Wow March Already

Well,
It's been a real long time since I've blogged. I've been just depressed and not feeling like dowing much of anything except keep house cleaned and take care of hubby and animals. But things are on the upswing. Last month was a hard month with losing my cousin MJ. He was the sweetest little boy and he had a million dollar smile that went on for days! But he is smiling, running and teaching the angels some dance moves now and he is no longer suffering. My cousin Nancy is/was an awesome mom and women. We pray for her and the family daily. As for my spinning well I have started that again working on finally I hope coming to the end of my mom's yarn. I have taught myself how to do Fair Isle knitting and finished a hat!! My first FO for 2009 and I hope to have the gauntlets done shortly and my granddaughters shawl. I am working on a shawl for Nancy and for La'Nae'. La"Nae" is going in for "major" surgery on Tuesday "19" hours long and I will leave for SA tomorrow and be at her home taking care of our nephew Tre'.
So today I went and knit with the gals at the Starbucks, I love the Sunday afternoon knitting group I can relax and knit an chat. That is the only time that I can actually talk and knit with others that love to knit as well. I got my first knitting bag. Not your average one either, it is a "NAMASTE" Laguna in "Hollywood Pink" and I just love it!!. I can carry several knitting projects in it and there is enough room for my wallet, cell phone and etc. It has pockets and zipped compartments and a pocket and zipped compartment on the outside. I also got a real nice surprise yesterday, my hubby gave me the deposit for the knitting cruise in Nov. and I am completely stoked abpout it too. It'll leave from Gavelston going to Mexico. It is gonna be great to meet dinfferent knitters and take all the different workshops as well. Oh here are pictures of the finished hat and the kntting bag:

The picture wasn't taken in good light, it is actually a little brighter. But it is so nice to not have to take a purse and knitting bag when I go anywhere now. I had to put a little bit of that nubby shelf liner on the strap and it now stays on my shoulders.

Here is the hat (above), it was a little bit of a challenge but I accomplished it, though I will not snug up the floats anymore. I did on this one and it will not fit my head but hey, I got a jump start on this Christmas lol. Then below as you can see I was in one of my dyeing moods and did some orange dye on some tunis wool and the scarlet is lincoln long wool locks. I used cushings dye and I like it but I have found a place where I can get the Landscape dyes which I like much better. Well it is 10:31 and I still have to pack and make the liver for Michael. I have been making up dinners so that all he has to do is just reheat food while I am away. I know that he will be calling me several times a day too.

Also while I am away I am taking my supplies so I can crank out the stitch markers and get them pictured so that when I come home I can upload them and start selling. I have gotten some really nice beads this time and will be maing sets of 4, 6 and 8. Well y'all have a nice week and will catch ya later!

Ciao!

CW

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!!
We had a rough 7 months until Novemeber, but things are getting much better Thank You Jesus. We are hoping to be in a new home within the next 18 months. Our friends have just gotten their new home in MO. Small house and 2 barns on 20 acres, we are so happy for them. We are believing in the Lord for our next home that will have property and land so that we can raise our own animals for fiber production as well as to supply some of our food as well. Plus gardens and orchards to provide produce and so frth enough to share and barter with our neighbors. This year I will learn how to weave on a triagle loom to make shawls and so forth. Things have become so built up in our area in the last 2 years that it is feeling congested to us. There are several extended stay hotel/motels being built in the area. Anyway our Christmas was a quiet one, just the 2 of us. Which was nice since I have been battling this viral flu bug or what ever you want to call it. All I know is it is going on week 4 and I still feel rather tired and sleep a lot. Only this week I can actually do a bit of cleaning around the house before I have to lay down and rest. But there was a time when I sleep on and off for "3" days!!

