Rainbow

 I have finished a beading project. This is a necklace done in the Peyote With A Twist, or Peytwist, method. 

I started this ages ago. Christmas knitting brought it to a stand still for awhile. There wasn't a whole lot left to do. Just bead caps and clasp. I was able to work on it this last weekend and I finished it today.

The pattern is called Rainbow by Bev Baines. It's available free via the Facebook group Peyote with a Twist - Not Crochet. It's actually a bracelet pattern. I just kept beading until it was long enough to be a necklace. It's about 20 inches long.

The original is white with silver and bright primary rainbow colors. I chose matte black, gold, and pastel rainbow colors. As usual, I made my own beaded toggle clasp in matte black and gold.

I also beaded some bead caps, and put gold colored bead caps on the end of them. I used these gorgeous flattened oblong black beads with gold dots on them, some obsidian round beads, and gold 4mm beads.

I am extremely happy with the finished project.

Grandkitty update. The wound on Boba's tummy got suddenly worse last week. Ruth took him to the vet. He had developed a deep abscess. He needed surgery right away. 

He had to have a drain tube in for a few days and, of course, the cone of shame has to be worn. He got the drain tube out today. We're keeping that cone on until the wound is done healing. He's doing quite a bit better. He's sleeping on one of my knitting bags in the picture above.

A little weather news. Our weather has been unseasonably warm. Over the past couple weeks we've had a considerable amount of rain. Last Monday we got 2.5 inches of rain in 24 hours. I'm so glad it wasn't snow. It would have been well over 2 feet deep! In the meantime, the 2 feet of snow we had a few weeks ago has been melting very fast. We can see our lawn, in February!

There is talk of an early spring. I'm not holding my breath though. This could turn into a frigid nightmare in no time.

In knitting news, I've finished the knitted layette pieces. I need to cut the holes in the fleece edges so I can crochet the edging. That's why I finished the above necklace. It was taking up the room on my table. I needed to finish it so I could have room to do the blanket stuff. I have KnitWits this week, but I'm not going to have the blanket done by then. I can wait to turn it in for March. Maybe I'll have a second set done too.

The dog sweater is about 3/4ths done. I'm looking forward to seeing it on Zoey.

We got rid of our racoon so I've put the bird feeders back out. I've got lots and lots of birds coming to them. Mostly Chickadees and House Finches. I'm hoping something different drops in for a bite.

Until then, live long and prosper. \\//

Happy New Year

 I've been neglecting my blog. Not for lack of wanting to post something though. I just found myself surprisingly busy. Before I get into that, I want to wish you Happy New Year! I hope it's better than 2020, but so far it looks like it's working toward worse. 

One more thing I want to blog about is our new member of the family. My new grandkitty.

A few weeks ago a little black kitten was staring in our sliding glass door. It ran and hid when we opened the door.  After a few days we began to realize it was still hanging around. Eventually we figured out it was living under the house. My daughter Ruth set about the task of catching it. She put food in a little dish under there every day and after a few days or so was able to coax it close enough to grab it. I had her bring it in the house because it was cold and snowy out there.

The poor little thing is a boy and he was so hungry, cold, absolutely terrified, and had some very nasty wounds on it's belly. They looked like deep tooth marks. Perhaps some coyote tried to get him? Nothing looked infected, so we swabbed some Neosporin on it, fed it, and let it rest. We kept the doggy door closed so he couldn't get outside (not that he ever has tried). We took care of him while we searched to see if someone had lost him. Had no success with that. Then the Sunday after New Years I noticed his wounds were much larger and looking very nasty. We took him to the emergency vet for care. He was actually better than he looked. They cleaned him up and prescribed some meds for us to give him. 

He had no chip. I think he was dumped by someone. The vet said he's about 6 months old. Still haven't found anyone looking for their lost kitty, so we decided we'd keep him. Ruth named him Boba (as in Boba Fett) and he's hers. Thus, new grand kitty. He is very healthy now and quite a sweetie. The wounds are healing nicely. He has gotten over his fear and tears around the house like he's never been anywhere else. He's got tons of energy and has revitalized our other two cats, Merino and Cashmere. They're not just lying around depressed about winter anymore. They're playing with their toys and racing around the house just like Boba. Boba gets along with them fairly well. He loves Zoey too, so where ever he came from, he was around dogs. He's made himself completely at home.

If you remember, in the beginning of November I decided to knit a sweater for my husband for Christmas. It's probably been 30 years since I'd knit one for him. I saw that he could really use a cardigan in his life, so I got myself a pattern for a Cowichan and ordered the yarn. The yarn required was chunky. I misunderstood and ordered some Brava bulky from KnitPicks. I knit up a few different swatches, but was unable to get gauge. I wanted to use the yarn I'd bought so much I decided to get worsted weight yarn to add to it in similar colors. I wanted identical colors but KnitPicks didn't have them in Brava Worsted (they were out of stock), so I settled for near colors in Mighty Stitch.

