tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829810079711277982024-03-15T19:12:08.715-06:00Short Story Longknitting, photography, gardening, quilting, lifeKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.comBlogger616125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-29634633061764314082024-02-09T12:36:00.002-07:002024-02-09T12:36:18.301-07:00garden panos from 2023<p> Last year, I made some effort (not thoroughly successful) to capture state-of-the-garden pictures every month, including panoramas stitched together on Photoshop, in order to get the whole view of what's happening. So here's a little recap of the garden in 2023!<br /><br />early March<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKfT6NAZ2MJtWcwMigtTXjbo2-F9iPP5wmIlM-FWR7uIq3_eB0ZP7_CeikF048LWDAtnGRMaFfBBcVesXULOZRttUH7cym_yLxfeW7TF0hcxNxWR1Nf8TYeweVJFVarsrTj13A2_p429HfxqOD6fiLq8ICc84xcJ5LhCCoDAhFe83PdM8vyLCoNqCZ-U/s11053/4135%20to%204139%20garden%20March%202023%20pano%20of%20backyard%20from%20the%20south%20corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5204" data-original-width="11053" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKfT6NAZ2MJtWcwMigtTXjbo2-F9iPP5wmIlM-FWR7uIq3_eB0ZP7_CeikF048LWDAtnGRMaFfBBcVesXULOZRttUH7cym_yLxfeW7TF0hcxNxWR1Nf8TYeweVJFVarsrTj13A2_p429HfxqOD6fiLq8ICc84xcJ5LhCCoDAhFe83PdM8vyLCoNqCZ-U/s16000/4135%20to%204139%20garden%20March%202023%20pano%20of%20backyard%20from%20the%20south%20corner.jpg" /></a></p>April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzxXpd36dgsQ9HfYgIbzm-qaYn4Z8GPO6l6q8c2_wBx03iDWMdZUgJkFsYvsaj9ZJM84-xdnpe2X-LqOieRmeZEAIHwCLQAzNFZN8jgIeHl6TqwoREcTH01wCcqdXV9bLwyOOipX59Wqt76urtAMtOB0iBN9hYPtkaPQFbpIPvL3DExb8x6LEXXyI6uw/s10381/4673%20etc%20early%20April%20pano%20of%20garden%20from%20rose%20peony%20area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5320" data-original-width="10381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzxXpd36dgsQ9HfYgIbzm-qaYn4Z8GPO6l6q8c2_wBx03iDWMdZUgJkFsYvsaj9ZJM84-xdnpe2X-LqOieRmeZEAIHwCLQAzNFZN8jgIeHl6TqwoREcTH01wCcqdXV9bLwyOOipX59Wqt76urtAMtOB0iBN9hYPtkaPQFbpIPvL3DExb8x6LEXXyI6uw/s16000/4673%20etc%20early%20April%20pano%20of%20garden%20from%20rose%20peony%20area.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>May</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8rJmjVPUH6xwIpgwJKfudv5INqor_z0jrEra12uEgmCruHYGN3F-42eTdtl00Sd4rc4Oagbi8Jo52KXEbgROD8kjb32QEXr1a6VVdXLlL8fVfc0cD2CAnAZT7WZDsnlb5fmJHqM_5c6En2Nk4DB9_vxMG_Rf5PYjORYFCIRJnzAp_q0FIKILRB_xOSY/s11381/5388%20to%205393%20early%20May%202023%20garden%20pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6028" data-original-width="11381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8rJmjVPUH6xwIpgwJKfudv5INqor_z0jrEra12uEgmCruHYGN3F-42eTdtl00Sd4rc4Oagbi8Jo52KXEbgROD8kjb32QEXr1a6VVdXLlL8fVfc0cD2CAnAZT7WZDsnlb5fmJHqM_5c6En2Nk4DB9_vxMG_Rf5PYjORYFCIRJnzAp_q0FIKILRB_xOSY/s16000/5388%20to%205393%20early%20May%202023%20garden%20pano.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>June</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg6OViD6U_gRcUVB-hNiWuFMHz0l1xFaH7fjzJiJBxUDVKL2U-kcUXQ5D3C2g6FlWEXjIh63p6k2bKG8x8bT7hIWyyLrT9Fzo2LlIXTbKXtzAWVIFME89LyCtzjQhljBRF0jVoAN6CeDKvI__aq4vECEGu1wO2kDQboMg2UVOOHglBH2SlAAZRedhXWw/s10406/6867%20to%206873%20June%20garden%20panorama%20compilation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5148" data-original-width="10406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg6OViD6U_gRcUVB-hNiWuFMHz0l1xFaH7fjzJiJBxUDVKL2U-kcUXQ5D3C2g6FlWEXjIh63p6k2bKG8x8bT7hIWyyLrT9Fzo2LlIXTbKXtzAWVIFME89LyCtzjQhljBRF0jVoAN6CeDKvI__aq4vECEGu1wO2kDQboMg2UVOOHglBH2SlAAZRedhXWw/s16000/6867%20to%206873%20June%20garden%20panorama%20compilation.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>August</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2wcf4hMltLiUb6Zps0AXyoaRhXNE-7x8uQsrDQ6myB1OtZQmr9MA09O4fBQJbUeuIivhecI3MyzDwAdWkl_EPnl_vO69Dn1rJz5tKgL-DwsklTwRx4BOE1K7fYzhtMKliyZgDKIQFOANPq_hZt54rs6qbmWsBqDJ1I6Pf69iX6R5Cj-9mudSl9aDiww/s15332/9925%20to%209931%20August%202%20garden%20pano,%20summer%202023%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5401" data-original-width="15332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2wcf4hMltLiUb6Zps0AXyoaRhXNE-7x8uQsrDQ6myB1OtZQmr9MA09O4fBQJbUeuIivhecI3MyzDwAdWkl_EPnl_vO69Dn1rJz5tKgL-DwsklTwRx4BOE1K7fYzhtMKliyZgDKIQFOANPq_hZt54rs6qbmWsBqDJ1I6Pf69iX6R5Cj-9mudSl9aDiww/s16000/9925%20to%209931%20August%202%20garden%20pano,%20summer%202023%20.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>It appears that I missed July, and either didn't take or didn't save this project in September, although we didn't have a killing frost very late into the season - we were still harvesting a few things in October. As much as I loved the lettuce that was growing in the tunnel, and getting an early start on a few things, I'm not a fan of plastic anywhere, especially in my garden, so I am looking at options - cold boxes with old windows, etc. <div><br /></div><div>I'm planning to start my 2024 garden this month - pea planting, planning, and seed starting in March! <br />What are you planting? <br /><div><br /></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-8121563710212142002024-02-09T12:20:00.005-07:002024-02-09T12:21:12.658-07:00Thankfulness, 2023 edition<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><i>I originally wrote this at the beginning of January, but was unable to upload a picture without using a third party software. I'm thankful that seems to have been a temporary requirement. </i></span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsKitWx2gbY8_K67AO0EvbXP7_tsAeU5MIaisx5SsDbtzOP1thp4-jb9OVO3rxl_23nsFeDt9SURHt3LxJSkYfgmIPTFiFrCYFygygSPT16r_qVBZKATseq80gbXlt_DzCVHlCPQOHhMNzXsITc-YulbyVVWYUQVovfupjS1oASMCCQNYLRhi9-9fQMM/s5131/6792%20mantle%20with%20Christmas%20nativity,%20and%20Thanksgiving%20chain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3461" data-original-width="5131" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsKitWx2gbY8_K67AO0EvbXP7_tsAeU5MIaisx5SsDbtzOP1thp4-jb9OVO3rxl_23nsFeDt9SURHt3LxJSkYfgmIPTFiFrCYFygygSPT16r_qVBZKATseq80gbXlt_DzCVHlCPQOHhMNzXsITc-YulbyVVWYUQVovfupjS1oASMCCQNYLRhi9-9fQMM/w640-h432/6792%20mantle%20with%20Christmas%20nativity,%20and%20Thanksgiving%20chain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Let's start the new year off with a tradition of thankfulness. From the Thanksgiving chain in 2023:<p></p><p>hymns my grandma sang<br />thankful for loving family<br />Zeph<br />handwritten letters<br />gardens<br />good teammates<br />Charlie Brown cartoons<br />walks<br />Brock<br />Grandpa<br />Caitlin<br />falling leaves<br />lasagna<br />Noah<br />wool<br />Evie<br />Eli<br />Jaden<br />Luke<br />Mom<br />good neighbors<br />sky<br />Kyla<br />Avery<br />God's grace<br />Nana<br />Italians<br />Trung<br />Hot Wheels<br />wind through the leaves<br />candy<br />camp stool<br />coffee<br />carmelle apples<br />Santa<br />neighbors<br />Zeph<br />Jeremy<br />steak & rice<br />changing colors<br />coffee & a book in the morning<br />Karen's sense of humor<br />my job<br />time in prayer<br />time to pray<br />our nation<br />grace<br />old friends<br />music<br />health<br />Christmas lights<br />dinner with loved ones<br />Sonya<br />days off<br />yarn<br />God's love<br />fall leaves<br />pasta<br />sandwiches<br />our wonderful family<br />crunchy leaves under foot<br />being Italian<br />yard work<br />my sons :) :) :)<br />painting<br />sons, which are a lot of fun<br />Nico<br />family<br />banana shakes<br />autumn clouds<br />Nico<br />vegetables from the garden<br />TAC gloves<br />Lazz<br />Grandma's ice cream<br />a bed and blankets<br />peace with friends and family<br />Dad<br />Lazz<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-24647251646432886542023-06-10T22:45:00.005-06:002023-06-10T22:45:37.915-06:00reasons I knit<p>I haven't posted a lot of knitting on here in the last few years. Not much to say about it but I still knit. </p><p>I knit because I love to create. <br />I knit because I love sweaters.<br />I knit because I grew up with a mom who is artistic beyond the acknowledgement she receives, and it's in my blood to do something creative.<br />I knit because I love the good things God grows, like sheep and wool and muskox and cotton.<br />I knit because I love colors.<br />I knit because my boys wear what I knit.<br />I knit because I like the rhythm.<br />I knit because it has a beginning and an end, and they are achievable. <br />I knit because when my hands are busy, my mouth slows down, and it gives my brain a chance to make better decisions.<br />I knit because I'm really, really good at it, and it's one of the few things that others acknowledge, and we all need that.<br />I knit because I love to knit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZO4rQ15_ozR2JbCeVMManmhkGUESuRrmevxOXxarAGzOPZ1RsMVO2B3bdljqi1NBSgQQ5VAhDxM8-LoZvdjAMMIH026PqYOpBqgmuKgLKrO0-l3-JMdFNZtoNuizGvoe3cbvRU7Ym8-YCJtNc1-hZbGe5xe0DdgmXO5BBivRIOKKbCePhHiqHMEI/s5472/4995%20WVM%20alpaca%20yarns%20of%20various%20colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZO4rQ15_ozR2JbCeVMManmhkGUESuRrmevxOXxarAGzOPZ1RsMVO2B3bdljqi1NBSgQQ5VAhDxM8-LoZvdjAMMIH026PqYOpBqgmuKgLKrO0-l3-JMdFNZtoNuizGvoe3cbvRU7Ym8-YCJtNc1-hZbGe5xe0DdgmXO5BBivRIOKKbCePhHiqHMEI/s16000/4995%20WVM%20alpaca%20yarns%20of%20various%20colors.jpg" /></a></div><p>I'm working on a colorful shawl in alpaca. </p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-81910057820871117712023-05-30T22:57:00.001-06:002023-05-30T22:57:08.363-06:00drying dill<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8-knHu7PTF3z8uzdy03GKKEMileI5w5bl_gKm8kN8dXZdgjjW7LIcja4Pn_6JqsYFUHyy-YRTNVE_PlKW1QCwjUp4OySx7_DJuu5Ij2WsZeR0caprsXLs8NR6drXBvqQ02jbx1yn8ise_ig6S_AVnbXo_QE3FigRNP89XE8DolJ2dfDRCutXamCh/s5472/6712%20drying%20dill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8-knHu7PTF3z8uzdy03GKKEMileI5w5bl_gKm8kN8dXZdgjjW7LIcja4Pn_6JqsYFUHyy-YRTNVE_PlKW1QCwjUp4OySx7_DJuu5Ij2WsZeR0caprsXLs8NR6drXBvqQ02jbx1yn8ise_ig6S_AVnbXo_QE3FigRNP89XE8DolJ2dfDRCutXamCh/s16000/6712%20drying%20dill.jpg" /></a></div>As I was pulling dill from between my radishes and lettuce, I remembered that I wanted to dry more of my own herbs this year. A little bit of my garden in my pantry all year; looking forward to harvesting a bunch of lemon thyme! <p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-50801081923397440462023-05-24T00:41:00.004-06:002023-05-24T00:41:39.310-06:00spring garden eating - lettuce, radishes and lots of herbs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3w9KqSdbeTOQWN_94hhs9TJLHHp0HGN5yiGeEBOcJOUpvyr3VgeC8GUNwOFF0JPhsDu4YkHv18FPTNlMuaStB8oPCLDj34xaPs8vUAHGtkO-2AGq9f1qN9VrYyi7s5sfGdWsS9Yxr7uSTbRyUQ1BRne80mRhgCSiOZWHSmqp_K2I0JH5ok7njWEP/s5472/6521%20bee%20on%20allium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3w9KqSdbeTOQWN_94hhs9TJLHHp0HGN5yiGeEBOcJOUpvyr3VgeC8GUNwOFF0JPhsDu4YkHv18FPTNlMuaStB8oPCLDj34xaPs8vUAHGtkO-2AGq9f1qN9VrYyi7s5sfGdWsS9Yxr7uSTbRyUQ1BRne80mRhgCSiOZWHSmqp_K2I0JH5ok7njWEP/s16000/6521%20bee%20on%20allium.jpg" /></a></div>There went March, April, and most of May! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj9fhsP2NPG1NR7PMDr_NU43Qv-PqJr5dRt717N0dpNzwaWF7SbE4IAMaIvRgt_19HiZt9yrjU4-4rt5my69dGbxwm-tPJq6VZatEDE6poyvx97d4a3g1ktDh1gw-2Adt5mxWV_j1ZD-u3WtbRMAoBB4SiJThm4HIguLHJxk1p1XUcdeYAqFuWfXV/s5472/6058%20arugula%20and%20lettuce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj9fhsP2NPG1NR7PMDr_NU43Qv-PqJr5dRt717N0dpNzwaWF7SbE4IAMaIvRgt_19HiZt9yrjU4-4rt5my69dGbxwm-tPJq6VZatEDE6poyvx97d4a3g1ktDh1gw-2Adt5mxWV_j1ZD-u3WtbRMAoBB4SiJThm4HIguLHJxk1p1XUcdeYAqFuWfXV/s16000/6058%20arugula%20and%20lettuce.jpg" /></a><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm already pulling arugula from the garden that's about to bolt, and eating through some lovely lettuce while it's in its prime. Pictured above, arugula, lettuce Landis Winter, lettuce Rouge d'Hiver. The string is for the square-foot flower garden this will eventually be; I planted these cold weather crops while I was waiting patiently for flower planting! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I love having my own lettuce for this Asian chicken lettuce wrap, below, (<a href="https://www.daringgourmet.com/thai-lettuce-wraps-with-veal/">original recipe here</a>). We use chicken instead of veal and I definitely skip the cilantro, but it's a great recipe to use some garden goodies - green onions, lettuce, carrots, etc. We used two fresh heads of green lettuce but I couldn't tell them apart once we were making food, and I definitely had a favorite! So I will have to pull another two apart and figure it out. I am thinking of starting more lettuce under a grow light and put them out in a shadier spot, now that warm weather is upon us. The Rouge d'Hiver adds great flavor to sandwiches, I find. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRyrCQIsyhiz2im_n0jFglP_hl512Js-5PSsQFq0rml6QDgn6MSOnYsOwsuxVBBJFKGx74e1YBQEXQIG1z5KEYaKm2iDd2JSEnyp7t7-cVnpBL766ziViVMVo8PvIJLjL-g_zgKKqpWcyyce0aeZEtxYjwZ-_cWa4oO7p0z57TsylzvyeHHr1l0Bn/s5472/6090%20plate%20chicken%20wrap%20dinner,%20lettuce%20from%20the%20garden%20close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRyrCQIsyhiz2im_n0jFglP_hl512Js-5PSsQFq0rml6QDgn6MSOnYsOwsuxVBBJFKGx74e1YBQEXQIG1z5KEYaKm2iDd2JSEnyp7t7-cVnpBL766ziViVMVo8PvIJLjL-g_zgKKqpWcyyce0aeZEtxYjwZ-_cWa4oO7p0z57TsylzvyeHHr1l0Bn/s16000/6090%20plate%20chicken%20wrap%20dinner,%20lettuce%20from%20the%20garden%20close.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, I seem to be behind on carrots, haven't mastered that yet, but the radishes did well - three varieties: French Breakfast, Cherry Belle, and Easter Basket. For the first round of planting, I used tweezers, and they were well spaced; for the second round, I sprinkled them a bit more heavy-handed, and I can definitely tell the difference in the harvesting. Since I do such a small space, it was worth the time to be more intentionally; I'll have to remember that. We have given some radishes, roasted some, eaten some fresh with a lettuce, arugula, spinach and radish greens salad! I'm learning that it's better to go ahead and harvest some when they start to look ready, instead of waiting for pictures, waiting for a big harvest, waiting for the perfect recipe. Or plan ahead with recipes. And plant a second round for when the first round goes to seed while I'm deciding what to do! I also had some arugula on a grilled pizza, which is the reason I grew it! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytNiXLVan2-7hRCXCahsU36bp-rIvF8hzGy0i9i-Hqoyc5kRkhw-lXFRNDmEL_JCBnM1U1mpnDckOwKdW32uSyFlO8lERzKqEO5LTxPHWQyMhx4YmxlCoJRtNQ2zl35XV92eRTHf3mGmbsld8Z_5D14DKTPGRTHQ2-WFYBN57XRYQWnTE1fbpCL1i/s5472/6071%20Easter%20Basket,%20French%20Breakfast,%20and%20Cherry%20Belle%20radishes%20from%20the%20garden%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytNiXLVan2-7hRCXCahsU36bp-rIvF8hzGy0i9i-Hqoyc5kRkhw-lXFRNDmEL_JCBnM1U1mpnDckOwKdW32uSyFlO8lERzKqEO5LTxPHWQyMhx4YmxlCoJRtNQ2zl35XV92eRTHf3mGmbsld8Z_5D14DKTPGRTHQ2-WFYBN57XRYQWnTE1fbpCL1i/s16000/6071%20Easter%20Basket,%20French%20Breakfast,%20and%20Cherry%20Belle%20radishes%20from%20the%20garden%202023.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyp80bXfPoc9euKGoG9FEf7VcJKjRFwdKova-7QZaXDXQmEYD48QRkiLfLqnEquUK-JMNKXvQebFW69wb6SSJ10PGwMCatDWlxaFClUvi6Yg1z9zExP3aRkSxkwErvPUOY3yu7cDT4j4VfnYFW9OTjJYDq3BGiP_8yqKmkYeziuQmE3-eL2LU_hiA/s5472/6288%20roasted%20radishes,%20olive%20oil%20and%20salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyp80bXfPoc9euKGoG9FEf7VcJKjRFwdKova-7QZaXDXQmEYD48QRkiLfLqnEquUK-JMNKXvQebFW69wb6SSJ10PGwMCatDWlxaFClUvi6Yg1z9zExP3aRkSxkwErvPUOY3yu7cDT4j4VfnYFW9OTjJYDq3BGiP_8yqKmkYeziuQmE3-eL2LU_hiA/s16000/6288%20roasted%20radishes,%20olive%20oil%20and%20salt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzM5z6RJ2_XcMJZRb4wcL-P6dBsU4DEEHjJoAX9lAL-5kZd_Khjf3l7HG62bGfw4vpkjjV3SC9tlvoVdEap_CyU9Bj97I3LDKAgs3ghtdOtugTa86um4FPFftLKo_RK5xGaCeVn_2s2YnFIyrtnEobBqS_6YMWTtxuVmYwEAq0crm370Lxhr3JmpQT/s5472/6306%20Karen's%20grilled%20pizza%20with%20arugula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzM5z6RJ2_XcMJZRb4wcL-P6dBsU4DEEHjJoAX9lAL-5kZd_Khjf3l7HG62bGfw4vpkjjV3SC9tlvoVdEap_CyU9Bj97I3LDKAgs3ghtdOtugTa86um4FPFftLKo_RK5xGaCeVn_2s2YnFIyrtnEobBqS_6YMWTtxuVmYwEAq0crm370Lxhr3JmpQT/s16000/6306%20Karen's%20grilled%20pizza%20with%20arugula.