CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

I have decided to hold a contest through the month of June for my faithful readers. Those of you who are sock knitters will be particularly interested, and, by all means, encourage other sock knitters you know to participate. Anyone leaving a comment on my blog (and a way to recontact you if you win on June 30th) throughout the month of June will be entered in a drawing to win this really cool prize:


This pattern was written by the famous Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, author of Knitting in the Old Way. 

Several years ago, at the height of my prolific sock knitting career, I ordered this "Birken-Socks" kit from Norsk Fjord Fiber. The hardy wool yarn, called HIFA sock yarn, is enough to complete a rose and grey striped pair of hiking socks. The pattern icludes directions for what she calls an "hourglass" heel, and is 2 by 2 ribbing, which makes for a stretchy, well-fitting sock.


These are the two colors of HIFA sock yarn in the kit; a very pretty color combo 

I was curious about Priscilla's pattern, which she claimed would be a better fit. However, knitting up the pattern produced a very tight fabric, which was very hard on my hands to knit up. I hated the tiny metal needles (size 0 or 2 mm, although most normal people, who don't knit as loosely as I do, would use one size up, size 1 or 2 1/4 mm, if you don't want to have to think about it), as I had always used bamboo ones to make socks, and kept poking myself with them. It became a battle, and eventually, I put the whole project away, never to be taken up again. Now, I don't mind admitting I am defeated, but another knitter will be able to become the victor.


This photo shows how far I got before throwing in the towel, but doesn't show the evil teeny needles, although the cuff will come on them. 

I am raffling off the whole kit, with instructions, as well as the ridiculously tiny needles. If I were to do it all over again, I would buy the same size in bamboo; they are much easier on the hands to use. Although, if I am going to be really honest with you, I have decided to master the Circular Sock Machine, or knit a looser weave sock for the next hand-knitted pair. Good luck.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Contest starts June 1, 2005.

2. Contest ends June 30, 2005.

3. To enter, post your request to be included as a comment on my blog or send me an email to birdsong_s@hotmail.com

Simple, isn't it!


I am really excited. I found this chair at our friends, Will and Jeannie's shop, The Attic, which opened two days ago in Downieville, as well as the plant stand to go with it. The blob/bag is sitting in it, and I was too, until a pesky mosquito chased me off. The french doors in the background open from our bedroom onto our fenced, inner yard, and this chair will spend the rest of the summer providing me a place to sit and knit in the shade and enjoy the view from our back porch... I feel like I am in heaven. 

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! .... What IS It?

I know that the photo below looks like a big amorphous bunch of random knitting, but one day soon, it will be a fine, striped, felted duffel bag, with a sturdy brown bottom and roomy pockets on each end. I had to stuff three towels in to support the huge thing, and the cream colored wool is perched on top.


The duffel bag is coming along nicely - about half its total height, with side pockets and handles already completed. As you can tell from this photo, my favorite place to perch an object for good lighting is the shelf we put over the tub when not in use! 

I am really happy with it, but have to finish soon, just because the weather is warming up and it is too hot to hold in my lap... every evening for the coming week if need be in order to race to the finish line!

We are hosting my husband's parents, siblings and assorted nieces, as well as three of our adult children and one SO (significant other) for a Memorial Day family weekend. We have lounged, eaten, taken a drive or two, sat around the campfire at our outdoor kitchen last night, roasting marshmallows, and walked through the shops in Downieville this afternoon. My hay fever is about as bad as it has gotten yet this season. We also took a short walk to see Pauly Falls, on one of Downieville's waterways... the falls were booming, but you will have to take my word for it, as I forgot to bring the camera.


The main thing I have been working on this weekend, while sitting around and visiting with our relatives, is a pile of hair scrunchies to put in the crafts coop. This little project uses only about 40 yards of yarn, and I focused on finishing up some tiny balls of novelty yarns. Clockwise from top: Berrocco Chinchilla, recycled silk sari yarn, Blossom, and a variegated chenille I have lost the label for. 

A Trip to Big Springs

A few months back, Don Phillips, the creator and owner of Big Springs Gardens, located in Sierra City near here, made a creative and wonderful offer to our school in Downieville. He has channelled the large spring that emerges from his property through various creeks and ponds and worked to enhance and protect the natural mountain landscape into a fabulous garden, where he installed a restaurant kitchen and patio with seating to approximately 100 diners. He hosts special events such as weddings, as well as offering an array of fine dining including Sunday brunch and Thursday night bar-be-ques.

