Thursday, June 30, 2011

... I love shopping for yarn at my LYS!

I has so much fun yarn shopping today with a friend from church. Haus of Yarn has a Grand Re-Opening sale today and it was a blast. They had munchies and tons of beautiful yarn. I would like to think I did not do too much of a damage but I did spend! It is fun to spend on yourself! 

I got three yarns and two are for projects. The Malabrigo Lace in the Sauterne colorway is for the Omelet shawl. I wish this shawl had a better name for such a beautiful pattern.

Malabrigo Lace - Sauterne
The second yarn is Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima in the Magenta Colorway for the Tappan Zee Cardigan. My friend, that I went shopping with, made this cardigan and I love it so I wanted to make my own. I hope I can get through a cardigan sized project.

Cascade Ultra Pima - Magenta
The last yarn is made locally by Chrysalis Fibers aka Chris Lannan. I found out from my LYS that she does knitting nights there every so often. I might try to go to meet her because I love her colors and love to support local indie dyers if I can. The color caught my eye and had to compete with a red and black colorway for my attention but you know which one I went with. My favorite colors of blue and purple in the Miracle Max colorway for her Super Sock Yarn. I do not know what this will become but I look forward to making a beautiful shawl.
So that is all the yarnie goodness I got today! Aren't they beautiful, could you pass them up?
After shopping I joined my friend with her son and hubbie for lunch of yummie mexican food. By that time I was so tired but was so excited to put up my yarn on my Ravelry stash. But I got home and ended up going straight upstairs to bed and reading a knitting book for a while then falling asleep for about 2 hours. It felt so good to get nap attacked after a fun morning for shopping with a great friend.

I hope all of you had a great Thursday also and I look forward to having the hubbie home for three days this long weekend. Much love and take care, till next time.

Monday, June 27, 2011

... I love Birthday weeks

Thanks to all my family and friends that wished me happy birthday on Facebook.
It is hard to believe that two years ago on June 19th, 2009 I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension. I have been blessed to be doing so well the last two years without any complications. I know by success is due to the prayers and great thoughts from family and friends all over the world. Thank you!
Two years ago I did not know what would be the next step for my diagnosis since I just spent a whole week in the hospital getting tests after tests done to figure out the reason for my PH. All I knew is that the only positive side effect of my diagnosis was the lost of 30 pounds of retained fluid in my tissues. I did feel better without that extra weight but We (the hubby and myself) were still overwhelmed with what got thrown at us. Boy I still get teary eyed when I think of those days but I wipe the tears and smile at my future that the doctors have given me. I thank the Lord each day for his grace to let me live my life at this moment with my wonderful and supportive husband and two noisy dogs. And I thank everyone that has supported me through these rough times, I will not be able to say thank you enough for the rest of my god given life to express my love for all of you.

Are you getting teary eyed with me now? Sorry =0\

The future is what you make of it, don't let heartbreak or illness or hardtimes keep you down-Look up to the sky to our Creator and he will listen to you always (I know).

Goodnite and have a great week!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

... I am pondering on what to do for my birthday week.

Yes this year I am celebrating my birthday week. The hubbie does not need to know! So what do I do? Well first off I know on Thursday there is 'some' yarn shopping at my LYS (Local Yarn Shop) Haus of Yarn for their Grand Re-opening Sale. I am so looking forward to shopping with my friend and her son to look for some discounted and fun, colorful yarnie goodness. Then secondly I am thinking of what to do for the actual day? Dinner out with the hubbie or cook something at home and have a quiet night at home with some knitting? Maybe we should go out tonight (Sunday) and make something special tomorrow. We will see... Lastly I might have lunch plans for Wednesday with another friend and her two daughters. That would be fun to see all of them this week. Nothing else as of right now for the week but I would love to do more if my body  is up for it.

Knitting is going well when I can get to it and work on the many projects I have on the needles. The yellow cabled mitts are finally done.

Only took me 'forever' to finish the second one. I am a knitter that cannot finish a pair of anything one at a time so I will try two at a time whatevers from now on. So that is one of many off the needles
The other 3 are still going but I added one on Friday to the list. (I got one off so I needed to add another) This is another Summer Shawl KAL by Anne Kuo Lukito and this should come out beautiful with the leaf pattern and the blue/ green yarn I am using.
Well hope all have a great week ahead and I hope the doggies don't leave me any birthday 'surprises' in the house. Much Love!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

... I hate staying at home because I have to.

My vehicle broke down on Monday and now I have to stay home because I have nothing to drive. Monday was so hectic because of this stupid vehicle. I was driving along and all of a sudden there is no more acceleration because the engine cut off in the middle of the road. Luckily I was not going fast and it was on a side road. But I was stuck on the lane and could not get the vehicle to restart. I count my blessings that a gentleman stopped to help push the vehicle to the side of the road and luckily two other gentlemen stopped to help him. I know I could not help push since it was hot and it would have been too much for me to do. So finally I am on the side of the road and a friend from church rescued me from the heat (I called her first thing since I knew she lived near by) and I started calling for a tow truck to rescue my vehicle. The wait for the tower was 90 minutes and my friend decided we should wait at her house (in the AC) until they called me. So finally the tower came and took the vehicle to the car shop nearby and this is around 5:30 pm. I know the shop would not be able to get to the vehicle until the next day.

