The Story of a Pumpkin Hat

If you have been a reader of my blog for a while, you probably remember my dilemma over what/if to knit something for my newest great-nephew.  His parents are not ones to care about handmade things, so the pressure was only my pressure on myself.  But you see, up to this point, I've made all of my great- nieces and nephews hats when they were born.

Also, they live in San Francisco, so he didn't really need something warm.  At first, I was going to make him an elephant pillow from some fabric I had.  Then I decided that no, I'd knit him a toy.  I thought I would knit Elefante, by Susan B. Anderson.  Checked the pattern, decided that a) it was kinda fiddly, and b) it had some crochet, which I do not know how to do.  Moved on to a Baby Bobbi Bear, and got it all knitted.  Then I went to stuff it, and instead of looking like a cute teddy, it looked like a mangled teddy who was put back together by a blind person.  By this time, it was fall.  Parker was born in May.

So, I had a brilliant idea - I'd knit him a pumpkin hat!  YES!  The pattern is one I've done several times, and I knew it was doable in a short amount of time.  Away I went, knitting it up quite quickly.  I figured I'd be able to mail it on Saturday (yesterday).  Then my sister sent me this picture.

Sigh.  Let's face it, a baby doesn't need two pumpkin hats.  So, new plan.  The nearly completed pumpkin hat that I was making, would be for Doughboy's newest little brother, Paul.  Since I was using Encore, it would be nice and warm for his little baby head in Colorado, where they now live.  And Parker ... well ... I think I will make him the elephant pillow (sewing) that I had originally thought about making.  But, since we are going away at the end of the week, I probably won't even start it until we get back.  Such is life.

On the plus side, it meant that now I had a baby gift done!  This yarn

had become this hat

and it did get sent out to its recipient yesterday.   So all's well that ends well, I guess.  But I am wondering if just buying Parker a gift would have made more sense ... 

Details:

Pattern:  Patrick's Pumpkin Hat (I made the largest size, so it can be used for a couple of years)

Yarn:  Encore Worsted - pattern used roughly .08 ounces of the green yarn, and about a third of a ball of the orange

Needles:  Sizes, 5, 6, and 8US

Modifications:  None, except for the recipient!

Comments:  This is one of my favorite baby hat patterns, and it really is not that difficult.  I managed to make this one in four evenings of watching TV after dinner, and for me, that's pretty amazing.

******

As I mentioned, we are going away later this week, so we'll see how much of anything else I can accomplish ... that's it for now!

Furball Friday

Sometimes you are just worn out, you know?

Have a good weekend - try to take it easy!

Ten on Tuesday - Whodunit???

Here's another topic that grabbed my attention!  For this week:

Ten Favorite Mystery Books 

(you can choose mystery authors, series, or individual titles)

I enjoy reading mysteries, from very difficult, intense ones, to cozy mysteries that are just plain fun to read.  However, since I am nearing 100 years old, individual titles are becoming hard for me to remember, so I'm going for series that I enjoy, listed here in no particular order.  (Needless to say, there are numerous others that I also enjoy, but these ten immediately came into my brain.)

1.  The Armand Garmache mysteries, by Louise Penny.  These take place in Quebec, and Armand Gamache is an older detective who is older, fond of literature and music, and takes his time thinking through the evidence.  

2.  The Bess Crawford mysteries, by Charles  Todd.  A mother and son team, calling themselves Charles Todd, write stories about a WWI nurse from England and so far, the mysteries all have some kind of relationship with one of her patients.  There is also a series focusing on Inspector Ian Rutledge, but I find those less appealing.  

3.  The Cat Who ... mysteries, by the Lilian Jackson Braun.  I discovered these in high school, and enjoyed spending time with journalist Jim Qwilleran, and his two sensitive Siamese cats, Koko and YumYum, as well as the residents of Moose County, where Qwilleran settles when he receives an unexpected bequest.  I have read them all, and no they are not Literature, but they are entertaining and sometimes that's all you need.

