Mohair Shawl

Not a great picture, but this is the shawl after blocking. Started out with 5 stitches and increased 2, then did Garter Stitch for several rows. I continued increasing on both ends and on either side of the center stitch on the front side. It was odd working from the top down. It was a knit experiment thing.
Couldn't quite figure out which end was the top and what was the bottom, but it really like it. Hard to tell, but it has 6 rows of garter stitch every 4 inches. It will be warm and fluffy this winter. It's not itchy either. I bound it off with Collinette Ribon and it adds a nice touch to it.

Green Acres

We've just returned from 2 weeks on the East coast. Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC and a few others that we drove through. We stayed for a bit with DH's sister and husband. They live in a lovely area in South-Central PA. Mountains, valleys, rivers and the best coffee roaster in the US! (according to DH) Sounds rough doesn't it! Anyway, they have a farmette. Mini farm. Although I think it takes just as much work as a larger farm.

There are cattle, cats, dog, barns, tractors, fields of green stuff. Alfalfa I think, but not sure. Oh, the country life. The kids couldn't have been more content. Running outside to bottle feed the calves, tease the cats with straw and just living the life we don't have on a regular basis.

I love fresh produce. It's amazing the difference in taste. Right out of the fields. This is one of the produce stands that is near their house. Has anyone ever seen purple cauliflower? The pic isn't great, but the colour is amazing. I would be interested in what it does when you cook it! Great stuff. Beautiful stand. Owned, run and grown by the Mennonite family that lives there.

No New Hobbies!!

That what I told myself when I started doing a bit of beading on my felt. I don't have time or enough creative juice to do another hobby. Well, as it happens, I've been making a bit of jewelry. It's fast and very rewarding. As I said before, Crafting stuff in plentiful and cheap in the US, so I've been making a few pieces to go with things for much less than I could buy them. Also, they will appear under the Christmas tree at my parents this year for some of those that have been good. I'm not great by any means, but I have a friend who makes awsome jewelry. She came over to give me a little lesson and a few tips. Really fun.

On The Road

Well posting in very hard these days. Between traveling, unpacking, getting settled temporarely, you all know how it goes. Knitting is still going on. Pressie 3 is done. Will post pics as soon as it's blocked.


First pic is knitting in the car on the beginning of a 14 hour trip to Maryland, near Washington DC to visit friends. Below is the growing Chicken Nugget by the pool. Quite the vacation spot. Overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. The kids had an amazing time in the pool every day as I hid from the heat. So much for a good tan. I've really gotten accustomed to cool weather, even sunny cool weather.

This is the second shawl I've done. Two different patterns. This one came from a link off of Isobel's blog. I'm using the Tangerine Mohair from Blackberry Ridge. I got 5 balls last May for a sweater, but decided it might be a bit much. So it's evolved into shawls and wraps.

The first one was a present to DD's teacher this year. She's a doll. Both of the kids had her and she's wonderful, so it went to her with much appreciation. It was such a quick turnover, that there wasn't time for photos and DH had the camera in the US.

We're now in Pennsylvania. As we sit at a coffee shop, DH and I are hacking away on our computers, coffee and beverages in hand and the children reading their newly acquired books. Fluffy animal books and Captain Underpants for the other. The lengths we go to for a little wifi. It must be done! We're off to Hershey Park tomorrow. A veritable Chocolate village and theme park!!

Not Dead Yet!!

Well, we've been in the US for nearly 2 weeks. Having a bit of trouble with some email and finding wifi can be a challenge. Just got a new camera yesterday, so as soon as I learn to use it there will be pictures. Lots of activities and knitting. Finished Christmas pressie no. 1 and no. 2 is in the works. Spending a bit of time each morning at the lake under a tree during swimming lessons helps. Man the heat it HOT!! Not used to that any more. Any grand plans for a suntan may have to come from the spray on booth. Anyway, having a great time so far and we're staying really busy. Photos to follow. Happy belated 4th for those that it applies to.