July Making

Hello Gentle Readers. The week or so of pleasant warm summer weather is giving way to another bout of high heat. So goes the summer in southeast Nebraska. The tomato plants in the raised bed are loaded with fruit and look lush and green. The plants in the other vegetable patch are a bit shaggy. There is some kind of blight going on in that soil. Mind, the plant with cherry tomatoes is producing a bumper crop and I've now canned fifteen pints of bread and butter pickles so that area has produced some vegetables. The butterfly bush is finally blooming and the bumblebees have found the zinnias. 

Wednesday is the day to post about making and/or reading. Kat lost her dog recently and so won't be hosting her link-up.  Pickling and gardening took up time this week so my knitting doesn't look much different than it did last week. I'm still knitting on the pink projects, socks and a summer top. I did get back to my spinning and plied two bobbins of Corriedale fiber into a 208 yard skein. To date, I have spun 783 yards of a light sport weight yarn. I have one more bump of this fiber to spin and then I'll have enough yardage for a project. Awhile back, Kat made a suggestion for a wheel adjustment and it made a big difference. Thank you Kat.  I was having trouble with the singles breaking/pulling apart wile plying but this last skein was a joy to ply. I've enjoyed spinning smaller skeins. The plying feels more manageable to me. 

Because library holds come in at the same time, I continue to listen to and enjoy Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter. Last night I listened to Hunter's narrative about the AIDS Memorial Quilt. She can tell a story. I am also listening to The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. The story follows the friendship of two girls in Tehran who meet as young girls in the 1950's and subsequently grow up during tumultuous years in Iran. For a while, their paths diverge as one lives in the upper middle class and the other in more impoverished circumstances. They reconnect in high school and university. I'm reading this novel for the story and enjoying the exposure to the rich culture of Iran. This is a cautionary tale about the rights of women and I recommend it. The narrators in both of these audiobooks are excellent.  

I hope July is treating you well. This afternoon I'm off to harvest more basil and see about mending a bedspread. The new ones are expensive and I couldn't find one I liked so I'm going to try mending. Wish me luck. 

And so it Grows

Hello Gentle Readers. Well, it's been a week. I am thankful for air conditioning, making, and reading. As I compose, I'm watching a blue jay perched on the deck railing watching a gold finch eat from the tube feeder. Is it a stretch to think the blue jay with cocked head is trying to understand how the finch can balance on that perch and ingest chipped sunflower seeds from the tiny hole? Maybe I'm not the only one who feels like life is precarious and hard to understand.  

The garden is growing. I harvested and froze some chopped basil and made one batch of bread and butter pickles. We've also enjoyed a handful of cherry tomatoes and three garden tomatoes. As my grandfather used to remark, the hot humid days and nights are "tomato growing weather." He would have known as he grew beautiful vegetables.

Today is Wednesday, the day to post and link with Kat and the Unravelers. During the stretch of four extremely hot days, I ventured out to turn on the drip hoses in the gardens but have mostly been indoors. I finished up the neck shaping and joined the stitches of the summer top. I continue with raglan increases in the round. I do like the fabric I'm getting with this yarn and these needles. When my hands need a break, I knit on the bright pink socks. The second sock of this pair has a heel flap. I'm ready to turn the heel, my favorite part of sock knitting. I don't know why I'm amazed that steady knitting on a project or two generally means progress. 

I read Pax by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen as the second book in my buddy read with Micah. This is a story about a young boy and a fox that asks some hard questions about peace and war and life. The structure of alternating chapters between boy and fox as narrators is well paced. The relationship between the woman veteran of war and the boy is heartwarming. 

Currently, I'm reading Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks, the only novel written by this poet. Mary suggested it to me and I am glad she did. Maud Martha narrates her experiences as a black girl and woman in Chicago in the 1940's. From the first sentence of the opening chapter, a description of Maud Martha, I knew I was in the hands of a lyrical writer. In a few short pages, Brooks tells us much about Maud. I'm two-thirds of the way through this short novel and it is lovely. Poets have a way with prose. 

