THE REAL MEANING OF THE DAY

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend and has taken the time to thank the military members both current and retired for their service to our country, as well as remember those who gave their ultimate all.

Here are some of the things I have finished in the past 6 months or so.

Looks like I'm stuck on small things: cowls, scarves and fingerless mitts!  I have to admit I like the fact they are faster to knit and make great gifts.   Living here in Arizona, I don't have much use for any of these items, so they'll be going to friends and family who live north of here!

 I'm currently working on this pair of socks: "Plain Vanilla Socks" using Vesper Yarns Happy Dance yarn.

And this cowl: "Woods and Water" using Madtosh Vintage yarn

That's all I have for right now and will be back soon!

I'M BACK...................

Stay tuned for I have decided to return to blogging.  Needed a place to post pictures of my projects, my travels and my family.

Hope I can keep you a little bit interested and post on a more regular basis.  

Come back in a day or so!

Darlene

SO LONG, IT'S BEEN GOOD TO KNOW YA!

After much serious thinking, I have decided to discontinue my blog.  It appears I don't have too many followers and it's probably because I've not been too regular and interesting to others.   I would rather spend more time knitting.

I'm going to leave the blog up for awhile as I would like to continuing following others blogs.

Keep on knitting............

NEW YARN AND PATTERNS

Thought I'd bring you up to date on where I'm at on the Sea of Dreams baby blanket.  It's a fun knit and the yarn is really nice.    I worked on it quite a bit over the Memorial Day weekend.

Got this in the mail today.  Yarn for three Racing Raindrop Scarves - one in each color.   This scarf calls for clear beads (with a silver lining) along one edge, and I look forward to doing that.

Looks like I have my "work" cut out for me, so I'd better get at it.  

HONOR OUR VETS WEEKEND!

First of all, "THANK YOU" to all our active and retired service people this weekend, as well as good memories of those who served and have passed!  They are and were truly heroes.

This morning we drove out to Leaf and Feather, a wonderful nursery near us.  They always have what we're looking for in the way of plants.  Its also a great place to bring kids, as they are a rescue place for birds of all types: chickens, peacocks, parrots, parakeets, etc. so lots of fun looking around.

We wanted a couple more plants to put along the border next to our neighbor's fence in the backyard, and picked out these petite oleanders with red flowers.  We already have an awful lot of yellow blooming back there, and also have a few pink oleanders, so these are a nice change.

As for knitting, I'm in a "startitis" period.  Don't know what's gotten into me, but I'm sure excited to cast on new projects.

First, let me show you a completed project:  A Ribbon Street Cowl knit in some wonderful Bare Naked Wool from a new fiber mill which only spins natural sheep wool - no dyes - so the colors are actual "sheep" colors.

 I've just started a Baby Blanket in some Madtosh Sock yarn in Composition Book Gray color.   I don't have a particular baby in mind, but just wanted to knit the blanket.  Pattern is Sea of Dreams.

 I'm awaiting orders placed for yarn and beads to make this Racing Raindrops Scarf from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas on Bainbridge Island, WA.  I've never included beads in my knitting, so looking forward to the challenge.

 And, last but not least, I've received the yarn to knit this scarf designed by a knitting friend, Tina Sanders.   Pattern name is Los Verdes.   The yarn I'm using is similar in color.

So as you can see, I have my work cut out for me, so now just need to get at it!!!

Happy knitting!

ARIZONA YARD PICTURES

Since I don't have much else to show you in the way of knitting, I thought I'd post a few pictures of our yard.  Keep in mind the plants and trees have only been in the ground less than a year.

This is our Palo Verde tree and it's just loaded with sweet-smelling blossoms.  The bees and the hummingbirds love it!

This is an ice plant that has been blooming now for several months, non-stop.  The blooms open up around mid-morning and close every evening.  Can't believe it's grown from a small potted plant to now about 3 to 4 ft across just this year since we've been here.

Yes, we've been here nearly a year (come August 19th).  Things grow year around and the combination of the hot days and drip irrigation, everything grows like crazy!  We've already had several 100 degree days, but it's now cooled down to the 90's for a week or so.

The pretty bougainvillea plants we had last year when we moved in (5 of them) all froze this past winter even though we covered them when the temps were down in the 18-20 degree range for several nights.  So we're replacing them and others that froze.   Planted a couple honeysuckles and will show you a picture when they have some flowers on them.

I'M STILL HERE

Wow, I can't believe how fast time flies (when you're having fun).  I've had things to say in my Blog, but just haven't found the time to sit down and write it.  I'm sure that never happens to any of you, my friends.

We had the last of our visitors, for a while anyway, during our grandkids Spring Break.  It was so nice to have the two girls and their mom for a week.  Did a lot of fun things, and the weather wasn't too hot for them, at least the first part of the week - was in the 70's, but 80's by the day they left.

We went to Rooster Cogburn's Ostrich Ranch, but stupid me, I took pictures of the kids feeding everything except the ostriches!

Here are the donkeys waiting/begging for food:













 

The manatees were fun:















The prairie dogs went crazy when you threw them peanuts:















These were the goats begging for something to eat:

Another day we went to an abandoned mining/ghost town.  Goldfield is pretty much kept like it was in the olden' days.

Their last day here it was in the 80's and we spent a good part of the day at our community swimming pool:

As for knitting, I should finish my Ribbon Street Cowl this weekend.  I'm hoping it's not too tight to get over my head!  I think I'll knit another one right away, as I love the pattern and it's an easy knit.  Good "gifting" projects.

There are two knitting groups just getting started in Maricopa and I have been going to them.  They're nothing like the ones I enjoyed in Graham, but I'm sure they will improve as time goes on.

Going out to a nursery this afternoon, but the temperature is supposed to be 101 today, so I'm sure we won't be staying outside long.   Although we are getting acclimated.  It's been in the 90's now for several weeks and we can handle that just fine.  It helps that the humidity is in the low teens.

That's all for now, and I'll try to be back more often.