Christmas

We had the best Christmas to date this year :D
For years we have been trying to talk my family into not going all out on gifts. That's just not what it's all about.
This year we got them to agree to only shopping at the dollar store :D one gift from each person to each person. It was the most fun we have every had at Christmas. No one felt bad for over spending or under or whatever lol
We laughed so hard all night long, even the food came out good ;)
Everyone agreed to do the same next year :D
I hope you all had a wonderful time as well :D

Winter Moon

The was just the most wonderful night. We got to meet new people, spend time with new friends and old alike, and this moon :D Sweet

Small gift bag

I've been making more smaller gifts, necklaces, ear rings and the like. So another bag was in order. It is on the small size.
Hangs great on trees :D

Small gift bag

2 by 2 1/2 inches
Size 4 US needles dpns or cable needles
exact gauge is not essential to this project
about 8 yards of 100 % cotton worsted weight
　
k = knit
k1 tbl = knit 1 stitch through the back loop
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
k3tog = knit 3 stitches together
yo = yarn over needle

Cast on 6 stitches, join in the round

1 ) * k1, yo * to last stitch, k1
2 ) * k1, k1 tbl * to last stitch, k1
3 ) * k1, yo * to last stitch, k1
4 ) * k1, k1 tbl * to last stitch, k1

Knit 12 rounds

Yo * k2tog, yo * to last 3 stitches, k3tog

Bind off.

Weave in ends.
　
Make cord as long as you like. Mine is about 9 inches. Made with a crochet chain stitch, using a size G hook.
Weave cord through the yo’s, start with the first yo made. You end up with the k3tog between the cords to add strength.
　

26 years today

Brent and I have had the most wonderful time this weekend celebrating our 26th anniversary.

On Saturday after sleeping 3 hours ( we had just got used to his new later hours well almost ), we had so much fun with our Reiki class. Even though I couldn't keep a straight thought in my head it was great. The energy in that room was out of this world. I don't know if I would have been able to keep my line of thought with a full days sleep ;)

We are meeting the coolest people :D Reiki has been so good to us, and so have our friends and family.

We went from our workshop to an art fair,

Brent said I could get what I wanted. That was this bag it feels great. Kelly makes all of her art work feel wonderful.

Bill Kelly's husband, gave this plate to Brent as an anniversary gift, Kelly gave me a braid of sweet grass :D Truly nice people, they even gave Jorden Reiki :D

From there we went to our favorite restaurant Roberto's, I love their red sauce and...... well all of it lol. I like most Mexican food but I would rather go their then any other place, good thing the guys feel the same way. It was great :D We even we're lucky enough to have a friend come with us :D

All the gifts were just so kind and thoughtful. Thank you all :D

all is well (knock knock knock )

I've have my fair share of crazy days but yesterday is right up there on the top of the list.
We live in a area that doesn't usually get very cold, this last week has been really cold, just like the rest of everywhere lol.
Down here we aren't really equipped to deal with it though. So everyone starts up there fireplaces or whatever they burn things in.
Our trailer has been blanketed in smoke for the better part of a week now. I have blankets over every door and window in this place. We can't use the furnace because it draws in air from outside. For 3 days we couldn't get it up to 60% in here. Thankfully is a bit warmer today and no one is burning.
My husband's work hours just went from working early mornings to evenings and part of the night.
While trying to get used to the new hours I stayed up until 7am yesterday. I was so tired I didn't wake up to take my allergy meds.
By the time I woke up, it was too late. I started to throw up uncontrollably, I got so dehydrated fast.
This has happened before and I came close to not coming out of it by waiting too long to get medical treatment.
After a few hours I decided to go to one of those quick care places. They wouldn't see me. Told me to go to the emergency room. Still unable to keep a sip of water down, we went.

