Emptyknitster

I finished another pair of Stashbuster Spirals! Love these little socks they're for one of the grandkiddos... Pattern: Stashbuster Spirals by Janine Hempy Yarn and Colorway: Friday Studios Self Striping in fireworks, Premier Yarns Serenity in black, Stroll Fingering in watermelon Amount: Way less than a skein each Needle Size: US Size 1 I swore I'd NEVER go down this path but then something snapped one day and I jumped down the rabbit hole.  At first I thought I'd just give it a try and, "See what everyone's talking about." Then it became something like the potato chip addiction - you can't have just one, you keep reaching for more...Yes I'm addicted to the Sock Yarn Blanket! Pattern: Sock Yarn Blanket by Shelly Kang Yarn: Leftover Sock Yarn, 80% wool, 20% nylon Colorway: Any  but neon Needle Size; US Size 1

All summer people have been asking, "How do you like being retired?" and it's been hard to answer, well until today. For many years I've not had to go to work in the summers. Now let me make this clear, teachers do work during the summer. Continuing ed credits and creating new curriculum units don't just appear out of thin air. Also, summer means rejuvenation, a time to get back some of the energy and enthusiasm drained right out of them during the school year. Teachers are currently taking a beating but it's hard work with very little thanks. Yesterday school started, and to everyone who has inquired: I love retirement . No more sleepless nights worrying about student success, no more going in two weeks before school starts to clean and pull my room together (See above paragraph. I don't believe any other profession would take vacation time to get ready for the first day back from vacation!?) Instead, I visited The Chick. We went on a long hike and...

This spring, when I brought home the white petunias, I didn't expect to get the added bonus of a vegetable garden. It wasn't until the middle of July I noticed a couple of extra plants straining toward the sun...tomatoes, and a short time later the cucumbers made an appearance. Only the petunias brought home the free veggies but I'm quite happy to have them and will plant tomatoes and cucumbers in the planters next year.

I recently finished the Sockhead Hat everyone is talking about. It is fun fast knit! Pattern: Sockhead Hat Yarn: Berroco Sox Colorway: Humerside 486 Amount: 1 skein Needle size: US 3

Although not my intention AT ALL, I won this yarn while at the Rockin’ S Retreat! A friend had gotten it while on Germany, lovely! Pattern: Peace Rose Garden Socks by Diane Edgerly Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal Regenwald/Rainforest Colorway: Robin Hood Amount: 1 skein Needle Size: I had been worried a bit about the fit of these socks but blocking them made a BIG difference and the fit is great! (I love living in Montana and I like to show off the big beautiful blue sky...but it's been cooler than usual and a bit cloudy with an unbelievable 86% humidity. The usual is around 25%. I must admit it's nice for a change!)

Home is looking pretty good! I've been back for almost two weeks and not much is going on. Napping, knitting and cleaning, it feels great! A couple more projects are under my belt: Baby Girl Gift Pattern: Pepita by Martina Behm Yarn: Babe Colorway: Lavender Amount: a smidge more than 3 skeins Needles: US Size 2 (next time I'll use the needles called for!!) I also made  the blanket behind. We call it the"Mrs.Stapleton Baby Blanket." When The ChickWho Flew The Coop was born our neighbor made one for her. It is a large square of doubled flannel (if the yardage is 44" wide buy a length 44" long) wash, sew the square minus 5 inches, trim corners, turn and sew 5 inch opening shut. Press seams and tie blanket with yarn.  It's bigger than the usual receiving blanket and can be used for a long time. It was perfect to cover baby on summer nights and great for laying baby on the floor to play. Wagon train socks Pattern: Vanilla socks from my own c...

While traveling in California and Oregon I rediscovered berry picking. When I was young there was a lot filled with blackberry bushes across the alley from us. I would pick the first berry ripe to the very last one in the fall. Mom would give me a bowl and a bit of sugar and off I'd go indulging myself completely. We'd also pick in the height of the season and make blackberry jam and cobblers. Mom never mentioned that these were "weeds" and always encouraged picking. Blackberries are my favorite probably because of this memory! Image the first time I heard they were weeds and was laughed at for picking them....I was an adult and thought THEY were the crazy ones and I still do! When I was in California the kiddos and I picked the berries and added them to our fruit salad. When I arrived at the Oregon Family's home and saw the berry patch across the street I was delighted. It took some coaxing but I was able to get the boys out to do a little picking. Then I showe...