Six Months and Growing

About 3 months

As our  beautiful twin grandbabies turn 6 months old today, it is time to give them the spotlight on the blog . It is amazing to reflect over the last 6 months and see how they have grown and how much joy they have brought to our family. Annette and Lee are changing rapidly each day it seems. When I miss seeing them for just a week or two I can see such big strides.

It is still heart-warming to see how affectionately they watch one another. They can both light up the room with their smiles and bright blue eyes. Lee is getting his head up a little higher every day during tummy time and  Annette has learned to roll over. They are cooing and babbling. She has found some very high pitched squeals which tell us she is SO excited!
They are grabbing rattles and beginning to teethe. . . chewing on their hands other toys.
Lee is the better "eater" of the two. He takes his bottle with gusto and is really liking his baby food. Annette, on the other hand, requires a little more patience to feed. She is a leisurely eater and has to be coaxed into trying the food. She is a petite little elf and he is a cuddly teddy bear.

They both enjoy bath time and kicking in the water. I can't wait to see them swimming this summer. A car ride is a good sedative for them both. They will fall asleep very dependably once the car starts moving.

Another big milestone is that they are both sleeping through the night. THIS IS A BIG MILESTONE!! WOW!! Everyone is really excited about this. Lee edged out Annette on the sleeping routine event . . . he has been a night sleeper for about a month. Annette finally turned the corner about a week ago. WHEW!  No more 3 a.m. bottles.

Although we try to limit TV time, I would be remiss not to mention that they are mesmerized by BABY EINSTEIN videos. If nothing else can calm them and a frenzy is in the making - a few minutes of those bright colors, soothing music and motion puts them back in their usual happy state.

They truly are the sweetest creatures imaginable and I am so lucky to be "grandma" to these special little ones. It is hard to believe we have been from NICU isolettes to "exer-saucers" in these six months. I am enjoying every minute and loving what they have brought to our lives! This has been a wonderful blessing and I am  thankful during this Easter season for all our many blessings!!


Now let the heavens be joyful,
Let earth her song begin:
Let the round world keep triumph,
And all that is therein;
Invisible and visible,
Their notes let all things blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen
Our joy that hath no end.

Saint John of Damascus

Camellia Time

The cold, rainy winter weather has finally given way to glimpses of springtime. Our camellias still have much growing to do, but Philip's hard work on these plants is beginning to pay off.  That being said, it is time to do grafting . . . here's the proof!

Here's one of my favorite blooms. This was planted last spring . . . Harold Paige. This is a very large bloom with very ruffled flower.

Below is Kick-Off . . .

And here is Royal Velvet . . .

Here is a large bloom that we watched in anticipation for days . . . this was a bloom off an un-named plant grafted last spring. It should be really beautiful next year!

. . . worth waiting for!!!

I can't wait to get the yard cleaned up and replant some herbs and annuals . . . I am already thinking of fresh basil on fat red tomatoes and dill on new potatoes. This must be the best time of year!!

Old News - Snow in the Lowcountry

"Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow."

Robert Frost

We rarely get to glimpse this white stuff here in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Last weekend Mother Nature treated us to a brief encounter with a little snow.

Here are a few sites spotted out and about the river. We haven't had a "ground covering" snow in this area since 1989. Our local squirrel pack seemed totally shocked and disoriented.

The recent cold rainy weather here has not been ideal for the beautiful camellias. Here are a few that haven't been too damaged.  They are dusted with a little frosty stuff!

The river looks like glass. There's a dusting of snow on the dock. Pretty tranquil . . . not like tropical storms that rip through here from time to time.

A little farther inland near Grays, the accumulation is a little thicker. This is near the pond at Baybottom.

Cold pines!!

There is a little knitting going on with "Olympics' watching" and staying warm by the fire.

My most active project at the moment is a vest from Oat Couture - Cotswold Vest. I am using some beautiful yarn that I purchased at Stitches South last spring. It is multicolored shepherd worsted by Lorna's Laces. It is hard to believe that wool could be SOOooooo Soft! Hope to post pictures of finished best before too long. Here's a preview. . .

This pattern uses slipped stitches to break up the color runs. I am enjoying learning as I go!

