Today I honor the veterans in my life, my two grandfathers and my grandmother. Veterans' Day was originally known as armistice day, a day when fighting stopped, a day of peace.
Today, one year and one day ago, my grandfather died and found his peace.
Twenty-six years ago my other grandfather found his peace.
My grandmother was a nurse in France during WWII, and has lived a beautiful life after.
May we all find peace and end war.
Amy
Thursday, November 11, 2010
the search for the perfect squash
A,
Before this week, my primary indication that the seasons were changing was the change of produce available at the grocery store. And of course, the fall produce of greatest significance to me was the vast array of squashes available for consumption. This is a selection of some of the different types of squash that I decided to sample:
I would say that I am the primary (sole) squash eater in this household, so I embarked on a solitary culinary escapade in order to determine my squash preferences. This week, I sampled from the turban squash (top right), a rather large specimen with plump seeds. I was really rooting for the turban squash, because it was ridiculously easy to slice into prior to being cooked. If I had found it delicious, it would have sealed the deal. Being easy to cut into would make my squash habit more self-sufficient (as in, I wouldn't need to require the services of a more muscular husband).
Here's the bad news. I have a huge bowl of turban squash sitting in the refrigerator right now, languishing in watery stringyness because I found it sub-par to more desirable squash species. Ahh, well, at least I am learning.
This week was the first week that felt like fall to me. Most of October was spent in the mid-nineties, but it's starting to cool. James said it felt like winter, but he was out at night, when the temperatures drop a bit more dramatically. Anyway, I am home today, and I decided to break out the knitted sweaterly items.
In any case, this is my creation, and it's finally cool enough to wear it in person, so I thought I would take a photo to commemorate. Plus, climbing in trees is fun. This was made from local alpaca, and it felt like I was wrapping myself in my own personal blanket when I put it on today.
Karen
PS. Do you remember the yarn turbans that we sported while trying on makeup and watching naked soccer?
PPS. I support potato intolerance. Squash over potatoes forever!
Before this week, my primary indication that the seasons were changing was the change of produce available at the grocery store. And of course, the fall produce of greatest significance to me was the vast array of squashes available for consumption. This is a selection of some of the different types of squash that I decided to sample:
I would say that I am the primary (sole) squash eater in this household, so I embarked on a solitary culinary escapade in order to determine my squash preferences. This week, I sampled from the turban squash (top right), a rather large specimen with plump seeds. I was really rooting for the turban squash, because it was ridiculously easy to slice into prior to being cooked. If I had found it delicious, it would have sealed the deal. Being easy to cut into would make my squash habit more self-sufficient (as in, I wouldn't need to require the services of a more muscular husband).
Here's the bad news. I have a huge bowl of turban squash sitting in the refrigerator right now, languishing in watery stringyness because I found it sub-par to more desirable squash species. Ahh, well, at least I am learning.
This week was the first week that felt like fall to me. Most of October was spent in the mid-nineties, but it's starting to cool. James said it felt like winter, but he was out at night, when the temperatures drop a bit more dramatically. Anyway, I am home today, and I decided to break out the knitted sweaterly items.
In any case, this is my creation, and it's finally cool enough to wear it in person, so I thought I would take a photo to commemorate. Plus, climbing in trees is fun. This was made from local alpaca, and it felt like I was wrapping myself in my own personal blanket when I put it on today.
Karen
PS. Do you remember the yarn turbans that we sported while trying on makeup and watching naked soccer?
PPS. I support potato intolerance. Squash over potatoes forever!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
vestiges
A,
This last winter was pretty cold for Arizona's standards. I believe this was due to the fact that it was an El Nino year, which made it a bit more soggy and cool than normal. National guard was even called out for Flagstaff area because of all the snow (although snow wasn't really an issue where I live).
This abnormally cool season led me to believe that it would be appropriate to make some winter knits, and I started a few projects. I started blogging about them too, but then I never actually posted pictures of the finished products.
