Spring?!?

Who said it was spring in Manitoba? It started to lightly snow about supper time last night. It picked up thru the evening and over night and is still snowing. Lightly at times and then heavier at times! I hope this front goes through the area quickly as I certainly don't want to have to deal with bad roads on our trip! Oh the fun of living in Manitoba!

Over the weekend we were busy. Saturday morning I went and got my hair colored and cut and then off to run some errands. Had a few odds and ends to pick up before I head west, and then we went to the grocery store. Had to make sure the cupboards were stocked for Crystal! Once we got home I did up some cleaning, dusting, straightening, washing the kitchen floor, all those fun things. I told Crystal I would leave the house neat and tidy and expected to return home to it that way!*S* Wonder if that will happen?

Since I last posted I have finished up a few things, a couple of them will be posted in April (don't ya just love secrets*S*) I got my aunts batwing shawl finished as well as a chemo hat for her.


I also finished another bogga bag. I like the last one I made, but it did end up a bit small so I used some pink Lopi I had here and did another one. This one did come out bigger, will have to see if I am happy with it. I think I will look for some wool for felting when in Calgary. Here is the bogga bag, the color didn't show up very well...it is a dusty pinky sort of in real life *S*


I have a pair of socks on my needles. They are a new pattern that I haven't done before and it is the first time in a very long time where I have had to read the pattern to make socks *S* I am liking the way they are turning out. Can you believe the colors in them are white, grey, fushia, green and orange. Sounds horrid doesn' it?

I survived

Wow, I survived two days of no school here. It really made me wonder how on earth I used to do all school age care. Didn't help that Kenzie and Dayne are both sick with colds so were extra clingy and whiny, or that I had John' big sister her all day. Seems in her short time in school she has forgotten all the daycare rules! LOL Oh well, a few more days and I can say goodbye to them and have a nice break!

While they were having naps and quiet time I did finish up my secret projects which makes me feel so good. I have a tiny bit of finishing to do but I should be finished with that this weekend. Now to get some projects ready to work on while I am away, and to get the suitcases out and to start packing. I have a few things out, but nothing is packed.

Blocking!! now when did I start doing that LOL! Seems that I have been doing alot of it lately. Think it really started with those entrelac sweaters! Today I got my aunt's shawl and hat blocked as well as a lacy poncho for myself blocked.

Tonight I cast on a new project and is nice to work on something I want to and not something that I wanted to do, but had to have done on a deadline.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day! I have a hair appointment for a cut and color at 10:00 so that will take up a good hour to hour and a half. Then I have some errands to run, getting a few things for my trip, and have to stop at the grocery store to stock up on things for Crystal. And then somehow in there we have to go and roll out for bowling since we will miss one night.

Tomorrow I will take and post pics of the things I have finished up.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

One year ago today, early in the morning, Gary and Ryan left for B.C. It was a sad morning that is for sure as I watched them drive away. My heart was full of sadness because he was going so very far away, yet it was also full of pride that he had the courage to go so far away. To be able to strike off across the country to a town where he knew no one and start working to further his career. In some ways it feels like only a few weeks ago that he left, in other ways it feels like he has been there forever. He has done well there, has moved up to a manager and it sounds like he has earned the respect of his fellow workers. I know he has had times where he was homesick, and probably question what he had been thinking, but has stuck it out. I know he is proud of what he has done, and is looking forward to his next advancement. He now has, what sounds like, a pretty serious girlfriend in his life and that helps too. It helps to know that on days like his birthday that just passed, that he had someone to celebrate it with. I look back over the years since he was born and I can remember holding this tiny baby and wondering, how on earth I would ever be able to wave goodbye to him as he struck off for Kindergarden, but when the time came it just seemed the thing to do. And then watching this little boy walking down the street on his way to school and wondering and worrying about the day he would be driving. But again when that day arrived we were ready for it. There were night of worrying about him, laying awake listening, and then as I heard the car pull into the driveway I woud offer up a silent prayer for keeping his safe. And then came the day when he announced that if he wanted to further himself in the company he worked for that it would mean moving. I wondered how on earth I would ever survive him moving even a short distance away, and then to find out he was going 2000 miles away. But again, when the time came we were ready for it. I guess being a parent really isn't for the feint of heart!

