Monthly Archives: September 2013

Weed Patrol

The weeds are out of hand this year.  I know I say that every year, but I had truthfully done ZERO outside to control them since spring.  For one, the weed whacker is broken.  Two, it’s either been mad rainy or mad hot.

This weekend, however, it has been clear and sunny and relatively cool, with a high of around 80.  Time for some weeding!

But wait!

The weed whacker is still broken!

And my pinky toe that I broke a few weeks ago (stupid, stupid.  Misjudged the bottom of the stairs around 2 in the morning and landed on my pinky toe.  It made a nice “crunch”) is still not quite healed.

How on earth to manage those pesky weeds??

Duh.

I brought up four goats: Milkshakes, Roquefort, Bertie and Sam.  We’re calling it their “work release” program.

:-)

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They all love munching down those virginia creeper vines that make me so crazy.  In one weekend these four will rip out and eat all of that overgrowth that has been plaguing the front garden for months, and I won’t have to get sliced up by prickers or assaulted by spiders.

As for the back garden: there are still sweet potato vines that look like they may produce fruit, so I don’t want to throw goats or pigs in there quite yet.  For now I have put the ducks out there.  There’s plenty of forage in there for them and bugs and they shouldn’t be able to damage the sweet potatoes too much.

Win!


Tagged: Farm, Garden, Pets

Walls And Fences …

*(No access to photo site today so I’m reblogging a previous post).

Martha’s Vineyard (actually all of New England) is known for it’s …

Stone walls …

   An ancient stone wall through the woods.

  Flowers seem to love stone walls.

Stone wall with fountain.

Oak Bluffs stone wall.

And fences …

  Edgartown fence with cat-o-nine tails.

Menemsha snow fence.

  Oak Bluffs fence with roses.

Aquinnah fence.

   Edgartown.

Peeking through a fence.


Pattern Ideas for Share Yarn – Cardigans!

Hi friends! Sarah here – you might remember me from my Hooray Ojai sweater post series. I know it’s still summery hot in some places, but where I live, it’s starting to feel like fall – cool mornings, crunchy leaves and even some rainy days. And, the Spring 2013 yarn shares are going to be here before you know it!

Because it won’t be too long until the yarn is here, I’ve already been thinking and dreaming about patterns for the Spring 2013 share yarn. I’ve been delving into Ravelry’s pattern database, and choosing some favourites – at Lauria’s suggestion, I’m going to share them with you!! :)

Whether you’re getting your share in DK or worsted weight, dyed or natural, half, full, or double, there are SOOO many awesome patterns out there. Plus, the share yarn has a LOT of excellent features: it’s very soft, but still wears well over time.  It has lots of spring and body, great for cables and texture. And the colours of the hand dyes always look stunning! I’m going to start with my personal weakness: cardigans!

Before I show you some patterns, a couple of teeny disclaimers. First, always check your yardage to make sure you have enough yarn for your size. Second, take note of ease and how the sweater fits the model. Third, keep in mind that while these patterns list a suggested yarn weight (DK or worsted), if you’re comfortable making modifications, you can often adapt a pattern to work with a slightly heavier or lighter yarn weight! Without further ado – PATTERNS!

Maybe you like cardigans with pretty yoke details? How about…

Lady Catelyn, by Avril Lang (DK weight yarn)!

Lady Catelyn

Or maybe, the Gnarled Oak Cardigan, by Alana Dakos (DK weight yarn)!

Gnarled Oak Cardigan

If you’ve got worsted weight yarn… Perhaps the Antler Cardigan, by Alexa Ludeman, sized all the way from kids to adults?

Antler Cardigan

Or Skipperdee, by Julia Farwell-Clay?

Skipperdee

What if you’d prefer your cables to be all over your cardigan? The 100% Cormo wool share yarn has so much bounce and spring, it really does an amazing job of making cables shine. Check out the lovely Burrard cardigan, in DK weight, by Glenna C.

Burrard

And the Acer Cardigan, by Amy Christoffers, also in DK weight.

Acer Cardigan

In worsted weight, I love the I Heart Cardigans pattern, from Tanis Lavallee

I Heart Cardigans

Or, also in worsted weight, with both cool cables AND lovely pockets, the Aleph Cardigan, by Hannah Cuviello!

Aleph

How about something with simple lines that will show off your special, special share yarn? I love the Atelier Cardigan in DK weight,  by Heidi Kirrmaier, which has both “simple” and “i-cord” options!

Atelier

Also in DK weight, Jaina by Thayer Preece Parker has great, dramatic drape!

Jaina

There must be some lace knitters in the house – I’ve got something for you, too! Thea Colman’s lovely Margarita pattern would be great in worsted weight share yarn, don’t you think?

