When the herds come to town

It has been a week and a day since I last posted, so I'll see if I can catch you up on what I've been up to. Life continues to be busy as ever, and for me, that also means several projects on my needles, some bobbins full of newly spun yarn, and some home improvement projects. Since my daughter has started a new career, I have my grandchildren more often, and that brings me the greatest joy!! The oldest of the two five year olds turned six this past week, and of course, that meant ice cream, cake, and roller skating! Nearly all of my grandchildren prefer the inline skates, and this little guy needed a new pair, so that's what he received from grandma and papa! He is growing so fast, and luckily, when you buy inline skates for little ones, they come with three adjustable sizes. We also bought him a new pair of jeans, and some tennis shoes. He was more enthused with the skates and the Ninja Turtle his friend got him. Hahaha

 

 My daughter had the day off yesterday, so no kids for me. I got up early since we were having the new carpet installed in our bedroom, and I wanted to tackle our kitchen cabinets. While the carpet was being installed, I washed all of our cabinets down with some TSP (trisodium phospate), and then wiped them down with a product called Restor-a-Finish. I am so over the moon with them!!! They are clean, and the oak has been brought back to life!!! No sanding was needed, just lots of elbow grease. Today, I'm going to go hunting for some nice hardware to put on them.

 

I love a carpet that is so dense and plush, it leaves indentations of your footprint

 

Before picture of worn out wood, especially top right of picture.

More before of finish worn off at bottom of door.

After picture of the same before pic above.

After picture-like new again!!

 

I managed to finish a pair of fingerless mitts for my sister's birthday in a couple of weeks. I hope to also knit a matching hat or beret to go with them. I love how they turned out!! I don't remember if I already showed them to you or not, so if I have, I'm sorry for repeating myself. These are the Cafe au Lait fingerless gloves, and I used Debbie Bliss Rialto DK, which is a very nice yarn!

 

 

I also completed two strips for a project I am working on with a group of fellow knitters. I can't say what it is or what it's for just yet, but within the next couple of weeks, I should be able to let you in on it. One of the strips is knitted and the other is crocheted.

 The crocheted one

The knitted one

More progress has been made on my brother's "Semper Fi" scarf. I really thought I would dread the two by two ribbing, but I'm actually enjoying it. I'm not sure it's as wide as he had asked for it to be, but I do plan to block it out some, and I can also make it longer than what he wanted, which then he could just wrap it around his neck more times. Hey, whaddaya want for free?? lol

 

This past week, I also got the urge to work a little more diligently on my "Ditto" cardigan, and it's surprising how fast it's coming along. I've only got a couple more inches to do on the yoke, then I can move onto the button bands, sew the seams up, and the knitting portion will be done! I just love how it's turning out!! This will be a record for me...two cardigans for myself in one year? WHAT!??! I've got more on the horizon, just haven't decided which patterns yet. I'm looking at the "Acer" cardigan, which I think is by Amy Christoffers, and there is also the "Featherweight", by Hannah Fetig, for spring, since it's a lightweight cardigan. We won't talk about the ones I already have on the needle....well, maybe just one. I'd like to get my Tangerine Tango completed before spring as well. It's a lovely lace top for sure!!

 



 

Ditto cardigan (The world is my oyster), by Berroco Design Team

 

Yesterday, as I was coming home from a much needed and deserved pedicure, I passed a field near our home. There are some wonderful hiking/biking trails through it, but it tends to become overgrown with lots of vegetation. The city hires goat/sheep farmers to bring their herds to chomp down the weeds, etc. It's a wonderful idea, especially with our drought stricken land at the moment. The grasses have turned brown, and the threat of a fire is always on our minds. One of the farmers had the land I passed filled with at least 200 heads of goats, and I could've watched them all day. Goats are funny creatures. They sometimes play with each other, especially the young ones, they butt heads with each other, they attempt to climb trees...and they sneeze...loud!!! The children who were watching with their parents got the biggest kick out of that and got tickled whenever one of them would sneeze, or a couple of them would kick each other off of a big log they played on. We don't live in a particularly suburbia type area, but we don't live in the sticks either. It's an area the city planners/developers now call "a planned community". I love the community I live in, and when the farmers bring their herds to town, it makes me smile! I could take pictures and watch them all day long!

 

There has been quite a bit of spinning too, but I didn't think to get a picture of it before I blogged today. I've spun probably about four ounces of the alpaca I've been working on, or at least that my best guesstimate judging by how much I know my bobbin will hold. I've still got another four ounces to spin, but I will do that on another bobbin and then two ply both bobbins together. I'm still enjoying it, but I'm getting bored again with a solid color. I'm so ready to spin a gradient, tonal, or even a variegated!

 

I made some plans for myself for the weekend while my hubby is away, and I've achieved a couple of long overdue chores in our home. One of my stops will be at one of my favorite antique shops today, and perhaps a craft/flea market or two that I know are taking place.

 

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you enjoy your weekend... See you soon!! :)