Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas and their dreams all came true this season. We all have so much to be grateful for with friends and family around us what more can we wish for. This year I didn't have to work, except for the work in the kitchen but that is a labor of love this year. Both the boys were at home, I don't know how long that is going to happen with girlfriends and their families. So I'm thank full for the time I will get to have with them at the holidays.
I cooked, cleaned up and I have a very full tummy. I tired to knit but all I wanted to do was sleep. Yesterday wore me out. We had a good dinner crowd at the restaurant. It was the first time that it was open for dinner on Christmas Eve. Of course is helped being one of the only places open for dinner in Lynden. So now Tony will be open all the time.
Well I'm off to bed have a great evening and the best of time for the rest of this year. I hope to be back again before the count down but if not have a safe and wonderful New Years Eve.
Happily knitting socks, Bye.

End of Year

I can't believe that the year is almost over and it seems like it just began. 2010 is almost upon us. I don't know if its been a great year of not but its been a year of a lot of different things going on in my life. But the main thing is that I'm glad for my family and all my friends, here and there, scattered all over the world. This time of the year always makes me reflected on what I have and what I have to be so thankful for. I don't always say Thank you, as much as I should. So I want to say Thank You to everyone that reads my blog because I know you have better things to do then to read what I have to say. So thank you one and all for taking your time to read this.  So on to knitting.

I've got a few finished items since I last blogged, so here goes.

I finished The Teen Paw Tracks, the yarn is Spud & Chloë Fine, a 80% superwash wool and 20% silk blend and nice yarn to knit with, a little splitty but not bad. This pair of socks are for a teen that is why the bright colors and the two colors. I hope she will like them.

Next I finished my Rivulets of Pineapples, the yarn is from Craft Meow, Soft Serve. The pattern is Rivulets Socks by Wendy D. Johnson. A great and easy pattern to memorize and to knit. It is a toe up with a heel flap and gusset.

I also got Abby's socks done. The pattern is African Lace, the yarn is by Perchance to Knit in Sultry. I love how this pair of socks turned out I am also making a small pair for her niece is the same pattern. When I mean small I mean newborn size I've got one done and working on the second one. I should have it done tonight.

For a real quick project I needed something to put into the knit bag to knit on in between shifts. I decided to knit a pair of fingerless gloves. These are so easy and fast to make. I cast on Saturday and they are done on Sunday. I used Noro Silk Garden in their cream colors. The pattern is a basic k1 p1 then knit the body and a quick increase the pattern is by Michelle Molis.

So now I have to cast on here are a few of the projects that I'm going to cast on.

The first one is Angee by Cookie A. the yarn is Wool Candy Cerises

The next cast on is Heart to Heart Beaded Scarf by Sivia Harding yarn from Mama Llama in

Silvia's Teal 100% cashmere. Which is yummy to handle.

I want to cast on another pair of fingerless glove using Noro Silk Garden Lite.  This pair should knit up just as fast as the last pair. So maybe I'll have a few pairs to give away. Who knows what I'll do with them but the yarn is fun to work with and has long repeats so you can't make them matching but that's the fun of it.

So that is it for now, keep warm have a GREAT CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Happily knitting socks and other things, Bye

Socks, Yarn, and Whatever

O.K. I've been bad. Work gets in the way and I just don't have as much time in the day. Why can't we have just 2 maybe 4 more hours a day to do just what we want to do. Time no one can take from us, time that we can do what ever we wanted. No strings attached, time just for me. So, I can't get it, so I'll just take what I can get.

I have been knitting and can show you one or two pictures there. Here is a picture of the socks I'm working on for Abby. The yarn when I seen it for some reason reminded me of her. The colorway is Sultry and the pattern is African Lace. This is a fun pattern and the lace pattern runs down the side of the leg. I am glad that the pooling turn out this way after several other pattern attempts this one turned out. I'm on the second sock and am at the heel flap I hope to get it done this next week. I'm also working on a test knit for a mystery sock kal that will start sometime the first of the new year. This pattern is great and looks good. I'll post a picture when I get permission. I also finished a pair of socks for Buffalo Gold. I got to learn how to knit with beads so it was a fun pair of socks to knit and to knit with buffalo these will make a great pair of sock and oh so warm. 

