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  Once upon a time, we had a pattern swap and someone gave me this pattern.  Was it YOU? The Slipstitch Honeycomb Cowl by madelintosh worked up easy as a summer breeze.   It is long, so I double wrapped it around St. Francis' neck.  Total cost of yarn: 16.00   Silky merino.     We have a new door bell. :)  When the little girls visited last week they marveled at: an old fashioned doorbell radiators  (what are those)  a box television (not a flat screen)  I've put a new post up at Threebagsfullcorner.blogspot.com Thanks to all for your support there.   Happy Monday' keep your eyes to the skies, we are expecting storms in Illinois. 

  The day was going along well enough.  Spotty storms and humidity …..the promise of some porch knitting. Then the phone buzzed; work was in desperate need of help. I thought, I caved, I committed.  It was a short shift; we call them Princess Shifts, but it was enough to knock the night out of balance. Earlier in the day I went to 3 Bags Full to prepare for new posts next week.   I spied this owl tape measure.  I spoke with Lynnette about new books.  She likes the Up-Down All Around Stitch Dictionary.  I liked the page layout, I like the photography.  There were a few patterns included in the book.  I sorted through old single patterns on sale in the back.  I found myself relaxing.  I told Lynette that I often feel better having been to a knit shop.  "People say its their Happy Place" she said.  Today my happy place is the screened porch.  I must have slept through the storms that chased the humidity down during the night.   I

  You may have to sit down.  This is not a Trap shawl/scarf. I'm actually knitting something else. Not for long.  As soon as this waffle weave cowl in Malabrigo silk is off the needles, I"m going back to Trap.   The yarn is Silky Merino color: Pradera.     As for today's nature segment: I had to visit the horses at the barn nearby yesterday.  The light was bad, the flash was off , but this one photoshopped kind of dreamy… I love horses. I'd like to thank the bird that woke me up at 0400. That's the risk you take with open windows on a gloriously cool summer night.  I was having a nightmare about work, so I am most grateful to the  creature.   I fall back asleep so easily it rarely matters if I'm awakened.  In other good news : I was at the dermatologists office yesterday. My NICU nurse friend Jane, happened to be there as well. She came up to me and said,  "Are you on mole patrol too?"  Love that.  Yup I was

My friend Kathy C is still collecting Hats for Haiti. Meg and Karen can work up a hat in about an hour or less.  Aren't the color ways cute?     I will give you my best potato salad recipe: *Boiled small red potatoes *Real Hormel Bacon bits *chives *Hidden valley ranch dressing mix it all up and chill before serving.  that's it  !  That's easy!   A few friends from work and their daughters came for a barbecue last night.  The girls thought Beatles' tunnel was so fun to crawl through…. so I let them.   Pie hid in the basement throughout the party. Tank was cornered under the couch until Fireman rescued him and let him join Pie in the basement. Tank was literally shaking …. (the four kids were pretty wild in the house, just being kids, but the cats are not used to it)  Pie is sensitive to new people, their smells, their sounds etc.  I think because she cannot see well at all,  she hides.  Tank is just a super shy guy.  B

Don't panic.  Just sayin' its 6 months to Christmas. :)  Today is product day here at the EYES blog. ;)    Shout out to my stylist Shanelle. I told her I wanted an "ashy" blonde instead of gold this time.  Love it.  Much closer to my dishy water natural color.  I use UNITE with tonifier shampoo, to keep the tone. It works. I noticed a huge difference when I ran out last time.    This is a foot scrubby.  Sorry, I didn't keep the packaging. Grocery store find.  Keeps my summery sandal feet looking and smelling nice.     Zach plays tennis with a man from China.  His wife works for Wrigley.  He gave him a case of their new gum. I can't try it due to sorbitol issues,  but everyone at work loves it.  I share. ;)  I haven't found the correct way to really wear my bolder band. It does work well when I'm getting my 10,000 steps in.   Speaking of, I don't get my steps in everyday. I am however, much more aware of my sit

  The sun is setting at it's latest now.  I caught the red sky at night, sailor's delight,  the other day out my west window.    Yesterday was a drive in the country day.  We have this very silly habit of getting our haircut at a salon in Lake Geneva/Lake Delevan.  Fireman and I love a drive in the country. Farmland in the heartland is so beautiful in June. What is it about a barn that tugs at my heart, always?  Perhaps I was a farmer in a past life?  My Irish side were farmers.  My sweet Nana said her mom said she came with the potatoes.  So she was either born in May when they planted or September at harvest.  Turns out it was September- We simply had to stop at Lake Geneva Pies for a mixed berry pie.  Oh and ALL the truck knitting I accomplished, was frogged when I got home.  Did n't like it.  Movin on.  Cast on anew.  Fireman was sort of shocked as I pulled out my scarf. I told him, its like a flat tire for a cyclist…it happens

