All Star Week in St. Louis

More photos of the sights and the New City Garden in album on right --------->

Echo Company 787th Military Police Battalion Graduation

I am so very proud of my nephew, Andrew, who graduated from U.S. Army Basic Training and Military Police Training....

More photos at the link to the right ----->>>>>


He's off to Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, then home for 14 days, then to his assignment at Fort Bragg, NC.

Knitting for your health

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Just imagine you are in the tropics...

that's what my neighbor said to me as he was leaving my yard carrying this.....

Last Sunday, taking a rest from working in the yard, I sat down to have lunch. I looked up and saw an iguana hanging in the mimosa tree and I thought to myself, ok, which one of my friends is trying to drive me over the edge. Then I saw it's eyes move. F&*(%$# it's alive. (sorry to all of my Soulard friends for being suspicious of you doing something you had nothing to do with)

So, I have to have evidence, I run into the house for my camera. By the time I got back outside, it was no longer in the tree. Now what??? But it was just below the tree. I snapped a bunch of photos, 2 of which are above. Then it started down the walk next to the garage. What am I going to do to stop it??? Into the garage I went and found one of those plastic storage boxes (for those of you who know Dave - we always have plenty of them on hand) This should do it, so off to trap the iguana. I moved too fast at first, but after slowing down, I trapped it under the box. I made sure it could get some air, and ran back into the house to call the neighbor.

When the neighbor answered the phone, I said, J*& are you missing an iguana? He said, "Is he over there? I'll be right there." He abruptly hung up. Oh, boy, I'm thinking, I hope he hasn't had his adult beverages already today. As soon as he arrived, I told him where it was and he tried to explain to me that he had it in this big birdcage on his deck and couldn't understand how it escaped. So after giving him dirty looks and the "evil eye" he said "Just imagine you are in the tropics." I did not say another word to him. If looks could kill, he would not be walking on this planet right now.

So, I'm wondering how many reptiles he is housing again and how many are illegal????

Anyway, here are a few shots which are a result of my weekend work in the yard....

Graduation & Mother's Day Weekend

Celebrated Christopher's Graduation from Moravian College and Mother's Day at the Caras' Honeysuckle Manor with family.

More photos in the albums on the right.

Yikes!

Where have I been? Spending a lot of time on Ravelry, an online knitting & crocheting community and hibernating! The calendar says it is spring, but the weather isn't cooperating. I am sooooo ready for warm weather. At least the crocus are in bloom and the daffodils and tulips are coming up. I want to get in the garden. Garden gloves are ready. Need to order the zinnia seeds.

Finished a pair of socks just for me today.....

Love them!

Working on a special request of a Fair Isle Sock creation for a dear friend. Picture of what I'm attempting and where I am with the creation...

Lots of stuff happened over the last few months - pictures in the albums on the right...

Road trip to Memphis to see Gil & Carlas with Doc Severenson and the Symphony

Maria & Dave got married on 12th Night

Soulard Mardi Gras 2008

Happy Spring!!

What time of year is it?

This Iris is very confused about the time of year. I discovered it last weekend while cleaning up the leaves in the yard. I waited until Tuesday night to bring it in the house since the unusually warm weather was about to turn seasonal.......




This is a variety from my friend Lindy, who I must check with to see what it's called.

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Soulard family - wondeful friends, lots of laughs, delicious food. Always too much food.

In knitting news, have frogged the Scrawl and it is in hibernation. Trying to get Gretel done, but have had many problems, starting with the tubular cast on being too tight. Learned a new method to do the tubular cast on, but ended up with the wrong number of stitches. UGH!!!Frogged it for the 4th time this morning. Will attempt to cast it back on the needles this afternoon.

Have to get busy on a Christmas gift exchange project this weekend. Still haven't decided what I want to do.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Go Pink for October

www.pinkforoctober.org

Quote of the day.....

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

A Long Weekend with Family and Friends

We took a long weekend last week, visiting family in PA and dear friends in VA, where we attended the 25th Annual Fab 5 Pig Roast. Loads of fun.

Mom's birthday socks fit perfectly.....

We visited, celebrated birthdays and ate and ate.....

The pig was cooked to perfection....

It's always great to see Lindy....

Work on the scrawl is progressing...

It was a great time.

Rainy Saturday

Finally getting around to posting again. Where is this year going? Finished the Monkey Socks in Trekking XXL for my mom for her birthday. She brought me the yarn from Germany in March. I wasn't wild about the color, but she told me it was her favorite. So, it was meant to be socks for her. The color worked out great with the pattern. I'm very pleased with how they turned out. I hope she will like them. The foot looks small - but she wears a size 5 shoe.

We got together with our Soulard family to celebrate Labor Day last Sunday. What a great way to celebrate getting another year older. Photo album is linked on the right -->

Lots of September birthdays to celebrate: Marta, Nadine, John, Mona, my mom, my nephew Andrew

Off to celebrate Mona's birthday.....

Knitting has Health Benefits!

Knitting and crochet enthusiasts are smiling because their hobbies may have the added benefit of helping their minds and bodies

Manhattan, New York - August 17, 2007 – Have you ever wondered why people who craft yarn into garments always seem to be smiling and happy? It turns out that the repetitive actions needed for knitting and crochet can bring the mind and body to a state called a "relaxation response" that is quite similar to what people experience with techniques such as repetitive prayer, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and other relaxation disciplines.

