tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-153376392024-03-19T18:09:52.024-05:00Knitting KittiesWelcome to my blog! Here you'll find out what I'm up to (mostly knitting), what the cats are up to (mostly napping), and a few other interesting tidbits. I hope to be able to share whatever strikes my fancy!anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-2412959654915289482017-02-16T18:17:00.001-06:002017-02-16T18:31:39.549-06:00Yarn Along - February 16, 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello 2017! I’m jumping back on the blogging bandwagon –
finally. I read somewhere that blogs are dead. I don’t agree. I still enjoy
reading them. I can't handle twitter with all the hashtags. It’s disruptive in so
many ways. And Instagram – haven’t looked at that much, but I’d rather have the
words please. Love the words!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZNf_TiP41fVtiVehegkxcvUVzHBKRxAkb8u0kmxE182HzPddrVX8ReYMHpYPCzbhKNuo3jzTIwxymygfqTbdDqLEW8JiG-9cu5Dme_UQMgS9-7i0uYLYtZZqoBmH3HhMkZtG/s1600/yarn+along+2-16-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZNf_TiP41fVtiVehegkxcvUVzHBKRxAkb8u0kmxE182HzPddrVX8ReYMHpYPCzbhKNuo3jzTIwxymygfqTbdDqLEW8JiG-9cu5Dme_UQMgS9-7i0uYLYtZZqoBmH3HhMkZtG/s320/yarn+along+2-16-17.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was really hoping to finish my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/creativemind/dovetail-shawl" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dovetail Shawl</span></a> over the
Christmas holiday, but I fell short. I had been making estimates, seeing if I
could get another pattern repeat out of the <span style="color: yellow;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2kOWyaM" target="_blank">Liberty yarn</a></span>, and I kept doing the
math wrong, and ending up with more yarn than I’d expected. The shawl is still
getting wider, and ends with a border, so I want to be sure I don’t run out,
but I also want to make it as big as possible. With a long weekend coming up I’m
hoping to pick it up again and maybe finish it for good this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to that I have several other routine projects on
the needles, plus a new one – a prototype for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/braided-cable-handle-tote" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bag</span></a> – a potential gift for a
friend. I wanted to try a smaller version of the bag first to check the yarn
and needle size and how well it will full, etc. One night of knitting done, and
this project is making me so happy! More on that another time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As far as reading goes, I’ve just started Hazel Holt’s final
book – <a href="http://amzn.to/2lnzYJI" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mrs. Malory and Death is a Word</span></a>. Hazel passed away in 2015, and I have
read all 21 of her Sheila Malory mysteries. They are so peacefully intriguing.
More than solving any of the mysteries, I just wanted to live vicariously
through Sheila, with her Aga cooker and cozy house; her trips into Taunton, and
to Oxford and the Bodleian. The walks along the sea on gray days….I think I
went vicariously to England better with Hazel Holt than almost any other writer, except
Miss Read. I’m trying to savor this last book. And yes, I will read them all
over again!</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See what <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a> and the other <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2017/02/yarn-along-319.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gsheller%2FqXrF+%28small+things%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Yarn Along</span></a> friends are up to!</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-85987123612411629872016-12-03T12:46:00.001-06:002016-12-03T12:51:09.318-06:00Holiday Promotion - Christie Cottage<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello! Joining in with <a href="https://christiecottage.blogspot.com/2016/12/santa-shopping-spree.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Christie Cottage</span></a> to help promote holiday items you can buy via Etsy. Please take a <a href="https://christiecottage.blogspot.com/2016/12/santa-shopping-spree.html" target="_blank">look</a> at all the wonderful gift and decoration items available. I'm linking this set of Nativity figures skillfully made by my cousin Tim.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJnhciVaIm1_i_ECKyowvwP3KK1Vs8ye2A-VFMoBQ33ZKpTokGDfil4_v9V0ldgBzm25XwA6b7fuycEvNxD-xLRu7ycPxOvYD8Chyq3VX0phRxzWI2SDngzF2UO6CL4OcHJOs/s1600/nativity+12-3-16-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJnhciVaIm1_i_ECKyowvwP3KK1Vs8ye2A-VFMoBQ33ZKpTokGDfil4_v9V0ldgBzm25XwA6b7fuycEvNxD-xLRu7ycPxOvYD8Chyq3VX0phRxzWI2SDngzF2UO6CL4OcHJOs/s320/nativity+12-3-16-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here's a handknit Christmas Stocking that I made as part of a mystery bag challenge. We were all given a lunch size paper sack with surprise fibers in it. The challenge was to create something from the contents. This is just one of the things that flew off my needles!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Bv-nCSzacNEUtMyt_MiEf9loKy_J1V9alhTuRacxC2PEFpIGanvuuuMKUIwNo_pOnZ2y24B9hhjjDmONkRkrXCx_ktN2YaiMgFlWLxt9TUNb3xhPbWdOy4xVt4U04RRAClu/s1600/nstockflip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Bv-nCSzacNEUtMyt_MiEf9loKy_J1V9alhTuRacxC2PEFpIGanvuuuMKUIwNo_pOnZ2y24B9hhjjDmONkRkrXCx_ktN2YaiMgFlWLxt9TUNb3xhPbWdOy4xVt4U04RRAClu/s320/nstockflip.JPG" width="136" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope you find some treasures for your decorating and gift giving this year. I love creating and adding joy with these handmade pieces. Happy Holidays!</span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-75694810942505243322016-06-29T20:36:00.002-05:002016-06-29T20:37:31.457-05:00Yarn Along - June 29<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With a long weekend coming up, I could easily get an attack
of startitis. I intend to spend some of my time working on stash organization and
purging, both in yarn and patterns. The problem is, I only get so far before I
start browsing and then get the urge to sit down and cast on, especially if I
suddenly find the perfect pattern for some particular yarn that’s been calling
to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Actually though, I’ve been picking up older projects and
trying to get them sorted out and finished up. This is one of them – a little
baby cardigan from a vintage Workbasket magazine. I started it because I wanted
to add the pattern and photos to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ravelry’s</span></a> database and also to have a gift
sweater on hand. The magazine had one tiny black and white photo. I lost some
of my enthusiasm when I realized that instead of a stripe pattern on the body
as I had assumed, it’s actually going to be an elongated stitch instead. I’ll
give it a try, but if it looks weird, I’m going to do something else and just
get the sweater finished, and not worry about adding it to Ravelry. The yarn is
just some vintage acrylic but it’s nice and soft and I’m glad to be using it
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4loHT32gaC9hbS5qv0JSpqRS_HfdlWvJVurSidCCp_UCjjoxEumi-WYbyWd_3RCb4HZWb4ShLDLCnFPafWCWBAz2CC3ATGnjUZ9xhNYhGK20hpkSE0o1d7QNZciF5f3vXT8N/s1600/hamilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4loHT32gaC9hbS5qv0JSpqRS_HfdlWvJVurSidCCp_UCjjoxEumi-WYbyWd_3RCb4HZWb4ShLDLCnFPafWCWBAz2CC3ATGnjUZ9xhNYhGK20hpkSE0o1d7QNZciF5f3vXT8N/s320/hamilton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As far as summer reading goes, I’m tackling </span><a href="http://amzn.to/294NoBn" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">AlexanderHamilton</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, in all his forms, starting with the </span><a href="http://amzn.to/294NoBn" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Chernow</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> biography. I have the
Broadway book and CD on request from the library as well. I’m not sure if it’s
