Thanksgiving

We had an out of town Thanksgiving dinner and got back late-ish last night.  Very low key but nice.  Just my parents and me and DH.  Everyone else was very busy with their own families and/or extended families.  We did get to talk with my girls (on the phone) after dinner and my dad and I won the spades tournament.  It was a very nice day indeed.  We are thankful for family far and near and for the bounties this year has brought.  I certainly didn't think a year ago that I would have done so much this past year.  I hope you all have much to be thankful for as well.  

 Oh, and Saucey is thankful for good news from the vet.  Her BS reading is down to 102 from previous 440 and weight is up 1 pound from when she was diagnosed.  We are going to work on her diet and keep her on the insulin for now, but the new goal is to get her off the insulin by getting her diet right. 

 Blessings to all. 

HAPPY EASTER!

I serve a living Savior… But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53: 5) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4) ... You ask me how I know he lives, he lives within my heart!

Happy Valentines Dye!

I tried my hand at something new today. Kool-aide dyed yarn. Here’s what I did.
I used instructions that were given out at last year's Knit Out at Mall of America (which is coming up this weekend again, *whoo* but no road trip to MN for me *sigh, sniff*). Anyhow, the instructions were published by Leisure Arts, but I could not find an online version of them, but I did find this one and another one with slightly different instructions.

The yarn specified was Patons Classic Wool Merino (Aran #0202). I had some in Winter White; 1 package of Kool-Aide per ounce of yarn, a microwave safe dish, dishwashing detergent and microwave. The skein was 3.5 oz, but I only used 2 packs of kool-aide. I used grape and fruit punch. Here’s how it went:

First I prepared the yarn by soaking it in warm water with a little dishwashing detergent – this opens the "scales" of the yarn (according to the directions).

So I let it soak and waited:

Good time to catch up on the internet…

Then I mixed the "dye"...

Once the yarn soaked for about 30 minutes, I rinsed it, squeezed it to get out all the excess water and then the real fun began:

I put the yarn back in the microwave safe dish, and spooned on the dye.

After all the dye was on and the yarn absorbed most of it; I put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high; let it rest for 2 more minutes and repeated until the water was clear... which means the yarn has sucked up all the dye.

Then I let it cool and rinsed it again, squeezed out the excess water and hung it up to dry.

Voila… pretty hand-dyed yarn (oh, and it smells nice too!). (hee, hee). Once it’s completely dry I’ll post some pictures of the finished product!

Too fun! I might have to try again with another flavor… um color!

Oh, and lest I forget it is Valentines Day…. I have to show off what my sweetie got me:

Behold:

Yummy, yum, yum... a huge box of chocolate ..... He spoils me!