Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Mid Week Catch Up

Another week is sliding by at a rapid pace.  Does time ever seem to slow down?  
This past weekend I worked on my new blanket.  I made up a square, just one to see what it would be like. I have decided the weekend is free for me to work on what I want to, the week days are for Christmas gifts until I get them completed.


Made from the free pattern by Donna Mason-Svara, or SmoothFox, it can be found here.  I have realized that I seriously underestimated my yardage for this project.   I am going to need double what I ordered from Knit Picks.  Each 11 x 11 square takes up almost 100 yards of yarn, crochet is a yarn eater that is for sure.  I will have to order more yarn soon.


I sat right here all Sunday afternoon swinging and listening to my audiobook.  The weather had changed and the high was only 78 degrees, it has since gotten warmer and more humid, but Sunday was spectacular.  I am thrilled with audiobooks and love the versatility I can have with them.  It makes my long, long drive to work and back much more tolerable.  And while I am reading in the evenings I feel like I can use my drive time, walking time and even yarn time better with a book to listen to.  My local library system has an app that can download audiobooks for free, it is a win-win. I am listening to books I may not ever buy or even check out from the library, nothing life changing but certainly entertaining.


This past weekend I did a bit of closet clean up.  I realized that I have an abundance of yarn in my closet that I do not use, yarn that has been used to make projects that I am not in love with.  So I frogged a tank top I had knit a while back, after washing it once this cotton yarn did not play nice.  The fit was completely changed and I knew it would just sit in my closet.  So rip, rip, rip.
 

This yarn and fringe was a gift.  I really never liked the way it ended up in a short of narrow shawl, the pattern that had come with the yarn.  I didn't like how the increases went, and frankly the pre-cut fringe was not enough.  So I took it apart and now I have some fun yarn to make a cowl or scarf with. It is almost like getting new yarn.  I have a few more items I am thinking of re-purposing but I will wait a bit just to be sure.


There are some Autumn themed beauties on my kitchen table making me smile.
 

While we are not really seeing cool temps or changing leaves, I do sense a change in the light.  It is lower in the sky, softer around the edges.  The intensity is dimming, a nice break if you live in the Florida sun all year long.


The Mums I planted a week ago are starting to take hold of the soil.  The little flowers make me happy.
 

These latest addition dishcloths do not make me happy.   Apparently my light is so dim in my family room that I did not notice that this was cream and purple variegated yarn, I thought it was a darker white.  Oh bother, what will I do with these?  They are not what I like at all and really did not even notice the glaring imblance of colors until I got them outside.  It is too bad as I had a lovely cream yarn that would have gone nicely with the purple.  Well I might just donate these and get on with the project.  With these I had 16 flower dishcloths completed, without I am back down to 13.


I decorated for Halloween my very favorite holiday, more on that later.


We celebrated my Dad's 91st Birthday on Sunday.  He is in love with Little Buddy.  My Dad was not well last week on his actual birthday so we were a week late.  It doesn't matter, cupcakes were enjoyed by all.

How is your week going?

41 comments:

Home Meadows said...

Your pictures are so pretty and your mums look similar in color to the ones I planted. Our temps are cooler now and the sun is going down much earlier. Happy birthday to your dad, looks like your LB was enjoying them immensely! Take care, Heather

Stins said...

Happy Birthday to your dad! He and little buddy make such a sweet couple...
I love your garden pictures! Overhere it is definitely autumn now; bit colder and very rainy.
Good idea to reserve the weekend for things you like to do ;-). Hugs from Mirjam.

linda said...

Belated Happy Birthday to your Dad! :) Meredith what are you talking about those dishcloths look fine to me, I think they are really pretty. You have inspired me I made my first dishcloth ever at the weekend. It happened quite by accident and I will share when I have made a few because they are addictive aren't they. I love the square it's going to be a lovely blanket and how lovely to be able to recoup your yarn, I have a cardigan I am wanting to frog but I know it's going to be difficult because of the yarn type. Your flowers are looking lovely. :) xxx

Acorn to Oak said...

Your blue swing is adorable and with such nice weather it sounds like the perfect place to hang out! :-)

Unknown said...

That square is beautiful! Can't wait to see the finished blanket. Were you able to see the eclipse of the blood red moon this morning? Pretty awesome! Fall seems to have come overnight here. One day I was amazed that the trees and the grass were still so green and the flowers so beautiful still, and the next it seemed, fall fell! But I love the fall weather, so I don't mind. Love to Max and Little Buddy, and a belated wonderful happy birthday to your dad!

Laura from beautiful West Michigan

mamasmercantile said...