Research at the Harvard Medical School Mind/Body Institute has found that when an individual is knitting her heart rate can drop 11 beats a minute and her blood pressure drops as well. These results can have significant health benefits for people who knit and crochet.In the U.S. many institutions are taking advantage of these health benefits by incorporating knitting and crochet into the activities that they provide.

Gilda's Clubs which offers family cancer support in locations across the U.S., now provide knitting to help with the emotional upheaval of dealing with cancer. At the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, knitting is used to lower stress for its clients. Children and their parents are seeing the benefits of knitting and crochet as well. Grade schools from Oregon to New Jersey have incorporated knitting into their curriculum, not only for the health benefits, but to help build creativity and improve math skills."Knitting benefits an individuals emotional and physical health.

Knitting can reduce stress in an individual who is trying to manage the severity of their chronic illness. It can also help reduce stress in individuals who lead very hectic lifestlyes."said Gary Scholar, Health & Wellness Consultant to the employees of the American Hospital Association. "I have incorporated knitting classes in my Health & Wellness programs for employees because of the health benefits. I would like to see implemented at Children's hospitals a program to teach sick children how to knit so they have something to keep their minds occupied and be proud of what they have made if they are in the hospital for an extended time,"

A new children's book ANGORA, I'm Knot Just Fluff I'm Always Enough was recently published by Scholar about a bunny who is taught by her mother and grandmother how to knit using magic carrot knitting needles to give her self esteem to dance in her dance recital.

"For many years we've heard stories and witnessed how knitting and crochet have positively affected people’s lives. We once asked our customers to share their stories of how knitting and crochet have changed their lives on our website, and to date, we’ve received over 500 touching and personal submissions " said Ilana Rabinowitz of Lion Brand Yarn. "It has only been in recent years that studies have brought to light the mental and physical benefits that crochet and knitting enthusiast can look forward to while participating in this wonderful hobby."

For more information on learning to knit and crochet, visit the Lion Brand Web site at http://www.lionbrand.com

Or if you are in St. Louis, leave a comment. Or if you are visiting and staying at The Westin, they have guest knitting supplies and join the knitting group that meets on Thursday nites, 5-7pm in the Clark Street Grill bar area will teach you how to knit.

What happened to July....

Where is the time going??? Here it is the middle of August already and I've not been good about posting. July weather was absolutely beautiful. Even got to turn off the AC for many days. Now we're in the 2nd week of this record-breaking heat wave. I learned that our digital indoor/outdoor thermometer really goes above 100 degrees last Sunday when it showed 102. Today the temp reached 105!! The meteorologists are saying we will have a cold wave Friday & Saturday when the temp is the the 80s and 90s. HAH!

We spent Tuesday evening at the Lafayette Swim Club celebrating a dear friend's birthday. Here is one of the items she was gifted.....

I'm so glad they fit! This is Lorna's Laces Flamingo done toe-up. It is the last pair of sox I knit toe up. I just can't get a decent stretchy bind-off. These are just okay in my book.

The other item was Fetching from Knitty knitted with Paton's SWS Natural Denim. Fetching is such a fun pattern to knit. I've made several pair as gifts in SWS, Malabrigo and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I like the Cashmerino Aran the best. Haven't taken any photos. Must remember to do that. Found some other fingerless patterns I'd like to try.

Am working on Cookie A's Monkey sox from Knitty with Trekking XXL for my Mom for her birthday. She brought the yarn back from Germany for me and I wasn't wild about the orange color, but she said she really liked it. Hopefully, I'll get them done by Sep 12 when we leave to visit her in PA.

Also have a Scrawl OTN.....

I'm using Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace in the Shadow colorway. Love this yarn. Have moved on to the circulars but am struggling with the Addi Turbos. Waiting on the Knitpicks Options (a birthday gift from my Mom) to arrive to see if they will work better.

Well, 2 posts in 1 day. I really need to post more often.

Be Happy!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Shreddies - Knitting with Nanas

Too funny!

Extreme Knitting

Extreme Knitting in New Castle

Lazy Saturday

Heat, humidity and summer storms are making for a lazy Saturday. Did get a photo of the latest garden bloom before the storm hit....



Have been working on the Lorna's Laces Flamingo yarn while catching up on knitting podcasts. Socks in the City is a new podcast for me, so I listened to the first 5 episodes this afternoon. Also caught up with Sticks and String. I just love David's voice.

Was going to watch the Cardinals game and continue knitting, but turns out the game started at noon instead of 3 as we thought. Did catch the last 2 innings and a winner for a change. So, I'll knit and catch up on HGTV. Maybe take a nap.

Love my lazy Saturdays when I don't have to be anywhere.

Soulard Angels do the Race for the Cure

Saturday was the St. Louis Race for the Cure and the Soulard Angels turned out to run (TC) and walk (everyone else). We were honoring our co-chairs, both survivors and some dear friends we have lost. The turnout in downtown St. Louis turned the streets pink. Here's our team photo in front of Joanie's.....



More pre-race photos are in the Soulard Angels link on the right.

The Soulard Angels had a fundraiser in June, the Lady Can Sing, for the Gateway to Hope Program. As soon as we get the final numbers I'll blog about the event and upload all the great photos.

Some progress being made on the Lorna's Laces Flamingo socks - turned the heel and working my way up the leg. Will have photos soon.

Where did the weekend go?

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday