selects wool & flax

c'est fini

2012-01-28T09:50:00.001-07:00

pattern: henslowe

yarn: wollmeise sw merino

colorway: tutu dark

yards used: 477 yards

needles: US #4
for: cathy l.

no modifications

looooooong term project

2012-01-27T04:00:00.001-07:00

I was a quilter before I was a knitter and a spinner. Time was I could finish a handpieced/handquilted quilt in less than a year.  A post by a fellow blogger brought to mind an unfinished quilt tucked away in the closet.

I first posted about this unfinished top in July 2008.  A year or so later the top/batting/backing were basted. Then it was folded up, put away and kinda sorta but not really forgotten.

In the days weeks months years since then, I toyed with having it machine quilted by someone who knew how to do that. Or even listing it "as is" in my etsy shop.   But my husband talked me out of both of those brilliant plans. So now the hand quilting has begun.

It's only Janury. Dare I predict its completion this year?

winter flies

2012-01-25T04:00:00.024-07:00

pattern: summer flies

yarn: madelinetosh mcn worsted

colourway: very red

needles: US #8

modifications: additional rows of the knotted openwork and ruffled edge to use up yarn

shetland in pink

2012-01-23T04:00:00.056-07:00

I'm knitting up the Henslowe in some very intense color. This pink reminds me of a dress my mom had in the 1960's. It was the only pink she owned, but boy was it pink. And she looked so striking in it with her platinum blonde hair and matching shoes and purse. Matchy-matchy was quite popular back then.

I didn't inherit her glamour gene. So my "pink shetland" is something of an oxymoron. But pink makes me happy, and knitting rows and rows of garter stitch makes me happy, and a lace shawl makes me happy. So there ya go.

The first section is knit exactly like the Aestlight shetland shawl. But instead of placing the stitches on some scrap yarn until the end, they are bound off using the suspended bind-off.

I had a lot of difficulty following the written directions for this bind off on Knitty. So I went to YouTube and found a great tutorial. The demo shows knitting through the back loops, but on mine I knit through the front loops. The extra step in this technique forces you to use a bit more yarn thereby creating a perfect traditional yet very stretchy bind-off. Love it.

worsted ~ with wee white strands

2012-01-20T04:00:00.041-07:00

My default spinning weight is heavy laceweight to light fingering weight. Try as I might, I haven't been able to spin a decent worsted yarn. Until now...

It's sort of cheating, though, spinning with 100% alpaca. Alpaca is the most "forgiving" fiber going and blooms beautifully after a soak and air dry. The two finished hanks total just under 500 yds of worsted (3-ply.)

Another characteristic of alpaca is that it's a magnet for any light and airy thing nearby... like puppy dog jack's fur. In the past I'd vacuum super-well the entire area about the wheel and pull out any strands that happened to be caught up.

But this yarn is special. I placed the spinning wheel in the area Jack used to roam and smiled each time a wee little strand found its way into the twist. Not visible to most... but I'll know they're there :)

(P.S. As I get further into One Thousand Gifts, I'm no longer recommending the book. Just the wonderful discipline of making a list of blessings from God. This is a good reminder for me to finish a book before recommending it!)

bobbins of natural alpaca

2012-01-18T04:00:00.039-07:00

The natural alpaca fiber won out as first on the wheel for 2012. I love the natural colors. And the alpaca practically spins itself. Those fibers slide past each other like butter. Each bobbin holds about 4 oz. of spun singles.

Below are samples that I finger-plyed just to see how each combination would look:

I've decided to use the dark chocolate, fawn and black for a 3-ply yarn (bottom sample.) It will be a light worsted weight. There's an extra bag of black fiber left to spin and I'll 2-ply that with the silver (second from top.)

contentment

2012-01-16T04:00:00.042-07:00

A friend gave me a special gift Friday afternoon. It was a copy of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I've been reading it slowly, a bit each night, to let the Scriptural thoughts settle and sink into my heart.

Like the author, I struggle with the habit of discontentment. So like the author, I've started a journal list of gifts God continually bestows. It's such a practical way of learning to give thanks in all things and at all times. Already I recognize my thoughts and prayers changing.

This is a much better way of making each day count.

My current computer background ~ a precious picture of our grandson with his aunt taken over Christmas in Arizona

12. my husband's flannel shirt on the bedpost

13. a bottle with clean, fresh water at bedside

14. the gentle weight and warmth of a quilt

... and so my list grows and my heart grows in contentment.

knitting chart

2012-01-14T04:00:00.068-07:00

I put this little chart together for a friend wanted to learn how to read a knitting chart. She came over Wednesday evening and we had a wonderful time knitting together. She's a quick learner. With our limited time we did the 19 stitch cast for a single motif.

click on picture to enlarge

It made a good practice piece. But I'm going to tweak it a bit and see where it ends up.

Thank you for all your kind comments and emails about puppy dog Jack. We're finding that the hardest moments are coming in through the door and not having his friendly greeting. That will probably last for quite awhile. He was such a very good dog and yes, a faithful companion for so many years.

bye bye puppy dog

2012-01-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

This is how I want to remember our puppy dog, Jack. Sturdy. Strong. Alert. In this picture, taken a couple of years ago, he was every bit the faithful jack russell, watching over little Hannah like a hawk.

Even as his hearing failed and his eyes dimmed and his little body wore out, he remained my "puppy dog." Right up to the end of his fifteen+ years.

The house seems empty without him. And my feet will be a bit colder tonight. Bye bye puppy dog. Good dog. Good dog.

january 10 ~ ten locules

2012-01-10T04:00:00.003-07:00

I learned a new word. The locules are the compartments or "sections" in the grapefruit. This is a grapefruit from our trip to Arizona. Three grapefruits consistently yield 1-3/4 cups of fresh juice. But we're about grapefruited-out at this point. Unhapppy tummies. Homemade chicken rice soup. Better now.

Life has interrupted, and so the January count ends. I'll be back to posting now and then and making the days count in a less numeric manner. Only took me ten days to give it up :) There. I'm feeling better already.

january 9 ~ nine rows

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of spinning the past several days and am putting together a lesson in knitting lace... but did manage to cast on for a pair of socks last night. Knit nine rows because I needed a "nine" picture :)

january 8 ~ eight bookshelf books

2012-01-08T04:00:00.098-07:00

I love my kindle for general reading, but keep a small bookshelf with books for reference and daily readings.

In the 'middle of the middle shelf' are the books I refer to most often. So I pulled forward eight books from that location that are of the greatest influence in my life right now (January 2012.) From left to right:

The Genesis Flood by John Whitcomb and Henry M. Morris. This book was first published 50 years ago. But the scientific information it contains is so well researched and so well presented that it remains one of my favorite books to turn to when interpreting what I see in the world around me. I thought of it often as we drove across Arizona and New Mexico last week and was once again struck by the reality that time and erosion are not the cause of the formations we were amazed by. Rather erosion, over time, is erasing them. One has but to mentally clear away all the debris at the base to see the dramatic formations that occurred on our earth as a result of the catastrophic world flood as described in Genesis. (Click on the link and check it out ... seriously, check it out.)

Refuting Evolution, by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati is a book I return to again and again. Dr. Sarfati is a genius. And yet he wrote a book that even I can understand :) Dr. Sarfati spoke at our church last year and clearly presented fact after fact after fact refuting the theory of evolution. Clear. Concise. Convincing.

A Grief Observed may not be the first book that comes to mind when thinking of C.S. Lewis's writings. But it is the book that has comforted me and encouraged me more than any other on the subject of grieving.

The Valley of Vision (A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions) moved back into the middle bookshelf. It was a gift from a dear friend a couple of years ago. And although I began reading the devotions and prayers I sadly did not stay with it. Staying with it will go a long way to making each day count this year.

Which leads beautifully into Each New Day by, Corrie Ten Boom. Simple. Strong. Practical. Personal. Powerful. Something to ponder each day of the year by a woman who trusted God in all things.

Messiah in the Feasts of the Bible is the book that accompanies the dvd series by Sam Nadler. My husband and I have enjoyed the series and look forward to sharing it with friends this year. We've been blessed beyond measure by it.

Next in line is my current study Bible. I chose the New American Standard Bible as my main study Bible because of the literal accuracy. And I chose the edition with the Scofield Study Bible III system mainly because of the marginal references. Unfortunately it is out of print now (hence the outrageous prices!) But if I didn't use the Scofield system I would most certainly choose the Ryrie study system. This year I've decided to go through the Bible chronologically.

And the last of my eight 'in the middle of the middle shelf' reference books is the Amplified Bible. It "captures the full meaning behind the original Greek and Hebrew" and is a tool I often turn to in Bible study.

