Finally an FO

I don't know why this tiny item took me so long to make. The pattern is Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. The yarn is Malabrigo Melilla worsted weight (color 226) and it took two skeins. I used size 6 needles and now I think maybe I could have gone up a size because it's a little tinier than I expected. The baby was born a few weeks ago, and I hope it fits her next fall. I put a 12 MO size tag in it (wishful thinking).

I used the notes that function as a sort of cheat sheet, with the stitch counts included. You can find it at the ravelry link (The author is Dawn Adcock). I don't think I would have finished it otherwise. I was really distracted on this project (Puppy!) and had to rip and redo things a lot. I think the finished item is really cute.  The mom is a knitter so I hope she appreciates it and that she doesn't hate me for making a handwash only item.





*This is how I roll. . . *

We are leaving day after tomorrow for our annual trip to the beach. I'm coming back a day early to go to my cousin's wedding with my parents. Luckily, a dress I made last year (Hot Patterns) fits fine and has never been worn, so I didn't make anything this time.

I wimped out and failed to make my regular teacher's gift of a custom bag, just contributed to the group gift from the class. I feel bad, we had an awesome teacher this year, but I just couldn't get it together. Dh has been out of town a lot and I had a surprise visit from a friend last weekend (Eagles concert!) plus the pup. I know, enough excuses. . .

See you guys in about a week!

Mother's Day Weekend

Is that the sweetest, yet most pathetic thing you have ever seen?


She came home on Saturday. The cats are a bit miffed.

I spent the weekend with ds at my mom's while dh and dd bonded with the puppy. She really wants to play with the cats, but they aren't having it.

We had fun in TN, and ds found this in my parents' back yard.

I think it's an Eastern Box Turtle. We couldn't get him to stick his head out (of course) and then we got a quick thunderstorm and had to go in, so he got away before I could get a good photo.




We went letterboxing at the nearby Greenway Park, which has a really interesting old quarry. You can see the fish, and make lots of echos.

My mom fixed fried chicken for dinner and I made a strawberry cake out of a Paula Deen magazine. Great weekend. . .

Finished Object at Last

This is the Bright Shells pattern from 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns by Jan Eaton. A lot of people on the Ravelry Forums complain about this book, but I haven't found any errors in it, and I find the color combinations in it very inspiring. The other complaint is that really it's only 100 ripple patterns, because they show the same pattern in two different color combos.

Closeup. (Oops, and it's upside down.) I used almost 20 balls of Lion Brand Vanna's Choice for this, and it measures 49 X 77". Here's the yarn color breakdown: 5 beige, 3 honey, 4 (could have squeaked by with 3) dusty rose, 4 (could have squeaked by with 3) dusty green, 2 olive, 2 antique rose. Size H crochet hook.

The colors are inspired by a rug in my family room. It doesn't really match it and it actually kind of competes with it, but oh well. . . It took me over a month to complete, but I admit I only worked on it during TV time.

In other news, we are soon adopting Carlita (scroll down to the female chihuahua). I wanted to wait until school was out, so the kids and I could bond with a new dog, but the local shelters are full of puppies from a puppy mill raid in North Georgia, so it's a good time to help one of these babies out. I think she'll come home next week. We are renaming her Chuy. (Dd wanted Coco Chanel, but I just can't do that. . .)


*Nobody asked me about a dog, hmph. . .*

Garden

Red Geraniums. I always plant these on the porch of the pool house.

Green Beans. White Half Runners, the ones my grandmother swore by. They have major strings, so you have to work a little harder than the typical grocery store bean, but they are tender and delicious.

Strawberries. Only about half the plants survived the winter, so I bought some more at the farmer's market. Ds is excited about these, his favorite fruit.

Promise not to laugh too much:

Self portrait made in drawing class. Ds said *it looks like a grandma, not like you*. The eyes are too big, and one is higher than the other, but that is actually true in real life. It reminds me of the depression-era photo of the dust bowler mother and child sitting on the running board of the car. . .