Livin' La Needle Loca

...what the heck happened to Wednesday and Thursday!? (They must be on vacation with Monday...) It's been a busy HR week for me. Lot's of things that had to be handled before October first. I finally got done with them yesterday and, doesn't it figure, I had a project deliverable today! I finished that, too. So how about some pictures to distract you from the lack of crafty blog content lately? Another September sunrise: A morning glory: Some datura flowers: I saw the datura and morning glory on an early morning bike ride last weekend. The datura intrigued me so much that I rode home to get my camera and walked back to take pictures. Here's a close-up view of one flower: This datura hadn't quite opened yet (taken from the ground): The Husband has planted more flowers in our hanging planters, including this begonia: Up this weekend: I have an appointment with the optometrist tomorrow morning to check my contact lenses. It's b...

...because Monday just didn't happen, blog-wise. The Tealing Groovy quilt is almost done. I have to finish the binding, snip the loose threads, and finish the ties on the quilt cover. It's not the best quilt I've ever made, but it's a utility quilt and doesn't need to be perfect.   I'm still working on the first pattern repeat for the Peacock Pomatomus socks. For some reason my yarn-overs are a little pronounce on these socks. It makes them a little lacy, and that's OK.   No spinning occurred over the weekend. I got so caught up in the quilt, that I just didn't get to it.   I am resisting starting another shawl. I have the Nefertem pattern [ Ravelry ] and yarn (Madelinetosh Sock) from the Loopy Ewe Club. The pattern is interesting and the yarn is yummy. Must. Resist.Casting.On.    I'm totally ignoring the Seaweed Cardigan [ Ravelry ] right now.    Totally love my new contacts! My vision is so much better with them. I'm up to 10 hours a d...

...and it was slim pickings this morning. There is not much left in the garden that I haven't photographed I found one...a squash blossom: After that, I turned to the sky. The crescent moon was still visible when I started taking pictures: There were quite a few clouds this morning. Despite the clouds, it was quite warm today. Of course, I was in side for most of the day. I spent almost the entire morning at Kaiser, getting my blood drawn (2+ hours!), my routine mammo, and picking up a prescription. I treated myself to a Starbucks venti non-fat latte after that. The bruise on my arm from the blood draw says I deserved it! Up this weekend: a little quilting, a little knitting, and maybe a little spinning. Id like to Make serious progress on the Tealing Groovy quilt. I think if I put my mind to it, I can at least get the machine quilting done. Knit at least one pattern repeat on the Peacock Pomatomus socks [ Ravelry ]. Spin at least another 2 ounces on the rem...

...it's been a while since I posted some WIP pictures. Here is the current state of Turquoise Trail, the Laura J Perin design I've been working on for so long (Sorry for the dark picture): I finished quilting the cover for my Tealing Groovy quilt. It just needs binding and the ties so it will wrap around the quilt. And for the first time in a while, a new pair of socks! These will be Pomatomus socks (Cookie A pattern on knitty.com ) in the Peacock colorway of BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight. I had a little trouble getting started on the pattern repeat, but it became evident after 2 rows that there was an issue. I frogged back to the cuff and started again. So far, it's going well. It feels good to be knitting socks again! .

...Woo hoo! Of course, it is late afternoon. And I have no pictures to show you. I guess you can't have everything. Quick hits: I picked up my contact lenses on Saturday, Almost immediately, my sight improved! Yay! It will take some getting used to as I haven't worn contacts in 2.5 years, and gas perms in at least 5 years. I working on my Tealing Groovy quilt. I finished quilting the cover and started the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting.  I started a new pair of socks. I started knitting Pomatomus [ Ravelry ] [ Web ]. I'm using a stash yarn, Socks That ROck lightweight in Peacock. I've finished the ribbing and have started the first pattern repeat. I'm considering starting a second pari of socks using another stash yarn, Socks That Rock Lightweight in Mustang Sally. I have a coupls of patterns that will work well for this nice red yarn, but I haven't picked one yet. I might start another shawl, this one from a Loopy Ewe kit. It's the Nefertem Shawl by ...

