Oh, to plan but not to achieve.

So...I didn't get that sock done. Did pick up the gusset stitches though. Maybe sometime this week I'll get it done.
I'm already planning my next sock...

Pictures, Yet Again

Since everyone seems to love the cactus picts, here are some more. This prickly pear will blossom (all the buds on each paddle) into the next picture.



All those little buds will bloom into something like this. Some yellow and some a peachy pink color.



A barrel cactus in the middle of a prickly pear cactus. (This is on the walk to school.) All those will bloom soon too.
If I can, I'll see if I can get a picture of the saguaro cactus flower, usually they only bloom in May and early in the morning, so I'll keep my eye out for a few.


The Kelpie Dog (aka Ella) doing her thing in the desert near my house this morning. She likes to chase the birds, rabbits and lizards.



Not too soon after these pict was taken, three coyotes circled around us (me, the dog and the kiddos). Kind of scary. I threw rocks and yelled real loud and they went their way and we went ours.



For a different view on the desert, look here, she's got some great shots of a very different type of desert.

Hope all had a great day and have a great rest of the week. I'm trying to finish my socks. I have turned the heel and have to do the p/u's for the gusset and then just the foot. Not too much more, hopefully by Sunday I'll have them done.

Thanks

I just wanted to thank everybody for taking time out to read my blog during the day. I know with knitting, jobs, families and such this takes some time. Anyway, I hope all are having a great week and thanks to all for the comments. I hope to post some more cactus picts later, I have to walk the dog this morning and all the cactus are blooming, so I'll take my camera and see what I get.

Reading Material

I do want to thank The Knitting Librarian (check her out -- ha, ha, ha that's funny) for suggesting some of the books that will show up soon on my books read list (see sidebar). Although I had read a lot of the ones she had listed there were a bunch that I had not so I started with my handy, dandy library web site and requested a bunch and have started A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. So far it's very good. Anyways, thanks go out into the cyber space for her list.

Spring Flowers

These are the same plant, growing wild in the desert wash near my house. I just loved the purple color. There was nothing else around this plant. It was just growing all by itself in this sandy dirt area.

These are cholla cactus blossoms. Interesting how they are different colors. There's one plant I have seen where there are both yellow and pink on the same cacti. This link gives some different info as opposed to the above link.

I did get some knitting done over the weekend. Finished one of the basic magic stripe socks and it fit, then I started on the other. It's going pretty good, but I am plotting my next socks. Probably with that Opal yarn I got last week, or was it two weeks ago? I've lost track of all time this week (and it's only Monday!).

Banana Bread

I just made my favorite banana bread. I had these three banana's just sitting around for the last four days calling to me to make them into a bread.

The recipe is from a cookbook I got at a discount bookstore. It's called The Inn Cook Book, Favorite Recipes from New England Country Inns, by Igor and Marjorie Kropotkin. I don't know if it's even in print now or not, but this recipe is the best one I've used (and it's super, duper easy). I just did a Google search by the author's name and you can still buy this book. I haven't tried much else in it yet, but it's got some interesting and different things.
Banana Bread
3 very ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons veg. oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour (reg sifted works too)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Preheat your oven to 400 deg (F). Grease and lightly flour a loaf pan. Peel the bananas and mash them, then add the egg, sugar, oil and vanilla and beat well. Add the flour and soda and salt and beat until smooth. Pour into pan and put in oven, and immediately reduce the heat to 350 deg. Bake about 45 minutes or until toothpick is dry when poked in the middle of the bread. Remove from the pan and enjoy. (I also put about 1/2 cup of choc. chips in. Yum!)

Doesn't last too long in my house!

Finished. Done. Completed.

They came out good. I think. I used one skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease in red confetti I think it's called. I lost the label. On #7 dpn's. They were a quick knit, once I sat down and had some time.

I added two rounds of reverse stst after the top ribbing and made the sock slightly taller (is that how you would say it) from the top to the heel and then made it about 1/2 inch to 1 inch longer in the foot.

