Farm Day

My father-in-law has a few acres close to Haysville where husband and I have "farm days." We do all kinds of chores such as plowing and mowing with the tractors, caring for the horse, Duke, and cutting trees from the fence for the burn pile. I enjoy riding the tractor but had some anxiety when I mowed over a nest of baby rabbits. They were so tiny and scampered around everywhere. I hope they all find their way back to their momma.

DIY: Easyrider Skirt

I haven't had the opportunity to start up any new knitting projects because I'm still collecting fabric for and sewing up skirts. I wear them to work on casual days with sandals and weekends with flip-flops. I'm smitten with the comfort of cotton and the easy, low-waisted fit. I have found so many have-to-have fabrics including the skirt I completed tonight in an Easyrider desert motorcycle theme. I strategically placed the cool women riding choppers in bikini tops on the front of my skirt. Been there -- done that!!

Father's Day Catch

I couldn't think of anything I'd rather be doing on Father's Day than fishing with my dad. I have so many childhood memories and fun times spent on the water with him and my mom.


Our catch on this Father's Day was 2 bass and 2 wipers. It was cloudy all morning but the rain held off until we left the reservoir.

DIY: Tree of Life Skirt

I'm still working on A-line skirts from Sew What! SKIRTS. Brought back this fabric from Taos depicting the Tree of Life from the New Mexico Museum of International Folk Art. Instead of buying my souvenirs, I bring back supplies and make my own. If you recall, last year I brought back sock yarn from Albuquerque in the same colorful scheme that reminds me of my trip every time I wear them.

Destination: Taos, NM

RECIPE FOR FUN

11 women
9 motorcycles
1 pickup truck
4 beer coolers
6 days vacation

Mix together for 1,250 miles of fun and adventure in Taos, New Mexico. Add in some shopping, sun, beer stops, tattoos and a lot of mexican food and you've got some pretty great road stories and pictures to share with your grandchildren (or Winnebago Club) some day.

The Yarn Shop

While in Taos (or anywhere for that matter), I do like to make a point to visit yarn and fabric shops on the Square. While the other girls shopped, I slipped into The Yarn Shop and had a very interesting conversation with "Granny G." She shared with me hats that she's designing and helped me purchase yarn for the sampled Swing Tank (all pictured). I do love shop samples!!

She was the most interesting woman and out of the blue asked my birth date. I wasn't sure if she was quoting Tarot or horoscopes as she made two comments about me based upon my dates:

1) I find comfort in having money in the bank. This didn't use to be the case in my early years but has been very true the past few years and has made me so much more content with life.

2) I will have my own business in less than one year. I often think of having my own boutique knitting shop but don't see that dream coming anytime soon.

Granny G gave me her home phone number and sent me on my way with a hank of yarn and a warm spot in my heart.

LaLana Wools

I packed a small knitting project with me on the trip but I never once had the opportunity to pick it up -- although I can always find the time to buy more yarn.

From our Lodge in Taos, I walked a few blocks down to LaLana Wools on a cloudy afternoon. I wish I would have asked the lovely lady in the shop her name but I did learn she's a mathematician who worked for designers like Liz Claiborne designing garments. Now she designs patterns for LaLana Wools and adds a great spirit to the shop. I was thrilled to find a pattern and sample for The Winter Cowboy Hat and settled on purchasing the shop's wool in dark walnut and dark indigo silk trim.

I just couldn't stop there and also left with a Contessa Moebius Scarf kit in red with black trim. Enough damage was done to the wallet in that short hour I had in the shop prior to closing and I walked back in a downpour.

Early Morning Walks in Taos

So Cool It's Criminal

LOOK GREAT! RIDE SAFE! PLAY NICE!

I found the coolest (MOST WANTED by Rousseaux) denim "biker" jacket at the ROT Rally over the weekend and it has a great story to go with it. Not only is it handmade but this garmet was manufactured by inmates of the Nevada State Prison - Las Vegas. Profits from sales are used to relieve taxpayers for prisoners' incarceration and provide contributions to victim's funds.

ROT Rally 2007

I'm back......We left Friday on our motorcycles for the Republic of Texas rally in Austin, Texas. It rained on us both ways but it was clear and HOT on Saturday as we took in the rally at the fairgrounds and then hung out all night on 6th street where I did see a few people who are living the city's trademark "Keep Austin Weird". It's lined with bars and restaurants and my favorite hot spot, Coyote Ugly. I was fond of this police officer who blocked traffic so I could park in this awesome spot.

I was sad to leave our motel this morning and head back to Wichita. It's hard having only one full day to spend in Austin.

DIY: Skull Skirt

I'm at it again. I'm really not Goth; I just like to combine contrasting fabrics like skulls and paisleys. Then add a touch of funk with a wide rick-rack trim. I like the whole process of surging seams, pressing and the detail in sewing on the trims and binding. This is such a fun project but good fabrics are hard to find in Wichita. I'm feeling the need for a trip to Lawrence, KS for a little Amy Butler fabric...