...yup, I'm still here. This week was just completely out of control from the very beginning. Between project stuff and HR stuff, my time just gets sucked into a black hole. Stir in a few doctor appointments and there if nothing left over by the end of the day. It looks like next week is going to be more of the same... How about some eye candy? I know I could use some! A tendril on a pink Passion Vine... A pink Double Azalea... An open Scarlet Larkspur... Flowering Purple Basil... Purple Verbena... Love that purple verbena! Up this weekend: In the continuing quest to see better, I have an appointment with my optometrist on Saturday to get my new gas permeable contact lenses. It's been two years since I last wore contacts...I gave them up because I just was not happy with the blurry vision that soft lenses gave me. The optometrist and I are hoping that going back to gas perms will give me sharper vision. It will still be blurry because of these d...

...and Tuesday is heading in that direction. At least I have an excuse for today. I have a doctor's appointment at 2:30 that will take big chunk out of my day. Monday was just a blur. Spin In on Sunday was wonderful! I finished the first 4 ounces of an 8-ounce bump of Creatively Dyed wool-bamboo-seacell fiber. The food was yummy and the company was great, as always. With my latest 2 projects (Mas y Mas shawl [Ravelry] and Mysterious Waters Shawlette [Ravelry] ) completed, I'm at a loss at what to work on next. I keep picking up the Seaweed Cardigan [ Ravelry ] and putting back down again without knitting a stitch. I picked up the Sea Foam Wrap [ Ravelry ], knit 3 or 4 rows, and put it away again. I have several sock patterns and other patterns in my Ravelry queue, but none of them are calling my name. I suppose I could keep spinning. Or, maybe it's time to switch back to needlework or quilting for a while... .

…for a short week, it's been a week ! I'm so ready for it to be over (just 1 more hour!). For today's eye candy, I have pictures of the flowers that the Husband bought for my birthday. Great Bellflower Rocoto pepper Scarlet Larkspur Cuphea Cyanea Salvia, Blue Angel Salvia, Hot Lips Three Birds Flying Yes, he went a little crazy buying plants! And there are two more that I didn't include.  They are all intriguing shapes and wonderful colors. Up this weekend: It's going to be busy!  In addition to my normal chores, I have an eye appointment tomorrow, I want to go to the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival (the best one of the year), and I have Spin-In on Sunday, And the True Blood Finale is Sunday night!  I'm already starting off behind...I'm exhausted after a sleepless night. Somewhere during the weekend I need to get some sleep. Zzzzz .

...if I don't get anything else posted today, the least I can do is a recap. Finished: Nothing knitted, quilted, spun, or woven (I'm not counting the Bollywood fibers as individual spins; it's done when I finish spinning all the samples.) Books: A Dance with Dragons, George RR Martin Unraveled, Maggie Sefton Halfway to the Grave, Jeaniene Frost Reunion in Death, JD Robb Damian's Oracle, Lizzy Ford Damian's Assassin, Lizzy Ford Purity in Death, JD Robb Portrait in Death, JD Robb A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard Started: 8/21 Bollywood Phat Fiber box samples (spinning) [ Ravelry ]  Worked on: Mas y Mas shawl (weaving) [ Ravelry ] Turquoise Trail by Laura J Perin (needlepoint) Works In Progress, did not work on: Seaweed Cardigan (knitting)  [ Ravelry ] Isonzo Merino-Bamboo top (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Happy Pumpkin Scissor Fob by Shepherd's Bush (cross stitch) Jungle Songs quilt Natural Dyes batts from Yarn Wench (spinning) [ Ravelry ...

...running a little late, but at least it's still Friday! It's getting harder and harder to find new things to photograph in our yard. I need to remember to take my camera with me so I can take some pictures to and from the gym. Some of the houses along the way have some nice flowers. I did manage to find 3 things. A cyclamen bud: A strawberry blossom: Fully bloomed buddleia spire, taken from the point: Up this weekend: It's my birthday weekend. I plan on indulging myself! A few  Starbucks' venti lattes and morning buns, a dinner out, a little weaving, a little spinning...whatever my little heart desires! I'm really looking forward to this 3-day weekend!  .

...not quite by the end of August, but very close! Here's what it looks like unblocked: I'm tired...my hands and shoulders are sore. And there's still one more day in the week. Thank goodness there's a 3-day weekend in sight!  .