Loom Knitting Hobby Update...

I've been having a great time with my loom knitting. Friday evening I finished
up a scarf for my youngest daughter. I had started it a few weeks ago...ran
short of yarn...got the yarn....put the project in one of my knitting bags...and
promptly forgot it. I'm glad to say her hat now has its matching scarf. This was
a pretty combination of a light pink strand and a strand of ivory with teeny
bits of gold through it.

It's not very exciting but I just finished a simple (warm) black scarf with
fringe last night. It's occurred to me several times that my wardrobe really
needed a simple black scarf. How funny is that? Well, now I have one.

I also made a newborn hat last Sunday while we drove to a nearby town for a job
my husband had to do. Our middle daughter is expecting next month. I'm worried
that it's too small, though. We'll see once Alexis gets here. I'm also working
with my 9-yr old daughter, Abbey, on her knitting adventure...she has a scarf in
progress as well as a hat for her newest niece. She'll probably make a dozen
before the baby even gets here on 3/19.

Abbey also just went to a party for two of her best friends (birthday for twins)
and gave them looms, yarn, instructions and a list of websites. Great idea to
share this love of loom-knitting!

Also on a loom at the moment is a tube scarf using two yarns. One is a
combination of navy blue, maroon, brown, and tan. The second yarn is an ivory. I
love how they look together. I should pick that one up again this evening - I
took a break to knit the black scarf. Since it's a tube pattern it uses twice as
much yarn and takes twice as long. I think I'll love it, though.

Dishcloths and a baby afghan are in the plans, as well as joining the pieces of
the cart cover. I really need to finish that up and get that box checked off.


Hope everyone is staying warm, happy, and loom knitting away!

Good Days...

We're having fun in February. Our weather has been a bit unusual these days but such a nice change from the norm. We dont' see much snow in these parts, and while we haven't had much, we have had some, and that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

We have February birthdays...
Our sister-in-law, Vivienne, celebrated her birthday on the 9th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VIVIENNE!

Four days later we celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday with a nice dinner at a new restaurant in the area. We had most of the family together and I always love that. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMOMMY! WE LOVE YOU!

Valentine's Day was fun. Kenneth and I don't get into the whole Valentine thing too much - don't really like the idea of Hallmark/FTD/Vermont Bear Co. telling us we need to show our love to each other. We like doing that in our own ways all through the year. But...with that said, we do have a Hershey Kiss we trade each year and my husband always manages to do something sweet for me on that day.

I am so happy to be involved in two 'Life Group' Bible studies which began this week. One is for women it's the 'Fingerprints of God' study by Jennifer Rothschild. The second is one my husband and I are in together and it's by Gary Smalley and John Trent called 'The Blessing.'

Our church uses the phrase 'intentional relationships' in regard to our Life Groups. That has really stuck with me...We don't always have the easiest time in social situations and find we shy away from them. As a large family, we stay very busy and involved in family activities/events - it's easy to have that be our focus. We have to intentionally step out (comfort zones?) by participating in these groups. Discomfort aside, it really is a win/win situation as these groups enrich our spiritual walk as well as open our lives up to these 'intentional relationships.' We've certainly been blessed in the past by the folks we've shared life with in our church and life groups. I have no doubt the same will be true this time around.

We have another 10-days left in February. It's often a very cold time of year. I hope you stay warm...literally and figuratively.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Sunday afternoon...Super Bowl Sunday afternoon...the clock is ticking...before long...KICK-OFF!

Sure hoping the Saints can win today. The latest polls show that most folks are rooting for the Saints but predict a win for the Colts. We'll know in a few hours from now.

I had the pleasure of attending a 'Luau' yesterday with my youngest daughter. Two of her girlfriends celebrated their birthdays with a Hawaiian/Luau theme. How perfect for a dreary, winter day! There was hula-dancing, limbo, music and laughter. Authentic food and (best of all!) pineapple upside-down cake! Remember...I'm the cake lover. Cake is good! Pineapple upside-down cake is better! Aloha!

I've really been enjoying my loom-knitting. Waiting for the arrival of two looms; a sock loom and a 'single rake' loom (particularly good for dishcloths I've heard). I've made a throw, scarves and hats. Also just finished the knitting portion of a shopping cart/high chair cover. I'm fascinated with the idea of making socks and dishcloths. My family doesn't understand that one but apparently I'm not alone. There are tons of knitting books out dealing with socks and dishcloths. The only down-side to loom knitting is that there are a lot of different types of looms one can acquire, and, of course...I want them all!

Oh well...ready to settle down in front of the tv for some football and grading school papers. Hope your team wins!

My Baby's Birthday...

Our baby girl is celebrating her 9th birthday today. My husband took the day off from work and the kids and I have a holiday from school.

Today Abbey chose Krispy Kreme for breakfast; that was our surprise. She wouldn't tell us where she wanted to go until it was time for us to go there. Krispy Kreme is good!

After that we took off to the mall and our nearest 'Build-a-Bear Workshop.' Chloe is the newest addition to Abbey's family of bears.

Our birthday girl decided on Jason's Deli for lunch. Apparently a family favorite for many years. I know this because it's where we had Abbey's first birthday party! Spaghetti at home will round out the day. We had our family birthday dinner with everyone at Cici's Pizza last night. The whole 'friends' thing will be this weekend coming up.

With 5 kids, it seemed no matter how old our older kids got we always had 'our baby.' Well, I just don't know where the time has gone. Our 'baby' is, by modern terms, now a 'tween.' All I know is there are more and more departments at Toys 'R Us that contain items that are 'too young' for her. We're on a see-saw with Barbie Dolls at one end and CD's by artists such as Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Emily Osmet, and Demi Lavato at the other.

We're looking forward to a giggly all-girl sleepover this weekend. We know these years go by way too fast so we just have to hold on and enjoy the ride while it lasts. We'll have time to catch our breath later.

Happy Birthday, Abigail! We love you so much!

Welcome 2010

Happy New Year!

"Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols."
--Thomas Mann