a good idea to add more politics to an already highly political year, but maybe
it’s best to get them all done at once.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Joining in with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2016/06/yarn-along-286.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gsheller%2FqXrF+%28small+things%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a>!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-80512451888040477612016-06-08T21:22:00.000-05:002016-06-09T20:23:05.900-05:00Yarn Along - June 8<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Joining <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2016/06/yarn-along-283.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a> this week with a newer project! This is meant to be a summer scarf. You know how it is - you love to knit, but what can you wear in the summertime to show off your knitting skills? I have splurged a little on some new clothes, and actually put together some outfits instead of just buying odds and ends and hoping they work out. This scarf is meant to be an accent to one of the new outfits, although if it turns out as pretty as I think it will, I'll probably wear it often.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichT33Y_LxH5KsuEs0AbFQg1FYfRaTo7eZf7IBQodVlNLeBUkvt-TeINsW9u962cjNYKLc8h3GtMICCqgNwVbsKpSO8yeNgyhvI8utK6hXOP0oMmFBb0Qp03pR0yrak3DGOYHx/s1600/blue+scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichT33Y_LxH5KsuEs0AbFQg1FYfRaTo7eZf7IBQodVlNLeBUkvt-TeINsW9u962cjNYKLc8h3GtMICCqgNwVbsKpSO8yeNgyhvI8utK6hXOP0oMmFBb0Qp03pR0yrak3DGOYHx/s320/blue+scarf.jpg" width="307" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The yarn is Malabrigo Lace, a gift from my friend Donna. The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leaf-lace-scarf-3" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Leaf Lace Scarf</span></a> by <a href="http://cayliknits.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cayli Malone</span></a>. I did fewer stitch repeats because I wanted a narrower scarf, and I know it will end up even bigger after blocking. Not really too concerned with the length - will most likely just knit until I run out. I'm using the yarn doubled, because it looked too open and sloppy with just one strand.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My book right now is Dawn O'Hara, which is Edna Ferber's first novel, from 1911. In case you aren't aware, Edna wrote many novels, some of which were later made into famous plays and films, including Show Boat, So Big, and Cimmaron. Although born in Michigan, and later a member of the Algonquin Round Table, she grew up and got her start in Wisconsin, so I've always been interested in her writing as a "local" author. One of her</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> more well known quotes that comes from this novel: "Being an old maid is like death by drowning, a really delightful sensation after you cease to struggle." I'm enjoying this book so - so far it's a good summer read.</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-79658752668876905172016-06-06T21:00:00.002-05:002016-06-08T21:29:56.008-05:00Catching Up<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, I’ve been neglecting the blog. Same old excuses. Either
there’s not much new to write about, or else there’s too much going on to find
time to write. I need to get in a better groove though, because at least it
helps me keep track of projects and events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s a finished project I can finally share. Remember the
<a href="http://kittiesknitting.blogspot.com/2014/06/justified.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">christening gown</span></a> a neighbor asked me to finish for her? Way back in 2014? Sad,
I know! I got started on it right away, figuring out where her daughter had
left off, carefully picking up dropped stitches, and setting forth with some amazingly matching vintage yarn from my stash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then I got to a complicated bit that needed some
planning. The pattern, if you remember, was written incorrectly. I tried charting out
their instructions, and came up with a misshapen trapezoidal piece of knitting.
Instead, I was creating an entirely new bodice, but still trying to come close
to the pattern measurements. I set the piece aside until I had time to
concentrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it sat. And sat. And became a bit of an albatross. And
every time I saw Margaret I started to worry, because she’s in her late 80’s
and what if I didn’t finish in time for her to see it? I finally set aside a
weekend in March, and tackled the rough spot. It took a few more days of
knitting after that, then washing and blocking, and another day of seaming and
hemming (picot hem)! I happily called Margaret one evening and told her she
could stop after church the next day and pick it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rrx50tAqJa0M2PagoG7-P1iXfmzmGEtY2jam8ut0iGp44jIIqsCmgV9U56NRiiMUzguSRfsoEy5ExVyedEi3TgrUoKt7ZO0W70AH0IEi54fKl4WOxiVK_1bFLUJvuKYSGRA6/s1600/gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rrx50tAqJa0M2PagoG7-P1iXfmzmGEtY2jam8ut0iGp44jIIqsCmgV9U56NRiiMUzguSRfsoEy5ExVyedEi3TgrUoKt7ZO0W70AH0IEi54fKl4WOxiVK_1bFLUJvuKYSGRA6/s320/gown.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She was very pleased with the finished gown. I must admit,
it turned out rather well. Light steaming, as always, helped soften the acrylic
yarn and gave a much better drape, without ruining the stitch definition. I
tested this on a small section of lace on the back side before I did the whole
gown. I didn’t do a severe blocking, just opened up the lace enough so that it
laid flat and looked good.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This kind of repair and restore project falls right into my
wheelhouse. I love the challenge almost as much as creating a bespoke piece for
myself or someone else. And of course having the weight of the obligation of my
shoulders felt great too!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-77707798910049322422015-10-17T09:40:00.001-05:002015-10-17T09:40:06.324-05:00Promotion - Christie Cottage<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow! Summer sped by again and here we are at the first hard frost already. It's a time of harvest and creativity for me. I seem to pick up the pace in the Fall, getting ready for the long winter months ahead. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I'm linking to <a href="http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/2015/10/saturday-linkup-promotions-team.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Christie Cottage Blog</span></a>. This blog primarily features promotions of handmade items. Another great way to find unique items for yourself or for gifts. Whenever I look at sites like this I get inspired to keep creating - so many ideas! I may see a color combination I'd like to try, or a texture pattern, or a theme. Take a look!</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-51284608038444467602015-08-01T20:24:00.000-05:002015-08-01T20:25:05.772-05:00Garden Visitor<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The summer flowers are in full bloom. Most of the flowers in my garden are the same as in <a href="http://kittiesknitting.blogspot.com/2013/07/in-yard.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">this post</span></a> from 2013. I'm enjoying their scent as well as the color. There are a few new additions, and I will try to get some photos of those as well. Until then, enjoy this photo of a recent visitor to my phlox.