Wonderful Wednesday

Rolled outta bed at 6:13 this morning...feeling great! Ever had one of those mornings, when you've had a good night's sleep, and you can't wait to get going? Well, this was one of those!

First things first: coffee and cereal on the deck, where I enjoyed the birds and the squirrels. I'm on a mission to get a photo of this huge Blue Jay that partakes of our Bird Buffet several times each day. So I have my camera ready...but he's too quick/smart for me...and I take a lot of random pics. Can you tell what this photo is? We have one of those "face feeders" on the oak tree in the back yard, and I snapped this squirrel just after he (she?) had snatched a mouthful of seeds from the mouth of the Tree Feeder. Doesn't he look like he's saying "HEY?!"

After such a good start to my day, I really revved it up. I watered the front and back yards, and all the new plants that went into pots on-and-around the front porch over the weekend. The transplanted daylilies and irises around the new pond seem to be doing OK, but I can't say the same for the rose bush...it's looking "poorly." I made sure the rest of the roses got a good drenching with the soaker hose...and I just couldn't resist cutting a few (two Midas Touch buds, which are opening to the most beautiful golden yellow; several of the deep red buds; and, a couple of the First Prize pink buds), to join the first Shasta Daisies in a bud vase on the breakfast table. Is there anything more beautiful than roses and daisies together?

The garden got a good, long drink, too, which made it easy to plant a couple of eggplant (plants?)...by special request from Mom...and the remainder of the beans and lettuce...the first planting of both became bunny food, I guess. Pulled some weeds and then picked another round of yellow squash (does that make 15 so far?) and one more zucchini (still one shy of enough for zucchini bread). After that it was time to pot some more plants for the deck: Patio, cherry, and grape tomatoes...jalapeno, chili, and ornamental peppers...basil, oregano, and two varieties of parsley...all have new homes now. I'm using Bonnie Plants in the peat pots almost exclusively this year. I like the fact that you don't have a plastic pot to throw away, but the wrapper on the peat pot has a design flaw: it won't let go!

All of this before noon! Fortunately I had made up a big pitcher of iced tea 'cause I downed a quart after working outside all morning...ahhhh! A shower, some lunch, and I was ready to do some work in my office...inside...in the air conditioning, with a ceiling fan on "high." A trip to the P.O. and then the grocery this afternoon...a nice chicken salad for supper...the "indoor/outdoor" version of the game of "gimme that toy" with Gus and Elmo (of course, Duchess acts like she doesn't want to play...), and now I can relax with Baby Kimono #1, started last night.

What a wonderful Wednesday it has been!

Sweater Complete

Woo-hoo! I finished this one-button green sweater last night! I had purchased a Nicky Knits kit at Hobby Lobby a while ago...bought it because I liked the color (a sage green) of the 100% mercerized yarn (which I had never knitted with), and because the kit was half-price (always a winner!), although I knew I wouldn't knit it up like the pattern suggested (of course not!). I modified (of course!) a Lion Brand pattern for a One-Button sweater, only knitting the pattern into the lower portion of the sweater and the sleeves. Then, when Maredith and I went to Knit, the yarn shop in Charleston, SC, while we were on vacation, I found the beautiful shell-like button I wanted to use. The pattern is rated as "easy," which is what I like when I'm traveling and knitting (which I did with this one), although I used a three-needle bind-off to join the shoulder seams for the first time, so I got to practice something new...always a plus. While it came out even better than I had expected, it is still quite roomy, with extra-long sleeves. And, yes, I checked my gauge with this one, too! We'll see what it looks like after that first spin in the wash/dry cycle...

Next up on the needles: matching baby kimonos for twin boys born on Easter Sunday. I bought this yarn at Island Knits in Pawleys Island, while on vacation, and I'm using a pattern I found in one of Maredith's knitting magazines. They should go quickly...she said hopefully...

