Posts

Every Once in a While I Might Post

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 Is that vague enough for you?  It has been a too busy complicated Spring.  I had no energy to blog.  All is well now, so I can share some things with you:   1. When I shoot photos of the moon I think of Dear Teresa.  Gone too soon. She took fabulous moon pictures.  2. I did not see one shooting star last night.  I only got up for a few moments around 3 a.m.  The local weather guy said he saw a few quick faint ones.   3. How can I can have one grown child in Oklahoma under flood watch, and One Child in Mexico under hurricane watch?  On the same day.  Tis true.  4. What have I knitted lately?  I am pretty sure I've ripped more than I've knit.  I ripped out a shawl that I was making up.  It was cotton and pretty.  I need to follow a pattern.  5. I was trying to make socks and decided to make mittens instead.  I haven't worked a thumb in a long time.  I may have to frog it too.  So I ha...

I am still around.

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 I don't have much knitting to show but, like many of you, the Spring we have wait for has arrived.  All of the tulips and jonquils here were planted for others and now, we enjoy them .  For Fireman's birthday we got him a rain chain  .   See below: The brassy colored tulip cups are joined by  chain.  When the rain falls, and this is hung instead of a gutter, you get a beautiful sounding gift of water running down the chain.  A year ago, when we were in Mexico, the patios were often strung with a rain chain .  This reminds us of Zach each time we go in and out the door as well as when it rains. Have you a rain chain ?        Besides the  dandelions by the thousands, our clematis is up and moving fast.  I could barely see their tips coming up last week . Now they are unfurled and ready to chase up the lattice.  This yellow leafed kind, is early spring.  Then it settles down and the dark leaved purple pla...

I was in OKC for Mother's Day

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 OKC was warm and dreamy.   For those of us who have long tortuous winters, and recently endured SNOW, Allison's city was so warm, humid , windy and sunny.   Here's the great part, her and her man, Will, are doing great together.   OK ..... C , her knitting just blows me away.  Look!  see!  I'm such a proud mom.  This is just one of her three main projects on the needles.  She is knitting a cabled sweater for her Will.   Despite the horrid Lore that its the kiss of death, she's thinks she knows better. !!!! I do know Will will love it.  It has cables and that fisherman sweater look.   I think we were headed out to dinner. She normally doesn't knit in a gorgeous dress, but we were headed out for Fireman's Birthday Dinner.  I love this dress on her.  Al gifted me this sharp hat.  It fits me, not her  so winner winner chicken dinner.  Now this is an interesting shawl she is also working on.   The cons...

Finished Before the Storm

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  My friend Anne, made me this vase.   It is square with "Frogs" on the bottom to catch the stems.  I didn't know how it might show; but I adore it now that I have used it.   I wanted to cut them before the storms hit.  We were under a tornado warning for a bit, then a watch.  I wanted to show you my finished socks just after the warnings were done.   I have to remember that it easier to knit both socks without months between them.  But things happen.  I am keeping these for me. These are to demonstrate that I do know how to knit socks that fit me.  See the cuffs? They aren't tight.  I have fat there and I don't want them tight and irritating.  Just another pose outside where the photos seem better.   To end, I want you to see that we have green starting around here.  Tomorrow is May first and we are supposed to have another week of 50 degree weather.   It has been a bugger of a Spring so...

More Gift Hats Regina Made

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Regina is  much admired by me for her constant giving of time for the needy.   The hats are too fun.  I am sure someone needs a hat in this crazy Spring.  Thanks Regina. Im working on that second sock.  I'm in the home stretch.  So much going on here , a11 good, but the darndest things are happening. 'The DH1 truck arrives today, after we have stared at the front door Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.   They never de1ivered a package.  We had to trave1 to get it . THen the truck shows up today, and natura11y he cant find the package  .  I was my very nice person and said,  "That's because we picked it up today"  And "Its not your fau1t"  Goofy things going on!

