Knitting Garden

Patience

2010-10-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

I've had a little delay, my camera's battery charger is on the fritz, I've been trying to take photos with it and couldn't figure out why i kept getting the low battery symbol. I tried several times over the past few weeks to charge it, but then I noticed (duh) that the little red light on the charger is not on. So I've been looking around, driven to several stores that should have this charger, but to no avail. I will be victorious and locate a charger (very determined). I haven't been able to post photos of my new adventures - SPINNING!!!!

So far I've done a little spindling (thought I would be more coordinated - maybe it will all come together very soon). I've sat at several spinning wheels and checked out the treadle on them. So far I have liked the Schacht Lady Bug and Ashford Joy, their treadle is comfortable for me. I was absolutely mesmerized by Majacrafts Little Gem and I hope to try it this Sunday, I LOVE the looks of this spinning wheel. I believe that spinning wheels must have some kinda pheromones that cast a spell on you!

Today was a gathering of spinners and knitters at the cutest place, the place is a store front on a main street in Long Beach that has been converted to a charming apartment, the bedroom is a loft space above and my new spinning friends were so charming welcoming me into their home and making me feel like we've been chums for a very long time. These wonderful gentlemen recently rescued two of the cutest dogs, one just two weeks ago was abandoned at a local dog park and came home with them (she is a darling little terrier they've named Lola and she totally captured me - I am putty in her little paws)

I want to thank Jan who has been the kindest of friends - she is full of life and it has been so much fun meeting all these new people. Guess it was time in my life to open the door and live a little larger! Love to you all. REALLY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO POST PHOTOS ASAP!!!!!

I'M BACK!!!!

2010-10-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

I just received a rebuilt computer and still have to see if I can install my camera software, it has Windows7 and I will be given a cd for the Office products shortly. I have to rethink this blog again. I am pondering if I should create a new blog as I am contemplating exploring my interest in writing - maybe try my hand at some short stories that I could share with you my dear readers (if there are any left).
Transportation
So many changes in my life, I've decided to give up the luxury of driving to work (in an ancient car) and taking the train. I'll have to be at the train station at 4:40 am, after arriving at Union Station there will be an hour wait and then there is a free shuttle that will drop me off directly at work. This will substantially improve my finances as the total cost for going to work will be reduced to only about $47.00 a month!!! (My company pays 75% of the cost which is about $188 for the montly pass) Wait time = knitting time and I'll get used to the early hours.
SPINDLING
I was given a Ledbetter spindle, it is quite a thing of beauty. I've never used a spindle before and I found through Ravelry that there is a local spinning group, they welcome even newbies like me. I plan on attending their group tomorrow night (photos will be pending once i'm comfortable with this new group). Can you imagine, I could actually be creating homespun yarn. Wonder what the learning curve is on this.

I am so happy to be back and I'll be able to visit your blogs again too! Please leave me a comment so that I can follow it back to your blog. If you don't have a blog, I would still love to hear from you, its always nice to see what you have to say.

Opulent Handwarmers

2010-02-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

Well I've finally dove into knitting handwarmers and they turned out no so bad. Still have to work out the little gap that is at the thumb and the main body, does anyone have a solution for this? I found this pattern on Ravelry "Opulent Handwarmers" and they hole your interest while you are knitting. This yarn is fab, its a superwash merino by Avanti and was made in Germany, I had picked this up in a sale bin as the yarn was discontinued. It is a wonderful dk weight and should be useful for the morning drives and should keep my hands toasty.

THE HUNTINGTON

More photos from my last stroll, seems I took several decent pictures and I can't take the credit for this, the flowers seem to almost pose for the camera. I had a hard time selecting between these two photos that I took of Magnolia blossoms. I've been watching this tree forming for a couple of years now and the shape of it is so wonderful. I love the blossoms against the bare branches, its petals curled with the sunlight playing off of them.

This bust of Shakespeare has been softened by time, its beautify only magnified by the touch of the elements.

I did attend the Chasing the Sun powwow and did not take photos. It didn't feel right at the time. I had incredible conversations with the Natives, most of the ones that I spoke to were from the Navajo tribe, most lived on a reservation. I met a native from the Huichol tribe that came from Mexico from the state of Nazarit. These two gentle men seemed to reflect a deep sadness in their eyes while their lips held a smile, I can imagine that they missed their mountains. I also met the granddaughter of a spinner, the sheep are hand sheared and her grandmother lap spins the wool into yarn, it was thick sturdy stuff that would wear generations. This was a time for to listen and absorb which brought on quiet reflection. May your day be peaceful.

You're A Gem Cowl

2010-02-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

My first attempt at designing so I thought I would stick to something simple like this cowl. I've been trying for a couple of weeks not to get a decent photo and these are the best I could do. The question is should I write the pattern for this on my blog? (it would be free of course) I'm not sure that anyone would be interested. The cowl has a nice drape and I made the top a little narrower than the bottom by changing the needle size. The yarn was Lima by Rowan which was delightful to knit with, 84% Alpaca, 8% Merino and 8% nylon, and is described as a worsted weight. I used 3 skeins of yarn and had some left over in each color, though I think this would make a fine looking cowl in a single color as well.
Huntington Library was quite warm today with temps in the 80's I tried to find cool places along the path and stopped to rest in the shade when possible. The air was clean and so many plants benefited from our recent rain, they just couldn't wait to show me all their glory.
I loved these Red flowers against the blue sky.
The blast of Spring flowers in all their soooo vibrant in the brilliant sun.

Chondropetalum tectorum S. Africa
These flowers were startling - yes these are the actual colors, the leaves looked like chocolate the the flowers looked as if they were made of candy. I even noted the name to share with you. I will be posting a few more photos in the next day or two of a couple of fingerless mitts that I am knitting (didn't realize it would get so warm so soon). I'm giving a set to my hair stylist Kim this week along with a slouchy beret. Also more flower photos from my walk today.

Redondo Beach Pier

2010-01-24T20:06:00.000-08:00

The sun was out and after being cooped up all week with the rain it was time for an outing. After breakfast at CJ's Diego & I took a spontaneous detour to the pier and met this beautiful student from China, she was so full of life - her eyes danced with merriment (oh to be young again). I enjoyed talking with her and her two friends, they are here to study English and in two months time they spoke pretty well. They were delightful.

The pier has so much character, it's not all scrubbed and hygienic (some Orange County beach areas lost all their individuality, they tore down the quirky fun buildings and made them bland and beige) this pier is funky don't you love this sign and I bet it would be a really great photo at night with the neon all lit up

Red Yellow and Blue - just looks like fun, if I hadn't been so full from breakfast I would have had to try this, well that just gives me another excuse to go back. Maybe on a warm sunny afternoon I'll grab one of their lemonades and a corn dog too - sounds yummy!

This fellow was sizing me up, probably thinking "you got something for me?" The birds at the pier are brazen, they will walk up to any tourist and demand food from them - hmmm maybe walking the pier with a corn dog may not be such an attractive idea now, I can imagine them stalking me and demanding my food from me. I watched them following a family that was eating ice cream cones, more and more gulls were landing near this family and following them, it looked like a seagull parade.
From the end of the pier I watched in wonder at the spray that washed upon the rocks. This never ceases to amaze me and I could never grow tired watching the movement of water, in all its different forms.

I have some projects on the needles now, another pair of Mosey Legwarmers (I love wearing the pair I have now) and Kim my hair dresser gave a subtle hint that she loved the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret that I had given Melissa, so I'll have to knit one this week and drop it by for her. Will post knit photos soon.

Slouchy Beret

2010-01-21T19:11:00.000-08:00

The weather in Southern California has been quite stormy so this darling Slouchy Beret will not have a proper photo as it will be given to a someone who has been so kind to me, early Saturday morning at the Salon I go to. Over the years Melissa has gone out of her way to do so many countless little things for me and I am embarrassed that it took me so long to appreciate her efforts. This is one of the free patterns on Ravelry called Gwen Slouchy Beret. The yarn is by Nature Spun and the color will look great as Melissa is a vivacious Red Head.
I miss taking my garden and flower photos (you know when you are desperate when you start playing with your book and the plate blocked beret). Then it became symbolic as I realized that knitting has taken the forefront to my reading, both are joyful to me and I am lucky to be able to do both. I vow to make more use of the Library, especially after reading about the Central Library in Los Angeles I am really tempted to go.
I've been enjoying the Mysteries by Monica Ferris, fun to read and easy to pick back up again. I know that I'm in for a bit of trouble if I can't wait to get to the break room before I start reading. Wandering aimlessly down the hall while engulfed in the story (gotten a few goofy smiles as I look up startled and just missing someone passing by). Well I'd better get off the computer now, lightening is starting and I can hear the thunder approaching. Happy Knitting!

Bamboozled headbands

2010-01-18T16:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes being economical can lead to a new discovery. Its only fair to warn you - these headbands are addicting, not only do they look great on, but are fun to knit. I purchased some Paton's Classic Wool (on sale ) and found I could get a Star Crossed Slouchy Beret and a Bamboozled head band out of one skein (both free patterns on Knittingcentralpattern.com. Taking photos right now is incredibly difficult, rain is forecast for the entire week and today there is even a hard wind with very heavy rain. I could not wait for nicer weather and I wanted to share them with you. My current wip is a beret and should have it done by this weekend (will share photos). By the way I hope the weather forecast is wrong - they said we could get as much as 20 inches of rain by this weekend (that would be more that we get in 1 year in less than a week).

Flying XD

2010-01-12T06:43:00.000-08:00

I woke up a little early this morning (4:30 am) and thought I'll do a quick little post, just a photo or two of my last trip to the Huntington, a nice way to start the morning. So a little bleary eyed, I fished out my camera and extracted the XD card - only to see it flying through the air, then thunk as it hit the floor and slid under a piece of furniture. Well I thought they would be a little heartier than that and did not realize that it would not want to work any more. So I must begin again with a new XD card, the bright side is I'm going to go take photos this weekend using my Monopod and should be able to get even better photos. I did take a photo of my new Bamboozled head band (a wonderful knit) and I'll be sure to take new photos of it again. At least this is an easy fix and I'll be posting very soon with photos just for you -my gentle readers.

Yipee Photos at last!

2010-01-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

For all my snowbound friends I felt the need to post photos I took last weekend at the Huntington Library. We've had warm weather (in the upper 70's) and nice cool evenings, so the flowers are in abundance. The Iris above was so beautiful, its petals rendered me speechless (quite an accomplishment, do I hear the men out there thinking where can I get me some of those?).

This kale shared it's bed with other beauties and I loved how there was a soft rose tint in the middle beckoning me to draw a little closer and stare into the depths, do you see the little specks of green?
The Japanese Gardens at the Huntington is very popular and the maturity of this garden gives it a majesty. The Huntington recently installed a Chinese Garden, but it needs time to mature, it feels like its missing something and I just can't put my finger on it. All of the gardens at the Huntington are lovely, each special in their own way, I'll be sure to take more photos to share with you, maybe the Cactus garden should be next?
I've been knitting up a storm and am beginning to learn how to use this camera, I am hoping to find a better place to take the photos, the sun is still pretty harsh and most of my photos were not great. The slouchy hat above is for Melanie who sometimes can squeeze me in with my hair stylist (its almost like winning the lotto). She has always gone out of her way and takes such good care of me that I thought a hat or two would be a simple way to express my appreciation for all she does for me.
One of my co-workers Olga has always loved my knitting, we share coffee from my little coffee pot every morning (Pete's Coffee - yum) and she's been teaching me little phrases in Spanish. Always kind hear-ted so this neck scarf is for her. I gave it to her just after I took this photo and she tried it on right away! I sometimes feel a little selfish, it gives me such great joy to give someone something I've made, even anonymously - it doesn't matter, just makes my heart smile.

The last hat is knitted from Baby Alpaca and is so soft and squishy, I'm sending it to Marie who is the dog breeder for my three Standard Poodles, she shared her knowledge and given me so many tips on caring for my dogs and I just can't thank her enough.

Last of all I am so happy to be blogging with photos again. I do hope to take better photos of my knitting as I study the manual that came with my camera and experiment with the settings - so there's still hope for me yet! I just realised that I gave very little details about my knitting - I guess it's the excitement of it all and promise I'll do better on the next post.

New Year

2010-01-01T18:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to post any photos as the USB ports on my computer are not working and I don't know what's wrong, there aren't alot of funds right now so I'm not sure when I can get it fixed. I have a new camera and have taken some photos at the Huntington, the flowers were amazing and I love the way this camera allowed me to show some of their detail. I also took some photos of my knitted projects and a want to post new pattern I wrote for a cowl - complete with photos,

My dog Wooster is still fighting this abcess thing and I am doing my best to help him with hot packs and antibiotics, I'll be increasing the hot packs this weekend to 4 times a day, he is the most loving dog and a great patient. Good luck to everyone in this New Year, I wish you all the best, things are bound to get better and I do have things to be grateful about, a job, a measure of health and a few good friends and my fellow bloggers whose encouraging words and beautiful blogs encourage me greatly.

Wooster

2009-12-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

I've been taking care of my Standard Poodle Wooster, he has a sore that is infected and needs tending. Will be back to blog soon. Wish me luck.

Where did the time go?

2009-11-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

I had bought a really nice pair of black Mary Janes and was trying desperately to find a nice lacy sock, what I found was that most of the patterns are toe up and try as I may I COULD not get the provisional cast on. Does anyone know of a good You Tube for this? Well anyways I found the Hedera pattern on Knitty and decided to make them into knee highs (hopefully have enough yarn). I started them on a size 3 needle (cast on 60 just like the pattern states) and plan to move down to a size 2 for the lower calf and then the foot will be knitted in a size 1 (hope this works). Using Rowan 4ply has been a blissful experience and so far it fits my calf just fine.
Here is the Mansey legwarmer, its so cool looking on, adds an edge to these worn black denim slim pants (hate to say skinny). I love the way they lay over the boot, if you love leg warmers you should give this pattern a try, the cables make it interesting, I did amend the pattern a bit to account for being just a hair under 5'2" by eliminating one of the cable repeats, added a slouchy effect by using a size 8 needle (verses a size 7 the pattern calls for) and knitted using the directions for the size small. (To get a better photo I think I need to practice gymnastics a bit.)
I'm hooked on reading mysteries again, I am growing fond of Monica Ferris's books that center (at least in my opinion) around a store called Crewel World, the books are very entertaining and an easy read, as the series goes it feels like the characters have come into their own and I grow fonder of them with each book. I am also almost through with Maggie Sefton's series and with only two more books to go - I thought - better find another series to start, so it will be the Tea Mysteries by Laura Child's (this time I'm doing it right and starting at the beginning).
Isn't it PRETTY!!!! A very dear friend knows how much I've enjoyed blogging bought me a camera that can take macro shots - so this will hopefully improve the photos of my knitting. I will dedicate some time later this week to read the manual and then next weekend I'll have to find time to actually play with it (hope its user friendly). This dear friend would wish to remain anonymous, but I am so grateful as I could not afford this myself right now. At the end of this week I will turn another year older and will be 51 years of age (still got carded 2 years ago though - tee hee). It is so surprising how quickly time flies - really amazing how could I be this old?

80 degree Cowl

2009-11-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting this cowl in spite of 80 degree weather, the yarn is so pretty and is a combination of silk and wool with a wonderful sheen. It isn't very soft though and it is a thick and thin yarn (not exactly sure of the terminology) that would not hold up well to a garment, hence the cowl, I will have about 3 hanks left - any ideas? I am hoping that when I wash it - the yarn will soften - we shall see.

Last Sunday was photo day for the family so off we went to downtown Disney. The mist from this waterfall was refreshing as the day was a little warm.
Here are my great Nieces and nephew, it was a great idea to bring this along to keep them occupied as the photos took so long. The younger generation kindly retrieved all the balls that kept flying in every direction.
This is the little darling Danzie who is the sweetest baby I've ever had the privileged to have known. Her mommy does such a fine job with her too.
Birds of Paradise just thrive in our climate and are everywhere. This one was a beauty - for my snowbound friends - enjoy!

