Holiday Time is Here

First and foremost, I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year.  While I'd like to think that I regard every single day during the year as blessed and happy and merry, I admit to my own humanness.  I forget to be conscious of the people who make my life so very blessed.  Each year, I am reminded during the holiday season and vow to be better next year.  I am a creature of habit and will not disappoint myself or others - so, again this year, I am going to try to remember to be thankful each and every day for the people in my life.  You all add something that enriches my.  Thank you so much!

Mr. Wonderful and I were talking the other day about my renewed interest in machine embroidery.  Part of that renewed interest included bigger designs and larger projects.  John encouraged me to investigate getting a newer and faster and more powerful and smarter machine than the one I currently own.  Well, far be it from me to refuse a shopping suggestion!  In the course of my search, I came upon an amazing deal on a Babylock Journey embroidery and sewing machine.  John and I talked about it and we decided that the deal was far better than we'd find anytime in the near future so I did it!  Meet Miss Journey!  a friend came over and we noodled around with it yesterday.  I recognized quite a few of the features that my previous machine had so it wasn't quite so strange working with this newer, faster, bigger machine.  

 I'm kinda happy about how much she does on her own.

The newest feature that Babylock (the machine manufacturer) has is making quilt blocks in the hoop.  That guarantees each block is exactly the same so the quilt that results from these blocks is as near perfect as came be.   I admit it's kinda neat but I like doing the blocks the old-fashioned way as well.

One of the other features of this new machine is that I can import designs from my laptop directly to the machine via USB cord rather than the several steps involving a separate plug in and a card it required for the other machine.

I suppose you can tell from the pictures and the blog post that I'm totally in love with this new machine...well, I am.  I can't wait for the 'mastery' classes that I will take in January to learn about my new machine.

I have completed all the gift shopping and everything has been posted to the family for the holidays.  I won't be needing to take everything in my suitcase this year.  We are counting down the days till I join them.

We've taken the house off the market for the time being.  It's been listed for sale for over 14 months and folks are beginning to question what's wrong with it.  Taking it off the market and then re-listing in the spring will make it appear to be a new listing.  Rural properties are not fast sellers right now so this has been a difficult time for us all.  With luck, the new year will bring some welcome changes!  Pray for us, please!!!

Thank you all for stopping by.  We both wish you a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

Hodge Podge Saturday

It's been quite a while since I updated the blog..No excuses.  It's been so terribly cold recently....below average temps.  Thank goodness for the furpeople who live here.  They cuddle up and provide that little extra warmth.  Gilligan is small enough to climb up into my arms and sleep like a baby.

While Carson and Briscoe are stuck on the floor cuddling together.

I had a visit from a friend recently.  Corey and his wife were our sponsors when we moved to the Philippines in 1977.  Corey always wanted to fly and went on to get his pilot's license once he went back to the states and got out of the Navy.  He got hold of me recently as said he had purchased another small plane and was going to be flying it home to Washington state from Florida and wondered if I was going to be home as he was flying into Springfield on his way home. I jumped at the chance to see him again after 36 years!  We spent the evening reminiscing about the PI and catching up on life.  Here he is at the airport getting ready to take off west again.  I asked if the plane had a name yet..."The Mistress" is evidently the name favored by his wife!  With that sassy red belly, I can agree!  TeeHee.

Anyone will tell you that I really hate winter.  I don't mind the cold, I can bundle up with the best of them.  But winter in the Ozarks generally means snow and ice and that's where I draw the line.  I am so fearful of winter weather that I get almost paralyzed by the fear.  I've already lined up alternative transportation in case we get snow and I need to get to work!  Anyway, they've been predicting our first snowfall for today.  And I'd scheduled to take a short class on machine embroidery in Springfield this morning.  Fate was with me today, my friends.  I went to my class, ran a couple of errands in town and motored home...I think I was home 5 minutes and looked outside on the deck...Here's what I saw.

 If I didn't know better, I'd think a pillow filled with small styrofoam poofs had exploded! And it's wicked cold out.

So I am home, snug and warm inside...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Now Sell, Dammit!

I can't believe it's only been a week since I last posted....usually it's about once a month if I'm lucky!  But here I am again...and with some cool news.  No, we haven't sold the house yet....that would be AMAZING NEWS....this news is only cool...to me, at least!

