Back to Blogger for a Minute

Wow.. I finally am able to access this blog again, it's always fun to read back and see what I was doing, not doing or just thinking about in the way back.  The dog has grown up and is HUGE.  I have grown quite fond of her though I thought I never would.  She lies on my feet and keeps them warm in the winter and sleeps at the end of my bed, a comforting presence in the dark of night. I've gotten back into blogging, but have been using LJ as it is my most long standing blog, but since I was here thought I'd do a quickie post and put up a couple of pictures of Natty so you can see how she's grown.

Natty

I vowed not to ever have another dog after the untimely and grisly passing of Duke.  Anah, my granddaughter, never let an opportunity pass when she thought she could change my mind.  At last, I told her that if the Universe sent us a dog then I would adopt it. 

Thus, near the end of June I was outside when I heard a sound coming from under the deck.  Huddled there was a tiny brown bundle of fur, whimpering softly and scared half to death.  She was so cute (aren't they all?) and so needy.  And, after all what do you do when the Universe sends you a puppy?  I couldn't help but love her and Anah was and remains beside herself ecstatic that she has a dog now.  Naming honors went to Anah who chose "Natty". I thought, how cool.  She named her after Bob Marley's song, "Natty Dread.".. Oops not so.  Her cousin, Lainey also has a new dog and her name is "Maddy."  She wanted a sound alike name.

Life with a puppy is challenging and quite a change.  I feel a bit sorry for my cats at times.  Their lives have definitely changed but I figure they have a cat tree if they really don't want to play.

Looks like Natty is going to be a big dog.  She weighs 46 lbs at abt age six months.  She is brindled and Anah says she is a "Tasmanian Wolf" which seems to be some sort of prehistoric critter she read about. She has those deep brown eyes that seem to look right into you and see all your secrets.  She's not always very biddable but we work constantly on teaching her to behave well.  Its kind of like having a baby again.  Its work, its fun.. and after all every farm really should have a dog.  Thanks Universe!

Zucchini Brownies

One of the women in my knitting circle gave me this recipe yesterday and I was quite pleased with the results.  Although it is looking like I may not have any more zucchini this season (hot weather & squash bugs are taking a toll) I will certainly make this recipe next summer.


Zucchini Brownies

2 Cups flour
1/3 C. baking cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup oil
1/2 c. pecans (chopped)
2 tsp vanilla

Mix flour, cocoa, salt, and soda in a mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine zucchini, sugar and oil.  Stir in vanilla.  Add dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 dgrees for 35-40 minutes.  Enjoy!

Keeping You in Stitches - Volume 7

Frogging and Tinking…Basic Knitting Terms, You Don’t Want To Use

At a recent meeting of “Tuesday Morning Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers,” an unusual hush fell upon our usually chatty group.  Some were contentedly working on their projects in silence, but most were quietly counting, the numbers flowing softly out into the air creating a buzzy undertone.  You might wonder why so many of us were counting that day.  Keeping count of your stitches is necessary as pattern stitches must be verified and the amount of stitches in a row has to be accurately maintained.  If you come up short or long, correction can be irritating.  No one wants to rip out their work and so we count.

If you are knitting along and much to your dismay see that six rows down you have a horrible ugly error then it is time to rip it out.  And then you just rip it, rip it, rip it ... gently pulling the thread from the stitches. This action is the basis for the knitting term of “frogging.”   We knitters envy the crocheters the ease with which they can rip their work, just a tug and the stitches come out easily.  Not so with knitting.

Knitters are free to frog their work too if they dare to strip all the stitches off the needles and then do what it takes to get them back on.  We have some dedicated “froggers” in our group. Virginia once completely frogged a single sock so many times that the yarn started getting fragile.  When we caught her at it, we exclaimed a collective “STOP!”   And proceeded to show her how to go back to her error, correct it and then go from that point on again. At last her sock is getting longer.  (Now if we can just convince Marie of the same thing.) 

Frogging is certainly not fun, but if your error is several rows down, if you just don’t like the pattern or think it is not going to fit, then frog you must. If, however, you discover an error in the row you are currently knitting, the recommended method for repair is called tinking. A knitter who has an error in an intricate pattern will cautiously remove stitches one a time, backing them off to the left hand needle.  Essentially this is un-knitting or knitting backwards, therefore we have the term “tinking” which is knit spelled backwards and indicates unknitting your stitches.

