Finishing a Shawl, Finishing a Half Century

  I'm finally finishing ball number 2 of this huge shawl. I will probably finish off the small amount left of the second ball, approximately 700 yards, and bind off. This will be a nice snuggly go-to for around the homestead on cool nights and into the Fall/Winter.

It's colorway is burgundy. Bernat yarn in acrylic and wool blend. Gartered the entire shawl, making increases on each end. I have a nice silver ring holder that will work with this one well.
I had a meltdown moment when the cord came unscrewed on one end, I pulled and the entire top came out leaving live stitches, about 250 of them. BUT, I saved them by threading them carefully back on. That made me stop and make sure the interchangeable cord was secure each row.

Yup, this is on a 60 inch cord.

 

 

 

On the cooking home front, I baked these last evening for weekend snacking.

 

Speaking of Yummy!  Look at this color yarn I got at Joanne's during their GREAT sale this past week. I didn't have my coupons with me but these were on sale without coupons. I LOVE French blue and the yarn is very soft.

Colorway is Blue Heather. I loved ALL the heather colors they have but decided on this colorway for now. Pink Heather was a close second.

 

Speaking of blue, this morning is gorgeous here in the North GA mountains with lots of sun, low humidity and cool on the back porch.

 

 

finally. Sun!

 

 

My progress this week on At Home with Jane Austen designer The Sampler Girl

 

I would be finished if I could keep my hands off the knitting needles!!!

 

Really not much left to this sampler to finish.

 

 

 

Even though there's no place like staying home for real comfort, Mr. Darcy and I can't wait for another trip to see my mama and daddy. Speaking of this sampler, I actually have a collection of keys to all the houses I have lived in in my life. I have the ORIGINAL house key still for my parents house. And oh, I remember many days coming home from school with my key for after school.

 It's 49 years old because I was 13 months old when they moved in it.

I couldn't find a frame to fit perfectly for this sampler but I played around with putting it in the center with some calico fabbie on the background and my old keys on each side and it looked pretty cool!

 

I hope I finish it soon so I can show them.

 

Speaking of birthdays, I turned the big 5-0 this past week. I had a really nice birthday thanks to Mr. Darcy for all his love. We had a nice time eating out at Red Lobster!

 

My mama and daddy sent me some special momentos and a beautiful card.

My hubbie gave me a sweet card I'll treasure forever too.

 

 

 

I loved it all, the crocheted bookmark was very pretty and the bracelet too.

 

 

 

 

 

I also got 2 great knitting patterns sent as gifties by my special stitching friend Donna!!! I can't wait until I get my printer ink so I can print those off.

 

I also want to thank all readers here, who still follow my journey in this thing called life. I'm thankful for all who have shown me my strengths and weaknesses, shared creativity and interests in homesteading, and welcomed me like we are neighbors. When I first started blogging several years ago, I never dreamed of connecting with so many people, so many all over the globe! It's been a very rewarding experience in my life. Thank you again.

 

I hope your Sunday is peaceful and you are surrounded by those you love. That's probably the most important thing in life.

 

With love,

Jennifer

Poems That Mean Alot--in September

I have poems here.

 

 I have poems there.

 

 I have poems memorized in my heart.

 

I have poems in scribbly writings tucked in books.

 

I have poems on wall plaques at the homestead.

 

Sometimes, season changes reminds me of favorite ones and for September this is one of my favorites. I don't know why I always loved September but I think it's because of it's new start. A new school year. New weather. New year for birthdays for my son and me.

 

This favorite poem is from a book I have in my personal library called "Poems That Live Forever" a collection of poems selected by Hazel Felleman. I pick up this book which has several of my favorites and read them over and over. I thought I would share. I can truly say there is always a day in September that I will never forget.

September

 

The golden-rod is yellow;

The corn is turning brown;

The trees in apple orchards

With fruit are bending down.

 

The gentian's bluest fringes

Are curling in the sun;

In dusty pods the milkweed

It's hidden silk has spun.

 

The sedges flaunt their harvest,

In every meadow nook;

And asters by the brook side

Make asters in the brook.

 

From dewy lanes at morning

The grapes' sweet odors rise;

At noon the roads all flutter

With yellow butterflies.

 

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With Summer's best of weather,

And autumn's best of cheer.

 

But none of all this beauty

Which floods the earth and air;

Is unto me the secret

Which makes September fair.

 

'Tis, a thing which I remember;

'To name it thrills me yet;

One day of one September

I never can forget.

 

~~~~~~~~~~Helen Hunt Jackson

 

 

 

Welcome, September 2013

 

For Sale: Homemade Americana Primitive Candle Mats and Progress

I took a good bit of a break this week but intermittently did knit up some things and this special is first come first serve basis for 2 Primitive Americana Candle Mats.

Small candle mat~~~

This one measures 6 in x 6.5 inches and is knitted and primmed by myself this week. Coffee stained and oven baked at low temp to make a perfect Americana Prim set for you.

 A small candle or picture would be very pretty over this mat. 100% cotton hand made. The little silhouette black pic of the sweet girl with flowers was found vintage at an antique store. It's needlepoint actually and will in the future be reproduced for a cross stitch pattern. Stay tuned. I've got major printer issues right now and hope to get that fixed soon.

The second mat is the large mat. The measurement is 8.5 in x 11.5 approximately

This one is nice for the pantry with a wrought iron large candle holder (not included with order). Both are great primitive additions to your country homestead and they were made with lots of love.

Pick one or a set as you choose!

Large Primitive Americana Candle Mat is $10.00
Small Primitive Americana Candle Mat is $6.00

If bought as a set  $15.00

no international shipping at this time.
shipping within US add 2.00, only once.
Pay pal only.
First come, first serve basis HERE on THIS blog OR Feathers in the Nest FB page or at the email address on the Feathers in the Nest Facebook page.

This item is not in the Etsy shop.

These are made with 100% natural organic cotton and primmed naturally.

I hope you enjoy. I will be making more in the future. Christmas thinking and planning are already beginning at the homestead here in the North Georgia Mountains.

I've also been up to starting a new small lace scarf that has my second favorite color, dark teal in it.
Colorway is Fall Herbs.
Company is Crystal Palace

using free pattern  from Ravelry One Row Lace by Turvid.

Definitely will have to be stretched out and blocked to see the details after I finish knitting. This yarn is Bamboo, Cotton, and nylon. VERY soft but substantial and a nice stretch while knitting.

Interestingly, in the yarn store, the dark teal with the camel color drew my attention. The plum color in it also was a striking contrast; however, I've found while knitting in the car (as a passenger!), knitting in the outside daylight, knitting at home in different rooms, the teal can almost look hunter green of which I didn't want as an effect.

 

When blocking this scarf will easily stretch 2 additional inches each way and then you will be able to see the lace. I plan to make this a small length and use vintage buttons on the side.

 

I LOVE TEAL! Teal and plum colors are going to be very much in fashion this Fall and Winter as well.

 

Yup, all those itty, bitty holes will stretch a least 1 in out and look totally different after blocking.

Yummy Fall colors.

 

I'm envisioning this with a pair of dark teal skinny jeans and a light soft camel sweater.

 

 

Whatever you are up to today, I hope that you are at peace, safe, and enjoying a great Labor Day weekend!!

 

from the homesteaders at Fox Mountain, Sautee, GA.