I'm almost done with this pair of socks, working up the leg. I don't work on this pair as often they are my travel socks, always in the purse so I pull them out and work a row of two when ever I get a chance. But they are coming along and should have them done shortly.  I still have one more pair of socks to get done before Christmas. The pattern I choose is easy and I should be able to get it done fairly fast.  I have decided that the new year I'm going to kit a few items just for me. I want to knit a beaded scarf, some fingerless gloves, maybe a hat? But what ever I do the first few items will be for me and not the sock bag or to go to someone else.

I bought some cedar ball for my sock yarn drawers. So I got to empty the drawers and look at all my yarn OMG I think I've got a little bit to much. One day I need to destash but I don't know if I can part with any of it. I now have 4 large drawers and 2 under the bed bins. It just might be time to stop, no I can't  s-t-o-p, that is one of those four letter words that can't, won't be used when it come to yarn.  So maybe I'll slow down a little,              just a little,        maybe.

On Thanksgiving, after dinner we went to the restaurant and made the place feel a little like Christmas, put up a few lights, a tree, and some garland. It was fun. Chris and I did the tree we had fun and it went fast with the two of us. I think we did a good job. Tony put up the lights. He needs to put up few more and then the place will be done. The crew likes what we did, so I guess that's good.

We have been busy as long as it stays that way all we be good this holiday season. We that's about it for now I've got to get to my laundry and cleaning this house. Maybe I should think about decorating but all my decorations are at the Nuthouse.

So keep warm and tose sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye

The Nuthouse Grill

Things at the work are going good. It's been slow this week but that is the business, good weeks and slow weeks. You just have to roll with the punches. Tony is having problems with that factor, as an owner he wants more but don't we all.

Shair and her family were up here last weekend and they stopped by had dinner. They had to have a picture outside the building. It was cold and a little windy. It was good to see them and we had a great visit. so now that they know where we are hopefully they won't be strangers. I know Arizona is now that close but when they are in the area. It's fun to see family and friends.

At Halloween we had a scary pirate handing out candy. We're not for sure where he came from but we found him wondering around the restaurant. He wound up in the kitchen I don't know if he was begging for food or just bothering the kitchen help. they had to chase him out out the kitchen. 

Of course he found the hostess and hung out at the hostess stand. They at least got some work done. I'm not kidding he just won't go away, he stayed for most of the evening. Mom finally took the Old Pirate home. Dad did a great job, he did scare a few little kids.

We will be closed on Thanksgiving, so I guess I have to cook a dinner something I haven't done in long time. I've always had to work, so now I get to cook should be fun. I love turkey leftovers.

Well that it on the Restaurant. I'll update on my knitting and sock yarn clubs next. Keep dry and warm, keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Spinning

It's been awhile so I'm going to do this in several post, hopefully this week but who knows with my crazy life.

Last week I had lunch with the girls from my knitting group from the Sumas library. We went to one of the gals home. Audry has the most gorgeous log cabin, she took us for a tour around and she is the most crafty person I think I know. The most beautiful quilts, hook rug, pine needle baskets and so much more. She thinks she's not good at anything how little she knows, I would love to have half her talent. She also spins her own yarn. Audry has been showing me how to spin on a wheel and she let me bring it home. OMG I love spinning on a wheel. I am slowly getting the hang of it and am having a blast. It make me want one more now I have to decide what I want. OK I'm getting ahead of myself. I still  need to get the hang of it now but I am enjoying myself. Here is a picture of my single ply spinning. It's not even or spun consistent but I'm making string for now.

I'm using roving that I got with some of my first spindles, it's not the greatest but its good to play with and to figure out what I'm doing. I've got some nicer roving but I don't want to play with it.

