Wednesday 25-January-2006  1:35 PM

Butterfly is a Cassidy creation and self stripes in red, blue, and yellow

Teal Berries is a Jessi creation and self stripes in teal and fuchsia.

Tuesday 24-January-2006  2:37 PM

Ok...here's pictures of my first finished projects for 2006.

This pair of socks was technically completed in 2005, but the final weaving and blocking was done just the other day...so I guess it qualifies for 2006

This was my first pair of self-striped socks I did.  I dyed them green, burgundy, and orangish-gold.

Here's my second pair of self-striping yarn done in two shades of blue.  (don't mind the heel on one...it was my first attempt at an afterthought heel, and I made it a bit too big....but it still fits and only looks whonky in the picture.

And here's my latest pair...finished them last night.  This is the first time I made socks out of my handspun.

I am pretty proud of these socks .  They are just ankle socks as I wasn't sure I would have enough to go higher, but it ended up that I did.  Another one using an afterthought heel.  They aren't identical, but I think they are really neat looking.  You can see the roving I used below.

This is Josh's skein that he dyed.  The colors were fuchsia, sunshine orange and blue. 

And here's what it looks like after cast on (toe up on one circ) doing the toe increase and starting the main part of the foot.

I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but I gotta tell you, I am loving them.  The colors really are pretty together.

Jessi wakes up every morning telling me she has to feed the chickens.  Well...that's cool, if we had chickens that is.  But here's a shot I took of her and Josh feeding the "chickens" yesterday

Other then that, not a whole lot to report today.  It's just been a tiring day so I will close out without further ado.

Monday 23-January-2006  9:48 AM

A TIE!  The kids accidentally pulled two names out of the basket...so Kelly and Kathy are our winners.  Ladies, I will be contacting you shortly via email to notify you of your winning and to ask for your mailing address to send your prize to you.  Congrats and thanks for visiting our blog.

Thanks to everyone for such encouraging and positive feedback on our yarns.  All three skeins are sold and we look forward to posting more shortly.  THANK YOU!  

We had a good weekend even though the hubster got called a lot and finally had to go into work yesterday for most of the day.  We spent time together and worked on a few projects.  Not really getting what I wanted to get done, done...but at least we started.  Poor kitty got locked out in the cold garage last night.  She's not an outside cat, hates the cold, and didn't enjoy her stay out there at all.  She was all cuddles this morning and now is resting happily under the comforter on my bed.

Other then that, I am nearly finished with my Maitri spun socks and hope to finish the last heel by noon.  I PROMISE to take pictures for my next post.  I need to post the blue self stripes too.  So, while the kidlets do their schoolwork this morning I will sit and knit a bit until I get the sock to fit.  May your day be blessed!

Thursday 19-January-2006  2:20 PM

Well, it seems like things are a little better today and I have gotten a few things done.  The kids and I have been dyeing to do school work.  Ok...just a silly play on words.  But we have been doing some yarn dyeing as a part of our school work.  It encompasses math (liquid and dry measure), science (chemical reactions) and art (color combinations and freedom to express and play).  My hands, today, are a lovely shade of teal due to the fact that I didn't wear gloves on the 4th skein.  See, school again...showing the kids what happens when you don't take proper precautions.  (yea, right)  Would you like to see the fruits of our labor thus far?  They are all self striping skeins.

Baby Nothings (a combination of baby blue, baby pink, and pearl grey).  This is the skein that Jacob created.

Flight of the Bumble Bee is Jessi's skein made using bright yellow and black.

English Garden is brought to you by Chris and is a combination of Purple, Kelly Green, and Yellow.

More coming tomorrow as we finish up our work.  Check out our for sale page if interested in purchasing one of these skeins.

I forgot to take pictures of the socks I finished and quite frankly am too lazy to get up and take a picture now, however, here's the scarf that Anne sent me.  Jessi willingly posed with it for me.

And on that note, I MUST get back to my homework.  I PROMISED Judi I would accomplish at least one thing today and I plan on doing that.

