Out of Yarn
But, really, the dog comes first
My Picture of the Day, yesterday
Apr 18th
I did not expect that people would have such a fun time with this event – the shuttle buzzing Washington D.C. (I think I underestimated people.)
I did not expect Mom to be so entirely thrilled with the fly-by. Three times. (She was like a little kid chasing after a prop plane to get the pilot to wave it’s wings.)
Office roof-tops were full of photographers and schools emptied of students and teachers – all looking up. Watching the final flight in person.
And we were incredibly lucky to be in the right place at the right time to watch this last flight of Discovery.
I was … sad. I grew up with moon launches and space shuttles. I grew up thinking that science and astronauts are cool.
And now what will there be?
My Sister
Apr 16th
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My Sister, she says her definition of vacation is “chocolate, wine, and dirt.”
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We’re taking it in stages – we’ve run out of dirt so we’ve moved onto the “wine” portion of day; later – chocolate. Also, we are knitting.
Exxxxactly
Apr 15th
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Proof of Knitting:
I made this table scarf some time ago. (I’d look up the deets but that would make me scroll through posts of Aurora and that would make me sad and then I wouldn’t publish. So I’m not looking.)
And I blocked in yesterday. On this, the dining room table. Because I’m organized that way. (My parents arrived today. My timing is excellent.)
The yarn is Claudia Handpaints Linen in the Carousel colorway (I think!). It began it’s life as a Clara Parkes One Skein Shawl (Rav Link) a few years ago and it has re-morphed into this table scarf. (The idea came from one of the knit mags but I haven’t been able to find it (in real life or Rav) to cite it.)
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Apparently, the felines approve.
Busy as a …
Apr 15th
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Oh how I’ve missed you!
The gardens! The flowers! The wildlife!
I have much to show you.
(Alllmost got a puppy. Still waiting on that.)
Travel coming up!
There’s even knitting. (No, really. Wait till you see!)
So … there have been a lot of bees around this year. Which is rather early in the season but it’s been rather (too) warm for the season.
And then they swarmed. I mean really – one day, thousands of the little things swirling around in the neighbor’s back yard. Oddness.
We called local experts and watched.
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I have heard the siren call
Feb 12th
and not done a damn thing have done something about it:
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I ordered a set of Signature Needle Arts circs (size 7, 40 inches, stilletto).
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Owlways and Kmkat have sung the praises – many times. (But I’ve stuck my fingers in my ears and sung loudly in return.)
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Now, Kmkat is offering yarn because of great customer service, US made, eco-friendly practices of a small business in Wisconsin. That’s it! If someone is giving away yarn, I must try them.
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To be continued (Ned can hardly wait):
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Dog Day, part 2 (the pictures)
Feb 10th
Pix are from Wednesday, my Dog Day (when I kidnapped two huskies * to bring them to visit with their favorite person in the whole world **)
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They may have been excited. It’s hard to tell with the one in the back seat:
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He certainly had a lot to say about the trip. ***
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But then they romped and visited with friends and explored,
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There may have been some mud.
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And then we came home.
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*of the canine variety, the UConn version can be found here
**other than the people they live with, of course. The person (and dogs) that we were visiting has recently moved and we haven’t seen her in about 5 weeks.
*** there was one moment, when we came out through a tunnel into a city landscape, and he was very. very. quiet.
Dog Day
Feb 8th
My Facebook update:
I am really grateful for heated seats:
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because the two huskies I’m driving to a friend’s house (that they haven’t seen for 6 weeks) will not Shut. Up. unless I drive with the windows open.
File under: #Who’sReallyInChargeHere?
A(nother) New Beginning
Feb 6th
(Is there a limit to the number of chances I get?)
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So, I was about to put a cry for help: my knitting mojo was lost.
I didn’t really want to knit anything I had on hand (i.e. easily accessible). I didn’t really like anything I was working on (too simple, too small (a project), too tiny needles, too big (a project), too boring, …)
And then I remembered that it really was just my self-imposed rules (pick it up from the top of the pile, knit it, deal with it, move on) that was causing the problem.
And since these rules were/are self-imposed, I get to change them. (Funny how being the Boss of Me works, huh?)
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Last year, when Schoolhouse Press published Knit One Knit All I was so charmed by the previously unpublished EZ garter stitch patterns, that I decided to knit them all. (It was during the Time of Chaos and Doubt). And then I bought a lot of yarn.
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This particular pattern Brimmed Hat – Panache (Rav link) stumped me. Two problems:
1) the yarn (Unspun Icelandic Wool worked 2 ply) is sticky and fragile – meaning it broke often. (Especially when Nickie was felting it in the wheel.)
2) I can’t count. The pattern is simple enough short rows – but not in a straight-forward sequence. Well it has a pattern, but if I put it down mid-row, I’d forget where I was. Nevermind that I was not using a row counter or notes – I simply expected to keep track of where I was (during the Time of Chaos and Doubt. Yeah, that was a bad idea – I ripped and put it to the side …)
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So I found a little scrap of paper and a pen, and even I can conquer the Brimmed Hat – Panache.
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Knitting Content Catch Up, part 1
Feb 5th
I know ya’ll are off watching the Superbowl (I missed a Betty White commercial?!?)
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Cascade Pastaza (grey) and Malabrigo Chunky (Paris Night), in the classic Marsan Watchcap
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And I’ve had these done for weeks, so it’s not all that exciting (unless, maybe, you’re the recipient. And it is actually winter where you live.)
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Cascade Pastaza in the classic Marsan Watchcap
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Also, we have crocus:
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(The weather is too weird to be excited – I am excited about getting some yardwork done before May. Someone had their windows open today. I didn’t think it was quite that warm.)
Stopping by Woods
Feb 2nd
On a Rainy Day
With all due respect to Robert Frost, only I can butcher a poem make (silent) poetry readings complicated:
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Whose woods these are I think I know.
His Our houses is are in the village though;
He will not mind No one will see me stopping here
To watch these woods fill up with deer … (rhymes with snow, but isn’t snow because it is 60 degrees F outside, in February)
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My little giant horse dog must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse dogbed near
Between the woods and frozen lake flowing creek
The darkest evening wettest morning of the year.
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He gives his harness bells doggie tags a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep drip
Of easy wind and downy flake wood-y drake.
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The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
