Treats for Me

A week or so ago I discovered these on my pillow as I was going to bed.
You may not be able to see it clearly but it says "treats for my mom" up in the right hand corner.
These were obviously a present from my dog "Toulouse".

They are my favorite thing to have with a cup of strong hot coffee.

I first discovered these treats as a child at my grandmother house, she and my grandfather always had bowls of Brach's candy at the ready.

As much as love the artisan truffles at The Chocolate Garden, there is just something about Maple Nut Goodies that remind me of happy childhood times.
And, I made this bag last 5 days.

The last time I had them was in Feburary at Jill's, she knows my weakness for cheap candy and all the horrid stories that go along with them.

Boston Baked Beans anyone?

Venezia

Can I just say.....



how fun this was to knit!

Back to cast on more!

On the Needle & Wire

Today I began knitting with wire.

This is something I have wanted to try for quite some time.

My inspiration is Rosemary Hill.

Her designs with wire and yes, with yarn are stunning. So looking forward to receiving her book that I preordered on Amazon today.

So I have strung the beads and now it is just a matter of finding the right tension to actual knit.

How fun!

Cali's Recorder Case

Cali is our secretary's daughter and is learning the Recorder this year at school.
After carrying it around in it's basic vinyl case, she asked her mom if she thought I could make her something pretty.
Cali is also known by her good friends as "Princess Cali".
I had her come into the store and we talked about what colors she would want and took some measurements and after a week or so I came up with this.



I think she is pleased! She even played me a couple of songs on the recorder.
I told her to tell all her friends that it is a one of a kind and could not possibly be duplicated.

I told her mother, she will have a rude awakening when she figures out that I am really not all that.

You know my lot in life....that my greatest fans are little girls and old men!!!!!

Pattern
Any Worsted Weight Yarn
I used Malabrigo and Cascade
Gauge: not important
Finished Size: 4" x 14"
Cast on: 30 sts....or what you need to obtain 4"
Knit in st/st until piece measures 28" ro 29" inches
Fold, seam with mattress stitch both edges
Pick up sts on both sides and knit 2 rows
Bind of with Picot Bind off - bind off 6 sts, *place last sts back on left needle, c/o 1 sts with cable cast on, bind off 5 sts* repeat between *.
Strap: c/o 4 sts work I cord until desired length
Flowers: c/o 3 sts work I-cord until desired length, form into simple daisy shape and sew with beading thread.

The perfect thing for all those Recorder playing Princesses.

Koolhaas - A Hat by Designer Jared Flood

Worked with Cascade 220
size 6 / 8 needles

Pattern looks more difficult than is. After 2 rounds you pretty much have it down.
I did run in to difficultly in the decrease rounds, my fault not the pattern. I finally got it and am fairly pleased.

Thanks Andrew for being the hat model

Views of the Holiday

We have been vacationing on Mackinaw longer than I like to admit. For some reason we do not tire of it.

I started out this trip planning to take photos of all the things I was NOT going to do.

Such as .....I did not run the Mack Race 08.
I enjoyed it just fine from the porch of our lovely inn with several cups of coffee. Thank you very much.

Though I did ride my bike everyday around the island, up through the island, downtown, uptown, you get the idea.

This is a great new bike path past the Grand Hotel which takes you to Arch Rock. It also gets you out of the way of all the carriage tours, and need I say... horse apples.

I also did not have anything do to with gardening.

But, aren't these impatients spectacular, in the right setting I still never tire of these old standbys.

I quickly got side tracked, and stopped taking photos of things I wasn't doing and took way to many of trim and shutter colours on houses. I have been trying to pick out a new shutter colour and can I just say... nothing is working for me.

And of course all the quirky bikes you see.
Many of hours of knitting were done, the first Christmas gift is in the bag!
It was a very peaceful, stress free holiday.

See, even the guy with the gray beard is smiling.
How in heaven did we get so old?
And why do I always have lipstick on my teeth!!!!

Self portraits with a digital camera aren't they lovely!

Christmas Gift Number One

With Christmas just around the corner and wanting to avoid the knitting rush of last year.

I have begun the 1st of many knitted gift projects.

This is Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed.

I found one error on pattern, the photo shows k2, p2, k2 for brim and I didn't realize until into lattice pattern that the lattice is not vining from ribbing. Now, do I rip and start over or continue. I'm thinking rip.

Will be on holiday for the next 9 days.

Away from phones, business, and computer and the blogs.

I will be waking up to the sounds of horses and the feel of wonderful lake breezes.

And will have bike butt by tomorrow afternoon.

You know that wonderful feeling you get when riding your bike for the first time in several months.

Yikes!