The Great Escape

 

I spent seven weeks trying to teach this kid how to crawl only to miss his first trip around the room but he made up for it this week. He was everywhere. 

He's pretty free range most of the time but because we bring a snappy little dog with us, the playpen was put into use. Look at that. He'd love to figure a way out. He's an escape artist in training. 

I spent most of my time sitting in there with him. We had a good time.

Like his older brother, he has a lot of crazy food allergies so introducing him to foods one at a time has been slow going. He was not on any solids the last time we were sitting but now.....well, it seems raspberries and lentils are his thing. They introduced him to wheat yesterday and we held our breath but he was fine.  Oatmeal and rice were a no go so it's good they found something safe that can fill the boy up. 

Big Brother who will be four in January got a coloring lesson from Grandpa. Both are lefties. It's hard for righties to teach lefties. I know. I was a first grade teacher and it was always a struggle when I had one in my class. 

We also got a preview of the big guys Halloween costume. That light up tail is too cute. 

 On the way up I finished turning the heels on all my socks and on the way home I got a few more rows on the Ski Sweater. It wasn't that hard to say goodbye this time because we'll be back next week when Middle Son comes down from Michigan with my other two little Grands. Four little boys under one roof for the night. It'll be wild. 

Wednesday WIPs

 

I forgot about the Vuelta and the beach festival when I planned on steeking Bon Ami this weekend so it didn't get done. We're off babysitting this week again so all my socks are with me getting worked on here and there but mostly on the long ride up and back. What I did do this week was go through my stash and look for sock yarn that matched my new knot bag. Did I find any? No. Did I order some. Yes. Have I cast them on? Not yet.

TNT: New Stuff

 

Goat Load has its mound finished and the border started.

Funky Flower has the center background finished and the border started.

But what I'm really, really excited about this week is this. 

I bought some of this tapestry wool by mistake a while back when I thought I might run out of orange on Funky Flower. Since I have a bag of it, I thought I might as well buy more colors and do something with it. This sample tin even comes with a small painted canvas in case you want to get started on something right away.

I don't. What I want to do with it is paint my own canvas so I bought some to experiment with but first I have to come up with a design and get over my urge just to sit and look at all those pretty colors. I have a bad habit of never using kits because they are just too pretty as is.

Blocked

 

This is what the last stage of the Vuelta looked like yesterday. Masses of protesters blocked the roads so the race was called with 50 miles or so to go. I thought I had 3 hours of time with my handspun projects watching the final laps and then the awards but I only got one-and no awards ceremony. I was happy to see that my guy won the thing but not happy about giving up my time. 

Here's my three weeks worth of progress on the knitting projects I said I was going to concentrate on. The Garter Squish is getting tinked back to the yellow and then I will cast it off. The second sock is past the heel and the Pi shawl still has a loooong way to go before the fancy border is finished. 

I will have had seven wind offs with the drop spindles when I wind these last three off. There's plenty of fiber left so I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing it again during next year's TdF. 

The Cormo fiber that was on the Ladybug is finished. 

It didn't get a podium finish but here it is atop all the other finished skeins from this year's Grand Tours. I need a plan to use all this up before next year's roll around again.

I'm giving my wheels a rest for a while. I have projects on the Traveler and the Traditional but they're on hold for now. I'm spun out. 

Never a Dull Moment

 

There was a lot going on yesterday. First there was the Farmer's Market. It seems fall has finally fallen there. 

Everyone had pumpkins and mums. 

I was more interested in cauliflower ......

....and watermelon. They were out of seedless so I got a seeded one and I'm glad I did. It was so much better that I may never go back. The Amish dude who talked me into it was right. 

Then it was time for the Taste of the Beaches festival. Out on the ball field, the town restaurants set up booths and give away free samples. The Mister ate his weight in fried and raw oysters that were served by Traders one of the local seafood places. 

There were all kinds of things to try like this spicy shrimp gazpacho from the Rod and Reel. 

I had a snow cone from the Kona truck which was also free.

The entertainment was stellar. The local ballet school had a performance and the rock band that played for the rest of the day was outstanding. I could have sat there all day listening.

The day ended for the town with a showing of Jaws on the beach but we skipped it. I have a hard enough time watching it at home. I was severely traumatized by it when it opened in the theaters. That jump scare in the abandoned boat still gets me every time. 

Home Alone

 

I had another day to do what I wanted while The Mister went off to play golf this week so I used my time to finish weaving in the ends of Bon Amie and prepare it for steeking. I watched a lot of videos to refresh my memory and I realized I've still got a ways to go before the cutting happens. Hopefully tomorrow while The Mister is busy with football, I'll be in the sewing room basting those seams and reinforcing them on the machine before the snipping starts. Strangely enough, it's not the cutting that's scaring me. It's that mattress stitch to join the sleeves. I've never mastered it.

I also turned those figs I brought home from the Farmer's Market into jam.

They didn't make much but a little goes a long way. I've been putting it on cinnamon graham crackers along with some soynut butter for a bedtime snack and it's good. Pup thinks so too. 

