Vogueknitting Fall 2012 Issue

   I finally went and got my own copy of the new Vogueknitting. WOW! There are some wonderful patterns contained in this issue. From Nicky Epstein's stunning "Wedding Dress" to Jeannie Chin's quirky "Dolman Hoodie", there is something interesting for everyone.
   Epstein's "Wedding Dress" is knit in Artyarns' "Beaded Silk & Sequins Light," "Silk Mohair Glitter," and "Ensemble Glitter Light." A bodice knit on it's side with pearls at the scoop neck, hints at the drama to come from a back view. A daring open back, with a drop waist that brings us to the hexagonal paneled skirt. Petal-like sleeves echo the same hexagons. What a beautiful work of art!
   I can see myself attempting Cheryl Murray's "Reverse Fair Isle Coat". Cleverly designed to draw attention to what is usually the "wrong" side of the fabric, the pattern is worked in reverse stockinette, so the stranded colorwork is the highlight of the coat. Worked in Blue Sky Alpaca's "Melange", the pattern comes in extended sizes (which is always nice), and also features a shawl collar, and a nice below-the-hip length. The colorwork is brought to light at the end of the sleeves as well, giving you ample opportunity to try your hand at this interesting design element.
   In a bright teal, Lily Kate France's "Cabled Mittens", really stand out. Cables race up the arm from the very tip of your fingers, beginning and ending over and over. The thumb is encompassed with ribbing and with a generous length of 15", you won't have to worry about winter winds creeping up your arms. Knit in a merino/silk blend from Fyberspates/Lantern Moon's "Scrumptious Aran", these mittens are certainly scrumptious.
   With interesting articles on Shetland Wool Week and a "little" store in New York called Annie & Co., seven book reviews, and an excerpt from Kaffe Fasset's autobiography, this latest issue is one I'll be pouring over for awhile.

Mini Staycation

Yesterday, we took the kids into Springfield to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. What a wonderful place! The kids had so much fun and learned a lot. Country kids that they are, just driving into downtown Springfield is amazing to them. With the taller buildings and the one way streets. So sheltered.

When we got into the museum, we were greeted with the suggestion that we step into the holographic theater that was starting a performance in 5 minutes.  That really helped set the mood. Kellen got scared a bit but otherwise enjoyed himself. Lorenne and Josh loved it. After leaving that, we went into Journey 1, which began in a replica of a log cabin that Abe Lincoln might have grown up in. It was so small and cramped. But what I noticed right off - the knitting basket at the foot of the bed! Josh rolled his eyes at that. What was so interesting about the exhibits is how they were sectioned off and as you entered one, you wound your back into different rooms that had pictures and vignettes and artifacts. They led you around and out to the very next exhibit. There was another theater that had a performance about seeing Lincoln through eyes of the times and not the mist of the legend he has become. It was very thought provoking. I knew that he was not well liked by many at the time (I went through a phase of reading up on the Civil War era), but I didn't realize just how despised he was by everyone for one reason or another.
We ate lunch at the Subway that's conveniently located in the museum, got one of those souvenier pennies for each of the kids and finished up at the gift shop. Kellen got a bag of little soldiers, with cannons and horses and wagons. Lorenne got a quill and ink pot.
Next stop was Lincoln's home.

Because we got there later in the day, we were unable to get free tickets to go inside. Which was a bummer to say the least. But, we walked around the neighborhood, where there are a number of houses that have been restored to their original look so you can get a sense of what it was like. There are actors walking around in period dress and can tell you anything you like about the houses or neighborhood. We found it interesting to learn that until the mid-80's the streets were not blocked off and that there was actually a Piggly-Wiggly in the lot across the street from the Lincoln home.
Last stop for the day was to his tomb which is located in hilly Oak Park Cemetary.

Except for the bratty kid who was yelling at his grandma in the parking lot, making fun of the way she parked and begging for a butt-whoopin', it was a good way to cap the day. I haven't been there since I was a kid, and neither had Josh.

