Timmins is under a state of emergency because of a huge forest fire, close to 32,000 hectares, which has been burning out of control for over a week and is getting closer daily. People have been evacuated from homes, cottages and campgrounds in the outlying area, and the highway to our closest major city has been closed for over a week. On Thursday, the huge cloud of smoke travelling over us made the air quality so bad that my knitting girlfriends and I had to leave the gazebo to come inside and close the patio door and all the windows in the house. If you're the praying type, pray that the winds will die down, substantial rain will come, and the fire can be brought under control.
Meanwhile, life goes on. Yesterday was my daughter's graduation day from her Bachelor of the Science of Nursing program. It's hard to believe four years have gone by, but I know it was a long time and a lot of work and sacrifice for her and her husband.
The boys helped celebrate their mom's graduation at a backyard party given by one of the other girls' family. They are "Dynomite"!
Risa was fortunate to get a job in the local Health Unit in the family programs department. Part of her duties include teaching the prenatal class to young couples, and it seems to be catching. We're expecting our third grandchild around the first of November. I won't start knitting baby stuff until she is far enough along to go out of town for a 3D ultrasound and hopefully find out the gender this time. Of course, this baby will be loved no matter what, but you know I'd like to knit little girly things .
For now I'll just have to help spoil my girlfriend's little granddaughter. I still had most of a ball of the purple yarn left, so I made a hat to go with the sweater in the last post. Kelly Brooker's pattern is very good value, including instructions for five weights of yarn in sizes from newborn to adult, with charts for two different lace patterns to match two of her sweater patterns. There was a very smart idea for blocking: blow up a balloon to the circumference indicated in the pattern for the size and allow the hat to dry on the balloon. Here's Lily's beanie:
My other finished object is a ruffled scarf I started last summer from Frillseeker novelty yarn. It was fun to knit for about the first six inches, then I found working with the wide mesh yarn just slow and annoying. But my girlfriends came back from Florida with a few of these scarves made, and I thought I'd better finish mine before the fad is completely passee.
I chose the Neapolitan ice cream colors of my yarn to coordinate with some chocolate brown mix and match pieces in my wardrobe, but truthfully, I don't know if I'll ever wear it. That big ruffle makes me feel huge and top-heavy. If you've knit one of these types of scarf, leave a comment please and tell me how you like it.