Buttons, Buttons

Today I took a vacation day because we had to have a new HVAC and it was being installed today.  While I was here at their beck and call I finally weaved in the ends and sewed buttons on my Smart Gloves designed by the Rainey Sisters. The yarn is Malabrigo sock yarn, which I love. 

Notice the pop-top thumb and index finger for texting.  These aren't really mine - good thing we had a mild winter as I started these for my daughter before Christmas.  Now I want to make myself a pair. 

Every year we get a bird nest in one of our front porch ferns.  Today they started to hatch.  I actually watched the second one peck himself out of the shell.

Last weekend we went to the local Butterfly House for the release of the first butterflies. It was a beautiful day.  Sophie liked watching them, but wasn't at all interested in having one land on her!

Work again tomorrow - I could get used to a 4 day work week!

Promises, Promises

When I wrote my last post I had good intentions of posting more that week and catching up - that obviously didn't happen.  Best laid plans and all that!

Lots going on around here - birthdays, the circus, our first and only snow this year to name a few things.

Both our children have bought houses and are moving this month!  We are so proud of them and happy for all of them.  Since Jon and his crew live in Norfolk there isn't much we can do to help, but we hope to go up soon and visit.  He has been in the Navy since they have been married until just recently, so this will be their first house - so exciting.  Amy has owned a house before but moved for her job and has rented for awhile.  She and Sophie are anxious to move into their first house together!

Sophie had her 3rd birthday last month!

We went to the circus, the theme was "The Year of the Dragon" and they weaved the Chinese theme throughout the show. 

 President's Day weekend Jon, Janet, Bethany & Nikki came.  On Saturday the girls had the best time  - they didn't even have on coats! Blurry picture because of very fast girls!

The next day...... our first and only snow of the year.

Bethany & Nikki in the snow!

 Early in the winter, my daughter asked for handwarmers long enough to cover most of her fingers, but still allow her to text.  I had just seen these gloves - Smart Gloves by the Rainey Sisters and we decided I would try them.  Good thing it has been a mild winter because I am just now finishing them!  They have taken me forever to knit, not because they are difficult, but just because knitting time is sometimes hard to find.  I'm almost finished though - and she will be prepared for next winter! Both yarns are Malabrigo sock yarn, lettuce and bright pink that I can't fnd the name of right now!  They have pop top index finger tips that make texting with gloves on possible.  I've made mittens but these are my first gloves and I've loved making them.

This week I found something new to try - finger knitting.  It is so fun and fast and in just a few minutes you can make a necklace or garland to use many ways.  I've made a couple of quick things and they both took less then 30 minutes each.

Here is a tutorial that shows you better than I ever could how to start finger knitting:  Finger Knitting

Try it!

Baby Blanket & Mickey Hat

I know, I know, I'm so far behind on my blog!  I'm going to try to catch up this week - at least on the highlights of the last few weeks and the holidays. 

I did want to say I'm still here and still knitting and wanted to show this last thing that I did for a baby shower last week.  Cristy and her husband are the cutest young couple, expecting their first - a little boy - and are Disney fanatics!  We love Disney too and though I don't get there as much as she does I enjoy talking about her trips and getting tips for when we travel.  After I knitted the blanket (to match her blue and brown colors) I just had to do something a little Disney and found this cute Mickey hat on Ravelry.

A cute, fun knit and crochet project!

Be back soon to catch up!

Busy Weekend

My daughter Amy & I will soon be competing on one of the food network baking challenge shows.  You know, one of those that makes huge cakes, decorated perfectly to a certain theme.  Ha!  Not hardly!

However we do have a good time making messes cakepops.  Our design came straight from Bakerella (with minor changes) and we think they are pretty cute.  Sophie had a good time too.

We had extra melted chocolate and pretzels and so when the cakepops were finished we dipped one end of the pretzel sticks in chocolate.  Sophie showed real baking promise! 

Some friends and I went shopping a few weeks ago and noticed a lot of wreaths made out of mesh.  Since then I've been by a florist and garden center and noticed many more in their Christmas decorations.  So we've ordered the wreath forms, watched the Youtube videos and bought the mesh to make our own.  Yesterday, one friend and I went to a local Holiday Market and we didn't see even one of these wreaths!  We missed our golden opportunity!  By next year after we make ours they will probably be out of style!  Anyway, Doris made one and this weekend I tried one also.  I learned some things making it so hopefully my next will be a little better.  I hung it on the front door for a picture, but am not sure where I will use it. 