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"

J. B. Priestley

First Felting Phenomenon

I am very excited to report on my very first felting project! This was a great patt!ern to learn a little about felting. Pretty simple, quick, and pleased with the end result! Can't ask for more!

This is "Vintage Bubble Bag" by Eva Weichmann.

Knitting begins in the round . . .

I used Cascade 220 (974 Delphinium) and Noro Silk Garden (273A). The pattern calls for 2 skeins of each.  The result is a bulky looking bag - before felting. I made the handles longer than specified in the pattern so that it could be used as a shoulder bag. My handles were approximately 40 inches long.

Hanging on the stair-rail - you can see how "oversized" the bag is . . .

After agitating in the washing machine for 10 minutes (and adding some extra hot water),  I could tell the bag was shrinking and the individual stitches were disappearing. 

Bubble bag is still drying out, but I am already pleased with the results!

NORO Striped Scarf

I think I've mentioned here before that I like to knit "in color". I just love a bright contrasting kaleidoscope and Noro Yarn is generally a great experience in its visual effects.

I started making this simple, but brightly colored scarf for Sister Cathy before Christmas. Life is busy ; lo it has taken too long to finish it!

I found the idea for this scarf on Jared Flood's blog: Brooklyn Tweed. It is a simple 1 x 1 rib pattern. (K1,P1 through every row using 2 colorways of fiber. Change colorways every 2 rows. The edge is very neat if you slip the first and last stitch of every other row - i.e., row number 2 of every color change.)

  I used Noro Kureyon for this scarf in colorways 102, 74, and 220.

I love watching the different color combinations emerge!





I hope someone else will enjoy this quick knit!!

Saturday , January 9, 2010

Last Saturday was a day of joy and sadness for our family as we witnessed the Baptism of our precious grandbabies - Annette Claire and Thomas Lee. The ceremony in Aiken at St. Mary's Help of Christians was very special. It was a wonderful occasion for our families to be together as we participated in the beginning of the twins' spiritual journey. The babies were "little angels" and extremely happy during their first visit to church. Not a peep did I hear!

Their godparents are David's sister, Julie, and Ashley's brother, Philip Jr. We enjoyed a wonderful little celebration at Ashley and David's after the Baptism.

Later that evening, we were so saddened to receive news of Philip's mother's passing. GaGa was devoted to her family and a wonderful role model for all of us. Philip says she could get her dander up, but she always seemed very calm and reserved to me. She will be missed sorely by all her family and friends.

Here's a snapshot of a quick kiss under the mistletoe last Christmas!

We are all very grateful for the wonderful support of family and friends during this sad time. We have been comforted by thoughtful cards, beautiful flowers, delicious food, and many words of comfort. Many thanks to everyone!

Holiday Happenings

Happy Holidays!!

December did not fail to meet expectations of a busy, busy holiday season!! I will post a December recap before long. I hope that each of you had a memorable holiday season and will experience many rewarding moments in 2010.

I decided to post a quick little note on my first wool hat for self. This one is to use for anticipated COLD weather as the Gamecocks travel to Birmingham, Alabama for the Papa John's Pizza Bowl. You all know how cold-natured I am . . . as soon as I saw that the high on game day would be around 40 degrees, I began digging out all the long johns, overcoats, wool sweaters and socks!

I thought if I was determined, that I could finish a wool hat in a few days . . . this was from leftover Cascade Ecological Wool that I used for the Hemlock Ring Blanket.

It is knitted in the round on size 7 (for the band) and size 9 needles. The pattern is Ann Norling's "Any Gauge/Any Size Hat".

Getting started . . . I used a 2x2 ribbed band instead of suggested 1x1.

Overall, I am pretty pleased. The hat seems a little large for me, although I followed all the directions closely. There will not be a problem with the hat covering my ears and keeping my head warm. The wool is also very soft and SO "cushy-comfy" feeling on my head!!

The colorful top pom-pom was made with leftover Peruvia Quick by Berroco. I used this to make vest a few months ago.

There are so many great things going on . We are watching everyday to see a few more camellias bloom.

The striped one is Tama Americana. This plant is really showing off right now. It seems appropriate for the holidays with its beautiful dark pink petals outlined in white.

Stay tuned for more action on holiday happenings, knitting, and "the babies"!