The Yarn Queen

October 2011 set in reverse & slidding

2011-10-28T22:09:00.000-06:00

It seems between Facebook, Ravelry, Pinterest, an active 2 year old and my family and church callings blog posts have suffered. So I may do some back blogging if my memory will play along. If you have some corrections please make your notes in comments.

New Baby on the Block

2011-10-28T21:54:00.001-06:00

Well Lulu loves babies, but Leo is almost too big to hold on her lap. He loves to grin and coo which makes Lulu beam. We are about to have lots of fun with a good long visit from Aunt Meg and JH and Leo.
We are playing catch up so this is back logging to January 12th of this year. Hope we will be consistent.

March/ written in Nov/ confusing to all

2011-03-30T00:10:00.000-06:00

Check out my Ravelry page "the yarn queen" for a completed view of the Wallaby and Cardigan.

These are some of my favorite people and it's hard to believe how much they have changed in the last 8 months. Passport photos so lovely........
She's just a toddler ........
It's a good thing we have a few photos to remind the brain what was going on 9 months ago otherwise we would be in lala land without a clue. I know it was a pivotal month for me I just can't seem to remember why. Possibly my mind is leaving to enjoy life somewhere else.
Oh yes know it's all coming back I went to the Carl Bloch exhibit in Provo for my 60th birthday. The weather was just right for March the exhibit was impressive.
Earlier in the month put in motion the process of renewing David's & my passport, we have kids living close to the Canadian border and if we decide to go we want to be prepared. I need something to make me crazier like dealing with government entities. Passport pictures are right up there with driver's license photos.
Lulu is modeling a poncho that Mary Hoy knit for her birthday, Mike was dating Trish at the time. It's really cute don't you agree.
And I've gotten a lot of knitting done.

February is

2011-02-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

Emmett

Trish Hoy & Lulu

Walter, Ava, Lulu


Gary Hoy & David- background Phoebe & Jake

Porter, Uncle Burt, Emmett

Uncle Jake

Elmo cake 1

Elmo cake 1 and 2. Lulu needs a cake for her very own and a cake to share. Aunt Phoebe can't believe we are having an Elmo party.

from left: Phoebe, Walter, Burt, Mike

Birthday month for Olivia and Phoebe, hurray for lots of cake and parties. Lulu telling Aunt Phoebe "ELMO" is the only acceptable character for a birthday hero this year.

What's Up People?

2011-02-11T22:52:00.003-07:00

I've enjoyed reading all the blogs I follow but I have not been moved to blog myself now I'm feeling a little guilty for my lack of blogging motivation. I've been knitting like crazy so to speak, lots of hats and a really cool scarf. Guess you would like to see proof well that I will work on. It's just 2 part or maybe 3 part process. Project Finished, Take acceptable photos :-), download to computer, then think of something clever to write for the blog and attach photos to post. That sounds like a whole days work, now I can procrastinate a little longer. See you latter.

First Snow for the babies

2010-11-15T00:03:00.003-07:00

These two just couldn't wait to get outside and touch the white stuff that was covering their playground. They were surprised that it was cold to the touch. They both cried because their hands got cold but they wouldn't leave mittens on for more than a minute.

Life in the Fast Lane...?

2010-11-08T00:22:00.004-07:00

Well I have totally forgotten to spend time blogging you would think that maybe I was sick (yes) yearly bronchitis, crumbling back (yes) and a 20 month old + cousins running around. We have to enjoy the nice weather when it's around I know I've mentioned that before. Well with all of that said today the lights went out, oh not really day light savings time ended and it was dark at 5pm. Yuck! I am sitting in my chair listening to ET and W's monitor while their parents put together the house that is under construction. While waiting I realized I hadn't read or written in blog land. The house is getting very close to complete, but anyone who has built a house knows that just when you think it's done there are 20 more things that need to be done. It's called finishing touches and fine tuning. Switch plates, closet and bathroom organizers and rods, clocks, rugs, unpacking, and editing.
We had a wonderful October around here and when we took the kids to the pumpkin walk. Short sleeves and fall smells, delightful. Here are my little goblins.
I'm really losing it got this post finished and forgot to post it.

Dead Simple Lace Socks

2010-09-27T00:04:00.004-06:00

Taking advantage of the gorgeous days, after an (my humble opinion)exceptionally lousy spring and summer of wind and wind bursts and more wind then lovely rain we are having above normal temps for the next week. I know we will pay for this but I'm going to enjoy it. Anyway I needed the rest after my delightful vacation to Portland, Friday Harbor and Seattle, I am getting old you know and it takes longer recovery time for anything that goes on. I did have a good excuse this time though my back seems to be slipping out of place. That will be another story. But back to the gorgeous days that need to be enjoyed the Princess and I knit to our hearts content and the 3 small rug rats were very cooperative with long naps and very few squabbles. Husbands were easy to please for dinners and drinks were readily available as well as snacks. Perfect. And to add to this I finished Dead Simple Lace Socks, and the Princess has knit almost a complete sweater for W. Life is good, now to tackle next week.

Have some wind, I've got plenty.

2010-08-29T23:53:00.005-06:00

This summer has had a plague too much wind accompanied with loverly micro bursts that blast all the furniture and toys off into kingdom come. Anyway that's my take on it and I also think it has rained too much like the whole month of May & June, I'm sure the weather monitor doesn't agree with me or the PSW (you know who you are) but this is Utah, May, June, July, August are supposed to be times that you can spend outside doing outside stuff. After yesterday I am penning a petition to send the wind back to where ever it came from and they can keep it until it has been tamed again and can be used efficiently for inversions in the winter. Thank you that is all I have to say today. Except if the wind is blowing tomorrow I am going to scream and it's a good thing its supposed to warm up by the end of this week. I do not have any cute pictures of the wind to post.

Socks of a Solid Rock

2010-07-24T00:20:00.007-06:00

I have finished my socks. That presents a problem, I'm happy to have finished and photoed the said socks, pleased with the changes I had to make so that they would fit (Nancy Bush patterns run small for me) pleased with a short row heel that makes me smile every time I knit it. What is the problem then. It is deciding what pattern and yarn to choose for the next project and finding gauge doesn't knit up and that requires thinking and calculators and brains that are on full function ( which I haven't seen in some time that's a full functioning brain) So here I am stumped and stymied due to decision making. #@@## Carrying on ( time passing)... I have now made a decision and can start moving forward. Giant Sigh of RELIEF........MMMM Hand dyed sock yarn (special memory because the Duchess and I did the dyeing)that I've really been looking forward to knitting up, stumbled a little on the pattern but decided on a Wendy Johnson toe up easy lace pattern. Using the provisional cast on for my new technique. It is looking very good I am now smiling.

Amazing!

2010-07-04T23:29:00.004-06:00

It all started out with a little dutch oven cooking. The King decided he (as he put it needed to jump start the pot)which caused a lot of the veggies to embed themselves blacked to the bottom of the pot. YUCK! Made for great flavor though. Well obviously this was a mega soak job before any cleaning could take place. After soaking all night and doing some scrapping I came home from church and beheld this remarkable piece of art floating in the pot. You are looking down at my dutch oven filled with water burned food detergent and grease. Isn't that cool. It must be my tree of life I couldn't have drawn or painted anything more delicate. Later the tree kind of bloomed but other photos didn't show well.
We also celebrated Grandpa Bills birthday that called for cake and steak a marvelous go together.The King and the CPK.

The CPK and Heart warmer.
Sorry Grandma. Happy 4th of July.

25th Arts Festival

2010-06-28T22:10:00.004-06:00

It's been 20 years since I directed the Arts Festival or close to it and this was the 25th year. I came on board the first year working with Celia Lauve, the Arts Festival was a dream of hers that continues to benefit Tooele. This year David and two of his friends played at the festival and we had a lot of fun listening, and being a part of this great traditional activity in Tooele. s Lulu loves her Grandpa's music.No you are not seeing double we glitched and Mary Ann doesn't know how to fix what's going on so grin and bear it. Family and friends attended the event, it's great to have their support.Hutch, Jimmy John, and David

Knit Who!

2010-06-28T00:20:00.003-06:00

I will now officially just knit socks ( well maybe) but patterns for knitting are as unstable as sizes /brands of kids clothes. You know what I mean a 12 month in Old Navy is about a third of size of a Carter 12 month. If you know the code you score unfortunately in knitting even with gauge and a ruler it's still a guessing game. Well at least if the sweater is too big the small human can grow into it, hopefully. As you may have guessed my grandkid knitting has not been as successful as planned. The hat fits me and the body is going to be short by the time the sleeves fit. So carry on with my socks, they are looking rather nice and they fit.And there is nothing like a day of sun and sand and good friends.

What Summer?

2010-06-10T00:33:00.005-06:00

I can hear the rain outside as I begin this post, we will have enough water to make it through the summer. Unfortunately I don't think we are going to get a real spring but I can always hope for those beautiful mornings that are still cool enough to sit out on the deck for my vitamin D intake without melting. MY LAST post was the only dry and warm week-end we have had sense Sept I believe the weather man said. Good Grief no wonder we all look peaked around here. Well carry on. I will fill in the blanks with photos. While Megan, JH and LJ visited we walked or limped ( if your are the again broken Yarn Queen ) in the Susan G Koman breast cancer walk for several groups. I must love Megan I got up at 6:00 am to do this with 1 infant, 1 toddler, 1 crazy 2 year old. ??????? I don't know what has come over me.JH refusing to walk.Lulu wondering what we are doing up so early.As we moved along into the coldest and wettest May on record wettest in 57 years and the coldest in 10 years. Next we celebrated Memorial Day with my brother and part of his family a very delightful time.Carma, Lily, Cyndell, Lindsay and the twins. Brother Mike
Roscoe and one of the twins. Mom David, Me, Lulu and Lily.

Wow!

2010-04-26T16:44:00.002-06:00

We had a plan it was dependent on the weather and it was a beautiful week-end and we had a super fragalistic week-end and a new super duper play center for the grandkids. We must love those little bounders. We asked the Father's to be the builders with the Grandfather's being the backup, Jake took the lead Saturday morning with about 5 little people hopping up and down saying things like "When can we go down the slide?" " Will it be done before lunch?" "Can we help?" There are more screws, bolts, lags, and washers included than Home Depot has inventoried and the instruction booklet reads like a who's who of A meeting B joining with C to combine and come with G.A foreman and a supervisor, lots of pieces and plenty of opinions.Throw in some excited grandkids.and we got to this almost finished product.And in one week-end we have a finished house. Hurray!

2010-04-16T20:19:00.001-06:00

Little Bunny FooFoo

2010-04-16T18:49:00.002-06:00

The Princess and I ventured to the Twilight Zone for Easter Photos, where we tried to patiently wait for the Easter Bunny to get her camera in working order.

W and ET thought the bunny was W (great) ET (ok if brother was there and he couldn't see Mom).
The CPK on the other hand really liked looking at the Bunny but when we sat her on Bunny's lap she took one look and screamed.

She did like the Bunny Ears that she got for being so brave and turned into Little Bunny FooFoo for two days.

Just in Case

2010-04-16T17:32:00.005-06:00

Well I am years behind in projects of all venues, but I was pretty pleased with the finishing of the Granddaughters Easter outfits. It was one of those ideas for Christmas that moved to their birthdays giving me a couple extra months. Brilliant Idea someone passed along to me. So here they are in all their glory. Taken on the front door step because there was 2 feet of snow on the grass. The vests I'm knitting for W and ET are coming along although they are causing some consternation. (I really wanted to use that word) Knit stripes a million ends to weave in, Yuck and then forgetting to check the pattern is also a great way to rip out but I think we are now on target for sooner or later to be done. No deadline this week.

