Cassidy's Shawl, Woodstove and a Treat

Finally, something to show! I knit this shawl using 100 Purewool; my favorite yarn of all time! It's so soft and nice to work with. Anyway, I just knit a basic triangular shawl and then did a shell stitch border all the way around and then a chain six into the 'holes' of the shell border on two sides. It turned out quite nice. I think Cassidy will be happy with it on Christmas morning.

I've kept Gary busy, too, putting in a woodstove in our bedroom. My brother gave us the stove and it was in our garage over the winter. It was a tad bit rusted so Gary sanded the rust off and then spray-painted it with black woodstove paint. It looks brand new. He also cut our wood floor and tiled it where the stove sits. He installed the piping (although in this picture the pipe that goes through the wall wasn't in, yet. It's all hooked up now and ready to go. I have a jar of lavender stems from my garden sitting on top of the stove waiting for the fire to burn. I read to throw them in for a sweet scent of lavender.

I entered a little give-away from Mary-Katherine's blog (see my sidebar) and won this adorable felt and beaded cookie that I use to put my needlework needles in. It's so cute! I also won a skein of Belle Soie hand dyed silk in Strawberry Shortcake! The color is just beautiful and I can't wait to use it! Thank you to Mary-Katherine! Please hit my sidebar and take a peek at her blog and shop. She has the most beautiful projects!

Crochet Edged Pillowcases

Wow it has been such a long time since I blogged. Summer is nearly gone. With all the garden goodness, I've been trying to can and freeze whatever is coming out of there. In between, I've been enjoying the summer; the meteor shower, our 27th anniversary, birthdays, trips to the beach and of course, vegging by the pool. Today it's rather rainy but I'm happy for it. I'm getting ready for the school year to begin, with setting up a new desk for Cassidy and my learning area for the littlies. They are so excited to start and I am too, but I'm still trying to squeeze in the last bits of summer.
Our kitchen table is so pretty with flowers from the garden. Every few days I'm able to pick something else and put it in a vase. I love the way the table looks with different embroidered linens and fresh flowers.

I've been pretty busy beginning on Christmas gifts, too. I made these pillowcases with a crocheted edge from a fantastic tutorial from www.yougogirl.typepad.com. Step by step directions complete with much entertainment made for a real fun project. I made four of these pillowcases: two for my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas (they'll be getting something else, too... I'll show you that when it's done) one for Kyle's girlfriend for her going away party gift (she's off to nurse anthestist school) and one for our couch. I made real good use of the material and directions! I'm nearly done with a shawl for Cassidy; I'll show that soon, too. Hopefully I won't stay away from blogging this long. It takes forever for my pictures to load up so I shy away from making a post. Maybe if I can get one of the kiddoes to clean up my camera it won't take so long. I'd love it if you would leave me a comment... would hate to think I'm talking to myself here...lol...

Rhode Island Version II

I'm back with a few more pictures. Casey and Corey went on an eight hour deep sea fishing trip. They came back with five fluke. They had a great time together...

Kaleigh goofing around on a lifeguard chair; she always makes me laugh...

Caressa in a sandy hole they all dug...

Swimming at the dock. Lots of good dockside fishing here and interesting boats and ferries coming and going...

The entrance to the campground. I can't tell you how many times over the years I've walked "up to the gate" and around the campground for my walk. So peaceful and so, so many memories... Sure wish my dad was still here to share them with.

Rhode Island Version I

I don't know how others bloggers do it but I just can't get the hang of posting exactly what I want; so please, bear with me. I'm going to do two posts because I can't seem to upload all the pictures I want in one... sorry. Anyway, here is a pic of a sunset on the lake right across the road from the entrance to the campground we stayed at. I've been going there for forty years and this was my first time going since my dad passed away. I have so many happy memories there, spending lots of time with my parents as they were seasonal there and for a time so were Gary and I before our fourth child came and it became too much to travel down there every weekend. So it was bitter-sweet for me...

Caressa is wreaking havoc in the van...

This was Casey's gameboard one day... One of my MODG families (Amy) sent Kaleigh the game. She's very sweet and knew Kaleigh would enjoy the game. We had LOTS of laughs playing...

Here Gary and I have a quiet moment; most of the time it wasn't quiet, but that's O.K...

A sneak peak of my front garden back at home. Everything is blooming and it's really pretty right now. I'll do another post too as I have a few more vacation pictures to share.... be right back...

Happy Fourth

Happy Independence Day! A big "thank you" to those that serve our country. I hope your weekend was full of fun. The kiddoes spent lots of time swimming in the pool..

and I spent lots of time swimming and lounging by the pool, too. We had two cookouts, too, but really, I just enjoyed a quiet weekend with my favorite people...family!

I finally finished the bunting that took quite awhile to make. I'm happy with how it came out but it did give me some trouble along the way. Most of my problems were due to not quite understanding what the directions were telling me, as usual. So I had to rip back a few times.

I've been trying to knit a dishcloth a month for myself. My very favorite pattern is this Waffle dishcloth from Homespun Living. I have the pattern memorized and I like using it as well as looking at it. It has a nub to it so scrubs my countertops really good. I have a few other projects up my sleeve and will post when they're done. Summer is tough, though, as it's my favorite time of year and I tend to be outside waaaay more than inside! Hope you're enjoying yours, too!

It's Summer Time

which means lots of fun happenings here at The Cottage! Casey has graduated from Mother of Diving Grace School, the long distance homeschool my kiddoes are enrolled in. It's been an exciting journey as Casey was my first one I homeschooled all the way through... (sniff-sniff). He's off to college on a free ticket so we're pretty proud of him...

Vacation was quiete fun, too. Mini-golf, sight-seeing, Liverpool Rummy, swimming and campfires are just a few things we enjoyed...

More birthdays too; Corey turned 26 which meant yet another cookout and party...

and yes, the pool is open so we've spent nearly every sunny day that we're home soaking up the Vitamin D and splashing or lounging around. Lots of gardening too. I'll have to get some pics up to share. Not too much by way of crafts, though. I'm thinkin' 'em, just not doin' 'em!

Pretty Strawberries

Fresh picked from the garden... Kaleigh planted the strawberry plants several years ago and is enjoying the bounty! Cassidy and I are allergic to them but we hear they are quite delicious.