a simple yarn

As this happens only once a year, I beg your indulgence on lengthier reflections today.

SHOES
She has an old soul.
It may not be reflected in her years.
Nor in her experience, for the innocent spirit is intact.
Rather, it is her sense of life.
Harboring the soon-to-be womanly psyche within.
And how do I know this?
By the shoes she wears.

What used to look like this.

Gives way to this.

Today Daughter-Kate is 12.

IT
Yesterday I turned…

Parenthetical Diversion Ahead:
Okay, I confess I often forget what the actual age is and have to resort to mental math to figure it out. I really don’t mind the years, it’s merely the mathematics of it that’s challenging. It’s so much easier to camp on a particularly significant number until the next momentous mark is reached. So, it’s rather more convenient if I stay 45 until I reach 50. See what I mean?

…erm (mental math calculations happening) 46.

And much like Tom Good searching for ‘IT’ on his 40th that led him down the path of British comedic self-sufficiency in ‘The Good Life,’ my own transitional directionlessness is beginning to wane, leaving a clearer picture of focus and purpose. Is it going to sound smug? Who knows? Don’t particularly care. Suppose I could say, I turned 46 yesterday, full stop. But a little self-evaluative transparency along the way isn’t a bad thing, I guess.

Okay, here is what I am not:

This-Is-Not-An-Indictment-Disclaimer:
In saying that ‘I am not’ does not imply that ‘to be’ is in any way a bad thing.

1. I am not a Birkenstock wearing hippie.
2. I am not a bleeding heart liberal.
3. I am not seeking to drop off the grid—we live in the city with electricity and water and sewers—and I like it, not the sewers part, but the city part.
4. I do not wish to roam about a farm in the midst of Montana.
5. I do not necessarily wish to be part of an urban homesteading revolution.
6. I am not allowed to raise chickens in Fairfax County, Virginia.
7. I am not going to jettison money as filthy lucre since Husband-Will is employed in a fulfilling position.
8. I am not Ma Ingalls (sigh).

So, can we live responsibly without having to go ‘whole hog’ in a self-sufficiency-stick-it-to-the-establishment-rebellion?  You betcha! (which is not an endorsement of Sarah Palin, mind you)

Here’s what I want, then:
A simple life.
A simple life built upon meaningful values.
A simple life built upon meaningful values that are not dependent upon commercialism.
A simple life built upon meaningful values that are not dependent upon commercialism and in which each part contributes to the whole.
That’s it. Or perhaps I should say that’s ‘IT.’

I’ve been faffing about various hobbies and interests without knowing why or to what degree I should invest my energy. And now that the transitional haze is clearing, there is freedom to think and pursue a dynamic, not static, path with its whys and wherefores. I realize that much of the list is more of a renewal to do things ‘again.’ Somewhere along the line I’ve become a slave to supermarket convenience. Perhaps it was more about lack of supplies during our years in Ireland. But now that we’re settled US homeowners again and the kids are in school, there are no excuses.

OTHER SUNDRIES
My Simple Life, A List

I want to grow a good portion of our fruit and vegetables so that our children can eat wholesome, pesticide-free, flavorful produce.

I want to stockpile surplus summer bounty for winter enjoyment because that seems a responsible thing to do.

I want to support local farmers as far as it is economically feasible to do so.

I want to grow common herbs for the kitchen providing that I don’t inadvertently kill them, as I’m not very good at it, and to again stockpile summer’s bounty by drying what is harvested.

I want to research and grow naturally medicinal plants in my flower gardens, which may prove beneficial in reducing the need for over-the-counter medicines.

I want to bake my own bread again as we don’t eat very much of it anyway and freshly baked bread must indeed be one of the best smells on earth.

I want to make soap again as it will reduce the amount of chemicals on our skin, and economically it’s a no-brainer…pennies per bar to make. Will need to reacquaint the family with what bar soap is, instead of liquid soap and shower gel.

I want to learn to make candles, as their light in the evening is a warm and homey glow, reducing the need for electric lights, and kids are old enough now for it to be safe.

I want to renew efforts for making natural house cleaning products as store-bought things are just down right expensive and who knows what the health consequence is. Besides, you can buy vinegar in big gallon containers in the US!

I want to be a regular at the multitude of charity shops in the area. There are at least five within a few miles of my house. There’s clothing gold in them thar shops! Affluent people in the greater Washington, DC area toss out great stuff. And the money I spend goes to worthy charities.

I want to knit purposefully, whether for gift giving or for my own consumption. Will probably knit more socks in future.  Am loving the thick woolly boot socks on the needles.

