Ready for Winter to be Over

Yes, I said it! As much as I like winter, I am ready for it to be gone. Especially after all the storms we have had. Jan 27th brought snow, and lots of it...then it also brought ICE. I could have done without the ice. Even though it sure was pretty to look at.


The snow storm came and brought with it an ice storm. Which left a couple inches of ice on everything! Needless to say the trees and power lines could not stand the added weight and snapped! Leaving us without power and more importantly… HEAT! We hunkered down in the one room with a fireplace. Day 5 and the house at 40 degrees, with sub zero temps coming; I wondered how much longer the firewood would last and if I would be able to keep the kids and pets warm. Thankfully day 5 around noon the power was back on!

The next week brought a high winds storm. 30-40 MPH with 65 MPH gusts…just enough to knock whatever the ice hadn’t and with the water drenched grounds, whole trees toppled over. We only lost power for a couple hours this time! Sheeeesh!




The kids and I did some yard clean up after a neighbor was kind enough to cut the HUGE limbs into carry size chunks. It took a couple of days, but most of it has been dragged out to the front curbside. Supposedly, the town is going to have debris collection. I hope so! No truck here, so if they don’t come get it from the curb…that’s where it will stay. :)

Of course I have been busy taking the kids to all their practices and activities! Teen Queen has practice 6 days a week lasting 3-4 hours. Boy Wonder has practice 2-3 times a week. Thank goodness for our Hybrid car!!!

The school year will be ending later this year due to all the days we missed. We missed a week of school in Aug/Sept due to the hurricane...yes, you read that correctly... hurricane in KY! We missed another 5 days or so due to the snow and ice storm that wiped out power in over 300,000 homes and businesses. While the roads were clear for travel, no one could very well send their kids to school when the school's have no power or heat! It's looking like the first week of June will be our last week. Unless, of course we have another severe weather issue!

Knitting and yarnie stuffs~ I made and sent off 2 more pairs of team knit Socks for Soldiers. I have made a couple pairs of leisure socks and a gazillion washcloths. Also moving right along on my Mystic Star Lace Shawl. I am on the last clue, which has a squigillion stitches, so each round takes quite a while. It will be stunning once it is complete!

Boxes are being sent off to Rambo at the rate of about one a week. I try to have on on the kitchen counter in progress at all times. He enjoys the little stuffs from home as well as the necessity stuff, like soap. :) Of course, you do know he gets some handmade washcloths too!!!

Yarnie happiness in the mail....2nd edition in the 3 month club from YarnBearer...as always if you like yarn or want to send ME yarn, go check out her EtsyShoppe!

Winter Weather Advisory my Ass

What a HUGE disappointment! All the weather stations told of forecast wintry mix, lots of ice and snow...not even a school delay, let alone snow day. Bummer. What we did get was some cold temps and slickery wet roads. boooo-hissssss!

While waiting for SNOW, I did complete a few items!
For your viewing pleasure...

Flip Top Mittens for Boy Wonder~
Teen Queen has decided that she also needs a pair! Apparently, they are quite a hit. Even Boy Wonder says that kids at school are liking them and are jealous of his kickin flippin mitts!



More Socks for Soldiers, Inc socks!~
These are actually Team Knit with a CSM knitter from TX. She made the legs on her machine and I hand knit the heel, foot and toe. In fact I completed 2 pairs of these and they have been shipped out!

Shawls to be put on hold...due to the war

This past year I have become a Mystery Shawl addict, I am well aware of it, and it is no secret that I have a love of lace. However, I have soooo many of these KALs saved to my computer. Simply due to the fact there are not enough knitting hours in my day for lace knitting. With all the kid corralling I do, I need portable knitting. Lace is not very portable. I have many mystery lace projects in different states of done-ness (if that;s even a word). With so many lace WIPs lying about Wicked Manor, it has taken every fiber of my being to *NOT* sign up for any more lace shawl Kals, free or otherwise.

The making of Rambo's socks, I felt the need to make more! Not just for him but for others. Not just others, but other soldiers. I have been yearning to add charity knitting to my list, but had not found one I could be committed to. Then it came to me... SOCKS FOR SOLDIERS!!!


Partial Description from the site~ Socks for Soldiers, Inc.
This organization is about sending gifts of love to our soldiers in the Middle East. We are not interested in the politics in this war, but in showing support to our troops by each sending love in a special thoughtful way. When we knit a pair of socks for one soldier we are sharing part of ourselves. "Support our Troops" means more than a yellow bumper sticker.

With my Special Forces Rambo man off doing his thing for duty, honor, and country... I need to do my part. Well you know, besides running the home and kids of course!
I may not be Rosie the Riveter... but I can be Wicked, the Special Forces Sock Knitting Wife! I am passionate about this, and will be blocking off a good portion of my knitting hours to this charity.



You do not have to know or even care about the reasoning or agendas behind the war/s, you do not have to be a Democrat or like Republicans, you do not have to even know a soldier; to show those who are deployed and putting their lives on the line everyday and night that you care about them and are thankful for their duty. I have met many people who thank Rambo for what he does. I have also met many people who thank Me and the kids for what we do and endure as a military family. Support the troops means also supporting the troops families. There are families attached to those soldiers. These families who continue on with their day to day activities while their loved ones are half a world away. If you should come across a military family in your day to day activities, thank them. Offer help for anything at all. It could be something as small as mowing the lawn. It could mean much to them and one less chore on their plate. (anyone who loves painting eaves and overhangs... boy do I have a job for you!*wink wink nudge nudge*)

All joking aside. It used to really tick me off during our first war deployment, when people would give all the praise to the soldier, without even taking into consideration what the military family left behind goes through while the soldier is off fighting the fight. So many people are effected by the war deployments, and yet; so many people, day to day while out grocery shopping, or driving through Starbucks for their daily venti latte forget that we are a country actually at war.

It is not fame, glamor, power, political agendas, or wealth that made this country great, it is honor, duty, courage, and love of country.

The Wicked Can Craft For Charity Too!

A bunch of us LSG'rs over at Ravelry have decided to make some bears for the MotherBear Project! Our army of bears will ship out in January. Allowing us plenty of time to craft away.

This is my first. His name is, The Bear Without a Face. Plainly, as you can see he has no face. At least not yet!

Moe clearly approves!

Finally Some FO Photos

Finally! Something about blogging without pictures...*ick* Photos just make it so much more interesting!

I have been crafting away. Seems like I have forgotton to show off some items.

The Eco Bags....

Elisa's Nest Tote ~ the pattern info on Ravelry

My strap differs from the original pattern. I used a spoolie/corker, made 2 ropes and twisted them around one another.


Saturday Market Bag ~ Pattern info here on Ravelry

All of these bags were made with Peaches N Cream cotton leftover in my stash!

Lion Brand Market Bag # 60551 ~ Pattern info here on Ravelry

Last, but certainly not least as far as the bags go...is the Everlasting Bag Stopper.

The Everlasting Bag Stopper ~ Pattern info here on Ravelry

The body of the bag is knit. I changed the straps from the original pattern, which called for ribbon. I used what I have found to be wicked strong and sturdy... just your basic double crochet.

As far as use and practicality, we have used the Lion Brand Market Bag the most. Used for toting around snacks, sunscreen and first aid at softball tournaments. As well as toting junk to and from the pool. Sunscreen, toys, extra clothes, towels and of course more snacks!

Ultimately, this will cut down on how many of those weak and useless plasticky grocery bags this family uses. Might not be a huge ECO GREEN step, but but a step none the less in the right direction.