Go for it!

Summer is coming to an end here in northern California, and while the temps still climb into the high 80's, low 90's, I always get that fall feeling in the air around this time of year. There is just something about that certain smell, and the angle of the sun, which means it is also beginning to get dark earlier. We are waking up to temperatures in the 60's for the most part with a cool delta breeze, and this is the time of year my navel oranges will go through a growth spurt, and hopefully be ready to pick and eat around Christmastime. I took this picture this morning. Since this is a young tree, and we don't have particularly good soil, it still seems to be thriving...

 

My strawberries have outgrown their container, so I've asked my husband if he would take out part of the flowerbed that is up against our back fence. I know they like to be crowded, but I think it would be fun to have an entire bed of them...strawberry shortcakes anyone? ooohhhh...and some jam!!! I love watching my grandkids get excited when they spot some ripe berries and ask if they can pick them. They're such an awesome snack, so I tell them to "go for it!"

 

 

                              I can't wait to turn this into my 'strawberry fields'.

 



 

The cooler temperatures also mean a sweater, or a shawl, might be needed. I'm really starting to dig ponchos though! I made one for me last year, and I'm progressing on the one for my sister-in-law. In my last post, I commented that the original pattern was in Danish, and I finally got the instructions worked out. I'm hoping the sizing translates the same...it's looking a little small, but I'll have my daughter try it on. She's a little smaller, but at least I will an idea...I also keep forgetting that the yarn does have some wool content, so I might be able to block it to size. My progress so far....

 

I finished spinning up four ounces of the Wensleydale, and later on today, I plan to ply it with some fiber I spun up a few months ago that was a gift from a friend. I believe it is a BFL/Seacell blend, and it is beautiful!!! I wanted to get the most yardage possible, so rather than split the two ounces to be spun and then plied together, I decided to try to match one of the colors (burgundy) with something else, and ply those two singles together. The Wensleydale in the color Forbidden City, by Lisa Souza, is perfect. It's really an experiment/exploratory thing for me, so we will see what happens. I'm just going to go for it! My sister has requested some fingerless mitts like the ones I knitted for our younger sister (Cafe au Lait), and while this particular yarn would detract from the lace pattern in those, I might find another pattern to use this handspun for. It won't really matter which pattern I choose for her, she is always so appreciative, and so thrilled with everything I knit her.

 

All of the kids in my area are back to school now, and it's so quiet in my neighborhood. I have a few of my grandkids after school most days, and I love picking them up from school and seeing those happy, albeit tired, faces!! My granddaughter is in the eighth grade this year, and is on the cheer team for her school. She looks so adorable in her uniform! (this grandma might be a little biased) It's so hard to believe she will be going off to high school next year!!!

 

The weekend is here, and I have some reading to catch up on for the book club I belong to. I have maybe 100 pages left, so I also need to hit up the bookstore for our next book. I'm so excited we're reading the sequel, since Fall of Giants has been an excellent read!!!

 

Enjoy your weekend...whatever you choose to do!!