Surprises for me today...

I have had a morning full of surprises! To begin, I had to take hubby's glasses to him at the shop and whilst I was out, passed 4 gas stations ... no gas. Oh boy, now I am getting a little antsy. For those of you who do not know, there is a "gas shortage" in the Atlanta area and yes, people have panicked. The lines at the gas stations *who* have gas, can be upwards of up to 2 hours wait. But hubby tells me that the local wholesale club was pumping gas this morning on his way to work. Surprise 1: I went there on my way home and was in and out in less than 7 minutes! Just like normal! Wow. I felt lucky.

Surprise 2: Stopped by Publix grocery store to pick up a couple of items and they have a "penny coupon" each Sunday and Monday. Sometimes I just don't make it there on either of those days but today I did and the penny was a jar of peanut butter.

Surprise 3: They also have some great BOGO (buy one get one frees) most weeks and my Publix lets you buy just one of those BOGO's for 1/2 off. So they had a 4-pack of bagels for $1.00 and my bag actually had 5 bagels in it! Someone lost count, I guess.

Surprise 4: Speaking of lost count, I give you a photo of my Baby Surprise jacket and I must say, it has been a real fun project but also very challenging. I have joined the BSJ group on Ravelry and have found some great hints and help on there... I am knitting it up in Lorna's Laces Sport weight, the Devon colorway.

Surprise 5: Yet to be announced this week. Baby Bruno will hopefully reveal him/herself on Thursday, Oct. 2nd to let Gammaw know what color buttons to put on the BSJ. I have changed my mind twice. First I said girl, then I dreamed boy, but when I saw Cheryl last weekend, I said without a doubt in my mind, a girl.

Have any of you done the Baby Surprise Jacket? If so, did you have any problems with it?

Stash buster!

Check out these cool instructions for making wool dryer balls from your yarn stash!

It's Here - Go get a copy!

I am *so* excited about Kay and Ann's new book, Mason - Dixon , Knitting Outside the Lines. I love these gals - they always make me laugh. My new book arrived and I couldn't be more excited. Go... get a copy... today!

Why the 'mater in the picture? Sadly, I think it might be one of the last ones I pick this year...

A pack of pickles...

Looks like all I have been doing is packing pickles but actually, I have been knitting somewhat. Some cute washcloths - my mom has been busy knittin' them up for her up and coming great grandchild. wow. I can't believe my mom will be a ggmaw... I bought her a book of baby washcloths and I know she already gave Orange Boy and Cheryl a couple and is still working on them. She is really enjoying them.

Still working on Casablanca - ever so slowly - things have been really hopping around here. But I did start a Baby Surprise jacket in the Devon Colorway from Lorna's Laces. I say I started it - I mean I cast on for it a couple of nights ago. Does that count? I do have some lovely bread and butter pickles put up - about 13 pints. Yummmm...

Some HB and HP...

Fall is certainly on its way and for me, it is one of my favorite seasons. Already many of you I see on Ravelry on counting down til the holidays. Which brings me to the HB in my title. Hairbands... We have put together kits for covering your own hairbands. In this fun kit you will get 2 toothless hairbands, one 7/8" wide and one 1/4" wide, 3 mini skeins of yarn, a retractable mini tape measure (color will vary), and a pattern all inside of a reuseable square vinyl pouch. These are fun to wear and I have gotten many compliments on mine!

Now for the HP! Many of you can already guess that yes, it is the much anticipated release of the Harry Potter sock yarn from Opal. I received word this week that I can expect our order to ship towards the end of September. So be on the lookout for that.

We are now carrying HeartStrings patterns so check those out. I have my eye on a couple...

I got to see Orange Boy and Cheryl this past weekend and my little grandbaby is showing him/herself quite nicely! We are all anticipating the October 1 so I will know whether to knit more blue or pink...

What is your favorite season?

