tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20230571292285417402024-03-12T00:51:01.164-04:00Hugs For Your Heada procrastinating writer's blog of small delights, offering free knitting patterns, free chemo cap patterns, and episodes of creative indulgenceMary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.comBlogger2005125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-59152027893597422442024-03-09T14:24:00.001-05:002024-03-09T14:24:13.964-05:00The thing I picked to finish this month<p>It's the hat on doom needles! I'm taking a vacation just to handle this one, but more on that later.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPCzmaiHPUoXEangwjClzvVYUz5Jvz0rcRgTu4jlF4j6pD9vApAdJMuwWDptFfoSVrdt-ns1pm96jbwnojhse3Ek9Ydoou0H8N755iW5xFBej1dwxID7UGq17GiPS23x_JBUHuGmkZXJwmCfjyFHuFols3TZhcH_4NhBax-PqLWGnJy_1Fx2cgX7yoNk/s640/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPCzmaiHPUoXEangwjClzvVYUz5Jvz0rcRgTu4jlF4j6pD9vApAdJMuwWDptFfoSVrdt-ns1pm96jbwnojhse3Ek9Ydoou0H8N755iW5xFBej1dwxID7UGq17GiPS23x_JBUHuGmkZXJwmCfjyFHuFols3TZhcH_4NhBax-PqLWGnJy_1Fx2cgX7yoNk/s320/hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The first step is figuring out how much farther I have to go, because I'm pretty sure I got near the eyelets the last time my fingertips got too sore to go on with this project. And looking at this side-by-side with my existing hat, I'm a little nervous, because I don't exactly have a cardigan's worth of yarn left to go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wV2kIKOW3IoUbuWx1bd-XRNhapSGGIwhj98NcMZSjlfDLAAQQPN1lS4p3wOVxkduTT-dMMlSv_RuA7jKNntj7buXDNWdwvsOCExkAga-YD3akZL-uXneAnYiO3hCoBeseHrZJZV5ZG7KoS3SlyRPQh8Z0kJnZJKjGuqxr3gAWm29JQLPX1EaQTt0iu0/s640/hat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wV2kIKOW3IoUbuWx1bd-XRNhapSGGIwhj98NcMZSjlfDLAAQQPN1lS4p3wOVxkduTT-dMMlSv_RuA7jKNntj7buXDNWdwvsOCExkAga-YD3akZL-uXneAnYiO3hCoBeseHrZJZV5ZG7KoS3SlyRPQh8Z0kJnZJKjGuqxr3gAWm29JQLPX1EaQTt0iu0/s320/hat2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>But I will not be daunted. The stitches are so squished up on the super pointy doom needles, the length is probably misleading. Time to run some of them onto straight needles to take the pressure off the lace tips, and see where we are.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudBLxkGOFR_jxTidfOfahasFoCs5I0C9bXLnNHc1QcyOjB0n9z4whVEWS0zkFvPnG2v5FpUhuXDHhLUJ1_2ZwK8R91aL-1dyN-u0iihFYH-Lhl2BYhgB_EdKA_z4quS-s188XfViYuK6pcsBHd5Yl80SJtMhdv-ppiP3IlQnPiZzyI_6qX-p3yTpf9bE/s640/hat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudBLxkGOFR_jxTidfOfahasFoCs5I0C9bXLnNHc1QcyOjB0n9z4whVEWS0zkFvPnG2v5FpUhuXDHhLUJ1_2ZwK8R91aL-1dyN-u0iihFYH-Lhl2BYhgB_EdKA_z4quS-s188XfViYuK6pcsBHd5Yl80SJtMhdv-ppiP3IlQnPiZzyI_6qX-p3yTpf9bE/s320/hat3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Phew! Looks like I'm all ready to start the eyelet row, which means the end is near, and not just in the doom way.</p><p>Wowza, though. Is this fingering-weight hat ever wider than the sport-weight version I've been wearing! All this extra fabric underneath is overflow.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g6YdwF1MtpRA2SARm5j8EVeSo0hLIgQzi3GGangd5rN_GZ25_-Hq874rlxXnhtDqPDG2YkuKY9ZfIOi8377JXnflVT0cSAghqKZawHyFBRpjj7CLNUFVlYq6oYmcCsZ1fuGhN3VUT0s_Wkarkq5hIqWBcRa9Uw0I_ISejxtlzz4xYZSErY0rWnFk5R0/s640/hat4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g6YdwF1MtpRA2SARm5j8EVeSo0hLIgQzi3GGangd5rN_GZ25_-Hq874rlxXnhtDqPDG2YkuKY9ZfIOi8377JXnflVT0cSAghqKZawHyFBRpjj7CLNUFVlYq6oYmcCsZ1fuGhN3VUT0s_Wkarkq5hIqWBcRa9Uw0I_ISejxtlzz4xYZSErY0rWnFk5R0/s320/hat4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I'm not measuring it, because I don't really want to know how many too many stitches I cast on at the start. I could've been done by now if I'd gotten it right. Hopefully the end result won't be too enormous for non-ironic use.</p><p>And, yes. When I slipped the stitches back onto the lace tips, I discovered I have in fact started the eyelet round for the drawstring to slip through later. I've totally got this.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Okay: on to my vacation plan. This is actually a reverse vacation, in which I step back from fun things like Hugs to catch up with all the work things I have let get out of hand. For the next two Saturdays, there will be no posts, and then at the end of March, on Easter weekend, I'll be back and hopefully showing off how this hat came out. </p><p>I will still be posting at Instagram though. I know, I know, I'm all about books there, but let's face it, if you're still reading Hugs despite the massive drop in new patterns and textile projects, you're here for my voice. And that's the same even if I'm talking about reading instead of knitting. So if you feel like you'll miss me, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykeenanwrites/" target="_blank">drop on by</a>... you don't have to sign up for Instagram to read posts there, just to follow and comment. </p><p>Plus, I post some cute photos, like these:</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUvishfpjTFXuItowaEv4qtIdzfqTNgESPWE6P8mCvOfeDu9WJ8WqDQcBmBLIZwOfVVYOKYmZk_7dPGZ-OlqxlWRiCfiZYY6yfC3rWgGmrESx7Rjti1jmYB28oxEimcgv_qMe_9JunaDS1NUEI4OpU51qOn6lna965Xb6CunPNelc5eaCOT5lDgvjiDI/s1512/needlecraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUvishfpjTFXuItowaEv4qtIdzfqTNgESPWE6P8mCvOfeDu9WJ8WqDQcBmBLIZwOfVVYOKYmZk_7dPGZ-OlqxlWRiCfiZYY6yfC3rWgGmrESx7Rjti1jmYB28oxEimcgv_qMe_9JunaDS1NUEI4OpU51qOn6lna965Xb6CunPNelc5eaCOT5lDgvjiDI/s320/needlecraft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl3ysE-TkRRQ0jkrE36bRtgJaLzrwUpEwDIt8x0akSuUJestgxmaN78UbAaDXqrHU4rVnBGC7CGH6T274xRV2xjewhOtjj77h9DS4fH5FJ0G3p66R2j9Pi4HEpqshVniqYm1m9UmuFAr99sDK26EYaAu0q7nej4HzWgfoi9UiQaqr5bM_h1N51Ti5Lec/s1086/logosstraight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1086" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl3ysE-TkRRQ0jkrE36bRtgJaLzrwUpEwDIt8x0akSuUJestgxmaN78UbAaDXqrHU4rVnBGC7CGH6T274xRV2xjewhOtjj77h9DS4fH5FJ0G3p66R2j9Pi4HEpqshVniqYm1m9UmuFAr99sDK26EYaAu0q7nej4HzWgfoi9UiQaqr5bM_h1N51Ti5Lec/s320/logosstraight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Okay, have a great couple of weeks and I'll see you at the end of the month, if not before at Instagram! Thanks for sharing some of your Saturday with me today. Hope the rest of your weekend is *fabulous*.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-52433844497936086872024-03-02T15:11:00.001-05:002024-03-02T15:11:35.650-05:00Warm hands<p>It's March now and for long walks I'm transitioning from handspun warmers over gloves to my thinner handwarmers. I've probably shown this pair before in beautiful hand-dyed yarn from Viola but the colour transitions are so gorgeous I can't help myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkuTbbzHEE8WZ5S9rjaKEDqZjfUGyRymd0ctFDF8mAqiZQf4Noahhb2-fcA1NusZkSvTJmLncFPU2HdQkFMGGw_p-XUPXe5DTd26Ot2LHadCCsGEdjL_CWSxDNtXua8dvZaPFFPZoc9IxeMaipoBIGHoHzASagqT4bdR1sy2OT6j8p-BDzHmlPbGotTg/s640/march1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkuTbbzHEE8WZ5S9rjaKEDqZjfUGyRymd0ctFDF8mAqiZQf4Noahhb2-fcA1NusZkSvTJmLncFPU2HdQkFMGGw_p-XUPXe5DTd26Ot2LHadCCsGEdjL_CWSxDNtXua8dvZaPFFPZoc9IxeMaipoBIGHoHzASagqT4bdR1sy2OT6j8p-BDzHmlPbGotTg/s320/march1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I love Viola yarn but it was out of my budget for sweaters and, I feel, too precious to risk on socks that will wear out, so I don't have near as much in my stash as I'd like. Especially now that I've drifted back over to the site and learned Emily is no longer dyeing yarn. I guess everything has its season and I was lucky to acquire what I do have! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzvjB03HNkp_avxsprR8L6MFtQbHdR6N2dyAdo7KGZ-o5r6xSKGBZHmnrs3948NFVbsDubEZ1ZCS4FnZVEnvgAK5DvxWyPwWbPto5314Yq_ArWc-YNueRYJBnRWrC46uCTPrIwBHchP0m64a1Zqbo1cMe8ZLciwC_CjI-8BB_zpddlSzdnHWk8tgFCEo/s640/march3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzvjB03HNkp_avxsprR8L6MFtQbHdR6N2dyAdo7KGZ-o5r6xSKGBZHmnrs3948NFVbsDubEZ1ZCS4FnZVEnvgAK5DvxWyPwWbPto5314Yq_ArWc-YNueRYJBnRWrC46uCTPrIwBHchP0m64a1Zqbo1cMe8ZLciwC_CjI-8BB_zpddlSzdnHWk8tgFCEo/s320/march3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There's a hat in Viola on my needles, too... maybe that's the longsuffering project I should try to finish this month? It'd be nice to have it in play for next winter. Anyway: nobody else does colourwork like Emily. This colourway still gives me the same thrill now it did when I first bought it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-fAP-YvNWrDgUN984t2kxs5tLKncHfQyiADjy5ZPjyyLeGe8zztndJGYGcGsECQIdkXbZ5XoYRZGevtu4Po7o31vSjed8Z-M_Zcq8dgyC4jQEpZOAIczhcZu7BuuD0a3aaUgPFVLuVBDPICkug_Yzfj1wWLE-pMFvngkW7Xxv8y3kiMhQv-nYMo-IDE/s640/march2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-fAP-YvNWrDgUN984t2kxs5tLKncHfQyiADjy5ZPjyyLeGe8zztndJGYGcGsECQIdkXbZ5XoYRZGevtu4Po7o31vSjed8Z-M_Zcq8dgyC4jQEpZOAIczhcZu7BuuD0a3aaUgPFVLuVBDPICkug_Yzfj1wWLE-pMFvngkW7Xxv8y3kiMhQv-nYMo-IDE/s320/march2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It was actually a tiny bit too chilly for these mitts today - damp and grey, so that my fingers were cold - but that won't last. And I don't mind getting a little uncomfortable outside. It makes coming in again for tea and a sandwich such a pleasure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsl9MscfkOAy21QC4qVeZ0Tykp0jPaBqyeYsewSjaNTAiZMYooue3r7zcqkA-r5NMAwW2mlartep3W60Vku77ALT3rIGIUEY1P2ZRl0vIF2jxqCoo-ei1c5wYvwx5AvURb4bBB3aue8__UydHrj8TZwr2hluD8uagXh1Z34T_e6Mm63bQmCSGRsE4iBM/s640/march4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsl9MscfkOAy21QC4qVeZ0Tykp0jPaBqyeYsewSjaNTAiZMYooue3r7zcqkA-r5NMAwW2mlartep3W60Vku77ALT3rIGIUEY1P2ZRl0vIF2jxqCoo-ei1c5wYvwx5AvURb4bBB3aue8__UydHrj8TZwr2hluD8uagXh1Z34T_e6Mm63bQmCSGRsE4iBM/s320/march4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Hope your weekend is lovely, and thank you as always for making me a part of it. See you next Saturday!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-36252865906535755052024-02-24T14:03:00.003-05:002024-02-24T14:03:40.402-05:00Knitting and television<p>Is television even much of a thing anymore? I feel like maybe we're old school here by streaming only some and not all of what gets watched around here. There's something about choosing from the set menu of listings that is so restful. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu2bwLWh0DCd-braLM8wKlwXE6_t7XdoyZgMOaBPi_IziIHqUKGiz94OUJzbYAXSkQJLmiIdl2rRG182GGzKRIXTq5WCLB_7AcPYGhL-CV7IHz7Jqu-PYAhTkz5j66PX57amjhMXll7gSyYXt9UHRIVqEr8_B9qhqRPV6g6Ck71i-k7C4_1XLnW7NJj8/s640/IMG_5035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu2bwLWh0DCd-braLM8wKlwXE6_t7XdoyZgMOaBPi_IziIHqUKGiz94OUJzbYAXSkQJLmiIdl2rRG182GGzKRIXTq5WCLB_7AcPYGhL-CV7IHz7Jqu-PYAhTkz5j66PX57amjhMXll7gSyYXt9UHRIVqEr8_B9qhqRPV6g6Ck71i-k7C4_1XLnW7NJj8/s320/IMG_5035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>But not so restful that I forget my hands are about eighteen inches from the shelf where my various knitting projects live. I knit most of this watching episodes of Murder She Wrote and Columbo. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweoaQDA9JC6Jowqt0q3-Q4nP8xWFiOho-GvKDl90blJJbFr6uDzuBHrqVRHHRJ1blvlPmDzeQ92SsXbbLrxrOzZ7QfGfiJcjNUwm1tjUnEGMWHa63uezcKkGhUQt3YJbyvbu6P2Yr5uMO_cI0VchkJgpTbWHY_CiEXb0v9zQ8Ik3opSi7O-0I7OxRx7Q/s640/IMG_5036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweoaQDA9JC6Jowqt0q3-Q4nP8xWFiOho-GvKDl90blJJbFr6uDzuBHrqVRHHRJ1blvlPmDzeQ92SsXbbLrxrOzZ7QfGfiJcjNUwm1tjUnEGMWHa63uezcKkGhUQt3YJbyvbu6P2Yr5uMO_cI0VchkJgpTbWHY_CiEXb0v9zQ8Ik3opSi7O-0I7OxRx7Q/s320/IMG_5036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Talk about restful! Jessica Fletcher is always going to figure out whatever happened, so all I have to do is watch for 80s and 90s nostalgia. And I already know everything on Columbo except how he's going to pin the crime on the killer. Plus: 70s and 80s nostalgia, and the big name guest stars.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobI8TIvQ_vuzwzIOn5PwrAz8O8HBVh9xcE-hDvaXbkonwSBZDyv9IuyqBxgDoNBWLXr5okIjwl2JFxcoBgEBYnLBWmE0pJcAn_NDpePw7uwLjvmKkPzEgGQuOmAlxzXgt5NMlqcaBMdQcM4pREfaJVFP59ssHYe00vQmUowo1ziC0vO-Xff3OaBOTrUI/s640/IMG_5037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobI8TIvQ_vuzwzIOn5PwrAz8O8HBVh9xcE-hDvaXbkonwSBZDyv9IuyqBxgDoNBWLXr5okIjwl2JFxcoBgEBYnLBWmE0pJcAn_NDpePw7uwLjvmKkPzEgGQuOmAlxzXgt5NMlqcaBMdQcM4pREfaJVFP59ssHYe00vQmUowo1ziC0vO-Xff3OaBOTrUI/s320/IMG_5037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Recently I watched one Columbo episode with Anne Baxter, then a few days later saw her again performing the role for which she deservedly won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in The Razor's Edge, which coincidentally I'd been reading with friends on Instagram. None of which has anything to do with knitting, but goes to show how many things are interconnected, like the stitching on my sock.</p><p>(okay, that was a reach... sorrynotsorry)</p><p> </p><p>One last pic of Amy today:<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNJ8AVYyPr6rDnN_SkN4pFkzxFcH9DtmQoD4R494FF0Re8qQYy_3I-i5KDCa5Bc6xD7HPfn_asWvSXrIxhcYGCSgFjQh_0TbSSL8pB3Rw8kAkBPqqT1yzyP3Vzx_GqECxoKjetG11ijYJ_kJ9_a5OJdV5rw27unmgpnHhZ8hM92-UGM38G24T2tRPVjA/s781/amyjane2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNJ8AVYyPr6rDnN_SkN4pFkzxFcH9DtmQoD4R494FF0Re8qQYy_3I-i5KDCa5Bc6xD7HPfn_asWvSXrIxhcYGCSgFjQh_0TbSSL8pB3Rw8kAkBPqqT1yzyP3Vzx_GqECxoKjetG11ijYJ_kJ9_a5OJdV5rw27unmgpnHhZ8hM92-UGM38G24T2tRPVjA/s320/amyjane2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>She's dabbing her approval of my copy of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Isn't she the best plant friend?<br /></p><p>We've enjoyed Amy so much but it will not surprise you to know that she's beginning to shed her flowers now. I am not crying over it, because her beautiful leaves should be around for a few weeks yet, and they are so lush and lovely.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Hope you have a marvellous weekend lined up even if it's a quiet one, and thanks for letting me be part of it. See you next week!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-7536234503005344512024-02-17T12:16:00.004-05:002024-02-17T12:17:11.916-05:00Two down and a lot to go<p>It's February, and I've just finished a second project from my possibly five-year-old pile of in-progress knits! You might almost see a pattern forming here.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszdp9y4TXEmQ4u52q_dM7U1FVlw6TFodRB8dZNkR6oqDQ4Jo0ftZ0sIA9Cp1kEzdzfxgcu612_a8ckGGURbPoHz88LwtRypscSSnGXFTO2DLS31mUpgibUGwsHbaXFJ-qdx3gy0M-LzCSETMKK651OuqMtL0OeA4hmd8srzUm_JE_HJnPJX8i7Xbushk/s640/anotherdown1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszdp9y4TXEmQ4u52q_dM7U1FVlw6TFodRB8dZNkR6oqDQ4Jo0ftZ0sIA9Cp1kEzdzfxgcu612_a8ckGGURbPoHz88LwtRypscSSnGXFTO2DLS31mUpgibUGwsHbaXFJ-qdx3gy0M-LzCSETMKK651OuqMtL0OeA4hmd8srzUm_JE_HJnPJX8i7Xbushk/s320/anotherdown1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Probably I can't keep this up all year, or even until the In Progress pile has diminished. But it was nice to graft the toes on these socks and free up my needles. Maybe sometime in the next couple of weeks I'll get to run in the ends, and everything.</p><p>You may be wondering whether I gave in and cast on my friend's Present socks, or snuck over to the ones for me? Or not. Either way, the answer is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniLR1O2E4ARbO5A8CxhTg9glPpTlwIqy5Y3ozj_nK8ny5w4saYSDixMLokVOmfVu8NuQcE-OkFm23I-KsX24oM_e8XJn4CIgNA9V31T4aDpbyTmk56Mrx-5bixN_QG3fLht6SHPva3ABxCdSvWTVKIIURAKrogAFKqlW0avDYsiHaehwTH_SNP7fm5W0/s640/anotherdown2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniLR1O2E4ARbO5A8CxhTg9glPpTlwIqy5Y3ozj_nK8ny5w4saYSDixMLokVOmfVu8NuQcE-OkFm23I-KsX24oM_e8XJn4CIgNA9V31T4aDpbyTmk56Mrx-5bixN_QG3fLht6SHPva3ABxCdSvWTVKIIURAKrogAFKqlW0avDYsiHaehwTH_SNP7fm5W0/s320/anotherdown2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I was good, and am now knitting a Present. </p><p>I kind of regret my selflessness because these are really Halloween socks, with stripes in black, grey, red, purple, and orange. Hopefully they won't take me all spring to knit and I can still get in some of the socks for myself, to knit in the sun.</p><p>Anyway I'm glad to have another clear run of legs to knit because I've started being excited about Thursday nights, when Murder She Wrote is quickly followed by Columbo. I feel so nostalgic for these old shows at the moment and enjoy all the wonderful outfits and backdrops and cars. Technically not that different from today but let's face it, it was a different world.