As much as we would like it to be different, errors are by no means uncommon.  We sometimes talk too much,  our project falls on the floor and off the needles; the cat decides our project is a toy, or that TV program is just way too interesting and we lose our place.  Certainly there are any number of ways in which you can lose count or lose your needles; believe it or not, some patterns actually contain errors that take a while to sort out.  Everyone makes mistakes and they are really not that difficult to correct.  As with the whole of knitting, or of life Patience is certainly a virtue.

                               

So, don’t “tink” you need to frog your whole project.  Bring it to the library on Tuesday morning and we will do our best to demonstrate the easiest way to get you back in the swim of things.  Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers meets every Tuesday at the Little Dixie Regional Library at 9:30 a.m.  We tink you’ll like it so join us!

Keeping You in Stitches - Volume 6

When Size Matters… 

If your knitting project is something flat, long, or square as are dish cloths, scarves, and afghans, or even a triangular shawl, you can choose your pattern, buy the yarn and needles called for in that pattern and get underway.  Nothing has to “fit.”

Perhaps you have seen the cartoons showing the sweater a granny lovingly knits for that little boy and it looks as if it is shrink-wrapped to his body.  Or the college co-ed who made the sweater for her guy and the wrists of the sleeves hang below his knees.  These knitters set themselves up for disappointment in two ways.  They failed to measure the person for whom the garment was intended and they skipped checking their gauge.

Pay attention to the gauge shown on your pattern.  We know.  You found this great pattern and bought the yarn and needles suggested and you are eager to get started.  STOP!  Take time to knit a small swatch (piece).  This step may be boring, but is necessary.  You will get an indication of how your personal knitting tension compares to what is given in your pattern.

How do you create this gauge swatch?  Cast on about 20 stitches and knit one row, purl one row (aka stockinette stitch) for a couple of inches, enough to get you rolling in your usual style.  Put the swatch out on a flat surface, lay a ruler on it and place straight pins in the vertical rows of stitches at the inch marks.  Then count the stitches across the inch.  Don’t fudge, no matter how bad you want it to work out in your favor.  If the pattern calls for 7 stitches to the inch and you have 6 ½, don’t say, “Close enough.”  Across 40 stitches this small discrepancy will make quite a difference.  Not enough stitches to the inch?  Try a smaller needle.  If, on the other hand, you had 8 stitches, then try a larger needle.  Re-knit your swatch and count again.

So, when size matters, check your gauge.  It is the ‘fitting’ thing to do.

“Tuesday Morning Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers” 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. at the Moberly Public Library.  You all come.  No charges.

Keeping You in Stitches - Volume 5

In an effort to give these articles a "home" on the web.. here's another one of my knitting related newspaper articles.  Well not totally mine, I co write them with a dear friend, Sandy.

Going Like Crazy

One long, gray Iowa winter when I was 10, my mom taught me to knit and I made a few simple items.  I let my skills lapse and did not pick up the needles again until I wanted to knit sweaters for my own children. I picked up a book, “Learn to Knit” so that I could refresh my memory.  Right away I saw diagrams illustrating the way I had been taught.  It is called the American or English way. My aunts had told me that my Danish grandmother knit differently from my mother.  They called it: “the German way.” but, I had never seen it.

Fast forward 40 yrs when Mary joined our Tuesday group at the library.  I noticed she could knit so fast that the stitches seemed to jump onto her needle. She was going like crazy. I was really interested now.  As I watched, suddenly the light bulb went on.  This was German knitting or as it also called Continental or European style.   In American knitting you hold the yarn in your right hand and then throw the yarn around your second needle.  European knitters feed the yarn from their left hand and pick their stitches, much like in crochet.  A bit later Sonya showed up, another European style knitter, and she was going like crazy.  And then Inga came and she was going like crazy and well…

Elaine and I became intrigued by the idea of all this speed.  Just think how many more things you could knit if you could go that fast.  It staggers the imagination!  The European knitters were happy to show us how and so we tried to go like crazy. Elaine knitted a cowl using European style, but never achieved the quickness of Mary and Sonya.  I found it difficult to change my style after over 50 years of doing it the American way.  So, it’s not likely that either of us will switch over.  But, we sure do long for the increased productivity of going like crazy.

