It's Been a Busy Week! Or Developing a New Life!

No pictures today. I haven't had a chance to work on my Pi much or even to be online this week. From last Sunday through Saturday I will have worked 60 hours. I'm pooped already! The Lord is good though in providing a way for us. I'm hoping to get back to a Monday through Friday day shift position at work as I have placed Emma back in full time day care. Right now I'm still scheduled on the weekends, but I would like to get off those so the girls and I can get back in church. Right now I'm just going to be working weekends and whatever extra day shifts I can during the week. That should get us off on the right start financially with Roger leaving. Aren't men wonderful????!!!!! Someone jump into the chorus of I am woman! or I will survive! I came home and majorly crashed this afternoon. I fell asleep and slept for 1 1/2 hours. I sure feel better....Now I think I am off to start another load of laundry and go get the little ones into bed and maybe knit a little...

Blessings From Above!

Look how blessed I am!!! We got a "new" van yesterday! At least it's new to us! I'm so excited and so blessed! Praise God!! He is so good to us! It's such a blessing!

Granted before I bought this vehicle I swore I would never buy a blue car! We were very blessed with a good deal though, and the color is growing on me. More importantly, we have a safe, reliable vehicle! Praise GOD!!!

Disaster Strikes Again

Well, this month has been full of unexpected expenses. First our washing machine died. That may have been a blessing in disguise though. We bought a new washing machine. Nothing fancy, but it's a top loader (our other was a front loader) and I'm able to wash my fleece in it. That turned out very nice, but it was an unplanned expenditure.

Now, for the BIG expenditure. The car majorly died last night. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise too. We were supposed to take it tomorrow to have a new fuel pump put in as well as a tune up. Another BIG expenditure to the tune of $620, but still cheaper than a continuing car payment. The old gray ghost was payment free, other than maintenance at least. Well yesterday afternoon on the way home from picking Roger up at work something majorly blew in the engine. We will now have to get a new car. I'm waiting to hear back from the loan officer now on word for a new vehicle. Wish me luck and lots of prayers. I hate the thought of a car payment, but a car is a necessity.

On a more positive note, we got Mari's Wee Peggy up and running, oiled and set to go. She spent last night spinning. Here is a picture of her first wheel spun yarn. She's been spinning on a spindle for awhile, but I've never seen anyone make the jump to a wheel so easily! Granted I'm prejudiced since I'm her mamma! HA! Her wheel is nice for a beginner. It is the type of wheel I first learned to spin on as well. I was pregnant with her at the time so this is sort of special to her as well. She sat up in my room last night and spun most of the evening. I finally had to tell her it was getting late and she had to go to bed as it was a school night. I think she likes her new wheel! I'm so glad!

By the way, Emma has been helping me post this morning so if there are any typos.....You get the picture!

Happy Early Mother's Day to all you Moms!

Well, it's Friday so I'm getting geared up for my work week....ie Sat, Sun....live at the hospital....or at least it feels like it! Last night my lovely daughter, Mari, was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). I'm so proud of her!!!! Her candle wouldn't stay lit during the induction ceremony so she was trying to discreetly conceal that bit of info. She did a lovely job of it too! I just can't believe she will start high school in the fall! Where does the time go?????

I'm still knitting away on my Pi Shawl. Progress seams to be so slow........I think I've completed two rows in the last two days. I need to kick it in gear. I have 28 more rows to go in clue 3! It turned so cold and wet here the last few days. What Happened?????? I thought it was supposed to be May! Well, I'm off to get Emma down for a nap. May all you Moms have a Blessed Mother's Day this Sunday! Happy Knitting!

My Last Day Alone....

Emma and Danielle will be home today. I love little Em dearly, but the last couple of days with the older girls at school and Em at Danielle's have been amazing! I have been able to get so much done! I finally feel like I have gotten the hang of the 3rd clue on my CYOAPi. Of course, the fourth clue is already out, and I'm not ready to start it yet. Maybe I can make some major progress today before the kids get home. I washed one of my fleeces waiting on me yesterday. I've got one left to get to. Maybe I can start it soaking. I love our new top loading washer for spinning them out. Yesterday's fleece is already dry! Woo-Hoo!

I've been listening to books on tape while I knit now. That's the only bad thing about all my hobbies is that I don't have the time to read everything I'd like if I'm doing something else. Anyway, I decided to succumb to the books on tape. Our library has a wonderful selection and so far it's been pretty cool. I'm listening to Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire. I loved his book about Cinderella and the one about the Wicked Witch was really good too. I'm sure this will be a lovely read as well.