Now while all of this is going down I had gotten a call from my Mom saying my Dad has skin cancer, and she was having problems with her diabetes.
I wanted post for prayers and Reiki to be sent to them on Facebook. My sister who lives in another state didn't know any of this. Not wanting to freak her out by just saying this online. I tried calling all the while throwing up. That's when I realised I didn't have her new phone number as they just moved.
My other sister called first sisters kids and I was called back while at the emergency room, just as they were trying to talk to me.
This is where things got even crazier, at the emergency room I started to get way worse, they have those automatic air fresheners, I am even more allergic to that then wood burning ( whatever our neighbors were burning smelled more like plastic ). I could not stay in the waiting room as I was losing my ability to breath on top of the throwing up. The place was full to boot. I tried going outside but the whole town was covered in that burning smell.
Some how my niece got things mixed up, could have been because there were people crying be side us, or because I had to stop and gage so many times in the short time I was talking to her, but she called my sister in a panic saying our Dad was dying and I had just taken him to the emergency room.
Good thing Mom had gotten a hold of her and was on the other line talking to her right then. I didn't tell my parents we were going to the emergency room first off because that wasn't the original plan. I didn't want to worry them any more, I knew what was wrong. I just couldn't control it this time, I couldn't even get my Reiki to kick in much as I was so dehydrated.
I couldn't keep water down so I was staying that way.
Even with a mask on I was starting to pass out at the hospital. I had to leave. It was the only thing I could do. We got back in the van. The guys had been giving me Reiki, but all the smells just keep setting me off.
I have no clue as to why but Mt. Dew seems to help me stop throwing up, I didn't think about it before that. I had gone hoping they could give me something to stop my stomach from spasming.
I had Brent stop and get me a soda, as crazy as this sounds it worked, that with the fact that we were in the van with no outside air coming in. He drove us outside of town on the mountain side, long enough for me to keep my meds down. The whole time the guys were sending me Reiki.
At this point my Reiki kicked back in as I was able to keep some water down.
The night before when I was trying to switch to his new hours I had gone to town at night something I never do. The whole time we were in one nasty smell to the next, my car always brings in outside air, so that was no help. It was one thing after another. My car started to make odd sounds, so I didn't go up the side of the mountain as I had planned.
We got home late last night, he had to miss work due to all of this. Not good. I passed out pretty much as soon as we got home I was so tried. Still all night they were burning, and smoke was filling up our home. Thank goodness for Reiki I don't know what I would have done without it, the guys pulled me through.
Today is a new day thankfully.
It is warmer, so no one is burning right now. Dad went to the doctor and they think they can remove 100% as he caught it so fast. He goes in for surgery tomorrow, as they had a cancellation. Mom is sounding better, she goes to the doctor in a bit. Brent got my car working again. I'm okay just feel like a truck ran over my gut lol
the difference a day can make.

Moon and Crystal

Last night, Sweet

New crystal, got it at http://piyoga.webs.com/

Tiny hemp bag for crystals

I wanted to be able to carry a few small crystals, without misplacing them :D So just a very quick bag. Great for using up end pieces of yarn.

Tiny hemp bag for crystals

Size 4 US needles dpns or cable needles
3 inches tall by 2 inches wide
5 ½ by 7, however exact gauge is not essential to this project

1 ½ yards Raspberry
5 yards Black
14 yards Gray
All yarns are 100 % hemp sport weight

Bk k1 = knit one stitch using black yarn
G k1 = knit one stitch using gray yarn
k = knit
kf/b = knit into the front loop and back loop of next stitch ( making 1 new stitch )
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
R k1 = knit one stitch using raspberry yarn
R p1 = purl one stitch using raspberry yarn
yo = yarn over

Cast on 4 stitches using gray yarn

1 ) knit
2 ) kf/b all, join in the round
3 ) knit
4 ) * kf/b 1, k1 * to end
5 ) * k1, kf/b 1, k1 * to end
6 ) * k3, kf/b 1 * to end

Knit 7 rounds

Add black yard

*G k1, Bk k1* to end
Repeat last round

Cut gray yarn, add raspberry yarn
* R k1, Bk k1 * to end
Repeat last round

* R p1, Bk k1 * to end

Cut raspberry yarn

Knit 2 rounds ( using Black yarn )

* k2tog, yo * to end

Knit 1 round.

Bind off.
Weave in ends.
　
Make cord as long as you like. I kept it short at 9 inches.
I made mine with a crochet chain stitch, using a size H hook, in the black yarn.
Weave cord through the yo’s, for drawstring.
　

