Bye February

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt

I got a package in the mail. All the way from the UK. I love packages. It always feels like Christmas. It isn't as though I wasn't expecting it, but boy is it fun to rip off the paper to find the lovelies underneath. Time to go leave feedback....
She winds into center pull cakes if you ask her.

My next socks. I will probably be casting on Wednesday. I am going to spend the day with a friend. My best friend. This is more of Qutecowgirl's sock yarn. She entitled this one "Health" after I was diagnosed with MS. How wonderful is she?

And the back to the vest is finished and I am slowly making progress on the right front. There are all sorts of colors in this yarn, little pips of gold, pink, teal, and blue. We had more snow over the weekend, so I got a little more indoor time to knit. I do not like this time of year, except for the knitting time.

What's new with you?

A Monday Moment

If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.

Katharine Hepburn

Bruce. This wonderful man sent me a rose. A perfect rose. One beautiful rose preserved and dipped in gold. He wanted me to have something that would not end up in the garbage after one week. He is one of the most romatic people I know. I am very lucky.
My pictures are a little fuzzy, but you can make out the bound off edge of the pink, alpaca, Brandywine. This is the most interesting bind off I have ever done and I love the rolled edge effect. If you have not tried this pattern, I would recommend it. I have now made three and would still like to make one for myself. I am thinking beads next time.

A Gray Sunday Morning Coming Down

Friendship with ones self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt

It is a gray day in South Dakota. We woke to ice all over the north and west side of the house bringing new meaning to light perception only. We had thunder overnight which also does not bode well in February. Today is a good day to...knit. Dexter says hi. He is the beginning of my gray post.
I finished my pink Brandwine and have moved on to a vest I have been wanting to knit since I saw it on The Woolen Rabbit.
Then these two yarns arrived at about the same time and inspiration struck. A Dexter vest...only for me. How odd to try and match yourself to a cat. Now is when I should be thinking about buttons. Do they cause anyone else angst?

Valentine's Eve

Sometimes someone says something really
small, and it just fits right into this empty
place in your heart....

My So-Called Life

I have never had an orchid rebloom before. This one loves this window, the view is one I see everyday from my desk at work. The orchid makes the snow this time of year easier to cope with. That and the bunny that lives in the snow under the bush. Pictures of rabbit dropping may follow one day soon....
This luscious yarn is another from CastOffCastOnUK over on Etsy. These balls are the way she wound them for me. Aren't they just the cutest things? The labels are great, she even adds the care instructions from the label of the garment.
The little pink bubble depression glass bowl is a recent acquisition, it is just like one my Grandmother had. I got that one when she passed away, but promptly broke it on the way home. I have given one to my Daughter-in-Law since then, but this one is all mine. My Grandmother used to make salads in hers for lunch...sometimes with papaya.
My latest socks. The pretty yarn was dyed by Qutecowgirl, the tan looking yarn I dyed myself. I started with lime KoolAid and then gave it three baths in strong tea. I am pretty happy with the results.
Another Brandywine on the needles. This one is made from reclaimed alpaca, it is so soft you would not believe it. There were three skeins, almost 900 yds. Just enough for a larger version. I am betting it will be lovely blocked. I am very happy with it, so far.

A thrift find today. I am planning on stuffing it with Good Earth Decaf Green Tea bags. How's that for a little irony?

Thanks for stopping in and feel free to say Hi!
Lynn

The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.

- Benjamin Franklin

I have new and wonderful things to show you. I have met a new yarn rescuer from the UK that has the most beautiful reclaimed yarn at her Etsy shop. Her name is CastOffCastOnUK. If you have been thinking of doing something a little more Earth friendly and green, it might be a good thing to pop in and take a look. She has some lovely rose and emerald yarns posted, as well as some yarns she has reduced the price on to sell as complete sets.
My Mother's friend past away last year. She crocheted wonderful afghans for the people she loved. I asked my Mother to pick a couple out that she had not finished. I finished on for her and one for her friend's daughter. I have discovered that with is disease, crochet is no longer easy for me, but I am thrilled to have them done and received on the other end.

The Stupidly Easy triangle Shawl by Glenna C. on Ravelry. I found this fantastic suede yarn at a thrift store in town. Probably enough to make a sweater. I needed something easy to work on while waiting for appointments. This was just the thing. No patterns to memorize. My friend thinks it is the best thing I have made in a while, so it goes to her.

There were 6 skeins of this, already rolled into center pull balls, for only $5. Not a bad deal.

Memorial Day

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it."

- Thucydides

Today is a day to remember...those that have given their all in the service and protection of this great Nation under God. God Bless Them Every One.

Brandywine Shawl. It still needs to be blocked. I am pretty happy with the way it came out. I think I would like to make another, longer version. This bind off was new to me and it gives the shawl a finish that is perfect.
My latest socks. The knitting of these has been very emotional. The yarn was dyed, of course, by Qutecowgirl. The name of the yarn is "Lynn 3". She dyed them specifically with me in mind and with thoughts for my healing. Pretty powerful stuff. Her yarn is a delight, so soft I can't even come up with words for it. I am letting the yarn be the showcase for these socks, the colors are so soothing. I worked on these non-stop while my best friend was in surgery last week...I think it brought both of us luck.
Winterscape Socks designed by Kay Redding From The Back Yard. I love her designs. These socks are very special to me. They were completed this month for my May Sock of the Month. The yarn was bought in the Black Hills on Bruce's and my last trip. I don't know if he will remember this particular yarn, but I thought about that trip and him with every stitch.

I have started the Spinner's Lace Shawl designed by Evelyn A. Clark. I chose a German mohair yarn I was lucky enough to find at a garage sale last year. I bought two cones for $6. There will be plenty for a longer version of her shawl.

I finally, after such a struggle, made a decision on buttons for my sweater. I didn't go with the silver after all, but with some polymer buttons I had bought off eBay last year. I found them rummaging through a drawer looking for something for my daughter. I knew instantly they were what I wanted.

I hope your weekend has been a special one, filled with the love of family and friends.

A Day In May

"An optimist is the human personification of spring."
- Susan J. Bissonette

My family really needs Spring this year. I am not sure how it happened, really. April got away from me. There were bad, bad things, and good, good things. Sometimes the bad steals your breath away and the spinning takes a while to slow so you can understand, and sometimes the good brings tears. The little sign above came to me by way of Brenda and brought tears, thank you, Brenda. Check out the Wool Crazy blog.
Tres Trax Socks by Kay Redding were finished a while ago and I have even been wearing them. Qutecowgirl's beautiful yarns always get compliments, always. This yarn is called First Time and was great to work with. I worked on these while my 5 year old Granddaughter was in the hospital having her tonsils out. I tell you, she bounced right back. Tonsils out at 8:00 AM, corndogs at noon. Little kids are made out of rubber, so says my boss!

Hard to see in the pictures, but there are three tracks (hence Tres Trax I believe) of garter every so often.

My favorite model's new Reading Mitts, that have also been done for forever. Her office is always so cold she asked for a pair of her own.

I finished Brandywine, I am having trouble getting good pictures and it does need to be blocked. Maybe soon.