Wild Turkeys

these are the wild turkeys that have been roaming our neighborhood.

early in the morning, we usually get to see them in the horse field on the way to school. later we see them running through the different neighbors' yards.

it is such an unexpected treat to see. (this is the first year since we've lived here that we've seen the turkeys.)

i think it's a mommy with nine not-so-little babies. it causes me to reflect on my own five wild turkeys!



and i just want to share a wonderful blog i've been reading since april...Schlitzohren. i love her beautiful style.

Mid May Garden

two of our garden boxes.

a hummingbird holding still.

Teeny Tiny Legwarmers

this is a legwarmer pattern i made for the birthday girl's doll.

size:

16 inch friendship (waldorf style) doll

finished measurements:
2.75 inches wide  x 4 inches long

materials:
small amount of worsted weight yarn: 40-50 yards (i used lion brand wool-ease)
size 2 (2.75mm) double pointed knitting needles

Cast On 30 stitches and divide evenly between three needles. Join for working in the round.

work in ribbing pattern (knit 3, purl 3) for 4 rows.

then, work in stockinette stitch for 2.5 inches.

continue with ribbing pattern (knit 3, purl 3) for last 4 rounds so that the legwarmer measures about 4 inches total.

Bind Off and weave in ends.

doll clothes for the birthday girl

finally. this doll has some clothing.

she arrived the christmas before last wearing only a nightgown. zoe has been wanting a change of clothes for her for quite some time. she now has a few items to mix and match.

can i tell you how much fun i had making them? a lot. just as much fun as when i made the doll.



(some details: i wanted to make the doll in the first place, after seeing the bamboletta dolls. i bought a kit from dancing rain dolls, but i'm not sure the company still exists. then i got really motivated to make the clothes after seeing this on trulakids. i do plan on making at least one more doll and some clothes for miss g. and maybe aryn. we'll see.)

The Cake

 when i saw this cake, i knew that i wanted to try it on the next birthday.

i fell in love with the casual, messy, colorful look of it all. (the original site shows a much more sophisticated, cleaned up cake.)

at first i thought i would make two cake mixes for the batter, but then i changed my mind and went with one cake mix. i wasn't sure i'd made the right decision when pouring each color into the pans to bake. they were very thin. and when i took each layer out of the pans, i was even more worried. the yellow broke into three pieces.

icing holds a lot of things together. and covers up a lot of mistakes.

i'm still in love with the casual, messy colorful look of it all.



Back Loops

i am a lefty, so this picture is taken from the left-handed perspective. ( i did find this tutorial on stitchdiva.com for all you right-handers.)

a good way for me to remember this is that the back loop of the stitch is the one farthest away from my body, and the front loop is the one closest. i hope this helps.

Classic Baby Blanket

Twelve years ago, when I had my first baby, my great-aunt Maureen gave me a beautiful gift. The gift was a crocheted baby blanket.

I loved this blanket for its simplicity and elegance. And I've used this same blanket for each one of my little babes.

This blanket is one of my very favorite gifts to give. Years ago, I asked my aunt Maureen how she made it...what the pattern was. She was never very specific because I think she had just made it up herself. She did tell me what stitch she used, so I just figured it out on my own and came up with something myself.

After some years of making this blanket (and showing a few others how to make it as well), I've come up with a set pattern. One that I follow each time I make this blanket now. Last year, I wrote it down.

 I still love this blanket for its simplicity and elegance, and my hope is that you will too.

Materials:

1 ½ cones (about 920-1035 yards) 100 % cotton 4-ply yarn in ecru

size J (6mm) crochet hook

Gauge:

4” x 4” = 12 dc x 6 rows

CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Finished Measurements:

36” x 36”

Terms used:

ch = chain                                                                       sl st = slip stitch
dc = double crochet                                                        sp = space
sk = skip                                                                        st(s) = stitches


Note: Ch 3 at beginning of dc rows DOES count as a stitch.

Main body:

Ch 110

Row 1: Skip first 3 ch, dc in next 107 ch; Ch 3, turn. (108 stitches)

Row 2-52: Dc in the back loop of each dc across; Ch 3, turn.

Row 53: dc in the back loop of each dc across, DO NOT fasten off; turn work to begin shell border.


Shell border:

*Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same sp, 2 times. Sk next 2 sts, sl st in next st; continue from * around the entire main body. Join with a sl st at the beginning ch 3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Heart Pillow Fun

i made this little heart pillow just before valentine's day. (it's from the gathered heart pillow tutorial by v and co.)

i needed someone to be in the pictures. the little boy obliged. somewhat.

and now the pillow resides on the girls' bed.

(mine is actually a slipcover again. i prefer it that way. you know, changing options.)

The Second Crochet Hook Case

i made this second crochet hook case in order to answer a question i received via email about the first one i made. the question referred to line 40 in the original pattern. i couldn't remember what i had done so i decided to crochet a new one. this time for myself.

this is what i did...

row 40: insert hook through the first free loop of row 15 AND the FRONT loop of the first dc on row 39 and complete the sc. continue joining the free front loops of row 15 with the front loops of row 39 with a sc across; ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

row 41: sc in each sc across; ch 1, turn. (30sc)
row 42: insert hook in the first free loop of row 13 AND through the FRONT loop of the first sc on row 41; complete sc. continue joining the free loops of row 13 with the front loops of row 41 with a sc across; ch 1, turn. (30sc)

has anyone else had a similar problem? what did you do?

Planting Time

planting times for hurricane valley courtesy of alison from alisorganics.com

FEBRUARY 15 - MARCH 15
radish
cabbage (plants)
kohlrabi (plants)
onions
peas
spinach
turnip
swiss chard

MARCH 1 - MARCH 15
carrots
cauliflower (plants)
endive
lettuce
parsnips
potato
beets

MARCH 25 - APRIL 1
bush beans
corn
cucumber
spinach

APRIL 10 - MAY 1
corn
cucumber
cantaloupe and melons
winter squash
summer squash
tomato (plants)
pepper (plants)
pole beans

JULY 15 - AUGUST 1 (FALL HARVEST)
beets
cabbage
carrots
corn
cucumbers
lettuce
onions
pole beans
spinach
turnips


LAST SPRING FROST - APRIL 15

FIRST FALL FROST - OCTOBER 20

i just wanted to get this out before it's too late...especially for new and beginning gardeners.
happy planting!