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My ranunculus started blooming this week, and the alliums are buzzing with bees. I need to do a bit more rearranging of plants and soil in my flower bed but I can see things coming along - the zinnia seedlings just peeked out and the cosmos are looking promising. We have had an unusually rainy May, and now we have a smoky haze and red sun, due to smoke blowing down from Canada. Every year is a new challenge! </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The herbs are adding freshness to many meals; lemon thyme is my favorite on roasted potatoes and in chicken dishes. Also usable: chives, sage, thyme, and dill - great in potato salad. The tomatoes and basil are just starting to move to their summer beds. Peonies are full of buds, last year's onions are going to seed, pumpkins and squash are putting on a bit of growth. Carrots, parsnips, and peas are hopefully next in line for the dinner table! Half our pea seeds were no good; by the time we realized that, the first batch were well out of the ground, so we have a true second planting. Potatoes are growing in tubs, and a couple in the old bed - whoops! And I'm trying barley! My brother-in-law asked if I would be brewing some beer. No, hopefully beef and barley stew. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbd4Stav13s9WBMopPOME5D6NXF7eo_bX3BN1Vp-w-JPQNuKEbXngGjZXY1hseO04gk4B21VFzIpm61RRZkhstY8oXSuQzO67dfn96qH8ZP8V1Bi0uKzaFoC5N2beE-FTRcRSBBI0frbNOWXW7CRMNYuSvqGKVnuHiy3fNikD4p8To2lnOlv0gJeb/s5472/6383%20barley%20growing%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbd4Stav13s9WBMopPOME5D6NXF7eo_bX3BN1Vp-w-JPQNuKEbXngGjZXY1hseO04gk4B21VFzIpm61RRZkhstY8oXSuQzO67dfn96qH8ZP8V1Bi0uKzaFoC5N2beE-FTRcRSBBI0frbNOWXW7CRMNYuSvqGKVnuHiy3fNikD4p8To2lnOlv0gJeb/s16000/6383%20barley%20growing%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">barley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9DiyjYEGKKSeja4KmDDg1SgceA1WWO1ywjFciMugm0FuDKj1lTD4LfyLsgUQx8DxgdAdhRZTBK4_gMYOgOOTPPNuKxaVryrSU5SGWoMH3ssvz_UDGFUnsLJJFgSwmUxPNGowZ0A_24ZelAFBF5o_yVZkUC28jWD5eHLewQC8ieK8pqptAYMf2ywH/s5472/6395%20pea%20tendrils%20growing%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9DiyjYEGKKSeja4KmDDg1SgceA1WWO1ywjFciMugm0FuDKj1lTD4LfyLsgUQx8DxgdAdhRZTBK4_gMYOgOOTPPNuKxaVryrSU5SGWoMH3ssvz_UDGFUnsLJJFgSwmUxPNGowZ0A_24ZelAFBF5o_yVZkUC28jWD5eHLewQC8ieK8pqptAYMf2ywH/s16000/6395%20pea%20tendrils%20growing%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">snap peas</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">So far, so good. Patiently waiting for pea pods and brassicas. I am still knitting. Hopefully more about that soon. <br />What are you growing? Working on? </div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-9834446774924838562023-02-23T19:08:00.000-07:002023-02-23T19:08:56.819-07:00getting through winter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMtuO52ybKD7NHUyKieNmCeVF39_SRX1TVPEI3JTqLIppai1g2wd5HlwKAXxxgouygaD9Uy4X8xodFupJSfdyRZ4LTpUg-cgDJJte6bsa6E154ArEDqMGPD6S6sKhwRY8XZg51-nucUQmNG24a79ufAPnvixfaljY7X1qZi3rHnxNN6dx9MPoPPav/s5472/3141%20snowy%20road%20and%20mountains%20on%20Pearl%20Street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMtuO52ybKD7NHUyKieNmCeVF39_SRX1TVPEI3JTqLIppai1g2wd5HlwKAXxxgouygaD9Uy4X8xodFupJSfdyRZ4LTpUg-cgDJJte6bsa6E154ArEDqMGPD6S6sKhwRY8XZg51-nucUQmNG24a79ufAPnvixfaljY7X1qZi3rHnxNN6dx9MPoPPav/s16000/3141%20snowy%20road%20and%20mountains%20on%20Pearl%20Street.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC00oiB8gi6fkA6zfEWeVG3wbBm16ROsrCIxtfNQAuyHaTV9q7W7Pxn4YOnue-YIDi_w0stb2JlVi85FAk-1cGIVAqpJUVOJb95jW_zoIIlDLxMDJzcZRNEYizs25_npUsqJPyvjSCBRbUX9mTa28YHV2WLTRrzBs2WwPLt7Md3LiswhrEsMNU8YE/s5472/2543%20snowy%20trees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3392" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC00oiB8gi6fkA6zfEWeVG3wbBm16ROsrCIxtfNQAuyHaTV9q7W7Pxn4YOnue-YIDi_w0stb2JlVi85FAk-1cGIVAqpJUVOJb95jW_zoIIlDLxMDJzcZRNEYizs25_npUsqJPyvjSCBRbUX9mTa28YHV2WLTRrzBs2WwPLt7Md3LiswhrEsMNU8YE/s16000/2543%20snowy%20trees.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As classes of all sorts get scheduled, rescheduled and postponed due to weather, and with the short days with less light, I often find January and February to be a forced pause. Years like this convince me that I should get good at reading rain gauges and keeping track of the temperature. It seems like we've had an usual amount of snow. That should be good for our snow pack and seasonal runoff to fill creeks, lakes, basins, but we'll see what the spring brings. In the meantime, I have been trying to tick off indoor chores and projects, and working on garden things. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We have started a handful of seedlings: basil, foxgloves, verbascum, lavender, rosemary, onions and something new to us, <a href="https://search.brave.com/search?q=naranjilla+fruit&source=web"><i>naranjilla</i></a>. We have varying levels of success. The naranjilla did take a long time to germinate; I think we used 11 seeds, and we currently have five seedlings, some a couple weeks older than others! We're still 12-14 weeks out from planting and I really had my hands full last year - although had plenty of great plants. I'm working on getting some lettuce started now-ish since a lot of it is frost hardy; hoping to do better this year with layering planting, early crops in and then out and then late crops. There's always learning. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYFaJhew6JyMFlsuJ-ONGOogeMnwC5dDENzXt2-RcUZFbgiPTqtt98J_5AFs2de8ZkmaX8gO3HhNWngFEVaQ7unhwdtWLXGR5-Yvjl5zYv-Brf6HsPA5T-6H1InvS7t-sTw8vWy0hin_ciJlmQaz5VMr1Q4ooY3rlhdZn5OJQ7jN2pz6g8E33GfCy/s5472/3844%20lettuce%20and%20radish%20bed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYFaJhew6JyMFlsuJ-ONGOogeMnwC5dDENzXt2-RcUZFbgiPTqtt98J_5AFs2de8ZkmaX8gO3HhNWngFEVaQ7unhwdtWLXGR5-Yvjl5zYv-Brf6HsPA5T-6H1InvS7t-sTw8vWy0hin_ciJlmQaz5VMr1Q4ooY3rlhdZn5OJQ7jN2pz6g8E33GfCy/s16000/3844%20lettuce%20and%20radish%20bed.jpg" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>late May, 2022</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also started ranunculus corms! Probably earlier than I should have; I watched <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCCyQAO8puk">this video from Garden Answer</a> on starting ranunculus and now I have little pots of leaves sprouting all around the house. Not sure when those will or can go out just yet, but since it's 10° F today, it won't be this week! Hopefully I end up with something as lovely as the one pictured below, which I bought at the grocer's last year. If so, I hope to keep track of the colors and dig them up for next year - I got a literal mixed bag! </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwAvb4-J376YMpNmtfI-BYCbFjiEhwMfVa6T0BFM-RHOTNkUatSahPiJpkNN8sWfWiBssVoVM67YXnlyle4lsZiwQPFljYYpWFd07BlXP_6UmP6aL3N92dXJmV0HNF5zPudCApkbBHa6zkUNHQ-YsxfvZvcXmCRolz0X-KMDQxuPVDzB_3N1MzTtl/s5472/1415%20pink%20ranunculus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwAvb4-J376YMpNmtfI-BYCbFjiEhwMfVa6T0BFM-RHOTNkUatSahPiJpkNN8sWfWiBssVoVM67YXnlyle4lsZiwQPFljYYpWFd07BlXP_6UmP6aL3N92dXJmV0HNF5zPudCApkbBHa6zkUNHQ-YsxfvZvcXmCRolz0X-KMDQxuPVDzB_3N1MzTtl/s16000/1415%20pink%20ranunculus.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been trying to knit, trying to get to knitting; some days I love it and some days I wonder where all my knitting affinity has gone. I don't know. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm also reading - daily from the Bible, and otherwise, have given up on non-fiction for the moment but currently reading my third fiction book of the year. Recommended by my nephew, it is Out From the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis. I'm enjoying it more than I expected. It's pretty far out, no pun intended, from what I usually read! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What are you doing to get through the winter? </div><p><br /></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-23173024200519593152023-02-03T18:44:00.002-07:002023-02-20T15:21:07.279-07:00mmmmmarigolds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCGBXy3eGgKxA38zMZ8hkm4UpG8i_wagjoYBivKkNn-NqZk3pqP2ENyS1nUeKJF-QSvvW44prIrA5xAut7QMyZVJSOphcG33xoBAmW9r_HavfHsUELIDwZeQx2n_cw8iHWV2Z_0INQnMgVLE4ewfwr-JSHdC0VpVaNTAb3k0DNFrHm4eRMEI17LOr/s5472/8230%20fields%20of%20marigold%20flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCGBXy3eGgKxA38zMZ8hkm4UpG8i_wagjoYBivKkNn-NqZk3pqP2ENyS1nUeKJF-QSvvW44prIrA5xAut7QMyZVJSOphcG33xoBAmW9r_HavfHsUELIDwZeQx2n_cw8iHWV2Z_0INQnMgVLE4ewfwr-JSHdC0VpVaNTAb3k0DNFrHm4eRMEI17LOr/s16000/8230%20fields%20of%20marigold%20flowers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2011/09/m.html" style="text-align: left;">I've said before</a><span style="text-align: left;"> that I failed to appreciate marigolds growing up. It's nice to have something that does so well in my garden, year after year, and draws butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. I can't remember the last time I bought marigold seeds, these have been producing in my garden for so many seasons. I love that they're such a rich red-orange-gold. I might want another color this year, but I've got plenty of seeds for these! </span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Over Thanksgiving break, my middle kid deadheaded this whole bed and filled a bucket, so I have more than enough seeds to share this year! I pulled a big handful apart and set them to dry on newspaper for a few days, and then put them in a jar until I had time to make a packet. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil18XWoLrjsr1ycEYOH1dusgRqfnk1o8_Aotzejo1Fw1Yp_Z_xU91Y_iFzvE2zpNxhBzevGmcw5zlBtqLIs_YFFUB9UPny1IJZOfhko44rCcdY9MioJXWdGowZPmA7sPqVHCbleJ7ULKijgV0I2Sgz7IKAJ_8Wzn8vGyxqw1KOUJ0SUmzMcu22ldlx/s5472/6624%20marigold%20macro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil18XWoLrjsr1ycEYOH1dusgRqfnk1o8_Aotzejo1Fw1Yp_Z_xU91Y_iFzvE2zpNxhBzevGmcw5zlBtqLIs_YFFUB9UPny1IJZOfhko44rCcdY9MioJXWdGowZPmA7sPqVHCbleJ7ULKijgV0I2Sgz7IKAJ_8Wzn8vGyxqw1KOUJ0SUmzMcu22ldlx/s16000/6624%20marigold%20macro.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXf40ikvGrJ3YlCCGyPnc0R36ymwNMgSfN7bNW8BNDJnfwlc2bVNCqxrxmchGJbrnR3UgH1QDX6GQR21JjNFW5Hpcw_zQ2LU1bkQGsPNwiPTqOljWK72bMY6AEhLb8j1JTk7FgVbbx2PS8CfPwQbchzsSpPRbfFP11F-pM3qj4beSJKGb0vu4zwwt8/s5184/6515%20marigold%20bush.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXf40ikvGrJ3YlCCGyPnc0R36ymwNMgSfN7bNW8BNDJnfwlc2bVNCqxrxmchGJbrnR3UgH1QDX6GQR21JjNFW5Hpcw_zQ2LU1bkQGsPNwiPTqOljWK72bMY6AEhLb8j1JTk7FgVbbx2PS8CfPwQbchzsSpPRbfFP11F-pM3qj4beSJKGb0vu4zwwt8/s16000/6515%20marigold%20bush.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsjSWrY4Y952REzVrO7vZs8WgE7sAzCjnjlCE1DgojZIudKuvmkh03hNFL1xpfh00okMcclMWSpa0X7fL8AX2xqwc5nLgPFaRs_E5DAuQebyTpq1CU_rZ1glNQ4wrDEKH8hPvLO7JDmHNgYYigp1Eyn7-l4cDMiTKXJYjTQKmezsKMMApiiP4FfWx/s5184/8732%20marigold%20seeds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsjSWrY4Y952REzVrO7vZs8WgE7sAzCjnjlCE1DgojZIudKuvmkh03hNFL1xpfh00okMcclMWSpa0X7fL8AX2xqwc5nLgPFaRs_E5DAuQebyTpq1CU_rZ1glNQ4wrDEKH8hPvLO7JDmHNgYYigp1Eyn7-l4cDMiTKXJYjTQKmezsKMMApiiP4FfWx/s16000/8732%20marigold%20seeds.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>(you don't need the orange part, just the black and white) </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I found a seed packet template <a href="https://www.myfrugalhome.com/printable-seed-packets/">here</a>. A blank template was all I needed; printed one, drew a simple outline of a marigold with fine pen, and copied it. Each image was hand colored with my Prismacolor pencils - saves printer ink and makes them all one-of-a-kind! and blend the pigment with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. I cut them out, made some folds, glued the back over the bottom and side tabs, and set it to dry. Once the glue was dry, I filled the packet about half full with seeds (a third full probably would have worked better) and glued the top down. I didn't write growing instructions on the back, but they are very easy to grow in Colorado. The back says "from Karen's garden, 2022" so I will remember when I saved them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMbNx-WwXvjkUk-r8nPbj-4t0C4TvQSY0NJIbupcMdujMWtSwQ-gsgHDoWE5L5xqlrpiCrgWFsDUrauUNDapy1_wnLcOPXMuoK36oEPNnJ5o11iC9IW3DjXHXqSsl33Lru9eSHnIKJdm8nPRDb9f4OL4Ah3hJR9WHTOUD9YQM_exZ3HP57k1WzAIl/s5472/3223%20hand%20drawn%20marigold%20seed%20packets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMbNx-WwXvjkUk-r8nPbj-4t0C4TvQSY0NJIbupcMdujMWtSwQ-gsgHDoWE5L5xqlrpiCrgWFsDUrauUNDapy1_wnLcOPXMuoK36oEPNnJ5o11iC9IW3DjXHXqSsl33Lru9eSHnIKJdm8nPRDb9f4OL4Ah3hJR9WHTOUD9YQM_exZ3HP57k1WzAIl/s16000/3223%20hand%20drawn%20marigold%20seed%20packets.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZOvWlX6j2Gub3N4bGsMZ9oXP0UXBALIaPbGYeLBomkrubX9v3XZ6ZXg0mk5-r0ANpniYpc11JAKymcYl50CtM3NKpxqXekVNWgS_X1DRAYLIkiFTeIY6_7TmjHIdFVVYLsvGfMi9IljvDk3QRg87sKkcWxs-tYeAJ87MFkxWz0Ro52UOEYtdQerF/s5184/5585%20butterfly%20on%20red%20flower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZOvWlX6j2Gub3N4bGsMZ9oXP0UXBALIaPbGYeLBomkrubX9v3XZ6ZXg0mk5-r0ANpniYpc11JAKymcYl50CtM3NKpxqXekVNWgS_X1DRAYLIkiFTeIY6_7TmjHIdFVVYLsvGfMi9IljvDk3QRg87sKkcWxs-tYeAJ87MFkxWz0Ro52UOEYtdQerF/s16000/5585%20butterfly%20on%20red%20flower.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Looking forward to some pollinators in the garden soon! <br /><br />What seeds do you save?? Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-32852566281864798222023-01-12T22:09:00.005-07:002023-01-14T09:47:47.962-07:00garden 2022 review, garden 2023 planning<p>January! It's garden dreaming time. A few pictures showing the progression of our garden over 2022: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">March</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ4WRWr7IleJBghhtZBgB5J-0U8Zi4AtTPoZ6YpwcR0MZlDBin2ILqbfuG7J2oYnWcrRHkwXBhAODztEd52My6962XP0GcwVmpJ3ynVdtGS8EJCaT3GjH3VLhgeiBWco_o_HwDLyR3KiJdUc4mc0mikhB4dJO7bEPVgS4Irmed_-iLogkcJ65NZNX/s12519/2759%20to%202761%20back%20yard%20panorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="12519" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ4WRWr7IleJBghhtZBgB5J-0U8Zi4AtTPoZ6YpwcR0MZlDBin2ILqbfuG7J2oYnWcrRHkwXBhAODztEd52My6962XP0GcwVmpJ3ynVdtGS8EJCaT3GjH3VLhgeiBWco_o_HwDLyR3KiJdUc4mc0mikhB4dJO7bEPVgS4Irmed_-iLogkcJ65NZNX/s16000/2759%20to%202761%20back%20yard%20panorama.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqZJYSrOq85FZanCkaVwQLira6icM5O-vdQmOJw9MczwWqA3TAgBSWOUWfoKS6sRzngNn3miYVS0CQFVyx-SE34iCMQrSPIztj7Pjr00h_9xYMeKDpdrW-kfvBnEWovZ7x0T-UIaUi2mwuT35K5aE2ZdQEkSFPUk9D4qYpru4wR4X15Rik7sYuQkZ/s13604/beginning%20of%20June%20garden%20panorama%20recrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4422" data-original-width="13604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqZJYSrOq85FZanCkaVwQLira6icM5O-vdQmOJw9MczwWqA3TAgBSWOUWfoKS6sRzngNn3miYVS0CQFVyx-SE34iCMQrSPIztj7Pjr00h_9xYMeKDpdrW-kfvBnEWovZ7x0T-UIaUi2mwuT35K5aE2ZdQEkSFPUk9D4qYpru4wR4X15Rik7sYuQkZ/s16000/beginning%20of%20June%20garden%20panorama%20recrop.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">July </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPTejsJSHzeRCKlmryqksCSkd-0Tky1nnUsCnuuF7e0xsP4AfonicV4BeOjoWGWyoRD_tZSbckFF28VzLeyRhLY196IWg8SH-d01TT0u_-zNRhx0v1qrIRopd292fpAnydJz1A2VfdqtANLNlH0QdPIixm5qmkBfeW2SZIcl7l9y3OKZsz2ltAJKL/s10799/5172%20to%205177%20back%20yard%20pano%20July%20garden%20recrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4102" data-original-width="10799" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPTejsJSHzeRCKlmryqksCSkd-0Tky1nnUsCnuuF7e0xsP4AfonicV4BeOjoWGWyoRD_tZSbckFF28VzLeyRhLY196IWg8SH-d01TT0u_-zNRhx0v1qrIRopd292fpAnydJz1A2VfdqtANLNlH0QdPIixm5qmkBfeW2SZIcl7l9y3OKZsz2ltAJKL/s16000/5172%20to%205177%20back%20yard%20pano%20July%20garden%20recrop.