30 Days of Nothing

I saw this challenge to give up something for 30 days on Bumpy Doink's site today. The original challenge came from Owlhaven and stems from being frugal. You can read more on this challenge there. Since I have such an abundance of both yarns and quilting fabric, I will give up buying any of either for the month of September. This will not be easy for me. I am one who succumbs to the word SALE like a flea to a dog. It doesn't matter that I have an entire dresser full of yarn...and a 2 tubs...the illusive yarn that I want for that 'perfect' project will not be in my stash and it will just so happen that it's on sale at xyz.com for 2 days only or some such a thing. The same goes for quilt fabric. Those of you who knit or quilt know exactly what I'm talking about so this really is something I'm giving up. :)

Knitting Progress

I've been working on several knitting projects. I've finished one of the Waterloose socks that I've been working on. I'm using Trekking yarn.
















This is the scarf part of the Flora neckscarf that will be a Christmas present. I still have the flower to finish and add to it. I've used Reynolds Frisky which is incredibly soft.


















This last one is the Go Diagonal Scarf that will also be a Christmas present. It's made with Lane Cervinia Bernina yarn. Hopefully I will be able to keep up the steam since Christmas is only 117 days away!!

10 Years Ago Today

10 years ago today Doug and I were married in North Carolina. It's been quite the 10 years though and we should have known that it would have its ups and downs since it started with Hurricane Bonnie and a major hit on the coast of North Carolina. We were married in Deep Run, just south of Kinston and that area was left without electricity for the better part of the wedding week. But even with all that stormy beginning I'm looking forward to the next 10 years (quite frankly I'm too tired to try and train a new one...lol...just kidding)!! We spent the next year in Maryland and then moved to Georgia in June 1999 and have been here ever since. We love Georgia.

It's amazing how skinny we both were back then!! I unfortunately have gained far more than he has but still...

Joe (Doug's oldest) is down here for a visit so we will celebrate our anniversary next weekend with dinner. He wants scout stuff and I've already ordered my yarn for my anniversary...lol!! Yes, I have gotten quite practical in my adult years. :)

Day Late DOT & the bathroom standoff

This is how this morning started...Wilbur wanted to go in the bathroom to see what Spunky was up to and Spunky let him know he wasn't coming in. Funny how Spunky (5 lbs) doesn't have to say much but just glares at Wilbur (65 lbs) (Charlotte just barrels in anyway and gets thumped on the head). Just goes to show that size really doesn't matter it's all in the attitude!!























The puppies (one at a time) and I have been walking with some friends of mine 2-3 times a week at the library track. Individually they do just fine. Charlotte has really surprised me and is extremely shy towards other people and animals when Wilbur is not around. Wilbur has been pretty well behaved and looks forward to meeting people and their animals. A woman at the track yesterday told me Wilbur was the biggest pit bull she had ever seen...she should have met his 1/2 brother Outlaw who was 90 lbs and had a hugungous head on him!!

As a sideline and a question for you...Why is it that EVERY time I have taken Wilbur to walk he has to poop?? Charlotte waits till we get back home and goes outside to poop. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?????

And here is Charlotte laying in MY spot on the loveseat (hers is the other side).

I'm currently working on the Waterloose Socks by Randi Knudsen and am doing them in Trekking XXL. I'm past the heel and working toward the toes on the first sock!! The colorway looks better as I go along and they will match like everything!!











The newest shawl is the Luna Moth by Shui Kuen Kozinski and is a free pattern from Elann. I'm using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool however since I already had it in the stash. Since I wasn't sure which shawl to try next this one was recommended on one of the Ravelry groups I'm in. It really is an easy shawl to do while looking very pretty and difficult.

Caricature Pups & DOT post

Deb Donnelly is working on dog caricatures and will be doing them for the Dupage Co. Animal Shelter Dog Walk and Wash (in Illinois) this weekend the 24th. Here are the practice sketches she did of Charlotte and Wilbur. I think she did a great job and hope she and the shelter have much success this weekend!!




















Take 1 king sized bed, then add + 2 pit bull terriers, = where is mom supposed to sleep???? And here I thought Doug took up a lot of room... You can see Charlotte & Wilbur are terribly concerned over pigging up the bed too can't you?? Rotten puppies.

Blocking the Covertible Shawl

I've just finished blocking the Convertible shawl. Now for it to dry!! I used Fleece Artist Goldielocks yarn made of Kid Mohair, Silk and Nylon and have no idea whatsoever what the colorway is called. With the primarily beigey colors it should pretty much go with anything.

think theyz talkin bout me????

see more dog pictures

Progress

At least I can see the coming of the end finally on the Convertible shawl. I had put it aside for awhile and picked it up again recently with the intent of finishing it in my lifetime. It has 36 lace rows and 6 finishing rows to go before being ready to block. I'm really pleased with it too.

Early DOT post

Okay we don't know what his name is but we were calling him Bagley/Taos. He showed up on Friday when we came home from the quilt show and hung out on the deck with us (after walking inside like he belonged there). When it was time to go in he sat outside the door and whined. We were afraid he was lost after we found out he wasn't the neighbors dog.

The next morning he was gone and we were relieved he found his way home.

Come Saturday evening though he came back up the stairs to the deck and was hanging out with us again. He was soooo cute. He would scrunch up his nose and show his teeth and I swear he looked like he was smiling and oh so very proud of himself!! It was too cute for words I tell ya.

To top the evening off, Rachel and I were out front in the driveway and thought B/T was still on the deck with the girls when he came tromping down the driveway and brought two other friends with him (the 4 legged kind)!!! We got to laughing so hard and knocked on the door...When Ille answered the door imagine her surprise when B/T was there with another puppy friend.

So maybe we girls (and I use that term loosely mind you) won't turn the heads of 2 legged animals of the male persuasion...but in the 4 legged male world, we're the party girls and the happenin' place in towne!!!

In and Around Cashiers, NC

Unusual sighting

This trip was full of animal adventures for us. It started with the cows in the roadway on the drive up the mountain to Ille's. (which I didn't get pics of because they startled the snot outta me).

Later that evening there was a bat in the great room with us. Fortunately Ille remembered that we should turn out the lights and turn off the fan and open the door and it would find it's way back outside.














Then on the way to Highlands we saw a mama bear and 2 baby cubs crossing the road. We were so excited!! I've never seen a real live bear in it's natural habitat. Poor thing was more scared by us and slipped as it scrambled up the hillside in front of us. By the time I got my camera ready all I got was baby bear butt...but here it is in all it's glory.

Miscellaneous other pics from Asheville

On Wednesday we went to Highlands. The flowers are so pretty now in the mountains. Not at all like here in Georgia where everything is pretty well burned to a crisp.

We shopped in the Shakespeare book shop, browsed in the Mill Creek art gallery and of course bought yarn in the Why Knot shop.












































































































































Then we drove down the road to the Cut n Patch Quilt Shop which is inside her home.
































her wildflower garden


































isn't the sky just gorgeous? No smog, just clear blue and the whitest puffiest clouds...if it wasn't so far from town I would move there in a heartbeat.


























Okay I'm not one for bragging or blogging super markets but this one was really cool. Aside from the cool name, it had a neat garden nursery at the entrance and tables set outside. It also had various grocery items that you find in health stores and was just a cute and interesting place to check out.












We went to supper in Cashiers after our day at the Asheville Quilt Show. Ille, Joyce & Rachel:














Connie, Margaret & Judy: