Knittinggarden

Back home in the grey, slightly rainy (today) Pacific Northwest. I won't complain about it again. The pink blossoms are almost gone from the dogwoods in the driveway. The next interesting sight will be the pretty red seed pods. The pink hydrangea came into bloom while I was gone. Here's the sunshine on a cloudy day: Baby grapes. Lookin' good.... The first dahlias to bloom this year. Pretty daylilly.

My second Summer of Socks 08 Pair: Pattern: Blueberry Waffle Socks Yarn: Zen String Serendipity Sport, Summertime Rolls colorway Needles: Knit Picks Harmony, size 4, 24" circulars These came out a little large for me, so I'll either find someone they fit or send them to the next afghans for Afghans campaign, which has a fall due date. Pattern: Wave and Shell Shawl Yarn: Debbie Bliss Merino DK Needles: Lantern Moon Rosewood 24" circular, size 8 I made this for the afghans for Afghans rectangle shawl campaign for new mothers. Volunteer doctors in the newborn hospital in Kabul asked for shawls for their patients. It is heartwarming to think of a new mother keeping warm in my shawl as she cares for her baby in such a wartorn part of the world. Pattern: Printed Silk Cardigan from Spring 2008 Interweave Knits Yarn: Knit Picks CotLin, Island Coral Colorway Needles: Knit Picks Options, 24" circular, size 3 and 1 I liked this pattern when I saw it, and was happy ...

I'm going to quickly catch up on my Sunday's Garden posts, even though the pictures are not from the garden you've been seeing. This garden is outside a condo in Palm Desert, CA, and the look of it in July is much different than the look of my Seattle garden. I thought there was a trend to go to more natural plantings, but there are still the beds of annuals. They're pretty, but need a lot of water. These are grapefruit, growing between our door and the pool. We're never there at the right time of year to eat them. And I couldn't resist a couple of sunset-over-the-mountain photos. The next Sunday, when we should've been home but weren't, was quite different. We were awakened early by a spectacular thunderstorm. If you've ever been in the desert during a rainstorm, you'll know that they're noisy and intense. It was like stepping into a steam room when we went outside; the temperature was still around 100 degrees F. The beautiful mountain...

How the weeks fly by when I have to remember to take pictures on Sundays. Here's what's new today.

Today in my mailbox I found not one, but two packages! The final installment of the Plucky Knitter's inaugural sock club, Plucky Classics. In it was a lovely skein of Merino/Cashmere/Nylon sock yarn in the "Colonel Brandon" colorway. The second package was from The Loopy Ewe sock club and featured the following goodies: The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy in the Spicy Smooches colorway. I've collected a few skeins of this yarn; I'll have to try it soon. Funny that both clubs chose a brownish color for July; I typically don't buy browns, but these are different, have a mix of colors, and should knit up nicely. In finished objects, I finished my first Summer of Socks pair: Pattern: Los Manos Locos/Crazy Monkeys Yarn: Perchance to Knit, Superwash Merino, Breezy Purchased from The Loopy Ewe Needle: Knit Picks Harmony, size 0, 24" circs These were a quick knit for me, and are rather tight-fitting, which I like. If I used this pattern again, I'd star...

Happy 4th! Our intrepid travelers embark on their most excellent adventure. May they come back happy and safe.