Spring Fling Synopsis.....

Ok, I have to say that it is very hard to do a blogpost on something like 'The Spring Fling'.... There is so much to write... I will try to do my best on giving you a taste of what goes on when 100 knitters gather from around the world for a weekend of knitting!!!

I headed down to St. Louis early last Tuesday morning to help Sheri get a few last minute things ready for the Fling. (Which officially started Thursday afternoon). She had expanded The Loopy Ewe since the last time we were down there, and it is incredible. This wall of Cascade had me dreaming of endless possibilities of felted bags one could make in countless color combinations!!!





The 'Sit and Knit' area was extremely inviting, but unfortunately we were too busy to ever really just sit and knit. Maybe next time!!! (Although things are always hopping at The Loopy Ewe!!!)










One of my jobs was to put together some spinning wheels to take up to the hotel for people to learn to spin on. Do I look in over my head because I totally was!!! I eventually got them all together....








One of the highlights for me last year was getting to know Claudia who flew in from Germany for the Fling. This year she came again, and brought along her husband and two dear friends, Dani and Maria. They got in Tuesday evening, so we had several days to get to know them. I would love to someday go to Germany to visit them all and Claudia's workshop. Here is Maria, Dani and I... (Claudia is in black but prefers not to have pictures of her taken or published!)











One of the traditions that seems to have been established is the ordering and consuming of delicious cupcakes from The Cupcakery in St. Louis. These cupcakes are delicious!!!!! Two of the flingers, Laura and Leslie or Leslie and Laura (can't keep them straight....) take orders and pick them up for us all. Yum. Good thing this bakery isn't in my hometown, or I may be in trouble....






Once everyone gets checked in, the rest of the weekend is spent knitting; spinning, taking classes and a shopping trip to the Loopy Ewe. The decibel level in this lounge got quite high at times.. just saying!!









There was quite a spinning contingent this year, which was fun to see. I brought my spinning wheel and spent quite a bit of time on it and got some GREAT help from Adrienne, Lynn and Stacey. Thanks guys!! I can't wait to get back at it! (Pictured here - Kristi and Adrienne)













Here is the bobbin I got spun during my time at the Fling. I am pretty excited to finish the next bobbin and get them plied together. I may even have yarn that I can make something with!!















The other project I worked is another felted tote. It will have the same shape as the circle tote, but I refigured the pattern so I can knit it in the round. I used the Stripe Generator to generate a pattern with my four colors. I'm pretty excited to see how it turns out.






Sheri had 3 teachers this year that held classes on Friday and Saturday. Wendy, Anne and Cookie. Wendy and Cookie both had books published right before the Fling. I was able to get copies of both to bring with me and have them sign. Here is Wendy and I.













And then me with Cookie. (Goofy picture of me, but what can I say??) Cookie is the designer of the Monkey sock pattern that I adore and have made several of. There are several patterns in her book that I am excited to try!









Laura (of cupcake fame) was one of the test knitters for Wendy's book, so I had her sign the page of the socks that she knit. There were so many talented, talented knitters and spinners and I enjoyed seeing what everyone was knitting and getting to know many of them. I'm already looking forward to next year's fling!



Well, I will share some of the fun things that came home with me in my next post.



Until Next Time....

P.S. check out more Spring Fling photos etc.. on Sheri's blog today

Away I Go!

Well, it is the eve of my departure for St. Louis and the second annual Loopy Ewe Spring Fling! My bags are just about packed and I think I'm ready to go! AND I got the Circle Tote done!!! Here it is knit, sewn together and ready to felt. (It will be the size of the brown tote after it's trip through the wash machine!!)






Here is the front of the bag, post felting. I actually like the colors better in person. As much as this bag is a pain to knit, it is my favorite bag that I've made to date. I always say I won't make another one when I'm in the middle of knitting it, but once it's done, I start thinking of other color combinations!!!













As with the other circle totes I have made, I chose to make a simplified back with just one circle.










Off to finish packing. Will try to do a post from the Fling!






Until Next Time....

It's April 16th....

Are your taxes done? I hope so!! Tax season is now officially over and the 1040's are put away and my knitting is back out! I have been knitting away on my Circle tote that I hope to have done for the Spring Fling next week. I think I am going to make it! Here is the front side.












I decided on the last circle totes I made that it made more sense to make a simpler back. (Knitting all of those circles is quite complicated... at least for me!!) So I am making a plain red back with one teal circle. Getting close to half way done with this side! I hope to be able to felt the bag this weekend.






Speaking of weekends, we had a GREAT Easter weekend, full of family, fun and a few little disasters... but we'll just talk about the fun!! Saturday was R's birthday and we got to spend our first afternoon hanging out in their new backyard! Played ladder golf; ate cupcakes and had a great time. Forgot to take a picture... Will post a few of their new place after this coming weekend.

