Posted on by ReginaMary

I See What You Did There

About the eyeballs.

When you work at a middle school and you’re friends with the art teacher, googly eyes are bound to appear.

It appears I took the summer off from writing. It wasn’t intentional, I assure you, but during the summer months, I love spending as much of my free time outside as I possibly can. I love the heat and humidity and enjoy working in the yard until the sweat drips off the tip of my nose.

We took a trip up to Autumn Lake again and it was wonderful. I made many new friends. There were two beavers, a barred owl and blue heron on the lake. It was fun watching the activity on and around the water. It was an encounter with a playful Loon that was the highlight. I found myself playing hide-and-seek with this guy:

The loons, Norman!

Razz enjoyed his time at the lake as well. He made himself right at home in my suitcase.

The yard is shaping up and I enjoyed hours and hours of playing in the dirt and hauling stone. We added a number of plants which attract pollinators. Here are a few images:

  • St. John’s Wort is a bumble bee’s paradise
  • I have the birds to thank for this one

I managed a bit of knitting this summer. I tried knitting socks from the toe up using the Turkish cast-on and absolutely loved it! Using Lolodidit Plush Sock in the Auburn Tiger colorway, this pair of vanilla socks fit my son perfectly. I did a German short row heel which turned out fine, but I am not in love with it. If you knit your socks toe up, what is your favorite heel?

I also finished the Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers. I loved everything about this project. My project notes can be found here. The yarn is Donegal Tweed by Tahki in Blue. This sweater was gifted to my mama for her 94th birthday. I hope to get a photo of her modeling it, but here are some photos of it blocking. This is a straightforward top-down raglan design with lace detail at the increases. Look at all the pretty, tweedy bits.

The only modification I made to the pattern is on the cuff. Rather than finishing with the same 1×1 rib as the hem, I finished with an I-cord bind off. I like the nice, neat finish it provides. I don’t like cuffs that get out of shape. I plan on making a Felix for myself. I might even choose the same yarn, too. Yes, that is how much I liked this project.

Do you remember the Perth yarn I attempted socks with on three separate occasions? I finally found a project that suited the wool nicely. The Sockhead Cowl by Kelly McClure is a classic. Her other pattern, Sockhead Hat is equally popular. I found the Perth yarn to be a bit fussy, so the simplicity of the Sockhead created a nice balance. I love the results. I have another ball of Perth in my stash, and rather than pull my hair out again, I just might cast on another Sockhead. Aren’t the colors pretty?

How many of you are planning on taking part in Stephen West’s next MKAL? I am the world’s worst when it comes to knitting timelines. Nonetheless, my friend Katherine suggested it and well…anything that I do with her is a hoot! The pattern calls for 5 skeins of fingering weight yarn in 5 different colors. Here are mine:

From top to bottom: Miss Babs-Babette “Thankful”, Suburban Stitcher-Silky Single “Sage”, Emma’s Yarn-Hella Hank “Mood”, Shirsty Cat Designs-Sock “Druid’s Rest” and Jill Draper Makes Stuff-Windham (unknown colorway).

Even though I am not a huge fan of the designer, I absolutely LOVE these yarns, so I feel good about the project. This is really busting down my fingering weight yarn stash.

The final item on the needles is a pair of socks. Deep stash merino and bamboo sock yarn purchased years ago at a craft chain. Another toe-up pair, but I have not decided on the heel to use.

Suggestions, anyone?

In non-knitting related news, school is open and all the kids are back! I am waiting for someone to figure out how to bottle up all that middle school energy and sell it to old goats like me. According to my fitbit, on the first day of school, I walked over 18,000 steps and 7.5 miles by the end of the school day.

For my first post in months, this is not very exciting. I have been keeping very low key and off line in an effort to maintain my sanity. I don’t have much to work with so I have to guard every bit! I am way behind on reading my favorite blogs as well. I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to in the knitting/crafting/blogging world.

Thanks for stopping by!

