Sweet Mid-Summer

Respite

After some rough 100+ days, torrential rains and floods, we’ve had a couple lovely days that feel more like fall. The deck of my apartment is so inviting, the morning glories are starting to bloom, and the moonflower vines are finally setting on buds that look like they’ll stay. This is really my favorite spot, and  most mornings I am out there for a few minutes with a cup of coffee, watering and training the vines.

Inviting, yes?

Projects

Shirt

My brother Joe is in a band. Not exactly my kind of music, but he plays guitar and is very talented. A band from NYC is doing a US tour and choosing local bands to open for them. Joe’s band will open for them August 21 in Arnold. At Christmas, I told Joe that I’d make him a shirt, and he asked if I could do it for this gig. Already had the fabric, and it is a pattern I’ve used many times before. So…

All ready to deliver this weekend. 

Shawlette

For the stash swap with the knit group ladies, I ended up with a couple balls of fingering weight yarn in colors I would never have chosen, but that’s sort of the fun of the swap. So it sat on the workbench for a few months, until one day I set a hank of hand dyed next to it. Over the next few days the combination grew on me, and the Indie Trance pattern (free on Ravelry) showed up. Perfect. So here is that!

Lace! Bobbles! Garter stitch! It was interesting to work, but simple enough that it didn’t take a lot of concentration. Decided it also needed tassels, and I think thy are perfect for it.

Pullover

Two Sundays ago, Mom took me down to my old bedroom and had 5 boxes sitting on the bed full of yarn. She told me to take whatever I wanted, which I really didn’t considering I will deal with it when she dies. But I did take a few hanks. Eight skeins of a grey fingering weight with splotches of red.  I started Flax Light for Alyssa, and am almost finished. There’s enough to also make a skirt if I have time. Want to find some bottom weight to match the red for a jumper or skirt. The sweater is a quick knit and the pattern is easy to follow.

It’s extra long so she can wear it with leggings and be appropriate for school.

Foodiness

The last two weekends I have found fresh rhubarb at the grocery store and bought all they had out. Most is cut up and bagged in the freezer, but I’ve also made a crisp. And ate it all myself. Geez, I love that stuff, but the acid did quite a number on my gut! So worth it. I’m taking a bag home this weekend to bake another batch…to share of course. And a bag of fresh local peaches for a slump.