I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted. It has been a very, VERY busy summer so far, and there are no signs that it is going to slow down soon.
Also in the category of where does the time go, my son Robert turned 17 yesterday. Matthew will turn 13 in a little more than a week. And it's JULY. We are beyond the halfway point for the year being finished!
This will be Robert's senior year in high school. I have 11 months in which to plan a graduation party. So many things come with being a senior! Senior portraits, graduation plans, what to do with his life as he moves forward.
So many things have happened since the last writing! I accompanied Martha to Columbus, OH to attend TNNA. I went back to Columbus 3 days later so that Robert could participate in the Ford Driving Skills for Life program. If you're a parent, I highly recommend looking into this. Robert and Bill couldn't stop talking about how much fun the program was and how much they learned.
I was very proud of Robert, as he apparently was one of the few kids who participated in the question and answer sessions and apparently made an impression on the instructors. I learned of the program through Good Housekeeping magazine. I can't say enough good about this program. The parents even get to drive!
One of the more exciting (and somewhat scary) portions of the FDSFL program was the Mustang on casters. It was great, though, because it is used to teach drivers how to get out of a spin.
The kittens (did I mention the kittens?) are ready to go to new homes. Monica is taking Dora, but we have 2 other kitties that need good homes. We've also got to find a home for the momma cat. Everybody is litter trained and the kittens are cuter than you could imagine.
From left to right, Wee Spot (he has a spot of black on his back and on the tip of his left ear), Dora (because she was the first to escape the cardboard box and "explore"), and Fish. Don't ask me why he is named Fish -- Bill did it. That should be about all the explanation you need, really. ;-)
In knitting news (that's really why you've come, isn't it?) I am working on so many things at once, my head is spinning. The big accomplishment, though, has been that I completed the Stora Dimun shawl. On May 3rd I cast on 449 stitches, and worked diligently to complete this lovely piece of knitting.
I spent a lot of time thinking about what yarn I wanted to use for this project. It was important to be something that would block well; therefore, wool was the natural first choice. The pattern called for sport or DK weight yarn. I wanted something that was a solid, not variegated, but heathered would have been okay. I also wanted something that had a bit of a rustic feel to it -- not anything too soft (like Merino) but not terribly scratchy, either. I decided on O Wool Classic 2 Ply yarn in a rust colorway. I'm very pleased with the results; it has the rustic look that I was going for, and the yarn was a dream to work with.
Stora Dimun Shawl from Folk Shawls, by Cheryl Oberle
Needle: Size 7
Modifications: None.
After completing the lace and the first garter panel, I could feel the shawl getting smaller. It didn't take me as long to go back and forth across the rows, and I became obsessed with finishing. I know it's a scary thought, but I'd like to knit another one.
What else do I have on the needles, you ask? Well, there's the Petrie top, which is at a standstill. I'm about 3/4 of the way finished, and don't have a logical reason for stalling, other than the top is entirely stockinette and doesn't count in the summer of socks & lace contest. Plus -- well, it's stockinette! There is also the "Scarf" from Victorian Lace Today, that I am plugging away at. It is nearly finished. I am knitting it from Malabrigo sock yarn, and want to have very little left over. The pattern called for 110 repeats, but I think I'm well beyond that. I am anxious for the project to be finished, though, because I've told myself that I could start a new lace project when this little (well, LONG) scarf was finished. What to knit, what to knit! My Ravelry Queue is full of lace projects, and I'm looking for something easy yet challenging yet quick.
Also on the needles are the discovery socks (Sock #2 is ready for the first leg line!), a pair of plain socks (The Yarn Harlot's recipe, using Tosh Sock and the new square needles from Kollage), and Matthew's Hedwig socks (which, really, I should hold off because the child's feet grow every time I turn around). There is also some stealth knitting going on, but we really shouldn't discuss that here.
I've also been reading a lot. The trilogy from deceased author Stieg Larsson has been what has captured my attention most recently, but I also have 3 books that look promising in the queue. I've been cooking a lot also, or at least I had been until this horrendous heat wave struck.
I think that is all I have to say for right now, as we are off to hang out at the pool at my friend Mel's house! I will try to be more diligent in my posts. See you next time!
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