Purling Oaks

A break in the wet and fog....

After this morning's fog, the sun is out and I'm hoping things will dry out enough to allow for a bit of mowing later today.  The forecast for the next several days does not look promising for hay-making/grass cutting.

Gardening-----

I set up two new beds and dismantled one old garden box (with Dan's shoveling assistance).  I need to go get some boards to frame the new beds.  As they look right now, I wouldn't doubt that somebody would ask who I planted.  Gruesome looking, for sure.  

Cooking------

I made Bi Bim Bap for dinner last night in a bit of an unstructured manner -- Dan and I both liked it.  I would probably marinate the meat a bit longer than 30 minutes next time, but I had been traveling during the day and didn't have the prep time available -- especially since I decided on the menu when I was cruising the grocery store.  I used very thinly sliced beef sirloin from the Beaver Dam Piggly Wiggly, which was a time saver.  I really liked the wilted spinach & arugula with sesame oil and garlic as a green for the BBB, matchstick carrots for some more color, chopped scallions, and Dan's kim chi is always delicious.  Dan made the rice and our over-easy eggs.  I used this recipe as a base for the marinade but the rest varied widely as I had several recipes open in my browser.  This "recipe" will definitely be repeated.

Tonight's dinner will be Caldo Verde --- with chorizo because I doubt my local grocery has linguica sausage.  The recipe looks relatively simple and delicious.

Socks-------

Turned the heel on Monday (or was it Sunday?).  I've settled on a recipient (not me) and now need to motor along.

Other stuff-------

• The new haircut is okay, but nothing fabulous.  I'm still working with it to see if we can reach detente.
• Purchased two Bali Pops yesterday.  And thread.  Now I need to set up the sewing machine.  
• Worked out the warp and weft requirements to use up some cotton chenille-y yarn on the rigid heddle.
• The number of projects I have specific plans to start is increasing and causing me a little concern.  Of course, now I have more free time, but will I revert to old, possibly ingrained, habits and not finish any of them?  Scary.  I'll ponder this more, I'm sure.

See what I mean?.....

.

I just ran out and took this photo.  Somebody has been digging in my garden.  Grrrr.  

And I know it is almost June when I see this shrub in bloom.....

Happy Wednesday!

Approaching the end of May and.....

.....What have I been doing?  This photo may explain some of what I've been doing.......

I've also been getting acquainted with the new-to-me lawn tractor and have been remembering to duck under the low branches in the orchard.  

I found the sock-in-process.............  

.....that I started two years and one month ago.  Crazy.  Oh well, sometimes life gets in the way of life.  At least I'm ready to start a relaxed Summer of Socks 2013 with a project at hand.  

I've also been re-reading a number of J.D.Robb's stories.  Last night I enjoyed reading an on-line novella from Wen Spencer in her Elfhome universe.  I do so wish she would write more in the A Brother's Price universe...but that is unlikely.  Sad.

This weekend's largish project is to build new vegetable garden beds.  The wooden boards of the garden boxes are beginning to break down and the boxes really aren't spaced properly for the newish mower.  Not to mention ..... they  likely suffered a similar two years and one month interval of not much attention.  So, I'm experimenting with the cardboard/hay-grass/soil method of layering a (slightly raised) garden.  Our soil is so, so rocky that digging in is not a viable option.  I've got the cardboard, saved from earlier this spring.  I've got the hay-grass, mowed yesterday, that I only (!) need to rake up and transport.  And the soil.  That's my next decision, which I think will result in shoveling no matter what.  More muscle burns more calories, right? 

 

Have a safe and relaxing weekend!

 

 

Last Sunday in April

Not a brilliant post title but it does allow for a bit of a theme, should I continue in the same vein.  I won't, you'll thank me.

There's a finished object!  Socks!

Here's the ravelry link for this project.  I started these socks WAY back in 2008 with some yarn won at Joan's.  (thanks, Joan!)  I restarted them a few times and the actual construction of this version took actually less than a year.  Magic loop, short-row, toe up, 60 stitches, plain vanilla sock with 2/1 ribbing.  I divided the skein into two balls to take out the guess work.  I'm very happy with them; they feel great.  

I'm hoping to have more finished  (and started) objects later this year but considering my schedule the past two years, I think I'm doing fine.  The socks haven't been my only FO since 2008, just a lingering project that gave me a few challenges.  

Happy Easter, all you that celebrate!

 

 

Anything down that well?

Let's see.   What to type?  I think it will have to be various and sundry topics.  I'm trying to reprime the blogging well.  Here goes.....

I'm waiting on the final rise for two loaves of bread made with a sponge starter as described in the New Joy of Cooking.  (Not the new New Joy, just the old New Joy.)  The bread rose the first time in the fridge overnight because I started the starter yesterday afternoon.  The type of starter and a slow rise usually result in a very tasty bread.  We'll see tonight if that's still so.

Wow, on the feeder there are several goldfinches that look almost olive today along with a few of the muted winter yellow.  

