tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57426508743691293202024-03-14T02:45:58.395-05:00Maple CornersStories about life on the homestead, spinning, knitting, gardening, caregiving and whatever else comes up.Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-90373097323686053262012-03-11T17:24:00.005-05:002012-03-11T18:10:30.430-05:00A Dash of Colour<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMoCN04XKR8/T10vn3qtqbI/AAAAAAAAC6s/3F9lLd0aqJo/s1600/dash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMoCN04XKR8/T10vn3qtqbI/AAAAAAAAC6s/3F9lLd0aqJo/s400/dash.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718779463834905010" /></a><br /><p>I test knit a shawl for a friend. It is designed to use one skein of Noro or colorful sock yarn, but I did it in some <a href="http://maplecorners.blogspot.com/2008/12/hat-in-making.html">barely colored handspun</a> that has been marinating in the stash for some time. The pattern is available on Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-dash-of-colour">here.</a></p><p>It is a very easy knit, perfect for the beginning lace knitter. It is a shawlette that sits nicely on the shoulders due to the shaping. I made it a bit bigger, as I wanted more coverage, and had the yarn available.</p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qIlI1qXQyQo/T10mjjEi-FI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/iaMpTqrQFB0/s1600/dash-front.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qIlI1qXQyQo/T10mjjEi-FI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/iaMpTqrQFB0/s400/dash-front.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718769493981984850" /></a><p>These photos were the best I could do, as it has been very windy here. Spring on the prairie, you know.</p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5byxBhA4ph4/T10wcmFqlHI/AAAAAAAAC64/DNvdl9PKzaY/s1600/dash-flying.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5byxBhA4ph4/T10wcmFqlHI/AAAAAAAAC64/DNvdl9PKzaY/s400/dash-flying.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718780369649177714" /></a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-82558980801056999392012-02-14T16:17:00.003-06:002012-02-14T16:59:32.180-06:00Peg loom shop now open!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VP3fwJ8yHqA/TzreINvjMAI/AAAAAAAAC54/oCctbbPmER4/s1600/Lcollar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VP3fwJ8yHqA/TzreINvjMAI/AAAAAAAAC54/oCctbbPmER4/s400/Lcollar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709119710354944002" /></a><p>My friend Lynette made herself this lovely shawl on her peg loom. </p><br /><p>She is now making peg looms for sale. They are generally custom made, to your specifications regarding peg width, distance between pegs, and how many pegs.</p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DKgvR7uJ8y4/TzreH-OoXSI/AAAAAAAAC5w/OxIpdZH_dKo/s1600/lloom-small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DKgvR7uJ8y4/TzreH-OoXSI/AAAAAAAAC5w/OxIpdZH_dKo/s400/lloom-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709119706190339362" /></a><p>Painted, or not painted.</p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QH7kAbvGGsc/TzreHkKsnrI/AAAAAAAAC5k/Qj9D-swGjio/s1600/lloom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QH7kAbvGGsc/TzreHkKsnrI/AAAAAAAAC5k/Qj9D-swGjio/s400/lloom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709119699194519218" /></a><p>If you're interested, just drop her a line at daisyhillhandiworks at hotmail dot com. She has limited internet access, so your best bet is to send her your telephone number so you can discuss the specifics of what you want.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-42926902514919117022012-01-30T21:42:00.002-06:002012-01-30T22:13:46.124-06:00Waffles<p>I have a confession to make. I have a box of waffles in my freezer. </p><p>I'm sure plenty of people have frozen waffles in their freezer, so why the need to confess? They're over two years old. Towards the end, that was all I could get Mom to eat. I don't eat them, and they're taking up space in the freezer that I could use for something else. The chickens would probably like to eat them, freezer burn and all.</p><p> Yet, as I rearrange the freezer to make room for the day old bread that was on special, the box always stays, even as I am cursing and shoving and smooshing the day old bread to make it fit. I'm not ready yet. I don't know when I will be. </p><p>I can promise you this though. If you ever come for breakfast, I won't be serving frozen waffles. The French Toast might be slightly smooshed day old bread.