President's Day/Vacation

This is winter vacation week - a much needed break for the kids and teachers! We are dogsitting this week - DD and family have gone to Florida. Now everyone say awwwww.......
Casper is a four year old Maltese and he's the best little dog! His misses his kids though.

I plan to read, knit, scrapbook, and maybe even do a little cleaning and organizing.

I'm reading Nora Robert's Birthright, which is the February Whoduknit book, and knitting the Whoduknit mystery KAL, and the Give it a Whirl Bag from Creative Knitting, July 2006. Tomorrow I'm going to a pot luck all day crop (scrapbooking) party. The cleaning and organizing has to do with my 'craft room' which I can't even walk into right now. It would be nice to be able to find things in it. But for now, it's pouring and promises to do so for the next 24 hours - so, back to my book!

I've been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Chris.

At least it is a fun--quick one - and actually I've done it before.



The Rules--

1. Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages.

2.Open the book to page 123 and find the 5th sentence.

3. Post the next 3 sentences.

4. Tag 5 people



I still have Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (the Whoduknit January book) sitting on my computer desk because I was referring to it during our discussion. So..
"She's not stupid," murmered Miss Maple, more to herself than to any of the other sheep. "Beth's not stupid. She thinks too much of souls and not enough of human beings, but she's not stupid."

I Tag:

Joyce
Karen
Ashleah
Barbara
Penny

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

We had another snow day yesterday and I thought about spending the day knitting one of these great dishcloths from Kris Knits - she has the cutest dishcloth designs on her blog! Or one of the other valentine projects I found on The Daily Chum, (Love the Daily Chum!) like the teeny meeny crochet heart or the crochet valentine box and candy. But then decided to dig out an old hobby of mine that's been neglected for a long time - scrapbooking -and I made this star Valentine album for my DD.

The kids at school were wound up tight today - Valentine's Day is one of their favorite days. They just love exchanging Valentine cards. We couldn't get out on the playground which was frozen solid so there was no running off that energy. The room mothers were in for a party with games, crafts and snacks. After finally winding down and getting them on the bus, it was wonderful to come home to a box of chocolates, flowers, and dinner cooked by DH himself! Hope your day was special too!

The Daily Chum

If you haven't visited Lime and Violet on The Daily Chum, don't waste another minute - run right over there now to find patterns like the cute Easter Egg Cozies, Rattlesnake Creek Socks, an adorable heart dishcloth, plus more, more, more, every day!

Now you see it, now you don't

I knit this illusion heart scarf for my granddaughter. Thanks to Laura's line by line pattern it was really easy. I used Vanna's Choice yarn - less than one skein each of Rose and Beige (which is really a cream color) for a 10 repeat, 50" long scarf. You can find laura's line by line instructions here,

or, if you prefer to work from a chart - you can find that here.

There is no Joy in New England

"The Patriots lost the Super Bowl. It is an alternate universe. It does not compute. It's like hearing Tony Bennett singing, "I Left My Heart in Ashtabula," or seeing a photo of Mitt Romney with his hair messed up." We still love ya' Tom!

Sunday Brunch

The rain last week washed away most of our snow (not to worry, it will be back!) and this morning we had four guests in our backyard, munching on the apples left over from the fall. We really don't see this too often since this is prime deer hunting country and they are pretty skittish, but I guess they know hunting season is over and they are safe for another year!

Groundhog Day

Punxzutawney Phil has spoken - 6 more weeks of winter! You might as well settle in and spend it knitting - maybe some of these cute hedgehogs from Fibertrends?
Or this free hedgehog pattern from lionbrand (you have to register to get this free pattern.)

If you are prone to cabin fever and live in New England you might want to check out the New England Textile Arts/SPA - Knit and Spin Retreat in Freeport Maine, February 22, 23, and 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Knitting Sheep

This is my project for this month's Whoduknit book, Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. In this book sheep are the detectives, and yes, they have names and they talk! So here is "Miss Maple", the cleverest sheep in the flock taking a knitting break. The pattern for the knitting sheep is here.

My sheep is really very special because her black sweater is knit from hand spun alpaca that was sent to me by Vicki in one of the International Tote Exchanges. And, that yarn came from her very own special alpaca, Buck!

Woo Hoo!

That's my granddaughter up there - isn't she amazing! I went to the Eastern Maine Cheerleaders Competition in Bangor this weekend. Jordyn's team had come in first in the regionals and they were pretty wired going into this one. They came in third - which was really great and means they will compete in the state-wide championship in two weeks. If there had been an award for spirit they would have received it for sure. They had the largest cheering section in the auditorium and we were all wearing t-shirts with "Sumner Varsity Cheering" on the front. We are all so proud of them. It's a young team - half of them Freshmen, so they have a promising 4 years ahead of them.

Thanks

Thanks for all of your good wishes! It really was a storybook wedding. Steve and I met in high school, (Clifton, NJ) where he was one year ahead of me. He joined the Navy when he graduated and after boot camp was stationed in Japan. We were separated for three years, but were still in love when he came home and were married a few months later. Steve was stationed at the Pentagon at that time, so we lived in Virginia, where our first son, Scott, was born, then we were stationed in Morocco for two years, where our daughter Diana was born, then Rhode Island for two years, and on to Puerto Rico for 4 years, where our youngest son was born. From Puerto Rico to Maine was quite a shock to the system - but this is where we ended up, when Steve retired from the Navy, and we've been here ever since. So....that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

43 Years - Yikes!

43 years ago.........

