Purling Oaks

Take that! (as shouted to Old Man Winter)

One knitting-related post coming up!  I have surprised myself by being very crafty/creative this week (a little) and weekend (a lot).  However, two projects underway are stealth projects so that leaves some blog material very much in an unpublishable draft form for a while.   No worries though.  I actually have real knitting content.  Not BIG knitting content, but I know you're not here for that.  I started the Simple Yet Effective Shawl (Rav link) on the train down to Chicago on Tuesday and worked on it again on Thursday, you guessed it, on the way from Chicago.  And yes, I did spend some of that time in conversation with my DH. 

The yarn is even brighter in person.  It will be interesting to see how the colors stripe between the two different balls.  It is a perfect use for sock yarn that probably shouldn't be used for socks.

Friday took me into Madison for an oil change (for the Jeep), a massage, and general errand-running.  Fortunately, I had time to stop at Lakeside Fibers.  You know, just to look around.  Well, look what came home with me.    
There are a couple more balls of the yarn, Rowan Kidsilk Haze, that didn't make it into the photo.  I was paging through the book in the LYS and I was immediately struck with the need to knit Veronique.  I didn't put up much of a fight. 

I know, black fuzzy yarn may prove to be a challenge but a fellow knitter in that LYS commented that all I would have to do is use light colored needles.  Ta-da!  Enabled. 

Besides getting a fix at Lakeside, I came home to find this in the mailbox!    It is of very nice quality and I love the patterns.  I also ordered the electronic version of the patterns.  I fell in love with the doll, but I'm sure I'll make several items from the book.  Nice job, Ysolda!

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Finally, to thumb my nose at last night's snowfall^X (!!!!), here is a view of some of the crocus (crocii?) in the yard last Thursday and they're just fine this afternoon. 

^X I'm so glad it was sunny today because the two inches of snow that fell were having a serious impact on my mental well-being.  It *is* almost April, you know. 

Some Tuesday food on Friday

This week DH and I were in Chicago for a meeting.  (My presentation was very well-received, thankyouverymuch.)  Our hotel was on the edge of Greek Town but we joined a group of co-workers Tuesday night and went to this restaurant up near Diversey and Halsted.   We found that they offer Tapas Tuesday on , well, Tuesday, which is a menu of many of their dishes but in smaller portions.  I don't remember the name of the dish but one of the dishes I ordered was a brushetta that DH and I decided just had to be reproduced at home.  Not one to let grass grow under his feet when there is food to experiment with, DH reproduced the dish this evening. 

I made the bread this afternoon (Artisan Bread in 5 min, basic recipe) and he did the rest----and he shared.  Delicious!!!

Wilson's Tomato, Avocado, and Provolone Bruschetta

One medium vine-ripened tomato, seeded, cut in a large dice
Half of a ripe Haas avocado, large dice
Some shredded provolone cheese (no measurement, maybe 1/3 cup or so)
basil leaves-about a teaspoon (2 or 3 fresh leaves), chopped
garlic clove (peeled)
olive oil - one tablespoon
red wine vinegar - one teaspoon
sturdy bread-sliced, cut into serving portions
Sea salt (Maldon's flaky)

Toast the bread and rub the garlic clove over the toast (either a lot or a little--to your taste)  Place the toasts on a serving platter.

In a medium bowl, combine the tomato and red wine vinegar.  Add the olive oil, basil, and provolone.  Mix.  Add the avocado and mix gently.  Spoon the tomato/avocado mixture on the toast.  Sprinkle the salt according to your own taste at the table.  Enjoy!

Stay tuned for some actual knitting-related content!

Where are my jammies?!?

Yesterday I ventured out to run errands in the afternoon.  Cat food, bank, and clothes shopping.  I am usually inspired to shop when I have an event coming up, like the meeting in Chicago coming up this week.  (Yes, I finished the presentation materials and in a quite satisfactory manner, if I say so myself.)   So, shopping I did go.   I found a new top or two, which was my goal.  Without too much detail, the changing room is not a favorite room of mine, increasingly so.  I'm glad I've signed up for the Spring into Summer; my typical response to stressful events is to find comfort in food.  Oh yeah, the scale reflects the comfort I've found lately, for sure, so this is a good time to pay more attention to being more fit. 

Continuing with the clothing shopping expedition.....I was also looking for new pajamas.  I've noticed lately that several items of my nightwear would be better off in the rag box.   I found none that were satisfactory yesterday.  I did not think I was that picky---I would like a nice long t-shirt or a pretty cotton gown and I would be happy.  There are plenty of t-shirts at Vicky's Secret but they would be a bit drafty.  My torso must have lengthened in the past decade, right?  *g*   Other choices (at other shopping establishments) included pants with a short t-shirt (just not me) or some gowns that I would have to have a green mask plastered on my face to complete the look.   /sigh  Any suggestions for places to find satisfactory nightwear?

In gardening news, the cats pointed out some catnip that is/was greening up.  It is interesting that it is growing from between the bricks.  I'm going to let it grow there, it adds character to the garden.  There was some sampling (not by me)....just to make sure it was catnip, I'm sure.
 

T.G.I.F. (not original but so true)

Whew.  T.G.I.F!!!

Busy week.  Quality time in the Jeep.   Last minute presentation assignment materialized this week.  (insert crossed-eyes icon-thingy)  Restrained myself from harming my supervisor.  Took Mom to the airport in Milwaukee for a non-stop flight to California so she can enjoy the nice weather out there for two weeks.  The end of this day is looking mighty nice ---- as long as the presentation materials are finished. 

