Sunshine!

Yeah, the sun is shinning and it makes my mood waaaaay better. I have had a terrible cold, thus the blog silence, and I finally feel among the living again. I finished knitting another baby sweater and only have to sew the buttons on so I can gift it tomorrow. I will post that pic soon. I haven't finished my cardi yet as I seem to be working on smaller projects instead. most of them are finishing up so hopefully I will get back at it soon. Made a few more pair of underwear and repaired a few items. Not very exciting but needed to be done and is also productive. I have some new refashioning ideas from wardrobe refashion site and can't wait to give them a try. Can't seem to get up off this chair and get busy though. Bean and ham soup in the crock pot and I need to get bread dough mixed up to go with it. We'll have to wait and see if the boys eat it. I will leave you with a picture of a sock doll I made recently-no one to gift it to yet but now there is one ready if I need it.

Socks- Finished

1 more pair of socks finished. Since I can't surf the net at work as much as I used to, I knit during downtime. That makes a total of 5 pairs. I know it's not very many, but I love them. I have 2 more pairs in the que. I hope I can get at least one more pair done before it is sandal weather. I also finished the last pair of 4 sleep pants I promised the boys from Christmas. I'm not sure what took so long. It wasn't like it takes very long to sew up sweatpants. I'm glad they're done because that means I can sew something for me next. I do have a couple of presents to get sewn, but I think It's my turn next so I can keep up the momentum. I think this jacket is next. I have a blue linen look material with yellow and maroon floral pint to use. I wanted to get it done today, but I don't have it cut out yet and it is already 3pm. We'll see how much gets accomplished. Not much if I don't move away from the computer. I'll post a finished picture soon.

What a Crock!

I can't believe the IT guys at work. Most of the websites have been blocked on the work computers. I can't read any blogs, watch any videos, movies or TV shows. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working, but there is quite a bit of downtime some days during my 12 hour workday. I am so bummed. I like to catch up on all the blogs that led me to wanting to have my own and now I have to try and find time at home. That leaves less crafting time. Not fair! I also can't catch up on the shows I miss while working evenings and weekends. What a crock! I'm hoping maybe it is only temporary because the computer wasn't working quite right today. I guess I will just have to work on my socks instead. It was just nice to have the background programs going on while I knit.
On to more interesting stuff. Here is a small sample of some of my first spinning. A little overspun, but not bad for my first attempts. I can't wait to finish up and knit with it. I thought I would also share with you my boys. These were done while we were on vacation this last summer. We spent a fun week at Okoboji with my family. This is a series of small lakes in northwest Iowa. This is Bud. He started playing the drums his senior year in high school. You can only do that in a small town. He is kind of a natural. I'm proud of him. He gets this nickname from when he was little. My dad always called him Bud said like on The Cosby Show from the 80's.

This is Technoboy. I decided to nickname him this because he is the one I always go to if/when I have a computer question. He seems to always be able to figure it out for me and is patient in showing me repeatedly how to do the same thing over and over again.

This is my youngest ( by a few minutes), Hat head. He usually has a Denver Bronco
cap on, except for this day. He was in trouble and his punishment was to not have his hat for the day. It almost killed him, I swear. That is the only reason he doesn't have it on in the drawing.

Hathead and Technoboy are identical twins. I enjoy looking at these pictures because the artist did a great job of showing their differences. I see them everyday, but when I see them in photographs I see the likeness they have. Sometimes it is tough to tell them apart in photos except they have different taste in clothes and I can usually remember who wore what. Hathead is very picky about what he wears and only has a few specific things he'll wear. He will wash a small load of his clothes every couple days just so he can have his favorites. If he wants to do it, more power to him.

Well I am being harassed again for the computer. Thanks for letting me rant and share.

I want my own computer!!!!

