GardenLynn

Traveling Woman and Other Shawls

2012-01-23T17:28:00.000-05:00

My Traveling Woman is going so well! I just finished the third repeat of Chart A and hope to do the fourth tonight. I love this Malabrigo Sock Yarn. It feels like pure silk in my hands. I have a goal in 2012 to make 6 shawls. I am starting with this one. I am not sure what the other 5 patterns will be, but for sure, one will be Holden Shawlette. In addition, I really want to do Faraway, So Close. I have always loved it, and I have had it in my queue forever, but then I won the pattern from my MA group, so it has been "burning a hole in my pocket" as my Dad used to say. Such a big decision!

2012-01-17T05:42:00.000-05:00

I have had a very chaotic start to 2012. A terrible,can't get rid of it cold, a root canal, doctor's appointments with my Mom, changes at work and disappointment in the NFL! But, I do have a wonderful, blessed life and I am happy! I finished a couple of knitting projects this past week. Take a look!Snuggle Blanket and Hat for Lucas:

And, my Saroyan Scarf by Liz Abinante:

I have just cast on Traveling Woman, also from Liz and I am trying to finish a snuggle blanket for Anna before her birthday on February 17. I can't believe that she will be 3! She is so adorable and if I had hand picked a granddaughter, I could not have chosen one as dear as she is to me.We have another baby coming in March, Colin, and we are all so excited! Babies are such a wonderful part of being a family. Lucas is growing like a weed and Brian and Anna are so big!I have a couple of projects that I am planning for 2012. I want to do more embroidery, and more scrapbooking. I have boxes of photos and things that I have saved for scrapping and I need to get started. So many projects, so little time! I am counting the days until OPAM 2012! Can't wait to get started.

Handmade Gifts

2012-01-02T11:17:00.000-05:00

I am constantly surprised at the fact that people in general just don't appreciate handmade gifts. I guess they don't stop to think about the time, money, energy and love that a person puts into a handmade item. Yarns that are soft and warm are very expensive and some gifts take hours of knitting or crocheting. A good example is hand knit socks. Yes, knit socks are sold in all department stores, cost anywhere from a couple of dollars to $20 or so, but they are not even slightly comparable to a pair of hand knit socks. Once you have worn a pair of custom fit, hand knit socks, you will never be the same. It has been my experience in the past, that some people just don't get the idea at all.It takes anywhere from 8 to 40 hours to knit or crochet a handmade item, depending on what the item is and the amount of time the artist has to devote to creating it. Not to mention the cost. Good sock yarn averages about $20 per ball and it takes 2 balls to make a pair of socks for an adult. Yes, you can buy several pair of socks for $40, but they won't be the same. Blankets and throws take much longer to knit and much more yarn.Then there are quilts. Hours and hours of cutting, measuring, constructing and then quilting. Artists make handmade gifts because they love doing it, and cost and time is no object to them. They love the people they are doing the item for, and want to do something special for them. They put all their love and creativity into these gifts, as well as many hours.The next time you are given a handmade gift, stop and think about what goes into making one.

Maxwell Moppy Herrin

2011-12-16T19:07:00.000-05:00

Crazy week! My best friend and first doggy love, Max is not feeling well. He has always had allergies and skin rashes and infections and ear infections and you name it, he has had it. I could have bought a car with the money I have spent at the vet trying to keep him healthy and happy. This week, however, was a bit different. He changed drastically and quickly. He seemed to lose about 3 or 4 pounds overnight, and he started vomiting for no apparent reason. My first thought was a parasite.I was so worried when I dropped him off at the Vet on Tuesday morning. I could hear her over and over in my mind saying we had to put him down. That was a scene I could not fathom. After x-rays and blood work, she could not tell me what was wrong. She said that he had lost 4 pounds and had a mass around his liver, but they had no idea what the mass was. She said that it might be gall stones, but she was pretty sure it wasn't, and it could be cancer, she wasn't sure. She seemed to think that there was a possibility that it was a severe infection of some kind. The only way to know for sure if it was cancer was with an ultra sound. I thought about what she said and then I realized that if it wasn't gall stones, then it COULD be cancer. I did not want to know that. If we had the ultrasound and it was cancer, what would change? Nothing. The only difference would be that I would be waiting for him pass on and that was not a path I wanted to go down. So, I decided against the ultrasound. She gave him a shot of a heavy duty antibiotic and a prescription for more antibiotic to take by mouth. He seemed to be feeling better on Wednesday and seemed better each day. I am now praying for him each day and hoping that God will let him stay with me for a few more years.Sometimes, not knowing is the best thing...don't you think?

Catching Up

2011-12-10T09:45:00.001-05:00

Since I have been away for a while, I thought I would do a quick update on some things that I have finished and projects that I have started.I do have several projects in the works right now, as always. I seem to have "cast-on-itis" and can't cure it. I like to have several different things to work on at one time. The only problem with that, is sometimes I don't mark my place well, and have to spend extra time deciding where I am in the pattern. I need to break myself from that. My life would be so much easier.Jenny, from my Crochet Club at work, made these beautiful hotpads and I loved them so much I decided to give them a try. Here is my finished product:

I love knitting socks, as a matter of fact, I think I am addicted to socks. Here are a couple of pair that I have finished recently:I call these Clown Socks!

There are socks that I made for my Mom. They are called Dragonfly Socks:

This is a pair of fingerless mitts that I made for myself. They still need blocking, but are so soft and warm!

I have a few other things that are close to being finished. I love to see my projects get completed. Til next time!

Wandering Woolomena

2011-12-03T07:30:00.001-05:00

Woolomena finally made it to my house! She looked very rested and refreshed when she arrived. She brought tea and sock yarn along with some great cookie recipes from Jinann.

I took her to work on Tuesday because I wanted to introduce her to my friends, especially the Crochet Club. We had a great day and she enjoyed chatting with everyone. I think she most enjoyed playing the the pigs.

Here she is with my team:

And the Crochet Club:

Today, sadly, I must send her on to her next destination. We have had such a blast since she has been here, I just wish that she could have met Brian and Anna. They would have been fast and famous friends.Bon Voyage Woolie!

December 2011

2011-11-21T05:54:00.004-05:00

Things are going very well with my Mom and I hope to be blogging again in December and all of 2012. Life has a way of changing your plans, doesn't it?

We had an early Thanksgiving this weekend and it was so great! We had tons of food and laughter and love. I helped Jason bake his first cake from scratch and it was yummy! Sour Cream Pound Cake. It was a perfect cake and so delicious!

Randy and I are looking forward to a long, quiet weekend and pray that we will have one!

Knit Picks Wish List

2011-11-11T00:26:00.002-05:00

knitpicks is sponsoring a Wish List contest! If you send your wishlist to someone and then post it on your blog or Facebook, you have a chance to win $50 of your list!

Pretty dang cool, huh?

A Quick Update

2011-10-29T06:48:00.002-04:00

I have been off the blog for a while because my Mom has been sick. She had 2 strokes and then 2 sets of seizures and has been in the hospital, in rehab and living with us. She is doing much better now and has actually gone back to live in her apartment, on a trial basis. She is really happy being in her home and I can see a big difference in her. I am just praying that God will help her continue to improve. The damage to her brain has really taken a toll on her. It seems to have been the hardest part for her to deal with. Each day, though, she is getting more clarity and starting to be her old self.

I hope to be able to blog more often now and do some of the things that I had planned before this happened.

Changes in the Blog

2011-07-10T14:02:00.002-04:00

I have been working on some changes for the blog and I am going to be implementing them over the next few days, so stay tuned!

Friday Wrap

2011-06-11T05:03:00.010-04:00

Great week! Exhausting though. Still having growing pains from the move and the heat is just awful.
Our trip to Alabama was fun! It was extremely hot on the golf course, but cold, wet towels helped make it bearable. We had fun and it was great spending time with David and Sally.

My Chevron Scarf turned out great! It has been complete for a while, but I have not had a chance to take any pictures.

