Hello Again

It has been a while since I posted...partly because I have not been feeling up to par and mostly because it has just been too bloody hot to do anything! The gardens are in a terrible state and no spinning has been done but; at least, I have been reading and knitting. I am moving along on my Garland Shawl

and have just started the 3rd (of 4) pattern repeats and I have decided that I really enjoy knitting these little triangular shawls with lace borders. In fact I have enjoyed knitting this shawl so much (even with the frogging and re-knitting that has gone on) that I have ordered more yarn from The Yarnarian for two more shawls...who would have ever imagined! I am also knitting a pair of "2-at-a-time toe-up socks on one circ" for my great-niece...these socks will match the multi-colored stripe on the sleeveless sweater I am knitting her.

We also managed a trip up to our favorite holiday place - Topside Inn, Boothbay Harbor, ME and a trip to Ocean Grove, NJ to hear a concert by an outstanding chamber orchestra,  the Carnegie Ensemble, which was founded by a dear friend from our NJ State Opera days.

Time to turn the air conditioner on and start knitting as I listen to the next chapter of my current audio book (Careless in Red by Elizabeth George) before meeting a friend for dinner. I really am anxious for Autumn to arrive!!

The Dreaded YOs Strike Again

OK, so I thought I had mastered the dreaded yarn-overs and was ready to take on a more challenging project. I was SO wrong! This is a rather long story; so if you are busy, you might want to skip it or, if you have the time, just curl up with a good cup of tea (may I suggest TnRs own 'Mozart' blend) and read on.

While reading The Yarnarian's blog a week or so ago I came across an absolutely beautiful new yarn (yes, definitely earth tones with lots of brown hue...you knew that already, didn't you) she had dyed. The Yarnarian had been browsing art books and a picture in the book on John Singer Sargent particularly caught her eye.

She says, "When I look at a painting, I first see the composition and subject, and then I look at the colors, and Sargent was brilliant in his choice of colors. What I did was look at each painting, and then whatever area of colors my eye was drawn to, that's what I tried to dye. So if you should look at any of these paintings, please note that I singled out a small portion of each one." As she says, the boat caught her eye and, hence the yarn and the name of the color "The Boating Party". And since one of my all time favorite paintings is Renoir's "The Luncheon of the Boating Party"...you already know what happened.

Well this yarn called to me and , even though I ABSOLUTELY do NOT need any more yarn and especially I do NOT need any more sock yarn, I rushed to her Etsy store and bought it. It arrived in a couple of days and the colors were everything I thought they would be...just warm and lush and lovely. Now, what do I need to knit with this yarn...not socks - it is too lovely to hide in shoes...I know, a small triangular kinda lace shawl. Perfect...and The Yarnarian had exactly the one I wanted in her Ravelry store...the Garland Shawl...not too lacy (I am not a 'lacy' person) but just enough and the pictures looked really nice...so I bought the pattern and was ready to go. And go I did...and frog I did...and go I did...and frog I did....and go I did and...you get the picture! Frustration was setting in, but I refused to give in; so I took yarn and pattern to my knitting circle and, YES, my lace-knitting teacher, Dearest Rita, was there that night. I thrust the pattern and my sadly lopsided attempt at the shawl at her and cried "I really hate YOs!!" After a few minutes contemplation, she realized that the pattern started at the neck edge and I had thought it started at the point end (the pattern did not say) and also my knit-to-purl YOs were non-existent; hence the lop-sided nature of my 4th attempt...that is because I didn't know how to do them. Dearest Rita patently explained the pattern and the YO and sent me home happy and convinced I would prevail! After frogging 3 more times (for a total of 7), I was finally on-my-way and now I can't put it down...I am really lovin' knitting this triangular lace shawl...YOs and all! Here's a close-up of the center section showing those blasted knit-to-purl YOs (the bigger holes on the right of the picture...don't really like the asymmetry, but what-the-heck) mastered...at least for now! Thank you, Dearest Rita.

Spring at Davenport Pines

Happy Spring! OK, I know that I always say I love Winter (I DO!) and that Autumn is my favorite season (IT IS!), but even I must admit that this has been a very pretty Spring here at 'The Pines'. The giant forsythia is in bloom, the daffodils are up in profusion and the Crab Apple tree and old Pear tree are starting to show some color. Of course, the fact that the sun has been shining for days now and the sky is a deep blue does add to the over-all feeling of bliss I am experencing today.

