Finally. A post from me. The last 3 weeks have just been rather surreal since the accident. Poor Honda was totalled and towed away. Very sad. It was a 1990 but still had a life of over 100,000 miles left. Thank G-d that no one was hurt except the car. The kid's insurance company (Grange Insurance) was great to deal with from the agent calling right away to giving us a rental car for plenty of days. Took forever to decide what car to buy since we weren't in the market for one but finally got everything all taken care of and done. 

But it was just an odd feeling and nothing seemed right until it was done.

I didn't even get much knitting done for the first several days but have now gotten lots done.

These are Algernon socks that I'd been knitting on for several months. It didn't take long to finish them once I got going on them...I don't know why it took me so long to do them. The yarn is Farmhouse Yarns Fanny's Fingering weight. www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/Algernon

Then I made this for sis...she loves crazy hats and says she loves this so I don't know if she's wearing it or not but it is crazy. 

It's the Duck Hat by Emily Ringleman and everytime I walked by it I got freaked out 'cause it looked real!

Mom wanted a mitered vest so I designed this. Used odds and ends of worsted weight acrylic that was lying around and she is really pleased with it. Wears it all the time.

 Very bright but the upside is that it goes with everything. Not too many things you can say that about.

Well, I was going to post the other day but got rear-ended while waiting to turn into my driveway. Praise Jesus that everyone is okay but my poor Honda is undriveable and will have to get a new car. Dealing with everything just wears you out so I'll post more soon. I was going to upload a photo of the car but this doesn't want to upload photos for some reason. Haha. I 'll show it....I'll go through Google Chrome.

Finally sat down to make a post. I've been busy trying to get some knitting done before the cold weather hits. Well, it hit today. Tonight we may have a few flurries and in the low 30*s but it's about time. I was soooo tired of the hot weather that the cold is a relief. Been having the slow cookers going because I've been craving stews and soups now that it's getting fall-like.

 Here is the "chick'n" noodle soup that I made using Beyond Meat. It's a great product, vegan and gluten-free, and so versatile. I just love it.

 Have finished a few knitting projects.

A sweater for myself. The shawl is for mom. She really wanted it and seems to be really happy with it. I'm trying to design a sweater using the same mitering.

Mom is modeling the sweater and she's much smaller than me so it doesn't fit well on her.

This pattern is from Lion Brand www.lionbrand.com, and it's free. Very easy and addictive. I made this one larger than the pattern because she wanted it nice and long.

Right now I'm knitting on this. It's the Central Park hoodie and I'm trying to knit it for the 30 day sweater challenge (www.30daysweater.com) and I have the sleeves to go and then seaming and the hood. It's rather boring (for me) and I'll be glad to have it finished and off the needles.

Okay. This is just a short post because I've got a lot of things going on right now, including being in a live chat right now. I'll write soon, I promise. Yes, yes, I know. But I will.



Finally, the weather has broken and with it my ennui. Fancy, no? I have just been so lethargic that I 've not done anything but knit. I've hardly even wanted to cook except I do like to eat, so cooking is a necessity.

I've enjoyed these last two days...Friday was 65* and it was LOVELY! Had my first cuppa hot tea in quite some time. A nice coconut pu-erh from The Republic of Tea.

Since it's been so hot, my knitting has ramped up exponentially. Here are a few of the things that I've finished.

 This is the Blue Angel Shawl that was the July mystery knitalong from Craftsy. www.craftsy.com

 The socks are "Algernon" and I think the pattern is on Ravelry. Last year I made a sort of sock club of the year by pairing up patterns and yarn and put them in brown paper lunch bags and sealed them. This was one that I picked. Been working on them off and on for a few months.

 This is the hem of the Cornish Knit Tunic from "Indigo Knits". I am on the last several rows and then I can seam it up and finish the neckline, which is the same pattern as the hem.I had the pattern and yarn put away for several years because it looked rather intimidating at the time. Several different charts all knit at the same time. But now that I've done a few projects like that, it was surprisingly easy.

