Sunday, October 31, 2021

Yopping Update #18 - Trio completed



Let's get right to the finishes. (Afterall there is still a pumpkin that needs carving).
 
 Presenting - The Beatrix Potter Trio

Jemima Puddleduck, Peter Rabbit, Mrs.Tiggy-Winkle

Had to show the rear view - loving Peter's Cottontail!

Then I decided to tackle something that has been on my Yopping list for a couple of years. It took me three tries to get this mini Elizabeth Zimmerman sweater to work.  I tried twice to scale it myself:

hmmm.  top part too small



bottom better shape, but top still too small


Then I realized the new book I got last week had a formula for the sweater based on finished size.  So I drew up a pattern that was two inches around the chest with 1/2 inch width for sleeves. and Voila!  it worked.  I don't know why I didn't look in the book - but it was an interesting afternoon of math and knitting and frogging and knitting and frogging and knitting until I finished.  I was happy to find the perfect button in my button jar to finish it off. 




The rest of the week was spent on my Portwenn socks.  I am on clue four which is one more pattern and then the toes. 


It was pouring rain all week, but finally on Friday the skies cleared.  Amid more raking we took a trip out to one of our favourite beaches yesterday to winterize our camper, go for lunch and walk in the wind and waves. 

view from our picnic table

lol - he needs a toque (or a hair-tie)

glad to have on my gansey and matching toque

Tonight is Halloween so I am off to carve our pumpkin and get the yard set up for the wee trick or treaters.  I am so glad that it will be a clear night for them.  

Halloween has already happened where my daughter and her family live so I will leave you with a picture of their celebration. 


Someone is getting into character for tonight's festivities here at home!

BOO!






Sunday, October 24, 2021

Yopping Update #17 - Surprise!

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My week got off to a grand start as I met the newest Marine Biologist in my life (ok, the only Marine Biologist in my life) and gave her the Planaria Gansey.  It fits!


As Peter Rabbit and his friends were still waiting on the KnitPicks order I finally sewed the buttons on my Gansey Cardigan.


And then I finished my Catharine Macaulay socks.
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Still no Knitpicks order so I cast on my latest socks (also gansey style) called Portwenn


Then...ta-da, yesterday my Knitpicks order arrived so last night I got to work on Peter Rabbit's body, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle's head/ears and paws, and Jemima Puddleduck's bonnet.  I also went to Michael's in the afternoon to get more stuffing and some yellow pipe cleaners for Jemima's webbed feet.  I'm all set for the putting together portion of the program. 


In order to get free shipping I also bought this book.  I have made three or four surprise sweaters by Elizabeth Zimmerman and I love making them so this book is a delight to have, and I will be making something from it as soon as Peter and his friends are all put together.  Currently they are just a basket of bits and bobs!
making a mini version for my Christmas tree is on my Yopping list for this year too!

I also bought a set of 6" double points in small sock sizes.  I have a set of 5" needles, but often they aren't long enough for some of my gnomes and/or toys. That's my story and I am sticking to it.


Of course some sock yarn jumped into my cart by accident, 

the single ball is grey, not sure why it is photographing purple


as well as a row counter I can wear on my finger and quickly advance the rows with a tap of my thumb.  I have something very similar for counting laps when I swim. 


So it has been a retail therapy kind of week - and I am so pleased with all my purchases. 

I have been playing Wingspan a few times this week - sometimes solitaire and once with my dh. (He got the highest score! Hmph).


It has been very rainy and windy here all week and the low barometric pressure meant yet another migraine.  Sigh.  I have been keeping a food diary but so far no clues.  My stomach hasn't been so great all week and all I have been wanting to eat are chicken breasts and brown rice.  Could be worse I suppose.  We got our flu shots on Friday so that is a good thing.

I did make chocolate chip cookies yesterday.  That was my daughter's fault as she was making them in the morning and as a co-worker of my dh's said 'It done flung a craving on me!'  

My grand-daughter has called a few times this week.  Today she was painting with her momma, and yesterday she was riding her two-wheeled bike (with training wheels).  Every time I see her she seems to have learned something new to share with us. 

Nature is putting on quite the show these days.  The fall colours are stunning. 

backyard maple showing off

I hope to get out for some walks this coming week - time to get the rain gear out of the closet.  I joined another Conqueror Challenge - The English Channel - and I am logging my swimming distances there while I continue to log my walks on the Ring Road in Iceland.  I hope to be done the Ring Road before the end of the year, and the English Channel by then too.  Then I can start two new challenges in 2022 - one for walking - The Kruger safari in Africa - and Macchu Pichu for swimming.  I like these challenges and the medals are very beautiful!

Raking the yard of ALL the cedar will have to wait - 


It  is pouring again - and the barograph indicates storm 





so I am staying in and will continue on my Beatrix Potter trio.  I only have Peter's arms/legs and jacket to go and then I can start assembling. 

My novel  sales are slow and steady.  I am going to explore the cost to also do a limited run of paperback copies.  Stay turned.

I hope all my dear readers are staying warm and dry.  Time for tea and a cookie I think.