Not Black

The beautifu silk and alpaca black lace is so hard to knit. Whine, whine. Today I went to the LYS and bought some Borroco NaturLin (40% Linen, 60%Rayon) to do a diagonal lace linen wrap from Churchmouse Yarns. I would have bought their Louet Euroflax if I hadn't been gobsmacked by all the choices in the shop. Check out their newsletter for the pattern.

This is in addition to the 241 stitches I cast on yesterday for the Summer Mystery Shawl. I was all gung ho to knit that along with the others as it was posted, but got caught up in some awful yarn. There is no room for awful yarn in my knitting world.

The stress has been rampant. The knitting is the retreat. Don't mess with my relaxation.

So the diagonal lace shawl will be my mindless knitting, along with the sock and the sweater (aka the big sock). The poor black shawl will take the brunt of the difficult knitting. I can only knit it in the daylight and the quiet (note to D: no mowing, note to the dog next door: no barking, note to the crows: stop cawing).

 I won't tell the first nations neighbours to stop drumming because it's beautiful, but I won't be able to knit the black.

An Even Bigger Weekend

It seems, lately, that each weekend is trying to out do it's past neighbour.

 This is our third wedding. My nephew married a girl from our youth group who is also a dairy farmer, so the guests were all familiar. The venue my brother in law's family ranch where he married my sister the week I graduated from high school. This week my daughter has her grad prom.

 The ranch is sold, so it was a bit sad to be around the familiar landscape. It's just past our camp. The rain held off and the sun came out a little.

 Everything was so beautiful and gracious. The couple we relaxed and I danced the night away with my kids and my sisters. We missed the family that couldn't be there.

 Such a luscious mixture of luxury and rustic. Relaxed elegance.

We stayed as late as my daughter would allow, dancing up a storm. I had just come off two night shifts, so the time didn't matter.
The next day was a grad presentation at church and then a wrap up BBQ at our place for a very long Bible Study D has led. Great people came over with yummy salads, but I had to leave in the middle to take Em to camp. She is there for the summer, but I'll see her tonight at the Board Dinner, on weekends when I pick her and her laundry up, and for a whole week when I'm the nurse.
There was a bit of knitting when I finally got the lace set up rows on my black silk alpaca Flaming Flowers Stole. It was beastly trying to find quiet day light to make it work and there was much tinking. I'm on my way  now, I hope, but every row is lace. The nephew sweater is now just a big sock that I can knit around and around, even in poorer basement TV light. Guess which one will get the love? I want to cast on one of Wendy's shawls to take to Kamloops, the Summer Mystery or the Japanese Garden, now that I have the yarn, but I'm afraid I will neglect the black shawl all together, like I did last summer. Maybe if I get enough done on it, I can do the long pink cast on.
This weekend is Canada Day, a possible yarn crawl to Three Bags Full, my sister's birthday, grad reunion, and then a trip to the ranch in Kamloops. Whooooee.
This week is pretty full with camp meetings, but no night shifts.

Yarn Crawl!!

My dear friend Liz and I took a trip to Bainbridge Island and Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. I met her in Bellingham and she drove her neat new Kia Soul to the ferry terminal in Seattle. We had lunch at Iver's Fish and Chips, a real Seattle moment.

The ferry trip was a lot like going to Saltspring Island, but not familiar. The ferry reminded me of the ones we travelled on from Manly to Sydney when we visited Australia. We gabbed and gabbed.

On the way home we took the ferry at the north end of the island to Everet. The ferry is only about 35 minutes. Next time we would probably walk on because the shop is only about a 10 minute walk from the pier.

We actually separately stated that we weren't looking for any yarn because we love our yarn and we have enough stash. You've probably heard that before. I found this sublime Sublime baby silk and bamboo dk. Yum. Shiny. I want to try the Japanese Garden Shawl and these reminded me of cherry blossoms: Sakura. I also got a cute zippered bag by rockflowerpaper at the shop next door.