Wednesday 18-January-2006  7:01 AM

Well at least that's how I feel today.  I can't seem to get motivated to get off this couch to do anything.  I mean seriously I feel glued to the couch.  I know my iron level is down, so I need to get back on my supplements ASAP.  I have this malabsorption issue going on and drinking all this coffee only makes things worse.  It's truly a vicious cycle.  Drink coffee to stay awake, iron depletes even more making you more tired, drink more coffee....and so it goes.

The cold bug is starting up again here.  Come on already....I know it's due to it not getting cold enough here to kill off the germs and getting acquainted to a new climate and all that, but my kid-lets are sick again.  WAH.

However, yesterday I received so many good things in the mail, I felt like it was Christmas all over again.  From Deb over at Dudley Spinner, I received Hannah .  I am working on socks I spun from Mairti also purchased from there.  These are mostly turning out teal-ish, but I love them so far.  Am making two toe up socks on one circ using the Crazy Toes and Heels method.  But alas, I made a pledge to not spin any of Hannah until I finish the black baby alpaca I am working on for Mr. C.  Gotta get going on that one.   Also in the mail came several skeins of yarn from Knit-picks.  Not going to post a picture because it's just white dye-able yarn and that's just plain boring.  Wait til I dye it first :).  Also received a lovely scarf from Anne.  Was my birthday present from September. But with the our move, her surgery, Christmas, and all that other great stuff, it wasn't mailed to me.  But I got it yesterday and I LOVE it.  I will post pictures tomorrow.  And if that all wasn't enough, my good friend Vesper sent me a lovely card and bracelet, JUST BECAUSE!!!!  Now won't I be bummed today when all the mailman brings me is bills?

The kids are waking, so I must get off this couch, make some breakfast, and get started on our school day.  I hope you all have a great day too.

Tuesday 17-January-2006  5:50 AM

Still alive and kicking....or at least in theory.  Had some company from Thursday to Saturday then spent some family time together Sunday and Monday.  Now it's, back to work (for hubby), back to school (for the kids), and back to being the mean ole mommy (that would be me).

I finished my blue striped socks and will share later...no picture today...sorry.  One has a pointy heel as I knitted it a little too long, but shh, no one will know if YOU don't tell.  Hubby also made me some great (and cheap) sock blockers from recycled hangers from the cleaners.  I KNEW it would pay to be too lazy to do his uniforms and take them to the cleaners to get done.

I decided that I must join in the fun over at Yarn Harlot and join in on the Knitting Olympics.  I have been wanting to knit the Clapotis that I have been oogling for quite awhile now, but too afraid to try.  So...I shall do it.  I have made the commitment and now I just need to make sure I have the yarn available.

Other then that, not a whole lot is new. So on that note, I shall sign off for now and catch you all again soon.

Wednesday 11-January-2006  1:20 PM

9am – 4 pm daily

Tuesday 10-January-2006  4:48 AM

I thought these early mornings were done when Jim stopped being a drill sergeant.  YEA WRONG!  Have been up since a little after 3:00 this  morning and was able to catch up on some blogs,  have a little quiet time, make plans for the rest of the week (I am a list oriented person and haven't been doing that lately...no wonder I have been floundering) and am able to catch up a little.

Chris had a wonderful birthday.  We went to the coffee house on Saturday and got to try Indian Tacos.  YUM!  Now I have to learn how to make Indian Fry Bread (any suggestions out there) because the kids have been requesting them for days.  Forgot to take pictures of the place, but the kids loved their frozen lattés with ice cream, flavored syrups and sauces, and a hint of espresso.  Flavors were different for most of the kids but not too bizarre.  Then we headed over to Mr. and Mrs. C's house for a bit of visiting.  Thanks so much for being such wonderful hosts for our crew.  The kids talked about it all the way home (about an hour's drive)

Sunday Chris got to eat cake and then open a few presents.  Of course, the highlight of the presents (which consisted of 4 bright (and I mean BRIGHT) skeins of yarn he requested, cash, spinning wheel lessons, a present to be determined this weekend either another erector set or something from Radio Shack...he's been eyeballing some type of electronic gadget there for a few months) was this present from his grandpa.   Yup a simple, small but spacious tackle box to hold all his erector set pieces.  So now he can easily whip up one of these creations a working oil pump simulation.  Now if only it truly would find some oil our in backyard perhaps we can pay the electric and gas bills this month (let's not go there)!

