News From The Nest

Out With The Old .... Part 2

Out with the old and in with the new ....... again.

First, it was the washing machine. 

Now, our TV broke.

I cut it on one night last week. When I attempted to change the channel, there was a bright green frizzle. Then, no sound, no picture. The power was on but nothing else was.

I guess it was time. We'd had that huge old television for so long that I can't remember ever having any other one. 

Tonight, Andy came home with a new TV. Our boys will be shocked that their father bought a TV - a new model one at that. Good ol' Sam's club! (Thank goodness they don't make those old 200 lb. televisions like we had or Andy sure would have brought one of those home instead.)

Is this what happens when you get older? When you've been married forever? Everything starts breaking?

I sure hope this - broken stuff - doesn't come in 3's!

I bought a new electric skillet last night. My other one was 30 years old - from 1981 no kidding - and I've been using it with a broken leg for at least the past 20 years. I felt I was due. 30 years - sheesh - I think I got my use out of that!

Where is a shower when I need one? Shouldn't there be some kind of shower for reaching 50? I could use a new mattress and some new sheets, too!

Busy Saturday

We had a table full of finished objects Saturday at knitting. 

Jeanette brought her gorgeous felted and embellished bags and bowl. Her bags are so unique due to all the finish work she does. She sewed on beads and buttons after the bags and bowl were felted. She also added ribbon around the top edge of the two bags. The bowl you see here in the back right of the picture is tipped up on edge so you can see the bottom. I think it looks like flowers.

Mary crocheted Luigi. He is so cute! She has previously crocheted mushrooms, Mario, etc. from Mario's world. I'm not sure who this is destined for. Possibly a grandson?

Carol finished her Pettine. So pretty! She blocked it using blocking wires and mats. if you don't have any and knit a lot of shawls, they are a MUST. Knit Picks sells them. Her shawl looked so nice with all the points blocked out. 

Marsha also had a finished Pettine but doesn't want to show hers until it's all blocked and ready to go.

(Pettine can be purchased separately at the link above or you can buy the E-book - Sideways Shawlettes - which has Pettine and seven other lovely and easy shawlette patterns in it.)

There was tons of stuff taking shape today. Mary was knitting the Radiating Star Baby Blanket, Joan was working on Pettine, Ande on Multnomah, Donna on a prayer stole, Susan on a lovely shawl named Treasure Lace, and Anna was working on a Noah's Ark Baby Blanket (link for the crochet version).  I'm not certain what Diana, Sara, Carol, and Marsha were working on. They were at the other end of the table and I didn't get down their way. Such a super creative group!

After grocery shopping and stopping by Grandma's Garden to see if they had anything I can put on my vegetables (I have little green worms eating the leaves on my Brussel Sprouts), Andy and I rode out to Stokes Berry Farm near Wilmington to pick some black raspberries. They also grow yellow and red raspberries and strawberries. A little bowl of these with some whipped cream on top. YUMMY!

After dinner, I went out to check the Bluebird boxes. I was just sure they would all be empty and in need of cleaning.

Box #3 was empty so I dumped the old nest and swept out all the yuck stuff.

Box #2 was stuffed to the brim with baby tree swallows. The nest cup was so full that I couldn't even count how many birds there were in it.

As I approached Box #1, I thought I saw something in the hole. When I got closer, Momma Tree Swallow was peering out at me. She flew off after a moment. When I opened the box, I discovered she had two eggs.

These Tree Swallows have been really busy this year building nest after nest. I just wish they'd let the Bluebirds have a turn. 

Old And New

Lots of doings over at the Pioneer Village. We've been hearing gunshots, drums, singing, etc. for the past several nights so we rode down there tonight to take a peek. A large crowd of folks. Lots of tents, teepees, people in period dress. We went around dinner time - the fires were going and something sure smelled good!

When the boys were young, I used to do Ash Lawn-Highland's Plantation Days. The three of us would go in period costume. I would tend my rug hooking booth while the boys romped and played with the children of the reenactors. There were always lots of children around. They always had a blast - making butter, going on ox cart rides (the oxen were named Sir and Loin), playing soldier, whittling, etc. And, every year following that weekend, they would get  whopping cases of poison ivy. Especially Brian. He was SO allergic to poison ivy. He would get it just everywhere. Good times, even though he ended up itchy!