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jbqxXi_DPkeft8d_C0ewo4JxFg6YoRwlY6WyNBZbDVemSGlcNw83xbNZpXCKmosoarYDQ1XABO6GPZhtydv8KoMTBL7a0jxx0Jh6avDTl0LkXN44ozQP6-m28lRCFo_BPtsj/s1600/swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jbqxXi_DPkeft8d_C0ewo4JxFg6YoRwlY6WyNBZbDVemSGlcNw83xbNZpXCKmosoarYDQ1XABO6GPZhtydv8KoMTBL7a0jxx0Jh6avDTl0LkXN44ozQP6-m28lRCFo_BPtsj/s320/swallowtail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure you know that butterflies, for the most part, do not sit still. And I just have a little point and shoot camera that I barely know how to use. So I was very pleased to see how well this photo turned out. I was really trying to get a shot with the wings fully open, because this female Tiger Swallowtail had amazing iridescent blue on her hindwings. It was dazzling. And I was excited to see that she still had both of her little tails intact. Very beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-38002164167440530672015-07-29T19:44:00.002-05:002015-07-29T19:44:56.264-05:00Yarn Along July 29, 2015<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally taking time to do another blog post and join along with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a> and the <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/07/yarn-along-238.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Yarn Along</span></a>. Summer has been long and busy, and so far very enjoyable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week I had a vacation, which I usually don't do in the summer time. I traveled just a little bit, and got to see some dear old friends, and I'll write more about that another time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcjk8dAtNcGLyhViR_Jhydch7wxknKyYkgkcMHDrkb5KQyVbMjb_wLlpy9w3abB8VET0m-3TL_XW_S01Q9LCxwE6oFqJNSjPas1HYjLKpTrDMDNBxRj6N2G74qd_zZPH0E491/s1600/mock2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcjk8dAtNcGLyhViR_Jhydch7wxknKyYkgkcMHDrkb5KQyVbMjb_wLlpy9w3abB8VET0m-3TL_XW_S01Q9LCxwE6oFqJNSjPas1HYjLKpTrDMDNBxRj6N2G74qd_zZPH0E491/s320/mock2.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had ordered </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062409859/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062409859&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=PRC6SDCXA34CSLB6%22%3EGo%20Set%20a%20Watchman:%20A%20Novel" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Go Set a Watchman</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, but decided that I needed to re-read </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812416805/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0812416805&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=ZM3DR26IBAOB7NKV%22%3ETo%20Kill%20a%20Mockingbird%3C" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">To Kill a Mockingbird</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> before I started it. I accomplished this on my vacation, and then I watched the movie again, and watched the documentary about making the movie as well. Harper Lee is my literary focus this summer. I felt a small connection when, reading her biographical background online, I discovered that she did not complete her college education - something we have in common. I've never really had any regrets about that; I discovered long ago that we must all be lifelong students, continually learning and challenging ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the needles, I started using my free ball of Chroma from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Knitpicks</span></a>, making a second "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-age-of-brass-and-steam-kerchief" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief</span></a>". I like this pattern. It really highlights the subtle color changes of Chroma. I'd like to find a US made version of this yarn. I'm really looking forward to trying some <a href="http://www.knitcircus.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">KnitCircus</span></a> gradient dyed yarn very soon!</span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-280730540599306842015-06-03T20:45:00.000-05:002015-06-03T21:06:15.419-05:00Yarn Along June 3, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, let’s join in with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a> and <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/06/yarn-along-230.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Yarn Along</span></a>! It sounds like
a square dance move, doesn’t it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is going to be the honesty edition. I’m sharing what
I’m actually knitting, which is this pair of rainbow booties. Looking back at
my previous Yarn Along posts, I realize that I’ve shown a lot of booties! Well,
they are small enough to be a take along project, and I like making them. They
make good gifts, and I’d like to try and have a cache of baby gifts ready just
in case.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought about showing one of the more complex projects
that I have going, but truth be told, I haven’t worked on them in weeks. So,
simple is what we’ll stick with. These booties are made from Bernat Sox yarn,
which I’ve learned is discontinued. It’s a cheerful rainbow colorway. I have a
couple more balls in different colors. Fun!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0mBaszHXVOIJVK6WdgeY4GfWiB8RnWvl8MKr_5oP0zIBmUOrm2ZIymHHdMwf0E2HPQwDMIeg_SKO96Fk68uBGiuP7jEN3nN7WIYtnAcf8OPZM97ceX9uXfCsCpsQr5AhLgwc/s1600/yarn+along+6-3-15a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0mBaszHXVOIJVK6WdgeY4GfWiB8RnWvl8MKr_5oP0zIBmUOrm2ZIymHHdMwf0E2HPQwDMIeg_SKO96Fk68uBGiuP7jEN3nN7WIYtnAcf8OPZM97ceX9uXfCsCpsQr5AhLgwc/s320/yarn+along+6-3-15a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The book I’m reading – well – listening to – is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345457374/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345457374&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=GU3P6LQQ76XXKXDI%22%3EThe%20Bonesetter%27s%20Daughter:%20A%20Novel%20(Ballantine%20Reader%27s%20Circle)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345457374%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">TheBonesetter’s Daughter</span></a> by Amy Tan. A friend gave me the paperback, and I started
reading it a month ago. I wasn’t riveted, but I didn’t want to give up on it,
since Sally had recommended it, so I borrowed the audio version from the
library and I’ve been listening while doing housework. Too early for a thumbs
up or down, but at least now I’m making better progress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a difficult time of year for me to get much reading
or knitting done. There is way too much work to do outside. I have a few more
plants to put in, and I’d like to do some transplanting as well. And brush
clearing just never ends! And firewood cutting, and garage cleaning, and
mowing, and on and on….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon all that will change when it gets too hot and humid to
be outside for very long. The local pool, where I spent most of my free time
last summer, will be closed this year for renovation. So most likely once it
gets hot, I’ll be in the house with the air conditioner on. Then the knitting
will start flying off the needles again. For now, I’ll work on my green thumb
skills!</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-10623397779898353232015-05-25T16:40:00.001-05:002015-05-25T16:40:47.298-05:00Sneaky<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just five minutes ago, I was sitting in that corner of the sofa. I got up to take the DVD out of the player and put it away, and look what happened! Out of nowhere!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAovwAcC19faAlAHq1NMEvkshM8iEFMGvORGJP6lLTc1-Fs13CX-0BqlD7tseDy6MTG0sv-1lY-vntXiyGHVd4GTgBsS_owDG81dnr2w3hmd0YhOi7Y5vASDdtArNy1D84PXuj/s1600/rollie+5-25-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAovwAcC19faAlAHq1NMEvkshM8iEFMGvORGJP6lLTc1-Fs13CX-0BqlD7tseDy6MTG0sv-1lY-vntXiyGHVd4GTgBsS_owDG81dnr2w3hmd0YhOi7Y5vASDdtArNy1D84PXuj/s320/rollie+5-25-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-73471693196247970462015-05-20T11:13:00.002-05:002015-05-20T20:49:45.353-05:00Out the Back Door<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This lovely lusciousness greeted me this morning as I left to go to work. Right next to the back door - the ferns are almost as tall as I am! And trying to peek out - one of the Jack in the Pulpits. I love spring!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWMNpBaKkeLVQHvie1J18hLRjLr7mtR9fspsqyg0mdxhwqBsS1e8qLth9hHPjySw8EkD6mjo_YufMdwOlE1QREnPxZNsjZtst-93cin3V5JNXlrCpPTnDsly4NaPRUJBWOB0Y/s1600/ferns+5-20-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWMNpBaKkeLVQHvie1J18hLRjLr7mtR9fspsqyg0mdxhwqBsS1e8qLth9hHPjySw8EkD6mjo_YufMdwOlE1QREnPxZNsjZtst-93cin3V5JNXlrCpPTnDsly4NaPRUJBWOB0Y/s320/ferns+5-20-15.