One of my favorite times of every four years – the summer Olympics.  Paul and I both love watching them so we are parked in front of the tv by 8pm every night (which actually is no different from any other night).  We only have basic, basic, basic, cable so we actually miss out on things like table tennis and trampoline and I’m pretty sad about that.  But otherwise, we can’t tear ourselves away (except during the zillion commercials).

The other great thing about the Olympics is the knitting challenge that comes along with it.  Pick a project (or projects) that you think would be a challenge to finish between the lighting of the torch and the end of the closing ceremonies.  And thanks to my Aunt Kathy who reminded me to get things in order before the opening ceremonies, I came up with a plan.  I wanted to start and/or finish knitting the three projects I have left for upcoming classes in the fall.

So far, since the Olympics have started, I have started and finished the Tamarugo hat:

Boy did that one knit up fast.  This class will be Saturday, September 24 at 12:30!

Then, I finished my Silverleaf shawl:

…which will look much better once it is blocked.  I’ll show it to you then, too.  So, click on the link up there to see what it will really look like. This was a great pattern and I just think it is so pretty.  This class will be Saturdays, September 24 and October 8 at 10:30!

Then, last night I started Miss Winkle:

So interesting how it is constructed.  And I love, Love, LOVE this color of the Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors II (Elderberry).  I need to get more to make something else.  It’s probably the best purple ever.  And now I have 9 days to finish it.  This class will be Saturday, October 22 at 10:30!

(And for anyone wondering, I’m scheduling another session of the Wheaten wrap for Sunday, September 25 at 11:30am)  Here is a picture of mine:

The Spinning Room will be re-opening next Tuesday, August 16 but in the meantime, if you are interested in any of these classes, you can send an email to info@spinningroom.net and let them know.

In the meantime (and while knitting), Paul and I took a day trip to Old Forge, NY.  We went to Old Forge Hardware and poked around for a while.  You could spend a lot of time (and cash) in there.  So many things there that you didn’t know you needed!

How about a whole aisle of cookie cutters and cookie jars?

Or, more choices of butter dishes than you ever knew existed?

And some yarn!  I think there was a little less than the last time we are there, so I fear it may be dwindling…  But I bought a skein of sock yarn which I forgot to take a picture of.

After that we sat by the lake and ate lunch.  It was a beautiful day (in the shade).

The last thing I will leave you with is a garden update.  Here was the garden at my last post (7/29/16):

And here it is today:

Look at the CORN!  We are terribly excited about having homegrown corn.  I did some shake-pollinating (I made that term up) which means I shook the stalks so the little pollen bits come off the top of the stalks and fall all over the leaves and into the nooks and crannies where the corn will come out.  And I also did a little hand-pollinating (I did NOT make that term up) which means taking the bits off by hand and placing them on the silky bits of corn that are popping out.  Beans are growing like crazy and I’ve already frozen a couple batches.  Zucchini is going bananas (is that a mixed metaphor?) and I’m starting to get just tired enough of it to make a zucchini bread later today.

Pretty soon, I’m off to put some entries into the Altamont Fair which starts August 16.  Then on the 20th I’ll be participating in the Spinning Bee there.  Fun times ahead.  I’ll keep you posted.