Molly Turns 1

Molly and Mom's Morkie, Lilly, both turn 1 year old today so I had a birthday party. There was BBQ for the grown ups and cake, bones and presents for the pooches.

Recharge

Husband went on a motorcycle trip so I loaded up the dogs and headed for the lake. I use my solo overnight camping trips to recharge by setting up my tent in the shade, listen to the radio, sunbathe, knit, cook and make a campfire. I'm lost in my own peaceful thoughts, time passes slowly and simple things like hot dogs and VanCamp beans taste so good.

DIY: Western Shirt

I'm taking Mom to the country Riverfest concert tonight and need a shirt to wear and remember an idea I've seen on Pinterest. I got this men's western shirt at a flea market in Texas and I haven't gotten around to making it into a tube top. For this evening, I folded the collar down in back, wrapped around under my arms and snapped to secure in place. Then bring the arms in front and tie in a knot. Voila - the easiest reconstructed western shirt bandau.

DIY: Repurposed Luggage

This is why I collect vintage Samsonite suitcases. I apply my favorite Alexander Henry cowgirl fabric, cover with Mod Podge and acrylic sealer and then dress out with suede fringe and brass tacks. I've got a collection in many different sizes and they even look good stacked up in a corner in a bedroom when not being used. Some day I just might decide to sell them.

River Festival 2012

I so look forward to our River Festival every year. There's the parade, live entertainment and food court over lunch, and activities on and surrounding the river. Today, Jackie and I met up on our bicycles for breakfast, rode to the Farmer's Market and then to the river to cheer on the runners in the River Run.

Mud Hole

A funeral can bring family together to share memories, food and even play for the kids. I was the only adult in the pond with the kids making me the "coolest" aunt around. Really, I had to jump in in my clothes (and my good hat) to rescue my dog and then a three year old who fell off into the deep end -- a couple times. While a steep embankment made for the perfect mud slipper slide. Good times.

Uncle Larry

Larry Joe Fetty 8/14/51 - 5/23/12
Rest in Peace, Uncle Larry. You were sick for so long but that had a way of bringing our family together. Now I take comfort in knowing you are going home to be with Grandma and Grandpa. God be with you.

Green Valley

As we started a day of shoppping, Karen knew exactly where to take me. A short ride from Manitou Springs to Green Valley Weavers & Knitters in Colorado Springs, CO. A real fiber shop filled with spinning wheels, weaving looms and yarn. I was on the search for a special souvenir project and found it in a sample Shipwreck shawl (free Ravelry pattern) from locally hand painted superfine alpaca by Spruce Dragon, LLC in deep woods. The perfect shade of green turquiose.

Goodbye Colorado

Day 4: Time Flys:So much fun:Laughed:Cried:Thankful friendships:Road travel prayer:Goodbye Colorado:Hello Kansas:Small town tavern:Chicken fried steak sandwich:Icy cold beer:Love You:Karen:Melanie

To the Top

Day 3:Rise early:Coffee:Knitting:Spice of Life:Rocky Mountains:Mineral spring fountains:Rain:Hail:Sun:Cog Train:Top of Pikes Peak:14,110 elevation:24 degrees:Snow:Twin Spring fountain favorite:Hell's Kitchen pizza:Last night in Manitou

Shop Til Ya Drop

Day 2:Early morning:Coffee:Scones:Colorado Springs Yarn:Chocolate:Shop:Shop:Shop in Manitou Springs:Amber:Turquoise:Shirts:Handbag:Butterfly belt buckle:Poppies:Lupines:Roses:Dinner walk:Chips and Salsa:Corona Margarita:Hot tub

Girl Moto Posse in Colorado

Day 1:Girl Moto Posse together again:Two days off work:Sun on backs:Gas stop questions:Where ya'll heading:West:Scenic CO Hwy 94 to mountains:Creekside suite:Two patios:Lock up bikes:Short walk to Manitou Springs:Fish tacos:Margaritas

Personal Threads Boutique

After a meeting in Omaha, NE, I stopped into a totally different yarn shop, Personal Threads Boutique. The first floor is an art gallery run by a wife and the second floor is the yarn shop run by her husband - and what interesting, artistic people they were. It was an absoulte joy to chat with both of them. I've never seen a wall of Koigu yarn before and too many chioces made my head spin and I couldn't even think of a single pattern idea to make a purchase - that I will regret. I wish I had more time to give it some thought but I did grab a couple large skeins of Mountain Colors, some sock yarn and a couple festive Chic-a project bags.

Happy Lake Dogs

Sheba has cancer so the time we have with her is precious. She loves to swim and fetch and I wanted to get her out to the lake to enjoy herself. This was Molly's first experience with water and Sheba showed her how to have fun. They both had a blast and I enjoyed seeing them so happy. Mom even surprised us with a visit for several hours into dinner time.

