And, The Winner Is...

Today is the appointed day... the day to give away the Clara Dress.  I printed out the names, cut them into individual strips and removed the ladies who asked to be excluded.  Smiled over every one of the names.

Folded the strips and placed them in one of my favorite pieces... A silver serving dish my friend, Barbara (does not blog) bought for me while we were searching through the Trades Days magic in Canton.  It is fun to get to buy each other things we see the other attracted to!  She received a lighted, sparkling garland... her very own special Christmas decoration, for her first Christmas without Tony, her husband.  We each took home treasures... treasures of the memory of time spent with a dear one... reminders of good days and good times.

The entries were shuffled around... a name was drawn.  I was as excited to unfold it and see who it would be as I would have been waiting for my own name... Where would The Clara go?  Would it be for a grandchild, a child, a gift, decor???  What life would it be a part of...

My niece, Lindsey is the winner.  And, no, I did not fold the corner of her slip.  Lindsey, this goes into a HOPE chest... not to be used for awhile!  LOL!  I don't think your momma is ready for the grandmother role just yet!  ;)

I do have to admit, I am happy at the possibility of seeing this little dress on a precious baby girl one day.

Thank each of you for your entry and your sweet, sweet comments.  I wish there had been a Clara for everyone of you.  May God bless and keep you this day.

Moving Ahead...

I appreciate so much the encouragement I received from you all on my last post.  It is amazing how generous and kind and supportive the blogging community is.  It truly warms my heart...

And, lifts my spirits... I am grateful for this strange little cyber-world we all share.  Who would have ever thought? 

I've just gotten back from standing in line (not as long as it will be Monday) to pay the Old Girls property taxes.  Glad to have that chore tended.  The sun is out!  It is warming up.  We are supposed to make it to 69 or possibly 70 degrees tomorrow!  I can go for that!

The Ape Arm was dismantled yesterday afternoon... It took a good while just to unravel!  It was so big.  A whole skein of yarn plus the start of another... Maybe that should have given me a hint.  It is funny; when I know I need to rip out a substantial amount, I always have to set it aside for a day or two to work up the nerve to rip it out.  It is like adding insult to injury and I just need awhile to brace myself.  LOL.

Now, my basket is full and ready to attempt the sleeve again.  But, probably not today.

Thank you ladies from the bottom of my heart for your kind and gentle and funny and sweet words of encouragement.  You are gifts.  I am grateful.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Have you ever had one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right? 

And, you know you have to keep moving forward... or you'll get pulled down by an undertow that never seems to wane.  It is much harder to put one foot in front of the other and carry on when the arm you just knitted on your sweater would better suit a 200 pound gorilla than yourself... when the watercolor you worked on all day looks like, at best, a third grader's attempt (and we are not talking child prodigy here, either).  And, these are the things I do for enjoyment... enrichment... to offset some of life's curveballs.

The blessing of the week is no problems with the Old Girls (historic rental homes); just one routine change of locks for a nice little new tenant. 

I'm about to head out for a walk... a prayer... a hope for a lighter afternoon.

Hope your days are running smoothly and all is well in your world...

Pax...

W.I.P.s, etc.

Last Friday night, I had to rummage through my yarn-basket and find something to start a Prayer Shawl... a work-in-progress to take with me Sunday... to a "job fair" of sorts at our church showcasing the different ministries available for folks to join and participate.  Not a lot of time!  No real opportunity to plan or shop!

Desperation can give birth to some strange ideas.   I would never use this yarn to do this pattern again, but it has kind of grown on me for this one time.  So has the pattern, which is crochet.  I can already see that I am going to have to try it in a baby alpaca or some other delicious natural fibre.  I am looking forward to finishing this one soon just to see the finished product.

My poor little sweater that I started for myself has taken the backseat to a kimono and a shawl!

I worked on it a bit today with the ladies in Lindale at Rose Path.  I enjoy the Monet-like look of this Shannon yarn as it works up.

Then, there was the watercolor class... still a WIP, but I can tell this is going to be no Soon Y. Warren experience... I'm about to just get her book and start reading and trying... ahhhh...

Rachel, at Rose Path was kind enough to send me a photo she had made of the shawl I finished for Mom's Christmas.  It is Rowan Big Wool with the most wonderful shawl pin from Michelle.

This is Michelle's lovely daughter, Katie modeling for Rachel's photoshoot.  Thank you, Rachel and Katie.

On a random note, if you need a good laugh, I loved Dilemma with Vince Vaughn.  Evan and I even laughed all the way home, with tears streaming down our faces!  Both of us! 

Missing a friend...

We still miss you, Tony.

Alex's Announcement and Drawing for a Dress

Little Man announced that he is going to have a baby BROTHER!!  His Noni knows he is going to be the best Big Brother ever.  They just don't come any sweeter.  If Baby Brother is just a smidge as sweet as Little Man, we will be blessed indeed.

