News From The Nest

A Knitty Day

Today was great!!  It poured down rain just about the whole day.  We so desperately need the rain that I ignored the red mud cat paw prints all over the back porch and the muddy driveway. 

The best part of the day was it was a very cozy day to knit!  I knit on my Mystery Shawl #6 and a little on my second Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf.  Getting ready for Christmas really put me behind on my shawl.  The final clue was posted yesterday (#5).  I've only finished Clues #1 (Snowflakes) and #2 (Snow Capped Mountains).  I've just started Clue #3 (Snow Covered Forest).  The pattern is so pretty!  The Jagger Spun Maine Line is working nicely and looks very wintry in the Pewter.  The Maine Line is a bit fuzzy which is different than the last shawl I knit. 

I was knitting away on the shawl and Gracie was under the table where my yarn cone was located.  All of a sudden, I pull this soggy yarn end up.  Gracie had chewed my yarn in two!!!  Well, I spit-spliced it.  Actually, she spit and I spliced.  Spit-splicing has been the most handy thing I've learned this year. 

This was also an excellent day for napping.  How many cats can you fit on a mat???  In this case, only three.  I don't understand it -- they were sleeping all the time in their new bed.  Now, I haven't seen any of the kitties in it for about 3 days.  I don't see anything different about the bed.  I'm not what is causing them to stay away.   

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and back to work I go.  My last appointment is at 4:00 PM.  I'm a little surprised that the doctor's office is open that late.  Hopefully, they won't be busy.

Until later.....

Holiday Greeting

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading For the Love of Fiber this year. 

I hope you will visit often in 2008.

Fondly,

Robin

Christmas Day On Christmas Eve

Mom and Daddy got here Christmas Eve morning about 10:00.  They brought Lily, of course.  She was decked out in her Christmas finery. After putting everything in the oven to cook, we got down to business unwrapping gifts.  Either Brian or Taylor crawl under the tree and distribute the gifts each year.  Then, the paper flies! 

We had such fun!  Before we got started, everyone had to look through the magic Christmas glasses.  I got them at Cracker Barrel.  They are so cool!!  You put them on and look through them at the lights (any lights) and the lights all look like snowflakes, snowmen, and Santa Claus - depending on which pair of glasses you are looking through.  I bought the snowflake and snowman glasses and held each one up to my camera.  Look closely at the lights on the tree in the two close-up pictures.

Taylor's big gift was a new sleeping bag.  Brian and  Eryn received money and gift certificates to Dick's Sporting Goods and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Mom loved her earrings that Mary made (remember she brought them to knit night December 11th).  I gave Daddy the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf I knit with the shades of brown and gray Noro Silk Garden.  Andy, of course, loves his anvil and Taylor gave him a gift certificate to a blacksmith supply shop near Richmond. 

Taylor gave me a gift certificate to Peace of Yarn in Matthew.  So, I need to plan a weekend to go visit him and use my gift certificate.  I also received gift certificates to Knitting Sisters from Andy and Mom and Daddy.  Yippee!  So, looks like a yarn trip to Williamsburg is also  in the future.  Andy also gave me a pair of earrings and a bracelet that we picked out in Waynesville, NC while on our trip.  I prefer to think of them as my 50th birthday present because that was such a momentous occasion. 

My most special gift --- Brian and Eryn put together a book of photos from the wedding and published it online.  So very special!!!  I just love it and wish I could show it to each of you.  The book includes are pictures from their wedding and from their beach honeymoon.    

Christmas Day is going to feel kind of odd since Santa Claus came early.  Maybe Andy, Taylor, and I should wrap everything up and do it all again!

Maybe it will be a good day to catch up on my Mystery Shawl and finish the second Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. 

May each of you have a wonderful Christmas day celebrating your special beliefs and making special memories with your family and friends.

Now................. to all a good night!

Ate Too Much

The gang's all here!  Minus two dogs.  Eryn and Brian decided to leave Darby and Bailey at home and have Eryn's sister look after them.  That was probably the best as the weather today was yucky!  Rainy and misty all day and our yard has a lot of red mud where we backfilled the basement walls. 

