Playing In The Yarn Stash

I have to hurry and get this posted if I get everything done that needs to be today. It's late afternoon and I still haven't gotten in the pool for my exercises yet and I haven't picked up my knitting needles today either. I've spent the biggest part of this afternoon cutting grass. The downpours we had a couple of nights last week wasn't enough to allow some of the surrounding counties to have their water rationing lifted, but it was just enough to cause the grass to grow at a rapid pace. It hasn't been a full week since I rode the mower an entire afternoon cutting while DH used the hand mower and weed-whacker. I will have to cut outside the fence out back tomorrow, I gave out of steam today. The only other thing I've done today worth a toot was answer some e-mails and do a bit of straighten up around the house. I did sit awhile with my neighbor when she came over this morning.

Yesterday I pulled out a bunch of my wool yarns to see what I had on hand and if I had enough for all the projects I'm getting ready to start. Yes, I'm going to start a few more since the stole is progressing along well and the afghan has had a few more rows added to it. I played in the yarn putting colors up against each other and stacking and re-stacking to see if I could come up with a different color combination that would be exciting. I declare, it was as much fun as playing house used to be. I was surprised at how many different shades of purple, plum, grape, etc. I have. Although I like purples, I didn't realize I have more yarn in that color than any other. Next was ecru but that wasn't a surprise to me. I like the neutral ecru alone or especially in combinations with browns. After I'd played in the yarn, I pulled out a couple of books and wished awhile and I really enjoyed looking through 200 Knitted Blocks again by Jan Eaton. I've had in the back of my mind to someday make a knitted quilt using these designs as squares. It is so easy for me to while away time looking at knitting books and magazines.

I have to post my questions and answer for the contest being held by the Fall Felted Bag Exchange. Don't want to be left out; it has to be posted by Sept. 2nd. All the exercise I am getting here is in the fingers, now I must go kick my legs awhile before I make dinner. Tonight its is going to be lasagna.

Fall Felted Bag Assignment

I was been busy with my family over the weekend. Christopher was home, always a treat, and Dariana and parents were out for the afternoon and evening on Saturday, another treat. I decided on Friday to do a Mexican menu for dinner on Saturday so DH and I went and purchased a pork lion after my doctor appointment on Friday morning (more on this below). Yesterday Christopher and I started early, chopping vegetables and meat, then browning them quickly to go in the crock pot. We were making Chili Verde; a chili using the vegetable tomatillos, and lots and lots of chilies, garlic, onions, cilantro, spices and pork, simmered in beer. Oh it smelled so good cooking all day and tasted even better for dinner along with Spanish rice and refried beans, tortillas, and all the garnished you would expect with a Mexican meal.

Everyone was stuffed when we left the table however, Dariana still found room for a few Jelly Bellies and another glass of milk before they left for home. Sunday morning I made an egg casserole for breakfast and used the left-over chilies, onions,cilantro, and cheeses along with some ham, cream and eggs; and I made grits for Christopher and me. All this heavy food means lite eating for the next few days for DH and I. I've already prepared for it, picked up fixings for salads and a good stick of bread to go along with them.

I've gotten my assignment for the fall felted bag exchange and I think I've already decided what bag I'm going to make for her. From reading my partner's blog, she seems to be a pleasant person and I'm looking forward to getting to know her. She lives in one of my favorite states; I'll not say which one it is, but I'd love to visit it again sometime.

I've been looking over some of the shots from previous bag swaps and as always, I'm amazed at the amount of talent out there. The needle felting on some of the bags is gorgeous and the embroidery is absolutely stunning. I'd love to own one those bags. I must work on these skills so I can make one for myself. Anyone with pointers?

My entrelac shawl is coming along nicely; the knitting is about half finished now. The fringe used on the shawl in the shop is a bit more than I like, although it was beautiful on their shawl, so I may decide to do something different. If not, I think the fringe will take the biggest part of a day to cut, weave, and tie in.

