I am almost finished with the poncho!!! Just working on the second sleeve and putting together the diamonds. I think I shall be quite pleased with it this winter. I think it'll probably be warm enough for a coat most of the time.
Here are my 2 purchases on sale at the yarn store. The Noro is sock yarn. I have heard conflicting reports about it but it was on sale so decided to try it. I think the color is different and with the right pattern it might be interesting.

The Cascade is destined to be a pair of fingerless mitts. I found just the perfect pattern that should highlight the yarn perfectly. My plan is to have a pair of fingerless mitts in every room. Heehee.

Here is a pair of socks for Amanda. I started them for myself but the pattern that I was playing with was stretchy-er than I anticipated so here are a new pair for her. Just used Red Heart yarn but don't they look like a chocolate covered cherry?

So freakin' hot out. Been a very long week. Not only was it hot but so darned humid that you could barely breath when you had to go outside. Which I didn't do very much if I could avoid it at all. But on the upside the knitting has been going on like gangbusters.

Went to the farmers' market today to pick up some more produce. I did make a wonderful peach-ginger ice cream (soy) with the peaches from last week. I got some lovely swiss chard that is going to be a swiss chard frittata from the fabulous cookbook "Vegan Brunch" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. It's a great cookbook and very user friendly, which I appreciate. Also got some gigantic green onions, some bok choy.

My herbs are really growing like crazy. I bought another basil plant at Trader Joe's last week and it's the biggest thing you've ever seen. Well worth the $3.00 I spent. Lots of leaves and it smells yummy. I am going to pick some tomorrow and make a lovely vegan pesto from it. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Plus, I've been making my own cheese from nuts and have been very pleased with the results. I made a faux goat cheese that was made from cashews. I buy the cashews from an Indian grocery and they are much cheaper that way. As a matter of fact, I think I will go and have some spread on a few crackers right now! Enjoy the weekend and keep cool!!

Just hot and sticky! Ran to a farmer's market today and there was only one booth there but he had some great stuff. Some lovely peaches from the south (that's the only thing that wasn't locally grown) and some kale and collard greens. And a bunch of huge green onions! Yum. Going to use some of the collards for a slaw kind of mix that sounds just wonderful. If it just weren't so hot I'd probably make something hot but at this point I just couldn't care.

But I've made some fabulous blueberry and strawberry soy cream that I am really enjoying. Just so good. The ice cream maker was a wonderful investment!

Here is my new toy. An ice cream maker! Lots and lots of soy cream awaits. I can't wait. I just got a book from the library for soy ice cream with loads of recipes. The hardest thing is which one to make first. But isn't it pretty and red? Monday night was fun!! Got to met Robin (www.fortheloveoffiber.typepad.com) and is she nice! Here's a shot of the gang. Also met Andy, who seems quite nice also. She's looking around this area since her husband's now working here. She's been a blog reader for probably a year (how is that possible?!?) and we've emailed each other. She was knitting the most beautiful baby blanket with cables that is the greatest color of lime green and a purple border. Lucky baby. I think that Amanda would've taken it right from her had she had the chance. Those are her favorite colors.

Here's what I worked on last night. What could it be? ....Yes that's a pair of socks. They are a sport-weight yarn from Hobby Lobby called Snowflake wool blend in the color crocus.Very soft and I really like the texture.

I'm knitting a pattern from Favorite Socks (25 Timeless Designs from Interweave) and the pattern is the Flame Wave. Easy and looks nice. At least to me.

Getting ready to rain here...again. No storms tonight though, which is good. We've had more rain lately than usual and been cooler also. Although it's getting muggy and hot now. But still more rain in the forecast. I actually saw mushrooms growing in the front yard. Crazy.

Still slogging along on the Celtic poncho. Garter stitch is sssoooooooooooo boring. Especially on size 3's. I got alot knitted last week while watching the NBA playoffs....woohoo Lakers!! but now that it's over I will have to find something else to watch while mindlessly knitting and knitting and knitting. *sigh*

We went to a local farmers market today. Usually don't get finished working early enough to do that so it was fun. Only about 8 booths but I got some beautiful swiss chard, some bok choy (a little wilted but got 4 bunches for 50 cents so can't beat that) and some lovely, fat green onions.
I'm going to make a savory swiss chard pie and haven't really decided what to do with the bok choy.

Here's mom walking toward the square where the market is held. We finally had a beautiful, sunny (well, mostly) day and enjoyed being outside.

Went to JoAnn's today and found some Bernat sock yarn for $5.99 but had a 40% off coupon. Can't beat that price. It's acrylic and nylon but I think that mom will like them. A pretty pink/brown combination.

My mini Mochi Flame wristlets. The pattern is a little tricky as the palm is one pattern and the back is another.

I really have to pay attention when working on it so it's taking awhile. Every one of the projects I'm working on now is a little complicated and has a chart to keep track of so it's one little bit at a time. When I get tired of one I have to switch to another.


Slowly but surely there is progress being made! They will be finished by the time the cold weather hits. ...Well, I plan on having them done.

A lot of knitting going on but no pictures today. So here is a picture of Amanda's bird Binkley enjoying a pretzel stick.

Finally got a break in the rain so ran out and tried to mow through some of the lawn. Did the weed whacking also and got wet weeds flying everywhere.

I've been trying to finish the 2 ufo's that I had. Here is one of them. It's a market bag made with Sugar and Cream yarn and knit on size 9's and 11's. Yuck. I don't like to knit with anything over an 8 so it was slow going. But I sat down and forced myself to finish it and voila! I am now working on the sleeves of my Celtic poncho and am planning on having that finished soon.
I also have been doing some cooking. Here is a "quiche". Broccoli and tofu and is very good.

A veggie foccaccia. You can tell I'm really into cherry tomatoes lately.

And some wonderful veggies marinated in Italian dressing and "grilled" in the oven. Very good.

Off to work on my poncho.