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happily, I took panorama shots of the yard and gardens a few times last year. I wish I had remembered to do it every month. I did get many different wide shots of different spots, it's fun to see how everything progressed and changed. The shots below get lower because once the tree above starts to fill in, it can block some of the view. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">March</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GPc3Up-s9Q8ti-HMIwWSt7SIbJXJek3WYLNk54olZSWJL1KrDiJ9T2dHDyQBqz6LuWsd5bIt-qjdqmFzn9BD8VQu90eejxl4rtLM8V45AUpTfP9Ge6-1gGtY9geM2q3V64YEgn3hzRE3cP2faZ7QH55SvD5b040ymJABus-pdMHtcfdVTU3WcRkM/s5472/2757%20early%20spring%20garden%20beds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GPc3Up-s9Q8ti-HMIwWSt7SIbJXJek3WYLNk54olZSWJL1KrDiJ9T2dHDyQBqz6LuWsd5bIt-qjdqmFzn9BD8VQu90eejxl4rtLM8V45AUpTfP9Ge6-1gGtY9geM2q3V64YEgn3hzRE3cP2faZ7QH55SvD5b040ymJABus-pdMHtcfdVTU3WcRkM/s16000/2757%20early%20spring%20garden%20beds.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">May</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-6GYav2zJiezmwwrIGTGgpqDY6jjz-MJ_oekW4Uut698DWuGa17C6M28udlUK4JgZDlwcQWzWQWoP9HEv7fpd_3FfNZKl-UeykO6_YKhokWMCzF-1Uilv9Sohg82s9lDNX906cOi6vI7lDHzXBGQ9HZ_DAbWu3aY_BP8SDSW4Ca_Ou5KURAhPDbn/s5341/3138%20early%20morning%20light%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3561" data-original-width="5341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-6GYav2zJiezmwwrIGTGgpqDY6jjz-MJ_oekW4Uut698DWuGa17C6M28udlUK4JgZDlwcQWzWQWoP9HEv7fpd_3FfNZKl-UeykO6_YKhokWMCzF-1Uilv9Sohg82s9lDNX906cOi6vI7lDHzXBGQ9HZ_DAbWu3aY_BP8SDSW4Ca_Ou5KURAhPDbn/s16000/3138%20early%20morning%20light%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">July</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNbQ1gdAq01scTT4G5RxQ93rg8Ldzif3-R_04NnmxD_Q6UXkBl7GkVEHZ-ODURBFrfo5n4UJiK9r80BlA_-4ngKri-IFePAvYs2qpAki7RrLbF7XvFw4jK-EfqXGfhr-E5L5q2-vg3et8O0MDRsnOBfab05IvPswyLkQA2R8xTFWggpJTWpMSj6V6/s5472/4823%20early%20July%20garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNbQ1gdAq01scTT4G5RxQ93rg8Ldzif3-R_04NnmxD_Q6UXkBl7GkVEHZ-ODURBFrfo5n4UJiK9r80BlA_-4ngKri-IFePAvYs2qpAki7RrLbF7XvFw4jK-EfqXGfhr-E5L5q2-vg3et8O0MDRsnOBfab05IvPswyLkQA2R8xTFWggpJTWpMSj6V6/s16000/4823%20early%20July%20garden.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">August</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps1k-J6ADsjjdDdSS_JcrosSY9BkdYpbneUV29ZB0dQ_OitjqZn_oCwJ5mc8RP-h0xWR9n210FZ6lcNvAo2X4mZp1mzy_vkE5gq18YuT1ciT0KDvxRVf7wWbD3VleB8Y149jsLEOHa48yezuDcZqM4vdyj1cjAT1jRrgLPwDJo308vgSZSTyWGi3Q/s5472/5886%20August%20garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps1k-J6ADsjjdDdSS_JcrosSY9BkdYpbneUV29ZB0dQ_OitjqZn_oCwJ5mc8RP-h0xWR9n210FZ6lcNvAo2X4mZp1mzy_vkE5gq18YuT1ciT0KDvxRVf7wWbD3VleB8Y149jsLEOHa48yezuDcZqM4vdyj1cjAT1jRrgLPwDJo308vgSZSTyWGi3Q/s16000/5886%20August%20garden.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">September</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4tz2hFznSzk3zZFoc-_Jyqmf4vaUYSZYR8wfKxzv_uu5m6KJgsMZ1uM0zHQiJuvnCc3cXWJLD3FQciCjC9CxBBjoOMjrgSgbF_-W_LH2F-rL7Z7ZEAffoItTUMmaoUFviMMvrFtYnolJ4F-k6hWwyyBBS1Tnn4q9KCWs4NOn540DZ3DyjSkaPxIu/s5472/8248%20garden,%20last%20day%20of%20September%20in%20the%20rain,%20a%20little%20crowded%20with%20flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4tz2hFznSzk3zZFoc-_Jyqmf4vaUYSZYR8wfKxzv_uu5m6KJgsMZ1uM0zHQiJuvnCc3cXWJLD3FQciCjC9CxBBjoOMjrgSgbF_-W_LH2F-rL7Z7ZEAffoItTUMmaoUFviMMvrFtYnolJ4F-k6hWwyyBBS1Tnn4q9KCWs4NOn540DZ3DyjSkaPxIu/s16000/8248%20garden,%20last%20day%20of%20September%20in%20the%20rain,%20a%20little%20crowded%20with%20flowers.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">October</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpJGrxX-7Y5Zv4SkN-dxMhftZ9748904JeaQBbXp6HRRdh4k7Qouk0_8dQepotMQrTsrn7eWesMReEBPZ5DTVrwjeWCsXEKrSVp74-XjPCo-RUBlmd6RuJQnajQp0Dd7JcqJyXj8sqvpojFoBCIleUwXZT_2KpQhgq-p2ZIi-30s9fgw6EcA0kiUx/s5472/9434%20autumn%20morning%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpJGrxX-7Y5Zv4SkN-dxMhftZ9748904JeaQBbXp6HRRdh4k7Qouk0_8dQepotMQrTsrn7eWesMReEBPZ5DTVrwjeWCsXEKrSVp74-XjPCo-RUBlmd6RuJQnajQp0Dd7JcqJyXj8sqvpojFoBCIleUwXZT_2KpQhgq-p2ZIi-30s9fgw6EcA0kiUx/s16000/9434%20autumn%20morning%20in%20the%20garden.jpg" /></a></div>Setting this up made me realize how late the marigolds set in; maybe I'll start a few more inside, this year. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Wins and successes this year include:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- the seed starting was a big success!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- a decent batch of radishes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- lots of good herbs, my favorite being lemon thyme</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- some tomatoes, especially liked the Black Strawberry cherry toms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- a small crop of potatoes, our first, encouraging toward doing more next season</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- a few nice zucchinis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- lots of good lettuce</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- pink (edible) pea flowers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- the cupcake cosmos</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- pink thunbergia vine, grew well but not in the best place to enjoy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- dried some lavender, dried some lemon thyme</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- many beautiful flowers, including a couple of mixed packets for pollinators, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Some fails: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- dismal pumpkins, both plants died before any fruit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- not nearly as many zucchinis, tomatoes or peas as previous year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- not nearly the basil crop we have had the last few years; I was hoping to make weekly pesto! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- some lovely cucumber vines but never enough fruit to pickle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- bean plants - a few starts but not enough fruit for a meal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">- our late summer beet crop was apparently too late and we had nothing but greens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black Strawberry tomatoes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCS1Pek4olv4Qpl8B8QTN7WujV3ha1VZcs8IdzC9W2LmRW7vuOPs7atTHgK1-pnqmIoBUWyPG7cFJeO7YNkjJRfAqbLi-g7UTjDm5g-BLjyQoqgbro45qAn16rZB0BzvgJsUCBaOJRQ795clICfNTZQm3Uh7SJwr2SqFaTZwKftuL8HFzzZFWXr9Y/s5472/0062%20black%20strawberry%20tomatoes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCS1Pek4olv4Qpl8B8QTN7WujV3ha1VZcs8IdzC9W2LmRW7vuOPs7atTHgK1-pnqmIoBUWyPG7cFJeO7YNkjJRfAqbLi-g7UTjDm5g-BLjyQoqgbro45qAn16rZB0BzvgJsUCBaOJRQ795clICfNTZQm3Uh7SJwr2SqFaTZwKftuL8HFzzZFWXr9Y/w640-h427/0062%20black%20strawberry%20tomatoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">double columbines</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdq2qc2MWilo3T1aBRLaE_eUCvI52nTfqEst2g3d5V3lQ1tlvj0GCg5TsBfBsp59jjnFwPo7Mhn0n9nWN_sXUpXKwJSO6INhyiStlE71E1ot4jsr6dsAnfhG5TARo0RdGg0vJDSdWGJTSTSd1gySv3yaHFjzLufQFl_QI7QdqOA8FoITLbFOHEqi_/s5472/3827%20double%20columbines.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdq2qc2MWilo3T1aBRLaE_eUCvI52nTfqEst2g3d5V3lQ1tlvj0GCg5TsBfBsp59jjnFwPo7Mhn0n9nWN_sXUpXKwJSO6INhyiStlE71E1ot4jsr6dsAnfhG5TARo0RdGg0vJDSdWGJTSTSd1gySv3yaHFjzLufQFl_QI7QdqOA8FoITLbFOHEqi_/w640-h427/3827%20double%20columbines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">pink dahlias</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oKeeMl3AlmJfDpw945Ezef28LdyxQrsItPB9hYynnk2_unlpRWc43VbGaEkZuSV0F3P_ECZn5Sf3OX_0tz-P6Fd9GsBHj4mub2HVjKQRj1_WBpvnea9Su7nKRir1wfBY2MQiqM10O9VrRmXyQCQboNUgte6xrRHdNuOa3WL63mzGRweOWjCZoRiA/s5472/6620%20pink%20dahlias.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oKeeMl3AlmJfDpw945Ezef28LdyxQrsItPB9hYynnk2_unlpRWc43VbGaEkZuSV0F3P_ECZn5Sf3OX_0tz-P6Fd9GsBHj4mub2HVjKQRj1_WBpvnea9Su7nKRir1wfBY2MQiqM10O9VrRmXyQCQboNUgte6xrRHdNuOa3WL63mzGRweOWjCZoRiA/w427-h640/6620%20pink%20dahlias.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">white cupcake cosmos from Johnny's Seeds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_YoLMRxwGOjlLNrG1UdSz_JD0Q2mEddabhbDC_SvAzWI5CBYDoNQU7d4Ta-CZYFJ6Ho6N_NFCiIKf8r2chz4UhN08EyA1M2qX5P_RVnaRoz7WBn7H3LKZWkqd313Gc5jLfDLA8WRj5Mviob0zkzd_NJROdLDPIfpc9slkeqNj-EBX6MtLUkmVJhA/s5472/8816%20white%20cupcake%20cosmos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_YoLMRxwGOjlLNrG1UdSz_JD0Q2mEddabhbDC_SvAzWI5CBYDoNQU7d4Ta-CZYFJ6Ho6N_NFCiIKf8r2chz4UhN08EyA1M2qX5P_RVnaRoz7WBn7H3LKZWkqd313Gc5jLfDLA8WRj5Mviob0zkzd_NJROdLDPIfpc9slkeqNj-EBX6MtLUkmVJhA/w640-h426/8816%20white%20cupcake%20cosmos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">For Mother's Day, my boys dug a big potato patch in some pretty hard ground, at least half a day's work! We turned it over, added some of our own compost, some we bought, and turned it over a few more times; dug trenches with big rows between for We bought two different kinds of potatoes, russet and Norland Red, and my youngest pulled a sprouting potato out of the pantry. We cut them and put them in a south facing window to cure and sprout. The only one that really had a decent set of eyes was the one from the pantry! but they all did have a bit before we planted them. The one from the pantry did very well, the Norlands did really well and had light purple flowers The russets had a few spuds but the big difference seemed to be which half of the patch got more sun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKrpL48qYdIV0sh5sC6tWhJxhqAY3fynhpHzx04FwQ8iHHbiN8WGjo7MaqjGkOgcc37Us6uFhUg9FK_gs2-QPKizOeE_gW7ldU2VYwD3NScXnoG0Yl1Us1A5TPCiLMdQbKNDs6EjIjRsbPgMNS894R8P_GcaTi_TxWu-3jIeIEnIFcvexNAo724Rx/s5472/4539%20potato%20blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKrpL48qYdIV0sh5sC6tWhJxhqAY3fynhpHzx04FwQ8iHHbiN8WGjo7MaqjGkOgcc37Us6uFhUg9FK_gs2-QPKizOeE_gW7ldU2VYwD3NScXnoG0Yl1Us1A5TPCiLMdQbKNDs6EjIjRsbPgMNS894R8P_GcaTi_TxWu-3jIeIEnIFcvexNAo724Rx/w426-h640/4539%20potato%20blossom.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So for next year, we will be 1. starting earlier with the potatoes. I am considering buying some in late February from the grocer's again, maybe just one or two. 2. Because it's better not to plant potatoes in the same bed in consecutive years, we are moving them to the regular garden area this year. 3. The potato patch from last year is going to be a big pumpkin patch, hopefully! The best pumpkin crop we ever had was back there, and shortly after that, we reseeded it with grass. Because we're already moving some things, we're going to move a few <i>other</i> things, like the compost. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think I should pull back on the number of tomato plants because our use has changed and they take up a lot of space, but they are so fun to start and plant, so we'll see. I watched a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTZkce-Zvo8">Joe Gardener video</a> (very late in the process) about starting carrots, so hoping for a better beet and carrot crop this spring. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm thinking about moving some old timers that perhaps would do better in a different spot. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l16ls5BsRzJd8DZP401JKBmL0sWD9JsVCWaVyIgqeM2Haai8Z37iLZnCCT6oeMbXdCCbd5sMOqowBFJKi8jOv2WGfyijDIriYeE-biSI-xghsvesJ_nGUz74RHIhdSVuse3eJmEkEWRW0q9PUeo2MpECvH3k6vlStfVPimK3feL8qvauewQb9Szq/s5472/8859%20cut%20flowers%20on%20picnic%20basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l16ls5BsRzJd8DZP401JKBmL0sWD9JsVCWaVyIgqeM2Haai8Z37iLZnCCT6oeMbXdCCbd5sMOqowBFJKi8jOv2WGfyijDIriYeE-biSI-xghsvesJ_nGUz74RHIhdSVuse3eJmEkEWRW0q9PUeo2MpECvH3k6vlStfVPimK3feL8qvauewQb9Szq/w640-h426/8859%20cut%20flowers%20on%20picnic%20basket.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Looking forward to good things growing soon. What are you planting this year? </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-63620880771393549832022-12-08T22:52:00.008-07:002022-12-08T22:54:24.850-07:00Christmas preparations, 2022<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0lZSQP8iJqUEh5Ao7jt64tkUHl_-_C4UgqiwcuUQzNIl1zUkKcXSQ2gejSTDNpHoVsUGomSvhhRbSg7a17KV73k7B0x29NY42amOpewZ9GWfrCZZmWefkwFYasfpXG-fto-bpR6yRTcjvM8ukIs-kWjWd2SPOtpjcFnsXRedceVhJmZnFdXhce0f/s5472/1665%20apple%20pie%20with%20woven%20crust.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0lZSQP8iJqUEh5Ao7jt64tkUHl_-_C4UgqiwcuUQzNIl1zUkKcXSQ2gejSTDNpHoVsUGomSvhhRbSg7a17KV73k7B0x29NY42amOpewZ9GWfrCZZmWefkwFYasfpXG-fto-bpR6yRTcjvM8ukIs-kWjWd2SPOtpjcFnsXRedceVhJmZnFdXhce0f/w640-h426/1665%20apple%20pie%20with%20woven%20crust.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV5vyLP4A9pAAcY9qIKGz2LnI2vrmCImKDOZRTlfedJM9XAtHxDT7OeDpYpRBbuIsUugWgNzcyXtNEObQbi813jVdJ6kxuprJjLh4gvminBIOCWxKHJ9esol9cUIKd-ebSf_KLOjob_G_LfMIJyAmBeRIYAjyKRJh1JPvyUErat5hM6A-O5Njaom9/w426-h640/1717%20Olde%20Town%20clock%20and%20Christmas%20tree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5VNqZMl4IPmX0nANEZjEnU36wXdi7QtIVQgrJEzwuLuD-0dr74cZOh6vlQvMVszxz0W0p_z_-JvEqQ1CnNY4v_bIzjoz2tfzy1QcQMAzOSNzmjlxvsQ0Nsn6auN9IWJ50myTxS8LMhCiVXaLXhbX-KA2iVgH7Yj3qLE--YOeQZG1ntVruoEbUUd6/s5472/1769%20Advents,%20books,%20knitting%20mittens,%20Christmas%20tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5VNqZMl4IPmX0nANEZjEnU36wXdi7QtIVQgrJEzwuLuD-0dr74cZOh6vlQvMVszxz0W0p_z_-JvEqQ1CnNY4v_bIzjoz2tfzy1QcQMAzOSNzmjlxvsQ0Nsn6auN9IWJ50myTxS8LMhCiVXaLXhbX-KA2iVgH7Yj3qLE--YOeQZG1ntVruoEbUUd6/w426-h640/1769%20Advents,%20books,%20knitting%20mittens,%20Christmas%20tree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25t6cm299qrAn0JgeQmjlCNGzjq8ftnUjgKESsiDHFj9_dtrcZ8mBBLDKf4A3Q3PVXvAM39THq9VlpYpCSrOdIczrzGqfjxiItsT7NhkYcu1EW8JMFfA1zcUwJ_MrsaCLE13tSjqXhXf8HkHDICswlqy5bbLn2oPXkxfx7K0NBbGm20wRd9TCAkbS/s5472/1862%20Heritage%20Silk%20blue%20yarn%20for%20Makena%20gloves,%20and%20pine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25t6cm299qrAn0JgeQmjlCNGzjq8ftnUjgKESsiDHFj9_dtrcZ8mBBLDKf4A3Q3PVXvAM39THq9VlpYpCSrOdIczrzGqfjxiItsT7NhkYcu1EW8JMFfA1zcUwJ_MrsaCLE13tSjqXhXf8HkHDICswlqy5bbLn2oPXkxfx7K0NBbGm20wRd9TCAkbS/w640-h426/1862%20Heritage%20Silk%20blue%20yarn%20for%20Makena%20gloves,%20and%20pine.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc8fwM9JJsA36Y7c1yoOxAEVHJ4-5D9jGASkCVnGxymJ01KmLN0Cpnu3N7d5c5vJdS8vsXpsWJFrTAwArb3y9jXLVbY9A5sWUXPdyGUXlvvgC3-QAUVUuThLkNU_1L0fjNVDt9LsJdKuqCneONpTN12yNdlhOaCMhAef-e9HPbTr2yeEfqEtdr_vE/s5472/1868%20stranded%20colorwork%20advent%20mittens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc8fwM9JJsA36Y7c1yoOxAEVHJ4-5D9jGASkCVnGxymJ01KmLN0Cpnu3N7d5c5vJdS8vsXpsWJFrTAwArb3y9jXLVbY9A5sWUXPdyGUXlvvgC3-QAUVUuThLkNU_1L0fjNVDt9LsJdKuqCneONpTN12yNdlhOaCMhAef-e9HPbTr2yeEfqEtdr_vE/w640-h426/1868%20stranded%20colorwork%20advent%20mittens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiIUlBWLAdD7fG5P1Avt2jL10SiBzGlL49NXp0_DB5G1FGPMCPC3P91X1OTEyiVk-_i66XpZOA1-oHCzyJ4AW2cPAOOQgJM80Mas4rhvsgcdvZD9bZd9rXhyJNFm0DJzgoRJgUB-QHOrh4TNZWFKxheWaR9_iR8rb0pTsadTHG4xD5AC_du0lSsT7/s5472/1881%20Jeremy%20cutting%20homemade%20marshmallow%20strips.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiIUlBWLAdD7fG5P1Avt2jL10SiBzGlL49NXp0_DB5G1FGPMCPC3P91X1OTEyiVk-_i66XpZOA1-oHCzyJ4AW2cPAOOQgJM80Mas4rhvsgcdvZD9bZd9rXhyJNFm0DJzgoRJgUB-QHOrh4TNZWFKxheWaR9_iR8rb0pTsadTHG4xD5AC_du0lSsT7/w640-h426/1881%20Jeremy%20cutting%20homemade%20marshmallow%20strips.