Knitting Sheep

On our Whoduknit Group we are reading a book called Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann this month. It takes place in the Irish village of Glennkill, where a flock of sheep try to solve the murder of their shepherd, who has cared for them, reading them a plethora of books every night, which has made them far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep. It's a pretty strange book! Anyway, I've been searching for a project to go along with this book and came across this adorable knitting sheep that I had to share with you. It's a free pattern that I found on Ravelry, and just too cute! You can find it here. We also just completed a Mystery KAL. I'm naming this the "Tori" scarf because it was inspired my my granddaughter, who showed me a scarf that her friend had, and asked me to make her one like it. Here are the three I completed while working out the pattern. My snowmen are now nice and comfy warm.

7 Random Facts

It's been a slow week - so......

~ 7 Random Facts Meme ~

I've been tagged by Dawn to play along. Hmm... now to come up w/7 things you'd be interested in knowing. Ok ~ let the games begin.


7 Random Facts... now these are the rules:- Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.- Post these rules on your blog.

List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.

Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.- Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog

My 7 random facts:

1. I grew up in Clifton, New Jersey.
2. My father was a professional magician.
3. I married my high school sweetheart (43 years ago).
4. I usually finish one knitting project before I start another (weird - huh?).
5. I've lived in New Jersey, Virginia, Morocco, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, and for the last 31 years, in Maine.
6. I once worked as a secretary to an Admiral at the Pentagon. My most important job was getting his golfing tee times set up for the weekends. During the time I worked for him I knit four afghans at work!
7. I'm looking forward to having a woman in the White House - I just hope Hillary knows how to knit!

Okay - I'm tagging Mary Lynn, Stephanie, Deb B., Janet, Patty, JoAnn, and Vickie.

Snowed in Again!

Yes, we are getting blasted again on the downeast coast of Maine. 14" on the ground and still coming down. I'm nursing one of those head colds where it aches behind your eyes - you know the kind? So a snowy day was just what I needed. I've been drinking this Lipton's mandarin orange flavored green tea. It's in these really cool triangle shaped tea-bags. I highly recommend it with a teaspoon of honey! And DH made some homemade chicken noodle soup mmmm-mmmmm good!

I did manage to block the scarf I made for DH. He is really not a scarf person, but asked me to make him one during the last snowstorm. He wanted red and all I could find was this kool-aid dyed knitpicks bare wool yarn that was sort of red. I added some dark olive green paton's wool that I had and did a simple 2x2 rib.

Now, for some Nyquil and a good night's sleep. Maybe it will stop snowing by the morning - but if it doesn't....I've got a good book to read and plenty of yarn!

PVC CHAMPS!

Whoo Hoo! The Sumner HS Varsity Cheerleaders (remember the girls I made the hats for?) came in first in their division championship competition! Now they go to the Eastern Maine Competition in two weeks,and if they come in the top 6, they go to the Maine State Competition in Augusta. There were some excited girls (and families, friends, and relatives), especially when they were met with a police and firetruck escort when they arrived back in town! The adorable one in the middle front row is my granddaughter. Well, yes, they are all adorable, but she is just too cute!




And here she is with her biggest fan.

I'm an ISFP

That's what I am - Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Perceptive. I went to a Myers-Briggs Workshop today. If you've never done Myers-Briggs - it's a personality test. An ISFP is an "observant, loyal helper; reflective, empathic, patient with details, gentle and retiring; shuns disagreements; enjoys the moment".
Just once I'd like to be an ENTJ - (Extrovert, Intuition, Thinking, Judgment)- " Intuitive, innovative organizer; aggressive, analytic, systematic; more tuned to new ideas and possibilities than to people's feelings". But no... I always come out as an introvert - "Lord, help me to stand up for my RIGHTS! (if you don't mind my asking?)

So, what does this all prove? Absolutely nothing - except the kids got to go home early today, and I got to sit though another non-productive workshop! And, no...I didn't bring my knitting - but I wish I had. I could have just retreated to my introverted corner of the world, told everyone to stay away from me, and happily knit away.

More FOs and Something to Cheer About

Another Fidget (bet you can't make just one!), made with Plymouth Boku (two strands held together).



And a Calorimetry, also made with the Plymouth Boku, single strand.
And, something to Cheer about. Jordyn's cheering team had their first competition today and came in 2nd! Here is Jordyn on the right - going up.....
And up they go. The pictures are lousy - the lighting in the gym makes it impossible to get good pictures. These girls are true athletes and my heart was in my throat every time they 'flew' or flipped end over end. Didn't help that this was the same gym that Jacob broke his arm in playing basketball last week!

Extended School Vacation

We got an extra day off today due to not being able to get out of our houses or get the school buses on the roads! It has stopped snowing, but there is a lot of the white stuff out there. This is what greeted me at my front door - it's over my head. I'm using the extra day to ORGANIZE! I'm actually at the point where I can see the top of my computer desk!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A very Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you! My fist FO of 2008....A Fidget! I found this pattern on Ravelry and love it. It can be made with bulky yarn or two strands of worsted weight and is quick, easy and warm, which is just what I need for the weather we have been having.
I'm going to make more of these.



New Year's Day picnic anyone? I think I'll pass on that one. I have a leg of lamb defrosting, a new sweet potato recipe to try, and a nice warm house to have New Year's dinner in.

Vanilla-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
3 lb.sweet potatoes
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar, packed
3T. orange juice
1 T. vanilla extract
1 t. salt
1 t. orange zest
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 c. chopped pecans
Boil sweet potatoes in water until tender; drain. Cool slightly, then cut into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange the slices in a greased, broiler-proof 13"x9" baking dish, overlapping slightly. In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla, salt, orange zest and pepper, stirring until combined. Heat, but do not allow to boil. Remove from heat and brush sauce evenly over potato slices. Broil 6 inches from heat until golden, about 6 or 7 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
Makes 6 servings.