Dragon's Orchid Garden

I collect bookmarks.  I knit bookmarks.  I design knitted bookmarks.  I use bookmarks.  My little metal dpns (double pointed needles, usually used for knitting socks) are constantly in my hands.  My latest bookmark design is called 'crocus pocus'.  The pattern for it is available on Ravelry .  It's just a buck. I've knitted 6 of these so far, given away a couple.  The third one in the picture has a big old mistake.  Can you spot it?  The one on the right was knitted on #3 dpns, instead of 2s, so it's a little bigger.  The finished size is about 2 1/4 by 6 1/2 inches without the tassel.  The pattern consists of two simple lace charts and is a wonderful way to learn lace knitting and reading charts, which is essential for knitters who would like to tackle more involved lace projects like shawls. Blocking lace is easy and necessary.  Just wet the bookmark and stake it out with blocking pins.  Use lots of them...

We built a small backyard pond four years ago, originally to hold our large Butterfly Peacock Bass, Jack.  After Jack's demise, we bought koi for the pond.  Moby is now almost four years old and 2 feet long. Last summer we enlarged the pond, replacing the rigid pond liner with flexible liner.  We also upgraded the filter system.  The one piece we haven't had in the budget is a UV filter .  We've had such a hot rainy summer, that the pond has had a perpetual algae problem.  Cleaning it is a big job. Wayne saved the rigid pond liner, which he set up and used to hold the fish while emptying the pond.  Lots of muck on the bottom was removed and the filter medium thoroughly cleaned.  After refilling the pond with water from our well, we let the filter work for a day.  In the meantime, Wayne set up a sun screen so the temporary pond wouldn't get too hot. Shaded temporary pond on the left a really big net Moby now has a nice clean clea...

Today a neighbor gifted us an old cast iron sewing machine base.  It is exactly the right sized base for a piece of granite we had been saving.  The granite was cut out of a counter top to fit a sink.  For the 100th time, my dear husband stated, "this is why I never throw anything away".  You should see our garage...stuffed with stuff just waiting to be used again. Here is the sewing machine base... and here's the granite... and here's the finished plant table with my variegated oregano and a couple of orchids. Cast offs that would otherwise end up in a landfill can enhance and add a bit of whimsy in a garden.  Bowling balls decorate a new planting bed. A rickety seatless rocker, painted white, frames a plumbago. More great ideas for junking up (I mean enhancing!) your garden can be found in Garden Junk  by Mary Randolph Carter.  Your local library will loan you this book and many more absolutely free!  How ...

Are you still there?  It's been a while.  My friend, CRC, talked me into resurrecting this blog. Today is her birthday.  Happy birthday, my friend.  You are exactly one day OLDER than me. This orchid began blooming this week for our birthdays...yours, mine and Karyn's.  I have no clue what it really is because the squirrels stole the tag long ago.  I named it Karyn, because her birthday was first. I promised you I would write today, and I promise myself that I will continue.  Next up, goings on in the garden, the craft room, and maybe even the library.

It has been more a year and the Phaleonopsis we bought on Valentine's Day last year is still blooming.  The bloom spike, unwound, measures 61 inches. From orchids From orchids Bearss Groves is on my way home from work.  I stop there every week for fresh squeezed orange, or tangerine, or grapefruit juice.  Lately, they've also had Phaleonopsis orchids by the register, one for 8 dollars, or two for 15.  I cannot resist!  I've bought four of them in the last two weeks.  Maybe there will be another perpetual bloomer.

Thanks to R.Balliot for the phrase, "there's a book for that".  I painted two more shirts recently.  I make them for friends.  They're not for sale.  I painted the first one for me over a year ago.  I wear it occasionally on casual Fridays.  It never fails to get comments from library patrons. I use Neopaque acrylic paint by Jacquard and a stiff synthetic bristle brush.  Masking tape helps me to keep the lines straight.  After painting, the fabric air dries for a day.  Ironing for 30 seconds front and back sets the paint.  I've washed mine dozens of times and the paint is still fine.

What the hell happened to the month of January?  I blink and it's gone. I've been busy knitting, drawing, writing with an actual pen on paper...more about the pen and the paper later.  I did make a new bookmark, but haven't graphed the pattern, yet. This is a picture of the 2 test knits for said bookmark.  The third and the one I like best is blocking.  I need to name it.  I'm open to suggestions.