Boy Toys & Grown-up Joys

This past winter when we were clearing all some of the  “stuff” that had accumulated in the basemen through the years, Mr. Fix~It’ found his old Lionel train set.  He’d always wanted to set up a semi permanent train set for our son Aaron but time, space, money and life just got in the way.  He regrets that.  A lot!  

It sparked an idea of  an activity that he can do with both Hayden & Isaiah, no matter what age or ability & that train set was the answer!    What started out as “just a 4x8 sheet of plywood table” became…a on going work in progress…

Hayden’s reaction?

Priceless!

all the other photos are semi blurry as he was twisting this way  & that

Running the trains

As you can see its a work in progress & has gone through numerous updates even since last week. Every “Train Room” needs a lavender doors and butterflies on the wall!  Right? It was the old play room. Our friend Kent of “Top of the Hill 3d Archery” was happy to clear his old huge train tables out of his barn!  They were set up with N gauge (tiny trains) that go over & under the tables.

  Larry’s been gifted with H, HO, N, & another size trains, track, accessories since he’s started.  Every night & often with his Dad, they work for hours trying to get everything up and running by the family gathering at Easter.    This was last weekend when Rachel & Hayden came down from Indy…the boy is in for a few surprises as the lay-out has gone through more than a few changes since then. 

I’m learning train setups are never…ever done

Guess I better  get the rest of the “stuff cleared out so he has more room to grow!

 

Technorati Tags: Mr. Fix~It,toys,boys,trains

Dusting things Off a Bit

 I was getting a bit tired of the “face” and decided to make some changes.  Still playing with it so let me know if it takes a bit to load.

 I updated the Etsy shop  with this logo..and something similar for my Garment  tags also.  I had a few other more elaborate designs but, I kept coming back to this one & I’m glad  I did.  They stand out nicely against the colorful hats and garments.

Simple but, its all there.  That’s a little Dragonfly carrying the strand of yarn off…doesn’t show up to well reduced for sizing here!

Erika & Chris are off to Indy for the weekend so we have the kidlets!  Miss Evie keeps you hopping & is STUBBORN as a mule! Of course she gets it from Mr. Fix~It’s side of the family!

A few months ago I mentioned my daughter Danielle was in the cake business.  Here is the latest & greatest.  A grooms cake

 

Real traditional Right?  I LOVE IT!

Technorati Tags: katidids,etsy. danielle,sweet comforts,cakes,Logo

Fresh off the Needles…This Week

I love this mulberry tweed. Touches of black, white and camel.

These shorties were my first time knitting with Cestari wool & I have to say I LoVe It! It feels like a heavy cotton in your hands but is oh so soft. I understand it wears like peace fleece

Speaking of peace fleece, a pair of shorties using scraps of other colors to accent…I think they need a bit of embellishment on the leg but, not sure what yet…any ideas? A small sleep sack. I’ve had a few Moms asking for something to use with a preemie to newborn so I scaled down the pattern

A few others on the needles including longies and skirties for 2 sets of twins, a few pair of fingerless mitts and a striped pair of longies after that.

I learned my lesson trimming my hair (I always say that but yet still do it!)…I realized last time I trimmed it I’d given myself a mullet !!!! AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING!!!!! So, yesterday morning I started trimming…….and chopped a big hunk out of the back. I’d like to claim it was lack of coffee to sharpen my focus but I’d already had 2 pots. To make matters worse, Mr. Fix!~It was taking me out to Supper for our anniversary….

in public…

with this hair.

No way

no how!

(No, there were no actual photos taken)

I called a new salon that everyone has been raving over “ Big Hair Peace” Wow, Lisa did a great job. I have super fine hair which can’t be cut like thicker hair. It looks choppy if you do but, she did a wonderful job!

So now I have short hair…and kind of like it!

So what have you been up to?

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Etsy,longies,shorties,hair disaster

Katie~isms

Sniffle snot…1. .a visual reminder of a dog checking out a newly cleaned window

Bubslime…a drooling baby smushing her face on newly cleaned window

Mulletitus….results of trimming your own hair (to save time), causing you to receive a professional hair cut removing 3 years of growth.

Technorati Tags: Humor,katie~isms

Sweet Summer Pie in Winter

Did I ever mention Mr. Fix~It is a pie man?  Fruit pie for breakfast or dessert just give him some PIE!  Apple & Cherry are a few of the favorites…but you might get hurt just looking, seriously.. LOOKING at a Blackberry pie of his. 

Not to long ago I pulled some of my summer apples from the freezer  I’d cored & spiral cut. 

 

5 Apples, a bit of flour, sugar & butter = 1 happy man. Quicker then opening a can of store bought and sooo much more flavor! I can’t wait to start canning again. 

Technorati Tags: baking,food storage

Going for a record

I’ve been keeping a progress bar of my knits.  The goal is to beat last years count of 152 with 160 possibly dreaming of  maybe 175.  I’ve been blessed with some awesome repeat customers so that really helping out!