I should probably get off here and get started on my chores. I have a load of laundry to dry and some general straightening up to do around here then I will sit and knit a bit....Happy Day Everyone!

New Musings......

After blogging last night my Majacraft and Kromski let me know they felt slighted....so here they are.

These really are my two favorite wheels. They spin so smoothly. They are a joy to treadle and spin with. Just pure bliss! My 10yo daughter took the picture of my symphony and didn't think to clear it out of the view of the closet or chair so there would be a clearer view. I have it set up in my bedroom. I try to spin a little every night before I go to bed. My Rose stays downstairs. I have a jumbo flyer and bobbin for it so it is absolutely wonderful to ply with. I can get a full 8 oz. on a bobbin with the jumbo set. She's my travelling wheel too. I take her to guild meetings and on vacation.

Now for progress on my Pi....

I'm 15 or so rows into Clue 3. I have no clue if this is what it is supposed to look like or not....

This 3rd clue in the CYOAPi has totally challenged me. I'm sure it's probably not exactly like it's supposed to be, but I'm fairly new to knitting lace. It's definately been a learning project for me. I'm excited though...I think it will be beautiful whether it turns out perfect or not. Right now I'm just excited that I am ending up with the right number of stitches each time! HA! Thank the Lord for lifelines and stitch markers!!! Is anyone else working this clue? Is this how yours is turning out? I know mine is a little denser because I'm using my handspun yarn and it's not laceweight, but does it look approximately right?

Here's a closer pic....What do you think??? I think maybe I can see some buds and vines.....It is hard to tell since I can't really stretch it out on the needles.

On another note, tomorrow is Llama club. Mari and Katie are showing Llamas in 4H this year. This is a first for us. Here are some pictures of the girls with their Llamas from last week. There was also a new baby last week. Only one day old. He's adorable. I think the girls said he was going to be named either Bandit or Zorro. Very appropriate given his markings...

Isn't he precious! I want a farm.

This is Katie with her llama Patriot. They were working on harnessing and leading the llamas last week. Good job Katie!















This is Mari with her llama Tatoka (?sp). I guess he can be a little fireball sometimes, but he is so loving....Just a llama with ADD....Gee, I wonder if they have Ritalin for llamas????












And this is why I've had so much time to blog, clean, organize, knit, etc....Yesterday and today....Emma is with her big sister Danielle for a few days. They will be home sometime tomorrow....So much for the organization, clean house, and knitting time......Can't you just see the oneryness in those eyes????

OK, I Have To Brag!!!

Ok, I spent most of the day waiting for info on my car that needs repaired and knitting while I waited. I'm still terribly far behind on my Pi Shawl. I think I'm on row 15 of clue 3. I don't have any new pictures of it, but it is about twice the size of my previous pics. The rest of the day I spent organizing and cleaning my craft/music room and setting up my loom. I'm blessed to have a very large room with big windows. I love it! Here are some pics of my new loom.

Isn't she beautiful??? I am so very blessed! It's a 4 harness 50" Cherry Norwood that previously hailed from the wonderful city of Chicago. That was an interesting drive home to say the least! Here are some other pics of my room.

This is my Merlin Tree Quebec. I am blessed to have one of these beauties. It has painted trim and I love the fall colors. Here is a close up of the trim.

This is a picture of my sewing corner. My daughter's piano is along the wall to the left of the sewing area, and I have a large window seat with storage to the right. I have a couple big baskets with wool and yarn on top and lots of fabric/fiber inside. I really do have stash issues.

Here is some beautiful handpainted roving I just received recently. It was much too pretty to stash away in a cupboard so I left it out as wall decoration! The colors are lovely and the roving is so soft. I wish I could remember who I ordered it from, but she didn't include an invoice, and I've lost her website! DARN!

It's Loom Day!! Yeah!!!

Another day....Another dollar....or lack thereof! We had a super busy weekend at work so I'm worn out today. I am waiting for dh to come home with the rental truck then we are off to Chicago to pick up my loom. I am so excited! I can't wait to get it home and start weaving. I have no clue what to make for my first project. I have a lot of yarns spun up but not sure how suitable they are for weaving. They might make a nice shawl though.

On the Mystery Pi progress....the "progress" or lack thereof has been astounding! I have started the third clue 4 times now and spent most evenings in the frog pond. Thank goodness for lifelines! I think I've finally figured out my error and have restarted the third clue again. I hope to make some progress today. If I could learn to count I would've had it finished already! Oh well, live and learn....I'm off to knit and wait for the truck.