time frame. Of course they are waiting til the last minute. A couple of the bosses are going to try and keep him because they think he is awesome. That is really nice to hear.

Time to get ready for school. A girlfriend and I walk the kids to school and then we walk for about an hour everyday. Time to start losing the weight that the kids put on me when I was pregnant.

Things Going On

Things have been hectic here. I finished several things and trying to prepare for our town-wide garage sale this weekend.

Brock wants to be Yoda for Halloween this year so I made him the Yoda hat. It felted like a dream but I need to decide what to do about the ears.
The next is a shawl that I love. For some reason at the beginning of each new year I get an itch for lace. The yarn is Kauni Effekt. It's nice yarn but very scratchy. I have one ball left but not sure what to make with it yet.

I've decided to do a garage sale this year. I told hubby that whatever is left to throw out. I can't keep this stuff anymore. Things just keep piling up in the basement and around the house. So hopefully I get unload a bunch.

VESS

I finished this shawl a couple of weeks ago, but haven't had the time to blog about it. It's called the VESS short for Vernal Equinox Spring Shawl (I think). It was a knit along from Ravelry.
I used Knit Picks Bare Fingering weight yarn and size 6 needles. It is huge but I love it. After it was done I tried, for the second time to Kool-aid dye it with Cherry. Some spots are light pink while others are red. I like it. Hubby thinks I should do it again, but I think it gives it character.

I'm also working on the Lace Ribbon Scarf, Selune shawl (also a knit along) and the lace weight mystery crochet along 2009. I have been so into doing shawls but don't know if I would wear them. I guess I will have an array of choices when the time comes.

On the home front, I finished reading the 4th book in the Twilight series. I loved all the books and have the movie on order when it comes out Saturday. I also ordered Estonia because I've tried to order it from other places with no luck. Very popular book.

Spring is about here and we are loving the weather. I am going to be starting our tomato seeds today for our garden. We have bought plants in the past but it is so much cheaper to do them yourself.

The boys are still busy. Cody has a chess tournament after school today and yesterday. He really loves it. Hopefully it is something he will stick to.

Christmas Shawl

I participated in the Christmas Shawl Mystery and actually finished it. I am proud of myself.
I believe I finished after clue 9 but I could have made it larger if I wanted to. But it turned out to be a great size.

The yarn is Knit Picks Jewel Heather. I've been trying to knit from stash without purchasing any additional yarn. So far I've done really well. The only exception is when Eat Knit Sleep is going to have their do over sale. I will be in that one.

On the home front hubby is still working but no overtime which has really hurt us. The boys are doing good. Everyone is healthy again. Brock is in Kindergarten and is starting to read simple books. It makes me sad to think of him growing up. I wish they both could stay little forever. Cody will be starting 4th grade in the fall and that is really depressing. I can't believe he is going to be 10. Where has the time gone? I just hope we are doing right by them. Cody has been on honor roll since 1st grade (when grades start to matter). I am so proud of him and his teachers just love him. They never have anything to say about him other than he is probably one of their best students. That makes me happy to know that they behave out side of the home. In the home they are constantly fighting. It drives me insane.

Overdue Post

Boy, it's been a while since I last posted anything. Life has been hectic. First let's talk about things I've gotten done. My sister in law had her 3rd baby on January 23rd and I made a few things for the baby. A little hat that hopefully will fit her for the rest of the season.
I love this next one. I believe it's called Comfy Baby's Nest. I got both patterns from Ravelry. I hope that this will fit her. She was only 6 pounds when she was born.

Now I haven't blocked or taken a picture yet but I did finish The Christmas Special Shawl. It is the first mystery shawl I actually finished.

Life! What can I say. It's been filled with sickness and the not knowing about my hubby losing his job. I had a bad sinus infection last month then just got over having a cold. I didn't feel like doing much of anything. I would knit a couple of rows and had to quit. The boys have had their share of sickness.

Brock went to the doctor Tuesday and come to find out has strep throat and an ear infection. She went ahead and gave me a prescription for Cody to take so he don't get it.

On the job, it has been very slow as everyone knows. Hubby was working 74-80 hours a week 7 days a week and since the beginning of the year there hasn't been overtime plus mandatory shutdowns. They have layed off over 2000 people and the news said they expected to layoff a total of 20,000 people worldwide. So far he's okay but it is week to week now. I feel lucky that he is working compared to so many who aren't. It's very stressful and doesn't make sleeping easy.

Calendar Scarf 2008

Now that the holidays are finished and life is getting back to some what normal, I finished the Calendar Scarf. (Ravelry link)
I didn't do days 18 or 19. I wasn't in the mood for cabling and trying to figure out the pattern for day 19. I really just wanted it done. I did try my hand at kool-aid dyeing and it turned out really good for the first time. I love it!