I think I'm going to cry

I started some new socks while on vacation.  The pattern is called Inlay and was found at Knitty.com, here.

Well in the middle of a brain storm, I tried the first one on a few minutes ago - and they are too small.  Well the leg section is too small.  The 1.5 sized needles and my gauge must be off.  Normally I knit right on with gauge.  AND this pattern called for size 1, and I deliberately went up to 1.5 to make them a bit loose.  

So now all this will be ripped/frogged back to the beginning.

I do love the pattern but will go up at least one needle size and try them on as I go.

Sometimes I dislike new learning opportunities.  I will blame it on the heat.  Since my return from New Hampshire, it has been in the mid 90's every day with miserable humidity to go with it.  I don't like this heat and don't do well with it.  DH suggested I become a snowbird.  Nope - not an option either.  Well not unless I win one of the lotteries - and you have to play to win.

The vacation was spent in NJ with DD and her crew.  I had a blast with the grandkiddles (and their parents).  Each has such a different personality and has changed so much since I last saw them.  Most of our time was spent hanging out together but we did go down to the Shore and saw some birds.

 There is an Ibis above and terns plus the missing skimmer to the right. 

The photo quality isn't the best as we had to take the photos through windows.  There are some large green-eyed, blood-sucking monster flies that can go up to 20 mph and there is a 15 mph speed limit.  Windows were up!

After two weeks there I headed further north to NH, the Lakes region, to bother my sister.  That was also lots of fun.  It is so nice to have warm weather during the day (mid 80's) and then cool (50's to 60's) at night.  The best of both worlds.  Warm enough for me for summer but cool enough for great sleeping weather.  I o.d'd in Portsmouth on lobster with a fantastic lobster roll and sweet potato fries for lunch and then lobster dinner that night.  My only problem is that refills of tea are not offered at all.  For this transplanted southern girl, that is not a good thing.

One thing I do love in New England are the old homes that have been or are being restored.  Then there are the sad or hopeful cases of the ones waiting for someone with love, patience and money.  K, if you remember the towns these were in, please comment.

Back on the home front, DH's garden is doing well!  We are eating lots of squash, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.  I'm going to roast some peppers today and probably make some gazpacho.  The birds have discovered the tomatoes and are wounding quite a few.  Looks like bird netting goes on the list of things to get for next year.

Stay cool in the heat. 

A time to remember

This is Memorial Day Weekend in the US.  It is a time to honor those who have served, possibly giving their lives so we may enjoy the freedoms we have.
That said:

DH  US Navy 1969 - 1979 active duty.  2 additional years reserve time.

My Uncle P.  US Army

My computer and I are not playing well together so I will just list others and add photos when the rules of the game are defined a bit better.

My father served in the Army in World War II and was a prisoner of war held by the Germans.  He also served in the Korean War/Conflict.

My maternal Grandfather served with the US Army in World War I.

DH and I also have other relatives who have served in most of the wars the US has been involved in back to the Revolutionary War.  Some died in battle, some of injuries received and some came home alive but forever changed.

So wherever you are and whatever country you call home, please remember those who have fought for you and your families and theirs through the years.  They deserve your thanks and gratitude.

One Down, One to Go

Cataract surgery, that is.  I've had the right eye done and the left one will be done this coming Wednesday.  This is about the easiest surgery I have ever had.  Don't change clothes, get an IV and 2 extra strength Tylenol and about 30 minutes.  Meds in the Valium family to make you less nervous but not asleep.  Wow.  The worst part was the three drops in each eye every 2 hours afterward.  5 minutes between each drop.  Now I have a chart showing me what drops go in when for the next 4 weeks. 

So today DH and I went to the Nashville Lawn & Garden show.  We were about half way there and DH asked if it was in a covered area at the State Fairgrounds.  I said if not, we would not stay.  It's been raining since last night, off and on - mostly on.  The show was nice - not great but I did take some photos. 