(Many of the links above are to items available free on the internet.)

january 7 ~ seven ways

2012-01-07T04:00:00.035-07:00

Seven ways to wear a windward:

Is it a scarf? a cowl? a stole? a shawl? This one will be fun to wear. I knit it up on 3.5 mm (US#4) needles with 583 yards of MCN 430 dyed by Julie Spins in the Strange Beauty colourway. (I tried lightening the pictures but that took away from the beauty of the color... so for a better look, just click on the pictures.)

january 6 ~ six oranges

2012-01-06T04:00:00.004-07:00

So oranges really do grow on trees! This cluster of six oranges from the tree in our son's backyard squeezed into some mighty tasty juice, I'll tell you.

It was so strange driving down a main street and seeing fallen oranges strewn all over the ground in front of commercial businesses. Not unlike apples on lawns up north. Yet, on first sight, very curious to someone who had never seen an orange tree before.

On two separate walks through the neighborhood, residents offered us oranges and grapefruits that were destined for trash. So guess what we have in boxes in our cold Colorado garage? We brought back a little bit of Arizona with us :)

january 5 ~ five tops

2012-01-05T04:00:00.041-07:00

The time has come to decide on the first spin of 2012. I narrowed it down to the roving tops pictured.

On the right is the December ASU-SAL (Allspunup - spin along) fiber. Four ounces of merino/tencel hand dyed combed top in Water Lilies colourway. Such a pretty name for such soft colors. The deadline for being entered in the fibery prize drawing for this SAL is January 16th. So if I'd like to enter, this would need to be next on the wheel.

On the left are four fine alpaca tops in natural black, silver, dark chocolate and fawn. There are 16 ounces total. I purchased these in early November 2011 with a specific project in mind.

So the final question I have to answer is: Do I want to participate in my last spin along for a whole year (2012 is a spin-down / knit-down stash year for me)... or would I like to do some practical spinning for a specific project?

january 4 ~ four stitch markers

2012-01-04T04:00:00.002-07:00

Four stitch markers indicate the pattern transitions in this project. The pattern is windward. The repeats are easily memorized and I was able to knit just over 50% of it during the car ride from Phoenix to northern Colorado. (I'll post more about the pattern and yarn when it's completed.)

This morning I picked up a huge stack of mail on hold at the post office for the past several weeks. That should keep me busy much of the day.

january 3 ~ three cans

2012-01-03T04:00:00.093-07:00

Grampa and I watched the children for several days while their parents were away at the Faithwalkers Conference. Not knowing exactly when they would arrive home from Grand Junction, it seemed a good idea to have a crockpot soup simmering for dinner.

Along with the contents of these three cans I added:

extra lean ground beef (browned in a bit of olive oil,) chopped sweet yellow onions, chopped celery , salt and pepper, diced carrots, diced potatoes, diced zucchini, spices ...and loaf of herb focaccia to heat up just before serving the soup.

This was Saturday's supper. We drove home back from Arizona on Sunday and Monday.

The next time I fly down, I'll recognize the landmarks we passed by in the car. But from a different perspective ~ looking down from above. Our country is so very beautiful.

january 2 ~ two guitars

2012-01-02T04:00:00.007-07:00

Father and son enjoyed picking and strumming.
The rest of us enjoyed listening and watching.
In the background, a 1000 piece puzzle was completed on Christmas Day.

january 1 ~ one old dog

2012-01-01T04:00:00.018-07:00

Puppy Dog Jack enjoyed spending Christmas with all his favorite people. And if my count is correct, New Mexico and Arizona bring this little pup's total of United States visited to thirteen.

We're thinking this may have been his last road trip.

making each day count

2011-12-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to continue with this blog. Really. And then I changed my mind. That happens from time to time.

I started thinking about the new year and about new things. One new thing that popped into my head was the idea of making each day count. And associating counting the days of the month with a representative picture. So January 1st would have a picture of one thing and January 15th would have a picture of 15 things and January 31st would have a picture of 31 things. On February 1st I'd return with a picture of one thing because the initial idea of 365 things on December 31st was nothing short of insanity. Right, Liss?!

(And yes. 2012 is a leap year. I know this because our third grandchild is due February 29th.)

So I'll give it a try for January. And if January ends up to have been fun I'll venture into February. No commitments for the full year lest it stop being fun.

On to a new thing!

O Little Town of (fill in the blank) (re-post)

2011-12-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

(... the following is a re-post from 19 December 2010)

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light,
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
What town do you live in? Whatever the town, wherever the place, its streets are dark and it's filled with people in need of the Light. Jesus is the everlasting Light who shines through the darkness of our life in this world, bringing the only hope. The. Only. Hope.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
God incarnate, a wondrous gift indeed! Jesus is our living Savior and there is only one way to receive Him ~ meekly, as someone who knows they are separated from God because of the sin in their lives. Humbly call out to Him, in full knowledge that you have nothing to give in return. Ask Him into your heart, submit fully to Him, let go of the reins of your life and give them to Him. Ask that He become Lord of your life. He will enter in to those who receive Him meekly, forgiving their sins because He died for your specific sins on Calvary's cross. Receive that forgiveness ~ a wondrous gift indeed!

O holy Child of Bethlehm,
descend to us we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide in us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Then His Spirit will descend into your heart and you will be born again. You will be a new creation. You'll still be living in the body of flesh, born of your natural parents. But there will now be a new life in there as well, born of the seed of His Holy Spirit. The glad tidings are that this new life is eternal. It begins when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior. This new life grows as we submit to His plans and purposes for us here on earth. This new life will one day be present with Him for ALL eternity. The natural body born of your parents will perish, but the new creation that is you in Christ will have a heavenly body for all eternity. What hope! What joy! What LOVE!

Where will you spend eternity? Choose to be forever with God in Christ! That's why you're here, to make this choice. The only eternal decision you'll ever make.

final things

2011-10-23T14:34:00.000-06:00

I've enjoyed keeping this blog and have met many interesting people along the way. But it's time to say good-bye. I'll keep in touch through Ravelry and by checking in on some of your blogs now and then.

I'd like to leave you with the words that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things

⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

(Philippians 4:4-9 NASB)

thoughts

2011-10-21T05:39:00.000-06:00

⁵ We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5

Our thoughts are powerful. They feed into our words and actions. I've been considering how important it is to not speculate. To think Biblical truth. How continual is the process of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ! How important it is to quickly dismiss those things that strive to linger in my thoughts that are untrue. If I speak and act on that which is not true I am giving hands and feet and agreement to lies. Lord, cleanse my thoughts through Your word. Guide me, Spirit. I love you, Jesus, and pray in your name.

three dozen

2011-10-19T12:22:00.000-06:00

Miniature knitting is a lot like eating potato chips. But instead of a bag of chips, I pulled out a box of left-over sock yarn. And I got a bit carried away knitting toothpick embellishments.

They are quick and easy and are the perfect (mindless) take along project. For these, I used US #0 needles and cast on 11 stitches. Knit 16 rows. On the 17th row, knit only the first 6 stitches. Cut yarn and transfer stitches from needles to two toothpicks.

I put a 6/0 seed bead on each toothpick end and adheared them with Mod Podge. (Elmer's Glue will do.) Then drop a dot of glue on top of that last knit stitch to secure.

(Bet'cha can't knit just one!)

walnut-dyed polwarth

2011-10-17T04:31:00.000-06:00

Almost two pounds of polwarth wool top dyed in varying mixtures of black walnut leaves and husks resulted in six gradations of color for Fall and Winter spinning.

zeke

2011-10-14T06:41:00.000-06:00

"Zeke" is a pretty strange name for a lacy shawl. But when our granddaughter was here, we were reading some Mr. Putter and Tabby books. And I've always enjoyed Mrs. Teaberry's dog, Zeke. The stories we read and our time together were on my mind (and in my heart) throughout the knitting process, so here's zeke:

100% alpaca fingering weight (560 yards)

US #6 circulars

The shawl grew from bits and pieces of projects I've knit over the past few years. I started with the ubiquitous (just love using that word) garter tab (from the Ishbel.) The increases (RS 4, WS 2) are mirrored M1R/M1L. After a section of stockinette I broke it up with a small garter stitch/eyelet section (from Alma Ella.) A bit more of that and then on to some Bird's Eye Lace (from Aestlight.)

At this point I decided on finishing with Stinson's Lace Edging (from the Stonington Shawl.) So in the transitional garter section I reduced the increases to M1R/M1L at the sides only (RS and WS.) This rounded off the triangular tip and allowed the edging to produce a softer, rounded finished edge. And Bob's your uncle.

So it could be called "Alma Ella's Ishbelish Aestlightly-like Stonington Shawlly Thing." But I opted for plain old zeke.

