Sunday, May 27, 2007

All is quiet

Ett Glatt hjärta gör ansiktet ljust...

A happy heart makes the face cheerful...

Ordspråksboken/Proverbs 15:13


Det är tyst i huset den här helgen. Barnen for iväg för att campa i fredags och de kommer hem i kväll. Jag har inte mycket energi och jag har inte heller gjort mycket. Idag regnar det, så jag tänkte att jag skulle försöka att få mina stickningsmönster i ordning. På Internet finns många som man får gratis och jag skriver ut alldeles för många av dem ! Jag har börjat att lägga dem i anteckningarna. (edited by PI)

Betsy feels the same way I do this weekend !













I had a meeting at the Museum on Saturday. The gift shop is having a 20% off sale for members so I picked this up. I hadn't seen this in Swedish before !












Yesterday was gray but dry so spent a few minutes in the yard. Today it's been misting on and off. A perfect day to stay inside.
A native rose called "Nootka" I believe, is trying to take over the front yard !















Rosa Rugosa "Hansa" and Meadow Rue














When Karen C. and I stopped by Village Yarn and Tea a few weeks ago they had a sample of this knit out of Sea Silk ! We both thought it was a hoot. She wants to do one for her cousin who wears this kind of garment all the time. I don't know how anyone thinks this is comfortable !
Interweave Knits-Free Pattern

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Svengelska

Each day provides it's own gifts

Varje dag skänker sina egna gåvor

American Proverb

I am very proficient at Svengelska. In an effort to improve my Swedish I've decided to try and write my friends and family in Swedish asking for corrections. Well, they have been very kind in helping me but it is quite embarrasing when the paragraph I've written comes back looking totally different !Thanks to everyone who's been patient in my quest to learn a little more ! Along with that I would like to find a "bone head" English grammar course on line someday. Writing is not easy for me.

Finished a pair of baby booties or babysockar for our new little neighbor Carly Jo. She is a month old now. I used Dale and King Cole "Spot On" bought at the yarn shop in Snohomish.










Still experimenting with Merino Stripes "Grand Canyon" and "Sierra Moss" Don't think I like the lightest green in the second square so may rip it out.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Minis

Igår kom vännen Cindy hit för att hjälpa till att fotografera DC och Sherman för att skicka till AMHR. Vi hade mycket pappersarbete också. Cindy känner till mycket om det, eftersom hon ha tjugo miniatyrhästar. De är söta. Vi har fyra här.


















Dubbelsyren. I love their fragrance.





A little packet came in the mail yesterday. Thanks LJ

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."
Romans 12:6

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Sievers School of Fiber Arts

May of 2005 I went to Sievers School of Fiber Arts where Carol Rhoades had suggested I take her week long course on Scandinavian knitting. What a beautiful place located on Washington Island, WI. It is a wonderful place to take classes. Lovely location, very laid back, and just very charming. There were daffodils in bloom all over the island and the groves of birch trees made me feel like I was in Sweden.



Our class room is behind the three birches. The barn houses the women's dormitory on the left and studio/classroom space on the right.

Classes included Shadow, Twined, Märta Stina, Bohus, Korsnäs, and a little beading thrown in. It's amazing how you can spend all day knitting, go out for dinner, then head right back to the classroom and knit until bedtime.






The local Lutheran congregation built this replica of a Stave church based on Borgund Stavkirke constructed in 1150 near Laerdal, Sogn, Norway. There is a prayer /meditation path thru a grove with daffodils and narcissus intermingled with the native plants such as trillium's, etc..
























"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation"
Brian Tracy

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Socks are done


Took just under one skein of Claudia's Hand Painted "Blue Sky" to make this pair.






Lovely to see how the colors just blend into each other.




Rhododendron "Anna" is coming into bloom. It's a lovely shade of cherry red.





The Rosemary Willow I bought years ago at a nursery called "The Gathering Garden" They told me that it's planted amongst the roses in England and cut to the ground every year for the new young shoots to come up. The Columbine are spreading about the yard. It's nice to see what colors end up where in this hodge podge or "back to nature" yard we have ( that's a euphemism for not weeded enough !). Welsh Poppies are everywhere also.










Gör allting i kärlek
1 Kor 16:14

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Lazy weekend



One of those weekends where nothing much happens. It's still chilly but the sun peaks out now and again. The boys cleaned out the van for my Mother's Day present. Will be great to drive to work in a car that doesn't seem like a trash can on wheels ! Anna gave me a latte' card. A much appreciated gift also.



I love this picture of Gromit !



Started a very simple shawl with the Ullcentrum yarn that Irene so kindly sent. Will be fun to see how the colors come out in it !










More playing around with CPY Merino Stripes "Grand Canyon" and "Sierra Moss"
I never thought I was really a geometric type of person but this has been fun. Someone said Domino/Mitered knitting is addicting and I believe them now !

