Well Begun Is Half Done

Ginny's Socks Half Done

(on Little Miss Sarah's tiny foot)

I am really getting a lot of satisfaction in finishing up these unfinished projects!  Like the sense of accomplishment one gets from cleaning up and getting rid of the clutter.  Except that I hate cleaning and I love knitting!

I am working hard on Ginny's socks so that I don't lose momentum. 

Rebekah, Sarah and I finished our first little Easter eggs but haven't stuffed them yet.  Right now they resemble Chinese lanterns or Christmas bulbs but I am hoping they will look like eggs when they are filled.  Pictures will follow when that happens. :)

I am thinking of starting the Master Cleanse soon.  I really love the cleanse and it will be good for Lent.  My sister has been inspiring me by cleansing away and my neighbor called this morning looking for a good source for maple syrup.  I hear the Cleanse calling my name!

Phantom of the Opera is going so well at the high school.  Really, amazingly well.  Theresa is enjoying being in it and we are enjoying watching and listening.  Spellbound!

Hello, all!

Hello, all!  I hope you are well!
Today is one of those crazy spring days.  The forecast said rain and snow starting after lunch time.  While it was nice out, Sarah and I walked in the cemetery.  Here are a couple of pictures to prove it:

She is wearing a hat and scarf set that I made in my first few weeks as a knitter, about 9 years ago.  I used some sort of wool-blend boucle yarn.  Cool, eh?  I mean, warm, eh?
It may sound strange to walk in a cemetery, but ours is very beautiful and peaceful.  There are squirrels and deer and robins, none of them the slightest bit concerned about the occasional human.  Yesterday, I saw a robin pulling a worm out of the ground as I walked past.  So weird!

Well, my "works-in-progress" are coming along nicely.  I am almost done with Ginny's first sock, the re-do.  I am very happy with it.  The knitting has been enjoyable, too.
I made a new knitting friend on Ravelry who is from Birmingham, England.  She sent me mini-hot water bottles that she got at Poundland (This is the equivalent of the Dollar Store for you, Americans.  I am unreasonably amused by that).  I sent her yarn from the USA.  I don't know what it is about knitters, but they are the best bunch of people in the world!  Thanks, my new friend!
I have also been working on my novel.  This causes me to walk around in a sort-of haze of thought all day.  I haven't yet acquired the ability to confine my writing to specific times of the day.  Once I get going, I can't seem to stop!  Worst of all, I get the best ideas at mass.  Agh!

Saturday Morning Knit-Along

This morning, the girls and I are having an impromptu knit-along.

I finished a work-in-progress pair of socks last night.  Yay!  Today, I am working on Ginny's socks.  Double Yay!

If you have been reading for a while, you may remember that I started them in October for her birthday.  To be absolutely honest, I don't like how they were coming out.  I was using size 0 and Brown Sheep sock yarn.  It was too tight and the yarn was splitty.  Sooo, I restarted them today using size 1 needles and my favorite sock yarn, Froehlich.  Same color.  It's worth the restart.  They are too intricate not to be perfect.  Now I will be happy!  In this next picture you can see the unknit sock on my umbrella swift:

The girls and I are making Easter eggs.  Great way to use up left over sock yarn!

Knitted Easter Eggs

(picture is from the pattern)

This week, my kitchen faucet broke.  While waiting for the necessary parts to come, I am hauling water from the bathroom.  Like camping except, you know, not.  My friend reminded me that it's another Lenten sacrifice and that made me feel much better about it!

Happy knitting!

Wishing you were here!

Hello, everyone!  Today, I wish that all of my cyber friends could come over and visit.  I am grateful that the Internet makes it possible for me to connect with my family and friends and for me to make new friends all over the world.  But___There really is no substitute for a good old fashioned face-to-face visit, you know?  And I miss so many of you!

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday so we had a little family celebration and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and then she was off to dressed rehearsal.  Now it's quiet except for the sound of heavy artillery being fired in my son's Xbox game.  Hmm...

Here is the last HWB cover for a while:

Spring is inspiring me not only to clean, but to finish my works-in-progress.  I enjoy having many knitting projects on needles at all times but some of my little dears have been waiting to be finished for far too long!

I hope that if you are celebrating Lent (if celebrating is the word I mean) that it is going well for you.  I am feeling like my Lent needs a shot in the arm so I am going to go to Stations of the Cross tomorrow night.  Somebody ask me on Saturday if I did!

