Work In Progress, Damn Rabbits, Milkweed, Audiobooks, and Down with trump

 

Corner to Corner Afghans are fun to make and you can see it grow a bit quicker than you can just knitted side to side.  I'm guessing on when to change color, because I don't have equal amounts of these colors.  The fiber is called Cotton Fleece, 80% cotton and 20% Merino Wool.  So much softer and easier on the hands then I find 100% cotton to be.  I'm using a size 5.5 inch needles.  I have twice as much of the rose as I do the green, and less still of the Robin Egg Blue (according to the label), but too me it looks sorta Turquoise.

This was the start.  I like to start new projects right before a trip whether we're traveling by car or plane, so I don't have a large project on my lap as we travel.  So I started this wee triangle and grabbed the additional colors to pack.  When I took the picture of the progress above I had 174 stitches on the needles and it measured 37 inches wide and 17 inches to the point, and 25 inches on the two sides.  

On a previous trip I had started this corner to corner.  This is heavier yarn, but at the moment I don't seem to have the label to tell you what it is.  I'm using size 8 needles for the heavier yarn.  Funny thing (as it wasn't planned), when I measured this and counted out the stitches, I had 174 stitches on the needle for this work in progress as well.  It however measures 48 wide, 22 inches to the point, and 33 inches on the sides.

Took this additional photo because in the first one you can't really see the color change to the darker variegated.  The current plan, based on the amount of yarn I have is to continue with the darker variegated until what perhaps will be just slightly more than half way and then switch back to the light.  I have 3 large balls of the lighter variegated and 2 of the dark.......so we'll see how it shakes out.

This is bulky yarn.  Quite a bit heavier than the above afghan.  I'm using a size 10 needle for this one.  It was started several trips ago and currently has 150 stitches on the needle and measures 46 inches wide and 29 inches tall.

It's hard to see the colors in the first picture of this ghan, so took a close up of a section of it.  It's much more colorful than the first picture shows.

All of these projects are now deemed home projects as they're too large to comfortable work on in the car or on a plane.  Don't think I'll be traveling again until September, so hopefully I can finish up something here, though I don't tend to work with the heavier yarns much in the summer months.........so we'll see how it goes.

I'm pretty excited my Swamp Milkweed didn't bloom last year but is starting to now.  I had planted two plants last year.  I'm hoping the aphids aren't as bad this year.  I've been told you can wipe them off with a wet paper towel, or just hose them off; but you don't want to do that if you have Monarch eggs on the underneath sides of the leaves.  This is pretty close to the ground and a bit hard for me to get down low enough to check out the underneath sides for little white eggs.

This however is what's left of one of the new Milkweeds I planted this year.  The 5 bare sticks you see is all the rabbits left.  I was checking the garden at 7 am this am and chased 2 rabbits off.  The leaves you see were all scattered and I piled them up for sake of the picture.  There was a tiny start to it flowering yesterday.  I've used pellets, whirl a gigs, and have now purchased those sonic steaks with lights you put in the ground that's suppose to ward off animals.  It doesn't seem to be working.  This has me pretty frustrated.  I don't know if the plant will come back.  If any of you know, please sing out.  I was able to find a u-tube video that showed how to do a root cutting.  One of those 5 bare sticks was taller, so I took a cutting and we'll see if I'm able to get roots and can plant it.

When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel.  The above picture is a screen shot from Libby while I was listening to this book, the next two images are from Goodreads and Google.  The 3 jackets are very different to my way of thinking.  I don't know which book jacket was designed first, or why there are so many different ones.  I've not run into this before.  I often pick a book by it's jacket and then read the summary.  The first jacket picture to me, best represents this book.  I really enjoy this book about WWII prisoner of war camps that takes place here in the US.  While I knew they existed, I didn't realize how many of them there were.  AND I don't think it's a subject widely known or understood.  It certainly wasn't discussed in my history books back in the day........but then I'm old as dirt, so perhaps it is in the books now?

The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos.  Another WWII story of hardship, loss, and love even well after The War was over.  It helps you realize though times were very hard, and lots of people couldn't be trusted; they were some folks who did not loose their souls.  I recommend you put this on your list.

The Day The World Came to Town by Jim Defede.  LOVED this book.  I knew about airplanes landing in Gander Canada due to 9-11....I'm sure we all do; but this book shares so much more.  I didn't realize how many planes landed there, or the huge number of people they took care of.  The incredible opening of their hearts to help people they didn't know out.  Truly heartwarming.  Reading this knowing how truly disgusting trumpie has been to our good neighbors to the North is heartbreaking.  Heart Breaking.  PLEASE put this on your list.

The Big Lie by Jonathan Lemire.  I've read soooooooo many books about this disgusting excuse of a man on so many fronts.  This book focuses on his continual lying about winning the 2020 election.  Lots of details we've maybe only heard bits and pieces about.  The Big Lie actually started back in 2016 when he laid the ground work as he was expecting to loose to Hillary Clinton, and should have....probably would have had Comey not pulled a last minute run around.  Sadly, his first mention of the Big Lie started at a rally here in my home state of Ohio.  GROAN!!  Though I've read many books about this man, his corruption before and during the election process, I still think it's important to read as much as one can about this CONVICTED CRIMINAL.

