Slight change of pace

I'll be changing directions again for a bit. Next week I'm heading to Chattanooga TN to explore job and housing possibilities. I'm excited and scared and nervous as this represents a big change for me. There will probably be photo ops.

The most important part for me will be visiting the younger child, the spouse-in-law, and my older two grandchildren. I should be there just as school gets out for them so we can have some fun, I hope.

Did some planting and I love this flower. Looks like a daisy but the middle is a purpley-blue. I think it's a perennial too. Behind it are petunias. Also put in some delphiniums, yellow dahlias and one hydrangea. If they don't drown in the rain, they will do well.

A rough week

This has been a very rough week for many. The Virginia Tech story has captured the attention of many of us and our thoughts and prayers are with those families, biological and other, that are dealing with the loss of friends and family members.

My nephew's best friend was a student at Va Tech but transferred to another school. He knew some of the victims and is having his own problems dealing with this. Special thoughts to him.

I believe part of it is having one's own mortality hit you in the face. At that young age you believe you are going to live forever. Yeah, some lose friends from car wrecks (well they were drunk, high, etc) or suicide (they were sick) or even disease. Very few of us lose friends from something that was no fault of their own - and the numbers involved created shock.

My awakening was a progressive one. Two friends committed suicide while I was in HS. To this day there is no firm reason why. Lots of rumors and ideas - but nothing for sure. Then my second child was born and died three weeks later. He had been born with some problems caused by a virus I had during the first trimester. That event was my biggie - that I wasn't guaranteed a perfect child, that death does happen no matter your age.

Since then I've lost others close to me and seen friends and family go through rough times - in addition to my own rough times. The one thing that has helped me through things is that I have come to believe that everything happens for a reason and is for the best. Now I won't say I will or do know what that reason is or what could have been - but I have to believe.

Maybe the loss of my son and the sharing of the story that I've done in the past will help someone survive the loss of their child. Maybe my oldest grandson, who carries the name of my son as a middle name, will do something in his life to prevent this virus from hurting others. He's only 10 but a very intelligent being with an interest in so many things - it's amazing. Or maybe his sister will. She's something else too - in a beautiful, special way.

Healing thoughts to all, no matter the cause.

I just couldn't wait

So I didn't wash the Navajo-plied Blue Suede Shoes. It's only about 50 yds or so - but I've split the rest for a standard two-ply. I have two other colorways, Ain't No Mountain and another I can't think of at this moment so I may do one of them first. There is also some merino/silk blend in an Opal colorway that I may play with. All these are from Crown Mountain Farms.

In addition, I have some plain old superwash merino, some soy silk, ingeo, and the rest of the Falklands fleece to finish with. The Falklands fleece is from Dunrose Head Farm.

Dunrose Head Farm sells through Crafty Notions in the UK, but I bought mine before Rosemary was doing that. Her website is terrific to wander through.

Today is Monday so it's my knitting day - and I get to spend a few hours doing nothing but knitting - again the bridal shawl is on the agenda.

Yarn of a yarn

I've finished the Navajo ply of the first bit of Blue Suede Shoes. I'll leave it on the bobbin for a day or so then wash it and let it dry. Then I can post a photo for all to see.

The weather continues to be beautiful but the oaks have started shedding their pollen - along with a choke cherry in the backyard. Unfortunately that pollen makes me itchy and sneezy. I can't enjoy the outside as much as I'd like. Frustrating!

Back to knitting on the Unst Bridal Shawl.

It's Spring, It's Spring

It is so beautiful out - and the air smells so good. The lilacs are starting to bloom. And I had a visitor this morning. Just here for a rest, but good to see anyway.

The flowers are periwinkle or myrtle - depending on your location. They are blooming on the variegated leafed version and the older dark green leaf version. I think the blooms on the first are larger. I think the swallowtail thinks so too.



On the knitting front, here's a photo of Unst Bridal Shawl from Heirloom Knitting. I couldn't think of a way to pull it out more but I've finished four of 19 repeats for the center square.















From that point, I'll pick up stitches all around and work the first set of borders. The final set is worked perpendicular to the outside edge. Hard to describe, but I'll show photos as I go.

No stitching work to show - I'm still unpacking and sorting my "junk room" and have purchased a 4-drawer file cabinet to keep the projects in. I have some colored expanding pocket folders to hold the projects. I think this will be the easiest way to track what I have and what I need to finish. It might get a bit scary before I'm done.

Final photo from about a week ago - the neighbor's Bradford Pear in full bloom. Sorry there is so much garage door.

If at first...

I am trying again to become a more frequent blogger. I just keep forgetting.

Little progress on the knitting front. I've received the needles ordered from Halcyon Yarn, but haven't moved my fair isle to the new needles.

BUT I did start the Unst Bridal Shawl pattern from England. I've almost completed the 2nd repeat of the center panel (out of 10 or 11). Lace knitted in cobweb does not look like anything other than a wad of string that the cat finished with - until it's blocked. I'll see if I can pin it out so you can see the pattern - then post it.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the warm weather and the neighbors... who delight in standing in the road, making noise at any car attempting to pass them. Yesterday, there was a large fluffy cat by that clump of grass on the right side. It was in stalk mode for a short time. I think I got a photo of that too - but have to download that one and check it out. The geese were moving so they may not be in the photo - and you won't see the distances involved.






I've also decided to stop on the current bobbin of Crown Mountain's Blue Suede Shoes and Navajo ply it. Then I'll split the rest of the roving and spin each for plying to a 2-ply yarn. Should help reduce the barber-pole look.

Job hunting starts in earnest this week - as there were no responses to my e-mailed resumes.

ACKKK

Wow, it's been a long time between my posts - that's horrible. So tomorrow, I'll try to take at least 3 photos - one of the fair isle, one of Dragon's eye (my design) and my spinning. Those are the items I'm working on now.

Along with that, I'm trying to move, unpack and help get my house ready to sell - hopefully quickly. Then I have to start job hunting - but I've really enjoyed this break.

With a bit of luck, I can find a job I can leave at work and it's not too far from the house. The new house will need outside attention when we are unpacked and settled. DH is thinking of things already. The daffodils are already blooming over there - north side of the house - BUT it is a south slope and lots of rocks to soak up the solar heat.

In the meantime, have a happy Valentine's day!