It's snowing again!

Mannheim Germany Road Trip

Why oh why did we pick the coldest day ever to take the train to Mannheim Christmas market? Of course, we didn’t know that we were going to freeze. I took the train to Mannheim with some friends. We stood all the way there as the seats were full. Just over 90 minutes we stood in a cold train. Once we arrived we realized that it was freezing outside. So we went straight into a restaurant to warm up. Then we went to the Market. It was interesting but just too cold. If I look cold it's because I was frozen right down to my toes.  I enjoyed visiting with my travel companions even thought we all were freezing. Don’t think I’m going to take any more trips until it warms up.
Check out the photos on flickr.

We got snow!

So which car spent the night in the gararge?  The Miata!

Road trip in the Rain

It rained most of the day, but that didn't stop us.

More photos on my flickr site. 

A shopping I shall go

Going to visit Tom's Aunt Micky and Uncle Helmut tomorrow.  There's a Christmas Market in their town.  I'm shopping in the day, and Tom plans on drinking with Helmut in the evening! 

Work update

After 3 weeks at the new job, my supervisor has finely returned.  Today he told me that my job title is "Executive Officer".   Doesn't that sound important?  I report directly to the Regional Director.  So far I like the job.  It's challenging, interesting and I feel I'm making a difference.  Hope that continues.  I really like some of my new co-workers.  "N" and "L" have really made me feel like a part of the team.

A little knitting:  With all the Christmas knitting completed and in the mail, I'm doing some knitting for myself.  I'm working on a Beret with Baby Jacquards yarn.  Next project may be a purse or bag.  Who knows I may even decide to knit another sweater...maybe not.

Christmas Knitting finished

I mailed 7 packages today.  All the Christmas knitting and gifts mailed!  Only Tom's gifts left to buy.  What do you buy the man that already has everything?

Happy Thanksgiving

THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR:
My husband, Tom, the love of my life
My Children; Trina, Missy and Tommy. They are all grown up and away from home. I’m proud of them.
My Grandkids; Meghan, Davey, Danielle, Aurora and of course Jack. They make me smile.
My Mother, Bettie Smith, who has always supported me and has never doubted my abilities.
My Sister, Cindy, who is always there when needed.
My Brothers, Rowland and Billy. Rowland is always ready with a “story” that makes you laugh. Although Billy and I are not as close as we used to be, I still love him.
Last but not least, I’m thankful for my best friend, Lucy. No matter what, she’s always there for me.

More Christmas Knitting?

Proof that I've been knitting. Not sure how much more I'll get done. I took a fall down the stairs this morning. Just trying to bring the laundary downstairs, lost my footing and came down on my left side. Boy does my butt hurt!

What wwas I thinking??? To much knitting left to do, and too little time left before the mailing dead line!
Finished items:
2 Baby Sweaters (for my best friend's pending grandchild)
1 Baby blanket (again for Lucy)
2 Baby hats (Lucy, do you see a pattern here?)
5 Adult hats
4 scarfs
3 Adult sweaters
6 Christmas stockings
2 Shaws
2 Pair of socks

Unfished or not started:
6 Christmas Stockings
2 Adult sweaters
2 pairs of socks
4 pairs of dorm boots

Maybe, I'll just send "IOU" cards and forget about trying to make the deadline.... maybe not.

Family visit

Tom's Aunt Micky and her husband, Helmut spent the weekend with us. We took them to the Base to check out the "Mall". Dinner was at Chilli's and they loved it. "Just like being in the States". After dinner we played slots for awhile. Both Micky and Helmut came out ahead. Tom and I both were losers, as usual.

We stayed up late (for us) talking. I was able to knit while we talked. Good thing too, as I'm really behind on my Christmas knitting. Do you think receiving your Christams sweater in April is a bad thing?

New office

So I started my new job yesterday. Today they delivered the furniture. Here's my empty office and the view from my window.

Craft Fair

We drove for over an hour to attend the Craft Fair. This was a real craft fair. It was all about craft supplies. I was in yarn heaven.

It was miles and miles of craft supplies. We saw quilt material to drool over. "G" was in quilt heaven. Me... I couldn't pass up the yarns.

Yarns of all kinds, colors, weights and fiber. I got yarn from German, Italy and UK. So much yarn, so little time.

