Day 2 Vacation

As do most teachers I wait all year for summer vacation, sometimes patiently --sometimes eagerly but it is that carrot at the end of early up every day and drive in to work etc. So here I am at the second day of my summer break and I have made progress, yesterday I was up at six today at seven! I might have slept later but my darling daughter asked me if I had really intended to leave the sprinkler on ALL night? Now, the question I would like to ask her is why this did not rate a middle of the night wake up or are those strictly reserved for Can you iron this for me, or I need a ride or I'm short of cash! Well, our flowerbeds had their own private storm yesterday and I guess that it what they have gotten used to here in NJ.

Yesterday was a delightful day. I met with my group of Monday friends and we went out to lunch. I had a California burger with all the stuff that makes it delicious and so bad for you BUT I really enjoyed it. Just cottage cheese and fruit for dinner!

I have a goal this summer of cleaning out my "spare bedroom" on my main floor. I can't call it a guestroom because the guest would only have a choice of sleep under tons of stuff ( aka junk) or draping themselves over it. There is a speculation that the rug in there is green but I have not seen it in years! As I have cleaned out and sorted over the past three years this room has become the resting place of choice for those things I just can't throw away. It also has all the stuff aka junk that supported my craft fair shows. All I've done to it in a few years is throw more stuff in and keep the door firmly closed! this summer I am going to get this room pared down to a reasonable amount of stuff aka junk. I'm going to use a modified flylady approach. Every day I will go in and clear away a garbage bag of stuff. It has to be thrown away of PERMANENTLY put away. NO MORE piles anywhere. Yesterday I filled the garbage pail and now I am sorting through a pile of patterns etc. (sad to see the names of so many places not around any longer) I want to be able to have a picture of this room on this blog by the end of the summer! I will not even CONSIDER a before picture. You have to come to my house and knock me down to see in there!

Just Relaxing in Yarn Heaven

Yesterday, after I spread out my new yarn purchases to take a picture I just sat on the couch in the middle of all this yarny goodness and logged in my purchases in the stash section of Rav, then I started working on a new sweater for myself from the silk garden! I LOVE noro silk anything and it just jumped the line of all the other yarn waiting more patiently to get knit up. Both Katie (my associate daughter) and Courtney (my niece who is semi staying with us) ran in and said the same thing---"You look like you are in yarn heaven." Well they got it right but today instead of going to the beach I moved yarn heaven headquarters out to my backyard. I always seem to only go out at home to work in the garden or clean up etc. so today I went outside with coffee, a bagel, my Sunday NY Times, my laptop, the knitting and the dog. I'm going to stay out here all day and just veg out. Caroline and Courtney went to the beach, Katie went off to do errands so it is just me and Gizmo. I may even head over to the hammock soon!

retail therapy takes care of the blues

I woke up feeling a bit weepy and blue. School ended yesterday and while I know teachers are required to love the summer vacation (AND I DO), I am not doing any school work this summer, not going on a real vacation or doing anything big in the house AND I went to say good bye to my son who is going away until August. So I woke up feeling kind of blue and unfocused. I have about 4 or 5 years until I should retire and I was feeling a bit useless. THEN I went to meet a few yarn buddies. We met at B&N so after a quick latte to go, we headed out for a bag sale at a local yarn shop. OMG, I am so out of my feeling at loose ends. Now I know what I can do for the rest of my life, I can knit the yarn I got today! The deal was that you can stuff as much yarn as you can in a bag they give you for $25. I got 5 bags of STUFFED yarn. I am on Noro overload. 26 skeins of silk garden chunky, 10 skeins of matsuri cotton wool blend, 4 silk mountain, 11 skeins of colinette cadenza in 2 color ways, 44 skeins of RY Classic Yarns Natural Silk Aran!!!!!!!! If I had paid full price I would have spent $957!!!!!! (which I never would have spent in a million years. And 4 skeins of a new to me yarn from The Fiber Company, Terra in Acorn.

We had a nice brunch at a new restaurant then I found out about a local store with Birks on sale so I was required to head over and they had a sale BOGO 1/2 . So I got 2 pairs of Birk sandals for $105!!!

