D Day in our house

This is the "Hey, Teach" that I made for Helen and it looks really good after washing. I've given it to her and hope it will fit, but she didn't try it on before we left. It's a gorgeous color for her, so I'm really hopeful.

Today is "D" day. Departure for Tom and David to drive to the West Coast. I had a little weepiness, but didn't actually cry, so I'm proud of myself. I'm so proud of Tom and excited for him. I actually told him I'm a little envious, too. I loved my 5 1/2 years on San Francisco. I just wish I could go back. Visiting him will be fun, needless to say!

The other picture here is the "Helena" sweater I knit for Chrissy. I didn't get a picture of the hat I knit to match it, but it is a rolled edge, plain hat and I put a little flower on the top. Just loose petals to make it a little more girly. I've posted both of these sweaters on Ravelry, too, with all the details. I'm Susie. Just plain and simple, Susie. I guess I was early enough in joining Ravelry to get a simple name like that.

I really have my work cut out for myself here at home for the next week. Wish me luck getting all of Tom's stuff picked up and out of our living space. He really did make a mess. In spite of it all we love him tremendously!

;-)

Some work completed, no pics, yet

I finished Helen's sweater in a pretty lilac color and also Chrissy's fall sweater in a burnt orange called terra cotta. They both came out well, but I'm not happy with my binding off. One was too tight and as a result the other was too loose. Oh, well, they're wearable. I hope they fit.

I'll be seeing them this weekend, so we'll find out if they fit!!!

I hope to get pics taken tonight or tomorrow morning so I can post here soon. Maybe next week?

I'm going to try to start posting on my other blog, too. We'll see!!

I've been retired one week and have accomplished a lot. I've worked out 4 days this week. I've finished both sweaters. I've been to see Helen and Chrissy for 3 days. I've had a computer crash and bought a new one. I love this Toshiba laptop!!! My old harddrive is being checked for data retrieval, so cross your fingers for me. I've bought a GPS, as has my husband. We're liking them!! I've received a new knitting book from Amazon to read, but haven't, yet gotten to it. I've loaded many more titles I'd like to read in my Library Thing library. I've done tons of laundry, cooked more, ironed, watched lots of t.v., been out to eat with our son, played with my kitties, and tried to sleep in, but was unsuccessful. Still get up between 630 and 7am. I just wake up then!! Haven't been to the library, yet, but hope to soon. After all, there's a book on hold for me.

;-)

9/11/2008

This is a most memorable day in the life of the country I love, but also in my life. I am one of the most patriotic people I know, so I honor those lost 7 years ago with this flag of our country. This day is also my mother's birthday and she would be 93 years old today. Additionally, today is my last day at work in my third career of 13 years. I'm RETIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it?
In January 1969 I went to work for United Airlines in San Francisco, California. I spent 13 1/2 wonderful years working for them and then stayed home with our two children for another 13 years, creating my cottage industry of English smocking. In 1995 I went to work for Pamunkey Regional Library and eventually returned to college to get my Master's degree in my 50's to become a professional librarian. This is the third 13 year career and it has been, by far, the most inspiring. It is the one job I've had where I've wanted to go to work every day. That says it in a nutshell. I will miss some of the people, but will see many of them when patronizing the library, so it won't be good-bye that I say tonight at the end of my shift. Just, "until we see each other, again." I will use the library continually and may eventually volunteer with the Friends. Who knows?
My plans are to travel, considerably, with my husband, who has been waiting 2 years for me to join him in retirement. Our first grandbaby is a year old and she lives a 4 hour drive away, so that road will get lots of use. As a matter of fact, we're on our way tomorrow for a long weekend.
I have librarything.com loaded with books I want to read. I just hope I have time to actually read most of them. The list it really long!!!
My smocking, knitting and needlepoint are all travel-able, so they will benefit. I need to reduce my stash of all of these things anyway, so it won't be hard to find things to do. David and I love to try new recipes, so cooking will be high on our list.
Our son is moving this month to San Francisco (my old stomping grounds!) so there will be many trips to SFO in our future. We have a cruise to Canada and New England booked for the last week in October already. Can hardly wait!
This blog will improve and become more regular, WHEN I'm near a computer, at least!!
See you soon in blogland!
;-)
Susie

I've been watching the olympics AND knitting

You Are Gymnastics

You are agile, expressive, and precise. You have the drive to practice until you get something perfectly right. And you have the confidence to perform difficult moves when under pressure.

What Olympic Sport Are You?

I agree with this test result for myself!! I really do enjoy the pricision in knitting and English smocking. Hopefully I'll have some knitting to show here soon. I just haven't taken any pictures lately, that's why none to show right now. ;-)

Way too long!!

Warning!!! This may be lengthy. I feel like writing and attempting to explain how long it's been and why.

April was a beautiful month and shortly after my last post we flew to Las Vegas to visit my brother and mother. Mom had broken her hip 6 to 8 weeks earlier and was just about to leave the nursing home to return to the assisted living dementia home where she lived. She seemed pleased to see us and seemed to recognize a familiar face, even if she didn't know who I was. I got to hug her and tell her I loved her for 3 days. It was nice, needless to say.