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83xJhGqvQ3z9mhiv3Ep_XnxZ7QHptFNgL3X0JndvuM7UfXv22t8f9kCq4N2BSPEG4hk5iDLGdZBoc0-3m2LZm5GOSDZHcIwyphzKj88QJZuij9viAK1pGdJuZaHaSSRN-6BhrkG06fGmzZ_3AKxAftLGPSi22W3j_1s2BZcfH59nNBm6j-7EyReJF/s5472/1845%20green%20Christmas%20ornament%20and%20window%20reflection%20and%20bokeh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83xJhGqvQ3z9mhiv3Ep_XnxZ7QHptFNgL3X0JndvuM7UfXv22t8f9kCq4N2BSPEG4hk5iDLGdZBoc0-3m2LZm5GOSDZHcIwyphzKj88QJZuij9viAK1pGdJuZaHaSSRN-6BhrkG06fGmzZ_3AKxAftLGPSi22W3j_1s2BZcfH59nNBm6j-7EyReJF/w426-h640/1845%20green%20Christmas%20ornament%20and%20window%20reflection%20and%20bokeh.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Apple pie for Thanksgiving, pretty new turkey plate, Christmas decorations in Olde Town and in our home, big and little knitting projects, and cutting homemade marshmallows. </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-55109884020364023572022-11-15T00:23:00.001-07:002022-11-15T00:23:45.840-07:00Stars and Stones Quilt - a fourteen year project<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwGPnrvnNvKdjiwJAod8CF09NIcbnmWcjWNKwTbJCQspdEA4N2UdKwPAU7wGmX_lOs8nmTEtPg_Z7_7QzSaDAwq1iHU3WNFzDTedTDhGTk7gUqzQ7abcxj6k3gsKr5yshjopTzHpLteC0UPGsb_mUUAZGXwBEoiDZjOmND-JT0_HmfOG0yBMN7-xz/s5472/8871%20Steve's%20red,%20blue,%20brown%20patriotic%20quilt,%20stars%20and%20stones.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwGPnrvnNvKdjiwJAod8CF09NIcbnmWcjWNKwTbJCQspdEA4N2UdKwPAU7wGmX_lOs8nmTEtPg_Z7_7QzSaDAwq1iHU3WNFzDTedTDhGTk7gUqzQ7abcxj6k3gsKr5yshjopTzHpLteC0UPGsb_mUUAZGXwBEoiDZjOmND-JT0_HmfOG0yBMN7-xz/s16000/8871%20Steve's%20red,%20blue,%20brown%20patriotic%20quilt,%20stars%20and%20stones.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was a very young wife, I spent a bit of my free time delving headlong into quilting. I made a bunch of mad blocks before I realized that I really prefer a bit more order, and I started some blocks for this quilt, generally, before I knew what it would be in the end. Those blocks, all red, blue and brown, are still floating around in my stash, somewhere. Some of them were sawtooth stars and some were Job's Troubles, and all of them were pretty scrappy; it was going to be for my dad, who served in the military, including a bit at Arlington National Cemetery. While I was still sorting out my style, back in the 00s, I spotted a quilt on a blog or in a magazine, called Stepping Stones, or perhaps Stars and Stones, and I knew that was what I was working toward. I have long since lost the location of that image but it is an easy concept, especially having a few of each block done. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The oldest digital picture I can locate is from February of 2008 but I believe I started the oldest blocks several years earlier, before I had kids! Here is an early picture where I was trying out the layout and figuring how many more blocks I would need, and of which colors. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6qynkfMdfm7fRW_AsbDS4BosEhFN3LibhhzqGr4-RMQFGlc1m5IfMUKMnlLvpdv92p3xvF82w2ejd4tTSlVCzgDprXoCB72hda8sIm3Rlvd7fXTq6OOUTzFX1DuEviUODtKB2pArVxnRTwtpNS8QUHuNmhJ91SbDLh1T_84N7_BxvHpyNv8qEkBI/s3888/2856%20Dad's%20quilt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6qynkfMdfm7fRW_AsbDS4BosEhFN3LibhhzqGr4-RMQFGlc1m5IfMUKMnlLvpdv92p3xvF82w2ejd4tTSlVCzgDprXoCB72hda8sIm3Rlvd7fXTq6OOUTzFX1DuEviUODtKB2pArVxnRTwtpNS8QUHuNmhJ91SbDLh1T_84N7_BxvHpyNv8qEkBI/w640-h426/2856%20Dad's%20quilt.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">By September of 2008, I had most of my blocks made: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcNh2vdwtBYCJ9yQ-3rZ8u2hC7bU9lgt4uaPLGiGVi2mdFDFcMfuyvHYGFbmvoDah5pApiH_GfuQEiW-tDc5PwtJCqAgfFKYVFVYFLezh9qLn6Z7azXgkg2gtj1WNxxiSk7b2HHcAOvTPDeGWkfcEwJVpH2t3S4C9sMVhe8TnDeVfBcxfXy1v9_ZE/s3888/8359%20quilt%20blocks.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcNh2vdwtBYCJ9yQ-3rZ8u2hC7bU9lgt4uaPLGiGVi2mdFDFcMfuyvHYGFbmvoDah5pApiH_GfuQEiW-tDc5PwtJCqAgfFKYVFVYFLezh9qLn6Z7azXgkg2gtj1WNxxiSk7b2HHcAOvTPDeGWkfcEwJVpH2t3S4C9sMVhe8TnDeVfBcxfXy1v9_ZE/w640-h426/8359%20quilt%20blocks.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">By March of 2009 I had most, maybe all, of the blocks done, and sorted into rows and marked with pins in Roman numerals. Thank goodness! That saved me time later, when I went back to figure out what was left to do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pVjHkdI8z044pCajP-SvdJCANhfGvWTUSSXFwVUHrBxz-uyRifFZuhu0hvLiMvh3BFOjYrG2yIGvOmiP2jNXvVWfqaE8yxtyqbyL36YW2Tasij-GOsI_KKDlqVMtDVlwB_9ON3FBGiLb8RAgqXK3dnAdR33J-sEl8XarpWjYuBAaAWAfubKPhqYo/s3888/4035%20Steve's%20quilt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pVjHkdI8z044pCajP-SvdJCANhfGvWTUSSXFwVUHrBxz-uyRifFZuhu0hvLiMvh3BFOjYrG2yIGvOmiP2jNXvVWfqaE8yxtyqbyL36YW2Tasij-GOsI_KKDlqVMtDVlwB_9ON3FBGiLb8RAgqXK3dnAdR33J-sEl8XarpWjYuBAaAWAfubKPhqYo/w640-h426/4035%20Steve's%20quilt.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYTIH2RDxXtV47D_pYrS-7jKmJMH62_A8sagJwf8Hpi1ra1hs4gOv9z22HZN8Pj4DaQG3OMKhDEDCMismOuRXG2X-mpdtXv1938wMSRIg5hrZGiqndBq6s5bH5hl06Uy0phTZuHQS1AkAoDXEz9XMmzgzqYyQ_duC1jNt0rXYsY6u2m-_nAC8llWt/s3888/4016%20r%20w%20b%20rows.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYTIH2RDxXtV47D_pYrS-7jKmJMH62_A8sagJwf8Hpi1ra1hs4gOv9z22HZN8Pj4DaQG3OMKhDEDCMismOuRXG2X-mpdtXv1938wMSRIg5hrZGiqndBq6s5bH5hl06Uy0phTZuHQS1AkAoDXEz9XMmzgzqYyQ_duC1jNt0rXYsY6u2m-_nAC8llWt/w640-h426/4016%20r%20w%20b%20rows.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In July, I had begun to sew rows together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gIGOJa707DjlGaXwfihmWN1YQH88_mK67QzjUqal7ouCob583NTeW4oG3TGbZBV_hE9Wui3f4Ne2M761olnpqjLBx3YXsvM--sfkNTUtwyOy8mqkForsJVI0RXhrGs6-OBU6LmiVcAqCW3TW--ZPtocz30mse-45PXKofvUhcu4ovzuQtGOKnEOG/s3776/9041%20Steve's%20quilt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2585" data-original-width="3776" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gIGOJa707DjlGaXwfihmWN1YQH88_mK67QzjUqal7ouCob583NTeW4oG3TGbZBV_hE9Wui3f4Ne2M761olnpqjLBx3YXsvM--sfkNTUtwyOy8mqkForsJVI0RXhrGs6-OBU6LmiVcAqCW3TW--ZPtocz30mse-45PXKofvUhcu4ovzuQtGOKnEOG/w640-h438/9041%20Steve's%20quilt.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Then <a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-knitter.html">I started knitting</a>, and my quilting really stalled out. To be completely honest with you, I have a few other quilts that need finishing, and <a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2008/07/sues-sampler.html">this top</a> has since been added to and is ready for basting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I visited the Loopy Ewe in Ft. Collins and purchased backing and bias fabric for two quilts. They have since closed the quilt side of their business and changed ownership. It's been a few years! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, my dad had a few of brushes with death; every time, I thought, "He is going to die and never see his quilt." I know, it's not the most important thing, but it represented to me how we spend time on good intentions that never come to fruition. A few years ago, I wrote it down as a goal to finish the quilts for my parents, and when the knitting world changed in 2019, I knew it was time to switch gears. I had enough batting in my stash to finish this one, the smaller of the two, and I basted it using some 2x4s on my kitchen table. I had seen this method on a video somewhere, and never could find the exact video again, but I knew the general concept and found some similar instructions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jrOXbgc464TygLlDk7SPZRLDRuqq7tHMNxlvfHRhqQLk1QRO7Hq7izf771RiSiriFYWKsNJmX7lnkZ876CKhfEcEjujLV-yXUzTo4GUOMvkcOZlHYjD_87BXLlPC78Q2raK4dcYDA1Am1Bkku9IjXyYnTfHhkl65-CnGW9c2hcnCzwabWYf-YRWF/s5472/3039%20Steve's%20patriotic%20quilt,%20basting%20in%20progress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jrOXbgc464TygLlDk7SPZRLDRuqq7tHMNxlvfHRhqQLk1QRO7Hq7izf771RiSiriFYWKsNJmX7lnkZ876CKhfEcEjujLV-yXUzTo4GUOMvkcOZlHYjD_87BXLlPC78Q2raK4dcYDA1Am1Bkku9IjXyYnTfHhkl65-CnGW9c2hcnCzwabWYf-YRWF/w640-h426/3039%20Steve's%20patriotic%20quilt,%20basting%20in%20progress.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Along comes 2020 and we all had more time at home, so I pulled this out and started the quilting with the intent of chipping away at it until it was complete! In progress: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFx5XusNbnRhFnb-LV3VoVtWpvKXMzesjcsO8jH7hU_VfF6544PgiATdDaT9UrCkqQmO8lqjELba7heMH2QxtDSHGMhhCgt2bfzx9c5PqTGL28Z6Qg-HiEozVbztgmxp1BlUXlqy9EF1Hbu20WHh6VpeYtxo8_vz7ZWn20rtJmZchqLFxV8XdZGHf/s5472/5409%20star%20quilt%20quilting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFx5XusNbnRhFnb-LV3VoVtWpvKXMzesjcsO8jH7hU_VfF6544PgiATdDaT9UrCkqQmO8lqjELba7heMH2QxtDSHGMhhCgt2bfzx9c5PqTGL28Z6Qg-HiEozVbztgmxp1BlUXlqy9EF1Hbu20WHh6VpeYtxo8_vz7ZWn20rtJmZchqLFxV8XdZGHf/w640-h426/5409%20star%20quilt%20quilting.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUgOMtqCBajdkvn592Ssyosa9i8PSV3L31sMI0QnMZjYbK9vZB4mz8CYUauVNiZ-CxoL6H74EX_V-n5BFd-sWR7_G56UqL6UNSuH9SilyE73sdfGLxmdKeg1nTO1Sg3Pvy4dyRM3ZM7zr1PRmvNJrsGe1-ftghWljKkVEBLaSnZ-qnY5Q8rJ9eKY1/s5472/5406%20star%20and%20stepping%20stone%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUgOMtqCBajdkvn592Ssyosa9i8PSV3L31sMI0QnMZjYbK9vZB4mz8CYUauVNiZ-CxoL6H74EX_V-n5BFd-sWR7_G56UqL6UNSuH9SilyE73sdfGLxmdKeg1nTO1Sg3Pvy4dyRM3ZM7zr1PRmvNJrsGe1-ftghWljKkVEBLaSnZ-qnY5Q8rJ9eKY1/w640-h426/5406%20star%20and%20stepping%20stone%20quilt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFPdm83qwy7ptz6JQI3ddouez3cKXYsiiLPEYu6ApyEBsDh0PhtCb9wxTPcW8yiy0rxhr47G7QaHCFa4TZRJ3J2wp2QcJTQQfiXmiu7t8Hw-Iw0tXXIboMuEUdSzLkjNZax0l0uzR5_1Su70EAsmTvT_K6sXoFs2Ia-4-m3Isymf3UvHKecTNxB25/s5472/6283%20work%20in%20progress,%20patriotic%20quilt%20for%20Steve.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFPdm83qwy7ptz6JQI3ddouez3cKXYsiiLPEYu6ApyEBsDh0PhtCb9wxTPcW8yiy0rxhr47G7QaHCFa4TZRJ3J2wp2QcJTQQfiXmiu7t8Hw-Iw0tXXIboMuEUdSzLkjNZax0l0uzR5_1Su70EAsmTvT_K6sXoFs2Ia-4-m3Isymf3UvHKecTNxB25/w640-h426/6283%20work%20in%20progress,%20patriotic%20quilt%20for%20Steve.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Apparently Stitch the cat even put in a few stitches - ha ha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMAip55-pmiAUC1Z_Ztql-PJKdry7SXUNjfOsapS_-Vghq2rwUYPFSGTGtrkBqYNu0PPlgD4h0y-7-WTxLVw5GQUWWdc7__m8-FCzBJo1IJGmgTjkfa-AWOBjbZPNYtwvUYyBWzdDRune818g-Fl0Yv6iLpSkbl8tAU6VySL1Myavki7zpc3PtjMJ/s5472/0800%20Stitch%20cat%20with%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMAip55-pmiAUC1Z_Ztql-PJKdry7SXUNjfOsapS_-Vghq2rwUYPFSGTGtrkBqYNu0PPlgD4h0y-7-WTxLVw5GQUWWdc7__m8-FCzBJo1IJGmgTjkfa-AWOBjbZPNYtwvUYyBWzdDRune818g-Fl0Yv6iLpSkbl8tAU6VySL1Myavki7zpc3PtjMJ/w640-h426/0800%20Stitch%20cat%20with%20quilt.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-eOhUZSrsWYNo-wwJhl9Hv2aXd05_DM_tSPQjiL343ilAZn6HFE-GcowntPENNEnw1HX32fBP8qlSr7GWAwrTu_qcptpay06QpdrRmRJYit8b9WHvXnlfmMrN0MhTtRlLMt9mYfHXyRve8_MBX4w3psPQ0HY1zFWucedYeWoJLBP3dzygL7YZGa4/s5264/8556%20Steve's%20patriotic%20blue%20and%20red%20quilt%20in%20progress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3448" data-original-width="5264" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-eOhUZSrsWYNo-wwJhl9Hv2aXd05_DM_tSPQjiL343ilAZn6HFE-GcowntPENNEnw1HX32fBP8qlSr7GWAwrTu_qcptpay06QpdrRmRJYit8b9WHvXnlfmMrN0MhTtRlLMt9mYfHXyRve8_MBX4w3psPQ0HY1zFWucedYeWoJLBP3dzygL7YZGa4/w640-h420/8556%20Steve's%20patriotic%20blue%20and%20red%20quilt%20in%20progress.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Just when I thought I was rounding the last lap, I would decide it needed a little more stitching in <i>these</i> blocks, and a bit more per inch in <i>those</i> blocks. Oh and at some point I offered to embroider everyone's names in the centers of the "stones" (momentary lapse of reason on my part, I don't even embroider!). My dad suggested names of God, instead, so... I was committed to that, too, and put it off until the end because like I just said, I don't embroider. And then I lost his list and had to track that down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAWKcvh-YBtonR8mreCNzoRIG_iEsL3V5Zl23iYI_TvPFApBqKJSbYu6yOMiPoIQQckI0eziyHk2jszaXeHJGBm4Cl54mPig_PIE0xZcXwoK6pXsjESJ33jMj4-NFgZ0EyZudFquIQKRoHTMzvz3pbtKMMOTE7Y-kwdxruys_r6q8XqLMkWlfE507/s5472/8879%20quilting%20stitch%20detail,%20bad%20focus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAWKcvh-YBtonR8mreCNzoRIG_iEsL3V5Zl23iYI_TvPFApBqKJSbYu6yOMiPoIQQckI0eziyHk2jszaXeHJGBm4Cl54mPig_PIE0xZcXwoK6pXsjESJ33jMj4-NFgZ0EyZudFquIQKRoHTMzvz3pbtKMMOTE7Y-kwdxruys_r6q8XqLMkWlfE507/w640-h426/8879%20quilting%20stitch%20detail,%20bad%20focus.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtrfG6CoL3C297spwSpxnUTt6z5kTWxyjmjRPbL3nN79PCEOVfGPt0zLdmma2-p7YG7PKH8zkgvty3oa--4aJjUBWxtmYqFpsCaLEKWi5TsHV6lRT3aQ2uSIrDHLqu1irEhw97PGthHmEtcwuFC7jL9MfwCtQewXo8niNbo-XQpH7297Ys_8eeKTK/s5392/6498%20Steve's%20red%20blue%20brown%20patriotic%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3568" data-original-width="5392" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtrfG6CoL3C297spwSpxnUTt6z5kTWxyjmjRPbL3nN79PCEOVfGPt0zLdmma2-p7YG7PKH8zkgvty3oa--4aJjUBWxtmYqFpsCaLEKWi5TsHV6lRT3aQ2uSIrDHLqu1irEhw97PGthHmEtcwuFC7jL9MfwCtQewXo8niNbo-XQpH7297Ys_8eeKTK/w640-h424/6498%20Steve's%20red%20blue%20brown%20patriotic%20quilt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYYsUPvYH7AjMFMiK8XPn7llafDSRoxAPRMu2PEp5LVKUitai5PcCXT41Ce9aHWRulL_455k4f7_xpwAFwwV8EafbFLiLRhf_J2GBYxBk7ImiqFJadGcVz6A9sWWXDOr4iRmhNkU1R5cj3n2zrS621ZzfvHdWsa7B0N06dLiurdS2Q7KwCTxu31zz/s3660/6493%20bias%20binding%20square.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3660" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYYsUPvYH7AjMFMiK8XPn7llafDSRoxAPRMu2PEp5LVKUitai5PcCXT41Ce9aHWRulL_455k4f7_xpwAFwwV8EafbFLiLRhf_J2GBYxBk7ImiqFJadGcVz6A9sWWXDOr4iRmhNkU1R5cj3n2zrS621ZzfvHdWsa7B0N06dLiurdS2Q7KwCTxu31zz/w638-h640/6493%20bias%20binding%20square.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujLZFSI-dU20YsLUtuTkTYQNYh29fIiml_4iWXoMnO1vOx3diFF3vXLz53hbUjoXdoWHgxuDwfcnMPgaDfuUM9u0Un-1bC_NgaPGXPRyn56OTwYgTZuPupdeg0g1GPIFX8rLjzY-9b0Wk2GXabA5n9JjqcSnu934o6xxtB8y2LsUCT4jBOxPe7b6s/s5472/8874%20need%20a%20few%20more%20stitches%20at%20the%20top%20of%20the%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujLZFSI-dU20YsLUtuTkTYQNYh29fIiml_4iWXoMnO1vOx3diFF3vXLz53hbUjoXdoWHgxuDwfcnMPgaDfuUM9u0Un-1bC_NgaPGXPRyn56OTwYgTZuPupdeg0g1GPIFX8rLjzY-9b0Wk2GXabA5n9JjqcSnu934o6xxtB8y2LsUCT4jBOxPe7b6s/w640-h426/8874%20need%20a%20few%20more%20stitches%20at%20the%20top%20of%20the%20quilt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MjbfgI7uu7pVnTe7YDY9474YEgdBGlzWH_A2swd7AVphAIis_ZjbkTdzsR08_jUa1hP4wVgPpxHefVmMLysUzvEAUSwyROi4Ny9ybpq2GOvkqAeaAQmntnDh6_ASfC1uoiYbLGyxe-L83JFe4DD-_GvVh90u8OUQM3LVozOahQCI_BxloN2ies-_/s3588/8868%20Steve's%20red,%20blue,%20brown%20patriotic%20quilt,%20stars%20and%20stones,%20fourteen%20years%20in%20the%20making%20square.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3588" data-original-width="3528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MjbfgI7uu7pVnTe7YDY9474YEgdBGlzWH_A2swd7AVphAIis_ZjbkTdzsR08_jUa1hP4wVgPpxHefVmMLysUzvEAUSwyROi4Ny9ybpq2GOvkqAeaAQmntnDh6_ASfC1uoiYbLGyxe-L83JFe4DD-_GvVh90u8OUQM3LVozOahQCI_BxloN2ies-_/s16000/8868%20Steve's%20red,%20blue,%20brown%20patriotic%20quilt,%20stars%20and%20stones,%20fourteen%20years%20in%20the%20making%20square.