Little Blanket

My concern: How do you show your friend dealing with a life altering illness that you care?

My daughter and I discussed my desire to support Lisa and let her know she is in my prayers. My inclinations lean toward doing something and we came up with the idea of making a blanket of portable size so she could take it along to chemo.

A few years ago, many volunteers offered their talents and time to create a large version - The Hope Blanket. Donations were made the American Cancer Society and the blanket was given away. Luckily, I still had the patterns and enough of the original yarn to make this for Lisa. She actually was a contributor and her square designs are included in her new blanket.

If you have a minute, please stop and say a little prayer for those who are dealing with any type of cancer. Before you say 'Amen', please include a little blessing for Lisa.

Ravelympics 2010

Have you thought about participating in our very own Winter games? Briar Rose Fibers Fans has entered a team in the Ravelympics and we hope you will join us. Just go to the Ravelry thread and leave your name for sign-ups, Poof you are on the team!

Set a challenging goal for yourself to accomplish during the 2010 Winter Olympics between February 12 and February 28th. If you are more of a spectator, please check team progress and root us on.Have you thought about participating in our very own Winter games? Briar Rose Fibers Fans has entered a team in the Ravelympics and we hope you will join us. Just go to the Ravelry thread and leave your name for sign-ups, Poof you are on the team!

Set a challenging goal for yourself to accomplish during the 2010 Winter Olympics between February 12 and February 28th. If you are more of a spectator, please check team progress and root us on.

Little details:
Knit a Briar Rose pattern or with Briar Rose Fibers
Tag your project with 'ravelympics' and 'teambriarrose'
Do not begin before opening ceremonies on February 12th
Cheer on your team member's progress
Reach your goal before the closing ceremony ends February 28th

Chris of Briar Rose Fibers has donated awards to be given after the close of the Winter games.

it takes my breath away!

This is the prettiest thing I've ever made.

Here it is on Ravelry

This is the side seam. I used a herringbone type stitch and left it open and lacy. It matches the upper bodice and sleeves.

Fire and ice

Less than a month ago we decided to move forward and fill the hole in our fireplace with gas logs.

At the time the post was written, we were fairly confident that our abilities would allow us to complete the installation ourselves. The company which ordered the panels was very efficient, but it still took two trips to get all of the boxes (they forgot to give us one of them).

Last Friday was the chosen day to install the replacement panels. I had to figure out how to punch a hole in one for the gas line. No lies, the whole job was not super easy and there might have been a bit of snipping going on as I wrestled with the heavy pieces. In the end, everything was in place and ready for the logs.

After looking through the direction guide, Hubs decided he was not in the business of setting up gas logs. One call to the store and a technician came work and installed them on his time. Friday night we had a nice, comforting fire in the fireplace!

As in most parts of the country, we are getting cold weather. It has gotten below freezing the past few nights and doesn't warm up much during the day. We have left the pool and all features turned on to prevent freezing and a few ice clumps have formed on the waterfall.

The water is 43 degrees. It was 54 degrees the day around New Year's when I accidentally fell into it. We were cleaning the baskets and scooping out leaves from the neighbor's trees when my foot slipped off the edge right there by the spa. FYS was over by the dolphins and must have flown to my side to fish me out. I was stunned by the cold which immediately took my breath away. FYS helped me out and then to the back door where big fluffy towels were already waiting. My legs were bruised from scraping the side on the way in and on the way out. I was like a rag doll as my son's adrenaline had obviously kicked in to save me. Needless to say, it was a day filled with excitement. The bruises have healed and I am much more careful when I work around the pool.

We also found a landscape company who didn't blink twice at the amount of work our yard needed. The owner gave us a very good price to tackle the gargantuan task and the result has made me very happy. Everything looks a little bare right now, but when it warms up and everything begins to blossom, it will be incredible.

How about a little knitting content?

Knitting is finished on the Christening gown and the baby was born last weekend. There is time this week to get it sewn together and to take photos. Some surprise knitting is happening, too and the progress is going very well. It will be a little time before photos can be posted.

mish-mash

Where did the holidays go?



Christmas was very nice for us. It was calm, relaxing, and genuine.



My tall son has a sense of humor! At times, it is difficult for him to be serious at all. He helps decorate the tree and can reach to the top without standing on anything. The result are wacky ornaments and funny gags high enough for the rest of us not to reach. We all thought the fingernail clippers (he did choose the gold ones) and his photo held by the angel were funny and opted to leave them.

Lucy is usually mischievous, but posed perfectly.

The photos of Bugg and Hubs were really good, too.

...and there is a little knitting content.

This little sweater and hat knit up quickly. Finding buttons was not as easy. Bugg and I settled on the butterflies and they turned out so cute that one was added to the hat.

The yarn is Merino Print 5 by Crystal Palace. It is soft and squishy, perfect for a baby.

I used 4.25 balls for the sweater and hat. I am thinking of making a pair of booties or baby mittens with the rest.

See it on Ravelry

All knitting for the Christening gown is complete! It is pinned out for blocking.

Just in time! The mom-to-be is in the hospital now and may have the baby via c-section today.

The gown will receive honors of it's very own post sometime in the near future.

ringing

We don't ring in the New Year with wild abandon. No over indulgence, fancy ball gown, loud music, etc. The primary reason is that drunk drivers scare me. I don't want my family anywhere on the road New Year's Eve. We have a fantastic dinner followed by whatever movies everyone agrees upon, some wine, and no worry about loved ones being hurt on the road.

The prospects of 2010 excite me. Not because I've been waiting to loose weight, eat better, be nicer. Those things don't need a holiday to begin. I think it is because things feel fresh and new for some reason. Living in our new place has made me extremely happy. The climate is enjoyable and I can't imagine moving anywhere else. Part of me is at peace now and I try to embrace it to carry that feeling to other things in my life.

Looking through 2009, I find satisfaction:

• bought our new home
• received many offers on our old home (side note: we have a contract to sell it right now)
• had all 3 kids here at the same time
• my husband did not have to work long hours (as long as the previous job)
• did not worry about job loss
• paid all our bills
• watched our son undertake a new sport (basketball)
• finally began learning tennis
• began/let go of a part time job
• knitted sufficiently
• met tons of wonderful friends
• joined a health club

Life is good.

It is time to open new photo and blog folders for my 2010 projects. Two will be moving with me from the 2009 folder - the Christening gown and the Silk Shrug. I've been knitting like a fiend on the gown because I think the baby is going to come at any time. It will be finished in time. The shrug consists of many more rows of stockinette stitch. I knit on it sporadically.

There are things I would like to accomplish:

• appreciate my husband more
• become better at tennis
• continue classes at the club
• get our yard/foliage under control
• spin (yarn, not wheels)
• stay in touch with friends

The transition from 2009 to 2010 was another passing night into a glorious sunrise morning.

Again, Life is good!