Thursday, March 5, 2015

Knitting Along

Hidey do.  Hope this finds all of you well.  I did haul my sorry self to the Dr.'s office today.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I got several meds to help me shake it.  Let's hope they do the trick!
I have soldiered on in my quest to become a better knitter.  I shouldn't say "better" knitter.  After all, the only thing I knitted were wash cloths.  I have completed several small knitted projects now.  I placed an order with Knit Picks for a proper set of interchangeable knitting needles and cables.   They arrived the other day, and I promptly cast on another hooded cowl.  This one shall be Hannah's.  Red, with no ears, just a "Little Red Riding Hood."
I knitted another baby hat for Taci's project, hats for babies in Brazil.
It is so soft and squishy.  This is for a newborn baby.  I got the free pattern from All Free Knitting.com.  They had a rolled brim and the ribbed brim.  I added the sweet little pom pom to the top.
Here are my new big girl knitting needles with cables.
I remember when I would see other gals in my knitting/crochet group working with something on circular needles and I would be so perplexed!  In the past few weeks I have learned so many things about knitting!  And each thing I complete looks better than the one before.  I also got these two balls of sock yarn.  My next knitting challenge will be to knit a proper pair of socks.  I knitted a pair that were like a slipper sock.  Done on double point needles, but there was no heel.
Yesterday we had three palm trees removed from the backyard around the pool.  When we bought this house, there were 4.  I hated them.  With a passion.  They shade the pool.  They are messy and drop flowers and stuff into the pool constantly.  And now they are so tall that trimming them cannot be done by my husband.  So it is expensive to maintain them too.  After being here a couple of summers, I took it upon myself and had the one palm removed that shaded the shallow part of the pool.  Greg has never wanted to have the others removed.  They are pretty.  But they are a pain.  FINALLY, he gave me the okay to have it done.  There was a crew here on our street yesterday doing a lot of work at a neighbors house.  The owner approached me yesterday as I was pulling into the driveway and asked me if I would be interested in a truckload of freshly ground mulch.  I said I wanted to see it.  It was fine ground Eucalyptus and Melaleuca trees.  Clean, no large pieces.  I said absolutely.  He backed the truck into the grove and dumped it.  We will use it to mulch around the trees and in my garden.
Good deal for him because he didn't have to pay to dump the truckload, and good for us, because we got it for free.  I asked him to give me a price on removing the trees, and he said since he already had a crew out here, he could do it same day, and for a good price.  I called Greg and he said tell them to do it.
By the time I got out there with my camera,  he had already lopped off the top portion of the first tree.

It wasn't any time at all that he had both of those smaller ones down.  Later he took the the stump down to the ground.  I didn't have him grind the stumps.   Then it was on to the tall one.
I was a little nervous watching him do this one.  That tree is way up there!
And then, piece by piece, section by section, the tree got shorter and shorter.
We decided to have them only take this tree down to a few feet below the roof line, since we have our clothes line anchored here, and I use that all the time.
They did a fantastic job, and hauled all of the debris away, and cleaned up the mess thoroughly.  We will certainly be using them again.  I am so excited to have those trees down!  No more shaded pool!
Hubby is at a fishing show with my brother.  I am going to go take my pounding head to bed and watch a little telly.
Tootle Loo
XO Kris

20 comments:

Bethany said...

I bought my first sock yarn too! My practice socks came out pretty good so I'm going to try real socks. It'll probably take me forever, that stuff is thiiiinnnn!!!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I once gave my father a palm tree for his birthday and he planted it by their pool...years later, it cost a small fortune to have that TALL tree removed. Not such a good gift lol! Hope you are feeling better soon, Kris!

Betsy said...

Oh dear Kris. I hope you are better very soon. You've been sick for far too long. I have those same interchangeables from Knit Picks along with a set of
Hiya Hiya interchangeable needles. I like them both and use them constantly. I love making socks on double pointed needles. I've tried the "magic loop" method but always go back to my double points.
Your yard is going to be nice and sunny this year. It all looks so stranges to me with the snow that's falling today at Mandy's. We're up to 10 inches and it's still coming down. Hubby called tonight and said it was 62 at our house! MUCH better than snow!
Feel better my friend,
Blessings,
Betsy

Jeanna said...

We have two very tall queen palms by our pool enclosure. They make me nervous during hurricane season but, so far, I haven't been able to have them removed.

podso said...

Sorry you are still sick. And it's always sad to lose a tree; it sure changes how things look but you get used to it quickly. Good for you on the knitting, I have yet to do the circular needles.

Teresa Kasner said...

