We Had A Wonderful Time!

We had a wonderful time! Thank you, Bev!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I know this is not Monday... but since I missed it yesterday...

Today: November 25, 2008

Outside my window: the sun is low in the west and too bright to leave the shades open. It will be dark in an hour and a half... too soon for this day to be over.

I am thinking: how tired my legs feel after spending all afternoon out and about. I wish DH's coffee drinking buddy were not moving. It is a sad day. On the other hand...it is wonderful that we live in the age of computers and they can stay in touch even from one country to another.

I am thankful: that my clothes that I am planning to wear Thanksgiving still fit! I am also thankful that it will be a year (in about a week) since I have had one cigarette. I am not thankful that I have gained 40 pounds! But I would not exchange the 40 pounds to go back to smoking...it is completely worth it.

From the kitchen: the cranberries and orange are calling! I love fresh cranberry sauce and always make it ...

I am wearing: stretch denim pants with a cotton blue/white shirt...but not for long...lol It's almost time to get comfortable...

I am creating: very little today. Perhaps after supper....

I am going: to start preparing for Thanksgiving with our daughter. This is a real treat since we seldom get to do this!

I am reading: every pattern on Ravelry I can find. And it seems there are so many I will never run out!

I am hoping: to put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. It should not be too hard this year since it is all stored at ground level...instead of in the attic!

I am hearing: my DH yawn as he settles in his chair..it has been a long day.

Around the house: everything is quiet. I can hear the pulse ringing in my ears. It's very easy to just sink into my chair and relax.

One of my favorite things:

is this picture. It always makes my legs feel that warm swish from standing on the floor furnace. It was so fascinating to watch my dress mysteriously fluff out and just stay there! I did this all the time as a child and can still hear the words... "You're going to burn a hole in your shoes!"

A few plans for the rest of the week: include Thanksgiving...such fun. Then the Christmas tree... also fun.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing:

Fair Isle Hat...Finished

It's done. It's not been blocked yet. I'm amazed. And speechless.

Fair Isle and Water Heaters

Well, I am beginning to think I will survive..lol It seems to take a little longer to get over things than it used to... wonder why that is...lol

That luscious Merino Lamb that I have been spinning has seriously been calling my name. So has the idea of Fair Isle knitting. So ... since I had all three of these colors spun up... I decided to give it a try.

This is going to be a toboggan cap when it is finished. Go here... Knitting Nonni .. and you will see where the inspiration comes from. I keep telling myself that someday I will be able to do that...lol

Yesterday was quite eventful... in a quiet kind of way. Our finances went out the window..lol Can you guess why?

It's hard to see in this picture, but there is water in the pan... the hot water heater is leaking. So ... did you know that for only $700+ you can replace yours too?!!! And this is only one of them. Thank goodness the one in the house is still going.

Ask Me How I Feel Today...

Today I feel like I have been run over by a truck...

Yesterday was spent sitting in a room at the allergists office from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and getting shots every 1/2 hour until 12 and then every hour until 2... This is called a Rush. This is supposed to be worth 6 months of weekly allergy shots if you go every week.






The pic above is of the left arm. Ten shots in this one. The one on the right is of the right arm. This is the very last shot... only one on this arm. I sure am glad I chose not to put that one on the left arm too...lol


He also found that I have a sinus infection...boooo. Anyway, I had no idea I would feel this badly the day after!


The thing is that I spent the day knitting on DH's socks, my Falling Waters Scarf, spinning with the hand spindle trying to make enough singles to dye different colors for embroidery on my Nine Patch Hand Woven... I had plenty to do.....


Off to spend the day in my chair... Tomorrow will definitely be better...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Today: November 10, 2008

Outside my window... the intermittent rain is leaving brilliant glimmers on the fence. It's overcast and a bit dull today, so the glitter of the rain is a lovely highpoint. It's brought just a hint of green back to the brown grass of the yard.

I am thinking...that it would be very nice to have a few knitting books to look at and study. I think I might get very into knitting as I grow more comfortable with the stitches and how to correct mistakes, so I have been surfing through the knitting books at Amazon.

I am thankful....that it really doesn't matter too much that my desk calendar is still set to May 2008...

From the kitchen...was the wonderful aroma of a ham cooking yesterday. Today...it made a wonderful breakfast.

I am wearing... the same ugly housedress I was wearing last week...lol Having been laundered in between times, of course...lol I really will dress today but for now, this is great.

I am creating...more thread on my spindle to be dyed for embroidery on the handwoven wall hanging I am working on. You can see it here.

I am going...to the library later today...probably when DH goes to coffee this afternoon. I will be looking for Elizabeth Zimmerman knitting books and some rigid heddle loom books.

I am reading...Halcyon Yarn's catalog looking for threads that are good for weaving fabric. My daughter has decided that we need to have our own family plaid...as in Scottish plaid...only we are Irish..hmmm

I am hoping...to complete the tutorial for spindling that I took pictures for last week. Finding the time to put everything into booklet form has been less easy than I thought.