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ready for the really big news? Amy bloomed this week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZby00NdBXIlbOGDQI52nYuXJrMr-ShYHskEmTGQO_sGdoos8PHyow8QNhYswmalW8xaSpGU9cr2k4VF1Rpy54SwFnSjSFffAPulNDJAkGxnNEnWO0uLt4CyPcajpvhyphenhyphenY2c78XMsBR75YM-7vuHHEW_U3mrcZKDK6pQZubXyQkmmxuZ_000I39CJTAtw/s640/amyopen1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZby00NdBXIlbOGDQI52nYuXJrMr-ShYHskEmTGQO_sGdoos8PHyow8QNhYswmalW8xaSpGU9cr2k4VF1Rpy54SwFnSjSFffAPulNDJAkGxnNEnWO0uLt4CyPcajpvhyphenhyphenY2c78XMsBR75YM-7vuHHEW_U3mrcZKDK6pQZubXyQkmmxuZ_000I39CJTAtw/s320/amyopen1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Not quite in time for Valentine's Day, but perfectly so for Half Price Valentine's Chocolate Day which is frankly my preferred holiday. Isn't she beautiful? To think that six weeks ago she was just a pot of dirt and a dead bulb in a bag in the basement. </p><p><br /></p><p>I trust you have a lovely weekend lined up? I am going to be at my desk, working very hard, but I have fresh new socks to look forward to knitting at night and that's something, isn't it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUxif5alI9CQ-noKvspua3-AXcmImZxmoKxJmg_ZCdJao8uHij9HPlIUplg1qsK_XdZ-cQMA5CrWFK7kuLyRJkxdUE5ov4og53bE9nZR22zQEqwnPmBY0zIvo66rISXXgBNtXWTXkvvSoH8LRFkj6C4xqdVH6tZGq_gf1QFGeUl-yqRBUHNkgSYWAQCo/s640/amyopen2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUxif5alI9CQ-noKvspua3-AXcmImZxmoKxJmg_ZCdJao8uHij9HPlIUplg1qsK_XdZ-cQMA5CrWFK7kuLyRJkxdUE5ov4og53bE9nZR22zQEqwnPmBY0zIvo66rISXXgBNtXWTXkvvSoH8LRFkj6C4xqdVH6tZGq_gf1QFGeUl-yqRBUHNkgSYWAQCo/s320/amyopen2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Thanks for coming by again this week and I look forward to seeing you next Saturday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-86055199667405266652024-02-10T07:45:00.002-05:002024-02-10T07:46:08.144-05:00Oh look sock yarn<p>I finished the second sock of the pair I showed you last week, but I haven't grafted the toes. Do you delay that sort of thing, I wonder? I find I need a total zen state to do kitchener stitch, with nobody around for the ten or so critical minutes it takes to start and finish. I'd better hurry up though because I have two sets of sock yarn I could be casting on and enjoying if only I had needles available. Behold, socks-to-be:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv8JE9DzUujPid7qGUBU43w4gd_04TG_cnmUqe-3MJFoc1MAj5ZzDrAY-vC6P2DpjZrWoiFqzZWw1vJ_kgIS6_l5ljGKQsq8qFaW1S52Pk0roz4Ptg6DpWKpnjeWoWqkDPJ-QZGcGiMQhcyXA9EIwJJCqMBQQTrcmyZYCRz-TYHciY7ao6JkWKZuzFdM/s640/caston1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv8JE9DzUujPid7qGUBU43w4gd_04TG_cnmUqe-3MJFoc1MAj5ZzDrAY-vC6P2DpjZrWoiFqzZWw1vJ_kgIS6_l5ljGKQsq8qFaW1S52Pk0roz4Ptg6DpWKpnjeWoWqkDPJ-QZGcGiMQhcyXA9EIwJJCqMBQQTrcmyZYCRz-TYHciY7ao6JkWKZuzFdM/s320/caston1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If I were a responsible generous knitter I would cast on the ones with the purple stripes and knit them up for my friend Jan, to whom I have given a pair of socks every Christmas for many years (except last year, when my knitting crawled almost to a halt and I really couldn't produce a whole pair in time.)</p><p>Probably I will do that. I'm so tempted to start with the other pair, though. The stripes on it look super cheery for springtime knitting, even if they wouldn't appeal to Jan.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia416nfjOM916neo98SzYLWHK4HQIqVduXsiyoB8PUyWsfh_K8ESCVduSL0tKKzGIzkotoK7-rzmVELjZrVGAsWdlDxyxXHEYXQ3FqpnmlLOLpfSDHU-F_ECRLwAiwUyRqQZHr6mBHDorP3EBUNlxIqPKvNb0PsF1RSeYF1LMLK4rxwbPPa3iC08241QQ/s640/caston2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia416nfjOM916neo98SzYLWHK4HQIqVduXsiyoB8PUyWsfh_K8ESCVduSL0tKKzGIzkotoK7-rzmVELjZrVGAsWdlDxyxXHEYXQ3FqpnmlLOLpfSDHU-F_ECRLwAiwUyRqQZHr6mBHDorP3EBUNlxIqPKvNb0PsF1RSeYF1LMLK4rxwbPPa3iC08241QQ/s320/caston2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I should also mention how weird it is that I was able to take these photographs on our back deck in February, where we normally have several inches of now piled up. Hmmm. Maybe it's better if I don't mention that.</p><p>It wouldn't be so bad knitting black and grey and orange and red and purple stripes in February, really. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGLvCqJHyg96lRiLXlnLIHedcTYG2LyKS8akE-Si1GdYMSBjhZecNHfmVActrngDpw5ad0t9-XjoJWHX5RFdYhNmSg701s12tJt0G5zMz8MubMIxAkmLEvFxyJR4usbQPvUpkc9JtucF7gWtvQfyYaWtU0WRYUlXor24LPf9MlcxZwRdLDpHpLswZef8/s640/caston3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGLvCqJHyg96lRiLXlnLIHedcTYG2LyKS8akE-Si1GdYMSBjhZecNHfmVActrngDpw5ad0t9-XjoJWHX5RFdYhNmSg701s12tJt0G5zMz8MubMIxAkmLEvFxyJR4usbQPvUpkc9JtucF7gWtvQfyYaWtU0WRYUlXor24LPf9MlcxZwRdLDpHpLswZef8/s320/caston3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Maybe it would be equally not so bad to rush through black and white and orange and turquoise and acid green for spring, so as to finish a second pair of socks by December. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX6ubXCMgTIMk2GFY4_csDSkU_aLeGoLFLp27f7fh_4ZEpCkU672b919Jlw3j7sOijoOYe8TR2uJ0NoYR3_gLUxVDYfPVAjF454sITVc9pKmAIKkLaMuZzyyRqa_I_KUVItc-uugepjSvadBLitlFuZNK9yZ46oJDB1fM_-phe8TYff34gcWvr2Amp4w/s640/caston4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX6ubXCMgTIMk2GFY4_csDSkU_aLeGoLFLp27f7fh_4ZEpCkU672b919Jlw3j7sOijoOYe8TR2uJ0NoYR3_gLUxVDYfPVAjF454sITVc9pKmAIKkLaMuZzyyRqa_I_KUVItc-uugepjSvadBLitlFuZNK9yZ46oJDB1fM_-phe8TYff34gcWvr2Amp4w/s320/caston4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Either way, I've got to get the current socks good and grafted. I guess when I'm finally done that, I could toss a coin?</p><p>Here's something that requires zero decision-making and lots of excitement and admiration: Amy's about to bloom! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kOeBJ2B7hMJXYV_NKWVTOLwRRBIkjUNXAjk6Jm1ciYLt67b5kMeu5Pub3SHievamfjecOt_HT07s4PPSEusmTlP_PjydZTMbKl_cngqqSO0nRp7laPZkFDldjbR5JWrK8v4Prj_IkjKy97IPaVi9J2_po2QrGzzkk0iKOB4oAFlKvFFP0hf4B46I23U/s640/amy%20week%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kOeBJ2B7hMJXYV_NKWVTOLwRRBIkjUNXAjk6Jm1ciYLt67b5kMeu5Pub3SHievamfjecOt_HT07s4PPSEusmTlP_PjydZTMbKl_cngqqSO0nRp7laPZkFDldjbR5JWrK8v4Prj_IkjKy97IPaVi9J2_po2QrGzzkk0iKOB4oAFlKvFFP0hf4B46I23U/s320/amy%20week%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p>You thought you were going go get through a whole post without seeing my amaryllis, didn't you. But I'm committed now to sharing her journey from forgotten basement bulb to pretty flower companion, so here we are.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I hope you have a lovely weekend lined up. You know what I'd like to be doing? Putting a fresh coat of paint on a room, or building a custom bookshelf. I don't need to do either of these things (or have space for another bookshelf) but I am weirdly missing fix-it-up weekends and enthusiasm for same. This from the girl who can't make time to graft a sock toe.</p><p>Whatever your arrangements - thank you so much for dropping by to visit, and I hope to see you again next Saturday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-83636717378823074932024-02-03T15:54:00.004-05:002024-02-03T15:54:43.669-05:00There is knitting I promise<p> ... but first, check out how well Amy is doing this week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3aftPF2Ejvtkpnpt82y8pnE2Vw1knNawZRYOJtVDK8XxpkDoD_duWOaBSz-Yo49_hJLiRPwTdv0tKDS0tzdoa-PBlGuqIaO-mQBQaGDXQRT-_MoQMAJfnyHv2Jxko9pzImbpnhbEUWUhlR8LIcFeWWWHLk74zWGVMyhAr4Q97t2SoLlDV5kyI_cPNhg/s1897/amyweek3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1897" data-original-width="812" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3aftPF2Ejvtkpnpt82y8pnE2Vw1knNawZRYOJtVDK8XxpkDoD_duWOaBSz-Yo49_hJLiRPwTdv0tKDS0tzdoa-PBlGuqIaO-mQBQaGDXQRT-_MoQMAJfnyHv2Jxko9pzImbpnhbEUWUhlR8LIcFeWWWHLk74zWGVMyhAr4Q97t2SoLlDV5kyI_cPNhg/s320/amyweek3.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><br /><p>I know, I could come up with a more original name if I tried even the tiniest bit. But isn't she adorable? I wonder if next week I'll have a bloom to show you.</p><p><br /></p><p>Okay so last night I settled in to watch a movie and thought I'd cast on new socks since I had grafted the toes on the previous pair. However, when I hunted up my needles I discovered some socks were still on them. Socks I had completely forgotten existed. So I finished one of them. Yesssss!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioX2R6X1efnmi2rcora_7TzKSxEiOaLWQtioU5d3bxR8Bjd4GMrosdcKe3PEnkiw5AONx5SYHHEZ5RRWXPuI06D9h079bCAH8DIr8NvOcKmg62XZvbvMm0PUx9wbk-wG_9joui_8Lr7NfnsQVsdI6IPrDGIXGXyY0-YGPmE8MwWQ0a62YS22Qki2oX9ws/s640/amyweek3-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioX2R6X1efnmi2rcora_7TzKSxEiOaLWQtioU5d3bxR8Bjd4GMrosdcKe3PEnkiw5AONx5SYHHEZ5RRWXPuI06D9h079bCAH8DIr8NvOcKmg62XZvbvMm0PUx9wbk-wG_9joui_8Lr7NfnsQVsdI6IPrDGIXGXyY0-YGPmE8MwWQ0a62YS22Qki2oX9ws/s320/amyweek3-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sidebar: this is the beginning of February<br />and there is no snow or ice on our deck<br />which makes me wonder what the rest of this winter<br />is saving up for us<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I still have to graft the toe on this sock. Meh, it'll keep. It's so much easier to graft two socks at once after all, and lookit:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYP8JrAUhUo14g10t7Rtm_tTTK-hbvy33j2n9fNGj08KwzymNhnrcu0ptJh5gZTwErujc0UgYKmDnM0HdBpw4LdNHnnPKNgf5LWlPeKwPlA7pyno4-8XXIrfuvoDaNiDGxbq2opI5PBrJuS9ehJCnTfmh4E6TqaMtAIfOvDf05HMGGu0sl5Qzzsn6bss/s640/amyweek3-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYP8JrAUhUo14g10t7Rtm_tTTK-hbvy33j2n9fNGj08KwzymNhnrcu0ptJh5gZTwErujc0UgYKmDnM0HdBpw4LdNHnnPKNgf5LWlPeKwPlA7pyno4-8XXIrfuvoDaNiDGxbq2opI5PBrJuS9ehJCnTfmh4E6TqaMtAIfOvDf05HMGGu0sl5Qzzsn6bss/s320/amyweek3-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The second sock is pretty close to its toe decreases! <br /></p><p>And it's only the start of February, which means I'm staying on track to finish my various works in progress at a pace of one a month. Maybe, given my track record of late, this is too much to hope for. But if I can get even this one additional pair of cheery socks in play that's pretty good, don't you think?</p><p> </p><p>Hope you got something satisfying accomplished this week as well. I have quite a bit more on my list so I'm going to wander off now, but thank you again for joining me and I look forward to seeing you next Saturday. With luck, there might even be a bloom at the top of the page. And... cue me rubbing my hands in delight.<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-62282360721116291362024-01-27T07:38:00.001-05:002024-01-27T07:38:44.112-05:00Someone had a busy week<p>Check out the stems on my amaryllis friend!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FtTXdMxQa_YmkB4uLW-9oCMr1azuaHlcJStvyOKQVQPf4N9xDAGShsRcj6B47EF_yN8iKdfyLIMzI8mFROsnM_-TTtwKoZBiHHJMajEYRzT5NTkJxaoAfLPB2PoHQYTueVAhFGlR7PPDrYHGKXuJ5LiEJ_q3UmO9rEToXZM1ih7Io1_RiTzAqANE220/s1440/amy%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FtTXdMxQa_YmkB4uLW-9oCMr1azuaHlcJStvyOKQVQPf4N9xDAGShsRcj6B47EF_yN8iKdfyLIMzI8mFROsnM_-TTtwKoZBiHHJMajEYRzT5NTkJxaoAfLPB2PoHQYTueVAhFGlR7PPDrYHGKXuJ5LiEJ_q3UmO9rEToXZM1ih7Io1_RiTzAqANE220/s320/amy%201.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Compared to last Saturday, that's amazing. Especially since we had about 10 minutes of sun this past week, and not all at once either. </p><p>On the other hand, this onion that's spent a little too much time in a dark cold space managed to put out some pretty impressive greenery too. I decided to shift it to a sunny window to see what happens. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3bITNdX9GecUJHbNZSTiIffRU17t0qHOoFIzFIY37P7yLl0OWl0wbgeMMu6x3_nRVv0OJQ2RtzE-DQ2gaTGm66wqIp2ttL42zdg5uojeIkUs5Cd18UUZ7Dmd_z_fc9r58ZuMlhC_JKLb5elBg7zVyJlVo5rI0SsxX32v5ilFs81MLVAgpQz2Q94Ib6A/s1332/amy2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="1266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3bITNdX9GecUJHbNZSTiIffRU17t0qHOoFIzFIY37P7yLl0OWl0wbgeMMu6x3_nRVv0OJQ2RtzE-DQ2gaTGm66wqIp2ttL42zdg5uojeIkUs5Cd18UUZ7Dmd_z_fc9r58ZuMlhC_JKLb5elBg7zVyJlVo5rI0SsxX32v5ilFs81MLVAgpQz2Q94Ib6A/s320/amy2.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><p>Love the deep purple / fresh green colour combo. Am I wrong to think of fingerless mitts, looking at this closeup? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzEO2eHWwuOX32y8XUvzN_BTo56MafT4IEchdH9Mfp0N11cgpX7hPobIIonSBgA0-TAErM8x0jsxrrE5WBTZsYISjZ-sgMLaTEslQI0FmjibnpYnLypp4cOd63Q50-Q_01dahiN2WzYnrkJAVsAdA98Jh9BXCJPCRYaPUg6jhPCyvtlVQvUeHiyHJ4qs/s1366/amy3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1366" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzEO2eHWwuOX32y8XUvzN_BTo56MafT4IEchdH9Mfp0N11cgpX7hPobIIonSBgA0-TAErM8x0jsxrrE5WBTZsYISjZ-sgMLaTEslQI0FmjibnpYnLypp4cOd63Q50-Q_01dahiN2WzYnrkJAVsAdA98Jh9BXCJPCRYaPUg6jhPCyvtlVQvUeHiyHJ4qs/s320/amy3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Regardless, here are some fingerless mitts that are getting good use this winter, albeit with a pair of fleecy gloves underneath. If it's not cold enough for twined mitts, this is what I'm wearing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObJMEqcgJwEAyEXtHcsostbfUjRkUPgiQRV6N-ajQfMPFjzlsC6nbxcGhvTT2smCObt6lTwCuhLTfbksh4fVZcpAIf6uCRngDJ5iWMH2fTzU8Gb-QMgiXfZ4jcaLczYmKCEafwr9p55POo4efzQMrvxiivQ7N7fmyEg1BxQDZt1a-NepHTABzk1OfYtw/s1616/amy4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1616" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObJMEqcgJwEAyEXtHcsostbfUjRkUPgiQRV6N-ajQfMPFjzlsC6nbxcGhvTT2smCObt6lTwCuhLTfbksh4fVZcpAIf6uCRngDJ5iWMH2fTzU8Gb-QMgiXfZ4jcaLczYmKCEafwr9p55POo4efzQMrvxiivQ7N7fmyEg1BxQDZt1a-NepHTABzk1OfYtw/s320/amy4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I handspun the yarn for these years ago, and knit them not long afterward. I still can't believe I got all the singles even enough to make something functional! I used the <a href="https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/collections/churchmouse-patterns-hands-feet/products/ferryboat-mitts-pattern" target="_blank">Ferryboat Mitts pattern</a> from <a href="https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/" target="_blank">Churchmouse Yarns and Teas</a>... my goodness, I love the whole aesthetic of their patterns, and they're so clearly written too. I made so many pairs of their <a href="https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/products/turkish-bed-socks-pattern" target="_blank">Turkish Bed Socks</a> when I was a perpetual knitting machine. I wonder if I need a new pair? </p><p>The answer is Yes, naturally, but not till I get this new manuscript finished, so I'd best be off and make some progress on that. I hope you have a lovely weekend and as always, thank you for joining me for part of it! See you next Saturday.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-88514190111611632122024-01-20T13:31:00.001-05:002024-01-20T13:31:12.314-05:00Hello and no<p>I totally forgot to bring my amaryllis out from the dark before Christmas, and I wasn't sure how it would do when I finally thought of it a week or so ago. But look!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nuc8_wIbRNI6OphsxQ843JXqlz85LhQWubmEsXx0ESEMns3VvTU3QnBDymKz8XIB9e-iWT33wdr8gs7A972upxGQgkrhH_fX8ZGLGUr1LO2aVRbCGlyrK7KWYGAm5ErKMB0kXCBx95H9hqAt2UjcCi6rNoeNvMNUzwoPIW9btrramxaeihT4mmrm53s/s1390/hello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1390" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nuc8_wIbRNI6OphsxQ843JXqlz85LhQWubmEsXx0ESEMns3VvTU3QnBDymKz8XIB9e-iWT33wdr8gs7A972upxGQgkrhH_fX8ZGLGUr1LO2aVRbCGlyrK7KWYGAm5ErKMB0kXCBx95H9hqAt2UjcCi6rNoeNvMNUzwoPIW9btrramxaeihT4mmrm53s/s320/hello.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I was so in love with this plant last winter - the flowers were punchy but the GREEN BITS! They were so tall and silky and spongy, I ended up keeping it in the window for ages until all the strength went out of them and they fell away. It was my favourite stage, once the flowers were done. Maybe a life lesson in there... showy is great, but steadfastness is greater?</p><p>Either way, it's nice to see something emerging into the world with optimism when everything outside is Cold Snap. </p><p>I've been using the Cold Snap to double down on staying in and writing at a fiendish pace. I wasn't trying to go farther with my current project, but deeper, the better to set themes and voices for the pages to come. I love doing that and it is much easier work when there are no social obligations or errands to run, or when those things can be put off because nobody else wants to be out either unless they half to.</p><p>In other words, January is my favourite month, ha! A bond I share, improbably, with skiers.</p><p>It's probably the only one. I considered going out for a walk today to celebrate getting a chunk of work done yesterday, and...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6gUPXPVfYVEWi8bGWZFr7Lp_De8LIbnklkmQSI3rSim4RjuZrNA7V4bBdssw0YFEkpFWtNGNukF4KcOYQktenltXxFZUrSwEqPhP2RdXjYDHNjVPIugiQgyTaUYmY8N4FJzY4TAz1VbLOfM6Pr8D4sE9zEhPN7_EIGMZnkfpXBOQoy8woMIpxJmgaSI/s1653/hello2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1653" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6gUPXPVfYVEWi8bGWZFr7Lp_De8LIbnklkmQSI3rSim4RjuZrNA7V4bBdssw0YFEkpFWtNGNukF4KcOYQktenltXxFZUrSwEqPhP2RdXjYDHNjVPIugiQgyTaUYmY8N4FJzY4TAz1VbLOfM6Pr8D4sE9zEhPN7_EIGMZnkfpXBOQoy8woMIpxJmgaSI/s320/hello2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>No. Tomorrow will do just as well, when the Snap snaps and takes the frostbite risk with it. <br /></p><p>Hope you've been able to stay safe and warm this week - thank you for stopping by today and I'll see you next Saturday!<br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-7181783846495708972024-01-13T15:16:00.002-05:002024-01-13T15:16:27.216-05:00Are you sitting down<p>I hope you're not popping over to Hugs already in a state of overexcitement because...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4cIwV4qfBLj36_yJxM0-mnq-P8Zxzu0tJ_2LNWuhexr40f1o_ph3nmB9FqE0hTyUg4ytTi_93zbkR26Uul8U8mkM2g2XVnkzugKgVoJejhkUf2fzjjsbEGSyz7btl1Wq2HqcPNapm3fgkestMwiNrk1oPVDVxuflVbMZMerLQgnGrdFBuc0HX18QJGg/s942/sox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="942" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4cIwV4qfBLj36_yJxM0-mnq-P8Zxzu0tJ_2LNWuhexr40f1o_ph3nmB9FqE0hTyUg4ytTi_93zbkR26Uul8U8mkM2g2XVnkzugKgVoJejhkUf2fzjjsbEGSyz7btl1Wq2HqcPNapm3fgkestMwiNrk1oPVDVxuflVbMZMerLQgnGrdFBuc0HX18QJGg/s320/sox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I finished these socks!! (okay, I still have to run in some ends, but we're basically there.) And they are comfortable and feel the same even though I cast on one of them with one too few stitches, didn't realize it till I got to the heel flap, agonized for years about how to handle this before ripping back up to the end of the ribbing (I wasn't going to risk casting on all over again) and adding in a stitch before continuing on my by-now very lumpy way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDmnrnoeWTkLSOlk5IXn6L3HwfGMIrosndE767LSjwKKz5jDGXpWp0zcwoIcF0ti-YfJ4_cPs7b_Ar6atFVTNPXFu3jpOoLKG5fGabf9jZ8tmN8qBWhM587PGkKM6BxOcot80qbwKi5bTD3mvQ1OZ-g9Gsv5c541M72jPGZjrOuXJRjT8ilB9lCiqw94/s1519/sox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1519" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDmnrnoeWTkLSOlk5IXn6L3HwfGMIrosndE767LSjwKKz5jDGXpWp0zcwoIcF0ti-YfJ4_cPs7b_Ar6atFVTNPXFu3jpOoLKG5fGabf9jZ8tmN8qBWhM587PGkKM6BxOcot80qbwKi5bTD3mvQ1OZ-g9Gsv5c541M72jPGZjrOuXJRjT8ilB9lCiqw94/s320/sox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>So glad the yarn is toasty warm wool because that's snow on the deck, not icing sugar from a donut. </p><p><br /></p><p>Over on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykeenanwrites/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> there is a lot of talk among avid readers about the infamous TBR or To Be Read pile, which yarny people will recognize as The Stash. As in, I'm only going to read (knit) from my TBR (stash) this year, or These are the books (patterns) I plan to read (knit) this year from my TBR (stash). So many dreams!</p><p>In the end I had to think about my knitty goals for 2024 and it was a