Getting a Head Start

Hello!  Today I finished up a little project for next Christmas.  

Christmas Cozy

Made with Dale of Norway Heilo

I used left-over yarn so it was free!  Aren't the Santas adorable?

Not much news-worthy going on here.  Well, tomorrow is the dressed-rehearsal for Phantom of the Opera at my daughter's high school.  Their school was one of only 4 in the USA given the rights to perform the full play, so she is very excited to be involved. 

My sister's father-in-law died on Sunday so she and her hubby are driving out for the funeral.  We are praying for and thinking of you, Susie and Bill!

Our lovely spring weather is going away to be replaced by snow and cold.  Terrible to be teased!

Blessings to you and yours!

Freedom Spirit

Hello!  How are all of you?

Today I am understanding the motivation behind "spring cleaning."  There is something about this weather that makes me feel that all should be new and clean and fresh.  I have never really grasped the ritual of spring cleaning because as soon as it's nice out, wouldn't we all rather be out?  I mean, it makes more sense to clean all winter while your cooped-up in the house anyway.  Well, the wisdom is with our ancestors who, like me, couldn't care less how messy the house was getting all of December, January and February.  They just wanted to cuttle up with their tea, knitting and how water bottle!

Here is something new in my yarn stash:

Freedom Spirit

I am feeling the freedom spirit today!  It is 100% wool, soft and self-striping.  Mmmm!

Black Cherry Ice Cream

I call it Black Cherry Ice Cream and it's going to be a...

 Hot Water Bottle Cozy

(Don't judge me!  Acquiring moderation is a process.  Anyway, St. Francis said, "Do few things but do them well").
It's Jo Sharp Kid Mohair and Elsebeth Lavold Baby Llama

I hope that you are all well, especially if your life has been affected by the recent earthquake/tsunami.  I am inspired by the number of knitters turning their talents toward helping in some way.  If any of you are doing so, I'd love for you to share it in the comments.

The weather is fine again today so the Cupcake Sales of 2011 have begun.

My children have taken financial matters into their own hands.  First, it was lemonade sales, but realizing the better profit margin of cupcakes, they switched to baking.  Of course, my older 3 kids outgrew the cuteness required for sidewalk sales and have moved on to "real" jobs.  But Little Sarah is out there today pushing her wares in order to take Theresa out for Chinese food for her birthday.  Sweet, eh?

Serena and Seventy Degrees

Hello, friends!  I am finally over my cold, thank heavens!  And it's 70 degrees today!  Lots to be grateful for.

I started a group on Ravelry for fans of hot water bottles.  Seemed appropriate since I am so obsessed, I mean passionate about mine.  I am so happy with our little group.  After only a few days we have almost 100 members from all over the globe, posting our pictures, chatting about knitting.  I am enjoying it immensely.

Today, I told my 16 year old son that he was making dinner.  This required him to take the Pillsbury pizza dough out of the roll, put it on a pan and top with canned sauce and a bag of cheese.  He didn't want to, but his friends were here and they were all, "I love to make pizza."  I decided that each of my kids will make dinner once a week.  They plan and prepare 4 meals a month.  Sounds good to me.  Baby steps to having the kids do all of my work!

Last month I bought a new yarn and wanted to show you.  Really, I want you to feel it.  Some kind of wonderful:

Manos del Uruguay Serena

This yarn is made by a cooperative of women in rural Uruguay.  It makes it possible for them to get a fair wage.  That would be a good reason to buy a decent yarn, but Serena leaves decent yarn in the dust.  It's alpaca and cotton and so soft.

Note:  It says dk weight but I got 6 sts per inch holding 2 strands together using US size 5.  It's really fingering weight.

Head Cold and More HWBs

Hello all!  Sorry no blogging for ages but I have a violent head cold and am in bed.  I have been knitting, though:

More HWB covers.

I know.  I have knit more covers than I have acquaintances who actually use hot water bottles.  I am addicted to their cute little sweaterliness.  The one on the left is made with Elsebeth Lavold's Baby Lama and Rowan Kid Classic.  Very soft and cuddly.  The right hand one is made with angora and alpaca and is beyond soft and cuddly.  Must be felt to be believed!  Luckily it is still cold enough to use them.  But not for long!