phenological events January 2012

January 2012

3rd pair of brown creepers

5th flock of bluebirds at bittersweet

8th great horned owls nesting

21st 6 inches of snow

lace knitting? or knitted lace?

Queen Silvia (scarf version) has been on and off my needles, again. I started working on it last August, and realized, as I finished, that I hadn't taken any photographs of the work in progress. The first QS that I knit was blue. This time around I used Judy's green Arequipa, Alpaca and silk.....with its wonderful drape, the slippery softness of the alpaca and the lustre of both.

"That's one thing that's always, like, been a difference between, like, the performing arts, and being a painter, you know. A painter does a painting, and he paints it, and that's it, you know. He has the joy of creating it, it hangs on a wall, and somebody buys it, and maybe somebody buys it again, or maybe nobody buys it and it sits up in a loft somewhere until he dies. But he never, you know, nobody ever, nobody ever said to Van Gogh, 'Paint a Starry Night again, man!' You know? He painted it and that was it."

Joni Mitchell Miles of Aisles (1974)

I didn't expect to knit this pattern twice. Knitting something twice isn't something I would ordinarily do. I rarely read the same book twice, or see a movie more than once. This piece was an exception.

Haapsalu lace patterns are worked on a stockinette-stitch ground, and I learned that these Estonian Lace patterns are considered, or "classified" as, "lace knitting". Lace Knitting has rest rows. For non-knitters, this means that one pattern row is worked, and then it is followed by a row (knit or purl) of plain knitting. This is different from "knitted lace"...which requires the pattern to be worked on every row.

I worked my Queen Silvia (the pattern named for the Swedish Queen) scarf on size 3 needles.

I made my nupps from 5 stitches rather than 7. A 7 stitch nupp seemed over the top. For non-knitters, a nupp is the little bud-like, or bobble-like feature in the pattern. I didn't count how many nupps are in the pattern. The scarf measures about 13 inches wide by 74 inches long. That is a lot of nupps. Did you know that nupps cannot be reproduced by a machine? They are the signature of a handknitted article.

The pattern for my scarf appears in the book, "Knitted Lace of Estonia" by Nancy Bush. This book is filled with so much history, photos and projects and patterns, that it is one of those books I will read more than once.

Today was a blustery day, not the best for photo documenting project details...those details danced away in the sun and wind.

Ready for shipping, Queen Silvia rests on the wooden bench beside my worktable. I will pack her up and send her out soon. She has been a good friend to me for the past 5 months...she even taught me how to love a nupp. Goodbye, Queen Silvia, until we meet again! or not.

fun fabulous and fractal

For the past few months, I'd been wanting to do some fractal spinning.

January days full of paperwork ... (paper-pushing- file drawer rearranging- archiving and overall- drudge- work) demanded a break now and then. Time for fun!

There was some roving in my stash, marinating since last year's Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival. This is Dark Rainbow, from Gale's Art.

70% Alpaca +/ 30% Silk = y-u-m-m-y.

Aside from the initial division, there is no other thought involved...just the pleasure of a fast, carefree, thick and thin, let the slubs fall where they may, kind of single. Followed by a one-handed whilst the other holds a glass of wine, kind of ply.

I'm seeing a pair of fingerless mitts in the skein.

PA Sheep to Shawl 2012

Last week, we took a detour from life and wound up at the PA Farm Show Complex, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The Sheep to Shawl contest was happening. This was my first experience seeing it in person. I've been trying to get there for many years, but the weather is usually not permitting. It is an exciting event to attend.

First, there are the sheep.

they get turned into this:

...by the teams who shear, spin and weave a shawl in the space of a few hours..each team must present an objective and attempt to execute it in the least amount of time. The looms may be pre-warped. There are points awarded for Shearing, Fleece, Spinning, Weaving, Design and Speed.

And then, there are the judges, who have the difficult task of awarding the points. The finished shawl must measure at least 22 inches wide and 78 inches long, or points will be deducted from the score.

