Knitting Moonsilver

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T12:54:00.002-05:00

Just about Thanksgiving, and am engaged in the mad scramble to get ready. Going to the in-laws, where it is said no one is happy unless someone leaves crying. I used to be the one crying, but thank heavens for the gift of middle age and not caring.

I've been working on a sweater for Mom. I'm using woolly-nice Cottage Craft, dark blue. It's beautiful yarn, full of texture and squeezability. I've never used Bartlett Yarns, but I understand it is a lot like theirs. (The link is for informative purposes only and unfortunately, I would not recommend ordering from them. PM me if you would like to hear a bit of sadness.)

She had picked out a pattern called Sea Captain's Pullover (basic ribbed turtleneck) but just the thought of all that ribbing made my hands ache. Three patterns later, I started a sweater using the Top-Down Raglan Generator and have loved knitting it. I've made so many mistakes though, and have a sinking feeling she is going to look like pre-juiced Violet from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The fact that I threw in quite a few increases across the front, giving it a pulled in effect just under the neck, greatly enhances my mind's eye picture of Mom rolling around Maine as a blueberry.

She's going to love it.

The girls

2010-09-03T16:31:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=8rpvSse1X0s

Carnival Tee

2010-08-24T15:26:00.002-04:00

I finished this top a couple of weeks ago. It is Carnival Tee, designed by Helene Rush and knit with Knit One Crochet Too's Ty Dy Cotton.

I knit the skirt once and it was huge. It would have been too big for my husband. So I frogged and took a nice, three month break from it. After knitting it again, I did not try it on after finishing the shoulder straps. I remember as I set it down to work on the sleeves, a neon traffic sign the size of a billboard flashed across my brain, "That looks too short". The same image burned across my eyeballs when I forged ahead and knit the shoulder straps together, finished the neckline and attached the sleeves. Long story short, it is too short and only fits when wet. More than happy to bequeath it to a friend but I really should have known better! I'm happily knitting dishcloths now.

Walking Stick

2010-08-09T19:34:00.001-04:00

Saw a walking stick today on the wall at work. It's been a while since I've seen one!

Something

2010-08-03T22:38:00.001-04:00

There is something in the woods tonight. My girl has picked up a scent and has been yelling since we started out. The cicadas are so loud, I can't hear if anything is there when she pauses to smell. It makes Phoenix very nervous and stops often looking for me. He used to lead the way.

Its getting dark so early now.

Red Salamander

2010-07-25T20:54:00.001-04:00

We saw a red salamander today in the woods. Its spots looked golden in the light.

Spent the weekend trying to lose myself, but wherever I went, there I was.

Angel's Rest

2010-07-24T09:45:00.001-04:00

Finished these socks for Mom last week and loved knitting them. Its a quick pattern (Peak Experience from Fiber Trends) and so pretty to me. The colors of the yarn (Opal) remind me of baseball. I love Opal. It doesn't have as much softness as others, but I know these will last for years.

Three pairs down, three to go for her. I have a self imposed goal of sorts to finish by October. It took me 19 days to finish Angel's Rest. October is quite a while away, but I haven't started a few other projects yet - a hat for a co-worker, Tom's socks of the year, Fall shawl, Aunt Fran's birthday shawl.... and so it goes.

Doing a sugar roll to check for mites with the bees later! They seem to be doing really well. We moved too fast by putting honey supers up and so removed them a couple weeks ago. Solaris (hive #1) had 60% of the second brood chamber filled out. We will be able to see how Helious is doing this afternoon. We got them so late in the season, they are still building their colonies. They've been foraging in the clover and I hate to, but I have to mow the lawn.

Soft and Drowsy

2010-07-09T12:21:00.002-04:00

Soft and drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping,
Love alone his watch is keeping -
All through the night.

~Old Welsh Air

Baby, its HOT outside!

2010-07-05T23:25:00.001-04:00

We were alarmed at dusk this evening to see so many honeybees outside their hives. Turns out, they seem to be "bearding" - clustering outside to help drop the temperature inside. Once things get a little cooler, they'll go back inside.

Both hives now have an extra super and two short supers. I am not sure, but think there is a honeyflow going on. There are bees zooming absolutely everywhere - in the garden, the trees, and the birdbaths have upwards of 30 bees at a time. Its like an amusement park in the yard.

2010-07-04T14:48:00.001-04:00

Happy Independence Day!

Stuck in traffic

2010-07-03T18:27:00.001-04:00

On our way to see Further, stuck in traffic and working on this cool sock.

Finished Socks

2010-07-02T18:24:00.003-04:00

A few pairs of socks I finally finished.

Modified Rib Fantastic Socks from Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn, Colinette Jitterbug, color Lagoon:

Elegant Socks from Knitting Traditions, Winter, 2010, Opal.

Rough Weather, from Think Outside the Sox, Cherry Tree Hill Yarn Supersock, color River Run. My first toe-ups that came out right. Beautiful pattern.

2010-07-01T13:20:00.001-04:00

Happy Canada Day to our fine neighbors up north!

Honeybee update

2010-06-27T11:34:00.003-04:00

We checked the frames last night. The queens are doing beautifully and its thrilling. Hive 1 has 80% of its frames full of brood and/or honey so we put another super on top so they will have more room. Hive 2 has about 60% so we will wait another week before adding a super. From what I understand, the queen will continue to lay eggs going up and won't go back down so you want to have the bottom super almost full before adding another. Brood and honey are in patches around the frames. In the winter, the "cluster" of honeybees will move around the hive and have access to the honey in different places.

This is Hive 1 after lifting the inner cover. We used a little smoke so that the bees would go down into the frames enabling us to gently scrape away this patch of honey cells.

Regrettably, this picture is blurry but we were trying to move quickly through the frames so as not to disturb them so much. The darker colored cells are brood and the pale white cells at the top are honey.

They were so beautiful and as before, it was humbling to work with them. I can only hope that even in light of our ignorance of their work, we'll do right by them.

BP Oil Spill Insider at the Gulf Emergency Summit

2010-06-26T12:56:00.002-04:00

Just in case you hadn't heard.

Part 1

Part 2

Today's walk by the lake

2010-06-14T23:24:00.001-04:00

Honeybees

2010-06-13T15:30:00.014-04:00

It's been a few weeks since the bees came. The first week and half, they seemed to be clustering on the left side of one hive and we fussed that something had happened to the queen. We were anxious to look and see but thankfully checked with a teacher first who cheerfully advised us "Leave them alone, leave them alone some more and when you are done with that, leave them alone again." We've lifted only the hive cover three times to feed them and each time they were extraordinarily gentle. Today though, they made it clear it wasn't a good day. It's overcast, cool and drizzling and they were quite bouncy. Even the smoke disturbed them, unlike prior checks. Working with them is all about being with them, watching and listening. They know way more than I do about making honey so I'm just there to learn and try and help as best I can.

These are not the greatest photos but latex gloves and touch screens are tricky.

