Ten for Tuesday

Ten things I love about a rainy day...

1.  It's a great day for knitting! (Oh come on, like you didn't see that coming.)

2.  I like to pop in an "old favorite" movie.  The top three at this time...Under the Tuscan Sun, The Santa Clause and (newest favorite) Super 8.

3.  The next couple days are going to be cloudy and rainy...and cold!  I like that the temps are cooler in this part of the country.  Down south rainy days were almost always warm, cloudy and rainy. Good for running, I have to admit, but not so good for the "rainy day" experience when you have to crank up the AC.

4.   I don't feel as rushed.  I take my time in what I'm doing, whatever I'm doing.

5.  I usually don't go anywhere I don't have to on rainy days.  I work my errands around them so when it's raining, I'm at home.  I do offer to take the kids to school so they don't have to stand in the rain at the bus stop.  I'm such a nice mom.  (haha)

6.  After walking Gracie in the rain (not my favorite), her fur curls up like she's had a mini-perm.  She looks so cute!  Gracie doesn't mind the rain too much. When it's super stormy (like Super Storm Sandy was)...strong winds and rain, she's not so happy.  Like her mom.

7.  I love to listen to the rain, especially at night.

8.  The air is cleaner during and after a rain.  All the pollen is knocked down.  So are the many blooms on the trees, but hey, you can't win 'em all.

9.  I like to have a special lunch on rainy days.  Not just the usual of leftovers or a sandwich. Sometimes I even make soup from scratch...just for me!

10.  Combine number 1 and 2:  That's me on a rainy day.  Today I'm going to finish knitting a present for someone who is having a birthday soon (and block it too, I hope) and also work on my Hitofude KAL sweater.  Not sure what movie I'll watch.  I don't have any shows to catch up on so a movie it will be.  Maybe The Santa Clause...I can always use some Christmas cheer.  I have some house work to do as visitors are coming soon, too.  And knit group is tonight!  Sounds like an awesome day!

I hope you day is great too.

Sprung

It's a beautiful Spring day in the neighborhood.

#tbt (or for us older folks...Throw Back Thursday)

Welcome back to Throw Back Thursday!

Here we are (me, Mike and Barb) at the San Diego Zoo! Not sure when, probably late 60's, I look like I'm maybe 5 years old. When I showed this to my husband Mike, he said, "Oh man, that brings back memories." We're the same age and grew up in the same town...so we have a lot of the same experiences. Back then, you could get into the zoo free if you were under the age of 16. I remember ditching in high school and hanging out at the zoo all day.  When I was little, like in the photo, we used to be able to feed the animals at the zoo.  Peanuts for the elephants and marshmallows for the spider monkeys.  I remember the monkey's little hands reaching out through the cage for the treats...it was scary and exciting at the same time.

This picture I love! Barb (back then we called her Barbie) and I on a swing set. I'm screaming my head off about something...Barb probably pinched me! haha

Grandaddy and I on the carousel at Marshal Scotty's Playland Park.  Grandaddy was a real cowboy, he used to break horses.  

Throwback Some More

Found a couple more...

I'm sure I needed the security of that thumb when I got up close to those turkeys...they're huge!

As a kid I had this thing where I always wanted to put my cheek on stuff that was soft...so I'm rubbing my cheek on this duck not kissing him.  

Throwback Thursday

Happy Spring!

Spring wouldn't be complete without baby farm animals. This is my Nana, me, Grandaddy and my brother, Mike.  I'm maybe two years old...no date on the back of the photo unfortunately, so probably 1964.  I love this photo.  My Nana and her signature bobby-sox and tennis shoes and Grandaddy with his cowboy hat...fond memories. And me in my pedal pushers.  

My mom probably remembers where this was taken.  I don't think it was their farm but either a friend of theirs or one in the neighborhood.  

What's on the Needles?

Here's an update on what's on the needles lately...

Well, first off...I apologize for all the upside down photos.  I haven't quite mastered the skill of holding my phone the correct way when taking photos.  Stand on your head if you need to.  And non-knitters...well, maybe you'll enjoy the photos.

I'm making a BEAUTIFUL aran, cable-y, hang open in the front cardi called Cinnamon Girl Cardigan by Amy Christoffers.  The yarn looks very pink in the photo but it's really very Fall leaf colored like in the second photo.  The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in the Chinatown Apple colorway.  Hands down one of my very favorite yarns for sweaters...aran weight but behaves so well, little to no pilling.

Here's a pic of the FO (from the pattern page on Ravelry).

The only thing I'm changing are the sleeves.  She's got them in reverse stockinette and I'm doing stockinette.  

This set is knit with yarn Mike got me in Canada.  He face-timed me while in the shop!  I had thought about an infinity scarf but the yarn turned out much brighter than I thought...so a hat and mitts instead.  The mitts are Cozy Thermal Mitts by Karen Everitt.  A freebie! The thumb is a little large but the yarn is super soft and super squishy so I don't mind.  The hat is Ribby Toque by Carol J. Sulcoski.  The yarn is 100% superwash merino by The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze. 

And, of course I have socks on the needles!  Here's another pair of  the February Lady Socks by Kate Atherley.  I've made them many, many times...the fit is great and it works with highly variegated and solid yarn. It's the same gull wing lace used in the February Lady Sweater...my favorite lace pattern.  The yarn is so yummy...Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in the Rockwater colorway.

This upside down beauty is Almondine by Anne Hanson.  Yarn is Baah! La Jolla in Pink Tourmaline (much, much brighter than in the photo). OMG...get yourself some of this yarn.  NOW!  Halfway done on that pair!

I almost always have a lace shawl on the needles.  This is Natessa by Corrina Ferguson. Yarn is Manos de Uruguay Lace...a blend of merino, silk and cashmere. Just beginning but check out the beauty it will become...

New yarn purchase!  HaldeCraft's Andre in the Pretty in Pink colorway. Here's the content (directly from the yarn band): 80% superwash merino, 20% nylon, 100% Sturdy!  It has a beautiful tonal quality...I love the color!  Will probably be socks someday.

This is The Amanda Hat. Knit in Malabrigo Twist in the Sotobosque colorway.  The hat is super comfy, fits like a bucket hat only on the snug side.

Ok, so that's about it.  Still working on the crochet sock blanket, too.  I may cast on the James sweater just to give my hands/arms a break from the heaviness of the Cinnamon Girl as she starts to grow.  

Our knit group is doing a KAL next month with this sweater:

I know...gorgeous, right?  Ok, it's knit with fingering weight but on bigger-ish needles (size 4). I'm going to use Knitpicks new stuff called Hawthorne.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Now, back to my knitting...