Back in 2004, I took part in a local quilt shop's monthly Block of the Month program (BOM)...you purchase the first block for $5.00 and sew it up.  You go to a mini-meeting the next month, listen to a short infomercial, show you made the previous month's block, and walk away with the pattern and fabric to make the next block.  If you don't go or don't get the block made, you pay $5.00 for the next block set. Theoretically you can make 12 blocks for only $5.00 if you attend every meeting and make each block. You can either purchase a kit to put the blocks together to make a quilt or use your own fabric and design to set them.  I usually purchase the kit each year.  This particular year, 2004, the choice for size was a crib quilt, a lap quilt, a queen quilt, or a king quilt.  I really, really wanted to make the king quilt but neither of us were working at the time and I could not justify the $100.00 it would have cost to buy the kit.  John told me that if I bought any kit other than the king-sized one, I would never be happy about the finished product. (He knows me so well!!!).  He said we would find the money when the time came to get the finishing kit.  And so I signed up for the big one.

I made each of the blocks that year and purchased the kit....fast forward to autumn of 2013...the quilt still hadn't been completed...it was a huge quilt, larger than any other I'd ever made, and required a lot of concentration and precision to compete.  I set a goal of completing it once John left to move to Utah.  In fact, he said that once I finished the quilt, the house would sell and not before.  You see, we'd agreed that this quilt required nothing less than custom quilting done by my very talented quilter here in Missouri.  So I set about getting everything done so I could send it to her...gave it to her in February and it took her about 4 months to quilt it...now the only thing left to do was to tack down the binding and it was done.  John kept reminding me that the house would not sell till the quilt was done.  Today I finished tacking the binding on this monster quilt. And I give you:

The Latte Quilt - Now, Sell, Dammit!

I am so proud of this quilt....it's been a long time coming and it will proudly be displayed on our bed once we get settled in Utah. And if John is right, we should be getting an offer on the property soon!  I hate it when he is right!

Thanks for stopping by. 

September Wrap-up

So this summer's quest that I set for several people has ended and I have received almost 75 patterns from all over the country and Ontario, Canada....23 people came to my rescue and braved their areas in search of patterns and licence plates.  I decided to make a mug rug for each person who went out to their local shops and obtained patterns for me.  I chose embroidery patterns for each of them and put their name on the rug as well.  I have spent most of today addressing envelopes and affixing stamps to 17 of them, 3 have already been sent, and I'm waiting on 3 more sets of patterns to arrive at which time I'll finish the mug rugs for those people and get them sent off. I tried to hide the names of the people who might be reading this so your mug rug is a surprise...if you see a name, there's a good chance that person doesn't read this blog.  I could be wrong about that and someone might see theirs here - sorry I spoiled the surprise.

It's now been a year since John went out to Utah and tomorrow marks 1 year since he started his job. I can't believe it's been that long.  I have a tendency to look at things in the perspective of deployments (we did 17 of those while John was in the Navy)...so some of you will understand when I say this:  When John left, the Mule (the farm cart I bought John when he turned 60 years old) had a full tank of gas...today I checked and I have a whole year's worth of gas left in the tank...I let you think about that for a while.  Yes, in 1 year, I've only used 1/2 tank of gas - that's using it every single week to take trash out to the bins, check on the water softener under the house, check on the orchard, run down to our neighbor's house, etc.  I surely do hope I don't have to wait another year before I can empty the tank and ship the Mule to Utah....I would love to 'waste' the gas left in the tank and move sooner than later!

The weather has turned cooler here in the Ozarks.  We've had a bit of rain in the last 10 days and a bit more expected this next week.  And it's predicted the temps will rise a bit also this next week.  But Autumn is definitely arrived!  I had to turn the furnace on a couple of days already...but today I have the a/c going.

Well, enough rambling...I'm off to read for a while before it gets dark and I settle down with some hot chocolate and a movie.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hey, John....Look What I Did!

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I just don't cook.  Well, I CAN cook, I just don't care to do it on a regular basis.  Fortunately for us, John loves to cook.  In fact, he is an adventurous chef and has gotten me to try things that I've said for years I won't eat - like some fish and peas - I still mostly don't like fish and peas but I've been known to eat them....occasionally.

Anyway, with John gone for the last 11 months, it's fallen to me to cook for myself.  I've subsisted on mostly grilled cheese or fried egg sandwiches, macaroni & cheese, or fast food.  I decided that I wanted to be more of a partner in the kitchen when John and I finally get to live in the same house again - whenever that may be.  With that in mind, I heard about Freezer Meals.  Snazzy little meals made ahead of time and stored in the freezer - requiring only to be defrosted and then cooked or even cooked from frozen.  I decided to try several that my friend Holly uses in her Freezer Meals workshops in Connecticut for Tastefully Simple.  Below you will see 9 Bayou Bourbon Burgers all seasoned and ready to cook.

