Day 9 Mandala

Enough said.  Send chocolate!

My First Giveaway Day

I 'discovered' Giveaway Day this summer quite by accident.  And as a result, I 'discovered' many, many websites that I follow on a daily basis, savoring all the eye-candy and inspiration doled out.  Sew Mama Sew is a constant source of ideas and fun and now this giveaway.

So when I decided to join this giveaway, I trooped downstairs to the 'sewing room' where I attempt to corral my sewing/knitting/crafting supplies to see what I wanted to offer up to my fellow stitchers and crafters.  I poured through my stash of quilting fabrics and couldn't make myself give up any as I had 'plans' for most of it and what was left I didn't feel was worthy of participating in this giveaway.

Then my eyes lit on this little jewel.

It's a skein of "Sakkie" from Plymouth Yarns and is appropriately called "Fire".  It has the colors of a fire in the fireplace, from a warm orangy/red to a charcoal grey.  And with being 40% kid mohair, 40% super wash merino and 20% nylon and approximately 437 yards, it has a wonderful feel to it.

I bought this yarn in order to knit a shawl during the Tour de France this year.   My youngest daughter, Texter, picked out this colorway.  However, it never clicked with me.  I wound one skein into a ball and started on the shawl and didn't like the look of it and stopped.  I am sure that one of these days I will change my mind and knit up something with the ball I have ready to go, but this skein needs to find a home where it will be loved and appreciated.

So my question to you is - have you ever bought something for a project which seemed like a great idea at the time, only to turn out that you don't like it after all?

I will try to answer all comments, but I might be a little bit delayed as I am finishing up a semester in college, which ends on the 12th and I work part time and my full time 'job' is helping to care for my grand daughter.  Oh, and did I mention I have to sew 5 bags and have them ready by the 18th in order to be taken back to North Carolina by Texter?

In the meantime, I hope you stop and look around and enjoy my site and return often.

PS.  Since this is a light skein of yarn, I will be glad to ship internationally.

Day 8 Mandala

After several days of subzero weather, this quote means a whole lot more.

Holiday Spirit Nature Mandala

I really haven't gotten 'into' the holiday spirit until the last couple of days.  Because Texter and Lady K will be out of the state during the holidays, we haven't decorated.  I do have an amaryllises growing, but it will probably be after the first of the year before it blooms.  And unlike back in NC, I don't think I can plant it out in the garden and have it rebloom in the summer here.

But yesterday we wrapped the things I have collected for Savvy for the past few months to prepare for my trip down to Arizona for a couple of days.  There are lights everywhere now and one of our neighbors is really into the inflatible decorations, which is really cheery as you drive by.  Tonight is the library Christmas party and we are all going.  So I am slowly getting into the holiday groove.

Nature, however, celebrates with or without us.

Winter of our Discontent Mandala

This one is a little different.  I wanted something that would highlight the cold and starkness that winter can bring, especially since most of the country is caught up in the 'cold wave'. This was a picture I had taken back in North Carolina of a gum-ball hanging by itself against the winter sky.  It looked so cold and alone.

Sub-zero temperatures are a stranger to me.  Walking outside and having your breath taken away because it is so piercingly cold makes you want to huddle inside, despite the sunshine.  It makes me very grateful for the luxury of having a warm place to be during this cold snap.  However, since it is coming at the end of the year, I feel an immense need to look forward to 2014 and 'plan' what I would like to accomplish in the coming year...thus my 'winter of discontent'. 

Tea and Scones Mandala

My original thought was to find a quote about the warmth of tea and a plate of scones shared with friends during the holiday season.  But while looking for something appropriate, I came across the quote I used.  

We are a nerdy family and this is Savvy's picture she took of her teapot I sent her and a plate of scones she made, complete with the jam.  With the 'Earl Grey' tag being so prominent, I couldn't resist.  Besides, I like Jean-Luc/Patrick Stewart immensely. 

Christmas Cookie Mandala

Christmas was always the time the girls and I would gather in the kitchen and bake several different kinds of cookies.  Most of them went to friends and teachers.  It was the laughter and licking beaters and bowls in the warmth of the kitchen which made it all worthwhile.  These were calories that didn't count.

Telling On Myself

Here's the story.....

Pam, of Pam's Knit and Stitch in Great Falls, offered a couple of months ago, a kit from Mountain Colors Hand-Painted Yarns for a fingerless mitten.  There were two color ways offered and I went with the purple and brown to start with.  Also, this is a Montana company and I wanted to support them.

I later went back and got the blue/green/yellow kit.

Of course, although Texter claimed the first kit, when she saw the second kit, she's claiming it too.  And being in Montana now, we need all the mittens, gloves and layers we can come up with.