The hive with a few frames removed:

Applying smoke:

Shaking the bees into the hive. This step blew my mind. You turn the box over and whump! 3,000 odd bees are free.

The queen cage. My hands were shaking. I was still getting over the fact that we unceremoniously dumped these bees and then realized what I was holding was their main focus. It felt like 40,000 eyes were staring at me.

Uncorked, this is where the queen cage sits. We waited four days before removing it.

Finished!

2010-06-05T20:25:00.001-04:00

Contented

2010-06-05T20:19:00.002-04:00

A walk in the woods, a shower in the rain at the end of a hot summer day - how did I get so lucky?

The girls are here!

2010-06-04T17:35:00.001-04:00

What if

2010-05-30T21:59:00.001-04:00

The oil spill catches fire?

There is an oil volcano?

An oil hurricane?

Catch 'em while you can

2010-05-27T22:23:00.001-04:00

They won't be here long.

Forgotten

2010-05-23T16:03:00.000-04:00

Found a bit of nastiness today - a spring load trap, whose rusty chain turned the tree trunk black. I buried it in a stone fence where hopefully it will be forgotten again.

I love Sundays

2010-05-23T13:47:00.001-04:00

Funny day over here. I just spent an hour shopping at Home Depot with my pants on backwards. I thought folks were looking at me because of the sock I was working on in line.

Bee Socks

2010-05-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

I finished my bee socks a couple of weeks ago. They are loosely knit on size two needles because the two prior pairs I had made with Lornas Laces shrunk a bit. My gauge with socks lately has kept me on my toes in that my old "go to" formula no longer works. Where a size 2 or even 3 needle gave me a beautiful firm fabric, I am now having to knit with 1s, 0s and even bought 00s just in case.
My mom was down a couple weeks ago and shyly mentioned darning her socks. Living in Maine, she wears them pretty much 11 months out of the year. I had no idea her sock stash was so low so brought her my sock wool. She happily chose several skeins and I am excited to make her something she truly enjoys. I love being a knitter.

Green Ball

2010-05-06T15:12:00.001-04:00

Found this odd green ball today and have no idea what it is. It has a thin shell and reminds me of those "smoke bomb" or "puff ball" mushrooms where if you step on them, clouds of brown spores float out.

Lotus Blossoms

2010-05-01T13:33:00.002-04:00

Lotus Blossoms, finally finished after ignoring it for a year. Great Adirondack Yarn Co., silk, color Hydrangea and mailed to my aunt this morning for her many kindnesses to me over the years.

I've about had it with triangular shawls for a while! Casting on for an EZ pie shawl as soon as I get some downtime.

Turtles

2010-04-30T14:07:00.001-04:00

Saw two huge snapping turtles mating today! They are in the center of
the picture. They rolled and rolled in the water. Their backs were
covered in moss and/or algae.

2010-04-27T17:44:00.000-04:00

Found lots of princess pine! Think its endangered. When I was small, I used to imagine elves lived under princess pine.

Also found coyote scat, but think it odd to post a picture.

The Old Klausen House

2010-04-26T11:56:00.004-04:00

We came upon the old Klausen site today. The only things left are parts of the foundation and quite a few pots, pans and broken dishware.

Found

2010-04-21T08:43:00.001-04:00

In the woods: A stone chair someone made for themselves judging by how old the log is; the bloodroot is blooming; and what I think is a yellow violet.

Green

2010-04-16T10:24:00.003-04:00

Things are growing quickly here and we're planning for the spring garden rush. We put in two additional raised beds and cleared out room for the bee hives. The bees are coming at the end of April. I'm a little nervous about getting stung a lot but I have read it is good for you to a degree.

I finished a shawl, Clothilde. It's a beautiful pattern but my choice of wool to knit with (Fiesta Ballet) makes the border hard to see.

Bee stripe sock

2010-04-07T19:35:00.003-04:00

Working on socks made from Lornas Laces Shepard Wool - Bee Stripe colorway in honor of our new adventure in keeping bees. I love this "picot" edging as it is a welcome relief from ribbing. They stay up beautifully.

The temperature hit about 80 degrees today!

Hothouse Flowers

2010-03-06T02:14:00.001-05:00

Couldn't ask for a better way to bring in spring, then to see Hothouse Flowers at the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock. I got a bit tipsy and danced the night away to the band. They were amazing. How wonderful to let everything go and be swept away by the old country! Am thinking about getting a tiny, diamond stud in my nose.

2010-02-27T22:28:00.001-05:00

We just got our butts kicked by 4 feet of snow in 2 days! Still haven't any power but coping nicely with a little help from friends. We are lucky. At least we didn't get stuck on 84 for 12 hours! Very sad about the pear tree. She is a good 65 years old and I hope losing that big limb won't be the end of her. Anyway, I won't be getting any medals for knitting olympics this year. Chop wood, carry water.

High Summer

2009-08-16T14:19:00.005-04:00

It has been so long that I've posted that I couldn't remember my password for a second. We've finally reached high summer here and its been beautiful. It rained for much of May, June and July. Quite a change after the last couple of years drought.

Finished a small shawl for a friend of Tom's with some beautiful yarn with silver in it from Bluestocking Knits. It's Milkweed, by CosmicPluto. I hope she likes it.

I've been working on socks and a couple of other small things, but not much to report about really. I'm thinking about small bits for Christmas knitting which I'd like to start soon. Sewing seems much more attractive right now than holding wool.

Animals are all good though my old friend Muddy died a couple of weeks ago. He was the last buddy from my single days (19 when he died) and you couldn't ask for a sweeter cat. Seems like we're always losing someone but then again we have so many.

Off to mow the lawn. I've been thinking about everyone and hope that you are well!

Vote Earth

2009-03-28T16:54:00.001-04:00

Happy New Year

2009-01-04T14:50:00.000-05:00

I feel very blessed over here and hope the same for everyone for the new year. I'm on the first real vacation I've had since August, 2007 when I went to Newfoundland with Mom. I can't quite hardly believe it. Even though it has not been too cold, the last two afternoons I spent knitting by the stove, watching the light move across the house and watching everyone sleep. Occasionally falling asleep myself wasn't so bad either.

I've been knitting things for my husband. This is Celtic Harbor Hat from Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill. It is the neatest little pattern with three layers for the brim.

Spey Valley socks are coming along, but painfully slow. Brigitta is completely stalled because it is too small and sewing it up has been hard.

Snow

2008-12-21T18:33:00.005-05:00

We had a bit of snow last night so I tried out snowshoes for the first time. Took me a bit to get the hang of them (I'm terribly out of shape) and once I did, Addi didn't help much by stepping on them behind me or trying to bite them. I wish I had gotten a shot of her face when we first started out. WTF? Your walking on sticks? What a waste of sticks! (Lynnette -- don't look, it's more snow.)

Not much knitting going on that I can talk about. It's almost Christmas and this is the first Christmas where I am not feverishly trying to finish something. It's kind of liberating.