I've been grazing the Internet regarding growing hair long or longer.  One interesting hair-related item I found was that for some people, use of shampoos containing sulfates can result in an itchy scalp.  I believe it relates to the sebum on the scalp and clogging of pores but then again I may have that a bit off.  Anyway.....I found that I am one of those people.  I switched to a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner and my scalp is so much happier.  No wonder the dandruff shampoo was not working.  

Also hair-related, as I'm growing my hair, I have also decided (at least for now) to forgo the highlighting at the salon.  This holiday season I got a really good look at my gray hair.  I must say it has been a bit of a mental adjustment seeing the gray.  (Yes, that is an understatement.)  However, I am beginning to really like it.  I'm maybe ten to twenty percent gray.  Of course, the growing out of the highlighting may be challenging if I'm also trying to increase the length of my hair.  /sigh

There has been knitting.   This is an "old" photo; I've actually knit a few more inches on this sock but I'm too lazy to document it right now.  Maybe when I show you the bread, I'll give you a new view of the sock.  This is a restart of socks using yarn I won from Joan many moons ago.  I'm using magic loop on a US 1 addi turbo.  It is a nice thinner fabric.

There's also been spinning.  I met with the/my local spinning group again this past Monday.  It was really nice.  

I've been having dinner with my husband every night this week.  Work night dinners with my husband.  Nice.  

Happy Friday.  Be well.

Food and a plan

The weekend has flown, as usual.  I arrived home just before midnight after driving through a thunderstorm Thursday night.  I think the delayed flights, thunderstorm driving, and sleep deficit colored my weekend in a way I would rather not repeat. 

Anyway......here's some of the fun stuff from this weekend.

Food!  Pork Lettuce Wraps

I used a recipe by Molly Katzen as a catalyst but I was pretty "free-form" to arrive at our dinner Saturday.  Boneless porkchops cubed and cooked then sauted with minced carrots, celery, scallions, garlic, cilantro, and bean sprouts.  Yum.

I won't linger on saying I still have some *more* frogging to do on the Simple Yet Effective Shawl.  I think I can safely say that I'm going to make sure I get better sleep in the work weeks to come.

In the spirit of Summer of Socks 2009, I started some socks for Wilson using Magic Loop and Cascade.

I used this method of casting on that I found while nosing around in Ravelry.  I'm not an expert but it is pretty slick.  These socks will be staying home this week but following me on vacation next week.  (Wheee!  VACATION!!!!) *ahem*  However, this week Icarus and the SYES are coming with me for my knitting pleasure. 

Here's the plan this weekL  Work, get to the hotel, walk for about an hour, eat dinner, call Wilson, knit, and sleep.  Shower and repeat.  No television.  I repeat.....no television.  I'm blaming it for my reduced sleep levels.  I know, I know, *I'm* responsible for pushing those buttons on the remote ....but if I don't turn it on I won't know if there are never-before-aired NCIS episodes being shown.  Right?   There will be some ipod Touch surfing/blog reading, too, assuming the wireless connection is functioning. 

Happy late Sunday night!

Sunday sock undate.

There is just not much blog-able stuff going on here.  I've been knitting a little on Williamsro and I ripped a sock.  As noted earlier, I lost two needles from a sock and just wasn't up to picking up stitches.  The last time sock stitches had to be picked up, Stacey was nearby and able to save my sock.  However, she is in Texas and I'm a good thousand or more miles north in Wisconsin.  This time it just got ripped.  Sorry, Cookie, no sock pics this time.  This lovely yarn is the yarn I won from Joan.  I'll be starting again, probably using Cookie's short-row sock pattern.  When I'll start is up for debate.  The non-blog-able stuff is distracting me though, really, knitting should relieve stress.

A lovely surprise arrived this week's mail.  Deborah sent me a Pay It Forward gift.  It is a gorgeous bag and will be a well-used bag here at Purling Oaks.  She did a wonderful job making this bag.  It is  lined with a purple/pink fabric.  I really needed another sock project bag (see above...needles lost due to the lack of a project bag.) and this is a very classy bag, indeed.

Just look at the cool zipper pull! 
Thank you for the lovely bag, Deborah.  (and the reminder to proceed with my own PIF projects.)

I made it to Curves three times this week.  I'm down another pound.  Making myself have a smaller "footprint" is progressing slower than I originally planned.  However, I'm making progress, so I'm still satisfied that my efforts are moving me the way I want to go.  I know the additional exercise is helping me cope with the work-stress I'm encountering.

Have a good week, everyone.  I mean that.

Saturday socks!

Yesterday's mail brought an excellent package....a package that contained hand-knit pink socks from Cookie.  Superb timing, friend.  They fit purrfectly.  (That's Black Dot in the background.)   I love the color and the cables.  You can find out more about these socks over here.  Thank you, Cookie!

We are starting to see signs of fall.  This week, our honey locust started to color to yellow and dropped a few leaves.  I startled a turkey walking down to my vegetable garden Friday.  There have been a few cool nights but the last few days have been humid so the A/C has been on.

Another sign of fall:  hay mulch, grass seed, and the sprinklers.  All the digging has been dug and now is time to see if we can have a lawn again.  The painting was completed this morning.  Next up is flooring for the addition, some more plumbing (as you may be able to see from our patio *art*) and electrical work, and a bunch of trim and wood working.  