I'm Back to Socks

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  Just as I was wondering if I had enough yarn for another garter wrap , I found my unfinished pair of pretty pink socks.  This is a good sign for me.  With my  new medication,  I am not shaking anymore.  The shaking thing worried me . I knew it was just a side effect, but for a knitter or crocheter unsteady hands are the worst. It took a bit to get back to my norm. I'm so happy I am ab1e to knit a sock again.  Thank you Regina, for giving me the push to do something about it.   I have two hyacinth that I might show you when they have opened up more.  They have such fragance!   If I have not posted , it is because I don't have anything to show you.  It doesn't' mean I'm not reading your posts.  The ideas I get from each of  you, teaches me even after many years of knitting.  I'm off to read your posts now.  Have a steady day!  

The Rainbow Shawl

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 I finally have something to show you.    I had to correct many mistakes with this garter shawl.   I used a sock yarn and I had no idea how it would pool.    I really love the outcome .  My dear yarn obsessed Fezzik snagged it in one place.  Allison will help me fix or hide that soon.  This is a gift to her friend Lucy, who we love. The pattern was made up by my old knit shop friend. I told her I wanted a shawl with no point.  She called it a shoulder drape shawl.  Cast on ten stitches.  Row 1 increase every stitch. Row 2 increase every stitch (40) Then increase in first and last stitch each row until desired length.  Bind off.  The biggest issue for me was to look at the worked stitches frequently to be sure  I had not dropped any stitches. I will add the photo in a few minutes.  I have to have my photographer help.   There you go!  Finished ready to gift to Lucy.  I'm going to star...

Snow knitting

 I wish I could tell you that Spring temps have arrived, but I awoke to sleet and snow.   There's a 70  in our forecast for Thursday.   If you are stuck in this never ending cold with a sprinkle of hope , you are not alone!  Our days will come.  We will be gardening, opening the windows and porch knitting .  Its almost Tuesday right.  ???? Then just Wednesday in the 50s and the long awaited 70 on Thursday I may be pulling the blinds again later.  It helps if I don't look at it.   Until then I will spare you the snow pictures.   I am making progress on the garter shawl for friend Lucy.  Just as soon as I can I will show progress . Oh wait I have a question....... Can I post from my kindle and put a kindle picture on the post?  When I use my kindle it has a full keyboard with real " l" s.   But I usually have to download a photo to the fire mans computer and edit the post from there to put a pho...

Spring Holidays

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 We found the tiniest ham in Wisconsin.  Just Fireman and I for Easter so asparagus. Shredded potatoes, and the teeny ham for dinner.   We are very concerned about Covid despite double vaccinated and 2 boosters.  I am afraid people are just weary of masking and distancing and the numbers will soar again.   I don't know when we will relax a bit. I can hope for warmer weather soon and we wi!l feel safe being outdoors.    I got a text from the local wildlife rescue. They needed a volunteer to pick up baitfish for the heron  and other birds that are back and getting injured.  It is a simple job and the fish hatchery and the wildlife sanctuary appreciate  it.. I miss the barn but I may have other roles at the sanctuary. I cannot go back to the barn for many reasons.  I am frightened to be around horses now. I will have lots of time to knit this cold weekend.  I linked back Many rows but am back on track again. This time I ...

Easter Goodies

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  I did not expect a lovely box of Easter egg chocolates, gorgeous cotton blend yarn in my favorite colors, Bunny Napkins, and the cutest bag of coffee labeled with Peeps.  The coffee was aptly  named: : For Peeps Sake.  We had to try it right away.  It is mellow and a sweet way to start the day . Lovely GIgi who has picked up the sole Moderator position for the socks for amputees, sent ME this gift.  I was truly touched.  I needed to step down after the Wisconsin 'On This Leg ' group was given over 50 socks from our group.  Gigi cheerfully kept the group going.  I'm sure she would take a sock if you have a lonesome sock that someone with just one leg could use. She is working with an Indiana amputee to try to set up their next recipients.  She has contests and she updates the chat board frequently.   It made my day.  It is just Fireman and I for Easter, so these thoughtful treats will help us celebrate. I was very tempted...

