One Section Finished

I have finally finished the back section of my mom's vest.

 The color below is closer to the actual yarn than the picture above.

 I have cast on the left front, ripped it out after 11 rows as I used the wrong stitch pattern, cast on again, ripped out again.....wrong number of stitches, and have cast on again. I sat with it last night questioning the pattern as I can't finish the pattern repeat with the number of stitches stated, but I believe the problem is just with the ribbing on the bottom as the numbers work for the main pattern. I am slogging through, but I doubt I will ever make another item from this book. I have never encountered such difficulty in following any other pattern. I am not an experienced knitter, but I am an experienced crocheter and I can read a pattern. I know it is partly my inattention, but even the cast-off for the back of the vest had to be frogged due to a misunderstanding with the directions. Perhaps a more seasoned knitter would not misinterpret the pattern, but I really believe that patterns should be precisely written so that all knitters can successfully complete them. Sorry for the rant, but this should not be this difficult. 

I finished reading The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. 

This is an interesting book that deals with the time of the Underground Railway in the United States. I really liked this book. I won't say it was an amazing book to read, but I certainly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction.

I am joining Ginny for Yarn Along this week. What are you knitting/crocheting? What are you reading? Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are up to.

Thanks for stopping by!

Slow Sunday Stitching

I finally got around to working on my Large Cross-stitch #1 again. I desperately needed to work on a relaxing craft. This is where I was the last time I checked in.

  I have filled in a few holes and worked my way down the chart. This is where I am now. Thank goodness I can really see some progress.

My dilemma today is whether to knit or cross-stitch. I also need to get to the fabric store in order to finish my table runner. Hmm. What to do? There are some chores lining up also. Remember those windows I washed? I still haven't hung the curtains on them. There are plenty more windows that need washing still. I also have to finish putting out my Halloween decorations. See the pillow in my header. I have to find it. I can't remember where I stored it. Really?! How did I manage that?!

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Check out her blog to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pumpkin Picking in Connecticut

There hasn't been a whole lot of crafting going on here lately. I have a new job as a substitute teacher as well as my private math tutoring. Let's just say that this past week I was working every day and tutoring after school also. Since it has been many years since I have had a full-time position I was more than a little bit tired each day. Those of you who have been following my latest craft know that I need to pay attention when knitting my mom's vest and working on my Large Cross-stitch #1.

I was really looking forward to the Columbus Day weekend. Hubby and I visited our daughter in Connecticut. We went wine-tasting and pumpkin picking. We took a hay-ride to the pumpkins!



My daughter had to find just the right one. 

Hubby did the heavy lifting.

We also enjoyed all of the fall colors along the way. 

This is my daughter's view from her apartment.

We has a great visit.

It is back to work tomorrow. Hopefully I will have more energy for my crafts...

They may just have to wait until next weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

Autumn Activities

The leaves are turning and the air is getting cooler. It is time for fall cleaning. Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I find window washing very satisfying. 

There are lots of windows in my house and this past week I finally got started on cleaning them this Fall. I started with the second floor windows that I never got around to cleaning in the Spring. I am lucky that the majority of my windows tilt in for cleaning.

Hubby and I went apple picking on the east end of Long Island this past weekend. It seemed like everyone on Long Island decided that Sunday was the day to go apple and pumpkin picking. Then again it was pouring rain all day Saturday. We will be going pumpkin picking next weekend with our daughter. We picked a bushel of Macoun apples and an unknown yellow variety.

That is Hubby with our full basket. Now I have to make some pies and breads.
I also made this oven roasted Italian Sausage and Potatoes. I love a one pan meal.

This is so easy. One pound Italian sausage, one pound red potatoes cut in half, one large onion cut in eighths, two bell peppers cut in eighths (I only had orange peppers). Mix together on a baking sheet with 1 tbsp. oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper. Cook in the oven at 450 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Stir halfway through. Yum.

This little guy visited our deck yesterday. He stayed in one place for quite a long time so I was able to snap his picture.

Now it is time to wash more windows.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bargello Stitching

A totally rainy Saturday meant lots of stitching for me. During the week I had gotten back to working on my Bargello table runner. There were an awful lot of strips to cut and then sew back together. Those little yellow pieces of paper have the 17 strip numbers on them to keep me organized. Too much chance to make a mistake otherwise.

Here it is at the halfway point.

Today I cut the 2nd tube and stitched the other half. I am really happy with how this came out. Ta-da! 

Next is machine quilting. First I have to buy some backing fabric. I thought I had it, but a review of my stash found fabric for binding not backing. Oh poor me, I have to make a trip to the fabric store. As if that will be a chore.

Of course all that piecing left little time for cross-stitch. I did get started on my second page though. Here is where I was last week.

This is where I am as of this morning.

I am so happy to be moving on with this.

I am joining Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!

Yarn Along

I am still working on the back of mom's vest. I intermittently have to frog. For some reason I keep messing up the pattern. It is not that difficult. Odd rows are p4,k2 across while even rows are all knit. I just knit an odd row. Ugh.....

This is how it looks this morning.....

I have finally finished reading Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker. As I said previously, at times it was like reading a history book. I found the first half of the book fairly interesting.....the part that dealt with Elizabeth's time at the White House. The part of the book after President Lincoln's death is somewhat plodding. I had to force myself to keep reading until the end.

I am now reading The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer. I actually believe I have read this book before because I remember parts of it. I didn't record it in the little book I keep with a list books of the books I have read. I am really enjoying it though, perhaps because I am at that time of my life. It is funny and uplifting.

I am joining Ginny for Yarn Along again this week. What are you knitting/crocheting? What are you reading?  Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are up to.

Thanks for stopping by!