Wordless Wednesday

World Upheaval!

South America has been ripped three times!! Such upheaval!! Alas, creating the world is much more challenging that it appears to be in Genesis!!

About a year ago, I posted about creating the world---well, the world ghan for J. It's back there in the Archives from last Fall. A year later, I have just picked it up again. The knitting and the graphs are easy. Then there is the process of determining the best way to align the partial continents: row counting-nope, marking every twenty rows-nope, pinning the finished portion-nope. What's left? I am joining the pieces as I finish a section of the second strip in order to match the portions of the continents! Yes, that's it!

Although the pattern calls for knitting the five strips, then joining--I'm just not comfortable with that! So after about a full day of knitting, ripping, trying another method, I seem to have come upon the way that works for me---so far, that is! It has been slow going at this point, but I think I'll sail along from here. (Famous last words!)

It's a fun project since J colored the world map for me and I am following his color scheme rather than the pattern. So back to creating the world! Praise God for the work of His mighty hands!

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Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. -- Henry Ford

Saturday Sky with Jet Stream

Blue skies smilin' at me,

Nothing but blue skies do I see!

Yarnographic Friday

This is Patons' Classic Wool Merino in Royal Purple. Purple Has just met Teal.

Teal is also Patons' Classic Wool Merino. Her full name is Too Teal.

Don't they make a lovely couple?

Size Seven needles are recommended for this yarn which is a #4 medium weight. This lovely couple will be sent to my Secret Pal.

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Names are not always what they seem. The common Welsh name Bzjxxlwcp is pronounced Jackson.
--- Mark Twain

And Then She Found Me

The Rambling Rows baby blanket is finished, wrapped, and ready to deliver to my neighbors and their first child, a precious daughter. I decided to add a ruffle trim to soften the angles. Doing the final row in purple is a pleasing way to unify the bolder colors with the pastels.

I finished reading And Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman and truly enjoyed it! There were surprising and unexpected turns in the story along with a good bit of humor. Delightful to read! The description on the back cover says, "April Epner teaches high school Latin, wears flannel jumpers, and is used to having her evenings free. Bernice Graverman brandishes designer labels, favors toad-sized earrings, and hosts her own tacky TV talk show: Bernice G! For 36 years Bernice has followed the life of the daughter she gave up for adoption. Now she's ready to be a mom. And she's hurtling straight for April's quiet little life..."

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Don’t ever become so busy that you fail to realize how very happy you are! ---Kathryn Hiller

Wordless Wednesday

The Columnist by Jeffrey Frank

The beautiful, but misleading Saturday sky pic also includes a biting, cold wind in 41-degree temperatures! Love my fireplace!

In answer to Zonda about the yarn posted yesterday, I plan to gift it to my Secret Pal 9.

I finished reading The Columnist by Jeffrey Frank. It is a satirical account of a pompous journalist who becomes a Washington columnist and "talking head" on cable news channels. He is a composite of several self-important journalists that often pop up on cable news. Written in the voice of the lead character as he pens his memoirs, the name dropping and anecdotes are self-serving, witty, and pathetic. A quick read, this book left me feeling very sad for the lonely character of Brandon Sladder.

Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning. ---Psalm 30:5

Yarnographic Friday

Today's yarn is 1100 yards of Rick Rack by Interlacements, hand-dyed, and 100% nylon. Their web site is https://interlacementsyarns.com/

It has a particular shine to it that catches light that brings out shades of color. It feels amazingly soft and silky and would make a very nice throw.

Here's Rick Rack after spending some time with Miss Swift and Mr. Winder.

Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention. --Sharon Salzberg

Wordless Wednesday

Hats! The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell

Yesterday was a knitless day. Instead of knitting, I was Red Hatting! Our chapter went out to eat at a fab-fab Mexican Restaurant, El Noa Noa, where I savored a carnita sopapilla with a side of guacamole. There are no words! You just have to taste it! Then, we went to the play "Hats!", a musical about----can you guess?---the Red Hat Society and the joys of being 50 and over. It's going to be at Harrah's in New Orleans in January, so if you're in that part of the country you might want to see it there. A charter bus from Nebraska brought 118 Red Hatters to see the play in Denver yesterday. Fun-fun day!

