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

Progress…I don’t think so!

  About a mile down the road from us they built 2/3 huge subdivisions a few years ago.  Last year,  (because the city wanted all the tax revenue) that area & our property was absorbed into the city limits.  Since then we have received city taxes, water & sewage bill, trash bill….and all the road litter & trash that goes with “progress”.

This is what we have actually gained. A fire hydrant.  It would be nice but it’s not connected to any thing. 

We don’t get city water/sewage for another 6-9 months.  And that’s after we pay $1,500 to connect to the new city water pipes…after we dig & lay over 600 ft of our connection pipes (after we disconnect from our perfectly good ones) to the road.  Here is the CRAZY thing, when those connected to city water and sewage loose power, water and sewage shuts down.   In the 20 yrs we have lived here we’ve never lost water or sewage abilities with our septic system or rural water connection. 

We’ve lost all the county rural laws and gain all the city restrictions

So, Where’s the benefit!  Where’s the PROGRESS!!!

GRRRR…… ristlefrastlebrickkelbrack!!!!!!!!!

 This is the only progress I can see right now, Sliding in a quick (bad) progress photo for a customer.  A pair of lavender Capri’s.

Starting on the legs, hope to complete them tonight!

Tell me something good about living in the city limits!

Technorati Tags: city & rural living,city water,progress

Finishing Frenzy!

I spent the day ‘Finishing”. Finishing all those ..(ok, not all of them) random projects laying about. I hate the finishing stuff it’s painful. Just let me knit, the ends I keep hoping will miraculously weave themselves in, the lanolizing and blocking…UGH! I do this to myself, get so far on one & start another project. So, In keeping with my “one word” thing I’m finishing them up. Just grabbing off the top of the pile and doing what needs done. So…..

A large Skirty & soaker I started this weekend. Ends in, lanolized and drying now. Its even listed in the Katidids Etsy shop!

These medium shorties I knit last fall. Today I wove in the ends, made the tie & lanolized. Still need to list it though.

Large shorties I finished last night, DONE!! Even listed

Another pair of Smalls (from this winter), ends, ties lanolized & blocked

And they’re even listed.

I think there are about 5 more pair that need “finished”. I’m not looking or counting, when I complete a new I make myself grab 2 off the pile to finish. I’m tellin ya it’s painful all this finishing.

I’ll be glad when the piles FINISHED!!!

Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this!

Technorati Tags: katidids,custom knits,longies,shorties,skirty,Etsy,finishing,knitting

Quiet Weekend Knitting

Not a lot going on this weekend.  Saturday I spent the day doing things around the house and of course knitting.  Mr Fix It spent part of Sunday at Top Of the Hill 3D Archery .   Kent & Janet have become wonderful friends. They have such a beautiful farm and it makes a great day out to go visit them.  Any time of the year is beautiful with the foliage & hills.  The Archery course they set up is designed for all levels with a lot of fun targets. 

I worked on a pair of custom longies A nice dense merino I dyed to a rainbow with gray trim & pocket.  These will be on the way to Alaska to a Military Mama as soon as they are dry.  I’m dyeing the wool for another pair for her & also a few hats & fingerless mitts for her children.  I always worry I’ll get the colors right for customs but so far we’ve had a kind of mind meld across the miles that has worked!

I’ve been looking at some of the Michael Miller fabrics like these  here & here  that are so popular, trying to come up with a few coordinates in wool

Chocolate with Orchid trim Shorties are the start.  They use traditional color combos but so many of the designs although beautiful, are not colors you would think to pair. I still have to get them listed to the Katidids Etsy shop…. I think something with olive next…..

I have another pair of shorties drying and a skirty on the needles now, no photo’s yet but maybe tomorrow.

Most of the snow has melted and everything looks dirty~that transitional time that is just yucky, you can tell the soils just itching to pop some green!

I think maybe I’ll start some seeds this week!

What have you been up to?

Technorati Tags: Knitting,katidids,etsy,custom knits,dyeing wool,Michael Miller fabrics

Starting the Spring/Summer Chore list

How many times in the fall have you looked at something  and said “Oh, we were going to paint, move redo or do this” this summer…Well, grab a note pad and start writing them down !

All the projects you want to do, even those that seem or  sound silly to write down.  See this wood pile? There are 2 that look like this..A little thing that is driving me craZy!  I love to look at the snow but I don’t want to be out in it so first semi warm day, I’m restacking it.  Yes I know Mr.Fix-it would do it but, it’s something  I can do which saves him for other things like…..enclosing the carport for a 2nd bathroom and moving the laundry room up from the basement. Oh and A STUDIO FOR MEEEEEE!  OK, enough there or I’ll never stop..

