Winter has arrived on the homestead...

It is now official...the snow is here and winter has arrived!

A really good day...

Such a great day. 

Like, a really great day.

I was at a conference...on taxes...advance techniques...you get the picture.

But the presenter - holy &*%$!  So flipp'in funny!

And THAT is definitely not the norm!

And, to add to the fun, I happen to be one of those who fidget unbearable when sitting in one place for too long.  So, I craft...and craft...and then craft some more.

'Cause, crochet is quite socially acceptable at these events...or at least I have convinced myself that this is the case ('course, everyone could have been sizing me up out of the corners of the eyes, asking themselves what the crazy yarn lady was doing this time....but I prefer my original thoughts to the contrary ;)  )

So, it was a fantastically entertaining day - humorous tax stories, important learning, great company, warm handmade shawls, and some surprisingly good cookies (like, seriously, how do they had jam inside of the cookies?  I mean, like, really?)

It was a really good day.

Mad scientist, or just plain mad?

OK, so I might be a tad bit crazy, but this is my newest attempt to get fit and multitask...

I have high hopes.  A recumbent exercise bike, crossed with bar stools, crossed with a piece of an unused desk, crossed with belts that I rarely wear....makes for a very productive piece of furniture.

And now I have no excuse not to exercise...or finish my holiday crafting...or get down with the numbers with some work at home.

Or get my blogging in...as I am doing now!

Kinda feel like I am getting my mad scientist on.

Happy Friday everyone!  Hoping you all have a (mad) productive day too!

Yarn along....and getting a move on....

Good morning everyone!  It is Wednesday, and we are Yarning Along with Ginny and joining in with Tami's Amis' Work in Progress  and Ambassador Crochet today!

Well, the morning is starting a bit better than last Wednesday....although it is Vermont, there is no snow on the ground, and therefore, no shoveling to be done....

But I admit, it seems strange....temps in the 40's and 50's at this time of year is completely odd....and it makes it a bit difficult to get ready for the holidays.

I do need to get in gear and get moving!  I have crafts to finish!!

Now that the emerald shawl is complete, and the felted slippers are packed away, the only project currently on my list for the holidays is this teal shawl.  I am hoping at it will continue to come together well - and with a fish net stitch (my new favorite, I think), it has been speeding along....about 1/4 the way through at this point. 

The reading list is moving along as well.  Thanks to BookSneeze, I am reading my way through Softly & Tenderly by Sara Evans. 
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I admit, it was the pretty cover that attracted me ;)  But, unfortunately, I think there was a predecessor to this one...'cause I am a bit lost in the first few chapters.  Once I battle on, through, I am sure I will figure it all out :)

Well, that is all on this end :)  Head on over to Ginny's, Tami's, and Ambassador's Crochet other interesting ventures into fiber and literary fun.

I will see you there!

A little holiday decorating!

Hi everyone!!  Once again, I am early...but here we go!  Onward to join in with Tonya at Plain and Joyful Living, for the Handmade Holiday!!

And this week - we are all about holiday decorating!

We have never really gotten into decorating the outside of the abode for the holidays, but this year, we are making an exception.



Along with little fairy lights, we used the trimmings of a fir tree at the border of our property to gather fragrant boughs.  They were twined up with the bindings of the last bales of hay (upcycling as its best ;)  ) to secure to the plant hangers attached to the porch columns.

And, to top it all off - an older and unused pillowcase was taken apart and used for decorative bows.  I am loving the plaid :)

For more fun in the Handmade Holiday venue, head on over the Tonya's site, Plain and Joyful Living.  I will see you there!

Finished!!!

I am soooo excited!!  I can finally join in with Tami's Amis for the FO Friday!

'Cause...I have finished the felted slippers!!

Before:

After: 

The pattern was easy and a bit 'by the cuff.  I used a double half crochet stitch on the round for the toe, and then changed to simple rows for the rest of the sole.  I did a mirror of the sole to stitch to the bottom to work as reinforcement.  I used Patons Classic Wool Roving for the fiber - which was a dream to work with.  I HIGHLY recommend!

