And Life Goes On

It's Monday--ugh. Sorry I've been off the grid for a long while. I'm back now, spinning and knitting again and that is what's important.

I had completed this shawl while I was away. It was knit with some alpaca yarn the D~ bought me. Got to love a man who brings home yarn (and fiber)!!!The pattern is La La's Simple Shawl off of Ravelry. Very nice pattern, it's one I'll knit up again. Just so you know I have changed my 'name' on Ravelry. It's now QuailKnits. I thought I needed a little upgrade. I like it.

I also finished up a pair of socks for me but haven't gotten around to photograph them yet, soon though.

I'm spinning for the Beautiful Basket Stitchery Jacket from Jackets for Work and Play The Best of Knitter's Magazine. It is the cover jacket. I purchased this wool from a friend of mine. It is from one of her own flock, a black Romney that she dyed purple, blue & green. It is just beautiful! I have a lot to spin up but it is going to be worth it.

I am knitting another pair of socks for myself but no picture yet.

That's all I'm up to. I am knitting something else but I can't talk about that yet -- it's a gift so you'll have to wait.

Have a fabulous week!

What a way to start the week!!!

This is was I saw as I looked out my kitchen window this morning.

Beautiful double rainbow!

It is going to be a great week!!

Hugs to all!

ROAD TRIP!

I had a road trip last Friday with 2 of my fiber friends Kathy & Debbie (a mother daughter team!). We had a fabulous time too!! We stopped by 2 yarn stores (see below) then a great antique store, though I don't have pictures of that place--sorry.
Then we went on to SOAR (Spin-Off's Autumn Retreat) and we shopped even more! Great fiber goodies made it to the car.

Here is a few shots of the vendors.


It was smaller that I thought it would be but there still was great stuff to be bought.

Here is just one thing I brought home!

Isn't it CUTE! 5 1/2" tall, Turkish Delight Spindle made with purpleheart wood by Jenkins Woodworking. I purchased it from Carolina Homespun of San Francisco (Hello to Morgaine & Lan!). They have great stuff!!! It came to the office with me today, I have this canister that it fits perfectly in along with 2+ ounces of fiber, very portable!

Many months have past

I have to apologize for my absence. So many things have happened. I suppose other than my trip to Europe with my Mom the most notable is that I was diagnosed with cancer in August. I know some jaws will drop over this but please understand that it was a huge blow (how could it not be!) and D~ and I have had to come to grips with it. The long and the short of it is that it was very, very early uterine cancer. I have a hysterectomy 7 weeks ago. I have a wonderful Oncologist (he was the surgeon too), the cancer was confined to the uterus. The lymph nodes were totally clear and he has not recommend any sort of chemo. I am now in to full blow menopause--which has challenges of its own. I am totally healthy and will remain. There is no reason to think that I will have anything else.

I think that was enough to chew on, don't you think?

I'll leave you with a few pictures from my trip to Europe. It was a cruise on the Danube, from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany.

We got snow last week!

Can you believe it? Check these out!





This is the dwarf rhododendron that is blooming. Didn't I say it has been covered in snow before? Hmmm.

Now it is almost March - WOW!!

I have been so bad at keeping this up. I'm sorry. I am going to try very hard to do a better job.

I do have to get you all up to date though. I would like to start off with our first sign that Spring is coming.
This is our dwarf rhododendron. We have even had years when the bush was covered in snow and blooming.

Here are the goodies I made last year.
This is the hat and scarf set I made for my Mother-in-Law Lotus. She lives in Central Oregon and it gets cold there, so she needs to be warm. I am very happy on how this turned out. The wool is natural colored Wenslydale, dark and light grey

This was a 'Montana Scarf' for D~'s Uncle in Montana. Another colder climate so he needed to be warm too! I used the dark grey Wenslydale. This was a very cool scarf to make, turned out great.
This is little iPod sweater I made for new iPod I got for Christmas. Don't want to brag but, all the yarn used was hand spun and the teal I also dyed myself. I'm very proud of that little sweater.
Then I made this tea cozy. I always wanted one so when I finished the little sweater, I made this. A good use of those 2 weeks off. I loved those snow days!

I have never shared any pictures of my trip to France last year. So I thought I would end with a few of my favorites.

A wing of the Louvre seen from the Tuileri Gardens.

Beautiful french backyard.
A Street in Honfleur.
Palace of Versailles.
A very cool house in Honfleur.

How much more this morning?

We have over 2 feet now and we still have power, which is great. I think it snowed all night . I don't think we'll make it in to town this week 'till after Christmas so our Christmas cards won't get out let alone the gifts we have to UPS out. I hope all stay warm and safe.