Cherry Knits

Happy Holidays 2010!

Believe it or not, I'm still out here lurking in cyberspace and decided to drop in on my own completely neglected blog.

Best wishes to you and yours for a joyous holiday season. I'm still out road warrioring but looking forward to a couple of weeks at home over the holidays. And I'm of course knitting on a deadline--aren't you??? So my best wishes also that all your holiday knitted gifts become glorious FO's and wrapped in paper and bows for their lucky recipients in time for the big day.

Good knitting to all and blessings to you and yours in the coming year.

 
Humphrey and Gracie (the stocking fifth from the left is the new 2010 edition)

 

In Loving Memory

Hudi 

 

Our beloved Hudi left us just before Thanksgiving. His very big and generous heart failed him and ours are now broken. We will love and miss him always. He will be forever present in our hearts. His gentle and loving spirit lingers everywhere in our home, and is especially felt near one of his favorite spots under the lilac bush. We're very grateful for the time he shared with us.

 

Betty

I've been away from the blogging thing for quite a while. I just can't seem to find the time to keep up with it. But now I really need a place to pay a tribute to my beloved friend. I may be the only one who visits this space now since I've been AWOL for so long, but I still want to talk about Betty and share her memory.

Betty left us very unexpectedly. We don't know what was wrong. She seemed to have some pain in her neck because she was having trouble lowering her head to eat. We thought she might have a minor orthopedic problem from romping around on the trails--she wasn't a spring chicken anymore. She improved for a few days, but when our accupuncture vet visited to treat her, she was concerned that she was very dehydrated. Betty spent a night attached to an IV to get her fluids back, but something had gone terribly wrong. By the next morning, we were told her internal organs were failing and there was nothing we could do.  We had to tell her goodbye that afternoon, on July 16.

I was working in Alaska when Betty left us. I had said goodbye to her two days before to leave on my trip, and never dreamed it would be the last time I would ever see Miss Betty. John had the terrible burden of doing everything that had to be done for her alone. We were more than 3000 miles apart and there was nothing to be done about it except keep moving forward through the shock and grief as best we could.

We loved her dearly and miss her terribly. There is a big hole in our home now. Humphrey and Gracie and all the kitties miss her too.

Betty was a loving and beloved member of our family. She had a wonderful dogs life and brought immeasurable happiness and love to ours. We will remember her always. Soon we hope, with more smiles than tears.

 

Goodbye dear Betty. We will always love and miss you.

Something New

It's amazing that I have actually finished two whole projects since beginning anything new!

But, this week I succumbed to the temptation of starting a new project. I really need a change from the constant diet of chocolate brown yarn in the simple lace shawl. Sumptuous as it is, a little variety now and then is a good thing. You know, like making sure you include all the food groups. Chocolate, even dark chocolate,  can be too much of a good thing.

This week I started Bettna. I needed to tweak my yarn taste buds with  something tangy and savory. Bettna is a Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton design. The pattern is featured on the cover of Noro Revisited. It's classic CTH and I've wanted to knit one for a couple of years. So why not NOW! So what if I have all those other projects that could use a little attention. No willpower whatsoever...

You may have already knit the popular Klaralund from CTH's Noro Book #2, which is an earlier version of a similar design concept.  Klaralund is the pullover version knit in four rectangular pieces also in combinations of garter and stockinette stitches.

This is the finished lower back piece of Bettna, and the beginning of one of the lower fronts.

Here's a  close-up of the Silk Garden colorway #234.

And here's what the finished Bettna will look like from the back.

So, wishing you the pause in your knitting (with a new project, of course) that refreshes! And hey it's ok - its all fiber and no calories!

A Promise of Spring

Finally. Yesterday was snow-free. Beautiful blue sky. Comfortable temperature. The Colorado I know and love. Well, ok, I actually love the snow and all the fun things there are to do in it, but the last couple of months have been way too much of a good thing. I now have a major case of Spring Fever.

So, I went to the Denver Botanic Gardens.

  A light blanket of snow still covers the ground.

But ice on the little streams and ponds is now just a skim.

And droplets of water from the snow melt are falling from the roofs of pagodas like tiny jewels.

