A New Year

It has been so long since I have written here, and I feel guilty.

Things are busy here in the household. Both boys are in their High School Musical this year - Beauty and the Beast. S is Gaston. Both boys are taking voice lessons. I am working full time - there are days I love this, and days I don't. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I just miss being a SAHM. I miss being able to get things done that need to be done. I am tired of being tired all the time. But, if you have to work, where better to work than The Woolery. All that fibery goodness around me, all the time!

S has been accepted to U of K. SO I guess we will have a Wildcat in our house next year, which is weird, considering we are all U of L fans. LOL.

The knitting has been slow since I have been working but I still enjoy it.

I have set myself some goals this year - no resolutions (those would have been broken by now)- but some goals:

During Ravelmpics I want to finish 2 of the 3 sweaters I have started, yeah, I am great at starting things.

I want to get better at spinning, and learn 2 different methods of plying.

My sock goal is 10 pair this year.

Reading: I want to read 25 books this year.

Knitted gifts: I want to make 10 different gifts this year.

Lace: I want to knit two lace projects this year, one being an Estonian Lace Shawl.

Weight: I want to lose 15 lbs.

Hopefully, by placing my goals here, I have made a bigger committment and I will succeed.

This is S's senior picture. M took it. He is some photographer!

Summer is HERE!

But you wouldn't know it with the 71 degrees we had today. It is fantastic weather.

Look what has been in my backyard - a baby deer. Fun to watch him or her lay there during the day.




I have a new addiction - my beautiful Lendrum spinning wheel. And I have spun my first yarn-not the best job but I am tickled with it. It is Coopworth.

I am working on getting a more even yarn. Currently I am spinning some BFL. Hopefully I will improve while I participate in the Tour de Fleece. My hope is that by spinning every day, I will learn to spin consistent.

It has been kind of quiet here this summer. M is at his grannies, S is at Governor's Scholar for the Arts. SO it has just been D and I. Nice but quieter than I am used to.

Oh, and since I have last posted - I have a full time job as well. I am working at The Woolery. I really like my job.

Off to pack up my wheel for our trip to the lake this weekend.

Is once a month typical?

For me, apparently so. Guess I won't feel guilty about posting once a month, will just go with it.

We have been busy with Football season, both boys are in the band. M had to have stitches in his shin a few weeks ago (a band accident). S has a lead in the school play - Noises Off. It is pretty funny, can't wait to see it.

A few things I have knit lately: The socks were for me, the monkey for our Pastor's little boy (he turned one a few weeks ago), the two bags are Christmas presents.




Christmas knitting has begun in earnest. I have several things I want to make. Trying to get a head start so I am not stressed out about it later. I have also started the Christmas shopping. Would like to have everything bought before Thanksgiving. Hmm, is this too much to ask for? I hope not.

Stitches Midwest

I was thrilled to attend my first Stitches Midwest. It was everything that I had hoped and more.

I attended two classes: The Long and Short of Alterations with Margaret Fisher and Nordic Color with Nancy Bush. Both classes were amazing. I learned more than I had hoped.

Below is the picture of my haul from this trip. The exciting thing is - all the yarn is for me, to be knitted into garments for me. I can't wait to get started on these.



Meeting all of the women I have chatted with on Ravelry was a highlight of the weekend as well. Both Friday and Saturday night I had dinner with fellow Ravelry friends.

Did I get any knitting done while I was there? UH, NO. But that is totally okay.

Summer Knitting

Well to be honest - Summer finishing. The Toothpick Optional bag from She-knits for knitters.com which is lovingly modeled by the dreaded monkey. I didn't think I would ever finish that one.



The Pomatomus Socks by Cookie A. Loved this pattern.



Now to get busy and knit my homework for Stitches Midwest.

Prayer Shawls

I get this urge occasionally to buy yarn and start knitting a shawl. It must be divine intervention because shortly after I start one, we get a call that someone we know has cancer. Last year, it was my MIL. This year, it is an Aunt on my husband's side of the family. I can't explain the need to knit these unless it is from God. I just feel blessed that in some small way I can help comfort someone. My MIL, recovered from her cancer, has told me that it really helped her - kept her warm, made her feel comfort and love. I hope that the new shawl does the same for D's aunt.
This shawl is for D's aunt. The pattern is the Blue Jean Lace Leaf Shawl, a free pattern on Ravelry.

Summer is getting away from me

It has been one of those summer's. Something going on everyday. Seems like life is just rushing by with no time to sit and relax. Maybe one day next week - but isn't that the way it always is. We think it will come next week. I think it is time for me to make a change. I know I will have to start small. So lets say that everyday for the rest of the summer, I will take 30 - 45 minutes to just sit and relax. Going to try it and let you know how it goes.

I have pictures to share of this summer. Hope you enjoy.

This deer was in the neighbor's back yard the other day. The deer around here are just not afraid of people. We find them all the time hanging out, and when they see you, even if you make a lot of noise, they just look at you and go back to whatever they were doing.

Check out the new hair cut. I was so shocked when I saw the short hair. But I love it.

M - first one on the left. Melvin Levett from the University of Cinn. jumping over them and dunking a ball during the Tashauyn Price Basketball camp.

A Blue Ribbon for me. I entered a shawl in the County Fair. I am so thrilled. This shawl is Melanie Gibbon's Swan Lake pattern. I call mine Wing of the Moth since it is brown. I love how warm this shawl is. Just beautiful to wear.