Just a little bit this morning

Well, here it is Friday. If you are retired it is just another busy day, if you are employed I guess you are really excited to see 5 pm.
I have decided that I must call the bone and joint surgeon today and have the carpal tunnel surgery. I will ask if he'll do both hands at once but know that he won't.
Also, a new online friend told me about www.fitday.com. If you are even a few pounds over weight I think you'll like this website. I told her I wasn't going to do it, then once I was on that page, I did. I have lost 4 lbs. this week. Just since Monday those pounds have come off. I've used a calorie counter before and lost well so know that for me I must keep my calories under 1200. I am surprised at how much I can eat for under 1200 calories. Enough to keep me satisfied.
My hands are bothering me today and I must knit so will make this short and sweet!
Have one terrific weekend.



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I've been cold all day

Can't seem to shake the temperature change. Worked on the wrought iron fence on the front porch this morning. It is almost finished. I can't wait. My 3 indoor dogs can go out onto the porch and the kennel dogs will have to stay off the porch. Perfect! How many dogs do I have you ask? Well, I have 6 American Cocker Spaniels (5 females, 1 male), 2 female Pugs, 2 female PBGV's, a male and a female Coton de Tulear and a young female Bassett. The kennel dogs live in a nice place. They have running water, heat, light, and sewer. They have a RV bathtub so that I can bathe them in and a grooming table where I give them their hair cuts. Each of them has a caging area to sleep at night with their own "doggie" door. Inside their caging area is their own bed full of fluffy fleece blankets. I have a washing machine in the kennel so that I can keep their fleect blankets clean, changing them out every couple days. So they have it nice! I didn't ever want a dog to have to stay outside that belongs inside. After we bought 7 dogs and the cocker hair was getting a bit high in the house, I wanted them to have their own apartment. That way I can go out and play with them in their apartment or they can go outside in the chain link fenced yard. So now you know about my dogs.
I have the total black turtle neck pullover sweater almost finished. I can't wait to finish it and the cranberry sweater. I want to have them finished in the next couple week so that I can use that money to buy myself more birds. I have 7 Large English Parakeets. I want to buy Bourke's next. I think the pink coloring makes them so cute.
Now that you think I am animal crazy I should tell you that I love raising Muscovy ducks, chickens and eggs, and Guinnea hens in the barnyard. I have been raising turkeys and peacocks but stopped this past year and also sold my llama, Chessie. Sold him cause he never had had a girlfriend and was chasing the Angus cows and heifers. So now you know even more about me.
Hope all of you have a terrific weekend.
Cheery "o"



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Today is Wednesday, Today is Wednesday!

welcome to Wednesday, hump-day
I found these Scottish hats. How do you like them? They should sell for about $20.00 at the most.





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New patterns of Kilt Hose

A new friend of mine sent me more Kilt hose patterns. Aren't these danties?
My thanks to her. May our friendship last for years.
Must rush as I teach knitting tonight and always serve my students dinner.
Enjoy your evening.




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Men's Aran Patterns

Top photo is Country Gentleman and the second photo is New Tradition. If you like these please remember the names so I can look them up.

I am posting 2 photos today of Men's Aran sweaters. I have the Aran patterns for them if anyone is interested. Carol has asked for some Aran patterns for her Scottish husband. I will try to post a couple each day of the men's patterns. If you would like to see my female Aran patterns please let me know.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
do


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Here's to a wonderful Spring week!

Happy Monday!

Picked up some cabbage and brussel sprout plants today. Will get them into the ground. Also some swiss chard and collard seed. Don't know if it is too early to plant the seed. I guess it will just lay there until it is warm enough but then the worry will be if it will get too cold again for it.

I am so enjoying checking out the blurb on www.xmarksthescot.com . Hopeful that most of the members will need kilt hose at one time or another.

Woops, got the evening hose upside down, I don't think this puter will let me turn it around either, so guess you'll have to stand on your head.

