Mele Kalikimaka & a knitters poem for you

... the poem, not by me. Happy safe holiday to you all!

’Twas the night before Christmas and all around me

There was unfinished knitting not under the tree.

The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care

’Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

But I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep—he was no help at all.

And the sweater for him was six sizes too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I put down my needles to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash.

Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow

Reminded me how far I still had to go.

When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,

I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired and my brain a bit thick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nic.

Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed

For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!

Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!

Lopi, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.

Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard, as it’s just your first year,

But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."

I peered over the sill.What I saw was amazing!

Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door

Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.

As I turned around, St Nic I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe

And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.

A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back,

And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace,

A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,

And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.

And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:

"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.

So I asked, "Hey, Nic, did YOU knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.

I learned how to knit when I was a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a well-dressed old man,

And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,

And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap

Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He began then to knit, first one cap then two.

For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,

While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his needles they flew,

Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,

And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,

"Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!"

Happy Holiday Season Everyone

I know, but tomorrow is december already, thanksgiving rushed past! In the last month i think we have been home about 6 days, rotating odd weeks in BC Canada, to long weeekends at camp, daughter home for a week and a good winter storm that knocked the power out for a good while... thanks goodness i insisted on a generator a few xmas's ago!

So, no matter what you do to celebrate the season enjoy the food, family , friends and create new traditions as well as enjoying the old!

Part Two

The outside is plain white right now, come spring we will restore the paint design... we have been enjoying weekends with no wi fi, no cells, just good people out to enjoy the same, fresh fish, nature and lots of camp fires! I love the challenge of campfire cooking! (not our dog, that's Hank who adores fishing!) The deer come both morning and evening. As fall is here ... was 32 at the house the other morning... i think i have at least 4 layers on here, lol!

This is why I have been MIA: Part One

Camping... dad retired and picked up a couple of lots at the timber trails. Hubby got my little dream trailer (a 1966 15 foot Aloha) think.... pin up cowgirl. This is our "our daughter is in college we're poor weekend home" and we're loving it!

Did i miss summer? Feels like fall!

it is getting chilly, had to turn the furnace on for a shot yesterday morning to take the bitter chill out of the house, today 80's tomorrow back down to low 60's ... during the day! Feels like fall already in the pacific northwest...and not a ripe tomato in sight yet, le sigh. Picking up my 40 pounds of tomato from farmer george on friday for canning marinara sauce. Not a ripe one yet in our garden this year so far... summer has stumped the garden! Squash are finally thriving, walla onions doing well, as are hubbard and acorn squash. Kale just really producing, blue potatoes almost ready.... picking more blackberries today for jam.

Empty Nest...

Yup, can't believe it happened but it did, daughter is off to college out of state. When and where the time flew i have no idea but it did. Not sure how i truly feel yet about this. I know she will have a blast and do well, but i am not near to protect her if needed. Thank goodness for unlimited texting! :)

A road trip again...

Well come morning it will be, from seattle to boise monday and returning wednesday. Daughters orientation is happening, we find out the nitty gritty of book costs, etc. I am hoping a suitemate or two of her's will be there, also hoping a few of them are engineer students as well! (a heavy load, hope not a party group of girls)

So getting the garden, house, cat, mail etc all ready, pulling a few skeins into cakes for easy car knitting (20+ hours round trip) and figuring out what to pack. Will be interesting. Nice though, hubbys travel for work scored our hotel room for both nights free with his frequent stay points! (so cool, lol, cause we are so broke now! Did i tell you with the new law changes with student loans we are paying the first complete year of college from our pockets?) Gotta love being a part of the responsible middle working class! Enjoy your summer all! See ya in Boise!

4th weekend already, hey, where's my sweater!??

Yeah, it's that weekend already and where the **ll is summer? By this wednesday they say it should reach the 80's. That will be a first this year for this area. So want some warmth! In case i miss you i hope you all have a happy, safe 4th! This is from last summer's boat parade on the lake next to our home. Is always nice to walk to the dock and relax and watch the drunk folks on their boats celebrate the holiday! (this aloha boat made us a bit homesick but was festive!)

ANd if you are a Twilight junkie and enjoy knitting at all.... check out what Franklin did, hysterical!!

http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2010/06/proof-that-no-matter-how-bad-it-is.html

Summer seems confused!

One day it will be gorgeous but overcast, the next sunny but cold breezy, today ... well, it's not raining! That seems to be what i am saying a lot these days!

This month we will be heading to Boise for daughters college orientation (2 hours round trip), next month again to take her to school. I am so NOT ready for her leaving home! Next subject, lol, before i tear up...seriously though.

Been trying to get some pics taken of finished knitting to post on my Rav, that breeze again! Always a work in progress. So what is new with you? Family, gardens, kids, crafts...any trips this year?

