Foothills Folly

I have put in some bids on eBay; I won’t say who from on the slim chance anyone who is reading this might be interested and snipe them away from me. I have two projects in mind.

This is the second skein:

And this is the third:

Well, I have bid on more, but let’s see what we get. I’m probably committing a grievous error by even posting those photos as I didn’t take them; I just hope to own them.

I’m on a new weight loss challenge on SparkPeople; it began today, so I went for a hike. A lovely drive over a mountain on a dirt road, and as I drove down, the gas gauge went to “E” and stayed there. Eventually it popped up a bit on the level, and as the GPS said I was close to the “Drowned Lands” land trust area, I went on. The hike was lovely; the virginia creeper is red:

The trail is wide and mowed (the mower fellow came by as I was heading home).

I didn’t get up to the top of the little mountain, but I did get up to a view point over the ‘Drowned Lands”. I could not find stage one of the geocache; I will return!

This wooly bear was on the trail on the way back— very little brown, in fact, no bands of brown– what does that mean? Cold winter? Today was hot and tomorrow may break a record high– can a caterpillar know?

Oh, I am in Ravelry as of a few days ago, and I do love it— it is useful and inspiring and fun!!! Does require more photographing; certainly can keep one busy looking. So many projects, so much yarn!

I went out geocaching yesterday, a nearby cache, in a local landtrust area I had never walked in. First time geocaching in almost a year, first time hiking since the beginning of summer. The trail was nice even if it was up hill —then down…..

…to a viewpoint….

I think the farmland below would be visible when the leaves are down. Passed a garter snake who would not move; I think he was cold: down into the thirties the last two nights.

Found the cache; the GPS was right on. Left a ‘traveling bug’ that I forgot I was holding –for almost a year– and I know this is not good geocaching etiquette. I was surprised to find it in my pack when I got to the cache. But just as bad as that, is that this cache I left it in is not visited very often, so I think if it is still there in a few weeks I’ll have to move it along. If I can be trusted to do that in a timely manner!

I am going this afternoon again, now that I’ve used a PC to put maps in my GPS and a ‘Babel’ program to get waypoints from the web through my Mac to the unit, it is so much more fun!!!

I have been busy making use of the season’s bounty: B and B pickles, plum jam and oriental plum sauce, and two chutneys. I think I am done; the farmer’s stand closed today. Unless my grapes come in in irresistible quantities, I think I am done. I have also been filling the freezer with corn chowders and soups.

I have nothing finished and off the needles recently; I am awaiting longer cables with the knitpicks ‘Harmony’ set so that I can continue on with my homespun shawl; the scarf and top down sweater are nearing completion, and I started these leggings:

They are based on Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac, which has spawned a Yahoo group. I am going to stop them just above the knee, and not make them true ‘nether garments’, but the leggings will be just what I need this winter. I hope to switch them to a long cable and do both on one, when those new needles arrive.

I sold three paintings this past week; and that has inspired me to do more, and that has inspired me to again follow Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” (and book two and book three, in hand and unread.) She certainly helps one cut through to the basics; to find a voice, tone and pathway.

I have had a wonderful time off from the frame shop; basically I ‘cocooned’ and it was rejuvenating. Food in the pantry and freezer, wood coming for the winter’s heat, and I almost don’t want to go back to work, but $$$ calls.

My plum trees have been super productive; many have been eaten and I have made plum jam, oriental plum sauce, and two types of plum chutney. The last of them are ripening this week:

I haven’t tended my flower gardens much this year, but this hibiscus is 7-8 feet tall and doing wonderfully, even if it doesn’t look like it belongs in New England!

And I painted some; sorry the acetate reflects in this one:

L

I’ve joined too many KAL’s; I have decided to finish up ‘My journey to a shawl’, using my knobbly homespun. But I will do the Bee-flower shawl and the Hanami on my own time, not in step with the online groups. I will keep up with the Secret of the Stole, though. And I have done my swatch:

This is knit in Knitpicks Shadow in ‘Lost Lake’, on 3.5mm needles. I drove all over the northwest corner of CT today to get lace circulars. Found them, bought them, and when i got home I see they are no pointier than my straights. I can more easily read my knitting on the straight needles; I’ll decide along the way which to use.