Giant Bearded Iris blooming

 

The stalk is about five feet tall but i got it to snake around on top of the geranium by fooling it. You can do that pretty easily because the flower heads follow the sun. They are such beautiful flowers I had to share them again this year. Enjoy them. Soon the flowers all over the gardens of America will be blooming. I don't know why I try to post this late at night, with the dog growling at me to come to bed and disturbing my concentration and spelling mojo. So, off to bed!

Peace and Love to you all!

The Serenipity mitt is progressing and tomorrow there will be thumbage!

Failure

 

I failed to read the directions properly and so inserted a pattern 2 where a pattern 3 was obviously needed. There is no way to tell this from the picture, but you can trust me on this.

So, I have to pull it down to the ribbing, without benefit of any thing stronger than a cup of green tea, and go at setting it all up properly the second time. With the cable stitch in there, I can't be sure the gauge will come out right in that section if I were to just rip down that section.

I'm just not a great reader of five paragraphs jammed into one and in small print as well. Next time what I will do is parce out what I need, print it out LARGE, and go at it. I'm not very upset because on other blogs I've seen where knitters have had to rip back over half a sweater's worth of complicated knitting, and because J is so much better this morning! He's like a new dog.

Since we stopped torturing him twice a day with eye drops for glaucoma, he is able to keep his eyes open this morning, which has improved his joy in life upwards to his usually bonne vivante levels.

It's cool here, a real blessing after this summer. I will try not to whine when the temp finally settles in to 50 over night and 60 during the day. The little cat still comes through the yard to try to catch the giant alligator lizard, but he's a pretty canny old man. He hides in the compost bin and sometimes in a burrow the tortoises have dug in the rose bed under a red wood plank. Sometimes when I go out to tend the little day lilies, I hear him rustling in the underbrush.

He likes to sun himself at the base of the giant ceramic mushroom that sits there. I think of him as my second to the oldest pet.

Stranger Than Fiction-The movie

If you watch this movie, it will be so engrossing that you will forget all about American Politics or the Economic Meltdown for at least an hour and a half. It's a wonderful movie with one of the most intriguing plots in ages, plus it has a cast full of actors that really bring the characters to full, technicolor vibrancy! It's just a great film. I will tell you nothing about it other than what you can find on the web but please, if you want to see this, don't read the spoilers. You will be lots, LOTS happier.

I'm now reading what is probably the very best Jane Smiley novel so far, A Thousand Acres . Lanea is right, it is a beautifully written book. Thanks Lanea for the suggestion.

I'm knitting on the Aran sweater but got a scare. In my late evening madness I counted an extra panel and that set off so many alarm bells in my head that I was sure this morning seven hard earned rows would have to be frogged back. But when the fog cleared later in the day, everything was right where it should have been. When I went to bed, had I not had some benadryl, I would probably have cried myself to sleep. I really don't want to think this sweater is cursed. It is a love sweater after all. Of course, it's not for a boyfriend - even if I had one I'd never knit a sweater like this one for him - but for DH who has patiently waited two years at least for this to be knit.

The weather in Southern California is absolutely gorgeous. We are also almost through one of the most dangerous months of the year for us. We really are glad when October rolls around here. That's about all. I'm still getting my feet back under me after OD ing on Political and Economic news. I was reminded, through a cross word puzzle, of the mundane mind.. that's what I have too much of, and the Mind of Tao, of which I have too little. I must cultivate it. I just keep forgetting to.

Watched Steel Magnolias and cried my eyes out. That sure is a great movie for releasing pent up emotions.

Ta! Keep knitting!

Getting ready for Sock put, Wip's Wrestling in the Ravelympics

Jane's Hedgerow is my sock, and I've put the ball of yarn next to the needles. I've got my track suit cleaned and at the ready, and the comfy chair fully supplied with small tables for the necessities of food and drink, videos stacked up, DVDs ordered. Can

-- this is where the discovery of the trick with Highlighting was conducted.... Hmmm, can? can of soda, Gatorade, Piña Coladas ??

So much for second sock syndrome! I've also gotten out Gretchen and started knitting it again. With weather as cool as it's been this last two weeks, this is asking for the heat to rush in from somewhere but what can you do. If the whole weather machine is keyed to my knitting needles, I guess you know who to blame now, don't you?

