Wrapping up March

Hello there. I write this post on an overcast chilly morning. For the record, the juncos have not left our area. Just this morning, two came to the front feeder. Earlier three perched on the deck railing. This past Sunday we woke to a half inch of snow. However the sun came out and it was gone by late afternoon. I can live with that kind of March snow. My brother in Billings, Montana reported a heavy wet 6 - 8 inches. Bah Humbug.  

Today is Unvaveled Wednesday with Kat and company. My knitting looks much the same as it did last week. I knit another section on the purple shawl and got the hitchhiker back on track. I finished the first sock of a pair so that is visible progress. Sunday I cast on the second sock. 

I am spinning singles from two 4 ounce braids of the same blue-gray BFL fiber. The colors resemble shades of a white breasted nuthatch. In some light it looks gray and in other light it looks blue. I split the braids horizontally by light and dark shades. Then I divided the colors so I could spin two bobbins in the same sequence. Currently I am spinning singles of light colors. Then I'll spin singles of the darker shades on different bobbins. I hope to get two skeins that can be used as one gradient. As I learn more about what to expect when spinning, I am often delighted with unexpected results. As Ada Limón wrote in the poem, "Give Me This" "Why am I not allowed delight?" 

My reading is a little scattered perhaps because these books are so different from each other. My local group is reading the fantasy/allegory Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I never read fantasy but am enjoying the beginning of the story. No doubt I'm missing the symbolism but decided not to fret and just read for awhile to get a feel for the book. I look forward to our discussion. Because the library hold came in, I am reading Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson. Atkinson is a witty writer so her asides and comments about the characters are fun to read. The story begins in 1926 amidst the mayhem of the roaring twenties in London. The cast of characters is large and the nightclub life is gritty. 

During chores and while making, I listen to Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. The description of the country coming apart before the Civil War feels eerily familiar. The story is fascinating and I will listen to the end.  In my opinion, this novel could have been better edited. With four hours left, I have heard about one too many crackling fires and curly-haired lads. I will forever associate the socks in the photo with this audiobook. Funny how that sometimes happen. 

March, in spite of gray skies, snow, and wintry mix has flown. April will be most welcome.

Ravelry Link

Raspberry Cordial Socks 

  

Spring Migration

 "There is a river in the heart of North America that annually gathers together the watery largess of melting Rocky Mountain snowfields and glaciers and spills wildly down the eastern slopes of Colorado and Wyoming.   . . .  There is a season that is an unpredictable day-to-day battle between bitter winds . . . and southerly breezes . . . There is a bird perhaps older than the river, and far more wary than waterfowl or prairie-chickens.  . . .  There is a magical time that occurs each year in the heart of North America, when the river and the season and the bird all come into brief conjunction. "  *Crane Music by Paul A. Johnsgard, p. 37 - 38

Johnsgard was a renowned ornithologist, professor, and prolific writer/illustrator. The passage above is one of my favorites and appears on displays at the Rowe Wildlife Sanctuary near Gibbon, Nebraska. Johnsgard died in July 2021 after having lived a remarkable life.   

I've lost count of how many Springs Lance and I have driven to central Nebraska to see the sandhill cranes. Early in March, thousands of cranes and other wildfowl begin their annual migration through North America. They stop in the Platte River valley to rest and feed on corn left in the fields before resuming their long flight. Some will fly as far as the Arctic and into Siberia. Flocks come and spend a few weeks and then move on. This will continue into early April.

This past Monday, the first day of Spring, was sunny and bright with a 60 degree high and so we drove the 120 miles west to Kearney. We spent a few hours on county roads in order to stop and watch cranes. After a bite to eat, we drove to the Fort Kearney State Recreation Area. As March evenings go, it couldn't have been any better. No wind blew, the sky was clear and the temperature fell to only 49 degrees. Around 6:30 p.m., we walked onto the pedestrian bridge and found a place to stand. Up river, we spotted five deer walking across the river.  A few cranes circled as we listened to individual cries. Perhaps they were calling to their mates. Cranes mate for life. How they keep track of each other in that large group is a mystery to me. 

