fiber, yarn and projects

here is the first Audacity sock and the second one is begun.  Maybe i'll be diligent and have a pair of handknit socks to wear while i'm here!!

Yarn stash purchased in Denmark!  on the left is natural grey Merino from locally owned sheep.  Then is mohair boucle, then merino/mohair, and then merino!  lucky me!!  stash enhancement is always a good thing... especially so this time!
this is my second pair of Spirogyra mitts from Lynne's pattern.  The first pair went to Pia in Denmark (Soren's wife)... and they fit her and she seemed to like them!!  bravo...

Jim and grapes

not one to let grapes just hang there on the vines, Jim scouted around and found a ladder and then found some crates in which to put his harvest... and look what he did in a few short minutes!!  Next mission is to find barrels/buckets/any container in which to crush and ferment his grapes... and then!  home made wine will be his.  Oh... wait... will we be here long enough for the fermentation to complete?   and what about the bottling of the wine?  well, stay tuned... 

Danish spinners and knitters

One of the women I met at the spinning/knitting night in Mjang, Denmark, Kirsten Sorensen, has written about the evening on her blog.  Sadly, I can't read Danish, but she put photos up, too!  The lovely evening with that group makes me smile and reminds me what a small world it really is and how much alike we all are.

the grapes vines are twining through the lemon tree (some almost ripe lemons!!).  No surprise that Jim is trying to figure out how he can get the equipment he needs to make wine! (our own homemade wine even in Vamos, Crete.)

in our yard in Vamos

there are a few roses in bloom and some of the geraniums ... but the biggie is the grapes and the lemons!  The grape vines on the 2 arbors haven't been pruned in a LONG time, so they twine around in the trees and there's one hanging almost to the ground, heavy with luscious clusters of sweet grapes.  this is a view of them from the kitchen window.

some photos

here are some photos from Denmark.  I'm having trouble getting them labeled.  Maybe blogger doesn't like mac... but whatever is the problem with getting the correct label on each photo, i haven't the patience right now to solve it.  Some of you will know exactly what, where and who,

so enjoy!!

                                                                                 

it's Friday... i do believe..

my sense of time hasn't caught up yet with where i am and when it is.  if that doesn't make any sense.... well, it's like that some days.

my big accomplishment for the day was getting my duffel unpacked and things put away (kind of). I piled all my yarn and projects and fiber and spindles in one place, making me think that i probably got a bit carried away with how much i thought i "needed" to bring.  plus i have the lovely 4 new skeins from Denmark... wheeee!  I do believe i have plenty to get me thru til November.

It is sweet to be home in Vamos.  We went up to the town square last night wanting gyros for supper.  We settled for substitutes when we couldn't find that.  Saw some friends there and ended up sitting with them til 11 drinking beer, talking, laughing, planning parties.  Elena and Toine are working on arrangements for a raki making party, using grapes from their yard... YAY!  that will be good fun.

gotta say, the political scene is much nicer to follow from a distance... like when we WANT to know what's going on, we can check it on the internet, at our discretion.  the sentiment in Europe seems solidly for Barack Obama as our next president.

right time, right place!

Yes, I had the great fortune of meeting up with a group of spinners and knitters while visiting my semi-son Soren in Sonderborg, Denmark.  I had asked him to find a yarn store(s) for me to visit and he came up with a really good one, which we visited the first day we were here.... and i bought some wonderful Danish-made yarn!!  One of the yarns was made from the Merino wool of the sheep the shop owner used to own.  I'll get photos once we are in Crete and settled a bit.  Anyway.... we were told about a fiber conference to be held on Saturday, which we couldn't get to, and about the knitting/spinning meeting Monday night at the yarn shop.  Soren was determined that i should go to that get-together... and i was delighted that i did.  He took me and came in with me to be my interpreter (good job, Soren!!)

We are in Hamburg now for overnight and an early flight tomorrow to Crete.  I have lots to write about and will have more about the fiber night in Mjang, Denmark... but right now i'm too tired and scattered to write more.  Our time in Denmark has been so special and enjoyable and i feel like i've been wined and dined and just loved to bits!  bravo!  and what a treat it's been to be with Soren and Pia and their children!

About Hope

I came across this quote from Robert Kennedy, and thought it is quite inspiring.  I'll share it with you.

