Another gratuitous picture

A little fuzzy-brained today (took 6 attempts to write the previous 5 words correctly) so just another image from up north today.

Gods my husband is adorable :-}

I'll let the images talk, mostly. The black and white photo was taken when he was 3 months old. The other two in this past year or so.

Hollyhocks

One of my favorite mid-summer flowers are hollyhocks. I haven't gotten up close and personal with the creamy yellow ones blooming along the fence this year (it is too dangerous to walk in my back yard for me this year) but here are some photos from a few years ago.
One of my favorite memories is Mom teaching me how to turn the flowers and buds into little dancing dolls...
Here's a link to a website showing how to make a hollyhock doll, or you can watch a Youtube video showing how, here (although i just used a stick, not a paperclip): HOW TO MAKE A HOLLYHOCK DOLL

Aside from their beauty, they are pretty interesting plants, and well traveled. Remains of hollyhocks have been found in a Neanderthal burial site in Iraq.

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A shawl with teeth

A little while back I posted a picture of Mara of FOCASMI wearing a shawl I'd finished the very day they built my ramp. (see July 14th entry)
I really loved knitting that shawl, and will be starting another one before too much longer.
Although I changed the method a bit to suit my own knitting style, the pattern is by Michaela Renz, and can be found in English, here: CUSPID WRAP. I looked at more of her stuff, and she has a very cool design sensibility. She has a six-cornered hat made in three levels called Rosetta which is like a funky small tower on your head. You can see images at WOLLEREY (click on Galerie, then Accessoires, it's in German). She also has a pattern very similar called a Christmas Tree Hat. If you are on Ravelry, you can see it HERE.
On the same order as the Kitty Pi cat bed by Wendi Johnson (includes link to Norwegian translation of pattern), she has made a deeper-sided "SLUMBER BOWL" (pattern in English) I love the shape of it and I think our kitties would too.
My next project by Michaela will be her COSMIA SHRUG. Click on "shop" then "Sontige/Misc" then "Schulterschal Cosima". It seems based on one of my favorite patchwork quilt patterns (Snail's Trail, Monkey Wrench or Virginia Reel are some of it's names). It is in German, but I tutored German to English-speakers many many moons ago, and I think with a few emails to German-speakers for the sticky bits, and a visit or two to babelfish I can muddle through.

Anyway, I look forward to more of Michaela's designs!

A robin and some peaches

First, the robin. I have spoken here before about my friend Robynn, who was killed a few years ago. I still miss her, of course. Every time I see a robin in the yard, I say hello to 'my' Robynn. It may seem silly, but it is also comforting to me.

A few days ago I was reading Alison Jeppson-Hyde's lovely blog, when she referred to her friend Amanda who had dyed the yarn for Alison's recently knitted shawl. Being a woman of fairly large curiosity, I bopped on over to Amanda's blog (and lovely colorisciousness I found there) Then I spotted in her post some adorable clay stitchmarkers, hung on a shawl pin.

This struck me as a wonderful idea, and being a woman of fairly large curiosity and a yen for shopping, I bopped on over to Anita's Etsy shop. I clicked on her link to Clay Stitch Markers (she also carries tape measures) and fell in love. She has sweet peas, and sheeps, and turtles, lady bugs and lemons, chickens, cows, frogs, hot peppers, purses, flip flops, and mixed farm animals. She used to have a robin with three cute egg-filled nests, but I bought that one. (see images below). I made my purchase 3 days ago, and they arrived today in a lovely gift box.
Robynn was all about giving, and these will be used for making charity knits, or gifts for others, in her memory.

The peaches? Oscar brought some large fragrant luscious peaches home the other day, and I just had to take a few velvety photos before I ate one. I love summer fruit.






The

Busy Hands

(note, the patterns I've linked to below are all free, and the Warm Woolies site also has a free pattern section)
I have been working hard organizing my yarn stash so it is more readily accessible to me from near my chair. I spend most of the day in my lift chair these days, waiting for my power chair approval, and it saves me loads of steps to have all the drawers and books and yarn within easy reach. I'll post pictures when I'm done. It's taken 3 weeks so far.