Feels good to be back up and running with the internet. Yay.

broken

2011-10-09T13:25:00.000-06:00

Still no internet at home. The day came and passed for connection. After half an hour on the phone we were finally told that our order had been put on hold for some unknown reason. So we had to start all over again. The new date for connection is next Wednesday.

I was feeling more than a bit aggravated after that phone call. Then I remembered something our pastor said months ago. If we know we live in a broken world ... why are we so surprised when things go wrong? Remembering his words helped put the whole situation in perspective. This is one of those opportunities to grow in patience.

Here is a lacy little shawl I've been working on the past week. It combines a lot of the skills and pattern stitches I've learned the past several years. I've named it "Zeke."

Our granddaughter has turned three and her quilt is finished. Never did snap a picture before sending it off ... perhaps the next time I visit!

walnut-dyed corriedale

2011-10-05T14:48:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post of the spinning so far ... total of 730 yards / 7.9 oz corriedale wool (2ply). Hope to be back online at home sometime on Friday :D

light corriedale / 165 yards / 53 grams; 1.85 oz

medium corriedale / 215 yards / 58 grams; 2 oz

dark corriedale / 350 yards /113 grams / 4 oz

(all three skeins available in my etsy shop)

peace and quiet

2011-09-29T08:03:00.000-06:00

Our router went ka-flooey earlier this week. So we've been without the internet. I'm using this offsite wifi to check email now and then.

At home things are so peaceful and quiet. No TV. And now no internet. This reminds me of when I was a young woman. There wasn't the abundance of input and noise. Immediate reponses weren't expected. Correspondence by mail was a relaxed and pleasant way to stay in touch. I'd read and re-read letters from family and friends for several days before writing back and didn't look for a response in less than a couple of weeks. Looking back, it was a simpler time. I don't remember experiencing the information overload that often marks my days.

So this past week I finished reading Jane Eyre and have enjoyed solitude while spinning the corriedale and dyeing two pounds of polwarth in small increments. We'll probably be offline awhile longer, pondering a new internet provider... and enjoying the peace and quiet for a few more days.

dyeing with walnut leaves and husks ~ corriedale

2011-09-24T10:03:00.001-06:00

Materials:

8 ounces corriedale wool top (purchased from here); divided into (four) two-ounce strands
6 quart slow cooker
leaves from approximately 32 twigs of a black walnut tree
husks from the nuts (I used 26)
old pillowcase for straining liquid (essential to remove all particles of husks and leaves)
large plastic container, strainer, large plastic spoon
this website for reference (walnut, and this thread as well on ravelry)

(Picking up from my last post...)

While the husks were soaking for several days in the large plastic container, I decided to experiment by dyeing with just the leaves.

I stripped the leaves from (32) twigs, covered them with water in the crockpot and simmered them overnight (about 12 hours.) In the morning, I strained out the leaves (through a pillowcase), returned the dye to the crockpot along with 2 ounces of corriedale and simmered it on low for three hours. (The steeped leaves were tossed into my main plastic container along with the soaking husks.)

I gently lifted out the roving and rinsed it in cold water until the water was clear (about three rinses), careful not to agitate the wool. Then I hung it up to dry ... the two lightest braids on the left were from this initial dyeing. This picture was taken in the early morning with natural sunlight:

The middle two skeins were from the the same crockpot liquid as above, but I dyed them twice for a deeper tone. This picture was taken with natural light in the shade:

At this point the liquid was much reduced, so I added some strained, dark brown liquid from the container of soaking husks/leaves and simmered two more ounces of corriedale. My last two batches produced a very similar deep brown. (A little bit of walnut dye goes a long way! I have so much left over!)

I divided each of the two ounce skeins in half because I've decided to spin a 2-ply yarn of each of the three colors. This morning we went back to the park for more leaves so I can try a light/medium/dark with some polwarth top ... the leaves are simmering in the corckpot in the garage as I write.

now even I'm feeding the squirrels...

2011-09-22T04:00:00.083-06:00

::Sheepishly raising my hand for officially joining the 'feeding the squirrels' club::

Puppy dog Jack and I have been quite successful in collecting fallen walnuts from the nearby park. We've also filled a bag with small branches chewed off black walnut trees by the squirrels. Apparently the leaves make a wonderful addition to the dyepot. When the count reached 23 walnuts, I decided to start experimenting.

Searches on the web and on Ravelry turned up many variations on dyeing methods. Some with mordants, some without. Some simmered, some soaking in water for days/years on end.

For my first batch, I placed the whole walnuts in a 5-gallon plastic paint bucket and poured in about 2 gallons of boiling water. It was left outdoors to soak overnight.

By morning the husks were softened enough to cut away from the nut. I protected my hands from the stain with latex-free exam gloves and cut around the centers with a paring knife, returning the husks to the dyepot and filling a clay pot with the walnuts.

Okay. I realize that black walnuts are a delicacy. But I couldn't imagine eating them. So I put the clay pot of nuts in the crook of our peach tree for the squirrels.

(For those who've followed my ramblings over the years ... no, we didn't cut the peach tree down after all. Imagine that!)

In retrospect, it would have been fun to watch from the window as the squirrels discovered the nuts. But I was away from the house for several hours this morning. And during that time the squirrels discovered the nuts. All were gone when I checked.

Suddenly I'm wondering ... whose yard did they bury them all in?!

ETA: The fun is officially over. I'm nuts for feeding squirrels. I looked out this afternoon and the tub I had turned upside down and placed on the paint bucket had grown a long fluffy tail. A long, fluffy, twitchy tail. Impertinent Nutkin seems to have developed a taste for walnuts, and has sniffed out the soaking husks in my dyepot.

So I removed it from the back porch and put it around the back of the house. Now the plastic bucket has the additional protection of an upside-down large enamel pot (that fits rather snugly) as well as the larger tub plus heavy garden pots to weigh it all down. This is what I get for being "friendly" to bushy-tailed rodents.

P.S. I'd love to read any comments from those of you who have had experience with black walnut dye.

one row lace scarves in handspun

2011-09-21T04:00:00.069-06:00

Awhile back, I saw a lovely lace scarf on Wool Winder's blog ~ the One Row Lace Scarf. When I needed an easy take-along project, something I could pick up and put down at a moment's notice, this pattern came to mind. So I packed some yarn I'd spun (here, here and here) and the quick and easy pattern for my recent trip to Arizona (and back again.)

I knit until the yarn ran out, so the scarves vary in length.

The widths vary a bit too. The yarns were different in weight, but I used the same US #10 needles on all three.

And here are the modifications I used:

24 stitches cast on
began and ended with k four rows
substituted ssk for k2tog
wyif, slipped first stitch on every row as if to purl

This makes the perfect beginning lace project. An easy pattern with only one row to memorize. Looks far more complicated than that, doesn't it!?!

september in colorado

2011-09-19T04:00:00.023-06:00

We've had such a wonderful time with family! The grandchildren have been able to run around outdoors and breathe in the fresh Colorado air. We even had a couple of cold and rainy days. Hannah was pretty excited about wearing her fleece pj's with feet in them at night.

One day, my young knitting friend and her brother came over after school to play. We walked to the park. Before leaving, she showed the children the special door in the cottonwood tree.

Hannah was puzzled by it. B and her brother used sticks to make a pathway to the door :) Then B. took the children over to the walnut trees.

They found several walnuts on the ground and had fun tossing them about.

Our time together has been such a blessing. I'll think of them all as puppy dog Jack and I walk through the park in the mornings, gathering fallen walnuts as we pass by the trees.

peek a boo

2011-09-09T04:00:00.036-06:00

I'm on my way to visit these two this weekend...

... and after that, they'll be on their way to visit us!!!

72, 73, 74

2011-09-07T04:00:00.028-06:00

Because I'm still counting.

Yarn: Austermann Step

Needles: US #1-1/2

64 stitch cast on, 2x2 rib, stockinette

for: etsy

Yarn: Regia Square Color 6-ply

Needles: US #2

56 stitch cast on, 1x1 ribbing

for: Pam

Yarn: Pagewood Farm Alyeska / Daffodils

Needles: US #1-12/

48 stitches cast on, 2x2 ribbing, stockinette

for: Brook

fit tea be dyed

2011-09-05T04:00:00.096-06:00

I've been doing a web search on dyeing yarn and recently came across a great article from Knitty, Spring 2007. The article is more or less a guide outlining the basic processes. It stresses inexpensive, experimenting and having fun. So with all that in mind, I followed the basics of a vinegar soak and crock pot heating. But instead of using food coloring, I searched the cupboard for tea bags that would steep to a pleasing, neutral color.
The yarn on hand was a 4 oz (420 yds) skein of undyed merino/bamboo/nylon fingering weight (found here.) I knew from the Knitty article that the merino would take color better than the bamboo and nylon in this blend. The result was a lovely tonal skein:

I dotted the crock pot soak with Celestial Seasonings' Safari Spice (African Rooibos / Red Tea) and Black Cherry Berry tea bags, along with a bag (or two or three or four) of Bigelow's Constant Comment. The bags sort of mingled among the strands and produced a nice depth of color with subtle variations.