Flu & Blogging

2009-11-20T11:07:00.001-08:00

Woke up at 2am feeling totally crummy, its lunch time and the feeling continues. So what is a girl to do? Blog a little and see if I feel any better. I've almost finished the Mansey legwarmers, got to refresh my technique on i cords and pom poms (used my pompom gadget for the first time). I followed the yarn suggestion this time - Paton's Classic Wool in a nice gray. I liked this legwarmer as it finishes with a bootcut instead of being tapered. My only change was instead of a size 7 circular, I used a size 8 and the fit is perfect, it drapes a bit and is a bit slouchy. Maybe I should knit a slouchy hat or cowl to go with these?

I finished the Red Scarf and true to form, the red yarn would not photograph indoors or out, so I took a quick shot in the car on the way to the Post Office. I do hope the recipient (who ever it is) does like it, the yarn is Alpaca (my own pattern) and I made it with lots of love.

Isn't this fabric BEAUTIFUL! One of my family members is making me a quilt and she just told me the front was done. So off I ran to M & L fabrics with her words ringing in my ear "get something you really love" and so I did. I feel happy just looking at this fabric, I love the butterflies, bees and multiple flowers, they all work so well together (in this design and in real life too).

More photos from the Huntington (taken last month). I love flowers no matter what their stage, so I thought I would share with you this perfect Rosebud.

A Rose in full bloom, dazzling in the sunlight.

Roses in their final stage with only a few petals remaining are still wonderful to me as they peak through the new rosebuds. It almost seems like the older rose above is caressing the new rose bud that is emerging next to it.
Finally, what would a trip to the Huntington Library be without sharing another of their magnificent statues with you. I'll do better next time I go and get more details about the statues to share with you. Well back to bed I go rest and perhaps finally get a little sleep.

Knitting Photos - At Last

2009-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

Monkey Socks - aren't they fun to knit. I liked the pair I made my neighbor so much that I knit myself a pair. The yarn is from Celtic Memory yarns and is a merino bamboo blend that is so soft and yummy and I think it works really well with this pattern.

WIP'S

Maybe its my love for gardening, but I am drawn to socks with leaf motifs. This pattern is from Vogue Knitting - The Ultimate Sock Book and the pattern is called "Leaf Lace Socks", I really enjoyed knitting the picot edge and the chart is short and very easy to work with. The yarn is Knit Picks on size 1 needles. This will be a nice color to wear this winter, wouldn't these look great with a similar colored skirt?

Project #2 is just a simple ribbed cowl, the yarn is a mystery yarn of Wool and Alpaca on a size 13 needles. I had originally purchased the yarn for a gorgeous little top, but realized that the pattern called for each hank to have 100 yards (these only had about 60 yards - oops!) So a cowl they will be, another great way to extend my wardrobe.
WIP #3 - half way through the Red Scarf that I am donating, I'll put some extra time on it this week and see if there is any way I can finish it before the weekend (my knitting group meets on Saturday). Wish me luck! I read on Stitches of Violet's blog about limiting WIP's to 3, so I am trying that for now, it seems manageable.
Just wanted to share a couple of photos from my last trip to the Huntington Library. These giant bamboos are incredible, I've been near them when there was a strong breeze and the creaks and thunks that they emit is quite loud, I could appreciate them there in that garden and can imagine how they would be in a storm. (am quite happy that I never planted these in my yard though)
Ok, you've probably guessed by now, I love flowers and roses just move me, their fragrances, the way the petals glisten when they are kissed by dew, I even like it when you can see the new buds coming up while the older flower are fading.

FRISCO'S DINER

This place had a lot of character and if you like loud music and
girls on roller skates (in rather short skirts), then this place is for you.
I'll admit the breakfast was good and the prices pretty reasonable, but it was hard to relax and enjoy my food. (I'll just leave it at that).

Thanks to my Fellow Bloggers

2009-11-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

I leave for work and it's dark, and arrive home just as the sun is setting (on an early day). This has made taking photos for my post - most challenging. So I sit and read lovely blogs when I get home to unwind from a long and weary drive. My fellow bloggers how I appreciate the care you've taken, with your words so carefully crafted, comforting and inspiring me. The wonderful photos that I sit and day dream about, their beauty is surreal at times. This weekend I will take photos of my knitting and be sure to post them. Last spring I had these dear little columbine pop up again, I love when flowers reseed themselves.

Warmth at the Huntington

2009-10-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today was another warm day at the Huntington Library. The Roses were still in force (have quite a few more photos to share over the next couple of posts). The fragrance of their Rose gardens in the heat of the day is amazing, the quiet only broken by the buzz of the honey bees.
The colors of nature astounds me, the vivid orange red against the soft yellow, with the sun streaming through the petals, wish I could have done it justice, but this was the best that I could do, still nice - even in the photo.
It became a little too warm to continue strolling in the sun. The cafe's tables sit under these amazing trees. Gently sheltering you from the direct sun, but still bright enough to sit and read comfortably.
Yummm - French Fries, spring water (in a wonderfully thick glass bottle) and a new book. What more could one ask for? Well I did have the company of a tremendously great friend who shared the French Fries with me.
I really did intend to share knitting photos with you this post, I even made sure to bring a WIP with me(you can see the circular needles just peeking out of my bag) and intended to knit while sitting on the Veranda. It's right off the main house and is donned with the most delightful wicker chairs, beautiful potted plants and statues. There is this perfect breeze, even on warmer days, it gently cools you. I thought about the Huntingtons and how their family must have enjoyed afternoon teas. It is a place for day dreaming (which is what I did) along with a little more reading.
When I looked up from my book, this is one of the statues that I could gaze at. Sigh - so peaceful.
Everywhere you turn there is beauty, the soft curves worn a little by the ages, still breathtaking - still beautiful.
Ooops! Looked what I missed, I noticed this on my way out, looks like I'll have to go back in a couple of weeks and visit this new exhibit. Next post I will be sure to include knitting photos!

Happy Friday!

2009-10-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Well I finished the Monkey socks for my neighbor Tammy, I hope she loves them. Knitting two at a time was not that bad (although a little slow), I'll probably use this technique again when I know that I will be altering the pattern, I love the fact that they both turned out identical. The colors of these socks are so rich (photo doesn't quite show this). I made them shorter in every way as Tammy has a size 5 foot and is quite petite - being under 5 feet tall. I love this pattern so much that I dug through my stash and found a soft hand painted gray and beige merino bamboo blend that I think will do nicely. I could not believe that I dropped the WIP as I came into the front door and the yarn unwound nicely all the way through the house. This would not have been a problem had is not been for the 3 dancing Standard Poodles that had become tangled in the yarn. I saw the yarn take a leap into the air and snap between two of the dogs. I quickly managed to grab the yarn and haul it in. I quickly grabbed the second half and followed it out the front door - where Momma kitty was about to en snag it with her paw - I actually caught her with her paw in the air and she ran off in fright when she saw me charging trying to rescue my poor little WIP. I think it will be okay and will try knitting on it tomorrow. Since it will have to have a knot now, would the knot go on the top of the sock? Any ideas?
I came across this photo in my archives and it brought back memories of my vacation in Solvang. I love flowers, even just a few simple flowers can bring joy to your heart. I love the colors in this flower (would these colors be great for a sock yarn?)
Photo of Oranges at the LA Farmer's Market, it's hard to improve on nature don't you think? These oranges glistened like jewels, each one unique in its own way and you could smell all the surrounding fruits that filled the air with their sweet fragrances.
I love receiving gifts, one of my friends gave me these three bottles of soda. Their flavor was unbelievable! My favorite is the golden colored soda, it tastes like tart green pears. I savored each one, their color and aroma, their amazing flavors. The kindness of others touches my heart and simple gestures are so appreciated.

Too tired to be clever

2009-10-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

The hours of overtime this past two weeks has been very challenging, but I am grateful to have a job and now have more financial responsibilities - so it is very much needed. It does make blogging a challenge. This is my latest project - Cookie's Monkey socks with Paton's sock yarn and I'm trying my hand at knitting two at a time. Last night I attended a local knitting group that meets at the Anaheim Starbucks on Lincoln, we had a great time. They call themselves All Things String (yahoo group). I will definitely make this a regular thing, so nice to sit and chat with fellow knitters.
This sock (may it rest in peace) was going to be for my neighbor - after frogging them three times in an attempt to make them a little more comfortable (they felt HORRIBLY stiff and I think would be tortuous to wear), now they are destined for the frog pond. It made me a little sad as I do so love the design and it was fun to do, but how do you make these things wearable? The yarn was reused for the monkey socks above and the blue will be used for another nice sock design.

This Saturday is the meeting of our monthly knitting group at the LA Farmer's Market, we meet from 10am through noonish. On my last trip there I strolled by this candy display and thought - how many children must pass this, their eyes wide open, filling their heads with sweet dreams of rainbow lollipops. The L A Farmer's market is a wonderful place to go, I have to visit it each month, with each step you are rewarded with wonderful aromas from the surrounding cafes, creating a dilema as to where and what you will choose to experience. The worlds best donuts (Bob's)? Incredibly tender Belgian Waffles? Perhaps sitting at the french cafe with a bon amie?
Then after my knitting group I'll wander over to the Barnes & Noble for another book and visit Gary and have him rescue another pair of shoes. I love everything about this place!

Quick WIP's

2009-09-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the beginnings of the scarf for the Red Scarf Project. The yarn is Berroco Alpaca and the pattern is something I put together from a stitch dictionary called a flat diamond stitch (will not need blocking) and bordered by Seed stitches. I am knitting on size 8 knitting needle so that it will drape nicely. If anyone is interested in this pattern I would be more than happy to email them a copy of what I wrote down (free).

My neighbor's son is now in junior high school and recently came through knee surgery successfully. He is such an exceptional person and has been involved in sports his entire youth. His local sports teams have made him an honorary team member and he will support the teams by attending every game, supporting them from the bench. The colors for his basketball team are royal blue and gold. It's going to get a little chilly at some of the practices so I thought it would be nice for him to have a warm hat, this is a nice merino and I am knitting it in the seaman's cap. He is so appreciative of my work and that touches my heart.
I was able to purchase 4 pairs of Addi Turbo circular needles from a dear person who had to retire from knitting. One of the girls from my knitting group gave her my info and now I am so much richer from this experience. It is sad when one has to give up something they love for health reasons, but these knitting needles will be well used for many years to come.
The Grove (behind the LA Farmer's Market) has a Barnes & Noble, but not just any Barnes & Noble, this bookstore has character, it has style, the books are shown in a way that I can only consider Art. I snapped away at so many books and their arrangements, these two stood out.
I just wished I had more time and energy, many authors do books signings and readings at this store, but they are usually during the weekdays, traffic and distance are prohibit me from attending them, why can't they have a bookstore like this in Orange County?

Latte Knitting

2009-09-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

Located in the charming old town section of Camarillo is the coffee house "Element" and it welcomes you into its doors like an old friend. This was my first time in this place and Mike greets everyone with a warmth that you just don't find at most places (including my favorite LA coffee house). I studied the coffee board and the first thing that caught my eye was an Agave Latte?
Doesn't it look yummy! I did behave myself and ordered it in Nonfat, and wasn't the least bit cheated - it was creamy and the Agave did not overpower the deep rich flavor of the espresso. This has to be one of the best Lattes I've ever had in my life! I actually had to order a second one to accompany my knitting as the first one was polished off while reading the third book in the series "A Deadly Yarn". I also was exploring my stitch dictionary for an appropriate pattern to use for a scarf for the "Red Scarf Project" that Ellen had shared with us on her blog L.A. Is My Beat. The Yarn I selected is a Red Alpaca and the pattern is mulling around in my head. Should get started on this by the weekend.

Just in case you don't want to sit at one of the tables there were also comfy chairs to lounge on and I noticed many people were on there laptops. Everyone tended to linger here, you did not feel pressured to gulp and leave.
This place has a sense of humor, when I read this sign I couldn't help but laugh, I must have a wicked sense of humor as I could picture the little one balancing an espresso cup in one hand and a kitten on the other.
It appears that they have original works of art on the walls as well (I didn't really notice the little plaques next to the paintings til now) but there were several works of art there on the walls. While I was looking at the art I happened on a fellow knitter who has a knitting group that meets there on Saturday afternoons, so the next time I'm in town I'll have to drop in for a visit. Hope Mike will be there to spoil me with another incredible Latte, they could be addicting!
Why I am including a photograph of Ice you say? Well it's so hot here that I had to prepare my local readers for what is about to follow. Think cool thoughts - no its not nearly 100 degrees any longer you are now in the midst of a cool meadow with frost coming off your breath. In which case you would need one of these.
An earflap hat! I had won the yarn on Ebay a couple of years ago, it came from a farmer/spinner who raised her own animals. The yarn is a very soft natural wool, with a fine yarn of brown alpaca and a strand of fine black mohair. It has such a home made quality about it that I find endearing.

My Hero Gary

2009-09-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

Gary is my hero - no doubt about it, he saved my beloved shoes which I had considered replacing this year after being worn to the point where it was just embarrassing to be seen in them. Now they have a second life, this man cares about what he is doing and takes pride in his work. Honestly you have never seen anything like this, a simple task performed to perfection (and this is while he goes through the trials of dialysis - yet there is no self pity in his voice). He has his stand at the Grove (behind the LA Farmer's Market). He carries with him an album full of celebrity photos, all of whom have been his customers, which he will share with you to peruse while he is attending your shoes. He was busy when I approached his stand, a couple from the Sacramento area made sure he was one of their stops while visiting LA. After this couple had left, Gary shared with me that their family had originally owned the Farmer's Market. You meet the most interesting people at his stand!
See - they are presentable again! (Lila thought so too)
The Farmer's Market is so inspirational. Now that I have to work on a quilt for my great niece, I was inspired by so many different things.
The square containers that held the various fruits instantly brought quilt squares to mind - I love the playful color of the fruits.
This is my first attempt at a real quilt. I sewed strips of fabric together and then cut them into small strips. Quilting is hard work and at this moment I am not in love with the process. But I love my little great niece and she is worth the effort, I have never seen a baby that is so happy, she has such a gentle disposition and loves to laugh - her big blue eyes dance with merriment.
I am on a vacation now and will be dedicating my vacation time to this quilt, so will post more photos soon. I also have a few more photos to share of my favorite yarn store and also my knitting projects. Talk to you soon.

Cable Socks

2009-09-07T14:19:00.001-07:00

The Cabled socks are completed, sorry about the photo, but the plants have a fine dust of ash on them and I couldn't find a clean outdoor surface anywhere, as soon as the plants dry, they are covered in ash again from the local fires, so I got creative and hung them from a pant hanger - not a glamorous picture, but proof they are done! My friend couldn't stop giggling with delight.
I finally got around to reading this book and was in for a pleasant surprise, it was a fun read. I can actually recommend this book - not too gory and the yarn store described in this book makes me want to move to this small imaginary town.
The author has written a series of these book -I keep surprising myself, I would not usually follow a whole series of books, but actually may this time and have bought the second book in the series and have just begun reading it, hope it is as good as the first book, now I'm torn between reading and knitting. I'll have photos next weekend of my WIP (or perhaps even a completed project if the overtime at work dies down a bit).
Did I mention that I miss cooking? I am getting a new kitchen sink and counter top, which is now on hold until some one's back gets better. So I am in kitchen limbo and hope all will be repaired fairly soon.
The new kitchen counter top is going to be mostly white tile with touches of black and the new sink is one of those smart sinks - still cast iron and very heavy (hence a back injury ensued and the project is on hold until they are mended and able to work on it again).
Flowers seem to always make everything better, you forget your problems (like the lack of a kitchen) and get lost in their color, if they have fragrance to boot, then its a double dose of pleasure.

