Where has it gone....

I can't believe it has been two months since my last post...I suppose facebook has taken over my blogging. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be a vendor at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival this year. That kept me very busy for most of the summer. It was like living in a fiber paradise for three days. Meeting scads of fiber freaks just like me, seeing the excitement on their faces just seeing all the wonderful things to touch, see, and covenant. The weather was cooperative, not too cool but cool enough to wear a lovely hand knitted scarf, vest, or shawl. To me it was very inspiring to see everyone donning their beautiful finished knitted works of art. It was also great to put faces with some of the folks I have met through Ravelry.

Now to get ready for the next show. That will be in February in Milwaukee at the Sheep in the City Getaway,,,,, check it out. http://web.mac.com/jmassie1/Sheep_in_the_City/Welcome.html



The garden has been put out of its misery with the hopes that next year will be better for it.  The leaves are turning and frost is expected for tonight.  As you can see it is time for comfy, cozy flannel pj's to come out.

Where has the summer gone?

Playing Hooky........

I went into my sewing room yesterday with every intention of really producing some bags to put into my inventory. After all, I do have a show coming up the end of the month.


Well, I guess my ADDS kicked in and this is what ended up coming out of yesterday. All though quite nice, neither what I had set out to do nor what I should have been doing. I suppose we all have to play hooky from our jobs sometimes.

I dyed the middle one first, the blue one next and then the purple,blue,gray one last.  I used the same dye water for all of them.  I was just playing but I think the results came out very nice.  I suppose I will have to have another hooky day to spin it.  See, it's just a never ending circle of fiber.

Adding Another.....

Recently "the girls" took a trip back east to visit family.  The weather was great and the flight uneventful, except for leaving a little late...but hey, what are you going to do. 

As you can see Cailin had no issues what so ever with the plane ride.
She made a wonderful traveling companion.

Once there she had the oppurtunity to explore some of my childhood.
Sitting on Great PopPops tractor.  I can just imagine that he was smiling down on her.










Met relatives that she couldn't get the names straight to save her life. 

She got a chance to visit Aunt Audrey and her sheep. We have no pictures of that because there was no way she was leaving my grasp to get down to see them.  She isn't a real animal lover.  Cailin perfers the wool already in yarn form.
And last but not least, she had a chance to have her picture taken on "the picture taking front steps".  During our visit we found generations of photos taken on these front steps. We just added another.

Sometimes............

Yesterday was my birthday. When you reach a certain age birthdays seem to just come and go. However, yesterday's birthday was a little different for me. With the path and the changes that my life is taking right now coupled with the fact that the "whole" family was out of town, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.


Then all my friends on facebook started wishing me happy birthday and my friend called to take me to lunch. Her 3 year old grandson was with her and had chosen a birthday card for me. To see the smile and pride on his face for choosing that card made me put everything into perspective.

It should be just that simple. Choose a fun card and make someone smile.

We tend to get so wrapped up in the things that are shitty in our lives we lose track of the things that really count. Those things are the love of our family and friends and our health.

So, I have pulled on my "big girl" panties and am moving along.

Happy Birthday to me!

Who Says......

Woohooo...the first day of Spring!  My seeds are up which as you can see, I had help planting.

What great fun we had this week, the weather was in the mid to upper 60's and even hit 70 one day.  We played outside, went weee on the swing, took walks, played ball, and even got the tricycle out for the season. We watched the robins jump around looking for worms to pull from the ground, the chickens were finally out basking in the sun.  The first day of Spring would be on Saturday. All was good with the world.

Then Mother Nature stepped in.

Who says Mother Nature doesn't have a sense of humor.

Ready Set Go........

Bags are finished and bagged and tagged.  Table covers are pressed and hanging up.  Fixtures to be used for display need to be gathered. Items yet to be checked off the "to do" list. The car needs to be packed up and we are off.
Tomorrow is my "first" show at the Madison Knit In. http://www.madisonknittersguild.org/knitin.html
Guest speakers will be Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne Mason-Dixon Knitting. Check out the site for classes,vendors, and more info.
We have to leave home at 5:00 am. Yes, that's right, 5:00 in the morning, I don't think our rooster is even up that early. I foresee a high volume coffee day.

It should be great fun.  After all, how could it possibly be bad, surrounded by fiber and knitters. You just can't go wrong.