no brainer: finish some projects. Maybe even finish ALL the projects
sitting in bags on the shelf by my favourite chair. There are a couple
of hats, another pair of decision socks where I cast on too few
stitches, and some other stuff I can't even remember now because it's
been so long since I've dared to peek inside. <br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zyvJ_bb5wgEk6-7QrBlS1NtcviKbv3zq5Hp9cV-w-g3PqgC6MuBB0bIW1ovWKllrueXFSCvgFi0WvYOjm6E6m6bTO0DWCqbDSC_h2CUdq6V0tyIx52pfm-AxLTcR6T8W-AkqMmE19bG5VES-gs6aUc88JR5-Gl_WB4D7HK1VNEKufqIIFLeyls0BDQo/s1582/sox2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1582" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zyvJ_bb5wgEk6-7QrBlS1NtcviKbv3zq5Hp9cV-w-g3PqgC6MuBB0bIW1ovWKllrueXFSCvgFi0WvYOjm6E6m6bTO0DWCqbDSC_h2CUdq6V0tyIx52pfm-AxLTcR6T8W-AkqMmE19bG5VES-gs6aUc88JR5-Gl_WB4D7HK1VNEKufqIIFLeyls0BDQo/s320/sox2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Even as they post their TBR dreams I'm pretty sure my fellow readers at Instagram know they may not pull it all off. I know I'm not going to finish all of my projects by deciding I will, either. I mean, ripping out two whole socks and starting over?? and for one of the hats I have to make a braid from three long strips of yarn. Obstacles, I am telling you.</p><p>But I did finish knitting the re-cast sock, completing the pair and
freeing up needles and a project bag. And we're not even halfway through
January yet! </p><p>I'm calling it a win. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh762KXgqKAy2Nr4txzM-MjoWKsH10c60XLxMN4DUq8F50gjXu99V_nZrbOWGkmFL-0LXJBVj986BDeelVLkPN_wwffGHuPHCFDjLVWBN81b4CZ3qDws0ArB2_nvxfd0bg7A1gIwgUG7ZPmyzru5QbAyhk4ZJGhXY8iZui2nEGa0fhnkxrhajBOd9l-Ang/s1585/sox3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1585" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh762KXgqKAy2Nr4txzM-MjoWKsH10c60XLxMN4DUq8F50gjXu99V_nZrbOWGkmFL-0LXJBVj986BDeelVLkPN_wwffGHuPHCFDjLVWBN81b4CZ3qDws0ArB2_nvxfd0bg7A1gIwgUG7ZPmyzru5QbAyhk4ZJGhXY8iZui2nEGa0fhnkxrhajBOd9l-Ang/s320/sox3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, that sock on the right is pretty lumpy in the leg. <br />Hopefully they'll look a little more like each other once I've blocked 'em.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>Do you have knitting goals for this year?</p><p><br /></p><p>Well that's it for me today. I'm done in by the shock of *finishing* something. Hope you have a lovely weekend even if, as here, it is snowy and very cold. Thanks for sharing a little time with me and I hope to see you again next Saturday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-21808718588674760512024-01-06T16:53:00.000-05:002024-01-06T16:53:18.139-05:00Odds and ends<p>I am, as they say, 'without much time' today so I'll be popping non-knit images into this post. Like for example this one I quite like of bookmarks I use. Note the stamped tag from a skein of Viola yarn!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWJeKWS9clAoIwz85WhN1ClPYGpL-x-RQL44BsaHPOoKH_xIC5yuGGcVTXQJl95YyCNpmJeyDo1M_pX-SlNk2Dn6ymLJOez4MzD29U7oSu6l2rXdY-l1Ry7GSIMSO2m6NSSwY4HC7-20Hj06aJr6C7H7lgEi9fr6KaQS_5QMof52E2erbDeb3D4eKl2Y/s1534/bookmarks%20blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWJeKWS9clAoIwz85WhN1ClPYGpL-x-RQL44BsaHPOoKH_xIC5yuGGcVTXQJl95YyCNpmJeyDo1M_pX-SlNk2Dn6ymLJOez4MzD29U7oSu6l2rXdY-l1Ry7GSIMSO2m6NSSwY4HC7-20Hj06aJr6C7H7lgEi9fr6KaQS_5QMof52E2erbDeb3D4eKl2Y/s320/bookmarks%20blog.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><p> </p><p>In fact, everything I want to say is a little of this and that, like this picture. Starting with hats.<br /></p><p>Somebody somewhere has said something nice about the <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2009/03/not-just-for-chemo-reversible-cloche.html" target="_blank">Not Just For Chemo Reversible Cloche</a> (boy, can I name my knit designs, or what?) because I've had a rush of people asking me to e-mail the file to them. For some reason this is the only one of my designs people can't easily download and it's never stopped being a mystery to me. It's the same portable document format as all my other patterns which *don't* have this problem, and loaded onto my website exactly the same way, and a lot of people are able to access it without any trouble at all. </p><p>The upside of this issue is that I hear from a lot of super nice knitters. The downside is that I now realize people are using chemo caps for other sources of hair loss. Hair loss should not be a thing! It's just so unfair, like we don't have enough to deal with in life.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUBvpR4DmXo0Nxy1sT0AJBMUvyIEATtGDi9N2HfYBbxsfKOmaSN1D1X5gNlP4M7X1_i218KJa4N0OE8tjqQO6dktBNCHHxIrtf5oLEWkMe3JtPc0sL8aU-px1qTcrspOAjGu4yezcai-gMYA1ztOBjV0tr97HFVlt1GjiTwqz1Gbjwd_dnbGjVmkpkKw/s2016/bookmarks%20plant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUBvpR4DmXo0Nxy1sT0AJBMUvyIEATtGDi9N2HfYBbxsfKOmaSN1D1X5gNlP4M7X1_i218KJa4N0OE8tjqQO6dktBNCHHxIrtf5oLEWkMe3JtPc0sL8aU-px1qTcrspOAjGu4yezcai-gMYA1ztOBjV0tr97HFVlt1GjiTwqz1Gbjwd_dnbGjVmkpkKw/s320/bookmarks%20plant.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am guessing this is a cattail in winter mode, <br />but when I saw it at the farm I couldn't help wondering <br />if you could spin with it. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p>Speaking of hair, I recently starting trying bar shampoo and conditioner from a few different brands. My favourite thing in this category is the <a href="https://www.mykitsch.com/products/rice-water-protein-conditioner-bar-strengthening" target="_blank">Kitsch Strengthening Rice Water Conditioner</a> bar... I use it only on the ends of my hair and I've noticed so much more wave and pretty, without having to do anything else for it. Plus the scent is soooo nice. And dissipates immediately, which is great for those of us with perfume sensitivity. I love the matching shampoo too but find in my case it's too hard on my scalp to use more than once or twice a week.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2K1b8R9rlbtOpNDYgHAf_Cu8sHqsxhxmdb20_XC3YBSbXfTf3I1quwqWHRza4RrzJGTgJ66IJxWd-5S7gJM0VSexaEUmrZdGjbpKPjbHGdImJfvG9HULxobTYNPAt_1eg3VHOTxCcEpOcY0s0n5Gd0YNy8QElzazKYKunSkcd2CkO4GZV74l_67_vm0/s2016/bookmarks%20pond.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2K1b8R9rlbtOpNDYgHAf_Cu8sHqsxhxmdb20_XC3YBSbXfTf3I1quwqWHRza4RrzJGTgJ66IJxWd-5S7gJM0VSexaEUmrZdGjbpKPjbHGdImJfvG9HULxobTYNPAt_1eg3VHOTxCcEpOcY0s0n5Gd0YNy8QElzazKYKunSkcd2CkO4GZV74l_67_vm0/s320/bookmarks%20pond.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Seems like I've got a lot of farm photos at the top of my file, unless you want to see something I put together for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykeenanwrites/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, in which case you could just to go to Instagram (you don't need to sign up to see somebody's feed.) This is the pond on a grey wintery day. In summer it's alive with colour and, apparently, frogs and turtles. Long may it be so.</p><p>There is so much work do to at this property, and we do it, but we take our time and pause to enjoy our surroundings. Like, just walk around, or stop and stand and breathe. </p><p>It has occurred to me I don't do this normally. I'm always walking to get somewhere or for exercise, so I'm focused and moving. This isn't super possible at the farm because nothing whatsoever is level. If you're lucky, the slope is steady, but quite often there are divots and pockets so that your feet are always having to adjust. It is very much not like walking on asphalt or concrete. </p><p>So, I think the farm is a good place to go, and it's lucky there's so much work to do there or I wouldn't prioritize it.</p><p> </p><p>Which leads my thoughts down the farm track to - planning season! I am switching this year from the chunky colourful sticker-filled Happy Planner approach to the sedate elegance of Filofax Malden binders, personalized with little watercolour doodles. Keeping my mind open to washi tapes (the tiny ones are from Happy Planner) but for this week at least, enjoying slender black ink on white paper smooth as glass. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtaTQwS1kFsMFrh-OFCjf4nR75EfL9tVSLTSJiG-LvssrjNTN8MUF-FMFNBwUku1Eh9Q3pz_giRW3ehnj4kvuyki1NrMmXLutBYrpF5bdxpXmnDueMz9taoTWfkC4psTeZ3GJVDE70s8CwEwx1XiR39iS6urAv4Pi2a5YlLTJPkGKpesFgQ8eLpQySNk/s978/bookmarks%20plan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtaTQwS1kFsMFrh-OFCjf4nR75EfL9tVSLTSJiG-LvssrjNTN8MUF-FMFNBwUku1Eh9Q3pz_giRW3ehnj4kvuyki1NrMmXLutBYrpF5bdxpXmnDueMz9taoTWfkC4psTeZ3GJVDE70s8CwEwx1XiR39iS6urAv4Pi2a5YlLTJPkGKpesFgQ8eLpQySNk/s320/bookmarks%20plan.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><p>I will not bore you with pictures of the inside, but I went all out this year and ordered <a href="https://filofax.com/products/design-your-own-refill?variant=43678167924930" target="_blank">personalized calendar pages</a> direct from Filofax in the UK, as this service is not offered in Canada. I was able to choose exactly the layout I wanted, marked with Canadian holidays only, and in English exclusively, to maximize the amount of writing space on each page. Totally doing this again for as long as Filofax makes it available.<br /></p><p> <br /></p><p>Now that I'm thinking about planning, I'm realizing I have rambled on way longer than I meant, and still have a pile of work on my desk. So let me wish you a wonderful weekend and thank you, once again, for taking a little time to be with me here at Hugs. See you next week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIFCoT7WoDMuuYItFi4W7KK2jxfN9q0OARbhzfQlR2b60boRJTykgWfgSi_YK3jYrrMTR_yqMtR9oJgflWAV3Y1_yWk_HrfUMNJvenY2NkYSSqIV70hgL_PegJswEE1KikQOkjFPML-4EP0ygaYVzehF4Deq9d67AfwQGS5Oju3XuWfa5F2URLQW5V9s/s2016/bookmarks%20path.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIFCoT7WoDMuuYItFi4W7KK2jxfN9q0OARbhzfQlR2b60boRJTykgWfgSi_YK3jYrrMTR_yqMtR9oJgflWAV3Y1_yWk_HrfUMNJvenY2NkYSSqIV70hgL_PegJswEE1KikQOkjFPML-4EP0ygaYVzehF4Deq9d67AfwQGS5Oju3XuWfa5F2URLQW5V9s/s320/bookmarks%20path.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>(yeah, you knew I was gonna slide in one more farm pic. love that place so much.)<br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-33054743423855326392023-12-30T08:31:00.001-05:002023-12-30T08:31:04.993-05:00Happy new year to be<p>I'm a little early on this, but I'm wishing you well for 2024 and wouldn't it be nice if there was slightly less of the bad even if we don't get more good? Though I must show you one tiny bit of good: I made progress on the sock I started years ago and had to rip back to the cuff. I might actually be able to wear these ones come April!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVIpQadmN4q8NMX380IqrNs6utUWFVrvuNidT2QIHXc8EfWBbNpHmGFHbsePAUoMhyphenhyphenIpbn49ChFG21jDN9PYsYVu_tMkCLfwYTPoeIY1Gk9UEkGW_1Kq6gHGrXglfvrr1iYxiUQyrtzG7BDHeiNoCXFoBRlR0mOZZNwwBMhG8qhg-KV5PxEfkt_aXY4g/s640/2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVIpQadmN4q8NMX380IqrNs6utUWFVrvuNidT2QIHXc8EfWBbNpHmGFHbsePAUoMhyphenhyphenIpbn49ChFG21jDN9PYsYVu_tMkCLfwYTPoeIY1Gk9UEkGW_1Kq6gHGrXglfvrr1iYxiUQyrtzG7BDHeiNoCXFoBRlR0mOZZNwwBMhG8qhg-KV5PxEfkt_aXY4g/s320/2024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>2023 was jam-packed for me personally with loads of positive change, big and small. I am definitely happier and less stressed than I was at this time last year. And I accomplished some dream goals, ranging from decluttering the house to winning an award from Crime Writers of Canada for my unpublished crime novel. </p><p>And I have hopes for 2024. I want to do a little landscaping at the rural property we look after - something that's nice to look at and smell, but also useful to local insects and wildlife. I have a manuscript to revise, another to write, and a third to finish. I'm hoping to do even more decluttering, but at a more relaxed pace to match our evolving use of the house. I have some books to read in a group next year thanks to my having finally joined <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykeenanwrites/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and I'm adapting my planner system to make it easy to keep track of that.</p><p>Of course the most important first step in planner setup is to make little art
pieces to post over the sticky adhesive marks on the Filofax cover page,
and to buffer the damage inevitably caused by the zipper pull that's
part of the <a href="https://ca.filofax.com/collections/all-organizers?filter.p.m.customAttributes.range=Malden&sort_by=manual" target="_blank">Malden</a> binder design. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhyphenhyphenDDpwIRTI0eZDylLRIKCYVSixQX3Om_yajoAXGKtx37x6KXxUEUyVu6gNnNyH7SV1nlPJ0n9O871yM4i5briWXH8tB1SfKSAunxR9GqT-rN3aXPhBOoeuxh1Cny9mezeyJs1WOvnhliCGtt7Id2bOi8aWdqYNs1s8BGvMjc-emeU7erPnkv_w4J3xY/s640/2024%20mid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhyphenhyphenDDpwIRTI0eZDylLRIKCYVSixQX3Om_yajoAXGKtx37x6KXxUEUyVu6gNnNyH7SV1nlPJ0n9O871yM4i5briWXH8tB1SfKSAunxR9GqT-rN3aXPhBOoeuxh1Cny9mezeyJs1WOvnhliCGtt7Id2bOi8aWdqYNs1s8BGvMjc-emeU7erPnkv_w4J3xY/s320/2024%20mid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Because frankly, when things get messy, it's nice to step back and look at a part of the plan that's untouched since the start, when everything was potential and not at the 'worse before it gets better' stage.</p><p>I hope your 2024 is great but also that your lead-in to 2024, your New Year's Eve and Day, are exactly the balance of fun and peaceful that's right for you. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QJopvOBYOsVYADzWXJrFEE4ScdvUM_YYfWIccEvFllQIHAhTbLCsHh6AQd3oigeMiNI_opgvj7pzuczu46E1jtR-Fo93iLqML1mA2pfhTcqthv7jDGryi7F1R0eJeegfr682JdMsOkh9sfJO3wzfLrcohuOqEkQYkEaidccfA3DCIhuGSmrYxXlx5Zw/s640/2024%20end.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QJopvOBYOsVYADzWXJrFEE4ScdvUM_YYfWIccEvFllQIHAhTbLCsHh6AQd3oigeMiNI_opgvj7pzuczu46E1jtR-Fo93iLqML1mA2pfhTcqthv7jDGryi7F1R0eJeegfr682JdMsOkh9sfJO3wzfLrcohuOqEkQYkEaidccfA3DCIhuGSmrYxXlx5Zw/s320/2024%20end.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any resemblance to <br />a baby new year or aged old year<br />is purely coincidental and socky<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Thanks again for coming to see me today and I look forward to meeting up next Saturday!</p><br /><br />Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-83341005021288365642023-12-23T13:33:00.004-05:002023-12-23T13:33:46.789-05:00at last holiday<p> I say 'at last', but I know that for many of us it's 'at last minute', and all about the things that still aren't done!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOjDmMwksQvtEX_4Kg5vhOnSh41Wl9aSgyFO29vdKf0aIVytgxtOQ_U3zCfyqjP6G9NpT5HvoDycT7EgzLzXsQYL0AzKqeZ7bOmfSI-UyGzcdRNo6BfIZ6ya6t9kkzueBgBudGtOO_bWNC6gSXNIBwOSXlpOAf8_VVjhuKImYcjJdzFwAP_xlPhTqRBA/s640/Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOjDmMwksQvtEX_4Kg5vhOnSh41Wl9aSgyFO29vdKf0aIVytgxtOQ_U3zCfyqjP6G9NpT5HvoDycT7EgzLzXsQYL0AzKqeZ7bOmfSI-UyGzcdRNo6BfIZ6ya6t9kkzueBgBudGtOO_bWNC6gSXNIBwOSXlpOAf8_VVjhuKImYcjJdzFwAP_xlPhTqRBA/s320/Christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />For me this year the unfinished is not just the long-suffering knits I'd hoped to clear from my side table, but also baking, so I will keep this brief and dig into the flour.<p></p><p>I hope you all have a wonderful season, however you celebrate the closing days of the year, and that you get enough sleep going in (and not just in the form of collapse, after!)</p><p>Thanks for taking a moment to spend with me here and I'll see you again next Saturday with a new Hug. <br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-18191405964808136752023-12-16T15:10:00.004-05:002023-12-16T15:13:14.073-05:00Out for a walk<p>It's been years since I've been able to visit the property we maintain but I got out there this week, and I have pictures!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkjjAOX3CTBijv-Zr-RtA_HdS9XFQzOjZGfnWcyHyFqZ-qdvJMierU_po3CUdyN0TKTAmN2eL8IAhl4ytbs333mMheqVsPkBmm4v-Lli5RmLh4BCC_0oD_Q9cfJ-230-Usu3xZUTLVcQElHdatwfbUgZHNNeH0JclqBHaxTaTpdaHFEJkTTiOBEPwgA0/s640/farm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkjjAOX3CTBijv-Zr-RtA_HdS9XFQzOjZGfnWcyHyFqZ-qdvJMierU_po3CUdyN0TKTAmN2eL8IAhl4ytbs333mMheqVsPkBmm4v-Lli5RmLh4BCC_0oD_Q9cfJ-230-Usu3xZUTLVcQElHdatwfbUgZHNNeH0JclqBHaxTaTpdaHFEJkTTiOBEPwgA0/s320/farm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I didn't take any of the interior of the shed we spent all year setting up there because it's serving as a shelter with bathroom, accessorized with muddy work boots lined up on a shelf. Anyway the outside is plenty beautiful enough for this week.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-PXgI3BmJG0lSr2M-uARBFUYysoyeVGcLrJWrXu8lMoCwUNXWkRA73zVXNum0elDj7T2SQ2PDzxT-S9eb-pTfj7X9uNufkZiENrlJn2SFnpJYif-XuZsrguLhqvFvfoyw6-DPxYhQ6uypMNvg-e3_ksvUOgykNC4jlaYuZUsrp_gu8gUMKDhUx80EbI/s640/farm1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-PXgI3BmJG0lSr2M-uARBFUYysoyeVGcLrJWrXu8lMoCwUNXWkRA73zVXNum0elDj7T2SQ2PDzxT-S9eb-pTfj7X9uNufkZiENrlJn2SFnpJYif-XuZsrguLhqvFvfoyw6-DPxYhQ6uypMNvg-e3_ksvUOgykNC4jlaYuZUsrp_gu8gUMKDhUx80EbI/s320/farm1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Pete has been hard at work all summer dragging fallen trees out of the forest and rounding up bits of fence, but he took breaks to cut a walking path into the meadow and up the hill so I could climb it. Above, I have a photo of where we started, on the west side near the driveway. Note the logs on the right he pulled out of the woods while I did some other fussing. He's trying to do as much cleanup as he can before the snow flies.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And now, the walk. Here we've gotten to the end of that section and turned right, into
