The first few week in January have flown by. Christmas has barely past and the Valentine’s décor is on everyone’s store shelf. Here in Florida its time to plan the spring garden. Citrus trees are ripe for picking and we’re all looking forward to the smell of the new orange blossoms, a scent that is becoming infrequent as developers plow old groves and raise mega developments.
We made an excursion to the big city this past weekend and Tom was gracious enough to wait while I made my first visit to a yarn shop in Maitland called the Sip & Knit. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Just an understanding of the yarn brands and knitting accoutrements that I read about online. The shop sits behind a vintage Publix and is made up of several rooms all filled with yarns, accessories and books. I could have spent a whole afternoon there. As it happens I came away with a few patterns for future projects and a new row counter. Pretty tame plunder. One of the patterns is for a shawl. A friend thought enough of me to have purchased a few hanks of Mango Moon silk and a lot of thought had to go into what to knit. I had Googled patterns for a while, none particularly pleasing. Most were for impractical ponchos, bags or garments using so many more hanks that I would have to mortgage the house. I started the shawl Sunday using #17 needles and some stretchy yarn that runs along side of the silk to give it body. I guess I’ll just keep knitting until it’s a size that pleases me.
I finished one sock for the December 6 Sox group. I enjoyed the techniques in spite of several rough starts. The hearts really aren’t my thing but I really like the heel and the cuff is nice too. I am starting to amass several pair of socks and I read an article about a knitter that puts here project in a basket at the front door and offers them to friends and family. What a neat idea.
DaCapo just keep going. I’m in an area of the back that is tomato colored and requires one to just knit, knit and knit some more. I should have the back finished by the weekend. Knit and sip had some Hanne kits that had me drooling. The price brought me back to reality.
I caught a program on PBS’s Frontline last night. A film called “Country Boys” by filmmaker David Sutherland. This documentary follows the lives of 2 teenage boys living in a small town in David, Kentucky. The circumstances under which these boys live are eye-openers. Erik was riveted to the program which will air again tonight and tomorrow night. This is a story that is a must-see for anyone especially raising teens.
