So Much for being a good blogger!

OK, I'm obviously not the best blogger! I have a hard time keeping up much less sharing with the world...It has been absolutely crazy this last year and a half since my husband and I split up...I am so blessed though.

I finished my second pair of socks...No pictures to post though. My Pi shawl is on hold...I'm working on Mystery shawl 5 and starting Mystery shawl 6. It's coming along quite nicely though. This isn't a very good picture but gives you a little bit of an idea. It's made in the recommended Fiddlesticks country silk yarn. I like the weight of this yarn, but the actual colorway I don't like as well as the picture on the internet...Oh well, it will still be beautiful.

I received the neatest fiber in the mail yesterday...It's a handyed 50/50 cashmere/silk blend. Talk about fibergasmic!!!!! OOOOHHH, I could lay naked in a mountain of that stuff!

Here's a pic...I ordered it from Crown Mountain farms... http://www.crownmountainfarms.com/ . Klaus is great to deal with. Items are immediately shipped. Great service! The fiber is in the Aztec Sun colorway. Isn't it amazing? It's only two ounces...I couldn't afford more...I'm going to spin it finely into a laceweight yarn (at least I'll try) and knit a small stole or scarf. It's definately asking to be spun finely.

This was a fun week. My 5yo had her first Christmas pageant at school. Here's her pic from that night.

Isn't she beautiful??? Of course, I'm prejudiced but I'm right!

Here are all of us together.

We make quite the crew don't we???

I don't know how I got so lucky as to be blessed with such beautiful girls...

Then this weekend my 16yo daughter's choir had their annual breakfast with Santa.

It was fun...My 5yo and I had a great time and my 16yo did a wonderful job serving families, and the choir members sang beautifully. I can't wait for show choir season!

It was a fun time for all! Well, more later...Have a great week! I'm off to spin and knit more!

Talk About Falling Off The Earth

Well, it has been awhile, hasn't it??? The girls and I are getting along ok. We have moved into a wonderful new house. It is much smaller than our old one, but much nicer. The old one needed so much work and our landlord wouldn't do anything with it. Our new home is so much nicer and the utilities are about half the price of just the gas bill at the other house.

I'm starting Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. Our first class was tonight. I finally feel like the girls and I have a new lease on life. It isn't going to be easy, but we'll get through it. For once I don't feel like I'm financially ruined no matter what. I have been knitting and spinning and weaving. I've been knitting a pair of socks. I have the first one done except for grafting the toe. I'm going to start a prayer shawl too. I just finished weaving a scarf and have the second one threaded and just need to tie it up and get weaving. Well, the kids are kicking me off here. Tootles...Pictures soon!

Chaaaaannnnnggggeeeessss.......

Talk about a busy summer! I have gone from working 24 hours a week to 40+ a week. I've learned one thing though. No matter how much money you make, when you're depressed and shop like I do it's never enough! Oh the joys of single parenthood with teenage girls! HA!

And just about the time I adjust to their father moving out (bum that he is...but that's another sideline) now it's time for more changes....The kids start back to school on Monday. I dread it! More hustle and bustle. I feel like I haven't had a chance to really enjoy them all summer long. Of course, it seems like up until the last few weeks I have lived at the hospital instead of just working there! HA! And unfortunately, I haven't managed to save a dime except for my retirement plan...Now that has really grown, but only basically because I can't touch it! HA! Actually, that's probably not too funny...I need a twelve step program....Fiber Shoppers Anonymous. I do have quite a stash built up and another new loom. It's a 30" 8 harness Mountain Loom Co. table loom. I need to get it warped.

I have finally woven my first scarf. It is a wool mohair blend in somewhat of jewel/fall tones. Burgundies, rusts, royal blues, plums. It turned out beautiful! I have another on the loom in Sea Silk. It's a lovely blend of Silk and Seaweed. It's in corals and chartreuse. I'm weaving it in a garden maze twill pattern. Just lovely. I can't believe I managed to finally get it warped right. I think I did everything wrong that a new weaver could do, but my daughter and I worked it out.