{{hugs}}

ReginaMary

In my cup: Lavazza Perfetto coffee (molto delizioso)

In my earballs: The birds quarreling at the feeder.

Saint of the Day: September 17: St. Hildegard of Bingen. One of my absolute favorites! St. Hildegard was an abbess, artist, author, composer, mystic, pharmacist, poet, preacher, theologian. She is a Doctor of the Church. She is a rock star. From the time she was a little girl, she began having visions. Hildegard’s visions caused her to see humans as “living sparks” of God’s love, “coming from God as daylight comes from the sun”. Virtuous living reduces the estrangement from God and others that sin causes. Like all mystics, Hildegard saw the harmony of God’s creation and the place of women and men in that.

Being in nature always brings me closer to God and the writings and philosophies of St. Hildegard really speak to these experiences. Feeling stressed out? Put the kettle on, light a candles and let this beautiful music fill your heart. Voices of Angels – Voices of Ascension

“The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature.” —Saint Hildegard of Bingen

Note: the featured image is “Cosmos, Body and Soul” by St. Hildegard

33 Replies to “I See What You Did There”

  4. Yes it’s hard to blog in thee we summer. We often go to the beach every evening for music and chit chat with others. Sometimes I bring a craft but when windy hard to get anywhere and I miss watching the walkers walk by! Can’t wait to see what those 5 yarns will turn into! I have those same Hibiscus in my yard… brought home seeds from my moms house in GA. Little ones are just multiplying underneath. Have dug some up to move… don’t have strength and ambition to garden much anymore… mostly wishing I could just wiggle my nose and make it as I want. It’s too late now to fuss… maybe in the spring.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Wasn’t Hildegard also a writer of psalm tunes, or am I mixing her up with another saint? I think you have been very busy, and I like all of your projects. Stephen West’s class on Craftsy introduced me to the endless possibilities of shawls, so I am an fan, even though he is a bit out there.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. My favorite of your garden pics is that perfect stone wall, with manicured plantings above it.
    Go to sock heel is from Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways for Sock Knitters; I go down a needle size when I get to the short rows (1/3 left in the center not wrapped and turned), and then pick up the expansion stitches on the sides while working back and forth, slipping alternate stitches on alternate rows. It’s not the easiest heel I’ve done – but it always fits perfectly and is really strong.
    I’d hate to think that blogging, once begun, could never be put aside! You’ve been looking at and hitting “like” on my blog, so I knew you were still alive!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Oh my goodness – where to start! Your garden is just beautiful – all your hard work really shows! All your knitting projects are just beautiful! Razz is such a cutie. It looks like he (and you guys) had a wonderful vacation. Also, love the googly eyes 🙂 I missed you! Glad you are back!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. A loon! I love the starkness of their coloring. I have been enjoying great egrets and great gray herons this summer. Sandhill cranes too.

    Summer isn’t my favorite season, but I do love the embodied-ness of it. Something about the being-outside, the sweating, the working, the doing – it’s good for the soul. A good reminder to carry into fall, too.

    I slow down crocheting in summer too – but starting to gear up again. The yarn seasons are nearly upon us…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. I love your googly eyes photo. I have many similar photos from my days teaching in a specialist college – usually involving wigs and hats. I am contemplating sock knitting but there are so many ways of going about it I have no idea where to start.

    We do get Loons over here in the UK but they have the rather more sedate title of Great Northern Diver and are winter visitors mainly. They are a treat to the eye though.

    St Hildegard is certainly a great saint and that quote is so forward thinking. She was a woman ahead of her time and a great painter. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Nothing says “middle school” like googly eyes. I wore those glasses around the school for a spell and I couldn’t stop laughing! I had so much fun.
      You are so right about St. Hildegard; she really fascinates me. I can’t imagine going on a preaching circuit on foot in my 60s and barefoot!

      Like

      Reply
  17. Pingback: If You Love Something, Set It Free – Cosmicknitter

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