Promised photos

See - the Saturday Seven. Two pairs of jeans, two women's tee shirts and three of Youngest Child's shirts.



And a little river of blue bits on the sewing table.

Some say you can't knit at the movies . . .

but you definitely can at "Mama Mia!" It's very well lit and makes even me (a known hater of heat and humidity) yearn for Greece. Middle Daughter would say it was that Mr. Darcy (aka. Colin Firth) but he really shouldn't take his shirt off any more!



The simple nature of my Simple Yet Effective Shawl might also be part of the reason it's so easy to take everywhere. It's just alternating rows of stockinette and garter stitch.



You do have to watch the yarn overs at the beginning, middle and end of the right side rows but, other than that, you can't go wrong!

As for the Saturday Seven - I really shouldn't wait until my Youngest Daughter goes to bed to want to take my photos. Photos always make things better - if only I would remember. Tomorrow, photographic proof. Basically, it's two pairs of Mr. Daisy's jeans, two of my own tee shirts and three of Youngest Child's shirts. I think we'll be covering the size spectrum this week!

Beautiful music for the knitting set

Give it a try!

A peaceful afternoon - alone with my iron in the sewing room

After seeing this lovely book, Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts, over at Earthchicknits' blog, I've delved into making a patchwork blanket for Youngest Child's bed. Nothing big, just the "Little Bits" quilt.

But before I could start sewing, that meant shopping for fabric and then washing, drying and ironing it. And, while I was doing that, I figured it was time to get all of my stash sewing ready. I found some lovely fabric that I'd forgotten all about. And since it's going to be a long hot weekend, I am hoping to get some work done in the cool of my sewing room.

Knitting-wise, I've started a shawl for the Wrapped in Care charitable project - a Simple yet Effective Shawl from Cosmicpluto Knits. It's green - surprise! - and in a washable Vanna's Choice from Lion's Brand. I'm not crazy about acrylic yarn but I thought I would give it try because they wanted washable yarns for this charity project. I'm thinking I'll work another one in washable sock yarn or maybe one in hand spun for me. The pattern is fairly random and very easy to knit!

Finished at the last minute!

Tomorrow is the Minnesota Knitters' Guild's summer picnic. It's also the turn in date for the Little Lambs baby blankets collection. Never one to get something done early - I stayed up late last night and finished my Lydia's Lacy Blocks baby blanket. It's amazing what you can accomplish while watching The Fellowship of the Ring one more time!



Just a quick review - this was the Lydia's Lacy Blocks blanket pattern by Deborah Robson from Knit Along with Debbie Macomber: The Shop on Blossom Street. I used the yarn called for, Lion Brand Jiffy Solid, in Apple Green. I ended up with one skein left over - mostly because I changed the lace pattern from a six row to a five row repeat. (This was entirely unplanned!)

It felt so weird putting this in the wash and then the dryer. It was a little scruffy from being taken to the pool and it needed a wash. But, now I can go back to working on the Go with the Flow Socks.

Beautiful weekends are no place for Saturday Sevens

So, we'll start with last week's photo. Seven books - some old book club choices, some gifts and some inappropriate and/or double copies that were donated to my church's library. Sometimes I have to weed out "bad" choices and I just can't do that in front of the donor. But I don't need the extra books littering up my house, either. These will go to the AAUW book sale.



This week's Saturday Seven - seven little boy shirts. He's moving from size 5 to 6 and the old shirts are just too short. Off to Baby Karl.



We had a trip to the library today and Youngest Child just couldn't keep his eyes off one of his books. I requested two books after hearing about them on Earthchicknits' blog. I'll be relaxing on the front porch this weekend while reading The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections by Amanda Blake Soule. This is full of crafts and activities and I am so looking forward to making a few.

The second book I picked up was Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. Youngest Child needs a new bedspread and I'm looking at some of her designs. Lots of pondering ahead!

I am almost finished with the Lydia's Lacy Blocks baby blanket - I took it out onto the porch today to work on but the books were more attractive . . . maybe photos for that project by Tuesday.

