Zeneedle...needleart as life

Rockin' N Rollin'

Over the weekend the knitting bug bit hard. Despite a strong reaction, no damage was done, no scar left behind, just strong urges to knit. It felt good to knit, to have a strong desire to knit, and to make it even better...my brain worked!

Oh the ends!  Before any more knitting ensues, the ends will need to disappear.

After 3 weeks of neglect, I picked up the Sky Skarf and knit it "to date". Because I keep a little journal, and often take pictures, it's not hard to catch up. The last few weeks have been a mix of grays, with a few days of brilliant blue thrown in. While I'll never be able to tell which rows are from the trip to Massachusetts, I'll know they are there.

The secret of this project is to not leave the knitting for more than a couple of weeks.  The journal helps with memory and photos help with color, but more than the scarf, it is watching the sky, being aware of its beauty and looking up to ackowledge the awe and joy this expanse creates, no matter its color.

Whirlwind

Last week I traded my mountain view for a view of the beach. While the blue is as beautiful as the Caribbean, this beach is further north and not nearly as balmy.  I have no complaints as seeing family and friends, plus walking on any beach, is heaven, as far as I'm concerned.

Wrapping up in warm coats and scarves was the best way to weather the wind.

Friday we drove to New Hampshire to celebrate Passover with family and had a little stop over for lunch at Teresa C's. Carole, Kim and Laurie (in a surprise visit) were able to join us and it was so wonderful to see them.

Terry makes a mean martini (in a very pretty glass) and we grrls had a happy afternoon.

It all ended too quickly, but it was fun to hug a few grrlfriends and celebrate 90 years young with a fabulous man.

Here's to you Uncle Bob! We should all live as well and as beautifully as you do!

What a Difference

 
The weekends go so quickly and this weekend offered a much needed respite from a very busy week. For the first time this year, we spent an evening on the patio laughing, drinking (oh yes we did), and enjoying the night air. While the clouds put on an interesting show, and the temperatures foretold of warmer nights ahead, we knew the sky was a precursor of Sunday's storm.

Despite Sunday's rain (with a bit of snow thrown in for good measure), spring planting is just around the corner and, in fact, the potato patch is ready to go. Last fall Smith planted garlic which has grown well during this year's unseasonable warmth.  The spinach and lettuce planted, as a gamble, earlier this year have also made good progress. To say we're anxious would be an understatement.

Speaking of anxious... Kym is quite anxious (and excited) about March Madness and would like your help to determine between her two finalists. Voting (on Kym's blog) will be open from Monday through Wednesday before 9:00am EDT and all voters will be eligible for a prize package (to be determined by random drawing). Kym's prize packages are always wonderful.  If you mention my name it could give me an advantage. Happy Voting!

Oh, My! I Almost Forgot!

Everywhere you look spring is making inroads, as flowers push through the earth, leaves green up the branches, and blossoms come forth adding spots of color to the landscape. Of course, this means snow!

 Man oh man, it was cold yesterday. The temperature barely hit 40 and snow flurries skittered across the sky throughout the day.  The jonquils were flattened by a couple of inches of snow, and while they do bounce back, it's sad to see.  Today is replay of yesterday, except that it's the first day of spring(!) and blue skies are taking over. We hear it will be 70 by weeks end, so spring is doing its best to send winter packing.

Today IS cause for celebration, although the celebration should have been March 1st. That's the day I started blogging 8 years ago! If not for Vicki's post today, who is also celebrating 8 years, the anniversary may have never entered my head. Here's the stats:

Total posts: 1962
Total Comments: 63,337
Total Friends: HUNDREDS!! You make my heart sing!

Vicki says, 4 more years!  I guess, I'll second that. It's hard to imagine giving this up, although posting is, and will be, more sporadic. Blogging has become a part of who I am and I'll stick with it as long as I'm willing and able.

Since the comments aren't anywhere near a nice round number, I'll pick two random comment winners and, if they reach 63400, I'll give away a third prize.  Bloggiversaries mean prizes for you!  Thank for you reading, my friends!!  Winner's will be drawn and annouced Friday afternoon.

Between Blue and Gray

(Pictures of sky and scarf are through February 18th)

Much of February has been gray, but as you can see from the pictures, I have a tendency to photograph only the blue skies or the interesting skies, and not the plain, boring, flat gray. Some mornings the clouds catch dawns early light and, sometimes, at the end of day, the sky will clear. However, for the most part, the skies have been gray.

