The Golden Iris

My vacation last week included some not insignificant travel time on buses and trains, so I was finally able to finish a project for myself! These are the Diagonal Rib Socks by Ann Budd, available via Knitting Daily. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Cool and US 1.5 needles. I'm really pleased with the way these turned out, even if the knitting was a bit tedious. I'm thinking I should knit up more socks at a slightly looser gauge instead of as tight as possible - they feel a little finer and less clunky. These were also my project for this year's Ravelympics, in the WIP Wrestling event. I have too many languishing projects that I need to see through to completion, and I was hoping to get more done, but one finished project is better than none. Back soon with more sample knitting news!

There is nothing like coming home after a day at work to three big boxes at the top of the stairs, each one filled with lovely, lovely yarn. Of course, one box I had to send to myself because I bought too much yarn on my vacation - but the other two.... I have lovely yarn for socks and a top as payment for some sample knitting a while back, and more yarn for more sample knitting! So exciting. Excuse me, I'm going to go play with my yarn now.

Somehow it's August, and I'm not sure how that happened! As the years go by they seem to go faster and faster. All the heat has really pumped up my tropical plants. I woke up this morning to find that my "Pretoria" canna had its first flower. You just can't ignore that glowing orange. It's even more spectacular considering the leaves, which are green and yellow striped, offering its other name of Bengal Tiger. I also have a "Tropicanna" plant, but that one is not quite ready to bloom yet. Next year, come hell or high water, I'm buying "Cleopatra" cannas . I just love the broken color. In other tropical news, my elephant ear is unstoppable. It usually wilts by the afternoon, but I keep it watered and hot and it just gets bigger and bigger. And of course it wouldn't be a jungle without hot things. Jalapenos! Yum... Soon I'll be done with sample knitting, and it will be time for the Ravelympics and whipping up some baby sweat...