On the knitting/crocheting front - I did finish my aunts hat and am trying hard to finish up her shawl. It seems that I am doing more ripping out that going forward. I think I am back on track now and once I have this skein finished I think it will be the right size. I am wanting to have it finished so I can send it back with my dad on Tuesday when he is down for his doctor's appointment. I will remember to snap a picture of it before I send it with him.

I still have get together things to get ready, suitcases to get out, clothes to get ready, house to clean before leaving! My Saturday is going to be busy until mid afternoon, but then after that hopefully I can settle in on the couch and work on the rest of my projects and get them pretty much finished up. The countdown is really starting now and I can't wait to see everyone again, to be able to put our feet up, relax and knit and yak...........

Time is ticking down

The time is starting to tick down and I still feel like I have so much to do to get ready before leaving for Calgary. I don't think I have any plans for the weekend except a hair appointment, so hopefully I can get a fair bit done up then. We are in another heavy snowfall warning today, I hope it is getting it all out of it's system before we have to travel.

Saturday we went to Virden to Laura's 12th birthday party. Laura is a special little girl to us and we always enjoy her parties. She is such a little sweetheart with such a big heart. A couple of years ago she decided that she didn't want birthday presents for herself, but instead would rather people either gave her things for the humane society, or a monetary donation to the humane society! Ryan and Crystal gave her a goodie bag of doggie treats and doggie toys, we gave her money for the humane society. I also made her a poncho which she really liked. I forgot to take a pic of it before we gave it to her though. It was pretty much like the ones in my blog only it was red.

Sunday was pretty much a lazy day, doing up things around the house and then settling in to watch the curling on TV. I did talk to Ryan and he was making sure he let me know just how nice the weather was there. He was also telling me about Tammy's son, Rawley. He had spent the night in the hospital. We are really looking forward to the chance to get to meet the two of them this summer when we are out there.

Last night I went to bowling, and I did manage to bowl the 3 games, but my toe sure was sore by the time I was done. My shoe rubs just in the wrong spot and really irritates it. I was worried that it might cause it to swell again, but it didn't thank goodness.

Mame

Last night we went to the production of Mame! my goodness it always amazes me at the talent that comes out of the high schools here. This year was a bit different, because they had a 10 yr old playing the part of young Patrick. He did an amazing job for only being 10. The lead actress, Mame, was an absolutely phenominal singer! The rest of the cast was very good too! Of course there were a couple of openning night mishaps, but nothing major and the cast handled them very well.

As promised here is the picture of my trailing leaves cardi all finished up and ready to be worn.


And here is a picture of the stitch pattern up close. I see the buttons snuck into this picture too*S* I am so glad that I bought the buttons when I bought the kit because I think they do add to the sweater.


Today I worked on a couple of projects to get ready to take to Calgary with me, and tonight sending a bit of time working on a sock that I have cast on. I will work on these on the way to Calgary and finish them up while there.

The Good News & The Bad News

The good news - Yesterday morning I phoned the radio station and was the lucky 3rd caller and won tickets to the high school's production of Mame. Gosh, I never win anything. So tonight we are off to the theater to see Mame. I am sure it will be good, the high school productions usually are.

The bad news - This afternoon I walked into the utility room and there was water on the floor. The hot water heater had gone. Thankfully it had been slowly leaking and the water was running right to the floor drain. Why does this always happen when I have laundry all over the floor. Gary came home and checked it all out, phoned a plumber and he is suppose to be on his way to fix it. Well the plumber has been here and replaced the tank so now just have to wait for it to heat up again.

More good news - I finished my cardi and got the buttons sewn on today. I will get a picture taken of it and post it tomorrow. Now have to figure out what project to start next, no actually I know exactly what project I have to start next! Also want to get started on my aunt's shawl as she comes down to get her shunt in on March 17th and the following week she starts her treatment.

