Still Knitting After All These Years!

I am stilllllllll knitting on the cotton top shown in the previous blog. I am almost done with the sleeves. The back and front have been seamed together so I could measure for the length of the sleeves. I will have the sleeves done tonight. Finish the neckline on sweater and I hope to have the top finished this weekend to take to Mom's with me.

I have one new photo to update you all with. This is Jackson on the right and his friend Langston. The parents have been friends for years, so Jackson and Langston were 'born' friends. They are just a couple weeks apart in age so they will be a joy to watch grow up together. That Jackson knows how to flirt with a camera. He always smiles when he sees one! Langston looks scared of them.

Signs of Summer

Signs of summer comes with lots of visuals. Like swimming pools, shorts, no school for grandkids. But as life gets older (note I said life, not me) mine comes in the forms of what I am knitting when the heat arrives. Above is a cotton/acrylic t-shirt style top I am knitting for myself. Its Berroco Calico. Bought on sale. Love that sale yarn. The back is completed and the front is about done. Then all is left is sleeves and sewing it up. I was looking for something I could knit and stand to wear in the summer heat here. I have some cotton that I found in my stash (it was well hidden, from myself I guess) That in my mind I am trying to figure out what kind of top I can knit with. I bought it in 1989. It is time it surfaced and was put into use.

I have also started another part time, temp job. I am work 2 days a week with friends at my LYS, giving the owners time to search for a full time employee. I like this job, maybe because I know its temp and its only 2 afternoons a week. But by Friday afternoon I can feel those hours. I do enjoy watching others shop and what they are knitting. I am also taking this job as a short semester at the college of knitting. I am learning that gauge thing better and also taking in all the colors possible in the world. I also like to think of it as 'Fondling the Cashmere'.

This last photo is of a plant which has bloomed in last few days. My Knitting Guru's husband has this terrific green thumb and he gave this to me a week ago....... Look Guru and Hubby, its still alive. But I forgot the name of it!! Help remind me the name. Does this all give you a clue about my 'green thumb'? It falls in there with my gauge issues on knitting.

I am off to meet up with the Lawn Mower. Another sign of summer!!!!!

Guess Who?

"Hey Bro, is that my prom date or yours?"

Questions of Life

No photo's in today's blog. They would frighten you if I had had enough nerve to even have taken one.

Sometimes I wonder if I am aging gracefully. Which I see so many doing so well. I see whiter hair, a wrinkle here, a sag there and say, 'ok I can deal with those' I won't turn on the light in the bathroom and they almost don't exist. I dress age appropriate, I believe. I don't wear cut off jean shorts where the bottom of my bottom can hang out. I am smart enough to know that slapping sound I hear behind me when I walk is that bottom and it can't be a pretty picture. I have learned to not be afraid to ask for my senior discount. (fixed income ya know) I try hard not to offer my 'wise' advice to the younger generations. But yesterday I saw something that really brought all these little things to light and wonder if I am doing the right thing or not.

I went knitting with friends, and stopped at In N Out for my weekly burger fix sitting quietly at a table reading my book and savoring every bite of my meal, when I hear this loud voice at the door. I have to look up to see what is happening. Standing in the door way is a sight that made me lay down my burger, stop dipping the fries in the catsup and stare. I mean stare. It was impossible to turn my head and be polite even. I was so involved in my stare I didn't even think to take out my phone and snap a photo!! Standing there was a woman wearing very tight leopard spotted shorts.... short shorts. A black skin tight tank top. Bleached out white hair pulled up in a pony tail. Long dangly earrings that brushed her shoulder tops. Bright red cheeks and eyes that I couldn't even focus on for color as the round black circles around them stunned me. Now I realize maybe this doesn't seem the most outrageous thing. But the final straw was the black fish net leggings that just set this outfit off. Yes I said fish net. Bright red (I think they matched her cheeks) toenails. In some wedge kinda thong shoes. She was actually yelling at someone that she had found a table outside, like maybe if anyone in the restaurant missed her, they would notice after the shout out!! To fill in the rest of this image is... she was not a dainty small lady, nooooo. She was maybe older than me even. There I sat feeling so under dressed to be in the public. I was wearing denim cropped pants, a plain yellow t shirt, with some sandals. I could easy of blended in with the wall paper if in fact In N Out had wallpaper. Now the question to all of you, who follow my extremely exciting thrilling life on this blog, am I not dressing right? Do I need a wardrobe consultant? This is your chance to tell me the truth. Go for it!

On the knitting side of life I am fighting with the GAUGE issue. Just when I think I understand it and knit along, I go outta gauge. I had this idea from watching the Queen of Cables, that a few cotton t shirt kinda tops would give me something to wear in summer months, and they have to be easy to make up. Right? .....NOT!

Cotton knits so different than other yarns, that you have to go back to bamboo needles to keep the stuff on the needles even. Well that gauge didn't work either, so back to the Options. I cast on for the 4th time at 10 pm last nite, in bed and knit 4 rows. I have made up my mind. This is it no matter what this 'cute' little t shirt looks like or who it will even fit.

KNIT ON!!!