Sew, I Knit 1, Purl 2...

2007-07-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

RAVELRY,
BEE FIELDS KAL,
YARN PR*N,
OH MY!!

Dear Ravelry,

I'm really not feeling the LOVE from you yet. So many promises of wonderful things to come. Teasing, really. TEMPTING much!!

If you're feeling like Ravelry is some high school clique that you weren't invited to...don't despair!! Do what I did and find out where you are in line - because you ARE in line (if you signed up) but it's just taking a really long, long, LONG time!! Patience is not a virtue - of mine! But here is my good news to share -

patiently awaiting your invite?
If you've added your name to the invite request list on our front page then you can use this form to check your place in line.
Email address look me up!
Found you!
You signed up on July 14, 2007
You are #16387 on the list.
9142 people are ahead of you in line.
4806 people are behind you in line.

SIXTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN, SIXTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN, SIXTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN!! Ok - so, this is where the patience will have to kick in...

In the meantime...
Bee Fields Shawl KAL - check
yarn/pattern kit in Tupelo Gold - check check
ebony & pink ivory knitting needles - check check check

Now all I need is to wind my yarn and I'll be off. That is, just as soon as I find my courage...I know I left it around here somewhere! Courage? Here, Courage! Come here, Courage - that's a nice little baby!!

Aw shucks - who am I fooling? I've tried to make Icarus THREE times already and just can't get past the first dozen rows or so. Is there a "Lace Knitting for Dummies" book out there? I know how to make decreases and yarn overs - look, see previous posts!! I'm thinking that the gal that started the KAL is expecting a LOT of dummies like me - so I'll probably BEE in good company - heh, heh!! I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. More practicing first!

And puleeeeze, all you yarn push, ummm I mean, en-able-ers - quit, will ya?!! Sheesh!! Seriously though, I do have to give a SHOUTOUT to Sheri at the loopyewe. I placed an order on Wednesday and it was here waiting for me today when I got home!! I can't wait to be a Loopy Groupie though, but I have to spread the love around a little, ya know! And since HWFRCA doesn't need to know EVERYTHING...you're likely NOT going to see me showing off the booty (as in treasures - not the "dairy air")!! You indie dyers out there are seriously eating into my discretionary fund - you and the Vietnamese nail lady "oooo - you like eyebrow wax with those nails and pedicure - I take good care of you - make you real pretty!!"

Well, that's all I've got. It's late. I'm tired. And no pictures this time. Sorry - I know all you COMMENTERS out there are really disappointed...just kidding. I'm just a little lonely............

2007-07-18T23:23:00.000-07:00

"Happy Belated Blogiversary to Me"
Life Happens...
and some Monkey Business going on!

HA! My blogiversary came and went without nary a mention from me. In case anyone cares - it was July 5.

You know, sometimes life just hands you too much. July has been on of those life months. Actually, it started back in June. I became a grandma for the 2nd time to a beautiful little girl, Isabella Faith on June 14 - a Flag Day baby! She's beautiful - of course!

Unfortunately, they live in Arizona and I'm in California. The only photos I have of her are on my telephone so I can't even show her off to you. Her mom and dad (my son) haven't sent out their baby announcements yet. Hopefully, they will be sending me video soon since I have it on good authority that a new video camera is due on their doorstep on August 1. Heh, heh...

I haven't been able to visit them because of the "life" situation about which I referred. You see, my almost 93 year old mom fell and fractured her right arm at the shoulder and cracked her right hip bone in June. It was just last year in April that she fell and broke her right hip, requiring surgery and much rehab. This time the recovery and rehab was much slower and we weren't sure she had the will to pull out of it. It's sad that the older we get, the longer our bodies respond. She's an amazing woman though and has finally started her "come back".

But life still gets in the way. My oldest brother, single and retired, lives with her and is her caregiver. He's been a smoker most of his life. Listen folks out there - please stop if you can!! And especially to 2 of my sons and one DIL - PLEASE?!! Anyway, so my brother. While mom was in the hospital he had episodes of coughing up blood. He finally got in to see a doctor and tomorrow he goes in for a lung biopsy. You see, he has a mass in his left lung about 4.5x2.5 cm. Not good. But we are optimistic. His doctor says that if it is cancer that the meds used today are very aggressive and are very effective. But he also tells us not to jump to conclusions because it could be any number of things instead of cancer. Valley Fever is prevalent here. It could be that.

