Making it more like home....our Cottage.

I have worked on the floor a little in our bedroom, and Steve has put alot of time into our laundryroom/porch. Most fun I think has been adding a few little finishing touches.

Slippers for my Soldiers...

I had fun making these for the ladies in my daughters Company. They should arrive in Afghanistan any day! Excellent pattern.

My "Twins" turn 21....

Today is my "twins" birthday. They are now 21, and they are both in Afghanistan with the National Guard seriving our country.

Today my weaving group got together and did a little class which was a great thing to do on a day that I could "otherwise" feel sad. It was VERY hands on and we all enjoyed diving in and learning something new.

The spinning retreat a few weeks ago was amazing. I think I won staying up late both nights. My new wheel is excellent! I really love it, and I filled 3 bobbins in no time. Good times, with good people, and one of my bff's also.. Its fun to see what everyone else was working on. It is very inspiring, and motivating thats for sure.

Otherwise the weekends have been spent at "The Cottage". With skiing, and working on alot of personal touches here and there, its feeling more like home every time we go up!

In this post is a picture of my new spinning wheel. I call her "Grace". I have never named one of my wheels before, but my bff's influence over me it just felt right to do so. It is Grace because I feel like she is my "saving Grace". On days when I need to sit down and relax and not worry about my kids I spin, it helps.

Im excited!

So yesterday 2 of my dear friends and I went on a road trip to Hot Springs...I tried out 3 spinning wheels at a nice little shop in Ace Hardware. I left with the one I wanted. It was perfect! It is not my "first" wheel, but it is my first double treadle wheel. It is a Kromski Sonata. It is polish made and folds down into a very cool bag. I will post a picture after the weekend..reason being is I have her all packed up and ready to go to a spinning retreat this weekend. I leave in the morning and I am so excited. Pictures coming soon! I will take some this weekend.

Other craft wise, I am going to start a shawl. My friend-same as above-assures me I will love this pattern. I will be using Noro in one of their beautiful colorways-sock weight. I love shawls but have never found one I like on me...this is more of a scarf type so I am hopeful it will work out.

I also have almost 5 out of 6 pair of slippers done for my daughters company of women in Afghanistan. They are a fast crochet, cute, and look warm. I am excited to send them hopefully next week.

The New Year!

Hmmm....what to write.

Yesterday while at our "Cottage" I got to be best friends with our heat gun. I am so pleased how it works removing ages old lenoleum backing from the wood floor. The house has a sub-floor down, we think they were going to carpet the whole place. First things first...we ripped up this sub-floor in our bedroom and will refinish this room....this floor will be the real test on if we will do the living room, and office room/bedroom. With the heat gun working so well...im hopeful. Without it my hands were not going to be able to take all the chisling involved.

Our trip to Oregon was awesome. It was soooo relaxing, and yes even with the 4 dogs. They were so good and loved going "bye bye big"! Steves parents really enjoyed having all of us there.

Last night I finished pair 4 of 6 slippers that I will send to the ladies in my daughters company. I am excited for them to get these. This has been a fun project for me to work on. I will post a picture when I have all 6 done. One year I would like to use ONLY homespun yarn...thinking not this one though!

Speaking of homespun, tomorrow I will be taking a little road trip with a couple friends...I am going to try out a new spinning wheel. I prefer the used price over new, but this is my only opportunity to have an actual hands on with a different "make" of wheel. I have a couple wheels...and my mothers wheels-they are for my girls-but really want a double treadle. I tried one at my spinning get together last month, hoping I wouldnt like it. No luck!

Today I am going to shop for my twins. I need to get another box in the mail this week this being their birthday month and all. We have also adopted another soldier. He doesnt know it yet but I will be sending him a box also. I was told there are 5 who receive NOTHING...so we must remedy this. I dont know him, and he doesnt know us but I creeped him on FB so I know his age and what he does where my daughter is. I chatted my son on FB and he knows him. Says he is a nice guy.

I feel the need to post a picture...how about this one. Its just us being silly on our vacation to Oregon.