Churchmouse was charming and filled with happy knitters. They publish patterns and all their personal stuff is so classy and clean with black and white and linen. I caved and bought their famous Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf pattern which was free when you bought the three random skeins of Koigu. I wanted a little yellow to pop through like in the photo. 

We had the best Earl Grey Tea, ever, at Black Bird Bakery and I bought some fabric at the amazing fabric store across the big dig that is their main street.

Never have my expectations of a destination shop been so greatly met. Part of it was the company (Rowan Felted Tweed in hand) and part of it was the calm and pretty atmosphere. They have needlepoint as well (I have two UFOs) and Bridgewater pottery which I have always loved, but can't afford. The staff were helpful and friendly.

Jared Flood was recently there and took their photos for their website and newsletter. In July they're having a big sale. Sivia Harding is teaching in August and I would just love to go back.

Today is my husband's birthday. He was away at a highland games this weekend (hence the opening in my schedule). We have BBQ  ribs and baked potatoes (man food) and  Emily is baking a cake! Happy Birthday D!

Another Year

I started publishing this blog in 2006. I wanted to join into the rich community that was on line knitting. And boy was I thrilled by the word 'publish'. Like Fibernymph, I consider myself a writer. It has been a few years since I've kept a proper journal. I don't know if this blog allows me to channel my writing, or keeps me from it, but I value the richness of conversation, the trends and ideas, the large fibery thing that I feel a part of. You are my tribe.

I walked the big black dog this evening and I could finally smell the corn and the little blackberry blossoms. there was cut grass, not quite hay, but sweet and entrancing any way.
I am wearing wool socks and a Malibrigo worsted Moody Kerchief. This is knitting weather. I am OK with moderate. I'm OK with rain, especially on sleep days after night shift.
Today my daughter had a new music lesson on Ryder Lake. We used to have property at the top of that mountain and I spent many long summer days riding horses on its winding narrow roads. How I would love to have a place up there to sit alone and think and write. I am overwhelmed with tasks for camp and the grad dinner, gardening and the poor messy house.
Perhaps this is the impetus to get back to my novel. You can start a plan any day.
In the last 5 years I have returned to nursing, taken up the ukelele and opened all manner of new doors. The knitters I know on line are always challenging themselves to explore new territory. The old maps used to say, "Beyond this there be dragons".
Well, let this be the year that I meet a few more dragons.

Dashing Along

 I finished the Swallowtail shawl in cotton. The nupps were the worst part, but easily handled with the crochet method I found on knitty.com. I have to get these pictures on my blog is I want to import them to the Knit Girllls Stash Dash forum. The goal is to knit 5 km this summer. Because I got to count the entrelac blanket, I have a chance of making it.

 The shawl was a bit crunchy after blocking, but it softened up with wear and is actually pretty warm. With 500 metres of cotton, you can get a lot of weight, but I find it comfortable. I like the big size, 61 x 33 inches.

 I'm exploring my old skill of crochet. I made a proposal to teach crochet at a local shop, but when the email didn't go through, I just hung on to it. Now I printed it out, but I forget where it is. I don't need to visit a wool shop this week. I 'm trying to use my stash this summer.
This hat, from the simple pattern, Remembering Gage, was quick and easy. The yarn was donated by someone at church and the hat will join the others in the spectrum for Help Mexico Project.

With alternating rows of different stitches, it has a pleasing texture. It would look better with stripes, but I am also following Needles In the Hay's project of knitting a different colour in the spectrum each month.
Because of the hockey game last night, I had a meeting postponed till tonight. That meant I was only double booked. I enjoyed visiting with my choir as a wrap up, and then toodled over to the high school to help make decorations for the grad dance. They were already done. I was so embarrassed.
My Dad used to call me "Blister" because I showed up when the work was finished.
I have another chance to help on Thursday.
There was way too much counting yesterday. I set up a new shawl in the black alpaca/silk from Palm Desert. It took a few tries to get used to the simple lace pattern in the Flaming Flowers Stole.
Then I set to adapting a dishcloth to an afghan square, but that's a surprise.
The rain has settled down a little, so I think I'll do the outdoor windows today. Then I can enjoy my wet garden from my knitting chair.
:

