Closer

I just finished editing two Christmas programs to go up on the local cable channel and also finished off the framing jobs I needed to do before Christmas.  Feeling a little less crunched.  Didn't finish all I had hoped (my brother's family will be getting their Christmas box after Christmas--just didn't have time to package it up, yet), but as long as I get those programs i just edited onto the air tomorrow afternoon I think everything will be just fine ;)

Just Keep Breathing

Finishing Christmas presents that need to go into the mail today, putting Christmas programs up on the air on the local cable channel, if it doesn't get done, it doesn't get done, but I'll try to finish it up . . .
See you at the end!

New blog title, but same old blog

A Wilde Rose In Minnesota

I so often have content other than knitting that I was thinking it was time for me to change my title.  I'm staying right here, but just changing the title on my page to reflect more of who I am and what I actually write.  I will be going through and adding labels to all of my posts in the coming weeks, so that if by some chance you want to look for some specific type of post you might be able to find it.  (Let's hope I'm smart enough to figure it all out!).

That's all for now, so I'll leave you with this . . .

A photo Dan took of our house earlier this Fall.  He's a good picture taker!

Have a great day!--Christmas knitting is nearly done (would be done, except that now that I find I have more time, I am adding to the list!).

Camera card stayed home today

Not much to say--just that I am chilly today. My little hand mitts feel like they should be full-on mittens today!

I have some fun little pictures of things, but I left the camera card at home today by my home computer where I made up my Christmas letters to send out to family the other day. Oh well.

Happy Wednesday.

Oooo . . . I finished up two Christmas presents over the weekend! (and started a quick other one last night--I may even add a couple of dishcloths to the mix later on if I think I can handle it--that might be too much to do, though)

Chilly, Christmas-y Winter Days Are Here Again

Brrrr . . . I'm chilly today . . . and yesterday . . . and the day before

Do I use . . . too much?

I don't know . . . (he, he, he)

Well, this post hasn't said much so far, but I thought I would show you one thing I had designed in the last month that might be of some interest.

For the last couple of years, I have been designing and printing banners to be hung at my church during different seasons of the year. Our little country church gets decorated so beautifully at Christmastime with candles, wreaths, and greenery. It already looked so special, so I didn't know if anyone really wanted me to design anything to be put up in front for Christmas, but I asked the Pastor and he said that he thought people would like them during this season as well.

So this is what I came up with . . .


I split this picture in two and it is up on either side of the cross in front of the church. The thing I like about this picture most is the scene truly is from the hillside around Bethlehem. (Although a heavily photoshopped version of it all!)

Dan took a picture looking out over Bethlehem when we went to Israel a couple of years ago. Do you notice the tall mound on the far right. That is a Herodioan (built by Herod/Herod's people) from way, way, way back to before the time of Jesus (at least that is my understanding). Mary and Joseph would have looked out on those hills, the Magi may have had to have crossed those hills to get back home. Those hills were there when Jesus was born and, if hills could talk, could attest to have seen angels in the air announcing His birth. Anyway, those are some special hills :o)

Do you want to see the real picture Dan took?

Well, yes, you do.


The part in the banners is in the way back--I am doubting that Bethlehem currently looks much the same as it did in Jesus' time. I hope I did it all some justice in the banners (highly smooshed and manipulated is they may be).

***Me on my bit of a soap box***
I think that there are times when people today think that God doesn't really have anything to do with the world anymore (if He ever did). That maybe He just ended stuff whenever the Bible was done being written (or, that whole thing was faked anyway). He doesn't care about anyone, none of what He did (or was thought to do) can really be explained, so He must not really be out there at all. I get that. I can understand that people don't see things the same way as I do, but, I say, "What if . . .what if God truly is there and truly loves each one of us and truly has a plan for every single persons life on this earth? What if He truly has known you since before you were born?"

My mind and my heart say that we will see one day that God and all the science and everything out there really do work together. And that thoses hills that were there way back at Jesus birth will attest to the fact that He was born one night 2000+ years ago to really save the people of this world (before and after Him) from the sins that have separated us from our perfect relationship with God since the Fall of Adam.

But, I digress, I am not here to start some kind of theological argument. I just get thoughtful about things sometimes and don't know where to put those thoughts except for out here somewhere where they might cause someone else to think something or other.

Well, enjoy these special days and I hope that wherever you are (here in my hometown or out far away) that your fingers and toes are warm and will continue to be throughout the winter.

