Sunday, February 20, 2011

SPRING!

Okay, not quite but there are definite signs. After a lovely period of balmy weather we dropped into rainy and cold literally overnight. The rain turned to hail and then a little snow. This morning it was 30F and frosty.




By mid morning it was delightful and sunny. Perfect for napping.





It turns out that the cat bed on the kitchen counter is prime real estate. There are various cat beds around the living room but this one is The Bed to Be In.

Yes, we "let" our cats up on the counters. After getting three kittens we realized that unless we wanted to live in a state of constant battle we were going to have to just let the cats go where they like.

No, I don't want to have my photograph taken and if you lunge for my pizza Things Will Get Ugly.




Kate came to visit and a very good time was had by all. We went to two yarn stores and Ben Franklin's which has a pretty good selection. Not really yarn brands that I use but not bad.

We are both enthusiasts of historical cemeteries so we hit the highway. Actually, it was a lot of dirt roads out in the boonies. Hubby did some searching of locations and drove us around. Yea hubby! Omar rode shotgun and kept us safe from maurading squirrels and various noises that spooked him.



That's a dead buttefly caught under the hammer. (Kate says the butterfly was alive. Sorry guy!)


Although I always enjoy the unusual when it comes to gravestone symbolism my heart is always touched by graves that reflect what the person really liked in everyday life. No, this one isn't particularly historical. Many of the cemeteries are still accepting the dead. When this one finally qualifies as "historical" not much will be left but the headstone. I haven't decided between a green burial (if only I could be buried on the property) or creamation. Lost at sea has its charms too but I think that involves drowning which is not the way I want to go.
Photos by Kate

DAMAGED GOODS



Most of my hand knit socks, despite being knit with superwash wool, end up felting to a degree. Okay, I should do them on a delicate cycle but I really never have enough to do anything but a tiny load (three pairs of socks?). I do air dry them but still, they fade, they get thicker. On the bright side, that makes them perfect for boots and I wear my hiking boots A.Lot. I have now worn holes in two pair. I have a bit of leftover yarn so out with my darning needle!

I am close to finishing my latest shell and dang, it looks to be Very Large. Must think on this. While thinking I went back to the uneven cable vest and am now ready to try binding off the two fronts again. I ended up with extra stitches so I need to figure out what gives. I love the pattern but frankly, I find parts of the directions downright confusion. I guess when I buy a pattern I really want things described step by step. The two shells and the vest both seem to be missing important pieces of information. You can work it out or just assume and knit. It's annoying though to knit for hours only to find your assumption was just a little off.

Friday, February 04, 2011

MOVING AWAY

...slowly from the world of rampant and randy mosses we return to the world of crafting.

I've been a busy girl.

I finished my arrowhead lace shell. I love it.



At first I wasn't quite sure about the hem but once it was folded up and stitched in place I could see that it was Very Cool. I split the CotLin in half for the seaming.





I liked it so much that I decided to continue on with another version that I had on my needles. I'm now on the lace section. I'm using Blue Sky Alpaca's organic worsted cotton in a very pretty light green (color 602). I wasn't sure the heavier yarn lent itself to the hem so I just cast on and knit. I'm going to go back and pick up stitches and either do ribbing or...well, something. As it is, it curls.



Being committed to finishing up my UFO's I cast on yet another shell from the twinset book. I tried using some discontinued Linen Isle from my stash but it wasn't quite right. I'm now trying some discontinued Rowan California Cotton and liking it a lot.


IN THE WORLD OF SEWING



I made two more pair of flannel pj's using leftover flannel for the trim. I think I'll stop now.


AROUND TOWN

A girlfriend who lives in Auburn asked if we could go exploring in Grass Valley so we did.



One of the stores that sell collectibles had these very wonderful bobbins. I have no idea what kind of sewing machine they might have been used on. I bet The Enabler knows.
On our way back to the car we passed a crowd of people admiring some wild birds so we paused to admire them too.

A Great Horned Owl missing an eye. He was gorgeous.


A red tailed hawk.



...and a tiny by comparison American Kestrel. They were very calm (probably not their first appearance in public while fundrasing) but keeping an eye on everything going on around them.
Have a good weekend. Stay warm. We continue with our lovely, almost spring-like weather. We make up for the lack of snow by having earthquakes. Would you care to trade? I thought not.








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