New Dishes..

I have been on the look out for dishes that could go with the Lusterware I got when my Grandma died. I love it but there are quite a few parts missing (cereal bowls, bread plates, etc.) so.....
I finally saw these that could go on the table together if I had a lot of people plus, they were inexpensive enough that if my children break them (Yes, already planning for the clumsiness of children), I am not upset.

They came yesterday and I like them as much in person as I do in the photo!

Sunday

Look at these cute bags that were in the Joann's ad this weekend. I have been using fabric bags for a few years for my groceries. They are canvas bags that have been collected over the years. However, after the move, it appears I only have about 6-7 left. Don't know where the rest of them went but, hey, I am sure there is fabric in my stash to make a few of these.
I also bought a vacuum to do my stairs. I have an upright but I don't think it works all that well on the stairs and it is bulky. I got this on Friday and I can tell you after using it, the stairs look so much better. Hmmm...doesn't that hand held size look like something a 9 yo could do?? New chore in her future.
I have started these fingerless gloves TWICE! They are Lucky 8 from Mag Knits. The pattern is not bad but since I am knitting them in the round instead of flat (as the pattern is written), I keep forgetting the "knit" row in between increases, etc. Let's hope the 3rd time is the charm since they are for my Mom for her birthday.
I have to thank Kate for the Harmony needles since this pattern calls for a size that is not normally sold in the US.

Another update...

I finished a second pair of the baby booties. The ones on the right are left over Lorna's Laces. They are smaller since the yarn is smaller and contains elastic.

I got a surprise right before Valentine's Day with this nice gift. I am pen pal's with a lady in Alaska that I have never actually met in person. We met through an online cooking group I participate in online.
She is in her late 70's with failing eye sight which makes her gift even more special. She made me a cross stitched bookmark with the nicest note:

You are one of life's special blessings. As you use this bookmark I made, I hope you will be reminded of the mark you make on the lives of many. Happy Valentine's Day.

So sweet and so special. Thanks Lynn!

SHE'S BACK

The kids and I spent a good amount of time looking for Leah yesterday and we also posted signs around the neighborhood and on the doors of our neighbors within a few blocks of the house.

I got a call or two telling me that they had seen her so that was promising that she had not come to any harm.

This morning, I went out to get the paper and called for her but nothing.

Then, as I was standing in the kitchen putting the coffee on, I hear meowing from outside.

Lo and behold, she was standing on the doorstep looking none the worse for the wear. She has however, had a lot of water and food since coming back. Oh, and she spent a lot of time sitting very near me for the first hour.

Thanks for the kind emails about Leah!

Have you seen me???

It appears Leah was able to outsmart us and get out of the front door when it was ajar last night.

I didn't realize she was gone (she has free reign of the house and often is stuck in hidey holes around the house) until 4:30 am this morning when I did not recall her jumping on the bed and pouncing my feet in the night.

I went out looking for her this morning and we are going to hang signs in our neighborhood and some of the ones close to us this morning and then ask around to our neighbors.

Let's hope someone took her in last night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH

Hannah's birthday is on Valentine's Day so, there is no way to avoid the day...

Early morning present opening....she got to open a few.
Birthday cake with Grandpa & Grandma.
Showing off her new Skip It out front.
Opening a new, much bigger, mp3 player that is PINK.
After dinner with the Tiki.
Happy 9th Birthday Hannah! There is a sleep over planned for tonight.

There is Knitting....

I have big things on the needles but saw something I could finish in a evening or two on Amanda's blog. Magic Slippers using your left over sock yarn.

I finished this one last night watching 1/2 of Four Weddings and a Funeral on BBC America.
Here is the second one before I ripped it back to match the stripes. The yarn is Lion Brand Magic Stripes.
The second one should be finished later this evening. Kate, did you notice the Harmony dpn's??? Do the slippers count as socks??? ;)

A Great Saturday

A friend & I decided to take a tour of the Taliesin West . I have wanted to visit since I moved to Arizona...ok, so it only took 13 years.

Here are just some photos from the tour.

Red front door and a reflecting pool.

Me and the other side of the house.
Frank Lloyd Wright really tried some amazing things here at his winter home. Ideas that were innovative and still useful today.
Gardens.
We then tried a new restaurant that serves California fresh cuisine called the Greene House. I had a nice grilled grouper over a bed of greens (arugula & spinach) with asparagus and for dessert a chocolate souffle with caramel sauce and whipped cream! Yum. I would definitely go back.

Friday Sky

The days are finally getting longer so...this is the sunrise I saw yesterday on my way to work.
Yes, crappy photo but you get the idea! Soon I will be able to watch the sun rise as I am getting ready in the morning.

Super Bowl Weekend

VERY exciting....

Ok, Heather came over yesterday to get a crash course in using her new to her serger. Hmm...looks suspiciously similar to mine. ;)

We were going to use this fabric but it was in a remnant box from Kate and the pieces weren't quite wide enough so,
We used this fabric I had in my stash.
to make this bag. As you can see, I got industrious today and did some piecing to make the two remnant pieces work for the 3 pocket bag from the book Kelli is using for this years sew along. As you can see, I went out on a limb and didn't follow the crowd. I like it!
There were also two birthday parties this weekend and a Super Bowl Party this afternoon.

Thank you KATE!!!

