Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!) Dark rich blends, the richer the aroma, the better!

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee? Ground

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? Do you enjoy special blends? No, not so much flavored, but always up to try something special and different.

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf? Black as a moonless night.

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer? Oh, the thicker and bigger the mug, the more fun to be had.

What is your favorite part of Winter? Sitting by the fire, or lounging under a wonderful afghan watching the snow fly.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday? We celebrate traditional Christmas on December 25th.

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree? Yes, we put up a monster tree 95% of the time.

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package? Winter themed would be preferable so it can be enjoyed for a longer period of time.

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect? I do not collect any winter themed items, just Barbie things once in awhile.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats? Definintely scarves. Never hats.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat? Fudge, and lots of it!

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory. I have many, but one that comes to mind is the Christmas gifts I made for my husband and son one year. Hubby got a long flannel nightshirt, son (very little at the time) got pajamas out of the same flannel, and his Cabbage Patch doll Jimmy got matching pj’s also. The 3 of them in that photo are precious to my heart – SO darned CUTE!

Yarn and Crafting Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? I do both, knitting for 40 years, crocheting for 30 years.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight? I enjoy working with every kind but plastic – I stay away from them as they make my hands sweaty. Learning to adore circulars!!!!

What sort of projects do you enjoy making? Sweaters, scarves, baby things, afghans, purses/bags

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with? I am falling in love with the new wools that are out there. And cashmere? OOOOO, let me count the ways I adore cashmere!

Do you spin or dye? Neither

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else? I scrapbook and sew, but haven’t done much of either for about six months – I’m too much in love with yarn right now.

When is your birthday? April 21

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!) Three children, 5 grandchildren, 2 dogs, a bird, and more!

What are your favorite colors? Olive green and purple

Do you have any allergies? Nope!

More Knittin'

This is the latest project that is amost completed. Very very cool felted wool purse hanging up to dry while I get the embelishment finished. It's fun to see the bag start out so horribly big, but after giving it a good spin in the washing machine it comes out small, thick and darned CUTE! Have to figure out a good strap for this, the book calls for a chain, but think I'd like to figure out something different. I'm up for good ideas, folks! Season - you have this pattern and you would LOVE doing it! Or is this going to have to be your Christmas present? hee hee Can't wait to line it, too.

Pumpkin Time Once Again

Here are Raegan and Dylan doing their best to make scary wormy jack-o-lanterns. Dylan named his Monkey just like last year and Raegan named hers Sally at first, but changed it to Wormy by the time they left to go home. Grandpa got a little bit creative this year, huh?

Wednesday PLANS!

I needed to drop off some paintings at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts this morning for my mother-in-law and noticed these guys were coming this Wednesday! I knew last spring they were coming, but had forgotten with all the hubbub in our lives. Row G (floor) tickets were available and even though I shouldn't have purchased them, I did. I've wanted to see one of these troups so badly for so many years, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to finally get to go. YEEEEE HAAAAAAAA

The Catfish!

Here is the 35 pound catfish that Bill caught at Branched Oak Lake yesterday with Mike. Mike netted the big guy...................
.......and then gave him a smooch!

HUGE Friday

Yesterday was so packed full of great things, and only a couple of pictures to share from it. Started out with a meeting in the Haymarket at Licorice International pretty darned early in the morning. I got there a few minutes too early, had my camera along, and shot this early a.m. picture.

It was Grandparent's Day at LCS, too, and Bill and I got to go to chapel and lunch with Abby. What a treat every minute was, not only to see how smart and vibrant our granddaughter is, but to see how those K-6th kids can put on programs!!!! They are incredible. I didn't get any pictures because all the kids (200+) on stage were all wearing brown and we were just too far away for us to get a great shot of Abby, also wearing brown.

Mike and Joan are in Lincoln this weekend so I held off on sending her 50th birthday gift. That way I could give it to her in person.

............and her card.