Don decided that he wanted to give something back to the community by hosting a natural history field day for our students from 3rd to 12th grades. Yesterday morning we all took the bus up the hill, where he greeted us with a full breakfast.


Don Phillips welcomes our group 


Students gather for breakfast 

Wildflower expert Julie Carville spoke about the value of spending time in nature.

Then, we divided into three groups to take guided nature hikes. I joined the youngest participants, and our group leader was Renee Smith, who works for the U.S. Forest Service at the Big Bend Interpretive Center.


Renee passes out hand lenses to our group  She really charmed our youngsters, giving them hand lenses and sending them up the hill in search of something special to stop and examine. They were instructed to walk silently, so they could observe better.


A group of students admires the view from the bridge over the main pond; Don's house is in the background 

We gathered at the top of the hill to discuss their finds, which included a huge rock covered with four different colors of lichen, a tree stump left over from a lightening strike that was being eaten by ants, and various flowers.

Then, Renee instructed them to pair up, with one student being the photographer and one the camera. The "cameras" closed their eyes and were led to different objects to observe, by taking a brief "snapshot", opening their eyes for 10 seconds to make an observation. Each partner was to complete 5 photos before returning to the larger group. I am very fortunate to live where my students are often out in nature, and their interests and the details they picked up were very specific. They also enjoyed a game of "I Spy" working their way back down the hill and letting everyone know about unusual sightings, such as a tree shaped like a "U", from the weight of the snow when it was young. We returned to the dining patio and made drawings, with one 3rd graders writing a fine impromptu poem about rivers.

Don's crew served us a heavenly lunch, complete with bar-be-qued chicken, corn, cole slaw, fruit salad and brownie ice cream sundaes for dessert (I did settle for "just a brownie" while watching some of my high school students OD on the full two scoops of ice cream and chocolate and caramel toppings). We all "digested" while listening to Don speak about having a dream and how he came to the Sierras to build Big Springs.

Then, Denise introduced flower arranging to the whole group, and tables took turns gathering the materials needed to make their own arrangements to take home.


Denise helps students select their flowers to arrange 


Cory, Fiona and Kayla work on their flower arrangements 

By the time we had completed that project, it was mid-afternoon, time to thank Don and head back to the bus and the return trip to Downieville.

I greatly enjoyed the peaceful setting and the opportunity for all of us to take a breat from classwork together, while still learning and having a great time. We are truly blest to have such generous people in our community.

Where Is My Sock Machine?

I have been waiting on baited breath (now is that an old saying, or WHAT?) for the arrival of my circular sock knitting machine.... I might have mentioned awhile back that I was on the prowl for one of these, but I will give an update now for anyone who has never seen or heard of such a thing.

Back at the end of March while we were traveling through the North Coast (of Cally), we visited a crafts coop in Ferndale, me looking for yarn and my husband humoring me. The clerk there showed us an antique machine that looked like a highly mechanical version of the peg knitter, only with over 50 thin metal latch hook devices. When the handle was turned, it cranked the cylinder holding these stitches, making the next row on a tube. She showed us multiple pairs of socks that the shop owner had made using this really cool piece of retro technology, and being the antique lovers that we are, we fell for it.

I came back home and did extensive research on the 'Net, trying to learn about these devices. I discovered a great Yahoo list, with some of the kindest, most generous souls I have met virtually ... there was never a question too dumb for them. The machines are commonly referred to as CSMs, short for circular sock machine.

I also located some excellent websites, including a virtual museum, Angora Valley Farm, Country Rain, and Jacquie Grant, a restorer with a second virtual museum site, some of the dedicated restorers out there.

I know that some of you dedicated sock knitters will scoff, and I want you to keep working on those nice carry-around, photograph-everywhere socks, but I was so intrigued by the connection to home knitting enterprises of the past that I decided I wanted one of these for myself. I will be happy carrying around little scarfs or baby hats, and making socks with the CSM under a shade tree this summer.