We ate dinner this afternoon at Mom and Dad's.  Had the traditional fare - turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole, deviled eggs, and rolls.  Mom made pickled pineapple which was really good.  She said it was easy - I'll get the recipe and share it with you all.  For dessert, we had boiled custard - my Grandmother's recipe.  It's not like anyone else's custard I've tasted.  Mom strains it through cheesecloth and no skim forms on her recipe.  It goes down mighty easy!

Next, we headed downstairs to do presents.  Mom had her hands full!  There's Gracie pup and Lily.  Lily is like, "Don't make me touch her!"  Lily is sitting up with her little paws tucked as far back from Gracie as they'll go.   

Here's a picture of the newlyweds, Eryn and Brian.  It's so good to see them.  We don't get to often enough. 

And, here's Gracie pup in the holiday spirit.  Taylor left to go meet some of his friends tonight and left Gracie pup here.  He put her in her crate before he left.  She cried, barked, and howled for about an hour and a half non-stop.  We finally let her out and she continued to cry - looking for Taylor everywhere.  I tell you - she loves Taylor!

In the morning, we'll have Christmas brunch and open presents here.  Then, Eryn and Brian will head home.  Too short!

Most Meaningful Ornament and A Good Nap

While visiting Robin's blog I saw that she posted this MeMe.  It's the Ornament Tag - so tag, you're it!! Here are the rules:

1. Take a picture of your favorite ornament and put it on your blog telling everyone about it.

2. Post a link to the person on whose blog you found out about the Ornament Tag.

3. Post the rules.

I have LOTS of ornaments!  My birthday is in December and while pregnant, my mother started collecting ornaments for me.  Most of them are little and I have at least a couple of hundred.  Some wooden ones from Germany, some handmade ones, etc.  I have put them on the tree each year until about three years ago.  I wanted a change so I decided to do an all snowman tree.  I used a lot of snowmen from my original collection and then added a few more.  I also hang glass icicles and snowflakes.  The snowmen just make me smile. 

There is one ornament on my tree each year that's not a snowman.  In 1993, I had a backache and then a queasy stomach with pain.  I was headed to the beach - just the boys and me - for vacation.  We made it to Emerald Isle and I continued to feel BAD.  Mom and Dad were coming down the next day so I waited.  Didn't sleep a wink that night.  They got there the next morning and I left the boys with Daddy while Mom and I went to the emergency room in Morehead City, NC.  They did a CT scan and told me I had a spot on my liver or kidney (can't remember now) and told me I should go home and follow-up with my doctor.  So, I left the boys at the beach with Mom and Dad and drove home.  I saw my doctor and had another CT scan.  There was no spot on my liver or my kidney.  There was a fist-size tumor on my pancreas.  The doctor recommended that I go to Duke University Medical Center.  I ended up with more tests, surgery for a tail resection of the pancreas (the tumor was on the tail away from the ducts which was good), a splenectomy, and removal of a pelvic cyst.  I was opened from breast bone to pubic bone (14 inches) and stapled closed with 33 staples.  I was at Duke for twelve days and out of work for three months.  I was so sick. 

Christmas 1993, my parents gave me the angel that accompanies the snowmen each year on the tree.  She represents life and health to me.  She reminds me how fortunate I was / am.  The tumor was benign.  I was very lucky to have her looking over me that day. 

The kitties got their Christmas present early.  A new kitty bed!  They LOVE it!!   I had to sneak quietly up to the window to catch this picture.  Here are George and Earl Gray all curled up keeping each other toasty warm.  There's room for Gracie, too, but most of the time she chooses another sleeping place.  They are so cute and sweet!!  Have I said that before???

Well, this was a break -- now it's back to cleaning!

A Christmas Miracle

As I sat at the kitchen table facing the window, this is what I saw.  George climbing all over the dogwood tree trying to catch two mockingbirds.  He was hysterical!  He climbed up one way and then figured out the birds were on another branch and he wouldn't be able to reach them.  Down he would come and up he would go via a different route.  He continued this for at least 10 minutes.  The mockingbirds just sat there well out of reach.  I could tell they were thinking - silly silly cat!   When George had had enough, he climbed down the branch that led into the big boxwood to the right of the dogwood.  He disappeared into the bush and then emerged looking unfazed by his foolishness. 