While we watched the sunset, I listened to conversations around me. People come from all over to see the wildlife spectacle. One woman remarked she had never seen a river that looked like the Platte. Her comment came from observation and curiosity. It reminded me to be curious about the natural history of places I visit.

The Platte is not a deep channel of water but a braided river of sandbars and meandering streams. For better or worse, dams and reservoirs dot the North and South Platte branches before they join near North Platte, Nebraska. From there the river flows across Nebraska and into the Missouri. Water-flow through the Platte is a big issue with many stakeholders. 

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, cranes gathered in field near the river and the crescendo of ancient music began. One can hear the chorus before the birds lift off the ground. As dusk settled around us, large flocks flew up and down the river searching for evening roost. The moment is magical. This year the birds landed away from the bridge but at a distance visible through binoculars. Some visitors were disappointed the birds didn't land closer to the bridge but why would they? The bridge is full of human beings chattering away. Other years the cranes have chosen roosts even further from the bridge. 

The Rowe Sanctuary has established a few blinds at the river's edge. Spaces can be reserved for a nominal fee. One year we reserved spaces in a blind. The pedestrian bridge is up river a mile or so and an inexpensive State Game and Parks day sticker is the price on admission. I prefer the bridge because it gives me a wider longer view of the river and the sky.

The river view was beautiful. Still the water level is low for this time of year. Spring run-off increases the flow but Nebraska has experienced drought status for the past few years. In some areas, winter storms changed the status from extreme to severe. That the oldest birds on the planet (the earliest fossil of a sandhill crane is estimated to be 2.5 million years old) follow the same path across the continent brings me hope. Various groups of concerned citizens, environmentalists, scientists, and farmers come together to protect this fragile habitat. That is also reason for hope. Still, the status of the cranes is not certain. Continued vigilance and support is needed. 

If you want to read more I suggest:

* Johnsgard, Paul A. 1998. Crane Music Lincoln, Ne. : Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press. 

Pfost, Doreen. 2016. This River Beneath the Sky Lincoln, Ne.: Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press. 

or visit the website of Rowe Sanctuary - linked above

Knitting toward Spring

When I peer through the gray and brown landscape, Spring is visible. A tiny bit of red fringe edges the maple branches. Single blades of green grass poke up here and there. A neighbor rakes dead grass from a lawn. In our yard, the daffodils and iris are up a few inches. A few brave robins poke about in dry grass. Yesterday the juncos came to the feeder. Until they fly north, we have one foot in winter. 

Today is Wednesday and the day to link with Kat and the Unravelers who post about knitting and reading. I'm knitting on three projects with mostly forward progress. I am enjoying this purple shawl. The fabric of two strands is warm and soft. Last night during the "Read With Us" discussion, I knit until I needed to count stitches for the next eyelet section. Then I picked up the hitchhiker, adding a fourth row of eyelets when I really wanted only three. Oops. Some afternoon when I have a minute, I'll lay the piece on the counter, pull out the needle and rip out three rows. It's all knitting and I'm just getting more enjoyment from the yarn. 

Early last week, I noticed the lace pattern in this sock was a smidge off but I ignored the voice in my head and kept knitting. Eventually I noticed an extra stitch in that section. I knew if I pulled everything off size 0 needles, I'd have a hard time getting the eyelet stitches back on correctly. So I took out sixteen rows, one dumb stitch at a time. It was a good move. Not only had I added an extra yarn over, I also dropped a stitch during an SSK. Anyway, I reknit those rows and have since completed the heel turn and gusset. The color of the coordinating mini-skein that came with this yarn is more coordinating than contrasting but it's good enough for winter socks.  

Last night I finished reading Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout. Although I'm late to the party, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Strout accurately captured the slow-motion soap opera of the pandemic year. I loved Lucy for her honesty about herself and for the way she extended grace to fellow human beings. I especially enjoyed her warm relationship with her daughters. The scene of Lucy sitting in Central Park between her two daughters reminded me of the times Mom took my sister and I out for lunch. Mom rarely gave unasked-for advice but she did like to spend time with all her children. She was also someone who extended grace to fellow human-beings.