At any rate, I have an argyle hose pattern but it doesn't show a very good photo. So will look for another photo to publish.

I've got to get out of here and go knit for awhile and sew for awhile.

Enjoy your day.

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Diced Design Kilt Hose

Here's a nice Diced Kilt Hose design. Another favorite of mine is the Evening Kilt Hose with pointed top (photo available upon request). I will soon be starting a pair of Argyle hose for a customer.

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Here's a few of my favorite patterns and books

Patterns for women and men Scottish clan members

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Daylight Savings Time is Back....Thank Goodness!

Well, here it is, what I wait for all winter. More hours in my day and fun begins outside. I've purchased all my vegetable seeds, tomato plants will arrive in May and 100# of seed "taters" waiting in the storage room for about an acre of vegetables.
Will go out today and check out the fruit garden. I am wondering how many of the rhubarb has survived the winter.
This afternoon is grooming time. Today it's two female PBGV's (Petit Basset Griffon VenDen), and Dillian, the black Cocker stud. Since it's suppose to be 70 degrees they will probably all get baths and clipped. Well the PBGV's just get checked for mats after their baths.
Then back in from the kennel and bathe the 2 Coton de Tulear's and the Bassett. Wash their bedding and get on with the rest of the day.
Knitting in the afternoon and evening as I must get the sweater finished that is shown below with the Japanese knitting book.
I've attached a few website patterns for men and women and books that are important to me. My library of knitting patterns is full and I'm willing to share those patterns.



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Quilt as I go

Thought I'd spend some time this morning quilting. Boy, am I rusty but haven't quilted in oh so long. It's is fun to get back into quilting. I am so happy that I have.

I'll try to spend time each morning quilting and afternoon and evening knitting. That should keep me busy and creative. So here is the first square. Almost completed. A few mistakes but who's looking?

Hubby taking me out for dinner tonight to our favorite place so we'll just grab a quick hot dog and call it lunch.

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The quilt for Andrew

The photos of Andrew's quilt are just some of the pictures on the fabric that went to DJ (oldest Grandson) and Charlie. I won't have enough for the new baby, maybe she'll be a girl! I love those little prints. DJ's room was in red, greens and blues so it worked just fine.
The kilt sock at the top was suppose to be at the bottom. But......I want the sock for me. Won't use that pattern to sell to other Scottish kilt sock buyers.

What I did yesterday and maybe will do today

Here's a few photos of some of the pieces of the quilt that I'm sewing for Andrew's quilt. I have to hurry because he has a sib to be born in August. By then I need to have one completed for his sister Lily, and older brother Charlie. Once new baby is here, I'll decide on one for that baby be it a girl or boy.



Then here is a photo of the sock that I ordered yesterday. It is a kilt sock pattern. I can't wait to get it done. It will actually be a pair of knee highs for myself. So am using the calf measurement for me.
Today I hope to work on the quilt and groom my PBGV's and also my Coton de Tulears. They are getting ratty looking.

I'm into quilting today

I decided I'd get back to sewing and quilting along with my knitting. While working on my Grandson, Andrew's quilt (age 2) I had an idea. I am going to start making quilts for the men and boys of the family with shirts from David's closet. He won't miss them! I'll put the buttons to good use, sewing them on each of the squares. Haven't decided on what design to use but at least I'm in the "thinking" stages. Shhhhhh, don't tell David where some of his old shirts have disappeared to. I'll have until Christmas eve when they are unwrapped to keep it under-wraps.

