Introducing Claire

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Claire. Claire is a shawl knitted from Shaffer's cotton. The pattern is called "Beginner's Shawl", but, I refer to it as the Shaffer Shawl.
It's a simple garter stitch and drop stitch pattern and was a nice easy knit. I can't wait to put her to good use. Maybe in Europe, 2009. hmmmmm


Why did I name it Claire, you ask? I pretty much place names on lots of objects. For example, my car's name is Carmella. I think you've heard about Oliva and Iris - my suitcases. I have personal reasons for her name, as you know.

Eckhart Tolle's writes, " The recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition." in his book, A New Earth-Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. I think that's why I give objects names.

Wishing you all a wonderful 4th of July! Have a bang up time.

Ciao!

Tasha Tudor - A Legend

I am a fan of Tasha Tudor. I remember reading about her in an old Victoria magazine and then learned how to make purchases of her books on eBay. She passed on yesterday at the golden age of 92. Tasha lived on her farm in Vermont. She mastered several things, spinning, gardening and weaving to name a few. I am a huge fan of her children's books. They are still sold in book stores and have the most intriguing illustrations.

I am fortunate to have two of her prints framed and hanging in my living room. You've seen this one before. I have another one which is waiting for a proper home. Now that thought will be taken more seriously.

Her work will live on for a very long time. If you are ever at the bookstore - check out the children's section and look for Tasha's books. I think you will enjoy them.

Thank you Tasha for sharing your life and work with us.

Ciao!

Final days of Colorado Trip

Moving on to the Springs, (Colorado Springs), for more shopping. This shop was out in far east CS and we met another Oklahoma connection. One of the owners lived here in our area while her husband was stationed at the Air Force Base. Below is the nice view these shop owners have everyday.

Speaking of views! Here is the Granddaddy of them all. This is the view my best friend Andrea gets to see everyday from her living room window. How lucky is that? We had such a nice visit. I went to yarn shops in Old Colorado Springs on Friday and spent most of Saturday with Andrea and her family. She took me to a nursery and I picked up two dwarf Lilac bushes, one for Karen and one for me.

We got up bright and early Sunday to come home. We counted the animals along the way. There's no use playing the license tag game because all you see in this area are tags from Texas or New Mexico. We enjoyed see the windmills in western Oklahoma. I hope this will help to become a greener state.

Well, that's about it. I enjoyed the trip, the girls were great, the time seeing family and friends was even greater. My family used to take vacations when we were younger and I love travelling by car. Even if I am the driver and I think of it as wasted knitting time. ha

Lately,

I am learning to knit socks. I think I might be able to do it.

The flower beds are done and look great. Pictures will follow.

The new roof is on and almost finished. Looks very nice.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads we know and love.

Ciao!

Movin On

Sorry about the pause, Life got in the way.

Day two we stayed in Denver. Remember the saying when one door closes another door opens? Well, I guess you could say something like that happened to me this day. The yarn store which was first on our list had different store hours for Thursday and we didn't know it. Plus, we would have to wait about 2 hours if we wanted to shop there. We opted to go into the antique store a couple of doors down. It always happens that I gravitate to the holiday cubicles. As I was looking at old plastic Santa and vintage Halloween items I thought - I wonder if I can find my dishes here. As I turned the corner to look into the glass cabinet - BAM - there they were! Not just one but two sets of a snack plate, tea cup/saucer. WRAP 'EM UP!
Did I tell you that I travel with bubble wrap? Yep, my Trader Joe runs have me prepared to carry items home. I can't wait for Christmas Tea. I wonder if this is the reason why I have been in the mood for Charlie Brown Christmas CD. ha Sad but true. Yes, I can buy these on line - but then I wouldn't experience the thrill of it all. I hope I never lose that feeling.

