On My Mind

Coffee.

I think even though it is 11PM I have coffee on my mind since I just finished working in the cafe and I smell like coffee.

So coffee is on my mind this evening.

What is on your mind?

OH - Hey I got some knitting time in today with a friend! Yeah, knitting with friends is rare in the summer due to crazy kid schedules. It felt good to take some me time. And my scarf is getting closer to done.

Two Cute things

Here is finished project 17!

This hat is for the same baby girl as the other hat.

It is smaller - it would fit an orange.

I liked the bit of blue in it for pizazz.

And just because my daughter took this picture of the dog and I thought it was cute.

Here name is Auggie she is an Australian Shepard and she is 5. She is our 1/2 dog.

She lives with the neighbors but we help with her a lot.

SWEET SIXTEEN

Is this not the cutest little thing?!

It would fit a grapefruit - and I saw the tulle accent in a knitting book and borrowed the fab idea for myself. Since it seems a bit big for a newborn I am making another (with slight differences) in a smaller size so this lucky baby girl can have a hat for now (she is due mid July) and a hat for later. Those babies grow fast you know.

Yeah for quick knitting and small projects. WOW 16 completed knitted items so far this year. I am a pretty happy camper. Hopefully, the other hat will get done today as I am off work.

I can't wait to give this to the expectant dad.

Pictures of our Day

As promised - knitting pictures. I love this scarf - the color makes me think of the ocean. Plus the yarn is so sleek and smooth - nice lightweight spring or early fall scarf -- really an accessory and not for warmth. The little pink hat is for a coworker - I saw a pattern book for baby hats today and got a great idea how to liven this hat up -- will see if I can get the materials tomorrow and have a finished project then!

Here is the biggest daughter out back practicing her mellophone - she plays the French Horn for concert band but this is new to her and it is easier to carry when marching.
I can here her out there as I type this -- I think the neighbors are happy it is not a tuba - or drums!

My knitting list

• I have a scarf almost halfway done.
• I started a cute pink baby hat for a little girls yet to be born.
• A baby blanket for the prayer shawl ministry at church.

That is what I have on the needles right now. I got a new sweater pattern and another sleeveless sweater pattern that I got from a magazine that I am considering.

I hope to finish the baby hat in the next day or so - it seems big so I may start a smaller one after I finish this one -- just in case. Then she can have a hat now and one for winter!

I will get some knitting photos tomorrow!

I am Knitting I Promise

But the small joys of summer keep getting in the way. We went to a theme park with friends. It was a perfect summer day. We had lots of fun enjoying the water and the rides. I will admit that I did not ride this coaster - my daughter did and loved it -- there was even an underground tunnel she says.
I hope to have more knitting to post for you all soon! But be sure to enjoy the joys of summer.

Oh - and the boy is in Scotland and having fun -- or so the sources tell us!

Quiet

Things here are quiet.
Girls off to camp & here is Joe this morning before his big
trip to England.
He does look a bit excited doesn't he.

Now if I could just focus enough to knit!

Summer Time

So it finally seems like summer to me.
Kids are off in 10 different directions - I work some evening hours so I can get them where they need to be.

I like lots of things about summer...
- sitting out on my deck in the evenings
- flowers in the yard
- all the good summer food
- grilling out for dinner
- corn on the cob

What are your favorite summer time activities?

REVEALED

TA DA
The Double Secret Project

Here is Miss Lisa & I with her new lovely Alpaca prayer shawl. This is pretty true color - it was done with 2 yarns camel color and cream. I love the way Alpaca feels - it is so soft and luxurious. It is light weight but really warm!

Lisa is in the beginning stages of her battle with breast cancer and this blanket was a labor of love -- it was quite emotional for me to knit this and often pray for Lisa and her family.
I hope it brings her lots of warmth and comfort now and when she has beaten this cancer!

Did it!

I finished project #15 for the year -- it was a big one.
50 inches long -- 33 inches wide and soft as can be!

YEAH - I will hand deliver it this week.

Now on to a few more quicker projects for a bit!

Soooooo Close

I owe a picture of the big kids on their birthday. Two cakes this year - because the husband was sure I would forget to bake a cake -- plus he likes ice cream cake. Ha, I didn't forget and we got ice cream cake and chocolate cake! They are now 15!
And here is a good picture of my nephew (and new graduate) Andy --he is going to IUPUI in the fall. We attended a nice graduation party at my brother & sister-in-laws house yesterday.
Now the thing I am so close to doing is finishing the double secret project. Realistically I think Wed is a good guess on when I will be done. But today is a nice slow nothing going on day -- I may try to work hard on it. We will see and then I will post!

Yesterday was a Busy Day

The day started with 8th grade Recognition day - the older 2 were pretty happy. Here is Brooke in the white Jacket and dark skirt. Next was Joe in the light grey shirt. They were not together since they were on different teams.
How can I now be the mom to 2 high schoolers! That is soooo not possible when I still think of myself as just about the same age I was when they were born.
So long middle school -- high school here they come.

Also last night I had our friend Alison's high school graduation to attend -- it was a very nice ceremony and I got my son's knitted gift completed before they even called her name.

So here is finished object 14 -- I am not sure it has a name - neck warmer - camo-face cover?? It has an elastic string run through some well placed eyelets then it has a little toggle to tighten it. He is sure it will be quite handy when hunting this winter. It was easy and quick and there is cool inexpensive camo yarn out there. I see 2 more of these in my future for some other hunters I know.


Here it is in lovely neck warmer style -- oh and today this smiley boy has a stomach bug on his birthday --poor guy. He and his slightly older (just 11 minutes) are 15! Really now folks where did that time go? P.S. If you are wondering - double secret project is moving along -- it is now 40 inches long. I am estimating that I have about another 12 - 16 inches to go -- or that is when the yarn will run out I think.

WOO HOO!

Finally Mara's soccer team won the championship game. Here she is with her buddy.
They have played in the final game 3 times -- this time they finally won! It was a perfect sunny soccer afternoon. I even took some knitting to keep me from yelling too much.