Obliging O

No, we didn't get to walk the beach last week but here is a view of the ocean from last trip!

 I sat outside by the pool to sew on my oak leaf table runner.

 I have my new Oxford Crocs waiting for a trip north to wear them with my socks this Fall!

 Osnaburg fabric.

 Oranges-one orange and one green!

 Live Oak Tree.

 This is a Fringe Tree but it is in the Olive family!

 My yard is an ornithologist's dream!

 An old, oval shaped vase.

 These are some of the oils I use for making soap.

 Onions.

Pickled Okra.

I looked all over the yard for an oil beetle but couldn't find one but this one looks like an oil slick!

My maiden name is O'Gorman!

I enjoyed the "O" challenge and hope I haven't omitted any great words!

Completion is So Satisfying

I finished knitting the shawl last night; lace doesn't look like much until you block it!

I couldn't find my blocking board so I had to improvise.  This is the shawl I designed after taking the class on Craftsy! It blocked out at 52" at widest and 26" long at point.  Yes, hours later I found the blocking board...

Here is a close up of one half of the shawl to show the design.

 I wish I could share with you how light and airy it is.  The Shetland yarn is the reason for this; it is an incredible yarn for shawls.  This is how I will most often wear a shawl.

But it is pretty worn this way both in the front and with the point in the back, too.

This is so you can see the full back.  I am mildly proud of this adventure!

 I also conquered the table runner, sewing all the borders on, pressing all the appliques in place then stitching them.  And then I noticed..........the center appliques are not centered!  I could have tried to remove it but as the Amish say, it is good for the proud to have a humility block.

I have it loaded on the frame to begin the stitching on Monday!

 I did get in a batch of soap today, too.  This one is scented with lemon!  Oh, the house smells so good and fresh!  I tried to color this batch of soap but when the temperature heated up, the color darkened.  It will be interesting to see what color it becomes when it cools by morning!

After setting it out, I covered it with a blanket so let the temperature rise and put the soap in what is referred to as 'gel phase'  it will cool and have a translucence in the finished bar-not clear like glycerin soap but a good sheen in the usual goat's milk bar color! 

Like this.  This is last week's bars all wrapped and labeled.  See how they have a good clear color-it is because I have learned how to do this gel phase thing so it makes the bars look great.  It's amazing how much I can get done when I stay home........now to get some spinning done until bedtime.

Stop Everything!

 No time for handwork because my hands are busy holding my youngest grandson!  He loves to take a walk and touch everything!

And all that walking works up an appetite!

 I can get my drink all by myself!

Because I am , "So Big!"

 I also travel at high speeds in the walker and get into   explore when I am crawling!

I enjoyed watching him bang and make noises under the diningroom table because it is was Bill's parents' table so it has seen Bill and his siblings explorations and all four of my children's, too!  

Shhhh!  He plays hard and sleeps that way, too!  (Will is 8 months old now!)

Ripples and Rewards

 I did some babysitting on Wednesday; Bill was grounded because his foot was misbehaving.  Thursday morning dawned and it was clear there was something desperately wrong with his foot; he had swelling clear up to his knee!  We went right in to the doctors who drained the seroma and then sent us to the hospital to rule out a blood clot which was negative.   The fluid was cloudy so doctors think it is infected, fever and chills had set in by the time he got home.  Friday, the fever and chills were gone, thankful for antibiotics!  Mentally Bill needed a break from the recliner so we took a drive to see this little girl and her parents!

Bill stayed on the couch there and took a long nap but did enjoy the change of scenery!  Ella liked the company.  She is very entertaining at 8 months!

We went out to dinner and had a great mean because the company was wonderful!

Back to the doctor's on Monday......

Creative Juices Flowing

 I started the day out with a batch of soap.  I have found several sites on-line that are increasing my knowledge and expanding my efficiency.  I learned to line the wooden mold to make the removal of the soap log much easier.

 Wow, it not only made it easier, it also allowed me to remove it the very next day and not several days later.   I can see my soap schedule moving up already!

 All the bars are cut and lined up to dry so I can label them!  This one is orange citrus without the texture added.

 I changed up the arrangement for another table runner-I told you I wasn't done with this design!
I wanted to add a pieced border and it took some time to figure out what I was doing and then it moved right along!

I have the borders all done and now have to sew them to the inner section.   The appliques are not attached at this point-just setting them out to try layout designs!

 I also dyed two batches of Cormo roving so  I would have something new to spin.

 The sunshine and warmth dried the roving in no time!  This is 8 ounces total.  I wanted to get some fiber ready for spinning because I was waiting for UPS to come (which is at the end of a day here!) with a special package.

 Meet my new Electric Spinner by Ashford, called an espinner.  It is sitting right next to my recliner, makes a very relaxing spin in the evening and it is whisper quiet!

It was a very brief learning curve and then I was off!  The bobbins are large-the largest I have ever used (8 oz ea) so that will be wonderful to be able to spin skeins with lots of yardage!  Last year when I hurt my foot and had to go without spinning for 3 months, I began to save for this espinner!  I can't wait to put it to  heavy use!

N is Notable

 Necklace...

 Neutral quilt blocks.

 Nine patches made by my Grandma.  (Not a nine patch but rather nine patches in one block!)

 Number of my address.

 Nest from squirrels.

Nautical mirror we bought on our honeymoon in San Diego.

 Nyki......it is very hard to get her face in a photo because she turns away every time you point a camera at her!

See what I mean....?     

Flights of Fancy

 Because baby toes get cold......who says a square can't be round?!

 The Shetland yarn is on the needles!  I'll admit, lace doesn't look exciting in this state but it will after blocking which is part of the magic of lace.

 You can see a little of the design in the top of the shawl, I am now transitioning to the lattice portion of my design.

 The yard is a visual delight-all the red/orange/coral flowers I love are in bloom!

 And attracting clouds of butterflies!

 I have discovered 3 kinds of Swallowtails and this orange one which I am not sure of yet.

 This is the Bromeliad in bloom.  This part of the plant is about 12" across.  Stunning.  The butterflies like the reds as much as I do.  (Do not mess me up with any 'facts' on butterflies not being attracted by color, I won't believe it!)