Though I saved this to my computer before Pam Bondi got fired, it still seems worth sharing.  She is complaisant in hiding the Epstein Files and protecting donnie john and all the other Pedophiles.  How any woman can betray other women/girls/kids like this is beyond me.  I hope she ultimately goes to jail for failure to do her job.  Her job was NOT to be trumps personal lawyer; but that's what she was.

Good Businessmen do not loose money on a cassino.  

All our tax dollars being spent on this diversion of trumps, because the Iran war hasn't been enough of a diversion to get people to stop talking about and investigating the Epstein files.  This meme showed up in my knitting group.  The caption was something sure hope she's not using her good scissors.  Anyone who knits, crochets, sews etc will know the importance of their "good" scissors.

Yarn, Books, and Flowers

 

Poppuri is completed.  This afghan started with much smaller squares than I typically have to work with.  There are 48 squares here.  I think this one probably changed more in the before and after than some of the others.  I used up a good amount of my stash in lots of different colors than was my original plan.

This is the before.  Some of the squares were almost circles with just a row or 2.  Quite small.  I had a lot of yellow and some blue, dark red, and very dark green that I had planned to use, but as I started working on it, decided it needed more variety, so brought in some pink, mint, turquoise.  Was pleased with how it turned out.  This is my 6th afghan since January.  They're all stacked up to be donated as the weather turns.  I also have 3 afghans I'm knitting at various stages.  Each time we take a plane or car trip I start new one so the project isn't too big and then work on them at home in between other things.  Pictures of them next time.

A family favorite.  Mac n cheese.  It's almost always the first meal I fix when our daughters comes home as it's her fav of all time.  I use 5 different cheeses, and we like a nice crusty top.  I use Italian pasta, not Muellers elbow.  A friend is constantly telling me I can't call what I make mac n cheese because of the mix of cheeses and different pasta.  

Mothers Day Roses from hubby..  One of two vases with a dozen each.  Yellow is my favorite color

And from Darling Daughter, a gorgeous arrangement.  Notice the support for Ukraine in the container!!

The Iris were plentiful this year, and so pretty.  I have these in clusters in all 4 flower beds in the back yard.  The fern are poking up between the greenery of the lilies.  Took this picture awhile ago.  Now the fern are beginning to wilt with the warmer weather and the iris are spent and have been trimmed back.  The lilies should start pretty soon.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.........WOW!  Couldn't put this book down.  With the current state of immigration in this country, this is truly a must read book.  You'll be sad, angry, and a cheerleader throughout.  Please let me know what you think of this book if you've read it already, and later if you do.

After the number of heavy books I've read of late, I needed to take a breathe.  Maeve Binchy's Chestnut Street did that for me.  Stories with different characters.  An enjoyable book, not a great one.  I would like to have stuck with some of the characters and had things have more closure than it seemed the book offered.

And if you know anything about Heather Cox Richardson, you know what to expect in this book, Democracy Awakening.  Another must read book in my opinion given what we're living through with this corrupt and deceitful administration and all Red Hat Wearers.

Ghosts of Sicily by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr. taught me things I didn't know about WWII.  I've been to Sicily and I would say it's probably my favorite of our European tours to date.  And yes, Mark Harmon of CSI fame is the author.  Those are two things that attracted me to this book.  I didn't know the MOB played any role in WWII, but they surely did.  A fascainating book.

Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis had me clued to the edge of my seat.  Small town in Alabama with all it's racial bigotry, deals with abortion up close and personnel.  With women losing their rights daily with this current administration, I found this book very thought provoking.

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole.  The transformation of a poet who's never left the island, beautiful letters, WWI and WWII, and love story.  Very very enjoyable book.

Trying to keep our sanity day to day is not an easy task.  But, smiling and laughing at some of these memes does help, IMHO.

Another Afghan is Completed, Antique Cars, Audio Books and.......

 

This is the 5th afghan I put together while hubby and I were wintering in Hilton Head.  I named this one, Everything.  The before picture is below, but oriented differently than the completed picture above.  Originally I had planned to size/edge the squares with a dark forest green and yellow as you can see from the picture below.  But, I had yarn left over from the 3 previous projects and decided it needed more color.  So, I used up odds and ends of the left over yarn to bring the squares to size and make the joining.  I think the added colors helped to brighten it up.  This of course like all the previous afghans I've put together will be donated. **Edited to add I had forgotten Ellie Foster had suggested Country Kitchen for this afghan.  Which is a much better name than Everything.  Thank you Ellie!