 Here they are wrapped in foil and labeled and ready to go into the freezer.

Next to them are 9 Bar-B-Que Burgers, again ready to go into the freezer.

 And this is Bayou Bourbon Bake - using chicken and broccoli and some yummy sauces and ready to put in the freezer.  All I need to do when I'm ready to cook it is defrost and throw into an over for a short time and voila!  Dinner is served.  

This evening I made 2 more sets of dinners - Honey Teriyaki Stir Fry with chicken and stir fry veggies and a wonderful Honey Teriyaki Sauce.  And Vidalia Onion Baked chicken....garlic and cheese and ready to cook in the crock pot...served with pasta or rice and I've got dinner! The entire thing took probably 2 1/2 hours total and I've got over 25 meals ready for whenever I want them.  I'm a freakin' magician!

It's finally gotten to be summer here in the Ozarks...heat and humidity are really high and it's pretty miserable.  I'm really glad to have air conditioning - let me tell you.  

As most of you know, I love working on the computer and using social media to keep in touch with family and friends.  I've made contact with folks I went to high school with that I hadn't talked to since high school - and that's a loooooong time ago.  I've made contact with the folks I went to college with and stayed in contact with folks John and I have known throughout our military service.  I also belong to an online group of knitters and crocheters and weavers and fiber spinners called Ravelry.  Through Ravelry, I've made many, many friends from all over the world.  One of them lives in southern California and is coming to St. Louis early next month for some training for her work.  Since St. Louis is only a 2.5 hour drive for me, I'm going up there to have breakfast with her and meet her for the first time in person.  I'm so excited!  And that day happens to be my day off so I don't even need to take time off work.  I'm golden!

Well, enough rambling.  I'm off to work on the Row by Row projects...it's almost over and now it's time to start making up some of the patterns that my posse has sent me.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

If Heaven Kissed You on the Mouth!

Did you ever wonder what it would taste like if Heaven kissed you on the mouth?  That's the question our Childrens' Librarian asked me the other day.  I guess I don't spend a lot of time thinking about this particular subject.  Well, she led me to our break room and this is what she gave me.  A mini pretzel topped with a mini Rolo( smushed a tiny bit to make it easier for the pecan to adhere) topped by a pecan half.  Yes, this is what it would taste like.  Pure Heaven! 

 I recently received a most welcome surprise.  A nephew I haven't seen or spoken to in many years sent me a pattern and kit for one of the Row by Row shops that happened to be near his dentist.  He picked it up and sent it to me and I've spent today putting it together.  The picture doesn't really give you a good perspective but it is 36 1/2" long and 6" high.  The first row I've put together so far.  And I LOVE it! Thank you, dear nephew!

I continue to receive patterns from all over the US...most recently I've gotten ones from Oregon and Maryland, with promises from Washington, California, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Canada.  If I make every single one that I receive, that quilt is going to be humongous! Might need to rethink which ones I use...or make several quilts!

Well, I'm off to work on tacking a binding on a huge quilt.  Thanks for stopping by.

Playing CatchUp

Last week was a wonderful week.  The weather was uncharacteristically cool for July in the Ozarks.  Most evenings, I let the dogs out around 5 and then again just after 8 in the evening for final chores.  This is what I see from the deck door - several deer grazing in the north field, just beyond the reach of a territorial dog. They lift their heads to see what the noise is, and once they see that it's just those pesky dogs making the racket, they go back to munching grass.  

 I entered several items in the Webster County Fair last week.  One, a biscornu, took 1st place in the cross stitch division.

The biscornu is that oddly shaped pale green 'pincushion' thing in the center.  

I've recently gotten back into cross stitching and have discovered these biscornus.  Translated from the French, it means quirky...they are made from 2 pieces of cross stitch and, when put together, form a pincushion-like structure.  In the past, they were indeed used as pincushions, but nowadays, they are more a collectible item. 

I also entered a quilt, no picture available yet.  This quilt won First place AND Best of Show.  I was totally amazed.  Here is how I found out...

A bit misleading till it's turned over...will try to get things set up so I can take a picture of said stunner and upload is soon.

