Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Wild Honey


Julian and I are leaving on Friday for a four day trip to California so he can present a paper at a conference. I have this new project packed and ready to take a long.

Something about my rustic shawl has stuck in my craw. Maybe it is that I had hoped it would be a gift and it is coming out more my size than the smaller size I need for it to be. Maybe it is the predictable autumn colors and that makes me feel like it's an "old lady sweater" like a sweatshirt with a cardinal and the changing leaves on the front, sewn with gold thread. I don't know. What I do know is that if I take it on the plane, it won't get worked on, so I'm not taking it.

The write up on this slouchy hat pattern said it was "chicken soup" for when you're "feeling beaten up by a pattern". Ah yes. Thank you.

The yarn is an almost-entire ball of lamb's pride sport that was leftover from my bunny. I just love that the color way is called wild honey. What's not to love about chicken soup and wild honey?

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On the book front - I read Hannah Coulter and Nathan Coulter so fast two weeks ago that I forgot to mention them this week. I LOVED them both and highly recommend them. Hannah touches on a good many thought provoking issues: war, education, children returning home or not, loss of the farms, etc.

I am finished also with The River of Doubt. I learned so much! There were a few small tidbits about the Amazon I could have gone without knowing, but I still think this book should be required reading for high school. The long and short of it: brief background on Teddy Roosevelt's life, character, family and his obsession with being a pioneer; he and his son Kermit accompanied explorer Candido Rondon into the Amazon to survey an unknown river "as wide as the Elbe and a thousand miles long;"  Roosevelt was a military man, Rondon was a strict pacifist. This book is a great look into the politics and ideas of the time, influence of the rubber trade on isolated indian tribes, and the dynamics of men in hardship.

Between, Georgia is finally started in earnest and packed for the trip!

What are you reading and knitting? Show and tell with Ginny!

13 comments:

  1. It's such a disappointment when a knit doesn't turn out like you hope so it's a good thing you have a slouchy hat to make up for it.
    I'm go glad you loved Hannah Coulter, I loved her too.

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  2. love the hat pattern and the wool :) I hope you have many happy knitting hours. Maybe a break away from your other project will help straighten it out. Time away works for me. Have a safe trip!

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  3. Funny - I am leaving on Friday for California for 4 days too. I'll be in Fresno for my brother's memorial service. I am struggling with what to take on the plane. Like you, I have a sweater to work on that I am questioning so I won't even bring it. I think the pattern you chose is lovely. It should be a nice hat!

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  4. I've knit this hat before, and it's a lovely pattern. I plan to knit one again soon.

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  5. This hat is a great pattern. Your have inspired me to knit up another.

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  6. have a fun trip. that yarn and pattern look fun.

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  7. Aw, I love "chicken soup" kind of patterns. Easy, cozy, relaxing. :)

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  8. So sorry the shawl isn't coming out the way you want. That hat looks great. Enjoy the trip.

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  9. Love the yellow yarn you have. Hope this knit turns out better than the shawl.

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  10. That hat is going to be darling! I hope your trip is awesome. I have to check out your reads…Im enjoying this thread from Pumpkin Sunrises prompt. Last good book I read was ON FIRE. Great book by a rural firefighter paramedic

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  11. I love love love all things Wendell Berry. Hannah Coulter and Jayber Crow are two of my favorite books and it always makes me happy when other people are enjoying them too!

    I have that pattern in my Rav favorites and keep looking at it. Your yarn looks like it will be a perfect match for the project! Enjoy it!

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  12. Such a shame your knit did not turn out the way you want! But I love the colour of the slouchy beanie hat.

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  13. So glad you liked Hannah Coulter. It's my favorite. I return to it at least once a year. I'd love to get it autographed. I"ve heard that if you show up at the Berry's they will invite you in and chat.

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