Farmers' Woes

It sure has been hard around here for the farmers this year. 
First October was cold and wet.  Frigid even.  Because field corn had not yet ripened, the ears of cor were pointing up. So all the rain and snow ran down inside and accumulated inside the husks. 

Come November, warm and practically balmy.  Once the farmers were finally able to get into the fields, after the ears finally started to turn downward, they started picking corn.  Problem is, now the corn after sitting in the damp husks, and after the wet, cold and then warm weather, has started to mold on the cob.

Rain, mud, mold and now, the combine on the farm where Oldest Son works, has a broken transmission.  By the time they get done, if it snows, the snow-covered ground won't freeze solid so they can get in the fields.

Plus we are supposed to be under a blizzard/winter snow warning. 

(Doesn't look much like snowy weather to me.  I'll believe it when I see it.)

Other Knitting Knews

Update time. I have made great progress on the two at a time socks. These are the ones from a kool-aid dyed sock blank. They started live on 2 circular needles, but I didn't like that method. After switching to double points (luckily I had 2 matching sets of Knit Picks double points) I have made better progress. Since that picture was taken I have done heel flap and turned the heel, and started the gussets, on both socks. I try to knit one, then the other to keep the surplus yarn even.

Next is a new project I started this past week, after finishing the sweater. I am using a light/dark blue and brown sock yarn--Alpaca Sox. The pattern is Laura Chau's Milkweed Shawl and it is more of a sholder shawl.

I have restarted it 3 times, to get the right needle/gauge, but am happy with it now. It goes fairly quickly too.
Next is mittens. I started a couple weeks ago, but then rethunk them. I decided instead of using the cream alpaca, I am going to use bits of fleece knit along at a regular pace to give a tufted wool lining that will felt to my hands with use. I found some raw fleece so the lanolin will help make them waterproof as well. I hope

And here is something that has been on the back burner, but is still a great travel project and has been traveling to Knit Night, as backup when I run into some problem on my main knitting. I have been describing this Pi Are Square shawl to people as the knitting equivelant of a crazy quilt, with my use of the mill ends, but I really do love it.

And I promise, I will return th the February Pink Lady sweater and the Lady Eleanor entralac shawl.

Soon.

Maybe next month.

Sweater Girl

Here, as promised is the Old Jeans Cardigan. Finished and I am loving it. It is so comfortable, warm and I love how the cables turned out.

Here is another shot with it laid out on the table.

The cables show up better here, as do the pewter buttons. Did you notice the cables are mirrored?

Shades of Mark Twain

I did get pictures of my sweater at Knit Night last night and will be posting them soon.  I also got a couple updated pictures of the warm fuzzy mass that is my Pi Are Square shawl.  I have started new knitting, the Milkweed Shawl in alpaca sock yarn.  I have frogged and changed needle sizes upwards once, and may decide to to it again.  I am debating that issue in my head.

 

The funny was that one of the gals was telling me her husband that I had died.  He was reading the obituaries in the paper and told her that lady you knit with died.  You know, Bob A---'s daughter.  She looked at it and said, no she's married and her name changed.   We got a good chuckle out of it last night. 

 

So when I looked through the local paper today, I checked out the obituaries as usual.  This time I was startled to see my name, from my hometown.  Whoa.

 

Wait, it was my maiden name, and I am still here after all.  It is a strange experience to see your own name in the obituaries when you live in a small town and know so many people.  The strange thing was that I didn't know this woman whose married name was my maiden name. 

 

I feel like Mark Twain today. It seems that reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.

Old Jeans Sweater--FO

Yup, the blue grey Old Jeans Sweater is finished. Last night actually and I am wearing it today. I will get a picture of it tonight at Knit Nite to have one to post.

I think the gap in front is a little bigger than I would like. I think blocking/steaming the cables out flatter would have helped that. The cables do pucker up the fabric and I didn't allow extra ease for that. But the sleeves are wonderful and the cables to look delightful.

My boss Sandy says it looks alike a "real sweater".

I think that was a compliment. I'll post a picture and let you decide.