Winter Days

Ahhhh, vacation days. Was nice that I was off yesterday when the "heavy snow warnning" went into effect. Not such deep snow, nor were there any drifts, but it was wet snow, and with the county on plowing restrictions this year, I don't expect to see any snowplow until Monday. As my trip to town today proved, our county roads will have a fine polish by then. But, I don't have to go back to work until Thursday. I can sit and enjoy it from home.

I have finished the Cherry Festival sweater, except for buttons.

I also have been working on my entrelac shawl in wine and gray Plymouth Boku. It as an easy pattern, easier than it looks, as long as I have my pattern to look at as I start each new tier of rectangles. I think it will be lucious and warm when it is finished.

My Dad

Ysterday was the one year anniversary of my father's death, as well as that of cousin Jerry—Gerald Ford. I miss the tribute to President Ford on the local PBS channel last night. Dad didn’t get one, although he deserved one.
The youngest son of a large family, he watched after his mother and her affairs until she was gone.
Dad left high school early to fight in World War II and was wounded in Italy.
After coming home, he became a member of a local militia until the end of the war.
He married Mom and had 2 delightful children.
He built two homes, by hand. There was help from others—a brother in law who was a well-driller/plumber, a cousin who was a bricklayer. But mostly it was him and Mom.
He survived driving lessons, and teen years of the previously mentioned delightful children.
He visited Mom every day in the hospital after her stroke, and managed to care for her at home until her death.
He found companionship with another and was loyal to her to the end.
He managed his own affairs and even in the end made the decision to refuse further medical treatment.
He was a brave and wise man.
My dad.

Ahhh, some things never change. Younger son is the first up, scavaging in his sock to see what he can. Shortly after, I got up. and we watched A Christmas Story on TBS. Just for 2 or the 24 hours it is playing continously. Then we wait. I forgot to get cinnamon rolls to bake. The aroma helps to get te other to family members out of bed. FINALLY, at least Hubby is up. Oldest son claims he needed to go to the farm where he works because someone didn't show up.
So he went to work and is now home sleeping on the bed, presents still unopened.
Youngest son is now at work, Hubby finally made it outside to do chores and tend the fire.
And tomorrow I'm back to work.
Still a Merry Christmas. I think everyone was happy with their gifts (at least those who have seen them.) and even though it was to icy to go to the Christmas service last night. today is a lovely day.

Well, I finished all my wrapping. Yes it was that wonderful holiday called wrapping day. The blizzard like conditions held off until after church so after lunch, I hauled everything into the bedroom, fired up the White Christmas DVD and started wrapping. There wasn't as much this year, so only took 1 and a half movies. (also caught part of Holiday Inn).
The weather outside is really something. Blowy and snowy. I love it. I haven't had a chance to get pictures. It was too dark when I got done wrapping.
This morning it was just windy. I was usher at church today and was glad that I wore my blue wool and llama capelet. I had to stand by the door in the entry and hold it shut. I didn't want to lock it, but if left unlocked, the wind would whip it open and bang it against the wall. And since the bishop was here, we didn't want that to happen during the sermon he was giving.
Our priest said that being the doorman in the house of the Lord was a good thing.
And just to stick in a little knitting--Here is the almost finished Cherry Festival sweater. I have the markers removed as I am starting the garter edge. Soon it will be ready for buttons and baby!

3 Days and Counting

Breakfast today with one of my aunts (the crazy one as the picture will tell you.) and a couple cousins and other assorted friends.
They meet every week at a neat resturant in an old train depot. I join them about every other week or so. One of the cooks there is my cousin, but right now she is at home recovering from heart surgery. While we were there, who should walk in but Santa Clause? Since we were sitting in the bay window, we had seen him coming, walking down the street. Hmmm, Rudolf must have a flat hoof.
I brought the Cherry Festival sweater to show them. It is almost finished. Probably would have been by now, but I find it hard to knit with a dog in my lap. Then on to the blanket. Looking at the weather, I may have lots of time tomorrow. We have yet ANOTHER weekend storm blowing in. It starts tomorrow morning and runs through Monday morning. At least, even though I have to work Christmas Eve, I only have to work 8 to 5 and not 7 to 6 so I will be driving in daylight.
Oh, gosh, just forgot. Not much knitting tomorrow. It is the annual pre-holiday event known as Wrapping Day. Its when I shut myself up in the bedroom, cover the keyhole, spread a cutting board over the bed (to protect the blankets) and wrap and watch Christmas movies. I now have almost all my favorites on DVD. They will look good and get me in the mood.