Gifts for Baby

I can't believe all the cute things we're already getting!
Here's a bib from Gammaw. What is this pattern?? Its adorable!
Here's some Baby Bling from my incredible fabulous friend, Kate.And here are some penguin booties...which I'm sorry to say, don't come in my size. I think its safe to say we will have a very well dressed baby!

Bring on the Fall!

Football season officially starts next weekend, which means knitting season also starts! Don't get me wrong, I like football and everything, but when its all your husband watches for 5 months, you need a little distraction! He watches, I knit. We coinside perfectly! And win or lose, at the end of every weekend, I have a fabulous project to show for it.

Last night, in preparation for kickoff, Orange boy and I boiled 2.5 pounds of peanuts and blanched and peeled 14 tomatoes from the garden for salsa. We're well on our way to stocking our freezer with a season's worth of football food!

As far as knitting goes, I'm working on socks (gasp!!) a few scarves that will be christmas presents, and I'm hoping to start another quilt soon.

September is only 9 days away!!! Beef up your stashes boys and girls- its going to be a long winter!!!!

Fun, fast gift idea...

I have been wanting to make this dust glove for a long while. These are fun, fast to make and make me smile. I mean, how much more fun can dusting be with one of these! Complete with its own bling... Here's how I made it...

Went to do$$ar store and found these knit gloves. I was actually looking for the standard muslin kind but how appropriate are these being that they are knitted.

Wrap yarn around cardboard at about 5-1/2 to 6" long for about 16 wraps. Place on the glove and take a length of yarn to secure down on the glove, tying the bundle in half. I used a Chibi needle. So easy.. Repeat until you have it as full as you would like. I used an entire ball of Peaches n Creme yarn but I am gathering all my remaining scraps to make a really colorful one.

As for the fingernails, I took Sticky Felt from the hobby store and drew on the paper side, cut them out and stuck them on the front. You don't have to give it a "ring" but I sewed some beads on. My next one is also going to have a bracelet...

These are fun and a great way to use of scraps...

Cutest Boo-tays this side of I-85!

I couldn't help it. I had to have them. Clemson newborn booties. Adorable. I will have to promise Cheryl that I will not buy or attempt to buy all things orange for the baby. however, I will have to knit baby at least one thing orange. Just one. Orange Boy will love them.

The visit with my 12yo niece was great. She is 5'10" and a sweetheart. It was an enlightening visit. How she has changed since last summer! Aunt Jane bought her some back to school clothes. The music was so loud in that store that I couldn't hear a thing and I felt quite old! But it was fun... She is a great bargain shopper and most all things bought were from the sale racks. Just like Aunt Jane : )

Back to knittin'. I am progressing nicely on Clue 3 in Casablanca and here is a photo . I did not stretch it out to photograph - mainly because I have no room on my work area. I have so many other projects going on - embroidery, shower invites, etc. so it is hard to tell. I am loving this pattern.

Also, a shot of the bib I am knitting in Peaches n creme from my stash. I think this is the Fiesta colorway and the pattern is from Mason Dixon Knitting Book. I love those gals. They are a hoot.

That's about all for now. Working on stuff for the shop - just not enough time in a day lately...

Gift Socks - done!

Well, I finally finished my Pagewood Farms Denali socks, plain old toe up in Huntsville a week ago. Oh yeah, I went to Huntsville to visit Orange Boy and Cheryl. We had a lovely visit and also tried to go to a great local yarn shop but it did not work out in our time schedule. I took them an adorable chest of drawers that were my father's when he was a boy. They will use them for the new baby. Speaking of new baby, I finally started a bib.

Also OTN, Casablanca. I am loving this shawl. Only on Clue 3, I am lagging behind many others but I love this! Pictures coming.

One of the many daily visitors to our yard...

Summer is wrapping up quickly, isn't it. My 12yo niece is coming to visit Aunt Jane Thursday for a few days.

Look out the holidays are advancing...

