What's new around here?

Here is the finished yarn from the pink and yellow roving in the last post. It was wonderful to spin, I plan to ask if I can buy some more from Joyce on Wed, we are dying wool!!! Have missed our Wednesday spinning meetings a lot, work tends to interfere with things some times.

I was hired as a CNA at a nursing home that is adjacent to a hospital, but didn't make it through the orientation period. Wasn't the right person for the place, so will keep looking for another job. Something will come along, but for now I am where I need to be.

After three months of work/school, and a month of intensive training and work, my house is in need of some TLC, and catch up on family time, too. Our youngest daughter is having her tonsils taken out on Tuesday, and recently we lost a close friend that I wasn't able to travel to the funeral with my family, due to work policy. Also my state test is scheduled for Aug 3rd, will be practicing the clinical skills for that.


This is a Knitting Pure & Simple pattern for a bulky top down sweater. Made from Wool Ease chunky and size 10 needles, it is a fast and relaxing knit, just what I needed. It is for our sweet grandson, hope it fits ( size 2-4).



Part of the house TLC includes painting the kitchen. I have resisted painting because of these stencilled borders, just couldn't give them up, but it's time for something different. The birdhouses were over the kitchen sink and cupboards. The new paint is called Sugared Melon Crush. Today will be the day to cover the stencils with Kilz and have my husband take down some thermostats. Then tomorrow the actual painting can start.

These went around both ends of our kitchen.


These little borders went over a wainscoting of sorts, a wood grain panelling that needs to be replaced one day.

This was taken on the 4th of July, the wind picked up and everything started looking very ominous. They blew away almost as fast as they got here, fortunately.

Taking a break

This roving was a Christmas gift from my Mom, started it today for fun, taking a break from the blue sweater. The second sleeve is about 1/3 of the way done, have been working on it, just needed a renewal today.

Here it is on the bobbin, don't have any idea what to make out of this yarn. Might need some more for socks, or mittens. It is Joyce's wool, dyed then sent out to a mill, probably Zeilinger's, they do the striped rovings I believe.

Had a job interview Friday at the place where I messed up the online application, waiting to hear from them. They will let me know, was there an hour and a half and answered many difficult questions. Some of them not very well, but it was a good experience overall.

Just a little bit of catching up

This is what I have been doing for the past 8 weeks. It has been 28 years since I have been in a classroom, and am really enjoying it! Having a little trouble remembering medical terms, but will just have to work harder... Monday is the final exam, clinical skills test, and graduating! After that, we can take the state board test.

In the meantime, I have turned in applications, and am hoping to hear from somebody soon. One place I went to handed me an application and when I turned it back in was told that they don't take paper applications anymore. Would have been nice to know that earlier. After going to the web site and making an account, the site was having technical difficulties and sent my form in incomplete. They sent a confirmation email, then another email stating that it was incomplete and to resend. Okay. Wonder if I'll get that job?



Here is the sweater coat, still working on it. Wish you could feel how warm and heavy it is. Probably will get lots of wear out of it with our long cold winters.


Mr. Greenjeans, a better picture than the last one! So nice to see green grass again. This will be a fair entry if it's done in time. You might notice a blurry spot in these photos, it is from my grandson playing with the camera. Didn't realize it was there until now, and just wanted to spend a little time blogging tonight then get back to studying so it will have to wait. Matthew's birthday party is Sat., he will be two. Where did the time go?

Bleeding hearts, much bigger this year, and lots more flowers. They are in a mostly shady spot, with poor soil but it seems to like it there...

The primrose are bigger also this year.

One lone pansy that survived the winter and came back.

April

Here is Matthew after getting his face painted at an Easter event for kids. He didn't want to play the games, just wanted the chocolate! I know how he feels...



Enjoyed weaving this one, it went fast, and is only about 24" x 27". Some strips I had sewn awhile back, and just enough to use up the leftover warp. Time to warp again, with colored warp this time and play with some placemats and chair pads for our kitchen. Starting a new adventure tomorrow, will update later.

accomplishments

Latest progress on the greenjeans sweater. Am enjoying the cable section, tried working without a cable needle and it's pretty easy.

Here is another shot of the blue rug, am looking forward to finishing these, but it will be the last batch of consignment weaving for the church group. They aren't meeting anymore due to lack of members and helpers.

Two different rugs, same colors.





This will be the last rug, also did placemats of this awhile back. They wanted to use up what was left, not my favorite, but will get it done.

Here are some daffodils coming up. First year for these, hope they do well. We will find out if it's really true that deer don't like daffodils.

How resilient they are, we are supposed to be getting a winter storm tonight with 3-5 inches, hope it doesn't affect these too much.

Five minutes here & there

Our youngest daughter on her 17th birthday.

Grandson at the party, he loves straws!

Friend's entry at the outhouse races. They already have ideas for next year's model. It was a fun weekend reconnecting.

Finally finished this one, will be starting the next one today.


The blue handspun sweater. The bottom needs adjusting to fit the zipper, so was left on the needles. Will need at least two more skeins spun up to finish the other sleeve, collar and bottom ribbing.

Mr Greenjeans, made progress on it during the weekend away with friends.

Some corriedale top I bought at FiberWhims last Sat. Can't wait to spin this, am getting a little tired of the blue, but looking forward to finishing the sweater! The shop is open during the week now, also.

Gauge is off

After a good start on the sweater, checked the gauge and found it's off, need to swatch again with smaller needles. Am not sure what happened, unless the metal needles caused me to knit with less tension? Will swatch and start over again.