Wrap = Practicing Patience

2009-08-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

I decided to knit the Every Way Wrap from Interweave Knits, it looked like so much fun. So like a good little knitter I made enlarged copies of the chart, read all the directions and then began my project. The ribbing goes very well, then I begin the cable part of the chart and it does not look like the photo, so I'm thinking - Never mind I'm sure it will begin looking like it very soon and as I approached the 17th line of the chart - I realized that I must have gotten something wrong and frog it back to the ribbing. Ever determined I begin again with expectation - watching for the beautiful cables to begin to appear (this time quit by line 10 and know I did not make any mistakes this time). My heart sinks as I realize this looks like mud - no beautiful cables anywhere! So I put it aside and tried to calm my mind. Then it occurs to me to look at their website and BINGO there is a revised key for the chart. So I frogged once again back to the ribbing and this time the chart worked - really it did and I think it will be something versatile and comfortable to wear.

I am knitting the wrap with Frog Tree Merino in a color called Melange. In the photo it appears gray, but the color is a muted antique lavender and at certain angles you can see a glimpse of a soft antique peachy tone, the yarn is so soft and a pleasure to knit with. I am determined to knit this even in the hot weather we are experiencing.

The weather has been simply awful, temps over 100 and with the wildfires the air is smokey and difficult to breath - so I escaped to Newport Beach which was surprisingly warm at about 90 degrees, but the air was good to breath and here are the views from my suite.
We got the last room available and it had different views of the back bay. It was more at an angle to the bay, but the views were still glorious.
From this room you could also see more of the back bay in the distance and in the horizon the homes along the cliffs of the back bay. At night it was really nice to look at the distant lights that twinkled and reflected in the water.
I thought I could show you the completed pair of socks this posting, but as I was about to begin the toe decreases, I proudly held the pair up together to gaze at my accomplishment when I noticed one sock looked a little shorter than the other, I let out a groan and thought, maybe just a little stretching will do the trick - after all they are for a size 10 foot so there must be a little give - but no the sock refused to budge (darn cables). So I ripped the sock back to just above the heel and added the darn 1/2 inch. Maybe by the next post I'll have them done - besides its just WAY TOO HOT to take a photo of my friend in these socks - yes that's it - I'm being a considerate friend and sparing her the trial of donning wool socks in 100 degree weather. By the way to calm my nerves I watched Jets take off from my balcony, the different color planes were so pretty against the blue skies and for some reason comforted me.
I bought this book and want to cook the Beef Bourguignon and can hardly wait for the weather to cool off as the thought of something heavy right now is just not appealing. Hope it photographs well so that I can share it with you. I really do love cooking, usually I stick to Italian, so French style cooking should be interesting. Has anyone made this recipe? If so - what did you think of it?

Surprises

2009-08-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

One of my friends asked me for a couple of pairs of socks, I had never knitted a pair for a woman who wears a size 10 shoe and was not sure that I had enough of the blue sockyarn, so I improvised and used some leftover tweed yarn for the top and toe. She loves them - I was so pleasantly surprised that someone would love something that I made, she just kept saying "these are sooo cool", they fit perfectly. I made a couple of alterations as the cable really tightens up the leg, so I switched to from a size 3 to a size 4 needle and went back to the size 3 about 6 inches into the pattern. I've begun the second sock and really must finish them soon while the changes I made are fresh in my mind.
When I came into work on Monday, the girls in my group had surprised me this plant. I love flower plants in the bud stage, to watch them develop and bloom fills me with wonder. The leaves on this plant are glossy and make my little space a much more pleasant place to be.

I was pulling up some of my previous photos and was surprised that I had not used this photo earlier, the flowers remind me of Southern Bells with their full skirts. Does anyone know what these flowers are called?
Surprise! Boy was I , I was taking a photo of the goodies we had from a coffee house when a bird swooped down and quickly grabbed a piece - daring little thing. It liked the berry cobbler so much that it kept landing on the chair across from me and even on the table itself and scolded me severely when I put them in the trash.

Yarn Comfort

2009-08-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

I've had a bit of a trial lately and now things are taken care of. So where do I turn for comfort? Why of course I turned to yarn, I practically waded in it and found the colors a friend wanted for her winter hat & socks. I used sheer determination to find wool in these bright colors and searched literally on my hands and knees through milk crates full of yarns in a rather large yarn store and EUREKA!!! buried in the last bin I searched was the two balls above - all I know is they are 100% wool and are a sport weight. Hope there is enough for a pair of socks.
These will make a fine looking hat for her - must have ear flaps, so the search for a great pattern is on. (It's hard to tell, but the dark yarn is actually purple).

RIVERSIDE

I had to go to an area of Riverside that I have never been to before and found this wonderful sign above, I love it when I find these little treasures. It was a 10 mile drive down this road and I just kept running into things that I found delightful.

I came across this fruit stand surrounded by an Orange Grove and it brought back memories from my childhood - after all I was raised in Orange County - which did have Orange Groves then. They had some delicious looking Avocados (had to get them - they are so good for your skin & hair) and also many flavors of licorice (had to get just 1 little bag, tee hee).
Southern California used to have quite a few buildings with kitchy architectural features and I miss them, this was just across the street from the fruit stand. The street was lined both sides by the Palm Trees below.
Which was then backed by the acres of Orange Trees, I hadn't realized how much I miss those trees and wish they could have kept a few of the Orange Groves around. There is something endearing about these trees and I remember the scent of Orange Blossoms in the evening.
Another treasure from the past, an actual drive in, I remember we used to bring my mom's fried chicken, home made bread & butter pickles and roasted corn (with butter and soysauce), the whole car smelled heavenly, accompanied by glasses of Kool-Aid, while happily watching a Doris Day film (Mom liked those) or a John Wayne Movie for my dad or if we were especially lucky a Disney movie for my brother & myself.

Its is nice to remember the good times but for the most part I just live in the moment and appreciate what is occurring right now. Savoring every breath and drinking in life's beauty.

A pair of Socks!

2009-08-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

The sock yarn below was such a pleasure to work with, I had never knitted with Koigu before and what a joy it was. The yarn reminded me of Monet's garden paintings (above). This is the second time I've knitted the Embossed Leaf Pattern sock and I loved the interplay of color with the pattern.

I am also over the second sock syndrome and joyfully completed the second one (see below for proof). They looked lovely with the volunteer Sweet Peas that meanders up my Japanese Maple in the front yard and also gently cradled by my gigantic French Lavender shrub.

SOLVANG

While I was on my vacation in July one of the places I also visited was the quaint Danish inspired town of Solvang. Here is one of the cottages (see below) at the Motel where I stayed (alas they were not available during my trip, but I thought them cute). The motel was simple without alot of perks, but the town is a wonderful place to walk (as you can see from the photo above the Architecture gives the town its character). The air is clean as it is surrounded by miles of foothills, there are loads of shops, places to dine and even a yarn/spinning shop (which I won't go into details on as they did not want to become too busy with visitors - a rather odd remark, but I will respect their wishes and they will remain nameless).
The food isn't all Danish either and I chose to have dinner at an Italian restaurant called Cafe Angelica, they have things on the menu that were not your typical Italian menu. So being on vacation I ventured away from my norm and stared with mussels and clams which were so fresh and very very yummy, sopped up with some superb garlic bread!

After dinner the Latte that arrived was simply decadent and what should I have to accompany it?

DESSERT!!!! Now keep in mind that Solvang is full of bakeries, but they had so many fabulous things to choose from here that I just had to have one, It was hard to pick just one, but the aroma of rich dark chocolate that wafted from the chocolate cake was overwhelming (it turned out to be one of the best I have ever tasted). I did not feel too guilty as I had been walking most of the day and strolled about a bit more before returning to the Motel.
Solvang is famous for its Aebelskiver, so I felt it my duty to order it for breakfast, (just so that I could get a photo of it for you - yes I'm so self sacrificing). It's doughy and not too sweet which goes so well with the Raspberry Jam that tops it. (are you drooling yet?)
Thank you for sharing my vacation with me. I love to travel - to experience new places or to revisit ones that have grown dear to my heart.

Color in Carmel

2009-08-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

My suite at the Inn was complete with a darling kitchen - I loved the old tile and the colorful red & white wallpaper. I do feel a little guilty that I did not make full use of it, but we discovered a great place for seafood that was so reasonable - I tried my first raw oysters and was quite surprised how much I liked them (petite little ones that were sweet and easy to swallow). They also had an incredible seafood sandwich that had fresh crab and shrimp in it that we ended up sharing - so yummy!

The place had its quirks, like the TV's on/off button was broken, the remote did not work, the VCR decided to break (yes I said VCR) and the spring on the coffee maker did not go down all the way so it flooded the counter with coffee - did I mind these little oddities - frankly no, it just seems to go along with an older Inn, the room was clean and the bed was comfy, but my favorite part was that the heat for the room was provided by the fireplace - you turned up the thermostat and on it came!

There was a nice little courtyard with a fireplace that our rooms opened onto and there was also a dining room where you could serve yourself breakfast. In the afternoon there was fresh baked cookies (chocolate chip with REAL BUTTER), wine and a nice variety of cheeses.

My favorite part of the grounds were the beautiful flowers. I like the color combinations, for instance the petite white flowers against the Burgundy.

The Pinks, Blues and Lavenders, gazing at this photo during this post made me think of how pleased Fairies would be dancing among these petals on a morning when they would be bejeweled by dew.

The yellows mixed with the various shades of purple are so peaceful, the sweet scent of the Allysum filling the air. Carmel's colors are softened by its weather, its the perfect backdrop for them. In my opinion Flowers are very photogenic - don't you think?

FABRIC

While on my trip I came across fabric stores! San Luis Obispo has a great fabric and craft store where I purchased the above fabric to create headbands for one of my friends. Lila seems to approve the my choices (she wasn't even in sight when I laid down the towel - 30 seconds later - there she is!!!)

On my trip to Solvang I discovered a quilt store and purchased a few fabrics - I'm not sure that I have all the fabric yet, but plan on starting a quilt for my Darling little Niece. I had the darnedest time trying to lay them down, Lila kept batting at each fabric square, so I quickly shot the photo (you can see her little paw taking another swat at them, but at least my fingers are out of the way this time). I do so hope it turns out as I let the cat out of the bag (I am a bit nervous about this - my first quilt).

Carmel By The Sea

2009-08-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

The beauty of the beaches along Carmel is apparent even when the weather is cold and drizzled at times. 51 degrees in July - quite a shock to the system after the warmth of Arizona with 100 plus temps! I have so many photos that I liked from this quaint town that I will have to divide it over a few posts. Every where you turned the vistas were stunning, charming architecture, pretty gardens, flowers flourished everywhere. I wanted to share in the post a little of the shores of Carmel By The Sea.

There was drift wood strew about among the cliff side plants, you didn't need to try mess about too much with trying to find a good angle to shoot from. Everywhere I turned and took the photo, it just seemed right.

I love the way the branches reach into the frame of the picture, it feels like you could step into this photo, it has depth, the foggy background makes you wonder what lays beyond. For some reason the ocean smelled especially briny (I can still recall its aroma, much different from the Southern California beaches).

I remember wading through the sand to get this photo, the sand is so very soft and your feet sink in with every step, the bare limbs in the background looked almost like a dancing figure when it was misting.

Sedona

2009-07-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Sedona is an awesome place and I can see why it inspires artists to paint its vistas, even just the average joe like me can't help but want to capture its image. There is an energy about this place that causes one to become silent. You want to hear the whisper of the wind and the gentle calls of its birds and insects.

The rocks change so much, depending on the light, when the sun is bright the rocks are a much deeper red. As I came into this Valley the colors just jumped out at you, surprising you at its intensity - so vibrant and alive (we had just came through Phoenix with its dull sandy soil and extreme heat). The surrounding mountains though beautiful in there own way do not prepare you for Sedona. I can understand why so many want to live here, the architecture of the local buildings is very chic, galleries, boutiques and fine dining abound - quite dear to the wallet. That is why this motel was so surprising, its very simple and decent - also affordable.

The sign speaks for itself, straight forward and no nonsense. I really did not feel the need for anything more, the area surrounding it is full of restaurants that you can walk to and galleries that you can visit.

At the end of the motel was the best part, a nice covered patio. I had my coffee here and sat listening, gazing at the surrounding red hills and jagged peaks. Little bees visited me and hovered about eye level for a few moments before moving on. A fellow lodger came and joined me - he and his wife were celebrating their 20th Wedding Anniversary. It was so sweet to hear him sing her praises, he was happy with his life (he is a landscaper and was so glad that it could provide them with this vacation). A kind an gentle man who enjoyed the simple things in life.

Just down the street was a sweet collection of shops & restaurants. The sign above was charming and to me was an artistic expression - announcing the presence of a cafe. The things of everyday were made with an appreciation - something for the eyes to enjoy.

Here is another approach to the same set of shops, but with a different feel. The sound of the water and the statues evoke a Mediterranean feel.

And yet another approach makes it feel like you are standing in a European garden, I like the different approaches and the lack of a central theme, it feels spontaneous. Sorry no knitting to show you, I did work a little on the lace scarf, but I've already shown you that and it still has a long ways to go.

Green Valley

2009-07-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

The Green Valley is a place I would like to experience during its cooler seasons, I would love to explore the local parks and visit some of the tribes that live here, but when the weather is over 100 degrees, I just made a beeline for the resort and hid from the heat and I am so glad that I did, the place was an indulgence. View from the Resort- the sky took your breath away with its beauty, the clouds danced across the sky, this is monsoon season and the clouds patterns were fascinating, in one cloud formation you could have dark grey, graduating up to a pure white, I've never seen anything like it.

The love seat was so comfy, the kind you sink into, so you grab a book and lay back, its the perfect size for me to curl up into with a nice glass of wine.

I did not get the chance to use the dinning table, but loved the idea of it being there. Egads - I just had an epiphany, with my new found interest in quilting, this would be the perfect place to do one of my projects! Can't you just see my sewing machine at one end and a WIP spread out behind it.

I did get a chance to briefly use the kitchen, the oven is so large, I've never used one like this before and felt a little guilty using it for such a little thing as a quiche, but you know what a new toy is like, you just have to use it. The kitchen is well stocked with wine glasses, dishware and some appliances, but if you really serious about your cookware, then you might want to bring one or two of your favorite ones. When I return I want to bring along a Le Creuset pot to make a stew - can you use them on the flat top stoves?

The bed was very, very comfy with a nice view of open fields. I had intended to do a little knitting right before I retired (honestly I did), but fell asleep with my knitting bag sitting on the bed beside me, the lights and TV on. I guess the long 8 hour drive in all that heat took a toll on me.

The next morning I had a luxurious bubble bath and soaked while reading one of Yarn Harlot's books, it just doesn't get much better than this. My vacation continues, next is Sedona, followed by Carmel by the Sea and then Solvang. I will be posting those soon along with photos of my latest yarn and fabric finds.

Redondo Beach

2009-07-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Spent part of the weekend in Redondo Beach and started off my day with breakfast at CJ's. The food is good and the portions are generous. It has a beachy casual atmosphere and the walls are painted with beach scenes (as you can see from below). The waitresses are so sweet, they were checking on me regularly and filling up the little coffee cup (even before it was halfway down).

A walk was in order after breakfast, the beach is only a couple of minutes away, so I strolled down there and this view greeted me. There is a Marina nearby so lots of boats were in the area. There is something majestic about the way they glide through the water, there were Sail boats as well, but they were not cooperative about having their photo taken.

There are rocks piled up everywhere and it was mesmerizing watching the waves wash up on them, splashes of white spray filled the air, the ocean air is so relaxing, you feel all your tensions ease away and your breathing becomes deeper. There is nothing like the smell of the ocean, once you've experienced it - it will linger in your memory.

Doesn't this look tropical? I thought of some of my readers when I took this photo. The Palm Trees really do lend to the landscape, I had taken them for granted until someone had commented on them. It opened my eyes and I take notice of them now.

I even take the time to look up at them and admire their foliage with the blue skies as their backdrop. Birds love to nest in them, especially if they are a little less tidy than this one. They hide their nests among the older fronds that can form a dense cover for them.