The Bridge is Built

Hooray! Look what Thomas did this weekend!! The bridge is built, as are the newly-reworked pond and waterfall below it. Just what I've always wanted: a foot-bridge...and a pond...and waterfall...just like this. Oh, I can't stop looking at it...taking pictures of it...walking out on it, coffee cup in hand, leaning over the railing, pausing to look at the fish. Well, that last part is only practice, 'cause we haven't actually added the fish to the pond just yet. That comes next, along with some stain and paint to seal the wood, and some mulch and smaller stones on the ground to help hide the pond liner, etc. But don't you just love it? As you can probably tell from the photo, Thomas transplanted some of the daylilies, irises, and roses, so it looks like the bridge has been there for a couple of seasons already. In this picture, Elmo is "peeping" around the right side, coming back from his early morning patrol for squirrels and rabbits along the fence line. He hasn't attempted to cross the bridge yet...nor, has Duchess.

But, Mr. Gus certainly has! He ventured across the bridge...and took a little rest mid-bridge, even before it had been completed!! He's so brave...as shown in this photo.

As you can probably tell about the bridge, Thomas incorporated copper pipes as balusters, just like he did on the deck. And, he capped the end-posts with the copper end-caps, which give it a finished look, don't you think? He took the original "plan" and gave it the little rise in the center, so that you get the sensation of an arch when crossing, but "fixed" the railings to be flat, to give it a more pleasing appearance. My contribution has been to attach the decking boards with deck screws, just like I did on the deck three years ago...and, I'll get out the paint/stain and get to work soon.

Speaking of painting...I want to paint our new front door this week. We had a Jeld-Wen 3/4 Lite "Mission Prairie Glass Design" door and side light, along with a new black storm door installed recently, and we need to paint both the inside (white, to match the interior moulding) and outside (a high gloss black, like ones we saw in England) of the door and frame in order to finish that project. We've got company coming next weekend for a visit (Mom's first cousin, Jim Stewart and wife, Jo, from Ooltewah, TN). Looks like I'd better get my painting duds on!

Meanwhile, here's another picture of the bridge, pond, and waterfall (above, from the back of the yard, looking toward the rose bed)...along with a picture of how the garden is growing (below...squash to the forefront, tomatoes to the rear, with the puny peppers in the middle). Enjoy!

Life's a Beach!

We've just returned from our recent trip to the beach...Pawleys Island, SC via Charleston...possibly our most-favorite family vacation spot. No matter where we've lived, we always seem to return to this general area when we need to play in the sand and surf and soak up some history. We started going to the Litchfield Resort when we moved from NC to Ohio back in '90 and fell in love with it. Our time in NC had taught us that most folks from the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem area headed to the Myrtle Beach, SC, area when they wanted to go to the beach. Seemed odd because NC has beautiful beaches, too. But, we found that Myrtle was just a bit more commercialized than we wanted to contend with...on vacation. So, we began to spend a week each summer about 30 miles south on Highway 17...and a complete world apart from Myrtle.

Pawleys Island is said to have been one of the first "vacation" retreats in this country, serving as an escape from the heat and humidity of the interior rice and indigo plantations for the planter famlies. And even though Hurricane Hugo devastated several of the beachfront properties on the Island, there are still many Arrogantly Shabby homes from 100-150 years ago, in the National Historic zone! As a matter of fact, that's probably one of the reasons we feel so at home here...there is so little pretense. While I can't even begin to list the changes that have happened in the few years it has been since we were there last, thankfully most of them were good ones.

We took a Shelling and Lighthouse Boat Cruise on the Carolina Rover out of Georgetown, SC, enjoying a wonderful 3-hour tour to North Island. We collected what we thought were conch shells, but learned later from the guide that we actually had whelks. This is the largest shell I've ever picked up on the beach...I've seen them in the gift shops, but I had never seen them "in their natural habitat."

One of the reasons I was so excited to have found so many beautiful shells was that I wanted to create a shell "sculpture" to submit to the World Beach Project, which is being sponsored by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. While they haven't begun accepting submissions yet, I do plan to send one or two in soon. Here (photo) is a one view of the shell project I created on Pawleys Island Beach on Thursday, May 24, 2007. Note - the flip-flops with the SC state flag symbols!