Everything you do, no matter how seemingly insignificant, helps.  As Robert Kennedy put it in this quote:  

"Each time a person stands up  for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends a tiny ripple of hope.  Crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring,  these simple ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

The setting that Rachael and Matt chose for their wedding was the great outdoors.. in Beacon Rock State Park just east of Stevenson, WA and it was absolutely perfect.  There was a camping area where the -- ummm -- younger folk set up tents and camped for the weekend.  (Then there was the hotel at Carson Mineral Hot Springs where some of the rest of us rested.  and that's the kind of camping that works well for me.... hot water, shower, flush toilet, bed... etc!)  There were a couple of "rustic" buildings where food was prepared and set out, grilling area, small bunk houses where the liquid refreshments were set up, a pavilion where the ceremony took place, a warmish, sunny day in a lovely woodsy setting!  

We got there in time for the rehearsal Friday night and then dinner.  Rachael's sister, Sarah, organized, prepared and put out an amazing and delicious array of food... both for the rehersal dinner and for the reception!  Sarah and a crew worked all week getting it ready and i gotta say.. it was impressive!  Both Rachael and Matt appeared to be having a wonderful time, all weekend!  

i do have more photos to put up, but not tonight.  you can see them on my flickr account, link in the right hand column.

big day tomorrow... i can start talking again!!  not blabbing full speed ahead.. but just a little bit of actual talking.  oh, yeh, did i say i had my afternoon at Kaiser Outpatient surgery?  had a couple of hours of chemically induced sleep, i'm told that the polyp on my vocal cords was removed, my throat is sore from being intubated, i was kind of goofy for a few hours afterward, and had Jim by my side pretty much all weekend to remind me to not talk!!  Looks like i'll make it for 3 full days of silence... then i'm talkin' again.  

Rachael and Matt's wedding

and a wonderful wedding event it was!!

Here's Rachael wearing the shawl that she knitted from yarn she spun!  it is really gorgeous!! (and so is Rach)

this is my candid photo of the photog getting Rachael's family all "organized" for their photo.

getting ready to cut the cake.

Rachael and her mom, Pam, conferring about something before the wedding...

and then me and Jim enjoying the reception!  (see.... my mouth is closed... no talking... and damn that was difficult!)

aahhhhh...

it is one of those most perfect of mornings here in my queendom, on this first day of autumn.  the only sound is the chattering of the birds, the sun is shining, the twiglets on the fir tree outside my window are just barely moving in the soft breeze.  and this must be a sure sign of fall.... a very fluffy-tailed squirrel just scooted down that fir tree and seems to be searching in the brush for something to eat... or store away for later.

and now back to the regularly scheduled sorting, packing, tossing, and cleaning to get the house ready to list with the realtor.  there is an end in sight!!  in 8 days we leave for Denmark and then on to Crete for almost 2 months!  and before that, i'm having outpatient surgery on friday to remove a polyp from my vocal cords (general anesthetic, which causes me a bit of anxiety),  after which i'm supposed to not talk for at least 3 days... eeeek.  and after the surgery we'll go up to a park in the Columbia Gorge where Rachael and Matt will be married on Sat.  Jim and I will stay at the Carson Mineral Hot Springs Hotel, a funky very old hotel which features soaking tubs, followed by a wrap in warm sheets and quiet time in a darkened room.  there are also massages available by appointment... and we hope to have a hot soak and the massage!!  Rachael and Matt were here on Saturday to talk with Jim about the wedding, since he will officiate the ceremony.  it really sounds like it will be a fine celebration.  if i see you at the wedding, i won't be talking... but you talk and i'll listen and nod!!

check the facts

If you aren't sure about the truth of some of the statements you hear, check them out before either accepting them or passing them on.  I am seeing that there are too many half-truths, exaggerations and outright lies flying around... and yes, i'm talking about political campaigns.  And yes, i am proud to be a tree-hugging, granola- and arugula-eating, birkie-wearing, peace-loving, war-hating... etc, etc... liberal!  Right now I'd love to hear the candidates talk about the ISSUES and stop slinging crap.  Check the facts

and now i'll return to painting the kitchen, hoping i don't trip on bags for good will and/or boxes for storage as i make my way to the kitchen.  not much fiber or fun going on around here.

another project finished!!

the Spirogyra Mitts, by Lynne Vogel and in Knitty Spring.  they were so much fun to knit (even with US#3 needles!) and i've got the next pair started in alpaca yarn that i dyed a few weeks ago, and in lighter springy colors.  now if the new needles i ordered from Knitpicks would get here i'd really be happy!!  i do love knitting with them, but my #3s are elsewhere occupied and i had to use regular old bamboo, not that i'm spoiled!  well, yes i am... and why not?

less heat today (only 89) and only 1 saw and hammer at work, so a way better day at dome central.  

a deer made off with the first ripe cherry tomatoes in the garden.  i didn't know they would pass up my roses and eat tomatoes.  i'd forgotten to close the gate to the veggie garden last night, so one of 'em must have just sashayed in.  i'd blame it on some other critter except for the telltale

hoof imprints around the tomato bush.  gate is closed now!

