The Invasion

These mallard ducks cross my yard from the creek across the street, cross the adjacent street, and then go who knows where, but they stop traffic in the process. They're also pretty regular because they will go in the morning about the time I'm standing in my kitchen window drinking my pre-slumber glass of milk, and they come back around suppertime. This was a particularly big group of them on this day. You can always tell when they are there because their little webbed feet make surprisingly a lot of noise on the ground and especially in the fallen leaves. When my dog was still alive (may God rest his little doggie soul), he'd go nuts whining as he watched them traverse the yard. These truly awful pictures were taken through the screen of my kitchen window because I tried once to take it out while they were heading through and it scared them and they FLEW away!

Self Striping Socks

These are my sister's Christmas socks this year. I figured I could post a picture of them because she's already seen them on the needles and she DID pick out the yarn after all. I have a lot of yarn left over too. I threw the label away already (that is a bad habit of mine) so I can't tell you what brand it is or the yardage. I do remember it is 75% superwash wool and 25% polymide. I used a Stahl sock pattern with 60 stitches to fit a size 38/40 foot and knit these on size 3 double pointed needles. I am very pleased with the results and even started on my sister in law's Christmas socks tonight. I hope to get one more pair of socks finished before Socktober is finished! You might also note my hideously albino legs! Some people wear reflectors at night, but I find I do just fine wearing shorts!

Crafty Fun Party

Melissa came over for decorating eggs for Halloween. I know that sounds absolutely crazy, but there was a really cute project idea in Martha Stewart Living for decorated Halloween eggs. We made 2 jack'o'lantern ones, but the rest were mostly black ones with fall/Halloween things on them. I made a candy corn covered one that I was very pleased with, but it cracked while I was blowing it out. Summer stopped over towards the end of the evening and made a couple as well. Here is a bowl of our combined efforts. We turned the TV music channel on oldies and sat around the table working on these and had a great time.

This is a knit dishcloth from a pattern I found over at Bagatell in her archive. Here it is being blocked and I must admit i've never blocked a dishcloth before! But I suppose it doesn't have to be used as such. Hmmm. Anyways, it was pretty frumpy looking when I first cast off so I pinned it into shape and sprayed it a little. I have two other solid colors of cotton yarn for a few more of these. The compulsory knitted cotton dishcloth stocking stuffers are going to be much more exciting this year!

Winter Weather Free Sample

We got a dusting of snow on the 12th. I don't even know how much we got, but it was enough to cover the grass. It's hard to believe I was hanging scarves on this tree just two days before this was taken! And of course the snow is all gone now, but I was pretty excited I can tell you! I did of course almost bite it walking that day and I skidded in a parking lot with my car...so I guess I'm not 100% thrilled with all the little things that go along with snow and cold weather. Oh yeah, and my nostril hairs kept freezing together when I'd breathe in. That sucks too. But nevermind all that now, isn't it pretty?!?

Must. Keep. Knitting.

I recently did some more Niece Knitting. I finished this little sweater from a pattern found in the book Simple Knits For Cherished Babies. I used some DK-ish weight yarn that I've had for some time. It isn't exactly illegal to knit baby things in colors that are not pastels, but I still felt a bit funny doing it. It is finished in abalone shell buttons. I quite like this pattern and have made 3 or 4 of these.



I also chose this hat from the "Bouncing Baby Set" pattern found in the book Homespun, Handknit. It did use up all the yarn (I just this morning used up the remaining lengths to make the tassel and cords!). I fooled around with the gauge as much as I could, but it is still far too big for any baby to wear together with that sweater, unless that baby's body is wildly misproportionate! I will try it out on my older niece and if it is too small for her, I have a lovely baby cousin who might fit into it! I was sure to wave at everyone who drove by and saw a crazy woman putting a hat on a tree!


And yes, ok, I did some selfish knitting. I am all for being seasonal and my workscrubs AND my scarves shall reflect the time of year. The black scarf with the orange/yellow/red specks is Lion Brand "Fancy Fur" that is normally $6.00/ball for 89 or so yards, but I got it at Big Lots for $2.00/ball while I was up visiting my sister. SCORE! The blue (I'm thinking wintery/January) and the Fall (obviously) colorways were knit from the yarn I bought at the Mohair Goat Farm while I was up visiting my brother. I enjoy knitting scarves every now and again because they are pretty mindless and is a socially acceptable way to literally wrap yourself in yarn (rolling around in it tends to draw some funny looks). I also finished a sock but I won't take pictures of it until I finish its mate. I want to try to finish another full pair since it IS Socktober this month!

Garage Sale Enthusiasts Rioted Today...

This past weekend saw the "World's Largest Garage Sale" sponsored by the Cancer Society in the Twin Cities. I rode up with my parents and we met up with my sister and her husband for the festivities. We stayed overnight in a hotel with a pool (Yay!) and were up bright and early to wait in the line. We got to stand indoors while the line stretched clear around the building, and did I mention the sale was held in an empty, two story Macy's-ish department store in a mall? It is HUGE! The crowd was getting a little antsy as 10:00 approached and my Dad predicted the morning's headline in the newspaper! We all carried our own cell phones and SCATTERED once inside the door! I headed straight for the fabric section and found some nice trims, an Amish knitting board, some knitting needles, and this fabulous, colorful and obnoxious polyester fabric! It is just begging to be made into some tacky bags! I also came away with a really pretty tin with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II. I was washing it this morning and it was in fact a collectable biscuit tin from her coronation! So I think that is pretty neat! I'm sure I'll find something important to store in it!