Yup, my baby...

is all grown up.

have landed , at least for the day

all settled on the couch in our hotel suite in Parksville BC, love it here. It has actually been awhile since we have been up here. Poor hubby had to go do some work this afternoon, then off to grab a few groceries for the room (lol, for me and a bbq tomorrow night) This is a new resort, not one we usually stay at but recently finished construction wise. Different area of town and not directly on the beach but very nice, so cannot complain. Not within walking distance to the natural foods store or fabric shop and wool shop, lol.. it's only negative so far. may nap a few minutes, have some hot tea (it's damp, rainy and chilly) and then pull out some knitting! Enjoy your upcoming holiday weekend!

TGIF

YUP! It's a good thing. WHat are your plans for the weekend?

Had to share this, a friend of mine in NH was hit by a drive by flocking the other night. Apparently this was done as part of a fund raiser at their local high school.... numerous homes were hit. I love it!!

Live;;;broadcasting from..

a hotel room in columbia maryland! lol, i have no car and we are fairly out in the middle of, well, not too much. But there are so many things so close by! Tease really as hubbys days at the convention are long and late, so will be lucky if i make it to even one lys to visit. Also only printed out half of the shawl pattern i figured i would knit while hanging out here, so .... Am trying to locate it on my pc to see what i need to do, not wireless connected here so cannot stray to far from the desk. Oh well, not bad really, just ... a tease! Pics later, sunburn nicely turning to tan from the last few days!

Around the house...

Just playing around the yard, still getting the feel of the new camera.

The Farm Chicks!

This would be so fun! Believe it or not it is actually a relatively easy drive from where i am, so...... may see a road trip in our future! Check it out, maybe you can be there too! (she is running a twitter contest but i so do not twitter, i just can't it's not in me!) http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/

lol, thanks for the birthday wishes! almost can't type fingers so cold. Great day today, weather wonderful! Not breezy, not too cold, not too hot. Great tearing down the deck weather! Also got most of the strawberry bed weeded, dang dandelions! Seeded most of the yard as well.

The deck (owe, bruises lots of them)(oh, and must go peek at the fire pit again , don't want to burn anything down!) is now just the small speck of a platform outside of the front door. The former owner never did anything as it should be, he tinkered. I am shocked the deck has not fallen down before! There are no supports, seriously! We were trying to shore things up last week but the wood was so rotten the wood screws had nothing to grip into. So...... new project! It will increase the front garden area though and make the front yard larger.

Happy happy, i did get to recycle some of the wood into a lettuce growing table for the upper back deck and some boards to replace the deck boards out back that have sprouted mushrooms! Some went to my neighbor who always has wood projects going. (think he's going to build me a new big birdfeeder, the 4 raccoons sitting in it lst summer broke it, they were sitting in it at the same time!)

Some kids in the area hit our big loop around the lake last night. I had gone to my neighbors this morning to say hey (i borrow his circular saw, he borrowed my rototiller)and i had noticed his glovebox open and things falling out. Asked him if someone had been in his car, he didn't think so... a bit later he is all upset as they hit all 3 cars of their family. He called the local sheriff to just let him know and apparently they hit so many houses here they sent officers out to go door to door to be sure they knew of everyone hit. We were lucky and had them locked, though it was midnight when we remembered the garage door needed closing. The cops know who did it so will be interesting to see what the outcome is. Just sad, especially with todays economy.

So.... off to relax, clean out the fridge dinner all finished, dishwasher unloaded, relaxing time now... maybe a lil knitting. So goodnight all!

da da da da da da today is my birthday!

both earth day and i are 40 today! I hear the 40's are better than the 30's, so ..... lol, please ignore me in the pic (i so hate pics of myself)

Ow! Sore but a good day!

K, not too sore but just sore a bit! A mellow weekend with a few things checked off the to do list! Neighbors did not want their raspberry bushes they planted two years back, so we dug them out and added them into the gaps of our raspberry row (another wheel barrel full went to a friends house for them to plant)

Weeded most of the garden boxes getting them ready to add one more yard of compost this week. This will refill them after they compacted last year (as they were new then).
We also got the garage cleaned up, much better and ready for some yarn dyeing! (as long as it stays warm!) Also the front third of the front deck ripped down and ready to burn (some able to be recycled for other projects but some just a bit old, split or rotten, so think marshmallows. Then the second third will be torn down as it is not seriously stable. We will save the third section building steps down from those and adding to the front gardens. Much more eye pleasing and safe (and less for me to maintain and paint!! grin)

Had to smile this morning. At 6 am i found 6 raccoons (looked like mama and 5 young ones) running across the back yard from the fire pit to the house. Not sure why they were running but i went to peek off the upper deck to see what they were up to. Couldn't see them, even looked around the house to see if they cut through to the neighbors to visit their koi pond, nope. So i went downstairs to the bar area and stood still looking out the sliders. They slowly crawled out from under the deck, playfully wrestling each other, sniffing the grill, planters, one curious one stood looking into the hot tub gazebo, then they headed back towards the cherry trees, two going to visit our other neighbor. I hadn't seen any in so long, five is two more than we usually have in the spring! They are cute and as long as they do not cause problems or eat the cat i don't mind them.

