Commentaries

His new thing is to saunter over and rest his chin on my knee.

I don't do rides, especially roller coasters, but don't they look like they're having SO much fun?

Don't know where she is, but she is definitely the most stylish one there.

The young man beside Barry is clearly besotted with her.

Susie has a point.

But My Eyes Hurt

Twinnie asked what break book I'm reading.  It's The Gettysburg Gospel.  It's focusing on the town and the people of Gettysburg during and after the battle, as well as the speech.  I've never read anything quite like it, and am enjoying it.

I didn't sleep well last night, waking up mid-night with a searing headache.  Ibuprofen PM finally took hold about 3 AM, but when the dose wore off, the pain returned.  Mostly knitting today, therefore, instead of cross-stitch.  No reading.

Has anyone seen "Wicker" yet?  (C'mon, Twinnie. . .)  I had plans to go today, but the headache cancelled them for me.  Olivia Colman is a big favorite of mine, and, yes, Skarsgard does have immense charm.

Home game Saturday, so I need to get some errands taken care of tomorrow.  I may go buy Jeni's and try one or two of this year's holiday flavors.  Sticky Toffee Pudding sounds particularly intriguing.

TNT

The patchwork cat is coming along. 

I don't mind the stamped colors, although I wish they matched the floss colors.  When the area is printed in a dark color, but the floss is light, it looks bad.  I've been working under the assumption that, like a fox I stitched long ago, when I'm done I'll soak the piece and all the ink will fade.

To have a smaller stitching project to turn to, I'll choose from these:

On the right is another Christmas shimmer pattern.  I really like this one.  The barn reminds me of my Grandfather's, though he didn't have a silo, or a side door, and he didn't grow corn.  Actually, I guess, nothing like his.  Don't step on my memories, though!

A run-of-the-mill Tuesday.  Psychiatrist tomorrow, therapy Friday, probably errands scattered throughout.  I did get laundry done today, with requisite lost socks.  What is up with that?

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

Exhaustion

Today I am full-brain and full-body tired.  One problem after another, each branching off into more issues. . .

I just want to take a shower and go to bed.

Thursday.

My glimmer fabric is going to be the devil to work with.  The spaces where the needle goes are really hard to make out.  The scavenger hunt I sent you on was to get a tiny peek at the shimmer of the fabric at the top of the package.

Son is back in town.  Unfortunately, I didn't do an adequate job of carsitting: his little Prius wouldn't start this morning.  So he has my car, and, I must say, a miserable attitude about the whole thing.  I get being upset about possible bills, but you don't have to take it out on me, and you don't have to act like the universe itself is against you.  Sheesh.

I've been working on the glittery cross-stitch a lot today.  There are so many uneven Xs, but I honestly cannot see the needle holes clearly in a lot of places.

And that odd bowing-out of the window: is it supposed to evoke ivy?  This dang thing is giving me enough trouble --- no way I'm pulling stitches out.  And thank goodness it's a relatively small piece.

A TNT That's Yet to Be

I ordered three little project kits from 123 Stitch, since I'm finding out stitching for a while doesn't affect my fingers as much as it did.

All three kits are from the same company, and if you look closely at the very top of the packaging, you'll see something delightful.

The fabric is glittery/shimmery!!  Never seen it before.  I am very excited to start.

Twinnie asked about my mismatched yarn.  They were the same dye lot;  I don't know how the difference didn't jump out at me.  I got it from Joann, which is no longer here.  I'll hold the frogged skein for maybe a hat?  Then I have to find something to use the other for.  I'm still itching to make a cardigan, but there's not enough.

Son will be back tomorrow;  he'll spend the night in Chattanooga.  He loves that city.  I do, too, honestly.  I've been carsitting while he's been gone.  Tap gets very excited when I talk about taking Briton's car for a drive.  He does not respond that way to my car.  My RAV4 is too big, while Briton's Prius is just right?

 

Do You See the Problem?

I got the back and half of the armholes done before my first skein ran out.  I went to get a second one, and

So I frogged it, and the difference is even clearer.

