Mom's Iris

Though it didn't appear to be a very pretty start to the day, cold-dark-gray; this is what I saw looking out my window. Mom's Purple Iris's lining 3 fence rows. A few had opened yesterday; but apparently during the night and or early this am they burst forth with this magnificent color display. They were gorgeous. I looked out, then up and waved to Mom. I've had these Iris in my yard for a good many years, but the starts all came from her yard. So, everytime they bloom I am reminded of her. I put on a pair of shoes and went out before my first cup of coffee to get these pictures. You can see the dew still on the flowers. They have a lovely soft scent too.
Here's a cluster of them. They generally bloom a good while. Later, when it's less wet out, I'll cut some to bring indoors so I can enjoy them in and out. I've given lots of starts of these to others to enjoy as well. Aren't they beautiful!

*I post for Z-A challenge

Red Lace Finished...whew

Red lace if you wrap once,
but long enough to wrap twice and then hang shorter (my method, dressier I think);
and a close up.

Red Lace finsihed, just in the nick of time, as it's needed for a party for this evening. I don't like deadlines, sorta takes some of the enjoyment away from working on a project. But, if my work schedule hadn't changed, it wouldn't have been a problem.

I'm happy with the way this turned out and hope the person for whom it's for is happy with it too. Next time I do something along this line, I think I may like to try and work it lengthwise for a little different look, though the idea of casting on that many stitches makes me groan. The longer rows also makes it harder if you get interrupted and have to put it down...still though I think I might like to see how that looks.

Have you ever done a drop stitch scarf lengthwise vs widthwise? If so, how many did you cast on and did you like the result?

Much to do today, so this is a shorter than normal post. Happy wkend all.

Jake in Review

This adorably little Toehead is Jake. He's sporting a knitted Ohio State Sweater I made for him several years back. The sleeves needed to be rolled up, my questimation on the rest was pretty good. Didn't have a pattern, used the basic rectangle approach and knitted this on my Bond.
Jake here tromping through the grass with hubby. He loved to pretend he was mowing back in the day. Our plan is when he's old enough to really mow...show him the picture and convince him he still loves it. lol We keep the mower in the shed and we'd get it out and pretend we were mowing when he came to visit.


Warming up after pool time here.
Jake getting his veggies drinking V-8. He loved it, knew where I kept it in the fridge and would point and say 8?
Exploring out in the yard with is binoculars.
I always kept bubbles on hand which he enjoyed on our deck.
Nothing like a wheelbarrow ride through the backyard. I'd take a break in my yard work and he'd climb in.
First summer, before he got all his curls.

This is my Jake in review picture post. He's various ages here. Hope you enjoy!
J post for the Z-A challenge.

The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood

I read this book poolside while vacationing in Aruba. I need to say I read it right after finishing, The Friday Night Knitting Club. Some of what I thought about both books is probably because I read one right after the other? They seemed very similar to me. Stories of women coming together to get through life by knitting. I liked and disliked parts of both books. Both had tragedies. I didn't look at the dates to see which book was written first; but...while reading this one, The Knitting Circle; I couldn't help but wonder if one was copying the idea from the other.

The premise of this book seemed to be when your life is falling apart, when you can't deal, when you can't socialize--you knit. That knitting in fact can "save" people. Both books have the people in trouble pulling away from people they know and love, from people who love them to find solace is knitting with what initially are strangers. Everyone experience grief differently, I just don't know if agree with the premise. I've seen lots of folks experience grief, differently; I've experienced it myself...but can't say I've witness this type of cooping. I'm not sure I found the book believeable. However, I've been fortunate enough not to experience what I believe to be the worst type of grief possible which is explored in the book.

I do recommend this book. I'm unsure if this is one I purchased at the airport some time back, or one my DD passed along to me. In retrospect, I think I'd like to recommend (which I didn't initially) The Friday Night Knitting Club. I think reading them back to back is not such a good idea and probably soured my initial opinion.

*Removing the word The...am using this am my K post for the Z-A Challenge