Early Morning Field Trip

 I'm still doggy sitting so yesterday morning I was up at dawn and out the door to pay a visit to this very familiar building in N. VA. I spent many an hour and many a dollar here years ago.

 The Grands live near Daughter's old training rink and she still goes out there on Wednesday mornings at an ungodly hour to run through her moves. Continuing education for coaches is a lot more fun than for teachers.

I really went to meet her to get this. She brought this back for me from my last kitty sitting gig. I do love taffy.

 She had to hit the road to get back to her rink in Wheaton right after her session so I decided to pass some time at the craft store across the street from the rink. It was in full autumn bloom.

 I want one.

Not this. It's creepy right? 

I seem to be on a sketch book buying binge. It's my latest collection of things I never use. I bought two. They were on sale.

Next it was the grocery store. Look what I found.

And this. It's a pumpkin spiced soda bread and oh, my gosh is it good. I love shopping at unfamiliar stores. You never know what you are going to find.

Sitting and Knitting

 Screened in porches are also good for knitting.

 I am making good headway on the KAL socks. That's a turned heel right there.

 One of the Halloween mitts are done minus the five rows of ribbing I need to do on the thumb.

You see how close I am to the last corner of the shawl from hell. I'll have one more short edge to do and then this will be in the history books thank goodness.

I've even been working on my travel socks since sometimes you just need a mindless knit to keep your hands busy.

That huge ball of yarn fits nicely in the pocket of my new apron. I took lots of pictures when I was making it last Saturday but I forgot to download them before I left so that post will have to wait.  That big ball of Hawthorne fits in the big pockets very nicely. I can walk around and play with the Golden and knit at the same time. He is easily amused-so am I.

Screened In

 I am doggy sitting this week while the Grands are living it up in the Outer Banks. The Golden is not too happy about it. He is usually happy to see me but this time he seems a bit sad that his little people are gone.

I, on the other hand, am living it up on their beautiful screened in porch. The weather is fantastic for sitting and stitching and the natural light couldn't be better for these old eyes.

I am getting started on the second Halloween sampler. It's a big one.

 I haven't forgotten the other one. It came along for the ride too.

So did my sheepies. Mr. Lincoln is done. Next up is a Clun Forest.  I'll be here until Sunday so I've got plenty of stitching time all to myself.

Yesterday Kathy B in her Q & A asked if we had any goals for the rest of 2017. At the time I couldn't really think of anything but after jumping up and down all day I've decided that EVERY one of my project bags will have it's own pair of scissors. I can never seem to find a pair when I need one.

A Dose of Fiber

 I know my friends in Florida have bigger worries but my biggest problem today is that I hate all the projects on my wheels right now.

They are leftover Cormo locks from the Tdf and I am so over them.

This project is really, really over. Life is too short to spin nasty fiber and I really, really hate this stuff. I am going to ply what I have and toss the rest in the trash. It was supposed to be my MDSW shawl for next year but I'll just have to figure something else out.

 What I want to do is spin some of the beautiful fiber I have in the stash. I've got lots and most of it is in a fall colorway. I need some mindless, hypnotic spinning action. It's my stress relief and it's not happening with the nasty stuff on the wheels.

A few weeks ago I pulled this handspun project to be kitted up but this is as far as it got. Allergies plus migraines have left me with a bad case of missing mojo lately. I need some quiet time and I need it bad. I've got nothing to complain about though when you consider what friends in Texas, Mexico and Florida have had to endure. The heck with fall and this storm season. We need winter and we need it bad.

First Socks

 It was chilly enough last night to have to dig out some socks for my cold feet.

I have this ritual every year. My feet get cold and then I go look through the sock bins and decide it's not chilly enough yet for wool. I get out the same pair of cotton socks-my one and only handknit pair.

Good look, huh? Sun dress with flannel sheepy pj pants with cotton socks and crocs. I don't do season changes well.  I never know what to put on. I feel very out of sorts when I don't have a seasonal uniform to just throw on without thinking about it.

What I need to do is knit more cotton socks. I have a few balls in my stash and I always turn my nose up at them never remembering they are my "bridge" socks.  I should cast them on now while I am thinking about them but that would be pair number five on the needles and that's a lot-even for me.

New Stuff

 I got a happy package. Anything with yarn in it is a happy package.

 I only meant to order some new needles. All my sock circulars for magic loop are in use and I need a travel sock project since all my KALs take too much thinking.

 This clearance Hawthorne followed me home.

It's not particularly pretty but it was cheap and it will do to carry around in my purse for emergency knitting. It's my first Hawthorn. It's a lot like Socks that Rock. It's very thick and twisty.

I also got a surprise package which is always the best kind of package. It couldn't have come on a better day. The Mister aka Mr. Ants in His Pants was out sailing with a friend and I had a wonderfully calm afternoon. I had a lovely cup with a snickerdoodle on the side and then went and painted my toenails purple. Thanks Sandflies-you made my day!!!

The I's Have It

I don't like hurricanes as a rule but I really don't like the ones that start with I. Isabelle pushed our beach town two blocks back and Irene gave The Mister and I our biggest scare ever after a night of terror in the downstairs closet listening to the destruction all around us. Irma's not a threat to the Bay but I still have a bad feeling. 

We had our first nice day in a while yesterday so I turned off the weather channel that I've been glued to and took a walk through the wetlands.

 We have a big town fest on Saturday so they've got the oyster education booth set up. That's a giant pile of oyster shells btw.

 That's an oyster incubator. We have a program to repopulate the bay with the yummy little critters.

 Speaking of repopulation, we have Purple Martin houses now too. I haven't seen one but I might not recognize one if I did.

 No hint of any storm brewing. I hope it stays that way. It's too late for my friends in Florida to hope for the best. I hope you all stay safe wherever you find yourselves. Hurricanes are terrible things.

 Last week I was lobbying The Mister to use his inheritance to buy a houseboat but I think I've changed my mind. I'll keep my feet on the ground and my head in the clouds. It's safer that way.