How AGGRAVATING is that?  I'm not sure if I have enough of the white to make the sweater;  I'm a little too hot about the whole situation to cast on again right now.  

And things were going so well.

My son visited the Lincoln Library yesterday, and the Tomb today.  He has sent me some glorious pictures.

From the Library, a recreation of Lincoln's parenting style:

From the Tomb:

This gut-punched me.  I can't say why.

Haircut today.  Monday Night Football tonight.  Maybe some Bruster's ice cream in between?

Designs

But we'll keep making those pillows, won't we friends?

The dining room in this house could be turned into a craft room if I knew I was going to stay here a while.  Look at these ideas I found online:

There's a chair rail all around the room which would make a good foundation for a desk/table.  It would also easily differentiate between storage and work space.

Just a pipe dream, really, but putting it together could be fun.

 

Nice

A very pretty day here, if a bit breezy.  The sky in Autumn is always such a clear and different blue than other times of year.

It's also a pretty day in Springfield, Illinois, where my son is for a few days.

This is the State Capitol.  Such a gorgeous building.  I am incredibly envious of him being there.  There'll be more Lincoln-related photos to come, I'm sure.

The new sweater is progressing nicely.  That size 15 needle really speeds things along.  I've tried a couple of times to get a picture of it for you, but to no avail.  Maybe when the whole back is done.

Otherwise, today had me filling the last space in Equine Alley.  One print a horse on a couch, one a lion.  I keep feeling I've found all the animals-on-couches prints, but more keep turning up.

I also baked some oatmeal cookies, as much to cover the stench of the chicken livers I cooked for Tap as anything.  So awful.  The cookies are really good.  About half of them I left plain, the other half I added pecans to.  If I can add pecans to anything, I will.  I've nothing against oatmeal raisin cookies, and chocolate chip ones can be good, but I decided to keep these simple.

First Time, Repeat

Of course, my little friend Elion Koteas didn't vote, but the sticker looks cuter on him than me.

I'm happy to say business at the polling site was very brisk, and had been all day, according to the workers.  Signing in next to me was a first-time voter.  Whoever signs a first-timer in rings a bell, and the room applauds.  The young woman was rightly a little embarrassed, but I couldn't help but feel good about the whole thing.

I've cast on for a pullover sweater.  This morning, I spent a lot of time looking for cardigan patterns, because that's where my real itch has been.  None of the patterns, though, lined up with the amount of yarn I have, so pullover it is.  It's called a Condo sweater, and I've made it before.  You use sizes 6 and 15 needles, alternating rows.  This pattern has been in my knitting folder since shortly after I started knitting, so it may be out of fashion at this point.

Don't care if it is.  It's super-comfortable.  Does anyone else remember when free patterns hung in front of the yarn bins?

Dreamboat

Not surprisingly, I have a crush on more than one actor.  I spent an hour and 40 minutes with one this afternoon:

Chris Evans in "Sacrifice," on Netflix.  As a movie, it's maybe a "B."  John Malkovich is in a very few scenes, and is extraordinary.  Frankly, any movie under two hours these days is a welcome wonder, and it would take a lot to get me not to watch  Christopher.

Mundane day.  Pick up prescriptions, work on a bandana I'm making with yarn left from the cowl.  It's not going to be as big as the leftover yarn had me thinking, but I won't stop now.  It's a clear, cool day, and I've been knitting on my loveseat in my back porch room.  Just exactly one of the reasons I put it together.

FO

The cowl is finished.

 It won't be worn over my nose, obviously,  but that was the best way to show the color graduations.  My next project?  Who can say?

Just a day of laundry and errands, though when you have to avail yourself of a laundromat, laundry is an errand.  Tomorrow is Briton's birthday, but he has lots of plans on his own, so I doubt I'll see him.  I do plan on going to vote early, so I'll seeing if I can make an adventure out of that.

Last Choice

A sunny and very breezy day here.  If the leaves weren't still green, I'd call it a perfect Autumn one.

And finally

Would you rather spend a day with Jane Austen

OR

Spend a day with William Shakespeare?*

*Though Austen might be delightful company, I'd choose Shakespeare, just to see how --- and how quickly --- he writes.