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(some of my perennials)  (annuals ..just had hair cut) (help. What is this? )  With the news of our moving soon, I had to tell Lynette at my LYS that I was not going to be able to continue writing her blog. (threebagsfullcorner.blogspot.com)  We had fun while it lasted.  I enjoyed showing you the things her students and staff were working on.  Lynette gave me loads of freedom to write, photograph and publish as I saw fit.  Thanks Lynette.  I won't be gone, just not around as much.  I am making sure that wherever we move, I will have access to a good knit shop or two.   So after I diligently knitted and felted a square for my felted slippers, I decided I didn't want to knit them.  Ha.  Scatter brained ? Me?  Just a little.   I'm knitting that Christmas Stocking I had a hankering for last week.  Bought my cascade yarn yesterday; a skien of red and a skein of green.  I want a felted stocking and so I shall have one.  Not talking too much about the move.  I

  Move up, head'm out Rawhide1 I'm in the mood to ride a horse.  When I ride a horse, I get nervous and I can't think about anything else.   I dont' see myself saddling up anytime soon, but I love a good canter.  Kim's recent blog post at Handeyecrafts got me horsing around with the idea.... A woman at Three Bags Full was knitting this baby blanket. She said she's knit it so many times she doesn't need a pattern.  I'm impressed and I love the color for a baby. She using cascade's superwash.   As for me, I think I'm bailing on the slippers. That Christmas stocking urge keeps coming back. I need some porch knitting time.  This afternoon should do it.  I got up in the middle of the night and ate a milkyway bar. So outta line. I've been maintaining and I just cannot have that stuff in the house.   I swear I'm putting  a bell on my ankle and reminding myself to knock that off!

  The tiger lilies are generations old.  Yet, they still come back and bloom.  I caught this shot at dusk and so it is blurred.  I didn't want to use a flash.  So don't adjust your screen or put on your glasses.....it's just blurred that's all.   My current WIP : Sally's Slippers by Renate Haeckler. Free on Ravelry Sally's Slippers have this cute top and interesting geometric construction.  I have to admit I was muddled with math as I tried to figure out how to make my size. (Ravelry photo ahem..not mine)  I actually knit a guage swatch, and felted it.  My square shrunk 1/2 inch.   Allison predicts this is the doom of sizing.  She says just wing it and it'll work.   If it felts too small, nobody gets hurt. I swear.  They will be cute enough to give away.  I really wanted to see if the yarn I was using from ancient stash would indeed felt.  Indeed it did. My goal for today is to be the best listener I can be. I may have to

My second necklace finish.  This one knitted in Misti Alpaca Cotton and Pima Silk.  I have to block it.  It is  the Assemblage pattern by a woman named Kirsten Johnstone,  as I mentioned last week.  It is mine because me and cotton love each other.   *************** Today's Monday Questions and Answers,  here we go.  Let's have fun.... *Where do you keep your favorite old patterns?  I keep mine in a red three ring binder.  Sort of old school and obsolete eh? But, it works for me. I still have to have that piece of paper, (sorry trees) in my hand.   *When was the last time you got to bottle feed a baby? I got to feed three abandoned kittens at the shelter yesterday.  Oh joy for me. I love to feed.  They were sloppy and vigorous and hangry !!!! *What knitting will you pick up and enjoy today? I started a silly pair of slippers that will be felted. Why yes, it  is in the 90s here and humid.  Why do you ask? *Can you do a flip turn? 

*Evening *Firefly *Knitting *breezes  *stars *Dippers *Pinterest *podcasts *hummingbird *Peace

Allison's Lincoln mid stretch.  My grand kitties are so dang cute.   Have a wonderful Saturday. May all your troubles be little ones....(my mom always said that) 

So big mail fun today.  Unexpected bag from Chewy.com with a water bottle and a beach towel and flip flops.  Just because. Thank you Sydney at Chewy.com.  I love being a blog reviewer for you anyhow.   This is Linda at my LYS with her latest creature feature.  She knits up these guys and they are amazing.  I'm in the mood for a fresh new knit.....I have to finish my second necklace and then I'm open to ideas.  I have this odd desire to knit a Christmas Stocking in June.  Should I go with it? 

