Wednesday WIPs

 



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 Here are a couple WIPs that are receiving my attention which means the afghan is set aside for the moment so I can work on some gifts.





The first is a mystery KAL dish/face cloth that I plan to use in a swap. If you squint your eyes and tilt your head at exactly the correct angle...there..can you see it? There are two small garter stitch hearts in the center, one positioned above the other. This is the first time I've used "I Love This Cotton" by Lily from Hobby Lobby. This cloth is soft enough for a face cloth and feels like a brushed cotton. I wonder if the fibers would withstand scrubbing dirty dishes.                        

The other is called Christian's Hat a quick and charming knit hat that I will add to my donation to Knitted Needs in Denver. The yarn is Ella Rae yarn is 100% wool which is perfect for this frigid weather. I want to get it along with a scarf and the pink/red hat into the hands of someone who needs it ASAP!

 

 This Slip Stitch Stash Hat was indeed knitted with stash, Plymouth Encore and Bucilla Melody.

 

My current read is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini, an interesting historical fiction that opens just before the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

 

So...what are you knitting and reading?

 

Winter Survival Kit

It was a lovely, lovely surprise when we got home from Denver yesterday and found the package from my Swag Swap partner! Yaaay! So fun! My generous partner provided survival items for Lailah and me! Just look at the goodies! Two items are not in the picture, which I'll explain in a bit.



 

  First of all, I know I'll survive with the darling project bag she sent. The Boxer bag is just precious! Love it! I am sharing the pretzel treats with my DH so everyone in the house is enjoying goodies from my swap partner. I thank her so much! You can see how cute the Boxer puppies calendar is--so sweet. She also sent a cute metal button that says "Keep calm & Hug a Boxer" which I stuck on the cork board in the kitchen. In addition to the set of raw hide chews, Lailah received this:

See it there? The red thing, yes, that's it. Guess who loves it and carries it all through the house and outdoors? If you guessed me, you're wrong! ;)  It is a clever toy for an adult dog--a goofy looking dog cover that has an empty water bottle in it. You know that loud crinkling sound the plastic bottle makes when you squeeze it? Like when you're in a meeting and the bottle loudly crunches and you try to slide under the table? Yep, that sound. Add a squeaker to that and there it is! Lailah thinks it's great! I love watching her play with it.

Sincere thanks  to my swap partner on Ravelry Swag Swap.

Oh.....have you heard about the Super Bowl?? Here's what you need to say: 

GOoooooo Broncos!!!

 

(Full diclosure: two of my former students are affiliated with the Bronco organization--one is a scout, the other is a player.  WOOT-WOOT!)

Color Work Crochet

 



Now that my Christmas knitting is finished, I can pick up a WIP that I started and stopped last month. Not that I did a ton of Christmas knitting and crochet, but enough. I knitted three pairs of fingerless mitts: for a friend (to match an ear warmer), for my son, and for my dear husband and crocheted a twin size throw (the Sports Blanket) for my grandson, several "Twinkle Stars" to decorate gifts, and a fancy facecloth for a Ravelry swap.



It was a case of start-itis when I crocheted the first several rows of this throw just to see it! And, I liked it. I liked it. So, now I'm back at the "Country Fresh Blanket" from Yarnspirations. I'm enjoying the simplicity of the stitches along with the color work that gives it life.

 

Ravelry Mystery Swap 3 -- Received

Thank you so very much to Sunmoon for the luscious gift box complete with ingredients for a great meal of pasta plus knitting items:

Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Sox pattern, 2 skeins of gorgeous Panda silk in beautiful shades of teal, Brittany size 2 dpns, Pony needles, a see-through 6-inch ruler, a magnetic notepad, Eucalyptus hand cream. and a Mini Bamboo crochet hook–so cute!

Italy Theme: ingredients for an Italian meal complete with an apron decorated with mouth-watering purple grapes and a pasta scoop along with mini-penne, garlic & herb spaghetti sauce, grated Italian topping, cappuccino mix, and Bliss chocolates to finish the meal. Excellent!!

Thanks-thanks-thanks! Love it all! :D

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I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.~ Psalm 63:8

Dogs on Thursday

A word about Wednesday: I was on a flight from Dallas approaching Denver International Airport when I snapped that pic on approach. Thanks for asking.


Following a week in the hospital after ingesting 90 anti-infammatory capsules, Lailah came home yesterday to her own private nurse, Max. The next two weeks are critical. She needs lots of rest, many meds, and low activity level. So, she's on a leash or in her kennel at all times until the ulcerations in her G-I tract have healed. She goes back to the vet tomorrow for a look-see. Trying times!

WHERE is she??? THERE her is!!

Christmas shopping was wrapped up a month ago. Then, I went to Petco and got a few gifts for the doggies. Max's green stocking says "spoiled" because he deserves to be! He is a loving, mellow, wonderful boy. The giant size rawhide bone will fill his stocking!

The red stocking says "naughty" on one side and "nice" on the other for Lailah because she is a sweetheart who is a very curious puppy. She likes plush toys so the Santa and red and green bone are for her. The little mat is already in her kennel where she is sleeping at the moment. Just love the Gingerbread Boy and his dog!

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For a child is born to us, a son is given to us…And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Lost in Yarn

Oh, the luscious Malabrigo and Crystal Palace yarns from my dear SP11!! The gorgeous red calls to me...no, it's the soft to dark grays in the Crystal Palace...wait! the gold to green Malabrigo just pulls me!! I can't thank Alicia at http://www.ponyknit.blogspot.com/ enough for my final package of this swap. Once I tore myself away from touching and petting the yarns, I was tickled by her thoughtful giftie treats for my doggies. I've already sharpened my too-sweet ponies pencil. I discovered that Alicia is a horsewoman! I love the pastel ponies pencil! The Faith Notes will be a continuing blessing with adhesive notes of encouragement.

Thanks to you, Alicia, for the perfectly perfect package! :)

A Lovely Thank You Surprise

Totally astounded, I opened a thank you package from the Knitorious Mrs. B http://theknitoriousmrsb.blogspot.com/ to whom I had sent gift packages for SP11. This is the first time I've received a thank you package from the partner whom I gifted.

Thank you so very much for your thoughtfulness, Mrs. B! The Spice Cake candle is burning now and each item will be put to good use!!

He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. Psalm 40:2

RAK

Sincere thanks to a fellow Raveler who made this beautiful assortment of stitch markers as a RAK. She enclosed a packet of knitting notes, as well. Thanks SO much!!

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You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.

2 Kings 19:15

WOW, BABE!

My November partner truly gifted me expressing the theme of thankfulness and inspiration. I look forward to getting into the three books with themes of friendship and caring. Also included are a thong bookmark (very pretty), angels--glass and two small cards, a small Victorian calendar, green apple and strawberry candy swirls, and surprises for my doggies Max and Lailah!! They are bouncing around with joy! Just look at the dog cookies in the plastic bag. Wonder if she made those? The Boxer magnet is precious! And, the best for last....will you look at those glittery collars for Christmas??! I love those! The doggies will be sporting those all through December. I love the Pilgrim woman and added her to a Fall wreath arrangement on our dining room table. My deepest thanks for all the thought she put into these gifts.

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You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3