I have chosen a few more companions for the pink and white fabric that I had previously purchased. I think they get along quite well. Now what to do with them. I'm still pondering on this.

Title?

2009-07-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

My knitting time was almost non existent during the past week or so, horrendously long work hours just wore me out. It looks like its over with for now and so I can resume knitting on my Petra scarf (definitely not a quick knit, but very rewarding as you see the scarf start to grow little by little {I had inch by inch, but that would just be too fast}). Perhaps my readers won't mind my sharing photos of things that catch my eye - to see the wonders that surround us from another's viewpoint. I am finding that I love knitting lace and being a slow knitter with not a lot of spare time, well, there just wouldn't be much to show you. I have been inspired by fellow bloggers and their talents. Pat's quilts have been so incredibly beautiful that I picked up a few pieces of fabric, they look quite pretty together and perhaps I could add some solid white and a solid pink to them - or maybe some green - so confusing -what do you think? I'm not quite sure what to make with them, perhaps a tote? Any suggestions? I have never quilted before, but so admire the craft. For those of you who haven't visited Pat's blog, I highly suggest that you browse it, her knitting is as beautiful as her quilts and she takes wonderful photos that show the details of her craft. (You'll see her blog listed on the side under my favorite blogs).Nature inspires me, as I was exploring quilt patterns, I could see how the colors of a quilt could be inspired by nature and the colors she combines. The pinks above with the muted pinky browns of the stems and the green in the leaves. Or the various shades of yellow and greens of the rose bush below. I can see how all this inspiration can lead to love of fabric, for its color, texture and designs, now add to that all the beautiful quilts patterns available and the countless projects that could be created - its simply dizzying! For now I will exercise patience and bide my time, exploring this new interest and savoring it like a good read or a fine glass of wine - to be enjoyed.

Lila

My dear little kitty Lila is fascinated by my camera. She is staring at it almost mesmerized and makes a beeline for me every time I want to take photos of projects, yarn... her sweet little face instantly melts my heart and I forgive all her trespasses. Some kitties just love to be blog stars.

There are some stark places in California that have a certain strange beauty. This area I believe is called Red Rock where some friends went primitive camping (shudder). In the summer it is baked by the blazing sun and hot dry winds. It almost looks like it could be another planet.

July 4

2009-07-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

This is a painting of my father who was a World War II veteran. His name was Willis, but everyone called him Bill. He was a Sergeant and retired from the Army after 20 years of service. Wish I had wonderful things to say and sweet memories to share with you, I've read so many accounts of tender moments with a dear parent and they touch my heart. But I wouldn't be here without him, so I can honor him in this way.

Petra Scarf

2009-06-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

I was a little down in the dumps about the last lace scarf I tried and frogged, just was not sure what to knit. In Smariek's comment she gave couple of great suggestions and I decided to try knitting her lace scarf called Petra and it is coming along wonderfully. Definitely have to pay attention to this pattern and I like the challenge of it. I can see its beauty as I knit, it has such a nice flow and weight to it.

The Angee sock from Cookie's book fits well and was easy to knit. I used a merino and bamboo blend that was hand dyed by Celtic Memory Yarns in Ireland. This yarn very, very soft, don't you think its goes well with this pattern?

Los Angeles is full of bakeries, this one is a Jewish Bakery (just down the street from the LA Farmer's market) everything that I had purchased there was delicious. I loved the old sign, its nice to see that not everything has to be torn down and redone (Orange County is infamous for that).

Don't you love receiving gifts? I dear friend of mine surprised me with this book, it has notes written in it (most likely a high school student) and there was an old paint sample card from 1977 that someone had used as a bookmark. I have never read a book like this before, it is unusual and interesting. Out of curiosity I looked it up on the Internet and the school still exists, the daughter of the founder now runs the school using his principles.

HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY!

I have found a yarn store - not very local (4o miles away). But the best one around, its called Wildfiber and is located in Santa Monica. It is a high end store and contained so many yarns that I had read about on your blogs, they encouraged me to look around - no pressure, just take my time. I found some Rowan and in the back they have a sale area where I SCORED some Koigu. There were so many more yarns to drool over, but I restrained myself and walked away with just a few things.

Look at all that beautiful yarn!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winners

2009-06-16T04:41:00.000-07:00

We have two winners for my give away, Cathleen won the first gift that included all the sock yarn. The second gift which included the Rosewood knitting needles was won by Brown Bear. I have sent you both an email and look forward to receiving your information so that I may send you your gifts. I had not realized how much I would enjoy this whole experience and will not wait an entire year again before I have another one. The only sad part was not being able to give everyone something. (By the way I used a Random Number generator to select for me)

GRAY

I love the gray days of June and when I looked at my WIP noticed they are all GRAY! I found this profoundly funny and thought I would share this with you. The days are gentle now and I was even able to stroll the parking lot at work in the afternoon. The sounds are different then and I was greeted by the cries of a Dove, the beat of a Hummingbird’s wings, and the song of a Mockingbird - all in just a 15 minute stroll. These gentle skies allow the Agapanthus petals to glow attracting Hummingbirds and Honey Bees and how beautiful the Jacarandas look towering against the soft skies.

One of my projects was a lace scarf which is now in the frog pond, the pattern was complex and interesting, but just want not to my taste, with all that work I want it to be something I love, so I will have to search out another design. Does anyone have any suggestions on a lace scarf pattern?

I also have another candidate for the Frog Pond, I loved the design, the colors of this Koigu sock yarn are fabulous, but it was just too big and there would not have been enough yarn to make this into knee highs, so I have to look for a new pattern. Any suggestions for patterns? Has anyone worked with this yarn before?

Blogiversary Give Away

2009-06-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am celebrating my one year of Blogging with a Give Away. I had so much fun picking out these sock yarns, the large skein in the middle is Opal, the two blue ones on the side are Wildefoot and the pair in the front is Red Heart (the Red Heart is really fabulous - it contains aloe, very very comfortable to wear). All of these comprise the first gift.

Gift #2 is some really pretty Berrocco "Zen" yarn and the most gorgeous Colonial Rosewoodknitting needles, I absolutely fell in love with the beauty of these needles.

RULES TO WIN

1. Leave a comment and if you don't have a blog, then also email me indicating which comment was yours.

2. If you have a blog and reference this giveaway on it, then that counts as an extra entry (please be so kind as to let me know).

The deadline to enter is June 15. I will be selecting two winners at random and post them on my blog.

Cable Rib Sock

2009-05-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

I just finished the Cable Rib Sock from Interweave's Favorite Socks book, it suggested using a cotton based yarn, but I just haven't found a cotton sock yarn that I really like, so I used a yarn with 65% Merino Wool, 25% Nylon & 10% Donegal - Knit Picks Essential in the colorway Ash Tweed. The sock pattern is quite forgiving in the fit which is especially appropriate as this is a gift for someone with a size 10 foot, unlike the petite sock, this one was not so quick to knit, so I must knit the second one soon, and maybe reward myself with a treat when it is complete. Hmmmm what should that be?

I haven't been gardening much this year and am grateful for the faithful perennials that are making an appearance now, this Japanese Hydrangea is especially lovely as it cascades over a volunteer Columbine, I love surprises, it will be interesting to see what color the Columbine will be and hopefully the Hydrangea will share in a bloom together with its nearby companion. We shall see.

Have you ever had a dear friend snap at you or perhaps get irritated with you? Well this just happened to me and my response? Give them some beautiful flowers that I cut from my Hydrangea shrub in a recycled Royal Blue vodka bottle. I feel that life is too short to hold grudges or to let my Ego get out of whack over something trivial. My gift was received with a warm smile and a tender hug.

I also cut a couple of flowers for myself and it looks lovely on my old oak dresser. They sit quite happily in an old antique bottle. Hydrangeas are such delicious flowers, the shrubs need little care and reward you with a such long lasting blooms.

Petite Socks

2009-05-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

I just completed the first of the Vilai sock for a very petite friend of mine, I modified the pattern so that it came just above the ankle, she has very small feet (size 5) and has a petite stature so I thought this version would be suitable. Oh by the way - it is a delight to knit for someone so small! The sock came about very quickly and has motivated me to start to second sock immediately (I have to remember all the changes I made). This sock pattern is alot of fun to knit and really holds my interest. The sock yarn was one I had won from ebay, it is wool and nylon and has pretty good stitch definition.

She really likes this sock and thinks I'm a fast knitter. (That could definitely earn her some future socks).

FUN! FUN! FUN!

I met with a knitting group at the L.A. Farmer's market, what a delightful group of women, I had such a great time, I will definitely be back next month. I found the group on a lively blog called LA IS MY BEAT (http://ellenbloom.blogspot.com/ ), there is something about this woman that just draws you in - she has panache. I felt so comfortable with this group, no expectations on any one's part, just sharing the pure joy of knitting and chatting.

The sweetest little baby was there, she was just a bundle of joy, all laughs and smiles with the prettiest blue eyes.

Rivet - Rivet - Rivet

2009-05-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

This post should have had a few projects to show, I earnestly tried to knit with the cotton sock yarn, they would have come in very handy for summer and they just left me feeling like Goldilocks - only nothing was quite just right. I thought the hot pink yarn would look darling in the Latvian Socks pattern as it featured a heart pattern what I had failed to notice until after I started knitting is that the charts have a different number of rep stitches, chart 1 - 32 st reps, chart 2 35 st rep, chart 3 33 st rep and I wasn't sure how to go from chart 1 to chart 2 - do you make the extra stitches??? I am a self taught knitter with only 1 knitting lesson under my belt. So I frogged the sock after completing the 12 rows in chart 1. Then I took my last remaining skein of yarn and began knitting the Uptown Boot Socks, the pattern is very simple, but the yarn was having nothing to do with this pattern and the stitches were very mushy. So the yarn will reside in the frog pond for now. Which brings me to my next frogging adventure. I fell in love with the Vilai socks and found a decent yarn for the pattern in my stash - Yipee - the yarn would really show great stitch definition. This is my first time using one of Cookie's charts and I had misplaced all of my highlighters, but I marched on determined to begin this gorgeous sock. I had completed the ribbing and was beginning the set up - row 2 when I received my first interruption, Watson (Black Standard Poodle #2) insisted on being petted and cuddled. Went back to the pattern I had already read what the symbols meant, so did the Rib Cross - funny the stitches did not end evenly - never mind I'm sure it will catch up in the next round. Hastings (a VERY LARGE White Standard Poodle) begs me with his pleading eyes to follow him - a crisis had occurred, the food was running low in their bowl and he wanted fresh water. Return to knitting sock and begin the main chart pattern ... many interruptions later - the stitch count does not seem to be matching and I keep making or decreasing to try to bring the pattern back into shape. Approaching row 27 and realizing this does not look like the sock in the photo - frog, frog, frog, back to the ribbing and went to the store to return with... Highlighters - to help me keep track of what has been knitted - notice my helpful kitty, I swear she wasn't in sight when I brought my bits to the garden to photograph, but she was a very good model - her petite paws framing the highlighters.

Poking her nose at my camera lens and gently pushing my hand about as I held my camera and tried to get my photos.

I also bought these Post its (in case I stop mid row - yes I know never stop mid row, but distractions are ever present) I love this little frog sprinkler - it sits among the Alpine Strawberries and peaks out at me thru the leaves.

I also purchased some ribbon to go with the lace stocking I plan to knit. I am especially fond of the pink and green ribbon. The wide green ribbon with the orange polka dots was just irresistible and felt so silky and smooth, don't know what I will do with it, perhaps wrap a little gift with it or should I include it in my give away (this June)?

Finally a finished project to show you, I had to really rush to get this photo, no dallying as Lila was attempting to pounce on them as they sit atop the French Lavender. These are the leaf socks, they are so pretty on - the toe is not really that pointy when you have it on.

MORE GETTY PHOTOS

I will be sharing photos from the Getty's garden over the next few posts. I love the use of rebar to show off the bougainvillea, this is a wonderful place to rest and view the surrounding garden, read a book or knit for a spell.

I stood at the base of the and looked up, the magenta flowers against the blue sky was gorgeous and I thought - great colors for a sock yarn!

There are so many vignettes, the gardeners use of textures, shape and color, one has to stop and admire their work. Taking the time to notice the fragrances lingering in the air.

Enduring Beauty

2009-04-26T19:50:00.001-07:00

This statute greets you as you exit the shuttle at the Getty Museum. Glistening in the sunlight it causes you to pause for a moment and fills you with anticipation as to what lies within. There are so many treasures that are within its walls and with the visiting exhibits you could easily see incredible works of Art with each visit. My purpose this visit was to stroll thru the gardens so that I could share them with you.

The garden itself is a work of art. I could not believe this composition, the way the succulents sparkled in the sunlight, the pop of a yellow poppy(?) that was on the wane draped so delicately across its neighbor. The vignette so fleeting, just a moment of beauty that I managed to capture on film, its moments like this that takes my breath away and fills me with awe.

The contrast between the vibrant Orange poppy against the delicate poppy (which reminds me of a petticoat) was so visually appealing and I was so happy that the bee was so accommodating to visit while I was taking this photo. The garden was simply abuzz with bees and they peacefully flew about the place their buzzing quietly filling the air and an ocean breeze wafted thru (causing many a blurred photo) .

The color on these Roses was a shocking Orange (the sun did wash them out a bit in the photo) its contrasting dark green leaves forming the perfect background for them.

On the other hand these Roses were quite hidden under a tree, the sunlight peaking thru the leaves, they looked like they were stretched out to gather up every bit of sunshine they could find. After my visit to the gardens today, I reflected on the joy that all plants bring to me, but especially the short lived beauty of the flowers, they can always bring a smile to my face.

FUTURE PROJECTS

I purchased the Interweave Knits for Spring 2009, I found the beautiful cardigan above its called Hannah Fettig's Whisper Cardigan. For some reason I don't feel intimated at the notion of knitting this and will be looking for the yarn - Morehouse Merino Lace (has anyone worked with this yarn?)

Please forgive this rather blurry photo, but my camera was having problems focusing on it and the sun was going down, so this is the best I could do. Its called Bettie's Lace Stockings, it incorporates calf shaping into the stocking so, it will definitely be a challenge. The yarn is Rowan 4 ply (yoohoo has anyone worked with this yarn?). I hope it will look as charming on me as it does in the photo. Now to think on the color and perhaps a pretty sundress to wear it with. If all goes well, I would wear them to have Tea at the Huntington Library or perhaps for an outdoor concert under the stars.

Appreciation

2009-04-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

There is so much beauty in life - when one feels inspired to share its wonders, sometimes its a simple as looking up at the clouds when the sky is blue and realizing how good it feels to be alive. To feel a breeze as it brushes against your skin or to smell the flowers that can fill the air with their fragrance, especially on a hot day. This weekend was a scorcher, much too hot to knit, but fortunately for me, I can escape to the ocean where the air is clean and its scent fills the air, leaving you with a sense of well being, my lungs grateful for being able to take deep breaths of clean air. I may not have any knitting to share with you, but I wished to share my gratitude for everything I've been given, the ability to appreciate and to love life. Happy Knitting my friends!

Knitting Cotton Socks

2009-04-13T18:33:00.001-07:00

Well I'm knitting my first pair of socks using a cotton blend. I purchased Risata from Knit Picks, its a blend of 42% Cotton, 39% Superwash Merino Wool, 13% Polyamide and 6% Elite Elastic. Its really different than knitting with wool, casting on with this yarn is a bit alarming as the yarn was unwinding and separated a bit so I had to be careful not to split it with the needles. After the first couple of rows the yarn tames down and knitting returns to normal. So I chose to knit the sock pictured below. The pattern is simply called Lace Cuff Anklets (Favorite Socks book) and here is my version below. To tell the truth, I'm really not that crazy about it, maybe it would look better in the green color. The pattern was interesting as it started off with a size 4 needle, then went down to size 3, and the body of the foot is knitted on size 2, its a good thing that I began expanding on my circular needles, Knit Picks has such affordable needles, its hard not to get a few each time I order. Great News though this may end up being the last photo of my feet in socks (Do I hear a collective YIPPEE!!!), no more pale legs and weird camera angles.

