Catena Expressions

in progress with too much help

Wednesday and today I'm working on the arch curtain.

Yesterday I machine washed and dried the individual motifs and laid them on the living room floor inside the copper frame. I did this before the rain moved in.

June kicked Teddy off so she could roll around in the sun and just happened to accidentally move as many of the unpinned pieces as she possibly could while I was distracted by Teddy leaping into my lap. That's Tazzy's back in the left corner. You know, contemplating what area she wants to rearrange. I should use the workroom table I got specifically for these type of projects but it's covered with houseplants and Bunny cat considers the table her domain. I'm considering a yurt in the backyard... the squirrels, mice and raccoons may need diversion from whatever they do at night. Or maybe rent a studio in a downtown loft. That sounds good til I bring home a stray kitten and houseplants that need sunlight and there you go... may as well just leave it alone and appreciate what goes on at home.

I crocheted some Queen Anne's Lace motifs a few years ago, had no use for some of the leftover motifs and let Guppy steal them. Now I wanted them back, searched his hidey holes and had to cut one chewed and stained motif off one end and pinned the other 2 in position after washing and drying them. Guppy caught on.

You noticed he's the only helper focused on that specific corner of the arch and he's sniffing his toy which is pinned in the corner. I don't know how he does it. I expected him to try to steal some of the loose motifs, but no.

Today I am staring at the arch wondering how much gravity will affect my plans. Someone always gets into picture, have you noticed that? I didn't post the one of Frisko sitting prettily, I don't know why. Maybe enough fur for one post? Isn't Riley adorable in his summer haircut. Hard to believe he's registered Shetland Sheepdog/sheltie, isn't it?

A person always leaps for a diversion. I washed and line dried the filet curtains and washed the final 3 skeins of Chasity's fleece.

Obviously the yard is not big enough for a yurt so much for that idea. Maybe I could set one up in the basement....

Anyway, I ended up rewashing the filet curtains in hot water and drying them with sheets and towels in a hot dryer to flatten the edging. I could have ironed the panels instead but let's not go there.

The sun shining through the flower filet panels after yesterday's all day soaking rain is welcome. I can't believe there are no cats in the window trying to see what I am doing outside. Unsupervised.

That's 13 skeins of Chasity's 2012 fleece. The raw fleece (skirted by Shelley) was 3.5 lbs. The total weight of the fingering to sportsweight spun and 2 plied yarn is 2.78 lbs and the yardage is around 4100. I plied 2 400 yard skeins for socks and the rest will go into stash. I probably won't dye this yard since I have 2 more white fleeces I saved especially for dyeing. This means a lot to me coz I sat down and spun and plied all that in less than a month... a first since the blood clot. I feel totally healed now.

 

Be here now

1. It's sprinkling - enough to settle the smokey air but not yet enough to thoroughly soak the gardens.

2. I don't blame the person who inadvertently started the Hewlett Gulch fire when his campstove blew over in the wind. There but for the grace etc etc. I inadvertently started a pasture fire at the farm which raced to the house, barn and outbuildings. It was horrifying and I can only imagine how it could have been had the wind blown to the neighbor's.

3. I promised Riley a walk since it's cool but it's rainy and neither of us like being cold and damp. He paces the house with me while I open and shut the windows to let some rain washed air through the house.

4. I transplanted 8 sansevieria plants Thursday and Friday - they probably won't bloom this year but the compost bin is overflowing with rejected leaves and plants. The remaining plants actually fit in places in the house.

5. Last week, we planted a half dozen tomatoes in our neighbor's garden plot. Because of the drought, we put cardboard on the garden and cut holes for the tomatoes, basil and pepper. My neighbor isn't quite sure about the concept but I think the plants will prove the point. If all goes well. Never discount the "pride before fall" concept.

6. Yesterday I cut peonies and irises to fill some of the vases. This morning, the house has the lovely fragrance of the flowers. That with the rain makes today a wondrous day.

7. Except for the huge fly buzzing around. Cats chasing the fly. Vases could take the brunt. Where the heck is the fly swatter? Quick!!

8. The long haired cats need brushing. First, I have to get Guppy off my lap to find the brush. Then I have to shut him in the smallest bathroom with the strongest light. Then I have to sooth him while I gently stroke him and he wails. He has to be brushed first while he is unsuspecting. Once he's brushed (and survives) he will not come close to me for a few months. Not for a treat. Not for any reason, whatsoever. The other cats gather outside the door and are easily caught.They tell me they need a treat after. They are noisy til they get a treat. 