I have been home since yesterday and waited all day for the shop to call. I called them around 4:30 pm yesterday and they informed me that they have not had a chance to look at it and the guy that does the diagnostics is off tomorrow. The guy that I was talking with at the time told be he tried to start the vehicle and it started then died. I informed him that is my problem and I cannot drive it. He has the nerve to ask me if I want to leave it there until Thursday since that is the earliest that the guy can look at. Really?? It does not start nor do I have any use for it at the house if it does not start???? What other choice do I have but to leave it there for you to let it take up space at your shop? So I am stuck at home for all today and all tomorrow since I still don't know what is wrong with it and they have yet to diagnosis it. Ugh I just hope it does not cost too much to repair or it is being sold as scrap metal and we are fixing my car (it is also broken and sitting at the house for a year). Car are like men, can't live without them but they are useful (sometimes).

So to say the least I am getting alot of knitting done the next couple of days if only I can stay focused. When I HAVE to knit to take up time I do not WANT to knit. Major problem for the next couple of days. The hubby did get me to work for him today which took some of my time.

I hope you are having a better week than me! Sorry about the rant.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

... I enjoyed seeing family.

My hubby's aunt stopped by to see us with her family yesterday. We enjoyed seeing them and their son Teddy. Boy he has gotten big from the last time I saw him which was about 3-4 years ago. It is interesting to have an image of someone from years back and be suprised when they have grown up and changed. I think next year he will be taller than me and he is only 8 years old. Sorry no pictures to share but I hope his mom sends me the ones she took.
The whole time Teddy was at the house he was enjoying the XBOX Kinect. He first played some Kinect Adventures, which has games to navigate rapids, dodge obstacles, plug up leaks in a tank. He enjoyed that with the hubby and then asked if we have dancing games. Which in fact we do, the Dance Central is a fun game since you have to dance simultaneously with the dancer on tv. He loved this game so much and played this for the 1.5 hours they were here. It was fun watching him do the complicated dance moves and he would complete about 20% of the moves on his first try without rehearsing the moves. I was totally amazed. It was so much fun to see them and I wish they could of stayed longer but when you are away from your routine for 11 days, I think you are ready to get back in your own bed.

Today I had so much fun talking to my sis via Skype. I love this technology since I get to see her beautiful face and hear her laughter. Plus a bonus to see my Papa playing his guitar and Dash (their dog) hide under the chair. We talked for 1 hour and 45 minutes. So much fun and so much to talk about, who knew we had so much to babble about. Here are some pics she snapped of me while we were having fun talking.
Gadget giving me his 'I am not guilty' look

Gadget's booty shot

Gizmo's booty shot

me being weird
As you can tell the doggies were totally involved in our conversation.

Then later on my sis sent some pictures of my papa's condo in the Philippines. Here are some photos to enjoy:
Kitchen

View from the condo
Papa thinks me and the hubbie should go to the Philippines and stay at the condo. I do not think he realizes that the hubbie would be the tallest whitest person in Cebu and that the 12 hour flight there might not work for my PH. I would love to go but with this disease, I am not too sure about it and with the air quality there also would not help my situation. I think I need to go there when I am off the IV meds and can get into the water and enjoy the beaches and ocean. Why go to the Philippines if I cannot enjoy the water??? The food is a great excuse but I cannot even eat a quarter of the food there with my low sodium restriction. Ugh but maybe in the future.

Knitting is still going slow with the 4 different projects going on.

Hope everyone had a great weekend, it rained here alot which we needed, and have a great week ahead.

Friday, June 17, 2011

... I am making more and more bags.

I am a bag making machine the last couple of days. I love these new prints and can't wait to make more in different colors. If you want one please message me through Facebook or e-mail me. I would love to make one for you for a donation to Pulmonary Hypertension.



On the knitting front, I am working on too many projects at one time since I cannot make up my mind on what I want to work on. Four Projects are on the needles: 1- Wisteria Shetland Pi Shawl, 2-LSU Summer, 3-Sunney Eyelet Mitts, and 4-Kaleidoscope Oaklet Shawl. Is that too many?? Well we will see how long it will take me to get them done.

Happy Friday to you all.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

... I am enjoying my new 'sheep'.

Yes I have sheep now! See them below.
Sleepy little lamb

A bit embarrassed?

'I hate you Mommy'

'Really??'

'I am just going to ignore you!'

Shy Lamb
Notice the ears sticking out of the top?

