Sunday, November 20, 2011

SNUGGLEUPAGUS




Summer is now long gone and I'm stoking the wood burning stove daily while eyeballing my skis and snowshoes hoping to use them soon. All the furbots have their favorite snuggle down places which include any linen closet left open and piling onto their humans for warmth.





It has been an exceptionally pretty Fall with Grass Valley and Nevada City displaying some lovely tree colors. The garden at Chez Earin's isn't doing too badly either.






The last of the apples were turned into sauce. Not a lot but very tasty. Mostly Spitzenbergs and Fuji's from the garden and a couple of elderly store bought apples found in the back of the veg bin.


CRAFTY


My vine leaf vest has been moving along. I have hit a roadblock though. I tend to knit loose, floppy, and all together wobbly neckbands. Not this time. After a bit of trying to decide if I could live with this as a design feature I frogged. Try and try again.






There was a new book purchase. Out of print, back in print. Snapped up. I am itching to do Fair Isle (I'm insane).


SEWING



I had about 95% of this done then went on a walkabout with other projects for about a month. It fits like a dream and my only complaint is that it's a total fur magnet and as you know 5 cats/1 dog = a whole lot of FUR.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAIL!





My first attempt at making a reversible apron for my friend Gail's birthday. She's very petite so I fitted my go to butcher pattern to her so she wouldn't have a pocket at her knees. I am rather pleased with how it turned out. I even made notes to myself for possible repeat sewing events. I feel very clever.




I had company while I sewed and snapped photos.



EXERCISE





I am giving the barefoot/minimal shoe craze a try out. Trying to get more exercise and all that important and good stuff. I used to run. Really. I did. A lot. Lately I've been having trouble with my feet so I started looking for options. So far? I rather like them though they are a bit on the cold side. They look very odd but are amazingly comfortable. So far I'm mostly running back and forth across the softball fields at the local part with Omar (illegal but what the heck, cover me with pepper spray and haul me off - we're having a great time).

Friday, November 04, 2011

FROSTY NIGHTS

Tonight should bring the first frost of the season. It's a little early but nowadays it seems like anything to do with the weather is odd.




The every way wrap is done and has already been put into use. It's cold in the morning!




I am very pleased with the final result. I'm not sure I'll really use the button part but who knows. The Malabrigo worsted is a lovely yarn, light and firm. I had expected it to pill but it hasn't so far. The wrap has developed a sheen of fibers, hopefully not enough to make the cables fuzzy. I like the cables a lot. Coupled with the seed stitch it's texturally very lovely. I ended up with a little over a skein leftover. When I can stand to work with green yarn again I hope to make a hat.


NEXT UP








I really did mean to pick up the next UFO in my basket. I even made a list of various sweaters and vests patterns that I would love to make but I found that I desperately wanted to cast on a second vine leaf vest. I love the first one so much but it's pink which, well, doesn't really go with everything. I'm using Madelinetosh DK in "Graphite". So far, total love.




I haven't been sewing much because I've been busy in the garden but I feel the lure of my fabric and patterns. I fell in love with this lovely pattern for simple boots. I think my feets will be warm this winter.


TRIPPING





I headed down to the San Francisco area for some culture and girlfriend time with Kate. Earlier in the summer I had made some sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead. We cut open some garbage bags for protection, mixed up some Royal Frosting, and turned ourselves into second graders again. Messy! Colorful! Total Fun! I am sure we will do this again next year. And you know, it's a lot harder to do the decorations than you think.



It was actually hot in San Francisco. A nice view from the front lawn of the Legion of Honor.



THE GARDEN



There has been a lot of digging at Chez Earin's. Around here that means a pick axe, a pry bar, a great deal of muscle, and a good collection of swear words. It's dig this up and move it over there. Repeat. Be happy! Flourish why don't you? I am tired. I am ready for indoor things.


A new addition, a purple coneflower (Rudbeckia purpurea). Wish it luck.





Alice (a hydrangea) is wearing her fall colors. Alice is a trooper and has never failed me.









There are only a few flowers still blooming in the garden - a few roses and marigolds, some geraniums and penstemons. What are really in their prime are the chrysanthemums.







CATS



With the dropping temperatures the cats are floofing out. Tails are getting thick and magnificent. Olive is hard pressed to find anything smaller than her to torture but lately she's taken to bringing in preying mantis. With the colder days and nights they have slowed down and soon will die. For now though, I'm sure they wish Olive would just leave them alone.

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