A Few More Blooms

We are still enjoying some of these camellias as they bloom. The camellia above is Jean Clere! This is a japonica camellia that originated in New Zealand and is named for the wife of its propagator Richard Clere. It has a beautiful full peony form and blooms mid-season.

Above is pictured Emperor of Russia. This one is a japonica that also blooms mid-season. Another beauty that performs well in this climate.

Philip has decided to try his hand at grafting. We have a few of these "mini-greenhouses" around the yard. The grafting procedure is akin to surgery, requiring great care for clean cutting instruments and following tried and true procedures. The new graft is housed in this cylinder and covered with a piece of plexiglass, moss, and a brick! This will stay on for at least 2 months before uncovering to be sure the graft has "taken".

As I understand this, one reason for grafting is to propagate the growth of a beautiful (but perhaps slow-growing) variety on "root stock" from a plant that is more hearty, rapid-growing, and has better tolerance for the growing conditions of the area. Another reason for grafting is to propagate a plant that is not commercially available. A cutting may be taken from a desired species and grafted to produce a new plant.

Update on knitting projects:

The Baby Surprise Jacket and the Christmas Stocking knitting projects are progressing. I am waiting for a little pink cotton cashmere to arive in the mail to add in for stripes in the BSJ. The size is going to be larger than I expected and will require more yarn than I had on hand. I think the pink will be perfect to add a little interest. Will post a picture as soon as we get a little pink going .

Mending

I am so happy to tell you that I got a good progress report from the orthopedic surgeon today. I had more xrays taken and you can see the new bone forming in the fractured area. The ankle parts are still in good alignment. So this is going well. I am to wear the lovely boot for another week and then transition into a much less obtrusive ankle brace. I can wear the ankle brace with shoes . . . AND with the ankle brace . . . I can drive!!!! Definitely, good news!!

After my doctor's appointment, Philip and I had a chance to check out some beautiful old camellia gardens in Savannah. We were so amazed at how old, mature, and beautiful some of these trees are. We came home and admired our own few specimens. This is one called Georgia National Fair. You can see a little cold damage on a few of the petals, but still very pretty.

Another one we found blooming today is one of favorites: Frank Houser variegated. This is a reticulata which has bigger blooms than the japonicas.

I know I need to be working on other knitting projects that are already begging for attention, but I felt the need to have one more item in my baby gift stash. So I found some Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmereand cast on Baby Surprise Jacket #2. This is a pretty cream color. This is pattern is always fascinating to watch evolve. Too early to tell much here, but we will disect it as we progress. I'm hoping to find some pretty feminine buttons for the ending.

Hemlock Ring - FO

At last, at last the Hemlock Ring Blanket is finished. Totally done. Blocked. In my lap as I write this post. I have read about this a few times, but it is astonishing how different the size, texture, and appearance of the blanket looks after blocking. Here's a picture of the blocking. I blocked it on a queen-size mattress and it still was a little too large for that area. There were a few scallops hanging over the side of the mattress.

Here's a close-up of the center, pins still in place.

Two views after dried and pins removed.

Lacy and beautiful!!!

Also, here's an update on the intarsia project. Christmas stocking . . .Santas done, tops of Christmas trees on the horizon.

We're looking forward to Melissa and Dow's wedding this weekend. Many friends and family will be here. I know we'll have a great weekend helping them celebrate!!

Block Blankie

The weekend has gone by quickly, as most do! Sister Cathy was kind enough to help me run some errands yesterday, as I'm still sporting the Herman Munster boot. No driving yet. We are all trying to get ready for the big event in February. Only two more weeks until wedding time for Dow and Melissa. I need to add a few items to the baby gift collection, so I tried Block Blankie by Corrina Ferguson. I used the Muench Big Baby on size 13 needles. Colorway 5503 which is bluish-green/yellow. The yarn is really thick and soft. This pattern works up very quickly -and is a great size for a baby carrier or stroller blanket. I've also started on the Christmas stocking and slowly trying to learn the technique of intarsia. I think I'm getting the hang of it, but it's difficult to ignore the chaos of the different colors hanging at the back of the work. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow. I've also been intrigued reading all the news about the Bohus Exhibit currently at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. An interesting history of this knitting style can be found on this blog. Here's a small sample of bohus collars. I would love to take a class on this technique.

Potpourri

I'm coming to the end of my "time-out" from this broken leg. If all goes well, I will return to work for half-days beginning tomorrow. I am so very grateful for all the care and concern of so many friends and family members for helping this time go by so smoothly and so quickly.

You have all kept me well-fed and well-entertained. The meals have been delicious, the cards and phone calls have boosted my spirits. I have enjoyed lots of knitting, time on the internet and ravelry, and quite a few good bridge games. My nieces, Meccay, MaryGrace, and Joannie visited yesterday and brought me this colorful "get well banner". You make me feel very special.

Remember these hand-knit stockings from a previous post? My Aunt Cathy Hightower was kind enough to bring the "archives" of her stocking-making handiwork for me to look through and begin Christmas Stocking 101. I'm not sure I'm ready for this task, but I have a huge desire to learn. Hopefully, that will make me successful.

I have learned that she "wrote" this pattern after studying the Christmas stocking of a friend. (I can usually follow instructions, but I've not advanced to being able to construct the pattern and graphs required to do this.) Needless to say, I'm in great admiration of her ability. These stockings are a family heirloom and we have tremendous gratitude for her labor of love.

Here are some pictures of the patterns that I will try to follow.

Well, we're all tiring of seeing the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I have about 150 more stitches to bind off. As you can see it is still "puffy" and I can't wait to get it blocked. . . though I know it will be a huge task.

Wish me luck getting back to work tomorrow!

Hemlock Update

It's not done yet, but I had to share how beautiful this bind-off is on the Hemlock Ring Blanket.

Pretty time-consuming, but the perfect ending to this amazing pattern.

It's pretty cold here for a few days, high 20's last night!! Time to sit by the fire (with my foot up!) and stay warm with all this wool in my lap as I finish....not a bad way to spend the afternoon!

Interruption

Well, one never knows what's in store from one day 'til the next. Little did I know last Wednesday morning that within the week I would be sporting footwear reminiscent of Herman Munster's weighty boots. (Remember the TV show?) Thankfully, the boot is only on the right foot due to a graceful fall last Wednesday. My right fibula is broken and will take about 4-6 weeks to heal. In the meantime, I am temporarily confined to the couch. I plan to get back to work next week for some short days. I am frustrated to have this unexpected "vacation" but it has been really been comforting to have so many wonderful friends and family members come to my aid. Many thanks to you all for helping me get through this little challenge. The extra "down time" has given me a little chance to enjoy some knitting. The infamous Hemlock Ring Blanket is within 3 rows of being finished. I'm anxious to work on some other projects and , as always, can't wait to cast on something new during this healing process. I will get some pictures posted soon.