Bath

2011-05-22T08:12:00.009-04:00

The bath is finished and it is just awesome! Here is a before picture of the garden tub:

The old shower:

The old potty:

Friday Wrap

2011-05-20T05:35:00.003-04:00

Today is the big day! We are moving our offices from Duluth to Alpharetta! It is total madness at my office! Looking forward to the new office. It is so much nicer and we have so much more room!

The bath will be finished today and I am so excited! Two weeks in the guest bath has been an adventure, to say the least. The entire house is covered in sheetrock dust, but it is all worth it! I guess Randy and I will be doing our spring cleaning now. Can't wait to post the pictures of a remarkable transformation.

Kids are coming tonight! It is going to be a great weekend. Kate, Liz and I are taking in Water for Elephants at the movies. We read the book and now we are going to see the movie. Poppy will be the official babysitter. Tomorrow we are having a family BBQ and just chillin' out. It will be nice to have everyone here.

Making great progress on my sweater and socks, but will take a break this weekend while the kids are here. While doing a project for a swap, I realized that I so need to get the studio organized and start using it more. That is on my agenda for the summer. Getting it super organized and useful!

Friday Wrap

2011-05-06T18:38:00.003-04:00

It has been a great week! Work is going well and we are 2 weeks away from moving to our new building. The crochet club is doing well and I am getting closer to finishing my Twilight socks...finally. The remodel on our master bath starts next week and I am so excited! I will post before and after pics.

My gardens are coming along fabulously! My peonies are blooming and all the cuttings that I planted are growing and looking spiffy! Even the angel trumpet trees have perked up and are nice and green.

Next week, Jenny is going to teach all of us to make jewelry. I can't wait. I have always wanted to make it, but never took a class. I am ready with all my beads and stuff!

Jason and Parker both got promoted at work in the last 2 weeks. Parker was made Creative Director and Jason was promoted to Produce Manager. I am so proud of them! Good job guys!

I am looking forward to a nice weekend with gardening, junkin' and Darlington!

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

Friday Wrap (On Sunday Morning)

2011-05-01T07:09:00.009-04:00

It was a good week, but soooo busy. I have so many projects going on and they are all so fun! I am still working on the test flowers with Sharon, knitting the Twilight socks, and I am about to start on ATC's. I am so excited to do these ATC's. I tried them a few years back and they were fun! This time we are doing it in my PlayShop group and we have a tutorial that we are using. I finished a couple of projects for the Lose the U, something I didn't do in March. We are also starting a button swap in the PlayShop and I have been looking through all my buttons picking out ones that I like.

Randy and I worked in the yard all day yesterday. Two of my Rav friends sent me irises and daylilies and I got those in the border, along with 2 foxgloves and 6 more Blackeyed Susans. My border is really taking shape. Here are some pics:

These are my Columbine's. They have the most beautiful flowers.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

These are old fashioned roses and they smell so good!

This is Spirea and Feverfew. The spirea is blooming and the feverfew will be soon.

This is a look at the border from the street. This pic does not do it justice.

I love gardening!

Crochet Flowers

2011-04-27T17:59:00.004-04:00

I have a picture of the crochet test from last night, but I am using white yarn and the pic is not that good. The test turned out great and I showed Sharon today what to do with it.
I am a little puzzled by a pattern that she has for crochet flowers so I am going to test that tonight. The pattern makes no sense, but I am going to try and do exactly the way it says and see what happens. I still think that my way is better, but we will see.

Crochet Testing

2011-04-26T17:12:00.004-04:00

I am making great progress with my Twilight socks, but don't think I will finish them by the end of the month as I had hoped. I have another crochet test to do tonight for one of the girls at work. She is a new crocheter and I have been helping her past the hurdles. She tried to do a dishcloth, but got stuck, so I am going to make it to where she is on it, so we can go from there. She is a quick study and picks things up really fast. The dishcloths can be found here. They look easy, so I am going to try one tonight. I will post a pic!

Friday Wrap

2011-04-22T07:51:00.007-04:00

Today is Good Friday and I am amazed at how many of my herbs and flowers are blooming! That is not how it is supposed to be! I think that seasons are all out of whack! You are not supposed to plant anything until Good Friday, according the Farmers Almanac and my Grandmother. I have always followed her routine and it has never failed me. So, what is going on? For starters, I don't remember Good Friday ever being this late in the spring, and that makes it later to plant. I am still going to follow the plan I have always followed and hope for the best. My peonies, roses and other spring flowers are doing fine, but some my herbs are blooming and that shouldn't happen until late in the summer. I am keeping them trimmed and trying to get them back on track. My clematis is lovely again this year. Clematis is an amazing flower and is always beautiful.
We all went out yesterday and mowed the lawn, trimmed the shrubs and cleaned the yard. Brian and Anna were such good helpers and we had a great time. .

It is supposed to rain today and I am hoping that it does to water in some of our new plantings. One of my friends on Rav sent me some iris bulbs and another friend sent me a box full of daylilies. I am so excited! I planted the irises, but still have to get the daylilies in the ground. I think they are going to be beautiful in my border.

We are having an Easter egg hunt on Sunday and I am looking forward to the kids being here. Happy Easter everyone!

Easter Weekend

2011-04-19T19:07:00.003-04:00

I am so excited! I am going to pick up my babies tomorrow for Easter weekend. And, the kids are coming on Sunday for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. I am taking Thursday off and Friday is a holiday for us, so I am going to have 4 whole days with my babies! woo-hoo!

On Sunday, I am going to teach Liz how to make my Death by Chocolate Cake. I know that she will love it and be able to make it for her friends and family after Sunday.

Friday Wrap

2011-04-15T18:44:00.007-04:00

Ok, I have decided that I will not stop blogging, I enjoy it too much. This was an interesting week, to say the least. I finished my Comfy Scarf, made some great progress on the Twilight socks and started a potato chip scarf as a test for the crochet club. We are planning to start a group on Ravelry for the crochet club and I am trying to get everyone signed up on Rav.

I am changing over from throwing to picking and it is a slow process. I am doing better each day, but I am still so slow. I have always wanted to knit Continental and I am not sure why I learned English, but I am switching in the hope that my knitting will look nicer and it will be more uniform. Wish me luck!

The kids are coming for Easter weekend and I am planning to have a big Easter egg hunt. I think it will be fun and the kids will enjoy seeing the grownups look for the eggs.

My tomato tree arrived. I actually ordered 2 of them, as well as 3 cucumber trees. They look really healthy and I planted them in pots on the deck to get them started. I am anxious to see if I really get all those tomatoes that the ad talked about. Supposedly, a couple in Loganville did. But, we all know that ads are not always truthful. We will see how it turns out.

I received a nice card from Jennifer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness this week regarding the walk. She included pictures of our team that were taken by the photographers. That was a great day and I am looking forward to next year.

No more Blogging

2011-04-14T18:05:00.001-04:00

I am thinking that I will give up blogging. No one reads the blogs, and I have other things that I could be doing.....

Friday Wrap

2011-04-08T06:32:00.004-04:00

Today is my boss's birthday and I made my homemade chocolate cake for her. It doesn't look great, but I know it will taste good!

Going to pick up Brian and Anna for the weekend tonight and I am excited. The weather is going to be nice this weekend and I am hoping that we can go on a picnic on tomorrow. Randy has been working in the yard and I am hoping to get out and do a little gardening this weekend, as well.

I love spring!

April Plan

2011-04-05T05:40:00.005-04:00

The Chevron scarf is coming along very well. It is going faster than I thought it would. I am determined to finish this scarf, Anna's Sweet Pea blanket and my Twilight socks this month.

I am planning to start a new quilting project this month and finally finish the studio. I have stuff everywhere up there, but it is looking better each week.

I have made a project list which I am going to incorporate in my sketch book and start working on getting the materials together for each one. Prep is half the work of any project, it seems. Takes lots of time and effort to get everything ready just to start the project. I want to get a good hand stitching project started so that when I have the sinus surgery, I will have something to do if I feel up to it.