OK Gena, let me know how you are doing?

You've got a wheel so its time to practice and start to make some string. then to take the string and make into yarn. take the yarn and make it into something.

Well that's what I've been doing in my spinning world.

Keep warm and those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Mom and Dad

Well that time of year has come and Mom and Dad have left for California, they should be there now. Life around is a little bit quieter, no one knocking at the door, tapping at my window. Tony says it's to quiet also at the restaurant. So they've been gone only a few days and their missing presence is missed.
I've been knitting and will get into that later today. Work is calling and I have to get ready.

Where Has the Time Gone.

I can't believe another month is about to end and I've been I don't know where. O.K. I really know I've been on Face book, I've admitted it. I have enjoyed the stupid little games you get sucked into, Farm-ville, Cafe World, and so many others. But if you are on Face book feel free to make me a friend. We can play silly game together they do take up time.

Things at the restaurant are going great. Business has been good and it is becoming my only life. It seems like when ever I make plans someone get sick and I have to work. That's the way it goes, I guess. Tony and Dad have been making changes since I last posted pictures, they have been painting, putting up new doors and now they are going to put up some saloon doors. The whole atmosphere is becoming more homey and more to the families liking.

So you can see they have been busy. I don't know what Tony's going to do when Dad and Mom head back to California. Which is coming soon, Mom has gotten her release from the Dr. Woo, her knee doctor, so they can head back anytime.

Last Friday I did have a girls day out. YEA!!!! Debi Woods and I went to Local Yarn Shops, it was fun. We headed down to Burlington to Knot Just Yarn, didn't see any thing we wanted so we headed to Mt. Vernon to Wild Fibers. I found a yarn that I hadn't seen before, it's called Spud & Chloe. This yarn is a fine sock, from Peru,  the blend is 80% superwash wool and 20% silk. The colors are bright and bold, I'm going to knit the toe and heels out of the blue and the body in fuschia. The socks will be for a young lady, she's thirteen so these colors will look good. I'm also thinking about using the pattern Double Bubble. Debi and I then headed out to Anacortes to Ana-Cross Stitch, a great shop.  We didn't buy anything but I did like the shop and checked out the book Joy of Sox. A must have for my collection of books. We arounded out the day by going to Beach Basket Yarn & Gifts in Birch Bay for their knitting hour. They have a great group of ladies to knit with I have enjoyed going out there on Friday, so if you are in the area stop by they are knitting from 3 - 5 pm. I ended the evening at the Nuthouse Grill for a steak and beer a great day.

I've been meaning to blog this because I love this picture. We have a large Walnut tree and this year there was a lot of nuts on the tree. Every year we have problems with the crows, getting into the tree and taking all the nuts. I run outside yelling and screaming at them like a mad woman all the time to chase them out of the tree. This year Dad came up with a different plan......... Hide in a the trees and wait and shoot. OK some times it works and sometimes not so well. He still hasn't gotten one but still trying. We have gotten almost all the nuts now and will be leaving the rest for the crows. so we do share I just wish they would wait till we let them have their share.

Well that's it for now. Keep warm and those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Oz Sock Club

I can't believe how slow I have been a blogging I forgot to show off my latest Oz kit. The Emerald City arrive this month. so here are the wonderful item we got. Jen from Woolgirl does such a fantastic job on putting these kit together that you have to but them. I can't wait for them to arrive. She uses different dyers for all the kits so you get to try different yarn which is what I love.

The Emerald City featured "That's a Horse of a Different Color!"

The Yarn is by Amy of Madelinetoch the skein is called "Emerald City" there is a mix of emerald greens and blues run through it. LOVE IT!!!!!! The sock pattern is by Kristi Schueler of Designedly, Kristi. The great columns of Emerald City are represented on these socks with a strong syncopated rib which is adorned at both the base (toes) and summit (cuff) with emerald cut gems formed by a unique traveling stitch pattern. This pattern looks very intriguing, I'll cast on one day. We got an Emerald City knitting accessory bag sewn by Sheila D. The is is great because when you open it the inside has the Emerald City fabric.