On Friday I saw the oncology-radiologist for a report on the CAT-scan I'd had on Monday, the report is both good and bad. The bad first, the mass (tumor) is still there and appears to be mostly un-changed since November of last year (we were hoping it would be gone). On the good side, it could be just scar tissue or a thicken in the lymph node and since I feel good that is the path I'm letting my mind lean into. I'll see my oncologist September 12 and he will go over the report with me again and we will discuss what, if anything, is the next step. I expect he will order another PET-scan which will show if the mass is still active (growing cancer) or if it is just residue left over from the chemo and radiation treatments. The radiologist says no more radiation since I had a high dosage and it didn't make a difference and the oncologist had said no more chemo but he did mention stem-cell transplant if it became necessary. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Today I am thinking I'm well with a bit of garbage left in my body as a reminder that life does have some kinks and turns in it but doesn't always lead to a dead end.

Fall Felted Bag Questionnaire

I'm a bit late with this but blogger didn't let me have access to my blog or the Felted Bag blog earlier. Here are the answers to the questionnaire, I think most of them were already answered in the SP-11 questions but just in case I'll post the entire questionnaire for the Felted Bag Exchange.

1. How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom? My sister taught me to knit about 35 or 40 years ago. I knitted for a year or so and then off and on whenever someone needed new booties until about 3 years ago. When I picked up my needles this time, I kept knitting.

2. What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting? The first thing I felted was a bag and it turned out wonderful. It was a class offered at Lettuce Knit, my LYS, and since I was already a bag-a-holic, I couldn't resist taking the class. I had never knitted a bag before but I had crocheted one back in the seventies, a big red and blue, granny square satchel I lined it with navy blue and used it for months, I was very proud of it at the time.

3. What are your favorite colors? Any you hate? I love jewel tone colors and I love color combination like black & white, grey & white, and navy & white put together. I also love the color chocolate. I don't hate any color but doubt that I'd ever use an orange colored bag.
What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags? Totes? Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!) I generally like a strap long enough to just swing over my shoulder, but not a shoulder bag length and I don't mind short handles on dressy bags or handbags. Embellishment is nice as long as it is something like fun-fur or glitzy. I love the embroidered flowers that I've seen on some of the bags and also the hand felting that’s being done. I love dressy but not flamboyant.

4. What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting? Right now I am using a gold thread chevron shaped bag with leather handles and trim. It is not a showy bag, rather casual, but smart.
Yes, I use a different bag for my knitting, actually I have a nice basket I bought at Portland's Saturday Market last year while on vacation.

5. What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? I love to knit hats, shawls, and sweaters. I've been thinking about knitting some placemats to match the grape tint in my great room and kitchen.

6. What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum). It depends on what I'm knitting whether I want straight or circular and also what material the needles are made from. I love the circular Addi Turbo needles put out by Skacel for hats, bags and afghans and shawls, unless it is lace, I like bamboo circulars for bags and sweaters, Denise's plastic for lace or light weight yarns (they have sharp points). I have one pair (10.5 circulars) of Susanne's ebony and dearly love using them, I'd like more. And … one of my favorite and the least expensive of all my needles is Bylene needles distributed by Boyle. They are really good to knit with if you have problems with your wrist or hands and they have really sharp points that picks up well. They bend with your hand and arm movement and are warm to the touch. I generally don't use aluminum needles but I do own at least one pair in every size of the straight needles and probably most of the sizes in the circulars.

7. What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? Well, I can't say I'm dying to make socks but I've never made any so must get around to them someday. I've never made a Mobius scarf and I'd also like to do that and I've never felted shoes which I'd love to do. That’s probably it shoes, I must do some shoes this fall.

8. What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? This is a hard question, there are so many wonderful yarns that I haven't used. I'd say anything out of natural fibers as long as it's soft, sturdy and is pleasing to the eye and on the skin.

9. What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? I don't spin but I do sew and garden. I also love to bake and entertain and enjoy embroidery and reading good books. I enjoy cookbooks and knitting books and gardening and knitting magazine.

10. Besides yarn, do you collect anything? I use to collect Byers Choice Caroler Dolls, teapots and teacups & saucers, and cookbooks from all the states and countries that we visited. I had to give most of this up when we downsized two years ago. And oh yes, I still collect Waterford Crystal if anyone is interested in contributing to that collection.

11. What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? I like salty better than sweet, but I do enjoy good cookies and candy. I'm not a real big chocolate lover but if it is filled full of nuts or coconut, yum!

12. Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!) I have a beautiful four legged baby, Maestro (Lhasa Aposo), age 11 and I have a two legged baby boy, age 37 and a two legged baby girl, age 42, and a wonderful little granddaughter, age 2. Then of course there is DH, I won't tell his age but he is definitely one of my babies and requires more of my attention than all the rest. (I don't kid myself thought, I love giving it to him.)

13. What kind of project best personifies you and why? Gosh I always have so many projects going. I like big projects but tend to get bored before I finish them and so pick up something else, then something else and it might take me two or three times as long to finish a big project as it would someone else. I like something that goes quickly, but is different enough to hold my interest. I am somewhat of a perfectionist (so my family tells me) so I rip back as often as needed to get things right and I love vivid colors and/or definition in my knitting project. Why ? – My mother always taught me I didn't have to be like everyone else and if I was going to do something to work on it until I got it right. Besides, I'm a Gemini so I need to live up to my expected characteristics don't I?

14. What is your favorite part of autumn? You can also share a special autumn memory if you'd prefer! The time for re-grouping, finishing off summer's chores then taking a deep breath and starting something new; sort of like the ending and beginning of a new year. To me fall means crisp air and it's smells, and a warm kitchen with it's aromas and lots of stunning colors. It always brings to mind, that wonderful song, Autumn Leaves. I can just hear Roger Williams playing that beautiful tune; and as his fingers touches the piano's keyboard, I imagine seeing ever-so-many colorful, brilliant leaves falling and floating by the window in the autumn's sunlight.

15. Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery. According to nature, I'm in the autumn of my life so I'd try to remember that and use the 10 million dollars accordingly. That said, I would (1.) enjoy the money, (2.) share it with those I love, and (3.) use it for a good deed that would benefit others that are a lot less fortunate than I. Actually this could all be covered under (1.) enjoy the money.

No Sleep For Me

I'm wide awake. For some reason tonight, a zillion things seem to be going through my mind. I hate having nights like this, when the body is tired and denies sleep and the mind is continuously turning over and over, as if it is in a rush to catch up and so is working overtime. I've learned that the best thing I can do, is to DO something, to get up and get busy. Eventually I will become exhausted enough to sleep. Sometimes I just read or knit, but other times I need to do something more physical, like baking cookies or felting a hat at three o'clock in the morning. I know I'm not crazy because I hear too many other women talk about the same problem. Is it gender related or what? I don't hear men talking about being awake half the night, it does make one wonder.

This morning I was up early and at the hospital before 7:30. I had forgotten on Friday to pick up the contrast drink for the scan I was scheduled to have this morning. My appointment was for 11:30 so I knew I'd have time to drink the gunk down at home if I picked it up early; better than sitting in the waiting area for two hours while drinking the stuff. This is the scan that will tell the radiologist and oncologist if the mass from Hodgkin's disease is gone, or if it is still there and not active, or still there and still active (meaning the cancer is still alive). I believe that it is gone this time, a feeling I haven't had before. I will see the radiologist on Friday to learn the results; wish me well.

Tonight I drove into the city to knit with a knot of lady-friends and what fun we had. I worked on my entrelac shawl and enjoyed the oohs and aahs from the knitting group. One lady was knitting on a prayer shawl, one was knitting a throw for her niece to use on her bed at college, one was knitting a winter scarf, and one in the group (having hand problems) was doing Temari (Japanese thread balls). How beautiful they are and what wonderful designs she creates with this craft.

Tomorrow is to be a busy day, and I'm still awake! How will I function? There wasn't anything on the calendar for tomorrow and I'd planned to clean the pool and maybe do some gardening. Early this afternoon I decided I wanted to go to the library in the morning and check on a couple of books I'm interested. I called my neighbor, Sally, and asked if she wanted to ride into the village with me and stop at the Garden Café for coffee. She was delighted saying she has books that need to be returned to the library anyway. So, one thing is now on the calendar. A short while later I receive a phone call from the flooring contractor asking if they could come tomorrow to install the new kitchen and bathroom floors. Something else added to my calendar, then an e-mail from Kathy at the LYS saying the basement was flooded and full of mud again from the storm we had on Thursday night and she and her husband were in the middle of moving the shop from the edge of the village to a shop across from the courthouse. There will be more foot-traffic for the shop and hopefully there will be no more flooding (this is the second time in six months that she's had water damage in the shop's basement). Anyway, to celebrate the move and her introduction to a new line of yarn called Scarlet Fleece, she was invited our old Monday night knit group to her home to knit and jabber tomorrow evening. Of course I can't miss this so it will be a busy, but good, day I think. The pool and gardening are now pushed back for Wednesday.

