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!

Central Ave Hat: Local Yarn & Local Designer

Hats, Hats, Hats! Who could ask for a better summer knitting project than a HAT or in my case SIX hats! Hats are a great traveling summer project! You need to knit only one, no partner is needed. Hats are small, and not hot on your lap. You can challenge yourself and learn a new technique on a small project instead of a sweater.  Need to learn and explore cables there is no short supply of hats designs with cables.  Want to learn color work, twisted sts, texture work . . . the list goes on and what better way to explore a new design/technique while knitting up a hat for yourself or a gift for some knit worthy fan.

Earlier in the summer I knitted two Coming Home hats. I fell in love with this great pattern for several reason.

I have a niece with three young girls who are all very knit worthy gals! They wear everything I have knitted to the point of almost sleeping in what I have knitted.  Not only do they wear all the knitted items, I get great photos with them wearing everything and truly using hats, fingerless mitts, and sweaters.  I am always after a great design to knit for up for them.

My favorite local yarn shop in Montana is really 4.5 blocks from my front door.  LUCKY--right!  The owner and designer (Aimee) is a great gal and this spring and summer she has been on a creative roll which means all her customers have been having a blast knitting up all her new creations. To add to all the fun of knitting a PDS pattern is the Knitting 'N Needle has an in house dyer.  Jennifer, has a great talent for colors and matching up colors with the local surroundings which I LOVE!  You will find yarns with local names such as: Fireweed, Beargrass, Huckleberry, Lupine, Winter Raven, Iceberg, Juneberry, Jewel Basin and the list of colors goes on and on!

PDS Worsted Great Northern

PDS Worsted Depths

PDS Worsted Inspiration

PDS Worsted Lupine

I just completed the last Central Ave Hat.  I knitted four of these beauties this summer. They were a great project on our trip north as it is an easy as can be pattern to follow while being the passenger on our trip.  Great easy knitting around the campfire while enjoying the view with a nice hot or cold drink.

Knitting away on the drive
north in northern BC.

Yukon camp site

Sunrise in the Yukon w/coffee and knitting

Evening time to relax

Making progress on the plane as we head back to the village

The last hat on the needles home in Alaska.

Lucky recipient of the first hat off the needles.  She was the last to get a sweater so she earned the first hat!

Mornings on the Tundra

Good Morning 8-18-16 First light across the tundra and Johnson's Lake I call it Johnson's Pond.

August 17, 2016
If you have been following me for anytime you may have figured out I am a morning person.  I love getting up at 5:00 a.m., heading down stairs to set up the dog food, get the girls out for a short little business trip, back inside, feed the girls, sit down with my cup of coffee and the computer. This routine is mine and I own it!  I cherish the fact, I can do this and love that I can do this consistently.  Once I have checked that the world is still out there . . . since I live about 400 air miles north-west (this means you can only get here by air, dogsled or barge--NO ROADS) from Anchorage checking on my world has some meaning for me.  I check out the knitting world and rarely news at this point in the day.

For example this morning is the first morning that the dogs need their glow stick collars as I call them.  They are not glow sticks but they have that look to them.  The moon is just about full or is full, will need to look on a moon chart. Soon I will need a head lamp to walk the dogs.  I love the transitions of seasons in the far north . . . I feel more connected to the outside world up here as we move through the yearly seasonal fluxes.

Mornings . . . I love a nice morning walk.  We walk almost every day in the morning until full on winter arrives.  Our walk is 2.02 miles out to what is locally know as the tank farm.

The Tank Farm . . . where fuel is stored.

This is where the fuel for heating, and driving is held.  This fuel arrives on barges and whatever price it arrives at is the price for the year.  We walk east out of the village and then back. We cross the slough twice which is great for photos.

Time for a Change

Blogger

Every once and awhile I feel I need to change the old blog.  Possibly move to a different blog server, change everything, start over, oh the list goes on . . . I was going to move over to Word Press for a few reasons and then I said what for!? You know this format just change up the template go for a bit of a newer look and stay put!  Good, bad or indifferent here I am blogger to stay put for some time!  "If it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality is in full swing here!

Work is about to start up here full time once again and the summer holidays will draw to a close.  A new school year full of ups downs and a ton of work.  I am about to have a class this year get this 16 boys and 3 yes just 3 girls!  I am excited, they are a fun group full of energy going every direction!  My challenge is to heard that energy along a positive learning path.

Tundra & Beach Life 

We are back home on the tundra and beach.  This time of the year is when you wish the dang wind would blow!  The bugs are out in full force and I mean BUGS!  Yikes the other night was just brutal out there bugs, bugs, bugs!  I just love being in the wide open space of the tundra despite the dang mosquitoes!  I do wish the winds of winter would blow a bit more in the summer.  

Flying back home and the Unalakleet River from air.

If you look carefully you will see black lines across the slough.  That is the snow fence where we ski and hold most ski practices.  It is known now as the Dragon's Back.

The plane is above our place as we fly in to land.

We have a good variety of mushrooms and this variety can get HUGE!

Sadie keeping an eye just in case something moves so the Akbash in her can warn us! 

My companion . . . dogs just bring so much happiness into one's world!

The expanse of the tundra I love! 

The berries are HUGE and plentiful this season.

My morning walk along the slough.

Day Break

Now life on the beach is a rather stinky place.  Fish litter the beach!  The beach is just covered with salmon decomposing all over the place.  Then you can toss in the occasional seal or beaver carcass rotting from the spring and the smells are just NOT delightful!  Soon the salmon bodies will start to disappear and be replaced by moose carcusses.  We are just never short of dead bodies and body parts for the dogs to roll in, eat and barf up later again . . . 

Yesterday, I took Kuvi, a friends dog out for a beach run.  I get to use Robin's fat tire bike which is a riot to ride.  Kuvi gets a run as he is currently home alone.  He had the chance for all kinds of beach snacks: silvers, humpies, reds . . . seal jerky oh such tasty gross treats!

Fat tire riding in the rain.

Smile says it all: outside, rain, biking all fun!

This my readers is part of a house.  This house came on a barge and it will be put together up the road into a full house.  This is a normal way to get a house here in rural Alaska.  One can order a home to be shipped out to your village/location by a barge. As long as your location is accessible by barge service one can purchase home.

One of the little boys who will be in my class this year keeps bring me flowers.  Smart kid I would say!

Once again it is the that time of the year that we wait for our shipments to arrive.  Cardboard boxes we sent up from Montana.  The totes are from our shopping in Anchorage. We also order frozen meat which we will get next week and fresh produce every week.