September, I hardly knew you

 I'm in awe that tomorrow is October 1. Seriously. 

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur. 

Let's see if I can try to recall the highlights.  This blog will probably be photo heavy, and not of the important stuff. Doh. 

My hubby tagged out like 10 minutes in to bow opener weekend. We kicked it in to gear processing the deer and got it all ground into ground venison and sausage. 

Meanwhile ... I'm still going out and waiting for my dream buck to come cruising through.  

Well, any buck, really. I've been putting in hours but nothing is walking through.  The buck I have my eye on is not on a set schedule, and doing whatever he wants. 

There have been a ton of squirrels, crows, blue jays ... raccoons. 

The porcupine comes through at night and I even saw a skunk run through at 3 a.m., according to the game cam. Oh yeah, and the bear ... there's at least once bear cruising through.  

It's good knitting time, though.  I take advantage of it when I can. If it's too chilly I don't knit. 

The sock is looking pretty good, yeah? 

I had a neat experience over the weekend. A quail showed up and graced me with it's patience. 

The first day of fall was celebrated with a fire in the wood stove. First fire of the season.  There was a fire that night and the night after.  Then it's been warm enough that none were necessary.  

The garden is slowly getting ripped out and I'm preserving what I can: Tomatoes and peppers.  Everything else I'm pulling out I've been using right away, like green beans in soup. 

Today I was out there ripping up pepper plants and I had to stop and stare at the marigolds that took hold in their little spot of the garden and are thriving. Sorry, I don't have a photo.  I didn't have my phone with me while I was out there.  Can you believe that? 

I did get a video of some bumble bees earlier this week.

Spent some time in the greenhouse, cleaning it out a bit and kind of prepping it for late fall. 

Aren't those coleus gorgeous?  I bought a few succulents, to go with the succulent my husband rescued and brought home to me.

On the sunny days when I'm feeling chilled, until it starts staying cold, I can go sit out in the greenhouse and soak in the rays and the solar heat.  The plants, however, have only a short time before I must bring in the plants I want to keep. Last year the first really cool overnight temp was Oct. 9. Brrr. 

Here's some photos I took when I was out in the woods.  Enjoy! 

Episode 22 - Successes and learning experiences

 

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Show notes are below

Cross Stitch

Project Name: Petite Pumpkin scissor fob

Started: Sept. 2, 2024

Finished: Sept. 8, 2024

Designer/Source: Wrought Iron Stitching on Etsy. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024

Fabric: 18 count Aida I hand-dyed. Purchased from Walmart

DMC in called for Color: 434 

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Project Name: Rest in Peace

Started: Sept. 2, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Becky Noland of www.LucyBeam.com. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024

Fabric:14 count Rustico Aida in the "oatmeal" color. Purchased from Hobby Lobby.

Floss colors: DMC conversion: 931, 799, 902, 356, 221, 3688, 347, 152, 340, 415, 318, 535, 3865 

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Project Name: One Piece 

Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Sept. 19, 2024: 3,967 / 9029 - 43.94%

Started: March 30, 2024

Finished:

Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available

DMC Floss: 310

Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart

Needle Size: 26

Making for my son. 

From previous update

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Knitting 

Project Name: Bly Cardigan
Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: www.Berroco.com

Yarn: My own handspun corriedale, purchased from paradise fibers

Colors: Grey

Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 m.m.) and U.S 7 (4.5 mm)

The pattern wasn't as easy to interpret and understand as I would have liked.  I knit about 6 inches and then realized I misunderstood the instructions and I ripped out and wound the yarn back up into a ball. 

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Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn

Colorway: Midcentury stripes

Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Made For: myself.

Previous update

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Project Name: Autumn Socks
Started: Sept. 1, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Malabrigo

Colorway: 858 Arbol

Colors: browns, oranges and olives

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

This is just a few of the Youtube channels I've watched the last few weeks and think you should check them out. Sharing is caring!

‪@StitchinMommy‬ ‪@Sarahthenorthwoodsstitcher‬ ‪@morganunraveled‬ ‪@TheCampingStitcher‬ ‪@norwegianknitter‬ ‪@MistyPursel‬ ‪@HandsOnDesign‬

Other channels mentioned in other parts of the video:‪

@disorderlystitcher‬ ‪@periwinklestitcher‬ ‪@MommaNevin‬

The woods are calling

 This past week has flown by.  There was a big push at work this week, too.  One of my coworkers is going on vacation and we are a small office, and we need to work ahead.  All is good though. 

In short, I was a busy girl this week.  Working hard at the work-for-pay, like always.  Cruising along with stuff at home, trying to get all the things taken care of. So I don't have to think about anything more than I have to this weekend. 

What's so special about this weekend? 

Yup, bow opener. I'm looking for redemption! Remember how last season ended?  I wrote about it back in January. 

This will be occupying my time, thoughts and attention for next several hours, days, weeks (?) until I get my harvest. 

Wish me luck! 

September is flying by!

Last week was a bit of a tough recovery from a three-day weekend.  I enjoy the long weekends but they can be tough when it's time to go back to work

I thought Monday was Sunday, and Wednesday was Friday. You know the drill. 

Because of all this discombobulation I didn't touch a lot of my crafty projects. 

I did, however, touch the garden. 

Oh, that sounds a bit obscene. Doh!

The garden is winding down and I've started pulling out plants. The first thing to go was the collard greens that I did not mean to plant.  They were mislabeled seeds. 

 I also pulled out some tomato plans that were not going to have any more tomatose, along with a few zucchini plants. 

I took a quick break and admired the grape vine that is now growing across the top of the garden fence. 

