Cicada Observation Adventure

GB#1 has been with us for a little over two weeks.  

We have had many adventures and done lots of fun activities, 

but every visit has to end and she will be flying back to her home tomorrow.  

While playing on the play set one last time before her visit was over, 

GB#1 discovered a cicada emerging from its shell.

We were fascinated by it so we watched its tiny curled wings unfurl.

It wiggled and twitched its legs until they were free of the shell.

Its wings continued to get larger 

and one final push was needed to finally be completely out of the shell.

It rested while its wings dried.

Once it was ready the cicada left the shell behind

and ventured off.

Cicada number two was found nearby and was a bit behind the first in emergence

but caught up quickly.

The third cicada was just as impressive as the other two. 

I hope this is another adventure that GB#1 remembers for years to come. 

Wishing you adventures to remember,

Sharon

Smiles and Twirls

I've made a blue dress for the birthday girl. 

I used the swing dress option from the First Day dress and top pattern from Made.  

I added blue rickrack,

and made her a blue button necklace.

 Can you tell that blue is the current favorite color?

The dress has a back slit and button opening,

and is lined with a fun dotted print.

In fact the lining actually makes this dress reversible.

I think the necklace looks equally well with this side of the dress,

and the dress that is now the lining is just as fun on the flip side.

I am considering this completed project a success 

based on the smiles and endless twirling that happened today.

Wishing you fun completions,

Sharon

Time Flies

This little one (GB#1) is 11 months old.

I don't think that's really possible.

But seriously, it is possible.  Time flies.

See you soon,

Sharon

The Eyes Have It

Day 18:  Eyes

GB#1 has the eyes for today's photo.

Don't forget to vistit Raewyn, Rachel and Marga for their June pictures.

See you tomorrow,

Sharon

Challenges

Hi again,

Today's challenge picture is Books.  These are a couple of my favorites.  

I haven't made anything out of them yet, but I really want to, and in the mean time, they are wonderful books to read over and over.

Today I think I'll do a little catch up also.  Last month GB#1 turned 9 months.

It was not her preference to lie still for the mosaic photo.

I was lucky to get this one with a scowl.

She was much happier sitting up, playing with my lens cap.

(Backdrop is a quilt made by Little E, GB#1's mom)

  

Today GB#1 is 10 months old.

I could tell right away it was going to be a challenge.

Almost exactly like last month, she did not want to lie down for the mosaic picture. 

She is much to busy for that.

This is the best I could do.  Unfortunately, the picture is not very well-focused. 

(Backdrop is a crocheted hexagon blanket made by GB#1's Aunt M. 

You can find the pattern over at Attic 24)

Finally free of the photo session, she smiled and smiled in the swing in the back yard.

More fun tomorrow,

Sharon

While I'm Otherwise Occupied

You know the drill.

GB#1.  Mosaic picture.

Good job, Little E!

On March 6th...

it snowed.  It was a heavy, wet snow.  

The drive over to Little E's was a beautiful one.

GB#1 got ready and we did our photo shoot as usual.

It was not a particularly smiley day because all she really wanted to do was roll over.

Any day now she will be a mobile monkey.

That is, when she's not doing this.

It is getting harder and harder to pick my favorites from the mosaic photo shoots. 

I love them all.

See you tomorrow (really, another photo shoot),

-Sharon

Recently

Warning:  Knit heavy post.  

There is a reward for those of you who make it all the way to the end. 

Yes, if you are not into knitting, go ahead and scroll all the way to the end.  I don't mind.

Recently I've completed some knitting projects 

and made some decisions about long completed items.

This little pixie hat was completed several years ago with no recipient in mind.

I bought the yarn on vacation in Washington.

The pattern was free with the purchase of the yarn.

I now have a willing recipient, so GB#2 is the proud owner of a new hat.

Next is a cozy little neck warmer.  

This was actually almost finished a long time ago.

All the knitting was done but the sewing together up the back was not going well.

So it went into the "I don't want to think about it anymore" spot.

Finally, the other day, I got it back out and made up my mind to make it work.

The cables were not fitting together properly at the join.  

I started there and did the best I could and then did the middle.

I am assured by my family that any little goofs will be covered by my hair.

I believe that the saying "Done is better than perfect" fits here.

The next recent finish is a belated Christmas gift.

One end has free form cables and the other has something a little more planned. 

Much to my surprise my son, T-Bone, had never received a hand-knit scarf 

and asked for one for Christmas.

This is the same project I showed in this post on my 366 day blog.  

The color here is much closer to its actual color.

And finally, 

I gave you a sneak peek at this last project in the post about lining my knitting bag.

GB#1 is also the proud owner of a new hat.

And now for your reward for getting to the end of this post... 

A couple weeks ago I saw this on my drive home.

The sky looked like it was actually on fire. 

I pulled the car over to take the picture.  It was absolutely not to be missed.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

-Sharon