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-20177626991896318082015-05-18T21:13:00.003-05:002015-05-20T10:10:27.424-05:00New Feature - Soundtracks!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, so I missed blogging in April, and half of May. When I had interesting things to say, I had no time to write. When I had time to write, I had nothing to say, or no nice photos. Such is blogging!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I came up with this idea this afternoon. Some other blogger has probably already done this - I don't care. I finally thought of it. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some time now, I seem to change out my cds on the stereo on the weekend. I pick a new set based on what I've got going on for the day, or what kind of mood I'm in. I used to listen once, then switch, but the past few years, I seem to play the same set over and over for a week or more. I get in a groove. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I'm going to start sharing those sets with you. First up - some men. I started this set on Saturday. I think it will be around until Memorial Day. It's also a big part of what I'm listening to on Pandora right now, and I'm really enjoying it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000D9TQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000D9TQ&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=S6KPE352QCR7SV4G%22%3EHits%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00000D9TQ%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important" target="_blank">Phil Collins - Hits</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy_sro_wSAT6miwaYa3ETwqnlA0W2d-HHckfabP2jXOeFsmFqOwY_2Dkj88nRuIOSdyM19d97G6VoLO7ll_XzMXeDVYAhsp641_4YMovEQy7-0TbVm6rQMol3Va2c5QnGzokD/s1600/hits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy_sro_wSAT6miwaYa3ETwqnlA0W2d-HHckfabP2jXOeFsmFqOwY_2Dkj88nRuIOSdyM19d97G6VoLO7ll_XzMXeDVYAhsp641_4YMovEQy7-0TbVm6rQMol3Va2c5QnGzokD/s1600/hits.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back when I was tending bar in the mid 80's some of these songs were on our jukebox, and every time somebody let me pick I'd play them. They defined my summer that year. Good to get back with Phil again. By the way, I just got this CD from the <a href="http://www.swapacd.com/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Swap-a-CD</span></a> website, which is a great way to trade music you are tired of for music you want.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007YLELOE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007YLELOE&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=MTAD3X77XBKQNURO%22%3EThe%20Way%20It%20Is%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007YLELOE%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important" target="_blank">Bruce Hornsby and the Range - The Way it Is</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAdDkQ-zuluy4ejfS0lS74hDLUY199URR0uQJJ9MyPPhPLmh6NkL9zqy8rv_wg2qQ0Ddos9-2dcxFLee9CCWWtssUhA5deDcupAEfqV5HjJiYPo205HYkre7tOW3Ht5reSxZg/s1600/hornsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAdDkQ-zuluy4ejfS0lS74hDLUY199URR0uQJJ9MyPPhPLmh6NkL9zqy8rv_wg2qQ0Ddos9-2dcxFLee9CCWWtssUhA5deDcupAEfqV5HjJiYPo205HYkre7tOW3Ht5reSxZg/s320/hornsby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I listened to this CD while doing a lot of driving, back and forth across Wisconsin, and up and down along the Mississippi River. Again, more summer music. Back then I only had the cassette, and when I got my first stereo with a CD player this is one of the titles I had to get on CD. I love the piano. I wish I could play like that. And I still remember most of the words.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002IQI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000002IQI&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=LYDABE2CEL5SN64D%22%3EMarc%20Cohn%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000002IQI%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important" target="_blank">Marc Cohn</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBX_h_4Hxo4lW8WiMRSzaokjXIvD8gyGol3-OS9CmVeiclQzwEAIfNAWgkR2rFy8bEUZfYrNXW9gr4vQhKnsXFejtIpuecJbaRubRaCw3tD5tfU8Pog4ErFdvMsr9gLfpb6XI/s1600/cohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBX_h_4Hxo4lW8WiMRSzaokjXIvD8gyGol3-OS9CmVeiclQzwEAIfNAWgkR2rFy8bEUZfYrNXW9gr4vQhKnsXFejtIpuecJbaRubRaCw3tD5tfU8Pog4ErFdvMsr9gLfpb6XI/s1600/cohn.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another talented vocalist. I love the stories in these songs. More laid back rhythms, soft yet solid. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's this week's lineup. These guys can sing to me anytime!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-81391290441408205142015-03-23T11:04:00.003-05:002015-03-24T21:04:55.360-05:00March Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBm9ZxvgM-Sviosy0iXYQTIZi9kstChHDXvJQ94UDjfhyY-zx54EdQ4CXNevss9xfAZTVrDqma2x0eAkhHVQzMbGRtVTkYxSmsen3fbKJfXXm9CVr-lFoPfhmY-e4Q3xpvS0Y/s1600/snow+3-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBm9ZxvgM-Sviosy0iXYQTIZi9kstChHDXvJQ94UDjfhyY-zx54EdQ4CXNevss9xfAZTVrDqma2x0eAkhHVQzMbGRtVTkYxSmsen3fbKJfXXm9CVr-lFoPfhmY-e4Q3xpvS0Y/s1600/snow+3-2015.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring snow! I thought we were only forecast to get a couple of inches, but Mother Nature outdid herself. The snow blower had a rough go of it, but it was a little too much to ignore, and way too much to shovel by hand. Might be one of the deepest snowfalls we've had all winter. Good thing I like snow!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzuRgOrmkVaMcL1dHDHHzRtoCxurGfIQyaBXy2TrH7tUCSTysSOWkcdAFeXEZvRNYFkFDZ8lQC_1mVVxQFr-JDuiCMkgQtJImAus_cW3J584bEmxC5jPbpOtnt9F5hfWvDvDQ/s1600/House+of+Ann+03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzuRgOrmkVaMcL1dHDHHzRtoCxurGfIQyaBXy2TrH7tUCSTysSOWkcdAFeXEZvRNYFkFDZ8lQC_1mVVxQFr-JDuiCMkgQtJImAus_cW3J584bEmxC5jPbpOtnt9F5hfWvDvDQ/s1600/House+of+Ann+03a.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-45129141691486688852015-03-13T12:42:00.000-05:002015-03-13T12:45:24.609-05:00It's Working!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpA5Rv30Kvt16C-HnvU4GaybXtPoVXaKW6IuarQF8F3_q8ia6pPaXsvFXmzlNTX5VqvuGLAKHiWgCyYnZSZlFZGa50Am0qop8WzWQ73MvaRUezPnywZvqbBV0GpANap4wa8DT/s1600/etreee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpA5Rv30Kvt16C-HnvU4GaybXtPoVXaKW6IuarQF8F3_q8ia6pPaXsvFXmzlNTX5VqvuGLAKHiWgCyYnZSZlFZGa50Am0qop8WzWQ73MvaRUezPnywZvqbBV0GpANap4wa8DT/s1600/etreee.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, I got an early jump on the Easter decorating. Well, one spot, anyway. On a mild day soon after Ash Wednesday, I went looking for a branch to use for an Easter Egg tree. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the past I think we always used dead branches. But something about that didn't seem quite right. I wondered if maybe the idea was supposed to be cut a living branch, and get it to bud out by Easter. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ideally a willow or forsythia would have been the perfect choice. Easy to green up, I'm sure. I thought about lilac, with its pretty heart shaped leaves, but I couldn't bring myself to cut any of my own lilacs. So I snipped the end of a rogue mulberry, that needs to be removed anyway, and brought it in. I added water to the stones in the crock, and hung the ornaments. I wasn't sure if a mulberry would do anything. They are one of the last trees to open their leaves here, and being more of a hard wood, I didn't know if my branch would even take in enough water. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The buds were so teeny tiny.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess the conditions were right, because this morning I noticed bright green leaves starting to unfurl themselves. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aYsm6x21Mjb8N5h9WbmH0fwMfDubHX8QdTPZJZ7IWLHiepbHJ3FLZNvPCGl44H1TngamH1KDIqg3MAMjVfTOaesscJ9OeleGvxSc492PkFQRaEoG55fT5_MSulXizUn55hyI/s1600/etree6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aYsm6x21Mjb8N5h9WbmH0fwMfDubHX8QdTPZJZ7IWLHiepbHJ3FLZNvPCGl44H1TngamH1KDIqg3MAMjVfTOaesscJ9OeleGvxSc492PkFQRaEoG55fT5_MSulXizUn55hyI/s1600/etree6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqnnyqiW33aSk9Ozdn_51qkNjLeH5nTWS_odFZVP7JGUnJS86vSA_2eOhm6pZ7kDSq1C41qKZgbu3W0VFaLo5T80w9awULhzisUkIuYJLyI5aYS0MDI9wPU84cyqTaiWC091j/s1600/etree7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqnnyqiW33aSk9Ozdn_51qkNjLeH5nTWS_odFZVP7JGUnJS86vSA_2eOhm6pZ7kDSq1C41qKZgbu3W0VFaLo5T80w9awULhzisUkIuYJLyI5aYS0MDI9wPU84cyqTaiWC091j/s1600/etree7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such fun!</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-64897905000504211642015-03-04T16:59:00.000-06:002015-03-04T17:00:55.612-06:00Yarn Along, March 4, 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/03/yarn-along-217.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Yarn Along</span></a> day, and I feel like nothing exciting