Of course, we didn't spend all of our time in the sun. We knew that there were several knitting shops in the area from Myrtle to Charleston, and we were able to visit 3 of them. Woo-hoo! Here's a shot of our favorite one, called simply "Knit," located at 87 Wentworth St. in downtown Charleston. It was a fabulous place for two yarn-a-holics such as Maredith and me! She reminded me that she had purchased more British yarn (mostly Debbie Bliss) on this trip than she did on our trips to either England or Scotland!

Of course, all good things must come to an end... Why is that? I've heard that saying all of my life, but I still have trouble with it. I'm not entirely certain that I agree with it.

For instance, we've just celebrated our 31st anniversary...and we are hoping that the end's nowhere in sight! We were back in MO by the 29th, so we celebrated at a local restaurant, JBucks. Mmmm, tasty! You know, it's been a great ride so far, and we're looking forward to heading into our sunset years together. [I took this picture (left) of the sunset on our return trip from North Island to Georgetown, SC. Thought it was appropriate to the discussion...]

So, with Memorial Day, our anniversary, and our beach trip in the rearview mirror of 2007, it's time for Summer to "officially" begin!

We're still working on the bridge, the pond, and the waterfall in the back yard, and the garden is looking pretty good. I hope to post some photos of the finished products soon. Stay tuned...!

One Sock, Two Socks...

Ta-da! As you can see, I finished my socks. Although I didn't get to attend my final class on the subject, I was able to find my way through the pattern instructions and finish the toe(s).

Can you tell anything about them? For instance, can you tell that they are HUGE?? Let it be a lesson...CHECK YOUR GAUGE. After I had made it through most of Sock #1, all the way to the toe-decreases, I finally checked my gauge. Instead of the 8 stitches = 1" that the pattern called for (with sock/finger-weight yarn and size US2 needles, which I was using), I had a roomier 7 stitches to the inch. Oh well, they're still pretty...and they'll make great slouch-y, lounging socks, won't they? And, you can bet your last dime, I'll check my gauge on the next pair I knit!

What a weird week I'm having. Mom's at Jack's for a visit (so, no caregiver duties for me)...and, Thomas is actually home mid-week (between Kansas City and Effingham), so I'm not really sure whether I'm coming or going! Shouldn't I be heading to St. Peters Senior Center...or the doctor's office...or somewhere? Nope. Not this week. Hmmm....

Checked the Farmer's Almanac to see when was the best time to plant beans and cucumbers...found out that would be today...New Moon. So, I soaked some seeds and set up the bean fencing in the garden...loosened the soil with the cultivator...and, got 'em in the ground before sundown. Also, removed suckers from the tomatoes...which are growing very well. Now, I need to weed a bit...then mulch with a layer of paper, then a layer of hay. Hopefully, I can make that all happen before vacation...and before my back knows exactly what I've been up to.

The irises are almost bloomed out, and I must say that I'm sad to see them go. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the colors...the variety...the abundance of blooms this year. How about one more iris photo before their season ends? This one is in the back yard, at the edge of the pond and the edge of the deck. Isn't it a gorgeous yellow? And, it looks this brilliant in "real life," too! I've marked the plants because they'll need dividing next year, and I would love to start this color in a couple of other places in our yard...as well as give some transplants to Maredith.

Never fear...now it's time for the daylilies to begin their show. Buds are forming everywhere! It'll be a few days, but the curtain should go up for the first blossoms by this weekend.

Turn the Other Heel

Check it out! The new LYS (local yarn shop, in yarnaholic-speak), Knit and Caboodle, got its new sign recently! So, now you won't be in danger of missing it when you are on Main Street in St. Charles, MO. I just love going inside this place...the variety of colors and textures are almost overwhelming. I always want two of these...four of those...no, wait...gimme a dozen of them! Connie (the owner) is just a wonderful person, and she deserves success with this new venture of hers. Support your LYS!