Sunday everyone was home for Easter! I LOVE having everyone home. It just feels right. We all met at church for breakfast and an incredible Easter service. Then we met at our home for lunch and an Easter Basket hunt. R & M return from finding their basket back by the firepit where he proposed to M just a little over 2 years ago!














We had hid A's phone in his basket and he had to walk around calling his number until he heard his phone ring. It was hiding up in the tree fort. Most of the goodies he has to share with CB when she returns from Spain next month!!











Lastly, I need to report that Sumo tried but could not protect this little guy from Sophie. She has completely gutted it now and chewed off most of his face. I'm sure the legs will be next. Poor thing. You did what you could Sumo!













Until Next Time....

Spring Will Come.....

We are now well into April and I am starting to believe that Spring will come!! The snow has almost all melted from our mini-blizzard on Sunday and I am starting to see buds on the trees. The lilacs are blooming in St. Louis... so I know it's just a few weeks and they will start blooming here.

I continue my morning and evening walks in the back field with the dogs. Sumo continues to amaze me with his energy! He even breaks into a run now and then.








I think sometimes Sumo even takes Sophie by surprise! She got a few new toys yesterday, one of them being this new frisbee. She loves frisbees!! She also got some new toys for inside as most of her other toys have been chewed beyond recognition.






Occasionally the dogs even find a scent that is appealing to both of them. I don't go over and look. I really don't even want to know......









Back at home, one of Sophies new toys has sought refuge with Sumo. I guess it really would prefer not to be chewed beyond recognition, thank you very much!















Had a fun surprise on Tuesday this week. Got a call from K that a leadership group that she and SC are a part of were coming into town to hear their leader speak up on campus. I invited them to swing by for dinner if it worked out. 8 of them showed up! So much fun! I miss having this table surrounded by the kids and their friends. Fortunately it will be full again this Sunday when everyone is here for Easter!!!



On the menu that night was chicken enchiladas; Mexican rice; cornbread muffins; kiwi and brownie truffle. I realized I hadn't yet shared the recipe for this Mexican rice. It is very yummy. K got it from her high school Spanish teacher.




Mexican Rice










4 TBSP cooking oil
2 cups rice, uncooked
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1 8oz can tomato sauce
4 cups chicken broth



1. Brown rice in oil until golden brown. Stir often or it will burn.
2. Add garlic and onion and sauté until onion is clear.
3. Add salt, cumin, tomato sauce and water.
4. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until rice is done and rather dry.


Note: I have tried doubling this with not much success. I think it's best to make 2 single recipes in separate pans if needed!


Enjoy!

Until Next Time....

Puppy For Sale!!!

Puppy for sale
Only fifty cents
Puppy for sale
She's not a big expense
You can hug her
You can bug her
You could buy or rent
Puppy for sale,
Only fifty cents

Hey, would anybody like to buy
A slightly used puppy?
Even if you have one now
Trade him for another

She will help you with the chores
And she's fairly clean
The only problem is, sometimes
She can be so naughty!

Chorus
Puppy for sale
Twenty Five Cents...etc

If Steve knew I was selling her
I would really get it
Buy her now, don't pay 'til June
On approved credit
Buy her now, and I'll tell you
What I will do, mister
We'll even throw into the deal
Her older brother Sumo

Chorus:
Puppy for sale
Only ten cents...etc

She will always pick you up
When you take a fall
And she's good at showing you
How to catch a ball
She's always happy to see you
And does this crazy dance

Hey, wait!
She sounds like a pretty nice dog...
I'll give her one more chance

Our puppy's not for sale
Not for any price
Our puppy's not for sale
I guess she will suffice
I like to hug her
I like to bug her
She's really rather nice
Our puppy's not for sale
Not for any price


I don't know if any of you recognized that song.. but its a remake of Mary Kate and Ashley's 'Brother for Sale' song that K used to sing quite often when her brothers would annoy her. So, you may be wondering what Miss Sophie did to warrant my singing this song??? Well, I will enlighten you!

In less than a month I will be heading to St. Louis for the 2nd annual 'Spring Fling' that Sheri puts on for The Loopy Ewe. As part of the fun in getting to know fellow flingers, some of us participated in a 'swap' where we exchange names and put together a fun package for our fellow flinger. Well, today my package from Kym arrived while I was out running errands. I know that it was beautifully put together because she had posted this picture on Ravelry.




