Out & About

Autumn Orange

Posted on by Dan

Oak

It’s been an unseasonably warm autumn (although, many “unseasonable” weather patterns seem to be becoming more “seasonable” with the climate warming up). Still, temperature  aside, the trees and plants still respond to the fewer hours of sunlight, getting ready to sleep in the coming winter months.

Oakdale Park

The leaves promise to be extra vibrant this year, and already we’re seeing some pretty landscapes close by our home. This park is a short hop, skip and a jump from our back door and we try to make a pass through the trails once a week. Fun to see the landscape changing throughout the year.

This time of year also inspires the use of orange in some of the needle felted critters. Particularly, those enjoying the types of things most readily associated with this time of year.

Pumpkins:

Pumpkins

Acorns:

Owl holding acorn

and, Pumpkin pie!

Owl eating pumpkin pie

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Albus’s Socks

Posted on by Virginia

Being up north last weekend we were really enchanted by the Elements.

Being in nature brings to mind the magic of the natural world all around us, if we have eyes to see it.

Of course, having shelter from the elements also helps in appreciating them, for which I am always grateful.

All that magic around us even inspired us to jump over the fire,  using the traditional way to renew our wedding vows.

Albus's Socks

With Magic in the air, and one of my favorite wizards on my mind,  my newest sock pattern is Albus’s Socks, which is 25% off until June 7, 2015. What could be more classic then grey cables? I think these are what he had in mind when wishing for warm socks for Christmas.

Albus's Socks

 

These are made with the lovely Spud & Chloë Fine, in the color Hippo. Such lovely yarn!

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Mithril and Erebor and the Headwaters…

Posted on by Virginia

Rock and Moss

It was a big week around here! Dan and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary by visiting one of our favorite places on earth, lake Superior. It was fantastic. Being out by that huge lake or hiking around the many trails is a completely restorative experience. We come home feeling refreshed and grounded again. Also pretty creative!

This week I released two sock patterns: Mithril, which is 25% off until May 31, 2015, no coupon code needed. I used an absolutely gorgeous yarn from Ancient Arts, BFL in the color Pieces of Eight, which could not be more perfect to me. It’s grey, or green or silver or a warm pale blue or all together somehow. It was a pure delight to work on and I am really proud of the socks!

Mithril Socks

Mithril Socks

I also published a sport weight pattern: Erebor, which is a really fun and quick knit. These are also 25% off until May 31, 2015.

Erebor Socks

And since I posted last, a quick hat pattern that works well with a single skein of some special hand dyed yarn: Headwaters Hat.

Headwaters Hat

I hope you had a nice week as well!

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The Choice

Posted on by Dan

Every morning that I go to work I face a couple of options on how best to get there.

Option A:

Commute Option A

or, Option B:

Commute Option B

Any guesses as to which one I end up picking?

I’m not super confident my eagerness to go with Option B will be maintained through the next couple of months. It is 45-50 minutes on the bike, each way (about 9.5 miles), potentially a lengthy time to be exposed to the elements. However, rumor has it that El Niño is brewing, which often means a milder winter for us. So, despite the impending winter season, I may still be opting for Option B.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy a saner (not to mention healthier) way to get to work, and hope that by being outside more, my ability to withstand the cooler temperatures will grow (something my still-Ecuadorian blood often objects to).

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Gone With the Wind

Posted on by Dan

I’ve taken a crash course (thanks in part to this guy) in bike maintenance these last 24 hours. The reason being I found something on Craigslist (always the danger) I could not pass up:

Zebrakenko Wind

This lovely two wheeler has been sitting relatively unused for the past thirty-plus years. It’s a Japanese-made bike (a Zebrakenko “Wind,” to be precise) with many, if not all, original parts.

Zebrakenko Wind

I like the simplicity of design, with a couple of embellishments like this head badge:

Zebrakenko Wind - Head Badge

Since it’s been sitting around so long, it’s going to need a little rejuvenation. Hence the crash course in, specifically, rear derailleur adjustment. And, for things that I’m not able to do (like truing the wheels), we’re a hop skip and a jump from our local bike shop.

Zebrakenko Wind

It’s still high biking season, and with all the commuting I’ve been doing on my city bike, I’m looking forward to some road biking, unencumbered by my pannier full of clothes and lunch.

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