I ordered the sock pattern

I have taken the challenge and ordered the calana kilt sock pattern. If you don't know about it go to http://calanacrafts.blogspot.com and see what she has to offer. I think that she just finished a yarn giveaway but I put my name into the hat for the March giveaways (if there will be any).
About the kilt socks. My Father was Scottish and wanting to dive into my heritage I have decided to take up kilt sock knitting. I have one potential customer already. Hurrah!!! Next I'll add knit tams, knitted balmorals, and Aran sweaters. Since I already knit sweaters for people that should be exciting. Now the balmorals, I'll have to find a good pattern as I haven't ever knit one before.
I've taken three photos of my new Harmony needles and such for you to see how nice they are. Remember I just purchased them from www.Knitpicks.com. Kinda expensive for a country girl like me but oh so worth it. These are the Harmony Woods. I think I'll really like them.
It's probably hard to see the sweater attached to a pair of the needles. Nope, not showing the sweater as it is black and won't show up good but hope you can see the needles.
I have told myself that I will quilt some this morning on Andrew's quilt. I'll see them, hopefully later this month and want to give it to him. He'll be 2 years old in June. Charlie will be 4 in April. He is all about trains. I have a pattern that I traced out of a coloring book of a train so will start a quilt for him soon. Lily, age 6 is about pink and Disney so will try to find some beauties from Disney to make a "pink" quilt for her.
Got to get with the day. Enjoy your crafting time!

We're still snow covered and below freezing!

Here's what it looked like outside the front door yesterday. I think it is beautiful but can't wait for warm temperatures. I've outgrown cold, snowy weather.
Sat in the dark for awhile last night as power went out. Everyone in our area sat dark. Donna said she reached on top of the refrigerator for her flashlight and it didn't work. Reached again for the small one and it rolled to the floor "in the dark". So much for light. We didn't even attempt lighting our oil lamps. I rather enjoyed the dark and peace. Did, however, make my way to the kitchen counter to lay my knitting so the dogs wouldn't jump on top of me and I loose some stitches.

Our front door looks out onto the Great Smokey Mountain Parkway. When we go for picnics you can look down at a couple areas and see our home. We do enjoying going up there several times a year. It is peaceful and relaxing (except for the passing motorcycles and other vehicles). The view is something out of a book.
Back to my knitting. If it warms up I'll get in my sewing room and get some quilting done. My Grandson's birthday is April 16 and I need to do him something in a train.

Enjoy your day.

Burrrrrrr!!! It's still cold with snow on the ground

Good day to stay inside and knit socks, sweaters or whatever is on your mind.
I am interested in locating a pattern similar to the one shown here. It is something that I think I'd knit for myself.
Working on the black pullover that will go to Chicago. I am almost to the armholes. Then onward to the neck. This is the second pullover, same pattern, for the young woman in Chicago. Next she'll send me the yarn for the cardigan.
Those Harmony needles that I purchased are very nice to knit with. I'll have to keep them up high when not in use instead of laying them on the arm of the chair while I take a break. The dogs would have a "wood" sandwich.
Well, Carrie decided that she does want her Bichon. She called Saturday night and said she didn't want the 6 month old Bichon and would I keep her. I said, "yes, but...if you decide you want her back she is yours." By morning, the phone was ringing. Carrie hadn't slept all night missing the Bichon. In the snow storm here she came up the driveway to get the puppy. Just as well because the male Coton de Tulear would have bred her in a year and then I would have been in a world of problems with no purebred puppies. I try to keep only purebred AKC or CKC.
I wrote of my snow day. Well, I must confess, I cook way toooooo much. Today, I baked a chicken pot pie. It tasted oh so good. Maybe I'll make another one for knitting on Tuesday night. We ate collard greens with it. They say that collard greens lower blood sugar. Don't know, never checked.
Have a good one.

Snowy Sunday

I bake and eat too much on snow days.

Today I joined ringsurf.com, U come join too!

