tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122284532024-03-07T20:40:35.005-06:00Prairie Larka long-distance, mother-daughter outfitgwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-65286425444173653532010-04-01T09:21:00.001-05:002010-04-01T09:21:19.062-05:00dress from a shirt!<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4480349727/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4480349727_d2326da049.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4480349727/">dress from a shirt!</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/74692349@N00/">Gwedolgirl</a>.</span></div><p>Dear Mom,<br /><br />Last week, Katie, Evelyn and I co-designed and sewed Evelyn a dress from one of Carl's old shirts! The idea was Katie's, I did the sewing, and Evelyn art-directed and was a patient try-er on. <br /><br />Looking forward to seeing you soon!<br />Love, <br />Gwen</p>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-30338362707989927882010-03-02T16:06:00.002-06:002010-03-02T16:09:43.695-06:00Wristers<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4388427476/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4388427476_645ee948d6.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.8em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4388427476/">pulse warmers</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/74692349@N00/">Gwedolgirl</a>.</span></div><p>Dear Mom,<br /><br />In the comments, Renee asked to see some KNITTING! And Renee is my friend from Luther, which makes this project doubly for her. The pattern, Rose Wristers, is from _<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Norwegian-Handknits-Heirloom-Designs-Vesterheim/dp/0760334285/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267567688&sr=8-1">Norwegian Handknits</a>_, which you gave me for Christmas (Do you remember that, from those feverish, flu-ridden days?). The patterns are based on knits from the <a href="http://vesterheim.org/index.php">Vesterheim Museum</a>, in Decorah, Iowa, where Renee and I went to college together. <br /><br />I was looking through it early one morning after Christmas, waiting for everyone else to get up, when I realized that several of the little historic blurbs and pictures were about people from Boone County, Illinois, our old home territory. I read an excerpt about one pioneer woman, Christie Sleen Tillotson, from the northern part of the county to Katie, who had joined me the kitchen table by this point. Turns out, Christie Sleen Tillotson is Katie's great great or 3 great's grandmother!<br /><br />The first pattern that I knit from this auspicious book, the rose wristers, were quick and easy. Dave thinks its nice that I used Buffalo Bills colors. <br /><br />Love,<br />Gwen</p>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-92217252993561367582010-02-26T11:24:00.002-06:002010-02-26T11:26:16.603-06:00Unfinished/Finished<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4387660265/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4387660265_43fd839dab.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.8em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4387660265/">Recently finished quilt</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/74692349@N00/">Gwedolgirl</a>.</span></div><p>Hi Mom!<br /><br />This is some unfinished business, finally finished. I think you'll recognize the top - these were the only fabrics I allowed myself to buy the summer I worked at the quilt store (in 2005!). The pattern is "Gingham Rose" from Terri Christopherson's _Mad About Plaid_ booklet. In the right colors, the quilt pattern looks like gingham. The fabrics I chose for the top didn't really ever "read" quite the same way, so when it was time to choose a fabric for the border, I didn't feel it was necessary to use a check or a gingham.<br /><br />I quilted the top in three or four days with the machine, using the walking foot and cotton machine quilting thread. The batting is 100% cotton, so it got nice and wrinkly after a trip through the washer and drier. It's warm! The project was pretty fast, all told, assuming a body didn't let the top sit around for four years between piecing and quilting. The quilt is about 65" x 75" - just large enough to cover the top of a full-sized bed.</p><p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/4388424620/" title="Curtains! by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4388424620_86c5ed1daa.jpg" alt="Curtains!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I have another, older, larger top that I'm thinking about attacking the same way. What novelty, this "finishing".<br /><br />Love,<br />Gwen</p>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-22470645641819626252008-11-10T21:47:00.002-06:002008-11-10T21:54:59.265-06:00Good LeftoversHi Mom,<br /><br />I've been knitting many small projects lately, with leftover yarns in particular. I finished up a Useful Gift which will remain a secret for now, and I knit a <a href="http://knitty.com/issuefall07/PATTfoliage.html">Foliage</a>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2998655151/" title="A quick hat by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2998655151_4374af315a.jpg" alt="A quick hat" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />This was a very easy, quick knit. I used leftovers from the Lamb's Pride Worsted you gave me for Christmas for the felted bag a couple (three!) Christmases ago. The hat is nice and warm, and just loose enough that it doesn't squish my hair. <br /><br />I also used the other leftovers from that project for these little mittens for afghans for Afghans:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/3020486801/" title="mittens by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/3020486801_ca39440d60.jpg" alt="mittens" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I started with the mitten on the right, knitting plain purple mittens, but when it was clear I wasn't going to have enough purple I started mixing in the green, then went back and added green to the plain purple mitten. I hope at least one Afghan child doesn't mind asymmetry in mittens. <br /><br />Love,<br />Gwen<br /></div></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-28342444296508210892008-11-05T09:20:00.003-06:002008-11-05T09:35:34.302-06:00Yes, Wheek Can!Dear Mom,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EPjvP9ByKAXXaLAvh5cXGaUuElIgVvP5_YqVwz8-SMePTHTetFR5Giyw5mt9Mt7DnTYn6V8t-Ss-pug40uLAGshjM1w2mpa2xHUk4MQLLx0sLXc9qqemGmUxxUe2VNUGaiqbqQ/s1600-h/Caroline.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EPjvP9ByKAXXaLAvh5cXGaUuElIgVvP5_YqVwz8-SMePTHTetFR5Giyw5mt9Mt7DnTYn6V8t-Ss-pug40uLAGshjM1w2mpa2xHUk4MQLLx0sLXc9qqemGmUxxUe2VNUGaiqbqQ/s400/Caroline.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265193942213816210" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a big week. I caught Caroline doing a little last-minute campaigning yesterday - who knew she had developed political opinions? Must be all that NPR I have on around here.