Zeneedle...needleart as life

Process

For the past year the universe has stressed, in every way possible, the lesson I must be here to learn. The first time I heard the words "it's the process" was in an embroidery class. Handwork is a slow process, one of delicate precision, thorough study, careful attention and deliberate action. The seed was planted; the first steps of the journey taken, and as a way of being mindful of a focused life, I adopted the tagline, "It's the process".

One year ago today, I was admitted to the hospital, my future uncertain, but quickly, and deliberately, a plan of action was set in motion.  The process of saving my life became the focus and I stepped onto the path of renewal. It was a roller coaster and I road it with little emotion, understanding the course could not be altered. Thus, began the process of healing.

The process was extremely difficult, but everyday brought improvement, sometimes slow, but often happening in leaps. The journey has been interesting, uncomfortable, enlightening and, even, incomprehensible, but one thing is certain, the process continues.

The lesson of life's process has recurred through knitting, and it has been stressed in a new favorite summer pastime, gardening. There is no way to get away from the fact that it IS the process, baby. The process is ongoing, never ending.

September is the month of my "rebirth" and I can't help but celebrate life's wonderful processes.  Thank you for being part of this journey, for reading, and celebrating with me. The process continues!

Foody Weekend

While in a garden, or when the kitchen is full of garden harvest, it's difficult to think of anything except food.  We spent the weekend harvesting, eating, investigating ways to eat, or save, our bountiful goodness. The garden is bursting with flavor and every bite must be savored.  

In part, this post is being written while sitting in the kitchen with the aroma of Vicki's Roasted Tomato recipe filling the house, filling my nose, awakening and arresting my senses. 

We bought a couple of peppers, in varieties we hadn't grown, but almost everything else was from the garden. 

Oh my, oh my! It not only smells like heaven it looks like heaven, as the flavors roast and blend.  The big old roasting pan, one we inherited from Smith's mother (and was likely a 1938 wedding present), was the perfect way to cook up a batch of this tasty sauce. 

To insure a taste of summer this winter, we tucked the sauce away in the freezer...a difficult, but necessary task.  Come on tomatoes! We need to make more of this tasty goodness, both to eat now and to save for later.  Once you start you just can't stop, because this roasted sauce is that good.

Flaw-de-daw

Setting off on TTL mini-marathon sounded like a wonderful idea, as Que Sera and Hamamelis have been patiently waiting their turn in the queue. With the hope of smooth roads ahead, I picked up where I'd left off, but (and this is a big but) without carefully rereading or paying attention to the pattern. You'd think I'd learn, but apparently, I'm a slow to understand. 

(front band wrong!)

There were little whispers, the niggling little voices, telling me something might be wrong. However, I knit on and on, happily in my stupor, mindlessly making progress. (ha!) Then realization hit and it was if I'd been shaken from a dream...Que Sera was wrong, all wrong.  Major damage had been done; a big mistake, one that could not be ignored, made it necessary to frog six inches of knitting. One can not change Double Moss stitch into Seed stitch and be happy. Good knitting just doesn't work that way.

Instead of letting the error be, or allowing it to do me in, I rewound the yarn and, with redoubled effort, started again (heavy sigh), this time paying careful attention to the written pattern.

(front band right!)

And so the process goes.  Cotton Fleece has held up well to my shenanigans. The (reknit) fabric is as good as new and I'm rather excited about wearing Que Sera…down the road...when she's finished...you know? This may not be a quickie knit, but I'm staying focused and I will be a better, more conscientious, knitter from here on out.

Perfect Backdrop

Silver Lake is a special place, one of peace, friendship and beauty. It's a spot that draws us on a regular basis, one we can travel to quickly from our home. The short walk around the lake, about a mile, is just enough to calm the soul and enrich the spirit. Silver Lake is also a perfect place to photograph finished project, to show a creation of ones own.

