Guisel's Birthday Party

We had such a wonderful party for Guisel. She is 22 years old now, and oh to be that age and know what I know also. Not possible, I know. I made a TX cake for her and of course we all enjoyed it, and there was even some left over for the men when they got home. Guisel cried when we sang "Happy Birthday" to her, both in Spanish and English. Ualsi is one of the neighbors and has 2 little boys who are just darling. Rachel loves to play with them, but gets jealous when they want to play with her ball. They have so little and are so happy a people, that I am so dumb struck from time to time. I wish I would have thought to get some ice cream for the party too. They are always so grateful for anything one does for them. The gifts they give me are so heart felt, and I can only imagine the price they pay from their heart. I truly feel like a member of their family. They worry about me, and watch over me as if I were. It warms my heart.

Knitted Socks

Mountain Color Barefoot Yarn - Double Seed Stitch w/reinforced heel













I love the colors too! The yarn was a dream to work with.

I finished these a couple of days ago, and wore them yesterday. I was chilly enough, first day since January it has been cooler. These socks were in the making for a while, and I kept laying them aside to work on something else. Being a process knitter, it is not very important for me to finish a project, especially when I get my eye on a pattern I really want to try. I usually get back around to each project, but sometimes it takes me a while to un-earth it again. I must have started these early in 2007, don't remember exactly. I usually knit while I am watching TV or visiting with someone, so I don't have time to think about what I am doing, and socks require so much more. Now that I am down to somewhat of a routine here in my life, I can work on socks most afternoons while I sit out on the patio. I have started another pair of socks in a beautiful 100% Merino and they feel so good in my hands. The yarn is a Fly-Dyed Monarch yarn, in a pink/royal blue/aqua combo.

Birds, A Bonus

Yesterday was my anniversary, coming to Costa Rica a year ago! And the neighbor came by very early in the morning with my bird cage, and 2 new birds for me. One was blue and one was the traditional green/yellow parakeet. The boys, my pups, went crazy! Being Bichons, they have a thing about being jealous to start with, and after the last squirrel episode, they were not having any of it! It took me most of the day to get them to settle down, and stop with the squealing. Today, it started again, but not as much so. Yesterday, it took me a good portion of the day to clean up the broken flower pot, and the pee from the first episode. Then this morning, the blue parakeet was gone. He had "flown the coop"! I guess he was just small enough that he got between the bars, and got away. I have the cage hung out on the patio, for it is warm enough most of the year for them to be outdoors. So now there is one...sad little parakeet. I am going to have the neighbor modify the cage, by covering it with a smaller weave of wire. The neighbors raise the birds for the local pet stores, and I even hate to go tell him that the bird is gone. But...here I go...wish I had had him make a cage, instead of buying one to start with. Oh, well...such is life.

A Beautiful Shimmering Slip-On Cami

I finished this cami and wore it last week to the Knit-In. Now, I am sorry it was in my UFOs for so long. I had started a few other things, and put it aside, again, while my friend was here from the states. I am a process knitter, and can be easily diverted by another beautiful stitch or a pattern that is absolutely darling. Finishing is never the goal. I knit for the serenity it gives me and my pups always take a long nap when I pick up my knitting. Now it is finished, I am so pleased with how it worked up and I will wear it many times, for sure. The blue and white slacks I bought while I was in Hawaii several years ago, will go beautifully with it. The Plymouth Royal Bamboo was a perfect choice for this cami! It has a natural sheen, and the name of the cami indicates that also. The fiber is made up of 8 or so strands, so it will separate if you are not careful while knitting with it. It is not for speed knitter projects, but well worth the time when it is completed. This is the first bamboo fiber project I have worked with, and will try some other brands of bamboo fiber also. The cami lays very well again the body, a factor of the fiber.

The pattern I used is free at http://www.craftown.com/knit/pat7.htm They contacted me and asked if they could use it on their website. They loved how it turned out too.