Red

Ok....so some of you know red is my favorite color; flowers, clothing, shoes, yarn....home decor....love the red.  These flowers were from the boys (Dan and David) for my birthday and I couldn't resist taking a few shots.  Enjoy!

Quotes

Ok....I have added a tab to the site for my patterns (upper left under the header).  I intend to start writing these down.  So feel free to take a look.  Only one there so far.  I just finished Ashlyn's Chullo made with Raggi Sock Yarn.  Love the way it looks, love the way it knit up and I think Ashlyn will appreciate that she can wash and dry it.  She'll be stylin' on campus and warm.

So... I'm often struck by something someone says, maybe a line, maybe a fragment of a thought....that stands out....seems to have a life of it's own, or....is just plain funny.  Oddly enough, many of these phrases sound like perfect starters to a painful country song.  So here we go, a couple from this weekend...

Jan - 2.11 - Al killed my Gremlin. (while discussing first cars)

Kendall - 2.12 - I wish it would get warm.  I got cigars for Christmas and it's too damn cold to sit outside and smoke them.

On Weaving and Valentines

Ok....so yesterday was Valentine's day...hope everyone felt loved and happy.  On that note, I was running errands yesterday afternoon, one stop being Walgreens and the other Publix....and while the men shopping there might have felt loved and happy by the end of the day, all they were feeling was anxiety at that moment.  I had gone to Walgreens to pick up a birthday card for my little man and the aisle was full of men last minute shopping (this was at 2pm).  Their poor faces were strained as they paced back and forth reaching for card after card.  The checkout line was draped with men carrying balloons, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, cards and my favorite...stuffed animals. 

So, I as I wait my turn I'm torn between feeling sorry for these poor guys and thinking they should have planned a little better.  My guess is that Valentine's day means more to women than men.  However, a male friend pointed out that Valentine's doesn't mean anything to men until they have someone to whom it does mean something to.  Touche and well put.

Last night, my Valentine and I went to see 'True Grit'.  I wasn't sure I wanted to see this movie, but when it was nominated for best picture, I was curious about the hype.  Well, it's all true.  Well made, very well acted and truly gritty.  I enjoyed it.  The performance by Hailee Steinfeld was a pleasure to watch.  Now I haven't seen all of the nominated films and don't know if I will before the Oscars, but 'The King's Speech' still has my vote.

I have been weaving on the Ashford again and trying new ideas and fibres.  This is a white (as you can see) rayon wrap with a lace stitch.  Love the look and feel.

I have also started weaving with Katia Linen, which is a cotton, linen blend.  I like the look so far, but it's a bit stiff.  We'll see after the washing if it makes me happier.  I do love the olive color and have blue and beige to work with yet.

Birthday Stuff

Ok....so today was the day....started out a little questionable, end up much better.  I did see 'The King's Speech'....run do not walk to the theatre to see this.  Amazing film, acting and shooting...the cinematography was beautiful.  Hands down the best film I've seen in a long time.

The Yellow Porch....pretty much my favourite restaurant in Nashville and they didn't even mind that we hung around for a long time on a Valentine's weekend.  And can I say Passion Fruit Tart ....Holy crap....YUMMMMMM!!!!!   Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes and to Jan for hanging with me all day and Kendall for joining the dinner party.  And the lovely flowers from Dan and David and Chocolates from Kelly....mmmmmmmm........

I had intended to write about getting older and what I have learned, blah, blah, blah.....but I had two great glasses of Mettler Petite Sirah at dinner and the philosophy has left me.  I'm older and all I know is that each year, I realize I know less and less and have so much to learn.  THAT, is an exciting thought.  Cheers to 2011.

PS....I did buy roving again...it's a sickness.

Sunny Winter Morning

Ok....so one of the things I like the most about my house is the direction is faces and the sun in the backyard.  Because of the way the trees are and the way the sun rises sort of over the house....the sun hits the tops of the trees in the back and they're golden when everything else is still blue from dawn, shaded and shadows.  I've seen it so many times and it still stops me each time I walk by the windows.  It's beautiful.


And the wonderful wet snow that clings to each branch outlines everything outdoors.

I have been weaving and spinning and knitting, but today, just pictures of snow and flowers from Mum.  I've been enjoying this special treat all week.  I do love my Mum....she's a cool chick.

Still Weaving

Ok...seriously this could be the title of many a post so I'll try not to repeat myself...but it's true...more weaving.

I got out to Haus of Yarn last night for Knit Night...first time in a couple of weeks because of the illness.  Soooooooooooo good to get out of the house...   Soooooooooo good to be able to see what everyone is working on in person....    Sooooooooo good to see the knit gals.  Soooooooooo good to knit and relax among the fibres. 

More Weaving

Ok....I know you don't believe me, but I have been knitting too, just nothing to show yet....  On that note, here is a little more weaving....  The funky black eyelash and mohair scarf was and experiment and I'm just not sure about it yet.  The taupe scarves are learning stitches with the same Kudo yarn and I'm pretty pleased with the result and of course really love the Kudo.  I have a little more I'm going to weave with.  I'm trying my hand at weaving with mohair and it's not as bad as I thought it would be.  I love experimenting with different fibre types....has been interesting.  Of course, a big change has been lace weight which was one of the reasons I purchased a bigger loom.  This completely changes how you think about weaving and how you work the project....slower, more patience needed and fun!!!!


