Perfection

Perfection-Websters defines perfection as the freedom from fault or defect. A very high goal to achieve if it is truly possible. We all have tried to be perfect at least once in our lives, whether we achieved that goal or not is unknown.
As a new wife I wanted everything to be perfect that first Thanksgiving, since we were hosting both families. Guess what, it was wonderful, but not perfect. When we moved into a new home and had our first child, I was still trying for perfection, at least where the house was concerned. I knew I was doing the best I could raising our son, but of course my mother said I was to lenient and his mother said I was to hard, in the end I hope we hit a happy medium. Both our son and daughter seem to be well adjusted outstanding young people. Other than our two families, every one else thought our children were wonderful.
Perfection creeps into all our lives. I strove to be Martha Stewart until I realized I was much happier being just me, plus I didn’t have the staff or the time she does. I have a husband and children to fill my life. I still like her, but don’t want to be her.
When I first started knitting I did not strive for perfection. I just wanted to learn how and each mistake had a lesson. Now I will unknit or frog a project but only if the mistake is glaring. If only I know it is there, I look at this as making the piece unique and all mine. I have also learned to do this in the rest of my life. At the moment we are replacing the decking on our front porch and the railing. My husband was getting a little frustrated until I told him, nothing is perfect in life, just like those decking boards aren’t perfect. He still strove for the perfect spacing and the straightest edge, but also commented that we woul have to live with some of the spacing, because it was the best he could do. That is all any of us can try for.
So next time you are knitting that sweater and you make a mistake, ask yourself, will anyone know it is there, if they will, correct it. If not, it makes this sweater uniquetly yours.

Airport Greeting

Airport Greeting, a photo by darbysusan on Flickr.

Knoxville Where Do I Start

I recently visited my friend Louise in Knoxville, TN, she is there for her job with State Farm. I was greeted at the airport with this beautiful miniature of the Great Smokey Mountains.

What a wonderful way to begin my trip.

Louise is there because of severe Hail storms they had, but this is a sign I have never seen before. They are giving anywhere from $10,000. to $13,000 off on cars.

My first day there we visited MeMaws Thimble a wonderful quilt shop with the most wonderful and beautiful fabrics. Louise and I did some damage to our check books there.
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On Saturday we drove to downtown and saw the Golden Globe which is what is left from the Worlds Fair exhibition. We ran into a storm so our pictures are not so great. We could use the rain up here.


Our Saturday night was spent on a river boat sailing the Tennesse River and having dinner.




Here is our reservation and dinner.



Here are some of the sights we saw, the one is just the boat house, the house is behind it on the hill.




On Sunday we drove to Nashville, TN and on the way discovered this art camp.


This piece was called Quantum Confusion How Many Worlds. It was very striking and made you think.

These are some of the art pieces that were for sale, some of them were amazing.




We finally pulled into the Opry Land Hotel complex, this place is amazing and everything is housed under a huge glass roof. We walked around through each section and had lunch. We also took a boat ride around the Delta section. The surroundings are breathtaking. There are waterfalls everywhere and the most amazing flowers you have ever seen.







My final day there we visited The Knitters Nest, the perfect yarn shop, plenty of room, an area with sofas to sit and knit, and the friendliest people.


At the airport you are greeted by this darling sculpture, a fitting good bye to a wonderful weekend with a wonderful friend.

Just A Quick Post

I finished my Traveling Woman Shawl and just love it. I also have finished the shawl for my Mom's 79th birthday. It is a modification of a Stephen West Colonade.




I was looking out the window yesterday and saw our friendly neighborhood squirrel, who usually only shows up in the Winter. I wondered why he had come onto the deck, today I found out. He is digging in my flower pots. He is either going to be dead or I am going to have to buy some squirrel repelant. He better watch out.

Happy Mothers Day

It was a lovely Mothers Day weekend. I was able to go to Maryland Sheep and Wool, had a wonderful time. I was very wise with my money, but got some beautiful things.


We went to dinner at the Shamrock with my parents, a good friend and our beautiful daughter. Our food was wonderful and the company was fantastic.

I am very busy sewing and have promised my daughter a dress. She reminded me she had paid $70 for material and she would like her dress by July. Is she trying to tell me something?
Here are the rest of the pictures of my finds, I love the hat, I got it for the Cruise that Louise and I are taking in September.



The fiber is 100% baby Mohair I can't wait to spin.



The sock yarn is for a shawl and the purple yarn I don't know what I am going to do with. The T-Shirt and bag are mementos.





All in all it was a wonderful weekend.

He Is Risen Happy Easter

My uncle posted this on his Facebook page and find it very appropriate for Easter:

I think that I shall never see,
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest,
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear,
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Trees, by Joyce Kilmer

I remember in fourth or fifth grade at Visitation Academy our Choral teacher setting this to music and having us sing it. Every thing we have and everything we are is from God. We need to lift our arms in prayer and look at God at least once in our busy day. It is the least we can do, after what Jesus has done for us.

I know a little rain must fall in our lives, but this is getting ridiculous. Will we ever see that big yellow ball in the sky again.
We need the rain but let's keep some for this summer.

I am almost finished my Mom's birthday shawl, I did it in Knit Picks Chroma worsted, I was a little concerned about the color, it is rather bright. I feel better, because last week my Mom showed me a dress in orange and she said she loved the color, so she should like this, it is Smoothie, a mixture of orange, pink, peach, etc.

I may go to Maryland Sheep and Wool this year, depending on the weather. I don't have any money, but I would like to go at least once. I read about a spinning class they were having before the show, but it was $150.00 which I can't spare right now.

I find as the weather gets warmer I still want to knit, but have trouble finding light weight things to do. I have at least three shawls going right now, I think I need something new. I will try socks.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and that warm weather soon appears.

Is This An April Fools Joke

It is April 1, I remember as a child many an April 1st going down to the creek and looking for tadpoles. It was warm and spring was here. Where has spring gone. These industrial countries, including ours, is ruining our environment and our seasons. I long for warm weather, not hot just warm. I want to see flowers and hear lawn mowers. Ah well we can dream

I am still working on my Buttercup top, it is taking forever, I don't think I will ever knit a top in sock yarn again. I may try a pair of socks they should be quick and I can say I finished something.

I am getting very excited about my cruise in September, and anxious to make up some pretty dresses to wear. I have finally, I think. learned the ins and outs of my pattern software. I am going to try a plain material and embroider some motifs on it. This will mean I need to buy extra material in case of mistakes.

Here is to warmer weather, is there a dance we can do.