Easter and Grandma Iris' Boutique

At Christmas, I gave the Kansas grandkids gift certificates from "Grandma Iris' Boutique." Each child got 2 certificates, one for a knitted hat or scarf, and the other for one outfit. Ashley traded her clothing certificate for a trip to Merle Norman.

Reyes and Lala got their fabric first. I took Kayleigh and Emily to the fabric store last Saturday and found their fabric. It's a good thing Pat traded a camera to Steve for his late Mom's serger. I'm going to be a busy woman now! Lala's outfit was the first one I made. I finished it in time for Easter. I'm not certain who will be next. Reyes could use more pants, but the outfits for the girls are so-o-o-o cute! Hm...

I was trying to get a shot of Lala's full Easter outfit but Joe started pestering her. The next thing I knew, everyone was in the shot.

We had a houseful for Easter. There were about 14 people here. (That's getting to be the standard number.) I'm glad we have a big living room and lots of folding chairs! Pat barbecued hot dogs, hamburgers and bratwurst outside on the grill. We had the usual fixings -- baked beans, mac n cheese, jello, chips, dip. The hit of the day, however were the fresh strawberries and chocolate that Jennie brought. Gonna have to remember that when our strawberry bed starts producing.

Yarn Crawling

Oh, the JOYS OF RETIREMENT! Tomorrow my granddaughter Lala and I are going to Wamego, Kansas to the Winter Wool Fest. I'm looking forward to Girls-Day-Out time with Lala and with Joe's girlfriend Lisa. Most of all, we are all really looking forward to petting all the nice yarns that we will see. We may take in some of the free training being offered.

This is the second Girls-Day-Out I've done since retiring. My daughter's friend Becca came up from Texas over New Year's. Since Becca is as big at knitting as I am, my daughter and I HAD to take her to Lawrence to the Yarn Barn. We also hit Hancock's while we were there and I purchased fabric to redeem the Grandma Iris' Boutique gift certificates I gave Jen, Lala and Reyes at Christmas. (There are several others yet to be redeemed for other kids and grandkids.) They each get one handmade outfit from me: they get to pick the pattern and fabric.

Guess what I'll be doing for the next few months?

Gotta get that spare room reorganized and set up the sewing machines. Time's a wasting and there is fabric waiting to be sewn and yarn ready to be knitted. Ah, it's going to be so nice to be retired.