Fun card/game for Christmas

A Christmas Card Game

Hanny's first snow

Most of the east coast was blanketed with snow this weekend. Here, we had rain, tidal flooding and snow.

We woke up to this....A winter wonderland!!!











"This is all there is?"


"I'll look cute so they won't notice there's no snow!"


An art picture

Hanney 3 months old today 15.8 pounds

She went to sleep in her crate just now. I can't get up to get the camera because she'll wake up. It's the first time she's slept during the day in her crate. She wore herself out sitting and downing for rewards and trying very very hard not to bark and whine. Did I say she's not very fond of her crate. I have to lay next to it/her at night before she'll sleep. But she does sleep about 5 hours now before she wakes. I quietly take her out to "get busy" and then right back into the crate she goes. I don't say a word. She goes right back to sleep. I think tomorrow when I work with her in the crate I'll make sure my pillow and blanket are near by so I can nap too.

Hanny pictures...what else!

Get ready to say "Awwwwww!"


My toys and I are going to take a nap


Not enough room for all of us!


No need for a crate, I'll just live here with my food

Hanny's here!

After 90 minutes of full blown play and exploring, she's sound asleep in the smallest bed .... snoring.

edited to spell her name correctly. there is not an "e" involved.

Like waiting for Santa

What I'm watching on TV right now. My hair is in a bun like Aunt Bea's. Mine's falling down though.




Christmas is on it's way! Spice drops are on the shelf.



A "Doo Dad". It can be put on sweater, hat, scarf, where ever. I think mine will become the edge of a side to side shawl.




The Full Moon this morning at about 6:30 from my front porch.

At the ready

I pick up Hanney early tomorrow morning. Here is a picture of 5 from the litter. A lot older than the newborns with their mom.

Do you think she's one of them?

Her borrowed crate (thanks Maggie!), toy, water bowl, leash, and chewy are in the car. The Garmin is programmed. My alarm is set, clothes ready to throw on, coffee in the Keurig, car keys and glasses ready.

It all for a 15 minute drive!

More Retreat stories and pictures

Clara Parkes has published her newsletter with her side of the KR Retreat. She includes a Retreat Poem, the Retreat Wedding Vows we made with our new projects and lots and lots of pictures.

Click here and scroll down to Clara's links.

Enjoy!

Knitters Review Retreat 2009

When you take a week or more to post about a trip that 110 other knitters took you find that you have nothing to say because they've already said it. So I will use pictures to describe my experience at KR '09.

Packed and ready to go



9:30 a.m. ....Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel




The next day...Heading into NY state



Later that day...on "the Pass" to Williamstown, MA from Troy, NY





About a mile of "The Pass" as pictured on the Garmie aka Garmin GPS



The first night there were about 40 knitters gathered. Those that were taking classes on Friday



By Friday night all 110 had arrived; here's half the room



My Saturday class was with Kathryn Alexander . Here's how she set each of our knitting area's. We knit "doo dads".




Loved loved loved her class! I actually finished the class project. Something I don't think I've ever done before. Ahha stories to follow about Kathryn.

Sunday we cast on for our "new beginnings" project

Susan cast on for her first pair of socks



Joanne cast on for a shawl with her own handspun yarn



And I cast on with lace wt Rowan yarn I picked up in the KR "swap" room (where we brought what we didn't want and swapped) with a pattern I wrote Friday night (fingers crossed it works)



Ann Budd, Kathryn Alexander, Melanie falick...only rubbed shoulders with the best. Melissa Morgan-Oakes was there somewhere as was Ann Hanson and quite a few designers of patterns that are in Clara's new book The Knitters Book of Wool.



And I can't thank Joanne enough for driving all 4 days!

Check out the following blogs for more pictures and weekend descriptions or go to the KR Forums to read more

http://knitspot.com/
http://knittingmatters.wordpress.com/
http://www.carolbeech.blogspot.com/

Puppy update...again!

I'd heard that to raise a puppy for GED you must be flexible and expect changes.

Arrangements have been made so that Persia will go to her raisers home.

Hanny will be coming to me sometime next week.

It could be Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday...or maybe another day.