Baby Blanket

I have no clue on the amounts of yarn I used with this pattern. Or the weight of the blanket. I totally spaced it. Ran out of time lol
It was a lot of fun though. It's a take on the old shale, feathers n fans etc.....
Just grab whatever yarn you have on hand and needles and go for it
It's easy and looks good in any color, no wonder everyone does it lol


　
Size 10.5 US needles
36” by 40”

I used 2 strands of Baby Coordinates by Bernat through out. It's kind of kinky yarn so it's feels thicker.

Colors
A = purple
B = yellow
C = blue
D = peach
E = green
F = white
G = pink
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
p = purl
Yo = yarn over needle
( ) x = repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated
{ } x = repeat all directions inside of brackets as many times as indicated.
Cast on 144 stitches using color A
1) knit
2) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
3 - 4 ) knit
5) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
6) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
7) knit
8) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
9) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
10) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
11) knit
12) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
13) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
14) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
Change to color B
15) knit
16) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
17) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
18) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
19) knit
20) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
21) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
22) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
23) knit
24) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
25) { k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
26) k6, purl to last 6 stitches, k6
Change to color C repeat rows 15 - 26.
Change to color D repeat rows 15 - 26
Change to color E repeat rows 23 - 26
Change to color F repeat rows 23 -24
Change to color G ( center color )
Repeat rows 25 -26
Repeat rows 15 - 26 twice
Repeat rows 23 - 24
Change to color F repeat rows 25 - 26
Change to color E repeat rows 19 - 22
Change to color D repeat rows 15 - 26
Change to color C repeat rows 15 - 26
Change to color B repeat rows 15 - 26
Change to color A repeat rows 15 - 25
Knit 2 rows
{ k2tog x 3, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 6, ( yo, k1 ) x 6, k2tog x 3 }x 4
Bind off.
Weave in ends.
　
　
　
　

　
　

Lessons

I can not believe how fast this fall is going by. We pretty much missed a large part of Halloween this year. No pumpkins or pet hat :(

Could not get a photo of little dog in her new hat for anything. Tried the cat while we got one you couldn't really see the hat very well :(


My knitting and blogging have been taking a back seat to everything, from email to house work........yeah I said house work...... how have thing gone so wrong.........

So my knitting is where it should be right along side me at my computer blogging :D

another lesson learned ....okay relearned this week.......never ever play with a crystal without cleansing it well....... very well.

and another... stay away from sweet grass, at the very least keep it outside lol

It pretty much stopped our whole weekend. I still can't get the smell out of the house, and we never opened the bag, just the outer envelope.

Wonderful time

Last weekend was so magical. On Friday we were given these gifts.

On Satruday we set up a Reiki table at the Pagans Pride Day festival, with Pi Yoga, and were so blessed with more gifts from friends.

All just for giving them a hand with things. Good people :D

Plus Jorden got a door prize :D

Time

I can't believe how fast time has been going, mid October, how did that happen ;)

Not real happy with my photos of Little Dog's new hat yet. Patterns are fun and easy, photos not so easy and not fun :(

Every year I say no more making things for gifts or to sell. So why am I still not listening to myself lol

Going to try again, I'm just sticking to Reiki and knit patterns...... I mean it this time ;)

Hope to have a pattern out soon :D

Reiki Class

Our first Reiki class will be held on October 30th WOO HOO

Now also working out of Pi*Yoga Pilates Studio & New Age Health Shoppe
http://piyoga.webs.com/

We will be giving Reiki I and II attunements, cost $77.00

For more information see http://thereikishack.blogspot.com/2010/09/pi-yoga-first-reiki-class.html

Fall

Woo Hoo I love this time of year :D

I can't believe October s almost here. I have so much to do :D


We are starting our Reiki service on the first. We have been giving attunements ( free of charge ) for so time now, the timing feels right to move forward. We will be charging a fee of $60.  for the first and $75. second attunements, $150. for the Masters attunement.
We have been told are prices are too low. To this I say, you can always pay us more ;)


I'm also working on a few cloths ( I still need to test knit them ) hope to have them out soon.


I've been asked to make a few things for friends, as well as trying to get a few items for our "shop" ready.

I have so many ideas going through my head right now....

