Christmas Eve

All is quiet here, we've gotten plenty of snow and we are about to go pull the roof for the 2nd time this year. Jim has started a new painting and it's coming along nicely.

We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner, ham and Jim had mac & cheese with his. Kraft only of course. A nice surprise arrived in the mail today, I had ordered Jim a new coat, the one we had bought over Thanksgiving was defective, the zipper was coming out already. So I sent it back and once the credit hit I ordered the new one. It wasn't supposed to be here until next week so it was nice to get it early.

Almost done for Christmas

I am almost done making Christmas presents. And I want to get my knitting basket cleaned out so that I am ready for the new year. I want to get things off the needles, a fresh start in 2009. I doubt it will happen, but I can try. Only 2 more days of work before Christmas and I am very excited about that. It will be a busy 2 days, but it will be worth it. I haven't had 5 days off in a row since before I started working at the health dept. I just hope the weather straightens out so that the family planning clinic for tomorrow goes well. We are fully booked, that's for sure!

Bitter Cold

It is bitter cold here this morning and I would rather stay in than go out. But I shall venture out and get some work done. And it's secret santa this week at work, which is turning out to be more fun that I even thought.
Jim has the flu bug I had last week. He also has finals this week. So he will be on the couch most of the day, after he gives an exam this morning.

I learned something new

I learned something new. I learned what a "flash freeze event" is. And I'm glad that Pat got out of here when she did. It was a rain/snow mix yesterday morning. Which turned to a bit of snow. Went to bed last night knowing that today would be a mess. And it is. The temp dropped quickly and created a flash freeze event where all the water/snow mix on the roads froze. So that made tons of ice. And now they are saying lake effect snow with high winds (the Mackinac Bridge is closed today to high profile vehicles). I am going to get ready and get to work, have a feeling people aren't going to show for their appts anyway. I wouldn't go out if I didn't have to be to work! All the schools are closed except for the University and that is where Jim is. It's finals week and I'm sure the students are really ready to get out of here for the break.

Tonight...

Tonight we had hockey, but before hockey we had chicken & dumplings made by Jim. Yum!

Then it was off to the game with toys.

Three stuffed animals. Then after our team scored their first goal, we ended up throwing them on the ice. The toys go to local charities. And we got to throw stuff on the ice. It's a win/win situation.

And of course the pic of me & Pat together.

And wouldn't you know it, we had matching socks! Opal...mine were made by Lorie when we first moved her, she was concerned that my feet would be cold.

Pat is here!

Pat drove up from Toledo yesterday and surprised me! We took her to dinner at the pub,And then off to a hockey game. Now we're slowly getting around and we'll be headed out to the Quilted Moose so Pat can see the shop, then to Joann's, and a few other places. Jim has promised us chicken & dumplings for dinner, so that's something to look forward to before we go out and go to another hockey game tonight!

Pictures from our travels

We had a great Thanksgiving, got to see family and friends and had good food. I have caught up on the laundry, made up with the cats, and now it's back to work tomorrow. But first, here are some pictures of the quilts I made for Christmas gifts this year. Jim's oldest sister and her husband received this one:
Justice didn't wish to be photographed. This is the back of the quilt, Chris at the Quilted Moose did a musical note pattern.

Next, Jim's second sister and her husband recevied this one:

Gorby has taken over as inspector, Justice was tired after the first quilt. The picture of the back didn't turn out, but it was a floral done in yellow thread. Of course by Chris at the Moose.

Last but not least, Jim's brother and his wife received this one:

All blues. I love blue. The quilts are all queen sized, and I am very glad to have them finished and delivered!

Bargello Mania

So yesterday we did Bargello quilts and it was fun! Spike supervised.

Here is mine, before:

And after:
Here are the others:

The last one is a mini that Sandy did. It was alot of fun, using novelty fabrics and they didn't take long at all. Lots of long seams.