When you get nervous just cast on.

2010-01-24T00:57:00.005-07:00

Well I went with the idea that the knitting projects where not going to be for Christmas but instead for Easter. (maybe) Fourth of July would work also. My ideas and projects way out do my knitterly speed. I'm thinking of hiring, apply on the comment page if you have fast needles. I knit up a storm until the project requires study, reading the pattern, standing on your head or seaming together. Side note the Duchess did help me by seaming one little item together that I had undone twice. "No Duchess" The sweater is not done yet, but I look at it everyday to make myself feel guilty. I hope that counts. I counted my WIP and decided I better not share that information at the present time. I also realized I don't have photos of knitting to share, so the idea of this post was just to let you know I'm still alive and kicking all the others around me. Loving being a Grandma.

Busy Busy Hands

2009-11-18T18:05:00.007-07:00

Well I may not have been blogging much but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. Like the day I relayed ET and Lulu to get H1N1 shots, or when all three little people need attention and the Princess and I only add up to two. I have made some progress in the sewing dept. with only minor melt downs.A shabby sheik for the CPK, mitered 30 min blanket ( I don't know who's 30 min they timed for sure it wasn't mine) and another receiving blanket.another CPK wrapper. And then I decided that for everyone that I made for my Grands I would also donate a blanket to the Hospital or Relief Center, so the sewing machine has been going strong. The knitting needles also have been busy. The CPK is turning into a real character and she requested a post to her blog,/r206/scrapart101/09%20November/?action=view&current=IMGP3820.jpg" target="_blank"> so I'm working on that check it out.Growing in the Garden The cousins playing pretty darn cute, just my humble opinion.

What Energy?

2009-11-08T22:19:00.004-07:00

My energy has obviously gone somewhere possibly under a rock out in the yard. I just can't find it or I haven't been looking very hard. Maybe it's not my energy but just the fact that there is so much going on around this household that I don't have time to sit down and blog, so I'm giving you excuses why I haven't posted in two months. I can't really believe it's been that long but then again I don't really remember what I was doing the first of last week, so I can't be held responsible for time lapses in blogging. Okay I feel better about not committing my life to the blog.
I've been lazy, broken hearted, productive, happy, and having fun not to mention being driven crazy by an assorted number of family members during different occasions and what more could you want from life. You will notice that bored did not make the list of things that we get around this place.
I will post some project photos as soon as I'm not mad about corrupting my SD card and losing photos. (stupid contraptions) Oh yea I have to take photos again, some that cannot be replaced. (sobbing out load) but we will redo the projects that are now finished objects or somewhat finished.
This is play group before H1N1 grounded us.

Lulu giving her doll a kiss
This is the gang from OFFF

Potty Training in the fish bowl

2009-08-30T23:23:00.009-06:00

The Princess decided she would try her hand at potty training with W. They took a special trip to Wally World (a miracle in itself for the Princess, she doesn't shop there if possible) and picked out some very special big boy underoos. The Princess proudly brings them in and has W show me all the cool themes, and Grandma says, "What are you going to do with those W wear them on your head." W promptly trys them on and likes the fit. I'm on the Princesses list, but I'm still laughing and causing W to show off to all of us. Mom finally gets W to try them on and show off his cute buns in big boys. All in a days work in the fish bowl, i think we are getting our fair share of entertainment in the compound. There you have a cute 2 year old weather he's wearing his unders on his head or butt.

Gotta Read

2009-08-29T22:07:00.009-06:00

My friend Miriam had funny story that she posted on her blog so if you haven't laughed today check this out. Nick's Chick And if you don't get a kick out of that story you might be interested in this cool bike. If I was a real blogger I would have put a photo of the bike on my blog, but for some reason I missed that lesson, so just do it, click on the link and you'll be making your wish list for Christmas. Tell me if I'm wrong.
If you are reading this right now and the links aren't showing up come back tomorrow when I figure out what in the (you know) is wrong.

CPK celebrates

2009-08-26T22:48:00.005-06:00

The CPK celebrated her 1/2 birthday on Tues and was very pleased with herself. She spent some time sitting and reading a book her cousin gave her or maybe she was eating it. She enjoyed going for a walk with Grandma and rough housing with Dad. Then Dad read her a bedtime story.

The Mind is an Interesting Machine

2009-07-12T22:54:00.006-06:00

Good Grief it's almost been a month since I posted, but then I looked and nobody else has done much blogging around the block either. It's not that I haven't been busy or had anything going on it's just that it takes effort to load up the photos. I don't seem to have any effort left in me. NO I AM NOT GETTING OLD! But when your class reunion becomes older than you are I guess it should be a sign that you need more recovery time for summer activites. I'll be sure to make a note of that to myself. Self you really don't need to start another activity, but it would be nice if you would finish up a few of the projects you have started. Okay, now that's taken care of this is part of what is going on.
We have had visitors and we only got photo opps of some of them. Some times the photographer was busy cooking and forgot to get the camera out. Those Moms and Grandmas out there who are responsible for the camera operations will know what I mean. We should look into inventing a photo chip that we could have implanted. Lets see in our forehead, no that may give a weird angle, probably the index finger would be the best. Oh yes photos...
Cousins laughing at the adults that are pulling funny faces at them. The almost 2 year olds.Cooling Off...Humoring the Mom's.Visiters from CA. Sorry your eyes are closed Bro computer and sister melt down made it impossible to download any more photos. And Nieces that wont stay rotated have to show up sideways, that goes for nephews too.Then we have the afternoon naps by GGma and ET, they were tending each other.
And my latest project weaving, love it, hate it, think I may have too much going on to be taxing the brain.
Here is the CPK again just before she left for two weeks.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T23:44:00.003-06:00

Happy Father's Day to all you special men out there in the world. And W thinks this was a very special Father's Day for all of us.

and he is right 99.9% of the time.
W and CPK are enjoying sports highlights tonight.

Seattle and it's hot.

2009-06-09T23:40:00.007-06:00

I really can't believe that it's hot in Seattle and Utah is having the wettest June on record. I had to go buy shorts and wondered if that would be possible up here in Seattle, Megan gave me a large frown on that note. Well anyway I'm here and it is hot and Megan will graduate from Seattle U Albers School of Business and the Jester will be bringing home a sweet Little Cabbage Patch Baby on monday.
Before that we have had baptisms and blessings and the usual hectic events of life while I have continued to recover from my toe surgery. I'm sure that my brain has been in a funk from surgery recovery anyway that's my story and I'm sticking with it to explain the reason I haven't kept up with posts. The Princess has posted so check out her blog on our momentus events the Grandma is slacking.
This is Porter and his parents on the day of his baptism.
The next day we blessed ET and although we tried to have a photo opp, as you will see it just was not to be. The Princess was frustrated W was having his way and the rest of us tried to keep a straight face. Little Sis had her nose bent out of joint and the lighting was just perfect for for photos, to bad the participants were not being perfect.

Then since we are in Seattle we thought we should have a few photos to put in our scrapbook. We have Cabbage Patch baby, JH, The Jester and the Cabbage Patch.

Grandaughter

2009-05-28T23:45:00.003-06:00

It has been exciting around our house these days Mike was able to see his little girl for the first time since she was born. He flew to Seattle and was granted a 2 hour visit.
And it was an event to remember for the whole family

My Mind

2009-05-26T22:13:00.004-06:00

I don't know where my mind has gone or what it is doing all I know is that it is not residing with me. So this post will be picks and a few captions to help me along the way. This is my Mother's Day Gift.This is ET in the sweet pea outfit Great Grandma Fay knit for him. This is where you can go ohhhh, he is so adorable. Yes, Thank you we think so too.Et taking it easy as usual.
Our new patio furniture provided hours of fun for the grandkids. The boys would throw all the pillows out laugh and close the lid and continue to laugh and laugh so we all laughed with them.
These are two of my favorite guys.
This is the band with the newest member in the left corner. Check it out dog!

I should be blogging, but...

2009-05-21T23:36:00.003-06:00

Well here we are a month since my last post and I still have nothing. I will try to fix that soon. It is amazing how a little toe surgery can wipe you out along with visits from family, being called to Relief Society President and so on. What's your excuse? Anyway I have some great pictures of the babies so I hope to brain storm and have a post in the next few weeks or maybe days. Check back and smile because it's a beautiful day somewhere.

Baby I'm Back

2009-04-16T00:52:00.008-06:00

More big news on our home front, David and I will now have a new experience sitting together during sacrament meetings (instead of me pulling faces from the audience to the stand). Yes, that is correct The King has been released from the Bishopric and what a terrific run they have had taking care of the 4th Ward. We both have been blessed to serve with Bishop Webb and Kevin Shields along Don Vorwaller, Dennis Peterson (congrats new 2nd chair) Tim Booth and all the ward. Nick & Miriam
He has lungs.
He likes a binky and this is at 5 days old.

To give you an idea of size The Princesses hand almost covers him up and the look at those teeny tiny hands.
Easter weekend found us in St George being part of a baptism for my niece. Ms Claire Jager was baptised and confirmed on April 11th by her father my goofy but loveable brother. Plus more family members brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas,and cousins attended. Woops, I didn't get picture of the special 8 year old. It was a wonderful day and week end that included good food to boot.
Miss Lauren. We also have Miss Carly and Master Cole.

Al, Ms. Whitney, and Wendi Aunt Joy and Grandma Fay. Al & Wendi The Girls.
Dash back home to snow, and surgery.
This was my view Wednesday afternoon looking out over my surgically altered toe
and watching over ET while he grows.
I can picture this showing the strapping missionary the pictures of himself in the doll cradle at a whooping 9 days of age. That's a Grdma for you. ;-)

And it must be getting close to spring because look what W uncovered the famous Garden Gnome. I wonder where he will travel this year.

Fast and Furious Life

2009-04-15T22:16:00.008-06:00

It's either feast or famine around here. I'll try to put things in order and do a catch-up couple of blogs. Due to the numerous number of doctor visits with the Princess and W taking naps in the car I got lots of knitting done. Look out Duchess this sock knitter is doing up a storm.
There you go short sport socks for my baby with big feet, so he doesn't feel left out of the knitting madness. Crazy stripped socks with fiber I spun, Navajo plied and then knit toe up two at a time. Voila! Then more socks from my dyed sock blank. Knit on, I now have only one pair of socks on the needles, I think. I do have another Wonderful Wallaby cast on for JH. The Duchess and I dyed Fisherman's Wool to produce this fun yarn.

ET has arrived

2009-04-07T16:31:00.004-06:00

We have a new baby and although ET is too small to phone home he is precious.
It started just after Conference the hospital calls and tells the Princess and PBTB to report to the hospital at 5:00 am Monday morning. (Who can think let alone work at that time of the morning is my thought.) The anticipation is definitely heightened and it was a good thing we were celebrating Jake's birthday so we were busy not worrying.
Then the plan is constructed, W will go to bed as usual when the kids leave they will bring a monitor over so I can listen for him, (they are living next door) and then PBTB will keep us updated.
They left at 4:30 am and at 6:30 am W realized no body was home and called for Mom so I headed over there. He was in their bed and needed to have his feet placed solidly on a warm body. While Mom was getting poked and probed we slept for a few more hours. Then is was time to play look for Mom and Dad play outside eat and wait.
ET didn't keep us waiting too long though he arrived on April 6th 2009 at 1:38 pm. Quite the grand day to arrive if you are a Latter-day Saint. He weighed in at 4lbs 13 oz and is 19 inches long. He is tiny, but perfect and all looks well for him and Mom.
Thank goodness for modern medicine that was able to catch a problem with his placenta and umbilical cord causing him to not get enough food, so out they shipped him where he can get the nourishment he will need for a growing boy. He does have a big brother that will require alot of energy to keep up with.
I couldn't unwrap him yesterday for body heat concerns so more pictures will follow here or on Fit for Royalty Blog Grandma and W checking out the sites.Grandpa holding ET.Woops got a repeat. W went home and practiced holding a baby without poking eyes and when he went to visit today he had it down MaMa Baby MaMa Baby that's okay but Grandpa and Dad can't hold ET yet, W says they are off limits still.

