Tag Archives: the last homely house

A Case of the Mondays

Posted on by
Reply
Monday, April 6, 2026

And here we are at Monday again! I took three photos this morning and had to pick just one for the first post photo … this was the last one I took. I turned to go inside with my photo of the day and saw the moon reflected in the water and then saw it up in the tree. It reminds me what it’s like to have the open water back on a calm morning. I am always sad to see the ice go out but I’m happy to have the open water back. One of our lakeside neighbors (across the lake and north of us) posted a photo of a boat on the water yesterday. They must have put the boat in in Oakland because Sidney is still iced in. I’ll bet there are loons somewhere on the lake, too. Just not by us.

I was up on the later side last night recording a lullaby for my granddaughter and knitting, of course, after a day of sewing. I decided to uncover my sewing machine after several months of inactivity and I’m glad I did. The spongey/foam disc on the thread spindle had completely disintegrated and I had a little mess to clean up. While cleaning that little mess, I cleaned the whole cabinet/table, too. Good to go for another bit. I was inspired by Kate at the Last Homely House YouTube channel and then, also, by one of my Friday afternoon knitters, to make a patchwork pouch. I have lots of fabric and thought I could cut up some bee-themed fabric pre-cuts that I have and make said pouch. And that I did.

I find sewing fun but way more brain power is used when sewing because it’s not intuitive to me. I made a bunch of mistakes along the way but I am completely satisfied with the end result. I have since added a bee-utiful ribbon to the top so I can tie it closed. But suffice it to say that the better part of the day was spent cutting squares (I cut the 5×5 inch pre-cuts into four) and then arranging and rearranging them into a pattern that I liked, sewing them together in strips and then sewing the strips together to make a 12×12 inch square of fabric. I sandwiched them together with a 12″ square of lining fabric and turned it right side out before stitching all the way around. (Kate didn’t do this and I don’t know if I would the next time but it’s good.) I hand quilted it next … and remembered how I like to stitch by hand. I have another project that’s been sitting in time out and maybe it’s time to resurrect it, too. I am so happy with the result and now I just have to figure out how I want to use it.

Once done with my pouch, I pulled out my Hansel Hap and got some knitting done. I am happy to report that I am at 154 stitches (I’ve added some of my favorite stitch markers to mark 50 stitches so the counting is easier as I grow this shawl.) I’m happy with the yarn and it’s a good project to pull out at the end of the day when my brain is tired. A few more rows and I will be able to start the border which will be even more fun and take a little more brain power (the Vanilla Sweater will then take on the late knitting role.)

I have added the third little ball of MC yarn with a spit splice so there are no ends to weave in at the end and it’s getting bigger for sure. I have a feeling this will become my atelier shawl for those times when I need a little something over my shoulders as I work.

The plumber has arrived this morning to repair the water intake system that broke about 8 weeks ago so the water has been turned off and we’ll likely be without it most of the day, So I was up and showered and dressed earlier than usual. A gift of a little bit more time to be up in my atelier to clean up a bit from yesterday’s adventure and maybe I’ll get a little bit of time to knit, too.

Oh! Here are the other two morning photos from this morning at 6am. The ice is so thin but the skating rink next door is still visible!

Gone knitting.

Easter Sunday

Posted on by
2
Sunday, April 5, 2026

Happy Easter to those of your who celebrate. We are having a (very) quiet (too quiet?) day here today. It’s rather gloomy outside and expected to stay that way so no gardening but I know that I will be up in my atelier knitting and cleaning up a little bit, too. It’s a bit of a disaster up here after a busy week. I went to a dance recital yesterday afternoon at Maine Arts Academy and was impressed by the talent and the large crowd who came on the day before Easter. It was a pretty day yesterday and 51 degrees! Spring is coming.

The lake ice is thinning a lot and ice will no doubt be out very soon. Maybe by the time I get back from my trip to Quebec City? Maybe before. There are parts of the lake where the ice is already gone and we have some water at the edge of the lake. The big sheets of ice that cover the shoreline are gone. The ice has shrunken a lot and will start breaking up and moving north with the flow of the water soon. If I’m here, there will be a video.

I’ve been working away at my knitting but not as much as I might like because I have overdone it just a bit and I have to rest my left arm just a bit. I’m making good progress on my three active projects, though.

I’ve made it past the heel (it’s a forethought heel on my Escher socks which means a strand of yarn is knitted into the spot where the heel will go and then you knit over those in pattern and down to the toe.) I’m working my way down the foot now. I do enjoy the colorwork pattern! I’ve changed over to a 9″ circular needle by Knit Pro (formerly Knitters Pride) and I’m not a huge fan although I do like that I don’t have to switch needles like with DPNs. We didn’t have any Chiao Goo 9″ needles in a US 2 at the shop but I’ll try them when they’re restocked. Hopefully soon.

I’ve cast on a new shawl project for the Wooly Thistle’s Shawl KAL. I decided to knit the Hansel Hap Half mostly because I have the wool in my stash and I’m really working on using up some of what I have (and so I can order more?) I’m working this shawl in Jamieson & Smith and Jamieson’s jumper weight 100% Shetland wool. I’m loving it! The shawl is a simple garter stitch triangle and then the fun starts with the addition of a border in more of the main color (or in my case, slightly different color but close enough) and a super dark blue, a teal for a pop of color and a white. I’m really excited to get to the border and I’m about two thirds of the way there.

And because I’ve started the shawl, I’ve let the Vanilla Sweater get neglected just a little bit. I did work on it for a short while on Friday when I was teaching because it’s easy to put down when I need to. But, it’s easy to put down when it’s just stockinette stitch in the round for eleven or so inches because it’s not very exciting or challenging. But I will get it done! I’m eager to cast on my daughter’s wrap cardigan because I think that will be “more fun”. I haven’t even taken a more recent photo of the Vanilla Sweater but I’ve only made minimal progress.

I did bake! I found a box of bran flakes in our pantry cupboard as I was straightening the other day and so I went hunting for a bran muffin recipe so I could use them up. I found a recipe that made some tasty muffins that we both are enjoying this week. My hubby, in particular, loves to have a little something sweet with his coffee in the morning. They were another simple recipe and freeze beautifully (for two of us to eat a dozen muffins, they’ve got to be frozen or they’d be moldy.)

The plumbers are supposed to be here first thing tomorrow morning. (See my post here to get the background on this story.) I sure hope they come on time and get the job done right. Our bathroom rug was soaking wet yesterday morning because the water unit thingy was leaking again. Nothing better than wondering what you stepped in before your eyes were even open. So … the water will be turned off tomorrow for most of the day and I won’t be able to do laundry for my trip until Tuesday (I refuse to do laundry today.) Tuesday will be laundry day this week and that leaves today … I think I will sew a pouch a la Kate at the Last Lonely House. I just need to piece and quilt a square and then sew it together like an envelope. One of my knitting students had made one and brought it to class Friday and I was reminded that I loved the pouch. It’s a good project for today – and maybe it’ll make me sew more often?

Gone sewing.