Juta’s Stockings (which I actually changed to more of an anklet…) are coming along quite nicely. Sock one was on the needles for many moons, gestating in my knitting bag for about three months. Once complete, I cast on for sock two quickly, not wanting to lose any of my momentum.

I turned the heel while enjoying a nice telephone conversation with Jenna. The funny this is that while we were talking, she was ripping out her progress on her Miranda sock…

This is my second pair of socks with Tess Designer Yarns, and I think I am beginning to love the yarn even more. It is a smaller gauge (the best socks are on size 1s, or even 0s, but I draw the line there) so it takes me even longer to complete a pair. It’s worth it though – the fabric is so strong and durable, and after a year of wear (loads of wear!) my Dublin Bay socks, also knit with Tess, look like they just came off the needles. I will definitely be stopping by the Tess booth at this weekend’s festival (yeah yeah, I know I have a few skeins in the stash already…)

Progress is slow right now – I have a lot on my plate. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen this weekend preparing for a one-week detox plan, and also worked in our garden. We just finished getting the plants in the ground!

Interested to hear more about my detox plan?
Check out my Weight Loss page!

Pine Trees, California

Cypress Swamp, North Carolina

Cherry Trees, Washington, DC

Banyan Tree, Hoomaluhia, Hawaii

Coastal Redwoods, California

Decidious Trees, Maryland

Trees in Maryland

Trees completely enchant me.  They catch my eye, and my spirit.  The most tranquil place I have ever been is undoubtedly the redwood forest of California.  Trees command respect and tell countless stories. 

Today is Arbor Day.  It is pouring rain the DC area today (helping the trees, no doubt!) but it is still a great time to celebrate trees and how they impact our lives. The Arbor Day website has a myriad of resources: the history of the celebration, a comprehenisve tree database, guide to the benefits of trees, Arbor Day e-cards, info on RainForest Rescue, and many ways to take action in your own community (and with your wallet).  I donated, and bought some of the shade-grown, fair-trade, organic coffee for my caffeine-addict husband (who also loves trees).

Do you have a particular memory about a tree?  or a tree that holds a special place in your heart? 

My family moved around the U.S. a lot when I was growing up.  My father’s career is based in natural resources, and he spent many years doing field work, and learned about numerous plants, trees, and animals.  As a child, I spent many hours with my family on various camping trips, hikes, and road trips,  we admired the landscape of trees, and we tested our parents by always asking what kind of trees we were seeing.  We moved to several different states during my early childhood: When we lived in Wyoming, we encountered large conifer forests – in West Virginia, the Appalachin decidious forests – in New Mexico, the pine forests in the mountains, and the yucca plants of the steppe.  Each new state brought beautiful and interesting new possibilities.  My sisters and I frequently climbed the mimosa tree at our West Virginia home, and we saw the saplings grow into larger trees at our home in New Mexico.  Now, Kris and I celebrate and honor trees:  our upcoming trip to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, our weekly walks through the Maryland parks and wooded areas, and our own landscaping techniques.

Trees Group on Flickr

Field Guide to Trees of the World

HAPPY ARBOR DAY!

I have been quite busy with work this week: I attended an archival preservation workshop conference in DC (shout out to my fellow librarian/archivist readers!) and it has eaten up all of my time. Very little time to knit…

In fact, the knitting I did was quickly deemed unsuitable.

This was my knitting progress on the Shades sock at the knit night with the NYC Spiders. I was rolling – going with the pattern. Looking good and closing in on the heel turn.
Then, on the way home from the City, I met an interesting stranger on the train. We chatted the whole way from New York to Baltimore.  She was a designer and an artist, and shared storied about her mother who has worked with fiber for years as a knitter, spinner, and weaver.

I found a way to completely mess up an easy lace pattern. Dropped stitches, misplaced yarn overs…

Shades Sock #2 is back to square one.

At least Katy is making some great progress on the pattern!

So it sounds a little trite, but I try to make every day Earth Day.  Thankfully, I have a partner who feels the same way that I do about sustainability, environmentalism, and ethics.  Last year, we made several choices that impact our everyday lives: We converted our home’s energy source to 100% wind energy, and we changed all of our incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs.  Kris and I continue to recycle fervently, and buy our food and materials in reuseable containers (buying bulk, bringing our own bags to the market, etc.) 

This year, we began to shop (almost) exclusively at our local organic markets.  The fruits, vegetables, and grains are locally grown and produced, and often certified organic. 

Organic Swiss chard [see recipe]

I am a vegetarian, and I am also cutting many dairy products out of my diet.  Kris eats meat, however, and has chosen many organic and free-range meats at the market.  We take the time to do the research and to find out what we are putting into our systems.  I feel that it is completely worth it in the long-run, and I am proud that we have made this decision for our planet, and for our own health. 

