XOXO
Friday, December 25, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
Multiplied Joy
Oh, noooooo!!!
I miscalculated!!!
My Picot Bind Off estimation in my last post was wrong!
Every picot only uses up 1 stitch, not two.
Every picot only uses up 1 stitch, not two.
That means for 500 stitches in my final row
x 10 steps for each picot, à 5000?!?!?
No wonder it is taking me awhile!
Yikes!
Yikes!
Good thing I didn’t know,
or I mighta freaked out a wee bit. LOL
or I mighta freaked out a wee bit. LOL
Thankfully, it is progressing nicely,
and hopefully it will be off the needles very soon.
Then I will need to block it and take photos to share with you.
<wow>
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
December Pix
It has been such a nice warm December so far. Even the wildlife seem to be enjoying
it. And they’re forecasting a high of 70
tomorrow!
I caught a photo of this mange-y looking dog cruising down
the creek bed yesterday. Okay, I actually
caught him in the act of pooping. Do you
believe that?? Once I caught and
photographed a fox pooping in the creek bed, too.
What is up with that??? hahaha
Do you think it’s a dog?
I don’t know. I mean, it’s obviously
canine, but it’s so weird looking. It’s
sure not anyone’s pet.
And this is only the second time that I’ve seen it. I think it's a coyote. Wow.
And this pretty hawk was sitting on a branch for quite a
long time, taking in the sunshine, I guess.
(Or waiting patiently for some supper.)
(Yikes.)
I was very happy to get such a sharp photo of him. Sometimes I just have to go get the real camera,
and not use my phone! :)
And here is a photo of some sweet little baby raccoons. For the first time, this year we have had an
autumn set of babies. (They’re usually born in the late Spring.) Fortunately, they seem to be thriving and
growing well, and we are always happy to see them come for food every night.
And lastly, here is a photo of my current lace shawl
project. I have been knitting on this
for quite awhile (months and months and months!!), and am finally binding
off.
The bind off, however, is a “picot” bind off where you make
extra stitches for each picot. I have
over 500 stitches in my last row, and each “picot” only uses up 2 stitches, but
it takes 10 steps to make it! 250 picots
x 10 steps = 2500?! To say that it’s
taking me a long time is quite the understatement! I hope to finish it before the end of the
year! We'll see. LOL
Well, I hope your December is going well, and isn’t too
mad-crazy yet! …‘Later! :)
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Frost
After we came home last night,
we noticed some frost on our car
in this cool pattern.
Isn't it unusual?
XOXO
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Branson Vacation
Mr. Man and I just had the nicest vacation over in Branson,
Missouri. We don't go for all the shows,
we go for the scenery and to just relax. We rented a beautfiul little cabin and just
enjoyed being there.
And to take a break even from my lace, I took my new
project, the Color Play Mohair Wrap. It
has turned out to be such a nice knitting project and I have thoroughly enjoyed
working on something so easy. The colors
changing as you knit are so appealing and entertaining. (And it’s just knits and purls!)
Among other things, we had to visit the National Tiger Sanctuary
again! :) It’s just north of Branson. Oh, those big cats are so gorgeous. I took so many photos and videos, it was
ridiculous! One of the tigers was very
vocal, and it was sooooo cool to hear that deep growling sound -- it sounds so
surreal. I just love it.
But it was kinda crazy... There were tons of ladybugs by the panther's cage up at the front. It was kind of like walking through a swarm. They were all over us! Mr. Man was kind to flick them out of my hair
and we spent more than a little time flicking them off of each other. But later when I brushed yet another one off my arm it
turned out to be a little bee and not a ladybug. He did not appreciate my interference and he
stung me!
Gosh, I don't think I've had to deal with a bee or yellow jacket sting in 40 years, and I swelled up horribly back then, so I generally try to
avoid them like the plague! I put ice on
it as soon as we got in the car, and Mr. Man drove me to the local Walmart for
Benedryl capsules and cream. Thankfully,
they worked and it all turned out to be a minor nuisance. But, whew! A little too much excitement for me! :)
After dinner that night we got to see the most amazing
sunset on the way back to the cabin. The
sunset photo that I posted the other day was one of dozens that I took that
evening.