I'm continuing to listen to Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter. Hunter's research is meticulous. I was a little frustrated with the chapter about Mary Queen of Scots, wondering why there was no mention of the people who produced and processed the sumptuous fiber and threads used by the queen. Hunter goes on though, to look at the needlework of women incarcerated against their will in mental asylums and prisons as well as native peoples in various parts of the world. She includes makers from many walks of life.  

Stay safe and cool friends. 

Ravelry Links

Summer Top

Red Bud and Cherry Blossom Socks 

 

Stitching into July

After the barrage of fireworks, the days have been blessedly quiet. Saturday, a hard rain and a cold front cooled and cleared the air. Beautiful summer days of sunshine and light breezes followed. Walking these mornings is lovely. In my garden, I watched a gorgeous rust and dark brown moth/butterfly with striking markings. I have no idea of his proper name but decided seeing him was enough. The bees are buzzing around the cucumber blossoms and I picked the first handful of cherry tomatoes and had a little snack right in the garden. 

Today I'm joining Kat and the Unravelers to post about making and reading. My knitting mojo needed a boost so I cast on this summer top, twice. After completing the short rows on the first attempt, I decided eyelet sleeves were not for me. I ripped out the rows and started over. In all my years of knitting, I've never knit a summer top so I thought I'd give it a go and see what happens. 

I finished the traveling socks. I enjoyed the yarn in the socks. There is a bit of an ankle stripe because at 30,000 feet I decided to knit the heel with the main color instead of messing around and possibly dropping a small ball of yarn. I noticed the pooling but kept on knitting. By the time the plane landed, I decided to live with the stripe. Next time I use this dyer's yarn (and I will because I like the base) I'll use the contrasting color in the heel to avoid pooling in the ankle. 

I knit a third little pumpkin hat from leftovers of two skeins. That little piece of yarn was all that remains. I won this round of yarn chicken. This hat is for a babe that will be a cousin to the twins. All three babies are due to arrive around the same time so all three can wear pumpkin hats this fall. 

I stitched two more cloth pouches, one for my daughter (not pictured) and another for a niece. I've enjoyed picking out pieces from all of my quilting leftovers. While making these two, I figured out a way to line and stitch the edges so all raw edges face the wrong side and are enclosed by stitching. I also reinforced the top of the body with a piece of binding.  

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While working on the pouches, I decided I wanted to know more about embroidery. As a girl, I learned a few basic stitches and then later did counted cross stitch. I bought a nice used copy of Elegant Stitches, a dictionary of embroidery stitches with some other bits of information. I can find instructions on-line but I wanted a little reference book of stitches in one place. 

In the same vein, I'm listening, via Hoopla,  to Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle  by Clair Hunter. I listened to the first chapter last night. It promises to be an interesting view of history. I finished the first buddy read with my grandson. He chose the Newberry Award winning YA novel, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. A young boy takes on a bully and ends up in quite an adventure and making a difference in his community. Micah loved this book so I'm anxious to talk with him. I'm also reading a new-to-me poetry anthology by Jane Hirshfield, The Asking: New and Selected Poems. These days, as Kym wrote in a post, poetry is a balm for the soul. Hirshfield makes me think and I admire her metaphors that often refer to everyday objects and events. 

Wishing you a quiet peaceful week. Breathe. 

Making Memories

Hello Gentle Readers. We are recently home from a wonderful visit with our daughter, son-in-law, and family. We tagged along to all the things, including baseball games, the swimming pool, a gymnastics class, doughnuts, and church. Jonah and Norah and I blew bubbles almost every morning. 

Instead of bringing gifts, we take them to the local independent bookstore to pick out a book. It's fun to see what they choose each time we visit. Micah and I are going to have a buddy read this summer. We made a list.  

All four kids have a journal that they write in and decorate with stickers and drawings. Just for fun I had Jonah and Norah draw in my journal. Next time I hope to snag the two older ones also. The blue hydrangeas growing all around the community were a treat, so Norah drew one for me. Jonah drew a baseball field, appropriate given we attended five games, several on the weekend of the heat dome. On the dining room table, Kate has a tray that holds odds and ends and sometimes a seasonal decoration. Right now it contains baseballs the kids have picked up at major and minor league games. 

