Falling Away

Wow, September is half over and its becoming obvious that fall has arrived.  While its not really cool outside, its considerably cooler than it has been in past weeks.


 I am so thankful for that! It makes planning knitting projects all the more fun.  And we have a new knitting store in town ~ you heard me right ~ a new knitting store.  Danger! Turn around and run for your life!  Get out while you still can.
Sorry folks, its too late.  I've been twice in the last week and I'm officially on a yarn diet as of right now.
There are little voices inside my head (in the room?) saying to me, Really?? You needed more yarn?
Okay, maybe that was me reading my husbands thoughts.  Thoughts he doesn't dare utter, because he is wise.  Getting in between an addict and their drug is dangerous business.

Its not like I don't have lots of yarn in the stash (secret location), but I bought yarn at The Joy of Knitting to be supportive, friendly, and to help them know I cared.  Or maybe just because I couldn't resist these two really lovely skeins.  That probably more like it.  So here they are.  I offer them up to you, and confess my sins.  I was off the wagon a bit this week!

Beautiful green and blue Schaeffer yarn

Knitting Progress:

fingerless glove

I cast off a small fingerless glove and I pressed the little pillow square I promised to make for my daughter. Its super tiny.  A 12" x 12" square is a lot smaller than you think.  And its a little on the thin side, so I'm going to call this a sampler or starter pillow.  They're so easy to make and take hardly any time or thought, that I'll definitely start another one tomorrow while watching the game.  This one will be much larger and thicker, just you wait.

blocked cable pillow

Spinning Progress:
I finished spinning the beautiful white linen; its plied and 'hanked', ready for a small weaving project like a runner or placemat.  Maybe a cute purse or bag...

white linen

Friends and Family:
And I promised to share the other pictures from my trip. These are photos of the orphanage my mom's dad lived in for a while when he was a boy.

back of building 2012

Front of building 2012

Back of building 1935

Front of building 1935

Inside front stairs

Inside back of stairs

 Times were hard in those days, I suppose.  I know there was family around, and my grandpa did live with various family members during harvest, etc.  Children were considered extra help or labor, in a way, and both sides of my family experienced the joy of helping their families when needed.

 My grandfather passed away many years ago when I was just a child.  My mom says he was a very hard worker and I remember him being a strong man with a very deep voice.
I think he called me Peanut, and he always patted me really hard on the top of the head and smiled.  He and my grandmother owned a sawmill like the one on The Waltons. My grandma always said they were "tripping logs" or making boards. Grandpa served in WWII in Germany.
God bless you Joseph Miller.  And may you rest in peace.

Yesterday Once More

We had a great visit with my parents last week - we drove down on Wednesday, and came back home on Friday so Thursday was our only day to spend together. 

Sunrise on Thursday morning was really beautiful.I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Sunrise.  I used to climb that tree on the left.

View from the front yard looking south (that point of land is for sale kiddos!)

We always said "front yard" when referring to the water-front side of the house.

My folks are precious to me, and it feels like I hardly ever get to see them.  We spent the entire day together on Thursday, morning till evening, and wrung out the day like a wet dish rag.  Breakfast at IHOP, sightseeing downtown (Mobile), drove across the bay to my favorite antiques place, then supper at Cracker Barrel. It was over too soon! 

Mom and  Dad (married for 52 years!)

Their lovely new house post-Katrina.

View from the front yard  looking north

Looking north from the porch swing

New friend - little Tony from NYC

While driving around downtown, we stopped by the building where my dad used to work when I was really young.  It was a great place to park when we went to Mardi Gras back in the day.  The building is in disrepair now and is owned by someone else, but they allowed us to come inside and grab a few photos.  

This is the stool my dad used for many years in the office. 

Square metal stool; mid century modern ~

See the stool just inside the opened garage?

Original light fixture

These building were once used as carriage houses!

Below is the original bakery building where the public could view bread being made and packaged on conveyer belts.  The buildings above are where the delivery trucks were serviced and painted. The red lamp above is where the old gas pumps were.

I also got to see the orphanage where my grandfather lived for a while.  It is deserving of another post, so I'll save those pics for later.

I did get a lot of knitting done on the drive to and from my parents' house.  I'm really glad I took it along.  I completed the first chart and have started the second!

Rows 1-24 of the Flower Basket Shawl

I pretty much completed the first cable pillow and need to bind off and block it. 

While we were at the antiques place, I found some really cool milking stools from Europe.  I think they were French or German.  Most all of the items in the place are from Europe, and usually from Scotland.  I had pretty much decided on a stool to use with my spinning wheel in the garage, when I changed my mind.  The price was too high and not really negotiable. My mom seemed pretty sure that there was a stool at my grandmother's house, on the back porch that I was welcome to use.  

Granny's round wooden stool

As soon as I sat on it, I knew the height was perfect to use with my spinning wheel.  And to double my joy, I knew exactly where it came from, so now there's sentimental value attached to it.  What a find!

And to round out this post, I have to share the peach wool I'm spinning.  I love this color and can see another shawl in my future......