Luckily, I stumbled upon Roxana Baechle, who doesn't have a website, but has been using and restoring CSMs for over a decade. I had to wait a bit, but she finally had one ready to sell to me, in its original (i.e. unretouched paint), but tuned and ready to go condition. While I was waiting, I purchased a pair of Roxana's socks for my DH and two of her collection on instructional videos. He was as excited to watch about cleaning and restoring these as I was. He loves old machinery, and they are a finely detailed example of such.

Roxana was finally ready to ship a Legare 47 to me, that she had just finished using to make a secret project for the Circular Sock Machine Society of America conference coming up at the end of June. I promise I will post a picture of her creative endeavor then, but since the contest is titled "What Else Can You Make With a CSM?" I don't want to give her secret away; I think she will win!

I have been waiting for my boxes with the machine and six pounds of wool to arrive.... unfortunately, the box of wool got here Tuesday, but the machine hasn't made it yet. I am crossing my fingers that it isn't "lost" in the postal ether and will arrive tomorrow. I know I can't get to working with this yet, as our family is coming for a reunion over Memorial Day weekend, but I JUST WANT TO LOOK!

A Wealth of Friends

I am not a rich person, in fact, probably barely considered middle class here in the United States. However, I have treasures of the heart that are far greater to me than a bigger, better house, fancier clothes, or more yarn.

Living in a rural place means doing without lots of things I really like, such as art galleries, book stores, and yarn shops. I have mentioned before that the nearest yarn fix is over a half hour away, and only arrived in such proximity a year ago. However, living in a rural place gives a connectedness that just can't be achieved in cities. I see the same 100 or so people throughout the weeks, and now over nineteen years of living here. New ones move in, some of the old ones move away, and, sadly, several have died over that time. Each triumph is shared, and each tragedy felt as if it was your own.

Saturday, I especially got to appreciate the wealth of friends I have here. My (grown) daughter, Nikki, and I attended a bash my dear friend Feather and her extended family, Anne and Pete (and their blended family of eight children, assorted spouses and numerous grandchildren) were throwing to celebrate Feather's son Sage's 30th birthday. There was a large gathering of people, and a grand time was had in the spring sunshine that has finally begun to favor us here in the Sierras. When it came time for toasting the birthday lad, Feather recounted some of the story of his birth, way back up one of our river tributaries, in a tiny miner's cabin. The weather was almost as unseasonable as what we had last week, and her friend, Pat, had to send out for a four-wheel drive vehicle to fetch the midwife in for the birth. Pat then began to have labor pains of her own. My friend, neighbor and co-worker, Cheryl lived on the same stream as well (before she moved to Forest City where she lived when I first moved to Sierra County, and does once again). Cheryl had a toddler at the time, and told of the hand-clenching labor support she provided.

Many rough and tough young men of the age of 30 would find this talk very embarassing, but Sage reflects the kind of young person that grows out of close-knit community. When it was his turn to speak, he told stories of the grown-ups shooing him and other kids out to play so they could have their time together, and now, he was doing the same thing to the next generation of "young-uns". He also spoke about how special it was to have many of the same people from his childhood present at this birthday occasion.

I caught up on two former high school students, and Anne pointed out how fabulous my own daughter has turned out; several of her preschool charges were in attendance and immediately glommed onto her, their "big person" friend in the community. It was wonderful to see the maturity of these three young women, and the strength they will bring to the next generation. One former student, Emily, just graduated from CSU, Humboldt and accepted a job as a botanist for the Forest Service in Quincy, where Jenn lives. She shared photos of the multi-generational trip she had taken a month ago to visit the rare wildflower bloom in Death Valley with two of the other party attendees. We are lucky not to be locked into an age-consciousness about who we enjoy life with.

Cheryl and I discussed this morning how we felt the glow of loving friends all throughout the day yesterday, and how lucky we felt, in spite of the adversity of the past year (Cheryl is also being cut to half-time; for more details of our school district's economic woes, check this January explanation and my May post).