It should knit up into lovely (and fragrant) lace, since the Safari Spice overpowered the vinegar and lingers still!

"It's fun to have fun!" Dr. Seuss

made in the shade

2011-09-03T14:49:00.000-06:00

I was sitting here checking my email when I noticed Sneaky Lounging Squirrel, oh so comfortable on a branch of the tree just outside my window. I never knew what thieves these little creatures could be.

How's this for a way to stock up for the coming winter?

Wait on a branch while Busy Little Squirrel brings peanuts (yes, our neighbor actually feeds squirrels; don't get me started) from the feeder in the yard behind us.
Continue to watch and wait while Busy Little Squirrel navigates the fence, climbs down the cherry tree and buries the peanuts right below Sneaky Lounging Squirrel.
While Busy Little Squirrel hurries back to the feeder for another load, quickly run down the tree, unearth newly buried peanut/s and run them across the street to your own private stash under another neighbor's fir tree. Return and wait.
Surely I have more interesting things to do with my time than watching Busy Little Squirrel and Sneaky Lounging Squirrel playing their peanut game!

restless

2011-09-01T04:00:00.002-06:00

That's the name of this design by Bonnie Sennott, Restless. I love how it turned out! So delicate. So feminine. So light and airy.

I used a 2-ply laceweight merino yarn by Pink Dandelion Yarns. The colorway is "The Color Purple." Now that my hair is silver-ish, this is a color I can finally wear :D

Blocked to 11" x 70," this rectangular piece can be worn as a stole or a scarf. It was knit on US#4 wooden needles. Weighing the cake before and after, I estimate having used just over 300 yards. So there is plenty left in the cake (600+ yards) for another lace project.

Lace is sooooooo worth the time it takes to knit! The best part is removing the blocking wires and appreciating that first, soft drape across the arms.

blocking ideas

2011-08-31T04:03:00.091-06:00

Blocking is difficult on ones back. It's also a very time consuming task. All of that bending over, measuring and pinning. I doubt that any knitter finds joy in the process.

I've found that blocking on a bed is very helpful. Not so far to bend. For quite some time I've used the queen-sized bed in our spare room for this purpose. I used to cover it with towels to absorb the moisture.
Then I thought ... why not pick up a very thick, cotton mattress pad cover? That would provide plenty of protection from the moisture for the mattress.

Then the idea came to cover the pad with this plaid, cotton flannel bedding (from LLBean). It provides the perfect grid for pinning wires and points. With this rectangular scarf I slipped the wires down the sides, measured once and pinned on grid. Super quick and straight.

The grid is great for all shapes. With a circle, find your center, count an equal number of squares out to your four compass points, then the midpoints, then fill in the rest.

Pinning out the points on a triangular shawl was just as easy. Thread the wires straight across, line up with the grid, pull the bottom point straight down on center and then, counting squares from the spine for the other points, line them up across. I only need a yardstick for the first measurements. The rest is as easy as following the squares.

Please leave a comment with any time-saving, back-saving ideas you've come up with!

tomatoes, at long last

2011-08-29T04:05:00.054-06:00

We had very cool nights for the first part of our summer and it took quite awhile for the tomatoes to set and ripen. They were worth the wait. These Roma's are especially good.

Something I've never experienced happened with the sweet cherry 100's this year. Just look at the preponderance of blossoms! Very few of them actually set fruit. I need to start trimming the excess away so that the tomatoes we have will ripen. Strange year.

And one more unusual thing happened Sunday afternoon. The largest butterfly I've ever seen spent some time among the flowers in our garden. It was the size of a small bird, with a wingspan of 6-8". It was quite busy and ignored me even when I got very close.

Here's a small clip of the butterfly. I could feel the air movement as it beat its wings. The coloring was mostly yellow with black and saffire and flame at the bottom. So beautiful.

pretty quiet on the western front

2011-08-28T16:56:00.000-06:00

We had so much contact with family in Hampton, VA and Westport, CT yesterday through the phone and internet. We were waiting for Irene with them... long distance.

And now today, with their power out, only the occasional text or momentary call in order to conserve battery power. Pretty quiet.

some days

2011-08-27T09:09:00.001-06:00

Jack's world has grown silent. And now it is growing dimmer as well. Some days he likes being as close as possible. Like one day this week. I was tracing the quilting stencil onto a block when suddenly Jack jumped up onto the coffee table and curled up next to my elbow.

I moved to the floor for sewing and once again ... there he was, as close as could be.

Finally, wearied with all the up and down of tracing / quilting, Jack opted for my glider.

I thought to myself: He looks oh so old ... but he can still jump up onto a coffee table. Dear, sweet Puppy Dog Jack.

while waiting

2011-08-25T16:23:00.000-06:00

God is teaching me a lot about waiting on Him. Waiting is not a time where everything is put "on hold." Quite to the contrary. Waiting seems to be an especially active time, where new opportunities for response in Christ pop up at most unexpected times and in the most unexpected ways. His story.

How do I know God's hand is in it all? Because in each circumstance He has prepared me beforehand for the faith response or equipped me in it. His fingerprints are all over each and every little piece that fits together. Look for Him in your life. He's at work.

I don't know if He has said "no" to our personal prayer. But I do know He has said "not yet." And during this "not yet" time I must respond in faith to each and every person and opportunity He places in my day. I smile from the inside out when I reflect on how He works. I'm filled with joy when there's a glimpse of Him in the unseen. Thank you, Jesus.

Dear readers, we simply cannot take in how active and present God is in the world today. He is working out His plans and His purposes to His glory.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

shoreline shawlette

2011-08-23T12:54:00.000-06:00

It was a quick finish. And I think the shawlette blocked beautifully. So soft and feminine and light and summery.

Needles: US#2 addi circulars

Yarn: Sugar Bunny Boulevard ~ Katherine

Colorway: Pink Ribbon

Yardage: 397 yds

Edging: Shoreline

Yes, the merino is as soft as it looks! And the color depths do deepen in the folds of the fabric.

back detail

Encouraging Truth: There is a second birth. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:3-10, Colossians 3:3)

charting the trim

2011-08-22T05:00:00.029-06:00

This post is a notation of progress:

The pink yarn would have looked lovely with some sparkly embellishments. But after knitting up a couple of small samples, the edging pattern I chose just didn't "work" with beads. ~~Beads.~~

I'm using "Shoreline" lace from Lesley Stanfield's book, 150 Knitted Trims. This trim is knit sideways and attaches to the main piece by (ssk)-ing the last stitch of each return row with the next "live" stitch on the bottom of the scarf. I'm knitting this 14-row repeat over 280 live stitches.

The patterns in this book are presented in written form. So I decided to transfer this one to chart form. I added a "connector" section for a more interesting transition from the body to the trim.

For the body of the piece, I used the elongated short-row method of gently shaping. Adding that to the connector and lace trim, after blocking this may end up being more of a shawlette than a scarf. ~~Scarf.~~

swatch of lace trim and connector / experimenting with beads

Encouraging Truth: Our hope is not wishful thinking. Our hope is a sure thing. (Hebrews 11:1)

something pink this way comes

2011-08-19T07:35:00.000-06:00

I've had this superwash merino in my stash for quite awhile. It was purchased at a greatly reduced price as a "second" because of the number of knots in the skein and a small section that was underplyed. I finally wound it off yesterday and found only three knots and a very small portion that is unusable.

Isn't it just the pink-est?!?!?

The twist is too soft to produce durable socks. And the merino is very soft for a next to the skin project. So I decided on a narrow scarf, along the lines of one I knit last year. But with modifications.

The first modification is a narrow seed stitch band.

And it will have beads. Definitely some beads. The pink rather demands them, don't you think?

I'm just in such a pink mood these days. Color. Lots of color. The brighter the better.

Encouraging truth: We are seized with amazement in His presence. (Luke 5:8-11)

alpaca shawl

2011-08-16T08:59:00.001-06:00

Knitting with this slippery soft alpaca was a treat to my fingers and hands. And I love how warm and snuggy the fabric turned out.

The three natural alpaca colors in this softly spun yarn are charcoal, ashen-beige and light cream. The final knit looks tweedy and works well with brown, gray or black clothing. Natural. Neutral. Versatile.

US #8 circulars; 538 yards sport weight alpaca; measures 56" x 25".

