struggles

This hasn't been an easy trip. The other day I walked down the road where Serena lives. I love to do that, there is always something new to see and sometimes it helps me gain perspective. It had already snowed once while I was here, and the ground looked pretty desolate up at this desolation. Yet I saw these bright yellow flowers blooming despite the chill.

If you look closely, there are tiny white flowers in this picture. Despite all of the odds against it, they are still blooming where they are.




And of course, my favorite scene while I am here, trees growing out of rocks. If I had gotten any further back to get the whole tree, I would have dropped off the side of the road and slid down uncomfortably! But this tree has certainly endured a lot to continue to grow where it happened to be.


Smaller trees growing despite all logic. They found just enough to start growing and have continued to grow.

One of Tamora Pierce's books calls trees "Rock Breakers." To grow, they force the rock apart. Takes a lot of steady pressure to do that!

Storm coming in

Pictures taken from Serena's deck as we watched the snow storm come rolling in. Actually, it started with her wistful comment that it was too bad we coudn't capture the contrasts and light. I wasn't able to completely capture it, but you get the idea. Snow off and on most of the day yesterday (seemed more on than off!) and got up today to the winter joy of snow that had melted on the car, then frozen as more snow had fallen on it.

long time no post

I headed out to Colorado to visit my parents and DD. Dad became sick the day after I got here, and I've been on a run. Mom is now sick as well, so life is doubly exciting. :(

I've extended my stay for a week, instead of flying home this morning I plan to fly home next Tuesday.

Did enjoy a meeting with the Evergreen Yarn Floozies last Thursday, I hope to meet up with them again this week, but there are no guarantees.

My Rogue is almost finished, I need to wash and block it then sew in the ends. Pictures soon, I promise! I'm in the process of starting Serena's out of New Zealand possum/wool. Yummy stuff in the hand!

Friday Mom fell in love with a sweater at Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins in Boulder. I'm going to try to deconstruct it, as the sweater is part of a class offered this fall at the store. I don't plan to be here for any of the 4 sessions, so couldn't sign up for it and get the pattern.

The leaves are falling in earnest up here. Interesting, because they were on glorious display when I arrived. There is a small grove of aspen someone has planted in their front yard, it was glorious the other evening with the light causing them to glow. Today they almost looked tawdry, as if they had dressed up in discarded garments. If that makes any sense.

Up here the angle of the sun affects appearances greatly. When the sun shines at certain angles, everything seems almost magical. But when the sun has gone down further, the same scene looks dull.

Rogue Delight

The Rogue is up to the underarms, and so are the arms. I'm changing it (I seem to have an inherent dislike for knitting exactly to pattern) to knit it as a raglan. I'd seriously considered making a second one for me out of New Zealand possum yarn (an introduced pest that is damaging ecosystems). But I was checking my blog for information I posted quite a while back, and found a sweater that I'd meant to knit then but forgot about. I think it will be the next one in the queue for me. I pulled out the pattern book too, while I was at it, which makes it harder to forget.

I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but I'm having trouble knitting for Grandtad because I want to knit things that will be worn. I believe I'll be knitting a lot more baby things just as soon as I know what Grandtad's sex.

Pre-conceptions

I've thought about making a Rogue for several years now. As you can see, I finally started one for me. I really like how this is knitting up.

Serena brought yarn back from Ireland for me. It is Tivoli Aran. When she brought it back, I tried to look it up on the web to find the information that is usually on the ball band, but is missing in this case. The only yarn I could find from them was superwash. So, I automatically assumed that it was superwash. Sad but true. You know what happens when you assume.

I have noticed that this yarn is a bit rough for superwash. And it has a sheepy smell. Which is also not a trait of superwash. Last night I looked again at the ball band. It indicates the yarn needs to be hand washed. Well there went the superwash theory! I am so glad that I'm using this for something for me, as opposed for something for the grand-tad!

Pleasures

After being without a printer for several months, it is a joy to have one again. My other printer works, it just won't work with Vista. Which is a tiny problem, as my new computer has Vista... So, we bought a new printer. What a pleasure to just print something, instead of asking someone else to do it.

Today I decided to start a sweater. Hey, I was almost out of knitting and I need a project for next week while I fly. So, I pulled up the sweater pattern. Looked at it several times. I finally printed it off. Now I can just look at the paper pattern instead of trying to find my place in the middle of the PDF. Such a pleasure.

And the yarn. Yum. Slightly sheepy smelling Aran yarn that Serena brought back from Ireland. This is a pleasure to knit!

Knitting what?

Last night I was listening to Harry Potter 7 and spinning along. After a while I decided to take a break from spinning and start knitting. There was a small problem. I didn't have anything on the needles! I have a gauge swatch on one set of needles, but that pattern will have to be re-figured to go with the gauge I'm actually getting.