Margarita

Or, in DK weight, Mari Chiba’s Ginny’s Cardigan, from the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits Collection!

Ginny's Cardigan

Enough yet? I could keep going – there are SOOO many more patterns that would show off all the amazing qualities of JMF Cormo share yarn! Honestly, I still have at least twenty other cardigan patterns on my short list. I’d love to hear which cardigan patterns YOU’ll be knitting up with your Juniper Moon share yarn!

Next time, I’ll have a whack of pullover patterns to show you. I’m so excited!

Now that it’s fall, Sarah eats oatmeal and cinnamon toast for breakfast, snuggles her cat, and piles on the handknits every chance she gets. She blogs now, too!

Ogunquit Beach …

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- by Joan -


Cabled Faux Argyle Cardi from Knit Picks

CFA cardiCity Tweed is my favorite Knit Picks yarn.  I love the tweedy-ness and the softness.  It’s lovely for both colorwork and cables.

With the Cabled Faux Argyle Cardi (let’s just call it CFA cardi, shall we, for the rest of this post?), I wanted to design a cardi that had enough interest with the cables and saddle straps but still be something that, if not TV knitting, is great for relaxing knitting and really lets the yarn shine.

It’s available at Knit Picks as both an individual pattern and as part of the absolutely lovely City Tweed Collection.  I recommend the latter — the other patterns are so gorgeous.

Pertinent Info

The sweater is knit from the top down, with stitches picked up from the shoulder straps, fronts and back joined at the armholes, and continued in one piece.

It’s easy to customize shaping as needed.

The sleeves are worked by picking up stitches along the armhole, working short rows for the cap shaping, then continuing in the round.

Finished Measurements

29 (32.75, 37.25, 41.25, 45, 48.75, 53.5, 57.25, 61, 64.75)” finished bust measurement; garment is meant to be worn with 0.75”-1.5” of positive ease.

Yarn

Knit Picks City Tweed DK (55% Merino, 25% Alpaca, Acrylic, Rayon; 123 yds/50gm): Desert Sage 24539, 9 (10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) balls.

Needles

US 5 (3.75mm) 24″ or longer circular needles, or size to obtain gauge

US 4 (3.5mm) 24″ or longer circular needles, or 1 size smaller than needles used to obtain gauge

Gauge

21 sts and 32 rows = 4″ in St st, blocked. Cabled stitch motifs average 8 sts in 1″.

Notions

Yarn Needle Stitch Markers Cable Needle Scrap Yarn or Stitch Holders Five ¾” Buttons

Skills

Cabling, chart reading, picking up stitches, short rows.

Unexpected bequest

Shortly before we left on vacation in August, I received a surprising piece of mail – a letter that included a check from the estate of a dear family friend who had died earlier this year. Her niece and executor had included a photocopied picture and these words from her will:

In addition, I would like the following persons to receive a modest bequest, which I would like for them to use to buy something frivolous such as a superb dinner in gratitude for their never wavering friendships. A small token but it comes with genuine affection.

Barbara was one of my late mother's oldest and closest friends; I'm honored that she considered me friend as well. When I was a girl, her life in NYC, and later in DC, seemed glamorous, maybe because she was not a mother, which was the dominant paradigm surrounding me. Also, she brought great gifts whenever she visited! I still remember how devastated I was to lose an enamel-band ring the very day I received it, having insisted on wearing it despite its looseness on my finger. Although officially she was my brother's godmother, I too called her mine once my namesake aunts were gone.  

When I moved to Richmond, Barbara was just a hop up the road, and I made plenty of trips to spend a night, see an exhibition, or eat something fabulous she prepared. She made us a trio when Mom and I walked the Lake District in the '90s; I never see a Beatrix Potter item without thinking BP sighting, as we each remarked repeatedly on that adventure. Charles and I were in Georgetown with Barbara when Princess Diana was killed; I think it was our first visit to the Holocaust Museum. She brought the Marcella Hazan to the Tuscan farmhouse Mimose that my parents rented in 1999, becoming the chef to my translator and Brotherman's chauffeur. And she came here as well, the last time on a trip from Greensboro, where she'd retired, with my mom. That was the weekend I'd decided to tell my mother of my plans to adopt a child – news I shared first with the confidante who could help sway Mom's response in a positive direction. 

The check arrived about the same time the remarkable artists Robin Kranitzky and Kim Overstreet had posted their latest creations on Facebook, the Peepin' Pickles. I could think of no better way to splurge in Barbara's honor: a unique piece of art that referenced her culinary gifts and sense of humor.