9. I decide not to brush the cats since I don't want to vacuum. If I vacuum, I should mop. And dust first. And dusting reminds me that the hallway needs to be repainted - especially the lower few feet where Riley sleeps on his back with his feet propped against the wall. It's just a downward spiral.

10. I am working on the curtain pocket for the arch curtain. I would rather not do this (wouldn't a friendly elf be of help) because it is long boring work but it has to be done before I can attach the flower motifs. I promise myself that I can do something fun when I get this finished. I don't know what kind of fun I can promise myself, but I will think of something. I hope.

11. I've spun and plied 2 more skiens of Chasity. It's gorgeous.It's also trying to dry. My timing was a bit off to wash the yarn and expect it to dry today.

12. I reread Nora Ephron's I Remember Nothing and other Reflections and keep finding truth in her essay on the six stages of e-mail. Especially stage six: death. Call me. Very true. In fact I was interrupted by friends who called to see what's new up here (the Colorado ones either rave about the rain or are envious that we have rain). I've gotten pretty lazy about being on-line. I don't have a smart phone. I seem to be bored by people who are addicted to theirs. And I tend to either forget to take the cell with me or I forget to shut the damn thing off. It's a nuisance and I think life is too short.

13. I read a gift book - Second Cutting, Letters from the Country by Richard M. Ketchum. Here's a favorite passage (page 151) "...After all, we expect our elected officials to have brains, looks, 20/20 foresight, a witty and intelligent spouse, attractive, straight (sic) children, sane parents, the demeanor of a television anchorman (sic again), the confidence of a cardinal, and God knows what else."  copyright 1981. I guess things just haven't changed much.

14. The ringneck doves are cooing down the furnace vent. Obviously, the other birds have wiped out the birdfeeder and it's time for me to take care of business.

15. Is there nothing more satisfying then killing a fly? The cats are disappointed but they can go downstairs and hunt for that noisy cricket and leave the vases intact.

16. I finished the border on the 3 filet crochet panels. Jesse makes use of the panel openings. This reminds me to take a photo of the finished curtains. But not today. Too dark.

And that's what Saturday looks like here.

Please, more rain.

Walk with me Wednesday - Devil's Backbone

Yesterday was a not quite clear morning - due to the Hewlet Gulch fire burning to the north but we decided to try our luck. If the smoke was too bad, we could always come home and walk somewhere on the prairie.

So these are photos along the south route - the wheelchair and hiker only route which I've never walked.

Longs Peak peeking over the foothills- right below where M took this photo is the Big Thompson River and highway 34 to Estes Park.

I switch my gaze from the ground to the hillside to the sky.

And the birds!! Swallows (cliff?), western kingbirds, mourning doves, swifts (I think) were flitting about, magpies, jays, meadow larks,vultures, crows, ravens ... the list could go on and on. However, I was brought to sitting down to listen to the towhees... and that's where I'll leave this today.

 

rainy Monday

So grateful for the rain - we've been so dry here.

I've been playing and walking outside as much as possible - I am more appreciative of being able to walk this spring then ever before.

Gardens are always a pleasure - and best of all, the passersby seem to slow and view the front gardens with as much joy.

The daylily Manise sent me is always the first to bloom. The yellow is a beacon among all the foliage.

This iris is from my now almost 80 yr old mother's garden - she loves purple (who else would have deep purple living room carpet?) and I always think of her. I've moved this iris from one house to another - it's always a sure bloomer.

The other iris glowed in the weekend sunshine.

And I've been spinning Chasity's (Shetland) fleece on the Symphony. There's some Shetland lace patterns I'd like to knit but first I need some white yarn to knit with. I'm shooting for 2-ply fingering for size 3 knitting needles. I don't know if this will be a sweater or a vest but something summery over light blouse would be good.

I am crocheting Irish flower motifs for the arch curtain and thinking about the panels. I hung the big panel in the window and the cats don't like it. They can't dash to the window, part the nonexistent opening in the curtains to see what's going on. When the black and tan cats are not happy... well, you know. So I am thinking about a resolution to the situation. Anyone want a couple black cats? A couple tan cats? All 7 years and up? No? Frisco, the Maine coon cat would really appreciate it if someone took the other 4. His life would be so much more pleasant if he didn't have to share the window. (And he always nicely steps in from the side so I appreciate him).