Movin' on Up to the North Side

All of the kitties are now in their permanent homes. Ernie and Mort (the two in the back) moved up to my parents new place just to the North of our place last night. Norman and Bernie remain home with us. This picture was taken on their last night all together relaxing on the couch. :o)

Last night after we got the kittens moved away (the whole 1/8 of a mile), we decorated the tree (I use the term "we" loosely as Dan wasn't feeling very well).

So this is what it looked like in the morning


and this is what it looked like last night.

I realize this isn't the best picture showing how everything looks in every way, but it is pretty and glowing. Pretty good for using manual focus and no tripod in the dark.

Especially after you look at this


I was really trying to get a nice shot of this


This photo is the closest I got last night, but maybe I should try putting the camera on a tripod, focusing with the lights on, and then turning the lights off. You know, like you're supposed to do? Although, I do have to say I really like this picture so far!

And in honor of the Yarn Harlot's post
Shazam!

I just wanted to be cool and say it once, too. Because of course all of the cool people say shazam.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving at my in-laws with 50 of our closest relatives (really--and that wasn't even all of them). This year was my mil's turn to host and she did a great job. The hostess always makes the turkey (or 3 as the case may be) and mashed potatoes while everyone else brings along the side dishes and dessert. I brought this

Scrumptious Apple Pie--recipe on tasty kitchen by the Pioneer Woman

Mmmmm, tasty!

Here's a close-up of all of it's caramel-y goodness (I have the hardest time spelling caramel--I want to spell it carmel or caramal or caranimal, well, maybe not caranimal)

In the purpose of full disclosure, let me tell you that both Dan and I got a piece of this pie, but by the time my mother-in-law was ready for pie it was all gone--we philistines had eaten it all up and there was none left for our wonderful hostess. I am making another one today, but it is for my family Thanksgiving tomorrow! I will also be making this for Christmas when we get together once again, but this time it will just be immediate family--she'd better get some!

After a full day at their place visiting with cousins that we don't see all that often and Dan's brother Jason who moved down to Missouri last year, we went home and rested well.

Now, tomorrow will be a big day. My parents are moving into their new house (well, their stuff will be moving at least) and it is also the first hay auction of the season around here. We have hay to sell from this past summer, so Dan thought he had better load up the truck to bring the hay over before the truck needs to be used to move my parent's things.

Take no notice of the tarp on the garage roof--someday we'll be re-roofing it, but for that is back a ways on the list of priorities for our old farm place. Somewhere behind finishing off our upstairs (or maybe not--I've never lived in a finished house--what is that like?)
But do take notice that there are some hangers on up on that pile of hay.

You say you want to see that a little closer?
Alrighty
That's Mike and Betty--we'd better shoo them off before Dan goes out on the road, but for now they're enjoying sitting on the warmed up hay.

One other thing--do you notice that little bell hanging from the rear-view mirror of the truck. That bell is a leftover from our wedding day over 7 years ago. (We gave our little bells as wedding favors) Dan put that bell up before we left for our honeymoon and it has been there ever since.

Well, hope your weekend is great and that you were able to spend Thanksgiving with people that you love!

Pioneer Woman (and some knitting and cuteness, too)

I will now eternally owe my husband ummm . . . anything he ever wants. My wonderful Dan stood in line with me for five hours at the Mall of America to get my PW Cookbook signed (and the one I'm giving to my brother-in-law, too--I didn't leave him out).

We became bosom buddies with our neighbors in line by the end of the day--saving spots for bathroom breaks, food breaks, I'm going crazy breaks (I don't think we actually got a break from going crazy--just went further in, I guess).

Marlboro Man and sons

I got our books signed by Marlboro Man, too not long before he and the boys left for a bit to get some supper and to get out of the giant crowds of people. Notice the security guard in this shot? There were a bunch of them around and they were being followed by camera crews!

Why would a camera crew be interested in following Mall Cops around you ask? A new reality show on TLC called Mall Cop: something or other about Mall of America Security. We kept wondering why on earth camera crews along with security kept going around the crowd of people waiting to get there book signed and then one of the girls standing in line with me had an epiphany and recalled seeing a story on one of the local news shows about it. So funny! Dan said that he thought it would be a pretty boring show, but hey, if you get TLC and happen to see a this show about the Pioneer Woman keep a look out for Dan--he's the only one in a cowboy hat in the whole crowd, so you'll likely be able to pick him out. (I'm standing right next to him, but I'm short). We don't get satellite or cable at my house (too expensive when you live out in the boonies (or a mile from town)), so I won't see it at all.