Those reenactors are very serious about what they do. It's fascinating to visit their camps and talk with them about the past. A lot of them make their own costumes. Everything must be done like it was in that period. Down to the tiniest details. From cooking, sewing, the make-up of their tents and furniture and linens inside, etc. It's a real education.

I'm zipping right along on the Radiating Star Baby Blanket. I really like it - it's really fun to knit.

I promised you a look at my spinning so here it is. This is LUSCIOUS fiber! As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it's a blend of Coopworth and Silk. Just yummy! The silk makes the yarn shimmer. It's really lovely and practically spins itself. I can't wait to ply it and see the finished product. I hope it yields a lot of yardage because I would really like to knit a good-size shawl with this. 

Today was a perfect day to be in the garden - it was cool and breezy. I went out early this morning and pulled weeds, dead- headed, pulled up a ton of Chamomile (it was taking over), and tried to pull up young sunflowers just sprouting from seeds the birds "planted". I LOVE the sunflowers but they are hiding my Becky and Crazy Daisies and my Pink Poodle Echinacea. They are so tall - looks like a jungle. It's even had to get past them to cut my flowers. I'll enjoy them while I can and then promptly pull them up.

As I was taking another sunflower picture, this bee zoomed into my shot. Wonder if he's the same one
who did this a few days ago? A real camera hog, that one!

I have a lot of little vases and I love the small flower arrangements they make. They just take a few flowers, herbs, or on some occasions - weeds. Here are two more of my favorites  little vases. Each has a frog (metal device with sharp teeth) in the bottom that you stick the flower stems into. Stick them in at different angles and Ta-Da! - you have a flower arrangement!

Tomorrow, I teach beginning knitting at Main Street Yarns and then it's off to my knitting group. Can't wait to see my knitting peeps!

Hope you have a great Saturday, too!

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Note re: sources for roving that Lisa and Kathy had at spinning last night ---- check out Rogue Adventures and Spinning the Web. Both of these sources are on Etsy.

All Spun Up

I had a 1:15 PM work appointment in Westerville today (an hour and half from home). Finally was called back to see the doctor at 3:50 PM. Finally saw the physician's assistant at 4:25 PM. Finally got out of there at 5:00 PM. There's something very wrong here. While we waited, we discovered there were three people there with the same appointment time to see the same doctor. I understand having a 30 minute wait. Maybe even an hour wait if it's been a crazy day. But a 3 hour and 10 minute wait to see the physician's assistant ---- absurd. People that are sick or in pain do not need to sit and wait for that length of time. If you're not sick or in pain, you will be after that long a wait. Ridiculous. And, this seems to be the norm as our last visit to this office was also a 3 hour ordeal.

Now, as I step off my soapbox .....

After fighting rush hour traffic and a tractor trailer driver that seemed to be falling asleep while driving down Interstate 71, I made it home. I ran into the house and right out again. 

With my spinning wheel. I headed to Lebanon to our Thursday night Common Threads spinning group. A
perfect relaxing way to end the day.

There were five of us there tonight.

Lisa brought her drum carder and Kathy produced several batts of fluff before packing it up in her car to take home and card the rest. Here is a picture of her before and after fleece and carded batts. Believe me, it was as soft as it looked! Like touching a cloud.

Kathy was spinning roving that I drooled over! Purple and olive green! LOVE THOSE COLORS TOGETHER! For the life of me, I can't remember exactly which seller she purchased it from. Kathy, please excuse my poor memory! Wasn't it from Etsy?? If you read this, Kathy, please leave a comment listing the seller or email me and I'll include the link in my next post. Lisa also had some fantastic roving with her and here again, I can't remember the seller. Lisa??

Susan was spinning some gorgeous stuff. The tag said alpaca farm blend. Apparently, it was a blend of fiber from various alpacas on the farm that put it all together. It was beautiful and I don't why in the world I didn't snap a picture of it. It was natural colors - all shades of browns. Susan said the color reminded her of an owl. It did. She'll have to bring it back so I can get a picture.

Martha was spinning tonight and also modeled her beautiful Faroese-shaped shawl designed by Myrna Stahman. Here's a before sample that's similar to the fiber she used to spin her shawl and the finished product.

