Where are you from?

Last night I found a fun add-on for the blog. It listed where people who visit are from. In the 12 hours its been on the blog I already have many countries listed.

I don't know about you but I find it so amazing what the internet has done to change our view of the world. The problems in the Middle East with so many people discovering how to become their own nation instead of being ruled (and "owned") by one person. All those changes are taking place because people can find each other and organize through the internet. I hope they can all find the freedom to choose their own life as they want it to be. God bless them all for their courage to make a stand!

My world has grown so much by meeting knitters around the world and developing friendships I would NEVER have without the internet. This isn't as dramatic as creating a new government system for a nation but I live in a place where I was lucky enough to have a government of the people by the people (most of the time). So - my focus can be on knitting and my cats and simplier pleasures of life. How lucky is that!

So - people from around the world. Welcome to the blog. If you are a returning visitor - thank you. I hope to have some new patterns available shortly. I hope to have new pictures up as soon as I remember to buy batteries for the camera. But-while you're waiting, take a peak at the new visitor list on the left and see if you're the first person to visit from your country since 2/24/11 in the evening.

I've love to hear where you are from and how you found the blog so - please take a moment to send a comment. THANKS!!

Busy Day.... Need Nap

It's been a busy day at Le Chat. Bert spent about 15 minutes running up and down the hall followed by leaping up onto the table next to the recliner and grabbing my knitting. I would gently say "no". Being a good boy, Bert would put his paw down for about 10 seconds and try again. Then- back to the hall to run around.

Back to the knitting. Repeat. I finally took the computer off my lap and he came over to lay down and took a nap. Silly, smart boy. He's figured out picking on the knitting will get my attention and he'll get his way.

After his nap he was thirsty so decided not to go all the way to the kitchen for a drink. My water would do just fine.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen Chief was busy rearranging the papers on the table. I'm sure he thought he was being helpful!

The activity was too much for both boys and they decided to head for the sun coming in the window and take another nap.

Wouldn't it be great to be a cat and spend time playing, eating, stealing people's water and taking naps! Of course, that would mean no knitting time so maybe I'll just stay the Mom and let them nap on my lap while I cuddle and stritch their ears and bellies.

What the sun outside has been doing is pretty nice. The shoulder high snow banks are now starting to go away. All the streets have been cleared of snow/ice  and are definitely better to drive on. The piles that were so high you couldn't see if any cars were coming at street corners are now down enough so driving through intersections is safer. And - the snow plow piles of snow in my front yarn is becoming a very interesting sculpture. Last week at this time the snow plow piles were high and smooth. Now they're looking like strange critters trying to pop out of the snow.

Spring will get here one of these days. I just know it!

V-Day

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope you can spend it with the ones you love

Newborn Shawl

I have next week off and decided I needed something new to knit. After heading over to The Loopy Ewe website I decided I needed some lighter colored socks. Spring is coming one of these days and I just felt like I needed something to cheer my feet up. So I got some Cascade Heritage in a nice light color combo.

Since I was there and the messenger bags were on sale one happen to find it's way in to my cart. What is it with tote bags and other bags to put your stuff in. We all seem to have more than we need but keep on buying more. This one is a good size for a medium size project and has a nice padded shoulder strap.

Finally, I finished the Pi Shawl I started on Elizabeth Zimmermann's birthday (8-9-10). One thing about knit lace - it looks kind of like a newborn baby when its first finished. It's all wrinkly until you give it a little bath. Right now the shawl is tired so I'm going to let it rest overnight and it will get its bath and "grooming" tomorrow.

In the "we survived another cold front" area - today's weather in Minnesota was wonderful. Word is next week will be in the 30s possibly 40s. I'm guessing I'll see some people in shorts next week cause that's the way we do things here. One day frozen tundra, next day shorts!

Have a Nice Day

Remember when the smiley face first came out and we all wore t-shirts with the face on it and underneath it said "Have a Nice Day". Those were simplier times - gentler times. At least that's how I remember it and don't confuse me with the facts of what it was really like. I was a kid and everything was gentler then.

Today on the way to work I was reminded of all this because of an unknown person. Someone tagged a snowbank on the side of the highway with a painted smiley face. When I noticed it on the way to work I smiled back. It made me happy and it was such a nice way to start the day.

So - to the person who tagged the snowbank  - Thank You!

To all of you reading this - I wish you will Have a Nice Day.