more old photos

Or rather favorites from a bygone year. All these are from 2007, back before Whinnie’s first birthday mostly and during the year when Theo went from 3 to 4 and Nic from 7 to 8.

Enjoy!

 

Introducing…

The really, really big dog…

This is our new *baby* Wrangler. He’s a 180 lb Blue Merle Great Dane. He has a spectacular personality, loves to be hugged and loves everyone.

Sorry, I keep trying to get better photos but he’s excited to sniff out his new home and he wants, badly, to make friends with the very unfriendly cat.

Better pix to come when everyone’s calmed down.

Mary

it’s been a week…

Ok, first off apologies for being blog-neglectful of late. It’s just been one of *those* weeks.

Earlier this week my laptop died. Ok, it’s probably not dead but it is gonna need some geeky-love-life-support before it is functional again. Thankfully I saw this coming and spent last week copying photos onto CDs. Nine of them. That’s a whole lot of photos.

Oh, and I spent time shopping for a new (to me) one to replace it. I found a sweet ibook on ebay that I am so excited to get. It should be flying fast and have way more hard drive storage room than I need. So I bought it. Last Friday. Hasn’t even shipped yet. Why? Because the very highly praised ebay seller from whom I’m purchasing landed in the hospital for emergency back surgery just BEFORE he could ship it to me.

See? It has been one of *those* weeks.

So, yeah, I want to kvetch and whine about how much I want that ibook in my hands NOW. Because this sharing one PC with the whole family is really, really tough. Especially when you are trying to take online classes and find patterns on Ravelry that you really want to get started on.

Ok, what else? Um, our house was broken into yesterday afternoon whilst we were out. I’m 44 years old and I’ve never had a domicle burglered before. And it happened in broad daylight.

Obviously they didn’t take aforementioned PC since I’m using it. Nor did they take the *dead* laptop. All they took was a fire safe that did not have its key with it. There was nothing in it of value…just documents that are going to be a pain in the ass to replace. But replaceable nonetheless.

Wanna know what I’ve decided?
We need a big dog. A big, big dog. And we need it now.

Mary

PS – Lest my readers forget who I am, believe me, I’ve already gone through all the optimistic realizations…it is who I am.

Like I am glad we weren’t home when someone decided to kick in the basement door. Like I am glad that an expensive ibook wasn’t on the front porch when said nar-do-wells came a calling. And I am deeply, deeply fortunate to be where I am…regardless of a few people who steal instead of making good in the world.

PPS – This just in…I’m also very grateful that I get to end my day with news of the birth of a beautiful baby boy into a beautiful family. Welcome to the world baby Luke. Don’t worry…there really are more awesome people in this world than there are stinky ones…and your parents and siblings are some of the best!

old photos

 

The Book Cat

This is where Solstice hangs out and sometimes naps. Maybe it’s because he blends in with the black bookcase, which helps Whinnie not find him as easily. He’s such a beautiful, sleek and wonderful cat. He has a wonderful personality and loves laptime.

My rolled brim hat. It’s hard to get a good shot of it, but it did turn out wonderfully. Of course it is completely ironic that the item I made for myself is nearly perfect. If only the ones I make as gifts for others would be thus.

And lastly, a little something I knitted up. It’s just a square currently…a square awaiting finishing off. But it makes me giggle everytime I see it because it looks like I knitted up extra fur for Cookie Monster.

blessings,
Mary

Happy November

The last week of October turned out to be really busy for us…hence so few posts.

We had a wonderful Samhain (halloween) fall festival (ette) at our home with just simple activities, good food and good friends. We knew not to expect trick-or-treaters out here and we were absolutely correct.

Now November has begun and I have projects and classes and holiday prep to master.

So most of my posts will probably be photos. But since each one is worth a thousand words, that should take care of it just fine.

blessings,
Mary

networking, projects and children

Here’s a mish-mash of miscellaneous photos from the past week:

Blocking Chris’ scarf. This was one of the first things I knit. I was working on it on inauguration day in that cold January weather last winter. As it was already cold when I made it…there was not time to block. But now it is blocked and ready for Chris to use in the coming months. Plus it is just lovely to see the pattern that it created. I remember enjoying knitting it and watching how the colors would develop. (And yes, an ironing board makes a fabulous blocking pad!)

Whinnie loved the handmade instruments set out on haybales at the pumpkin patch. Fun, funky noisemakers she was allowed to touch and explore.

Here’s the doll I’ve made for Whinnie and two of the articles of clothing made so far. No, the doll hasn’t a face yet…all in good time.

Last night I finished the hat I’ve made for myself for winter. It came out wonderfully! I used the pattern: Rolled Brim Hat. The free pattern has instructions for infant through adult.

I also finished knitting the square I need to make a wee present for a small friend. And I’m knitting along on a couple of new baby gifts and a holiday gift or two.

A storm moved through last Friday that changed all the crayola-esque colors of the trees into a standard autumnal orange-going-to-brown. So it certainly looks chilly and winter-approaching out there. I’m sad to see Autumn’s colors fade and happy for the weather that inspires more knitting and baking.

blessed be,
Mary

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday it was sunny and beautiful here. Great day to head out to a local pumpkin patch.

A New Yarn Club

For those who love yarn (and the ways that we use it to make awesome things) or even for those who love someone who loves yarn, here’s news of a new yarn club to consider.

My friend, Mandie, is the owner of Sheepy Time Knits. There at her site you can find patterns and tutorials and you can drool at her awesome yarn selections. The colorways she dyes are wonderful. I drool over something every time I visit.

Now, though, there’s a wonderful way to GET these yarns…not just drool:

The Speshul Snowflakes Yarn Club

With this yarn club, though, you get to choose what yarn you are getting and even when you would need to skip a month’s order.

Sock yarn, exclusive colorways, flexibility AND choice. Now that’s a cool deal.

So if you’d like to participate, jump on over to Sheepy Time today and sign up.

And remember, a Yarn Club subscription would make a wonderful gift for that yarn-lover in your life that seems to have everything. Because fiber artists (knitters, crocheters, etc.) can NEVER have too much yarn.

peace,
Mary

PS – who needs to sign off now and dig into my yarn basket.

beautiful things

This morning’s sunrise…over the mountain.

A basket of yarn waiting by my chair.

Off to enjoy this beautiful, cool, sunny Autumn day.

Mary