WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES!!

Yep, they are back at school....and back outside playing where they belong! It was pretty warm here the other day (mid 50's) and now its getting colder with alot more wind....
You can see the remnants of the storm in the branch lying behind the basketball hoop. And that's the tiny pile....the large pile is out back. Our neighbor graciously asked if he could cut it up for his wood burning stove.....uhhhh like YEAH! Some recent knitting. A quick knit hat for a dear friend recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Its made from Berrocco's Chinchilla (1 skein) and its a quick one my friends. Here it is modeled on my daughter, Delia, who had to come home early from school today due to illness....yeah right, I think it was the shock of actually being back at school!

The beginning of another hat for my friend. This is just an easy 8 row pattern repeat with the cable in the 5th row. Really easy--no pattern, just eyeballing it. There is something so freeing about that. This is worked in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK. I've said it before and I'll say it again--I love this yarn! It's soft and the color is beautiful--it doesn't split and it knits up great. I promise I don't work for Debbie Bliss--if I did I imagine that every pay day, they would look at me and say "how would YOU like to pay for that?"

Which brings me to this.......

Yes, its a large blue pot...but its not just ANY pot...its a Le Creuset pot...the big one, the 9.5 quart pot! The one that Ina Garten aka Barefoot Contessa uses...the one that I have been wanting forever...the one that has always been out of my price range...well, I saved several gift cards from Williams Sonoma and finally picked this baby up. And let me tell you, this thing is HEAVY. Its enameled cast iron and I LOVE IT. I have resisted the temptation to light votive candles around it--that would just be a little weird, huh. But I am leaving it out just to look at it (sorry about the dirty stove top) and for all to admire.

Ok, so that's about all for today. Back to the cabled hat, the pomatomus sock and Beef Bourguignon!

ICE STATION ANNAPOLIS! You should have heard the trees when the wind blew....it was all this twinkling and then when the wind blew HARD...the sounds of limbs breaking under the weight...it was pretty scary. The kids were home yesterday and again today, as about 50,000 people in our county are without power....luckily not us!

Finished 1 Pomatomus sock...cast on for the second......here we go.

SO this is what 3 hours early dismissal from school looks like: The kids were actually shocked this morning when schools weren't closed at all. I know anyone brought up in areas where snow is common place are probably laughing right now. I mean, really, it's barely on the ground much less on the roads. And the main roads are fine! There is a concern that it might turn to freezing rain in which case, that is a whole different ball game. But the kids are happy. Here is what a 3 hour early dismissal looks like from the kids perspectives:

There's John proudly cheering with his crutches. He just took his younger brother and sister to lunch at McDonalds! Lunch at 11am you say....what the heck...it gave him something to do!
There's Mickey and no, he's not in pain...that is actually his "look at me, off from school watching King Kong in High Def" happy face! Oh, I should also point out, that they have NO homework either. So, its not like I can send them off to their rooms for awhile until homework is finished. Nope, I'm pretty much the cruise director now. Of course, having a new big flat screen tv with loads of HD channels helps to ease the pain!
On to the knitting front--here is a simple ribbed baby hat for my nephew Stephen...it is made out of Debbie Bliss's cashmerino. This stuff is a dream to work with, I tell ya. I would love to make an entire sweater out of this.....the Pomatomus Sock is almost finished..although I have to say that I am dreading the second sock with this one. The pattern is hard and I think I need something mindless. So I either have to look for a fun-loving amputee, or suck it up and knit the other one. Stay warm friends...and watch that snow for heaven's sake!

SOOOO--my Local Yarn Shop (LYS) had its Winter Sale this past weekend and of course I went...like I need more yarn?! Anyway, here is what I bought...some navy wool to make a USNA hat for someone special...
Some more Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, because it feels so excellent, the colors are awesome...and doggone it, I'm worth it....these are the special colors that are created by the good folks there at Cherry Tree Hill. Expensive but worth every penny. (sorry for the blurry picture) and a skein of Ultra Alpaca...not sure what I am going to make with this...but I LOVE the color. And it feels great. Maybe a cool scarf--or thick gloves...not sure, but I know its there when the inspiration strikes me.

I also got a skein of Debbie Bliss's cashmerino to knit my precious new nephew a hat. He has been wearing that hat they gave him in the hospital...you know the white, made out of...well...you know....the "A" word....my nephew should only be in the best--so ribbed baby hat, here I come. Will post that soon.