Snow and turkeys--no not the sons.

What busy day. I finished my Christmas shopping, with all the stocking stuffers I should need. I rue the day I purchased larger stockings a few years ago. I shopped till I almost dropped and then managed to find time for "dinner with the aunts." We met at a different place this week for a change of pace, as well as later than usual. After dinner I followed the crowd to the local "dime store" This store is noted for having anything you can't find anywhere else. Found perfect buttons for the Cherry Festival sweater. It is coming along and I spent some time knitting on that this evening,

The snowy ground made it a bright day. I was thrilled to see a big flock of wild turkeys along the road. Well over a dozen of the big dark birds. There were also lots of snowmobile tracks in the fields I went by. Makes me remember the days of the "slowmobile" that my sons ran one winter,

I have pretty much given up on the job I interviewed for a couple weeks ago. I am hoping to hear on the application I put into the local hospital for a clerical position.

No progress--Knitting or Job

No knitting progress to report. Well—I do have the 2nd sleeve done on the Cherry Festival baby sweater. But now it is slow slogging through the body on the pattern rows. I have to count, and of course, everyone in the family wants to talk while I’m on those rows. Plus I may have to finish my sock in the same color to have a little extra yarn to put with this. Probably an extra 100 yards or so from that skein.
I feel lost these nights without knit nite and spinning guild each week. And of course now that Spinning Guild has been changed from Thursday to Friday, I probably won’t be able to attend very often anyway. Especially when the new NASCAR season starts in February. It has been so nice going to spinning on my day off. It’s always harder to get a chance to sit down with it at home. The guys keep wanting meals and stuff like that. (The nerve!)
Of course, before long I will have lots of days off it looks like. Nothing has been heard on the job interview I had Dec 6. When I called, they planned on having a decision last week. Since it is already Tuesday, I guess that job is gone. I did turn my name in on an application at the local hospital about 10 days ago and have not gotten a “so sorry” e-mail from them. Yet. The last time I applied there I got the rejection the next day. So that is still a possibility. But I am sure they hire from their current part time people, so I am not holding my breath on that one either.

Snowy Day

Much more snow last night, although not as much as was predicted. No pictures though. I basically stayed inside. When Hubby came home from collecting Younger Son from work at 5:00am, he said for me to stay home. Roads were slippery and of course being the weeking no plows. Although Hubby did see on early afternoon, it was too little, too late to get to church.
It is definitely beginning to look alot like Christmas outside. And although most of my shopping is finished, I still haven't found the inclination to put up even our little tree.
Last year, with Dad fading fast, I didn't have much time, but did manage to get the tree out, and lit, even if it didn't get and decorations on it.
I'm not depressed, and having a great time on my niechews cherry festival sweater. But with one one else here seeming to be in the mood for it, neither am I. Today would have been the day for my wrapping day--where I shut myself in my bedroom with gifts and paper and Christmas tapes in the vcr and wrap my heart out. But instead I sat and knit and watched tv. I will plan on next Sunday afternoon for wrapping, but then just piling the up the gifts in a corner until Tuesday.
Its not Bah Humbug. Its just why bother.

Winter Wonderland

Snow, and more snow. Knowing my luck, we won't have any left for next week, but while it lasts we have it in abundance. Here are a few pictures.

My 12 lb farm dog frolicking in the snow.

The winter's wood. We get it in long poles and then Hubby cuts it bit by bit. This is some waiting to be cut in to furnace worthy pieces.

How Many Does it Take?