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The backing looks to me like dirty mattress ticking, but I don't mind it; it was THE only fabric I found that fit the colors and style. I used it also for the binding. I forgot to make a separate label, and by the time I was done with all the embroidering, I was over it, and kept the labeling simple. I washed it in the machine, yes I did. I want it to be able to be used, and I feel that if I give a quilt with a washed look, then owner will never feel like they ruined it if they wash it and it looks like it did when they received it. Some of the reds did bleed, but luckily only on the back and I showed my mom so that she wouldn't worry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkg0qWeWjwxHZTRP8rL472Arglt9mdqwSelerU-nMiuhI0inI5pw_DzjDzwlhATl5v9-RmadF0MNImRI40UEeYSud5BjLD9nW3O9dZWaYm8OI_X2_BKL8kx7HzmcYBTTcrxTpEIqjhLbo6KVBIq6HLzCMeKwzqOqazMMqN-_QqYoVAXVpGUqmhW__/s5472/8984%20label%20on%20Steve's%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkg0qWeWjwxHZTRP8rL472Arglt9mdqwSelerU-nMiuhI0inI5pw_DzjDzwlhATl5v9-RmadF0MNImRI40UEeYSud5BjLD9nW3O9dZWaYm8OI_X2_BKL8kx7HzmcYBTTcrxTpEIqjhLbo6KVBIq6HLzCMeKwzqOqazMMqN-_QqYoVAXVpGUqmhW__/w640-h426/8984%20label%20on%20Steve's%20quilt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">October 2022: finished!! There are 81 8-inch blocks, the quilt is 72" square. Every stitch - pieced block, quilting, embroidery, baste, bias, all of it by hand. All of the quilting and embroidery was done free-hand. I never did nail down a good method for marking on the quilt. Mostly, I enjoyed the hand stitching, but it does take a looooong time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you for following along, it has been a joyful journey and I was finally able to give it to my dad last month. Hopefully my next quilt finish won't take another fourteen years! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">What's your longest work-in-progress? </div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-3474124778405328862022-11-01T10:04:00.004-06:002022-11-01T10:24:43.870-06:00November knitting<p style="text-align: justify;">Another blogger used to have a monthly "what are you reading, what are you knitting?" post, but she's moved on to raising new babies. I'm posting mine today for posterity. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIIWN4fhe15ij90hAbp8yLob69zFlhsI4Z-_HA4ZBxy-Fnb2x8_RHjOL5nftKQLdSq2zZt1OqBO0iwPWNZ0LfQvLJVGc2DEwn7wO0sMrbDEy0ovIcwhozT_tqyBufMbqUbEwa1OGW78x_z3fOwfHGWvKES3PjDpDy70XU3WKs2oOnSSeOFnUzJjNd/s4080/6822%20little%20stranded%20Christmas%20Advent%20mittens,%20knitting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3480" data-original-width="4080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIIWN4fhe15ij90hAbp8yLob69zFlhsI4Z-_HA4ZBxy-Fnb2x8_RHjOL5nftKQLdSq2zZt1OqBO0iwPWNZ0LfQvLJVGc2DEwn7wO0sMrbDEy0ovIcwhozT_tqyBufMbqUbEwa1OGW78x_z3fOwfHGWvKES3PjDpDy70XU3WKs2oOnSSeOFnUzJjNd/s16000/6822%20little%20stranded%20Christmas%20Advent%20mittens,%20knitting.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Before my local yarn shop closed its doors, I bought a bunch of yarn with the intention of making an "advent calendar" of mittens. I thought I'd make one a week, no problem. As it turns out, I've gotten more like two a year finished! One of the reasons I didn't race to the end is because I liked some of the stitch designs more than others. I knew I would be able to come up with some alternative stitches, but I need to set aside time to modify the charts. Luckily, I left off the number on the first one, so I've stitched the ones I like, regardless of their order.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pattern: </b> <a href="https://www.justcraftyenough.com/2015/12/mitten-garland-advent-calendar-pattern-index/">Mitten Garland Advent Calendar</a><br /><b>Yarn: </b> Elsbeth Lavold's Silky Wool in <i>114 Maraschino</i>, <i>086 Dark Oak</i>, <i>002 White Sand</i>, and a bit of <i>083 Sapling Green</i><br /><b>Needles: </b> US1/2.25mm, 40" (I prefer the Magic Loop method for knitting in the round)</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Modifications: </b> Other than the obvious changes to colors and making new charts, I have primarily done a two-color long tail CO, and I continued the patterns on either side through where the number would have been. Also, on the one with leaves (chart 5, top right in the above picture), I embroidered them instead of knitting the chart, in order to make them look more like little pine boughs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfHH17R4dTKSCR6rCeuBYlk6z-Q4R7KESHlkZ-jafqFoo_p-ekZvJM0SoEvInZBOX1SupG6WsrwVjbTbmKYYht2WbWlWG66csjgRNhWeVcReXcXKkJzoH2s710SDCq4KaPehla5AYyp891hhGajIaVqDf2iz-TzdFw7rSosq2UOKdm-CIWs3TDvf-/s5064/6811%20knitted%20Advent%20mittens,%20Christmas%20red%20brown%20beige.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5064" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfHH17R4dTKSCR6rCeuBYlk6z-Q4R7KESHlkZ-jafqFoo_p-ekZvJM0SoEvInZBOX1SupG6WsrwVjbTbmKYYht2WbWlWG66csjgRNhWeVcReXcXKkJzoH2s710SDCq4KaPehla5AYyp891hhGajIaVqDf2iz-TzdFw7rSosq2UOKdm-CIWs3TDvf-/w461-h640/6811%20knitted%20Advent%20mittens,%20Christmas%20red%20brown%20beige.jpg" width="461" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It would have been nice to finish these before my kids had outgrown the concept, but I think they will make a lovely garland, nonetheless. I am also working on a cabled sweater, more on that next time! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br />As for reading, I am about halfway through a Richard Jury mystery, The Stargazey, by Martha Grimes. I've started a dozen other books this year and just can't settle into them, so I finally opted for one of my top mystery authors once more. <br /><br />Are you reading or knitting anything good? Are you finding time for creative endeavors?</p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-37210676368824996662022-08-16T20:22:00.000-06:002022-08-16T20:22:00.198-06:00thinking about knitting
<p style="text-align: justify;">I've been looking through some of my old knitting pictures, posts, magazines. Directly and indirectly, many things have changed in my home and heart over the past few years that have affected my knitting. It's that time of year that I used to love so much - back to school for my kids, and back to teaching knitting for me! Most of that is gone, and I'm thinking about how I can connect with the spirit of that but in new ways. I'm looking to knit a sweater in/by September, and time to meet up with stitching friends. Perhaps a sweater for a son or two. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday, I cast on for a Kildalton sweater by Kate Davies, <a href="https://kddandco.com/2022/06/04/kildalton-restyled/">the restyled version</a>. I wanted to keep it simple and not overthink it, but I'm already splitting it in pieces and thinking maybe I'd rather have a pullover. Easy changes, but then that will affect the collar. I'm starting with the back, though, so I can think about it awhile longer. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2020/12/christmas-knitting-slippers-in-2020.html">In 2020, I knitted slippers for my family.</a> I see I never posted a picture of the slippers I made for myself. I don't know if I even took one, which is a shame because I think they're so cute! Well I took one today. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgwUPzxws3PhUD2VIkXVzuvMNjkkDhg5aDbcA8gJGbkoG4GgaUkIPeafQkbNyWbtzLEJcGwx5duw3h2IL74lgtmT8qJWA9nZjZoi9CJzy1KIimlKorbwl_bmwVsMHPBcUZxq6OCQZIpZ_qO13OylwZ3M1yZsyR1ikc26aptvQz1wS4J0A44fBy5t6/s5472/5703%20Karen's%20slippers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgwUPzxws3PhUD2VIkXVzuvMNjkkDhg5aDbcA8gJGbkoG4GgaUkIPeafQkbNyWbtzLEJcGwx5duw3h2IL74lgtmT8qJWA9nZjZoi9CJzy1KIimlKorbwl_bmwVsMHPBcUZxq6OCQZIpZ_qO13OylwZ3M1yZsyR1ikc26aptvQz1wS4J0A44fBy5t6/w426-h640/5703%20Karen's%20slippers.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'd love to make something for everyone in my family again, but what to make 18-ish people of varying sizes and taste? Maybe hats or mittens. Maybe next year. Maybe this year, the advent calendar I've been drawing out for seven years?! For now, continuing with the sweater. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'd love to hear what you're making! </div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-58066134343738095142022-03-20T15:13:00.002-06:002022-03-20T15:13:55.554-06:00garden plans, spring 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvlESFQfMoo91xJwhFARVLUZAgWIsPTVCJczwBTogDP0VxVDAaABO7gE-TfXtcdPpLeDfelqBsJDXW3EndtvVDKHige3keWhDTgJ17LFvsL9RdBjy3GvFuNIN8F_5lIkCU0e8cqfSqjpisDRUPxwCVmtZchbkpcK-JgLyuMZ9VcczP63FXhF9ETbr_=s5472" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvlESFQfMoo91xJwhFARVLUZAgWIsPTVCJczwBTogDP0VxVDAaABO7gE-TfXtcdPpLeDfelqBsJDXW3EndtvVDKHige3keWhDTgJ17LFvsL9RdBjy3GvFuNIN8F_5lIkCU0e8cqfSqjpisDRUPxwCVmtZchbkpcK-JgLyuMZ9VcczP63FXhF9ETbr_=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCSSpwnsLgy8Pc9jQVh83Rycz4PoWI7xP_t4duqpzosxlcPz4t6Jiyvs8Wypeh-9uuBFCGkmKuFtkcOYXsPk538OrIyXE0hACFZGf9e7Op2cl1GPc0sqRmfsAfPXzLzCA30sQXywZmyNfoHvzK_PiA0Zz6QrD5GBq14xHXeMZt755fu_gZwhVd5QHm=s5472" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCSSpwnsLgy8Pc9jQVh83Rycz4PoWI7xP_t4duqpzosxlcPz4t6Jiyvs8Wypeh-9uuBFCGkmKuFtkcOYXsPk538OrIyXE0hACFZGf9e7Op2cl1GPc0sqRmfsAfPXzLzCA30sQXywZmyNfoHvzK_PiA0Zz6QrD5GBq14xHXeMZt755fu_gZwhVd5QHm=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="text-align: justify;">(a little diary of gardening for myself, and maybe you!)</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Last year, we started seeds on March 18th. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This year, we started seeds on February 27th for two primary reasons. First, I realized last year that some seed packets recommended 8 to 10 weeks (or even 12 to 24 weeks) and we were a little past that. Secondly, we had a pretty mild late spring, and could easily have gotten a few more weeks of growing on the front end for tomatoes and things, if I started things inside sooner. We are three weeks ahead of last year and I think it's going to work out pretty well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLTL-7X8i87gmR2EkVeqkm00QYvsPLItiZMXdftpSphmFZejRRc8wLiITAiX1TPaF-2kkZDU0lleyVjCqlIyNgUa6FrE9CnOGyt9e1FN3an7p8FY8YC0dm8f6DHppeJeApWY6bn-ShKWVMrd1PSS6i5VRxuWbuE_rupWwzJr_gXUEbXXOxRPGNqujs=s3622" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3622" data-original-width="3167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLTL-7X8i87gmR2EkVeqkm00QYvsPLItiZMXdftpSphmFZejRRc8wLiITAiX1TPaF-2kkZDU0lleyVjCqlIyNgUa6FrE9CnOGyt9e1FN3an7p8FY8YC0dm8f6DHppeJeApWY6bn-ShKWVMrd1PSS6i5VRxuWbuE_rupWwzJr_gXUEbXXOxRPGNqujs=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, when I went to get all my old seeds and seed starting supplies, I discovered that every single packet had been nibbled on! Most of the seeds were gone, those that were left were in jumble at the bottom of the box. We suspect mice in the shed. There were a couple of plastic baggies of seeds I had saved, and there were one or two packets with internal foil packets that had not been completely demolished. Otherwise, everything I had from the past ten years was completely gone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fortunately, the seeds I ordered last year, and what I've added over the last few months, were inside and unharmed!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Last year, we let our beds rest, mostly (the dill really seized on this opportunity) and we planted everything in pots. I'm really looking forward to digging into the beds again this year! </p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Things that went really well last year include:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-starting a bunch of seeds in one cell, via <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siqd7DVojso">Jess at Roots and Refuge</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">-repotting seeds about four weeks to allow for growth and new soil/nutrients (also via Jess)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-basil, tomatoes, lettuce and pepper starts</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-transplanting tomatoes deep (in soil) outside (also via Jess at R&R)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-it was nice to have very little to worry about, especially when we were out of town for a week</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUFSLbZNpkSC6iJ7CIjvkFEmifs8lr2LYtkF6PDXVrVt-GvGgjlWsz5EG79P9OQOT4qP4fW_eyPKK3LzN53jbmVWMd8nuwuOl_zpO8XsCpkADONAOmLO4aGWdQfX3Oc9p0xsFVivvx5n7fQOIHhnk7s6pZ4vRGCy-qoTInEd4A3MU5GA94rJp2SHYu=s5472" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUFSLbZNpkSC6iJ7CIjvkFEmifs8lr2LYtkF6PDXVrVt-GvGgjlWsz5EG79P9OQOT4qP4fW_eyPKK3LzN53jbmVWMd8nuwuOl_zpO8XsCpkADONAOmLO4aGWdQfX3Oc9p0xsFVivvx5n7fQOIHhnk7s6pZ4vRGCy-qoTInEd4A3MU5GA94rJp2SHYu=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Problems last year: </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-squirrels getting into everything</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-blossom end rot on tomatoes, especially the San Marzanos</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-zucchini didn't grow well in pots after the first month or so</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-none of the jack-be-little pumpkins turned orange - not even after picking!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-apparently everyone else that took some of my tomato plants ended up with lots of fruit, so... what did I do different? </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-I missed having peas</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Neutral or unknown affect</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-planting tomatoes with eggs (via Jess)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-taking down the garden fence - it did not keep out the squirrels, it was mainly for an older dog, and little boys with soccer balls; maybe it deterred the squirrels a bit? </div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">March 19th:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CUCUMBERS</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seeds started on Feb. 27th. Two varieties - Chicago Pickling and Early Fortune; I also threw in a few old seeds I found, but they did not germinate at all. The cucumbers were up and sprouted in 2 or 3 days! They should start well in the garden; I started a few inside because I usually grow plant starts, and I will see which does better. I am planning to grow them on trellises. There was 100% germination of the new seeds! Roots were very quickly reaching out from the bottom, so I knew they needed to be repotted quickly. When I repotted the cucumber starts at 2 weeks (Mar. 12th), I threw out the soil for the old seeds. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If I had it to do over again, I would start these at the end of April, as they are taking up a lot of space and probably will be a bit in the way for the tomatoes. Although, I am hoping to have plenty to make pickles! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBODfa1DmAMsuNkQytEm4cUakPjTs0u-ox50FhBkpnwG8BLPNK-viYPomh39j3iCZcWSaxJWzPD4fdPTKgemgiQPaZv4RBlTK3STriNmEhZJS50KnIc0MWotkgVWXmB5-YtXqGWhn609C3DwFgRdAVTH5mocUaopctJyFctlgBpGjbCi-ZeoPa5wM5=s5472" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBODfa1DmAMsuNkQytEm4cUakPjTs0u-ox50FhBkpnwG8BLPNK-viYPomh39j3iCZcWSaxJWzPD4fdPTKgemgiQPaZv4RBlTK3STriNmEhZJS50KnIc0MWotkgVWXmB5-YtXqGWhn609C3DwFgRdAVTH5mocUaopctJyFctlgBpGjbCi-ZeoPa5wM5=s16000" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">BASIL<br />The basil germinated very well, and I think I will start some more in May, when everything else is moved outside. I find that I let my basil get long and woody too soon, so progressive planting may work really well. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">TOMATOES</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seeds started on Feb. 27th. Varieties started: Black Strawberry (cherry), Brandywine and Beefsteak (classic large), Martino's and San Marzano (sauce/roma). I also found five seeds left in the bottom of an envelope that said Honeybunch - a cherry hybrid that I have previously loved, and saved! The first seedling was up after four days, a few more at five, and many by two weeks. I'm not sure how many seeds were started so not sure of specific germination. The Honeybunch all germinated! After two weeks, the roots are just starting to peek out from the bottom. Whenever I next have time for repotting, I will do that, but it's going to be a tight squeeze under the grow lights. </div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">PEPPERS<br />Seeds started on Feb. 27th. The peppers were the last to show. I have started two sweet varieties - Txorixero and Criolla, and one hot - Cayenne Slim. I am thinking about drying the cayenne to grind up. We'll see in the fall. Last year, I grew Leysa, and they were beautiful. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PUMPKINS</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because of the seed massacre in my shed, my only pumpkins on hand were the seeds extracted from a jack-o-lantern purchase from a local market in October. As I was paying for my goods, the lady checking me out commented on the pumpkin, "I hear they have great seeds! At least, that's what I heard about last year's crop." I decided to save a handful, and glad I did. Those also germinated 100%. I need to clear a spot for them to spread out in the garden. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">LAVENDER<br />I put two different varieties in the fridge in jars of water overnight, for stratification. I recalled that worked well a year or two ago. This year, it appears I have one of each coming up. I'm not sure what went wrong, probably should have reinvestigated stratification before I started. However, since they are perennial, they are always worth starting more. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We also planted a line of snap peas, Carouby de Maussane, in the garden. I don't expect to see them up before the end of April. However, I'm pleased to see my bulbs - ornamental alliums, tulips, etc. peeking up in the yard, and my columbines and penstemon are fighting the snows-sun-snow pattern to greet the season! <br /><br />What are you planting this year? </p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-32139222621511620232022-01-29T21:33:00.003-07:002022-01-29T21:33:30.680-07:00Happy New Year! 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_zfIwYh5DdiaVSTTw9kcaH9J4-qe5y3Xv-iqm5HE3gN62CpHfmEIfQjI4O8Iu0hNrE3jJ0Xx9jMtAq3s7j-lPj8Hmcc5uX8APvrjwgy_aIv6C8LHyeSkbAzBov1Prc4WTYnfTJaBcnJwA-onieGgJ9jcyQGFPOJlQoThQ8BQdVSLjOU8bucBPFWXg=s4664" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3547" data-original-width="4664" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_zfIwYh5DdiaVSTTw9kcaH9J4-qe5y3Xv-iqm5HE3gN62CpHfmEIfQjI4O8Iu0hNrE3jJ0Xx9jMtAq3s7j-lPj8Hmcc5uX8APvrjwgy_aIv6C8LHyeSkbAzBov1Prc4WTYnfTJaBcnJwA-onieGgJ9jcyQGFPOJlQoThQ8BQdVSLjOU8bucBPFWXg=s16000" /></a></div><br />Some of the things my people* were <a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-month-of-thankfulness.html">thankful for</a> in November: <br />water<br />caffeine<br />birds of prey<br />prayer<br />the Bible<br />grapes<br />family<br />snow on rooftops<br />roast<br />love<br />Elon Musk<br />art<br />my Fender PJ<br />pink & orange sunsets<br />yarn<br />piles of leaves<br />going to the mountains<br />hot cocoa<br />friends<br />key lime pie<br />great friends<br />my job<br />family and friends<br />football<br />seared green beans<br />books<br />imaginary numbers<br />sleep<br />first cup of coffee<br />clean sheets<br />X-Files<br />stew<br />good vegetables<br />1 month of school left <br />cold gray day<br />people to talk to<br />autumn sunlight on leaves<br />humpty dumpty<br />animal crossing<br />Christmas lights<br />plaid<br />holy days<br />Christmas<p></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">*My people include several different dinner guests and friends who regularly hang out. I take no responsibility for items on the list, but I was glad to see that 'friends' and 'family' regularly made it to the list. </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">We had a nice, long chain this year, and more cards than the last few years to hang upon it! </div><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-19409274852693932252021-12-18T23:04:00.005-07:002021-12-18T23:04:40.496-07:00holiday things<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgreDIXeknmQ-E6dYIca30BQmfy-0Etvv3FibymqBJrqZYDJhiAzvtQTPuI3kBojVhMTOGC1N7PYeC60KNooNJEMlpn6jWaEy2VkDTNZx5qSyu9LK8iBUM6jJUZt-M4YZkiOBp7iQSc0LNduOFxcD4fDFOHqHGmFA9DKNGy_XsPNi2oBL576MGVO2ku=s5472" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgreDIXeknmQ-E6dYIca30BQmfy-0Etvv3FibymqBJrqZYDJhiAzvtQTPuI3kBojVhMTOGC1N7PYeC60KNooNJEMlpn6jWaEy2VkDTNZx5qSyu9LK8iBUM6jJUZt-M4YZkiOBp7iQSc0LNduOFxcD4fDFOHqHGmFA9DKNGy_XsPNi2oBL576MGVO2ku=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMCGbX3dpcOgyQIP95VDh13V9W2YO20bO5XBOK4xro12GfRplCPA6betXItng0xqMFQOGpo7totSXYmW61bWROIR-yzPRegcn3wm-mI3W-M5tJePUJA_LPsdbbEi-5CeXNxW8R0yD9LnSTfU91X3mClMNxoAh7WQt9TgNo7vlPw8TyIzGiG9TFbgTQ=s5472" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMCGbX3dpcOgyQIP95VDh13V9W2YO20bO5XBOK4xro12GfRplCPA6betXItng0xqMFQOGpo7totSXYmW61bWROIR-yzPRegcn3wm-mI3W-M5tJePUJA_LPsdbbEi-5CeXNxW8R0yD9LnSTfU91X3mClMNxoAh7WQt9TgNo7vlPw8TyIzGiG9TFbgTQ=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO3WVsBEPQtOQAq2pxe65a-JFopmgxtGwI6tHFFITLPbtxnOMALPm-TvQcVgoGjLTzkss1LO5ba91C1nEkSf-RBvBdQdw8i0zOr7WqYR9grCVax32HTFF89UfbeghtyI2zThAgioLua6TY9wYrnue4w2Hv23936cG7lNOJyyxao9tt63Y7XEHq8KhJ=s5472" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO3WVsBEPQtOQAq2pxe65a-JFopmgxtGwI6tHFFITLPbtxnOMALPm-TvQcVgoGjLTzkss1LO5ba91C1nEkSf-RBvBdQdw8i0zOr7WqYR9grCVax32HTFF89UfbeghtyI2zThAgioLua6TY9wYrnue4w2Hv23936cG7lNOJyyxao9tt63Y7XEHq8KhJ=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOlpVfQmYfQ9J-zyfryIkp8IcPrJvJS7L5vHS9qeSc_xnko_Te6lUtYHQ-TRMNIF1t1BM62N6pkqMnTJBoEjn5-ghg_-65UuhMCVXxcQPB-py9h9tJafE1tP1pET7gazZvZktWcimkyn5InF5mygfdAl3vI8RrIMLJfw_iGl6AQ6_CogoVp6LftiBP=s5160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5160" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOlpVfQmYfQ9J-zyfryIkp8IcPrJvJS7L5vHS9qeSc_xnko_Te6lUtYHQ-TRMNIF1t1BM62N6pkqMnTJBoEjn5-ghg_-65UuhMCVXxcQPB-py9h9tJafE1tP1pET7gazZvZktWcimkyn5InF5mygfdAl3vI8RrIMLJfw_iGl6AQ6_CogoVp6LftiBP=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making time to make the things that say 'holiday' - pizzelles, homemade marshmallows, dried orange slices, gingerbread men, and enjoying time with all my guys. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tonight, fifteen of us went caroling, which was a foreign concept to some in our group of carolers, and to all the houses we went caroling to, but it was so much fun. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know my people think I'm old-fashioned but now and then I see they realize why people used to do these things, because real things are worth doing. Saying 'Merry Christmas!' to friends who are recovering from surgery, or moved to assisted living, or are going through a difficult relationship spot, or financial hardship - so many challenges in life... it's so nice to celebrate the good moments together! <br /><br />I hope you are having a season of wonder and peace, love and joy! </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-10426935785338715842021-11-18T11:13:00.001-07:002021-11-18T11:13:00.201-07:00knitting: projects that last - mittens and hats<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRLrOiMbg05giwyC8xP7yqUBN4HNrMdJyBHi7t1DlKCjL59fyQRDopZYCbcRyT88_caUIANQ_d-UcOLvrLG1EN__VQiEBAo4c8kTUFX734XE3GtNNGq6H-mVWX1gZrdHOQ8jK_qJI2EA/s2048/5119+red+yarn+and+fall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRLrOiMbg05giwyC8xP7yqUBN4HNrMdJyBHi7t1DlKCjL59fyQRDopZYCbcRyT88_caUIANQ_d-UcOLvrLG1EN__VQiEBAo4c8kTUFX734XE3GtNNGq6H-mVWX1gZrdHOQ8jK_qJI2EA/s16000/5119+red+yarn+and+fall.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlMXkex3FSS-G-yW88HBCjobycbZK4G65RSDVIYvJixxHSFb-NqSGTWUujrRvUvx1LWGRgFKuhJJMCNb0o28Ks9e5RfIrhySqwj3-p5tC_qQo0dlpymrKRELv-R1MSvcO8Y3iZcpUguQ/s2048/2261+qms+2014+Pine+Bough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlMXkex3FSS-G-yW88HBCjobycbZK4G65RSDVIYvJixxHSFb-NqSGTWUujrRvUvx1LWGRgFKuhJJMCNb0o28Ks9e5RfIrhySqwj3-p5tC_qQo0dlpymrKRELv-R1MSvcO8Y3iZcpUguQ/s16000/2261+qms+2014+Pine+Bough.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">There's only so much time for knitting and limited space for yarn stash. Instead of buying so<i> much</i> yarn, I'd rather buy better yarn: yarn I love to work with and is long wearing. Here are some pieces that I've knitted and loved and loved, even repaired to keep wearing! In other words, pieces that were worth the time and money. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">All the patterns in this post are my own. I will chalk it up to the fact that I have knitted sooo many hats and mittens, that I have honed my patterns to what I really like! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTucWaeFHa6oTLvPPAXIGvrMfskV9BdzoOK2EOg5z7PYqtn3ESCTcAOZ-RUoiJs44EI4Dq1FsJu6WlLAbV35kaNTdKeAE6XoUsKcAbJ1kRAzUbg22mUAfMqp960Vc626vuulcrAkPP-WA/s2048/IMG_0112.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTucWaeFHa6oTLvPPAXIGvrMfskV9BdzoOK2EOg5z7PYqtn3ESCTcAOZ-RUoiJs44EI4Dq1FsJu6WlLAbV35kaNTdKeAE6XoUsKcAbJ1kRAzUbg22mUAfMqp960Vc626vuulcrAkPP-WA/s16000/IMG_0112.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fYd2_u0xSgv4A-LElh0EH4Ksxkp2EyFlafFGGSPGaluj8gzOtmykH8s3ubU8yTjQnDL-0Ksp2LxD_k4iAsIMlGZ8bvRqYOWjdTbd91UYH-QSu1rRKUyPWUqLePq3j45B_ltKILinJS4/s2048/3844+hole+in+mitten+thumb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fYd2_u0xSgv4A-LElh0EH4Ksxkp2EyFlafFGGSPGaluj8gzOtmykH8s3ubU8yTjQnDL-0Ksp2LxD_k4iAsIMlGZ8bvRqYOWjdTbd91UYH-QSu1rRKUyPWUqLePq3j45B_ltKILinJS4/s16000/3844+hole+in+mitten+thumb.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/now-with-thicker-frosting-knitting-pattern-by-karen-juliano">Now With Thicker Frosting!</a> mittens</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I have several pairs of mittens and fingerless gloves that I've knitted over the years, some I have designed, some experiments. The ones I use every time I go out, though, are these. I love this yarn, and I love that they are light. Since they are stranded they are a bit warmer than just one layer would be. Originally knit in 2013, I have worn a hole in the left thumb where I slide it down my camera strap, so I repaired them earlier this year. While I was at it, they got a </span><a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2019/11/blocking-basics-for-knitters.html" style="text-align: justify;">soak and block</a><span style="text-align: justify;">, and a depilling. Considering I wear them often, they don't pill much in my opinion, but they are very soft wool so some is to be expected. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I like these mittens so much I'm designing another pair of stranded colorwork mittens with Windy Valley's merino!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_wnG2numbhys0K-CGpaOzm5yRgzUqr8MxBWOxXd7rdrI26wwMbwM8YcOTsBchNQ_8UbNbf8Jgn-wF4CgeQsCElabMho0CLn6r_rSbR8nskjNPTR8TGqqDOmm2Xhyphenhyphenm0ezTOhNXBcTjmM/s2048/4493+Aisling+hat+green+WV+yarn+qiviut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_wnG2numbhys0K-CGpaOzm5yRgzUqr8MxBWOxXd7rdrI26wwMbwM8YcOTsBchNQ_8UbNbf8Jgn-wF4CgeQsCElabMho0CLn6r_rSbR8nskjNPTR8TGqqDOmm2Xhyphenhyphenm0ezTOhNXBcTjmM/s16000/4493+Aisling+hat+green+WV+yarn+qiviut.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">I have about 15 knitted hats - lace, cables, plaid, intarsia, lots of hats! The two that I wear most often are my Aisling (pronounced 'Ashleen') hat and my Three-Grain hat. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://windyvalleymuskox.net/collections/one-skein-patterns/products/aisling-hat-pattern">Aisling</a> hat pattern</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Windy Valley Muskox, Luxury Blend (45 qiviut, 45 wool, 10 silk, light fingering weight) yarn in <i>2014 Pine Bough</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(knit in late summer, 2016)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, I could not find any pictures of me wearing this other than on our <a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2017/12/when-knitters-are-in-forest.html">tree hunt</a> in 2017; a still life work-in-progress will have to do. I have some of me wearing the original sample, which is a lighter green. It's lightweight and lovely. Time to soak and block it this seasons before we get some snow! </div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwshCnH_gQE7MP9Ee_RJ0XWfupj7TDSQ3K8LTUeJ3B2sIoRs-P0gfaijV4BL3DeLueDfVKp6EQpmcKFAroKggE40LLSpLtR7bS7tANY15ZyYRA3RA_ghqzTTgm3yqHcEB68lN0hH9GCE/s2048/4737+Three+Grain+hat+red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwshCnH_gQE7MP9Ee_RJ0XWfupj7TDSQ3K8LTUeJ3B2sIoRs-P0gfaijV4BL3DeLueDfVKp6EQpmcKFAroKggE40LLSpLtR7bS7tANY15ZyYRA3RA_ghqzTTgm3yqHcEB68lN0hH9GCE/s2048/4737+Three+Grain+hat+red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd71ALH_R48S-i-OE_BqI76yVBYmNqTgmPRICPrjs7Ezu8jYWoCBjY5esQ-WX2N6LHe07186ZG8pZuPvX_qyik829kM2KcqCoVCHM0er4CtOIZjPRqAdOVyqVDOStl0SupVsMWvil26T4/s2048/3835+Three-Grain+hat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd71ALH_R48S-i-OE_BqI76yVBYmNqTgmPRICPrjs7Ezu8jYWoCBjY5esQ-WX2N6LHe07186ZG8pZuPvX_qyik829kM2KcqCoVCHM0er4CtOIZjPRqAdOVyqVDOStl0SupVsMWvil26T4/w544-h640/3835+Three-Grain+hat.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwshCnH_gQE7MP9Ee_RJ0XWfupj7TDSQ3K8LTUeJ3B2sIoRs-P0gfaijV4BL3DeLueDfVKp6EQpmcKFAroKggE40LLSpLtR7bS7tANY15ZyYRA3RA_ghqzTTgm3yqHcEB68lN0hH9GCE/w640-h427/4737+Three+Grain+hat+red.jpg" width="640" /></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Three-Grain hat </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Malabrigo, Rios yarn (SW wool, worsted weight) in red<br />(knit in fall, 2015)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wrote this pattern to teach cables when I worked at my local yarn shop. Hats are my go-to project for techniques, gifts and yarn because they don't take much time or yardage. It's a great way to figure out if a student, or I, will enjoy it before committing to a larger project that may otherwise end up sitting unfinished. I knit a shop sample in some light brown, but then knitted one for myself in red, of course! The brown one has a long-tail cast-on, the red has a tubular cast-on. You can find both COs in <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/cast-on-bind-off-54-step-by-step-methods_leslie-ann-bestor/934897/?resultid=dca354db-d156-4fd1-8c0b-5f4c274da28a#edition=7276737&idiq=10424495">this book</a> Cast On, Bind Off, which I always recommended to my classes. <br />This hat is heavier than the Aisling and goes with my coat, so gets more wear when the weather gets cold! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for knitting projects that last, I wrote about one of my favorite <a href="https://karensshortstorylong.blogspot.com/2021/02/knitting-projects-that-last-sweaters-pt.html">sweaters</a> earlier this year. That sweater has just gotten a bath so that I can layer it on... whenever we get to the cool part of the year! <br /><br />What is your favorite project(s) that you've made and used often? What are your favorite gifts to make and give? </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-46725703446770288302021-11-11T16:41:00.003-07:002021-11-11T16:42:54.273-07:00celebrating the end of summer. er, mid fall.<p style="text-align: justify;">(I started this post in September, but here at <strike>the end of October</strike> mid-November, we <i>still </i>have summer plants alive in the garden - hollyhocks hanging on!) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm__kDsC00GyDDqLCnGT0MrVXJmpRvL3vmpB5uxVQ2OJRXoKCYwRK2J_vYqqSahM_co80eGUTbQsVWgFrvvdRQIt2MebI-NQV1bZmzQRt8x1KxrLas_fPQuLhyphenhyphenMOvTrfC_gRVwKkhy8n4/s2048/0826+peonies+in+the+kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm__kDsC00GyDDqLCnGT0MrVXJmpRvL3vmpB5uxVQ2OJRXoKCYwRK2J_vYqqSahM_co80eGUTbQsVWgFrvvdRQIt2MebI-NQV1bZmzQRt8x1KxrLas_fPQuLhyphenhyphenMOvTrfC_gRVwKkhy8n4/s16000/0826+peonies+in+the+kitchen.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WnOLaVqf-3SE7bxe4OIrXe2ZtkSlbotvfz4BIXy-bPPA9sPNsuOk7xeo2IGrDmGk6Jfrzj2OaMC3SrQ9f_fQWgTuq2uOURf8nP1bF2U1pp3da4yQPV7lK54hW6VgQKrs61BaNCF-xYQ/s16000/0732+Badlands%252C+South+Dakota.