I got Nothin'

And my site is in the middle of an upgrade. Sorry. Might get something up later. . .

Somebody Loves Me!

The beautiful Sometimes Sophia (we're twins, identical of course, separated at birth, ya know) graced me with this very special award this week. She's a wonderful story teller, poet (with a small rodent problem), adventurer (she walked the state of NH!) and has some serious mad skillz with Photoshop. Go on over and check her out. Tell her Linda sent you and while your there check out some of the cool people on her Blog Roll.

I'm still working on the Turnberry Cardigan by Drew "The Crochet Dude" Emborsky. And the depressing task of decluttering my closet. Three bags of clothes went to Goodwill yesterday. After that it's (insert scary movie music) The Craft Room. Currently storing everything from used glue sticks and dried lotus blossom pods to aquamarine sewing thread and retired Partylite candles & holders. Halloween, Christmas , Thanksgiving and Fourth of July decorations, fabric remnants, and music cassettes. I really need to find a home (someone elses) for this stuff! Do I have any takers? Anyone? Bueller?

Wordless Wednesday

I think the ELPH is keeping the thermostat too low.

What do you think?

The River

Some songs just speak to you. They make you realize what you already knew. This one reminds me to learn from yesterday, from my mistakes, to take risks. Small risks. To not let life pass me by.

What songs inspire you, remind you to reach higher?

The River – Victoria Shaw/Garth Brooks

You know a dream is like a river

Ever changin' as it flows

And a dreamer's just a vessel

That must follow where it goes

Trying to learn from what's behind you

And never knowing what's in store

Makes each day a constant battle

Just to stay between the shores...and

I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

Like a bird upon the wind

These waters are my sky

I'll never reach my destination

If I never try

So I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside

And let the waters slip away

'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow

Has now become today

So don't you sit upon the shoreline

And say you're satisfied

Choose to chance the rapids

And dare to dance the tide...yes

I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

Like a bird upon the wind

These waters are my sky

I'll never reach my destination

If I never try

So I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

There's bound to be rough waters

And I know I'll take some falls

But with the good Lord as my captain

I can make it through them all...yes

I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

Like a bird upon the wind

These waters are my sky

I'll never reach my destination

If I never try

So I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel

'Til the river runs dry

'Til the river runs dry

Neat Nick I Am Not

Apparently some of you are under the impression that I am some sort of Neat Nick. Whatever gave you all this idea? I can tell you the opposite is true. Heck I can SHOW you!

See the ELPH and I don’t have children so, no toys or shoes or book bags laying about. But who needs kids when you have me?

Here is the Back Entry, that door leads to the garage.

The empty popcorn tin and the old flatbed scanner? Yup, they've been sitting there since Christmas. On the wall directly in front of that bench is a whole row of hooks for hanging jackets and such. That’ll be important to remember for the next two photos.

From the Back Entry you walk into the Kitchen where you will find…
What? What’s this? A Jacket? And another pair of shoes? No, can’t be! Cuz there’s hooks back there just for hanging coats, purses & bags on, right?

And look at this living room! How do people live here?
That stack on the table? It's my stuff. That’s been there 2 weeks. Aside from the book on the top, I don’t even remember what’s there.

Turn around. Let’s see what we have here in the Front Foyer.
Ah yes, two MORE pairs of Linda’s shoes and yet another jacket. And the dog leash hanging on the door knob? Yes, it’s supposed to be stored in a drawer in that foyer table there on the left.

This Plant? It is directly behind it is a very nice, cushy leather chair in the living room.
The Jaspurr cat launches himself off the chair right into the middle of said plant and tears the leaves off. I can clean these up every ten minutes but it looks like this again when I turn around. I think I’ll just wait out his obsession and then clean it up.

Back into the Kitchen
hmmmmm…this is not looking good.

Oh my. This is definatly not a good thing. So now you know. No neat nick lives here. Maybe when I get that cardigan done I’ll give you a peek at my closet. You know the one full of clothes. All kinds of clothes I can’t wear.

On second thought, maybe not, it’s in worse shape than the rest of the house.

Turnberry Cardigan (WIP)

A Work In Progress

I’ve been working on the Turnberry Cardigan since November. I haven’t been working very diligently. It shouldn’t take this long. This is why I don’t have an Etsy shop. I crochet when I’m in the mood. This pattern is so easy I don’t know why I haven’t been working on it. This is all I’ve gotten done in two months. Just the back.It’s ridiculous. So tonight I’m going to post this and work on one or two for future. Then I’m going to finish this sweater. So if I’m off for a little bit I'll be on the sofa, crocheting my little fat fingers off:)

An Interview? Who me?

