The Woolen Rabbit

Ten On Tuesday

It's been a while since I have participated in Ten on Tuesday, but Carole's choice this week had to do with music and I just love my music, truly I do!

This week's subject was Love Songs..
I have loved many people over the years, my husband, my children, my youth, etc, so these songs are just a few of the songs that make me smile from the memories......the day that it captured when it played...

1.  True Companion ~ Marc Cohn
2.  Dire Straights ~ Why Worry
3.  Nickle Creek ~ When You Come Back Down
4.  Sister Goldenhair ~ America
5.  Silver Thunderbird ~ Marc Cohn
6.  Fields of Gold ~ Sting (he still makes me swoon)
7.  Nothing Compares to U ~ Sinead O'Connor
8.  Kathleen ~ Josh Ritter  (how can you not love that face/voice?)
9.  Sentimental Journey ~ Nat King Cole/Ashley Spalding
10.  Right Here Waiting For You ~ Richard Marx
11. More Than Words ~ Exteme

Not all are really love songs, but each brings me back to a day in my life that makes me smile from the memory it envokes.  (Whoops...there are 11 and truly there could be so many more....music is what embraces my memories)

Thanks Carole!

These Doors............

  
Seven geese pierce straight line over frigid bay,
Intervals between them constantly equal,
Pointed wings slash as if joined to make an axel:
Today is the ideal moment between yesterday and tomorrow.
Deng Ming~Dao

For a number of years now I have been asking Ken to build a working dye studio for me in our barn.  I kept telling him I knew I could sell enough yarn to justify it, but I am not sure that he quite believed it.

Every year at Fryeburg Fair people would ask me if I had a brick and mortar store and I would have to tell them no...not yet...but soon.  It was at one of those shows when my parents were visiting with me when a good number of people asked me about a shop that convinced my Dad.  My Dad then proceeded to assure Ken by saying..."If you build it they will come"

I don't think that Ken was quite sure about any of this however until he sat with me for a day at the fair....hmmmm...... he proceeded to think on it some....

....and thought upon it did he....
This winter he has helped me to finally realize a dream.  I am really and truly going to have a working dye studio that is not in my kitchen!  I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am!

See those 2 vent holes?  Yes...I am going to have 2 stove tops which with the bigger pans that I am buying is going to enable me to triple my work.  I am excited because it is seriously going to help me shorten my turn around time in a huge way! 
I currently dye 2 skeins to a pan with 2 pans on the stove.  You can understand why I have a 10 day turn around for my dye to order shop....this will be huge for me!

The walls are painted and the floor is finished.  Today the town assessor came to inspect the work (to raise our taxes of course) so next it is on to purchase the cabinets and counter that will house the stove tops....yay! 

Now that things are really progressing, I will start posting pictures weekly until it is finished.  Have I told you how excited I am??  I am pinching myself with excitement!!

Sweet Tea.......

 
Pattern:  Sugar Is Sweet
Designer:  Rose Beck
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Lucent
Colorway:  Tea Leaves
Needles:  US 5

This is the second pattern I have knit from the e-book, Be Mine and I am impressed with the quality of Rose's pattern writing.  Very clear and clean instructions....and I love the finished shawls.  If you are looking for nice shawl patterns, this is definitely a good choice.

 
Ashley has a little break right now from her master's studies, so when I asked if she might come home today for a photo shoot and she said yes, I was thrilled.  I don't get to see her nearly as much now that her life has become so busy... it is nice to have the opportunity to spend an afternoon with her.

Courtney and I were having our hair done this morning at the salon and Ashley surprised us by showing up there earlier than I expected her.  I so enjoy watching sisters enjoying each others company.....it's the best part of having children!

 

I started out casting on for the largest sized shawl, but as I was knitting along, I kind of felt that it was going to be wider than I wanted it to be, so I stopped at 3 repeats of the shell pattern.  It was a wise choice.  Personally I like to wear a shawl of this type wrapped around my neck over a sweater or under a jacket, so the medium sized version would be perfect for this shawl.  I really enjoyed knitting this shawl...it had a very soothing rhythm to it.

   

Of course I couldn't resist this last photo opportunity....
Bzzzz....

Spring greens......

Pattern:  Hayrick Socks
Designer:  Anne Hanson of Knitspot
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Kashmir Sock yarn
Colorway:  Myrtle
Needles:  2.25mm

Spring has finally arrived here in the mountains of New Hampshire...yay!
In typical Northern NH fashion we jumped from a proglonged winter right into summer with temps last week teasing 90 degrees and very humid. Today however was a treat, for me any ways....daytime temps in the upper 60's with a warm, dry wind....definitely my favorite kind of weather for sure!

So....even though I finished these socks weeks ago they sat in a corner patiently waiting for their picture day to come.  Finally on this beautiful day Courtney and I took advantage of the sunny weather to take a few pictures in the garden.  Yes....doesn't that lettuce look look good...mmm....

I have to tell you....these Hayrick socks were the fastest socks I have EVER knit.  I think I had the pair completed in less than 5 days which is an all time record for me. 

It is a FABULOUS pattern!  This pattern is one of my most favorites to knit, along with Tessarae.  The pattern is easy to memorize and the short repeats makes it move along quickly.  I love it. :-)

I am so happy that we are now having warm, sunny days!
Enjoy your weekend!

The Wood Gets Me Every Time.....

Now that my whiny May post is a day past, it's time to move on to better things...don't you think? 
It's June, it's sunny and it's warm....all good things!

A few days ago I received this long thin package.  I was thinking that it had a few shuttles in it that I bought from a friend.  I left it sitting on the washing machine until I had a few extra minutes today.  Nope....not shuttles at all. 
Can you guess what it is?

Amazingly beautiful rolling pins made with flame maple....
Ok...so you all know by now I have a very strong weakness for anything made out of beautiful wood, so when I saw this post written by Clara Parkes I was sunk.

These beautiful pins are made by a father/daughter team who own the company Herriott Grace.  Dad does the wood working and his daughter does the marketing via her stunning photos.  In addition to rolling pins, they sell all kinds of beautiful carved spoons, dishes, salt bowls and other various beauty.

Their website is updated occasionally and things sell out FAST, so I joined their mailing list in order to be notified of their upcoming updates....and let me tell you, I made sure I was available on that day!

I am trying to eat in a healthier way and while I know I will never totally give up bread, I am looking for healthier alternatives such as spelt,quinoa, rice, etc...and these lovely pins will make me smile as I roll out the dough. :-)

One more picture because I love them so.........

Now I am off to watch the Bruins beat Vancouver while I knit...go Boston!