Hello all. Its been far too long since my last post. I hope the past month has been good to you. We have been pretty busy like normal. Last weekend, we headed up to La Crosse, Wi for Oktoberfest! We had a great time and even had some friends from Madison join us. The Maple leaf parade on Sat morning was particularly fun. The whole family went to this 4 hour long parade with many many floats. Nolan loved listening to the school bands. My favorite was seeing some beautiful horses.

 It was so nice to be back in La Crosse. We saw so many friends from high school and college. It was a great way to see everyone in one weekend! We even topped the weekend off with some of the best pizza ever from Big Al's too. If you have never had a the Big's Al's special, trust me you are missing out :)

http://www.bigalstoo.com/

On the ride home we pasted the cutest farm on Hwy 12. Green thumb farms has a place called pumpkin land where kids can play and run around. We stopped and let Nolan run around and pick out a pumpkin. We also got some apple cider, which is perfect for this cooler fall weather. 

As for knitting, I had somewhat of a knitting funk. My projects are long and I am not getting anywhere fast. I needed something that was a quick and easy project. My friend made these awesome mittens for a donation. I loved them plus she finished them in a weekend! Perfect for a quick project and for Christmas gifts. I am so excited to make a bunch of these and put them under the tree!

I also finished another mitten but I am not sure I like it. I made it with the idea of Badger mittens to match the badger socks for my mother-in-law. But I think they are a bit ugly!

 Maybe its just me. As for this past week, we had a lot going on. Work is overwhelming and Nolan is not feeling well. Campus was a zoo due to the President visiting campus. I think its amazing we had a chance to host the President of the United States here in Madison, Wi. Awesome! Tuesday night, my husband and I attended the Hirschfelder Award Dinner at Maple Bluff Country Club. The meal was amazing, 5 course meal from heaven. We had a wonderful time and I even got to show off the citron shawl.

As for this weekend, it will be fulled with knitting, relaxing, and just hanging out with the family. We have not sat at home with nothing to do in forever. We have pumpkin spice candles lit and knitting out while Nolan is running around playing the guitar. Enjoy the fall, its almost over here in Madison. Until next time, keep knitting.

Hello knitters. I am just so excited and coming down from an amazing weekend. Yesterday we had a work picnic, hung out with friends for the afternoon and headed to another friends house for dinner. It was so relaxing and fun. I love how close we have become with people here. The move was a lot easier now that we have close friends :)


As for knitting, I have started quite a few projects and even picked up some old ones. I started working on the Ridged Ripples Scarf again. I really like knitting it up this time around. Basically, over the past year my knitting skills have improved and this time around its not so bad. I am on the second half of the scarf. The colors are so pretty. I cannot wait to wrap this up and give it to my mother-in-law. She has been waiting a while for it!

I also started a little something for her for this holiday! I had two skeins of the badger sock yarn so I am going to make her some mittens. I started knitting the first mitten on two circular needles as suggested by a friend and I really like it over the double pointed method. Of course I am not very far yet so we will see how I like me as time goes on :) This is the first attempt at mittens but I am sure they are pretty similar to socks. I am excited to see the finished product but it will be a while :)

Finally, I started my first knit-a-long (KAL) today. What a great way to knit something! I am knitting the Quaker Ridge Shawl by Susan B. Anderson. My best friend bought me the yarn for the project because she is super sweet! (Side note, I totally miss her and the family :) ).  I am knitting this pattern up in Malabrigo Rio yarn. I got a nice start today when I was at the park with my little man. I checked the thread on Ravelry and there are a lot of very talented knitters with great ideas, colors and beads for this project. I never thought of some of the ideas they had! Its also fun to show off your work and have people comment on your project. A complement from a fellow knitter is always fun! I was surprised so many people loved my stitch markers :) They are all home  made! The pattern has an option for adding beads. I am going to do this but I am going to wait until more the the shawl is complete to decide what exactly I want. I think cute blue pearls would be awesome. Not sure though... Any suggestions?

I would love to hear how your weekend went. I hope you got to enjoy this fall weather! My husband is so excited for pumpkin pies, fall colors and Halloween! Well here is an updated picture of my little man. I am off to watch some batman cartoons and serious snuggle time! Until next time, keep knitting!

The family had an amazing weekend. It was filled with relaxing times, knitting, dyeing yarn and great food. I absolutely love spending time at the M's house. I love their family. I hope that one day my son turns out as amazing and the two big C's.

For a treat, my knitting partner and I visited some over her favorite knitting shops! Silver Creek Cabin was a very big store, not in size but the amount of yarn. This place was packed with yarn. It was almost overwhelming yet very fun! We also visited the Coldwater Collaborative in Excelsior MN. This yarn shop was in a cute town and was very nice. I loved all of the different yarn. Next we spent some time dyeing yarn. Here is my fav from the whole weekend

We also had amazing food thanks to Vic all weekend. In addition, C and I had an idea to make pretzel wrapped hotdogs which turned out amazing! As a side we grilled veggies, pineapple and bacon wrapped/cream cheese stuffed peppers! All of the food was great.

I have so much to post about this weekend and the fun I had but I am exhausted. Check out my friends page for more details about our adventures and fun! I hope you had a great holiday weekend as well. Until next time, keep knitting.