Look What I Caught Ma !

Yesterday evening hubby and I heard a lowish howl. We looked at each other a bit puzzled and heard it again. It had to be the cat, but this was a new noise from her. Hubby got up and went to the french doors to see what was up. Our home has an upper deck off the dining room where stalker kitty first showed up as a stray 3 years ago this spring. She has discovered by jumping up off the top of the grill she can do a pull up onto the deck and have access to the family. (she also has a small house we set up for her there so she can escape from animals or the rain when we are not home)

Eww gross! Hubby says from the back door. She caught a bird! This is another first for kitty. She sat there proudly displaying the finch she caught in her mouth howling low, looking for praise. She dropped it and attacked a few feathers, then started playing hacky sack with it, patting it into the air and tossing happily. It was raining and got a little wet and heavy soon enough. It lost it's newness and fun fairly quickly once she had an audience. So with a full beard of feathers she asked to come inside, standing to window surf. She's a cat, you can't scold her, lol. (so what if she thinks she's a matrix kitty!)

It's all about the bunnies!

I know easter for most is a deeply moving religious holiday. In our home though it is the celebration of spring.... longer lit days, warmth, sprouts emerging through the snow, fall leaves, poking up bright with color of blossoms opening. Jelly belly beans, chocolate bunnies, newly born fleecy lambs and fuzzy chicks! Yup, in our home ... it's all about the bunnies! Enjoy your holiday! (no matter where it roots from)

Spring Sprung

Hello, i know i've been mia for awhile. Life has been busy.

Can you believe it will get to 65 today, 70 tomorrow yet last night it hit 25. The lawn has been mowed already twice and monday may be time 3! The trees are all in bud, bulbs well blooming for a few weeks now and the rhubarb is a good ten inches tall (at least) I am considering just sticking the seeds in the garden beds this year and not worrying about making starts inside. Will see, call it lazy or perhaps time well managed, depending on the turn out!

Been knitting! In feb i knit the unique sheeps enchanted shawl with beads in the gradiated colorway of wildflowers. I also did a KAL at our LYS of the Monday Morning Cardigan. That knit up well in cascade 220 superwash Summer Sky colorway. I also finished the cabled hoodie vest from falls knitscene mag. Very economical and i love wearing it! Used just 2 skeins of eco-wool and with the recycled buttons from Joannes ended up under 40$. (luv projects like that!) A few small projects founf their way on and off the needles as well. Spring fever hit and i painted the bedroom (for the third time in 4 1/2 years) and hubbys bar area.

I promise to get the camera program loaded on this pc, still feel like i am catching up some days with the new technology. lol , i know i get set in my ways!

Am down 22 pounds since november, got about that still more to lose but love it. I guess without the stress from work drama it is easier to do. (thanks hubby!)

We lost two family members this past month, grandad just hours before his 94th birthday and my hubbys brother to brain cancer at just 37. Both were sad but blessful at the same time as they are both out of pain now. The upsetting part of it all was hubbys little brother posted the death to his friends on facebook, and that is how my husband learned of the death. (long involved family drama behind that) but it solidified our reasons for not being involved with that side of the family. Now that this brother has passed we really have no reason to have any contact any longer, so be it. I think we all have one of those family "sides". I know i do! LOL

So....... with this warmer weather let's start thinking of the upcoming spring/summer! Fill those birdfeeders, hummingbirds are out (ok, ours never left this winter) decks to be cleaned, seeds purchased, and enjoy!! So who else is having a spring clean out the house yard sale? Enjoy your weekends!

