Signed up for the Fall Cable KAL 2006

I just signed up for the Fall Cable KAL 2006. (http://fallcable2006.blogspot.com/). I am looking forward to this. I am working on the Irish Hiking Scarf, another KAL and I have that cable sweater to finish. Maybe this will give me incentive to finish it.

Snow days

Snow days! Snow days! Good ol' fashion cold days. hehe We had snow on Wednesday, Octobre 12, 2006. This is the first time we have had snow this early in along time! I can't recall snow this early but my mil does. Here is the Sarnia area we had blizzard like conditions and white outs but not alot of snow stayed on the ground. It got cold and the snow was blowing but nothing like Fort Erie, ON or New York or Buffalo.

Haven't done alot of knitting this week but I did make a scarf for a raffle at work. I must say I love it! Its made form Patons Carmen in a white colour with brown and black flecks. It is so soft and feels like a bunny! Everyone at works likes it - so I kept mentioning it was for the Social Committee raffle next month.

Still working on the dish cloths and my daughter's sweater. One of these days it will get done.

What season are you?

You Belong in Winter

Quiet, calm, and totally at peace...You're happy to be at home, wrapped in a blanket, completely snowed inWhether you're lighting a fire or having a snowball fight, you always feel best in the winter.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatseasonareyouquiz/">What Season Are You?

Matt and Miki's Sweaters

Well I told the kids that I would work on their sweaters this weekend. Its a long weekend due to our Thaksgiving. Yeah turkey!

So...... I spent tonight and finished off Matthew's sleeve. Pitiful that I only had 30 rows to go. The knitting is done and all I have left for his is to sew the sleeve on and tuck in all the ends. And there is alot!

Now with Miki's I had two sleeves and to finish the front, neck and sew and tuck ends in. Well I completed one sleeve tonight. I would of casted on another one at 12:30am but I want to make sure the length is right (so I don't have to rip it, rip it).

Also, I saw in the Owen Sound Suntimes that Riverside Yarns is finally open. Will have to go and check it out tomorrow. Can't buy any yarn as I have way too much as it is. But if I am good maybe in the spring.

Will post pictures of the sweaters when I am done. My camera is at home and still has to be down loaded from last time.

Choi!

Wow! Almost a month since I posted last.

I can't believe how fast September has flown by. Wow! Alot has happened this month. Kids are back in school and are taking Karate and Miki's in Brownies as well. Haven't signed Matt up for anything else yet but give it time. We do need some free time and I don't want to do anything on the weekends. Maybe skating.

At work one of my co-workers died. Not at work! But at home. He had a massive heart attack and collasped in his drive way. What makes it harder is that his wife works with us too. Management was excellent. They were pulling the staff into the training room in groups and telling us. It was a shock though he was older, 71 yrs old but in great health. This was the early part of September and for me it was the first time in 22 years (since I started working) that someone I worked with died. There's been grandparents, spouces and other family members but never someone I worked with. He was a great guy and everyone loved him. So Dick catch a big one up there in Heaven and I hope the boatings good too! Salute!

On the knitting front I am knitting dishcloths up like crazy. I have changed the shamrock pattern abit to make it into a trefoil and can do one in about 1 1/2 hrs. I have 10 orange ones done and 20 more to go. ugh!! Can't wait. Have some other things on the needles but with this cold I don't feel like knitting.

The cold! Think I got it from the kids. Thanks guys! I guess we share everything here (Robert Munch book). lol Called in sick onn Monday, went to work Tuesday and got everything and I mean everything done yesterday that takes two days. I really wanted to go home. Went in this morning and finished off the schedules (that's my job, I am a scheduler writer for HD) gave them to HR to look at and fixed them, got them signed and gave them to the phone centre to put out. And now I am home and heading for bed.

I don't think I'm going in tomorrow (I marked myself out for two days). Thought if I'm sleeping at 5am I am not going to get up and call in sick. They KNOW I'm sick and now that I won't be in. And to top it off my doctors on holidays till the 10th. Guess it will be emerg or the walkin clinic. It hasn't hit bronchitus yet but I have a feeling its going too.

Well off to bed.

Knitted Tea Swap part Deux

I joined Knitters Tea Swap 2. I had a great time with the first one and cannot wait for this one to start. I have been "gathering" some cool things over the summer.

It feels like Christmas!

Two new yarn shops in the Owen Sound area

Forgot to mention in the other post of two more yarn shops. Can't know of too many eh!

First is Lindenof Wool Mill and Yarn Shop. They have a website that tells all about their shop and their fibres. www.lindenhofwoolmill.com Their address is 241063 Con 3, East of Bruce County Rd 10, North of Highway 21 near Alvanley. They produce their own fibres and will work your fibre into yarn for you.