With the rain today, more spinning, some taking apart (panel into panels) and some cooking. Lasagna sounds perfect. A good day to bake.

Maybe a walk in the rain.

 

mouse proofing 4/27

When you have birdfeeders you also have mice. The sheltie seems to think mouse removal entails digging up the bark as close to the patio as possible. M, for some reason, disagrees - especially when his grill is involved. So went his day off:

After ascertaining the situation

M lays out his plan and begins to implement it.

I, the gofer, stood by to leap into action, mostly with encouraging words and getting dogs out from underfoot. I was a bit distracted by crocheting... I'll show that at the bottom.

As an aside, I grow sunflowers and some other things (cukes, gourds) in the big pots as well as plants that I need to remove from the gardens. It keeps me entertained but it keeps the mice housed as well. I may have to rethink the big pots eventually. Several stock tanks might be a better concept but we'll see. I do love the stock tanks we use for vegetables, tho.

So... you'd think to celebrate this we would have steaks, right. No, it's way too windy. So M tossed birdseed on the pavers for the doves (they were not pleased about lack of access to their feeder), moved a big pot of yarrow to the side and went out for roast beef sandwiches.

Crocheting?

Though I didn't do the best job of keeping the dogs out from M's foot, I did do a better job keeping Tazzy and June out of the picture as I looked at the filet curtain in progress. I'm working on the curtain rod pocket. This is on the living room rug and I stood on an end table to get the whole thing.

I'm working on a celtic spiral border I found on the sacred geometry forum on ravelry. The border was on socks but I thought, hmmm.... I like this. The small edging band (5 rows) is part of the curtain rod pocket and will be the bottom edging while the celtic spiral border will be down each side.

And that is what we did on the day off. Tomorow - back to spinning. And maybe a rainy day.

random

I've been spinning - this is Hansel, musket Shetland fleece from Donna Schoonover's flock.

And washing fleece from Shelley's Shetland flock - these are Snow White, Abby (moorit), Mallomar (greys) and  Hope (white with some fawn spots) drying in the back garden. They all dried that afternoon. Nice. Korny (fawn/mioget) and Chasity (creamy white) are now drying in the same place.

And dyeing fleece - blue is Tippy (blurry, I know) and Korny's fleece from 2010.

 

And laughing about my son's new treasures - bengal kittens. His daughter named them Jonesy and Daisy.

We are supposed to have record breaking heat today - good for solar dyeing and drying fleece but all June still cares about is someone warming her feet. Bridgy drew the short straw.

I finished the 5 piece panel (daylily, pansy, thistle, rose and daffodil) and put the sun on the arch frame. I decided the 5-piece panel needs another 15" on each side so am going through books and antique downloads to find something suitable in filet. I'm not sure how the sun works since the sun is too big for the arch frame and reworking it is not working out.  It's in time out while I think about it.

And dye.

And spin.

Friday the 20th

Last fall, we had an early and heavy snow fall which took down quite a few of the local trees. The neighbors had a birch fall on their roof and were kept out of their house til it was repaired. That meant the birch grove would be trimmed back eventually. Had I thought about it, I would have photographed all the birches. I didn't think the largest healthiest birches would be cut down since they lost only a few limbs. They were. The base of one tree is over 15'. Not a bit of dry rot. Not a problem other then squirrel damage. I was (and am) appalled and saddened by the loss of the grove.

It's not just the sudden and intense sunlight but the equally sudden and intense traffic noise. I had no idea how much noise the grove had blocked.

So.

I am focusing on what needs to be done and not thinking about what has been.

Plying River Bend Tippy's singles into 2-ply fingering weight on the Kromski Sonata. That's the last bit and I am not sure Jesse will be as much help as he thinks he is.

Next up, spinning Wilma's mioget fleece... lovely, lovely. This is for the Kromski Symphony.

And always, crocheting the curtains. A few quiet days ahead mean the sun will be reworked and put to use blocking the intense sunlight.

I opened the door to refresh the house with the morning air. All is quiet.

The last time the bird song was this quiet was after West Nile virus went through. I'll again miss the crows, the hawks, the eagles and the colony of Western kingbirds in the trees. The smaller birds (including the dove's nest) are fine in the youngest of the birches which (remarkably) were spared the axe.

 

 

 

here comes the sun

Well, at least it's coming along.

