Bláithín Sweater # 2

I have a wonderful family that I get to knit for, and they are extremely knit worthy!  They wear everything all the time, send photos, and pass on the compliments they are given about what they are wearing.  My grand niece needs another sweater as she has outgrown her last sweater.  I sent her all kinds of ideas/pattern to choose from but in the end she went with this Kate Davies design.  I have knitted this sweater for myself and I really enjoyed the well thought out design.  I will say this even after I complained about miles of icord the sweater came out great!

A provisional cast on to get things rolling.  Always use a yarn that is in a contrasting color and won't shed into the main yarn you are using.  I am using a worsted weight superwash.

After you get sts on your needles then right away you have to set up for the knit in pockets.  I wasn't to sure about this step all, but once you read, follow, and knit on, the pockets come together spot on perfect!

I almost 99% of the time I start with the sleeves of any sweater for a few reasons.  One is to get them out of the way and more importantly to make sure I have gauge. 

This is inside the sweater.  I picked up my sts that were being held on scrap yarn, once the body was knitted to the correct height.  I knitted the flap that will be sewn down into place.

The inside flap is done being knitted and I am getting those sts on my main body needle.  The sts in the front will be bond off in and icord.  

Pocket is almost done, the inside flap is on my needle with the rest of the body sts. the front part of pocket is on waste yarn being held.

A pocket is born!  All done . . . I love that there is just 2 layers here with a solid pocket knitted into the sweater.

Colors to be used which amazingly came out of my stash!  Harrisville Highland Design Yarn, worsted weight which I love!

Knitting Away: WIPS OFF my Needles!

WIPs, WHAT?  In knitting we have a lot of little acronyms for our art form. WIPs are "Work(s) In Progress" and as knittersall at once they must be done! This August and early September was a forced knit in getting things DONE!  It worked!
or I should say many of us knitters have far too many of these works in progress floating or hidden around.  I for one am classic for starting all kinds of projects and

Central Ave. Hats were well received and are now being enjoyed by this very knit worthy group.

The Kokkeluri Mittens are now done and waiting to be worn in our first snow! I really enjoyed knitting these even though I got off to several very rough starts. Kate's yarn is a treat with an amazing hand and rich Scottish colors.

They were not worn during our 1st snow but yesterday we had ice on puddles, frozen ground, northern lights dancing around  . . . they went on the morning Tank Farm walk.

This project has been on my needles far too LONG!  I finally worked my short rows over my butt and have a pair of tights.  The design is from Elizabeth Zimmermann one of my all time very favorite knitters ever.   The yarn I used is a DK superwash from Knit 'N Needle in Whitefish, Montana. These will be used as a layer on our very cold sub-zero days this winter skiing or for hang out in after a bitter ski.

I wanted something colorful to look as my world becomes a bit monochrome during the winter months.

They still need elastic for the waist and a nice warm bath and time on the blocking board.

MEAT . . . Moose Season

We don't hunt but everyone arounds us does!  If you learn anything living in an Alaskan Native Village it is to always answer your door!  This year we had three moose meat deliveries.  I would say 9 times out of 10 if someone is knocking on the door they are dropping off moose, caribou, crabs, ducks, or salmon.

This beautiful roast came from one of our skiers, Carter.  He is now in 7th grade and got his first moose this year.  In this culture a first animal is shared with others.  It is a HUGE treat to be blessed with meat from a youth's first hunt. 

Here is another of our skiers.  This gal got her first moose with her dad and gram this fall.  She is a total treat and is now living outside the village as her mom is in school.  She comes back for visits which I love!  This is her first moose.

Our other delivery is from our neighbors.  They shot a HUGE moose this year and we have a wonderful package of stew meat.  This family always shares moose and caribou with us.  My husband and I have taught all their kids!  I should say, I have taught them all as a few are not in high school yet.  Three out of four have skied with us, too.  