Off to search for a very important magazine.

Accidental art: Eleventh in an Occasional Series.

 

Modern still life, with screen. I was trying to get a picture of the Towhee, the illusive tease. But something interesting happened anyway. Happy accidents are the genesis of many "art" projects.

Oh, Praise the Goddess, the exorcism of the wood eaters is complete. The workers were good and pleasant people. The only thing disturbing, but certainly not as disturbing as the creatures in the attic, sheathing and beams, was the drilling through the cement in one hundred little holes.

The house smells like Old English Furniture Polish -orange oil being the major ingredient in both Polish and exterminant- and the yarn closet coughed up some happy surprises called New Zealand wool and at least three OTHER wools, enough to make vests and sweaters. Unfortunately, all are brands so ancient that Ravelry will not have heard of them. We had to move everything out of the yarn closet because "there be" the hole to the attics.

Those of you in Florida, if anyone from Florida even reads this blog, will be intrigued to know that the formula was developed by a "mad scientist" type -according to the saleperson- from the University of Florida. He saw the tragic waste of a very good natural oil, put that together with the need for an earth friendly fumigant, and created a green miracle product that doesn't pollute, kill birds, reptiles, other quadrapeds, the ground water or the inhabitants of a house. The Torts are safe. Jazzie's safe, we are Home free....

Bad Knitting News Flash: The cozy for Leggy ( a nano) is not going well. I frogged it and will probably make wrist warmers with the yarn. The socks grow daily, except one must be tweeked. That's enough bad knitting news.

Solved problem and off to knit Drops aran

About the Aran Sweater. This morning I did what Val suggested and made a swatch of the two symbols on the chart. They look pretty and hopefully they are both right. Even if it turns out that they aren't, what the heck. If they are pretty and no stitch is dropped, it can't be all that bad. Tally Ho!

Oh, while digging through the stash in a container tub, I found something in a ziplock bag. It was a blue dishcloth that was nearly completed. It's one of those "start at the corner and increase out then decrease back to nothing" ones - A very standard and classic dishcloth. There were four stitches on the stitch holder... just four. I have no idea what happened other than it being a carry-along project gone astray. The yarn is from a company that quit selling their own brand back in the 80's. ^:^!!! Nice surprise. Not as nice as gold bullion, but nice.

Happy Knitting! Friday we get The Word on the Wall eaters and the cost of evicting unwelcome tenants. Fun Fun!

I'm knitting. And I broke the yarn fast...

Ya, I bought some yarn to go with some I had, so now there's enough for a hat and a scarf for myself. Soywool from Michaels in a delicious color called Natural Plum. I see that it's made in China. Gah! Anyway, I'd better pay more attention to THAT in future. Just when you think you've got a handle on things, you get a blind sided slap from someone like Patons. Sheesh.

Knitting a little bit on everything so far nearly every day. Less time for reading blogs and forums but Gee, you just can't do everything.

A friend just got a howdy from the City about needing a business license. Our city blokes had some graft going on and the grafters apparently denuded a VIPension Fund, so now they are desperate for funds! I'm going to start an Etsy store or just sell trinkets on Ebay from this year. That was planned last year as there is a lot less stress than doing the show circuits!

I've changed some of the percentages on the WIPs. The Aran sweater is growing as I've finally figured out all the symbols and what they mean. Vrang? Rett? Oh my! You've got to love deciphering a language that beautiful. Sigh.. My sister and I were in love with Oslo for several years and we used to shout out, "Norvay for the Norvegans!" and giggle, as no one knew why we were being nuts. Of course this has nothing to do with translating Swedish!!

I voted today by absentee ballot. Now, please don't forget to vote in the Primaries! You'll be a lot happier if you know that you voted and your voice, though it may be buried in a mass of contrasting votes, is still a

Sentinel of Success
For the Democratic Process.

YAY for US!

November is Blog Every Day Month?

I am soooo behind on this! 14 days have gone by and today I find out this factoid?

Today was order the new eyeglasses day. I dootifully went off to Costco and got the new specs started down the pipeline with a great outlay of cash ( actually I just slapped down their favorite plastic). I will now be a Sophia Loren look alike if ever you stumble across me while dumpster diving or that other favorite sport, fishing through the bargain bins at the various LYS. At least I will now be able to see what I'm after.