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-91070310381765367972012-01-15T12:01:00.004-06:002012-01-15T12:50:21.157-06:00The Changing Landscape<p>A friend asked me the other day why I hadn't posted in such a while. I didn't know how to answer him. I don't have an answer. How about I just post something?</p><br /><p>This summer, another wind turbine farm popped up near me.</p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qh6_YcEDAI/TxMVCdE2RwI/AAAAAAAAC5U/Y3g6OvogW0U/s1600/turbines2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697921085462693634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qh6_YcEDAI/TxMVCdE2RwI/AAAAAAAAC5U/Y3g6OvogW0U/s400/turbines2.jpg" /></a> <br /><p>I swear, one minute they weren't there, and the next they were, just like mushrooms pop up out of nowhere in the spring. I'm sure it didn't feel that way to the people erecting them in the blazing heat we had. </p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8ygEufDbFw/TxMVCcKt7KI/AAAAAAAAC5I/S107UmD2ES4/s1600/turbines.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697921085218876578" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8ygEufDbFw/TxMVCcKt7KI/AAAAAAAAC5I/S107UmD2ES4/s400/turbines.jpg" /></a> <br /><p>These turbines are about a mile away from me, yet I can't actually see them from my place because of the trees and hill between us. This disappoints me. I rather like watching them. They are mesmerizing, like sitting at my spinning wheel, I think. </p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoB7fbnSFxE/TxMVCIO2emI/AAAAAAAAC5A/rw2BdRyTMyc/s1600/turbinesunset2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697921079867505250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoB7fbnSFxE/TxMVCIO2emI/AAAAAAAAC5A/rw2BdRyTMyc/s400/turbinesunset2.jpg" /></a> <br /><p>Luckily, this view is just a short walk away.</p><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--WgFsEkSBik/TxMVCDy0xqI/AAAAAAAAC40/hdbF4edPDCI/s1600/turbinesunset.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697921078676211362" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--WgFsEkSBik/TxMVCDy0xqI/AAAAAAAAC40/hdbF4edPDCI/s400/turbinesunset.jpg" /></a> <br /><p>Someday, I'll have one of my own. Not a big one like these, of course, just one that will let me generate some of my own power. Maybe one of <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/solar-wind/4324331">these</a> babies? It seems almost wasteful not to.<br /></p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-79881868883393331222011-09-30T07:14:00.003-05:002011-09-30T07:19:06.224-05:00Hit and Run Post<p>Sorry, just wanted to show what I've been doing recently. This is yarn that I had mill spun with a friend. It is my alpaca, his wool, and another friend's mohair, a third of each. I've been playing.</p><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMT0Q9ZC4aE/ToWzUkdS7zI/AAAAAAAAC4s/IYBHRHhDNyo/s1600/yarns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMT0Q9ZC4aE/ToWzUkdS7zI/AAAAAAAAC4s/IYBHRHhDNyo/s400/yarns.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658125672826203954" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHP_enS9Gwc/ToWzURrLwtI/AAAAAAAAC4k/MaZXbBYj6FQ/s1600/yarn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHP_enS9Gwc/ToWzURrLwtI/AAAAAAAAC4k/MaZXbBYj6FQ/s400/yarn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658125667784180434" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOAvrk7ccLs/ToWzUKYgi1I/AAAAAAAAC4c/k3tGJ0hqL9g/s1600/spice-yarn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOAvrk7ccLs/ToWzUKYgi1I/AAAAAAAAC4c/k3tGJ0hqL9g/s400/spice-yarn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658125665826802514" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zUcASrFwFvc/ToWzUDSa7gI/AAAAAAAAC4U/WriD3NyH8xM/s1600/blues-yarn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zUcASrFwFvc/ToWzUDSa7gI/AAAAAAAAC4U/WriD3NyH8xM/s400/blues-yarn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658125663922220546" /></a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-18899118018024799042011-06-21T06:08:00.002-05:002011-06-21T06:56:06.538-05:00A Conversation<p>I had a lovely conversation with Mom early this morning. It was raining and thundering, and I was in that half conscious state. It was wonderful.