Life is Good

Pepper harvest

Our first Thai hot peppers WooHoo Sun dried. They maybe on the small side but wow are they strong :D ( not for cooking )

This is the size they grow to. I was amazed at Jorden growing them at all. They don't do very well in a outdoor setting such as this. Way too hot and dry for them, but he did it, he got them to fruit :D

The New Mexico Big Jims he's growing are sooooo good, nothing mild about them :D

The tomatoes are the best I've ever tasted. Sweet

Last night Jorden went out to his garden and came back with a summer squash, he planted them less then a month ago :D

We added it to our soup. That along with fresh roasted green chili and new potatoes, so good ...........and the herbs :D even I went back for more ;)

He has made cooking "good" so much easier

Update on fridge

Looks like it's working again ;)

Very quick easy knit hanging hand cloth

This pattern is very easy, easier than the name lol

I needed a quick knit hand cloth I could hang off of the hook in our bathroom.
I don't like to reuse hand cloths after my guys dry their hands ( ugh ), nor do I like the paper towel option, too much waste.
Keeping in mind not wanting to be wasteful, I also wanted them to be on the small size. Enough to dry your hands, but not so big as to take a lot to wash. With needing another one each time someone used it, it needed to be easy.
With what they put towels through around here, it needed to be a little stronger than lace ones I've made in the past. I wanted it to come off the hook fairly easy as well, so I went with a larger loop to hang it from.
They are very close to my hot pads with a square bottom and not quite as tight of a guage.


Size 8 US needles
7 ½” by 7 ½”
Exact gauge is not essential to this project
42 yards 100 % cotton worsted yarn
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
k2tog tbl = knit 2 stitches together through the back loop
Cast on 30 stitches
Knit about 5 inches or as long as you like
Decrease as following
K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog tbl, k1
Next row knit
Stay in this manner until you reach 14 stitches next row
K2tog across
Knit one row, bind off leaving tail long enough to make crochet cord as long as you like, weave in end of cord at opposite end of bind off edge.
Weave in ends.

Very quick and very easy :D
　
　
　
　

Noises

I've been finding myself on Facebook more and more these days. Farmville is so much more fun when you add lots of family and friends.
Last night I decide to stay up late and play on my farm. I went to the fridge to get water.........it wasn't cold :(
that's when I heard the noise............the type of noise you hope to never hear coming from your refrigerator.......
We still don't know whats up with it ( Brent is at work ) it so far has worked out okay, not great but okay.

Mom sent over a bag of ice a while back. They needed to get some cold stuff home on a hot day. We don't use ice so I just stuck it in the freezer .........
The guys helped me move everything to the big freezer and coolers :)
We filled a few water bottles to freeze for more ice later, also something we don't normally have around here, water bottles.
I ended up buying a pack before our last Reiki share, I had forgotten to refill our regular "jugs" the night before.

The freezer wasn't even full, someone left a can of soda in it a little too long, so it had just been cleaned out pretty good lol
even the fridge part was easy, my car is laid up again, so I've just been having Brent pick up a few things here and there :D all in all it's not as bad as it could have been, we had just the right amount of cooler space and ice :D

This seems to be the feel of the whole week if not a bit longer.

After the last Reiki share, we met Brent at the used book store ( see last post lol )
He heard my car making a noise, we couldn't hear inside. Because of this I didn't go all the places I had been planning. We just made it home when the check engine light came on. Won't start now, but it's in my drive way :D Brent knows what's wrong, but has only had one day off this week.

A few nights ago, about 2:30 am, we hear Jorden yell...... " I hear something spraying loud ..........come quick........ I don't know if it's gas or water"........
He had just heard the noise start coming from the kitchen, called to us as he was going out there. Turns out it was a water leak, water was spraying every where. It wasn't a full minute before we were all out there with mop and towels.
They were out the door turning the water off less then two minutes into it, bare foot in the weeds. It must have been quite a sight, we were all running around in out night clothes with mops, buckets and towels, water flying every where lol
Had he not heard that as it was just starting, it would have been so much worse. Brent was able to fix the leak before going to work the next morning.
Took me most of the day to "fix" everything else. Things kind of got moved around a bit trying to dry up the water. I hadn't washed the last load of towels that day, so we had used those to dry the floor ;) even that worked out :D

All in all one of us has been in the right spot to hear these "noises" each time :D

Speaking of noises, the other night I was woke up by what sounded like some thing walking on our roof.
I've heard animals up there before. We have a good sized weeping willow along side our house that hangs over our roof ( great for shade ).
Before we fenced in the inner yard and put my sisters dog there, every once in a while we would get cats up there, going after birds I assume.

