Thursday, April 17, 2008

Progress, of a sort

There comes a time in every knitter's life when she must realize that there is a cost to playing around. No pleasure comes without its price. Or as Heinlein would say, TANSTAAFL (this, by the way, is a watchword around the house; we've taught the girls this acronym already, and have translated it loosely as, "if it looks too good to be true, the chances are it is too good to be true)(admittedly, we mostly use it when explaining to them why it's not a good idea to send back all of those "get one free if you sign up now" ads that come in the mail).

It's times like now that I realize the cost of project polygamy.

You know what I mean. You knit here and knit there and maybe spin a little, and it seems like all of that should add up to something, but it doesn't. And you wonder why, and ask yourself whether you've fallen through a wormhole into some alternate universe (those eddies in the space-time continuum can be dangerous if you're not careful) in which knitting and progress are in no way connected. It's like a patch of Stockinette Slog, but without the stockinette.

And then it hits you. The reason that you're making no discernible progress on any particular project is because you've got three things on the needles (no, we aren't counting the ones that don't count, hush), and something on the spinning wheel, and all of that time that would add up to progress on one project has been spread thin.

Why, yes, this is all my way of constructing an elaborate excuse for having very little to show you today, why do you ask? Look! I changed out the yarn in my seasonal yarn bowl to pretty spring greens and purples and pinks:
Why greens and purples and pinks, you ask? Here's why:
That's the orchid tree in our backyard. It's covered with these beauties.
And my Douglas Irises have consented to produce some of their rare blooms (I live at the far southern reaches of their range; they infinitely prefer Mt. Tamalpais, but then again, don't we all?).
As for greens, our eastern oak has leafed out; time to hang the hammock out in its shade.
The orange trees are in bloom, and the whole neighborhood smells lovely, especially in the early morning coolth (I don't care what anyone thinks, that word should exist).
And our kitchen smells of champagne guavas, which, alas, no-one but Rick really likes (anyone want some guavas? we're a bit overloaded this year...).
Oh, right, knitting. OK, if you insist. I did get through six repeats of the scarf I'm testing out for Anne. I'd actually gotten through 5 and a half repeats, but then discovered that the half repeat was stuck in between two full repeats, which was most definitely not where it belonged. I frogged it and started over. I love the colors of this yarn!
And here's the spinning that I've been doing. I'm working to finish up the tencel-blend roving. One it's plied, I will move on (finally!) to Linguistics, which has been waiting patiently in my spindle basket. I need to start looking for some additional bobbins for the Traddie, as I only have one (!!), which makes for some interesting finagling during the plying stages of spinning.
Besides that, I've been working on the Dream in Color baby jacket, although it hasn't changed much since the last photo, and the pink and green plain ol' sock that I keep around for Meetings During Which I Ought Not To Be Staring At My Knitting. Stockinette is good for that.

13 comments:

kathy b said...

Well you have a lot going on. THat lace lovely is amazing. Guava's how wonderful. Im only thinking about growing a tomato or two here in Chicago land this summer. I hesitate though b/c we have an abundance of produce at the famers markets. I hate to waste the money on water for a few homegrown on my own little plot of land, tomatoes.

Bea said...

There is a lot of stuff going on there. I love the seasonal basket. and all the seasonal pictures. Good choice of colors there. Your shawl is lovely, sorry you had to rip back! Your spinning is looking amazing. That purple is awesome! I would take some guava as we've never had them but I don't think they would be very economical or hearty enough to ship all this way!

Marianne said...

Beautiful photos! Loving all the greens and pinks and purples :^)

YEP...I'm slow enough as it is, I work on one project at a time, and yes, it can get pretty boring.. but then again, it's STILL knitting and I enjoy it...

Anonymous said...

You just described my work life - so many projects that none of them seem to move forward. Part of the reason may have to do with knitting at night when I could be picking up a little slack, I suppose.

The flowers and especially the oak leaves are very encouraging. And the lace is really lovely - the yarn seems to suit it well.

Anne said...

I'm wit you, coolth is a word. Not to be confused with couth (especially around here).

Willow said...

Guavas! You said the magic fruit word for all my children who grew up in the tropics climbing the guava trees and eating them still green because they couldn't wait!

Yarn polygamy? Shhh. Maybe it should be a don't ask/don't tell policy. At my house---the dog hair spinning, blue cashsoft sweater, mitered square blanket, etc.

What I really should do tonight is knit a little cap for The Boy, right?

Willow said...

Guavas! You said the magic fruit word for all my children who grew up in the tropics climbing the guava trees and eating them still green because they couldn't wait!

Yarn polygamy? Shhh. Maybe it should be a don't ask/don't tell policy. At my house---the dog hair spinning, blue cashsoft sweater, mitered square blanket, etc.

What I really should do tonight is knit a little cap for The Boy, right?

Alwen said...

I am just loving the photos in your post today. "Hey, look, flowers!" But you've got me topped with leaves and fruit, even.

AND knitting AND spinning. Whew. Love the purple on that bobbin.

Anonymous said...

Coolth is a word. In My world. Maybe I should go to Mt Tam tomorrow?

If nothing has to be finished quickly, well work on what you want when you want! I bet the plain sock is finished first.

NTK said...

If a linguist can't decide coolth is a word, than who can?
The coolth was a little much this morning for me on my morning commute (on foot, which should be a different word, too), but I know I'll be missing it in two weeks.

EGunn said...

Your spinning is looking lovely! And I am /so/ envying your backyard at the moment...

Rachael said...

I know what you mean, I've never been good at project monogamy...the only good thing about having so many going at once is that every few months they all seem to end up finished at the same time so you feel REALLY productive for those few weeks!!
:-)

Anonymous said...

So much good stuff in one posting - not fair.

Guavas! We love em.

The flowers are calling especially after today's grey rain/snow/hail and freezing temps.

The purple merino/tencel is fabulous.