Before anything else...

...I want to say a great big "Thank You!!" to From Here to Quilternity!

I was one of the "random" winners during this spring's Blogger's Quilt Festival and this is what I found waiting for me when I got home from our vacation...

Now, on to a quick check in on some of my other projects.

I feel like I have accomplished quite a bit considering we came back from vacation Sunday night and I spent all of Tuesday and Wednesday in bed with a killer migraine!  Darren said he had no idea he married a barometer...Yesterday was a quiet day of recovery until more storms moved in and I was knocked off my feet again.  Today is better and I'm able to step back and look at some of what I managed to accomplish in my drug induced stupor.

SO...

I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for her "On the Needles" weekly check in.  I have 2 projects "on my needles".  

The first is my sock!  I have cast on again!  And I must say that it is getting easier and easier to cast on and knit those first few rows.

The second project is a basket weave dishcloth that I have been dragging around for quite some time.  I would really like to see this one done by next week!  And it just might happen since I have an all day soccer tourney to sit through tomorrow.

And here are the goodies that I found at Knitting Addiction the day before we left the Outer Banks.  I can't wait to get back there!  I loved my blue scarf so much, that I went back and bought every other colorway that she had!  And some more sock yarn!  One of these days...

I'm also going to tell you that I haven't done any spinning this week (I'm going to try and motivate myself by including that in my On the Needle updates), but I did manage to get the other 2 fleeces in buckets to help soak out some of the dirt.

I'm also slowly very slowly making progress on my Barrister's Blocks.  I won't say how far behind I am, mainly because I don't have a clue...But, I will catch up!

Now, we are off to a kick off soccer picnic!

Home Again!

First, I will let you know that I am anxious to get some more photos up of the goodies that I found at Knitting Addiction.

I have another sock cuff started...hopefully I can make it to the heel flap this time *sigh*

We arrived home late last night...took the smart aleck phone's navigator directions a ended up on one of the best roads for getting car sick!  We had to make several frequent stops just to keep everyone happy.  

I took lots of pictures on the way home and hopefully got a couple of good shots.  We shall see.

Anyway, just wanted to check in since I will be busy over the next couple of days getting things unpacked, washed up and dealing with the general re-organization of the house.  I also just found out that a dear friend is having some major back problems and I will be helping to watch children and cook while some other moms help her with cleaning at her house.  

Several of the teen age boys are very concerned for her husband...who is an amazing dad...and hasn't complained at all about being the Mom (cooking, cleaning, watching 2 little girls, laundry, etc.) this past week...and are anxious to volunteer for evening babysitting duty so that "Dad" has some time to relax!  

Now, how many teen boys do you know that would do that?!

So, my dear friends, I'm not sure when I will be back, but I hope it will be very soon!

Knitting Addiction...again!

Headed back to that wonderful shop!

Darren has offered to take me back this morning and then out to lunch!

He is such a sweetie...volunteering to go back...even after the shop owner told him to "Suck it up, Buttercup!  You're a fireman...you can do it!"

Of course, this was after he complained that there weren't any hunting  or fishing magazines to look at!

Hopefully he will behave better today, but if he is willing to buy me more yarn, I think Jeanne & I both will be happy to put up with him...for a while!

I'll post pics of all my goodies when we get back!

Promise!

On the Needles & Knitting Addiction

On the way back from the aquarium, we stopped at a couple of Thrift Shops.  They were a little too expensive for me...

Then, we stopped at Knitting Addiction...Oh, my goodness!  

They have some great yarns!

Darren & Thing 1 were touching EVERYTHING!

I was just trying not to drool on anything.

I have been wanting to learn how to knit socks and the owner, Jeanne Shrader has written some really great patterns.

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times...she has started "On the Needles" to help motivate herself and others to take time to knit.

 

Jeanne talked me into starting with a newborn sock since we both felt that I could have the cuff knitted up and get back to the shop for her to help me turn the heel before we leave on Sunday.

I haven't done much knitting on DPNs and I've ripped out the stitches at least 3 times since 5pm last night.

This mornings "do over"...in K2, P2 ribbing.