TGIT

Yes, Thank Goodness It's Thursday. That means one more day to get up early this week, and tomorrow and Saturday are both hockey nights. YEAH! The Lakers are playing Bowling Green, OH this weekend, and I am hoping for 2 wins! Ialso have a quilt class at the Moose this weekend, I am making a wallhanging for the guest room.
It was warm enough last night to sleep with the window open, but this weekend we're supposed to get nasty weather. Winter is just around the corner. I am prepared. With yarn and books, I am ready.

Halloween, quilting, and the flu shot

So Halloween has come and gone, and here is my wonderful husband dressed for work.

Pretty sexy, huh? What's not to love. :-) I dressed for work in my Packer's pj pants, jersey and sprayed my hair green. I love green hair, what could be better? Alas, no pics of me.

Today I woke up with this:

That would be my arm after getting a flu shot. I didn't have this reaction last year, but the red area is actually hot, it feels very strange to have just the one spot that hot. A bit sore, but I should be good as new in a few days.

Had quilting at the shop today, and I arrived to find Judy's granddaughter there. She's 3 1/2 months old. A bit drooly, but I could see in her eyes that she appreciated the bolts of fabric.

Ahhhh a future quilter has been born.

Almost the weekend

Last night it snowed, and it was so pretty. I love to twirl around in the snow with my face to the sky. And I love to curl up under quilts and knit and watch movies. They say that when women are pregnant they "nest". I think I nest in the fall. I make sure we have extra's of various things, like hot cocoa, and I'm all set. We have a few movies we have purchased that we haven't watched yet, a puzzle or two tucked away. Plenty of yarn, and I'm ready for a blizzard!
Tomorrow is Thursday and it will be busy at work, and then before I know it, Friday, that magical day of the week where every minute takes you closer to the weekend and 2 days of sweet freedom from a schedule. Although I do have quilting on Saturday, we're making Christmas tree wall hangings. :-)

Feeling better, and HOCKEY!!

I am feeling much better, and now it's going to be Monday and back to work time. Went to see the hockey game today, and here is what happens when our team scores a goal:
(Make sure your sound is turned on!)

And yes, that is a foghorn! We had a good time, and I have been knitting on a scarf for a charity KAL. It feels good to make something for someone that I don't know, just knowing that it's going to keep them warm.

When I am sick...

When I am sick, this is how it is.

I hate to be sick, and Wednesday night I came down with a wicked flu bug. Thursday work was not an option, and today it wasn't either. I have come to the conclusion that there is NOTHING on tv during the day, but thank goodness for the free things to watch On Demand. Watched a very good special on Stonehenge today. Managed to get a shower even and feel a bit more human. Tonight this is what I am doing. Surrounded by cats,and yes, all 3 are on there with me, with my laptop and tea and knitting. Can't quite get warm, have the quilts piled on and the heat pack on my feet under that!

I did get a good surprise in the mail today, I got my prize for completing the Secret Stole. These are just gorgous.

SokBlokkers from Karat Stix. I would like to know what wood this is, so if anyone knows please post to the blog so I know? Thanks! My pictures definately do not do these justice, and I doubt I will ever put a sock on them. After my studio is gutted and remodeled these will hang on the wall so I can look at the pretty snowflakes all the time. I really did enjoy the KAL, and this was a huge bonus.

Now, this picture was taken last full moon. I didn't think any of them turned out, but I like the looks of this one.

I am well on the mend and to the point I am hungry even!

I am DONEEEEEEE

Yes, I have finished my first lace weight project, Secret of the Stole 3. I tried the first 2 and didn't finish them, but here it is, in all it's glory. I LOVE IT!!!

I am very excited and I have fallen in love with laceweight!

Some local color...

Here are the boys at the hockey game on Friday. :-)

We lost both nights, but it was fun. :-)

And this morning my neighbor showed up in my backyard. In his pj's and driving his golf cart. You have to love our neighborhood.

Diva Club Day!

We made bags today and it was great fun.

