At long last

For several weeks, I stopped knitting because I simply couldn't seem to find the time or energy. I picked up the needles early last week and cranked out Connor's baby blanket, finishing it off Friday night. Oh how I looooove Mission Falls!

I found this pattern, "Oh My Baby! Booties" on Ravelry. Great pattern, easy knit, but mine are, admittedly, not cute. I'm going to do another set in a solid color (with sock yarn) and see how they turn out. I used "Porto Cervo" cotton on a size seven needle and they're just too large (even after washing & drying).

And finally, I'm offering prizes! What do you have to do to win a prize? Nothing! You've already won just by reading my blog. Pick your color!

(And don't even think about not leaving a comment. I know who you are and quite likely, where you live, so again, tell me what color you want!). ;) LOLOL

Madeleine, the stray, is currently holed up in our basement with her little squeaking brood.

Noro...beautiful Noro...

For a long time now, I've heard a number of people express their love of Noro's Silk Garden. Being the slow puppy that I am, I finally got around to getting some. What was the catalyst? Nikki's scarf. At the Knitters Knook grand opening, Nikki was wearing a scarf that I fell in love with at first sight. It's the diagonal bias scarf and hers was made with...you guessed it...Noro. I bought two skeins and here is the end result.


I wore it Monday, Wednesday & Friday of last week. I washed it on Saturday so I could wear it some more this week. :) It feels soooooooo good and the photo doesn't do the colors justice. Now I see (finally) what all the fuss was about.

Happy Knitting/Spinning all.

Hi, I'm Dennis Miller...

...and this is your weekend update. :)

First of all, thank you so much for your messages of support and love. They meant and mean the world to me. I was heartsick all week and as of Thursday evening, quite scared too.

Mohamed did get checked out and the ECG and blood tests came back normal. His heart is beating regularly, but it is too slow. The physicians who treated him at the hospital where he works put in a call to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where his cardiologist is based. As luck would have it, Mohamed's cardiologist was the one on duty Friday night and I understand that they exchanged information and test results. Dr. Welch is bringing Mohamed in this week (as opposed to his originally scheduled appointment on 4/2/08) and we'll simply take it from there. Mohamed hasn't been experiencing any more chest pains and he's no longer feeling weak. He feels a great deal better and naturally, so do I. The tests and just being vetted by doctors gave us some real peace of mind and comfort. We don't know the "why" yet, but we're hopeful.

Arabella, too, continues to improve each day. In fact, she tries to walk too much now and is beginning to develop "cabin fever." We have a small, beagle sized crate for travel and a very large crate to contain her in the house. The cats walk by the crate and just glance at her like, "Ha! You can't get us now." Yesterday evening, Bella tracked them with her eyes and her expression read, "Just you wait...".

Dad and Joan returned safely home to a surprise. They live in rural Mississippi and when they pulled into their driveway, they immediately noticed that the chain on their gate (leading into their property) was cut. As it turned out, there was a fire in the woods not far from their house and it was a decently sized one. The firetrucks arrived and were locked out. Get this...their insurance doesn't (yes, DOES NOT) allow them to cut chains and open locked gates. Dad's neighbor, whom I guess called the fire department in the first place, ran to his house, grabbed his bolt cutters and took care it himself. Once the gates were "unlocked," the fire department did their thing.

Ahhhhh...it's Sunday and the start of a new and fresh week!

THANK YOU AGAIN MY FRIENDS!

RANT TIME

This is your warning - - if you don't like a rant,

sprinkled with the odd profanity,

walk away now 'cause I'm in a mood and

I intend to vent.

- - - - - - - - -

My week SUCKED ASS because...

1. On Monday afternoon, I watched my little dog, Arabella,

get struck by a car.

2. My dad and stepmother stayed at our house for

only 36 hours.

3. Mohamed had chest pains last night.

- - - - - - - -

Now, for the updates....

1. Bella (the yarn thief, snuggler, howler, four-legged fiend whom I adore) survived. She has several small pelvic fractures, a broken femur and must be crate-confined for the next four to six weeks so that everything will heal well and properly. I brought her home last night and Andie and I learned how to "towel walk" the dog. We had to place a beach towel under Bella, raise the two ends of the towel to support her pelvis and/or butt end, so that she would walk easily.

She's been a real trooper and I am amazed by her - - really amazed.

Like her adoptive mother, she, too, enjoys the occasional painkiller. About twenty minutes after I gave Bella her evening dose of medication, I went to the crate to check on her and I swear to you, the dog was smiling and cross-eyed!

2. Dad & Joan were anxious to return to their home and I can't hold it against them. I wish we could've had more time together, but I'm glad for the the time we had. We laughed, talked, played cards and it was WONDERFUL!

3. Mohamed promised to get checked out tonight (he works at the local hospital) so we'll have to see what they say. I'm hoping it's just a matter of readjusting the meds (he has an irregular heartbeat that was diagnosed for the first time not quite two years ago).

I hope your week was better

and thanks for sharing my rant (it helped a lot).

XOXOX

Knitters Knook - Grand Opening

Saturday morning was fabulous & fun!

Becky hosted the grand opening of her new yarn store,

Knitters Knook, and it was a party.

There was food, drink, fiber and friends...what more could you ask for?

Becky, sock guru & owner
(Behind her is the Mission Falls wall).

Fiber - - beautiful fiber.

Mission Falls wall.

Plymouth's Encore at the back

And Linda! Linda won the first door prize and chose a beautiful skein

of Socks That Rock sock yarn.

Dianne won the second door prize, a "stained glass" hat kit from Green Mountain Spinnery.

Thanks for a great time Becky!