Where Is Spring? This From a Snow Lover

I am sitting in my Sunroom looking out at the slowly melting snow on the deck. At the height of the storms we had over 30 inches on the deck. This really helped the squirrels. All they had to do was climb on a snow pile and they were eye level with the bird feeder, how convenient for them. I love the snow and the cold weather, although it can drive you stir crazy. I did get a bit of knitting done. I just finished my second Multnomah shawl in worsted weight yarn. It is wonderful, but it really takes a lot of time when doing it in worsted weight. It is exactly what I wanted though, so it is worth the work.

I never knew anything could keep my interest as much as knitting has. I do a variety of things, but this is something I have yet to grow tired of. I have been knitting I believe over 6 years now. I have so many patterns I want to knit I will never run out of things to do.

Having seen a Cat Bordhi book I might even take up socks, which I vowed never to do after several failed attempts. I believe her toe up method may be the answer.

That is about it for now. The picture I hope will bring spring.

A Sunny Winters Day

As I am sitting looking out my bay window, the squirrels are chasing each other around the deck. They are funny little creatures, very animated. I have one who crawls up the outside furniture and sits on the shelf outside my kitchen window looking in. He will also come to the bay window and stand on his hind legs and look in. I write in my children's books about Elizabeth mouse, but maybe I should write about these squirrels, they could have quite an adventure.

My knitting is coming along, I finished my first multnomah shawl and I am working on another one. I am slowly, very slowly working on Catherine's hooded scarf, it is not complicated just tedious somehow. I don't seem to be progressing as quickly as I thought I should. I will pick up the yarn from Kristi today to start the criss-cross jabot from Knitspot for the Shalimar KAL.

Chip ( my brother) is having a bone marrow biopsy today at the University of Maryland, hopefully they can help him, they are our last hope. Don't ever go to John Hopkins, they lie to people and force people into studies by not informing them until it is to late about the study. My brother went down there for what he thought was a simple bone marrow transplant, but after they had killed off all his bone marrow, they informed him that he was going into a study, when he objected they told him it was that or nothing. They had 100% matches, but their study was using half matches from a relative, which my sister, niece and I were. My sister gave her bone marrow but it did not take. Most likely because it was only a half match. They jeopardized my brothers life for their study. This is unethical and needs to be reported, I am hoping my sister will do so. Please keep Chip in your prayers that the University of Maryland can help him.

Hurray

Well the first real snow of the winter is coming and it isn't even officially winter yet, not until the 21st or 22nd. I have made hotel reservations for my daughter to stay in Bethesda close to work, she is a nurse at Bethesda Naval hospital. That takes a little worry of my mind. I love the snow but hate it if anyone I know has to go out in it.

We will have a White Christmas this year, it should be beautiful, the roads should be clear, but white all around us. I recently watched Julie and Julia and loved it. This blogging thing is pretty good. I don't know if I'll cook my way through Julia's cook book, but I want to get it and try. I really loved watching her on television, we should all have her attitude about cooking. Hurray for Butter. Maybe with this snow I will get my baking done.

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

I Did It

I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrator's. I have written a few children's stories and have wanted to get them published. I met a woman Saturday night who was a published author, and she was the spark that gave me the courage to set this dream in motion. I have learned quite a lot from just visiting their website.

My Aunt Barbara was a writer of children's books and has always inspired me. My Aunt was also a very good illustrator who could make her stories come to life. Illustrating is one thing I don't know how to do, which is frustrating because I see the illustrations in my mind and want to put them to paper. Maybe I will take a drawing class.

I want this dream to come true and will do what is takes to get published.

Wish Me Luck!

It is a beautiful day today. I had to get up early to take Hubby to pick up a rental car, so we went out to breakfast. I wasn't much fun because I was still asleep. The weather is suppose to be beautiful, the weather mans words, but a little to warm for me at this time of year. I can't wait until Wednesday when we are to get rain and temperatures back to normal for this time of year. I will have to say that the frosty air this morning was wonderful.

I am coming along on my sweater and have knitted a gauge swatch for another sweater. This sweater will be out of Blue Sky Baby Alpaca in a chestnut brown. I can't wait to get started. One problem I am having is counting the number of stitches, my eyes are getting old and the dark color makes it difficult. I think I will have some one else check my gauge to be sure I am on gauge.

Our daughter will be with us for a little while longer. Even though she qualifies for a sizable mortgage, after looking at her finances and the college loans, it would be tight buying a house right now. She is relieved, I know she wants to get closer to work, but I don't think she likes the idea of living so far away from home. If she could find a house in Urbana, it would cut about 20 minutes off her commute. Not much but better then right now. One of these days we will know what empty nesting is, but not now.

Well I think I am going to rest a little and then do some knitting or sewing.

PS: I sent five preemie hats with my daughter down to the NICU at Bethesda Naval. I am working on more. They are so cute.

An Exciting Time of Year

This is right down the street from me.

This time of year I love. Except for this nasty warm, yes I said warm weather. It needs to be cold now. Things can get busy now, but I have to be careful I don't over do it and end up in the hospital again.

My thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and the dinner. I am hosting and love to do it. I enjoy decorating the house and the tables.

Christmas is just around the corner and I already have some gifts. I just have to make sure what I got for whom. My knitting is coming along. I need to finish the sleeves on my sweater so I can wear it. I love knitting the preemie caps for the NICU at Bethesda Naval. They are quick and so cute. I want to start on a cardigan with my Blue Sky Alpaca.

Enjoy the fall.

Fall

It is raining and cold today, I love it. If I didn't have to go out it would be perfect. I am moving along on my cardigan and can't wait to finish it. I need to work on my shawl/wrap in the alpaca. Everything has kind of been put on the back burner because of the wedding and then me going into the hospital.

I want to make some applesauce so maybe this weekend I can convince my husband to drive to the mountains and get some apples. My kids only like homemade applesauce, I guess I spoiled them in that way.

I had my 15 minutes of fame recently. Many months ago I had contributed money to the podcast Cogknitive, as I was catching up on my listening, Dr. Gemma announced that the month of August was sponsored by Susieknitster of New Market, MD.. Louise called and told me about it, so I quickly downloaded the podcasts and started listening to them. With everything that was going on I had stopped listening to podcasts. I usually listened in the car and since I couldn't drive I got out of the habit of listening to them.

I love this time of year and look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The colors on the trees are becoming prettier by the day, a drive in the mountains is called for.