More Projects

I finished the fingerless gloves..............had a little problem-I misjudged the amount of yarn I needed and didn't dye enough. No problem. I just continued knitting with the bare yarn and then dyed it after I finished knitting them! I am pleased with the results!

Mom and I have been doing some piecing. She made another tablerunner that I have on the frame.

I pieced another flannel baby quilt and another Psalm quilt, this time with dog fabric. Nice to have a que at the quilting frame!

The guys finished the hall area-had to remove the old bedroom window and are boxing it in so it will be a recessed knick knack (k)nook for me! It is fussy work but I so appreciate the sacrifice-it will even have a back light!

A Spindle!

I ordered a new handcrafted spindle (steve kundert) and I think you will agree with me that it is a thing of beauty. (This is the 30-9 model; made of maple and cherry wood.)

Most spinners start on a spindle and graduate to a wheel. I thought that the spindle was way too slow when I started spinning 25+ years ago and so I am just getting back to trying one now. The beauty of the wood was a big draw to me and I think making my own might just be in my future, too. I drumcarded this merino/finn/mohair fiber in anticipation of the spindle's arrival. I took to the spindling as if I have been doing it forever. It is still way too slow compared to what you can produce on a wheel in the same amount of time but that isn't the point of handspinning fiber. It is a very relaxing experience and I think this is just the beginning of a wonderful collection of spindles!

Saturday's FO's

I finished the skein of yarn I have been working on for over a week! Trying a new technique for this mohair fiber.........it had some challenges but I am thrilled with the results-so much softer and fluffier than my first attempts. It is good to stretch your fiber wings.

I put the binding on 2 of the flannel baby quilts ; put this on by machine and taught Mom how to do the binding this way, too.

I have another one on the design wall; then I will begin the boy quilts.

She put her new skills to good use and finished her tablerunner!

The men were working even though it was very chilly again today, and got the hall wall all prepped for the sheetrock work to begin. It is a lot of fussy work to put up the 2 x 4's over the cement blocks of the former outside of the house........ask my Dad how his shoulders feel after using the cement screw drill all day!

Bill is nearing the close of running the electric wiring through the addition. He put in the ceiling wires today.

Pruning!

How many people does it take to cut down a branch that is crowding your new palm tree?!

FOUR!

Roping the branch (a hammer tied to the end of the rope!)

Dad holds just the right tension on the branch.

I get the tractor into position.
All together now.................

Crash!

Why FOUR people...................my Mom is taking pictures , of course!

Changes

The doorway is near completion........Dad put up the finishing boards and the sheetrock. It is going to be freezing temps again tonight so we keep a sheet up to help keep out the draft! We also had to change the livingroom around so that we could go out the doorway! This sectional will be going into the new room when it is ready but this works for now!

Mom finished her part of the tablerunner.....I have to load and quilt it!

I finished quilting the first flannel baby quilt; just have to bind it now.

Progress is being made on the nameless owner's fingerless glove..........I know that the first pic is blurry but Nyki stuck her paw in and it looked so cute I had to include it! This is how she helps me knit it each evening!

Mom and I went to her church yesterday for some sewing........we put together sleeping bags for the homeless shelter. We learned a lot and enjoyed the conversation of other women.

Little Bits

Here are some of the things going on around me and mine since the last post.

Bill filled in the exposed cement blocks in the new doorway.

Dad started framing in the old window/new doorway.
Dad and Bill installed most of the electrical outlets and switches in the south addition.

Mom helped me load this so I could start quilting Millie's latest work, a twin log cabin.

I have been knitting more Russian boot slippers...............
and finished knitting the blank for Bruce's socks and Marsel's lacey, fingerless gloves.

Finished Millie's twin sized quilt and loaded the crib sized quilt.

Dyed the blank so it can now be knitted.

Played with Nyki.

Palm and Plum Trees

We had a full day yesterday! Both Matthew and Caleb came to visit their grandparents and spend the day-we all exercised our laugh lines! Matthew brought a NY visitor wanting to escape the perils of winter and since Randy spent so much time at our house previously, it was great to have him joining in again!

Nyki discovers the joys of a milk top ring! Bling benevolently supervises........

There are quite a few entrepreneurs selling their services door to door during these harder economic times. We had a visit from such a local father/son team and purchased 2 palm trees from them. They guarantee the trees will grow because they plant, fertilize and instruct you on how to care for them. When we first looked at this house-(5 yrs ago now!) we envisioned two Queen palms framing the sidewalk, welcoming all to our home. Today, we got another dream fulfilled!

When Caleb had to leave last night, he turned around and came back in to say that it is really neat to walk out between such beauties! What do you think?

As for the other tropical beauties in our yard, the brutal frosts have taken their toll. The good news is that most of the plants are beaten down but not destroyed; they will grow back and recover in just a few months. Take a tour..........

the banana trees......
the hibiscus tree...
the kalanchoes... the urn of wandering jew........

Marsel's poinsettia....

The garden took a beating........the peas and beets were all burned but look like they will recover; the green beans which we were just beginning to nibble on look like they will not.
But the seasons, they just keep on ..........look at the radiance of the Florida Native Plum tree in bloom! Now doesn't that just uplift your spirit?!