Ree and me (my hair looked prettier earlier in the day--I promise)

Finally we reached PW and she so graciously (not that she wouldn't be) signed my two books. I also gave her a print of one of my cattle marker drawings--a little worse for wear after holding it for 5 hours, so if you happen to read this Ree, I can send you another one!

ETA: Hmmm . . . I guess I was so far back in line, I didn't realize there were a few exciting moments with a bomb-sniffing dog. I am going to have to wait until PW's post on the MOA. It should be really fun!

It was a long day, but a good day. I came home surprised at how sore a person can get after just standing all day. It isn't quite as sore as I used to get when I was a waitress at the Red Rooster Cafe and surprisingly enough, even with all those people, it didn't smell nearly as bad either. (can I just say that I am so thankful for the smoking ban in MN--the combination of smoke, eggs, and bleach is just not a pleasant smell--it will forever make my stomach turn. I mean, I suppose it makes other people's stomachs turn as well, so I'm sure it isn't just me, or is it?--but enough of smells that we don't want to think about, I was doing a post about PW, wasn't I? and then I was going to show you some other cute pictures from the farm without going into any smell discussions)

First, I've been working on my Mother-in-Law's Christmas socks. They should be ready in time for Christmas I'm sure. I don't think she remembers that I am making her socks because I was knitting them right in front of her on Sunday and she had no clue that they were hers or maybe she does know, but didn't want to pressume?

The fur and whiskers are not a part of this sock, but rather a part of a curious kitten

The kittens really like the first sock. I'll have to see if they approve of the second one.

Speaking of kittens--they remain extremely cute.


They can mess up a house like nobodies business, get up on the table on knock things over (the chairs are no longer tucked under the table, by the way), and try to tear apart your knitting instructions, but then they go and sit in a little pile like this right in the afternoon sun and you just can't be mad at them. I mean--they're glowing . . . like angels?

And then there is this . . .


I mean, what are you going to do with this? Ahhh, Biff, you are one cute little steer. Don't remind me about what will be to come. I know it is coming--that is why we named our whethers things like lambchop when we were growing up, but for now, I am just going to pretend you are going to stay a little steer calf growing up on our little hills. At least I know you'll be happy here.

Baby Bonnet

Congratulations to our friends Ben and Colleen who just had baby Sierra this morning a little before 10!

In honor of the new little one, I finished off her baby bonnet last night--hopefully we will be able to meet her sometime this week!

From the front--look at those cute little tassels!

From the side--just a little look at more of the shape.

This one shows the color a little better!

I was able to use two skeins that had only been partially used up on making the add-on pieces for some baby viking hats I had made for children of family and friends last winter. Several years ago I used this same pattern for Dan's cousin's first daughter and only used white. It was very pretty, but I do like the combination of color on this one a lot. (sorry, did that one long before I had a blog).

The pattern is from my mom and grandma's old knitting book The Complete Book of Knitting by Elizabeth L. Mathieson.

Bernie

I figured out why the kittens always like to sit in front of the refrigerator. That's where it cycles out the warm air. I mean I knew that way back in the back of my mind, but was constantly wondering why they were sitting there--especially when I'm making supper and having to open it.

No pictures of these yet, but I just started working on a pair of socks (Christmas gift) and another little baby hat (more of a knitted bonnet than a hat really-something nice and girlie for a baby that should be born next week--I really should have started it sooner, but I just figured out the exact pattern I wanted to use and pulled the yarn out of my yarn basket last night. If there is enough yarn I might add some mittens.)

Facebook Fan Page and some fun!

Ummm . . . don't know if you are on Facebook or not, but I just set up a Fan page for the gallery that my dad and I run in our small town. It is called Robert Wilde Studios. If you are interested in artwork or pictures from Rural MN become a fan and you can see the various events happening around here. There is a link on the side bar. Thanks for allowing my shameless plug . . .

In honor of your kindness here is a recent photo (last night in fact) of our baby kittens.

Ernie, Bernie, and Mort--I'll admit Bernie is a bit of a dork, but what a cute little dork--I love him to bits!

Now, how about a couple of finished projects! Woohoo . . .

My dad's birthday mitts are done--a wee bit late seeing as how is birthday was in April, but he only really started needing them a few weeks ago when the weather got cold! They wouldn't have been very useful during the Summer months. Oh, I made the pattern up--seeing as how each mitt fits a little differently (the second one is a little tighter than the first), I don't remember exactly how I did it.