We drove over to the largest yarn store ever - or at least the largest I have ever been in. It was very interesting that the owner had ties to Oklahoma - through her husband. The shop was 6000 sq ft, with a nice classroom and banquet area. The main theme of this shop was that the owner created the pattern and knitted/crocheted flowers and used them in floral arrangements. At first it was neat as she explained that she had met Cary Grant and given him a floral arrangement, along with some other dignitaries. Then as I walked around the shop it got a little creepy - like a mortuary. Don't get me wrong - it was a nice shop, too warm for me, with lots of yarn - just too many flowers for my liking.

After lunch we found Colorful Yarns on another side of Denver and another Oklahoma connection. The owner's mother was holding down the fort and she and hubby had lived in Tulsa for a while - oil business. I did some damage here and got some really pretty yarn. Can't wait to knit with it. We popped over to another little shop closer to the mountains and in Littleton CO which has a small town feel to it. There were two empty Prairie houses just calling our names. Imagine - living in Colorado, cool houses and right across the street is a yarn store - hmmmm.

Tomorrow we head to Colorado Springs... Yeah - the main reason why we came on this trip. ha

Ciao

P.S. Hey Mr. H - Crest now has some nice "Green" bags for shopping. I got some and like them. OH Yea - They only cost $1.00. I now will have to figure out what I will use for trash bags. ha

YARNCATION

YARNCATION (yarn*k*shen), noun, Yarncation is a place and a thing. In this time of high gas prices and the media announcing that people across America are having a "staycation" we do just the opposite. I am a child of the 60s and going against the grain can be good for the soul.

Last week I traveled to Colorado for a yarncation with three other "knittin ladies". We rented a van and drove to Denver, in one day. Yes we stopped at a Yarn Shop along the way. In Pueblo CO we visited Colorado Fiber Arts. Nice shop, small and cozy. I did buy some "artful yarns - soap" A nice, white,silver and gray blend. Off to the Springs for a really good steak dinner. We made Denver by nightfall and fall is exactly what we did. We drove and knitted all day. Does it get much better than that? YES IT DOES......

I got to see the "Windmills in my Mind" in Western Oklahoma. There are more of these windmills being "planted" in western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. They are gentle giants and hopefully a way to a better future.

If anyone ever asks you if four women can get up and moving on time - tell them YES! When one is on a yarncation - there is a driven force within. Getting up on time without an alarm clock just happens. We never miss a meal because we need our strength for shopping.

Moving on further north of Denver we headed to Ft Collins. This was especially a highlight for me. We went to the Lambspun yarn store. I have read the knitting mystery books by Maggie Sefton which uses Lambspun as it's character store and the people that work and visit there may be characters in the books. We got to meet the owner, Shirley, which is Mimi in the books. There is a restaurant in both the books and store. The golf course butting up to the shop is included in the stories and Maggie has done well to leave out the Target store across the street which keeps the storyline quaint. They are a nice easy read and I like them. It was also a thrill for me to buy some Lambspun yarn which are blends of silk/novelty and wool/novelty. I can't wait to find a pattern to use them in. The weather was just perfect for us. However; the next day a large tornado hit a town north of Denver, near Ft Collins. Our Oklahoma hearts went out to them.

Our day was not over as we drove on to Boulder. I can't tell you how nice it was to enjoy the nice cool temps. I think I could look at this view all day long. There are "beach" people and "tree" people. I am a tree person/hugger. I have always loved the forest and the mountains. The smell of dirt and pine trees reminds me of visiting Grandma K's house in Pennsylvania. It's a scent that you have to experience - they don't sell it in a candle or a bottle.

After visiting a yarn shop in Boulder we drove down the street to the University of Colorado campus and the artsy downtown area. We walked the farmers market and the downtown art shops. Dinner at the Mediterranean (The Med) was great. Then once again by nightfall we were falling into our beds exhausted.

On that note - I think I'll follow suit.

