Walking on Wednesday

Wednesday I took myself for a walk up in the East Bay Regional Parks in the Oakland Hills.

I saw weaving.

I saw seed heads lighter than down.

I walked through fog, and sun through fog, and sun.

I picked the Kid up from school (yup, already) and dragged him to Alameda Beach. Poor Kid. Heh.

I’m on vacation at home this week. I like it.

Finding Orange

Mariscos Sinaloa on E 12th St at Fruitvale, Oakland California

Pebble Beach on the San Mateo coast at sunset

Cloud above Pebble Beach on the San Mateo coast at sunset

Orange things in my kitchen

Local winter fruit

Wall inside an elementary school

My bag in the sun

California poppy in January

Ninja Crow

A murky photo, as Halloween pictures should be. I splurged on the amazing crow mask, that you can’t really see here, at the King’s Mountain Art Fair over the summer – handmade leather mask. I figure he’ll use it every year, and if he doesn’t I will.

I’m making dough for Pan de Muerto today, and I might even bake it tomorrow.  This batch is a new recipe for me, from My Sweet Mexico, and I hope it works.  I bought the cookbook this spring, before we went to Mexico to visit with the in-laws.  My attitude about going (they’re wonderful folks, but even so) turned around right into almost excited after paging through the book.  I may not have eaten all the dulces I was dreaming of, but oh, the bolillos they make in Los Reyes, Michoacan!  That is some good bread.  Husband mentioned in passing building a wood oven in the backyard…

I’m hungry now.

A Life in Stitches

I spent some time talking to Mom today about books.  You know how easy it is to complain about irritations in a book?  I find it much harder to explain why I like a book so much. I usually resort to pushing it on everybody I know.

A Life in Stitches: Knitting My Way Through Love, Loss, and Laughter by Rachael Herron is one of those good books.  All I can think to say sounds like gushing uncritical praise.  I think you should read it, and not just because I like Rachael for real, and I’ve been reading her blog for years.  Memoir essays.  Not memoir about her knitting, but with knitting.  I know a few stories from the blog, but in the book they are in finished form – smooth writing, strong voice, thoughtful and self-aware, substantial.

I think you should read this book.  If you don’t even know what the hell knitting is, you should read it.  All you need is an interest in people.  You might not like it, but it won’t be for the knitting.

I think you should read this book.  It’s really good.

Garlic Soup

Simple, tasty, anti-viral.
And I’m nearly out of garlic. Unheard of!
So I will make a cup of garlic soup now and buy groceries tomorrow morning.

Oh, my aching back

The kid and I flew from Oakland to Birmingham yesterday, about 12 hours door to door. We flew past a good lightning show coming into Birmingham. Dramatic! And here we are, visiting Alabama in July, which might be cooler than August (last visit) but not noticeably. So much green!

My morning rest is over. Time to disrupt the good understanding between the kid and abuela. Funny how he starts to whine when I show up. No matter. He’s a great air travel companion. I am a lucky Mom.

Three Days in a Row, Driving to Sacramento

And I’m tired.

This is how I spent my Friday evening:

Spinning while sleeping.

the Kid obliged me with his photography skills. Thanks Kid!

Also, while sitting in many hours of conference, I finished my second Sprossling sleeve, and knit about 3 inches of the back. No falling asleep for me!

Virtual Stringtopia

Since I’m not at Stringtopia for real, I’m pretending with a bunch of other people.  And look!  My swap/goodie bag just arrived today!

Beautiful Shetland, Spunky Eclectic light BFL, and LEGO CANDY!!!!!!111!!!!!OMG11!!! Love Love and Love. Thank you Ellen! My small fiber stash has just been enhanced beautifully! And the chocolate eggs have some competition.

Old News? New News? Loom News?

I think I mentioned we got a Cricket rigid heddle loom?  Here’s photos I’ve had waiting patiently in a draft to share.  The Kid had a great time working on this.  In fact, if you ask him now, he claims he wove most of it.  Maybe it felt like a long time while he was doing it?  We’re pleased with the scarf, except the grey/brown (pygora and perendale lamb) is not as soft as it felt on the hands.  The Kid complains of itchiness (!!!!), so we won’t be giving it to his friend the Ham, who is ever so much more sensitive than the Kid is.  Unfortunately, I’ll have to keep it for myself.   We got it all from A Verb for Keeping Warm – the loom and the yarn.  We decided to save the bright green and blue Nature Spun that came in the Cricket box for a knit toy instead of using it for The First Scarf.  Just happened to have these three yarns sitting in a bag (how did they get there?) and I liked them together, so here they are.  Blue is Metamorphosis (fingering wt wool and silk), colour Indigo Blue Sky with a touch of Azure.  White is Shaggy Bear Farm Yarn BFL.  Grey/brown is Shaggy Bear Farm pygora/perendale lamb.  And the scarf is lovely!

What next?  I’ve got some mohair boucle from Be Sweet (olive green, turquoise).  When I went to Verb to show off The First Scarf, I brought the balls with me and Kristine suggested Magic Bean.  She’s the dyer.  She knows her colours.  She’s right.  I’ll warp with Magic Bean silk and weave on the mohairs, probably a different scarf for each colour.  I think it will be gorgeous, and too itchy to give to the Ham.  And quick, once I get the warp on the loom.  Ha!  Good thing Mom’s coming to visit again in a week or so.

I still have one leg to finish knitting to complete the Kid’s X Rabbit. How long will it take?  (that’s the blue and green from the Cricket starting yarn stuff.)   eta I just finished the rabbit.  Took maybe 15 minutes to finish knitting, stuff 2 legs, and sew on 2 legs. Glad I didn’t stall any longer ’cause that’s just silly.  Must take photo.  (eta = edited to add or estimated time of arrival?)

Look what I finished! Finally!

Off the needles, ends woven in.

Ready to wash and block (colour not good). Look at the lumps and bumps and all that great texture.

On the dressing wires. Ooooh!

Done! Stunning, gorgeous! Floaty! Drapey! I made it! And I’m giving it away. Plenty of yarn left…

Yum. Worth every moment.

Hamsa by Anne Hanson. MadelineTosh Pure Silk Lace, colour oxblood. US#2 needles. About 2 1/2 months of not a whole of knitting (the shoulders! the neck!). I’m so happy with it! And pleased with myself. Ah!