Monday, October 30, 2017

SAFF 2017, Fletcher, NC

Saturday John and I drove up to Fletcher, NC (which is right next door to Asheville).   SAFF 2017 was this weekend.   SAFF stands for Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair.   I had been once before about 7 years ago.   If you knit, weave, spin, needle felt, wool applique, etc. this is the mecca of all shows in the South!!


SAFF 2017 Exhibitor Booths

This was outside, it is like a Yert with a sheepskin roof.   Really cool!!  You could go inside, children that were there loved going in there!!

A woman was weaving on an 8-harness loom.   I love the color of yarn she chose!  I have a 4-harness loom and I haven't used it in years, might have to get it out!

This woman is truly brave!  It was raining, cold and the wind was blowing but that didn't stop her from spinning outside with just a roof over her head.   She was dressed in many wool layers and she was doing a great job of spinning!


 I bought the most beautiful gradient yarn from Miss Babbs (one of my favorite yarn suppliers).  The names of the colors are Muscadine Grapes (the darkest purple), Concord Grapes, Moon Drop Grapes, Pinot Noir Grapes, Sweet Jubilee Grapes and the lightest purple was called Valiant Grapes.   The colors are just gorgeous!!  I can't wait to pick out a shawl pattern for these luscious yarns!!




The John bought me a beautiful shawl pin made out of white birch.   I actually wore it to work today with one of my shawls that someone made for me.   I got lots of compliments.   It was so cold here today, I really needed it!



It was raining but you know what, we didn't care because we had the whole day!  Emma, our Golden Retriever/Lab Mix went to the petsitters to play with all her doggie friends for the day-she had a blast!  I just love to go to these fiber shows and get rejuvenated again with knitting, weaving, etc.  I might even get my drop spindle out this winter!!  I have always wanted to do wool applique, so I stopped by an artists booth and was fascinated with all the different wool fabrics and felts!  So Michele from Raspberry Rabbit, if you read this I will probably be purchasing your British Woodland Creatures kit!!!!  I love this fiber craft!!  What a great way to spend a Saturday!!

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Raining = Yarn Day 10.07.17

Today has been rainy, so today was a yarn day.  I bought 2 skeins of yarn for a Portuguese knitting class I'm going to take in 2 weeks at Baskets of Yarn.  I bought Knitted Wit, Ex's Flannel Shirt.  Here is this beautiful, rich cranberry colored yarn.







I had the yarn swift out, so I decided to wind some more yarn.  2 skeins of a beautiful blue yarn.  Just beautiful!





Tomorrow it is suppose to rain even more.   So I will be knitting.  I am working on a shawl called Lilli Pilli.  I also will probably be doing a little reading.  This is a good weekend to just relax and rest!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Moon Vines



Well it is a great day here at the McDermitts!  The moon vines started blooming!!!  I was so happy we got one blossom so far.  Jack, my grandson and I collected the seeds from last years plants all summer and into the Fall.  I ended up planting them without Jack because of rain and other obligations.  Here is the results:

I sent a picture to my son-in-law, Kevin so he could show Jack.  Jack thanked me for sending the photo and Owen said he loves me!  What great little boys they are!!

Hope y'all are having a great night!

Sunday, August 13, 2017

The Weekend of 08.11.17-08.13.17

What an awesome weekend John and I had!  Friday was our 38th Wedding Anniversary!  We had to work but we had reservations at Ted's Montana Grill for dinner and it was wonderful!  Here is my hubby at the restaurant:





I had the Ted's Bison Filet and it was so tender!  It was sooooo good.  John had the Bison Pot Roast and he said it was wonderful too.  I would definitely go back there.  Our waiter, was so wonderful.  He was so polite and knew just when to come to the table and when not to pester us like some waiter staff does.

Then Saturday we ran errands in the morning.  Around 3:30 Owen and Jack came over.  Jenny and Kevin had some things to do, so we watched both boys for a few hours.  Owen was already scheduled to stay overnight by himself with us.  We had so much fun with him!  He is such a good boy!  We played games, he played with his Legos, we watched movies and just plain had fun with him.  This morning he slept in until 8:30!!  I made him emoji pancakes (his request) and bacon.  He loves bacon so much, I think that is what keeps him going because he doesn't like much else!!  We hung out the rest of the morning and then took him to Hickory Tavern for lunch.  After that we of course, had to go to Target so he could pick out some Ninjago Legos and a Minion gift for Jack.  We dropped him off at his house, visited with Kevin and Jack for a short time.  We are not home chilling out :)!!  It was such a great weekend!! 