Hello:
I just foined the Knitters Ring. I hope that you consider joining also. Go to http://ringsurf.com. sock knitters
Powered By RingsurfLooks like it is going to be a wintery day today and tomorrow so hope to get a lot of knitting done.
Oh, yes, my friend moved to another home. Didn't want to take her Bichon, Lacy, so guess who has her now? Yelp, 14 4 leggers now live with us. Oh, no, only 4 in the house. We built an apartment for our dogs. They love it and so do I. Have them an RV tub, waist high so that I can bathe them, a grooming table and put in their own washing machine. Didn't like the dog hair in mine all the time.
The dogs have a 14x40 ft. inside with stalls, and a 40x8 ft. attached run and then that leads down to about 1/2 acre of fenced in yard for them to romp.
Well, going to work with those new needles from www.knitpicks.com. They came yesterday. Oh, so very nice. They are Harmony Wood Interchangeable Circular set. I think I'll really like them a lot. The color looks bold on their website but it isn't. I'm knitting with black yarn at the moment and neither over powers the other.

THEY ARE HERE!!!!!

I got them in the USPS mail today. I am so excited. My new Harmony Wood needles from www.knitpicks.com. I ordered the set of circular needles. It cost more money than I ever thought I'd spend on a set of needles but oh so worth it.
They are very pretty. I thought, seeing them online that they looked almost too brightly colored that it would be a distraction. But no, it is not. And they don't blend in too much either to make them hard to distinguish against black yarn. Well, black is what I have put on to see how they work.
I'll photo them another day but right now you can find them at www.knitpicks.com . I am pretty sure that I'll order the double pointed needles in a few weeks. Probably not a set but pick out the ones that I would use most often.
Well, it's rainy here and promises of snow all day tomorrow and yet the next day so I'll have plenty of time to get comfortable with the smooth feel that they have.

Here's a little Bear Tam

Just a little sample for Sandi. Will try to get it to the USPS today. It's raining and need to go out in it for a few errands. Will look forward to returning and curling up with a good pair of needles. Speaking of needles. I have ordered, due here today, a set of the wood needles from Knitpicks.com. I can't wait! I have never owned a complete set, always just bought the size as I needed it. My next purchase will be the double point needle set.

Enjoy the weekend and give me a little tug lickstone@gmail.com, be safe.

Here's the Fair Isle for April

Here's the Fair Isle hand knit sweater for April. She really likes it. Says she looks at it and cries. Noticed one on a lady in the grocery store one day and decided she just had to have one.

I'm not a photographer but think you get the general idea.

Hey, here's my bear beret (Tam)

Thought you'd like to see the tam I knit for a bear. It's the one that's going to Sandi in Colorado. Hope she enjoys it.

Phat Fiber here I come!

Just signed up to be a member of Phat Fiber. I think I'm going to love it because I love to knit and love to chat.
Finished a bear beret last night. Cute! Will send it to Sandi in Clifton, CO. It isn't anything acceptional but will give her an idea of my knitting. And who knows, maybe she can use it. But...can't wait to knit her hubby's Kilt socks for his Scottish attire. Argyle. She's buying the yarn, I'm doing the knitting.
Well, I'm out of here. Need to check on my dogs and birds.
Have a terrific day.

Fat Tuesday and Knitting

Today is Fat Tuesday. When I lived in Detroit Michigan I found out about Fat Tuesday. We'd rush to the bakeries and buy the filled donuts. YUM!!! But today, want to loose weight to attend my Granddaughter's graduation. My first Granddaughter, my first Grandchild. I can't wait! I am so very proud of her and my other 4+ grandchildren. Yes, another one on the way for my son, Rich and his wife, Shannon. HURRAH!!!!! Can't Wait!!!

I worked on the Elite Classic sweater last night for the lady in Atlanta. Pictures above is the Luxe by Classic Elite Yarns cardigan version. We are making it a pullover with sleeve pattern from a christmas 2007 magazine. The sizing comes from the Japanese knitting book. She is a petite woman and this sizing fits her perfect.

Here's a glimpse of a cabled sweater that I completed

Thought some of you might enjoy seeing some of the items that I have knit in the past and am currently knitting on. Boy, do I wish I had taken photography! The dog, well, he's real! He's our AKC Champion Armed n'Dangerous (Dillian to us). He Father's our puppy litters. Dillian is so cuddley and passive. Nothing seems to bother him. We have 3 litters of purebred Cockers due around Easter and ready for new homes by Mother's Day, 2009.