happened during the past week. This is when cabin fever starts to set in. I
went to work, came home, did some knitting, watched some tv, cooked, played
with the cats. Repeat, repeat, repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The calendar turned to March, so the countdown to retirement
is now two years and eight months! I need to keep that goal in mind, so I don’t
get carried away with my spending. February seemed to have a lot of costly
expenses in it. Most were necessary, but I could always try to do better. It’s
easy to get carried away buying something that’s needed. I shop at the Co-op
and buy some things in bulk to save on money and packaging, and then fall down
at the cheese island and buy fancy stuff. It’s even worse if I don’t get to eat
it all before it goes bad. And I do like to try new things, and fancy foods,
but I need to limit that to one or two at a time, not one or two from every
department!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knitting this week was much more of a thrifty endeavor. I
worked on items for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/creativemind?ref=hdr_shop_menu" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">my Etsy shop</span></a>, including this pair of baby booties. A friend
had given me some leftover fingering weight yarn, and there was just enough of
this dotted white <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7B7R0G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C7B7R0G&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=KAMSWBHLSQLSTMTG%22%3ERegia%204%20Ply%20Wool%20Bubblegum%20Color%201401%20Yarn%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00C7B7R0G%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Regia</span></a> to make a pair of booties. Fun!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HSdtt9ZObdFWZguUBtvm6A2xeHnCMZtrCbhiENbnNcPmcmI6oPLao5cS5GDZ9-br8RQQp54_FuDUSYESDc0pEebw3n63ExER61c7g3r34VK3AtQWDEWp6w_whgkxjKbP8ehe/s1600/booties+2-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HSdtt9ZObdFWZguUBtvm6A2xeHnCMZtrCbhiENbnNcPmcmI6oPLao5cS5GDZ9-br8RQQp54_FuDUSYESDc0pEebw3n63ExER61c7g3r34VK3AtQWDEWp6w_whgkxjKbP8ehe/s1600/booties+2-15.jpg" height="271" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While knitting, I listened to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1483037525/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1483037525&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=WRFRPKEYRWMFIZCJ%22%3EThe%20Blood%20of%20an%20Englishman%20%20(Agatha%20Raisin%20Mysteries,%20Book%2025)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1483037525%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">“The Blood of an Englishman”</span></a>
by M.C. Beaton, the latest in the Agatha Raisin mystery series. I find that I
listen best while knitting. Sometimes I can do dishes and or walk on the
treadmill, but if I try to do desk work, or organizing, or computer work, I
find I miss too much of the narrative. So I had a nice knitting, relaxing
weekend! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a> and the rest of the Yarn
Along Gang.</span></span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-59649698067455331512015-02-26T14:12:00.000-06:002015-03-04T17:00:10.441-06:00Yarn Along February 25, 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had written a New Year’s blog post all about getting back
in the habit of writing more often. Yes, well, that didn’t work did it? So I’ll
start 2015 with a <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/02/yarn-along-216.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Yarn Along</span></a> post, and join <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a>, and hopefully that will get the ball
rolling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started this cardigan in 2011! It’s taking me forever to
work on because I keep stopping to work on other projects, mostly those that
will bring in some money. I try to spend less on my fiber habit than I make
with it, and last year I failed miserably, spending almost twice as much! This
year I’m off to a little better start, but it’s early…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I pick this sweater up and get rolling on it, I really
like it. I designed the stitch pattern, although it’s similar to some in books.
And I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584797134/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1584797134&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=4YW7CSE7KNZEZQD5%22%3ECustom%20Knits:%20Unleash%20Your%20Inner%20Designer%20with%20Top-Down%20and%20Improvisational%20Techniques" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wendy Bernard’s book “Custom Knits”</span></a> to come up with the formula and
numbers for the cast on, v-neck, etc. The yarn is Lion Cottonease. I was hoping
for a light summer cardigan, but I think it might be too bulky for that,
although, when I put it on, it doesn’t feel overly heavy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the weekend, I started working on one of the sleeves,
and my concern now is that I’ll get in enough decreases before I get down to
the wrist. The ribbed pattern is deceptive, and I added more stitches under the
arm than usual. I think it will work out all right; I just need to do a little
math again to see what I need to end up with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My book this week is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0515122408/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0515122408&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20&linkId=NYFCJZKGDUYO32WP%22%3EThe%20Cat%20Who%20Tailed%20a%20Thief%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=knittkitti03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0515122408%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">“The Cat Who Tailed a Thief”</span></a> by Lilian
Jackson Braun. I am slowly working my way through this series, and try to read
three ‘cat whos’ per year. They are light and fluffy mysteries, and I find them
endearing. Last year I fell down miserably in my reading. I only read a handful
of books, switching mostly to magazines. I also got stuck on a couple books,
and stubbornly refused to give up and start a new one until I finished at least
