Winter 2012 – 2013

/ LDSVenus

1st real snow 2012 – 2103

,Well we did get snow this winter, I’ve just not been real good about noting a lot of things.  We got this snow just before Christmas when everyone was getting a lot of snow dumped on them.  The lower part of our state got about 18 inches but we only got about 4 to 6 inches, but it was a very heavy wet snow.  I’m not complaining, but I know we needed it for the farmers who desperately need the moisture.  After Christmas we warmed up and the snow melted (this would be our normal mid winter thaw), and we got some rain which was needed and I like better than snow and ice :P.  We had a little bit of snow today but it was only a dusting of dry snow.  The thaw is over (dang) and winter is back with it’s below zero temps.  Tonight is suppose to be -3 and with wind chill -21,  brrrr.  Tomrrow should be a little warmer with a temp of 5 above, lol, but tomorrow night is saying minus 4 with wind chill around -22.   Sigh  Glad I don’t have to go anywhere tomorrow night or Tuesday. 🙂  Snow is in our forecast for this coming Thursday.

 I didn’t get pictures of my Christmas cactus this year, it did bloom but was very late blooming this year.  I’ll try to be better next blooming season.  I need to re-pot it again this year.  When I buy the pot this spring (in April), I will also get a couple of large pots (like barrel size) because I am determined to get my balcony garden going this year.  Not sure how well it will do as I don’t get quite enough sun, but I’m going to try anyway :).  I miss having fresh yellow squash and it’s soooo expensive at the grocery store. 

I caught a cold in October, about mid month.  It was a really bad chest cold that was going around (everyone was complaining about it that caught it), I was sick for 3 weeks and finally went to the Dr who thought it might be going into walking pneumonia, and so I took anti-biotics and got better.  Was just getting over that cold and caught a head cold, arrrggg.  5 days into that cold I caught another head cold, beyond arrrggg.  I am just now getting rid of the last of the coughing and was finally able to get my flu shot.  This has been a really not fun winter.  Because I’ve been sick and Thor was sick I didn’t get much done on my knitting or spinning.  The little ones that were expecting sweaters have been very patient but are telling me they seriously need them now, lol.  I have about 1/2 of a spool of the hand spun done and need to get busy on that so I can make the two scarves I promised.  I’ll get there I promise.  So I’m hoping for a better year, wishing all of you a better year as well (I think we could all use one).

Rainbow Bridge – Thor

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Thor in his playpen winter 2010

Thor

Today I had to do what all pet owners dread.  I took Thor to the vet one last time.  He has been ill and on medication for the last year.  The medication became two and caused other problems.  The meds weren’t working anymore and causing more problems than they were curing.  It was finally time to let him go.  I will miss my sweet little fur baby, he has been my little companion for a little over 6 1/2 years.   Goodbye Thor, I will miss you terribly. 😦

Merry Christmas – 2012

/ LDSVenus

Merry Christmas

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (and this taxing was the first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country sheperds abiding in the filed, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host prasing God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

(St Luke 1:1-14)

Fall Back – Don’t Forget to Adjust Your Clocks :)

/ LDSVenus

It’s Fall in all it’s beauty.  I love Fall because of the beautiful  color changes, end of the really hot temps of summer, my birthday is in the fall, I feel more like knitting and spinning, and because, YES, I get my hour back from the Spring forward daylight savings time change.

Despite those nice things regarding Fall, there are are some major drawbacks, sigh – it also means cold and flu season, and that Winter is right around the corner.  I love snow, if I can sit inside my warm apartment and watch it fall, getting out in it is not a pleasant thought.  Winter is cold, freezing rain and ice are dangerous, and the bareness of it gets old very quickly.  But, I know that Spring will come again and the beautiful green and warmer temps will return. 🙂

But to those of you who actually like Winter, your season will be upon us soon, Enjoy :).

Happy Halloween

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I used this for several reasons:

1st – for those who have suffered much loss due to the recent storm that hit our eastern coast and inland areas.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

2nd – the terrorist attack on our embassy in Libya.  My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones.

3rd – have to apologize for not blogging this month until now.  I caught a terrible cold right after my birthday (yes I had another one of those :P) and was sick for 2 weeks, barely getting up to do anything.  At the end of that 2nd week (still have the cold) I started with a not fun sinus infection.  That at least is better now, just the after effects of the cold which always destroys my voice for anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. 😦  Since I love music so much and singing even more, that is always a terrible blow to me.  Still can’t sing, but am at least feeling better.  Always think how nice it would be to have a loving companion when I am sick and needing a little comfort.  But it is what it is.