I am going to have Brian and Anna on Easter weekend, a first for me I think. I am excited about making Easter baskets for them. I am hoping that some of the kids will be able to come for dinner on Easter Sunday. It is really hard for all of us to get together at one time because we are so spread out. I miss the kids and having dinners.

Time passes so quickly! It seems like only yesterday, my boys were little and running around the house......

Friday Wrap

2011-04-02T10:10:00.008-04:00

This was a busy, but quiet week after all the excitement from VisionWalk. As of today, we have raised $4500 and donations are still coming in. Not bad for our first time out.

The Crochet Club is going well. We don't get to meet as much as we need to since we are doing it on our lunch break, but some of the girls have finished their scarves and are ready to move to a new project. I think that we might start meeting after work for dinner or coffee and that will give us more time to work together. I think that we are going to do One Skein Scarf as our next project.

I made it this week in 2 evenings and it is really fun and easy. The finished product looks so cute and there is a hat to match, which I am currently working on. The club is not ready for hats yet, but when they are, this one will be a good one to start with.

Now that spring is here, I am anxious to do some work in my gardens. My perennial border is really taking shape and looking good. My favorite pot that I kept on the sidewalk out front cracked and fell apart this winter and I am going today to look for another one. Crazy as it may sound, I really loved that pot. It was really old and covered with moss and it looked so good in my front yard. I think I am going to buy another clay pot and make moss on it so that it will look old faster.

I also ordered a tomato tree. Don't know how well it will grow, but I am going to give it a shot.

VisionWalk 2011

2011-03-28T09:45:00.014-04:00

The walk was a big success! It was wet and cold, but it did not rain the whole day, thank you Lord! I prayed that it wouldn't rain and it didn't. We had a great turn out and we had so much fun! The kids loved it! There were tons of dogs there so naturally, Anna was happy! I believe she may grow up to be a vet, she loves dogs so much.

Brian was our leader and he did such a great job! We all completed the 5K like the champs that we are.

There were all kinds of teams and we met some really wonderful people. It is such a great cause and we hope to make next year even better!

Friday Wrap

2011-03-26T12:28:00.002-04:00

It was a busy week! Work is just crazy and with all the goings on of the VisionWalk, Randy and I are both exhausted! The walk is tomorrow and we are all set! We have 74 confirmed walkers and we have raised over $3000. I am so proud! It is raining buckets today and the rain is supposed to last through tomorrow, but I am praying that it will not rain at the walk. Everyone has worked so hard and I just know that we will have a great day!

Knitting and all my other projects have taken a back seat to the walk these past few weeks, but I have been getting a row or two done now and then on the Chevron Scarf. I am hoping that starting Monday I will be back in the old routine. I miss Rav and I miss my friends there.

The crochet club is going well. We are meeting once a week, and all the girls are doing great and learning fast. We are doing these beautful cardboard Easter baskets in April and one of the girls is leading. They are so pretty, I can't wait to learn how to do it.

Looking forward to seeing my babes later today. It is going to be a great weekend for our family....tons of pics next week!

Chevron Scarf

2011-03-25T05:18:00.007-04:00

I have wanted to make Chevron Scarf for a long time. I saw it when I first joined Ravelry in 2008 and added it to my queue. I finally started it last week and I love it! There is something about it that caught my eye and each time that I have started a new project, I have looked at it. It is from Joelle Hoverson's book, Last Minute Knitted Gifts.
The pattern looks intricate, but it is really very simple and easily memorized. It is made with sock yarn and you could use leftover yarn. I am using 2 different sock yarns and I am considering adding in some other leftovers that I have.

It is the perfect scarf. Wear it with any color, lightweight yet warm.

VisionWalk T-Shirts

2011-03-23T19:49:00.001-04:00

Here is a pic of our tshirts:

This logo was designed by Richard Starkey.

Friday Wrap

2011-03-19T07:07:00.004-04:00

It was a great week! We are one week away from the VisionWalk and I am so excited! I think that we have about 50 confirmed walkers and I am so proud!

The crochet class went very well at work. Several of the girls are making great progress on their scarf and the work looks great. We will meet again on Tuesday to check everyone's progress.

I have been working on getting my studio/office a little better organized. I am planning to start doing some sewing and I need to clear out some space. I think my knitting break may be over for now. I have several projects that I need to get finished and I am way behind. I am planning to make a ton of Christmas gifts this year and if the rest of the year goes by as fast as this first quarter has, it will be here and I will still be talking about it. I guess I had better get a plan together!

Branching Out

2011-03-14T05:48:00.004-04:00

Since I have decided to take a break from knitting, I have been thinking about what projects I would like to do. I am definitely getting back to my quilting that I have missed so much in the past few months. I do want to branch out a little and possiby do some mixed media, but my first love is, and always has been, hand work. Embroidery, hand piecing, hand quilting, etc. I am planning to start a quilt that is a BOM on Little Miss Shabby's blog. It is called Birdie Stitches, and though I am getting a late start, I will only have January, February and March to do and I will be caught up.

I love this BOM. It is bright and cheerful and involves all the hand work that I can possibly do, especially if I hand piece the blocks. I will post my fabrics when I get them all together!

Friday Wrap

2011-03-12T04:25:00.004-05:00

It has been an interesting week. Still working diligently on the VisionWalk, which is now 2 weeks away. Our first crochet class is Tuesday, and I have to finish getting everything ready for that. I found a great pattern on Ravelry for a lacey crocheted scarf that I think I am going to make for someone for Christmas.

Here is a link Lacey Crochet Scarf.

I also really like this one One Skein Scarf. I think this will be a good one for the crochet class a little later on.

Daylight Savings Time is this weekend and I am so glad. I wish that we could leave it on DST, and not change back in the winter. I am looking forward to getting home from work and having a few hours to work in my gardens each afternoon.

The Craft Club

2011-03-10T17:30:00.003-05:00

We have started a craft club at work. I think that it will be the most fun! I am teaching crochet, and we have jewelry making, ornaments, cards, and many other crafty things. I work with a great bunch of people. I am really looking forward to this club because it will help me get to know all the girls better. I love working at Technology!

The Kitchen

2011-03-09T17:34:00.006-05:00

We finished the kitchen on Sunday afternoon and it is awesome! I love the blue even more than I thought I would.
BEFORE

AFTER

Friday Wrap

2011-03-05T07:19:00.006-05:00

VisionWalk is just a few weeks away, and I have been spending most of my time recruitng walkers, donations and getting the design together for our t-shirts. I have not been doing any knitting, but have crocheted a few squares for Anna's Sweet Pea coverlet. I am having a time with my hands lately. My arthritis has really been bad, so perhaps I need the break. I have lots of projects at home that I need to do as well. Randy and I are painting the kitchen today.

I am looking forward to next weekend because I am getting the kids. Those are always the best weekends, though when Monday rolls around, I am one tired Tessie. It is a good tired though. The kind that makes you smile.

Anna's birthday party was a big success! She loved her doll!

Here she is opening it:

And here are some other pics of her birthday:

Have a busy week ahead!

VisionWalk 2011

2011-03-02T18:28:00.002-05:00

The walk is March 27, 2011 at Piedmont Park. Please support us as we raise money to fight this terrible disease. If you would like to make a donation, click here. We are The Bean Team and all donations are greatly appreciated.

For those of you who do not know this story...my 5 year old grandson, Brian, was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa on April 14, 2010. He will lose his sight progressively. There is no cure.

Thank you for your support, your prayers and your donations!

Knitting

2011-03-01T05:22:00.001-05:00

I need a break, I think.

The Weekend

2011-02-27T19:35:00.003-05:00

What a great weekend! I spent yesterday hangin' out with my Mom and drinking coffee and then most of our kids came last night for Anna's birthday party.

Here she is opening her presents:

Last night, Kate, Liz and I watched Eclipse again, gearing up for Breaking Dawn in November. Then, today, Brian, Anna and I played and watched Thomas. Now, I am making hotdogs and watching the Oscar Red Carpet.

