Butter Beans

Saturday morning I got up early and traveled with my sister-in-law to Blythewood, SC to pick fresh farm grown vegetables. We opted for the butter beans and corn. I was able to pick almost a half bushel which cost only $7.00!


I shelled all the beans Saturday and cooked some on Sunday. They were delicious. I haven't tried the corn. Mom is making creamed corn tonight.

I finished the first Embossed Leaves sock this evening.


It never ceases to puzzle me that I still have to consult the directions for doing the kitchener stitch. I'm sure part of the problem is that I so rarely knit socks from the top-down that I don't get enough practice. One day it will all click, but until then I'm grateful for Knitting Help.

This afternoon I cast a sweater on the knitting machine. I've been listening to the chug-a-lug of the garter carriage since then. I'm using the v-neck pattern from this book Caernafron Castle. It's not as complex as it looks so I"m hopeful that I can complete this one. It's for mom and I already have several on the to-do list.

I'm still working on the cushions and have switched to the assembly line approach. It's not necessarily faster but it is more organized. I'll use the long holiday weekend to knock this project on out.

Sewn Up

The first of four bbq pillows is complete and residing in its' place of honor. The fabric is a Waverly print. I inserted a 72-inch zipper to allow removal of the foam for washing. Now that the first one is done the rest should be smooth sailing.

Last year I got a little frustrated when I was working on two machine knit sweaters and gave up on them. I recently ordered some new patterns and yarn to try again. I programmed the pattern into the KH970 last night and will knit a test swatch tonight.

The only other project looming on the horizon is a 50th birthday gift for my next door neighbor's daughter. I've picked out the pattern and the yarn but have yet to get started. I'm making the Melon Pattern for a Shawl from Victorian Lace Today in Rowan Kidsilk Night instead of the Kidsilk Haze called for in the pattern. She lives in Alabama and doesn't know about this blog so I'm not worried about the surprise being spoiled.

I finally have time to answer Cici's Meme so hear it goes.

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."



1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was working 2 jobs and going to school to get my degree in computer technology.


2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
Get of work early, get dishes from storage for homeless housing, finish sewing piping and first pillow, cast on tension swatch for machine knit sweater, finish first Embossed Leaves sock.

3) Snacks I enjoy:
I recently changed my diet to diabetes so I'm skippping this one.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Donate, share with my family, friends and church, do charity work, open a craft shop, take some cooking classes, sleep late, put all my nieces and nephews through school, build a house, take a trip around the world.

5) Places I have lived:
Bronx, NY, Fort Bragg, Alabama, Spartanburg, Irmo, SC, Spartanburg, SC for college, Columbia, SC.


6) Jobs I have had:
Ward clerk, lsm operator - USPS, fsm operator - USPS, mail clerk, spreadsheet specialist, computer programmer, software applications analyst

7) Bloggers I am tagging who you will enjoy getting to know better:

Irish Eyes Kathy
Deedee
Theresa
Carolyn

Leaves

I am making good progress on the first Embossed Leaves socks. The 16-row repeat is easy to memorize and execute. Whether or not I can memorize is solely dependent on me being able to find the rhythm in the knitting and this one is excellent. I was going to give these to mom but decided to stay true to the original design and continue the pattern onto the foot. This means that these lovelies will grace my tootsies.


We went to the beach for Memorial Day weekend and got caught in black bike week. I forgot about this picture until I had to locate photos that were saved to the wrong folder. Check out the orange car. I'll gladly accept donations, both cash and yarn, from anyone who can't think of anything better to do with their money than this. You need a ladder to get into it!


I've almost completed the first bbq pillow and will need to make a trip back to the fabric store to finish this project. I was more or less guessing as far as the piping is concerned since I've never taken on a project like this and will need considerably more fabric. It's fun and I'm learning something new even though I've been sewing for decades.

Whoa Nelly or Playing Catch Up

Life is good. It's still been busy, but a good kind of busy. Week before last I had my favorite nephews every evening for Vacation Bible School. I picked Isaiah up from day care after work each afternoon and the first day I picked him up was surprised to see him sporting his new do. A partial faux hawk.


I finished and have worn the Spicy Fitted V-Neck Tee pictured in the previous post. I still have much more yarn leftover than I expected. I've been trying to work from stash with the hope of using all the yarn chosen for each sweater. So far I've struck out twice.


Yesterday I finally completed the Seed Stitch Rib Socks. The Happily Handpainted reminds of Cherry Tree Hill. From all appearances, texture and knitting it feels like the same base yarn. These socks took a while but once I committed to finishing them they rolled right off the needles.


Sunday I began cutting the fabric for the pillows for the barbecue. I'm making four pillows that will go on the open sections for seating. I started with cutting out the pillow sections and made some of the piping yesterday. This evening was busy so I only managed to get one of the zipper strips done. This is a project that will probably take the next couple of weeks to finish.


On Saturday I started my SOS 2008 socks. I'm doing the Embossed Leaves in Cherry Tree Hill from the stash. I've already turned the heel on the first sock. In addition to these I'm knitting Arial a White Lies Design for mom in Mondial Lucente. The yarn can be a little splitty but it knits up into a beautiful fabric.

I still have to do Cici's meme, but for now I'm playing catch up. It's late so ta-ta for now.

Tardis Anyone?

Whew! It's been a hectic two weeks. I've found myself wishing I had my own personal Tardis. Mom had an unexpected hospitalization on Wednesday and had to have a pacemaker implanted last Friday. The previous weekend we were at Myrtle Beach in the midst of the Black Biker weekend and last Thursday my oldest niece graduated from high school. Go Kayla!!!

Mom is home and doing great. She has so much energy and is back to her old self again. She still has some recuperating to do and is taking it easy. For now she can't drive or lift her arm above her head. I think the hardest part for her will be changing her diet.

I've been working on a pullover based on the Spicy Fitted V-Neck Tee from Fitted Knits in Noro Hinageshi SS.


This picture is from about a week ago and I've gotten considerably more done. The sleeves are finished and I'm almost done with the body. It appears that I will have considerably more yarn left than I thought so I'll probably undo the sleeves and lengthen them.

I've been tagged by Cici and will post my answers tomorrow. At the moment I'm trying to get things caught up at the house. It's amazing how many things don't get done when crisis occur.