Well, here I am!!

Boy, have I been lax here!! Where does the time go?? But, the weather has been really nice, a little too hot at times, but right for gardening. I also have partaken of our new backyard swing...sigh!!

For my birthday, Jillian gave me the best gift! On my booknook blog I had posted a list of books I wanted to read..........well............she ordered EVERY ONE. What a thrill. She got them used (I love used) at Amazon . The added fun was that they came over about 2 weeks, so everyday I anticipated what would come next. So I have been big time into reading. When do you ever have, right before you, 12 books you have been anxious to read?

My knitting has been a little behind lately. I just cant pull myself away from my garden and books. I am still on the same toe-up sock. But I wont wear it till Fall anyway.

Gene and I and Lindsey too a trip up to Rockport on the 4th of July. It was a beautiful day..which of course spelled CROWDS! If you know Gene you will know we spent forever driving around to find just the right parking space..........eeekk!

And my garden. This year it has really matured. My day lillies are just coming into bloom, and they are gorgeous. My hydrangea bush is interesting this year. Ir always blooms a gorgous blue. But this year..it has a purple tinge to it.

So I am off to post to my bookblog. I promise to be back very soon.

Blessings,

Barb

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Yes, it is raining REALLY hard here. It started this am about 6:30, with thunder and all! The strange thing was that while driving to Church, 20 minutes south of here, we discovered, it hadn't rained a drpo there. And I mean HEAVY rain. It still is now. Maybe it will cut down on the pollen, it is so out of control.

I haven't done much new gardening. Just mwoing and a little weeding. I did add 2 more Hostas (cut from my others) by the street. They dont look great yet, hopefully they will take. My wild violets are just about done blooming. I will cut them back to the ground, and then fill in with more impatients. I have 4 wild 'Lady Slippers' ( see my gardening section on what I learned about Lady Slippers) growing along the driveway in the woods. I dont have the heart to cut them, although I would love to see them in my kitchen. But when they are done blooming, I will dig them up and plant them in my garden.

I am knitting a cute baby sweater, with long distance support from my baby sister Colleen..a true knitting maven! She sent me the yarn, and the pattern. It is so cute. A nicce change from just socks. My Toe-Up socks are coming along, slowly, but along. Yesterday I wenyt to my fav yarn shop,BellaYarns in Warren, RI...a very cute little town with a still thriving downtown, right on the bay. I bought 2 sets of circular neddles to try knitting socks on the circulars. Another little venture.

I will admit, my extra time this week has been spent in Cedar Cove, Washington! I finished the series featuring the residents of this town , by Debbie Macomber. I was sad to depart from them. But a new one will be published in Sept, so I am already waiting for that. Leisure Arts has also published a knitting book from this series. Many of the people in her books knit, and these knitting books give the patterns for all of them. So that will be one of my next treats, the knitting book from this series.

I have caught up this week on some house work, and paperwork. It feels good, but ugh!!

Well, I promise to write more soon.

Blessings on All who visit here,

Barb

Not Spring...Summer!!

Yes, Summer has indeed arrived. Not only is it warm..it is sunny on a weekend. Somehow we dont that much lately. And a long weekend at that. Of course this is the first time Gene's dealership is opening on a Holiday. It would be a nice one. But they did give each salesman only half the day on. So that is not so bad.

Last Sunday we took Grammy (Mom) up to Westfield. Dad's grave looked fine, a little grown over, but we spruced it up pretty quickly, and at least it shows someone cares.

The, as usual, we had to journey to Stanley Park. What a beautiful place this is. It is always so tranquil and so well kept. A little early for most of its flowers yet, but gorgeous none the less.

And what about them Sox!! I know..it is only May, but almost June! Peter, take note here!

My knitting, has greatly slowed this week. Working along on my toe up sock. The problem with socks, they take so darn long..and then you have to do the second one! And I am into reading this darn Cedar Cove series.. You guys know what a sucker I am for RIO (reading in order). They are just wonderful, mellow, women's reads. And thanks Ebay......the full series -6 books- for only $5.00. Wahoo. How Did the ebay vultures miss this one??????

I have spent a lot of time gardening after work, and finally I am pleased. This year I am going for simplicity, not a riot of color. Maybe it comes with turning 57 next month.!!

Well, I am off to watch 'Murder She Wrote". The joys of Digital Cable..those old shows. And thankfully it is too early for the lawn mower to run, so I will just sit back for a while.

Blessings and Love to all!

Barb

ToeUp Socks

As you can see, this is the front and the back of my toeUp sock. You start by doing a Provisional Cast On and then knit 1/2 inch. You then take out the prov. cast-on, pick up the stitches and start knitting in the round. It took me about 6 tries to do this right (over a week I might say). but I think I got it right. I didnt do the cast-on absoluitely right, as it si supposed to just come right out with one pull of the thread, and mine I had to work a little to get it out, but it is amazing that the toe is done, with no seem. For my sensitive feet, this may be s=wonderful. I just hope the heel works up as comfy as my usual K,slipK,slip heel.