4.  The Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries.  Rita Mae Brown writes these with the help of her tiger tabby cat, Sneaky Pie.  I love the characters of Crozet, Virginia, and always like to see how Mrs. Murphy (a tabby cat), Tee Tucker (a corgi), and Pewter (an overweight gray cat) help Harry Haristeen and the other humans solve mysteries.  Again, very entertaining, and I love the discussions that the animals have amongst themselves.

5.  Sherlock Holmes mysteries, by Arthur Conan Doyle.  Classics, and never out of date as far as I'm concerned.  My favorite is "The Blue Carbuncle," which takes place at Christmastime, because (of course) I love that time of year, and I also like the word "carbuncle."

6.  The Needlework Mysteries, by Monica Ferris.  Entertaining, and they take place in Minnesota, so the locale and the weather is often as much a character as any of the people involved.

7.  Lisa Scottoline's mysteries, particularly those featuring Mary DiFazio.  Lisa Scottoline writes a witty, suspenseful book, and most of them take place in Philadelphia or the region, so you recognize locales that are being talked about.  Mary DiFazio is a South Philly girl, and I especially like it when she visits the old neighborhood.

8.  Clare Fergusson mysteries, by Julia Spencer-Fleming.   Clare Fergusson is a former military officer who is now an Episcopal priest in a small community in upstate New York.  She herself is an interesting enough heroine, but her relationship with the local sheriff, who is a married man, makes the stories more complex than you would generally expect.

9.  The Vish Puri mysteries, by Tarqin Hall.  Vish Puri is a detective in modern-day India, who loves to eat.  He works on solving crimes while also dealing with his mother, his wife, and an adult daughter, all who think they should have priority in his life.  I would suggest not reading these books when you are hungry!

10.  The Chet and Bernie mysteries, by Spencer Quinn.  Chet is a dog, and Bernie is a divorced man who lives with Chet in southern California.  The two of them make up the Little Detective Agency, and often are in need of funding, so take cases they would prefer not to take in a more perfect world.  Chet's observations as a dog just simply crack me up.  These are a lot of fun to read!

Old Photo Friday

My sisters and I at Bear Mountain, probably 1960.

(standing in the back, Mary Ellen; sitting to her left, Nancy; 

in front with the white boots, ME!)

The first place I consciously remember living is Teaneck, New Jersey.  We used to go to Bear Mountain pretty frequently, and I remember loving it, but not much else about it.  I hope to go back sometime, to see if anything at all looks even remotely familiar.  I do, however, remember the hooded jacket I'm wearing here, and there are several pictures where I'm sporting it.  As I recall, it was dark green and white, large plaid.  I was a fashion plate even then ...

Have a warm and cozy weekend!

Docket #PA-0065-1008

In the morning hours between 10:30 and 11:45 on Monday, October 8, 2012, a homeowner who had been out running errands found that a food crime had occurred during her absence.  

At the time of her departure, there was approximately 3/4 of a loaf of home-baked pumpkin bread that had been baked the Saturday prior, on a plate with plastic wrap covering it on a table.  Upon return, she saw clear evidence that something untoward had occurred.

Exhibit A: a torn piece of plastic wrap, and a licked-clean plate on the floor below the table where the aforementioned pumpkin bread had last been seen.

The Primary Suspect:  Dug, aka "The Doodle Dog"

The Snitch:  Milo, aka "The Koodle"

When the homeowner walked in, "The Koodle" seemed particularly excited to see her, and happily led her into the next room, where he proceeded to prance over to show her Exhibit A.

At that time, the homeowner searched the room for suspects, knowing from prior experience that The Snitch did not like pumpkin bread.  On the other side of the room, looking quite guilty sat The Primary Suspect, with his head down.  Upon approach, he continued to look shamefaced and started to slowly wag his tail.  When he raised his head, there was an overwhelming scent of pumpkin breath.

Upon questioning, The Primary Suspect broke down somewhat and pleaded no contest, thereby saving the Commonwealth and its taxpayers both time and money.  

The Primary Suspect was given probation, as it was his first offense, and he has not before even faced accusation.  He departed from the court, and retreated to his crate for a nap before reappearing and making every attempt to act as if nothing had happened.

The Snitch retreated to the basement, where he was last seen chasing pill bugs.

This case is hereby concluded.