Happy Columbus Day

Jack&pumpkins
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

We don't have many traditions in our young family, but our Columbus Day trip to the pumpkin patch is something I really look forward to all year. It's actually an apple orchard (Honey Hill Orchard) in Waterman, IL. We go on Columbus Day because Doug has the day off and we can take advantage of the lighter Monday crowd. We harvest the pumpkins ourselves, then stop by the barn to pick up apples, cider, doughnuts and honey. The crop this year was totally awesome! Usually the pumpkins are fairly picked over by Monday, but it appears as though they doubled the size of their patch this year. We came home with about 80 lbs worth of pumpkins!

Noelle&pumpkins
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

Another pic at the patch

Future Knitters

koolaid
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

If you have a hobby you love but things like life tend to stand in the way of your ability to participate in that hobby, I suggest involving your children in that hobby. If your genetic influence is strong enough, they may even become nearly as enthusiastic about said hobby as you are. Case in point, Jackson has mastered the knit stitch and does enjoy sitting and knitting with me for a few minutes at a time. Noelle doesn't quite have the fine motor skills required for knitting, yet, but I found a way to plant the seeds: dyeing yarn with kool-aid! That's right, turning her into a fiber junky before she even knows what to do with it.

But it was the first day of school...

School07a
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

I've been absent for so long because we had the first day of school this week. You would think with both the kids in preschool I would have plenty of time for blogging, but I've been knitting, instead.

And another...

Ma Belle 026.jpg
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

I know, I know, it seems like I only knit for Noelle. This is another pattern that will be available from Dream In Color soon. It's currently in the works in adult sizes, too. I will have many more finished objects to display soon!

One down...

socialist complete
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

Here is the Socialist sweater I was working on. The pattern will be available via Dream In Color Yarn in the near future. I have one on the needles now for Jackson in blue and purple.

Fun with Kool-aid

kool-aid yarn
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

I don't remember the last time I had kool-aid. But I took a class last Sunday about how to use it to dye yarn. You see two skeins of sock-weight here. No idea what I'm going to do with them, yet. Ideas?