The truth is that, save for a couple days a year, these projects are probably inappropriate past late morning--even in the winter months. I think I was being overly optimistic that these projects would get any real use out here. I guess we'll see what happens. It's still fun to create.
Part of me was being rational, and told myself to at least leave off the sleeves. I think this was a good choice.
Hooray for vests!
Karen
PS. When it's cold enough to wear (and when I have someone to take pictures for me) I will post a photo of these sweaters in action (aka being worn).
This last winter was pretty cold for Arizona's standards. I believe this was due to the fact that it was an El Nino year, which made it a bit more soggy and cool than normal. National guard was even called out for Flagstaff area because of all the snow (although snow wasn't really an issue where I live).
This abnormally cool season led me to believe that it would be appropriate to make some winter knits, and I started a few projects. I started blogging about them too, but then I never actually posted pictures of the finished products.
The truth is that, save for a couple days a year, these projects are probably inappropriate past late morning--even in the winter months. I think I was being overly optimistic that these projects would get any real use out here. I guess we'll see what happens. It's still fun to create.
Part of me was being rational, and told myself to at least leave off the sleeves. I think this was a good choice.
Hooray for vests!
Karen
PS. When it's cold enough to wear (and when I have someone to take pictures for me) I will post a photo of these sweaters in action (aka being worn).
lace break
A,
I know that I alarmed you with my latest post, but please do not worry. I am actually motivated at this very moment. So motivated, that after I finish this post, I will be doing work! Real work! But first, I wanted to show you:
I enjoy knitting lace. It is intricate and delicate and repetitious and billowy. Thank you for the yarn.
Alright, that's the end of my break.
Karen
I know that I alarmed you with my latest post, but please do not worry. I am actually motivated at this very moment. So motivated, that after I finish this post, I will be doing work! Real work! But first, I wanted to show you:
I enjoy knitting lace. It is intricate and delicate and repetitious and billowy. Thank you for the yarn.
Alright, that's the end of my break.
Karen
Monday, July 12, 2010
Approach-Avoidance
A,
How is your summer? As I write this, Hazel is exploring and nudging things with her face. What a wonderfully tactile way to explore the world.
I have something to share. Secretly, I think about quitting my program all the time. I'm doing well, and I think I'm on schedule to graduate in about a year, but I seem to lose all motivation when left to myself. I will start the week with great intentions and then slowly lose momentum as I realize how much of a drag it is to transcribe, etc. Recently, I've been thinking about this a lot more, and have been making some poor choices as a result. I'm sort of hoping that I come to my senses before I do something I will regret, but I'm also sort of hoping that my poor choices will pan out.
While I was avoiding responsibility last week, I put some buttons on this little sweater:
The buttons are not evenly spaced, but I think it's okay. I don't think the baby will notice.
Also, I started work on a modified adult version of this. I can't decide if it's garish or not. In the meantime, I'll keep working on it until I make up my mind. Which is pretty much how I feel about my graduate studies as well. Time to work.
Karen
How is your summer? As I write this, Hazel is exploring and nudging things with her face. What a wonderfully tactile way to explore the world.
I have something to share. Secretly, I think about quitting my program all the time. I'm doing well, and I think I'm on schedule to graduate in about a year, but I seem to lose all motivation when left to myself. I will start the week with great intentions and then slowly lose momentum as I realize how much of a drag it is to transcribe, etc. Recently, I've been thinking about this a lot more, and have been making some poor choices as a result. I'm sort of hoping that I come to my senses before I do something I will regret, but I'm also sort of hoping that my poor choices will pan out.
While I was avoiding responsibility last week, I put some buttons on this little sweater:
The buttons are not evenly spaced, but I think it's okay. I don't think the baby will notice.
Also, I started work on a modified adult version of this. I can't decide if it's garish or not. In the meantime, I'll keep working on it until I make up my mind. Which is pretty much how I feel about my graduate studies as well. Time to work.
Karen
Saturday, July 3, 2010
watercolor
A,
It's good to hear from you! I have heard of morels before, but I have never seen one. They look like pieces of coral to me.