I had the first kit and got started on it.  I haven't done much knitting with multiple colors like this, so it was performing a dual purpose - mittens and learning a new technique better.   And I did have to stop and rip out several rows because I didn't read the directions correctly to start with.  I didn't notice  the switching of colors once you start on the body of the mitten.  Plus Lady K was 'assisting' and I had a hat I wanted to get done first.

By the way, Savvy, this hat is coming to you.  My head is bigger than I thought!  It was knit with Nuna from Mirasolperu.  Nuna is 40% merino wool, 40% silk and 20% bamboo sourced viscose.  Feels really great.  On me, however, it looks like, as Texter put it, I am wearing spandex on my head.

Why the aside about the hat and yarn?  Because in the course of knitting the mittens, I went from this (don't you love the variegation on the balls of yarn).....

....to this....

How did this happen?  

I have a bin that I have several projects in and I threw the balls of yarn in there.  The lighter purple from the hat had a ball about the same size as the balls for the mitten and I didn't see the pinky purple and had forgotten what the real colors were for the mittens and started on the mittens with the above colors.  It worked.  I thought the lighter purple was a little 'thinner' than the other yarn, but put it down to the dyeing of the yarn.

But when I got to the end of the first mitten and was running out of the light purple I started thinking 'pissy' thoughts.  You know those thoughts were you are thinking bad things about someone and brooding on it.  First, I was thinking Mountain Colors were a little 'stingy' with their yarn.  And then I was going to have to buy more yarn and/or drive to Great Falls (about 75 minute drive away) to get more yarn.  And somehow I had Pam, who has been nothing but lovely and gracious and who I know, if this was true, would have made it right at no charge to me, also tied up in the almost being out of  yarn and only having one of two gloves made.  I am knitting and grumbling and telling Texter about the 'almost out of yarn' situation and here I had another kit......yada, yada, yada.  

Then I had to dig into the bottom of the bin for my case with my needles to finish off the first glove and found the 'REAL' ball of yarn.  

You can see my dilemma.  The light purple didn't look bad in the mitt. 

So now I must publicly apologize to Pam and to Mountain Colors for all the negative thoughts I was feeling while knitting this mitt.  It was all on me and not paying attention to what I was doing on several counts.  Not organizing my project better, not paying attention to the difference in yarn more.  After all, there is a bit of difference between 100% worsted wool and yarn that is merino/silk/bamboo.  I hang my head in shame as I knit up the second mitt 'incorrectly'.  

But if I am going to eat crow can you think of a tastier crow to eat?

Christmas Spirit Mandala - Day 3

How many out there watched the Bob Hope Special every year growing up?

Sharp-Shinned or Coopers?

We have another newcomer to the feeder.  Well, actually he is feeding on the birds coming to the feeder (although we have lost one squirrel to him).  And so far, based on what we have seen, he is either a Sharp-Shinned or Cooper's Hawk.  He normally zips in and out, but I think he has learned I have a ready supply of birds at the feeder.  Especially since I have refilled the feeders due to the bad weather which is starting today (snow and super cold temps).

The dogs ran outside earlier and scared him off and then Texter walked by the window and grabbed for my camera.  We had to laugh at his perch.....

He's hunkered down in the pine tree in the back yard.  All puffed up against the snow and wind blowing.  However, the problem with his perch is that it is only about three feet from the feeder.

I guess he feels the other birds won't see him sitting there.  But the pine tree is across the yard from the huge spruce tree (about 2 1/2 stories tall) where the doves, chickadees and some of the sparrows are hanging out.

It should be an interesting winter.....

Winter is Coming

Happy Holidays

Parade of Lights

One of the great things about living in a new place is learning the traditions which inhabit that new place.  A tradition here is the "Parade of Lights" which starts the holiday season here.  Texter, Gibbs, Lady K and I were bundled up for the 36 degree weather to head downtown to the walking mall to see what the annual Christmas kick-off was about.

Aside:  I have a feature on my camera I had not tried yet which is for taking nighttime pictures.  It basically takes 4 rapid shots and merges them to make 1 picture that isn't shaky since you are hand holding the camera.  I gave it a try since I wanted to get some pictures of the lights and the parade.  I think it worked really well.

First off, the stores and business were lit up.  In some of the stores, in the front window, they had 'live' decorations - members of the Nutcracker dance company that is being performed here now.  That was a lot of fun to see. 

She was in the window of Prickly Pear Quilts.  But my favorite was this one....

Unfortunately, I didn't get a really good shot, but she was all in white and the decorations were all white.  This was one of the art galleries on the mall.

But all the stores were decorated nicely.

The cookware shop.  This place has more little gismos and gadgets for the kitchen, I can't go in there.

And my favorite, Birds and Beasleys.  Which reminds me I need to fill up the feeders today before the storm gets here.

Of course, the toy store got in on the act.

The 'reindeer' in the window are heavy, rubber bouncy rides for kids.  I want one so bad.  Of course, it is for Lady K!  Maybe the lime green one?

