...all will be revealed...

I have another pattern that will soon be released.  Here is a little peak at Meditrina, the goddess of health, longevity and wine.  The beautiful yarn that I used for this design comes from Woolgatherings.  

Kate dyes beautiful yarn and roving and I first discovered her at the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival.  I have more of her beautiful stuff in my stash waiting to become something special!

Stay tuned to see what Meditrina is up to......

...6 visits and counting...

Another long, overdue post. No excuses, just way overdue. Summer is flying by and I can't believe that it has been almost a month since we were at the cabin. The husband and I arrived on July 1st and it was beautiful. We are so fortunate to have this cabin. It has been in the husband's family since the 50's and every time we go there we say "Boy, this place is so great.....we should come here more often."

We had a great time fishing, boating and relaxing. Just what the doctor ordered! The husband headed home on July 5th just as the knitters came rolling in for our 6th year of knitting at the cabin. I'm sure he was glad to get out of there before the thundering herd arrived.

They came armed with wine, yarn, food and as always laughter. We started the week as we always do: Bloody Marys. It's not always about the wine.

We usually have a movie theme for the week. Last year it was Meryl Streep, the year before Kevin Kline. This year was a little different. James Bond vs. GLEE. There are some of our group that are not exactly thrilled with the idea of musicals. When I broached the movie subject at a pre-cabin planning meeting one knitter was heard to say "I HATE musicals" (you know who you are....) So when we discussed it further and came up with the idea of Bond vs. GLEE same knitter said she'd give it a try as she likes James Bond and had never seen an episode of GLEE. (NEVER?.....really.......NEVER!)

We started with Season 1, Volume 1, Episode 1. After the first 15 minutes......she was hooked. What can I say, it's just plain GOOD! We watched the entire dvd.........

Another tradition we have adopted over the years is to have a group knitting project. The past projects have included everything from bath mats to sock monkeys (guess who's idea that was?) This year our project was Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. What a great project! I had never knitted one and was really looking forward to it. In preparation for the trip we gathered patterns for everyone and each knitter selected her yarn. I also bought a copy of the Baby Surprise Jacket DVD. This dvd is outstanding. It's narrated by Meg Swansen and is done so that you feel like you are having a private chat with Meg while the two of you make this wonderful sweater together. Besides the knitting and construction of the jacket, there are also many tips and tricks that Meg shows. These are worth the price of the dvd alone!

We were a very productive group. Here is a sampling of the sweaters we worked on...

You can see that each sweater is as different as the knitter that made it. Yet, another successful group project!

We did do some other things while we were there.

That's Carol being pulled behind the boat! What a riot.

We also did a bit of fishing and were successful!

Carol caught 1, Leianne caught 2 and Heidi (who had never been fishing) caught 2 also! Who says that men are the best fishermen?

This group of women are very special to me. I love that I can share this beautiful place with them. Wonder what we'll come up with for next year?

...blogiversary...

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I began this blog. When I started this I wasn't sure if I'd actually keep it up. I have always wanted to keep a journal, but never followed through after about the first week. This dates back to my days in grade school when I would receive a diary for my birthday or Christmas and promised myself that I'd write in it every day. I would write faithfully for a few days, look back on what I had written with an eye too critical and end up with more blank pages in the diary than those that had been written on.

I have started journals as an adult, only to let them fall away too. Until blogging came my way. At first I thought of this blog as a place to record the comings and goings of my knitting group, "Goddess Knitters". But slowly, and surely it has evolved into a real journal of my life and my times, with a sprinkling of the 'goddesses' thrown in. It has been a very good place for me to vent about, celebrate, and keep track of my life as I go through it. It has become what I always wanted a journal to be for me; a way to look back and reflect on things that have come my way.

Though I don't write as often as I would like, I do write about things that are important to me. There have been many tears and many more smiles in the past 3 years and I am happy that I have a record of them. My kids, and soon to be grandkids will be able to read this and look back at what was going on in my life. I really wish I had this kind of record of my own Mother's life. Maybe that is what keeps me at it.

I have never been the best writer. There have been mistakes in the past writing and there are sure to be many more. But I am past that point of being critical about what and how I write. There are millions of people that are better writers than I. But I don't write this for them, I write this for me. And I like what I see.

...grandma shower...

Time has been flying by and a lot has been happening. I owe you many posts that are waiting in the wings! First up, back in June several friends got together and had a 'grandma shower' for my! What a fun day. Susan and Carol got their heads together, came up with a guest list and I spent the afternoon in the company of friends, food and fun! The shower was complete with cake (red velvet~ a personal favorite of mine), wine (another personal favorite of mine....), and beautiful gifts! Here is a bit of the wonderful things I opened.

Cute clothes:

monkey stuff:

some great things to get my house equipped for the new arrival:

some fabulous books:

and last but not least, some beautiful knitted things.

First up, knitted by my friend irishgirlieknits, this is a beautiful pair of her cotty socks and a hat to match. She knitted them out of bmfa str in the colorway peek-a-boo peonie. I love this color and can't wait to try these things on the new little one. Pictures to come, I promise. Thanks Carrie, you are a gem!

Next up, a darling shrug and hat, knit by my other good friend knittinggolfer.

For the hat, she dyed the yarn herself! Can't wait to put it on that precious little head. Thanks, Marcy! Your are the best!

I have said this many times, but it bears repeating. I am very blessed. I have wonderful friends~ Thank you, everyone!~

...wounded sockateer...

Thought I would give everyone the heads up regarding hotflash.......

(this is us at the cabin last summer.....in our pjs.)

A week ago yesterday she had surgery for a torn rotator cuff. OUCH! I saw her yesterday (she had those same jammies on) and she is coming along great. She said she might even try some knitting!?!? I know that she would love to hear from you so drop her a line here . I'm not sure how she injured herself but I have a sneaking suspicion that processing all of those VISA slips at Stitches last might have something to do with it! Get well, Hotflash, we love you!

...new year, more fun...

Happy New Year! Hope this finds everyone well on the way to a healthy and prosperous 2009. As you know, we had quite a bit of snow before Christmas. This forced the Goddesses to postpone our Christmas Gathering and Gift Exchange. We were finally able to get together this past week to exchange gifts, knit and as usual, laugh.......alot. Here are the highlights....

...hotflash finally got her shoes back...(not really part of the "gift exchange") You can't believe how many of us have a pair of black Dansko shoes.



...lots of really great gifts...

... a few projects...

... and this says it all...


...we're all really trying to keep our resolutions....

...food, fun & fos...

Wednesday we gathered for an afternoon/evening of knitting and fun. Along with wine and laughter, there were several finished objects present.



...a february lady...

...a cute hat (modeled by M.A.) ...



...lemongrass twinkle toes ...



...and a pink emerald.

Wine, food, laughter, friends and knitting.....what else do any of us need?

...one time... at knitting camp...

It was another great year at Camp Knitty-Ha-Ha. The weather was warm, the wine was yummy, the knitting was plentiful and the goddesses were a blast. I laughed, I cried, I finished a bunch of stuff! Here is how things started.....

...yes, that is many bottles of wine in front of the fireplace, and the "stuff" in front of the fireplace is, in fact, yarn and/or fiber waiting to become yarn....

...our movie marathon featured the lovable Kevin Klein...

...our daily view from the deck, (pretty easy to get used to!)...

...winding some finished spinning...

...another skein done...

...bloody mary's in the morning...

...complete with garlic stuffed olives...

...cat naps....

...and wildlife...

...bear trap...

...and a present from the bear.....(in our yard!)

...finished projects....

...and felted bags...

...pics together ...

...saying goodbye...

...until next year...where did I put that corkscrew?