It is 20 degrees here in Annapolis today and it will pretty much stay that way through the whole week. Its supposed to get to 8 tonight--oh boy! And yet, NO SNOW--I mean if we are going to be this cold, how about a little snow to pretty it up. I guess the cold is good and necessary...our old family doctor used to always say that we needed a long cold snap to kill off all the bad bacteria. Looks like we got us one of those.

Stay warm cyber-friends.

For some reason, the link did not work for The Ships Project. So here it is again...

http://www.theshipsproject.com/Home.htm Please go and check it out.

Have a great Saturday!

Here is a picture my son drew (oil pastels) from a photo he took down at City Dock, Annapolis.

The infamous Pomatomus SOCK! I had to frog it several times but here it is and I am going quickly now. I allowed myself a few "liberties" with the pattern. After all, a pattern is only a guide right....creativity is the key---or maybe for me its just plain laziness....who knows. All I know is that this looks really cool. Seriously, the knit throught the back loop gives it that twisty look and I love this sock yarn. I purchased this in Germany almost two years ago! The colors are pretty cool and vibrant...just the kind of thing I like peeking out from under my cuff. Here is quick birthday gift I am knitting for our friend, Caitlin. She is pictured with my daughter Mary at Christmas with their matching hats. Her 18th birthday was yesterday so the party is tomorrow...I can finish, I know I can. The yarn is gorgeous.....
Silk and wool. It feels like a dream and worth every penny it costs. Of course the pattern calls for 75 yards and the yardage of the skein is.....yep, only 72 yards. So, I had to buy TWO skiens. I am already thinking wrist warmers for myself with the extra. It is gorgeous I tell ya.

Just got an important email from fellow USNA mom. Check out this link The Ships Project for knitting for our troops. I know that I will be bringing this idea to BOTH of my knitting circles. Thank you so much Elaine for sending this along. Also, if you are ever in the area...please call...let's get together and knit awhile!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN INEXPERIENCED SKIIER MEETS CANADA... Yep, here is my 17 year old son, just back from beautiful Mont Tremblant Canada.
On his very first run, on his very first day....this is what happened.... Can you see the bone splits on the left side of the X-ray. Can you see the way the bone appears to be protruding outward. That is his left tibia and fibula done near the ankle. Apparently, the bone actually "bent" before it broke. The good news is that it is not in his ankle joint and he will not require surgery. Whew. However, he is off of it for about 10 weeks. He will most probably have physical therapy when he's done. The cast is actually removable but the doctor "strongly cautioned" John about taking it off ONLY for bathing. He is resting comfortably--of course it doesn't help that he has a cold on top of everything else.

All I have to do is knit him a little "toe cozy" for the left foot.

A picture of my lovely ladies who took me out to dinner for my birthday. There's Cathy, me, and Patricia. Sadly, Sherie couldn't make it--but she was missed and we left an empty seat for her. I picked up the pomatomus sock again and am almost finished one...I will post that picture tomorrow. In the meantime, I am busy knitting my Debbie Bliss ruffled sweater. I wish that she included schematics and measurements in her instructions...that way I know I am right on the money in terms of length, etc. I should surf the net, see if any are out there.

ANOTHER NEPHEW HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Welcome to the world, Stephen Clarke Kolb. Born on January 2, 2007 and weighing in at a very respectable 7lbs. 10ozs. I held him today for a long time...what is it about holding a sleeping baby that seems to make you feel better. Its like prozac without the pill....there is just something so peaceful and angelic and you feel like with all the other stuff going on and all the things that have to get done, that none of it matters, because this is EXACTLY what you are supposed to be doing at this very moment. I am so blessed to have all these babies in my family. I think this is #19 of the Clarke grandchildren: let's count 'em up: Joe, Sean, Michael, PJ, Andrew, Mary, John, Delia, Mickey, Caleb, Chelsea, Molly, Nora, William, Walter, Stephen, Paul, Jamie, Shannon--yep 19. Ok, guys, someone's gotta go for another--we need an even 20! Any volunteers?Baby booties! These were the ones I started making a while ago--you know the ones with the tiny needles and the cable. They were very tedious and time consuming...but just look at the result. Kinda makes me want to knit a whole batch of them--maybe even a pair in cashmere for the precious boy's little tootsies....Awful picture of me....great picture of Walter and his new baby brother. He is very proud of his new sibling and wants to touch his head all the time. What is it with kids and always wanting to touch baby's head??!! Mine were always like that as well. It was always the head. There's some psychology in there somewhere.