The past few weeks knits are

Just off the needles, BFL Capri's Custom order

BFL Longies Custom Dye Longies in Silver Blue & Purple On the way now to Australia

Skirty with attached shorts.  I used Cascade Jelly Beans for this and I love the color way.  Any girly shade of pink or purple with  greens blended in. 

Another skirty, this is with my colorway “Oh Baby!”

Alpaca & wool blend longies, can I tell you I fell in LOVE with Alpaca?  So soft! I KNOW I’ll be using it more often now that I’ve played with it.   Our  LYS  Grinny Possum features local a spinner that (have to remember to get her  name) produces some WONDERFUL 100% Alpaca yarn.  Can’t wait to get my hands on that!   I plan to use a lot of it for warm winter longies.  This was a commercial Alpaca, very nice but the other…oh.  I figure I’ve drooled on enough skeins I really have to buy it.  Besides, I’d rather support local!

A pile of …well, you’ll see in a few days, a new venture!

OK, A sneak Peek!  The “Diva” was not to be bothered so more photos another day!

   

Longies on the needles, ready to split for legs

I know once spring is here to stay and the garden starts growing I’ll be busy so, I’m trying to get a jump on things.  I have a pile of other shorties in the works that I need to complete.

Yep!  Been busy…And, I got my Kidlet fix this weekend. Rachel and Hayden came down from Indy…He’s gotten so big! 

We played all day & had a blast!

How was your Saturday?

Technorati Tags: Katidids,custom knits,WIPS,Rachel,Hayden,Evelyn

Just Gotta Share, Rachel’s GOT HAIR!!!!

Full on Chemo

Full on

RECOVERY!!!!

Look at those REAL eyebrows & eyelashes!

Celebrate with us!!

WOOT! Doin the Happy Dance!

Technorati Tags: cancer. chemo,recovery,family

Shattering Glass

See these glass balls?

  I’m dropping them.

On purpose…letting them shatter…. 

This past fall I load up on projects to get me through the winter…I KNOW I tend to get the blah’s & always think keeping busy will help but, actually made it worse.   But I get bummed out when I can’t possibly complete half of what I started which snowballs to becoming mired down and accomplishing  nothing very little.  I do this to myself every year.  This morning I was almost in tears with what still on the winter list and it was silly! These were supposed to be fun projects, quilts and crafts &  I turned them to HAVE TO’S racing to finish them not finding joy or pleasure in any.  It was like someone cleared the cobwebs from my mind…I  realized I would need 2 life times to complete what I had planned for this winter I just started laughing!    Now, I’m clearing a big bag load of winter funk, few cobwebs from my eyes & sweeping of the mental porch…..It’s SPRING!!  I feel like I’m walking out of a deep fog. Ever watch a cat wake up?  The slow blink, ear twitch, the big yawn, flipping the tail to the full body stretch.  

Gosh, I feel good.

Thanks for hanging around while I worked my way through. 

Technorati Tags: glass balls

Wednesday Wisdom

One day, when a seamstress was sewing, while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "My dear child, why are you crying?"

The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family. The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.

"Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked.

The seamstress replied, "No."

The Lord again dipped into the river.

He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.

"Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked. Again, the seamstress replied, "No."

The Lord reached down again

and came up with a leather thimble ..

"Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked.

The seamstress replied, "Yes." The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.

Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water.

When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, "Why are you crying?''

"Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!"

The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. "Is this your husband? The Lord asked.

"Yes," cried the seamstress.The Lord was furious.

"You lied! That is an untruth!" The seamstress replied, "Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding.

You see, if I had said "no" to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt.

Then if I said "no" to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said "yes," you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said "yes" to George Clooney..

And so the Lord let her keep him.

The moral of this story is:

Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honorable reason, and in the best interest of others.

That's our story, and we're sticking to it.

Signed,

All Us Women

Laughter is like jogging on the inside. Exercise your 'innards' every day.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Thank you for the giggle Erika!

Technorati Tags: humor,women

Yesterday Was

A beautiful day!

A day full of  SUNSHINE, ! 67 degrees!  It’s almost SPRING!!!

I opened all the doors & windows then spent about an hour outside just soaking up the sunshine.

It also included a trip to my local yarn store Grinny Possum Fiber Arts. For me, a trip to Grinny Possum is like a junkie running free in a drug store… I do tend to get myself  in trouble when I visit Ann! 

But, I always find what I need there, if it’s not in stock, Ann will find it for me.  I did pick up some Feza Platino for a few upcoming projects.  I found colors 006 & 003 to use in ….a new venture to add to the Katidids Etsy shop….I’m really excited & ready to spill the beans but, I won’t!  I want to just start full out with them and need to get more made….in between customs.  I wish I could sketch or draw as I have all these color & pattern ideas in my mind.  Remembering the shades and color combinations…even  writing them out…reading my notes  is like reading Greek!

Today  involves a trip to Louisville, slowing down the progress but I need to pay the bills.   The electric company is picky that way, for some reason they want money every month!