<br /><br />And I finished some socks - I'm calling these my Blue State socks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2998665531/" title="Fall Socks by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_JustifyCenter" title="Align Center" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 11);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Align Center" class="gl_align_center" border="0" /></span></span></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2998665531/" title="Fall Socks by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2998665531_94ef37d948.jpg" alt="Fall Socks" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I knit them using the Garter Rib pattern from "Sensational Knitted Socks," and the yarn you gave me when we visited this summer. It's Stahlsche Wolle Socka Sport & Strumpf, and the finished Strümpfe feel very nice indeed.<br /><br />Love,<br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-13786073585938551682008-11-02T15:17:00.003-06:002008-11-03T11:25:03.021-06:00Reading<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2996077237/" title="book sale finds by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2996077237_62845bc5b9_m.jpg" alt="book sale finds" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Mom,<br /><br />I found some good books at a library sale on Thursday. I've especially been enjoying this version of "A Child's Christmas in Wales," illustrated by one of our favorites, Trina Schart Hyman. I only recently (maybe last year?) put two and two together about Dylan Thomas and the PBS Christmas special we loved to watch, and this book does not disappoint. It is charming.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2996866886/" title="new books by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2996866886_86191cb427_m.jpg" alt="new books" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /></div>Almost as charming as the circumstances through which I acquired this other kids' book this week. We were driving back from the garden last weekend, going a slightly different way to admire the changing leaves and old houses, when we saw two little girls run over to edge of the curb (stopping carefully before the street), and wave at us. They had 8 1/2x 11" pieces of paper taped to their shirts, upon which was written, in pencil, "Book Sale." I pulled the Buick over. <br /><br />I asked them which of their books they thought my three year-old niece might like, and one of the girls picked out this one (and I think she did a good job). I handed them the money, which they directed me to put in the jar labeled "Jar for $," then I asked them why they were selling their books. "For the animal shelter!" they said. I said that was great, and that I had gotten my guinea pig from the shelter. They liked that. "I got my kitty there!" one said, and the other said she was going to get her puppy there.<br /><br />But back to "A Child's Christmas in Wales" - I will bring this book to our Christmas, and we'll have a good time reading it. Here are the<br /><blockquote>"Useful Presents: engulfing mufflers of the old coach days, and mittens made for giant sloths; zebra scarfs of a substance like silky gum that could be tug-o'-warred down to the galoshes; blinding tam-o'-shanters like patchwork tea cozies and bunny-suited busbies and balaclavas for victims of head-shrinking tribes; from aunts who always wore wool next to the skin there were mustached and rasping vests that made you wonder why the aunts had any skin left at all. . ." </blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2996923560/" title="'Useful Gifts' by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2996923560_50b8159e41.jpg" alt="'Useful Gifts'" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And, of course, Auntie Hannah, "who liked port," in the garden "singing like a big-bosomed thrush."<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2996072305/" title="'Auntie Hannah, who liked port' by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2996072305_21be1440db.jpg" alt="'Auntie Hannah, who liked port'" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And the cats! There's a very satisfying number of cats represented in the illustrations. You'll just have to wait to see, and then you will also have "Good King Wenceslas" stuck in your head.<br /><br />We also did a bit of autumnal festive cooking this week. This is the "Stuffed Pumpkin Stew" recipe from the Oct. 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living, and it was wonderful! But we needed a family of Welsh proportions to help us eat it because I'm still finishing the last of it. It wasn't a simple recipe, but also not difficult - just a lot of vegetable prep.<br /><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2996018417/" title="Pumpkin stew by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img style="width: 384px; height: 289px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2996018417_dcd669aff9.jpg" alt="Pumpkin stew" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">How are the 'collars' this year?<br /><br />Love,<br />Gwen<br /></div></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-19041482976269191292008-10-18T16:58:00.006-05:002008-10-18T17:24:08.240-05:00White in the GardenRose of Sharon<br /><br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpc-QE45PI/AAAAAAAAAH8/DHDjmaE2Ht8/s1600-h/DSCN2911.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258617739445593330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpc-QE45PI/AAAAAAAAAH8/DHDjmaE2Ht8/s400/DSCN2911.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpc-t63rLI/AAAAAAAAAIE/SjutYQgDxaY/s1600-h/DSCN2952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258617747456634034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpc-t63rLI/AAAAAAAAAIE/SjutYQgDxaY/s400/DSCN2952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258617749123509650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpc-0ISLZI/AAAAAAAAAIM/8ZkUhFqorCg/s400/DSCN2955.JPG" border="0" />Lilly of the Valley<br /></div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258618646792833538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpdzENVCgI/AAAAAAAAAIU/fpSyT-04ESc/s400/DSCN2998.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258619540021054546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpenDviDFI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Pf0A8B_Q6yQ/s400/DSCN2995.JPG" border="0" />Petunia</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258620781048790546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SPpfvS7mfhI/AAAAAAAAAIk/oIPOAXjFxOE/s400/DSCN2932.JPG" border="0" /></p>Love, MomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-13565783141238767852008-10-13T13:47:00.003-05:002008-10-13T14:19:19.264-05:00Delicious Yellow<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2938287511/" title="Yellow Delicious by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img style="width: 310px; height: 413px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2938287511_ba52fc3ddb.jpg" alt="Yellow Delicious" /></a><br /></div><br />Dear Mom,<br /><br />The cardigan is coming along, although I slowed down significantly after finishing the body up to the point where the sleeves will be attached. Because I'm tinkering with gauge a little bit, some experimenting has been necessary to ensure that the sleeve is a wearable circumference. <br /><br />Fall continues in full swing here, deliciously. We are making weekly trips to the orchard to pick bags of apples, and the produce at the farmers' market is wonderful. Our garden fall crops have also been producing really well - we're eating arugula, cress, lettuce, mustard greens and radishes from the garden right now.