Eye Candy Friday...

...my first full week at work after vacation has been busy.

With it getting dark earlier in the evening and the light not quite right when I have the time to take photos in the mornings, I have been unable to take new shots in the past week. When we do the time change in a week, I hope to get back to my regular photo schedule (assuming there's something I can take photos of).

Our first full day at the Grand Canyon ended in a spectacular sunset. Unfortunately, our plan to be at a good location for said sunset was thwarted by the transit schedule being less than clear on what constituted "30 minutes before sunset." They meant 30 minutes before the minute that sunset started, which is not what we and 6 other people thought - 30 minutes before full-on sunset.

Since we missed the last shuttle, I took photos at the transit station. There are a bunch in my Flickr group. Here's a sample:

We did get to a viewpoint for the next day's sunset, but there weren't any clouds. It was still beautiful, but the photos aren't as cool as Day 1's.

Up this weekend:

• Process more photos.
• Work on the mermaid.
• Work on the quilt.
• Decide whether we're giving out candy for the trick-or-treaters. The danger is always that we will have too much candy left over and we'll eat it!
• All the normal errands and chores.

Yes, I'm still here...

...this week has gotten away from me!

The quick hits:

1. I spent a happy weekend working on the mermaid and doing some spinning.
2. Processing our vacation photos is taking forever, but I finally finished day 1! Only 5 more to go. LOL! It's a good thing that I didn't take any photos on our first and last day!
3. Work is keeping me busy and I wind into open enrollment time. 
4. The cats are still letting us know that they are happy we're home. 
5. I'm so ready for the time change! I keep waking up way too early and falling asleep at odd times in the evening. I hope that things will even out when it changes.

Here's a look at one of the Grand Canyon photos. There are more in my Flickr album.

Just to catch things up, here's the latest WIPs list.

WIPs Roll Call

Worked On:

• Attic Windows quilt for me (quilting)
  Ordered and received 2 more feature fabrics; will cut those this weekend
• Crocus handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
  Spun about 3/4 of the bump
• Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch) 
  Working the piece upside-down is much better. Still working on her tail

Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week:

1. 4-shaft sampler (weaving) [Ravelry]
2. Charred Teal Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
3. Christmas 9-patch Pillow (cross stitch)
4. Confetti hat (knitting) [Ravelry]
5. Crocus handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
6. Mother of Dragons shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
7. Phat Fiber box, Indian Wedding (spinning) [Ravelry] 
8. Rosewood Wrap (weaving) [Ravelry]
9. St. Charles (needlepoint)
10. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. All That Glitters Christmas quilt (quilting)
2. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
3. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
4. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
5. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
6. Finishing work
7. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
8. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
9. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)

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And I'm back...

...it was a great vacation in Arizona!

We visited the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, the Sunset Crater area, Walnut Canyon, and several pueblo ruins and cliff dwellings.  The new camera worked pretty well and I used my old camera as well. I took a lot of photos...I'm going to be processing them for quite a while!

I had planned to work on my knitting projects while we were driving from place to place. However, that didn't happen very often. I did manage to get a few rows in on the latest hat, but that's all!

So I have no new progress on any of my projects. I hope to get back into the swing of things this weekend!

WIPs Roll Call

Worked On:

• Confetti hat (knitting) [Ravelry]
  Working on the body of the hat.

Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week:

1. 4-shaft sampler (weaving) [Ravelry]
2. Attic Windows quilt for me (quilting) 
3. Charred Teal Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
4. Christmas 9-patch Pillow (cross stitch)
5. Crocus handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
6. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch) 
7. Mother of Dragons shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
8. Phat Fiber box, Indian Wedding (spinning) [Ravelry] 
9. Rosewood Wrap (weaving) [Ravelry]
10. St. Charles (needlepoint)
11. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. All That Glitters Christmas quilt (quilting)
2. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
3. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
4. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
5. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
6. Finishing work
7. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
8. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
9. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)

Eye Candy Friday, blog-and-run...

...from the Grand Canyon.

We're taking a vacation trip through Arizona with the Grand Canyon as our first stop.

As you can tell, blogging is not a high priority right now. More when I can!
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WIP-it Wednesday...

