Over My Head?

I have completely lost it! I'm spinning (pardon the pun) out of control with my knitting. I have always been a one project at a time kind of gal, with my knitting/crocheting. Rarely do I cast on/start a new project when I already have one going.

Here is an afghan I started a couple months ago:

It has become too large to take anywhere, and my knitting is always with me just in case, so I've been only working on it at home. Understandable.

If you can recall I had some beautiful sock yarn that I started to knit up into a pair of socks, and then decided to frog it. So, this beautiful sock yarn was sitting next to my bed waiting to become something and I just hadn't found the right thing to make it into. (You knitters out there know what I mean when you frog yarn it almost calls to you to be used because you've teased it into becoming something. WACKO for you non-knitters, I know!) Until yesterday! I found the most gorgeous pattern called the Woodland Shawl made out of sock yarn. Of course it had to be casted on, and here it is:

And because the shawl is a very intense pattern requiring a lot of attention it isn't suited to going on a road trip. Which is where I'm headed. Therefore, because a pair of socks makes the best traveling companion for a knitter I've casted this on:

Yes, you saw that wonderful sock yarn from yesterday's post.

Am I completely over my head? I actually don't feel overwhelmed. It is truly amazing. Better go knit...

Lushes Lovely Can't Get Enough

Remember last Sunday and all that good yarn I got on sale? Well it arrived here on Friday and here are some photos of what I got!

I realize to you non-knitters (poor things) out there that you can't really appreciate this stuff, but to you knitters out there isn't it just beautiful? Now it sits in my stash waiting to become something wonderful. Or possibly a lovely gift for one of you family members that may be reading this....hee hee hee!

This week my wonderful husband had to go into Dick's Sporting Goods to do some shopping. Well, Dick's happens to be right next door to Michael's. You know what that terrific guy did? He went into Michael's and bought me some yarn.

All the yarn needed to make a really cute gardening apron that he also found the directions to make. Isn't that cool? I'm always so afraid Mike will yell, "Enough Yarn Already!" then he goes out and buys me more.

Maybe I better check that Dick's receipt and see if there was something he bought that he needed to compensate me for? Hmmm... Nah, doesn't matter, gonna go do some more knitting I think!

For Myself and For Meme

It is a sad fact, but a fact none the less. I've never knitted myself face clothes or dish clothes. Made several as gifts, but never made any for myself. The people who have received them from me tell me how wonderful they are and how much they love them, but still never took the time to make any for myself. Until recently!

When the girls and I went shopping for goodies to put in Meme's bag I splurged and bought cotton and patterns for myself. Here are 2 of the finished products. Used one this morning and it was just awesome!

I could show you a photo of the pathetic dish clothes (rags) I've been using, but that would be a shameful embarrassment. Trust me when I say they are pathetic. These things I've had for AGES, kind of like a pair of well worn slippers you can't accept they need replacing.

As for "Meme's Going to Chemo Bag" she received it yesterday in the mail so now I can post photos of the finished item. Full of all kinds of great goodies to help pass the time, healthy snacks at the ready and a little pad of paper and pen just in case she needs to write a quick note. I am so proud of the way this bag turned out, that I will surely be making it again.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary...

Isn't it beautiful? Brown, lovely, and lush...DIRT! Just ask Faith how lovely it is.

Because Mike and I have no clue how to get anything to grow in this red dirt/clay we had real dirt delivered. Yes, we actually had to pay for it, but when the grass starts growing it will be well worth it!!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when we planted the daffodil bulbs? Here they are in all their glory!! It is so wonderful to look out at something actually growing in our barren yard.

Yes, that is a wee bit of grass growing along with the daffodils..

Gotta Love Jen at Woolworks!

I heard some of the most beautiful words today, well okay read them on the Woolworks, Ltd. Blog, "All Yarn 25% Off". Immediately I picked up the phone, praying Jen would be in the shop early, and YES she was there! Woo Hoo I have a box of some absolutely beautiful 100% wool yarn coming to me.

It is a box of Louet yarn that I was able to get for about $5.00 a skein!! Here is what I imagine I'll be getting. There should be enough to make Mike a sweater, so he can't be too upset with me for the expense.

Maybe I should skip the house work for today, it is Sunday after all and it would be sinful to do servile work anyway. I think I should spend the day knitting!!! Don't you think?

Dreams Really Do Come True

When we first looked at our house, in contemplation for buying, one of the things we fell in love with was the back deck. Almost from that day I imagined myself sitting out there, with a cool breeze in the sunshine, knitting in a comfortable chair. For my birthday Mike bought me a wonderfully comfortable chair perfect for knitting and sitting on my beautiful deck. It is a rocker Adirondack chair that also swivels.

Even though this is a picture of my son enjoying my new chair, I did get some time to knit in it on my birthday yesterday. Thank you Mike for making my dreams come true, and I do mean more than just this one. Love you!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Day 4 of no sun in Central Virginia. We have had rain on and off without any sunshine since Saturday. With the red dirt it can make a clean freak a little edgy! So, I've been picking up my knitting needles and trying to ignore it all. I'm also praying hard that when the sun comes out all the grass seed Mike put down will pop and turn everything green.

Here is the felted bag I'm trying to finish knitting. It will become a "Going to Chemo" bag for my mother. Dad started chemo yesterday, and the sessions last 5 hours or more. Therefore the reason for the bag. After I felt it and it dries, I will put all kinds of good stuff to help pass their time.

Traveling and Knitting

More than 12 hours, one way, driving in a vehicle can be a knitter's dream, and an excellent way to pass the time. Socks make the PERFECT knit traveling project.

Haven't had the time to pick them up again, but they will get finished at some point. Lord knows my personality can not leave them unfinished anyway. My sister-in-law Susan asked me to knit her a pair of socks so they may end up being her 50th birthday gift, which isn't until November. I'll store them away until then. With summer coming no one needs warm socks anyway.

Great Trip. Good to be home.

We arrived back home in Virginia yesterday. We enjoyed our visit with mom and dad very much and even got to spend a little time with Suzanne and Bruce in Charleston on the way home. But, man it feels really good to be back home.

Dad will be starting chemo therapy the end of this week or next. We wanted the kids to get a chance to spend some time with him before he didn't feel up to having visitors around. I was able to take him to 3 of his radiation appointments and we were able to fit in daily mass after. I really enjoyed this time with dad.

While dad spent most of his time resting in his chair, we took the kids and Meme to the beach.

Faith and Haley enjoyed swimming in the pool at Aunt Suzanne's house. The water was a chilly 65 degrees. Too cold for Jake, but the girls were brave and enjoyed.