And a baby hat for a baby shower that I am going to on Sat. for Dan's cousin who just adopted a 4 month old baby boy! I wish I could keep it for myself, but it doesn't fit well enough. Made using Ann Budd's Handy Book of Pattern's guidelines.

Happenings

A few pictures of what has been going on around here.

Our trip to the North Shore of MN.

Dan and I in Two Harbors

Gooseberry Falls

Sunrise on Lake Superior

Working on the house.

A bunch of guys from church came to help side our house. Not quite done yet, but hopefully this can get done soon!

Baby kitty

One of the joys of having a farm is that we always have kittens around. Occasionally a few end up being orphaned by their mothers. This is Ernie. Sadly he had a sister who died yesterday morning, but he also has a brother to keep him company.

The cows

Our new foster cows--maybe that is what the are--all I know is they are owned by Dans cousin Tim, but they stay at our place and we feed them and keep an eye out on them.

Remember when . . .

Saw this on Karen's blog and just couldn't pass it up.


If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL MEMORY OF YOU AND ME. It can be anything you want--good or bad--BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you're finished, post this on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

Submitted

Sitting Bull ©2009, Elisabeth Schmieg

In the quietness of the gallery this afternoon, I clicked the mouse on the submit button. Did I make any mistakes? Is my work good enough? Am I truly an artist of quality? Will they like me? Little me from my little town? Am I good enough? Do I qualify?

This is a dream that I sure hope could come true and now that I have clicked submit, time will tell. One month from now I could be being visited by judges looking at my work deciding if I will truly get this or I will just spend another weekend at home. Just to be a finalist would be something, but please, please, please could I be good enough to get this grant?

Needing prayers.

Pink Lady ©2009, Elisabeth Schmieg

So Sleepy

Can I go home and rest now?

Nope, not till Monday

dun, da, da, daaaaa . . .

Well, we made it through the 4th of July and my 30th birthday :o∫
There, I said it--I am no longer in my 20's and care free (as care free as someone with a 40 acre farmstead can be), but I guess I can be 30 and just fine--I just thought I should feel more like a grown up when I turned 30 (not especially on that day, but you know just as life goes along). Of course, it might be a youngest child thing, too. I don't think youngest children probably ever feel like they are the most grown up anyway. Always have somebody older telling us that we aren't doing it right.

Oh well, I'm still enjoying my camera and taking photos around the farm--Dan got me a nice camera case for my birthday, so now I feel a little more secure about bringing it from place to place without wrecking it.

We've made hay and there is more to be made, again--no wonder we can never get to finishing the siding on our house . . .

I snapped a shot of Dan before he went out on the tractor with his hay gear on--He did end up taking the sunglasses off-they made him look silly.

Mowing the grass/clover field

Dan put our old metal wheels up in the arch to the pasture.

Dairy/Berry Day in town was well attended (free root beer floats and strawberry sundaes--what do you expect?)

The light around here this summer has just made things look so nice--I'll have to see sometime what it can do for me (will it give me back my size 6 body?--probably not)

I love the lightening rods on our barn--the barn was built in 1918 after the other barn on our property burned down from a lightening strike--those rods have been there ever since!

The wild roses were blooming around here near the end of June--I just love them. It is amazing what prettiness just lies down in the ditches of our gravel roads!

On that note--have a great weekend and take some time to smell the roses.

Still Alive

No knitting lately--my wrists and arms seem to have been hurting off and on for the past month or so. Probably because I have to do a lot more typing now (working two days a week as a church secretary and making two newsletters that total about 24 pages every month). I suppose I should see someone about that, huh? Or maybe I'll just get some comfort from some precious kittens at home instead!

I don't think Dan will let me name him Squishy McSnookersons, but maybe I could call him Frank instead.

I've been thinking of naming her Myrtle or Madge.

I'm not sure what to name him, but he might become my parent's kitten, so I'll let them handle that--I've got 12 others to worry about . . . and speaking piles of kittens.

They're getting bigger everyday.

On other subjects . . .

We made 12 batches of maple syrup this year totaling over 70 quarts. Pretty good for a couple of amateurs.

Had a campfire a little while back. I had fun taking pictures of the flames.

The sun was setting as we sat in the pasture enjoying our fire. That was a beautiful night.

More pictures of the goings on around my place in the last couple months will be coming. I thought putting 20 pictures into one post might be a bit much.