More Progress On The Aran

Still working on the back of this sweater. With all the ripping out and redoing rows, it's taking 100 times longer than any other regular sweater, and hoping it will be worth it in the end.

It's from a really good book; Cable Confidence. I fell in love with the sweater and color, but there wasn't enough of yarn in any color but the one I am working in... but there are always future sweaters and skein colors (even if I dye the yarn myself with Kool Aid!)!

I really enjoy knitting. It is such a good method of distraction and stress reliever. Something about the rhythm of the stitches and the feel of the wool between my fingers. So therapeutic and a positive distraction. Following the charts gives me something else to think about.

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I Wish Fairy Tales Really Did Come True

Think it's time I begin searchin' for the right frog to kiss... maybe start in my own swamp, out back!

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All The Plants Inside

All the outdoor plants I brought inside for the winter are doing well. Even started throwing off some new growth!

All the plants except for one hibiscus I keep in the family room, near the wood stove and window with the window stool (Hazel is too small to see out the windows so I put a stool there for her). That one was losing leaves, left and right but I couldn't find them in the pot or on the floor.

Apparently while my head is turned, Hazel's enjoyment has been sitting on her stool, leaning slightly to the right and nibbling on the tender new leaves!!!! Catnip for my dog! No harm, however. Hibiscus flowers are used to make tea in Asia, for all kinds of medicinal purposes.

Hibiscus tea was traditionally used to soothe or help a variety of ailments, from coughs and skin diseases to high blood pressure, gallbladder attacks, heart disease, and even some cancers. Whether these claims have any basis in science or fact, there is no real proof but some studies have been done. Hibiscus leaves and flowers do contain certain antioxidants, such as flavanoids, and proanthocyanidins. (I looked all this up in a panic, I sure you can imagine!)

I knew there was a good for a reason for loving Hibiscus!!!! :D

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Another Earthquake

I didn't feel this one.

Guess it was about a 2.3. Not too big and near Concord. According to the news, we have a couple every year. Last one I felt was last year....

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This is a Really REALLY Good Song!

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE
--->This is it!!! <--- (have you heard it? AT the end, Jason Mraz and his bongo drummer make me laugh, ever time.)

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How To Speak Bahston!

Hello!!!

Saw this on FB and had to reshare on my blog.

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Slow Goin'

But I LOVE aran sweater patterns. This isn't my first sweater with cables and textures. I love the challenge and the amount of thought that goes into each row. A real brain exerciser!

This is just the back and it's about 1/2 finished. Thinking it will take over a month, but will be a great sweater, when done.

Knitting this slightly larger so that I can shrink it down and make the stitches nice and tight, cozy and warm. Nice to snuggle.

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Baby, It's Cold Outside!!!

12°F or below, and a good hearty old Beef Stew is the perfect Irish meal to keep the insides warm! Made in the old crock - There's no better cure, for sure.

I love my faithful crockpot. (Poor thing is so old and much adored, I have to prop up one side with a plate, because it lost a foot.)

Maybe for my birthday I'll buy myself a new one....

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More Snow?

Another storm is predicted for tomorrow. It's supposed to be slightly south of us. I am glad we have a bit of a break. I am sure they'd love a little perma-white on the ground, for a change. Cape's supposed to see some blizzard conditions but not for too long. I hope all stays well!!!

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What Was Supposed To Be A Dusting!!!

This storm was supposed to be a small thing, passing through. This morning I woke up to see this and to see it's STILL snowing!!!

While running errands, I took this second picture.

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Another Peaceful Morning

When we had my father's funeral a couple days after his death, there was a tremendous blizzard which we had to drive through, from New Jersey to Cape Cod. Roads closed all over but we still made it.

Guess today reminds me of that day.

Although we are getting a nice coating on the ground, most of the snow on the ground is leftover from the past storms. Here in New Hampshire, once the snow hits the ground, it's there until at least the end of March.

PS
This dusting to an inch turned out to be nearly a 1/2 foot!!!

