A solitary crane
In winter snow
Needs no jewels.
Deng Ming~Dao

The Grafts….

Oh!Canada is finished!  I took one evening to pull out the graft, which was not an easy feat and then I spent another night reworking the graft again.  Better to do this in baby steps. 🙂

I have to admit that it took me a few tries to get the pattern to line up, mostly because my working yarn was on the wrong side.   After a little creative finangling it finally lined up and the rest went soothly until the very end.  It is a teensy bit off there, but not enough that I was going to pull it out again.

If the idea of grafting has put you off from this pattern….please don’t let it.  The pattern is such an enjoyable knit and it would be a shame to pass it by based on that.

The graft is the very same kitchner stitch used to close up the toe on a sock just on a bigger scale.

Once the first 5 stitches are lined up properly, the rest should line up without too much trouble.

She will be bathed and blocked tomorrow and hopefully be ready for pictures on Tuesday.

I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed working on this stole.  I think next to the Wool Peddler shawl, it has been my favorite knit!

The Snows…..

This has been a CRAZY winter with mounds and mounds of snow up here in the North Country!  What makes it so wild is you only have to drive south an hour and a half to find almost no snow.  The upcoming week promises at least 2 more dumpings of the white powdery stuff, so if you ski………come on up!  It doesn’t get much better than this!

Take a look at those snowbanks…..no really, take a look at them!  I have a HUGE barn and my husband barely needed a ladder to climb up onto the backside of the attached shed to shovel it.

Speaking of shoveling……God Bless Ken, last year we told my Dad…no more shoveling off the roof.  Ken had told him that from now on, he would be doing it.  Wouldn’t you know that this winter it seems like every 3 days he is going over to shovel Dad’s roof, rake off ours, shovel a path to the propane tank that the plow man buries every time he
comes and now we are having to shovel the perimeter of the dog yard so Maggie can’t climb out.

That buried fence is a 6 foot fence….but Maggie could clear it in one jump right now.  Thankfully she is a dog that respects boundaries.

Cavaliers on the other hand….boundaries….what is a boundary?  Thankfully they are small dogs!

Umphh.. Muffins don’t like to sink into snow drifts that come up to their necks.

The other night I finished the last round on Oh!Canada and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this knit.  The yarn was beautiful to work with and the pattern had a soothing rhythm to it.  I was almost sad to finish it.

So last night I sat down to work on the center seam graft, with a glass of wine and American Idol on the screen. 

The seam….easy peasy or so I thought.  About a quarter of the way through it, I held it up to check on the progress.  Zoinks!…….it would appear that I was working on the wrong side.  Not only was I working on the wrong side, but the pattern was not lining up correctly. …oops!  I guess I don’t have to tell you what I will be doing again tonight…..I think I may skip the glass of wine though 🙂

While I am sad to finish up with Oh!Canada, I am looking forward to getting back to some of that golden goodness in my WIP basket.

This week’s goal is to graft and block Oh!Canada and to finish the Bee Sock.

I can then I reconnect with the beautiful Bee Stole again.  I had reached the end of the hive section when I put her down, so I am ready to move onto the swarm section.  I’m looking forward to working on her again 🙂

The snow it just keeps continuing this winter.  This week we had 6 inches on I think Monday, another 3 inches yesterday, topped off with a bit of ice and this morning we woke to at least another 6 inches or so.  Here are a few of this morning’s pictures……..so very pretty, but one wonders if we will ever see grass again!

Another day of snow……..it just keeps coming and coming and coming this winter!

My thoughts on the Superbowl…. "WHAT THE HULL was Belicheck thinking wearing that red hoodie?"….sigh…..

A deviation of a hair’s breadth at the center
Leads to an error of a hundred miles at the rim.
When the effort is so slight.
Why should you hesitate to set things right?
Deng Ming~Dao

Lately my hands have been giving me a lot of trouble.  Much pain and stiffness.  Some of it is part of the normal aging process I suspect and a bit of over usage…but some of it is probably arthritis..(agghhh).

I have set down my knitting for  just a little bit to give my hands a rest and in turn, I have turned to my sewing machine.  As I was wandering around Keepsake Quilting the other day, which is in my neck of the woods, I felt as though I were in a sea of color and instantly felt overwhelmed.  Have you ever felt that way in a fabric or yarn store? 

I ended up just keeping to the corner of the store where the batiks were shelved and found it much easier to concentrate on color working with a smaller array of fabric.

It’s really been such a long time since I have taken much interest in sewing.  For years I had to sew due to necessity and finances, so unfortunately when I did not have to sew….I no longer did.

As I moved away from sewing, I found that the few times I would sew, I was a lot more careless and sloppy.  As I look at my sewing machine again, I am looking at it with a renewed interest and a desire to take the time to do things the right way again, so when I opened my little book and read the above passage, on this day, it held much meaning.