Weekend Fun

I am finally sitting down to catch up with you (all). This is my first spinning! It is 12 meters of Jacob/Cotswold from a 22 g sampler I bought at Twist of Fate when I bought my drop spindle (1n 2009, I think). Yay for first spinning. It plied up quite well, but isn't long enough to make anything of. I'll just admire it for now until it has some friends.

I made a new friend at World Wide Knit In Public day at our locally owned coffee house. Hi squelchbaker!! She actually found us on the web and is so cool I can't wait for her to see the podcasts and blogs I love. This is the coffee cup I knit for Decades coffee house to thank them. It has been decided that we will meet at this shop on Tuesdays in the future. Maybe every Tuesday, who knows? I am struggling with keeping in touch with the knitting circle as no one wants to check the Rav boards.

My baby bird has graduated. It was a lovely ceremony and the Canucks won the game. She is going on to music school to become a teacher. We took her and our niece to Wicked today to celebrate. I was a little tired after last night's Mozart concert, but we sang well and the orchestra was sublime. I wish I could have snuck a peak at our soprano soloist, but I had the little flower girl in hand and she grabbed my sock and learned to knit before I could stop her. So sweet in her purple dress with my 1.75 mm magic loop singing, "Under the fence, catch the sheep, back we come, off we leap". Lovely 8 year old.

Here is another shot at the Lady Emily with the fringe. I may enter it into the fair. We have been asked to  demonstrate knitting, which is a lot like knitting. I work the one day, but hope to set up the site and encourage the others.
I must get to blocking my Swallowtail Shawl. I had my druthers about the cotton, and bravely worked through the nupps (with a crochet hook), but I feared I would never finish it. Then I looked at the charts and realized 3B was just the other half of 3A and I'd already completed it by knitting in mirror image from the centre stitch. I even worked on it at KIP because I was on the last lace border. The sock was a good companion, too and came to the concert and played with me in the car to the show today. I'll get more pics when they are certified for the Knit Girllls Stash Dash, finished and blocked.
Tomorrow has cancelled meetings and events because of the play off game. I will meet with my choir friends and just get updates as to the score. I'm not sure how much more fun I can fit in.

With the Summer Sun

I'm listening to Mozart Piano Concertos and reading Proust this summer. I have planned to read the six volume "In Search of Lost Time" since I first came across it in Calgary in 1984. It was my first Folio purchase. I have a few books commenting about it, so I'm not alone.

Right away I feel it is very languorous and poetic. This may put me in the right frame of mind to enjoy a slower pace. I hope to read it at each "lunch hour". I try to take some time to sit and catch up in the middle of the day.
Without knitting, I would lose so many threads of thought. I need only take up the knitting and my mind will collect all sorts of important thoughts. The trick, according to David Allen of the Getting Things Done System is to capture the information. Find a tool that works, capture the information and set it going where it needs to go.

I finished the Lady Eleanor as a blanket (3.5 x 5 feet) and Emily and I have decided it needs its fringe. I have started cutting it, but it's cutting into my knitting time. That empty needle is one of my first Addi's given to me by my shepherd/artist sister. I've been knitting on this, off and on, since January 2010. It's 2,310 meters toward my Stash Dash (not counting fringe).
We had fun at the 12 hour Relay For Life, but I can't post pictures of other peoples' children. There was music and walking and silliness!
Last night we went to my niece's grad. She and Em are the same age and good friends. It was small, only 33 grads at a private school, but pleasant. I had nothing to wear! I did find some good things at the store, on sale, and now have all my summer clothes, those that went to Palm Desert, and those that were left behind, in a big ironing pile. I may have to bring the ironing upstairs because it is so lovely with the sun and the breeze and the gazebo and the pink flowers in pots.
I hope to embrace this time before it slips away.