I love weekends!

Friday Wrap

2011-02-26T09:19:00.007-05:00

This week was totally consumed by finishing Anna's doll. And here she is:

Now that she is finished, I am planning to get back on my other projects and see if I can get some things completed. I have been seriously thinking about starting a needlepoint project that I have had for a while. I haven't done needlepoint in a long time, cross stitch either, but my arthritic hands need a break from knitting I think, so I may do the needlepoint. I have this great beach scene that would be so cute in my downstairs powder room since I have a beach theme there, and I would love to do some needlework. It is my first love, of all the crafts that I do. Hand sewing though, is really what I love. I love piecing quilts by hand and any kind of hand sewing.

I also need to make several birthday cards, and I still have Valentine stuff all over my studio from the swap that we had at work. I need to clean and organize the studio again before I start another project. In addition, we are starting a Craft Club at work and I am really thrilled about that. I am also planning to start working in my gardens next week. I have a ton of cleaning to do before spring gets here and I am concerned that the forsythia is blooming. It is still February and with all this crazy weather we have been having, who knows, we might get another blizzard. I hope that all the blooming and daffodils coming up means that we are on the way to spring. But, first, I have to catch up on my real chores....Have a wonderful weekend!

Amigurumi

2011-02-23T17:27:00.003-05:00

I am almost finished knitting the pieces for Anna's doll. I am determined to finish it before this weekend so I can give it to her at her birthday party. I have so enjoyed making this doll. I have always been fascinated by Amigurumi and dolls. I made dolls many years ago, and they turned out pretty good. I didn't knit or crochet them though, I sewed them. I kept the first one that I made and it is cute as a button. This is my first try at knitting a doll and I really think that she is going to turn out nice. My next project is a monkey that I saw in a book that I have on Amigurumi. He is so cool and I think Brian might like him. I am just hoping that Brian has not outgrown that kind of stuff. I hope not, but there is always Mason. I bet he would love a cool monkey!

Friday Wrap/Benjamin's Birthday

2011-02-19T09:19:00.003-05:00

This has been a great week! We had a Valentine swap at work and what fun! We all made our boxes, bags, etc., to collect our goodies. The variety of boxes was really different. Today, we all brought snacks to end our week. Benjamin has a birthday on Monday, he will be 15. I can't believe how fast they grow up!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy! Love you!

Anna's Birthday/Chris and Stacy Anniversary

2011-02-17T06:07:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe that my baby girl is 2 years old today! Where has that time gone? She is so precious and I can't imagine my life without her!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Also, today is Chris and Stacy's 21st wedding anniversary. Wow, has it been that long!

Happy Anniversary, Sweet Kids!

Friday Wrap

2011-02-11T18:56:00.003-05:00

It was a good week, overall. I got lots of knitting done, and had a chance to spend a few hours with my little Anna last night. Her parents went to a concert, and she stayed with Poppy and me. Brian didn't get to come because he had school today, and they stayed the night. I miss him terribly.

I decided to do the 198 Yards of Heaven, hope I am not biting off more than I can chew. I remember the frustration I had when I was trying to knit Traveling Woman, and I don't want to go there again. A couple of my friends are doing it with me, so I feel a little better.

I have started working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt again. I LOVE hand sewing and I wish that I could make every quilt by hand. Hand piecing is just the greatest thing ever! I tried machine quilting a small quilt that I made for Benjamin, but my machine quilting is not pretty like my hand quilting is. It takes alot longer, but the end result is worth it. Look at this Sunbonnet Sue that I made for my Mom. I did all the applique by hand and then machine pieced the blocks together and then hand quilted it. It turned out great! I hope to have the GFG done in a few months.

This is my Dresden Plate. It only needs binding and it will be completed too. I also hand quilted this one.

I think that does it for this week's wrap! I am off to change into comfy clothes and cast on the shawl.......Have a wonderful weekend....

UPDATE!

2011-02-10T18:46:00.001-05:00

I have all the parts of the doll complete and stuffed and I am about to start the dress and knickers! She looks pretty dang good!

I am going to do the 198 Yards of Heaven with MTCup and agd509! They are about the same knitting level as me, or maybe a little better and we are going to do it together!

We will see how things progress.......

198 Yards of Heaven

2011-02-09T18:13:00.003-05:00

This is the newest KAL in my Mystery 220 group. Of course, I already have about 6 projects on the needles, so I certainly do not need another. Problem is, I really want to do this. Then, I read the pattern, and this little voice said, "Lynn, don't even think about trying this. You know that you almost went crazy trying to do shawls before and you said NEVER again." I know that this voice is right and sensible, and I am listening now......But, one of the days, I will learn these patterns and when I do, look out.....I will be knitting shawls with a vengeance!

My First Doll

2011-02-08T06:09:00.008-05:00

I have always wanted to knit a doll, but just felt I just wasn't experienced enough to give it a try. Well, no more. A friend of mine made this beautiful little doll and I loved it, so I decided to give it a try. This is a pic of my friend Katherine's doll:
and here is a link to her blog.
I have now finished the body, arms and one leg. I am so excited that it is going so well. I can't wait to finish it. I am planning to make my little Molly with blond hair and blue eyes....will keep you posted.

Friday Wrap!

2011-02-05T09:20:00.020-05:00

I am doing the Friday Wrap on Saturday morning. It was a good week! I am doing OPAM this year and I am excited! It is fun to see the projects get completed and my list of accomplishments grow as the year goes by. I am planning to do some organizing in my studio today. I have several projects in the works and I need to stop and get stuff together.

I have been working on the Flat Stanley project for a while now and I am hoping to get him done and on his way soon.

I can't wait to see where he goes and what he learns as he is traveling.

I have been researching knitting stitches and I have found some beautiful ones. I have a goal of learning to do one new stitch each month. My stitch for this month is Chain of Hearts. It is a rib stitch and I think it is beautiful! I am going to make a scarf pattern and knit it up in March.

It is Super Bowl weekend and I am thrilled that the Packers are in. I so wanted this to be Atlanta's year and I was very disappointed when they lost to the Packers. Green Bay is my second favorite team AFTER the Falcons, so once the Falcons were out, I was rooting for the Pack. I am excited and happy! We had a Super Bowl party at work yesterday and one of my co-workers brought this fabulous Buffalo Chicken Dip. I am going to make it for the game tomorrow and I will post the recipe next week. It is just downright yummalicious. Being the football lover that I am, I am not happy that the season is over, but I will have plenty to do to keep me busy and I do love baseball, GO Braves! and NASCAR.

OK, I am off to the studio.....she runs off coffee in hand, curly bed head, fuzzy slippers flapping....dogs chasing behind

And the Winner is....

2011-01-31T17:46:00.004-05:00

agd509! Congratulations Jean! Thank you to everyone who entered. It was wonderful reading all the comments. I hope that all of you will drop in from time to time and let me know what is going on with you!

I will have more giveaways in the future!

Thanks again to everyone!

Love,
Lynn

My Gardening Roots

2011-01-30T09:59:00.004-05:00

I have had a deep love of gardening since I was just a small child. My Grandmothers (both of them) were gardeners and had the most beautiful flowers, vegetables and herbs. My Dad also inherited this love of gardening and when my Grandmothers both passed at a very young age, he became my gardening mentor. He was the greatest gardener that I have ever known. He knew all the tricks, the old fashioned farmer remedies, the time to plant, harvest, clean, he knew it all. I am so fortunate that he passed most of that on to me. He firmly believed in planting by the moon, knew the perfect ripeness of a tomato and just when the okra was ready to harvest.