I now realize an apology is due a former knitting student, a Higbee lady.  She was an avid crocheter and was accustomed to using her left hand to hold the yarn.  I was trying to teach her to hold it in her right hand and we were both frustrated. If I had only understood the difference between English and European knitting styles she’d be sitting there in Higbee right now using a style that was comfortable to her and going like crazy.

Fingerless Gloves

Been on a kick of knitting fingerless gloves lately.  Just finished the "Beer Gloves" for the hubs and another pair for myself.  I usually don't like doing cable work, but the beer gloves just might have given me a new feeling for cables.  I do like the way they turned out.  While not traditional cable work, the "Tree of Life" mitts that I made for myself are nonetheless cable and I enjoy wearing them.

Keeping You in Stitches -Volume 4

I continue to co author a knitting/crochet column for the local papers.  I had originally intended to post them all here, but have fallen seriously behind in that intent.

Perhaps this go round I'll get more of them in this journal.

    KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES

                                                          By Sandy and Elaine

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." Mark Twain

So, you have leftover yarn? Has your “stash” taken over the laundry baskets?  Have you made a hat, sweater, scarf or pair of mittens for everyone in your family and the neighbors?  I think anyone who has ever worked with yarn has leftovers somewhere in their house, no matter how deeply hidden. 

What do you do when this happens to you?  Tuesday Morning Hooks Yarns and Thinkers decided to use their extra yarn to become a part of the Knit-A-Square Community.  Knit-a-Square is a charity organization based in Australia.  They provide blankets to AIDS orphans in South Africa. The blankets are made from squares knitted and crocheted by folks all over the world.

Founder Sandy McDonald was born in Africa and lives now in Australia.   An aunt, who still lives in Africa, paid Sandy a visit.  Aunt Roda’s stories of the tiny orphans living in terrible conditions moved Sandy to try to keep them warm and Knit-a-Square was born in 2008. 

There are an estimated 1.4 million orphans in South Africa alone.  Every day over 500 children lose one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Some of the children are ill and warmth can be vital to their survival. Blankets do more than keep the children warm.  They are also a way to raise awareness of the African AIDS epidemic and its impact on children across the world.

Both knitted and crocheted squares are acceptable.  Wool is preferred, but acrylic can be used.  Each square is 8 x 8 inches.  Twenty four squares make a baby blanket.  The squares are assembled in South Africa by volunteers. 

Knit-a-Square’s goal for 2010 is 400, 000 squares.  Our squares will make up a part of that total.  We would love to have squares from you too.  Instructions and information are available online at www.knit-a-square.com or come to the next meeting of Hooks Yarns and Thinkers, Tuesday October 4 at 9:30 a.m. upstairs at the Little Dixie Regional Library.  We’ve got instructions and instructors and loads of good energy to share.

My Daughter

Monday evening as I was sitting and knitting the phone rang and it was my daughter, Tracy. She was all choked up and managed to say I'm ok, but I've had an accident. She was driving home late. The roads were bad, the middle a snow storm really. And, she had swerved to miss a car that was broadside in the road and been hit in the rear by a semi. YES she is OK!

I talked to her until the HP arrived and then they took her in an ambulance to be checked out. I was not terribly fearful at this point as she was talking quite logically, not bleeding and seemed to be all right. X-rays confirmed that nothing horrible was wrong.

She had to spend the night in town since her husband could not get there in the storm. They live a ways out and he had no one to watch their daughter. I was stuck here 45 minutes away and could not help. But, her boss and a co worker were there to take good care of her.

Gosh am I ever appreciative of her safety. She spends a lot of time on the road and this is her first accident ever. We are so blessed!

Feeling Good!

I am excited that 2011 is off to such a rocking good beginning.  I read somewhere that the year will unfold much as the first week has and if that holds true then I am definitely in for the best year of my life so far.

Christmas was good, all of the family were in attendance in spite of a nearly 5 inch snow fall the night before.  The snow was incredibly beautiful, the wet soft kind that hangs on all the trees.  The grandchildren were happy to go outside and play for a good part of the afternoon.

