Dandelions and Yoga

Today two enterprising young entrepreneurs (aged four?) knocked on my door, selling lovely fresh bouquets of dandelions - for 5 Euro a pop. I did admire those lovely fresh flowers, which are coming up everywhere, but was too frugal to take the leap. I am not sure if I wonder more about their success, their price, or what they would have done with the money if I had bought the flowers.

The other day, I think it was Tuesday, I began to do yoga again. My legs have taken to feeling pins & needles too much of the time due to all the sitting I do. After spending the morning walking - with no improvement, I decided more drastic action was necessary to "stir things up" in my sluggish ageing sedentary system, so I unburied my yoga book and began. Gracious how STIFF I am! I remember being able to get into most of the yoga positions once upon a time many moons ago. Not any more. Not anywhere NEAR. No matter. I will give myself a year to limber up building slowly ... actually rebuilding. Now my morning routine includes some yoga. Already I am feeling the results: muscles waking up, mumbling sleepily "you wanted us again?" I am trying to coax them awake. The thing I really notice is that after doing the little that I do I really feel much more alive. Good thing too!

Smiles,
Susanne

colts foot, birthday, and horsetail

It has been too long since I last posted anything. I think of things while out with the dogs but never seem to have time to post them. A few weeks ago I saw my first spring flowers, small yellow coltsfoot -Tussilago for those who want the botanical name. Now they are popping up all over the place. Soon enough they will give way to the larger dandylions.

Among the things I've been dong is this very tiny drop spindle. made specifically for doing a very fine yarn of Merino - that's the back wool - so I can darn my store bought Merino wool socks. I put a few coins and AA size battaries next to the spindle to convince you that it is really small!



I also had another birthday - celbrated with the family over a pancake - actually waffle - breakfast. In the evening I visited friends. We had planned to watch the old Disney movie The Miracle of the White Stallions but we couldn't connect my American DVD player to their TV. So we watched Hairspray instead. We had a good homemade pizza and I made a cake. Very good evening!


On Saturday I saw the first horsetail - Equisetum arvense, so spring is sprung. And over a week ago I finally finished weaving the shawls that have been on my big Toika loom for almost two years! I suppose that requires a photo or two.



This is the folded shawl - one of two. and below is a closeup of the pattern:

I took the loom apart, cleaned thoroughly, and was desperate for something to weave, so I found a ready warp in the supplies I inherited with my loom. I am not sure if this is sisal or hemp but it is about 10 yards long and some of it will become the weft. As soon as I get some help the next project will be plain weave runner carpets! Carpets will be much appreciated by the mutts for good back scratching! I will have a dreaful time keeping the carpets clean because of the dog fur. Currently I don't have carpets at all and really don't miss the fuss and bother! So I do wonder why I am making them! Maybe I can keep them "for guests..."

The first picture below shows the warp in its chain - so you can enjoy the lovely colors - and the second shows the warp is actually on the back beam but not yet wound on.

More Whatnot

The thing about blogs is one needs time to do them. Time seems to be in short supply at my place. Every time I think I have an opportunity t come to my blog something else comes up. Two weeks ago it was a sick dog - May - who withdrew and shivered and was very unhappy. So I spent a weekend nursing her - made chicken soup and all sort of nice tempting things - mainly to get her to drink and to keep her spirits up.

Then last week I remembered I had specifc tasks to do and of course they take time. I wasn't helped by friends loaning me books. I love books -good ones- and I devour them. Most recently I have consumed The Curse of Chalion and happen to think it's one of the best books I've ever read. Today I returned it or I will read it again... for the eighth time. Today I finished Suite Francoise. Definitely worth the read, but I didn't plow through it non stop the way I usually do. It took great effort not to.

I also finally forced myself back to spinning, and weaving. I've almost finished a project that's been on my big Toika loom for almost two years. And my little Ashford Knitter's Loom is constantly in action. I finished the "ontelo" - a double weave one color on one side and anther color on the other - very warm! Then I did a fancy lace scarf (leno) and now am doing something that is a waffle weave - hopefully will be hand towels made of bamboo yarn. My spinning is still on that lovely rich bown that Heather sent me for Christmas. I'm spinning a fine yarn (currently singles only) and when the bobbins are stuffed I will ply it. If I had a LOT more of it I would weave a skirt. One bobbin is stuffed and the other is almost stuffed. Maybe by my birthday... Actually I plan to finish the weavings by Wednesday - wish me luck!

Today I went to the family's for lunch - yummy pesto spaghetti with two diferent sauces. Then we walked to Maso. It's really in bad shape. Poor house. The walk was nice. The kids - except for Joakim - on bikes... Anisa took a tumble off hers onto the road - fortunately no traffic, but it gave us a fright. We all think that she'll slow down once the training wheels are off.

I'm sure I've done something else recently, but one thing crowds out another, and soon - with all the new stuff- I've forgotten the old. Such is life!

Smiles,
Susanne

unabashed recommendation

As the title says, this is predominantly an unabashed recommendation. That gets this praise? Well if you like classical music - wfmt (www.wfmt.com) from which I enjoy live music direct from Chicago. It always tickles me to hear the time -always at odds with Finland- and weather -frequently at odds with Finland. I think the ads are... well I am digressing so I will be silent.

