memacher

2009-05-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

SPRING, ah.................will it ever get here? I just want to camp, kayak, garden, suntan, swim,hang out at the beach, walk Max, and on and on! Oh, and sit and knit outside on the deck! Will it ever happen this year? I long to see the sunshine, and feel the warmth on my skin, and not shiver in the morning when I get up. Ah.....................................

Tuesday

2009-01-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

A day off! That is what I had today after working the last 4 Tuesdays! It was wonderful. Knitted alittle, cleaned alittle, did alittle laundry. Nothing special, but great to have some down time! I took down the last Christmas tree, kind of sad. They put such a smile on my face, that I left it up awhile. We had taken down our outdoor lights earlier when the snow had let up. We did not get them off the Christmas tree outside, but we pulled the plug. We ran into our neighbor lady the other night, and she said she missed seeing them each evening, so, we plugged them back in! Puts a smile on my face too!
What a COLD week. I really do not like even going outside at all. Getting really anxious to head south for a couple of days. That is still 2 months away though!
Getting alot more knitting done when it is so cold and dark. I have made 4 baby hats as gifts, working on the 5th. Knitted my grandson some socks. And still working on my sweater.
Stay warm and knit on!

Sunshine!

2009-01-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

Sunshine! What a rare treat this time of the year! Gotta love it! I was lazy yesterday afternoon. Watched Dan in real life, and knitted a pinwheel washcloth, for me of course! Off to the gym to excercise tonight, and back to work tomorrow. Maybe more sunshine? Stay warm, and knit on!

Winter Blahs

2009-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it has been along time since I bloged. I really dislike the cold and gray days! Christmas was wonderful! I finished all 7 sweaters for the grandkids, whew! I don't know if I will ever commit to a project like that again! Especially because our 8th grandchild is on the way! Due in June!
But, like I said, after Christmas it is all about me in my knitting! So I made a new pair of socks, and a chenille scarf for me already. A shorty sweater is in the works, as well as the afghan I started late summer. But.........I have also knitted 3 baby caps for gifts, just since Christmas!
I am so ready for Spring after the tough and gray December we had. I know, it's 3 months away, but maybe it will come early!!???
For those who love winter, enjoy, for the rest of us, knit on!

Halloween

2008-10-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! What a beautiful day today, unlike many other halloweens when it was cold and rainy or even snowing! My knitting projects are multiplying as we get closer to Christmas. So many things to finish and so little time. Adding to the projects is the Warm up America knitted baby hats for Friends of Wool. My goal is to do a dozen. Rather ambitious, but well worth the time and energy it takes. I have 3 finished from a year ago so that is a good start toward the dozen!
We will be going with the kids and grandkids to Trunk or Treat this evening. What fun to see them dressed up and excited to go! Carl wants to be a part of it next year, so he needs to see what it is all about!
Our costume party was fun last weekend. Carl made a handsome Indiana Jones. I picked up a witch hat with boa trim, and a feather boa to dress up my all black clothes. Not too original, but cheap!
The leaves are dropping rapidly here, and we need to rake almost daily! All too soon they will be down and it will be dark earlier, and cold, and snowy, and yuck!!! Good knitting weather though.And time to get the Christmas projects done, because after Christmas, it is all about me! I plan to do knitting for me! A felted purse,scarf, gloves, socks, and hopefully a sweater! Ah.........once again, too much yarn and patterns, and too little time! Happy Halloween!

Weekend!

2008-10-24T04:10:00.000-07:00

TGIF! The weeks are flying by, days are getting way shorter, and I feel the downward slide into Winter. It is my least favorite time of the year. I dislike being cold, hate the dark days, and really hate to drive in the snow. But the one good thing about short, dark days and long evenings is more time to knit! No yard work, so I knit and watch TV. House,Dancing with the Stars, and CSI to name a few.
The kids will be here in a little while. They still brighten all my Fridays! Tomorrow we are off to help the inlaws close up the cottage for the Winter. There is that dreaded word again! Then in the evening we have a costume Halloween party. What will I be? Beats me, probably just myself. Carl will be Indiana Jones. He bought the hat in Florida years ago, and last night downloaded the theme song to his cell phone, so he can come in with a bang! Should be fun! Off to do some knitting before the kids get here. Knit On!

