Last night was our final concert of our summer of concerts---Steely Dan at the State Fair. We just can't seem to stay dry at anything with an outdoor venue this year. The chilly, steady, misty drizzle that we had last night didn't compare with the deluge at the U2 concert, but it counts.
They sounded great and played a good mix of old and older. And how 70's can you get than to get a whiff of pot in the air while listening to Reelin' In the Years? This wasn't the greatest venue for the band, but we missed them the last time they were in town and we weren't going to make that mistake again.
So now with Labor Day only a few days away, Summer 2011 fast becomes the summer that was and it's time to think about getting back to business. Since our son started school a couple of weeks earlier than usual, I feel like I've already gotten a head start. I have a list. That's something.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Harvest
Cool mornings and earlier sunsets are here to remind us that our summer days are numbered. It's always a bittersweet time of year; sad to see summer come to a close, but we look forward to what's ahead.
It's harvest time.
This has been a strange year in the garden. After a very cool spring, our summer has been HOT and WET. Since I usually struggle with cool and dry, all the plants that tend to be my old reliables suffered while the ones I plant on a whim have flourished.
Except for the tiny tomatoes, which have been prolific as usual, nearly every one of my tomato plants succumbed to some kind of a blight or disease. The Romas gave me enough for a few good pasta meals, but the rest of them barely eeked out a handful of baseball-sized fruits. The bean plants that positively withered in the extreme heat are finally recovering, so instead of getting our fill in July, we've been enjoying our glut of green beans in August.
On the positive side, there's been dozens of peppers. I've stuffed them, pickled them, wrapped them in bacon, and they keep coming. And I've got eggplant! MN weather is not terribly conducive to growing these little beauties, but a miniature variety in this heat has given me a good crop. Caponata by next week, I'm thinking.
Tons of cucumbers. And basil! Holy pesto, have I harvested the basil. So far, I've been using it all fresh, but I need to spend some time making some pesto sauce to freeze for the winter.
The cooler weather has me thinking about sweater days, too. After setting aside the Fyingdales cardigan for a few weeks, I got back to it and now it's ready for fall.
I think this could become a good workhorse sweater in my closet providing it stops with the shedding. It seems to have slowed down after giving it a soak for blocking. A white t-shirt underneath is still not the best idea--unless I would have no intention of taking my sweater off at any point through the day.
The pattern was well written--one minor spot of confusion that I noted on my Ravelry post. There are knitters who have complained about sizing with the patterns in this book, but I thought this was right on. I am a fan of drop shouldered sweaters which tend to be a little on the bulky side. If you're looking for a fitted garment, this is just not your book.
I no more than got the buttons sewn on this one than I cast on another pattern out of A Fine Fleece--Two Hearts. This one I'm doing up in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride in the color Sable. I even like the name of that color. The cable pattern is easy with great looking results.
Enough. Time to get out and enjoy our late summer day.
It's harvest time.
This has been a strange year in the garden. After a very cool spring, our summer has been HOT and WET. Since I usually struggle with cool and dry, all the plants that tend to be my old reliables suffered while the ones I plant on a whim have flourished.
Except for the tiny tomatoes, which have been prolific as usual, nearly every one of my tomato plants succumbed to some kind of a blight or disease. The Romas gave me enough for a few good pasta meals, but the rest of them barely eeked out a handful of baseball-sized fruits. The bean plants that positively withered in the extreme heat are finally recovering, so instead of getting our fill in July, we've been enjoying our glut of green beans in August.
On the positive side, there's been dozens of peppers. I've stuffed them, pickled them, wrapped them in bacon, and they keep coming. And I've got eggplant! MN weather is not terribly conducive to growing these little beauties, but a miniature variety in this heat has given me a good crop. Caponata by next week, I'm thinking.
Tons of cucumbers. And basil! Holy pesto, have I harvested the basil. So far, I've been using it all fresh, but I need to spend some time making some pesto sauce to freeze for the winter.
The cooler weather has me thinking about sweater days, too. After setting aside the Fyingdales cardigan for a few weeks, I got back to it and now it's ready for fall.
I think this could become a good workhorse sweater in my closet providing it stops with the shedding. It seems to have slowed down after giving it a soak for blocking. A white t-shirt underneath is still not the best idea--unless I would have no intention of taking my sweater off at any point through the day.
The pattern was well written--one minor spot of confusion that I noted on my Ravelry post. There are knitters who have complained about sizing with the patterns in this book, but I thought this was right on. I am a fan of drop shouldered sweaters which tend to be a little on the bulky side. If you're looking for a fitted garment, this is just not your book.
I no more than got the buttons sewn on this one than I cast on another pattern out of A Fine Fleece--Two Hearts. This one I'm doing up in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride in the color Sable. I even like the name of that color. The cable pattern is easy with great looking results.
Enough. Time to get out and enjoy our late summer day.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
My Miette
I've strayed. I saw a cute little summer cardigan and dropped my wool Fylingdale like a hot potato.It didn't last long. A week later I'm back to wool, but I have to admit, I enjoyed the break.
I first saw Miette on the Ravelry Top 10. It got high marks from the people who had already knit it up, but the pictures didn't sell it to me completely. So I decided to try it on the cheap.
Having finished, here's what I've learned:1. Yes. I will probably knit this again.
2. I like wool. Every time I try a project with a cotton-like yarn (this one happens to be acrylic--and not a bad one at that) I'm a little disappointed. I like summer weight sweaters--just not in a gauge I am willing to take on by hand knitting. Wool is good.
3. I'm glad I added an extra repeat of length on the body of the sweater. I'm 5'2" tall. I never add an extra repeat of length to a sweater.
4. I don't really need darts. Sad.
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