A week for "Plan B" 's

A "Plan B" will not be necessary for My Elmont (wet blocking showed the sleeve will work as is). So, with it being much closer to completion than Daelyn it "wins" the  "what will I knit next" lottery.

I'd love to have it done to take along to London at the end of the month when we go to see Number One Son. We'll see how things go this week then I'll know better.

These felted slippers, knit in Briggs and Little Country Roving a couple of weeks ago do need a "Plan B"...

They were HUGE to start with. Machine felting (many trips through the washer and dryer) did shrink them but not enough to fit me and I think they're about as small as they're going to go.

So Plan B will be to find bigger feet for them. My Beloved's might do the trick. 'Hard to say just yet because they've dried into pretty wonky shapes so I'll need to wet them again and get them to dry in the shape of a shoe and then we'll make the call.

Meanwhile...

The "Gift for the Girls" Blanket (A whole Plan B project) is feeling like its suddenly gone from looking like a scarf to the beginnings of a nice sized throw.

These knits, the task of nailing down travel knitting and a plan for shopping at Loop if I manage to make it there while in London are my knitting list for the week. What are you up to?

Back in Town

'Back this morning from an uneventful and relaxing week at the cottage and happy to report my personal war on "Mission Creep" went very well!

Evidenced by good progress on my Nouveau Gloves (one done, the other progressing nicely up the hand.)

I also managed to finish the shawlette that had a rather halting start due to severe chart misreading.

In line for a SOAK today will also be my second pair of Grown Up Booties. They were finished a while ago but I didn't like the way I'd sewn them up. Last week I redid the assembly and I'm much happier with the result.

Last night on the way home, once it was too dark to knit I even indulged in a bit of daydreaming about new projects I'll soon feel I can jump into with all these other long languishing projects out of the way!

Its supposed to be a hot and humid one today so I'm off for a slow walk along the shadiest route I can find with my creamy white pal! Walking is very limited at the cottage so despite the heat I'm looking forward to stretching my legs. Then I've got some blocking to do!

Thanks for dropping by!

Better Late Than Never

We opened up the cottage yesterday.

Its weeks overdue compared to our usual schedule but at least its done.

The boat is launched. Water is running.Grass around the cottaged was "whippered" into submission

Unlike when we arrived yesterday morning the kitchen is now stocked with the basic dry goods. This means all I have to add now is fresh food as we need it.

It was a perfect day for it with sunny blue skies and a breeze that kept the black flies at bay.

Hudson had a ton of fun - especially in the boat!

Our original plan had been to go Saturday but heavy rain, thunderstorms and high winds made that seem like a less than good idea. The weather also meant my Saturday gardening plans were shelved sooooo....

....knitting instead!

I got almost half way into the lace chart for my little Bermuda shawlette.

And then finished up the knitting on my Grown Up Booties.

Saturday night we even watched television! We're sporadic TV viewers at best but Darling Daughter, My Beloved and I have been enjoying following the latest(?) AMC series "The Killing" Sunday evenings at 10:00. Our weekend travels have had us miss the last couple of episodes ('typical and one of the main reasons we don't watch very often!) but after an early dinner and dropping Number One Son off at his Saturday "social engagement", Darling Daughter organized things so we could catch up. We watched two week's worth back to back Saturday and then the second Vancouver/Boston Hockey Game.

A lazy Saturday followed by a productive Sunday - a great weekend.

Mind you, some of "us" have been left feeling in need of some serious nap time just to catch up after all the "excitement"!

Thanks for dropping by!

Our Latest Weekend Road Adventure

This past weekend we ventured west to the shores of Lake Huron to Goderich; known as "The Prettiest Town in Ontario". My Beloved's nephew and is wife both grew up and have recently bought their first house there.  We donated some furniture to them that we no longer use except to fill up the garage where technically a couple of cars are supposed to go.

My glove project was not well suited to knitting in the car (towing a trailer makes the vehicle ride a bit rough which makes me feel sick if I try to even glance at what I'm doing.) So I cast on one of my single skein projects - my second pair of "Grown Up Booties" by Ysolda.

The last pair I made using Manos yarn have worn through, been darned and have now worn through again so this time I thought I'd try using a tougher yarn.

Does it get any tougher than "Tuffy" by Briggs and Little?

I'm using two contrasting strands held together. I don't have as much of the red as I do of the grey so I'm planning on grey toes.

This stuff is also tough on the hands - especially when knit as tightly as I am working these. Nonetheless it was the perfect project to pick away at while watching the mist and rain shrouded landscape slip by the car window.

...Other passengers felt the time was actually better spent napping.

Now the town of Goderich, about 3 hour's drive with a trailer in tow, is laid out in a wheel-like formation with all the streets running out from a leafy central "Square".I took my camera so I could share sites from that lovely spot high on the cliffs above the lake, filled as it is with lovely old homes and nicely tended gardens. But photo references were not to be had.  It was literally raining so hard I couldn't even get a shot through the windows of the car. (Ditto as we drove through Stratford - another beautiful spot) Rolling down the windows was not an option either - I would have been soaked and camera along with me.  The lake was not to be seen at all because of the rain and the low hanging cloud.

But "Pretty" the town is. Next time we visit hopefully I'll have more luck with bringing back photographic proof of the fact.

Thanks for dropping by!

Oh DARN it!

I wore them constantly all winter! I couldn't help myself! They're cozy and soft underfoot, I love the way they look in that fabulous Manos and I wore them right through!

So I darned them and had a great evening last night wearing my (now repaired) slippers again. (if you're interested, the original FO details on these is in my post here)

My (Didn't get it done during the) Olympic Sweater is nearing the finish line. I worked out shaping for the neckline using only math just to see if I could do it and I'm shocked it all came together!

Since My Beloved came home early last evening we were able to eat by 7:00 leaving me lots of time to work on the big cowl collar...

I'm half way up its 10" height and about to start into the last ball of yarn. Finally I know I accurately judged how far the yarn would go. So no need to say "Darn It!" about that! 'More like "Phew!"

Thanks for dropping by!

Grown Up Booties FO

Pattern: "Grown Up Booties" by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: 1 Skein Manos del Uruguay Wool Classica

Colour: 114

Needles: 5mm

Start: April 24 Finish: May 2, 2009

Modifications: Added crochet edging to create better fit

I added BOWS at the back too!

They were quick and fun to knit - especially with this great multicoloured Manos! 

They are cute and cozy to wear - especially with this great multicoloured Manos!