I want to weave wisely for that little bit of extra household income. While reducing costs is good, a boost in cash flow is always welcome.

This is in addition to the general responsible living efforts of using energy saving light bulbs, recycling rubbish, composting, turning down the thermostat, using the library, walking as much as possible, etc.

Whew, a bit overwhelming! And it’s possible that tomorrow may find me dashing to the supermarket in the car for bread and Diet Coke and a package of conveniently boxed macaroni-and-cheese, but it’s a start, right?

“In order to seek one’s own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life.” —Plato

So, the scarves are posted on Etsy.  Whew!

Otherwise…

What is it about houndstooth?
Timeless, to be sure.
Every time I see it, my heart does a little flip-flop.
Every time I weave it, my heart does a right proper ker-thud.
A malady?
Am I sick?
Stuck in a rut?
Who knows?
But I’m thinking about more variations on that enduring theme.
Next experiment is rather more classic.
A newspaper.
A sunburnt zebra.
You know, black and white and red (all over).
But how will the check behave with super chunky thick-and-thin yarn?
Will the fabric hold its construction?
Will I have enough yarn?
After a little diversion of Halloween costume sewing, we’ll see how it goes.
Could be a flop or absolutely fab.

Homespun Yarn from Craftspun friends.

What might look like mounds of chopped up sticks to you is, in fact, composted gold to me.

I think the quantity of warning signage put me off in the beginning, but eventually the words ‘FREE MULCH’ won out.

It Will Tie In Eventually Digression Ahead:
I believe I have finally come out of my transitional stupor.  Months of directionless activity are now giving way to purpose.  As the mental fog clears, I am beginning to piece together where my energies should be directed…I think.  But, perhaps that’s better left for another, more reflective, post.

Suffice to say, today’s bright and crisp autumn day was perfect for driving down the beautiful George Washington Memorial Parkway to avail of free mulch offered to those willing to sacrifice the cleanliness of their car interior.  Two trips and seventeen nearly bursting garbage bags later, the flowers are bedded for another winter.

The first frost arrived this morning in all its autumnal glory.

Guess that means:

1. my hot morning cuppa will be enjoyed all the more.
2. the days of hanging laundry out are numbered.
3. the furnace will need to be switched on begrudgingly (every now and then).
4. I’d better get a move on to mulch the flowerbeds.
5. I ought to look for sales on rotary tillers for next spring (more on that another day).
6. I’ll need to do more baking to warm up the kitchen.
7. chili and cheese chowder are back on the family menu.
8. Son-Alex has outgrown all his hoodies and long trousers and will need more. Sigh.
9. Dog-Rocket is no longer languishing in the heat and all the more frisky (read ‘nearly pulls the arm off dragging me along the street’).
10. I’d better finish those toasty warm socks, which are on the needles.

Begun nominally for Socktoberfest.  After finishing the cardy, I was ready for a smaller, easier-to-pick-up-and-put-down project.  Realistically, both socks will not be done by the end of the month.  No matter.  Just the look of them makes me warmer.

Pattern:  Knee High Socks from Craftplace.org.uk
Needles:  Variety from 2.75mm to 3mm
Yarn:  Hmmm….

As so often happens, I can’t justify the purchase of additional yarn…not with stacks of cakes and cones staring at me.

Apologies, Anthropomorphic Disclaimer Ahead:
Right, I realize that yarn doesn’t actually ‘stare,’ you understand, but honestly, every now and then I do believe it’s winking at me…

Anyway, what yarn to use?  Lots of wool among the weaving cones, bought from Avoca sales in Ireland, so I’ve settled on blending a thread of this—

New wool spun in Scotland by Gardiners of Selkirk.  Did a little research on them to find that the company, makers of wool cloth, no longer exists.  Sigh (again).  Love the heathery sage green.

and this—

Merino, in a soothing thyme colour, to soften the potentially scratchy new wool.

Together they blend to make a nicely speckled yarn.  Soft socks?  Not really, but that doesn’t bother me.  And they are coming up a nicely thick, warm boot sock which my perpetually cold feet will appreciate this winter!

Headed out to the Maryland Renaissance Festival on a beautiful autumn weekend.  Felt positively modern amongst all the be-costumed attendees.  Daughter-Kate was certainly in her element.  Have a feeling that I’ll be adding accoutrements to her red cape before next year’s event!

Favourite shop:  Grishel’s, the-druid-face-fashioned-in-all-things-leather shop.

Favourite purchase:  Primitive shawl pin forged by the blacksmith.