I continue to enjoy knitting and writing for the local newspaper.

I finished my polar bear hat and another pair of socks and am currently working on a pair of mittens for my Anah.  They are yet another stranded color work pattern, this one with cats.  Anah does love cats!





I

Tempus Fugit

Having been very lax in my blog posts I will attempt a sort of catch up thing here today.

October ended with a great Halloween party for the grandchildren and their friends.  I really got into this year and decorated a lot more and dressed up.  Everyone had a good time.



November started off quite sadly when our newly adopted dog was run down and killed by a car.  Good bye Duke, you were a good dog.



Thanksgiving happened.  I was sick and very grateful to my girls for helping out with the dinner. 



And now its almost time for Christmas.  The tree is up the gifts are purchased and we await the day.



I shall not promise to keep up with blogging, but perhaps in the dark cold days to come I will find more time to do so.  I hope all who read this are happy healthy and ready for the holiday season.

Much LOVE.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Keeping You in Stitches

I continue to co-author editorials for the local newspapers and from time to time I post one of them..  We are quite limited in number of words that we can use so nothing goes into great depth, but this does give a brief overview of crochet. As many of our members are not knitters we try to give the crocheters some attention as well.

The history of crochet…

Crochet is a method of working interlocking loops of thread into a chain by means of a slender rod hooked at one end. The work is begun by crocheting a single chain of loops, each new loop being formed by catching the yarn and drawing it through the previous loop. The chain is made to the planned width of the finished piece, the yarn is turned at the end of the chain, and a second chain is crocheted, each new stitch being looped through a stitch in the previous row.

There is no solid evidence to pinpoint the exact date of when crochet began.  Theories abound as to when and where it came about, but solid documentation does not show up until the mid 19^th century in Europe.  In 1824 the first crochet pattern was published and by the middle of the century patterns were easily obtainable.

As the cost of manufactured thread dropped crochet began to develop as a cottage industry.  During the Irish Potato Famine nuns taught children to crochet and the lace they made was shipped all over Europe.  Most notably in Ireland and Northern France whole families would stay at home and produce crocheted items for sale.  The emerging middle class created a ready market for these items.

Because it was sold to the middle class, crocheted lace had to overcome the stigma of being labeled as common or cheap. Those who could afford it still bought lace made by older more expensive methods.  Queen Victoria was instrumental in changing this attitude. Victoria conspicuously purchased Irish made lace and actually learned how to crochet herself.

Crochet continued to grow in popularity until World War II.  At that time not only was thread scarce and expensive, women had left the home to fill jobs left empty by men and there was no time for the leisure arts. 

Then, in the 60’s a 70’s a new generation picked up the craft of crochet and granny squares were born.  The new relaxed styles of clothing made crocheted vests, sweaters and accessories extremely popular. Both men and women were learning to make everything from afghans to belts and scarves. New, vibrant colors of yarn were now available and magazines on how to crochet were prolific. With this new era, crochet was more than just a way to make practical items; it gave people the opportunity to express themselves with new colors, patterns and designs.

At that time, interest in psychology was just beginning to peak and it was found that crocheting, like many hobbies, helped relieve stress. Not only could people created a crocheted afghan for every room of their house, they could relax while doing it.

Crochet continues to evolve and the latest magazines show incredibly intricate designs in clothing. Yet another generation is picking up this skill and finding satisfaction and relaxation in needlework.

You see, we are not all about knitting.  Many of us crochet as well as knit and we welcome crocheters to our weekly meetings of “Hooks, Yarns, & Thinkers” – 9:30 at the Moberly Public Library.  Join us, you’ll be hooked too!

I'm SO Done With It!

Finished the sweater that I started in April.  This is the first sweater that I have knitted and I am inordinately proud of it!  I purchased the pattern from the twistcollective.com.  It is called "Gytha."  For the project I used Wool of the Andes from knitpicks.com.  This is a 100% Peruvian Highland wool and I am very pleased with the yarn.  It was knit on a size 7 circular needle with some DPN action thrown in now and again.  Bands of stranded color work aka Fair Isle Knitting decorate the bottom of the sweater.  The  colors in the color work are repeated in stripes on the sleeves and hood. I love the belled sleeves and the bit of ribbing at the elbow too. I still need to find just the right toggle button to complete the neckline of the sweater, but it is certainly wearable as is.

