Marie at 1 Write Way

Five Things on This Day, Thursday, June 11, 2026

Sunflowers

I’m growing sunflowers from seed, specifically Lemon Queen Sunflowers. I just planted these a few days ago so we’re surprised that they are already sprouting.

Taken Wednesday, June 10, 2026

This is a different plat (I have two), but the growth in just 24 hours has me happily surprised.

Taken Thursday, June 11, 2026.

This is my favorite photo so far … a bit of morning dew.

Sunflower sprout, each petal with a drop of dew.

Crazy plants

This Bolivian Hummingbird Sage was gifted to me by a neighbor. When I first came across it a few years ago, she had several in bloom. She gave me one, and that one has self-propagated into several stalks, but only one is blooming right now.

Bolivian Hummingbird Sage (Salvia oxyphora) with its first bloom of the season.

Knitting: Floating Waves Wrap

I’m still working on this wrap. I’m more than halfway done, thankfully. I do love this wrap, how light it is, and the colors. But I am ready for the knitting to be over. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a wonderful pattern … just ready to move on.

Floating Waves Wrap. Designed by Amy Christoffers.
Detail of Floating Waves Wrap. Designed by Amy Christoffers.

Knitting: Waffle Pullover

But I have finished the waffle pullover that I started in February. Actually, it’s been “done” for a long while; I just needed to wash it and prepare it for a long summer in the cedar chest.

Waffle Pullover selfie. Pullover designed by Amy Christoffers.

I expect I’ll be wearing this a lot in the winter. It’s a bit of an odd fit but that’s on me. The pullover is knit from the top down (i.e., starting at the neckline). That allows the knitter to try the sweater on as she goes, making adjustments as needed. In my case, I feared the armholes for my size might be too narrow, but I didn’t want to start over. Instead, I added stitches (i.e., width) to the armholes and now the sweater is kind of billowy boxy instead of just boxy. In other words, I have room to grow into it.

And even though I was checking the sleeve length as I went, I still wound up with sleeves past my wrists. In the photo, I have the cuffs turned over which is a good enough “fix.”

While I enjoyed knitting the Waffle Pullover (and I particularly love the color combination), the end result is a reminder of why I generally don’t knit sweaters: I’m never quite happy with how they turn out.

Knitting: The American Heirloom Blanket

So, while I’m still knitting the Floating Waves Wrap and have (so to speak) put to bed the Waffle Pullover, I am working on a blanket. Yup, a blanket. This project is being organized by Stix, a yarn shop in Montana, for their Big Sky Blanket Club 2026.

The “blocks” that we knit for the blanket are much like the blocks used in quilting. Over the course of the year, I’ll receive yarn and patterns for 12 blocks to knit and piece together. I have materials for three blocks now, but have only completed one.

Ohio Star block for Big Sky Blanket Club 2026

One down, eleven more to go. Meanwhile, my spinning wheel and weaving loom are getting dusty in their corners of the dining room.

Thank you for reading my five-things inventory for today. Here’s your reward …

Wendy aka Chunky Monkey down for the count.

Marie A Bailey

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18 responses to “Five Things on This Day, Thursday, June 11, 2026”

    • Thank you, Ellen! Indeed, I love how growing plants reminds me that life goes on, especially with TLC.

      I’m going to have to get serious about what I do with all my knitted items. A knitting friend pointed me to The Rainbow Bridge, a volunteer organization in NYC and Chicago that accepts hand knitted (or crocheted) hats, scarves, etc., and gives them to homeless LBGTQ+ teenagers. I work mostly with wool so the items need to go to a cold climate. Occasionally I’ve gifted an item to a family member but not often.

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    • Thank you, Merril! The post was a good reminder for me of how much knitting I’ve doing. I am so excited about the sunflowers. Successfully growing anything from seed is a new experience for me.

      Wendy cracks me up. She’s a real southern cat, prefers the heat, becoming what I call “Dali’s kitty” as she almost melts off the bench. 😆

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