For the locals, don't forget there is a  Anzula Trunk Show today at Three Bags Full in Northbrook from 12-3 Anzula sells luxury yarns - many contain some cashmere content.  Remember to tell Lynette or a sales associate that you read it on the blog and you'll be entered to win the Lantern Moon bag on the blog's initial post.  (Threebagsfullcorner.blogspot.com) A friend gave me garlic to plant last fall. Here's my crop!  They were insanely easy to grow.  I planted them among the roses and read that helps keep beetles away.   You can smell the garlic as soon as you dig it up.  I also have chives that are going like crazy near the roses.  Apparently there is a garlic soup recipe…. have you ever???

Beatles is modeling the 4th Trap.  It won't be the last Trap. In an effort to keep you from falling asleep as you read this blog, I switched it up last night when I cast on anew.  I've cast on another mindless knit called the Sweetie Scarf.   I paid nearly 10 dollars on line for a two row pattern, but I don't mind. If she was clever enough to create a two row pattern for me, I'll pay 10 bucks for it.  What's the most you have paid for a pattern?  Were you glad you did?

  I couldn't find Pink in the suggested yarn for my next knit up.  So I went for blues…again.  ******** These are my new glasses.  See the little dot?  It is the magnet that the sunglasses click on to.  Ingenious I say.   When the silver mirrored sunglasses click on to these they look like a totally different pair of glasses.   ************ Anzula yarns is going to be at Three Bags Full on Monday from 12-3.   Almost all their yarns have some cashmere content.  They come into yarn studios, set up, stay just 3 hours and they leave.  It's their gig.   I hope to get up there to see the trunk show.  ********

  Trap number 4 nearing completion.  Big Announcement: I'm not casting on another Trap next. I am casting on something similar that I found on Ravelry last night.  Confession: I need to find, purchase and knit with Pink yarn. I don't know what's come over me.  Perhaps Pank is the new blue for me.     The weather was most comfortable for going to the zoo yesterday. Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the very few free zoos in the USA. It is in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Chicago.  DePaul University is in Lincoln Park and we got to enjoy the area when Zachary studied there for 4 years.     Nine year old niece Maria took all the zoo photographs for us. Big sisters Emogene and Elizabeth are lovely …. She shot 177 frames with our Nikon DX. She wants to be a journalist.    The Great Apes were active and playful while we visited yesterday. They are indoors here so the glass is a bit dirty.  You can see the ape whose hand is being bitten, show

Ain't she purdy? This lovely was knit up by all the staff at Three Bags Full taking a turn.   (I am not posting it on their blog as they have already shown it on Facebook. I do have a new post up at Threebagfullcorner.blogspot.com highlighting a lace scarf that is very affordable.  Check it out if you please!)  Here are a few more little somethings for today 6.19.14 *I'm reading Population 485 and loving it.  *My nieces are in from Arizona.  We are spending the day with them..Hmmmm Zoo? ?Beach ? Racetrack?  What are you reading?  Which would you pick? Zoo beach or racetrack?

  Not much knitting content today.  When I was on my way home from work at midnight last night, I noticed ambulance lights in my rear view mirror so I pulled to the right for Sirens and Lights.  Funny thing was, the lights pulled over with me. It was a police car, not an ambulance, pulling me over.  I had a difficult night at work.  I was exhausted.  I rolled down my window, gave the police officer, who looked SO young by the way, my hospital ID and said, "I just came off a terrible shift.  What did I do wrong?" The officer looked at my ID with is flashlight and said, "Your lights are not on"  "Ugh, Im not surprised, I'm sorry"  He said, "Do you have your license and registration?" Of course I did.  I had them in a flash.  "Im just going to run your license, ma'am" he said.  Then he came back, handed me my license and said, "next time turn your lights on, you have a good nigh