Fall

2008-10-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

The colors are getting spectacular around here! The leaves are coming down too, which means over here we will raking from now until Thanksgiving! We have alot of large trees which are great in the summer for the shade, but oh the leaves they drop!
Getting ready to camp this weekend. It is predicted to be cool, but sunny, so it will be great to get away for a couple of days! It will also give me some great knitting time!
Get out to enjoy the Fall season, because you know what comes next! Not my favorite time of the year:( Happy Fall and happy knitting, hugs to all!

Back again!

2008-10-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

After several days with no computer, we got it fixed and I am back again! This warm weather is great! Wish it would last a few more weeks! We had Connor and Colin this weekend. It went pretty well, until this morning when little Colin decided to get up at 1:30am. Ouch! I am not used to getting up with a baby anymore. But he is so cute, and his smiles and dimples melted my heart. So we had some great bonding time for alittle while early this morning.
We are so itching to get out camping again. It seems as though each weekend something comes up, and we can't go. So we told all the kids, no babysitting next weekend, we are outta here and camping. Now I hope it does not rain, or worse, snow! I know this weather cannot last, but really how great to walk outside in October in shorts!!!
I got my pair of colorful socks done, and love the yarn so much, I bought another skein to work on as a no brainer in between all my other projects.
Knitting sure relieves the stress of everyday life doesn't it?!! Like the more the stock market drops, the faster I knit away the stress of thinking about it. We have always known we would not retire early, but.........we were hoping to retire! Now with all this going on, who knows!
Have a safe and wonderful week everyone!

Chicago

2008-09-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Chicago! What a fun place to visit! You truly see all kinds of people there. And hear all kinds of languages too! Our train ride there was uneventful, and I knitted on my bright colored socks without getting motion sickness! We arrived at Union Station and caught a cab to our hotel, the Fairfield on Ontario street, just 2 blocks from Michigan and the Magnificent Mile. We had a nice room on the 13th floor, with a great view. We could even see Lake Michigan in the distance! Sunday was warm and alittle cloudy. Great walking weather, and boy did we walk! We had lunch at a Mall food court, where 3 boys tried to sell us stolen jewelry. Security was there in no time at all, and hauled them off. I could not believe the disrespectful language the boys used to the officers! Then we shopped, mostly window shopping and walked and laughed and people watched and laughed until we cried! We took a break and had cheese cake at The Cheesecake Factory. It was wonderful!! I had a dark chocolate-raspberry cheese cake. Out of this world!! More walking, and then back to the hotel to rest up. We had Chicago style pizza at Gino's East. Absolutely wonderful pizza. One piece was all I could eat, it was at least 3 inches thick!! Back to the hotel for the night. Yesterday we dodged rain drops and showers and ran from store to store getting wet and sillier. We looked like 4 drowned puppies, but then, so did everyone else! None of us bought much, but the laughs we had were great! On the train towards home about 6:30pm. The ride was good until we had to slow down for 40 minutes because the engineer could not get the signal it was ok for us to be on the tracks?!! It was alittle tense, but we made it to Holland about 10:00pm. Great trip!! Not much sleep, so it will be early to bed tonight! I did finish one sock and started the next! They are colorful! My sister told me they might glow in the dark! Now it is back to reality for the rest of the week. I worked 5 hours this morning, and it is pay back for having a day off! The next 2 days will be hectic! We will have to see Brendan tonight, as it is his 4th b-day today!
And, what happened to our warm weather!!! Fall is here for sure! Great knitting weather!

Happiness

2008-09-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

Happiness comes in all forms. For me, this week was a rollercoaster ride on the health scene again. My semi-annual swishing of the boobs was Tuesday. The preliminary report looked ecouraging. This afternoon I met with my oncologist. He said the area of concern has gone down slightly in size! He believes it is scar tissue from my surgery 11 years ago. He wants to moniter it for 1 more year, if no changes, then he will release me back to my primary care doctor. Now that is happiness for me!!!
This fantastic weather is another source of happiness for me. I love the warm weather, and if not for my kids and mor importantly my grandkids, I could easily move south. Ah, year around summer, what a novel idea!
Knitting is a big source of happiness for me. To feel the yarn between my fingers, and create things is true happiness. I finished a baby blanket, just need to cut the long threads, and started a pair of very colorful socks for me. I couldn't wait until after Christmas, I need a small project to take on the train to Chicago Sunday, and socks work out perfectly!
So I guess today I am alittle giddy with happiness. Good health, sunshine, and yarn, what more could a girl need!! Knit on!