I'll be taking names from the comments for a drawing for the Clara Dress.  Maybe it can move to someone else's hope chest, or be a baby gift, or be a dress for your baby girl or granddaughter, or hang on a wall.  I will draw the names on January 31 and announce the winner.  It's time to clean out the hope chest.

On another note, I'm starting a watercolor class today.  I haven't touched a brush since my one long weekend encounter in Granbury at Soon Y Warren's workshop.  I loved my final product, but had close supervision and step by step instruction!  Keep your fingers crossed for me!  LOL.

Kimono, Heartache and 15 Bean Soup

I finished this little kimono Monday and it is off in the postal system somewhere...

I was in need of some cheerful colors and a fun little pattern.

The pattern was Koko Kimono,free on Lion Brand Yarn's site, and it filled a need I had.  The colors are Sweetpea, Aqua and Pink Poodle in Vanna's Choice Baby.  I added the little I-cord tie instead of the one the pattern called for.  I wanted a little splash of pink.  =)  It made me smile.

This, on the other hand, caused a catch in my heart.  Funny how you will be going along all fine-and-dandy, then you run across something like a tiny sock... left behind from your Little Man's last visit.  For a moment, the ache of missing those little feet is overwhelming... Then, life goes on again.

And, you make yourself a pot of 15-bean soup with cornbread and a nice salad... and Nellie's Shortbread for dessert... Okay, yes.  I use food for medication sometimes.  But, hey, bean soup is healthy, no?  Just don't know about the butter slathered on my cornbread... or that shortbread... Oh, well.  It was good.  And, comforting. 

I'm linking with Sandi's Friday Favorites at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

Hope you find comfort somewhere in your day.  Shalom.

** 1/15/11  Just had to add this photo of Kaitlynn in her kimono!  Thank you, Lauri!

Knitting Review 2010

The knitting year started with a bunny pattern from Itty Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson and a striped cardigan by Sublime.  Little Man and his Momma named this bunny Coco O'Hare.  The first time I heard LM "Coco O'Hare," my heart just melted (as it does multiple times when I am in his presence). 

 One of my favorite projects of the year is this simple shawl made of Noro yarn.  I can't recall why the next photo is so blurry. 

I LOVE this shawl I tell you.  It's pattern is Sursa and is in a Noro book.

My first (and only) pair of socks.

My second bunny... she went to live with a very precious young lady, who we came to know through her mom's and Nanny's blogging.

 This is sitting in my hope chest... until the 18th, when we will find out whether we can use this for our upcoming arrival..... or not.  I saw it on another blog and just could not resist ordering the kit and making it.  It is called the Clara.

This little elfin hat carries memories of a long, long trip to help a friend bring his mother close for him to help in her care... good and sad memories...

I enjoy this afghan every day.  Every day.

 Another blurry photo.  I remember why this one is this way.  I couldn't figure out how to change my delay from 2 seconds to a more manageable 10 that day!  LOL!  I apologize for the blur... I am just making myself a record of 2010 knitting.  Please forgive.  I made this prayer shawl for Barbara, one of my oldest and dearest friends.

This shawl is named Haruni, which means grandmother.  It lives with another friend named Dee.

This little lacey tank went to our little blogging friend.

This Lily cardigan was made with lots and lots of love for my daughter.

Another shawl, for the prayer shawl ministry at our church.

A little Sublime vest for a new baby boy, "Cousin" to Little Man.

Sublime pattern, knitted in Cupcake, for another sweet "cousin".

Easy Peasy pattern for myself in a Rowan Felted Tweed.

A Sindar waistcoat in Inca by Katia.

A shawl I made for Mom's Christmas out of Rowan's Big Wool.

And last of all, an elfin stocking cap for Santa's little helper!  That wraps up the review of Knitting 2010.  I am missing photos of  a scarf I made for my dear friend, Kathy.  It was rushed down to the wire for gifting and I missed getting any pictures.  Thank you for indulging my desire to make record of all the year's projects.  I have the first project for 2011 off the needles! We are off to a good start!

Hope you are all warm and well fed.  We are blessed.

Looking Out My Wavy Windows...

I've been knitting away in front of a cozy fire... working on what will soon by my first finished project for 2011.  And, no, it isn't the sweater I started last week.  Something else kept crowding into my head.  I'll share more of it later.

Evan is entrenched in front of the football games.  It is playoff weekend...

I just cruised through the house and took a peak out the windows. The snow is piling up.  It really is pretty, though not much has stuck yet.  (It WAS in the high fifties yesterday, afterall.)

Of course, then I had to get my camera.  LOL!

It is supposed to get into the teens over the next couple of days.  Not my favorite weather by any stretch, but I do enjoy every season.  Snow always feels so peaceful.  It make me feel incredibly grateful to have a warm home and shelter from the cold.

There will  be no porch sitting for me today though!  Don't you just love the way the way the wavy glass looks?  I do.  Oh, yes, I do!

These Old Girls have seen many snows... and hopefully, they will see many, many more... long after I am gone from this world.  I love that, too.

Hope you are all snuggled in and finding some little source of a smile for yourself.  Stay warm and be safe...