Jack popping up to say hi!

Owen enjoying the rocking chair on the front porch.

Mr. Sleepyhead Owen this morning 08.13.17.

Papa and Owen at the Breakfast Table.

Owen, the Artist was create a photo for us.


Yesterday while Owen and John were playing I was able to go out and take some photos between the rain drops.  Thought I would share them with you:

My begonia in the hanging basket on the front porch.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on the Butterfly Bush out back.


All of a sudden I love taking photos of clouds.  These beautiful, fluffy clouds were taken near my house in Mint Hill.

This was Saturday night after the rain storm.  Just gorgeous sky!

Emma thinking she is a cat :)!!  Crazy but loveable dog!!

The first hummingbird moth we have had in our yard!


Japanese Painted Fern seedling. 

One of my two lemons on my Meyer Lemon tree.





Succulents I'm growing.

Raindrops on roses!

Raindrops on the rose leaves out front.  I love the coloring of these leaves.

Red Lantana

My heirloom rose in the front garden.

Regal Emma (well at least for that brief moment!

Spider web and spider in the garage door opening.

Stormy sky last night.  Just beautiful from our front porch.



I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and I hope you all have a great week!!

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Saturday 07.29.17 and Sunday 07.30.17

This weekend was wonderful!  John and I had such a great weekend!  Saturday started out going to a new diner for breakfast, then on to the Farmer's Market!  We found so many good veggies and fruit.  We bought green beans, potatoes, corn on the cob, Dragon Fruit, peaches, sourdough bread, yellow squash, lettuce, blackberries, heirloom tomatoes, 2 succulent plants and flowers, of course flowers!  Here a few photos of the things we bought:

The biggest blackberries I have ever seen!

Dragon Fruit sliced open
Dragon Fruit at the Vendors Stand, so colorful!


Heirloom Tomatoes

A large bouquet of all white flowers-so pretty!

New Potatoes

Lovely Peaches

Dragon Fruit by itself again

Succulents          
So when Jenny and the boys arrived for a visit on Saturday afternoon, Jenny brought figs, blueberries and kiwi.  We made my first every smoothie with Dragon Fruit, figs, blueberries, banana and kiwi.  It was so good!  We put it in a bowl instead of a glass.  It was so good as you can see!






Jenny and the boys stayed for dinner.  I made pork chops with apples and onions, corn on the cob and green beans with the new potatoes.  Everything was so good.  After Dinner Jack and I talked about seeing if the potatoes we planted in the Spring were ready yet.  We had alot of ran for about 5 days a while ago and I was so afraid they had rotted.  He and I dug them up and to our surprise there was a bowl full.  Here are some photos of our potato adventure:



Jack and I diligently trying to find potatoes.
Jack with his cash of potatoes.        








We had such  a good time!

Today was a lazy one for John and I.  I slept until 9:00, that is very unusual for me!  Then we had breakfast on trays in our room and watched HGTV and DIY for a bit.  Next thing you know I am waking up and it is 1:00!!!  John had fallen asleep after he finished his breakfast too!!  I guess we needed the sleep after our rather busy day yesterday!  The rest of the day I read my current book, Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani.  Love this book so far!!  I had another smoothie!  Had leftover Chinese for dinner and just chilled out.  That is my kind of day!  The weather here has been beautiful-no humidity and a nice breeze all day!

I hope you all had a good one!

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Fun Summer

This summer has been really fun!  It has been a hot one, but bearable.  During the 4th of July weekend we went up to NJ to visit my Mom.  We got to see everyone, family and friends!  Then the next Friday we left to go to Wrightsville Beach with Jenny and the boys.  Owen's 6th birthday was that next Tuesday and we promised him a weekend at the Beach!  We went to the beach, the aquarium, the pool and out to dinner.  The boys really enjoyed themselves making sandcastles and playing in the water.  Here is a picture of what I think sums up the whole trip!


These boys have stolen our hearts since the day they were born! 

My flower gardens are pretty much done.  All the daylilies are done and the roses are just starting to pick up again.  Once it gets so hot, the flowers slow way down.

I hope everyone is having an awesome summer!!