Actual Knitting Progress!

Steve and I went out to dinner last night at a place that's only two miles from us.  They have $2 wine night every Tuesday, so we took advantage of it.  We also ordered a garlic plate appetizer, which was delicious, although I paid for it the rest of the night.  (and my students will be paying for it today, hah!) I think it is the first time I've ever said I had too much garlic.



I took a few pictures from the beach access by the restaurant, just to see the difference.  It's surprising how different the view looks, even though it's so close to our area.

I love how the walkway twists a bit under the branches of the trees.

And wouldn't you love to sit in these chairs in nice weather?  Well, maybe not these chairs but this location.

As for the knitting progress, I love this hat so much!  I apologize for the craptastic lighting, but I couldn't wait to show off those traveling stitch details.  The color is a sort of steel blue, although in a certain light I can also see a hint of green.  I should finish it tonight, as I'm already beginning the decreases.  Hopefully I can get Steve to model it for us, but don't expect Jared Flood's quality of modeling shots.

 More knitting info tomorrow, as I plan on picking my monthly projects by then.

Tuesday Thoughts

I'm back at work today after a three day weekend that just wasn't long enough.  I'm thinking I'm going to need a mental health day very, very soon.  I'd like to clear out some closets, and maybe even some clothing storage bins to lesson the weight of all these things we own.  There are clothes and shoes I'll never wear again, so why am I keeping them?  I did manage to give a grocery sack worth of yarn to my stepdaughter to take back to college  with her, so that was good.  And over the Christmas break, I gathered a huge amount of old costume jewelry and gave it to my girls to split up, so that was good too.  They loved some pieces and they'll use other pieces for crafting.  I just need to keep going.


I was reading the latest posting at Knitty, and decided on a similar strategy for my knitting projects.  I want to pick a project from at least a dozen of my knitting books to make this year.  I'm already on my way for January, since the Wanderer Cap is from the book Weekend Hats.  I think I'll try and use part of Stephanie's idea of the Sock Club, by picking out the project yarn (from my stash, of course), making a copy of the pattern, and putting them both in ziplock bags.  Then I can just grab a bag and go!  Doesn't that sound like fun?

 
And I'm sure you are all tired of my beach photos, but I am in love with them, or rather the process of taking them every morning.  

The way the morning sunlight can make the beach grass glow:

How even on cloudy days, the sun's presence can be seen:

And how the texture of the beach access has a rustic beauty of its own:

 
Can you tell how much I love living here?

This and That

It was a beautifully sunny day yesterday, so Steve and Stephanie and I walked down to the water, only to head home fairly quickly.  The combination of temperatures around 40 degrees combined with a pretty stiff wind made for a very cold walk.  So I took a few pictures and we headed back home to catch our breath.  Still, it was lovely.

 Remember this cowl? It's only a memory now.  I didn't like the yarn in this pattern either, so I frogged it.

 And then I started (or rather, I restarted) the Wanderer Cap for Steve, using a skein of Quince & Co. Lark in blue, and thankfully it's going well.  I love using that yarn and I'm excited that I'm using a Jared Flood pattern! Oh, and Steve will get a new hat out of it, so it's a win-win.

 

On a side note, I took a photo of a piece of seaweed this afternoon when I took my daily walk on the beach.  Pretty cool, huh?  I'm so very glad that I started this project.

 

Saturday

Steve and I took a short walk on the beach today.  Although it was windy and brisk, the sun was bright, which made it quite pleasant.

 

I thought the sand had an interesting look, probably due to the wind.

 And someone posted this on Facebook, and I wanted to share it here.  It's been a tough week and I thought I could use the reminder.

Hope your weekend is a peaceful one. 

Indecision, Part Two

 I am still futzing along with startitis and her ugly sister, frogitis.  Everything I've started displeases me for one reason or another.  I ripped out the cowl I showed here yesterday, started a scarf with some Manos last night, then promptly frogged it, and now I'm working on another scarf.  I think this one may last, but I'm giving no guarantees at this point.  At least the process of knitting is comforting to me.

Meanwhile, Stephanie is a knitting machine.  She finished her second mitten, felted a pair of handwarmers, and is now at work on a Bandana scarf.  She's definitely taking advantage of being home on semester break and the fact that I have a small yarn shop in our house.  At least someone is being productive.

(and yes, that is the time honored toilet lid background you see in the photos)




To say I'm looking forward to the three day weekend is a gross understatement; hope you have one coming to you too!

Indecision

Since I had to frog the Honey Cowl, I decided to try another pattern.  I think this pattern works better with the self striping.

 

 

  I still want to make a Honey Cowl, but I just think it would look better in a solid.  

 

Then Meredith sent me a couple of links today, one of which was Nougat, which would be perfect for my newest yarn.

 

Isn't that color gorgeous? 

High Point of the Day

I wish I had some knitting projects to share, but there really isn't anything new just yet.  I want to spend a day re-sorting my yarn, especially since the cat's visit, but I don't think I can justify a "sick" day for that.

I don't have any sewing to show yet either, but again, I don't think my sick leave policy covers that either.

I do have a beach photo though.  If you look closely, you can see the dewdrops on the feather.  Such a peaceful way to start the day.

Unfortunately, my day usually peaks right about then.