Our Airbnb guests departed early yesterday (it’s a long drive back to ND!), so I went over to get started on the laundry… which also means, continue seaming the blanket. I had maybe 12″ to go on the second-to-last seam, and thought I’d get a good start on the last.
I posted on IG and said, “The end is in sight. 🔎😍🎉”
Lori (my one-and-only known true birthday twin) said, “Finishing such a big project feels so momentous. Congratulations!”
I replied that I’m not finished YET! My usual MO for Laundry Day @ the Airbnb is to plug along until the laundry’s done… that big square table is so perfect for the work!
But Lori’s comment… oh boy, FINISHING SUCH A BIG PROJECT… WOULD FEEL GREAT!!
As the calendar stands now, I won’t be back there for another laundry day for a few weeks… and the more I thought about waiting, the more I couldn’t stand it, so I just finished the damn thing!
There are a few ends to weave in, and a border to knit, but I don’t need a big worktable for that! The end truly is in sight. 🔎😍🎉
_ _ _ _ _
April 28th. My Grandpa was born 115 years ago today! I wrote a post on this day in 2010, for his 100th, if you’re interested — lots of great old photos! (As ever, so thankful for the shutterbug side of the family.)
Here’s another…
In the cottage at the flowage. Grandpa was learning to read again after a stroke, and was reading one of the kids’ books to Ali (in his lap), my cousin’s stepdaughter, and Kate. It was about dinosaurs, as I recall.
It’s not for lack of trying — I’ve attempted a new project (twice) (the mittens from Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Carousel Collection for Purl Soho) but had difficulty understanding the pattern and/or counting and neither attempt makes any sense (in terms of fitting the intended hand) — so it’s on to something else.
KNITTING (SEAMING):
I’ve begun to seam the Family Temperature Blanket panels. This is going to be my “doing laundry” project at Annie’s because I can spread it out on the dining table (I only have to move two things in order to do so) and stitch away.
It’s looking a little wonky in that photo and I think I undid all that & started over… if not, I will be! It feels great to be underway with the second-to-last part of that project (the last being a border)!
I’m using black yarn and it’s almost invisible… there seems to be enough variation & tweedy-ness in the Felted Tweed to get away with it. Fingers crossed.
I still need a project for TV time, and I’ve used up all my dishcloth cotton… contemplating casting on a simple shawl. Maybe another Close To You. Soon enough, it’ll be time to cast on the December mystery gnome.
READING
I’m closing in on The Houses In Between… and keep eyeing up all the piles of books around me. I recently saw a cartoon referring to those as “emotional support” book piles. haha. So true!
In other news…
We have our first Winter Weather Advisory of the season, which should make tomorrow’s commute interesting. It was in the mid 50s yesterday… and I think that’s probably the last we’ll see of the 50s until spring.
I hope your knitting comprehension is better than mine at the moment, and that you’re reading something wonderful!
Cairo “Kai” Lepus Cumulonimbus 2000 joined the family (main charge of Kate) a little over a week ago… kept under wraps as well as we could to surprise… everyone! The kids, Annie, Maddy!!
Kai is a little over a year old and she’s such a good girl! She’s only gnawed on one or two things she shouldn’t have, including a ball of yarn (gasp!) — teeth piercing that paper label & sinking into a soft ball of string — I’m sure it was irresistible! The yarn was completely unharmed.
I had a few days off last week for various things — mainly to spend time with family. Ann, Addie & I took the kids to Bay Beach Amusement Park on a gorgeous day! That’s Malina & Davy on one of trains, and Malina in the boat. That little boy was the only other kid on that ride, and asked her if he could ride with her. He was very careful getting out, then turned & offered his hand to Malina — it was so sweet — but she was already jumping the gap!
Davy was hilarious. I’d ask him if he wanted to go on <a ride/any ride> and he’d say YES, then we’d approach the gate and he’d say, ACTUALLY, NO. I don’t know how many times…
Malina, Ginny & I rode the big swings… I thought Ginny was going to lose it there for a minute when the arms started undulating. I told her to look at Malina, not at the ground! In various combos, we also rode the Tilt-a-Whirl, Scrambler, carousel, race cars, and the Zippin Pippin! Somehow, Annie & Addie got Ginny & Junah on the rollercoaster. Ginny said that she’d never do it again (unless she forgot… but she probably wouldn’t), and Junah went at least two more times!! Count us all SHOCKED!
I had my breast biopsy on Thursday, and didn’t think I’d get results until Monday, but they were ready on Friday. It was benign/normal, all is well. Back to the routine…
In HUGE NEWS (in case you missed it on FB/IG), I finished knitting Maddy’s blanket panel on Thursday night while she was asleep upstairs!
No wimpy stepstool would do this time, I had to get out the step ladder! In order from l-to-r: Rusty, Kate, Ali, Maddy, me. I call the girls’ panels “Across Three Aprils,” and it’s the comparison of those three that I’ve been looking forward to ever since I began. Their birthdays are all in April — there’s a 6 year + 9 day spread — Kate’s is quite different because her first year was spent on the Oregon coast, Ali’s & Maddy’s are VERY similar and it’s funny because Maddy’s summer looks hotter, but it’s Ali’s summer that’s seared in my mind as being the hottest, humidest, most unpleasant summer ever!
There’s still plenty to do, joining all those panels together and knitting a border, but all I wanted to accomplish right now was to have all the panels finished while all three girls are here! Done & dusted. As a palate cleanser, I’m knitting a few dishcloths (the yarn that Kai got into).
How about one more picture of her! We’re anxiously awaiting doggie DNA results. Shepherd/Lab is how she was advertised… but what kind of Shepherd, what kind of Lab, and what else?? haha.
I’m catching up at work… hoping to catch up soon with all of you, too? Have I missed anything big? Besides the Biden > Harris news??
I’m joining Kat & the Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday!I can’t believe it’s been 6 weeks since my last Unraveled post!
KNITTING
I’m plugging away on Maddy’s panel for the Family Temperature Blanket and it’s about 2/3 done. And it’s finally not raining so I could get some photos!
This is the layout that I originally had in mind: Rusty, Kate, Ali, Maddy, Vicki — and is even reflected in my IG hashtag for the project #rkamvtemperatureblanket — we’ll see. I think I might like kravm, too.
It’s motivating to see it all laid out like that!
My gnome is still waiting to be finished… one of these days.
READING
I’m slower than molasses, but finally closing in on The Princess Bride! Audible sent me a reminder the other day that they’re still a thing…
SOMETHING ELSE
I cleaned all the type that I’m going to use & bought some appropriately sized cardstock…
…and will be locking up & pulling a couple of proof prints today!