On the knitting front, the ribbon cardi is going great. I am plugging along and giving myself little deadlines. Hope everyone is well. Now, go hold a baby...it'll make your day!

HEY everyone!

Ok, so its been a whole week. Where has all the time gone? I sent the kids back to school on January 2nd. Now, I know that there are times when its ok to send them back...when the whole "mommy--what's for breakfast, or mommy, what's for lunch, or mommy, what's for dinner" thing gets old, but honestly, I felt like it was still the holiday when they went back. I did not let on to them, that I thought it unfair and way to early to go back---are you crazy man?! I couldn't let them see my weakness....I would forever be the wounded gazzelle, and they would be the victorious pumas! No way man. So I gave them a hearty breakfast, told them to buck up and sent them on their merry way. I am proud to say that there were no tears...just some wistful looking kids.

So, on to the knitting front. I took my mother in law up to a yarn shop in Columbia..called All About Yarn. It was a bit difficult to find in that it was located in a sort of industrial park--you know, lots of long, one-storied buildings housing such various businesses as car parts, sheet metal supply and well, yarn. (which reminds me of a really funny shop in my husband's home town of Canon City Colorado, where there was a shop that was a 1. taxidermy shop 2. car cleaning service and 3. hair salon; the name of this magical place (and I am NOT KIDDING) is "Fluff 'em, Buff 'em and Stuff 'em --yeah, I have a picture too) But I digress...so I walked around for a while and ended up buying some beautiful Debbie Bliss cashmerino yarn to make this ruffled cardi. The yarn is incredible to work with--I have to admit, I LOVE Debbie Bliss yarn. It just feels like butter.

So, something I learned from my trip to the yarn store with my mother in law is this 1. NEVER take a non-knitter or non-crocheter to a yarn store! Because this would be like taking me to an automotive store--to a non-knitter it all looks the same. God bless her, she was very sweet and walked around with me until a lovely knitter sitting on the couch encouraged her to sit while I shopped. My mom in law politely inquired as to what the other women were knitting. They responded and were very nice..but you know us knitters when we get in a yarn store....watch out! I hunker down....I touch EVERYTHING, I ask questions, I will look at EVERY yarn in the sale bin, I will not worry about time, I will not worry about money (I had a coupon!), I will enjoy every guilt free minute, knowing that my husband and family are all at home watching football and that for these couple of hours I am completely free to do what I want....so that's what is going on in my head. So the upshot is that I did not stay as long as I wanted...I left some yarn untouched...such is life. It was more important to be kind to my mother in law at that moment then it was for me to fufill my yarn's desires. We had a lovely late lunch and went home to a peaceful home and I cast on immediately. All in all, a good day.

So, here is quick baby hat that I made. My girlfriend just had her first grand-baby. They always referred to the baby as "the bean". She asked me if I could make some kind of bean hat. I wracked my brain, searched the internet and googled it four ways to Sunday. The best I came up with was a pattern from Yarniverse for a pumpkin hat. I tweaked it a bit and here is the hat modeled on a friends' baby. I think its pretty cute. I just have to give the owner of Yarniverse a big shout out as she tried to email me this pattern so that I could start right away. We probably worked on this thing for 3 hours trying to get the emailing thing down. In the end, I told her just to mail it to me and I would wait. She was awesome--go check out her store online. I can personally vouch for their top notch customer service.

I hope everyone's New Year is going well. My personal resolution was to get into shape and so that extent, my husband and I started a running program. I am proud to say that it is going well and we are enjoying it so far. It is so hard to get started but once you do, man do you feel great.