Normally Thursday is Spinning Guild night. But we are on hiatus until Janary. So, determined to make this a spinning kind of night, I decided to assemble the skeiner for my louet last night.
It reminded me of the joke about how many people does it take to change a light bulb.
The directions, or what they gave as directions was pretty straight forward. They basically gave a sheet of paper with one of those exploded drawings showing how the parts went together. Luckily I have read plenty of them when helping Hubby figure out how to take apart various farm equipment for repair.
First item on it was to take a hammer and pound the shoulders of a carriage bolt into the side of the riser. Now mind you I was trying to do this while hubby was sleeping on the couch And while running the dishwasher. (And remember: I have to fill it manually with a bucket for each cycle.) I didn’t want to wake Hubby, so I just tried to shove it into place. Not realizing that without pounding the shoulders into the riser the bolt would not be long enough for everything that had to go on it. I assembled bolt, washer, insert, spring, cross pieces, washer and then tried to squeeze everything together on the spring to get the cap on it. A couple times I had it almost together when the dishwasher needed filled. Or the parts slipped and went flying across the kitchen. (Little wire springs can get a lot of bounce when they put their minds to it.). After a few attempts and naughty words I once again looked at the picture. Oh yeah, hammer
So I go to my little tool box, and lo and behold—no hammer. Looked in the back room where my son had hung a couple of hammers on the coat rack that have been in the way for a year, never making it out to the barn. No hammer. I was not going to trudge out to the barn in the dark and the snow just for a hammer, so I tried to make due with a wrench. (Good heavy steel should work, right?) All I accomplished was a lot of noise and a wide awake Hubby.
After showing him what needed to be done to assemble the skeiner, he first looked in backroom for those hammers again. But he had to check the fire outside in the boiler, and said would bring a hammer in from the barn. A few minutes later, one whack and the bolt head was firmly in place. Sigh.
With that done, and utilizing the extra pair of hands to squeeze the spring to keep parts from slipping I had the top of the skeiner assembled. Before long I had it in place and over 100 yards of white alpaca safetly wound and skeined. Well worth the effort and cost. That is in addition to 2 more larger skeins of the same alpaca.
After all that, I even managed to spin a goodly amount of my rose gray alpaca. I think when I get this all done and plied and spin the 4 ozs of black that I have, I may start working on a top down cardigan, with some nice two color work. For me! My first major homespun project.

Even if I am busy, I love my Thursday off. If I get a new job (waiting to year on last weeks interview yet) I know I will probably lose this benefit. I can get lots of running around done. I picked up the remote for the dish tv in the boys room. Unfortunately, I checked and there is a cable to their tv, so I cannot switch it to my room until they pay for the remote.

If I get a new job, at comparable pay, I may invest in getting the dish for my bedroom. Either that or I will need to look into getting a new tv for the bedroom before the switch to all digital tv. With Hubby home all the time now, I can't watch as many of the classic old movies as I'd like.

Hey, I have been knitting along on the Cherry Festival baby sweater for my great niechew (as mentioned once before, we don't know yet if a niece or nephew--hence Niechew) Just started a couple days ago and already on the first sleeve. I sent my Favorite (non-military) nephew a picture so I guess I might as well share it here. Hope I have enough yarn!

Normally tonight is spinning night. But I have been notified that we are not meeting till after New Years. Dang, I really look forward to getting out and spending the night spinning. I guess I will work on my skeiner, wind off my last skein on the Louet and then start spinning my rose gray alpaca roving.

Snow, Glorious Snow

Let it snow! Yes I know that not all people love this winter weather. And I do try not to complain when they delight in hot humid 90degree summer days while I wilt. But, ahhhhh, winter!
We got dumped on yesterday, and while, thank the Lord, we managed to avoid the freezing rain and confined ourselves to mainly snow with a little sleet, it is a wonderful white landscape out there. Unfortunately since I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark, I have been unable to get pictures. But with the heavy wet snow clinging to the south and west sides of the trees, it is truly magnificent out there.
Hubby had the drive all plowed when I got home. I even got home early, as I left an hour early to have daylight on my commute. (All of 7 miles!) The half hour lunches are a small price to pay for being able to actually see the roads. Since my vestry meeting was canceled, and I bailed out of trying to go to the knit night party, I napped and knit at home. I started and then tinked the first sleeve of the cherry festival sweater. Reading the directions carefully before going too far is always a good thing. And good old Elizabeth Zimmerman’s pattern is very succinct. Anyway, maybe I can finish that sleeve tonight and then I will post an in-progress picture of it.
And I guess maybe I better get going on Hubby’s wool snow-plowing socks that I promised him. Those boots aren’t very warm that he wears.

No time for me.

Wore my new vest to work today. I had to keep my fan on so as not to to be too warm, but it felt so soft and comfy good.
I thought I would have a evening alone tonight. Hubby was going to the livestock auction. Younger Son with a friend to help repair his car, and Oldest Son is never home evenings. So as I was almost ready to eat my jambalaya (which no one else will eat), Oldest Son comes home to get ready to take off again. I finally got the dishwasher going--which needs to be filled manually due to our hard water, when Hubby came home. Then as I fired up the laptop and got online, Younger Son came home and wanted online.
And I never did get a chance to assemble my new skein-winder for the Louet and wind off a full bobbin!
Men!