Before I moved to Atlanta in 1998, gardening was my only love and hobby. I sewed a little, crocheted a little, and did some other crafts, but you could find me every weekend in the summer either in the gardens or in my greenhouse. I developed a love of herbs and studied them endlessly for many years. I grew heirloom tomatoes, all different kinds, wildflowers, herbs, roses, veggies and always had cuttings in the greenhouse. When I moved here, I left all that behind, and as I was trying to establish my life, I found that I didn't have as much time for gardening, and what was worse, no space. So, over the years (I have been here 13 years), I have sort of replaced gardening with lots of other hobbies, mostly quilting and knitting. I still have pots on the deck and a big border down the side of my front yard that I grow in. I have an herb garden, roses, and each year, I try to grow veggies in a small raised bed on the side of my house. I have not had the success here that I had in SC with my gardens and each year as spring approaches, I feel that churning in my stomach to start seeds and start planning for the planting season. I have never lost that anticipation of the upcoming garden season, even when my plantings were not successful. I miss my days in SC sometimes and long for the days when my Dad and I compared our tomatoes to see who had the best ones. My Dad passed away in 1994, and I still miss him so much. I bet he is growing the most beautiful tomatoes in his garden in heaven.

Friday Wrap

2011-01-28T18:04:00.005-05:00

There are only 3 days left to enter the giveaway! I am so excited about drawing a winner. These needles are wonderful! I participated in a Valentine swap on Ravelry and received a wonderful package yesterday.

I will post a pic of the one I sent my partner as soon as she receives it. I am not sure if she reads my blog, so I have to be careful!

I am hoping to get a few dream pillows made this weekend. I need one myself and I have a couple of friends who want one, as well. I am also cleaning out my soap supplies and getting them organized. I am still trying to get the Dresden plate quilt binding done so I can hang it in the dining room. There are just not enough hours in the day. Randy's socks are coming along nicely, and I am hoping to decide on the yarn for Anna's Sweet Pea blanket this weekend and get that organized and ready to start.

Randy and I are trying to eat healthier and I am so surprised at how easy it is to cook healthy meals. I have always been a country cook, like my Mom and Grandmother, but I am learning how to cook delicious meals that are also healthy. Now, if I could figure out how to get more exercise.........

Friday Wrap

2011-01-21T06:16:00.004-05:00

Happy Friday! Looking forward to the weekend. I had planned to make blankets for both of my grandchildren for Christmas, but just did not have the time. So, now I have decided to try and start working on the blankets, and since I don't have a deadline, such as Christmas, I can get them done.

I have decided on a cute granny square blanket for Anna. I found the pattern on Ravelry, but it is a Lion Brand pattern. It is called Sweet Pea and here is a picture:

I haven't decided on the colors yet, but I think that she will love it.

I am looking for something for Brian. Any suggestions? He is 5 years old and loves trains, trucks, construction equipment and cars. I made quilts for both of them when they were born, but I want to make them soft and snuggly blankets.

I would love for all of you to give me your suggestions for a good blanket for Brian.

Snowy in the South

2011-01-11T08:44:00.015-05:00

We still have a ton of snow and ice and it doesn't look as if it will be melting anytime soon. Predictions are that we will be getting more. We have not had this kind of weather in the South in a long time.
Here is a pic of my best bud playing in the snow yesterday!

I found this article on Knitty that I think would be excellent for those of you who are learning or want to learn to knit socks. Take a look: Socks 101
Another good source for learning to knit socks is Ann Budd's book Getting Started Knitting Socks. It was my go to source when I was learning and it has great beginner patterns.

Needle Mania Giveaway!

2011-01-09T11:44:00.009-05:00

I am giving away a complete set of Knit Picks 4" DPN's!! To welcome you to my blog, please enter for a chance to win these great needles. They are Harmony wood and include sizes 0 - 4. These are a dream for knitting socks! They come in a portable, take along bag that keeps them clean and handy. Good Luck!

Knitting socks is an addiction! Stashing sock yarn is a bigger addiction! If you are a sock knitter, then you know exactly what I mean. When I began knitting several years ago, it was because I wanted to knit socks. I have been a crocheter for many, many years, but there was something about socks that really intrigued me. I learned that you have to be to knit before you can knit socks, so I decided to learn, and the rest is history.

Gardening has always been my first love, but I have to admit that gardening has taken a backseat to knitting socks. I am planning to start blogging about socks as my main interest and then add in other things like gardening, quilting, crocheting, etc. I hope that you will follow along with me and enjoy the world of socks!

To enter this contest you need to do the following:

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me why you would like to win these needles and if you too, are a sock knitter.

2. Join my Ravelry group "Brian's Bunch" and introduce yourself.

3. Post on your blog about this giveaway and link back to my blog.

4. Follow my blog and add it to your favorites.

5. Announce this giveaway on your Ravelry group or a group that you are part of.

I will choose a random winner on January 31, 2011. Good Luck and again, Welcome to my Blog!

Giveaway Update

2011-01-08T19:25:00.003-05:00

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I did not get the contest posted today. I apologize for that. I will have it posted by tomorrow evening!

The Giveaway

2011-01-05T21:34:00.002-05:00

This Saturday I will be posting a giveaway. I haven't decided on all the details, but it will be a good one!

Hope you have all had a great week!

Sandra Singh Giveaway

2011-01-04T18:51:00.003-05:00

Sandra Singh is giving away a sock kit on her blog. Take a look:

SandraSingh

Getting Organized

2011-01-02T07:59:00.002-05:00

I spent some time yesterday, between cooking and cleaning, and started organizing some of my projects for 2011. I made some real progress and got quite a bit done today. I worked on my sketch book, started looking at fabric for the Cape May bag, and started working on the January block for the KAL. Good day!

2011 Block of the Month KAL

2010-12-31T14:23:00.003-05:00

My friends at Monthly Adventures have a Block of the Month KAL that goes on all the time over on Ravelry. I have tried several times to join mid-stream, but it never seemed to work out. I have decided to join the KAL in January and follow it through the year on my blog. This will be such a fun thing to do, and I may have a contest or two along the way, so stay tuned.

Listen ya'll, there is some real talent in this group and if you are looking for a fun KAL, this is it. Of course, you have to be on Rav, but then, isn't everyone?

The 2011 KAL starts tomorrow so I need to print the pattern and find some yarn..

Toodles!

Kim's Birthday

2010-12-31T10:36:00.002-05:00

Take a quick jump over to Kim's blog and wish her a Happy Birthday! She is having a contest too! Click on this bitty bits and pieces.

Good Luck!

The Plan

2010-12-30T06:26:00.002-05:00

I am so looking forward to having this long weekend. I am FINALLY getting the studio cleaned and organized. I am planning to spend these 3 days working to get everything in order. I am so looking forward to having a place to do my crafting and also to be my "place".

I have so many projects that are either started or are in my head that I want to complete and I can't wait to get to them. I have not done any quilting in quite some time and I want to get back on it. Here is my list of To-Do's.

1. Finish Dresden Plate quilt.
2. Organize all my yarn.
3. Make stitch markers
4. Make bracelets
5. Start scrapbooking all the stuff I have saved
6. Frame family pictures
7. Get back working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt
8. Make more soap
9. Organize my books
10.Finish some sewing projects that I have in the works.

Quite a list, I know, but I am excited to try and tackle it.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2011

2010-12-29T06:25:00.004-05:00

Here are a couple of finished projects to start off the new year!

Eyelashes in Lime - This is a scarf that I made for my DIL, and it turned out great!

Reading Mitts - These are so soft and warm. I just love them. They are made from Malabrigo Silky....yum!

I have so many plans for 2011! I love the beginning of a new year. It seems like you are receiving a fresh start and a chance to make things better in your life. I intend to take full advantage of that opportunity this year. Randy and I have been working on my studio/office/craft room and it is looking so good! I am going to be so organized that I won't even recognize myself.

This is my year to make more, do more and really make my life good! I have a set of goals for 2011 and I look forward to marking them done, one at a time.

Starting Over

2010-12-05T07:19:00.003-05:00

Today is December 5, 2010 and I have been quite reflective the past few days on the things that are really important to me. I want to change a few things in my life and really live the years that I have left to the best of my ability. So, I am starting over in 2011, and my goal is to improve the quality of my life. What does that mean? At this point, I am not sure, but I am certainly going to find out. One thing I that I am going to strive to accomplish is blogging. I love reading blogs and visiting new ones, but recently, I have gotten away from it because other things have seemed more important. So, here I go on a new adventure!!