This is what I have been working on recently:
Back when I was living in New Mexico I decided to start collecting fabric and cutting it into itsy bitsy squares. I may have even blogged about it, back when we were both better about documenting our crafting escapades. And as of recently, I decided I had enough fabric squares to start my watercolor quilt. Plus, I acquired a sewing machine, which was somewhat necessary for this phase of the quilting process. So this is what I have been doing:
This is so much fun. After beginning this three years ago, I started to think that it would never come to fruition, but look! It's starting to work itself into a real product!
Your wool looks wet and pungent and wonderful. I like the rainwater. I was at biosphere 2 this past week, and it started to drizzle outside (the monsoons are coming!) This elicited an announcement: "Everyone! It's starting to rain outside!" And then there was cheerful applause, and a few people ran to the window to take a look. It was really a big deal. I smiled to myself.
I want to call this my biosphere sweater, because all but one of the sleeves was knit while I was on the biosphere 2 campus.
It's a little bit washed out in the picture, but I am so pleased with how the color turned out. I hand-painted the yarn ages ago and finally found a project to use it. It also reminds me of a watercolor, because the colors blend together so nicely. This is my first baby sweater, and my first yoke sweater. I really enjoy how quick it is to knit for babies.
Hope you are doing well, take care!
K
PS. Happy independence day.
It's good to hear from you! I have heard of morels before, but I have never seen one. They look like pieces of coral to me.
This is what I have been working on recently:
Back when I was living in New Mexico I decided to start collecting fabric and cutting it into itsy bitsy squares. I may have even blogged about it, back when we were both better about documenting our crafting escapades. And as of recently, I decided I had enough fabric squares to start my watercolor quilt. Plus, I acquired a sewing machine, which was somewhat necessary for this phase of the quilting process. So this is what I have been doing:
This is so much fun. After beginning this three years ago, I started to think that it would never come to fruition, but look! It's starting to work itself into a real product!
Your wool looks wet and pungent and wonderful. I like the rainwater. I was at biosphere 2 this past week, and it started to drizzle outside (the monsoons are coming!) This elicited an announcement: "Everyone! It's starting to rain outside!" And then there was cheerful applause, and a few people ran to the window to take a look. It was really a big deal. I smiled to myself.
I want to call this my biosphere sweater, because all but one of the sleeves was knit while I was on the biosphere 2 campus.
It's a little bit washed out in the picture, but I am so pleased with how the color turned out. I hand-painted the yarn ages ago and finally found a project to use it. It also reminds me of a watercolor, because the colors blend together so nicely. This is my first baby sweater, and my first yoke sweater. I really enjoy how quick it is to knit for babies.
Hope you are doing well, take care!
K
PS. Happy independence day.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Summer Spinning
K,
I've been busy. So busy, I've lost in the world of medicine for the last year or so. My deepest, heartfelt apologies. Let's just not talk about that.
However, this summer I did buy Morels at the farmers market. If you've never had them, buy them fresh, and then saute them in just butter and a bit of fresh cracked pepper.
Kris and I went to the Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival in Adel, Iowa, as I was living in Des Moines this last few weeks. This is a great adventure, and worthy of the $5 admission. I think it is, in fact, perhaps, worthy of it's own post. Let's leave it to say that I came away with more fleeces from the silent auction to add to my already growing collection of 1 that I obtained from Firefly Fields. Firefly fields has beautiful finnsheep fleeces. I love you Emmi!
I picked up 4 more fleeces, a Rambouillet, a Shetland, a Jacob, and a Cormo. You really can see all five, though in the above picture. Yes they are taking over the apartment, along with the plants. I've started cleaning the Rambouillet with the fermented Suint Method, which you can read more about here and here with pictures, but if you want a very good description, check it out here!
My Rambouillet is sitting the rainwater that I've been (im)patiently collecting over the last day or so with my bins. This will be a long and stinky seven days.
Love,
A
P.S. Kris has a new blog documenting all the plants and gardening we do in our apartments. Go check it out!
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