And, on that note, I am doing my very best to provide support to K&C, beyond the obvious method of trying to purchase some of everything she has in stock. I signed up for the first Socks Class on Monday nights and have just finished Class #2. We made and turned the heel and shaped the gusset last night, using a different stitch than called for in the pattern (replacing a plain stockinette stitch on the heel with a S1, K1 on the RS, which is supposed to provide a stronger heel for the finished sock.) Hurrah! Now, it's on to the toe!! [Here's a photo of the newly-turned heel on my sock, which is being made with a neat self-striping fingering weight yarn in (what else?) purple, teal, and green.]

Yes, I had made several stockings last Christmas, so the instructions weren't new or daunting this time around, but I wanted to learn how to adjust patterns for fit and to see if my technique was correct. With Christmas Stockings, you don't have to worry about fit, but with socks...that's pretty important. Plus, working on these tiny US2 double-pointed needles is a challenge, especially for someone with fat fingers like me.

Have I told you that the irises are beautiful this year? Oh yes, I think I've mentioned that a time or two. It bears repeating: the irises are beautiful this year! Thomas suggested that I go around with my camera to document where the different colors are located, since we haven't been diligent in marking them or tagging the transplants. This photo is of a pink one and yellow & white one growing around the bench in the front yard, taken after a brief rain shower. Today, a frilly purple one has joined the parade, just to the right of where this picture was taken. I wish I knew the names of all of them...perhaps I can find a book with pictures, and I can match ours up. Meanwhile, I think I'll just enjoy them...and I invite you to, too!

The First Iris Blooms

Remember...just a couple of weeks ago I was bemoaning the cold weather that had robbed us of our Spring? Well, apparently irises love a little cold snap because all of them are popping their blooms...and these are supposed to bloom in late May - June! We've been concerned about what the cold weather did to our daylillies, which are still showing signs of the frostbite they suffered on their leaves. And, the Japanese Maple in the front yard lost all of its new, tender leaves and turned black...it's struggling to "come back." So sad looking. Not the noble iris! This photo shows the first to bloom in the backyard, with some light violet ones open on the side yard, and a couple of yellow ones about to pop in the front yard. Hooray! It makes my heart sing to see 'em!

I'm taking it easy today, following a rough couple of days with my back. Yesterday was my first day to try a new muscle relaxer, which...per usual with these kinds of meds...put me "under" with just the least recommended dosage. I actually fell asleep in my chair after supper...holding my knitting in my lap! I could NOT keep my eyes open, no matter how hard I tried! The good news...I didn't have a single muscle spasm in the night last night...well, at least I don't remember having one!

Speaking of my knitting...I've started knitting a long shawl with some beautiful hand-dyed yarn I got about a month ago at my favorite yarn shop in St. Charles, Knit and Caboodle. The yarn is called "Pretty Mix" Tannhauser, which is a mix of silk,mohair, wool, and nylon (25% of each), in teals, greens, and purples (my favorite colors, of course!). I've been searching for just the right pattern, and I think a simple lace pattern I found on the Michael's website will show off the colors of the yarn very well. The pattern is a 4-row repeat, worked on 55 stitches, using size US 15 needles (like knitting with broomsticks!): Knit Rows 1 and 3; Row 2 is K1, *yfrwd, K2tog, repeating from the * to the end of the row; Row 4 is *K2tog, yfrwd, repeating from the * to the last stitch, K1. Repeat these 4 rows for desired length (I'm aiming for 48 inches at the very least, plus a fringe). If I can stay awake, I'll work on it some more tonight!

Speaking of Knit and Caboodle, I went in there on Tuesday to "visit" some gorgeous teal cotton that finally talked me into taking the lot home...since I had found a pattern that I thought would do it justice (I'd ordered the pattern from Just One More Row). While in the shop, I decided to sign up for the Sock Class that starts on Monday for the next 3 weeks. Although I need another project like I need another hole in my head (!), I thought it might be fun...and a way to get to know other local knitters. Connie, the owner, is such a nice person, and I'm sure she will be able to teach me all about joining-in-the-round...something I've just made up without knowing how to do it "right." I picked out some self-striping sock yarn...colors of blue, teal, and off-while...and got the tiny size 2 double-pointed needles. (I've worked on double-points before, making Christmas stockings, so I'm OK with that...but size 2???) Should be fun!