Grandaughter

2009-04-05T00:19:00.003-06:00

We have more than 1 Princess in this family they just vary in age and attitude. About a week ago this Little Princess came over to spend a little time with Grandma & Grandpa. First things first we have to decide on a menu item that suits Princesses, then all the baby dolls need to get out of the cradle and spread out on the floor. Grandma fixes dinner and the Princess selects the appropriate stool, place setting, napkins, aprons and guests. She has just recently decided that W can use the highchair, it's almost to much to stand when he rearranges the babies on the floor. Possibly he can be sent home.
The best is to have book readings, Grandpa giving horsey and elevator rides. This little Princess announces she is going to live with Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandma only has one complaint when I try to snap pictures I get goofy faces and hair flipped over the eyes. Silly Silly Princesses.

Spring Is Trying to Sprung

2009-03-24T00:51:00.000-06:00

Well we better be outside for the next few days because it's snowing late Sunday or early Monday. To accommodate the the spring weather I sent Grandpa and W on poop patrol, we don't like surprises showing up on little knees or the bottom of feet shod or bare. Now when you are on poop patrol your criss cross the yard and W was an expert in no time following Grandpa pausing at the right time to scoop the poop and then moving on.

They also composed a few tunes before they began work.

The Princess and I finished our wedding shower gifts and were able to photo shoot outside as well although it was tough holding the camera steady and concentrating on the scarfs while watching the adventures of the poop patrollers.

Next the Princess got bangs and I think she is just darling with them. Very stunning haircut Princess good work.
We caught bubbles too,just to stay out in the sun.
This W practicing jumps at least he is close to the ground.

Then to close off the day I went to a baby shower and the neighbors went to the Childrens Museum can hardly wait for W to give me the low down of what he liked.
Spring is here today but will be gone tomorrow. And indeed it was Saturday the wind blew so hard it made for a miserable time to be outside and Sunday in was cold and Monday it snowed all day. The good news it doesn't stick to much this time of the year.

W in the backyard

2009-03-21T22:46:00.001-06:00

After W got over being mad at me for being gone so long we were back to being best friends again. With the snow gone and the back yard connected to W and my house we are going gang busters all the time. W loves to pretend to throw the frisbee for the dogs, they follow him around and he swings the frisbee at them and then tells them no.

JH and Seattle

2009-03-16T22:25:00.006-06:00

JH and I spent a bunch of quality time together and since I'm the Grandma we did all sorts of crazy things. JH sort of liked the sun but it was rather bright on our walks, but inside when it was shining in the window it was fun to play with. Anyway check out this darling little human.

Possible Update Siteing....

2009-03-16T00:26:00.007-06:00

Well I had a little barb for all of you, but I deleted it because of technical difficulties and now I can't get the wording right so I said my favorite word and am continuing on. But really where are all you bloggers it's not even summer yet and daylight savings time just started last week. Bolt is the only update around, I'm going to have to go back to watching TV for my entertainment or reading books. Oh yea I'm supposed to be reading books anyway.
Of course I have finished another pair of brilliant socks Uptown Boot Sock by Jennifer L Appleby, and that goes for the color too. Put on your sunglasses before viewing. This is the sock blank I dyed and then unraveled as I knit the socks.

During the sock knitting I worked up a Wallaby for W and it was very fun to knit. Check it out. Just a note on socks, if you enjoy knitting two at the same time or want to try check out Silver's Sock Class And she does a short row heel that is a breeze on the magic loop method.
I frogged a sweater I had been knitting for years and have the back knit on my jacket.
The Princess and I are at this time racing to see who can finish a Dayflower scarf for shower gift this Saturday. I think she will win, I just frogged mine about half way.
Well of course it's late so I'm going to bed will try to get some great baby boy pictures posted right away.

Wonderful Wallaby

2009-02-14T17:17:00.004-07:00

Anyone care to guess what a Wallaby sweater could be? You are all just brilliant.
Well while in Seattle you know I have been getting a little knitting done while baby is napping and after he goes to bed. Yes a hoodie or kangaroo sweater. Then I delivered the Duchess's BD gift from the Princess. We just needed to block this beautiful scarf that the Princess knit. Dayflower Lace Scarf knit from Clip.

Little Sir doesn't know what to do with his new roommate. But he thinks it's pretty funny that Grandma sleeps in his room, very convenient for binky retrieval in the middle of the night, but annoying when he wants his Mom and Grandma shows up.
This is my littlest buddy. He loves the cell phone that plays Eric Clapton. Go figure.

And now this is Mom on her BD and her sweet baby.

Happy Birthday Duchess!

2009-02-08T23:35:00.003-07:00

What a great way to spend your birthday.....with your Mom and DH and baby. We will post pictures as soon as mid-terms are over or sometime in the near future which ever comes first.
Little Sir loves me and he likes to be rocked. Bonus!
My knitting is coming along, and I'm switching between 5 projects to satisfy my itch for starting tooo many projects at once.
Attended a deaf branch for block meetins and it's a little strange sitting with your eyes open during the prayer so you can see what is being said. :-). LOL A little play on words there.
We are celebrating tommorrow with breakfast, and cake and anything else that comes our way with a good dose of study time for the Duchess.
Well talk to you all again, with photos to boot.

Random Sampler

2009-02-01T20:03:00.010-07:00

Well it's Super Bowl Sunday and since I'm such a big football fan I thought I might just as well blog, but this is the most exciting Super Bowl Game that has happened in the last 100 years. Honest I'm 100 and watched almost that many Super Bowl Games. Unbelievable there is only 22 seconds left and still not a clear winner. So I will not hold my breath see who is going to win, but click away in front of the fire (my feet got cold at church and have not warmed up yet)about the last month of activities.
I went to to movies with my friend Marsha and yes we went to Twilight this was a picture of the moon that night.
Then I have enjoyed two Amaryllis bloomings.This is the Flamingo and the other is Scarlet. They are very interesting to watch and beautiful to enjoy. Then I am having conflict over my knitting because I want to cast on for a least 2 more projects and I already have 3 or 4 on the needles. I could hit myself in the head when I get like this. Just like a little kid jumping up and down yelling what next what next (Good Grief Child is what I would have told my children keep you pants on.)so I will try to settle down carry on. These are the socks to be of the blanks we dyed in the previous post.
This is the beginning of the Vintage Coat I'm knitting, it has lots of stocking stitch which gets very boring.

One of the reasons I have ants in my pants. Boring knitting that may go on forever.
But I really want to start knitting another pair of socks and a Wallaby for the little grand boys and a delicious scarf and a sweater and and and...you get the idea. But it is time to visit Marsha who is home from having hip surgery and get the house in order so that I can leave the boys in charge while I'm off visiting JH. This was the sky the night I got home from a photography class. Is it Venus or Jupiter I don't know, but it's cool anyway. It was really cooler in person but it was going down to fast to change lenses and grab a tripod.

On Friday W came to visit in his Chunky Monkey Sweater and he modeled willingly.

Then these were my visitors Saturday what great company. This is W showing His cousin
Jesus

Well What do you know.

2009-01-16T21:01:00.007-07:00

When I'm not ranting about finance software, life is great the sun is shining and I am really happy with the projects I have been able to finish. That's right, now I'm going to show them off. Well maybe if I can get the photos to download. Socks with yarn from OFFF,Knitted Wit merino, knit both at the same time.

Wristlets to keep my poor little wrists warm while I knit or work on financial stuff. This pattern is an origianal from Ruth Sorensen/ Village Yarn and Tea Shop knit with my handspun and Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn.
Then the item that I'm probably the most pleased with is the Rowan Martha sweater in the works for at least a year. Mike took the picture but I looked better in the sweater than he did so he did the photography.
And just for fun over the Christmas Holiday the Princess , Duchess, and I dyed sock blanks. They are knitted blanks of yarn that are knit on a machine and then you dye them and unravel and knit them up again. Crazy sounding huh, but we were all wildly excited about them. This is the Duchess's work, someone else took photos of the other works.
ket.com/albums/r206/scrapart101/08%20DEC/?action=view&current=IMGP2238-1.jpg" target="_blank">First soak the blanks in water pin them down on a board.Then let your creative juices fly.

Not to be out done my Mom knit this hat for W and one for Little Sir also, pretty impressive.

My other finished projects were pajamas and nightgowns for the grandbabies, but W was the only one I captured. So on to the next item of business.

Love Hate Relationship.

2009-01-14T00:16:00.002-07:00

Okay at least I recognize after 20 years why January doesn't make me happy like I think it should. I mean January is supposed to be a beginning, but no here I am filing paper work. That would be changing all the files to 2009 and keeping track of 2008 for taxes and so you can't just pay your bills and file them or they would be in the wrong year. And then I had a brilliant idea (not) to change from Quicken to Quick Books. No I don't know why I did, it was an undocumented thought that corrupted and fell out the other side of the brain. Did I mention I hate doing all this bill paying, its much funner (is that a word) to ignore them like I do in December. Oh and that may be another reason why I hate January, because there are twice as many bills. Anyway the goood stuff about January is that spring is closer and the days are longer and I am soooooo behind on blogging so just shoot me and that will be the end of it. HEHEHEHEHEHeeeeee Okay now I will go wonder off and behave.

In Memory

2008-12-23T21:00:00.004-07:00

Memories help us continue in difficult times. These our my thoughts of Al Christoffersen who died on December 1 in a traffic accident.
A Memory and the knowledge that someday great memories will overpower the loss that is so close to the surface at this time. I recently lost a good friend who was close to my heart, Al Christoffersen could have been my brother. We traded stories of what our kids were doing, the ups and downs of raising boys and how unpredictable girls are. Christmas cards gave me an opportunity to put faces to his family because I have never met them. Al was able to meet almost my whole family at our drug store. He tragicly left us on a Monday morning on his route to deliver good cheer. Al Christoffersen will be missed.

Sometimes our world rocks and drops out from under our feet and then it’s time to take hold of our memories, so that we can find closure and comfort in a time of loss. I remember having another UPS driver before Al, but that’s all. When I went back to work at our store (Dave’s Drugs) I was in charge of shipping along with everything not Rx related and therefore Al and I became friends. We discussed family and work twice a day because he delivered and picked-up our packages which took considerable time back during the time of journals and hand written entries. Al was also sympathetic with my frustration with computers and their lack of properly working when we began switching to the paperless world.
Al became part of the family, he got to know my family and although I never met his I felt like I knew them. And that is how the red wagon became a UPS helper. The drug store was selling wagons and we had a deluxe oversized, neumatic tire, special no tip turning radius wagon. One Christmas we acquired over 300 packages on a couple of days and to expediate the loading process the wagon was formally pulled into action, along with a couple of unoffical elfs. As the years went by a tire went flat and then another, but still Al used the wagon, it had become the UPS box mover. When I mentioned the tires should be fixed Al would grin and say don’t worry about it, the wagon works great and is better than anything else I use on this route, so the tires never got fixed and we always joked about flat tires on wagons. No one was going to buy the wagon with flat tires and it wouldn’t make a good get away vehicle, it was Al’s wagon until the day the store closed and then he used it for another year while picking up for our daughter’s gift store. It is now retired.
I feel like I have lost a brother, I know that my life was enriched by knowing Al Christoffersen and I will mourn his loss and never see a UPS truck without remembering this awesome man and allowing a tear to run down my cheek. Thanks Al for all that you were and helping us all have a better day.