That's great that you got those interchangeable needles.. I may have to do that someday. It broke my heart to see those gorgeous palm trees taken down, but I completely understand, also. But they sure did make it look tropical at your pool! I look forward to watching your socks grow. I made one pair and never wanted to do a 2nd pair.. lol! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Debbie said...

Well I am glad you got yourself to the doctors office and hopefully what they gave you will do the trick quickly and you will finally start to feel better. Being sick is just the pits. We had several trees in our neighbors back yard at our old house that CONSTANTLY dropped their leaves and junk into our pool. We complained and felt bad because it was an older couple who were on a fixed income and couldn't really afford to cut the trees down or to keep them trimmed. A couple of times we hired someone to trim them back when it got really bad. A year before we moved they finally moved and the first thing the new owners did was cut those trees down. Trust me I was doing a jig. I know just how you feel about shading the pool and cleaning debris out of them for frustration. I just wish it had happened sooner...soo many years we suffered with them. ENJOY!

Kelli said...

I hope you feel better soon. We have been so sick here as well...just keep passing it around.

Between Me and You said...

So sorry to hear that you've been ailing. I hope your symptoms are nothing serious and that you heal quickly. Your knitting is coming along a treat, Kris and I love the colours that you've chosen for your socks. I've tried to resist the sock knitting thing but I just may jump on board as a bit of a challenge to myself. I love the seamless-ness of using circs but my big coalminer's hands struggle with the smaller ones just a tad! Have a good weekend and keep us updated on the results of your meds.xxx

From the Kitchen said...

I would have no problem saying bye-bye to palm trees!! Good luck with your knitting. I am an excellent knitter until I make a mistake. Have abandoned many projects!! Hope you feel better soon.

Best,
Bonnie

Home Meadows said...

Hi Kris, I'm so sorry that you've been sick, I hope the meds will do the trick and you'll be feeling better. Your new knitting needles are really cool. I've seen the crochet hooks made in that wood too and have contemplated purchasing those. Let me know how the tweed yarn is, I've been eyeing that for some scarves, but haven't purchased it yet. I love seeing the blue skies and sunshine. We still have snow on the ground and its hard as a rock, you just walk right on top of it as if you had snow shoes on. Have a great day, Heather

priscilla said...

Feel better Kris! Glad you got rid of your trees since you didn't want them :)

Mereknits said...

First of all I hope those meds have kicked in and that you are feeling better. I have a slightly scratchy throat today, I sure hope it doesn't bloom into anything big. I understand about the palm trees. We have three in our front yard and have to get them trimmed several times a year, they are messy. I so wish you lived closer, I would hop over with chicken soup and my knitting and we would settle in for some much needed girl/knitting time. Your knitting is looking great. I have those needles and I LOVE them. Just make sure you use that little wire clip to get them really snug on the cable.
Hugs,
Meredith

pembrokeshire lass said...

It all sounds like a foreign language to me....pools & palm trees. How lovely!! Seriously though, it looks like they did an excellent job! Joan

Gracie Saylor said...

Well, I just read Mere's comment and want to come down and have some knitting time with you too,
Kris :-) We had 3 huge trees taken down last month. One was split at the top after a big branch fell on our roof. So then we were anxious and had a good tree service crew come out and it was amazing how quickly they got the job done. I am glad you got some meds and I hope that you are thoroughly well
soon!!! xxxx

Pammy Sue said...

Hi, Krissy-Poo! That hood is looking really great...your stitches all nice and even. I'm totally jealous of your circular needle set, but I'm happy that you have them. Great shots of the trees coming down! It will look naked out there to you for a while. What a deal on the mulch! Yipee. Nothing going on here. I started another bracelet in some stash sock yarn last night. It's over halfway done now. We were gone all day to the casino in Oklahoma. Had a fun day!

Pam said...

The hat is darling.

The palm trees were beautiful but when they become so much of a pain, it's time to get rid of them. I bet you are so happy they are gone.

Imagery by Kimberly said...

((((Kris))))

I hope you are feeling good as new soon! I am so sorry that you have been so sick! I enjoyed my early morning visit here over my second cup of coffee! You are a love and beautiful light! And I just love all that you create! So talented!

xo,
Kim

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Well sorry Kris to hear you are sick! No fair! Get better soon because you have lots to do…knit, knit, knit! Love ya! xox

Anonymous said...

Hi Kris! I decided to head on over from IG and see more of what you're up to. I love your blog, your beautiful pictures, and the stories you tell about your family. And of course your food and knitting! Love it! Thank you for being so encouraging and such a sweet friend on ig. Your pool area looks great now! <3