Mmmmmmmm. Autumn......

Wow. That's what I said when I took Leo for his walk today. The colors are unbelievable. Sugar maples and sumac defy reality - colors that can't possibly be recreated.

A bit further on our walk, I saw these fellas before the dog did. I got an ok shot of them. There were about 10 in all and they seemed fairly unconcerned that I had a bird-dog at the end of my leash.


Looking at these turkeys reminded me that I have an FO of about the same color to show off to you:

You're looking at "Patrick's Irish Hiking Scarf" knit with a soft (but machine washable and affordable) Bernat Cashmere Natural Blends - 3 skeins to be exact, on size 8 needles; in Charcoal.






So having one Christmas FO finished, I'm on to #2 - Elsa's Nest Tote in a lime green Lily Sugar'n Cream colorway called "Hot Green". The picture doesn't do justice to the color. It's much more limey. It's a new colorway!

For the Love of Lace (and mini-putt)

This is how far I am on my Secret of the Stole III knit. (Hint #5 to be exact.) For those of you unfamiliar with this - it's a club of sorts - the design/pattern of this stole and doled out on a weekly basis, one section at a time. So no one but the designer knows how the finished piece will look. This is my first lace project, and having weekly objectives has kept me going.
It will be done in time for Christmas and I think it will look stunning with a black dress. It's a beautiful pattern and I can't wait to see how it all turns out. Check it out on Ravelry!
These are random pictures of our last few days. Belle, here, received a face painting kit from her Nama and went to school today with this on her face. Not bad, huh? Considering I'm not a painter.

*****
Shameless advertising for local mini-golf:
BIG STONE
Minnetrista, MN

If you live in the Twin Cities and have not seen this place yet, you have to go. This is more than a mini-putt course; it's an amazing sculpture garden.


Your ball ends up here and travels through this polished granite slab. My monkey-children were climbing all over it and the owner/sculptor walked over to us. I was sure he was going to tell us off for climbing on the sculpture. Instead, he laughed and marveled at how creative kids can be when they interact with his sculptures. Isn't that cool?

This is our favorite hole. I think it's hole #7. It's an upturned boat hull with colored plexiglass in the round holes. It's like walking into a strange alien cathedral. I think I've posted about it before, but it was worth another visit.
OH, and ONE MORE THING:

If you are on Ravelry, you have to check out the work of HarpaJ. It is stunning. I don't know how she does it. I'm very envious! You can also see her work here on her blog.

Happy Autumn!

It's finally, officially Autumn. I saw it on my calendar this morning and thought about Neuroknitter who counts down the days until Fall. Luckily, I had just snapped some colorful pictures for her to post on my blog because it was such a lovely day and the colors were so pretty.
Here is some delicious yarn I got in my Seven Deadly S(p)ins club shipment. Isn't it heavenly? It reminds me of a color from Schaefer Anne that I've been searching for around the globe.

Here is the second part of that same shipment. All this yarn is meant for a wrap pattern that came with the shipment. I'm not sure if I'll make the wrap. I'm still sitting in a huge pile of lace from this years Secret of the Stole III event.

But it is very pretty. I'm not sure yet, what I'll do with it. Any suggestions?



In the meantime, here is the VERY SLOW progress on my Noro socks. I LOVE the pattern, which is a simple baby cable rib. It would work well on a man's sock. Hmmmm. Maybe a pair for my dad. . .
I went out on a limb and I'm knitting an Irish Hiking Scarf for my sister's boyfriend for Christmas . . . tempting fate here - there is a curious superstition amongst us knitters that if you knit something for a man you love the relationship will end just after you give him the knitted item. I'm hoping that since he's not technically MY boyfriend, that this doesn't count. But just in case, it's a cashmere/acrylic blend. (wink - I know my sister is reading this). Besides, it's for a boy, so I have terrible night sweats thinking about a 100% cashmere scarf being tossed into the washing machine with jeans and towels... GAH!
BUT LOOK AT IT! It's GORGEOUS! It's really fun to knit and it actually knits up fast. Lori, aren't you proud of your little cable protege (did I spell that wrong?)!
The yarn is from Michaels craft store Bernat Cashmere Natural Blends

PS. I'm going to the Mamma Mia! Sing-A-Long version this week.