<br /> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2939133172/" title="Apple Pie by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img style="width: 202px; height: 267px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2939133172_20fa8b4103.jpg" alt="Apple Pie" /></a><br /></div><br />I made a pie on Saturday with some of the apples I picked the day before. The yellow delicious apples turned almost saffron-colored inside the pie. I took it to an impromptu gathering where it disappeared very quickly, so I think I need to make at least one more this fall.<br /><br />Love,<br />Gwen<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2938266649/" title="Bean Soup by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><br /></a></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-88090232447739462792008-10-02T18:52:00.004-05:002008-10-02T19:01:38.935-05:00CardiganDear Mom,<br /><br />The weather has turned here at last, catching up to the calendar. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2904443147/" title="Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2904443147_d9b303b56a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Tangled Yoke Cardigan" /></a><br /><br />I'd like to have this finished by Election Day. Do you think I can do it? I started it last Friday. <br /><br />Love, <br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-55047264651741204152008-09-13T21:59:00.006-05:002008-09-13T22:47:59.756-05:00Two (three) QuiltsDear Mom,<br /><br />I think we're probably all still getting caught up from last weekend. These are two of the little quilts I made for some of the birthday celebrants. There's a third, too, but no picture - I was finishing up the quilting and binding in the car on the way up, naturally. <br /><br />This one was for our artist. I wanted to make something that was art-like.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2855143104/" title="Small Quilt 1 by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2855143104_74ed2d38d8.jpg" alt="Small Quilt 1" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />So I made a quilt of an apple in front of a river, in front of a hilly village. The round shapes of the applique'd apple and circles echo the swirling curves of the village print and the batik. We are located in front of the quilt, with the apple aloft, wondering if we have thrown the apple in the river or if we are merely in mid-toss, soon to catch the apple in our outstretched hand. The distinctive formal juxtapositions create a playful feeling that is contained and codified by the assymmetrical border and bias plaid binding; the optical suggestions of the spatial relationships suggest a participation in the critical dialogues of late. (It's an <a href="http://www.pixmaven.com/phrase_generator.html">Art Critique Generator!</a>)<br /><br />This is E's quilt: I had a different goal - just to make something that would be a little weird, and interesting to look at if one were, say, sick in bed for a few days.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2855147758/" title="Small Quilt 2 by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2855147758_a33af057e2.jpg" alt="Small Quilt 2" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <br />All of these fabrics are vintage, except for the black square, and the striped backing/binding. The radish, village, and blue flowered fabric were given to me by my friend Mary. I found the block pattern in a quilting magazine, and liked how simple it was. Good for weird fabrics, those simple blocks. The third quilt "quotes" some of the fabrics used in both of these. <br /><br />Keeping things small and weird,<br />Gwen<br /><br /><br /></div></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-77565006620017861592008-09-03T09:17:00.002-05:002008-09-03T09:42:40.418-05:00Some SmallsDear Mom,<br /><br />These mittens were a bit of a disaster. Do you remember that reindeer hat I knit when I was first learning? The hat that had a circumference more suited to a sweater than a head? These mittens are a little like that.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2803470720/" title="Mittens by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2803470720_27c0466e98.jpg" alt="Mittens" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />They look deceptively ok, just lying there like that. What you might not be able to tell from this picture is that each of these mittens is twice as long as my hand. I thought I was knitting at a nice firm gauge (these were going to be for <a href="http://www.afghansforafghans.org">afghans for Afghans,</a> and I wanted them to be as warm as possible), and I knit these mittens fast and happily, threw them in some water to wash, pulled them out -- and then the yarn relaxed and they grew and became mittens that perhaps might have been suitable for Paganini, or those long-fingered aliens. The pattern (Spiral Ribbed mittens) is from <span style="font-style: italic;">Homespun, Handknit,</span> and is my favorite pattern for mittens. Because of the construction of the thumb, the mittens can be worn on either hand, but the rib pattern makes this kind of design more comfortable than it often is on other mittens. <br /><br />I'll keep them and use them as an outer layer for snow-shoveling, I guess. I cast on again right away for a second pair, but screwed those up, too, so I ripped and moved on to something small and gauge-less until I feel ready to come back to mittens. <br /><br />I realized, at some point, that I'd been having an informal <span style="font-style: italic;">Knitter's Almanac</span>-y summer. In June, I made the Ganomy hat. In July, I knit a simple shawl while traveling, although it wasn't a Pi shawl.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2802620727/" title="Christmas Fiddle Faddle by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2802620727_cd9a48e78e.jpg" alt="Christmas Fiddle Faddle" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />So I made some Christmas Fiddle-Faddle (August's project) with some odds and ends. I don't know if I'll keep going with the Almanac in September, as delicious as warm wool leggings sound.<br /><br />Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!