Jen looks at all the details in her clubs and the extras are what brings everyone back to her clubs. Here is some of the extras. An "Emerald City" pen with a built in green highlighter! 3 mini notepads designed by Christ of Kick Ass Paper Crafts. "A horse of a different color" gift tags designed by Heidi from Simply Stamped.

A detailed "Emerald City" designed by Jillian form Wee Ones. As Jen puts it"I think it's really cool at how the entire Emerald City scene is summed up on this one "uber" tiny stitch marker. A bar of glycerin base soap with jewels inbedded in them, the scent is Cucumber & Ivy yummy by Sunny Day Creations. A mini "Emerald City" tin with a present inside. The tin was designed by Natalie of Favors for You.

Inside the tin is a silver plated "Emerald City" brooch pin designed by Sweetheart Sinner Creations.

As you can see why Jen's kits are the best. All the extra items she finds on Etsy a great place to find all your crafting needs. But the research and time she has to put into finding all these items is unbelievable and to think of all the different kits she put out, this month alone she had 5 or 6 kits going out in the mail and each group is large.

This month I also got my prize from Raining Carts and Dogs Sock Club questioner. It was for a sock bag in the cats and dog theme but here is what I got.
A cute pink bag with Scottie dogs, lots of stickers, dog bone candies and the cutest cat tape dispenser. I couldn't believe low cute it is.

Like I have said Jen is the greatest!!!!!! I will be a customer forever. She has an actual shop now instead of working out of her house. So one day I will go down and see her new place.

That's about it now so keep warm and those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Where Has October Gone - WIP

OMG this month has flown by and I'm not moving as fast as the days go by. It's almost Halloween and before I'll know it will be Christmas. Life at the restaurant is going well. I've worked into a actual schedule I work 5 days a week and work 7 shifts in those 5 days so it makes for an interesting week.

Last week, part of my family was here, Paula and her husband, Phil. They came up for the football game on Sunday, Seahawks vs The Jags. YEA SEAHAWKS, we won kicked some Jag. butt. It was a good time visiting with them here is a picture of the group at the Nuthouse. In the picture is from left to right.

Dad, Gena, Me, Mom, Debi Woods, Paula, Phil and Ken Woods. We had a fun filled evening. There was a band that night for Lynden's First Music Festival.

It was good to see Paula and Phil I don't get to visit with them ever so it was a special weekend.

My kitting has been kinds slow, I've had a cold that has been hanging around and not fully hitting me but I'm on the mend and feel so much better so hopefully I'll feel like knitting. So far off the needle this month, I finished my Sunday Swing Socks.

I used Yarn Pirate Rum Runner, this pattern is from Knitty an online magazine that has great patterns this was an extra one for summer. I feel like this pair took forever but they were my travel socks so they didn't get a lot of work.

I have one sock done on my Unholey Monkey socks this is a spin of Cookie A.'s Monkey sock. I used yarn from my stash that has been there for a little over a year. This yarn is from Sock Pixie, she dyes a different color scheme each week. This yarn is called Kate Chopin, it is a Merino superwash. I love her yarn is is a tight yarn so it doesn't split when you tink back of drop a stitch. Here is a close-up of the unholey Monkey see no holes. This is a fun fun pattern. If you want something easy and still a bit of a challenge. This is it and it works great with all the wild colors in the stash. Now I can do Monkeys, No Purl Monkey and Unholey Monkeys what will they come up with next.

Also off the needles I finished this sample knit. It was a easy

fast knit. I had to go out and buy needles to make this I don't have dpn's or circular size 9's. So now I have a circular. I don't know if I would make it again but it was fun. I'm not into stockinette knitting for long periods of time, ok not that long it did take me 4 days to finish. Its done and on its way out the door.