Detour.........? Happy Thanksgiving by the way.

2008-12-03T23:35:00.006-07:00

I have had a slight detour in my life. It seems that a few family members aren't getting enough attention so they are becoming very creative by having Gall Bladder attacks when ever we vacation. The first in Portland during a recent visit was taken care after returning home. The second was quite round about since the person with the attack didn't think they had a gall bladder.
Well lets start at the beginning after a successful Turkey Day in St George and a little Friday shopping. On Saturday morning the King says your Mom called she's sick and wants you to come over (not she thinks she's dying or can't stand up from the pain sick, just sick) so I finish eating breakfast and proceed to get dressed and call her. A panic stricken women answers the phone and says "your Mom is on the floor in so much pain she can't move, when can you be here. I say 30 minutes and think is it food poisioning, no none of the rest of us are sick, okay this sounds like the Princesses attack.
Dash over to her place the pain has eased I'm trying to be rational and think. Call the doctor he suggests going to the ER. ( I think glad I called should have saved my dime) So off to the ER we go, where they ask her lots of questions and say we think you may be having a gall bladder attack. The Mother says I don't have one. Okay so we sit in a room and wait, they x-ray nothing, they decide to do a cat scan which only takes 3 hours + 1 hour or so for radiology and then another hour or so. In the meantime I'm trying to get her some more pain meds so she can at least lay semi flat. Next instead of medicine they say we are admitting you to the hospital. When we arrived on the other side of the hospital I said could you tell us why we are here and the nurse says don't you know. The answer would be nope. Well this lady has acute pancreatitis. That was my Saturday and Sunday in the hospital was similar except for the cute surgeon who finally came by and said I'm 99% sure you still have a gall bladder and we are going to find it. They did an ultr sound and a nuclear scan and sure enough there was a rotten gall bladder. So after my Mom asked the surgeon for a blessing and we discussed the idea that that might me a conflict of interest we scheduled surgery and I have been taking care of the patient until today when I caught a shuttle with 3 other passengers and headed to SLC where my youngest will pick me up and return me to my own life. The patient is fine and hopefully will feel lots better in the long run.

Projects

2008-11-15T23:02:00.007-07:00

Wow how do I get so crazy, no wonder I have to color my hair. Yes it's true I know you are all shocked but if you were paying attention and read getting to know your friends you would have caught that little fact anyway.

So on to a post, I have been taking pictures, will surprises never cease, yes well be patient here. After taking the photo class from Anna Jones you know we all wanted to be better photo taking people, well it probably is hopeless but on we go clicking away in our futile little ways. Ta Da here are a few of the famous W.

And a pair of colorwork wristlets. Pattern from Village Yarn & Tea.

And then because I have been clicking my needles like mad this is what has come from that. A pair of socks toe up pattern called Transition (ShiBui Knits)

and spinning up some sock yarn hopefully, need help from the Duchess and we now have a computer compatibility issue so the fiber is on hold.

And I also finished Sister Sue's Vintage Cardigan, and there you have it for this week.

Spinning Wheel Reborn

2008-11-09T00:03:00.004-07:00

It's a beauty and it now works. After almost a year of living at the Bickmore homestead this Ashford Traditional Spinning Wheel is now back in spinning order. Last year in the Seattle airport a woman said she had a spinning wheel she would like to sell because they were down sizing. (uh huh). The subject was brought up because I was carrying my Ashford Joy. Beware of strangers in airports that profess friendship. We met on a cold winter evening in a Smiths' parking lot and I acquired a poor abused mismatched parted out spinning wheel and I even paid for it. And so begins the journey of my Ashford.
It wouldn't spin in the parking lot and it wouldn't spin at home the reason being in was missing it's tension, a very important part of a wheel. So the Duchess procured the necessary parts including oil, tension spring, and hooks. The items were installed and again we tried to spin, I say we because the Duchess was visiting and is more savvy than I about wheels. Well the little Ashford would try with all it's heart but it's crank would crash into the frame and put an end to spinning, back to the store to order a new crank. Then the hub came apart and the idea was born that the wheel should be refinished if it was going to have the parts invested in it and one day I put my work cap on and stripped the finish off and sanded it down. The King then took over and stained, sanded, stained sanded, finished sanded, and sanded some more until it was the beautiful piece of work that you see now.

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T23:49:00.005-06:00

I suppose there will be some super posts coming up of all the great costumes that you came up with looking forward to seeing them. That was a mouth full. Now Little Sir, had his first haircut Might Be Baby Wright you can see it. The Princess and I took W to Gardner Village to see all the witches and go for a pony ride. (Let me in Mom I can do tame this horse by myself.) We were wishing that Little Sir and the Duchess were here with us to ride ponies and pet smelly goats.
20Spinning/IMGP1903.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">Found a stick.
When I dropped him off he magically turned into Popeye and he brought Olive and Blutto with him.
The only other home trick or treaters I had were Sister Sue and Porter. They were darling forgot to take their picture. Woops!
The King and I did participate in the trunk or treat ward activity. First time for me I didn't even know how it worked. It was a little bit like a drug buy in the parking lot. The lot is full of people all congregating around trunks when the candy and donuts ran out the parking lot cleared out in 30 seconds. Very Interesting. Hope everyone had a great day.

Twilight your signifcant other.

2008-10-26T22:01:00.002-06:00

Okay Twilight Junkies, now you know who you are find out what your husbands character is, or take the quiz for him. The King is Emmett. I took the quiz for him.

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Then check out the Twilighters anonymous.com

Twilight Just for Fun..

2008-10-24T21:57:00.001-06:00

What's your persona?
Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Pomegranate Oh My

2008-10-22T21:50:00.008-06:00

Look what Grandma Fay grew in her backyard.
They look wonderful and taste even better. Dixies own fruit.
And the Duchess will be proud of me, I have started reclamation on the Ashford spinning wheel. This is a long story about a poor mistreated spinning wheel, who will feel much better in about a week. BTW sanding, sanding. I forgot about the tedious part the sanding that is, but it will be worth it.

Photo Instruction.

2008-10-11T23:42:00.002-06:00

For those of you who haven't heard there is a great natural light photographer giving a class on the 25th of October. If you are interested check out her blog for details http://blog.indieannajones.com/

Overwhelmed!

2008-10-11T11:12:00.003-06:00

I have realized it has been almost a month since I last posted. What does that mean, mostly that I have been hanging on by a thread to sanity. And at times like this it is better to wait for perspective before giving the tell all Jerry Springer, Monteil Williams version of your life. I'm sure you all can relate to that you have so much going on and so many places to be, things to do and people to take care of that you become, (drum role here) YOU BECOME OVERWHELMED. OH NO. Take a deep breath and wait for it to snow then at least you can mark of the yard work for today. tehe. So, I have gotten the camera out taken pictures almost logged my purchases from Seattle/Portland excursion taken a deep breath and will be back with you soon.
Stay in touch and keep on truckin. That means leave a comment.

I Promised Someone

2008-09-14T12:44:00.004-06:00

Well I know I can keep promises but sometimes it just gets in the way of my knitting brain. I wish I could knit as fast as I can get excited about new projects to do. Any suggestions out there? I can really relate to the Arctic Circle ad, the one that goes I took out the garbage i deserve a ranch burger and fries. Well I almost finished a knitting project I should que two more at least because I'm making progress. Don't want to run out of things to knit in this life time.
Well anyway this is what I'm talking about. I almost (I think) have my Martha Sweater done. Blocking and adding the button band. If that doesn't kick my butt we will be in good shape. No pun intended maybe. More on the progress to follow.
I also finished the Pixie hat for the Duchess to ad to her etsy site. She will have to ad the link here.

I have now started on a cardigan for my only granddaughter and it will be an experiment because it's a baby cardigan that I am knitting in worsted weight so we are measuring and deducting and hoping it wont be toooo big.
I then have my socks that are coming along nicely, plus two other projects that need to be studied before going forward. But the cardigan will be good car knitting.
Then we get to the crazy people in my life. Grandpa and W. What a couple of goofballs they are. W is happy as a lark when Grandpa carries him around and he can chew on paper. What is his diet lacking that he needs to eat paper? Who knows! They insight lots of laughs between them. I stuck a fish sticker on W, he didn't even care, he is waiting for Gpa to turn him upside down.
I ahve also finished a project for the Duchess. A very cute church bag for quiet time surprises. The print is cowboys sorry about that it looked clearer on the camera.
Now the King and I are in St George for a few days just taking it easy as soon as we visit with my Mom and unload the furniture we brought down. The furniture that was damaged in the condo flood has now been repaired and returned to it's spot, well almost we still haven't unloaded it yet. Four years to get it back isn't bad right. Yes my eyebrows are raised in mock surprise.
My mom and my aunt took in lunch yesterday and visited Heindselmans Too. Jan is out for surgery so Kelly opened the shop for 4 hours so all of St George could get there yarn fix, next showing will be in two weeks, I hope all these knitters can survive down here.
We stayed up until 2 am last night video linking with my brother and the Duchess. After some frustration we did it and it was rather a blast, although a little scarry looking at yourself on the video at such close range. Yikes!
I have yarn for two more pair of socks for my stash. Made this purchase at the Blazing Needles Grand Opening so that's whats going on.
So anyway I promised to finish projects and I have.
Next stop will be Seattle. Hurray!

Guitar Man

2008-09-03T00:42:00.004-06:00

The Princess needed to send some things to Little Sir and the Duchess. To preserve the UPS store and Moms sanity W came to visit for awhile.

There isn't much that W doesn't want to tackle. He already took a turn on the drums, with the bass and cymbols being his favorite, but guitars are still on the top of Ws list.

Tagged!...

2008-09-01T12:50:00.006-06:00

Okay, lets see if I can do this.

The rules are take 10 pictures do it now, no cleaning up straightening or changing diapers. Go!

Okay I took the pictures and it took me a couple days to get them on the blog, but they where taken when i got tagged.

1.The kitchen sink:

2.Favorite room in the house:

I have a lot of favorite rooms in my house but I always love spending time in the kitchen even if I am cooking.

3.Self Portrait:

It was not a day for a close-up

4.Closet:

All of my closets annoy me, they are all toooo small.

5.Refrigerator:

This picture makes the frig look better than it really does strange...

6.Favorite shoes:

I have three pair. Something I picked up from my Mom, if you like it buy a gross.

7.Dream Vacation:

Haven't come up with one yet.

8.What are your kids doing?

Well I caught a couple of them behaving. Like Miriam said the others probably need a knuckle sandwich, but I couldn' t catch them to carry through.

9.Toilet:

It didn't say how close to the toilet you needed to be.

10.Laundry Room:

It's not laundry day. Sigh...

I tag, Sara, Lindsay, Amanda, Princess P, Duchess, Keiauni,Amber
Thanks to Miriam for this tag...

