College dreams...

I took Peter and his friend Michael to look at colleges last Sunday. We first went to California State University, Fullerton, since that was one of Peter's favorites from the descriptions he was reading about the Majors he's interested in and with continuing Cross Country and Track. We walked around for at least two hours with our self tour guide booklet, and we also got lost a little bit. So impressive and inspiring...Peter was so impressed with the nature park and imagined practicing his cross country running there. Oh, and they loved the giant ice cream statue...

Next stop was California State University, Long Beach, where I graduated 30 years ago. I realized that I hadn't been back since, and I was amazed at the changes and the additional facilities, like the Pyramid for the sports, and, of course, the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Most of upper campus looked the same to me and brought back many happy memories wandering the halls and remembering what it was like to study and make friends there. Another two hours of walking. We sure got our exercise that day!!

Peter has a big decision to make. And we need to figure out a way to pay for it. It's nice to dream. Even nicer to make those dreams come true.

Amusing myself...

Oh, how easily I am amused...

Now I have to find MORE pictures of myself and my family in order to Obamiconmenize!

To save you the googling, you can go here:

http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

Be sure you play with the red, white, and blue adjustments to get it just right...

I do think this would make a cool t shirt...hmmmm...the website does sell this type of thing...

Anyway, what else do you do on a rainy day other than knit, cross stitch, and Obamiconme something??

Ribby Slipper Socks DONE!

I am so excited to have these Ribby Slipper Socks finished! Once I figured out what I was doing, they were fairly simple to knit. I got the pattern from the magazine Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts issue 2008. The bulky and worsted alpaca/wool blend from Blue Sky Alpaca was soft and fun to knit with, but you could do this with a Lion Brand bulky and worsted too if you want to do it inexpensively.
Below, you see it in progress...loved the double pointed needles I got from Knit Picks in the colorful woods!!! They were also wonderfully long enough so that the yarn didn't fall off.
I'll definitely be doing this pattern again...now I have TWO Ribby Slipper socks, and not just one...so I don't have to feel silly again wearing just the one!!

Now back to stitching a bit on the Beatrix Potter Sampler...

Beatrix Potter Sampler progress...

As you can see, my stitching of the Beatrix Potter Sampler is coming along!! I just LOVE stitching on this!! I'm enjoying the Everlasting color choice from www.hand-dyedfibers.com, but worried about running out, so Vikki Clayton came to my rescue when I emailed my worries. I do have enough, but just in case, I ordered some complimentary skeins of Quince that is part of the color palette with the Everlasting. I already have the other complimentary color called Fish Pepper, so I think I'll experiment a bit and do a couple of the smaller medallions in the more solid choices. I hope it will liven things up and make it more interesting.

In the meantime, I need to still knit the companion Ribby Slipper so that the other one I finished isn't lonely...also, don't want to look silly walking around in one slipper...ha ha.

So glad I have my stitching and knitting to help keep me sane!

Beatrix Potter Sampler Started...

Today, on New Year's, I started my version of Needleprint's Beatrix Potter Sampler. I belong to a Stitch-a-long Blog which you can find along the right in my blog list. I'm using Belfast linen in Light Sand and using Vicki Clayton's hand dyed silk in the colorway "Everlasting." 2 threads over two. I just love the color variation of the light and dark mauves and my first Quaker motif just flew off my fingers while stitching. A very enjoyable stitch!! My goal is to stitch a medallion or two every week or so...we'll see!

I think it's a nice tradition to start something new to create on New Year's day...at least one resolution is out of the way!! Happy New Year and Happy Stitching to you all!