Well, daylights burning I better run.

What are your plans for the day?

Technorati Tags: katidids,etsy,new ventures,spring

 

Its Monday?

We’ve had a relaxing but productive weekend.  We’re both feeling MUCH better  (Thank you for your good wishes)  What ever bug this was just zapped our energy.  We would both sleep at the drop of a hat, start to feel good and it would knock us back as soon as we tried to do anything. So we’re puttering around doing little bits here and there.  Needless to say there are LOTS of little things left undone that need caught up &, I’ll get to them bits at a time.   Do we ever really catch up?

I’ve been knitting like a mad woman. 

A custom order on its way to San Diego.  

Blue Marl shorties and my Terracotta color way.  Lanolized dried & ready to go!Its warming up and I actually saw sunshine!   I had the doors open for a few hours a couple of times over the weekend.  Yes it was still cool but I loved the fresh air! Scrappy Shorties for summer inventory, using the remnants of the second silver pair of longiesI had a Etsy customer from Australia ask for longies in Silver, Royal Blue & Purple & had fun coming up with this!  I should have them done by tomorrow.

& this sweet little hat is on its way to a Mama due any day!  She sent me a photo of  longies she had purchased and asked if I could make a newborn hat to match. 

These shorties I’m not to sure about, I tried a repeat pattern to make Ladybug spots but, as you can see it didn’t turn out to well.  Maybe a stressed out ladybug?  My colors aren’t showing well, its actually a deep dark ladybug red. 

I do have a few more things in the works

Some Bloomies in pink are on the needles & custom shorties for another Mama are up next in this color way.  I had knit a lavender pair and wanted to be sure they fit before starting the second pair.  I need to check but think the Mama wants Capri’s this time around & will add drawstrings to the legs if there is enough. 

Well, that was my weekend.  How was yours?

Tomorrow I’ll show you what Mr. Fix~It’s been up to!

Technorati Tags: katidids,etsy,shorties,longies,custom knits,recovery

 

More Reasons To Love a Man in a Tool Belt!

This past weekend we had a new river… around Mt Laundry, created from a flood….

in my basement!

My washer AKA “The Beast” has been sick.  I think it’s caught the same creeping crud we have.   Neither of us have felt good for the past 2 weeks. Nothing you can put your finger on just “bleck” no energy and yucky.  So, some things have fallen by the wayside..like laundry.Since there were no clean whites left I figured I’d better suck it up and get some done.   Well the beast had other ideas, it started spitting water and humming at me.  After a sick Mr. Fix~It (the man who needed clean whites) checked it out he found the belt was shredded & replaced it. 

We plugged it in, started a load and found …the water pump had cracked…….

creating a river

across the laundry room floor.  Turning the washer off slowed it some but not much.  Do you have any idea how much water a oversized washer holds? 

A lot!

So, I shoved the wet clothes on the floor out of the way, dribbled a few drops of dish soap & went to town on the concrete floor with the broom.

It was a win ~ win, a handsome man in a tool belt fixed my washer to run like new, and a clean concrete floor….and counting my blessings again for the multi talented Mr.Fix~It!

Now I just have to suck it up & climb Mt. Laundry.

What are your plans for the day?

Technorati Tags: Laundry,Mr. Fix~It,home repairs

Why do’s and More Catch Up Photo’s

I know your going to be sick of these photos of new dyes & longies but its a quick way for customers to see new works & customs with out a ton of emails!

Speaking of e-mails, I received one today full of questions

& thought I would share a few with you. Just see if you don’t find a few that make you giggle!

Why do
people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then
reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more
chance?

Why is it that
whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always
manage to knock something else over?

In winter why
do some try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when
we
complained about the heat?

How come you
never hear father-in-law jokes?

How do those
dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

Why is it
that no plastic bag will open
from the end on your first
try?

And one of my favorites…….

If people
evolved from apes,
Why are there
still apes?

Go make someone smile today!

Technorati Tags: Katidids,custom knits,color ways,humor

Help I’ve Fallen

off the blogs wagon and I can’t get up! A bit of a blogging funk. I think it happen to us all once in a while….but hoping I can get back on track.

Saturday night we were invited out to the local VFW for “Karaoke Night. Now Larry nor I sang but, I have to say the crowd was great. The couple we were with both sing and have beautiful voices. There was talent at all levels. One of the locals was an “American Idol” contestant a few years ago, others I was sure would crack windows not have made the cut , but the audience/participants were equally respectful of all performers. For some I’m sure the Jell-O shots helped boost their confidence and be assured they could do better than the last window cracker performer!

I was going to start my seeds this weekend and I know I’ll be kicking myself for not getting it done! Instead I was playing in the dye pots… here’s a few of what I came up with this week.

There are about 8 more drying

The silver and pink & earth color skeins were some of the first & have already been claimed for customs….I have softer colors drying and will post picks tomorrow.

Now to get the dye off my hands!

Technorati Tags: Katidids,customs,dyeing wool