The red cable piece is the back of a sweater that I knit for a lady in NY. This sweater turned out very elegant. And the grey socks, they are just plain. I have knit every thing from lacy to bobbles and all that in between. In 2008, I knit well over 40 pairs of socks and sold them all. Some on ebay and a few other pairs online.

Mom is 84 year young. I say young because she drives herself to Florida, to Michigan and to Texas to visit relatives. She knits and sews and dresses Victorian dolls. Sells her items at a little craft consignment store in Dillsboro, NC. Yes, she gets a savings on her monthly selling fee because she works there about 20 hours a month. They keep telling her she is old enough not to work, she keeps telling them she enjoys meeting the people. I think her biggest seller are the pairs of socks and dishcloths. She is leaving in March for a doll show in Florida.

Tuesday nights is knitting class. Some of the local women come here at 6 pm. They eat dinner with us and then we craft. Well, it started out knitting and now we have a quilter who brings her hand sewing and a rug braider. I bought the braiders for rug braiding but haven't gotten that far yet into that craft.

I have knit for so many years that it is hard to remember what I have even made over the years. My first big project at 9 years old was a pair of mittens, a hat, and a neck scarf. Only to loose it at school and then see a girl from my class wearing them later. Lesson well learned....

Now I make sure that when I wear something handmade into a restaurant I remember to pick it up when I leave.

The red sweater went with me to the Doctors office one day. My husband and I sat in the examing room and I knit while waiting for the doctor. Once finished he ushered us out and towards the payment station. Suddenly I heard my name. The nurse was calling me. She pointed to the yarn I was dragging from my knitting bag all the way out of the examing room and down the corridor. I turned redder than that yarn! I haven't lived that one down yet so finally knit the doctor a pair of wool socks to hush him about the red yarn dragging behind me!

Love those knitting and quilting blogs

I want to say that I really enjoy reading blogs. Seeing what others are doing and creating. Looking at scenery where people live and travel. And not only do I enjoy looking at the items but I love the looks of so many blogs. Some people really take time to add their creative sides of themselves. Those are the "computer" buffs, those are the ones that know what to click on and where to drop and drag. Thanks to all of you who make my quiet time enjoyable. Those of you who blog.

I'd love to sit and read knitting blogs today but.....

I have been busy knitting on 2 sweaters this weekend. Need to finish the thumbs of a pair of mittens and get them into the usps on Monday.
Will work on the GA. sweater this afternoon. Who knows might get it in the mail in the next couple weeks. It is absolutely fantastic!
I just saw a blog featuring the Japanese knitting book that I have. Who knows maybe once I get the hand knit sweater coat finished I can knit something out of that Japanese book. It really has some beautiful patterns in it.
Must go eat breakfast. I made homemade bread yesterday so will toast it and spread on the cream cheese and jelly. Collard greens for lunch and who knows what else will be on the menu.
Have a peaceful week!

Socks for Hannah are finished

She'll wear them to school on Monday. She was so happy with them. A gift for Valentine's. They sure looked awefully long to me but then her feet are like boats. I didn't have them finished by the time she got here. We took her out for lunch so I knit all the way there and back and before we got home I had finished.

Hannah picked out 2 more skeins for pedicure socks. She'll wear them with flip-flops to school

Sold the last one of our cocker spaniel puppies today. He was a little doll. Went to a little boy for his birthday. I think they will give it a nice loving home.

Have 3 more litters to be born and all around Easter. They will be ready for their new home by Mother's Day. Nice gift for a Mother especially since now Good Morning America had that article on about people living longer lives thanks to a dog! Yes, I too believe it. David says he and I will live to be about 150 then with all the love we give and get from our dogs.