another trail that crosses the last of the flattish area, past the ponds
to the foresty bit.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXdho7coHYdwD_h93g795Lw5MgA4vSUXHymPolGrrDiGo1Mt3Ucfr6SvnvbYW8ypk_u9Yd4r3fatDkzk3yZoLbdaQaSb0eLavJRYBQbZgw-TKnbpQcrxaICk1CQ0KpOThTqJ2TtY27iEhZyDMsvoHwUnU1Q5fTKwos_i6_pgv2XaV_o82fdFN4owq0ho/s640/farm1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXdho7coHYdwD_h93g795Lw5MgA4vSUXHymPolGrrDiGo1Mt3Ucfr6SvnvbYW8ypk_u9Yd4r3fatDkzk3yZoLbdaQaSb0eLavJRYBQbZgw-TKnbpQcrxaICk1CQ0KpOThTqJ2TtY27iEhZyDMsvoHwUnU1Q5fTKwos_i6_pgv2XaV_o82fdFN4owq0ho/s320/farm1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Behold: a frosty pond! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lJUvexo7A1gtqPRwsVT-Hu8w8fkNmkCTL-iuwc0ABpguohOsKppNdMidouviXyIlFzXcB0qt3L19a9HV8e5fXzRQlmvn7kKOiOVyOawCnO_goZd1PAyYFTakbfaxkD98lDiXhXfbbmtBL2Jawiv5hyMYchTTVJedaHxTFGkfSknvlbrn0HCleKh2eOE/s640/farm1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lJUvexo7A1gtqPRwsVT-Hu8w8fkNmkCTL-iuwc0ABpguohOsKppNdMidouviXyIlFzXcB0qt3L19a9HV8e5fXzRQlmvn7kKOiOVyOawCnO_goZd1PAyYFTakbfaxkD98lDiXhXfbbmtBL2Jawiv5hyMYchTTVJedaHxTFGkfSknvlbrn0HCleKh2eOE/s320/farm1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Apparently it's full of frogs and turtles in the summer. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I overshot the path to the hill to get that pic. Let's go back a few feet to the land bridge between the pond and the marshy patch that is likely to be more pondy now that Pete's fixed its leak. The hill doesn't look too bad from here, does it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe7O5aGa0vmQ65O_yh4DrhrfgEdw3IK8JBKmSSmLMP8mi8d5CnsW-hD0tXYkpxpCV9rg4dLgeKD0WPAF5maLJYESiwRxp1TOcAtvgLZeMvuyeisEVXAf9A0RUq_loQBBe5A3jeaHSTJ3agznmivQIr7tAuxlbXLs8CJrxPyKk12QArA_KxRDrzt3pQhk/s640/farm1c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe7O5aGa0vmQ65O_yh4DrhrfgEdw3IK8JBKmSSmLMP8mi8d5CnsW-hD0tXYkpxpCV9rg4dLgeKD0WPAF5maLJYESiwRxp1TOcAtvgLZeMvuyeisEVXAf9A0RUq_loQBBe5A3jeaHSTJ3agznmivQIr7tAuxlbXLs8CJrxPyKk12QArA_KxRDrzt3pQhk/s320/farm1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Appearances: once again misleading. It's got some very steep sections. But even I, with lingering breathing issues post-Covid plus fierce determination, made it up there in a little over seven minutes. </p><p style="text-align: left;">At the top, Pete cut another trail so you can catch the view from more angles. This one looks east.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqOjncqPabH3D95f-1bKam70j0SDGr05v56EsdWtmBQHwNR4lgeLYJmdyHWh7iZO9-LR3_BdCjy-kMQ_J9BI7HnLQ96meEFjhsB7apXtshWipEVgTP-muCKuKX6OTPtVuErNEDKflv4DlC1RBHcNMDJAEZFHQ5CGSqpIeZSC9TimZbUcTR1nw21XTAvo/s640/farm2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqOjncqPabH3D95f-1bKam70j0SDGr05v56EsdWtmBQHwNR4lgeLYJmdyHWh7iZO9-LR3_BdCjy-kMQ_J9BI7HnLQ96meEFjhsB7apXtshWipEVgTP-muCKuKX6OTPtVuErNEDKflv4DlC1RBHcNMDJAEZFHQ5CGSqpIeZSC9TimZbUcTR1nw21XTAvo/s320/farm2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Looking north, we get to see our neighbours' beautiful cornfield.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaAzCVuRtzz4FnaOhcyzBOVOfeOohSEB3BXaCkYAsfQdvh4AGGo3ehL1Q0YQNXbbee6CLK8ekVqhYDam0r85UhRzd0N4MctGESx-VrpHLujQkby6ptnBQSbHwDynQWwDJElo9P65q2WnUxN-vUYIU_Go6J3ilc-bA93LoCnufvR4fLAiw9TnvzH74FS4/s640/farm2a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaAzCVuRtzz4FnaOhcyzBOVOfeOohSEB3BXaCkYAsfQdvh4AGGo3ehL1Q0YQNXbbee6CLK8ekVqhYDam0r85UhRzd0N4MctGESx-VrpHLujQkby6ptnBQSbHwDynQWwDJElo9P65q2WnUxN-vUYIU_Go6J3ilc-bA93LoCnufvR4fLAiw9TnvzH74FS4/s320/farm2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It's like something out of a novel set in rural 19th century England, don't you think?</p><p>Okay: time to head back down. Pond on the right, foresty bit on the left.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnk-X1-MWsVZ9VJ0Kd-KDiHD2McjNntTHNmAuSK5ybVb84v-GENHeY-Bj7M6SjHyn2c15QZLhNMdxqP9oTDJsHLdPlUJ4Y3F6EMcBfQqBaYqh-fchnEDhJYUpDDNcuwNQ-Lz08RxuMJXyges7mUC0zlphHbIkZWV1p2Vv79qCQy3xiZcy5lBiZ6RgC9s/s640/farm3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnk-X1-MWsVZ9VJ0Kd-KDiHD2McjNntTHNmAuSK5ybVb84v-GENHeY-Bj7M6SjHyn2c15QZLhNMdxqP9oTDJsHLdPlUJ4Y3F6EMcBfQqBaYqh-fchnEDhJYUpDDNcuwNQ-Lz08RxuMJXyges7mUC0zlphHbIkZWV1p2Vv79qCQy3xiZcy5lBiZ6RgC9s/s320/farm3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I want to enjoy this path while I can, because doing it in spring may only be possible in gumboots! and in winter, snowshoes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz9BCJcdnpkzt0SZS5eH8Uu02OWwU3Tuyl4jl3_rRwyZYC4rCCaNMLnTf2cvrvU_14Z3CvbeSgEbrdPkuLEnHu7Hg3hY0Paajt3q5JBTsX5-QX66ddhKrtcjizPqldEs2kvujWnw2DiS5vaKaWGLFrD_j6xzcZzD7nO4guiMoqXIER8_L1OB2LzkrZKI/s640/farm3a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz9BCJcdnpkzt0SZS5eH8Uu02OWwU3Tuyl4jl3_rRwyZYC4rCCaNMLnTf2cvrvU_14Z3CvbeSgEbrdPkuLEnHu7Hg3hY0Paajt3q5JBTsX5-QX66ddhKrtcjizPqldEs2kvujWnw2DiS5vaKaWGLFrD_j6xzcZzD7nO4guiMoqXIER8_L1OB2LzkrZKI/s320/farm3a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Back at the bottom. The pond is surrounded by fuzzy seedy plants and blown cattails. Once you've reached the south side, there's a path into the trees.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_6n-LsqDAYkq_AIPj8FYzew_I1WzBBSQKH38cZidZTdSMH-KPyO4ytt9Gt6aCqy2MWGuKDeiWoYdbt6_sfChWs_y_LpO_-oOHkAtCgzrTVn0o0XmwD8AkAtui7tMSoquHxPDHQmlp1A_ydxWvQJQlYHmL9-iMLqACs1VB4Wf0n4tz4lRdzoocBba_i0/s640/farm4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_6n-LsqDAYkq_AIPj8FYzew_I1WzBBSQKH38cZidZTdSMH-KPyO4ytt9Gt6aCqy2MWGuKDeiWoYdbt6_sfChWs_y_LpO_-oOHkAtCgzrTVn0o0XmwD8AkAtui7tMSoquHxPDHQmlp1A_ydxWvQJQlYHmL9-iMLqACs1VB4Wf0n4tz4lRdzoocBba_i0/s320/farm4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Wish I'd seen Pete puttering the tractor along to make these routes. We're trying to leave as much meadow as possible, to help give insects and animals maximum shelter, but hopefully they don't grudge us sharing. </p><p>Apart from the chipmunk who was very offended by our entering his forest and made a lot of noise at us before fleeing into some fallen logs.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62i8PlzrKWFNcbyUTw6iG1Z1gc6yTMijA9Wo8BUOBSC7fYuP_5cOiO0DP46WwxLeIIUfFIdXPjgIpHMsBhldUQ86iG8dYyRM1sAU7edPDTzBAo2n8GfGFZFOax8qv7DmVCJMbOn_K14oRwg9FOLW8AUDnMmsYQ1PobGydC_RNLwSddTKilEMQK2sd-Lo/s640/farm4a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62i8PlzrKWFNcbyUTw6iG1Z1gc6yTMijA9Wo8BUOBSC7fYuP_5cOiO0DP46WwxLeIIUfFIdXPjgIpHMsBhldUQ86iG8dYyRM1sAU7edPDTzBAo2n8GfGFZFOax8qv7DmVCJMbOn_K14oRwg9FOLW8AUDnMmsYQ1PobGydC_RNLwSddTKilEMQK2sd-Lo/s320/farm4a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Pete did cut a lot of grass down at the entrance to the property. I thought the shadows were just beautiful.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl8UYs_QR6n4FbUxc9-2sf0ZluY7jfpLjstvwnnt_OzGmv0VNQlKtGkokO-uMcSMHyAAV2uSdDRtniJYrIQ7R9GaY3ebhtdooedBn3unpZSGAIL_hXumjPZHGusqMtYH0xZI-3hllGJDx_nUdRWgyrxtO3jaRXjaWxwznD1UBXXYxDY2TpxaIOkXOXjU/s640/farm5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl8UYs_QR6n4FbUxc9-2sf0ZluY7jfpLjstvwnnt_OzGmv0VNQlKtGkokO-uMcSMHyAAV2uSdDRtniJYrIQ7R9GaY3ebhtdooedBn3unpZSGAIL_hXumjPZHGusqMtYH0xZI-3hllGJDx_nUdRWgyrxtO3jaRXjaWxwznD1UBXXYxDY2TpxaIOkXOXjU/s320/farm5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then I turned and saw the shed, perched high atop the gravel we brought in for a level surface, and wondered if bright white siding was quite the right idea! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo6PZPfBEZrhAYPtnClN1rsamnuYJ_nmDMuWftdOJItoLHJ1i087vXljF60qO8TCfS5lPGvWl10ZFkUsBoKG7r6pgEEj0kAqb-ZbimjdrBVsWyLNcCTHZugaZQHpHiIJtrLv0k33prAsk88MNqMRBY9DidiSHAgYlwVtT6kBMeJOa_DMoNeCYHdBhoSs/s640/farm6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo6PZPfBEZrhAYPtnClN1rsamnuYJ_nmDMuWftdOJItoLHJ1i087vXljF60qO8TCfS5lPGvWl10ZFkUsBoKG7r6pgEEj0kAqb-ZbimjdrBVsWyLNcCTHZugaZQHpHiIJtrLv0k33prAsk88MNqMRBY9DidiSHAgYlwVtT6kBMeJOa_DMoNeCYHdBhoSs/s320/farm6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Oh well... when somebody needs the bathroom or a place to warm their extremities, they won't have any trouble finding it. And that ain't nothin'.</p><p>Meanwhile, I don't know about you, but looking at these pictures all together I can't help thinking what a gorgeous yoke these colours would make on an Icelandic sweater. YUM<br /></p><p>Hope you'll join me again next week, and that you enjoying this little vicarious stroll. Have a great weekend!<br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-30196249010528585672023-12-09T17:39:00.007-05:002023-12-09T17:43:07.889-05:00Winter knits<p>Hello, basket of warm winter accessories! Some of these are quick enough for last minute presents if you're in need of some, but I'm mostly showing them for fun.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia35N6YapZqSHsnlxOh58hF8PuO1BovMXC3xlPC6-D0hXOn8EeuYgM8jMxBjgBkD38D22spiXzMPdDEzkLCfU8S2s3V54T7uKU1wyKZTh-3gkFzOcjLhhIqw7hTS_AjkGrcKrWl4D1iFjUqO9dKFA1V6mwMqsk9uxNdTao0vCbVDQ6do1mloWzPbZtfxw/s640/basket1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia35N6YapZqSHsnlxOh58hF8PuO1BovMXC3xlPC6-D0hXOn8EeuYgM8jMxBjgBkD38D22spiXzMPdDEzkLCfU8S2s3V54T7uKU1wyKZTh-3gkFzOcjLhhIqw7hTS_AjkGrcKrWl4D1iFjUqO9dKFA1V6mwMqsk9uxNdTao0vCbVDQ6do1mloWzPbZtfxw/s320/basket1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The weather is still mildish here but I am definitely reaching for fingerless mitts at minimum before I go outside. And since I am finally at the finishing stages of my 12-month decluttering odyssey (read: making the jumble of hats and scarves pretty) I thought you'd like to check out what's in my regular rotation.</p><p>These mitts didn't see much action last winter, mostly because I couldn't find them, but they are my prized possession, the knit I would take with me if I could only have one project.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82jtb-QC0-iOOjbtCtIhHMhu7FA54tv2G2Pav3vO9AC-5mKSMsJ1SBw5QsLwXcOwtiU6CaIvqnSBj3u3evT-d6XSvRFWS_Ncd0yoi55SItDnkUEsQKrkAP7aon7faiU5Aa0-HNC2DCs7B21GDajT7enLRo11DNnr5aAfiJEUVxs6kNRTFt8JPSYk35r4/s640/basket2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82jtb-QC0-iOOjbtCtIhHMhu7FA54tv2G2Pav3vO9AC-5mKSMsJ1SBw5QsLwXcOwtiU6CaIvqnSBj3u3evT-d6XSvRFWS_Ncd0yoi55SItDnkUEsQKrkAP7aon7faiU5Aa0-HNC2DCs7B21GDajT7enLRo11DNnr5aAfiJEUVxs6kNRTFt8JPSYk35r4/s320/basket2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>They are twined with sock-weight yarn, using a pattern from Linda Ligon's <a href="https://www.biblio.com/search.php?stage=1&result_type=works&keyisbn=homespun+handknit" target="_blank">Homespun, Handknit</a> (a must have book, incidentally) by the brilliant Carol Rhoades - <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/two-end-mittens" target="_blank">Two End Mittens</a>. They came out perfectly. Check out this beautiful cuff:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7SurdpxCiK5v7DO81cwSuN6UA80302qnbYfnrXbQNEPXJchfY_HazNp8IVg0vW1YEGb1txZ8D54LE4vz_UMUWgSwH0w03lk679TZhCmX8HkXoqSA-ADykn19PyzrAiNZxoMcpXdk3xYSqIMp21qUm81VtykJUz345eWFhyGeIi5AM9UqdgqhC5u0zJc/s640/basket2a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7SurdpxCiK5v7DO81cwSuN6UA80302qnbYfnrXbQNEPXJchfY_HazNp8IVg0vW1YEGb1txZ8D54LE4vz_UMUWgSwH0w03lk679TZhCmX8HkXoqSA-ADykn19PyzrAiNZxoMcpXdk3xYSqIMp21qUm81VtykJUz345eWFhyGeIi5AM9UqdgqhC5u0zJc/s320/basket2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The yarn was harvested from goats and sheep living on neighbouring farms, and hand-dyed by my very talented friend Sylvia who no longer sells yarn. Like I said: a treasure. They are warm, but not for really frigid days. In that scenario I wear the second mitts I made from this pattern using my own heavier handspun yarn. <br /></p><p>I'm also keeping this shawl out for use when I'm wearing a dressier coat. You may recognize it from my earlier blog banner... the pattern is <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sugared-violets" target="_blank">Sugared Violets by Rose Beck</a>, available at Ravelry and worth every penny of the pattern cost.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G_oDZitQli2jEb9UYw1semIv-L1ybSmJ7jPkTKm0OnQ1SfIUsOjg6MNqR_Jxjo3ctLX8pOgwCGo1Ah6a4Lu2D_ar_MJnguSvluoOdDb7cfsTaOHNJJZPlhMOKPqOBqXn59Wb2xctjFL8aRnfOws-2qr22_ZXuC34lOilaPCv06bRUFoc1tRTAQPQejM/s640/basket3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G_oDZitQli2jEb9UYw1semIv-L1ybSmJ7jPkTKm0OnQ1SfIUsOjg6MNqR_Jxjo3ctLX8pOgwCGo1Ah6a4Lu2D_ar_MJnguSvluoOdDb7cfsTaOHNJJZPlhMOKPqOBqXn59Wb2xctjFL8aRnfOws-2qr22_ZXuC34lOilaPCv06bRUFoc1tRTAQPQejM/s320/basket3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I don't always want a hat so my <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2014/11/hatcowl-free-hat-or-cowl-pattern.html" target="_blank">Hatcowl</a> is my other option for a black coat. My design for this, free on the linked pattern page, is so handy. Tie the drawstring tight and you have a great slouchy hat. Loose, it's a perfect neckwarmer. I'm making another now in a different stripe to wear with my red puffer coat, but we know what I'm like these days... slow enough to be debuting it two years out. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1908oxdURjmixDi5-npaRhU5Ab9Qa1AjYe_OW566xlcgE4pLhJjukl4qTEagRX6ltCtGUfxL1Lf1yPqliFMc2Dwwfgk670EGPmEDFv07rZvZVJ0pfMKaMhin3V_wL_c-Sny4VJsha5NMErdB0ySDcnZ87eFJiH7eD4CIeFuKkilhm5tD0IJWInaHUZE/s640/basket4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1908oxdURjmixDi5-npaRhU5Ab9Qa1AjYe_OW566xlcgE4pLhJjukl4qTEagRX6ltCtGUfxL1Lf1yPqliFMc2Dwwfgk670EGPmEDFv07rZvZVJ0pfMKaMhin3V_wL_c-Sny4VJsha5NMErdB0ySDcnZ87eFJiH7eD4CIeFuKkilhm5tD0IJWInaHUZE/s320/basket4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Despite being active <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykeenanwrites/" target="_blank">on Instagram now</a>, for books, I sometimes stumble across my name linked to my various knitting patterns. It can feel a bit weird! But the other day I spotted pictures of a very lovely version of my <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2012/10/shelter-valley-cowl-free-pattern.html" target="_blank">Shelter Valley Cowl</a> and that was just nice. I knit this one with a silk blend Trish picked up for me as a special gift, taking it as many rounds as I could get before the skein ran out. It's warm and soft and I often wear it around the house if I'm a little chilly.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8T2srmXOEr4FL-VAbIE9HZpne_TUEyrsgqM0lOzK312NlFgosa88uPuWVCgd-r9WoMTFVBD-qc6mrGZKqtJuF3_0Uh459YP0vEHt2shW7YP0yIues5oK7lVNb4J5XvnDyqZrqDlrC0yRxFjUM_wdPU69JVhiWuCC2yktQHL9rjhJqI2OvvM4H5E6iBw/s640/basket5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8T2srmXOEr4FL-VAbIE9HZpne_TUEyrsgqM0lOzK312NlFgosa88uPuWVCgd-r9WoMTFVBD-qc6mrGZKqtJuF3_0Uh459YP0vEHt2shW7YP0yIues5oK7lVNb4J5XvnDyqZrqDlrC0yRxFjUM_wdPU69JVhiWuCC2yktQHL9rjhJqI2OvvM4H5E6iBw/s320/basket5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Okay here's a super quick beanie - my <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2013/10/slice-of-life-hat-pattern.html" target="_blank">Slice of Life</a> hat. Make it longer than the pattern calls for if you want some flop on top. This one is succinct if you pull it down tight. I like it with a coat that zips up high and warm so I don't need a scarf, for a trim look.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hVNNr_fcE6skEYHEOV8hrpfVPtt5Yiv8V3T4mR4dCsb5yKTkYJqXMJahyhuzqspmOo07qZvpZpxKbknFh34ODaVUK4lVoETs_2TW_9WX7COIcOU-1EmhT9p7AFIs0iYqGVDk7TlTIA1cvjSP2f4RmGrUXOALusJuC6K2qkrIDpG7HG5NMDLruKqRixY/s640/basket6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hVNNr_fcE6skEYHEOV8hrpfVPtt5Yiv8V3T4mR4dCsb5yKTkYJqXMJahyhuzqspmOo07qZvpZpxKbknFh34ODaVUK4lVoETs_2TW_9WX7COIcOU-1EmhT9p7AFIs0iYqGVDk7TlTIA1cvjSP2f4RmGrUXOALusJuC6K2qkrIDpG7HG5NMDLruKqRixY/s320/basket6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I never published the pattern for my fingerless mitts, but I love all the variations I made of them and wear them a ton. This one in light grey yarn from <a href="https://www.violaandthemoon.com/shop" target="_blank">Viola</a> has a lace panel I didn't get quite right in relation to the thumb opening, oops:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpkIxc9IyTiNF06XDmjxwvP3uPRaTes39RQbyuhhaf5TmUr_NQ1WTOXriooB2UEniYi9ABYqoh2A_0I4t6exu-UsGGYjBpbkU57lFr3jRqFvv-U8z3uqmBXirpCu2ggzQcyDx7Bp-GnUpWCkyaw-T-EXBomvrWpijPBjCLajrn8x4gVriRr3ka-u9Fg0/s640/basket7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpkIxc9IyTiNF06XDmjxwvP3uPRaTes39RQbyuhhaf5TmUr_NQ1WTOXriooB2UEniYi9ABYqoh2A_0I4t6exu-UsGGYjBpbkU57lFr3jRqFvv-U8z3uqmBXirpCu2ggzQcyDx7Bp-GnUpWCkyaw-T-EXBomvrWpijPBjCLajrn8x4gVriRr3ka-u9Fg0/s320/basket7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And these are my blue pairs, for less dressy days when I'm out in jeans. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUVYA1PQKYzs6YivZjvM4E9_C9s0_4INXLB5AapoJDwzwMGLsIH4ACKnLrRLpzBUR5Z1X4wT53SOT9cyxq_Vmbit6yYnlwX10ZXX7nDQu-l1oZYD19qQJimW2sVMbCtF9AmXEmxxKUJey8sY5HQ8z0rX_6V1CEW3Ccbm8XKQdBa0TMwiwVp2H-rID7Gc/s640/basket7a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUVYA1PQKYzs6YivZjvM4E9_C9s0_4INXLB5AapoJDwzwMGLsIH4ACKnLrRLpzBUR5Z1X4wT53SOT9cyxq_Vmbit6yYnlwX10ZXX7nDQu-l1oZYD19qQJimW2sVMbCtF9AmXEmxxKUJey8sY5HQ8z0rX_6V1CEW3Ccbm8XKQdBa0TMwiwVp2H-rID7Gc/s320/basket7a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>If it's really cold I wear the handspun-by-me pair on the left, using the excellent <a href="https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/collections/ferryboat-mitts" target="_blank">Ferryboat Mitts</a>