Barb

Spring???

Well, it says Spring on the calendar, but it sure doesn't feel like Spring. It has been in the 40-60 range for the past couple of days. Yesterday and today it has been cold rain. Not just cool, but cold.

Jillian bought me a beautiful hanging basket with orange and purple flowers for Mother's Day. I love it, but I have had to bring it into the enclosed porch, I am afraid it will die from the cold. My garden is pretty set as I finished last weekend, but now I am holding my breath that the impatients and pansies will survive this weather. Well, we will see. Of course, the hostas are going wild!!

My knitting has been a little derailed by mistakes.........and a treasure find. On ebay I bought a 'lot' (that is how it was described) of Debbie Macomber books. Well, I love her knitting shop books, and for $5, how can I go wrong. Well.....I got the whole Cedar Cove series all 6 books. I have often eyed these books, but just never bit. Mostly because I knew they were a series, and I love reading series in order. Well I got them all. So I have been engrossed. My Mother and Cousin cant wait for them next.

So my knitting. Well, the Toe-Up sock has had its challenges, but finally I have finished the toe and I am on the forefoot (straight knitting) now. I like the way a rib fits on the foot, so I am doing a 2/2 rib, I hope it seems okay. It is VERY cool to be able to try it on as you go. I also have cast on another sock, but somehow I keep having a problem dropping or picking up stitches. It is a beautiful purple mix yarn, but it is a little difficult to see well. So I just took it all out again.

So that is my life this week. I also tried 2 new recipes for the crock pot from someone at work...and they were both a huge success. One was a chicken with OJ and mandarin oranges and ginger. The other a rib recipe with dijon mustard and maple syrup. Sounds weird, but it was VERY good.

Well, onward!! I am going to try to sneak in a little more reading before I start errands and housework!

Blessings,

Barb

AAAHHHH.........Spring!!

Yes, Spring has finally landed here in Rhode Island. FINALLY. It is actually almost 80 right now. Yesterday morning it was 31. That's New England for you.

Sunday we went down to Narragansett to visit Jillian in her College Year Home. It is SUCH a cute little cottage! But next year she will be even closer ot the water, with a deck and all windows overlooking the ocean. Pretty tough , huh! She finishes up this week...EXAMS!! How I remember.

My knitting is moving along slowly. I havent done much more. BUT I will. Reading has overtaken me these past few days.........besides work, and house stuff and family things! Just not enough time in the day.

So onward........Out to my garden!

Blessings, Barb

Movin' Along!

Well, here it is Saturday. Another week down! I did discover I was actually joining the sleeves correctly, and I was doing the crochet edge on my top correctly. So, now I just have to finish it. I am almost done.........And..................it fits, what a shock!

Now my toe-up sock is also coming along. I have finished the toe. It was hard at first, and I ripped it out about 10 times. the provisional cast-on, and the rip it and pick up the stitches, while knitting in the round...EEEKKK!. But once I got the hang of it , it was fun. So the toes are done. NO seam! and I am knitting a 2/2 ribbing for the top of the foot, as I like that little support it gives. So now I just do the tube till I get to the bottom of my ankle bone.

AND I needed something to just do that was a no-brainer, so I knitted (almost done) a cute dish cloth from the latest issue of "Creative Knitting". My Mother made it and liked it. I am doing it in a peachy-yellow.

I know..where are the pics of all these. I promise to take some, once I get the chance.

Be back soon!

Barb

HHMMM!!

Well, I finally decided to 'bite the bullet' and just start finishing this shell/tee I made. So with a new book I bought (the knitting book which goes along with the novel "The Good Yarn") in which the illustrations are really good....I think I figured out how to single chain around this neck....Maybe. I think it looks right, but a little bumpy. I am going to go to Bella Yarns and see if Kim, the delightful knit lady, will take a look and tell me if it looks okay. Actually she has an Open Knit on Thursday evenings. I think I might go. I should be about ready to join the sleeves to the main piece by then, so I will bring it and see what suggestions I can get.

My socks are moving along slowly but surely. The yarn is Fortissima socka (a new kind for me). It is 45% cotton, so it should be good for the summer. I have never really seen how the colors do up, I dont know if they stripe, or just blend or whatever. And I have resisted the urge to check it out online. I am just going to wait and be surprised.

AND......I am starting my very first venture into the world of Toe up socks. I am using the "Sensational Kitted Socks " book. I actually figured out via their instructions how to do a provisional cast on. The whole toe thing is pretty tricky, but sort of fun. The yarn is a white cotton reggia (although it is off white ) with colors....light colors, sort of Springy!! So I am taking these slowly. I have ripped them out 3 times so far..........but only because I want them PERFECT!! Stay Tuned!!

Knit on,

Barb

Hi All

Hi all my family and Friends,

I hope you will all join me in making this a fun place!!

Please join in. Hopefully I will soon figure out how to show pictures !

Love and Blessings,

Barb