Eventually she did return to Loyalton, where she lived, and seemed to be doing ok, from what my brother said. In mid-May, she quit eating and was gone in about 5 days. My sister flew out to try to see her on the day she actually died. I felt so awful for her. It took us until mid-July to have her ashes buried with Daddy's at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a hot afternoon, but it went well and didn't rain on us, fortunately. Chrissy was there and was our angel.

I think I'm recovered enough to begin to post again. We've been to Delaware to spend Chrissy's first birthday with her and her mom and dad. I'm working, but am retiring in September. My last day will be Sept. 11th, which is Mom's birthday. Her death was the impetus that helped me decide to retire, so it is only appropriate that I retire then. David and I have booked a cruise to Canada and New England for the last week in October as our beginning celebration. We can hardly wait.

I've not been doing much knitting, but have been working on a needlepoint stocking for Chrissy and several dresses for her in English Smocking. I'll post pictures, etc. soon.

;-)

Long time no see!

This is the final product of my lovely granddaughter, Chrissy, in her smocked dress. She really is this beautiful and this happy, too. I almost cried when my son-in-law sent me the picture on Easter Sunday.

This is the pattern from which I made the next pictures for Chrissy. You can find it here. I have to admit that I copied Alison from the Blue Blog. She had done this in the most beautiful lavendar shade for her daughter and I fell in love with it. This is Knitpicks Shine sport yarn in the plum shade. The first and third pictures following this are truer to the color than the middle one. I had lots of fun knitting this and even followed Alison's advice to use the smaller needles on the yoke areas. I'm in love with the yarn and pattern, obviously. Thanks, Alison!

I just happened to have these kitty buttons. Don't they look sweet?
If I get a picture of Chrissy wearing this, I'll be sure to post it!

My knitting lately has been simple, because my stamina from my January surgery just hasn't returned the way I want. I had to leave for almost a week to go to a Public Library Association conference in Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago and it really exhausted me. Then I was home for a week of work, barely, when my husband and I flew to Las Vegas for 6 days. We spent time seeing my brother, helping him with things from Mom's house, visiting Mom in the nursing home 3 times and we did get some gambling done for fun. I broke even, actually, which is amazing for me. It sure made the trip more fun, though!!!

More smocking

These are pics of the latest outfit I made for Chrissy. It's a size 1 blouse, jumper and panties in blue small checked gingham. I'm hoping it will fit through the summer without the blouse for a sundress, particularly around the 4th of July. I made this as a surprise for Helen and Chris and they loved it! Hopefully I'll get a picture of Chrissy in it, too. Then I may be able to post it here.

I sent her the pale yellow tulip dress for Easter and also found her some lavendar Carter's pieces for playwear for the summer and fall. Onsie top, Skirt with panties in it and a long pair of pants in a lightweight cotton that can be rolled up and buttoned after rolling. Cute!

I'm working on my entrelac shawl edging now, so when it's finished and blocked I'll try to get a couple of pics to post. Also hoping to start a jumper dress for Chrissy, knitted, of course!

;-)

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been more than 2 months, darn it. But my surgery is over, there's no cancer, and I'm back to work, too. I've gained a lot of insight through all of this, but also got quite a bit of smocking and knitting while I was resting and healing.

Here's the round yolk of a bishop style bubble.


Here's our sweetie pie loving her toes! She's 7 1/2 months old now and still the sweetest baby in the world!
Here's the neck of her round-yoke Easter dress. Aren't the tulips pretty?
And here's a bonnet knit from cotton, to go with the dress. Only problem is it's a little too big.
Last, but not least, here's a new order of yarn from Knitpicks. The gray is for me and the Pink/purple is to knit something for the sweetest girl we know.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It has been a good day, today! We slept in and got the Christmas tree undecorated. Hopefully we'll get the rest of the Christmas decorations packed and back into the attic this weekend. I will be organizing my knitting projects this weekend, too, so I don't have to pull things out for a month or more, hopefully. I'm having surgery on Monday, the 7th of January and will be in the hospital for a minimum of 3 days, with a minimum of 6 weeks off of work. Hopefully it is just a big fibroid cyst and a hysterectomy, but the doctor is a little concerned that it is growing at my age, so he's said we will know the biopsy results in about a week.

Here are a couple of bibs I made for Chrissy for Christmas and the next picture is a winter hat I knitted for her, too. The only other knitting gift this year was the lilac lace shawl for my sister. Oh, yes, I think I gave her a couple of warshrags, too.
I'm currently working on a needlepoint stocking of family tradition for Chrissy. She will have it next year for Santa to fill up.



If I don't post for a while, please forgive me. I hope I'll be up to posting in a couple of weeks. I really don't know what to expect physically for myself. My gall bladder surgery a few years ago wasn't awful, but it was laproscopic and this surgery isn't. The doctor will have to open me up, so recovery will be much more like a c-section. I've asked my daughter about that and I know I can do it, just don't know what to expect.

Prayers will always be welcome. Wish me luck, too!
;-)