Boo! Back Again with a Few Finishes ~

Once again I've been slow to post, but this time I have an excuse: we were gone for ten days.  Now it's definitely fall and almost Halloween.  The big leaf maples are losing their leaves, and it's fun to search for a really big one. We found this one on our walk yesterday.

I have finished several projects though. Before we left, I completed this shawl and am pleased with the way it turned out. It's a fun, free pattern, and I love the Madelinetosh yarn color "Yoko". 

While we were away, we visited a friend who just became a great-grandma.  I made some booties for the baby girl and then decided to try a new bonnet pattern.  I used some self striping fingering yarn and was intrigued with how the yarn patterned on the back. However, next time I'd omit the lace part as it's not very visible with this kind of yarn.

This bootie pattern has become my "go to" for a quick and fun baby gift.  It's always a bit dicey though with one ball of angora yarn; lately I've begun to wonder whether it's really the amount listed on the ball band.

My sweet grand daughter requested a sparkly sweater, and here she is wearing the result. It's an interesting knitting pattern that includes a bit of crochet. I'd like to try it again with the recommended yarn.

That's enough for this post since it's almost dinner time.  More to share soon.  Have a Happy Halloween!

Booties Plus

Not too much knitting happened this past week because we were off to California's wilderness with no phone and no Internet! Crazy, eh?  I did finish a pair of booties though for a choir friend's first grandchild though.

I had to shorten the cuff because for the first time ever with this angora yarn I ran short.

We spent four days with Dick's brother and his wife.  Our small abode is behind us with its great view of Silver Lake and not too far from Lake Tahoe.

Sunset on Silver Lake

Dick and Bob went on a 6 mile hike to Carson Pass.

I joined the two brothers for a "short" hike the next day.  It involved lots of scrambling over huge rocks!

I was sure glad to get past this giant and back on a "real" trail!

Here's the only wildlife we encountered.

The lupine was pretty much past its prime on this trail, but we did see some other flowers.

Meanwhile, while we were gone, my older daughter sent me this photo of our oldest grand daughter who is learning to sew. Isn't her apron beautiful?  I am very proud of her, too!

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!

Off the Needles~a Sparkly Bonnet

If you've not seen Cascade's Sunseeker yarn, check it out!  Sunseeker Multi is what I used for this bonnet, and I liked it so much I ordered 2 more skeins in different colors. (I needed more yarn, right?)  This bonnet is a Fiber Trend pattern, and I'd forgotten how much fun it is to knit.  Remember this photo?

She definitely needs a new hat, don't you agree? (And I need mine back!)

The ties are an I-cord that also makes a nice finish on the bottom edge.

What's on my needles now, you say?  A bunch of things, but I am going to concentrate on my Camp Loopy #3 project, started this morning.  It's a vest for a certain someone; the pattern ranges in size from 6 mos. to 12 yrs., so if it turns out well, there will be more to make in the future for 2 other someones.

With the unusually sunshine this July, our garden has kept both of us busy.  Enjoying the extra warmth is one of my favorite plants to grow each year, the Black-eyed Susan vine.  As you can see, it's headed up to our second story!  Each time I look at it I'm reminded of a prettier version of Jack-in-the-Beanstalk!

This year's flowers are sort of a peachy color with a dark center; all the other years before they have been orange and black. It was a surprise this time! If you've not tried this plant, it's  very fun to watch. See you next time! Meanwhile, don't forget to check out Patchwork Times for some knitting inspiration.  

Fun Finishes and Some Special Snuggles~

When I first saw this Feza Candy yarn, I knew it had to come home with me.  It worked up quickly on my second try with the store's cowl pattern.  The skein was just a few yards short for me to knit the pattern as written, so I frogged and changed it slightly by doing only 3 rows of knitting between the 4 rows of purling. Quick and fun! Next I'm going to try Feza Candy Deluxe which is all wool with a bit more yardage.......  

The next project was to seam and embellish these Ugg booties.  They will eventually go with a Fun Fur sweater for Little Lady that hasn't even been cast on.  Get crackin', Oma!

And who can resist a couple new photos of Stella who's now 3 weeks old?

Snuggling with Oma

and Opa. Aren't grand babies wonderful?

On the Needles: Frogging and Slogging!

Last weekend we visited a new yarn shop in West Seattle called Seattle Yarn.  Oh my, I could have spent a fortune there, but didn't....quite.  Just as I was checking out, I spotted this fun red yarn (Feza, Candy) that had colorful felt balls every few yards or so, and it called my name.  Well, 1 skein wasn't quite enough to finish the prescribed shawl, so I ripped it back this morning  and changed the pattern slightly.  I also have made negative progress on the cape that I started a few weeks ago because I messed up on the seed stitch border and couldn't fix it.  Do you think the cats are searching for frogs?

Sothia is quickly outgrowing my 36" circular needle.  The endless ruffle, now 618 stitches-worth, is taking forever as I slog across the row, worrying about running out of yarn.  I do have a plan, however, if that happens so stay tuned as I work my way  up to 793 stitches. YIKES!

Max  isn't worried though.  Just give him a car or Mega Block, he's a happy guy.  It won't be much longer that he'll fit under this stool, will it?
                                                                               ~~~
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, and don't forget to visit Patchwork Times to see if anyone else is besieged by frogs.

Off the Needles and a Bit More

I've just about wrapped up the baby knitting for a while.  There are lots of other big-people UFOs waiting for some attention!

I used the leftovers from Max's baseball sweater to make this matching hat, and

these booties are waiting to be sent off to a friend's newest grand daughter. The birth sampler is finished and ready to be framed.  No photos here because DD sometimes reads my blog. So, UFOs, here I come!

Meanwhile, Stella finally opened her eyes for Opa!  It's hard to believe she's already more than one week old.

Here's big brother concentrating on his favorite food
.

It was a big week in Chicago for this little lady.  Sophia (pink shirt) started school, had a birthday and was so thrilled to finally have a girl cousin. She looks happy, doesn't she?

And out in the garden, the black-eyed Susan vine is on its way to our upstairs bedroom!  That's all for now.  We're off to work in the church choir library before heading over to help DD. Bye! But, before you head off, stop by Patchwork Times and see what others have on their needles today!

Flower Power to Make You Smile!

What is there about flowers that makes me so happy?  Is it their cheery colors, or the fact that they are announcing one of the best summers ever?

These green-edged petunias make me smile.  I think they are called "Purely Picasso". 

Gerbera daisies that survived the winter in our garage show their pretty colors happily.

This geranium was pleased to spend the winter in the garage also and is thanking us with some pretty blooms.

The garden is full of surprises daily, like these yellow coreopsis.

The black-eyed Susan vine, one of my favorites, is climbing a string to out second story.  (It's much prettier than Jack's bean stalk, don't you think?

Lily of the Nile  has at least twenty blossoms just like this one. It was a gift from the garden of a quilting friend, who tells me the deer love these tasty morsels.  So far our deer hasn't discovered them, and the pesky rabbits can't reach.

Our newest hydrangea is so pretty in pink,and we are wondering whether it'll stay that way. All of our other pink ones are now a brilliant blue, thanks to our acid soil.

And this tiny tree was a Mother's Day gift from DD#2.  I just love it!

Obviously not a flower, this guy which we think is a red-breasted sapsucker, paid us a visit last week and stayed long enough for several photos. He was happily searching for bugs in the birch tree. (Check out that impressive beak!)

And speaking of things that make me smile, here's Max trying to figure out how to get out of this very inviting box.  Opa finally helped him.

Have a Happy Day!