Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Miscellaneous Stuff & Some Knitting

I got an e-mail notice from the owner of my LYS (local yarn shoppe) this afternoon saying she had just given away the last chemo cap and it was time for us to make some more. The challenge thrown out to us rabid knitters was 30 caps in 30 days and I've decided to accept the challenge. So in order to get my 30 caps done, I'm going to have to take a little break from blogging (and probably Facebook too) and concentrate on this knitting challenge and also some other home and garden activities. Before my break though, I'll share some of the miscellaneous stuff and knitting that has been occupying my time these past couple weeks.

We moved the deer hunting ladder stand last weekend in anticipation of the upcoming archery deer season opener. (Actually we had to move it off some private property where our hunting privileges have recently been revoked.) Anyway, Mr. Johnson had this tree in mind and the ladder stand worked perfectly there. In this picture, he's cutting off a large grapevine that's grown up on this tree. This is a perfect spot right at the intersection of two heavily used deer trails, plus not much underbrush in the woods, so it should be good for birding if the deer activity is slow.

I picked the first zucchini from our garden. They have a somewhat stunted shape, but were very tasty nonetheless. There are plenty of blossoms and more little zucchinis on my two plants. I like this golden variety because they're easy to spot (not like the green ones that sometimes grow to the size of a baseball bat because you couldn't see them under a leaf!)

I'm finally starting to see more juvenile birds around the yard. Here's a cute little cardinal who visited the birdbath on Sunday afternoon.

This juvenile Red-Bellied Woodpecker easily figured out how to get inside the cage to the suet log. This is the first one of these youngsters I've seen this summer too. The adults have also been noticeably absent from my backyard--although they were regular visitors during winter and spring.


And now on to the knitting projects. I've been looking for this book ever since I saw it on another knitting blog and last week I found it at Michael's. There are so many cute patterns in here, so I also picked up three balls of cotton yarn to try some of the designs out.

I don't think I have to tell you what this design is.......

This butterfly turned out really cute too.

Sunflower

Leaping Frog

Hummingbird

I'm still working on the square lace shawl, but have finally gotten to the edging. Here's what I've managed to complete this week for the edging. I know this shawl will be much more impressive once it's all blocked out. I'm still not liking this pattern very much--the written instructions aren't very clear and I wonder if the person who wrote it was a really experienced knitter or expected only advanced knitters would be working on it. I've spent plenty of time re-reading sections and scratching my head trying to figure out what she's doing. The real challenge will come when I get to the first corner with my lace edging, but I'm hoping that once I'm there the written instructions will make perfect sense and the chart will correspond exactly to the number of stitches I'm working (I would hate to give up now that I'm almost done!)

I've also been whipping up some of these "coffee cup sweaters." Aren't they cute? And a good way to use up some of my leftover yarn scraps.

Here's a couple more pairs of the knitted half-mitts I've finally finished too. I love the colors in this self-striping yarn.

This color is called Pink Camouflage. (I honestly don't quite get the pink camouflage thing......but I thought the colors knitted up rather cute for these half-mitts.)


Most of these knitted items are destined for my Etsy shop, which is in desperate need of restocking, so between knitting chemo caps, watching birds, pulling weeds and all the other fun stuff going on around here, I hope to get the Etsy shop "shelves" full again.

I'll be checking in with occasional posts when I can and hoping to stay caught up with everyone's activities. In the meantime, I hope you all have an enjoyable summer!



17 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Good luck with your wild knitting goals! You've got the biggest heart to make those caps. Enjoy your knitting/gardening summer Ruthie!!

cindy said...

Ruthie, Have a great summer filled with all the things you wanted to do last winter! Enjoy!

Gaelyn said...

That shawl looks like a complicated pattern. My very first project the pattern was written wrong and it drove me crazy. Now I can just write my own.

Love the fingerless mittens. The colors are marvelous.

Have fun, and look forward to an occasional post.

Beth said...

Nice to catch up with you, I've been busy with work and other things rather than my beloved blogs lately and have missed you all. The chemo caps is a great project, thanks for doing it and thanks for sharing your knitting projects, too. I'm not much of a knitter but think I could manage some of the cup warmers--what a great idea to keep fingers from burning on a paper cup. Take care and happy knitting--see you when you return.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I just love those garden dish clothes. I think they are too pretty to muck up. I would be sewing them together and making a lap robe. tee hee... Like you don't have anything else to do.

RuthieJ said...

Thanks Lynne, it's a fun way to try out some new hat patterns plus clear some space for more yarn in my big cupboard.

Thanks Cindy. I still have hopes of getting some birding adventures in yet this summer--checking off the Henslow's sparrow is tops on my list!

