Archive for June, 2012

A Day with Friends

June 23, 2012

Serendipity was having a birthday sale so, naturally, we had to go.   I left the house at 9:30 thinking I’d easily be there by 10:00.  No such luck.  I’m a few miles out when I thought to look at my gas.  I had less than 1/4 tank nd I knew there was only one gas station and they always charge more than anybody.  I turned down a side road and got out my GPS.  I only had to drive three miles to save $0.16 a gallon and it was still along the way.  But I was about 15 minutes late.  I tried calling Maria, but she didn’t answer and her phone was full.  How does voice mail fill up like that?  I was going to beat her when I saw her, but I forgot.  I knew it was useless to try Betty.  She seldom even turns hers on.  All that nonsense wasn’t even worth it.  They were late too.   

We had a great time.  Everything was 15% off.  They had various demonstrations going on and Maria’s favorite, free snacks.  It is really hard not to get overwhelmed by so many beautiful fabrics, patterns, books, and kits.  Somehow. I managed to get out of there with one pattern, on kit and three pieces of fabric.

 

And then, it was on to Sea Needles.  They are only a few miles away.  It would be stupid not to go.  I was happy to see the new Noro magazine.  Two of the on-line stores I use were sold out.  Betty will become a first-time grandmother in December and I found some yarn that we both can agree on.  I have a lovely pair of socks in Panda Silk so I know I’ll enjoy knitting with it.

Afterward, we had a very nice late lunch at the restaurant across the street.  I finally made it home by 5:00, tired but happy.  There is nothing like spending the day with friends, doing what we like to do.

Time to Block

June 21, 2012

All the pieces for the Aztec Plaid vest are finished.  Getting it pinned down takes so long when there are so many color changes.  Having the blocking wires helped, but I wish that I had more T-pins.  They are better for multicolored garments.  I managed to get it to the proper dimensions and wetted it down.  With the air conditioning running, they were dry in less than twenty-four hours.  Now, I have to weave in all the ends and sew the shoulder seams.  Some of my friends procrastinate at weaving in the ends, but not me.  It means the garment is almost finished and I’ll be starting something new soon.  It never ends.

I thought I should mention that I don’t pin down the borders or bands.

Cool on the Nanticoke

June 17, 2012

I was reading Facebook this morning and Jan mentioned that it was 100 degrees.  I believe she lives in California.  My thoughts went back to those two years I lived in Martinez.  It was June when we arrived.  I had a seven month old and just realized I was pregnant.  The tiny house had no air conditioning.  How did we ever live through that?  It’s amazing what you can live through when you are young.  I sometimes wonder.  Would I have stayed if my husband had paid even half the attention that he paid to his friends to his own children?   Well.  That was long ago and far away.  That book is finished.  How many books have I written since then?  And how many more are left in me?

Watching Mushrooms

June 16, 2012

Almost as much fun as watching turtles.

The Delmarva peninsula is one big pile of sand so it’s possible to watch them pop up.

Something to Say

June 14, 2012

I turned on my laptop to blog, but I made the mistake of tyring to clean up a few things. Well, after three hours of dumping the trash, I’m too blurry-eyed. Maybe tomorrow.

Polyester—Not a Fan

June 11, 2012

How can something as simple as this:

Be such a pain in the ass to sew?  Why do I put myself through this?  I know that polyester and I do not get along.  I just wanted to try something different.  I should know better.  I am a cotton person.  You cut it.  You sew it.  You iron it.  It just lies there.  It makes me happy.  It doesn’t look like something a seven year old made!

I think I’ll go make myself a nice cotton nightie.

What was I Going to Say?

June 4, 2012

I sat down to write, but I had mail to read.  And then, I wanted to see what Otis and his brothers were up to.  Is it going to rain?  Should I go ahead and order that book everybody has been talking about?  What’s on TV tonight?  And on.  And on.  And on.  Oh, yeah.  I was going to blog about………. What?  Horse feathers.  I don’t know!!!

So this is what have I been up to: 

  • The front band on my vest is almost finished.  It looks pretty good, but it made need a little tweaking before I give it to my daughter.  It’s been a fun knit.   
  • I steamed five pounds of shrimp the other day.  After we had our fill, I peeled the rest for salad, shrimp fried rice and anything else I can think up.  We won’t be wanting shrimp again for a long time once we finish it.
  • I got shots in my knees this morning.  I’m already noticing a difference.  We’ll see after our walk tomorrow.
  • Dot has been giving Olive a hard time lately.  I think she doesn’t her picking on Flo or she just doesn’t like the noise.  Maybe she wants to be boss.  That’s fine with me.
  • My sock club came.  I’m not real thrilled with the colorway, but it will go with a lot of things.  I definitely like the sock pattern.  There is also a little shawl pattern that is kind of cute.  I’m not much on shawls.  They tend to wind up as cat beds.

Wow.  Not bad for not knowing what to say.  Was that a double negative?  Where’s an English teacher when you need one? 

Always an atention getter.

Life is Good on the Creek

June 2, 2012

Just ask Sweet Baby Rue.