Category: Blog

I think this guy is a Petit Gris de Renne. Might be the only one of this type I get this year, but he’s lovely. Heavy, and very sweet-smelling. Will be a special treat sometime soon.

I have some Emerald Gem guys on the vine, but they are a bit smaller and I have to check on how to tell if they are ripe.

Despite the heat, I am making pretty good progress on the Alcott cardigan. I really love how Chone’s soft black works with the taupe and dyed colors in the pattern. So glad to have a batch of his yarn in my handspun stash. Private reserve wool.

I had an opportunity yesterday to participate in a neighborhood art/craft/yard sale event Bow yesterday. A couple hats found new homes, and I had a lot of nice conversations with folks about wool, sheep and crafting- all while getting some spinning done.

And, I’m pleased to report that the barn swallows that nested in our breezeway have successfully raised up three little chicks after a failed attempted earlier this year. All three baby birds took flight this weekend, and it feels like the whole local barn swallow community has come to wish them well.

Having enjoyed my first Alcott project, and being mightily pleased with the result, I decided to knit another. This time I’m going with a darker palette- reversing the dark and light values in the chart. And also planning to cardigan-ize it.

The beginnings of the Alcott-again Cardigan

I do love a fairisle project 🙂

In garden news, we are rich in figs!

Been harvesting them for the past few days, and finally had enough for The Man to make a batch of preserves

and some of the final product-

nom nom. Love having our garden produce canned and in the pantry.

Lots of other garden goodies rolling in these days- tomatoes, cukes, jalapenos, green beans- but the rainy weather has really given the slugs an edge. They are out in force!

And I noticed an area of our Big Apple affected by fall webworm this morning. Excised the affected area without too much trouble, but didn’t appreciate the reminder that fall is right around the corner.

Gotta go smell some roses and get my fill of other simple summer pleasures before they slip away. Have a good week-

It occurred to me a short while ago that I hadn’t harvested zucchini in a few days.

Doh! I had resolved to pick them when they were tiny this year, so things wouldn’t get out of hand.

They aren’t HUGE, but there are quite a lot. Good thing that Dottie and Fiona seem to enjoy them as snacks. We definitely have enough to share!

In other news, i just finished a pair of crazy zauberball socks-

did a bit of felting today

and- The Man refreshed the finish on the cedar chest that I brought home a couple weeks ago.

It’s primed and ready to take on my knitwear overflow.

Welcome to the team, new cedar chest 🙂

The long-awaited Cuor de Bue Albengas are here!

I’ve also got Jaune Flamme (they were the first to start ripening) and Atomic Grapes, but there is something so pleasing about this shape with it’s ruffly shoulders and wide bottom. The three plants I’ve got in the hoophouse have set a lot of fruit, and they are quite tasty. Will definitely grow again!

Garden is kind of crazy right now. I find that it always gets a bit out of hand by August. I’ve got bok choi that went to seed before I could do much with them and pumpkins that have escaped their designated plot and are headed out into the pasture. But so it goes. Can’t control everything.

Might as well spin.

On the needles, another pair of Zauberball socks

The perfect mindless summer downtime knit. My standard sock recipe, in flashy, fun colors.

Alrighty folks. Take care, and have a good week-