Can't talk.

I'm too busy singing and dancing.
That's what Mamma Mia! will do to a gal.

THANKS MOM! Call me when you go to the theater sing-a-long version!

ps. This is because I have no FO's to show you (that's yarny for finished object). OH!, and I'll be bringing in my computer to the apple folks for a 'tune up' and a new keyboard. A key board that will finally be free of sticky lemonade and sugar ants.

Award Ceremony

I was honored with the Arte y Pico award by the fabulous woman over at We Heart Yarn. (thank you!!!)

Here are the rules that I pasted from her blog:

1) Show the award. Link back to the blog that gave you the award.

2) Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award because of creativity, design, interesting material, and contributions to the blogger community, no matter of language, and link to them.

3) Leave comments on the blogs to let them know you've given them an award.

4) Show the link to the Arte y Pico blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) Show these rules.

It is VERY difficult to choose just 5 because I loyally stalk about 43 blogs (I don't always comment, but I'm still there). So I chose these 5 for very different reasons, but they are all knitty related. I hope no one is offended or feels left out. I just can't find time to type up 38 more descriptions!!!


We Heart Yarn
because there is no finer place on the blogosphere to find color, poetry, knitting, and flowers than this lovely site. If you need a moment of beauty and peace - then check her blog!!
Spindles and Spice because she is witty and hilarious and posts things like THIS and like THIS and she cooks stuff, too.
Halfway Down the Stairs cuz nobody . . . NOBODY knits socks as fast as her and leaves all sorts of enabling little links here and there on her posts.
No Patterns because you will not believe her knitting. You just simply won't believe it. Oh, and she's Icelandic.
We Do Not Have A Knitting Problem because she most definitely DOES have a knitting problem and that makes me happy. She also travels a lot more than I do and she post pictures so that I can imagine myself there, too - happily knitting with a glass of wine and some very nice girlfriends.


WHAT I'M WORKING ON......



Socks: Noro sock yarn (I know, I know. I swore never again, but the color.....THE COLOR)
It's a baby-rib. Very fun.

And (TA DAH!) my first lace:
Not sure yet if it's a relationship of intense love or of intense hate, but there it is in all its beaded tedium. This is SOTS III (secret of the stole 3).

Busy busy busy...

I'm back! What have I been up to?

THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER
I have put on enough weight from just this one week at the state fair that I actually popped the button off my pair of shorts and have resorted to wearing pants with elastic waist bands.

Here's what I ate at the fair - in no particular order:
Big Fat Bacon (on a stick)
Corn Dog (on a stick)
Pronto Pup (yes, there is a difference and also on a stick)
Mini-doughnuts (not on a stick, but possibly the prime suspect in my popped button incident)
Tater-tot Hot Dish w/ cream of mushroom dipping sauce (on a stick - I kid you not)
Cheese Curds
Deep Fried Pickles
(one beer to wash down the pickles)
Deep Fried Twinkie
(one glass of Minnesota wine to wash down the Twinkie)
Bucket-o-Fries
(One more beer just because)
Roasted Corn on the Cob


If it makes any sense, I did all of that food consumption spread out over three days. I was hoping that by gorging as I did, the food would not possibly have enough time to process and absorb - and that a large percentage would pass right through me. This plan hasn't worked out so well for me.

I'll leave you with funny pics/story.

We went to see this:


And here is Lunker at the exact moment when he realizes that the strange thing on the back of the boar is not a piglet or (as Lunker put it) a second pair of butt cheeks but the worlds largest testicles.

And here is a good big brother bestowing this wisdom on his younger brother.

STAY!

Don't go away. Stay right there.
I'll be back.

DOG/MAN Dive Team Loses Chance to Medal

Beijing, China
August 2008

"We did our best," says KO, "but it just wasn't enough."













