What ho! The King of Fruit

This is pineapple two on the eve of harvest. Pineapple number one is just a sweet, golden memory. Both were very sweet and even won rave reviews from the discerning people next door (my folks, heh)

The knitting has been very slow as my arm is still not well. My doc offered to give me a shot, but then I would have to rest it. I guess I'm not ready to do that, rest it I mean. So I got a slightly different brace and a massage today. I have x-ray and labs to do, and darn if he didn't order the routine stuff, colon cancer screening and all, sigh.

The politics at work have been a real drain but I'll not bore the readers here.

So the works in progress, Ariann...

I'm up to the part where I start the sleeves. After making parts of two sleeves everything gets joined together and knit to complete. I can't decide whether to do 3/4 sleeps or long. Since the intended recipient lives in Tacoma, perhas 3/4 sleeves will be better.

I'm jumping on the Monkey wagon for Zaruzela's SOS in Trekking XL.
While indulging in some shop therapy over at Isle Knits and I purchased the fixings to knit the Hedgehog. (scroll down to see LilikoiKnits hedgehog) and also picked up some gold Bonsai for Coachella I'm now thinking about all the joins and the warnings about joins in the pattern, so who knows if Coachella it will be?

Yes indeedy...a FO!

Pattern: Child's First Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Koigu
Needles: Knitpicks size 1

This pattern looks similar to Cookie's Pomatomus, or as is said in Hawaii "same, but different". Chris, enabler that she is, roused some of the Aloha Knitters to knit this very attractive sock. They're mine!!! The only mod I made was to stop the instep at row 5 of the pattern so they would fit my "round" feet.

At the rate I'm knitting these days, it may be my first and last entry for Summer of Socks 2007 (and it may be disqualified as SOS hasn't really started yet)


I stepped outside this am to photograph the pineapple WIP and found the white orchid in full bloom. It is a wild orchid that has started to establish itself around the yard. With that many blooms I noticed the fragrance is incredibly strong. Maybe too strong! It is a delicate transient bloom. The purple wisteria and the ornamental bleeding heart was also in bloom. I'm not sure if they are the true wisteria and bleeding heart, but that's what I call them.

The decluttering efforts have resumed. I have one garbage bag full of trash and moved the rubber stamp table to the sewing room to use as a cutting table. I faced up to the fact that stamping and fimo are two crafts that are best left to others. True to form though, the stamps are not in the Goodwill bag yet. I have a collection of screws and computer cables that I just can't seem to get rid of and also lots of little knick knacks, like macaroni angels, bobby pin flowers, and such. Since they were gifts, it's hard to let them go. And of course, there is always the risk I'll buy them back at the thrift store.

Thanks for all the kind words about my Tweedy. I miss his cheerful green little presence.

Dreams of Flowers and Morels and The Cat that Ate the Sock

Seattle was just beautiful last week. In fact it was downright hot on the last day. It must have something to do with the fact that I was there on business, packed an umbrella, and did not bring the swimsuit or shorts. The flowers growing out of the sidewalks, plantings, and bundles of flowers at Pike Market, the University and Ballard Farmer's markets were beyond wonderful. The poppies and peonies were so glorious as were the fascinating array of colors and shadings of flowers I couldn't identify. The conference was right on the wharf and I got the view of the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains.

On new sight for me was Gas Works Park

(picture from http://www.seattle.gov/tour/union_photos.htm-wouldn't you know I forgot my camera?)



I would love to go back there and spend some time with the funky old gas works. There is a moon dial at the top of a hill with a panoramic Seattle City view, Space Needle and all as well as Lake Union with it's boats and birds.

I ate at some great restaurants. Icon Grill, Lola's, and The Palace Kitchen" Tom Douglas, the owner of Lola's and The Palace Kitchen was at both places. I resisted running up and getting his autograph. The Palace Kitchen had wonderful food and salads and accommodated me with a side of sauteed fresh morels! Most yummy! The use of all the local fresh produce really made these places unique experiences.





I knit a little on one sock. I was good on the yarn diet, but got some Koigu, 'cuz sock yarn doesn't count. My other purchases included couple books and the smaller size pompom maker.

When I got home, the body of the sock had arrived. Buddy the cat ate a few pieces out of it. I will have to figure out how to fix the holes. The real challenge seems to be the part of the ribbing he ate. I'll have to see if I have any yarn left.


I'm afraid he will just eat the repaired sock. I hope he doesn't have a bezoar

It was great visiting my old friends. We contemplated the aches and pains of getting older, plotted ways to retire, and other jobs we could do, and reminisced a bit. Ebony has grey hair now but seems just as frisky.

Stop here if you don't want to read something sad.




While I was away I lost my canary, Tweedy. I know I didn't write about losing my Cockatiel a couple months ago as it was sudden and I still have mixed emotions about losing her to egg binding. They were both senior citizens in bird years and brought me much joy in their lives. Tweedy with his lovely singing-how can such a little green body generate so much sound?, and his agile flying about the cage. Cockatiel with her curiosity and kisses. I have a guilty feeling sometimes about birds in cages, but it was the only life they every knew.