Life. I work full time. My other brother works full time. Older brother has to be cared for by oldest daughter for 24 hours and can't drive. So brother #2 and I will take time off from work to stay with mom. He takes the 'early shift' and I get the late one. Which takes me one vacation day further away from seeing my new grand baby. It can't be helped. And they will understand but it doesn't lessen the pang of not being able to see her sooner.

Anyone who reads this - I would appreciate your prayers for my brother.
**Update. Sadly, we just heard on Friday that the tumor is malignant. It is also larger than first thought. At least 7 cm. The tumor has a hole in it and is bleeding. He goes in next Wednesday for an MRI. Then we will find out what course of action is prescribed. His oldest daughter says that she saw the CAT Scan and said she saw "feelers" coming out from it and so it really doesn't sound good. He's trying to be optimistic but ultimately feels (as we all do) that it is in God's hands. We want His Will but don't want to be losing him this soon though. (He's 12 years older than me). Now we will have to start thinking about Plan B for mom. My other brother and I both have jobs. Mom's "baby" sister is in a nursing home near my home and although I don't like nursing homes in general - this may be the best solution for her. She would have her sister as a constant companion and possibly even share the same room. Prayers, please for now!! Thanks!

So knitting. I've been knitting. I finished my Peppermint Mocha socks from The Loope Ewe - plain old stockinette.

And I started a Chevron scarf - probably only one of 3 knitters left on the planet to hop on the bandwagon - as usual, I'm always late to the party. I'm using BMFA Pebble Beach and Rare Gems. Pebble Beach has been added to the lineup but maybe you can ask about Rare Gems. It's a blend of chocolate, chestnut, forest and purple.

Then I started making some "monkey business" and jumped on the Monkey bandwagon. What a fun pattern!! Thanks Cookie A! The yarn is from Sophie's Toes etsy shop in Tulips & Daffodils (I think that's the name). I'm currently turning the heel on the 2nd one.

Life. It sometimes gets in the way of "living". I'm ready for a really LONG vacation. Now...where did I put that Lottery ticket?

2007-06-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

SISTERS...

How quickly they grow up!

jOsIe & sAdIe

It just seems like yesterday they were tiny pups -

snuggling together on their own...

getting their first bath...

still snuggling as "teenagers"

finding creative uses for exercise equipment.

What I won't show you are all the ways they've helped us in our remodeling projects - like removing the kitchen linoleum, ridding us of unneccessary shoes (who needs more than a pair or 2 or socks for that matter?!!), using the sofa to re-skein my yarn (how is it they are still breathing?!!), making it snow in our backyard in late spring (who needed THAT pillow?), chewing a HUGE hole in our screen outside the sliding doors so that it's ever so much cooler when we open it and making it so much easier for them to circle through the house, or the ever helpful digging of holes in the backyard - checking for gophers!!

All that aside they bring such pleasure to our lives, keep me company when HWFRCA is on the night shift and lick the pizza delivery person to death!! We love our girls even though we swear they are our last! We hope that soon they will outgrow the need to chew up everything they can find. They run and play with each other and have loads of fun trying to eat the water from the sprinkler. Being sisters - they chew and bite each other, drag the other one by the tail and Josie snaps away and barks like some strange doggy language, while Sadie will guard the inside of the doggie door - keeping Josie at bay - outside!! Suffice to say - it's never a dull moment!

On the human front - we have BABY NEWS!! Grandchild #2 recently born last week to Son #2 in AZ. As soon we get photos from them I will share - in the meantime, here's where the baby's been hanging out for the past nine months!

Me with the happy parents-to-be on a recent trip to the BABY SHOWER!

All the baby's grandmas meeting for the first time.

PSSSSST - Her name is Isabella, 6 lbs., 14 oz., 22". She was born on Flag Day, June 14. They've sent pictures of her to my phone but you'll just have to wait until they email the pics so YOU can see! She's another BEAUTY!!

2007-06-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Socks and Stash Enhancement

I know - my photography skillz leave something to be desired - in fact, they are sadly non-existant. I digress.

I finally purchased some sock blockers - mainly for "sock modeling" as you'll see. I got them from Sheri at the loopy ewe, she's great! She puts lots of goodies in the package. Not pictured are 2 yarn card samples and a couple of sock cards that you list the info about your sock recipients sizes, likes/dislikes, etc. She takes very good care of her customers!

