Fabulous Feather

Bat-Butt!!!!

Newest Addition

Meet the newest family member! He is a four month old Australian Sheppard. We're still working on a name. He truly picked me & is a real sweetheart.

Here he is with his two brothers.

Fall Leaves

Today is gorgeous. The temperature is in the mid sixties and the leaves are stunning.

  
 
 

I am half way done with the scarf that goes with the Bella Mittens. I am starting from the bottom of the other side & plan to graft them together in the middle so that the cable will run correctly on both sides.

Below are some random pictures that I found that made me smile.

It is hard to believe Ashley was that small!

 

Ashley with her sister, Hailey.

Here is my parent's puppy Tucker, when he was three months old.

Here he is at six months with my Dad. 

 
 

Update

There has been lots of Christmas knitting. This week I took a break after completing one of the projects to work on the hat & scarf that i designed to go with the Bella mittens. The good news is that the hat is totally complete. The bad news is that at 1 a.m. (I was more awake then than I am now because I think I forgot to take my p.m. allergy meds!) this morning, I realized that I am REALLY not happy with the scarf's all too successful sausage impersonation & I'll be ripping it out later this morning. The kicker is, I only think I have about 150 yards to make the scarf. I went for skinny to get length, but the two seed sts on either side of the cable were not strong enough to counteract the pull of the crossed sts. I am thinking about adding three more to either side & hope that I will not have ripped out a day's worth of knitting invane.

Yes, there is a stitch marker in the mittens. The knitting was finished in time for the warmth of spring. I just need to weave in the ends. The hat was designed on the fly. I like the way it hugs my head. It only took me four complete re-starts to get it right. I kept trying to add the cables right after the ribbing & they pulled it in too tight. I had thrown it on the backburner in the spring & was able able to wip this one out in two nights.

I've also updated my facebook page. Ages ago, Karen suggested that I link this blog with that site. I have, but it means I really have to hide my Christmas projects. I guess that shouldn't be too hard because I have been such a slacker updating this space.

The sweater is still on the backburner. I started the first sleeve four times. Each time it was way too big around the wrist. I bought the book Custom Knits & will use the formula in the back of it to bang them out. I am kicking myself for not having it complete because the weather here has been perfect for V-necks.

V Neck Back is complete!

Tadaa!!!!

  I am using my favorite purple turtle neck as a guide for the shape. This may end up a 1/2 inch or so longer. I am hoping that the seaming will eat up some of the additional length.

I am also feeling an incredible urge to start several new projects simultaneously. I need to make a surprise gift for someone soon. A neighbor is having a baby & I want to make her one -two things by mid July. The socks that rock that I bougt at MDSW keep beckoning and now have the new Sock Innovation book to tag team, plus, I am itching to make a lace stole/ scarf. Then there is the Christmas knitting.

Owls Head, Maine

  Last weekend, DH & I visited dear friends in Owls Head Maine. Below are some highlights.

Sammy, their cat.

 DH, Ashley & the pooch my friends were dog-sitting, looking for sea glass.

Owl's Head Lighthouse

 Sunrise.

Blackrose sock & modern classic v neck

The second blackrose sock just needs to have thetoe grafted & the ends woven in!

 

I am also working on the fitted sweater from modern classics. I am making it abou 1.5 inches longer. I love the colors. The blues and specs of gold shimmer in the sun.

I am switching balls of yarn every row to limit pooling and to ensure that the three hanks blend together. It is Blue Heron's Silk/Merino.

Blackrose grows slowly

One month after starting the first blackrose sock, I am still working on it. It's the only project I am knitting, but work & life seem to be slowing me down. Progress was made today & more will be done, I hope this evening.

This afternoon, I gave up a few precious knitting hours to read The Horse and the Boy - the third in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I picked it up at the library today, along with a few knitting books. It was a fun read on a hot afternoon. Chloe seemed happy with my company.

 

DH & I also hit Home Depot & Bluemont Nurseries. I got another cherry tomato plant, tarragon, basil, pineapple mint, spearmint, rosemary, marjoram, catnip (which, oddly enough, Chloe didn't seem that excited about) and parsleyy. All will be planted soon.

Ravishing Radishes

 A couple of weeks ago I planted radishes. The first sprouts are popping up! They are on the left. The strawberries that I planted last year came back and are on the right.  Today I planted in two tomato plants (one a smallish early variety & the other is acherry), cilantro, lemon thyme and parsley. I hope it's not too early.

 

On an unrelated front, here is a cute shot of Ash & Chloe napping.

Knitting has been on the back burner due to Easter and work. I am just past the gusset rounds on the sock. I hope to make headway this week. Soon, I also need to start a secret project.

Cherry Blossoms

Yesterday, DH ran in the Cherry Blossom race & Ashley & I checked out the trees along the tidal basin. It was a gorgeous day.

  The blackrose sock came along for the ride. Here is Ashley posing with it and some tulips.