Idle hands, idle hands

A rainy day stopped our trip to the pool so I had a little time on my hands. I could have worked on the baby blanket. I could have worked on my Go With the Flow socks. Instead, I stuffed and "eyed" the Little Teddy Bear from Kyuuto Japanese Crafts Amigurumi.

I'm pretty sure that I made the head too small - the ears look too big! - but it was fun and now I can move on. A hedgehog? An owl? What to make next . . .

After the ball is over . . .

After my race on Saturday, Mr. Daisy took me out for dinner at the Happy Gnome in Saint Paul. Taking a page from Annie Modesitt's blog, I took a photo of our delicious drinks - a little something for posterity.



Knitting wise, I am still working on that endless baby blanket. I tend to get caught up in the knitting and then - time to visit the frog pond. Luckily, it is due at the MKG meeting next week so I've been eyeing some new sock patterns to make with that trekking sock yarn.

Just a word about color in my photos. My last digital camera was pretty old so when Oldest Daughter dropped it, I didn't feel so bad. In fact, I got a lovely new camera as a Mother's Day present - complete with battery charger. Well, that charger has disappeared and I've been forced to use my cell phone for photos. Although I'd like to take nice pictures, sometimes a poor photo is better than no photo at all. The actual baby blanket is very green - brilliant.

Yesterday, I witnessed a drive by . . .

playing of the National Anthem. Three guys pulled up in a little sedan, parked in the lot of my local grocery store, pulled out their brass instruments and then played the Star Spangled Banner. After we clapped, they played it again, this time for one lady to record it on her phone.

Then, they got off scott free - off to play the National Anthem anywhere they chose!

Luckily, I spent a little time on line this week and realized by Wednesday that my race, the Minniman Triathlon, was TODAY and not on Sunday like I thought. So, I spent this morning swimming, biking and running and had a lovely time! Two minutes off my time from last year and ahead of my friend. That's a lovely morning for me.



I did have time to stop by All About Yarn in Coon Rapids last week - it was on my way to the packet pickup - and bought a little more sock yarn. I think this will be a birthday pair of socks for Mr. Daisy.

Today's Saturday Seven will be a Sunday Seven. Sometimes the photos just take a while! Off to work on my baby blanket! Enjoy your holiday weekend . . .

Ready for a break - Really!

More college visiting - more getting ready for guest and now, more bike rides. The last week before a triathlon is usually a good time to de-stress but this one wasn't so easy to get out of. I might not be blogging very much until after the sixth . . .



Cleaning out Youngest Daughter's drawers netted six tee shirts and Youngest Child gave up some jeans. I love cleaning!

Knitters, take this hint!

Knitters, don't work on fuzzy baby blankets when it's 85 degrees F. outside. It makes you very crabby. Oh, maybe it was the driving and college touring I was doing today with Middle Daughter, otherwise known as Miss Non-communicative.

The College of St. Benedict is lovely and has many talented people there but it was a very, very hot day for a tour. And not enough time for knitting. It does seem, however, that St. Joseph, MN would be the perfect place for a yarn store . . .

Here's the first few inches of my Lydia's Lacy Blocks baby blanket.

Knitting without tears

The Minnesota Knitters' Guild is participating in Project Little Lambs, making baby afghans (28 by 32 inches) in machine-washable materials for clients of Cornerstone, an organization that works with victims of domestic abuse. Their goal is to provide 200 afghans this year to the children they serve.

I actually have only ever made one baby blanket so I am looking forward to this project. Mr. Daisy and I made a car run (in his British sports car!) out to Michael's Crafts in order to find some washable yarn and I came up with Lion Brand's Jiffy in Apple Green. I am making the Lydia's Lacy Blocks from the Knit along with Debbie Macomber series. I've had this book for some time - I think I bought it at a Knit Out - but I've never made anything from it. So far, not much produced but it is pretty simple.



The Rosebud hat went to its new owner this week at a baby shower for lovely little Aria Rose. Unfortunately, the matching booties did not. When I went to sew them up - one bootee was a different size than the other! This is why you shouldn't leave your knitting projects in the wild. So, I'll knit up bootee #2 again and then mail them on. Here's a poor shot of bootee #1 - a lonely little footsie!



