While Miz Kittling Knits: Vacation House Rules

 

It's hard to believe, but I actually put my knitting needles down and took a month off from stitching. If that doesn't tell you I was off my feed, nothing will. However, I'm back in the saddle, and I've completed one adult afghan and only have two more evenings before I put the finishing touches on a baby blanket.

 

In the meantime, I still have projects to show you that have been waiting around for awhile. Let's play catch-up here with a requested lap blanket. A friend wanted one as a gift to give someone, and the request was for "bright colors... bright enough to see in the dark." Now it's your turn to see how well I followed my instructions.

 

 

A very colorful lap blanket

 

Put on your sunglasses!

 

When using a multi-color yarn as bright as this, it's best to use a simple pattern; the colors are going to do the talking, not the stitches. So... using US size 17 circular needles and a simple pattern often referred to as Garter Stripes, I got to work. I used three strands of yarn, all Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic, one strand in Spring Green and two in Day Glow. 

My mind can wander as I'm stitching, and the colors used in the Day Glow yarn reminded me of a long list of things: fresh spring grass, carrots, lemons, limes, celery, watermelon, tangerines, sweet corn, and orange sherbet. With the exception of the first item on the list, it almost sounds as if I was knitting at the salad bar, doesn't it? (And in case you're wondering, the recipient of this lap blanket loves it.)

Now... what was I watching while my needles were clicking away?

Years ago, I used to watch a lot of HGTV. They had craft programs as well as the architecture and interior design programs I like so much. Then they dropped the craft programs, and all the house series began to look alike. Now, it's a rare day when I watch HGTV. In fact, the only current exception is for Canadian real estate expert and contractor Scott McGillivray. Anything he does, I'll watch because I usually love his renovations.

 

His latest series, Vacation House Rules, has Scott helping out families who've either inherited or purchased rundown homes they want to turn into rental properties. These homes are in prime Canadian vacation destinations, and the owners want to enjoy their properties a few weeks (or months) of the year while renting them out the rest of the time to pay for upkeep and to supplement their incomes. 

Several of the transformations each season are spectacular, and in this latest season, I was very pleased to see McGillivray renovate a property to make it suitable for those who have mobility issues. For years, whenever Denis and I would travel, we would rent a cottage to use as our base of operations. We just preferred it over staying in hotels or bed and breakfasts. Now that we both have mobility issues, our traveling days are pretty much over, but I still like to look at available properties and daydream. Let me tell you, there aren't that many that are suitable for people like me. I guess we're not supposed to want to vacation!

 

Do any of you like to watch programs like this? Inquiring minds would love to know! (I won't ask you if the lap blanket was so bright that you had to put on your sunglasses.)