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.

Happy New Year

As I reflect back on the year, this time last year seemed awfully bleak for this household. DH lost his job along with thousands of others. With no income and savings disappearing quickly, one wondered what the future would bring. As you turned to others for support you heard over and over again, "well there are lots of folks losing everything". I know they meant well, but that is sort of like your Mom telling you to eat your peas because there are children starving in China. Did that make those peas taste better? I think not.



That's when my Etsy shop came about. Thank you to all that have had a hand in making it a success.



Winter came and went and spring brought a new job, way below the salary level of the last one, but a job none the less. Amazing what one can do without. Makes you wonder, do we really need all those "things" after all.  As long as I have yarn, knitting needles, roving, spinning wheel, and a little bit of dye, I'm good.



Then it was garden season. The weather didn't cooperate and it was a struggle to get our usual yields.

Fall came and it was time to start thinking about Christmas knitting. Last year everyone received sweaters, this year they all got hats. Which I think they were just as happy with. We were all together for Christmas and that is what is most important.



That brings us right back to the New Year. I have a HUGE pot of black-eyed-peas cooking for New Year's Day. I'm not taking any chances.



Happy New Year one and all!

Snow day..........

Everyone knows that you must have a clean house in order for Santa to visit. Here she is busy at work.  Might be a good plug for Dyson. Look, maneuvers so easily your two year can vaccum for you.  Do you think I should ask for royalties?   Anyway, she did a great job.  She actually had fun doing it.  Oh, how quickly that will change.

After our cleaning was finished it was time for playing. And play we did.  Cailin thought it was really great to throw snowballs at Ama.   She also thought it was really fun to go sledding, as long as Ama would pull her.  Otherwise, it was just way too much work.  Up the hill, down hill, down the driveway, up the driveway, and up and down the hill again.  Okay, that's Ama's workout for the day, enough.

As I watched my granddaughter play in the snow and dodging her vast amount of snowballs. I couldn't help but think of playing with my own two small children in the snow.  Then, falling in the snow meant laughs and giggles, now it means aching bones.  Where has the time gone.

Mother Nature...How do you like her now?

Well, as most of you have heard we folks here in Wisconsin got dumped on pretty well last night and today.  We ended up getting about 15 inches of very wet heavy snow.  Anyone who lives in a climate with winters knows that wet heavy snow means power outages.  There were several thousand of people without power today.  Lucky for us, we were not one of them. Along with the heavy snow and blowing winds, we also had snow thunder and lightning last night.   The question comes to mind, "you enjoyed Novemeber?"  Well here you go, how do you like it now?

This picture was taken from the same place I took last weeks shot. A tad bit different I'd say.

This is our clothsline that I was just using two weeks ago.

The fence around the garden.  The garden which it seems we just dug carrots from.

And at last, the lonely gazebo that not so long ago enjoyed  laughter and dinners under its roof.

The Beginning....

What a sad day it was, last Thursday we had our first accumulating snow.  Of course it had be knitting night that it arrived.  I found that there are a few die hard knitting groupies out there. 
It was just one of Mother Natures funny little jokes she plays on us.  She has yet a much larger joke in strore for us tomorrow.  She is going to wave her arms around, blow with all her might and produce 12 plus inches of snow with 40 mph winds.  Ain't she cute?

Tis the Season

Three weeks ago when we hit 70 degree weather we decided that it might not be a bad time to get the Christmas lights hung. We are getting way too old for frozen body parts.  According to Karen's rule, no lights will be lit until after Thanksgiving.  Well, it's after Thanksgiving so here we go, lights are lit.

Sami decided that he needed a "cats eye view". 

Post Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving Day started off with the turkey, like most Thanksgivings do.  After all, he is the star of the show.   If you are wondering what is up with my turkey, let me tell you. I have a sister who just happens to be the "queen of kitchen gadgets".  Every once in awhile one finds itself getting mailed here from back east.  This one happens to be a very useful one.  It is a silicon cord on a stainless steel needle. Thread the turkey up, leave it all in there, roast it and let me tell you it isn't coming apart.

We all sat down to a very yummy dinner which consisted of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash au gratin, green bean casserole, gravy, homemade rolls, and  cranberry sauce.

She was just making sure that PaPa was carving the turkey properly.

  

As if that wasn't enough food we had pear pie and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.  A serious food hangover was had by all today..

So, as you can all see I have an awful lot to be thankful for.  The faces around the table say it all.