Packing is done!

I do believe I've pretty much finished packing about all I can pack by myself. The loft is looking pretty deserted about now. I took the pegs out of the cone trees (1st picture on left) and sorted all my CDs into groups of knitting, embroidery, programs and backups and put them in those plastic containers you see next to the cone trees. There is some things like the ball winder that I have to leave out for obvious reasons. In the second picture you can see poor Raggedy Ann and Andy (made by Villie in Florida) they need to go into a box but I really hate to stuff them into a box so they get to stay out and keep me company. The 3rd picture on the right is where I housed my embroidery machine. The stand is easily put back out so if I do want to use the machine I can unpack it and use it.

My LK 150 isn't packed yet either I need to leave something out so I'll have something to do in my spare time. I've been packing in the hot part of the day because I have to tend to the yard when its cool out in the a.m. and in the evenings I plop in front of the TV because I can't stand to go outside when the bugs come out. Unfortunately Biscuit is NOT a morning dog, he sleeps all day until about the time I plop and then he wants to go outside and play. Good Grief, I didn't know dogs were morning dogs or evenings dogs. I've tried everything to change his sleeping hours but nothing works. He won't even eat until my supper time. See him in the picture? He's comfy on the couch pillows watching me work. Lazy Dog!

Time to wake up Biscuit. We're on our way to my brother-in-laws today for a 4th of July Picnic. Have a great 4th weekend everyone!

Look What My Friend Made

Today a friend came over to visit. Helga has 3 or is it 4 floor looms, she is the member of our local guild that we consider "The Color Lady" And if you click on this rug she wove, you'll see why. I've never seen anything she ever made that wasn't like this, beautiful colors artfully put together.

The colors just flow, she is soooo talented in her weaving, don't you love her rug? Its warped with 8/2 cotton of different colors as you go across and then woven with fabric. SO beautiful.

Now look at the fabulous sheep she needle felted.













and this gray curly one, is spectactular

OHHH, the best of all? She gave me this curly sheep. I just love him and gave him a place of honor on my entryway table, next to the dogs I made. Now I want to quit packing and get out my needle felting tools. Surely I have some curly fleece. I really want to make one like this.

Still Packing

Don't forget, I still have 1 page of sale items left, notably, the Brother 910 power cord which will also fit the 930 and 940 knitting machines (did you lose yours because you have a garter carriage cord)?
Also the Brother 910 lace carriage. My friend is selling her Brother embroidery machine and I've got it listed as well. You can see pictures of these things at www.pineymountaincottage.com

Today is Fathers Day. I suspect my husband is sitting up above talking to Tim Russert about the upcomint Presidential Election and of course the war, he was obscessed about the war, being a military person who served through 2 U.S. wars. But he's watching his three children and the grandchildren. I wish he could see what they've all accomplished this past year, he would be proud of them.

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there....enjoy your family.

Packing Again Today

Yesterday I told myself if I'd just get stuff packed, when the house sells I'll be all ready to go. So today I'm packing my second cone tree of yarn. I've developed a split personality, the child in me said suddenly I needed to go to the grocery store and get some ice cream because I'll obviously be very hot and tired after I finish...the adult part of me said, NO---Stay home and finish this job....so here I am still home. You see, I've been hauling boxes up to the loft and stuffing things in them but they aren't organized so I have embroidery, sewing, knitting, you name it in boxes but none of them are taped shut because I can't remember whats in them. What a mess...After all those Military years of moving, you'd think I'd have a system down but I don't. Here's a picture of a bunch of knitting/weaving/sewing magazines that I can't part with. So they need to be sorted and boxed. Above is a picture of my machines next to a bookcase. The machines are in their rifle cases awaiting the move. The embroidery machine is in its box awaiting the move, luckily I saved the original packing box for it so I'm going to put it back in that box...boy, oh boy is it heavy. My goal today is to get the yarn off that cone tree and into boxes, finish emptying that large bookcase and get rid of it altogether (Freecycle). Once that's done I'll sort the magazines and pack them. Then I"m going to start on all the little things like pins, needles, etc. When I was in Tacoma over Christmas I bought a rolling sewing/craft cart. I have my knitting and crochet needles in it already and I thought I'd just add all the other little things. I've bought some zip lock bags and plastic tubs with lids to store the little goodies in.

OK child---time to shut up, hang up and get back to it...........(I might go get the ice cream later)

Roz's Loft

Today its so hot here Biscuit and I went out VERY early to water some plants and to let him run around a little before we had to hibernate in front of the fans. Right after we came in Biscuit got into my yarn and proceeded to spread it all over the house (no I didn't take a picture of that mess). I saw a thing on TV, Its Me Or The Dog where the girl had a dog that continued to get into things. The dog trainer had them pick up the dog immediately when he did the thing and put him in the garage. Well, My garage is too far from the house so I picked him up, told him no and put him in his crate (I know, I know---he'll hate the crate because of it but he already does...) So I let him out when he settled down and he got the yarn again. Back to the crate with a NO. The next time I let him out he didn't go near the yarn. I did as the TV trainer did, put it down where he could easily get to it. He didn't come near it. I was totally impressed.