I think the pattern was very easy and very simple. A good beginner's pattern for socks.

Monday Socks

The other day, I think it was Saturday, I started the second pedicure sock. I turned the heel and did the gusset and started on the foot. All yesterday. That's the fastest I think I've ever knitted something. I didn't have any work this weekend, thank goodness. And so I was able to sit, watch some baseball and knit. The kids and husband got into a rousing Super Mario game last night, and I don't play, so I got all that knitting done. Although, I think I'm going to give them to the Munchkin's teacher as a end of year teacher gift -- a pedicure gift set. The pedicure socks, toe dividers, some nail polish, and maybe a pair of simple fun colored flip flops. An easy, simple teacher gift.
I decided last night what pattern the Opal yarn was going to be for (at least for now). Grumperina's jaywalker sock. I think it will look good with her pattern and show off the colors of the yarn nicely.
Hope all have a great day.

Yesterday

I found my folder in my recycle bin. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I went to empty it and, out of habit, always look to make sure I'm not deleting something important and lo and behold, there it was. Also thanks to Dipsy, after the fact. I did find it exactly where you said. Thanks.
We got lots of rain last night and it's cold here in the desert for April.
Wish I had my socks done, my toes are cold.

Stupid is as Stupid Does

I did something really, really, really stupid today. I deleted my Internet favorites Knitting folder. All of it, gone. I don't know what I did. I was organizing it and then all of a sudden, Poof! It vanished. The whole thing gone. ARRRRRGH!!!
I had some good links there too. And I can't remember what they all were.
So, as I'm taking a break and re-thinking, here's some yarn for thought:

Got these two for $2.00!! Yes, $2.00. Out of the dollar bin. They're a pretty muted, heathery blue, purple and taupey (is that a word) color. ( Cleckheaton Tapestry, 8 ply 100% wool)

And I love this. An Opal Sock yarn in Neon. Very bright and spring/summer like. I don't have a pattern in mind yet, but when I do, I'll let you know.

I still can't remember my links. Oh, well. That's life.

Have a good evening, all.

Some Easter Morning Pictures

These are all desert plants that are blooming or are going to bloom soon.

Enjoy.

Respond to Comment

Regarding a comment from the previous post. The cabled pocket came out great. I love it. I might have a pic here already...hold on...let me look.
You have to go here, and you will see the pocket before I sewed it to the front of the bag.
If I get time this weekend, I'll take a better pic of it for you guys. (And post it, too.)
Hope that answers your question.
Have a great night all.

And have a Happy Easter.

Finished Projects (sort of)...

I finally finished the felted handbag. Don't you just love the stripy lining. It's so cherry on the gray of the bag. I added pockets, too. But it's hard to see them in this picture.
Love the lining, Hancock Fabrics.

My pedicure sock. (It's finished now.) But I haven't started the other one yet.

I did get my nails done, both toes and fingers. Had enough time to just sit and let them dry. Will wonders never cease!!

Have a Happy:)

Tuesday Ramblings

Nothing knitted today.

Or yesterday.

Or Saturday.

This was not a productive weekend for knitting.
It was garage sale day on Saturday for our neighborhood, and that wiped me out.
And then I had work to finish (and I'm not even done yet) that will take me all week to finish, so this is the first time I was able to sit down and post and take a break all day.

And last night the Munchkin had his first baseball game of the year. He did great, went 2 for 2 and scored a run. He had to play outfield, and he really doesn't like that, but they have their next game on Friday, so maybe he'll be able to play infield. He wants to catch or play first base.
I was going to work on my basic Magic Stripe Sock, took it with me and everything, but I ended up helping the coach in the dugout while they were up to bat. But I didn't mind, it's fun to meet all the guys and get to know the ones I don't know.

Well, right now I'm going to sign off and go sit outside and paint my toenails.
Have a great Tuesday.