</p><br /><p>We were sitting around the kitchen table at the family home. The radio was on 'CCO, and Mom was eating a piece of toast. My nephew, just turned 9, was there too. Mom told us this story.</p><p>She and her sister Mary Anne were 5 or 6 years old at the time, and their dad was driving them to my Great Aunt (their Aunt)Teeter's place in Wisconsin. The road to her place was gravel, and had a lot of hills. If you drive fast, your stomach does that rising up in your belly thing as you go over the top of the hill and back down. They were sitting in the back seat of the car, leaned back against the seat, heads back and staring up at the sky through the rear window, enjoying that up and down, almost falling sensation as they rode over the hills. All of a sudden, that falling sensation didn't stop, they were falling, falling, falling. They looked at each other, and asked "Are we gone?" (As in, had they died?) Nope, they had gone off the road and into the ditch, landing in two feet of snow.</p> <p>This is the story as told to me in my dream. I have no idea if it is a real one, that Mom told me years ago, or if my head made it up. I do know that I loved going to Great Aunt Teeter's, and enjoyed the ride there, always urging Mom to drive faster so we could get that rollercoaster effect. I don't remember ever going in the ditch though.</p> <p>It was great having a conversation with her about our shared past, whether she was sharing her love of riding to Teeter's too, or I was just remembering mine, which she was a huge part of.</p> <p>Anyway, how have you all been? I've been busy trying to keep up with the mowing, both of the yard with the riding mower and of the pastures with my scythe. I rode (on bicycle) the <a href="http://www.lakecity.org/tourdepepin/index.html">Tour de Pepin</a>, 32 miles half way around the lake, and then a paddleboat ride back across the lake. It was great fun and amazingly enough I wasn't even sore the next day!</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-51333051774990886082011-05-06T21:30:00.002-05:002011-05-06T21:49:38.935-05:00I love this color.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LM3Au4qvs28/TcSvCb9airI/AAAAAAAAC4I/lHkOeG-CE-w/s1600/color.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LM3Au4qvs28/TcSvCb9airI/AAAAAAAAC4I/lHkOeG-CE-w/s400/color.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603796292755688114" /></a><br /><p>This is a giant hyacinth getting ready to bloom in a flowerbed right outside my front door. I have never noticed the green shading to blue shading to deep purple. It makes my eyes happy.</p> <p> I sense a colorway coming on. I am imagining it in felt, not yarn, to get the subtle shading from one color to the next. I'll have to pull out the dyepot some other day though, for tomorrow is Shepherd's Harvest! There is a Cormo fleece with my name on it (They've got a beer named Jeff? I know at least one of you will get that!) waiting for me there.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-56726074856960327492011-04-29T22:53:00.002-05:002011-04-29T22:56:12.160-05:00Is this thing on?<p>Yep, still working.</p><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrzoP3xaIis/TbuIBOZkIaI/AAAAAAAAC4A/U6nNijN2nUo/s1600/bathing-beauties.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrzoP3xaIis/TbuIBOZkIaI/AAAAAAAAC4A/U6nNijN2nUo/s400/bathing-beauties.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601220116191912354" /></a><br /><p>It was a good day for sun bathing. </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-66071250359428804522011-03-06T09:38:00.002-06:002011-03-06T09:45:13.892-06:00Art of Alzheimer's-Linens and Lids<p>I didn't think I'd ever have more of these to share. I was looking through old photos, and found this.</p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-xQ9PoXUHo/TXOqtcPyzpI/AAAAAAAAC3U/eatmgAGaylo/s1600/art-linens-and-lids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-xQ9PoXUHo/TXOqtcPyzpI/AAAAAAAAC3U/eatmgAGaylo/s400/art-linens-and-lids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580992060895448722" /></a><br /><p>I had probably given her some towels to fold, and she made art with them. The white is a lid from a plastic storage tub, and the blue lid from a plastic food container. </p> <p>Waaaaahh!