What can a knitter do when it is 90 degrees, 90% humidity? Fighting it is futile. It takes megwatts of electricity to cool a spinning room to wool-handling temperature. That is not green. Few complaints have been registered in Etherknitterland over the weather. Winter was great. (I know that to have snow THERE, one must live with snow HERE.) The spring and summer rain was free water! From the sky! No crazymaking water bills from my town, which sets its charges as if every year is a drought year.
(The Water Commission told us to conserve water. Scarce resources. Too many houses, too much demand. We conserved.
Then they sent a notice that we conserved so well, they weren't making enough money. They had to raise the water rates. Made me want to poke my eyes out and die.)
I started Mystique shawl (Tilli Thomas Voile de la Mer, colorway Atmosphere). Thin yarn, big needles, not fun. I finished row 6 yesterday, admired my knitting, then cried out in pain. Mr. E, always helpful, suggested I photographically preserve the debacle prior to the frog pond. I could not tell if I dropped one stitch or two. If I had been happy with the work, I would have used it as an exercise to practice fixing lace. The yarn is now sitting in a quiet, reconstituted ball by the bedside, confused as to its next purpose.
So I embraced/tolerated/participated in summer over the weekend.
FiberRevival. Pumpkinmama's t-shirt made the sardonic me smile. I have clearly not recovered from the two weeks of new resident tutorial, which ended Friday. Despite sleep, my brain is still fried. I cut a wide swath of social faux pas across the Revival. I apologize. I think it will all be okay, but it is not my usual style to rely on the kindness and forgiveness of friends.
The 'pacas were as adorable as always. I so want one. Or two.
August is a farmstand overflowing with locavore harvest. The annual Tomato and Corn Festival was worth the trip, and the heat. Nothing beats foot-stomping, rhythm-slapping bluegrass on a day hotter than a greasy spoon's griddle.
Carole's and Grumperina's vacation plans include planning knitting projects. What do you knit on planes if you are bored with socks? What kind of knitting do you stuff in your carryall? How big a project is too big? Do you use cheap needles in case you lose them in the sand? Is mindless knitting too mindless for a whole week of knitting?
And finally, a Triple H day, stick-your-head-in-the refrigerator lunch:
In this order, in a shallow bowl -
1 generous handful of blueberries, washed 1 container of Fage yogurt, 2% maple syrup to taste sprinkle with raw organic pecans and dried currants
Faux pas? I didn't notice any. It was fun, we didn't talk enough, but that's always the case. I swatched for two new Twist sweaters last night - you don't have a monopoly on crazy-making, you know.
Posted by: Lynn | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Lace without beads works nicely for plane-knitting - scarves or shawls, but frankly, as long as the thing is on needles I can get thru security with, I'm game for almost anything I've got as a WIP. And it depends on how mindless, but probably yes - mindless is too mindless for a whole week. Helpful, aren't I? :P
Posted by: Anne | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 12:52 PM
We're ready for the change of seasons, as everything is crazy making. You can never take too many knitting projects or enough variety. A little lace, a sock, a sweater (perhaps only a sleeve is needed), but don't short change yourself. You'll either knit on it all or not touch on piece. Preparation is simply due diligence. The FR sounds like a good way to start decompression. Must find that T shirt!
Posted by: margene | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Glad you made it through new resident training.
And just remember what I said about the having brain cells left.... it's not in the fine print, I tell ya.
do I sniff a vacation in the making??? Perhaps a small lace scarf - or a simple pullover? And yes, I always take more than one project.(that is, when I actually get a vacation - grins)
Posted by: Teyani | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Holiday knitting - if not socks then simple lace, something with an easy pattern that you have the hang of after a couple of repeats. Something on a circular needle, they don't wander off and lose themselves down the back of chairs nor break if you sit on them. I agree with Margene though, take more than you need and a good variety unless you are withing walking distance of a good yarn store.
Posted by: Caroline M | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 03:55 PM
I never get tired of socks so those always go with me on a plane. But I think lace would also make good plane knitting.
Posted by: Carole | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 04:13 PM
90/90? Urgh.
Just the thought of it makes me ill.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I refuse to wish for cooler weather despite the high temps and humidity. I remember how cranky everybody was last winter when it seemed spring would never arrive. I'm going to soak up all the heat I can to get me through the cold dark months.
I love that t-shirt!
Posted by: Diane | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 08:47 PM
I can't imagine you committing a faux pas...truly. ;)
I missed you Saturday...although I do hate sitting out side in the sun when it is H,H and H. ;)
Posted by: Kim | Monday, August 17, 2009 at 09:18 PM
I've brought mittens, hats, scarves on a plane. Cheap needles for sure! I lost 3 sets of circulars to security while trying to leave Mexico. Never again!
Posted by: Geri | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Sleeves are good for plane knitting. (Not that I fly much, but it's what I used last time I flew.) Forces you to work on the sleeves!
Perfect lunch for a Triple-H day? Tomato sandwich, with a tomato so ripe the juice drips off your elbows...
Posted by: gayle | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 08:34 AM
I like Gayle's Triple H lunch! Of course with an ice cold glass of green iced tea!
I too have to chime in and say I can't imagine you tripping into the faux pas zone. I'm sure you were fine. I love Erin's shirt and the double entendre attached to it.
So sad to have missed Revival yet again and Barbara's plying class.
Posted by: Manise | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 09:23 AM
I hope you are nourishing those frazzled neurons with something colorful, perhaps cold and fun to swallow. And if you committed any faux pas, you've got enough good credits built up, nobody noticed. But I'm betting you didn't.
Posted by: Chris | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 01:57 PM
I always take too many projects. But I figure better too many than running out of things to knit. Usually a pair of socks or mittens, something lace, something to seam (I hate assembly so it takes FOREVER) and maybe a larger project if I'm feeling ambitious.
I want to know where to get the T-shirt.
Posted by: Lori | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 10:44 PM
I noticed nothing pas-ish. Just so you know.
I was at that corn festival though - very late.
Posted by: juno | Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 09:59 PM
I am totally loving the HHH weather this year. Can't complain about the cold, without embracing the hot.
That yogurt lunch sounds delicious.
Posted by: claudia | Friday, August 21, 2009 at 11:44 AM
I don't envy you the heat. We're back to 60 degrees and raining here. Maybe summer's over.
Sleeves are good on a plane (Sleeves On A Plane? Sounds like a bad movie!). Lace is even better, as long as it's a relatively long flight, or you have relatively short rows to work on. Nothing worse than being right in the middle of a lace row and having a flight attendant tell you you've arrived, you have to get off the plane, now, ma'am.
Posted by: Lorette | Friday, August 21, 2009 at 03:41 PM
I knit mittens on 2 circs (the inexpensive ones from KnitPicks) and light-weight scarves.
Posted by: Allison | Friday, August 21, 2009 at 11:26 PM