Remembering Those Who Fought

Was it really 69 years ago?
D-Day, when so many lost their lives.  I watched the movie D-Day, the 6th of June recently, during the Memorial Day movie marathon of war movies.  The more history I learn, the more it awes me.
My dad, shown here had enlisted before graduation, having enough credits to graduate.  He was placed in Darby's Rangers and saw action well before D-Day, being wounded in Sicily in 1943, and home recovering by then.  Between his wounds and his hearing loss, he was unable to go back.

However, two of his brothers, the next two older, were also in the service at that time.  I do not know what kind of action they saw during the war.  At least one, Uncle Howard was in England when their father died at home in August 1945.  They chose to remain, remembering their father as he had been.  They are pictured on either side of him, on what was probably Memorial Day, 1946.  The other, Uncle Don is on the left.

Luckily they all survived the war.
On my mom's side, a cousin was also serving in World War II.  If he was there for D-Day, he survived.  I am not sure if he was there then or not.  Unfortunately Paul died during the Battle of the Bulge.
More people died on that one day 69 years ago than has died so far in the current conflict.
Let us not forget them.

And pardon one last picture of Dad, back home after the war with my grandparent's dog Ginger.  (She must have been ancient when she died!)  I just had to show off his medals, even if the picture isn't the best.

The Forgotten Sweater

Well, I must admit, it wasn't really forgotten.  Just set aside.  As I mentioned the other day, I needed a no-brainer project for Knit Nite.  Not that the Old Shale/Feather and Fan is such a complicated pattern, but when you get to chattering away at Knit Nite, somehow, things can fall awry.

My Duchess of Cambridge was started back in August of 2010.  The Nordic Blue is prettier than shows in this picture.  It is from Nature Spun fingering weight on a cone.  It was originally just called the Nordic Blue Featherweight, but was renamed when I got up and knit during Kate and William's royal wedding.  It has mostly languished ever since. Since I was undecided on the finishing edges, it kind of put off working on it.   However, I am still on the stockinette portion, and have almost decided on ribbing for sleeves and bottom and possibly moss stitch or seed stitch for front and neck edge.  So I can continue to work on it again.
I had the Happy Wrap Vest along, just for the opportunity to get a good picture of it on the dance floor.  Again, between the texture and the rayon, it reflects the light in a funky way.  But in real life I am very happy with it.

And even with these two far from completion, and the black tee glaring at me, I have been comtemplating my NEXT project.
Can you say mohair boucle?  Wait till I get the chance to start that sweater.

Planting Potatoes, Take Two

I mentioned a few days ago on FaceBook that Hubby and I had covered our potato plants with some sack and were all ready for the possible freeze.

Well it froze. Look closely to the left of those two orange stakes. You can see the green leaves of the plant next to the right stake.

However, next to the left stake are only some curled up brown leaves. Just a day or two before the last of our 38 plants had broken through the surface. And despite the covering, about half were hit by the frost.

So last night Hubby and I replanted. And luckily we didn't even need to buy more seed potatoes. Since I had half a bag of rather straggly potatoes, I was able to provide some replacements. And more were furnished from a friend with a similar bag of potatoes.

That said, we have replanted, and hopefully these will survive. And a motley assortment we have, with half Yukon Gold, a quarter russets, and the rest white mystery potatoes.

And across the garden, possibly two sweet potatoes that survived uncovered!

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There Has Been Knitting

While I haven't been posting much again lately, I have been knitting. I have been working on the Happy Vest. I love Feather and Fan lace, aka Old Shale.

I have done a bit more than shown here. It is now about 6 3/4 inches to 5 1/2 inches long. I think I will only knit it to 27 inches for the back. I would prefer it to be no longer in back than the front. Old Shale goes fairly quickly with only every four rows requiring much concentration.

I suppose I should spend more time working on one of my sweaters that are languishing in the WIP pile. The Duchess of Cambridge Featherweight in particular is calling to me. I will may start taking that to Knit Nite, since not much concentration is needed for that.

And you, sometimes my concentration isn't the sharpest at Knit Nite. Really!

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Road Construction Season

I mentioned last week that we had gotten a notice, at the history center where I work, that our back alley was being torn up. And since it is the entrance most people use, as well as our handicapped entrance, we were rather dismayed.

And sure enough, come Tuesday morning, right after the holiday weekend, I found this when I unlocked the back door.

Even with all the rain! the had already torn up part of the pavement.

By the nest day, even the rest of the pavement was gone. And when I looked out back, this big piece of equipment was blocking the alley.

While my co-worker and boss continues to use the back parking lot and comes in each day through the back door.

Me? I would just as soon avoid the sand. I use the parking lot across the street.

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