Sunday, September 27, 2015

 

One-Skein Wonders for Babies

by Geneve Hoffman Photography, for Storey Publishing
So...how cute is this? I actually gasped when I saw this photo of my knit project for the first time. What an angel!

This is just one of the adorable photos that were created for the 101 knitting patterns in the brand new One-Skein Wonders for Babies book recently released by Storey Publishing. Yes, three of my fresh new designs are included in this compilation of patterns for hand knitters, and yes, I'm so tickled.

Seen here is the Smocked Lace Toddler Hat and Mitten set which is knit in fingering weight yarn and features a unique lacy edging. Also in this book are my Scallops and Ribbing Baby Cap and Socks and Folded Lace Cuff Socks (see photos below).

As soon as I received my author's copy of the book I curled up with it and slowly flipped through the pages. The color photography is beautiful and surreal, especially for those of us who yearn for grandchildren by our way-already-old-enough sons. But I digress.

My local bookstore (Books A Million) already has copies on their shelves so I'm sure they are available
at your local yarn store and Amazon. All of us knitters are sure to have a few (cough, cough) beautiful single skeins of yarn in our stash that are just waiting for the right project. Most of us have enough hand-dyed shawls and accessories for ourselves, but there are always babies being born that need soft warm things too. Babies are the perfect size for one skein projects!

Yep. I'm going to be knitting some of the other designs in this book you can bet on that. These new projects will join the ones that I knit for the publication of this book. Those knit samples? Well, they have been lovingly put to to rest and wait in the hope chest. You know, for that joyful day in the future. There's always hope.

Life is good.

Folded Lace Cuff Socks
Scallops and Ribbing Baby Cap and Socks

Friday, September 11, 2015

 

Low Country Boil

LOW COUNTRY BOIL
So, what did you have for your labor Day celebratory feast? We had our first experience with what is called a "Low Country Boil" courtesy of the Brunswick Landing Marina. What is it? Well, it's a big 'ole boiling pot of water with sweet corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage, and shrimp all flavored with hot pepper spice! Yummy!

There was so much food, including the bring-along side dishes, that our big group couldn't finish it all! What? I thought that there was no such thing as leftover shrimp - but I was wrong. I just couldn't squeeze another of those succulent crustaceans into my belly that day.

Jonesy and I contributed a couple of watermelons to the party and there were PLENTY of desserts too. We didn't even recognize a lot of the people there as they were (we heard) local folks who owned boats that were kept in the marina. These are people we don't interact with everyday in the laundry facilities and club house. 

FRED AND JONESY


But, there were plenty of friends there too. Yes, Fred from the catamaran Makai is really is as tall as he looks in the photo with Jonesy. We first met Fred (and Cathy) down in French Harbor Roatan, Honduras when we were both anchored there in 2012 - and here we both are in Georgia, USA. We also have two other boats currently hanging out with us in this marina whom we met in Guatemala years ago. It's truly a small group of people who do this cruising lifestyle and we tend to bump into each other often.

So, besides partying dockside, what have we been up to? Well, Jonesy has had the pleasure of overhauling the plumbing hoses to the forward head. It's a boat. Just when you think you have everything working, something has to go wrong.
LABOR DAY PARTY
Because our boat (as most do) uses saltwater to flush the toilet, a hard rock-like buildup grows in the exit hose over the years. You can't see it, you can put acids down the line to delay the buildup, but it will be there. You'll never know how bad it is until just one day no water will flush down.

Surprise! You've got chores!

So no big deal right? Simply remove the hoses and replace them. What could be so hard about that?

Well, often when they build boats, they install things like the hoses before they install the cabinets, sinks, etc. Yep. He had to remove the sink counter and plumbing, the cabinets, the toilet, and some flooring to reach the offending hoses. This took several days of work in the small cramped space.

Thankfully, we are in the USA and there is a West Marine store (you know, that place that sucks all the cash out of boaters' wallets) so we were able to buy the correct hoses ($100). For safety reasons (and only an additional $75) Jonesy replaced the anti-siphon valves as long as he had access to them. These valves prevent seawater from being sucked up the hoses and into the boat.

What was I doing all this time?
Oh, just the usual crafty endeavors including socks for Jonesy (above) and lots of pottery. I've been playing with glazes and combinations of glazes for the pine needle basket bottoms and assorted trays.

Then, of course I've been continuing to work on my reed egg basket a few reeds at a time. It really gives my fingers a workout! Soon, very soon I'll get working on the pine needle baskets. It's just that the clay stuff is too much fun and is very rewarding.

Life is good.

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?