 This is the Nexus cowl (sorry about the photo-I just got a new phone and I'm not very good with it yet. Oh, who am I kidding? I take the WORST photos and always have.)

 This is Spectra and it's for sis. She loves lime green and really liked mine and I had extra of the wedge color so here it is.

I did make some things in the heat. This is a decadent cinnamon roll pie (vegan) and it was SO good that I will make it only for special occasions 'cause none of us could stay out of it!

Loot from Thursday's farmers' market. The burgundy okra is my favorite right now-used it to make quinoa/bean gumbo in the slow cooker. And it's for a small cooker so it just makes enough for about 3 servings. Which is nice.

 And the best is this...a yummy waldorf kale salad. I ate alot of salad and salad-y type dishes.

 And a yummy pizza with homemade crust and fresh basil that I grew. Lots of veggies and Daiya mozzarella "cheese". So good.

Well, I guess I did more than I thought. Bought some tv series on dvd for quite cheap and have been watching those while knitting. One of which was "Home Improvement". Forgot how cute that was.

Alright. I have Polish rye bread (with pumpkin beer and caraway seeds and shallots) in the bread machine and it's ready to take out. Enjoy the cooler weather.



Finished!

Clarus by Laura Nelkin and from Craftsy class-Mastering Lace Knitting.

I was all set to write here on the 4th when I got what I can only describe as the "plague". Spent the next week flat on the couch, fever, not wanting to eat at all, and sleeping all of the time. To put it into perspective....I haven't knit in (hold onto your seat) 7 days! The thought of doing anything other than turning over was more than I could bear. Now, I don't know what it was but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.  Thank G-d, I'm all better now. I did have to take a long nap today but it was the best I'd felt yet. Even did a little cooking 'cause if I didn't I wasn't going to eat. Whew. Glad it's all over.

Went to the farmers' market in Hyde Park finally on the 30th. It's either been pouring rain or brutally hot so I was glad to go.The only thing I couldn't find was kale. The farmers told me that there has been so much rain in Kentucky that the kale has just drowned. :(  I love kale so I suppose I'll just have to keep looking and buy it at the store. But I did get a nice little haul.

I also got some scapes that I'm going to make into a lovely scape pesto. The yellow wax beans went into the crockpot with some stewed tomatoes and fresh basil. They were delicious. The squash and zucchini were for the parrots...they love their squash.

Here's some shots of the square and the booths.

We got there before the market opened-it opens at 9:30 am-so we sat up in the little park by the fountain while I knitted. It was the perfect morning to be outside.

Speaking of knitting, here's what's been on the needles and now off.

Spectra by Stephen West. I loved this pattern. The red one is mine and the green is for sis. She loves lime green.

I finished Obsessio by Laura Nelkin that was the Craftsy June mystery knitalong.

I loved the color but ended up dying with some teabags so it's rather antique-looking. I can't wait until it's cool enough to wear it. And the Spectra.



I also designed another pair of socks and a cowl. Mom liked the sock pattern so much that she wanted a cowl with the same one.

It's kind of a sampler pattern but I think it's kind of cute.

I forgot to write about what I received in the mail last month.

I emailed Craftsy some haikus that I wrote about their wonderful classes and how much I enjoy them. Well, they wrote back and told me that they really enjoyed them and to watch the mail for a package.

I expected a small bag, nothing more. The mailman rang the doorbell and when I went to the door....man, was I surprised! A very large package and here it is. 

•  Lantern Moon Blondewood circular needles size 10
• 3 skeins Kollage Temptation
• tape measure
• buttons
• stickers
• 2 skeins Nazli GeLin Garden Cotton
• 2 skeins of somekind of worsted weight yarn

and the best of all- a skein of Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace.

Craftsy is amazing. THANKS Craftsy for everything!!!

