Last Sunday was a glorious day in the mountains. Although not visible with the eye of a camera, this mountain was dotted with climbers. We were able to find at least 6 people scaling the rock walls. One was moving so quickly towards the top I wondered if he/she would continue on into the blue sky. 
....whatever you want to call it, this is all you get. Dogwood flowers for Kim, uncommon in Utah, but oh so beautiful.
Fiber Festival
Good friends, spindles, fiber fix
Draws us from afar
Have a super wonderful weekend.
Don't you just love the texture of the ground in this photo? It's the time of year when the earth is reawakening and there is a feeling of new beginnings in the air.
Terry Tempest Williams is an author, a naturalist, a native of Utah and she writes of the landscape better than anyone I've read (except Edward Abbey, perhaps). The last few weeks I've rereading her books Desert Quartet and An Unspoken Hunger. The sensual language of the earth comes through strongly in her words. Her stories create a hunger in me that can only be satisfied by walking on the land, feeling its warmth and texture.
The landscape will take care of me. The open expanse of sky makes me realize how necessary it is to live without words, to be satisfied without answers, to simply be in a world where there is no wind, no drama. To find a place of rest and safety, no matter how fleeting it may be, no matter how illusory, is to regain composure and locate bearings. Terry Tempest Williams – Desert Quartet
By design, the project on my wheel is also perfect for PS Earth Edition. Last year at the Great Basin Fiber Festival this fluff, in Anne's Wooly Wonka booth, attracted my attention. Three bunches of this earthy color, a total of 6 oz., ended up in my stash. The blend of alpaca, angora, silk and flash create a mixture of textures that form a perfect combo, a perfect bouquet of pink, red, gold, copper and brown, the colors of fall leaves. It is being spun with intent, the intent of knitting Mohana by Monika. It's going to take awhile to do.
The lovely blue roving from Indigo Moon nearly finished. There's a bit more to spin but I already have around 800 yds of singles. There were a few weakness found while winding it onto the niddy noddy, but overall it turned out nicely. Handspun for yet, another shawl...this has become "my thing".
This weekend is the Snake River Fiber Festival in Idaho Falls. Laurie and Anne will be vendors and I'll be meeting up with KimG. Emmylou (my wheel) will come along in the hopes it will remind me I have plenty of fluff to spin already. However, it doesn't mean I will come home without purchasing something (as you well know). I'd love to stay over night but AnneBis coming in from Calgary and we have plans to meet at Silver Fork. To top it all off, the weather should be heading for record warmth. We're not complaining...yet.
When life's disappointments and troubles come to visit, I find it best to turn to the landscape in search for balance and perspective. As my feet touch the warmth of sun drenched slickrock, or my ears here the crunch of leaves on the forest floor, the weight of daily life is lifted my shoulders and I feel a part of something larger. My troubles become insignificant and small. I am in the moment and it is all that matters.
"Earth. Rock. Desert. I am walking barefoot on sandstone, flesh responding to flesh." - Terry Tempest Williams, Desert Quartet
A few years ago, on a lonely, troubling day, I headed to the closest green space I could find. Simply walking across the green grass of a schoolyard, lifting my eyes to the blue sky full of feathery clouds and seeing the majestic mountain drained the dread from my body and I went home feeling more sure, more secure, relieved. The landscape is healing, uplifting and fills the soul in a way material things can never do. It is always there, a constant, changing, yet consistent, always real.
The act of creating, of knitting and spinning, can also fill the soul, strengthen the spirit. The process of creation is more than a desire; it is a need that brings solace, joy and fulfillment. This yarn, Alchemy Haiku, in the color Twig, is rich in the shaded colors of brown. Because of the tiny needles and yarn, I am forced to slow down the process of knitting which keeps me mindfully focused on the task. Shetsoie is the perfect project for PS Elements -Earth Edition.
...when you can go for a walk in a short sleeve T-shirt and not freeze to death. That's a sure measure for spring, in any case and Sunday proved to be almost perfect. For a bit of protection from the cool breeze wind that threatened the perfect day I brought along a favorite shawl. She was a nice contrast to the cool, blue NBT.
Knitting this T was a walk in the park. Simple shaping, easy stockinette and yummy, good quality yarn all made this project a sweet companion. Not to mention the fabu color, which is one of my very favorites.
The last 4 months have been cooler than normal and May is shaping up in the same way…spring is sitting on the fence. Spring's beautiful colors dance in the sun, but then retreat as clouds of gray fill the sky and cold winds blow. She is her proverbial fickle self, but my new T-shirt is true blue.
Pattern: Nothin' But a T designed by Alison
(pattern formerly in Magknits)
Yarn: Rowan Calmer - 6 balls Tinkerbelle Blue (I love this yarn because it is washable and can be thrown in the dryer, too.
Needle: Addi Turbo Size 8
Time to Knit: April 26 – May 9, 2008
Modifications: Lengthened 3" on the body before waist decreases, 1" on sleeves before increase. Picot hems on body, sleeve and around neck.
