Monday, October 08, 2007

BOUNTIFUL HARVEST...

It's October and I'm still picking crops from our vegetable garden. Peppers have been ardently popping up since July, with no end in site. Afew tomatoes here and there, but soon they will be done for good. Throwing some Swiss Chard leaves in to pastas and soups when I think of it,

and waiting for other good things, like this celery, to mature.

Several eggplants were noticed.
This is the lone surviving yellow squash plant, but it looks like it's still going strong.
These pole beans are the new kids on the block, having been planted by Shaun sometime in August. I like that there are a few surprises left to be had in our garden!

Speaking of surprises.....besides receiving my invitation to join Ravelry, the Postman made a delivery last week.

My Secret Pal 11, known to me as Pooch A, sent me another lovely gift box with a fall theme.
Angels and stitch markers-can't have too many of the both of them!

Yummy candy, which I must remember to take along to class tonight to share with my brilliant knitting students. The book is great, and I'll pass it around tonight also. It reads like a dictionary, but very clever.
Lovely kitchen accessories that welcome the pies and cookies I'll prepare for the holidays. I really must decorate my front door for Fall this week, even if it is eighty degrees! I love the colors this time of year!

Thanks, Pooch, for another beautiful gift package!


I love the colors that are in bloom in my tree planter.















I'm trying to knit those colors in my cloths to keep me mindful that it really is Autumn. Ballbands on hold for now while I rediscover Grandma's Favorite Dish Cloth. These were knit with one ball of Mar-Di-Gras. I started out knitting both at once on straight 7s but was running short due to my 45 stitch Cast Ons. Notice the orange tip to the smaller one. Came from the scrap basket. I had to finish them separately, frogging back to 41 on the second one.

Next time I'll knit them both with a 40 stitch Cast On in order to, hopefully, get 2 complete cloths out of one ball. Frugal in some things, am I.

I have sewn all 20 squares together into 4 panels for the church afghan and plan to sew the panels together today. Finish with a border of some sort.

Although it was a labor of love, I'll be relieved when it is all done. I dislike knitting deadlines.

A little diversion came my way...

in the form of a 60 inch shoulder warmer/scarf. Nan had knit a beautiful one in a chunky ivory alpaca. I dug into my Noro stash and am knitting day and night to finish it to wear at Stitches or Rhinebeck. "High Hopes", as the song goes...
Yes, dogs are capable of laughter.

8 comments:

Karin said...

Love the afghan! What's your Ravelry ID? Mine is Karink look me up.

Karin

Amanda said...

I love all the autumn colors that you have going on there. The dishcloths are the perfect fall colors.

hakucho said...

Congratulations on your Ravelry invite! I'll have to go find you now...
I love your grandmother's favorite...you can alternate rows with another color to stretch out yarn. It really makes a very useful cloth...real work horse and so easy :)

You panel for your church's blanket is beautiful. I don't like knitting deadlines either, but it does feel very good when the project is finished. Hope you'll be able to take a picture of the completed blanket. I bet it will be a work of art especially if the others working on the project have knit squares that are as intricate and beautiful as yours!!

happy knitting :)

Katie J said...

I'm on Ravelry now too! Congrats! I always love your posts and this was no exception. Great box from your pal and such yummies from your garden! Isn't the weather just crazy right now?

Susan said...

beautiful variegated leaves on nasturtiums! you have a green thumb!

SissySees said...

I'll have to go find you in Ravelry too, but only after I admire that eggplant. I wish we could grow more than rocks around here!

knottykitty said...

Hi and Congratulations! You are a winner in my blog contest under the "favorite comment" category! I really loved your poem--it made me feel included in something bigger for my birthday! And it was really cute, too!

Send me your snail mail addy, and I'll send you a little prize!

Congrats! :) deb

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have been very busy!! Gotta love the garden, as soon as I dont live in an apt anymore I will be having my nice lovely large garden back, I really miss working in it, very theraputic :).