Happy Valentines Day!

To all our friends, family, and blogging buddies:



Tina, HoneyDew and Sampson too!

Girls Gone Wild....over yarn that is! /AKA 6th Annual Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival

So today was the first time I actually made it to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival! Let me tell you it was great! Knitters (and crocheters) in my experience are the friendliest people no matter where they come from.

We started out at 9:00AM from Jerri's house were Kathie, Bonnie, Jerri and I met up. After a chai tea latte run from the Summer House, a must have for any successful trip (no matter how many potty breaks we have to take!) we were on our way.

Upon arriving at the festival we immediately ran into one of our mentors from the Kindred Spirits days, Jill Bigelow-Suttell of  B-ewe-tiful Designs who unbeknownst to us was right in the middle of teaching a class as we gaily waved and shouted greetings, she calmly, without missing a beat, waved and smiled as we 'quickly' caught on and red faced, hastily changed direction towards the registration table. Rounding a corner we spotted the first vendor booth manned by another of our knitting mentors Jane Bigelow of Kindred Spirits and B-ewe-tiful Design. After carefully looking around to make sure we didn't make the same mistake twice, there were greetings and hugs all around. It was beginning to look like a Kindred Spirits reunion! And it didn't end there, when we made it to the registration table who do we find but Sue Spencer! Again greetings and hugs all around, whew what fun and the day is just getting started!

Finally we get our coats checked in and we are ready to SHOP!

Into the fray we went and let me tell you the place was packed! Vendors, shoppers, demonstrators, facilitators, books, kneedles, any type of yarn you can imagine, spinners, weavers, buttons, knit pots, stitch markers, patterns galore, a live angora rabbit (sooooo cute!) on and on. It was almost overwhelming...almost!

I think next year I will make a list of which projects I am planning on making, then the list of yarns, texture, weight, and amount of skeins needed. That would be the smart way to do it. But as this was my first trip I think I did ok, next year though, I will do BETTER!

This trip was such a great time because although I started out with 3 friends, we were able to connect with my friend Jean and three of her friends, Mary Ellen, Tristina and Lori. I also ran into another friend from Pittsburgh Truth T. and her friend, so in the process made four more friends! You see how this grows?!

After we were wore out and shopped till we dropped, our shopping was done the eight of us made plans to go to lunch at Olive Garden. I don't know about you but I simply love their soup, salad, and bread sticks 'all you can eat' deal. I had the chicken and gnocci soup...

Oh and DESSERT! I believe someone called mine "death by chocolate" but actually it is a chocolate torte, all I can say is ummmmmmmmmmm, and let me unsnap my jeans!

Decadent!

Ok, now wipe the drool off your mouth as I can't have you getting it on my yarn,and I will show you my new additions to my stash...and I did exercise some restraint ...

First the Black and Gold Yarn and pattern were freebies, because I had a "golden ticket" that I submitted at the Cascade Yarn booth, (I felt abit like Charlie at the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory!), the lavender colored yarn is for someone that is expecting a baby and if she doesn't have a girl it is going into my grandchildren hope chest (and yes I do have one!), the turquoise is "milk yarn", it is actually made from a by product of pasturizing milk! What will they come up with next! The picture below of the hand mitts with the cabling is what I am hoping to create with that particular yarn, wish me luck, as to date I have not done cables! I have taken a brave step or am deluding myself...it remains to be seen...

*The only thing that is not pictured here is the stitch markers that I have gotten for a friend.

But at the end of the day this is what the trip was all about...

Great Friends!

Help, Help, we are snowed in!

No, that was not me. That was the squawks being heard from 100 Cackle Way. But not too fear, after DH got the path cleared again with the snow blower, BHR (basset hound rescue) was on the way!

Of course there was the sniff stops along the way!

"Well it certainly took you long enough!" cackled Miss Persnickity.

"Here now, no shoving! Plenty for everyone!" Says Sir Cockothewalk.

For myself I rather like this view of the chicken coop in the winter time...

...the one from inside the house!

Definitely enjoying the weather from here! And as you can see my car hasn't moved all day. It is the white mound in front of DH blue car...

I did have one reminder that spring would be coming. Some fresh cut herbs from a friends kitchen herb garden.

It has also been an ideal time to knit. I have been having a try at some lace work and so far these small projects have turned out ok...

After I finish a certain project that I can't show a picture of, I am going to tackle a lace scarf that is made from Kidsilk Haze Mohair. It's a wonderfully fine yarn. If it turns out I will post pics, if not, well I'll never mention it again, lol :-P

Basset Snuggles...

Look at this sweet face!

Momma just loves her little girl especially when it is snuggle time. All that loose skin, soft ears, velvety fur, what's not to love?

Sampson loves to snuggle too, especially when his Dad has just gotten up to go to work, he jumps up, goes under the covers, then comes back up to the top so his head is on Dad's pillow!

You know he is eating this up!

