Month: July 2006

  • spinning, spinning

    Wow, it’s late already. It’s been a busy day – out to Caynes by transit (which ain’t that easy), a 15 km bike ride (not that long I know, but I’m terribly out of shape), canning up some of those lovely cherries from the other day, knitting, and spinning! Ahhh.

    The canning – this was my first experience, mainly instructed by the Joy of Cooking. I did the whole cherries, pit and all, in a medium syrup. Boiling water bath (in just a really big pot on the stove), four half liter jars. One of them seems to not be sealed properly – the lid popped while it sits cooling. Ah well, that just means I’ll have to eat them soon. The others seem to be sealed. It took a long time to get the pot to a boil, but other than that it was actually pretty fun. And the pretty, pretty jars of fruit are worth it! Tomorrow: adventures in jam making…oh, and I made some mint chocolate chip ice cream that turned out super yummy. I loves me some new foody experiments!

    Spinning – I’ve been working on some new yarns for the shop; it’s all going a bit slow because I haven’t had much time to sit at the wheel. Seems it’s easier to find the time when I’m actually in classes! Nowadays I’m just busy doing other stuff out and about!

    Which leads me to the knitting…it’s not that I haven’t been doing it, because I have. But not anything terribly exciting, really. Lots of titbits. Stockinette socks. I did finally do the button band of VBC and need to sew the shoulders together so I can do the neckband, then sew everything else together. The supermerino sweater is almost almost done, but again – just needs that time where I can sit and finish it. I’ve been carrying around a ball of Lana Gatto VIP (merino/cashmere) and a set of dpns to start a set of legwarmers, but I just can’t seem to get around to doing it!

    I did manage to knit a piece of a sweater – the back of the Sand Dollar pullover from Knitting Nature, for LK’s Megan I. We’re getting in some Posh Yarns cotton/cashmere, and working on a sample out of it – it’s soooo yummy.

    Hmmmm. Perhaps it’s time to go do a few rows on the supermerino cardi. Night!

  • geez, already?

    Fall Interweave Preview is up.

    Sorry it’s been so quiet around here; more later tonight, I promise!

  • two pair

    Whew, time sure flies by when you’re out of the house nearly the entire week! Monday, Megan H. and Stacey came by to pick cherries!

    Megan, being the tallest one, was atop the ladder while Stacey kept an eye out. I was in charge of getting bowls and picking gooseberries. It sure goes a lot faster (and more fun) when you’ve got people to pick with!

    Lots and lots of cherries, plus a good amount of gooseberries (going to try my hand at jam).

    Talk about a big bowl of cherries. Megan and Stacey each took some, and I took a big tupperware-full to the party yesterday, where they got eaten (and I gave gave the extras to Megan I.). I’ve still got a whole bunch left though!

    Back to the knitting – I haven’t been doing that much lately, just a bit here and there. I did manage to finish the Lorna’s Laces socks, though.

    I’m digging the slightly longer than my usual ribbing. I did these toe up, short row toe and heel. Maybe 3/4 of a skein each? I was using leftovers.

    What else…oh, the boy and I cooked up a solution to the plying head problem:

    A couple of wooden blocks drilled out by yours truly, plus some metal washers (which had to be drilled out a bit in the middle as well – I left that to him to do). Very secure, and seems to work well, but I’ll have to put it to the test soon!