Hats

2008-12-14T16:00:00.005-05:00

So I spent an embarrassingly long time today trying to knit hats on the LK150 for Jean's hat drive. The results are fairly horrific, per usual with me and this knitting machine (whose name is no longer the LK150 but has been changed to a something a little more suitable). It's such a fiddly process and I pretty much just suck at it. I'm going to felt this one to see if it will make a nice bowl.

This one isn't so bad but oh my, is it ever LARGE.

Blech.

Giving Thanks

2008-11-30T19:41:00.007-05:00

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Ours went well, though we made too much food. We were grateful for our little feast and as happens at Thanksgiving we are still eating it.

The rest of the holiday weekend went so quickly. Friday half the house got picked up on jacks. I've seen houses up on jacks before but not while I was in them. The front part is level now but when you walk though the rooms, it feels crooked. It's amazing how sensitive your feet get.

Saturday was committed to house guests (one a stranger) so mad cleaning ensued and snack and cookie making. That night after they left I cast on for Provincial Waistcoat with some Reynolds Lopi from my friend Lynnette that I had in my stash. The folks on Ravelry weren't kidding. Holey moley, the first two rows of this pattern were definitely hellish. It's knitting along nicely now with tons of markers:

This morning Wee Winkie came down with horrific pain in his stomach. He was doubled over, shaking, high fever, pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea and generally a scary mess so we took him to a local emergency vet clinic. After an hour and half of bloodwork and x-rays, the vet came to us and asked us if he'd had anything "special" to eat and we told him no -- just his usual dry food with a little wet mixed in. He hung an x-ray up and there in Phoenix' lower intestine and stomach was a tremendous pile of small bones. I absolutely should have been more careful watching them because the neighbors have been known to throw bones and carcasses out before. (In my defense, I have been more focused on it currently being hunting season here.) Blessed sighs of relief and a bit of a joke about it being the Thanksgiving day parade at the clinic and I was off to the knitting/waiting room to wait for our (holy shit) $718 bill.

In the three hours that ensued, I witnessed:

A young couple who brought a mini poodle in who had eaten rat poison that they put down in their house to kill mice. The young man informed me he still intended to use the stuff, even though it will take more than a month for the dog's body to get the poison out of its system (with medical treatment).

A woman whose dog was not able to eliminate in 24 hours and in fact could not stand on his feet. She fed him twice anyway and then (another holy shit) gave him human Tylenol (though she was careful to measure out the teaspoons by body weight!). Her regular vet was driving home from NYC and informed her by cell phone that he did not think it a good idea that she catheterize the dog herself because dogs are "a little different than humans".

Three separate pet owners who brought their animals to the emergency clinic because they "would not" and/or "could not" take time off to go to their regular vet. These emergencies were things like "he's scratching his face a lot" and "she slept 6 hours straight". I could understand if they were worried about a big bill but believe me, in my humble experience the bill there is WAY more expensive than a regular office visit to the vet.

So my thanks went this weekend to vet techs and vets everywhere. That five and half hour day spent at the clinic was just a tiny window into what their world is really like. And I was able to work on Tom's Spey Valley socks (from Knitting on The Road):

Phoenix is sleeping comfortably. They gave him the dog equivalent of Pepto Bismal and Imodium and on the way home things definitely started to shake up. It was 30 degrees and freezing rain and we had to open the windows all the way home, eyes burning but giggling away.

First Snow

2008-11-18T20:32:00.004-05:00

We had our first snow last night, even if only a tiny bit. I stayed up late last night and finished Diamond Rain Vest so I could wear it to work today. It's a little big and if I feel ambitious I might take it in a little under the arms but I will likely leave it alone.

I'm loving knitting vests right now. At work they keep the heat fairly high (about 80) so you feel like you are smothering. Layering is easier than being an out-of-control miserable office grunt.

Not much else going on here. Planted a few bulbs last weekend and have quite a few more to get in. I already miss the garden. Saw an absolutely gorgeous four point buck last night on the way home and hope he makes it through the season. This evening there were three opossums on the porch eating the cat food -- two young ones and a BIG mama (at least I think it was a mother). She looked harassed. The young ones were chewing on each other's heads. Cutest little things.

Williams

2008-11-15T12:25:00.006-05:00

Williams Pullover is finished. The collar is my favorite part (though I have to re-tack the front so it lines up a little better). It is extremely comfortable and I'm really happy with how it came out - not as slim as the designer intended but I'm not into snug sweaters.

Finished Some Socks

2008-11-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

Jaywalkers (from Grumperina, MagKnits, September 2005): Love this pattern - made them from Opal I got I don't know how long ago from Ebay.

Monkeys, knit from Mountain Colors Bearfoot (this stuff is SO soft):

Still Fall

2008-10-16T20:41:00.003-04:00

The peepers are still singing though.

Almost finished with the second sleeve of Williams - it is about five inches from being done and then all I have left is the neckline. Trying to finish in time for Rhinebeck, even though I might not get there this year. I love goals.

A Meme

2008-10-16T19:36:00.006-04:00

Knitting is such a huge part of my life that I don't even think about what my husband thinks about me doing it so much. It's become a way of life to make things - something soothing to fall back on when I'm stressed or down or feeling great. I came across this interview on Alison's blog and loved it so am going to see what's what with the other half downstairs.

Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?

Tom: It keeps you busy and once in a while I get a few projects to keep my ass warm.

Me: What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?

T: It's an obsession.

Me: What is something I have knitted, that you recall as good?

T: My awesome green sweater.

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?

T: Not compared to people that shop at Bloomingdales.

Me: Do you have a stash of any kind?

T: A stash of what? I have a house full of stash, dowsing stuff, books, rocks.... [and on and on].

Me: Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?

T: Oh fuck yeah.

Me: Do you know my favorite kind of yarn?

T: Merino.

Me: Can you name another blog?

T: Tinkers Without a Cause. [Does this even exist?]

Me: Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?

T: No.

Me: Do you understand the importance of a swatch?

T: [I censored this because he said something really stupid and pissed me off. He protested but I ignored him. Trust me. It's not worth it.]

Me: Do you read Knitting Moonsilver?

T: No.

Me: Have you ever left a comment?

T: No.

Me: Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?

T: Your mess is nothing compared to my mess.

Me: Anything you'd like to add?

T: I think that spinning, weaving and the myriad ways of working thread mirror the intricacies of being a woman, taking loose ends and making things out of nothing.

The Williams Pullover

2008-09-30T20:36:00.008-04:00

Here is a picture of the Williams Pullover so far. I changed the pattern from flat to round and it has been a lot of fun to knit. My biggest mistake so far is not doing a three needle bind off at the shoulders.

The color isn't quite right, but came up very well next to a morning glory. I couldn't resist taking at least ten pictures of those. I guess I'm sucking it up for winter.