I was spinning some luscious fiber - a blend of Coopworth and Silk. I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow. It's a yummy color. I have one very full bobbin and am on my way to a second full bobbin. I expect to get four full bobbins out of this roving and I am spinning it very thin and plan to ply it into a 2-ply yarn. Can't wait to see the yardage I end up with. This is destined for a special shawl.

On the way home, there was stunning sunset. I couldn't resist stopping in the middle of the road - no traffic on the back road - and snapping this photo. 

Spinning and a beautiful sunset --- just made me say "AHHHHHH!". A great ending to the day.

And, tomorrow is FRIDAY!

 

 

Second Wave Of Baby Knitting

Well, I'm onto Baby Knitting Take Two. Or, the second wave of baby knitting. Landen was born June 3rd and Blakeney, Eryn and Brian's baby girl, is due September 2nd. 

I have already finished several bibs and a Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket. Just need to put the buttons on and it will be done.

I'm almost done with the Pine Forest Baby Blanket. I lucked up and found the yarn on sale at Temptations in Dublin. I'm knitting it out of Mirasol's Cotanani Shade #403. Fiber content is 60% Pima Cotton and 40% Merino Wool. It is a delight to knit on size 8 needles. This pattern is also a delight! It is an extremely easy lace design and a well-written pattern. And, if I must say so myself - it's going to be a lovely blanket for my new grand-daughter.

Since I'm almost finished with the Pine Forest Baby Blanket, I have started a second blanket for Blakeney. this one is the Radiating Star Baby Blanket. The pattern called for a chunky yarn but I chose a worsted weight - Berroco's Weekend in color Matcha 5912 (a light celery green). Fiber content of this yarn is 75% Acrylic, 25% Peruvian Cotton. Worked in the round, this is such a pretty pattern and is working up quickly on size 7 needles. Of course, I'm still in the middle of the blanket where there aren't as many stitches to knit as there will be! 

Both of these blanket patterns are free on Ravelry and I highly recommend them. The links are given above.

I used to be not to fond of knitting baby blankets because they just seemed to go on forever and ever. So far, I'm on my fourth one for these grandbabies. I love them. I find that while I'm knitting, I think of the tiny new person my knitting will warm. Will the corner of the blanket be used to wipe away tears? Will the new baby pull it over its head and face to hide as my boys used to do? Will my blanket be used to help the baby cuddle and dream? Picking up each of these blankets has calmed me as I sit down to knit yet more rows - love and wishes in every stitch.

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Earlier in the month, Andy and I were invited to Meg and Dennis's for dinner. Other friends were there and we had a great time sitting by the pond enjoying friends and good food. As we were eating, we heard the swooshing of  hot air balloons. They were 
so low! They floated right over us. In the picture of the group, everyone is looking up as the balloons go over - following their path across  the sky. 

This area of Ohio is supposed to have perfect atmospheric conditions for hot air balloons. These balloons are from Bella in Lebanon, Ohio. If you follow this link, you'll love all their hot air balloon pictures. 

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The weather here today is in the 60'swith a light breeze. It's overcast but feels wonderful. Yesterday was full of storms and heat so today feels great!

Hope there's a light breeze in store for you today, too!

Full Week & This Blog Is 5!

Looking back, this has been a rather full week. Especially since we came home from South Carolina on Monday which left a four-day work week. A lot was packed into this short week.

I mentioned in the previous post how much everything grew while we were away. 

All the beds are doing well. Here you can look over the two raised beds to the flower garden and the bird feeding station outside the sunroom windows.  I have one squash plant and it's loaded with tiny squash. The raised bed in the foreground has several varieties of lavender to the right and the rest is full of vegetables - red and green peppers, brussel sprouts, two tomato plants, radishes, three kinds of lettuce, and the one surviving cucumber plants (the rest drowned). The other raised bed has a variety of herbs, nasturtiums, leeks, scallions, and zinnias. If you look closely at the flower garden in the background, you'll see about a dozen good size sunflowers kindly "planted" by the birds. They make my garden look like a jungle but I love them.

We're having wonderful salads nightly. Here's an example - includes the three types of lettuce, chives, nasturtium leaves and flowers from the garden. I added broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and grape tomatoes. 