Back to the sock blockers...yes, they are GINORMOUS because I have BIG FEET!! To the the left of the blockers is some gorgeous Fleece Artist seawool yarn in the Parrot colorway and to the right is Claudia's Hand Painted "short sport" in the Peppermint Mocha colorway. It is a Louet base and is sooooo yummy!

Beware though!! I didn't read the whole description about this yarn, specifically, how many skeins were needed for a pair of socks. Turns out that 3 skeins are needed for GIANT feet like mine and I only purchased 2. Instead of trying to get another skein I decided to just make a simple stockinette sock. I used wendyknits! basic toe-up pattern and just made the leg shorter. I ended up with a few yards left over and could've ripped it out and knit a few more rows but I'm satisfied with the way this first one turned out. I just need to cast on for its mate! This yarn is a sport weight - just in case you didn't catch that right away. I'm loving the Louet!

These other 2 lovelies are on the left, Lorna's Laces in either mint chocolate or chocolate mint. They came from a since-forgotten ebayer who has it custom dyed for her. This was my first attempt with wendyknits! pattern. It was about that time (a few months ago) that I realized that my growing sock yarn stash was becoming completely overwhelming for me. I mean, how many complicated sock patterns can I knit in my lifetime?!! Since I'm not overly fast - I decided to just take some of my yarn and just do something simple. After I made that pair I tried Wendy's feather and fan pattern. That is one of my all-time favorite stitch patterns. I used Lisa Souza's Violet's Pink Ribbon from the Lime & Violet podcast fame.

Here are my Embossed Leaves Socks by Mona Schmidt from IK Winter 2005 (and I understand it's also in their new Favorite Socks book). I used Sophie's Toes

in her Tapestry colorway. It also is a Louet base.

This yarn is YUMMY (much like the Claudia's above only it is fingering weight). The picture came out dark but maybe you can get a better view if you click on it. It was maybe too dark a color for lace but I think they turned out lovely!! I was very tired of the pattern as I got close to the end of the 2nd sock. All in all though, they were very enjoyable to knit and I would knit another lace sock pattern again. Problem is that most of my sock stash is hand-dyed, variegated yarn that doesn't always show the pattern to its best advantage but I sooooo love the handdyes!!

HWFRCA exclaimed to me the other day "So are you a SOCK knitter now?" I guess it's looking that way, however that's not the only thing I'm knitting these days. The lavender heather sweater up there in the corner is still on the needles. It's vacationing on Sleeve Island right now but will hopefully be finished before this fall. And there are other (read - too many) UFO's in the wings crying "pick me, pick me!!!" just waiting to be finished. For me, it's never been about the destination - it's always about the journey.

2007-06-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Woes of Blogging

Sheesh, I had no clue when I started blogging how TIME-CONSUMING it would be for me!! So, because there is a serious lack of bloggage going on around here (but VERY serious amounts - for me - of actual knitting going on) - I give you this until I have time to blog about the knitting and the lack of sewing! (Spooky how right on this was about me!)

What does your birthdate mean?

Your Birthdate: December 3

You are more than a big ball of energy - you are a big ball of hyper.
You are always on the go, but you don't have a type a personality.
Instead of channeling your energy into work, you instead go for fun and adventure.
Witty and verbal, you can have an interesting conversation with anyone.

Your strength: Your larger than life imagination

Your weakness: You tend to be pretty scattered

Your power color: Lime

Your power symbol: Lightening bolt

Your power month: March

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

2007-02-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

Puppy Breath

Anyone who's held a puppy knows what I'm talking about. It is one of those things you can't get enough of. Like kissing the bum of your just bathed and lotioned baby - mom's, you KNOW you've done that! Or hugging your toddler - you just can't get enough - it's where the statement "I could just eat you up!" came from.

A little over a year ago HWFRCA and I were leaving for a night out. Our beloved 9 year old Border Collie/Chow mix, Coco, just didn't want us to leave her. But stay she must. When we got home that evening our gate was knocked down and Coco was nowhere to be found. The hubby scoured the neighborhood. We both cried ourselves to sleep that night, cried in the shower and cried throughout the day...for many days, weeks and months.

