Green Day....

No, I really didn't forget how to blog...honest! It's been kinda crazy here with the new "baby" and the end of school testing and the knitting and....you get the picture. lol I thought it was time (past time) for a quick update. Maggie is doing great! She's such a good puppy. Aside from the chewing (what puppy doesn't) there hasn't been any real problems. She'll outgrow that in time...I'm sure some stuff won't survive but it's just stuff anyway.

This is bag #4. I used the Knit Picks - Mary's Summer Bag pattern again. This one is knitted in Sugar & Cream Hot Green and (not 100% sure) Limeade. I love this pattern and I will probably use it again but for now I'm switching back to the Everlasting Bagstopper just for the quickness and ease of pattern. I've finished bag #5 for my neighbor's daughter (post photo later) and now it's on to the next three which are gifts for Ms Thang's teachers. I have my yarn and will be casting on ASAP. I am NEVER gonna get all of ours done before pool time gets here. lol

This little fella was given to me several years ago by my brother-in-law. He got it from a co-worker I believe who told him it was a Jacob's Ladder plant. I hadn't given the plant that much thought...he thrives with little attention and we're cool with that. I had tried looking it up online a time or two but had no luck finding anything that even remotely resembled this guy. So, I enlisted the help of my "plant go-to" person, Shirl who pointed me in the right direction.
THANK YOU SHIRL!!!!



This is a Selenicereus anthonyanus (stop laughing at the name and OMG that window needs cleaning!!) or Cryptocereus anthonyanus aka Zig Zag Cactus, Rick Rack Cactus or Fishbone Cactus. Finally, I know what to do with him and what all those little "feelers" are for. If anyone has one and has any advice, please, please share the knowledge! I did get some info that should help out but I'm always open to suggestions. If anyone is curious... Tropical Treasures - just scroll down to the vining plants and he's there. I don't want to bore everyone with all the details.

That's all the "green" I have today....gotta get back to the needles and get these teacher's gifts done. I have until June 4....not really that big of a rush but stuff always comes up so better safe than sorry. Hope everyone has been well and knitting!

Hugs!

Summer Bag And A New Book

With all this bag knitting...I thought I would change it up a little and try a new pattern. I have so many more to knit and I don't want to get bored with it before I get them all done. So....

I decided to give this one a try. This is Mary's Summer Bag from Knit Picks. I love this pattern as much/if not more than the Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty. It only takes two balls of cotton. I used Sugar & Cream in Sea Mist and a co-ordinating blue.

I admit that I'm not particularly thrilled with the top part (ruffle) or the little twisted cord handle. I prefer a handle with a little more bulk to it...much easier to hold on to. I've already started another one in shades of green and white and this one I will tweak when I reach the top. Maybe I'll do something a little more similar to the Everlasting Bagstopper with the top...we'll see when I get that far.

I got this in the mail yesterday. I love Vickie Howell...she's so talented and so much fun to watch...although Knitty Gritty isn't available here anymore. :( I started watching it when I was teaching myself to knit and I learned so much from this show. This is her new book and it's the perfect size to fit in your take-along bag with your knitting. It's got tons of useful info, tips and even a sheet of knitter's graph paper that you can make copies of to use for your projects. The back has a handy little tool for checking your needle size and your gauge. It's definitely worth the whole $7.95. Great price for a handy, helpful little book.

The bonus....I snagged an autographed copy. How cool is that!?

Back to my next bag....pool time will be here soon and I gotta get these things done. *mental note to self- go get black yarn for bags* For the boys...they don't want those girly colors....YUCK! lol

Hugs!