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I think al just changed my life for the better.  Again She says i need to try PB2 it is a dried peanut butter with 85 percent fewer calories and fat than traditional peanut butter I cant wait to try this  Have you? Knitting with acadia pinecone is in a word: joyful What wonderful yarn Peanutbutter 2 and pinecone ponderings today

I have a pattern going. Called the soft and sophisticated poncho.   Oh that bad knit word...poncho. I am going to rename the pattern after I finish it. I love it so far. Al has a pattern going :the Oho de Dios shawl.  It is a modular knit in Gina which looks like noro.  I can't wait to see it going along I have too many books going at once but hey it's summer I'm reading a book from Channon set in the outer banks.   Kathryn o Sullivan's Foal Play I'm reading deep dark down and it is so good I'm reading crones don't whine which is awesome I'm starting happily Ali after by ali went worth And I need to read hyperbole and a half

There were miniature lily pads at our botanic gardens  They would fit in a barrel of water They were adorable Who knew Years ago our neighbor Janet Made these little peanut butter snack balls in the summer You can google allrecipes and make them They are made with peanut butter , Dried milk powder, raisins, honey and graham cracker crumbs They remind us of driving to the north woods and. Floating down the tea colored tomahawk river everyday  I'm busy knitting my new top And it will be something I hope will mind me of THIS summer What reminds you of past wonderful summers

Knitting with Acadia, Pinecone yarn.  It is absolutely lovely.  Reading Deep Dark Down.... And you?

  It has been just hot enough for children to want to run through the park sprinkler.  It is just hot enough to make the fireflies come out at night.  If you are in the sun, it gets quite hot.  If you are in the shade, you might want a shawl around your shoulders.  Kids go well with sprinklers.   These border beauties were in bloom at the park.  The bees seem to love them.  Smart park planners.....you want to have something the bees prefer to people.  Bees go well with flowers.    I'm here to tell you that this yarn stunk.  I bought it on clearance....ahem....that might have been a clue. I thought it would make a nice pair of washable mittens.  I had such a time with it, I think I'll make a cat toy out of it instead.  Fezzik is not choosey.  He has made quite the game of trying to steal my yarn from me. As darling as this may seem, it is time to stop.  So, should ALL yarn...

*Whoa there gentle readers!  Turns out my melancholy post yesterday had a lesson. I was prescribed Voltaren for some shoulder pain. Many of you know I live with Depression. Turns out the Voltaren can cause agitation and depression in some folk.  I'm so relieved.  After a week of taking the NSAID I was really out of sorts.  So, no Voltaren for me.  This Depression Friend, I've got to be on the lookout all the time, for it.   The wonderful thing is that Depression is curable.  I'm here to tell you, really.  So back to My happy Mitten knitting. Carry on!

  * Dear Channon sent me this gorgeous scarf and books. The stories take place in the Outer Banks.  Our AL loves the OBX.  I'm ready to read. Channon, the scarf is amazing.   I think it will look so cheerful. Dear Kim sent me the color grid.  Colorgrid.net shows you more about the tool. Since I am hopeless with finding good color companions, I LOVE THIS THING.  Thanks Ladies for some very fun mail. *I've been thinking a lot about the meaning of my life. Do you think about the meaning of your life? I love how the MONKS OF NEW SKETE wrote a book on Happiness, and they say its our duty to be Happy.  They say God wants us to be so very happy.  I love this take. *I think I want my goals to grow and change in my life.  I love the tiny goal of making each ordinary day good for someone.  Yesterday I was patient with the postal clerk.  That's it.  I was patient. Others wer...

  My roses, ferns and giant hosta are at their peak right now.  We have no burnt leaves, no fungus from too much rain, and the blooms are opening in unison.    I used to think roses were too fussy but Knock Out varieties around here have changed my views.    We had wonderful lettuce wraps on Saturday night. Chicken, chives, red peppers, water chestnuts and slivered almonds.     I learned some things about Miss Pie.  Okay call me crazy.... Crazy here went to a animal psychic for a free reading on Saturday. She said Miss Pie did not want to talk about her eyes; they are a non-issue for her as she sees with her heart.  I loved this.  They psychic told me Pie prays and is worried about me because I'm sad about my mom.  That's just the sweetest thing.   She also told me Fezzik misses his milk. I told her he was abruptly weaned at 12 weeks and laughed.  So I bought him some goats ...