Second is a yarn shop on Main Street in Owen Sound called, Riverside Yarns and Knitting Shop. Their address is 136 10th Street East, Owen Sound.

Second Half of our vacation

Well instead of knitting I did the three hour drive up to Owen Sound on Monday. We stopped for supper and got in around7:30pm. Have to say I haven't really knitted since we got here. Why? don't know as I have brought lots to do. I really want to get the kids sweaters done this week or weekend.

Tuesday we just layed around, none of us were really feeling that well. AF is stopping by soon so I think that's my problem but I think everyone else is getting a cold.

Wednesday we headed out to Tobermory. We stopped for a late lunch at Colonel Clarkes Country Inn, Stokes Bay. It was good and the owner was really nice. I think we will be stopping by there again some time. Its said to say the water levels there at Stokes Bay are getting really low. You can see alot of lily pods and garbage in the bays. The highlight was of three young deers that came out of the bush and almost in front of the car. They ran down the road in front of us. I took pictures and will post once we get home. I don't have the cord to download to my in-laws computer.

After lunch we continued on to Tobermory. I wanted to find another light house tea pot. Do you think I could find one? Hell NO! Not a one in the whole town. Got some good peanut brittle and other candies for the kids from the Sweet Shop. The shops were fun to browse and the kids posed for a bunch of photos much to my surprise.

I actually knitted another figure eight dishcloth on our way up and part of the way back and then had nothing to work on. I didn't think I would of finished it all in that trip. Its only 100 kms from our farm. We went over to Sauble Beach and the kids went for a swim. Had to pick up a new bathing suit for Miki as she didn't have one with her. Matt had his from our trip to the states. Got some great shots of them in the water with the sun reflecting off. Can't wait to see them enlarged.

Well off to start another dishcloth called mini cables. Shouldn't be that difficult or take that long.

Off to Collingwood and Wasaga Beach tomorrow. Wasaga Beach has a big water slide park and we have promised to take the kids there. Camera is charging and suits and towels are washed and dried.

New Yarn shop

We went up to Frankenmuth, Mi yesterday (Sunday) and I found an awesome yarn shop. Its called Rapunzel's Unique gifts and yarns. Their web address is: http://www.zehnders.com/new-site/retail-shops/raps.htm
This is the first yarn shop I found up in the area besides the Walmarts, Joann', etc.

I was bad or good depending on your take of it. I bought two skeins of Plymouth yarn Encore Colours in a light blude, mint green and lilac varigate. Thinking of making Olivia a sweater in it.
Also bought 6 skeins of Plymouth Yarn Suri Merino, 2 of a nice light pink and 4 of a sage green colour. Not sure what to make with the green, total yardage is about 440 yards. The pink maybe a hat and scarf for Olivia my neice.

Well off to do some more laundry and head up to the farm. I plan on finishing the kids sweaters and not sure what else.

I did finish a scarf and a dishcloth on the trip. Not liking the yarn I am using for the Irish Hiking Scarf so I may start over with different yarn.

Will post pictures of the yarn later in the week.

Holidays!

I can't believe it! Its finally here! My holidays for the sumer! I've had a few long weekends during the summer but now I get 11 glorious days. Yeah!!!

Started the vacation off right. Went to the chiropractor and then had a massage. It was heavenly and I feel really relaxed now. Still have to pack to take off tomorrow but who cares. Don't worry be happy!

My yarn is packed, I have enough yarn (blue) for 3 dish cloths, blue for a Irish Hiking Scarf (Patons Canadiana) got the pattern from: http://irishhikingknitalong.blogspot.com/, brown yarn from the now defunked Lewiscraft, Acquarius and Libra it will look gorgeous, and to finish the baby sweater I started a couple of weeks ago. Will I get it all done? Who knows but I will get it a try.

When we get back to Canada I will switch up some of the yarn and bring the kids sweaters to finish when we are at the farm.

I am hoping to use some of my "exceptions" while in the states (Michigan). I see Hobby Lobby has 40% off this weekend and Mary Maxum has Boa on for 0.97 cents a ball! That a deal! I don't like to knit with it so I might look for another yarn for a scarf and hat for hubby for Christmas.

Well will post when I can. Oh! Did I mention we might go to Frankenmouth to a giant indoor water park and Bronners! I love CHRISTmas!!

Have a great weekend!