Binky Quilt

Here's a peek at the baby quilt I'm making for my dear friend's daughter who turns 1 this month. I used up almost all my fabric scraps (yay!) for the top, and the back is minky- every tot's favorite fabric. I'm using my Sublime Stitching supplies to stitch around each square in a different color. I'm almost done...I just have to find that final motivation! Everytime I near the end of a project, I want to start a new one!

The quilt was super easy to make. I just cut several squares of fabric 3.5 in wide, in varying lengths. Then, I stitched the squares together along the 3.5in side, then stitched the strips of squares together. Then I layered the top, cotton batting and backing and safety-pinned it all over. Then starting from the middle, I began stitching aroun the perimeter of each square. Easy! Now I just have to finish stitching around the squares, and fold the backing over to the front to make the binding.

Sock-tastic Activity

Hiya! I found a link to this wonderfully fun website called This is Sand on Jessica Jones's blog, HowAboutOrange. Use your mouse to drop different colors of sand to make designs. Doesn't it look like sock yarn??!!

Whew, one down...

Whilst I love Pagewood Farms Denali, it seems these socks have gone on forever. They are my true designated take along project and always ready and waiting in my knit bag. They have traveled with me to many a doctor appt for my mom and also my fun group, Noble Knitters. One down, one cuff to go...


New at The Yarn Grove... Stitchjones! A delightful, delectable yarn - hand dyed by Sharon of Stitchjones. Stop by for a look and see these brillant colorways...



I have also begun my Casablanca shawl again and am loving it... thanks to Pat, my knitting lace guru friend from Noble Knitters. I interpreted Clue 2 way wrong and she helped me so much! Pat, as always, thanks! By golly, I think I've got it!

Oh yeah, and I've been busy putting up tomatoes from my garden and also made a large batch of my famous salsa. I grew just enough jalapenos for this batch - which in my opinion - makes it taste even more delicious.
Also made some hot pepper jelly from the remainder of my bell peppers from my garden and leftover jalapenos. Haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it will be great - plastered all over some cream cheese.



Thank you all for your lovely emails, comments and notes about the baby. We are all so very excited. Any ideas for a baby project? Everyone asks me if I'm knitting for the baby yet and ummmm... I'm not. I don't really want to knit a blanket but maybe some booties? Suggestions and ideas will be greatly appreciated my friends!

My Greatest Project

I know I've been absent lately, so I wanted to give you a peek at the project I've been working on. It started as small as a sesame seed, but now you can see I've added arms, legs, a heartbeat, and even a little brain! It hasn't been easy, I've been working on it 24 hours a day for about 9 weeks now, and let me tell you...its taken a toll on me! Chris has been great about bringing me supplies: Triscuits, chips and salsa, pickles, lemonade and Tums. He even does the laundry and vacuums. He's the best. I'll keep you updated on my progress. My deadline for completion is February 18th.

A mish mash

I've just returned from a lovely visit with IG. I did not want to leave but alas... I had to.




I got a little knitting done on the plane - still working on my Pagewood Farms Denali socks. Love this yarn. It is great and can't wait to see how it wears. With 20% nylon, I know it will be a winner! Since I usually knit my socks from the toe up, you would think there would *never* be a time when my socks did not fit. Last night I decided to try them on... well, part of the way on since they would not go near my heels! So I will finish them and put them in my gift drawer for someone who does not tread on Number 10's as I do!


And finally, a sad goodbye to Big Girl aka Lucy Girl, our beloved black lab. She left us on July 1st. Her rear leg finally let her down. She knew it. I could tell by the way she looked at me when I came home that day around noon. All the trying in the world to make that back foot/leg work - and nothing. I spent the rest of the afternoon with her until my husband came home and together we took her. I love this picture of Lucy and Junior. That bed was actually our previous dog, Charlie's bed, but Lucy took it over. And on this particular day, Junior decided to join her. Junior, Shorty and Woolly Boully (aka Mulley the Cat) are still looking and waiting for her. She was the queen, the leader of the pack.