One of my goals is to finish projects that I have started. Here are a few that I have finished in the past couple of weeks:

Saturday Ramblings

2010-10-16T10:02:00.003-04:00

It is a beautiful Saturday and Randy and I are planning some yard work this afternoon when he gets back from a project at school. I am going to visit a quilt shop this morning that I have found in Buford and then probably to the Yarn Garden for a little therapy. I put quilting aside a couple of years ago when I learned to knit and I am really feeling the need to get back to it. Especially hand piecing, my first quilting love. I am excited about visiting this shop today and taking in all the wonderfulness of fabric. I am working on several knitting projects, so if I start back quilting, I am going to have do some serious schedule changing, but hey, I am a multi-tasker!!! So, I will update this post later with what I found!pdat

1:55 PM - Update - I went to the shop and it was beautiful! Oh, I wanted to make every quilt in the place.....I have definitely got the quilting bug again! Yummy fabrics, lots of new patterns....nice people. I enjoyed the visit!

Cooler Weather

2010-10-05T06:18:00.002-04:00

I am loving the cooler weather. It is nice to wear a light sweater. I love this time of year. I have been thinking about the holidays and what I want to do. I have always decorated my tree the same way and this year, I think I am going to change it. The kids are all grown now, and it is just Randy, me and the dogs, so I am ready for a change. I have some ideas, but nothing concrete yet. I would love to hear how some of you are planning yours. Leave me a comment with your suggestions.

Good Morning!

2010-10-02T08:12:00.004-04:00

My kids have started this great blog called Catchpost. Take a look at it. They are blogging about anything and everything!

I have been trying to find some variety in our meals lately and I started thinking about things I used to make when my kids were home and I cooked alot. We had family dinners on Sundays for years and they were always at my house. My whole family came over and we had the best day! I have several of my own original dishes that I made and I thought I would share them with you from time to time.

I will post the recipe and a picture of the dish.

Last weekend the babies were here and we took them to the park. We had fun until Brian was stung by something. We think it was a yellow jacket. He cried for a long time and the next morning his hand was really swollen and purple. I cried too.

Good Things

2010-10-01T17:03:00.004-04:00

I found this pattern for a beautiful throw and I have decided to make it for myself and Randy. I just adore granny squares of any kind. Granny squares are what made me want to learn to crochet in the first place. I saw one of those throws that are multi-colored and lined in black and I fell head over heels in love! I bought a book, a skein of Red Heart and a G crochet hook at Kmart, if I remember correctly, and I never looked back! I think I was about 16 or 17 at the time. Over these many years, I have made 100's of throws and probably 1000's of granny squares, so I think that this will be a fun and nostalgic project for me.

The Holidays are Coming!

2010-09-30T17:58:00.002-04:00

I am trying to come up with some ideas of things to make for Christmas gifts. I am knitting Anna and Brian blankets, but I am thinking about making some jewelry, possibly some stitch markers and maybe a cute tote bag that I have been intending to make for a while now. Randy and I are seriously considering going away for the holidays. With our kids all over the place, it just isn't the same anymore. It is always such a hassle to try and get them all together at the same time and almost always, someone can't make it. It would be less stress for all of us if we go away. If you have any ideas for Christmas gifts, please comment. I would love to hear what you are making!

Catching Up

2010-09-26T07:05:00.003-04:00

It is so hard to believe that I have not posted for almost 3 months! Where does this time go? I started a new job and have had family issues, but it sure has passed quickly.

I have several projects going on right now, knitting and otherwise and I am always trying to find a way to stay organized as I run 100 miles an hour everyday. I thought that when I became an empty nester, I would have all this free time to sit on the deck and drink lemonade, but I am just as busy as ever, maybe more so.

Brian and Anna are getting so big and Michael is in college! Benjamin is in high school and playing football. They are all so sweet! I am one lucky Nanny/Mommo!

The Twilight Saga....Eclipse

2010-06-28T17:34:00.002-04:00

The third movie in the The Twilight Series, Eclipse, premieres on Wednesday, as I am sure all of you know. Unfortunately, I can't see it until Friday. My daughter-in-laws and I are going to see the movie and then out to dinner. I can't wait. It is going to be a great 4th of July weekend. BBQ's, movies, grandchildren, the Pepsi 400 and just general fun! We live in such a great country!

Summer and Middle Age

2010-06-26T07:16:00.003-04:00

Baby, it is hot out there! My car thermometer has been reading over 100 every day! Summer is officially here! My yard is looking good, but needs more attention and with the heat, it is so hard to get out and work. My favorite pastime has now almost become a chore. As I get older, I seem to be unable to tolerate the heat as I could when I was younger. I guess that is the price of middle age.

There is much to be said for middle age though. Lots of things change, some better, some not so good. Your body doesn't cooperate with you as it once did and somehow, I keep finding pounds I would prefer to leave where they are.

The good parts of middle age, in my opinion, most of the time, outweigh the bad. The kids are gone, the grandkids come to visit, and your daily responsibilities are not so bad. You can eat when you want, sleep when you want, and generally be lazy or productive, your choice. You have more time to do things that you want to do, as well as more time to give back to others. I do more things at church now, see friends more often and can help my children with more things.

I think I like middle age.....

Saturday are for Family and Fun!

2010-06-05T16:23:00.002-04:00

This is my first weekend off in a long time, and it is so fun! I have the grandkids and we are chillin' at the homeplace!

My oldest grandson, Michael Alexander Starkey graduated from Yuba City High School on June 3, 2010. I am so proud!

Thursday Ramblings

2010-05-27T08:20:00.009-04:00

IMG_0035, originally uploaded by GardenLynn.

I have decided to give up the shawl for now. I have too many projects going on to spend so much time on the shawl. And speaking of projects, I have started 2 new sock projects. I started this one on Monday. This is a new yarn that I bought at the Yarn Garden and it is so pretty! It is called Zauberball from Schoppel Wolle. I am making a simple sock to show the graduation of the colors. I think it is so interesting.

The second sock project I just started last night and it is called Mock Croc Socks. The pattern is from Knit Picks and it is a nice lace pattern. I will post a pic tomorrow. I am making it in a really pretty yarn that I got a few months back. The yarn is from Punta Yarns and it is called Merisock Hand Painted. Here is a thumbnail of the color:

This little thumbnail does not do it justice, but the color is almost spot on.

This is my last day off during the week and starting next week I will be back to working 5 days a week like a normal person. I am so looking forward to that, as well as this new job. It is almost like a dream come true for me. The title "Policy Clerk" is music to my ears……..

The Shawl

2010-05-26T00:23:00.003-04:00

Well, the shawl has now become a MAJOR ordeal. After going to the shop and getting Marcia to run a life line, I tinked it back to the beginning of the lace pattern and started over. I have followed the chart specifically and I can only hope that it is right. The question I keep asking myself is "Why are you doing this"? I still don't have an answer. I am a sock knitter and a good one. I started all the shawl nonsense when I saw other shawls that had been done and wanted to do one myself. You see, my problem is that I want it all and I want it now. So, I am plugging along and we will see what the end result is.....

Thursday Chatter

2010-05-20T09:45:00.004-04:00

I am proud to announce that my best friends, Butch and Marie, became grandparents for the first time last night. Mason Parker Deal was born at 11:21pm. Congrats to my best buddies!

I finished both Anna and Brian's socks and I am taking them up when I go to graduation tomorrow night. Here is a pic of both:

I think that both turned out great! I am not really good at posting pictures on my blog, but I am trying to improve.

I was offered a new job yesterday and I accepted it. I am happy and excited. No more weekends and no more commute across Atlanta......woo-hoo! I am starting on June 1.

Graduation and Other Stuff

2010-05-19T06:32:00.003-04:00

Beany is graduating from preschool on Friday night. He is getting so big! He will start kindergarten this fall. Time does fly! I see another busy weekend coming up! I am almost finished with Anna's socks and hope to get the ones done that I am making for a friend of mine.