I've never seen a green Antirrhinum but they were used in an arrangement which looked great:

 And for my daughter - a unique chicken coop setup.  And it can be moved.  2 photos so the chickens can be seen:

The upper area is where they can roost or lay their eggs.  There are handles for lifting and moving so they can have fresh grass. 



One thing I love are orchids.  The Lady Slipper ones are favorites.  There were many orchids at the show but not too many of the slipper type.  Here's one I liked:  Well make that two:

Now on the Knitting/Spinning front - I'm making some socks for one granddaughter.  I made the hat but she was shocked when she took it off and touched something.  Autism often includes sensory issues so the hat is not a favorite.  According to her mom, this young lady took her mother's handknit socks right off mom's feet so I think socks will go well for her.    No photos yet but I will take some.  First sock is done and I'm starting the heel on the second.  These are knit cuff down.

The photos are of my finished socks - for me!  The pattern is Hermione's Everyday Socks and were a fun knit.  These will be knit again!

 I've also started the Evensong Shawl by Susan Pandorf
If you scroll down the page, it is on the right side and is GORGEOUS.  I'm using yarn from The Woolen Rabbit in a color originally purchased to knit Moroccan Days, Arabian Nights, also one of Susan's patterns.   The link takes you to the yarn & color I'm using. 

I need to take photos of the yarn on the wheel and a spindle.  The wheel has a blend of alpaca, merino and silk.  The colorway is Enchanted I believe and it is the Feb/Mar spin along from AllSpunUp. 

The Bosworth Spindle has a merino/silk blend in a graduated colorway - from a copper to the deep green that copper turns as it ages in the weather.  I'm going to spin each color - either 4 or 5 - on its own as a two ply and then knit a shawl from it.  That way I preserve the colors and it should be great.  I think I will do the Aeolian Shawl with the yarn when it is done.  More details when I post photos.

So that's all for now. 
Enjoy!

New Year, New hopes

Happy 2011 one and all.  2010 was both good and bad - probably the same for everyone.

On this first day of 2011, people usually look forward - making resolutions for things they want to accomplish, goals to set - and for some, nursing the mother of all hangovers.  

My goals are simple I think.  First and foremost to get my depression/anxiety under control again as I am sliding back downhill.  Publicly, I have a wonderful face and no one knows the despair and blackness I am in.  It is a major effort to do anything.  My previous therapist suggested I keep a journal of thoughts and feelings.  When I was living alone, it was easier - now it is not.  On this not-so-private forum I can put the surface thoughts - maybe that is the first step.

My other goal is to do more with my fibers - spinning, knitting, crochet (maybe) and maybe back to weaving.  I also want to record more of what I do so I can feel that I have accomplished something when I look back.  This past year I did finish a fair amount - but the unfinished list is still daunting.

Obviously I want to finish those things in progress.  I'm working on spinning with a support spindle - mine is a Russian style - and I want to complete the four ounces of silk/merino that I have started.  I've decided on a 2-ply yarn - hopefully lace-weight - and then I can decide what to make with the yarn.

I have a polypay fleece that has been washed.  Now I need to finish processing it into batts, rolags or something to spin.  The Winter issue of Spin-Off has an article on polypay with samples and photos from Lael at Maplewood North.  The fleece is wonderful and I'm very happy with it but want to do it justice.


I've also committed to two ______-alongs.  One is a two-color knitting sock club - but I'm just getting the patterns, not the fibers - and will have six pair of socks when I'm done.  The other is to spin and knit a project from the book A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd.  There is a sweater called October Frost that I'm spinning some gray Corriedale from Crown Mountain Farms.  I'm almost done with the first bobbin and I will sample with it.  First a two-ply then maybe a 3-ply if needed to make gauge.  The sweater is a cardigan that was originally spun with a Rambouillet crossbred/mohair mix.  Mohair and I don't get along well and I didn't have any Rambouillet so thought I would try the Corriedale. The purchased yarn version is of Classic Elite Montera - llama/wool blend.  There are a lot of cables on this sweater so will be something warm and snuggle-y when done.  I also think I will get some pewter buttons for this as well.  I think Nordic Needle will have some - have to go check.    Photos of samples will be posted when I get them done.