Mine is on the left, Judy's is on the right. They both came out really nice. :-)
And her is one of Jan's, she was on her way to making a 2nd when I left for the day:

Lynn's bag in progress:

Paige spent the day working on her Lone Star quilt, and it's coming out really nice.

It was a good day. And now it's time for bed, because tomorrow we are going here:

http://www.villagefabricsandcrafts.com/

It's still in the same county, but it's about an hour from here. I'm excited, I guess they have a wall of sock yarn!

Ready for Friday (And Saturday!)

So I'm ready for the weekend, and I'm ready for the next clue for the secret stole. Here it is through clue 7, with help from my Packers moose and Gorby:It doesn't look like much in the picture, but believe me, it's looking wonderful and Gorby was inspecting the bead placement. :-)
I also have Diva club this weekend. We were given (2) 6" squares of material that is being sold to help raise money for ovarian cancer research. We were to combine with fabric from our stash to make a 12" block. So here it is:


The charity fabrics are the one with teals. And of course we start our charm square swap this weekend. This month the color was bright pink.

My sewing machine is packed, I just have to get something ready for the potluck portion of Diva club. :-)

Command central...and Survivor knitting!

Survivor starts tonight. It's on right now. And here I go. My goal is to work on UFO's during Survivor. Here is the pile I put together. I'm sure there are more lurking though.

There is a scarf, a prayer shawl, another scarf, a pair of socks for my husband (both at least to the heel flap part), one shortie sock for me finished, just need the 2nd one...and a pair of socks I am knitting for my mom. So I have plenty to knit on while I watch. And I would like to clear out my knitting basket for the new year. It's coming, and coming fast. I'm also working on the Secret Stole but that isn't an UFO, since I work on it every week and I am all caught up and ready for clue 7 that will be out tomorrow.

Here is a picture I took last Sunday.

You will notice all 3 cats on the couch, with my husband at his desk in the background there. On the right side of the couch is a fleece pillow, and that is command central. That is where I spend my time, knitting and watching tv and cuddling with the cats. Now all I need is that big screen tv and I'll be ready for winter and the blizzards that I feel are in our future.

Clue 5 Done!!

I finished clue 5, and here it is:

Hard to really see it on the beige carpet, here's a closer pic:
I am really enjoying this, and tomorrow is another clue! :-)

Fall is in the air...

I'm starting to get things in order for winter. We spent alot of time on our deck this summer, and this coming spring we are going to get a new set of furniture for out there. But for now, I am cleaning up and straightening and getting ready to spend the next 5 months or so indoors for the most part. We still have lots of good weather left, but I really need to de-clutter this house because it will drive me crazy looking at it all winter! And I am busy working on quilts for Christmas, and I am working on the secret stole and I just ordered beads to make the mystery stole that started a couple weeks ago. Whew! I just ordered the beads though, I am using yarn I already had. Need to use up some of the yarn I have before I order more. I always say that, but then break down when I see the gorgeous handpaints online. :-)
Now I am off to finish clue 5 of the secret stole. I'm about halfway done with that clue.

Clue 3 done!!!

I'm so excited that I am keeping up with Secret of the Stole 3! I finished the 3rd clue, but I am having a hard time getting a good picture of it. Lace doesn't look good till it's properly blocked.

The next clue will be out on Friday, and I can't wait to start on it Friday night!

Caterpillars and my Peace Quilt

Well, earlier today I saw a wooly caterpillar for the first time in ages. I took his picture (her?) and then scooted "it" off to the side of the garage to find a home for the winter.

Now, on to quilting. I have (35) 7" squares for my peace quilt. I am collecting batiks to use in this quilt:

It is based on the story about the thousand paper cranes. I need (160) 7" squares, so I am about 1/4 of the way there. I plan on starting this quilt on New Year's Eve, since I have the time off from work.

The bottom 2 groups of batiks were sent to me from people on the Quilt Talk list on Yahoo. And they are much appreciated!