Black Sheep Redux (with added photo)

Far be it from me to shill for a yarn shop, but I have to say, for a great sale, I have never seen anything like Black Sheep Knittery. Yes, the intrepid trio of Sknitty, Knit Devil, and yours truly once again made the trek over the river (the LA River doesn't look like much, but it's our river and we love it) and through the (concrete) forest to Hollywood and BSK. The occasion? A bag sale. Not just any bag sale, as you can see from my haul--Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk and Cashmerino Aran; Rowan Felted Tweed and Yorkshire Tweed. I bought the DK but they had tons of the heavyweight as well, ditto other weights of Cashmerino. I really was dithering in front of the Baby Cashmerino for a long time, they had a terrific selection of colors, but not having a "specific" baby in mind sorta cramped my style. One thing for sure, Grandcarrot is not a DBBC kind of baby!
The other thing I noticed is that I was definitely in a certain color-frame-of-mind. There was some great blue in the Alpaca Silk (have you fondled that stuff? It's like whipped cream, only lighter!) but it wasn't speaking to me. Now, the teal? And the red? Singing at the top of their lungs!


This is the way the back of my truck looked afterwards.

Nice, huh? We did leave a few balls of yarn for other people--I've heard from some who've gone and actually were able to find some treasures! A note about those spots on the carpet in the truck--those are from a bottle of fabric softener that fell over, leaked, and flopped around. Hey, if you're going to have to spill in the car, it should at least be something that smells good, right?

Okay, this one's for Knit Devil--the St. Paddy's Day rose, open, showing the green just around the edges.

Hey, when in doubt, post flowers, right? Especially in Project Spectrum colors of pink and yellow, and of course the green leaves. Yeah, I really do need to find a pink or yellow or green project to work on. But I have a challenge that "should" take all my knitting time!
(These are my pink Rugosas. I also have a red one--FJ Grootendorst--this one is "Pink Grootendorst")
And another shot of Scepter'd Isle and the yellow one I can't remember. I am also eagerly awaiting the blooming of another DA rose, "Jude the Obscure" (I told you mine all have a Thomas Hardy theme!) which is just now budding.

Enough nattering--I need to start cataloguing my yarn, and I think I'll start with the new ones.

Besides, tomorrow is the March of Dimes Walk, in Newport Beach (Calif, not RI), and I need to rest my tootsies so they can haul me over the whole 5.5 miles! I'll let you know how I do...

Challenged!

What are friends for? I guess some of them are there to challenge me!
On chat today with LMM (aka Seattle Marie) she mentioned that she had spent hours last night knitting on her CPH, and had made almost an inch of progress. One sassy remark on my part led to another on hers, and now we are challenged to a "race to the finish."
Did I mention this is the woman who got to the Final Four in the international Knit-Off this year? The Official Speed Demon Queen? The one who made the Pacific Northwest Shawl in Sea Silk in less than a week? Who took less time than that to knit a long-sleeved turtleneck with fancy Celtic knotwork?
Oh yeah. She challenged Knit Devil, too. So it's a 3-way race. This is like the Road Runner challenging Susie Snail and Sammy Slug to a race. A turbo-charged Ferrari vs a VW Bug (the old kind) and a '39 Ford.
Whoa--why am I sitting here writing? I need to be knitting!

Thursday is for Things I Like

Bronze horse heads. Spent the day yesterday at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. This was the only picture I took all day. Imagine! But this had me fascinated. Up close, it does not resemble a horse at all. But a little distance and some perspective make the picture clear.
Without stretching a metaphor too far, I can see some interesting parallels with my life and recent events. I sure hope the clarity starts to come soon!





Next up, of course I like roses! I'm especially fond of the big blowsy ones, I think.
This is one of the David Austins on the back fence. One of the Thomas Hardy ones. Had I known there would be a quiz, I'd have written down the names!
Now his name I know. This is my Hi-Hi, aka Highland, aka Pretty Kitty, aka Pudge, etc etc.

Yes, he is as sweet-natured as he looks.
And Simon. He seems to think that soft focus is his best look.
Really, everything is his best look!

