In a Nutshell

There wasn't very much happening this weekend that was interesting.  It was not a good time to head into the mountains as we had two very windy days that filled the air with dust.  Every time we left the house Smith ended up having a sneezing fit and becoming congested.  You could feel the dust on your skin, in your lungs and nose...it was most unpleasant. The only reason we could see the mountains at all is because we live so close.  Another mile away and they were completely obscured.  It was rather hellish, to say the least.

Now, don't fall out of your chair, but I did some cooking this weekend and actually enjoyed it.  The recipes that attract me are easy to do , use simple ingredients and are very tasty, of course. This eggplant gratin was the perfect dish for the organic eggplant from this weeks food delivery.  The organic produce box has different items each week and it challenges me to try something new.  The internet makes it easy to find recipes that fit my criteria and it's been fun and enjoyable to try new meals.

I also did a bit of shopping at the LYS, Unraveled Sheep.  After seeing Julia's finished Tree Jacket I've been wanting one of my own.  This gray to black Araucania Nature Wool caught my eye and should make a beautiful sweater.  While on my Araucania kick I also picked up a deep rusty orange Ranco.  Buying sock yarn has done nothing to entice the Sock Mojo back from vacation, however.

One thing I tried to do over and over this weekend, to no avail, was to get a good picture of Persephone (kits now available).  The colors in Judy's yarn elude the camera (there is much more brown and more depth than you see here), but this picture shows the texture (unblocked) of the pattern.  I'm enjoying it because it's not the same stitch pattern over and over.  When I sit to knit Persephone I must make sure there is time to finish a repeat (of about 75 rows or so) because it is addicting and invigorating to do.  Two repeats are now finished...hurray!

I also did a bit of spinning. It's taking a long time to spin a bobbin of this gorgeous Indigo Moon roving, but if I say so myself, it's looking a bit like Malabrigo Lace Weight.  I'll be happy if it's half as nice as that.  The color is totally gorgeous!

More knitting was accomplished, a bit more spinning (as on a spindle) and even time with grrlfriends...but if I spilled it all today I'd have nothing for the rest of the week. 

Did you all have a good weekend of knitting and/or gardening? Despite the cold weather it's looking more like spring here everyday.

Comments

[jessie]

Well, our outdoor palette is still mostly brown, although a few daffodils popped this weekend. I was the PERFECT weather: temps in high 70s, sunny, light breeze. Ahhhhh. If only it would stay that way!

I did some gardening. It was good.

[norma]

You cooked! Good girl. I scanned the recipe, and it seems like a can't miss thing. I've recently learned that ricotta is a nutritional bargain. A quarter cup has 30% of the daily requirements of calcium. I never knew that!

[Jennifer]

Ooh - that Tree Jacket looks like a keeper. Thanks for the link.

[Judy]

Looks like a very good weekend, filled with indoor color.

[Kim]

Your spinning fiber is beautiful! It was a gorgeous weekend here...warm and wonderful!

[Lucia]

What a perfect blue. I did a little knitting, a little outdoor spinning, and I got to spend some quality time with the WoolyBabe (oh, and with Ruth too) yesterday.

The best part of my weekend was that I held down the fort, including Taz, while Grant and Miss B were away in Vermont just for a little break for the two of them. (This was an installment on payback for all those festival weekends.) I am pleased to report that Taz and I are both still alive and that they'll be back this evening.

[CindyCindy]

Yay Spring! I heard about your dust storms and thought about you all. Dangerous and unpleasant, I fear. I love the Tree Jacket and your yarn choice is lovely. And, your spinning? It's so incredibly beautiful. Like a summer sky. The co-ops are full here in Middle Earth most of the time, so we have to go to the farmer's market. Still, fresh veggies and fruits are such a joy, aren't they?

[Fiona]

Those dust clouds look so scary... and the blue singles so beautiful. Plenty of knitting here, but no gardening - too much rain. But it keeps the grass green, at least!

[Chris]

You had a very productive weekend! We actually had a clear and sunny yesterday, although it looks like rain for the rest of the week.

[Stitch-n-Snitch]

Cooking is good!! :)

[Vicki]

It's looking like spring here, too, getting greener by the minute! Hope your weather sees improvement this week.