That we were devastated was an understatment. She was very comfortable being in the front yard without running off and knew where her boundaries were. We were often lax at having her wear her collar. As fate would have it. She was not wearing her collar that night. We put ads in the paper, visited the SPCA as well did my in-laws and we put posters up all around our neighborhood. Our next door neighbors told us their kids saw her out on the front yard.

Because she was a wonderful, gentle girl we surmised that someone came along in their car and coaxed her in. Dog-knapped, she was. Devastated. Heartbroken, we were. Never to love again. N.E.V.E.R. Period.

Never say never.

Meet Sadie & Josie. They came to live with us two weeks ago tomorrow evening. They are Border Collie/Kelpie mix. That is Sadie to the left. She looks like a little holstien cow. She has the sweetest little black nose that looks ever so like a heart. Josie is the cutie on the right with skillions of black and tan freckles all over. She has a brown stripe on one forepaw and another one on the opposing rear paw. We.Are.In.Love.

Don't let the "awwww" factor fool you. While the sibling love was a total photo op, when they are awake they romp, play, pee & poop (everywhere), tear up everything their tiny razor sharp teeth can find. And they terrorize each other!! They are now about 9 weeks old. And like active toddlers - must be watched EVERY second!!

Understandably, there hasn't been much knitting going on. But THAT'S another story....

2007-01-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

2007 is gonna be O-Kaaaaaaaay!

I just noticed that many of my posts start with "Ok,..."
In an effort to try to be a little more interesting - I will try in the future to not start my sentences with Ok.

That said, I decided to change the look of my blog. Now mind you, I'm still not so good at the whole blogging thing - especially the formatting. I put up a couple of new pics. The first one symbolizes what my blogname means - that is I sew and I knit. I also crochet - but that's another topic! That photo contains my current knitting project. It is to be a cardigan when it "grows up". Here are the specs:
Yarn
Cascade 220 #2422, a heathery lavander
Pattern:
Hollow Oak Cardigan by Tara Jon Manning (Unfortunately, it is a pattern leaflet that may no longer be available).
It mostly consists of an Irish Moss stitch (seed stitch) with an Aran pattern (Hollow Oak) running down the middle of the right and left. The back is solid Irish Moss. It is long-sleeved and the cuffs as well as the bottom edge of the sweater will be bordered with a lace pattern. The round, collarless neck will have a simple, but sweet crocheted picot edge trim. It will button down the front with crochet loops and crochet buttons. The next photo is one of me as a toddler, with the caption below it "Gerber Baby". Now, I'm not the original baby of that fame, but I was often told growing up that I resembled her. Ughhhh - I give up! Blogger is being testy and not letting me do carriage returns right now to separate my paragraphs!! More later...

2006-12-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Better Late Than Never!

Ok, so admittedly, I am not a serious blogger - yet!! I've been away so long I didn't realize Blogger had updated - LOL! Now I have a few days of vacation so, I'll try to catch up.

We spent Thanksgiving in Las Vegas with HWFRCA's (code for hubby - read an earlier post to learn his identity) family. One of his sisters and her family lives there. HWFRCA treated us to a stay at the Monte Carlo hotel & casino. It was my birthday present (B-day is December 3). He also bought me the Nevada Brighton bracelet. Now I have 3 Brighton state bracelets - California, Hawaii and Nevada. If you are a collector, you know that you can only get them in that state. It's sort of the jewelry version of the stickers travellers used to put on their suitcases or on the car windows that show where they've been. Me - I kinda like the jewelry!

We had a really great time! Got to spend time with his family and have some fun seeing the sights of Vegas.

We hadn't been on the strip in years and were all excited to take our bucket of coins we'd saved to play the slots. Little did we know that the machines no longer take coins!! What a let down! We kept our money. It's no fun to put your debit card in a ATM machine,get a paper ticket and feed it to the slots. So much for progress.

The highlight of our trip was getting to see this. SIL & BIL treated us and another of HWFRCA's sis & hubby. It was our Christmas present! Unbelievable!! You really should go while she is still there. It was totally worth it even if we had paid for the tickets ourselves. We got all the schlocky souvenirs - program, her CD/DVD, a red commemorative commuter coffee mug (sorry no pics of that) and had one drink while waiting for the concert. White wine in a clear plastic cup and a beer = $19. But it was SO worth it!!