I remember saying that the sky looked like it was on fire. I got out my phone and started snapping photos
as Mr. Man was driving! I'm so glad that
we happened to be at the right place at the right time. It was such a beautiful sunset. We've never seen such colors before!
I posted probably the best of my many photos the other day,
but I wanted you to see this one. I
didn't crop out the road or anything, so you can really get a sense of what it was like to
be in the car and seeing the sky so incredible. :) (We
were just about to cross Table Rock Lake.)
(You can click on each photo to see it bigger and better.)
(You can click on each photo to see it bigger and better.)
It was such a great vacation. The cabin was just charming and so pleasant to
stay in. It was funny, though, because
it "creaked" fairly often. And not the floor, the whole cabin. That
was new to me. I guess it was all the
wood being affected by the temperature changes and sunshine, but it took a
little getting used to.
In fact, the first night I heard so much creaking that I was
positive that someone had broken in and was walking around! LOL (The next night Mr. Man turned on one of our
phone apps for background noise, like crickets or rain or purring, so I
wouldn't be bothered by all the creaking, because otherwise it was almost too
quiet, ya know?)
We took the little dog with us and he was such a good
traveler, but he seemed very happy to get back to our wall-to-wall carpeting! Right after we arrived home, he ran for joy up
and down the house at top speed, with the wind rushing through all his fur!
I guess dogs don't like wood floors. No traction. Or maybe he was just homesick. haha The kitten was very happy to see him
running and have someone to play with again, and he ran behind the dog and then
jumped right over him!
It's great to get away and it's great to come home.
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Color Play Mohair Wrap
So, I was at my local yarn shop on Monday and I fell in love
with a new project!
The pattern is called:
Color Play Mohair Scarf and Wrap, and it is designed by ChurchMouse
Yarns and Teas. (You can look it up on
Ravelry.)
The yarn that is used is made by Rowan, and is called Kidsilk
Haze Stripe. (The colorways are designed
by Kaffe Fasset!) You use 4 different colors
of variegated balls of yarn, holding 2 strands of yarn together at the same
time.
In fact, the wrap is designed to where you hold 2 different
colors at the same time and then you switch to holding 2 strands of the same color,
progressing through the 4 different balls.
With the variegated self-striping yarn, this yields a “color
play” that you can’t predict and truly unfolds before you as you knit it!
I just cast on today and watching the colors change as I
worked was just mesmerizing. This will
be a fun knit.
And hopefully it should also be an easy knit. It is really just a stockinette body with a
seed stitch border. So, just knits and
purls!
I am thinking that this will be an excellent foil to all my
lace knitting. It’s nice to have
different projects of varying difficulty, and I think this one will be really
special.
I’ve always said that Rowan Kidsilk Haze (or Kidsilk Crack,
as some knitters call it!) is so beautiful on its own that you could just do
the knit stitch with it and it would be gorgeous.
In this project, the variegated colors and the soft mohair
will take center stage. No fancy
stitches, just inches upon inches of joy, and hopefully a wrap made out of
clouds at the end.
I’ll letcha know… J
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Monday, October 5, 2015
Happy October!
It's finally Fall!
The weather has cooled down… Summer is gone and
Autumn is slowly creeping into place.
Autumn is slowly creeping into place.
October is one of my very most favorite months, probably because
the coolness is always so welcome after such hot summers.
Today was 64 degrees,
and I planted some pansies in our
mailbox planters.
I really enjoy working outside in the flowerbeds, just not
when it’s so hot. If only it could be in
the 60’s more often! Unfortunately it seems
like I have to cram all my weeding, deadheading and garden stuff into October
and April every year. I would enjoy
being outside all summer if it could’ve felt like it did today!