Traveling Woman (a free Ravelry download) was happy to travel up the canyon for her debut. If one is known as a traveling woman, then she should travel when she can. Silver Lake will not be her last stop, as she unfurls her wings for a flight across country, to adorn the shoulders of a friend.

 

Happily, there was sufficient yarn to add a repeat and make the shawl a little larger, even if there was a little deep breathing during the bind off. Ten yards was all that was left (with a sigh of relief).

After struggling the last few months to find my love of the process, it has returned with a flourish.  Traveling Woman, in combination with the divine yarn, assures me she will be the warm hug I cannot give in person.

Raveled here

Toodling Tuesday

The extra long weekend was lovely, with so much packed into it there was little time for anything other than fun. Not to say that you all aren't fun, but one much live away from this contraption from time to time.  My favorite photo from the weekend.  Yes, that is Silver Lake.

 

In the Garden

Quack, quack.

There is an overabundance of duck shaped squash in our garden, each one more tasty that the last. Daily harvesting is a must, as peppers, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes, seem to grow overnight, as if almost outof nowhere. Melons, beets, lettuce and radishes will soon follow suit. Orion is overhead in the wee hours, a sure sign fall is near.

If Millie could crow she'd be shouting from the treetops that she is the best fed (along with her sister-hens) chicken in the world.  If someone comes to call it's a sure bet they'll be bearing gifts of too good to compost (but perfect for birdies) blueberries, corn and lettuce. 

Knitting time has been at a premium, but here and there I peck away at what I can. Community Gardens is growing more slowly than Millie, or the garden, because she receives less attention. She is, however, no less enjoyable.

 

Happily, with the next few days off for a mini-vacation, I'll have a little time to knit, relax, garden, and maybe take a hike. 

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

One day last week Smith called to see if I was up for an impromptu evening out. Attending a Bees game with friends sounded like a great idea, but it dawned on me, there was nothing suitable on my needles! All projects in progress were complicated or too big for portability. I love baseball, but how on earth would I make it through a game with nothing in my hands?

I tried to summon Mr. Sock Mojo but, he was not available in any capacity. I felt betrayed and turned to my stash for help. Stumbling around the fiber/junque room, digging through baskets of yarn and stacks of patterns, offered no inspiration. I was on the verge of tears.

Sometimes my brain is slow in its processes, but I suddenly remembered I had just purchased a new pattern, with the intent of using a yarn from my stash. As luck would have it, housed with the skein of unwound yarn, was a small amount leftover from a mostly used skein. I was ready to go with pattern and yarn.

However, when I purchased the pattern I had also printed of instructions for the Twisted German Cast On, with the intent of finally learning this technique. Smith was tapping his foot, but I sat down to figure it out. The first few stitches were a struggle, with constant need to reread the instruction and wrong way twisting, but something finally clicked and I was able to cast on enough stitch to understand the construct.

After arriving at the ballpark, my memory kicked in and I finish the cast on without the instructions. (Let's hope this new technique is now stuck in my head.) For much of the game I knit the ribbing, which was simple enough I could keep an eye on the game. We enjoyed our night out, made even better when the Bees won in the 10th inning. I'm chalking up all this success to the magic of baseball.

The Garden Sky

My Favorite Red Head

Millie is growing quickly, as are the other hens.  We're hoping for eggs within the next couple of weeks.

Oh, and maybe we'll have garden few tomatoes, too!

Too busy to blog...I'll catch up with you later.

Sending Lace Prayers

(click button for Blue Sally's blog)

Every stitch was created with the prayers and healing thoughts.  It is a gift to be able to give time, love of process, and a beautiful handmade creation to someone you love.  My heart is full of thoughts for the recipient and grateful to hear she improves each day.  From across the miles this is not all I can do, as I can continue to pray for her strength to return and for a continued healing. 

Fountain Pen by Susan Lawrence, published in Interweave Knits Spring 2009 knit with Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin, Kornblume