And then there are treasures in the mail.
Came home from some loverly knit time in BDM (Beautiful Downtown Montrose)(with KD, CBM, and CK) to find a nice brown box on my porch.
Inside was this treasure trove, from Cabin Cove Mercantile.
Dave does such a nice job of packing. Each of these was wrapped in brown tissue and tied with raffia, and there was a little packet of lavender included too. The colors are, l-r, Ink Blot, Lavender Sky, and Butterscotch. I love the bag, too. Every bag lady needs more bags.
Besides, it has a moose on it. I guess I haven't posted a picture of the Moose Lodge here, have I? (Too lazy to go check now.) I will try to remedy that soon. The basic idea is that Himself got a real kick out of the little moose that wandered around town in Northern Exposure, so the girls (okay, and me too) started giving him all sorts of stuffed moose. Mooses? Meese? Moose critters! He piled them up next to his chair and the joke was that this was his very own Moose Lodge. (The critters have acquired a nice film of dust. Time to give them a tumble in the dryer and fluff all the dust out of them. Himself wouldn't like to see them all dusty and forlorn. Maybe it's time to start doling them out to the next generation??)
Knitting progress continues. Lady Eleanor II has 27 tiers done--she needs a total of 36 to be finished and ready for fringing. CPH got a few more rows done on the fronts today, in fact the right front has the first neck shaping stitches on a holder. Maybe I'll go work on it for a while. I think I'd better, because I'm certainly not taking it along with me to work on while I'm on my trip. (I'm thinking maybe Birch, cause the yarn is fine and the needles are too--but lace? on an airplane? Hmm...)

Didja Miss Me?

It feels as if I've been away from the blog for a while, but I guess it's just that I've been so busy it feels as if time has compressed itself. I bet this will be how it will feel when I'm away for a longer stretch next month.
About which more later. Right now, here's some lovely Project Spectrum goodies.
First up, gazanias:

These really do seem to glow from within, don't they?
Next, a rather fuzzy pink rose--pardon the lack of focus, but please note: it has company. I wanted to get the bee, and I was standing on my head to begin with. This is Scepter'd Isle, and she's a David Austin.

This one really is that color--St. Patrick's Day is the name, and the buds start out bright green and open to a rich yellow with green edges.

Double Delight: extremely fragrant, and very very pretty. When you go back to the rose garden, all you can smell is this heady perfume. Very very "rose-y."


Laundry helper. What is it with cats and freshly folded towels?
Note he's sleeping right next to the purr pad. Maybe I should run that through the washer and dryer and he'd like it better? If it smelled like lavender instead of cat?




Promised you some knitting, right? This is for the Shawl Ministry in CT.
I like the pastel colors--too much blue and lavender etc. for it to be Project Spectrum-y, but still very soft and cuddlesome. I hope that it will bring some cheer and comfort when it gets there.

Couple more pictures of things that are leaving the Family Abode for other pastures--

In other words, these are going to go live with my son and his family. The pitcher and bowl were bought with #2 and M in mind, many years ago. So how do you get a LARGE pitcher and bowl across the country? Why, you wrap them in a quilt and send them off with my brother, that's how! The quilt is appropriate, since both my son and his son have Patrick as a middle name.

Included in the package is this amazing assortment. Those are eyecups, for the uninitiated among you--lots and lots of Eyewash Cups (as eBay calls them). My husband collected them over the years, including some he got in England. (He looked in Australia but didn't find any there, although he did come home with a very unusual pale green soup bowl. Depression Glass collectors are like that, and they make wonderful spouses for Yarn and Fabric Collectors.) So the cups are wrapped in bubble wrap, and tucked into a box, and the little showcase--which came from an old apothecary shop, and has been stripped but not refinished--has been wrapped in this quilt.
Around the Twist pattern, Hoffman berry print background, assorted tone-on-tone colors for the twists. This was made, oh, maybe 12 years ago? It's lap size. I really like it, but it's time for it to move to another part of the family.
Parting with the quilt isn't as easy as I thought it would be, but I think it will have a nice useful life where it's going. What surprised me the most was the emotions the eyecups stirred up. Remembering how much fun he had gathering them, how excited he was when he found the cabinet, how much time he spent polishing and arranging and re-arranging them, and the joy they brought to him--I hope that #2 will enjoy them as much. For sure, he'll have fun with the case, as he's an enthusiastic woodworker and refinishing it will be right up his alley.
So. Another door closing, sort of, and I sure hope there's an open window out there, cause I'm ready for some fresh air!!

Saturdaze

First, a little Paper Art from today's stamping session.
This is half of a "one sheet wonder" project, which consists of s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g your papers to go further. We stamped the sports balls onto this particular one, but I could see this working nicely with one of those heavy expensive handmade papers, or a really pretty calendar page... All of this was done with a 1/2 sheet of 8.5 x 11" paper.