For the next several weeks I knit on the sweater like crazy. Every time I thought about blogging, I would think "I need to get the sweater done by Christmas". Then I would sit down and knit. I knit so much my hands started to ache 24/7. I didn't get it done before Christmas, but I was close. I did the final stitch on New Years Day. 

Pattern: I'm The Dude Jacket by Bernat Design Studio

Yarn: Brava Bulky by KnitPicks
Content: 100% Acrylic, bulky weight
Colors: Solstice Heather, Umber Heather

Yarn: Mighty Stitch Bulky
Content: 80% Acrylic/20% Wool, bulky weight
Color: Cream

Yarn: Mighty Stitch Worsted
Content: 80% Acrylic/20% Wool sport weight
Color: Cream, Navy, and Bark

Needles: Circular size 11 and 13

Started: November 20, 2020
Finished: January1, 2021

Comments: This pattern is actually quite challenging. I had to alter it, too, because my husband wears Tall sizes and has long arms. It was scary because I forgot about that when I ordered the yarn and didn't get extra. I wasn't sure I'd have enough to complete the cardigan with added length, but, as it turned out, I did. The cardigan fits him very well and he loves it. He's worn it every day since I gave it to him. Hurray!

There are Thunderbirds on both sides of the front, as well as on both sleeves. I knit them in a combination of Intarsia and Fairisle. The geometric design is Fairisle.

Ordinarily a Cowichan has a zippered front, but I didn't want to deal with installing it, so I did button bands instead. The buttons are 1-1/8 inches and Navy blue with a light blue slash across one half. I found them on Joann's web site. They didn't arrive until after Christmas.

Here's the back. The Thunder bird is considerably larger than on the fronts and sleeves. 

It has more detail in it.

I am glad my husband loves it so much. It makes all the work worth while.

After I finished the Cowichan, I rested my hands a few days so the ache could go away, then I started two new projects. I've been promising Zoey a new sweater for months. I started one, in houndstooth check. LOL!

I've also started my 50th layette set for KnitWits. More about that later. Hopefully in a couple days.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Sadness

Yesterday we had a terrible tragedy. My grandkitty, Lindy, passed away.

Rest in peace me sweet Lindy. You will be missed so very much. You were a fantastic mouser and a wonderful joy to my daughter. You will always be a part of my heart.

Live long and prosper. \\//

In Case You've Been Wondering

This is what an unassembled Mermaid looks like. All the pieces are done. Now I have to block her and sew her together.

Belina the Mermaid

Here's the happy couple, Frank and Sarah. On Saturday evening we went out to dinner to celebrate their engagement. They have not set a date for the wedding yet. One step at a time!


Last Friday, if you'll remember, Ruth and I went to a rock and gem show. I brought home treasures to add to my bead stash. I took pic to share with you.

This is a cabochon made of Lake Superior Agate with Sagenite inclusions in it. The Sagenite is the vertical red tubes. The owner found it in Michigan. This is a real treasure, and I got it for a steal. I think I may have broke his heart when I bought it. But, my opinion is, if you don't want to sell it, don't put it up for sale.


This cab is made of Charoite. Charoite comes from Siberia, Russia. According to my rock book, it only comes from one place, and it's kind of rare. Unfortunately, the glorious iridescence in this stone does not show up in the pic.


The fellow who sold this to me was pretty funny. A retired teacher, when I asked him what it was, he said "Who says Coochi coochi?. It's Coochi coochi I-T-E." For those of you too young to know, Charo says Coochi coochi. She's a singer/dancer. I think she still does a show in Vegas, but I'm not sure about that.

My third find is this beautiful Rhodochrosite cab. I just love the zigzag stripes in this one.


And, since I was in the mood for taking pictures. Here's Grandkitty Lindy. She came along when Ruth came home for spring break, and promptly established her dominance over all the sweet sleeping spots in the house. She says "I'm the Queen! Worship my greatness!"


This is Grandkitty Meadowlark, being heart meltingly sweet as usual. He was saying "I love you gwamma."


I have heard from Marguerite, so the contest is officially over.

Have a great day.

MMMMM..Turkey...

Thanksgiving day was awesome. We went to Brother in Law Dan and Sue's house for the festivities. It was a relatively small group this year. Just us and our kids and them and their kids, plus my daughters boyfriend Frank and their son's fiance' Ann.

As usual, we had more than one meat. Sue cooked the turkey (sublime), nephew Jonny bar-b-cued salmon on a cedar plank (then drowned it in orange juice, so I couldn't eat it-allergy to citrus), and I made roast Prime Rib. The prime rib was SO good. Best one I've ever done. We also had all the usual stuff-mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberries (made by me), green bean casserole, home made bread rolls (made by my daughter Sarah-absolutely scrumptious), fruit, and olives (black and green). Can't have Thanksgiving dinner without Olives. There was Huckleberry Cheesecake and Pumpkin Pie for dessert. I was so stuffed after dinner I could hardly walk.

