Bitten Off More (Yarn Projects) than I Can Chew

I've got too many crochet projects happening at once: 3 sweaters, a shawl I have yet to start because I can't decide on the yarn and Tuesday I am supposed to start another shawl during a mystery crochet-a-long (CAL)where, as far as I know, the pattern is released in stages in the form of clues. Supposedly the person who figures out who the murderer is first wins a prize. I suspect it will be a crochet pattern from the shawl designer which is cool because I like her patterns, otherwise I wouldn't be in this CAL

The first sweater the Doris Chan pullover I started a few weeks ago and then just stopped before the end of the yoke because I started these other things plus a caplet in yet another CAL which I finished and gave to my neighbor because the fuzzy yarn was giving me fits and I just wanted to get it over with. I do not like Patons Divine I have decided and will not buy it again. Good thing I bought it on clearance, still have 1.5 skeins and it will be permanently stuck in the back of a drawer now.

Paris Tunic Yoke

Shortie Shell Capelet

Second sweater is my Lattice Cardigan by Michelle DuNaier. I am actually on the edging but I think I put in 2 many dc stitches and it has become too wavy. I had finally picked it up yesterday after another long hiatus to work on a 3rd sweater by the same designer. It's looking very nice other than the waviness but unfortunately I think it is too small for me as when I tried it on last time it wouldn't pull closed in front. I have since discovered I had gained 6 pounds but even if I lose that for it to have affected the fit that much I think I underestimated the size I needed yet again. Perhaps it will fit my younger sister.

wavy edging

The third sweater is another cardigan and is actually a test for a new design by Ms DuNaier. It is another cardigan but the yoke is made up of several square motifs (granny squares with a different stitch pattern than the traditional granny), The model is very pretty, it needs 4 different color yarns in a DK weight (fairly thin but not as thin as lace yarn). I'm actually using 2 yarns, a sock weight by Premier (Serenity Sock, a wool blend) I picked up at Joann's Fabric in dark green and a color called Chili which is a white with dark green and purple specks. And a dark purple and gold yarn by Red Heart called Luster Sheen which is an acrylic and though it claims to be a different weight than the sock, together the 4 yarns fit quite well. It took a while but I finished the motifs yesterday in 3 colors and my next job is to join them together with the Chili.

Unfinished Motif

The shawl I am supposed to be starting is another Ms DuNaier called Goldberry. (all these patterns are available at ravelry.com, some free or for $5 or less (I got some of mine half price during a sale, Ms DuNaier is having a 1/2 off sale through Sept 30). She named it after a character in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (she's in the book, not in the Peter Jackson movies). She is re-telling part of the Hobbits' adventure and various sections of the shawl abstractly depict this. Now I just have to choose the colors to use which is generally my problem, I can't decide. I bought a bunch of new yarns, too thinking my problem was a lack o suitable yarns, and indeed that was a problem but now I've got too many to make a decision. I should just think about this some more.

Which yarn will I choose? Need at least 4, maybe.

Of course, I can't really talk about the mystery pattern as it's a mystery and other than some main characters; the shawl designer, her sister, her cheating ex-husband and a band of fictional crocheting detectives, I've no clue what the shawl is supposed to look like or what yarns to use. I'll post next month after it starts.

But I still think I'm doing way too many things at once. It's practically impossible to do all these in a timely manner and conduct the rest of my life, i.e. the dog walks, housework, cooking, etc!

Oops, Happy Belated Birthday, Hal

I may have missed wishing my wonderful husband "Hal" a happy birthday on my blog but I did not neglect him on his day itself. I made him his favorite dinner which is what he seems to want every year. Again it was roast chicken with giblet/bread stuffing, home grown green beans, gravy, no potatoes, he prefers just stuffing with gravy, a nice white wine and for dessert, blueberry pie made with Michigan berries. He told me it was very good. I know I enjoyed it. He got a couple flannel shirts, too. Funnily enough one of them was an exact match to the one he was wearing. I can't help it if I can't remember what I bought him the year before.

So, not that he even cares whether I mentioned it here or not, Happy Belated Birthday, Hal! Hope you had fun.

So Much for the Growing Season

Two nights ago there was a frost warning, I covered the veggie gardens and my potted flowers on the deck and it did drop to 32.7f over night but I never saw any signs of frost in my yard. I got home from being in Alpena all day yesterday and saw we had a freeze warning. I covered mostly everything last night, took the cherry tomatoes and other small fruit off the plants (and accidentally left the bag of veggies on the driveway!). Last night or early this morning it dropped to 30.7f and there was evidence of frost all over when I walked the dogs. (I just got back). It was only 35f when I left the house, still below 40 I suspect. I won't uncover the plants till it gets to 45f or so but I would say the growing season is no over for this part of Michigan, even if the temperatures on Thursday do rise into the high 70s as predicted.

I wonder if my one tiny pumpkin will ever get ripe enough to pick and turn into a pie. It's so small it might not have enough meat in it! Better luck next year. Then again, maybe I ought to give up growing veggies at all up here.

Luna is Eight

Today is her birthday. Same age as Rocket was when I adopted her. She's still a peppy little pup and still gets into things she shouldn't, mud in particular. We've already had 2 walks today with the Zigman. It's not at hot as yesterday, only around 80. Yesterday hit 92 so she swam more than walked. Had a nice swim today though she pretty much fell in. I tossed a stick and just as she was deciding to leap she changed her mind but her body couldn't quite stop, so plop off the edge into the water. And she still brought the stick back.

Here's a fairly recent photo of my girl, if you can call June recent.

And because he's cute, here's Ziggy pausing at a really good digging hole. Luna's head is still in it. They do so love to dig. I need to take photos of the mine field of holes in the woods inside the fence, they're ankle breakers!

And one more of Luna because it is her birthday!

Dissappointing Weather

For a 3 day weekend, thick clouds, mist and cool temperatures are no fun. There was a possibility of taking the pontoon boat out every day with Hal's brother and wife but no go. We've been on the lake before when it's cool out and we freeze. Wouldn't want to swim in this, either. Today I woke up to mist, and the breeze has picked up, it's after 10:30 am and it's barely 60 degrees. I suppose I should be grateful we're not having a "not quite a tornado". Well, of course, but some warm weather would be nicer. Kind of a bummer for my BIL and SIL who drove the 4.5 hours to enjoy the weekend. Maybe we'll luck out by noon. We shall see.

And it's now almost 3 pm and it's 9 degrees colder than the forecast of 72, too breezy and just not good boating weather. So instead we're heading over for dinner with Hal's parents. I baked a cake. Boating is probably over for the year.

Last Day of August, Oops, First Day of September!

I figured I may as well post something.

Finally, I had the root canal Thursday morning though I had to drive almost 2 hours to Gaylord to see an endodontist, same one I'd seen for a double root canal quite a few years ago. Hal volunteered to go with me and drive me home. That was very sweet. My jaw was still painful yesterday, from inflammation of the gums. Feeling better today, I assume it will just improve now as the days go by.

The pizza tonight was very good. The wheat/white flour crust was deep and seasoned with garlic, onion, oregano and basil. And on top of the sauce was pepperoni, Canadian bacon, beer bratwurst, broccoli, mushrooms, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. It was accompanied with a Red Sky beer from the Frankenmuth brewery.

Now we're watching a little TV, a documentary about the rise and fall of the 3rd Reich. Then a little Doctor Who documentary at 9 pm.

Ha, I forgot to publish this last night so it's a day late. I guess the documentaries were too fascinating to ignore.

edit (removed redundancies)