So far so good re: the raccoons. The must be too lazy to climb five feet to get over the fence to get to
the gardens. The daylilies I planted down near the pond haven't been so lucky. The deer have eaten every bud off of them. Need to just pull them up, I guess. What irks me is there are rows and rows of daylilies blooming up a storm along our road. I mean they're plentiful! Do the deer eat them??? NO! They prefer mine! Go figure!

The flowers inside are showing off, too. I have several orchids in bloom and they are so pretty.

Speaking of pretty --- I went to spinning group Thursday night and Kathy was there with her Ashford Kiwi Spinning Wheel. She is known as KraftyKathy on Ravelry and you can certainly see why. This wheel is SOOOO cute! Her painting is just adorable. From the sheep leaping around her wheel to the polka dots on her bobbins. What creativity and talent!! I bet there would be spinners that would love to have their wheels customized. Kathy even felted a coordinating pink and green ditty bag to hang from the wheel. Kathy, you are just too clever!

Another pretty Thursday night was Lisa's gorgeous Echo Flower Shawl. This was knit with her handspun and is perfectly beautiful!

Andy spotted a painted turtle in our yard this morning. On closer inspection, she was laying eggs. Hope Earl doesn't find them. He'll probably think they're appetizers. 

The gorgeousness continued Saturday at knitting group. You may remember Sara from previous posts. Sara is a young knitting phenom. She turns out one spectacularly beautiful project after another. Today, she showed off her elegant The Little Mermaid Shawl from The Unique Sheep. This was a mystery shawl knit-along and Sara knit it in one of The Unique Sheep's stunning Gradience Colorways. This picture doesn't do the shawl and its subtle color justice. It is a very pale pink in the center and works out to a very pearl-like gray-blue on the edges. Did I mention that there are beads on this beauty, also? Sara, you're amazing!

Ande modeled her completed Pettine. She knit this out of a Blue Heron yarn and turned out just perfect. I love the size of it. 

Late Saturday afternoon, Andy and I took the boat out on Caesar Creek Lake. Caesar Creek Lake is pretty but fairly boring. Not much to look at. The land surrounding it is all state park so no lake houses and/or activity to see on the shore as you ride around. Only other boats and lots of people fishing. 

The boat ran really well. None of that mess we dealt with last year that caused us a couple trips to the water with the boat a no-go and needing repair. Of course, we don't have to go far as the lake is right across the road. 

We started off in pretty sunshiney weather. 

We passed so many people fishing - from boats - motor, sail, and even kayaks - and from shore. 

We passed a whole flock of Canada Geese that looked very content floating in the lake watching all the boats go by. Driving by didn't seem to disturb them in the least.

It was a nice trip out. 

As usual, I knit while Andy drove. I'm working on a baby blanket for Blakeney (granddaughter due in September). This is the Pine Forest Baby Blanket - a free pattern on Ravelry - and it is super easy. I'm knitting it out of Araucania cotton. 

Then, the sky turned.

Dark.

Very dark.

Next, it began to rain.

Just rain. No thunder or lightning. Thank goodness.

And, it didn't stop all the way back to the dock.

We got soaking wet!

But, as we headed to the dock - into the rain - I looked behind us and saw this beautiful sky.

The sun was bursting through the rain cloud and shining its beams down onto the water. So pretty!

When we got back home, this sight was waiting for me. Another bit of sun in the form of a flower!

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On another note --- Happy Blogiversary to For The Love Of Fiber!!! My blog was 5 years old on June 17th. What these pages contain! WOW!

I hope you all enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them. I confess, I enjoy looking back in the archives to posts written over these last 5 years. It's definitely been a journey. Thanks for traveling with me! Hopefully, there will be lots more adventures to come!

Home Again

We made it home from South Carolina last night after a couple stops in Berea, KY. Berea is well-known for its traditional arts and crafts. The town is also known for Berea College, Boone Tavern Hotel, and lots of artisan studios and shops.

They have a wonderful craft festival in July - Berea Craft Festival, July 8-10 - and a Festival of Learnshops where you can select from a wide variety of classes. 

We rode through the college campus and stopped at the broom making and wrought iron areas. Here are pictures of the different brooms on display and a work area where they are made.

Then, we checked out the student craft center and the Kentucky Artisan Center. I definitely want to go back to Berea - maybe in July for the craft festival. On my next trip, I will spend time walking around and visiting the artisan studios and shops. 

