Fighting the Flu and Snow

Ugh! I have been battling with stomach flu this past week. I came home from work early on Monday but lasted out all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Luckily today is my day off and I am relishing it. Hubby is popping sudafed and Oldest Son is begging for DayQuil capsules. We are a merry group around here
Not a lot of work done on the Lilly sweater. I have started the sleeve and hope to finish it off while watching the races. Not sure but I don't thin there are any truck races tomorrow, but between Saturday and Sunday, should have a change to finish it and get back to work on the Lady Eleanor Entrelac shawl. I probably should cut off the fringe before I keep going very far. I am not sure if I will make the fancy tied fringe rows, or just groups of tassel fringes. I have a way to go for that though.
Measurable snow predicted for tonight/tomorrow. We may be heading for record breaking snowfall this winter. I love it.

Frosty Days

Such typical Michigan weather. Winters the way they used to be!!

After the ice storm last Sunday (I haven't been able to get to church all month!) we got more snow. No snow days this time. Schools are running out. but several mornings down to -12 degrees. I love those kind of days. The frosty nights and clear days we finally have gotten have allowed for some glorious pictures.

Even the weeds look pretty good and the frost on the old buzz saw gives a old time look to that.

I better get moving. I need to get groceries yet and maybe a stop at Goodwill before heading home in time for the Craftsman truck races this afternoon. I hope to have some spinning time while watchng either that or the Nationwide race tonight. I also discovered that I have some mending to do on a favorite sock. It must have snagged on something, because there is a big hole on the back--not worn out so I'm not sure how to fix it, if I can pickup up stitches and graft it on needles or what. So far it hasn't run back, but it is a modified feather and fan stitch so will be a pain to figure out.

Another Project Done

Well obviously I didn't get a chance to blog any more on Thursday.

I did want to share the finished pictures of the sweater and blankie for my great niechew that his grampy (my brother) posed with. Since we didn't go down the week before due to near blizzard conditions, niechews grammy and grampy were going to take it down last weekend. Their trim had to also be altered, due to the Saturday rain and Sunday freezing rain. But at long last they got the present.
For knitters--bother sweater and blankie patterns can be found in Elizabeth Zimmermans Knitting Almanac. The sweater is made in sock yarn, locally dyed, and the blankie is Wool-Ease from Lion's Brand. Both machine washable.

Now I am starting Lillie's Little Ssweater by Cottage Creations for a co-worker who recently addopted a baby girl. I started it to have something easy to knit while watching the Daytona 500. As you can see, I got a lot done on it. Just a few more inches and the sleeves and I am done .

Locks of Love

Such a busy week it has been. Since I was unable to blog this week, I may have a few posts today. Last Thursday, after my posts and dinner with the aunts, I had my hair cut. Mind you it was a year and a half at least since my last cut. You can see by the before and after pictures here that it was a major difference. There was plenty for a donation to locks of love too.

I Love Snow

I think I've figured it out. I love winter and snow and no one seems to share my passion. In watching the weather on tv these last few days/weeks I noticed that the winter after I was born (51-52) was one of the coldest and snowiest on record. I also noticed that other years furing my formative stage were also some of the snowiest and coldest in recent times (50's & 60's). Mom liked snow too. I remember making snowmen and snowhorses with her when I was little, out in the front yard. I think loving snow and winter weather is in my genes. It certainly is part of my life growing up.

Good thing too, there certainly is piles of snow around. Parking lots are shrinking

And the Race is On!!

And they’re back. NASCAR is back and running. Yeah, I know the season officially starts this weekend but I was able to watch and enjoy the Bud Shootout. And while I may not be a member of “Junior Nation”, I was thrilled to see him win this first race in a thrilling finish. New colors, new number, new boss and a brand new win to start the season. The engine held and without the stress with his old team negotiations it was a beautiful sight to see him win.
Of course with the thrill of the race, I had to put aside the steering wheel cover I am knitting and do something a little more plain vanilla. Since I had fastened the buttons on the cherry festival sweater, I went back to my yellow/green/peach socks in a colorway I think was called Parakeet. I actually was able the finish the first. (What has it been—a year and 2 other finished pair since I started them?) And I am proud to say that I sucdessfully grafted—yes—GRAFTED—the toe on it. I used the method shown on a Knitting Dailey tip published before Christmas. It looks so good! I am so proud of myself! I immediately cast off and have now finished the ribbing on the second sock. NO Second Sock Syndrom for me.
However, I have also been working on a jewel toned blue/green pair of socks in a tightly spun merino from Cherry Tree Hill. I am loving them and really want to go to town on them. So I better get the Parakeet ones done so I can get the others done.
I will have to get some pictures.

And Even More Snow.

Unable to post pictures yet of the sweater and blankie from the shower. Because, due to the weather, wind chills and visibility I and the grandparents of my great neichew were unable to attend. I will snap some to post in the meantime. I promise.

Snow and More Snow

Between losing the fight for the computer at home and knitting, I have been gone too long from this.

Lots of politics going on. I am at the point where I do not stand any of the front runners for president. I may go to vote and vote for everything except president, in less I throw my vote away on a really minor party.

Knitting, the baby blankie is done; I am still faced with the prospect of sewing on all those buttons on the sweater. Thats why no pictures, I promise I will get some--maybe with the proud parents of great niechew.

I have been working on Wheelie--the steering wheel cover. It is strictly a work at home project. There are 24 rows in the pattern and I think I will need to repeat 9 or 10 times. I am on the 4th repeat now. Hubby thinks it is a funny thing to knit

I mentioned the snow. We got about 15 inches. I left work yesterday early. I had worked thru my lunch but it was coming down so hard I decided to also tak an extra hour and a half vacation. I was glad I did. Not only did I have daylight, but once I was home, the snow started coming harder. Luckily, today is my day off and there was no school either. I actually got to sleep in on my day off.

Ahhhh. Some days life is ok.

This and That--Life Goes On

Goodness it is hard to get a moment on the computer to update this sometimes. Youngest son seems to know when I am ready to blog, and ties up the line and computer until I am involved with something else.
On the knitting front--great neichew's baby blankie is finished, the shower is Sunday, and now I am faced with all those buttons to sew/tie on the baby sweater. I will get pictures to update on here soon. Until I have time to dig out the yarn for I purchased for a co-worker's baby sweater I have started knitting a steering wheel cover. I found the pattern (called wheelie) in the archives for knitty.com. It is made with Cascade fixation--a stretchy elastic cotten yarn.
Oldest son still at home. It may be summer before he moves--probably just as well, you can hardly get down his road with all the snow we have been getting lately.