I am so Touched and Honored

Tonight the crew of Ladies from Yarn for Breakfast threw me a send off that was just wonderful. This group has grown and morphed over the past 4yrs to such a phenomenal group of people. We have had lots of folks join us and move on, and quite a few who joined us and then just stayed, and then there have even been a few that joined, moved away and then returned to the area to rejoin us. There have been babies added, spinners became quite the force to be reckoned with, and dyers are squeezing their way in as well - along with, of course the core crocheters and knitters. I am so honored to have been able to help this group become what it is. A FABULOUS fiber community in the Tidewater area.

A HUGE Thank You for all of your very thoughtful contributions to the Pattern book (free ones of course). I LOVED the Yarn Bowl of cupcakes and especially the "ball bands" they are priceless.

I think that, were it not for the access to email, facebook, meetup, and the like - I would have been just a pile of tears tonight. I will miss you all, and yet we will still be able to stay in touch over the ethers as if I were still around. I truly hope to see you at some time out in the Valley of the Sun - when you have had enough of the winter doldrums, or maybe a bit too much humidity in the early summer - then just let me know and I will help book you a cheap seat to a vacation in the desert.

If I am lucky, maybe by the time you all start visiting, there will be critters on the property and yarn being dyed in the stalls... we shall see.

From the bottom of my heart and with the utmost sincerity... I thank you ALL!

Sorry No Pics...

I know, I said I would have Rick take pictures, but life has been crazy - as it is wont to be when there is a major impending move. Today is a mini Yard Sale in preparation for tomorrow's regular yard sale. Today I shall put out the main furniture bits and work on pricing stuff for tomorrow. It feels good to know that we are going to try to sell some of this stuff. Plus whatever doesn't sell tomorrow goes to Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army. Along with that there are a whole bunch of clothes to be donated - and Rick hasn't even gone through his closet yet.

I must admit, my stress is definitely getting the better of me. I have not slept well for several nights, and last night my asthma decided to put in an appearance. Can't tell if it is just the stress or Allergies (since I have been stirring up all kinds of long settled dust and such), or both.

Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to getting rid of some of this stuff - we really do have too much stuff around here. I want to be able to live more simply, I just seem to lack the willpower and the where-with-all to make it happen. Which is probably why stuff just seems to accumulate with us. One good thing has been ALL the stuff we have found in the garage from previous attempted home projects that is now making its way back to Lowe's and Home Depot, is definitely adding up to nice store credit gift cards. So when we start purchasing stuff to work on the new hause it has already been paid for. Both stores are really quite good about scanning stuff and either noting that it is theirs or not and then doing store credit. This is especially helpful since I live with a man who likes to go and buy at least 1 if not 2 of all the items he "thinks" he might need for a job.

So I am off to start price marking and sorting some more stuff. Wish me luck. :}

Needing Everyone's Mojo -

It is official as of this morning, we have the bid submitted to the bank for approval (since it is a short sale house you have to get the bid approved before doing ANYTHING else) of the house we hope to call HOME some day soon. I figured I would give you just a few teaser pics.

This first one is the view standing either at our front door, at the sink in the kitchen, or from the table in the dinning room.


Next we have a view of the covered patio area which then enters to the pool, and further off in the distance is the coral/pasture area. This area can be seen if you walk from the front door directly straight through an odd sort of room (don't yet know what it will be), and out a set of french doors.


Finally we have a view of my new kitchen. Yes, it really is as big as a garage (since we think it was at one point a one car garage on the original house). Totally looking forward to making lots of great food and fun in that kitchen.


So, for now, that is all the pictures. When Rick gets home later today I will try to remember to have him take a picture of me with the sweater (with its ruffle) on. I will also go take pics of the socks I finished and will post both of them a bit later on. Might even take a picture of the scarf I am also working on, and maybe even my scrap blanket.

But, for now, it is off to go do some more purging and getting ready for yard sale this weekend. It may not be a spectacular one, but if someone else can get use out of some of this stuff then all the better for it.

So - the Birthday Swirl Sweater became...

...the Birthday Spoke sweater. After frogging it a second (or was it a third) time, it finally settled in that it was not meant to be the previously noted pattern. Luckily Jessica found this wonderful pattern and said "THIS IS IT" this is what that yarn needs to be.
So without further ado.... The Birthday Spoke Sweater in all its spendor:



I will do my best to follow this with a better picture, since I also added a small ruffle edging to help give it some length and weight at the bottom and really show off the overlap.
Plus I have also finished other socks and scarves and such, and will try to get them on here as I can.

For now, though, it is back to purging, organizing, and cleaning in preparation for moving.

I Am Back and On The Move

Yes, it has been a year since my last post, and thank goodness the blog is even still here. It has been a crazy busy year with lots of changes and things going on.

Here is the fast version: Still knitting as much as possible. Never did get the Dialysis job (long story - not pretty). Rich graduated from VCU and is now in a nice apartment with a friend, and writing for a couple Richmond magazines and part of the Theater Critics Circle and doing well. Josh is now a Sr at GMU and spent a summer semester in Paris (now like the idea of living abroad even more). Matt is graduated from HS and is now a freshman at JMU and hopefully figuring things out.

Rick has acquired the long waited for Luke AFB position in Phoenix!!!!! Yay for us!!!! We are now moving to Phoenix and will be leaving the Tidewater area on the 10th of Oct. Eeeeeekkkk. Bummed to be leaving my friends, but so very excited to finally be returning to the Valley of the Sun. We have a house we are working on but nothing is final yet. :( Putting as much good energy out there as we can, and planning that we will get what we are meant to have.

Going to try to do some regular blogging now, and hopefully help myself stay focused. Posts will probably be somewhat picture slim, but will do my best to add some nice knitting pictures and some road trip pics when the time comes.