Northshore Escape

Posted on by Dan

We both have a special place in our hearts for Lake Superior, and keep telling ourselves we need to make the trip to visit more often. We finally booked a cabin right on the lake and immediately started to figure out how we could rearrange our lives in order to move to said cabin permanently.

The view from our living/dining room was unbeatable.

North Shore

Of course, no trip up north would be complete without an outside trek. We made it to Split Rock Lighthouse (both because it was on the way to a yarn shop in Tofte, and because it’s connected to my job).

View from Split Rock

We also stopped at Gooseberry Falls, and were greeted by some extremely friendly deer (I could’ve reached out and petted them… they were happily munching on some seeds from one of the state park bird feeders).

Deer

The real reason, however, for our trip was this…

Cabinside Crafting

If you haven’t had the chance lately to get away, to disconnect from the day-to-day for awhile, and spend some quality time just absorbing and being absorbed by the beauty that is our natural world — do it.

North Shore

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Winter is Here

Posted on by Dan

I supposed there’s nothing more appropriate to have happen on the official first day of winter than to snow a good 8 inches. I keep telling myself that this will be the year that I embrace the snow, the cold, the runny nose and aching ears. It doesn’t do any good to hold a grudge against mother nature (which is what I have done in the past once I start to dwell on the amount of months remaining before habitable weather returns).

Snow

But, no grudges this year. I will happily shovel ourselves out of the drifts, merrily don my warm, woolen knits, inhale the crisp clean air and… do everything I can to stay inside and in close proximity to the oven!

Loaves of Bread

There’s nothing quite like the smell of baking bread when just beyond the wall the outside world is being blanketed by snow and brought to a stand-still in the sub zero temperatures. I have a feeling there will be a lot baking going on this season. But, the start of winter also means longer days of sunlight are just around the corner. In fact, even tomorrow will be slightly lighter. Now, that is good news.

Happy solstice!

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Sock Catch-Up

Posted on by Dan

It may seem like I’ve waited a really long time in order to update you on some of Virginia’s sock knitting, especially given the quantity of socks finished, but I assure you not that much time has passed since the last post that contained socks.

The next round off the needles are below:

Sock #19 (52 Sock Challenge)

Sock #20 (52 Sock Challenge)

Sock #21 (52 Sock Challenge)

Sock #22 (52 Sock Challenge)

Sock #23 (52 Sock Challenge)

And, because I’m a lazy blogger, you will have to guess the yarns used in each of the socks. I will say, though, the teal socks are Nancy Bush’s Denmark pattern using Meilenweit. The rest? Happy guessing… or just have fun looking at the finished product.

Spinning?

Posted on by Dan

Not today, my friends. Instead we play.

Felted Monkey

Suffice it to say I’m easily distracted, and the act of turning roving into yarn has become the act of turning roving into funny little creatures. I have some dehaired llama (in a lovely dark brown) that is sitting near my wheel, and my plan is to start working on turning that into yarn today… fortunately llama does not easily needle felt, or who knows what would actually happen to it.

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