There Be Owls Here

Or maybe I should say, owlets. I ran across this cute little pattern on Ravelry. Now, in all fairness, the pattern did come with a warning label that it could be addictive. I would up that warning and suggest that this pattern be listed among other controlled substances. I think I'm starting to hallucinate, because these little guys are popping up everywhere:

This is a great way to use up scrap yarn. I used Lion Brand Homespun scraps and some of those extra buttons that come with everything you buy these days. I started making these around 9:00 this morning and couldn't stop myself until about 3:00. This is a great beginner's crochet project because, depending on the yarn, it can be very forgiving.

Photo credits go to SJL Photography (my 13-year-old):

Son of Dish Rag Tag

I'm in! Thanks to foothillsofthegreatsmokymountains' nudge to join, I'm giving this a try. Sounds like a hoot. Here's how it works, as far as I can tell:

A "baton" is passed through the a team of 10 knitters. Each box has a finished dish rag, a ball of dish rag cotton, instructions, the Official Dish Rag Tag Pattern and a small treat. Upon receipt of the "baton", the recipient knits a new dish rag using the yarn in the box and the Official Pattern. When the new dish rag is done, it is sent with a new ball of yarn, the pattern and a treat to the next team member. The first box to make it through all team members and return "home" is the winner.

This whole thing is organized by yarnmiracle. Visit her site for some really cute patterns.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my 2 favorite dads! I love you!


My dad, doing his favorite thing - fishing:

And my husband - how many dads would let their kids turn them into mermaids? Such a good sport!

Summer = Family Time (and a little knitting)

Greetings from Gulf Shores:

Dad's always such a good sport. There's no way I'd let them bury me in the sand:

So glad G & P joined us this year. It was our first beach vacation with them since I was a kid:

3 generations - G, Me, and D1&2:

G and D1 at Stacey's Rexall Drugstore in Foley, AL - opened in 1923 - full service soda fountain - we went back for more a few days later:

Oh, and, as luck would have it, look at what was delivered while we were away:

Yes, those are the swimsuits we were supposed to take with us. Thank goodness that Gulf Shores has a Wally World!

I did manage to do a little knitting here and there. My After Dark Robe has been out of hibernation for about a month. The back is done and I am almost finished with the front left side:

When I couldn't stand another minute of stockinette, I started the Swirl Shawl out of some Koigu sock yarn I bought with a birthday gift certificate a while back. These little medallions are rather addictive once you start on them - kind of like "potato chip" knitting as Gigi and Jasmin like to say.

And finally, I added to my dishrag cotton stash. How could I be expected to resist colorways named Fiesta and Gumdrop? And what better souvenir could I ask for?

Emergency Knitting

There are a few things that I try never to leave the house without -- my cell phone, my purse, my ipod, and my knitting. What if, horror of horrors, I was stuck in traffic or had car trouble and had no knitting with me? What would I do to pass the time? What would I do to calm my nerves? I know - I have become obsessed.

Tonight, on my way home, my obsession served me well. My car, apparently a nail magnet given the number of flat tires I've had since buying it, picked up a large chunk of metal in one of the tires. I heard it thumping and pulled over on the interstate but there was no flat tire. I got back in my car and drove a bit further. The thumping got worse and worse until I saw something out of my rearview mirror fly out from under my car. Then I heard it - a sickening pssssssss thud thud thud thud. I pulled over again and, yep, my tire had turned into a pancake.

I called AAA and settled in with my knitting. That comforting click-slide-click of the needles made those 20 minutes of wait time fly by. Before I knew it, the service truck was there. This very nice man had my tire changed in under an hour. As he was packing his gear to leave, I hopped in my car to drive away. . .click . . .click click click . . .deader than a doornail. My hazard lights had drained my battery. Luckily, the gentleman had not left yet. With a smile, he jumped my car and sent me on my way - wishing me a good evening. AAA Man, you are my hero!

So, there you have it. In addition to a AAA card, spare tire, flashlight, and cell phone, emergency knitting should be considered essential equipment for every car.