It feels really good to complete this project.  I was a bit daunted by it in the beginning and so totally satisfied with the result that I am now eager to choose another sweater pattern.  In the meantime I am knitting a pair of socks and a have a couple of hats on the needles too.

This post would be incomplete without some pictures.  Hubs and I went outside on the one of the most lovely fall days that you can imagine and he snapped a bunch of shots.  That was fun!  This is an uplifting conclusion to a week that has been fraught with off the charts anxiety and one HUGE Panic Attack.  I am grateful to be on the upswing once again.

Another Keeping You in Stitches

    KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES

                                                          By Sandy and Elaine

In the past, friends, neighbors and relatives often came together to help each other.  Women gathered for quilting bees and men for barn raisings.  In this country today, however, social isolation is at an all time high.  Television, the internet and a fast paced lifestyle have all contributed to the creation of a society in which many sit at home alone in front of a flickering screen.

Tuesday Morning Hooks, Yarns and Thinkers is part of a movement back to a simpler time when folks met, worked and interacted with each other face to face.  We are much more than an arts, crafts or needlework club. We are a group of friends, neighbors and relatives with like minded interests and we are never lacking in ways to interact.  We share news, patterns, techniques and knowledge and we laugh a lot.

Gardening is a hot topic in the growing season.  Did your tomatoes do well this year?   Do you have a recipe for a great salsa? What variety of corn are you planting?  And, you may even find surplus veggies being passed out to any taker.

The wide variety of life experiences of our members shows in the stories they tell.  Inga grew up in Germany and was there during World War II.  Her stories are absolutely riveting.  Ginny has lived in many other countries and she is a fount of information on their cultures.  Mary came to Missouri from Minnesota and she can tell you just how cold it can get up North.  Lively communication like this is the highlight of our meetings.

There is a loss of community in this country, and we are seeing its reflection in a diminishing of physical health and emotional well-being.  We have a great remedy for loneliness: Find something you love to do and find a group of people who do it together on a regular basis.  It’s simple.  It’s easy and it’s free.  Come join Hooks, Yarns and Thinkers at the Moberly Library any Tuesday morning at 9:30.  Bring a yarn of your own and spin it!

Newspaper Article #2

  KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES

                                           

                                               By Elaine and Sandy

“What’s In a Name?”…

Why is it that when a group of people of like interests begin meeting on a regular basis, they decide their group needs a name?  Our particular needlework bunch came to that idea several months into our schedule.  Beverly declared, “We need a name!”  And we went home with orders to think on that and come up with something fitting, maybe even clever.

The next two meetings saw us trying out everyone’s ideas.  Someone suggested “Happy Hookers” and, after a few laughs, we decided that wasn’t really an image we’d like to project. Another had heard of a group, “Stitch and Bitch” – there again, perhaps not a fitting moniker.  We rejected both.  However, in the last Herrschner’s catalog we discovered they were selling books entitled, “Stitch ‘n Bitch Nation” and “The Happy Hooker!” 

A consensus was that the name needed to reflect the day we meet.  A current selection from the Little Dixie Reading group, “The Friday Night Knitting Club” provided some influence.  We didn’t want to be copycats, but when a member’s daughter suggested Tuesday Morning Hooks, Yarns and Thinkers we fell for it – hook, line and sinker! 

Just a reminder:  We meet every Tuesday morning 9:30 – 11:30, in the Little Dixie Regional Library, upstairs. Just look for the sign. The earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to find a parking spot.

Instructors are always available in both knitting and crochet. Other crafts are always welcome.  We are currently searching for an instructor for tatting.  If you know someone please tell us.

 For more information call: 660-530-8495

This is the second article that my friend Sandy and I wrote for the local newspaper. 

Writing

intend to participate in NaNoWriMo again this year.  This will be my third year.  I have never even come close to writing 50,000 words but I do have fun.

I figure if I keep intending to do it for the whole month of October then by the time November rolls around I should be really pumped and ready to get going.

That said, I think I'll go lie down and chill.

