The Empress's New Clothes

Well, maybe not even the queen, but the manequin outside has some new crocheted duds.

Crocheted shawl made from Noro Kureyon Sock yarn, two skeins purchased at Mosaic a couple of weeks ago. Worked up fast in a simple pattern I made up. Crocheted skirt, Violet Beauregard, in Takli Cotton Classic. Nice skirt; it just looks awful on me. I think I gained weight during the LONG time it took me to complete it!

It's a Beautiful Day!

Greenberry House and the new look

I finally went shopping and found some ferns for the porch; I had the idea I wanted to go for a cool, bistro look this summer. The porch furniture was serendipity earlier in the year, and I at long last finished the Leaves sweater. The avocado seedlings are fun, too, and get some attention.

Jane Plaugher is teaching a workshop here next Friday, July 25 at 12:30 on Entrelac Knitting. $25.00, Number 8 knitting needles and knitting worsted, basic knowledge of knitting required. Drop me a note if you're interested at leslie@greenberryhouse.com.


Forecast:
Meadows of Dan, VA
(Clear 83*F)
Today Mostly Sunny 68-83*F
Sun Mostly Sunny 68-83*F
Mon Chance of Storm 67-83*F

Come up and beat the heat this weekend in Meadows of Dan! I've got a cool shady porch!

On the Shop Porch

Where's Mom with dinner?


Look! I'm a bird!

Belated Happy 4th of July!

Making a Crocheted Shawl from Noro Sock Yarn

Holiday activities are rare for me; I usually have to work through most of them, since I've been in retail forever. But Friday night we took advantage of an evening celebration in town to have pizza for dinner, listen to some fantastic music and watch an awesome display of fireworks. If you're in Meadows of Dan over the 4th, Christopher's Pizza is the happening place!


Local Fire Department helping out

There were lots of festivals and things going on around the area; I should have gotten my ducks rowed up and put them on the Meadows of Dan blog. Not enough hours in the day, I'm afraid. I did manage to run out and get a picture or two of the banner that is to advertise the Folk Fair, on August 9, as it was being put up in town.

On Sunday we were invited to a baptizing in a pond high on a hill near the community. Not many congregations use a pond these days; this particular church does have a baptismal font. But the individual concerned liked the idea of an old-fashioned ceremony, apparently. It was lovely; out under a hazy sky with a still pool in front of us. The choir sang as the pastor and new church member waded out into the water.

I've been spinning silk hankies I bought at SAFF from Lori Flood and really enjoying the bright red and purple of the colorway "Royalty". Trying to get them done quickly as I have several other projects pressing, but had the wheel set up to spin fine. I'm also crocheting in odd moments on a shawl from the Noro fine yarn I bought at Mosaic the other day. I'm making this shawl up as I go along, so I'm not sure what it will look like!

Woosh! That was June going by!

My new neighbors

And July is starting out just as busy! It's lovely to just stop a moment and watch the clouds drifting easily across the sky. The hummingbirds have been visiting the hosta blooms by the window, and a noisy sparrow just hopped across the ledge fussing. There's a swallows' nest on top of a post on the porch. I've been watching their progress. Mom and Dad Swallow are both busy feeding the little ones now after an anxious watch and wait. Apparently all the activity around here doesn't bother them.


Spindles and More

When I went to Sedalia I didn't have much time to look around but I saw some customers carrying around these beautiful spindles. I made a dash out and picked up a card, and Darcy is graciously allowing me to sell these lovely pieces in the shop. Each is signed and numbered and would be such a pleasure to spin with. Darcy also has a sense of humor; I love "Blaze Orange" for spinning during hunting season! Can you guess which one is called "Teach Me to Spin"?


Fayetteville, West Virginia, Demonstration

I spent last weekend in Fayetteville, West Virginia, dodging raindrops and spinning some lovely Jacob wool I bought from Perfect Spot Farm. The New River Gorge Heritage Festival was very nice; new, maybe, because it was small but it should grow. The location was lovely. I was set up next to a Civil War encampment on a quiet town street. Two of the residents were kind enough to offer shelter if the storms became too frightening. I made it through two nights in my tent, though, sleeping on straw and tossing ants and some sort of friendly black bug out into the night. It was charming to sit spinning as twilight fell and the lightning bugs rose out of the lawns all around me.


Completed Some Sock Yarn Shawl

Since it rained a good bit last weekend, I finished this crocheted shawl. More details on my Ravelry page, but it's a simple pattern of double crochets and increases to make a triangle shape. I went over to Blacksburg yesterday to pick up bunny feed and stopped in at Mosaic. I'd been dreaming about that Noro sock yarn....