</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-30729754907147529552011-03-04T19:09:00.003-06:002012-02-14T17:00:06.418-06:00New Peg Loom<p>A friend and I were discussing weaving on the peg loom, and the subject of a finer peg loom that what I had came up. By finer, I mean one with smaller pegs set closer together. The next thing I knew, she had built one for me.</p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGxalEiQlqU/TXGN5E5jC7I/AAAAAAAAC20/kHinTbFPgPY/s1600/pegloomfine.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGxalEiQlqU/TXGN5E5jC7I/AAAAAAAAC20/kHinTbFPgPY/s400/pegloomfine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580397424995929010" /></a><p>Isn't she pretty? All painted and everything.</p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YMEz2yDxSGY/TXGN5vivVXI/AAAAAAAAC28/2kuZtPuK2SQ/s1600/pegloomfinebottom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YMEz2yDxSGY/TXGN5vivVXI/AAAAAAAAC28/2kuZtPuK2SQ/s400/pegloomfinebottom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580397436442989938" /></a><p>This is the best part.</p> <p>She is thinking of producing these for sale, so if anybody is interested, let me know.</p><br /><p>I tried her out using some cotton tape yarn I got at the Textile Center Garage Sale last year. </p><br /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4uOfjjHJTx4/TXGN6LO5lFI/AAAAAAAAC3E/HfyfKqpcU4c/s1600/ploomed-tape-yarn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4uOfjjHJTx4/TXGN6LO5lFI/AAAAAAAAC3E/HfyfKqpcU4c/s400/ploomed-tape-yarn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580397443875968082" /></a><p>I love the effect!</p><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohDS4g9sXaM/TXGN6Y4djyI/AAAAAAAAC3M/7Lf2RQnISG8/s1600/ploomed-tape-yarn-close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohDS4g9sXaM/TXGN6Y4djyI/AAAAAAAAC3M/7Lf2RQnISG8/s400/ploomed-tape-yarn-close.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580397447539953442" /></a> <p>I just realized what the yarn reminds me of. Shoestrings.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-85351293585751291852011-02-13T18:19:00.003-06:002011-02-13T18:23:26.113-06:00Open your Heart<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gmb1xNtOo9Y/TVh1MjSLniI/AAAAAAAAC2k/OwBfEWGWvmo/s1600/koraheart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gmb1xNtOo9Y/TVh1MjSLniI/AAAAAAAAC2k/OwBfEWGWvmo/s400/koraheart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573333397361368610" /></a><br /><p>"Open your heart" is this week's theme for MCP Project 52. Open your heart to a rescue dog, and she might rescue you right back.</p><P>Kora has been with me just over a year now. She is smart, outgoing, friendly, fearless, and self-confident. I need to be more like her. </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-8844662603645196312011-01-27T21:52:00.002-06:002011-01-27T22:00:27.378-06:00Soothing Repetition<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TUI-B4mFQTI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/Ng5Izy5MNZ0/s1600/soothing%2Brepetition.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TUI-B4mFQTI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/Ng5Izy5MNZ0/s400/soothing%2Brepetition.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567080291476259122" /></a><br /><p>This week's assignment for MCP Project 52 was a no brainer for me. Soothing repetition. Come on, what else was I going to photograph but my spinning wheel? Well, ok, if I could have gotten the shed door open to get my scythe out, that was also in the running. In the end, the spinning wheel won.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-40286918261813437382011-01-20T14:12:00.002-06:002011-01-20T14:24:25.896-06:00Sob<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TTiYRMzWQEI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/hZhEjZr2o78/s1600/simbagrass3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TTiYRMzWQEI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/hZhEjZr2o78/s400/simbagrass3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564364760878039106" /></a><br /><p>I lost my best friend, faithful companion and footwarmer for the past twelve years early this morning. She was a good dog. </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-30366773211463754742011-01-19T21:26:00.003-06:002011-01-19T21:51:37.116-06:00Week 3: Shades of Grey<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TTeroXhT8sI/AAAAAAAAC2I/73x-epDKIaU/s1600/shades3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TTeroXhT8sI/AAAAAAAAC2I/73x-epDKIaU/s400/shades3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564104574636389058" /></a><br /><p>The window of the art shack is the subject of this Week 3 photo. Shades of grey is the theme. </p><p>On a completely different subject, does anybody watch NCIS (Mark Harmon, call me!) and happen to catch last night's episode? Bob Newhart played a former NCIS medical examiner, with Alzheimer's. He nailed it. I recognised the "I am lost" look. Even worse, I felt the "I am lost to you" look.