Have you ever wished you had the opportunity to interview a few of your blog friends? Well Di over at The Blue Ridge Gal did just that. And she interviewed me! The way I gab, I would have thought you knew everything about me by now:)

So without further ado, here is the interview!

1. Last July you spent a day in Gatlinsburg... you bought a fantastic looking purse.... so, are you a purse and accessory freak and is your closet over-flowing with fashion or neat and tidy with just the minimum? I am so NOT a Fashionable Girl! I was in Gatlinburg with my sisters’ family and the nieces were all looking for purses. That one just caught my eye and the girls loved it so for $20 I figured what the heck? And my closet is far from tidy! It’s full of clothes that don’t fit.


2. You're a stitchin' fool... lol... and I am jealous by the way. Do you or will you ever sell your creations on Etsy, if no, please explain why not. I love to crochet and I love making things for my friends and family, in my own good time. I’m afraid if I open an Etsy shop, it will make Crocheting more of a chore than a pleasure. Although just recently I've been asked to make something on commission! I’ll keep you all posted on how that goes.


3. I see you have a fat cat and a skinny dog. Have you always had pets in your life and can you name all of them and tell us about your very favorite one? My family always had pets while I was growing up. The ones I would call mine, that I was responsible for were a half wild, female, calico cat my brother named Tough Guy, a female Husky mix named Ralphie, brother & sister cats named Elliot & Vanessa, psycho kitty Tasha, and an awesome cat Bruiser (he was a dog in another life). Bruiser was probably my favorite. He had the most and best personality!


4. What is your favorite style of house. Country farmhouse, Colonial, Cottage or Contempory? I LOVE old houses. I mean really OLD houses. Style schmyle. Make it OLDOLDOLD and I'm in love. There's just so much history there.


5. What is usually playing on your iPod, car radio or computer when it comes to music. What song moves you to feel emotional and why? There is usually Country CD's in the truck but every time I hear Etta James sing “At last” I get chills!


Now it's your turn if you would like me to interview you just leave a comment and I will email you the questions! Here's the directions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I’ll respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. Include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Carolina Snow

The ELPH & I were snug in our bed this morning when The Skinny Dog (aka Sparkie) decided it was waaay past time for her morning pee and jumped up to inform us. As she snuggled inbetween us to lick our faces, the ELPH informs me "Your dog needs to go out."
Really? What ever gave him that idea? Now, being the Alpha Dog of this Pack, I snuggled deeper into my blankets. You see, I say when we pee around here! The ELPH came back to from his trip down the hall and said "It's snowing!" I said "Bull shhhh..." Peeked out from under the covers and finished saying "...iiitt. It IS snowing!" Now I really didn't want to get out of bed. But my Best Girl Sparkie really did need to go out so I pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, put on a coat and out we went.

Yup, that's Carolina Snow.... There!.... Right there! On the ground! That white stuff!
Are you blind?!!? STOP LAUGHING! phffst. Never mind. Any way, I walked, Sparkie sniffed and did her business. It was so quiet you could hear the snow. (Shut up.) It was pretty cool. Look! See? Accumulation!

Sparkie's seen a couple of Carolina snows. She's never quite sure what to think though.

Snow sure looks pretty in the Pines.

Don't you agree?


STOP LAUGHING! I can hear you, now stop it!! Look! SEE! Accumulation!

Oh forget it! I'm going back to bed.

What the...?

No my window is not dirty....

It's snowing in South Carolina.

Bbbbbrrrrrr!

Went into the garage this morning, got in the truck and started it. Temp gauge said 44F inside the garage.

On the road to work and this happened...

Then this....

and finally...

Bbbbbrrrrrr!!!

Winter in Chicago Suburbs

Got this email from my (younger) Sister yesterday.

Hi all!
Winter is here in Chicago, received an additional 4-6 inches today of light fluffy powder. Schools are canceling left and right for tomorrow, temps expected to be the lowest in 16 years.
(from weatherchannel.com) TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO RAPIDLY DROP TONIGHT AND COMBINED WITH THE STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS OF 30 TO 40 DEGREES BELOW ZERO THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

I've sent some pictures of my flower pots and one of the grill, anyone for BBQ? Enjoy!

A Meme

Lo over at Slap Happy Musings tagged me with this meme and it sounded like fun. All you have to do is go to your pictures, pick the 6th photo from the 6th file and blog about it and tag 6 people. Here is mine.

My Mother October 22, 1960

She was 18.5 almost to the day. She wore her sister’s dress.

