Purlewe

Just a bit of sewing to go

I am so excited (and it has nothing to do with the Phillies game that is going on my tv right now.) I am excited b'c knitting is done. The sewing up and then finishing is next!!

 

This will be sewn up this week.. then I have to make a decision about the neck treatment.. It is supposed to be a turtleneck that is big enough to fold over itself (like 8 inches of turtleneck.. not my style.) I then need to knit a zipperband. I am waffling on the zipper. Part of me thinks that perhaps a bunch of hooks and eyes might be better. I get bummed when my zippers bubble out when I sit down. This is definitely a longer jacket style and so more bubbling I am guessing. hmmm.

These cables, when viewed sideways, remind me of old style tombstones.

moving right along

Well I am trying to get my sweater done before the retreat. Now that I am on the exciting part I can see I might actually make it. I have finished one of three repeats. I hope this means I will finish it soon so I can sew it up and buy my zipper.

Rhinebeck is hard to describe

It is simply friends...

 

 

 

and farm animals

 

 

One Whole Year

It is hard to imagine the time has gone by. That Sue and I were married a year ago yesterday. But we celebrated it well this weekend.

Sue took me camping. I haven't been in years and years. But some things just come back to you, like riding a bike. I already owned the tent and the gear. All we needed was a sleeping bag for her and some firewood.

The weather was kind to us. I made some fabulous food* over the fire. Sue fished, I hiked. We both laughed an awful lot.

I can't think of a better way to spend our time together. 
 
*honestly.. possibly the best food I have ever made over a fire.

entirely random with a side of bacon

Ever forget to turn on your alarm clock? I did. Now I am well rested but in a mad dash to catch myself up at work. That doesn't mean I haven't seen some random things on the web recently.

Thar be gold in them fields!

Hydroponic gardens for the landless urbanite.

The only thing I didn't do in Orgeon was visit the redwoods. It is definitely on my list to do the next time I go.

I might need to ask for a lunchbox for Xmas.

A librarian's response to Uncle Bobby's Wedding. Which makes me think I need to buy a copy for our anniversary this weekend.

Another one to ponder on the week of our anniversary: The cost of being gay.

Mesquite pods can be ground into flour!

And if you ever need it, bacon jam!

more potent potables.

So I had this brainstorm a few weeks back when I read this cool article about making my own hard cider. Halloween is coming and we tend to get invited to quite a few parties. Why not make Hard Cider to take along?

This week I did the hard stuff. I heated 5 gallons of cider and put it in my fermenter with yeasties. I am very excited to say the fermenter is bubbling! I hope to rack it in 2 weeks. I plan on bottling 2 for the Halloween parties and then leaving the rest for a bottling in November. I hear it mellows out the longer you let it sit. I am getting pretty excited about it!

Mittens of Doom Basket

Someone at Knitting group wanted me to foto the xmas mitten basket. I said sure.

9 pairs of mittens.. OK not all of them are fully pairs yet. But still 9. And I have plans for more.

Here are the latest pics of the most recent ones.

I got the yarn in the mail to make the 2nd one, but since I had put it on hold I started these.

These go quick so I'll probably finish them before I go back to the snails. Then I really should finish those pairs of gloves before I start pair #10.

miles of ribbing before I sleep

 

A mitten is at the midpoint while I wait for the yarn. As long as I am waiting I figured I could get some good time in on my sweater project. I am at the sleeve decreases for the back. The only exciting part is the 2 fronts for the cardi.. so it is alot of mindless miles of ribbing.

Let's get it together

It is time for me to start seriously thinking about canning for the holidays. Yes I know.. I haven't made any jellies or jams yet this yr. (Which isn't too upsetting. Yet. I still have some left in the larder.) But Sue and I canned beans and pickles. I have let my mind wander to canning other things as well. Sue's folks are also a big help to us as they can and give us their extras. So we always have some put aside.

But for the holiday presents I was thinking about something new this yr. I have always wanted to make cordials and liquors but was afraid that it would be something no one would want to drink but me. This time I bit the bullet and went thru with it.

 

Gimme 8 weeks and we will see if they are potable.

Forward, to mittendom!

So I have been continuing my quest for xmas mittens. So much so that I started a KAL on Ravelry for the next quest: Snail Mittens.

I do so adore everything in the Knitter's Book of Yarn. And the Snail Mittens are no exception. HelloYarn has made a stunner with these mitts and I knew they would be on my list.

Yarn: Dalegarn Tiur. Needles: 0s.

 

 

 

That last pic is the interior of the Tuck Stitch or Welt.