Yesterday, December 21st, was Mom and Daddy's 57th wedding anniversary!  I took my camera to Danville to take a picture of them but forgot it and left it in the car.  Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Here's a look at the second Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf.  This one is knit with Noro 252.  I am really enjoying this pattern.  It holds my interest and I love to watch the colors and the triangles develop.

Here's another picture of George having a moment with one of the snowman ornaments on the tree.  It's funny - all the ornaments on the tree and he goes to this one every night when he comes in the house to play.  Tonight, I took a break from wrapping presents and stretched out on the couch.  I had let the kitties inside for their playtime.  When they saw me all stretched out, here they came -- up on the sofa with me.  Earl Gray on my chest, George on my stomach, and Gracie at my feet.  I was covered from head to toe in cats!  Soon, everyone, including me, was purring away!  The other night they did the same thing -- I was lying on my right side and Earl was on top of my left side stretched from my waist to my shoulder, George was curled up in front of me, and little Gracie was above my head on the pillow.  They obviously enjoy this respite.  They are just TOOO cute and sweet. 

The Christmas miracle in the title is probably not what you're thinking.  There will be a miracle taking place at my house tomorrow.  It will get cleaned!  I have to go through all the clutter and try to get stuff straight.  A lot of stuff just needs to be tossed!  Living in this old house, we don't have closets.  Being under renovation since we moved in in 1986 (long story), we just don't have the organization that I would like.  I look forward to when this place is finished inside and it resembles a real home.  It's been way too long!  I dream of someone coming in and just cleaning it from top to bottom - throwing out all the old junk.  I probably would never miss it.  Yes, a miracle will take place!!  Wish me luck!

Taylor, Brian, and Eryn will all be coming in on Sunday.  With them will be Taylor's dog Gracie (Dachshund-Pomeranian mix) and Brian and Eryn's dogs Darby and Bailey (Jack Russell-Pitbull mix and Border Collie mix).  They will ALL be in the house!  And, it's supposed to rain on Sunday!  Ugh!  My poor kitties will be so traumatized!  Brian, Eryn, and their "children" will leave on Monday but Taylor and Gracie will stay until Wednesday.  It will be fun having everyone here together.

Pay It Forward & A Yarny Christmas

KSee recently posted about Pay It Forward and I responded to her.  Part of the deal is that I post it to my blog and tell you how it works.  I'll send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward exchange.  Then each of these 3 people will Pay It Forward by making the same promise on their blog.  So, for those of you who want to join this good   karma exchange, leave me a comment!!!

I met Taylor and his girlfriend, Rachael, today at Friendly Shopping Center in Greensboro.  My parents came, also.  After lunch at the Bear Rock Cafe, we headed out to shop.  We hit Eddie Bauer, Extra Ingredient, Friendly Pets, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, and Barnes & Noble. 

We passed Gap Kids and look what was in their store!!!!  I had to go inside and take pictures for you.  The tree with just the balls of yarn on it was in the window and due to the bright light the picture turned out a little dark.  The other tree with the balls of yarn and the scarves was in the front center of the store.  How cool!!!

We shopped together but after the Friendly Pets, we went our separate ways - Mom and Dad headed back home, Taylor and Rachael went to Macy's, and I left Friendly Shopping Center and drove to the State Street area.  I was hoping that This & That, a yarn shop on Cornwallis, would be open but it was closed.  So, I went to Carolina Coffee & Tea  and had an Egg Nog Latte and met another knitter!  Esther and her husband were sitting there enjoying their coffee and she was knitting a sweater from the new kimono book.  The yarn she was using was very nice and looked a lot like Manos.  She got it in Portland, OR and is going to send me the name of it.  I was wearing my Sursa Shawl, which was perfect for the weather today.  Since I just happened to have my newly started Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf in my pocketbook, I sat down and knit a bit while we talked.  I tell you what!  You never know where you'll find a knitter!  We're just everywhere!