I've just begun listening to Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. The story is interesting and I hope there is an author's note at the end detailing her research. Actually I need to look for that information. The narrator's depiction of small children's voices irritates me but is only a small part. Like other families of the time, the Booth's lost several young children to illness. Since the eldest daughter is the narrator, the reader sees these losses through her eyes. It's an interesting perspective. Multiple perspectives are one of the reasons I enjoy reading. 

I hope you are seeing some signs of Spring amidst all the gray days. 

P. S. I haven't seen a junco all morning.  

Ravelry Links

Raspberry Cordial Socks  

Birthday Shawl

Spring Hitchhiker

Simply a Moment - 3/17/23

March 17, 2023  5:00 P.M.

Late on this blustery March afternoon, I sit near the window and knit on a sock. I listen to the wind and watch snow squalls come and go. Clouds race across the sky as it changes from blue to the deep periwinkle, gray, and back to blue. At times, the sun shines on snow flurries making them sparkle. The wind gusts and then quiets as I finish a round. Today the wind is definitely a verb, full of action demanding attention. A brave robin remains steady on a bare branch. We will all be glad to welcome Spring next week. 

 

Perking Along

Hello on a damp drizzly morning. The view outside my window is dreary but a few daffodils near the basement door are up out of the ground. It is March and the Spring Equinox will be here soon. I look forward to the return of color in the landscape. 

The big news is we replaced my Grandmother's Corning Ware coffee pot. I don't think she used it often but we made up for that in the last forty years. The coffee maker was one of the first Corning Ware models with the little blue flowered pattern and a good sturdy handle. We loved the coffee. Other models with plastic handles were recalled and the company quit making coffee pots. This one had a good run. Several weeks ago, the cord and the plug-in area on the coffee pot (I don't know the correct terms) became unsafe. Reluctantly, we retired it. 

I read reviews and ordered a Black and Decker drip coffee maker with a thermal carafe. The unit shut off after brewing. Theoretically the carafe kept the coffee hot but avoided the burnt taste of cooking on a hot plate. However, the coffee cooled quickly and tasted terrible. The basket and reservoir were plastic and the coffee had a bitter chemical taste. I wondered if chemicals from the plastic were leaching into the coffee. Since life is too short for bad coffee, I did more research and ordered a Hamilton Beach electric percolator with stainless steel parts. The coffee tastes great to us. It works much the same as the good old Corning Ware. It also cost $10 less than the Black and Decker. Egad. Next week I'll write the story of our thirty year old clothes dryer. We seem to be wearing out around here. 

As usual, I'm linking with Kat and the Unravelers to post about making and reading.  I made progress on both the Misti Woodlands Shawl and the Spring Hitchhiker. I'm enjoying both pieces. The purple shawl has become a meditative knit as I slow down to make sure I'm catching both strands of yarn. I pick up the hitchhiker when I have a few minutes here and there or for some variety.

Just because I felt like it, I cast on a pair of socks. The pattern, Strawberry Milk, has a small easy eyelet pattern running down the side of the sock. It's barely visible in this yarn but it keeps me entertained. 

As for reading, I found The Master Butchers Singing Club excellent. Erdrich writes well and this novel is no exception. Humor is sprinkled throughout the story and beautifully written descriptions are the norm. Although Native Americans play a small role in the story, their actions are important. I'd say more but don't want to spoil the story. Currently I'm reading The Bingo Palace by Erdrich and Tales of a Journey Through Scotland, Walking, Spinning, and Knitting Socks by Debbie Zawinski, published by Schoolhouse Press. The photographs of rural Scotland and her trip are gorgeous. On her adventure, she collected bits of breed specific fiber left by sheep and then used a spinning stick to spin and ply yarn. She designed and knitted a pair of socks for each yarn. Patterns are included in the book. I will never take that kind of journey so reading about it in this beautiful book is the next best thing.  

Sometimes I get carried away with words so thank you for sticking with my stories. Until the next post, have a good few days and keep perking along. (I couldn't resist.)