Leo the dog and KO, his owner, blew their chances of receiving a medal after a dismal performance at the Man/Dog Olympics.

"Our first few jumps were clean," says the owner. "But Leo blew it on our last jump."


The last jump was a disastrous vertical dive by Leo - an 11 month lab. But fans argue that KO's first jump put the team's medal standing in question after his unusual style that KO refers to as his "Freebird" dive. Judges, however, were not impressed with his form and the Man/Dog team of KO and Leo blew their only hope of an Olympic Man/Dog medal.

Leo was unable to comment.

Lazy Summer Days

A quick post:

Caught some fish.

Ate some fish.

Acted like fish.

We also picked up Puppy Leo and we're glad to have him back. More on that later.


*****************************

I joined a KAL (knit-along) called Secret of the Stole III. Essentially, a designer creates a stole and publishes sections of it spread out over a period of time. So far, we've gotten the supply list and the gauge pattern (below). August 15th is the first official clue to the mystery stole. It's my first knitted lace project and I am already addicted. Just another excuse to put off my Rivendell socks. Oh, and I started another pair of socks - I'll post that later and then there is that lopi sweater that I'm supposed to finish by closing ceremonies. What am I doing here! I have to go knit!!!

Mornin'

Ok, don't have much time, but lots of pictures and a pair of finished socks.

My July Challenge:












Judy Blume Socks
knit picks undyed sock flat
US 1 or 2 maybe?
kool-aid dyed

And more of Iceland to feast your eyes on.The farm we stayed at in Neskaupstadir

Old Vatnajokull pronouced Vot-nah-yo-cull (glacier - largest one in Europe, baby!)


Hi, that's me - kickin' it in front of V.J.


The most beautiful town of Vik.


Can't remember the name of this water fall, but it's fairly popular - not far out of Reykjavik. You can actually take a trail that goes behind the waterfall.


Dad and Belle behind the waterfall.


Reykjavik - significance is that bag there. Iceland has a DOLLAR STORE!!! WHOOP WHOOP - we did not do much shopping since the US dollar is in the tank and pizzas are $40 bucks from Iceland's Dominoes (yup - you heard me, Dominoes - there is also a Subway - GAHHHH). HOWEVER, this little lime green bag was only 6 bucks! Isn't it lovely.

OK FOLKS - I'm off to pack - we're heading up north for the weekend and then we pick up our Prince of Poopness on our way back home. Be Back Soon!

This and that and more Iceland pics

First - a bit of business.

Our knitting group A Year In Socks has just posted the August challenge, so check it out. There is no obligation, just for fun. And if you're on Ravelry, (and by the way, if you're not, then you should be) you could use the Ravelympics as a good excuse to finish a pair of socks (I'll be making a sweater from that pile of yarn over there.

Also, thanks to those of you who have already sent me socks for our charitable knits!! They are so unbelievably beautiful and warm and wonderful! There is still time. Check here for more info (you can make small socks for kids). I will not be sending the sock package over seas until late September. And I just had a thought ... if you still want to donate, but don't want to knit socks, you could always donate store bought socks, like Smart Wool or anything with REAL wool in it.

This pile of green Peruvia is going to be a fabby sweater for my oldest boy. Probably a Drive-Thru of some sort or an EZ sweater. Bought it at 40% off at Knit Wits going out of business sale.


OK, on to fun stuff - more pictures of Iceland and a quick correction. I think that waterfall in the last post was Skogafoss, not Sellfoss. Oops.

Let me just admit that I did NOT get any knitting done. My face was either pressed to the window looking at the scenery or else closing my eyes and grabbing my chest in fear as we drove through one lane tunnels and bridges and skirted shale cliffs in our teeny tiny (loved that thing) car. Or helping to cook for 20 in our tiny farm kitchen. Or exploring the town and fjord. I had such good intentions...

Here are the captions:
1. Fishing from the dock.
2. A beautiful spot in Vik.
3. Fog rolling into fjord.
4. Oh, the scenery.
5. Our farm up the fjord.