Now I am shutting off the sewing machine and the computer and moving behind the stove to get the snacks ready for that one game a year we, here always look forward to and especially this year…….GO PATS!!!

A shadow edge is never on the edge.
The time to contemplate the ending is before the ending.
Den Ming~Dao

The weather here has been pretty gloomy, so it does help to play with color on these dark gray winter days.  Over the weekend, I was dyeing some yarn to fill a few orders and for the life of me I couldn’t get the color right.  I am pretty good about writing formulas down, so I checked and double checked, but still it was not coming out right.

I sat and thought about it for a little bit and took a different
appoach. I changed the pan that I had been using, and lessened the dye
amount and voila, I got the right color.  What I had forgotten was how much more dye silk absorbs compared to pure merino.

If you look at the 3 single skeins of yarn, you will see 3 different variations of the same color.  Very different, but all from the same base.   It is this part of colorwork that I just LOVE.  A little shift here and there with a dye and you get such huge variations.

Many times some of my nicest colorways
are happy accidents.  When I think back, some of my other accidents were Tupelo Honey (my favorite) and Roasting Chestnuts.  With a little tweaking, this week’s accident became Black Velvet.  I think that this one may become one of my new favorites too.

Another nice surprise on a gray day was being notified that I had received this award from Tia, Susan, Jenny and Teyani.  To say that I was incredibly flattered and very moved would be an understatement.

It still amazes me some days that people actually enjoy reading about the goings on in my little corner of the world.  Thank you!!!

Normally I am not a huge fan of sending things forward, but I have enjoyed finding new blogs from these awards that I have seen here and there.  I’m sure that I am not the first or the last to give a number of these ladies this award, but I just wanted to let them know that they always make my day :)! (
rules say to post 10 blogs and let them know that they made your day)

Knitspot:  Not only a wonderful designer, but a good friend.
Zeneedle: I am always inspired by Margene!
Caroleknits:  What can I say…everyone likes Carole.
Birdchick Blog:  Fabulous blog if you like bees or birds.
Pat’s Knitting & Quilting:  Beautiful, beautiful knits, pictures and quilts.
Hive Mind Honey:  I love this guy’s approach to beekeeping..makes me laugh.
Knitting The Blues: A good friend who always makes me laugh!
The Scottish Lamb:  We share so many similar interests.
Fiber Fool :  I love the pictures, designs and recipes here.
Tienne Knits: Tienne never ceases to amaze me with her talents.

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments about Ashley.  She sends many heartfelt thanks to all of you!!

Last night was the final round of our little Voice of the Valley, which is done in a American Idol type fashion, where the contestant performs and then waits to hear what the judges have to say about the performance.

Here is a little snippet of Ashley’s performance from last night.  Unfortunately the man in front of me was moving so much, I just couldn’t get the entire song.

The man who is playing the guitar for her is Brian’s step-dad, Bill.  Now you may remember that last year right about this time, Brian was lost up on Mt Lafayette for 3 very long, very cold days.  Also at that time, Bill was over in Iraq serving as part of the NH National Guard.  It was Bill who was able to secure a few more helicopters to search the mountain for Brian.   Twice now he has really come through for these kids and I know how much they both appreciate it.

As Ashley was standing there waiting for the judges comments, I was so proud of the beautiful young woman she has become both inside and out.

I also remembered the little girl who at least once a week, I would forget to pick up from kindergarten, due to the pickup time being the busiest part of my work day at my then job.  (another story for another time….but you can trust that I was not neglecting her..)

She would be sitting there with with her big glasses and her eye-patch and the wild curly hair she had then, looking so forlorn….until she saw me and then that little face would light right up.

Win or lose…..she will always be special to me …..
So as we sat through the results for the children and the teens, we were on pins and needles waiting for the adult’s results.  All 3 performers did a wonderful job this
night, but in the end……………….

.

Ashley became the 2008 Voice of the Valley!!  Whoo Hoo!!

Hannah recorded the full version on her camera and if you don’t mind getting dizzy from her moving around so much or the reduced voice quality, you can see it here.

Congratulations baby!!!

Imagine a sculpture
You work on every day.
If you stop, the beauty
Will slowly go away…
Deng Ming~Dao

Just before the end of the year, Anne started WIP Wednesday and I will admit, it has taken me until now to get with the program.  Last week, I set some small fiber goals and by George, I completed them. 

Bee, I so fondly call all of my Bee children, surrounded by her loyal subjects has turned around on her heels and is ready to be gusseted.  This week’s goal is to get her finished and on my feet.

My second goal was to finish the first part of Oh!Canada and I will finish the last repeat tonight during American Idol.

Have I mentioned how much I am enjoying this knit?  Ummm…why Yes I think I did, but I will tell you again.  It’s a brilliant pattern!