We got the tree up last night and I loaded it with snowmen.  They just make me smile!  Also on the tree are snowflakes, glass icicles, and glass balls filled with red metallic yarn (in photos).  I forgot to but the garlands of beads on before the ornaments - oh well!  They show up really well.  I got home from  Greensboro and Andy had the candles in the windows.  I love them - they just make the rooms seem more peaceful.  I made the wreaths - took about 15 minutes tops to do two small ones on the back doors and the large one on the front door.  I have plain grapevine wreaths on the doors all year.  For my Christmas wreaths, I just break off boxwood from the bushes along the sidewalk and take leftovers from the Christmas tree.  I put a bow on each grapevine wreath and then stick the boxwood and tree remnants into the wreath above and below the bow.  I like them and they're SOOOOO easy!  Here's one of the small wreaths on the back doors.

OK, I'm waiting to see who the first three will be who will join us in Pay It Forward.  Hopefully, I'll have some progress on the new scarf to show you.  Until then..........

Done & Done

Andy finished his tripod for the stewpot.  And, he got paid!  This morning, he's off to the bank to open up a checking account for Rebel Hill Forge.  Why Rebel Hill?  That's the name of our 1790 home. 

Barry (scroll down for his picture), a local woodworker in Halifax County, commissioned Andy to make the tripod on behalf of a private group.  The group has events at Carter's Tavern where they all dress up in period garb.  Everything they use must be authentic.  Barry found and bought the stewpot at an antique shop but it didn't have a handle.  So, Andy had to make a handle for it plus the tripod.  Barry didn't want him to put any finish (flat black paint, beeswax, etc.) on it. 

Barry delivered the tripod and the pot to the group yesterday and said they were tickled to death with it.  He said he'd be calling on Andy again.  Barry does a lot of restoration work and is involved in Colonial Williamsburg.  In fact, he was commissioned to do some work for the recent Jamestown anniversary.  He is also well-known for his Windsor chairs.

My first Multi-Directional Scarf is done.  I used #9 Knit Pick's Options Needles.  I love this pattern!!!  Knit from NORO's Silk Garden (Color 47 - shades of gray and brown), it's beautiful!  I love to watch as the colors change.  This pattern was a lot of fun to knit.  No counting!  Yippee!  I found the pattern on Ravelry and it starts off with just 1 stitch.  It was really cool how it worked up.  It's an interesting scarf pattern to knit.  I really enjoyed  it and have already cast on for a second one - again out of Silk Garden (Color 252 - shades of black, green, and turquoise).   

After having record-breaking heat this week with highs in the 80's, the weather has finally returned to cool and more seasonal temps today.  Today will be a good day to bring the Christmas tree in and get it all gussied up.  It's very gray outside - wintry looking.  Perfect for a mug of hot tea and tree decorating. 

Taylor called and wants me to meet him in Greensboro, NC tomorrow at Friendly Shopping Center.  He and Rachael are driving up from Charlotte to Christmas shop.  The boys and I used to go to Friendly Shopping Center every year to Christmas shop.  It's a very nice center with shops for everyone's interests - clothes, books, food, kitchen stuff, camping/hiking, pets, etc.  It's been around a long time - my parents and I used to shop there when I was a little girl - and has only gotten bigger and better.  I'm not fond of indoor malls so this is perfect.  At Christmas time, they operate a decorated open air trolley that you can ride to different parts of the shopping center.  I don't NEED to go tomorrow - I NEED to clean my house.  BUT, my son has asked me to come and I can't say no to that.  Mom and Dad might go with me.  Andy, too, maybe.  We're sure to have a great time.

Here's a cat in a bag!  When George comes in at night, he heads straight into one of these bags I've left on the floor for him.  He curls up, purrs, plays.  He's in kitty heaven!  (Samantha, we're really getting good use out of these little mice!)  Earl Gray is celebrating today -- he's finished his ointment and Amoxicillin liquid!  YEAH!!!

Rebel Hill Forge, TNK, and Earl Gray!

It looks like Rebel Hill Forge is off and running!

Andy is working on his first blacksmith job.  He has been asked to make a tripod for a stew this  Saturday at Carter's Tavern in Halifax County.  His tripod is 6.5 feet tall.  He has made 4 hooks (1 twenty-four inch hook, 2 twelve inch hooks, and 1 six inch hook) from which to hang the stewpot.  With the various length hooks, the pot can be hung at different levels over the fire. 