The old woodpile is gone and a new unsplit one is here. There is some beautiful locust, red oak and maple and its already seasoned! Two more cords and we are all set for winter.

Had to go to the dentist today and had to laugh. I brought Jaywalker to work on while waiting for the hygenist. I didn't realize how tightly I was clutching it (don't do well at the dentist) until she said kindly "You can hold on to it if you like".

Fall is creeping in

2008-09-21T20:05:00.006-04:00

It's been so long since I've written, that fall is beginning. The asters are in full bloom and have been covered in honey bees with thick orange leg warmers. I have no idea what I have been doing right, but the roses are still blooming beautifully. Our leaves haven't started turning but a few have been falling and the squirrels have been terribly busy. Unfortunately, so have the ticks.

I cleaned out the attics and had a yard sale and likely won't do that again. We met some nice folks and then there were the pushy folks that kept asking to come in to the house even when they were told no. "Any posters of Jimi Hendrix?" "No." "Are you sure?" "Quite certain, thank you anyway." "Can I get in the house?" "No." "Are you sure there are no posters?" Good grief. The plus side is clutter binging has been slow but steady this last year and it feels great.

I haven't been spinning since Nanny died and so flunked out of Tour de Fleece. I finished a couple of pair of socks though. One set I finally finished for my darling that are (amazingly) too big and a second set intended for me that (surprisingly) also came out too large so I gave them to a friend.

I'm knitting a pair of Jaywalkers now, as well as a sweater (The Williams Pullover) and am slowly knitting the Wool Peddler's Shawl I cast on late summer.

Tremendous thunderstorm right now. I can't miss it so am leaving with this on my mind. It is from the script of Iris.

"We need to believe in something divine
without the need for God,
something we might call love or goodness.
As the Psalm says,
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit?"
"Whither shall I flee from thy presence?"
"If I ascend unto heaven, thou art there:
If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."
"If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me."
Dear thoughts are in my mind
And my soul soars, enchanted
And tomorrow he shall hear
All my fond heart can say."

Friday

2008-07-18T07:10:00.006-04:00

It's finally Friday. I feel guilty that I have not been writing about spinning every day, but I do not have anything exciting to say other than its been lovely to sit. I can't offer technical information because I am such a beginner I am still inchworm spinning. So far though I have finished a skein of alpaca:

And a skein of iceberg blue merino:

Now I am spinning the colored Coopworth I'd gotten when I first bought the wheel and am thinking to ply it with this lovely ball of brown stuff that had no label:

Helena

2008-07-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

Helena is an adorable pattern!

Day Two

2008-07-06T22:10:00.002-04:00

I’ve never purposely sat down to spin and use it as a meditative practice. That being said, it has all the earmarks that meditating used to have for me. My back starts killing me. My mind spins out of control (look at Addi running in her sleep and oh, everyone else is passed out too. They are making that dog star pattern around me again. What is that anyway? Wish I could sit outside and spin – tomorrow I’ll sit on the front porch ‘cause the neighbors might be finally sleeping. Should I do a load of laundry before I go to sleep? WOOLEE WINDER!!) and so on before I remember to go back to my breath and whoosh, my hands soften and I relax and I can’t get over how beautiful everything is.

Alpaca sure is sweet to spin.

Summertime and Day One - Le Tour de Fleece 2008

2008-07-05T22:13:00.020-04:00

The frogs are so loud tonight they are drowning out the neighbors (no small feat there). It's beautiful weather here and has been a wonderful weekend potzing around the house. The lightning bugs are amazing. We'd gotten a mosquito machine last summer and I can sit on the porch even after dark without suffering miserably from them.

I finished Helena and its blocking. I'm still not sure it will fit but at least I know Lynnette won't mind if it doesn't.

A friend of ours' daughter is having a baby girl who is due in four weeks so I cast on for EZ's February Baby Sweater. I tore my stash apart looking for cotton for it (especially after reading Elizabeth's endearing introduction in Knitter's Alamanac) and ended up settling for an acrylic blend. The family lives in the south and I thought it would be easier than wool (or at least not as warm being that it will be high summer when she is born).

The garden is as rumpled as ever and reminds me of a crazy quilt. My foot is much better now so I have no excuse to weed.

Speedwort and Bee Balm:

Orange Coneflower (it's second year):

A Peony from a bulb/rhizome (I'm sold on bulbs this year!):

Sweet Pea / Yellow Daisy annual:

Remember the purple clematis on the other side of the arbor? Gus or Phoenix peed on it so it is half dead now. One stem is all right though so I think it will make it through.

White Coneflower (this is its third year - look how much smaller it is):

The whole garden:

I took this shot of the woodpile in the driveway standing at the base of it. I've been studiously ignoring it but my husband is very proud of it:

All weekend I've been thinking about Le Tour de Fleece 2008. I rootled through the fiber I have to spin. I do not have a lot (one large Rubbermaid container) but some of it is at least five years old. Thinking I would pick one and focus on just that to spin, I found fiber I'd gotten when I first got my wheel:

And some I'd gotten at Rhinebeck two years later:

In the end, I decided to set my goal to spin a half hour to an hour every day. I love to spin as much for its meditative process as the product but am not consistent. Honestly, I don't sit and meditate regularly either. So for today then, I spun for an hour and was able to finish a bobbin of alpaca and start the second. I am starting where I am.

Tour de Fleece 2008

2008-07-03T15:18:00.003-04:00

I'm so excited! I just joined Le Tour de Fleece 2008. I am trying to decide what my ultimate goal will be. I have a tiny bit of Shetland to spin so I can empty the bobbins and then I'm trying to decide from my stash what to spin.

Also, I finished the sleeves of Helena! Just have to sew the hem and knit the edging with ties.

Finished Swallowtail

2008-06-22T14:49:00.005-04:00

I like the way it came out.

Cast on for Helena and I'm already worried it might not fit for the fall even though I cast on for a four year old's size. It's going very quickly as I had to sit a lot this week. We had a terrific storm here last Monday or Tuesday. The black cohash out front got squished by a large branch. Had flippers on when I was trying to save it and got bit in the toes by a spider who was not inclined to present herself further.

Not much else going on. The garden is a mess. I sorted out WIPs this morning and the list is long. Frogged some (Cozy Vest and Saratoga Shrug) and tucked the others in a nearby basket to work on.

Hope everyone is having a really nice weekend!

I've got the old man on my mind

2008-06-15T15:38:00.004-04:00

"I wish I could translate these hints
about the dead young men and women.
and the hints about old men and mothers,
and the offspring soon out of their laps.

What do you think has become of them?

They are alive and well somewhere.
The smallest sprout shows there is really no death.

All goes outward, and nothing collapses.
And to die is different from what any one supposed,
and luckier."

- Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Knit in Public Day

2008-06-14T21:23:00.011-04:00

For knit in public day, I knit on the front lawn instead of the back. Maybe someone saw me.