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-12203726009093656172011-01-14T23:01:00.003-06:002011-01-14T23:25:34.869-06:00MCP Project 52: Week 2<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TTEqfXCkKnI/AAAAAAAAC2A/Tpw10VTH0Y4/s1600/The-llama-song.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TTEqfXCkKnI/AAAAAAAAC2A/Tpw10VTH0Y4/s400/The-llama-song.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562273733028358770" /></a><br /><p>I'm participating in <a href="http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2011/01/05/mcp-project-52-one-photo-a-week-join-in-anytime">MCP Actions Project 52</a>, where you post one photo for each week of the year, with each week having a theme. This week's them was to illustrate a song using a photograph. Not being very original, I chose "The llama song". </p><p>I can't actually use any of the Photoshop actions, as my version of Elements is very old, but that doesn't matter. The project is open to anybody, and you can join in at any time. I missed the first week.</p><p>Also, could someone please tell the llamas that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line? They created this path, and unless I want to wade through 3 feet of snow, I use it to carry the water to them. Grr!</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-38833627035835309952010-12-13T21:14:00.002-06:002010-12-13T21:45:11.389-06:00Bobbles and Bowls<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhzmyvv7I/AAAAAAAAC10/87alvege9kA/s1600/spoked-cowl-bobble.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhzmyvv7I/AAAAAAAAC10/87alvege9kA/s400/spoked-cowl-bobble.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550371867483684786" /></a><p>This started out as the Spoked Hat from the Winter 2010 Interweave Knits. Not having the right sized needles, it ended up big. Really big. So I frogged the crown shaping back, did a few more rows of the established pattern, then repeated the first row, with the bobbles. Now, it is a spoked cowl. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhzPUsWXI/AAAAAAAAC1s/6SDsCDvMwLo/s1600/spoked-cowl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhzPUsWXI/AAAAAAAAC1s/6SDsCDvMwLo/s400/spoked-cowl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550371861183617394" /></a>The yarn is a handspun, handdyed alpaca blend. There is enough left over, I could actually knit the hat too. Or maybe I'll do some fingerless mitts, using the same stitch pattern. </p> <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhyrA1QSI/AAAAAAAAC1k/y3esEefylXY/s1600/pottery-blue-bowl-tom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhyrA1QSI/AAAAAAAAC1k/y3esEefylXY/s400/pottery-blue-bowl-tom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550371851436638498" /></a><p>My second bowl from pottery class along with some tomatoes from the garden. They were picked green and are slowly ripening. The bowl is blue with some transparent purple on the inside and slopped over the side. I was trying to get more of the purple on the outside too, but I'll take what I can get!</p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhymtUxxI/AAAAAAAAC1c/SMBgCghwOaU/s1600/pottery-blue-bowl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQbhymtUxxI/AAAAAAAAC1c/SMBgCghwOaU/s400/pottery-blue-bowl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550371850281076498" /></a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-45130518108737370792010-12-09T17:38:00.002-06:002010-12-09T17:54:09.700-06:00Long Overdue Thank You<p>A while ago, I sent some fiber to an Internet friend. She was new to spinning, and I just wanted to do a little enabling to help her build her fiber stash. Pay it forward, just like other spinners had done for me when I first started. Then, back in September, I got a squishy in the mail. </p> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQFo0X8FmfI/AAAAAAAAC1U/sSc0xlXSAsM/s1600/gam-sock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TQFo0X8FmfI/AAAAAAAAC1U/sSc0xlXSAsM/s400/gam-sock.