We also drove around the Riverside Park and saw that there's a stable there and so now the kids want to go horseback riding and are going to go to the Olympics in horse jumping and babble babble babble.

It was a good day, and good way to end my summer vacay from work.
I go back on Wednesday. Scary stuff, that. Not really, but I've become accustomed to sitting on my butt here at home and sitting on my butt back in that office just doesn't sound quite as appealing.

I've got some ideas for next summer and an actual vacation. We're very overdue. We've never gone on a vacation, the four of us, and Lorenne will be 12 in March and we'll have been married 13 years. Josh gets another week of vacation next year as well, after 9 years working for the company. I'm going to convince him to spend it with us over the summer break and not trapping with his dad in the fall. We'll see what happens, considering his dad didn't get to trap last year because of his leg injury. Pulled his thigh muscle away from the bone, two days before season started. He was out at work for three months, healing. Poor guy. Anyways.... I suppose that's all for now.
I hope I get into the swing of all this.

Oh PS: cast on for a pair of fingerless mitts for Lorenne. In a soft blue yarn, DK weight. Although I'm knitting them right in front of her, she doesn't know what they are and doesn't ask about what I'm making. So hopefully they can stay a surprise. Kellen has been asking for a knitted Angry Bird stuftie or an Angry Bird hat. I hate commercialism but the patterns I've seen for the hats are pretty cute. Maybe for Christmas...

New names and a revelation (I'm boringgggggg)

Windy Hill Knits......
After two years, I thought I'd start anew with the name we've claimed for our homestead. It's a fitting name, Windy Hill. Sometimes we love our breeze, say in the summer, when it's 110 degrees and we think we might melt. Other times, we hate it, say in the winter, when it's 10 degrees and our nostrils freeze. Oh, our house. The wind has ripped off so much siding, it's pathetic. (Hate the wind then.) We have a leaky window, and no matter how much caulk we fill it with, still seams to leak like a sieve when the rain (what rain? we're in the middle of a hideous drought!) blows off the porch roof, inbetween the siding and the window and down into our living room. The roof line is starting to look a bit bowed. We've talked about adding on, moving the front door location, remodeling the kitchen and bath and switching their locations. None of it will happen. Most likely. I'm not expecting it anyway.
Last summer, I started working as the assistant secretary at the high school. Our high school. It was weird at first, since some teachers from our time are still there. But, I like it. I feel as though I might be making, not a difference or an impression, nothing that lofty, but a positive spot in all those kids lives. Hopefully. We've made some changes to the office. It looks great in there, with new paint and a furniture move. It was time. It's looked the same for about 25 years atleast. I've liked the time off this summer. Being on the same basic schedule as my kids has been wonderful! And two months in the summer has been a dream. Going back on the 8th. It's gone by too fast. Haven't done anything fun this summer. Thought we'd have a mini-vacation at least, but we had to fix the AC and the sump pump needed a new motor. And the Yukon needs new tires. The list is endless. We're going to try to go to Wildlife Prairie Park in Peoria next weekend. My last weekend.

I don't know how suited to blogging my mind really is. I never really kept a diary or anything as a kid. And there's always a little person asking me about something or talking incessantly about a particular topic.

I've been knitting a lot. Can't remember the last time I picked up a crochet hook. easier to find patterns I guess. I hope I can get this cabled sweater done in time. It's a beautiful dark red wool, and I don't wear red nearly as much as I should. My coloring is suited to red, but my personality is not. We'll see how it looks when I'm done.

I guess that's all for now.

