Turning over a new leaf . . .

I love reading blogs of others. So today I turn over a new leaf. I'll blog everyday from now on--even if it's just a line or two.

So . . . yesterday I became a shareholder of Jacob's Reward Fiber Farm. It's a local CSA located in Parker, TX. Cindy, the shepherd, is very sweet--that's one of the reasons I bought the share--I just love her so much, and I love what she's doing.

Cindy put on the perfect meetup yesterday at her place. There were maybe 25 or so fiber people there--knitting, spinning, dyeing--I felt so totally at home . . . these were really my people! Loved it!!

Here's a link to Cindy's blog--with pictures!! http://www.jacobsreward.blogspot.com/ Here are a couple of pictures I took:

Happy Birthday . . .

Erin's birthday is today. We had lunch and had some lively, good conversation. I love being with her. She makes me feel really comfortable. I'm so proud of her and love her so much. She's a beautiful person. I feel really lucky to call her my daughter. God really blessed me when he sent her to us. I love you, Erin. Happy Birthday!

Today . . . a new start

Yikes, it's been a long time since I've posted anything. Oops.

Ok . . . I think the shawl I'm blocking for Gracia is dry. Some her binding off came out when I washed it, so I'm going to re-bind off and weave in the ends. Then it's done. It must have acrylic in the yarn, though, because the portion that I finished sprung back to a lot narrower. It still looks really good--you can so see the pattern, and it's so pretty. I think she'll love it.

I finished my Esther Bible study and really miss it. I think I'll do an online Beth Moore study--they inspire me so much!!

Went to dr. this morning to check cholestoral and blood pressure. Both are improved from last time. I'll go in again in July to recheck them.

I think I might go ahead and buy a share of Jacob's Reward. It's right up the road and I think I'd enjoy participating personally in the "making of the fiber." I love MVFF, but I don't feel very engaged, although the lambcam has been a lot of fun, and the comradarie of the thread has been fun too. We'll see . . .

Ok. Got to get going now. I'm committed to making a nice dinner, doing at least one load of laundry today, and cleaning the carpet in the den.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

Taking a break . . .

Yikes. Now I know why I've put off cleaning the garage for so long. OMG. It's absolutely a huge job. Poor Phil just wants to take it all to Goodwill . . . and I want to have a yard sale and spend the money on Martha's Vineyard (our next vacation). I think he might almost be ready to pay me off (put mad $$ in my savings account just for me) . . . tehehe. Either way, it still has to be gone through and sorted, stuff thrown away, treasures put away properly. So . . . I just keep trudging along.

I wanted to go to Jacob's Reward work day today but just couldn't get it together. I'm beginning to want to spin--well, knit with my own homespun. We'll see. I'll call Ms. Cindy next week and see what she says.

Ok . . . back to the garage. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Socks suck . . .

For some reason socks and I are not getting along. I've made socks before--in fact, I knit our Christmas stockings oh so many years ago . . . mine is pink, Phil's is blue (I actually made them to wear, but they were so perfect for mantle socks that I changed my mind). But lately . . . well, I have three "pair" working and just can't seem to GET THERE . . . to a pair!

1. Supersocke in a pink and brown colorway . . . the needle was too big so I frogged this one . . .

2. Kroy Socks in a blue and green colorway . . . the first sock I made got chewed up by Gracie, the second sock I made is WAY too big, and the third one I made (which I just started frogging) . . . well . . . I cast on 52 stitches instead of 64 (WHY?????? I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!) . . .

3. And MVFF sports weight . . . well, it's definitely a dark (spruce green), winter sock and, well, I just wanted to do socks that could be worn in the near future.

So, there you have it. Three "pair" and nary a sock to be worn. Go figure.

Update . . .

I've been soooo remiss. How long has it been since I've updated this . . . crazy.

First, I finally made lasagna today. I've been tasting it for about a month now, and ordered it at a restaurant one night (Siciliano's), but it just wasn't the same as mine. So . . . it's in the frig now ruminating. I'll pop it in the oven around 5:30'ish and we'll have dinner around 6:30'ish. I can hardly wait.

I also have bread rising. If you haven't seen the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day book that's the subject of a very, very long thread in the MVFF Groupies Group (Ravelry), you should get a copy. I bought mine at Barnes & Noble, but I saw it for a lot less here: http://product.half.ebay.com/Artisan-Bread-in-Five-Minutes-a-Day_W0QQprZ59796807QQtgZinfo Really, really easy bread and so yum.

