On the Needles, Friday Nov. 21, 2014

I'm making slow progress on my sweater. I have to pay close attention to the pattern, so I usually only knit on this in the mornings when it's quiet and I can concentrate.

Back of Sweater

Front of Sweater

Still working on the same pair of socks. The first sock is finished , another 30 rows and I will be ready to start the toe on sock #2.

I'm also working on a quick infinity scarf to give as a gift. I was hoping to have it finished before this post, but didn't quite make it. The yarn is Patons Divine, and I have had it in my stash since 2005!

Infinity Scarf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just got a couple of cross stitch pieces back from the framer. I had a hard time trying to get a decent picture of them.

Linking up to Judy at Patchwork Times

On the Needles, Friday Nov. 07, 2014

Lots of knitting going on lately. First up is mittens.....lots of mittens. The picture just shows a few pairs. I'm trying to use up old acrylic yarn, but no matter how many pairs I knit, the stash doesn't seem to get any smaller.

Mittens

I also started a sweater, for me. The yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a color called Steel Cut Oats. The pattern is Persistence is Key. It is slow going, but will be really pretty when it's done.

My Sweater

Always on the needles is at least one pair of socks.

Socks

Linking up to Judy at Patchwork Times

On My Needles, Sept.26, 2014

This evening I finished up my Woodland Turtle Cowl. The yarn is 100% Alpaca that has been in my stash for almost 10 years! It is so soft and warm.

Woodland Turtle Cowl

I also have a few pair of socks on the go, but I can't show any pictures, because they will be Christmas gifts.
Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

We've also been busy making salsa, over 50 pints so far. We use the Bernardin Fiesta Salsa Mix, it makes a really nice salsa. We usually add a bit of hot pepper powder to give it some more kick! We grow and dehydrate our own hot peppers. This year we have jalapenos and cayennes (mostly green because our growing season is not long enough for more then a few of them to turn red).

Bernardin Fiesta Salsa Mix

Tomatoes waiting to be skinned

Salsa cooking

Cayenne peppers in the dehydrator.

Exhibition Results

Well, I did quite well at the provincial exhibition this year. I entered 9 items, and won 9 ribbons!

First Place, Fancy Mittens

First Place, Fancy Gloves

First Place, Work Socks

Second Place, Work Mittens

First Place, Child's Sweater, Size 1 to 2 Years

First Place, Hat & Mitten Set

Second Place, Fancy Socks

Second Place, Other Knitting

Third Place, Child's Sweater Size 2 to 6 Years

Blueberries

Today we took a drive to Charlottetown to go to Old Home Week, our provincial exhibition. The main reason I wanted to go was to check out the Handicraft exhibits. I had entered quite a bit of knitting, and I wanted to see if I got any ribbons. No pictures yet, as I can't pick up my items until next week, but I got at least four 1st place ribbons, several 2nd places, and a 3rd place.

On our way to Charlottetown, we noticed that the blueberry u-pick was open, so on our way home we stopped to pick some berries.

We ended up with 22 lbs. of berries for the freezer, and we'll probably go back again for a few more.

Our garden has been producing well. Last week I made dill pickles, pickled beets, and canned beans. Tomorrow I hope to make a few more dill pickles, and some bread and butter pickles. Here are a few pictures from the last pickling session.

Cucumbers

Dill Pickles

Beans

Pickled Beets

On the Needles, July 25, 2014

Still not a lot of knitting going on......too busy with work and the garden, but I did manage to finish a simple pair of mittens.

Pink Mittens

I also started a pair of socks yesterday, just a simple K2P1 rib, with a purl row every 10th row on the leg. The yarn is Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester Socks. Hopefully if I start now, they will be finished by Christmas!

Socks

Head on over to Patchwork Times to see what everyone else has on their needles.

On the home front, today was a busy day with the beans. Why we plant so many I'll never know, but they do taste good all winter. There is a load in the canner right now, and another load to go in when that load is done.

Beans

On My Needles, July 5, 2014

It's been a long time since I posted an "on my needles" update, but I have been doing a little knitting. I started a pair of gloves way back in January, finished one glove and then set it aside until recently. I am happy to say that both gloves are finally finished.

Gloves, Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash 

I am also working on a pair of heavy wool socks. These ones are for me. I finished the first sock today. The yarn is Briggs & Little Regal in the color Fundy Fog.

Wool Socks

The last thing I am working on is a simple baby sweater, just because I need to use up some old yarn. The yarn is Red Heart TLC Baby in the color Snooky. For more knitting inspiration, head on over to Patchwork Times

Baby Sweater

Today we are getting the remnants of hurricane Arthur. We haven't lost our power (yet), but there are scattered outages all over the island. We have had wind gusts of over 100 km. We didn't get hardly any rain, but it is supposed to rain lightly all night. Here is a little video I took this afternoon of the wind.

It's about time!

It's about time.... for a blog update. I've been sadly neglecting this blog. Work seems to get in the way. Not too much knitting going on lately, and no sewing either. When I have time off, I'm either too tired to do anything or I'm out in the garden. For anyone who is interested, I do have a few picture of grandkids to show off. Hopefully it won't be another 2 months before I have another update!

Hayden, with one of our vegetable gardens in the background.

Hayden again

Lincoln, missing his 2 front teeth!

Jasmine

Jessica

On The Needles, Friday, April 25, 2014

Finally, I have a finish to show. These are for me. They are actually shades of purple, although they seem blue in the picture. I have started working on another pair of socks, but I can't show a picture of them as they may be for someone who happens to follow this blog!

Blueberry Waffle Socks

Head on over to Judy's blog Patchwork Times to see what else is "on the needles".

On a sad note, we said good-bye to our sweet Buddy today. It was a day filled with sadness and a few tears, especially for hubby, as he had to take him to the vet, and then bring him home to be buried. Rest in peace, Buddy.

Buddy

We Have A New Granddaughter!

Introducing Serenity, our newest grandchild, born on April 8, 2014 to our son Ryan and his girlfriend Cass. She weighed 9 lbs. 3 oz.

Serenity

Big brother Teigan is not quite sure what to think of her yet. He is 5, and his biggest worry is that she will take all his toys!

Teigan

I made this quilt a few years ago, and now it has found its new home with Serenity. The pattern is called Flowers in the Sunshine, by Sweet Jane on Etsy.

Rest in Peace

On Saturday, March 22, 2014, my mother-in-law Mildred lost her battle with dementia. She was 92 years old.She no longer knew who I was, but she always knew my husband, her son, and her face always lit up when he came to visit. The last 7 months of her life were spent in a nursing home, but before that we cared for her in our home for 5 years and in her home for 1 1/2 years before that.

On the Needles, Snowy March 14, 2014

No spring-like weather here! This is what it looks like here today. We are more than ready for spring.

On the needles this week is a baby sweater and a pair of socks. The baby sweater is from an old Beehive for Bairns book and is knit with fingering weight baby yarn. The socks are heavy boot socks, knit with Briggs & Little yarn.

Baby Sweater

Boot Socks

I also finished a quilt. This one is for my mother-in-law. She is 92, and is now living in a nursing home and suffering from dementia. She no longer seems able to express emotion, so I didn't get a response when I gave it to her, but purple was always her favorite color, so I think she likes it.

Purple Stars Quilt

All wrapped up in her quilt

Please head on over to Patchwork Times and check out what everyone else has on their needles!