In Which I Talk About Mistakes

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  It is warm out! Finally.  Fireman took my knit photos for me, and I'm thankful. Selfies for my  Knitting aren''t as nice as a real photo.  This little shawlette/scarf  was knitted in  the alpaca wool I've been raving about.  It did NOT increase in size when blocked.  What it did do, is show a few mistakes made along the way.  Allison and I were chatting and she agreed that no one will notice it when its being worn.  The picot bind off was cast on 2, bind off 8, so you get picots farther spaced apart, and,  the process goes much faster.  Nonetheless, I hate a mistake in knitting.   I won't give anything away if it is imperfect.  But I do think anyone who wore this picot edge sahawlette which increased  every other row, would love it .  So I won't be without mistakes.  I'm much more mistake prone with garter, but I refuse to purl again this week.    Any mistakes lately?   

Just a few more days of gloom.

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 The weather folk said yesterday, we had 10 days in a row without sun. It is supposed to snow today.  Somehow the weather is supposed to improve Monday.  Im sorry to complain about it,  again and again.  This wintery weather is not giving up.  It is getting to me . I love a warm to hot, sunny day.  I love hot nights with the windows open.  I loved the screened porch all bug-less and steamy.   I know that many of us here are just so sick of this pasty sky and cold snow.  Sometimes I think of moving to a place with a shorter winter.  Today I may close the blinds again.  I could start a fire in the fireplace and try to enjoy being in.  Very late last night I finished my simple shawl.  It was knitted up in Cloudborn fibers, Limited edition Alpaca worsted.  I made my last shawl in this soft alpaca in brown.  I am blocking the shaawl to see if it will stretch a bit.  I finished with a picot edging, It me...

Dress UP

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  I loved to play dress up .  Did you?  My Allison loved to play dress up as well.  I know a little girl who would like this for dress up.  I decided to add the flowers to the leaf shawl . I hope her momma will take a photo of her goofing around in it and send it to me,  My little garter shawl is going slower now.  You know, the rows get longer and the knitting slows to a crawl.  But it is great knitting for when you are watching TV .  Come Thursday I will be knitting while I listen to the Cubs.  The Marqee network continues to make it impossible to watch the Cubs in Wisconsin.  This is beyond aggrivation. I am grateful for the radio .  Once it warms up, me, my knitting and my radio will sit on the screen porch and enjoy the Cubbies. Also in the works, 7 of us who are friends from our McDonald crew circa 1970s, are having a masters contest.  We had a blast working at McDonalds back then.  The years have made us all cl...

The Snow was my Fault

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  She's just a decorative leaf shawl, but I think Mother Nature thought she should send snow when she saw me.   Some of you know I've made this scarf quite a few times before.  The pattern is Spud & Chloe  Leaf :a scarf or a bookmark.  Mine have had to be wetted and blocked or the leaves don't pop out at you.  If you roll it and puff the leaf up just witth your fingers, the design is more leafish.  This will be a decorative scarf, not meant to be tied, just big enough to wear with a shirt and put around the back of your neck.   The sun has come back. FIckle doesn't cover it. When it is out, I am definitely inspired by Spring . Signs of Spring in Wisconsin:  warblers come through, Walmart put their kayaks outside for sale, the golf course IS open for play , the sun stays out longer, Orion begins to leave the night sky, and jelly beans are a staple here.  Oh and the piers are going in on Lake Geneva.   We do a family and friends N...

First Wrap, it's a Wrap

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  I finished my wrap during the Buck's game Thursday. It is so soft.  I am keeping this one and I'm usinig this one.  The picot edge bind off took some time, but now that it is finished, I think it is charming.  Besides knitting, I have been putting photos and patterns on a thumb drive. I saw that I had a number of patterns  in my documents that I have not used. It was fun to discover or rediscover this treasure trove of patterns.  The sun is shining and that is to be noted.  The snow is going away.  It is a mere 32 degrees out, however, so that hinders things again.  We may have to burn some wood from the dead trees we took down in autumn.   That's fun to me!