Decorations ramble

I got the bordered vest finished. I really like it. I was very tempted to stretch the picture to make me longer and skinner, but resisted the urge. That's all me. I am starting on the cherry festival baby sweater and have the yoke almost done. Pictures later on that one.

Still lots of snow on the ground. I see lots of houses decorated lately. I haven't felt like even getting out the tree yet. I may just do socks and presents and leave it at that.

My favorite Christmas decorations, aside from the previously mentioned WOW decoration, is normally in Reeman. Although it usually is up for a limited time, I haven't seen it this year. And you gotta realize that I have just a touch of redneck in me. As you can see by this picture of my son's "motor home" the whole family as a smidge of "redneckedness".

Anyway, this favorite light set consists of a couple of lighted reindeer. A common enough decoration. But in Reeman, it is all in the display. They take of couple of the "flying reindeer, with their stretched out legs, and hang them from the tree--as people hang their catch during deer hunting. The first time I saw it I had laughed half the way home from there. Yeah, I admit, it isn't for everyone. And it isn't particularly Christmas, but I do enjoy it.

Laptopping and Crafting

Ahhhh. I have my laptop functioning smoothly. I sent it home with a co-worker who is also a computer doctor. I wasn't sure what shape it was in as far as memory, viruses, etc. He tuned it up, gave me new (free) virus protection and added memory. That was the problem I had when I inherited it from Dad--slow and no memory.
Now I have to get my pictures loaded here so I can upload them and I will be all hunky-dunky.
Right now I am killing time at the local library for a while. They are having a craft day and I decided it would be the perfect place to bring in my knitters loom to warm it. plenty of room to spread out and clamp both the loom and the warping peg to long tables to make a nice long....I don't know what. probably scarf or shawl. I can only go 12 inches wide, but fairly long. I am planning on using light and dark green sport weight wool use to warp it. Then I have some variegated sock yarn wool super wash to weave with. And of course I will be throwing in spans of the two greens as I weave along. Only the lightest green is in the variegated, but I think it will look great. I will add pictures as I get going some.
And my bordered vest? Its almost there too. I've tried it on, and only have one sleeve boarder to finish. Maybe I can get a picture of me in it to post when done.

WOW

My favorite signs of the impending Christmas season are finally in place. On the main drags into town, south, east and west of town, what I call the WOW decorations are in place over the roads.
The decorations aren't all that fancy; just swags of garland with a wreath in the middle. There are also a couple angels or reindeer and lights. but the dark green garland, with the dark green wreath clearly spell out the word "WOW".
What a great word for Advent. Wow! Look who's coming. The King of Kings. Creator of the Universe. Our savior. Our brother.
Wow--Christ is coming.

Almost done

Busy, busy flying fingers. I almost have my vest done--the front border was finished tonight and I only have to add the garter cuffs to the cap sleeves and it will be ready to wear! Pictures will be forthcoming. Providing I can get the Internet to work for me. I recently got an update for IE7 and have been having problems. Maybe not enough ram? I don't know, but things are working slow and I have a hard time getting into my blog.
But things are going OK. There is snow on the ground and I have a job interview tomorrow, early.
We will see what happens.

I'm Back!!

Oh my, it is totally unfair to take a beginning blogger and then cut off access to the web.

Last Friday morning as I mentioned we had snow. And of course there were the usual idiots who had forgotten how to drive in the snow, especially on our unsalted, highly polished country roads. One of these unenlightened individuals missed the stop sign at the intersection a half mile down the road. Luckily there was no traffic, but unfortunately for him there was also no more road, as his road ended at the T. Whoever this ice skater was, he plowed through a sign and managed to clip the telephone pedestal, the box with all the wires for the various lines in the neighborhood. We have been with out phone service from Friday morning until Monday afternoon.

For a girl working with dial up, it was torture, knowing my blog was just sitting there out of reach.

I did get a lot of knitting done though. finished back and both sides of the bordered vest. And while watching an old Jimmy Stewart movie last night "The Shop Around the Corner" picked up stitches and started the front border. I want to see if I can find a large button tomorrow at knit nite that will go with it Here is an "in progress" photo.

And I even have 1 1/3 skeins or so left. Then on to the next project, another sweater and blankie for neichew. Maybe I will think to get pictures this time

Let it snow!!

