All the Way Around

Yesterday I put a push on to get the outline of the border done. I removed about 1/3 of the stitches I had stitched in order to correct mis-counts or being out by one thread. I had to resort to using the magnifier on my lamp in addition to my 3.0 magnifying reader glasses.

Now I can stitch the motifs socially and probably not screw up as much.

I frequently dragged my needle across to the border on the other side to make sure the alignment was correct. Thank goodness I was able to figure out where I had gone wrong. 

I also decided to unpick the deer that was below the house on the right as I didn't want to repeat the counting error on its mirror image on the other side.

I usually knit at night while watching TV. Last night I almost completed the leg of the second helix sock.

Scooter has settled in here for the next few weeks. He teaches English as a Foreign Language to folks all over the world so I told him he could set up in his dad's office. I really haven't been able to do a lot of clearing out of Skip's stuff but made space on the desk and bookshelf.

I'm pleased Scooter has moved his teaching stuff into that space so it can be separate from his bedroom. He  does a lot of conversational stuff with the children he teaches so has lots of props to prompt conversation. The little flour dough hand imprint below the clock was made for his Grandma on the occasion of her 80th birthday in 1997 when Scooter was 3.9 years old. (written on the back)

It's nice having him here and not too much of an adjustment. The house is big enough we can both do our 'thing' and not get in each other's way. I've always enjoyed spending time with him.

The girlies are planning a road trip to a stitching retreat in August. Sadly, Jen1 and I won't be attending because it overlaps with the time she and I will go to music camp. I could have attended both and just left the Ottawa retreat early on the Sunday - driven the 4 hours to Whitby, packed up the car for camp, picked up Jen1, and driven the 2 hours to 'camp' at Wilfrid Laurier U in Waterloo. Even though I want to do 'all the things', I opted to not overdo things. Instead I'll do my own little road trip in SW Ontario at another time.

Speaking of retreats. I'm starting to get my mind in gear for my departure this Sunday. Check-in is 4pm so I'll leave in time to visit a Len's Mill store in Waterloo en route. (not that I need anything - cough).  I'm taking way more projects than I'll ever work on but I want all my bases covered. I just thought of another sewing project I can take - must make note of it in my phone.

While I do all my crafty things, I often listen to podcasts. Lately, I've been listening to 'The Secret World of  Roald Dahl'. Very interesting. He authored, 'James and the Giant Peach', Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'BFG', 'Matilda', etc. I don't believe I've read any of his children's books so have a couple on hold at the library. I may even download the eBooks on my iPad rather than wait for audiobooks to become available.