It was really windy so this is as good as it gets. The grumpy old man is my husband. He wanted to help so I thought I should include him in the picture.
While I was there, I walked over to the edge and took pictures of the geese.
And, here’s my handbag.
It must be Spring. Our goose has picked her spot and laid her eggs. She spent the day arranging the nest. The male has all ready started chasing other geese out of the creek.
goose and egg
I was very surprised to see wood ducks out in the middle of the afternoon. I took several pictures from inside. I went out as quietly as possible and I was able to take a couple more before they saw me and flew off. There are a few wood duck houses in the neighborhood, but we don’t know if they’ve picked one yet. Last year, they had at least ten babies in the one in the creek by the island.
duck ducks
I sat out on the deck for a few hours this afternoon and knit. I’m back to working on the handbag. It’s fun and colorful. Maybe I’ll have a picture tomorrow. I also finished the fourth nightshirt.
These socks only took about two days to knit. I am so used to knitting socks on zeroes and ones that I felt like I was knitting with pencils. It didn’t feel right to be knitting socks on size four needles. Actually, I wish now that I had at least gone down to a size three with this yarn. It is Fiesta Ballet, 50% baby Alpaca and 50% Tencel. It feels marvelous. But, I am not certain that it is appropriate for socks. Except for a little variance in the ribbing, there was nothing interesting. I will probably never use this pattern again or will I ever use this yarn for socks. Come to think of it, I don’t think there is anything I would want to make with this yarn.
If they waited a couple of hours, they would have only needed rubber boots. They found what looked like a sawed off shotgun. I guess I’ll find out Wednesday when the paper comes.
I decided to make a pair of quickie socks. I probably would have finished them this afternoon, but my organizational skills went out the window this morning. I didn’t sleep well last night. My stomach was upset. I had dinner at Olive Garden with some girlfriends after kniting group yesterday. The food was mediocre. I should have just gotten soup. Will I ever learn?
I am really happy with my new socks. They are soft and squishy and are a perfect fit, if I do say so myself.
I made a little mistake. I didn’t notice until it was almost finished. I wasn’t about to undo it.
I reversed the colors on the second one. I kept messing up so I copied the patterns and colored them.
My daughter asked me to take the flare out of the sleeves on the cotton sweater I had made her. I’ve already finished one and I should be finished in a few days. Then I can go back to the handbag. After that, I think I’ll make another pair of socks only on size four needles so they won’t take too long. What should I do next? I still have a sweater and a vest that I need to finish. Can you that I am making myself crazy here? I got to go.
We went there last night expecting to have another great meal like we had last month. Boy, were we surprised! Actually, I now wonder if the place was sold. I think the cook used to work at MacDonald’s and it must have been the waitress’s first day. The crab-cakes were more filler than crab-meat, the shrimp and scallops were overcooked and too few for the amount they were charging. We were half finished our meal when the waitress got around to bringing the seafood and tartar sauce and Worcestershire. And she never asked about dessert.
Today was an absolutely beautiful day. I spent all afternoon sitting on the deck and knitting. I took lots of pictures, but I put them on the other computer and then deleted from my camera. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow, maybe. It was Olive’s first time outside. So, I took a picture of my sock progress just for you.
I love my children,but I am so happy to be back home. I worry about them. I’ll be glad when Win finds a job that he really likes instead of “just a job”. Jenn has been having trouble with her periods. Dr. T retired a couple years ago, but she has finally found someone else who gives her the care that we were so used to having with Dr. T. He’s also a Hopkins doctor. I’ll probably go back in a few weeks.
Here’s the yarn that I bought from Enchanted Knoll Farm in Maine. It came when I left. My not certain what I will make with it, but I really am very pleased with it. It has a great feel and the colors are so much better than this picture.
The heel is finished and I’m coming down to the toes. I’m expecting my other sock club any day and I brought back sewing, knitting and crocheting to do. My daughter can sew, but my machines do so much more than hers. John keeps taking her fleece throw so she bought a piece for him and wants me to finish it the way I did hers. She also wants me to change the sleeves on her tunic. I have a knit shirt from Win with some strange holes. I guess it beats catching turtles for my grandson.
The snow is just about gone. Each day has been getting a little warmer and I’m hoping to be able to sit outside this weekend. I don’t think this is yet the beginning of Spring. 
We had about four inches and it never got above freezing. Zip went out, but the snow was too deep for him to get anywhere. At least I didn’t have to out in it.
I worked on my second sock this morning. I switched patterning on this one. I keep having to take out stitches because I forget what I am doing. I finally had the sense to copy the pattern and color the stitches and things are going better.
It fits perfectly. The pattern was easy to follow and went fast. I’ve all ready got about two inches on the second. It’s going to be a little different. I’ll show you later. I’m not certain that I like it yet.
It was actually warm enough yesterday to sit outside for a while. Today, it must be about 20 degrees cooler and the forecast is calling for snow on Monday. Just as long as it doesn’t snow tomorrow. I’ve got knitting group and I don’t want to miss it. I don’t do snow.
When I was working, the big boss tried to tell me how he was on his way to work one morning and how beautiful the snowflakes were. I knew what he was really saying. “I don’t want you staying home whenever there’s a little snow”. I rolled my eyes at him, got up and left his office. He was not happy with me anyway. When he tried to make me work mandatory overtime , I got a note from my doctor. Several months later, they said they had “lost” it and needed a new one. I said, “tell me exactly what it needs to say and I’ll have my doctor fax you a new one.” Boy, I certainly don’t miss all that bull crap.
I had a couple of very ripe bananas that I wasn’t going to eat so I got out two more from the freezer. There were some cashews whose age I did not know and I had about four bags of bittersweet chocolate. I was trying for a dozen, but I think the chocolate chips took up too much room. This is definitely the best recipe I have come with so I will write it up and put it on a page.
I was loading some upgrades to my embroidery software to my laptop, but they took a long time and playing with food seemed like a good idea. Besides, Frank was here all day installing the molding and I didn’t have a decent place to sit and knit.
I
am about to decrease for the toe which I hope to finish tonight. Then, I can start the second. Here’s yesterday’s progress. This isn’t yesterday’s. This is two days ago. I thought I had taken a picture, but I couldn’t find it. Even though I don’t have big feet, I had to add about an inch. I made a design similar to the ankle trim.
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 