FINISHED!

I finally finished my Jacobean Socks for Sock Knitting Pentathlon 2008. Started around March 1st and required to be completed no later than the 30th of April. The 2nd pattern for the competition is to be revealed on May 1st. I may have finished in 182nd place, but I finished! And there are people who are finishing still. So far, I've finished all the competition socks except the round 2 socks for Sock Madness 2. I am going to finish that pair and get them off to Jill..they fit her fine. Will, of course, take photos before I send them off!

I worked on Emily's birthday gift - got that done. Will post a photo after her birthday on May 1st. I also completed her baptism gift. Again, picture after her baptism on May 3rd.

Today is the first day that I can say is springlike. We had rain the past two days, and COLD! Today is overcast with sunshine trying to peak thru occasionally. John is trying to get a piece of our barn roof back on. It blew off in the last windstorm and today is the first day he had to try to get it nailed back on. The roof is made of tin (barn was built in 1939!) and it's pretty watertight. Unless a piece of the roof blows off, that is.

Isn't that grass green? And it grows while you watch it. I suspect next weekend, if it doesn't rain, John will get the riding mower out from under the house (the crawl space under the house is tall enough to stand in so we store lots of stuff there) and begin the mowing process. It usually takes him 8-10 hours on both days of the weekend to mow everything he wants to mow. Once he gets the fencing done, that should knock the mowing down to 1/2 day! The cows will take care of the rest of the 'mowing', or is that 'moooooooowing'? Ha, I made a funny!

I think I need to get some more sewing done before we meet John's brother and his wife for dinner.

Thanks for dropping by. Y'all come back, y'here?

Spring

Each year, some folks get new shoes to celebrate the onset of spring. Or they get new hats, or a new outfit. This year, I got a new haircut! Carol lopped off about 6" and this is what I ended up with.

It's simple and easy. Even I can take care of it. Just wash, fluff, and go! John didn't hate it when he got home and got a good look at it. So I guess it's a keeper for now. Sure feels great on my neck.

Am working on my Sock Knitting Pentathlon socks...have turned the heel on sock #2 and am working my way up the ankle toward the cuff. I have until the 1st of May to get it completed before the 2nd pattern is released.

And speaking of May 1st - Our Emily will be turning 8 that day. Am working on a birthday gift for her. That needs to get finished by the weekend so I can mail it off to her mom for safe-keeping till the big day. Here is our Emily and her Mom...aren't they a lovely pair?

Well, I'm teaching a computer class today so need to get crackin' on setting up. Thanks for checking in with me. More later.

Munchkin Visit

John III and his Jill arrived with the children last Saturday. They drove from Salt Lake City to Pieceful Harbor in 2 days. We were so glad to see them. The children all wanted to go with Papa to see our "Moos". John loaded everyone up in the truck and drove over to see Ruby, Garnet, Huevo and Jack. Jack is Garnet's calf, born this winter. Garnet and Jack belong to our friends, John and Sandy - our neighbors who kindly allow us to keep Ruby and Huevo in their pasture, since we don't have fencing yet. Hopefully, that will come about this year and we can move our cattle to our own property. Sunday we had a family dinner with most of the Knotwell family here to see the kids and grands. Great company and yummy food! Monday the kids went down to their timeshare in Branson and spent the night. We drove down to meet them on Tuesday morning. Took the kids to the Butterfly Palace. What a cool place. The butterflies fly loose inside the building and you can walk around and see some amazing colored butterflies. Here are the ones I was able to 'catch' not moving! My particular favorite was the blue one. Too lovely.

That's John holding Charlotte Rose. She is so articulate for a 2 year old! And she is extremely friendly. No one is a stranger to her.

On Friday we all went down to Silver Dollar City. They are currently hosting their annual World Fest and featuring the Feet of Fire Irish Dancers. Wow! Even young Will was mesmerized by the dancing and the music! And Charlotte talked about the Fire Dancers all afternoon! But before we went to the City - we got to watch the water sprites swim and cavort at the pool. Here is Emily. Our first granddaughter is almost 8 years old and a fish in the water! Then there's Charlotte - she's a charming sprite who is learning to swim. And finally - Will. He loves to watch the sprites! At only just 1 year old, he isn't quite ready to swim with mommy and sisters yet but I'd say next year we won't be able to keep him out of the water either!

Sorry, Beansy. I had to put these two pics up, too. You are an amazing mother to your children! Our grandchildren are so lucky they got you for a mom. They obviously adore you and watching you with them, it's easy to see why! We love you, Jill! Thanks for being our grandchildrens' mom!

The family left for home yesterday at 5:00 am amid snow flurries! Yes, we had flurries all day yesterday. And bitter cold winds. They decided to continue on home instead of stopping overnight and made it home about 3:30 our time this morning. John called and said they made it and were going to take it easy today with only unpacking to do and lazing about to get their energy recharged. I think the recharging was for the parents - the kids recharge on the run!

We loved having them visit and can hardly wait till next year. Hopefully they will be coming again next spring for what appears to be an annual visit.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to visit here. More next time.

RANDOMNESS

I read a lot of blogs each day. And some of them are pretty cool! Dawn at http://sewritzytitzy.blogspot.com
recently tagged me to list 7 things about myself. Here are the rules:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random things about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

So, here goes:
1. I've always wanted to sing and dance professionally but really don't have a very good voice and my figure is not meant for dancing.
2. I do, however, have a nice enough speaking voice that numerous folks have recommended I read audiobooks professionally.
3. My father was a writer (among other professions) and I began proofing his galleys when I was 12 years old.
4. I love to travel by plane. The speed and exhilaration of travel by air is the best, in my estimation.
5. I collect fabric and yarn and I use them, but the speed of the use doesn't equal the speed of the collecting.
6. I get really bad headaches being outside in the sunshine for much more than an hour- so picnics and beach outings are out for me. BUT, I have tons of windows in my house so I can look outside and the sunshine can stream inside thru the glass.
7. I have plenty of Willpower but absolutly no Won'tpower! I rarely wait for anything. I want it NOW.

For those of you who know me personally, none of the above will come as a surprise. For those who don't, believe everything above - it's the honest truth!

So, now I'm supposed to TAG 7 other folks.
Vickie at http://laquilter.blogspot.com
Jo at http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com
Chris at http://christinas-creations.blogspot.com
Lisa at http://lisaboyer.blogspot.com
Judy at www.patchworktimes.com
Drank at http://sawdustandcowpies.blogspot.com
Glo at http://1gloriousconundrum.blogspot.com

Sorry, folks, if you've already been tagged in the past. Just link folks back to your preious list if you have.

I'm planning on posting some pictures of the munchkins' visit this past week. Keep you posted.

Happy Sunday. Thanks for visiting.
Sally

Quick Update

I'm so sorry that I've not posted recently! You see, my son and daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren are visiting and I've just not had time to blog! I'm hoping you will forgive me. I'll try to get some photos up by the weekend. We are off to Silver Dollar City tomorrow and that usually lends itself to some pictures.

Thanks for sticking with me...talk to you soon.