There was a lovely crescent moon this morning that greeted me as I was filling the coffee maker.  I guess the blogger in me isn't too comatose since I actually got the camera to try to document it but realized I needed a tripod.  Well, and the coffee that wasn't brewed yet.  So, imagine a lovely moon in a deep blue almost morning sky with fingers of the forest reaching up to tickle her.

Yes, I'm still working on my first cup.

Have a lovely Friday!

March stream

I did a bit of walking around Saturday afternoon.  I looked at my gardens, peeked under the lilacs and found the beginnings of crocus, and looked at the little stream.  It is a surprise stream because it appeared two autumns ago and hasn't stopped flowing since then.  We're not sure where it flows from but it looks like it may be staying, at least for a while.  Garden-wise, the German Chamomile is a lovely green and living up to the "freely self-sows" notation on the garden marker.  The lime and nutmeg thymes are looking very alive.  The rest of the garden is still dormant but may be waking up by the end of the week.

I spun more of the Autumn Oaks fiber on Saturday, too.  The bump of fiber seems to be unending but I have a few nights at home alone this week, so perhaps I'll be able to finish the singles and ply.   The Madison Guild event went by without my appearance.   Uncle Theodore's funeral was well attended and the luncheon lasted into the afternoon with conversations with family and friends.  Mother had a ride home with Uncle David (my dad's brother) and Aunt Lynnette and they met more family and friends for smelt dinner.      Sunday was the day for laundry, reading, and a little more spinning.   This week holds warmer weather, work, and more family-related stuff.

Happy Monday!

Thank you for your suggestions and well wishes.  Just writing about some of what is happening and my worries was helpful.

A hard topic

This is not a post about attending the Madison Knitters Guild event this weekend, how I'm looking forward to hearing Stephanie Pearl-McPhee give a talk, and that I'm going to be spending quality time with the vendors.   Nor is this a post about the wildlife in my back yard or how I wish Spring was here.

This is a post where I talk about a topic that is hard for me.  This post is about me asking for your help.  

Today I'm driving up to my mother's, picking her up, dropping the dog at the kennel, and driving back home.  Tomorrow we'll be attending the funeral for her brother, Theodore Stephenson, who lost his battle with lung cancer early Monday morning.  His obituary is here -- scroll down the page.  This is going to be a hard funeral for a couple of reasons.   We're all going to miss Uncle Theodore--he certainly was no wishy-washy kind of guy.  He recruited me as to assist him with tribal council affairs, a topic he was quite passionate about, and has really always been an influence in my life.  I'm happy he's out of pain but sad he's gone. 

This past week was also the second anniversary of my father's death and a few days before that would have been his 84th birthday.  My mother is still grieving heavily for him and she is depressed.  I'm afraid of the impact of my Uncle's death and this funeral.  I'm hopeful that perhaps tomorrow's ceremony will be helpful but........maybe it won't.   My mother is a bit like Scarlett O'Hara and will push the hard emotional stuff to the bottom of the list to think about tomorrow.  She's also a stubborn, independent woman and a good person. 

I do realize a lot of this is out of my control.  However, I am her daughter and I love her.  I just don't want to lose her to this grief.   There's another complicating factor or two I won't go into here but I think grief is the underlying cause.  Here's my request--I know I'm not alone in wondering how to deal with and work through grief.  Have you been in a similar situation?  How did you handle it?  How do you get to a place where you can live without daily pain?  Have you read any books that you think would be helpful to me or Mom?  If you would prefer to email your suggestion rather than leave a comment, my email is simonoaks at mac dot com.

Thank you for reading.  Just writing this post has been useful, helping me shed tears that have been held back.  Apples don't fall too far from the tree.

Weather report

Those little icicles on the bird feeders have formed during the past hour and a half.   DH is on his way to the east coast this afternoon, so I'm sending out "safe travel" vibes to escort him.  Yesterday was also an overcast and chilly day.....a complete contrast to most of Friday.  Friday, for me, was a lovely weather day.  By noon, the sun was shining and the temperature was in the high 50s.  I was on the road quite a bit of the day (Oshkosh-Brookfield-Home), so I opened the Jeep's sunroof, cracked-open the side windows, cranked the tunes and had one of the best days, mood-wise.  It was a day to save for savoring when life is more demanding and a reminder of simple joys that will (help) keep me sane.  And it is just so simple--sun, good music, a bit of a breeze and I'm able to put aside some of my personal world's worries for a few hours.  The songs that were played on the radio Friday were some of my all-time favorite driving tunes.  Thanks to the music programmer!

Saturday included this view, although Black Dot was really supervising from behind me: 

I am pretty happy with my spinning progress yesterday.  I'm spinning some Polworth fiber from a Wisconsin Sheep and Wool vendor (no label and no memory, although I could find them by location in the vendor's shed).  As of this photo, there is just under half of the fiber in singles on the bobbin.  I think it will end up as a two-ply.
The color is "Autumn Oaks."  I will probably have to do some sleuthing to find the vendor, depending on how much yarn I end up with.  I think I would like a vest from this yarn.

I plan to spin again this afternoon--as soon as I light the woodstove.  DH set up the wood so all I'll have to do is light a match.  Life is good.