Signs of Spring

There are signs of Spring at last. Eggs for sale on little stools in front of farm houses. Farm fresh butter in the store. You can't really see it in the picture, but the butter was stamped with little pictures of sheaves of wheat. I must get back into the baking mode and have a fresh loaf of bread to go with all this springy goodness!

Do You Do This?

Do you do this? Bring projects along with you even when you know you will have no opportunity to do any knitting at all? Not even a stitch? I am the master of this. I bring along notebooks and graph paper, a project or two, and lately a camera. I have been known to lug around several bags full of "might needs". Heavy bags. You'd think I was on a styling job to see me. Juggling take-out tea, cursing while the bags slip from my shoulder. But leave them at home? Never. They are a little security in a hectic world...One glance at that future tam, or cheerful striped sock and I feel...safe...! Is that crazy? It really does make me feel safe.

Gray Day

Crazy? Did I say things were a little crazy around here? I have nothing to show for it. No sweet stories to share. Maybe a list will do... In no particular order.

1. It was stunningly sunny.

2. Now it is misty gray again.

3. My son grew 4 inches and is now taller than me.

4. He is so tan he's as dark as mahogany...or burnt sienna...too bad that was last weeks color in A Year of Color.

5. I have been learning a new job and it is more information than I have ever received from all previous jobs way back to working in a Cheese Shop when I was 18...more information than all previous jobs...combined...

6. I miss my mother so much I can't stand it.

7. My mother lives 3,000 miles away.

8. I don't know when Easter is.

9. Writing that made me want to squeeze a peep.

10.I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Sunny Day! Yippee!

No need for a wood fire! Hip hip Hooray!
Ok...so I was indoors, in class, in a darkened computer room. Lost and confused...but not alone in my confusion!
We knew the sun was shining and it made all the difference!
Nothing at all planned for tomorrow but maybe a little knitting, and cooking and picture-taking! At long last...Yippee!
And... double plus fun...Nick is home!

Tea Cup Candle

When things go a little cuckoo, it often helps to just slow down, if only for a moment, and focus on the light. Taking something old and making it new is another trick to rejuvenation. I took a lonely surviver of a house fire and made it a powerful container of flames! No longer alone and neglected on the shelf , it is now the revered keeper of light.
Reading one of my favorite blogs, The Scent of Water, I found Megan had the idea of a Tea Cup Candle, if in a different form and for different reasons. Still, connections exist and give me comfort. So give her a visit, you'll be glad you did!

Color Card Joy

Don't you just love color cards? I was lucky enough to borrow this one for a few days...Allowed to select a few colors for an upcoming project...How do you choose which to use? This time I just went with impulse, I picked a bunch of blues, and then some pale almost invisible hues, and then some jolts of red and rose....but then I drifted towards the most luscious caramel colors, and one must always include some natural sheep colors...I ended up asking for the whole spectrum if possible. My fingers are crossed!
The yarn is Rauma Finullgarn which surprisingly, is Norwegian. A 2-ply wool classed as a weaving yarn. It seems to be a weight similar to my beloved Shetland jumper-weight. You can order it here.

Odessa Crown

I thought I would show you the top of Odessa, isn't she pretty? You can see the green balloon peeking through too.

Happy Future Hat

I need to knit a soft hat in a hurry. A dear beloved friend will soon be facing the world sans hair. I turned to magknits February 'O6 and the talented Grumperina for the genius "Odessa". Not only a clever pattern but the name reminds me of comfort, wondrous "babka french toast" from Odessa in the East Village. So with memories of happy times and strength for the future, I'm making it quick in Bam Boo, by Classic Elite. A lovely and soft yarn made from, you guessed it, bamboo, It does split a bit, but no too much to bug me much, so what if it's a little imperfect, so is life.

LATER.. blogger and Fairpoint New England have conspired to make posting anything, especially pictures, nearly impossible. So I've finished and blocked the hat with my favorite hat -blocking method...over a BALLOON! Let's see if the pictures will post...

Lucky Find

During a particularly crazed and confusing week came this vision of calm beauty...I'm lucky.

Dr. Seuss Socks

At long last some mindless fun! And for you dear readers,some knitting content. Keeping with the colors of Project Spectrum, I chose colors to match one of my favorites, The Dr.Seuss Sleep Book. Sadly my childhood copy burned up with everything else, but it is etched in my mind and I begin yawning just thinking of it! My yarn choice, which reflects the final pages, is the pleasing Lang sock yarn that has the little spools of heel&toe yarn stuffed inside, like the prize in crackerjacks. I love the turquoise and slate gray in odd combination. I cast on 56 sts on size 2 needles since I have such skinny ankles. I usually knit both socks at the same time because I hate making the 2nd one of anything...but I can't even find a whole set of matching #2's let alone 2 sets.