Can you see the tripod to the left in the background of this photo? He was working at night with bright lights.  He finished making all the parts but now he has to add the finishing touches.  Note the rings at the top of the tripod.  Each of the three "legs" has a ring at the top and the three rings are interlocked.  So, when picked up, the tripod collapses for easy carrying.  I'll be sure to take a picture of it once it's all finished. 

The picture to the left above is of an old hand crank forge that Andy bought at a blacksmith conference in Ohio several months ago.  See the wooden handle?  You pump the handle which turns the wheel whcih increases the air to the coals / fire.  Hopefully, not in the too distant future, Andy will have a permanent forge - for now, though, this does a great job.  He says this will be good if he ever travels and does demonstrations. 

The pictures to the right shows Andy heating up the piece of steel in the forge.  And, to the right you can see him shaping one of the hooks around the beak of the anvil.   

Last night, I went to Richmond, VA for a very special birthday dinner.  The knitters (13 of us) treated me to dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill.  It was delicious!!!  I had one of the specials - grilled salmon, lobster ravioli, and Spiedino Di Mare.  Yummy!  Then, Mary and I shared a decadent chocolate dessert layered with cake and chocolate mousse.  MMMMMM!

After dinner, we headed over to Barnes & Noble to knit.  Alice had finished her Pi Shawl and it was absolutely beautiful!  She also showed these three hats.  I loved the textures and stitch patterns.  One of Alice's daughters is a student at VA Tech and gives the hats to her friends at school.  Lucky kids!  Great hats!

We were also treated to a showing of Mary M.'s earrings and pins.  WONDERFUL!  I did lots of Christmas and birthday shopping.  They were really fabulous!  All day, I've been thinking of others I should have purchased a pair for.  I got my hair cut today and was wearing a pair.  Renee was just nuts about them!  I should have gotten a pair for her for Christmas.  I bought quite a few pairs - maybe I have a pair that's an extra.  They are so light-weight.  They're made of paper and are coated with an acrylic finish.  Some of them have bits of yarn, layered paper, grasses, beads, etc.  Some, the way they're layered, even look 3-D.   

Now, guess who's home????????!!!!!!!  Earl Gray!  His left eye is still a tiny bit squinty.  He's still on eye ointment and antibiotic medicine by mouth twice daily.  This will be interesting!  He gives me a wide berth if he thinks I'm approaching him with medicine administration intent. 

When I drove up and let Earl out of the car, George and Gracie came running.  They had to sniff and rub against him.  It was quite a homecoming.  So cute to watch them.  They really missed him.  I missed him, too!  Dr. Dahl said his eye looks great!  Thankfully.  Earl has really gorgeous  eyes - green green pools. 

The Old And The New

Here's Andy's old anvil.  Someone gave it to him.  It is a small one and has been used and abused.  Note the hunk that's chipped off the side. 

Here's Andy's new anvil.  It's a German-made Peddinghaus 165 pound forged steel anvil.  Forged makes it stronger than a cast steel anvil.  Now, Andy has to build a stand / base to set it on.  The fellow at Kayne & Son's Blacksmith Depot in Candler, NC gave him a plan for a stand.  The stand will hold the anvil securely so it won't shift or move while  working on it.  The base will also place the anvil at the right height - something that the cinder blocks don't do.  He worked a bit on it today - rounding the corners, etc. - breaking it in and getting it ready to go.

The old anvil is certainly still useable but the new anvil gives him more work space on the bigger surface.  Plus, the Hardie (square) and Prichel (round) holes are in different positions making for a better work stance.

Nothing new on the knitty front today.  Made a batch of cream lotion to fill orders for the gals in Richmond and packed up bags full of cream and soaps.  I also picked up Annie from the boarder - she was glad to get home.  I decided to leave Earl at the vet.  I'm going to Richmond Tuesday and will come back on Wednesday, which means Earl would miss two doses of medicine.  So, better to leave him at the vet.  Sorry, Earl.  Boy!  He's going to have a catitude and a half when he comes home!