Author: LDSVenus

More Fog Frost

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More Fog Frost!

Close up of fog frost on a tree

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We had a fog advisory today until noon.  It created fog frost in the trees again, and these are the pictures I took. 

The one on the right is a close up (you can click on both pictures for enlarged pictures.)  The frost in the trees like that is really strikingly beautiful.  It makes the end of the branches look like they are made of glass.  But I’m thankful it’s Feburary and that Spring is right around the corner (it’s a longer block here to round the corner of than the south and the west tho, but soon.)  🙂
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Maybe it’s the economy and having to post and give from your blog, but I was surprised that I only have one person to give a PIF gift to.  Remember you will not have to give one to me,  just post and give to 3 people who sign up on your blog for your PIF.  I have room for two more if anyone is interested.  Please do it soon tho so it will be easier to leave a post about it, as I will be putting my security safeguards back up soon because I’m tired of clearing out the spam that my security program takes care of.  I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t counting anyone’s real post as a spam.   Once you post and I accept it, it’s much easier to post.
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Well, I will be looking for another source for the handmade soaps I love to use, as Autumnoak has some health issues and the soap was taking alot out of her because of the time she was putting into it to make sure she had everything just right for her customers.  She is still selling her beautiful handspun yarns to help with the medical costs.  Spinning is always peaceful and restful.  If you love knitting with handspun and you don’t spin (or even if you spin) please visit her etsy site (click on her name above) and look at her beautiful handspun yarns.
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Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day. 🙂

Pay It Forward

/ LDSVenus / 2 Comments

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Ok it’s time to do this again.

PAY IT FORWARD!!

Very cool idea I’ve participated in in the past, and I couldn’t resist the idea of starting another one. I signed up on L’s Fiber Adventures blog site and she is signing up on mine so we can get the ball rolling.

The guidelines: “I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!”

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog and link to my blog as where you signed up.

“Want to participate? Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post and make the same promise on your own blog.

Not So Random Acts of Kindness, and 365 days to do it in!!! What a cool idea!

So, here goes! If you’re interested in participating, just be one of the first three people to post that you would like to PIF! You dont have to be a knitter, you can hand craft – crochet, weave, sew, stamping up cards, anything that is “your thing”.

Fog Frost?

/ LDSVenus / 1 Comment

Frost in the Trees

 

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Ok, I’ve lived in IA off and on for 11 years and I don’t remember having fog like we have had for the past several days, tho it did lift today, and I certainly don’t remember fog causing frost in the trees like this.  But it is beautiful.  I have another picture below.  I wish I had had my camera with me this afternoon when I was out and about, because there was a large group of trees in a snowy field and the frost on the branches stood out making a very stark picture against the sky, but oh so beautiful!

Closer view of the Frost on the branches

 

You can click on the pictures for a larger view.  We are having our mid winter thaw, and the temps have been in the 20’s and lower 30’s this last week and so far this week, however it is suppose to be maybe up to 42 this Saturday – woohoo!!  The mid winter thaw is almost like an early spring, but it goes away followed by more cold snowy winter until the real spring breaks forth.  Come on Spring!!!

Well as you probably already know, the Cowboys did not win their game on Sunday.  Actually they didn’t do very well at all.  But having said that, I was happy to have them make it to the playoffs this year, it shows that they are starting to get things together, now if they can just keep it together ;P.  I’m sure they will have a great year next year. 🙂

Roc Day Take 2 & Llama is Finished & tada ….. the Cowboys Rocked the Eagles again!

/ LDSVenus / 2 Comments

Roc Day Take 2

Roc Day Take 2

Well, it was decided that since the weather ruined our official Roc Day celebration that we would reschedule our spinning celebration to yesterday.  I know it’s not really Roc Day, but fun was had by all!!  These are the wheels that were there, I took these while we were busy with our pot luck lunch :).  The spinner below on the right (and owner of the local spinning shop, R. Rabbits Fiber Studio ,) is enjoying her unoffical Roc Day spinning.  😉  

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Roc Day Take 2

It's Llama Yarn!!

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The Llama is FINISHED!!  That is what I did at our Roc Day, finished spinning the 2nd spool and plyed and skeined off.  I washed it and hung it to dry yesterday afternoon and used my new swift and ball winder this morning to make a center pull ball from one of them.  I will wind the other skein and my son will have the Llama yarn he has been patiently (ummmm) waiting for. 🙂  

Next Project

As you can see I’ve already started my next project.  I really wanted to spin the Suri Alpaca, but I have a gift project to finish first, then I can spin that Suri. 🙂  This is the Merino Superwash that I dyed with the Wilton purple cake decorating color.  The last time I used it I got beautiful shades of lavender and light purple.  This time it was light purple, lavender and light blue.  Gorgeous colors, but they are so unpredictable, great if you want the excitment of a mystery color, tho’ be prepared to be surprised at the finished colors. 🙂  But before I spin any more of this I need to finish knitting my grand daughter’s blanket.  She has been plenty patient and I need to get it done :). 

Ok, YES!!! The Cowboys beat the Eagles again (played them three times this year and beat them all three times and the Eagles are no slouches!!)  They not only won their division the week before last when they beat the Eagles, but this week’s win against the Eagles won a wild card slot for the playoffs.  Now this Sunday they play the Vikings, that should be an interesting match up.  I’ll be recording that to watch on Monday night :P.  The Cowboys have finally started to work together as a team and what a year they’ve had!!! 🙂  Now they just need to work on those penalties! 😛

Still More Snow & a Swift – Happy Roc Day!