Check out K's blog "Addicted to Knitting" - of course this will be "her" side of the story. hee hee

Goodnight. Buona Notte

This and That

Remember when we were kids and we would place pennies on the railroad track waiting for a train to come by and SMASH 'em? It was fun to watch a new generation place the pennies on the track. Chooooooo Chooooo I put on my Nancy Drew hat and finally solved a mystery that has been with me for over a year. One winter's day on the way home from Tulsa I saw a piece of an interesting looking building from the turnpike. The top of the building looked like an old church bell tower. It looked Celtic, yet Episcopalian and I couldn't figure out what it could be. I looked for it on each trip up and down the turnpike, yet never able to stop. Last weekend I was in Tulsa by myself and just knew what the drive home would entail. I remembered the exit and went to seek out the mysterious building. "What church could this be?", I wondered. As I got closer to the building my thoughts went down a whole different road. The building looks like some religious but it actually is a maintenance building for a CEMETERY. None the less, I drove through and took some pics and got back on the turnpike and nobody got hurt. ha

Here's a beauty which I wish would multiply, but doesn't. I get six lovely blooms on two stalks every year. She smells so beautiful.

MAY DAY! MAY DAY! I will always remember May 1st as May Day. This was the day that my Mother would have me take a homemade basket, made of construction paper, filled with flowers
to place on Mrs. Wagner's front door. I did this on my way to school. I wonder if that dear sweet lady ever knew who it was from - but most importantly - I hope she enjoyed them.

This May Day we were hit with a spring storm of hail and tornadoes. The hail grew from pea size to golf ball size. I think we might still have on in the freezer. That's what you're suppose to do right? Seems like we always did. Now let the insurance games begin.

Brotherly love. Need I say more? (Groucho loves to be covered while he sleeps. I think it keeps his old bones warm.)

This was a busy week. Several things going on and life seemed to be a struggle too. The flowers in the gardens are beautiful - but my allergies are horrible. My nose is rubbed raw and I should by stock in P&G.

Hi Mr. H! It was great seeing you in the doctor's office this week. All is fine with me and I hope with you. Jan - I don't think your Dad has aged one day since the last time I saw him. Good luck on your reunion.

Better close and go outside and plant flowers. Ciao!

Catching Up This Week

To say a lot has been going on this week seems like an understatement. There was something going on everyday. Sometimes this isn't a bad thing - but it seems like this week had more stress with it. I have a finished project to show you. Do want a hint as to what "HSH" stands for? My friend Cheryl and I were in Windsor Castle last fall when she came across a sign for an ancient royal that read, "Her Serene Highness...." Cheryl didn't waste anytime in letting me know that's what she wanted to be called and trust me I didn't waste anytime using it. Cheryl had a birthday this month and I thought it only fitting to bestow Her Serene Highness with her very own washcloth. Gold for royalty because she is a truly royal friend of 20 years.

Aren't these pretty. My boyfriends at work gave them to me. Okay - truth - The ladies at work were invited to the 2nd Annual Burger Burn at lunch today. On this day all the men in the office cook and provide us with lunch that is so special. They even gave us the gift of roses IN A VASE and a picture frame. The lunch was very good and our men are very special people to us. We really owe them a lot. They are always there when we need something done and they usually don't complain too loudly. We enjoy them all.

Shhh! Mums the word. I knitted this Sweet Pea hat for a great-niece who is expected at the end of May. I think her Mommy will be surprised when she sees the hat, because her nursery is done in the same colors and theme. This an easy hat to knit and it is so cute. Isn't little Lambchops cute too?

A few sad moments this week. We lost a neighbor of 31 years this week. The service was this afternoon and very nice. I asked last week for you to pray for Susan B. We lost Susan to cancer on Thursday. This was a long hard 3 year, almost to the day, battle. A celebration of her life will be held next month. Please keep a friend of mine in your prayers - John is battling cancer as well. This round of chemo is very hard on him.

The week isn't over yet and we have a busy weekend planned. Tomorrow is DIL 25th birthday! Lots a partying to do. Sunday I will see a great-nephew baptized and celebrate with family and friends.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend! Keep all your dear friends on your mind and in your hearts.

Ciao!