Home Again

Well, we got home on Saturday. It was hard to leave BEAUTIFUL San Destin, Florida. I have never seen the water clearer or greener. Hardly any seaweed, and only 1 shark sighting (LOL, but true). I did see a few dolphins as well.

Here's how it went: Spent all day in the Gulf with the boys all 3 days. Ate fantastic seafood, drank a few tropical drinks, glasses of wine, cans of beer (no glass on the beach). Walked on the beach early in the mornings and late in the evenings. No one got sunburned (we're a pretty pale group, so that's an amazing feat!), but some little sea creature bit my toe and made it bleed! Brave me, I got back in the water, but only after the blood stopped. Didn't want to give the sharks an invitation.

And as this is a knitting blog, here's the knitting low down: Koigu sock in the car on the way there and back. I finished it today, but it's just as too big as the first one. What's wrong with me? I KNEW that would be the case, but I just wanted to finish the pair.

In other knitting news, I ordered yarn on line for the first time today. I know, I'm a late bloomer. I ordered 2 balls of Opal solid sock yarn. I'm planning on making Grumperina's Jaywalker socks for my 2 sisters-in-law for Christmas. I can't wait to get the yarn & get started. In the mean time, I'm working on the never ending sampler afghan.

Branching Out 2

I'm off to Florida for a few days, but I wanted to show you Branching Out #2. I love this scarf so much, I have to show you 5 views. I couldn't get 1 shot that did it justice.

Here you can see how beautifully the fabric drapes:

This shows the pattern pretty well, but the color is off:

I just like this picture:

Against yellow green:

Against blue green:


I'm taking my Koigu sock to knit on the trip (5 hours in the car). I will probably finish it so, I am also going to work on my sampler afghan. Other than that, it will be fun in the sun (50 spf), wave surfing, eating, drinking & seeing some old friends.

Dates and Eggplants

I have 2 things to show you today:

First, #1 had his first painting lessons last week. We decided on eggplants, because they are simple forms and have beautiful color, and we had just bought them at the farmer's market that morning.

I think he did a great job. We both had a canvas and I would paint on mine, with him watching. Then he would paint on his. These are all his strokes. I helped him mix the color, but, after a while, he started mixing his own.

This is acrylic on canvas (I think it's 12 inches square).



Second: This is what I want to knit. It is from the Columbia Style Book # 108, 1946. I think it is very stylish, but I'm not sure if I would do the crochet around the belt buckle. Mostly, I just like the name. The yarn it calls for is no longer available, but it's just worsted weight wool. I may try a wool/alpaca blend. I've tried a few things from these old books and it's fun to see them come to be.

I'm so brilliant! I accidently deleted the post that contained these pictures. So here they are:

Branching Out #2 with my Stripey Bag:



Branching Out #'s 1 & 2, Blocking Comparison



Douceur et Soie Crocheted Wrap:



B O #2 is finished & blocking. I will put pictures up when it's dry.

NOW, What am I going to do? I don't have any yarn or a project. Ok, I have a ball of Koigu KPPPM, and I could knit the other sock, but the first one didn't fit properly, so I'm not sure I want to get into that. Maybe I could make a scarf out of it. I have a bunch of Jo Sharp DK wool. A sweater maybe? or a shawl. I probably don't have the right sized circulars for that. I am antsy without anything on the needles. Well, maybe a day off from knitting isn't such a bad thing.....is it?

I've started a second Branching Out for my MIL's Xmas. I'm using larger needles this time, (#8 US, the recommended size) and the Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk in a dark purple. It's harder to knit with the darker color, the decreases especially. But it is coming along. I really like this pattern and want to double it in the future (ie: 2 motifs instead of one) and make a wrap out of it. I am becoming more familiar with the pattern and know a few of the rows by heart.

I'm happy to be getting some Xmas stuff done. I am always so busy at the end of the semester, and I have #1's BD to take care of 3 days after the 25th. It's always a huge pain to buy and wrap presents for folks at that time of year, so I'm killing 2 birds, and don't feel guilty about spending so much time and money on knitting.

I've finally gotten a little painting done. #1 really wanted me to paint his portrait, so we started it on Monday. I'm using acrylic because it's so hot, and I don't want to open the windows for the fumes of oil paint. Talk about a pain. I've got to find some kind of way to use acrylic that doesn't drive me crazy. All I can think is, "If this was oil, I could do this or that." I had the same problem when I was pregnant & didn't want to deal with all the chemicals of oil.

Anyway. #1 doesn't make such a good sitter. OMG he won't sit still! But what did I expect. I knew that would be the case. He's sweet though, every 10 seconds, getting up and saying "It's really coming along with the other pictures, Mom." He's referring to all the portraits I painted of him from photos when he was a baby. I don't usually paint from photos, but I really wanted some paintings of the kids. At least I DID get some painting done. It's kind of addictive. When I start painting, I really don't want to do anything else. That's a good thing and a bad thing I guess. Maybe I'll go back to the studio and paint a still life this afternoon. Something that CAN'T move.

I finished the Branching Out Scarf. It turned out pretty well I think:



The Alpaca & Silk is a dream to work with. I've got some more in a plum color. I think I may make the scarf again using larger needles. I used #7 Clover Bamboos for the green one.

Not too much else going on. #1 is staying home with me this summer. We've been swimming, knitting, gardening, playing. #2 is still in daycare, to secure his position for next fall when I go back to teaching, but I keep him home often and/or pick him up early. It's nice having time alone with #1.

The garden is growing. Here are some of the latest pics:

The volunteer zinnias and marigolds are blooming.




Here is a crinum lily (also called milk & wine lily). I have several blooming now, but this is the best pic.



The tomatoes are about ready for the first harvest:




That's about it for now.