DIY: Skeleton Skirt

It's been too long since I've set some time aside for sewing so it was really good to pull up a chair and dig in to a project from Sew What! SKIRTS during this long holiday weekend. I found an adorable dancing skeleton fabric at Sarah's Fabrics and glammed it up with brown & white polka dots and brown & pink velvet/lace trim. The book walks you through designing a pattern to your own measurements and I chose the fitted A-line for my first go around. It fits great and now I'm on the lookout for more funky, fun, one-of-a kind fabrics.

Sprinkles Teddy Bear

What a cutie!! Completed this quick knit project in no time from 2 skeins of King Cole Sprinkles just in time for a baby shower in a couple of weeks.

Feza Bolero

The knitting has been slow lately with out of town work meetings and trying to keep up with my flowerbeds and pots. This one size fits all bolero was a pain to knit in hand-tied novelty yarns, Feza Alp Premier. It's a simple 59" rectangle (seamed up the arms) perfect for cool evenings over a tank or tube top.

Thunder on the Smoky Motorcycle Rally

We finally got our bikes out for the riding season and headed up to Marquette, Kansas for the rally and home of the Kansas Motorcycle Museum. The two day rally stretched for about 3 blocks with leather vendors, dyno runs and my favorite, roasted corn. It was a windy day but it sure was good to get back on the slab with the wind in my face.

Flew the Coup

I quickly snapped this picture in the morning before all the baby finches flew the coup. They left behind quite a mess but watching mother care and feed them from my kitchen window has been very entertaining.

Oklahoma Loot

Q: What's a girl to do who's been working way too many hours and running short on knitting projects?

A: Vacation day and a road trip for yarn!!

I called up my KIP friend, Laurie, grabbed a rental car and we made our way south to Oklahoma City. Our first stop took us to a spinning shop, Tres Hermanas in Ponca City. Check out the beautiful spinning wheel and needle felted rocking horse that was intricately made by the shop owner.

From there we traveled to Guthrie for antique shops and a somewhat expensive stop at Sealed with a Kiss where I purchased a shrug kit. My favorite shop turned out to be the very hip and retro yarn shop, Happy Cat, close to the OU campus in Norman. It was so colorful with ecclectic touches filling the spaces between all the fabulous yarns.

By this time, we started running out of time and made a quick stop at The Gourmet Yarn Co. in Oklahoma City. Right around the corner we finished our day with a frozen margarita on Lake Hefner.

It was a GREAT day and boy am I worn out!!

50 Things About Me

1. I was not named after anyone
2. I have been married over 17 years
3. I am a true Libra
4. My Chinese Zodiak Sign is the Horse
5. I have lived in one city my entire life
6. I am an only child
7. I find humor in being a redneck
8. I could be a truck driver
9. I like hats, boots and belt buckles
10. I am an optimist
11. I am attracted to loud, dramatic people
12. I twirled a baton as a child
13. I was a cheerleader as a teenager
14. I broke my tailbone as a cheerleader
15. My first car was a Ghia Mustang
16. Hersheys chocolate makes me happy
17. I got braces at age 18
18. I am nearsighted
19. My favorite beer is Corona
20. Raw Oysters and Corona is my favorite meal
21. I quit a waitressing job after the first day
22. I dropped Economics twice
23. I hate math
24. COPS is my favorite t.v. show
25. I used to read a ton of murder mysteries
26. Now I only knit
27. I knit obsessively
28. I wish I didn’t have to work and could knit 24/7
29. I am crafty
30. I have my own craft room
31. I am adventurous
32. I love to travel anywhere
33. My favorite state is Texas
34. I despise showers and only take baths
35. Tiny dogs make me nervous
36. Goats give me the creeps
37. I like spiders
38. I am deathly afraid of snakes
39. I secretly like to eat raw hamburger
40. I am looking forward to retirement
41. I want to own a Winnebago
42. I like to fish
43. I want my own bass boat
44. I can still do the splits
45. I once qualified for Nationals in bodybuilding
46. I have my own Harley
47. I hang with strong, independent women
48. I can sunbathe all day
49. You’ve Got Mail is my favorite movie
50. I live to ride and knit

Collared Tank #3

My love affair with the collared tank has come to an end. This is my third (and probably last) in a steel blue/grey Saucy cotton yarn. Although I was completely smitten with this pattern and great fit, I need a break and new project.

Wild Kingdom

For living in the city, my house sure is a hotbed for wildlife. Corn and birdseed attract a herd of squirrels and baby bunnies nest under our backyard shed. The wrens have arrived and soon the yellow finches will travel from the south and pass through my feeders. Tonight I discovered a third nest by my front porch and a baby robin has hatched. In fact, all the nests have babies and I have begun to have anxious, fearful feelings of being witness to some tragedy that could fall upon them.