It was difficult to photograph the winning shawl from team, "Time Warp". From where I was standing the lighting was poor, and the shawl was dark. However, the team generously gifted some of the audience with strands of the warp threads, and I have a few (and an autographed program) as a souvenir.

This shawl took second place, and was created by team, "Friends Thru Fiber".

If you would like to see some wonderful photos, go to YarnieMarnie's blog, she had a ringside view and was blogging live. She really does a fantastic job of covering this event.

Once the prizes are awarded, an auction takes place. This year, the second place shawl sold for $1,850.00. Some of the teams will donate the proceeds from the sale of their shawls...for instance, this year team Dream Weavers gave the monies to a father and son from a farm in Northumberland County, who were both badly burned in a farming accident this past August. After the shawl auction, there is a Wool Auction..I sat on my hands so I wouldn't bid.

While all the spinning and weaving was going on, there was knitting going on too... by the spectators in the seats next to me. It was a great afternoon...and I think the only thing that would have made it better was to have been able to be on a team and be a part of this wonderful event!

bird song song

I hear a bird chirping, up in the sky I'd like to be free like that spread my wings so high

I see the river flowing water running by I'd like to be that river see what I might find

I feel the wind a'blowing slowly changing time I'd like to be that wind I'd swirl and shape the sky

I smell the flowers blooming opening for spring I'd like to be those flowers open to everything

I feel the season change the leaves, the snow, and sun I'd like to be those seasons made up and undone

I taste the living earth the seeds that grow within I'd like to be that earth a home where life begins

I see the moon a'rising reaching into night I'd like to be that moon a knowing, glowing light

I know the silence as the world begins to wake I'd like to be that silence as the morning breaks

I hear a bird chirping, up in the sky I'd like to be free like that spread my wings so high

I see the river flowing water running by I'd like to be that river see what I might find

I feel the wind a'blowing slowly changing time I'd like to be that wind I'd swirl and shape the sky

I smell the flowers blooming opening for spring I'd like to be those flowers open to everything I'd like to be those flowers open to everything

bird song by the wailin jennys

bringing the light

I've been waking up before dawn, so I can watch the sunrise...bringing the light.

It is the best part of the day for me. A few moments with my coffee, the quiet, and the sun streaming in the window...shining through the flowers on my windowsill...

The light captures the flax on the distaff, and invites me to sit at the wheel. My mother's little flax wheel came home for Christmas. Fred Hatton spent some time with her, getting her back in shape to make many more miles of linen thread.

Spinning flax when I wake up is delightful...it is very much like I am still asleep..and just dreaming of spinning flax. And yes, I do sometimes dream that I am spinning flax. It is a good place for my mind to be at rest. How do I describe the hypnotic trance it seems to put me under? And the feeling of well being it gives me...

Did you notice my flyer hooks? Fred fulfilled a special request of mine...to have my flyer hooks on the upper right arm, the better for spinning S twist...widdershins...withershins or whidderschynnes.. ..perhaps that is why it seems as if time is standing still...and

it isn't long before my coffee cup is empty, and so the distaff is empty of flax...but the bobbin is half full.

For such a delicate little wheel, she sure likes to work hard and get a lot spun. Thank you Fred, for fix'in her up ...she is a keeper!

star

Star of Wonder in the heavens...

Wonder what you want of me..

Should I follow you tonight?

Star of Wonder, burning bright.

a cappella written by terre roche ~may your holiday season be filled with peace, love, joy and beauty~

starting to finish

I've been working on getting some Alpaca Fleece processed for hand spinning. It is a good job to do when the weather turns cold..I work in the mud room near the wood burning stove. First I sort and scour the fiber. I've been using Unicorn Products and absolutely love how they do such a wonderful job. I place some Alpaca in the basin with Power Scour.

After a quick bath, the fiber comes out of the rinse and goes directly into the dye pots that are simmering on the stove. While the dye strikes, I am busy blending and carding. This is a good multi-tasking type of day..and from time to time I change my activities..switching up between carding, dyeing, scouring etc. The clean smell (has a touch of fresh lavendar) of the Unicorn Fiber Rinse fills the air as I work ....and the colors on the drying rack greet me the next morning...reminding me I still have more work to do.