We adopted Lucy when she was 5 years old. Found her for free in the ATL newspaper from a couple who was having triplets and already had a 2 year old at home. The husband had her since she was a puppy and I don't know who cried harder that night we left with her - me or the husband. We stayed in touch daily for about 1 week during the transition. The wife was on complete bed rest but ventured out to meet us before we left with her. I remember her words: "Boy, my neighbors sure won't be sad she's leaving because Lucy always licks the kids ice cream cones". That was Lucy - who hated the rain, lacked for manners, was the best trash picker we had ever seen, greeted everyone with something in her mouth, and loved life to its fullest. Lucy was just a couple months shy of her 15th birthday.


Big Girl, you were loved and you are missed by us all.

Shorty 0, Yarn 1

Yep, Shorty lost the battle with this ball of yarn that he snuck from somewhere. Where? I am still trying to figure that out. He must have had a "ball" with it because when I found him, the yarn was wrapped tightly around him in so many places, I had to literally cut it away. It was everywhere... Cats are not the only ones who love yarn - I can clearly attest to that!

I have been knitting on Casablanca KAL. However, last night I became disenchanted with the beads I had chosen for it and frogged the whole thing (which sounds dramatic but in actuality, I have only finished Clue 1 and 3 rows of Clue 2). So I shall begin it again - sans beads.

Shipping News at The Yarn Grove: Any orders received after Wed. July 2nd at precisely 7:00pm EsT will be shipped on Monday, July 7th. Why? I'm going to see Island Girl!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July...

Namaste Bags ...

The Namaste Cali Collection bags in the Laguna style are back in stock here at The Yarn Grove. Also in is their new seasonal color which is Peacock. Great knitting bag or just all around functional purse...

We heard you ! So now stocked at TYG is 20" Hiya Hiya Stainless Steel circular needles. Perfect for socks on 2 circs...

I started the Casablanca KAL and it is a fun knit for me so far. Anyone else doing it?

Had to Have it...

I'm a sucker for cute things and this book is no exception. Last night at our Noble Knitters, Knitting Friend, Donna, found this book, Love from Woolly. She bought one, Lauri bought one and I bought the other. Why? I shall save it for the Woolly Wonder (aka) future Grandchild ... It is adorable and a great gift! From now on, all new babies in my life will receive as follows:

One itty bitty hand knitted, made with love from my hands item

-and-

Love from Woolly Book.

News at The Yarn Grove ... More Namaste Cali Bags arriving any day now. More colors of O~Wool Organic Classic are here.

Adorable new patterns from Katie Park of Caffaknitted - distributed by the wonderous Gardiner Yarn Works. Peg and Tulip are waiting to be knitted up - try some organic - would make a great gift for a youngster!

Also a photo of my pickins' of the day. One jalapeno, several cherry 'maters, plum 'maters and one green pepper. That pepper smells divine... I expect a serious explosion of red ripe 'maters any day now - friends - look out...

Orange Boy and Cheryl are coming. Yay! You *know* I'll have a marvelous weekend and hope all ya'll do too...

Strawberry-Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Here's my recipe for the perfect summer salad-

Salad
1 pint strawberries (sliced)
1 lb spinach leaves
1/2 cup sliced almonds (or the nut of your choice)

Dressing
1 cup salad oil
1/2 cup sugar (don't you dare use Splenda!)
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp poppy seeds
Serve dressing on the side

Serve with raspberry lemonade and crusty bread on the back porch.

No one is safe now...

Yep, I got a new camera. My sweet husband gave me one for my birthday last week and I have been playing around with it. It has come to the point where even the birds scatter and cover themselves with their wings when I go outside to look for my next *subject*. I have a Nikon Coolpix P80 and I have a lot to learn about it but am having a blast.

Knitting? Not so much but have started a new pair of socks and will show them soon. I am actually waiting for the Casablanca KAL to begin which I hope will be this Friday.

Here are some of my latest *subjects*... Back soon with some knittin' to show but in the meantime, here is my first 'mater but no squarsh yet...