I went to Bible study yesterday. I think I'm going to really enjoy this group. It's at church (http://christchurchplano.org/) and there are 12-15 women. The group meets at 9:30 a.m. every other Wednesday. The study is Max Lucado's video study on James 3:16. I liked the format of the study, so I think I'll enjoy it.

I'm also doing Esther with my Monday night group at my friend's house, Denise. We've done Daniel, the Patriarchs, and now Esther together. I love Beth Moore--but I do have to say I like Max Lucado too . . . so we'll see. They both have a lot to offer, and I probably shouldn't compare them.

Got Gracey's shots almost 2 weeks ago. I want to get her spade, so think I'll make an appointment for next week. She got a shot to keep from getting kennel croop, and I don't want to take her until two week shave gone by. I really would feel bad if she got sick before the shot kicked in. She's on her heartworm medicine too, which is a good thing. She's such a sweet thing. She puts her head on my arm or let or chest and looks at me and almost swoons. It's so funny. Coco was loving, but this girl is over the top. So sweet!

I've been spending a lot of Fridays with Rowan, but she's in Galvastan with her mom and dad for spring break, so I'll have to live without her tomorrow.




We made bread last week, and she was so proud of herself.

Knitting . . . well, I've sort of fallen off the wagon. I have so many projects going it's embarrassing. I have three different yarns going to socks--and I actually have three socks finished. Only thing, I still don't have a pair. I need to focus, focus, focus. I also bought yarn for a sweater for Phil at Woolie Ewe (it was on sale so I couldn't resist) . . . only problem is, they had it in a second color I loved, so I went back and bought more of it--so I have about 35 skeins of this stuff now. I sure hope he loves it!! I also haven't worked on my seascape shawl for nearly two weeks. Yikes. I gotta get focused!!!

Crazy week . . .

This week has been awesome and crazy . . . I did a lot of stuff I wanted to do, and some stuff I really didn't want to do. But in the end it was all good.

I've been avoiding Heather because I want to spend hours and hours with her catching up, and I've been so dang busy I haven't had the time. Today I call Heather so we can have lunch one day next week. She's my idol, and I want to catch up and see where she is in her life. She's an awesome person--finishing her degree so she can open up a school and orphanage! Wow . . . fantastic goals!!

This week I embroidered towels and pillowcases for Rowan for her birthday. I did white on white pillowcases, and purple on lavendar towels. The towels are in the machine being embroidered as we speak, but here's a picture of the pillowcase--can you see the "R." It turned out really pretty (thankfully--I'm such a novice).

I knit on Monday with Susanne. Her weekly group met to knit cup sleeves at Startucks to sell, and the proceeds to go the SPCA of Texas (I love the SPCA).

So if you can't knit but want to do something for the SPCA, you can give a donation too!!! https://secure2.convio.net/tspca/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1044&JServSessionIdr006=w04yfgyqt3.app25a

I went to Bible study Monday night. I decided I was going to do the book of Esther with my old group from Christ Church. So I got my workbook and went. It was so great to be with them. There were several new people, but many of the old ones--Denise, Sandy, Kim . . . I love them to death!!!

Knit with my sweet friends at TI on Tuesday . . . we also had taco salads together from Wendy's. It was great fun. I love those girls!!!

Wednesday I spent the day getting caught up . . . since I joined the Bible study in week 4, I have three weeks of Bible study to catch up with. I don't think it will be a problem. I did the introduction and two weeks. Today (Friday), I plan to get caught up totally. So when I attend again next week, I'll be caught up. I also went to church Wednesday night--to St. Barnabas. We were members there 20 years ago but left to join a larger church (Epiphany), then later went on to join an even larger church (Christ Church). St. Barnabas is really, really small--I'd forgotten how small. They also now have a large Hispanic population, so the service was down half in English, half in Spanish. And they had no music except for taped accompanyment. Very different from what I've become used to. I have to say, however, that the clergy were excellent--really spirit filled and so committed to what they were teaching. All-in-all an excellent service. I'm glad I went.

Thursday I went with Riann to have Rowan's two-year old pictures done. Here's a short preview of some of the picture. Soooooo cute . . . http://amycolumbusphotography.com/blog/

And last, but not least . . . today is Rowan's birthday. Here she is after having been to Albertson's to pick up her birthday cupcakes to share with her classmates . . . and getting a hug and a kiss -- AND A DOLLAR -- from the lady at Albertson's bakery (they're so sweet!!!). Enjoy . . .

Well . . . I intended to insert a video here, but for some reason blogger.com doesn't like my video . . . sorry.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!