This is the water show at the Bellgio. I think it starts at noon and runs on the half hour probably until midnight or so. It only lasts 5 minutes or less and is set to music. It's kind of like an aerial fireworks display. There are jets in the water in front of the Bellagio and the water shoots to the height of the hotel or higher.

Here is another view at night. It's really spectacular!

We went to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. That was a letdown. I expected more - bigger SHARKS. The billboard ads are very misleading. It was so much trouble just to get there.

You know, you're on "Vegas Time". That is to say, it is always really busy and tons of traffic. Takes awhile to get from point A to point B. So, the eight of us walk across the street to Paris and wait for a taxi and end up taking a limo instead.

Here are half of us - and that's the SIL/BIL in the rear who graciously gifted us with the Celine tickets.
The funny thing was that while we arrived there in a limo (it was my sweet MIL/FIL's first limo ride!!) we departed in a TROLLEY!! Too funny - too bad I didn't get a picture of that.

Anyway, that was our Vegas Thanksgiving and we were truly thankful!

2006-09-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

Project Runway

Ok, so I don't watch the show. Never. Not even once. But the pics I took recently at Hula Girl's birthday party made me think I may have created "R.U.N.W.A.Y. M.O.N.S.T.E.R."!!

Me: "Please try on the cute tank and headband Maga knit for your birthday?"
HG: "No!"
Me: "Please? I just want to see if they fit."
HG: "No, maybe later. I wanna go play right now."
Me: "Puleeeeeze?"
HG: "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhkay...humpf" (stalks off to get clothes)

So we vogue...

And we vogue...

...and we VOGUE some more!

Sheesh!! She wouldn't let me stop!!

Take it with me standing here.
Now, standing there.
Take it with me holding the cat...
Now with me and my dolls(sorry - blogger ran out of room). Even after bathtime she was relentless with the taking pictures - I'll not bore you with those.

Thanks to Wendy for the tank recipe and the dream swatch pattern! They turned out ever so mod! Helps to have a cute model (insert totally & unabashedly immodest grandmother!!)

2006-08-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

ALAS, POOR YORICK!

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath
borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at
it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know
not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your
gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,
that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one
now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?
Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let
her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must
come; make her laugh at that.

Shakespeare, isn't he magnificent? I mean I LOVE the beauty of the spoken and written words during his time. Alas, Poor Readers! I haven't the talent to write the melodic symphony of words that Dear William was master of. Part of the reason I haven't posted in awhile is well...I wasn't feeling inspired. No one really reads me (that doesn't bother me so much as that it is a total waste of time if I'M the only audience because it takes me away from my knitting and sewing time - and really - I don't need to write this stuff for posterity or myself - it goes around and around in my head all the time anyway). And then there's the fact that I haven't taken photos of any of my finished "WORKS" either. "WORKS" - dontcha love that term?!! It makes any of us undeserving, so-so knitters sound rather like an ARTISTE!! Love it!
Anyway, so sans photos...I made Wendy's "recipe" for a GF tank in Gedifra's Wellness Color, variegated purples with a matching Dream Swatch for my Hula Girl.

I guess, my post is not TOTALLY sans photos - just no photo of the actual knitting. Just hoping no p*rves are looking at my girl here. People say she looks like her grandma, what'dya think? Anyway, so I didn't get any photos of the finished knits on or off the recipient. But - they turned out really cute. She's not so impressed with my knits. KIDS!

And since I'm posting about non-knitting stuff...don't I have the CUTEST 92 year young mama?

Prayer Request Update
The friend from church with thyroid cancer is undergoing radiation treatment. He chose to do it at home, rather than in a plastic bubble in the hospital and so he is quarantined. His family can't get near him. He had 3 types of cancer. Once he is able to go out in public again, he'll make another trip to the hospital to have a test to see if the cancer has spread. He and his family really needs prayer.

And I have an unspoken for one of my best girlfriends.

I also have a couple praises. HWFRCA interviewed for a new job and it looks like he will probably get it. It would be a raise for him but an hour commute one-way each day to "Egypt". But it's a less physical job than he has now. And I also want to praise God for my job and what will be happening with it soon! GOD IS GOOD!

Oh, and here is some shameless self-promoting. I recently became an Indepent Consultant with BeautiControl. See my beautypage.

Talk to you again soon and hopefully there will be actual knitting photos!

2006-07-23T00:17:00.000-07:00

Alooooha, Good Lookin' Cousins!!