Later I realized that I do have one other thing on the needles, an angora shawl that has made it to the half-way point. But I do not have any other projects "in process." Something is definitely wrong! I guess I've gone far away from the multiple WIP person I used to be!

But last night, when I wanted to sit back and just knit, it felt almost as if it were an emergency! LOL

Do not cut the tip of the finger when cutting other stuff. Just don't. Maybe it is a good thing I didn't find any knitting projects, as the index finger on the left hand has a band-aid on it! Spinning isn't a problem, but since I knit mainly by feel... typing is difficult -- I don't seem to be hitting the keys clearly.

Spinning

Today I've spent spinning. It was FUN! I had to figure out a new Lazy Kate, it took a bit, but I managed to spin up all of one fiber that I'd prepped up. I decided to put the rest of the Cormo aside until later, and am spinning up bits of this and that which I had on hand. Clearing up the fier stash! Whee!

I do have to admit an embarrassing mistake. I washed some gorgeous yarn that my knit buddy had spun up. (She told me it needed to be washed.) I rinsed and rinsed. Suddenly realized that this yarn has firestar. Well duh! Those weren't bits of bubbles from the soap I used, it was the glitter added to the yarn! grin

knitting along

I believe the caption on this one should be, perhaps "living dangerously!" How long before it collapses without its internal support? I managed to finish the sweater before that happened, though.


This shows the new wheel and the 2 completed sweaters. I've done my best to fix the colors -- these aren't pastels but "IN YOUR FACE!" colors. Easy for Mom to see at a glance from across the play yard! And exactly as requested -- bright green and bright yellow. Well, who knows if it is exactly what the girls each had in mind, my idea of Lellow and Beth's might be different! Same with Sian's and green!

On an aside, why is it that I can clear the field of all obstructions when I get ready to take a shot, and then realize I've left SOMETHING in? Each individual picture of the sweaters has the toe of a shoe sticking in there somewhere! sigh

Whee!

I didn't think I would, but I finished Wallaby #3 today! It was a slog, as asthma kicked in again, and I had a rough time just knitting. But it is done! I plan to take an "artistic" shot tomorrow, showing the colors but not the way the 2 sweaters actually look, so there will be SOME surprise when they arrive!

I'd planned to spin today, but made the mistake of starting an 800+ page book that is an e-book. Ya know, that is NOT conducive to spinning! sigh The Woolie Winder arrived this week, so I want to try it out before I head out for Colorado again!

hm,

We were told that Dad would be leaving the nursing home Monday.

That all hell is going to break loose because there is no seeming suport in place for my dad or mom?

That the sweater for my adopted (I’m trying to come up with the correct term, I’ve accepted her them as grand-children by heart?) is moving along, perhaps to finish knitting tomorrow.

That life, even with its ups and downs continues.

That the Woolie Winder and bobbins for my FANTASTIC new spinning wheel arrived!

That my sister knew to call me and say “help, I need you to research this for Mom”. It took a while, but I was able to come up with answers. Perhaps not the answers either of us WANTED, but it gave us the honest answers we needed, as opposed to the answers we might have gotten otherwise.

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

Grins and Giggles

Pitti Filati This site just plain tickled my fancy! What imagination to present it this way! What a sensual delight! Don't you want one of each, almost? Okay, there are some that don't tantalize me, but overall...

I was told that the first sweater is appreciated because it is so soft. I figure that if a child loves the texture of a sweater, he/she will wear it more. All to the good! Now I need to find a source of that yarn here, instead of having to buy it on trips to Evergreen! Especially as there is never any guarantee that it will always be carried there! sigh One would think that Wal-Mart would be consistent in the yarns they carry, but no!

Thursday Delights

My 5 things for which I’m grateful today:
1. affirmation from friends. Amazing what a few simple sentences can do. Two letters, each bringing me to tears, affirming me.
2. my new spinning wheel—named Abner. Who knows why, but that is what it wants to be named!
3. my knitting groove is back - I’m on the third child’s sweater in just over a week. That is unusual, but the joy of knitting small things - they go so much faster.
4. incubating a new pattern idea—the yarn Serena brought back from Ireland wants to become something soon.
5. sourdough starter—the smell is so distinctive and seems redolent of creating.

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

Ramblings

Time is such a strange thing as it relates to projects. I think I started this sweater (child's) Saturday. Maybe Sunday. It is moving along fast. I know it is. Knit in one piece from the bottom up (okay, I knit the sleeves first, then attached them at the appropriate time). Here it is Tuesday morning, and I'm complaining to myself that it isn't done yet? What in the world? I was amazed when I realized how quickly Alyssa's sweater went together. I think the combination of worsted weight and knitting in the round makes the pattern whip along. There is also that possibility that I'm just sitting here and knitting, without doing much else while I'm knitting these! LOL

I'm at the neck. That and the hood are all that need to be done. Whee!

May you see progress in your life today!