I'm not going to tag you. I'm a rule breaker like that. Free will and all. Have fun!

How did I NOT know?

My Mother In Law, Bea, used to Knit and Crochet. Ask me how I found out this vital piece of information that could have smoothed all the rough edges of our early relationship. Go ahead, ask me. Ready? I learned that my MIL used to Knit and Crochet while the ELPH and I were moving Bea from one apartment to another last weekend. I came across one double point needle (DPN) and one crochet hook. I sat there on the floor and said to Bea "I didn’t know you knit.” She said “Oh, yes but it was a long time ago. Oh, I have something for you.” She comes back and hands me this.

11 Crochet Hooks, 3 Afghan Hooks, 12 pairs of Knitting Needles, 4 sets of DPN’s, 2 Circular Needles, a Cable Knitting Needle and the longest darning needle I’ve ever seen. Seriously, it’s like 8 inches long!

32 Needles and Hooks in a 50 year old case that doesn't look a year old. The ELPH doesn't even remember is Mother knitting. And there's no evidence except this case. No knitted hats, sweaters or mittens. No baby blankets. 32 Needles & Hooks people! You don't have that many if you're a casual crafter. She had to have been serious some point.

How am I just learning this? ELPH and I have been married 15 years. I have crocheted numerous items for him and have worked on projects in her presence. How did this subject NOT come up? This would have been such a bonding point for for us. Bea & I haven't always been on best of terms. (Let's just say NO woman would have been good enough for her Only Son and leave it at that.) But over the years we've found some common ground. At the very least knowing that we had this craft in common would've given us something to talk about.


I am so happy to recieve all these needles and hooks. First, because there are Bea's. And second because when I finally learn to knit properly I will already have every needle I will ever need.


Bea is a very lovely woman. Born in Germany in 1924, raised in New York City. She was an elementary school teacher. She skiied and climbed mountains and she still swims half a mile a day. She is very traditional. She comes from a generation that took great pride in doing things just so. When she entertained it was done to the Nines. Tableclothes and napkin rings and the good silver. Juice in juice glasses, water in water goblets, wine in wine glasses, and cordials. They "dressed" for dinner and wore gloves and hats to church. She always tries too hard to make us feel welcome and at home.


It's an era almost gone. And now when ever I use these hooks and needles I'll always remember...That no one ever told me Bea knit!

Moving MIL

The ELPH’s parents moved from their retirement home in Tennessee into a two bedroom apartment at Carlyle Place 8 or 9 years ago. Carlyle Place is a Continuing Care Retirement Community with tons of amenities and services. ELPH always told his Parents that their moving there was the best gift they could give him as he never has to worry about whether they’re eating or getting out or if someone will find them if they fall and get hurt. They have several friends that moved from the same Tennessee neighbor hood living there also.
ELPH’s Father died a few years ago from cancer. So in an effort to stretch her limited income as far as possible the ELPH suggested his Mother move to a smaller apartment. She agreed but was not optimistic that an apartment would open up anytime soon as “someone has to die” in order for her to get a new place. A One Bedroom “just down the hall” opened up two weeks later. When she called to tell us she was practically in hysterics because she only had 30 days to move! ELPH & I calmed her down and told her we would take care of everything. So last Saturday we drove 3½ hours down to Macon, GA to get her moved “just down the hall”.
Now I love my MIL but she’s not much on organization or planning ahead. When we arrived nothing was packed and she was fretting about “We are never going to get this all done today. You’ll have to stay all week to get this all moved! All this is never going to fit in the new place!” Breathe, MIL, breathe. (Take another Blue Pill, Linda) I have to keep reminding myself that she is 85 and physically she is but mentally she’s probably 65. She had moved all her clothes from the closet and a few miscellaneous things from around the apartment. “Just down the hall” turned out to be “just on the same floor”. The new place is on the opposite side of the complex. It took me 3 minutes to walk from the old place to the new. We must have walked miles!! With the exception of her dresser, the ELPH and I got all the furniture she was keeping moved to the new place by Midnight. She nearly had a fit when we said we forgot our inflatable mattress and would sleep on the floor. But we were so tired we could have slept anywhere. My feet hurt all the way up to my hips!
Next morning we got some help from ELPH’s Cousin G. We were so glad he was able to come too! By 3:30 we had pretty much gotten everything MIL wanted to keep into the One Bedroom. And Cousin G took all the furniture MIL no longer wanted away with him when he had to leave. The ELPH and I will have to go back one more time to pitch out the trash and have MIL go through some of her things and the stacks of papers she’s collected. You know stuff you might need someday like the owners manual for the toaster you received for a wedding gift in 1912 and that you finally replaced in 1932. But you might need that manual so don’t throw that out! Actually it was quite funny. MIL is a container whore. No really she has a container for everything. We found a zippered bank bag and ELPH pitched it in the trash pile. MIL said “oh don’t throw that out! It’s still good!” He asked what are you using it for? MIL said “Oh I might put something in it someday.” Um remember she’s 85? Apparently she doesn’t. But then again her Mother lived to be almost 100. Yea. Woo-who.