La Gretchen has two more little rows finished and only two little stitch adjustments had to be made. I've had that row out so many times it's not going to happen again. When I block this Babe, there will be even more surprises I'm sure. I'll see if it can be raveled out to look like a YO or two in that row -IF I have the energy tomorrow to do that. Tired eyes to not focus properly after a few hours of knitting in semi darkness of the family hovel.

The new stove comes on Tuesday. To celebrate I will throw a lot of green backs at the store manager so that he will be pleased to take away the old stove to re-cycle heaven- probably Tijuana. It will depart our house without the burner covers. They are going to be re-cycled, in the Garden, by Moi! They also make spiffioso crystalline light holder uppers if they are fancy enough to look like Modern Art.

Knitting pictures you can't have but I can show you this...

The Perfect Teddy Bears

OOOPS they are upside down. I cannot claim to have taken that picture, but it's from an old calendar, god help me if the photographer who has NO copyright anywhere extant on the thing finds out about this. I just wanted to spread the Love...

Also, Rissa had this sweet button up at her blog, and I think it's definitely something I want to participate in from now on, and share with all of you. Comfort Dolls Page

That's about all there is, except tomorrow there will be a picture of sore fingers holding up a pathetic excuse for Pi making.

A Neoliberal Economist strikes!

I really was going to post some flowers to off set this slight rant, but all the snaps came out fuzzy.

Anyway, someone took exception to a post about Adam Smith's book. The first one to find the comment made, besides the commentator themselves, will receive a dyed Reagan tail feather! It's an anonymous comment. They probably have Adam Smith confused with a Communist. And when you find the comment, you will know that it's a modern person because they have a modern convenience. Toilet paper. Yes, that's a clue!

Quite the contrary Anon. And, yours is an opinion like any other. You have a right to it. But, I'm wondering. What sort of world would you like? Would you like to continue in this world of insatiable greed we are living in now? Or maybe you really would like to have one balanced between Democratic Governmental controls - for the good of all the citizens (labor), heed of Environmental Imperatives and physical limits - for the good of the land (earth), and Money- Capital. Also, do you not think that Adam Smith's book is an early version of that?

I'll always love this quote from George Bernard Shaw - "If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion."

I'm now reading Tony Hillerman's newest book. It's a helluva lot more fun than reading Modern Economics. Especially odious, to me, are those who adhere to the Chicago School of Economics who have abandoned Keynes entirely. Bah! Bloody Tories!

The glove is so near to completion. As soon as it's finished I will start on Gretchen. I'm hoping that it goes quickly though it is a rather large shawl. There are some very beautiful patterns, like "Print of the Wave" from HeartStrings for after the Drop's Aran sweater is finished. Knitting is going very slowly. A quilt and a coat have to be finished before the end of the year.

DH went to the Octoberfest with a friend, and the whole thing was almost all commercial, they said. People selling time shares, imported cheap clothing and jewelry. With the booth price being over $600 it doesn't surprise me that this is so.

My brother is coming down for a couple days. He is always fun to be around, and he likes to go to the local antique shops with my sister. DH and I might tag along. Maybe I'll find that tiny Japanese teapot that I liked. Of all the things to collect in Quakeland, ceramics and glass are not advised!

Have a great time and I do have a few pictures from the game I used to play. Enjoy them. It was a beautiful game!

Freeeeekeeeee Knitting

 

A friend sent this to me. I have NO idea where she got it, or to whom it can be attributed. Let's just say that it's not your Grannie's head scarf.

I was reading a Xenophon translation today, since I was wondering where Romulus took his cues. This was in a book benignly entitled " "Ancient Travel Stories". Ya, right.......... *sounds of huge disgust*, and of disgruntled repetitions of the mantra, "Nothing ever changes". Did four rows of Gretchen Shawl.

Knitting is a my only escape from the reality of bonehead human ignorance, repeat, repeat, repeat... will finish postcards in the cool of the night. The quilt didn't even get a look in. Is it OK to burn ANY book?