Of course I do not love everything I hear, but I am amazed at how much I do enjoy. Some of it I am even rediscovering. Things that I had loved as a kid I am actually learning the names of and who composed them... though I have to say that my filing system is as dreadful as my memory, I cannot find my list of names! I did find one: Khachaturian'sGayna Ballet Suite... and I think I was listening to Lohengrin... Drat! I really must improve my filing system! It is a good thing my head is still attached or I'd never find it! Remember: someone report me to the authorities if I forget my own name!

I use real Player (not an advertisement!) and watch Annabelle the Sheep. Once Annabelle even went to sleep! Amazing. And that brings Maso to mind and wanting 4 sheep - Maso has enough land to support 4 sheep. I've named my four imaginary sheep: Kerma (Cream - white wool), Cacao (Coco - dk brown wool), Kahvi (Coffee with very dk brwn/blk wool) and Keksi (Cookie -light tan wool). I like the naturally colored wools and if I need to dye wool I can always get a fifth sheep (white wool) Sokeri (Sugar). Ive saving dried onion skins for dying - nice rich orange. But of course I'd also want at least two milk goats as well (shades of my years at the US National Historic Site: the Carl Sandburg Home in East Flat Rock NC and memories of Mrs. Sandburg's Jennifer II who produced as much milk as most cows.

Yesterday I made wood finish/preservative/wax - bee's wax and Walnut oil. Breaker lapped up most of the oil, so I had to replace it. It's biodegradable and no poisonous. Also good for dry hands. I needed something to finish a small Niddy Noddy. Looks good now!

I'm off to do some language checking, a job application and a dissertation proposal. All need to be ready by Monday.

Smiles,
Susanne

Whatnot

It’s 3 am. I am normally an early riser, but this is very early for me. I’m online to help someone in Mexico orient themselves to an online course. While I wait for them to install skype, I thought I might catch up with myself. This particular blog is wandering text, no pictures.

I want to start with Maso. Yes that is m a s o. It’s the name of a place – actually an old farm – near me. I first saw it some two ? years ago when walking across the lake (frozen ice, mid winter). This winter I was doing the same – the lake route cuts considerable time off getting to Funlayo and Kimmo’s – and really began studying the place. Now if I had the money I’d love to have it and restore it. At first glance all seems fine. On closer look the shore side sauna tilts, the cellar is gaping and the building above it has fallen. The barn roof has collapsed… Now I entertain myself generating terrifyingly long lists of all the probable things that would need to be done to salvage the place.

In the last two of my “over the ice” visits to Maso; I noticed that the ice was getting squishy. Water was seeping up from below. On the second of these visits I moved to the firmer packed lake ice roads –farther from Maso’s shore line, but which didn’t have the dogs’ paws drawing water. I was having visions of all of us vanishing to a cold wet quiet world. Now I take the terra firma foot path to Maso.

Speaking of ice – this time on footpaths – I love stomping on it and making it crack. It feels like a civic duty to get rid of it.

Speaking of civic duties, I have been regularly trying to get the city to turn off the big lights on the football field (snow covered and “closed” for winter). We managed to get the lights on the footpaths turned off. Then they got turned on. Then the big lights started spending the nights on – earlier they had only been on in the early morning – some time after midnight. Time for another call.

Well I should get on with my day now – it’s 4:30 am, but daylight savings time is about to begin so this is good practice. I know I have about twenty seven thousand eight hundred and fifty three other things to tell you, but they will just have to go unsaid for now.

Smiles,
Susanne

Shawl and stuff

Here is my new shawl. It is triangle shape and crocheted with some lovely wool my dear friend Heather sent me ages ago. I started spinning it as soon as I got the wool out of the box. That's before I had a spinning wheel. I began this shawl as soon as I took the yarn off the spindle. That part of the shawl - which you can't see here - is heavier weight. Then I got my Ashford spinning wheel and spun the rest of this wool into a must finer single (the yarn is not plyed). Yes it changes color from deep blues and rich greens to lighter violets. It is lovely wool and a beautiful color. Thank you Heather!

And I made a baby hat using my Ashford Knitter's Loom. Does anyone need a winter baby hat for a wee girl?


And this is the tunic that goes well with the hat (same warp, different weft). It is open on the sides and closes with ties that are woven into the fabric. 80% wool AND machine washable in Warm water. Again if you're looking for a gift for a winter baby girl - tell me!

And here are the mutts -enjoying the good life on my bed. In fact as I write they are in almost the same position now...

Smiles,

Susanne

Where have I been?

Where have I been? Actually I haven't left town at all. First I had a visitor then I had the flu. Before the flu "struck me down" I manged to finish knitting my mittens - you can find an earlier blog where I wrote about the wool.

And while I was down witht the flue I started knitting a hat - you'll see that when it is done... but let me say here that the "pattern" I was following ... well, it was more complicated than my skill level. So don't expect too much.

Remember the pictures of my grandgirls spinning? Well below on the left is some of the wool they carded - I spun it. The white is rather thin and I will be carding (and washing and carding) and spinning much more just like it. It is thin so it can be woven. This is my sample. I plan on making a waffle weave blanket. The tan on the right is one of my favorites: more Coburger Fox Sheep. This one is incredibly soft and nicely lofty. It will be warm and cuddly.

And below is more of the tri-color wool my daughter ordered (skein 4 and 5) for a sweater she is knitting. This is Corriedale wool from New Zealand (Ashford) in their Pansy (pink), Lilac and Magenta. When the sweater is done I'll have to get a picture of it too.

Smiles,
Susanne