What is next, you ask?

Just check this out!!

 

"Perfect holiday gift for the chicken who has everything!"

By: Knit and Crochet Now!

 

I have gotta give this a try!!  Huge thanks to my FB friends for passing this along!!

For other FO Friday fun, check in with Tami at Tami's Amis - I will see you there!!

Giving thanks on Thanksgiving...

To all of my friends celebrating the day, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

We have much to give thanks for on this day....

I am thankful for my family...

my daughter who spent a peaceful morning coloring a beautiful picture of turkeys....

my son who is trying to tackle Star Wars on the Wii....

and...

my husband who stole the espresso I just brewed for myself....

I am thankful for my extended family - especially my mother who is roasting a turkey and preparing a spread to feast upon...

and all of our friends who continuely touch our lives with their blessed presence....

We are very lucky...

and very thankful.

Snow and Fiber...and some shoveling....

Good morning everyone!  It is Wednesday, and we are Yarning Along with Ginny and joining in with Tami's Amis' Work in Progress  and Ambassador Crochet today!

And I am totally late!!

As you can see, we had the first snow fall of the year....much of the morning was spent shoveling....only wish I had a pic of the chickens...those ladies were none too pleased by the cold wet stuff this morning....

But, I have had some time for handcrafting - I have finally gotten into the felted slipper project - I am nearly ready for the felting stage!!  Just want to build up the slipper sides and add some more bulk to the sole...and we will be on our way!

And....I am running towards a four day weekend!!!!  Can't wait to see what I can accomplish with all that time!  Unless, of course, if gets filled with more shoveling and housework...hmmm...will have to work on that...

Well, that is all on this end :)  Head on over to Ginny's, Tami's, and Ambassador's Crochet other interesting ventures into fiber and literary fun.

I will see you there!

An Amish Wedding...a book review :)

So...I don't think that I mentioned this to anyone, but I signed up to review books with BookSneeze.com....and I just finished my first book.   So, without further ado, it is time to tell you what I really think!

What is the book, you ask?  It is An Amish Wedding, by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long.

At this title, I bet I have some friends shaking their heads...Amish?  Lee Ann?  She can't even pass for kind-of religious!

Well, it is true.  I don't go much for organized religion, but there is just something about Amish fiction that I love.

And, that is how I felt about this book.  I absolutely loved it!  I found it to be a more modern, refreshing take on the Amish, showing how bits of the English can at time seep in the corners.  And, at the end of the day, it is family and their beliefs that tie them together.

The book is written by three women, who in turn tell the tales of three different Amish women.  And these tales are focused around one community during the busy Amish wedding season.

In A Perfect Secret, Rose readies herself to marry her best friend, while at the same time, longing for a bit more excitement and intrigue for her life.  In A Perfect Match, Naomi, the older sister of Priscilla, Rose's best friend, meets  a new young man who has come to town for the celebration Priscella's marriage to Chester.  And in A Perfect Plan, we learn more about Priscilla as she trys oh-so-hard to plan the most perfect wedding to her fiance, Chester.

These interweavings storylines hug you tight and pull you right in.  They are engaging, hopeful, and spirited, and I can't wait to see what these authors do next!

Handmade holiday...just a bit early....

OK....I am a bit early, but....it is the week of Thanksgiving....and the holidays are nearly on the doorstep....and I just couldn't wait anymore.

So, here I am - early...and joining in with Tonya over at Plain and Joyful Living, for the Handmade Holiday!!

I actually have some projects to share!  Now that the emerald shawl is complete, I am moving towards two other projects - a second shawl, to gift to another close family member, and the felted slippers I have been planning for over a month.

The projects are moving along faster, with the shawl in a fishnet stitch, and the slippers crafting up in a bulky yarn.  My only issue is that I ran out of yarn for the slippers before I was finished!  Back to the yarn store we must go!

For more fun in the Handmade Holiday venue, head on over the Tonya's site, Plain and Joyful Living.  I will see you there!