About Yesterday

About yesterday, I actually got a lot done and had stuff to post, but as it was the anniversary of operation Red Wings, I felt it was important that we remember.  I know those types of post don't typically get a lot of views, but I'm going to keep on posting them as long as I'm able. 

So, anyway, the first thing I wanted to tell you about is that I finally got that second sleeve seamed up and my ends woven in on my great- nephew's sweater. 

All I have left to do is to sew the buttons on...as soon as I find them.  He's going to look so cute in this.  

Once I'd finished that, I cast on a hat for the Seaman's Church Institute.  

It's almost July, and I need to get a move on with these hats.  I already won't have as many as I normally send, but at least I'll have some.  

And I know I said I wouldn't, but I did anyway.  I cast on another Baby Surprise Jacket. 

Truthfully, I wanted to see how the Bitty Stripes yarn knitted up.  This is the rainbow colorway.  BTW, if you are one who knits a lot of these, that yarn seems to be great for these.  At least the first one I did turned out very nice.  

In garden news, I got out before it got too hot and ran the tiller over my garden spot a few more times. 

I made two passes over the whole area, and I think I'm getting the high spot in the middle cut down a bit.  As I said yesterday, it'll take quite a bit of work before it's the way I want it.  I'm telling you, though, if I had some advice for that landscaper, it would be not to quit his day job, but I haven't seen nor heard from him in weeks, so at this point, I'm pretty sure I've been cheated yet again.  

I'll give him a few more days, then I'll look around and see if I can hire someone else to fix the wreck he made of my yard.  This is what I'm working on right now -- getting some of the dirt away from my fence so I can get it painted. 

It's hard work breaking up that red clay.  The stuff is like cement once it dries out.  I don't know what he was thinking piling it up so high, but he had the dirt all the way up to the bottom rail -- about 6".  In fact, you can see in the upper photo up there how high he had piled it.  Aesthetically, it's not going to make that much of a difference, because it'll have raised beds in front of it anyway, but I need get the fence painted, for protection against moisture mostly, and to keep it looking nice.

I'd started working outside around 8:00 AM, and shut 'er down at 9:30, but by then I was absolutely drenched in sweat, so I sat outside in my chair for a little while before coming back inside.  It was kind of nice sitting in the shade, but it soon got too hot even for that.  

Before I came in, I made a little pond for the poor toad I kept disturbing with my dirt rake.

I put some rocks in there so he'd be able to get out easier, and maybe so the bees and butterflies could land on them to drink.  When I get the fairy garden in place, I want to have something that looks like a little creek with rocks in it, so insects and small animals like toads and salamanders can come and drink when it's hot.  

What I'll probably do is find one of those reptile water bowls, the ones that look all natural and stuff, and just put some rocks in it.  

So, that was my day yesterday.  This morning I got up and cut some spearmint and started a non-alcoholic mint extract.  I know you're supposed to use vodka for these types of things, but there isn't a liquor store between here and Walmart, and I haven't made it to the ones on the other side of town.  I'll try it with distilled water and see how it turns out.  It might not be as strong, but I'm sure it'll work.  

If it doesn't, I can always try again.  I mean, mint is something I have plenty of.   Maybe next time, I'll use peppermint.