the dotted line

100.4 F :: 38 C

One Hundred Point Four Degrees Fahrenheit.

Thirty Eight Degrees Celsius.

So so hot. It's like living in an oven. Or being blasted by a hair-dryer. Continuously.

I promise I won't complain about how hot it is all the time...let's face it, it's only going to get HOTTER...but today was the first day it's been this hot and I'm a little shocked...and very thankful that we have air conditioning and access to the community pool.

caught in the act :: when they're not playing or chasing each other, they cuddle

four hours later :: still sleeping

a pincushion for me :: tired of getting poked whenever I reach into my bowl of pins

* More pet photos. I know. I feel terrible about it, but they're just so hard to resist. And they're with me 24/7, so I just can't get away from their cuteness. I will, however, try to maintain some form of self-control. That goes for complaining about the heat, too.

unfocused

It's been a busy week preparing for yet another very special visit :: this time my mum will be making the trip from Scotland to California. Needless to say, I can't wait!

hourglass progress :: 6 inches

All of those stitches are s-l-o-w-l-y being knit, one by one. The late-afternoon sunshine that bathes our living room with warmth and sends Bailey and Oscar into dream-filled naps on the sofa is perfect for stealing a few precious moments to work on this sweater.

what a bunch of squares :: pattern by denyse schmidt

This past weekend, I was also able to indulge in a whole afternoon of sewing...above are the beginnings of a very simple quilt, using cream, pale blue, robin's egg blue, and charcoal kona cotton.

I am loving the slow pace and simplicity of these projects :: I feel a little unfocused at the moment and am utterly exhausted with the heat, so slow + simple is perfect.

1264 down :: 20540 to go

Some of my favorite buttons...just because.

Now for the not so pretty. I finished the first sleeve of the hourglass sweater, and I loved it. It went very quickly, the yarn is gorgeous and I love the color so much. I just started knitting the body. And now I know why I have enjoyed making baby-sized clothing so much. Because adult-sized clothing is H-U-G-E in comparison. It's kind of scary when even your husband says "Wow, look at all those STITCHES! It's gonna take you F-O-R-E-V-E-R...and, honey, you do knit quite slowly"...I started to defend myself by saying that this sweater is really simple and once I get the hang of using circulars, it'll be fine...although I don't really believe it and am now in a slight state of panic. So I brought out the calculator...and decided that even if I only knit five rows a day, I'll finish the body in about a month. And the second sleeve will fly by. That's not too bad, is it? I then decided to calculate the number of stitches completed on the body so far [approx. 1264] and compared it to the number of stitches left to be knit [20540]. Just for fun.

Hmmm...not that much fun afterall.

a treat for miss sandy-whiskers

It seems we've finally made some progress with our puppy troubles...last night we were actually able to go out, on a date, no less!! And she didn't bark. Not once. And - gasp - it was on a weeknight, while our neighbours were home! We beamed with pride [and relief] as we stood outside the front door waiting for the silence to be broken with desperate howls, giggling with excitement as the minutes quietly ticked by. We went out and reveled in our newfound freedom by indulging in some very yummy curry and a glass of wine. We came home to find her curled up in her blankets, sound asleep. We were so PROUD of her, we promised to take her for a nice long walk to the beach today...

miss sandy-whiskers :: loves to chase hermit crabs in tide-pools, digging in the sand and checking out surfers...yes, that's right, our girl likes surfers and flirts whenever she gets the chance! She also likes the mail-man and refuses to continue our walk until she gets a cuddle from him...I literally have to d r a g her away. She won't bark at him or jump up on him, she'll just hold her ground between him and the mail-boxes and glare at him with her puppy-eyes until he kneels down and offers her a pat on the head. Which she takes as a sign to put her paws on his knee and her forehead against his...prime position for a belly rub...should I add that she doesn't quite care for any female in this way? Except maybe *J's* mom, whom she loves very much and searches the house for whenever we talk on skype. Who also recently reunited her with duckie, a chewed-up soft toy duck that is now void of all stuffing, but is LOVED very dearly, and was missed greatly during his absence.

a lovely afternoon on the beach, curled up in one of our favorite blankets [it's normally so warm that we don't need a blanket, but it's been incredibly WINDY here...]