We even had a few large cats go up there, think it was a bob cat. Didn't want to go out and look lol we made some noise and heard it get off and leave. The next day we found prints that looked like a large cat.
I had come face to face with a mt. lion in the yard one time so it could have been one of those, but didn't sound as large.
Why it would want to go on top of someones trailer I have no clue.

This time the walking sounded different. Not like something walking with four feet first of all.
It had a click sound like long claws. Sounded to be pretty good sized as it was very easy to hear.
When something comes into the yard, the dogs act up. There was none of this.
No other noise.
I went to go see what the dogs were up to, they can be seen by the windows as they are tight up to our place ( I was not going out there, learned my lesson on that one lol ). Two on one side were sleeping, my sisters dog was just looking at the roof.
It stayed up there for some time just moving around slowly. Then nothing, no noise at all.

A few nights later Jorden heard it as well, clicking sound and all.

I'm thinking it's a large bird of some kind, but as Jorden pointed out it didn't walk like a bird.

It took fairly long steps, put it's foot down heal first, then the click sound like claws.
You could clearly hear each sound. Just slowly moving around the roof.

So what kind of large bird walks in slow long strides ( it didn't hop at all ) in the middle of the night.
We have seen large birds of pray around here during the day time..... Maybe a owl.......a large owl.

used books

After our Reiki share yesterday we stopped at our favorite used book store.

My son is very into gardening and loves to collect plant books of all kinds ( almost as bad as I am with knitting books ;) )

He found this huge "encyclopedia" he just had to have. No issues there we had plenty of credit,

my knitting book

and one other book all came to the grand total of $1.08 Sweet

We get home, he grabs his book and goes to his room. A few minutes later he comes out with this sick look on his face.

I ask if he's okay.......

he just looked at me than said after a long pause.............

that book I just got had another book inside of it.

Okay cool at least I now know why he looked so sick, he would never take anything without paying. I had rushed him a bit at the store so he didn't go through the book there. We all had carried it at one point or other and never noticed it. It's such a thick book another half inch didn't matter.

So he says we need to take it back but there a problem...............What?.......I'm told to just look

the back cover of the book looks like this other book has been there for some time..........

then I get a look at the title of the book

I almost fell out of my chair

I can't believe anyone wrote such a book!!!!!!!!

After seeing the look on my sons face you can bet your bottom dollar he will be checking all books before leaving the store lol

cloth # 10

Cloth # 10

This is a very quick, loose knit. It's a variation of the tile stitch. No broader.

8 US

52 yards of worsted weight cotton

Gauge doesn't matter.

Cast on 34 stitches ( or any multiple of 6 + 4 )

1) k4, * p2, k4 * to end

2) p4, * k2, p4 * to end

repeat 1 and 2

5) p4, * k2, p4 * to end

6) k4, * p2, k4 * to end

repeat 1-6 five times

end with row 5, bind off.

Reiki

New page for Reiki

house socks, sunhats and roses

In the past Jorden has grown some rather large roses, one of his new bushes has some of the smallest flowers I've seen.
Very colorful, smell great just tiny :D

A few days back I had nothing on my needles *shock* wanting to use up some of my "left over" yarn I grabbed two small balls I had left from a pair of house socks.
A little less than 57 yards each. Worsted weight, I think it was 'I love this yarn" in jazz or something like that.
I wasn't real thrilled with the first pair as the yarn is very stretchy, way stretcher than the other color ways I've used.