I also enjoy the instant gratification of yard/garden
work. And being the type who likes things neat and tidy, I really like getting back outside (after looking at the chaos all
summer) and finally getting to put things back in order.
The prep was the hardest part, because the volunteer (read:
weedy) trumpet vine has really taken over this year.
I heard that this year’s weather was perfect for vines to go crazy, so I
guess I am not alone dealing with this aggressive volunteer.
Don’t get me wrong, in the right location, I love trumpet
vines. We had some at our previous house, and
it was dense and lush up against a fence and it bloomed all summer long. It was gorgeous.
Unfortunately at our current home, it's in a shady
flowerbed, so there are no pretty orange blooms. Only
vines and greenery. (which I am usually
thankful for, but they really took over this year, along with the Virginia Creeper!)
Anyway, to close, and hopefully to bring a smile to your face, here is a photo of some turkeys that visited us last week! They are always so awkwardly funny and fun to watch.
Happy October!
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
An Experiment with Essential Oils
http://www.stopthestomachflu.com/do-essential-oils-like-thieves-really-kill-germs
This gal has a Ph.D. in biochemistry
and
decided to test how effective essential oils were against germs.
She doesn't sell oils.
She isn't affiliated with any company.
She isn't affiliated with any company.
She doesn't even use essential oils.
It's a bit of a read,
so feel free to skim...
It's a bit of a read,
so feel free to skim...
But the bottom line is:
yes, they actually work!
And she even tested 5 different brands:
one of which is the popular
Young Living's "Thieves"
and another is the very affordable brand
Plant Therapy, and its "Germ Fighter" blend.
I'm thrilled to find such a scientific study
using essential oils.
(I love unbiased opinions!)
using essential oils.
(I love unbiased opinions!)
Just thought I'd pass it along!
Happy Fall!
XOXO,
Happy Fall!
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
J
J
p.s. I may have to put some 3% hydrogen peroxide
in a spray bottle and use it for cleaning after reading all this!
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Pink Lace Swatch
Here is another in my series of knitted lace swatches.
This stitch is called
"Curving Lattice Lace",
This stitch is called
"Curving Lattice Lace",
and was knitted with Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn.
The color is called Hibiscus,
and I used Chiaogoo Red Lace needles,
size US 7.
The stitch is from the book:
The Knitter's Handbook
by Eleanor Van Zandt, published by Hamlin,
page 91.
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Sunday, September 6, 2015
My Knitted Lace Swatch
Hot off the blocking boards,
here is my latest knitted lace swatch.
here is my latest knitted lace swatch.
Pattern: Orchid.
Yarn: Shibui Silk Cloud.
Yarn: Shibui Silk Cloud.
Color: Velvet.
Needles: ChiaoGoo Red Lace US 7.
Needles: ChiaoGoo Red Lace US 7.
Size: 8x8 inches.
You know how much I love to knit swatches!
They are like a bite-sized lace project,
and for lace,
that's saying a lot.
I have been wanting to take them a step further,
and I had my "eureka" moment today
on how to do it.
Now I just need to try it out.
They are like a bite-sized lace project,
and for lace,
that's saying a lot.
I have been wanting to take them a step further,
and I had my "eureka" moment today
on how to do it.
Now I just need to try it out.
It'll take a bit of work and $$, though.
<oy>
Doesn't everything? J
Stay tuned...
XOXO,
Doesn't everything? J
Stay tuned...
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
♥
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Contentment
I saw this today and wanted to share it,
but...
I believe the real secret to Contentment is
being thankful.
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Note to Self
Right after I wake up,
before I even open my eyes,
thank God for giving me another precious day.
And at least once during the day,
raise both arms upwards in a V
and say loudly, TA-DA!!
J
J
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Furry Babies
Mama raccoon finally brought her 5 babies
to dinner on our deck!
to dinner on our deck!
They're so cute, especially at this age.
As are our indoor furry babies:
As are our indoor furry babies:
XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥
♥
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