The early morning sun catches the colors and I am pleased with the results...the greens...

...the reds...

I find myself pondering names for colorways..

...and the job continues...on and off the drum....

...there are a few more bags to tie before the job is finished....

..so not exactly "in the bag" ~ yet.

sun catcher

Sunrise at 7:10 AM in direction 119° East-southeast East-southeast Sunset at 4:35 PM in direction 240° West-southwest West-southwest Duration of day: 9 hours, 25 minutes (53 seconds shorter than yesterday) Sun in south at 11:52 AM at altitude 27° above horizon

There were 53 less seconds of sunlight today. And we will be losing seconds of sunlight each day until the 21st of December. Have you noticed?

It is only a few minutes..but I am sensitive to lack of sunlight..and it feels like hours. I appreciate each second ..I wish I could bottle it.

Some days, the sun does not even come out. Today, it showed up ...just in time to go down at 4:00pm. Oh, I know you are saying the sun does not go down until 4:30 ...but I live in the river valley, and it goes behind the mountain at about 4pm. I had to walk fast to catch it.

going...

going...

at the very last, only the tree tops catch the light.

I've been lighting the candles indoors. It helps....

.....so does the moonlight!

phenological events november 2011

2nd white oaks drop leaves
4th frost on garden
12th black bear on property
16th 8point buck and 2spike
28th raccoon breaks into henhouse

cap and booties

We spent our Thanksgiving holiday visiting with family...so we were on the road a good part of the time. It gave me a chance to finish up this set of booties and matching hat for the newest member of the extended family...little Elizabeth Margaret. I intended to make the Better than Booties Baby Socks by Ann Budd, but reached for my old stand-by pattern..scribbled out in my hand writing from years ago when I was knitting for my own baby. Where does the time go?

The hat worked up in a jiffy too...Quick and Easy Baby Hat by MyFairKatie on Ravelry. I like this pattern so much I might have to adjust it to an adult sized head! The hat finishes at the top of the crown, and the stitches turn into an icord that ties. Cute!

Both the hat and the booties knit up on US size 3 needles..with handspun ...not sure what it was..something soft that was leftover from some other project and just enough to finish a hat and booties with. Lots of love and good wishes for a little girl were locked into each stitch! I hope they will keep her warm and snuggly over the next few months...little ones grow so fast! I should start working on the next size up!

happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving !

Enjoy the bounty!

mr. postman

Dear Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe,

I read about your speech earlier this week, the one where you spoke to the National Press Club in Washington DC. In your speech, you mentioned that "Congress needs to step back and look at the postal service as a business".

What ever happened to the idea that the basic function of the Post Office was to provide a service? Remember the old quotation:

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Sir, I realize that you have a lot of speeches to make right now, and that things look grim for the future of the U.S. Postal Service.... but could you please find the sock that I mailed to my Uncle R. last week?

This past summer, my Uncle R. kindly requested a pair of hand-knit socks from me. I picked out the nicest color of a good quality sock yarn, Zauberball, and set to work on them. I found just the right pattern in the book, "Folk Socks" by Ann Budd. I was faithful..working nightly on my US size one bamboo knitting needles. Once, I had to frog back when I noticed a small mistake....however, I finally finished one of the size 12 socks just in time for his birthday.

I carefully packed it in a padded envelope that I purchased from my local Post Office, which, by the way, is within walking distance from my cabin. I enclosed a birthday card with instructions for my uncle to try on the sock to make sure it fit properly, and to let me know if any alterations needed to be made. If the sock fit perfectly, I would make the other sock and deliver it to him for Christmas.

You see, Post Master General, Sir, it has been over 2 weeks ago that I mailed the sock. When I was mailing the size 12 sock, I asked my Postmistress, Ethel, (yes...we are on a first name basis)..."Ethel", I said, "How long do you think this package will take to deliver?" And Ethel answered that it would probably take a few days at the most. I was mailing it First Class, and it was just going to the next state over. I picked out the stamps and paid the fee of three dollars and twenty-five cents. I didn't think it was necessary to purchase a tracking code, which now, in retrospect, I wish I had.

