What can you say for two days in a row in the mid 70’s. Today hit almost 75 and it looks like the weather man has changed fhe forecast from snow to just rain. I can live with that.
No knitting got done today, but lots of sheep were cared for. Three possibly pregnant ewes were sheared (actually one is *very* pregnant), worm paste administered, hooves trimmed and vaccinations given. A long, hot, greasy, sweaty day.
Oh, and if I haven’t mentioned it… No Gansey yarn. Damn!!
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what a day…
Hit almost 74 here on the ridge top. Spent most of the day outside working on nursery stuff and not much knitting done. Really feeling like spring today. And then I hear the snow level is going to come down to 1000 ft on Wednesday (we’re at 1200 ft). Oh well.. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Did I mention I’m a plant geek? Yesterday was supposed to be a visit to our nursery supply to pick up extra pots, pot tags and shears. On the way home we passed the road leading to Heirloom Roses. Now we’re not really big Rose growers, but we both like the old garden roses and the variety available this time of year was just too much to pass up. Everything is own-root (no grafting) and super shape. Now I’ve got about 7 roses to plant. Everything from Moss Roses to tree climbling ramblers. Oh my…
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I’m left-handed, but do most things with either hand — except write. My left hand has been causing me problems increasingly over the last 5 or 6 years. Currently my thumb is swollen about 1/3 larger than the right thumb. I suspect arthritis, though it’s not officially diagnosed. It hasn’t impacted my knitting yet, but it’s getting increasingly harder to write, due to the way I hold a pen. Sigh… Getting older is hell..
Still no Gansey yarn. Why do projects that start to be out not so important end up aggravating the hell out of you when you can’t start when you thought you should?
Moebius continues. Taking pictures of this thing is frustrating because it just looks like a a brown strip lying their. I hung this at the window and it at least shows the how airy it is. Well into pattern repeat 17.
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Two years ago I planted a little Winter Hazel in the front yard. I was told it would have yellow flowers in the early spring, but up until this year it had never blossomed. This afternoon while cruising the yard I noticed the Hazel was in full bloom. Little yellow blossoms with bright red stamens. I think I’m going to like this little bush.
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Yesterday’s visit to Collector’s Nursery was too much fun for a plant geek like myself. It’s generally not open to the public and we were the only folks there besides the owner.
Eileen picked up nursery stock plus a few things for herself and I managed to keep things under control myself. Finances are short, but I couldn’t help picking up a couple things also. An unnamed Primula species from China and two Sisyrinchium species plants (commonly called Blue-Eyed Grass). Members of the Iris family, they are usually short, grassy plants with bright blue flowers. I say usually as one of the plants I picked up is from Mexico with starry, light yellow flowers.
And then there’s the Epimedium’s. I didn’t get any, but Collector’s is famous for their epimedium’s and there was sooooo much to choose from. Maybe later. Take a look at their website if you like unusual plants.
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Work continues on the Moebius and I’m nearing the halfway point. As I’m knitting, I’m trying to figure out how does one block a twisted ring…
The lace will look much better with a bit of blocking and I can do the initial blocking of the strip before I graft it, but what about later. I’m going to have to chew on this awhile. I’ve got a couple of ideas, but putting those ideas into practice may be a different thing.
Still no Gansey yarn, though I really didn’t expect it until the middle of the week after the delay from Brown Sheep. I’ve just about got the pattern memorized, I’ve read it so much. I’ve still got a couple of points of confusion (especially shoulder bind-off and neck gussets), but maybe things will clear up when I get to that point.
Another nursery roadtrip today, this time to a very interesting nursery up in Battle Ground, Washington — Collector’s Nursery
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Nothing much exciting happened…
This virus has been a royal pain. No energy, no ambition and you feel like crap. Only got two more rows done on the Moebius.
Weather is very wet here in the PNW. March is already a couple inches above normal and I can hardly wait for a dry spell. Don’t expect a lot knitting getting done the first part of this coming week. I’ve got hay to haul tomorrow (the first of about 90 100lb bales) and I really need to get the last of our firewood out of the woodlot and stacked. Once again, the joys of a working farm.
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finally…. Felt good enough this morning to work on the Moebius again. Only completed three rows, but it’s the first knitting I’ve done since last Saturday.
Birthday celebration turned into a quieter event that originally planned. Decided to stay home and enjoy a homemade meal (and a couple bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale — mmmmm).
Heard from my Gansey yarn vendor yesterday. The yarn didn’t ship from Brown Sheep when she expected it to, but she assures me that I will have the yarn early next week.
Another nursery roadtrip day today. Picking up more plant stock, this time in east of Portland.
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Officially 56… And quite a day, considering what’s happening. Thanks for everybody’s good wishes, both online and in email.
Still no more Moebius knitting and no Gansey yarn either. It was supposed to have been shipped Priority Mail with arrival the first part of the week, but nothing yet. If it doesn’t show up today, I’ll email the vendor and see what’s going on. Paradise Fibers came highly recommended and I expect there will be no problems.
This cold is still getting me down and I need to get out of this house for a while. Cabin fever is starting to set in. So probably no knitting at all today, but I will get out and celebrate — Responsibly, of course. 
Increasing interest in MenWhoKnit ring. I was concerned that the ‘Join’ form on my webpage was causing problems, so I redirected all requests to join to the real RingSurf page. Also tweaked the logo to add a ‘Friends of’ logo. Available at the ring’s homepage.
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It’s a good thing I got three hours of knitting done on Saturday, because I haven’t picked up needles since. My cold relapse turned into a full blown chest cold and badly clogged sinuses. Monday and Tuesday were miserable. Feeling a bit better today.
I’m a bit disappointed that the MenWhoKnit ring didn’t just takeoff. I know there’s a lot of knitting men out there with blogs or websites, but so far it’s just Joe and me. Ah well, if the ring fills a need, something will happen eventually.
Browsing some of my favorite blogs this morning after two days of not being able to concentrate long enough to enjoy the visits, I discovered Wendy had posted a picture of the cover of ‘The Manly Art of Knitting’. I really want to find a copy of this book. I keep searching ebay and all my favorite OOP online booksellers, but no luck so far.
My Gansey yarn is suppossed to be in the mailbox this afternoon. If I’m feeling anywhere alive, I want to start a guage swatch tomorrow. I think I’m going to do a circular swatch instead of flat, though my knitting isn’t much different in either form.
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