Finally a New Post!

June disappeared at warp speed! We were very busy with lots of celebrations.  Early in the month our choir sang for the last time with our much-loved long time director.  We sang a wonderful work by Dan Forrest that features Psalm 100 in seven languages. You can listen here if you wish. 

We also managed a couple quick trips.  We spent a weekend in Whistler, British Columbia, and did lots of walking.

We followed a trail to Lost Lake and discovered that we could have driven there as well. However, we would have missed seeing this interesting cairn as well as lots of beautiful wildflowers.

 A bit later in the month we headed south to Newport, Oregon. The coast is so different there with lots and lots on sand dunes to explore.

Little Creek Cove is one of our favorite spots to stay.

These dogs didn't think twice about crossing this little creek to get to the dunes and ocean.  We, however, drove to Agate Beach and then walked north.

Time in the car makes for lots of knitting and two more Interrupted Cowls.  A shawl 

for Stella also popped off the needles.

This pair of socks was my June Camp Loopy project.

Our daughter hosted a lovely brunch at a very nice restaurant to celebrate my birthday, our son's birthday and Father's Day and then one day at lunch this guy showed up in our backyard.  Apparently he though he'd been summoned to prune the roses?

Hope you're all having a wonderful Fourth of July celebration!

Lots of Snow Meant Time to Knit!

Last week we were pretty much snowbound because we live on a hill, and our street is low on the list to get plowed.  

It sure was pretty, especially at night!

This little angel was totally buried for awhile, but now her feet aren't covered any more.

There was lots of time to knit and bake.  (The knitting kept me from eating all the baking!) This is another Interrupted Cowl made with Bamboo Bloom yarn. In sorting through my stash I found some more of this yarn and have already started yet another one.

While I don't expect to wear this any time soon, it is finally finished thanks to Judy L's UFO Challenge.  These socks were supposed to be completed in January but they are done now, too.

They don't quite match, but it was an interesting pattern that results in a right and left sock.

This is what our driveway looks like now, so we should be able to return to our normal weekly schedule thankfully.  However, I now have lots of new projects waiting to be finished thanks to a bad case of "startitis" and easy access to my stash.

This sweet plant decided to add some color to our kitchen this past week.  I got the start from my sister, and it's been a consistent bloomer ever since.

.On Saturday we were able to venture out for our first trek through Seattle's brand new tunnel and a visit with the grand kids for the first time since it started snowing.  If you have youngsters to read with, may I recommend  There's a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor  As you can see, they loved it and so did our daughter.  Me, too!  Have a fun week!

Happy New Year!

Phew!  Things are about back to normal here after a very busy December that ended with a wonderful celebration with all of our family together on Christmas Day for the first time in a long time. And now that all the packages have been opened, I can finally share some of my projects. It seems like I never learn to start earlier!  However, I was sidetracked by the need to make two prayer shawls, one for a friend who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late November, and the other for another friend who just learned she has breast cancer.

I always use the same pattern with Lion Brand Homespun yarn.

Earlier in the fall, I decided to try making the same shawl with different yarn and smaller needles and remembered that my sister-in-law had given me some yarn that she purchased on a trip to New Zealand.  It made a perfect size to keep her shoulders warm on the chilly winter days in Palo Alto, and it also reduced my stash by three whole balls.  Wahoo

!

And now I need to get back to work and finish a pair of Monkey Mitts for our youngest grandson who turns SEVEN tomorrow. This is what they will look like as I made this pair for Christmas for Daniel who wore them home!

Happy New Year to all of my blogging friends. May 2019 bring you good health and many blessings.  (I will post the rest of my finishes after I finish you know what!)

About Time for Another Post, Don't You Think?

Where does time go?  Lately the days seem to disappear extra quickly, even when we gained an extra hour.  Sigh.  It's been busy here: lots of singing, some travel, and believe it or not, some finishes!

Our youngest granddaughter talked her mom into buying this kit, thinking she could make it and then wear it. (She's 5.) Not. She finally gave it to me to take home, and I, no lover of crochet, made it for her.  It's too big for her baby doll and way too small for GD.  Sophia sewed on the black buttons though which made it special. (I have no idea as to this hat's destiny however!)

I saw this free pattern in a knit shop, loved the stitch, and just had to try it. This is a keeper!  (I used 1 skein of Rios and even had some left.)

It took a while, but I finally finished this pair of socks.  The pattern is Gladys and is also free.

In response to the Squirrel Hill tragedy, I completed these two squares for the Yarns by Design knit shop. This shop is in the town next to Verona where DH grew up, and we've shopped there several times although not recently.

Yep, it's that time of year.  Here are my two contributions to the local Ronald McDonald House stocking project that our quilt group supports.

This stocking is different on the other side.

On this one both sides are the same.

Have a great week and a very Happy Thanksgiving!  (Our family is celebrating this weekend since daughter #2 and family as well as our son will be out of town. DD#1 and family live in IL.)

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!

Happy Socktober!

Wow!  Somehow September escaped with hardly any posts from me.  I will try to do better this month but am not making any promises. I've been diligently working on a few projects with a deadline, but I did manage to finally complete two UFOs.  I finished two pair of socks that didn't get posted then, but isn't Socktober a good time to do so?

The cross-overs in this pattern drove me nuts.  You can see the fronts of the socks on the pattern page, and if anyone has any tips on the cross-over, I'd love to hear them!  I really love the Cascade Heritage yarn in this color.

I finished these with yarn that was supposed to make a matching pair. It came pretty close, but what interested me was the way the pattern (Solar) affected the stripes.  I am tempted to try again with a different stripey yarn to see if the same thing happens, but since there are other things waiting in the wings, I will try to be good and refrain.

This cute little guy is wearing the angora booties made just for him!

Recently we went to the Issaquah Farmers' Market and tried "marbling" at my friend Debbie's booth. It was really fun, and the finished scarf was sent off to our daughter in Chicago for her birthday.  I haven't heard whether she likes it, but  If you ever get a chance to try this process, do it!  You can see more pictures at Marmo Silks on Facebook.

On the home front these two were in our backyard at 8:30 AM last week. If you look closely, you can see the pale-colored deer's little horns. They didn't stick around long though.

These two continue their Peanut Wars, and both put on a pretty convincing act. My friend Becca was able to catch Squirrely's plea. (Not only is she a good photographer, she also crochets beautiful things!)  Did you know that the blue jays can swallow a peanut, shell and all, without choking? It's amazing to witness!

Have a great week!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Despite the smoky skies here during the waning days of August, our garden continued to surprise us with these pretties.

And we had a visitor that wasn't a deer!

Can you spot him?

This guy keeps showing up, too, and occasionally even brings a friend.

And best of all I finally finished this long-standing UFO!

Have a happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!