I should be blogging a little bit more shortly.  Be patient. 🙂

Knitting for Fall

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2 Sweaters for Fall

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I got a request to knit sweaters.  Believe it or not from a 6 year old!!!  And her 4 year old brother did not want to be left out, lol.  The multi color sweater is for the oldest, note I chose different more pastel colors than the sweater on the pattern shows (on the left).  The yarn for the sweater on the right is not shown in the picture because our “new” JoAnn’s store (YEA!! we got a bigger JoAnn’s store) was out of the blue the 4 year old picked out ;).  It’s a beautiful royal blue in the same yarn.  I do use acrylic yarn for children so the upkeep is more in line with a busy working mom :).  I will be starting those very soon, because the 6 year old will be keeping track of how far along “her” sweater is. She reminded me that it was starting to get cold, LOL.

At the moment I’m trying to finish plying the teal singles I have on the Baynes spinning wheel (crosses her fingers that the band will hold fast) and then begin spinning the Polypay roving that I had processed from the lamb’s fleece a friend gave me.  I think her daughter is also keeping track of how far along I am for her scarf.  LOL  I better be getting my bottom end in gear!!!! 😛  I will knit on the 2 children’s sweaters while I spin (tho not exactly at the same time :P).  Sometimes I feel more like knitting and sometimes I feel more like spinning, nice to have two projects going so I can do what I want when I feel like it.  🙂

The end of summer and fall here has been so wonderful and cool.  I know winter is coming, but I will try to make a few “warmer” memories to get me through those very cold dreary winter months here in IA, that seem to go on forever, while I anticipate the beautiful green spring again :).

Remembering 9/11

/ LDSVenus

In Memory of 9/11

This picture is on the side of a tractor trailer truck that has made it’s rounds around the United States. Although the master mind behind the attacks was eliminated last year from participating in any more aggressive acts against our country, there are those whom he lead who still want to hurt us, may we never forget this horrendous act of aggression on our soil so that we might always be free.

As we remember the 11th year since this heinous attack was perpetrated, may we take a moment to remember all those who died on this day 11 years ago and thank those who helped in the aftermath. I would like to salute those heroes on flight 93, and all those who, on that day, willingly and unselfishly sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others. I also salute those in our armed services who have given their lives and those who continue to fight, selflessly putting their own lives in jeopardy to protect us and others from terrorism. They are all heroes to me and I will never forget.

Bison Scarf Finished :)

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Bison little lace scarf

A friend of mine has a friend with a Bison herd (American Buffalo).  She asked me if I could make something nice for her friend from the down that her bison shed every spring, and I agreed to do so.  She collected the down and sent me about 7 ozs or so, which included the weight of the mud and dirt, and I sent it off to a fiber mill to be dehaired and processed into roving or fluff so I could spin it and knit a scarf for her.  I have used this fiber mill before and they do a lovely job of processing, and anyone familiar with the fiber mills know there is always a wait because they are very busy.   Unfortunately a misunderstanding occurred in understanding the processing I had requested and they blended and spun it into yarn.  Because bison is such a short fiber the mill blends with with another fine fiber (merino) for spinning it into yarn.  The yarn is beautiful, so their work is still impeccable, but my friend’s friend wanted pure bison fiber for the scarf.  The box I got back had a beautiful skein of sport weight blended bison yarn (I would have spun it a little lighter into a heavy sock weight), some left over roving (which is very soft and wonderful) and the hair that came from the dehairing.  Tho I know there is weight lost during the washing process, I didn’t realize how much was lost in the dehairing process as I’ve never had a fiber that required it before so that was a learning process for me, but it was still enough for a nice scarf a little less long than I had intended.  I got the finished scarf, used my Little Lace Cast’s Paw scarf pattern, off in the mail on Tuesday and she should get the scarf and left over fibers today. 🙂  I hope she will be pleased with the results even if it wasn’t quite what she had wanted.  There is always next year.  Oh the fiber mill was very apologetic, they had just hired a new employee who was still learning what to do with the orders.  All is forgiven, their work is very nice.

Hmmm, the depths of deep space seems to have eaten my last post which was about football season and my beloved Cowboys, maybe WordPress doesn’t like the Cowboys, hmmm, gonna sneak it back in here anyway.  😛  GO COWBOYS!!!