Hat!

I just had to quickly post that I finished my hat!! The picture shows it a bright green, but it's really more of a moss color. And really soft!

I'll post more later with some of the items I've been sewing. Yes, that means I did find a power cord that works!!I'm quite excited and have finished a couple of items and have supplies for a bit more. I'll post more and some pictures in a few days!!

Sewing!

It's like having an old friend come back to visit. I have not sewn anything for over 12 years, and yet when I went through the yardage store the other day with my daughter I was inspired to pick it back up again. The only problem is that I lost the power cord for my good sewing just over 12 years ago when we moved. I've tried in the past to get a replacement, only to be told it would cost $150 to do so. So, it just wasn't that important. But now, being inspired again, it is important! First, I looked up new sewing machines and found I could get a basic one for $80, and almost bought it right then (good thing I don't get paid for another couple of weeks or I probably would have!). In the meantime, I decided to see if I could find that cord again (maybe used someplace. . .) and I found a "universal" power cord for my brand of machine (Bernina) that looks like it should work - for only $16.95! So, I ordered it. And I am hoping that it works. If not, I may try to find a store that sells Berninas and see if they can help in. But, in preparation, I bought a few patterns (of course a sun dress for my Granddaughter!) and some material. It's washed and ready to be ironed. My kids are both excited as well since they want to learn to sew. So, I'll take a different pattern for each girl and walk them through the steps. I'm just ready to have that cord in hand now!

While waiting, I did start knitting my slouchy hat though. It's such a lovely yarn and I'm doing mine in this beautiful green yarn. I'll post a picture of that when I'm done. And I'm still on the lookout for that special sweater pattern to use my gift certificate for yarn from my good friend. So many fun projects to do!

Fun Weekend

Luckily both my husband and I were mostly over our sickness before the weekend festivities. We went with a fun group in a limo down to Stone Brewery for one of our friend's birthday (it was a surprise from his wife). We had a great time overall with the whole trip and it was a blast to see the brewery. And they are even building a beer hotel across the street from their brewery as well!! As much as I enjoy wine, I really like brewing beer and the very good varieties from microbreweries. Speaking of which, I don't know if I posted or not, but we have a Belgium ale in the carboy right now. We brewed two weeks ago, so we should be testing it this week (but I doubt it will be ready to bottle). We actually used a kit for this one, but it should be good. Our last one, a triple IPA (my recipe!) is bottle ready and is really good. And we're looking at doing a spiced wheat beer next. Not sure yet, but my husband wants to try some spices so we are looking into what we want to do.

On a creative note, I finished the chemo hat for my friend today. I usually make them for people just for the cost of the yarn, but they discontinued the yarn I've been using. So I really need to find a replacement. This one is really soft, which is nice for someone going through chemo. I need to find something soft and washable. I will have to look into it carefully. As for the other hat (my pattern), I finished one for the same friend who has another friend going through some kind of medical problem. They don't know what it is, but she's not doing well and losing her hair and very self conscious about it. So, I thought the nice slouchy hat would be nice for her. And this weekend (during the Superbowl), I plan to start on the slouchy hat for myself (in a lovely green -  not bright, just pretty).

I'll have to post more later. The baby is asleep and everyone is heading to bed. It's only 8pm!! I'll go upstairs and read. . .or knit. . .or watch some bad television. I'll decide when my husband finishes mixing my drink to take upstairs (It's martini night - I ran 7.5 miles today so I earned it!).

Sick

Well, I actually had a really good weekend, surrounded by sickness on both sides. On Friday I had to take off work to go be with my older daughter in the ER. She would have gone to her doctor, but he was not in that day. Then she would have gone to an urgent care center, but there is not one in her network (what is that all about?!). So, we went to the hospital she had the baby at (very nice place). We spent the full day there, but at least she's okay. It was a burst ovarian cyst. Very painful, but at least it wasn't her appendix. So, feeling relieved that everything was okay, I got up Saturday and baked some fresh bread and healthy muffins. And Sunday I did a long run and brewed some beer (Belgium Dubbel - should be good). But the high was not to last. My daughter ended up bringing the stomach flu home from the hospital and was throwing up Sunday. And boy did that flu go around the family. It got her husband next, then me, my husband and is still with my youngest. It's fast moving though!! But I'm still not able to eat right, and so therefore do not have the energy to run or workout. But I'm not going to let it get me down (especially since I had a good workout on Monday). Besides, I have a birthday party that I'm going to this weekend at a brewery (it's a surprise party, and although I seriously doubt the person reads my blog, I won't put anything more about it in here now), so I need to save up my energy for that! I'm sure I'll be posting more next week on that trip, and hopefully on my runs and knitting as well (didn't even feel like knitting while I was sick).

Another Hat

I finished another hat while watching football this weekend (yeah 49ers!!). This one is for a friend of mine. Well, it's actually for someone she knows. For a few years now I've offered to make people chemo hats if they buy the yarn, and I've done quite a few. But this friend of mine knows someone who isn't going through chemo, but she's sick and the doctors can't figure out what's wrong. And part of the symptoms is that she is losing her hair. So for her, instead of a soft, tighter fitting chemo hat, I made a pretty slouchy hat. I just love this pattern and this is the third one I've made. Next weekend I will be working on another hat just like it during the play-off games (go 49ers), but this one will be for me! I don't wear hats very much, but I just love them so I keep making them!

Kindle Case

So, my wonderful husband gave me a Kindle Fire for Christmas! We were only getting stocking stuffers for each other, but he knew how much I wanted one and he made that my stocking stuffer. Well, it actually sat behind my stocking, but that's okay. I've been having a lot of fun using it and personalizing it. One thing I did want right away though was a case. I looked at all of the options, and found what looks to be a wonderful purple leather case. And since purple is my favorite color (and stops others from wanting to use my things that are purple), I wanted to order that one. But, it wasn't being released until early January. So, the dilemma for me was. . .do I wait for the purple one since that's what I really want, or do I order the identical one in brown since that is shipping right away and the touch screen on the Kindle needs to be protected. So, knowing I would be sad settling for the brown one, I decided to crochet up a quick cover just to protect it in the mean time. And it didn't turn out too bad I think!


That's my Kindle right next to it. It did it's job fine and protected my Kindle until I received my purple case over the weekend. I should have taken a picture of that as well!!

Knitting pictures

Okay, I found a couple of pictures of items I knitted for Payten. First is a sweater I did in a teal blue. Yes, I know she's a girl, but the color is just wonderful!

And here is my daughter (Payten's Mom, Dee) holding the tree of life blanket I made for her as well.

The picture is kind of dark. So I will just have to get better with my photography! But, the blanket is a scaled down version of the tree of life pattern. It was a lot of fun to make, but probably not as useful as some of the other larger blankets that were made for her!

I just finished a quick crocheted case for my Kindle Fire (the purple case I really want is on back order) that I'll post up next week, and I'm working on an afghan right now as well. My next big project will be a sweater since my good friend gave me a gift certificate to our local yarn store! Yeah!!