Ellen sent me this awesome San Fran mug just because!  Zach won her National Parks Coloring book.  Ahhh Ellen.  You shared 2 cuppas with me this morning. I thought of you.   I smiled.  I love the mug.  I love a maily gift.  *** I have been throwing things out in prep for our moving.  I found Zach's baby calendar.  I wrote something on every day of my children's first year of life, in their calendars.  Co-incidentally it says that on this day in 1991 Zach drew with a green marker that Allison gave him.  He started young.  I'm not sure if Al got in trouble for this.... she probably did.   I've told you before that my mom always gave diapers to new moms.  I've taken over her idea.  Moms are thrilled with them. So we have a new baby to welcome to the Firehouse fold.  I got them diapers and this darling sundress and hat.  It was knitted by someone at our senior center.  Isn't it cute???? **** June 23rd already....!!! What? It

  Fezzik looking intently...at I don't know what! Al calls this her easy Dr Seuss Scarf... I think. Snazzy sunglasses lady.   We don't want to get too excited yet, okay well  we already are, but we may be going to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival together this fall!  ********* One of my new favorite dinners is grilled Romaine salad. Have you grilled your Romaine yet? You slice a full head in half .  Drizzle with a little olive oil and put it face down on the grill for a bit of char.  Mmmmm. Remove it, drizzle some dressing on it. Add some fresh corn on the cob kernels add some cherry tomatoes halved sprinkle with parmesan cheese. It is really heavenly.   ***** Happy Wednesday! 

  Today I am going to blog using my microphone again.  This is all new and I think it is actually more difficult dicatating than typing.   I'm all about being a lifelong learner so I WILL master this.    These are my giant hasta flowers about to bloom.  I know that I've shown them to you in the past but I prefer them in this  stage. They look very prehistoric to me.  Think Jurassic Park ....  May I introduce you to my finished knitted necklace.   I love this pattern ; it is the Assemblage pattern by a woman named Kirsten Johnstone.  (look on Ravelry)  I will be casting on another today. I love the look.  I just need to find the right yarn with the cotton blend so I can wear one this summer. I love the pattern;  it was easy to understand and fun to work on. I used a leftover sock yarn for my first shown here.  Then I washed it and blocked it.  What?  You read that right.  I actually did to make the stitches more even.  There is no finishing to this masterp

  Today's Monday Questions and Answers are this or that! *My neighbor's trumpet vine is in bloom.  What's your preferencee?  Butterflies or Hummingbirds? (Hummingbirds)  *What's your preference? Boxed water or bottled water? (I just found this boxed water and I am crazy about it) *For next to your skin softness,  do you prefer  angora, cashmere, alpaca, or acyrlic? (I have to go cashmere here. ) *Do you have an interchangeable needle set or do you  prefer the individual circs? (I have too many circs already to pay for a interchangeable set)  *Do you prefer an alcoholic drink before, during or after your dinner?   (I dont' drink often but when I do, its before dinner)  *What cuts into your knitting time more,  others in your home or your own wanderings on the internet?  (I'm very distracted right how, so it is my own fault that knit time is down last week )  *Would you rather have a snowstorm as in B

This photo MEME is from Pinterest. I LOVE it. I don't know who gets the credit, but I love it.   Need anything?  You bet we did......but it wasn't yarn -Our beloved Honda Rhonda, who is 18 years old, crapped out on Zach and his friend last night in Chicago.   All good.  It happened during Puerto Rican fest and the car refused to move, right in front of a CHICAGO FIRE station.  Some nice motorcycle guys pushed them into the fire house parking lot.   -Chicago is so ALIVE at night. I've never really stayed in the city at night other than the immediate downtown area near Lakeshore Drive.  We went to get them after 11 pm and the city was absolutely electric.   So many people under  35 I'd say, out about, waiting to get into bars in lines, walking on a warm night, headed to or from a festival on bike or foot.(  Don't these people want to sleep? )  It was amazing to me to see the car traffic, the foot traffic the bike traffic.  Everyone having a nice time.  Many