My Saturday Seven was pretty simple - just sorting out some tired old jeans and tee shirts. The duffel bag is from when my children were young and always needed sports bags. We've got plenty - I am sure someone else can use this more than our family.

I've almost finished Go with the Flow sock #1 - I was totally unable to take a flattering photo - so that will have to wait for another day,

(For some reason, last night's fleeting storms kept me from posting. So, today's blog is simply a bigger and better version!)

A lazy little update among the roses

Well, I would say that I was living up to the Lazy Daisy name yesterday - but I was actually busy trying to balance the fun and less fun aspects of life at Chez Daisy. Taking time to smell the roses, as it were . . .

First off the bat, Mr. Daisy and I went biking - a lovely 23 miler on a beautiful Minnesota morning. Then, back to reality and cleaning kitchens, sun rooms bathrooms. The Youth Staff here at Chez Daisy are in charge of dusting and vacuuming but I handle the messy stuff - wiping and mopping the kitchen and cleaning the downstairs bath. Upstairs, the teen bathroom is technically cleaning by a member of Teen Staff on a weekly rota but this week's lucky teen was out camping and if I wanted to see something done, I had to do it myself. Adding in the second bathroom, I spent the rest of the day cleaning and wiping.

Then, we had a quick drive out to Camp Rolling Ridges in Hudson, WI, where Oldest Daughter and Youngest Daughter were holding court at a service unit encampment. Most of their troop are high school seniors and they were honored at the end of the day flag ceremony. In fact, so many of the girls are graduating that Youngest Girl is going to take the Juliette Option next year - she's going to become a stand-alone, one girl troop. She likes to say she is becoming a Rogue Girl Scout!

After a lovely camp dinner and a trip to the movies (a silly, Adam Sandler-guy movie in honor of early Father's Day), I was beat and went to bed.



AND, I didn't knit in public. Anywhere. I actually took my Go with the Flow sock to the movie theater (I do knit through previews!) but we were so late and crowded that I didn't take the sock out. I will remedy this today by sitting on my front porch and knitting. All the rain during the past few weeks has really brought my roses out - at least it was good for something!

I did have a little Eureka moment recently when I realized how far out my project list runs and that I better get started knitting in earnest.

The project list includes: a re-knitted sweater for Oldest Daughter, a repaired sweater for my sister, baby sweaters, my husband's Brown Aran, a shawl, a cardigan and some (3) projects from last year. Not to mention the socks . . .



I made my Saturday Seven thanks to Mr. Daisy - he contributed this fax machine from his old office. It's going to a neighbor who needs one.



The boy's clothes are going to Baby Karl - a son of one of my book club's members. Thank goodness, he's just a year or so behind Youngest Child!

A little late night tom foolery

Originally uploaded by humbledaisy

Earthchicknits has alerted me to a very funny meme going around on
Flickr - and since I finally cleared away some computer work, I thought I'd put it up.

According to E - the concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker).

The Questions:

1. What is your first name? (Ellen)
2. What is your favorite food? (reuben sandwiches)
3. What high school did you go to? (Beaver Area High School)
4. What is your favorite color? (blue/green)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Keanu Reeves)
6. Favorite drink? (Coke Zero)
7. Dream vacation? (Iceland)
8. Favorite dessert? (toffee ice cream)
9. What you want to be when you grow up? (an archeologist)
10. What do you love most in life? (reading)
11. One Word to describe you. (quiet)
12. Your flickr name (Humbledaisy)

Enjoy and don't forget to make your own!

A Belated Happy Birthday!

Happy Late Birthday, Mom!

I finished this lovely little neck warmer some time ago but, since my mother sometimes reads my blog, I waited until after her birthday to post a picture. She probably could have used it in Minnesota this week - it was chilly!

This came about when I found a neck warmer pattern written in French. I sent it to my mom (a retired French teacher) to see if she could figure out the knitting abbreviations. BUT she thought I wanted the whole pattern translated. Suffice to say, it was eating up so much of her time that she sent me this pattern in its place. So I made it for her! Very fun and easy to carry around.