Caribbean Wrap

The weekend wrap I knitted turned into the Caribbean wrap on the cruise. It's a slinky vest made from one skein of Fiesta rayon boucle yarn in a color that reminds me of the islands. The clever design of the pattern makes it able to be worn a number of different ways.

Florida Everglades

Only having carry on luggage allowed us to speed through check out and customs in a matter of minutes getting us back to the hotel by 7:00 a.m. and leaving us plenty of time to fill for one more vacation excursion. We booked an airboat ride through the everglades and saw live alligators before the late flight home to Atlanta then on Wichita.

2 More Cruising Days

Five days of fun and adventure at sea has me somewhat homesick. I miss my dogs, home and routine of my life but we have two more days to go until we reach Fort Lauderdale. We fill the days with mornings at the gym, sunning to live calypso music by the pool and nights filled with all kinds of shows such as olympic diving, musicals and comedies. And of course, lots of Starbucks coffee.

Port of Call: Saint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

This was definitely my most favorite island and a place I would want to return to. We took a water taxi to the most beautiful images of turquoise blue water, colorful beach chairs, shops and buildings of Phillipsburg which is on the Dutch side of the island. We walked along the beach and took a taxi tour over the mountains into the French side of the island to Columbier. Then back for more shopping in the rain and narrow streets of Phillipsburg.

Port of Call: Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands

The pier of St. Thomas was filled with large rocks and sunbathing iguanas in every color imaginable. All the islands we visit are duty free and filled with watch and diamond stores. We had about four hours to shop on this island stop and purchased a couple of jewelry items but mostly more island wear, Harley t-shirts and I got a fabulous Billabong crochet straw hat.

Cruising

For the days of cruising with no port stops, I have early morning yoga classes scheduled in the fitness center and lazy afternoons spent sunbathing. There's a walking track, aquatic shows and I cannot even begin to describe all the food that's available at any one of the 24 restaurants on board the ship.

Port of Call: Nassau, Bahamas

For our first stop we scheduled a beach excursion on Paradise Island at Atlantis where we soaked up some sun on the white sand beach and toured the resort. Then we shuttled over to Nassau for some island wear shopping and a stop at the Harley Davidson dealership for some t-shirts.

Oasis of the Seas

Seven days at sea on our very first cruise with some very good friends. It was exciting to set sail from the port of Fort Lauderdale, FL and explore the 17 decks of the Royal Caribbean ship. Our stateroom has a round window that I can sit in and watch the waves of the ocean as we head toward the Caribbean islands.

Weekend Wrap

Knitting on US #17 straight needles goes fast for the Coco Knits Weekend Wrap. The vest a simple long rectangle with two holes for armholes. I'm using a luscious shade of pink perfect for the islands.

Galvanized Metal

Flea markets fuel my love for vintage galvanized metal. It all started with collecting too many watering cans, then pails and buckets. Today at the flea I found a cream can and wash tub to add to my collection just perfect for holding plants on the front porch.

Burnt Cabin on Lake Tenkiller

Work meetings provided me the opportunity to stay on Lake Tenkiller at Burnt Cabin this week. I'd been here a few years ago on a motorcycle trip with my girlfriends (Hey, Melanie & Teresa) and had a great time. For the price of a motel in town, I could stay in a small, cozy cabin with a lake view, fix my own food and enjoy the great outdoors. Beats a motel any day and I brought Mom along to keep me company. While I was working, she spent the day lounging and fishing. And me, I just work hard and play hard.

loops A Yarn Shop

Passing through Tulsa, Oklahoma means a mandatory stop at my most favorite yarn shop, Loops. It's like walking into a boutique with sample knitted garments to try on, the pattern and yarn choices right there. I've never seen a shop like this and quite simply, it's so fast and easy to pick out a project or in my case, two (shown below) in linen yarns. The first, Twister in Euroflax and the second, Bono Kimono in Lontue. I can't wait to get started.

Cool Concert T

Mom and I saw Jason Aldean in concert several weeks ago and I purchased a men's large t-shirt knowing I would alter it. I couldn't make it into a halter because there's a cool design on the upper back so for this one, I cut out the neckline, cut and sewed the sides for a ladies figure which makes a shirt much more flattering than a man's t-shirt. Rouching is big right now so I zig-zag stitched 1/4" elastic along the
sides leaving it still a longer shirt but with a gather and nice swag along the bottom. Then I finished off with small distressed cuts along the hemmed edges.

As for the concert, it was great. Jason Aldean sings about MY life as a Kansas Princess, catching a harvest moon in Kansas, taking a ride across the Badlands and feeling freedom on my face. It's like he writes every song just for me = love him!

Succulents

10 succulent plants makes for one nice potted grouping for the sunny front patio. It's really going to look nice when the plants get established and flow over the sides of the pots.