I got my SP-11 assignment and have made contact with her. I have to get busy now and decide how to spoil her. Perhaps a felted hat would do the job. (Scroll down side bar)

SP-11 Questionnaire

I haven't gotten my SP-11 assignment yet but see that some participants have; my upstream pall being one of them according to a message left on yesterday's blog. I'll go ahead and post my questionnaire although I think that most of the questions have already been answered on my blog recently. Hope everything you need is here, if not I'll try to provide it later.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I enjoy knitting with 'good quality' but not necessarily 'pricey' yarns. Elann.com carries a good selection of yarns at reasonable prices, especially if you catch their Tuesday specials. I do not care for novelty yarns except occasionally as an accent on a few items.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Most anything. Actually, I have three artist brush kits for straight needles and I use a 3 inch, 3 ring, binder for my circulars. I take zipper-lock bags, punch a couple of holes in them, label the outside with needles size, length, and manufacturer, then place the needles in the zip- lock. I also use a big pitcher to hold the larger size needles and some of the extras that I don't use often.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting off and on for about forty years but steadily for about five years. My sister taught me the knit and purl stitch and for many years anything else was self-taught. When I picked my knitting up this last time I decided it was time to take some classes and learn something besides knit and purl. I consider myself an advanced intermediate knitter.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No but I'm going to start one on Amazon today, I think it would be helpful.
5. What's your favorite scent? I'm not a fan of most perfumed fragrances. I like clean and not heavy smells. I do enjoy good soap and rose or lavender body products like body wash and shampoos.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I do enjoy sweets, but I'm not a big chocolate fan although I love chocolate with nuts and coconut in it. I generally prefer salty and cheesy treats over sweets.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I love knitting most,but I also crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, sew, and do a bit of crewel. I love the look of appliqué and have been thinking to make a few things with appliqués on them. I do not spin.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD). I'm not very technical but I don't believe we have MP3 in our home or car, just regular CD's. I like Easy music, Blues & Jazz, and Classical.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I like chocolate, greens, aqua's, purples, blues, pinks, and ' I do like puce' (also know as magenta and/or burgundy.) I like vivid, jewel tones but also love grays, whites, blacks and reds used together.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have a husband and a four legged baby (dogie) that live with me. I have an adult son and daughter and one granddaughter.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I have worn them all sometimes, but not any of them often. I have a poncho that I knitted a few years back from a Collinette Kit and enjoy wearing it because of all the gorgeous yarns that were in the kit. I have worn hats a lot in the last year because chemo-therapy claimed my hair for several months. If I wear hats, I like them to have a brim. Since I'm retired I don't wear scarves any more and I prefer gloves over mittens.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Gosh, it depends. I enjoy knitting cardigans but they take so long that I put them off and end up taking forever to finish one. I love felted hats and bags and I enjoy knitting shawls out of nice fibers for gifts. I have never knitted socks or gloves but probably will someday just so I can say I have. I've done a bit of lace but no longer have the concentration for following a complex pattern.
13. What are you knitting right now? OTN's – Entralac shawl using Nora's Silk Garden wool. Chris Bylsma's Crayon Box Jacket using mostly wools in lots of textures and color blends. Lilly Chin's Central Park Jacket from her label yarn, and a queen-sized bed cover for my son out of various textures and colors.
4. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Love them.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? It depends on what I'm knitting and what type yarn I'm knitting with. I am not a big of fan of aluminum needles but do love Skacel's metal needles and want a set of Knit Pick's Options. I especially like the one pair of Susanne's circular ebony needles that I have my 'el cheapo' Boye's Baleen II straight needles, haven't tried them in a circular.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, both; couldn't do without them.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? Around a year I think.
18. What is your favorite holiday? July 4th – Because that is the day our adopted granddaughter came to us. National Holidays would be first Thanksgiving, then Christmas. Our family celebrate both these holidays with lots of love and thankfulness.
19. Is there anything that you collect? Yes and no. I use to collect Byer's Choice Carolers but ran out of space and I use to buy a cookbook from every country or state that we visited. It was a remembrance that could be used and enjoyed over and over again and I still love reading cookbooks. When we downsized two years ago I tried to get rid of lots of 'things'.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have a subscription to: ' Interweave Knits' and one to 'Creative Knitting' and buy and enjoy other knitting magazines, especially the ones from Great Britain. Books on want list are: 'Bag Styles', (Interweave) when it comes out in November, and 'The Best of Interweave Knits'. Needles I'd like to add to my supply: Susanne's ebony needles (I have one pair size 10.5 circular and love them), some 7" single point knitting needles in any sizes between 3 -9, Knit Picks new Options set. Yarns: Cornucopia, want to make a shawl I think, hand painted worsted weight wools, self-striping worsted weight wool. Patterns: 'Ruched Bag', 'Bucket Bag', and 'Lucy Bag" by Two Old bags.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Well I have to do a pair of socks someday, and I have to do cables and Fair Isle someday. I guess the reason I haven't done them so far is they aren't my favorite look. But, I'm always interested in learning new techniques even if it is just for the learning process. I'd also like to do some free-form and magic ball knitting; they're interesting I think.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? No, I don't knit socks but would like to have a hand knitted pair if they were not to short on my feet; I wear a size 9 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? June, when else? The day is the 7th.
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? I'm signed up but they haven't gotten to my name yet. Hope it won't be much longer.