Thanks Gaelyn. The charted part of the shawl is good, but the written parts leave a lot to the imagination.

I like finding new colors of variegated yarn--I have another skein that's brown & turquoise that I can't wait to knit into something too (maybe a chemo cap!)

Thanks Beth, good to hear from you. I'm glad you're having a good summer. I like sharing my knitting projects and since I have more hats than I can ever wear, I jumped at the chance to try some different hat patterns and share them with others who have a need for them.

Thanks Lisa for the great idea about a lap robe! These patterns would definitely work great for that. Hmmmmm, now you've got me thinking.....maybe I need to get one made up for a raffle/fundraiser for the Master Naturalists group

Jayne said...

Sounds like you need to clone yourself Ruthie! :c) I know the chemo caps are so very appreciated, and you are such a sweetheart for doing them. You have lots of neat project going. Those squash look yummy too! Take care and enjoy the summer. We'll be here when you return. Hugs!

NCmountainwoman said...

How wonderful that you are helping to make the chemo caps. And dishcloths! What a great idea. My son is the cook in the house and I plan to make some of those for him.

Mama Pea said...

Dear Wonder Woman - I got exhausted just reading your post. (What do you eat? I think I oughta try your diet.)

So great to see more of your knitted projects. Always interesting and inspirational.

Be sure to show all of us the hats when they're done. (Probably by the end of the weekend if I know you!)

Heather said...

Oh look at your cute little "squarsh"! I've already picked several of those practically baseball bat-sized zukes from our plants. I really don't want them to get that big, but I'm afraid that's what will be happening when we go on vacation. Love those nature dishcloths! I can see I'm going to have to check out your Etsy store soon to see if you have some of those up for sale! I use them as potholders, though, or just as something to sit a hot pot or plate on. Good luck with all your knitting. I'm sure you will have fun with it.

Windyridge said...

Love the cloths especially the tree frog. Friends of ours had hundreds of them stuck to their deck door glass one year. It was amazing. I just love those suction cup fat feet!

Anonymous said...

Those dish cloths are so cute and practical. I too would would use them for pot holders or to put a hot dish or pan on the table.

MOM

Heidi said...

Oh, I remember some baseball bat-sized zucs from last summer. What a pain!

Beautiful knitting projects you are working on. The squares are really cool :)

Mary Lee said...

Dishcloths are so pretty! I'll look for that book. Love the half mitts too. Want to try to knit some for my photographer daughter.

30 chemo caps... yowsah!

Have never seen golden zucchini, but I know what you mean about the green ones. Did you see them buckled in by a seatbelt on Down to Earth blog? LOL!

RuthieJ said...

Thanks Jayne. It's fun when my knitting talents can be used to help others. It's a good thing I'm only working part-time and have more time for the things I really enjoy doing!

Hi Carolyn,
Your son will love those dishcloths and I really like working these patterns. I think you will enjoy them too.

Hi Mama Pea,
See now I feel the same way about you when I'm reading your posts about all the stuff you get done in a day!
I heard from Kristen (my LYS owner) that two other women are in the 30-day challenge too. I'll check with her and see if we can't get a group picture of all the hats we've made at the end of 30 days. I think it would be really cool.

Thanks Heather. We've had some cool and overcast weather for the past couple weeks, so the squash action has really slowed down, but once it warms up again, I'm sure I'll have zukes comin' out my ears!
Hopefully the thoughts of those huge zukes hiding in your garden won't spoil your vacation! ;-)

Thanks Windyridge. I really liked that frog pattern too. I've never seen a tree frog for real, but it would be cool to have them stuck right to the window, wouldn't it?

Thanks Mom. The cloths have a nice texture, so they would probably work great for a hot pad or holding onto a hot pan lid.

Thanks Heidi. I have a friend at work who used to take my big zukes. He used them to feed the plecostamus in his aquarium--they love zucchini!

Hi Mary,
I hope you find that pattern book--there are lots of designs in there and the patterns are easy to follow (no charts, just written instructions).
The half-mitts are great for photographers and birders--anyone who needs their fingers free. I use a standard mitten pattern--just stop halfway to the end.

Mary C said...

You've been busy, and gettin' busier! It almost seems like summertime gives us more energy to get things done, especially outdoor activities. Doesn't it? I love all of your knitting projects, too. Way to go Ruthie, especially with your chemo caps project. Blogging seems to be more of an evening/night-time or winterish activity anyway.

Dawn Fine said...

you are one busy gal..wow look what u have been up too while i have been away from blogger reading..
i am going to work my way up now to your latest posts!