Wild and Wooly Night

The wind howled all night and we woke up to no power and tree branches down all over the yard.
This is pretty much the end of this tree, there is not much left standing, so DH will be cutting it down next week and cutting up the branches for fire wood.

Fortunately nothing was hit by the branches - not even our grill was damaged.

I do believe this is the end of our foliage though!

Traveling Scarves Spoilers

The scarf on the top is Deebunks scarf - my addition is at the top of the picture and you can't see it very well, so not much of a spoiler! It's a fan & feather stitch in Noro Silk Garden. I mailed that one out yesterday and when I got home there was another scarf waiting for me. I added the piece at the bottom in Noro Kuryon in the same fan & feather. What can I say - I think Noro is perfect for the fan & feather! I have to add some goodies to the package and 'grandma's' scarf will be back in the mail next week. This is really a fun swap. I can't wait to see what my finished scarf will look like. If you are wondering what this is all about - check out the Traveling Scarves Group on Ravelry.

Speaking of Ravelry groups - On my Survivor group I still have one Survivor left - Marcus, and my couple on the Amazing Race Ravelry Group, Terrence and Sarah came in 2nd last week - so they are still in it. As for my Red Sox Knitter's Ravelry Group - well all I can say is wait until last year! But they made it exciting - down to the wire in game 7 - with that amazing comeback in game 5 - so we love them still!

Costume Parades and Alpacas

Look what I found at the Harvest Ho Down - some Alpacas ....from a new Alpaca farm right here in my town.
These are two of their alpacas, Salt and Pepper. The first thing I wanted to know was what they do with their fleece! They haven't done anything with it yet, but plan to have it processed and spun as soon as they can find a place to do it. They are such gentle animals.
This is my grandson talking to and petting them.
My DH wants to know if I want to get some - he thinks he's being funny, but I do think it would cut down on the grass mowing. Maybe when I retire?
And here is poor Casper dressed as King Casper for the pet parade - he wasn't very happy, but did win a dog biscuit.


And the costume parade - the mermaid with the purple hair is Tori.

Mysteries and Fidgets

Mystery Project #2 is in progress on the Holiday Mystery Gift-Along The clues are being given in both knit and crochet instructions, and I've chosen to crochet this time. These mystery KALs are so much fun, especially since I am usually clueless until the end as to what they will become. These are the first 3 clues - any guesses?

I finished my figet made from the Araucania handpainted Wool/Alpaca/Silk blend yarn. I'm not crazy about the buttons and will probably change them if I can find some I like better. I used this Fidget pattern, but it is basically a 5 1/2" x 23" rectangle with buttonholes at one end and buttons an the bottom side of the other. It can be made with any pattern and any yarn, in knit or crochet - the possibilities are endless! And I think they make great little gifts. This one might stay with me!

I'll be back later with pictures from the Harvest Hoedown at the local community center going on this afternoon. It is a beautiful day for it!

Another Miracle at Fenway!

Wordless Wednesday

Discoveries & Three Day Weekends

Even though I know Christopher Columbus didn't really discover American (how can you discover a country that already has people living in it?) And some historians believe there was a little hanky panky going on between him and Queen Isabella, I'm still grateful to him for the three day weekend!

While watching the Amazing Race last night (my couple, Terrence and Sarah, finished third so I'm still in the Ravelry contest!) I knit up some baby pumpkins. These were a 'blast from the past' on the Holiday Mystery Gift-Along Group. They are filled with rice and very squishy. You can squeeze them, and change their shapes, and my grandchildren, even the teenagers, will love them! There is also a "shooting star" pattern up (one that will only last a week) for some awesome knit and crochet masks that I will have to make.

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably have heard my sad story about how the grammar school I had taught at for 22 years was closed down due to mold found in the walls, and how we moved lock, stock, and kids, into a neighboring grammar school where we have been packed in for the past 5 years. Our new school is finally becoming a reality. My grandson took these aerial shots from my SIL's plane this weekend. So far it is on schedule to open in September! It's an absolutely gorgeous spot!

Hope you are all enjoying a long weekend too!

Inspiration

This picture doesn't do the foliage justice, but these are the colors that inspired............

the purchase of this yarn (Paton's Classic Wool) to make a fall felted bag.