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Tm3_iA4WFdoaRtAUBQh_3VkcJfVuQjEN3OvvH3-fAVf5lbRcnxxuWJdbA-LG6nPosXXHIkeHuy2CzRubG1wrOO3Ja4zMvfM6IJ1jzzBclypQRU9ZlhCZf9kuXIXWzRHJcYlHLmySDk/s2048/2113+Nico%252C+Lazz+and+Eli%2527s+boat%252C+rafting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Tm3_iA4WFdoaRtAUBQh_3VkcJfVuQjEN3OvvH3-fAVf5lbRcnxxuWJdbA-LG6nPosXXHIkeHuy2CzRubG1wrOO3Ja4zMvfM6IJ1jzzBclypQRU9ZlhCZf9kuXIXWzRHJcYlHLmySDk/s16000/2113+Nico%252C+Lazz+and+Eli%2527s+boat%252C+rafting.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That is to say, it was a beautiful albeit hot summer at our house, and I happily look back on all the blessings of the season. Family and friends visited, we had some lovely peonies, roses and other flowers; we went rafting and fishing and drove to the Northern Woods; saw the World's Biggest Dilly Bar, hockey stick, a beautiful stave church, and a couple of homes that Grandpa lived in when he was a kid. We had a windy, smoky picnic with old friends, and lots of laughs with great-aunts and uncles. We visited The City, and farms, and cemeteries and so much more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're in a new season of life; nothing bad, just different, and a little busier. A lot less knitting, but still knitting. Morning by morning, new mercies I see. <br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-36254695941647717782021-07-27T16:18:00.002-06:002021-07-27T16:18:14.035-06:00garden progress<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdFO9HtVYItLGQS2uhAWmO-nUA7A442_8JJrY5AGB0Twu3f4xest4yA5pQpIWh1KvihQsqbv9DAu5yd2MiH0Iva-e510qj97RKCpjYIt01UKrB-p6TX9BTQzhXLKTssUIPaPyZKOLOns/s2048/0123+early+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdFO9HtVYItLGQS2uhAWmO-nUA7A442_8JJrY5AGB0Twu3f4xest4yA5pQpIWh1KvihQsqbv9DAu5yd2MiH0Iva-e510qj97RKCpjYIt01UKrB-p6TX9BTQzhXLKTssUIPaPyZKOLOns/s16000/0123+early+garden.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_5hPlPFS2akwKe6_wrtiz7GeYf-yv2tm4QSBXKtXJ7_0cOyeW8XLiGNOkX1VKdDa5DCBU0J0Bmw5mGn-9xoDiAxdQi4dPojmxTPUziyqIxkwVGJ50PfDZu7m3yp6LqwT_M8eK9PSoDs/s2048/0955+mid-July+garden+growing%252C+hollyhocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_5hPlPFS2akwKe6_wrtiz7GeYf-yv2tm4QSBXKtXJ7_0cOyeW8XLiGNOkX1VKdDa5DCBU0J0Bmw5mGn-9xoDiAxdQi4dPojmxTPUziyqIxkwVGJ50PfDZu7m3yp6LqwT_M8eK9PSoDs/s16000/0955+mid-July+garden+growing%252C+hollyhocks.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The garden is filling out! Those hollyhocks, we didn't plant them but they're fascinating to watch. </p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-69191264180732089042021-07-05T12:39:00.001-06:002021-07-05T12:40:04.486-06:00end-of-June garden<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S0MRSm5ThtDkzqWqcBIJc3iDU0RMID2HEdPtjGerQ65j4MzweC8YHMvRqju92KEfjQyX32eLouARTkyD4WJ32IpftVqIHpoweqbAf7YIanAUwVZaKF2_aqXGu1TqmEqKsee2tkl7hr0/s2048/7419+garden+end+of+June.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S0MRSm5ThtDkzqWqcBIJc3iDU0RMID2HEdPtjGerQ65j4MzweC8YHMvRqju92KEfjQyX32eLouARTkyD4WJ32IpftVqIHpoweqbAf7YIanAUwVZaKF2_aqXGu1TqmEqKsee2tkl7hr0/s16000/7419+garden+end+of+June.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmq8ktKsNlp0fHTOtPH8vZPGDLjGxwnIUpHvjETQknfQpukZ0ucByPGA5QG-xaK8Fswd7RyGUw-vLNVMyHDzPPC1AjwnW2l0Mc07dEBYiWSqbB3kyI-mTaHJpQJtn9yFXVB0dWIQP8TA/s2048/7427+pink+hollyhock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmq8ktKsNlp0fHTOtPH8vZPGDLjGxwnIUpHvjETQknfQpukZ0ucByPGA5QG-xaK8Fswd7RyGUw-vLNVMyHDzPPC1AjwnW2l0Mc07dEBYiWSqbB3kyI-mTaHJpQJtn9yFXVB0dWIQP8TA/s16000/7427+pink+hollyhock.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjvcC23y4ki7BphVNAVIIae_ZIiAOC_pkbROwvRN6nMRhRkqJDUYkTJY8leikAAnlUoqs4_NjTZcnZ9cbbkb0C4QHAABZ10PJCtiWlnVBDAvcf5L7JQN7cZcAikV81xyYEVmuEwL-38s/s2048/7386+yellow+tomato+blossom%252C+garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjvcC23y4ki7BphVNAVIIae_ZIiAOC_pkbROwvRN6nMRhRkqJDUYkTJY8leikAAnlUoqs4_NjTZcnZ9cbbkb0C4QHAABZ10PJCtiWlnVBDAvcf5L7JQN7cZcAikV81xyYEVmuEwL-38s/s16000/7386+yellow+tomato+blossom%252C+garden.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3HhdRuajT3QYbrSnZbbINhsa1hyphenhyphenDcMFtuhBmDDLw2Ts52ZIFUGt6LwXadWws2-F6w7P4NEKOvrvEEH6aQ47BMVdExNakDJ1hT75wWsrrakiqUusUc8rRzPpd9ClmY3nLUMjIiVtZ5uw/s2048/7445+first+green+tomatoes+in+the+garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3HhdRuajT3QYbrSnZbbINhsa1hyphenhyphenDcMFtuhBmDDLw2Ts52ZIFUGt6LwXadWws2-F6w7P4NEKOvrvEEH6aQ47BMVdExNakDJ1hT75wWsrrakiqUusUc8rRzPpd9ClmY3nLUMjIiVtZ5uw/s16000/7445+first+green+tomatoes+in+the+garden.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hDEcFOb8IbfpXJ2v1HPDscU2mhT9vsH_l6YtYFPVMPeYTqsHN4Z-nTIDUaa8d6DAGt3tbRtxs7rbWDjtMt00V_anwT7uhmjUp6fboOdWGvGh6B5l1ehARVZBMJ-lsCjq61Uj1PZXhh4/s2048/7383+pink+garlic+bulbils.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hDEcFOb8IbfpXJ2v1HPDscU2mhT9vsH_l6YtYFPVMPeYTqsHN4Z-nTIDUaa8d6DAGt3tbRtxs7rbWDjtMt00V_anwT7uhmjUp6fboOdWGvGh6B5l1ehARVZBMJ-lsCjq61Uj1PZXhh4/s16000/7383+pink+garlic+bulbils.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWyngJMuUwlL6GlrnsKD4lHdKNBKosPQwcTKFDf9CftUu0kRCnc0eIRQJ-kQmW6qTSlYJ3AKXk7rncpG8kO0J5noxHbGPPW3rnkmPSSX5qOQZX15obnUcZB1ir6-TvPr_69EwfWJsR18/s2048/7458+red+and+green+lettuce+leaves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWyngJMuUwlL6GlrnsKD4lHdKNBKosPQwcTKFDf9CftUu0kRCnc0eIRQJ-kQmW6qTSlYJ3AKXk7rncpG8kO0J5noxHbGPPW3rnkmPSSX5qOQZX15obnUcZB1ir6-TvPr_69EwfWJsR18/s16000/7458+red+and+green+lettuce+leaves.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMg9CUETXkaazYBcUOdXrDcMwFXy3KJnACxJE4w9lyo02NolV8U5RB7nXkHxCfaWI9CM2E07rmtev_2w0NUYvS-j_pYGknOLk9b83jd1iY3JFaDFKt27TNBB3G_6OunM2vt3PSNCBNXk/s2048/1381+deep+red+rose%252C+Don+Juan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMg9CUETXkaazYBcUOdXrDcMwFXy3KJnACxJE4w9lyo02NolV8U5RB7nXkHxCfaWI9CM2E07rmtev_2w0NUYvS-j_pYGknOLk9b83jd1iY3JFaDFKt27TNBB3G_6OunM2vt3PSNCBNXk/s16000/1381+deep+red+rose%252C+Don+Juan.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>It's been unusually rainy this year, which has helped the water budget. I'm not sure if the zucchini is getting enough sun with all the cloudy days, so far we just have some little fruits. The squirrels are a problem, I'm pretty sure they stole the first zucchini! I had three good plants and one pot, so I put the other two in random spots against the house, just to see... would they be worth filling in some dead space? They are keeping up fairly well with the pot in the sun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span> </span>All the major growing effort has been focused on the pots, but we do have some giant hollyhocks and a forest of dill! Maybe we'll do some serious pickling this year, if we get some good cucs at the farmer's market. Also some volunteer lettuce, which have been great for salads and lettuce wraps. </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>I feel pretty good about how the tomatoes are doing. So far, I seem to have strong, healthy plants, flowering. I watched <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLEGZH4sPz4">this video</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMlxoBuqObA">this video</a>, and learned a bunch. I started a handful of seeds in a few small growing cups (?), separated after a few weeks as she recommended. That worked <i>REALLY</i> well, I will definitely be doing that again. Planted deep as she suggested, used eggs - we'll see about that, and been pinching back the suckers. I started two kinds - San Marzano (romas) and Money Maker, and traded one of each with my neighbor who had started a cherry, I think, and a Beefsteak. Plant trading friends are a bonus! I'm also trying to leave them with some dry days, as my father-in-law always told me I watered too much. As you can see, we have some fruit! I look forward to some good sauce. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The perennials are always a nice way to mark time - lavender, roses, lemon thyme. The lettuce is about to bolt. I think I'll start some more in a month or so to have for September harvest. I don't want to look too far ahead because we still have some summer to enjoy! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day! I'm so thankful for our country; it's not perfect, but unlike many things in this world, our founders left the door open for improvements as we find them. Happy summer! I hope the bees are buzzing in your garden!! </p><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-61592421486234061702021-06-20T21:23:00.006-06:002021-06-20T21:23:53.863-06:00May days<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWGyc83VacZuI_LUbBG7GLTIMUweoLomwsE_Rtt6LlSX5S4kCPnTE2lzoqVLNxt8FZeBy7AG4KiS6rdvgOu5oNm1iqZu3_rQXyXsjvRZyp0SYfjS0jLtHhjf6nRdMLJOIt6SyJE4VLKg/s2048/0150+white+and+purple+columbine+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWGyc83VacZuI_LUbBG7GLTIMUweoLomwsE_Rtt6LlSX5S4kCPnTE2lzoqVLNxt8FZeBy7AG4KiS6rdvgOu5oNm1iqZu3_rQXyXsjvRZyp0SYfjS0jLtHhjf6nRdMLJOIt6SyJE4VLKg/s16000/0150+white+and+purple+columbine+flower.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o3o3gZGNGKNd73K2PWVn5iPoaXgjx6l0GMz2qnQgKImPGKNM0y7ZU4byet51Mfenp3otnpGQEylhA6XvYRniypthzE5pA57wac-SRiOnoQZ9BuXpfM62pjwCthDEKtyoyr79hmXfsWY/s2048/0181+view+of+the+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o3o3gZGNGKNd73K2PWVn5iPoaXgjx6l0GMz2qnQgKImPGKNM0y7ZU4byet51Mfenp3otnpGQEylhA6XvYRniypthzE5pA57wac-SRiOnoQZ9BuXpfM62pjwCthDEKtyoyr79hmXfsWY/s16000/0181+view+of+the+garden.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1JRb76itRG1FVNXLBRHGg2v9GVPy1ahkYCzvJ5-ctZEWIsEqZEixp0YB5UurLb6PZmbJxy5pQF6Gqx852bWcgiR4mCY0baX519aNIl6W7EOU3SPPhD41pi0KkMYk-ifMyph-1Yymd4E/s2048/0188+spring+garden%252C+tomatoes+and+basil+in+pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1JRb76itRG1FVNXLBRHGg2v9GVPy1ahkYCzvJ5-ctZEWIsEqZEixp0YB5UurLb6PZmbJxy5pQF6Gqx852bWcgiR4mCY0baX519aNIl6W7EOU3SPPhD41pi0KkMYk-ifMyph-1Yymd4E/s16000/0188+spring+garden%252C+tomatoes+and+basil+in+pots.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLkmm_itEc_47qSiNkdJxZxLkbpQBtF0Cx4fEnjk9ZdmPRunj7_WuG5IeVoa94uvYryL2171eFvVEfGLFbGGZegmOHNvhyphenhyphenztmEhU5ZJi8TLPw6ayt6eQpKsAUGke4S5XbQK34p_JrUCU/s2048/8581+purple+lilac+flowers+macro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLkmm_itEc_47qSiNkdJxZxLkbpQBtF0Cx4fEnjk9ZdmPRunj7_WuG5IeVoa94uvYryL2171eFvVEfGLFbGGZegmOHNvhyphenhyphenztmEhU5ZJi8TLPw6ayt6eQpKsAUGke4S5XbQK34p_JrUCU/s16000/8581+purple+lilac+flowers+macro.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F51ZXCzHNhyX9J6gbzv1xWCm0UflxT5VAu5sZlWcA-USX1steC41tPXKaXd7TtjYQPtpO4A1wGp9a10mWw4YRFwazh2U4Bc1TOnVmAV9R1zw1-1kJl5jNftZPeEc8B56l8tQSmsqVHk/s2048/0290+layers+of+pine+trees+in+the+mist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F51ZXCzHNhyX9J6gbzv1xWCm0UflxT5VAu5sZlWcA-USX1steC41tPXKaXd7TtjYQPtpO4A1wGp9a10mWw4YRFwazh2U4Bc1TOnVmAV9R1zw1-1kJl5jNftZPeEc8B56l8tQSmsqVHk/s16000/0290+layers+of+pine+trees+in+the+mist.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Im9CF0Lq2excKDKAw96eeUz99OiAl6eFG58t8sHkKmD2NbKr-Y2NR0zBxLuLFhbbDl1PcD3aYqX5YXqw4_es0YghAxaR24Yo8_BNc1Nre-WO4qlSu1oynKGge5IAbxzcoBLfx7sQTAw/s2048/8680+May+sunset+at+the+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Im9CF0Lq2excKDKAw96eeUz99OiAl6eFG58t8sHkKmD2NbKr-Y2NR0zBxLuLFhbbDl1PcD3aYqX5YXqw4_es0YghAxaR24Yo8_BNc1Nre-WO4qlSu1oynKGge5IAbxzcoBLfx7sQTAw/s16000/8680+May+sunset+at+the+park.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">May was full of flowers bursting open in the garden, mostly purple! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'm trying to let my garden rest this year, but I had stocked up on seeds in January and could not resist starting some for pots, so we are growing San Marzano tomatoes, and a couple zucchinis and basil. We'll see how it goes. It's always good to learn new things in the garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'm doing the photo list thing, again. I'm on a quest for the perfect <i>cloudscape</i>. In the meantime, finding lots of beautiful scenes with clouds, but not sure I've captured my interpretation of cloudscape yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A little knitting, quite a bit of quilting, and more than enough weeding fill my days; trying to get in some driving lessons, and wishing we'd done a lot more last year when traffic was much lighter - especially in the city. But we're here this year, and getting through fine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Every month has flown by, this year, and my pictures remind me that there are precious sights and memories all around. We're almost to the halfway point! I hope you are finding margin in your week! <br /></div><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-43554775187828298372021-06-09T12:49:00.002-06:002021-06-09T12:49:15.880-06:00April pictures, 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ae5rTTjwS0Jfzp66c8762mdrpcq8CDRPNQbRq9Pl-bZiiBHEUuh4YGD0daAwyPfXJJx652IrXFN1QNm6IAAakL0K8cvb0GsmpmdNXYh5uFX4Cg2QZMNGHERpVBJNBX3mi3wrCoLVGVc/s2048/7281+magnolia+bud+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ae5rTTjwS0Jfzp66c8762mdrpcq8CDRPNQbRq9Pl-bZiiBHEUuh4YGD0daAwyPfXJJx652IrXFN1QNm6IAAakL0K8cvb0GsmpmdNXYh5uFX4Cg2QZMNGHERpVBJNBX3mi3wrCoLVGVc/s16000/7281+magnolia+bud+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbigiJMSi2sp_BdQ1jBy_u1oVszNYCFeBBmrgcKzn6xuyztuoGcm-vAoaBZfo_SNEaLkhKa58KdilBP2egwyyxwGqCqp1sEnJC2_cr743vMDIfdM9WjBNxardnqzOeTNgX0FaFXkF0Qes/s2048/7570+pears+on+woven+shawl+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbigiJMSi2sp_BdQ1jBy_u1oVszNYCFeBBmrgcKzn6xuyztuoGcm-vAoaBZfo_SNEaLkhKa58KdilBP2egwyyxwGqCqp1sEnJC2_cr743vMDIfdM9WjBNxardnqzOeTNgX0FaFXkF0Qes/s16000/7570+pears+on+woven+shawl+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqQLXmNQkk3BFYWc2t0XlL4Ghak6lPSqyao32uQn6seTh61BCf-aQ0oHdjwFIWaPO21WDnyPcEAtE3hzmIBbMOeULBZmPK5-AZGAS3M1WqTR1jTLoMumYYoMayqNNUOFas1J4MfHsPYI/s2048/7638+apricot+blossoms+macro+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqQLXmNQkk3BFYWc2t0XlL4Ghak6lPSqyao32uQn6seTh61BCf-aQ0oHdjwFIWaPO21WDnyPcEAtE3hzmIBbMOeULBZmPK5-AZGAS3M1WqTR1jTLoMumYYoMayqNNUOFas1J4MfHsPYI/s16000/7638+apricot+blossoms+macro+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lI50GNEjaaLjWfJnTzhbut7IkDZ9OK2oxK-L-SoLVVDeEcVg0QGrtgbJEH4eHcv3C9lgisfPZI1OuMalsayxgozXfZYaT5bgrvzOsg_B3amdYX31VJdrlk6CUjc6MSATD8UsxVexzSI/s2048/7869+white+and+pink+spring+blossoms+and+snow+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lI50GNEjaaLjWfJnTzhbut7IkDZ9OK2oxK-L-SoLVVDeEcVg0QGrtgbJEH4eHcv3C9lgisfPZI1OuMalsayxgozXfZYaT5bgrvzOsg_B3amdYX31VJdrlk6CUjc6MSATD8UsxVexzSI/s16000/7869+white+and+pink+spring+blossoms+and+snow+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcab_8Sr9qCjh0oUFZkDBvKjBc4gp8wFE4NgEdke4eSsjLxywtm5LnvSFG1hEW0CpygUy1yUu3mPbvZtIJtYvYRJffsnReiY7B8NU-P_L8M6Zqx2yofN1QQ9NpFsYYvBGDJTnbX5h28fU/s2048/7916+white+and+pink+crabapple+blossoms+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcab_8Sr9qCjh0oUFZkDBvKjBc4gp8wFE4NgEdke4eSsjLxywtm5LnvSFG1hEW0CpygUy1yUu3mPbvZtIJtYvYRJffsnReiY7B8NU-P_L8M6Zqx2yofN1QQ9NpFsYYvBGDJTnbX5h28fU/s16000/7916+white+and+pink+crabapple+blossoms+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVMkpjjH_-fEzHtiidVP4jGFRC0OWjJvWu1G3mCDpgjmae7mhLnlyU0j_k-EdxO-Vevex646WrLTkudbc_XKbOAoTgN2GagqpI37WH8ckrxc2Qdv9HfSVN3yAGeENP7ZOUknVHRbD7C0/s2048/7924+basil+seedlings+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVMkpjjH_-fEzHtiidVP4jGFRC0OWjJvWu1G3mCDpgjmae7mhLnlyU0j_k-EdxO-Vevex646WrLTkudbc_XKbOAoTgN2GagqpI37WH8ckrxc2Qdv9HfSVN3yAGeENP7ZOUknVHRbD7C0/s16000/7924+basil+seedlings+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ElzZw9w_TgTPqczfm0dw_3UYcustowO0S-A7_T6gXK02zjP7b4llA6_DxiBm1l_zephajNzS5b47h2FNfbHrVF5asH4Ii4-IpwuWyPuzb-TyQm7KSE7lF6EldX2Hqugsk1dShLvA9Tw/s2048/7974+tomatoes+macro+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ElzZw9w_TgTPqczfm0dw_3UYcustowO0S-A7_T6gXK02zjP7b4llA6_DxiBm1l_zephajNzS5b47h2FNfbHrVF5asH4Ii4-IpwuWyPuzb-TyQm7KSE7lF6EldX2Hqugsk1dShLvA9Tw/s16000/7974+tomatoes+macro+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7yuOxbXMMWhB7wc4UO_qV3vXoIar9DxcpFBOq76lv-7GDShHbLOURi0WiVip6PDA9DGZ0fKvovM_WNYB_i7cn_dXs4dZOIpP-YS4z2-pXErQ8d8Fr4eh6A0WLgkgsCdraEdvrtAZUkc/s2048/8035+snowflakes+on+vine+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7yuOxbXMMWhB7wc4UO_qV3vXoIar9DxcpFBOq76lv-7GDShHbLOURi0WiVip6PDA9DGZ0fKvovM_WNYB_i7cn_dXs4dZOIpP-YS4z2-pXErQ8d8Fr4eh6A0WLgkgsCdraEdvrtAZUkc/s16000/8035+snowflakes+on+vine+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESMe7qheufj88XUdPtxNmfYcLH7PYRUm7HOC7y-9SsBb96hBkXo9B7KAyBZbqs5M70dQJroO8kd9XHwHxwD9n2rO5EYXaqxJFBVh0ZC4KDDtlYNdFDZF_1JdEJE0eiFaMB0YnOBS0THg/s2048/8064+snowing+on+vines+and+fence+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESMe7qheufj88XUdPtxNmfYcLH7PYRUm7HOC7y-9SsBb96hBkXo9B7KAyBZbqs5M70dQJroO8kd9XHwHxwD9n2rO5EYXaqxJFBVh0ZC4KDDtlYNdFDZF_1JdEJE0eiFaMB0YnOBS0THg/s16000/8064+snowing+on+vines+and+fence+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-76037197886003389562021-03-25T22:10:00.005-06:002021-05-02T20:56:36.512-06:00garden 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just gettin' started with some tomato and other seedlings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgjpK5cZ1edJAxfyoOxr3Wm0OxPqZj_8ZsCi7BxuMOcNBX2n7P2Jh38pbMMwplgbqr8LsS1bETFGCoMuFRsyg9Us5i-9UtPEohJSshxVSXi5bHTZ3pywcS5NBfAm_PaAbVcqmiWunmjs/s2048/6932+seedling+San+Marzano+tomato+plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgjpK5cZ1edJAxfyoOxr3Wm0OxPqZj_8ZsCi7BxuMOcNBX2n7P2Jh38pbMMwplgbqr8LsS1bETFGCoMuFRsyg9Us5i-9UtPEohJSshxVSXi5bHTZ3pywcS5NBfAm_PaAbVcqmiWunmjs/s16000/6932+seedling+San+Marzano+tomato+plants.