Corner of My Home

I have been surprised at how much I have been enjoying photography. I am constantly inspired by photographs on the blogs I visit, mostly the simple everyday shots. My favorites are often labeled "corners of my home" a flickr group started by the amazing Soule Mama. As you know, I started all my picture taking with happythings group A Year of Color. Well Ms. Happythings mentioned another group. DPBlogs 30 day photo challenge....did I dare? the fine quality of the participants work intimidated me. I'm used to doing the styling not the snapping....Anyway, while in the shower today I was inspired by our own macabre little vignette we currently have on our shower-shelf. I love my picture! I'm going for the 30 day challenge...and joining corners of my home! Ta da!

Look Ma! I'm in a Calendar

Who knew? Certainly not me. The 2007 Stitch &Bitch Daily Calendar. It would have been nice to know about it in advance; it sure would have made Christmas shopping easy. But now my day is gone, in many wastebaskets across the country, up in smoke or already in the landfill.... Judy of Ohio found me by just my odd name and town and state; and asked what color yarn I'd used . I had no clue! Still don't! She kindly sent me this scan after I emailed her to find out the details, since S&B didn't respond! I'm lucky for my kooky name, and for living in a small town or I might never have known.

Fear no More

A sight like this once struck fear in my heart. Just a glance would cause paralysis. Icy dread. Moaning and thrashing, please, please, not weaving in ends.
Now I don't care any more. Oh...those ends?... Yeah?...so what.... I accept that it requires a special time just for them. I don't even really think of it as part of a project...They are separate...something altogether different from knitting. Turn on the radio, pop in a book on tape or listen to a podcast, and give yourself over to a "special day" or at least few hours (its always longer than you imagine) devoted to those rascally bits of yarn.

Birthday Bizzard

We had another spectacular blizzard yesterday! I was lucky enough to be able to stay home and enjoy it in warm cozy comfort, knitting by the wood stove.
My thoughts were with Sophie on her birthday. We celebrated with a tiny chocolate cake with sprinkles.
Happy Birthday Dear One!

Sea Green * Little Arrowhead Lace

I love this simple sea green ( in real life) scarf. The yarn is a gossamer Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester. I only used a little of the 1000 yard skein, not even a third, I could have knit for miles! The scarf is as light as a feather, with subtle variation in color. I am unable to post the complete pattern just yet, due to bad blogger ju-ju. I'll give you the stitch pattern how about?

Little Arrowhead Lace: (worked over 7 sts)
Row 1:(RS) K1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.
Rows 2 and 4:(WS) Purl.
Row 3: K2, yo, sl 2 kwise, k1, pass 2 slipped sts over,yo, k2.
Repeat Rows 1–4 for pattern.

Its fast and fun to work. Have at it!

Update! In town, so here's the pattern:


Little Arrowhead Lace Scarf:
Finished Size10" wide and 51" long, after blocking.
Yarn:Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester 2-Ply (100% wool; 1000 yd [912 m]/250 g): aqua, 1 hank.
NeedlesSize: 7 (4.5 mm). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Notions:Tapestry needle.
Gauge: 21 sts and 28 rows = 4" in lace and St st patt for center of scarf, after blocking. Exact gauge is not critical but will affect overall scarf dimensions.


Note Slip first stitch of every row as if to purl.

Scarf: Loosely CO 59 sts. Rib Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end of row. Rib
Row 2:(WS) Sl 1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end of row. Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 1" from CO, ending with aWSrow.
Work lace and St st patt as foll:
Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, p1, *work Row 1 of little arrowhead lace (see above) over 7 sts, p1, k3, p1; rep from * 2 more times, work Row 1 of little arrowhead lace over 7sts, [p1, k1] 4 times.
Rows 2 and 4:(WS) Sl 1, [k1, p1] 3 times, k1, purl to last 8 sts, [k1, p1] 4 times. Row 3:Sl 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, p1, *work Row 3 of little arrowhead lace over 7 sts, p1, k3, p1; rep from * 2 more times, work Row 3 of little arrowhead lace over 7 sts, [p1, k1] 4 times.
Rep Rows 1–4 until piece measures 50" from CO, or 1" less than desired total length, ending with Row 4 of patt.
Rep Rib Rows 1 and 2 for 1", ending with a WS row. BO all sts loosely in rib patt.

Finishing: With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, weave in all loose ends. Block to measurements.