Now to get ready for Thanksgiving!

I'm an Older Blogger!

I love to read Kelly's blog even though I am "older"!  She has beautiful children, one the same age as one of my granddaughters, and I love seeing their similarities, but also have just come to love reading about Kelly's life, family, friends, faith, food, etc. 

On Fridays she has Show Us Your Life posts where she asks readers to share their blog link if they fit the category.  Today is "Older Bloggers", meaning over 50 and I certainly qualify!

I'm a knitter, crafter, wife, mom, and Nana to 3 beautiful granddaughters.  Bethany - 14, Nikki - 4 and Sophie - 2.  I'd love to hear from any of you who found me from Kelly's Corner!

On another note - just had to show you some things my friend Doris and I made at work today for the gift shop.  We normally sit behind computers and are not floral designers, but I think these turned out so cute. 

Someone said the little owls look a little scary, but I love them. 

Everybody getting ready for Thanksgiving?  We went food shopping tonight and I think I got most of what I need.  This weekend Amy & I are going to try and make Thanksgiving cake pops and will post a picture if they are presentable!

Keep my cousin, Jeff Travis in your prayers.  He was in a terrible accident a few months ago and yesterday had a bad reaction during and after surgery and is critical.  You can read about his terrible ordeal and amazing journey on a facebook page created to keep everyone informed about his condition - Prayers for Jeff Travis.  He is a wonderful Christian man who deserves all our prayers and for this terrible ordeal to have a good ending.  Pray for his wife Rita also, she defines the word "faithful".

Have a great weekend!

Where are the days going?

Middle of November already!  It can't be - it was just summer.  Slow down, please!

I love fall -  the beautiful colors, the crisp air, wearing sweaters, but when the time changes, it makes such a difference.  I don't like it getting dark so early, and I hate shivery cold mornings and evenings.  However, it is here and we have to deal with it.  Warm knits are one way to combat that cold!

I saw a similar scarf/cowl on Pinterest and made my own version.  Very warm and cozy.

 When Sophie saw the green and brown tam I made for Nikki she asked for one in orange and so orange she got!  I just changed the top from a bow to a pom pom.

I practically had to wrestle her for this picture, but finally got a smile.  Sometimes she is a ham and sometimes getting a picture is a battle - you know, she's two!

Sophie loved Halloween this year.  She got to trick-or-treat at the nursing home where I work, at her daycare and then at a few houses in my neighborhood.  She got the hang of it really quick and was so good to say trick or treat and thank you.  She was happy to come home though and help hand out candy here too.

A cute little Elmo!

And a cute close-up while she was posing for her mom for Christmas card pictures.

This afternoon she and I went to a nearby dollar store for a few things and she was so good and so cute.  She loves everything.  She oohs and aahs over everything, but then often says, "I have one like it at home" even if she doesn't!  I bought her two $1 books and some stickers and she was happy as could be. She also asked to buy her mom an ornament, which we did.  What a blessing she is! 

Next up is Thanksgiving and we'll be so glad to see our out of town granddaughters then.  I have a few Christmas gifts on the needles and hopefully will post those pictures later!

It All Ends at Once

After having two or three things on the needles for weeks, they seem to all get finished about the same time.

The Adah Beret by Amy Rose knitted out of Vanna's Choice Baby in Sweet Pea and Vanna's Choice brown (can't find the band on that one).  Both of these were leftover yarns from the baby blanket I knitted a few weeks ago and are for granddaughter Nikki.  I was knitting the blanket when she was here and she loved it.  She also had a new sweater dress that had these same colors along with others in a stripe pattern and this would be a good match.  Easy knit and turned out very cute.


I'm not a big shawl or lace person, but somehow was drawn to do both when I saw this pattern.

Cladonia by Kristen Kapur.  I knitted this with Denali hand dyed sock yarn from Ridgewood Farm.  The color is Fruit Freeze and turned out so pretty.  I would do this one again. 

Now I only have a pair of socks on the needles so the fun begins of choosing new patterns and yarn!

And now for a little cuteness!  Miss Sophie helping Nana make cornbread and she takes her job very seriously.  She amazes us everyday and she is changing and growing so fast.  So smart and funny and keeps us laughing all the time.  Her daycare started "school" this fall and she loves her workbook and lessons.