Yesterday Nikki and I drove over to Lake Tahoe to check on son Cody and see how his recovery is going. He can now put on his own shoes and socks! This is a pretty major increase in flexibility, and he has started therapy. We went to lunch in Incline Village, then headed to Truckee to look for Jimmy Beans Wool (aren't they great kids, humoring me like this?!). They had searched once before, while Nikki was taking Cody to his post-op checkup (for those that don't know, my son broke his femur in four places 5 weeks ago, spent 3 1/2 weeks with us and learned to knit - again). They couldn't find it, even though Cody is a local, but humored me and went along. Luckily, Jenn had just posted a photo of her visit a few weeks ago, and I thought I had recognized the building... I guessed right. The shop is rather small and located in the old railroad depot.

They have A LOT crowded into a small space, and even though I didn't buy much yarn, I did find a book I have been trying to buy (from a local yarn shop, and NOT online) for over four months, Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I had wanted to make the felted yoga bag for my stepdaughter, Amy, whose birthday is in July. We all had to browse through the book and Nikki and Cody each found a sweater that they want me to make for them, as well as several cute items they thought I should make for Amy's daughter, baby Mia. So this book will be getting a lot of use!

I tried to be considerate of the fact that Cody is still hobbling around on crutches, but was lingering over lots of Rowan, GGH, and Annie Blatt yarns. Cody decided to sit on a convenient stepstool and fell into conversation with the clerk. She suggested that he could learn to knit too, so that it would be more interesting to visit yarn shops, to which he proudly replied that he already knew how, and was about 2/5ths of the way through his scarf!

I guess Nikki was feeling a little left out. She decided to have me re-teach her, so that she could knit up some flowers to felt in a cute little Flowers to Go kit. Cody will be providing me pictures to post later today (his camera is better, and I had forgotten mine).

We also visited the local bookstore to find more reading material for him. He thanked me for not tagging him with the book meme, saying he would have been embarrassed to have me read his responses. A very physically active person by nature, he has been able to expand his reading horizons while laid up, and picked two philosophy books and a BMX mag (next question for the physical therapist will be "How soon can I return to riding a bike?"). I tagged Marguerite Louise instead, so go and read her interesting answers.

In further updates, I went home and worked more on my felted duffel bag, now about 2/3rds of the way done. I also wanted to update everyone on my job situation and thank my e-friends who have sent along notes of encouragement in the past few weeks. I met with the Executive Director of our local clinic, Western Sierra Medical and Dental Clinic in Downieville, on Friday and he hired me to serve as his Administrative Assistant (fancy-schmantzy title). I will be doing grant writing and monitoring, and a host of other things to help our small non-profit clinic continue to provide 24 hour services in a county with only 3,165 people. Should be fun and interesting. I will still be able to teach half-time at Downieville High, and my principal there is working with me to try and add a fourth period, in Cultural Anthropology, funded by our community college, Lassen College.

This has been a somewhat lengthy update, especially since there aren't even pictures! I am going to close by encouraging you to read Margene's blog regularly. She is a fellow knitter, mountain dweller and Zen practitioner (although the last is harder for me to lay claim to; in discussing religion and philosophy yesterday with my children, I admitted that I have a hard time accepting that any one dogma has the mainline to the Truth). Margene also provides beautiful photos of the Utah mountains which should not be missed.

Blessings to all!

Progress on Felted Duffel Bag

These huge squares are the pockets for the felted duffel bag I have been working on. I decided to get the pockets, and next the handles, out of the way so that I can better assess dividing all my colors up for the body of the bag. I am about a third of the way through the body so far, and promise a photo update soon. 

I haven't gotten through my "homework" for my Needlecraft University triangular shawl yet this week, and the next class is tomorrow... nothing like the last minute, is there? This is the section in which the pattern of repeats, paired with increases to make the width grow, gets established. I read through the discussion board posts this afternoon, and discovered that many people were having trouble with the concept of adding new series of repeats every so many rows.

Usually, with this type of pattern, I can begin to "see" the knitting after the first repeat series is established, and don't need to read every step of the way... only once have I abandoned a project because I couldn't see it unfold. It was a basketweave Aran pattern, and I finally altered my plans, because I couldn't stand it that I had to check the directions for every single row, rather than seeing what came next. I am going to get off the computer and give my homework a good shot this evening... any minute now!