Ohhhh  this could be very fun.  Today is Friday, June 17. Allison is currently going to a knit shop in Norman, Oklahoma. (I believe our storm prediction center is in Norman)  She is looking at yarns. Allison saw a very fun I cord bracelet, free Ravelry pattern: She said she felt this was a much nicer yarn store than the one in Oklahoma City, however, they charge two dollars a skein to wind yarn which offended her.  As for me, I need to look up the knitted knot bracelet which is a free because I'm all about knitting jewelry right now.   I am really liking dictating this post who knew?  I just learned how to dicatate.   It is absolutely beautiful on the porch right now.  Fireman is at a Cubs game. He gets to see Jake Arietta pitch today. I must say that my hummingbird female seems to be coming on the hot and humid days to drink from our hummingbird feeder her.   Finally,  I had so much fun going to the theater yesterday and watching the movie the Jungle Book. The remake

These are a few of my favorite things http://socknitters.com/Tips/heels_by_the_number.htm This site gives you exact numbers for the socks you want to make. Cast on numbers, heel turn numbers...all of it.  I hope you like it as much as I do.  I bookmarked it ages ago and refer to it often.    Zinnia's.  Throw them into my yard and you have 100% success and cheer in 8 weeks.  I stagger my plantings so they bloom in succession for the August / September colors.   I did have to cover a clump when I saw a tiny bunnybaby headed near them in the garden.   I let the bunnies eat anything else they wish.   Mules.  Love them.  Just adore mules. These are from the latest Sundance catalog.  Love the color.s  I'd choose the aqua or the taupe.  Haven't bit the bullet yet, but oh I'm close Finally: His for Hawk the book

  At the knit shop One of the teachers was working on this cotton/wool blend top. See? The Pattern is Glow.  Berg is the yarn. The teacher loves the pattern and the yarn.  I love the color.   Our week has been filled with good news.  Healthy doctor visits after some worries and Many prayers.   Lots of good changes going on at the Animal Shelter too. So I'm not worrying.  Phew.  I am a worrier by nature.  I fight it.   My personal mantra for the week was, "HUSH" to my rollicking worrying brain.    What else am I not doing? Cooking tonight.  Too hot.  Will order out from our favorite middle eastern place in town.   I'm also not: cleaning the house in this heat and humidity.   and finally I'm not going to spend anymore time in the grocery store than is absolutely necessary. I"m an aisle wandered and I waste time that way.   What are you not doing today?

There's a new project in town.  This knit necklace is a shop pattern from my LYS.  I've cast on!  I'll share if it is a good pattern.  I'm crazy for it.  Wheeeeeeee. I walked around the Studio looking for inspiration and just couldnt find any.  Plenty of knitters were in their classes and showing me their projects for the Studio blog.   Nothing was hitting me.  Nada.  Nope. Nothin. Then I spied with my little eye: this necklace.   Things continue at a crazy pants rate around here.  Boundaries!  Boudaries.  Great time to practice my boundaries.  I cant' fix it all.  I'm not supposed to.   Have I mentioned that I love the Budlite Lime-a- ritas?  There is a new country song I love: the title YOU LOOK LIKE I NEED A DRINK.   How's it going by you?