My Uncle R. and I talked over the telephone on his birthday...I asked if he had received a package from me, and he had not. We figured it must have been the Veterans Day holiday that delayed things...giving the U.S. Postal Service the benefit of the doubt. As of yesterday, my uncle has not yet received the sock I made for him. Or his birthday card.

If there is anything at all you can do to find the missing sock package, I would be very grateful. After all, I did promise my uncle I would make him a pair of socks, and size 12 socks require a lot of knitting, especially on size one U.S. knitting needles with Zauberball Sock yarn. And if you don't find the missing sock package and deliver it to my uncle, I shall have to make two more size 12 socks...and I'm a little worried that I might not have enough Zauberball yarn left, and you know how tricky it can be to match up yarn from a certain dye lot.

Also, I notice that you and I share the same last name. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that things go a little better for both of us in the near future. I have attached the above photo of the unfinished sock for identification, you never know how many single socks may be lost in the U.S. Postal Service System.

Hopefully yours... deliver de letter de sooner de better....

note to self

*make note to self.

A few days ago, I wound off the yarn that was on the bobbin of my Canadian Production Wheel. A custom blend of my own making..some Alpaca, Gotland, and Tussah Silk...spun up soft and silky...long-draw and woolen style..nice for knitting with.

A spontaneous decision resulted in the making of a plying ball, so I wound half of the bobbin off with my skein winder. I took the tail of that half, together with the tail of what was left on the bobbin ...and wound off together to make my ply ball.

I now have a lovely skein that was wound off on the Nod with the twist set in soft bath..and tenderly air dried near the gentle heat from the glow of the coal stove. One problem. I don't have a yardage count. I'm sure I counted the turns I took on the Nod...just absent-mindlessly-neglected to write it down. Does this ever happen to you?

On a happy note...I have been invited to write a regular column for the MAPACA newsletter. You can find the newsletter online here... or simply use the link by clicking on the MAPACA Newsletter Icon conveniently located on my sidebar. Look for "riverrim alpaca notebook" to read about my adventures with Alpaca fibers.

The Mid-Alantic Alpaca Association Newsletter is a terrific publication. Editor-in-Chief, Diane Beauchner of Shepherd Hills Alpacas in Wescosville, Pennsylvania does a fantastic job of putting the Newsletter together (and she is so much fun to work for!)

"News You Can Use" is a true statement here... and I would encourage you to download it, or sign up for your own hard copy. The hard copy publication is a nice full color magazine type presentation..good break time reading material... (curl up on a crispy fall afternoon with an alpaca afghan and hot beverage of your choice). There is always something interesting to read about... Spinners and Weavers out there may want to take a look at the article on page 18... "From Vision to Fabric and Beyond" by Wini Lebrecque. So inspiring!

novemberbeaver moon

We had a lovely frosty full moon last night. I should have hung my fine linens out on the clothes line for bleaching. Maybe next month.

The sunlight and moonlight of November have made me restless. As restless as the oak leaves rustling underfoot..everything seems crisp, the light, the leaves, the air..I am restless and alert. I wake in the night with eyes wide open and moonlight pouring in my window. It is so lovely, I roll over, closer to the window where I stare and stare at the blue black sky and white stars. Who can sleep when there is so much beauty going on outside?

The whitetail are restless too. The rutting season almost over, they are always on the move, hard to photograph. In a few weeks, they will settle down..the leaves will settled down too, and winter will settle in.

This years fawn still tags along with mama, not ready to go it alone.

Not wanting to be left behind, not wanting obstacles to come between them...the fawn is restless too....

The seasons are changing. Maybe that is why- the restlessness. Are you ready? Are you finished? ..the wind is bringing the change as it chases the leaves across the field. ..yes..sometimes I can almost see it happening..season overlap...summer not yet finished, but winter wanting to begin...