Many moons ago, I spent a year in Lillestrom/Skjetten, Norway as an Exchange Student with the Rotary Youth Exchange. So, much like Miss Kelli has an affinity for Africa, I have a love of all things Norwegian.

Anyway, I was a member of Random Acts of Kindness and linked to gal in Germany. Well, in the course of comments, Kate from Norway found me. We have swapped patterns, I have sent Kool Aid for dyeing and Kate has sent me yarn from Norway.

Anyway, she wanted the Knitpicks Harmony needles and asked if she could send them to me and if I would mail them to her to which I replied, OF COURSE.

Well, they arrived today. Kate ordered an extra set for me.

I am speechless...for those of you that know me, this is an amazing and abnormal thing!!
Thank you!!! I will put them in the mail tomorrow or Saturday.

Another Day, Another Step

OK, OK, the light in my bedroom at 8:30 at night is not great. However, I wanted to show off my new night stands and bed spread. There are shams and pillow cases but, they are in the dryer.

Apparently, Cost Plus is my new best friend for furniture.
Two night stands put together. I needed something to do during the State of the Union.

The instructions were bad (ironic since the pieces were made in Malaysia). and I had a few extra itty bitty dowels on the first round but none on the second one. I figured it was worse to make the holes loose but hey, who knows??

Now, all I need is a dresser, armoire and curtains. I am really liking my bedroom. More relaxing, less early refugee. ;)

Atonement

I went with a friend of mine to Atonement yesterday morning. It was a good film and the scenery was amazing.
However, it could have been 30 minutes shorter. There was a whole section in the middle that sort of plodded along. Good movie.

More Crafting....

I had one of those days......winkies at their Dad's house and time to myself. Another trip to Home Depot for more stuff! Gosh, I gotta buy stock there too!

I have been dancing around my ipod listening to Love Song by Sara Bareilles. It is just a fun song...

I felt like I should be in one of the movies that has this montage of images fast forwarding along from a bad place (my divorce) in life to a really good one! I am in a great place in life now...and it feels good after a long dark period.

BABIES: I had to get a move on with gifts.

I made 12 flannel bibs with velcro in the near future.

Flannel blankets from large to small for car seats.
In a variety of fabrics. Have I mentioned I LOVE the rolled hem attachment on my serger??? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

Painting & Knitting

You can kind of see my living room on Saturday morning at o' dark thirty hence the crappy light.

I got this wild hair that I needed to paint an accent wall some version of red. Apparently, to do so, you need to prime with this gray primer. AFTER I had painted with that....a friend of mine told me the next time I paint red, have them tint the primer the same color as the paint. One less step.
Primed by which time Simon was up.
Starting the first coat of red with help. That is about all the help I allowed them to give me because that is a whole lotta red!
The finished wall, room rearranged and I REALLY like it. I do have quite a few touch ups around the edges even though I taped off. I might have been a bit heavy with the edging so I did not get a nice cut. Oh well, I will let the paint dry and do my clean up next weekend.
I also have some friends having baby boys in the next few months so, I knit some itty bitty hats. I am definitely not drinking that water!! ;)

Two Books....

I have been seeing a counselor to help me but to also help me help my children through our divorce. It is not easy for anyone and I want to try and do the best I can for Hannah and Simon.

While seeing the counselor, she recommended a book for my long term reading. No, not planning to get married anytime soon but she said it was good future reading and so it came today from Amazon.

I am 50 pages in......Nothing earth shattering but sometimes we (I) all need reality to be in plain old black & white print. Makes it easier to read and remember. Actually, I already see mistakes I made the last time around that forboded the eventual outcome. Weird, huh??


Second book.....inspired by Kelli's sew along. Hmm...not sure I can do them all but I will be a quiet participant since I now own the book!
Happy Tuesday!

Gratuitous Kitty photo

See...Leah really does use this bed when I am at my desk. If I put it anywhere in my house, she won't use it but does when it is on my desk.

I can also see that you see that the office/spare room is the last one to be unpacked & organized. At the moment, it is the junk room.

Still no knitting photos.

I had a quiet weekend. I watched "I now pronounce you Chuck & Larry".
It did have redeeming qualities. A lot was predictable but certainly mind candy and easy to watch.

I bought some Hocus Pocus roses at the grocery store today.
The thing about them is the striated color and they open to look like stars. Just thought they were pretty.
Miss Suzi sent me a "thank you" gift for participating in her charity donation over the holidays with Puervian Baby Cashmere from Knitpicks and Malabrigo yarn in the color Toureg.
I am sure I will find something fun to do with each of them. Thanks Suzi!!!

Mangos & Frida

Kelli is queen of getting people together and yesterday was no exception. Mexican food at Mangos and notecards at the Mesa Arts Center.

The kids & I got there early and looked at some of the art on the street downtown.

After a great Mexican lunch we headed over to the art center to make Frida Kahlo cards.
The teacher had lots of rubber stamps and different stations set up.
Hannah chose to go with another group that had girls her age. In a twist of fate, she had taken a dance class 4 years ago with them! What a small world.
Simon & I finishing up our embossed cards. They both did a great job and have note cards on which to write their Christmas thank you notes.
We also visited my Dad & Linda to pick up my bike that Dad put back together. Thanks Dad! I took a spin on it this morning and it works great!

We also hit IKEA on the way home and bought lights and a few other sundries. You KNOW you can't go to IKEA without spending some money. ;)