Slowly, I am converting other aspects of my life and my daily routine to be more wholesome and sustainable.  Recently, I have started research on cosmetics.  Jenna told me about Skin Deep, a website that assesses the toxins and chemicals used in these products.  It has been extremely helpful (and eye-opening).  

This weekend, I did some garden work.  Until this weekend, the weather was extremely unpredictable.  Cold, windy, and rainy.  We finally had a break in the cycle.  Kris and I are using organic compost and fertilizers in our yard and garden.  We tilled the vegetable garden plot, and I planted some bulbs and roses in the front yard.  Kris also filled the back yard pond (the one we built last year) with new water and started the solar pump. 

There is a lot of media attention and coverage going to green initiatives in recent months.  I am happy to see that the environment is finally receiving some notice.  It seems that it is now trendy and hip to be green.  However, there is so much that still needs to be done.  Years and years of neglect haunt us.  Please consider making some changes in your routines – whether it be shopping locally, choosing organic produce, taking public transportation, changing your light bulbs, or not using styrofoam.  Even crafters can get in on the green:  sew, knit, or crochet yourself some reuseable market bags, recycle some worn-out clothing into a braided rug, and make reusable dishcloths to cut down on paper towel usage. (So I had this idea awhile back, didn’t take action, and then they beat me to the punch:  Sew Green is a great new blog about environmentalism and the crafting lifestyle.  Check them out!)

Clearly, I still have some issues to work on – particularly in the consumption department.  I want to lighten my footprint on this earth.  I want to live a change and inspire others to do so.  I also want to be inspired by you.  I would love to hear about what YOU are doing to help the earth. Please share.

I came back with a full bag of souvenirs from New York. The city is truly a yarn destination: the Fashion District, boutique spinneries, little shops in the Village. So much to see! So much to fit in the suitcase on the way home!

Click for details about each yarn

A small disclaimer: two of the cones are not for me. The rest of it is.

The first stop was Purl in Greenwich Village. Kris and I were in the neighborhood on Thursday morning, and stopped in.

This shop is small and sweet. It can get a little crowded in the small space, but it is worth a perusal: they have many lovely high-end yarns, and some wonderful staples as well. (Their window display is very springy too!)

Cascade Luna

I bought these four hanks for my International Scarf Exchange pal. Her favorite color is blue, and she lives in Southeast Asia, so I thought a nice cotton would be ideal for her climate. I am planning a bias-cut striped scarf. It will look like the ocean! I also picked up two skeins of chocolate brown Koigu KPPPM.

With fiber in mind, I headed uptown towards Habu Textiles. Habu is located near the Fashion District. I did some research online before heading into the shop and it was good that I did! Several boxes were packed up to send items to a show, but the ladies were very helpful and I came home with some beautiful and unique yarns that are not widely available.

Yarn Wall

It is a lovely and tranquil space with woven textiles displayed on the studio walls, and the whir of the spinning machines in the back rooms. Natural fibers and non-traditional fibers are Habu’s specialty. I came home with some lovely silks, bamboo tape, a sampler kit of raffia and paper yarns, and wool/linen blends. [See this photo for pictures of the other Habu yarns].

Naturally dyed wool linen blend

On Friday, I took in some museums (blogged about here) before hitting the fiber trail again. Gotta have some variety! Late Friday afternoon, I went to School Products, a shop owned by the proprietors of Karabella yarns (and the author of the new book, Runway Knits). This store is the perfect place for a knitter (or crocheter) with a plan. You know you need 3000 yds of laceweight? This is the place to find it – and to get a bargain. There are cones available at very reasonable prices, and a beautiful color spread. They also carry some other commercial yarns like Koigu, Lamb’s Pride, and a full line of Karabella (naturally). I got 2 skeins of speckled Koigu and a 1 lb cone of merino laceweight. [in photo].

Friday night fibery fun at The Point, a combined cafe and yarn shop. Sipping a cup of chamomile tea, I chat with some of the Spiders knitting group: Virginia, Lisa, Carrie, Katy, Marie, Courtney, Nancy, and Melissa. It was a nice evening! The Point is a cute shop with some nice variety. I loved their displays!

And I bought some kid mohair there too… all for this little beret number.

Mmmm mohair

After knitting group, I headed out to dinner with Carrie and Katy. We went to Dragonfly, an Asian fusion place (with some interesting “soul food” plates thrown into the mix) They have a lot of vegetarian food. I was happy to catch up with Carrie – such a sweety! – and to get to know Katy better through our conversations. It was lots of fun!

Goodness me, it wasn’t until I put it all in one place that I realized how much I acquired on this trip. It barely fit in my suitcase.  New York was wonderful – I guess it is a good thing that I only go once a year… now I must start knitting from the stash.