Last Monday was the 41st Anniversary of a wonderful lifelong journey. John and I were married 41 years ago in Phoenix, Arizona. It was close to 110 degrees that morning and my dress was de-lustered satin with 3/4 sleeves.  I didn't care....I was pledging my life to my prince!  It has been a roller-coaster life - as most marriages tend to be - and I would not trade it for anything.  John is my friend, my husband, my lover, my helpmate, and my hero!   He sent me the flowers below on Monday and the card made me cry - a good kind of crying, but crying, none-the-less.

Finally, I want to wish my good friend, Eve Goodship a most Happy Birthday.  I met Eve many years ago when I was working at a booth at the Paducah Quilt Show and Eve was on a tour with her own friend Anne. They are from the south of England, in Gosport.  In that brief 1/2 hour meeting we struck up a friendship that has lasted for over 10 years. She never forgets my birthday, or Christmas. And always sends me a postcard from wherever she travels - and boy, does she travel!  Here's to more birthdays and more emails and more giggles.

 

Next time I hope to fill you in on the Row by Row Experience Shop Hop that is going on this summer...I've gotten some great patterns, thanks to my own personal posse of Hoppers!  

Thanks for stopping by! 

July 4th Weekend

Spent Thursday nite in the big city....our monthly quilting meeting, normally held on Friday, was moved to Thursday nite due to the holiday.  We had dinner and I came home.  Spent the rest of the evening binding off my Vertices Unite from the WestKnits Summer Knit-a-Long.  This looks like a hot mess right now - let's face it, over 800 stitches is always going to look like a mess until one gets them totally off the needles.  I need to soak and stretch this beauty out and then will post a picture.  I'm really liking this shawl.  Stephen West is an amazing designer and I love everything I've knit of his (so far, 3 shawls).  I have another one ready to start and several more in the planning stages.

Got up to feed the dogs at 5:30 this morning...the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon.  I couldn't resist taking this picture off the back deck.

The dogs get their final treats and go out to do last chores just about sunset each nite.  Last night this is what I saw on the other side of the dog run fence...these beauties are not afraid of my barking dogs...they know those silly canines can't get to them.   Notice they are not concerned at all...even if that human is standing on the deck taking their picture.

I spent the last two days working on the Block-of-the-Month from last year. I have now finished the top - it measures 92" by 92".  I had already purchased the backing fabric so this baby is ready for the quilter!  I've even made the binding and it's ready when Oliver gets the whole thing quilted and back to me.  One more thing off my To-Do List!  I finished the block from Thursday nite so it's ready when I go to the Block-of-the-Month meeting next month.  And now I've got all day tomorrow to work on something else!  I'm one happy girl!!!

Thanks for stopping by...I'll be back soon.

2nd Day of Summer in the Ozarks

Spring is finished for another year and summer came amidst storms and June gloom.  Here is one of the last sunsets of spring.

Sunset before the storm

2 Sundays ago, my dryer died - again! Now this normally would be cause for concern here at Pieceful Harbor because Mr. Wonderful is quite handy with tools and such.  He has repaired both the washer and the dryer numerous times and saved us tons of money in both repairmen and replacement.  But since he is not handy, it was either go to the laundromat in town or buy a new one.  Since the washer was older than the dryer, it made sense to get a set.  I pretty much knew what I wanted - front loading washer and dryer with pedestals to bring them up to my height. My spinal arthritis doesn't lessen with age and having these babies higher make it so much easier to reach into them.

I went to The Man Store (Lowes) because they give a military discount every day...it so happened they also had a sale going on, and by the time I had made my decision (2 days after I went to see what my options were), there was a further incentive to purchase.  I measured the two appliances sitting side-by-side and from top to bottom and came home to measure the opening where they were to sit.  I had 1 inch at the top and 1 inch on the side to spare....that made me one happy girl!

The delivery was scheduled for Saturday morning and they arrived just shortly after noon (they called about 10 minutes till to tell me they were on their way). Two wonderful men hauled the old set out, and while they were putting them on the truck, I was able to mop the floor where they had been - can I just say YUCK! They brought the new appliances in and installed them.

Once they were installed, I just got dreamy-eyed!  I'm so in love with this set!  They are quiet, efficient, quick, and even play a song when the cycle is done (different song for the washer than the one for the dryer).   

  All I can say is, watch out, Mr. Wonderful...you could be in 2nd place if this love affair goes much longer! 

Just kidding, you will always be my hero!  But I do love a good washer and dryer!