Monday Q and A is now renamed.   Quora is a knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insight. (that's you!!!!)  Last night Zach correctly informed me ( during Bananagrams ) that I am misusing the term MEME.  Thank you Zach.  We will now refer to Monday's as Quora Time.  . Call it whatever, just have fun and join in reading and or answering. Oh the English Major in me, who graduated with her Bachelor's Nursing is embarrassed that I'm so bad at pop culture terminology.  A meme has to have a photo with it that kind of goes viral.  ( So GRUMPY CAT is an example of a meme. )    Finished my ruched cowl.  Finished with a flashlight while fireman slept.  I rarely knit it bed.  But. I . Had. To.  (Free ravelry pattern, called the Gathered Scarf , used madelintosh yarn)  HAVE YOU KNIT BY FLASHLIGHT?   Summer means games for the family.  Zach brought home CODENAMES.  I loved it.  It is kind of like a more difficult Pa

As always my Chewy reviews are not paid.  I am given products to try in exchange for my monthly review.   So, we tried Solid Gold Holistic Delights creamy bisque with chicken and coconut milk.  Holy Cats!  They loved it.  Each and every day they ran to eat it.  I think Pie's coat looks a bit better and Bea's too from the coconut milk.  OR is that just coconuts?    We also took the Fortiflora supplement.  It is a nutrient boost that I've have given to pregnant and nursing cat moms in the past.   I mixed it thoroughly in the creamy bisque food and they gobbled it up.  It is good for their digestive systems.   Mr. Beatles wants to be out in the yard on his leash, but we have a team of rabbits in the yard all the time.  I need to find out if Rabbit fleas are species specific before I dare take him out again.  HE loves to roll in the grass and eat it.   So all paws up for CHEWY and Sydney at Chewy.com this month!

Somedays you need the sand in your toes.  Sometimes you need the water under your feet.  Yesterday we got both.  Lake Michigan is back Well, it never left but it seems like a different creature in winter all covered with ice blocks.   Just plugging along on my Ruched scarf.  It is my escape for now.  Mindless and pretty.   Al's doing well in Oklahoma with Nathan. Teresa is going to try socks! She asked for a good pattern.  This is my go to:  Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by  Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Let us cheer Teresa on!  Once she gets the multi needle task done, she's going to love it.  Teresa, if you can't seem to get them cast on , ask another sock person to start you off.  No Shame!   Happy Happy Saturday my sweet blog pals. 

  I'm using my cool bag from Knoxville for my ruched scarf project. Below is yarn for your viewing pleasure.  So, I got my Cooking light Magazine yesterday and on the last page is a recipe for SHEET PAN S'MORES.  It is a big old full page recipe so I'm not posting it.  You can go to their website, I bet , and have a look see.  Well , I always read the Serving Size breakdown in nutrition.  I swore it said 79 grams of fat per 1 square serving.   Now I know that some things like, say, Whoppers and Double Whoppers etc, do truly have a high fat content like you wouldn't believe.  But in a Cooking Light magazine?  I reread it this morning in disbelief, and realized it says 7.9 Grams of fat.  That's 7 POINT 9 grams of fat.  Hee hee.  Reading too fast again.   It's hot and humid and I'm loving it.  It is SUMMER in CHICAGO.  Zach' is done with teaching.  Kudos to my son who is a very patient man.  His 3rd year of teaching 300 students.  Jr High Stu

I had that itchy don't quite know what I'm going to knit next feeling the past 2 days.  I'm like an addict with my knitting. I truly am. Fireman's good cycling bike is in the shop and I equate it to my not being able to knit.  Shudder.  C'mon Performance Cycle fix this issue!  It's cycling season. I finally realized after watching Amy Beth at Fat Squirrel that she puts all her WIPS in individual bags.  Duh.  I have so many bags.  I don't usually have so many WIPS. Yet I reached into my stash bin and found this ruched scarf just  calling my name.  I can pick up where I left off....as soon as I remember what the pattern is!  From now on all WIPS go into bags.  Allison is knitting a color block easy cowl/scarf. This is very unlike her. She's all about the lace and charts and complexity.  Maybe she IS my knit child after all.  Do you keep all your Wips in zipped bags or the like?

Finished Capucine except for the very important tassels! Loved knitting this hat.   Sale yarn at my LYS a Schafer yarn. I needed it for our boat day yesterday. Dear friends Sandy and Larry gave us the gift of a day on Lake Delevan.  It was awesome. We fished.  We caught. We laughed Then we slept like rocks! What makes you sleep the best?