NO WAY IT'S FEBRUARY!

Finally it's raning, but you can keep the wind. Hate the wind. I managed somehow to upload pictures to my flicker account. They are the most current of what I have been working on. The most current is the shrug and vest. Thanks to friends, I am working on an entralac scarf. I decided that I would like to make on after seeing the one I wanted to make on Knitting Daily. I downloaded the instructions and went to the LYS found the yarn and asked for help from a knitting pal, Dede. What a saint to put up with me. She came prepared with another pattern in hand, not knowing that I had a pattern in hand. We tried my pattern and quickly discovered it was great to have the picture and would use her pattern for the process. She even came out on Sunday to help me out. I can't wait to post the pictures of it.
Today we are celebrating our youngest son's birthday. He was born on the 15th of Feb., but let's just say that it is easier to celebrate his birthday around the date rather than on the actual date.
Tomorrow is Jolie's Rememberance Day. She would be 2 yrs. if she lived. I made her a quilt and knitted a blanket. Joanna is going to donate them to a hospital for premiees in Jolie's name. I also made the cupcakes and Joanna and Eric are having a little dinner to remember her tomorrow night.

NEW YEAR

January started out quiet. My husband had a cold so we were home bound. I stayed up and knitted. On the 16th, I was off to a quilting retreat with Linda Ballard. I met my friends on the grounds of Bishop Ranch just outside of Healdsburg. It was next to a dairy farm. The views were beautiful, but there were times the smells were not so great. The weather couldn't have been better since we had to move our belongs by wheelbarrow. No, it wasn't that rugged, just that we couldn't park our cars near the buildings. Linda had us making a quilt top that required so many pieces that I became frustrated and make a preemie quilt from the pieces I had completed. Now that I am home, I am able to work uninterrupted and the other pieces will make a nice quilt.
I finished my latest knitting project finally. I started it a month ago and it was a two week project. I will be blocking it and wear it to Stitches West. Pictures will be up soon. Currently, I am knitting a preemie blanket in Jolis memory. I have until her birthday the 17th of February. I wan to give Joanna both the quilt and blanket in Jolie's memory.

Holidays

Before Thanksgiving I dreaded the days that were coming. My anxiety was for not. All has gone well so far. My family was able to be here and we shared some good times together. Christmas was special, especially being able to see the grandchildren playing together. I will cherish those memories. My friends were here too. My friend Mary was here to share a special day with me. My father died the week before Christmas and she shared the day with me. We went to see the movie, "Seven Pounds." I won't say too much, but will say it was a downer. The best part of the day was spent just talking. I forgot how much I missed talking with her. She has good insight and knowledge about life and how to live. Her faith in the Lord is also important to me too. Then there was my friend that lives in Fresno. I tried to visit, but unsuccessfully. I hope to make it before the end of January.
I finished my knitting before December, but as I was wrapping gifts, I couldn't find one pair of socks. I started to panic and decided to make another pair. Well, as you probably guess, I did find those socks and will be giving both pairs for a gift.
Just after before Christmas, I went with another friend shopping at a new fabric store in the El Dorado area. Of course, I didn't get away without a little fabric. We also stopped at a knitting store Sierra Knitters. There they had a bracelet knitted from wire. (I did try it and I enjoy making the jewelry. I made my first, but want to make a few more before I give away any of them.) We decided to go see the movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still". That was a better film.
Movies seem to be the theme for Holidays. Betty and I went to see a movie on Sunday, "Marley and Me". It was a cute movie and I was glad to see it.

Life Being Lived

Boy has it been awhile. Today I spent the day helping a friend learn to knit. It was a challenge, because I wanted to do the work for her. She is new the Ravelry, Evansmom. I use to babysit her and her brother. She now has a 4 year old son and lives in Santa Rosa. We met in Fairfield and ended up in Vacaville. I thought her the 4 basic needs of knitting: casting on, knitting, purling and binding off. She left to go home with a "little eye washcloth." Also, she went and purchased straight knitting needles which I suggested at the first purchase. Sometimes one just needs to learn from experience. On my way home, I stopped at Spin a Yarn in Vacaville. It is a cute little shop. I did not buy anything. I would have purchased some sock yarn, but the color was not what I wanted.
I have been knitting , sewing clothes, and quilting Christmas gifts. Hopefully I will finish by the first week of Dec. (HA!) Hal and I also went to Reno on the train. It was a delightful experience going up. We were told to sit on the lower level. Going back we assumed that was where we were to sit. Then, we found out that we might have to move. I guess we needed to pay extra to sit downstairs. We were able to sit downstairs and found that to be just a comfortable returning home. The only complaint was the bathrooms were not as clean as they were going. While in Reno, I spent time knitting, sleeping and of course playing games. No I did not win. And no, I did not venture out in a taxi or bus. I did shop though and added to my nativity scenes.

New Rooms

We have exciting news at our house, Hal has finished with his crown molding of the bedrooms. The first room took 5 months from beginning (finding the tools, searching the how-to's), the last room took 1 week. He did an outstanding job. I'm so proud of him. My sewing room is like new. All the rooms were painted. He is now putting his computer room in order. We changed the furniture around. It gives it a different feel. Now to get my fall quilt up to help decorate the house.

Others Things Than KNITTING?

I haven't finished any knitting lately. I have started my daughter-in-law's shell and still need to complete the shrug. I am currently working on a pair of men socks. I hope to complete them before the end of this week so that I can finish the shrug. What have I been doing otherwise? I have been completing a daily Bible study and moving furniture and items from sewing room, computer room and babysitting. I have completed the sewing room and now all that is left is the computer room to paint and put up the crown molding. Hal does all that, I just am his beautiful assistant helping measure, hold the crown molding so that he can use the nail gun, and lift furniture. It has been a real challenge for him, but wow, what a nice job he is doing.

Missing Friends

It's been awhile since I last blogged. In that time I have not finished much. I have been busy with work, home, grandchildren, and hobbies. I don't know if I put them in the order of time consumption. I meet once a month in Auburn with the Foothill Quilter's. I get excited to be there. Expectally when I have a complete quilt to show. Then, I started Bible study again. I stopped after my mom left. I tried after she died, but found it difficult. This year I'm back and of course with a bang to begin with. My hopes are that it continues to be with a bang rather then a drudge. Then there is my biggest committment, Meetup, on Wednesday evenings. I have made some fantastic friends here. I missed going last week because of busyness. I plan to make it there this week.
Today I get to play grandma again. Yesterday, I sat with my 31/2 yr. old, grandson, and we put a puzzle together. He is very good at puzzles. It had 62 pieces and it was a dinosaur puzzle, 14x18''. Not bad for a grandma and her grandson. Today, rather in a few minutes I will take care of his brother, 6 mon. He is rolling and as cute as can be. Later, I get to sit for the two sitters. Their mother has an errand to run and then she will cut and pamper my hair color, so I continue to look somewhat younger.