...an hour later...

Here is what I am working with...

 The yarn is a sock yarn that I purchased on clearance at AC Moore.  I figured it would be a good "practice" yarn and I wouldn't be wasting too much money on my first attempts at knitting socks.

So, I better get busy.  Darren has offered to take me out to lunch (since I missed the seafood buffet on Wednesday) and back to Knitting Addiction this afternoon!

Stop over at Judy's and see what the other knitters are working on!

The Aquarium

Today is another "No Swimming" day at the beach.

We have been told that when the red flag is flying some of the police officers will cite you for just putting your toes in the surf.  So, we have kept the kids off the beach.

Yesterday we went to the Roanoke Island Aquarium.  And took some pretty interesting pictures.

Before we even got there...

All my munchkins!

Thing 1 & Thing 2 looking for shark's teeth

A turtle quilt the aquarium is raffling off!

Cool image taken by Thing  1

Would love to hear what you would do with the kids on a 

NO BEACH 

day!  I don't know what we are going to do with them now...

It's a Little Bit Windy!

The surf is up...

The red flag is flying...

The wind has blown over all of the chairs on our deck...

But, I did finish my first Starbella ruffled scarf!

I told you it was windy!!

We are thinking a trip to the aquarium is in order today.  Everyone went out for the seafood buffet last night and the outdoor drama of The Lost Colony*...except for me and Thing 2.  He was running a fever and we didn't think it would be a good idea to keep him out 'til midnight.  
He is feeling better today, so we are trying to find some fun, relaxing things to do.

*The Lost Colony outdoor drama isn't loading on my computer right now, I will try and add the link a little later today.  Sorry.

I've been told that there is a "general store" in Manteo that sells fabric...and there is a yarn store in the local shop information, so I might have some goodies to show you later!

Wish me luck!  

Just Beachy!

I absolutely LOVE being at the beach!

Darren is a Mountain Man, but he seems to enjoy just how happy I can be when he gets me to the ocean.

Yesterday, the life guard said we were getting a storm...I also happen to love storms...but it never really showed up.

Here are a few more pictures of us enjoying the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Standing...yes, I said standing...in a hole.

Flying kites

My Water Babies

Even the big kids like playing in the sand.

My boys in the hot tub.

Oh, and I finished a scarf!  I'll take pictures later today...

We've been here less than 24 hours...

And I'm online looking for a Sprint store.

We had the 4 youngest kids out on the beach by 9am.  Last night my nephew learned to ride the body board out in the waves.  

He really is a quick learner...but at 5 years old, he has a little difficulty steering the thing.

I was talking to his mom...

 looked up...

 And, saw him coming straight for me on a "perfect" wave.

  

He looked like he would miss me if I could just raise up my leg and let him go under...

...you know where this is going...

So, I lifted up my leg...

 he bumped his head on my calf...

 And flipped me onto my back!

Not a problem! 

The water wasn't very cold, but I still had my cell phone in my pocket!  

Now, THAT's a problem!

I have to say that the upside...I am trying hard not to be such a pessimist...is that NO ONE got a picture or video!

Did you REALLY think I would let you see that?!

Not a Chance!

But, here are a couple of pictures that I will share:

Thing 2 was first out of bed...at 5:30am!  He was very impressed with the sunrise...I, on the other hand, am glad that I got to see the first one since I may not make it to any more of them!

Thing 2 is going to be one of my guest "blog-tographers" this week.  He loves taking pictures!

This is just one of the buckets of crabs that the kids caught last night!  

We've had a couple of pinched fingers...and toes!  

There are lots of little crabs in the surf.

I'm not in any big hurry to get back home, but I sure do wish we had been able to fit in the sewing machine and a couple of projects!  I will just have to settle for the little bit of knitting that I brought with me.

Happy Day!

Sorry!

I know I said that I would introduce you to my spinning wheel today, but we ended up back at the hospital with my lovely daughter who has been battling pneumonia for more than 2 weeks.  Today she coughed and thought she might have cracked a rib.  She did not...thank goodness!  I will soon fill you in on the details of my lovely wheel!