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548831464885688818" /></a><br /><p>Aren't they fantastic? She did all the spinning on a drop spindle. A drop spindle! Then she knit this beautiful cable and lace pattern and sent the socks back to me. They've been keeping my feet and heart warm ever since. Thank you G-A-M!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-59961845266636139832010-11-30T12:40:00.002-06:002010-11-30T12:58:27.060-06:00Felting<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TPVFRROIkaI/AAAAAAAAC1M/nWistIRI8Uc/s1600/felted-vest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TPVFRROIkaI/AAAAAAAAC1M/nWistIRI8Uc/s400/felted-vest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545414679159411106" /></a><br /><p>I've been on a felting kick lately. This is wool that I dyed felted onto a base of teal silk crepe de chine fabric. It was wet felted in a big sheet, then I cut out a vest shape. It is one piece, with the only seams at the shoulders.</p><p>I stood in the art shack for the first time on Saturday. Previously, when you opened the door, there was a big wooden apparatus directly inside that prevented me from physically getting inside the building. I dismantled it on Saturday, (with a wrench, a hammer, crowbar, and some well-chosen expletives) and just stood in there and got a feel for the space. Dreamed a bit. Thought about window and door placement. Loom placement. Dyeing station placement. Felting station placement. Pottery wheel placement. Big comfy chair placement. You get the idea! </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-48869349371299749502010-11-18T18:02:00.004-06:002010-11-18T18:46:28.119-06:00It's getting closer, closer<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOXCfJK50cI/AAAAAAAAC1E/CAsvJI2exAg/s1600/granarymove1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541048756842648002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOXCfJK50cI/AAAAAAAAC1E/CAsvJI2exAg/s400/granarymove1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_rBMFQFI/AAAAAAAAC08/z08a1FGgcKQ/s1600/granarymove2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541045662323654738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_rBMFQFI/AAAAAAAAC08/z08a1FGgcKQ/s400/granarymove2.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_quFruqI/AAAAAAAAC00/SfgDlH_BlJI/s1600/granarymove3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541045657196542626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_quFruqI/AAAAAAAAC00/SfgDlH_BlJI/s400/granarymove3.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_qX0l0gI/AAAAAAAAC0s/CCqyYwTEQsI/s1600/granarymove4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541045651219272194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_qX0l0gI/AAAAAAAAC0s/CCqyYwTEQsI/s400/granarymove4.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_p9qfeRI/AAAAAAAAC0k/vEwuyBegWwg/s1600/granarymove5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541045644197591314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_p9qfeRI/AAAAAAAAC0k/vEwuyBegWwg/s400/granarymove5.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_pW4sniI/AAAAAAAAC0c/zFJlhiyIsTc/s1600/granarymove6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541045633788190242" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TOW_pW4sniI/AAAAAAAAC0c/zFJlhiyIsTc/s400/granarymove6.jpg" /></a><br /><p>Yep, it is finally here. I wasn't sure if it was going to make the corner turning onto my high, narrow driveway, but they did it. It is still up on cribbing so I can insulate underneath and come up with a better foundation, probably until spring. What I had there was basically destroyed in their moving back and forth trying to get the building in position. It turns out this building is heavier than a normal building of the same size because of the type and amount of wood used. The walls are 2 by 6, 12 inches on center. She's a sturdy one, designed to hold many tons of grain. Just think how much fiber she will hold! Apparently, my building is a girl. </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-49241830264762678842010-11-05T21:44:00.002-05:002010-11-05T22:28:22.876-05:00Pottery Class<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TNTB5cuqFvI/AAAAAAAAC0U/QbOqVAEekzc/s1600/pottery-plate.