Encouraging Truth: Jesus holds all things together. (Colossians 1:16-17)

felted woolen balls

2011-08-10T03:59:00.000-06:00

I was browsing through etsy listings the other day and saw a shop stocked with wool dryer balls. They are advertised as a money saver. These wonder woolies not only take the place of dryer sheets for reducing static cling and softening clothes, but apparently they cut drying time as well. Has anyone had experience using these? If so, I'd love to hear about it.

A google search provided quite a few sites and youtube videos that described exactly how to make them, so I won't bore you with those (easily found) details. I rummaged through my stash for feltable yarn. Yada yada yada ... and felted woolen balls:

Wound of mohair left over from an afghan project;

and some curly bulky wool, worsted wool and loopy boucle mohair, (leftover from the same project)

I also picked up a large skein of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool for some more traditional wool dryer balls. An 8 ounce skein yielded four/2 oz balls. The wool felted better than it looks. Posts I've read have noted that the balls will continue to felt as they are used over time.

This summer I've been drying towels and bedding outdoors on the clothesline. But when winter comes, I'll put the woolen balls to the savings test. Right now they are in a basket on our coffee table. My husband and I are having fun tossing them at to each other.

They make soft and fun coffee table toys for children (or anyone who is a child at heart.)

Encouraging Truth: God remains faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)

practice

2011-08-08T08:21:00.001-06:00

Lest anyone out there in bloggyland think I have this handspun thing down, I'm still pretty low on the learning curve when it comes to spinning and plying a heavier weight yarn.

This past weekend I played around with settings, trying to get to know my wheel a bit better. It resulted in an over/under twisted thick/thin yarn. I'm told now that a switch from double drive to scotch tension may be the key. Another day.

Fiber: 100% superwash merino

Handpainted by: Freckle Face Fibers

Colorway: California Poppies

Yardage: 225 yards (3.3 oz) (94g)

Given the uneveness of the yarn, I think I'll knit a simple scarf with it. It's warm and soft and squishy and should feel very snuggy on a cold Colorado day. Such a cheerful color!

Encouraging Truth: Today's encouraging truth comes in the form of a link to my all time favorite YouTube music video. Click HERE for Laura Story singing "Blessings."

This is not our home. (Philippians 3:20) (Colossians 3:1-4)

finished rosettes ... three years later

2011-08-05T05:00:00.060-06:00

Three years ago today (8/5/08) I posted about all the colorful little rosettes I'd been crocheting and asked for comments on what to do with them. Lots of comments came (click here to read). I pulled the box out last week and decided to finally finish them up... because now I have a granddaughter and have gained an understanding of how little girls love pretty, colorful things!

The first step was to sew a little pearl in the centers. Then I crocheted ruffle bases to enlarge each flower's width and depth.

The final step was to hand sew a ribbon-covered alligator clip to the back of each rose. Now they can be clipped in the hair, on a headband, onto a doll ... wherever!

The last step was to package them up and send them to my granddaughter. There are plenty or "extras" to share with her friends in Arizona. Sharing is best learned at a young age.

Encouraging Truth: Our motivation to share comes from the realization that it's all God's... (Psalm 50:10-12)

... heaven, the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it (Deuteronomy 10:14.)

Job knew this (Job 41:11) as did David (Psalm 24:1) and Paul (1 Corinthians 10:26.)

God gives and we receive. With open hands of gratitude, willing to share what we've been given with others.

We brought none of it with us and we'll take none of it when we leave. Only what's done in Christ remains.

from this to this to this

2011-08-03T05:00:00.035-06:00

5.5 ounces of 50% merino / 25% silk / 25% bamboo roving; handpainted by Kristin at All Spun Up...

that was spun into 580 yards of 2-ply...

that was knit into a familiar pattern...

that became an Alma Ella Shawl in handspun! What surprised me most about staying with this project from start to finish? It took almost as long to spin and ply the yarn as it did to knit the shawl.

Encouraging Truth: Our resurrected bodies will be imperishable. Raised in glory. Raised in power. Immortal. (1 Corinthians 15:42-57)

six a.m. this morning

2011-08-02T06:42:00.001-06:00

"But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."

1 Samuel 30:1-6

i m a g i n a t i o n

2011-08-01T05:00:00.145-06:00

How many times have we walked down this path through the park over the past 19 years? Conservatively, somewhere approaching a thousand times. And this past week I noticed something newly added. Something small. Something round. Something white.

I had a paper route years ago. Loved it. My husband walked the daily route with me at about 4:30 am. We often cut through the park in those early hours.

Once, when there was a meteor shower, we got up at 3am and lay on the hill, watching the display with wonder.

On cool Spring and Fall mornings, residual moisture creates a heavy fog which is a delight to run through.

Then there are the "sparkle days" in midwinter when the intense cold and the bright sun cause the snow to gleam like a blanket of diamonds. The hoarfrost on the pine needles make it seem a magical place, indeed. Especially when the morning sun suddenly appears, triggering evaporation. Then, all that frost rises like steam from a boiling pot into the bright blue sky, and poof! It's gone!

The three large cottonwoods on the left are a favourite of the squirrels. They scamper up and down the trunks, and practically fly from branch to branch.

I didn't notice when new neighbors moved in. I imagine because it was in the middle of a moonlit night when we were fast asleep. Did the squirrels help with the move? Or did they sit there like small wide-eyed statues, watching? Or were they sleeping as well?

What do you suppose is the key that unlocks this charming little door, carefully fixed in the base of the tree? And what is the history of the family that resides therein? If we camped out, might be get a glimpse of their comings and goings?

I'd love to meet the person who carefully mounted this sweet little porcelain drawer pull. Because... I'd love to hear the stories they would tell!

Encouraging Truth: Jesus is preparing a place for those who come to the Father through Him. He will come again and receive us to Himself. (John 14:1-6)

baby elephants are so cute

2011-07-12T12:08:00.000-06:00

My subscription to Interweave Knits expired with the last issue. The past few times I went grocery shopping, I'd page through the Summer 2011 issue debating on whether or not to buy it. This cute little vest was the decision-maker. Cause I know a certain someone who will look "so cute" in it. (I can almost hear her say "Baby elephants are so cute!") There's also a great little section in the magazine discussing custom pictorial lace motifs, using this design as an example. An idea-stirrer for sure.

And you know what? They really are so cute!

The yarn called for in the pattern is described as "a nubbly, tweedy cotton." I picked up this Rowan Purelife Revive (36% recycled silk; 36% recycled cotton; 28% recycled viscose) at a yarn shop in Williamsburg VA. So far it's been a great knitting experience. The real test comes with washing and wearing.

I'll be away from blogging until August. Here's an encouraging reminder until then.

Encouragement: God is sovereign over all. All. Everything. (Psalm 103:19; Psalm 83:18; Daniel 4:17)

aestlight shawl

2011-07-08T12:06:00.001-06:00

Well, looking over all the comments there is no need for that random number generator. The consensus is that the giveaway socks from last Friday's post should go to short old lady! So Sue, you can contact me on Ravelry or through email at selectswoolandflax (at) gmail with your address and I'll send them right out to you! Hope they keep your feet warm and snuggy this winter ~ congratulations!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I picked up some silky wool yarn while in Yorktown, Virginia and couldn't wait to knit with it. It seemed perfect for the Aestlight Shawl. I love the look of the shetland design, and although the color and drape of the fabric is lovely, the color ran and ran and ran even after repeated washing and rinsings, so the shawl will need to be worn over dark clothing.

I'm including three pictures ~ mostly because I cannot get over the beautiful green of our backyard this July! It's almost as if we brought back a bit of Virginia with us. We've had so much rain that the lawn is squishy when stepped upon. Love, love, love the green!

pattern: Aestlight (East Light) Shawl

designer: Gudrun Johnston

from: The Shetland Trader

(... and the Linden tree is blooming, Sander! Click on the picture for a better view!)

yarn: Elesbeth Lavold Silky Wool

(I cannot recommend this yarn.)

amount: 672 yards

needles: US#7

Encouragement: Our Redeemer lives. (Job 19:25-27)

the knitter inside her

2011-07-06T10:56:00.003-06:00

Our neighbor's daughter wanted to learn to knit this summer. So this morning was our first lesson.

She's seven (eight next month) and I wasn't sure how it would go. I told her to let me know when she'd had enough, that we'd keep going until she got tired.

Well she stayed almost two hours. And in that time she cast on 10 stitches and knit 12 rows on her doll scarf (US #9's on Lion Brand/Vanna's Choice.)

Our "rhythmic talk" through the process went something like this:
needle in; front to back
wrap around; back to front
push tip through; make a loop
slide it off; now you're done

And after a few rows we shortened it to:
front to back; wrap around
make a loop; slide it off

Nothing frazzled this determined little knitter ... not stitches slipping off nor tinking back to fix incomplete stitches. Her hands and fingers quickly coordinated around the needles and yarn, talking through the row. She ended every row by counting the stitches and began each following row with a nice, snug first stitch.