pattern from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. Otherwise I wear my own design
on the right, without the lace panel and again in sock yarn from <a href="https://www.violaandthemoon.com/shop" target="_blank">Viola</a>. Isn't Emily brilliant with colours? <br /></p><p>My favourite fun pair in my unpublished design is this one in leftover Vesper sock yarn from Knitterly Things. If you've been here a while, you know how much I love stripes!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKZMt5cqpHpESFu3Crwp_CTeHJULoPXGhKWS5WVjygYOyRfKAsmPkeKy4kFkLGna-Jc4syvo75HEiMaEXNdWj4FA9lunmY6QJEEfxd3RVHBFg_yNRBgJcxmqByIhQnGSQL-CfD3VPeUI8nP5onEi7gpBp4XVJS1I-ulIhJyro_uSEREiGwqla-SOLD24/s640/basket7b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKZMt5cqpHpESFu3Crwp_CTeHJULoPXGhKWS5WVjygYOyRfKAsmPkeKy4kFkLGna-Jc4syvo75HEiMaEXNdWj4FA9lunmY6QJEEfxd3RVHBFg_yNRBgJcxmqByIhQnGSQL-CfD3VPeUI8nP5onEi7gpBp4XVJS1I-ulIhJyro_uSEREiGwqla-SOLD24/s320/basket7b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And that is enough from me. My apologies for posting so late in the day. Hey, it's still Saturday, right? I'll leave you with the basket looking a lot less tidy than when we started, and look forward to seeing you next week. As always I'm so pleased you chose to spend a little time with me.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGcJVMX5N1KJ56CnA5etUNlAwl0g99nC51AbKTtlhsaF4uHuSfEU9e8zUf5iVjnm4VAopU71aUH4Jr1GDwFf2SIRLDeB5JapKbLevOf8Cp1f-h6y2NUvKio1yZhz_GTofbAN1QFduVkK3sBKpcM1-sKZS9wjuChURerF7dgCNN7z3CiJYTtWoH2nZGRM/s640/basketend.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGcJVMX5N1KJ56CnA5etUNlAwl0g99nC51AbKTtlhsaF4uHuSfEU9e8zUf5iVjnm4VAopU71aUH4Jr1GDwFf2SIRLDeB5JapKbLevOf8Cp1f-h6y2NUvKio1yZhz_GTofbAN1QFduVkK3sBKpcM1-sKZS9wjuChURerF7dgCNN7z3CiJYTtWoH2nZGRM/s320/basketend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-57268548988827706892023-12-02T12:46:00.001-05:002023-12-02T12:46:05.056-05:00The tree is up<p>Last year I was overwhelmed in the run-up to Christmas and it felt like one more chore to do. This year: BRING IT. I am so ready for the break, and I am all about the nostalgia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gydWg9aVE8CyJ1VkamxJP88f4nwXe4Cnrz9pwb4fCNZXyc9mciLuCis3cp8sCMmxYDNt36ydxC4bwbgwYk0DZj6_ej6Ly-KrLUEhbeYnQW8tL8_QqEArtfkO58ufEIQxpvxxpzCIFDTeAtQs2MF9C2cMhjuuZve7zHgstEABlIgTF7pRHgnozt8fYWo/s640/tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gydWg9aVE8CyJ1VkamxJP88f4nwXe4Cnrz9pwb4fCNZXyc9mciLuCis3cp8sCMmxYDNt36ydxC4bwbgwYk0DZj6_ej6Ly-KrLUEhbeYnQW8tL8_QqEArtfkO58ufEIQxpvxxpzCIFDTeAtQs2MF9C2cMhjuuZve7zHgstEABlIgTF7pRHgnozt8fYWo/s320/tree1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a mini mitt I made in a class on twined knitting. I think I made a full-sized pair to give away, but that might be dreaming on my part because we all know what a selfish knitter I am, making things mostly for my own use because I can't bear to part with whatever it is. </p><p>The thing about twined knitting is that you have to twist two strands of yarn around each other with every stitch. The natural and comfortable direction in which do this, for me, is the same direction in which yarn is plied, which results in impossibly twisted-up balls of feeder yarn you have to constantly stop and address. The solution to this problem is to spin your own yarn, then ply it in the opposite direction such that twining is simple and straightforward. </p><p>So, yeah. If I take up twined knitting again, it means taking up spinning again, and that honestly is not a bad outcome for me if I can just clear enough of my calendar. I loved both those things a lot. </p><p>Another thing I loved back in the day: <a href="https://www.eaglebrand.com/recipe/magic-cookie-bars/" target="_blank">Magic Cookie Bars</a>. And I made some last night, for the first time since I was a teen, probably.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhlSUaeuWbzEbsxvOeT83qAcbqnzNLzg_xIMiI50b9tcAWdbcj4b9HhwHD9Sf7pqYm9FPG7_YBfU3u5bvVsfTvU3leDWCh_gh08rqeAJ7BWnHW0RkkXXsXBToFQ4KDxYi0St6D7dJj3pLGP6I_U8yG56QzKyZ6U2wA1WjMPr6aok3OHXuZrRoUxXIjaA/s640/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhlSUaeuWbzEbsxvOeT83qAcbqnzNLzg_xIMiI50b9tcAWdbcj4b9HhwHD9Sf7pqYm9FPG7_YBfU3u5bvVsfTvU3leDWCh_gh08rqeAJ7BWnHW0RkkXXsXBToFQ4KDxYi0St6D7dJj3pLGP6I_U8yG56QzKyZ6U2wA1WjMPr6aok3OHXuZrRoUxXIjaA/s320/tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>In my shift away from processed foods I forgot how completely decadent and delicious these things are. Just the aroma coming off the pot where I melted butter and then stirred graham cracker crumbs into it was Wow. And once you have that pressed neatly into a pan, you pour sweetened condensed milk over, then top that with chocolate chips and coconut? I mean... how can you not eat the whole thing? Thankfully you can freeze the squares and they keep for three months, so there is some reprieve from overdoing the sugar load.<br /></p><p>One of my big jobs for 2023, apart from organizing a tiny home (which was not on the agenda in January when I developed this year's life goals) was decluttering our house. Technically I started that job in November but there are so many cupboards and cubbyholes to address I clearly needed the extra time. I'm STILL not done! But this week, going through a junk drawer, I found two more of the precious felted wool Christmas pins I made years ago. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcELZfXkp5Eg1DoTXp1fGy1JMfVCUewNoeP9xXT9As5nZZ-6fGUwwU-efGhNi0gAmN8MPOLoXzM7YwuzFGN7sYWUsfw7LPN2XJiHWm4BGEFhjOKWReD7CGj9UPb0tGuXaivIz1bAKCTEKmrfAxV72hxW4txhKJsVO0TfkiOCkoLHK_tvaj_RqthOeFe4/s640/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcELZfXkp5Eg1DoTXp1fGy1JMfVCUewNoeP9xXT9As5nZZ-6fGUwwU-efGhNi0gAmN8MPOLoXzM7YwuzFGN7sYWUsfw7LPN2XJiHWm4BGEFhjOKWReD7CGj9UPb0tGuXaivIz1bAKCTEKmrfAxV72hxW4txhKJsVO0TfkiOCkoLHK_tvaj_RqthOeFe4/s320/tree2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I loved these too and now that the tree is up and I have Official Festive Lighting, I am going to reexamine some decluttered craft nooks and see if I can't find the gear for these projects. I know I have more tiny bells and felt pieces and embroidery thread somewhere. </p><p>If you'd like to give them a go with your own scraps and backing pins, <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2015/12/last-minute-makes-felted-wool-pins-or.html" target="_blank">my mini tutorial is here</a>. <br /></p><p>One thing that isn't nostalgic here is this year's wreath, a departure from our usual plain green boxwood over the living room fireplace mantel:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmRdxvFMT8kgzfSKqo5fWvfcm-jv9lUclayIubD5PXzMpw9lDLhA5hlfxCriFKPVn7SvaEVJbR8lUatxLYSCmlO7Vb48rVjKkbiDkOxvWFgvGgqrqdW4HtvDfKKm9NVR6Llsigjch67ZrfAz3VoFQ2eqWUMvnG-I-InzRcoDI7KWCMkkZKw6IC4y9CNM/s640/tree3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmRdxvFMT8kgzfSKqo5fWvfcm-jv9lUclayIubD5PXzMpw9lDLhA5hlfxCriFKPVn7SvaEVJbR8lUatxLYSCmlO7Vb48rVjKkbiDkOxvWFgvGgqrqdW4HtvDfKKm9NVR6Llsigjch67ZrfAz3VoFQ2eqWUMvnG-I-InzRcoDI7KWCMkkZKw6IC4y9CNM/s320/tree3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The florist didn't have our usual size in anything but this version with glossy red faux berries, so we agreed to be spontaneous and break tradition. Normally the wreath lives on the wall all year, fading to sage for Easter and gold for Canadian Thanksgiving (October) before being renewed in December. Not sure how the red berries will play for all that, but they're only wired on, so if I get to it fast enough in January before the boxwood is too dry and brittle, I might be able to remove them.</p><p>I should just be sure not to indulge in too many sweets first because I will need a steady hand, heh.</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope your holiday plans are coming along nicely and feel more like an indulgence than a responsibility. Pretty sure we could all use whatever break we can manage. Thanks again for spending this time with me, and I'll see you here next Saturday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-30097711985225775802023-11-25T13:29:00.002-05:002023-11-25T13:31:19.334-05:00Office Party<p>As promised, pictures of my completed IKEA build from last Saturday! Here's the view from my office door, looking at the work area as opposed to <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2023/11/office-talk.html" target="_blank">the Zoom Background area</a> I showed a few weeks ago. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA0hkWpSXcHto120d8Zl9rSEUdlTYHicE9wZs22wvkxB3h3U6upzFbhfyebFWAB1GwXE5JKcWxhdmcOTxAET02AioDELXuqU3SGrM7i-4LWjcd1qbb7-1TQbEmqvWVsaLIBmzE6jycuf4AU0czmKJGbeoPbFZKUFoDc7fmukQ6KKVbP48FKkKeQCs11U/s640/OP1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA0hkWpSXcHto120d8Zl9rSEUdlTYHicE9wZs22wvkxB3h3U6upzFbhfyebFWAB1GwXE5JKcWxhdmcOTxAET02AioDELXuqU3SGrM7i-4LWjcd1qbb7-1TQbEmqvWVsaLIBmzE6jycuf4AU0czmKJGbeoPbFZKUFoDc7fmukQ6KKVbP48FKkKeQCs11U/s320/OP1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Side note before we talk IKEA: the lighting! There is a ridiculous amount in this room. Three bulbs in the ceiling, two serious wall sconces, the matching table lamp, and now a second table lamp. The room is only 5.5' x 8.5' - you can see the corner of my IKEA standing desk on the right, to give you an idea of how small it really is - but I had hoped to sew in here and do other crafty things, so when we were renovating we had it majorly wired. And you know what? I really do use all these lights at different times. It was totally worth it.<br /></p><p>The new addition is a Hemnes shelf unit - intended really for a bathroom but perfect for my office needs.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuScdEx89Vzup721T55cK7twMiEZPqu6YuLf87buXXD81pv-rVhLk7uoaX5JtZfczUwST3ZiCwYoQQZpbmIfUDl1O0nBPt4QIoZoUFEJGbN2F88mApZp_yvqMpD7YwfbfprvhGfMuU10QXrsYqSvm73fpMXTywJbq06HLpJ4WqvzZfeu_F9Ntuu-KWUQ/s640/OP1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuScdEx89Vzup721T55cK7twMiEZPqu6YuLf87buXXD81pv-rVhLk7uoaX5JtZfczUwST3ZiCwYoQQZpbmIfUDl1O0nBPt4QIoZoUFEJGbN2F88mApZp_yvqMpD7YwfbfprvhGfMuU10QXrsYqSvm73fpMXTywJbq06HLpJ4WqvzZfeu_F9Ntuu-KWUQ/s320/OP1b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <p></p><p>To the left of it I have a Hemnes bookcase (not pictured because you can only contort so much in a doorway.) I really wanted a second one for symmetry but it was too tall for the wall sconce I have no intention of taking down. I was sad about that, because the solid sides make it easier to hide clutter from my work area. </p><p>As it turns out though, the open structure has its own perks. Specifically, access from the sides. I hadn't planned this but once the unit was in place I realized I could have a designated planner area and get my gel pens and markers off the desk entirely. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5J5bK5FzGhwtIzFX0FQC3SzNcTJNTOWuqBkNuEQHtccwHXGlzYX4aQuzrKhfSGP5jN18f1PYQDFWxuUqKUlc6z8VreiaAmvevNJ0dcvPyXxyEUGo-3wPZ9aoFqP-_SWSgEtcEH3bbQAQwKakj7t1aMW85z1rsoSqMwxCNI9qqVWcTUtRJsSvvnR_0tY/s640/OP2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5J5bK5FzGhwtIzFX0FQC3SzNcTJNTOWuqBkNuEQHtccwHXGlzYX4aQuzrKhfSGP5jN18f1PYQDFWxuUqKUlc6z8VreiaAmvevNJ0dcvPyXxyEUGo-3wPZ9aoFqP-_SWSgEtcEH3bbQAQwKakj7t1aMW85z1rsoSqMwxCNI9qqVWcTUtRJsSvvnR_0tY/s320/OP2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Bonus: I finally have a place to display the Group of Seven and David Milne prints I was gifted last year and love to look at. Probably I should get around to taking them out of their plastic wrap but in the meantime, they do a great job of inspiring me while hiding messy things I need to get at every so often. Because let's be honest. The two white bins I bought for this purpose were not enough for that job!</p><p>Another innovation I had with this makeover was my 'whiteboard'. A lot of writers will use a wall as planning space, sticking up Post-It notes to work out scenes and make sure their narrative arcs work well. I didn't have wall space for that when I was working in our front window, but in the office I have these two sconces... and in the basement, a long piece of leftover baseboard trim already primed white. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvzT4r_5K_QO7ZtDx_soHJ_ULXtYZBDYKLp20yiSKYDFPp9ocTS28rimf-yAB3ODQmXT3j6eGkTFUiXeMwyZQkSBEy3gPktoNjl533Orl9Jey97T3JXHoYQ3AxVJ2goJ5Z6hV32AHca9DkZB71_chg9DfLdyi1oo2IwznjH_sE64rOuvLusxQHsZf0iE/s640/OP1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvzT4r_5K_QO7ZtDx_soHJ_ULXtYZBDYKLp20yiSKYDFPp9ocTS28rimf-yAB3ODQmXT3j6eGkTFUiXeMwyZQkSBEy3gPktoNjl533Orl9Jey97T3JXHoYQ3AxVJ2goJ5Z6hV32AHca9DkZB71_chg9DfLdyi1oo2IwznjH_sE64rOuvLusxQHsZf0iE/s320/OP1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>It only took about half an hour to put them together with some bristolboard, washi tape, and blue and white scrapbooking string. No holes in the wall either. I just set the baseboard trim over the sconce plates and I was done. I'll probably start using it next week, when I dig into the second draft of my most recent project.</p><p>The desks are unstained rubberwood, sourced from Wayfair, and they are so great. The primary one is four feet wide, which feels generous in such a small space, and 18" deep. The one running under the window is just 16" deep, but it's five feet wide which allows me to have the table lamp plus loads of space for spreading out pages and notes when I'm reviewing a printed manuscript. I sure didn't have that luxury in the dining room, unless I took everything off my desk and shoved it onto the dining table. <br /></p><p>I'm still not quite there with this office. I'd like to get rid of more cluttery bits from the boxes, for one thing, and streamline my art supplies, for another. But I'm enjoying the space and grateful for it.<br /></p><p>Overseeing it all, and guarding the boxes with my notes and pages for other projects, is my wooden monkey:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FR74Dl-mI6bvurJWkdjX7In2ZacPciA4FlqlMZYEXmjlCxA-2FA2SSaeVstPhVhiyRB38PJA2m9Lm5rCNM8VX96opF9tzIFjbB80eADb1IpcHtd3T3zQ-oZuryX0_Vu52wnLUEMReHn3s09PlXfKwtPasmfndjF1K00DmtUFEJhPRE2ndhODLw2kym8/s640/OP3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FR74Dl-mI6bvurJWkdjX7In2ZacPciA4FlqlMZYEXmjlCxA-2FA2SSaeVstPhVhiyRB38PJA2m9Lm5rCNM8VX96opF9tzIFjbB80eADb1IpcHtd3T3zQ-oZuryX0_Vu52wnLUEMReHn3s09PlXfKwtPasmfndjF1K00DmtUFEJhPRE2ndhODLw2kym8/s320/OP3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He was a gift from my older brother, who died when I was a teenager - he was great at gifts and I still treasure the things he chose for me. I was probably eight or ten when he picked up this little guy. His curved hands and feet mean he can hang off things and it's fun to pose him!<br /></p><p>Okay the sun is shining and it's time for us to get on with our days, so I will leave you with this picture of how cosy and cute my planner area looks at night.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GT-IGroN3Dm6BXPup347DnJ54UCpCVe8a8-KWpZwowT5-t6gGrRL_PlhXv439YAtKsSxEInXc1yo1Iy3QVGjO8JCSVBVvKFi8LIrhdQckL1vAnE60sXoJBqP1SGQ-J0LLO6kR7iRM4WdHpWp6w3p3EqIHjZpXW0YB_cEe3LIjghhEaW7GXpOkeFH9YY/s640/OP%20end.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GT-IGroN3Dm6BXPup347DnJ54UCpCVe8a8-KWpZwowT5-t6gGrRL_PlhXv439YAtKsSxEInXc1yo1Iy3QVGjO8JCSVBVvKFi8LIrhdQckL1vAnE60sXoJBqP1SGQ-J0LLO6kR7iRM4WdHpWp6w3p3EqIHjZpXW0YB_cEe3LIjghhEaW7GXpOkeFH9YY/s320/OP%20end.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Thanks again for spending this time with me and I'll see you next Saturday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-75238257538545634902023-11-18T14:53:00.003-05:002023-11-18T14:53:25.317-05:00Project day<p>It's Saturday and once again I am finding things while looking for something else. Specifically, my missing sock needles. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcus60bebJSTYHoZeze_kiBvB1XZ0SkJ6X_McxRX6TftUbp61VYatLBy9qCklPDk6J-nvjz-PfLos2OIkaPRxgQQOC5jJ1sTcyEOsT175yeN899PuVaOnHU21bR7s7TnYR14ZFPGasJQXKjZksZShgbc8LX9TRoQlU4mcAZQhpEXSdqNDM9McqYrdVndU/s640/sat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcus60bebJSTYHoZeze_kiBvB1XZ0SkJ6X_McxRX6TftUbp61VYatLBy9qCklPDk6J-nvjz-PfLos2OIkaPRxgQQOC5jJ1sTcyEOsT175yeN899PuVaOnHU21bR7s7TnYR14ZFPGasJQXKjZksZShgbc8LX9TRoQlU4mcAZQhpEXSdqNDM9McqYrdVndU/s320/sat2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is the cuff of a fingerless mitt I was making from sock yarn scraps. And when I say scraps, let's just acknowledge that the whole project looks like it's *been* scrapped.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx4vWpUY06fy8P1q7QSQrkr6VirxW248X79uYQ_dh9AlmFR6ZQdf-uTRO6zLphpSpTkkCtUixUyEiji4jiVmN2S5elFovWYRZVdipBl_YY5GUaF4DIZP5AiXG_zgN8zXL00RJ8JBefaiUP9alQumWLpvqX_2LtBCZMGcnd1qAsSy5aU5h9gvtEIEeuCA/s640/sat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx4vWpUY06fy8P1q7QSQrkr6VirxW248X79uYQ_dh9AlmFR6ZQdf-uTRO6zLphpSpTkkCtUixUyEiji4jiVmN2S5elFovWYRZVdipBl_YY5GUaF4DIZP5AiXG_zgN8zXL00RJ8JBefaiUP9alQumWLpvqX_2LtBCZMGcnd1qAsSy5aU5h9gvtEIEeuCA/s320/sat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I do intend to get back to this because I've made two other pairs in this mitt design and I wear them a ton. But it's been so long since I worked on it, you better believe there was a huge sigh of relief when I saw my pattern notes tucked into the same bag. </p><p>There was also a huge gasp when I realized I pilfered the second set of needles for socks when they still had a job to do:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubot90KnAGl4X5jraPApUzK20Qw762lZDpKxCdE2DCz_JjlnQSa38nYiwVI2IF_kUMv-CnV_gG83coC_6-6M_-347bhBiVw7Be2xva69Bz-20sOpPJDlyrXlMmomvOF_u6HkgtkpLh5sZziFfH2lxnG73gZ94AN3zfHVF4dcmPbhMXPPq9QiQMZyeIL8/s640/sat4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubot90KnAGl4X5jraPApUzK20Qw762lZDpKxCdE2DCz_JjlnQSa38nYiwVI2IF_kUMv-CnV_gG83coC_6-6M_-347bhBiVw7Be2xva69Bz-20sOpPJDlyrXlMmomvOF_u6HkgtkpLh5sZziFfH2lxnG73gZ94AN3zfHVF4dcmPbhMXPPq9QiQMZyeIL8/s320/sat4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I bet you're gasping too. I don't know what I was thinking! But I can tell you what I'm thinking now - the stitches seem to be holding all right, and I don't have any other sock needles handy to slip through them, and I had something else in mind for today. So I'm just going to leave them be and hope for the best.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kMeNgYxsJbrn142XxKkWb1obZrySncbmDWnux13ZgrFRr2pjPK0Hq-lvr1_6MEULzXUUMVLzcy-0PTzH9Xd9I0ZEGjGbNbZxBd_gRGhEHfj1XQnUhn51AjMSjUjUEHDfg9wsxElFt6Gq2HkH6ac1YL6q-_fYj8IIlFWzNYHaAlKZJBlx234AoO_vdxk/s640/sat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kMeNgYxsJbrn142XxKkWb1obZrySncbmDWnux13ZgrFRr2pjPK0Hq-lvr1_6MEULzXUUMVLzcy-0PTzH9Xd9I0ZEGjGbNbZxBd_gRGhEHfj1XQnUhn51AjMSjUjUEHDfg9wsxElFt6Gq2HkH6ac1YL6q-_fYj8IIlFWzNYHaAlKZJBlx234AoO_vdxk/s320/sat1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>About the 'something else'...</p><p>Every time I see somebody posting online about their makeover projects, I think of sunny Saturdays and pushing everything aside to tackle a mess and make a room beautiful again. With coffee and good music and possibly paint and/or a friend. I don't really drink coffee, but do you know what I mean? It's so appealing. And with the major office redo here, that's spilling into a whole-house extravaganza, I needed to make changes in my workspace storage.</p><p>Long story short: I shopped at IKEA again - this time for an open sided shelf from the Hemnes line. It's meant for a bathroom but too bad! It's gonna line up with my Hemnes bookshelf, which is now gonna be a linen closet, and pretend to be office decor. I'd show you the finished look but it's almost three and I haven't actually started assembly yet. Maybe next week. </p><p>Right now I'm just excited that IKEA has changed the way you order online, such that I was able to make the purchase before midnight and pick up from a 24/7 locker system as early as three hours later. I woke up to a sunny day and a giant box in the hallway all ready to build, because Pete is a morning person and picked it up for me. <br /></p><p>Meanwhile, I think the scrappy sock mitt will look cute when it's done, don't you? I like the way the colours are lining up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U-zCwmJXxGTARucHVljYErZvbi_qtcSESdeEpncfnKNSVSYZmn-eUD0wqkFxFJzTtFji-YIKqzj2aSAhXi46-S_NOZp1d_8lyQIakl_LdmeOgsI0jR__q6OIJ1qKDxDhb-K63OppO-Rj5sjvNgb2txcJprblknxlb2jRF4YULlveBJTUUTX5YP9uI38/s640/sat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="640" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U-zCwmJXxGTARucHVljYErZvbi_qtcSESdeEpncfnKNSVSYZmn-eUD0wqkFxFJzTtFji-YIKqzj2aSAhXi46-S_NOZp1d_8lyQIakl_LdmeOgsI0jR__q6OIJ1qKDxDhb-K63OppO-Rj5sjvNgb2txcJprblknxlb2jRF4YULlveBJTUUTX5YP9uI38/s320/sat3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Probably if I was smart I'd find a way to adapt my design for a full-on thumb, and then just keep knitting the top till I can do a nice angled tip. I'm content slipping them over a pair of gloves that would be inadequate on their own, but I still dream of waking to a day with time for tinkering in it. And I do love my stripes, don't I.<br /></p><p>Okay I'd better go get assembling. Hope you have a fun day in progress - thanks for spending part of it with me! See you next week.</p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-11595816670696590022023-11-11T15:25:00.000-05:002023-11-11T15:25:20.565-05:00Making adjustments<p>It's getting to be that magical cold-weather time of year where I live, and that means two things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxN2ym5sC7UOsxiKZVp0rERbjYxjsV5gsV-lYlTU9zCg98A72Z9104yCiN-PUuGeISuFCdbzJpHiHaxqBOYrXViyolTx8OkfI44Qe2dxMpO2_wqZYV_8s_lgRZFEFglgXEN2aGnh_3NKzSO-4lqeDx23crO2Lca0rhqSYTLm-e0MKQ3hsnWhkZapcM09Q/s640/adjust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxN2ym5sC7UOsxiKZVp0rERbjYxjsV5gsV-lYlTU9zCg98A72Z9104yCiN-PUuGeISuFCdbzJpHiHaxqBOYrXViyolTx8OkfI44Qe2dxMpO2_wqZYV_8s_lgRZFEFglgXEN2aGnh_3NKzSO-4lqeDx23crO2Lca0rhqSYTLm-e0MKQ3hsnWhkZapcM09Q/s320/adjust.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I get to wear my beautiful handspun twined mittens, and I get to feel guilty about the matching hat. Yay!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x-CzkvUIEFVWFB_hwINMMIdaCbBYSYR_11HCY23xCavfTYVldSpahxBQeh4FsoKETe2_nQ4grdTbpx5uviGqXCnDgxIDwEhYL48TgGgVNdZoJ6ipjA_w7RQ8ClKvxrZEROWHD-EeXNODml0phyRqxvE9bYRl54UXqt49cwr8s6qID7_K75XGyEoCc4M/s640/adjust1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x-CzkvUIEFVWFB_hwINMMIdaCbBYSYR_11HCY23xCavfTYVldSpahxBQeh4FsoKETe2_nQ4grdTbpx5uviGqXCnDgxIDwEhYL48TgGgVNdZoJ6ipjA_w7RQ8ClKvxrZEROWHD-EeXNODml0phyRqxvE9bYRl54UXqt49cwr8s6qID7_K75XGyEoCc4M/s320/adjust1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Or rather, ugh. I had such good intentions with this hat, and way too much confidence in my abilities to knit a garter band and pick up stitches for the rest. Not sure if you can see the problem in this photo, so perhaps we'll try another angle:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyiMk2IjGkqXYt1eFG-HvODEW6TDEpDgYiN6NYz9Wqh1R6SuuPY9HWcZAIMBBds5ovzlRB6cgbOXPnuG3yIE2aPgAwGvfY1LIKrvcdwFz4YfJ35kymzKSPLxEegtsVWFHKFs_WsaOHw2QJfacMvurkb_jIrdgthj92qmbo7moAFp9Sg-dNsnp7oIjfxc/s640/adjust3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyiMk2IjGkqXYt1eFG-HvODEW6TDEpDgYiN6NYz9Wqh1R6SuuPY9HWcZAIMBBds5ovzlRB6cgbOXPnuG3yIE2aPgAwGvfY1LIKrvcdwFz4YfJ35kymzKSPLxEegtsVWFHKFs_WsaOHw2QJfacMvurkb_jIrdgthj92qmbo7moAFp9Sg-dNsnp7oIjfxc/s320/adjust3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There is a LOT of ease on top. I think the handspun was just too heavy to flop properly, because the crown decreases are perfectly flat, a critical element I did get right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2acWywgSxbgP4f0_pKTw-Hwe18CLBm3nPkV3TwyLfAEhBmSKwO0rn6MU4n7XeABm7QRS-eB46B3IwvFVFvoOqPzFwVMk20_p2L_IhmYkgVJA5N9snL8W6-8fZadKCxyWLSDR0gIbjFKfWH0DLOcqksoa84bLow1GqA6StyQLUmKzVyHei92zR46IPMrY/s640/adjust2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2acWywgSxbgP4f0_pKTw-Hwe18CLBm3nPkV3TwyLfAEhBmSKwO0rn6MU4n7XeABm7QRS-eB46B3IwvFVFvoOqPzFwVMk20_p2L_IhmYkgVJA5N9snL8W6-8fZadKCxyWLSDR0gIbjFKfWH0DLOcqksoa84bLow1GqA6StyQLUmKzVyHei92zR46IPMrY/s320/adjust2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Ignoring the fact that wearing this hat makes me look like the stem on a mushroom, I even did this elaborate trim feature:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0Ac5TqJ7nM3nySWnAPwlN0vHy2zT6buhhxWsPxvEEAKVLxV-qEGdkpwsleW5W91wLrjXtlMV5ORa46F50CWvlSB4qXa9Hil8izdGhzpoe9mOc7UajvB7PMFYjkP4g1Jlp9c9HD48zRgpC131mylWWb-4J4c73uzyUit3TR7_G4f3IeN9S6N6deLr0Pw/s640/adjust1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0Ac5TqJ7nM3nySWnAPwlN0vHy2zT6buhhxWsPxvEEAKVLxV-qEGdkpwsleW5W91wLrjXtlMV5ORa46F50CWvlSB4qXa9Hil8izdGhzpoe9mOc7UajvB7PMFYjkP4g1Jlp9c9HD48zRgpC131mylWWb-4J4c73uzyUit3TR7_G4f3IeN9S6N6deLr0Pw/s320/adjust1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I still really like this element, even though it's wasted on this hat. I look awful with it on, and it keeps sinking and shifting as I walk, too. It's way too big. If I had one of those gazelle necks I could tuck my long hair into it and stride out of the house looking like I have an attractive hat on. Sadly I was not so blessed. So I'm going to have to find a way to make the hat smaller. I see two routes to this destination.</p><p>Option A: tuck the excess inside the band, and stitch it down.</p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiy4X9ym6s9_0Zr8xKhzXyuzYuGFDrX9agDXj934vXvtW-ERwB6eV9eblS7SPCal96AzFSnU7cB8c3pYeGfSBEcGbG4QEA6PTY4tBMP4SCBHID5ubetVGq2N_mwhRqcYcaFHJSDPnYb5D6WzNxnXUZyTXTI6-ofmUrTpR1b4zy-3Mm2lG8cjzrrYx5CcM/s640/adjust5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiy4X9ym6s9_0Zr8xKhzXyuzYuGFDrX9agDXj934vXvtW-ERwB6eV9eblS7SPCal96AzFSnU7cB8c3pYeGfSBEcGbG4QEA6PTY4tBMP4SCBHID5ubetVGq2N_mwhRqcYcaFHJSDPnYb5D6WzNxnXUZyTXTI6-ofmUrTpR1b4zy-3Mm2lG8cjzrrYx5CcM/s320/adjust5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Option B: fold the excess over the band, and stitch it down. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuXmn9IA9PtynUpFeCAW5QEQyJ8gOO9SpIMLRko1ofFAHDhfgFgzgd7x_cnMqpUvZgYCkWVv7yXksHNPYVrAGIJpr9CJaQ-7Xn7J1A2UDVmB0ffZz5wMQptUO7GG6fbjDr637ESWOxREOAQNr0CkDU4kTCGygUrUCxhV65Nv51JA3hTKdtbcVc0whcfk/s640/adjust5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuXmn9IA9PtynUpFeCAW5QEQyJ8gOO9SpIMLRko1ofFAHDhfgFgzgd7x_cnMqpUvZgYCkWVv7yXksHNPYVrAGIJpr9CJaQ-7Xn7J1A2UDVmB0ffZz5wMQptUO7GG6fbjDr637ESWOxREOAQNr0CkDU4kTCGygUrUCxhV65Nv51JA3hTKdtbcVc0whcfk/s320/adjust5a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And at this crossroads, I have stopped. I'm not sure which is better, and also, I need to dig out my leftover handspun so the stitches don't show. Otherwise I'll have to do decorative stitches that look like they were done on purpose, and that's another area where I'm more confident than adept, heh.<br /></p><p>I do think it's worth it though, don't you? I mean this hat is WARM. The halo on it is incredible. The colours are beautiful. And, you know, I handspun this yarn and everything.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahAR40EzKya5LbgydSVp84x12TFA6ResX5tHJstX5P6BE6ZwQdbJv8S6oL-Rc950HvoKFyXT2tTcL5lOEfRdwziI5ts-cK2BAsO9mGs_9AuCrrdOPd8XPZQrjjbA3K3XVXhCTvtRtFsJ9oQKe-5ii3btl1aDwI46IbFwvYmvoX3kE3wa4aHMxHolhX5E/s640/adjust6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahAR40EzKya5LbgydSVp84x12TFA6ResX5tHJstX5P6BE6ZwQdbJv8S6oL-Rc950HvoKFyXT2tTcL5lOEfRdwziI5ts-cK2BAsO9mGs_9AuCrrdOPd8XPZQrjjbA3K3XVXhCTvtRtFsJ9oQKe-5ii3btl1aDwI46IbFwvYmvoX3kE3wa4aHMxHolhX5E/s320/adjust6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The good news is, we're doing a whole-house overhaul at the moment to accommodate home offices. I'm sure to find the leftover yarn in my travels, and when the work is done, I'll have a few more cosy nest options for actually doing the alterations. If I'm really careful and lucky, I'll be out in style in January. A girl can hope.</p><p>Another hope: that you are having a great weekend. Thanks for coming to see me, and let's do this again next Saturday!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2qQoYYjBiCZel1SQm1LfTl7McSiWeQKlU6I1uBTQLE9cKhwoUDX-W8waYfBMAdBBkQGNUxmPah3Q895pRqoMZu_SIvWeWbCs3H0Y2gJSIZlGjaWt0HsXRcEI6FF7jj8E3tOFgz5p1YPwUzoI9husIyzI_pjMhnOtR7do58zEwCuq4UdSbyBZo706HgA/s640/adjust7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2qQoYYjBiCZel1SQm1LfTl7McSiWeQKlU6I1uBTQLE9cKhwoUDX-W8waYfBMAdBBkQGNUxmPah3Q895pRqoMZu_SIvWeWbCs3H0Y2gJSIZlGjaWt0HsXRcEI6FF7jj8E3tOFgz5p1YPwUzoI9husIyzI_pjMhnOtR7do58zEwCuq4UdSbyBZo706HgA/s320/adjust7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-46696786391212616562023-11-04T15:24:00.004-04:002023-11-04T19:06:44.904-04:00Office Talk<p>This week I reorganized my office, even to the point of moving out the velvet daybed so I could have an L-shaped desk to supplement my standing desk. Having just spent two days in there enjoying all that hard surface area for spreading out papers, my hips are expressing an interest in having the daybed back. But how I can I give up this perfect Zoom background?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-HU-tyHjb0dRc7V0pSH8uIfoNM2g1pbrtF8GwudwOqEZSTkhIj8lLUJ_UGTnJzsstSIrh3QlSL1NLqL3CRtipXoHkw2fU19tO4qoIgnEBYs8KcTBnbzpShwJ657Hpsulq7nNnGsNWWd2j5IER6O2UUL3ZNNEaDXhjAcPoxNQu2gnklED6oCpUjcQz6s/s640/office.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-HU-tyHjb0dRc7V0pSH8uIfoNM2g1pbrtF8GwudwOqEZSTkhIj8lLUJ_UGTnJzsstSIrh3QlSL1NLqL3CRtipXoHkw2fU19tO4qoIgnEBYs8KcTBnbzpShwJ657Hpsulq7nNnGsNWWd2j5IER6O2UUL3ZNNEaDXhjAcPoxNQu2gnklED6oCpUjcQz6s/s320/office.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Once I get seating sorted out, I'm sure this new design is the way to go. Among the items that stayed are this photograph, which I've displayed in my work space since my high school years when I found it in a charity shop. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP_3MBUonoWgk3gtBYI9RZkTuZ0es-4BJpkmbNRhjvt8Xvoxg3jxvUzLcbruSzXtxh4iC6wnK_FjwcgvPJysDjIgHJuT9IVhLxGvB_2tleHO1YWiNunNVfpI_oh3pNPK4PWdmcRDKLs1pfaeu9XWIF7wbfpwuJCAoPCzIwge7djRIdJ5wYpV3dq74tgg/s640/office2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP_3MBUonoWgk3gtBYI9RZkTuZ0es-4BJpkmbNRhjvt8Xvoxg3jxvUzLcbruSzXtxh4iC6wnK_FjwcgvPJysDjIgHJuT9IVhLxGvB_2tleHO1YWiNunNVfpI_oh3pNPK4PWdmcRDKLs1pfaeu9XWIF7wbfpwuJCAoPCzIwge7djRIdJ5wYpV3dq74tgg/s320/office2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I once used Google Images to find out where it was taken and noted it down, then put the paper away carefully so I'd always remember, and then forgot where the paper went. But I do know it's a cathedral town in England. I'd like to visit it someday in person but really, just this framed photo has always been an inspiration to me for some reason. I'm so glad somebody took the trouble to take it, frame it, and donate it rather than tossing it in a bin.<br /></p><p>Other things I'm pleased to keep handy are this coaster from the London Underground Museum (a gift from myself), and jewellery stand from Anthropologie (a gift from a friend.) They're like monograms for my desk, reinforcing this tiny room as mine to work in.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFJLyCw1WwVcRz7EfPsuzdOFJkqS7GItw7qo_fPqn4kh4om7ny1_YGw6y-bbyFhAdVLP_MoWCZARy5oDdJ8xtqdv6Sqn4WB6U4Jd1AgwPV0y7MryZO4jjyfHaqaBdWZmYGl7FFCM7jQLdgt_AOJ6WsGtDbraQ1hOwJLeNPgYDO1-BaBeJ38x8cunCYgQ/s640/office3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFJLyCw1WwVcRz7EfPsuzdOFJkqS7GItw7qo_fPqn4kh4om7ny1_YGw6y-bbyFhAdVLP_MoWCZARy5oDdJ8xtqdv6Sqn4WB6U4Jd1AgwPV0y7MryZO4jjyfHaqaBdWZmYGl7FFCM7jQLdgt_AOJ6WsGtDbraQ1hOwJLeNPgYDO1-BaBeJ38x8cunCYgQ/s320/office3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Then there's my painted metal tray, dating back I am guessing to the 50s or maybe 60s? <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMznRO0HA-vuRXEyLC3or2aghihWqyHI1yhdKOOoKGEgECLlfR3UQUn7WtZtcf1azvfYWqS20VCsP4W7Q9bnucpjs25nfGHS5ruZRhlPY9Vx7f9yXdRFWSDKgpkJW02PYcTPKTE5fqzar-FWQ64zx5MxbchaiySEOVgiynly21PdCItphVegMkjFcJN20/s640/office5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMznRO0HA-vuRXEyLC3or2aghihWqyHI1yhdKOOoKGEgECLlfR3UQUn7WtZtcf1azvfYWqS20VCsP4W7Q9bnucpjs25nfGHS5ruZRhlPY9Vx7f9yXdRFWSDKgpkJW02PYcTPKTE5fqzar-FWQ64zx5MxbchaiySEOVgiynly21PdCItphVegMkjFcJN20/s320/office5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>These were very popular for a time and people maybe even served drinks on them, judging by the scratches. All I know is, the colours are great. I found it at an antique market for cheap and have always loved looking at it, but it's a challenge to display so it doesn't often get pride of place. At the moment, it's taking advantage of the seam in the standing desk. It's playing nicely there and not getting in the way at all so I'm going to leave it there a while.</p><p>I got this kitchen wall shelf at an antique market too, and painted it to match the walls when we first moved back after the renovation. Before that I'd painted it yellow, so this is much more sedate. Perfect for showcasing a shifting display of things that please me, like my collection of pocket-sized Filofax planners. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxx-tIxpeqoEx9OwkMXmW4m4JWa8ylcjapp1CBs48NA8vZaQg_om5uFjp_2UGEphprkiU5QiBhPF6d6PhKXb2PJKaduIV6dTl8fYJCkoV_Xp2ICWWenleptlEAsplPBr-YBYoPNCB0bKh1p3bctR5Vmk3gyzrGD-ddBnE9KJcgiqL26_tWtCJrXP3ipg/s640/office6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxx-tIxpeqoEx9OwkMXmW4m4JWa8ylcjapp1CBs48NA8vZaQg_om5uFjp_2UGEphprkiU5QiBhPF6d6PhKXb2PJKaduIV6dTl8fYJCkoV_Xp2ICWWenleptlEAsplPBr-YBYoPNCB0bKh1p3bctR5Vmk3gyzrGD-ddBnE9KJcgiqL26_tWtCJrXP3ipg/s320/office6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On the bottom shelf I have placed a napkin holder my mum once gave me (currently storing two packs of small size blank greeting cards) and a pair of mittens her mum once knit. Also, my Strunk and White! I refer to that thing with grammar-related questions ALL the time, when I can find it. Now that I've got it out front and centre again, the finding it part should not be an issue.</p><p>Okay I'd best be on my way if I'm going to get in a Saturday afternoon walk. Hope your weekend is going beautifully! I'll leave you with a closeup of these pretty roses, and I thank you again for spending a little time with me. See you next week, sameish time, same place.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BDGjfzDiHDnSuk4lIL64PQX4Z5-EhwJUJBdhr0GooEx6tsCKgaXE4ExBsEdx2zhRXmek8MMV1w5p7XQiJBmBHzbfeNDbDvk4pqPDnpCEflzKW791WNYLtT5aFaTaB6j2vCSsDwreuGKQmMBBlqHJ5Ln19tdMLsGJQq1SfuFq7O9tysZRtDk0p1VrOnY/s640/office4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BDGjfzDiHDnSuk4lIL64PQX4Z5-EhwJUJBdhr0GooEx6tsCKgaXE4ExBsEdx2zhRXmek8MMV1w5p7XQiJBmBHzbfeNDbDvk4pqPDnpCEflzKW791WNYLtT5aFaTaB6j2vCSsDwreuGKQmMBBlqHJ5Ln19tdMLsGJQq1SfuFq7O9tysZRtDk0p1VrOnY/s320/office4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Edited to add:</p><p>A friend reached out after reading this and suggested my mystery photo is of Durham Cathedral! And she's right, per photos I found of near-identical views. Now I want to go visit even more because I bet the tea shops nearby are fantastic.<br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-89065589786000731382023-10-28T13:14:00.002-04:002023-10-28T13:14:41.381-04:00Halloween walk<p>It's been a while since I shared a taste of my neighbours' Halloween decorating finesse, so you might need to brace yourselves. Some of these are scary!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7vZKakhghd9DmypdtPHsScdATsbGYNIf73JS8kN7q8IB8z1F6GhufTlWFsT7grTMedwxiCu7xI4712Xfx9kmhtaO9lvh-JtcX3O9CtDSoeDYVEPTkcxWdBy0fvp7-LONF7uz7vjd8O2CIGhd4t65oGKTW6xyph0K6iMkPgeP-VeiuVOWdTOurzHwNyU/s640/boo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7vZKakhghd9DmypdtPHsScdATsbGYNIf73JS8kN7q8IB8z1F6GhufTlWFsT7grTMedwxiCu7xI4712Xfx9kmhtaO9lvh-JtcX3O9CtDSoeDYVEPTkcxWdBy0fvp7-LONF7uz7vjd8O2CIGhd4t65oGKTW6xyph0K6iMkPgeP-VeiuVOWdTOurzHwNyU/s320/boo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Starting small, here.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKEppXwNqBL4oRll1EB_ObkakAaW6GNaqCYP5hXX0kSiO9dhZu3msYaV9bHChcNETW1PW021glpeEymEZyE9hqZA6MBAVbb5J2Ba6-uWNJWs6BwJ7CNhYLanJU4Y-Yim-vrM2VwIq_7jtwFz7lfWLDFSQCAciTNoZL4ioGxzjph-7bqDkCajwIkscltM/s640/boo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKEppXwNqBL4oRll1EB_ObkakAaW6GNaqCYP5hXX0kSiO9dhZu3msYaV9bHChcNETW1PW021glpeEymEZyE9hqZA6MBAVbb5J2Ba6-uWNJWs6BwJ7CNhYLanJU4Y-Yim-vrM2VwIq_7jtwFz7lfWLDFSQCAciTNoZL4ioGxzjph-7bqDkCajwIkscltM/s320/boo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Inflatable ghosts: always a popular choice, and you can dress them up or down for scary as the need arises. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAL-w6zxozLpFlLytz3fo9TnCqPRBpKSgzmpChuXqWzfxvQLmcWEARskqZf5Qjosv75bSUUZrY3Tc5Xltkh_Ar8wla9zYV2PxZNmHNv8pB5rm6LdXXGOn8tCEkt3q6vW1eYkVNrkHQxGQs3Z-J9wECVAwRCDK76p3VSHClINk1DWcEx57JCNFX_w4GSg/s640/boo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAL-w6zxozLpFlLytz3fo9TnCqPRBpKSgzmpChuXqWzfxvQLmcWEARskqZf5Qjosv75bSUUZrY3Tc5Xltkh_Ar8wla9zYV2PxZNmHNv8pB5rm6LdXXGOn8tCEkt3q6vW1eYkVNrkHQxGQs3Z-J9wECVAwRCDK76p3VSHClINk1DWcEx57JCNFX_w4GSg/s320/boo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Skeletons and spiders are also thick on the ground, or rather, trees. Ambitious decorators often have them crawling all over their houses... I've spotted two now with skeletons trying to get in through the upstairs windows. Creepy!</p><p>But... is anything creepier than a clown? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgOB3zyur9LRBIykhGoS24ei0tlaaXhSSDUvRIeG450bbawlZ4MgisofeHO2fyiUzxCLKDnWaqN6l2BTWXF7EtwlkEEoqnX-4-CPVXeOy1J71cK8pSQgC7vB4LxHOuI414BuYiklq9nR1ZneCcXzPooGiYeR5SisJ1_7huF-HkORF6Uo2aQHEnkR3aPA/s640/boo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="640" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgOB3zyur9LRBIykhGoS24ei0tlaaXhSSDUvRIeG450bbawlZ4MgisofeHO2fyiUzxCLKDnWaqN6l2BTWXF7EtwlkEEoqnX-4-CPVXeOy1J71cK8pSQgC7vB4LxHOuI414BuYiklq9nR1ZneCcXzPooGiYeR5SisJ1_7huF-HkORF6Uo2aQHEnkR3aPA/s320/boo4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This guy stands about eight feet tall... and his eyes light up red at night. Between him and the tree skeleton this place is not exactly welcoming. Maybe that's the point?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbSVarkcKFKz3DO4ZGpstrUqmnAZYxJslOzWks_lMXHG_M8tLMMibREUGjIP2sC6_H6MwlmErHBWpwNdPTYJHk5wCbRKRai2HKkclPg30ISFXz2vgo57S0vpEN547iZFH3Ctqbz9E1y6kL8Y7ixjtLX41AlEf1Rz7XkyJxy-xqQtNJvaFtCQURy7BkKo/s640/boo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="640" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbSVarkcKFKz3DO4ZGpstrUqmnAZYxJslOzWks_lMXHG_M8tLMMibREUGjIP2sC6_H6MwlmErHBWpwNdPTYJHk5wCbRKRai2HKkclPg30ISFXz2vgo57S0vpEN547iZFH3Ctqbz9E1y6kL8Y7ixjtLX41AlEf1Rz7XkyJxy-xqQtNJvaFtCQURy7BkKo/s320/boo5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Also not welcoming: the giant Scream inflatable brandishing a knife at anybody who dares approach the driveway. I took this from a safe distance, so as not to terrify. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibychXDUz7VJq-zvCvPttYfeaXmo-WVFSVW_3k3WKPwDkZqk6XNYxAuaGXKPCX07D15WmgJQ9qx46zMH61i0ToAvUOboUINaln0yhrbz44LYeqfZJCY06w7sG0fLq5avZQBobae_dqY_JDSpa2d53JFOHUIbDI3WuY6vDbAOspLzprn1W42tP0VE-gMlU/s743/boo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="743" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibychXDUz7VJq-zvCvPttYfeaXmo-WVFSVW_3k3WKPwDkZqk6XNYxAuaGXKPCX07D15WmgJQ9qx46zMH61i0ToAvUOboUINaln0yhrbz44LYeqfZJCY06w7sG0fLq5avZQBobae_dqY_JDSpa2d53JFOHUIbDI3WuY6vDbAOspLzprn1W42tP0VE-gMlU/s320/boo6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Didn't even try to minimize the horror of this 10-foot inflatable. I know, I know, I could be showing you something that's 10 INCHES tall, after cutting out all the reference elements like car and house number. But trust me, this thing is heart-stopping, unless it's lost its air and is sprawled flat over the lawn, which is how it spends at least 12 hours of every day.</p><p>Okay if the others didn't scare you... <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjm7s5uUkHDC62cLwGYrWwLloOVwTvK2qhBWJm7aEG4ZsyxuO0p1WLn9_nYwr_VJffZnae9Y1qbDyjYodZWd8_emWOTBT7WwrPD_Pw7vdXxsANU2mlvF81an0TAgOujmQgvuJKpN8pJyejC_4xzwp7vy7uyGrAIZwFTUP0DX_fF0mQKA1NwIEZCZL-KI/s640/boo7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="445" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjm7s5uUkHDC62cLwGYrWwLloOVwTvK2qhBWJm7aEG4ZsyxuO0p1WLn9_nYwr_VJffZnae9Y1qbDyjYodZWd8_emWOTBT7WwrPD_Pw7vdXxsANU2mlvF81an0TAgOujmQgvuJKpN8pJyejC_4xzwp7vy7uyGrAIZwFTUP0DX_fF0mQKA1NwIEZCZL-KI/s320/boo7.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p>Like, <i>there wasn't even any wind </i>when I took this photograph.</p><p>(I kid. It was super blustery.)<br /></p><p>We need a palate cleanser now so I'm gonna finish up our tour with my favourite.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz_horsXkx3TH_hkWdb7UIT6dbTcYM7Yd1J5peGv6Hkcel2F6Mhhgrt239vWVLarL174bxDTPkFs7XsTIGwpJswF-gp8pJd-YZRSF1aC5t-k2oTYW2LS3vUK60Jrq84m0e0XQK0bn_GFpg0xdI8PljvUv0dZb5vfL3Wmqjh26Sh5emHUIthp5Xsd4DCY/s640/boo8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="640" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz_horsXkx3TH_hkWdb7UIT6dbTcYM7Yd1J5peGv6Hkcel2F6Mhhgrt239vWVLarL174bxDTPkFs7XsTIGwpJswF-gp8pJd-YZRSF1aC5t-k2oTYW2LS3vUK60Jrq84m0e0XQK0bn_GFpg0xdI8PljvUv0dZb5vfL3Wmqjh26Sh5emHUIthp5Xsd4DCY/s320/boo8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It doesn't quite show here, but Skullface's mouth has some depth, enough to accommodate a large sleepy dog or perhaps a lady who's walked a long way and can't wait to get home to snuggle up on her sofa. I have never impersonated such a person or asked anyone to take a picture of me in this monster's mouth, but I think about it every. single. time.</p><p>Okay, the sun's shining here and I should get out into it. Hope you're getting out for something fun this weekend too! Thanks for joining me and I'll see you next week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukCdiWS81fCWAWinhqpWs28nWKCJ30QZiHyIw68IpM1gllk4I8C8j-kP43KWsZaWwmxKEPvmLAwNExG0M1oGrRidQnslgYsWNfEEThIFR0_8Qs6XsSNMHX0_xFQ5Am-_CKN_sSeb7y893GM6a1VVVH6mTsZy-17bze3ajyzzQ9Dgw-CA5ptGC1Ziv6k8/s640/boo9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukCdiWS81fCWAWinhqpWs28nWKCJ30QZiHyIw68IpM1gllk4I8C8j-kP43KWsZaWwmxKEPvmLAwNExG0M1oGrRidQnslgYsWNfEEThIFR0_8Qs6XsSNMHX0_xFQ5Am-_CKN_sSeb7y893GM6a1VVVH6mTsZy-17bze3ajyzzQ9Dgw-CA5ptGC1Ziv6k8/s320/boo9a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-34496427084307877602023-10-21T14:01:00.002-04:002023-10-21T14:02:30.000-04:00Scraps<p> I've been settling in nicely at Instagram the last few weeks, having found my way to a wonderful community of booklovers (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykeenanwrites/" target="_blank">come visit!</a>) and I can't help noticing there is a LOT of overlap with knitting. And not because many of us indulge in both passions, either. After all, what is a To Be Read pile if not a Yarn Stash? and read books on a shelf are not unlike yarn scraps.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYHfMu38mfCox5-d6hW7PLM4V77ztV8eFCXJd_6nK3yBQX7V0HVxfpTH2KlMXXrh5SpsCt1Xn_0ZuyCqPyY3R4eIcyLu5pxszUj0iAEXqii722zEituNJ0gXQtg3bkVT-z3KU2r_FvVVmUlKG10EznInOf3y466oO6pyvqH_fzAvDLTEcxVxeuIeotag/s640/scraps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="640" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYHfMu38mfCox5-d6hW7PLM4V77ztV8eFCXJd_6nK3yBQX7V0HVxfpTH2KlMXXrh5SpsCt1Xn_0ZuyCqPyY3R4eIcyLu5pxszUj0iAEXqii722zEituNJ0gXQtg3bkVT-z3KU2r_FvVVmUlKG10EznInOf3y466oO6pyvqH_fzAvDLTEcxVxeuIeotag/s320/scraps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Of which I have many. Some people never reread books but keep them to fill their shelves as a record of where they've been, and I suppose you can do the same with yarn scraps. I know I recognize many of these yarns and remember the beautiful things I made with them. Still, you *can* reread a book. And you can use up yarn scraps too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7_ojP_q_oP8T26PzyR3efPbD5JP0LcZHSSxKD_IAf912U2U0wJt37L4hkXYCNN3syihyphenhyphenLn_g4ZYzlQU6SOIIFTtGfdO9-cotmzTw_z35gvZji87wRtWeh988BGpVTYDIKHyuJ1Z5FrVwVxKuI_Y3EI7S5Dp18AQOYSyNN4EWwT_OYPdOpua9xayNOIc/s640/scraps1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="640" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7_ojP_q_oP8T26PzyR3efPbD5JP0LcZHSSxKD_IAf912U2U0wJt37L4hkXYCNN3syihyphenhyphenLn_g4ZYzlQU6SOIIFTtGfdO9-cotmzTw_z35gvZji87wRtWeh988BGpVTYDIKHyuJ1Z5FrVwVxKuI_Y3EI7S5Dp18AQOYSyNN4EWwT_OYPdOpua9xayNOIc/s320/scraps1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I could almost certainly cobble together a pair of Frankenstein-esque socks with what's lying around in my scrap box. Or embroider something, or even make a rug. Tie up a gift parcel. Braid long strips for drawstrings or tiebacks. Leave some outside strategically for our animal neighbours to use in their nests. And let's not forget the ol' loom. Weaving is the audiobook of the knitting world, in that it allows you to get through stashed yarn very quickly and frees you attack the next thing on the list.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdxBculIrEjRHE6TOx2fFy9JJAaUzLXEpTQgkbjX8ray_1erpRumKvw7n7t3pN32pTxeo7LYc-AGN6Wg_9ODrl3qfSQxVUAIM19oJoC6SPvNsszYakugQ7gmvJlyVXOqx1WmY4ZG-UJY7OYl02yGPgeK_aaK2A1aEabhlpamtXA-8BdMGGswvMWIY4IU/s640/scraps2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="640" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdxBculIrEjRHE6TOx2fFy9JJAaUzLXEpTQgkbjX8ray_1erpRumKvw7n7t3pN32pTxeo7LYc-AGN6Wg_9ODrl3qfSQxVUAIM19oJoC6SPvNsszYakugQ7gmvJlyVXOqx1WmY4ZG-UJY7OYl02yGPgeK_aaK2A1aEabhlpamtXA-8BdMGGswvMWIY4IU/s320/scraps2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Or I could just leave all these scraps in their protective cases in a box in a cabinet to come visit every so often, remembering the diehard knitter I indulged for all those years when I didn't the time or tranquility I needed to tackle a short story, let alone a full-length manuscript. One of which I hope to wrap up in the next few days (or even this weekend, cue the nail-biting)!!! I've only been working on this thing for 14 or 15 months... I am overdue a completed if creaky first draft at this point, don't you think?</p><p> </p><p>And on that note, I will take my leave of you for another week, a bit abruptly, but only because I really, really need to wrap up this story. Hope you have a great weekend and, as always, thank you for spending some time with me today. </p><p>Okay, okay - one more scrap tray! These are the bigger leftovers, generous enough for sock cuffs or handknit pockets. If you have ideas or favourites, I'd love to hear 'em.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV7zhcBj2UKxMY67kTPoRcag6cdq9m_0PTrtBewAeJ09QbHwxzvT19D89p-K69_-fet4P38LYV1MbIkhSQ0offZo5e8mdz8-Q_679JkMo9-046wN2P4xl-zCSn8K0wD0t5NP7R14KWTqClzeLKyu3Rh25-P9YXSiQPPxbES_r8sFZb_UWeKNPI3Kft74/s640/scraps3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="640" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV7zhcBj2UKxMY67kTPoRcag6cdq9m_0PTrtBewAeJ09QbHwxzvT19D89p-K69_-fet4P38LYV1MbIkhSQ0offZo5e8mdz8-Q_679JkMo9-046wN2P4xl-zCSn8K0wD0t5NP7R14KWTqClzeLKyu3Rh25-P9YXSiQPPxbES_r8sFZb_UWeKNPI3Kft74/s320/scraps3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-37314503282168781732023-10-14T16:27:00.002-04:002023-10-14T16:28:14.074-04:00Knitting love<p>This last week suddenly I felt hugely motivated to knit, not from pressure or because I like the feel of yarn in my hands but because the motion of knitting into a stitch and sliding it over the needles is so wonderful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y_VWvAKXPABVZX-dRsC0SNHO003qDe7zLQg0BPH3n26BnZTphhnHA85CzB6K0fX5enpeTZ1HtpnxFKx5zwsm0q3-BTp3ER86j_Kfg9HPianc7Nc6uZJHHy07vwIEaiY3TtYMGoQKfZmOLDR515hOMnmEh087eIfT9MqyyprfKWM9W9IGYMeHT7F47Y4/s640/knitlove1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y_VWvAKXPABVZX-dRsC0SNHO003qDe7zLQg0BPH3n26BnZTphhnHA85CzB6K0fX5enpeTZ1HtpnxFKx5zwsm0q3-BTp3ER86j_Kfg9HPianc7Nc6uZJHHy07vwIEaiY3TtYMGoQKfZmOLDR515hOMnmEh087eIfT9MqyyprfKWM9W9IGYMeHT7F47Y4/s320/knitlove1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Which means I made a ton of progress on the sock I'd messed up all those years ago! Here we are at Chompy Sock, no less, that delightful stage following Heel Flap.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbaW0H1_EOmmA1WdwznUGfgzaY9uxN7nkwLaDfaThaZRLTcB9oiJEr1lsepXs6bK4mIAvXKCROXzwt1OKbRsnoe_P5jPA7k22jHtG4ctQ6FEpj5-680wrX4BFTZ-t6rxgr_EW951-NDsBw5RZ2YLyDNGzcS-Gv5kY-2xkin0hEseY4ky88xpxkqpZ2vs/s640/knitlove3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbaW0H1_EOmmA1WdwznUGfgzaY9uxN7nkwLaDfaThaZRLTcB9oiJEr1lsepXs6bK4mIAvXKCROXzwt1OKbRsnoe_P5jPA7k22jHtG4ctQ6FEpj5-680wrX4BFTZ-t6rxgr_EW951-NDsBw5RZ2YLyDNGzcS-Gv5kY-2xkin0hEseY4ky88xpxkqpZ2vs/s320/knitlove3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I re-stained the deck post caps last week too, and they look so clean and new now. Even whiter than the white stripe in this colourway.<br /></p><p>Knitting with frogged yarn isn't so spectacular but I stuck with it and, since I'd added in the two stitches that should have been there in the first place, I hit unknit yarn before I got too far into the heel flap. The frogged section from the leg is really bumpy, isn't it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPlOZBYKISKHPsSkENo4UAyE_rKI7dtwL79TT7-qLqZrMG5CrqEgXxpGMs5JzkHxa9q7hCOPLkodk5guzAolbWxumcf4RQMifhxPrDm9bhojJ8sRRuYHFZmWO17AF0wUlYMAyTnEHTEiO70WiA87hzcHm955P_YvnKChrWFxKW8NG9-Z4Mh6PCNjSJK0/s640/knitlove2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPlOZBYKISKHPsSkENo4UAyE_rKI7dtwL79TT7-qLqZrMG5CrqEgXxpGMs5JzkHxa9q7hCOPLkodk5guzAolbWxumcf4RQMifhxPrDm9bhojJ8sRRuYHFZmWO17AF0wUlYMAyTnEHTEiO70WiA87hzcHm955P_YvnKChrWFxKW8NG9-Z4Mh6PCNjSJK0/s320/knitlove2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The other big Yay was that I am really enjoying the needles I found in the bag where I'd stored this mistake sock while I made up my mind what to do with it. They're square metal double points from KnitPicks and when I first bought them to supplement my original and much-loved sets of Kollage square needles, which were somehow no longer available, I found my skin was reacting to the nickel finish. I kept them only to store live stitches when I needed my original needles for something else. Well, that allergy issue seems to have resolved, and now I can enjoy the super slick surface and sheer speed of knitting on them. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8gW2988c1hRg9eAbFPSrN4bLPgsy21gNovkz0bW2r-V7jxrYmseBd4PumEkhDhzYsZw5z5lz8a7AnUNftWX8d7_hHHMaViPMwEoyIDJ3kgIzfikBYPN133dTc63RbhF1IMnvgfvFmMLx-ayflAnzkR3_uuibsW44bhVheZfDsDVr-D0bfN4sQTqH40/s640/knitlove.