Yup, that's all milkweed.  I have a nice little patch of it growing for the butterflies.  I didn't see many butterflies this year. 

View of the garden from the table I have out there. 

This particular day I was feeling a bit moody about the state of the garden, and went to an online garden group and whined about it.  Then apologized for whining.  The majority of the people who responded said they felt the same about their own gardens this year.

This was definitely a tough year for the gardeners.

Stock flowers? So far only one plant bloomed. I do know this is a cool weather annual. 

Some of the fruits of the labor. 

Looks like I will indeed get my salsa this year. 

This, however, was for a small batch of spaghetti sauce. 

No gazpacho, though.  I was a bit bummed when I realized there would be no gazpacho this year. My coworker introduced me to it and I can't get enough of it when I realize I have enough tomatoes to make a batch. 

This past weekend I completed what ended up being a longer than it should have been project. Staining the trinket boxes. 

I held off on staining the boxes due to the weather.  I thought the stain and poly would take way too long to dry if I did it when it was raining. 

Boxes are now all done and ready to be finished off with any cross stitch I choose to top them with. 

This past weekend I was a bit productive with the crafty stuff.  I don't have pictures of everything, however. 

The heel was turned on my second passenger princess sock. 

The "Rest in Peace" sampler was started.  

Project Name: Rest in Peace

Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Becky Noland, of Lucy Beam

Fabric: 14 Count Rustico Aida, Oatmeal color, fabric from Hobby Lobby.

DMC in called for Colors: 931,799,902,356,221,3688,347,152,340,415,318,535,3865,320,169,930,501

I'm not going to lie, this sampler has got most of my cross stitch attention since the start of the month. 

This week feels like it is zooming by, despite only being Wednesday.  Then I looked at the date and realized it was Sept. 11. 

Sept. 11, you guys. 

Not only is it the anniversary of 9/11, it feels like we are reaching the middle of the month in record time. 

And yes, I do still remember where I was when I first heard about the plane flying in to the first tower.  I was in the drive thru at the bank, before work.  I was listening to The Bob and Tom show and Kristy Lee broke the news that the plane crashed into the tower and no one knew if it was an accident or intentional, or a big plane or a small one. 

I've been under the weather since Saturday.  I've been dosing myself with herbals teas and rest (when I can). Crossing my fingers whatever I have abates by the time Saturday morning rolls around.  

Episode 21 - Looking forward to September

 

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by and watching! Show notes are below.  

Without thinking, I tossed my handwritten notes. Eeks!  These may not be as detailed as I'd like them to be this go round. 

Fully finished object

Project Name: Quilted Christmas

Started: Late November 15, 2023

Finished: Aug. 28, 2024

Designer/Source: Emily Call

Fabric: Charles Craft 18 count Aida cloth

DMC in called for Colors: DMC Blanc, 168, 469, 3712, 3045, 816, 310

Cross Stitch

Current works in progress

Project Name: One Piece 

Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Sept. 1, 2024: 3,757 / 9029 stitches, 41.6 percent complete

Started: March 30, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available

DMC Floss: 310

Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart

Needle Size: 26

Making for my son. 

From previous update

Up next ... 

Project name: Crested Porcupine

Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Sept. 1, 2024: 987 / 64,152 stitches, (1.54%)

Started: June 27, 2024

Finished:

Designer/Source: Purple Stitching on Etsy.

DMC: 167, 168, 169, 310, 317, 318, 413, 414, 415, 433, 437, 451, 452, 453, 524, 535, 611, 612, 640, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 762, 779, 840, 841, 842, 844, 927, 928, 934, 935, 939, 3021, 3023, 3031, 3032, 3041, 3072, 3371, 3756, 3787, 3799, 3828, 3863, 3864, 3866

Fabric: Half yard of 14 count Aida purchased from Forbidden Fiber Co. 

Needle Size: 26

Stitching for myself.  I know it is going to take years. Story about Porkie is here. The follow up post is here. The story is towards the end of the post. Scroll down. 

Previous update

Love and Prickles, by Lindy Stitches

Project Name: Love and Prickles, #2
Started: Aug. 25

Finished: 

Designer/Source: LindyStitches.com

Floss: Called for DMC, B5200, 413, 3860, 415, 3816, 932, 21, except for 413. I used 415 for the face and quills, and 3799 for the body. 

Fabric: 18 count aida purchased from Hobby Lobby

Made For: Myself.  

I have plans to finish it off on a trinket box from Hobby Lobby.  Haven't settled on the trinket box yet. 

Future starts

Rest in Peace, by Becky Noland of Lucy Beam. Just Cross Stitch

Petite Pumpkin, by Tracy Richards of Wrought Iron Stitching. Just Cross Stitch

Maybe starting -- Souvenier de France, BlackBird Designs

Knitting

Current WIP

Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.

Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn

Colorway: Midcentury stripes

Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.

Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Made For: myself.

This is the start of the second sock.  I seem to be cruising along on it. 

New projects to cast on

Bly Cardigan, Berroco

The plan is to use my handspun to knit up this cardigan.  My first time making a sweater with handspun.

Vanilla socks, Malabrigo

World Simplest Mittens, Tin Can Knits

Will be using Lion Brand wool ease yarn. 

Spinning
Handspun project, ongoing

Finn Wool Top purchased from Paradise Fibers several years ago. 

This is just a few of the Youtube channels I've watched the last few weeks and think you should check them out. Sharing is caring! 

@CrazySockLady 
@RedCrossStitcher 
@moonshinestitchery 
@CraftDStitches 
@StitchingAndTeaWithB. 

Other channels mentioned in other parts of the video
@JeanFarishNeedleworks 
@brendaandtheserialstarter2410 
@lindystitches