Home Treasure Friday

 Today's home treasure was owned by my father. I inherited it when he died about four years ago. I also inherited his roll-top desk that was his grandfather's. I have no idea where or when he got this monkey, but it has always been in my memory. Growing up, it sat on a shelf in the living room. Today, he sits on a shelf in the bookshelf portion of the roll-top along with some of my father's books. He looks pensive as he smokes his pipe. Much like I remember my father, a former academic who smoke a pipe up until the late 70's. He died at the age of 92, and had an amazing life. I mostly miss his dry humor and the way he would always end our phone conversations with, "Ok, kid". 

He was a much more distinguished primate than his little keepsake.

Thursday

I went somewhere yesterday with a friend in my "Covid pod". In other words, she's someone who I trust lives as I do and is not a risk. We get together now and then. So yesterday, we went to our local yarn store.

We were the only customers. Their rules are only 4 customers in the store at one time (not a problem in this case) and you have to make a bee-line to back of the store and wash your hands as soon as you arrive. And of course, you must wear a mask.

I bought some Malibrigo Rios worsted weight to make a cowl. It felt so foreign to go into a yarn store and buy yarn, yet it felt wonderful! It's been way too long.

It's a bit darker in real life, but you get the idea.

Here's the cowl that I'm going to knit with it...

It's mosaic, of course. My go to technique these days.

Tonight, I made the best meal that I've made in a long time. I found a recipe for roasted veggies and chicken thighs. I cook and eat a lot of chicken breasts. This was such a nice break from the norm. The recipe was amazing. It had bacon and apples and sage and thyme and rosemary...So good!! All the veggies caramelized and were out of this world. Here it is...

Autumn Chicken Dinner

Hope you have a good evening. Tomorrow is Home Treasure Friday!

Wednesday

 It's late Wednesday, but I thought I'd check in. Thank you all for your kind comments regarding my sweater and the cowl. 

The Dissent cowl is finished The flared front looks a little like a ruffle, but should straighten out after blocking. I also wish that the color change went beyond yellow, but that's the breaks. I have plenty of both colors to make something else. 

A buck posed for me yesterday.

He stuck around for quite a while before scampering off.

I bought a book and it came today. It's just out and has some amazing photos and some really amazing tips and recipes.

Lastly, I brought in my turmeric plant for the season. I bought this in April from an online plant supplier. It came as a tuber and I planted it with little hope that it would do anything. My climate zone is a little too cool for it, but I thought I'd give it a try. It started to grow in late Spring, but didn't do much but sprout big wide leaves. But when I went over to bring it inside, I found that it was blooming!

Isn't it gorgeous? I hope that I can keep it going this winter. 

Yesterday, I went somewhere that I haven't gone in months and months.  More on that later!

Monday

 I picked up some evidence of the season on our Reggie walk and around our yard this morning. There is no doubt. Fall is here.

I finished the Big Crush sweater. It has soaked and now is gently spinning in my washer. I'm hoping that the main color hasn't bled into the contrasting color too much. The water kind of looked like diluted red wine when I took it out of the basin. Here it is pre-soak..

I'll give it a light blocking after the water spins out of it.

I started the Dissent Cowl. I really am hooked on mosaic knitting. This is so fun to knit and keeps my attention. The yarn was from stash. I had bought these two skeins from a yarn store in Annapolis for a brioche knitting class that I took. I used it in class, but pulled it out and rewound when I got home. 

I think that this will be a Christmas present to a friend who will appreciate it. Have a good day! Hope you have a sunnier sky than we do here.

Home Treasure Friday

 This Friday's home treasure isn't mine. It's actually my daughter's. When she was at college, she had a very good friend (and still is her good friend) named Andy. He was a film maker, a photographer, a pianist, and an artist. He went on to work for the Discovery Channel, I believe. 

Anyhoo...He always gave my daughter thoughtful birthday gifts that he made himself. This is an origami koi fish that he made over weeks. It's made from a one dollar bill. I think that it's amazing. It resides in my house currently, because my daughter moved to England after college and left many things behind for me to keep for a while. After five years (and a husband and 2 kids and the dog) she moved to Southern California. BUT..in November they are all driving back here and will live close to me again! So Mr. koi will probably go to its rightful owner. 

He even lined up the design on the dollar to look like eyes! And look at those scales!

So that's it. Do you have a Friday home treasure?

Thursday

Today was a good day. Well, it started out a little rough. My shingles and flu vaccines yesterday were making me a bit achy, but it was nothing that a little ibuprofen didn't take care of.

So in the afternoon, the husband and I went to the store. I have been reading that flour may be hard to find again soon, so I picked up a bag. Just on a whim, I went down the cleaning aisle and lo and behold, they had disinfectant wipes! I picked up 3 tubs of them. 

While we were in line, I told my husband to go ahead and pay and I'd meet him at the car. I went back and got 3 some more wipes, and then delivered them to 3  different friends who have immunity issues due to cancer and other ailments. It felt good to drop them off on their porches. These wipes are such a rare thing to see these days!

On to knitting...

I received a package today. I bought some yarn during NY State Sheep and Wool Festival (Rhinebeck) during their virtual event last weekend. I've been to the actual festival once with friends. It wasn't the same, but I did find some nice yarn.

This is why I love getting yarn from independent dyers/spinners. The receipt had this fabric bat button pinned to it with a big handwritten thank-you! And the tissue was beautiful, too.

This yarn is from Starcroft Fibers in Maine. They raise the sheep on an island off the coast, and have done so for over 100 years. If you want to read about it, go HERE

The yarn is so rustic and beautiful. They had a deal that they would give you the sweater pattern for free if you buy enough yarn to make it. The pattern was what drew me to the yarn. It's Muriel, and here's a picture off of Ravelry:

The main color that I'm using is the pumpkin color, and the navy is the yoke design. This may be my next project!

Tomorrow is Home Treasure Friday! I'll be posting a picture of something that I have in my house. Join me if you would like!

Wednesday

 Today is kind of drizzly here in Maryland. We managed to get a walk in with Reggie, though. Later today, I'm going to my doctor's for the flu shot and a second shingles shot. I may not feel so great later. We'll see..

Yesterday, I managed to get a shot of a butterfly (Cloudless Sulphur) on the Lion's Ear. The larger butterflies are few and far between now.

Knitting progress:

I'm coming down to the wire with yarn now. I have one ball left. I stopped the 2 inch ribbing on the bottom of the sweater at a little over 1 inch, and started the sleeves. That way, if I don't have enough for the ribbing at the bottom after 2 sleeves, I'll add a band of the contrasting color. Stay tuned.

The sleeves are supposed to be a bit short (thank goodness). Here's a picture of the finished sweater from the pattern. 

The husband likes to take a ride on his motorcycle on sunny afternoons. Reggie goes on alert and waits for him to return. This was yesterday.

I have no idea how he got that black smudge on the back of his neck. Must have walked under something. It will disappear today when he gets a bath.

Such a vigilant boy. Have a good day!