<br />Love,<br />Gwen<br /></div></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-81782707080792415482008-07-31T08:36:00.011-05:002008-07-31T09:57:57.958-05:00Piscatorial pictorial presentationGood Morning Gwen, <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>We have had a bit of a theme running through the household the last few weeks. </div><br /><div>One fish:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229177206652706978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHE9s4aoKI/AAAAAAAAAE4/BxeK89VOmW0/s400/DSCN2867.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div>Two Fish:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229177786465825762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHFfc2os-I/AAAAAAAAAFA/d0dHHGEbpbY/s400/DSCN2861.JPG" border="0" /></div>Three Fish:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229178262856083970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHF7Li7KgI/AAAAAAAAAFI/UH4o8eYV79s/s400/DSCN2864.JPG" border="0" />School of Fish:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229181122179062066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHIhnWpWTI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/OuMXFYELQHk/s400/DSCN2888.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229182004727576946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHJU_Gm-XI/AAAAAAAAAFY/c-d1xrm4hxk/s400/DSCN2885.JPG" border="0" />These fish were knit by the owner and employees of Millicent's Yarns and More. The fancy fish making a run on the worm is my work also. Joanna did the lovely eye 'make-up' and embellishments on many of the fish before they made their modelling debut. The pattern is published by FiberSpace. Each fish is a unique creation using 100% wool so they felt with a tight surface.</p><p>Some other fish spent a vacation at my house too.</p><br /><br /><p>Fishie #1 (apologies to Katie for chopping off her head, though her toes appear later)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229186631690741042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHNiT4l5TI/AAAAAAAAAFg/WoChF7m8Kwk/s400/DSCN2837.JPG" border="0" /></p></div>Fishie #2 (with Gramma-helper)as J works at Beach Sitting 101<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229187403379790466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHOPOpmUoI/AAAAAAAAAFo/0jcU0kdRyls/s400/DSCN2832.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229188570081851714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/SJHPTI9C-UI/AAAAAAAAAFw/zoJ78Pp6lco/s400/DSCN2840.JPG" border="0" />I think I see gills on this one.</p><p>Love, Mom</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-26258680315861773712008-07-30T11:28:00.002-05:002008-07-30T12:10:40.954-05:00Dear Mom,<br /><br />Last weekend was a sweet one - one dear college roommate married, other old college friends seen and visited with, riding the train south towards home through the familiar blufflands along the Mississippi.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2713506141/" title="Linen Guest Towels by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2713506141_2e76283390.jpg" alt="Linen Guest Towels" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />This was my present to the bride and groom - two linen hand towels for their bathroom (pattern - Moss Grid Hand Towels from <span style="font-style: italic;">Mason-Dixon Knitting</span>). These were a fairly quick knit, but even so, I spent most of the last day before I left furiously knitting to get the second one finished up and into the washing machine. The linen softened up so wonderfully after washing.<br /><br />While knitting these, I kept thinking of Krtek and his little flaxen pants. My Czech family had a children's book version of this story, and it was a favorite with everyone. I've found it on Youtube auf Deutsch - of course, it really should be Czech.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SOiRODSMgoA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SOiRODSMgoA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aisgyn_dyaY&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aisgyn_dyaY&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></div></div><br /><br />mit zwo groschen Taschen,<br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-70216486903380199412008-07-20T14:44:00.004-05:002008-07-20T15:38:00.742-05:00Summer Stripes<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2682797801/" title="from the garden by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2682797801_ccfcd9de39.jpg" alt="from the garden" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Dear Mom,<br /><br />I took these pictures this week and noticed a theme. Above is some basil from the garden plot, and the first of the "Jolly Jester" marigolds to bloom. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2683626072/" title="a visitor to the table by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2683626072_49ab93f742.jpg" alt="a visitor to the table" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I found this little guy crawling along the very edge of a page of a book that was open on my kitchen table. I don't know what he is, do you? I believe he came in on a bouquet of flowers from the farmers' market last week - I even think I saw him at the beginning of the week, when he was just a little inchworm sized thing. A diet of flowers seems to have agreed with him. I put him outside, and watched his feet cling and uncling as he moved onto the very edge of a leaf.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2683635720/" title="simple shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2683635720_e3e4997687.jpg" alt="simple shawl" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I finished the shawl for <a href="http://www.afghansforafghans.org/">afghans for Afghans</a> I'd been working on at your house last month. I used mostly leftover Brown Sheep Naturespun sport wool, leftover from the Heartland Shawl I just completed (the orange was the rejected border color), and the socks that I made you for Christmas several years ago. I knew the shawl would drape well, since the Heartland Shawl does so well, which made it ideal for a shawl that will be used as a head-covering. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2682829011/" title="simple shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2682829011_e3bcee6999.jpg" alt="simple shawl" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I improvised a really simple pattern (garter stitch borders on the long edges in a contrasting color, and tiny garter stitch borders on the short edges). I thought about adding a purple band to the short edges, too, but decided against it since I like the way the stripes trail off the edge of the shawl. I ended up blocking it twice to make sure it met the minimum width requirements - it shrunk in a little bit widthwise the first time, when I just laid it out without any pinning, and was a little under 20". Pinning it out the second time around opened up the garter stitch border and easily got it back up to size. <div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div> This made for ideal vacation knitting - no pattern to keep track of, simple enough to knit in any situation, didn't suffer when it got a little splashed on a boat ride. I'll be happy to get this mailed off first thing tomorrow!