Weekends

2008-09-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Why are weekends so short? The best part of life seems to be in the weekends! Yesterday was absolutely beautiful outside. We took Connor to pick apples at Cranes in Fennville, and had a wonderful time with him. We washed both my car and Carl's truck. Then powerwashed the front of the house and our deck. Because we could not bear to be inside, we kayaked for a couple of hours with our good friends, Gary and Shari. Then out for pizza at Marios. A fantastic day!
Today we saw little Colin get baptized at church. Candi and Ken had us all over for lunch afterward so we got to see all 7 grandkids today! What a blessing! I am amazed at how many grandkids have popped up in just under 4 years! After a noisy, but fun lunch, we headed home to catch a short nap. What a treat..........napping! I have read a few more chapters in my book, The Other Bolyn girl, while Carl is gone to choir. A nice quiet evening, then it is back to the rat race tomorrow.
I have to get back to work on my niece's baby blanket too. It is coming along nicely in shades of yellow, green, and white. Then it is back to the Christmas projects to finish. And......After Christmas it is all about me! I need to knit for myself again. A sweater, scarf, gloves, who knows? But it will be for me! Have a great week, as we go into Fall officially tomorrow! Knit On!

Friday

2008-09-12T04:24:00.000-07:00

Ah............the weekend is here. Why does the week drag by, but the weekends fly by? The weather is sure changing to feel like Fall. Carl covered the pool last night. That always is a downer. It's like admitting Summer is over. I would hang on to Summer forever if I could! But the cool mornings sure tell us Fall is coming. I really do not mind Fall, it is what follows that I do not like! I do not like the cold, gray days, and having to stay inside to keep warm. But, I do alot more knitting on those days. And a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace is a treat! I am working on my 4th square of my sampler afghan. I need to put it away soon to concentrate on getting Christmas presents done. Only 3 1/2 months to complete all my dream presents! Have a great weekend wherever you are, and don't forget to knit awhile! It is so relaxing!

Labor Day!

2008-09-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

Labor Day, how can it be here already? And why is it that summer and warm weather flies by, while the cold dark days of winter hang on forever?!!
My weekend did not go like we planned at all. Thursday night I came down with a bad vertigo spell that kept me on the couch through Sunday morning. At its worst, I could only try to sleep it out because the room was spinning around. No TV, reading or knitting. Bummer! Last night I finally pulled out the alpaca socks I am making for Carl and worked on them for a while. Still alittle shaky, but definitely on the mend. Just in time for the work week! At least I did not have to miss work, but am disapointed at missing the last official weekend of the summer. This coming weekend we have a big campout planned with my family so I need to feel alot better by then.
Also am working on my afghan, which is coming along nicely. Thanks to my friend Mary who shared the pattern!
Get out and enjoy the rest of your day! The weather is great!

Weekend!

2008-08-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

For me the weekend begins NOW! Just home from work, and almost out the door to Knit Nite! My favorite evening of the week. Then babysit tomorrow, and then camping this weekend! We are off to Hungry Horse campground in Dorr. Never been there, but heard good things about it. If it rains, I will knit, knit, and more knit! Work was stressful this week ,so can't wait to feel the yarn between my fingers, ah....................Have a great weekend everyone, enjoy some time by yourself!

Wednesday

2008-08-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, another hump day done! We are off to watch our son race in the off road derby at the Hudsonville fair tonight. That is a love-hate thing for me. I love to see my son doing something he loves, but I hate seeing other people in their cars crashing into him! I just do not want him to get hurt! I know I will be tense,sore shoulders tomorrow, plus I grind my teeth alot when he is racing so, sore jaw too. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Enjoy the summer weather,it feels like Fall in the morning already! While I like Fall, it is what comes next that I have a problem with. The 4 letter word, of the white stuff. I won't even say it yet. Happy Hump day ya'all!

