Before Christmas things looked like this:
(Luci Leigh with a completed Cheingora scarf knitted for our wonderful vet, Dr. Jones)
After the New Year things continued to look like this (only a bit colder)
Luci Leigh with more Chiengora, another scarf under construction, as well as three new skeins of Chiengora from Kelly. This latest Chiengora scarf is for my harp teacher. Like many other places, it is cold here. I am hoping to finish it before my Saturday lesson - the timing will be great as Saturday is expected to be even colder.
One of my favorite plants for this time of year is poinsettias. I’ve aways done very well with them. I usually can keep them looking very good until Easter and into the summer. One year I almost was able to encourage reblooming - they need twelve hours of total darkness and twelve ours of light in the fall. It is tough to remember to take them out of the closet!
We have a local poinsettia grower who is terrific. White’s Old Mill offers poinsettia trees - and that’s what’s in the picture. I think they are reasonably priced. I have another one that are holding for me - it was on sale for $40.00. The trick is getting them home - it requires two people -one to drive and one to hold.
As a holiday gift to myself I purchased some gorgeous silk from Ravelry’s LostCityDenise. I know her from her posts on Knitspot as well as her blog. She has an incredible lavender farm and recently began offering yarn, Clear Creek Lost City.
This yarn is fantastic. It is a lace weight - and it is very soft. The color is lightly variegated for interest but would not be a problem for an intricate pattern. Denise knitted this color way, Pink Champagne, into a gorgeous wrap - Rav link. I am hoping to do the same. If you like Sundara or Yarn Chef lace weight silk, you will love Denise’s.
(Luci says, “I wish she would make me one of those onsies that have a round hood, no elf pointed hoods for me.”)
The “Copeland Sisters” have been enjoying an abundance of harp practicing. I have a wonderful harp playing opportunity very soon, and I hope to post some music on the blog shortly.
In the New Year I need to focus on working and playing smarter, not harder. I plan to participate in a workshop with Sharon Schamber. I’ve taken a workshop with Sharon before and it was incredible. I am particularly interested in this workshop because it involves needle turn applique via a machine. I’ve not written about this before because I did not want to give it any more power than what it “has” already. I am having some difficulty with my left thumb. I don’t need one more thing that requires more use. If I have to choose, playing the harp and drawing/painting trumps knitting and applique. Sharon is a world class quilter and artist - but she also has difficulty with her hands. When I look at Sharon’s work, and having seen the challenges she has with her hands, my difficulty is trivial. However, I need to work smarter especially with respect to my thumb. This workshop will “let" me do more applique. I don’t think I will abandon the by hand needle turn method, but these techniques will give me more options without impacting my thumb.
Peachy’s vision has been restored. We are absolutely thrilled about that! And in about a week or so her strict exercise restriction will be over, and we will be taking a Canine Good Citizen class in preparation for her new career as a pet therapist. (She already is a very Good Citizen - she just needs the "sheep skin.”)
Wishing you all a joyous New Year filled with peace.