A Little Time

2008-08-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

Well the King and the Queen (that would be me) finally carved out a little time to travel. Our trailer has new batteries and has been checked and rechecked. When we went to Youth Conference they were kinda dead, or rather really dead. The King had tried to resurrect but they would have nothing to do with that. Anyway we are finally on the road ready to use our trailer. Taking a road trip down Highway 89. Taking about 100 miles a day and checking out the sites. Our first stop Costco of the Lehi exit. LOL really we needed cookies and gas.
We turned south from Spanish Fork Canyon onto 89 where the town of Thisle use to be. It was washed away by the great run off of 1984. We then passed the communities of Birdseye and Indianola.
Next stop would be Fairview where we met a cousin (Olea) of our good friend Marelle Sanderson. Also an extensive art collection of Utah artists. Have art work from 3 of these artists, gave myself brownie points.
First night stop Manti and then a session in the Manti temple the next day. Temple Hill RV is okay but in need of lots of TLC. The farmland and different sites were good. Lots of beautiful pioneer homes in Manti. David meet father-in-law to Russell Whitehouse in the temple.
We did find Palisade State Park just outside Manti. Looks like a return visit is in order for the park.
Then headed through the beautiful Sanpete Valley to Circleville, famous for housing Butch Cassidy as a child. His cabin is still standing. Midday meal was at Mom's Cafe in Salina. Recently purchased by a Tooele native Fred Pannunizio, he wasn't there, but we told the waitress, (they are still waitresses in rural Utah not servers)to tell him we stopped by. Salina still has a 5 & 10 store, we checked it out also. The owner's son was married to Fred Pannunzio's daughter we were told. Small Town Utah.
We encountered lots of ATV trails, (Paiute Trail), rapids to run, the Big Rock Candy Mountain. I remember climbing on Big Rock when I was a kid. It is still a cool mountain to see. http://www.candymountainresort.com/
Circlville RV is well kept and the owners are very friendly.
The Bishop has the biggest house in Circleville and it is right next to the church, his term must be about up the house is for sale. Just kidding! No really the house is for sale. I was curious about a house that size selling in Circleville and the RV proprieter said "You know Mormons have a lot of kids". I think she figures the next bishop will buy it. She may be right. Anyway there are several very large homes in Circleville, no zoning, lots of ATVs and a moderate amount of regular sized homes, horses and cows and abandoned buildings.
Onward the next day to Kanab passing through Panguitch, Orderville, and Mt. Carmel, with stops at Mt Carmel Junction for 9 holes of golf, and gift store browsing. The Thunderbirds famous pie was nothing to write home about. We did stop at the Moqui Cave, pay $5.00 to get admitted to the gift shop. Pretty clever concept. We met Josh Burgess a former BYU basketball player, whos grandfather in law cleaned up the cave and turned it into a saloon and dance hall back in 1951. Sharon Palmer (deceased) from Tooele was the owners sister, she lives in Kanab.
Kanab recently acquired a stop light. Remember when Tooele only had one?
Well in Kanab we stayed at the RV Corral, small, clean, and close in town. At the info center we met Jackie Hamblin Rife. That's right a great grandaughter to Jacob. In her younger years she had been a stunt double and an extra in many of the old westerns that were filmed in Kanab. Did you know that the Gunsmoke set is still there?
Well this is a post with no pictures but lots of Utah roots. We had a very good time and hope to get out more.
Meanwhile Gnome n Clayture and his cousin are not speaking to me. They got left sitting in a pan at home instead of inside the camera case. Sorry Gnome! But then I didn't take any pictures I hope they will forgive me.

Lazy Summer?

2008-08-21T15:22:00.004-06:00

I would like to believe that I have been lounging around enjoying the summer. The truth here is I'm not sure. I do believe I need a nap, that has to be the heat, no maybe I'm tooo old to be slinging shelves and grandbabies around all day long.

I have finished reading "THE HOST" by Stefanie Meyers. It was a great read and I did stay up late several nights reading, oh maybe that's why I need a nap. I'll just have to have another Diet Coke today to make up for the sleep deprevation.

I am almost finished with my Mrs. Hunters socks and still really like them.

I have been trying to do some spinning, but I am not in a calm relaxing mood these days so that hasn't been very productive.
Wow I must have taken a senior nap, I forgot to post this. I think I was waiting for a picture. The socks are finished. I think the shoe makers elfs came in the night and finished them. :-)
Amanda said it was time for an update and she was right it's been awhile, so it may go into overload in the next week so stay tuned.

FO and Why I love Ikea.

2008-08-02T21:40:00.005-06:00

Ah, said the knitting needles we have again accomplished an amazing project from string into a shawl to keep the shoulders from freezing up during the Sunday Meetings. The hands finally got the rhythm after the fourth time of rippppping or frogging out and then off we went merrily down the knitting row. Lets see I do believe this project has been on the needles for less than a year that must mean brownie points for us. Give us a gold star, for a couple of dull sticks we do alright, don't you agree people?
Blocked and ready to wear.

I pulled out a lantern that i got at Ikea and put it together easy as pie. And this is why I love Ikea, no Japanese translated into some sort of English instruction with too many words, and over done how toos'. So that you have turned yourself into a pretzel trying to contort into all the angles the so called instruction has described. Ikea has my kind of guy. Here he is simple, this is what you do. Large diagram count your parts this is what you should start with and go to number 2, another diagram, go to 3 and you all done when you get to 4. Easy as pie. My bookshelf was this easy too although it did take two of us to navigate the parts.
As you might have guessed I'm kind of a visual person. Well there you have the low down for today.
Do-ta -Do. Now lets see. Oh I can do this, I don't even need to call for help.

Mrs Hunter's Socks

2008-07-27T23:02:00.005-06:00

Actually the socks are for me, that's just he name of the pattern. After visiting the Black Sheep Wool Co http://blacksheepwoolco.com/ on several occasions and trying to buy the pattern again and again I realized I really liked the looks of this sock. Better get busy and knit it up.
Picked up the Sea Wool in Seattle and it's a beautiful colorway very subtle and soft. Here they are so far, two socks on one long needle and I am on the home stretch.

Did I mention that this is a great pattern, love the ribbing effect and the body pattern is an easy 4 row pattern. Looking forward to slipping this on the footsies.
Footnote: :-) I'm still working on the camp post, but we have been to Youth Conf, resting, recovering, having Grandma Fay visiting for a week and running errands with the Priness and W, resting some more and doing laundry, laundry, laundry, and ironing. Also finished a skirt for Rachel and braided Sister Sues hair for the Bee's game on the 24th. No wonder I need a nap. Back in a couple of days.

What do you Remember?

2008-07-14T00:27:00.002-06:00

This was on my friend Miriam's blog and so I thought it would be interesting to see what comes my way. I'm still composing camp thoughts. That is still to come.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you!reminisce away...

Camp of Hard Knocks Fun

2008-07-07T22:42:00.006-06:00

This is life but what happened to the quiet thought of a lazy summer. Last fall I was released as YW President of our ward. First thing the King said was well no camp next year, :-) Well after several months of taking care of business with family I get a call to visit the Stake Presidency hummmmmmmm. I accept a calling to the Stake YW. Woops just a minute, good grief that means back to camp. No rest for the crazy people apparently around here.
Well glad I went we had a wild and fantastic time with supper good food, great YW and leaders to hang out with and my new cot improved the sleeping experience. Amazing what a mere 12" does for old folks getting off the ground.
It takes a whole village to raise the camp. As stake leaders we go up on Monday the wards and girls come up on Tuesday. That's right folks not only did I get to go to camp again this year I tacked on an extra day.
Monday Night Family Home Evening Pres Droubay conducting. He starts out asking if there are any questions. One of the YW womens asks how old he is. He comes back with how old do you think I am, her response about 80. Pres Droubay's mouth drops he is taken completly off gaurd. The rest of us are laughing wildly, Pres is the same age as the the King. They are not 80 yet, they have about 21 years to go. This was the joke of camp at every opportunity. (like Pres I understand you celebrated a milestone birthday here at camp. Lot of laughing and that went on all week with every new person to arrive. Pres do you think you'll be able to take part in the water fight at your age.)
Tue night the girls did songs of the camp musical. Stake was Annie, others included Lion King, My Fair Lady, Seven Brides, Pirates of Penzance, Wizard of Oz, Grinch,
This is the start of trouble. Our stake has a scheduled water fight on Thur, that seems to expand itself into other parts of the week. Never turn your back on anyone if you want to stay dry.
Like this mild mannered Daddy Warbucks is very mischiveous. He only pretends innocence. This is Ms Hannigan and Daddy Warbucks after a surprise attack of water during the stake Annie song. I very quickly assured them I had nothing to do with this event, to protect my own dryness. Like I said it's dangerous out there. And this was only Tuesday.
We were privilaged to hear from our Stake Relief Society Pres, Chad Hymas a motivational speaker, with a tremendous message.
Our stake camp director who has been doing this for many years staged another powerful spritual encounter Wed evening and I was able to be a participant in the Christ Walk.
I enjoyed a good dose of wetness,annual water fight or shower before gettting in the car to return home, slipped and according to the Bishop bounced about 5 feet down the road on my belly, and I have the brusies to show how much fun I was having. Your thoughts are correct I am tooo old to be doing these things but i always remember after the fact. The water fight was not recorded due to camera safety. There is a blackmail video of me dancing though so I will be behaving for the rest of the year to keep it off Utube.

I Had a Blast

2008-06-30T17:00:00.001-06:00

I have returned to the world from a week at Girls Camp and will be posting I hope some great pictures soon. Need to download pictures and make a path through the house, and aclimate back into this busy retired life. First I'm sure I need a nap, just talking about what needs to be done has exhausted me.
And if you don't think W is going to give the Princess a run for her money think again. He loves to climb and he isn't walking yet. Grandpa held him up and he grabbed onto the rain gutter and I think he would have gone up on the roof to check things out. What are little boys made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails but mostly trouble.

The Socks from Hell

2008-06-30T00:13:00.000-06:00

Okay this is it the socks are either going to be done or out in the cruel world. Period.. The socks knit out of a beautiful Aracania multi
They were knit into socks finished and adorned my feet on several different occasions. I decided that I wasn't happy with the socks so they became a frogged item. Still wanting a toe up start and an interesting pattern I found Anastasia Socks by Pepperknit.blogspot.com Looking good and enjoying the pattern and the great instruction. Thanks Pepperknit. I do have a problem though you cannot knit this pattern two at a time using the magic loop method. Then I get two left hands and thumbs and seem to be unable to smoothly move one sock to another needle without almost turning it upside down and inside out..eventually both socks get on seperate needles and begin to move upward and onward again. Next error I'm talking and knitting and watching TV and next thing, as I look at my sock it looks a little narrow. Whoops I now only have 45 stitches instead of 60. That will not work, a small thing of decreasing and not increasing causes problems. Frog once more.... okay back up to ribbing and cast off. Using the cast off from Simple Socks by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, don't know if I didn't execute it correctly or if the Aracania doesn't have enough give but my foot would not fit into the finished sock. :-). Unpicking a woven cast off was really obnoxious. I just loved doing that. These socks as much as I love the yarn, pattern, instruction are beginning to get on my nerves. I am no longer knitting this socks together. We are again on #1 up to the finish cast on. Trying a sewn cast-off and it works. Hurray, foot goes in sock fits, one down one to go. I rib the other sock back up and measure ( I promise I did, although it was in the truck traveling) even counted the rows cast off. When I look at it again the second socks ribbing is shorter. But at this point I asked my feet if they cared and they said no worries, it's not enough to bother us. I now pronunce these socks done and in the drawer wearable. They are saved...