We spent our anniversary (of our first date) with some friends and brought the new year in. It was rather nice we had a seafood feast, but let me tell you after doing the cooking whn it was time to eat I really did not have much of an appetite lol. But we had seafood left over and Michael had shrimp and fries for an early dinner so that was nice, I just had to reheat things. Today he put up the surrond sound speakers and the nwe need to exchange our "new" cableHD box because it is not workin right plus it does not have a spot to plug the dvd player. I got a Sony Walkman MP3 player and I am having fun ripping songs to put on it. I have never had one and it is so nice to be able to sit in bed at night when I can't sleep and listen to music while I knit. This way I do not disturb Michael and the little bed hogs stay sleeping too. I also got a Sugar Glider for Christmas so he is among the newest of the 4-legged kiddo's in our family. Michael named him gangster. We are still in the bonding phase an I have to start to handle him more during the day so that he'll get used to me. But when I was first hit with this flu bug thing I did not because I did not want him to get sick. But I keep him in a bonding pouch that I wear around my neck, tucked inside my shirt and carry him around with me during the day. He definitely knows the sound of Michael's voice cause he makes his little crabbing noise everytime he walks into my office lol. As I type this entry I have Rita and Angus with me they are sleeping on their pink bunny pillow and let me tell you that little guy can SNORE pretty loudly lol. It is amazing because one night I woke up because I thought it was Michael and it turned out to be Angus, now that was funny.

This year is going to be the year that we want to have saved up a nice nest egg so that we'll have a descent amount put aside for when the Lord gives us the green light to sell and move. It might be FL or MO. MO would probably be the best because this way we'll be just 1.5 days drive from our parents either way. We lost 2 family members at the end of 2008, Ada was a very had one that hit us extremely hard and unexpected. But we look at it as the Lord has a special job for her in heaven and that the job he had for her on earth was done. But one day at a time is how we take it and we find ourselves from time to time chuckling over something that reminds us of her. It is strange but in her death we have recoinnected with another cousin. Let me tell you La Nae is like a sister to me and we have long talks on the telephone and we'll be going up to Ada's grave site to plant 2 Eteni-trees. Nae's neighbor had then sent to her instead of flowers, and they are "2" of Ada's favorite trees, which are Ginko Boloba and Japanese Maple. I have been spinning and hope to have mom's yarn done in a couple of weeks time. I have to order more of the brown pencil roving to pla the darker wool with. I am finishing up my friend Suzanne's gauntlet/fingerless gloves. I finished my cousin MJ's hat and then I have to spin up some yarn to make Skylar her hat, then I am making Sista something as well.

I do have to finish the socks for Michael too, I tell you the heel part is what I am dredding, I am knitting them the majic look way and so far it has been a breeze until you hit the heel. Maybe what I'll do is put the heel stitches on DPN's and work the heel that way and then go back to magic loop. Anyway I should stop since I have an appointment tomorrow and need to get some rest. One of my goals this year is to blog on a more regular basis. I do have pictures to post of my purchases made at the Kid-n-Ewe fiber festival as well as others. So I wish oyu a great week in the New Year!

& God Bless,

Wow how time flies!

The last 2 months seemed to have flown by!! We have had two good events and one bad. The first thing that was a good event was that we brought out house guest to the Airport Nov. 5 and said good bye to her and Rusty. They are now back in Ca and settling nicely. The the other good is tht this year my hubby went with me to the Kid-n-Ewe Festibal in Boerne, TX. We stayed in San Anotoni at the Candlewood Suites and oh my gosh it was awesome, each room hae a kitchenette with a cooktop,fullsized refrig, micro wave utensils and dish and glassware. It was just great to stay there.

My spinners workshop was at 9 in the morning and that was just great. I learned what I was doing wrong when it came to the Long draw and I corrected it and then I learned who to spin flax. No that was something them I was shown after class how to Navaho ply using the wheel and that I must practice. But it wa great fun. Then I had my space dyeing class and that was totally awesome!! This type of dyeing is so cool and easy too. I think I might even teach a space dyeing class after the first of the year. By then I should have all my dyes in by then and it will be fun. Then I got some fiber too. Not as much as last year because I knew what types of fiber I was looking for this time. I have some awesome fibers to spin too. I also got some fiber goodies for my friend Suzanne. Then Michael had put my name down for the silent auction which I didn't know and I had put my name down for 2 auctions for hand dyed fiber. Guess what I walked away (had to pay for them lol) with 3 items.