I splurged and bought a pair of sock blockers - so my photos will look ever so professional. (giggle) I was a little unsure about how this pattern would knit up and as a precaution I purchased three skeins of this yarn. So for now the second sock is on hold. Why - do you ask?

Because I plan to try this sock (just in a single color). The pattern is called Latvian Sock from Vogue's Ultimate Sock Book. I just cast on a few minutes ago (yes this skein also unwound and tried to split on me). And if all goes wel I will show you the sock on my next post. Then I feel that I will have reference point and be able to make a proper decision.

By the way does anyone have any suggestions on a decent cotton blend sock yarn (for lighter weight summer socks) any pattern suggestions would also be greatly appreciated? I've really grown to love sock knitting, being a slow knitter with limited time, it allows me to accomplish something. Egad, I can't even imagine knitting a sweater. Maybe during a vacation when I have loads of time on my hands. I can imagine myself sitting on a porch of a lovely cabin overlooking a valley full of trees, rocking and knitting, the aroma of a fresh baked apple pie drifting over the porch, my Standards curled up near me - Who Knows Maybe someday, it sounds like a pleasant way to live, simple. By the way my Blogiversary is coming up this June and I will have a contest, its been fun shopping for the prizes.

WIP's

2009-03-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

I have a few WIP's in progress, this scarf is so much fun to knit, it's a free pattern on Smariek's blog (There is a link to her blog listed under my favorites) and the pattern is called Osiris. The yarn is one of Knit Picks "Essential" in the colorway called Mermaid and I am using a #3 circular needle which seems to be the right size for the pattern. The photo above shows the true color of the yarn, but I couldn't get good stitch definition so I turned on the dreadful fluoresent light and got the stitch definition - but oh my, the color became ghastly, so please use your imagination and merge the two together (got the picture?)

I am making progress on my the other leaf sock, I did get distracted by Osiris, but will get this sock done shortly, although it's almost too warm to wear them now, but they shall keep nicely for next winter.

The wimple I'm knitting above just refused to be photographed, I shall have to wait until it is completed to see if it will pose for me. The colors are really rich shades of brown flowing beautifully into greens, the yarn is a fingering weight yarn by Schaefer Anne. The Pattern is Wavy Feathers and I am knitting it with a size 4 circular needle, I really do need to find a better way to take photos of my knitting, I see these lovely blogs with gorgeous photos and admire their ability to not only knit well, but take the most marvelous photos of work as well! It will give me a goal to work towards - oh to have gentler light streaming thru a window - instead of the Harsh California sun BLASTING in.

This is my new sock yarn, I finally caved in and bought a vibrant colors, it by Jitter Bug and the colorway is called Tapis 72. It is comprised of various shades of red and some black. I'm looking for the right pattern for this beauty, got any suggestions?

I came across these daffodils during one of my recent strolls at the Huntington Library, they looked so fresh, the contrast between the blue/green leaves and the stark white of the flowers is setting off little ideas in my head, perhaps the perfect colors to redo my bedroom, or maybe just dress it up a little with a new summer quilt.

Sometimes you come across something so appealing, I wish I could put my finger on it, but I really liked this vignette, it was in front of a shop at Fashion Island and I loved it.

Tranquil Weekend

2009-03-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful, tranquil weekend and I feel rested. I was fortunate enough to stay again at the Marriot Bay View (they just redecorated) The suite is even more wonderful with a King sized bed that has a feather bed over the mattress and a lightweight down blanket to snuggle under.
There were few people and it felt so quiet, you could stand on the balcony and listen to the sounds of the back bay and the wind as a storm blew in. The view from this room is a little different as you can see some of the hotel grounds as well as the incredible back bay in the distance. Flocks of birds descend on this area and I suggest binoculars if you really want to see them clearly. The storm caused flocks of birds to seek its refuge. There was an enormous white bird that I could not see very clearly as he was as he shielded by the mist, he had to be at least 4 feet high as the egrets looked minuscule next to it.

Embossed Leaf Socks

I began a new pair of socks and started with the Wavy Lace Socks for about the first inch and then moved onto the Embossed Leaves pattern (both from the Favorite Socks book). The yarn is a very reasonable yarn from Knit Picks "Essential" and the colorway is Granny Smith. The yarn is soft and cushy (a rather thick Fingering weight at 15.5 WIP) and since I knit loosely I used size 1 circular needles. The second sock has been started, this is such a pleasant sock to knit and I know this sounds silly, but its like having a good friend around, someone easy to be around, not too demanding and yet still interesting enough to hold your attention.

This sock also has an attractive side view, the purl stitches highlight the heel which seems to really hold it shape well. I wonder if this yarn will wear as it did tend to want to split a bit while knitting, the softness makes this a forgivable fault if the yarn keeps its loft thru my long days.

MORE FARMER'S MARKET PHOTOS

Giada had featured this place during one of her shows and I've had the opportunity to try it a couple of times. The crepes are nothing to write home about, mine (as well as a friend's) were thick and on the tough side and the savory fillings we chose lacked flavor. I would recommend their French Press Coffee and their Belgian Waffles ( be sure to splurge and get the real Maple Syrup).

There are a few bakeries at this market and I feel it is my duty to try them all for you (will the sacrificing never end?) There are so many beautiful foods at this market, the glass cases that they are housed in are unforgiving, most of my photos had reflections due to this glass...Argh!

These candy sticks reminded me of my childhood, they were in our local general store and when I moved to Southern California they bring up my childhood memories of Knotts Berry Farm (when it was free to walk about, no fence, and you paid for each ride your rode on).

Appreciation

2009-03-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Life is full of surprises, though some not so pleasant ones do arise, please do pardon my absence, and the absences that may occur from time to time, an unpleasant health issue has arisen and while not life threatening can be painful and will definitely slow me down, I have placed myself in the care of a good Holistic practitioner and hope that I will recover from this completely with time. (Ok enough of that now). I am a fortunate woman who loves life and all it has to offer. I have a Niece who is getting married in April, she also appreciates my knitting and so I took her shopping for the yarn (she wanted a scarf for her Honeymoon in San Francisco). What a fortunate Aunt I am to have loving Nieces who appreciate the simple things I knit.

Thrift - I decided to use this leftover yarn and created a simple crew sock, It fits well, but I must admit that I am so spoiled now by the beautiful patterns that I am discovering that I lost interest in knitting up the second sock and so this sad little single will have to wait for its mate.

The Eclectic Sole has so many gorgeous sock patterns, this is the Hydrangea pattern, it is so feminine, I can picture it with a lacy white skirt for summer. These colors are a perfect reflection of my Variegated Hydrangea Shrub that sits outside the window, a perfect place to rest your eyes, especially during a blogathon, where one wonderful blog draws you to the next...

The Rivendale Sock is completed and the second sock is about 1/2 way done, I will have to try this sock again in a solid color, perhaps an orchid color or a soft butter yellow would really show this glorious pattern to its fullest. The sock is so interesting that even knitting the second sock has been fun!

I've made the most wonderful discovery, the LA Farmer's Market. What a fabulous place to wander about, It is so full of life, surrounded by warm families, couples in love, Senior Citizens in groups chatting over cups of coffee, the people here have a love for life and the warmth of this place reflects that.

I had been craving a great donut for months now, and finally found the best I've ever had at this place. A friend and I sampled a few donuts, but then discovered the most incredible Beignets here, they had a wonderful slightly crisp exterior and the most tender interior that just melted in your mouth. The good old fashioned coffee went well with this simple fare. I HIGHLY recommend this place.

The Farmer's Market has a wonderful Tea Shop, teas in bulk, I was enchanted with these beautiful rose buds (my friend did purchase some and I'll bet it was wonderful). Can't you just picture these lovelies being presented to you in a glass tea pot. Perhaps with a lovely bowl of Fresh Strawberries. The aromas would be heavenly!

These Oranges were so vibrant, they looked juicy and felt heavy in my hand, with so many things to choose from, I had to leave these behind as I would have needed a very large truck to take everything home. I have more photos of the Farmer's Market to share on my next post.

Anniversary Socks

2009-02-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

This photo was in my archive, I had taken it while on one of my trips to the Huntington Library. It was so stunning, these glorious colors just glowing in the winter sun. Now as I reflect upon this, wouldn't these colors make for a great hand painted yarn? How wondrous Nature is.

I am so delighted with these socks, perhaps not the prettiest of photos (it is a little difficult to photograph your own feet). These socks are so comfortable that I slept in them, the aloe is a wonderful addition to this yarn and they actually fit!!! I did do the daring (unlike me) thing and just let the stripes fall where they may.

I am in a bit of a pinch, I had started the Rivendale sock from the Eclectic Sole book and have hopefully only temporarily misplaced the book. I made a copy of the chart, but can't go any further without the key. I have taken this book to so many places that I don't know where I left it I do hope to find it soon, it was my favorite sock book and I was planning on knitting several of the patterns. Do wish me luck on finding my treasured book.

I bought this book on a whim, not for its patterns, but for the actual writing. It is humorous and will really pick up your spirits. Hmmm buying a craft book for its whit .

Knitting Goodies

2009-02-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

This is the sock I knitted from the Red Heart Heart & Sole with Aloe, and it knits up very nicely, I'm still learning to match yarns to patterns and perhaps I should have just kept it to plain stockinette, but I like the lacy pattern on the front as it will help to keep my feet a little cooler. I am about half way thru the second sock, and deliberately decided to just see what it felt like to begin knitting the sock without trying to match the pattern (ohh, I'm such a rebel!!).

I had to sneak in another photo from my trip to Roger's Gardens, this Magnolia blossom was so beautiful in person, the petals looked like rich velvet, I could just picture it as a mature tree covered with these gorgeous flowers.

I have admired the socks on Gilraen's blog and know that she has made several of the patterns in this book. It has some incredible patterns that I will now have to knit, the challenge will be to match the perfect yarn for each pattern (something Gilraen excels at) and one that I hope to develop as I gain experience.

This book also caught my eye, especially the hats that are in here, they are quite stylish and should make for quick projects, ideal for spare time knitting.

What is it about receiving candy in a pretty box that just warms my heart. I was given this box of caramels a little while back and just love looking at the pretty box and bow. Eventually I may get around to opening it.

Enchanted Garden Store

2009-02-01T04:10:00.000-08:00

I am mesmerized by this garden store and each trip inspires me. They present wonderful little vignettes that can be used by gardeners even in a small garden and had the hardest time whittling down my photos to just nine. I love subtle mushroom ornaments and thought these so darling. Can't you just picture a fairy dancing among them? In person the blue flowers played off beautifully against the dark green leaves of the shrub behind them and the interplay between the blue and white was quite dramatic.

This place is large enough (6.5 acres) to indulge gardeners in a plethora of different plants, from cactus and succulents, to trees and shrubs, and of course my beloved flowers and herbs as well as garden ornaments. The placement of the succulents below is so appealing. (I'm not especially drawn to succulents and so that says a lot)

There are a plethora of flowers in containers, these Ranuculus were so prolific that they obscured the containers that held them and held me captive in their beauty.

These mushrooms almost escaped my view, they were nestled in the shade under a large tree and with so many things to see, I could have easily missed them. I thought how beautiful they would look against a snowy background where their colors could really pop.

I so wanted to take this home with me, it would look wonderful with my Hydrangeas serving as a backdrop and surrounded by some Thyme which so thrives in my garden.

While my tastes definitely gravitate toward English cottage gardens, I can't help but appreciate this giant below, it towered above me and demanded attention.

They have gorgeous plants for the indoors, artisans pots, fresh cut flowers, I could go on and on as I feel like I am leaving out so much and doing it an injustice. (I guess I'll just have to sacrifice myself and make another trip to for you)
The orchids were so amazing, they have so many, one patron was commenting on the "fake flowers" as they were perfection in bloom and as well as being artistically displayed.

I was very good on this trip and walked away with two superb African Violets (who were quite camera shy and refuse to make a show of it in my photos). Spring shall come all too soon and my little garden is greedy, so the next time I shall not escape so lightly. I do promise to post knitting photos the next time.

Life on a budget

2009-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

I've been trying my hand at budget yarns and found they can be enjoyable for the right person and the right project. I made a friend the above bath mat out of Sugar N Cream. This knit up in only a couple of days, I used two strands on a size 11 needle, with just a garter stitch border, this cotton was not bad to knit with and on sale was quite a bargain, plus being available at most craft stores was easy to obtain - so no excess driving as my local independent yarn stores have all closed.

Never judge a book by its cover - we've all heard this before -but- Red Heart, EGADS! I am guilty of this and would have never have given this sock yarn a chance had it not been for Trish (a knitting instructor) who brought some in one day at work, I was very surprised, this yarn is soft and the addition of Aloe really makes it wonderful. I ran to one of the large craft stores and picked some up, it was reasonably priced, I was also surprised to find it had been made in Italy. It is knitting up very nicely, hope to have photos for you on my next post.

Here is another budget project with just some Lions Brand yarn. I knew it had to be easy care for my soon to be Nephew who was kind enough to request a hat from me, it looks a little small in the photo, but stretches nicely and should fit a man size medium. The yarn is a wool blend that he can just throw in the washer and dryer. The pattern was from Knitting Pattern Central, I like the twist on the Knit stitch it gives the pattern a little more interest.

Last weekend I was quite delinquent in my knitting, it was very warm and sunny so I spent most of the weekend outdoors. The air was dry so the water feature of this delightful shopping center was much appreciated.

There were loads of beautiful flowers in pots and containers, their colors cheerful and bright, merging together in a happy fellowship.

When I came upon this view, I was hoping that the camera could capture it's loveliness and it did a decent job. In real life the colors were so rich, the winter sun is a little kinder in Southern California, I believe it allows me to see things clearly, to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. I know people think of Palm Trees when they think of Southern California - and rightfully so - they are a frequent focal point in the local landscape. They REALLY thrive here.

I looked carefully at all of the beautiful planters and especially liked this one, I thought of my fellow bloggers who dwell where the weather is cold and wanted to bring you a vignette of colors, and a little taste of the warmer weather that is soon to come for you.

Hot & Sunny in Southern California

2009-01-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Today it was hot and sunny so I headed out for Fashion Island in Newport Beach, hit the bookstore and did a quick impulse buy. I wandered outside and found a wonderfully shady spot under a large tree and began to read. The warm weather was so comforting, temps about 80 degrees, sitting in a sleeveless top and pedal pushers and innocently sipping a tropical ice tea. This book should come with a warning, CAUTION - COULD MAKE YOU SNORT YOUR ICE TEA as you collapse in laughter. It is so much fun to read, she really gets knitters and her take on things is outrageously funny!!! A fresh viewpoint sure to cheer up any reader (although I think especially knitters).

This is my latest WIP, I've tried for over a week to get a decent photo of this, red is so difficult to photograph. Yes it is slim, it is supposed to fit like a glove and my very tall Niece has long slender hands, so I believe they will fit her perfectly. I am supposed to have them done my next weekend. This is my first pair of mitts and I must admit, they won't be my last, they were very entertaining, This was a free pattern with great charts and clearly written instructions, I had no problems with any part of this and was quite surprised. Here is the link (I really need to learn how to create a better looking link, any helpful hints would be appreciated.) http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6695468479892351081 The yarn I used is by Cherry Tree Hill and it really is a pretty yarn that is lovely to knit with, the stitch definition is quite clear ( in person).

I promised to share more photos of the Huntington Library. This was the main residence of the Huntingtons, it is filled with the most beautiful art, painting by Remington and Gainsborough, beautiful bone china, exquisite French Furniture, so many more beautiful and priceless treasures. There are other buildings that include art and also an impressive library, a few items are on display, but most of the library is for scholars and their research.

The view from the rear of the Residence is stunning, so in addition to this amazing garden they had a clear view of the local mountains and it must of been really spectacular before modern air pollution dimmed the view a bit. It must have been a great place for afternoon teas or a place for breakfast on warm summer mornings.