"Nu består tro, hopp och kärlek, dessa tre, och störst av dem är kärleken" (1 Kor 13:13)

Saturday, May 12, 2007

NW Nordic Knitting Conference


Hard to believe this little idea is now a reality ! Thanks to everyone who gave advice and input along the way. Thanks also to the Museum for all their hard work!
It's going to be very hard to decide on which classes to take !

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Crystal Palace Yarns Rock !


This is what CPY sent me as a gift. It's bamboo and wool. The colors are great. It's funny because earlier that day Karen was showing me the socks she knit with this same yarn. We had a nice time at the Weaving Works sale. When we got there at 10:10AM the store was already crowded. Made a beeline to the Koigu as a dear friend requested I buy her some. I think I used amazing restraint by ONLY buying 3 skeins of Koigu. I was so tempted by Mountain Colors and more but I remained a rock ! A lady behind me, when she saw the bag of Koigu, said she bought $300 worth of it last year ! We stopped at Village Yarn and Tea on our way north and then Karen treated me to lunch again at Canyons. Thank you Karen !! Thanks also for the cute black sheep tape measure ! I like collecting sheep of a different color !




"Min son Marc är mycket duktig fotbollsspelare. Han tycker mycket om det. I höstas gjorde han 16 mål och ett antal assists i "Recreational Soccer League". Fotot var en fund raiser för Snohomish Youth League. I vår har han spelat i gymnasiets Lag C och gjorde 15 mål och 9 assists. Laget är obesegrat 14-0 ! Mor är mycket stolt över honom."

Tack Herr Nattuggla !

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

I'm just thrilled !

I sent the link to my blog to Crystal Palace Yarns to show my shawl. They really liked my combo of Merino Stripe and Merino Frappe and are sending me a little gift. How fun ! One picture is on their What's New page. Jättekul !
http://www.straw.com/whatsnew.html
Next I think I would like to try the smaller shawl with Merino Stripe-Grand Canyon and some yet to be determined Frappe color.

One sock down and halfway thru the next.











"Where flowers bloom so does hope" Lady Bird Johnson


The longer days and intermittent sunshine brings a lighter mood. Common flowers such as "Forget-me-nots" or "Förgätmigej" are still beautiful when one takes the time to stop and look at them closely.
A pious legend told that the Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see them. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.


As a child I have fond memories of wandering thru the tall grass at my great grandparents homestead in Custer and being thrilled to see the cheery face of a "Johnny Jump Up" or "Styvmorsviol". When Ryan was young he called them "Johnny Jump Ropes" ! Funny what kids come up with.



" The Earth laughs in flowers " Ralph Waldo Emerson

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Äntligen






















Finally done with the CPY Mitered Shawl ! My sister Melissa modeled this for me as Anna is out of town AGAIN. If I had to do it over I would knit the smaller size I think. The colors are lovely. I used Merino Frappe'-Charcoal and Merino Stripes-Meadow Violets.

Tack och lov ! Färdig är jag med CPY Modulstickad Sjal! Dröjde länge att sticka tycker jag ! Så nu kan jag fortsätta med strumporna. Färgerna är så glättiga, solen skiner, himmelen är blå och vi har mycket att vara tacksamma över.
(Thanks Barbro and Melissa)






















Ryan is almost finished with his oil painting of Kronosberg Castle. He just started this pastel from a photo taken on a 4H cross country ski trip a few months ago.
I think Jenny took the picture. It's great he's starting to look for photo ops. The Natural Resource program is the best thing that's ever happened to the kids. They have a great time and have met a wonderful group of friends.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD
Psalm 31:24 NIV
(Bless you LJ)

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Clouds of Corgi Hair



Marc with Wennie in a Full Nelson ! He was playing with her one day and came up with this move. He didn't keep her in this position very long- don't worry !
His mother has determined that no Corgis were harmed in this demonstration.


I love Corgis !! The only drawback about them is that they shed like crazy. Well, they can be feisty little buggers too, little dog with a big dog attitude. It's rather embarrassing to pull your knitting out of the bag with dog fur imbedded in it!
I should carry a lint brush or mini dustbuster all the time ! She's a funny little thing. Dogs are the greatest, they are always happy to see you. They often bring a smile to my face.



Mill ends of Mountain Colors "Bearfoot" - lovely colors and very soft.




















I'm trying to learn more Swedish. My sister Melissa is helping me by checking my little paragraph before I post this.

Idag var det jätte trevligt. Jag var ute med vännen Karen. Vi åkte till Mount Vernon och Burlington. Hon var så snäll att köpa middag åt mig. Vi gick till två garnäffarar. Så många olika sorter,vackra färgar, och texturar ! För presenter till mig köpte hon denna härliga Harrisville garn. De är syrenfärgad. Just nu vet jag inte vad jag ska sticka med. Att hitta precis beskrivingen ska bli roligt.
Tusen tack Karen !!!
She also gave me a few doves. I love to hear them cooing.


Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you
Psalm 143:8
Thank you Melissa !