[P-la]

I just had the tree jacket pattern in my hands last night. It's definitely moving up on my "to do" list.

[Laura]

Lovely - ALL! Your Tree Jacket will be stunning as are all of your knits. It's so fun to knit. And acquire yarn. heh

[Carole]

Our weather was perfect on Saturday, a bit cooler on Sunday and today it's not too bad either. It's a 3 day weekend here in MA and I'm making the most of it!

[Marcia Cooke]

All that beautiful stuff and what jumps off the screen at me is "LYS, Unraveled Sheep". HUH?! One I didn't know about? I thought I had hit them all....well, you'll have to give me directions for when we get back out. Maybe June. Lovely spinning!

[Marcia Cooke]

My comment just got lost....lovely spinning, but what's this? A LYS I didn't know about? Is it new? You must send directions so I can check it out next time we are in Utah!

[Beth S.]

That is SUCH a Margene-color. :-)

[Wool Winder]

The weather was beautiful here, but circumstances kept us at home. Much knitting was accomplished, but no spinning. However, the blue you just spun up is making me want to dig through my roving stash and find something pretty to play with. Though I don't think I have anything as gorgeous as that.

[Anne]

The dust and wind out on the island were stunning - as in... we felt stunned a lot. :) Beautiful on Saturday, but it was cold out there in the wind yesterday!

Looks like you had a great fibery weekend!

[Stacey]

That blue is WONDERFUL! How bright and cheery. Now if we could get malabrigo to dye a color like that. The wind was crazy here too this weekend.

[Pat K]

Wow, I love that blue! No gardening this weekend, but a little cooking -- turkey vegetable soup with homemade stock.

[Cookie]

What a beautiful blue!

I'm sorry you had to hide from the wind all weekend. Sounds like life here. At least, you got to have some fun, though.

[Heather Joins The Round]

Lovely color!

I'm sick of wind, myself.

[elizabeth]

Beautiful spinning! And I agree, it's SUCH a Margene color!

[Nora]

One good thing about a crummy day: it gives you an excuse to hunker down and knit!

Beautiful blue.

[Teyani]

Your spinning is an encouraging nudge to get me back to my wheel. I've ordered up some fiber that might just do the trick.

[Hillary]

Darn, that Tree Jacket looks like fun -another thing on my queue. I think it grows almost every time I come over here to visit.

[marie in florida]

blue; like cotton candy.

[KarenJoSeattle]

I feel a bit better about our wildly varying weather now. It's way too cold for gardening, and occasionally way too wet, but I did many knitterly things this weekend.

And tonight I go see Stephanie talk and then I'll knit in a long signing line. I can't wait.

[sandy]

Oh, stop it. Stop it right now~! Putting the link for that beautiful persiphone scarf up there, as if I can knit lace. HA. It's not nice, you flaunting your lace knitting and me wanting to knit lace but cannot.
:D
(To all of Margene's pals that may think I am serious, I am not. Not. Kind of, but in a loving way. )
xoxoxo
LOVE YA, MAHHHHGENE!

[sandy]

Of course, I spelled PERSEPHONE from memory and it was wrong. Oops.
(In case you did not get it the first time, I love it!)
:D
xoxo

[Kelly]

Even though you couldn't go outside much it looks like you found some great inside stuff to do. I too love the tree jacket it's been on my must knit list for awhile now. Beautiful spinning!

[Jennifer]

What a brilliant and beautiful blue spinning fiber!

[Keatyn]

I am so sorry to hear that my idea of buying sock yarn to bring back your sock mojo didn't work. I love the blue yarn you are spinning though it is beautiful.

[angie]

pattern is very pretty.

[Birdsong]

What an electric blue! I did garden a bit on Sunday,even though it was quite chilly and windy here, and knitted a bit.... Persephone is lovely:) Give my sympathies to Smith about the sneezing; have been suffering a bit myself.

[Sharon]

Yeah, I'm winded out myself. Nice job on the Indigo Moon!

[Cheryl S.]

I had the same experience when I was getting produce from the CSA. I'd get things I'd never cooked before, and would have to go out in search of recipes for them. It's a great way to expand your horizons!

[Ann]

The Tree Jacket is lovely... another one for the que. And what spinning you've done!