The Last of the Soap Tales

 

That's it for now. I used up every single bit of soap making stuff I had here over the past two weeks. 

As I ran out of stuff I had to keep re-formulating the recipe. I even had to send The Mister to the drug store for some castor oil. Thank goodness people still drink that stuff. I am not sure why but I am glad they do. I always seem to be running out of it and it takes forever to get here from the soap supply company. 

This last big batch is Twisted Violet which smells like those little violet candies you can buy at Paper Source. I love them. This makes six batches of 14 bars each which is......a heck of a lot of soap and that is NOT including the 14 bars that didn't get enough lye. If it all cures nicely there just may be a giveaway in late June. Stay tuned. 

Wednesday WIPs: Hooked

 

How fun is this? I am having a ball with my new crochet project. It took a few days and lots of boo boos to figure it all out but I think I've got it now. Thank goodness ripping back crochet is so much easier than ripping back knitting.

My first try was too big and too floppy. That first one took me three days to get done and that includes a 2 am cram session. Following the directions was like learning a foreign language. The charts made me crossed eyed. They are scary. It's a good thing Arne and Carlos posted a bunch of videos for their Audun blanket or I would still be trying to figure it all out. 

There are four rounds to each square and I find that if I just concentrate on the directions for one round a day I don't make as many mistakes. Today was round one day. 

I still have a lot to learn. My tension is wonky and my treble stitches are a bit sloppy but playing with all these cute little balls of yarn is so much FUN. 

And...I've still got plenty left in the bag AND I'm already thinking of buying even more. This is quite the rabbit hole I've fallen down.

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 

The stitching table was still being used for soap this week but in spite of the mess Mr. Very Big Goose has a head. He's still missing his lower body but at least he looks like a goose now. 

My little village is getting ready to turn another corner. It seems a very big peacock has moved into the neighborhood.

I've made another sail and another little flag on the nautical sampler but I really need to get that rope done at the top so I can roll it up a bit. There's a boat under those sails that I need to get to so I can make sure everything lines up. I'm learning that when you are winging it little things like that really matter. 

Squeeeeee!!!!!

Yesterday Arne and Carlos did an episode about their new line of Lofoten sock yarn.  It's so pretty.

Yesterday afternoon I found this in my mailbox.

Last week they had briefly mentioned the yarn and showed it off a bit so I went looking for it and it was nowhere to be found here in the US. Later I found one vendor on Etsy who was selling the whole line for $128 with free shipping which in the world of sock yarn is practically giving it away.  I can't tell you how happy this makes me. I figure it's life insurance.

I saw a film recently where when Death came to get an ailing grandma she refused to go with him until the mitten she was knitting was finished. He patiently waited for her to cast off.  Since we've all had our mortality tested in the past few weeks over the loss of our dear blogger friend I figure now I can't won't be going anywhere until those eight pair are done. He'll just have to wait until at least Christmas 2022. That's one pair for everyone. 

Speaking of Christmas, I've got one more pair finished for the 2021 gift box. Those dreaded Felicis are a done deal thank goodness.

I've got eight pair in the gift box now but I'm not seeing any man socks. I've got a pair on the needles right now that will give me one. I need three more and then I can start the 2022 Lofoten Christmas knitting....squeeeee!

Kitchen Update

 

We did it. We finally sat down, did the measuring and ordered the kitchen cabinets. 

My sample chips arrived last week from Lowe's and I was finally able to come to a decision on what I wanted. 

This was my original inspiration photo from Ikea which seems like a million years ago now.  I can't find a photo of what we ended up buying but imagine this in a much lighter gray. 

I really, really, really wanted an Ikea kitchen but after a year of living in rubble I am willing to compromise. The thought of having to assemble each and every cabinet was not making The Mister happy so I am going to settle for just getting this Ikea island instead. After pulling up and tossing the big old built-in island this time I wanted something I could move around and clean under so it's all good. Now we just have to wait until delivery day which is June 12th. Then the fun begins.

On the Beach

 

It's felt like fall here all week and I love it. 

In spite of the cool weather the town is gearing up for tourist season so we thought we better visit some of the places that will start charging an entrance fee on Memorial Day.

Our town beach will only open to residents this year. Last year all the beaches were closed. 

It's a bit of a walk to get to this particular one but it's a lovely, shady stroll through the wetlands. 

There is a boardwalk too. We haven't been on it in a long while. Two years ago there was a landslide that closed it. Last it year it was Covid. It's a nice long walk that is perfect for cool weather. Hot summer weather-not so much. Let the tourists have it. I'll be back in the fall. 

Friday Felines

 

Remember Emi that tiny little kitten I was kitty sitting over at Daughter's right before the pandemic began? 

The last time I saw her was when Daughter went to Iceland in January of 2020. Daughter had us laughing on Mother's Day about what a roly poly she's become and shared some photos. 

She didn't grow out long. She grew out wide. Lol.....