One of Life's Little Mysteries

Remember how I've joked the last few days about not bringing along the size 6 circular to start Beth's sweater? I bought one Friday. Can I find it now? Not a chance. I've looked several times yesterday and today, but it has taken a powder. I am sure it will smugly appear soon, just as soon as I have the bottom ribbing finished on this. Or perhaps it will even wait long enough to be absent when I start the ribbing in Sian's. Who knows. But it is missing.

I heaved a massive sigh this mornng, and switched off the needles in my Options kit, so I'd have size 6s on, instead of the 8s for the body. I don't know why I hesitated to do it -- takes but moments and I love the needle tips. Once I'm past the ribbing, I'll continue to use one size 6 tip and one size 8 while I'm going round and round, so the stitches feed off the needles easier. Once I get to knitting back and forth I'll switch to 2 size 8 needles so I don't get a gauge issue.

May you find the things that are missing in YOUR life today!

My new Wheel!

Isn't it beautiful! I love it! We were having "discussions" today, as I wasn't getting the flyer firmly seated, and it would suddenly come flying out at me. Disconcerting, to say the least! But, Howard was able to get it to seat properly. I will keep practicing. I'm spinning Cormo, which isn't the most forgiving fiber I've spun. For the most part it is doing beautifully. I believe all bobbles are user error.

I can see that I will want to purchase a Woolie Winder for this. I'm biased, I loved it on the other wheel, and want it for this one. Other than that, it is perfect! I'm so looking forward to traveling with this.

Even if Mabel and Mary pointed out to me today that trying to spin with it in the car was not one of my wiser ideas. sniffle. That's all right, it will do really well in Colorado with me. I wonder if Tora-chan is still as hopelessly attracted to wool as she was when she lived with us?

C'est Fini!

Well, this one is done. It is in the washer as I type. I figure it is a throw in the wash, throw in the dryer type of sweater, might as well treat it that way from the start.

Not quite enough yarn to do a hood. Instead I did a shawl collar. I think it will be warm and comfortable. Isn't that what a child requires?

And another chuckle at my own expense -- I once again brought the yarn to start Beth's sweater, and once again forgot the needles.

Um, Possibilities

Isn't this a wonderful array of possibilities? I've been thinking in those terms ever since I walked in the fabric store while visiting Nathan and Kim. There were just so many things this wonderful collection could BECOME! It can be this or that or the other. It is up to me to choose wisely (fitting fabric to pattern correctly) and then sew well.

Some of the fabrics seemed to be really out of character for me. Yet they sang to me. They called to be brought home. And, as you can see, they did. They are all now washed, ready for me to make the final decisions. As the ad says, "Umm, ... possibilities!"

Speaking of possibilities, I really that one of the reasons I really don't knit with my handspun is again possibilities. As long as it hasn't been knit up, it remains in the realm of "possibilities." It could be A or B or C. All of it is up to me. BUT if I knit it up it is now fixed. It is no longer a maybe, and a dream.

Perhaps I need to learn to move on from dreaming

Whee!

I have a new spinning wheel! I am so thrilled! I'll show pictures tomorrow. Tonight, having spent 6+ hours in the car to pick it up, I am womanfully refraining from putting it together and spinning all night! LOL

I did however, get a lot knit in the car. The sweater is up to the neck. Somewhat miraculous, when you think about how a raglan sweater is knit in the round. Who was the wise person who realized that it could be knit that way?

That sweater has been a victim of my knitting mishaps. I read Geina's note as to her daughters sizes. I really did. Several times. Then proceeded to start knitting without looking at her note again. My memory is really "special" right now. Sian won't be able to fit into it for several years, at the rate she is growing. I am finishing this for someone else, and have bought new yarn for Sian's sweater. Disappointing, I was hoping for the same color, but I couldn't find it when I looked. She will be getting a GREEN sweater, just not the original shade planned.

As a testament to my organizational skills (grin) I brought along the yarn to start Beth's sweater today. Luckily I didn't finish with this one, because I forgot to bring along the needles to do the ribbing! I don't know what is going on with my thought processes, but I don't like it!

Musing

Many many years ago, I worked in San Francisco's Financial District. I worked with some extremely kind people who were gay or lesbian. The AIDS epidemic struck after Howard graduated. I wonder about my friends. I hope they are doing well. I regret that I didn't keep in contact with them, to know how they are doing. Every once in a while something will come up, and I wonder "How is J doing, or...?"

They were so kind to a young woman who was newly married to someone in full-time graduate studies and working part time to make ends meet. I rode the bus more than an hour each way to work -- there were times that Howard had left for his shift before I got home. There are lots of fun memories associated with them -- tea and lunches. I don't think I could ever be as sartorially correct as J who told me one time (with a twinkle in his eyes) that he never threw ANYTHING out in his wardrobe -- just put it by until the fashion cycle moved around again. The man looked as if he dressed from GQ daily -- he was ELEGANT! Even better, in my opinion, he was KIND!

Regrets are the pits.