Cicada Song

We have lived here five years, and I have never heard cicadas. This year they are filling the woods with their sweet droning. I grew up with cicada song in the summer, so it really feels like home now. I guess I can look forward to another summer like this in 17 years.

I signed up for the Essence of Identity class with Fiber Arts Take Two. Shall I try to make art again? I know I’m always making stuff — always creating. Art is different for me. Art is voice and, well, I’ve lost my voice. Art is hard work. It has to be worth the effort. I thought, let’s try this class. Let’s try one more time and see what happens. No shows, no deadlines, no artificial goals. Art for art’s sake.

Mack the YOP: Shark of July

I have been enjoying a sea creature themed summer. Marilee and I are having a mermaid knitalong. The pattern is She Makes Waves. We are both using Cascade Anchor Bay yarn, which is a lovely cotton and wool blend.

I sewed some silly sharks-n-roses project bags for us to use. And during Shark Week we will be knitting some shark themed socks!

Bob and I have already watched several shark horror movies. My favorite so far was The Last Breath, mainly due to another wonderfully campy performance by Julian Sands (RIP). His character knits! They show him actually making one knit stitch, so there ya go. We still need to watch Jaws, Sharknado, and Orca.

Having a themed summer with knitalongs definitely makes my least favorite season go by more quickly. I haven’t even yearned for Halloween yet!

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) Update. The group is in its 15th year, but I have only been doing it for a few years. This is a Ravelry based group. You can learn more here.

What Sportsball Season is It?

I have wanted to incorporate more sports into my life. I get depressed every summer. I told Bob I need to go to one Columbus Clippers game to fend off the SAD. (I hope they sell zucchini dogs and gluten-free beer. LOL, I know better than that.)

In the fall I need a little football, but it’s not something I want to watch alone. My middle child and I have made a pact to be Cleveland Browns fans. (Bob says prepare to cry.) For me, it’s not about winning. It’s looking forward to the game, hanging out with my kid, and the autumnal atmosphere that football brings.

I have been an Oklahoma City Thunder fan for years (because Oklahoma) but have never made the effort to watch the games. It’s a challenge, living in Ohio. Now they are National Champions! I feel remiss. So middle child and I will follow them when basketball season starts again, and bond with my sister and brother-in-law over the games.

Be prepared for sports-themed knitting content! You know I love me some team colors!

There and Back Again

Soapwort Washing Day

One of the few good things about a heatwave is hanging laundry on the line to dry.

Yesterday I cut the soapwort and made my annual soapwort woolen wash. As I was waiting for it to cool down, I came down with a bug from my kids. I was down (ha) and out for about 24 hours. I slept a lot!

I was well enough today to get my dirty woolens out and wash them. In early spring I start to save up my dirties for this day.

I love the smell of the clean items. They smell like a natural herbal essence shampoo!

Finished on Friday

Happy Summer!

I finished knitting Bob’s Canadiana socks! These were a Father’s Day gift, and I almost finished them in time. The yarn set is from Small Fish yarn on Etsy. The pattern is my own recipe following the cowl pattern striping sequence. I also used their ribbing pattern on the leg.

I finished sewing another pair of linen Free Range Pants, this time in Yorkshire Linen, color Sand, from Fabric Wholesale Direct. This is a nice, medium weight linen at a reasonable price — the same fabric I used for the black pair.

Just a few more summer sews to go!

I finished reading Jaws last night. Definitely a product of its time, but what a page turner! A little racy, as Marilee would say. But I finished reading a fiction book, so I’m proud of myself.

I have been listening to a lot of Awesome Mix lately (Guardians of the Galaxy soundtracks, aka nostalgic one-hit wonders). This song feels like summer to me.

Garden Walk

Today on my garden walk I was thrilled to find we have — in addition to invasive Wood Avens —native White Avens!

Frog 1 (we’re going to need names) was enjoying the pond rock. Frog 2 was not seen this morning.

I used to think the frogs were helping manage the slug population in my garden. I have seen hardly any this year! But I think it’s the Dekay’s Brown Snake that is eating them. Thanks, Steve! 🐍

I have zucchini! They are smol right now. Most gardeners wouldn’t be too excited about zucchini. But when you have groundhogs who eat the leaves and stems down to the nubs, this is progress!

Speaking of plant eaters, the deer like to eat my daylily flowers. Jerks!

Our greenhouse venting window is working well. It’s super low tech. There is paraffin inside that melts when it’s hot, and it expands the opener. When it cools down, the window closes again.

All the plants in the greenhouse are looking good right now. I made some nettle compost tea, and boy is it stinky! But hopefully the plants will love it.

Father’s Day YOP

We have had a busy week! Craft-wise I sewed some ScrapHappy hair accessories. I finished sewing my Last Drive In blanket, and altered a thrift store find.

We added a rain barrel and gutter to the greenhouse, and managed to install one of the two venting windows. One more venting window to go and we will be finished with the greenhouse!

We have a volunteer pumpkin, which led me to turn some unneeded bits of the greenhouse into silly signs.

I made some nettle leaf chips in the air fryer. They were tasty, if a little over done. Today I baked a strawberry-rhubarb pie for Bob, for Father’s Day. It will taste better than it looks, I’m sure. Gluten-free pie crust is a challenge to get right.

The kids went in together on a Father’s Day gift for Bob: a lovely bench!

And, finally, we have frogs in the garden. So be on the lookout for pond cam photos soon!

I hope you’re having a great day, whatever you are doing or celebrating!

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) Update. The group is in its 14th year, but I have only been doing it for a few years. This is a Ravelry based group. You can learn more here.

ScrapHappy June

I am growing out my hair, and I have need of some hair accessories. Hair accoutrements, if you will. I thought, “Perfect! A use for my apparel scraps!”

I started simply with black linen scraps left over from my last pair of Free Range Slacks. Not enough left for a garment, but plenty for a headband and head scarf.

I followed this pattern for a headband from Craftsy. I made mine a little wider, as I like the coverage. It was a simple sew, and effective. I also used scrap elastic, which was great!

I am finding joy in the head scarf. It keeps my hair out of my face and keeps my hair clean at the same time! It’s a timeless, practical accessory.

To make this one, I cut a square 24 X 24 inches. It is close to the size of my favorite head scarf. I thought I would hem the edges, but I serged and then decided I liked the overlocked edge. Ideally, I would finish it with a rolled hem on the serger. I used to finish my handkerchiefs that way, but it’s been a long time. I will have to reacquaint myself with the technique.

I would also like to embroider the head scarf. I’m thinking I will stitch the moon phases on it, inspired by Lining Up My Stitches’ recent post. I am going to start soon, though I may wait until the new moon.

ScrapHappy is a great group of bloggers creating with scraps. I am inspired every month when I read their posts! Anything made of genuine scraps is eligible to write about. If you would like to join in on the 15th of the month, email Kate at the address on her Contact Me page.

Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy on occasion.

Kate, Eva, Sue,Lynda,
Birthe,Turid,Tracy,Jan, 
Moira,Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny,Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann,Dawn 2,Carol,Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin,  Alissa,
Tierney, Hannah and Maggie

Friday FOs

I finished my Last Drive In t-shirt quilt! I quilted the top to a fusible batting and backed the quilt with black minky.

I’m happy with how it turned out, especially since I have never made anything like this before. It’s a little heavy, with the minky, but will be cozy in cold weather.

I also finished altering my Frida dress from the thrift store. Once I got into it, I could see it had been altered before. In addition to taking it in a couple of sizes, I refashioned the neckline and sleeves.

I wanted a comfortable summer dress, and I think I succeeded! I love the Frida fabric.