On the quilting front, I am excited about a country-wide 'shop hop' that starts on July 1st and goes thru September 2nd.  Those of you who are reading this in another state, I'd be so appreciative if you could check out the link here and see if one of the shops in your state is near you.  All you need to do is go into the shop during those days and ask for the FREE Row-by-Row pattern.  Let me know if you need my mailing address or email address if you have the ability to scan and send it that way.  I don't expect to get one from each of the 34 states that are participating this year but it would be so cool to get a bunch more than the few here in Missouri. I've got Missouri, Arkansas, and Utah covered already.  Here is the link:

http://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/row-by-row-experience-participating-areas.htm

Thanks for stopping by.

June Already?

Our house has been on the market for 8 months so far.  Now, I understand the economy is crap....it's crap everywhere!  But Mr. Wonderful has been so far away for the last 8 months as well...and that's beginning to be crap, too!  So I decided to take matters into my own hands, or rather, to turn it over to a different source.  Those who are Catholic are aware of the Saints...we pray to them to intervene on our behalf, to add substance to our own prayers.  St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of the Home...and thereby, is also the saint we pray to when we want to sell our home.  There is even a St. Joseph Home Selling Kit!  For a small fee, one can get help from a higher source...well, that's where I went!  After I got my Hepatitis A injection, I drove to the Catholic Bookstore and bought a kit.  This morning, I performed the ceremony to get this house selling into higher gear!  First, you dig a small hole - near the For Sale Sign and near the road.  

 Next, you place the statue of St. Joseph face down, with his head facing the road.

 Cover him up.

 Then say the prayer that comes with the statue. I've heard from different sources that the prayer should be said only once or every day till the house sells.  I'm not taking any chances - I'll say the prayer every single day.  I've got the prayer card in my car and will stop each day on the way to work and say the prayer.

There are those who say this is poppycock and resonates with 'magic'.  I say it is a matter of faith. And I have faith that between St. Joseph and me, we can get the job done.  Not sure how long it will take, but I've done my part!

I'd appreciate any prayers toward selling our house from any of you, too....we can use all that come our way!

Thanks for stopping by.

End of May

Oh, what the heck was I doing for the last almost 2 months....I honestly can't think what kept me from the blog...I've not been sitting at home eating bonbons and watching chick flicks, but I can't imagine what has kept me from updating the blog.

Suffice to say, I am here now and will try to keep you entertained with info about the goings-on at Pieceful Harbor.

I've been knitting in this year's annual Sock Madness competition. I managed to get into Round 3 but the socks and the timing just didn't mesh for me.  I finished one sock (with the exception of some embellishments to the cuff which come at the end) and part of another.  That pair will eventually get finished entirely.

I am currently knitting a beautiful shawl for Stephen Wests Summer Knit-a-Long...I'm using autumn shades and hope it will be useful come the cooler fall weather.

The sorting and purging and packing of the house continues. Not at all quickly, but it continues none-the-less.  I'm currently sorting the computer room filing cabinets and purging what we no longer need to retain.  Those items that do not bear legal info or bank account numbers or other important digits that thieves can use are being simply pitched...the other items are being shredded...a slow process but necessary for our security.  I will go on to the studio next.  A very daunting task!  The idea of purging fabrics and yarns is terrifying!  But it must be done and I can do it with a bit of perseverance and patience.  And maybe a helper to keep me on track.  I've had offers from a couple of ladies to come over and shred while I purge or pack items that I decide to keep in the studio.  That will cut the task considerably.  

Spent this last weekend with John.  He flew to St. Louis on Friday and I drove up to get him.  We used the 2 days he was here to get several items done that needed attention.  Filters changed out, vent covers installed, carpets destained, etc.  Had some serious discussions regarding the sale of the house (no,it hasn't happened yet...just trying to make sure we are on the same page when it does finally sell).  Then,.yesterday, all too soon, I drove him back up to St. Louis to fly back to Salt Lake City.  That 3 hours drive home was quite long!

A friend of mine asked me to help her pick out some fabric for borders on a quilt she is making so I met her in Springfield on a Friday nite.  After she'd made her decision, we decided to go for dinner.  Decided on Red Robin.  I love their Cobb Salads so I ordered one to go after I had the fish & chips - I figured I would have the salad for Saturday's dinner.  Fast forward to Monday - News conference regarding a waiter at Red Robin who tested positive for Hepatitis A...everyone who ate there from May 8th to May 16th was encouraged to get the vaccine ASAP....We ate there on the 16th.  Now, anyone who knows me well, know I am terrified of needles.....TERRIFIED!  I do not voluntarily get injections unless it is dire.  This situation qualified...darn the bad luck!  So today, I got shot!  And I have the appointment in 6 months to get the 2nd shot that goes with it.  Proud of me?  I thought so.  