When I drove down the driveway and saw some pink tissue paper in the yard, my heart sank. The postman had left the package on the front step and Sophie had decided to 'open' it. I was able to collect what I believe to be most of the package and I adore everything in it. there is a wonderful felted bag pattern with the yarn to make it with and a gorgeous homemade button for the front; some heavenly coffee; M&M's with little sheep; a cute Pez dispenser; a mini photo album with sheep on it; a 'Knitter Girl' window decal and some highlighter tape. There also appeared to have been a box of chocolate covered marshmallow/caramels that Sophie consumed. (Only my very favorite candy in the world!!!)

Hence my desire to sell her. Do you blame me? Thank you Kym, I do love everything and think I may even be able to forgive Sophie someday....


Many of you have asked what I have been knitting. My big push right now is to get this felted circle tote bag done before the Spring Fling. It will take some doing, but I think I can.







Sumo wanted to give his two cents worth to the whole Sophie situation. He thinks we should just sell her! Sorry old boy.....









Until Next Time.....

All Good Things...

...must come to an end. So it is with our time in Colorado. What a great trip it was!!

The last day found a few of us still skiing. R and A went out in the morning and then Steve and A went out again after lunch. They decided to head to a new part of the mountain, which was entirely black diamond runs. They had a blast!











Reminded A of crepes we used to get in Harajuku Japan years and years ago! Yum!


















R and M met some good friends for dinner in Breckenridge that night and missed out on A's yummy chicken casserole! I have to say we ate very well on our vacation!! (and very seldom went out).










We are now back home after 870 miles in the car yesterday. Sumo and Sophie were very happy to see us, but had a great time with K & K while we were gone.


Until Next Time.....

Snowmobiling and Such...

One of the things that Steve really wanted to do while we were out here in Colorado is to do a snowmobile adventure up into the mountains. So we donned these very attractive snowmobile suits and went for a ride!








The machines were lined up and ready for us to go! After a 15 minute warm up to get us used to the snowmobiles we were off!











R & M pose for a photo on R's snowmobile. We actually each drove our own snowmobile. Some of us went faster than others..... The important thing is we all made it back to base camp safe and sound!














Steve and I pose together at one of our stops. We really went pretty high up and had some steep hills to go down, which I thought was the scariest part. Brought back many memories from growing up in Minnesota and snowmobiling at our cabin.









I think everyone had a pretty good time.





We gather back at the Ski Home that we are staying at ready for another night of dinner and games. Pegs and Jokers; Cranium; Phase 10 and Settlers of Catan are our games of choice. I won't list the winners here, but suffice it to say the the team of girls have more victories overall than the boys. Afterall, Girls Rule!!




Until Next Time.....

P.S. A special thank you to my wonderful daughter in law who voluntarily ordered Onion Pizza with me for lunch today (which is my favorite pizza) and even seemed to enjoy it!! Yum!

The Slopes

We've been hitting the slopes and having a great time! The weather is perfect (sunny and not too cold) and the snow is ok. (Wouldn't mind a little fresh powder.....) But it's all good.


The first day we went was the first day skiing for M and SC. (M had maybe skiied once before in Iowa). The first run down there were quite a few spills, but both just kept getting back up again.














Each run down saw great improvement! Here is M just a few runs later...





















What a bunch!!













And, just for fun, without any explanation, a short slide show.





The end of the 2nd day of skiing was rewarded by a wonderful meal of lasagna, bread, salad and rich fudge brownies made by R and M!















And on a final note, today we celebrate A's 22nd birthday here in Colorado!! To celebrate, we are going on a 2 hour snowmobile excursion! Happy Birthday Son!!















Until Next Time....

Spring Break

Well, after only a 15 hour ride in the car with 7 of us and all of our gear we arrived in Breckenridge! We made several stops along the way, with the last one in Denver getting dinner and groceries. (Notice where we stopped for dinner....




We arrived in Breckenridge around 8:30 pm Mountain Time. We made our way (with help from our Garmin) to the house we have rented for the week. It is a wonderful place with great views of the mountains.









We enjoyed lunch at Eric's, which seems to be a tradition when we come to Breckenridge. Seemed wrong not to be with Sheri and her family, as we always have in the past. We miss them by a week. Next time, for sure!!














K and I take a break outside of one of the shops.
We didn't take many breaks... most of them just to take a picture or two.












We played some games and R continued the quest of mastering the Rubik's cube. He has come up with a 'solution' involving complicated algorithms (which I can't wrap my mind around). We may have to pick up a few more for the long ride home. (A and K are also working on mastering it....)






Today we hit the slopes. I am going to attempt to teach M and SC how to ski. I'll let you know how it goes.....










Back at home, Sumo and Sophie are in the wonderful care of K & K, (who are house sitting as well) and I am sure are having a wonderful time.


Until Next Time...