Fiber Fest 08

2008-08-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

Whew! Fiber Fest was a blast!! Saturday I was overwhelmed with all the yarns and people and animals and everything. But Sunday I got down to business and shopped! I purchased a Ball winder, and am so excited! I have thought about it for a long time, and last week worked extra hours, so...........cannot wait to try it out! Picked out some yummy alpaca yarn in soft gray for socks for Carl, and royal blue for socks for me! Got some hand dyed fingering (sock) yarn in a color called Mediteranean Sea. Beautiful shades of blue-aqua. Might make up a shawl sometime for that. Marie and I had a great time camping! Alittle Boonesfarm, yarn winding, knitting, watching the Olympics, talking, did I mention knitting? It was so relaxing, the weather was perfect, and it went by too fast! The guys came out Sunday morning, and we walked through the vendors, and the animal barns, and watched sheep herding with Jake, a very lovable sheep dog. He reminded me of a naughty 2 year old kid who cannot stay out of mischief. We are already planning on going there next year and hopefully camping by the river. Then maybe add alittle kayaking and fishing to keep the guys happy. Or, they could learn to knit! Better yet, they could weave! That looks interesting to me. Carl said he would check out making me a small loom to see if I enjoy it or not. We will see! I hope next year alot more will join us at Fiber Fest, and camp out with us. Start planning, and dream! Knit on people!

2008-08-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

TGIF!!! In alittle while the grandkids arrive. I think today we will go to the park for awhile. They are so much fun! This week went really fast again, I must be getting old. Everyone tells me the older you are, the faster time goes! I am starting to believe it. Knit Nite was fun again last night. It is so exciting to see what everyone is making. It fills my head with so many ideas, sadly once again it is too much yarn, too little time! But I do enjoy the projects I am working on. Right now I am knitting a vest from sock yarn for one of my grandson's Christmas present. I have 1 pinwheel sweater completed and 2 in the works for 3 of the little granddaughters. I have made 3 face clothes, with a fourth half done for the girls for Christmas, and one hand dyed sock done, with the other to follow. More projects still unfinished, but I am concentrating on these right now. Really am looking forward to Fiber Fest in Allegan next weekend. Marie and I will be camping there, and knitting until our fingers fall off!! Should be a great time.

2008-08-06T17:25:00.001-07:00

Ah.........Hump day! Half way to the weekend already. How time does fly when you are having fun, and getting older! I am getting things packed away for Fiber Fest. I am hoping to finish off some old projects and perhaps purchase some delightful fiber to start some new ones! I definitely feel some cast-on-itis coming on!
Had a great time out with my sister last night. Good food at Panera Bread and a French Silk Blizzard at DQ! We have not seen much of each other lately, so it was good to reconnect again. One more day of work, Knit Nite, babysitting grandkids Friday, and then sliding right into the weekend! Enjoy your evening, knit on!

2008-08-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

Rainy days and Mondays............We need the rain, but I hate the dark days. Work went pretty good today. Still have a challenge job to complete that is driving me nuts! Don't have to work tomorrow, so I will have to get in some knitting, along with cleaning and laundry. Then it will be out for dinner with my sister, whom I have not seen in awhile. Hope the sun shines again tomorrow! Off to the gym to excercise!

2008-08-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ah, another great weekend! Yesterday we got to see the new baby, and he is growing so much already. Almost 4 weeks old. We went out to the inlaws cottage yesterday afternoon, and came back this evening. Had a great time kayaking and knitting, my two favorite hobbies right now! Now have to get pysched up for another week of work. I like my job, but it has its moments, like all jobs do. Each day holds new challenges, puts my mind to the test. Sounds like a hot next few days, so am thankful for AC! Later..................

2008-08-01T04:15:00.000-07:00

Friday already! Where do the weeks go? Carl is definitely on the mend. The rash is almost gone, but he still has alot of pain from the shingles. He is taking his vicodin reguarly to keep it under control. Today he is singing with his brothers at his aunt's funeral. First time he has ever done that.
Because of the funeral, I will have Alissa and Brendan only a half day, but that is better than not at all! Grandkids are so much fun. They come into your day with so much love, hugs and kisses! We are so blessed by our 7 grandkids!
Knit night was good. Still the highpoint of my week! Ruby is making a gorgeous sweater in a neat diagonal pattern. Would love to try it, but the yarn is $8.50 a ball and she said it took 11 balls! I don't know if I can justify that....................sigh, but it is beautiful and the yarn feels so wonderful!
I am excited for Fiber Fest in 2 weeks. Camping, knitting, feeling the yarn (I cannot resist touching the yarns) and shopping and seeing friends! Should be a wonderful time. I hope we get good weather!
Well off to knit a bit before the kids come! Currently in process are 2 pinwheel sweaters, a vest from sock yarn,washclothes, nativity set, just to know a few projects. I know, I have cast-on-itis!! Have a beautiful day, live this day to the fullest, you don't get a second chance ! Hugs!