My body finally gave out with all the overtime. My ankle is shot. I went and saw an Ortho doc yesterday and now I'm in an ankle brace and doing PT and on prednisone and starting mobic after the prednisone is done. Wish me luck. I can't afford to be off work much. I took Tuesday and Wednesday off this week and this is my one weekend a quarter that I can take off so I'm not back to work until Tuesday. Bad for the paycheck, but good for my ankle and soul....at least until Guido comes knocking at my door. Well, I'm off to weave.

It's Been a Busy Week! Or Developing a New Life!

No pictures today. I haven't had a chance to work on my Pi much or even to be online this week. From last Sunday through Saturday I will have worked 60 hours. I'm pooped already! The Lord is good though in providing a way for us. I'm hoping to get back to a Monday through Friday day shift position at work as I have placed Emma back in full time day care. Right now I'm still scheduled on the weekends, but I would like to get off those so the girls and I can get back in church. Right now I'm just going to be working weekends and whatever extra day shifts I can during the week. That should get us off on the right start financially with Roger leaving. Aren't men wonderful????!!!!! Someone jump into the chorus of I am woman! or I will survive! I came home and majorly crashed this afternoon. I fell asleep and slept for 1 1/2 hours. I sure feel better....Now I think I am off to start another load of laundry and go get the little ones into bed and maybe knit a little...

Blessings From Above!

Look how blessed I am!!! We got a "new" van yesterday! At least it's new to us! I'm so excited and so blessed! Praise God!! He is so good to us! It's such a blessing!

Granted before I bought this vehicle I swore I would never buy a blue car! We were very blessed with a good deal though, and the color is growing on me. More importantly, we have a safe, reliable vehicle! Praise GOD!!!

Disaster Strikes Again

Well, this month has been full of unexpected expenses. First our washing machine died. That may have been a blessing in disguise though. We bought a new washing machine. Nothing fancy, but it's a top loader (our other was a front loader) and I'm able to wash my fleece in it. That turned out very nice, but it was an unplanned expenditure.

Now, for the BIG expenditure. The car majorly died last night. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise too. We were supposed to take it tomorrow to have a new fuel pump put in as well as a tune up. Another BIG expenditure to the tune of $620, but still cheaper than a continuing car payment. The old gray ghost was payment free, other than maintenance at least. Well yesterday afternoon on the way home from picking Roger up at work something majorly blew in the engine. We will now have to get a new car. I'm waiting to hear back from the loan officer now on word for a new vehicle. Wish me luck and lots of prayers. I hate the thought of a car payment, but a car is a necessity.

On a more positive note, we got Mari's Wee Peggy up and running, oiled and set to go. She spent last night spinning. Here is a picture of her first wheel spun yarn. She's been spinning on a spindle for awhile, but I've never seen anyone make the jump to a wheel so easily! Granted I'm prejudiced since I'm her mamma! HA! Her wheel is nice for a beginner. It is the type of wheel I first learned to spin on as well. I was pregnant with her at the time so this is sort of special to her as well. She sat up in my room last night and spun most of the evening. I finally had to tell her it was getting late and she had to go to bed as it was a school night. I think she likes her new wheel! I'm so glad!

By the way, Emma has been helping me post this morning so if there are any typos.....You get the picture!

Happy Early Mother's Day to all you Moms!

Well, it's Friday so I'm getting geared up for my work week....ie Sat, Sun....live at the hospital....or at least it feels like it! Last night my lovely daughter, Mari, was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). I'm so proud of her!!!! Her candle wouldn't stay lit during the induction ceremony so she was trying to discreetly conceal that bit of info. She did a lovely job of it too! I just can't believe she will start high school in the fall! Where does the time go?????

I'm still knitting away on my Pi Shawl. Progress seams to be so slow........I think I've completed two rows in the last two days. I need to kick it in gear. I have 28 more rows to go in clue 3! It turned so cold and wet here the last few days. What Happened?????? I thought it was supposed to be May! Well, I'm off to get Emma down for a nap. May all you Moms have a Blessed Mother's Day this Sunday! Happy Knitting!