The Rosalin Fair Isle Hoodie is coming along nicely. I am working on the shoulders then I just have to knit the hood. This pattern is well written and knits up smoothly. Even if you have never done Fair Isle, this is a good project.

My Ribby Pulli that I finished a couple of weeks ago, with a turtleneck, I have decided to frog the turtleneck and knit the hood. I don't like the worsted weight T-neck on my body. So guess that one isn't really finished, OR does it count at TWO finished projects since I finished it twice???



We finished Basketball season with my nephews this week. I also finished my mindless project. This is a scarf knit in the round out of the Skacel 1776 sock yarn. Now I need another completely mindless project since baseball season starts April 1st. Any suggestions?


Training is coming fairly well for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon (walking it), but I had to slow down this week. My hips were hurting a lot. So I have slowed down to a more leisurely pace, that has helped a lot, BUT, I can't finish within the 4 hour time limit at my current speed, so hopefully I can speed back up soon.

My nephew wants to do a 25 mile bike ride in September after the walk in August!!! So as soon as he gets out of school, I will be training for that too!!! I won't be able to walk most days. But I should be in good shape!!!

I got two Dear Jane blocks done this week, but didn't get a picture of them yet. I will put them in once I have a few more done.

No applique this week.

I went to the Mid Atlantic Quilt show last week. I was VERY unimpressed. There were not nearly as many quilts and only a handful were hand done. Most were art quilts, which really aren't my cup of tea. Even the vendors were a disappointment. There wasn't anything new. Every thing is just a "retread" of a couple of years ago. Booths had patterns that I know are 8 years old. I already have those. I go to a show to get new stuff!!! Anyway, I may never go back, which is bad since it is one of the largest shows on the East Coast and I only live 25 minutes from the venue, but why pay $12 to get in to see old stuff and quilts I am not crazy about? I would love to hear what others thought. Was it just me??

Saturday I went to Nags Head to the musical theater to see an Elvis impersonator. It was fun. Took my parents and my aunt and uncle. We had a really good day, except... Daddy came down with the flu on Monday, so now I am sure we will all have it. He had the flu shot, but it doesnt' seem to have helped. With each sneeze, cough, or twinge, I am sure I am next. Wish me luck.


Boys are snoozing in their chair. The sleep all night, each breakfast and go get in their chair. What a life?













And when it rains, Macklin really likes to dig in the mud, notice the "white" paws. That is what I call "terrior toes", he also has "terrior nose", but it is hard to see in this picture.

Chat later
Susan

2/14/08

Happy Valentines Day to all!!!

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Susan

2/13/08

Two more blocks of Nature's Chorus done!!! That is 26 of 49. I am over half way. So, of course, I have gone back to knitting.

Started the Rosalin Fair Isle Hoodie. Not much to show, still working on the turned up hem.

No progress on Expressions of Morris or Dear Jane, will get back to those one day.

Have had a good week training for the Half Marathon. It seems to be taking a lot of time out of my week, but I need to get in the habit of exercising more, so hopefully this will help. By the time the race comes up the end of August, I hope it is such a habit that I can't break it.

Still reading Murder in the Heartland. Hopefully I will finish it one year!!! It really is good, just not devoting any time to it.

Chat later

Susan

2/5/08

Two more blocks of Natures Chorus are done. That means 24 of 49 are done. These blocks really do go fast. I am enjoying making progress on this quilt. Haven't worked on Expressions of Morris or Dear Jane at all this week.

The only knitting I have done is while riding in the car, at Barnes & Noble, and to get the heel turned, since I like to do that while not in public. I like public knitting to be completely mindless and heel turning requires a little counting.

Reading is still plodding along with Murder in the Heartland. It is a really good book, I just haven't made the time to sit and read except for the few minutes each night when I get in bed. Some nights that will only be a page before I call asleep.

I did commit myself to the Rock n Roll Half Marathon held August 31st. There are 4 of us that are planning to WALK it. Hopefully it will help all of us stay motivated to do our exercise!!! I bumped up the treadmill time starting yesterday. With this commitment made, I can't afford to slack off. The hard time will be if I spend as much time at Nags Head this summer. I find it harder to workout while on vacation. No slacking this year!!!

Not much else to report. It has been a quiet catching up kind of week. I also have to get the tax info together so we can get those done. This will be the last year of the business, so next year taxes will be SO MUCH EASIER. I can go back to doing them myself.

No cute dog pictures this week. They are just sleeping like lazy lumps!!!

Chat later

Susan

1/31/08

We had a great weekend at the Outer Banks. It was COLD!!! But we were inside anyway so that really didn't matter. We were fairly productive, sometimes we aren't.