That about all my knitting for now. I've done a little spinning still working on the same roving. I showed Gena how I ply my yarn.

I'll be back soon. So keep warm and those needle aclickn'

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

My Life

I sit an ponder how fast time is flying by me. I've been at the Nuthouse almost 1 month and away from the Best Western, life sure seems strange. I don't really miss my job but I do miss the people I work with and I do miss them. I have made new work Friends at the restaurant but they are not the same as people you have worked with for so long.That they have been part of my family for 8 years. I know I will grow more attached to these people but till then I will miss the BW family.
My job is keeping me busy, I never know what I will be working from day to day. Is someone calling in sick, they can't work that shift so I get more shifts sometimes then I need. But I will keep working and hoping for the best. Like to day one of the girls call and say I can't work tonight can you cover my shift and I'll work yours. So here I am still up and I have to be at work tomorrow am. It's a short shift and then Thursday I will work all day, picked up a Friday night shift, and then work a lunch shift and a dinner shift on Saturday. So lets hope no one gets sick this week.
I still try to find a little time to knit and spin. I have a new test knit job, this one is for Knit Picks, I will actually make dollars instead of yarn. I still would rather knit for yarn. Well I guess I should be heading to bed If I plan to work tomorrow. So keep those sticks aclickn'.
Happily knitting socks or spinning, Bye.

Spinning

My new fun thing to do is to spin on a spindle. It is just as relaxing as knitting. I love the feel of making my own yarn. So I have been buying some roving. When I got back from sock summit I ordered from Optic Fiber, Grape Hyacinth, a superwash merino. My spinning is getting better and more even I did this with the roving.

Don't you like my spools toilet paper rolls come in handy and a shoe box I'm set. I have also bought some other roving. From Fiber Optic I also bought No. 9 Black Coffee. I just liked the name since I love my coffee in the morning I love the blending of browns to make it look like different colored coffee beans.

I also bought from Loopy Ewe, Perchance to Spin, Wicked Witch of the West. a 50/50 fine Merino/Tencel. They have a whole line of Wizard of Oz roving. so I might be getting a few more.

I plied the yarn that I had been spinning and this bunch turned out better the last bunch I tried to ply. It was a true knotty yarn. But this time I learned from the last time so it went easier and the yarn turned out better. Each time I get a little better.

So I figure by the time I'm done with the Grape Hyacinth I should be getting a lot better. A friend is going to let me use her spinning wheel this winter so I will start a learning curve all over again. But I can see the attraction to spinning I love the feel of the yarn twisting under my fingers. I am enjoying myself, my thumb is stiff from holding the yarn in semi-tight so it doesn't slip and my spindle hits the ground. I've order another spindle for myself and for Gena can't wait to get into her hands I know she will love as much as I love mine.

Well till later, keep those ideas coming in for the pattern for the yarns, I'm still coming up with ideas. so keep those sticks aclickn'. Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Sock and Yarn

All about my sock and some yarn that I bought. First off I finished a pair of socks, the mystery sock KAL. I finally got them off the needles. This pattern was by Adrienne Fong a fun pattern to work, she wrote the pattern in 5 parts so you never got the pattern at one time. So it made it all the more fun because you don't know what you are knitting but that's the best part. I was always behind everyone else but they are done in time. I knit them using Hazel Knits artisan sock yarn in Sanguine Peach.

I also got sock one of my Sunday Swing socks using the very first sock yarn from the Yarn Pirate sock club. Rum Runner I love the colorway. I had tried to use this yarn on other patterns but I didn't like how it pooled but this time around it has turned out great. this is my travel sock which goes with me everywhere. Not that I can work on it but I keep trying. I work on it in my room while I have the other sock I work on watching TV.