Entrelac Stole

I'm working on the entrelac stole using Nora's

Silk Garden yarn. The colors are beautiful I think although I'm not sure if I like the yarn for something I plan to wear; it is a bit scratchy. I've only used two skeins of the nine that was called for so I still have a long way to go but it does move along rather quickly once you sit down with it. I should have it finished in plenty of time to enjoy this fall, providing I don't give it to a sister; if I do, then she can enjoy it.

I prepared tomatoes and other vegetables this morning for vegetable soupso the tomatoes wouldn't go to waste. Mr. Ro helped me ladle it into the jars and get them ready for the canner. We canned 10 pints and had a bit left over for lunch. I'll be glad we made it this fall and winter when a bowl of hot soup will be so good.

I received my dishcloth from the quarterly exchange yesterday. My partner was from Oregon state and she knitted the Fan and Feather pattern for my cloth and used the new S&C stripes yarn. There was also a magnetic photo frame and a magnet for the frig. Thank you Mary. I sent my cloth out last week so my downstream pal should be getting it on Monday or Tuesday of this week. I'll post a photo after she receives it.

Project for WhoDuKnit Finished

Today I knitted my little project for the WhoDuKnit group over on Yahoo. Our July mystery read was Virgin of Small Plains and this month everyone was to devise their own project for the book. The story line is about deceitfulness and how it affects the lives of others; it was actually a very sad story. I'm glad I was able to come up with a project that I hope will add a bit of humor for this group of knitters and mystery readers. Here is a photo of what I made for two of the characters in the story. If you want to know why, you must read the book; it's by Nancy Pickard.

Although this was a bit of a 'silly little project', (a condom amulet) I learned a new knitting technique. I had never done double knitting before and this little amulet was a double knit. It was quick, and it was fun. I will use that technique again soon to make little Dari a new purse and of course this pouch will be hers to play with.

Yesterday I went shopping with my daughter and Dariana for the first time since Dariana has been a part of our family. Melody and I use to shop, shop, shop and I could usually go as long as, or longer than, she could before exhaustion hit. But, for a few years before I started chemo, I wasn't able to walk very much and as the Hodgkin's disease got worse, I could walk less and less. For the last two or three years, I haven't shopped except for necessities. Yesterday we shopped and had a nice lunch and enjoyed Dari. I was exhausted before I left to drive home but it was such an enjoyable time being with my daughter and granddaughter. Melody called tonight to tell me how much fun it was for her and how proud she was to have me to go shop with her like we use to. How sweet it is.