I have orders for two felted bags - not exactly what I want to be knitting when I have so many other projects on my list, but I couldn't say no. I delivered one yesterday (forgot to take a picture!) and while I was delivering it, got another order.

Oh, and I finally finished my Branching Out Scarf which will be a Christmas gift for -um - someone!

Socks & Sox

Here is a peek at the yarn I'm sending my SP in the Whoduknit Trick or Treat Swap. (she doesn't know who I am). I'm going to send the Fidget pattern along with it - I think it will look great in this yarn. I'm also sending some cute pumpkin buttons, and other goodies. Don't want to give it all away! But if you belong to Whoduknit and signed up for the swap...well, this could be for you!
It's Araucania hand dyed wool/alpaca/silk blend and is sooo soft.



Of course I couldn't resist buying some for myself which I think will also become a Fidget.

I finished one sock on the 12" circs. I loved knitting with the little circs - they didn't bother my wrists or hands a bit. I did switch to dpns for the toes, but may try another way on my next sock. What I didn't like was the yarn I used -Patons Stretch Sock. I didn't like knitting with it, and I didn't like the way the colors pooled. I supposed I need to make another one anyway, but I'm not looking forward to it.

Instead I CO for another sock on the 12" circs using LB Magic Stripes, which I happen to like. It's just round and round you go, letting the self-patterning yarn do the work.

And YES, the Red Sox made it to the ALCS and will be playing the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend for the American League Championship -
Go - Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunny Sunday

The leaves are just about at peak color this weekend. They go by so fast! It's really my favorite time of year.

I went to Bar Harbor yesterday with my DD, GDDs and friends to have lunch with my cousin who has a really neat clock store there called Get Clocked. There were two cruise ships in and the town was buzzing. In another month it will be a ghost town!

And, the mystery is solved! This is what the mystery knit on the Holiday Mystery Gift-Along turned into.

Of course the last clue was - make another one!

WIP photos

This is my attempt at knitting socks with a 12" circular needle. This one is an Addi Turbo (thanks again Sharon!). I'm really loving them - no pointy sticks all over the place and no long cords (magic loop) getting twisted up. I'm using Patons Stretch Socks in Bonbon Caramel. I think I'll call them my "Plain Jane Socks".

And this is the first "Mystery Special" on the Holiday Mystery Gift-Along.
We are up to Clue 4 out of 7 clues and I don't have a clue what it is! I'm using Kool-aid dyed Knitpicks Wool of the Andes. Any ideas of what this can be? Some are guessing that it's a thong LOL.

Rabbit Rabbit

When you work with 2nd graders, you learn something new every day. Did you know that when you wake up on the first day of each month you are supposed to say "Rabbit Rabbit" and that will bring you good luck all month? I didn't know that!

Aren't these the cutest little circs you've ever seen? When on of my Whoduknit friends, Sharon H., saw my post on another blog saying that I would like to try 12" circs. for socks, she very generously offered to send me one that she had tried and didn't like - they are addi turbo size 2. She also sent a 9" size 8 circular needle. I didn't know they made them that small and I'm not sure I can knit with the 9", but I'll give it a try.

Aunt Kathy is at it again with her month long contest. She's giving away a prize every Monday.

And her contests are fun too. Go on over to her blog to enter.

Knitting this week has been minimal, but it's been all about the Holiday Mystery Gift-Along. With new patterns popping up every Monday and Wednesday, plus mystery clues, shooting stars, and more I just wish I had more time to knit! So far I've completed the Gansey Gayle hat (pictured in a post below) started a Cushy Crochet slipper sock, started a plain talk sock - using the 12" circular that Sharon was kind enough to send me to try out, instead of the dpns that I do not get along with. I'm loving the 12" circ. so far but haven't turned a heel or picked up a gusset with it yet. I guess I still have to endure the dpns for finishing the toe. I'm also working on the first Mystery Special, and after completing three clues I don't have a clue what it is! I'll post some pictures tomorrow, but now it is time for bed!

I am not even going to try to stay up for the Red Sox/Angels first play-off game which is on the west coast and doesn't start until 10 p.m. I'll have to read all about it tomorrow.