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj8gW2988c1hRg9eAbFPSrN4bLPgsy21gNovkz0bW2r-V7jxrYmseBd4PumEkhDhzYsZw5z5lz8a7AnUNftWX8d7_hHHMaViPMwEoyIDJ3kgIzfikBYPN133dTc63RbhF1IMnvgfvFmMLx-ayflAnzkR3_uuibsW44bhVheZfDsDVr-D0bfN4sQTqH40/s320/knitlove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The bad news: <a href="https://www.knitpicks.com/" target="_blank">Knitpicks</a> has changed over to doing square double points in wood only, which I've tried and didn't love, so I can't get more of these needles now that I like them.<br /></p><p>The good news that washes right over the bad: <a href="https://kollagesquarestore.com/products/pos-of-square%C2%AE-double-pointed-needle" target="_blank">Kollage</a> needles are available online now and the needles, now produced in aluminum, even come in blue! Guess who's getting new double points for her Christmas stocking?</p><p>If you haven't tried square needles, they really are great. It's a subtle difference in grip with a big payout in reduced hand strain. I wouldn't make socks on anything else. However: you do have to go up a size owing to the lost circumference with the squared-off edges, so I use 2.5mm squares to sub in for 2.25mm round sock needles.</p><p><br /></p><p>Okay that's enough from me for today... I hope you're enjoying a beautiful Saturday and once again, thank you so much for sharing your time with me. See you next week!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-1251638064668658272023-10-07T13:44:00.003-04:002023-10-07T13:45:27.881-04:00Sweater weather<p>At last! The temperature around here has finally dropped enough to reach for a sweater before heading out the door. I know summer is a popular season for a lot of reasons but for me: it's all about autumn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuNMpr-93RszVIOtI7a_lA4RWuVCJTypx__h1CZEbyfDEGakA3hGYDJAiI6GtIlNg2w7LfCEtHdrEBrk-ceCzTxMWHnD9bqd2oVfSg8_fdgkkgqv411iuSrdukkFhuETc5pJYJC8SUgboJyMgAorqzdlOdahyapMQytvZtN9Gf44cu_p-zlEqGLG7qDc/s576/sweater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="576" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuNMpr-93RszVIOtI7a_lA4RWuVCJTypx__h1CZEbyfDEGakA3hGYDJAiI6GtIlNg2w7LfCEtHdrEBrk-ceCzTxMWHnD9bqd2oVfSg8_fdgkkgqv411iuSrdukkFhuETc5pJYJC8SUgboJyMgAorqzdlOdahyapMQytvZtN9Gf44cu_p-zlEqGLG7qDc/s320/sweater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I've been such a snail with my knitting the last few years, not only in speed but in terms of finger agility (as in, sticky where it isn't zero). Still, I couldn't help noticing this particular project - not a sweater, it's another <a href="http://www.hugsforyourhead.com/2014/11/hatcowl-free-hat-or-cowl-pattern.html" target="_blank">Hatcowl</a> - is almost done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDjkF8Msz0nJwYRUlNQe_tB_5XmRliRCM9fz4fHbDYFRX0XmIH-z81WqOc-ASXxwRFvhVhDgCjj0w7bPxb6Lo7L27vscPb7BZZ11PrHwxENACRk8CyP1xEIyH4XVjN79LU5gOP09ohfzRKpUU__ombl-UVdLsK6sBNEcehtor9iU0W5bq78-kq-bN2O8/s584/sweater2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="584" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDjkF8Msz0nJwYRUlNQe_tB_5XmRliRCM9fz4fHbDYFRX0XmIH-z81WqOc-ASXxwRFvhVhDgCjj0w7bPxb6Lo7L27vscPb7BZZ11PrHwxENACRk8CyP1xEIyH4XVjN79LU5gOP09ohfzRKpUU__ombl-UVdLsK6sBNEcehtor9iU0W5bq78-kq-bN2O8/s320/sweater2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>You may recall me moaning about this thing a year ago - and likely on many other occasions - because I'd cast on with lace-tipped needles and they are SO STABBY. But I also loved the Viola-dyed yarn enough to persevere well into last spring. And it's paid off: I'm pretty close to doing the eyelets, which immediately precede another few rounds of ribbing. Which, by the way, will not number as many as the initial very deep ribbing section. YAY!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH37Oss5U-1ibZI2FcMkz02wlJFhjE8-Q5N4FulVUfIoyx8OMojtaOTeKI2qSa1eeu3XMbAVlysrRO_ZMM9oUig7uWAazUfewQ-asKySgnYQtJRmK25IInAR9aWYH37iQ-PJnGBbV-6drpnvoHN9MIM5AGWOhWoj-cVuVuM-chlYzs3gxDMveKAIl49H0/s640/sweater3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH37Oss5U-1ibZI2FcMkz02wlJFhjE8-Q5N4FulVUfIoyx8OMojtaOTeKI2qSa1eeu3XMbAVlysrRO_ZMM9oUig7uWAazUfewQ-asKySgnYQtJRmK25IInAR9aWYH37iQ-PJnGBbV-6drpnvoHN9MIM5AGWOhWoj-cVuVuM-chlYzs3gxDMveKAIl49H0/s320/sweater3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If I sit down and focus, I could have this thing ready to wear out on a walk next week. Which probably isn't necessary as it's not *that* cold yet, but still. A girl can dream, as I always remind myself when imagining the impossible.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9or049PZpTZlR5x4YGEqxO-PyQGbc6h25nHEUTWHSeNetAj9lr53dcw4tf1dbpCv27GL0qyMYSUnjEhoLvno5K_H-jq4xiJEgQqgr4uzouZUXr93IdzPUz3mpgEAUjJHuiLMuYT21oc1QrZcor1PWx35QQ584Dtt34vRUaeVK2qYXysryBkUtLl8r2g/s640/sweater4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9or049PZpTZlR5x4YGEqxO-PyQGbc6h25nHEUTWHSeNetAj9lr53dcw4tf1dbpCv27GL0qyMYSUnjEhoLvno5K_H-jq4xiJEgQqgr4uzouZUXr93IdzPUz3mpgEAUjJHuiLMuYT21oc1QrZcor1PWx35QQ584Dtt34vRUaeVK2qYXysryBkUtLl8r2g/s320/sweater4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>No pictures to accompany this bit of exciting news, but our tiny home is, at last, on its foundation! Turns out putting even a lightweight shed on twenty feet of sand takes some extra intervention. Like, for example, helical piles that go down even deeper, with engineer-designed bracing at the top. Next week with luck we'll also get power, something that involves serious trench-digging by Pete and company before our electrician arrives. We won't have water for the foreseeable. However, we don't need to wait for that for the septic hookup, and we might even be able to harvest rainwater for non-potable uses, so it feels like progress.<br /></p><p>Crossing my fingers I actually get out there to see it and take a bunch of pictures for you this fall... the actual building is quite plain, but the land it's on is gorgeous. As proof, here's one of the few images I've been offered that doesn't feature a tractor, taken from our cousins' driveway next door on balmy day in September:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqfdqjgXGcYWEwA4Ek2Er90FUfPbS8dUKmoTUhz2QbXuL-2h4dThSuv8dMBCF99KbyfNz6D5rVnia68J_nrbwK11iSw5F6wvL40hq6QkzLtSVthsBuhh6Iyl1LuQjjSTMycDwd45hqi-ca8RsZcWiqg74CgriqwVj0Qk8ki-jcm6FvldJRHRVMy-MwSQ/s2016/sweater%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqfdqjgXGcYWEwA4Ek2Er90FUfPbS8dUKmoTUhz2QbXuL-2h4dThSuv8dMBCF99KbyfNz6D5rVnia68J_nrbwK11iSw5F6wvL40hq6QkzLtSVthsBuhh6Iyl1LuQjjSTMycDwd45hqi-ca8RsZcWiqg74CgriqwVj0Qk8ki-jcm6FvldJRHRVMy-MwSQ/s320/sweater%205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I mean HONESTLY. Who wouldn't want that view every day? Admittedly it's theirs and not ours, but I gotta think there's another vantage point further in that's just as stunning.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Okay that's it for me. Random episodes of exhaustion are still pocketing my Covid recovery, but I'm feeling good enough right now to take a magical sweater-weather walk, and I've learned to grab those moments.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hope you have a wonderful weekend (and a wonderful Thanksgiving if you're Canadian like me!) and I look forward to meeting up again next Saturday. As always, thanks so much for stopping by!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKR08tcdMw32tV4i8H25QpQcyAlKM3UNsTzXRIJGOMklRVaIKxnh5zt3ytSqe89iaSaab_xWNnIkZwjaPASGj3XnsXNNlK8txl0R28qTVlz6mk4WAcLmv6HJZId1Gjt5ilKOrpCcphmkOeEdObbqafaCsZYqUSuyLTlcxhRB7cILQuZUdU5AF9lxLYfo/s640/sweater1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKR08tcdMw32tV4i8H25QpQcyAlKM3UNsTzXRIJGOMklRVaIKxnh5zt3ytSqe89iaSaab_xWNnIkZwjaPASGj3XnsXNNlK8txl0R28qTVlz6mk4WAcLmv6HJZId1Gjt5ilKOrpCcphmkOeEdObbqafaCsZYqUSuyLTlcxhRB7cILQuZUdU5AF9lxLYfo/s320/sweater1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-50767475364095576222023-09-30T15:21:00.003-04:002023-09-30T15:23:46.664-04:00Sock hop<p>Short Hug today my friends. After a brief recovery last Saturday, I spent the rest of the week with a rebound round of Covid. I'm only just clawing my way back to normal life again now, too late even for the good sunshine for taking pictures, yikes. However! during my brief hours of good health last weekend, I tackled a sock problem that's got to be six years old.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxqQrwppy3UoaeFdFzwR0eSAO1O5H-Xavyi7sBdSDREm_iAytd_W6jIvHfD5zR8MeeeQmjwhEZhxPlR3nYBLTh9F8X_DYAg4OpoAPF0akVt9RMFI3oiZfKXy0g6ua655nervOzy7OH_d3RRytiygy-xYdcXNZJAxm9YQsWjITLAuntKfldy4L7YAxRGI/s640/frog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxqQrwppy3UoaeFdFzwR0eSAO1O5H-Xavyi7sBdSDREm_iAytd_W6jIvHfD5zR8MeeeQmjwhEZhxPlR3nYBLTh9F8X_DYAg4OpoAPF0akVt9RMFI3oiZfKXy0g6ua655nervOzy7OH_d3RRytiygy-xYdcXNZJAxm9YQsWjITLAuntKfldy4L7YAxRGI/s320/frog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I don't know what happened with these. Normally I knit both socks in a pair at the same time, getting one through the cuff and then the other, then both to the heel flap, and so on. Knitting with this stripe, I got one sock complete to the point of a grafted toe with the ends run in, and the other as far a finished heel flap. Then I discovered I had cast on two few stitches right from the start, throwing off the entire heel math unless I fixed it. And fixing it would either mean adding two stitches and living with a tight leg, or ripping out and starting over.</p><p>I knew the harder option was the answer, but... UGH. Hence the six years. But in the euphoria of recovering from Covid, I wasn't in the mood for half measures, so I pulled out all those stitches. Okay, I admit it: not all. I couldn't face redoing the ribbing, so I guess that part of the sock might feel a bit snugger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3gsaK9XUagYEccuf2OmE3aL1rNIlQ_aqEtLGbiE-PlFwCYFbxvqBOQ-ybLR_ACaJg9FM_sE6DAVD_G-d28VJiWHdbwC32R7ortSh1TvrIZaCbVA96eZEHakpkZwG9p25Q0uODjfylDnpS7y5uU8QjtdAtFBTNle9ULlkiCdX9M9KsQBR-oOLBePh1ww/s640/frog2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3gsaK9XUagYEccuf2OmE3aL1rNIlQ_aqEtLGbiE-PlFwCYFbxvqBOQ-ybLR_ACaJg9FM_sE6DAVD_G-d28VJiWHdbwC32R7ortSh1TvrIZaCbVA96eZEHakpkZwG9p25Q0uODjfylDnpS7y5uU8QjtdAtFBTNle9ULlkiCdX9M9KsQBR-oOLBePh1ww/s320/frog2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>All the rest is what I managed to get done as my symptoms returned and then felled me completely. But hey, I'll take it!</p><p>Knitting with frogged yarn is kind of sad... the stitches are so gummed up compared to what you get with unknit stuff.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqnS34gaFKDIJ3AEMDh5oMbLxoWbEVojC0pjQo1e2QmpdUrq4jePJdTOyZ02l5JjuS1aBfFMyE9APJM22dQCbuLO6kCY4gO9DcHWOyASGxfpfFORIblpY2aexqEz2cIDJ-k2TsjGzK828mzMzBJoS-cEEOH0_bcy3dnDkVWlI10ilEs9s9-JuRggpg_M/s640/frog3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqnS34gaFKDIJ3AEMDh5oMbLxoWbEVojC0pjQo1e2QmpdUrq4jePJdTOyZ02l5JjuS1aBfFMyE9APJM22dQCbuLO6kCY4gO9DcHWOyASGxfpfFORIblpY2aexqEz2cIDJ-k2TsjGzK828mzMzBJoS-cEEOH0_bcy3dnDkVWlI10ilEs9s9-JuRggpg_M/s320/frog3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p> I'm pretty sure it will all come out in the wash... or most of it anyway.</p><p>The main thing is, I'm working through my knitting backlog, while still in time to produce a single pair of Christmas socks. No pressure, amiright?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjX9yXJ8hipdkjwMChnU7clzz7SJnZzlNPZIy98rAelsEqe-_ib5RNqarznjGj9dYSO7kQFZc5WcsJV4nkEc8O5X3hP2aXGab_11_9Ckg1T8OvAyQl2E1b7YdoquowrPogoi7QSCWNXwZwFC4goA30wvTn8M4RYWZKVegTHdTI6rPJKk-7SvonY8aXPY/s640/frog4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjX9yXJ8hipdkjwMChnU7clzz7SJnZzlNPZIy98rAelsEqe-_ib5RNqarznjGj9dYSO7kQFZc5WcsJV4nkEc8O5X3hP2aXGab_11_9Ckg1T8OvAyQl2E1b7YdoquowrPogoi7QSCWNXwZwFC4goA30wvTn8M4RYWZKVegTHdTI6rPJKk-7SvonY8aXPY/s320/frog4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Hope you've had a great week, with lots of cheery outside time! See you next Saturday, maybe even for a celebration of Something Finished. Meanwhile, enjoy your weekend, and thanks for making me a part of it by stopping by.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2023057129228541740.post-25451984534343590402023-09-23T12:37:00.000-04:002023-09-23T12:37:19.636-04:00Me again<p>Hello and happy negative-test Saturday! As of two hours ago I am officially through my first (and really, it's very welcome to be my last) round of Covid. And I have outside pictures to prove it. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO2FmnwsPnHSyOKwUfZbWlOW4PLb4ArYjfzGPlslhBW1e2QTj6APwy0ZNsZ9ddDLYJLn1XDNy-qdFZqtogaaMRTCs-3Kftbh1kVE1SqP9tXSC9xHZUxJWWKY_Zb1fmiiw2AvnukRn24dJZSiMb5h1QMMsSOTvJl_wj0kBe5Ez2mnXGuCH2iHgTmQBjls/s640/me1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO2FmnwsPnHSyOKwUfZbWlOW4PLb4ArYjfzGPlslhBW1e2QTj6APwy0ZNsZ9ddDLYJLn1XDNy-qdFZqtogaaMRTCs-3Kftbh1kVE1SqP9tXSC9xHZUxJWWKY_Zb1fmiiw2AvnukRn24dJZSiMb5h1QMMsSOTvJl_wj0kBe5Ez2mnXGuCH2iHgTmQBjls/s320/me1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Technically I could have come outside any day this week with a mask on, but it didn't seem worth the effort, so I stayed in bedroom jail and worked on my novel. Also, a little bit of sock. Progress, at last!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcsAljI0XzsC0oybRSgsXEV0_VdEmkQ7m4jr2L7oiWJ5Rj29aUud8i0grbvYKikcdkVA92ubGkVAM-63aqriFrgp6toJGBHzupyh2VQJbh-DewZ9f23MdL0ZnAdP1qv0DzYISfOPxn4s14sZREWRJfTuwvN7aRbPGCA_akPUy-bj15PE0Sn2g-QyaxCM/s640/me5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcsAljI0XzsC0oybRSgsXEV0_VdEmkQ7m4jr2L7oiWJ5Rj29aUud8i0grbvYKikcdkVA92ubGkVAM-63aqriFrgp6toJGBHzupyh2VQJbh-DewZ9f23MdL0ZnAdP1qv0DzYISfOPxn4s14sZREWRJfTuwvN7aRbPGCA_akPUy-bj15PE0Sn2g-QyaxCM/s320/me5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I feel I'm into the home stretch with these now, and a good thing too because I have to wind more sock yarn cakes and get started on a purple-stripe pair for Jan's Christmas present. She loves these socks and I'm not sure how she'd react if I ever gave her something like a kettle instead.</p><p>Today is also the first day of fall and the back yard is kind of showing it. The hostas look like they've had the wind knocked out of them, for one thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrBJGphZYZLnG7VinXusnbxerK0UJ_9_JbmRYwi6wt90mlOKEfpy8vH3-ep4hlrDAptKam_wqHkZTvm1CCzaRQlliar3AnrObLgl7evELDHAsHsMzvhjZHQDEBwMJx9Azk-dhXoShpw_YoglCbYQ5ivUsCzWyXRBT4m6JcU2j_ZEWwi5riyEPHjFAuvg/s640/me2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrBJGphZYZLnG7VinXusnbxerK0UJ_9_JbmRYwi6wt90mlOKEfpy8vH3-ep4hlrDAptKam_wqHkZTvm1CCzaRQlliar3AnrObLgl7evELDHAsHsMzvhjZHQDEBwMJx9Azk-dhXoShpw_YoglCbYQ5ivUsCzWyXRBT4m6JcU2j_ZEWwi5riyEPHjFAuvg/s320/me2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>But I'm also thinking there are gonna be a *lot* of fried green tomatoes happening in our kitchen over the next little while. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0BCNoJIxKVXBXUFAF5IuAQQ9HL4l4IICKXJy9e8ahCTNS_AWE_TVgi2kwZFS5kVeb6qh8mglBLKpzmE48i0589kzMHMwPzBu85dEr8JMu7GsHHEL0kCPpgUtuEPQAcF9QHyXR_E8k0hwgsHAVQr67kCVb9FjO52B8KN8N6gQTJDdXAw9xubtHBtjsT8/s640/me3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0BCNoJIxKVXBXUFAF5IuAQQ9HL4l4IICKXJy9e8ahCTNS_AWE_TVgi2kwZFS5kVeb6qh8mglBLKpzmE48i0589kzMHMwPzBu85dEr8JMu7GsHHEL0kCPpgUtuEPQAcF9QHyXR_E8k0hwgsHAVQr67kCVb9FjO52B8KN8N6gQTJDdXAw9xubtHBtjsT8/s320/me3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>At least we did get some fruit. Our hydrangeas never bloomed at all, though I did spot a tiny bud waiting to happen, just now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfE87wYITAbXe2JFJoEqgV-Vo7M0_GgUBjKVxjQWyB63PXwDRiGyrFDWAuTM5mWhmw5qCscIM8pjCQtGHxIkPULYN2MJRaycGuOgpU74piEBx2GxGblXkz_RJhNGHiyNDIbFgpcb-OaaN7kUuwYx5Ap5sJvdIVO50o5sToP2fDtz4uTTg-NSPY48HWRs/s640/me4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfE87wYITAbXe2JFJoEqgV-Vo7M0_GgUBjKVxjQWyB63PXwDRiGyrFDWAuTM5mWhmw5qCscIM8pjCQtGHxIkPULYN2MJRaycGuOgpU74piEBx2GxGblXkz_RJhNGHiyNDIbFgpcb-OaaN7kUuwYx5Ap5sJvdIVO50o5sToP2fDtz4uTTg-NSPY48HWRs/s320/me4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Our Roma tomatoes did the best. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwWF-q7O8-P8IKbZDn5h1fnK3WTftxnYEgxZHefAA9lN9uI5UE5zgd453gm_ESdwZ_0VO-6FOpOzE2__U8UVnIkFHsAAZJE32s817_iVfOcX7ZOtJitrmIs_RZcWCvbUgRrvNh0ZzsZFu88D2cpardmI445q1QkjyDk1TrvWD5JgtYfWfK9DDt8PB4Fo/s640/me6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwWF-q7O8-P8IKbZDn5h1fnK3WTftxnYEgxZHefAA9lN9uI5UE5zgd453gm_ESdwZ_0VO-6FOpOzE2__U8UVnIkFHsAAZJE32s817_iVfOcX7ZOtJitrmIs_RZcWCvbUgRrvNh0ZzsZFu88D2cpardmI445q1QkjyDk1TrvWD5JgtYfWfK9DDt8PB4Fo/s320/me6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There are a whole plate of them inside... probably only enough for a sauce for two, but bright red.</p><p>Whew! I am sleepy just from that little walk around the garden. Time for one more glamour photo and then I'm calling it a Hug.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOLQoIEewXKzFrptOqokVgTxkEsDDuRbRCyUbZNKjgnxfMktoMXPc2Fhrf7pAtXPK2jbva6F_sUj5-ic3qWvNDWKVgF6jgWgrwiEfjBxtcBiDr_pMkXmqBdwEoCi1f04Lq6JJt_9vWo8_llXBFJl5YVI9We3uS3_Y_pAivQCiWXeK6DYEjJ0YOIPZZIY/s640/me7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOLQoIEewXKzFrptOqokVgTxkEsDDuRbRCyUbZNKjgnxfMktoMXPc2Fhrf7pAtXPK2jbva6F_sUj5-ic3qWvNDWKVgF6jgWgrwiEfjBxtcBiDr_pMkXmqBdwEoCi1f04Lq6JJt_9vWo8_llXBFJl5YVI9We3uS3_Y_pAivQCiWXeK6DYEjJ0YOIPZZIY/s320/me7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It is so nice of you to stop by to see me on Saturdays. I hope you've had a lovely week but either way, that you get a great weekend before we do it all all over again. See you soon!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Keenanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260934319762115179noreply@blogger.com0