Happy March...

Well, it's March......I just know spring has got to be here soon.  The signs are coming.  The trees are tapped for sap, the willows are starting to get their yellow haze going on, the chickens are laying more eggs, there's mud in the driveway, the dogs are spending some time out on the deck, next week the seeds will be started, and I AM READY for winter be OVER.  Hang in there it's coming, it's March!

Baby's New Hat........

My daughter sent me this: a fan asked singer Matt Morris "what value do you find in making handcrafted items like knit hats?" and he answered "peace comes to those who, with steady hand and slow breath, make beauty from yarn".
I thought that was just a very lovely quote and wanted to share it with all of you that knit.  And for those who don't, maybe you should try it.

What could add more beauty into your life than this?  It is a double whammy, beauty from the yarn and beauty from that face.  She is such a ham.

 The hat was made from yarn by Queensland and the pattern

  used was "North Porch Hat, Jr. by Kim Wagner available here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/north-porch-hat-jr  It was a very fun knit.  I had already made another hat and mittens from the pink so I added the brown stripe.  It worked out quite well.  She seems to like it.

How Quickly.....

Sometimes it is just amazing to me how quickly life can change for you at the hands of someone else.

This week started off great. Daughter and Son and my little sweetie-pie came down for super bowl Sunday. We played games, ate a vast amount of junk food, laughed and had a great time. The underdog team won, which to me, anytime the underdog can win is always a good thing.

Monday morning came just like most Monday mornings do. I had bag orders to fill and ship out. Hooray! Tomorrow I get my sweetie-pie for her and Ama's two days of fun and play, things are good.

I get all my bags ready to ship, get a last minute request for a bag. It is to be a Valentine’s Day gift, it needs to go out today, still have time. That bag gets packed and I'm off to post office.

It's a fairly nice day, no snow, not too cold it's all good.

Then things changed desperately for the worse. As I approached the green light of the intersection and started through it someone ran the red light to my left. Needless to say things got really bad quickly. Unable to stop I hit the back of his car, was forced across the intersection head on into a light pole. Lucky for me I wasn't going very fast. I had my seat belt on, as I always do, and my air bags deployed. Those two combined saved me from being hurt too badly. My car on the other hand is a different story. Let’s just say, we will be car shopping.

As I got out of my car the "young" man driving the other car just kept saying, "I'm so sorry", "I'm so sorry". When I finally got out the words "what the *@#* were you doing" his reply was," I wasn't paying attention". Well, you know what? I had that figured out already.
What do you say to that?

Come Tuesday things were hurting a lot more. I spent the better part of Tuesday in the ER getting checked over. I ended up with neck sprain and strain, and contusion of the chest wall, it could have been a lot worse.

That's just how quickly your life can change at the hands of someone else.

I suppose the moral of the story should be: Make the best of each day you have!

The Wish List....

It may not feel like it now, but Spring is on the way.  Just ask my mail lady, she'll tell you.  You know how she knows?  Because more and more seed catalogs are being delivered to our box every day.   And so, the list begins.  Will everything on the list be bought? Probably not.  Will everything that is bought be planted?  Maybe. But, when the wind chills hit -20 it sure is nice to sit with a hot cup of tea and dream.  Dream of the sun beating on your brow, and all those wonderful flavorful goodies growing in your garden.   Yum..yum! 

 We'll leave the digging, hoeing, and weeding out of the dream. 

Production Has Begun...

I have been invited to be a vendor at the Madison Knitter's Guild Knit In this year.  I am very excited and have kicked myself into production mode.  Kicking into production mode means that other things become secondary re: cleaning, cooking, you know those fun things.  That's okay because I have a great support system that doesn't mind picking up the slack. Thank you DH. 

As you can see, it also means that my work area also becomes a state of disarray.

The Knit In will be held March 13, 2010 at the Bishop O'Connor Center in Madison WI.  The keynote speakers will be Ann and Kay, aka Mason Dixon Knitting.  It should prove to be a very fun day. So mark your calendars and maybe I'll see you there.  Stop by and say hey.

Today, as we returned from our errand trip it started to snow.  The oddest snow I can remember seeing.  It looked like Mother Nature was above us shaving a huge block of ice. Perhaps she's letting us know that this warm weather isn't going to last because she still has plenty of ice blocks to get rid of before spring.