smatterings

last week

Sometime last week, I finished Pompa.  The days of last week are blurred, melted together to be remembered as a week with family, doing things mostly together.  My niece, now a tall and slender 13 year old (need I say more) pleasantly surprised me by getting out of the car after a 12 hour drive, heading for the pond to check out, and catch frogs.  Whew!!  Maturity (??) had not dulled her skill and soon she had one in each hand.  I was SO afraid those days of kids in the pond were gone.  Almost.  Just not this year.  Though they knew that we don't have cell service, that was still the biggest disappointment.  I saw the two of them carrying their phones to assorted high up places in hope of catching that stray signal.  Trips out, away from this side of the kingdom were as much a time to upload all of the waiting messages and emails as adventures.  We managed to fit in two bike rides, one on the bike paths at Stowe, and another day spent on the trail that hugs Lake Champlain in Burlington.  There should be pictures, but.. I was too busy.  We ate.  My BIL made pies. And fudge.  Chris made pizza on the grill. Three pounds of dough makes a lot of pizza.  Yumm.. He's a master at it.

My nephew surprised me.  He's a new knitter.  By the time he left (with a small stash of his own), he was doing short rows, purl stitch, long tail cast on, and k2tog. along with the garter stitch he arrived with.  It was amazing to see how quickly he picked up the new skills.  Faster than I remembered.  We knit on the deck, on the raft, and while watching movies at night.  He's working on head wear to hold back his dreads.  New design ideas are already dancing around in his head.  A circular needle went along with him to try on the trip home.  It was fun.  In between, I worked on finishing Pompa.

 

That head belongs to Sam, always ready to help.

Pompa held my interest all the way through.  I love the zig zag patterning.  I decided to knit it as long as the skein of yarn allowed.  It blocked at nearly six feet.  

 

• Pattern: Pompa by Anne Hanson

• Yarn: Ball and Skein Elise
           50% merino / 50% silk
           375 yards  

• Needles: KnitPicks Harmony #5

..and friends they may thinks it's a movement *

First off, don't worry.  I know that some of you are particularly fond of the llama / sheep banner.  It usually makes it back to the blog each winter and winter always comes around.  For now, I need a change.  Before the summer's out, it will probably change again. 

That little plan of Carole's worked out pretty well yesterday.  Funny thing how 10 minutes became an hour, then more than an hour.  The ice tea disappeared and was replaced with something more interesting.  The little sweater now has two sleeves and all the ends tucked in.  And the spindle, well... another cop is as full as I want it to be.  I'll start spinning the second one today.  All three points from yesterday's post were covered.  It isn't often that things work so well.  I think I'll try it again today.  Maybe it can become a habit, or.. if a lot of you join in.. a movement.

*from Alice's Restaurant, by Arlo Guthrie

Stick a fork in it.

For now, until spring when I can do the perimeter plantings, this is a finished project. 

OK, and a balsam wreath for the holidays.  Soon.

I think it blends right in.  You have to pay attention to see where the new meets the old.  I'm pleased. See the little bump out?  That's where the water barrels are.  Couldn't give those up. I bet you think it looks pretty big, huh?  We've been working hard putting things away for the winter.  FULL!

project catch up

As I wound my Midwest Moonlight silk scarf around my neck this morning, it occurred to me that I hadn't posted a finished shot of it.  I love it.  It's very wearable,  comfortable too.  100% silk, hand dyed.

I finished spinning the Icelandic and silk I bought at the Vermont Sheep & Wool this year.  I thought I was spinning it pretty fine, turns out, not quite so.  It is nearly 200 yds.  That makes it almost 100 yds./ oz.  What can I do with just shy of 200 yds. ?  Remember, it is Icelandic.  I think I may have to get a bit more.

Finally, here is the beginning of my first hooked something or other (probably a pillow top) out of my handspun  and hand dyed Lincoln.

Now, out to pull up and stake an apple tree that has blown over.  Wish it luck.