On the needles now - socks for #3 grandson, socks for me, and the sleeve/yoke of the Nora Sweater.  Once that is done, I'll block and start assembly and add the front/collar part.    The photo isn't very good but this yarn is hard to take a photo of.  It's basically a navy blue wool with alpaca.  There are bits of a lighter blue and a pinkish red added. 


 

Seed catalogs have arrived and DH and I are sorting through trying to decide what to try for this coming year.  We are still harvesting lettuce, spinach, baby bok choi, tatsoi (Chinese green similar to spinach) and another Chinese green that looks like little bits of broccoli. I am super impressed with how the garden produced this year and what a difference it has made in our grocery bills.  We started with this:

and then ended up with this:

 

which was our last big harvest on 11/1/2010. Those mini-bell peppers (yellow and orange) are fantastic peppers.  We will be doing those again this year.  


I also want to be able to replace at least the 3 kitchen windows that face south with low-e windows.  The kitchen becomes both the hottest room in summer and the coldest in winter.  I'd like to moderate that a bit.  Then the 3 in the north bedroom which leak terribly - with cold air just blasting right now.  That room is my "studio" so it will then be more comfortable to work in.


DH is working on my plan for the fireplace.  The brickwork is horrid so we will cover that with sheetrock and hang the flat-screen TV on that.  The two cubby holes will have smoked glass fronts and one will hold DVD player and other components and the lower will hold the DVD collection we have.  This is what it looked like:

It has had a mantle added where the bricks jut out and I have to stain it.  Will add bits and pieces to cover the lower layer of bricks and it should look quite good.  The hearth area will be covered with marble or granite tile and then we'll have to plunk out about $300.00 to install gas logs which were not here when we bought the house. 

 

I also hope to get an assortment of perennial herbs in the front flower bed.  Currently there are 2-3 roses (one may not survive the winter), 4 lavender plants and some Stella d'Oro lilies.  I plan to add chives, thyme, rosemary, and sage for perennials then pop in parsley and some basil varieties for annuals.  There is also one very shady area by the front door which will probably have some sort of Hosta planted there.


So now I have published the home goals for 2011 and a portion of my personal goals and let's see how I manage with them.

Wishing all of you the best for 2011 and may you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

Wow - more things done!

I finished some more things - so want to post while I remember to.  First off, the Owl Hat for DGD#2...  This went really quickly - except sewing 36 buttons on.  It's cute and she loves pink and purple and birds... so I have 2 of 3.

Then with empty needles I decided I wanted something for me.  My feet have been cold - so socks...Hermione's Everyday socks by Erica Lueder. I downloaded the pattern from Ravelry and here is my progress this week:

Unfortunately the greens that are in this have disappeared and turned to blues.  And I've misplaced the label so I'm not sure who the yarn is from.  Bummer.

I don't really like doing top-down socks.  I'm always afraid I will run short of yarn before I get to the toes.  The only solution is back to the leg part and make it shorter then do the heel flap, turn, gusset and all that again.  Working a toe-up sock - well if you run short, the leg is shorter - no ripping.  I like the texture of this sock so may do the pattern again - but will go toe-up.


Last, spinning.  

First there was one... well I'm now at two down and one to go:

Now to start bobbin number 3 then re-wind and make a 3-ply yarn - for socks if the yardage is enough.  I've been reading and re-winding the yarn back to another bobbin evens out the twist.  I can get rid of the little twisty bits sticking up which can hose up the plying.

On a final front, I have wanted to get some bread going.  One that needed you to start one day and finish the next.  I groveled a bit and got a recipe for Ciabatta from Mark at The Back Home Bakery.   I started the Poolish last night and got up early today - just to see if it worked.  It looked just like the picture I saw.  Then I measured out the main bread ingredients today, mixed and folded and let it rise.  More folds and risings.  Cut into four, rose again and baked.  Voila!

