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Angee…………

Angee finished

Pattern:  Angee
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Harmony Sock Yarn
Colorway:  Beach Sand
Needles US 1 and 1.5

Finished angee bee

It's been a little while since I have visited with you!  Each day I thought about you and thought about posting but when I sat down to the computer…whew…just too pooped to post…I'm sure you know how that goes every now and then. 😉

Anyhoo…..this pattern is a delight to knit.  Very easy to follow along and so pretty when finished.  Cookie is a very talented designer!

Courtney graciously modeled these socks for me…….If you look close see if you can see something that looks a bit off in the first 2 pictures…

Finished Angee adidas

Here's how Courtney would prefer to wear these socks….if she ever did wear socks…..can you see it now?  Yep, that big scar was the result of tripping over some wire while playing soccer….youch!

~
Hayrick start

After finishing up with Angee, I immediately cast on Anne's Hayrick sock pattern.  I loved it from the first time I saw it and the pattern is not disappointing….very fun!

The yarn I am using is a new one that will be in the shop soon called Pandora.  It is a blend of bamboo, merino and nylon.  I am doing this pair in the Scottish Heather colorway. 

This yarn is a bit lighter in weight than Harmony but not as light as Kashmir so Istarted this sock in the larger size figuring with the lighter weight I would need to, but I think I will be rippppping it back tonight and going smaller.  Right from the start I thought it was looking big, but did I listen to that little voice?  Of course not…LOL

Oh well……..it's a fun knit so I don't mind another go at it. 😉

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These are the days you will remember…..

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Here it is Thursday and I am just getting to the "big" weekend. 
It's amazing how time flies, especially during these last whirlwind
days of senior year….it truly goes so fast.

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Our day last Saturday started off with a trip to our favorite hair stylist, Andrea.  Andrea has been taking care of our hair since Courtney was just a wee one.  She does a fabulous job!

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A few of Courtney's friends were there just before us, so it was an enjoyable "gab" fest for the girls and the grown-ups alike.

After the salon visit, it was a mad dash to pick up the flowers and grab her dress so Courtney could get ready at her friend's house.  Heather was having a make-up artist there to pretty up all of the girls…so much fun for them!  The guys joined them an hour later to get ready and then an hour after that it was time for the parents to come for snacks and pictures….and pictures there were for sure!

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Pictures of the girls on the porch…..and…

 

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Pictures with their dates….

Mt Washington hotel

Prom time here means trying to find a nice vehicle to drive up to the red carpet at the Mount Washington hotel….such a beautiful place for a prom. 

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Ok…so maybe the big "Harley" truck isn't what Courtney had in mind, especially since keeping her dress up while she jumped out was a challenge…LOL

 

Courtney and Kim4

Once inside it was pictures with best friends….

Kim Courtney and Heather

Pictures with couples…..

Prom porch

and more pictures of close friends…

 

Best picture

…pictures of the handsome couple……

and if you ask Courtney if she had a good time…..

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I think this picture says it all…..

Courtney….
these are the day's you will remember….enjoy each moment…..
love Mom.

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A few of my favorite things…….

Ipad

Normally I am not one to talk about something new here at the Woolen Rabbit.  I don't know why I don't but for some reason I usually feel a bit uncomfortable about it.

  Maybe it is from earlier blog days when some where criticized for having too many things…and maybe I DO have a few nice toys…but heck I work hard for them, right?  Well…. this week 2 new things made their way to La casa Woolen Rabbit and I love each one with the same gusto!

Over the last few years I have lusted for an iphone but given that I live in Verizonland, an iphone was just not an option.  I have an older ipod that works fine so when the itouch came out and I was tempted, but I resisted.  The kindle came and again I was wildly tempted, but again….I resisted…..but then…….

The ipad came and I'm sorry, this time I could not resist.  My kids all teased me saying it was an itouch for old people who can't see, but they were singing a different tune once it arrived.  Risa said it best………."my ipad, I think I could marry it!".  I think she could be right.  It's a pretty darn nifty tool right down to allowing me to using it for a credit card terminal for yarn sales.  How sweet is that?

Josh album

Next was the long awaited arrival of the new Josh Ritter album……whoo hoo!  I actually think it could be his best, although it's a toss up between this one and Hello Starling.

When Ashley was in college she was forever telling me that I should listen to Josh.  "Mom, you will love him", "Mom…just listen once", "MOM…I think you should listen….pleease." 

Always busy and kind of set in my ways about what music I like I never did find the time to listen to him until one day Ashley popped a tape of his in her car when we were going somewhere.

BAM………."who is this I say?"  "Why Mom….it's Josh Ritter", she says a bit smugly.  HA….this child of mine knows me well.  Ever since that day I have been a HUGE fan of his and even more so after seeing him in concert this past winter.

Click on this Daytrotter link and listen to a few tunes…you just might like him too. 🙂

Pssst….Daytrotter is a pretty cool place….just sayin'

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Fog Lifter……

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Kites harness the force of the wind.
They express our intent,
But they can not change the wind.