So here I am listening to Bruce Springsteen on my Ipod and looking forward to going to the beach Sunday. It will be a good summer!

The End of the Weekend

For whatever reason this week end seems to have gone on forever! Friday I had to go from Brooklyn to PA for the funeral of the father of a friend/coworker. He was a good man who died too early.

Friday evening I went to see The Taking of Pelham123. Good movie --a bit too violent for my taste.

Sat.morning I was up early, took the dog to the groomer, ( he looks so much better now--smells better too )and then went out to breakfast at a local Friendly's. This was a restaurant Bob and I went to very often when the kids were young. What a disappointment. It was run down, empty and looked like it was about ready to close.

While Gizmo was gone I popped into Home Depot and picked up my Father's Day gift to myself. I got a copper "thing" that waters the lawn. It is about 3 feet high and has two spinning wheels that are spin around powered by the water. It really looks nice. I also got myself 4 hanging baskets for my black iron hangers. I'd like the rain to stop long enough that I could spend some time outside!I spent a few hours weeding and cutting back some "stuff" which is trying to take over the driveway fence.AND the rain started again!

THEN,I was off to getting a manicure and pedicure. Nicely relaxing. I picked up a pizza and a quick grocery shopping and spent the rest of the evening reading a good book.

Today was cleaning and laundry and sorting and tossing. How did all this junk that I'm tossing ever get into this house? I spent the rest of the day reading a book by a young man with Aspergers. JUST 5 MORE DAYS OT GET UP EARLY FOR WORK!!!!!!!!!

NJ Guild's Quilt Show

Yesterday I had a busy day. Up early, did some quick housework then off to meet my friend to go to the quilt show. I did observe Worldwide Knit in Public Day by knitting in front of Zebu while I was waiting for my friend. We grabbed coffee and a quick snack to go and we were at the quilt show before it opened. I love this show, I've been attending for years. The only two years I missed were when Bob was in the hospital and the year after that. There were beautiful quilts both new and old. I am so amazed at beautiful work done by women who live in NJ! I make quick fun to make quilt but some of these are really works of art and just wonderful.

Well, there are vendors of course and I brought home another dozen fat quarters, a great apron themed applique quilt pattern,a ruler and rotary cutter to make circles, a small red work flower kit, and a roller kit to pick up hairs and lint etc. This I already used!

I spent the rest of the day reorganizing, doing laundry and really giving my downstairs a good spring cleaning. Got that in just at the end of spring! This morning I washed all the floors and now my back aches and all I want to do is go back to sleep! Another rainy day here in NJ.

Where is Spring?

12 days until Sumer vacation and it is cool, rainy and foggy in the morning.I could use some nice sunny weather! I did some knitting last night at our knitting group. I'm working on a short row scarf, relaxing and lots of fun.
I've made plans to go to the NJ Guilds Quilt show Sat. morning. I only hope I can look and not buy! Well, we will see!

June 9th

Not much new going on around here in knitting or quilting. I was too tired when I got home last night to do anything with the fat quarter land downstairs. I've been drooling over two quilting books in my spare moments at work.

I want to make a quilt from 60' degree triangles and just have fun with it. I also want to make a quilt for my friend's daughter's bridal shower and so my friend and I have been looking at books and planning.

Just 13 more days of school before I have LOTS of knitting and quilting free time.

Fat Quarteritis

I went to pick up some thread that I ordered at my not so local but regular quilt shop on Sat. They were having a fat quarter sale. So, naturally I had to get a few or 63 to be exact. Sunday morning, I decided to put them away and somehow, I realized that I have a few more fat quarters then I thought, so I decide to fold and iron them and in general organize them. Easier said then done, at last count I reached about 400 of these little suckers. AND that's just the intact ones, not the ones that are cut into and have turned into Fat Eighths or just a great scrap or my bolts of backing or the 100s of jolly packs (4 or 5 inch squares), or the jelly rolls or layer cakes or even the few honey buns or the few charming jelly cakes or just plain yardage etc.
My clean from Sat. family room now looks like a fabric explosion. I want to really find a way to organize and store them because I have so many duplicates and some gaps!