I finished my Ribbi Cardi. The blue is Mission Falls, the green is Ellen Cooper. Love both yarns. We will see how the turtleneck does with the mohair in it once I wear it.






I finished my Panda Scarf. It is SO CUTE. It is a kit from Morehouse Farms. It is a quick, fun knit. I was asked who I was knitting it for. I have but one answer, ME!!!

This is one of the bird blocks from Expressions of Morris. It still needs a little bit of embroidery, but is substantially finished. I appliqued most of the weekend. It was fun for a change. This is block 3 of this quilt finished.

This is Tulip Treat from Nature's Chorus. This quilt has been in the works for at least 6 years. Maybe I will finish it one day!!! I think this is block 21 of 49. Of course there is a border, too.

Not much on the reading or exercise front. But I did lose 2 lbs over the weekend, not sure how unless it was shivering!!!! ;-)

I was BAD on the yarn and fabric purchase front!!! TWO, not ONE background (at 10 yards a piece) for Ladies of the Sea, plus yarn for another sweater, and another pair of socks, plus some more patterns and shawl pins. I did need the shawl pins though. And they aren't fiber!!

Of course, we have to have the cute puppy picture. I called the dogs to give them a bath. They had been needing it but it had been so cold I didn't want to. So we had a warm day, so I tortured them. The two boys jumped in the tub. I had to go get the girl. I washed both boys at the same time. It worked fine until they were ready to get out. I dried one of them slightly, the other one took off like a shot, DRIPPING WET!!! What a mess. But at least they are all clean.

Chat later

Susan

1/23/08

Two days late posting isn't bad!! I have been trying to post on Monday's, but Husband-unit was home on Monday, so that messed up the schedule. I took all three dogs to the vet on Monday, so they were all sick yesterday. We did a lot of snuggle time. Thought that was more important than blogging.

As you can see, Autumn Rose if finished. It is a little big, but not so much so that it is a problem. If I was going to reknit it, I would make it a size smaller.




I finished it while watching Bleak House on DVD. It is from the BBC, based on a Charles Dickens book. I enjoyed it a lot. It started a little slow, but ends up very good. Besides it gave me almost 8 hours of knitting time!!! How bad can it be?

We got a little snow but not enough to really count. I want a really good snow. One where all the adult neighbors go out to play in it.

I have also joined The Quilt Show online. The shows are good. I sit at my computer, watch the show and knit something mindless. So I am learning and knitting. Again, how bad can it be.

I leave for Nags Head in the morning. We are doing a quilting/knitting weekend down there. Hope to get the background for my Ladies of the Sea quilt while I am down there.

I finally finished Glenn Beck's book. It was funny and scary. He really knows how to say things so they get your attention. Even if you don't agree with his politics, he makes a lot of good points. I started Murder in the Heartland last night. Haven't read enough to know how it is yet.

Have also started playing with my geneology. This is fun but another time gobbler!!!

I got a Woolee Winder for my spinning wheel. Now I have to spin and quit putting it off!!!



Somebody please walk by so I can bark at you!!!

Chat later
Susan

1/14/08

Autumn Rose isn't looking like much yet. I think every night I will finish the knitting and can move on to the finishing. BUT, I just keep knitting!!! Sometimes it makes my head want to explode. Then I think about all the ends I have to weave in!!!! ;-( But it will be gorgeous once it is finished.

I have been without a vehicle since last Tuesday night. It has been wonderful. I have gotten so many things done that I wouldn't have done if I had wheels. I told husband unit I wanted him to take the truck away from me one week a month, just so I can get some stuff done. I never seem to get anything done!!!

I have even exercised five days in a row!!! See, not having wheels is a good thing!!!

I finally joined the QuiltShow online. Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms online show. It is good. They are about 1 hour each. There are 13 shows in each series. I bought series one and two. I have watched the first 4 of series one. I sit at the computer and knit. I am practicing knitting without looking!!! So I am multi-tasking. Learning about quilting while practicing knitting. Now if I could figure out how to read at the same time!!! Also, the QuiltShow has a new BOM starting this month. It is free if you are a member. It is designed by Sue Garman who does a lot of the Quakertown Quilts.

Fiber purchases have been pretty good this week. I ordered one skein of yarn I need to finish a fair isle sweater. Since I had the rest, I defined this as a NEED, not a want!!! I ordered the Christmas Memories quilt pattern, but that isn't fiber!!! The bad purchase was the new Panda scarf from Morehouse Farms. It was just TOO CUTE to pass up.

On the reading front, I am still on the same book. I really do need to go to the beach so I can read!!



I have to finish with one dirty dog picture. Look at the leaf parts all in his face hair. He just can't stand to be clean!!!

Chat later
Susan