It is mostly impossible to knit when three dogs are jumping all over you and each other every waking second of the day. I’m feeling much better today, likely because I was able to eat eggs, toast and potatoes yesterday afternoon. Yay for caloric intake! Off to work, but wanted to share that even though I’m not likely to get much done this week, I am enjoying my knitting. Happy Tuesday.
Boh and I are housesitting this week, so hopefully I’ll have a range of gorgeous sunrise shots to share with you. This also means that we are playing with 2 more dogs and a cat. I made absolutely no knitting progress yesterday, but there is some good news: I woke up hungry for toast today! Hoping I will be craving coffee soon — a sign that I’m on the mend.
The title of this post could just as easily be the title of an independent film, but in this case, please use a literal interpretation.
Friday afternoon, I was standing here, toes in the dark sand, gazing out over the Pacific Ocean. Yep, that was work-related.
Because I was away for under 36 hours, I forced myself to select only one knitting project, and while digging through my WIPs, I rediscovered my clapotis. I’ve completed the increase section, and in the next row, I’ll start dropping stitches.
The colors are a bit deeper than you can see here — I’ll wait for better light the next time I photograph this.
One of the folks I met with on Friday was getting over a stomach bug, and I think I brought it home with me. A small amount of bland food and close to 14 hours of sleep later, I am feeling a little better. Today I’ve managed a scone and a cup of tea — already more than I was able to eat on Saturday. Last night I didn’t even have the strength to work on my clapotis — fingers crossed that I’ll be able to make some progress today.
I made this without a particular recipient in mind — just wanted to check out the pattern, which I quite enjoyed. I was thinking that I don’t need another hat, particularly now that spring is here, but I do like this picture:
(Or maybe I am being tricky. Perhaps the recipient is an occasional reader here? Hmmm.)
Details:
Stella’s Hat by Knitting School Dropout
Size 8 needles, 16 in circs and dpns
Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in a bright, semi-solid green — 1 ish skeins (was using a leftover ball from the bolero jacket and needed to dip into a second.)
In the morning, I’m off to the Bay Area for just about 24 hours — a super quick work trip, but it should be fun. Back on Saturday afternoon!
Woke up before my alarm today, which felt great. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but my morning ritual of making coffee, checking email, and then knitting or reading or at least crossing things off my to-do list keeps me sane.
Baked these last night — realizing that even though I still have a few months in this house, I need to make a conscious effort to eat the things that are here. Grains, tomato paste, corn starch, frozen meats and soups, etc.; these are the things that are easy to forget, and I don’t want to find myself packing boxes of food!
Happy Wednesday.
I’m back (and cheesier than ever, I might add). Thank you for all of your kind comments and happy thoughts re: my grad school news and this week’s visit to New Home. The best way to describe my visit?
Affirming.
I had the chance to meet my advisor, have dinner in his home, take walks and engage in thought-provoking talks with the other graduate student in the program with academic interests like mine, drink local beer, wander around town — and sign a lease.
It may not have the same funky character as my current southwestern casita, nor does it have the same incredibly low price tag, but for New Home, the price is fair, the dog is welcome and the kitchen is spacious! At best, this will be a space I can settle into for the next several years; at worst, it will be more than sufficient for my first year in New Home.
New Home is half a day’s drive from my parents’ house, so I got a cozy weekend with mom and dad, filled with movies, snowfall-measuring and celebratory meals. Oh — and I also did some knitting!
I present my progress on the Chevalier Mittens. I don’t know why I feared the chart — it makes perfect sense, once you get past the supposed scariness. I am a little concerned that the fabric is a bit too dense and stiff. Should make for good mittens, right? This yarn is worsted weight cashmere/merino/mohair from School Products. The pattern calls for DK weight yarn doubled, so I figured this would be fine, held single. All of the cables kept my attention through a long layover and multiple flights, but my hands were hurting by the end of the day. Once home, I picked up the Stella Hat I had brought for movie watching and all around mindless lounging.