While on my stroll thru the gardens, I came upon this butterfly precariously balanced atop the delicate Love in a Mist, the orange of its wings showed so strinkingly against the blue flower.

Pots of Amarlysis were displayed on the Logia, this place has a lyrical quality, even without the orchestras that play in the summer evenings. I can imagine all of the symphonies that were played here throught the decades. The music still seems to linger.

Wonderful Weekend

2008-12-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

The sun is out with blue skies and the perfect temps for days spent outside. This most wonderful yarn is called Wood Smoke by Celtic Memory Yarns my favorite Merino and Bamboo sock yarn, I love knitting with this that I didn't half mind frogging most of my previous sock from a previous post and reduced the stitches a little to produce a better fitting sock.

Here it lies atop a beloved unfinished cross stitch I had done years ago, I found it laying in the bottom of a drawer - forgotten til now.

The panels depict different fruit and is done on Irish Linen. I should be brave and try to hand sew it to some beautiful fabric to hang on my wall or maybe something else, I'm not sure, but I should do something soon with it.

I visited the beautiful Huntington Gardens today and want to share some of my stroll with you. Above is a waning rose called Maman Cochet, I thought it beautiful at this stage of its bloom, its fragile petals beginning to curl.

Just a few steps down was this Rose trio - yes they looked this magical in person, the color of the pink/lilac roses against the blue green leaves made them almost look like a painting.

I sat on a bench to rest awhile and looked up to see this Magnolia branch beginning to bud, standing out against the bright blue sky - it looked so sculptural. I shall have to return late next month to see what it looks like in full bloom.

I was about to exit the gardens when I was called back to these fruits, they were so amazing, the photo was taken in the shade, yet they were still ablaze in color, I wish this photo did them justice - would anyone know the name of them? There are still more photos to come from this wonderful garden, I'll be sure to include them in my next post.

These are a few of the wonderful plants that I spotted in the garden of a friend's new apartment. I liked the way the cactus sit at the foot of this Palm, Palm trees are so abundant in Southern California, they even pop up in my garden, usually in some hidden spot, like behind a shed. This garden sits on the outskirts of foothills and on occasion deer will visit this garden along with another interesting visitor - SKUNKS!! I've never experienced them before, but I will be sure to keep a respectful distance from them. Places to walk abound and I shall have to be sure to bring my camera so that I can share photos, whenever I am privileged enough to be invited on a lovely stroll among the hills.

The temperature today was in the 60's and quite sunny with blue skies and those wonderful puffy white clouds. This Easter Lilly caught my eye, as you can tell by the photos, this garden leans towards tropicals. There were a few rose bushes, though not in bloom right now, I'm sure they will make a good show of it this spring and I shall take their portrait then.

Hibiscus still in bloom, maybe not at its peak as the nights have been chilly, but never the less a bloom indeed!

Warmth

2008-12-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to start on this afghan with Misti Baby Alpaca, the yarn is so soft to knit with and will be warm and comforting, it does leave quite residue of fibers on me while I am knitting with it. Does anyone know if this yarn stops its shedding? Upon completion I was planning on throwing it in the dryer on cool air and tumbling it for a little while in hopes of arresting this shedding.

There were still lots of color, daylilies are still in bloom, along with a plethora of other flowers, and various berries abound on green bushes. On some of the blogs I read they were showing photos of snowy landscapes, so here are some touches of green. Saturday was a warm day, no jacket was needed, the sun felt gentle, unlike the harsh sun of summer.

The parking lot in downtown Whittier buzzing softly filled the air, here a honey bee is perched on this lovely yellow flower, the warm sun inviting it to rest a bit, the bee did not seem in a hurry and remained there long enough for me to take several photos.

This yellow flower was nestled up against this blue berry shrub which shown brightly in the sun.

I don't have any photos of the sock from my previous blog, I have to frog it back to the beginning of the heel flap - the fit was too loose on my friend, I had started the second sock before I discovered this, but caught it in time, I believe I have a handle on this and hope to finish them in the next week or so.

Being Open to Change

2008-12-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

Well I had bought the yarn that was listed on the pattern, Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn and began knitting this sock pattern called Diagonal Cross Rib. I knitted the ribbing portion and about two repeats of the pattern, but it just didn't feel right too me. The yarn feels hard and was not a pleasure to knit with, so I stopped. Yes that's right STOPPED knitting, this yarn needs to find someone who enjoys knitting with firm yarn and that person is not me. I am finally learning to listen to my inner voice, instead of stubbornly pushing on just because a pattern is telling me that is the yarn to use.

I remembered some yarn that I had purchased from Celtic Memory Yarn in a lovely Merino and Bamboo and the sock is coming along just fine, the yarn is soft and cushy and will be a great pleasure to wear, all that is left to do is get the length of the recipient's foot as I would hate to go thru all this, to knit it either too long or too short. I've already started the right foot and like the fact that the diagonals go in different directions for each sock. I did change a couple of things, I continued with the size 3 needle until the leg portion was 6 1/2 inches and substituted Eye of the Partridge for the heel flap as I wasn't enthralled with the vertical lines on the heel flap in the original pattern.

We do get a little fall color in Southern California, but it is quite scattered. I had my heart set on capturing a tree ablaze in Orange, but it was just not meant to be. Each time I would see the right tree for my photo, some circumstance would prevent me from obtaining my photo. As I was walking thru the parking lot at work I noticed the yellow of this Crepe Myrtle, it looked lovely against the blue sky. Once again a change in plans turned out quite well.

My three day getaway was initially planned for the mountains of San Diego County, with hopes of visiting some of the Native Tribes that still live there. Last minute changes occurred and instead I ended up on the coast of California in a room that overlooked one of the back bays. I loved the stillness of this place, teaming with life. This is the view from the room, when I first stepped out onto the balcony I was annoyed by the trees. Upon sitting still and observing, I began to notice that there were many birds that were drawn to these trees, just a few feet away from me. I was serenaded every day by a beautiful & charming black and white bird, a Hummingbird loved this tree as well and returned to perch regularly on its branches. There were so many different finches also that visited this tree, some had quite of bit of red on them. So once again, I changed my mind, I welcomed the trees and would definitely select this room again.

The left side of the balcony had these palm trees, and you could still see the bay thru them. I liked the contrast of the golden bark against the bluish back bay water . Being open to change has definitely been a wonderful experience, the unexpected can be so rewarding. Perhaps a little wisdom comes with our time here on this Earth, to savor every moment as it happens, to live in the present.

Scene - Robert's Shop

2008-12-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

A quick little note: I did find a connection to knitting, Robert's wife loves to knit and so I sent her links to some of my favorite knitting blogs.

Ok, you caught me, this particular post is not about knitting or gardening, but we knitters have an eye for beauty, yarn is a visually appealing medium which can be appreciated by anyone, whether they can knit or not. The same can be said about art, you don't need to be able to paint in order to appreciate the actual paintings. This blog is about an incredible shop In Newport Beach called "Scene". I don't mean to sound stupid, but I really made no correlation between frames and art, it just never occurred to me that the one could have a great influence on the other, until I noticed the masterful matches Robert had displayed in his shop. You should hear his sage words, carefully guiding the customer to the right selection on their own treasured works of art.

The shop itself has a welcoming feel (not the sterility of some galleries where you must talk in whispers, while being snubbed by those around you) it is warm and cozy and chock full of paintings -discoveries just waiting to happen.

I fell in love with this mirror, my taste normally runs towards very simple things, but when I touched the intricate work on the frame, gazed at the rich colors as they passed beneath my fingers and yes - my heart even beat a little faster, but practicality had to win out, I shuddered as I thought of my dogs racing around the house and bumping against this incredible work of art, it deserves a place where it can be quietly kept, to be enjoyed by future generations and not to become another one of Hastings mishaps (he did demolish a full length mirror a couple of years ago, miraculously no one was injured).

I was reflecting on how independent stores are especially hard hit by the economic times - everywhere, even in Newport Beach! Still this brave man marches on, offering words of kindness and support to the many friends that drop by. We enjoy sitting at one of the tables in front of his shop (a cafe that offers lots of delicious salads, sandwiches, baked good, coffees...) with me knitting away while we chat, interesting conversations involving revealing bits of a play he may be writing and countless other interesting topics. Sometimes I wonder how can this man be so sane? Patiently listening to a chum telling a sad tale, which given the times we face now is a little more frequent. (Being tender hearted at times I retreat into my knitting at this point, letting it shield me with its softness, sinking - focusing all my attention on the pattern if things get too tough to hear).

I was just reflecting -This man is an artist in every sense of the word (yes he paints and plays musical instruments as well), but the thing that moves me most at this time is that his plays go unpublished and they (like the paintings in his shop) are awaiting to be discovered by the world. One of my hearts desires is to be able to see one of his plays being performed - to witness the rich tapestries of his words being revealed to all.

Red and Green

2008-11-30T14:29:00.000-08:00

Capturing a moment of green in this garden (Getty Villa) with its different shades, shapes and textures was most pleasing to my eye.

Some plants are so sculptural, I looked at these flowers from different angles, I spend some time admiring it, It made me appreciate my gift of sight, even the camera could not quite capture the way it displayed so beautifully against the green leaves in the background.

I went back into my Farmer's Market photos from last summer and this one had not made it into my blog until now, I like the way the tomatoes spill forward in this photo. I remember the tomatoes were so fragrant in the heat of the summer evenings. Each stall at the market had its own aromas, strawberries and fresh fruit in some of the booths, flowers in another, you strolled a little further and the aromas of food being barbecued outdoors, ribs, chicken, another few more steps and the smell Kettle popcorn would waft across your path. Delicious memories.

Well this is my first attempt at designing and my second attempt at grafting, still haven't quite got it perfect as you can see by the line down the middle, any suggestions? (Shot with the new camera - I think this camera shoots in cooler tones).

The cowl looks pretty good on and you really can't see the graft line. I need to try to knit this again and try write down a pattern, (I really need to pay more attention while pattern writing, I had written down a few lines, then realized that I had altered it, but forgot where, oh dear, hope I get better at it)The yarn is Berrocco's pure Merino and knitted on a size 9 circular needle. (This photo was taken with my old camera, which I think has warmer tones to it)

I need a little more practice with this camera, it does take better photos of the actual knitting, but I need to somehow add more warmth to the pictures. Maybe taking into account the background. The winter light isn't helping much either (I took this photo outside). The cowl pattern was free on PopKnits blog so here is the link. http://www.popknits.com/index.php/patterns/page/la_la_love_you_cowl/ I knitted it with Malabrigo's worsted weight yarn, I love soft yarns, tender wools that do not torment you with being scratchy or hard. I hadn't realized until I took the photos of my cowls that they were Red and Green, hence the inspiration for the color theme of this post.

Beauty

2008-11-30T07:44:00.000-08:00

This is another photo I took at the Getty Villa. Perhaps now I have an inkling as to why Monet was so inspired by the Water Lilies, the serenity one experiences when quietly contemplating, watching the reflections of light playing off the water. It brought about a quiet peace within me.

This looked like the last of the roses in the garden, it had a gentle fragrance which contrasted so beautifully with the brightness of its color, this place is a wonder, the sunlight plays softly off the petals of these roses. The light at the Getty Villa is special, the designers took advantage of this and designed everything from the flowers in the garden, to the placement of the statues, the incredible paintings, all show an understanding of how the sun reflects off them, creating magical moments that will live in your memory.

These are gorgeous, soft and yummy yarns that I bought from Celtic Memory Yarns. They are as light as air, I've never knitted with this type of yarn before, she described it as a lightweight Mousse yarn. I will have to do a little research and see what it will be best for it. The brown is destined for a friend, but the other shall be MINE. This is the first photo that I've taken with my new camera, I'm still trying to figure out all the settings.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-11-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

My favorite dog of all time is my wonderful Black Standard Poodle - Wooster. He is so intelligent, thoughtful and lots of fun. He has two companions, his younger brother Watson (looks very much like Wooster as they have the same mom and dad), and his best companion Hastings a VERY LARGE White Standard Poodle. Unfortunately the other two will not hold still for a photo, I tried so many times, but they were either blurry or the photo turned out to be a foot, tail, or other parts, but some day I will get a photo of them.

This is the Hide Your Roots headband (you can see a much better photo on Kodymay's blog). I like the alternating colors as it adds interest. I'm trying to figure out a better way to show off the headbands, maybe a Styrofoam head? I'll have to shop around and see what I can come up with.

This is a favorite cable pattern of mine, its so quick and simple to knit, the scarf is destined for a coworkers father who is a fabulous man who helps all of his (9) children in anyway he can. He picks up his grandchildren every morning and drives them to school and picks them up every afternoon. Mind you this grandfather lives in a different city and has to commute to do this. What a loving person and even though I've never met him, he touches my heart, so I wanted to do a little something for him and thought this scarf perfect for him.

Well I am about to celebrate 50 years on this earth and to mark this occasion I bought a camera which I hope will allow me to take better photos of my knitting. I can't complain about being alive for 50 years and thank goodness I was blessed with good genes, no plastic surgery for me I will just age gracefully, I know that some day the wrinkles will come, but I'm in no hurry and hope they take their time. With age comes experience and also I believe more appreciation for the beauty of life.

Orange County on Fire

2008-11-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

Orange county has a couple of wild fires a few miles from me, one in the hills of my city and the other a few miles further to the north, they may end up merging. I was driving back from Los Angeles thru choking smoke to return to ashes floating thru the air and the sun an odd hazy red.

The skies overhead were dark and looked like rain clouds, the dark grey/black smoke beginning to fill the sky. Its been a few minutes since I took this photo and now the sky is completely grey/black. From my window it looks like the smoke is starting to drop lower and the smoke is quite thick and is burning my eyes the closest thing to describe its appearance would be a very thick fog. I turned my air filters to full blast and hope that will be good enough.

There is an eerie stillness outside, no birds flitting about or singing their sweet song, I just took a quick peek and saw the ashes were beginning to cover everything in a blanket and the fires still blaze out of control in the strong Santa Ana's that are blowing so hot now. I hope they will be able to get a handle on it soon. I think I will go and knit now, it can be so comforting to feel the yarn as it flows thru my fingers.

Trying Something Different

2008-11-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

I really tried different things this weekend. My first experience at blocking - pins, pads and all. A different Coffee House. A really exotic shopping experience. Please come on my adventure with me. This Crofters Cowl is for my wonderful niece and I am new to blocking, it seems quite a simple thing. I like the versatility of the blocks and the ability to put them away in their own bag as I have limited storage space.

I amended the Crofters Cowl for me by using size 10 knitting needles for 2 repeats, then size 9 knitting needles for 3 repeats and finished off on a size 8 needle. The cowl now sits further down on my neck and is a bit more comfortable to me. This colorway is especially dear to me as I like to contrasting colors -its quite dramatic.

I visited a place called the Coffee Cat which is a writers hang out, this little cubby looks like a favorite spot to hide in. The place was abuzz with writers, most tables had someone seated with either a laptop or a pad - pen in hand, I observed for a moment, there was the slight hum of people talking quietly abiding by the unwritten rule - do not disturb those around you.

The booths against the windows are the ones that are the most popular, I can imagine there's quite a scurry to obtain one. The air about this place is charged with intellectual energy.

I sat outdoors (my table is to the right) next to a table of female writers who were ablaze in conversations, debating over a multitude of writing topics that changed at such a frantic pace it was almost dizzying. I enjoyed my little departure from my coffee house, but I really missed it, the warmth of the place with its mixture of eclectic people, writers, knitters, cyclists, families, all doing a variety of things from quietly sitting and reading their book, some playing cards or the huge chess games, but everyone enjoying themselves.

I found the most exotic store that was chock full of really beautiful things, these purses had such rich textures, gorgeous fabrics and some were beaded. I am learning to think outside the box and it just occurred to me that one would make a lovely bag to tote my knitting around.