I am hearing...the Westminster chimes of the clock that DH finished making a few weeks ago. Since we now have 4 that chime..lol... one gets to hear several different songs thru the day.

Around the house...the chair still needs to be de-stashed. ... sigh...

One of my favorite things...

is this fan that I've had since the 2004 Ranger Reunion in Fort Myers, FL. Several of us girls were walking the flea market where Karen and Earl had their shop and it was sooo very hot that day. Even the misters that would spray a soft water mist on you as you walked by didn't help. Finally Marilyn...a lovely lady from Washington State...bought all of us one of these and what a life saver they turned out to be. Every time I see it I think of what a sweet person she is... and I keep it in a pencil holder on my desk..it's used almost every day...

A few plans for the rest of the week... include working on the wall hanging, spindling more thread, making appointment for carpet shampooing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... to see if you can guess why I am hyperventilating...lol

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect."

Mark Twain

Up Early

While I was sitting here reading my mail and just surfing through the news, I noticed the light coming in the glass of the front door. It's been a long time since I have stood and watched sunrise. So today I did...

Sunrise... a new beginning every day...

Purpose for today...

'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'

This is a much harder fill-in-the-blank than I thought it would be. This is one sentence of an email that my aunt sent to me and I thought it would be a good thing to fill in each day...you know...kinda "get off on the right foot" kind of thing... phew... I don't think I have ever just sat down and thought.. "OK, what is my purpose for today?" lol...you'd think I could come up with something!

However, I am terribly thankful that the election is over. I am still concerned about the welfare of the nation as a whole... but perhaps new blood is what is needed in Washington. We shall see.

We went to town yesterday and shopped in a few shops. Christmas decorations are already out and you know what that means... Time to start counting the days. I think the holiday season has become very commercialized, but I nevertheless enjoy the fact that families get together...and if not for the holidays, this may not happen so frequently. Besides... I love to give gifts..lol

Daylight savings time has ended and this picture is our meadow at 5:45 pm these days. The autumn winds have almost blown all the redbud's leaves away and the meadow grass has turned brown. The days are cooler and last night ..for the first time...we were too cool with only the one quilt and our sheet for cover. I am seriously considering making a king size quilt...a first for me. We'll see if that works out... ;o)

Today's The Day

Well, today is the day. DH and I did the early voting thing last Friday and I'm glad that is done. If you have read my blog very much you will already know that I am a fiscal Republican with a few social leftist leanings ... if that makes any sense.

It's true that this is a historic election for the United States. I just hope that people will cast their ballots for what they believe is the best thing for the country and not for the color of someone's skin or the gender of the person running.

But then... I'm not holding my breath. And I do understand. Women on the ticket...any ticket...would have been unthinkable in my younger years... as would any person of color. Like I said...it's historic.

But then, so are the several crises facing this country. And if you want to know the truth...I'm not sure there is enough experience among all of them to really do the job.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy, of The Simple Woman, has set up this Monday morning meme that is being participated in by many in blogdom. I found it over at Apron Strings and Other Ties That Bind and fell in love it.

TODAY ... November 3, 2008

Outside my window... the sunshine breaking through the trees is casting a lovely highlight on the three large trunks of the pin oak tree in the meadow. I am reminded that we have not been across the bridge in a long while and am wondering if the pear tree on the other side has any pears.

I am thinking ... that yesterday's Sunday dinner with DSIL, his mom, and the grandsons made for a very good day. There is nothing so sweet as the smell of loved ones when the hello hugs happening... the shampoo, soap, cologne smells... memories in themselves.

I am thankful ...that I am no longer in home economics... all that looking over my shoulder while I am trying to learn to knit would drive me nuts... ;o)

From the kitchen ...the coffee pot is empty. yuk.

I am wearing... my very loose fitting blue housedress. Ugly...but one of my favorites. I am definitely old enough now that comfort can come before style and I cannot be bothered with it..lol

I am creating... only a small headache as I try to finish the knitted socks for DH. Finished one .. it, like many others I have made, is too short even though I thought I had followed the directions to the letter. This time I will rely on my own observations and forget the directions...

I am going...to be cooking breakfast in a little bit. I would tell you what, but the fact is there is no bacon..sigh.. so have no clue what it will be until I am standing in front of the cabinet.

I am reading... for the 3rd or 4th time.. Hour Game.. by David Baldacci.

I am hoping...to have enough time today to work on some instructions for a spindling class I will be teaching at the museum next year.

I am hearing... the click of the mouse and pages coming up on my DH's pc that sits next to mine.

Around the house...I am wanting to de-stash around my chair. It seems that before I can whistle Dixie I have loaded pounds of wool, yarn, cloth, projects, needles, etc...around my chair until I cannot sit there without feeling guilty that at least some of it is not finished. Which is intrinsically unfair... There are many finished and moved...and something else is stashed there in it's place..phew

One of my favorite things...

This is a tiny creamer that is used for my coffee each morning. It was a gift from DS and DDIL a few years ago. Perfect for one person's coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: include working on the spindling presentation and lessons, finishing the socks and scarf that are now on the knitting needles.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...