The yoke of the Turia sweater is nearly finished---it looks too large, but I crunched the numbers, checked my gauge, and the dang thing should fit, I'll try it on when I separate the stitches for front, back and sleeves.

The gorgeous fall weather arrived right on schedule, our sweet granddaughter Katy came for a weekend sleepover, and we picnicked at the Fontainbleu Park beach. Delightful!

Over the past few days I've been deliberating on which fall projects to start. One stealth project is already on the needles, but it is a gift, plus I usually have several projects going at once and ....selfishly, I love to knit for moi (I do appreciate handknits ;-) So, ta duh, it will be the Turia pullover knit in Linsey, a linen/cotton blend. It's not very wintry, but neither are our winters. It will be lovely, mindless knitting in the round which I can try on as I go because I am going to knit it from the top down, although the pattern isn't written that way. Just a bit of a challenge. I bought the yarn from King's Sewing & Knitting Center In Pensacola, Florida. The owner was delightful and very helpful. They are just a couple of minutes off I-10. I also reserve the right to start another 2011-12 winter project should I be inspired to do so.

Weed, declutter & destash

After days of rain and some anxiety regarding Tropical Storm Lee, I am enjoying the fall weather the storm left in its' wake. I think everyone in the deep south enjoyed the much cooler than normal temperatures. DH and I weeded flower beds while the ground was still soft and we've resolved to invest in mulch to help keep the weeds at bay. The days are warming up again but mornings are very pleasant, and the humidity is not as brutal as it was ... looking forward to more of those cold fronts, courtesy of our neighbor Canada. This fall I want to plant lots of petunias... they did so well last winter and spring;I hope I can find some Calendulas too. I shall try sweet peas again, this time from seeds, and I'm really looking forward to Sugar Snaps and the other veggies from Hugh's winter garden. Pruning the Knock Out roses will encourage fall and winter blooms. The Sweet Olive is blooming...the flowers are barely noticeable but their season is long, the devine fragrance perfuming my front garden for weeks.

In August I began sorting yarn and knitting books, trying to give away, sell, and trade, whichever seems most appropriate for the item. I've had great success with PaperBackBookSwap, fair results with ebay, and I plan to try Ravelry and Etsy. I'm using Space Bags for skeins, balls, and hanks, and regular zip-bags for yarns on cardboard rolls. Mea maxima culpa! I must stop buying yarn... and shop from my stash...in the closets, under the beds, on the shelves...and knit on. I shall never surrender!

Time to reboot...

One of the first computer specific terms I learned was to "boot" or start the computer. One of the most difficult things ( for me) is to write without knowing if someone is reading my blog. So my resolve is to treat my blog more as a journal...and post more frequently and perhaps briefly, using more photos. Found a cool site with knitting scout badges: http://cast-on.com/knitting-scout-badges/ Of course I had to have a couple and will be trying to earn more!