4 hour Bias Baby Afghan

The afghan that was to take 4 hours took around 12. Ugh!! First I screwed up in the beginning and had a loop handing. First time with 25mm needles and 4 strands of yarn together. I've done 2 and 3 but first time for 4. Soooo, I am knitting and knitting. Decreasing looking pretty good but the loop. I'm over 3 quarters the way done and I see these. Aaaaaawwwwwwwww! Holes! How the hell it happened I don't know. Can you say rip it, rip it, rip it.
Now I have started this a second time and I am almost done again. But! I am running out of one of the varigated colours. So, what's a girl to do. Rip it, rip it back to the half way mark and start yet again. I took out a few extra rows out and proceed to the finish line. Go figure I had extra yarn left when I was done! Maybe I deleted one two many extra rows. It is done and wrapped and ready for the baby shower tomorrow. There was suppose to be fing pom poms on the four corners but hubby thought it might not be good for a baby. He thinks the holely blanket might not be good as they can put their fingures through it. Well its a new pattern for me and my usual one takes a month to do. I only had 15 days to do this and I know it wouldn't off been done for tomorrow.


Well off to bed. Anyone got any ideas for the left over Homespun yarn.

Dishcloth Photos

Figure 8 dishcloth in light blue. Figure 8 dishcloth in varigated. I made this one first and then found out my dishcloth pals favourite colour is blue. Sooooo I knitted one up for her.

This is going to Nan in Australia. Enjoy Nan!

Leigh's Musings

Wow! I can't believe its been over a month since I have posted to my blog. Done a few dish cloths but its been soooo hot. I did a dish cloth for my dishcloth exchange but she likes blue so I knitted another one in baby blue. I did the crazy 8 pattern from Leisure World. Turned out great!

Last week temps hit up with humidex 43-48C. HOT!! HOT! HOT!! Not wanting to knit at all. I started a baby sweater as I am invited to a baby shower on the 12 of August. Also, order some yarn to do a baby afghan from Lion Brand and also the 25mm needles. I've ripped it out two times because I keep running out of yarn.

The garden! Oh my goodness! The weeds are higher than the veggies. Not sure what the heck is happening out there but its sucks. I don't know where to start first. I have cleared out the rose garden of weeds again and they are back with friends! Ugh!!!! Just don't have the time for this.

Miki is scoring big time in soccer. Matt's not doing bad in baseeball but needs help with hitting. HOpefully next year it will be better.

Well off to finish the baby blanket. Will post picks of the first rip out with the oles later.

Leigh Ann

Da Vinci's Code

Well ... I finally restarted the book last night and couldn't put it down. I love it! I'm at chapter 37 at the moment. Hopefully will have it done today or tomorrow.

Started my KAL and I am on Day 2 of it. Not sure what it is but will find out soon. Contemplating doing another one. I know I only have one set of 4.5 mm needles with me but Its not that hard to work with another project on your needles. ;)

Off to get everyone showered and to pack hubby and I to go home.

Leigh Ann

PS I hope with all the rain we have gotten at the farm that we got some at home. My poor garden could use it!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

Its Canada Day today and I am not doing alot. I have finished off my poncho I started on Mai 2 and finished off a dishcloth I started on Juin 29 (figure 8, is what it is called). I did the dishcloth in a variagate and the poncho in a navy blue. Still have to sew it but the rest is at home.

I'm at the farm for a little R & R. My sil and her family are home from the UEA - they are teaching over there for two years. It is so nice to see everyone. The kids have gotten big. My oldest niece has grown into a nice young lady and my nephew is almost as tall as me. That's not hard. My kids are having fun with them. :) My sil brought me a tea pot that they use over there. Its cool and different and it actually is a photo on one of their coin currencies.

Everyone went for Chinese but my nephew, son and I who do not like it. Better go others want on the machine.

Will post pictures when I get back.

Leigh Ann

PS My kids are staying with grandma and grandpa for a week and will be visiting with their cousins. A break for mom and dad! Maybe I will get more knitting done. :)

Update of the past week

Its been a busy week for me. Not enough time in the day for everything I want to do. I worked on Sunday so I could take Friday off. It was the last mass of the school year and also awards presentations too. Needless to say my kids didn't get any awards but it was still nice to go and see everyone.

Monday I ended up with a BIG ol' migraine. It managed to keep me in bed for most of the morning. It was a dull roar at lunch but I still wasn't up to par. I did manager to make two batches of strawberry jam after supper. So I now have 21 jars of freezer jam. Yum!!!

Tuesday I worked on my poncho at work got about 10 rows done and sadly to say that's all the knitting I've done this week. Wednesday night I made strawberry-kiwi freezer jam. 6 more jars are in the freezer. I"m just waiting for the rest of the kiwis to ripen to make the next patch.

Thursday and Friday it rained so no gardening done. The gardens are looking great. I still have to pull out the dead plants that I killexed a few weeks ago to do my rose garden but hopefully start that tomorrow. I also picked up and 8 quarts of strawberries to freeze or make more jam. Haven't used all the berries in the freezer from the last year but more is always better eh!