Tank Farm Stories

Now that I am back out in the village my morning routine is in place.  I am such a creature of "the routine."  I am up at 5 a.m. M-F, down stairs with the dogs, get their breakfast set up, then out the door for dog duty.  This is when (often) I walk the dogs under dancing northern lights.  If the lights are not on, then I am at least under stars. The stars are so bright and close I could grab a few and put them in my pocket if I wanted too!  I am so grateful to be able to see the lights and the stars at this northern latitude! Thrilled beyond belief---really!

Once the dogs have eaten and I have had one rather strong cup of organic coffee from Grounds For Change.  We get ready for the morning walk to the "Tank Farm" and "Lynn's Sign Post."  "The Girls" as I jokingly call Sadie and Tally and I hit the road!  We are walking now in full on darkness out and back.  I wear a headlamp, carry my phone for two reasons, and bear spray (a new addition, read below).  My phone (light) is as I have found out a backup if my headlamp dies, also I listen to podcasts like: KnitBrit or Powder Magazine.  I also listen to audio books that are along the line of mindless, relaxing and easy to follow.

About 3 weeks ago, I was walking and my headlamp picked up some eyes in the distance along the slough.  The dogs picked up on something as well.  We have seen a fox out there before but it was well down the road and it ran once Sadie gave her Akbash warning bark.  I figured that the eyes belong to a fox as they were close to the ground.  Higher off the ground would be a bear or a wolf a bad thing. The eyes didn't move and were pretty much fixed to that spot.  As we got closer the second set of eyes started to move off a bit to the south.  The first set of eyes moved closer to us.  I heard the most bizarre sound ever!  It was a screech, not a woof, bark or growl but rather the animals made a sound more like a raven bird back and forth.  This is the point at which I thought, "Wait a minute is that a bird?"  I kept on walking with the dogs.  Tally who isn't always with it was looking wildly around.  Sadie on the other paw was hair at full attention from her neck to her docked tail, prancing around, ears forward and ready to take on whatever that sound belonged to bird, fox . . . It was eerie and unsettling.  The screech became louder and louder and we kept on walking as now we were pass the animals.  We headed into the little turn-around loop at the Tank Farm when we saw full on that the animal was a fox! This brave little gal/guy was heading right into us!  Still making this screeching call and I have 150 pounds of dog on leashes heading full force into this fox.  I am yelling, dogs are barking, and all at once my days of working with horses came right back to me!  I quickly throw the leashes around a metal post with a few loops to secure the dogs!  I picked up rocks and started heaving them at the fox! Finally, the fox slammed on his/her brakes, banked south across the road and across the tundra.  This is why I now carry bear spray with us on our early morning walks.  I got the girls and we started back home.  Sadie was on major full alert! I was glad for this though, and her side kick Tally was all ears and eyes.  We made it home just fine and have yet to run into the fox family again.  I am always scanning the tundra for eyes and now carry my bear spray that I take for my longer tundra hikes for some added back up.

I mentioned Lynn's Sign Post.  My friend who used to teach out here and now has moved on to being an organic gardener, and librarian in a small town used to walk to this spot, touch the sign post and head back home. I now touch the sign post as it is the thing to do!

This was Friday's morning walk 9/23/16.  You can see the dog leashes, Lynn's Sign Post, and how dark it is at about 6 a.m.

Here is your typical barge in Alaska that is delivering fuel to the village.  Barges bring in a wide variety of items: houses, building supplies, trucks, snowmachines, 4-wheelers, fuel basically if it fits they will carry it for a price!

Once the fuel arrives it is pumped in pipes to the Tank Farm.  That is where I walk to in the mornings it is a 2.04 mile walk.

For years I take and record things like the first frost and snow. For the record we had snow on Friday Sept 23rd.

After the walk and we are back home before 6:30 a.m. it is time for the sit-up routine, the morning yoga for my back, the shower, and breakfast. Christian is and has been on breakfast duty for years!  I gave it up after we moved back to the states.  Off to work we go . . . with a thermos of tea for the day and the huge commute about a 30 second walk to the back door of school.  Yes we are spoiled, but do remember soon this walk will be in -30ºF often!