Gretchen progress and Skein Sabotage

 

I had to promise White Rabbit a little green silken jacket. teehee

A Penny Saved Buys a Few Lace Books

 

I have waited quite awhile to get these. Finally, they are mine. The cover sweater on the first book is lovely, and I hope to make it before years go by.

First comes DH's Aran sweater, which will drag along as my brain fries trying to read and understand the directions. It could very well be the last of it's kind. The gloves will be completed, at intervals of brain restoration, and sent off. Then, as I knit the other red sock, Gretchen will also inch along as a bit of brain relief. The pattern is so logical and sweet!

Pictures of Gretchen will follow this post as soon as DH uploads to the flash drive. What happened to the skein is something I don't want to forget. The skein, 100% silk, I'm using to knit G celebrated a little early and a wad fell out of the center. Actually I pulled it out accidently.

You see there were these little loops hanging out of the bottom of the skein, and I very gently tucked them in. If that falling out thing happens to your large wound skeins of silk yarn, don't tuck them in. They will tangle around what you are pulling out the top, and the skein will burp up a wad. Rabbit is holding that bit of silken hair ball until I can knit it off.

I think I'll not wind such huge skeins next time, and not pull from the middle. Postcards are also due in a few days, and this is a bad time to be messing with a tangled wad of itty bitty silk lace yarn.

Can you see it? Russian Join what a technique!

 You have to look between the sixth and the tenth rib down from the needle, and three rows down from the cable. Will it show from five feet away? Lol.

Green Glove Joy

  Well, well, a little heat and a little cotton, and there you go, Charlie!

FO and post cards day

Making post cards the next couple of days. I will post piccies of the ones I received in the near future. I cut out all the materials today and tomorrow will glue them all together and sew them, then make the paper backings and glue them on. I usually do fabric backs but this time they will have paper backs.

I finished moohat, and it's a short beanie. DHs head is rather bigger than I thought. I have to make another one but I'll have him wear it nonetheless for a picture this afternoon. I did knit it flat up to the decreases, then put it on a circular needles and DPNs later for the finish, sewing up the short side seam invisibly. That's a good technique because with decreases I couldn't figure out how to maintain the integrity of the farrow rib anyway. It was just too mind boggling after struggling with the Pi shawl.

The Pi shawl did not do well with the crochet hook method nor the slip three and then purl those together. I lost stitches too many times to say. I will patiently wait for the new needles to arrive in May. It is too beautiful to not knit it but it needs to be done on better lace needles. The turbos are just too slippery for words and the tips are almost as bad as a glass stirring rod. Gah!

Ah, the lovely little socks. The trekkers are zipping along and I can rejoice in at least one of the projects.

I've been reading Ngaio Marsh mysteries like a fiend but took time out to read one Rumpole which is a retro one. It is about a case he was on when he first met "She Who Must Be Obeyed". Their relationship needs no further explanation. heehee

I'm in a mini flare from Fibromyalgia and Gout, so I've been resting a lot and knitting. One joint usually starts this off. You get used to it after years and years and learn to live with it. Since so many really young people have it a heck of a lot worse, I just pray for them and count my many blessings.

Ciou! Pictures are on the way of the silly Moohat, and whatever else stands still for the camera.

"I can't communicate!"

With an apology to the poet, Sylvia Plath.

Karen, I can't leave a comment but I'm reading, with interest, your new blog.

Someday, but not anytime soon, I just might switch. Right now, this is all my brain can handle. Mostly, I like blogger, except when Picasa, that little cranky witchness, burps one of my well thought out and paintakenly written photo journal goodies into the infernal fog of Cyberspace.

I can't find the newest set of needles bought for the aran sweater and spent all day looking for them. The last memory I have is of measureing them for length, thinking that I would then stretch them over something to let the coil relax, and from there the trail got iced over. DH looked in the Jeep, I've torn through all the yarn that might have tried to hide them from me, and the dust bunnies under the bed have been disturbed. *sigh* I will find these needles some day in the distant future, no doubt, hung with cobwebs, exactly where I stretched them out to uncoil. Meanwhile, I'm casting on the 230 odd stitches onto the shorter needles. Hope they all fit! As solace, tomorrow I've been told I should order IK subscription by DH. Such a kind soul.