Anisette Wrap ~ done and ready to block

WOO HOO .. the wrap is cast off and ready to block. I'm really pleased how it turned out (I've hung it in the window for this pic, so you can see the pattern) and the colour is really pretty. I'm kind of hoping that the blocking de-fuzzes it a wee bit so the pattern will show better.

will keep everyone posted after blocking.

I'm in 2 swaps right now .... my World Yarn Swap partner is Roseanne from Australia. we're supposed to send "local" yarn to our partners, with the thought that they probably dont have it easily available to them. I'm pleased with what I've got for Roseanne, although I cheated, and am sending something not from Canada (but my LYS assured me that this yarn is not available in her part of the world). there will be Canadian content, of course, but I couldnt resist this imported yarn. the deadline to send out our swaps is April 1st ... BUT, I've order something on-line and waiting for it to be included in her parcel. I still have today and tomorrow before I'm delinquent, so everything should be ok.

I'm also taking part in a "Sinister Swap" ..... this sounds stranger than it is .... it's for left-handed people. what fun !!! (any excuse for a swap). my partner is Kandace from Montana, and we've seemed to hit it off right from the start. OH MY GOSH .. what is it with knitting people without a blog ... the ironic thing is, Kandace doesnt have a blog, but she sent me the link to her puppy's web page !!! (now MY puppies are jealous ... ok mama, why dont WE have our own web page ??!!). our original agreed upon limit was set low, but after chatting and lurking thru each others on-line lives, we've agreed to up things .... woo hoo, this makes it way more fun. a wonderful excuse to go shopping some more !!! I have some things picked out for her also, but have a special request that I'm going to hunt down for her before I package everything up to send out. we have until April 11 to mail out our parcels, so I still have lots of time to keep looking for treats :)

Happy B-Day to my baby, Easter ... and some knitting stuff too

no no no ... not the ginger one ..... the one covered in black fur. LOL, ok, for the people that know me, that wont really narrow things down, will it??!!

Our Hasia turns the big "4" today. it's hard to believe that we brought our first Dogguide foster puppy home a little less that 4 years ago. she was only 7 weeks old, and SO CUTE and so little !!! none of us realized how much this new bit of volunteering would change our lives forever. it's been an emotional experience, with us learning along with Hasia, all about puppies and what being a Dogguide was all about. I've fostered 4 puppies in total, and DD has fostered 2 more of her own, and on top of that I have 10 grand-puppies to brag about. at times, our house is absolute bedlamn at times ... but I wouldnt trade one day of it for anything .... the unconditional love they give more than makes up for the odd bit of frustration they cause or the urge to kill once in a while *LOL*.

DD and I went on our semi-annual pilgrimage to Winona to get our hair cut yesterday. DD, of course, also included a colourful dye job to the event. we're both getting shorter with each visit !! it's always great to see Carrie, and catch up ... plus I'm always able to get some knitting done while DD is in the chair. last night, I finished the final centre pattern repeat to the Annissette Wrap, and began the outside pattern. I seemed to be going thru more wool than called for, and wasn't able to knit the suggested 18 repeats of the centre pattern, but prior to the last one I completed, I felt the wrap was long enough, so adding the last repeat and then the ending pattern should be fine .... I'm hoping to get it cast-off and blocked this weekend (with the assistance of DD).

this past weekend was Easter. DD came home on Monday morning with the most beautiful bouquet of lilies. OH MY GOSH .... I cant believe how good the house smells !! as you can see, as nice as they were when I opened them, they have opened up like we couldnt believe !! have I mentioned what a thoughtful DD I have !!

We heading out to Ancaster for a quick "Easter Hello" to MIL. Hasia and Betty, both thrilled to get out visitting. (Emmett stayed home, as he had a busy weekend away with DD at her dad's ... besides, 3 large dogs is just much) MIL doesnt see the puppies as much any more so everyone enjoyed the short visit. then it was over to Hamilton for a visit and Easter dinner with my parents. as usual, the mutts got spoiled, and were fed WAY too many treats (my opinion, not theirs).

