Knits, Orchids, Construction -- again.

In knitting news:

I finished a Monkey. Or maybe I did that last week but just took the picture this week. hmm. I haven't cast on for #2 and I think it'll have to wait another week.

Tony knocked out this quick "Cat Squeaker" toy for Sissy. It's from the book Knitting for Dogs by Kristi Porter.

My secret sock pal got her socks! I was getting nervous and it's a relief knowing they got there safely. Go visit Marie at Compulsiveknitter or on Ravelry: knittingmarie.

I started Odessa; or on Ravelry: Odessa. This is the first of my fall/winter gifts -- this one is for a fall birthday.

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In Orchid news: This beauty now has four blooms. It usually has soo many more but it got a parasite in this last year and the cure almost killed it so we are happy to see that she bloomed at all.

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In construction news: we installed a closet organizer. Where we once had 6 linear feet of hanging space -- a drop in the bucket for a couple of fags -- we now have 7.5 feet plus six 1'x1'x1' cubby holes for storage. We're still using the guest room closet for all our winter stuff (and Tony's shoes) but it's a start.

The shed didn't get very far this week because I was pretty busy with work but I think the coming week will see good progress for that project.

Later,

Eric

The usual suspects

I found a use for the Cherry Tree Hill I've had stashed away: Monkeys! I am in love with this pattern. And I love the CTH.


We haven't gotten much done on the Shed this week. It has been dangerously hot and we are novices at construction so it's slow going right now.

Just for fun, thought I'd take a few more pics of Sherry Baby before her blooms fade for another year. I'm going to miss her perfume in the kitchen.

Later,

Eric

Birthdays and Construction and Orchids

The Birthday brought in a pretty good haul. Tony got me this light for the kitchen,

and this ball winder, and a swift that is on order. The parents gave me a gift card to the mall -- they still think I'm 12, but $100 is still $100 even at the mall -- and took Tony and I to Outback for dinner.

The Shed arrived today in a big crate. We had to unpack it from the front yard and repack it -- sorta -- in the back yard near the construction site.

Tony cleans the tarp that will cover the shed until we get to the part where we have to figure out how to put the shed together. I've always been good with following directions, but this project is the biggest I've ever tackled so I'm a bit nervous. We might find that tarp in the back yard for a loooong time.

And Lastly, the Sherry Baby is in bloom. During the day when the sun warms this plant, it smells amazing. Like nothing else on earth. To me it smells like warm sugar, blueberries, orange zest and vanilla. Tony says it smells like chocolate. I wish I could give you some smell-avision because this plant is awesome.

Thanks for the b-day wishes. Later, Eric

Knitting in a trance

Sockapalooza sock number one is finished again! Apparently I was in a trance and could not stop knitting the pattern even though I knew --after measuring -- that I should stop. But what can you do? And besides, my super secret sock pal has big lady feet and the original pattern is for medium lady feet. What's one extra pattern repeat? A 12 inch foot isn't too big, is it?



So the ladies at knit night graciously -- and by gracious I mean: pointing and laughing -- informed me that the sock was a bit long -- even for Sasquatch. Thank you, ladies, I needed some perspective.



So I ripped it back a pattern repeat, picked up the stitches and re-knit the toe an inch and a half closer to the heel.



In Orchid news:

We have a new one in bloom. I forget what this is called but I'm sure it's a Phalaenopsis of some sort.

Later, Eric

Another Orchid in Bloom

This scary flower is an Orchid. Specifically, it's a Brassia called "Galaxy"

It looks like it has giant insects growing out of it. Ahhh! The Brassia is Tony's favorite -- for now anyway.

Nupps Ha!

The second attempt at the nupps on Swallowtail is working out much better than the first. My work area is chaos but I'm almost through with LotV1 so I don't care.

Thought I'd share a few more pics of the Orchids that were previously in the office of terror.

I had to pick a blossom off of the purple one today. It was wilting and it had to go before its negative energy took the rest of the blossoms with it. The one remaining bud has been threatening to open for weeks now. I hope it gets on with it before all the other blossoms fade.

And this guy has been in full bloom for at least two months now with no sign of wilting any time soon. It's so pretty that I hope it stays a long time.

UPDATE: LotV1 completed!!!