When we went to Hawaii in May, our luau tour guide, Alii, called everyone on our bus that. "Good Lookin' Cousins" as opposed to the ugly ones on the other tour bus!! So, after that, HWFRCA, me and the friends we vacationed with were constantly calling each other Good Lookin' Cousin. It was hilarious!! Probably loses something in the translation here...

So, I haven't posted lately.
Reason #1 is that it's been in the triple digits here with very high humidity and I have no energy or creativity.
Reason #2 is that I have a lot of knitting content to mention but I haven't taken pictures of my FOs or my WIPs.
Reason #2.1 is because I don't want to talk about the knitting without pics and then later when I DO have pics, rehash it all.
Reason #2a is because I downloaded all my Hawaii photos but didn't delete them from my camera yet because we keep forgetting to buy the CDRWs to back up our 'puter and it takes FOREVER to download over 300 pics...

So...let me share some of our Hawaii trip with you. You know you want to see the pics, don'tcha?!! That's me and hubby up there on the flight from our hometown, on our way to our first Hawaiian vacation - woohoo!!

This is the AbFab view from our upgraded suite with no less than 2 balconies, 2 baths, huge livingroom and bedroom!! The hotel overbooked and had to upgrade us!! I could wake up to this view of Waikiki and Diamond Head in the distance the rest of my days - ahhhh...
Well, that's all the pictures for today. Blogger is not cooperating AGAIN and not uploading more photos. I'm really frustrated with it. You get what you pay for though, and this being free, well...more pictures another day

2006-07-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing?

Margaritas, yeah. Pizza. Yes, step on the scales. Chocolate. Hmmm, nah - usually it becomes too sickeningly sweet and I've had my fill - for a few minutes anyway - tee hee!! Money. No way!! Although, I saw a cartoon that pictured a TV showing Paris Hilton buying a diamond-studded dog collar for her pooch and the caption read something like "The main reason why Warren Buffett didn't leave his zillions to his children." Yeah - I guess that is too much of a good thing.

But yarn? Too much of a good thing? How do you know? It's hard for me to gauge that (no pun intended). Here I sit at my computer in the room that is a combination sewing/crafting/computing room. I see excess all around me. Too much fabric, every notion and gadget known to the crafter!! No less than 3 sewing machines and a serger. Skillions of books and patterns. Sewing, quilting, cross stitch, knitting. In the living room sits a 65" TV and a collection of over 300 dvds. In the garage, a half dozen or more LARGE radio-controlled airplanes. (I have to throw in the refernce to HWFRCA because, he will read this someday and well - it's ammo.
Isn't he cute with his pretty plane?!!

So, the yarn stash up there. That is my sock yarn (except for a couple new additions since the picture was taken) minus the 4-5 pair of socks OTN. Count it. Enough for more than 29 pair! But they are beauts, aren't they? All their hand-painted yumminess. Too much, well it is getting to be too much for the 2 giant storage tubs that hold ALL my yarn. Hon, you want to go to Tarzhay with me so I can pick up an under-the-bed bin for my sock yarn?

2006-07-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Results

Our friend at church, who underwent throat surgery on Friday got the news yesterday that the lump they removed at the base of his throat is stage 1 cancer. The family needs our prayers - him as well as his whole family. They ask that we pray every day. Me, I will call 911.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

A prayer of protection, which to me pretty much covers it all.

2006-07-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

I left my heart...

Ok, well part of my job is coordinating events. We had a gala. Guess Who, was the entertainment? It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it, right? I'm not bragging - just playing around trying to post a picture on my blog. I'm such a techno-dummie that 1)I don't know where the cable is to my camera, 2)if Idid know where it was, I don't know how to download and 3)this photo was easy because it was on a disc from the photographer and all I had to do was email it to myself. Come on folks - cut me some slack - I'm a newbie!! Anyway, it happened a few months ago but it was really cool. Over 550 folks in black-tie & gowns with a catered dinner in a huge white tent. The concert, to a sold-out crowd of over 1500, was in our little hometown theater. Other than the obvious photo, a highlight of the evening was when Guess Who laid down his mic and told his people to cut the sound and music and he sang an entire song a'capella! It was entrancing! He was very impressed with our little "gem" of a theater. It was an evening to remember for me and HWFRCA!!