for those that have been following my knitting machine drama .... it's far from over. I was beyond the point of frustration, when it was suggested that I get my knitting machine tuned-up. a brilliant suggestion, it was in desparate need. so off I trucked, knitting machine & related bits, to Hamilton to meet Pat from Cardiknits. she's a wonderful woman, and I knew right away I was in good hands. my knitting machine looks like new, and it apparently works beautifully (I have a sample Pat knitted as proof) .... although you cant tell by the cursing that came out of my basement over the weekend. OMG .... why in heaven's name would ANYONE want to do this to themselves when you can produce beautiful results using knitting needles ??!! I'm almost at the point where I want to give up!!! I have followed the instruction book TO THE LETTER .... and still crap !!!! needless to say, I'm NOT a happy camper !! ok, I'm giving it one more shot before the entire contraption becomes the new base for my compost pile. Pat will give lessons, so I'm going to phone her and see if I can get one booked. there is a wonderful workshop in April, that's been recommended, but there's no point in me seeing what everyone else can do if I cant even cast on with the bloody thing !!

ok ... I'm going to end on a good note ... final B-Day wish to Hasia, and all her brothers & sisters out there. we've seen sister Hazel who also went into the Breeding program (and is now also retired), brother Havoc was adopted by a very nice family and came for a visit last summer. sister Hillie (Hilton) graduated SSD and is partnered with Pam. I'd love to hear from any of the other "H" puppies, but no matter where they are, and what they are doing I know that parents Daisy & Pyke are very proud of their puppies and also wish them a Happy 4th Birthday !!!

Thoughtful daughter, surprise from a new friend, CWS week-6

are these not the most beautiful roses you've ever seen ??!!! I was not feeling well on Sunday, spent a good part of it sleeping and/or in bed. to make the day worse, good friends who had moved out of town were in for the weekend, and supposed to come for a visit ..... but about an hour after they were supposed to arrive, they phoned to say that they couldn't make it. my feelings were torn, hurt that they coudn't make the time to visit us for a bit, but kind of releaved because I didnt feel well. DD took it very hard. she had gotten her knitting out for the first time in ages, and after the phone call, gatherered it all up and thru it on her desk. we had all been friends since the girls were in Kindergarden, and it really hurt DD that they couldnt find even an hour for us. we ended up going out to rent a couple of movies to cheer us up, while in the grocery store, DD said she wanted to go look at something while I was checking out. as I'm loading the cart after paying, she arrives with a bouquet of the most beautiful roses. I have been blessed with a wonderful daughter !!!


Tuesday, and just in the nic of time I finished week-6 of the Civil War Shawl. I fell behind was I was concentrating most of my time getting the socks for my cousin finished. thanks to the fingers of DD and her friend, I tried to take a picture .... but it's getting too big for the circular needle to get a decent picture that shows off how the pattern is evolving. you'll have to trust me, it's just beautiful !! so, I'm all ready to start week-7 with Wendi tonight !



THANK YOU CHARLIE !!!! I have a new lovely friend from the UK. she posted in Ravelry looking for some Canadian hand-dyed wool. I was able to find some for her from my LYS and contacted her. she asked for one colour in particular, but said she's love a second skein. so I found the one she was looking for, and send her another one I found as a surpirse. Charlie paid me for the one skein, but we agreed to to swap pressies for the 2nd skein. on Tuesday, I received a package from her ..... OH MY GOSH, it's absolutely lovely !!! YarnAddict Yarns presents Merino Lace. the colour is called "fantastique" and is just beautiful, and the wool so soft. I've spend a good part of my spair time going thru patterns to find just the right thing to make. I'll keep everyone posted on what I find.

Busy day, and a lot accomplished

Cari ~ thanks for your advice. I dropped my knitting machine off to Pat @ Cardinits in Hamilton.

Jen, dinna fash yersel ... I'll be flying on that thing in no time !!!







Spent the afternoon with Wendi, knitting and painting. now painting is not my idea of fun, but we laughed a lot and the job went quickly (there are permanent "remidners" of both of us on the wall). we arrived back at her home to find an awesome dinner being made for us all by her DH ... over all an enjoyable way to spend the day.







got home and DD turned on the Court Jester, while I worked on the socks for my cousin. DD went off to bed after the movie, but I stayed up and eventually finished the socks. the pictures dont do them justice, but I'm really pleased with them !! I think I'll re-make them, using the suggested yarn weight & needles.

Unfortunately, I was sick on Sunday, and spent most of my time sleeping .... so my cousin still doesnt have her socks. I'm aiming for a Wednesday visit, after work.