Hello knitters. Its been a while since I posted. We have been pretty busy (as usual) here. Lots of time with family and friends. This week in particular, my son's daycare is closed for a cleaning week. He was home all day yesterday with my hubby and today I have for a while. Then he is off with my mom for a few days so we can work. This is the first time he will be away from me for more than a single evening. I am nervous, sad, and a bit excited to hang out with my husband (which makes me feel more guilty!) We are picking him up on Thursday and then heading up to see my knitting partner for the weekend. It should be a wonderful time. A nice fun, relaxing break before school starts. Its my first year teaching and I am so nervous. So many emotions right now! Knitting will be great therapy! As for knitting I got confirmation that my sister-in-law will not read my blog because I am going to post her gift. If this is you, DO NOT READ ON :) I have been working on the baby chalice blanket by Karen S. Lauger. I made it will all cotton yarn so we could dye it a pretty color and it will be very soft for the baby! I am extremely excited to see how it turns out! Here is some progress on the project.

I really like how it is turning out. I am thinking about dyeing the yarn to match her baby nursery colors.  My hubby's cousin is also expecting a baby girl and I started a baby sweater out of sock yarn I dyed a couple of weeks ago.

 The colors are a bit wild but fun for a little girl. The pictures exaggerate the colors a lot but I still think its adorable. Plus the baby will wear it once (maybe twice) before she grows too big :) This pattern is Sunnyside Cardigan by Tanis Fiber Arts. 

My dear husband, got me this yarn for a late birthday gift. I love it. It was originally advertised on fb a while back. I waited until payday to get it and it sold :( However, a couple of weeks ago it was back on facebook and ON SALE! You cant ask for more than that!I am thinking of making these socks with it. Super cute and it will be my first toe up sock. (I think they are toe up..?!?!)

My amazing knitting partner treated me to the yarn for the KAL Susan B Anderson is having for the Quaker Ridge Shawl. I am so excited and thankful this lady was willing to buy me awesome yarn! This will be my first KAL.

This past weekend we went to the badger fun day and sweet corn fest with some family. I have a ton of fun pictures and would like to share! Enjoy and until next time keep knitting :)

Just one of those days

The title about sums it up. I had "just one of those days" and when I do I usually sit and reflect. Today one memory really comes to mind. (I should preface this with, its been a pretty emotional day or two.)  It's been about 5 years now and some one told me something and it was meant to hurt my feelings but it had a completely different impact. Basically, I was told in short I was not a very considerate person. At first I was floored and shocked. But then I thought about it and they were completely right. When I talked with my friends, I only cared about what I had to say and did not listen. Nor did I ever ask how they or their families were doing. Looking back, bringing this to my attention was the best thing a real friend could do. Since then, I make certain I ask, how are you... listen to the answer. Remember whats going on and ask again later. Being truly concerned and aware of what is going on. This post is not coming out the way I wanted but in short, I care. What an impact it has had on my friendships, family and workplace. Overall, I feel a part of others peoples lives and feel like they know, we are always there if needed. I hope you are there for someone and someone is there for you. Because when it is "just one of those days" they are there to make it all better, kind of chicken noodle soup for the heart. 

After this bad day, I walked past a car in the parking lot and it had a bumper sticker that said:

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

 And that is all I needed. I am off to knit.

Hello knitters. Things around here were quiet this past weekend. We went to the pool Friday night, had dinner at my sister-in-law's Saturday and had a friend over for dinner on Sunday. I love knitting and been busy with various projects. The problem is they are gifts so if I post anything it will spoil it. I am so excited to share though. As a side note, I really miss my knitting buddy!

I have also started a new endeavor. I took a course at meant to bead in Sun Prairie. I had a great time and picked up quite a few tips and tricks. Here is what we made at the course.

I was quite excited to show off my new pieces. I also think this may be the best idea for gifts. I put my new skills to work and made my friends quite a few pieces for their birthday's! Here is S with her new hat and earrings.

Tonight I am off to knit with a friend and check out Trade Joe's. Tomorrow I am having sushi with a couple of close work friends. As for the weekend we are off to a family reunion! Should be fun times with many pictures to come. Here is the bear before and after his new hair do!

  Until next time, Keep Knitting

Hello all! What a great weekend. We went up to Rogers, MN to visit my husband's cousin and family, and my cousin's family! Over the trip, Nolan went to the Como zoo with Big C, wrestled with Vic, played cars with Cruz and went swimming with Oliver, Harvey & Adler. We all had a great time and wish it was a bit longer. With my little man being busy with his family, M and I spent our time experimenting and dying some sock yarn!  We tried various dyes and techniques. I even tried using berries to dye yarn! The finished products are shown below.

If you ask me which one is my favorite, well, I am not sure which one I would choose. I love them all. They all look perfect for various projects. Like the white one with different color dots, well that looks perfect for a baby soaker or sweater! Can you think of any perfect projects? Since, my friend and I have so much yarn, way too much for us to knit, we are selling it. Here is what is left (because its going fast).

They skeins are 420 yards of finger weight yarn, super wash merino wool. We are offering them for $25.00 a skein with free shipping within the United States. Just leave a comment if interested and I will be in touch.

As for my knitting projects, they are coming along nicely! I finished a hat for a friend. It was the Elvira pattern by Alyssa Heath. I think it turned out pretty cute. I know she will love it and she should get it within a few days.

I have a ton of new projects on the needles. I am trying to be very dilegent and get this holiday presents done on time. They are coming along fast and looking good.

Well, its my last day off from this vacation so I am off to knit! Here is a cute picture of my son at the zoo and in the bath. 

Until next time, Keep knitting my friends.