JUST BEING

I do not see Queen Anne's Lace in FL so it is fun to spot them here!  Unfortunately, the ragweed is right in the same clump of weeds way out back--that Fall weed does not like me!  We also found a patch of blackberries but it is the tail-end of them and since it is also a drought status here, the few I found were small.  Still, it was fun to eat a few!

                                            

I thought I would mention that I am using a #10 needle to make the blanket pattern I shared yesterday, and not the #5 they recommend. I am starting to decrease on one side (the left bottom of the pic) to begin the rectangle shape!

 Mom is knitting using #9's.  I will share a pic of her's tomorrow!

DIFFERENT PACES

The blanket is coming along nicely--this is folded in half; 

the side on the bottom would be the width,

 so I have at least another 4-6 inches before I begin to square off the one side to make a rectangle.  

And I keep a ball of cotton yarn in my purse to whip up a dishcloth anytime I need to do some waiting!  I like to hand them out to friends and family.

Yardwork and weeding is still happening in between doing Dotz or looking through pictures or doing mending.  It is wonderful to be here with my parents....  

 

THE BEST LAID PLANS

Many years ago, Mom and I had plans to make a handkerchief quilt from the collection she has from her Mom and her Aunt. 

 We never made such a quilt 

but now I have received the box of hanky history!

So I will have to make some plans to get these from the realm of idea to reality!  So many of the lace edgings and embroidery is handmade from my Gram!  I have a book at home with plenty of inspiration which will help me make concrete plans.

 

TEAM WORK

 I have always loved yard work and when we had a few hours of breathable air, we did just that!   It didn't take long to trim and pick up and take the debris to the compost pile because even my Dad (93) and Mom (90) participated!  I thought I was going to get some cooler weather with fresh air and temps in the 60's 

but not this visit!  

I always joke, I don't come here for the weather, but to be with them!  And it's a good thing!

YARN LOVING!

The buttons have been sewn on the little sweater;  I used buttons from my Mom's and her Mom's button box so I added the love of the past generations into this.  This pattern has no buttonholes knitted in because you use buttons that will fit between the stitches-this way, you can make a sweater and not worry about which way to button it up;  I like that kind of freedom!

I have also cast on the feminine version of the sweater--I started it but will save the rest to make on the air plane home next week-I have to plan ahead!

The knit blanket is taking longer but progress is occurring--see the colors changing finally!!!  Right now the blanket is 22" wide so about the halfway mark.  It is very relaxing to work on it, I am glad to admit!

 

KNITTING A BUNDLE BLANKET

I don't usually knit a blanket but Mom and I are playing 

with a new Mandal Bonus Bundle cake (10.5 oz) 

and knitting a blanket in garter from corner to corner

 just to change things up! 

 It will be interesting to change this pattern for a square blanket

into a rectangle, too.

Watching church from FL here in NY this morning.  We finally enjoyed some rain last evening and a cooling of temperatures which was much appreciated!

 

SWEETNESS!

Finished---One cute 6 month sized sweater and hat 

for my to-be-determined future great-grandchild!  

The yarn is Babe from Knit Fever; I used a skein and just a bit of the second one which would be about 220 yards for this set and I probably have enough for a pair of little socks! 

 I have a cotton/acrylic skein to start the next sweater today!

 

SALVAGING

The pear tree in the back yard went down 

Sunday evening during a wind/rain storm!  

What makes this extra sad is that it would've been a bumper crop  come September!  The tree was loaded with fruit!

Unfortunately, the fruit is too immature to ripen even, if we picked it now to try and save some.  We will leave the tree down for a while for the deer and other critters to eat on !

But all is not lost, though! I already have a few choice spots on the trunk picked out so my brother can bring some chunks home for me on his next drive up and back! lol

 

A SPECIAL BABY SWEATER

I thought I would take a page from my Mother's book and knit a few baby sets for my first great-grandchild which isn't a reality but I hope it will happen in the next five years!  This yarn is from two skeins from my daughter so I thought it would be a fitting use for this yarn--to be used for her first someday grandchild!    Sharing the joy already...

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY----FULL CIRCLE!

My niece had given me several pieces of Birch from her yard when I was in NY back in April but since they were a bit too heavy and numerous to put in my suitcase for my flight home, my brother brought them to me after his visit to NY since he drives!  So anyway, I finally got the wood and put it right on the lathe to make something for my niece to say thank you for the wood!  

I made a vase that is emerging from the log;  I was able to save the bark and put on a finish to preserve it.  This vase stands about 11" tall.

The other side stands a bit off-center which is just what I tried to make happen and this time, I was successful!  I can't wait to give it to my niece!  She is a DIY kinda gal like me

 and loves all things wood, too.

It's fun to think the wood has traveled the whole east coast and it is now back to its 'birth' place!

It was so nice to spot a butterfly that I see 1100 miles south of here, too!  The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail spent many long minutes among the lovely smelling phlox!

These are the 8' tall Heliopsis my Dad planted so many years ago and the patch that I took my root from to plant in my yard!  

The rain storm over the weekend knocked down some of the outer stalks so I snapped of

 the ends to bring inside for a bouquet to enjoy!  