Finished Fixation Footies

I think I'm copying a Stacey sock pose but I'm not feeling too terribly original right now.  The Fixation Footies are fini!  Just one ball of the yarn for the pair but almost all of that ball except for about four or five feet of yarn is in the socks in the picture.  The elasticity of the yarn takes a bit of time to get used to but it is fine and much nicer than plain cotton on my hands.

Pattern:  I had one to start with but made enough changes that the author wouldn't know it.  It was there for a security blanket.  48 stiches cast-on, flap heel, cuff down.  About an inch of 1x1 ribbing and the rest is plain. 
Needles:  Bamboo DPNs, size 2.75 mm
Yarn:  Cascade Fixation Spray in the Harlequin colorway,  (or maybe that should be non-colorway)
Time:  Late May 2008 to 8/10/2008.  Sheesh. 
Thoughts:  I like them.  They are very cooshy and I may think about making another pair or four.  I certainly have enough of this yarn in the stash to make them.  o.O

I still have Magic FGK socks (well, sock) on the needles and I'm going to do a Cookie Cutter heel for those socks.  I'm *so* behind the cool kids.  And yes I've promised myself to work on Forest Canopy so I can start Icarus. 

Catching up, organizing, and a contest!

This morning's sock status report:  The fixation footies came with me to Chicago and are a little bit bigger.  I picked up the gusset stitches this morning because the train didn't have the lighting I needed with my eyes and this part-black yarn.  I picked up those stitches even before my morning caffeine.  Crazy.  I know the footies are not SOS08 material but I just wanted to finish them.  I am l looking forward to returning to the Magic FG socks that DO qualify for SOS.  I'll be using Cookie's Short-Row tutorial for the Magic FG sock heels.  Thanks, Cookie.

Today is the first day of vacation for me and the DH.  We had planned to stay around home even before the recent basement-changing events and that's what we are doing, outside of visiting with family in Wisconsin.  I'm looking forward to doing some finishing up and re-organizing.  We've just been so busy lately that things have been overlooked, put-off, and piled up.  Especially with *stuff* formerly located in the basement, now located scattered around the first floor.  Now there this time to get everything in reasonable order and it will make me feel good.  I just need a little time to get a list together of what all needs to be done.  (Too busy and distracted lately, for sure, to not have a list!)   Here are a few of the fun things:

• Knit socks
• Weave!!  I've had the rigid heddle loom set-up (not warped, Stacey,) for the longest time and now I can get the first project going. 
• Try to get a few buttons on the blog and generally spruce it up.
• and if time presents itself, sew and dye some yarn. 

• Oh, YEAH, and have a contest!  I am probably going to pass the 300 posts mark during this vacation.  To celebrate that and solicit some ideas from everyone, here's my plan:

I have an opportunity to redo the area that I call my studio because of the recent basement event (ahem).  I would like you to comment with ideas for me to consider for the new and improved space.  I would like to read about how you organize your stash or craft area.  Comment with ideas you've found that you think are cool or interesting for organizing or decorating the place that you have designated for knitting, weaving, needlecrafts, and/or other creative endeavors.  Book and website references are very welcome, too.  Even if you don't have an idea, comment to be included in the contest.  Comment on this post or any more recent posts with an idea for me until Sunday, July 6th at midnight.  You can submit any number of ideas or just plain comments for the contest, each a separate comment.  I'll count up to three entries per person.  One prize per person.  I'll choose three winners randomly from the comments.  Thanks in advance for all your ideas.  I'm looking forward to reading them.

ETA:  You don't need an idea to comment for the contest! 

Weekend happenings

I'm starting the Summer of Socks 2008 with an adventure.  My first top-up sock using Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on with the assistance of Cat Bordhi's YouTube video on the technique and the Knitty article by Judy Becker.  I'm also going to try short-row heels since all the cool knitters do them....besides, technique expansion is a good thing.  The yarn is loot from Joan that I won a little while ago at her blog:  Silky Sock from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company.  The toe was a little bit of challenge but I really like it.

It was a busy weekend full of chores, travel, gardening, and the bit of knitting I've told you about.  I drove up to Oshkosh on Saturday to have a good time with a mop and some bleach.  Yeah, the cottage basement had (at one point, not now) about 4 to 6 inches of water in it from the recent flooding.  Mom gave me a big hand to haul out the wet stuff to the curb for pick up and move things so the bleach would have a clear field.  I'll have to have the mechanicals looked at, but the structure is still fine.  Just a wet June, eh?  No wonder I have been having water dreams.  We drove to Leon's to have a chili dog and soda for lunch, which was fun since it is a drive-in.  No custard cone this time.

I had a fun surprise in the garden....one of my hollyhocks is blooming!  I purchased these plants at Felly's Greenhouse but the blooms indicate there is hope for the hollyhock seeds that Stacey is sending. *g*

These are actually pretty short hollyhocks but since they are in a raised bed they show up nicely.

Here is one of my favorite photos from the weekend.  Blue enjoying the catmint/catnip. I thought I had planted cat mint but the cats enjoy it so much it may be cat nip.  I'll have to pay attention when it flowers.  I love the goofy little face on this cat.