<br /><br />Love, Gwen<br /><br /></div></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-58606800032136769992008-06-19T23:35:00.002-05:002008-06-20T00:12:22.945-05:00Long WinterDear Mom,<br /><br />This winter, I thought my desire to knit was dwindling.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2576586860/" title="Heartland Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2576586860_a1ce348b33.jpg" alt="Heartland Shawl" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I knit on just one thing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2575736137/" title="Heartland Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2575736137_cc34797420.jpg" alt="Heartland Shawl" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I knew it was a very big thing,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2576575678/" title="Heartland Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2576575678_5cd859744f.jpg" alt="Heartland Shawl" height="375" width="500" /></a></div><br />but I hadn't realized just how big it was until I finally finished it in June, and blocked it on my bed. I was so relieved! It was huge! Suddenly it was clear what I'd been doing all winter. I hadn't lost any desire to knit - I just couldn't see what I was making.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2593375020/" title="Heartland Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2593375020_b5aea34ee4.jpg" alt="Heartland Shawl" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's the Heartland Shawl from <span style="font-style: italic;">Folk Shawls, </span>modeled on some local restored prairie heartland. The body of the shawl is Brown Sheep Naturespun sport, color Catblue, and the border is Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Pure. I learned two things from the border: that blue is sometimes really hard to match with other colors, and that angora fuzzies get caught in my contacts and the back of my throat while I'm knitting it. But the pink is perfect, and the border is so soft - the contrast in textures works, and I will wear this shawl on cold mornings and evenings this fall and winter all the time.<br /><br />But next winter I think I'll pencil in some small, quick projects for February, just to avoid the same mistake. Maybe some goofy hats.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2593379888/" title="A silly hat by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img style="width: 271px; height: 361px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2593379888_c7c5289f2d.jpg" alt="A silly hat" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Ganomy Hat, from EZ's Knitter's Almanac<br />Black Oak Wool 2 ply<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Love,<br />Gwen<br /></span></span></div></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-28946722815964000882007-12-11T20:42:00.000-06:002007-12-11T21:10:18.988-06:00a Girl-CozyDear Mom,<br /><br />The winter storm warnings started last Thursday, and the forecast for the next week or so is about the same - rain, ice, and combinations of those two. This weather has not been dramatic, just quietly oppressive. I feel like there are only two colors left, early morning gray which lasts all day, and then night, which begins about 4pm.<br /><br />I did finish a project this week, though. Here's the North Sea Shawl pre-blocking -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2102862232/" title="North Sea Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2102862232_96ce55384b.jpg" alt="North Sea Shawl" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />and blocked. I ventured out into the icy park to take some pictures on the way to the coffee shop.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2102087195/" title="North Sea Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2102087195_f836c440d5.jpg" alt="North Sea Shawl" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74692349@N00/2102869058/" title="North Sea Shawl by Gwedolgirl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2102869058_fa0e764920.jpg" alt="North Sea Shawl" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The pattern is in <span style="font-style: italic;">Folk Shawls</span>, and I used 4 skeins of Knitpicks Palette, in Clematis Heather. I really enjoyed this pattern - the lace was really simple, but satisfying, to work. I'm really pleased with it. It's such a surprise, all over, how warm and cozy something with so many holes can be. <br /><br />Love,<br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-58829357732819113212007-11-05T08:41:00.000-06:002007-11-05T10:11:11.238-06:00These West Virginia 'Collars'<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry88XIcVOyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/01qLmcXre_U/s1600-h/fall+2007+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129384868699257634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry88XIcVOyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/01qLmcXre_U/s400/fall+2007+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Hi Gwen,</div><div>Because of the WV accent in this region many of the locals pronounce color as collar. This is subtle but to the unpracticed ear the difference is momentarily confusing. A poker face is a must for a northerner lest you look completely daft. And I think there must be a polite limit as to how many times you are allowed to ask "Would you please repeat that?" I will never forget the lady who spoke as if I was deaf and asked "WHERE - DID -YOU- COME- FROM?" Poker face time though I was laughing so hard I could hardly answer her.</div><br /><br /><div>Here are some of our local collars.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129371889308089042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry8wjocVOtI/AAAAAAAAAD8/4892F5_8TBE/s400/spruce+Knob.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129375754778655474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry80EocVOvI/AAAAAAAAAEM/tNv11EQm1-o/s400/fall+2007+020.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129372954459978466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry8xhocVOuI/AAAAAAAAAEE/ePqTFPygagk/s400/fall+2007+063.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Dad and I took a leisurely car trip to the highest point in West Virginia, Spruce Knob. The road to the top was a gravel road with no barriers. We stopped all along the way to enjoy the views and to take pictures. Fortunately the day had low humidity so we could see into the distance for many miles. On the way down the backside of the mountain we wandered our way through the wilderness area back to a main highway. A few people were taking advantage of the beautiful weather to camp along the stream areas. Our fall colors are nearly finished now. We have the last of the oaks in their burnt orange and mustard yellows .