/ LDSVenus

Still More Snow

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Well mother nature has certainly been busy this winter.  According to the weatherman, we got about 4.5 inches of snow over night and expect anywhere from 1 to 3 more inches today.  But at least it was 12 above today!!!  It’s been in the single digits and below zero ambient temps lately.  Supose to be only around 3 to 6 above ambient temps for the next two days and I know that means minus temps with windchills.  Sigh, I’ll ask again, is it spring yet?

Swift & Ball Winder Set Up

 

My sister, for Christmas, sent me an Amazon.com certificate.  I went to amazon and looked and hemmed and hawed and finally made up my mind (hard to spend unexpected money when you’ve been on a budget for so long :P) and decided to get a swift!  I had a ball winder but had wanted a swift for several years but could never talk myself into spending the money on one.  So I decided to treat myself and it came today!!  It really is a nice one, sturdy and seems to move well.  I’ll give it a workout when I get that Llama skeined off so I can wind it into a ball for my son. 🙂

I intended to spend Roc day today spinning with my local spinning group to celebrate the new year.  However the weather wasn’t co-operating and I did not want to take my wheel out in this.   If you would like to know more about Roc Day you can check this wikapedia link or this Florida link. 

Well the Cowboys beat the Eagles 24 to 0 last Sunday (tho I didn’t get to record the game to watch because it wasn’t on cable) and won their division.   They get to play them yet again this Saturday evening for a wild card slot.  It’s always an interesting game between Dallas and Philadelphia – cos’ they are not the best of friends ;P.  I will get to watch it this time :).  GO COWBOYS!!!!

Happy New Year – 2010

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Granddaughter's Afghan/Blanket

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I hope this will be a wonderful New Year for all my friends and family.

Just to show that I really am working on this blanket I decided to put a picture of it’s progress.  It takes approximately 1 skein for each completed pattern (18 rows), yes I am on the 6th skein of yarn.  I have 5 more after this one so I am a little more than half way done.  To be honest I needed at least 3 more skiens, however I have not been successful in finding any.  That is what happens when you make something with discontinued yarn. 😛

I have about 1/2 of a spool to go on the spinning for the 2nd spool of Llama to be done and then I can ply.  You can guess which one will get done first ;P.  Sorry Jade.

A Few Last Things for 2009

/ LDSVenus

Old Man Winter - 2009

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This was what we received from the blizzard that hit the midwest last week.  We got rain and freezing rain (mostly just rain) until the end and then we got about 4 inches of snow.  Much less than other area’s who received 2 or more feet.  Snow on the ground and covering the branches in the trees is such a pretty and peaceful sight, until you have to go out side and deal with it, and besides that it’s cold, brrrrr. 😛

The “Boys” are doing well.  They beat the Saints week-end before last, and their old arch rivals the Redskins, this last week-end.  They will face another newer arch rival this week-end, the Eagles.  If  the Cowboys win they will win their division.  Woohoo!  They’ve had a decent year this year :).  I hope they win, but even if they don’t they’ve had an exciting year.

I’m spinning more Llama for my son, I have one spool filled and am working on the 2nd spool.  When it’s full I can ply and hopefully will have enough for 2 more skeins.  Incase my grand daughter is reading, I am also knitting on your blanket, it’s cosy to sit on the couch and knit in the evening.

Thor, my awesome ferret, is finally finished sheding his summer coat and has a wonderfully soft and warm winter coat.  He’s fluffy and beautiful, and I have much less ferret fur to vacum up :P.

My Church is having a New Year’s Eve party Thursday evening.  I will be glad to usher out the old and ring in the new,  it’s just been one of those kinds of years, so I’m definately ready for the new and hoping for a better New Year. 

Wishing all a peaceful and wonderful New Year!

Merry Christmas

/ LDSVenus

Merry Christmas

“Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the  mouth of my holy prophets” 3 Nephi 1:13

May you all have a blessed and wonderful Christmas, and may the peace of this season be with you through out the New Year.

More Snow, and It’s Yarn again

/ LDSVenus / 1 Comment

More Snow

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.It wasn’t snowing yesterday when I went to Church, however this is what it looked like 3 hrs later when Church was over and I was headed home.  And more snow storms are predicted for my area through Saturday.  Is it Spring yet?

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click on picture for larger image

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I finally got enough of the Llama roving spun to make a skein of yarn.  Because it’s a little bit heavier than worsted weight I could only get about 80 yards on my spool.  I will probably have about 2 more skeins of yarn by the time I am finished.  I hope my son will enjoy it, it is a soft yarn and should make a nice scarf.  Having a larger spool would be very nice for plying the bulkier yarns so that you have skeins with more yardage.  But you use what you have ;P.

Stay warm and enjoy whatever your local weather brings.  I’m gonna go turn my heater up ;P.

White Elephant Gifts on a Budget

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You've Been Bad

You've Been Bad

 

We had our Single Adult Christmas party tonight for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd wards of my Church.  We were told to bring a White Elephant gift.  Now my friends will know where my oldest son got his sense of humor from ;P.  The glass decanter was something that I found and I bought winter stickers to go on it.  I used a craft joke I had seen many years ago that would work with this decanter and bought the mini marshmellows and made the card that I hung on the decanter (you can click on the picture for a larger image).   Hehe, it still makes me laugh :P.

 

The other gift, yes that is a roll of toilet paper that I discovered you can embroider on.   I got the embroidery idea from this  website ,  found a cute design and walaa, cuteness :).  It’s a very inexpensive way to dress up a bathroom and it got a chuckle or two. 🙂  Anyway these were what the one that ended up with my gift got.