strange

a strange week in my queendom, it was!  besides heat in the 100s several days (as my mom would have said "hotter than the hinges at high noon in hell"), there's been no peaceful tranquility aura here.  Dave-the-potter-from-down-the-hill got hired by Jim to help on the numerous finish it up projects around here.  my advice -- never move into a house before it is absolutely totally completely finished!!  anyway, it's quite unsettling to have power cords and saws and a compressor and ladders and sawdust (get the picture??) and ungodly noises filling my queendom!  and then, to have sweltering heat outside makes going anywhere a poor option.  i do believe that a whine is helpful at times, so i did and now i feel better.  it helped that saturday came along and Dave went to seattle for a few days, so there is only one saw and hammer-wielding man here for a few days... and he "needs" to take a break occasionally to watch an olympic event.

 Rachael asked me to make the ring pillow for their wedding in Sept., so I did a kind of crazy quilting/embellishing type of thing.  i don't remember ever seeing a ring pillow up close, so was kind of in the dark about what to do... and this is what i came up with.  i like it a lot and hope she will, too!! some of the buttons i used came off of a baby dress of mine that my mom saved for me, one of those sweet dainty fine cotton dresses from back in the olden days... probably worn one time, then saved.   and my gathering and stashing tendencies paid off with a lovely supply of laces and buttons and doodahs to choose from.  i also used a couple of pieces from a handmade (by someone else) dress of mine from several (many) years ago.  anyway, it was fun to do and i feel honored that Rach asked me to do it for her!!!                                           

a couple more party pics

Alex couldn't get enough watermelon!!

or enough dessert!
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new project

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just started last night... Spirogyro Mitts by Lynne Vogel.  the pattern is on Knitty

the yarn i'm using is merino/bamboo that i dyed a couple of months ago, using US #3 dpns.  i really don't know when i got to the place where i'd use anything smaller than US #6, 7, or 8.  for a very long time, if i couldn't do it with those sizes, i wouldn't do it!  ah, how brave and daring i am!  and my option needles are occupied somewhere else, so had to resort to plain ole bamboo!  anyway, this is a fun pattern to do and i like using this yarn, so all is good in my queendom.

update on the house thing

Not a lot to report, really.  we are still sorting and tossing that 30 year accumulation of stuff around here... Jim has organized in the basement as far as designating certain areas for good will stuff, take it to the dump, stuff for me to go through, keep this... maybe yes, maybe no.  probably about half of my studio is packed up and i gave away a box full of dye powder, took a bunch of fiber and yarn to NW Wools, forced twisted sisters to take some odds and ends, sent some home with Kate... and it's getting done.  oh, yeah... i filled, um... several plastic crates and boxes that went to storage just to insure i can get thru that possible fiber famine that might be coming.  you

know, the famine that spinners and knitters prepare for with all that stash enhancement we all do. 

we've had 2 real estate agents come over to look at the house and another is coming tomorrow, so i guess we could list it in the next month.  could we possibly be ready in one month???

it's finished!!! (i think...)

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finally, i put together the 2 pieces of entrelac and 2 pieces of mitered squares.  there are 2 sections with intarsia and a couple of areas of just garter stitch plain.  there is a possibility that i may put some kind of border on it... but this sucker is l-o-n-g, and the thought of borders on both sides is rather daunting!  it feels SO luscious with all those different yarn blends (merino with tencel or silk or alpaca) mmmmmm.  Entrelac is such fun to knit that i'll probably do a project with it again... maybe socks?

edited:  just a little addition since it's been so long since i first talked about this project.  In the beginning,  (besides light) I had some lovely sock weight yarn of various fiber blends dyed by Lynne Vogel and Lori Lawson and me, and I just started out knitting some entrelac just because it's fun to knit!  and pretty soon i had 2 pieces knit, plus a piece of mitered squares.  i had no idea at the time what i'd make ... so put it in the basket with the yarn and went on to other things.  it got pulled out occasionally, admired, wondered over as to what it would become... then returned to the basket.  it went to BSG with me because i knew Lori would have some ideas/suggestions for a project using these random pieces of knitting, and of course she did!  she said it would make a wonderful scarf or shawl,  so i started... and this is the result after picking up stitches and attaching the pieces together with some garter stitch and intarsia in between.  there were a helluva lot of ends to deal with in finishing it, but i forced myself to do it right away rather than put it back in the basket!  bravo for me!  it's finished!!  and i'm ready to start another entrelac project... when i decide just what it will be.

part 2 of the party

Several Twisted Sisters came with their spinning wheels and/or knitting projects.  Although this was a "no gift" event, they did bring this wonderful ceramic plaque to me, and it couldn't have been more appreciated... or more appropriate.  i will treasure it always.  Leaving the twisteds is one of the very sad things about this move we are about to make.  they have all been a very important piece of my life for a very long time and i'll miss them dearly!!  We've shared many of those "life moments"... triumphs, losses, births, weddings, an adoption, and lots of parties and Black Sheep Gatherings.

