Oh I've been a bad blogger...well, maybe not so bad as busy! This week has brought my Mom and Grandma into the state from Nebraska. They have driven up this way to see us a couple of times and that was so much fun!
I've also been knitting...I know, it's a shocker ;) I cast on for S's Wonderful Wallaby using Peace Fleece. I love it! I ordered all but one skein in a coop, and so I've been using this one skein. I got word today that the rest is in and I can't wait to get it!!!! Then I can make his and start on Miss A's.
I have also finished and lanolized A's longies. She wore them, looked adorable, I changed her diaper and her diaper was completely pink. The yarn is bleeding. I didn't think much of it...I don't really care what color her diapers are. But, then it bled onto one of my shirts...I was not thrilled. So, after knit night last night, I came home with the suggestion to soak them in HOT vinegar water and let the water cool, then rinse them. I did it. I then lanolized them again...they are still bleeding. Oh, and I over lanolized the longies so they are really sticky now. I am currently washing them, hoping to get some of the lanolin out. Any suggestions on the bleeding?? Valerie?? Marly?? Tina?? Tola?? Anyone??

Today I bought some yarn. This is a very exciting thing, because I really do not have any extra money right now. But, I sold some stash on Ebay and Ravelry, so I could buy some yarn to make myself the Clapotis. I have really been wanting to make this for a long time. I want something nice that I can wear when J and I go out for our Anniversary dinner on October 19. It will be 6 years and I want something nice.

Well, a couple weeks ago Val and I were in Salt Lake for the Great Basin Fiber Arts Festival. It was SO much fun!!! I didn't buy a thing. Val bought lots. She's in Kansas right now (I am SO jealous!) but I am sure she will tell you all about what she bought when she gets back. We are bad bloggers because we both forgot our cameras! Anyway, when we were there, Val so kindly bought me some yarn. She bought this gorgeous Shepherd's Shades from Brown Sheep Wool. They were having a great sale in their booth, everything was $3.00!!! So, she bought me 4 skeins. I thought it would be enough for the Clapotis, but it wasn't. So...today I bought some Majestic Fibers from Yarn Today. Originally I was going to get this beautiful pink color, but instead I opted for a fantastic chestnut brown. I am going to do a border of turquoise and the rest chestnut. Here are pictures of my most recent yarn gettings :)


This yarn and the one to follow are much darker and richer in person. I can't wait until it is done so you all can see how absolutely delicious it is!


The kind and generous Val also bought me some sock yarn! SQUEE!


This is Brown Sheep Wool's Wildfoote in the Mums colorway. I love it!

And....I won something this week!! I never win anything, so I was really excited! Nicole at Throws Like a Girl had a contest for her 100th post, and I won! So, she sent me 2 skeins of Knit Picks Dancing sock yarn, it is beautiful!!! And, she sent me a sweet card and one sock. In her card she told me that this is the first sock she ever made and it was so big and misshapen that she didn't like it. She is sending it to me so that I can either frog it and get the yarn, or throw it away. Well, I am not doing either! My foot is just big and misshapen enough that it fits great! Also, I don't know if you all remember the tragedy of my sock, but I have one hand knit sock that doesn't have a mate (it hurts). Now, I have 2 hand knit socks that I can wear together. I don't mind that they don't match, they compliment eachother nicely. So, Nicole, know that your sock is being loved and THANK YOU!!!!


It's going to be a cold weekend here, so I foresee lots of knitting happening! Have a fantastic weekend wherever you are!

Knitting and Apples and Wool, OH MY! That is what I've been up to, lots of knitting, even a finished object! WAHOO!

First up, the Sweet Baby Cap to be gifted to my new niece!


I have yet to attach the side cords, but I think it is so freaking cute!!! I blocked it on a balloon that I blew up to 15 inches. I couldn't not put a face on it, so there you have it! What? You want more pictures? Well, ok!
And, I just found out this weekend that I will be getting a new niece in February!! Yipee!! More baby knitting!

On Friday night, we had a family night and went to a local apple orchard. It was so much fun! The kids really enjoyed picking apples and we had a great time as a family. We picked 2 1/2 bushels of Jonathan's, Honey Crisp, and Cortland apples. One and a half bushels are for us and the other bushel is for my friend, Heidi. Today we are going to make applesauce, dried apples...and well, anything else that comes to mind! Last week peaches, this week apples...what is on the docket for next week? Hmm...we want to do tomatoes too! :D
The owners of the Orchard have a dog, Sprote. He was a lot of fun for the kids and just followed us around. They also have 2 boys, so when we were done, S and A had fun playing with the boys and their toys!
They also had a beautiful Aspen grove that we walked through to get to the Honey Crisp field. It was just so lovely. This is one thing that J and I want someday.

And wool...well that will have to wait for another day. I started this post at 8 am, and it is now 6 pm...so, I'll give you all the details of my wooly weekend soon! :)

Here is a little knitting I've been doing lately...

