Lonely sock

Just a few minutes ago, I finished a sock! Well, it's only one sock, but I will start the second one this morning, after a finish a few routine tasks. No SSS here (second sock syndrome)!! The yarn is Happy Feet by Plymouth, and the pattern is written for the yarn, it is called Mock Cable. I have used the pattern before, but it really stands out with this thicker yarn. Socks are a good summer project, as you don't have to have your project draped all over you. I've been knitting socks since 1998, but figure I won't ever be able to use up my stash of sock yarn. I've never been brave enough to try a crochet sock, although I have seen some interesting ones. Maybe someday.

Yesterday, I gave away about six large boxes of quilting fabric to a local church that makes Prayers for Squares projects. I was asked if I want to come to a meeting, but I declined. I had advertised on Yahoo's Freecycle group. I wish this group well with their projects, and am glad that I could help. Giving stuff away (for a good cause) feels good, everyone should try it! In the process, I found a quilt pattern that I had been looking for for a couple of years!! It is called "Yellow Brick Road", by Atkinson Designs, I think. I have already picked out the fabric I want to use (18 fat quarters)! The fabric I gave away will not be missed at all!!

Photo of a photo

My daughter gave me a couple of photos of Ace today and I wanted to try to post this one. It turned out sepia tone, but the real photo is a beautiful one. Just wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful cat one last time. He is missed so much.

Prayers for Ace/Update

Ace, my daughter's cat, has been a very sick fellow. He was FIV for three & a half years, now he is full-blown "Aids". She has had him back & forth to different Vets for the past three weeks, but nothing has helped much. He just won't eat. He is a very beautiful and loving cat, and it breaks my heart to see him so sick. Please pray for Ace, and also for my daughter, as she is not ready to let him go.

UPDATE: Ace passed away yesterday July 9th, in the morning. He will be greatly missed.

Sock Monkey

All last week my son was home on "vacation" between semesters, that is, when the students aren't there, instructors don't have to be either. He decided to move stuff from one (leaky) storage building to another. That is when he found Sock Monkey. Later that day, Sock Monkey was being attacked by some carpenter bees in the new location, so my son brought him inside the house. He has been inside ever since. My daughter saw him and said "he's evil". (She also thinks that clowns are evil, go figure!) Truthfully, I have always felt a little uncomfortable around him, but he does deserve better than the bees!! He was made for me many years ago by a dear friend named Sheila, in Ohio. I've lost touch with her now, and I think I will give Sock Monkey a place of honor in the house. I found a free pattern on the internet for a sock monkey knitted out of sock yarn. Maybe I'll make him a friend (or maybe not). It is at www.thepatternbox.com if anyone is interested. Knit on!

"Safe House" quilt

Some people think that a Log Cabin Quilt with a black center dates back to the Civil War. At first, I had heard that a Log Cabin with black centers meant that you are a bad housekeeper! Some believe that it meant "safe house" for runaway slaves, some are of the opinion that this theory doesn't hold water. The Log Cabin is one of my favorite quilt patterns and I keep a large plastic container full of 2 inch strips. Whenever a fabric is too small to use for other things, I cut into 2 inch strips. They are so useful for other patterns, too! I think I have mentioned before that I was born in central Ohio, and that my Grandpa Atterholt (during this time of the summer) used to tell me about how his family was part of the Underground Railroad. He was born just a couple of years after the war ended. It all makes sense to me, as the family was Brethren, and the Brethren were active during the war, helping runaway slaves get to freedom. I don't really care about the arguments in the quilt world. I just know that I'd like to believe the stories about the "signal quilts", and that somehow quilting played a roll in helping people to be free.

Cat napping

Isn't it funny how cats will always open one eye and move slightly when you run & get the camera for the cutest pose ever? Grrrr. Happens to me every time! But the Chan always keeps me company while I'm on the computer (and she sleeps on my pillow at night). Guess you could say that she's my bestest "four-footed" friend! It has been hot here, and the best thing to do in the afternoon is to take a nap! I have been absent from blogging. I've been busy with my charity projects and doing some sewing (imagine that), but I just don't have anything important to say on this Blog. In fact, I've considered killing this blog. Just haven't decided yet. There are still many Blogs that I like to visit, and I comment when I have something worth saying, so I'm here, just keeping quiet. Have a Blessed summer!!

Beach Dreams

I grew up around water. First it was Lake Huron, then the Atlantic Ocean, but I have lived in "them thar Hills" for 28 years now. From time to time I have missed the Ocean, but not greatly. The last few nights I have been dreaming of water, big bodies of water. I guess I will learn the reason later, as my dreams always mean something. I have never had any great love for Wilmington, NC, where my late husband was from, and where I lived for a number of years (until I could get away from there), but I was looking at the Weatherunderground photos (where the above photo came from), and tears actually came to my eyes. I want to see the ocean again, I want to walk in the sand one more time, while I am still able to walk! I want to walk out on Johnny Mercer's Pier again, and check out the fish that have been caught! The quilter's guild I was a member of for a few years (Quilter's-by-the-Sea) is having their Annual Quilt Show soon. I wonder if I would remember any of the members? I doubt it. Dream on.

Dulcimer Frustration!

I bought my dulcimer in 1996 and have off and on since then tried to learn to play it. This week, I joined a Ravelry knitting/dulcimer group. It has been very interesting and informative, but I am still at "square one". I think I have forgotten everything I knew before. I'm a frustrated dulcimer player!! Everyone says how EASY it is to play, but with fifty-bazillion ways to tune it (unlike my Dad's ukulele, that you just have to remember "my dog has fleas" heehee), I am very confused. Any other dulcimer "wannabees" or sympathetic players out there? I'd appreciate the advice! Aaarrrgh! Think I'll go back to my Prayer Shawls. That's NOT frustrating!

Poor neglected blog...

It is no secret that I hate to take pictures. Mother used to annoy the heck out of people, wanting to take pictures, so guess I am the opposite of that, too. Anyway, Dora just doesn't like to have her photo taken. Whenever I unzip the camera case, she will either run, move, or do something unflattering (like hike-a-leg). Donald decided to try his luck taking her photo. Although Dora has a disgusted look on her face, she did sit still for him. I'm still hoping for a great photo to put in the sidebar. People must think that she is still a tiny kitten!! Donald took photo #1, and the "look" in Photo #2 is when I took her picture. humph!