Now off to get supper ready so we can go to Mame*S*

23 years ago today

Gary and I became parents for the first time, our bouncing baby boy came into this world at 710 p.m. It surely doesn't seem that long ago in some ways, but in other ways you think of all the changes that have taken place since that day and it seems even longer. This will be the first birthday that I haven't at least seen him for a little bit of the day.

Last night I did not go to the bowling alley. I tried earlier in the day and I could not comfortably get my bowling shoe on, so didn't see much sense in going. I did work on the left front of my cardi and got it finished up this morning. Now onto the arms and the bands. I just might get this finished before the gtg. I do still have stuff to get ready for the gtg, maybe this weekend I will get to work on them. Also I have to get the batwing shawl and chemo caps done for my aunt, but if I don't get them done before we leave, they will be good travelling projects. Have to go through my sock yarn and pick out a couple of different ones to take to the gtg to work on while there.

Thank goodness

that one doesn't knit with their toes, or I wouldn't be doing a whole lot for the next little while.

Yesterday when I went for my B12 shot I got my doctor to look at my toe and he said that he is pretty sure that it is broken, but there isn't much that can be done other than buddy taping it. I didn't figure that he would be able to do anything for it, that is why I didn't make a trip to him when it happened. He did have my bloodwork results back though. He is surprised that my B12 isn't higher than it is with all the shots I have had but isn't worried about it because it is still in the acceptable levels. My iron and hemoglobbin are in the acceptable levels too so that was good news. He did get me to up my dosage of thyroid meds because those levels were just in the acceptable levels.

On the knitting front, I did finish up the second rectangle of my lacy poncho and now just have to sew it together. Got the back of my cardi done and started on one of the fronts. Have some gtg stuff to get finished up, have to pick what projects I want to work on, anything I will take for show and tell etc etc. The time is closing in and it is getting closer and I am getting more and more excited. Really looking forward to seeing everyone again, and spending time, sitting, relaxing, knitting and visiting!

Knitting time?

Got very little knitting time again today! How will I get my projects finished if I don't get knitting time.*S* Worked a couple of rows on my lacy poncho and that was about it. Tonight should be different because there is a hockey game, so I will have the house all to myself. I really would like to finish the second rectangle of my poncho so I can get it blocked and sewn together.

Dad stopped my yesterday after his doctor's appointment. They seem to be very happy with his progress which is nice to hear. He is starting his 5th round of pills and hopefully after the 6th they will say that is enough. There is a chance that he will have to do two additional rounds of treatment though. I think he really has his mind set on being done after the 6th round because that will hopefully give his hands enough time to feel better by golf season! It always makes me a bit sad as I watch him leave, walking across the deck to his car. Because his feet are sore, he walks like an old man! I really noticed that the last visit before this one. It isn't helping that he has developed a plantars wart on each foot and they can't do anything for them until he is done his treatment. He was telling me that my aunt is just waiting for her phone call to come down and get the shunt put in so she can start her chemo treatments. She will be having IV treatments and will have to come down to Brandon to have them. One of her biggest fears is losing her hair! I feel so bad for her, cos she has been through so much this last while. I surely do hope that this is the end of her bad times, and there is nothing but good times for a nice long while.

Crystal got a lesson on what owning a car is all about. Her's was in the shop and when we picked it up for her last night the bill was $1300. An ouchy for her that is for sure. On one hand she is pretty proud of herself that she does have the money in her account to pay for it, but sure hates having it fly out of her account for a car repair. She went skidooing with friends yesterday. Sounds like she had a good time. She has been telling me about the 'air-time' she got going over bumps and I am telling her...there are some things a mom doesn't want to know. LOL They had an absolutely gorgeous day for it though, so they spent alot of hours on the machines.

Where did February go?

My goodness, here it is the first of March. Wonder where Feburary went sq quickly. Yesterday I didn't really accomplish much on the knitting field. Monday night, of course is bowling night so no knitting there.

I think you would have to say that March came in like a lamb, but I sure hope it doesn't go out like a lion! Have important travelling to be done the end of March! Seems like I have so many projects that I want to finish before then but time is disappearing!