  Yarn in a bin. Doesn't it look soft?  I'm using Berroco Vintage for my latest Trap. Dark colors but you'll like the effect.   I've  also decided to cast on for a Speck Butterfly Shrug. I've had the yarn  (Classic elite Chesapeake)  since the yarn sale at my local shop in April.  It is a cotton/merino blend.  It is kind of a boring brown color….. this may hamper progress… and I'm blaming Chan for my sudden desire to knit with pink, or Pank as she says.   If I keep up with my steps I'll let myself buy Pank Koigu for the next Trap.  Speaking of steps, I'm using my snowshoe poles when I do my walks. They call this Nordic walking.   I see more and people using them.  Finally, due to Rozzy's fragile state, I'm not fostering kittens this summer.  When I saw this shirt I had to buy it.  Stormy steamy weather expected here today. I'm off to rescue a damsel in distress.  A young thang, new to Chicago, got her c

I have wonderful news.  I am writing a blog for Three Bags Full Knitting Studio in Northbrook,Illinois.  Please visit us at Threebagsfullcorner.blogspot.com OF course, Irisheyes will continue right here. The Store blog is something Lynnette and I have been talking about for years.   She is offering a great Lantern moon bag as a raffle gift. Even if you never visit the store, If you can comment on the blog or call the store for yarn you cannot find in your neck of the woods,  I'd be very grateful.  Such fun.  

You can buy a can of pop with your credit card now. I tried it.  Twice.   It takes Discover.  It takes all major credit cards. What's new by you?

  There, you have 2 black cats bringing you an amazing lucky Friday the 13th.  The moon was magnificent last night and will be even better at FULL tonight.  This is all I could get from Bea and Pie this morning. They are so happy to be out on the porch again.  Pie remains half the size of Beatles.  She runs around the house/porch  for 3/4 of the day.  She's hyper kitty.  She and Beatles were on high alert last night for moths at the screen.  I have to let a few in; I believe they should catch SOMETHING once a day.   Rozzy is exceptionally good. I think the shave and bath made her a new girl.  Tank is just his big old cranky/fun self.   This is the closest I'm getting to an airstream trailer this year.  It's a 31 change purse that I bought from a work friend's on line party.  Now maybe the change won't fall to the bottom of my purse.  Now I'll confess to you:  that I started Trap number 4 last night. I'm knitting down the stash with thi

The wall vase continues to be my modeling tool. No one wants to model my scarves around here. Allison, I miss you.  Fireman and Zach and the cats won't comply.  I love this pattern.  Oh uh I already told you this.  I forced myself to work on the garter baby sweater…but I'm tempted to start Trap number 4.   I really am…. I am used some stash yarn for this last Trap.  Heaven knows I have more stash yarn  at the ready…. The great thing about this scarf/wrap is that it narrows by design and makes for a non bulky scarf.   This is somewhat like the fisherman scarf train of thought.   I have some mandatory education hours to put in at work today.  Once I get there it is fun.  We rarely get a chance to pretend at our job.  The skills lab lets us do just that.  Every single day at work for the last 31 years I have learned something, like it or not.  Perhaps this is why I don't want a knit challenge in my life. Work is always enough of a challenge.  

  Our favorite Vet, Captain Larry took us fishing yesterday. Fireman and I both love to fish.  Fireman and Larry were pulling in walleye. I wanted to bobber fish.  I know what you may be thinking… Geez she's a lazy knitter and a lazy fisher!  All that casting and reeling is okay, but I can't SEE what's happening under the water when I jig so why do it?  I much prefer to use a bobber and get all excited when it goes under.   I knitted on the current Trap on the way up and back to Lake Geneva.  I'll finish it today.  As you can see it was a cloudy cool day but it was perf ect for fishing. And the fish were biting, literally.  Fireman got bit by a walleye and it was a bleeder.  Have you ever gotten bit by a fish?   Fishing for a summer project?  This little dress is Adorable.  I found it at 3 Bags Full studio on the wall.  Looks like a lot of shaping to me, but it also looks doable.  Fish tales anyone?

  Around my neighborhood at sunset,  You'll see and hear a small group of Crows fussing about.  I am thrilled to hear them and see them thriving.  The Crows and the black capped chickadees took a huge hit to their populations when West Nile Virus came with mosquitos in 2001 and 2002.   Many birds died.    Some people also suffered and died from West Nile.  We did not hear or see chickadees for a few years.  They regrouped in the woods and slowly came back to our yards.     This neighbor's house has beautiful flowers at their door.  Everywhere you look, gardens are thriving.  Colors are bright and bushy.     Even the cement is pretty, thanks to artistic children playing on the cement canvas.  One family clearly had  a good idea for preventing car crashes into the pole at the end of their driveway.   Strategically placed rubber tires come between bumper and pole at the driveways sharp turn to the street.   Ahhh an ounce of prevention.  THat'