What I did this Summer

 I finally got around to take photos of all the things I made in the past few months. 

A New Blanket

 

I made something

 Life has been a bit difficult these past few weeks and I am exhausted and unmotivated. But I managed to make a new rug for the bathroom. I finished a few other things but I am lacking the energy to drag them outside for pictures.

Mandalas

 I crocheted two mandalas and hung them in the window of my room. I used a cake of Lion Brand Mandala yarn and just let the colors continue. 

Some recent finishes

 Two shawls and a throw (made from leftover sock yarn).

Advent and a Finish

 I decided to do a bit of holiday decorating this year and started with a new advent wreath. I must have donated the rectangular bowl I used in previous years, I could not find it anywhere. So I bought a new wreath alltogether. 

And I finished a hat and finger less gloves set. It is part of Knitvent 2022 on Ravelry. I am also working on a shawl, a throw, a cowl and socks as part of the event. 

Shawls, Shawls, Shawls

A few shawls I made over the last year.

New Socks

 Still too warm to wear wool socks but I am sure the next Winter will come eventually. 😂

My latest blanket

 The pattern is called 'New Beginnings', the yarn is LB Mandala Bonus Bundle in colorway Sasquatch. It is a bit of a yarn eater (a bit over 4000 yards) but it is big and heavy and will keep me warm this Winter (probably the kitties too). I love it.

Blankets on Parade

 I finished 3 crochet blankets in the past few months. The green-brown one is called 'Phoenix' and I actually started it in 2019 but then life got in the way and it went into hibernation. The other two I started this year, the rainbow colored one is called 'Doo-Dad' and the purple-yellow one is 'Whatcha-ma-call-it'. All three are patterns by Vanessa from 'Hooked on Sunshine'. 

Around the Garden

 

Baking and Knitting

My baking mojo is coming back! Yesterday I baked bread for the first time since Day X and for the first time ever I used sourdough starter (my new - rather demanding - pet). It is a little pale but it tastes very good and has a nice texture. 

I bought myself some lovely yarn and cast on a spring cardigan. The yarn is very nice to work with and the pattern is uncomplicated and perfect for knitting while binge watching 'Call the Midwife'. 

I have a busy week ahead and find that keeping myself busy makes life a little easier and more enjoyable. Every night when I go to bed, the memories are playing in my head like a movie and I get very little quality sleep. I stay up very long, get up late but still feel not really rested.

New Socks

In between taking care of house, garden, cats and myself, I knit socks. These are my latest finishes, now all my singles have a partner. 

Gardening Part 2

When I stepped outside today a racoon walked nonchalantly through my garden and then disappeared under the fence into the neighbors yard. Last night there was a lot of screaming going on and I wonder what was fighting what. I did not see any traces this morning but it smells like something died in my shed.

I planted the herbs today and there is room for more in the bed, maybe I'll get some lemon balm, I already bought a separate planter for the lavender.

Then I put the decorative border around the newly cleared and mulched area (don't tell anybody, the bricks are not real).

And lastly I put a little fence around the bearded lily. It has spread out quite a bit and I don't want whoever will be doing the mowing this year to run it over. The fence should be visible enough.

 

I also started on my home improvement project by putting the big planters with the boxwood outside the front door. Next up is cleaning and painting the screen door and the posts. I am waiting for drier weather to do that.