Spotted this cute sign one day while out walking in the shops in Harbour Town.  Thought you might get a kick out of it.  I don't buy clothes for my hubby.  He gets his own, but many of my friends say if they didn't buy clothes for their hubby's they would wear old clothes that don't match.  Apparently, my hubby is more capable?  Or do my friends just think they need to do it for their spouses?  What say you all?  I'm curious.  

The political climate in this country has not improved.  Everyday there is more to be disgusted by.  Nothing seems to low for this administration to do or say.  And after some flack on this first meme that The Orange Felon admitted to making himself, he tried to convince people he thought he was a doctor because he does help so many people.  Apparently, he thinks we're stupid enough to believe something like that.  We're not!

This 2nd one is not one he made or posted, but the number of meme's that came out making fun of him afterwards was staggering.

And there is much to be disgusted by with his whole administration.

There was a little festival to celebrate the arrival of Spring In Harbour Town with some cool old cars.  I took quite a few pictures for hubby, as he was out golfing that day, but these are the ones I thought were the coolest.

Sister Wife by Christine Brown Woolley (wife #3) was interesting.  I learned a few things I didn't know about Polygamy.  That there are many different sects that operate differently.  The common thread being one man and multiple wives and lots and lots of kids.  Some sects the wives don't all live together under one roof, some of the wives actually have a job and work outside the home.  Some are more into marrying very young girls who have little choice in the matter.  All of it disgusts me alot.  Though she ultimately left the marriage, and the church; it's surprising to me how much she defends this life style.  

Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson gives more background about the The Six Triple Eight women that was made into a fabulous movie.  Very worth while read.  These women were truly incredible against many many odds.

The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd was a fabulous book about how Indigo was such an important crop for SC (Hilton Head area).  How one woman learned the process by trial and error against her mother's wishes who thought her sole purpose in life was to marry and have babies.  Eliza Lucas, was a strong and very brave woman with lots of guts and determination.  I learned about this book while on a tour of Daufuskie Island which is a boat ride from Hilton Head.  Our tour guide took us to a small shop where Indigo is made.

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman is a heartbreaking but interesting story about the hardships of those who immigrated to this country through Ellis Island, the Eugenics movement, the racial tensions, the forced sterilizations, imprisonment,  and deportations.  Very stirring.  While this book is a novel, much of the story is infact based on actual facts of the time.

Purple Rain, Books and More

 

Purple Rain is finished.  Pleased with how it turned out, and it wasn't the easiest to work on.  Squares were very different in size, some weren't squares, but rectangles as well.

These are the squares, or what a friend calls pieces parts.  I ended up moving a few squares as I was edging them for size.  You can immediately pick out the 2nd square from the right on the bottom row as one that got switched out in the final design.  This is the 4th one I completed while hubby and I were wintering in Hilton Head.  And you can probably also see some of the rectangles got turned a different direction to make things fit together better.

Wow, this was a real eye opener to me.  I know we've seen tv shows and movies where elite military personnel get by with things the rest of us would not; but I didn't realize how true it is.  Sad statement.  These guys we're suppose to honor, to thank for their service are drug traffickers, murders, steal from us.  This is the largest military base in the country and it's apparently not very honorable.  The police in the area are corrupt as well...not that that fact surprises me.  We've seen too many video's of police off the rails in recent years to think of them as friends like we were taught in our youth.  Seth Harp, the author is an Iraq Vet, and investigative reporter.  I gave this book 5 stars, had a hard time putting it down.  On Goodreads it has a rating of 4.08.  If you read it, please let me know what you think.  A friend lives not far from the base and when I was telling her about this book, she said she wasn't surprised.  It doesn't have a good reputation.

I found, The Resistance Knitting Club by Jenny O'Brien to be fascinating.  It's no secret I like WWII books with strong female characters; but I had no idea how knitting was involved in undercover work.  As a knitter, I found this truly fascinating.  Sweaters, scarves, hats etc with coded messages knit into the garments.  A family finds out their Grandmother was part of the resistance in Churchills secret army.  Morse code and knitting stitches.  I gave this book 4 stars and it's Goodreads rating is 3.93

Ben Sasse is a United States Senator and he seems to think the problems we currently have aren't political.  He thinks people are lonely.  I found his thinking a bit pie in the sky and fairly disconnected with everyday life.  I gave this book only 3 stars, while it's Goodreads rating is 4.17....so obviously, I'm in the minority on this book.

Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton was an interesting read and quite entertaining.  It takes place in Hollywood, Carmel by the Sea to be exact.  A pregnant star, a Hollywood fixer, and a Blacklisted writer.  Lots of secrets.  I gave this book 4 stars, but Goodreads rating is only 3.67.

I hate that this jerk is from my state of Ohio.  His comments sure haven't aged well, have they!

I thought this photo was quite powerful.  All names of men in the Epstein Files, and to date ........still no one has suffered any consequences for their disgusting activities.

People well organized on a beach...I think in California, but I saved this picture awhile ago and now am not sure of the location.  Should have written it down.

Still standing with Ukraine!

I absolutely LOVE this sign.