Nupps are tricksy little beasties. For the life of me, I can't purl 5 together so the way I've been knitting them is to slip 2, purl 3 tog, pass 2 over. It works for the most part, though even with keeping the yos as loose as I can, pushing the three to the edge of the needle and pulling the three stitch base down with my left forefinger and thumb I still have trouble. Often I end up slipping four, stretching that fifth yo out an inch and slipping two back to purl 3 together. It gets convoluted and slow but I am happy to say I only have two rows of nupps left. They are kind of bi polar nupps in that they aren't lined up neatly and in order, but nupps they are. As troublesome as it sounds, I've loved knitting Swallowtail. The yarn is just beautiful too.

When I finish Swallowtail, I want to make Helena for little Emily. It's the prettiest little sweater and I think she'll look adorable in it.

My rumpled garden looks like a crazy quilt. I pretty much suck at taking pictures of it entire, but here is a white rose. I have not (knock on wood) seen one Japanese Beetle yet this season so this little one has had a grand time. I counted at least fifteen blooms so far.

Can't resist the delphiniums again! I am so in love with them. That's yellow strife to the right and wild indigo pods on the bottom left. I absolutely must remember for once to save the pods for seeds.

The clematis and sweet pea are in a race and should bloom in the next week. I never got around to giving all the sweet pea here a place to grow on instead of sprawled out on the ground so I'm really excited.

Pink stuff, weeds and yellow primrose. I really should keep a garden journal.

What I've Been Up To

2008-06-08T16:44:00.016-04:00

I don't know where to start! I guess outside because that is where I've been spending the most time. The lilacs and quince came and went:

The bridal wreath bushes are blooming with the wigelia:

One of my jobs was supposed to have been to paint the trim on the house but I got to paint chairs instead:

The trim was a nasty, flesh color. I don't know what the hell I was thinking, but now its a pretty blue:

Phoenix and Max in front of the garden a month ago. Phene just had his fourteenth birthday.

And what the garden looks like now:

I can't resist a couple of shots of flowers.

We cleared an area in the back. This ropey trunk is wysteria (otherwise known as hysteria).

I finished Blue Jeans Lace Shawl:

And have been working on Swallowtail:

Friday night, I was having such a good time I whaled through an entire repeat without counting. I spent what felt like ages tinking back rows and this morning I started the Lily of the Valley border 1.

I've been spinning also but forgot to take photos.

Almost two weeks

2008-04-27T19:57:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how fast the time goes. I haven't any progress on knitting to report. though I am half heartedly working on the Blue Jeans Lace shawl. Mostly gardening over here when I can - catching up with spring, madly chasing shad flies and also refinishing two old Adirondack chairs my aunt gave me.

There is something new though. Yesterday I rode with a couple of ladies from the knitting group to see The Chancellor's Sheep & Wool Showcase. A perfect size for a country fair, there were 20 vendors, sausage and peppers, a sheep dog demonstration and bagpipes playing. The group of spinners looked awfully happy on the lawn. Clermont is beautiful and I think I will go back in June to see the gardens because the gardener was so enthusiastic.

I met some Ravelers and was able to buy some of their gorgeous wool (mostly laceweight - pictures will have to come later). Bought two bags of Cormo to spin and I'm really looking forward to it because I've never tried it before. All winter I did not spin because I could not get settled in a place. The living room would have been nice but the woodstove will warp the wheel. The kitchen is too cold to spin in and my bedroom also. I know I could have moved it back and forth but honestly I guess I just wasn't into spinning for a while. I am going to spin in my conservatory now and finish the shetland I'd started last fall.

Screeching Halt

2008-04-10T07:31:00.005-04:00

Saratoga is in hibernation. When I went to pick up for the ruffle, it looked horrendous. I found it frustrating and am chickening out for now.

Minor progress on BJ Lace Shawl:

I cast on for Flutter Sleeve Cardigan last weekend some time and have the back almost finished.

Saratoga Shrug

2008-04-08T08:16:00.004-04:00

This picture hurts your eyes it is so bright, but here is progress on Saratoga:

I am about an hour away from finishing the second sleeve and then I can pick up for the ruffle.

Shoot

2008-04-01T22:11:00.000-04:00

I can't sleep. It is a night of firsts: April First, first rainbow, first thunderstorm, first time I found a caterpillar crawling up the bed clothes, and the first time in a really long time (I swear) I ate a box of Nutter Butters for supper.

Flying along on Saratoga Shrug. I have the back about finished and then you do something odd like put the first 38 stitches on a holder, knit across and then put the last whatever stitches on a holder. Last night I read ahead in the pattern for the millionth time and noticed for the first time (ha) a bit about picking up 300 something stitches. In cotton. I almost ditched the whole project but I'm the dodo head who put the Fearless Knitter button up so I have to see it through. Besides, I'm desperate for clothes for work and the fabric and pattern are so pretty together.

Nantucket

2008-03-30T17:33:00.000-04:00

Nantucket is finished! I think it is a very feminine, sweet sweater. Although I need to find buttons for it someday, the crochet trim and my Dad's kilt pin work nicely for now. You can see where the fronts angle in because it is loose but I'm glad it is not tight fitting. The shorter sleeves worked out after all and have the added advantage of not being so warm.

Nantucket Again

2008-03-23T19:58:00.001-04:00

Picked up Nantucket again. It's supposed to be in the teens either tonight or tomorrow night or something so I figured I may as well keep at the sleeves. There are about three inches done out of seven. There are nasty thoughts bubbling in the back of my brain that this sweater is too big - WAY too big - and I am ignoring them.

Started a bit of a wall around the garden yesterday so my hands hurt a lot. I'm halfway around with one layer, using stones from the old back steps. This is how I really should be building it.

Sunday

2008-03-16T19:35:00.000-04:00

I adore Sundays. I like to sleep in, hang out and knit with morning coffee without having to look at the clock every two minutes, maybe do some chores or visiting that I didn't finish Saturday. Today it was beautiful out. The day lilies are coming and the snow drops just bloomed. We nailed some cedar shakes to one side of my little garden shed. I played with the dogs and did loads and loads of laundry. The big goal was to not take a nap (last night I was up until 2:30 a.m. because I took a nap - can't stand this time saving process) so I'd sit and knit a bit and when my head would nod, I'd pop up and do something. On that line, I started doing some cleaning on the road today. Every year, spring and fall, I pick up bags and bags of garbage in the ditches. You'd think it would cheer me up, doing good for the earth and the neighborhood but it always ends up pissing me off to no end. The garbage has been worse in the last few years. Someone goes to McDonalds and throws the garbage out of their car at least twice a day. I want to hide in the bushes with my night binoculars and a paint ball gun and nail the mothers. We've got Listerine Man too. He drinks bottles and bottles of the stuff. How he isn't dead from it by now I don't know but I tell you what, someday I won't have to read the obituary to know he's croaked because I won't have to pick up his bottles every year.