Pretty neat, huh? Thanks, Maria!
Carrot and cousin. This is Jessica, age 15. "Waves. Hi Jess!"



These pics are for the "what's on your fridge" theme that's been making the rounds. In my case, obviously, there's wayyyy too much stuff on my fridge!

I guess that's why I needed a big one, huh?


So for next time, I will try to have at least one FO picture ready. The Salem shawl is nearing the end of its "creation time" or should I say, I'm getting heartily sick and tired of hefting its weight around! It's about 5.5 feet long and, I am thinking, that's going to be plenty long enough. I think it is going to be nice and cozy, though, and the pastel colors are perfect for spring.

TGIF

What's a week without Grandcarrot pictures? Here's the boy, eating his dinner in a local Chinese restaurant, and having a lovely old time of it.


Chopsticks are good. Especially when you get rice and egg and green peas on them!

Yum!

Rained here today, so for your enjoyment here's some rather wet flora. First, a purple rose--Heirloom, I think. Deep purple color, very rich fragrance. Lives next door to my Double Delight and between the two of them, the back yard smells strongly of roses!

Here's a giant bearded iris. I don't know the name of the variety--it's a rescued rescue, which has lived alongside my driveway till we had to move it to make way for the new driveway.
The color on this one is a deep burgundy--quite striking against the wet green grass.

Next up, just for Project Spectrum, a nice yellow rose. This is one of my David Austins, her name is (I think!) Tess or d'Urberville. She's one of the series with Thomas Hardy names.
Gotta love that "wet look." So glad we finally got a little rain!

This brilliant orange bush grows alongside the back wall of the garage. The bush is all the way up to the eaves. The flowers just glow even on a darkish day like today.

And no, I can't remember her name either. Sigh.
Never did know the name of this bush--it's a very very old one, was here and already elderly when we moved into this house 36 years ago. The blooms are too fragile to make good cut flowers--they are rather similar to my Queen Elizabeth (she's not blooming yet) but QE's hold up better. This one is definitely the queen of the yard, though!


Some quilty goodness--here is Louise's redwork quilt. The centers of the large blocks are a Mary Engelbreit red/white (or white/red) print and the setting triangles, which form stars in the alternate spaces, are different coordinating fabrics. It's finished off with dozens of prairie points. Altogether charming--all it needs now is a good stretching and quilting, and it will be off to its new home. (I think it's going to one of her nieces but don't quote me!)

One of my Tuesday quilters is also an artist, and this was my gift from him just because he knows I love lilacs. (If you go back a few posts there are pics of him and his grandson, working on a quilt. Grandson has since made a second quilt!)

Lastly, here's a photo I wasn't able to delete from the post. It's a dandelion, growing in amongst the irises. I remember that the blossom was glowing in the sun (obviously not taken today) and it looked pretty chipper there in the dry brown dirt. What happened was, I uploaded some pictures the other night, but Blogger would only show me red x's instead of the photos. So today, the pictures were there, and I no longer thought the dandelion was quite as charming, but Blogger says, there she stays.
So there.
Yes, there has been knitting going on. I'll have pictures soon as there WILL be an FO shortly!

Beating the Blues...

When you get to feeling down, what makes a blue day better?

Good friends, some knitting, a little shopping...good food.

This is my haul for the day. Yes, we wound up back at Black Sheep Knittery, but first we started out at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles. Ellen Bloom had invited us--Sknitty, the Knit Devil, and I were the only ones who could make it this time--to join the WeHo SnBers for their monthly Saturday knitfest.
Knitting is hungry work. (Of course talking isn't!)
The French Crepe Cafe was chosen as a way to get me ready for the upcoming Tour de France next month.
Yummm!!! Good food, knitting... coffee. Nirvana?

So we knitted. We ate. We talked. We met up again with Blogless Zoe and met some new friends. Ellen is a gracious and charming hostess and crochets up a storm!

Then we had to stop in at the local World Market to see what loverly imports they might have to tempt us. I did not realize it was the beginning of a theme.
Perhaps the Swedish Cranberry jam was a sign, as was the Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cupcake mix.

Because then, we just HAD to go back to Black Sheep Knittery, since they had extended their 50% off sale. And it's so close.

Well, close in LA terms. As in, you don't have to take sixteen freeways to get there.

Once there, I found myself attacked--attacked! I say!--by that red Manos. It literally launched itself off the peg and into my arms. Well, I did need to stretch and reach for the last 2 skeins on the tippy-top-row, but it was definitely calling to me.