Oh this is good - exactly what I wanted and tastes even better than I thought it would.  All I have to do is work on the shaping a bit - and not have to rescue baking sheets from the freezer.  So when these are cool, the 3 above will be wrapped and frozen - we can enjoy maybe 1 per week?  At least that is the plan until himself gets a taste...


Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving to all in the U.S.






 

Monthly update?

Let's see if I can manage to update monthly and improve from there.  

I finished some socks.. and some others with photos not taken yet.  I started a hat for another Christmas present.  Have about 3 hours more work and the knitting is done.  Then I have to buy and attach a bunch of buttons.
Next task will be 2 more handknit gifts and some thoughts for gifts for other family members.

I've also been spinning...  This is some superfine merino and I'm almost 2/3rds done with the first 4-oz braid.  This will be a three-ply yarn suitable for socks I hope.

 I also have been using and trying to learn to use a supported spindle - Russian style.  The fiber is a merino wool/alpaca blend.  I'm learning but it is going slowly.  I'll try to get some better photos next time around.

The last entry is probably the most awesome to me.  Cheekwood Botanical Gardens has had an exhibition of the glasswork of Dale Chihuly.  The gardens were open both day and evening hours.  So I got to see these:

  This was truly a spectacular show.  Yesterday was the last day but the memories and photos I have will live with me always.  For those with a lot of time on their hands, check out the artist's website here.  At the bottom are links to see exhibitions, installations and schedules of what will be where.  Trivia - the ceiling in the lobby of the Bellagio in Los Vegas was done by Chihuly.

The last photo is showing what we've been finishing up now.  The killing frost has hit and we have finally put up the last of our peppers.  These are mostly mini-bells - the gold and orange ones with a few others included as well: 

 So until next time, Enjoy

Once Again

Here I go again - and let's see if I can stick with it a bit better this time around.  I've been inspired a bit watching a video blog - and I can't remember the name.  When I do I'll link it here.

So what have I been up to... Knitting and spinning and work and, and, and.  This may be a bit photo heavy but here goes...

First of all, Silk Hankies dyed by AllSpunUp.  It's been a really long time since I have spun hankies so I'm trying this again and hope the learning curve isn't too horrible.

The spindle with the hook is a Bosworth and has some of the silk above spun on it.  The other is a support spindle and the bowl it sits in to be spun.  I have an alpaca wool mixture on that one.    Below are two photos of a superfine Merino, again from AllSpunUp.  This was one of her mystery spin-alongs from last year, I think.  This one will be a three ply and hopefully, a pair of socks when I'm done spinning.

FireStarter Sock  Craftygirl83 Georgia Peach yarn

Next is the first of a pair.  The pattern is Fire Starter and the yarn is by an indie dyer, craftygirl83.  I know her   as Dana in Chattanooga.  The colorway is Georgia Peach and it's lovely.  I need to finish the other (I'm decreasing the gusset - that triangular area) and then have the cuff) and find my sock blockers.  These are for a Christmas present for someone.  Another Christmas present - unless I decide to keep it is Lacy Baktus.  This one is made of one of my handspun skeins.  This is merino, 3 ply, and I do like the way the colors move.

 The next photo is a group of handpun yarns of mine.  The gray and brown in the middle are Falkland Fleece.  The darker one to the left is Cormo.  The scarf is a Fiesta Ruched Scarf from Interweave Knits - last winter, I think.  It still needs to be blocked, but now I've found my Orvus paste, I can wash & block it.  
The yarn on the right is Blue Suede Shoes from Crown Mountain Farm - a superwash Merino.  Below it, the solid turquoise blue is a Merino - leftovers from a seaman's scarf I made for my daughter a long time ago.  Between the gray and the scarf are 2 skeins handspun from AllSpunUp again.  I'll be doing some beauty shots of these in the future.  Also below is Windswept.  This is a kit and included that beautiful silk/merino yarn in a colorway called Peony.  Somehow another photo was lost so we'll find it for next time.  


Take care everyone and I hope to return in about 7-10 days.