Two Hefty bags and halfway down the hill, I came across a pristine white bag - the kind you might get at Home Schlepot, with brand new twine tying the top shut. I knew it was something dead so spent five minutes pacing back and forth to and from it before I got the courage to open it. I poked the twine open with a stick, dumped it over and found five dead Bantam roosters and a hen. They had their heads and feet on. They didn't smell. Their feathers weren't sticking up or worked over. I can't figure it out and can only think someone around here is killing small animals. A farmer wouldn't have bagged them - he would've put them wherever they put dead animals (in a ditch covered in dirt?). I left them where they fell with the bag. The coyotes (or coydogs - whatever) could use them for supper and if not them, the crows in the morning (though I don't know - do crows eat other dead birds?).

I grew up here. In this place, my great-grandfather planted trees 80 years ago and my father planted trees when I was a little girl. My grandfather farmed up on the hill and the wide fields are still there. I don't understand the shift and change of energy that is going on. I wonder if it is that I am getting older and less patient with those who disrespect so much. Maybe 80 years ago or 45 years ago, people then were killing small animals too and leaving them on the sides of country roads. I can't help but think, though, how it is possible that anyone not know that every action we take effects every single thing around us.

Off the rant, Nantucket's sleeves have been abandoned, though I really should finish them soon because once it gets warmer I won't want to work with thick wool so much.

Yesterday I took a ride over to a local LYS to use a gift certificate I'd gotten for Christmas for a skein of something or other for our knitting group's KAL (the Blue Jeans Lace Leaf Shawl). I can't believe how much new sock yarn is out there! I ended up getting a skein of Paca Peds in Grapevine. They give you an extra 25 grams for heels and toes, but the wonderful LYS owner suggested I use it for the border and I think its a brilliant idea.

I worked on the little Easter sweater for a bit, but am concerned. One sleeve seems so much narrower than the other and I haven't figured out how to fix it yet.

Tried this out for a bit but didn't like the pattern with the yarn.

And worked on Tom's short socks for a bit:

Hard to believe the work week starts tomorrow already. It's like I'm wishing my life away, waiting for weekends to come.

Knitting Along

2008-03-13T12:32:00.000-04:00

Nantucket's back and left and right fronts are finished! I cast on for the sleeves on Sunday I think and I'm excited. I'm itching for spring knitting, especially as I need clothes for work for the season change.

I've been working on a little Easter sweater for a little bunny too, using the LK-150 for the plain parts. It's A-line, raglan with three-quarter bell sleeves. I thought I would just add a tie at the neck and pick out a nice ruffle from one of Nicky Epstein's books.

The day lilies are poking up. What a relief spring is almost here!

Sharp

2008-03-02T15:35:00.000-05:00

Finished Cherry Leaf Shoulder Shawl. I would've done many things differently but I'm not one to knit a thing twice so it is finished. Just like me, it is not perfect. Knitting can be humbling.

Been working on Nantucket again and enjoying it.

Not much else to report. It is a beautiful day out today, perfect for sitting in the sun:

And for taking a bit of a nap:

Until someone rudely wakes you up.

Sunny

2008-02-24T09:20:00.000-05:00

I started the border for the Cherry Leaf Shoulder Shawl I'm working on Friday. Six attempts and I finally got it. The chart's right and wrong side baffled me for what seemed like the longest time. I still don't know if it is supposed to be a garter edging but it is staying that way now. I'm slow at picking things up and keep thinking its good to challenge myself and learn new things. I didn't feel that way yesterday so much when I dropped the stitch where you knit together with the main shawl and three hard won repeats unzipped in a nano second in front of my disbelieving eyes. I'm such a knitting geek that one made me gasp out loud.

We had to go to Saratoga Springs yesterday and had a chance to stop by Saratoga Needle Arts. I loved the shop and found so many gorgeous lace weight wools I could have bought in a second. I was going to buy some and maybe ask for help with the border (just a second pair of eyes) but the ladies working were so nice but unbelievably busy that I just couldn't do it.

Oh, and we had a bath at the Roosevelt Bath House. The mineral water there is carbon dioxide (very bubbly) and much different than the sulphur baths at Sharon Springs. It was a perfect mid-winter treat, restorative in body and soul.

Off to Whitestone to see the rellies but Lynnette, look!

And it was 15 this morning!

Strange Weather

2008-02-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

I spent the last two days working on a baby blanket for a coworker and finished it late last night. I used the LK150 which I love but get impatient with because sometimes I find it a fiddly process. This blanket was promised last October for the baby's christening back in January. Not being late on things is really something I need to work on this year. It's either that or stop promising things if I can't come through on time. Being disrespectful is sincerely not my intent.

The weather is odd. The windows are all open. The woodstove is going because I can't tell when it is going to get cold again and I don't feel like starting it again later. While I'm madly catching up on housecleaning, a torrential downpour:

And the sun comes out twenty minutes later:

Be My Valentine

2008-02-14T21:18:00.001-05:00

Gone are the passions, the tears and the joys
Of yesterday's romances, sweethearts and boys,
I remember the letters, the poems, the proses,
The phone calls, the outings, the chocolates, the roses.
But dearer to me than the prettiest posey
Is the dew drop that hangs from your little wet nosey.
Reclusive, illusive, wandering nightly,
Unprickle the charms that you've rolled up so tightly.
You shy little treasure, I wish you were mine,
I wish you would love me, be my Valentine.
Please stay here and share my life, don't go away,
Oh wild one, dear Hedgehog, my love of today.

Be My Valentine
Elaine Drewery

In February

2008-02-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

Highland Triangle is finished.

Worked on this for a while (Lotus Blossom Shawl) but it's too fine a yarn and who am I kidding, I won't finish it at this weight. It is Malabrigo Lace (color Jewel Blue 32) and oh my goodness, it is the loveliest stuff. Everything about it - the color, its loft and softness - makes me want to squeal. It's reminding me of summer. Anyway, I'd like the colors of Lotus to be red, pink, pale yellow to creamy white (like lotus flowers) but can't find the colors yet.

Finished one Monkey, cast on for the second (Mountain Colors Barefoot, colorway Eureka):

I'm a little all over the place here, but ended up using Brooks Farm to knit the Shoulder Shawl in cherry leaf pattern from Victorian Lace Today:

Lavender

2008-02-08T19:44:00.000-05:00

you are lavender
#E6E6FA

Your dominant hue is blue, making you a good friend who people love and trust. You're good in social situations and want to fit in. Just be careful not to compromise who you are to make them happy.

Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working.

Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Pay it Forward

2008-01-27T20:18:00.000-05:00

I get so behind on catching up, but my friend Lynnette had this awesome post and this is irresistible to me:

Pay It Forward - here's my promise to you:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

If anyone would like to Pay It Forward too, leave a comment and I'd love to send you something.

January

2008-01-27T20:01:00.000-05:00

I didn't block it yet and still have to weave in the ends, but I finished Highland Triangle tonight. If I was to have a nickname for it, I would call it January.