Spinning my Wheel

Yes.  That's "wheel"...Not "wheels".

Although, I kinda feel like I'm doing that too.

In my earlier post I told you that I had visited Sheeps & Peeps Farm and that got me all excited about the wool fleeces that I have laying out on the front porch.  I had half of one fleece somewhat clean and had picked some of the wool for carding.

Well, when I sat down to spin last night...Yeah.  I thought I could just dive right in and be spinning like I was last year when I was doing a little every day...I realized that there is "use it or lose it" clause in the spinning rules.  

So, last night I decided to use some of my scrap cotton yarn to re-introduce myself to collecting yarn on the bobbin.  Once I got started, it started coming back to me...I was beginning to get the rhythm of spinning.  Then Thing 2 came in to talk.  And he wanted to try.

Until he was able to do it all by himself.

Then, Big Brother came in and he wanted to give 'er a spin.  He stayed for quite a while.  Funny how the boys are enjoying this more than the girls ever did.

Eventually I had a chance to play and I started spinning some of the wool that I have been trying to get cleaned before we leave for vacation.  Oh, how I wish I could take my wheel with me!

 Thing 2 liked the carding process...he is a great photographer too!

And this is what I ended up with after about 20 minutes.  It's slow going again, but I'm really happy with it.

Here is the bit that has been washed, picked and is waiting to be carded & spun.

Tomorrow I will introduce you to my spinning wheel.  She really is quite beautiful!

I Love Monsters!

Especially Quilt Monsters in my Closet!

During Madame Samm's last blog hop, I won a beautiful mini from Christine!  She let me pick my favorite...and you can visit her to see what I had to choose from!

Yesterday it arrived in the mail and she added a wonderful charm pack that I just adore!  
It's Hunky Dory by Chez Moi.  
I've already started the hunt to find more fabric...I have lots of ideas for a little quilt "just for me"! 

She also sent a card...with flip flops!  She knows I'm all ready to head to the beach!

Thank you so much, Christine!

I love everything!  

(It was just what I needed to put a smile on my face!)

Open House

Earlier this year, as I was beginning to find my way around blogland, I came across a blog that had Sheeps and Peeps listed as one of the blogs that they followed.  

I immediately noticed that they were in West Virginia so, I went to check out the blog.

They quickly became one of my favorites!

Lots of beautiful pictures of their farm & animals.

Well, yesterday they had an open house and I got to meet the shepherdesses.  They are lovely ladies and I had a wonderful time visiting with them "in person".

My daughters and I had a wonderful adventurous trip to the farm.  We got lost (not really, but we didn't know that at the time); back-tracked to Cool Springs (more photos later on that adventure); stopped off at one of the civil war trails in historic Rowlesburg...

...and took the back way up to the farm.  We turned onto a gravel road and while the view was amazing, the road was not!

 We finally arrived and parked our car, and this was the view that greeted us.

 There are some wonderful pictures on the Sheeps and Peeps blog, but we went ahead and took a few of our own.  My youngest daughter now wants sheep!  She absolutely loved the black ones...but then, that suits her.

There was a selection of yummy yarns for sale.

 I always enjoy watching other spinners spin...and this lovely lady was no exception.  

The wool she was spinning was a natural fleece that was producing a lovely thread with browns, greys and even a bit of yellow.  

Very interesting...I just wish I could see how it looks once it is plied.  

I'm sure it will be absolutely gorgeous.

There were jars of locks in a Cosmos solar dye.  They do a variety of natural dyes...Looks like fun!

The girls and I had a wonderful visit; we sat and listened to the Celtic musicians, Meredith got a pony ride but I missed getting a picture of that. 

I brought home a bag of Raspberry spinning batts... 

 ...and a small bag of colored locks that I can't wait to play with!

 I also got a few tips on how to clean the fleeces that were given to me by another farming friend.

 I might even get around to cleaning these before we leave for the beach!

Well, I am off to our last soccer game for the Spring Recreational season.  I will have a  week off before the optional High School practices start up and then the month of July before we start all over again in August.  Perhaps I will be better organized for the fall season...
...One can only hope!