Pickle


ConverseIn Boston at the end of vacation, I found one more fun thing that reminds me of Barbara: Marimekko Converse All-Stars! I bet she was the first person I ever saw who'd stretched that Finnish fabric and hung it as decoration in the 1970s. She may have even purchased her print in Helsinki. While I made a total impulse purchase there on Newbury Street (only to find the Chucks offered cheaper on 6pm.com), I was happy to finish (Ha!) the bequest, especially with Brotherman, another recipient, there with me. I wonder what he's done with his? 

Oh, Barb, your lines will stay with me always: that punchline, "T'weren't me, teacher – it skeert me, too!" and "You can fool me on grammar, but you can't fool me on translation ~"

Tivoli Memories …

Saturday Sep 14, 2013 is Tivoli Day in Oak Bluffs. For anyone who doesn’t know, or remember the Tivoli building in Oak Bluffs, I’m reposting a blog entry below of my memories of it.

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Every year in September, Oak Bluffs hosts its annual street fair and block party known as Tivoli Day. Where did the name come from… and where can you find the Tivol on MV ! You can’t, only memories of it remain.

The two story, full block Tivoli Dance Hall stood from 1901 until 1964 where the Oak Bluffs Town Hall is today. The bottom floor housed shops and an ice cream parlor. My godmother worked in the ice cream parlor and I always enjoyed visiting her there… one time in particular jumps to mind. I was 3 years old and had newly mastered winking and was anxious to put it to use. Sitting at a table behind my mother and facing me was a sailor. Being that I was wearing a sailor dress I figured we had something in common and so I began winking at him… it did not take long for my mother to notice. She turned around and as she did the young sailor headed for our table. He smiled and said he was alone on the Vineyard for the day and wanted to tell my mother how charming he thought I was. (Blushing here). Not only did my mother invite him to join us at the table but she invited him home for dinner (this was the mid 1940′s). I was amazed at how powerful this winking thing was. I don’t know if we ever kept in touch with him but obviously I’ve never forgotten him… but I do keep the winking thing to a minimum.

The entire second floor of the Tivoli Dance Hall was just that, the dance hall. It was huge, at least in the eyes of a 4 year old being dragged there against her will for a dance lesson. I loved all the windows and how far you could see out of them, I liked the clicking noise my shoes made on the floor, I liked the brand new sundress I had on… but, I did NOT like the group dancing part. I remember reluctantly getting in line with the other victims, er children, but my feet did not move, they planted themselves firmly in one spot and stayed there. Everyone danced around me but I did not care to join in. My mother was not happy with me… not only didn’t I dance or even talk… but we didn’t even come home with a sailor for dinner.

(CLICK HERE for Tivoli day info)


Review: Unique Feet

Post image for Review: Unique Feet

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First, the facts:

Title: Unique Feet: Men’s Socks from the Unique Sheep

Editor: Laura Lough

Published by: Cooperative Press, 2013

Pages: 80

Type: Men’s Socks

Chapters:
No chapters, just patterns.

KS: Unique Feet

The In-Depth Look:

It should seem so obvious, shouldn’t it? Men have feet, too.

Except, the vast majority of sock patterns are written for women. The book’s introduction says that only 1300 of the 18,000 sock patterns on Ravelry are for men, but that, “It seems that lots of knitters want to knit socks for men, either because they are men or they have handknit-deserving men in their lives.”

And so–a collection of sock patterns for men. Colorful, cabled, creative … not just your boring, plain black socks, brought to you from the folks at the Unique Sheep.

The patterns run the gamut from traditional to playful and make a good case for knitting socks for the men in your life (especially if you are a man). I know that, where socks are concerned, I’ve always been grateful to have relatively small feet for a woman, and haven’t really complained that my father has no interest in my making him socks. I mean, it takes me months to churn out a pair of socks as it is, since I carry them in my purse and mostly just work on them when I’m out on weekends … I shudder to think how long a pair of men’s socks would take.

And yet, the socks here are almost enough to tempt me.

This book can be bought from the Cooperative Press.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Cooperative Press. Thank you!

My Gush: Good, because men have feet, too.

Imagery

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How much do you visualize when you read? Do you imagine faces for the characters? Can you see the locations in your mind’s eye? Or do you just plunge ahead with the story, letting the imagery fall to the wayside?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!


Counting Down!

I'm determined to have all the sloppy wet work done by the end of this week.  That will give me two weeks to slip, decorate and double fire the work to be ready for Shenandoah Fiber Festival weekend.  I can manage to fire a bisque and 1 glaze between Shenandoah....and Fall Fiber Festival.  Working, working, working......

Greenware.  These need to be glaze fired by the end of next week for the gallery in Sperryville....







Some finished work.....

(If you don't already know, goats LOVE climbing things...)


Inventory!!!