The shawl is on hold since I can't figure out where I am in the pattern. I am going to the shop tomorrow and see if Marcia can help me. Darlene may be able to meet me there, but if not, I know that Marcia can figure it out. I am trying to have patience and learn the lace as I did socks, but I am getting so easily frustrated with it. And, on my best days, I have zero patience, so I don't really think that is going to work out. I think that until I learn how to know where I am in the pattern by looking at the work, I will never get the concept of lace. I have been thinking that I need to make a practice swatch and knit it over and over until I get it. Who knows??

Catching Up

2010-05-17T08:14:00.007-04:00

I have been so busy the past few days that I have not had time to blog. I am trying to finish 2 pair of socks, work these crazy hours and recover from shingles. I am almost over the shingles thank goodness!

Beany had his birthday party at school this past Friday and it was a great success! The kids loved all the snacks that his Mom made and brought for the party and he seemed to really enjoy the party too!

His Mom took these pictures, and the one that I think is so cute is this one:

He looks as if he might kiss Miss Allie any second, or she might kiss him! All in all his birthday was a big success!

Beany's 5th Birthday

2010-05-05T10:53:00.002-04:00

Today is the Beanman's 5th birthday! I can't believe that little rascal is 5 years old! I can't imagine what my life was like before he was born. Every single day of the last 5 years has seen me with a smile on my face and so happy to be his Mommo. He has brought out the best in me and has made me see that the world is a wonderful place. His charm, his laughter, his beautiful smile has made my life the happiest that it has ever been and every night I thank my Lord and Saviour for giving me this priceless, precious gift. I could just sit and talk to him, play with him and cuddle him 24/7, but we all know that is not realistic. I am forever in love with Brian.

Ramblings on a Tuesday Morning

2010-05-04T05:13:00.002-04:00

I am working on a lace shawl called Traveling Woman. It will be my first lace shawl and I am so excited. My friend, Darlene, is helping me with it. She is a lace shawl expert and I am thrilled that she agreed to help me. I want to be a really good knitter and I am improving every day. I am planning to start on my ATC's this week, even though I don't have enough people to participate. I want to get mine in the mail.

I have been looking at right and left brain information and I can't decide which I am, though I am leaning toward left brain. The characteristics seem to match me in more areas than right brain, although I have some right brain characteristics as well. It is interesting to study. Will post more when I know more.

My garden is just beautiful! All the new perennials are thriving and the veggies are blooming and starting to produce. I hope that I will get veggies all summer....ah the taste of home grown tomatoes...my most favorite food. I know that they will be on the menu everyday in heaven.

Stitches South and an ATC Swap

2010-04-24T13:10:00.002-04:00

I didn't go to Stitches because I am not well enough. I tried to go in to work today, but had to come back home. I am just feeling so bad. On a lighter note, I am doing an ATC swap with some of my blogging friends and I want to invite anyone who would like to join us to email me.

It will be tons of fun and you will get so many ATC's! Come on join us!

Stitches South

2010-04-21T07:28:00.007-04:00

Finally the time is here for Stitches South. I have been looking forward to it for quite some time now. It starts on Thursday, April 22 at Cobb Galleria, well actually the Waverly Hotel and goes through Sunday. Fortunately for me, my office is right down the street, so I am planning to go on Friday and Saturday after work. In addition, I am off on Thursday, so I am going early. This will be my first time to go, and I am so excited. I am hoping that some of my friends will be able to go with me.

I am off today and I am so glad. The shingles have literally kicked my butt to the moon and back. I don't recall ever having anything that was as painful as this. I had to work on Monday and Tuesday because there was no one to cover the office. Today I am planning to take it easy and nap all day.

I am also working on a plan for my studio/office. Right now it looks like a storage facility, but I have big plans for that room and I am excited! I might post the progress as I go along with pictures......

It seems that I can't finish a project before starting another one. Shame on me . But, I always finish them at some point. I am working on socks for Beany and Anna and I also have a cute hat that I want to make for Anna.

You gotta love this face:

Life is so strange

2010-04-19T07:42:00.002-04:00

I have not had a great couple of weeks, and now I have shingles. At least I am 99% sure that I have the shingles. I am calling the doctor at 8 to see if I can get in to see him. The pain is the worst pain I have ever had I think. I can understand how people who have chronic pain feel I think. I couldn't take this day in and day out. Advil helps, but only for the short term.

On a happier note, I am working on several projects and I am trying to get things organized to make the project bags and a tote that a friend of mine designed. I have been working in my yard and in the gardens. My border is looking great! I love gardening, it is my favorite pastime and I just don't get to do it as much as I would like.

Early ERG Results

2010-04-16T07:01:00.002-04:00

Kate received the test results from Dr. Lambert yesterday, and it is confirmed that Brian does have Retinitis Pigmentosa. Though it is not the diagnosis that we had hoped for, we are all trying to understand and be strong for him. Though I am totally devastated, I will work through it and fight for him to have a life that is as normal as possible.

Bitty Bits and Pieces Giveaway

2010-04-15T08:36:00.002-04:00

If you have not looked this blog bittybitsandpieces, you should go now and have a look at all the beautiful creations. They are also having a great giveaway right now so take a look!

The ERG and other stuff

2010-04-14T16:39:00.002-04:00

Well, Brian had the ERG today and everything went smoothly. We will not get results until Monday. Brian came home with me from the hospital to spend the night and we are having fun. He was very groggy for a while, but seems to be back to his old self. We have been playing and watching all his favorite shows. Poppy is coming home and we are going to cook hamburgers on the grill. Brian and I are planning to go to the park tomorrow, and take a picnic. I am making very good progress on my scarf for the Crush the U 04. I have several projects waiting to be started once I get the UFO's completed, so I need to get with it. So much yarn, so little time.......Happy Spring Everyone!

Just Stuff

2010-04-14T00:09:00.002-04:00

I finished the one scarf, and I am so glad. Still have another scarf, 2 pair of socks and a shawl to finish for the Crush the U 4. I have been extremely worried about the ERG that B is having tomorrow. I plan to be there as soon as they take him back to surgery. I believe with all my heart that God can heal him, and I am praying that he will.

Sunday

2010-04-11T11:32:00.003-04:00

I am about to head to work. Church was great this morning! Would like to stay home and watch the final round of the Masters, but have to open the office. We had such a nice time last night at Butch and Marie's house. They had several of us over for dinner, and it was so wonderful. These are the kinds of things that life is all about. We have a very important appointment on Wednesday. Beany is having the ERG finally after several months of waiting. He will be at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite in midtown. I still believe in miracles and I still have faith that God can heal him if it is his will. If it is not, I believe that he will show us how to deal with it. I am praying and I have all my wonderful friends praying......

I Miss Saturdays

2010-04-10T23:05:00.003-04:00

I really miss Saturdays. I work every weekend now, and I just don't like it. I have tried to adjust, but I can't. I miss working in the gardens and shopping with Randy. I miss wearing my jammies until 10 or 11. I really miss being able to have Beany and Anna for the weekend as much as I used to. If I have them now, I have to leave and go to work. I miss Sundays too. Now I have to rush home from church and get ready to go to work. I miss watching sports and taking naps. I really want to retire, or just quit, whatever you want to call it, but that isn't possible for a while. I just wish I could get my weekends back.

Allergies

2010-04-09T16:04:00.007-04:00

I love this weather, but let me tell you, it does not love me. For the first time in my life, I have allergies and I am not sure why I developed them in my old age. I cough and sneeze and sputter all the time, and my head aches. Oh well, it is always something, isn't it?

I have been working on several projects and I am pleased with the progress that I am making. This is my own pattern for a scarf. Nothing fancy, but still my own.

This scarf is Carol Siegrist at the Yarn Garden's creation. It is so pretty and the design is spectacular. I am doing it with Zitron Life Style. It is heavenly to knit, so smooth and silky. She is so talented.

