Knit My Dog

Once again, weeks have gone by without my blogging. I'll do another catch-up post and then hopefully be posting on a more regular schedule.
First, this is what we saw underwater in Eastport:

A Northern Red Anemone of the purple variety. They are absolutely stunning and the place is loaded with them and other sea life.

This is what we found in just two sessions of seaglass hunting:

About 15 pounds of only the frostiest seaglass. The brown glass is in another bag, slated for a project of its own (I'm going to try to make a lampshade out of the brown pieces). Living near the ocean, I've always collected seaglass. Usually during a walk at the beach, we'll find maybe two or three pieces. This place was just littered with it. And I mean littered. In speaking with a shop owner, she told me that the people used to go to the end of the piers and just throw their trash in. Eastport is at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, so they get 25-30 foot tides. I think the people thought that the outgoing tide would just get rid of the trash. Obviously the bottles didn't go too far. They were doing this until the 70's. How strange to think of a time in the not too distant past where it was alright to throw anything you wanted into the ocean (oh, wait, people still do that in some places!).
Anyway, I collect seaglass, and I have used it for many projects in the past. I make stained glass (another craft that has mostly fallen by the wayside) and often incorporate seaglass into the mix. I've even used it to tile with in our bathroom. My next idea is to drill two holes into the glass and make buttons out of some of the pieces. We'll see.

There has been knitting:

These socks were started way back in February. I completed one, started the second, and then got bored. The yarn is Terrapin by Pippi and I love it! I finally realized a couple of weeks ago that my favorite sock needles were in use on these and I wouldn't be able to start my Sockaplaooza socks until I completed these. And Sockapalooza time is running out! I complete these last Thursday, and immediately cast on for these:

Yes, they're Jaywalkers. My pal wrote on her blog that she never made a pair so I thought they would be perfect for her because everybody needs Jaywalkers. She requested machine washable / dryable yarn so this should do. I'm done with the gusset decreases on sock number one. Only a few more days to go so I see some knitting ahead if I'm going to finish these on time.

Posted by Brenda at 08:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Well, it looks like I took and unintended blog break for the last few weeks. I was busy for a while, then didn't have my act together by taking pictures and getting them ready so I could tell you all that's been going on. I finally made the time tonight so here's a short recap of the last few weeks.

First, my parents' 50th anniversary party went off without a hitch. It was wonderful. They loved it, the guests raved, there were some moving speeches (by my parents also) and an iMovie slide show that Howie and I put together that was the hit of the party.
Here's a picture of my family. This is just immediate family, with kids, spouses, grandkids (some fiancees thrown in) and one great-grandchild.

I started my new part time job teaching at a local university, and I love it! Life has been a little stressed now that I am working two jobs and I never seem to have a day off anymore. I think I'm going to break down and hire a cleaning person so I don't have to spend my weekends cleaning. I've never had the means to hire someone to clean my house, and the prospect is thrilling! Just need to find the time to figure out who to hire. Know any good cleaning people in Kennebunk Maine?

We have fit in some time for summertime fun, though. We've gone scuba diving a couple of times, and kayaking once with a friend of ours.

Here's me and Dan preparing to get in our boats. Dan was in the single (yellow/red) and Howie and I ride in the tandem (blue). It's was Dan's first time kayaking in the ocean and he did great.

It was an absolutely beautiful day. The ocean couldn't have been calmer and the air clearer. We went out to an offshore island beyond the island pictured. Here's the view of Goat Island Light coming back. The sun was making the lighthouse positively glow:

Our CSA started their pickups two weeks ago so we've been enjoying fresh, local, organic produce. Oh, how I long for these veggies in the middle of February.

I brushed this Chinese Cabbage with olive oil and soy sauce then stuck it right on the grill as is. It was wonderful.

Yes, there has also been knitting:

It's the almost-complete back of a simple cable sweater for my very tall and thin nephew for his 13th birthday. I know, a sweater for a teenage boy's birthday doesn't sound too exciting, but he wears sweaters every day of the winter because he's always cold. I know he'll appreciate it.

I've been spinning too. No pictures though, but I'm just about ready to ply some silk/merino blend that I bought when I got my wheel. The fiber stash is growing so I better get to spinning!

I know there's more to report, but it escapes me right now. Summertime is usually when I slow down on the knitting projects because I HAVE to enjoy the warm weather around here. This is what makes the winters so bearable. In less than two weeks we're heading out for vacation to Eastport, ME. It's about as far east as you can go and still be in the U.S. We'll be diving and relaxing. Postings may be spotty for a while, but I'm still here!

Posted by Brenda at 07:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)