Progress

I've done 1/2 of the total repeats that the pattern says but I think I'm going to make it longer. Two reasons. I don't think it'll block out as long as the pattern says it should. And 55" probably isn't long enough anyway so will be adding more repeats. I need to remember to measure before and after blocking. That will help if I decide to do this pattern again. And I do still like the pattern.

The lighter colored "stripes" in it is pooling and I'm disappointed in that but absolutely refuse to rip it all out and start over. I may eat those words though if the new skein does something totally different. Time will tell.

This is for 2nd DDIL and I was going to make an identical one for 1st DDIL but on further reflection, 1st DDIL has no real use for a shawl but a lacy scarf would be a better idea. So I'll use the same yarn but either make this pattern narrower or find a different pattern for a scarf.

I didn't take any pictures but I made 7 pints of corn relish and 7 pints of pickle relish in the last couple days. I've got extra cucumbers and onions and peppers so I'm going to make a batch of refrigerator pickles from them. It's a good thing. ;)

Our weather has cooled off and will be that way for a couple days. It rained overnight and that is putting a crimp in the harvest. The barley has been swathed and they take longer to dry out. So it goes every year. Something gets rained on while it's laying there. Hopefully they get to start straight combining soon. I should ride along on the combine and take pictures. It's pretty cool stuff if you are into that kind of thing....

Baby ensemble

Everything is finished. Ends woven. Washed. Drying as I type. Then it'll be wrapped or gift bagged and delivered. When the baby actually comes I'll pick up a stuffed toy to take to the hospital. Whew, glad that's done!

Nonrelaxing knitting.

Here is the Upstairs Shawl. I really like the pattern. Easy Peasy. I started this once before with lace weight yarn and I just couldn't make it go. So now on to the new yarn. Fingering weight. Dye Dreams. Nice stuff. Going much better than the lace weight. New problem? Pooling. See it there? In the middle at the top, next to the little remote. And in the corners, on the 1st rows. I'm trying to decide if it makes any difference. Or if I'll just go with the flow. Who ever said knitting was relaxing??

I'm gonna go mow the grass.

New Yarn

See the blue in the upper left corner? Dream in Color. Blue Lagoon. Isn't it pretty? Isn't it blue? In every picture on the internet it is this pretty shade of blue. If only. In person it is teal green. Dark teal green. Stabbed again by internet pictures. Grrrr.

The violet ball is Dream in Color Smooshy Pansy Golightly. Pretty. Socks, methinks.

The light colored pinkish was purchased to be another baby sweater but I'm fairly burned out on baby things for the time being so maybe later. Or not at all at this time.

The cranberry colored yarn is Dye Dreams. Brick. It is sort of brickish colored in certain light but it is also cranberry looking which is what I was after. And even if it is brick colored in every light is still just the right thing. That is enough yarn for 2 shawls for 1st & 2nd DDIL. Yeah, I'll probably be so tired of that yarn by the time I get done with 2 that I'll cut the leftovers into teeny tiny bits but for now it's got me entranced. The DDILs live 2 states away from each other so that chances of them wearing them at the same time and place is extremely minimal. At least that is what I'm telling myself. It's a great color for both of them.

The purply yarn on the bottom is Cherry Tree Hill. FREE because I became a Loopy Groupie! Woo Hoo. Another pair of socks. I also got a sock pattern, a cool Loopy tote and Tootsie Rolls. What a haul!

Unless I give socks for Christmas gifts, which I doubt, I'm going to have a bunch of new socks for myself. Cool. ;)

The sweetest sound,

after a day of canning, is the ping when the lid seals.

Beet Pickles. 2009. 5 pints.

I'm overthinking it...

I just can't seem to come to a decision on what color or brand of yarn to get for 2nd DDIL's Upstairs Shawl. I even emailed 2nd DS and asked about color but of course I haven't heard back from him. Good chance that I won't at all. Uff. I've gotta just pick something and get it. I'd love to go to Fargo so I could feel it and see the colors in person but I don't know when that would happen. I'm not totally sold on internet shopping. Especially if I get a brand that I've never had before. Okay enough with the whining!

It's raining now and has been since yesterday. We have about 1" in the rain gauge. This time of year rain is a mixed bag. We need rain for the row crops but with small grain harvest soon upon us we don't really need rain. Catch 22. DH got the winter wheat off by going late. We ate supper at about 1 am. And were in bed by maybe 1:30 or so. Yup. Late. Got it off before the rain came though. That's cool.

I haven't done any knitting for a couple days now and I'm starting to get a little twitchy. I've either got to do a little or start another book.

I bought the book "Julie and Julia". I would like to see the movie but I'm not sure that DH would be up for another chick flick so soon. We saw "The Proposal" when we were in Fargo. Actually it doesn't have great reviews but we both thought it was a pretty good movie. And I also got the book "Made in the USA". It starts out in SD and I get a kick out of books that are based in our area of the country. Any books that are about the tri state area usually get my attention. Anyway these books were buy 1 get 1 for 1/2 off and the clerk was good enough to do a override on the ticket and took $$ off both books because I have their store card (Borders). I'd be a really happy camper if there was a library in town so I wouldn't have to buy the books I read. Either that or if the books by mail through the state is still available. I've tried finding it on the internet with no success.

I've got vacuuming, clothes washing, dish washing, cat waterer cleaning and some cooking to do so maybe I should get off the computer and get on with it.

Oh yeah, the tv in the living room crapped out and we will need to replace that ASAP. DH is seriously tv addicted.

ETA: 3:15 pm. I just ordered Dream in Color Smooshy in Blue Lagoon. 2 skeins. For 2nd DDIL's shawl. I made a decision!!! Absolutely amazing.

okay now it's hot

Well, we got the summer weather that's been in the forecast. The humidity is up and it's in the 90s for a few days. It's garbage day and I was outside about 6:30 this morning hauling bags to the berm and the air is really heavy and warm. You can see the humidity haze. A lot of times when weather like this breaks and cools off we end up with some sort of severe weather. I'll keep you posted!

I had the grandkids for a few hours yesterday. They sure are busy.... I checked to make sure the laundry room door didn't get closed again. Didn't want another kitty incident. See this post.

There was no knitting yesterday. Mainly because of babysitting and online shopping for yarn! I'm anxious to get fingering weight yarn for the Upstairs Shawl for 2nd DDIL. I talked to her yesterday and asked what colors she likes or doesn't like. And she said she doesn't wear any yellow or much for orange. So that gives me a lot of things to pick from. If I could find a pretty garnet or plum color I think that would be super. And she also said she likes blue. She has a couple black dresses that she could use this shawl with. I'm excited.

Farming update: On Tuesday they swathed the winter wheat and are hoping to combine it today. I hope it works because there is rain in the forecast and nothing ruins grain in the swath faster than a bunch of rain. fingers crossed

Well, I maybe have a bit of watering to do or my pots on the patio are going to suffer in this heat.

Later.