Tomorrow I am going to think about sewing while I knit on my entrelac stole. It has been picked up in so long I will have to find where I left off in the pattern and set my pace again. Once it gets going it is a fun project to knit but the right side triangle will probably make me stumble the first go around. I have so much I want to do, not just knitting, but I'm itching to get out my embroidery and work on something. I've been letting sewing wonder across my mind quite frequently too and even bought some lime green fleece and a jacket pattern, zipper, and thread when I was in the fabric store last week. And I've been toying with the idea of learning appliqué. I love appliqué on children's clothes and on kitchen linens. I have done a bit many years ago but would like to learn to do it well and use it on some pants and dresses for Dariana.

DH is working on his iris beds, making new beds, digging, dividing, moving, and replanting. I would like to help him more but the sun is too brutal for me right now. Tomorrow the temperature is supposed to be 100° and even now, at midnight, the humidity is unbearable outside. Tonight when I took my water exercise the pool was warm like a bath in wintertime. Maestro loved it and I must have floated him on my arm for over thirty minutes; he loves it. Look at him and Dariana. What a sweet pair of angels they make.

What I Have and Have Not Knitted

Below is a little survey of what I have or have not knitted and of things I would like to knit in the future. It's been around for awhile I think, I've seen it on other blogs, so I decided to add it here. Maybe it will help some of my partners in the exchanges I participate in. Some of you other knitters that enjoy the exchanges might enjoy adding it to your blog also.

That said, let me make a couple of other comments.

• I am not a sock knitter, I've never knitted a pair of socks, really; but, I plan to knit a pair at some point in the future just so I can say 'I've knitted socks'. I personally can't justify spending the amount of money or of time making a pair of socks that I can go buy three pairs for less than what the yarn cost for one pair. I DID SAY 'PERSONALLY'. On the other hand, I'd love to receive a pair of hand knitted socks, I've never worn any. Perhaps it would change my mind and I'd become addicted to hand-knitted socks.
• I have knitted (tried that is) with both wire and with beads. I didn't enjoy doing either. I think beads are very pretty accents on a knitted sweater, shawl, or bag, but as far as knitting a piece of jewelry with them, it's not my cup of tea.
• I do not bead - but I do appreciate all the wonderful markers that I've received (don't really need any more)
• Although I have yet to knit a 'project' using the new fiber yarns that are on the market, I can hardly wait to put something on my needles.
• Things I really adore knitting are brimmed hats and bags and especially fulling them. Next would be cardigans. I've only completed two. one for hubby and one for grand-daughter and there are two others currently on my needles (these are for me).
• I have designed and knitted a shrug and a shawl that I think are worthy of a pattern and being published but I haven't found the necessary time to sit down and write a good pattern.
• I love knitting for others, sisters, nieces, good friends and good causes.
• I love learning new stitch patterns, finishing techniques, or doing something I haven't done before. For some reason I've never knitted cables and I really must try to accomplish that. I think the reason is I'm not particular fond of cables on sweaters, bags, etc . so I always look for a pattern that doesn't have them. The same goes for Fair Isle Knitting.
• I'm a Gemini all the way. Impulsive, changeable, doing a dozen things at once (or trying to), and mind always working in overtime.