Grandma, and W take on the yard

2008-06-18T19:43:00.006-06:00

Hi everyone I'm "W " and I'm helping Grandma Ann weed while my Mom the Princess gets her hair cut before I pull all of it out. (tehe, I like grabbing long hair) I practiced on Grandma's dog today, I made him cry. Woops.
I gave Mom a kiss and told her I would be fine while she was gone, then I got down to business. What's this thing Grandma? Looks kind of weird and it doesn't feel that great to touch. What's next? Grandma is taking pictures instead of weeding or planting her flowers. NAUGHTY! Lets see here are some things to pull out, they are pretty and white and they smell pretty nice.
Grandma knows when a boy gets thirsty he needs a big drink, but she may have out done herself on this one. Good thing I know how to use a straw, it's a pretty clever thing to use. My Grandma taught me how, it almost caused her to burst her buttons.
Now my Great Grandma is here and my Mom is back and here comes my Uncle Mike.
He likes me!Now I have to have a serious talk with him and we go for a walk. He's kind of hard to move along but he's learning. Wow !Now here comes my Grandpa and Great Grandpa and they always do somersalts and walks with me so I gotta go. See ya later..
Oh, and my silly Grandma is going to girls camp next week so she wont be posting until she gets back.

And this is Girl's Camp

2008-06-13T21:57:00.005-06:00

Last Saturday was the stake clean-up for our camp area. I drove up by myself because the King was working and because it was close to Park City so I had errands to run after our work assignment. We got there at 8:30 am, you know that means I left home at 7:00 a. m. so you know that means I had to be up before that. That means I have to jump start the old heart because its normal start time is 9:00 (I am retired you know) Well on the drive up to camp I had to stop at a few puddles and check the depth to see if it was safe for me to drive through, had to throw in all 4 wheels to get through several but I made it, first person there in fact. Except for the way to happy site caretaker. He must be a morning person. He probably went home after we finished and went to bed so he could get an early start of the next day. I digress..... Anyway this is what I drove to, pretty amazing site.I did tell you camp is in 2 weeks didn't I....:-)It was a bit muddy, that's why the puddles where so big the mountains are defrosting, although this was fresh stuff.
After the real workers got there we started work. Boys and chain saws are always happy.These are the surpervisors of the group.There were trees planted and trees removed and within 2 hours the snow was gone and so where we.This is the first time in 3 years I have seen water in this stream. Do you think its been a little wet? But we will be back soon.

The Fiber Room

2008-06-09T00:11:00.007-06:00

It's been 7 years since the Duchess departed the Queens castle and moved in with the Duke. I have made a major decision she doesn't need to have her room anymore. The Princess departed 8 years ago and she took her bed and most of her things with her. I did have to deliver a few dozen or more boxes to her house, but that is possible because she lives pretty close. The Duchess on the other hand moved out of state so that I couldn't run over just for an afternoon. Well the stuff is going no not Washington or the landfill (???) but somewhere else in the castle. The Dungeon! Well some of the stuff anyway. I am still keeping the room for emergency visits and all rooms have need of bookshelves and dressers. You know for stash storage. I am making progress, but now am where i always get stymied. What should leave permanently, not just relocate to another part of the castle. The Dungeon! Don't ask my children they exagerate, yes I am an emotionally attached keeper of items.
Well most of the stuff that is leaving the new Fiber Room is in the hall, this is progress, I just don't know where to move it as of this writing.
But the room looks good. This says stand up for what you believe. Top picture is Christ with the no more lost sheep when you walk into the room. They Duchess had a poster of Christ there and when I took it done it just didn't seem right so I had to replace it.
And I will try to keep my cool while the youngest stays with us for a few weeks, hoping that it doesn't streach into months. And then I can reclaim his room. ahhh ....meanwhile the toybox can come back to the fiber room for awhile.augh!

Ikea

2008-06-01T22:40:00.006-06:00

I finally got the piece of furniture that i have been coveting for years. Why? I just think it's really cool and so functional. (It is from Ikea) And it was so cool how it went together. Simple. I did engage the King to help me out which made it go together faster and I love it. In total 2 hours unpacking moving into place walah! The boxes were the hardest and the drawers were great to put together. I liked them they work great. And what do you think I have almost recreated bedroom into the fiber room. Just so that you are warned the King has explained this wonderful piece of furniture will not last in a flood.... My reply since it is on the second floor I'm not too worried about a flood at this time. The other thing I like it is stable and I don't need a crane to move the thing. Which brings up the story of riding an oak entertainment center down the driveway of our previous house and that's probably why i have back problems. No, that story is for another day, but it should cause some smiles for those who were there. Any way that's why I like my shelf. I have been contemplating where I could put another one, they come it all different sizes and I think putting together another one would be just as intriging as the first. Check it out- Expedit in the storage section of Ikea.

This is the Duchess. Remind me to teach you how to steal pictures from websites to put on your blog. The reason that you don't have an "about me" section is because you have a "contributors" section instead. The reason you have a "contributors" section is because you want me to be able to contribute to your blog by adding cool things like the picture of the awesome piece of furniture that you just got, and which I might add looks great in my kitchen as well! BTW- what did you do with my desk and bookcase if this monster is now residing where they were? ~Love you, Mom!

A Day Out

2008-05-24T22:49:00.006-06:00

Thursday the Princess and I along with W went to the big city to run errands. I think we forgot to take a very important possession our heads. We started out late because the Princess couldn't find her wallet. Our first stop didn't have what we stopped for, second stop successful we turned over the preserved boobjuice. (not my words but LOL when i saw this on the Princess's blog). W is very discriminating he wont drink the afore mentioned juice, he prefers formula. Strange child.
Well next we head to IKEA because we have a coupon that is burning a hole in our pocket. Upon arriving we decide not to go through the showroom because I know exactly what I want to get and the Princess thinks she does also. Were we ever confused after an hour the Princess couldn't remember what she had originally come for but we had filled our cart during our wanderings discovered you have to go back to GO! to change floors and the item I wanted was way to big to fit in the car. The punch line. The coupon we were hot to use didn't become active until the next day. Woops! We said cancel the order we'll come back. Aren't you proud of us.
Then we traveled to Hobby Lobby because we had never been there. It was worth a stop but really to far away to put on the regular schedule of stops. By then we were all worn out for the day. The good news we made good on our Coupon the next day. We took the king and each of us made a purchase and we saved $60.00 on our haul. And it didn't take us nearly as long to collect our basket full of goodies on the second trip. We stopped at Hobby Lobby again to pick up fabric for the Duchess, you have been notified. Hit Costco, and had lunch at El Habenero, Magnas secret, and had the King back home by 4:30 so he could get the band, EXIT99 to the senior center to perform. Second time around day was much more successful. Hurray!! It's always good to take your list and brain shopping.
And here is some pretty cute kids.

Wonderful Surprises

2008-05-22T23:36:00.002-06:00

Will miracles never cease? I had a super surprise for Mother's Day, and I had no clue. The conspirators were very good. My surprise, a visit from Little Sir and the Duchess. Yes, I cried. Saturday night the 10th of May Princess P comes walking into our house carrying a baby. I knew immediately it wasn't W because he wont let you hold him sideways like a baby. So, I'm such a genius. I ask, " Who's baby is that? " Reply. "It's Little Sir." Me "No it's not who's baby is it and then lighting strikes and I go it is Little Sir. Then the tears flow (of course) and finally the Duchess strolls in. Good Grief was I ever out of the loop. The Duke was more than a super he let his family come to Utah for 10 days and I loved every minute of it, well except maybe for Monday when we packed them up. Thank you to all. It was a great Mother's Day Surprise. Mother's Day was a little to hectic for my liking.
I didn't know until mid day Sunday I was feeding 18 people at my house. The daughters almost pulled it off, but it was pretty hectic. Then we visited the twins and family on Monday. It requires two cars to travel there were 7 of us and I don't have a mini van anymore. Two Great grandmas one grandma two moms and two babies. I almost went and rented a mini van to cut down on the confusion of just moving all of us from one place to another. We also made it to have manicures and pedicures but that took another whole day. It was fun W climbed across the chairs ot all the people that he loves.This is pretty cool I think.I don't remember NY at all...They stick babies anywhere...I guess it's a pretty cool basket.Hi Mom!
Fists are good but toes are even better. I bet you can't do this.W taught me some good things raspberries make everybody laugh and I shared my binky with him and he showed me his crawl. I'll be working on mine right away. The only bad part was when he sat on my head. I almost had to bite him. Aren't we the cutest cousins you've ever seen. My grandma told me to say that.

I have been recouping until today when the Princess and I dropped in on IKEA to use coupons spent 2 hours and found out the coupons aren't active until tomorrow.

Great Genes

2008-05-07T11:34:00.001-06:00

This is why I have to many hobbies. My Mother and Father did it to me. Not only did I get the feminine traits but also the male stuff too. I like to dabble in all of it. A little sewing, cooking (rather well) cleaning, running errands, shopping (from the crack of dawn till midnight) driving almost anywhere, knitting, spinning, weaving, cross stitch, needlepoint, crewel, painting, drawing, gumby body limberness. Then there is the repairing of toilets, walls, fixtures, furniture, tech repair of computers (that must have been thrown in from the aliens) I'm not great but got pretty good as the I T person of Dave's Drug. I've surveyed and laid out houses, painted lots of walls and doors to boot. Then when spring sprouts I'm out in the yard digging up and planting stuff. I can use hammers and screwdrivers, know what an allen wrench is and the difference between duct tape and electrical tape. By the way duct tape does not repair or fix everything that is a myth. Ovrall it's great but at times frustrating due to sidetracking of projects. Not only do I have 4 or 5 knitting projects going at once I have at least that many projects going in different parts of the house. And these are just some of the things that i have going for me and why it's all my parents fault that I can't decide what to tackle today.
As my grandson would say focus wall, oh yes, I have it. It's almost time for the Jazz game, they need my support, I've gotta go, tomorrow will be another day to decide.

No Comments?

2008-05-03T11:25:00.006-06:00

Where is everyone on vacation, hibernating, out to lunch what? I post my little heart out and no one even comes to visit. Sigh............. Well maybe Gnome N Clayture and I will just go on vacation and not tell any of you about it, that will fix your little red wagons. :-).
The weather here is finally becoming tolerable, next week it will probably be too hot to work out in the yard. Way to get around another year of weeding.
I played Dodge Ball with the Young Women and do they ever get serious about wiping out their leaders, we had bruises from nerf balls. Way to go girls, lets have some more fun.

We are back in our old ward building after almost a year of refurbishing. We got new toilets and carpet, windows and they took away the YW padded chairs and gave us plastic molded butt crushers. That's what they feel like after an hour and if you doze off you just slide onto the floor. I love the ugly little things.
W and I went for a walk today with dogs and all, after I ran over the dogs several times they got the hang of it. W loved it and Grandma is alive and ready to go another day.
The King went out to swing at little white balls today, although he didn't score on the greens very well he did score a great piece of Alaskan Salmon from a fellow golfer. Guess what we had for dinner. MMMMMMM MMMMMMM Good.
Well now that I have shared I guess I will go pout in my corner and wait to see if anyone reads this post. Love you all anyway.
Gnome wouldn't come out of the camera case he's mad at the world.

Really cute KAP

2008-04-28T21:06:00.005-06:00

I am so pleased with the way the cap turned out. I have been searching for about 2 years for a great brimmed cap and there is was at the Unraveled Sheep. Free pattern that Verla printed out for me and away I went with the Katia Tundra that the sample was knit up in. It was a gift for the Mike, but since he wasn't around I had the Princess model. I think I'll make another.
And then we have finished Socks that Rock, literally and this was a perfect pattern to show off this medium weight yarn. Yarn a gift from the Duke and Duchess last year

Yes I did remember that I had posted these Finished Objects but I felt like they needed there own space because they turned out so well..

