Smatterings

  • that season

    P1050623Santa arrived by helicopter at the local malls more than a week ago. Decorations were up in stores before Halloween was over and I've heard holiday music for weeks.  It means that it is busy around here.  Tomorrow morning it cranks up a notch and the season begins in earnest.  A trailer filled with poinsettias arrives and somehow, before then, we have to find room to store all of them.  Even though they will be delivered in boxes, all must be unpacked and unwrapped and given air.  Poinsettias have the poor habit of killing one another off when stored in too tight quarters.  Off gassing of sorts.  And, you thought they were "nice" plants.. right?  Everything is inside out and upside down.  Finding anything quickly is a challenge.  My studio has been dismantled and moved into the office, along with assorted decorating materials. Sort of looks like this..

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    ps.  We have a winner.  I'll tell you who it is tomorrow.  Right on the money!

    7 responses to “that season”

    1. Manise

      Wow- I didn’t realize poinsettias did that to one another. I’m so not ready to entertain the thought of Christmas yet- I need to get through Thanksgiving first. A winner tomorrow? Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂

    2. Carrie

      For some reason, my kid decided last night that he wanted to talk about Santa and watch Frosty the Snowman on DVD. I’m a little weirded out.

    3. Carole

      Busier than a one-armed paper hanger, eh?

    4. Laurie

      Sounds very exciting. Although I did think that November 9th was a bit early this year for the local station to start the all carol format.

    5. Kathy

      We saw Santa on Veteran’s Day — I’m not kidding.

    6. Cheryl

      Can I put poinsettias out on my balcony or will that kill them? Are they hardy enough to withstand the cold? Or are they more of an indoor plant?

    7. cyndy

      Got my first Christmas card in the mail today…I’m with Manise…I need to get through one holiday before I can move on…
      Once upon a time, I was at the other end of the Poinsettias…growing them by the hundreds and bagging them up. We used to have to cover them with black cloth each evening so they would be ready…even the headlights of a passing car will interrupt the photosynthesis…what a high maintenance plant!

  • next up

    P1050618

    2 ounces of silk in the most luscious champagne colorway.  Hints of peach and green, but oh so subtle.  I'm spinning as Sara recommended when I asked, from the fold.  She was right, of course.  The silk slips from the fold smoothly, making a long draw not only possible, but a pleasure.

    3 responses to “next up”

    1. Manise

      I gotta to see long draw on the spindle! For some reason I just can’t picture it in my mind. On a wheel yes, but on a spindle?? Will you do a tutorial? Pretty please? That silk does look so lustrous and luscious.

    2. Laurie

      Everyone says that. But I agree with Manise. Can’t wrap my head around that. I saw Abby do it.

    3. Anne

      She’s a smart cookie – knows more than just a bit about silk too. Bet yours comes out just beautifully!

  • the Rhinebeck Cardigan

    ..is still on the needles.  With the addition of this last skein of handspun, I am hoping to finish the sweater.  It looks a bit close. 

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    The rest of the wool is bagged but not packed away.  There are a few small worries.  Look at the bottom band.  It looks a bit too loose, wavy in this picture.  On the sleeve, I dropped back three needle sizes.  I'm thinking I'd better cut it off and knit down on a smaller needle. When this sleeve is finished, I'll steam it and try it on.  That should tell me.  The decision will have to be made soon.  Then, there is the choice of buttons.  I'm thinking that the smaller pewter buttons work best.  Six if they're small, five if I find a larger ones.  I like five. 

    7 responses to “the Rhinebeck Cardigan”

    1. Carrie

      Oooh, it’s awfully pretty!

    2. Carole

      I bet you can flatten that bottom band into submission when you block it. I love the color, Judy.

    3. Laurie

      What about blocking the sweater and seeing if the edge falls into place? (Yes, I have the same doubts, as blocking doesn’t generally make larger into smaller, but it’s worth the try.)

    4. Kathy

      It’s so beautiful!

    5. Anne

      I’m betting you make it with that last skein of handspun. I’m with Laurie. You don’t have anything to lose with a quick blocking to see if it evens out. You can always frog and reknit if it doesn’t.

    6. elizabeth

      I love it! It looks soooo comfortable.

    7. moiraeknittoo

      Oh it’s lovely. The photo makes my hands itch, wanting to pick it up and run my hands over those stitches and just feel the wonderfulness of that fiber. Wow. Beautiful!

“Our lives are dyed the colors of our imagination.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

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