Thanks to those of you who expressed concern about the flood potential. Thankfully, the rain stopped yesterday evening and the sun even spent the entire day with us. The river has dropped several feet, but is still running high, swift and muddy. Bullards Bar Reservoir, further down the North Yuba, has been letting out water, and the water is gathering everywhere in the Sierras and heading downhill, so the American River in Sacramento has apparently risen seven feet in the last day or so. Unfortunately, it's often feast or famine in this climate, and of course the thermometer is predicted to hit 90 by Monday down in the Sacramento Valley. Warnings are out to discourage people from swimming in the rivers around the valley as the water is far too cold and swift.

Also, thanks to Margene, whose blog inspired me to add the Weather Pixie today.... isn't she cute in her summer duds. Can't wait to see what she puts on when it snows around here. Actually, I am really excited that it is going to be warm and sunny this weekend, and so are my animals. Maybe now it can dry out in their pasture, and I can get to fixing the fences.

Happy Trails!

Rivers Approach Flood Stage

This is the most unusual May I can recall... not only has it rained far more than average, but the river is close to flood stage1 Wanted to share some pictures with everyone .....


This photo is looking at the Downie River as it approaches its confluence with the North Yuba; bridge to county courthouse in background. The town was built around both of these rivers, which look more like quiet streams most of the year, during the Gold Rush. 


Upstream on the Downie River; businesses line the bank to the left and suffered flood damage in January 1997, as well as in 1963 and 1937 (not in May, though). 


Here is an example of the huge volume of water generating waves as it travels over large, submerged boulders. 


A good view of the raging river from Highway 49 west of Downieville 


Lupines can be seen in the foreground in this photo taken in Indian Valley this afternoon. 


The North Yuba flooded the lower campground at Indian Valley this afternoon, but the rain has diminished. 

We are hoping that the rains are coming to a stop, as predicted, before the cresting creates flooding here.

Tagged with the Book Meme

Megann tagged me with the Book Meme, so here goes:

Total number of books in your house

too many to count - maybe 600-1000. I collect books for the various crafts that interest me, as well as cookbooks, gardening, animal care and yoga. I love used book stores and usually have at least a dozen paperback novels waiting for a turn at " restful reading", although I don't allow myself enough rest time to get to them much. My husband is an anthropologist/historian, so we never get rid of any of his books.. the office is lined with bookshelves up to the ceiling, and there are shelves in other rooms, too. I guess you could say I live in a book house more than a wool house.

Last book bought

The Letterbox Companion by Randy Hall - for those not familiar with letterboxing (and I wasn't until I bought this book when I ordered shoes for my husband from REI last week), people follow clues to find a letterbox where they use their personal rubber stamp to stamp the box's logbook and use the stamp they find in the letterbox to stamp their own personal journal. There are currently 15,770 letterbox sites in North America; a list of clues is here.

Last book read

Danger on Peaks, by Gary Snyder This is Snyder's latest book. To me, he is the Poet Laureate of present-day U.S., speaking out about issues surrounding nature, relationships, and spirituality strongly for 50 years, and also continuing to teach in the English Department at University of California, Davis. He also lives on the next ridge over from me, and is an environmental activist, with a low-key manner and a great sense of humor.

5 (or 6) book you often read or that mean a lot to you

It would be impossible to limit myself to just 5 or 6, as I have been a voracious reader since I was a child (think of the Langoliers, from Steven King's novel of the same title, when you think "voracious"). Instead, I will offer a few favorites from several categories:

My knitting self:Knitting Without Tears, by Elizabeth Zimmerman This book changed my outlook towards knitting when I first read it about 13 years ago...

Relationships: Spiritual Midwifery, by Ina May Gaskin, which I read over and over through my giving birth years, and while I taught childbirth classes to others. As a result of first reading this book, I gave birth to all three of my natural children at home. Also, Codependent No More, by Melody Beattie, which helped me become a much stronger person fifteen years ago.

Spirituality: The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking Meditation
by Thich Nhat Hanh. There are many others as my spiritual beliefs are a blend of the Catholicism of my childhood, including the Franciscans I spent much time with in my twenties, as well as zen buddhism and the powerful influence of the natural world I have lived in close contact with for the past thirty years.

Poetry: Rivers and Mountains Without End, by Gary Snyder, a modern epic poem. I also like Cowboy poetry.