Lets Back-UP April

2008-04-23T18:56:00.009-06:00

Whoops I got caught harassing the Princess about her blog updates. And we know she has nothing going on right now, then again I am the Queen and supposed to keep everyone in line. And so that is my excuse for not updating I'm the QUEEN. Ta ta da!! Fanfare. So with that matter solved we will start at the end of April and unwind to the beginning. Wll yesterday the Jazz lost at home to the Rockets. Bummer... Tonight the band in playin at the Senior Citizens, if you need to shake your booty you'll have to put them on your calendar and come on out.
I have been spending way tooo much time over at Ravelry.com I thought i might index my stash or a least my sock stash and a few missellaneous skeins. What was i thinking I would need to hire a full time staff for several weeks.

Then it was our stake conferance so we were able to get everybody that is around and have a big old birthday dinner for Jake. Happy Birthday Dude...He really was happy.Ava was happy too as long as Grandpa didn't hold W..You make up your own mind on this one
.We want cake! These people refuse to rotate, They must be getting set in their ways.

Mike doing his usual harrassment measures.
After everyone had gone W decided to have a diet coke. What who gave him that? What happens at Grandmas stays at Grandmas.
Lets see where does that take us to just last week good grief what a month. Oh yes we had to do taxes and then I got a BD/MD present Valentine and all other holidays etc. So had to read some instructions to see how to turn it on... Pretty neat though hope not to miss P Diddy jumping on the stool anymor or baby smiles.Sweet Huh... And then there has been knitting going on. Check this out... and I think that takes us up to Seattle and our visit to Little Sir and his parents. My pictures are already old but pretty darn cute.And that takes us to the Alpaca outing that we froze at, but had a great laugh when one Alpaca sat on the other ones head and wouldn't get off.There you have April. Be back in a few days.

We Have Blast Off Houston! Maybe!

2008-04-02T00:10:00.006-06:00

What do you know it's spring,the calendar said so there is 2" snow and record cold high for the end of March (the ice on the car didn't even melt, burrr.) we also have already celebrated Easter and those things aren't even April Fools Jokes. No wonder everyone is behind on their posts. Just giving everyone a little extra time to get caught up out there in blog spere. Anyway I am blasting off to Seattle to see Little Sir who is now only 4 pounds lighter than W. I will bring back proof. You know how parents can exagerate. We enjoyed March though Sister Sue celebrated her 3rd BD of course the Easter Bunny hopped down the trail, yes he left colored eggs at my house. I celebrated a BD just for the cake of course, and if you remember last year the post on failed Angel Food cupcakes you can see we had success this year. I just forgot to take a picture before they were almost all gone. Rachel made this beautiful edible center piece for us on Easter. I finished all three pair of my socks for KAL. Stake YW is interesting and I work with some great ladies and lots of really great YW. My sweet Mom came up from St George for my BD and so we have spent the last week together. Our eldest will turn an other year older on Thur, woops we will have another postponed BD due to the fact that I will be in space. So enjoy the picks and I will see some of you soon.

Egg Proof...
Sister Sue on Easter
Edible Art
Sister Sue is almost three.
And here is P Diddy... handsome huh.
Who said anything about sharing thats what the cupcakes are for.

And here comes W...Look out Little Sir.

Socks Finished

2008-03-21T22:01:00.004-06:00

Ah deadlines are good. I have actually finished another pair of socks. This pair I have done for a Magic Loop KAL on Ravelry. No Double Point Forum. It has been fun and then I am almost finished with a third pair with another waiting in the wings I think I have been bitten by a sock bug. Anyway here are the specifics on the FO socks. Knit Magic Looping two at a time toe-up, with a short row heel. Lots of firsts for me. First time starting with the toe. First time doing a short row heel. The other pair of socks I'm working on First time doing a lace pattern on socks. So I had an ephiney and wanted to try all these things and didn't want to wait for any of them so i sprang into sock craziness. The socks are knit on an Addi Turbo Lace 40 " #2 needle. Really liked the new flex in the lace needle cable. The yarn is Ranco Multy, I loved knitting with the yarn it has a very nice feel and lots of yardage and the colorway works up very nicely and is exciting to watch.

I did find out with this project that I don't need to make my socks quite as long with a short row heel. This pair is a tch long but works, and I should rebind off, I did that a little tight. Happy Happy with these socks overall.

Succesful Day

2008-03-15T00:41:00.004-06:00

I consider this a successful day a pedicure for me

and a detail for the car. Although the car didn't stay clean longer than a day I am hoping to show my toes in sandals soon. Maybe not it always seems to snow on the first day of Spring her in sunny Tooele.
I have been trying to post for a week now and have been on the verge of hatcheting my sweet computer. But then I thought this computer wouldn't care it would be me trying to figure out how to commumicate with no computer so I rethought that idea. I gave it my best swear words and kicked the cpu. I then felt better but the computer would still not stay connected to the internet. Yes, I ran spyware, adware, fireware, virusware, still as soon as i connected the box would have a serious breakdown and close. (you know that message it sends when it doesn't want to cooperate) Then I get a notice in the mail that the power company is working on the lines in the area and will be confounding all of us who were planning on spending the day ironing. LOL...You know how you always want to vacuum because the power is out. Well I thought perhaps this is why my computer has been acting up there have been bad vibes in the airways not just bad carma coming from me. Anyway since the work was done we seem to be back on course for spring, successful days, and sunshine so the car can get washed again.

Dancing Slippers

2008-03-14T21:37:00.010-06:00

Well I have been forced to publish this post because the Princess p told me the slippers were the most ridiculous thing she had ever seen and refused to consider them for Bolt from the Blu
What do you think of the Dancing Slippers?
Just slip them on and dust away just don't fall on your backside sliding down the hall. Broken tailbones are most miserable when trying to watch Leno. Not sure how well they would do shutters, try them, you may attract all the neighbors while standing on your head tap dancing in the shutters. Always wanted to dance on your kitchen table now you would have a bona-fide reason. Just dusting up honey. And wouldn't they be great to use on the big screen TV while doing your morning exercise high kick routine. Practicing tap dance on the piano keys could be all sorts of fun. All for just $9.99 And they are also available in pink.

Birthday Delayed Due to Frosting

2008-03-11T16:43:00.006-06:00

Well the Princess's birthday dinner had to be delayed due to frosting or the lack there of. Here is the tradition, the birthday person gets to choose spaghetti or steak for family dinner. It used to be just spaghetti but the boys pleaded on hands and knees to have the option of steak and due to the fact that steak is actually easier to prepare than my famous spaghetti dinner i said okay. Birthday dinner comes with ANGEL FOOD CAKE and BETTY CROCKER FLUFFY WHITE FROSTING mixed with whip cream. Of course there is ice cream and candles but the most important part is the frosting for the cake. Well the grocery stores of Utah have decided no longer to carry FLUFFY WHITE boxed frosting. When they ask if you found everything during your shopping experience and I shouted No! and ordered a case, they still didn't get it in. After checking back and getting blank looks I went to the internet. Apparently I am not the only one who is having trouble locating the frosting there was a comment board with the same question I had. Does Betty Crocker still make the Fluffy White Frosting? Hurray the answer is YES and so I have stocked up and we will be set for at least a year. Who would have thought that a birthday dinner would ever have to be delayed because of frosting.

And then while in St George last week-end I did cast off one pair of socks. These are for the King, Magic Loop knit both at the same time. One down two to pair to go.

Finished Objects and Works in Progress

2008-02-22T20:53:00.005-07:00

The Duchess received her care package although it was snow delayed. It arrived on the Monday of classes and she waited until after her exam to pop open her surprise inside box. Little Sir was the recipiant of 2 quilts. Yes, not only are they finished they are in the correct location. I previously showed you part of this quilt this is the finished product. Jack in the Bean Stock. The other was the Rag Quilt.
Then I am working on three yes three pair of socks all at once. The mind demands strange sock fellows some times. I wanted to knit the King another pair of socks ( sorry King they are boring and very dark.) I also wanted to try out a lace pattern and knit socks from the toe up. I like my socks long and therefore it does crazy things to my head to have small leftover balls of wonderful sock yarn that could have been incorporated. Get my drift. The lace I wasn't sure it would work standing on it's head so there you have my thought for solving my three dilemas. Knit three pair and join a KAL also. Okay! Besides that I have been helping the Princess P do inventory of her yarn dept. Very bad plan for a yarn addict. Well thats All Folks! except for pictures...... These are the toe up socks, hope you can see the pattern, I think it's very nice in the Ranco.

Claudias hand dyed in Strawberry Latte. Lace Pattern from my Interweave Sock Book

Magic Loop Sock with a short row heel, Wooly West Pinon Yarn.
I will get my patterns and labels to add the specifics on the KAL, but it is tooo far up stairs and it's time for the news.

Snow Up Date

2008-02-16T21:28:00.005-07:00

WOw! Did we ever get snowed on. At 11 pm the King and I went out and cleared driveways, walks, and lanes. Woke up in the morning to find it all undone. Since it was Valentines, the King went down and helped PBTB plow out Princess P's store. It's hard to sell flowers when you are snowed under. Before the King could help he had to blast his way out of our lane. The city plows had plowed the street snow into the lane entrance. Woops! No cars going through that snowbank. So here are the snow updates. This is Cash standing up int the snow after i made him a foot path.

This is the King cleaning up the edges after plowing.
And low and behold this is the youngest and his girlfriend.
These are my Valentines, Grandbabies and flowers from the King. It helps to have a daughter with a floral shop. They are all beautiful aren't they.

It's Snowing What Happened to Spring

2008-02-14T00:24:00.008-07:00

Flowers by PhoebeAnns LLC

Yes it's snowing we are working on 15 inches in the backyard and it's still coming down hard. What happened to Spring, that was yesterday warmest day of the year we hit 50. But then this is Utah and there is no better way to celebrate than having four seasons in one day. This has been the snow storm I've been waiting for deep and beautiful. I suppose that depends on if you were trying to get home from work or errands when it hit. I have been out and am home enjoying the beauty and peace of this gorgeous snowfall. It's excillerating to watch it, go out and romp in it and enjoy it quite beauty. I was fortunate I only had to shovel walks, and didn't have to drive a great distance. The news called it a storm blast and roads are closed. You know it's a big messy snow when the roads and interstates in Utah get closed because of the snow. Well here's to tomorrow, Happy Valentines, and spring just around the corner. This is why I take the pictures the other people at this house are uncooperative and wont use the flash etc.

Super Bowl Party

2008-02-04T23:53:00.000-07:00

Since we are such a popular group, or our children are anyway we planned our Super Bowl Party for Saturday. It was great there wasn't a stuped football game to compete with while cooking and visiting. I watched the commercials later on the web and only the best ones at that. We had a great time it started with sleeping in and then a trip to Costco, I did say the party included food didn't I? Well we had a theme too, Mexican Chile Super Bowl. P Diddy our oldest grandson went with us, I haven't played "I SPY" or "LOOK WHAT I CAN SEE" for decades. P Diddy was on a road trip and you do have to pass the time. Costco was like a trip to the asylum, glad I only had to get a few food items, like tamales, pork, and beer oh no i mean diet coke. Remember its the Super Bowl. I wonder if more beer is sold for the Super Bowl than the deer hunt? Just wondering...... Lets see after Costco we needed fun so we took a trip to Sportsmans Warehouse. P Diddy found a Coon Skin Hat just like Davey Crockett and Daniel Boones. He looks great in it too. We latter had a loooooooooong conversation on trapping. Good Grief!
Jake cooked chile verde i assisted.
The party is on good food too.