Knitting this scarf is a challenge because of the variable nature of the sky. I've always loved that ever-changing nature, but now, it means I have to knit ONE row of blue and ONE row of gray.   Knitting the sky brings its constancy of change into focus and I no longer look at the sky unencumbered. The scarf has had a tendency to drag me down, as in, "oh no, I'll have to weave in more ends!".  I am ever hopeful there will be solid streaks of blue in the near future.

Now, my friends, if you look closely you'll see, except for the last few rows, all of the ends have been woven in. The scarf is far less "hairy" and I plan to keep the ends under control, just to keep the sky from driving me crazy.

It's That View Again

Well, actually, I stood in the same spot, but took a picture of the mountains just to the south of "my mountain".  Even though, from this vantage point, "my mountain" looks higher, the peaks to the south are the tallest mountains in the range. I've been fearful our view would disappear, as next door is a horse property a developer would love. However, a new barn has been built so the fear has evaporated.

Friday the day started out very gray, but by the time I got home from work, it was 55! Sadly, it has been raining, snowing, or gray and cloudy ever since.

Inside the house, I'm waiting for a little bit of spring to appear. Suzy planted a pot of crocus bulbs for me and they're just breaking through the soil. Everyday I check their progress and I'm enjoying the anticipation, the mystery of the wait.

There has been knitting, but I seem to be enjoying it "behind the scenes". While I like to hearing about the process of a project from other knitters, my own tongue has been tied. One project has worked its way to the fore and has taking the bulk of my attention, while another has had a tiny bit of time. The rest of have been abandon, although, they are never far from my thoughts.

This obtuse project report may not be worth sharing, however, it is all I can muster at the moment. A full knitting confession is marinating in my head, but may take awhile before reaching fruition. It will happen, my friends...soon--ish.

The Sky Report

I may be stuck in a picture rut, as the only sky photos on my camera are of the mountain, the mountain which is the predominate part of my view, Mt Olympus.  Even when we walk along the Jordan River, miles from our home, my eye searches out Mt. Oly. 

If you live on the east side of SLC, and your view looks towards the Wasatch, Mt. Oly will encompass a large part of the view, albeit, not necessarily the same vantage point. As close as we are to the mountain, its majesty awes, even though it is not the tallest of the range.

This may turn out to be an amazing fail of a project, but my hope is to see it through until the end of the year.  The ends of this grand experiment may or may not be under control by then, but they show just how variable our sky has been.  I knit the weeks sky colors every Sunday night, so this photo represents the sky through Feb 5.

Eye Candy Sky

Wednesday's dawn was full of fire. The rest of the week has been gray and cold, sans snow.  Ground Hog day was yesterday, but how can there be 6 MORE weeks of winter when we haven't had winter at all? 

(I need to find a pink/salmon yarn to use in my scarf!)

Sky Shine

The sky captured my imagination this past week, with its ever changing color and texture. The changing nature has, however, made it difficult to replicate in an orderly way. How on earth am I going to make this scarf look like anything other than a schmatta when I weave in the ends? Blue one day, white, gray, dark gray, med gray, back to shades of blue the next…the beauty of the sky is a little hard to knit. I am not complaining, just commenting. 

Gayle asked to see frequent shots of the scarf as it grows and I will do my best to post the scarf a couple of times a month, both here and on Ravlery.  Some weeks life turns a bit crazy and finding time for pictures of sky or scarf can be diffifcult, but I will try, as long as the sky continues to inspire.

Toque

My Woolen Rabbit Mara Toque (sorry no link) has been slowly growing, but the gauge must be off, as I had to knit the largest size in order for it to fit my pin-sized head.

Maybe it will grow when blocked and, no, I did not check the gauge when I started. It's lace, it's a hat, it will fit someone (that someone is me!). If my knitting mojo continues to hang around there should be a finished hat some time next week and, since it's been a long time between FOs, it will feel good to have this beauty off the needles.

This is the Sky Scarf at the end of last week. Even though we had hopes for a good amount of snow, there has been pathetically little. This week I will try harder to snap memories of the sky and, maybe, we'll have snow!

In truth, I'm not sure why this post posted, as I thought it was sitting in draft form.  I finished Mara over the weekend and intended an FO post, no this.  Anywoo....TTL!

Congrats to Nancy H, as she was the winner of the Jean Moss book, Sweet Shawlettes.