Most of my making these past weeks has been about making and savoring memories. Since it is Wednesday, I have a little knitting to show. I finished the pumpkin hats the day before the baby shower. That afternoon, I bought an iced latte and sat down with a podcast and the last hat. It was down to the wire but the hats and board books were well received. 

My travel knitting was a new pair of socks. I opted for my vanilla sock pattern. I can knit the body of the sock in a broken rib of Knit 4, Purl 2 without a pattern. Honestly my knitting is a little "meh" these days. The shawl is too hot to have in my lap. The other pair of socks languish in a bag. 

As for books, I reread In Falling Snow by Mary-Rose MacColl, an Australian novelist and published in 2012. This historical fiction toggles between modern day Australia and a World War One hospital in France. Iris, the main character, is at the end of her life. She receives an invitation to a reunion of the women who organized and ran Royaumont, a Scottish Women's Hospital on the western front in France where she worked as a nurse. And so begins her reflection on her years during the war. World War One was an exercise in brutality so it is a sad story but Royaumont and the Scottish Women's Hospital was a real place and a remarkable bit of history. I like historical fiction and strong women characters so will keep this book on my shelf.  

While in Connecticut, I read The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan. This novel is a light summer read. I confess to choosing the book based on the cover. Bonny and I had a short exchange about book covers recently. Here is a link she sent me about book covers if you want to read more. Most of the novel is set in rural Provence. The descriptions of the village, as well as the herbs grown and used by the main character are lovely. Although the writing isn't the smoothest, I appreciated the development of two characters who changed for the better. An elderly gentleman who was rather unkind to the main character, actually apologized and mended his ways. Imagine such a thing. 

Finally, today is Kate's birthday. She is a remarkable woman, a physical therapist, an amazing athlete, a wonderful wife, mother, sister, and every thing we could ask for in a daughter. While I abhor the barrage of personal fireworks that has become the custom, I do have a wonderful memory of watching fireworks outside my hospital room window with her tucked into the crook of my arm. Happy Birthday Kate!

I hope all is well and you are enjoying a respite from the heat of late June. 

Warm Weather Projects

Hello Gentle Readers. Summer days have arrived. We are in for a week of hot sunny, ninety degree days. Watering the garden plots with the trusty drip hoses is on my list of chores. Many juvenile robins try their wings while the red house finches feed their young. I'm waiting for the fireflies, aka "firebums" as my grandson Emmett, now a seventh grader, dubbed them when he was a toddler. Like most children, he was enchanted by flying insects with lighted "bums." Ever since they have been "firebums" to me. 

Today is Unraveled Wednesday with Kat and friends. My projects this week reflect the warmer weather.  I wanted to try a new-to-me cotton yarn so I bought two skeins (color way Sunshine) of Rowan Cotton from my local yarn shop for wash cloths. It is pricey but has a nice hand. I've worked on the first pink ribbed sock and plan to knit the toe in bright green. They are only socks so as far as bright colors, it's in for a dime, in for a dollar. 

I cast on a pumpkin hat for a baby gift. This little family expects twins in August so I'll be knitting two of these hats. I dither with baby sizes. On one hand, babies seem so small but they do grow and sometimes their head circumference is deceiving. The smallest size looked small. I hope this size isn't too big. 

As for reading, I listened to The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl. Although the story was a little unrealistic, it was an entertaining romp through Paris. I enjoyed the literary references, the time spent in Shakespeare and Company, and the characters. As I expected from Reichl, French food and wine is described with great sensory detail. I'm rereading a like-new copy of  A Sand County Almanac And Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold. I found it on the library sale shelf for a dollar and couldn't resist the bargain. First published in 1949, Leopold was a conservationist and wrote with ethical regard for the environment. His was an early voice questioning the loss of wetlands and other natural habitat. The lyrical writing continues to have value. 

Although the official beginning of summer is a week or so away, I send you this first little bouquet of summer.  Happy Summertime. 

TGIF - 6.7.24

Our Pollinator Garden with the neighbor's garden in the background 

Hello Gentle Readers, Honestly Wednesday morning was so lovely, I left the computer for a walk and then carried my coffee to the deck. As the old line of poetry goes, "What is so rare as a day in June?" We must enjoy every one and especially the sunny days with lower humidity. So here I am on Friday.

