SUMMER TIME COLORS

Even though it's hot, this is my favorite season of the year - summer, then spring, autumn, and lastly, winter.  Our yard in bursting with color as are the knitting projects.  I'm half way finished with the vest for my sister - a DROPS pattern that is very easy and has some nice detail to the decreasing at the armholes.  This is my first attempt at a DROPS pattern, and I feel confident using other patterns by DROPS.  The finished vest will be in the next blog.  

I've also been working on a few little things - two little bears and feather and fan dish cloths.

The bears a just the first two - more to come. They were a momentary nuisance for Spaz - he hardly awoke from his afternoon nap. The pattern for the bears can be found here: 

http://halifaxcharityknitters.wordpress.com 

Feather and Fan is one of my favorite patterns for scarves and cloths.  I have it memorized along with Grandma's Favorite Dish Cloth.  

The pattern for these can be found here: http://knittingbunny.blogspot.com  

Knitting Bunny has some lovely examples of this dish cloth - they inspired me to make a few for the Christmas Bazaar - and Michael's had a sale on cotton yarn.  Perfect timing.  So as I continue working on the vest, I am enjoying the fruits of Master Gardener's labors.  

The garden is providing us with a bounty of lemon cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, and zucchini - we are eating it, freezing it, and sharing it.  

TOMATOES of all sizes - a variety of colors  - red, yellow, and striped (coming in the next blog). 

And the corn behind the giant lilies is a mile high. Each stalk has one or more ears.  Corn was a last minute plant just to see if it would grow, and with a little TLC, they're doing what corn does best.  Hunter is look for the toad that has made its home in the garden.

The flower garden is an evolving thing.  Master Gardener D has planted and nurtured annuals, perennials, roses, sun flowers, wild flowers, and has started a little succulent/cactus rock garden. I take photos regularly because things change from day to day.  So here are some of the beauties.  You'll see what I mean by summer time colors. 

Happy faces.

 These are definitely unique - lavender roses.

This last photo of the sunflower bouquet adorns a few family photos.  My family will know these people.  It's such a lovely setting, I had to include it. You never know when a chance photo will touch the heart strings. 

See you in the next blog - until then, you know what to do - keep on knitting and crocheting or what ever keeps your creative spirit alive. 

BABY BLANKET - BOOTIES - FLOWERS - GARDEN

Greetings - It's a lovely July 1 day here where the flowers and garden are basking in sunshine and loving it.  The humans are loving it also, although the prediction is for rising heat for the next few weeks.  It's the middle of summer - it's expected. Thank goodness for A/C.  Hot or cold, the knitting never stops.  I just finished a baby blanket and matching booties for a friend's future grandchild who will be arriving this fall.  

I used the ever faithful grandma's wash cloth pattern, worsted yarn, and size 9 needles. Half the blanket is variegated yarn, the other half is stripped two rows cream, two rows variegated...just a large version of the wash cloth.  When I found the booties pattern, I knew it would work perfectly to match the stripes. Both blanket and booties are super easy.  The booties pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easiest--fastest-baby-booties-ever

My sister, C, has asked for a knitted vest for her birthday and I'm waiting for her to choose a color.  In the meantime, I'm going to knit a child size version.  Patterns from DROPS.  

The garden and flowers are spectacular.  We're harvesting a lot of squash, cucumbers, and little yellow tomatoes.  Watermelon, eggplant, corn, red tomatoes, and green beans will be ready before long.  

baby watermelon - by the time Master Gardener, D goes camping at the coast, he'll be able to take this guy with him for dessert. 

corn - our own "Field of Dreams"

FLOWERS

lavender mini roses

marigolds in the garden keep bugs away

orange nasturtiums

love this one .. not sure what it is.

short calla lilies snuggling with the nasturtiums. 

So that's the latest from Green's garden and minipurl's knitting.  More to come soon as the hot weather helps the tomatoes turn red.