A word of caution

...we all know not to open the door to strangers

...we hear all the time to ask for identification when someone comes knocking

...we hear all the time how people push their way into someone's home causing havoc (to put it mildly ~ it's still early here and I'm just now having my coffee)

...This morning shortly before 9 a.m. the doorbell rang

...It's the fellow from the Mosquito Abatement Department of the County (he has to go around and check swimming pools and any other types of standing water to make sure there are no baby 'squitos or adult ones that will breed)

..."Go to the gate and let yourself in and I'll meet you"

...NOW:

1. I didn't ask for identification at the door
2. I allowed him to let himself in the gate (which is normally locked)
3. I met him at the gate (by myself still in jammies and hair looking like the mice had a field day)
4. I walked around the back yard to the pool and back to the gate with him talking all the while
5. I left the door to the house unlocked and probably cracked open


AND:

For not one nano second of time did I think anything about anything except that this guy was checking my pool (which is empty by the way so no problem)

He did not know if I was by my self or not (I wasn't)

I didn't know if he was by himself

I never once thought how easy it would have been for someone to come to my door ~ gain entrance (even through the gate to the backyard) ~ have accomplices waiting for entrance.

I preach and preach to my daughters the importance of keeping your doors locked and not letting anyone in without identification (even if you are expecting them). ~ And now here I "done and did it".

It was at least a half hour before I even realized what I had done and to me that is scary.

Monderful Monday!

Today is a monderful day...

Shivers got up in time to outside for a bit before going back in his crate...didn't make me late...met Patty, Suzanne, Jane and Virginia at Borders for our Monday get together.

Knitted quite a bit on the mittens...these will be for youngest daughter...I'm knitting them out of Manos del Uruguay ~ color: Hibiscus ~ Handcrafted Kettle Dyed Pure Wool

I love knitted with this yarn ~ it is a bit thick and thin but I think it will felt spectacularly! Plus it will give our darling nice warm hands when the snow really hits Missouri

While at Borders I meandered over to the knitting books and of course one followed me home ~ it is the reprint of Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle

Perhaps this book is just telling me that I'll be focusing on Fair Isle in the coming year

Virginia was wearing a sweater she knitted years ago and it looked as if she'd just finished it...beautifully knitted and the color is gorgeous ~ I'm hoping to get the pattern although I still haven't finished my "February Lady Sweater" but ....

I enjoy meeting up with our group ~ it seems that every time we get together I learn something new...and that is so true about today ~ thanks Suzanne ~ I have to remember 80 and not 64 ~ and a swatch (yuck but I will do it)

Now I'm off to work on the mittens

Yarn Dyeing Day

Yesterday I was among a wonderful group. We "flew" (by car) to Dulitz Christmas Tree Farm in Springville California. During October through the end of January or so the owner has a gift shop in a log cabin. During the rest of the year she uses it as a yarn shop.

This was the second time I was able to go. The group yesterday went to dye yarn. Some of us bought yarn from Carol and some brought their own.

We were joined by three spinners who showed us their amazing talent. A very talented indie dyer joined us ~ I love her dyeing and of course a beautiful skein jumped in my bag.

A potluck was enjoyed by everyone ~ the food was great!

I purchased a hugmongous 900 yard skein of beautiful gold dk weight wool yarn and over dyed it...I had a blast!

The yarn is hanging over the tub in our front bathroom drying...I want it good and dry before winding it ~ this yarn is going to be knitted into nice warm socks...

Look at all the beautiful dyeing jobs ~ mine are the two dark brownish ones on the left of the rack.

Everyone did a great job. I am looking forward to doing this again.

Blue Ribbon

I entered two pairs of socks at our local county fair and was so surprised to learn that I had won a First Place Blue Ribbon (did it help that in the category there were just two items entered)

There were so many beautiful knitted items entered I was proud to be among the group. Our local Ravelry group came home with 19 ribbons between the 7 of us.

I've already started a mental list of items to knit for next year.

I was told that my older sister entered a crocheted item in her local county fair and came home with a First Place Blue Ribbon...congratulations. Also one of my sisters-in-law brought blue ribbons home also.

Must be in the genes....

Congratulations to everyone who entered items in their fairs ~ everyone deserves a ribbon!

It's Saturday

I'm up

Yesterday I fell over the doggie gate in the hallway,
doggie gate is now down and doors closed
came away with a few bruises and sore muscles

Last night I started to deconstruct a CASHMERE sweater I picked up at the Goodwill some time ago (for $2.00 ~ cleaners was $3.00)...

I'm hoping for enough salvagable yarn to make a shawl...we'll see

Shivers didn't want to get out of bed this morning...poor little guy shivers like crazy...I'll knit him a little coat and we'll see if he'll wear it this year.

Off to deconstruct...