Not Again??
That is my new herd. The thingy on their head is part of a puppet that a friend bought. She got a wolf puppet that had sheep clothing. She gave me the sheep for the doggies and I think they liked it. Your thoughts? They are not exactly wolves in sheep clothing but that is about as close as I get to having my own sheep for wool.

Little done at knitting night at church since I had to help a friend get some tangles out of her yarn. It never fails to happen to the best of us even though you have all the gadgets and gizmos (not my Gadget or Gizmo) in the world to help you out. Does it really help or sometimes make life worse or tangled? Well to each their own on that topic. Knitting a couple of shawls and spinning a bit is ongoing. Hope to have pictures up soon on those.

The doggies hope that made your Tuesday and have a great rest of the week.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

... I am shopping.

Since I had lots of free time today I decided to do a bit of shopping. First went to Bliss Yarns to look at their sock yarn selection and found ShiBui Knits Sock yarn in the Pebble Colorway. Then went to the mall for my one destination, Victoria Secret, which I had several coupons for and used them all to get some great stuff. Then had dinner at McDougal's Chicken and shopped around Joann's to look for some prints to make more bags. So look forward to the new prints soon.
I am so tired from shopping and trying to fight this cold. I know I should of stayed home but I needed to get away from the doggies since the hubbie got away from me for the weekend. He is enjoying his Halo LAN Party in OH and is eating great food and playing lots of video games.
Today's post is short due to the tiredness and the doggies are going crazy because a couple of deers just passed by. Hope you are having a great weekend and stay cool!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

... I love to watch the hubbie do yard work.

I love it when the hubbie likes to work on the house and yard because whatever he comes up with in his cleaver mind is great looking. Last year we had to tear down the back patio of our rental house and the hubbie did not want to toss the wood in the dumpster so he stock piled it at our new house. Well he finally put some use to the old railings with a new 'fence'. I love the look of it with our Georgian style house and the newly planted wildflowers that are blooming.
New Fence

The Homestead


The only thing that bothers me from enjoying my flowers and surrounding is those darn 'no see ums' bugs. They are like little gnats that you can't see but you can for sure feel them biting you. They are totally annoying and they attacked the hubbie today while he was mowing the yard. He came in to take a shower and his legs were covered in red dots where these bugs attacked him. Not cool!

I guess that could be another deterent to going outside in the heat! Well enjoy your Wednesday and see you next time. Take Care!

Monday, June 6, 2011

... I am watering the flowers and herbs.

It has been so hot lately here in TN that the lawn and flowers need to be watered everyday. We have some wildflowers along our drive that we planted by seed this spring that they are looking great. Can't wait for the subflowers to bloom!!! These flowers will provide seeds for the birdies in the future and we shall enjoy the company of many songbirds.

I have finished the Summer Mystery Shawlette by WendyKnits (Wendy Johnson) yesterday and just finished blocking and drying today.



I also had a busy morning of sewing more bags since I have gotten requests from friends when I showed them off at the church picnic on Saturday afternoon. Here are some pictures of those too...


It is amazing how much time it takes to make these but I love them and I hope you do too. The square pattern bag is for a friend but the other two are looking for homes.

Spinning is going on again with Gale's Art Black Blueface in Gumball colorway. It is 4 oz of fun and cannot wait to get this done and plied to see what I come out with. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

... I am enjoying my reblooming Orchid

I do not know how I did it but I got my orchid to rebloom. My Lovely, Generous, and Awesome Mother In Law gave me this orchid last summer/ fall and it has been sitting near the fireplace all fall and winter. Then it decided to re-bloom for me this spring. I am so excited because I have heard that getting orchids to rebloom is hard or even impossible. Don't ask for my secrets because I do not know what they are other than forgetting about the plant and maybe watering it twice a month. No special treatment or feedings just a couple of ice cubes when I remember. The pictures below are before the second bloom opened and I noticed I might have 2 or 3 more blooms coming out in the future.


The doggies have been loving the front yard since they get to play ball more and guard the house of passer-byers.

Who's Here???

The hot weather is tiring them out quicker. Although Gizmo cannot resist the ball chasing for long and when her body has had enough this is what she looks like. Plopped down and exhausted.

Look at that tongue sticking out
I finally finished my AlohaBlu fiber in the Sangria Colorway. Total yardage is about 400 and maybe fingering weight (not sure since I do not have a WPI tool). I LOVE how it turned out and look forward to getting more fiber from her soon.


Hope Everyone has a great weekend!!! Stay Cool!

Friday, June 3, 2011

... I am sewing project bags

Since I did not want to knit on my Summer Mystery Shawlette, I worked on some project bags on my sewing machine. It took atleast half a day for finish 3 bags, shown below.


I hope my friends like them. I am doing these for donations to PH and to keep myself busy and out of trouble. Hope you like them.

Short post since it is 4 minutes to midnight here at the house and doggies are ready for bed. Weather has been so hot that they have no stamina to play ball during the day so they chase each other through the house. It is annoying but gets some energy out of them.

Hope all have a great weekend and stay cool and tornado free!