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January 17th, 1987

I tried very hard to keep myself busy all day, but now it's quiet and now I can't stop thinking...

Today, twenty-seven years ago my father, Robert J. McLaughlin, died. He was handsome, smart, a "Man's Man", a war hero during the Korean Conflict, a great husband and father, and a very successful businessman. (Oh yes, and a model!!!)

I remember 1987 and all that happened that year as if it all were only yesterday. I was still a bit young and in my last year of college. Little did I know, that was the end of my wonderful life, as I knew it. Months later, everything I loved slowly disappeared. And my father was the first to go.

One of several hardships that occurred soon after his death was putting my dog to sleep (before I had a chance to go home and say goodbye). That and the other difficulties made recovering from his death, a 1000 times worse and me 10,000,000 more times numb.

There was more life changing events that year and my father would have been the one I would have turned to for comfort and advice. My father was the bridge between my mother and I and sadly, that was gone, too. Not having him around was so hard and living in a place I used to think of as "home" was starting to feel very different. Instead of happy things around every corner, there was only memories.

Twenty-seven years later I still look back and marvel at 1987... I grew up fast. I learned very quickly. I also grew to appreciate things so much better. The people who said "You never know what you had until it's gone", were right.

I thought the saying above was so true. That quote above and some of the special FB private messages I've received today were pretty comforting (thank you to those who also follow my blog!!!)

{{I love you daddy. You gave me all kinds of opportunities and advantages and I am so grateful for them and for you.}}

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Tis The Season For The Potholes

Although, their appearance is a little early this year. Guess after all those days of frigid temps, snow and then the January Thaw (or should I say sudden meltdown), it should be expected.

Every road is bad and with cars coming in the other direction, one has no option but to hit them head-on. Such damage to the cars!

Despite all the melting and warm temps, there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground and there's to be more falling, in the next few days.

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The Plastic Bag....

Am I glad that I took a little Down-Time for myself, today?
Oh my YES!

This afternoon, my younger daughter came home in different clothes. When I asked, she said the nurse gave them to her. When I asked why, she said she had throw-up all over her own clothes and proudly presented a plastic bag to me.

"Uck", I first thought then - "Oh no!" And asked her if she had thrown-up, why didn't she come home early? Well, apparently at the lockers her friend turned to my daughter and was about to say, "I don't feel well", but instead demonstrated how she felt, all over Laura!!!

"Oh crap" was my final thought, and for two very good reasons...
1) Laura's gonna now get that bug.
2) I am the washerwoman! And now I am third in line!

Am I tempted to just throw away the bag? No.... YES! :]

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A Little Afternoon Time

Very rare, but it seems I have some afternoon time to myself and I can't think of a better way to spend it but in a quiet place with some IHeart Radio, hot cup of Tension Tamer tea and my knitting. Almost my most favorite way to spend some free time. When I moved from NJ, I never thought I'd be listening to WPLJ again. Especially in New Hampshire, of all places.

On the circular needles today is a wool sweater. I love working with a nice wool; it's like crack for knitters! :D

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Oh No Mr. Snow!!!

Mr Snowman is no longer happy this morning, with all the warm weather, rain and sun!

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HILDA WASN'T HAPPY!

Hello!!!

Well, some of you know that a few months ago I bought a really fun, soot grey, VW GTI which I named “Broom” (even got the New Hampshire license plates! :D)

I named my navigational system “Hilda, the Wicked Witch” because most times she flies me thru the worst possible roads and situations. But with a hard A** and a speeding ticket or two, we get home.

I figured I should knit a “Hilda” to go along with the navigation’s “voice”, keep me company. I knitted her and she rides with me everywhere. We’ve even gone just over the border to Salem, MA! She was hoppin’ with that one!

This week, she was exposed to the elements and wasn’t that happy. My window was cracked during the crappiest weather and the whole driver’s inside area was FROZEN solid from the recent storm. Oh, I was heart sick. Seems Broom and Hilda are OK and will fly another day.

