Seasonal signs

It was 45 degrees when I got up this morning.  We've had a much cooler August that I ever remember with temps in the 70s and very few making it into the 80s.  It feels strange and it's got everyone worried it will be an early winter.  Even if I do managed to finish my Lotus Blossom tank by the end of the month, I think it might be too cool to wear it!

There are lots of these dropping all over the place and I'm really starting to see the leaves of the maples turning on my way to work.  Can I just say I'm not ready for that yet?

However, I am getting ready for my favorite fall holiday!  I picked this up on my way back from Cape Cod a few weeks ago in the hopes that it would get my stitching mojo going again.  I love Halloween stitching.  It didn't work immediately but last week I picked up a UFO and started stitching again. 

This is PS All Hallow's Eve where I left off the last time I was working on it (can't remember when that was!).

And here is where I am after some weekend stitching. Tonight I need to give my knitting some attention but this one is tempting me to keep going so it can be framed and ready for Halloween - this year!

On another note, some of us are a bit under the weather.  Beau had an emergency vet visit on Friday because he couldn't sit down and was carrying his tail like it was broken.  Turns out I'm the worst pet mom ever because he had several different issues going on that I was clueless about and required some medications and the dreaded collar to prevent him from further aggravating the hotspot on his tail. 

He looks so pitiful and I didn't last long with him making him wear the collar.  He's doing much better but I think his feelings are quite hurt at being made to look so embarrassing.

Keeping me engaged..

While I may not have been using floss and a needle to occupy my time this summer, I have not been idle.  I've just been using different needles.

I started another pair of socks a while back and these photos are from the first sock.  I started them back in April and I have finished one and am working on the 2nd.  These are Escher Socks from Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn by Carol J. Sulcoski.

The pattern is a little fiddly so I try not to knit these when around others as it's easy to get distracted and off pattern. 

The yarn was gifted to me quite a few years ago and I'm happy to have had it in my stash.  It's a really pretty blue/green/purple combo from Jojoland.  Thanks Kathy!

They are going to be too small for me but I think I've found a home for them in a young lady entering 8th grade.

They have taken a back seat to a project I started at the beginning of July and hope to finish before the end of this month. 

It's the Lotus Blossom Tank from the Summer 2006 Interweave Knits magazine issue.  I fell in love with the top when I first saw it and attempted to start it back then but my skills just weren't up to it at the time.  Those pesky yarn overs had me stumped.

My skills have grown from knitting socks so I figured it was time to tackle this again and I'm really pleased with my progress.  I've completed the front and begun working on the back.  Hopefully, I will be showing you an FO in the near future.

Resurfacing

Summer is sliding towards a close and I'm finally updating this blog.  I guess I lost my stitching mojo after working for so long on my CHS Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow because I've barely picked up a needle to stitch in the last three months. 

I wasn't sure what to start so I picked up Plum Street Samplers "Mary's Sampler" from last year and finally got that finished.
I think I will finish it as a flat fold or large cube for display this holiday season.

It's been a great summer here in Maine and I've taken advantage of it with lots of trips to the beach. This has been my view many a weekend morning since early June and I'm actually sporting quite a bit of tan these days.

In July I spent a weekend in Boston visiting my oldest niece who is finishing up her nursing program by taking extra classes this summer.  She will be getting pinned in December and starting on her Masters to become a Nurse Practitioner.  We had a really great visit, ending with a visit to the SoWa (South Washington) market.  We were both huge fans of the food trucks!

I had lunch from the ramen truck and it was delish - along with a Thai basil limeade from a different truck.  My niece had crepes and the photo above was the Roxy's Grilled Cheese truck.  There were 7 or 8 different trucks and it was hard to choose!

The market covers three separate areas in the arts district and includes this food truck lot, a farmers market and a crafters market.  Some of the artist studios are also open and several of the local shops including a bead and yarn store, a sewists, letter press printer and other unique vendors.  It's only on Sunday's but it's worth a visit if you're in Boston.

I also finally went on a "booze" cruise as it's called which is really the sunset cruise around the Portland harbor.  We went on the 12th and the weather was absolutely perfect.  We got to witness the totally amazing moon rise over one of the many islands.

I'm just back from a few days on the Cape which were lovely.  The weekend started out rainy but improved greatly so that we could get in a good beach day.  For the first time ever, we had a house with a pool and that was the absolute best thing ever.  Lots of fun, laughter and cannon balls. 

I've got a few days left and I'm planning to play in my craft room, do some "beachin" and reading before starting back to work again on Monday.

I hope your summer has been equally enjoyable.  I'm going to be making the blog rounds to try and catch up with what's been happening and maybe gain some inspiration to jump start me back to cross stitching.