one of them. That finally happened last week, and I’m much happier now!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cO6k94_rwrxSCh4OtkTw1fobdZrm32uRQ31LEOKo5myd_JmXlhAVX1umq5g1Re40BfUP2nTUTmj4l1rwca7wg4ap6ILDrRwtxxfAeiqd4p4-qr5tTHITxaPEHYGmpAYnjXWx/s1600/blue+cardi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cO6k94_rwrxSCh4OtkTw1fobdZrm32uRQ31LEOKo5myd_JmXlhAVX1umq5g1Re40BfUP2nTUTmj4l1rwca7wg4ap6ILDrRwtxxfAeiqd4p4-qr5tTHITxaPEHYGmpAYnjXWx/s1600/blue+cardi+2.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-61415328905080016532014-11-11T15:05:00.000-06:002014-11-11T15:05:11.747-06:00And Just Like That...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwRYdNWic2YtyrzTLF0zBnQhxn_tI63IT13ZAuRfX2srpQMRwrPa8nbJ3_C1w3-dUUB5MehkRZXrJvFk6HkNqn7VUwpMrv4hD0kTXtZdIRJboSmNzAlvMcfaZ1wIGWdx2eHGE/s1600/snow+11-11-14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwRYdNWic2YtyrzTLF0zBnQhxn_tI63IT13ZAuRfX2srpQMRwrPa8nbJ3_C1w3-dUUB5MehkRZXrJvFk6HkNqn7VUwpMrv4hD0kTXtZdIRJboSmNzAlvMcfaZ1wIGWdx2eHGE/s320/snow+11-11-14-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1Qh-BJrMHGpOUv0AJy6CKExziVOR-X3y61lz3eGopA6Boc4LR5f_ShURXGh_178qmVxftTG6IlBWMGwl5oEVQMjUX97TJ2kKehJmEGxRohKW1wHKpVhJb0cRg3UHGxywjjRx/s1600/snow+11-11-14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1Qh-BJrMHGpOUv0AJy6CKExziVOR-X3y61lz3eGopA6Boc4LR5f_ShURXGh_178qmVxftTG6IlBWMGwl5oEVQMjUX97TJ2kKehJmEGxRohKW1wHKpVhJb0cRg3UHGxywjjRx/s320/snow+11-11-14-2.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPizYsKSEoGc3rYVbgLX5Aos4kWZaVsQrAbDdWFmCtuSsw1TmfNNA_X6z3zJScZdtaQa9m6yuaS3vxHnFz3IFhX72Vr3iyiO3wa3b7041q-3_s7k6g8k-ax19L86GdIXpY8k-/s1600/snow+11-11-14-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPizYsKSEoGc3rYVbgLX5Aos4kWZaVsQrAbDdWFmCtuSsw1TmfNNA_X6z3zJScZdtaQa9m6yuaS3vxHnFz3IFhX72Vr3iyiO3wa3b7041q-3_s7k6g8k-ax19L86GdIXpY8k-/s320/snow+11-11-14-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDYGLjSd-l58mvz42iORhFNsBZnztVHJI5peIEHCXzDLzVMk_54J7QqkBdp8XfYe4cvyBM4sYUeIZQu1TFsUB0mpPUN1Q3oRQQ8zDybtlp_ft470BTRjN13kKI2lseMxRI7vt/s1600/snow+11-11-14-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDYGLjSd-l58mvz42iORhFNsBZnztVHJI5peIEHCXzDLzVMk_54J7QqkBdp8XfYe4cvyBM4sYUeIZQu1TFsUB0mpPUN1Q3oRQQ8zDybtlp_ft470BTRjN13kKI2lseMxRI7vt/s320/snow+11-11-14-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBjEcj0Hu8asobNlBUlMH2ge9d-G03i0a0OYvzg82wYXe1CcvrHIVKe_fJbHOr3CVOIwxhcGTlW_kCJUczJv5D8hs6vwT1VrFvpiu47d33sgmuSuD9oxGxgcXQ2875nZQvzmV/s1600/snow+11-11-14-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBjEcj0Hu8asobNlBUlMH2ge9d-G03i0a0OYvzg82wYXe1CcvrHIVKe_fJbHOr3CVOIwxhcGTlW_kCJUczJv5D8hs6vwT1VrFvpiu47d33sgmuSuD9oxGxgcXQ2875nZQvzmV/s320/snow+11-11-14-5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...It's Winter!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, not quite, but pretty darn soon. I awoke to the first snow of the season, and even though it won't last, it's a harbinger of things to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what happened to Autumn? And the end of summer? How could I skip a whole season? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The summer did not end well, and Autumn, although not terrible, has not been the best either. In mid-August, a close friend of mine was killed in a car accident on her way to work on a Monday morning. I'd known Patrice for 26 years; we'd met through the Weavers and Spinners Guild, and learned to weave together. At the time she was raising sheep, and trying to make a living from wool and weaving. Over the years we went to many workshops and classes; sold our fiber art at shows, and helped each other figure out tricky patterns and techniques. Since she did not knit, she often commissioned me to make things for her to sell using yarn processed from her flock. She encouraged my creativity immensely, and some of my first attempts at designing were for her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After she got out of the sheep business, we remained close friends, getting together often for supper or road trips to interesting places. Our last evening together was just a few days before she died, and it had been such a wonderful get together, I was really looking forward to doing it again soon. Now it will be my final good memory of her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the same time, the mother of another close friend passed away. Someone whose home I'd been a guest in many times, and who came to visit for Thanksgiving a few years back. Although her passing was not unexpected, it was sad all the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In September I spent another wonderful day visiting with close friends, only to learn soon after that one of them had been diagnosed with a fast growing form of breast cancer. The outcome there looks good, but it was just another bit of sadness to deal with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in October, I finally had to say goodbye to sweet Lily cat. She'd been diagnosed with renal failure 18 months ago, so every extra day with her was a triumph really, even though she'd had a rough go of it at times. Sometimes, the way she acted, you would never even know anything was wrong with her. But she slowly lost ground. The end came swiftly - so fast really, that I knew there was no way she was going to pull through anymore, and that made the final decision much easier. She was 14 years old, although I'd only had her for the last eight years; adopting her after she'd been surrendered to the local Humane Society. She was my princess, and I've never known such an elegant cat. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLG7o2vGViAx3_EmnDkVEJv1zntptd0I1k1-LfziFN6XXoHUG0J39kGjPHHq9lScCyRF1yXAVrnYxuXX_FU808hazHo8rWv-I0KLunctjC1E_9hFIGzQymP4DK0PlIi9wLxj2/s1600/lily+4-2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLG7o2vGViAx3_EmnDkVEJv1zntptd0I1k1-LfziFN6XXoHUG0J39kGjPHHq9lScCyRF1yXAVrnYxuXX_FU808hazHo8rWv-I0KLunctjC1E_9hFIGzQymP4DK0PlIi9wLxj2/s320/lily+4-2012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it's been a heart-breaking few months, and I'm ready for the quiet of winter to come and bring some peaceful solitude. Time to settle in with a cozy fire, some knitting, and a cat on each side of me. Time for music, old movies, and holiday traditions. Time to read, and relax, and restore. I'm ready.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-73177641512351425292014-08-24T18:24:00.002-05:002014-08-24T18:29:05.338-05:00Ahh...Summer! Sunday, August 24, 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think this will be the last entry in the series. Although the official end of summer isn't for a few weeks yet, Labor Day will soon be upon us, and there are signs that the season is coming to an end. Leaves have started to turn and fall, most of the perennials in the yard are spent, and the mornings are foggy - true late summer weather. I'm not sure I could come up with any more true summertime pleasures. And frankly, I'm not in a pleasure mood right now. I need a season change, a page turn, and a fresh outlook. It's time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This last summertime treat is one that I've experienced every year since I was a little girl. Our small town on the Mississippi River gets a small taste of the steamboat era a few times during summer and fall, when paddlewheel steamboats pass by on their way up and down river. When I was young, only the Delta Queen came by - a wooden hull steamboat built in 1929. In the 70's the Mississippi Queen was added to the fleet, then the American Queen. There is also a local boat - the Julia Belle Swain, that makes more frequent trips. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the years, whenever the boats came through, it was such a special treat. Years ago, we would all pile into the car, and hurry down to the Lock and Dam to watch. Back then, the only way we knew the boat was coming was by hearing the steam whistle as it made an approach to town. So sometimes it was a mad dash, leaving the dinner half eaten, or mom in housecoat and kids in pajamas! Now, with websites and such, we know more accurately when the boats are due to pass through, but there is still much anticipation surrounding the event. Lots of people from all over show up down at the river, and a very festive atmosphere develops. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5IPThuHDZ8F2EoE8n8f9qbSwqgFmuOuhSc1UHSJa72wBRKyrvR8uo_AfVixeRtgLXbFjqXvcDXrEMiZqbOFoalDla2cNmhlkO1d6xjQkxOYSqCRy6n94FDZ9rvvm36eqegSH/s1600/queen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5IPThuHDZ8F2EoE8n8f9qbSwqgFmuOuhSc1UHSJa72wBRKyrvR8uo_AfVixeRtgLXbFjqXvcDXrEMiZqbOFoalDla2cNmhlkO1d6xjQkxOYSqCRy6n94FDZ9rvvm36eqegSH/s1600/queen2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the boat locks through, which can take 20 minutes or more, people on land shout back and forth with passengers on the boat. They throw candy or trinkets for the children. If we are lucky, and the boat comes at the right time, they play the calliope as they are locking through. There is no more amazing and unique sound than the music from a steam calliope bouncing off the surrounding bluffs and traveling down the river valley. It can be heard for quite a distance!