While it was nice to be able to walk outside and sit on the patio for a while, it was also nice to come back inside to A/C and crochet/knit in comfort!

 

UP, UP AND AWAY!

After a delay due to T-storms in FL, we were finally airborne and I enjoyed a few hours of knitting in the clouds! 

 Let the NY family time begin!

 

STAGES OF THINGS

All the blocks for this quilt are made but not organized or sewn together.  The blocks are 9" unfinished so the quilt will be around 50" x 60".

I also had fun playing with all of the possibilities of the Disappearing Nine Patch blocks.  This one has all of the blocks made but not sewn together either.

And look what is off the needles, washed/dried and just needs a row of buttons!  This is the sweater I started back when I went on the cruise in February, using the yarn gifted from fellow blogger, Chris, and I even have enough yarn to make another t-shirt sweater!  

I will take that leftover yarn to NY for a knitting project there--

because I leave this afternoon 

to spend several weeks with my parents.  

These other projects will have to wait for me to return 

for all of the finishing touches! 

 Bon Voyage!

 

WRAPPED IN LOVE

The shawl is done sans beads this time around-it blocks out at 66" and 20" deep at the back.

The edging is pretty, even without the beads.  This is made with KnitPicks Stroll yarn in Red Wing Blackbird colorway.

The pattern is by Kay Meadors, Twilight Sonato Shawl.  I've made several and it is a go to pattern!

Coming or going, it is a great wrap!

 

A' WELCOME' CHANGE

I finally spent some time reacquainting myself with the Cricut machine on this previously purchased shaped signage I bought at Hobby Lobby.  The sunflower is actually a large 'sticker' I printed and then enhanced with colored pencils.  The letters are vinyl;  to protect the project, I sprayed it with clear lacquer.  The fun thing is--I will make another design for September on the other side!

Next, I found the right wall hanging and flowers to match--

to make a warm welcome with the new entrance decor!

 

INSPIRED

 There is nothing like being inspired by a blog friend's post to set you off on a wonderful new quilt!  I had a pile of 5" blocks and just needed a good idea to put them to use!  

This is a Disappearing 9-Patch variation and it grabbed me and put me right to work!  

In no time, I had it more than half done!

Thank you, Pat!

SHADES OF BROWN

It's been a long time since I have had a gopher tortoise in the yard!  His shell is about 11" long so you have an idea of his size which means he is a fully mature female (10-15 years old!) .

The latest skein of yarn off the spinning wheel is at 200 yards and is the closest to the olive color I was aiming to achieve!

And the latest vase off the lathe--it is made from a small chunk of Black Walnut. It is about 9" tall and 3" wide at the base.  I used beeswax for the finish and it feels delicious in your hands!  Since the temperatures are still around the 100+F mark, I am very grateful for the window A/C unit Bill installed right over where I work or I wouldn't be able to work in the garage at all!

 

A DAY AT HOME

Every other morning there is a new flower blooming on the orchid!  I do love to have an orchid in my room!

My total yardage for the four skeins was just under 900 yards of superwash wool/nylon which I dyed. I'm thinking I will make a crocheted blanket since I have been enjoying that lately!  I still have 4 more skeins to add to the pile so I know I will have enough yarn for a blanket.  Or maybe I could knit some small mitered squares blanket--isn't it nice to have ideas?!

This pipe is where my 'lizard' lives--sticking his head out like a submarine periscope checking out the world. 

 I heard a flurry in the afternoon and she sat there for a bit 

but left empty handed, to my relief!  

I put out seeds for you so leave my lizard along, please!

 

TRY AGAIN

This is the shawl I started in May--it languished because I was off on the count and couldn't get it corrected.  I ripped it out and in only a week I have it completed!  The big time clicker kept me on track!  I will be blocking it today!

I also dug out this old project--and not only 4 more granny squares are all I need to get it to the finish mark!  This one languished because I had put the squares together by crocheting them like I do for afghans but it made too much bulk because cotton yarn is not soft!  I pulled out all of the rows and stitched them together with a darning needle and now the seams lie flatly.  I was going to make a cover for my laptop for when I travel.  I'm very close now!  It's nice to make some older ideas come to light!

 

MORE TDF DYEING

Another crockpot of dyed wool;  I'm still not thrilled with the color but it did improve some.

I squeeze out the water and hang them to dry overnight.

The first skein of the orangey-brown yarn;  it is soft and squishy!

The next skein is still an orangey-brown but lighter in color.

And the last hank of wool turned out the best in the lightest color.

I will look forward to a lot of spinning today!

WORKING WITH COLORS

The Posy table runner is a done deal!  

It was fun to use the Fat Quarters to make the flowers!

This 60" x 66" ,or so, quilt is all pieced except for the narrow top  and bottom borders!  I just ran out of oomph for the long strips! lol

I did piece some of the cat/flower layer cake blocks---the colors are so rich and a lot of fun to make!

A bit more spinning is happening also.  I tried to make some olive green roving!  It came out way too orange/brown---a common error when working with this color because it is made of green and red and the color 'breaks' into its components instead of the end goal color.  I will try again.  Yes, it is still a pretty color, just not the one I was going for!