In Case You Didn't Know

This is a "scurry" of squirrels.  Look at the tiny feet. A "murder" of crows is still the best animal group name, though a "parliament" of owls is cool.  A "passel" of possums sounds sort of backwoods, but is the correct term, apparently.

After a football-watching weekend (but aren't they all for me?), my shoulders and upper arms are surprisingly sore.  The problem, of course, is that I want to continue knitting and cross-stitching, and I can't do either for very long.  I am reading a good book, so I do have something to do during breaks.

And I Don't Even Do Plants

In my actual yard, there aren't many Autumn colors.  The maple in the front yard is only now dropping pretty red leaves.  Otherwise, pines all around.

On the easement next to the yard is this burgundy beauty:

Across the street is this vine.  The county's not big on keeping its property clean, as you can see.  But this arc goes from pale yellow to green green, which I find fascinating and lovely.

This is my Miss Kim lilac tree, regrowing after having been weed-eaten.

These are bonsai willows, which arrived as sticks.

I haven't done a single thing to them except pop them in the dirt.  Their instructions said that they cannot be overwatered, so that's a lot of pressure off.  I'm not sure how to tell when they're grown, and I'm not sure what to do when they are.  Do they stay inside, or can I put even one of them somewhere outside?

This is the vest I'll try to make with the mislabeled/mismatched/mis-dyed yarn;

Years ago, I made myself one something like this, and have worn it to death.  We'll see what's up with this one.

Colors

 The other day I mentioned possibly starting a patchwork cat as my next cross-stitch project.  Here is said cat:

I got most of what is done left corner up and out done last night while watching "Knives Out" on TV.  What a delightful movie, with such an entertaining cast.  Maybe my favorite scenes are the ones with the lawyer, played by Frank Oz.  He's the voice of Yoda, Grover, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Bert, Animal, Cookie Monster, Sam the Eagle, on and on.  A bit of a hero in this house.

This is the yarn I'm using for the yes-I-am-going-to-make-another-one Wingspan.

It's always a bit of a crap shoot with yarns like this: Where are the color changes going to fall?!  Really, all I want is to have a good number of wedges at the end.  I've been hurt by short yardage before.

TNT (Including "Tied and True")

A Pintrest scroll brought me these: 

My daily hairdo growing up: pulled back with the ball elastics (which, if they snapped back,hurt like the devil), then the elastic covered up with the yarn ties.  So chic.  So Sixties/Seventies.

TNT, right?  I finished the glimmery-cloth piece.

The glitter is just not showing up.  I "hid" my initials in the chimney smoke.  Now the hunt for round frames must begin.  This one gave me perforation issues, so I didn't rush to another of the kits. 

 Instead, up came this little beauty:

It was also a kit, and is a bit of a mystery now.  It's small enough to be made into a pin cushion, but I think it would be super-cute in a little frame.  I got it all done in one football-watching day.

Next up, maybe a big patchwork cat, maybe the second glimmer fabric kit.  Startitis is a thing in cross-stitch, too.

Settling in for a night of watching election returns.  I'm sure we'll have fingers crossed for our personal choices.  Let's just hope our democracy can stand tall and resilient.

Things to Do

It got a little rainy yesterday, the wind having blown in the clouds.  I went out to sweep the fig leaves off the deck, because if they get wet, it's a big, gummy, wood-staining mess.  Trying to sweep them while they were being blown around was like spitting into the wind.  Still, I managed to get both levels clear before it started to rain.

This isn't my photo, but is what I swept up:

Apparently,  you can make syrup and tea from fig leaves.  I'm pretty sure the leaves have to be green, though.  If I'm here next year, I'll give those a try --- it appears green leaves are required.

One more reason I wish I could crochet:

The chubbiness!  I never polished my daughter's toenails, and this makes me feel like grand opportunities were missed.

Also baby-wise:

How cute is that??

I think I've found a pattern for my wrong color yarn.  It's a vest with a deep, deep V-neck.  I'll have to sit down and do the math again to be sure, but I think it will work.

Of course, going through the patterns only made me want to cast on more things: a hat, some mittens, a shrug. . .  I suspect I'll even be starting a new Wingspan before long.

The First

Rabbit

RABBIT!

 

Hanging In

If exhaustion hangover is a thing, I am so hungover.  I haven't had a day since yesterday in a long, long time.  May a next one be many years away.

An unsunny, windy day.  Perfect for Halloween.  I don't think I'll have trick-or-treaters, as there haven't been any by in a long time.  This part of the neighborhood just doesn't have children anymore.

Today I've cross-stitched, made cheddar cheese bread, raked through knitting patterns trying to figure out what to do with my off-color yarn.  Nothing is popping with me yet, but I trust something will one day.  I've watched football, read a bit, given Tap a back-half bath.*  

*IYKYK