I'm Baaaaaaaaack

Oh my goodness, it's been soooooooo long. TWO YEARS!!!! Let's see what's happened....
I've gotten the hang of knitting. I've made mittens, stuffed animals, baby clothes, hats, a blanket for charity, a top for myself, socks and a shawl. Right now, I have a cabled hoodie on the needles for myself.
I work at the local high school as a secretary.  Lots going on there. Nearly time to go back to school, too.
I'm sewing curtains for Lorenne's room. All she had was sheers so I'm using those and some cute aqua colored fabric to fashion some new ones.
Lorenne will be in junior high this year. :( And Kellen will be in first. :( My tiny babies are getting big and it's super sad.
We started going to church again last year. Josh got baptized and it was AWESOME!! We're growing in Christ more every day.
I'll have to fill in more as I have time. Can't believe I even remembered the password to get in here. LOL!!

Lately.....

I've got a few things on hook and sticks. On Sticks: A scarf for a friend's birthday that I thought was later this month. I found out it was at the end of last month. (CRAP) On hook: A granny ripple afghan in scrappy leftover yarn in a range of colors for ourselves. And a pretty little granny square baby blanket in dusty lavendar, cream, and brown with a matching cap for a friend's baby girl due in two months. It's been lots of fun.
Summer has been hot and humid. But I have loved loved loved staying at home with my kids. We've been trying to come up with some ideas that could make me staying home all the time possible. I've been asked by quite a few people if I give crochet classes, and I'm now seriously considering that. It could be a lot of fun, I think. Just need a place in town where I might be able to hold them. If I have them at the library, I can't charge a fee. I suppose there is the Village Hall, but I don't know how that might work. I suppose some research is in my horizon.
The guys who farm around our house came today to mow the ditches. Josh caught them after one of them had come up one side of our lane and told him to quit. We like the ditch grass long and full for all the wildlife that live in it. The guy didn't even know we owned the lane. LOL He said he just gets told to go mow in certain places. He called his boss on the radio and told him what Josh said, and Josh heard the boss say, "Well, get the h*** out of there then!" Hahahaha. Oh well. At least all the wildlife can move over to the other side of the lane.
Ahhhh life....

Necessity Hat

Necessity Hat

So the hat that began out of necessity has finally made it here. Why out of necessity, you may ask? Well, because in my search for a crocheted cabled slouchy hat with an interesting design and twisting cables, I came up empty handed. So, I made one up myself. This pattern will be for sale, I think. But I need to do some testing on it and see how the pattern works out. It's not for the faint of heart, as there are a lot of cross-overs and go-backs and "where-the-heck-am-I-supposed-to-put-this-stitch?" type of stitches. I finished it just in time to wear it out and about at the tail end of the cold weather, but I got quite a few compliments on it. Let me know if you want to try your hand at testing the pattern.

Thirty years and counting....

Thirty years. Seems like a long time in some instances. But in the course of a lifetime, not so much. I feel like I'm really starting to live my life. I went from being someone's daughter to someone's wife to someone's mother with no real stops in between to learn who I am to myself. Those steps I took ten years ago, to marry my dearest, most beloved friend were exactly what I needed. He's a solid rock of a man, which was and is something I desperately needed. College wouldn't have worked for me, at a time when I would've made stupid mistakes and bounced around like a game of pinball. I'll get to college eventually, when I've made up my mind what I want to do. For now, I'm contented with being a Mrs. and a mommy. I have a happy family life, which is all the little girl inside of me has ever wanted. We live in a leaky old farmhouse, we drive 11 year old vehicles, we don't have fancy clothes or go on vacation. We do have love in abundance, love in the face of adversity, laughter in even sad times, camaraderie in everything we do. We're evenly yoked, he and I, sharing our strengths and shouldering the weaknesses. So, instead of figuring myself out, my family has taught me who I am, and who I want and need to be.


I'm knitting (yes, knitting) myself a new bag. I got some super SUPER cute material at Joann's and just had to do it.

The blue of the yarn and the background of the fabric is more intense than what is shown in the picture. It's going to be a much smaller bag than what I carry right now, but that could be a good thing. Better for my shoulder anyway. I'll post another picture when I'm done.