First, is this Sweet Baby Cap. I am really close to finishing it. It may even happen tonight! :D


Next up are some longies for my darling daughter. I've tried several times to do longies, but always get messed up at the legs. Not this time though, I refuse! I'm using some Peace Fleece (don't know the colorway, it was a gift from my sil) for the waistband and cuffs, and Malabrigo Noviembre for the main part of the pants. I love this yarn!!!


And finally....I was traded some yarn today for garden veggies from Shoeless Val! This is some beautiful organic cotton...time for me to make a Presto Chango for my wee one! By the way, that pattern was designed by Val! I feel so special :)


I am also getting enough Peace Fleece to do a Wonderful Wallaby for both the kids. S's will be done in Shaba Green (his choice!) and A's will be done with Blueberry Borscht.

Today I got some great mail too!!! I entered into the Fall Favorites Swap and got my package today!!!
I got a pillow (hand made!), tea towel, fall scented candles, Halloween cookie cutters and sprinkles, fall tattoos (S loves those!!), popcorn balls and a cute poem and ghost to do the Phantom with my neighborhood. For those of us not from Utah (I've never seen this done outside of this state), the phantom is something where you give your neighbors treats in October, they have to put the ghost up in their windows and give treats to someone else. The hope is that everyone in the neighborhood gets a yummy treat. It's pretty fun to do! We may have to use the cookie cutters to do our phantoming ;)

And...what I've been up to this weekend...

Yep, peaches. My friend Heidi and I bought 4 bushels of peaches (that's a lot of peaches!). On Saturday and Monday we bottled 43 quarts of peaches, and got 5 quart size freezer bags full too! That's a lot of peaches!!! I really want to eat them, but I have to wait until I can't get fresh peaches anymore. Next up...Apples!


Are you ready Heidi?? I am! (by the way, for those who don't know what I look like, that is not me...I only wish I were as cute as Heidi!)

Wow, today is September 11. I can't believe it's been 6 years already. I am sure that you all remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news. For me, I was at work. I went in early that morning, I had to interpret a parent-teacher conference. I was headed to the interpreter's office after the meeting when a student stopped me and told me that an airplane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings. I couldn't believe it. The rest of that day is imprinted on my mind so deeply. Hearing more and more, yet trying to keep it quiet so as not to scare the elementary students. That night, I couldn't tear myself away from the TV. Jeremy and I were to be married in one month and I just cried for all of these young brides and mothers who were now without their husbands. I cried for all the children who lost their parents and all the parents who lost their children. I just cried. Today, I remember those who died. I honor those whose lives were lost and forever changed by this day. Today, I remember all of those whose Angel Day is today.

S started school this week. He LOVES it! It is really a great group of kids and ladies. The boys all seem to get along great, and best of all, HE LOVES IT!!! Here are the two pictures he let me take of him on his first day...he's so cute!

Hello!!! What a fantastic weekend :) I love Labor Day weekend, not only does my dearest husband get to stay home and play with us, but I love that it signifies that fall is almost here! We had a good weekend, very nice and...well, I wouldn't call it relaxing :)

On Friday night we procured a new (to us) standing freezer. I feel like a real grown up now, we have a freezer in the garage. I am really excited about this. What this means for us is that I do not have to go to the grocery store several times a month to get meat. Our small freezer in the house just doesn't hold much, so we never had more than 2 weeks worth of food in the house. On Saturday, we went grocery shopping, and I mean shopping! We made a menu for a month and we now have everything we need (minus a few fresh items) to make all the meals for a month! I am thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today we talked about going on a picnic. But, Jeremy was up at 5:30 (yes, on his day off) to start smoking some butts. Pork butts that is. He got 3 pork butts and smoked them all day today. He and S also made a bird feeder. We have a problem with grasshoppers in our garden. Our theory is, have food for the birds, get them to our yard, they'll see the grasshopper dessert that is in the garden! I am crossing my fingers this works. Here are a few shots of the boys (oh and A had to get into the game too!) making the bird feeder. I have a feeling I will be getting a book all about birds soon as I am sure one of our newest hobbies will be bird watching. Any recommendations?



Today I also took the opportunity to do a little sewing. I love wearing ring slings, my kids love being in the sling, so I have decided to start making them. So, today while A was sleeping and the boys were busy, I made a sling for my friend Kara. I really love how it turned out. I love it so much that I want to keep it. But, I won't. I made it for her and she will love it just as much as I do!

Oh and tomorrow...S starts preschool. I am just so excited for him, but a tinge sad. I can not believe he is old enough to do this! I know, before I know it he will be graduating from high school, I don't want to think about it. I am glad my kids grow up, but it is hard. I'll post pictures of him tomorrow on his big day!

And the knitting...yes, the knitting :) I am making this sweet baby cap for my sister-in-law, who is having a baby in November. When I'm done with the one for the wee one, I'll make one for Miss A. She will look SO cute in it this winter!!! Wait, she looks cute in everything!