Well, only 14 more days of school after today!

Back Again!

No excuses, I just blog when I think of it. I've been a quilting fool. Not as much knitting as unual but a few nice quilts, both baby gufts.
My son is on tour in Finland with Bruce Springstein and his band. He is working with the generators to power the tour. I hope he enjoys it.

We have about 18 days of school left then TWO MONTHS OF PEACE at home.

Where did My Vacation GO?

I go back to work on Monday. As much as I love my job being on vacation also has it's perks!

I went on a yarn crawl Wed with three fellow knitters. We went to three yarn shops, one near a famous university in NJ was too snooty for my taste But the other two were great. We went to Wooly Lamb in Pennington where I got some multicolored boucle mohair for a shawl at my favorite price 50% off, then we went into the shop next door a---- QUILTING shop and I got a new pattern and fabric to make an apron for swap. Then we had lunch at a rib restaurant, and off to Twist in PA. I love that little shop. I got a great pattern for an entrelac jacket/sweater and some organic yarn to make a soft toy for a baby. NOT so bad for me trying to cut down!

Yesterday, I went to the airport and picked up up my neice in from California, we had a nice visit before I dropped her off at my daughter's job. That's youth---- fly in a airplane ALL night get up, freshen up in a airport restroom, look great -- then be ready to work all day and go out all night!

Somehow, I've come down with a strep infection in my throat and ear, so today I feel pretty low. I'm on my third day of meds so I should be feeling better soon.

Very little knitting done , just more work on one of my sweaters.

Stash Hide Out Reorganized!

I am showing this "reorganization" for two purposes.
First, it should be a wake up to me about HOW MUCH of this stuff I have because this is NOT ALL!!! I have many more baskets in a corner of the family room and even more in a room up stairs! AND I am going on a yarn crawl with friends Wed. Now if my friends see this they should NOT allow me to buy more. Well maybe buttons?

Second, if you think this is a mess you should have seen it before! I need to go through it and fold and sort and toss but somehow something else always calls!

AND here is the real sick thing--- I have 40more skeins of yarn on the way from various coops and orders! Oh well, if I live long enough to knit and quilt my way through this stuff, I'll be here forever!

Floor ----to be continued!

My friend's husband started working on my floor early yesterday, and things were going fine--- most of the family room is done UNTIL he slipped and severed part of the tips of two of his fingers. WOW, did that perk us up. Fortunately, his wife is a nurse and she works 5 minutes from my house so she had him rushed to the ER in record time. They were not able to reattach the severed pieces although we did wrap them in clean wet paper towels saved in a baggie. today he is home and needs to follow up with a plastic surgeon but probably will be fine. So the downstairs is on hold BUT I finished the floor in my yarn and fabric closet or that spot where fabric and yarns go to rest until they are called to serve!
Maybe a picture tomorrow!

Meanwhile, I'm clean out and sorting etc. The only knitting is dish/wash cloths and they are for swapping partners.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all who celebrate. I've been baking for a few days to get ready. I made over a dozen loaves of Italian Easter Bread with the eggs tucked into the braids, a blueberry/raspberry pound cake, a tray of brownies and my usual cheesecake.

All the prep work for the floor is done and at 8:00 AM Monday the floor starts going down. YEAH for finally having a clean and cleanable floor!

I'm making an early quick trip to the nursing home to visit my hospice lady and bring her some Easter Bread and the cheese doodles she really wants then I'm off the spend Easter with my family at my sister's newhouse in CT. Yes, life is good. And all the knitting I've gotten done is a few quick dish/wash cloths!

Back Again!

Well, it's been over a month since I posted. The usual excuses, too busy, too tired, etc. Work has been a bear and as usual I'm involved on another improvement project in my house. I have one of my daughter's friends who is an electrician replacing the oldest ugliest fan in my living room with a pretty pendant light and actually installing a light over my dining room table, repairing and replacing outside lights and just moving and replacing old stuff. THEN I had a flood in my downstairs level, due to my own carelessness with my washing machine. It was a blessing in disguise as now I am finally replacing the LAST of the wall to wall carpeting my my house. The old rug was scarred with Bob cigarette burn marks and when wet smelled of the gazillion kitty and puppy accidents AND a huge burn mark when I dropped an iron years ago! Soon, like today or Monday I will have new flooring in the living room, kitchen and foyer!!!!!!! The down side was moving EVERYTHING from my fabric and yarn stash or should I say grave yard of projects.