I hardly felt like this was a teaching lesson at all. It was more like revealing the little knitter already inside her!

Encouragement: You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. (Psalm 139:14)

sander's seeds ~ july / year two

2011-07-04T05:00:00.038-06:00

We burned off the weeds in the wildflower section of our garden last Fall. But apparently Sander's seeds were not finished bringing our eyes (and hearts) joy! Yet another one of God's beautiful surprises.

Encouragement: Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Matthew 9:13)

pickle socks ~ giveaway

2011-07-01T10:42:00.001-06:00

Now that's one strange name for a pretty pair of socks! But I find myself in a pickle wondering who to give them to. So I've decided to give them away on this blog next Friday afternoon.

I purchased this yarn while on vacation in Virginia and finished the socks the day before returning to Colorado. The yarn is heavier than I'm used to (sport weight) and even using US #1-1/2 (2.5mm) dpn's they ended up being a bit generous in width and in the ankles. I'm thinking they would make a wonderful gift for a woman who wears an 8 or 9 shoe and has some swelling/edema. A nice, snuggy, soft, warm way to say "I love you."

So if you or someone you know could put these socks to good use, please leave a comment and ask to be entered in the drawing.

Comments close at noon mountain time on Friday, July 8th. I'll use that fun random number generator on the internet to choose a winner and post later that day. (U.S. addresses only please as I'll use Paypal shipping.)

Yarn: Austermann Step 6
Fiber content: 75% superwash wool / 25% nylon (with aloe vera and jojoba oil added)
Pattern: Basic Sock Pattern
Size: woman's shoe 8-9; generous width
Needles: US 1-1/2 dpn's
Socks: #71
For: ???

The socks have been machine washed (inside a zippered lingerie bag) in cold water and air dried on a towel.

wyoming socks

2011-06-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

Just over a year ago I met my knitting blog-friend Marti and her family as they were travelling I-25 from northern Wyoming to Denver on their way down to meet the newest member of their family, little Addison. We met at a picnic area just off the interstate.

What a joyfilled and loving family she's been blessed with! We enjoyed talking and getting to know each other. Marti gifted me with the yarn for these socks and so I'm calling them "Wyoming socks."

I finished them while we were in Virginia. Melissa helped me kitchener the toes.

Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet, 2 hanks

US#1-1/2 and #1 dpn's

basic sock pattern (Ann Budd)

for Michael

socks #70

15

2011-06-28T05:00:00.048-06:00

This is a picture of our dog Jack when he was still a puppy.

And here is a recent picture of him.

Jack turned 15 while we were gone. He kept watch over the house while our neighbor kept watch over him. Such a great little companion.

nature walk ~ bridge

2011-06-27T05:00:00.018-06:00

We're on our way back to Colorado as these pictures post. One last look at the walking path.

Who could walk along a bridge without stopping at least once for a look over?

This is an overflow from an estuary, but it reminds me a lot of the creek behind my childhood home.

Good bye sea level. For now.

the noland trail

2011-06-26T05:00:00.008-06:00

norwalk botanical garden

2011-06-25T05:44:00.000-06:00

It's difficult to tell how well my pictures are turning out on this mini computer screen ... but I'm posting several more from our trip to the botanical garden in hopes that they convey some of the beauty that surrounded us there. If it had been a bit cooler I'd have gone ahead and pitched a tent in the midst of the hydrangea and they would have had to forcibly remove me from the premises!

more places

2011-06-25T05:00:00.002-06:00

the norfolk botanical garden

virginia air and space museum

nature walk ~ trumpet vine

2011-06-24T05:00:00.022-06:00

There is a trumpet vine covered arch along the walking path.

jamestown ~ magnolias, glass, trees, water... and what to order for dinner?

2011-06-23T05:00:00.075-06:00

Jamestown!

I have to begin with the magnolias. What a delight to see so many trees still producing these large, creamy, fragrant blossoms!

We walked through historic "Jamestowne," saw lots of very old broken things in the Archaearium, travelled along Island Drive, and stayed for quite some time at the Glasshouse in the woods watching the glassblowers practice their craft.

Surrounding the Glasshouse, more beautiful trees.

And we found another nice little beachy area... this time on the James River.

Then, dinner ... it all looks so good! What to order?!!!!

(Did I mention just how much fun it is being with these two?!)

My husband loves colored glass. He collects insulators and glass bottles. So we couldn't leave Jamestown without some hand blown glass. The two pieces on the right will be going home with us.

And the square-bottomed vase on the left was a piece my parents purchased on their visit to Jamestown more than 40 years ago. My mom gave it to M+M when they were married two years ago. And now they're living here! I love how things come full circle.

yorktown ~ the trees; the wind; the water

2011-06-22T05:00:00.116-06:00

At Yorktown I saw a commander's tent. A portable war planning table. Cannon of varying sizes and composition. The replica of a warship. Pistols. A short video detailing strategies and campaigns that resulted in death, carnage, destruction.

And at the root, rebellion against taxation and oppressive laws mandated by a distant, non-representational authority.

And then I thought about Paul's words in his letter to the Romans who were under a far more oppressive and brutal authority (Romans 13.)

As we walked down the paths around the battlefield I thought to myself, what tales would the trees and wind and water tell, if the trees and wind and water could tell tales?

Melissa and I enjoyed a beachy area on the York River.

nature walk ~ blackberries

2011-06-21T05:00:00.027-06:00

We've enjoyed walking along the nature trail that weaves through the perimeter of M+M's complex. (We've also been enjoying the blackberries ripening back in there.)

tour

2011-06-20T05:00:00.012-06:00

Mark took us for an after hours tour of where he works. I can't begin to understand the engineering behind the cyclotron (particle accelerator) and its application to cancer treatment, but I was extremely grateful for the gifts God has given the scientists, engineers and medical professionals so that this treatment is now available in many places throughout our country and around the world.

The treatment room above is fully operational, the one below is nearing completion.

The gantry was too large to photograph ... but simply amazing.

I wonder at how spread out across the country our little family has become. We hope to all gather together at Christmas ... in Arizona.

eat at joe's

2011-06-19T05:00:00.002-06:00

virginia living museum

2011-06-18T05:16:00.012-06:00

nature walk ~ queen anne's lace

2011-06-17T16:27:00.001-06:00

oranges and grapefruit... and magnolias?

2011-06-14T19:25:00.000-06:00

I'm a northern girl. So the idea of fresh citrus in ones very own backyard pretty much knocks my little white cotton socks off.

I was surprised to see the fruit so beautifully set while juicing (way past prime) citrus still hung on the tree in our grandchildren's new backyard.

Next Christmas these trees should be laden with ripe oranges and grapefruit. Amazing. What a delight that will be! We won't have to unpack a box trucked up. We'll be able to walk out back and pick them fresh, warmed by the winter sun.

There was just enough time to wash, dry, fold and re-pack the contents of my suitcase. Now my mind travels eastward and I'm wondering ... will there be any magnolia blooms left to see when we arrive in Virginia tomorrow afternoon?

somebody

2011-06-13T12:29:00.002-06:00

Somebody loves splashing!

happy hearts

2011-06-11T10:49:00.003-06:00

There's nothing like spending time with family to happy-up the heart.

The simple pleasure of making faces at each other through a window.

Of watching a child's invented play ... "chalk snake"

And being at work around the house ... H sweeping chalk with her little broom; her Dad about to explore (clean out) the attic of their new house. All of it happys-up granma's heart.

the corner

2011-06-07T06:23:00.000-06:00

Let me tell you right up front, this post is not written to preach to anyone. The sole purpose autobiographical. To recount a transition in our personal lives.

A television was situated in this corner for 19 years. During the first 10 of those years, the box was the focus of the room and (in retrospect) life. Walk in the door... switch it on. What was viewed and heard inevitably crept into conversations, colored opinions and worldview. My worldview at that time went something like this: "seek pleasure, avoid pain and do what I can to leave this place a little bit better for having been here." The tv directed my vocabulary/slang choices and created emotions apart from actual human interaction. It scheduled much of my days and hours.

Nine years ago, God spoke into my life in a personal way. I suddenly became aware of sin in my life and realized that there was nothing I could do about it in my own strength. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior. A new creation was given birth within me. And in that new creation came a sudden awareness of the need to turn away from the old life. For me, I had to turn away from tv. This wasn't something to force on others. I just knew I needed to remove myself from the room when it was on.

I asked my family if we could "de-cable" for a few months. If this didn't work out, we could always subscribe again. The decision was made to cancel cable after the Superbowl that January and start it up again before football season the next Fall.

