If you were

 Impressed with yesterday's photo

How 'bout this one ! ! ! 

Hugs

♥♥♥

Brrrr ! ! ! ! It's Cold ! ! ! !

Mother Nature certainly is having her way.

It is cold ! ! ! 

We had a bit of snow over night and when we went out today it was darn right cold.

 Low thirty's and high 20's - I needed my coat, not just a jacket.

But I braved it and we had lunch and then stopped at Barnes & Noble - just for a tiniest of minutes.

Then came home to have a hot cup of coffee.

Brrrrrr

Went online the other day to order some sock blockers.

In order to meet the free shipping I bought these two new yarns.  

Just a little something to knit more Cookie A patterns.

Speaking of - - - - -

Pointelle is progressing right along.

One sock is at the point of beginning the heel flap

Second sock just twenty rows short of that.

Haven't had to frog [rip out stitches] for .  .  .  . well, a couple of days.

I AM GOING TO KNIT THESE ! ! ! !  with the Goldenrod yarn whether it wants to or not.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I've not accomplished a thing today.   Yet ! ! ! 

^  >> ^  >> ^ >> ^

Summer of 1957

Phineas Banning High School 

Hugs

♥♥♥♥♥

My Yarn Yarn

This is my yarn yarn.

As you know I bought some Wilton's Cake Icing Dye to color 

some KnitPicks' Bare Superwash wool.

My first day's adventure was PINK.  

I mixed four separate batches ranging from light to darker.

I tied the hank in several spots with wide strips of cloth so that white would dot along my yarn.

While I made what I thought were significant increases in the amount of dye per batch, 

the graduating colors were not that noticeable except between the light and dark,

 the in-betweens almost weren't.

However, I am pleased enough to use it.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

The following day I followed the same procedure with GREEN.

Making certain the amount of dye was doubled on each of the four batches.

Still wasn't enough to show.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

All in all the process was easy and not a bit messy in the kitchen/microwave.

hr, did I say I used the same method as I used for the Kool-ade dyeing.

Spurts in the microwave to heat to just below boiling.

While I had the dye and all the paraphernalia out I brought out some yarn that was in my stash minus a label.  

Looked like wool, felt like wool.  

After attempting to dye it I found it would not take the dye so it was not made of animal or protein fiber.

Resorted to checking with my Ravelry Stash and found it is cotton.  

But it sure looks and feels like wool.

Anyway, each color has enough yarn for one pair of socks each.  

This might be the time I attempt a feat that a fellow Rav Cookie A KAL-er does.  

i.e.: knit THREE PAIR of sox on ONE CIRCULAR needle.

I've already bought a sixty-inch long Addi Lace needle.   grin - grin

#   #   #   #   #   #   #   #   #   #

My Norwegian great grandparents emigrated from Oslo in February 1872.

They departed with their three small children

and my great grandfather's father - my great great grandfather -

They settled in Chicago,

had six more children 

of whom the eldest daughter was my grandmother.

This photograph was their home in Nesodden just across the fjord from Oslo, as seen to the right of the house.

The house is situated a few steps from the water's edge.

The present owners have just recently upgraded what was used as a summer place only 

to their year 'round residence.

Hugs

♥♥♥

Needle Exchange

Recently, Kelly at

I Have A Notion 

had a Needle Exchange Program.

I sent her one of my broken Sewing Machine needles and Kelly exchanged it for a

Superior Titanium Coated Sewing Machine Needle 

Since Kelly gave us a choice of sizes - 

I decided that the 80/12 would be a good size for overall use.   

I have yet to put this in my machine as I'm finishing up a few odds and ends with various materials - mesh, vinyl, and the like.  When I do use it you'll get a full report of my experience.

~    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~   ~

What do you do with a naked mug?

Thanks to my pal DJ I was able to dress it up.  

She picked the perfect color

and who does not love cupcakes.

'course I couldn't help but accessorize it with bright markers.

#  #  #  #  #  #  #  #  #  #  #

My fraternal aunt Eleanor.

Hugs

A while back Josette from My Grama's Soul

picked my name to receive this

It says it all.

Jo has a beautiful blog.

Hugs

a new twist to the traditional

A few weeks back House of A La Mode has a giveaway.

Oh, yes, I won - 

I won this interesting quilt book.

It has taken my quilt making in a new direction.

Take a look .. .. .. 

Emily Cier has taken the traditional and tweaked - with exciting results.

Thanks, Heather, for the chance to win this neato book.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~   ~  ~

This is the view I grew up with.

Isn't this something?

Hugs

Winner - We have a Winner ! ! !

Dianna is the WINNER ! ! 

Thanks from my heart goes to each 

and every one of you 

for taking time to visit and comment.

You know how those Comments

feed our posts.

I have so much fun putting together my giveaways.

The anticipation of the draw is exciting and puts me on pins and needles just awaiting the results.