And finally, this is a blanket I made for my friend Marie's new Grandson, Baby Parker. He is due May 15 and his Mommy and Daddy are so cute, so I know he will be. This is the 8 Hour Baby Blanket Revisited and I did it with Plymouth Encore.

I am still doing socks and my second shawl, still an easy one. I am about to make project bags, I have this great pattern and I am going to make them from quilt fabric, which is 100% cotton so they will last for a long time and be easy to clean..........

2010 Medal

2010-04-08T08:40:00.001-04:00

2010 Medal, originally uploaded by GardenLynn.

This is the medal that I won for this year's Ravelympics. I completed LaLa's Simple Shawl and it turned out great! I am so proud that I completed an event this year!

Old Age and A New Beginning

2010-04-08T08:26:00.007-04:00

Well, I have been away for while, and I think that I just did not have my priorities in the right place. I have been wasting entirely too much time on websites and activities that did not benefit me or enrich my creative side. Those days are over. I have much to catch up on and much to do to get back to where I want to be, but I am working diligently to get there.

I had all the tests that the doctor said I needed and I got a clean bill of health! Thank you my Lord! Because of this, I have decided to change my priorities and make a richer life for myself. I have already started doing some things and today I resume blogging and visiting my friends blogs. I have been very lax in my blogging for quite some time now, and I enjoy it so much. I have not participated in a swap for such a long time and I have not posted pictures of my latest creations, projects I am working on, and just the great things that are going on in my life and in my friend's lives. So today, I start fresh!

Old Age and the Cost of Redemption

2010-02-15T16:32:00.004-05:00

Getting old is no fun. Not only that, but it is costly and time consuming. Get a bone scan, get a colonoscopy, get a stress test, take calcium, eat better, and yada, yada, yada. The bad part is that in order to redeem myself ( if I can), I have to do so many things that I have not been doing, so that means changing my lifestyle, my attitude and how I spend my time off.

It isn't that I have just become a couch potato who eats thick crust pizza, drinks beer and never exercises. It is that I have not exercised as I should, and I have not eaten as I should all the time, and so now, I am trying to get redemption. I have improved my eating habits and have lost a few pounds, but I still need to lose more.

On a happier note, my projects for the Ravelympics are going very well, and I am thinking I might just finish both of them before the flame goes out. Woo-hoo!

2010 Ravelympics

2010-02-14T08:41:00.006-05:00

The Ravelympics have begun and I am challenged to get my events done by closing ceremonies in 2 weeks. I am doing a shawl and a market bag, one knitted, one crocheted and I am excited about making the deadline. We had some snow this week, very unusual for Atlanta, and I actually knitted in the car while sitting in traffic trying to get home. I worked on a pair of fingerless gloves that I was trying to finish before the games. They are cast aside now for the more important projects....so many projects...so little time.

What a Nice Day

2010-02-03T15:36:00.001-05:00

My Mom and I went to lunch today and had a great afternoon. We looked at pictures of all the fam and ordered some prints from Walgreens.

My First Noro Project

2010-02-03T07:12:00.001-05:00

IMG_0006, originally uploaded by GardenLynn.

Yesterday, I finished my first Noro project. It is a self fringing shawl and I made it with Kureyon. The colors are just breathtaking and I can't wait to wear it. (It is blocking).

I also have several UFO's that I need to finish and get off the needles, including 2 pair of socks, a baby blanket and a scarf.

Much work!

Learning the Hard Way

2010-01-27T17:12:00.003-05:00

Today has been a day of enlightenment for me. I realized today that sometimes I just jump in feet first, with no preparation. Not only that, but I think that I can do things that I am not capable of doing, so it is time for a "come to Jesus meeting". Do you ever feel like you just don't fit in this world? That is the way I am feeling today. I am not sure where my place is, and what I am to do with it if I ever find it. I can never seem to do things the way other people do them, one step at a time. I always think that I can do step one and then jump to the end. I must admit that I am not as smart as my brain thinks that I am. And that realization gets me in deep do-do sometimes. I have decided that I need to take a step back and figure out what is important to me and work on accomplishing that thing...gee.

A Slow Start

2010-01-25T06:46:00.002-05:00

It seems that I have had a slow start to the 2010 New Year. I have many projects going on and I can't seem to get my projects organized. I hope all of you are doing a better job of organizing than I am. I am having a problem organizing my supplies and being able to find needles and yarn and markers and stuff when I need them. I have tried several plans, but have found nothing that works yet. I am not giving up though.

2010

2009-12-23T10:17:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my blogging friends! I am planning some great projects in 2010 and one of them is to go back to blogging everyday. I miss blogging. I have been so busy with other things that it was very difficult for me to do all the things that I wanted to do, but I am getting organized for 2010 and it feels good!

I love new beginnings!

My New Scarf

2009-11-22T18:05:00.003-05:00

I finished this scarf this week. I made it for myself! It is my first hand knitted item for me! I am still working on my Nutkin socks, and now we have started at KAL on Ravelry with the Yarn Garden Gang for the Nutkins. I have several projects on the needles and I am really trying to finish most of them in the month of December. With the holidays fast approaching, it may be difficult to finish as many as I would like, but I am not giving up. I have asked for Knit Picks or Yarn Garden gift cards for Christmas, so we will see what I get. I really want a complete set of the Knit Picks Harmony straight needles, and I also want a ball winder and a swift. Those things are expensive. Aw heck, I would like all the needles, straight and circular. I love Knit Picks needles. I like their circulars better than Addi's even. What is it about knitting that is so addictive? I spend the majority of my time trying to find a way to knit. I carry it in my purse, I have it in every room of the house, and I am constantly looking for new patterns, yarns and ideas. Oh well, I guess I will just give in to the addiction!

til next time~

Socks and Other Stuff too

2009-11-12T08:45:00.005-05:00

One of my knitting projects that I am determined to finish is a pair of socks that I am knitting for me. I have never made a pair for myself, and when I saw this pattern, it was love at first sight, so I have been working on the first sock as much as I can. Here is my progress so far:

The pattern is called Nutkin and it is by Beth LaPensee for Knitzi. It is a free pattern on Ravelry. I am doing it in Malabrigo sock yarn and it is so soft and yummy. I just loved the colors and the way the cuff is done. I am hoping to have them finished so that I can wear them at the holidays.

I am learning how to do Dorset Buttons and there is a class tonight at the shop. I am not sure if I am up to going out, but I really would like to take that class.

I am not one who gets sick very often, but I have been sick for about 10 days now with an upper respiratory infection and I am so sick of it. The doctor gave me antibiotics and I think I am starting to feel a little better, but I have not been able to do some of the things I normally do.

Chilly Weather and Other Things

2009-11-07T06:53:00.002-05:00

The weather sure turned cold quickly. It is supposed to be fall, but last night it seemed like winter to me. I have several projects in the works, as usual. I think that my problem is that I start a project and then don't finish it because I start another project. I am trying to change that. I am working on 2 specific projects right now. A pair of socks and a scarf. Both are a lovely pattern, and I am determined to finish these two before I start anything new. I have enough already started to keep me busy until early 2010. So, I am seriously working to complete all the projects before I start something else.....

Happy Halloween

2009-10-28T15:19:00.002-04:00

Happy Halloween everyone! The ghost and goblins are on their way to get treats! My 2 little goblins will be here on Friday and we are going trick or treating on Saturday in the neighborhood. I have instructed Poppy that he is to film the whole event. I have a few knitting projects going, and I just ordered some Malabrigo in silky merino for a shawl that I want to make for me......

I am developing a hand soap and hand cream for knitters that I hope to sell on Etsy. It is heavenly. Once I get some in production, I am planning to give some away. Stay tuned!

The holidays are fast approaching and I am already starting to get in the spirit. I so love this time of year, and I want it to be COLD. Really COLD. Some snow would be nice. I am going the simple method for Christmas this year. Minimal, simple decorations, food and gifts. I want to make it more about Jesus and less about gifts. How are you planning your holiday this year?

Til tomorrow (or whenever)~~