Tricotine

For the Love of a Rose...

I feel like "Le Petit Prince" of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, trying to save my Rose! LOL

I have been checking on that Rose for 6 days!

She was just a little bud back then and I didn't want it to end like the other Roses of the bush...

I patiently removed and destroyed those hungry Japanese Beetles that don't show any mercy for my little flower, I fertilized the dirt and I placed some Bugs Traps. In vain... Every day, the Beetles are back more determined than ever to get that little Rose!!!

So, today after 6 long days of fighting for her life, I decided to short my poor little Rose's misery.

After getting rid of her molesters I cut her off and invited to stay home with us.

I know her days are numbered but after all she has been through, I think she deserves to go nicely, comfortably displayed in a cup of water at home and surrounded by the ones who love and admire her beauty...

Of course, she has been physically scarred by the repeated assault of which she has been the victim, but does it really matter? She is finally BUG FREE and in Peace... :)

[Click on photo to enlarge]

"Mine, Mine"... and my PURPLE!

Daddy bought a new Tshirt for his little girl and I find it so funny I though it was worth to be posted here!

[Click on photo to enlarge] Our Baby Girl is actually going through that "Mine" phase right now! Maybe that is why those "Laws of Property" make me laugh... Well, not every day though... ;)

For those who are interested, this Tshirt - and many others - is a Now and Zen Creation and can be purchased here. Although DH got it at Target...

We were celebrating some good news last night so he all had a little gift from "Daddy" but I will only talk about the PURPLE stuff here.

For me, there were a beautiful bouquet of my favorites flowers - Daisies and PURPLE flowers - and some candles. For the PURPLE note, one of them is Lilac scented.

I just love candles!

I cannot believe my Husband actually KNEW and REMEMBERED that PURPLE was Project Spectrum's color for July!!!

So, he DOES listen after all... LOL

Testing Tempting II's texture...

I have heard on the Sexy Knitters Club that some of the participants to the KAL - also using TLC Cotton Plus - had to go down to #5US sometimes instead of #8US instructed in the pattern to get a tighter texture that wouldn't show some skin once the top would be worn...

I don't seem to have that problem but of course I didn't check that matter...

Since my gauge was right with needles #8US, I didn't even think of it!

Mmmmh... I guess I should have... What if my top was not opaque enough to be worn decently in public?

I was a little worried, so I decided to run a little test: I stretched my Tempting II; I mean really stretched it - probably more than it will ever will be - and I was pleased to see that my stitching is tight enough.

Maybe it is because of the dark color I am using... (?)

Another weekend is gone...

 

= Another weekend is gone and we are finally completely done with the other house! We have turned the keys back to the owner and we are so glad that we can now only concentrate on being settled in our new house before the August vacation! We would like to take time to enjoy the summer and to be more available for the kids. Thomas the Tank Engine will come to our town soon. We haven't told our son yet but he is going to be delighted! He LOVES Thomas! We also plan to take the kids to the zoo. That should be something too! :)

Right now, it is cooler to stay home than going outside during the day. Too bad for the beach but I still have so much to do in the house anyway! So many more boxes to open from the move!

= We got rid of the pest on Saturday morning! As so many of you suggested, we cut the branch where the webworms were on off the tree and put it a thick trash bag. Same treatment for the Japanese Beetles. I cut the infested roses and delicately disposed them in the same trash bag that we thoroughly sprayed with waps pesticide (it worked like a charm) and tightly closed! Then, we burned the trash bag. I felt so much better after those ugly bugs were gone! But then, when I checked on my roses Sunday morning, there was another Japanese Beetle in my rose bush!!! Aaaarrgh!!! I got rid of it but I guess I am going to have to check on my roses daily... This morning, the rose bush was bug free but I am going to jump in my car and to go get those bug traps that so many of you recommended!

 

 

 

I want to deeply thank all of you who took time to answer here and to help in my pest control "crusade"! :)

= I am more knitting that crocheting lately but I have just printed out this morning a Crochet Capelet project that might turn my mood back to the hook. I am on a Stash Reduction Mission and that seems to be the perfect project for using the Homespun Yarn that is in my stash...

= I finally cast on my Tempting II and it is going great so far.

 

 

I finished my first skein of TLC Cotton Plus and I practiced the famous Russian Join to continue with skein #2.

 

 

As bad it looked on my first try, I am pretty pleased about the way I did my joining this time!

 

 

It is almost completely invisible! :)

 

About Pest...

BEFORE and AFTER... This is the first rose in my garden! The photo on the left was taken last week and the photo on the right, last night...

What happened in between? Well, THAT BUG!!! A whole colony of it!

I have no idea what it is but it is eating my roses to the end!!!

I don't think that bug is a specifically rose pest though because they were also eating the leaves of the rapsberry bushes at the other house we use to live...

What can I do to protect the coming buds?

How can I get rid of that bug without hurting my rose bush?

Now, despite its shape that is funny looking, THIS appeared in one of our tree in our yard and it doesn't make me laugh at all!

[Click on photo to enlarge]

What is it? Some sort of cocoon we guessed... but what is in there? Can we just cut the branch and get rid of it?

Is there any danger for the tree? It seems like the leaves of the tree are turning yellow since that thing settled in...

I don't know much about gardening but I am willing to learn so if any of you have the answers to my questions, please, let me know by posting a comment here. I would really appreciate your help! :)

July 14th - Bastille Day

Today, 14 Juillet, is National Holiday in France. We celebrate the French Revolution, la Prise de la Bastille.

On July 14 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille, an old fort and royal prison, and rose in rebellion. The French Revolution ended the monarchy and set up the Republic. In 1791, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen proclaimed the principles of liberty and equality for all.

Want to know more?

HAPPY BASTILLE DAY to those who celebrate!

Project Spectrum July - PURPLE

Still in the spirit of Project Spectrum, Lady Tricotine is presenting a little collage about my daily routine, and staring the color PURPLE this month.

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Although I like it, I realize that PURPLE is not really a color I usually knit with or have knitted often with, but I made few items... See them here!