To(o) Organize(d)

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I hit a breaking point. My work area was a disaster. I knew I had crossed a line when Tim cleaned around my work area because there was so much stuff in piles on the floor. So I got to work. First I moved my weaving and spinning equipment off the floor. I haven’t committed to where I want to permanently install my warping board so I hung it with my rigid heddle loom for now. Wreath hooks hold it over a door when I measure a warp.

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I was feeling pretty good after that first step.
My work table was cluttered with all my works in process. I considered two ways of organizing a work space. Leave everything out to remind me what I am working on or hide everything. Looking at all my plans was paralyzingly me so I chose to hide them away. I hope I remember all my projects. I left the quilt in process on a shelf with its quilting hoop; found a bag for my braided rug and material; stowed my yarn, alpaca and llama fleeces; put my quilt pieces and batting in a tub; and found a place for my rope collection for future rugs. I had a pile of tee shirts I plan to make into a quilt for me but they made a big pile. So, I cut out the logos out for the quilt and saved the bottoms for future rug strips. Somehow, the same amount of material seemed more organized.
I went from this

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To this

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Feeling real good!
To think all my quilting fabric used to fit in this little trunk.

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I’ve come a long way. Now where is my measuring tape?

Betwixt and between

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Squeezed.

I hold the latest technology in my lap. I broke down and bought an iPad Air. I nursed along my Apple iBook for eight years. At this point, it’s merely a repository for my photos, all of which are backed up on an external hard drive, CD’s and now Scandisks. It no longer can surf the internet because it’s been outdated.

Last night I looked through my friend’s telescope and clearly saw the moon’s craters and mountains. The night was clear, crisp and below freezing! I had to go inside to thaw my fingers and deferred looking at Jupiter for another night.

My son is downsizing and I am now the proud owner of my Dad’s accordion from the 1930’s. He played it through high school and college to earn money and would briefly bring it out and play a few songs at family gatherings. The last time it was played (can’t say it made music) was at my wedding seven years ago, when it took two inebriated souls to squeeze the bellows, push the buttons and play the notes. Now it’s my turn. So far, not so good. It has to be played by feel because it’s so large, my chin gets pushed up, over the top. But it’s a mobile, off the grid sort of instrument

And then there’s fiber. I put my daughter’s sweater aside to whip up a wee one. Here it is sans button and matching hat. Cute!

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Lighthouse caretaker wanted

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Here’s YOUR chance. Friends of Seguin Island Lighthouse Station is looking for caretakers from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2014. Sadly, actually for happy reasons, I’m busy.

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Here’s the link to information.

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Good luck.

On another note, I attended Stitches East Market today. Let’s just say I’m not the most committed, whackiest knitter out there. I don ‘t have a bumper sticker which says, “If I wasn’t knitting, I might kill someone!”

But I do have some cashmere, quiviet and silk yarn, some alpaca roving, stitch markers and a weaving book.
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Big sweater, little sweater

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And a hike in between.
I finished the front piece of daughter’s Irish Moss Sweater. It’s a beautiful pattern, still not quite memorized.

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Yesterday, I took most of the day off. I took a six mile walk with hiking buddies, spread 400 pounds of topsoil in my new raised bed and planted 110 daffodil bulbs.

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Today, I completed my Ob/gyn AND menopause certifications. Another interesting fact: menopausal women tend to lose hearing in their left ear first. What’s that you say?

I’m working on a sweet baby kimono sweater. I bought the pattern because I loved the textured band and couldn’t figure it out when I saw a sample. Now I know.

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Now, I’m off to another swimming (umhmm) session. My mantra is: BREATHE! Farewell.

No rest

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I love Sundays. The end and the beginning of the week. I’ve had a chance to mull over our farm share and start cooking: bagels; chicken pot pie; and brussel sprouts to freeze. There’s a rhythm to working with a weekly bounty.

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Next I hit the books. You will be happy to know I had to answer this question to remain Board Certified:

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I answered it correctly and only have four more articles to read. Most of the articles are relevant and interesting but the questions? Not so much.

So I took a break and wound the Malabrigo worsted yarn on my nostespinne. Luscious.

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Overdoing it?

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Physically and craftily.

We joined a Master Swim Program and had our first session this week and I nearly drowned. Not really but I am not in swimming shape. I have never been a competitive swimmer. And I don’t swim freestyle. It was pathetic. My goggles flooded, my legs cramped up. Despite being given an easier program than everyone else.

Which leads me to my next issue: lots of projects. Including a new one. I may try to sew a bathing suit. I went to a fabric sale today and the woman had an old bathing suit pattern which is perfect for swimming and bathing suit material. I’ll be the only one there that made my own bathing suit. In red! Easier to spot on the bottom of the pool.

I also discovered a new ( to me) local (less than 50 miles away) yarn store, Plattsburgh Yarn and Gifts. Sweet little shop, which carried the Malabrigo yarn I wanted for a baby Kimono and the Plymouth Encore for a colorful blanket. Plus their business card had instructions for the kitchener stitch on the back!

My new sewing machine was able to churn out this little gem of a bowl. It has cloth wrapped around clothesline then zig zagged together.

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I’ve almost finished the front of my Irish Moss sweater. I haven’t used a cable needle at all and have tons of cables, including four over three.

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My friend gave me a wool coat, which had washed funny. First I checked out whether it fit me but since it didn’t, it became strips for a braided rug.

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I received another request for an amorous deer hat. The deer heart is pickling away and very tasty. It looks like I’ll be enjoying it on my own.

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Geraniums look great.

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The christmas cactus I bought a year ago is getting ready to bloom for the first time and I bought at least a hundred bulbs and 350 pounds of top soil to spread in the new raised bed Tim built.

And there’s fiber to spin, quilts to sew and a Board recertification exam to complete. Where does the time go?

Adirondack fall

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Adirondack fall is a brief lovely season. With six weeks until winter, we had our first light snowfall this weekend and the temperature dropped to 17 degrees f.

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My Irish Moss sweater is well underway. There’s a tiny chance I may memorize the pattern, but not yet. I love the alpaca-merino, soft, light and warm. So does Shirley.

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I got around to pickling the venison heart today. I boiled it for several hours with a carrot, onion and celery, then poured a brine over it and let it sit under a weighted plate all day. Next it’s to the fridge. Tasted yummy.

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We’ve received a bounty of winter squash from our farm share and I baked my first pumpkin pie of the season. My Oxo good mill did the hard work. Funny how the pie came out though.

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We’ve had a few picnic dinners in the cabin but haven’t screwed up the courage to sleep in it yet. Lots of excuses- have to get up for work, too cold, forgot my sleeping bag, etc. one day. Tim writes about it here.

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Tucked away

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We spent at least five hours yesterday tucking in the boat for the winter. It had been hauled out of the water and perched, just a little wobbly, in its cradle.

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It takes a full size ladder to reach the deck because it has a five foot, fin keel. Our mission was to cover the boat with an oiled canvas tarp, which seemed to weigh just under a ton!

We had to try to drape it just right so the snow slides off it and doesn’t build up on the deck. We should visit it often during the winter to make sure this doesn’t happen — but we don’t.

Lucky for me, I got to spend most of the time under the cozy tent we created while Tim tied lines under the boat and was very busy.

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I managed to enjoy the view and take some pictures, in between sewing the canvas with an awl and stabbing myself in the thumb.

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It’s a good thing I was under the tent because it started raining and I got to make sure it kept me dry, while Tim did his thing out in the elements. I even caught a faint rainbow.

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And we did it just in the nick of time because last night it snowed in the mountains. We could see it as we looked back from the ferry to Vermont.

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