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

• Afghan
• I-cord
• Garter stitch
• Knitting with metal wire
• Shawl
• Stockinette stitch
• Socks: top-down
• Socks: toe-up
• Knitting with camel yarn
• Mittens: Cuff-up
• Mittens: Tip-down
• Hat
• Knitting with silk
• Moebius band knitting
• Participating in a KAL
• Sweater
• Drop stitch patterns
• Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
• Slip stitch patterns
• Knitting with banana fiber yarn
• Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
• Twisted stitch patterns
• Knitting with bamboo yarn
• Two end knitting
• Charity knitting
• Knitting with soy yarn
• Cardigan
• Toy/doll clothing
• Knitting with circular needles
• Baby items
• Knitting with your own handspun yarn
• Slippers
• Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
• Continental knitting
• Designing knitted garments
• Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
• Lace patterns
• Publishing a knitting book
• Scarf
• Teaching a child to knit
• American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
• Knitting to make money
• Button holes
• Knitting with alpaca
• Fair Isle knitting
• Norwegian knitting
• Dying with plant colours
• Knitting items for a wedding
• Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
• Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
• Olympic knitting
• Knitting with someone eles's handspun yarn
• Knitting with dpns
• Holiday related knitting
• Teaching a male how to knit
• Bobbles
• Knitting for a living
• Knitting with cotton
• Knitting smocking
• Dying yarn
• Steeks
• Knitting art
• Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
• Fulling/felting
• Knitting with wool
• Textured knitting
• Kitchener
• BO
• Purses/bags
• Knitting with beads
• Swatching
• Long Tail CO
• Entrelac
• Knitting and purling backwards
• Machine knitting
• Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
• Stuffed toys
• Baby items
• Knitting with cashmere
• Darning
• Jewelry
• Knitting with synthetic yarn
• Writing a pattern
• Gloves
• Intrasia
• Knitting with linen
• Knitting for preemies
• Tubular CO
• Freeform knitting
• Short rows
• Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
• Pillows
• Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
• Rug
• Knitting on a loom
• Thrummed knitting
• Knitting a gift
• Knitting for pets
• Shrug/bolero/poncho
• Knitting with dog/cat hair
• Hair accessories
• Knitting in public

Hummingbirds and Dish Rags

Here he comes, faster than a speeding bullet!

A smooth landing and all looks well!

Refueling time.

Lay-over and rest.

Zoom --- off into the wild blue yonder.

This is one of the hummingbirds that visits our feeders each year; once they find their territory, they return year after year. We have three that are always on a feeder or perched in a Crepe Myrtle and there are others that visit but don't seem to use our property as their home. It is so much fun to sit on the porch with a cup of coffee early in the mornings watching them fuel up for the day. They seem to be most active early in the day and then again in the early evenings getting ready for night. Sometimes we sit with the neighbors on their porch, or they with us on ours, and share a glass of wine, catch up on the days happenings and watch the hummingbirds flirt with one another. They do flirt. It is such fun to see them buzz around one another, sometimes actually smacking the other with their long sword length beak. They seem to really like the red petunias I planted in the bed across the front of the porch and there is a potted doubled hibiscus setting on the porch that some of my gardening friends brought out to me a few weeks ago. And then this, a Swamp Hibiscus brought home from our trip to SC a couple of weeks ago. Isn't it the most gorgeous thing? The bloom here is not fully opened. Once it opens all the way, it is about 8" or so in diameter and the petals no longer touch one another. It is a herbaceous perennial but I want to save some of it's seeds to plant next spring in case it doesn't make it through our dry summer and cold winter. Probably it will re-seed itself, but I want to be sure this plant is in my garden next year. The hummingbirds love it and so does the butterflies.

I decided to participate in a knitted dishcloth swap (remember when people use to say dishrag and washrag?) so I've been knitting on that today. I had a beautiful variegated yarn in all the colors that my partner likes best. I have the dishcloth about half finished and will probably finish it off tonight if there is time. It's getting to be late afternoon and there is still to take Maestro for his swim, do my water exercises, and make dinner. Dinner may take a bit more time tonight since the new kitchen range has arrived and I'm still tinkling around with what works best. DH wound up installing the range himself - which I try to always avoid since he is not a handy man and life is much simpler to just pay for installation. The opening for the 30" slide-in that was in place, did not fit the 30" slide-in that was delivered. The delivery team let us know immediately they only do deliveries, plug ins, and take aways, nothing more. I could see DH's nerves jumping around in his body when he realized what that meant. He had to make the opening in the counter about 1/8" larger, so, he went to work with his saw and sanding paper. He really did a great job as he always does, but what stress he goes through in doing it.

Tomorrow I want to bake something good in my new oven and visit a couple of old friends who are elderly and finding life to be a bit hard for them. If I bake early I'll be able to take them some goodies which they will enjoy. I love these two ladies dearly and it is so sad to me to see them in their situation. There are no financial worries for them but they live in a neighborhood that was once prosperous and is now quite run down and no longer safe. They are totally devoted to one another having lived in houses side-by-side all their married life and having no children of their own. Both their husband's passed away a number of years ago and their closes relative is a nephew. I sometimes wonder why life seems to be so much harder for some, than for others. I know that's the way life is, I just don't understand it.