Next week’s goal is to get 1/2 way thru the second side.  If I can do more, even better!

Tried and True

With my goals firmly met, I thought I would take a few minutes to share some new things that I have tried and could not believe how wonderful they are with you.

.

First is this Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion. 

When I was in Texas, a friend of mine, highly recommended this lotion for dry, cracked heels.  Yes, I have to admit, I too have those damn dry cracked heels….but I can now say….had…as this product has made my heels feel like they did when I was a child….and I have tried everything.   A definite A++

Next on the must have list…is this Kiss Me Mascara.  I have always had a problem with mascara getting all smudgy on me, making me look tired, even when I am not.

  I mentioned this to my hairdresser a few weeks ago, and she suggested this mascara.

Now, when she told me it was 24.00 I almost choked!  Who in their right mind pays that much money for Mascara, surely not me…I am so NOT a make up queen??  But then I thought…well… what the heck, I will give it a try, because if it didn’t work, I could return it, so nothing to loose right?

Let me tell you, this stuff is AMAZING!  It will NOT come off until you are ready to take it off…and then it comes off in tubes.  If you forget to remove it before bed (yep, I have done that too), it still looks as fresh as when you put it on.  Simply amazing!

So there are a few little tidbits for you to tuck away on this Winter Wednesday 🙂

This weekend was an exciting one for us here at the Woolen Rabbit.  Not only did the Pats make the next round into the Superbowl, my daughter Ashley also made it into the final round of a local singing competition called Voice of the Valley.  In fact, she found out that she moved into first place with a rendition of the Beatles, "Across the Universe". 

The final competition is this Saturday night and I know she is struggling to find just the right song for her, so if you could send her some good vibes this week, I know she would really appreciate it.

It was a very full weekend here, but I did manage to squeeze in a few creative moments here and there.

Earlier this summer, I got a beautiful sewing machine that I finally sat down to get acquainted with.

My old sewing machine is one that I picked up when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, almost 30 years ago.  An old Kenmore, that did a nice zig zag stitch and a wonky buttonhole….nothing fancy, but so reliable that it still works fine even today.

I have really really wanted to get back to a little quilting though and wanted a machine that could do a little more than my trusty old Kenmore, so I spent a good part of the summer researching sewing machines, figuring this would probably be the last sewing machine I would ever get.  I went for a few bells and whistles this time around…..now I need to learn how to use those bells and whistles…eek!

On my way home from Texas, I picked up this funky dog fabric to make the dogs some new snoods.  Easy peasy sewing, but they keep the food out of the girls ears, which in turn helps to prevent any ear chewing.  Cavaliers should have nice long ears, but getting those ears, seems to be a challenge here for some reason.  Hopefully these will help.  (don’t they look cute?)

I had enough fabric left over to make a little lined knitting bag.  This was a bit more of a challenge for me as it truly has been years since I have sewn, but just like anything else, it slowly came back to me as I sat behind the machine.

So, that is pretty much my weekend in a nutshell so to speak.  A little singing, a little football, a little sewing and actually, I think I am on track with my knitting goals too.

A good weekend indeed……….

To Texas and back again in what seems the blink of an eye, has little Miss Cleo is lounging in her favorite spot back home as though we never left.

What a treat it was to have a chance to sit in the warm sunshine for close to a week.  With the snowstorm that came in on Monday, I decided to extend my stay a little bit instead of driving 2 hours north from the airport in a heavy snow storm.  I’ll take warm sunshine any day over driving in scary snowy weather!

Cleo had a good day in the ring on Saturday placing second in a very nice class, but on Sunday, she was a naughty little puppy, refusing to look at the judge no matter how the judge tried to capture her attention…haha!  I guess we found that the little Miss has a stubborn streak when she chooses.  You can only laugh when they do things like this…LOL!

I didn’t get as much knitting finished as I had thought I might, but I have been making progress on Oh!Canada.  I love the rhythm in this pattern and I really am enjoying the yarn as well. 

Another beautifully designed pattern by Anne, this pattern has a lot of texture in contrast to the lace, giving the stole a lot of squeezablity.  I know that this is going to be my new favorite.

Even though I should be knitting on a single sock sister, I can justify knitting on this stole as I would like to have a finished sample of the yarn for the NETA SPA weekend that will be happening next month.

I haven’t forgotten about those single sisters however.  I did start another sock and I was moving right along until I found a mistake that requires some RIPPing…. 

It’s amazing how quickly that squashed my enthusiasm, especially with the lovely stole sitting right next to the Bee socks, all ready to be worked on.

My goals for this week…(yes, I know it’s Friday and not Wednesday)…
….Finish the first side of the stole
….Turn the heel on the Bee Sock

Now, let’s see if I can get that done 🙂