Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Early May

As I walk this week, the sky changes from blue to partly cloudy and back again. The wind blows a gale and the air feels like early April. In April we had snow and warm May-like temperatures. The world continues to feel strange. After listening to Grandma Gatewood's Inspiring Walk, I decided to increase the distance of my walks. As I approach a city park next to a large elementary school, I walk a slight incline. As I turn the corner, I have a panoramic view of the sky and racing clouds over a mostly empty park. The dandelions bloom on the soccer field and a broken kite swings from an old elm.

I had never heard of Grandma Emma Gatewood. The writing in this book is average or slightly below. However Gatewood was a remarkable woman and her story is fascinating. After years in an abusive marriage and raising her large family, she through-hiked the Applachian Trail three times. At the time of her first hike, she was sixty-seven years old. After the third hike, she walked the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri to Oregon. I am currently reading The Women of Copper Country. Russell writes well and tells a good story. I have enjoyed some of her other novels. Given the state of the meatpacking industry in this country, the historical fiction about a copper miner's strike in 1913 feels timely.  As I read about the owners of the mine, I wonder how much has changed.


I'm also knitting away. I unraveled this cowl this week. I didn't bother to check gauge (it was only a cowl - right?) and the stitches were scrunched together on a circular needle. As per pattern, I used a dk weight yarn. It is just too much cowl for me. I tried putting it in the dryer but it didn't snug up at all. The superwash yarn would have continued to stretch with wearing and I knew I'd never wear this piece. I considered giving it away but couldn't think of a suitable recipient. The re-skeined and washed yarn came out quite nicely. I plan to knit the pattern again with fewer repeats. I enjoyed the knitting so this is one of those opportunities to get more time and money's worth from the yarn. Superwash yarn is great for kids and babies but I need to think carefully about knitting with it in the future.


I finished the scrappy leg warmers. This photo isn't exciting because it's hard to photograph your own legs. I tried. Of course I didn't use up all the scraps. I honestly think they multiply in the dark of night. These socks are my current carry around project and I enjoy picking them up from time to time. It's always fun to see another stripe appear. Although I didn't plan it, I kind of like it when my knitting and book match. I am easily entertained.


Since the weather cooled off and I've had my fix of textured knitting, I am back to knitting on this sweater. As I learn over and over, progress comes from steady knitting. I decided to try and knit at least one inch a day and see what happens. This week I've done quite well. If my shoulder protests or it gets too warm or I get bored with gray stockinette, I'll pick up something else like the second version of the Bluet Cowl.


Life goes on in spite of pandemic living. We plan on being cautious and watch local stats as restrictions are lifted. I find it curious that as cases increase, lifting restrictions is also occurring or being considered. Meanwhile the lily of the valley and the lilacs bloom. I finished all the winter clean-up and preliminary weeding so my garden patches are ready for planting. I hope I can find my last summer's notes about tomato varieties planted. Take good care.

Look at the link to Kat and the Unravelers to see how other knitters and readers are marking their days.

11 comments:

  1. Those Impossible Girl socks are very cute. I added that pattern to be "to be made" list.

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  2. What a pretty cowl pattern -sorry you had to unravel. Love your socks and leg warmers. How many stitches do you use for the leg warmers? Your book looks interesting as well.

    Our lilac is finally beginning to open (the buds have been SO tight for SO long!!), but cold weather is back (I actually saw snow in western PA on the radar map this a.m.). Raining here now and it just feels raw outside.

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  3. That is a pretty cowl in a lovely color yarn, and I'm glad you have learned something for next time. (I just hope you're not like me and forget the lesson when the time comes!) I always notice when knitting projects match the books that people are reading - well done. I've also been curious about how/why restrictions are getting lifted as cases continue to rise. It seems to come down to economics vs the value of human lives, but I don't even want to think about that. I will also continue my cautious, stay-at-home ways. Stay well, Jane.

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  4. Oh boy, I hate unraveling finished projects. Sigh. But, I love those socks! Now I am off to hope to snag a skein of that sock yarn! :)

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  5. I'm sorry your cowl didn't work out. But you're right that it's a waste to have something you won't wear when you can reuse the yarn for something else.

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  6. NE. is having the same crazy weather that CO is, it sounds like. Very cool here with gale winds, oye vey! Love those leg warmers and I have plenty of scrap yarn in my stash. Keep safe and continue to stay home as much as possible.

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  7. "As I learn over and over, progress comes from steady knitting." Yes! I keep reminding myself as well. Some days I only manage one row - but that's one more row!!

    Enjoy those lilacs - I check my lilacs every day. No blooms yet, but they are close!

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  8. bummer about the cowl but if you don't like the fabric then you'll never wear it. Can't wait to see what is next for the yarn. I love your sock yarn that you are knitting with, a delightful striping sequence. I keep hoping I am in a county where we get some restrictions lifted but I doubt it.

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  9. I read about Gradma Gatewood in Becoming Odyssa, another book about hiking the ACT. I am hoping to make hiking a part of my retirement years.

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  10. I have been getting double mileage from a lot of my yarn lately ... it's a good thing we like to knit, isn't it?! Copper Creek sounds interesting. I loved The Sparrow, but haven't read any more of her books. I think spring might've found us again this afternoon. I hope she stays! (Happy Mother's Day!)

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  11. That's a good reminder , about super wash. It is difficult to gauge sometimes. Im glad you took it apart . We had clouds and SNOW today.
    I often see people knitting with their book cover colors. Isn't that neat?

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