2008-07-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

What a great day! I did not have to work, so I ran errands,paid bills, did laundry, all that good stuff. I managed to get to Michaels where they have the Sugar and Cream yarn for a dollar this week. I picked up 12 balls, and am thinking of getting more. That stuff comes in handy for dishcloths soap sacks which are really fun to make! I am getting some things organized for camping at Fiber Fest in Allegan in a few weeks. My friend Marie and I will be there camping and knitting, and according to her, sleeping for oh about 20 minutes! Yikes I think I am getting too old to stay up all night! I would maybe have to knit just to stay awake! Anyway it should be fun!
The shingles Carl has are starting to go away. He still does not feel so good, so we cancelled kayaking tonight, but the rash definitely looks better.
I spent an hour in the pool again today on the air mattress, what a life! Now if I just had a cabana boy to bring me a cold drink! Ah............Back to work tomorrow and Thursday, and Knit Nite Thursday night!

2008-07-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ah, Mondays...................why are they so difficult after a beautiful weekend? The weather could not have been better this weekend. Yesterday at the inlaws cottage, I was so relaxed, I hardly even knitted! What's up with that! Carl was to the doc today. What we thought was a bad case of poison ivy, turned out to be Shingles. For the last week we have been treating it as poison ivy with calamine lotion and my leftover prednisone (don't tell a doctor!) and it just was not getting any better. He has kept me up at night tossing and turning because he is in so much pain, so today he broke down and went to the doc. Doc says its shingles, but it is too late to prescribe anything as he is on the down side of it. He did give him Vicodin for the pain, so hopefully tonight I will finally get a good night's sleep! Well I am off to excercise even though I do not feel like it. Knit on, or enjoy whatever hobby you have! :)

2008-07-27T04:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning already! Why is it that Weekends go by so quickly? Friday evening dinner was interesting. All 4 brothers were together in one place. This does not happen very often. There was lots of memories brought up. Some good, some, well better left unsaid..............
Saturday was a beautiful day. Briana spent Friday night with us. She is so happy, especially in the morning. It was a delight to have her all to ourselves for a short time. We spent most of the afternoon by the pool with Candi and Connor. You know it is summer when you lay in the pool on an airmattress with blue sky above you and not a care in the world for a few minutes! Carl and I had a picnic at the Holland State Park last night.We picked up a P'Zone from Pizza Hut and sat by the channel watching the boats go in and out. I brought my knitting of course! I am working on a vest out of sock yarn for Brendan, and am almost to the underarms. It was so relaxing out there. Picked up ice cream on the way home, what a treat! After church today we are headed to the inlaws cottage so Carl can repair his Dad's poontoon boat. For me.............sun and knitting. What a good way to relax before beginning another work week. Have a great day! Enjoy this gift from God!

2008-07-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday!! One of my favorite days. In just over an hour, Brendan and Alissa will be here. They are so much fun. If the weather holds, we will go in the pool. They both love it.
Went to Knit Nite last night. It is another of the bright spots in my week. It is totally relaxing to sit with these good friends and knit a while. All the stress and worries of the week just seem to melt away. I wonder where I could find a place that would pay me to do this everyday? !! Wouldn't that be the dream job! Summer seems to be quickly slipping away. This morning almost has a touch of Fall to it with the cooler temps. Since this is my favorite time of the year, it seems to go much faster than any other time. Tonight Briana is coming to spend the night while her mom and dad go to a wedding. I picked up some Oh MY yarn to knit her a new lovey since her other one looks so ratty. She is so attached to it, maybe she won't like a new one. We will see! This evening we have to go out for dinner with Carl's brothers and parents. All the 4 guys will be together in one place! That does not happen very often at all. In fact, I cannot remember the last time they were all together. It should be very interesting. We will take Briana with us, which will make it more interesting as she is only 14 months and pretty active. Enjoy your day, I know I will. Today is a gift to be treasured in whatever you do. Make it a good one, and knit on, or whatever your passion is!

New blogger

2008-07-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ok here goes. Never have done this before. I have the day off today to catch up around the house. What fun! Laundry, dishes, that sort of thing. But I will make time to knit and catch some rays of sunshine! Knitting has become my passion, and there is simply too much yarn and not enough time to enjoy it all.