(Apologies for the awfully irritating blurry picture. I think something is wrong with my camera.)

Not Even Close

2008-01-25T11:46:00.000-05:00

There is no way I would have been able to finish the edging by today. It's very pretty and I am SO slow and only about a quarter of it is finished.

Is it just me or has there been an explosion in new knitting books lately?

Cold Again

2008-01-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's already Sunday! There is something inherently wrong with jamming so many fun things to do in two days. Here is where I'm at with Highland Triangle:

I just love knitting this shawl. I've got I think eight or ten more rows to do before I start the last edging. I was hoping to get it finished in time for January 25, Burns Nicht, but we'll see. I'm very excited too because Northanger Abbey is on tonight and that is just knitting bliss for me.

This is even more exciting at the moment though. This is a bag a lovely woman in our knitting group gave to me because she couldn't get it to felt. It was absolutely huge - something like two and a half feet by three. She'd left a small ball of the leftover wool inside so I burned it to see what it was and sure enough, wool and silk. I'm almost positive it was Noro Silk Garden. Three hours of felting while I cleaned the house and look! Isn't it just gorgeous? Gargantuan bag to svelt, sexy under the shoulder clutch. I can't wait to give it to her but I want to find a button first. It needs just the proper button.

Back to Highland Triangle

2008-01-06T09:31:00.001-05:00

"Take long walks in stormy weather or through deep snow in the field or woods, if you would keep your spirits up. Bear with brute nature. Be cold and hungry and weary ... Ah, but is this not a glorious time of year for your deep inward fires?" - Henry David Thoreau, Journals

Or, you could stack wood, make a paltry attempt at chores and cozy up to the fire and between naps, fix the shawl you completely bolloxed up the night before. I had a hell of a time picking up the stitches for the border because my beginning slipped stitches were off. Where I picked them up, it looks like the eyelet row that came five or six rows later. Anyway, it's back on track (with two eyelet rows) and I was able to knit quite a bit during the debates last night.

Quant

2008-01-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

I finished Quant Wednesday night. I loved knitting it. I used a ball of Noro Kureyon and there was quite a bit left over. I have a leftover pile for my leftovers now.

Finished Floral Lace Anklets

2007-12-27T14:49:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it but Christmas night I finally finished a the Floral Lace Anklets I'd been working on since August. I had two repeats of lace pattern left and knit them after everyone went home while watching Lifetime Christmas (sob) movies.

Everything else I'd been working on was finished in time (except Dashing) but I didn't grab any pictures. Too bad, 'cause the Tomten would've been good to get a photo of.

Snow

2007-12-19T21:14:00.001-05:00

I wish you could see the snow falling here. It's just beautiful. The birch tree out back is shining silver and full with it and its just the prettiest thing ever.

My knitting list has been modified extensively. I haven't left out the chicken though. A Tomten has to have a chicken.

Lovely

2007-12-12T16:17:00.000-05:00

This would be the perfect time to take a week off and finish presents. My list seems to get longer. I don't normally do a lot of knitted presents because I get caught up in warped thinking (particularly halfway through) that a knitted gift might possibly be considered the most egotistical present ever. What if they don't like it? What if they hate the color? What if they feel like they have to wear it just because I made it? Will they notice a wrong facing cable cross? Will they notice and entire wrist of wrong facing cable crosses?

Anyway, I've finished little things: Two hats, two cowls, two scarves.

I have still to knit: Socks, chicken, pouch for chicken for Tomten; Fetching, Dashing, Quant and Delicato two machine knit scarfs for two Bills, and a baby blanket.

Wild

2007-12-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

Christmas knitting over here, no pictures yet. So far I've finished: Two moebios cowls, one and a half of Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hats, half a beautiful chunky scarf and a Tomten who only needs socks and a bag to hold the felted rooster I haven't made yet either. I made a Just Like a Peasant Cap too but am having a hard time gathering and sewing the back down so it looks just right.

Off early

2007-11-21T19:15:00.001-05:00

Got off early today which is a good thing when one implodes at work. Cleaned the house, fed the dogs/cats, did some laundry and made a pumpkin pie for Uncle Bill on the Hill (how you are supposed to tell if a pie is done without sticking an ugly butt knife hole in the middle). Now I am frantically rooting through the stash to find something to knit for someone by the 2nd and thinking of Christmas presents. The fog is rolling off the roof into the windows in thick ropes and its almost a full moon. Everyone is sleeping and safe and I'm just waiting for one to get home safe so the house and me can settle into the night before Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving. May yours come home safe too.

One Skein Shawl

2007-11-18T18:02:00.000-05:00

I didn't do the pretty trim like the pattern (Knitters Review One Skein Shawl) calls for. This is the best shot I could come up with. It was a bear to take a photo of.

My mom bought me the ceramic pin at The Rooms when we were up there. It's handmade by A.C. Guest and she called it "Ode to Newfoundland" after Sir Cavendish Boyle's poem:

When spreads thy cloak
of shimm'ring white
at winter's stern command.
Thro' shortened day
and starlit night
We love thee frozen land.

We love thee, we love thee,
We love thee frozen land.

Orion is back. I was looking for him two weeks ago and Friday night after knitting, I looked up and there he was. We're supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow tonight. It's toes up to the woodstove for three months now.

Shawl

2007-11-12T12:51:00.000-05:00

I finished a plain, simple garter shawl with the blue glitter stuff on Sunday (thank you Beth for the idea!). Blocked it by threading a curtain rod through the top loops and hung it from the living room window with a hammer hanging to extend the bottom point. The curtain rod is ruined but the shawl is beautiful and done and I don't have to torture myself by saving that tangled bit and I even have the most perfect pin for it.

Good grief

2007-10-24T07:24:00.001-04:00

I just can't get out of the way of myself.

I got it!

2007-10-23T21:06:00.000-04:00

It got a bit ugly at the end and I lost a yard, but they are ready to wash. Isn't it amazing how if your hands are the tiniest bit tense, knots pop up where you didn't have them before.

Gus

2007-10-23T19:32:00.000-04:00

Every Day is Gustevous Day.

Foul

2007-10-23T19:15:00.000-04:00

There is a foul wind blowing out of the east tonight. Spinning has been off and on and in the last year more off, so with a quiet sense of accomplishment (my spinning isn't that great still), I finished plying the blue stuff with glitter this evening.

Looking forward to washing and setting, I tried a niddy noddy for the first time instead of pulling out the clock reel. Completely screwed it up and to make things worse, I looked at the freaking skien before taking it off the noddy.

I'm itching to work on a sweater I started on the machine, but there is a very large bear holed up in its growelry that bellows in some kind of language only I can unfortunately understand that the machine sounds like thunder. Cozy Vest is plotzing along about an inch a week but I don't feel like it tonight.

