More Christmas FO's

Here are some of the projects I have completed for Christmas gift giving.

These three hats are for Kevin's 2 brothers and his Dad. They are all wool, they live in N.H.
I hope they fit and they like them.

Here is another Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty. I am not sure who is going to end up with this one, probably my Aunt Julie, purple is her favorite color. Since it was knit with Red Heart Acrylic it will be easy care for her.

The Ole Man's Scarf.
The Ole Man asks me every year for a new scarf. Unaware (apparently) of how much I HATE to knit scarves. But this one is a great pattern, it was over before I even realized it.
This is the Men's Martian Scarf It is a great pattern and if you have to knit a man a scarf this year, this is the one I recommend.

SockPixie: The Solution to the Sock Knitter's Dilemma... Magic Slippers!

SockPixie: The Solution to the Sock Knitter's Dilemma... Magic Slippers!
This is the cutest idea! I know every sock knitter has all those little balls rolling around in the stash, waiting for a bright idea about what to do with them all. Here is the solution. According to the author these are newborn size, but can be made bigger with a few more rows.
I am so glad I found this! I have so many of those darn little balls!
This is gonna be fun!

Chemo Moms of Mobile

Chemo Moms of Mobile
I saw this lady and her daughter on the news yesterday.
She is doing this on her own most of the time, with sporadic volunteer help.
She has been through so much with her daughter, I think it is a great thing that she is doing to help out other parents as they go through such a difficult time.
I wonder if she would like some knitted items to go in those baskets? I think I will whip up a blanket or two and then contact her and see if she would like them for that.
It was hard to think about with my 53 year old Aunt going through cancer treatment I can't imagine going through it with a child.
If you have time, check out her story. She is very inspirational.

Frogs!

I made this for Desire' for Christmas. That girl loves frogs! Always has, ever since she was little. Her bathroom is designed in them. So I took this pattern and turned it into a hand towel.
I used Knitpicks Cotlin yarn, size 5 needles and followed the pattern exactly. When I got to the end of the pattern, I knit about 10 rows of stst and then started the pattern over, this time going from the end of the pattern back to the beginning.
I think it came out really cute.

Ramblings of an awestruck knitter

I love to knit, of course I do, and so do you I am sure, or why would you be reading a blog about knitting. But until Ravelry, I didn't realize how much.
If you aren't a part of Ravelry yet, you need to sign up.
I was flipping through my notebook and OMG, the projects I have finished this year.
I guess it's no more than any other year, but to have all your pictures and information in one place, it really shows.
I know my Ravelry Page is nothing compared to some peoples. But I am impressed, if I do say so myself.
And there are even somethings I haven't posted yet, like the scarf I finished for the Ole Man for Christmas, about a dozen KAL dishcloths and one towel, and another, (yes Liza, another one) Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty.
I am amazed how organized I am over at Ravelry, it has done allot to help my knitting that's for sure.
I now wish there was a Ravelry Kitchen, or laundry, or babysitter, imagine how organized my life would become.
The little project tags for one thing, you can get the code and post it to your blog, website or whatever, and everyone can find out that no one likes your patterns, all at a single glance. It's great for the ego. ;0)
Honestly though, Ravelry has been a wonderful addition to my knitting and I am forever greatful that it was created.
Don't you know those poor girls over there didn't realize what a community they were starting when this idea just popped into thier heads one day? I can imagine, in the beginning it had to be a tad overwhelming. But they have handled it like champs and created a website that will help revolutionize the knitting community.
Like I said, if you haven't signed up yet, you really should, then you will know exactly what I mean.
When you do..... start slow, it can be a little scary at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will be Raveling with the best of them.
Check it out
Ravelry

More cloths and another Christmas Present

Gabrielle's Syncopated Hat for Christmas. I am going to see if I can incorporate this pattern into a scarf for her, maybe reverse the colors. That would be cute. ;0) Look what Isaac and I found in the chicken pen Saturday morning.

I don't know where in the heck a pink egg came from. But Isaac was very excited about it.I designed this cloth for my Bosses, Ms. Fran and Mr. Ken.
I work at a local TV station, WKFK TV7 They are really great people to work for and Ms. Fran loves my knitting. So I made this for a gift for them. I am thinking about making a hand towel to go with it. What do you think? My first graphed design!Here are just a few of the cloths from the various KAL'S over the last few months.

I am still really enjoying the KALs I love the surprise at the end of the cloth. I haven't gotten a one of my guesses right yet, but that's what makes it so fun!

Kevin's Syncopated Cap

This is one Christmas present down.
Kevin, my SIL is a definite dream to knit for, he actually uses and or wears everything I make for him.
So he is getting some knitted gifts for Christmas.
I just read an email from a lady on one of my groups who has run into the same problem I have, you make people something as simple as a dishcloth you think they will like, and they won't use it.
They say it is too pretty or they don't want to 'ruin' it.
Not so much with Kevin, if I make it, he will use it, no matter how 'pretty' the design, or how delicate, if I tell him it's for him to use, he uses it.
You gotta love that kid!
I completely forgot to upload the pics of Bella Boop's second birthday party. I have lots, of Tristan and Trin too, but I think three posts in one day is plenty. Don't want anyone to get used to it. ;0)
I will post them tomorrow.

Wow! What an egg

We have 12 chickens, 8 Americanas and 4 Golden Wyndots. They are only about 5 months old

but one of the bunch has decided to start laying early.
And look what she surprised us with the day after Gustav blew thru!

The egg on the left is about normal for just starting to lay, the one on the right, well all I can say is, now I know why she was complaining more than normal ;0)
I haven't broken it open yet, but it has got to be one of the heaviest eggs I have ever gotten out of the chicken pen.
We don't have to worry about developing chicks, no rooster, it's just a huge!

Still KALing

This great pattern, I must admit, had me baffled. I kept thinking it was a tree, you know the whole "fruit never falls far from the tree" thing. Yeah, I'm a goof. It wasn't until the blocking that I realized it was a gumball machine! And look how cute!
This is from Shirley's Knitting Knook group. It still needs some straightening out, but I love it! I think the kids are going to love having it for their ever growing stash of bath cloths.

This one is from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL. Andi has some great patterns!

Weekends with the Grandbrats!

A couple of weekends ago PawPaw and MiMi took the babies and went trapsing off to Dauphin Island. We went to the Sea Lab. The kids really enjoyed looking at everything and listening to PawPaw tell them about all the stuff. PawPaw works in the firsheries department for NOAA so he has all the inside info about all the slimy, creepy, crawly, interesting stuff ;0)

PawPaw and Bella at the 'touching' table. None of us wanted to 'cop a feel' though. ewwwwwwww.....

Isaac is going to be a diver like his PawPaw!

Then we headed for the beach. Bella is usually very afraid of the ocean, pools and baths she can handle, that big ole ocean, no so much.
I took this picture to show her Mama she really did wade pretty far out in the water.