Mail Day

The mail man cometh (or to use more inclusive language, the postman). Thanks so much to Innerpeace1081  for my lovely afghan square. We are in a swap with other fans of the Knit Girllls video podcast and send each other squares that will eventually be an afghan. This one is soft and a bit more teal than the picture shows. I love the Jojoland Baritone and the elegant cables. It's very sheepy There was also a lovely stitch marker and a notebook. And for my knitting hands, some hand cream. What a treat.
Tonight I go to the hockey arena, where the ice has been removed, and take part in a 12 hour relay to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society with our regional youth group. It will be like a crazy night shift with music and games. I'm fussing now about what knitting to bring. I have four more triangles on the entrelac blanket. The orchid shawl is probably too complex. I am actively neglecting the grey laceweight cardigan (why?).
So I'm winding up some Blue Moon Laci that I won't start on till September- good use of time while listening to Coffee Break Spanish podcast. I'm really starting to learn Spanish!
Next I'll wind up the black silk/alpaca, but  I won't start that until the orchid Swallowtail is done. I still cant' decide on a pattern. I want a thick lace border and not too much dense fabric in the centre. The new Brooklyn Tweed Rock Island looks fancy enough. But I'm also fussing that I have so many patterns. Why buy another?
I frogged the blue socks that never even made it to Ravelry and barely made it past the cuff. They are the only semi-solid fingering weight I have. Why waste them on socks when I'm going out and buying new yarn? Not this summer. Stash Dash. Stash down.
I will have to resist the on-line sales even though there's nothing like getting treats in the mail.

Enough of That

I really don't like this yarn. It is not "Charming". I frogged my Wendy Mystery Shawl. It means I don't get to knit with thousands of you and I miss 200m of stash dash. But I don't have to put up with the scratchies. The worst was the striping!

Made a sign for the World Wide Knit in Public event. I hope someone shows up. I have to practice for a concert.

The sun came out briefly and I repotted the Angelica tulips in the garden to make room for geraniums.

Finally put the buttons on the Meliabella Pedestrian cowl. It counts as a Quickie KAL with Fibernymph, but not for this month. I'm very late to the game, but early for Christmas.

Daybreak is done. 540 m of Cascade Heritage. It grew in gentle blocking, but it's not huge. Cold enough to wear it this Junuary day.

Dashing

Despite the hectic schedule, I finished the first Stash Dash project. One of the other nurses watched in horror as I knit at the desk with my eyes closed and was slowly slumping over. This hat was of my own devices. Thanks to Math For Knitters and her excellent discussion of using stitches in groups of eight, I went from the top down. 

So cast on 8 stitches with EZ's crochet method, knit front and back and round, knit a round, knit front and back a round. The cool thing is deciding which stitches will be knits and which purls. When I had 2x2 ribbing, I had enough stitches. I like a ribbed toque. I need to work on a better cast off, this was the second attempt. Lala said something about crochet. That would work with the end and the beginning being the same. Nice symmetry.

Guess what's new?!! My amazing niece has a podcast. You must listen! It's not long. And she is so naturally funny. She forgets to tell you that she is a spinner, dyer and designer.

I hope to get more plants in the planters today. It's supposed to rain to celebrate the beginning of Junuary. D is in Ontario where it is humid and hot like Hawaii. 

Wish me luck linking a photo onto the Ravelry boards.

Three Big Bites

 With encouragement from the Knitmore Girls I am trying new things. This is my very first drop spindle spinning. It is way over spun, but it is a pretty consistent width. So much to learn. I also have some more colourful roving. I'll spin that and ply them. Maybe I'll have enough for some fingerless mitts. Thanks to Willow for bringing hers to knit night, to Caroline at electrictree.etsy.com for encouraging me and for those youtube tutorials. This is the very beginning and I have learn to relax and use less muscle. Let the yarn do the work.