Many thanks to Judy, to Gigi and to Fireman

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Before I start thanking, I have to show you my shawl.  It is from Wonderland Yarns.  The pattern is called : the MESH enger Shawl.  It is being knit with 100 percent baby alpaca.  Knitting with this yarn is a dream.  It is so soft.  And there's nothing like alpaca for warmth.  The pattern called for doing the two sections, one garter, one lace, in different colors.  I wanted to make the whole thing in one color.   Since I took this photo, I have knitted another garter section and another lace section.  The only issue is my shakey hands.  IF I didnt think it was bad luck, I'd tell you that I have the same yarrn in blue and plan to start another MESH enger,  as soon as this one is off the circular needles.  Judy is the only reason I am black on blogger.  Judy you are a natural if you could figure out the new blogger.  She gave me about 10 tips and here I am.   Gigi helped me run the group on Ravelry, for knitt...

I'm Making Bunny Rabbits

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  These are the one square bunnies .  They are a free pattern on Rave1ry.  I'm bunny making to force spring to come.  I'm a1so taking it easy on my hands again.  The med we tried did keep my hands from shaking, but it was a med for a med. and that's crazy town.  I can contro1 a hook much better than need1es.  It wi11 have to suffice for now.  I'm enjoying your b1ogs and your Spring.  This time of year I so want to 1ive in a southern state.  But this Spring is a new one for me and I'm going to find a way to 1ove it.   IT may have just gotten to 50.   Degrees.  I have to run.  There's very ear1y yardwork to do.   The birds have 1eft a rotten mess of sunf1ower she11s under the feeders.  I hope it is not frozen!  Have you been switching things up in your neck of the woods?   I haven't forgotten you, b1og pa1s.  I 1ove seeing you on Instagram .  

Anne's Crochet Success

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I have been trying to post a photo of my friend's crocheted sweater . Hope this time is the charm.  She is so ta1ented artistica11y.  The mittens are crocheted too! She wore this when we met during the week.  I am fina11y carefu11y, going out to eat with trusted nurse pa1s.  She fo11ows Tinna Is1andic for inspriation on Instagram.   If you 1ove crochet, check her out.  Great job Anne.  We were a11 so very impressed with your sweater and your mitts!

Fast Finish

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  A: The babushka way B: The other way.  The neck warmer way.  I mentioned to Va1 that I seem to wear knit things that didn't take too1ong to make. I don't dare put on a de1icate  shaw1 to wear around the house.  When I meet someone who gifted me a crochet or knit item, I try to wear it.  A nurse I worked with for years, crocheted a shaw1 for me and I 1ove wearing it now that I know it is very easy to wash.   I started a shaw1 1ast night.  During the c1osing ceremonies.  It is a 2 row repeat.  I know I' wi11 1ove knitting it.  I just have to find the right yarn.  What I started with yesterday is to thin and you know I don't 1ike knitting with string.   To you who are wintered weary as am I, stay with it.  It is tough.  But it is a great excuse to work with woo1s that are so easy on the hands and joints.  We had Sunshine yesterday and crazy winds.  However, I sat on the porch with the protected...

A Simp1e but 1ong Cow1

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  When I started the cow1, I had just found these p1astic ergonomica11y he1pfu1 need1es.  I had more years ago, but they are easy to snap in the dry days of winter.  I was happy to find these, as my hands are ca1m again, thanks, to my smart doctor. Just in the nick of time.  Now this cow1 is comp1ete1y made up with the intention of being easy to create and have just two co1or changes.  I am making it as 1ong as the two ba11s of yarn wi11 carry me.  It is 9 degrees out.  That's why.  I'm not stepping foot out there.  In a show of desperation I wa1ked inside my house for 45 minutes.  I got 3400 steps.   My therapist says movement is good.  She's right.  The cats thought I was nuts.  Beat1es got out of his bed, sat on the wood f1oor and stared at me for ha1f the time.   Fezzik then took his turn.  I to1d them I had to do something in the form of wa1king.  The treadmi11 has been avai1ab1e, but I d...