The guys went to Branched Oak all afternooon and had a super time fishing. They both caught some catfish, but Bill won in the weight catagory with a 35 pound catfish! NO KIDDING! They were just flying they were so excited. Joan and I sat at the hotel waiting for them and enjoyed watching a group of 20-something's decorate for a suprise birthday party. Their theme was "Enchantment Under the Sea" and they all needed to dress like an 80's prom. We asked them about how the guest of honor was going to feel not having a dress and they pulled this purple beauty out of a bag (they were prepared) and let Joan try it on! I must say, Joan looks pretty darned cute, huh? :) It was just a LOT of fun and we all had a great time together.

A Wedding Gift

Finally got the goods in the mail today for an afghan I'd like to get done for Haley and Derek's wedding in May of next year. She's a special gal and should have something extra special. She has asked us to print her wedding invites and even asked Season if she wanted to do her wedding cake! Haley is kind of like the daughter-in-law we never got to have, so we enjoy her when we can. Here is a photo before I even got it stashed in a safe place. It was good to take an hour and relax this evening as stress has been an issue this week. I got the first heart block finished, starting on the tulip. Nothing like another WIP. And Bill gets a kick out himself because he knows what knitter's UFO's are now and prides himself in telling me when he spots one!

Tuesday Ramblings

1. Missing my sister

2. Missing my Sister-sister

3. Tired of hearing about Steve Pederson getting fired. Like we all didn't know something was going to have to happen.

4. Wish the sun would shine, thinking it's been 5 days now without.

5. Looking forward to listening to Mike Johann's speak today at a luncheon.

6. Hoping my sister-in-law has a wonderful 50th birthday today!!!!!!!

7. Getting real tired of negative attitudes that seem to be everywhere. They are "Energy-Vampires".

Saturday Stuff

I had been cleaning enough, so had to sit down and find a way to use some more of my 'buck' yarn from Spirit Lake, so just wanted to share.

Here is the beginning of a purse I think Shawna may like at Christmas - or not. But it's so much fun finding things to do with such CHEAP stash I have. Bill has even suggested some tips on how to make the purse handles sturdier, but that's going to be my secret because it WILL work.

You may notice that cute little Lucy & Desi purse on the laptop, that was a gift from Sue (my sista from anotha mutha) after their trip up the California coast. I don't know why, but she said that when they were in Hollywood, she saw this, thought of me, and brought it back. Little does she know that this will be in all my needlework photos from now on. It will show that what I'm posting is really from me and not something stolen from the web! Like you all worried about that.

I also finished another scarf, this one is a hot pink, same pattern as before and absolutely beautiful.

Ravelry!!!!!

I finally got my invitation this week to Ravelry.com and boy am I HAVING SOME FUN! I had a feeling this would be great, but I had NO idea just how great it really is! So now, after I attempt to make some order of this house and get some wash and ironing (4-letter words) done it will be time to get real serious as to getting all my yarn projects, patterns, photos, etc. all organized! HOLY COW, I can't wait!!!!! So if you don't see me around for awhile, it's because I'm organizing my yarn stuff. Y'all come back now, ya hear? (Do I watch too much TVLand?)

I'm Dorky

Talk About Tuesday

Here's something new that got stumbled on this Tuesday morning. "Talk About Tuesday". Positive and uplifting fun things to read.
Here's my Tuesday ramblings........ Since it is October, I've been on a mission to knit for the Breast Cancer Awareness cause. Finished one light pink scarf and working on a bright pink one now. Since I have a great little knitting bag now that I finished this past weekend, I can haul my scarf stuff all over the place and even look cool doing it.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Here's my contribution to the cause...............

http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pdf/BCScarf.pdf

http://yoplait.com/breastcancer_lid_kit.aspx

I FINISHED something!

Here's a completed Knitting Bag from the Bag Style KAL. Now I have yet another bag to keep knitting in - but this one is kind of cute and different - it can travel to a coffee shop with me.
Decided to line it this afternoon because it was too stretchy and I wanted it to be sturdy. Bill is thinking the flower on the front was unnecessary - he's probably right. The lining is bright enough.
I found some computer compatible fabric in my junk, so I printed off a fabric label so I won't forget I'm the one who made it. LOL

I will definitely make another one of these. I spent less than $2 on the yarn (I was at the right place at the right time) and the fabric was in my sewing cabinet just sitting there. When I do another one sometime, I'm thinking of painting the wooden needles, or just having plain dowels. Who knows! Tons of options and this was a lot of fun.