ON TO THE THIRD BABY BLANKET

Just a quick post this evening...
The big Maple tree in the front yard is bare already and we lost a lot of the beautiful foliage during the big rain and wind storm. We were lucky that the storm wasn't too bad here.
While the rain battered on the windows, I've made myself comfortable in my Lazy-Boy rocker recliner and crocheted away the hours. I'm on my third baby blanket.

There was a second funeral this week. A second cousin of my husband was killed in a lumber mill accident. He was pulled into a wood chipper. He was 50 years old and had a wife and a 12-year-old daughter. He lost his brother to cancer about 5 years ago. This poor family has had a lot of sadness to bear.

On a happier note, Michael's had a big sale on and had a 55% off on one item so I purchased a yarn winder because last evening one of the yarn I was working with got tangled when both ends came together somehow. I also was very lucky to find a skein of the same dye lot, light green yarn to finish my second baby blanket.

Here are the yarn winder and the ball of baby yarn I made with it.  The winder is clamped to the tabletop and I turn the crank to make a ball. It's a lot faster than doing it by hand.

Here is the third baby blanket. It's a shell pattern and very easy to do.  Obviously, this one will be for a baby girl. I'm enjoying working on this pattern and find it easier than the first pattern and will finish it before returning to the previous blanket.

I wish you all a great week and I hope that the sunshine finds you wherever you are.
Thanks for visiting my blog and please leave a comment.
Hugs, Julia

OCTOBER'S DELIGHTS

I can't believe how quickly October arrived and brought us some cooler weather and lots of colors...
The Autumn colors are in their full glory right now and we can hear the crunch of the fallen curly leaves underfoot.
The colors are breathtaking along the busy highway so I could not stop to take photos.

Instead, I took advantage of this beautiful young hard maple tree in front of my son's house by the riverbank.

This soft maple in our front yard is the first to lose its leaves in Autumn and the leaves all curl up unlike the leaves of the hard maple. They will be mulched with the lawnmower.

The first baby blanket has been finished and donated. The color came out better this time. It's not perfect but they were glad to have it.

I started another baby blanket in an aqua color and is a little larger with a new ergonomic crochet hook. It's so much easier on my hand.  I finally got the pattern right this time around. Practice makes almost perfect. I'll be running out of yarn to finish it and they were out of stock at Michael, so I'll have to wait till next Wednesday when the yarn comes in... I like working with this easy pattern.

On a cold damp day this week, I felt the need for a pan of raisin scones and it hit the spot. I had a big pot of soup but I didn't bother to take a picture of it... The scones were shared and didn't last long.

Here is an update on my homegrown ginger.  It's was neglected as a houseplant. I wanted to plant it outdoors in the garden but somehow never got around to do it. I'm pleased that it grew at all. The older piece I planted is still edible. It was very tall and the leaves tips were a bit dried up.

I've been weeding and gathering some pine needles for my blueberries but it's still too early to mulch them.  I don't want mice setting home in them and feed off my blueberry bushes in winter. Yesterday I disconnected all my garden hoses and put them away for next year. I'm tired and want to relax with my yarn and crochet hook.

I just got back from the funeral home for Brian, a farmer friend who passed away at age 65. It is very sad that he passed away so young.  The funeral is tomorrow. He was very active in the farming community and organization. He will be missed by all.

Take care, thanks for stopping by to read my blog and leaving a comment. I appreciate it very much.
Hugs, Julia

KEEPING MY FINGERS NIMBLE

Hi everybody. Blogging has been put on the back burner again and again during the summer... Nothing much interesting to report. Everyday life is repetitive and I'm more interested in the welfare of my soul than in reporting every little daily occurrence of what I've been up to.

I've been relearning how to hook after about a 40-year absence. I'm working on a baby blanket for a project our woman group is doing for the needy and I'm almost finished. I've made so many mistakes on the ends and it makes my pattern looks wonky. I finally got it figured out. It's not perfect but it will still keep a small baby warm. I hope my next one will be a little better. I love hooking this pattern.
The color is a soft yellow but despite all my efforts, it came out almost white in the photo even when I didn't use the flash.

I've put some preserve in freezer bags and bottles and the leaves are falling and it's getting colder. The broccoli plants are still producing and so are the kale and Brussel sprouts. There are still tomatoes and cucumbers left in the garden. September just zipped by and I barely had time to say hello and goodbye.

I've helped my son clean out his tall weeds and I'm starting to slow down in the outdoors department. It was a good summer and the garden did really well. There is still a bit of color left and my Grottendorst pink rose bush is still blooming like there's no tomorrow and all the annuals are still giving us their last show of color before the frost comes.

I've helped with the church supper and also cut pies all afternoon on Sunday again this fall... We served well over 400 people. I think somewhere around 431 if I heard right. This is not an official count.

The leaves on the tree in our front yard have begun to fall and the mums are in their glory.

Bada Bing and Bada Boom begonias are still blooming.

Phlox are showing what the have left to give for this year.

The little tiny plant my son Vaughan gave me to grow has grown a lot in the raised carrot bed.

The Charles Davis rose bushes are still giving a bit of beauty.

The potted marigolds on the stone steps are looking tired.

These are doing a little better.



Serendipity lobelias are still giving a good show between the stone steps.

The potted begonias also are getting tired

The hostas are saying we've seen better days but the marigolds are still as happy as could be.

Another serendipity lobelia that self sowed is doing really well in the bed.

Inpatients are still blooming well and I gathered some seeds for next year.

The Grootendorst rose bush is still blooming. They will bloom till the frost.

That's about it for this post. I hope that you are all doing well and are happy to welcome Autumn.
I have mixed feelings because I do not like the cold and snow but I'm happy to take a rest from gardening till Spring.

Thanks for visiting and please leave a comment.
Hugs, Julia