...and a finished object.

Here is the Blue on Blue hat  [Ravelry] that I finished on the last day of September.

Specs:
Started 8/27/17
Finished 9/30/17
Pattern: Slouchy Beehive Hat by Flora Cheung
Yarn: Red Heart Soft Essentials Stripes in Maritime Stripe
Cast-on 80 and shortened the ribbing to 2 inches

As promised, here is a progress photo of Mermaid of the Pearls. She's going to take a short nap while we're on vacation, but I'll get back to her as soon as I can.

WIPs Roll Call

Worked On:

• Charred Teal Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  Still working on Section 3, contrasting color #2
• Confetti hat (knitting) [Ravelry]
  Working on the ribbing
• Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  Working on the tail.

Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week:

1. 4-shaft sampler (weaving) [Ravelry]
2. Attic Windows quilt for me (quilting) 
3. Christmas 9-patch Pillow (cross stitch)
4. Crocus handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
5. Mother of Dragons shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
6. Phat Fiber box, Indian Wedding (spinning) [Ravelry] 
7. Rosewood Wrap (weaving) [Ravelry]
8. St. Charles (needlepoint)
9. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. All That Glitters Christmas quilt (quilting)
2. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
3. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
4. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
5. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
6. Finishing work
7. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
8. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
9. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)

September 2017 recap...

...at least I finished something this month!

Finished:

• 9/17 Peek a Boo pillow (cross stitch)
• 9/30 Blue on Blue hat (knitting) [Ravelry]
• Books:
  1. Born in Death, JD Robb
  2. Innocent in Death, JD Robb
  3. Creation in Death, JD Robb
  4. Secrets in Death, JD Robb
  5. I Know a Secret, Tess Gerritsen
  6. Strangers in Death, JD Robb
  7. White Trash Zombie Unchained, Diana Rowland
  8. Salvation in Death, JD Robb
  9. Promises in Death, JD Robb
  10. Kindred in Death, JD Robb
  11. Fantasy in Death, JD Robb

Started:

• 9/9 Crocus handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
• 9/24 Christmas 9 Patch pillow (cross stitch)

Works In Progress:

1. 4-shaft sampler (weaving) [Ravelry]
2. Attic Windows quilt for me (quilting) 
3. Charred Teal Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
4. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch) 
5. Mother of Dragons shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
6. Phat Fiber box, Indian Wedding (spinning) [Ravelry] 
7. Rosewood Wrap (weaving) [Ravelry]
8. St. Charles (needlepoint)
9. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. All That Glitters Christmas quilt (quilting)
2. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
3. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
4. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
5. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
6. Finishing work
7. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
8. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
9. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)
    

Top-of-the-Waves Tuesday...

...and Happy October!

• While I got a few things done over the weekend, it's not as much as I wanted.
• I did a Jo-Ann's run to buy foam to make camera inserts for my new backpack. When I was using a large bag to carry my stuff and I only had one camera, it was easy to put the camera bag inside the bag. Now that I have the DSLR and the point-and-shoot, having 2 camera bags inside the bag worked OK (sort of). However, for vacation I want to carry a backpack for the cameras and the camera bags inside it just don't work.
• I cut a thicker piece of foam for the bottom of the backpack to provide extra padding. I cut thinner foam to wrap around the cameras - one for each. Then I covered them all with a nice wave-patterned fabric and added some velcro for easy adjustment. They fit nicely into the backpack.
• I'm not completely happy with the size of the DSLR wrap, so I might make another one if I have time.  I definitely want to make a top cushion so I can add something light on top of the cameras.
• I am making progress on the mermaid. I finished the cross stitching for the foam (finally!). I am now on the part of the tail that angles towards the left, making it slower to stitch. I'll probably turn the piece upside-down in the frame to I can more easily stitch the rest of the tail.
• We're busily getting things together for vacation, prepping for the house sitter and making sure that we have enough cat supplies on hand. The Husband is making sure that the drip irrigation is all working so the sitter doesn't have to worry about that.
• I finished the Blue on Blue hat [Ravelry] and started another one. Hats are great TV knitting!