2006-07-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

Prayer Requests

Our small group from church met tonight at our host's house. A man in our group who, sings in our praise team, is having surgery tomorrow morning. He has a growth on his thyroid (at the base of his throat) the size of an almond. We won't know at least until after the surgery if it is cancerous, if not later. He is self-emloyed an his wife works in their business. We (about 12 or so) held hands and prayed over him. We know he is in God's hands.

Another friend/coworker who used to attend our church, has a son who has just been moved to the Pelican Bay prison. I'd never heard of that one, but apparently the very hardened, serious criminals are there. I don't know what he did and his mom is in denial. He has a small daughter that barely knows her daddy. There but by the grace of God, go I.

If anyone happens on to my blog...be sure to send up a prayer for these 2 families!

2006-07-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 21st Century!

So, here I go...blogging!! If anyone comes upon this lowly blog, my apologies. It is a work in progress. As I learn more about this thing called blogging, hopefully it will improve. I know nothing about having a spiffy personalized banner or how to add photos or any of that cool stuff. So, you pro's out there - bear with me!! I know we all prefer pictures with our written content, and I know that many of you will see this very neanderthal blog with no pictures and WAY too many words and just pass me by. That's ok, I wouldn't blame you - hopefully you'll come back someday soon and find I've learned a thing or 3!!

For those of you still reading, here is a brief introduction. I'm a married, mother of 4 sons - 2 of which are twins. They are all young adults out on their own. 2 are married and 1 has a 6 year old daughter. The 2 married sons live in the same smallish central California town as me and the other 2 live in Arizona. 1 twin in each state, as it were.

I'm a Christian and involved in my church family. If hearing God, Jesus Christ or The Holy Spirit bothers you, then that's your problem! No apologies here. I'm not going to preach or anything like that but hey - it's MY blog and if I want to mention God sometimes, I will!

As my blogname states, I sew and I knit - mostly. I'm a self-taught crafter. Well, except for crochet - I did learn that from an aunt as a preteen. I taught myself knitting in high school, knit a couple of sweaters and then gave up the needles for the hook. I gave up the hook many years ago for cross stitch, which was given up for machine embroidery and quilting on my very fancy Swiss sewing machine my wonderful hubby who shall from hence forward be known as He Who Flies Radio Controlled Airplanes or HWFRCA. (Ok, so I'm not too original - but that does tell you something about him!) I picked up my needles again about 2-3 years ago and knit many of the obligatory scarves one does when one learns/relearns to knit - well, I did! I caught the knitting bug and since then, the sewing part comes in spurts. If I could sew with my machine on my lap in my comfy chair & a half w/ottoman while watching TV, then I think I would get lots more sewing done!! I guess that is one of the reasons why I love knitting so much is that it is a portable craft. You can knit a sock with very little to have to tote around with you.

In an effort to have some sort of knitting or sewing content, today I opened my 2 large plastic storage bins of yarn to catalog my VERY blog-worthy sock yarn stash. I photographed it, made a very crude, numbered drawing of it and catalogued it on a spreadsheet. When I learn to download photos, etc., I will post pictures. Until then, use your imagination! What I discovered is, that I have enough sock yarn to knit at least 29 pairs of socks!! That doesn't include the 4 or 5 WIPs (oh, please don't get me started on WIPs in general!!). I just finished pair number 4, in Socks That Rock, Fairgrounds colorway from the STR Rockin' Sock Club 2006. I'm a late joiner and that is the first pair in the club for me. They turned out pretty good although, I'm not so good on the dreaded Kitchener stitch. I just have the buttons to sew on the cuff (that is, once I trek back to Hancock's to get another card of buttons - only got a card of 3 and I need 4 - DUH!). I love handpainted sock yarns and so far these are the ones I have collected (including WIPs - not in any particular order) - Vesper, STR, Claudia Hand Painted, Lorna's Laces, Koigu, Brooklyn Handspun, Yarn Botanika, Yarntini & Scout's Handpainted Swag.

Socks aren't the only thing I knit - but I'll save that for another post. I know by now I've lost even the most diligent of blog readers out there. Therein lies the rub - methinks I do type too much!! I'm pretty quiet verbally - but get me on the computer and I could go on and on and on...well, you got the picture!

Hope you'll come back and visit me again soon! And hopefully, there will at least be pictures!

Thanks for stopping by!
Marsha