Not sure where she'll be. Might have to go to Richmond to get her. Or maybe she'll be brought here.

She was born September 14th.

She has 9 siblings...Hadley, Hagrid, Harlow, Hildy, Harvard, Hosta, Houston, Honor, Hopi

Her mother, Moni, is black. Her father, Yuri, tan. Both Labradors.

The GED site has just undergone some changes and pictures of the litters are not available so I can't see what color puppies are in her litter.

What color do you think she'll be?

What day do you think she'll get here?

How many toys do you think Santa will bring her?

In other news: There is still knitting!!!! In fact, ArtsyFish and I spent this past weekend at the Knitters Review Retreat in Williamstown, MA. Details to follow as soon as I can puppy proof my house!

Puppy update

Pulled into the parking lot of the 4H Building where last nights meeting was taking place and there outside on the sidewalk were 5 little puppies working really hard at sitting and standing and downing (is that a word?).

And mixed in with the 3 yellows and 1 black labs was our newest puppy Diesel...a German Shepherd!

Yes... I know I said in an earlier post that GS were not raised in this area but M, who began the program at the same time as I, has raised and trained GS for years. She and one of her GS just won several ribbons at a national competition.

So having Diesel among the Labs will be interesting. Labs will work for food, Shepherds not so much.

As for me...it's still up in the air. After talking with the coordinators this afternoon I may babysit Persia for a month or so in December. She's the sister of Primrose & Paulson. Her current raiser is a true "puppy raiser". She/He raises the dog until they're 4-5 months old.

Which works well for those who wish to raise a dog for GEB but cannot be home to care for a "baby" (multiple feedings, outside to potty, etc). They get the puppy when it's old enough to be crated a few hours and no longer needs that mid day meal.

But Persia is not local and may be able to find a permanent placement. If so, it will probably be sometime in January before the next group of puppies are brought down.

So that's the puppy update.

Comments ....

Diane writes ...Hi and thanks for this pattern, i have done it in different yarn and added a pocket to the front and I am so pleased with it(see my project in Ravelry) I tried to attribute it to you but im fairly new and i dont think it worked out right.Made it for my friends xmas so i hope she likes it.

I'd love to take a peek Diane. What is your Ravelry name? And I love the idea of a pocket! A bit of lavender would be nice to add.

Croby writes...I reallly like your using the ribbing instead of closure. This will work with someone with limited dexterity in the hands.

I did try a button closure but that was a bit fiddly to get the HWB into/outof. So ribbing it is.

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the pattern. I've knit a head band with the left over yarn. I'll post a picture and the pattern later.

November Nor'Easter!

I thought the leaves were beginning to turn a pretty golden color on the trees that line the back of my yard so snapped a picture on Tuesday. They're on golf course property.




I didn't really want to see the leaves up close so soon!



If you look beyond the fence you'll see the pond that develops during heavy rains. So far it hasn't entered my yard. It's ankle deep.



I'm staying in and knitting hats.

This and That

On "Let's Make a Deal" the prize was a llama. I was all "yippee" your own llama!!!! It was a zonk prize. The winner was not happy.

Don't wear a red shirt to Target or you will be asked by other customers where to locate an item.

I like knitting hats.

I purchased a pair of women's jeans that zip on the left side.

I CAN do to much research on a product I am interested in purchasing.

Original Law & Order is my favorite tv. Last night there were 2 hours of new shows.

I'm having fun on Twitter. Today's tweet is "Light frost makes everything sparkly".

There's a way to respond to someone else's Tweet. Can't figure out how to do it.

Lot's of brown yarns in my stash. Why?

Backed out of a very tight parking space yesterday and made it without hitting another car...or person!

Gilmore Girls is another favorite TV show.

There's enough General Tso's Chicken left over for lunch or breakfast.

Yankee Candle "North Pole" scent smells like butter mints.

Hot Water Bottle cover for Maks ..free pattern

This is a generic pattern that you can modify to fit your Hot Water Bottle (HWB). Assumption is made that the knitter understands basic knitting terminology or has knitting dictionary available to them.