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me....so you know the rest of the song. Actually this picture is from the day after Christmas (my birthday is January ONE). We took the fam, that's Mickey, Dane, John, Delia, Gran (Dane's mom), me and Mary out to Sakura for dinner. Actually Gran treated which was great. It was crowded. Everybody had the same idea...tired of cooking all that holiday food---let's get out! It was great. The chefs are wonderful and very entertaining and my daughter Delia was able to catch several pieces of shrimp when he threw them in her mouth! My wonderful mother in law, has had quite the ordeal getting back home to Albuquerque, New Mexico. First her flight was delayed on Friday, then cancelled all together. Then we were able to re-schedule her for New Year's Eve. We got her on the plane and all was well when my sister in law called to say that a rare fog had enveloped Albuquerque and that her plane was being re-routed to Phoenix. Luckily for us, Gran's best friend lives in Phoenix and was able to pick her up. Unfortunately, Jeanie suffers from early Alzheimer's, and I can only imagine the stress she was feeling when the pilot announced that they would not be landing in Albuquerque. She is a wonderful lady and we are lucky to have her! Hopefully she will make it home soon--I know she was anxious to be home and missed her beautiful hacienda! Star Hats: In a galaxy very near, there lived a loving mother and her beautiful daughter. Her daughter had a wonderful friend, who was much like a daughter to the mother! A pattern was found for star hats, colors chosen, hats knitted, and even lined with fleece so their ears would not get itchy. All was right with the world and the galaxy was safe once again.
Aren't they beautiful....the hats AND the girls. Pattern from Knitting Central, Yarn is Reynold's Lopi, some modifications were made...and about a half yard of polar fleece basted to the inside brim. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Christmas was here! The children were all snuggled in their beds, and then Santa came! No toys to put together this year...just lots of "stuff". The kids get bigger and the presents get smaller; Ipods, Nintendo Wii, Wii games, DVD's, CD's and the like. They take up alot less room than the toys, but boy are they more expensive. Here is my mom at our annual Christmas Eve dinner. My whole family was here as well as my wonderful mother in law in from Albuquerque New Mexico. The menu consisted of Southern stuffed ham, potatoes, roast beef, jello salad (you gotta have it, you know), my famous ceaser salad and of course, cookies.

Here is some of the gang out on the back porch. There is Ted (married to sister Erin), sister in law Kim, Dane the spouse, Brant (married to sister Megan), Chris my brother (Kim's husband) and family friend, Brian. This represents just a small portion of who was there, and we all had a wonderful time with each other.
More pictures coming...my computer takes forever to upload. Merry Christmas to all my friends!

Ok--So I hit the wrong button and the blog posted before I could finish...those pictures you see at the end of the previous post are my two beautiful daughters baking for me. Mary, the older one, LOVES to bake and is good at it...I'll have to share her recipe for "Christmas Crunch". Delia, the younger is a wonderful help as well. You can see by the ingredients that we have alot of baking to do. We love it...I love it, especially since I now have kids that can do it...
Merry merry my friends!!!!!!!!!

A much happier blog post today. Not that things have changed all that much...well, I guess we are now "hopeful". He (the spouse) came home Tuesday and said that after thinking about it, he realized how badly I had been feeling and that he would do ANYTHING to make the situation better. Even "change", I said...to which he responded..."yep, even that". Of course saying it and doing it are two different things...but for now I'll take the stop gap measure and see where it leads. OK--so on to the CHRISTMAS BLOG!
Here is one of my Dept. 56 houses...its Ralphie's house from "A Christmas story". See the leg lamp in the window. I found these a couple of years ago and just love them. In addition to Ralphie's house I have the Cleveland School, Higbees and the Chop Suey Palace (you rememeber: "Its Smiling at me!")

Then there are the trees. The fiber optic tree in the bathroom which is kinda hypnotic if truth be told. Sometimes I just go in and stare at it. A definite sign that I am losing it.

Then there is the "official" tree which to me looks more like a bush. I do not go on this foray to get the tree--that is not the tradition in our family. I stay home, make dinner and get all the trimmings ready. I keep telling my family--tall and thin, guys, tall and thin. They always come back with short and fat, short and fat. Then there is the annual argument over the tree topper. I would like an angel or a star even...but NOOOO, every year the kids take down that beautiful angel and up goes the miniature Broncos helmet. There have actually been tears about this. You can see that I have artfully placed angels around the helmet, but somehow I still think the message has been skewed. Oh well, pick your battles that's what I say.


Then there is the feather tree that sits on top of the piano. This is another "find" and the ornaments were last year's after Christmas 80% off at our local Christmas store.
Then there is the trees that are around the mirror on the mantle. The golden one I got at a local thrift shop--for $1--gotta love it. The other is an oldie but a goodie, filled with those Natalie Silitch angels that I love. Speaking of Natalie Silitch, she did a thing at the White House for Laura Bush and 20 of her closest friends. They are unique and folk-arty and very festive. Yep, you guessed it...make up roses. I will be firm in my decision to re-negotiate my marriage contract, flowers or no...they are pretty though, aren't they. This is my desk with all my magazines and wishlists.

SO, does anyone out there know a good divorce attorney??