In spite of all this and mega work at my school I am almost finished with knitting MR Foster,just have to finish off his head, I've been working on a sweater from Interweave and I'm going to get started on my Hanne F sweater again. In addition to several quilts I have in my mental line up. It almost makes furniture moving seem lass stressful!

Books and more Swap

I am so lucky. I've gotten just the best swap partners. I came home really tired and stressed and look at what I received! I love just everything here. Great yarns, more stitch markers for my collection,a handmade new project bag,a collection of teas, new cable needles, don't know where my old ones are! Two items are missing a beautiful pair of fetching fingerless mitts, can't pry them off my daughter yet and Ann Budd's book of sweater patterns. I love the yarns and new knitting magazine and the chocolates and WOW WW cookies that I have never seen. So today, I'm going to make myself a cup of tea and relax with a new knitting magazine!

quilts and snow

I hate snow and cold weather. I should have been born in a warm climate. If I could just stay in until ALL this snow is gone I'd be happy. I worked non stop on these two baby quilts Sat and Sunday. Today we have a totally unexpected snow day so I was able to finish them! Now that these are done my daughter tells me that another of her friends is expecting. I feel like I am in the middle of a baby boom!

the Secret to FOs

I am on vacation. This weekend, I did not teach Sat school, or visit the nursing home, or grocery shop, vacuum, wash the kitchen floor, cook anything or really go out much. What did I do? Knit, do laundry, knit, shower and get back into a clean nightgown then knit some more! I stayed up to 2:15 last night and really enjoyed finishing the rib warmer.

The rib warmer was made from noro. I always mess up on EZ paterns because I tend to skim them and you CANNOT skim her patters. EVERY word matters. This was a fun short row knit and I tried it on last night and it is so warm and warms without adding bulk.

NOW I have tons of new projects calling, Hanne Falkenburg's Trivoli kit, a beautiful Sunday River vest/sweater, the Elsbeth Lavold silky wool Or more ufo then I can to list PLUS at least three sweaters' worth of yarn from Stitches and some Malibregio calling my name.

FO Finally!

I joined a group on Ravelry to finish 12vests or sweaters in 2009. If I just finish up mostly done UFO, I'd be half way there. BUT with human nature or at least mine the way it is as soon as I decided to do this all I wanted to knit were scarves and hats. Now anyone who knows me knows that I don't like to knit scarves but I did two of them, then a hat then a baby quilt. So here I am in mid Feb and not even one project done. Well, I changed that today. I finished the Big Bebe Vest. It was a pretty easy knit, the only time consuming part was the endless I cord. I still have some of this yarn left and can you believe --another scarf is calling!

coffee chocolate swap

I received such a great swap box from Gail, Grannygail. Just bursting with goodies, sox yarn, two kinds ofchocolates, nuts,licorice, stitch markers in a cute tin, rich fragrant coffee, a new journal, a felted purse,and even a pattern in case I'm all socked out. Gail also sent a tiny pair of scissors with a thimble which opens for a little spot to hide a message. Thanks so much for this thoughtful box. Everything came wrapped in my favorite color tissue paper.

Thanks Secret Pal 13

Sunday afternoon the doorbell ran but there was no person just a priority box on my door step. So did my mailman deliver on a Sunday or did someone get box and redeliver?

I'm so glad that I did get it. It was a very thoughtful box for me. A great skein of RED malebregio, green sock yarn of a brand new to me, Sundara Yarn very nice also.Now I am a cold process soap maker so a bar of heavy,beautifully beveled bar of patchouli soap just loaded with great oils is a very special treat for me!!!The box was rounded out by a generous bag of seeds, jelly beans with sayings, note cards and neat Daily Dose of fiber cards. Thanks for being such a great Secret Pal.