Materials:
• Appx 140 yards worsted wt yarn (I used 1 ¼ skeins of Trendsetter “Tonalita”)
• US #7 double points or US #7 12” circular
• US #9 16” circular
• 1 marker
• tapestry needle
• scissors

On size US #7 needles, cast on 44 stitches or more/fewer as needed for your HWB).

Place a marker and join to knit in the round.

Knit 2x2 ribbing for 4” or until ribbing is long enough to cover the neck of your HWB.

Change to US #9 needle and Knit 2 rows in pattern.

Next row: *K2, P2, M1* around. Stitches increased to 54 if you are following the pattern as written.

If additional width is needed for your HWB, knit 1 row and then on the next row increase 4 stitches evenly around. Repeat these 2 optional rows until it will slide over your HWB.

Knit every row for 7 ½ inches or so to fit the “body” of your HWB.

Still on US 9 needles, knit 2x2 ribbing for 3” or until long enough to cover your HWB.

Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends and enjoy!

Carve your own pumpkin...over and over again! Enjoy

You guess correctly Katie...a hot water bottle cover for "Maks".

The yarn is Trendsetter's "Tonalita" a wool/acrylic blend.

I'll write and post the pattern when finished. I'm making it up as I go along.

End & Begin

Give your shawl a nice long soak in a woolwash of your choice. Not dish soap or woolite. Some use shampoo. I haven't so can't comment. And have lots of towels ready to gently press the water out of the shawl. And make sure to have your favorite coffee maker in the picture along with your favorite coffee cup.




Lay out your shawl to block making sure there are enough towels on your carpet or floor. I didn't use my blocking wires for this shawl. The points stay in place without them. I did weave in my ends before blocking but I didn't cut the ends until after blocking. Why? Stretching the finished item will also move the woven in ends and they may pop out or worse, come loose. And if you cut them to short you may be in trouble.



Let it dry and then take it outside for a photo op!



Then begin a new project

HWB update

I didn't realize how BIG Hot Water Bottles are! And take a look at how one Raveler used her fished shapped HWB.

Post 157

If you can't see it, she tented her tomato plant to protect it against frost and used her HWB to keep it warm.

I did purchase one today. Just the basic shaped red one. A bit smaller than I remember. And it wasn't as easy to find as I expected. Neither Bed,Bath&Beyond nor Target had them. Rite Aide had 1 left.

It's warming my toes right now and I don't want to leave it to find yarn to knit a little jacket for it.

Perhaps I should give it a name?

And arm/shoulder update...surgeon released me from his care today (yippee) but I must continue p/t. And I must be careful with driving until I have more movement in my shoulder.

YES!!!!!!

Knitting faster does work! I have about 20 yards of yarn left. Still need to weave in ends and block. Then I'll post a picture.

I asked a question on the Ravelry "Remnant's" board...Hot Water Bottle Covers. I never expected so many responses. Check out the link on page 5, post 110. I'm adding hot water bottle to my Target list. And someone suggested a baby size.

And I've fallen in love with this afghan. Nice carry around project and stash buster. Course you have to sew it together....

Surgeon's appt this afternoon. Fingers crossed he'll let me begin strength exercises.

Jane Austen Shawl update

Just made it to the 1/2 way point.



Am I going to make it?

Shawl update

Jane Austen shawl update: After several attempts to knit it, I had decided that the pattern for attaching/adding/knitting the lace edging was wrong. But the Friday mid morning knitting group straightend me out. What I thought was the bottom is actually the top! I love my knitting group!

I'm using an age old measuring tool to determine how much yarn each lace point will use. I pulled the yarn out as far as my reach will allow 5 times and then knit one repeat of the 8 row pattern. I had just over 1 arm length left. So now I will knit the next point with 4 arm lengths.

Now to knit as fast as I can so that I don't run out of yarn!

Good news!

Received good news about my arm yesterday.

Physical Therapist measured the degrees of movement, compared to day 1 and said I improved very nicely. I now have unassisted exercises to do. Those are the ones where I lift/move my right arm without assistance from my left arm.

Surgeon was pleased with the movement I have and gave me the okay to drive short distances. Yippee!

And puppy class was fun. I stood on the side and observed. Wanna see a cute picture of Primrose? click here!

