What Does A Southern Belle Do On A Hot Summer Day??

Well today summer has officially arrived.  Actually summer has been here in South Carolina for quite some time! It has been over 90° for the last six weeks at least.  Thank goodness we have the pool which is a welcome relief on a day like today.

And there always is the beach.  It is sooo... much cooler at the beach.  My friend Darcy and I try and get there at least once a week.  Last week we were happy that we were able to go twice.

Darcy Loves's The Beach!

Last but not least -- there is always my wonderful front porch. There is nothing that says relaxation like sipping sweet tea on a big southern porch.  Last week we had it covered with pavers and purchased two nice big comfy chairs with ottomans.  The men worked so hard and did a wonderful job!

There is such a refreshing breeze and Joe and I love sitting on our porch.  Lately it has been too hot to knit on anything heavy so I am working on a light summer scarf with little flowers.  It is a redesign of a crocheted scarf that my friend Ilse did.  I am planning on putting together a pattern for this and teaching it at a knitting class.  I have also been doing a substantial amount of reading - it is a great spot for that.  Also a fabulous spot for snoozing!!

Much of the time however is spent watching my little Gecko friends.  They seems to be living under the drain pipe.  They crawl along the top of the porch and scurry down the column and sit there looking at me.  I think they may be attracted by the music from my ITouch!  Often they seem to be playing with each other.  I wonder if they are a couple?  Oh well --  they certainly are very entertaining to watch!

So when friends and family ask - 
"What do you do all day in that hot weather?" 
I just chuckle and think 
how I have just taken to this Southern Lifestyle. 

As always "LIFE IS GOOD"! 

Happy Summer to Y'all!

Name That Tune - Or Not!!

Well - we tried our luck with Music Trivia again.  What wonderful fun!  The team was assembled - minus my empty chair!

 

 

Billy Drysdale was ready to begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dick was feeling very confident!

 

 

 

 

George was already celebrating!!

George, Joe & Pete even took time out to sing!

Oh no - Emily and Bill, our dear friends, were on an opposing team.  Well this was war and we would fight to the end.

We tried our best - had lots of laughs and came up with a few good answers,

but alas no trophy for us.  Just an evening of good friends, fun and laughs.  

As always "LIFE IS GOOD" here in Sun City every day!!

The Winners - Dan's Dandies!!

ENDING STARITITS! QUITE AN OXYMORON!!!

Every knitter knows about the dreaded knitting disease known as STARTITIS.  We all succumb to it at one time or another.  But finally ending the cycle feels good.  Yes --  finishing up projects always feels good.  In fact it feels so good that I am committed to complete all my current projects before I start anything else - well maybe not all! But I am highly motivated since I would like to complete a good many things before I begin my Rock Island Shawl.  The yarn arrived a few days ago - it is amazing- all wound in a beautiful little cake - and I am itching to start.  (Yes the STARTITIS SYNDROME is taking hold again!!)

LORNA'S LACES "HELEN'S LACE"

Besides my sense of accomplishment -- completing unfinished projects that are taking up space will make Joe very happy.  He cannot understand the incessant need to begin one project before completing what you have started.  He doesn't understand the amazing feeling that comes over knitters when they see that perfect project & yummy yarn - and the need to possess it - to begin it - even though you have a half a dozen projects in various stages of completion.  I try to resist - but the pattern - yarn - excitement keeps calling me until I can't resist any more.  And he really doesn't understand the need to stash mega amounts of yarn - but I digress and that is another subject entirely!

I did finish up the Mackies' Shrug a design by Key Lime Couture from a wonderful shop called "Knit" in Key West - and the shrug is darling! (Of course I started it even though I had other things in progress!)

But my Entrelac Cape is in progress and I am working hard to finish this before I begin my 

Rock Island. 

And if I want to be totally honest I must finish my Modern Quilt Wrap as well.  I forgot how luscious the Rowan Kid Silk Haze is!!!
And there are a few other items in the knitting cabinet but we will not discuss those at this time!! 
Finishing the ones I have mentioned will be quite an accomplishment.

Well - the lazy days of summer have arrived in South Carolina and I intend to put my time spent inside to good use.

  Oh well I guess I better get busy --- I have a lot of knitting to do!  Thank goodness it is hot outside and staying in and knitting seems like a good idea.

Cheeseburgers in Paradise!

Beautiful Beaches!!

