What a difference a day makes

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Yesterday it snowed in the morning and then rained and was windy. Somehow,  the fog rolled in and the Fire Island Lighthouse, which is only a mile away, disappeared.   Here’s the view january-2813from my deck today, when the skies cleared and yesterday.  january-289In fact, it was so nice today that a charter fishing boat was out.

Since I didn’t want to go off island yesterday, and we needed bagels, I tackled bagel baking again.  I have tried this in the past, twice, with mixed results.  My last batch looked great until I boiled them, the water was a rolling boil and it disintegrated the bagels.  This time I boiled them at a low simmer and they were a success, from The Joy of Cooking.january-2812

I’m still working on my daughter’s Duxbury cable sweater and the yarn and the pattern are beautiful.  I’ve been working out the math since I made some pattern modifications and think I have a plan.  On the spinning front, I plied my 50/50 merino/alpaca blend and it’s luscious.  I played around with a “longer” draw and had some success.january-2815

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet

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jan-212We awakened this morning to the pitter patter of little feet – above our heads.  We looked up and the skylight was covered with what I think were Eastern Starlings that were taking advantage of the ice melting off the skylight.jan-214

This one looks a little bit like a penguin.  I’m not sure about that eye!  Then while we had breakfast, we saw a seal float by on an ice floe as the tide went out in the Great South Bay.  All this wildlife while I was still in my jammies!

Later in the day, we took a walk to see more wildlife along the Fire island inlet.  We saw lots of deer, more seals, a hawk and some plovers.  We saw almost just as much from the comfort of home.

And in the morning…we’ll have waffles!

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BreakfastI am so excited.  Since we packed up  all our possessions last spring, I stored my well used and seasoned electric waffle maker.  I love waffles.  In the interim, I have become very creative with different flours, buttermilk and make all sorts of pancakes but they are not the same.  And while Tim has agreed to install an oven on the boat for our year of cruising (he can’t go a year without apple pie) we won’t have the power for an electric griddle on the boat or next  summer when we move to Massacussetts as lighthouse keepers.  Essentially we will be off the grid for the next couple of years and I need waffles.

So I began investigating waffle irons.  I am reluctant to buy food related items from China and most of the new cast iron waffle makers are made there.  Camp ones seem too flimsy.  Plus I remember a wok from the 70’s that I could never season right.  I am too impatient for the slow, low temperature method and end up burning the oil onto the pan.  Then I found a used, cast iron waffle maker, not belgian, made in Pennsylvania, with innovative handles that stay cool, on ebay – and it was already seasoned!!  It arrived and was clean but seasoned.

Waffle iron

Waffle iron

Now I’m back in waffles and will be set for the next couple of years.  I may get rid of the electric waffle maker when we finally unpack the PODS.  I had a great breakfast and then played some more with kool aid dye and roving.

Baby it’s cold outside

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The weather outside is frightful…pc190035well not exactly but it’s pretty cold so I have taken to indoor projects.  I knitted up a baby set based upon Elizabeth Zimmerman and just love it.  I enjoy that her projects get me to think like a knitter and not just follow a pattern completely.ez-sweater-set

Next i knit up a cowl from fleece I had washed and spun as part of my fiber study. It’s bond fleece and is so light and fluffy, handspun-cowlI’ll have to invest in more and think of future projects but will probably stick to one color.

p1100009Yesterday, I was on my own so tried my hand at kool aid dyeing of some p1110001corriedale cream roving  and loved it.  it was easy, not too messy and non-toxic.  My local grocery store didn’t have any blue kool aid so I may have to move on to food coloring.  I followed very helpful instructions from purecrafty’s blog.  So far I have spun up a single and will figure out how I want to mix and ply the colors.These are not my usual earth tones so it may be challenging figuring out the right project.

Holiday Knitting

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The holidays are fast approaching.  Kids are returning from school and places afar.  I know I’ve had all year but I’m knitting like crazy this month.  I am happy to be puttering at home and Ravelry allows me to stay connected with others even if I don’t leave the house.

It’s snowing, the fireplace is lit and I have hanks of yarn hung around the house with care.

Knitting Free for All

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I just spent some wonderful time with family over the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Since most saw me last, I’ve expended my fiber foray, from knitting commercial yarns from established patterns to improvising patterns and now to spinning and knitting my own handspun yarn.  Even that has evolved first from pencil roving to batts and now to fleece that I hand card.  Much of my interest has been spurred by the podcasts I listened to during my commute and now while I run or knit.

My family was incredulous that I could find so much to listen to about knitting.  I don’t.  I listen to people interested in fibers from around the world.  The first one I listened to was Knitty Nora from the UK.  Then I found the Webs and Knitpicks podcasts.  I thoroughly enjoyed Knitters Uncensored from Munich and I think that’s what really got me interested in spinning.  Some of these podcasts have fizzled out since most are unsponsored and produced in the free time of an already hectic life filled with family, work, knitting and spinning.  Now I enjoy Stash and Burn and Sticks and String from Australia.  I realize that I enjoy listening to people from around the world because I get a glimpse of different cultures from a knitter’s perspective and also to different fiber techniques.  I have ventured into Fair Isle (OK I haven’t steeked anything yet), thought about designing or modifying patterns and also learned about the politics of other countries. I also get lots of ideas for research, from knitting cultures, designers and techniques that I use at my local library.  And all of this is free!

Finishing Projects

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I had the day to myself.  The wind howled most of the day and I didn’t venture out until 5 pm to run.  I am privileged to be here.  I ran along the boardwalk and walked along the ocean.  By the time I ran, the winds had calmed.  The mosquitoes were absent but the deer were in full force.

I finished my knitting projects, blocked my Swallowtail Shawl, took photos and am ready to shape the back of  my Katharine Hepburn sweater.  Last night I began experimenting with my tripod and camera settings for moon and Fire Island Lighthouse sunsets.

Fogged in once again

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We moved from Maine, where we were fogged in most of the summer, to Fire Island, where it was beautiful all summer.  The fog rolled in with us.  It’s been rainy and foggy for most of our stay.   We learned not to let it cramp our outdoors lifestyle though.  DH kayaked and I took a long walk to the library and back on the beach.  Today, the Fire Island lighthouse has peeked in and out of the fog.  I’ve begun knitting two projects, which I can work on during my 3 hour train commute (one way) tomorrow.