December 19 - Five Shopping Days til Christmas. (That's nice.)

Another year of mostly homemade Christmas gifts. Can't tell you what (in case the reciepients read this). However, if you want to see what I've recently finished knitting, click here.

What I can tell you is that I've been working on some stuff for Christmas and some stuff for the mercantile.

We did have a small party for my daughter over the weekend. I took her and two of her friends to see the new Alvin & the Chipmunks movie, Chipwrecked. They really enjoyed it. I think the first two were a bit better.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Sherlock Holmes movie & War Horse. If you're looking for a good movie to watch during the holidays, "The Ultimate Gift" is really good. I watched it with my Faith Formations class.

If I don't post anything in the next week or so. Happy Holidays!

December 15

Only 9 more shopping days until Christmas. Are you ready?

I'm not. Most of my Christmas presents will be handmade again this year. Unfortunately, one of them is a knitting project that I'm running out of yarn for. I've ordered it, but I'm not sure it will be here in time. Oh well, wouldn't be the first time I've wrapped a partially finished project for Christmas.

Here's the latest on the knitted night cap I'm working on.

Time to go back to the sewing machine. Have a good day everyone.

December 8

I'm sitting here watching Person of Interest, while knitting a men's night cap and typing this blog.  Person of Interest is one of those shows I didn't think I'd like, but it has become one of my favorites of the new shows this season. The other one is Two Broke Girls. We've also been watching Once Upon a Time, which is okay, but my daughter has decided she really likes it.

I haven't finished the scarf I blogged about yet. But I've started another project. You can check that out on my KnittingAside blog in the next couple of days.

SewingAside should also have an update in the next couple of days. I've been busy working on a bunch of stuff for the Mercantile (boys' pants, shirts, corsets & more).

Oh, and my sister has introduced me to a new band (new to me at least) Great Big Sea.

That's it for now.

December 6

I added my newest knitting project to my knitting blog, KnittingAside, an 1840 scarf.  I will try and get my sewing blog going later today. 

December 5 -

Okay, so I've gotten down off my soapbox for the moment.  I've been busy trying to get the house clean and the Christmas decorations up.  We're getting there, at least the tree is up and the living room is basically clean.  (just need to pick up a few things and clean off the buffet).  Next, the kitchen, which means I will have to return my sewing stuff to the basement (which also needs to be cleaned).  Never ends. Laundry, dished and cleaning. 

I've been trying to get some boys' clothing done for the mercantile (Originals by Kay).  Which for those of you who don't know already, we are running a Holiday Special - here.  Loads of jewelry, parasols, and more.

Also, registration is still open for the Midwest Civil War Civilians conference (click here for more information).  We always have a great time.  We'd love to see you there.

Going to get mail, then back to the sewing machine.  I will be posting some pictures of my latest projects by the end of the week.  Keep an eye on KnittingAside & SewingAside.

Pit Bulls - December 2

Okay, I'm really irritated.  One of my FB friends posted a quote from their local radio station that stated that Pit bulls kill 2,900 people a year.  Then whenever someone commented on it, he just replied "Tell that to the family at the funeral."  Are people really that stupid.  I'm a pit bull advocate.  If you had told me four years ago that I would own a pit bull I would have told you "You're nuts."  However, she has been the best dog I've ever owned (and the smartest).  She was adopted from our local humane society. 
Anyway, so I made a couple of comments and posted a few links to this person's profile.  Apparently, he didn't like the fact that I had a clue, because it didn't take him long to unfriend me. (I'm not saying that a Pit Bull can't attack a human, I'm saying that any dog can be agressive towards people. I also believe that if you can't find a reason -through a vet, or animal behaviorist as to why the dog has become agressive {assuming they weren't before} - then I do believe that a human agressive dog should be destroyed no matter what the breed.) 

Here's part of my comment to him:

Look at it this way, human beings made dogs what they are.  Now, humans are blaming the dogs.  Whose really at fault?  The humans who do not take the time to train their dogs.  ANY dog can be human agressive.  Pit bulls can be dog agressive. They usually are not human agressive.  A dog is what we make him.  If you take any animal and breed it for certain traits.  Is it that animals fault or the humans who chose to breed it for those traits.

From the CDC: Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about 16 die. (since I posted this I did find a reference to 34 people dying of dog bites last year - however no one has whether it was the bite itself or an inffection of the bite).

I also mentioned that Jack Russell Terriers are included in the "Pit bull-type".

There are some fantastic websites out there for pit bulls.  As with any dog, consult your vet, they can help you decide if a certain type of dog is a good idea for you and your family. 

BSLs are not the answer. (Humans are as much if not more so to blame for the dogs behavior as the dog is.) Being a horse person too, I know that everytime I get on my horse I'm training him.  If he does something I don't like I have to go back and ask myself, who's at fault, me or the horse. It should be the same with dogs.

Here's a list of websites regarding statistics on dog bites (and safety):

The American Humane Society

CDC Dog Bite Facts

The Real Pit Bull - Article is called A Dose of Reality

I will try and get off my soapbox now.

November 29th -

I finished The Shattered Vine by Laura Anne Gilman very early on Sunday morning.  I loved it, I couldn't put it down. I wish it wasn't the end of the series. Not sure what to read next, maybe War Horse by Michael Morpurgo.  We are looking forward to the movie. 

I've been busy translating some German knitting and crocheting patterns to English (Thanks for the help, Kay).

Today, I'm going to post a "shooters" mitten pattern on my "KnittingAside" blog.  Both are from Peterson's (I'm not sure what year).  I haven't made either of them yet.  If you have, I'd love to see pictures of them and any suggestions. 

Time to go now. Sewing machine is calling.

Updating.....

Decided to finally update my blog. Wow, can't believe its been a year since I did so.  Needless to say it's been a busy year. I'm adding a new page to my blog for knitting & crocheting (KnittingAside), this will be for things I'm working on, maybe a pattern or two.  Who knows?

I didn't make it out to too many Civil War events this year.  Just Wauconda, IL & Wilson's Creek, MO. Wilson's Creek was the 150th Anniversary event and was filled with lots of issues, we still had a good time and were very thankful that it never got as hot as they were originally anticipating.

I've also been trying to get some reading in.  Over the past year I've read:
1. Debt of Bones - Terry Goodkind
2. Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
3. Stone of Tears - Terry Goodkind
4. Nightwalker - Jocelyn Drake
5. Flesh and Fire - Laura Anne Gilman
6. Weight of Stone - Laura Anne Gilman
7. Midsummer's Night Dream - William Shakespeare
8.Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
9. The Civil War 150
10. Knitting Rules - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (love this book!)
11. a bunch of knitting, crocheting, quilting & costuming books.
12. Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder
13. Magic Study - Maria V. Snyder
14. Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder

I'm currently reading The Shattered Vine (Book 3 of The Vineart Wars) by Laura Anne Gilman.  This is one of those book series that you hate to see end (I felt the same way about the Study Book series).

I've also been knitting and crocheting my little (okay, maybe they're not so little) fingers off, as well as sewing.

I've been busy doing a ton of sewing. Lots of corsets the past few weeks.  But here's one of the most recent projects I've finished (that wasn't a corset). This 3 pc. outfit was made from an original 1861 pattern (the hat is sold separately).  All of the trim was put on by hand.  You can find it for sale here.

Time to go for now.  I will try to update my blog more often (at least I'm hoping it won't be another year before I update it again).