But, one of the main reasons I am so happy it is Spring is because the Yankees are back!

Baseball season began for real last night (OK, the blasted Red Sox came from behind to win but there are 161 games still to go...and remember we didn't have such a great start last year and look where we wound up!).

I have been knitting and finished up some a couple of WIPs lately, so that feels nice too. The blue sweater is a baby sweater for my cousin's daughter's little baby boy, Landon Paul Alexander Parkhurst, and the brown one is knit from my very first hand-spun from scratch yarn...I am really proud of that sweater.

And I started Yoga classes 3 weeks ago and am really, really enjoying them. It feels good to be pushing my muscles and joints to new places. I guess this is part of what Spring is...a new beginning. So, Happy Spring and Happy New Beginnings to all of you.

Shearing Time

Exciting news! Just like last year - The Fleece Connection (Peggy, Donna & David) will again be the proud owners of some beautiful Border Leiscester fleece (and some Dorset blend, too) from the sheep of Peggy's friend. More fleece to skirt, pick, card & spin and then knit. Of course, it would be nice if all of last year's fleece was all finished...but it is not. Soooo, guess we had better get carding and spinning very soon! Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting adventures of The Fleece Connection, including the names of 2 more possible members of our jolly 'band of brothers, we'.

Winter Wonderland

FINALLY...we are getting a real Winter snow storm! The wind is just starting to pick up and it has been snowing quite steadily for the past few hours...looks like we have about 6-inches of snow with more on the way! I know, many of you are saying, "What is wrong with this woman...we want Spring." Well I am a Fall and Winter person. I love bundling up in the cold and taking walks in the snow and sitting in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, sipping wine and reading or knitting. Of course, I do think about the people without a home or without enough money to buy heating oil or food or warm clothes and are cold and hungry and miserable and I know warm weather and sun is better for them. I do a little bit to help (never enough) but; I am sorry, I still love a good Winter snow storm. The picture below is out the back window looking toward the Summerhouse.

Unfortunately, my knitting mojo has gone away for awhile. True, I have been sick with  a very bad upper respirarory infection since the last day of January and I am still fighting it and I am on the mend but that all takes a lot of energy. I have been reading almost a book a day so that is a good thing and I am sure my knitting mojo will reappear soon. As you can see in the following photo, I have at least four WIPs (not counting a baby sweater I was supposed to have finished by last Friday)...notice a color trend here?

I really need to get going on them. The 'sleeveless' sweater is being knit from my own handspun and all it needs are its sleeves and a good blocking. And then there are two different socks I am working on and just can't seem to move ahead on. The acorn sock (on left) only has about 2 inches before the toe and the Hedgerow sock (the darker brown one) only has about 2-inches knitted on one sock. I certainly wish I had decided to do this sock 2-at-a-time as I have no desire to finish this one let alone knit its mate. And then there is the Cat's Paw scarf that has been on the needles since last March! The scarf  is probably long enough now but I still have a lot of yarn left...not enough for another project...but too much to just stop knitting. Sigh! I think what I really need is to start a NEW and EXCITING project! That's it...a NEW project will cure my knitting blahs...stop laughing everyone...I can hear you!

'Argentina' and Her Flock

My dear cousin (of Lladyhawk Llamas & Lavender and Gourds Gone Wild fame) sent me many wonderful Christmas presents this year. They ranged from a ceramic Knitting Guardian Angel (knitting socks, of course) to a throw rug made from her own llama fiber to a gorgeous felted-fabric handbag to 'Argentina'...a fluffy, happy, hand-made from Alpaca fiber and champagne corks (!) creature who makes me smile whenever I look at her. And it just so happens, that a knitting friend of mine gave my DH and me wonderful hand-knitted, stuffed sheep for Christmas...so 'Argentina' has a flock to mind!! She is SOOOO happy.

I finally got around to knitting and felting my DH a little box to hold his favorite pen & pencil set. He has been asking me to knit this for months but there was always another project ahead of it in the queue. He is quite pleased with it...Happy New Year, DH.

Happy New Year!

May this New Year bring happiness and well-being to you and yours

and Peace to the World!