Meanwhile, my poor sweet Max was recuperating after being stung by a swarm of wasps. He didn't whimper, moan, or make a peep---er--- sound, but he was miserable. He had been stung near his right eye, which was swollen shut, his front paws, and back. He's doing much better today, but I felt just awful for him. I had moved the wooden steps to our hot tub, not knowing there was a hive in there. So while I was standing on the top step to hang wind chimes at the end of the pergola, sweet Max was being attacked by the tunnel wasps. Poor baby.

Wondering what the glue-like substance is? (It'll stick to your ribs---har-har!) It is simmering on the cook top as I type. It's a quickie recipe that I will share with you below. Just how brave are you, hmmm?

Quickie Italian Chicken and Rice Soup(ready in approximately 10 minutes)

• 1 quart plus 2 cups chicken stock (I use Swanson's)
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 thinly sliced zucchini--or not
• 1# can Great Northern beans, undrained
• 1-1/2 cups quick cooking rice
• 2 cans of Hormel chicken chunks
• basil and parsley to taste
• grated Parmesan or Romano cheese to be put on top when serving

Bring stock and carrots to boil over high heat.
Stir in the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the grated cheese.
Cook about 5-7 minutes until rice is done and veggies are tender.
Serve with cheese sprinkled (liberally in our house) on top.
Serve with a fresh salad and enjoy! :)

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I finally finished reading The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell by Loraine Despres. I don't really know why I slogged through it, but I did. No disrespect to the author, but this book struck me as one in the category of Harlequin romance with history thrown in to give it some respectability. Not my cup-o-tea. The story line is essentially a bodice-ripper with standard characters including the lovely, sexually starved widow, the too handsome but evil and highly sexual man, the married guy who truly loves her, the ambivalent mother-in-law...well, you get the idea. This may be a book you would truly enjoy. It just wasn't for me!
Read on!Knit on!
Eat on!And, stay away from wasps!!

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Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstien. ---H. Jackson Brown

Saturday Sky @ the Park

Fall weather is not very colorful here. There are a few trees that go to yellow, but not for long. Most trees go from green to drab. However that is offset by the beautiful blue sky.

I truly-truly appreciate the supportive comments regarding the baby blanket for the neighbor baby who is getting older by the minute! My posting about the number of patches was incorrect--darn! The total for the baby blanket is 55 not 46! I do want to emphasize that this pattern is really fun to knit. The pattern is in The Rambling Rows Afghan booklet by Cottage Creations.

I knew you before you were born. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. You were written in My book before you were even made. ---Psalm 139: 13-16

Noro Kureyon

This Noro Kureyon is coyly posing in a pottery piece.

Shades of green are cuddled among the gorgeous jewel tones of blues and purples.

Accompanied by two other hanks of Kureyon, this will be sent to my SP9 later this month. I hope she'll enjoy these rich colors.

The Word of the Lord did not come to pass. It came to stay. ---Unknown

Doo-WAH!

Why settle for a solo when you can have trio? Although these happy little ghosts sing a cute version of "I want candy!", they could use some help with their choreography! Fun Halloween gifts, they are!

Maybe we don't put our young people in situations often enough where they're allowed to fail. When you fail you gain experience, and with enough experience, you don't fail as often. ---Colin Powell

Wordless Wednesday

Saturday Sky @ 6 PM

Driving down the highway at 70 MPH, I picked up my camera, stuck my arm out of the car window while praying that I wouldn't drop the camera, and snapped a few pics. This is the best of them. When I was a child, my Nonna told me the rays are blessings coming from the hand of God. I praise and thank Him for tonight's beautiful show in the sky.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ---Hebrews 11:1

Yarnographic Friday

This Italian yarn has lived with us for four years and has become part of the family! Although I'm the only one aware of it. I love the dark red color with touches of other color strands running through it.