  My niece Maria fell in love with Fezzik.  I predict they get a Maine Coon some day.    Little Maria is taking sewing classes and made this Cat pillow for me. I predict that girl will be quilting someday. I got tired of the baby blanket and frogged it yesterday. I predict I'll be returning some of the Zara I purchased.  I read an interesting prompt on MORNINGGLORYSTUDIO's blog. The suggestion for writing included making predictions.  I loved this idea.  More predictions: *Since Fezzik gained 3 lbs in the last 4 weeks,  his breeder predicts he will be enormous! *Although there have been shark attacks on the Coast this week, I predict that's the end of the attacks on this 40th anniversary of JAWS. * I predict we will watch lots of golf this weekend, on the screened porch.  Our attempt to keep the TV inside has failed already... I predict the winner of the US Open will be Zach Johnson ...

This month Chewy.com sent us Orijen Regional Cat treats to try. We had 100% satisfaction. ALL of my cats came running for these treats. My Maine Coon Breeder feeds Orijen Cat and Kitten to her Titled Cats.  I was familiar with Orijen food, but not treats. They are made with ranch raised Boar. Here piggy piggy! Thanks Chewy.com.   All the treats are gone....and the cats are purring.

  It is a week of friends coming back to Chicago. It makes for a wonderful week. Yesterday Knit pal, Kathy C. otherwise known as KFC, came to knit group.  Kath moved back to Atlanta after over 25 years in Chicago.  Her brother tragically died in a house fire last year and the pull to live back home was stronger than ever.  We miss her but she's the same wonderful Kath. She knit a top that does not fit her and gave it to me.  What?  That's just bigger and better than the Stanley Cup to me! Meg is knitting a ruffled skirt and it will be fantastic.  Karen is knitting the blue shawl in the top photo and it is called Positive Thoughts.  Today, Baby sister Patti Ann is visiting us from Arizona. We love her and her four girls.  Two of the girls are with her.  The Hello Kitty cookie is for her youngest, Maria. They are all animal lovers and I know the cats will love them.. They are in town to love and hug and...

  I finished putting together a blanket for my friend Mary.  Her mom knit it long ago and never put the panels together.  Mary's mom and my mom now have dementia. Mary's mom still remembers things and she will be happy to have her blanket in their new care facility.  Mary's mom was a careful knitter.  Her stitches are lovely.  Her gauge was a bit varied from panel to panel so I had to fudge a bit to line them up. I crocheted the panels together and it made it easy to weave all her ends in too. She ended all her panels with a loop.  I don't know why. I had to take out the loop, corral the live stitches and wrestle them to the ground before finishing.  My hat's off to all of you who said you like to finish your own work.  You are even more amazing than I knew before.   Finally, it is warm enough to sit on my porch at night. I love summer porch nights.  I actually turn down dinners ...

Today is purple day at irisheyes. I was at the Chicago Botanic Gardens today and decided to only photograph the purples.  This time of year you can pick a color and it is abundant in the gardens..no matter what color you pick.  Then I spotted this darling tea cover on Ravelry . I love the collar and I just might have to knit one.  Yesterday Carole knits asked for your summer bucket list. I realized I've already crossed off a few on mine: *Gone fishing and caught a walleye! *Knit mittens to donate...and more to come *Visit Botanic gardens in bloom *Learn a new game: splendor  *Watch favorite summer movie again: Apollo 13 *Learn to drink coffee : black *Get out on my bike more (I rode to Lifesource to donate blood yesterday and rode back) *Donate blood this summer *Keep Beatles happy on his leash in case we try for Therapy Cat *enjoy thunderstorms *nap on the porch *read more books: ...