Snow!
Yes! Fluffy, white, inches of snow. I had to sweep the porch 3 times this morning before I left for work at 6:30. Granted by 10AM it had quit, but a great start to the end of the week. They are promising more by Monday, so SNOW ON!!

A Glorious Sky

What a glorious night!
It has been a good day. Thursdays are typically my day off. I and another co-worker each work 4 ten hour days, getting a day off in the middle of the week. Thursday is my catch up, run around, do errands day.
Today not much like that to do, after taking John to school. Enjoyed to cold blowy snow. Wonderful.
I did go to town early to see if I could find a new remote for the 2nd TV on our Dish. I may have to order one from Dish Network to make sure it will work. It needs to be “UHF-IR compatible.” I couldn't see where any in the store said that. I may need to go to a specialty place to get one.
Anyway, after that was what I like to call “Dinner With the Aunts.” My last two remaining aunts used to meet for lunch with Dad and we’ve kept up the tradition. It also includes a cousin and her granddaughter, a family friend that was my Dads good friend, and sometimes my husband. We meet at an area restaurant every Thursday for lunch and catch up on family gossip. We had a good group today.
Later tonight was Spinning Guild. Just Jane, Janeis and I tonight. We had a good time and I got lots done, working on my light gray Shetland. I probably have at least a couple more bobbins, maybe more of that to finish before I spin the steel color I got last week.
But, oh, when I got home tonight. I took my little poodle Gilbert out for a short run. The stars were just brilliant, the sky clear and cold. I walked out behind the garage and wood pile to get away from the lights. And oh my. I could see Orion the Hunter. And the Big Dipper hanging above the northern horizon. And even the Milky Way. Absolutely wonderful.

Way to go, God!

Could it be winter?

Be still my heart. Can winter finally be approaching? It has been cold and blowy for two days now. And although the temps have been in the upper 30's --even now at 10:00 our thermometer is reading 38.3--during the day time the wind chills have been in the teens and twenties. Snow flakes were flying and--dare I say it? I've heard rumors of accumulations beyond the fractional measurements.


Next week the weather report is even chillier, forecasts of highs in the 20s. I can't wait.


A little late for all the deer hunters. No tracking snow all firearm season. I know you city folks may think it gruesome but I love fried jump steak. I haven't had any really good venison steak in years since Phillip doesn't like. But just to prove that I come by the urge naturally, I'd like to share a picture from before I was born. It is an old clipping from a local newspaper showing 2 of my uncles behind my grandma, the deer laden car and my dad and grandpa on the other side of the car. Back then deer hunting was not politically incorrect and on this particular opening day, only Dad and grandma were unsuccessful.

But in the meantime--Come on snow!!!

Tuesday is Knit Nite

What a busy day. And it turned quite blustery. And, sadly, all the snow fell while I was at work.

Knit Nite was tonight. I was amazed at the crowd we had. Sock wizard Kathy was there and helping a first time sock knitter through her second sock. We even ran out of chairs. I am plugging away at my rose bordered vest and am confident it will be done well before Christmas and I can get on with my next project.

And that evil woman Jane, helped me talk myself into buying the skeiner for my Louet S-17. After plyng and winding 3 large 8 0z bobbins on my niddy-noddy, it sounded like a great idea. And she even offered to stain it to match my wheel.

I am such a push over.

Why is it? A Mystery of Life

Why is it? Everyone at home can be napping on the couch, or outside doing chores, or maybe in the case of sons even out with friends while I am doing dishes or knitting straight plain stockinette or garter stitch--any thing that doesn't take any thought. Why is it, the moment I get to a "count each stitch" part of the pattern, OR sit down to work on my blog, everyone has to talk to me?

Why can I be all alone in a quiet house, reading a mystery BUT as soon as I get to a crucial plot point, or the summation of the detective's theory--Why does hubby come in and start talking? And frequently start talking by picking up a long forgotten (I thought) conversation from a couple hours or even a couple days ago?

Why at the best part of a great old movie or musical, does Younger Son sit down to tell me some long (VERY long) car story involving a friend I don't know with references to car parts I don't recognize, and going off on every tangent that presents itself?

Are all male type people like this?

While I mull these thoughts over--maybe it will help my concentration if I look at fiber animals.
Nice alpacas, pay no attention to the woman with the scissors.