TUESDAY MORNING HOOKS, YARNS & THINKERS

In March of last year I decided to check out a new knitting group that was meeting at the local library.  For the past decade I have piddled about with yarn and needles and manufactured a few rather odd looking dishcloths in the process.  I couldn't seem to hold the thread right and the rhythm of the needles was way beyond my grasp.

A year and half later I am nearing the end of my first sweater and have made all manner of knitted stuff.  I look forward to every Tuesday morning when our little group meets.  I get out of the house no matter what the weather and get to the library to hang out and knit. 

Recently one of my knitting friends suggested that we write a column about the group.  And we did.  Writing the column has been an incredible experience, reopening doors and revealing ideas and knowledge that I thought were long gone.  It has rejuvenated me!

Here's a pic of some of our most faithful members and me, of course! And, the first newspaper article about our group. KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES is published once a week in two of our local newspapers.



 
KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES

               

If you haven’t already heard the news, we are here to tell you that knitting and crocheting are “IN”!  One of the coolest things happening right now is a revival of needlework skills from long ago.  Housewives, college students, retirees, folks from all walks of life are picking up needles, hooks and yarns to create beautiful, wearable, durable art.  Many celebrities are into needlework.  Vanna White from “Wheel” and author Debbie McComber have their own yarn lines.  Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tracey Ullman have all been spotted with needles in hand.  It’s not just for girls either.  Retired NFL football players, Roosevelt Greer and Randy Grossman and actor, Laurence Fishburne are all knitters!

The renewed interest in needlework made us think that there might be interest in a local needlework group.  And there was!  The Little Dixie Regional Library graciously opened their doors to us.  We have been meeting there every Tuesday morning for nearly two years.  We call ourselves, “Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers”.  We are many different ages.  Perhaps when you think of needlework you have an image of a little old lady bent over her needles. Sure, some of us are seniors and have been senior for a while now.  But, we are also middle-aged stay-at- home moms and even quite youthful home schoolers. We come from many different backgrounds and even different countries.  

 Right now we are all female, but would enjoy seeing some male participation.  Some of our knitters were actually taught by their fathers.  More and more men are learning needlework. Published in 2007 there is a great book titled, “Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Love Them.”  Did you know that tough guy Russell Crowe is a knitter?

Let’s be honest.  We are writing this column to encourage participation in our group, to show you who we are and hope that we spark your interest in joining us.  We are a great group and have lots of fun as well as learning new and improving old skills.  Meetings are loosely structured with no dues, agendas, or officers.  Some of our members have been doing needlework of many kinds for more than 50 years and they are always ready to give instructions and assistance to newcomers. 

Needlework does not have to be costly.  You can often borrow needles, hooks and yarn scraps from your grandmother, aunt or a neighbor.  For a small investment you can buy a single skein of yarn and a crochet hook or pair of knitting needles and be ready to go.  We have plenty of patterns to share, and the library has some excellent books too.  Supplies are available from Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Ben Franklin, Jo-Anne Fabrics and the local “Mart” as well as online.  A good size for beginners is an H-8 crochet hook or size 7 knitting needles paired with a worsted weight yarn.

Haven’t you always admired those beautiful handmade garments, mittens and afghans made by someone else?  Haven’t you wished you could do it too?  You can.  Check out “Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers” any Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. upstairs at the Little Dixie Regional Library and learn the art of creating with yarn.  See you there!

Sweater Blockage

I cast on this sweater in April, 2010.  It is my first sweater.  The pattern is called "Gytha" and I purchased it from Twist Collective.  The yarn is Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks.

Two days ago I completed tucking in all the loose ends of yarn and blocked the sweater.  We have had some pretty damp days and so it is still drying.

I love the colors and the color work in this sweater and can't wait to wear it.  After drying, I still need to put in the sleeves, add some trim, a button and a hood and she will be ready to wear in the crisp days of Autumn that lie ahead.

An Abundance of Basil

Earlier today my niece, visiting from Texas, asked me if we had an abundance of garden produce this season.  I told her that because of the wet summer some things have not produced as well as in other years.  After she left, I went out to see if there was a need to harvest anything and discovered that I have an abundance of basil.  Huge leaves, dark and fragrant and plants that look like little shrubs.  So YES, i do have an abundance....of basil. 

I really love basil and now the whole house smells of it.  I am blessed:)

Namaste`