The dishes got done and the food was devine. Jake makes a killer Chile Verde.
Sister Sue watched videos with the clown she called Kracker until she crashed. W kept up his side of the conversation until his Super Bowl Blow Out and then he had a tubby. After that he crashed too.
Burt reworked the oldest spinning wheel that I am naming Cranky. Someday it may really spin.

Right Brain - Left Brain

2008-01-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Ah, how many of you are right brainers? I thought I was but I just took a little test and it appears I have over compenstated and now have a stronger LB. Oh no there goes my identity. (I made that part up) Actually i was browsing on Ravelry ( imagine that), and checked out a friends blog who lives in St George, Goldthreads and she had a link to this very interesting test on Terry's blog Both Shiela and Terrys blogs are very creative on their thoughts of RB LB so take the test and see what you have been doing with your life and lets compare notes. My test came back as a 54% Lefty and 46% Righty. Onward and upward all you upwardly mobile individuals. Oh and I hope this doesn't mean you are firing me KV. Leave your results and we can have a comment fest.

Ravelry

2008-01-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Well who has time to knit, clean, watch TV or blog when you have Ravelry in you life.
I laughed at the tab for stash. I would need to hire Regis Inventory to track my stash and then i would be consternated trying to decide what to use first or what pattern would best suit which yarn.. Unfortunely I have been there, with decisions that is why I just like to look at the yarn. I have dutifully knit several skeins of yarn from the stash, but most of the time it boggles my measly mind. Because of course the pattern that I really want to knit in a particular color is the wrong weight or it happens to swatch up poorly and then you are shot down by your own stash. Therefore I think it is prudent to leave well enough alone. Opening the drawer and inspecting the stash is safe and leaves me in control. I can move it change its location kick it or throw it but it does not misbehave by being the wrong gauge or yardage for the dream project. Besides who would support the LYS if i shopped in my own stash. But to the point I have found some very interesting things on Ravelry, I have been bugged about not being able to find some answers, but that was answereed on the newletter. Guess I wasn't the only one. I like having my books at my fingertips and checking out what others think of a pattern that has caught my eye. Overall I'm impressed. If you haven't taken a look check it out, but make sure you have a few days to play around. If you have questions give me a comment or email I will plug in my 2 cents worth.

Hurray!

2008-01-20T20:37:00.001-07:00

Nothing much going on here in the last week. Finally got the Duchesses and Dukes Christmas stuff sent off to them. Good Work Queen.

I can yell at the dogs again, but then go into a spasm of coughing, so still mending.

I am trying to be more diligent about working out, but its much more fun to spin and knit.

Our good friend MW had a successful hip operation, her second, and is on the road to recovery. She will have to get the other side done next year, not the greatest thing to look forward to but we are all thankful for what can be done.

I did finish one project that is a quilt for Little Sir. That would be the blue one the Duchess has a request that the other one also be finished, so it's on the table and it may even move the a front burner.

Have been spending time on Ravelry, whooops tooo much time.

Undid the toe up socks they made me crazy on DP and cast on two socks on Magic Loop, Martha Sweater is also moving up the tape measure.
Hurray......

The Finished and the Unfinished

2008-01-13T21:17:00.002-07:00

Well here we are again in freakin freezing Tooele. It has become so cold that my head has frozen and i have lost my voice and brain function. No talking on the phone it makes me want to scream. Email or send message to King. He sometimes remember to tell me. Nothing too frustrating about wanting to shout at the dogs who are barking at some stray leaf blowing down the lane. (They definitely need a nap.) How can I knit with all this commotion going on. Ah, yes patience it's somewhere around here, not under the pillow, not under this dog gone coach either, maybe it went up in smoke in the fireplace. Lets try relaxing, thats better a little spinning, yes good...oh good grief the collie just knocked over the spinning wheel as she flew through the air to bark at the lab down the street or maybe its the kittens out driving the large equipment they are barking at. I only got knocked off my chair. This place is going to the dogs, the King is way to lenient on the dog behavior, I think we need to send him back to work.

On a knitting note.
Oh yes the Kings socks are finished. TA DA! Had to frog them back an inch because i refused to measure the foot that is the part of the sock I hate. So really 2 inches because I did both socks at the same time using the magic loop method. Then I have been working on my Martha sweater, requires concentration, and paying attention, crossed cables things. Looks good so far. And to make life interesting i have been trying to cast on a sock for a toe up knit. Maybe i better cast on a dishcloth too.

Look What Santa Brought Me!!

2008-01-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sure for those of you who follow the Princess P and Duchesses blogs you have already seen lots of darling pictures of the the newest kids in the Grands collection. They just got more darling by the day and it was such a rush to have both of them together for a short visit over the holidays. ( Work sometimes just gets in the way. It used to be our work and now we have passed it on to the kids.) Oh well whirl winds have always been my favorite types of visits, especially when it requires lots of time spent at the airport waiting for weather delayed planes. The best was having Sister Sue telling us all about the chickens and playing dress-up, P Diddy enjoying his video chair and the little cousins....sigh!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

"Merry Christmas from the King and W Santa . Our favorite tradition for the last few years is the gifts under the tree are alway from a fairly famous people. Like Michael Jordon, Madonna, Babe Ruth. Sometimes they are clues to what the wrapped gift is and other times they are just for fun. The big kids have really enjoyed this and we even got the grandparents in on the idea. And this year I'm cooking prime rib again (3rd year) wish i had thrown out the turkey dinner for Christmas 20 years ago. This is a destressing plan. Thanks to my good friend Linda who brought me to my senses any way what was left of them.

MERRY, MERRy, HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY, HURRAY TO ALL AND TO ALL GOOD NIGHT.
Take a deep breath and enjoy..................................................................................It's almost here...

Christmas Morphing

2007-12-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

I used to recognize Christmas around our house, but somewhere along the way it has morphed leaving me feeling somewhat strange. Gone is the hussle and bustle of working in retail. Preparing for Valentines to be ready to display the week after Christmas, checking displays, restocking, hiding gifts for the kids, gift wrapping, shopping, staying up realllllly late, gift wrapping some more. Making stuff. Having a store party, an open house and getting gifts for the employees. Ordering Spring, Easter and Mother's Day before New Years. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. This year I made a list almost forgot to go shopping reminded myself i still was expecting company for Christmas dinner, and enjoyed several Christmas parties that i didn't have to plan, execute, host or pay for. Wow!!. I'm thinking that after 33 years of ornaments, i might not get one this year, well still pondering that one. I still have been making stuff but I'm going to have to kick it into gear if it's to get done for 07. I may be getting a little to laid back. I even read 3 books in the last month. Don't worry I did get my tree up and did my yearly vacuuming done. So now, I am looking to begin some new traditions. Any recommendations for cruises out there? Or something. I did get an ornament, a snowman bell to go on the elf trees.

For all you Young Moms out there good work and have fun, traditions are really about passing them along to your children keeping alive the things you loved about home and growing up. Give your Moms a hug. Merry Christmas!

Jael my little Ewe Produces

2007-12-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

What a great surprise I had last Saturday. The mailman delivered. A very large box chuck full of this beautiful fleece. To bring you up to date my darling children adopted a lamb for me last Christmas and so during the year i have had letters of her growth and abilities and bars of soap in a variety of sents. Lovely! Now she has been sheared and my fleece arrived in the mail. This is a picture of Jael and the box of my fleece.

Birthday Shawl

2007-12-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

We celebrted a 25th Birthday this last week, that means Angel Food cake and spaghetti dinner, my specialities. And of course it was very, very good. Hurray! And with birthdays come presents so the Queen knit up a shawl for the birthday girl. I hope she liked it, I did, thought it turned out very nicely. Sursa from the Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Collection. This is the preview of works on the needle, had the camera out to take a picture with the model and you will never guess but i forgot. Hopefully we will have one edited in soon.

W & the FO

2007-12-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been weeks since i blogged but blogs don't lie. Just look at that date. Well i have been busy knitting, spinning, decorating for Christmas, celebrating birthdays, and shopping. Oh yea and doing my best to get the Jazz to get their defense in tact. Lots of yelling in the family room, have to be careful who you invite over. So here are a couple of pictures with W and his Uncle JB modeling what the Grandma has been knitting for him.

I don't know for sure what they are feeding W but he really likes it as you can tell he is the chucky monkey of the family.

Spinning

2007-11-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

Knitting Lace

2007-11-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

I must have lost my mind, but that is correct I am knitting easy lace. The Lily Chin Shawl. Yes Duchess this is the third try, but I think this is my best effort. I suppose undoing three times before you get the idea of what the pattern is doing isn't too bad, for a dislectic (spelling, is not my forte.) upside down crazy person is good. The Martha sweater is also coming along nicely so far, but we haven't gotten to any hard parts yet. Just to make you all jealous I have been knitting cozily by my fire. Enjoy. I'm heading South for a few days to cook a turkey, and relax. Did I say that in the same breath. Well today has been a marathon starting with me speaking at 9:00 am, which by the way is before my heart is usually beating and ending at 8:30 pm tonight. I told the King I won today for spending time at church. So anyway going south should be fairly quite.
Grateful< Happy Turkey Day to Everyone.

close-up of shawl, looks good to me.

And just to keep things interesting I've been doing a little spinning while watching Moonlight. Who remembers Dark Shadows out there? Moonlight is what they watch up in Seattle where it's rainy and scary all the time. (just kidding about the scary part)

Check out these Grandkids

2007-11-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

I don't want anyone to be jealous but don't you think these are the cutest grandkids you have ever seen. I even have one more. You can see him at yarnnation.blogspot.com

And it was great to know that "ordinary mom" does visit Utah maybe I 'll try to get her to come and organize my pantries. ;-)

Two Socks

2007-11-13T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ah this is more like it two socks at once, the only thing you have to watch is that you don't join them. Big problem unless you like frogging. Check this out all you one sock people. See Duchess you wouldn't have to figure out what to do on the second sock. Oh by the way could you tell what was wrong with my socks?

The First Post

2007-11-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

test
THANK YOU DUCHESS!

THE YARN QUEEN HAS MOVED TO BE CLOSER TO THE ROYAL FAMILY
new address theutahyarnqueen.blogspot.com
all except the rougue brother who Macs.....

Senior Moment or Traveling with Dave

2007-11-10T00:07:00.000-07:00

Well if you look closely at the socks pictured you may notice something different. If not all the better because I am not going to fix or change them. Yes you may ask how does one knit the whole project and not notice. Good question, if you have any answers be sure and let me know. I will not tell what the problem is but it did cause me to move into the next photo. Yes two socks cast on and being knit at the same time. Wallah!!! the first couple of rows are a bit tense but i think they always are. I blame the problem on traveling and panicking about not have anything ready to knit on the plane and Dave turning into a homing pigeon. We left for the airport 4+ hours before our flight was scheduled to head for home. Who can think with that going on. Okay, well just take a close look and see if you see what i did not see until i was grafting the toe together.And another picture to give you a better hint.

We therefore will combat the problem by knitting both socks together if at all possible in the future. We do not deal in absolutes as this is knitting. I am a perfectionist only every other Wed on leap years anyway. And besides i'm trying out this new blog format so I'm all lost. I will get a grip. Call the Duchess, yes that will help. No swearing alllowed on the printed page.