Ok, so that isn't the most joyous of blog titles. But is sure is how I feel and not the "I am just so spitting angry at my spouse that I am sick and tired of it" kind of feeling...no, its the "I really pretty much feel like crap most of the time, and I've tried to tell him what is going on and he has flat out stated that its all me and he's NEVER going to change and this is your life" kind of feeling. So how did this all start...well not sure about that but I can sure tell you when it ended. That would be last night driving home from a friend's house when I (stupidly) brought up (again) the fact that he (the spouse) never does ANYTHING to help with Christmas. This spouse feels that its all unnecessary and therefore I should have NO expectations from him. He went on to further state that he doesn't care if we even have decorations or a tree. He actually gets angry about it and when you try to tell him how you feel, he pretty much tells you that your feelings are wrong.

Ok, so that is pretty much it. When I tried to tell him that I feel very disregarded, his response was to be shocked. "Huh?" I believe was his response. When I cited specific examples he pretty much intimated that I was making it up. So, at the end of the "discussion" he stated unequivocally that he was not going to change, wouldn't even consider changing and that as far as he was concerned life was perfect. I still cannot figure that out. How can one person be fine and the other completely devastated. So, what to do now? Pretty much I guess I have to figure this out for myself. Of course we have younger kids and that makes things even more difficult. I guess its a good thing to truly know where your spouse is coming from....it certainly makes certain things easier, but other things that much harder.

Ok, so that's the depressing blog for the day...........pray for me out there in cyber space...I sure need it now!

So sorry, its been over a week. I have been busy, as I assume you all are with Christmas and all the attending festivities. I just LOVE this time of year...really I do! I spent all weekend at the Springhill CFD Designer Show House. I was the docent at the main door. The house was just beautiful and the room were incredible. I came home with alot of ideas and started re-arranging furniture right then and there. Of course, my house still doesn't look like a designer walked in and decorated, but it looks a little fresher.

Saturday night was the Annapolis Parade of Lights. This is for all those boaters to decorate their boats and coast around City Dock. We were at my friend's house which is right downtown and we had a perfect view of everything. Of course, like a idiot, I did not take my camera (still a newbie at this blog stuff--you gotta carry that camera EVERYWHERE!) I know someone who did, so here are some pictures of that. Check out her web page: www.dropshots.com/usna2010

In the meantime, I have been knitting.....Christmas knitting that is...here is a hat being blocked. I am making two of these for my daughter and her best friend. The star will be appliqued to the front of the hat. The other hat will have a yellow stripe with the orange star. These knit up fast and the pattern is easy...got it from Knitting Central in Connecticut. I had trouble with one spot and called the shop. The nice lady walked me through everything...now that's customer service.

Will post later...going to give blood. Give if you can.......they really need it.

Christmas is coming...check out these vintage cardboard houses I found while "antiquing" on the Eastern shore of Maryland. I went to several antique stores and eventually found these at a Salvation Army thrift shop for.....$1.oo apiece. Isn't that great---I love when I can find a deal like this. They were all spread out in the store so I had to go through a lot of, what I shall call, "stuff" to get to these treasures. Last year in Martha Stewart Living, she had an entire article devoted to these heirlooms. I am so happy they have found a home with me and I think they look beautiful on my mantle. Calling on all green thumbs...here is my fern brought in from its home on the screened porch to my living room--so we have gas forced air heat..and that means..yep, you guessed, very dry air. I have set up a humidifier near the plant and am hoping that this will help. I REALLY want it to survive the winter. Its so BIG--does anyone have any advice about what to do?



Just finished our Fall Production this past weekend. My son was in the show and gave out awards which were pretty funny. This was his first high school show and I think he really like it, even with his mom being the Director.

He was hilarious!

I guess I should get my ducks in a row here. So, I have been planning some Christmas knitting. Not a ton this year. So I have these Star hats for my daughter and her friend. They "disapproved" of the colors I picked out (a beautiful eggplant color with deep green accent) and instead picked these colors. Its all about them, right! Then there is the baby hat I have been "commissioned" to make for a friend's new grandchild. They call this baby the "bean" and so I will adapt this pattern for the little one...will post as that comes along.

And lastly there is the Mason Dixon Knit-a-long which I joined. Its all dishcloths and so much fun...just perfect for those with attention disorders....in the meantime, I am just letting my fingers do the walking with Christmas shopping, clicking away at the computer. However, I was just outbid on the Nintendo Wii system for my kids...yikes. Gotta go get that thing....HELP!

Hope all is well with everyone. Please keep Ben's family in your thoughts and prayers. As well as praying for all those who are in harms way.