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536263034653775602" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TNTB5cuqFvI/AAAAAAAAC0U/QbOqVAEekzc/s400/pottery-plate.jpg" /></a> <p>My first wheel-thrown pottery piece. A plate. That fancy edge? An attempt to cover a mistake. When I was trimming it, I had it secured on the wheel well enough for me. When the instructor sat at my wheel to show me how to do something, he kicked that wheel much faster. My poor plate went flying. It was mostly ok except for a gouge on the edge. So I just cut gouges all around the edge, and tada, a sprocket plate. There is also a crack in the middle, but it held together. I won't be able to use it to serve food, because the glaze wasn't able to seal it. </p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TNTB5D_FX2I/AAAAAAAAC0M/2JmYkFk3evg/s1600/pottery-bowl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536263028011786082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TNTB5D_FX2I/AAAAAAAAC0M/2JmYkFk3evg/s400/pottery-bowl.jpg" /></a><br /><p>This little lopsided bowl is my second piece, my first bowl. Just the right size for ice cream!</p><p>One of the other students commented that "Art takes a long time." I had to laugh. I was thinking,wow, look how fast this is, one minute I have a ball of clay and a half hour later I have a bowl. There are additional steps of course, but to me it was way faster than the dyeing/carding/spinning/knitting or weaving I usually do. Once again proving it's all relative! </p><br /><p>In other news, the Art Shack is coming on Sunday! Woohoo! The man who is moving it stopped by today to do a dry run and look over the site. He is the one that took it off its foundation, and he said that the building didn't flex one bit. As he bluntly put it, "That building is built like a brick shithouse!" Now, that is exactly what I thought,(maybe not exactly in those terms!) but it felt good to hear it from someone who actually knows about these things and who is an impartial third-party. Yeehaw!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-44443841226858116242010-10-15T08:55:00.001-05:002010-10-15T08:57:41.364-05:00One year<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLhdn6lgaVI/AAAAAAAAC0E/UUANhPonETE/s1600/heartart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLhdn6lgaVI/AAAAAAAAC0E/UUANhPonETE/s400/heartart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528271482920134994" /></a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-52334356706107263882010-10-10T10:52:00.002-05:002010-10-10T11:00:10.258-05:00Fall<p>Fall can be muted.</p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiLFup-0I/AAAAAAAACz8/BQZhPA7KJkI/s1600/fallmuted.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiLFup-0I/AAAAAAAACz8/BQZhPA7KJkI/s400/fallmuted.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526446897904614210" /></a><p>Bold.</p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiK7LwhxI/AAAAAAAACz0/gPXPGmYvefs/s1600/fallbold.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiK7LwhxI/AAAAAAAACz0/gPXPGmYvefs/s400/fallbold.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526446895073888018" /></a><p>Or downright flaming. </p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiKtvnE-I/AAAAAAAACzs/UbPqsga7650/s1600/fallflame.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiKtvnE-I/AAAAAAAACzs/UbPqsga7650/s400/fallflame.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526446891466167266" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiJ8aswQI/AAAAAAAACzk/mNszjJQPNpA/s1600/fallflaming.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TLHiJ8aswQI/AAAAAAAACzk/mNszjJQPNpA/s400/fallflaming.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526446878225121538" /></a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-83251645430751965572010-09-29T07:42:00.003-05:002010-09-29T10:34:33.455-05:00Tale of Woe Revisited<p>Remember my <a href="http://maplecorners.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-tale-of-woe.html">Tale of Woe</a>? Where I vowed I would take a wheel thrown pottery class?</p><P>Last night was the first class of eight. It was so fun! It reminded me of felting, where something magically emerges under your hands. A few manipulations, and like magic a bowl appears. So far, a bowl and a plate have been completed. No pictures yet, but I promise I will show all attempts, failures and successes. </p><p>With the class, we have free use of the studio, as long as there isn't a class going on. This could be dangerous. I have a feeling I'll be needing another bag of clay before too long.