As I'm getting the Feline Vinyl tote, From my Heart Journal and the Oh, So Pink Notes and Desk Tray off to Dianna I'm beginning to plan my next giveaway.

I truly wish each of you come back again.

HUGS 

♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥

It's About Time We Have a Giveaway ! ! !

Comments are Closed ! ! 
The Deadline is Now ! ! 
The winner is 
* * * * * * * * * * Dianna * * * * * * * * * * *




This is my "It's About Time ! ! " giveaway.

It's been months since we had a giveaway here.

So let's do it!

Deciding what to include has been holding me back.

Brain must have slowed like molasses in January.

Here's the deal

if you wanna have a chance to win

A cute, yet practical, desk caddy

a PINK desk caddy

with three lovely note pads

one is a frenchy note pad

PINK note pads

and then you'll win

my vinyl tote 

made with Laurel Burch feline fabric

with a magnetic closer!

Not too big,

not too small,

just the right size!

And this journal cover

with

Journal 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You know the drill

leave a comment.

Hugs

♥

Two Updates

Thought I'd show you what I've accomplished lately.

I'm just a few rows into the heel on Marilinda.

Worked no more than eight rows of the thirty-two of the heel flap yesterday and will continue just as soon as I post this.

Before I push the 'Post' button

~  ~  ~  ~ 

my thread sketch is finished for now.

I know it needs something more in the upper portion and will make a decision

 - - - ?soon?

The sun's out

had a great lunch out with Daughter #2 - thanks Sweetie.

snow is melting

have new bird seed

and a new wind chime

life is good

# # # # #

Hugs

I won ! ! ! I won ! ! !

Yep, that's right, I've won a couple of recent giveaways

How Pink-a-lish-ish is this ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Ariane at Ariane's Crafts

has celebrated her second year of blogging 

by giving away

her ever so Pink-a-lush-ish Button Heart

AND 

sixty, Yes, I Said "SIXTY", 

3.5 inch tumbler blocks in what else? PINK ! ! ! ! ! 

Sweet Ariane added some wonderful goodies.

RicRac in Red that just might go with those tumblers.

Cheery painted wood buttons.

A Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Schnibbles pattern - Madeline

a pkg of tissues - though I would never think of using them.

as you can see the front of the tissue pack sez:

"Happiness is a Habit ~ Cultivate it."

a quote from Elbert Hubbard.

~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ 

Some of you may remember when Ariane's sister

Michele at michele made me

had her giveaway some months back,

Her Denim Tree Purse [plus goodies] arrived at my doorstep

These are two interesting, creative, talented gals.

# # # # # # # # # #

Okay, there's one more.

I won two   half-yards of Jane Sassaman fabric

from DragonThreads

You you just picture my living room re-upholstered in these two?

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FABRIC ! ! ! 

Hugs

Meet Marilinda

Here she is - a few more rows until I'll begin the heel section!

This pattern is just flowing off my needle.

Hadn't intended to go this far but I just can't stop.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, I did stop long enough to do some prep work for our Art Quilters next meeting.

Since I am showing thread sketching I decided now was the time to get ready.

This is the quilt top I'm using.

Small enough, something like 18x20, to handle easily.

I use a low loft cotton batt to add depth and a wool/rayon blend felt to stabilize.

I stabilized the top with horizontal lines in the center

and spirally squares and random half-circles in the borders.

This is the reverse side.

Looks to be pretty much evenly stitched.

Next time I'll show you my progress

thread sketching some bare winter trees.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Been enjoying our local library's ebook selection.

My Nook has three current titles one by John Sandford,

two by Harlan Coben.

And, then I downloaded an audio ebook to my laptop so that both Hubby and I can listen.

Yahoo ! ! !  so great to listen to a good mystery and knit at the same time.

I, too, can multi-task.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It began snowing overnight 

so far this 'dusting' has accumulated TWO MORE INCHES ! ! ! 

Hugs

Back in the Saddle Again

You're no doubt as familiar with this pair of socks

well, not exactly a pair YET

as any one.

- - - -

You've seen this yarn more time than you can count.

But that's the way this pair is.

BUT

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

these Pointelle will be MADE.

They will be finished by the end of the month.

I surely hope they are

They are frogged once again.

Now my newest plan

is that

I will knit them one-sock-at-a-time

# # # # # # # #

Hugs

Snow Days Cast Ons

I suppose this does not look like much to have accomplished in the several snow days we've had,

but this is it ! ! 

You might have to keep in mind

we've not eaten out during these snow days.

Yes, I had work in the kitchen to do.

I cast on for two pair of sox for Rav's Cookie A's KAL

The pearly grey is to be Marilinda

This pink will be knit into In & Out.

These two pair will be finished by the end of March.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And, now

my snow pics

Our backyard.

Temp this morning is -9 degrees F.

Wintery Hugs