Thanks for stopping by....I'll try to do better with the news in future.  

Hugs to you all!

Spring is Finally Here!

It is April and finally beginning to look like spring!  Here in the Ozarks, spring means storms...sometimes wicked storms.  This last week we had our first of what will probably be many storms...this is taken off the back deck, just before sunset.  That wall of clouds is quite scary the first time you see one.  It's sad, or good, that I've become quite used to seeing these clouds and they really don't scare me a lot anymore.  We got a bit of rain, a bit of lightning, and a ton of wind...never lost power or TV service.  

 It's Sock Madness time again...I've made it to Round 3 so far...Round 1 was the Brucie sock - designed by a first time entrant....these socks took me a week to knit and they certainly kept my attention.  Several different designs on the leg and a gansey-esque design on the foot...with a slight variation on a standard heel flap.  I really liked this patter.

 Round 2 brought the Diamond Shreddies by another first time designer.  I did mine in a sage green yarn - more like the leaves of a dusty miller plant.  The Celtic cable was intriguing and these socks only took me 9 days to knit.  We are awaiting the end of this round and then on to Round 3.

Mr. Wonderful is working fullstop on a project in Utah and he is working many extra hours to meet several different deadlines.  Added to this, his cardiac issues are being addressed and he continues to improve!  This past week, they did a procedure called - bear with me, I may goober this up - a CardioConversion.  They stopped his heart and started it again, in the hopes that the atrial fibrillation would reverse to normal heart rhythm...they had to do this procedure twice and he is currently on a pretty heavy-duty medication but so far, it worked and he went back to work the very next day.  Continued prayers are always appreciated!

Well, we are expecting another storm in a few hours and I don't want to be on the computer when the lightning starts....this will have to do, my friends.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Until next time.

Dear Mr. Winter

Dear Mr. Winter:

I know that you've had a wonderful time this season.  You've been able to stop entire cities from doing normal business.  There have been more 'snow days' from work than I remember ever having in the last 10 years.  Folks are still wearing winter coats and leg warmers and sweaters and socks even though Spring is just around the corner. And I am way more familiar with internet weather sites than I ever aspired to know.

Today is the 16th of March and that means Spring is just a few days away.  It appears you decided to make one more attempt to conquer the world.  I awoke to freezing rain stuck to the windows, making it appear like icicles on the glass.

  

I suspect we got a total of 2 inches of snow today.  And tomorrow it's supposed to get to the mid 50's.  So your feeble attempt to make us all aware of you is wasted. Now, don't get your knickers in a twist, that was NOT a challenge to you...just an observation.

I'm hoping you had a fun time, but most of the people I know, including myself, think you have outlasted your welcome from last November.  It's time to pack up your playthings and make room for Miss Spring to arrive  on Friday.  

And Gilligan is just plain bored with you!

Love, 

Sally

March of the Lions

 Whoever said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb had it half right...or at least the first half is right so far this month.  Today is the 2nd of March and this is what I woke up to.  Sleet turned to ice overnight and the windows in the morning room were crusted with ice.

When I let the dogs out, it had started to snow. They say we won't have much snow this time - only 2-4 inches.  With the thin crust of sleet underneath, I'm not sure I want to try to drive to work tomorrow, especially since it won't get above 20 degrees today.  

Sock Madness 8 begins anytime.  The specifications for Round 1 came out yesterday morning and that means the pattern will be released sometime within 48 hours of then.  I have 2 weeks to knit that first pair in order to get onto a team. Piece of cake!  I've found that it's when we get to Round 3, 4, & 5 that I falter - mainly because I don't knit as fast as a lot of the other knitters from around the world.  And this IS, after all, a speed competition!  

As usual, I made several project bags to donate for prizes.  I did 2 embroidered ones - I'm particularly fond of the seahorse one.  Might need to make one for myself.

And these 6 lines drawstring ones.  They go together fairly quickly. I spent all day yesterday making 4 of them.  Not to be bragging or anything, but my project bags are very popular during Sock Madness competitions!  I try a different style each year and each year they go over quite well. This year is no exception.  

Well, time to get dressed...it's after noon and I still need to get the trash gathered and clean out the litter box and get everything out to the trash for pick up day.  I slept in later than usual and always need to have a fortifying mug of Irish breakfast tea to get started.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll let you know how March ends - hopefully like a lamb and not a lion!