The really cool thing? We get to do it all over again tonight. The Park clan does what we've come to call Second Thanksgiving. First Thanksgiving everyone can have dinner with the in laws, the sides of the family without the last name Park. Since Dan, Sue, and us don't have in laws around here, we eat together. On Friday everyone gets together and eats the leftovers. One huge Park party. Sometimes we sit and yack and laugh all night, sometimes we watch movies, sometimes we play games (like Apple to Apples, a great party game). Whatever we do, it's always a lot of fun and extremely noisy. My daughters love Second Thanksgiving more than first.

Last Wednesday I finished another ornament cover. I took a pic.


This is from Accent On: Beaded Ornament Covers by Karen DeSousa. I used Japanese size 11 seed beads in black hematite and matte silver lined white, size 8 metallic silver seed beads, size 6mm black crystals, and size 3mm and 10mm clear ab fire polished crystals. This was a really fun pattern.

This is the finished Garter Rib socks:

Yarn: Austermann Step Navy #15.

Pattern: A combination of Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch, and the basic 2x2 rib sock from Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordie.

Needles: Two size 3 Addi Turbo Lace Circulars.

I love this pattern. It was easy enough to memorize making it very portable, yet interesting enough to not be boring.

Here's a couple of pics of Lindamon. I just love that little pink tongue.


Zonked Out!


Have a great evening.

Caution: Cuteness Ahead

One day 'til Tuesday.

I wasn't so sure I'd be able to post pics of Lindamon because my camera is not behaving properly, but I finally got it working. I have a Sony Mavica 400. It takes wonderful pictures, but I've been using it a LOT ever since I got it a few years ago (twas a Christmas present from Sweet Hubby) and it's showing signs of wearing out. I'm hoping Santa will bring me a new camera. I've been a good girl this year, really, I have.

Introducing Grandkitty Lindamon. Isn't she cute? She is kind of strangely colored. She's sort of a pale ginger with a hint of green. Yes, I said green. I've never seen anything like it--at least, not on a cat. I love her little pink nose.



A very proud Mommy.


Mommy and fur child.


Playing in Mommy's lap.


Lindamon is a real sweety. She loves to cuddle and she's very well trained. She loves her Mommy very very much. Spends as much time as she can in Ruth's lap, snoozing.

She is not getting along with my fur kids though. And now my cats are expressing their discontent to have a 3rd kitty in the house. Chenille actually peed on the living room carpet this morning--on purpose! She meowed to get my attention before squatting to do it. I soaked her head with a squirt bottle full of water in return. Then I tossed her outside. We'll see if she does that again!

That's the end of today's cuteness.

There was a family meeting this weekend (I didn't attend). Besides real business (property management issues), the subject of the moose problem was discussed. They don't believe my complaint has been taken seriously by Fish and Game. They had said someone would call me and come out to the house in the next day or two. That has not happened. Apparently a solution was presented. Sweet Hubby came home and announced we needed to go to a sporting goods store. We went. He bought me this.



It's a paint ball/bee bee pistol. Came with some ammunition and an extra sight. He also bought me a small jar of yellow paint balls. I am supposed to shoot any and all moose with paint balls, in an attempt to scare them away. Ummmm...okaaaaaaaaaay.

I'd never shot a pistol before. I've shot lots of rifles and shotguns. I am pretty good too. I can shoot a quarter off a fence at 50 feet (as long as the sun glints off it so I can see it), but I'd never shot a pistol before. I wasn't expecting to be able to hit anything with it. I was wrong. I nailed my target (a rust spot on the old water heater sitting out back) on the first shot. I nailed it on every shot. Okay, I guess I can shoot a pistol.

Call me the Moosinator!

There was knitting progress. I am about halfway down the foot of the Garter Rib sock. I am so pleased with how nicely the stripe pattern is matching up.


On other fronts, over the weekend I managed to leave my car door open, just enough to drain the battery. I'm so glad we own a trickle charger. I need to take my Opal yarn to the post office for it's trip to Sweden.

We got a skiff of snow last night. Just enough to make the front steps slicker than slick. Winter has arrived.

Have a good day.

Babysitting the Grandkitty

I am taking care of the Grandkitty this weekend while his Mommy is out of town. This requires a trip into town to my daughters apartment and spending time with Meadowlark. Feed him, water him, scoop his box, and cuddle him for a bit. This is what my daughter requested I do-spend a bit of time with him each day. She is worried Meadowlark will be lonely while she's gone. He's doing fine. I sat and knitted for about half an hour too, until he'd had enough attention and started ignoring me. He thinks my Addi Turbo circular needles are fun to play with.

I am to the heel of the second Mystery Sock! I think I'll get this done before the month ends. I so want to have an S next to my name on the SAM4KAL blog.

So much for not seeing a moose the past few days. One hummer of a BIG mama dropped by. Man, she made Miss Molly look like a mouse in comparison. She ate the top off one of the new flowering cherries, without even having to stretch her neck. I'm glad we had the little fence around it. She'd have eaten the whole thing! There would have been nothing left but a skinny little stump. I'm wishing that fence had been just a bit taller. The tree should be okay though. Just the top 6 inches got eaten.

Sarah's boyfriend has asked me if I'll knit him a sweater. Wow! Someone actually WANTS me to knit them a sweater. How cool is that! I'm liking him more and more each day.

Have a great day.