Three-and-a-half of the scariest words ever spoken.

The slippery slope began when Lovely-Olga-At-Knit-Happens had yarn leftovers.  As with all knitters sporting a frugal disposition I, of course, piped up with an ‘Ooh, I’ll lend a hand and take it.’ Doubling as a sometimes weaver, small quantities of knitting yarn, can add a nice little something in a weaving project.

Sorting through the new acquisition eerily similar to the children on Christmas Day, I was thrown into a spasm of where-am-I-going-to-put-this-itis. Out came the storage boxes, and so, as they say, one thing invariably led to another.

Hmm…things might fit better if I properly roll some of these tangled skeins, right?
Ohhh…wouldn’t it look nice if I made all my partial yarn into lovely little cakes?
Squee…while I’m at it, why don’t I take the time to re-organize my work cabinet?
Laaa….I really need to be efficient with my space, living in such a small cottage!
Out came the rationalization skis for the downward slide.

No wide angle lens for the weaving cones or the rest of it…

As you would expect, the entire front room was in chaotic disarray when our newly met neighbour came to collect her little boy from playtime with Son-Alex.  Even that embarrassment wasn’t enough to stop the feverish sorting, shifting and rolling every bit of fibre in the house.  Yep, still in the throes of cake winding, but at least we can see the floor again.  As you would expect, some once-loved-yet-forgotten yarns have been rediscovered and brought to the top of the pile again—a good reason to do this, right?

but I play one in real life.

I think the idea of a soon-to-be-Etsy shop is quite exciting.
I think the actuality of a soon-to-be-Etsy shop is quite alarming.

I have this thing (call it a phobia if you will) about creating something (oh, let’s say a scarf) where people (who are not family or friends) will pay money for it. Is it me, or is that unnerving? (we call that a crafting-inferiority-complex) Well (gulp), one more warp to go and we’ll see about adding them to the, ehm, shop.

The trial run of slubby wool and mohair is completed.  Still need final photos of everything.

Had enough warp to experiment with other colour combos.  This one-off happenstance is a favourite, I think.  Love the bit of chartreuse running along the pinks and brown.

Shall we call it Raspberry Cordial?

Work in progress 70s throwback with a modern twist….a Retro-After-Eight-Minty-Style-Houndstooth.  Duck egg bouclé softened with chocolatey chenille in a still on the loom less than ideal photo.

A quick knit?  Nope.

This lovely little project, labeled a ‘quick knit’ by everyone I know, was not so quick for me.  I’m slow and get easily sidetracked.  But even though a Janie-Come-Lately, I’m happy with the outcome.  Fits great.  Love the full-on belled sleeves.  Had enough yarn.  Colour is a stunner.  Will definitely be a staple to autumn wearables.  Been done for a week or so but can’t quite swing the self-photo, so a stand in will have to do.

Pattern:  February Lady Sweater, by Pamela Wynne of Flint Knits
Yarn:  Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, in New Age Teal,  just under 6 skeins
Buttons:  Pewter from Colonial Williamsburg

…at last.

So, we didn’t have a veg patch.
The grapes were ravaged by fungus.
The berries under-produced in the shade.
But the few spontaneously-purchased herbs tossed haphazardly into a bed actually yielded a harvest.

Now, with the larder stocked and the barns filled to capacity, I’m ready for winter.
(Ahem, pinch me, I was having a brief Ma Ingalls moment…)
But a very cheery sight will greet us this winter, a wonderful reminder of summer’s bounty.

…for a good European-style cappuccino.

Misha’s on Patrick Street.
Dodgy premises.
Great coffee.
The best I’ll ever have?
Dunno.
But a good option in Old Town.

And you’ll know why I’m chuffed today!

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due Introduction:
So, it was Holly’s suggestion to look on the website.  Yep, I’d forgotten about it, even after Sara had shown us on her blog more than a year ago what cute products they have!  Squee!

Anyway, I opened the package and there was this—

And along with it came this—

And inside of it was this—

And on the back of it was this—

And with many more of these—

Warning, Effusive Gushing Ahead:
I just love this website—a London company who loves to print (so they say)!  I just upload my .jpgs, crop ‘em, add the text I want, and they’ll put them on lotsa stuff, including these little mini calling cards.  So now I can share some of my favourite blog pics with just about anyone I meet (for a pretty reasonable cost, I must say).  Yippee!

Moo.com.
Of course I have no idea what ‘moo’ has to do with anything, but no matter, I’m over the moo-n about it!

…and steady…

…simple…

…and straightforward.

To calm nerves, it’s first on the loom.