An antennae was mounted on the roof. And for several weeks there was a desperate attempt to retrieve a bit of what was "lost" by feverishly searching for something to watch. Anything. (I readily admit, mostly by me!)

That was soon replaced by renting movies and video game playing. But interest waned in those activities and we started playing board games and cards. Then working puzzles. Music in the background. Lots of conversation and laughter. Eye contact. Emotions connected with real live human interaction.

The Fall came and along with it football season. And no one asked to get cable back. As each Sunday afternoon passed there was less and less interest in what the score was and who was playing whom. Our Sunday afternoons were no longer filled with the craziness of anguish over a team losing or a temporary high over a team winning.

We found that "news" and information was readily available on the internet and it was possible to check out headlines on some of the more fact-based sites. There's no such thing as 100% bias-free, but the closer one gets to original source material, the more reliable the information becomes.

Enter the digital tv age. Yes, we hooked up a converter box to continue to access a few stations through the anntennea. We watched an occasional political debate. Held onto the Survivor habit longer than was wise. Even interest in that evaporated one season.

So there the box sat. This big, dark, silent, cubical mass on a stand in the corner. We'd talk about getting rid of it ... but what if we wanted to turn it on some day?

We read more. I took up knitting and spinning. We talked more. Listened to music more. Even sang more. And most of all... became comfortable in the quiet.

Voices in conversation lowered and softened. Worldview was shaped by Scripture. We thought more deeply about things. Wondered more about things. Sought Truth... which I joyfully came to discern is, by definition, exclusive and is to be found. What is the chief and highest end of man? Not seeking pleasure (for me) and avoiding pain (for me) and doing what I can (for my glory) ... the chief and highest end of man is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever (Westminster Catechism.) That statement finally made sense to me.

Our grandchildren are being raised in a home without a tv. When they'd come over we would sometimes watch a Praise Baby dvd. But they moved away in January. And we recently realized that the tv hadn't been on in months.

So it finally left the house last Saturday.

And the rocking chair was moved into its place.

And alongside the rocker is the knitting bag which was gifted to me by a very dear friend last week. Thank you, P, for the bag and all the delightful goodies that came home with it! Love you :)

565

2011-06-05T11:53:00.001-06:00

565 yards; 2-ply; 103 grams/3.5 ounces. It will be "something lace," someday.

ETA: 63 / 35 merino and silk superwash blend; Squoosh Fiberarts; "fraises" colorway.

I'll be away from my wheel for the remainder of the month so nothing new will be spun until July.

The plan is to continue posting while travelling. Adventures await.

fraises

2011-06-04T07:07:00.083-06:00

Plied samples:

2-ply (laceweight)

3-ply (interesting coloration)

4-ply (colors are a bit too blended for my taste)

fun-ply (fun!)

I like the 2-ply and fun-ply best. So I'll 2-ply the two bobbins I've already filled for a generous laceweight hank.

Then spin two more bobbins with the remaining merino/silk and "fun-ply" them with the 100% sw merino from Pigeonroof in "bombay" colorway.

Because it's just! So! Pretty!

(And fun!)

garden's finally in

2011-06-02T14:16:00.002-06:00

This year's garden is small: five tomato plants, one basil, four geraniums and four marigolds. I'll toss in some nasturtium and california poppy seeds at some point. Our garden is not the priority this summer. But fresh garden tomatoes are worth the attempt.

School ended quietly and sweetly. The only items I brought home after 19 years could fit into two small boxes.

My husband's finger is healing well and for that we're very grateful.

We've been de-stuffing and organizing for awhile now, but the deep cleaning has begun in earnest. One thing is for sure... the "convenient" cleaning products we've come to enjoy in recent years have given a superficial spiffing up, at best. Nothing takes the place of elbow grease. My mindset has shifted from quickly cleaning and touching-up to actual housekeeping in the old fashioned sense of the word. (It's great exercise, too.)

I spent the morning with a friend recovering from major surgery. She has three sons (4 months, 2 and 4.) Being grandma transferred immediately to those new arms and eyes and hearts. I'll be with them again tomorrow morning and a bit over the weekend as well.

A quick lunch at home and off to spend time with another friend this afternoon.

Two bobbins are filled with the 50/50 merino/silk singles. Before spinning up the rest I did a bit of plying to see where I'd like to go with it. Hope to make some pictures over the weekend and share them then.

It will not be difficult filling the days.

my dad

2011-05-30T10:40:00.000-06:00

While I was out digging in the garden this morning, I got to thinking about Memorial Day and that got me to thinking about my dad. Glenn. As a girl I knew about all the countries he had visited during the war. But he never spoke about the events during those war years until I was grown.

Dad was in the 2nd Armored Division in WWII. His division was known as "Hell on Wheels." Dad worked intelligence and most of his time was spent between the artillary, between the lines, with the fire passing overhead. He said that the artillary sounds didn't bother him so much ... it was when things went silent. Then they needed to hustle.

He saw many fronts, the first being North Africa. Casablanca. Sicily. He talked about the Mediterranean. Gibralter. England. That's where this picture was taken. In England. He sent this picture to my mom with a letter about how they would have a little girl one day and they would call her Penny. (Only I ended up being the first robin of spring instead.)

After England, the Normandy invasion. Dad's division made an amphibious landing a few days after the initial landing. They were hung up on a sandbar at low tide and he told me how he was in a tank in the landing craft and how loud it was and how confined they were. Then the beach. All he remembered of that was the smell. Those days were erased from his memory.

He walked across France. It was a hard, hard winter. Onto Belgium. The Rhine. The Elbe. Into Berlin.

My dad didn't come home right after the war. He had to stay in Holland for awhile. Paperwork, he said. He met some wonderful people in Holland who were very hospitable (and excellent bridge players.) My mom had thought they would have a spring wedding, but it turned out to be the end of October.

Mom worked as a secretary at Bell Aircraft those years and met many interesting people who would come and look around the plant. Mom and Dad never once complained or grumbled. They never indicated it was any sort of sacrifice. It was a responsibility. A duty. Something to be done and to be done well.

Here's Dad putting together a pogo stick for our younger son.

And here's the house Dad and Mom built after the war. Mom said it was the way Dad "worked it all through." He'd come home in the evenings and they'd go over to build the house. He did it all. From digging the basement to finishing the knotty pine panelled walls in the livingroom. It took a very long time. Mom and Dad lived there until they couldn't live there any longer.

What did my Dad enjoy the most? The water. Our home was on the Erie Barge Canal. I learned to swim in the Niagara River. My grandparents' cottage was on the St. Lawrence River.

The Niagara River, 1995

glog ~ may 28th 2011

2011-05-28T08:43:00.000-06:00

Suddenly and unexpectedly. That's how most changes occur in our lives. One would have to be hiding under a rock to not have this reality strike home in recent months.

I believe that this why, although it is good to make plans and choose a certain path, I must remember that the plans and the path aren't what's important. It's with Whom I'm walking. When the plans and the path abruptly change, He's still there.

Puppy Dog Jack was my companion in the garden this morning. My dh and I were going to tackle the weeds together. But a momentary lapse in concentration while using the table saw took us to the Urgent Care center last night instead of M&O's going away party. The doctor was able to do some stitching-up and said that the end of his finger would heal well. In time.

Enter the change in plans. Our garden will not be as envisioned. I'll be able to get the vegetable area red-up for the tomatoes and basil plants. But once weeds are pulled, mounded grass clippings will fill in the empty spaces.

And if a pansy plant grows in the midst of a clump of lemon balm ... I say "Grow on, little pansy." (And "Hello, there!" to a weed or two.)

The hope for a changing world: "Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

38

2011-05-26T08:12:00.000-06:00

38 years ago today. Can it really be that long? God has richly blessed me with a wonderful husband. I give Him thanks.

For the first six years it was just the two of us, before our sons came. And now it's just the two of us again. The nest may be empty but it's rich with shared memories.

the something beautiful

2011-05-25T12:30:00.000-06:00

inside...

2011-05-22T06:54:00.000-06:00

Inside, something beautiful is growing.

the land

2011-05-19T19:54:00.000-06:00

To Abraham: "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever." Genesis 13:14-15

"Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you." Genesis 13:17

"I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Genesis 17:8

Confirmed to Isaac: "Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham." Genesis 26:3

Confirmed to Jacob: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants." Genesis 28:13

"The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you." Genesis 35:12

To the sons of Israel: "I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you a possession; I am the LORD." Exodus 6:8

cadence socks

2011-05-07T10:30:00.001-06:00

And the March 2011 Sock Knitter's Anonymous Mystery Socks have been given a name:

Cadence Socks, designed by verybusymonkey!