This week, I am thinking about summer reading and how readers' reactions to books can be so different. I recently decided that I am not going to read a book that has had lots of press. I read the beginning and didn't care for it. I read the first few chapters again, wondering what I had missed. Then I read Margaret Renkyl's reflections on Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (in the NYT's) and noticed how different they were from those of Camille T. Gungy's (Soil: A Black Mother's Garden) thoughts on the same book.  I respect both writers and their opinions. Both make valid points. Understanding and thinking about paradox is an interesting exercise. 

I am grateful for the rain and warm sunshine. This is the second year for my pollinator garden and it has begun to mature. I replaced a lavender and a blanket flower plant but the others are healthy. The blue salvia and the Husker Red Penstemon thrive. One variety of cosmos self- seeded in the corner of the vegetable plot. All of this growth and color makes me very happy and grateful for where I live. 

Cucumber hills, tomatoes, cosmos, zinnias and the compost barrel

I am inspired the kind words and messages I read in this online community. Kindness still exists in the world and it costs us so little to extend and receive it. 

Fun!  We have plans later in June to visit our daughter and family. All four of our grandchildren are playing baseball or T-ball. I have my travel sock yarn selected, plane tickets, sunscreen, visor, and sunglasses. I can't wait. They will just be getting out of school so all kinds of shenanigans are afoot. 

Norah, with pink accessories, a pink bat in her pink ballgame backpack

I hope you are finding joy in these early June days. If joy isn't possible, I wish you time to enjoy the June flowers and sunshine. 

May's End

Hello Gentle Readers. Here we are at the end of May with summer knocking on the door. Another storm blew through last week taking several large limbs from the Japanese Lilac Tree in our yard. The tree is in the middle of the backyard, away from the house so the limbs fell onto the yard. Lance cut up all the debris and I helped carry it up to the side of the house. Otherwise these May days are just right for morning coffee and evening stitching on the deck. The blue flax, penstemon, and blue salvia bloom in the pollinator garden. The tomatoes are planted, the cucumbers are up, and I have enough oregano to supply an Italian restaurant. 

I began writing this post yesterday on Unraveled Wednesday with Kat and friends. Life happened and so I will finish it today. A week or so ago I completed this hat. The background is a commercial yarn while the color work is from hand-spun Shetland. The yarns knit up nicely together and the hat fits and feels great.  

I've made some progress on this shawl, knit in another combination of hand-spun and some unknown skein of commercial yarn in the deep periwinkle. The solid periwinkle was in various sized balls so I used up smaller bits first, letting the yardage determine the number of rows. I've also increased the garter stitch ridges in between the eyelet rows. I'm playing with the pattern and enjoying the process.

I cast on a pair of ribbed socks. This yarn comes under the "what was I thinking when I bought this" category. It's rather pink. The colorway name, Red Buds and Cherry Blossoms, seemed appropriate for Spring knitting.

As for reading, I finished The Lost Flock by Jane Cooper. This nonfiction work is the author's late in life adventure of becoming a shepherdess of the rare Scottish Boreray sheep. Much of her story is fascinating. I admire Cooper and her husband for their tenacity and desire to shepherd the flock and the breed in a way that is respectful of land and animals. For me, some details of sheep genetics were dry reading but I do understand that she and her husband rescued the almost lost breed. This book records that process and includes interesting history about the use of wool and the breed.  

I am almost finished with Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille T. Dungy. This memoir speaks eloquently to our time. Dungy's work to create her Fort Collins garden is a metaphor for the value and necessity of honoring and creating diversity in our world. Her prose and a few poems scattered throughout the book are both beautifully written. Incidentally, the library copy I'm reading is printed on paper that has a slight feel of cloth. I don't know how else to describe it and I don't find any information about the paper in the book but it certainly adds to the pleasure of reading Dungy's writing. 

Here's to the blue skies of late Spring/early Summer. What are you planning to read this summer?

Ravelry Links

Juniper Hat

Curious Hand-Spun Shawl 

Red Buds and Cherry Blossom Socks