What an achievement reaching 91 years of age, happy belated birthday to your Dad, I too am blessed with still having both my parents around. I thought the washcloths were beautiful, I couldn't see a problem, what a shame after all the work put in. Little Buddy looks to be enjoying the cupcake, bless him!

Lucie said...

Happy birthday to your dad! Your blanket will be beautiful.
Have a nice day! Here 55 degres....
Lucie

Karen said...

Such a lovely post. I like your description of the light at this time of year. Your blue swing is yummy. Happy Birthday to your dad! He and LB look like a match made in heaven:)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Mere, the new yard is a gorgeous color! That will be a beautiful blanket. I think it is very smart to take apart things that don't please you and reuse the yarn. I think the flower cloths are still cute, but you are the artist! :) The pics of Little Buddy and your Dad are priceless!
hugs,
Linda

Ljubinka said...

Beautiful square!!
Wonderful pictures,happy every day to you and your family!:*
Sorry,my english is not correct.:/

Betsy said...

Happy late birthday to your Dad! 91 is quite an accomplishment. Your square turned out very pretty, the pattern and the color both and I also think your dishcloths are perfectly fine. I like the colors of both them and your mums! Purple is the best color ever!!!! I used to listen to audio books on my commute to work but now I read more. I should check I to the, to listen to while knitting and crocheting. I hope the rest of your week goes well and is beautiful Meredith.
Blessings,
Betsy

Melanie said...

Your pictures always make me happy...a little time on that swing and smelling roses sounds perfect! :)

kathy b said...

aww don't be so hard on yourself. Those purple cloths would be lovely with a bar of soap for a young girl or toddler tub time.
I LOVE halloween stuff too.
Lil Buddy, is so dang cute with your father.

I have to work on the library app

Judy S. said...

Looks like your dad had a nice birthday even if it was a wee bit late. Who wouldn't love LB? He is such a cutie. Great idea to repurpose your yarn! BTW, those cloths are fine! You're being too picky!

CJ said...

A belated happy birthday to your dad, what a great age! I think everyone is in love with your little buddy, impossible not to be. Your knitting discipline is very impressive. I think I need to make a similar rule about a quilt I started cutting out. It's a double, and I'm starting to panic a bit about the vastness of it all and how I'm actually going to arrange it. I'm copying one I saw on a blog, but of course now I've started it's not as easy as it looked. I've stuffed it on a shelf until it goes away. Enjoy the rest of the week. You're right about time flying by, I think it's actually speeding up. CJ xx

Anonymous said...

I think the dishcloths look nice. They will make lovely teacher gifts.

I noticed the change in the sunlight too. It makes me so happy.

We are in Amelia Island this week. Gorgeous here and the weather had been great.

Willow said...

I have been known to frog all kinds of projects if they didn't turn out right. I think we must be process knitters...loving the process more than the finished product.
Crochet definitely is a yarn hog. I might try my hand (er..hook) at that pattern. Is it easy? Doesn't look too hard...

HollyM said...

Wow, your dad sure doesn't look 91. I hope he is better. He and little Buddy are so cute together. Imagine the difference in years.
I do see what you mean about a creamier white but I think they're still pretty. They'd be keepers for me. And I live the flower pattern,
I sure can't imagine those temperatures as being comfortable. It's so much cooler here.

Chris said...

I really really like your blue swing and your flowers are so pretty! I think your dishcloths look great, don't be so hard on yourself! Your new blanket is going to be really nice, your block is very nice. Happy Birthday to your dad!

Teresa Kasner said...

I loved the swing and the thought of you getting to spend time there crocheting in the nice weather and listening to a book. I wouldn't worry about the dishcloth colors as they get used for some heavy work. I melted when I saw your Dad and Little Buddy - a special bond. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Mrs. Micawber said...

Happy Birthday to your dear Dad - he looks great!

I think your dishcloths look really nice - they remind me of pansies.

Enjoy your swing time and your yarny time - that weekday/weekend plan sounds like a good one to me. :)

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Happy Birthday to your dear Dad! I'm not surprised he's in love with LB, we all are! Nice that LB gets to be with him, special times for sure. Love your crocheted square, hurry and get the yarn before they run out. Sorry I worry about things like that : ( You have been busy, happy you are getting some time for yarniness!
Take care Meredith, xoRobin

Needles and Wool said...

The first square you crocheted on your blanket is lovely! I cant believe how fast time goes, it's already October now :o Happy birthday to your dad that is so sweet that he loves Buddy so much! Love the spider hanging on your light! its fast approaching! hope you have a great rest of your week!
take care,
Lisa

Unknown said...