Fleece Artist Celtic Cardigan

2007-10-07T11:12:00.000-04:00

I cast on for Fleece Artist's Celtic Cardigan when I finished Moriah and it turned out to be a
quick knit. I absolutely adore this sweater. It was one of those fun
knits you can't get enough of. It's Scotian Silk, color Mahogany. The button is really a labrinth
belt buckle my sweetheart had gotten for me years ago. It had been
sitting in a drawer and when I saw the photos for this sweater online,
I bought the kit for the button.

The color is much better here. Tough time taking photos today.

Holy Cow

2007-09-23T12:06:00.001-04:00

I finished a sweater. Here is Moriah's Wildflower Cardigan, from Green Mountain Spinnery, Mountain Mohair, color Patridgeberry. The wool is so soft I was touching it even while he was taking the picture.

\]

Finished Sleeves

2007-09-21T10:44:00.000-04:00

For reasons beyond me, I got up at 4:30 this morning and finished the sleeves of Moriah with my morning coffee. I added the project to Ravelry (without a photo), but was too embarrassed to add the project start date. If there was a place to mark how many times I picked it up and put it down, that mark would be longer than my actual knitting time. It's grand getting this far!

Getting there

2007-09-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

As much as I wanted to, I didn’t finish the sleeves this weekend. This morning I got up at 5 and it was 42 degrees. We all crawled back into bed with coffee and I knit the last bit to 15 inches. At lunch I can begin shaping the caps and maybe by Wednesday I can start sewing up! Can’t wait to sew the buttons on.

It’s absolutely gorgeous out today.

Loosey Goosey

2007-09-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

I'm knitting as much as I can over here, and really having a nice time. I think it is because fall is coming. I finished these plain vanilla socks:

They are too loose I think. My gauge has changed so much in the last two years that generally I have to drop two needle sizes now.

I'm halfway through Jackie E-S's Scotch Thistle Lace Shawl. I've always loved her patterns.

Green Mountain Spinnery's Moriah's Wildflower Cardigan has been my main knitting since week before last when Beth and I met for lunch. (I still can't believe we're so close at work!) I bought Mountain Mohair for wool and the pattern at their booth at Rhinebeck two years ago and have picked it up off and on since. The back and fronts are finished. I've finished 13 inches on the sleeves so far (which I'm working on at the same time or I would definitely screw up the pattern) and I'm hoping to finish them this weekend between housecleaning. Sorry it is blurry and the color is off.

Summertime Sknitches

2007-08-31T21:38:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it but summer is almost over. Since vacation, I've managed to finish another pair of socks and half of a shawl I'd already had started, but that's about it! I'm trying to make sure I knit at least an hour a day, but have only been able to manage a half hour or so. This doesn't include sknitches at lunch or in the car.

Had our first new local knitting circle a couple of weeks ago. I'd signed up at meetup.com and called the cafe's marketing director to spread the word a little. About 11 people showed up! I was nervously envisioning sitting alone knitting by myself all night but when I got there, most were already there and knitting away. Good times.

Vacation

2007-08-15T07:35:00.000-04:00

Back from Newfoundland! Finished a pair of socks and started a new pair, finished one Delicato Mitt and am halfway through a shawl. The Highland Triangle was too bulky to bring. My knitting has been so scattered this summer that I'm now working on only one project at a time. I've done this before and its pretty effective for me. Maybe I'll have finished photos soon to look back on.

Newfoundland was absolutely gorgeous and the people were amazingly friendly. My only regret (even though I had a lot of knitting time) is that we spent so much time in the car. I'd fly closer if I went again.

41

2007-07-15T08:38:00.000-04:00

As luck would have it, I have Lyme's disease again. I'm forcing myself to rest (though I do get to knit while I rest), despite feeling just horrible even resting. This is a time when I wish I had Elizabeth Zimmerman's dvds to watch. I have to get better by August, because I am taking a trip to Newfoundland. Typically, I haven't thought much about what clothing to pack, but have thought a great deal about what projects to bring. It's a lot of knitting time from here to Newfoundland.

Spinning Again

2007-07-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

Well, the wee little kittens have all died, despite antibiotics, other medicines, water injections, etc. I think maybe the mother knew that there was something wrong. I never did find her or hear her look for them. At least I know they weren't hungry or cold when they went. They were the dearest little things.

I've been spinning again and have two bobbins of Frustrated Creativity ready to ply. Consistency is still difficult but then I haven't been consistent in spinning. My shawl knitting is very, very slow. I wish I could show pictures but it would be pointless.

It's a beautiful day out today and I hope the same for everyone.

Blurry

2007-06-23T12:05:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I didn't realize it, but bottlefeeding kittens is a time consuming affair. My morning/evening knitting time is spent with them for now until they can eat solids. Highland Triangle has another two inches finished and I've managed to traffic knit to the heel flap on a second sock (the blue/black ones). Last Saturday I indulged myself at my LYS and bought a few things:

Bamboozle in Ember Glow to make Shaped Lace Tee from Knitting Lingerie Style. I swatched, got great gauge and cast on. I knitted about 8 inches of the back and thought it a bit small. I hadn't noticed the ball band has a notation "Due to elastic content use one size larger needles than you might expect to use". Arrrr. I don't like tight fitting tops much anymore so will have to rip and try over. I may try it in the round this time also.

Yarn and pattern for Annie Modesitt's Ruffled Roses Scarf. This scarf is just adorable and chic and knitting the ruffle - what an ingenious idea!

A lovely ball of On Line Supersocke Tropic.

Busy

2007-06-10T09:57:00.000-04:00

We've been having a neighborhood cat problem for the last year and a half. Someone across the street "let out" a bunch of cats (rumor has it 30 or more). We've spayed 8 or 9 so far and placed I don't know how may kittens in homes and/or shelters. I found an abandoned litter yesterday (won't get into where) and look at this wee fellow:

He's purring! There are three (one died last night) and they are only a week old. The mother is gone so I have been bottlefeeding them. Believe it or not, it is easier to bottlefeed than it is to catch kittens or semi-feral cats. Still, it is an awful situation that could have been remedied so easily. I've been trying to trap a pregnant female for a week now and she's been the trickiest little thing.

I finished a sock last Thursday, and cast on for the second. I just love Opal sock yarn! I can't believe how fluffy and soft they are compared to the ones I knit four years ago though.

Highland Triangle is going to be very big I think. It is coming along nicely. The wool is very hairy so it is hard to see the pattern but it will block out beautifully.

If there is anything I love as much as knitting, its gardening. Flowers are starting to bloom, broccoli is coming in and we've had strawberries and lettuces for a couple of weeks now. Yellow squash is on its way, and tomatoes.

The wigelia is blooming, the roses and bridal wreath.

This is a smaller garden that is a mix of perennials and annuals. My gardening is kind of like my knitting. I do well with small areas, but have trouble "seeing" big. Come to think of it, both are rumblety-tumbley too.

Off to clean the wool room. I have Dulaan things to get out this week and need to finish them up!

Women in Art

2007-06-09T19:50:00.001-04:00