Jesus--the real thing

At church today, an interesting sermon. Of course due to Younger Son once again had to work the morning shift mentioned in a previous posting. I barely made it to church and was EXHAUSTED!
The complete sermon will be found at here--if it isn't here yet it soon will be. Duncan likened the conception that many people have of Jesus to Coca Cola. There is Coke Zero, the no guilt, no calories, non-nutritious Jesus. There is Cherry Coke (Or vanilla, lime, whatever) that is like Jesus Plus. Extra flavors added to Jesus to make a viewpoint and support extra ideas over and above the real thing.
Then of course, there is the Real Thing--Jesus as Coke Classic. The pure, unadulterated, take him as he is and follow him Jesus.
I was enthralled but my frustration with my denomination has me thinking that there is also another analogy--New Coke. New Coke was the improved version. Whoever thought it was a good idea to muck around with a winner? Popular opinion and much public demand forced the powers-that-be to come back to "Old Coke" that they named Coke Classic. The Episcopal Church in America is promoting what seems to be a new politically correct morality and straying from the supposed three legged stool that the church is supposed to stand on: Scriptures, Tradition and Reason. Right now, that last leg is growing awfully long. A lot of people are falling (or being pushed) off the stool.
And on another note, while I am ranting---Just how much time is actually saved when the last 2 or 3 verses of a hymn are chopped off? It is jarring when you take a breath to start the next verse and the music stops. This has always been my pet peeve, but when most of the songs are cut short each week, it is disruptive to the worship experience. At least it is very disruptive to mine.

(Yawn) the Morning shift.

Youngest son had to be at work (milking cows) at 3am this morning. Since he doesn't have a vehicle to drive right now--it is kind of cold to run the moped--his father has to get up and give him a ride. AND since neither of them can get up with an alarm--guess who has to be the family alarm at 2am. You guessed it. Normally he just works the 3pm shift about 4 days a week, but his co-worker often has to pass off shifts to John. I don't mind the work day shifts, but these middle of the night milkings (that his boss calls the morning shift) are another thing. And he also is working it tonight. Ugh1
I did manage to meet my aunt and cousin and friends for breakfast at 8am, but 2 nights of getting up twice in the middle of the night make it awfully hard to get up for church. And yes, I did say getting up twice. Shortly before he gets done milking, around 4:30 to 5:30, he calls home and I have to get Hubby up again to go pick him up.
But I did manage to hit the library today, as well as take the Younger Son to Montague to get a Carhartt for his good coat. Gotta love farm boys who think a good coat is a brown canvas coat that doesn't have manure on it, at least yet. But at least it is a coat that will wear like iron.
And I finished plying the rest of the alpaca. I have 3 good skeins of the white. Maybe I will spin up the brown next.
Oh, remember the squeak I mentioned on my Louet wheel. I oiled to leather brake band and it seems to be squeak-free today. Yea.

Spinning up a storm

Spinning Nite also at my LYS--Spinning Wheel Yarn Shop in Fremont MI, usually is on Thursday night. Since there most of us had other plans yesterday, we bumped spinning to tonight.
Not that I hadn't been spinning yesterday. I did get all of my orange "October Skies" plied and about half of my white alpaca. Yummy. I have a squeak on my Louet S17. It seems to be in the brake or something. I may half to oil the leather brake unless someone gives me a better idea.
Tonight I took my light gray shetland with me to spinning guild. I also bought some steel colored from Angie.
Black Friday was a bit calmer than usual for me. I refrained from any notions of hitting the stores at 5am. Instead I slept till 6, hit town at 7 and was home by 10. I did a little more shopping this afternoon, and made my main purchases on line, so I am mostly done I think.
Also delivered the sweater and blanket for my nephew's baby for my brother and sister in law to deliver when they visit them this weekend.
Now the weekend and then back to the grind.

Thanksgiving thoughts

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies,
For the Love which from our birth over and around us lies,
Christ our God to thee we raise this our hymn or grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light,
Christ our God to thee we raise this our hymn or grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye, for the hear and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmonylinking sense to sound and sight,
Christ our God to thee we raise this our hymn or grateful praise.

For the joy of human love, brother sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Christ our God to thee we raise this our hymn or grateful praise.

For the Church which evermore lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore they pure sacrifice of love,
Christ our God to thee we raise this our hymn or grateful praise.

For each perfect gift of thine to the world so freely given,
Faith and hope and love divine, peace on earth and joy in heaven,
Christ our God to thee we raise this our hymn or grateful praise.

