Thanksgiving at the Outerbanks

Phoebe and I were able to spend Thanksgiving at the Outerbanks with the whole family!!!  Although it was very cold and very windy, it was beautiful.  I actually thought the cold felt good!  As you can see, Phoebe loved it!!!

Our house had a lookout on the roof!  And the view was amazing!!!!!  I was fascinated with the sky!

Isn't it beautiful!!  You can see the clouds just rolling in!!!

The chairs on the second floor deck looked inviting.  But don't be deceived....it was about 30 degrees and extremely windy when I took this!!!  

Phoebe mustered up enough bravery to climb a couple steps until she stopped!  I think the bravery came from her desire not to have me out of her sight!  LOL!!!  Just look at those eyes.

Like most families, we cooked up a large feast for all of us!  Check out the mashed potatoes!

Holy cow!!  Were they ever good!!!!!  Yeah, that is butter floating on top of them!!!

Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Turkey, two kinda of dressing, gravy, rolls, cranberries, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie...I think I am still full!

Miss Phoebe after a half cup of turkey.  I do believe the tryptophan had totally kicked in!!!  LOL!!

We made a trip to Bodie Island Lighthouse.  This place was absolutely beautiful!

I was really taken by this place.  It is so full of history.  And the beauty of the lighthouse is just jaw dropping.  It is hard to realize how big it is until you step out of the car.  

If you ever get to the outbanks, I urge you to visit at least one of the lighthouses!!!  

We also visited Oregon Inlet.  I really like that place, too.  It is full of boats and neat little store full of fun fishing stuff and tee shirts.  

Look at that Carolina Blue sky!!!!

The beach at Nags Head (where we were staying) was very pretty and full of things to photograph.

I was in awe of how close this beach house is to the water...it is obvious that it is in the tide at some point!


My nieces on the beach.  I don't know how they can stand the cold in their bare feet, but they were all over it.  Not me!!!!

OK, don't let her cuteness burn your eyes!!  She was having a blast running and sniffing!  Although she wasn't too keen on the water, but she loved the sand and running full speed with now leash holding her back!

Now, I could show more, but I really wanted to share some crochet fun with you!!!  I will preface it with telling you I learned to do fair isle in crochet!!!  And it is so freaking fun!!!!!!

Once I finish up with all my Christmas projects I want to do some more of this!  I have been pinning patterns and  charts of different things I want to try!!  

There are several you tube videos out there to help you out.  I took advantage of a couple, and recommend if you are going to try and do this watch a couple.  It will help out quite a bit!!!

I also cranked out a chunky crochet project because I was in between projects.  It turned out quite cute!

 It is a giant half granny, only it is joined at the ends.  Kinda cool!  I am sure I am not the first to think of this, but I had to give my self credit for being kinda clever to think it up!!!

It is truly an infinity!!!  I used a super large hook, it was fast and satisfying!!!!!

Well, that's about it for now.  Must admit I am tired and need to head to bed.  Morning will be here soon enough!!

Dawn

Rural North Carolina

Yesterday I went to Seagrove with my mom and dad.  For those of you not familiar, Seagrove is a small town in North Carolina, known for its deep roots in pottery.  It is a wonderful place anytime of year.   I am fortunate that it is just a short trip from High Point.  I snapped a few pictures to share with everyone!  This area is so typical of what life is like in North Carolina.

As we were riding down the one of the roads we spotted this old place.  You feel as if you just stepped out of time when you see it.  I wondered who lived here and what is was like.   The entire countryside and sprinkled with places like this, old barns, and out buildings.  And for me I was in heaven taking pictures of everything.

I just love anything that is old and rusted.  This old churn was just sitting in the yard at one of the potteries.  The place had so many relics from its earlier times scattered all over the yard.

My dad, sitting in a rocker at the Cagle Road Pottery.  He is love'n every minute of it.  Cagle Road Pottery is in an old log cabin set off the main road.  There are old dogs laying on the porch waiting for someone to have a seat and give them a scratch on the head.  My dad struck up a conversation with one of the owners there, who told him the property has been in this family since the 1700s.  There pottery is beautiful too!

Ray Pottery is a MUST stop!!  It has become one of my favorite places to stop.

This little guy was there to greet us when we got out of the car!  OMG....he was so cute.  A little black dachshund, with a grey muzzle and a tail that didn't stop wagging!!

Here is some of their pottery.  I love the combination of the salt glaze with the shiney red glaze.  I DID bring a piece of this pottery home with me.

I want it all!!!!


On our drive down to Seagrove we made a stop a the Pisgah Covered Bridge.  There are stories of it being haunted.  Haunted or not, it is old and a perfect time capsule from about 1911.  You can walk in it, around it, and under it.  A must stop if you are in that area!

The day was overcast and cool, and perfect for taking pictures.  It is so quiet here, even with the main road in plain sight.  You hear nothing but the sounds of the woods and the water.  

If any of you are curious about North Carolina, I think these few pictures I have posted say it perfectly. It is beautiful place to live.  