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-12963197813085529112021-03-09T20:17:00.000-07:002021-03-09T20:17:09.941-07:00Happy March! Spring, I welcome you.<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tUDWn8p8laTMxz0oMxE9Hz3CCg5Gcb09Z_GdRxJGUSh_amNzP7jle4_myEi21_XwTN25LGHUp18A1lXzqSbELxfZ6IC5ksJHIctcXjORBMA1G-C3ADFpuqEd4UAD0IrE1YSQGewyBNY/s2048/6095+postcard+with+four+leaf+clover+shamrock+and+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1304" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tUDWn8p8laTMxz0oMxE9Hz3CCg5Gcb09Z_GdRxJGUSh_amNzP7jle4_myEi21_XwTN25LGHUp18A1lXzqSbELxfZ6IC5ksJHIctcXjORBMA1G-C3ADFpuqEd4UAD0IrE1YSQGewyBNY/w408-h640/6095+postcard+with+four+leaf+clover+shamrock+and+roses.jpg" width="408" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This lovely postcard is from my great-grandmother's correspondence. Looking through vintage papers, I realize symbols were used for very different things than what we think these days. This card is nothing to do with St. Patrick's Day, but I love the four-leaf clover. In my childhood home, St. Patrick's Day meant wearing green so we didn't get pinched. After I met my husband, whose mother is half Irish, it took on more significance. Up until then, I had never had soda bread or corned beef. My husband makes a great corned beef! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsbKENs6KgSIir1JpilwhNAJb2gqr8UnXaQNQPy687coagewvOi8ibctmSthS-78aKbbZU-B3hUAcxUngauFKKazPVFQFVYetNuK4ND0ugzOCykwNWJ5MHqVBXH0-V9TU7gE2BUlBzgE/s2048/6114+hyacinth+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsbKENs6KgSIir1JpilwhNAJb2gqr8UnXaQNQPy687coagewvOi8ibctmSthS-78aKbbZU-B3hUAcxUngauFKKazPVFQFVYetNuK4ND0ugzOCykwNWJ5MHqVBXH0-V9TU7gE2BUlBzgE/s16000/6114+hyacinth+flowers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have been enjoying these beautiful hyacinths - closed and then open. I'm ready for the life that spring brings. And they smell light and lovely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaITFp5tnJ-36iXilymCY6HmM32i_6HqzdQPfkbe0KVcHKX3ZZlnh2RniWqj2U5gs_9C82YNPArhYOVV-sZTQfv9zWQQra930MSCUe2B0P2JKAR9KAxjWu-wd_oB-t7uwk4_Wwm2nqCA/s2048/6147+purple+hyacinth+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaITFp5tnJ-36iXilymCY6HmM32i_6HqzdQPfkbe0KVcHKX3ZZlnh2RniWqj2U5gs_9C82YNPArhYOVV-sZTQfv9zWQQra930MSCUe2B0P2JKAR9KAxjWu-wd_oB-t7uwk4_Wwm2nqCA/s16000/6147+purple+hyacinth+flowers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHNbBuFQIF8esRkP4Ch8cKQid5qnfPm8RMcvqVhVOeYQWiMomS20xW6u-Mj_P7nHOE7bgqVyuWDqL3Oi3IIwsu_34A_SDmsfN6R9nyiBB7H8mbpAjkIVzBJq9xgGFl6ihTTaLBYm8v7Q/s2048/6134+beginnings+of+the+columbine+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHNbBuFQIF8esRkP4Ch8cKQid5qnfPm8RMcvqVhVOeYQWiMomS20xW6u-Mj_P7nHOE7bgqVyuWDqL3Oi3IIwsu_34A_SDmsfN6R9nyiBB7H8mbpAjkIVzBJq9xgGFl6ihTTaLBYm8v7Q/s16000/6134+beginnings+of+the+columbine+plant.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Starting in the garden, purple columbines, and tulips. I planted the tulip (and other) bulbs last fall but can't remember what they're supposed to look like. It will be a lovely surprise. We're expecting a lot of snow later this week; I might see about covering these little guys with a bucket so they don't get crushed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXLFG1JP8fZFXpMViiIQqK1POJciQLaLPq81vN1pqccXhYArJvgB1gwDGspIbuNvgRsIDXAGFLQ79xfnFXC7JT9pYnYkQKnt5iTA2XRK32MevUkOLSHgIsFYhg3MZBGomeP3NgsOlPws/s2048/6129+first+tulip+bulbs+poking+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXLFG1JP8fZFXpMViiIQqK1POJciQLaLPq81vN1pqccXhYArJvgB1gwDGspIbuNvgRsIDXAGFLQ79xfnFXC7JT9pYnYkQKnt5iTA2XRK32MevUkOLSHgIsFYhg3MZBGomeP3NgsOlPws/w426-h640/6129+first+tulip+bulbs+poking+up.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p><br /></p>What's happening in your spring world?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-72825410138393193122021-02-24T07:30:00.006-07:002021-03-04T22:00:45.254-07:00knitting: projects that last - sweaters pt 1<p style="text-align: justify;">I've learned over the years that not every project was worth my time and money. Of course I want to knit all the things, but if I expect to use the knitted item over and over and hey, possibly be warm or fashionable, then I need priorities. Instead of buying so <i>much</i> yarn, I'd rather buy better yarn. And while it would be terrific to knit every color, I'm really not going to wear every color. So here is a piece that I've knitted and loved and loved! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">(I believe in real community and try to buy yarn from my local yarn shop. But if you can't, I'm linking to lovecrafts because they carry some of my patterns and I couldn't find Juniper Moon's website.) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfY8QEh6Rh6-hAcv23CGEQBFnchura3HsiWeUqz5sUOavzoS-chjRx1buI6Lymtw_9W9EPDcjcSwE1gus-ArN7DZfLS10VZc0wE4IdGmyO5hZyJJIv3kaP3Z9I7aauHkUYDnl_XnNTwU/s2048/0652+Cobblestone+sweater+side+view.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfY8QEh6Rh6-hAcv23CGEQBFnchura3HsiWeUqz5sUOavzoS-chjRx1buI6Lymtw_9W9EPDcjcSwE1gus-ArN7DZfLS10VZc0wE4IdGmyO5hZyJJIv3kaP3Z9I7aauHkUYDnl_XnNTwU/w426-h640/0652+Cobblestone+sweater+side+view.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZoWQVncJZINSiwq5i3t8-4orRoBPXqciNJyT9qSIrO8m1CCKp8htdhFBDCYcgIELUzddLwPtbkW-vbo1EqmHNpYppc3GKvFHcjjbzOoNAo7YotuMbkhmm_6VPKbE2alFqsEFvRcdSiU/s2048/0593+Karen+with+Cobblestone+sweater.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZoWQVncJZINSiwq5i3t8-4orRoBPXqciNJyT9qSIrO8m1CCKp8htdhFBDCYcgIELUzddLwPtbkW-vbo1EqmHNpYppc3GKvFHcjjbzOoNAo7YotuMbkhmm_6VPKbE2alFqsEFvRcdSiU/w426-h640/0593+Karen+with+Cobblestone+sweater.jpg" width="426" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">COBBLESTONE TRENCHCOAT</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Designed</i> by Veera Valimaki, found in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13586960-november-knits">November Knits book</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Finished in fall, 2015<br />Originally, I knitted this sweater to showcase new yarn in the shop where I taught. I altered several things, most specifically the pockets and the hood. The hood was based on an idea I had, and unfortunately I did not keep notes. To be honest, the hood is too big to stay up in wind on its own, but I like it and it's a good layer over other hats. I had misgivings about there being no edge on the main body, lots of Stockinette stitch, but in the end, it works just fine without. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Pockets and buttons: </i> Instead of the pattern pockets, which are <i>very</i> cute, I did afterthought pockets to add colorwork on the insides. Once I finished the sweater, it immediately became a staple, and I wore it TONS before I finished the second pocket. Like, years. And then I wore it more years before I got around to putting the buttons on. I used to wear it with a beautiful, hand carved shawl pin, but one day I leaned on it by accident and snapped it in half. <i>Heartbreak!</i> Finally I added the buttons. I get compliments on it every time I wear it; it's the colors, I know. But also, it's awesome and suuuuuuppper comfy. I've also used it as a lap blanket in the car.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sleeves: </i>I've learned that I don't like tight sleeves. I don't like when my long sleeve shirts get bunched up under sweater or jacket sleeves. So for me, the easiest sleeves are <a href="https://bygumbygolly.com/2013/10/how-to-knit-seamless-set-in-sleeves-from-the-top-down/">picking up at the armhole and working short rows</a> to get to the armpit, and then working even. The construction does not always allow for this, but often does. Sometimes there are a couple increase rounds or decrease rounds per desired shape, but mostly even to whatever is happening for the cuff. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Yarn:</i> <a href="https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/p/juniper-moon-farm-moonshine">Juniper Moon Farm, Moonshine</a> - worsted weight, mostly wool with alpaca</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I believe the blue was Swimming Pool, and I can't remember which brown but it's brown. Regarding yardage, I went by the pattern but may have used a bit more main color. The yarn is a bit pilly. It's wool; it has alpaca; it's soft. It's gonna pill. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Practicality:</i> a few reasons why this piece works for me: </div><div style="text-align: justify;">-One of the best things about this sweater is the length. It is longer than my winter coat and gives my legs protection from the chill. Whenever I go out for an early morning shoot and don't wear it, that's my first regret - nothing else really gives my legs a second layer. <br />-It's a nice layer that is a bit of a jacket on its own, but when needed also fits well under my winter coat and blocks all the drafts! <br />-The cuffs on this sweater are great because when needed, I can fold the sleeves at the cuff and they stay folded, say, for washing hands. <br />-I still think it's super cute! </div><p style="text-align: justify;">What about you? What's your best happy-every-time-I-think-of-it project you're glad you made? </p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82981007971127798.post-38335517865141756382021-02-18T20:05:00.002-07:002021-06-09T13:01:15.713-06:002021 :: a year for books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqcxUsPLS-o0PeE5T24-92rN87FP3tJwmPAbyKb0pRvOs0Z5apImXtpV0h4DkIPJbN9iaoYyE54MwemyH0IDQ8wY4HY0lVBvIdBULAq-k2Et5T9d4Ikzsmu9k3bSwBqYlCZQDqqqWeWQ/s2048/5333+books%252C+Feb+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqcxUsPLS-o0PeE5T24-92rN87FP3tJwmPAbyKb0pRvOs0Z5apImXtpV0h4DkIPJbN9iaoYyE54MwemyH0IDQ8wY4HY0lVBvIdBULAq-k2Et5T9d4Ikzsmu9k3bSwBqYlCZQDqqqWeWQ/s16000/5333+books%252C+Feb+2021.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Like most of you, I've had to assess my priorities, goals and beliefs, over the past couple of years. Let's keep it simple: some old online haunts and habits are being replaced with new ones. I have added a couple of hundred books to my "read someday" list over the past couple years, and I think this year is a good place to spend some extra reading time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I received at least four books off my wish list for Christmas, and recently acquired another six or seven, second-hand. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2021 finishes include </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25666871-genealogical-proof-standard?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=TM6UzAHXnE&rank=3">Genealogical Proof Standard, Building a Solid Case (4th ed. rev.)</a>, by Christine Rose</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> Super short, and the next step I felt I needed in my genealogy pursuits. Essentially, it read like a text book on a topic I'm interested in. There was good info, I need to put it into practice.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36129622-disruptive-witness">Disruptive Witness</a>, by Alan Noble</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> This book is about distraction of the current age, and sharing your beliefs in that climate; how important it is to actually <i>be in</i> church. I know some churches are closed right now, and God can work anywhere, but it's important to do things in real life. That being said, I had a difficult time reading some sections. It has compound thoughts and big words, and I had to really think through every sentence. (Not surprisingly, the author is a college professor.) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42133157-mrs-tim-carries-on">Mrs. Tim Carries On</a>, by D. E. Stevenson</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> My fourth D. E. Stevenson book, I enjoy her writing. Her plots have a slow build and have realistic twists but I really enjoy her characters and the era, 1940s and WWII, which was contemporary to her. I'll probably read several more of her books! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3016428-curtains-for-three">Curtains for Three</a>, by Rex Stout</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> A small collection of short story mysteries, written in the 40s, 50s, 60s, which was contemporary for the author. I like his characters, especially the narrator, sarcastic male secretary to an egotistical private detective. Again, not my first Rex Stout book, and I enjoy reading them. I like the simple scenery and smart characters. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66508.Borrower_of_the_Night?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=79TRG6B2yj&rank=1">Borrower of the Night</a>, by Elizabeth Peters</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It took me several chapters to get into this mystery but then I enjoyed it. I found the main character feminist / defensive, and I don't know, I just didn't need that. However, I did enjoy the plot. Favorite author of a friend, so I picked it up with some other paperbacks at the local used book store. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>I did not start all these books in 2021, but did start them all in the last few months, and finished them in 2021. What I'm currently reading includes the Bible, Memoirs of a Highland Lady, Upstairs at the Strand, and The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh. Reading several books at once is not really my preferred method but, well, I am. I read a chapter or two of the Bible almost every morning, and I actually finished the whole thing today! Only took me a couple of years (!) but I will be starting it again tomorrow. Memoirs of a Highland Lady is a lovely place to be these days, and I am enjoying reading that. I noticed I have several memoirs on my big book list. Hopefully I'll really enjoy this genre; I hadn't thought about it until I was going through my list. The other two are easy to read a small section - a conversation or a letter. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>I'm holding on to the Alice Taylor book for March (it's set in rural Ireland). I really enjoyed reading her Christmas book during the holidays. </span>The rest of the books in my picture... hopefully I'll get to them all soon! And the funny little leaves sticking up are new bookmarks, a Christmas gift. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What are you reading? What are your reading plans for 2021? What books do you always find yourself recommending?</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123920968850176646noreply@blogger.com2