And there is knitting news. I started the Jane Austen shawl from Cabin Fever using stash yarn (yea me!) Jo Sharp Silk Road DK Tweed. The color is no longer on the pallet page. It's called "Ambrosia" and it's somewhere between "Asparagus" and "BeanShoot". The pattern calls for a chunky yarn so I am doubling the dk.

According to the yarn requirements of the pattern, I'm going to be about 25 yards short....BUT..because you knit on the lace edging after knitting the shawl there are several things I can do...

not put on an edging
crochet an edging
add fringe
knit a different edge
knit a few repeats of the lace edging pull it out & measure how much I really use

...I'll let you know what I decide when I get there. I'm knitting so slowly it's going to be a while before I have to worry about it!

Updates

Thank you Margaret for your Majacraft "Rose" info. I've updated yesterday's post with the info.

Becky, my plans for the cotton is a shawl. Something lacy maybe. Here's her blog with samples and other info. Wolle


I like the Montpelier festival because it is small and you can see everything in a few hours without feeling rushed. We probably got there about 11:30 and had finished shopping by 2:30. And that was taking 2 trips through tents. Trip one was to see, trip two was to purchase! We did buy lunch (barbecue, then picked up "Rose" and were back on the road by 3:30.

So today is arm update. This morning p/t will test my progress and this afternoon it's back to the orthepedic surgeon for his update. Fingers crossed I'll get the okay to drive in a week or so.

And tonight I'll go to puppy class. Fame's mom Debbie is going to pick me up. It will be fun to see how much the babies have grown.

I do still plan to raise a puppy.

Fall Fiber Festival & Dog Trials

Yesterday, bright and early (8:30am!) Artsyfish, Macadoodle and I headed northwest to Montpelier for the 22nd Annual Fall Fiber Festival. We had a beautiful day. No rain. A nice breeze. Lots of sunshine.

Warning: I still cannot raise my right arm high enough to actually see what I'm taking a picture of. Right hand holds camera, left hand presses button. They are what they are.

Much smaller than MS&W



it's a nice size with a nice selection of fiber, yarn, wheels, and animals (rabbits, goats, llamas, alpacas, sheep & dogs)





Artsy went with a mission. She wanted to try out different wheels. She came home with Majacraft "Rose" from Misty Mountain Fibers.



She smiled like this all the way home

Mission Accomplished

Mac was looking for pink yarn. Not much pink out this year. But she did find a nice hand dyed fingering wt. Here she is putting it away.




Mac and I walked around until we saw something new and different. We both fell in love with this cotton from Wolle



Four colors that "blend" into one another. These are the 2 skeins that came home with me.

And I cannot pass up lace wt. especially these 3 skeins from "The Drafting Zone"



It was a super fun day. (I'll come back later and update the brand of wheel Artsy purchased and the store she purchased from. It has left my mind!)

Puppies & Lace

Puppies and Lace...Estonian lace!

A broken shoulder

I found out Tuesday that the sprain/strained arm I have been nursing is acutally a broken shoulder...pout....now it hurs worse than before.

Good news! No surgery..yippee.. It's broken in a place that cannot be splinted so I am keeping it in a sling. It's also in a place that doesn't allow for surgery unless it's a new shoulder, which is not necessary now.

And waiting the 3 weeks did not do any damage. I'll begin Physical Therapy next Friday and go 3 times a week for at least 6 weeks. I may not get full range of motion back.

My neighbor said she would take me to my appoitments for a few weeks until I can feel comfortable driving. It's really hard to reach the gear shift with a bum right arm. And a few friends have emailed to say they'd help me out....Coco and Deb said they'd move up here for me!

Very very nice offer from both, but I think I'm okay for now on my own with drivers.

I'm in a much better mood/place tonight than I was last night. I can plan to go to a few fibery places later in the fall.

Puppy will have to be postponed until after I see how physical therapy works.

Thanks for all the good wishes sent my way.

Puppy Class

Let me introduce you to the newest Puppy Class



Paulsen

Primrose

Maverick

Lynne

Aries

Pile of Puppies



Aries is 16 weeks.
Primrose & Paulsen are 8 weeks and brother & sister
Lynne & Maverick are about 9 weeks