Random Firings

Well, tomorrow marks the six month anniversary of starting this little rambling venture of mine. I thought a celebration might be in order, but didn't know what exactly. And I didn't plan ahead for this. So for now, let's just say 'good job for sticking with it (but not so good on the poor planning...)'.

I kept Grandbebe Who Walks on Saturday evening and that was alot of fun for me, and I hope fun for her. She didn't cry hardly at all, so I think she had a little fun. She enjoyed playing with the leftovers of the kitchen cotton yarn. When going after my collected balls of yarn for traveling next week, I substituted a sack of the tail ends. She was more than pleased!

I fed the masses (or at least the local offspring) last night. A good time was had by all, I believe. The corn on the cob was fresh and sweet, as was the strawberries on the shortcake. Each summer, when the corn has come on, I feel like I have died and gone to heaven with that first bite.

Interesting tidbit: I rode my bike to the grocery store to pick up the berries, corn, and chicken. Yes, I did, indeed! I was able to fit two grocery sacks full in my saddle bags easily. It was a 3 mile round trip, and we took the round about way. There won't be any stopping me now!

I knitted a test calorimetry out of short ends over the weekend. It knitted up really well, inspite of being out of 3 colors, and 3 different kinds of wool. I look forward to knitting more for gifts...but out of single types of yarn...but then again, I don't know. It is kind of a cool effect!

When choosing another bird feeder at the local home improvement store, I wandered over to the veggie plants. Aimlessly? I think not! I picked up a pepper plant, a zucchini (with 2 plants in the pot), a yellow straight-necked squash, and a pumpkin. These are good established plants. I think they have a chance of producing before the end of the growing season. We made that new bed, and it remains unplanted for now. That is prime for those viney, sprawling plants. One only gains experience by making an effort. Along with the tomatoes and the strawberries, well, heck, I might be a real gardener!

Lots of Garter Stitch

My length-estimating impaired hairdresser is going to be grandmother in August, and because of the long relationship she and I share, and because I have known the mother-to-be (her daughter) since she was in grade school, I determined to knit the boy baby a gift.

Here's what they are going to get, whether they like it or not.

Not to difficult, but sort of snazzy lookin'.

The 'Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono' and the 'Baby Bib O' Love' is from Mason-Dixon Knitting.

The booties are from 'Ruth's "Perfect" Baby Booties'. (Short row magic!)

The hat is from the 'Oh Natural' from Lionbrand website. (Super, super easy!)

In other news...

I have swatched for gauge! Yes, it's true. I am becoming a real life knitter, instead of an extraordinarily lucky one. In preparing for knitting while traveling next week, during which I hope to visit both the Yarn Barn in Lawrence (with Wisest Sister) and Wildflowers in Manhattan (by myself...must...practice...self-control...), I reviewed a couple of patterns. I am going to start Miss Muffet (by Marjorie Brigham), for Grandbebe Girl Who Walks (and who I get to watch tonight while Youngest Daughter and Bebe Daddy are partying). This pattern will be an investment in time and of resources even if the most wonderful Egyptian cotton yarn was on sale.

I thought to myself that perhaps I should test the swatching waters on this occasion. I did, and am going down a needle size, to sz 5. I am one loosey-goosey knitter. And the swatching whetted my appetite. The yarn knits beautifully, and is not going to feel anything like knitting with dishcloth cotton.

Another pattern I am going to be working on is Calorimetry (for stocking stuffers) out of handspun. This pattern highly suggested a swatch, too. In remembering what I have discovered about knitting hats, I decided this would be wise, not so much to knit exactly the size they think I need, but so that I can knit for the genetically big noggins that run in this family.

See how smart! Using her big noggin and smaller quantities of handspun! Oh, and knitting for Christmas in July! Very smart, indeed. (Now we will watch what actually gets knitted....)

M is for ...

...Matching! (Again, photos I did not take.)

Seems mighty fancy clothes to be messing with livestock!

Matching clothing that is. For many years of our lives, Dearest Sister and I were dressed aliked by our mother. She made most of our clothes, and some I am sure without patterns. She was really a very gifted seamstress. It was probably easier to buy enough to make two, and double up on what she was cutting.

Here we are with Wisest Sister. Again with the livestock...

Often we were asked if we were twins, to which we always responded, "No, we are 2 years and 6 weeks apart." Very precise for little munchkins, don't you think? And it was indeed very precise, and it was also very wrong. Wisest Sister and Dear Departed Sister were born 2 years and 6 weeks apart. Dearest Sister and I have birthdays almost exactly one month apart. We were born 2 years and 4 weeks apart.

And here we are with my Oldest BFF, all mix and match. (Boy, we were skinny back then, weren't we!)

We spent years thinking months were six weeks long, apparently. A cautionary tale, I think, about paying more attention to what we hear in our families (then repeat).

335 Miles...

...this year so far commuting to work on my bike.

Things I have seen on my ride to and from:

• the two foxes that live in the area behind our subdivision on several occasions.
• 5-6 deer who share that space.
• woodpeckers
• a sight impaired person jogging with a white cane.
• a squirrel that I almost...almost...ran over. (I had to brake aggressively for this guy!)
• the snake I did run over. Not to worry, it was a little garter snake, and I don't think I hurt it.
• baby geese just today!
• others bikers who don't wait for stoplights to turn, don't wear helmets, and go much faster than me.
• a few bikers who don't go faster than me, but not very many.
• a man on a scooter carrying his dog (retriever-size...not smallish!) across his lap, as he drove. Really!
• many blooming things.

To name a few that I can remember. My goal is to reach 1000 miles this year. I think with any luck, I shall be able to ride through September. Not bad for a woman of a certain age. I got to say, though...one would think the pounds would be flying off!

In other news, I broke a knitting needle today. I cannot remember when I have done that.

I Got Roses

When my mother passed a few years ago, there was a bit, a little bit, of discretionary money for me to spend. I chose to spend it on 3 rose bushes from a local reputable nursery. In other words, I got the good stuff.

I picked out three old roses, Tropicana, Mr. Lincoln, and Peace. I had those growing, along with a few others, in Texas when the girls were born. Momma came to help each time one of them came along, and being summer babies, my roses were blooming. She loved my roses, and those in particular.

By chance, and by some experience, I planted them where I had room, and where I knew they would get morning sun, ostensibly to prevent black spot and mildew. That place was next the six foot privacy fence on the west side of the yard. Well, here on the high plains, next to the foothills, there is really little concern for mildew and black spot. However, the fence does an excellent job of protecting the fellas in the winter. Excellent!

After the first successful wintering over, I felt very lucky. We added to the Katherine Perry Memorial Rose Garden with two more bushes for Mother's Day. And one more the next year. And one more this year. So far, so good.

After the first year, the choices have been more new-ish roses. This year's was the J&P's introduction for the year. Brand New! Oooooh. Risky she plays it.

I'm glad that the roses take over when the iris leave off.