I wish I had some crochet to share this evening.  I am very close to finishing up a crochet scarf.  I am going to give it a post of its own!  It is something new I have learned to do with  crochet!  I don't want to give anymore away right now.  

I hope everyone has a great week!!!  

Crazy Insane Variegated Madness!

Pure nervous energy started this little project.  I was at an impasse.  I had finished the Laura's Wrap and not certain on what to start yet.  So I picked up my circular needles and variegated yarn, next thing you know this is the result.  

I added a granny edging in teal blue.  I didn't want anything fancy-shmancey, just something clean and simple.  I think the variegated insanity framed by the calm blue is perfect.  It rather reminds me of myself these days!  LOL!!!

It is fascinating how variegated yarn works up.  How can anyone not like the color.  I want to dive right into it and get lost!!!  

I have been looking at shawl patterns on ravelry.  I have so much yarn that needs to be worked up, and I am in a crochet mood.  

These days Goodwill has been a fun break for me.  I am always looking for that treasure.  This long green sweater is my latest score for $3.75.  It looked in need of love hanging there on the rack.  it was dirty, out of shape, and had some pilling on it.  I gave it a good cleaning and hit it with the steamer. Ran it over with the little sweater shaver and a lint roller, and ta-da!  It is my favorite.  And I love it with denim. Olive green and blue is so pretty together.  Oh...the belt, a total score too!  

For those that don't know me, I love Goodwill.  Like my mom says, "It makes her happy"  LOL!  It really does.  Plus finding a treasure for under 5 bucks is so freaking fun, I can't explain it!  I must say, this is the grooviest sweater I have ever had!!!  

I  love this peaceful Sunday evening.  Hubs is gone to bed, Girlie is laying here next to me in peaceful slumber and I am enjoying the quiet.  I have a new little crochet project going, and a rather large order to get started on.  The beginning drowsy feeling is kicking in...it can't get much better.  You see, anxiety has been high these days.  I can't pin down one particular reason, maybe it is several things causing it, but it has crept in and really done a number with me.  So these moments where I feel calm and content are the best!!!  I think part of it is the fact that 51 years have hit and certain chemical changes are effecting my temperance, leaving me in an agitated state everywhere I go.   LOL!!

About the new crochet project, it is something kind of new to me.  I won't share a lot until next week when I can share some pictures, but I can say learning the technique has started the creative wheels in my head and I already have ideas on where to take it.  That's all I will say for the moment!

I hope everyone has a great week.  And may it include some yarn, too!!!

Dawn

Laura's Wrap Finally Done!!!

Finally!  I have finished the pattern for Laura's Wrap, and got it listed on etsy and ravelry.  Whew!!!  When I designed this wrap I never had the intention of writing up the pattern, but after so many requests for the pattern I decided to go ahead and do it.  

I have had fun today playing with it and figuring out ways to wear it.  

Hey...notice the Owl Necklace!!!  Heee heee!  Total Thrift Store Score...$3!!  His eyes are missing, but I didn't even flinch when I saw him.  Had to have it!!!!

Now, I have all this variegated yarn all over the house.  So, I am in "variegated yarn crazy insane heaven"!!!  

Check these little sock project totes I crocheted up!

I have been mixing yarns together just to see how they work up. And who can't resist the little sugar skulls??

Now, I am ready to kick back and enjoy the rest of the evening before Monday morning gets here.  I am sure it will involve some yarn and a hook!!

I'll leave you with the cutest little picture of Phoebe.  We were headed to "grandma's" house this morning.  She loves everything about it, the ride, their house, and he ride home!

Bye y'all!

This & That

Yesterday a fellow hooker/knitter and I went to the Knit & Crochet Show in Concord, NC.   We had a blast!   Below are a couple of crocheted afghans which literally made my jaw drop!  

This was so inspirational!!  I saw granny squares and some awesome crochet as well as knitting.  

Check out this owl!!  He was crocheted over a large beach ball.  Adorable!!

These skirts were layered and knit up in a linen yarn.  I was eyeballing this really close!

My iPhone did an update yesterday, and I have to say, I am completely fascinated with the upgrade, especially to the camera.  I have been snapping pictures all day until I completely drained the battery.

I took these at my dad's.  His yard looks like a park!!  

Now that is some true fall Carolina Blue sky!!  

Mum's in the back yard!  Aren't they pretty??!

Some kind of mold growing on some old wood.

Girlie looking extremely happy and enjoying the day!!

Leaves on the sidewalk....I love these colors!!

I have started writing up the pattern for the Laura's Wrap.  So many of you have sent me messages through ravelry and this blog asking for a pattern....well it is in the works now!!  In order for me to write up the pattern I have to actually sit down and knit one up as I go.

I believe it is going to be just as pretty as the original!!  This is a little sneak peek!!!  Hopefully it will not take me but a couple more weeks to get it finished up and ready.  I have some more crocheting I want to do, so I am working hard to get this done so I can get back to my hook!!!

Time is flying by way too fast!!!  The weeks are just speeding by.   We have a lot of rain heading our way...so it looks like it may be a dark dreary Monday tomorrow.  Oh well...