I have started another sock using the book "Knitting Sock with Handpainted Yarn" the pattern is by Debi Barnhill, Potpourri Sock. The sock offer a bit of a challenge with changing stitch count, yarn overs and wrapped stitches. Every seventh row features a ribbon of color created with a double figure-eight wrapped stitch. So it should be fun to knit. I am using Sock Pixie yarn Kate Chopin a very colorful yarn I hope this works with the pattern

Yarn the I bought. This yarn I wanted to buy at Sock Summit. It is a colorway by Lorna's Laces that they did for the Dye for Glory contest, BBQ Zombies, this colorway is so different that I had to have it. The Loopy Ewe had it and sold out and they got more it so I bought it right away this time around I didn't want to loose it.

Another yarn that I fell in love with at Sock Summit was by Wool Candy, She had the softest yarn I loved to fondle it. Woolgirl is now carrying her line of yarns so I bought 2 of her colorways: the first is from her Meringue Merino line "Cerises" I love red yarns they have so much depth to them. I also got from the Lollopop BFL line "Wagashi" a beautiful neutral color.

Now to decided what to knit?????? What pattern will work with these yarns????? Help me to decided and you will get.............. Let me think I know I've got something to give away.

That's it for now I'll get back with you later with my spinning. So keep those sticks aclickn'.

Happily knitting socks, Bye.

Summers Almost Over

Seems like summer just started. We were planting the crops and now its time to harvest what we planted. The neighbors have been cutting corn this week. The corn this year has been very tall. Here's a picture of Me in the corn field. This year the corn reminded me of the movie "Children of the Corn" don't ask me why but the corn field creeped me out. Lucky I got home from work early enough to get this shot. They had the field cut by the end of the day.


Here is a shot of the monster coming through the field as you can see the corn was really tall. It must have been two of me and I'm not short 5' 8" so it must have been about 12 feet tall. Here is a picture of the cutter and a truck so the corn was quiet tall. I took this picture on Wednesday and they are still cutting corn today the pile is getting quiet high.






I've got lots of tomatoes and am planning on making homemade tomato soup. I've been given lots of fruit so I have to decide what to do with it. I made some grape juice and can't decide if I want to make grape jelly or not. Decisions decisions something will come about.


I received my Woolgirl Sock Club shipment this week
It looks interesting now doesn't it. The theme was "Love Bug" and we got all kinds of goodies.

• 
  
  
  
  
  1 skein of Miss Babs "Yummy" fingering weight sock yarn in the Ladybug colorway. with a mini skein of Ladybug black for heels and toes.


• "Fly Away Home" sock pattern by Lisa Dykstra


• 7" The Fibersphere -- the ultimate in fiber protection


• Mini lady bug sphere to hold your stitch markers of extras


• Ladybug stitch marker by Gail from Blitzknit


• A handy-dandy ladybug pen which has a tape measure on the end


• A ladybug emery board


• A mini-ladybug heart notepad


• A ladybug eraser.


• 2 Love Bug magnets


• Ladybug stickers and a ladybug tattoo

I have been knitting on the mystery sock and I have one done and am working on the second one it is a fun pattern and has a lot of work to do on it. I can't travel with it and because the pattern changes every row and I don't have it memorized, I used the semi fancy heel and the fancy toe. I wish I had paid more attention to the toe when I was knitting and started the decreases sooner. But I still like how it is turning out.


I am also working on a pair of sock called "Sunday Swing" this is a fun and easy to memorize pattern and is my travel sock. I am finally using the first sock club shipment from Yarn Pirate called Rum Runner. I have tried to use this yarn before but I didn't like the pooling but this time around it is working out well . So I am happy so far I'm working on the gusset now.


I LOVE to spin I am having so much fun watching the roving turn into string and then the strings turn into yarn. This is not a good picture of my string but it is turning out and I'm having lots of fun. I'm using a pencil roving from Fiber Optic Yarns called Moonbeam. Gena and I bought this at Sock Summit we split it just to see if we would like it or not and we didn't know if we would even like spinning. Now I can't wait to save up enough money to buy a spinning wheel.
Well that's enough for tonight I'll try again this weekend. So keep those sticks aclickn'.
Happily knitting socks, Bye.