Deng Ming~Dao

Fog lifter close

Pattern:  Fog Lifter
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Oasis
Colorway:  Mountain Dew
Needles:  US 7

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I was going to write about all of the different things that I did while Ken was away this weekend, but after looking at all of the pictures I thought I would spread it out over the week instead of cramming it all into one post.

I started off the weekend by finishing up with my Fog Lifter shawl.  Our Susan made this beautiful shawl for Margene and was kind enough to share the pattern with me for a kit in the shop.

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This was a very relaxing knit.  Not quite as mindless as garter stitch, but almost….with a comfortable flow to it.

I was going to have Courtney model the shawl, but when my granddaughter came over, ready and dressed for a model shoot I asked her instead.  She was thrilled to oblige…and Courtney was happy not to have to put on some nicer clothes. 😉

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All in all this was such a fun knit and I am looking forward to wearing this come fall with a soft gray sweater…I think it will be perfect…don't you?

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Mara…

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Pattern:  Mara
Yarn:
  Woolen Rabbit Alpaca/silk/merino blend
(yet to be named…but in the store soon.)

Needles:
  US size 7
Raveled:
here

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Ashley was a good sport to let me take some pictures of her in Mara today.  She was dressed in her "clean the house clothes and hairdo"…LOL. 
Guess I should have mentioned it to her, eh?

This truly was an enjoyable knit, especially for anyone who enjoys mindless garter stitching, which I do.

I used a marker to mark the yarn over side to make it even more mindless. 🙂

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The end result is an incredibly soft and cushy fabric that will be perfect to cuddle up in on a cold Spring or Autumn night.

I first saw this shawl on Ravelry and then I had the pleasure of seeing it on someone at Spa.  It was at that very moment that I knew I must make one myself and I am SO glad that I did.

Ellie 14 weeks close

And here's a little treat for those of you have asked what has happened to Ellie…no pictures….here's one for you.

Don't you just love her pouty little face?

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Bunny Parade….Happy Easter!

Tall bunny

In celebration of Easter, I thought I would share my bunny parade with you all.  As you can imagine, Easter is a Woolen Rabbit's favorite decorating holiday…..actually, this Woolen Rabbit keeps a lot of rabbits around all year long. 😉

Above is a primitive style rabbit standing on an iron base.  Many of the rabbits I have are on the primitive side.  My kids think that they are creepy, but as I have told you before…….I think I like the creepiness. 😉
(hmmm….what does that say about me I wonder?)

Brown prim rabbit

This is my brown prim rabbit.  I love his little blanket stitched nose and his crooked eyes…and his little pocket of sweet annie.  Yes, he may not be beautiful in a traditional way, but he is loved by me. 😉

Rita bunny

Pretty Rita in her Sunday best is gracing the top of my wood stove that has been put to bed until next winter.  She's a kindly looking bunny don't you think?

Chloe bunny

…and her sister Chloe is ready for Spring with her little bag of flowers…..she is a serious bunny though I do believe. 😉

Pair of bunnies

 
This pair of bunnies and their matching carrots live together atop my fireplace mantle.  Yes, they are a wee bit creepy, but how can you not love those button eyes and cute whiskers?

There are quite a few more rabbits who grace my home, but still at the end of the day I love rabbits like this the best…..

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Beatrice…aka "The Bees Knees"…all grown up.

Have a wonderful Easter holiday!!

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Spring Fling…..new kits

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Wow…has it ever been warm here in NH this week!  Most all of the snow has melted, the buds are popping up in the garden and there are signs of Spring all around….and…..the Robins are home…yay!

Fog lifter 3 Just in time to celebrate Spring are a few new kits in the shop.

First is Susan's fantabulous new Shawl… Fog Lifter.  Isn't it beautiful?

A few months ago Susan contacted me about some yarn for a birthday shawl for our friend Margene.  I was so excited to be a part of this surprise. 🙂

I sent her a box of different yarns and colors and at the very last minute I dyed up some Oasis Blue Moon as it always reminded me of Margene and her beautiful blue Utah skies.  Go take a peek at how beautiful Margene looks in her new shawl.  Susan is a very talented designer and was kind enough to offer me this version of the pattern to make up kits for my shop.  Susan will also be offering the pattern via her ravelry store in a sock weight version soon.

Thistle sock

Next on tap is this very pretty Celtic Thistle sock.  It has a beautiful Celtic braid down the front with a darling little thistle on the back.  This is a toe up design with a shaped calf.  The one pictured was done in Bambino, which I love, but sadly I have found that Bambino does not hold up well for socks. (remember my holey moley post…yep my favorite pussy-willow ones bit the dust much too soon?)

Anyhoo, this kit will include a skein of Kashmir which is the same weight as the bamboo yarn.

The pattern is designed by Gail Gelin, a fellow New Hampshire-ite.
I love helping new designers get their designs out for you all to see….and I think you will really enjoy Gail's pattern…it is lovely!

French Quarter first sockI have actually been doing a little kit knitting myself.  Once I learned how to cable without a needle I was able to really move along on my French Quarter Socks.  Sock number one is finished and number two is on the needles…yay!

I am going to finish my second Angee sock first and then come back to finish this pair.  This should keep me on track for my year of sock plan….one pair every other month.  Mama should have 6 new badly needed pairs of socks by Christmas…whoo hoo!