And now onto my first semi finished knitting project of the new year.  I finished my first sock (not a pair...just ONE lonely sock.)

I am proud of this lone sock.  It's made of yarn I dyed to self-stripe.  I created the pattern myself using a basket weave kind of pattern and I did an after-thought heel for the first time.  Again I say thank you to Queen Kahuna of Crazy Toes and Heels fame for making things SOOOO easy.  If you want to know how to knit easy socks, check her out here.

I plan to have some pictures posted later in the week of the gorgeous black alpaca I am working on spinning as well as some other yarns I have spun as requested by Wendy.  So be sure to check back soon.

Friday 6-January-2006  9:44 AM

Now, on to fibery things, yesterday while getting prepared to start processing this:

which is 6 pounds of yummy alpaca, I turned around to find this on the couch.  Mind you, she is 10, never been a mommy and is a CAT

and yes those are baby pound PUPPIES that one of my kiddos decided needed to have a surrogate mother.  She laid there for quite awhile so that those little puppies could receive adequate sustenance to bark and carry on with the kiddos. 

Tomorrow we head to the coffee house.  Yummy

Thursday 5-January-2006  7:32 AM

It has been decided.  Chris will be taking us to the coffee house for his birthday outing on Saturday.  Truly I thank you Mr. and Mrs. C.  The snake thing was just freaking me out a bit.  Of course, we will include pictures of my children playing at being barista's.  When this "Army Thing" is over (in about a thousand years...or so it seems right now) and hubby and I are retired and looking for his next career, we dream of a coffee shop/yarn hangout/bookstore.  Oh, can you imagine, drinking coffee, spinning or knitting or crocheting, and being able to check out the newest releases at the same time.  Of COURSE all this will be at our Alpaca Farm so you can check out the animals too.  Hey, it's OUR dream, so we can plan it however we want.  Aaaahhh that would be the life, right.  I shall sit here a few more moments and savor in the peace it brings .....ok back to reality now.

Oh I hear the pitter patter of size 8 feet (and he's only 12) coming my way. Yup, here come the sized 3 right behind.....and now the size 1's.  Oh my..."they" are awake and ready to start the day.  Guess I need to go get prepared for them.  I don't hear the other 2 yet, but they will soon follow once they realize breakfast is starting.  I pray your day is blessed beyond measure.

Wednesday 4-January-2006  8:11 AM

Well, it's Wednesday and that means a few extra chores around the house.  Other then that, I really can't say a whole lot is happening here.  Jim seems to be settling into his new job well.  It sure has been nice having him home at night.

Chris turns 10 on Sunday.  Where has the time gone?  He's been with us for 2 years now and what strides he has made.  I am so incredibly proud of him.  Believe it or not, for his birthday he wants to head over to Mr C's coffee shop and learn how to make a great cup of coffee.    Now that is a boy after my own heart.  Hopefully we can arrange it.  Because his second choice is to go to the Rattlesnake place and see all the snakes there.  Love the boy, truly I do, but I WILL NOT set foot in there.  I told him that he could enjoy his visit with his daddy and his siblings, and I will gladly work on some knitting in the truck while they are in there.

Official fiber content: 

Working on finishing spinning a batch of alpaca.  The color is Caramel.  Very pretty!

Cast on a new pair of socks using a new (to me) heel technique and my own pattern.

"[God] has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8 

January 1, 2006

Our prayer for you in 2006 is that you have a very blessed, happy, safe, and healthy New Year.  May God bless you in ways that you cannot even imagine.

We don't make resolutions, but I will try to do betting in blogging and keeping everyone up to date with things.  Life just sort of got away with me the past few months, however, I feel like I am finally emerging from my shell.

Thanks to all who stood by us during our times of trials and sorrow.  It meant so much to me to know you all were willing to go that extra mile for us.