Every time I've tried to write here we have a big ole thunderstorm. I'll try and post soon.

Yes, I have shamefully neglected this blog but I'm here now.

I have been finishing up some of my wips so been knitting like crazy.

This is the Drift shawl by TinCan Knits and what a fun knit. This one is done with acrylic yarn and not blocked but I'm going to make it again in wool so it can be blocked. It should really open those cables and show them off.

These are some plain stockinette socks that I knit using leftover scraps of yarn. I think they are cute. Plus, I can use up all those little balls of yarn!

I was going to make an afghan or something out of them but decided socks were the best way to go.

Last week it was nice and warm and spent alot of time knitting at the park. Once it starts getting warmer it's nice to be able to pull under the leaves for the shade. The trees have just started filling out alot so it's nice there.  Although this weekend it will be stuffed with people so I'll give it a miss.

I've been designing some socks lately. The first pair I designed are being published in a book called "American Sock Knitting" being published by PlanetPurl.  And the pair that I designed and knit for the sample are going to be on the cover! Here's what it looks like.

I love the socks. They are worsted weight and the cables are all the way down the heel. I've made several pairs already.

Here's the pair that I'm working on now. I started these when the electric went out last fall for two days. The yarn is bright and easy to see by electric lantern. I was bored just knitting plain so started knitting different stitch patterns all along.

The next pair I'm going to make will be out of fingering weight.

I just signed up for another mystery knitalong from Craftsy (www.craftsy.com) for June. I'm looking forward to it because the designer is Laura Nelkin and I have taken several of her classes and love her designs. I enjoyed the last mystery kal that I did from them so I'm ready to knit. The fun thing about their mystery kals (knitalongs) is that they send you the yarn so you have no idea what you are going to be making or even what yarn or color you will be using.

This is the last one that I did. It's the Laera shawl by Grace Akhem.

When I first saw the yarn I thought it was pretty but wasn't sure about the pattern. But as it went on I really started to enjoy it. And the end product is quite nice. So I'm glad that I joined that one.

Okay, off to take the cinnamon coffee cake out of the oven! I probably better have a piece right away to make sure it's okay. Have a great Memorial Day!

 



Be here soon.

Finished seaming my Escape cardigan. I really like it alot. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do since these are not the colors I normally pick but it's great. So comfortable and a fun knit.http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/escape

Been busy finishing some works in progress. This is the Skywalker shawl from  Mastering Knit Lace by Laura Nelkin on Craftsy. www.craftsy.com.  I am now working on the second shawl-Clarus and have really enjoyed the class. I've learned alot too. This is the first shawl that I've made with lace weight and haven't made a mistake! happy dancing all around.

Had some crazy weather this week. In the 80's on Wednesday and then the storms came. Now there's a frost warning for tonight. And it's been terribly windy all week. We had some wicked hail during the storms but not as bad as a few miles away.

The hail was about dime-sized but right down the street it was ping pong ball sized. Crazy.

Got a great cookbook the other day-all about bread machine baking and have really been going all out making bread. Yesterday I made (vegan) sour cream semolina with herb swirl bread that is just fantastic! Not the best picture, but you get the idea.

Here are a few of the things that I've cooked lately.

This is a fried "egg" sandwich from "Betty Goes Vegan". It's a vegan version of the Betty Crocker cookbook and ....yum! The "egg" is tofu and it's injected with a "cheesy" sauce that mimics the yolk. Absolutely fantabulous and I grilled the bread with vegan bacon and some hash browns. Making me hungry just writing about it. Too bad I don't have any.

This is an asparagus quiche from Robin Robertson's "Party Vegan" and it's the first pie crust that I've made that I've been pleased with. I most definitely will make it again.

Maple rum glazed stuffed baked apples in the slow cooker. Need I say anything else?

And, finally, I'm working on Spectra. I am loving the colors and it's an easy knit.

 

 

 

Yes, I've been busy finishing things. I'll post soon.