snow and Antifreeze

 Blue skies...

...before the "storm."

A nice dusting of snow that quickly melted (we got more snow later in the day but I was in bed with a headache and, like the snow, the brief window of time melted away before I had a chance to document it).  Temperatures are back up to 60 this week, which makes it the perfect time to finish up yard work.  The side garden has been an overgrown mess...

...but I managed to get it mostly cleared.  Having arthritis in my lower back makes it a lot more difficult to do this sort of work, but if I do a little bit at a time, the job gets done.

Sometimes I find things that remind me why I love having an overgrown garden, like this bird nest in my mint.  We have a rabbit, too, living in the above garden...or we do during the summer.  It's nice to make a safe place for them that we also enjoy.  

Todd made short work of the brush.  

"I have...made fire!" - Tom Hanks, Castaway

(pretty smoke!)

It's been a knitting week for sure.  First, I was gifted a box of Berroco Vintage yarn from someone on Ravelry...just enough to make a sweater!  I love this robin's egg blue color too.

Speaking of sweaters, I finished Carbeth.  It mostly fits, but it's a little bit more snug than I prefer.  I'm going to store it until I lose another 10 pounds.  At least it's washed, blocked, and ready to go!

I am trying to use up the odd skeins of yarn in my stash, and remembered how much I loved the balaclava that I knitted for Todd last year.  His was mostly ribbing, though, which I don't enjoy.  I found another pattern (Antifreeze) that was mostly straight stockinette knitting.  I used up what I consider a luxury yarn in my stash, a skein of Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in Magnolia Leaf.  Soooo lovely to knit with but at $30/skein, too rich for my meager sweater budget.

I wasn't quite sure if I had enough yarn for the whole project.  What I *should* have done was use a provisional (temporary) cast-on for the head portion.  Then, if I had enough of the Madelinetosh left over after knitting the head, I could remove the temporary cast-on and knit the ribbing.  But I didn't think of it in the moment.  Instead, I used a very soft mystery yarn for the ribbing.  Sadly, by the end of the project, I did have enough of the good yarn for the section in question, but I was unwilling to do it over again.  Still, I'm really pleased with the result, and it's SO warm.

(too dark for a good photo but you get the idea!)

Cold weather is expected soon, so I'm enjoying the last of the leaf color...

...finishing up the last of the seasonal puzzles...

...and in general, taking a cue from the cats.

It feels good.  Have a great week!  

hemming and hawing (mostly hemming)

A new week, and things feel more positive.  I have officially enacted a news blackout, so while Todd is pulling out his hair and groaning, "Matt Gaetz!?!?!", I remain blissfully ignorant.  I catch a bit now and then, but I'm able to see the humor...sort of ("Anti-vaxxer and -fluoride RFK in charge of the Dept. of Health and Human Services...LOL???").  Just trying to focus on other things for a while.  Like...this continued crazy warm weather.  Flowers are blooming in the garden...in mid-November!

The morning glories that I planted in pots and then stopped watering because they weren't taking off fast enough to bloom this year (I thought) are now crawling all over the front porch rails.

It's been so dry that Eagle Creek, where we love to hike, is seeing insanely low water levels...

...but a couple of light rains have been enough to rejuvenate these completely-ignored flowers.  It definitely doesn't feel like late fall!  Some trees are even leafing out with new growth.  Insane!

This means that our tomato plants continue to produce.

I picked EIGHT POUNDS last week (soap for scale)!

I finally got around to finishing some knitting projects.  I started this scarf for a friend and loved it so much that I decided to make one for myself.

I also finished a bulky-weight sweater (Carbeth by Kate Davies).  I had another "LOL...???" moment here, because it was supposed to be a cropped sweater, but it was so long.

I re-read the directions and realized that I had knitted, armpit to hem, 22 inches instead of 22 centimeters.  That's right...I was supposed to knit a little over 8 inches, not twenty-two.  But unlike an RFK-helmed Dept. of Health and Human Services ("LOL???"), this sweater can be saved.  I measured the length that I prefer (about 14 - 15"...8 is a little too cropped for me) and picked up the stitches all the way around with a spare circular needle.

I made one cut in the yarn below the line and carefully frogged the excess, knitted an inch of ribbing, and then finished the neck and armpits.  It's blocking now!  

Currently enjoying cats in sunbeams, too.

And more trail cam critters!  Lots of bobcats...

...turkeys...

...plus raccoons, possums, skunks, rabbits, and deer...many finding cozy sleeping spots in the back field.

I'm loving it.  Have a great week!  

Pumpkin "Ail"

Whiplash weather...last night close to 64, tonight down to 18 degrees!  Our muskrats are taking advantage of warmer days to haul extra cattails to their winter home.

My perennials are confused.  Is it time to bloom again, already?!?!

At least I'm still able to bring in more mini bouquets!

It will be an interesting contrast with the Christmas tree and decor that will be going up today (better late than never!).  I've already got Todd's advent calendar installed in the front secretary.  I love the color pop from the bags!

All Christmas knitting is done...woo hoo!  I also managed to finish a sweater (Pumpkin Ale) for my sister's 11/30 birthday.  It's a clever but complicated design from Scottish textile designer Ysolda Teague.

Three-quarter length sleeves, cabled arms, and the sides of the sweater grow out of a long cabled back pattern.

I like the cabled back and the wide garter stitch front panels, but oh, those shoulders!  The sleeves are set-in, meaning that you pick up stitches at the top of the armhole and knit back and forth, wrapping each end stitch so as not to leave a hole.  Gradually the cap of the sleeve is formed and the arm grows out, but I made mistake after mistake and even though THE ENTIRE SWEATER (with the exception of the arms) was completed, I had to pep-talk myself into not frogging the whole thing.  I had wanted to knit one for myself, but I need a long, long break from Pumpkin Ale! :)  

In dire need of a mini-excursion this week, Todd and I visited the rare manuscript rooms at Indiana University's Lily Library.  

The original draft of Ben Hur!

Peter Pan!

Gorgeous illustrations of diseases that you definitely don't want...

...pamphlets (1830s) that you only view IF YOU DARE (the parish Reverend does!)...

...impossibly tiny books...

...and heartbreakingly beautiful designs.  This was my favorite, from 11th century England.

I've been to Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where I saw many other examples of these illustrated manuscripts.  I can't get enough of them.  

A Latin sacrament page from from 12th c. France

Seeing their work really inspires me to get back to my embroidery...

An embroidered book cover, about 3" x 2", depicting Mary, Queen of Scots

...once the holidays are over and I have time to breathe again. Embroidered book covers are still being done today and are just as inspiring!  Courtesy of textile artist Jillian Tamaki...

...and Chloe Giardano...to name a few!

I would love to embroider a cover for one of my favorite children's books - The Secret Garden - but I haven't found the right illustration yet.  

Have a great week!