You make the call: perfect garden? perfect chaise?

That trellis is falling down. Must. Replace. Trellis. 

 OK, it's been a great year at school and all, but I'm so ready to be done with it. In fact, today, our last day at school, was an opportunity to clean up some equipment, help the Prairie kids get their ice cream machine working, spend some time in Ashby's classroom, and say goodbye to the guys in the basement (read: hard workin' men at an old fashioned Catholic church...space in the basement? use it!!!!).  I'm already home, packing for my weekend adventure, but not a minute too soon to blog real quick about the shawl-turned halter that I just finished last night in time for our fifth grade graduation.  This is a sample of working the pattern as it goes...in the world of crochet, you never, never, know for sure what you're going to end up with.  An example, also, of pre-blocked work (Yes Doris Chan, I'm humiliated to admit, but on this perfect weather afternoon I wasn't about to go into the basement to block the thing).  Post-block pictures available sometime this summer.  Will save that for Ravelry.

 Oh, who the hell cares!!!

 So, another crochet project checked of the list.  With a newly opened schedule, I hope I won't spend the summer in a chronic state of fatigue post-workout style.  I've got a pile of yarn and other projects that are calling me as loudly as the open road.  And so, it's another attempt at the ol' balance principle.   We'll see how it goes.  There are also family responsibilities, cleaning, yard work, braces, and so on and so forth.  Wishing myself many, many, many more moments like this in the free aluminum chaise lounge from the estate sale two doors down.  I love free stuff, I especially love free stuff that never went in our car!
So the ol' life-coach in me also says: I'm not just wishing myself these hours in the chaise, I'm wishing it for you.  We all want that perfect yard/house/bedroom/body, but to hell with it. It's summer, here in the midwest. Enjoy every bug-free outdoor moment available to you. We've earned it!

This delightful pattern is painfully easy, 7 chain, one single crochet!

But Wait...there's more!

"Did you make that?" "Why, it would take years!"

Yesterday I wrote about the fabulous aluminum cups I bought at the estate sale two doors down.  I didn't even take the time to discuss multiple shades of crochet arcana!  Dig this, in the basement I find a mint condition crochet thread weight cardigan, hand made in China, who knows in what year (1970?).  The thing, clearly has never been worn, and I love rescuing crochet of any sort, especially when it's slammin' like this garment.  Even better, there was a Gala Event to attend last night and I hadn't even begun to think about attire, so snap! Instant evening sweater! Check it out!!!!!

But there's more! In the basement, there was a pile of pattern books and cooking pamphlets, usual assemblage that you might find at a house that hadn't significantly altered in 40 years or so.  Lo and behold, I find a Granny Square pattern book from the seventies that is beyond perfection.  Words don't give this little gem justice.

Yeah, baby, dare me to sport this puppy!

Ahhh. The romance of the seventies.

I get goosebumps just thinking about the fact that the crochet revival that has taken place in my own household during the past three years has been sitting practically on top of a treasure trove of kitschy goods. Perhaps we've been cosmically connected to that little house, two doors down, little molecules have been drifting up the sidewalk all this time. Who's to say?  Something could be in the air, indeed!

Made in Italy!

Remember when...

It must be Spring! An estate sale, just two doors down! I've been waiting for this one for quite a while, and although a bit overwhelming, I wasn't disappointed.  A set of mint condition Bascal cups and I'm good for the season! Been looking for something new to put in the bathroom for our new color-coded motif! Stay tuned and I'll post a photo of the hand crocheted vintage cardigan I found in the basement. Frighteningly meticulous work, would be mistaken for machine-crochet, if there were such a thing.