Finished!

 

I even put the buttons on the correct side for a boy! I think it is a tad longer than it is supposed to be, but it is what it is. I took out one row of the chartreuse green around the plackets. Made it look to girly and want this to be a boy sweater.

Flowers

I'm happy that some of the dianthus are starting to bloom! So far a lavender and a pink. Looks like a few of the larger poppies will be blooming in a week or so.  Our temps are going to reach over 100 come Friday and remain well over for at least one week, maybe more. I hope some cooler air from Canada gets pushy and makes its way down here.

New Project

I'm starting one of the Patty Cake baby sweaters in Meadow, a color in Stylecraft Batik Swirl. It has too much orange in it, yet I hope it will balance out with all the other colors. The green isn't that great, either. Frankly I am finally starting to tire of making baby clothes. Might see about scarves when I get my second wind.

Happy Fourth!

I have stocked up on food and dog treats so we shall be snug. Hopefully there won't be too many bangs and explosions. We have a huge contingent of PTSD Veterans in the area, as well as this being a big dog and cat community. Some people don't understand just how upsetting it is for pets and pet parents,  and we anlso live in a fire area which makes it doubly dumb to set them off.

According to the city, only certain specially approved fire crackers can be used after tonight. None of those that can cause fires. Since when did any of those who use those things ever pay attention to the rules of law?

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.