  So you know I write the knit blog for my LYS. I was there yesterday snapping photos for my next post.  I learn fascinating little tidbits when I talk to the non staff For instance, it seems no one finishes their own work.   Clearly, this woman has every right to be in love with her cabled bag.  She had the shop finish it.  Handles, lining, the works. And why not?  Another woman, in an entirely different part of the shop, who did not hear my previous conversation,  said the shop finishes all her sweaters. And why not? All that work and a poor finish is the kiss of death.  I've made a resolution. I'll bite the bullet.  I'll knit a sweater flat .  I can knit pieces. THEY can put it together.  Even this little bunny was put together by Linda, the class teacher.  "She shows us how, but we let her do it " says one student. I know it is costly.  I'm incredibly frugal, but I want ...

*  Sweet Emma Booshay, of Donna booshay's Quiet Life, graduated from DePaul with her Masters degree in counseling.  We were happy to be invited to join in the party to celebrate with her.  *Also part of those joining her was Mary Z.    Mary Z reads Donna's blog and they are no longer pretend friends.  I felt like I knew Mary instantly. Mary and Donna are all about their Fit Bits buzzing!  I hope the ladies reach their goals together.  Do you Fit Bit? *The other parts of the weekend included: *Casting on the same baby blanket that Pumpkin Sunrise just finished.  *I don't have enough yardage and I don't like orange much. *Contemplating buying Zara in a blue like Pumpkin used for hers. *Hate to waste the orange... *We all know what happens with a yarn color I don't enjoy....  * it is the Garter Rib baby blanket free on Raverly. *Hawks game mania here  m...

  *New game.  Zach taught us to play. Very easy to learn and fun to play. Do you know this board game? So you know, the guy on the cover is looking at gem. The game is about collecting gems and cards and points.    As for my knitting this weekend, I won't be working on this.  Someone at Knit night was crocheting this top. She's been at it for almost a year.  I admire people who can stick with such a long project. Here at Zippy knits, we have to have near instant gratification. I think the mitten phase may be over. Ten pair made. I found a scarf in a time out, one of the very few projects I saved during the purge, and I'm headed back to it later, today. There are flowers blooming everywhere in Chicago right now. Even the parking lots of stores have blossoms and color. we.live.for. this...... Today,  a graduation party for our dear Emma. I can't wait to see Donna again and Katie and Emma. Looks like th...

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog post to bring you this SPECIAL REPORT.......(play newsy music....) I just got a phone call from a very nice man in Virginia Beach, who Picked up Allison's lost phone on the beach last night.  Thank you RAY!!!  I told him he's the BEST!  How nice of him.  So good karma all the way around!   Al's bag had a hole in it and she lost her phone last night.  So Ray, with a great Virginia drawl, just called Y'all and I'm so grateful .  Shout out to RAY! *   I'm training my Ivy to grow the direction I wish, using old knitting needles.  People keep giving me their old aunts' needles.  If you need to train your Ivy, these are the perfect .  Stay tuned for summer updates.  Maybe I can get the Ivy to spell CUBS   I don't think I'd knit this top by Knitting Fever, but I like how simple it looks.  I love the blue waters colored yarn.  Whe...

  You've heard the book, The Five Chinese Brothers...well we had the 5 Calico Sisters for surgery this morning. ( One was already on the table when I took this image.)   They ALL reminded me of our Fiona.  Beautiful little babies.  We passed so many beautiful farms on our way to Lake Delavan  yesterday.  So many thriving farms with cows, horses, crops and tractors.  There were storms gathering to the south and when you are out in the country you can see their beauty unfolding.  Multiple fish were caught yesterday.  Fireman was the first to catch a bass.  We also caught walleye, one northern (with a fresh bite taken out of it...ewwww) and blue gill.  The Mitten menagerie continues to grow. This wool pair needed to be felted, and they came out great.  Any multiples by you? The bounty of summer is upon us in Chicago!