Fiction: As I was telling Marguerite Louise, in response to her recent post about reading, I have read all of Jane Austin's books at least three times. Also The Red Tent, by Anita Diamont, Jo-Ann Mapson's books, Loving Chloe and Shadow Ranch (she writes beautifully about human foibles) and all of Barbara Kingsolver's books.

Social Issues: There are two books that strongly shaped my social conciousness that stand out. The first was Leon Uris' novel, Trinity, which addressed the conflict between Catholics and Protestants. I read it in high school. I had never experienced discrimination as a Catholic growing up in the US, and it opened my eyes to the idea that people could hate each other for any number of perceived differences. The second book, whose title I have forgotten over the years,addressed the Harlan County coal strike. I grew up in a union family, but didn't fully understand the need to fight against inequity as a group until I read this book. I have since made that one of my life missions.

I could go on, but will stop with this. I am tagging Marguerite Louise, as I am anxious to see what she will write. For those of you who haven't found her blog, Oddysseuse on the Move, you are in for a treat. She is a retired Humanities teacher with a very fine mind.

Doesn't this look like just too much fun? I attended a driving clinic in Artois, at Dave and Ginny Freeman's equine rescue. Here, I am driving their BLM burro, Ashley. 


I hope to be driving my own burro, Rita, who is already experienced at this and came with her own red cart, very soon. As Dave said, if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, just get up earlier in the morning. 

Spring Cleaning

This weekend I have been trying to balance the need for getting some spring cleaning done, and the desire to see some of my projects finished up. So, I decided that a knitter, only rightly, must have her (or his) own personal style of spring cleaning, along with the usual airing out, sweeping up, and washing down of the house. A knitter also has a yarn stash that has gotten unruly and needs to be put back in order, and a stack of projects to be evaluated. It is time to switch from wearing heavy wool sweaters to cotton tees, shirts and crop pants. It is time to give up wool socks in favor of flip flops. Therefore, it is also time for the knitter to re-evaluate what to knit in the upcoming months. Switching to lighter yarns and smaller projects is usually essential in my Mediterranean summer climate. Sitting in the shade on a 95 degree day working on a large wool sweater or afghan just will not do.

But what to do with the unfinished projects? Luckily, there are only small wool projects waiting around for their turn with my attention, and one polyester blend shawl to finish. The largest wool project gets to have that first, so that it will be done before the real heat kicks in here.

I will continue to make small wool purses to felt, in fact I may be making a lot of them, depending on the demand at our local crafts cooperative. We get almost all of our tourists coming through between May and September. So, I wanted to finish up my latest.


All done, except for the felting! 


I organized the yarns I have set aside for "store" projects, and here are three pair of flip flops waiting to get their fur trim. This only takes about 40 minutes a pair, so I am planning to finish these up over the next week. In the background is red mohair, a potential scarf, and light blue wool, a possible felted purse. 


Part of cleaning was getting the laundry done. Along with airing out the rooms, I washed the bedding and other clothing, including a few sweaters. You can get one of these nifty double-sweater dryers to hang in your shower the next time you place a yarn order with Patternworks. 

This is the bottom of a felted tote bag I want to get done in a month! It will certainly grow to be too big to knit on a hot day, and, besides, I want to take it with me as part of my luggage wherever I get to go this summer. 


It will be striped, and in a brown/red/cream colorway. I "cleaned out" my stash to assemble an assortment of worsted weight wools, with a few novelties thrown in. Not shown are a couple of cappucino-colored skeins of Brown Sheep Nature Spun. I also bought enough medium brown Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks to make the bottom, top, and handles, adding a little consistency. The rest are either left over from past projects or thrift store finds. 
Special thanks to Lynette for the suggestion of using your tub for a photo backdrop... we have an old clawfoot that has seen better days (in fact the outside is painted lilac with gold leaf feet), and my sweetie cut a special shelf to use across it when not bathing, which provided the backdrop for these shots. It helps that the light is really good in the bathroom.

I had to keep myself moving through the laundry cycles, and the animal care, but still managed to finally get around to finishing up the body of my second clog (the first one sure has been lonely!). I plan to put on the sole tomorrow night, and get my latest felted items into the wash.

The final score was: knitting 3 house 1. I resigned myself years ago to the fact that I would never be renowned for my housekeeping skills, so once again knitting wins.