All the glittery bits from Winter's Blossoms of Light enjoyed their final glory but are now making way...

... The tropical flora inside the conservatory hint at the thriving greenery and riotous color that will overtake all outdoors, the long summer days and the evening picnics and concerts to come.

Can you just imagine lounging on these slopes when they are grassy and green, wiggling your bare toes in the soft blades, sipping something cool and listening to the sweet sounds of a chamber ensemble?

...The tea ceremony?

...The pergolas heavy with trumpet vines and wisteria?

So please come quickly Spring!

I was going to post one of these images for my Saturday Sky. But, I couldn't choose just one. And anyway, now it's Sunday. But today is equally glorious. I hope you enjoyed the little stroll with me through the Gardens and the promise of Spring to come.

And speaking of Sky

This was in my "rearview" on my last road trip -- Montana's Big Sky.

Knitting Notes

  I'm making good progress on the Simple Lace Shawl - at this point, all 367 stitches of it. It's been my travel project for the last few weeks. I am now beginning work on the lace border. Yay! I was afraid of lapsing into a garter stitch coma. The drape and subtle sheen of this Giada yarn is gorgeous.

  And finally, a big thank you to my good friend Patti from Sweetgrass in Helena, Montana. She gifted me with this lovely skein of her own Montana Fibers in a hand-dyed Blue Faced Leicester. The colorway is Ocean. The wool is gorgeous and has a beautiful soft hand.There are about 375 yards and it looks like it will work up to about 5 sts to the inch. This might make another lovely Forest Canopy shoulder shawl. Any other ideas?

Happy Sunday - and Happy knitting to you!

"Well-behaved women rarely make history."

Happy March! It's also Women's History Month.

The quote is by one of my favorite historians, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

She won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1991 for A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary, 1785--1812. A few years ago there was also a wonderful PBS documentary based on the book.

Check out more at this fascinating website: www.dohistory.org.

Other works include: The Age of Homespun and Good Wives: Image and Reality in the Lives of Women in Northern New England, 1650-1750.

And on a realted subject near and dear, check out No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting , by Anne Macdonald.

Wishing you your place in history - - and if you are of the female persuasion, misbehave whenever possible!

A Very Merry Un-Birthday to You!

Thanks to the Mad Hatter for expressing a perfect sentiment. It's John's un-birthday today. He's a Leap Year baby - so he only gets to celebrate on the actual day once every four years.  So we're celebrating today. Frankly, if it was me, I would parlay an un-event such as this for an entire week.

This means he also gets un-presents...

I just take comfort in the fact that even though he's had fewer birthdays, he'll still always be older than moi!

The big day comes around again next year.

So til then, Happy Un-birthday to all those Leap Year babies out there!

While we're on the subject of Oscar...

No - not that Oscar. Although I am so tickled that Helen Mirren won! And I thought Ellen did a great job as host. But, I digress.

No, I'm talking about another Oscar - my cat Oscar. Oscar de la Renta.

I just couldn't resist this title for my post today (for obvious reasons), but were it not for such a timely and clever coincidence, I would have entitled it "The $1000 Hair Ball". No kidding.

At the rate we're going, we may just be paying for a new wing at Tender Touch Animal Hospital.

This was "Oscar de la Renta" in the prime of his career as a famous Ragdoll show-cat before he adopted me and came to live in our house.

"Oscie" enjoys retirement snoozing in the garden catching a few rays on a warm winter day.

But last week...

Bloodwork and exam $162

Ultrasound $282

Procedure to extract one big honkin' hairball $600

A healthy kitty -- priceless.

I was so happy to come home from my last road trip to find he's back to his chipper cat self.

So, this was my most expensive fiber related expense ever (all at one time anyway)! And not even a sweater to show for it. I do actually save Oscar's fur from his combings for spinning, but this? Eeww.

Humphrey Update

Everyone has been so kind to send good wishes to Humphrey as he continues to recover from his torn ACL operation. No running or jumping yet, but just want you to know he's doing well.

1,601 miles later...

Hi! I didn't evaporate. I just returned from a looonnnggg road trip that took me into five states in eight days. In spite of my best intentions, there was no opportunity to blog before blowing out of town or while I was out pounding the pavement.

