My Not-So-Colorful Socks

Well, I finally finished something other than a dishcloth and had a big surprise. This wild and crazy yarn faded more that any other yarn I've ever used.  The water was dark purple!!

Ans the wild and crazy socks aren't aren't nearly as bright and pretty as they were.  I am wondering whether they will continue to fade with more washings, too.  Sigh!

We saw these Crocosmia on the way home from Newport.  I know a deer that would have loved them, too.

Happily that same critter left us a few day lilies.

Have a great weekend!

Back Home with a Finish!

Finally, we are kind of caught up after being gone to the Midwest for ten days.  Our yard surprised us with lots of crazy flowers (and weeds).  It's amazing what a few warm days can do.

While we were in the Chicago area, we went to lots of swim practices and a couple of meets to watch all three of our grands compete.

Here's the oldest conferring with his coach. (This guy now looks me in the eye!)

 Here's the speedy youngest.

And Missy did well, too.

DD participated also as one of the many timers.  She and I had a delightful lunch in Richmond, IL, with Kathyb.  It's always fun to be with Kathy!  Seeing a fellow blogger in person is the best!

And here it is the long-awaited mystery finish!  I plan to hand it in today to the nurse who requested it.  Can you guess what it is?  No, it's not a water bottle holder.  Here's the link just is case you get a similar request!

 

Have a great week!

An Unplanned Finish ~

Sorry to be so far behind on posting and commenting, but it's been a bit crazy here.  First of all, the sun has been shining more than usual, so the garden has been screaming for attention.  It did reward us though.  Our clematis is beautiful this year.

Whenever the sun comes out, we get the travel bug, and we've had a couple of fun trips lately that I need to share, but all of my good intentions have been derailed upon learning that three friends have recently been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Thus, I've dropped everything to knit some prayer shawls.  One is done, and the second has been cast on.

I hope it will bring a measure of comfort.  How I wish someone would find a cure for this dreadful disease.

Where Did April Go?

April has flown by all too quickly!  First we were gone, and then when we came back home, we were busy catching up.  We spent the early part of the month in the Midwest visiting our older daughter and family. Our days there were filled with the kids' activities, including a swim awards program, and a couple of school visits as well as lots of chatting and hugs. After all these years, and on a lovely spring day, we went into the city of Chicago and finally saw "The Bean."

Millennium Park is huge, and we only saw a little bit of it.  The kids had a great time at the play area, and we enjoyed watching them have fun as well as a great lunch afterwards.

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We got back home here just in time to celebrate Easter with our other daughter's extended family.  The Littles found lots of eggs with the help of their older cousins.

They also like to explore their own yard!

Speaking of yards, ours is full of blooming plants at the moment:

These three are about done now, but the ones below are just starting to shine.

And not to be out done, the indoor hibiscus surprised me with a flower this week and even a couple more buds! 

You may have noticed lots of  unraked leaves in some of the photos.  Our recent rains have made getting out to rake a less than desirable option. (We have had the most rain ever here since they probably started keeping track in 1895!)  Mocha and Ginger don't care about the weather though.  As long as they can find a register to sleep/lie on, they are happy.

Oh, and I have finished a couple of projects, but they are drying now and will have to wait till another post.  Happy Thursday!

Just a Few More Days~~~~~

Just a few more days and it really will be Christmas.  In fact, right now it's snowing great big wet flakes in our backyard! But all my projects are done, done, done. ( However, there's no rest for the weary around here as there are a couple of birthdays coming right up, too.) In the mean time though, it's time to kind of kick back and relax, whatever that means. A few packages are waiting to be wrapped and some cards to address, in case the relaxing gets old. Tee Hee!

I liked the first pair of these mitts so much that I did another pair in Malibrigo Rios and have decided I really like that yarn.  Recently I saw a pair of mittens from this pattern that had been embroidered in the area by the thumb and want to try that sometime using  a plain-colored yarn.  BTW, the free pattern is Maize and available on Ravelry. It's quick and easy.

This prayer shawl isn't a Christmas gift, but it's headed off to a friend who's having cancer surgery tomorrow.  I hope she knows how much we love her and wish her the best!

We were the lucky recipients of two beautiful floral arrangements for our table. Aren't they nice? Nothing like flowers to brighten up our gray and mostly days here.  Have a good week!

Almost to the End......

Just a few more rows, and I'll be finished with this project! I used what was left from Stella's sweater and a multi-colored version of Bamboo Pop called Lollipop to make another one for Sophia.  I have just a few more rows to do, the ends to sew in and 3 buttons to attach, and it will be done.  It takes a lot longer to knit for an almost eight year old than for an almost two year old, that's for sure!

My sister sent this photo yesterday.  Ted caught a 5 pound walleye. They said it was delicious!  He looks pretty pleased, doesn't he?

And hurrah, the deer hasn't discovered the new blossom on my crocosmia!  Yet.....

Things here are getting back to normal after our exciting, crazy time away, and we are enjoying geting used to our new car.  Should have taken a photo, but maybe we will by next week.  Have a good weekend! And don't forget to check out Patchwork Times to see what's on everyone else's needles.

Busy Needles!

This past week I've made a real effort to put in some stitching time, and it's paid off.  The Amish Alphabet is coming along. (And I'm realizing my eyes aren't what they used to be; either that or 18 count Aida cloth is smaller than ever!)

Sorry that it's crooked, but, I finished the letter B and its birdhouse as well as the extras on A, L, P, U, and X, and am a little more than half way done.  It's about time! 

This fun project is on the home stretch.  The yarn is Universal Cotton Batik, the color, "cotton candy".  The pattern, Elise Dress, can be found here along with a photo of the finished dress.   I am on the third ruched section which is a good thing as the recipient's birthday is getting closer every day!

Yesterday's heat (95, which is hot for us) forced this beauty to finally open, and voila! Another thing that could be called "cotton candy;" the odd thing is that the package said it would be white!?  Not too much else to report for now.  Have a great day!

Sorting though the Stash ?!

Last week I spent some time sorting though my various stashes and found a couple of projects screaming to be finished.  Who could resist? So out they came; we'll see how long it takes! (I'm not telling when these were started either!)

Speaking of stitching projects, isn't this cute?  Dee made it for me; it's a Seahawk snowman and sure made me feel better after that last game.  She sure is a good cross stitcher!

I'm working on a secret project at the moment.  Can't tell any more than that.

Guess what finally decided to open?  The orchid.  I had a 50% success rate: of 2 buds, one opened and the other shriveled up and fell off! Why? I have no idea.  I just have to be happy with the one, right?

And no post is complete with out a grand kid photo or two.

Now off to get dinner started and who knows what else?  Have a good day!

On/Off the Needles: The Color Purple!

Did you know that cats like the color purple?

Ginger has claimed the Little House Shawl, don't you think? Actually it's my Camp Loopy project for June.

Mocha is OK with that since she's picked this one. (It's really for Stella, but we won't let on will we?)

It seems there's lots of purple in our house and.....outside!

And today some yarn arrived. Guess what color? Happy Knitting! Or Stitching!