My best friend for 35 years, Anna, came from Boise for the party... a day early and got pressed into pre-party preparations, including mopping floors.  Now that is friendship, wouldn't you say?  

Anna, Pam and Larry on the patio....

I finished the scarf which began with the 2 entrelac pieces and finally evolved into something.  

Anna and i posed with the scarf.

Kate's new Louet Julia was delivered here last week and she put it together and got to spinning as soon as she could!

lovely sunflowers.... my most favorite flower....

which Pam brought from Friday Harbor.

Zylie was fascinated by the bobbins.  I wonder if that's any indication she'll be a spinner....

there are a few more photos which I'll put up later.  What a great 70th birthday party it was!  and i can't begin to put all the fun into words on a blog!

words to live by...

"Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first!!"  and that was the theme of my birthday party on saturday!

i was having so much fun that i totally forgot about taking pictures throughout the event, and that is why i missed capturing the decadence of the dessert table before it was attacked by the dessert-seeking hordes.  the array was quite spectacular and delicious... with plenty of chocolate.  this shot does not come close to showing  all the goodness that was there!  i'm hoping someone thought to take some photos and will share them with me.  Jim planned this gala event for me, and bbq'd salmon and created a lovely caesar salad (very garlic-y,thank you)  He asked the friends to bring a dessert or a salad, and believe me, we dined WELL!

a plate full of dolmades which i made for dinner tonight.  what looks like speckles is the Cretan olive oil glistening on them.  they were delicious!  as i was picking the grape leaves, i had a sweet memory of the day before Easter in Crete when i saw some of the village women out picking grape leaves from the vines on the lot next door, probably for making dolmades for their Easter feast!

stash reduction of all types of "stuff"

seems that lately my days have revolved around or included the dispersal of lots of that accumulated stuff... some of which has been sitting right out there in the open begging for some decision on destination... some which has been buried in closets for YEARS.  I really hate making the decisions required, because in the back of my mind there is always that voice lurking and whispering "well, that is certainly still usable and might be needed some day".  sounds kind of like my mom in all her Scottish and Depression Era frugality, whose genes keep coming thru in my being!  Now, really.... that drawer full of zippers still packaged and kept around just in case i decide to sew clothes again (that will never happen and i've known that for a long time) should really go in the Good Will bag.  and zippers are probably the least of my concerns.  What about the boxes of tax returns from 15 to 20 years ago... hmmmm?  and boxes of cancelled checks to match??  and knitting patterns from the 80s?  my inner martyr reminds me of all the time and hassle we save our DS by doing this now, ourselves.  It is a comfort (of sorts) to know that at least i haven't become the little old lady in stories i've heard who saved everything that came into her life, to the point of only having a path between stacks of saved stuff to get thru rooms in the house.  and my mom saved string.... all string.. and even had a box for string that was too short to save! no, really, she did!  My very dear dh/spousal unit has completely endeared himself to me... what a guy!  I was bitching about having to make decisions as to which fibers and yarns to keep and which to give away/sell/trash... and the dear man seemed surprised.  He thought i'd just put it all in boxes and keep it.  obviously, he has no clear idea of just how much stash i have!  and even after parting with quite a bit of the fiber, Kate and i will still have more than enough to last us thru any potential fiber famine, and a couple of lifetimes!  

one word

daylily

(or should that be two?)

those entrelac pieces

 some time back there in the past, i put up photos of entrelac pieces i'd knitted.  they've been aging along with a couple of pieces of mitered square fabric, and i took them to BSG with me to get suggestions from Lori for what might be a good way to use them.  she mentioned a scarf/shawl by Katherine Alexander in Interweave Press' "Scarf Style", and i looked at it and saw possibilities for this fabric.  so, i picked up stitches at one end of one of the entrelac pieces and got started.  there is a quite abundant stash of these yarns, from several sources (Lori, Lynne, me and maybe others).   this is how it looks now, complete with abundant yarn ends which will have to be dealt with sooner or later.  when it gets to the length i like, i'll probably put some kind of border on the sides, maybe 2" or so wide.  i'm thinking a kind of varigated solid might be nice, but we'll see.....

bravo!

DS Chris went fishing last week and look what he caught!!  Bravo!