More photos at my flickr site. Click here.
I made "D" stand in front of knitted sweaters so I could take a photo.



All the yarn shopping made me very thristy. "D", baby "J" and I found the best buy at the Fair. A cold Coke.

I've been knitting, honest I have

Do you realize how close we are to Christmas? Do you realize that because I'm overseas, I have to have my Christmas knitting completed by mid Nov so I can get it in the mail? I'm knitting as fast as I can...... burn needles burn!

Just a little information

Recently anonymous left a comment on here, and it made me think. I just assume that those reading the blog are friends and family and they know about Tom’s family history. Guess I should explain.
Tom’s mother was German. When Tom was about 6 his mother married an American. At 8 years old, Tom came to the states. Two of his mother’s sisters also married Americans and moved stateside.
Tom’s mother didn’t speak German to Tom, so he spoke only English (American?). Tom became an American citizen in 1976.
After Tom’s mother’s death in July 2008, Tom decided he wanted to work in Germany and get to know his German Aunt and Uncle. They are the only relatives left. Tom’s Aunt Micky speaks perfect English. Her husband, Helmut, speaks good English. His family (three brothers) are very nice and they speak a little English.
Sometimes it’s challenging trying to keep up with the conversations, but the Germans all try to make sure I’m included. Tom understands more German than he speaks.
So… I hope I’ve clarified the family situations, or did I make it worst?

I'm going to work for the Army

I got the official job offer yesterday, of course I accepted. My current supervisor agreed to a release date of 8 Nov. So I start to work for the Army on 9 Nov. Now I need to get my assignments ready for turnover to another staffer. Problem? Yes, no one wants to take on my assignments as the organization is very busy with high turnover rates, and special requirements. No matter, I'm leaving the decision to someone else. I'm just going to get the folders ready and moving email traffic on problems to the share drive.

Also I had snow tires put on my MX5. Doesn't that sound weird? A miata convertible (with retractable hard top) with snow tires? Snow... Miata????

Job Update

As my friends and Family know, I've worked for the US Air Force for the last 10 years. Since moving to Germany I've considered transfering to work for US Army. When we first got here, I had to take the job that was offered. It wasn't in an area I really wanted to work. Staffing isn't an area I wanted to go back to, but you take what you can get.
So when the chance came in Sept to apply for a job with the Army that is more in line with my career goals, I jumped at it. I interviewed yesterday for two jobs with the Army. I got a call this morning from the selecting official. He made a "tentative" job offer. Tentative because only the Personnel Office can make the official offer.
Unless something strange happens, I'm changing from Air Force to Army within the next few weeks. YEAH!

Cologne Road Trip part 2

Because it was raining and damp we thought Baby J might need to have a hat on. Baby J on the other hand didn't much care for the hat! I put lots of photos of the road trip to Cologne on my Flickr site.

Rainy road trip

I joined a few co-workers on a road trip to Cologne. It’s only about 3 hours from home. We saw the Cathedral, the Chocolate museum and part of the city (some when the navigation system made us go in circles while trying to get out of the city). I’ll write more later. Just plain tired!

Road trip tomorrow!

Photos to follow

Grand kid photos

No knitting update today so here's some photos instead.
#13 is my grandson. He may be small but he's fast!

Knitting update

Yeah, my blog actually has some knitting. I'm knitting the Empire Swing Cardigan by Therese Chynoweth out of Simple Style. I'm using Knit picks Cotlin in "Surf". The color is sort of teal. The example is in a tan color, but I like the teal. The bottom is knitted all in once piece on circular needles. I've actually finished the main body, and I'm working on the sleeves. The pattern calls for knitting these on double pointed needles, but since I prefer to knit both sleeves at once, I'm knitting these on straight needles. Hope when I finish this sweater I like it better than the last two I've knitted. Maybe I'm just to critical of my own knitting.

Knitting and Dinner in Germany

I finely got around to washing and blocking the Vest. Not sure I like it. It was an easy knit, but not exciting.

We spent Saturday with Tom's Aunt Micky and her Husband. We had salad, rolled beef (stuffed with onions and other herbs) and fried potatos. This I really liked. Oh, and I got a box of knitting yarn/kits in the mail. More about that next time.

What is this mess?

I have been knitting. This lump of knitting is a vest. It still needs to be washed and blocked.