So anyway, after he came back in the house from another romp he was totally hot and so was I. He laid down on his starfish pillow and hasn't gotten up since. Half of him is off the pillow, not because he doesn't fit on it but because the floor is cool <G> Notice his pot of toys? The little pup is obviously very spoiled but oh well!

I don't want to start anything now other than rewind my yarn so I got out my new book, The Friday Night Knit Club. I didn't take a lot of time to read but the introduction sounds like its going to be good, here's what it says: The Gathering. Choosing your wool is dizzying with potential: The waves of colors and textures tempt with visions of a sweater or cap (and all the accompanying compliments you hope to receive) but don't reveal the hard work required to get there. Patience and attention to detail make all the difference. Also willingness. Challenge keeps it interesting, but don't select a pattern that is too far beyond you. Always select the best yarn you can afford. And use the type of needle that feels best in your hand; I always used bamboo. Even now, it still seems unbelievable to me that by pulling together a motley collection--the soft yarn, the sharp needles, the scripted pattern, the smooching hook, the intangibles of creativity, humanity, and imagination--you can create something that will hold a piece of your soul. But you can.

I think we all agree, the same holds true for knitting machine projects.

Roz's Loft

Biscuit had a haircut

Biscuit is 5 months old. Poor baby had to have a bit of Dramamine to get him to the groomers without getting sick. Once there, it was "small puppy day" and he got to play with another little maltese as well as a couple other small dogs while he waited his turn. I asked the girl to leave him a topknot but put a "boy bow" in the topknot to keep it out of is eyes. She told me she had a cute little white bow with red fire hydrants on it so while I was gone I got him a new red collar with sparkley "diamonds" to match. He refused to pose with the collar but did pose with his cute bow for one shot. The Dramamine made him sleepy which is why he refused to hold his head up for the second pix, poor baby is totally worn out after his busy morning. He sure does look cute.

When I picked him up he was glad to see me but was down on the floor with the other puppies, playing and it looked like, having a great time. I wish he had puppies around our neighborhood to play with, unfortunately all the dogs around here are way too big for him.

While he was getting pretty, I took the opportunity to go to Walmart and look around. I found a book entitled The Friday Night Knitting Club, a novel by Kate Jacobs. Its going to be 100 degrees here tomorrow, its been in the high 90's most of the week so Biscuit and I are hanging out in the house with ceiling fans blowing, floor fans going and of course the air conditioner set at 78 degrees. The fans keep the air circulating and allows me to keep the AC up a little higher than I might otherwise. Anyway, I'm going to be reading and knitting---oh I bought some Bernat Softee Baby yarn to make a baby blanket I found on the Bernat web site. Its called Double Diamond and its crocheted. Cute pattern, I'm doing it in blues and white for the new baby boy who should arrive sometime in October. (I'm hoping for October 1 which would be the baby's late Great G'pa's birthday). Here's where you can find the free pattern if you're interested: http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=2301

I like a lot of their crocheted baby things on their web page, although I'm not really a crocheter, I can do it..and figured its a quicky thing to do while its so hot.

New Baby

Yes, we have a new baby coming to our family. My grandaughter is expecting a boy in October!!! She already has a sweet little girl, Jada, and now a boy. Am I excited??? And I just got word yeserday that we may be expecting another baby around February. I'm excited for both families. Unfortunately both the daddys are in the military and this baby's daddy will be going to Iraq very soon. I pray he will be safe and that he can come home to his family quickly. The other daddy hasn't had official word yet and I'm praying he won't have to go. He also has a sweet little girl, Isabelle, and Isabelle needs him as does her new brother or sister.

I am finish going through my machine knitting books and have put more up on the web site (www.pineymountaincottage.com/sale.html 2 pages now. There are a couple sewing books, one is Sewing with Knits and one is Simplicity's Simply The Best Sewing Book. The first book covers a lot of things about buying knit fabric and how to deal with seams, stretch, etc. The second book covers the new electronic machines as well as chosing your fabric, overlocking the seams, etc.

My heart won't be broken if they don't sell. My problem is...as I get these books out and realize I forgot I had them, I look through them, know why I bought them and almost put them back. Unfortunately, books are heavy and weight makes a difference when movers come. So I'm keeping my very, very favorite books and selling the ones that I bought, never used because I forgot them and probably would forget again once I get moved.

I have found a place to move to, just 5 minutes from Madison and about 8 minutes from Natalie and I'm looking at a 2 bedroom condo with a sunroom. The style I picked has the 2 bedrooms and the sun room all on one side. If its available when I move, of course. So you know where I'm thinking I'm going to be putting my machines...all on one side of the condo. I'm going to draw the dimensions of the rooms out on paper and measure my furniture to make sure I don't have too much stuff. If I do, its all about Craigs List and Freecycle. I don't want to have to buy more, smaller furniture but could if I have to. The place has a huge Community Room that can be reserved for things like the Quilt Guild .. they don't have a Knitting Guild yet but we know that can be arranged for.

Lots of excitement and changes going on in my life right now, don't you think? I wish it was all done and I could quickly move and get on with the fun things. But be patient, it will happen soon enough, as my mother used to say.