This pattern kept me on my toes from start to finish. The textured lace pattern danced back and forth through three charts (with a shift or two thrown in for good measure.)

It was a most satisfying knit.

The Plucky Knitter Primo MCN 75/20/5

"The Hills Are Alive" colorway

373 yards/women's medium

US 1-1/2 dpn's (2.5mm)

socks #69

for susie g.

Three more weeks of school. My planner is full. There will be little time for knitting, spinning or blogging. But I'll return on the other side of it all <3

glog ~ may 5th 2011

2011-05-05T07:40:00.000-06:00

We continue to awaken to a dusting of frost on the plants in the garden. Taken this morning about 7 am ...

down to earth

2011-05-02T05:00:00.004-06:00

Down to Earth is the name of the colorway for the Allspunup spin-along offering for may/june 2011. The fiber is 80% merino / 20% silk. I took a break from my long-term Fraises project to spin this worsted weight.

4 ounces; 185 yards; 2-ply

Wanna hear something not-so-funny? All of this spinning seems to be aggravating arthritis creeping into my toes! Hopefully a bit of a break from treadling will calm the curling. Toe spasms. Who knew.

spring snow crabapple

2011-04-29T13:15:00.000-06:00

The "spring snow" crabapple tree blossoms looked especially beautiful against the bright blue Colorado sky this morning.

Such cheerful blooms!

This tree is centered on the little patch we call our "front yard." It shades the house from the afternoon sun all summmer long. Songbirds often nest within its branches.

And this year we'll be enjoying our newly paved street, along with the new sidewalks and curbs put down last Fall. (An entire neighborhood perk due to living across the street from a squeaky wheel.)

works in progress

2011-04-27T13:18:00.000-06:00

I mean, aren't we all just that, after all?!?

Here are a pair of socks I've been knitting on. They were designed by Very Busy Monkey on ravelry. The pattern (ska march 2011 mystery) is a free download. It was originally a mystery knit-along. The clues were released one at a time. The picture above shows the first two clues completed. In clue three, there will be a change in the pattern between the left/right sock to create an overall symmetrical design. I've enjoyed following the instructions and charts. Very clear and interesting.

I've also enjoyed knitting (for the first time) with this yarn. It's The Plucky Knitter's Primo. This is another wonderful yarn base with excellent twist for stitch definition on lace patterns. It's so great when a good base and quality handpainting come together. It's one of Sarah's Classics, all of which have movie themes. This colorway is called "The Hills Are Alive," based on Maria's hill in the opening scene from The Sound of Music. Her next Classic (which will be shipped later this week) is from the recent film, Jane Eyre.

Work front: Four weeks from tomorrow is my last day of work. Counting down.

Plans: I attended the intro class for next Fall's BSF. We'll be studying the book of Acts. It felt so good being free to sign up to volunteer where needed.

More Plans: We have our plane tickets to visit family on the east coast and in the southwest in the months ahead.

The changes continue.

fraises

2011-04-25T18:29:00.001-06:00

Fraises (French for strawberries) is the colorway of some roving I purchased awhile back from Squoosh Fiberarts. The fiber content is 65% merino and 35% silk. Two braids.

I started spinning this fiber a few weeks ago. The silk fibers add strength for slender singles. "The plan" is to 3 ply it into a fingering weight yarn. 8 ounces should produce significant yardage ... a shawl perhaps? It will take quite sometime to spin through all that fiber.

And speaking of fruit, today I harvested our first rhubarb. I love the color and flavor of early spring rhubarb. Most recipes call for large amounts of processed sugar to counteract the tartness of the rhubarb. Strawberries (English for fraises) are a great addition to rhubarb recipes.

This year I experimented with sweetening options for a dessert sauce.

5 cups rhubarb

5 cups sliced strawberries

2 cups pineapple chunks in pineapple juice

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup sugar

2 T cornstarch

I mixed all the ingredients in a large sauce pan, brought mixture to a boil over medium heat and simmered on the stovetop, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. The rhubarb still packs a punch but we're pretty pleased with the outcome.

(Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable?)

John Mark McMillan | How He Loves: A Story

2011-04-22T15:31:00.000-06:00

glog ~ april 14th 2011

2011-04-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

We've had almost three weeks of growth since my last glog entry. The dicentra is filling out and greening up. It's been gently snowing since early this morning. The ground is so fresh with the cool moisture. I look forward to taking Rocky Mountain springtime snow pictures each year...

Poppies popping through the snow...

... and MPJ (muddy-pawed Jack) is still searching for the peanuts those squirrels buried in the garden last Fall. Why oh why does our neighbor feed squirrels?!!!

Looks to be a nice cluster of rhubarb again this year.

color

2011-04-08T14:47:00.000-06:00

I photographed the Alma Ella Shawl that my BKFF Shannon knit and couldn't help but notice just how colorful my recent pictures have been. Top ~ the "orange assassin bug" colorway and below a daffodil freshly picked from our garden.

irish kate

2011-04-04T17:01:00.003-06:00

I stopped by My Sister Knits for some needles last Thursday afternoon and saw a sample of the smaller-sized Kate Shawl spread out on the table. The active texture and startling lace changes made it a real eye-catcher!

I came back home and researched the pattern on Ravelry. I've learned (the hard way) that it's important to read available knitter's notes and check out pictures on their project pages before commiting to buying a pattern. What fun to find out that this is an interpretive design based on the character "Katherina" in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Designer: Kristi Schueler. I liked everything I read and saw.

I knit the smaller-sized version with Pagewood Farm Glacier Bay (100% merino fingering); 3ply/extreme twist makes it their "baddest"; (Ireland colorway); knit on US#7 circulars; 364 yards. (That last sentence was carefully constructed just for you, Sander!)

So I cast on Thursday afternoon and had the shawl blocking by Sunday afternoon. Like a good book, I just couldn't put it down. The charts jumped from one fun lace section to another. The outer edge is knit sideways, attaching to the body every other row by ssk.

Meanwhile, the Orange Assassin Bug Skinny Bugga! arrived today and is it o r a n g e !!!

knitted me together

2011-04-01T13:02:00.000-06:00

Two of our teachers are expecting their babies within the next few weeks. We're giving them a combined baby shower after school today!

The little toothpick knitting swatches decorated the envelopes nicely. Ribbons are discretely covering names for the pictures :)

Handwritten inside each gift card:

"For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)

don't it make my brown socks blue

2011-03-31T19:54:00.000-06:00

As I'm wont to do, I knit up KaLyn's socks two at a time off opposite ends of the skein. It's a relaxed way to match up the socks without taking detailed notes. Ribbing/ribbing, leg/leg, heel flap/heel flap, heel turn/heel turn. You get the idea.

Well, I was pretty surprised when one finished sock favored the brown hues in the colorway and the other the blue. Kept humming that old Crystal Gayle song while clicking pictures.

This was my first project with Bugga! sock yarn. I'm thinking the color variation was an oddity. I picked the skein up through a ravelry destash. Maybe it was a "second." Who knows.

Anyway, knitting with this merino/cashmere/nylon was fabulous. They are correct in advertising that the fabric is unbelievably soft. I went to the website and ordered some Skinny Bugga! in a couple of subtle colorways ~ Orange Assassin Bug (apparently this color can be seen when looking down on the earth from the moon) and Purple Spotted Swallowtail.

KayLyn's socks were knit in the "peacock long-tailed skipper" colorway. #0 (2.0mm) dpn's made a dense, durable fabric. Ann Budd's basic sock pattern ~ socks #68.

adding up

2011-03-29T07:45:00.000-06:00

1 school district
19 years

3 buildings

5 principals

6 classrooms (and a closet)

4 phonics systems
hundreds of students
thousands of books

9 weeks left

1 knitting group; they said I can still join them next year :)

glog ~ march 27th 2011

2011-03-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

Over the years I've journaled about my garden. I've made calendar notations about it. Written in the margins and left sticky notes throughout my copies of Crockett's Victory Garden, Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials, and Taylor's Guide to Herbs. Put together a small scrapbook for our perennial garden's first year.

This year I thought I'd glog about it from time to time (garden + blog = glog.) Pictures from this morning of emerging plants:

rhubarb

delphinium

dicentra

Activity:

Raked up around the herbs, perennials and shrubs.
Pulled out the remains of last year's tomato stalks and cucumber vines.
Burned off the area that was Sander's seeds (wildflowers.) Some goatheads crept in last year and this seemed the best way to rid the garden of their noxiousness. Sadly, at the expense of Sander's seeds.
Ammended soil and did some preliminary tilling in the wildflower area above. Need to decide what to do with this area.
Watered (so dry this year!)

this morning's compost run

'tis so sweet

2011-03-19T12:48:00.000-06:00

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know "Thus saith the Lord."

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee;

Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

Amen!