PS.....hope everyone in the greater Nashville Metro area enjoyed the weather over the weekend.  And for you poor people in the new Arctic circle (Michigan, Ontario and New England)....I'm sorry you have 50 ft of snow and have to shovel more.  It is pretty, but I'm sure you're all sick of it.

PSS......I've noticed on all the blogs and ravelry that everyone seems to be in this mode to finish the UFOs....is that like a New Year's resolution that is sweeping the country and I missed the memo?  I don't think I have any UFOs....that said, my problem isn't finishing projects, my problem is there are so many projects I want to make and they talk to me, that I freeze.  I stare at Masterpiece Theatre all night because I really don't know what to do first.  This is just silly, but it happens at my house.  This is my resolution....stop the voices....don't listen to the projects....don't believe them when they tell me they have to be first....buy all their little mouths duct-tape.....  But it's just hard to say do whatever hits your interest at that moment because they all do.  They all smile at me through their duct-taped little labels and there I go again.  In love with too many projects, too many yarns and never enough time.

PSSS......Is there such thing?  Thanks for all the well wishes.  I'm still battling this...whatever it is....but it's getting a little better.

New Loom

Ok....so I've been sick and out of commission...not much knitting going on although I have done a little spinning.  And....I warped the new loom and finally finished the scarf.  Scarf is Noro lace and silk....very different experience, but a good one.  Have I mentioned I love my new loom.  Back to bed I go.

Wondering Thoughts on a Wednesday

Ok....breakfast at my place today.  You never know who will stop by.  Those of your who have seen my backyard know that any number of small woodland, rodent type creatures live with me....and of course...many birds.  Also, I could not throw away the Christmas tree, as it's still so fresh...so it's on the deck.  The birds love it and I'm guessing in turn now love me too.


Now, I know that it's not a good idea to have heavy tree limbs over power lines.  And I know that these must periodically be cut....however, is this necessary? This is the next street over.  I'm shocked at how horrible this looks.  I hope the owners wanted it this way. 

Thoughts anyone?  Is it just me who hates this so much?  It really gets me worked up.  One of the things I love about my neighborhood is all the beautiful, big, old trees.

Ashlyn and I ventured out Sunday to see the new flick 'The Green Hornet'.  I am not adding it to my recently viewed list because I do not think it was worthy of any stars.  We were both disappointed.....and that's from me AND and 18 year old.

I have recently gotten hooked on a new author, Susanna Kearsley, who is a Canadian living near Lake Ontario.  As if that didn't grab my attention enough, she writes historical fiction mixed with a current day storyline.  Love it.  Her research is very good and the character development is spot on.  Check out 'The Winter Sea', set on the north eastern coast of Scotland at Slains Castle.  I'm currently working on 'Season of Storms'.  Hard to find her books here, but I'm working on it and it appears that the US is catching on.  Cheers!

Side note:  The loom is here.  It is assembled and awaits. 

Tennessee Fibre and Food Field Trip

Ok.....so Saturday....Jan, Darlene and I took a field trip to Chattanooga (technically Cleveland) to R&M Yarns to buy fibre on cones, in bulk, too much, what were we thinking.....seriously, what was I thinking....they had control.  My goal was to pick up fibre for weaving and I did and I'm very happy with my purchase....now I have to get to work to skein it and or wind it....  The reality is in the photo....it's sad but true....we purchased close to 80 pounds of fibre...

The next stop while 'on the road' was lunch, because you know driving and shopping does that to you....so we went downtown to a place suggested by Lynne Vogel ( a handspun artist) called Bluegrass Grill...however they had already closed.  We were still on Central time and they were not going that route.  So, it was suggested we try The Terminal Brewhouse.  We go expecting pub food and get a pleasant surprise.  Excellent home made items.  Darlene went with the black bean burger, while Jan and I split an appetizer of pizza rolls, black bean hummus, cheese dip and a feta/pine nut spread on bread......with soup and salad.  It was amazing....very unexpected, and a definite do over.  The space is groovy, the atmosphere is relaxed and fun, there is an outdoor patio on the second level and the beer was good (Darlene did sample).

Note:  this area of downtown had art on the sidewalks, very cool to check out while moving from the closed restaurant to the open one.

Next stop, Genuine Purl.  We decided to give this local yarn shop a check....always good to do, you never know what you will find.  The shop was small, but had a good variety of Rowan yarn and the basics.  There was nothing local or unusual.  We perused and then moved on.

The drive.....what can I say.  I'm so glad there was snow on the ground for this drive.  Originally we did not know for sure if we would make the drive this weekend because of weather....but the roads over the mountain were fine and the scenery gorgeous.  We had beautiful sunny skies on the way down, but cloudy on the way home. 

The moral of this story.....sometimes you just have to get the gals, a Starbucks, a loose plan and your knitting and get in the car for a field trip.....sometimes, it just has to be done.  Looking forward to many more this year.