Son of a Dish Rag Tag

The box arrived.

I opened it. I turned on food network for the kids. I knit.

In a few hours I had a cloth ready to go back into the box. I took the kids to the P.O. and box was on its way to MO.

The kids want to know when another box is coming. I never put a hold on school to let them watch TV. I was excited that I made it to the P.O. before the last pick up of the day....that way the box wasn't stuck with me for the long holiday weekend.

Son of Dish Rag Tag!

I signed up! This is my first year, and I'm super excited. Are you in?

Amazing Grace!

I stole this title from Nancy, but I don't think she'll mind. A few weeks back Grace gifted Nancy with a beautiful shawl. And then a square for a blanket popped into my mailbox. I was blessed by this knitter before I even knew that she was my spoiler!

My package from Grace for the Keepin' Cool in Summer Dishcloth Swap arrived on Monday. She Rocked!

2 of my kiddos fell asleep during their reading time. 6 was here to unpack the box and take photos. Here's the over all shot. (click to make bigger)


What Grace couldn't possibly know...sometime last week, after she sent me a baby blanket square...I was checking out her ravelry projects. I really liked this one. I just favorited it today. And Grace sent me this book. (best link I could find) How could she have known?

***my 4th of July knitting was a heart cloth from the book in red white & blue cotton.***

And then there was...cotton yarns, M&M goodies, US #5 needles, purple beaded stitch markers, a bath scrubbie & bubble bath (smells heavenly), 2 dishcloths, teas for me, animal crackers for the kiddos, and super cute notecards. The quote on those should be my motto. "Don't count the days, Make the days count." I'll have to admit that I've been counting the days this summer. Now that we're down to 50 before the start of a new school year, I'm a bit freaked out. But, it doesn't matter if there's 50 or 5...I need to make those days count.

Thanks Grace for an awesome swap box.

Dishcloth Topic #2

This week's topic:

Living in Atlanta, I know Summer has truly 'arrived' when it begins to get humid. Blech. When I was a kid, I knew Summer was starting the easy way - School was out!! Share with us how you know that summer has truly 'arrived', or something that signifies the start of Summer in your world.

Today it's HOT! My thermometer in the shade says 98. I just talked to M, and he passed a digital thermometer on the road that says 103. I don't care what number you give it...IT'S HOT! We were at the park in the morning, with a stop at the grocery store on the way home. 6 said, "Let's just stay here [the freezer aisle] for the entire summer!"

Growing up, we didn't A/C, I think then summer was the buzz of the box fan. And of course, the last day of school.

For a few years, I've been at home with toddlers. There was no real structure to my seasons. But, this is the first year that I've had one in school. The last day of school was really special. And this time, I'm not sure if it was more special to me or to him.

Dishcloth Topic #1

For this week's topic, make a post on your own blog sharing YOUR favorite pattern(s) with us! Don't have a favorite site? That's fine! Show us a photo of one of the cloths you have made and really loved, even if it was just a made up pattern!

I'm not sure that I have a favorite pattern. I've only made a few washcloths. Last summer, I knit a few of the ballband. And for my kids Easter baskets this year, I knit the plain old diagonal squares (Ravelry link). **I just realized that I had the yarn a whole 6 months before I started those. ** Those might actually be my favorite because that's the pattern my Gram taught me the first time I learned to knit (the summer I was 12). There's something comforting about how timeless this pattern is.

I just found a pattern that I'm going to knit my pal. I was browsing Ravelry and found this one. I love it.

Swap Time!

The Questionnaire

***Summer Dishcloth Exchange***

Please post to your blog no later than the end of registration June 6th!

1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? I'm a knitter. It's been 4 1/2 years now.

2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle\hook? I like bamboo, Addi's, I have some Hiya Hiya for magic loop, and I have some Bryspun DPN's. I think the needles need to match the project. I don't think I would like #1 bamboo DPN's because my kids are likely to break them too quickly. I have Addi DPN's for that. I just bought a new bamboo #5 circ for my SquareCake because the silk was too slippery on metal.

3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand? Araucania, Dream in Color, Koigu, Collinette Jitterbug...this list could go on and on. 000

I'm not sure that I need any fun fur or Homespun. I knit scarves with both of those when I first learned to knit...and that's enough for a lifetime. Other than that...I think I'm open to try new things.

4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't? So far, I've only had the Sugar n' Cream. And I've used the Cottontots by Bernat. I've seen the Lion Organic Cotton, but haven't had a project to try it on yet. I'm sure there are lots of cottons to try. I think I'd like to try the Panda Cotton for some socks.

5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts? Some of both.

6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike? I love blues...Sea Blues, Sky Blues, Denims, the blue of my Gram's eyes...that live in my daughter.

7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in? My bath towels are a smokey blue-gray. My kitchen walls are a sunny yellow. I'm leaning towards redecorating with Swedish things in the kitchen...so colors of a dala horse.

8. What are your favorite scents around the house? Grapefruit& Apple for summer. Cinnamon for fall/winter.

9. What is your very favorite thing about summer? NO SCHOOL (I've loved homeschooling my kids...and I'm excited about next year. But, to not have to keep record of all the fun things we do will be freeing.)

10. What is your least favorite thing about summer? It's HOT!

11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower? Bodywash

12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath? Freesia, Grapefruit (God Bless Bath & Body Works)

13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern? The Ballband. But, just recently, I knit up a pentagon in cotton that was on Knitty Gritty as a modular knits coaster. I think it could be a great washcloth/dishcloth. I used the 55 stitches for the trial one. My next one will be bigger.

14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty? Dark Chocolate...Dried Fruit...

15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather?

16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting? Gardening. Reading.

17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!) I just noticed, with my new mug from Carly, that I must collect Starbucks cups...since almost all of them in the cupboard are Starbucks. And I love all the cool tape measures. I got the bee from Ursula. And I have one of Anita's that M put in my stocking. I also have a great leather one my MIL bought me at Brighton. That's not a big collection. But, they're so cool who can have just one.

18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID! aDayInTheLife

19. Do you have any allergies? Shellfish...so that means that the tofutsies scares me. Strawberries, and Mangoes. Penicillin too, but I'm sure antibiotics won't end up in my swap box. ;0)

20. Do you have any pets? Do the kids count? Oh, I mean a leopard gecko.