Anyhoo, The pictures I'm posting today are of a wee jacket I made with Malabrigo yarn for Amanda's sweet bump, due on my birthday :-}
It's based on the pattern CUFF TO CUFF INFANT SWEATER by Rae B. Creedle. This was fun to make.
Next time I may double the thickness of yarn and use larger needles to make a child's jacket for WARM WOOLIES. They are having an interesting promotion right now, if you knit 25 specifically needed items for them prior to November 30th, they will send you a lovely thank you gift. If you are interested, be certain to read the details carefully.
I have been doing quite a bit of knitting for them this week. Their need for animal fibers matches the partial skeins in my stash, their patterns are pretty easy even if my brain is in a mushy place, and if I mess up a bit, the item is STILL going to be of use to someone. Another plus; there is no gauge swatch needed, as whatever size you end up with, it will fit someone who needs the warmth :-} It also lifts my mood, helps me feel useful to create something concrete that someone who needs it will benefit by.
Beginning as soon as my stash is organized, however, my main knitting will be the MODERN QUILT WRAP by Mags Kandis. I am knitting it for RAE'S YARN BOUTIQUE from luscious lovely Kid Silk Mohair... I'd drool but mohair tends to mat under moisture.
It's been too long on the needles. The tricky bit is I need to be very sharp to be certain the pattern is followed exactly, and even with the newly mold-free living room, I am finding concentration spotty. Even if I only work an hour a day, though, it will be done well before chilly weather hits. I am determined to finish it. I am about 1/3rd done.

Anyway, more pictures tomorrow.

Kitty Nurses

Oscar had to have toe surgery today. he's doing fine, but he's a bit sore, and needed to spend the day with his foot up with ice on it.

All three cats have been clustered around him on his chair, lending him their special purry powers.

I didn't take a picture of that, as Oscar has enough to deal with today, without a camera-mad wife.
Here are photos of the three Nurse Kitties, though.
Buddha is the tabby, Basil is the black and white, Moonie is brown and white, with blue eyes.

Ramping it Up

I have a ramp!!

Thanks to the generosity and skill of Susan, Raven, Ryk and Mara of FOCASMI, I can get on out of the house with my chair, and reach the van. When the insurance company approves the motorized chair ( I like to think positively), the barriers will fall even faster. Right now though, with Oscar's help I no longer need to risk my health by walking :-}

As you can tell by the grin on my face, I am overjoyed. I feel free.
I of course will be knitting my thank yous to the team. As it happens, I had just finished a folksy kinda shawl that suited Mara admirably.

Thank you everyone. It means the world, literally.

Oscar's Birthday at Old Siam

One of our favorite area restaurants is Old Siam in Ann Arbor (in the Westland Plaza, next to Nicola's Books if you're local). I think they've changed their name a bit to add the word "Thai" but to me it's still Old Siam.

Oscar, Chris, Amanda and I had a lovely dinner there yesterday, to celebrate Oscar's birthday.
Here are some photos.

photos day 5

Photo Day 4.5

Photo Day 4

Photo Day 3.5

Oscar riding 4-wheeler in "the Valley"

Photo day 3

This image was taken one misty morning by Jordan, a 10-year-old who was also visiting my folks in Gaylord. He's one of my dad's best buds, and I think he did a great job.

Photo Days 2

Photo Days

I am still coming back health-wise from the trip up north.
I miss posting blogs, but most days, my brain level is just above ground.
So I will start posting some of the new photographs I took on my trip, hopefully one per day, and not worry so much about the words.
I hope you enjoy these, I tried to capture images that convey the feelings of peace and connection I felt.

Oscar's birthday

Today is one of my favorite holidays, the celebration of my husband's birth :-}

He is such a special person.

He has a huge heart, a sharp mind, and a gentle spirit.

He helps me make it through each and every day with help both physical and emotional.

He makes me laugh, and enjoys my silly side too.

In truth, there is so much I love about him that I could gush for hours.

Suffice it to say, I love my otter-loving guy, and grow to love him more each moment.

Thank you universe, for bringing us together.