Emptyknitster

Years ago we found a tiger salamander in the box housing the underground pipes to our sprinkler system. He's there every spring and fall, and seems to be quite happy to lead a solitary life. He's quite safe in his dark hole and has plenty of bugs, and unbeknownst to me Hubby has been adding water in there once in awhile to give the little guy an underground lake! Tiger salamanders are usually 6-8 inches long and live 10 - 16 years in the wild.  We've known about ours for five years and he's probably five inches long so sounds like he'll be around for a few more years.

BUT I'm happy to have Stash Dash 2018 in the books! A total of 13,164.4 meters was finished bringing me 3,164 meters over my goal. Last year I knit kitty beds with stash just itching to be used. This year hats were knit to use the excess acrylic yarn I've accumulated. Fifteen hats to charity, three hats to family, and three hats to a little duffer who needs our prayers. Pattern: Pride-mossaa by Deisy Design Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport Colorway: Celestial and Copper Needle Size: US Size 8 Pattern: Hat #18 Scrap Happy by J.G.Miller with a hack from Sally by Dela Hausmann Yarn: I Love This Yarn Colorway: Tropical Pink and Bloomtique Needle Size: US Size 6 Pattern: Up & About Striped Beanie by Churchmouse Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport Colorway: Celestial and Lavendar Needle Size: US Size 4 Pattern: Sally by Dela Hausmann Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport Colorway: All the colors I had on hand! Needle Size: Us Size 6 Pattern: Little Pumpkin Head by Tar3820 Yarn:

I have a love hate relationship with this yarn. When it’s good it’s very, very good but when it has to many knots IT’S HORRID!! I was unable to make identical socks because on the first sock, at the toe, there were four knots. I started over and things were going great until the end of the second sock and I ran out of yarn. The bits and pieces I had from the four knots were not matching the pattern and so I have a pair with non matching cuffs, grrr... Pattern: Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Carlton Yarn Sock Weight Colorway: Honey Porter Needle Size; US Size 1

I was watering the plants this morning when I discovered I'd given this little critter a shower. This is the first praying mantas I've seen on the property in all the years we've lived here.

I've been enjoying knitting hats for charity. Sometimes, however, some of the hats are just perfect for a family member or two. Either way they will be keeping noggin's warm! Pattern: Rib-A-Roni Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal XLarge Polarwolf 8-fach Colorway: Frostige Naacht Needle Size: US Size 6 Pattern: Barley by tincanknits Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Heathers & Twists Colorway: Dark Rose Heather Needle Size: US Size 6, US Size 8 Pattern: Pride Mossa by Deisy Design Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport Colorway: Black, Wine, Cobblestone Needle Size:US Size 8

It was time to do another massive destash of the sock yarn scraps. I really can’t believe I started another epic Scrappy Blanket but I must admit this time I looked for one I thought would be quicker and definitely with less ends to weave in. Now my bits and pieces of leftover sock yarn are gone and the result is a beautiful afghan. Pattern: Make a Long Story Short by Wanda Spwizdrzal Yarn: Leftover 80/20 sock yarn Colorway: A rainbow of colors! Needle Size: US Size 4 What a great way to get across the Stash Dash Finish line!