Happy DOT's,

Tina, HoneyDew and Sampson too!

A new style...

Today, I had had it. I was done with it. Couldn't do anything with it anyway so it was time for it to go! As I have been known to take scissors to it myself (and with drastic results), It was kindly suggested that I make an appointment and go, don't delay, run even!

I am fortunate to have a NIL who is a hair stylist, that was nice enough to squeeze me in today. I took out several pictures that I thought might work but left it up to her as to which cut. The cut she gave me can be just wash, scrunch, and go (I have curly hair so less messing the better!) or I can straighten and "wisp it up". She decided to style it straight and show me how to do it:

Yes folks, my hair is really that silver, and you thought I was kidding about my boys giving me gray hairs!

So whatcha think? Better then me hacking on it right?!

What's for Dinner...

One of my goals for this year is to try one new recipe a week. I have been managing to do this but I thought it might be something others would want to try too. So I thought I would start posting pictures of what I made then if anyone is interested I can send the recipe to them to try. Just leave a comment requesting the recipe!

Last night I made Chicken with Kale. It is supposed to have a base of couscous or polenta, as I did not have any I substituted rice. (*According to WW this is 6 points a serving. Don't let this fact scary you off, it is quite tasty!)

My DH is not a person big on veggies, he is more of a meat and potatoes sort of guy, but he liked this tasty dish and even helped himself to seconds! This will be one that I keep and make again.

Still Snowy and Cold...

but handknit wool socks keep these toes nice and toasty!

Uh-huh...

It was another cold lazy day around here for this DOT Post.

The pups have been sneaking upstairs and taking a turn on the bed. We think it is the electric blanket that is attracting them! They have been great just looking forward to smaller snow drifts and slightly warmer weather! We have gotten out for walks but not long hikes or off lead walks as the snow has been pretty deep in the woods yet.

In other news, I haven't been sleeping real well, last night however after this...

and some of  this...

which resulted in this...

and a good night's sleep!

I am working on it's mate tonight. I don't think I will have quite as much sleep as my youngest is back on his way to college tonight. (I keep trying to get him to travel during normal hours but no he thinks the gray in my hair is attractive!)

Suprises come in many forms...

I love suprises! Well most of the time...as long as they are good suprises and not unpleasant ones (I have had enough of them, but haven't we all!).

Yesterday I received a surpise package in the mail from my littlest sis:

...and can I say it is absolutely wonderful! A "Words to Woof" by daily calendar that has dog tips, "thoughts", pictures with funny captions, a journal and a pen! I will enjoy this in the upcoming year and I admit I did peek ahead to see what some of the upcoming dates had on them!

A big Thank you Sis, and {{Hugs}}, I will be using them for sure!

After the package arrived, it seemed to stir some creative juices in me and spurred me to action to complete some errands that I had been putting off. So I made my list and headed off to town.

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  Feed the chickens
  
  
  
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  Feed the fish
  
  
  
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  Feed the dogs
  
  
  
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  Gas up the car
  
  
  
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  Grocery store
  
  
  
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  Oil change in car
  
  
  
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  Joannes' Fabric Store
  
  
  
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  Make dinner
  
  
  
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  take pictures for blog
  
  
  
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  Knitting Group
  
  
  

One of my stops was to Joanne's Fabrics from which I had a gift card that I received at Christmas. On my list of goals was to start sewing again and inspired by GMarie as well as my mom, this is what I purchased:

Sewing machine oil (it hasn't been used in a while so figured better make sure it is cleaned and oiled up), scissors a four pack that had each kind I may need in various sizes, and two patterns that have multisizes so that if I hit another of my goals I can still use the patterns!

And while I was still feeling in the creative mood, I decided to make up a hearty comfort food dish for dinner that the family would (hopefully) enjoy:

...when I say creative and make up, I am not joking! No recipe just threw some stuff together that I thought might taste good. Chicken, noodles, sauteed and chopped carrots, celery, onion, parsley, tarragon, some cream of chicken soup for the sauce, then crushed crackers and cheddar cheese for a topper and into the oven it went.

It was yummy and was a hit with the family!

Then it was over to visit with a friend (and help her with her dinner as she has been incapcitated with a broken hip/leg) for a couple of hours.

And lastly on to knitting group! J had gotten in some really cool knitting books, so we all spent time drooling over Rowan, Vogue and French Girl Knits. We did get soommme knitting done!

What a fun day! Can hardly wait to see what today brings.

I miss my mom's blogs...

We talk on the phone quite a bit. But she lives out of state so I don't get much chance to see her. So when she was posting and I would read her post, it was like walking up onto the front porch, knocking on the door and being invited in for a cup of tea!

Her posts just always made me feel like I was coming home although it was not the home that I had grown up in. She was just a click away, anytime of the day or night...

So just wanted to say how much I missed that instant access, her insights, her pictures, her thoughts, really just the view of her world out her window.

I love you mom!