the reveal

I can finally reveal the purse I made for my KPS partner, since it is now on it's way to her.

materials :: cascade 220 for knit [partially felted] purse, charcoal re:form pear fabric for trim and handles , kona cotton in 'charcoal' and 'snow' for lining
pattern :: my own

the package :: art yarn's handpainted supermerino [brought from canada], chocolate, west elm incense cones, handmade mini stitchmarkers, handmade stationery...

seaside

Yesterday I received a wonderful package of beach-themed goodies from my KPSII swap partner, Cheryl.

lorna's laces in colorway 'seaside' :: golden sand, seaweed, deep blue ocean and the cool white spray of waves hitting a rocky shore

These colors evoke such vivid memories of days spent walking along the windswept beaches of Western Scotland, my birthplace + in so many ways, my home. I can't say how much I love walking along the rugged coastline, while the angry grey skies threaten rain and the wind blows my [very curly] hair into a tangled mess. And when the rain finally comes lashing down and the waves crash hastily against the rocks, my mind is clear and calm, and I feel at home. No matter how much I become immersed in other cultures, I can't hide from the Scot in me. I resign myself to the fact that my heart will always beat a little faster whenever I hear the bagpipes, and I may even shed a tear or two!
insert a couple of lines of 'Scotland the Brave' here - just for you mum + grandpa!

everything needed for my first pair of socks :: 2 skeins of yarn + the 'rippling dunes' sock pattern

beachglass + a handmade cable needle, as well as a pattern book for cable knits and another cable needle

the purse, which Cheryl decided to knit after reading my posts about the beach :: such a meaningful + personal touch

also included in the package was :: 2 skeins of Cotton Fleece, Lindor truffles, lavender scented wool wash, highlighter tape and beautiful shell stitch markers

Thank you Cheryl, you spoiled me!

whirlwind

What a crazy, but wonderful, week this has been! Full of entertaining, travelling, visiting the sites...and sharing our new home with family + friends for the first time. The week ended a little tearfully as we said good-bye...the quietness and emptiness left behind made me realize just how far away from home we are. And that we're not on holiday...we actually live here!

hourglass sweater :: one sleeve done [loving the softness of this yarn, and the color...]

from my secret pal :: a beautiful shell necklace, that will make me feel a little more californian, and some lovely lavender soap [not pictured here]

the hourglass

Yes, I have finally decided to join the many other people who have made the 'hourglass sweater' from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. I had wanted to make this sweater before I knew the online knitting community even existed and had no clue that this pattern would be so popular. At the time, I didn't feel ready to tackle something adult-sized...too much yarn...too many stitches...too much stockinette. Lately, I've been itching to make something a little more time consuming, but not necessarily more complicated or challenging. Possibly something I could wear. Something simple + comfortable. A sweater, in the softest pale grey yarn...

the yarn :: Rowan Baby Alpaca DK in color 'southdown'

this yarn is beautifully soft + truly indulgent, a favorite already

Deciding to knit this sweater meant temporarily giving up my beloved bamboo needles and investing in some addi-turbo circulars. I have knit about five inches of the first sleeve and I must admit that they really are quite fast and very smooth. Some other benefits: you can't lose one of them + beagles don't like them as a snack. The drawbacks: they don't have the same warmth or natural feeling + my hands start to ache sooner. We'll see how it goes...

summer

The cherry blossoms are gone, trees are heavy with leaves, the roses are in full bloom. The sunlight no longer floods our rooms, but is filtered through thick layers of branches + leaves, providing sanctuary from the heat.

preparation for the arrival of *J's* family :: staining outdoor furnitue :: planting flowers for the patio :: nurturing our new miniature valencia orange tree :: hot summery air scented with freshly cut grass + orange blossoms :: crushed ice + lime juice :: one tired puppy, after chasing geckos and watching ducks drinking from our sprinklers in amazement

finally found

*This photo-laden post has been brought to you by the memory card that has been hiding out in the depths of our sofa for over a week.

my knitting bowl :: perfect for keeping small projects away from puppies who have a taste for bamboo needles

in progress :: baby sweater knit with the charcoal yarn

completed :: two sleeves + back