I have been trying to get computer time at home so I can catch up on my blogging. First, I had to wait my turn so I could download the pictures I had been taking. Second, hubby says he needs to check on something. Then, it ends up back in the hands of the kids. UGH! Hubby doesn't understand the whole blogging thing I started. I'm not sure I can explain it to him. Between working, kids and the commute there just doesn't seem to be time (or money) to really keep up friendships. I work with some great gals and we get along good and have nice chats, but it rarely goes outside of work, mainly because I live 35 miles from where I work. I know, make a little effort, but that means valuable time and usually money. Gas was terrible a few months ago so I didn't do anything extraand now I'm in the habit and a fraid the prices will skyrocket again.
Unfortunately, we live paycheck to paycheck and we own horses. That takes a good size chunk of our income. I wouldn't give up watching my boys ride and it is the one thing we do as a family when the summer comes. Back to the topic, I really don't feel i have any close friends that share my crafty interests. Like I said, we have horses and the kids are in 4-H so there are those families we enjoy in the winter. They are all at least 45 min away from where we live. We did try to sell our house last year so we could move closer to where these friends live, but after a year on the market we called it quits. That was not a fun year. Very stressful.
I read blogs in my spare time at work and knit on my breaks, but there isn't really anyone else who shares that passion with me. There are a couple of dablers, but they are the garter stitch scarf makers and that's it. I've tried to steer them along, but they aren't interested really. I enjoy being at home and sewing and knitting. Gardening and horses when the weather is nice. But, that still doesn't include other people. My husband doesn't like to go places much and I get lonely. I need to express myself to other people who will understand and hopefully not judge. I guess that is what I hope to gain here. I don't know if anyone has found my blog yet, but I am enjoying getting myself out there and maybe in time someone will find me. There is so much i feel I have to say and share and would like to try. I don't think he gets that. He has a good buddy that drives truck, so they are able to talk on the phone during the day quite a bit. I can do that with my sister and my mom, but they are a few hours away. I seem to be more comfortable with the computer talking thing. I am able to use the computer at work but the pictures are on the laptop at home and some websites are blocked at work. It's not the same. I hope to get some computer time at home tonight. I need to list some things on ebay and share some photos with you here. Thanks for listening.

It was another ordinary day, and that's o.k. I spent the day getting ready to go house sit with Bud for some of the best friends anyone could ask for. He will take care of the horse chores and I will help take care of the cats and dogs. They are needing some time together. He drives truck and she is going to go out on the road with him for a few days. They put up with Bud and all his anticks. He has pretty much lived with them off and on for the last few years. He has been helping them out this winter since she is alone a lot and that is tough. Especially when you have 20 horses to take care of and everything else that goes along with living on an acreage in the winter especially. This means quite a few nights of knitting time for me. Yeah! I hope to have some FO's to show you at the end of next week. I also plan on doing so spinning during the next week also. I'm really addicted. I have to tell myself that I need to complete the house cleaning first and then I can spin. It's terrible. I can't wait to get it all spun so I can knit something with it. It's a vicious cycle. Well, I better get the boys to help me get our chores done so I can head on over to our friends.

Survival

I feel like I could use a few days to recover from the holiday. There just seems to be so much to do when we get together with my family and the time is so short. We like to play games, video and card as well as other games. It can get pretty loud and crazy at times depending on which game is on the table. Always lots of fun and an abundance of food. My SIL likes to bake so there was a wide variety of goodies including fudge, pie and a variety of cookies. I think I will wait to step on the scale for a week or so. The handmade gifts were well received. I was a little worried. My MIL liked her shawl made out of Malabrigo. This was the first time I used this yarn and now I know of which the resst of you speak. I hope I can afford to make a sweater out of it sometime in the near future. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of it. I did get a picture of the hats I made for my nephews and brother.

I have one more to make and that is the 2 colorwork pattern which is a first for me. It is coming along quite well. I am a little proud of myself. Next up, I will try to tackle cables. I made the mistake of letting Bud's girlfriend go through my patterns and pick out a sweater she would like. She picked a zip-front cardigan with cables. It is probably the most difficult pattern I own. It is very cute, but I hope I can accomplish it. Of course, she also picked to have me do it in black. UHGGGG! Nothing like a challenge right?! I guess I won't be done with Christmas presents for a while yet. Well, I better get back to knitting. I'll post more Christmas pictures next time.