Then that dark red Cashmerino Aran came tumbling down on me. This store really has the most active yarn of any shop I've ever been in. Some of the yarn that was pelting me was totally resistible--shiny chartreuse frizzy stuff, for example--others were a little harder. The Touch Me especially. But there was only one ball of dark red. So it had to stay there. The DB C'm Aran, though--it's sooo soft and pretty and such a nice shade of red. And red has definitely been the color of the day.

That lonely skein of pale shaded yellows? It's Fleece Artist s**k yarn, and it was waiting for me. I had fondled it and then resolutely put it back the last time I was there. This time, when it jumped out and landed in my arms, what could I do?

Hey, I resisted the kittens and adoptable cats at the Farmers Market. (Only by not looking at them, but still. No cats followed me home.) So a nice little skein of beautiful soft yarn? Good compromise.

To finish it off? Rosewood needles! (More red. It was a theme of the day!)

Sorry I have so few pics of our adventures. Both Sknitty and KD took a bunch and I'm hopeful that they will share on their blogs.

Now some hometown stuff, cause we talked a lot today about home towns and community stuff. This might even make my kids a little nostalgic...

Temple City is known for its Camellia Festival and Parade. Why, even Charles Phoenix has noticed it. This mural is a mosaic on the former Home Savings Bank building, on Las Tunas, and it does a good job of capturing the spirit of the parade. Every kid in town marches in this parade, and since it's a competition parade for the high school and junior high bands, there's usually a lot of good music too.

Do check out Charles' slide and his write-up, ok? One of my earlier memories goes back to when we had our family's first TV set, and a lot of the programming was black-and-white "news" features. One that I remembered was about the Camellia Parade. Imagine this little Massachusetts girl, snowed in and chilly in February, looking at images of kids walking in short-sleeved shirts with floats covered in flowers! Awesome, not? Who'd have thought that I would grow up and have kids who would march in this same parade, and that I too would have the joy of scrubbing glue off their hands and clothes after they'd worked on their floats??

Another Goodbye

John Carl Watterlond

April 12, 1913--April 12, 2007

Good night, dear gentle man. Rest easy.

More Project Spectrum, Plus...

What is more "yellow" than California poppies?
Not much! These are growing in Pacific Grove, in a bed outside the Historical Society.
They have a whole garden of native plants. I wish the little strawberries had shown up better--but I wanted to get the iris and the poppies in too.

The Carrot was very obliging about wearing his Pea Pod sweater. After all, it's green, so appropriate for PS, right?

Unfortunately, holding still for the camera was not part of the deal. He's 10 months old now and this is what he mostly looks like--a little blur of motion!
Well, his daddy can corral him for a few minutes. He's still got a size advantage. Aren't they adorable?

This is a view from the walkway of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, looking out into the Bay.

Followed by another view, from a slightly different angle.

Then you turn your head and you're face to face with a happy grinning face. I think she's grinning cause she's just spotted lunch, on the hoof!

Have I mentioned lately that I love this aquarium? We had a great time visiting. I was in Monterey/Pacific Grove for a very quick trip--up on Friday, home on Saturday--for an important meeting. My sister-in-law was my traveling companion--I think we're going to be very compatible fellow-tourists (or should I say, touristes?) on our trip next month.

There was some knitting involved, and a quick trip into Back Porch Fabrics, but there wasn't time to hit the yarn shop on this trip.

I'm sure I'll be getting back up that way, though, because I really have fallen in love with the town and the whole ambience up there. Yes, we did cruise through Asilomar, just so she could see it. (Both of our husbands did a good part of their Army training and service at Fort Ord, which gave them a different perspective on the area!)

Easter Eye Candy

Posting from "the road" again so thought I would share a little of the floral offerings spotted. This arrangement was in the Apple Farm's dining room. I didn't get any of the gorgeous parrot tulips with their faces up, unfortunately, but at least you can see the colors.






A door bouquet. Is this a good idea or what?


Mystery flowers. Anyone know what these are? Blossoms are very tiny, maybe 1/4" or so across.
Remember back in Feb. when I posted a picture of a bed of purple kale? Well, this is what it looks like now--the heads have bolted, and there are big sprays of yellow flowers! And yes, I do know that the pink and blue things are not "real" flowers!

Knitting etc. content will resume upon my return. Breath holding is not necessary, as this is a one-day-turnaround trip! (Might be otter pictures tomorrow...if the little rascals cooperate!)