This moment - Grandpa Love!

{this moment} – A Friday ritual from Soule Mama.  A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your “moment” in the comments for all to find and see. 

 

Masterpiece: Sockhead had for my dad's 80th!

Let's catch up with some of my finished objects from this past 6 months...

The first finished object or as we call them in our podcast "Masterpieces" I'd like to share with you is the Sockhead hat. I made this my dad for his 80th birthday, which was on May 32nd, 2014!  He requested a thin hat for nights in Panama when it gets cooler a while back but it took me a bit to find the perfect yarn/pattern/inspiration to get this project started and completed.  I'm so excited how it came out and I love love love this picture of him in it.

I also love these 2 pictures of my first model in it.

 

Project details
Pattern: Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure
Yarn: The Unique Sheep Verve in the insecta gradiance colorway
Cast on date: May 16th, 2014
Finished date: May 28th, 2014 Just in time for his birthday!
Notes: This pattern says to knit for a bit longer than I did.  I didn't want it to be slouchy on my father and after I finished it I was worried it wouldn't fit it.  I was so glad when he tried it on and it fit perfectly!  I enjoyed this pattern as it was simple and quicker than I thought.  I love knitting with sock yarn so I may have to make a couple more of these for others in my family.

Happy Knitting!

Have you finished any knitting projects lately?

Catching up: a walk, haircut, and more.

This past week has been busy!  Between trying to rest more, saying good bye for now to CGR's "sEE-Pa" aka my dad, and working...I haven't had time to post much!  So instead of a this moment post, your getting a catching up post with LOTS of pictures!

Let's begin with Friday night of last week.  CGR, some of my family, and I did the Jingle Bell Run aka Jingle Bell Walk because none of us ran it.  This is an annual event and it's always a fun time!  I wasn't sure I could walk the 3 miles this year as my belly gets tight when I walk and doesn't release until I rest.  We brought the wagon for little miss Carmen, who never wanted to get out of it, and that helped a lot!  It was so fun to see the lights, people, doggies, and walk with everyone.  We had a great time!

Saturday, was spent baking, cleaning, and trying to convince a little girl who had just said bye bye to her bobo(pacifier) that it was time for nap!  Then we went to get her very first haircut with the hairdresser that my whole family has been going to for over 15 years!  I was really worried about how this would go as on the way there we had quite the little tantrum but as soon as we got there she was ready for us.  Once Carmen sat on her daddy's lap and Shawn started cutting her hair she was GREAT! 

And then some pictures I got of her new bangs!  I was originally hesitant about giving her bangs but I LOVE THEM!!  She can see!! Especially since she won't let me put her hair up anymore!

Sunday morning before my family's wafflepalooza, I had to make more cookies for my family holiday cookie exchange.  I tried a new recipe and well...first batch I burned and had a hard time forming them.  I used this recipe I found on pinterest for caramel chocolate cookies!  Special K went fishing with his dad, so I had a little toddler running around as I tried to make the cookies.  She saw the flour I seemed to be having a great time playing with so she wanted some of her own!  I set her up next to me with her own flour and she had a blast playing with it!  She made a huge mess but it was worth every speck of flour on her, the floor, and the pups!  She has been asking to do this again so we're already planning more baking with her this weekend!

Sunday night, the family went to dinner and then headed downtown to see the lights!  Carmen had to bring the wagon again, which was fine with me as my back can't handle holding her for a long time and she loves her momma.  It was great to see her expression when looking at the lights and the horsie!

 

The sad part of the week was having to say good bye to my dad, who flew back to Panama this week after spending 3 weeks with us.  Every morning, Carmen and I would pick him up from my sister's house and we'd drop off Carmen and then my dad and I would go get coffee on my way to work.  He borrowed my car.  Carmen loved to see her "see-Pa" as she calls him everyday!  I'm so glad they got to spend lots of time together.  We are going to miss him a lot but he's already planning to come back in May to meet the baby and be here for my nephews' graduations. YAY

 And just because I can...a couple extra cute pictures of CGR!

Hope you enjoyed this pretty long picture filled catch up post!

Happy Friday!!!

PS...Don't forget to enter the Giveaway, today is the LAST day!!

This Moment: Reading with "sEE-Pa"!

{this moment} – A Friday ritual from Soule Mama.  A single photo  – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your “moment” in the comments for all to find and see.

FO alert!! and some Casting on!

Hello! How is your week going? This past week has flown by. This weekend was packed with family fun, friend fun, and knitting!!