I didn't really have anything in mind when I started knitting, thinking maybe a set of wrist warmers or mittens.
After I got a few inches of 2 by 2 done in the round on each, they were calling ( begging really.. quite sad ;) ) to be socks.
Having changed the needle size and the amount of cast on stitches, I wasn't sure if I'd have enough yarn to do the whole foot let alone the toes

it was cutting it close, this is all the yarn I had "left over" about a yard on each sock. Best part they fit great :D


My aunt's birthday is in a few days, she had asked me to make her a sunhat. Got it done yesterday. She also asked for some scrubbies and cloths. Got some scrubbies done, now on to the clothes.


Every year I go into how much the storms keep me off line :( this summer has been one lightening storm after another. Been getting some wind and rain to go with it, but all in all a pretty fair July.

Brent fixed the guys computer, and up graded it to boot :D so we're back up and running ( weather permitting )

Masters Prayer Shawl

I made this for our reiki master/teacher/instructor, a prayer shawl. Hence the name lol

The main body is made top down, in stocking stitch with the increases down the center and edges.

She likes horses so I used the horse shoe stitch for the trim, upside down to keep the luck in ;) plus a few rows of knit stitch.

I used Caron’s Simply Soft Shadows in Dark Moss, while I loved the colors and feel of it, I was not happy with all the knots and "off" spots of yarn.

When I got the yarn I fell for the colors, and they did look good on her, but had I known how many breaks there would be in just four balls I would have picked something else.

After deciding on a pattern and having little time to redo anything, I stuck with getting more of the same yarn even after both of the first two balls had a break. The third and forth had 4 breaks EACH.

So after a lot of wasted yarn and lots of weaving in ends, I can not say for sure how much yarn I used :( having also run out of time I forgot to take the last measurement, I believe the measurement below to be a close estimate.

All in all the look and feel of the yard did work. I don't think I'll run out to get more though.

Masters Prayer Shawl
Size 9 US needles
Gauge 11 rows by 8 stitches per 2 inches, however exact gauge is not essential to this project
600 yards of medium weight yarn. I used almost 4 ball of Caron’s Simply Soft Shadows in Dark Moss.
76” by 30” approximately
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
kf/b = knit into the front and back of the next stitch
p = purl
psso = pass slid stitch over
Sl 1 = slide one stitch purl wise
yf = yarn to the front ( to make new stitch )
* * = repeat instructions between as many times as indicated
( )x = repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated


 pdf can be purchased

on ravelry
　
　
　
　
　

Certification

What a wonderful day to get our Reiki Masters Certification.

It rained a soft rain all afternoon. Let up to a light rain long enough to cook out :D

It was a very good weekend.

It seemed like we were waiting so long to get this, but in reality it's only been a few months since our first attunement. Our lives have changed so much, all for the better.

I can not tell you the joy of watching someones face light up when they feel Reiki with for the first time.

Masters Class

The wait is almost over. Our first Reiki III class is tomorrow evening. WOOHOO :D


Jorden in one of his gardens.


Just need to put the finishing touches on a few patterns, and they are good to go. I however don't see getting the time this weekend with our classes. I will try my best to get at least one posted before next weekend :D

July 4th

Happy Independence Day America

More Books and Needles

I did go to the used book store yesterday I did get two knitting books, these however are not them. My aunt gave them to me. Her brother sent them to her along with all these needles.

My aunt doesn't knit. So she passed them on to me. I have kind of a collection going with old needles and books. I love them.

23 pairs going from size 0 to 15. Some are plastic, some metal even a pair of wood ones. All in really good shape, for their age.

That was very sweet of him to think of his sister like that. She is always so happy to hear from him :D Thanks Rick you made Billies week :D

sunset

The sunset last night was so pretty.

The moon was out bathed in pink and blues one one side of our place.

On the other side the sun was going down with beautiful golden clouds.

A few day back I posted about our willow needing to be "trimmed". I was upset about loosing so much of it. Until Dad showed me ....

this photo.

Father's Day Weekend

I have had a really different kind of weekend. All in all a very good one.....

Saturday morning I posted about how I felt I was at the end of this particular "rope" in my life. I am more sure now then ever. Thanks :D Stress be damned ;)


Yesterday ( Fathers Day ) we cooked out, it was great. Even the food I was told lol, didn't burn anything this time :D

We had a really nice night.

Talked about everything from BP to fairies lol


This is my Mom And Dad .