<br /></p></div></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129380311738956562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry84N4cVOxI/AAAAAAAAAEc/mTxHFUIK6b4/s400/DSCN1584.JPG" border="0" />When Julie visited WV in late summer she and I went to Jinny Beyer's fabric studio in the suburban Washington DC area. After a hunt for its location we were rewarded with a store filled with lush jewel toned fabrics. These few yards came home with me. How could one resist such beautiful color? </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129387213751401266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Ry8-focVOzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/0L2cXoKxW1M/s400/angel+wing+begonia+5.jpg" border="0" />This is an Angel Wing Begonia. It is now living on the hallway table above the entryway. As you look up from the ground level you can see all the red color under the leaves. This may be the first plant I have bought because it looks good from underneath.<br /><p>love,<br />Mom</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-57782220186968155032007-09-27T16:09:00.000-05:002007-09-27T16:32:35.254-05:00North Sea ShawlDear Mom,<br /><br />Two weeks ago, it was very chilly here - chilly enough to warrant a sweater, jacket, and scarf. The weather quickly turned warm (even hot) again, but that little chill got me thinking about winter knitting. I searched <span style="font-style: italic;">Folk Shawls </span>for a likely pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-eZnqPKeOfJoYqEqFzClSyZHta3bxVR4RD6GyZtX2UL81y39ZFzx2rshlS0LeT2zJ2xhYZogPOh7eyci7YHoZa_CKX_vNyWfM92vdDEHVUua-gdySJTYk3ogN-mjlI53Rhd5xQ/s1600-h/marion+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-eZnqPKeOfJoYqEqFzClSyZHta3bxVR4RD6GyZtX2UL81y39ZFzx2rshlS0LeT2zJ2xhYZogPOh7eyci7YHoZa_CKX_vNyWfM92vdDEHVUua-gdySJTYk3ogN-mjlI53Rhd5xQ/s400/marion+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114997627376354594" border="0" /></a><br />This is actually the second time I've started this pattern, the North Sea Shawl. I began Labor Day weekend happily knitting it out of some local Illinois yarn I picked up earlier this year, only to realize late Saturday that I only had about two-thirds the yarn I'd need. So I ripped it out and the frustration that ensued led me to make some very bad (and kind of hilarious) decisions, which I'll share with you next time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W0r_r_GzhltNz9Rw1LweltltvjWtLhALjCG4l34r2Z0F_kCduWmKyaeWI9KjXAWVMlroY0M4LRgTZCoqBHAIYUZDozHEPwyxglb5ekZPriP2euGXPaFb5-OcfOTTDrikocjkuw/s1600-h/marion+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W0r_r_GzhltNz9Rw1LweltltvjWtLhALjCG4l34r2Z0F_kCduWmKyaeWI9KjXAWVMlroY0M4LRgTZCoqBHAIYUZDozHEPwyxglb5ekZPriP2euGXPaFb5-OcfOTTDrikocjkuw/s400/marion+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114996579404334354" border="0" /></a><br />This time, it's going well, though. For needles, I'm using the wooden strawberry-ended Peace Fleece needles I found in that little store in Zanesville with you. The strawberry theme around here lately has been wonderful, if seasonally disorienting.<br /><br />Love,<br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-30525845028285330262007-09-24T19:20:00.000-05:002007-09-24T19:31:26.471-05:00ready for snowDear Mom,<br /><br />This last week, as you know, is an auspicious one for our family - three birthdays in seven days! As you also know, I visited the third birthday celebrant and her family this weekend, with knit gifts aboard for the girl who asked for strawberry cake (it was strawberry pie instead, and it was delicious!):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58cGOSDLA_3AXi8-o-CdoC6v50DGM2k3xwvwTYdj2-JxUsnjeEMobIsPy_japhFJVLDNIs6_1IvXAikfpZEG-0dgpB1scu_US1OXlCLjLq9eUh5-AHvcba4HMky-Pksz5GYZPg/s1600-h/marion+059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58cGOSDLA_3AXi8-o-CdoC6v50DGM2k3xwvwTYdj2-JxUsnjeEMobIsPy_japhFJVLDNIs6_1IvXAikfpZEG-0dgpB1scu_US1OXlCLjLq9eUh5-AHvcba4HMky-Pksz5GYZPg/s400/marion+059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113931573543814354" border="0" /></a>It's fair to say she was a highly enthusiastic wearer, but somewhat reluctant model. <br /><br />Love,<br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-13394438682794527402007-09-13T07:29:00.000-05:002007-09-13T07:47:59.648-05:00Hello, baby<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoSnMluu4vYwcI7zSJgiaxLYcAgRnjhqlP9p_mZFgX2WKkcCgmJ9wYdt2o67PMiCrsCfzykgC9qPB8vIZEh4Tx1cXHQoli-lBQ9FCbIc7Qd3dYprqV3s2dQR_ekRj0wXd2EynTg/s1600-h/sept+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoSnMluu4vYwcI7zSJgiaxLYcAgRnjhqlP9p_mZFgX2WKkcCgmJ9wYdt2o67PMiCrsCfzykgC9qPB8vIZEh4Tx1cXHQoli-lBQ9FCbIc7Qd3dYprqV3s2dQR_ekRj0wXd2EynTg/s400/sept+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109665993908783954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby Genius Burpcloth, MasonDixon Knitting</span></span><br /><br /></div>Dear Mom,<br /><br />I often ask my students to share things when I do attendance, in attempt to build any sort of an esprit de corps. Yesterday morning, the first chilly morning we've had, I asked them to tell us what their favorite item of cold weather clothing is, and why. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWSQYJ6IB3cWicjKj_FqPZauObTDObN8TPRNCR7pniWhEYbXWla16cbodmeRe9rsMNhNuRsEkT54KtZhyphenhyphenTc8sebBuGW4-mvYaV7YAG9I0YUAvhvXP51SbHtQ9e3Di-cBdO7oNdw/s1600-h/sept+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWSQYJ6IB3cWicjKj_FqPZauObTDObN8TPRNCR7pniWhEYbXWla16cbodmeRe9rsMNhNuRsEkT54KtZhyphenhyphenTc8sebBuGW4-mvYaV7YAG9I0YUAvhvXP51SbHtQ9e3Di-cBdO7oNdw/s400/sept+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109665993908783970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Herringbone bootees, 50 Baby Bootees to Knit, Brown Sheep Cotton Fine</span><br /></span><br /></div>The overwhelmingly popular response was "a hoodie." Only a few students said "a sweater," or "scarves," or "mittens."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImfabmHS74hm-_6yoJ_1qwWrk6f1tVmE1QUjJIHWtZuoHj79cTtMupO81aeJxLMDaV8xh9lFMGCRfc8avf5zPoFQDOpmmnN06hpzO3kWWJHUa4wQjK5yiaPzGqZBZyGOOd_qdvw/s1600-h/sept+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImfabmHS74hm-_6yoJ_1qwWrk6f1tVmE1QUjJIHWtZuoHj79cTtMupO81aeJxLMDaV8xh9lFMGCRfc8avf5zPoFQDOpmmnN06hpzO3kWWJHUa4wQjK5yiaPzGqZBZyGOOd_qdvw/s400/sept+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109665998203751282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Cable Socks, 50 Baby Bootees to Knit, Baby Ull</span></span><br /><br /></div>I hope that the baby who I knit these things for is better prepared with more interesting, less carefully anonymous answers to that question when she's 18. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbBGUfQij_x_eroSH93fwDAQcHfOs7WAxfzgToidg_GdarGweoyBkSmdBXXx86lJgN3cclPCNa4Cq3zNyhgpQeqaVlx3MHaFBfZ3KI7NPmcm_5WQxl2KzMjRcOV-5mTqeIQgD_A/s1600-h/sept+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbBGUfQij_x_eroSH93fwDAQcHfOs7WAxfzgToidg_GdarGweoyBkSmdBXXx86lJgN3cclPCNa4Cq3zNyhgpQeqaVlx3MHaFBfZ3KI7NPmcm_5WQxl2KzMjRcOV-5mTqeIQgD_A/s400/sept+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109666002498718594" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and we'll teach her to love pie, too. :)<br /><br />Love,<br />Gwengwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-79898470124681346482007-09-10T14:22:00.000-05:002007-09-10T15:43:22.071-05:00Miracles<div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWena6qyFI/AAAAAAAAADM/LvOHDMvNzX8/s1600-h/DSCN1513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108663752399177810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWena6qyFI/AAAAAAAAADM/LvOHDMvNzX8/s400/DSCN1513.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Hi Gwen,<br /><br />Today the sun came out and became the perfect day to catch up on pictures. I am trying to decide if I should proceed in a chronological or thematic manner. My sixth grade training in outlining is rearing its head. Roman numerals and capital A's and B's are floating around. </div><br /><div>Let's begin with you....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108661179713767490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWcRq6qyEI/AAAAAAAAADE/d_JLuwu9oDM/s400/DSCN1504.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Your rose socks are terrific. I like the subtle striping of your yarn very much. Thanks for helping me knit my first pair of socks. I especially like the time I called you in your car and you just happened to have the directions with you. After some very pointed questions from me you told me to just do it exactly like they pictured it and it would work. And it did! It was a knitting miracle. </p><p>Well, here is my second pair of socks in development...</p><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108664151831136354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWe-q6qyGI/AAAAAAAAADU/CCO5KNIrVAY/s400/DSCN1558.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>This pair is knit from the top down. I think it is a minor miracle how the heel turns and off you go knitting the foot. Knitting the heel turn gave me pause a few times. One afternoon while Julie was here I spent a better portion of it charting out the increases and decreases to get the hell (this is a real typo, yikes, the mind too funny sometimes) heel to turn. Thank goodness for the internet research. Of course I had figured out how to do the math a different way using the same directions. Never underestimate the ability of a person (me) to invent another way to do the very thing so carefully described.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108668386668890226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWi1K6qyHI/AAAAAAAAADc/-v99F-fNCDM/s400/DSCN1557.JPG" border="0" /></p></div></div></div>I am already thinking ahead to the next time I use this pattern. I wonder if it would be too heavy to continue the slipped stitch pattern on to the bottom of the heel and foot?</div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108670409598486658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWkq66qyII/AAAAAAAAADk/mFCXO_i07Aw/s400/DSCN1579.JPG" border="0" />The ribbing pattern for the top of the sock will continue on to the instep. The knit-through the-back-of-the-loop on each edge of the rib repeat leaves that little raised pattern. I am enjoying the light striping of this yarn. This is the same Trekking yarn as our socks. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108673794032715922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWnv66qyJI/AAAAAAAAADs/Qs6uB_JP3l4/s400/DSCN1566.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>I finished the knitted pouch. This project was done in the denim yarn that is so much fun to knit. I worked on it during Grandpa's surgery and recovery days. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108673819802519714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RuWnxa6qyKI/AAAAAAAAAD0/ugsVFwUKV3E/s400/DSCN1567.JPG" border="0" />No matter what life brings... Remember to Live ,Love, and Laugh. You just never know what miracles are on the way.</p><p>Love,</p><p>Mom</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-13906805246956940892007-07-19T15:09:00.000-05:002007-07-19T16:31:32.334-05:00All ye, All ye, out's in free!<div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Rp_T-sAYsrI/AAAAAAAAACs/MvcVLv22qX0/s1600-h/DSCN1407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089019177870078642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Rp_T-sAYsrI/AAAAAAAAACs/MvcVLv22qX0/s400/DSCN1407.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Dear Gwen,</div><br /><br /><br /><div>I heard the neighborhood children out playing evening games the other night. Most of their fun was centered in the yards at the top of the road so just drifts of noise made its way down to us. Our other summer night noises have begun with the cricket and katydid songs. We do not have the cicada songs as many of the Midwest neighborhoods do. One of my clearest summer memories must be from a cicada year. Because we were younger than my brothers Becky's and my bedtime was set earlier. At that time we had the front bedroom under the big catalpa. We must have had a late evening bedtime because I remember the light level being soft but still strong. And the buzzzzz of the cicadas droning on and on. Behind all that insect noise I could hear the neighborhood kids playing. As it got darker they would start to play hide and go seek. I must have fallen to sleep hearing "Olly Olly Oxen Free!"</div><br /><br /><br /><div>It wasn't until I was older that I realized how great a spot we had for this game. As you know my parents' house is right next to the cemetery. The combination of the gravestones, the big trees and bushes, and yards provided wonderful hiding places. There were rules about playing in the cemetery. We had to be careful not to damage any grave sites or break any plants. No one wanted to be 'it', especially for the older kid version of Kick the Can. There were just too many places to hide. Later in the evening it was great fun to change hiding places under the cover of darkness. I remember hiding far from the street light and then slowly making my way up closer to the can. It was always a great surprise to dive behind a gravestone to find someone else already there. And this scene usually ended in a whispered argument as to who was now obligated to move first. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089020268791771842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Rp_U-MAYssI/AAAAAAAAAC0/oQvvlAXCMN0/s400/DSCN1410.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p>I caught this trying to hide in my garden.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089021093425492690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/Rp_VuMAYstI/AAAAAAAAAC8/kKtirOAVM9M/s400/DSCN1406.JPG" border="0" />Come out, come out wherever you are!