Stained Glass Window Afghan

My niece has a board on Pinterest where she puts things she wants me to make her.  I bought the yarn last year and decided this year would be the year of afghans. I have several to start on and try to get done.  This afghan only has 12 squares 15" so not a whole of squares to sew together but it does look like an interesting pattern.  I hope to do one round a week and get it done in a few months, we shall see.

Progress from last week and this week:  the black was done last week and it really is more like a cobalt blue instead of purple was done today.

Tatting

No I am not getting a tattoo, but I have always wanted one, just chicken I guess.  Anyway we lost the best yarn store a couple years ago in town and no one teaches advanced classes.  I like to take classes so when my local branch of the library  put out their new list, there was a free tat class.  I have always wanted to learn how to tat.  So I ordered a book, ordered my needles and I do have crochet thread, so I found a sewing basket and I am ready for Feb when the classes start.  Will keep you posted as to my progress.  So how many of you tat?

RIP David Bowie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9kfdEyV3RQ

Are You Knitting or Crocheting?

http://blog.lionbrand.com/2016/01/06/franklin-habits-friendly-three-point-message-to-journalists-who-seek-to-write-about-knitting-and-crochet/#more-35618

This is an excellent article by Franklin Habit on the difference between knitting and crocheting. How many times have you seen an item and it is listed as knitting and it is really crocheted or vice versa.  He makes a good point all balls are not used for the same sport, so don't assume yarn is all used for the same craft. 

I Am Breaking Up With You

I always remember having a newspaper in the house when I was a kid.  I read the Sunday comics and briefly scanned the rest of the papers. I remember my mom going through the ads planning out the shopping day for every week.  When I left home one of the first things I did was see if I could afford the paper, I could so I ordered it.  Every time I moved I got the paper delivered.

Today I am done with the paper.  It is way too liberal for me.  I can get the ads online.  Mostly lately it has not been delivered or it is after 10am and it is wet and sections are missing. I am tired of reporting the deliverer almost daily for the past few weeks. It is certainly not worth the money I pay and I am just done. 

I guess I held onto it for so long because I am old school, you have to have the paper delivered.  There are only 2 of us on our block who take the paper, and yesterday she is cancelling because of the same problems I have.  I know papers are losing money and it is their own fault.

I will get my news elsewhere and it won't be left leaning.  It was a good run, but now it is over.

Two Great Voices Gone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKCyUe4syc4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHVO63w5a7M

Perhaps they will sing together again.  RIP Natalie.

Happy 2016

The Best Christmas Gifts

I help the neighbors with the kids after summer school in June and other times.  I have grown close to the kids and sometimes I think my house is somewhat an extension of theirs.  I am still finding army men in my house after this summer.  They all came over today with gifts.  There was a container of homemade goodies, a wrapped gift and a home made card.  We went to the Dollar Tree at least once a week this summer and went through a lot of marshmallows, so my wrapped gift was a bag of marshmallows.  Jack wanted me to keep the bag til next June, but I told him it would not make it and we could go get more.  Bee made me a card with a picture of a cat, she is a very good artist. In it she thanked me for letting her come over after school and talking and just hanging out.  There are times when I hear the doorbell ring and I really don't want to deal with anyone, but it became apparent today that I am just being selfish because when she feels the need to come over she just needs to have someone who can teach her things, listen to her cares and concerns and know that I am here should she need me.  I have the best neighbors and hope they never move.  I also hope the kids will always feel welcome and that they continue to come over whenever they need to.

What Are You Doing Up?

Usually around mid March I start to see some of my bulbs peeking through the dirt, well today my Naked Ladies are thinking maybe since it has been so nice they should peek through.  Silly girls it is not Spring yet even though the weather feels like it.  I hope they will come back up when Spring officially gets here next year.  Look below the large leaf and it seems as if 2 shelled pistachios are laying on the ground, those are the naked ladies coming up.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
'cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
but I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both dad and the boys.
And though I was tired, my brain was a bit thick,
I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplexed-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I had expected
"move, Ashford; move, Lopi; move, Addie and Clover
Move, Reynolds; move, Starmore; move, Fraylic--move over"
"Paton, don't circle round; stand in line.
Come now, you sheep wool work just fine!
I know this is hard semi, it's just your first year,
I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a'grazing.
And then, in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned round, Saint Nick, I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were handknit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable,
And suddenly on one I spied a small label.
SC was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
and I asked "Hey Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"
He proudly replied "Ho-ho-ho, yes I did,
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself for I'd thought up a plan,.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.
He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two;
For the first time I thought I'd really get through.
He put heels on the stockings and toes in some socks
While I sat back drinking Scotch on the rocks!!
So quickly like magic, his needles they flew,
That he was all finished by quarter to two.
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon
"Next year start your knitting sometime around June

Monsters

This summer while I was watching the neighbor kids they decided they wanted me to knit them something.  So we looked at many toy patterns and they settled on these little monsters.  The pattern is otto and I modified it for each one.  We went to Hobby Lobby and picked out the colors and I finally have them done.  They can be used as a pillow as well.

Socks

I am often asked why I knit socks.  Well let me see, because I can.  Yes I know you can buy socks at Wal-Mart for a lot less money however they are not wool or hand made or one of a kind and mine last for years.  If I get a hole I can easily repair it and wear it for more years to come.  Socks are my go to project when I need to calm down, just need to cast something on because and they are fun.  I recently found this article and it kind of says why those of us who knit socks do so.

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2015/11/the-joy-of-knitting-socks.html

D20 Update

~ New photos of A.I.T. Decorah ~

These photos are from 23 November 2015. Terrie was at SOAR getting some eagle hours in and took these photos for us! Practice today was more out of the crate and sitting on the fist. Kay walked outside around the hawk building with Decorah on her fist. Thanks Terrie! Hope you all enjoy the day.