But now I'm back, and in the immortal words of Dorothy, there's no place like home ... or anything better than all the wet noses and wags just waiting for me to get here.

Everyday Tweed

Another project finis!

Pattern: The Everyday Tweed Sweater from The Garter Belt

Yarn:  Queensland Kathmandu DK - color 406

Needles: US 6 circulars and DPNs, and US 4

Other Posts on this Project: January 24, 2007

Notes of Note:  This sweater was knit almost entirely on airplanes and hotel rooms. It's a very simple top-down pattern that requires minimal finishing, so a great travel project. The picot edging on the sleeves and bottom is a nice detail. I knit this sweater in one of my all time favorite yarns. The merino/silk/cashmere blend feels luxurious against my skin even if it is an "everyday" sweater. I'm all for everyday luxuries!

I knit the pattern as written. The only issue I had was that the neckline was very loose and did not stay on my shoulders. So, I pulled out the ribbing, decreased the number of neckline stitches, and reworked the K2P2 ribbing on a smaller needle size (US 4). Beginning at the midpoint row of  ribbing I also purled the two purl stitches together around the row and then finished the remaining rows of ribbing in  K2P1, which pulled the neckline in nicely. I would love to knit this sweater again, although I think I will do a size smaller next time for a slightly more snug fit.

Fair Isle Friends

This weekend I went to the annual Denver Creative Festival. There's lots of needlework, sewing, quilting, knitting and crochet, and other kinds of crafty things to see. It's always great to visit local companies and designers like Cheryl Oberle, Interlacements , and Textiles a Mano.

I especially look forward to making this event my annual pilgrimage to visit Canadian friends Anne and Eugene Bourgeois of Philosopher's Wool, who always have a magnificent exhibit of their extraordinarily beautiful fair isle designs and kits.

Here I am with Anne and Eugene, wearing the Philosopher's Wool Color Your Own cardigan I knit two years ago. The colorway is called Ilona. I love this colorway because it is such an artful blend of both warm and cool colors.

I bought this beautiful Moving Mud glass shawl pin they were featuring this year. Anne is also wearing one on her shawl in a gorgeous deep red color.

Mine absolutely looks custom made for my Garter Ridge vest I knit a couple of years ago from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Vests book. And it will enhance so many other pieces! I also bought some beautiful light and lace weight merino and alpaca hand dyed skeins from Textiles a Mano. I need to take a good picture of those, so will post them later when I get the projects planned. They are gorgeous.

Philosopher's Wool Kilim Cross Shawl update

While I'm on the subject, you may remember this latest PW project currently on my needles:

This is the Kilim Cross Shawl in the Hollyberry colorway (again, I love those warm and cool colors together--don't you?). I'm still working away on it. Spending so much time traveling really slowed progress once it reached that not so portable stage. But, I pick this lovely piece up at every opportunity when I'm home and always become newly inspired. It's in the knitting bag right next to the sofa, so never far from reach. I had hoped to finish by Thanksgiving -- yikes, ok so maybe before Spring arrives. With the weather we've had this year, I may just be able to wear it straight into July!

On the road again...

I'm headed out again for a week. I'll be leaving for the airport right around kickoff time. So, while you're enjoying your guacamole and the big game, I'll be knitting at 30 some thousand feet. A perfectly acceptable trade-off IMHO. I'm not really a football fan (even if it is the Superbowl) - but I do look forward to watching the halftime show on my DVR. I love the artist formerly known as Prince - conveniently known as Prince once again!

In lieu of Saturday Sky - since I totally missed it this week...

This pic is from the city of my destination today and was taken on my last visit there. Just never got it posted up then either, so I'll offer it now. It was bitterly cold after snowing the day before (what else would you expect - I was there). Just call me "Typhoid Cherry". You know, Mary's snow alter ego. I take snow with me and spread it around like an epidemic everywhere I go--lol. But the storm was clearing and a blue sky was peeking through. I had just time enough for a quick walk around Salt Lake City's Temple Square to take a few snaps and appreciate this magnificent architecture.

I'll try to check in from the road, and will be back home next weekend for a couple of days before heading off again. Hope you get some good knitting done during all those touchdowns today!