WIP

NOT FINISHED YET

This is one of the Pistachio tops designed by Michele DuNaier.  I am nearly finished with it, but thought I would post what it looked like a couple of days ago.  Right now there are yarn ends everywhere for me to weave in as on the arms I had to cut the colors to come out somewhat similar to the body. Not exactly (by any means) but it will be okay. I just hope it looks "boyish" enough.

I love the yarn. It is Blue Ocean in Stylecraft Batik Swirl, 20% Wool, 80% Acrylic, 200 g./601 yards/550 meters. It is machine washable, and you can use the dryer on a cool setting. 

SOFT!!

I have several little balls of the yarn each in a separate color of one of the stripes, so I think I will fashion something out of them. Not sure what, though.

Gave the blanket I made to the grandmother. Turns out it is her son's first child, not her daughters. He is married to a lovely lady from Bulgaria and I guess at some point the two are planning on taking the baby and moving there. That will prove hard on this grandmother, I'm sure. They already live in South Carolina which is far enough away from here.

TOMORROW!

I'm going to clean up my crafting area for the next few days and figure out what I want to make. I need to divest myself of the piles of yarn I am surrounding myself with around the chair! I'll have Matt or Dana, my trusty helpers, take what I won't be using any time soon to the basement.

BRODIE

I have been feeling particularly emotional this past week about the loss of my dog Brodie two years ago. I think it will haunt me to the end of my days.

 

This and That

 Summer is coming!

The neighborhood is changing, people moving in, some moving out. Some minor construction going on. Usually I think of Spring as the time of rebirth, but today seems more appropriate as the weather is fine, flowers are coming up, and my neighbors have beautiful flowers in planters on their porches. Unfortunately I haven't spent the money yet to do my planters. Soon. Hopefully.

I did plant seeds of wildflowers. Some poppies. Little by little they are starting to bloom.

The Snake River as it runs through Idaho.

A happy hopping, bobbing robin in my back yard while I am watering the yard!

My three lovable giant breed dogs lazing on the back porch while it isn't hot yet.

The poppies that self sewed from last years flowers. Seeds my brother gave me for my birthday.

This fellow was flying over a neighboring town.  I have seen him (or someone like him) before when I first lived here.

A pitiful selection of flowers, for sure. Compared to what I once had in my last three houses, this looks like a desert.  I know it will take time (and money) to get it into ship shape. Right now I have cut out old bushes and am trying to kill off the remnants of those before I plant anything else. 

I really have my eye set on replicating what I once had...iris, peonies, lilies, tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils among others.  

Baby Blanket for friends new Grandbaby

 

The pink is really mostly dark orange and red...not much real pink in it, although some.

The yarn is Stylecraft Batik Swirl in DK weight, and it is SO SO SO soft! I was amazed, thinking it would be sort of heavy and acrylic feeling similar to Mandala, but with the 20% wool it is about the softest I have felt. I finished a baby sweater not long ago in another color, and as I had to purchase more for the blanket, I went ahead and bought two each of two more colors. The one I am getting ready to use is called Blue Ocean. I am hoping to knit a boys sweater. We shall see.