Vacations are wonderful! Of course I feel a little guilty saying that because since I retired my whole life is a vacation.  Maybe I should change the verbiage to Exploring is Wonderful.   Last week Joe and I were able to cross one destination off our bucket list and it was definitely worth the trip!  We had a great time exploring Key West.

A romantic sunset sail!

                                                         

A visit to Hemingway's Key West Home

                    

A peek into his writing studio.

A visit to his two famous hangouts! We heard that he staggered home many nights from one or the other.

A trip to Margaritaville !

A visit to Truman's White House with a sand sculpture of Harry himself.

And finally a trip to the Southernmost point in the Continental USA. And it only took us two tries to get the Terrible Towel right side up! I guess it was all those trips to Hemingway's watering holes and Margaritaville!

Decisions - Decisions!

Finally I have found some free time to sit and blog.  Time has gotten away from me as I needed to knit three loopy snecklaces for the special people I saw at Easter.  That included my daughter Jenny, sister Robin and D-I-L Kristin.  Next I wanted to knit a fabulous hat and socks for a special lady.  The hat was a confusing knit -  but after some adjustment it did work out.  And it is fabulous looking!  I hope the recipient loves it!

Next it will be on to something for myself.  I am torn between a sensational entrelac cape,

Or the new Rock Island shawl by Jarred Flood - otherwise know as Brooklyn Tweed.

Decisions - decisions.  Both will be beautiful for sure!

Feel free to cast your vote by leaving a comment and make sure you check back for an update!!

Taste of the South!

Tree Lined Avenue into Wormsloe Plantation

Springtime in South Carolina is indeed beautiful.  I never tire of the continuing sunshine and blue skies and take every opportunity to spend time outside.  Last week Joe and I toured the ruins of what was one of the first plantations in South Carolina.  The breathtaking entrance into this estate is lined with magnificent live oaks that form a magical canopy. Wormsloe was the colonial estate of Noble Jones (1702-1775).  Jones was a physician and carpenter and one of the first to arrive on the shores of Savannah.  Wormsloe's ruins are the oldest standing structures in Savannah.  Visitors can talk to interpreters, visit the museum and see a film and artifacts regarding life on the plantation, and walk the scenic trail where demonstrators in period dress entertain and inform visitors of life during the 1700's. It is an interesting insight to the history of this area and well worth a visit if you are visiting the area.  Of course my personal photographer was hard at work documenting everything.  Enjoy all of his wonderful photos! 

My Love! 

Azalea's in full bloom!

View from the estate ruins

Summer Has Arrived and My Summer Flies is Finished!!

Summer has come early here in South Carolina!  The temperature is hovering around 94 degrees this afternoon.  I spent the morning blocking my "Summer Flies" and I am very pleased with how it turned out.  For those of you who are interested in the modifications they are as follows.

I followed the pattern exactly until Section 6 - Knotted Openwork.  Here I added a few rows as follows:

• Work rows as written until row 81.
• Row 81 -  K3, YO, K2, (YO, K3, PASS) Repeat to 5 stitches from end, YO, K2, YO, K3(199)
• Row 82 - K3, P193, K3
• Row 83 - K3, YO, K2, (YO, K3, PASS) Repeat to 5 stitches from end, YO, K2, YO, K3 (202)
• Row 84 - K3, P196, K3
• Row 85 - K3, YO, K2, (YO, K3, PASS) Repeat to 5 stitches from end, YO, K2, YO, K3 (205)
• Row 86 - K3, P199, K3
• Row 87 - K3, YO, K2, (YO, K3, PASS) Repeat to 5 stitches from end, YO, K2, YO, K3 (208)
• Row 88 - K3, P202, K3

Section 7 - Ruffle Edge

• Row 1 (RS): S1, K207
• Row 2 (WS): S1, P207
• Row 3: KFB 208 Times (416)
• Row 4: SL 1, P415
• Row 5: SL 1, K415
• Row 6: SL 1, P415
• Row 7: SL 1, K415
• Row 8: SL 1, P415
• Row 9: SL 1, K415
• Row 10: SL1, P415

Continue with the picot bind off as directed.  I used the yarn that was suggested in the pattern "Bonnie's Bamboo" and this used up almost the entire 2 skeins which was what I had hoped.  When I was knitting and got to the section Six I had almost 200 yards left - which was a full hank.  You could make the adjustments easily to accomodate whatever yardage you have.  

Most of all have fun and enjoy your summer!!