Boh played with his very best friend, a slightly younger Akita named Radley, the whole time I was gone. When I went to pick him up, he did not want to leave, and pulled against the leash when I gave a short tug. See how tired he was?
It’s good to be back. More soon!
Actually, I’m off to see my New Home — planning to meet my advisor, sign a lease for the fall and wander through/imagine myself in a different place.
What am I bringing with me? I’m working to keep everything in one LandsEnd tote bag (size large, which I believe they define as 2 full bags of groceries). That means no sweater projects. Instead, because it will be cold where I am heading, I am bringing a Stella Hat, recently cast on, yarn and needles to begin the Chevalier Mittens, and my Twisted Tweed Socks. (Too sleepy for links — early flight!) I can fit all of these, along with a little notions bag, into a tote that fits inside my everyday bag.
Oh — and I’m planning to wear my Debbie Bliss Bolero Jacket. (By planning to wear, I mean I’m wearing it now, have been for much of the last week, and plan to continue wearing it all week/weekend.)
I’ll be back on Monday!
I’m still slightly nervous that the shoulders are a tad big, but because this is a looser cardigan that I intend to layer over all kinds of things, I’m hoping that won’t matter. I’m halfway through the side shaping — done with the waist decrease sets and into the hip increases. Here’s an arm’s length side view:
Yesterday was a day of recovery from the excitement of Saturday’s sunshine/rugby/Korean food/gelato. I spent it knitting, catching up on podcasts, reading at a nearby coffee shop with a pot of tea, and, of course watching more Flight of the Conchords while eating delicious homemade pizza with friends (Thanks, you guys!).
Spring is here — 71 degrees on Saturday, snow on the ground this morning. Here’s a shot of yesterday’s sunrise:
Hope your week is off to a good start. I’m going to pour my first cup of coffee. Ahh.
Best rapping name ever. Go rent Flight of the Conchords. You won’t be sorry. (I thought about saving this post title for when I attempt the pomatomus socks, but that may be a long way off, and I am laughing about this now.)
Meet my new teapot. My recent house guest knows me well — a funky teapot has been on my wishlist for a long time, and this is perfect. Also, it was accompanied by a bacon bar:
That’s right. Said past roommate and I used to make North American breakfast every weekend. As he says, “in Canada, we just call it bacon”. I bought extra for his visit, and I believe we are both shocked that with all of our exploring, we did not find time to eat it! I am very excited about this.
Lest you think I am no longer knitting, and instead just lazing about, watching silly DVDs, drinking tea, and eating bacon:
I am making progress on my grad school cardigan (Brompton) — into the shaping now. I love Rowan Felted Tweed. I have some cross-country airplane travel coming up this week and next, and I anticipate much uninterrupted Brompton knitting. Hooray!
Also, because of all the bacon talk, here is a picture of Boh being a complete ham. (I blame the hip-hop-opotamus for the corny humor I am employing here. I can’t help it.)
I’ve been adventuring this week, sharing my home with an old friend. We used to share a house on the other side of the world, and it has been incredibly fun to explore my current backyard together. Take a look:
Mt. Taylor in the distance, covered in snow.
Chaco Canyon — incredible ruins, history and landscape.
Overlooking Pueblo Bonito.
Contemplating the view — perched atop an inactive volcano.
Popcorn preparation.
When we shared a house, the three of us (thinking of you, E) watched every Bond movie in sequence, pausing in the middle to prepare popcorn. Casino Royale had not been made at the time. Yesterday, our tradition continued, and the popcorn was delicious.
Because I am a morning person, and my house guest is not exactly one, I have made a slight bit of knitting progress this week. I completed my one row handspun scarf, and I really like the subtle transition from color to color. This particular pattern is wonderfully soothing — I highly recommend it.
One last picture: these are the mountains I photograph often from my front door early in the morning. This week’s adventures marked the first time I’ve visited these places with the knowledge that I will be leaving, and that it will be several years before I might have the chance to live here again. In many other places I’ve lived, restlessness has set in after about a year. Not so, here. This is home.
barefoot rooster 