From the Mosaic collection, this Charles yarn is 83% extra fine merino, 15% acrylic, and 2% nylon for size 5 or 6 needles. With 99 yards per ball, you know I have mountains of the elegant yarn!

This is the sweater that I am making---making? I did about 25-30 rows four years ago. Does that count as making??
The twisted stitch adds a beautiful finishing touch to the cuffs and the bottom edge.

Now for some natural beauty living on the fence in our backyard. I never tire of seeing this view from our deck.

There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth.--Agnes Repplier

Rambling Rows

Skulking along our side of the fence in the back yard, hiding among the vines draping our pergola, I am avoiding my neighbors! Most especially, I am avoiding their newborn, precious daughter. I feel awful! Here is the reason for my nefarious actions:



It's the blanket I am making for the baby! It is preventing me from cuddling their first born! Did I mention that she is about 5-6 weeks old? No? Well, she is!

Does anyone else do this? I mean the I-can't-visit-the-baby-until-I-finish-the blanket thing. I mean, they live right. next. door. I've thought of visiting them and telling them I'm making something for the baby that is not quite finished yet. Then I think no, I want to have a gift with me when I see her for the first time. You can see, given world events, just exactly how Earth shaking this is! Now I'm thinking--knit faster!!

And then, there's the other problem I have as I close-in on completing an item: I find something that I dislike about it. Ev-er-y time! My original idea about the color for this was to use the girlie-pink as the main color along with the other pastels, add a couple stronger colors for visual stimulation, and there's my baby blanket!! Although I like the lime and purple, I am now thinking--oh my! Those are bright!
This Rambling Rows ghan is fun to knit-- just wishing I were completing it a little faster! I am working on patch #36 of 46 total patches. Darn! I can see in these pics that some of the slanted lines are at the wrong angle! There was a time I would have ripped and redone, however that time is not now!
The Caron "Simply Soft" is nice to work with and good for tossing in the washer and dryer. So, instead of typing-typing, I'd best start knitting-knitting with my size 8s.

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. --- Proverbs 15:30

Wordless Wednesday --- Teeth!

SP9 Questionnaire

Sp9 is coming soon!! Here are my questionnaire responses for my yet-to-be-named SP. Let's have fun!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I enjoy using different types of fibers and yarns. Would prefer not to have the "fun fur" type of yarn.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Needles—in a hand-thrown pottery pitcher/Hooks—in a case that I received in a swap.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Since 1962/Advanced

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, Amazon.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Fresh scents, nothing too sweet like vanilla or floral—I favor Yankee candles to put in my candle warmers.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Milk chocolate!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I crochet and do not spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Contemporary Christian music/MP3--yes

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? It really depends on the item.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Family=dearest husband, three adult children and their spouses, seven grandchildren/ My sweet dog, Max, a Boxer

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Scarves

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I like to make a variety of items and don't have a single favorite.

13. What are you knitting right now? Rambling Rows baby blanket, an intarsia afghan, two short sleeve sweaters, probably a couple other items, too!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circular bamboo

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, swift and winder.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Ohmygosh!! 4 years!

18. I learned to knit in high school with a friend by reading books. A "yarn shop lady" helped with assembling my first project, a hooded long-sleeved sweater with a font placket. I wore it for many years!

19. What is your favorite holiday?4th of July

20. Is there anything that you collect? Dolls, hand-thrown pottery, owls

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? None at the moment. I decided not to renew them since there are so many resources online and in my files. :) I would like some beaded stitch markers. Maybe I won't lose them as easily as I lose my small plastic markers!

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Modular, entrelac

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I have made socks, but do not typically knit them. ---10 inches long, 3 ¾ inches wide

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 02/26