Cat(s) and garden a garden hose

Don't mix well, which is what I was counting on earlier today. I was hanging out inside and heard the distinctive sound of two cats that don't like each other, or where the other one is hanging out. I went out to see where they were and they sere off the east end of the deck, so I went inside to grab a pitcher of water. When I got back out, they had moved to under the deck, so could then be reached with the hose. As I had suspected, I was able to convince the non-orange cat to leave the area with the mere idea that it might get wet any second.
Nope, no pictures, averting bloodshed was my one and only priority.

The other day,

I mentioned "it" was happening again, starting with red and orange. There is some red growing in our yard, red birds around the yard, red blocks, and other red stuff has been noticed with more attention as I have gone about life this month.





Orange has not been forgotten.

 

 

Actually, orange is really hard to forget, given all the help it gives us around here.

With the use of markers,

and more three-needle bind off, I have turned four rows into one big block. I need to weave in the ends from that, do the I-Cord edging, weave in any remaining ends and block it to be able to declare it finished.

The very best thing for me

that has come from blogging the the past four years? All the friendships I have made and grown! Thanks all for being here, hanging in in my ebbs and flows of life and posts, and for becoming my friends. You really do make my life better, even when I forget to tell you.

Four years ago today

I started this blog, and a lot has happened in the years since. A few highlights include, but certainly are not limited to, and in no particular special order:
DTY graduated from high school; various family members have traveled here, there, and yon (some have traveled more than others); a lot of different things have been planted and grown; patios have been built; pets have been lost and are greatly missed; a pet has been gained; Hubband changed jobs and went back to a "real office" instead of working from home while in town; Mr. A has come for regular visits; Hubband started graduate school; a lot of bread-making and picture-taking improvement has happened; a whole lot of knitting (despite the lack of evidence sometimes); DTE graduated from college; a lot of making decisions for someone I love even when they, and others, didn't always like or agree with said decisions; time with loved ones was gained; loved ones lost; and a whole lot of life has been lived and learned with more to come.
There are still a lot of highlights in life to come, I am pretty sure most of them are still to be found out about and learned. I do know of at least one highlight coming soon; DTY graduates from college! Then she shall move about 150 miles and start school all over again.
I plan on sticking around for the sharing, if you all will have me and want me to share.

Using the ever wonderful

3-needle bind-off (despite the not-so-wonderful job of picking up stitches the "proper" way, at least I was consistently "improper"), twelve squares have been turned into four rows. The four rows will get a very similar treatment to become one big square this weekend.

 

Finally!

(and I am sure at least some of you know what I mean) I have been wanting to share this this with you since yesterday morning. But you might want to take a look at some of his other work as well.

It is happening again,

Project Spectrum, that is. Information here and more here, cool pictures at this link, and a few more spots at those places. May is red and orange.

 

Finished Blocks

Three white ones,

 

four green ones,

 

three red ones,

 

a blue one, and a purple one

 

are all finished. Now for the putting blocks together into one big block.

What to fix for dinner?

Hmmm. Look in fridge and find a wheel of Camembert. Look in cupboard and notice that an onion is starting to sprout. OK, Risotto it will be.

Ends

Each block has two ends per color per miter, there are four miters, plus one end for the edging (because you don't cut after the last miter), so 17 ends per block and 12 blocks. Then there are ends for putting two blocks together (2 or 4 depending on which method you use, I am not that far yet so haven't decided) and three blocks per row, ends for putting rows together, and then ends for putting the edging on.

 

Squares (2x2)x4+1=17x12=404
Squares into rows 2(2x2)=8
Rows into afghan 2(2x2)=8
Edging 2 (Hopefully that is, as in I am hoping there are no knots in the skein and that it only takes one skein.)
404+8+8+2=422 ends (or more) by the time it is all done.

 

There is a reason I weave in and take care of each block's ends before I declare it done and go on to a new block.
Almost done with another block, and then there are only two more to make before I start turning them into rows.

Last night

Hubband and I went to a small social gathering/celebration/thing related to his work. There was champagne, opened just like this (well, except it was done outside in the yard). It was pretty amazing to watch in person I must say. Geeky details here for those of you that want them.