Mary asked me how I would know if the sun chart (previous post) would fit in the arch window and I told her I wouldn't know til I got there. Unsatisfactory answer but the best I could do. I finished the daylily filet and washed it and dried it in hot water/hot dryer. I then put one of the copper arch frames M made for me over the daylily and counted the filet squares to see how the sun chart would work. The center of the chart, the sun, would work in the middle of the arch window but the aurora would not on the top and bottom. Hmmm.

Of course that didn't deter me, I went ahead and crocheted only the sun. It was washed and dried - hot water/hot dryer. Yesterday I bent refrigerator copper pipe into a somewhat circle and laced the sun on to the new frame and put it in the arch window. I'm staring at it and thinking how to fill in the rest of the window. There are many ideas - celtic mazes, sunflowers, a half moon and star with faces etc. 

In the meantime ...

I'm working on a small rose panel to match the thistle and iris from the same place. I downloaded these a long long time ago and kept thinking about them. The pansy is from American Home Crafts - a long defunct craft magazine from the 70s. I wanted to crochet curtains for every window of the custom house my ex and I built. I was 24. I was ambitious. I also chose orange varigated thread (yes, size 10) and I worked on those curtains (pansy and roses alternating with rose zigzag borders - 2 curtain panels for a 6' x 5' window) diligently while we built the house. I didn't realize til the curtains were finished and hanging in the dining room window that the dye lots didn't match. I bought crochet thread by the boxful, special ordered it and the dye lots didn't match. I was a bit miffed.

Those curtains are long gone (the color mismatch just jarred me more as I aged) although I tried to dye them forest green.

I'll finish the rose panel soon (complete with beads and bells to match the others) and wash the smaller panels then I'll decide how to lay them out. I have a number of borders and edgings in mind but which ones will work? I'll find that out later.

I also bought and downloaded Elizabeth Lovick's Variations on a Theme of Orkney Lace from ravelry. Wonderful first 2 pages about the history of Orkney.

Not, of course, that I suggest you go over to ravelry...no no no... that place will just... well, you know.

next project and thoughts about where to live

It's been so hot here (and dry - we have had no moisture in this, the snowiest month). I have to close the windows when the wind is out of the south due to the wildfires burning. We have been sleeping with our windows open (barring Taz and the raccoon's "conversations") until the smoke thickened. Gardening is a pleasure, as always. M and I rearranged the rain pots and the soaker hoses before mulching. I watered the gardens the other day and hopefully we won't have to water again for 10 days. The plants should be mature enough to handle the drought. The spring bulbs are fantastic - a cheering sight this spring.

As I read Terry Prindell's A Good Place to Live - America's Last Migration I thought about my favorite places to live and why. But first his criteria:

Cheers Factor - the "3rd" place after family and church - social and communal openness. He looked at bars/fairs and the like - so named for the TV program

Foot Factor - lifestyle where you can come and go without driving

Cake Factor - combination of natural and cultural amenities (as in having your cake and eating it too)

Someplace Factor - the local identity, uniqueness and the sense of not being Anyplace, USA

Comfort Factor - weather that was seasonably interesting, comfortable

Fudge Factor - remarkable pluses or minuses from unanticipated things

When I look back on my life there are only 3 places that hit high marks in all 6 categories for me are Steamboat Springs, Grand Junction and now Northern Colorado.

Another aspect of all the places I've loved is the sunshine - and big windows. Windows for crocheted curtains.

Like these in process.

The charts are from Tap Dancing Lizard by Catherine Cartwright-Jones and Roy Jones (sun chart is on page142, daylily is on page 152), Size 10 crochet cotton (ecru) with embellishments using size 14 crochet hook to add the smallest beads and size 6 to crochet.

It's fun and easy - mindless. Perfect for these hot days.

Another finished sweater

It's crocheted using size G hook with leftover Grayce Aggen’s Plain and Fancy sportweight single yarn. I kept to the cooler colors -  greens and blues with some purples thrown in for added interest.

It's crocheted from bottom up as a raglan cardigan (no seams – body and sleeves worked separately then joined). The yoke is decreased frequently to keep an almost circular pattern. 

The stitch pattern is from Mon Tricot Knitting Dictionary Stitches Patterns (page 154) “tricolor speckle stitch” which is double crochet and ch 2 alternating.

I finished it a week or so ago, dried it in the sunshine and finally sewed buttons on it this morning. It's been very hot so modeling it is out of the question!