Another favorite stop on the mall, Parrot Confectionary was packed (as usual) with shoppers for chocolates and hot chocolate

Not only were the stores decorated nicely, but outside, the light poles and the fixed trolley were decorated.  There was a little band at the trolley playing Christmas songs. 

Lady K waited patiently in all her 100 layers of clothing for the start of the parade.

And Texter and I were almost going to be arrested when we saw someone displaying a Dr. Who scarf.  Now I have to make one!

On a good note, no Daleks to ruin this Christmas.  On a sad note, no Tardis.

Now the following is not meant to poke fun at my new home, but I am use to Christmas parades filled with all the local bands and decorated floats.  However, hear there are no school marching bands (figured they would freeze their 'brass' off) Instead, it is a parade of gaily decorated pickup trucks and RV's and a couple of groups walking along with them.

The above is the local humane society with adoption dogs.  It was hard not to grab one or two on the way by.

The parade started off with a firetruck and ended with the Bookmobile from the library!

The parade is actually the 'warm-up' for the grand finale, which is lighting the fire tower which overlooks the downtown area.  The tower is called 'The Guardian of the Gulch' and built in 1874.

It is up on the hillside at the end of the mall, by the library.  So the parade starts at one end of the mall, goes up the center of the mall and ends at the library and then lighting the fire tower.  All-in-all, about an hour to 1 1/2 hours outing in the cold.

While it does make the Apex parade look like a Macy's parade event, Helena does it nicely and it was well worth putting on tights, socks, boots, undershirt, sweater, coat, hat, gloves to stand outside in the cold to watch it.  I can't wait until next year when Lady K is more aware of what is going on.  

Good job, Helena!

Birdseye Bald Loop Hike...

(Warning:  Photo intensive)

So Saturday I thought it would be a good thing to get in a hike before winter really shuts us me down.  And I learned several things on this hike, which is a good thing, despite how my body feels it has been hit by a bus today.

I started off the day thinking of 'trail names'.  Hikers often have a nickname other hikers know them by.  First, I started off with "Onion" because I had enough layers on that I could lose every hand in a game of poker and still have clothes on at the end of the evening.

Then we started the hike, I I quickly changed it to "Donkey Butt".  Not because of me being nasty to everyone, but rather that was my position in the hike, dragging along and bring up the rear.

After we hiked for days hours, I changed it to "Half-way Hudgins" because that is all I could do.  Luckily, the group I am hiking with are not 'competitive' hikers and are super, super fantastic and spare my feeling nicely.  "J" walked back with me and we had our own adventure on the way back, but that's later in the story.

My car temperature was reading 10 degrees when we started out, but there wasn't a wind blowing (for once), so it wasn't bad.  We traveled out of Helena and parked at a railroad crossing on a little road.
This was the view across the road from our parking spot. 

Lovely, isn't it.  The moon still visible over the 'hillside'.  Bright blue sky.  Dusting of snow on the ground.  IT LIES!  Because this was behind me and the start of the hike.

Lesson 1:  If you are standing at the bottom of the trail and have to step back and look up to see the top of the trail.....don't go there!  And yes, that is a person standing at the top of the hill by the center tree.

Lesson 2:  If you are standing at the top of the hill and you look down and see the top of the cap of a fellow hiker, you don't go there!

Lesson 3:  In between the ups and downs (even if you go down on your butt so you won't fall any more), there is this....

Lesson 4:  There are no "level" spots in Montana hiking, except maybe the parking lot were you left your car.

Lesson 5:  Go where no man has gone before.  Tons of all kinds of animal tracks in the snow.  A couple I could identify and others I couldn't, but now want to learn them.  One thing about a winter hike with the snow is that they show up easily.  Like I wanted to know what was under this....

It was perfectly domed, a baby igloo.  Unlike some of the other rocks I slipped and fell on. 

Lesson 6:  Sights of man are few and far between and lead you to believe it would be awhile before someone came along to drag your sorry ass out of there.

Yep, partner, I rode that fence line for miles and miles and then the horse died.

So after the great hiking group I was with waited for me to drag my donkey butt up the 'hill'....

(See they don't look like they are plotting my murder, do they?)

So while 'D' was planning another round of up and down, my body was saying....straight downhill is the railroad tracks and a road...down, down, down....

'J' valiantly offered to go with me (otherwise, I think they thought I would still be there) and off we went.  I guess now it's time to spoil the story and tell you that the others made it back to the car before we did.  But they didn't have a chance to collect the massive cockleburs on every part of their body, nor did they get to wave at the train engineers as the train went by.

And contrary to popular opinion, that is NOT the front of the train, but rather the back of the train.  Trains in this part of the country are LONG and have engines at the front and back.  (Although the idea did cross my mind at one point.)

So 'J' and I got to see the thicket along the creek we had to cross to get back to the train tracks.

Lesson 7:  Do you do it again?  You bet and for this reason right here....