Today we were suppose to go to baseball but ds isn't feeling to hot (this is 2 weeks without playing) so next we are going come hell or high water. We are going to do lunch and maybe look for a couple of body boards for the kids. The lake is only 2 long blocks from the house and sadly to say I have yet to swim in it. We been here 11 years come Aout. Tomorrow dd is invited to a double birthday at a friend (two friends are having a party).

On top of this I have to get some laundry done, housework done, and start killing the ants that like to invade in the summer. Its not a me thing but everyone where I live gets them.

We also sold the van on Wednesday so we have been down to 1 vehicle. That sucks! I work in town (12 mins away) so hubby and the kids had to drive me in at 6:30am on Thursday, needless to say they weren't too impress when I woke them up and said " lets getting going mommies ready.") Hubbies at the farm getting the truck- caught aride with friends so I didn't have that 6 hours round trip to do.

Okay off to get something done so I can actually, maybe knit later. The kids want their sweaters done. But with these temps I might be able to push it back abit. The way I am going I'll be doing the SOS till Christmas!

Have a great weekend!

Leigh Ann

The gardens in

Well it took another 2-3 hours but the veggie garden is in now. There's tomatoes, peppers (red and green), onions, carrots, red beets, yellow and green beans, swiss chard (red and green), 3 kinds of lettuces and all the flowers are planted now.

The herbs are in too. I have curly parsley, oregano, chives (reg. and garlic) and mini basil. Can't wait to start eating them.

And to top it off the strawberries are ready at the local farmers market. Box a box and delicious! Going to go picking tomorrow.

Have a great day.

Day 2 of SOS

I guess I can count today as day 2 of SOS. I took the poncho to work to work on it but didn't have time on lunch or breaks. After lunch the old tummy is doing rolly polly's and feels bloated and gassy. Sorry folks!

Have some laundry to finish tonight and hope to get some knitting in and then its garden time! Sorry for the short post but if hubby and kids are going to his parents after school tomorrow then I need to get some stuff done tonight.

Have a good one!

Summer of Stash - what I am doing.

Thought I'd copy what I wrote on the SOS blog so I knew what I was going to do for it.

My name is Leigh Ann and I have a stash problem as well. Over the past month I have picked up alot of new yarn and I still haven't used up yarns from years ago. Did my last purchased yesterday as I new I would be joining this. I am so bad! The yarn was originally $7.99 and on sale for $2.10, what's a girl to do - its a !00% virgin wool and I am going to make two cool hats for the kids for winter, already had picked up some gorgeous cotton that was on sale at the local yarn store as well. Stuff I'd love to knit with but find its pricey.

Any way..... my goals:

1. Not to buy any yarn until after the Labour Day weekend (depending on how much of the stash I have used). See April 2 blog for pictures of the stash. My blog is: http://knittingngardeningjunkie.blogspot.com/
2. To complete some of my UFO's:
a. Matt's sweater
b. Miki's sweater
c. Poncho - not sure who its for yet. Don't think it will fit me.
d. Washcloths - that I am doing for a KAL for group I am on
e. The 6 cable sweater I started back in 1992 that no longer will fit but is almost done.
f. Sewing buttons on a few things that need them and tucking ends into others so that
they are 100% finished.
3. To work on depleting some of my new yarns into the projects that I bought them for:
1. Bernat Satin top for me
2. Bernat Matrix top for me
3. Bernat Matrix poncho for me
4. Hat for Matt - can't think of the name but its 100% virgin wool
5. Hat for Miki - same as above
6. Cotton top for me - Twilley's Freedom Cotton DK in navy
7. various scarves that I have boughten yarn for
8. to use up some of the dish cloth yarns that I have had for awhile.
4. I won't buy any more yarn on sale till after the SOS is done or till I use up alot of this yarn.

I think that's good for me for now. Could add more if I get through these lists.

Exceptions:

1. A knitting magazine that may come out during this time
2. A ball of yarn to finish a project. Shouldn't have too as I normally buy an extra ball.
3. If I go on a fab holiday and see an awesome yarn shoppe and the yarn calls to me. Fat chance this will happen but if it does I would be aloud.
4. Extra stitch counter if I have mutiple things on the go or I loose one. I really don't need any extra knitting stuff as I have alot as is.

What's in it for me in the end.

Yarn used up and a feeling of accomplishment. Hopefully some Christmas presents will be finished and I won't be rushed then.

Summer of Stash - SOS

I am looking forward to joining the Summer of Stash or SOS. I really would like to use up some of the yarns I have and to finish a bunch of projects too. Come to think of it I could get a head start on my Christmas knitting too! Cool!

The link below is the SOS blog:http://soskal.blogspot.com/

I can have two exceptions so I will think of what they will be.