Still Here

Its been a "different" year. Got laid off from my job last December. Was in a funk for a long time. I did get unemployment and my vacation time, but it does affect ones ego to be "let go" even if you did "nothing wrong". I was too used to working for my old boss I guess. No biggie, been busy doing mom things, being a housewife and moving.

We moved a few weeks ago. Still trying to get the house in order and have a ton of boxes in the basement to go thru. Planning a garage sale probably this fall.

The dogs are getting used to having a smaller yard but not being able to run. Need one more side of fence. Hoping to be able to put that up this fall. All it takes is $$$$

Been working on squares for Sara Smiles, yes I'm still plugging along on that too. I will have pictures soon.

Finished in time. Posted late.

This is the blanket I made for my good friends granddaughter. The blanket I made for her (before she was born) was stolen from my friends car. She emailed me and asked if I could make another blanket before her granddaughters upcoming surgery. This is the finished product. Finished and delivered just in time! My friends daughter had originally asked for this design but 4 years ago I had no clue how to make it. Now it's one of my favs. I have another on my needles for another friend who is due in 5-6 weeks with her 3rd boy. She was hoping for a girl this time around so I'm doing what I can to help her realize another boy is a "good" thing :) Being a mom/step mom of 5 boys I know how fun it really can be.

Then my sisters baby. That is another story!

Tornado!!

We had a busy weekend. Saturday night was a wild one. This is why:



These are just north of us. These shots were taken from my backyard. Yes that is DH is the one picture. The sirens went off and lil guy ran for the basement bringing the one dog that would go. DH and I ran outside to see what the fuss was about! This storm produced 4 more tornado touchdowns south of us. One in Magnolia, Streator and Dwight, IL. My inlaws live in Dwight and lil guy's mom also lives in Dwight. Dwight got hit with 2 tornados. Inlaws and lil guys mom are all ok. Amazing because of the 2 tornados one south the other just north of all of them!
It was exciting to see the tornado from our yard then it turned to horror as we heard of the towns and the damage that it caused just a short time later. Our photos were taken at about 8:15pm, the other towns got hit within an hour. We don't think it is from the same supercell that produced the storm we took photos of. Dwight is about 50 miles southeast of us. Lots of supercells were popping up. So far 14 people are missing in Dwight but no accounts of fatalities. Thank god. You can replace things not people. Our prayers are with the affected folks.

Can we come in??

These are my babies. Zoe is the blond and Cubby is the dark one. He is only 4 months old and already is making Zoe (aka Burgers -don't ask) look tiny. She is my petite baby girl and will be 2 years old in August. He is the monster lab puppy who is adorable and dumb as a box of rocks. Oh can't leave the box o rocks around as he will eat them. He eats everything! My DH thought I was crazy to get another dog. He has since figured out two is much easier than one. They are comical when they play and Cubby has learned so much from our sweet baby girl Zoe. She is a great dog and is teaching him to be the same. They make life so much more fun. Tubby Cubby, yes got his name after the Chicago Cubs is there another baseball team?? Don't think so. (he was playing with Cubs ball in the first picture we saw of him) I started with Tubby because he walks like he weighs a ton. Waddles!! He's stitch. Took him forever to get his butt up on the bed and couch. He could touch the back of the couch but just couldn't figure out how to get his backend up on it. Our home is kid and pet friendly. It has to be with 2 dogs and 5 boys nothing is precious anymore. If it is, it's in my china cabinet or my hope chest. Away from ruin hopefully.



Time to go - baseball practice!!

Now that it is February - Already!!

Where did January go?? I remember back when my boys were young January was one of the longest months of the year. It seemed to take forever to get to the spring. Now it will be here before we know it.

I've been busy working on a birthday present for DS#2. He doesn't know I'm making this so and I'm not sure if he actually reads this so I can't mention what it is until I know he has opened said gift. I also am sending along a pair of Boot Socks for Doc. Doc I think felt slighted that he didn't get said socks in the Christmas box and I think is hoping Kyle and or Dan felt there's. Dan also hinted at wanting a scarf. I've been progressing slowly on his scarf. It is a manly reversable cable in a gorgeous green. In between I've been cranking out crochet granny squares. They are easy to whip up while in the car. I dont' have to worry about juggling a pattern. (should've thought of that a long time ago DUH!!)

I need to get cranking on Sara Smiles Project. This is the year she wanted it done! So I have to hurry up get my ducks in a row and do it!

I also have to finish up my February sweater I started last spring. It is the first real sweater I've ever made for myself. Can't wait to finish it.. will probably be too hot to wear it by the time I get it done..lol

Time flies!

OMG hard to believe the last time I posted was AUGUST!! I've been unbelivably busy and having no computer at home didn't help. Thank god for my Blackberry!! I don't know how I lived without that wonderful piece of technology.

My Christmas knitting is done. Photos as soon after Christmas as I can. I've been done. It's a first, I won't be knitting like a crazy women on Christmas eve!! We have most of our shopping done. We just have to get some gift cards, then stand in line to send off all of our boxes. It will be strange. This is the first time neither of my boys will be home on Christmas. I've always had one or the other. I don't have to cook either. Strange. I will make a turkey breast for lildude and my DH on Christmas eve but we are going to the Lodge for Christmas dinner. Lildude got a new outfit for his Christmas concert the other night so he has an outfit to wear. Not sure what DH and I will be wearing. Always a problem for me. I never know what to wear. I need someone to take me shopping and help me pick out clothes! It would help if I liked shopping for clothes but when you are a larger person it sucks. (to put it mildly) ANYway.... guess you know what my New Years resolution is .. same as half of American women, lose weight!!

I hope to enjoy the peace and quiet and have a great holiday knowing my boys are safe and happy. Enjoying the holiday with the people they love. Strange that I'm not upset. I'm happy for them. Something told me last year to enjoy them all being home. Next year they all hope to come home. The every other year thing is fine by me. Lildude is upset that there are very few presents under the tree. That will change over the weekend. I have more for him to wrap :) But our normal amount is greatly diminished by the packages having to be sent. Next year! We are Cubs fans we are well versed in that saying.

I wont be gone so long this time, promise.

A couple of pictures of my new haircut. My hubby took my cutting 5+ inches off my hair better than I thought he would!! Got it done on vacation back in early July. Peer pressure helped and the fact that I couldn't find the blow dryer or my irons when we got to the cabin. We found them when we got home in a bag we never took out of the trunk!! OH well. I like that its short but it's different not being able to just put it up!

These are my just finished socks. First attempt at Magic loop and hand dying a sock blank from Knitpicks. I love how they match and that you don't get second sock syndrome! I know there are a couple of errors, but for a first time with a new method and all I don't think they turned out too bad. They fit and will do the job. I will go for perfection next time around. I will definately do another pair possibly with a more interesting design.

These are my dad's Birthday present...sshhh don't tell him.:) They are boot socks. I made him a pair a couple of years ago and he loved those. They were an acrylic blend and these are real wool. Glad he is retired and does alot around the house now. Mom is allergic to wool so he will have to hand wash his own socks :) These are so easy to knit up. Thinking of making the guys in my family some of these for Christmas, except for DS#1 he is in Houston for one and won't really need warm wool socks and he let me know long ago that socks and underwear are not Christmas presents! Kids!! :)