That blanket is so beautiful. Well the first square anyway!!! lol. But I can see just how beautiful it is going to be. Sush a gorgeous pattern.
Your flowers are beautiful also. We are starting to cut the perennials down for the winter. :( There isn't much blooming out there now. But as long as the plants are green I will let them stand. Well I guess we do have to cut them back before it gets to cold to work out there! Little Buddy and your dad look so great together. I bet he keeps your dad smiling. Happy birthday to your dad. I bet little Buddy didn't mind the celebration! They look like they could get into trouble together. Come on Little Buddy smash that cake! Have a great day. Hugs, Teresa

Amy at love made my home said...

Happy Birthday to your Dad! He and Buddy look very happy together. Shame about the dishcloths not working out how you wanted, but I am sure that if you donate them they will be appreciated and liked a lot. Your square for your blanket is lovely though, and you have such a great place to sit and work on your swing seat! Hope you have had and are having a good week. xx

Géraldine B. said...

I wish you a lovely week ... I don't see the problem with the dish-clothes. They seem to be great. The combination is beautiful. Here, we have rainy days, so much rain .... and it's cold ! Take care !

Gillian said...

I love your new crocheted square. It's a pity you're going to have to buy more yarn - sometimes it's just to do with the type of yarn or sometimes the pattern isn't right. You could just use those dishcloths yourself if you don't like the colour combination. Happy birthday to your dad.

EMMA said...

Happy Birthday to your Dad!
Your flowers look lovely, and that blue seat...I don't think I'd get much done in the way of housework if I had that in my garden!
I have to ask - did Little Buddy wipe his chocolate fingers in his grandpa's t-shirt? they look very close!
Would you be interested in joining in a blog hop? I've put a link to you in my post - hope you don't mind..

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Happy birthday to your father! Little Buddy sure seems happy with his cupcake.

Your swing looks like a wonderful place to sit and crochet or read, especially as the weather cools a little.

Ana BC said...

Great idea to repurpose yarn :-)
Hope your dad is feeling better.
♥ Ana BC

Anonymous said...

What a lovely place to sit and crochet, your blue swing looks so comfy. That crochet blanket square is beautiful, but crochet certainly does take far more yarn than you think it will.

Happy birthday to your dad, hope he enjoyed his cupcakes.

Annie Cholewa said...

Many, many happy returns to your dad and his little cupcake eating pal. That is a gorgeous smile on Little Buddy's face.

Ingrid K. said...

Hello Meredith! I love your crochet square, it is lovely! If you make a blanket from the recent yarn you ordered for it, it will definitely look really nice! Well, if you need more yarn, you might have to place another order (I'm coming to the same conclusion about my blanket, I think I do need more still!)
I don't know why you don't like the dishcloths, I do and I am sure somebody else would, too!
Don't be so hard on yourself, just give them as a gift!
Loving the photo of your dad (happy b'day) and LB, so precious!
Hope you have a lovely weekend, enjoy!
Hugs, Ingrid xx
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

Carla from The River said...

Hi,
I like the dishcloths. :-)
I like the color combo.

Sending prayers for your dad. I love the photo of him and Little Buddy.
xx oo
Carla

Jennifer Hays said...

I'm thinking of your dad, Meredith. You've all been through so much lately. I love the square you made, that is going to be a gorgeous blanket. Your chandelier spider startled me! Haha, he's kind of creepy, you did good. :)

Helen said...

Lovely pics :) I hope your dad gets well, he looks so happy with Little Buddy. I like the dischcloths with the purpley yarn you could definitely gift them! And the blanket square is gorgeous!!

Jo said...

Hi Meredith. Glad you are well and busy! I love that rose photo. I like to listen to radio comedy when I am crocheting. I love it...Jo x

elns said...

Funny how hard we are on ourselves when a craft doesn't turn out the way we wanted and no one else would ever suspect! I understand, though.

Looks like happy celebrations with Dad and Little Buddy. Who cares about timing when you a chance to celebrate something good, like 91 years and cupcakes with Little Buddy!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Happy belated birthday to your dad. I hope he continues to be well. 78 degrees sounds lovely. We do have that early morning but by afternoon it is still just over 100 degrees. Good for you making use of old yarn projects. I have tons of yarn and am trying my best to use what I have. I did buy some this summer while in the States but can't remember the last time I bought yarn here. I've done the same thing with cream/white as the light here where I sit isn't always the best. Enjoy the day. Tammy

Toni said...

Glad your father is feeling better. Happy belated birthday to him!!!!!!

Mindy said...

I actually really liked the purple flowers! Sorry that they weren't what you expected. =(