The words by Folliot Sandford Pierpoint (1835-1917) as printed in Hymnbook 1982.
The words may not be mine, but the thought is.


Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Love these needles

I have decided I really love my new knitting needles. I recently invested in Knit Picks new needles. The Options needles with swappable tips and cables recently became available in a wooden variety. These Harmony wooden needles are laminated from layers of colored wood and are wonderful. They are slick, but not as slick and slippery as the metal needles. The cables are thin and flexible, like Addi’s and come in many sizes. I started my bordered vest on them and they are working really well. Warm to the touch, quiet, and no kinks or stiffness in the cables. I think they are great.
As far as the sweater, I am half way up the side to the arm pit. It is knit in the round and then divides. No steeks (they scare me to death—haven’t gotten that brave yet), and no sewing either—all-in-one is the way to go if you can.

Knit Nite tonight

My LYS (Local Yarn Shop for those not up on the fiber related lingo) hosts Knit Nite every Tuesday night. We knit, shop and chit-chat, not necessarily in that order.
I have learned a lot from that group, and not just gossip. My knitting related skills have improved and I have gained the courage to turn a heel without a pattern in front of me. I know how to swatch and why I should I can “wing it” and change the size on a pattern with out too much fear. I have made friends with Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Barbara Walker—or least their books. I have grown from being a knitter to being a Knitter. I can go forth without fear that only the pattern designer knows best. I may not laugh in the face of the knitting muses (after all, Murphy’s Law has not been repealed that I know of). But I know I have the skills to adapt and make patterns my own.
More work on the bordered vest tonight. I want to make good progress on it so I can start the baby sweater for my first great niechew (don’t know if baby is a niece or nephew yet!). I am going to make it in dark red hand-dyed sock yarn. A colorway called Cherry Festival. Then I have a crib blanket to know out of worsted in the same colors. Luckily my niechew isn’t due till March.

Belated Veterans Day thoughts.

I figured I'm allowed some belated comments because I didn't start my blog until a week after Veterans Day. I have found that once I started researching my family, I have been more in awe of the sacrefices made by those who enter the military.
My father (pictured between two of his brothers, after the war) had enough credits to graduate. So he left school the middle of his senior year to enlist in the army. His family never knew how he managed to pass the physical with his bad hearing, but he did. He became a member of Darby's Rangers and was wounded in Sicily and remained at home the rest of the war. He died last winter and in going through his papers, we found that hed had been a member of the militia through the state of Michigan until the end of the war.
My great-great grandfather (The Old Gent), fought in the Civil War with his younger brother. From his records, it appeared he spent a great deal of the war in the hospital with dysentary, but he survived. Not so lucky was one of his grandsons, my grandpa's cousin who fought in the Spanish American War and later in World War I, dying in France, just a month or 2 before the Armistice. He was the first solder from his home town of Reed City to die in the war and the American Legion was named in his honor. In World War II, another of grandpa's cousin, was was raised by my great-granddad. Paul took his last name as his own when enlisting. He fought and also lost his life in France, during the Battle of the Bulge.
Currently my nephew carries the torch. I cannot begin to say how much I admire the courage and love of country I see in him and his friend who enlisted with him. With so many in this world who think we need to stop meddling in the world, I am proud that he felt the call to serve our country. I feel we cannot just abandon those around the world who depend on our support and I honor all who serve our country by serving the world.
Thanks soldiers.

End of the season

Why am I picking the end of the Nascar season for my first post? Heaven knows. I have been rooting for various drivers at different times of the year, although Mark Martin remains my man. I was pulling for Jeff Gordon to get the championhip this year recently. I guess I shall have to soon pick a new favorite for the next year if Mark persists in driving only part time. I have a couple months to think on it.

My current knitting project in chief is a bordered vest. I have a charcoal grey border and am hoping I have enough of hand-dyed pink/gray-purple wool to finish it up. When I made my wallaby sweater, I had extra yarn, so I am hoping that this works the same. May the knitting muse remain with me.

This week my spinning guild will not be meeting. Thanksgiving kinda takes precedence over spinning. But while my turkey is roasting, I plan on plying my "October Sky" from Zeilingers spun on my Ashford Joy, and also my two big bobbins of white alpaca. The alpace was spun on my new Louet and I will use it for plying up everything I think. I should end up with several hundred yards so far of that.