This skirt was so beautiful, they have so many skirts (the kind that has that lovely flow when you walk). Maybe I'm not so adventurous as to where the entire outfit, but I really appreciated individual pieces. They have quite a few cut out lace tops that would have looked lovely with just the skirt.

Their displays were so exotic and rich looking, you just did not know where to look first, I could get addicted to this store, fortunately it is a drive to get there (so that will save my pocketbook).

This display in person was so luxurious, the browns with the shades of purple were intoxicating, and while photos let you get the gist of it, the human eye sees so much more.

I'll leave you with this wonderful historical California Architecture. I love the older stuff as it has so much character.

The Getty Villa

2008-11-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

This if the view as you walk into the Getty Villa, the trees framing the Pacific Ocean, I had to pause and marvel at nature's beauty. The Getty Villa is intimate, the collection itself is astounding, the gardens wondrous, the experience - unforgettable.

This is the center courtyard of the villa, the fountains fill the air with their musical sound.

I could appreciate the view of this courtyard from every angle, I kept walking around it noticing new details emerge with every pass.

And now the west garden which faces the Pacific Ocean, some of its wonders can be seen below.

Beautiful symmetry was apparent in every garden, patterns forming with every vista. who could not appreciate such balance?

The water's reflection danced upon this statue in a way that was so magical, I wish this photo could have shown this, I had never witnessed this before and it was entrancing.

This bust of a bearded man was a little above waist height, but the photo I took while standing did not reflect his eyes, so I searched for the right angle to do him justice and finally found it, his eyes unlike many of the statues had depth and kindness.

The elegant lines of this antelope(?) was so pure in its form, so real in its beauty.

Even the garden seat was inspired, I wonder how many quilters have taken a photo of the details of this flooring and used this in one of their creations.

Surrounding the garden are walls painted in such fine detail, the beauty of this place will live in my memory, its serenity to be drawn upon when needed. I have more photos to share which will trickle into my blog now and then. I will have to return to this villa in the spring when the garden will be in its full splendor.

Lovely Gift

2008-10-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

A friend who I have not seen in awhile brought me back this lovely yarn all the way from Ireland. Isn't it gorgeous. I believe it is calling to become a scarf, I've never worked with this kind of fabulous tweed before and so am not sure what kind of pattern would show off this beauty. Any suggestions?

This yarn became the Basket Weave socks, I still have one skein left, plus a little extra and shall have to ponder what to do with it, Should my darling Niece think of anything else she should want from this, please let me know.

The basket weave socks are finally done, and my Niece's patience will be rewarded with warm feet as I am sure that winter will eventually come this year (temps still in the upper 90's so it is a little hard to imagine right now).

This lovely yarn is drawing OOOOHS and AAAAHS where ever it goes. This is my break time knitting project as it can tolerate the many interruptions that I experience so a simple knit is a must. So far this has been the most popular yarn, everyone automatically reaches out to touch it, exclaiming how pretty it is and are astounded by its softness, this will really be a joy to wear and Jo at Celtic Memory Yarns did such an outstanding job with the dye, the pattern that has emerged is lovely and really does remind me of Birch Leaves - so the cowl will have the name Birch Cowl which I think is most appropriate.

Coffee Nirvana!!!!! This is by far the best coffee I've ever had, it is rich and so full of robust flavor with no bitterness - REALLY! At work I've created my only little peaceful haven, a small coffee maker, my radio playing classical music Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven... Anyone who enters my wee little cubicle said they can't believe how peaceful it is. Oh and of course my knitting bag has a prominent place and sits on top of my in box.

You could smell the chocolate perfuming the air down the street from this chocolate shop and of course I just had to investigate the cause for these aromas. I spotted these in a large glass case full of sweet wonders, Espresso Truffles, they would make a lovely companion to my coffee - yummy!

I had taken this photo during one of my Farmers Market trips this past summer. I remember these well, their intense color - perfection - wonderfully fragrant - so full of flavor - don't they just make your mouth water?

Beautiful?

2008-10-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

Dare I? I still have to locate the beads(am pondering whether they are really needed), I have the right yarn and needles now (see below). I just love the look of this cowl and am such a romantic at heart that I know I would wear it, especially when on a foggy morning. (photo is from Knitty's website)

This is the lovely stuff of dreams Rowan Kidsilk Haze that I won on ebay and now it has a destiny. Hope I can do it justice. I will need to learn how to do a Provisional cast on (I don't know how to crochet, guess I'll have to learn). I needed a 16" circular needle with sharp points and I could not locate the Addi Turbo Lace in this length.

I've discovered that the right knitting needles does make a difference in your knitting experience. One of my friends Tricia innocently stopped by my desk with some of these beautiful colored wood knitting needles from Knit Picks - they were so smooth and shiny - with defined points, plus they were pretty reasonable, considering that I have been purchasing the Addi Turbo's as needed, it was time to shop smart so I bought the detachable cables which will be more reasonable as only the needle part needs to be purchased and a few circulars. I will be venturing into the world of sweater knitting soon and the multiple cable lengths will really help. I have really come to appreciate the needles that I have acquired and remember when I first started I had a bunch of old heavy metal needles which made my hands ache. So it was either give up knitting or begin to explore other materials. We learn from experience about what we like and dislike, and now I stick mostly to the Addi Turbo or wood knitting needles depending on the project to be knit and the yarn I am using.

Aren't these pretty? So my theory is, pretty needles = pretty knitting. Right?

These headbands are such a quick knit, they hide a world of flaws (such as when your hair color is growing in faster than your trips to the salon, which of course I would not know about as my hair just naturally changes color all by itself every four weeks). I love Kody May's headbands, I get so many complements on them, she has several free patterns on her blog and her hats are really cute on. These headbands are knitted on size 8 circular needles with Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes), it is reasonably priced and available at most craft stores.

The Farmer's Market has become quite small, so this was my last visit until next March. I had a difficult time finding subject matter as for the most part my berries and fruit were gone and the vegetables were definitely limited. (This might be due to the heat wave and the Santa Ana's we experienced with wind gusts of up to 85 miles per hour).

The onions were quite lovely, they just have so much more pizazz than your ordinary store bought variety, they shimmered in the late afternoon light.

There weren't many fruits left, these grapes did look good though.

Neck warmer or Cowl

2008-10-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

My current project is so simple that I thought just to cast on without reference to any patterns. So far I have cast on 130 stitches on a size 8 circular needles and a simple knit one purl one rib. The yarn was bought for sock yarn -this was the Birch yarn (merino & bamboo blend) that I had bought from Celtic Memory Yarn - but it is far too pretty and I just couldn't see it being hidden by shoes, so a cowl came to mind. I'm not sure if I have cast on enough stitches and will have to wait and see how it turns out. I really wanted to photograph this outdoors, but the Santa Ana's are howling outside and just blew down our gate, I can hear things being blown about, so this is the only photo I could get and the flash does wash out the color a bit.

This is the last month for the Farmers Market, the crowds have thinned, but the produce still looks pretty good. The tomatoes were ripe and you could tell that they had just been harvested as the stems were so fresh. There were huge dark Haas avocados right behind, but they were camera shy and their photos did not turn out.

The jalapenos had a jewel like quality and glistened, their spicy aroma filled the warm air.

The peaches sweet fragrance perfumed the air, enticing you to come and buy them. They are probably the last of the season.

The veggies were holding up surprisingly well in the heat (the Farmer's Market starts at 5pm and the temperature was about 90 degrees)

A spontaneous Friday Night - you make plans that go astray and are replaced by the something special. As we strolled down the street intending to go the movies we came across a fellow playing the guitar at an outdoor cafe. You could tell he loved what he was doing and that made us stop and we began to listen to him play Croce, the Beatles and lots of other songs from the 60's & 70's. I couldn't recommend the latte or the pastry, but the performance was worth the tasteless items that this cafe served. I didn't get a photo as it seemed I thought it would disrupt this magical moment.

Belated Post

2008-10-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is the Crofter's Cowl knitted with Malabrigo's Stonechat, this photo does not due the color justice, they are quite rich in person. I still need to wash and block this cowl which leads into the next picture.

Most indulgent (or I'm telling myself maybe it isn't REALLY as it is difficult to find a safe place to block with three Standard Poodles looking for soft things to carry to their beds to chew or cuddle with ).

This set of blocking tiles was in one of Knitty's featured articles. The compact storage was a big plus and now my projects are calling for them. I've never used tiles like this before so I purchased the small kit and will see how far that will get me. This will be especially handy when I begin my sweater making adventure.

One down, one to go, these will help keep my darling Niece's feet warm this winter, they are a sportweight yarn by Nature Spun (Brown Sheep Co.) and the pattern the basket weave sock on Criminy Jicket's blog. The pattern is very clear and simple to follow and the results are anything but boring. (Hope you will like them my dearest Niece).

ONLY IN NEWPORT BEACH

Newport Beach residents demand perfection, the stores there are almost beyond belief. This is a local pharmacy in an incredible strip mall - attractive buildings and landscaping (which I failed to photograph this time around) and the most beautiful pharmacy I have ever seen. I was so overwhelmed - it was beautifully composed and attention was paid to the overall look and to the tiny details that you wil see below. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a kitchen large enough to display these Roosters? The hen was especially nice and since this was just a fantasy shopping trip where one did not need to look at price tags and be practical about things, I could choose whatever I wanted and put it in my imaginery Villa along the Cote D'Azur overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

They did not leave out anything, even your sense of sense of smell was pampered with the lovely fragrances of well made candles. (There was just enough fragrance that it was pleasing - not overwhelming and the gentle ocean breeze drifted in the open door keeping the air clean and fresh)

EYE CANDY

I could visit this pharmacy many times and still find something new with each visit. I was so charmed by the flower arranging area that I failed to notice the ribbons until I posted this photo. I will have to be sure to return to this store so that I can pay proper attention to them - ribbons are such usefuly things to have around the house - one can never have too many ribbons. A plain gift wrap is so greatly enhanced by a beautiful ribbon that I believe it can turn a simple present into a cherished gift.

The accessories area is what first drew me into the store as I glimpsed them thru the window. I found the scarves especially soft to the touch, the mixture of textiles and the color combinations made them so stunning.

WOW! I WON SOMETHING!!!

2008-09-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

I am very touched to have had my blog nominated by someone who has such a fabulous blog with the most beautiful patterns, she really is the accessorie Queen. (She would have been the first on my list). Please be sure to check out her blog Smariek I promise you won't be disappointed.

I would like to nominate the following blogs:

stitchesofviolet - She is a master knitter who generously shares the results of her tests swatches that she has purchased and gives an informed opinion of that yarn's performance. Her designs are elegant and the quality of her knitting is superb. Isn't it wonderful when someone cares enough to give you the benefit of their experience. She also has delightful photos on her blog that I love to see, visiting her blog can make you feel like your on vacation.

riihivilla - Her blog will astound you with her knowledge of plants, she gives details about her dye experiences, its like attending a private class, her blog is bilingual and English is one of the languages she posts in.

gilraensknits The prettiest yarns are matched to the perfect sock pattern (an accomplishment in and of itself) this is what her blog excels in. She also documents her blog with a very clear photo of the yarn prior to the sock being knitted, teasing us with their beauty.

Criminyjickets This guy has a wonderful sense of humor and warmth that flows thru his blog. His knitted projects are quite varied, he is an experienced knitter that isn't afraid to experiment. To top that now this incredible gentleman is spinning!

I had to add 2 other blogs that I find inspiring not only on a craft level, but these bloggers are so supportive fellow bloggers, their comments are so warm and heartfelt and their beautiful photos delight my heart.

woolwindings The photography alone with bring you back over and over again. When I visit her blog I feel like I'm on a treasure hunt, what will she show me next?

Ambermoggie I love her photos of the UK (wish I could be there right now). Her colorful projects, lush photos, the poetry she inserts in the perfect places lets you drift off in your imagination to places of wonder.

Nominees here are the award rules:

1. Please put the award on your blog

2. Add a Link to the person who awarded you.

3. You must nominate at least 4 Fellow bloggers for this award.

4. Add links to the recipients

5. Leave a comment so the recipients know that they have received this award.

Stop & Think Sometimes

2008-09-27T05:45:00.000-07:00

My brain should have said this to me!
Mindless knitting - Garter Stitch scarf - so you would think. So I merrily caston while watching a movie and failed to note the number of stitches I had done and believe it or not I still did not notice as I was knitting how wide the scarf was. I was about 3/4 of the way thru when I finally realized it was too wide and would look almost like a shawl, (not a good thing for a guy). So I frogged it and now it is just right. The photo doesn't do this marvelous yarn justice, it is one of Schafer's yarn and was a joy to work with. Its very soft and supple - you would never guess it was wool.

Greenleaf Street in Whittier is chock full of charming details that are comforting to me. Its nice to see that everything has not been homogenized and painted the infamous beige. I will definitely go back for daytime photos of various buildings as I love the little details. This street encourages you to slow down, and look around you. A nice street to walk and shop (see photos below)

I searched the street for the lovely flowers that I usually notice, the heat wave we've been having has tired out most of them, these were still lovely (the protection of the mighty Ficus may have helped some.)

I really enjoy going to the Sweet Shop, their displays show the care the owner has for her shop, just little touches that make a difference (at least to me). Their truffles are so smooth and creamy and they tenderly place them in a box for you with such care.

There were several barrels of candy - all eye catching in there own way, the color contrast between the bright and more pastel shades was surprisingly pleasing don't you think?

I loved the way these candy boxes photographed - reminds me a little of a Warhol.

Ahhh The Sweet Life

2008-09-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

Vanilla Marshmallows - food is especially difficult to photograph as my three Standard Poodles can reach almost everything that I can (and sometimes more) - so I firmly shut the bedroom door and photographed them on the bed. They were so soft and squishy - pillows of sweetness.

Kidsilk Haze - the queen of lace yarns, isn't this an incredible color? I found a cowl in a lace pattern and I am working up the courage to delve into it. (I LOVE RED).

Beauty in a bundle - this is Malabrigo's colorway Garnet which is a soft red. Both of the Malabrigo's will be made into cowls, currently I am considering the Crofter's Cowl. - If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

The color on this yarn is a little richer than the photo shows, it was very camera shy and refused to be photographed by my camera. It is Malabrigo's Stonechat (rich reds, greens and browns).

I found a delicious simple recipe for slow roasted tomatoes http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/slow-roasted-tomatoes/ my photos aren't that great, but the taste is sublime, The tomatoes were of the heirloom variety and I used some of my favorite extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany to secure these little gems.

I have always adored still lives (this one is by the Dutch Master Willem Kalf). The painting's rich details draw you in, It is so enticing that it makes you want to reach out and grab the golden pitcher and pour yourself a glass of wine.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a still life at the coffee house, it is rich in details as the photos below illustrate. This place is so comfortable it feels like a home away from home, where one can linger for hours, either reading quietly to oneself or chatting with a dear friend while knitting on my latest project.

I was comfortably seated in the library section of the coffee house - really cozy.

Orange you glad you checked my blog?

2008-09-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

I found a dishcloth that I really liked On Criminy Jickets blog, I liked the pattern so much and the cotton yarn was actually decent to knit with (Ok so it's not cashmere or merino, but not bad to knit with, this cotton is actually pretty comfortable on the hand). I knitted this up with Sugar N Cream's Hot Orange and Sage Green, I am hoping that it washes well.
Do you remember lazy summer days, sitting on a porch and sipping a cold soda from a bottle. Well this was the soda from my childhood (on the rare occaisions that my Mother allowed us to have soda). There is something about drinking soda from a glass bottle, the flavor is crisper, cleaner, the fragrance somehow bolder. Soda's from a plastic bottle just seem to be missing something.

These carrots were very sweet and crunchy, they were very smooth in appearance compared to the carrots in the other stalls. I may end up succombing to the urge to straighten the vendor's produce prior to taking a photo.

Fall is definately on its way and these little mini pumpkins were quite charming, recalling the aroma of pumpkin pies baking in the oven

I spotted this lovely Orange daylily in a parking lot, there were lots of daylillies strewn throughout the lot, yet this one captured my attention.