A Bit of Farm Pimping

If you have not read the blog COLD ANTLER FARM yet you are so missing out! And no, this is not because i am a native Vermonter who had more farm animals growing up than friends,nor the sled dogs she has ( i sooo miss mine!) grin, it is a wonderful blog! If you are at all interested in nature, animals, self sufficiency, or maybe even dream of living on a farm someday you will enjoy it as well. If you enjoy her blog be sure to check out her book as well, which is how i found her blog a good year or more ago. (Let her know turtle sent you her way.)

feb 17th

and my mom today tells me that she is "taking a small break from shoveling". As i have been trying to get her to move out this way i did not feel too badly letting her know that our crocus are blooming, the grass needs to be cut and the lilac trees are budding. ~smile

Awe!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrlCI-ySqHwbe5csKvgqSG9lfpRlfOehdf5wbXT1G8QkkSQkmajAM6LtTHnjpmjMDUQ3UHpNuf3k-r4M_CF3eiBNGYhI0F_EAwuhGcDSn-1JqBYxlKIaN_vYrsVcqqKPRTRslXYyNY7Ng/s1600-h/Award3.jpg

Thanks Darcy! I am always so happy with the blog friends i have made. A few i have had the opportunity to meet in person and can't wait to meet many others as the years turn. I have finally started meeting ladies in our area who share some of the same interests as i do. I of course got bummed thinking i was making local friends only to move again (as of last week that is no longer happening) but we were almost canada bound!

10 things that make me happy

1. my wonderful hubby, who also happens to be my best friend
2. my fantastic daughter, she is so happy, sweet, smart and not a trouble at all!
3. hobbies, how can they not make you happy
4. our stalker kitty, though finicky at times she makes me laugh
5. our neighborhood. Our neighbors on 3 sides feel like extended family of sorts. We share projects, garden goods, baked goods and many times a drink at the end of the summer day.
6. my extended family. We actually have a fairly small family, but i have family members that are psycho in all the good ways!
7. Hubby having me retire. At 39 ( i have been working since age 12) but hubby encouraged me to retire so when he travels i can just jump and go with him. When he left the military he mostly left to be home for a change. We spend all our time together that he is not at work, and we like it this way.
8. attached to number 7. This gives me time for my crafts, gardens, etc. I love to take care of my family by growing much of our food, canning it, preserving it, etc.
9. Living in the pacific northwest. We have had a nice opportunity to live in various areas many dream of vacationing in. But we both agree we love the change of seasons, the mountains, the waterways.
10. Just being healthy! and having my family healthy.

I am thinking on who to pass this onto, so will post again soon!

How the??

whoa, feb ... really? How did that happen?

Contest Link , extra superbowl fun!

Go visit B and her geek W to see what it's all about! Here is her original post with link:

CONTEST

Okay - we have worked out the details for the new contest! ALL monies donated will be going to Charity:Water to help support their efforts in Haiti of getting clean drinking water to those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. So, what's better than donating to a great cause and winning some yarn in the process, right?!?!

Here's how it works:

- Go to the Charity:Water website and donate. Each $5 you donate will buy you one square. You can "buy" as many squares as you like. There are 100 total spots available.
- All donations must be received by midnight on Friday February 5th in order to be eligible for the prize giveaways.
- Email us to let us know that you donated and how much by emailing us at theknitwitch@gmail.com. Your name will go in a hat however many times you have donated (if you have donated $10, for instance, your name will go in the hat twice).
- In the interest of compling with any "gambling laws" we will say here that you do not HAVE to donate in order to be entered. If you would like to be entered without donating you can send an email to me at theknitwitch@gmail.com. You will receive one entry into the contest.
- On February 6th Wayne and I will randomly draw the names to place on the grid. Then we will randomly draw the numbers (0-9 on the top and side) to place on the grid. This way, the names are on the grid before we see where the numbers are just to ensure complete randomness.
- At the end of each quarter for the Superbowl on February 7th, we will look at the score of the game and whoever has the 2 numbers that correspond with the last 2 numbers on the score will be the winner for that quarter (for instance, if the score is 10-24 Saints then we would look for the person who has the 0 and 4 square respective to the teams)
- There will be 2 prizes from Knit Witch and 2 prizes from Dragonfly Fibers - THANK YOU KATE!!!
- Kate is donating 2 skeins of yarn and I am donating a skein of yarn and a $20 gift certificate to Knit Witch.
- After we make the grid we will find someway to post it for everyone before the game so that you can all follow along at home!
- We'll make a special thread in the Knit Witch group on Ravelry for football trash talk!! :)

If you have any questions or if there is anything I forgot to mention here - please post a question here as a comment or in the group and we'll get it answered for you.

Now GO DONATE to a great cause and get your chance to win some great prizes and have some fun with your fellow knitters!! Anyone who was not interested in the game will now be interested - this contest will probably make some husbands really happy - in fact, they might offer money for the donation - haha!!! :)

http://knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/contest.html

quickie 2010 contest links!

http://alaskanpurl.blogspot.com/ is in need of destashing help, so she's having a contest! A cute read on er stash woes... i so do not have this problem!

also: a month of winners!!! http://yarnstasher.com/

the new pc and i are getting aquainted. soon i will try sweettalking the new camera to the pc. Thanks santa for updating my obsolete equipment!