I also made some new friends they had a booth in the Alpaca ranchers barn and looks like we could possible be doing business togehter in the future regarding my stitch markers. So that is exciting and I got lots of complements on my felted [urse as well. We got home on Sunday night around 9:30 after we picked up our little dogs and around 11:45-midnight the phone rang and we got some very bad heart breaking news. Our cousin Ada at the age of 35 had died from a massive heart attack. We were just stunned, we had talked with her on the 5th and she emailed us a beautiful email at 2 p.m. that have a beautiful picture of flowers with a prayer. We drove up to Calwell on Thursday and I met some of the family. We went to the funeral palor and then we got our room and went to have dinner. We were back to aunt Tina's in the morning for Ada's home going service. I like the words Home Going or Going Home service better than funeral because after all the person is going home to the Lord.

Ada was a wonderful, giving and thoughtful person. The type that would give you the shirt off her back if she felt it would help you. Through this whole ordeal I have meet Toni, LaNee and Terry and Ify Ada's boyfriend all of whom I believe will be dear friends for life. Ify is a wonderful man that Michael and I met. He is very bright, articulite and loving. He speaks from his heart and his speaking is very eloquent. He shared a letter he wrote to Ada, she was his big girl, the love of his life. They were both going to school Ada was gettingher degree here in TX and Iff was getting his PhD at university in Louisiana. They were both made for each other, and they were to be with Michael and I this weekend. I was going to prepare a feast and we were gonna just sit and enjoy each other's company. We told Ify that he is family and is always welcome in our home and we will keep in contact with him. Well I will stop for now I need to get some (more) sleep I an just feeling totaly drained of energy so I am going to get some much needed rest. Once I down Load the pictures I will post them.

Enjoy the weekend,
CW

Wow how time flys

October was a crazy month with things wizzing and sipping around. I am glad that we are now into November. The weekend of the Nov. 7-9 we were in San Antonio and Boerne, TX for the kid-n-ewe fiber festival. We had a wonderful time. Itwas different than last year. Not as many venders. But it made it a little easier to move around the boths of those that came. There seemed to be a lot of mohair vendors this year. Boy the dyed colors that they had to offer wwere great. I even got a funky pair of hand combs for my wool that I bet I can make for a lower price and sell them at a fair price. Anyway, we got home on the 9th at around 9:30 after picking up the dogs and around 11:45 -midnight our phone rang and it was cousin Tony calling to let us know that cousin Ada had died from a massive heart attack. She was 35 years old and had finally met an fell in love with the man of her dreams. Michael and I are taking things one day at a time.

We left Thursday and there was a small wake and then Friday we had the Home going service for Ada.. We met her boyfriend named Ify and he is a wonderful person full of light and a bright spirit like Ada. Our Pastor drove up from Katy to attend the dervice. That ment a lot to mom Cora and Aunt Tina. We are back home know and I am just plain oh exhausted and I am going to go an lay down now. I will have kid-n-ewe pictures to post later.

Cya,
CW

PS: I won 3 silen autions and that was fun. Next year I will enter the skein competition.

Spinning Wheel Fairy Godmother has blessed me!!