Happy Day!

Congratulations on your big day, Kate!

Tomorrow, more graduation fun. I am already exhausted!

There has been some knitting this week -



Go With the Flow socks were an easy choice for taking to yesterday's Senior Dinner and today's commencement excercises. At home, however, I've been running too fast to get much knitting time. I could actually use more sleeping time!

We did take a break on Friday and went down to Knitter's Palette in Lakeville to participate in their open spinning time. Oldest Daughter and I both took our wheels and it was a lovely experience. Her wheel is rather rickety and she got some great advice for tightening things up. I just enjoyed the company - usually it's just me and the television. I've finished the cormo from last week so I was working on some of the "Oak Lichen" fiber from the Red Star Yarn Company. I only got a little spun but the company was excellent. Perhaps we'll get to another one this month.

I found this week's Saturday Seven in the laundry room - two locker shelves that don't fit my daughters' new school's lockers, two old textbooks, one outdated iron (still works - just old), and two pairs of gym shorts. This week I really need the room so they are already at St. John the Evangelist.



Just a reminder - Knit in Public Day is next Saturday, June 14. What's going to be on your needles?

What a week . . .

I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last . . .

- The Tempest, Act 5.



After all the fence painting, chair finishing, mulch spreading, graduation party attending and tornado avoiding* I've done today, I was disappointed to find that I had far fewer photos to show for my week's work than I thought. I've been spending my evenings working on spinning last year's Shepherd's Harvest special treat - some Riverwinds Farm combed cormo roving - so that I can get to this year's lovely fleece.

At first, it was so damp from all the rain that the roving was just too limp and clingy to spin smoothly. Then, when I finally got a dry day, I was just spinning until the cows came home. That was the night I watched "Persuasion," "Mansfield Park," and part two of "Jane Eyre." Well, the rest is still on the wheel but I am hoping to get it finished by tomorrow night. I love the softness of cormo roving but it is very weather-dependent!

Outside of my spinning, I've been working on my own pair of "Go with the flow" socks.



Youngest Child is moving into his grown up bedroom furniture so it was finally time to get rid of the changing table. A friend picked it up today for his little girl.



The rest of the Saturday Seven was a crocodile lego box, two toddler bed sheets, some baby spit up pads (what were those still doing here?), a sweater vest and some swim trunks. Time to keep clearing out! Graduation countdown commences.

*The graduation party was in Lino Lakes, right where today's tornado was heading through. Luckily, it was just a warning and everything there is fine.

One fine day in May!

Not much was going on here this week except for the end of the year frenzy: Class parties, track meets and peace days made for a lot of extra driving and very little free time. I am on close, personal terms with my rolling weeding bench and my trowel, however! We're having a little extra yard work and house cleaning to get ready for Oldest Daughter's Big Day on June 7. I thought you might like a little glimpse of her many faces:


By the way, that was her starring role as Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox of the American Revolution.

On the knitting front, I've been working on my second set of bootees - the first turned out larger than I wanted so now I'm working on the infant size. I have also been working a few rows here and there of my Go with the Flow socks.



The Saturday Seven was easy - I was trying to move the winter clothes into storage and had to remove a few items. The red turtleneck and the loafers just never fit quite right, the tee shirts were all presents over the years and the red pajamas just never had the right kind of elastic - note to self, try these on before buying! Also, peach pink shorts are always a no-no. But, they are all in quite good shape and someone else will love them. Off to a rummage sale!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend as well - go see a parade on Monday!

A bouquet of spring flowers . . .

Finally, I got the buds attached to the "Rosebud" Hat - now I've started some matching booties. This photo makes the flowers look enormous but actually, the bouquet is quite in proportion.

I've started a pair of Saartje's Bootees with the remaining yarn. They are very popular on Ravelry!

See, I am knitting!

A few inches of "Go with the Flow" socks from the pattern by - you guessed it, Evelyn A Clark. The first pair for my Oldest Daughter was very fun to knit and now I can work on some for me.