Ravelry Links

Birthday Shawl

Spring Hitchhiker

Raspberry Cordial Socks

Live and Learn

Happy March 1. The sky is blue and the sun shines this morning. The high today is predicted to be 53 degrees. March comes in like a lamb. What about you? I do see a pesky snowflake in the forecast later next week but I'm ignoring it. Snow during the Nebraska High School State Basketball Tournaments (girls and boys) is often a given.  

Today is Unraveled Wednesday with Kat and friends. The infamous gray sweater is finished. Even though it's a generic top-down raglan sweater, I learned new things about sweater knitting. Blocking did fix the ribbing-flip but the edges flared. It was too loose. Since I thought that might be the case, I knit the neckband and cuff ribbing with a size smaller needle. That worked well but the sleeves came out longer than I expected. Reminder: I need to check the row gauge before AND after washing. I will also block the next sweater before I finish the sleeves. This is the second time I've shortened sweater sleeves. I am also going to finish the neckline early in the project. As Kym reminded me, it affects the fit of a sweater. 

Anyway, I reknit the ribbing on the body. I shortened the sleeves and reknit that ribbing. The new-to-me Hiya Hiya Grandma's Stretchy Bind-off suggested by Mary and Kym worked well all seven times that I knit it. Ha! There is nothing like repetition to cement new learning in an old brain. After twice through with the video, I had the bind-off memorized. I don't know how much wear I'll get from the sweater this month but I do like it and will wear it next year. Sweater knitting is a process. 

I cast on this Hitchhiker from a skein of stash yarn. The tonal blush colorway is named Little Lamb. It looks like Spring to me. Pink always reminds me of my Grandmother, Grama Grama as my kids called her. This yarn is definitely Grama Grama pink. I plan to knit three rows of eyelets every ten teeth. They will mark progress and keep me going. 

Last night I worked on the shawl below. I cast it on in early January and set it aside to focus on the sweater. The mohair silk lace yarn was purchased with a birthday gift card from my sister so it has happy thoughts associated with it. I have long wanted to knit this design (Ravelry link) with this yarn. Although you can't see it in the photo, the garter stitch sections alternate with eyelet sections in stockinette. The shawl ends with a lace border that looks like leaves or trees. 

And for the record, I frogged the scrappy socks. The lime green color wasn't for me and I wasn't enjoying them. Why, when I have five perfectly good skeins of stash sock yarn, would I fuss around cutting and measuring that lime green yarn? I'm not ruling out scrappy socks as I knit a pair with autumn colors several years ago. They were fun to knit and are still nice to wear. 

Chapter's Book and Gift Shop in Seward was delightful. The owner carries a large selection of children's books, local authors, and some poetry. The fiction section was small with some recent releases and paperback novels about books, bookstores, librarians, and libraries. That's an interesting choice but having been in business since 2004, the owner knows her customers. I came home with a signed copy of Ted Kooser's Splitting an Order as it is one volume I've always wanted on my shelf. I also purchased Ada Limon's, The Hurting Kind and a paperback copy of Curious George Goes to the Bookstore.  

Jonah and Norah enjoy the three Curious George books I own. We have read them a million times and I'll keep reading as long as they want to listen. In this new story, George tries to help the bookstore owner by using new books to build a book tower display. What little one can't identify with that? I have a basket of picture books as well as a few on the coffee table. When they call "to read," I flip the camera to "show the choices." They choose and I read. They often fill in phrases for me. It's great fun.

I am reading The Lions of Fifth Avenue with my local book group this month and enjoying the history of this New York City public library. I have just begun the last book of the Erdrich read-along, The Bingo Palace. After several more contemporary stories, this older novel is a return to the characters in the Love Medicine series. Perhaps I've just grown up, but Erdrich's writing strikes me differently than it has in the past. Discussing the books with a group of readers has deepened my understanding of her work. 

Have you learned anything new this week?

Here's to March and the arrival of Spring - soon. 

Ravelry Links

Striped Pullover

Spring Hitchhiker

Birthday Shawl