I'm here! Really!

Sorry to be off the grid lately. Nothing exciting. Just getting caught up at work after the Holiday's.
Going to Macon, GA Saturday to move MIL to new apartment in same building. Should have some good stuff from that. Promise to have a post by Monday.

Yes Yarn has a New Location

Yes Yarn has moved to...

3016 North Main St, Anderson

(Below Papa John's Pizza. New sign has been ordered. )

And with my new trusty GPS I found it without any trouble! I am in LOVE with GARMIN! The ELph bought Lake Map Software for it so guess what? That makes it a "we" gift. But I don't care! I can go to any yarn shop in the U.S. and Canada and never get lost. OK and we can use it on the boat to Track Back from the Tiki Hut without hitting anything in the dark. I guess that's a good thing. But GARMIN will live in MY truck! And the ELPH will require special permission signed in blood to borrow MY GARMIN to run his Lake Map Software on. So there.

Anyway, I found the new YES YARN store no problem. And it is amazing! The old store was inside and upstairs of a Quilt Shop, in three small rooms. The new store is all one room and you can see everything! Even so Margaret & Deb have still managed to make it cozy.

The place was hoppin' when I visited on Saturday! There had to have been 25 people in there.There are several places to sit and knit or check out the books and patterns.

Margaret never left the register! Go Margaret! Go!

And Debbie...Debbie? Well Debbie was all over the place helping customers in every corner of the store! I couldn't even get a picture of her! Jackie was there too teaching a class in the Knitty Corner.

Look at all the pretties! Noro, Rowan, Tahki, Debbie Bliss, Plymouth, Classic Elite and Swedish Yarns and Hand Painted Yarn!

And all sorts of cool gagets, needles and hooks, Oh My! All beautifully displayed and in easy reach.

Busy, busy, busy!

Best Of luck Margaret. See you real soon!

New Boots

How adorable are these?

Don't they look Hot?!!

Don't they me look thinner?

I think not.

Happy New Year!!!

About a month ago our dear friends Karen & Tony, called to invite us to their New Years Eve party. Awesome! Then Karen asks ‘should we have it here or at your house?’ I never even hesitated when I answered ‘Our place of course!’ We love Tony & Karen like family. We’ve known them for 15 years and are very comfortable just sitting on the sofa, all with our laptops or falling asleep watching a movie. We always enjoy our visits together.

Along with Tony and Karen we invited Hamilton and Lora down from Tennessee and our neighbors Bill and Judy.

Tony is an amateur chef. And by amateur I only mean that he doesn’t cook for a living.

But he could.

He’s amazing! He really enjoys cooking so much that if he’s not in the kitchen he doesn’t know what to do with himself. So we let him have at it! He had smoked some ribs and chicken earlier in the day and Karen emptied their refrigerator and stocked ours when they arrived. Judy who is new to the South, made the New Years Tradition of Black-eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Corn bread. Man was it GOOD! I contributed by purchasing a Mrs. Smith’s Blueberry Pie and Breyer’s Vanilla Ice cream. Trust me. It's a good thing.

We were so busy talking and drinking I didn’t take any pictures of the spread. Needless to say we covered the kitchen counter with food and ate. And ate! Then we drank. Not too much. We’re all in the mid-40’s and up and don’t recover nearly as well as we used to. But we had a very nice evening capped off with fireworks at midnight launched from our beach.

New Year’s morning Tony cooked up this great breakfast.

We all gathered around the stove for our morning caffeine fix and to watch the Master Chef at work.

English muffins soaked in egg (like you would bread for French toast) then rolled in crushed Special K flakes and….are you ready?? Coconut! Just a touch of syrup and OMG! Heaven on a plate. Amazing!

After breakfast we just hung out and talked. The girls went and joined the very smart animals of my house in the living room sunbeam. Lora tried to steal my dog.

She tried to bribe me with this beautiful platter.

Although it does go perfectly with my décor,

I insisted on keeping both the dog and the platter.

We LOVE when friends and family come to visit and we wish they all had more time to spend with us. Maybe this summer when the weather is more suitable to boating we can do this again.

Fourth of July anyone?