Simply Socks

 

I've got all of my sock down to the heel flap. I'm starting to think I may get them done this month after all if I can keep this pace up.

I'd like to take a minute just to rave about how pretty this colorway is. Do you see all the little pink flowers? Adorable. I won't say who designed it because you will swear I'm getting paid for my endorsements but their initials start with A and C and that's all I'm saying. 

I'll be Darned...

 

I can't tell you how surprised I am that the first Afterthought Heel turned out. I had my doubts because it's just a second toe, if you know what I mean. After picking up the stitches you just knit it down to 8 stitches like you would a top down toe and pull the yarn through. So simple and it looks and fits great.

It wasn't even that scary because you put the needles through before you yank out the waste yarn holding it all together. I have to thank Arne and Carlos once again for this sensible solution that is made overly complicated in too many patterns. To be fair, I used techniques from two different videos. First it was the heel from last year's Christmas stocking and then their World's Easiest Sock video. I'm not really a fan of the Afterthought Heel as rule but when you have to use it, it's nice to know it works. 

And...thank you for your kind words yesterday. They were truly appreciated. Things still feel a bit weird but a lesson was learned-don't let time get between you and your loved ones. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. 

A Year in a Life

 

Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. These are the words of Joan Didion from her book The Year of Magical Thinking on the unexpected loss of a loved one. My instant was yesterday. Last week, at our family reunion, I had a half brother. Today I don't. He didn't sit down to dinner, he took a nap and without warning or complaint entered into eternity. A simple text told the tale that I still can't process. It was only about a year ago that I even knew he existed. A DNA test resulted in many, many hard kept secrets being uncovered and he was one of them. He was four months older than me and a kinder and gentler version of Dad. My family fell in love with him and he with us. He had searched all his life to find his roots and he was finally home. Today we mourn for someone we barely knew but had hoped to have a future with. I was preparing a family album to show him all the people that have come and gone of which he is now one. So much to share, so many feelings and thoughts now all out to sea. 

TNT: Redemtion

 

The replacement materials I need to re-do Patchwork Automne are not here yet but the material for The Patchwork of the Crosses is. I have to tell you picking up my rotary cutter again gave me the willie's. I am happy to report those two border panels I needed were measured and cut correctly. Whew. 

While I wait, I picked Goat Load back up. It wasn't doing it for me this summer but for early fall, it's perfect. I finished the big goat this week and am working on that mound it's standing on. That's always my least favorite part of all the stacked critters I've stitched but I suppose they have to stand on something. 

I'm rounding  the corner on the center panel of Funky Flower. I should have it done this week. I've been working on it while listening to CBC True Crime podcasts in the afternoon. Sea of Lies is jaw dropping crazy. I thought the US had cornered the market in crazies but it seems our neighbors to the north have a few of their own as well. 

As for Dear Jane, E3 has its borders on and E4 has been sorted and examined. It looks like a doozy. I just might have to modify those corners. I'm no good with points and that's a lot of points. 

Many Thanks

 

First I would like to thank the NFL. I've got my Sewing Sundays back while The Mister frets and hollers downstairs over some big guys throwing a ball around all day. Speaking of big guys, Taylor Barbie got her engagement dress made yesterday.

With those teeny tiny pieces, I've discovered that hand sewing is the way to go. I also used glue on the tiny straps. That itty bitty ruffle under the bodice had me pulling my hair out for a few hours. 

Then I tackled that knot bag that's been sitting here waiting for months. I had cut it out once, realized the material was upside down and had to order more. Here's proof I got it right this time. 

I also have to thank NYPeapod for posting about basting last week. It not only saved Taylor Barbie's dress but it saved this knot bag. Those handles are a real bear to drag around the machine bed especially when they are pinned. I couldn't keep all those layers together to save my life.  After ripping out my terrible top stitching, I basted the seams first and it worked like a charm. Ditto for Taylor Barbie's ruffle and skirt gathers. 

Ta da....here's its mugshot with a peek at the lining material. Do you know how hard it was NOT to go find some matching sock yarn to put in it? I already have SIX pairs of socks on the needles. 

To Market, To Market

 

Ugh...it was hot yesterday. 90 degrees with stifling humidity. Nonetheless, we went out bright and early to the Farmer's Market. In spite of the heat, I was expecting a fall festival vibe but there was only a lovely bunch of apples and....

...a very few early pumpkins. No mums yet.

There was a beautiful display of wildflowers but by the time I realized I wanted a photo of them, all but this one bunch were gone. 

I came home with the usual fruits and veg and a bag of fresh figs that I will turn into jam. Dad had a fig tree in his yard that I planted when I first moved down here and it gave up plenty of figs every year. We always made jam. This little bit will be just enough for me for the week. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to eat it up in a few days especially since I have a freezer full of English muffins. 

I also treated myself to this pattern from Stone Knits. It's 30% off through tonight. If you haven't seen this designer's YouTube shorts I urge you to do so. She's got a lovely presence and a wonderful array of sock patterns for sale. She's in full autumn mode right now so if you need some inspiration, you'll find it there.