November 16, 2014

Sweater knitting has been going very slowly.  One of the side effects of being on pain medication all the time is a marked decrease in the ability to concentrate.  Along with this comes trouble with following patterns.  While not such a problem in quilting, it's been a huge problem with my knitting!  Overall, there has been a lot more unknitting than there has been knitting!  I swear that I have knit and torn out each row that you see here at least twice.  I think I have a system now to keep me on track, so hopefully things will go more smoothly, with a minimum of frogging.  The sweater is the Lace Jacket from Debbie Bliss' Winter Garden Book, done in Winter Garden Super Bulky in Purple.  You would think with a Super Bulky yarn it would be going quickly.  Not so much...although maybe now that I have things figured out it will.

When my brain can't comprehend that pattern, I resort to this sock.  Grace bought a skein of Cascade 220 for me because she thought I would love this color.  And I do.  I wanted a simple, low cuff sock to wear around the house, one that I could make without thinking too much.

The Easy Peasy Sock pattern fit the bill. Simple, a quick knit and I don't have to look at the pattern while I'm knitting, except at the heels and toes.  Just perfect!

One of these days I'll head back into my sewing room.  I miss it, but would really like to get this sweater done to wear THIS winter!

October 26, 2014

 Long time no see!  There hasn't been much to blog about here...no sewing or knitting to speak of, just life going on.  The kids are well and happy, we're well, I've found a pain doctor who has managed to get my pain from the shingles mostly under control with a wonderful side effect...I've lost almost 30 pounds!  I certainly can't complain about that!  So, we've just returned from a short trip to the happiest place on earth and it was all decorated for fall. It was just so beautiful!

The new parade, Festival of Fantasy, was incredible and I loved the dragon...Maleficent!

While we were there we took a spin on Prince Charming's Carousel...

and I visited a few favorites...Duffy...

and a very special princess, who is a friend of my daughter's from when she worked there doing the college program...

We got to see the Sorcerer's Apprentice hat at Hollywood Studios for the last time, Disney has announced that they will be removing it early in 2015, so by the time we head down at the end of April on our next trip, it will be gone.

We also attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, which was such fun! It's the one time of year that adults can dress in costume and go to the parks.  Lee and I dressed as King Fergus and Queen Elinor from the movie Brave.  We got to the Magic Kingdom before the party started so that we could be sure to get in line to see Princess Merida.  She was just delightful!  She stayed in character and spoke to us as if we were her parents.  My dress is the only bit of sewing I've done in ages and it was quite the challenge.  The pattern I used didn't have bell sleeves, so I made them up as I went along. 

The back had grommets that I had to install and was laced...this picture gives you an idea of how it was done.

I've been looking back over my old blog entries and realized I enjoy seeing what I worked on and when I did certain projects.  Blog reading has changed so much, now that so many blogs are either advertisements for the writers own fabric lines, patterns, etc.,  or they are pushing other people's products and websites.  I miss the days where we just shared what we were doing without trying to sell something.  I haven't quilted for the public for a number of years and haven't even used the longarm very much for myself.  I plan to get back to my quilting and knitting...and I plan to keep track of it here once again.  I hope you'll join me.

Happy New Year!

Life around Lakeside Quilting has been a whirlwind, I didn't mean to be away so long!  So, what's been going on you ask?  Well, right before Thanksgiving, The Boss and I took a little vacation to visit Grace at The Happiest Place on Earth, where she'd been working since June.

The Boss and Grace

We were lucky enough to be there to see the Osbourne Family Lights...they were absolutely gorgeous!

Osbourne Lights

 We spent some time in Magic Kingdom where I got to meet my favorite princess, Merida.  She told me we were twins with our curly, red hair! (Hers is so much prettier!)

At Epcot, Mickey joined us for dinner at The Coral Reef....

 Then we headed back to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!  The castle was beautiful...

We met Pooh and Friends...

and Grace and Duffy were dressed up for the party...

 Shortly after we came home from Florida, we had some snow...

and we ran into some friends at the mall while we were Christmas shopping...

Santa came...but we really missed having Grace home for Christmas!

And I finished my Milk Run Shawl! Although I didn't keep it...

And then on New Year's Eve I headed back to Florida to help Grace pack up so we could drive home.  We did 3 parks in one day...starting at Epcot...

 

Where Grace said goodbye to her buddy Duffy...

and asked Mary Poppins to sign her book...

Then to Hollywood Studios where we had dinner with one of her friends at The Brown Derby...

We took an animation class and learned to draw Piglet...

and Grace said goodbye to her boss.

Then we headed to our 3rd park of the day, Magic Kingdom, where Belle said good bye to the girls.

Before setting off for NJ the next day, we stopped by the Polynesian Resort to have breakfast with Stitch...

Grace and Stitch

Me and Stitch

 Pluto stopped by...

And Grace got to say one last goodbye to her former boss, Mickey...

and so did I...

 We stopped in Savannah, GA on the first night home and finally got home at 10pm the next night.  It was good to have all 3 kids back under my roof again, even if it was only for dinner... 

Ellen, Grace and Andrew

Actually, make that all FIVE kids!!!

Joe, Ellen, Grace, Andrew and Dayna

 Grace is back to school now, but before she left we saw Frozen twice. (Yes, it's THAT good!) and created one last Disney memory for her...

So now it's time to get back to MY projects!  Haven't been in my sewing room for awhile, but I have a few things in the works...I need to put my Short List together and get moving!