My gardens grew and grew while we were away. Why does everything seem to do this while you're away? You come home and everything is twice and three times bigger than when you left. I have several squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers on their way. The birds have "planted" so many sunflowers in the flower garden that they are hiding a lot of what I planted. I don't have the heart to pull them up, though.

This morning, I filled all the birdfeeders and watered the gardens. There was lots of dead-heading (cutting dead blooms off the plants) to do. Earl assisted. He missed me!

It's back to the grind today. Will I ever get to retire?

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Thanks to all of you who indulged my grandmotherlyness over the past several days. I appreciate all your comments and well-wishes.

Tears Were Shed

What a heart ripping experience leaving this precious grandson and not having a clue when I'll see him again. Knowing that he'll change so much between now and the next time I lay eyes on him. 

Landen is such a good baby. He was discharged from the hospital Saturday around lunchtime. The tests they ran didn't show a thing but since he had an elevated temperature at birth, they went ahead and treated him with antibiotics. He has bruises on the backs of both of his little hands where he had IV's. He had them in his feet, too, but I didn't check those for bruises.  I'll be glad when they go away - bruises just don't look right on something so tiny and so brand new.

His first night home, Rachael fed him before going to bed and then again around 4:00 AM. After that, he slept until about 8:00 AM. He hasn't been fussy at all. When he cries, he either wants to be fed or changed. Once one or both of these is/are taken care of, he is very content and either falls back asleep or gets busy looking around. 

Mom and Daddy came down today to meet their first great-grandson. I told Landen in no uncertain terms just how lucky he is to be so loved. 

Rachael helped me do a blanket photo op this afternoon. First, Landen is "modeling" one of my baby blankets from 53 years
ago - pretty but not hand-made (far left). Next, was the blanket that Mom knit (middle). Finally, is his Lace Coverlet (far right) that I finished on the way down to South Carolina last Thursday.

Of course, he had to show off his Debbie Bliss Baby Boots, too. They look ginormous in this picture. He does have some
growing room but they're not all that big.

Tonight, Landen went out on the town! Sam's Club followed by dinner at Copper River. He slept through the whole affair! After we headed the car toward home, I think he realized that we'd eaten but he hadn't. He cried all the way home!

Gracie pup just loves the new baby. She doesn't let him out of her sight for long - if at all. She also thinks he smells and tastes wonderful!

And, a picture of me showing him off to the camera. Did I mention that he's just precious?

As we left last night, he was on the cell phone. I bet he was ordering a pizza! Too funny! The way he eats - I'm quite sure he would if he could!

Well, it's back to Ohio tomorrow. I don't know how I'm going to stand it. I don't want to miss a single thing with this boy and already know I'll miss tons.

This is going to be so hard.

Cute Overload

If you don't do cute, you just better skip all my posts for the next several days. I'm here in South Carolina visiting Landen. 

He is absolutely adorable!

He had a temperature when he was born on June 3rd so they've kept him in the hospital to investigate the cause. They haven't found anything but are treating him with antibiotics as a precaution. 

They are going to discharge him Saturday. Rachael and Taylor can hardly wait to get him home. Rachael says it doesn't feel quite real yet. She was discharged without baby from the hospital on Monday and has been going back and forth to feed Landen. 

He is, of course, just precious! A big baby! His hands are broad and his feet measure 3.6 inches heel to toe. Like my grandfather told me of my 10.5 shoe size --- Landen will never tip over in a strong wind. He also has the broadest little hands I've ever seen on a baby. 

I have found two knitting shops listed in Columbia, SC - one is very near our hotel. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll have time to check them out. Blog research, you know.

I got new decals for my car -- the old one was peeling off. I love these! Got them on Etsy -- don't remember the exact site -- the business cards are at home. To find them, I went to Etsy.com and searched knitting decals. So, if you see these, it's probably ME!

He's A Keeper!

At 10 lbs., 2 oz. and 21 inches long, he is definitely regulation size and way too big to throw back!

Landen arrived last night and is just tooo cute! Look at those cheeks! Just waiting for kisses!

Momma and Daddy are doing great! 

Yep, he's a keeper!

Good thing I didn't knit any newborn sizes! I can hardly wait to get to South Carolina to squeeze him!