They were happier than this looks ;) I had just flashed them with the red light thingy on my camera, almost blinded everyone then the camera goes off a bit late lol


Dad showed the boys his family photos.
This is my Great Grandfather and Grandmother, with his parents :D This photo is close to 100 years old Sweet :D

Need to make changes

Have you ever had one of those moments when you realize this is not working.
That happened to me last night, or was it this morning I'm not really sure anymore. Two nights of very little sleep will do that to ya.
As I was trying to get just a bit of sleep it dawned on me Brent my husband had spent all of his time off working to fix my car.
He comes home and goes out to the shop and keeps at it until dinner then heads back out.
Our evenings together as a family no longer happen, why because he's trying so hard to get my car fixed so the boys and I can give Reiki to the animals at the shelter.
Helping out is very nice and all, but at what cost.
It isn't just the time spent fixing the car, that in itself is a good thing, but could be done in our time. This shelter is over a 100 mile round trip for us. So it eats up the whole day, just to spend a hour there.
The only reason we went to this shelter is to help out a new friend. She stops there on her way home from work. The plan was to help once or twice, and that would be it. She was doing a good thing, and we wanted to help her a little.
Then a few days ago she tells me, the people at the shelter are going to put down this dog who has only been there a short time, if she can't make a change in this dog. There is nothing wrong with this dog he's a Rottie and acts like it.
I can not afford the gas money for what amounts to threats. Not when there is a shelter in walking distance from my home. They really don't kill the animals there, not something they just say.
It's not just this, they have stressed out our new friend to the point where she's sending me dozens of emails every few days. I can't keep up. Everything I wanted to do has been put on hold. It can't go on. The stress is getting to me, and for what reason.
My house isn't getting cleaned, my pets are not getting the treatment they are used to. Even my knitting was on hold, no more.
It was really cool to help, I just can't afford this money wise, time wise, stress wise.
My plan was to help people, that's what I need to be doing.

Cloth # 9

Cloth # 9
Size 8 US needles
9 inches by 9 inches
Exact gauge is not essential to this project
68 yards worsted cotton yarn
k = knit
lt = skip the first stitch on the left needle. Knit the second stitch through the back loop. Knit the first stitch, slide both stitches off left needle.
p = purl
rt = knit 2 stitches together leaving on left needle, going between those stitches, knit first stitch again
( )x = repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated
Cast on 38 stitches
1 - 6 ) knit
7 ) k4, p2, ( k2, p4 )x 4, k2, p2, k4
8 ) k5, ( lt, k4 )x 5, k3
9 ) k4, p2, ( k1, p1, k1, p3 )x 4, ( k1, p1 )x 2, k4
10 ) k6, ( lt, k4 )x 5, k2
11 ) k4, p3, k2, ( p4, k2 )x 4, p1, k4
12 ) knit
13 ) k4, p3, k2, ( p4, k2 )x 4, p1, k4
14 ) k6, ( rt, k4 )x 5, k2
15 ) k4, p2, ( k1, p1, k1, p3 )x 4, ( k1, p1 )x 2, k4
16 ) k5, ( rt, k4 )x 5, k3
17 ) k4, p2, ( k2, p4 )x 4, k2, p2, k4
18 ) knit
Repeat 7 - 18 three more times.
Knit 5 rows.
Bind off, weave in ends.

Known stitch pattern from the 195o's
I updated to current terms. Simple knit stitch boarder.

yellow rose

Weeping Willow

This was our weeping willow. The hot spell last summer almost took it out. Lost most of the leafs. We had to dig down to the base roots to get enough water to it.

It started to grow back, but couldn't tell what was dead or not, it was going pretty slow... winter hit with the winds first.

So we waited........

Spring is very windy as well so we waited some more...... with the rainy season almost on us we couldn't wait any longer.

Brent was taking branches off while we did the clean up. He was on the roof for hours cutting away :(

It took all day. I can not believe how much had to come off, we can't even reach all of it. We'll have to hope for the best with those.

Dad helped us with the other side, good thing as it took hours more

This whole yard used to be in the shade.

This is today.

On the bright side all of the desert plants are doing fine :D Pine trees are also doing good :D

Brent putting the last touches on the cats new window box.


Nemmy in her new cat box :D