Knit with acrylic yarn, size US 8 circular needles. I also put in fine ground sand in her bottom so she sits better and doesn’t slide all over (when I take those turns on two wheels! OK, I eventually find her somewhere in the car). She sits better with the sand because this one is NOT a reversible and doesn’t have the weight in the bottom, otherwise.

Thank you for looking!!!!

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GOOD SONG!

"How I Feel", by Flo Rida!

Very Foggy Yesterday!

Hello!!!

Usually it's this foggy along the rivers and swamps, but it was thick as pea soup everywhere! Even along the busy roads like the strip!

Despite all the rain, warm temps and fogginess, we still have a ton of snow on the ground!

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PEACEFUL

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Flowers Forever - Free Knitting Patterns!

Hello!!!

Just finished this baby beanie hat, last night while watching a teen flick; daughters are at that age. Watched the Moth Diaries. Good movie. The same actress that played Mary, in The Tudors played the main character in this movie. She did an American accent, well.

It's a basic style hat that can also be done in an adult size. Here's the pattern for a baby.

Basic Hat Pattern:
• CO 56sts on to circular needles, join round.
• K2 P2 for 5 rounds.
• Continue to knit in the round for 4" from the CO round, then begin decreasing.

Decreasing For Crown:
• *K4, K2tog* repeat to round end.
• K 1 round without decreasing
• *K3, K2tog*
• K 1 round
• *K2, K2tog*
• K 1 round
• *K1 K2tog*
• K2tog
• BO, secure invisibly.
TADA!!!!

(You can also find tons of free patterns on Ravelry!!!)

Click on the image just above for the pattern's PDF.
This pattern has not be tested by someone else... I am pretty sure it is error-free, because I wrote it as I did each step. If you like the pattern and use it for profit, all I ask is you make a donation to St Jude's Hospital or Shriner's Hospitals for Children, to help our next generation of knitters!!! -Thank you.

Lesley Stanfield is another great source for patterns and her books can be found in stores and online.

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Absolute Rink!

No getting up that driveway today - just getting the mail was a challenge! With the temperatures dipping way down and staying really cold, I don't think I'll be getting up the driveway tomorrow, either.

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Homemade Pizza

Hello!!!

Ever since I have moved to New England, I have suffered looking for the best pizza. Yeah, Papa Gino's does an OK job, but a real pizzeria style pizza joint can't match what I grew up with (and had no idea it would be by which all else would be measured).

So, I set out to learn how to make my own. It's not difficult to make the dough (especially with a wicked kicker food processor I got for Christmas). However, I have to admit I've been known to buy some dough from Shaw's on MANY occasion - their's is a pretty good recipe.

With the learning curve and all things considered, pizza night has been a solid weekend fall-back (some would romantically call a tradition) for quite a long time and tonight was no exception... and a pretty good replacement for what I've missed for all these years.

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New Year Is Starting Off Great!

I forgot to say "Happy New Year" a few days ago. Guess it's been so crazy, but that's good, right?

Still knitting for the new baby. I can't wait for the box to be filled. Still want to make some little chachkies, like a reversible toy. (Can you tell it's for a special friend's granddaughter?)

Love the snow. We didn't quite get the 12" predicted but it wasn't that far off. Good thing school hadn't started back up, or that would have been a VERY short week.

Seems we are in for some more weather. This time, rain. Haven't caught the forecast for the total amount of rain, but with the temps in the 40s and the amount of snow on the ground, we could be talking about some local flooding.... But, for now it's just so beautiful.

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Nice Snowy Night

Predicting near blizzard conditions tonight and tomorrow. Good thing it's 4°F, because the snow's light and fluffy; 12" expected when all is said and done.

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Oh Boy, It's Gonna Be Brutal!

I sincerely hope the weather forecast changes before Friday night because as it stands, we are expected to drop to -19°F overnight. What?!!?

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