So, now we get winter??

There has been snow - not a lot, but snow - cold, cold around here. I am supposing March will "come in like a lion" as the rest of the week is forecast to be SOS.
I cast on a new pair of toe-up socks using the "recipe" from the Sock Summit class - Toe Up Socks for the Stubborn - using some yarn from my stash: Apple Laine Apple Pie yarn in the colorway Fruit Frappe', a 65% Wool, 20% Mohair, 10% Nylon, 5% Silk blend.
This is the nicest, softest yarn for making socks and they do wear well, even if they are hand wash and the skeins a bit small, ergo the toe-up socks!

a blizzard at the end of February

Some pictures from the window; during the blow & snow out front where the birds were blowing back & forth and afterwards out the side window of the cupola.

It was pretty bad out there - 'tP' called me after he had driven in to work and told me to stay home & we would go shopping tomorrow. He's going to take Daisy to the groomer on Wednesday (his day off). The DD had to go to class in Spokane today and she got stuck there after they closed the college due to weather - the highway home was closed due to blowing, drifting snow.

It has calmed down now, but it is cold again.

I made bread, cleaned house, did laundry and updated my pantry & freezer inventories. All in all a productive day.

BE THANKFUL!

I share this video because it pretty much says it all!

http://www.flickspire.com/m/SavDin/LearningToDanceInTheRain

Photo of the vintage patterns for boys' shirts

I couldn't help myself

no, really, I couldn't!
I need to stay away from Michelle's site. I went there this morning to "just look at the dresses" you know? What happened but I found 3, that's right 3! that were in a size that I can adapt to my figure. And of course, HAD to buy them, right? I mean how often can I do that, find the right size, I mean, as most of the vintage patterns are for those oh, so petite small ladies and quite frankly, I don't fit in that mold at all!
Oops, I forgot to capture a pic of the patterns before I placed the order so will have to wait until I get them to share, but here are the brand names & numbers: American Weekly 4890-an everyday house dress with short sleeves, Simplicity 2709-another nice housedress with 2 sleeve variations, too, Vogue 6571-a very nice shirtwaist dress with short or 3/4 length sleeves. I can hardly wait to get started on the construction. I've been needing some new dresses for quite some time. I end up wearing the same few sets of clothing nearly every day. I do so enjoy wearing skirts & dresses - it makes me feel more feminine and they are just downright more comfortable than jeans (or any pants for that matter). Now, don't get me wrong pants have their uses, but for everyday give me a skirt anytime!!
OK, off the soapbox, LOL.
A little bit of progress on my dad's sweater; nearly done with the Citron (but have to wind the 2nd skein into a ball for just the last few rows - DARN!); am 2-plying the handspun from the Sunspot roving (2-ply because I only have 2 little flower pots to put on top of the balls - REALLY, REALLY need to get another couple so I can make more plys) it is quite lovely, but don't know the WPI yet as I'm not done plying; finishing up my pajamas that I've had "in the works" for over a year (I am so bad, but I really am getting better - it's one of my 2012 goals).
OH-OH-OH I almost forgot, I wanted to share my experience with the KCL modular spindle that I got at last summer's Sock Summit. This is a WONDERFUL spindle, so well-balanced, so easy to use. I spun the singles of the Sunspot on my Jenkins Turkish Delight spindle, but am doing the pying on the KCL as it has multiple shafts, allowing one to change shafts and keep on plying before skeining all the yarn.

Once more, windy-windy on the prairie

It makes one feel as if Mary Poppins should be going by any time now. Although I'm afraid her umbrella would be outside-in after this blow!
I got my patterns for boy's shirts from Patterns from the Past yesterday - now I have some patterns that will fit bigger boys than infants. I just cannot understand why there are no longer patterns for older boys - surely some people still make garments for their families - and families that are not all girls! The owner has lots of reasonably priced vintage patterns for sale at her site. I enjoy purusing even if I don't purchase. I've a couple of dress patterns that are waiting for me to use in construction of some dresses for myself, too.

Finished!

Here is a photo of the sewing machine cover. I measured my machine, but forgot that it sits down into the table, so the cover is too tall for it when it is in the table. I shall have to make another slightly shorter one, but now that I have experience with the construction I should be able to adapt the pattern.

A fun day today,

I attended a quilting workshop with a local designer. We worked on quilted covers for the sewing machine. I got mine about 1/2 way done and hope to be able to finish it up this weekend as is the 3-day President's Day weekend. I have a Wool Gatherers meeting tomorrow, but it is also 'tP's bowling night so that gives me several hours of free time & that will help a lot.
It's cold here and supposed to snow or rain for the all of next week - bummer! But, what can one expect of February? I'm getting the hoops tomorrow so I can start that hoop house this weekend, too.

Another FO in knitting

this time it's another bear for the 'Mother Bear Project'; here he is (but I've forgotten his name, so will have to look it up in my notes at home). Terrible, I admit, but my memory is "just shot" as we all know.
I got a really good idea from the book I am reading for the Co-op Book Club (The Feast Nearby) last evening. It concerned the use of hoop houses in the garden for early planting and getting some veggies earlier than waiting for the regular weather. I already use hoop house for the tomatoes, but I am not sure why I didn't think about using it for earlier planting. I am planning to get some more PVC pipe this weekend and set up another one so I am able to warm up the soil in one of my raised beds and get some things started REALLY early!

I've an F.O. in my knitting!

FINALLY! I've completed the pink variagated cardigan. I've learned several lessons with this sweater: 1) obviously how to procrastinate with champions-it only took me 5 years, but seriously 2) steeking - it's not as harrowing as it might seem, 3) I need to measure more carefully as the cardi is a bit large, but it will work wonderfully as a jacket, so is perfectly fine, and 4) I need more sweaters! but they are going to be more fitted.
'tP' is off bowling and I'm doing a bit of catch-up around here in the chore area - not too much as I want to do some more knitting and some reading.

I got a new book for the Co-op book club and this one is the best one I've read so far for that group. It is "The Feast Nearby" by Robin Mather.

It's cold, I'm cold

hmmmmmmmmm sense a theme here?
For some reason the damp cold is getting to me; my feet are cold and my hands are cold. I was going to do some sewing tonight while 'tP' is off bowling, but not sure I want to sit still at the machine as it is in front of a window and at night it seems colder there.
We had a good Saturday with the #2 GS here. He really liked the shirt and wanted to wear it to the wedding reception he & his mom were attending today. I got him a white undershirt so it would be warmer to wear because it is really a summer shirt.
We made lemon poppyseed muffins - they turned out well, very tasty. He did some sewing on his quilt blocks and generally had a good time here.
I went out and uncovered my onions & fabas that I had tried to protect from the cold. Not sure if anything survived as I could find only a couple of little onion plants. I guess we'll see once it gets warmer, but I was afraid that since it was a bit warmer that they might try to grow and being covered with straw & such would not be good.
Maybe I'll just snuggle with a quilt & my heating pad and do some knitting.