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d_gZhf6S-FaR9OUY2QBw2At07MqOynkh48DaO6mCAuKwaqv4LiXRZu4VorCZLQV_W_41rh8RrJ7MaWvQuolQuQcOBg8Mxo8Lo_d5aOMApANWiFF3fPexBPz8-lWsmyqH7KVU/s1600/queen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d_gZhf6S-FaR9OUY2QBw2At07MqOynkh48DaO6mCAuKwaqv4LiXRZu4VorCZLQV_W_41rh8RrJ7MaWvQuolQuQcOBg8Mxo8Lo_d5aOMApANWiFF3fPexBPz8-lWsmyqH7KVU/s1600/queen1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, the American Queen's first trip through was on a mild evening, and my brother and I had an impromptu picnic supper on the lawn at the Dam while waiting for the boat to arrive. We visited with friends and neighbors and enjoyed this tradition of summertime in a small town. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The boat will come by a few more times, on Autumn color trips, and I hope that I will get to see it again, and enjoy this lifelong tradition.</span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-27049550665726939922014-07-08T22:22:00.000-05:002014-07-08T22:29:50.996-05:00Ahh...Summer! Tuesday, July 8<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you asked me, I'd probably say that summer is my least favorite of the seasons, due mainly to the heat and humidity. However, I have a feeling that there are plenty of summer-specific items that are really special for me. I thought if I put together a little online scrapbook, I would be able to convince myself that summer's not so bad after all!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's entry:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwUBqoY9r6TrqgT8eH87VAf6Q_irCcOn9HadwGJL73NccvOcZ-pOWKZwMKLkwTNjLlNu1rnPGPVxfR4Xol4xkdOjRtvVy1eoZf_3AXnjJPRTo5QuZSDKuW23AdQY0vZBEAqns/s1600/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwUBqoY9r6TrqgT8eH87VAf6Q_irCcOn9HadwGJL73NccvOcZ-pOWKZwMKLkwTNjLlNu1rnPGPVxfR4Xol4xkdOjRtvVy1eoZf_3AXnjJPRTo5QuZSDKuW23AdQY0vZBEAqns/s1600/pool.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Municipal Pool</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">30+ years ago, I learned to swim at this pool, just after it had been built. I spent all summer at the pool, then went off to college. I did not get to keep up with my swimming, and over the years my skills dissolved.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suddenly this summer, thanks to a nudge from <a href="http://www.landsend.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Land's End</span></a> (they tempted me with a clearance price plus size swimsuit that was not repulsive), I am back at the pool. I still can't swim the way I used to, but I am having a blast taking water aerobics, and going to lap swimming on the weekends and jogging back and forth. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been working on treading water, and floating in a sitting position, and it's interesting that it made me realize just how tense I am. I was concentrating so hard, that I forgot to breathe, so I started sinking! I made a conscious effort to breathe slow and steady, and it all worked much better. Later that day, I researched how to swim on the Internet, and read that in order to float, one must totally relax. Well! There you have it. I won't be able to swim again until I'm retired! HA! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actually, it's very relaxing at the pool, and even after a solid hour of water aerobics, I feel so much more soothed and refreshed. Just what I need to forget about the stress and worries of the day. Magical!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-86756090858865517162014-06-30T22:17:00.001-05:002014-06-30T22:20:44.592-05:00Justified!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve mentioned before that I like to watch the Hoarders type
programs on TV, to get motivated to clean up my clutter around the house. If
you’ve ever seen any of them, you know that one of the common hoarder arguments for keeping
umpteen “what’s-its”, is that “someone might need it someday”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone with a yarn stash or fabric stash probably
understands this completely. “Perhaps I don’t adore this yarn, but someday I might need
to make something that calls for it.” “I picked this yarn up at a garage sale
in a bag with some good stuff, so I’ll keep it just in case.” Those are
familiar excuses for hanging on to yarn or fabric that we aren’t truly in love
with. And the psychologists on the hoarder programs love to counter with “you
need to realize that SOMEDAY is NEVER going to come”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And today my answer to that it – POPPYCOCK!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week, a neighbor lady called up and asked if I could
help her with a knitting project. She brought over a beautiful piece of knitted
lace that her daughter, who passed away almost two years ago, had left
unfinished. It was meant to be a christening gown, and the pattern was there,
but no more yarn to make the bodice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sure that I could finish the project for her, and
since the bodice was mostly stockinette, and the lace portion was done, any
variation between my knitting and her knitting would be unnoticeable. The live
stitches were in a tangle though, as though the needles had been pulled out and
then put back in. Some stitches were dropped, others were split. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent part of the evening liberating those stitches,
carefully undoing the knitting until I got back to a place where all the
stitches were present and accounted for, and then I studied the pattern to see
exactly where I was and what came next. Then, I studied my stash database, and
went hunting for Bin #61. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, that’s right 61, and fortunately I have room to store
all those bins, and no, 61 is not the end of the inventory. It’s a work in
progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bin #61 holds mostly acrylic baby yarns, of various brands,
colors, and ages. Everything from current day yarns to 40 year old dime store
yarn, gleaned mostly from thrift stores and rummage sales. And lo and behold,
here were some skeins of – you guessed it – Red Heart Baby Yarn – that were a
perfect match to the yarn in the gown. I picked one, joined it, knit a few
rounds, and checked – you could not tell the difference at all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have any idea how satisfying that felt? To come up
with the perfect yarn match to fulfill this special request? To be able to
honor this kindred knitter’s spirit? It’s very special indeed , and if that
doesn’t justify the need for stashes, big and small, I don’t know what does!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s a photo of Peggy’s christening gown, where she left
off. I’m ready to start working the bodice. Look at all that lovely lace. It would have been a terrible shame to waste all that good knitting for want of some acrylic baby yarn. Justified, indeed!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_lRZC3JXeU38Qq5xiBGn5p1DhjzLv8lxjy86gBctvCNNCqCf-I6NnEHGWRVjIhl5pUOwkUhJ4KuOAe_UIZCRn1fhBlub0Oru3GqUWVnbZaVfplcwr_hTLfHVwRYWdj1HQrtg/s1600/gown2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_lRZC3JXeU38Qq5xiBGn5p1DhjzLv8lxjy86gBctvCNNCqCf-I6NnEHGWRVjIhl5pUOwkUhJ4KuOAe_UIZCRn1fhBlub0Oru3GqUWVnbZaVfplcwr_hTLfHVwRYWdj1HQrtg/s1600/gown2.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-31724911114805067782014-06-24T19:30:00.000-05:002014-06-24T22:43:04.778-05:00Ahh...Summer! Tuesday, June 24<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you asked me, I'd probably say that summer is my least favorite of the seasons, due mainly to the heat and humidity. However, I have a feeling that there are plenty of summer-specific items that are really special for me. I thought if I put together a little online scrapbook, I would be able to convince myself that summer's not so bad after all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's entry:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMTaxW8HNfKZkH_WNJWp9uY0XZI1kPnghCrp3L8fQufLNey-XzpnzWlONyaP7P3TUjUOnimGer76QeaTQGMaILIBc4jXWwYNmy9SC1_sTiDUSDAA49rM_wOqN6D8TC2o3rUeL/s1600/penguin+2+(1024x735).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMTaxW8HNfKZkH_WNJWp9uY0XZI1kPnghCrp3L8fQufLNey-XzpnzWlONyaP7P3TUjUOnimGer76QeaTQGMaILIBc4jXWwYNmy9SC1_sTiDUSDAA49rM_wOqN6D8TC2o3rUeL/s1600/penguin+2+(1024x735).jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Penguin Zesto in Winona, Minnesota!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing better on a warm day than a chocolate soft-serve cone from this iconic Winona landmark, which is only open seasonally. It makes a hot day bearable!</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-85295633007856331922014-06-11T21:47:00.000-05:002014-06-11T21:47:32.748-05:00Yarn Along - June 11, 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really hope this is the last time I show these socks as a work in progress! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQHgTXKzhJXHdYgngcCsP7lpbbzoP2O_4L1q_01RJ_rjljyY8wIiaeey1Kai29cHRVfYNmqvZZ5uF9JiDwaBtHdTcGzMUb1-WCyfA55pxLfBmoPXbTkzbnjDx-JkZGtP_IM4Q/s1600/comfy+sox+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQHgTXKzhJXHdYgngcCsP7lpbbzoP2O_4L1q_01RJ_rjljyY8wIiaeey1Kai29cHRVfYNmqvZZ5uF9JiDwaBtHdTcGzMUb1-WCyfA55pxLfBmoPXbTkzbnjDx-JkZGtP_IM4Q/s1600/comfy+sox+3.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked back at my notes - I started this pair on July 11, 2013, and I can't believe it's taking a whole year to finish them. I just kept setting this project aside to work on other more important knitting, I guess. I'll tell you what, when I get them done, the next pair is going to be bright and colorful! I really like this yarn, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TDA6J0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003TDA6J0&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20%22%3ECascade%20Heritage%20Paints%20Sock%20Yarn%20-%20Indian%20Summer%20#9931</a>" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cascade Heritage Handpaints</span></a>, but I've done my fair share of knitting dark brown and black lately, so I'm ready for some fun.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451415388/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0451415388&linkCode=as2&tag=knittkitti03-20%22%3EMrs.%20Malory%20and%20a%20Necessary%20End%20(Mrs.%20Malory%20Mystery)%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">My book</span></a> is the latest cozy mystery from Hazel Holt, who writes the Mrs. Malory series. I love these books more for their depiction of British life than for the story sometimes. I was really worried that the series had come to an end, because there hadn't been a new book in quite a while, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this one when I checked Amazon recently. I'm trying not to gulp it down, it's a quick read, but I want it to last!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joining with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2014/06/yarn-along-181.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ginny</span></a>...what are you reading?</span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-739766579488295992014-05-31T10:54:00.001-05:002014-05-31T10:54:49.722-05:00Are We Having Fun Yet?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What to do while waiting to see the vet? Take selfies, of course! Rollie is not amused, and wishes the whole ordeal was over.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihz3UWIas1HRDGP9xIhCrzJuSRb1YnAgLQ3_a5Y_PMtlf0C6TkukWrEb1X-rt7pDqmXabMr_OW192knGmCyC29t_AROrbzZvttuv90WC5-nH1ALvP1MU2p4YtrjS5sm0qqEaI/s1600/rollie+at+the+vet+5-28-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihz3UWIas1HRDGP9xIhCrzJuSRb1YnAgLQ3_a5Y_PMtlf0C6TkukWrEb1X-rt7pDqmXabMr_OW192knGmCyC29t_AROrbzZvttuv90WC5-nH1ALvP1MU2p4YtrjS5sm0qqEaI/s1600/rollie+at+the+vet+5-28-14.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-31421479927176966232014-05-27T18:20:00.001-05:002014-05-27T18:20:56.062-05:00Rainy Rambling<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took an extra day off this week to turn the three day weekend into four days. It was a nice rest. All weekend I looked for rain in the forecast, and it kept skirting us, until just now.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The smell of fresh rain on wet pavement is one of my all-time favorites. It conjures up the best memories so vividly. It is one of the things I love most about summer. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thunder that is accompanying this cloud burst is lovely too - close enough to sound powerful, but not so close that it sounds threatening. No need to head for the basement with the flashlight and saltines.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know why I bother with gutters on the house. They are all overflowing - AGAIN. Even though they are seamless they leak at all the corners. On the back of the house the downspout is at the wrong end, so water is perpetually sitting at one end, making a lovely rearing pond for mosquitoes. Since I've lived here they've fallen off twice due to ice dams, and I halfway hope that happens again so I can justify replacing them with bigger gutters that slope properly and don't leak.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still, having rain barrels is one of the best things about the downspouts. I hope to have one under each downspout eventually. Right now I enjoy the two I do have. They fill up fast, and I almost never have to use the hose to water plants anymore.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The brief rainy interlude is almost over. The thunder is fading into the distance, the downspouts are trickling rather than gushing, and I'm going to turn from daytime chores to evening relaxations. What a lovely, restful day!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15337639.post-47253563094057719532014-04-12T13:01:00.001-05:002016-06-06T17:03:31.101-05:00April Showers<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had a doozy of a thunderstorm this morning. I slept in a bit, and was trying to convince myself to get up and get moving. I thought I'd just finish the current chapter of my book first. I barely got through a paragraph, when it got too dark to see the words on the page! Lots of close thunder and lightning. Poor kitties. I was feeding them their morning canned food, and Rollie, who is afraid of storms, had to wolf his down and then quick go hide under the blankets! We had a brief power zap, and quite a bit of pea-sized hail. Hello spring!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which brings me to a recent finished project - the <a href="http://ravel.me/creativemind/bc" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">April Showers cowl</span></a>. I named it that because the colors of this <a href="http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/subyarn.php?id=38" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Malabrigo yarn</span></a> remind me of the puddles you see after an April shower - all the blues and grays, and light and shadows. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The pattern can be found </span><a href="http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2011/10/11/sweet-stitching-with-erin-bandana-cowl.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, and I used up the whole skein of yarn, coming up just a bit short in the top shaping. The fit on me is more snug than loose, but I prefer that. It makes for a nice, soft neckwarmer.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIfRdxsqkCrN4Ned3P3IfdB5z-iq5AUKPGIJh2DNP8wKK9W4txXYp-AYdPV9-yVzkGCQIXY8SVvZxzRuNnhzPYHHkc2GHVH4OziSpiZvpVpIam_oO9_JjSzcjf8wdN3p_EUe7/s1600/april+showers+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIfRdxsqkCrN4Ned3P3IfdB5z-iq5AUKPGIJh2DNP8wKK9W4txXYp-AYdPV9-yVzkGCQIXY8SVvZxzRuNnhzPYHHkc2GHVH4OziSpiZvpVpIam_oO9_JjSzcjf8wdN3p_EUe7/s1600/april+showers+1.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The storms are over for now, but the forecast says they might return this afternoon. I suppose I should get outside while I can, and then get busy on the endless list of indoor projects. The sooner I finish, the sooner I can get back to my knitting!</span>anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01656236519110896075noreply@blogger.com0