Orange, Orange everywhere - ok now maybe it wasn't everywhere and maybe I had to be a little more observant than usual to see all these orange possibilities, still it was a pleasant diversion. I'm done with the color theme for now. So here is something beautiful that isn't orange. I spotted this bouquet at Costco and was amazed - it was SO romantic, I was tempted to pick it up, but it was the only one of this quality and I am a hopeful romantic, I could imagine some galant gentleman bringing this to his lady love.

Seeing Red

2008-09-14T05:36:00.000-07:00

Red has brought itself to my attention this week, it caught my eye at every turn and brought to my recollection bits of red yarn that were lingering in my stash - too little to make anything of size, but too much to be tossed. I remember that the darling Kody May had several headbands and decided to try my hand at another of her marvelous creations. The first two headbands below are her "Anticonformity" . It's really difficult to take a photo of yourself to capture a decent picture of the headband so please see Kody May's blog for a much better photo . http://kodymayknits.blogspot.com/ (By the way she has the cutest hat patterns - so much talent!)

I also knitted the Maner hair accessory (it's not quite a headband) which also refused to photograph well, but it does look good on and is perfect for the cooler weather. (It's so rewarding to do these little quick knits, almost instant gratification.)

I also so red while walking thru a parking lot in the tree leaves and marveled at the beauty of nature.

I saw red while preparing this delicious Toasted Coconut Coffee. (a gift from Hawaii - what a generous friend)

Red was peeping out from every stall at the Farmers' Market this week In the Dragon Fruit

In the mixed berries

The little boxes of berries reminded of childhood games of tic tac toe.

Don't you think the berry pattern would make for a lovely quilt.

The red bell peppers with their vibrant color drew me to them, who would not love to cook with something so vital.

Finished At Last!

2008-09-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Freedom at last! I have finished knitting the Persephone scarf, it was very time consuming, but rewarding at the same time, a beautiful well written pattern was provided so kindly on Smariek's blog, if you have a moment you will be well rewarded by the variety and beauty of her patterns, her blog is entertaining as well. (what more could you ask for?) http://smariek.blogspot.com/ I don't know how she manages to get such good pictures, but here is my attempt at it. I still have to block it and then it will immediately shipped out to a friend.

I have rewarded myself by baking Cherry Scones this morning and topped them with Devon shire cream and Sour Cherry preserves, alas they were not exciting enough to merit a photo, but they were delicious fresh out of the oven and consumed with much joy!

Here is my attempt at the Waving Lace Socks featured on the cover of my Favorite Sock book. so far the pattern has been quite easy to follow. The yarn is from Lorna's Laces and I am using Size 1 needles. This yarn is becoming my favorite sock yarn as it is very easy to work with, I will have to see how it wears.

I was delighted to discover this yarn at Suzoo's, I had brought along my Favorite Sock book ( I am quite enthralled with it, there are so many patterns I want to try) and found the yarn that matches the Diagonal Cross Rib Socks, it will make a handsome pair of socks in the near future.

I found some wonderful yarns on sale at Suzoo's yesterday. The Nature Spun is a sport weight wool and should make some nice socks for my exceptional niece whom I am sure would appreciate warmer socks for winter. Any pattern suggestions would be appreciated.

I am still day dreaming about this yarn and wondering if they may make a nice pair of mitts or an incredible pair of winter socks, this wool is the softest dk weight washable wool.

Fruitful Saturday

2008-09-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

I found quite by accident a new place to try for coffee, it is most conveniently located just down the street from my favorite yarn store and in the same shopping center as my favorite market. The name of this place is Panera Bread http://www.panerabread.com/ , it has the same feeling as a coffee house. On my next visit I plan on claiming one of these comfy chairs and to sit sipping my coffee, the lighting is decent and should lend itself to knitting. There is even covered outdoor seating to escape to if the place gets too noisy or crowded.

There were sooo many things to choose from, I'm not sure what I'll pick for my next visit, here are a couple of goodies that caught my eye.

Hutington Center is a wonderful outdoor shopping mall where you can comfortably stroll past some fun stores in a manicured setting (quite Orange County). There is outdoor dining at several places and it really never gets too cold or too hot to enjoy being here, it is only few miles for the ocean and keeps a temperate climate.

While at the mall I found these lovelies, they will make wonderful toppings for the scones I plan to bake tomorrow morning for breakfast.

I also discovered these books in the bookstore there (see I told you it was a fruitful day) the names alone captured my interest and shall be saved for a cool weather day, for reading at my favorite coffee house (next to the fireplace).

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book, it is chock full of beautiful photos and if it is anything like the yarnstorm blog, then it will be delightful reading indeed! Well I have to get back to my knitting so that I will have something to share on that front shortly. Tomorrow I shall share photos of the yarn I bought today at Suzoo's as the lighting this afternoon is just too bright for photos.

Peaceful Sunday

2008-08-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

There are so many interesting touches in the coffee house, The last time I was there a father and his daughter were playing chess on with this rather large set.

I visited my favorite coffee house and knitted away the afternoon. It is such a peaceful place, no loud music blaring at you or cold air conditioning blasting away, just the gentle ocean breeze drifting thru the front doors, overhead fans silently whirl away assisting the naturally cool air further into this haven. I sat there in the well worn and comfy wingback sipping on my beverage and taking an occaisional bite of their Catalina Cobb Salad while busily making progress on the Persephone scarf (it may even be done this week). Resting my hands as needed and picking up this marvelous book called Journey to Ixtlan, it is beautifully written and is the third book in a series, I have come to learn much from these books, your perceptions may change as you see the world thru different eyes.

Petunias are such dainty flowers, they remind me of petticoats, the stiff breeze made this a challenging photo, the petals were being dashed about, almost being closed by the wind. I was actually turning away when there was a break in the breeze and I quickly snapped this photo.

These geraniums were so very showy, begging to have their photo taken, There was a stiff ocean breeze blowing, but they stood there posing picture perfect, I took several photos thinking one might be a little blurry, but they all turned out.

I came upon these succulents while strolling thru the same shopping center, the variety of plants was unusual, they looked a little hodge podge, but when looked at individually were enjoyable. I must admist that succelents are not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate their steadfastness in drought situations and they are quite diverse in appearance as you can see from the photos above.

Rocks N Socks

2008-08-29T04:41:00.000-07:00

While strolling thru the parking lot on my way into work I noticed these rocks and immediately recalled a yarn in my stash that had similar color qualities. Blogging has been an amazing experience, I look at the world with different eyes and see possibilities everywhere to share with you. (Some I am sure will be more successful than others).

This has been one of my favorite yarns for awhile now, it has been sitting in my stash, waiting patiently as my sock knitting experience grows so that I can do this yarn justice. I already have a friend in mind as the recipient for this and will be diligently looking for men's sock patterns for it in October. If anyone has worked with this yarn before and knows of a great pattern for it I'm all ears!

Flashy Things

2008-08-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

OK the Flash did not do this chocolate justice (unlike the photos below), but I just couldn't wait until tommorrow to try to get a decent photo, I had to try a piece tonight (ok actually three pieces), its Green & Blacks Caramel with Milk Chocolate. To tell the truth I liked the chocolate very much, but there is something about their Dark Chocolate that is really decadent.

What is it? A giant ruby? The twinkling lights of Las Vegas? Well I got a little creative this morning while at my desk (no I was not on the clock yet). I spotted a small container of Asian Hot Sauce and wondered how it would look with the flash on and here it is. Pretty don't you think?

Oleander is a beautiful shrub, but I won't have it in my yard as it is much to dangerous for my Standard Poodles who love to chew on foliage. I took the following plant photos while walking around the parking lot prior to work this morning. The light was dim so the flash went off and gave a different view of the plants that I actually like. I've tried several times to take photos of the Oleander when the sun is out, to no avail as either the flowers are wilting due to the harsh sun or a breeze is moving the shrubs and they're just a blur.

Marigolds are normally such brightly colored flowers, I like the way the water had settled into the center of the flower - very sparkly

The Dusty Miller looked very festive, proudly diplaying the tiny drop of water like fine jewelry.

Lilac

2008-08-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

The aroma of Lilac is so enticing, I saw this last spring while on a stroll thru the Huntington Library, it becomed me to linger awhile to enjoy its fragrance.

Progress on Persephone Scarf

2008-08-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

For the first time I deleted a post! I had written it this morning prior to leaving for work and could not get the photo out of my mind, the dinginess of the picture was haunting me - it had no stitch definition and just looked terrible. So I took photos in the parking lot at work using the back seat of my car (it is a little better and shows some stitch definition) and even more photos upon my unexpected arrival at home (the sunlight was too harsh and washed out the stitches just like the flash this morning). I will definately have to think of creative solutions for my blog pics as daylight hours are getting shorter (mostly while I am at work) and good lighting will be much harder to come by.

It was wonderful spending time with my Niece, we had a leisurely lunch, then strolled to the all important candy store to satisfy my Niece's sweet tooth - casually window shopping (Old Towne in Orange) as we went and appreciating the beautiful weather. She is so patient with me, endulging me by posing for this picture holding a lollipop that I wanted to photograph and patiently waiting as I snapped away at the various candy trays (perhaps one or two more will appear in future blogs to add a little something sweet to a post). I love the vivid colors of this rock candy - it recalls to mind the brightly striped socks that I see on many fellow knitters blogs.

Something Sweet

2008-08-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

There were quite a few sweets at the Farmer's Market. At the Candy Apple stall, there was a young man who really stood out from the crowd of vendors, he was alive with youthful energy and I think he represents our California boys pretty well.

He nearly made it into this photo, but the camera reacted faster than his dive to be in the picture (really quite funny). The candy apples just tickled my fancy, they had such color (the photo is this case did not do them justice)

These candy apples looked SO APPEALING, it was very hard to resist, I may have to give in on my next visit. There were so many different kinds, how does one choose?

Adjacent to the fair is a wonderful family owned candy store named Village Sweets, the owners really care about the products they sell and we received kind attention from the proud father whose daughter owned this store.

There is a plethora of fudges that they make daily, I'd brought some home only to have it mysteriously disappear without even getting a taste (or photo of it).

This is sure to bring out the kid in you, jars of delectable candies cover a countertop, it was such a feast for the eyes. Instead of the plastic bins you see now in most candy shops, there were glass jars of all shapes and sizes.

How in the world do you eat these HUGE jawbreakers! I'm sure that kids would be more than happy to attempt to figure out a way, holding them in your hand would be a sweet but messy endeavor.

This is a photo my stylist Kim took today, she is so talented and can make anyone's hair look great by just blowdrying! (I wish I could keep her in my back pocket so that my hair could always look this nice)

Spontaneity

2008-08-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

I had no intentions of stopping at at book store, but a friend needed a book to read at the coffee shop so being the self sacrificing creature that I am ( they really needed to twist my arm on this one) we located one on the way. I was perusing the knitting books, not expecting to find anything and found my now FAVORITE book on socks, there are so many patterns in this book that I am interested in knitting, I can hardly wait to get started, I have several projects going right now, still it wouldn't hurt to go to Suzoo's today and begin my hunt for some of the yarns I will need. Hopefully I will have photos to share with you if I locate any of the yarn.

Friday evening was quite spontaneous as a dear friend and I attended the Summer Festival at the Huntington Library in San Marino which was performed by Southwest Chamber Music. This was my first Chamber Music concert and I quite enjoyed it, but will admit that I really missed the soul stirring sounds of the violin. The following pieces were performed La Cheminee du Roi Rene by Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974), Choros No. 2 for Flute & Clarinet by Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 - 1959), Summer Music, Op. 31 by Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981), Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6 by Heitor Villa - Lobos and Mladi for Wind Sextet by Leos Janacek (1854 - 1928).

The concert took place on the Logia with the Chamber music playing to a background of lovely chirping insects (crickets perhaps?). I was fortunate enough to have a seat towards the edge and could look out and see some stars during the concert which made everything feel dreamlike.

This photo almost appears as if it were take with black and white film. It was dark and I could just barley see the outline of the urn (in the viewfinder all I could see was black so most of the photos were taken blindly and hoping for the best). During the day the urn is softer in appearance as it has sat out in the elements for a century or more, the flash brings out a starker quality and shows an interesting contrast with the dark night as the background. This urn sits on the edge of the balcony just outside the main house in the Huntington Gardens.

Local Family Fair & Market

2008-08-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

I really do try to stick to knitting & gardening on this blog, but working full time with a long commute does not always allow enough time to complete projects in a timely manner blogging has been so much fun that I want to be able to post on a regular basis. So when opportunities arrive to share genuine beauty or something delightful then I hope you won't mind the indulgence of my postings.

There were some incredible flowers at the farmer's market, I'm not quite certain what these are, but they were a must share due to their beauty (if you can identify the flower please would you tell us in your comment). The petals were so amazing and they stood on rather tall stems. Could this be a sunflower?

These Gerber Daisies were so exuberant in their bright colors that I just had to include them in this blog, try as I may I could not get a photo of them without some one's arm, leg, or other body parts in the photo. (I also desperately wanted to rearrange them, but I didn't think that the operator of this stall would appreciate that) I thought it was humorous the sign looks as if a bunch would cost EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS .

Have you ever been enticed by the fragrance of strawberries on a warm summer afternoon? These beauties were also a treat for the eyes and they drew you into their stand - beckoning come and buy me!

Most of the stalls were occupied seem to be occupied by the farmers who grow the produce (they proudly displayed their beauties and gave out generous samples, the watermelon here was much redder than the picture showed and generously filled the air with its sweet fragrance).

The grapes looked so delicious and ripe, but by the time I had discovered them my bags were quite loaded and heavy with goodies to take home, so I brought a photo of them home instead.
Well that's all the photos I can manage for this morning, I have a few more pics to share so I will continue sharing my Farmer's Market experience on my next posting.

Tomatoes and Pomatomus

2008-08-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

I've began the Pomatomus Sock (pattern is free and available on Knitty.com) it is being knit on 2 circular needles with the suggested yarn by Shelridge Farm, I used the color Loganberry. The pattern is written for DPN's, and I was surprised how easy it was to convert to use with the circular needles. I have an appreciation for the circular needles as it is easier to take my project places without having to worry about stitches falling off the needles while in transit. The socks are destined by my niece who is away at college, she is now a fellow knitter and I know that she will enjoy wearing handmade socks made especially for her by her Aunt Jean. My next sock project for her will have to be warm winter socks in either a DK weight or possible a worsted weight. Sock pattern suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

The tomatoes are coming! I had to go out and take back the volunteer tomato plant some, its as tall as the house and was quite wide, upon taking down some of the branches I came upon this wonderful specimen (there were plenty of others, but this one was especially appealing). If this is the same type of tomato that I planted last year it will reward me with large meaty tomatoes that are delectable with few seeds, they are great with fresh mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil.

My favorite Extra Virgin Olive Oil right now is by Colivata from Tuscany, it will be wonderful on the tomatoes when they are ready, I use it to dip bread into, finish pasta, drizzle on lightly steamed veggies or on a salad, I'm sure I could find other uses for it, but these are great for now.

Just Flowers

2008-08-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

Last night (after dark) I decided that I wanted to bring some Lavender to work so out to the garden I strolled and cut them in the dark, a little trickly, but they turned out fine as you can see from the photo below. I like to reuse bottles as I won't worry about losing another vase in transit, this bottle held Vanilla Extract and it seems to work just fine.

Bright colors are not usually my thing, but this past year has been an adventure in color for me, I may venture even further next year with larger blooms as I think they may provide the opportunity for interesting photos. The difficulty in photographing (at least for me) the tall spikes of this Delphinium is that I lose the flower definition when I try to bring the entire stalk into the photo so I chose to concentrate on a few magnificent blooms (they remind me of skirts with the petticoats peaking out).

This photo was taken on a slightly overcast day, yet the bright blue Larkspur still manage to pop with color.

It was last spring when I took this photo, The colors were so vivid and this one in particular really stood out from the rest of the Azaleas.