</p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-10981969922350716902010-09-24T21:13:00.004-05:002010-09-24T22:51:20.440-05:00Shelter from the Storm<p>My area in southern Minnesota has been hard hit by flooding the past few days. 8 to 10 inches of rain have pushed rivers and streams out of their banks, taking bridges and roads with the rushing water. Many homes are under water. Not good. </p><P>I've been lucky. The two pumps I had going managed to keep the water in my basement from reaching the furnace and other mechanicals.</p><p>ETA:Eeek! The pump (not a sump pump, I have to watch it so it doesn't run dry) had finished emptying the basement around 11 this morning, so I unplugged it, and plugged in the dehumidifier. I just went downstairs to empty the dehumidifier before bed, and discovered another 7 inches of water had seeped in again in the less than 12 hours. It was about an inch from my furnace. So glad I went back downstairs before bed. I have the pump going again. </p><p>One good thing about the recent rain. I was able to watch the way the rain drained off my slight hill, and it went right where I thought it would go. I am convinced that the site I chose for the art shack building is the best place. The man who wanted to charge me over $750.00 to regrade everything because "he could tell the water would go right through there" can suck it! My chosen site was high and dry, and the place he told me it should go had ponding water. I've been living here for ten years, this "little lady" knows where the spring run off goes. Suck it, mister! I'll keep my $750, thank you very much. </p><p> The building hasn't been moved yet because the county has been resurfacing the road all summer. I think they might finally be done. </p> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TJ1bQtwSTMI/AAAAAAAACzc/7UcDuBA8Ts4/s1600/doves.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 378px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520669060944252098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TJ1bQtwSTMI/AAAAAAAACzc/7UcDuBA8Ts4/s400/doves.jpg" /></a><br /><p>When I first saw this pair of mourning doves outside my upstairs bathroom window, they were huddled together with their heads on each other's backs. So sweet. I ran back downstairs for my camera, and they turned to look at me when I moved the curtain out of the way so I could snap the photo. </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742650874369129320.post-38442106160262997872010-09-10T07:26:00.003-05:002010-09-10T07:55:28.486-05:00Actual Knitting Content<p>That's right, I actually finished something. It is warm and soft and cuddly.</p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TIokyr-tCSI/AAAAAAAACzE/1ChmyI8aOas/s1600/tie-shawl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515261146886375714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TIokyr-tCSI/AAAAAAAACzE/1ChmyI8aOas/s400/tie-shawl.jpg" /></a><p>My version of the Danish Tie Shawl. I didn't have the correct Spin Off (Spring, 2008)where the shawl was featured, but I found a similar one on Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kays-tess-durbervilles-shawl">here</a>. I didn't stop when the directions said, I just kept knitting until I ran out of yarn. I used two skeins of natural Kimmet Croft Softie that I got at the Textile Center Garage Sale and dyed myself. </p> <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TIokywKUi0I/AAAAAAAACzM/WbEj-U3HnKc/s1600/tie-shawl-outside.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515261148008844098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uUWsGXMtqHE/TIokywKUi0I/AAAAAAAACzM/WbEj-U3HnKc/s400/tie-shawl-outside.jpg" /></a><br /><p>Here it is as intended to be worn. It crosses in front and ties in the back, leaving the hands free to do whatever. No fussing trying to keep the shawl on. </p><p>I finished it just in time too. There has been a marked change in the weather, so this will come in handy at the Threshing Bee next weekend. I'll be doing spinning demonstrations. If you're near St. Charles, MN, stop by and say hi! </p>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15998945782450878164noreply@blogger.com4