</p><p>Love,</p><p> Mom</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-48110666502893899252007-07-14T20:32:00.000-05:002007-07-14T20:37:18.569-05:00summertime<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShCgiUsCgzAtAAkIl48bcCsRop7xcVXsyaEq2AibflmJZ0P8d44cyiAb9DDQpVPW2k8d5_ctGW1VBsHiNcOL2c-cq30VSbUwrU9o-ftvfFuBFtZpUlOe45kAYJ3Ke9_04NyZQPw/s1600-h/veggies+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShCgiUsCgzAtAAkIl48bcCsRop7xcVXsyaEq2AibflmJZ0P8d44cyiAb9DDQpVPW2k8d5_ctGW1VBsHiNcOL2c-cq30VSbUwrU9o-ftvfFuBFtZpUlOe45kAYJ3Ke9_04NyZQPw/s400/veggies+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087231406976140450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Before - fresh from the farmers' market<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EcU-KEfViX8mRc34Pf6jl7Uyz30J4bhiRMHgAcdj_mZda92qAKey0_bWuOIZTMWQ_SqKn-4sh1zgBr8LUKVaeSRQCH6uJ8w9skAgszTlgVburGr2a3xFsaqUbQT8yhgRdRS60Q/s1600-h/veggies+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EcU-KEfViX8mRc34Pf6jl7Uyz30J4bhiRMHgAcdj_mZda92qAKey0_bWuOIZTMWQ_SqKn-4sh1zgBr8LUKVaeSRQCH6uJ8w9skAgszTlgVburGr2a3xFsaqUbQT8yhgRdRS60Q/s400/veggies+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087230814270653570" border="0" /></a><br />after<br /></div>gwendolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820466228523803689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-50934223511379009432007-03-20T18:04:00.000-05:002007-03-20T18:13:06.276-05:00Happy First Day of Spring<div><br /><br /><div>Dear Gwen,</div><div>The thaw has begun.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RgBo9x3-5PI/AAAAAAAAACQ/qFZeMcU24mE/s1600-h/DSCN1004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044146993224410354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RgBo9x3-5PI/AAAAAAAAACQ/qFZeMcU24mE/s400/DSCN1004.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044147517210420482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RgBpcR3-5QI/AAAAAAAAACY/cQLK46VjmFA/s400/DSCN1012.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044148066966234386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RgBp8R3-5RI/AAAAAAAAACg/IclcPPpmR9c/s400/DSCN1015.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>We heard the Spring Peepers today.</div><div>love,</div><div>Mom</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228453.post-9035610548188959442007-03-09T18:26:00.000-06:002007-03-09T20:27:06.163-06:00Do you say cozy or cosy?<div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIDkS4svgI/AAAAAAAAABg/WLZzuuh38mY/s1600-h/DSCN0939.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040094855060831746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIDkS4svgI/AAAAAAAAABg/WLZzuuh38mY/s400/DSCN0939.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Dear Gwen, </div><br /><br /><br /><div>We are having a real winter in West Virginia. Our driveway is at least as long as the Capron drive and it is uphill. Or down hill if you start at the lot line and work your way back to the house, which is the direction I settled on to push snow during the second snowfall. Our latest snow fall was a soft, breathless drift of snow that accumulated to about 10 inches. Weightless as it was, the snow made nice big piles on everything. Willie had a blast rummaging around in the snow. I think he smelled little furry things. He would put his nose under the snow and snowplow forward. I wonder if dogs can get an ice cream headache in the nose.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I must admit we miss the fireplace on icy cold days. Everyone in the household is looking for warmer places to rest on for a while. As you could see from the last post an activated electric blanket and the promise of multiple body heat is all the invitation that is needed for close company. I think we need a new use for the word cozy. It could be useful as a verb, as in, to cozy. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>To cozy is to make soup, or to cover in an afghan, or to curl a cat around you.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;">Or to make tea</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040101211612429842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIJWS4svhI/AAAAAAAAABo/aFVwORIukro/s400/DSCN0954.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p>This tea cozy is made from a felted jacket. When I finished the felting process the pattern had softened to a fuzzy imitation of its former self. This turned into a very heavy wool piece quite capable of keeping a tea warm for a long time. It reminded me of a winter hat so I topped it with a pompom.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIK7S4sviI/AAAAAAAAABw/RP6EPLK3VX8/s1600-h/DSCN0962.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040102946779217442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIK7S4sviI/AAAAAAAAABw/RP6EPLK3VX8/s400/DSCN0962.JPG" border="0" /></a> The second cozy was made from felted wool yardage I found at the scary fabric store. I fell in love with its robin egg blue color. The inset of flowers is a type of reverse applique. I did not turn under the edges because the wool will not ravel at this point. This wool piece did not felt as compactly as the pink wool. As a result this cozy easily snugs around the tea pot. The extra stitching is free motion embroidery in regular sewing weight thread. the blanket stitch around the upper edges is for decoration only. This cozy is being shipped off as a thank you for the teapot given to me as a gift.</p><br /><br /><br /><p></p><span style="color:#3366ff;">Or to put on socks</span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040107026998148658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIOoy4svjI/AAAAAAAAAB4/kpi539T9ROE/s400/DSCN0965.JPG" border="0" /></p><br />Don't your<br />socks look terrific? They fit Dad very well. He said to call them his cozy toesies.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040107881696640578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIPai4svkI/AAAAAAAAACA/D8_5_-rt7PM/s400/DSCN0970.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>(Dozy dog) Nice sock</p><br /><p><span style="color:#3366ff;">Or to fill a hot water bottle<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040109865971531346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VD8CyZgqDLA/RfIROC4svlI/AAAAAAAAACI/TWH0GqAlabk/s400/DSCN0977.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><br /><p>One cold night I really wanted someone to come in and run the pan of hot coals through the sheets to banish the chill. Not having that someone nor the hot coals I decided to make a cover for my hot water bottle. This is also a felted thrift store sweater. I loved the color and the cabling. It felted into a very heavy fabric, perfectly suited to holding the heat from the water bottle. The bottom of the bed was only warmer when Chloe used to sleep there.</p><p>When Dad and I lived in New York state we went winter camping as site directors at a Girl Scout camp. That night it got so cold the water froze in the room where we slept. When Dad woke up in the morning he turned over to see if I had survived the night. He laughed because he saw two noses sticking out of my sleeping bag. I had pulled the dog into my sleeping bag during the night and we were cozy.</p><p>love, Mom</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0