Anyway, list your projects out &  supplies needed.  It helps for budget & planning.  You’ll be able to watch for sales to purchase items needed & possibly do a bit of prep work ahead of time. Also preparing a supply list helps you be aware of great deals for trade or “found “ items.  For example, an older person we we know just moved into a new home & replaced the standard toilet with a elevated one.  We have a new/free toilet for the new bathroom!  Someone we know said “OH, That’s just gross!”  Well, if its basically new & I would have used it while visiting its good enough for my house!

So, the start of my summer chore list, in no particular order:

1. Clean out pond drain

2. Thin the Lilies & Hosta around the pond

3, replace lattice  on deck end

4. replace lattice on crawl space

5. Power wash back deck

6. Stain Deck

7. Build stairs to patio

8. Plant Garden

9. Plant Herb Garden

10.  Spring pruning

11.  Install a clothesline

12.  Build frame for blackberries

13.  Remove gross dark paneling from the living room & hall

14.  Pull carpet from living room & hall

15.  Install hardwood to living room & hall

16.  Replace window sills in living room & bedroom 1 & 2

17.  Remove gross green fake wood paneling from bedroom #1

18.  Enclose carport for bath, laundry & studio & add new entry to living room

19.  Shelves stored in the garage to basement for canned goods

20.  Arbor between house & garage for shade

21.  shampoo family room carpet

22. repaint living room

23.  repaint kitchen

24. repaint bedroom #1

25.  Garden & Can

Yep, it looks like we’re in for a busy summer!  We have been planning the addition for the past 2 years, slowly gathering quite a bit of the supplies.  The deck stain we purchased last year on sale, the lattice we are waiting to go on sale.  We’ll replace it before I stain the deck so it all matches.  Paint I’ll wait for a good sale & pick up to have ready….& I need to add carpet edging for the bedrooms to the list when we pull up the hall carpet….

I think I need a larger note pad!

The Projaholics are back!

What are your plans for the summer?

Technorati Tags: summer plans,projaholics,home improvements

 

Custom Knits in Progress

Playing in the dye pots last week I was trying to come up with a Gray rainbow for a custom order. 

I’ not to sure these longies have enough Gray but, we’ll see how Mom likes them!

I have about 2 inches left to go on the legs & a pocket to add. If Mama likes them they will be on the way to Alaska! 

So you see the white in the photo above?  That’s still snow.  About 4-6 inches are left on the the ground.  But, Today I saw something that has been missing for weeks!

THE SUN!!!! 

Technorati Tags: custom knits,longies,katidids,weather

Flour Sack Give Away

Recently I found this fun blog, “Children Are A Blessing From God” A fun blog about family & frugal life. Any way, she currently has a give away for a flour sack! I love the history that is behind them and the thousand uses they have had in the past. Any way pop on over, enjoy a good read and tell her I said Hi!

Technorati Tags: Giveaway,flour sack,Blogging friends

New Love, New Blackberry Cobbler Recipe & New Knits!

  Crazy bird was deemed crazy by the bird people also!I’m not sure what they will do with her as she got out of their cages also.

But, Little Bird has a  new love.

This ones a sweetie, they get along great and I think they will become a pair not just cage mates 

We celebrated Valentines a day early by going out to supper and  then to see the  5 Browns in concert.  Siblings, all classical pianists that are currently touring the US. & we were able to see them at the Ogle Center at IUS.  Steinway hauls and sets up the the 5 Steinway piano’s where ever they go.  It was magic!  If you have the opportunity to to see them don’t even think about it go!

I broke out the guarded Blackberries to make a Valentine cobbler for Mr.. Fix-it.

Took less than 15 minutes to put together

1/2 c. butter
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
2/3 c. milk
1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen blackberries, thawed  (I used 3 cups fresh  frozen )

Melt butter in a 2 quart casserole. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk in a small mixing bowl, mix well.

Pour mixture over melted butter, do not stir. Spoon blackberries over batter; do not stir.

Bake at 350°F. for 45 minutes or until golden

A scoop (or 2) of ice cream & it’s Pan lickin good!

And of course there has been some knitting…

A pair of large Longies, I LOVE this Blue Marl, super soft and snuggly!

The next 2 are customs for an Etsy Order

An extra Large

and a medium. Being lanolized as we speak and will be in the mail on Friday!

We still are buried in snow, nothings melted and I’m avoiding going out as much as I can….It’s a good enough excuse to make chocolate chip cookies!

What have you been up to this week!

Technorati Tags: pets,parakeets,snow,5 Browns,knitting,Etsy,Katidid

Brrr..8 more inches of SNOW!

I took this photo right before 6 am…..dawn, any other day you would need a porch light It was so light out I thought I had slept in

Back of the house

8 Inches on top of 10 from the other day..And more called for the next 2 days

Mr. Fix it bought this suit in 81 for his cold weather motorcycle rides, now, he uses it for

Now, he uses it for other rides..I love a frugal man!

like plowing the driveway…with a snow plow he rigged to the 4 wheeler

Hmm, not sure my blueberries or blackberries will survive this snow fall.

Technorati Tags: Snow,winter2010,frugal fashion