Ok,
so I am trying to make up for not posting in a great while. Any way some of you may know that I had been bidding on a unique spinning wheel but lost the bid to someone else. Well one of the groups I belong to had a woman who had to sell someof her wheels and I went to her web and "BAM" there it was the Moswolt Hammer wheel. Talk about over joyed and spinning freinzy mind flip! I contacted her and the wheel is mine now!! happy dance oh yeah! Well I received an wonderful surprise the other day. Kathy emailed me with some incredible news, she contacted her wheel dealer in the Netherlands to ask about the hammer wheel since she had some others who were interested in one. Well she found a better one for me. This one comes with a lazy kate and a skein winder. I think I will call my new wheel Boudica who was a femal British warrior or I could name her MayaLou after Maya Angelo a strong, power and successful Black woman. So what do you think? Here is some pictures of the "Hammer". My hubby is supposed to be getting me a Majacraft Rose wheel for Christmas. I am really excited about that one too because I will have so many different ratio's to spin fiber with. Anyway it is 2:15 Monday morning and I need to get to bed.
I have to call a roofing and structural contractors to inspect the damage from Ike. It could have been worse, but I am thankful that no one in our family got hurt. So many people are dealing with utter devastation and loss. A friend of lost two family memebers who died from carn dioxide posing. They had the generator in the garage when it was running. Well I will have more pictures to post during this week, of the new skeins of yarn that I have spun up.

Below is the wheel I am getting now, this is at Henri's house in the Nehterlands. It is being shipped to me this week!!


This wheel was the one I was getting originally. This is just way to cool, look at how unique it is!!

& Good mornin' ,

CW

Pictures from RI Trip

Finally I have time to post some pictures from our RI trip this past June. We had a lovely time, though way too short lol. Michael was just tickled to death once he met everyone. He really had a great time talking with the guys and with dad especially about army stuff and old movies. He said to me the other day I know where you get all the facial looks you give me now. You get them from mom. Anyway enjoy the photos!


This is Daja in a tree grove on the grounds of the Breaker's Mansion in Newport, RI We had a great day with her. She walked the heck out of her Nana, but Papa Mike enjoyed walking with someone who could keep stride with him.

These are the front gates leading to the mansion. It was a great day as we were there the fog was rolling back out to the ocean.


This one shows the ornate carvings in stone as you enter the mansion. The doors are huge !! They weigh a lot also. As usual no pictures were allowed to be taken inside the mansion :( This is the surprise we pulled off on our daughter Tanya at her job. It was her 29th B'day and Michael got her good too. Now she knows just what a character her step-father is.I tell you if you ever get to RI you have to go to OV's diner on Allens Ave. The food is great!!
This is the Ferry landing, where we were waiting for the office to open up so we could get our tickets to go to Newport. This ferry was fast and as usual it put me to sleep. But coming back we sat below inside, in nice comfy seats and I had a nice snooze cause I was just exhausted from a day of sightseeing and walking. Next trip up will be longer and we'll probably spend one night in Newport and then go up to Maine to visit friends as well.

Finally ~ Sign-in problem fixed!!

Hi y'all,
Boy did I have a time trying to log into this here blog. I have ton's of pictures and such to share. First, some exciting breaking news at the Watkins residence!!We have 2 new kids coming next month!! !! I have rearranged my office and I can accommodate 2 24x24 stacking cages and these will be our newest kids come next month! Everyone meet:

This is Mandino he is a Fawn Colored EA Buck and he is just beautiful!!

Then comes MS. Evening Star. She is just adorable, she will be showing at a OK rabbit show then she'll come to us. I think she'll do great!

That is the latest news now, I know you are waiting to hear about the vacation to RI. We had a lovely time but it was way to short. Next time we'll go up in the fall and stay a little longer and be able to visit a lot more place at our leisure. Michael just loves his in-laws and he had a blast talking about the army and watching old movies with dad. He really enjoyed the blueberry muffins that mom made and now I have to make him blueberry muffins every weekend lol. He was overwhelmed by the way that Tanya and the grand babies greeted him. Now you should hear him boast about them. He got to see how mom and dad react to each other and he said that will be us in 20 yrs. His biggest thing was "all" the food we had, I said look when this family gets together be prepared to eat, food is always involved one way or another!! Well my next post will have some pictures of our trip and the rest will be on flirk.com. Have a great week everyone!!

,

CW