 I bought the fabric for a lap quilt. At Easter, someone had a lap quilt that was a gift and I was enamoured. I would love someone to make me one, but I can be my own friend, too. My sewing machine is relegated to the basement and I think I may be able to make this work for me in the, hopefully, warm summer days ahead.

And a hula hoop. I've never been able to get one going. I have all summer to get over that. There's no way I'm going to reach 50 and not be able to hula hoop.
This is a huge weekend. I work nights tonight, my choir is in the Honours Concert tomorrow and Em plays and accepts a trumpet scholarship. Sunday I lead church with Folk Music, attend a concert with my mom's sorority and go to a Youth event that sets up our team for the Cancer Relay For Life next weekend. Pray for quiet knitting time.

Palomar Observatory

 A two hour road trip is not necessarily bonus knitting time. We drove from the desert floor on the palms to pines road, over the mountains. It was a pretty winding road toward San Diego (where my sister was visiting and I didn't know) and up to the Observatory at Palomar. It is a 200 inch telescope and was the largest in the world when it was built. The dome weighs 1,000 tons.

 Having been built in the 1930's, it has beautiful wooden doors with brass handles. The visitors' centre is gracious and inviting. The dome was built with visiting areas and the foyer has a bust of George Ellery Hale, the driving force behind the project, with his quote, "Make no small plans, Dream no small dreams." He died before its completion.

 I love the classical shape of the pure white dome. D is a big astronomy geek. This telescope helped unlock some of the mysteries of black holes and mapping the galaxy.

 On the way back, I did manage to do some knitting. I started the grey stripes on my Daybreak shawl. We stopped and took pictures of the green golf courses in the valley of Palm Springs and Palm Desert.

We loved the variety of plants and wild life. There were roadrunners on our Desert Willow golf course, and creepy white lizards. They have now been joined by long legged bunnies. The gum trees remind us of Australia. The bougainvillea of Hawaii (and maybe North Vancouver) and the palms are just happy.

There Was Knitting

 I worked on the Daybreak stripes on the way home from Palomar Observatory. Even though it was a windy road, I got a good start and more when we watched Six Feet Under in the evenings. I have had the blue handpainted Cascade Heritage sock yarn for quite a while. I was worried that the charcoal would be too cliche because I feel it's obvious, but I love it.

 At home I cast on and started the Wendy's Summer Mystery Shawl of some periwinkle I bought in Palm Desert. I'm almost done the first clue. It feels a bit scratchy, but I love the colour progressions. It has the stupid name of 'Charming' and has the stupid label of 100% wool, made in China. But it's periwinkle blue and I wanted a souvenir for this shawl. The store is full of 'novelty' yarn and the owner said, "I don't do subtle". Too true. I did score some awesome lace weight black silk and alpaca because I need a black shawl, not because I want to knit one.

This grey Suri Blue alpaca from Fleece Artist was bought in the sale bin from Twist of Fate at the Fibres West show. Jean and I were going to do a knit along for a 'whisper cardigan' but neither of us chose that pattern and I think she's already done. I have done a champion job of ignoring it in its lovely piddalee bag.

What really got play on the plane and even back at home is this orchid Diamond cotton. Such a luscious colour. I bought and iphone cover to match and had my pedicure done this colour as well.
I'm almost done the centre of the Swallowtail shawl and will begin the lily of the valley edging. I'll use a crochet hook to do the nupps.
But I will join Carin from Round the Twist in the 'evil plan' of not finishing it until the Stash Dash 5k begins. Imagine finishing the Lady Emily entrelac blanket in time for grad and counting 2500 meters? Wow.
It feels good to be home, but I'm so tired from flying. It's like doing a 12 hour shift. I think the dog is happy to have me home and walking her and giving her treats, even though I ran the washing machine all day.
Scott worked on my camp's website while I knit and Emily is at camp for the weekend, an annual youth retreat. Nothing to stop me from more  knitting.