Saturday, after meeting my friends Kelly, Sheryl, and Sheryl's baby Levi at Panera's for some girl time, I cleaned the house and then spent time finishing Sarah's sock! Yes, I'm a week late but they are DONE! I'm going to put them in the mail soon along with some other goodies! They came out so great. I really like this pattern.FO #1
pattern: Spring Forward by Linda Welch
yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Spring Tickle colorway.
notes: Love this pattern. hehehe

Saturday night, I cast on the Ribbed Vest by Sarah Punderson in my handspun Romney. So far so good. Here's me holding it up at my sister's on Sunday while over there for a family dinner.
Sunday, I headed over to my friend Manda's for Fiber Fun day!! I didn't bring my wheel but brought two WIPs to finish, the ribbed shawl, and yarn to cast on a new project. I got there really early because I knew I had to leave early to be at a pizza party at my sister CZbrats. They all started work this week so they wanted to do a last dinner party before school starts. Not that we don't have them when school is in session too. ;)

So...I was over at Manda's early and I finished my dad's vest!! YEAH!! Just in time...he'll be up here the first couple week's of next month. Here's a picture but I'll get a picture of him wearing it when he's here.

FO#2
pattern: The Subtle Stripe by Lara Killian
yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK in Merlot Heather and Cobblestone Heather
notes: Really liked this pattern. It's easy to follow and worked up quickly. It's got just enough interest to keep you from getting bored but is easy enough to do while talking on phone or watching tv. I can't wait to see my dad in it. Everyone I've shown it to so far has said that looks like your dad! ;)

After finishing the vest, I put buttons of my sister's February Lady Sweater which I actually finished knitting back in January or Feb of this year. :) I had to sew in ends too. I don't have a picture and I already gave it to her but I'll go over tomorrow and snap one. :)

So. the last thing I did was cast on the Morning Surf Scarf for my sister Luz. It's out of some handspun Ramboillet. This pattern is easy and a quick knit. Not sure how long it will be because it's eating yarn but hopefully it will block out nicely

Ok...well..hope you enjoyed the Knitting filled post! It's a bit much in one post but what can I say...seems like lately I only get one post a week in...so might as well make the most of it!

On a personal note, we put in an offer on a house yesterday!! It's in our neighborhood and has been on the market for some time but it's a great house! I can't wait to hear back! I'll let you know when we do!

Off to get a shower and get to sleep!

Happy KNITTING!!

Pictures!! Brother-in-laws and my sock!

So, I promised some pictures and then I've been busy or lazy or distracted...you name it. First off this week has been good...just tiring. My allergies for one have been making me have a runny nose every morning but I've started taking my meds every night so it seems to be helping. Last night, I had guitar and I'm learning to pick and bend strings so the tips of my fingers are sore but I'm LOVING it! I'm learning to do a solo!

Ok...so now some pictures to catch up with. While my dad was here for the world series, his girls and him played a good game of cards. We played one my families favorites, Russian Rummy. Here's a picture of us all playing cards. We were only missing Cristina, who lives in CA.

Well, Cris made it for the wedding and the holidays...so I guess we can include a picture of her. This is a picture of Cristina and me, doing something over the stove. :) A lot of people say we look a lot a like. It's hard to see how we all look so alike yet so different. :) For one thing, I'm the only one with wavy hair. I like this picture for some reason. I think it's cute.And now the pictures I was promising. My dad told me while he was here and after he watched that movie the Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nickolson that he was able to cross of two things off his Bucket List. First was going to a World Series game and then watching his youngest and the last of his biological daughters get married. That made me tear up. One of my biggest fears growing up was that my father wouldn't be there at my wedding. It was really big that he got to walk me down the isle. It wouldn't have been the same if I didn't have a parent there. My mother was missed a lot at the ceremony and always but I'm so glad my dad was here.

Well...since the Martinez's girls as we are known are now all married off. He wanted to make sure we got a picture of us all while we are all together. Cristina's husband Kevin and her live in CA so we don't see that all that much. The rest of us all live pretty much in the same neighborhood...so we see each other plenty. :)

So...all the brother-in-law's from oldest to youngest...shortest to tallest. (left to right)

And all the brother-in-laws and their wives. It's pretty amazing that we all married younger men. Some months apart and others longer. Special K and I have the biggest difference with about 4 years.

I hope you've enjoyed the pictures. I haven't forgotten the Spam post. I'll try to get that up this weekend!

I'm off to lay in bed and work on my Entrelac sock. I'm having so much fun knitting it! Here's a progress pic.

Happy Knitting, Spinning, and loving on your pups!!