My Bags Are Packed

We had a great week in Palm Desert. The Desert Willow is part of our Whistler Intrawest time share and so comfortable and familiar. We came about 10 years ago with the kids. do I need to tell you this was a different kind of holiday? The kind with no zoo and no Disneyland trip.
Yesterday we did drive 2 1/2 hours to Palomar to see the beautiful observatory. D is a bit of an astronomer. No he can't read your star chart. We have some lovely pictures, it was quite the trip over the southern mountains toward San Diego. The next time I go to San Diego will be next spring on a mission to build a house for a Mexican family. I knit on the Daybreak shawl on the way home despite the winding roads. I've almost done the stripy bit.
Today I was able to catch up on some video podcasts while D was in the gym. Then we went for our usual 1 1/2 hour walk, a coffee at the Starbucks in the Marriott across the street and to the pool after a light lunch. I embarrassed both of us by laughing out loud while reading the fourth (?) book in Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series, Left Early, Took the Dog. So great and tight and dark and funny.
We had dinner at Roy's. We had another nice dinner at the same restaurant in Waikaloa over a year ago and they fussed over our 22nd anniversary. Sweet.
Tomorrow we fly home. Scott is having a party tonight and Emily is at camp for the weekend. Scary? We'll see.
It's so quiet and relaxing here, and it finally warmed today to 90 (32 Celsius). I feel like staying a few more days. That makes it easier to come back to.

Recharging Batteries

 D and I flew to Palm Desert on Sunday. Saturday was the fundraising dinner and a great success with the help of friends and family. Our camp was guaranteed to make a profit because I did the cooking for eighty (ham and scalloped potatoes, smores for dessert) and the auction items were donated.
But I was beat. There were a few sleepless nights when I didn't think we could pull it off.
But we are here and relaxing and walking in the warm desert sun and taking photos.

 Until my camera battery died. Oh well, I can walk without the heave Nikon D60 around my neck. We already bought groceries for our timeshare kitchen. We found beautiful pearls and some aquamarine gems that match my ring. Also an apple store and an anthropologie. Happy happy happy hour at Tommy Bahamas and home for vids in the room. We're so exciting.

 Did I mention there was yarn? I bought some black alpaca and silk lace weight because last summer's attempt at a black shawl ended up frogging and beads and oh my. Plus some beautiful periwinkle blue sock weight for the new Wendy Knits mystery shawl.

I resurrected the orchid cotton, because it matches my pedicure and iphone, but bought a turquoise dress for my nephew's wedding this summer. Matches the new gems. I ran into JC  Penny and tried on 14 dresses in about 15 minutes. This one has the flattering details of deep v neck, nipped in waist and a line skirt. All good. Today we'll do more walking and maybe explore the old town of Indio. It's all about going with the flow. We are enjoying the 'winter' temperatures of 74 Fahrenheit. Don't feel bad for us, we're getting a tan and brushing off the winter moss. Just recharging our batteries.

Kinda Sorta

Last night was the Chilliwack Common Threads Knitting Circle. The knitters are getting used to the space and helping themselves to tea. Great conversation, another new knitter and plans for Worldwide Knit in Public.
I finished something, kinda sorta: a sleeve on my nephew#7 sweater. The cables are going more smoothly, but they don't pop in the Berroco Vintage.
I'm on my last row of rectangles on Emily's grad blanket. Then one row of triangles and I will have a 4 by 6 foot Lady Eleanor entrelac blanket.
I have to shop for the smores brownies today. I'm cooking for 80 and starting to doubt my choices. I ordered hams from the local butcher and scalloped potatoes from our university cooking course. Salads and buns are brought by the other board members. I call today to find out if the young cooks can help me. Hope I can count on them to help me set up the buffet and plate the dessert.
I squoze in a pedicure because D and I are going to Palm Desert for our anniversary.
I will bring the Daybreak shawl and the laceweight Simplicity cardigan. It sounds so easy. But I'm not ready. Not even kinda sorta. Better get the self tanner out.