Each morning I begin my day the same way…before I can just sit with my thoughts I take Sherman out. He is a fine and quiet companion in the early morning… and he does not mind my silence while I listen to The Writer’s Almanac podcast and this morning’s edition was just spectacular. It’s Billy Collins’ 80th birthday today and if you want to listen to Garrison read a lovely Billy Collins poem you can do that here!
Listening to poetry really is a very good thing to start my day.
Another good thing I listened to this week was this episode of On Being. I think I knew some of these things, but boy did it help to hear someone talk about the stresses we’ve been living with… and how do we re-emerge when this is all over.
The On Being discussion on stress really helped in light of a conversation I had about gauge on Saturday with Sarah and Jane. You might have read about Kym’s gauge struggles so I felt a little déjà vu when I sat down to swatch for the Daytripper Cardigan… a MaryJane Mucklestone design… which, by the way, is the same gauge as 3 other MaryJane Mucklestone sweaters I had previously knit. I got gauge on each of them with absolutely no issues. This time? oh boy. I have a stack of swatches to show how I struggled with it! First I thought just do some knitty maths and go with my original swatch… good in theory, but the maths and the sizing did not work out for me. End result, while I have not measured my last swatch this morning, pre-washing it was on gauge. That swatch? Knit with a US 11 needle… on the bright side, my sweater will knit up even faster now! So even in struggles as you work your way out good things can be found!
Another good thing was this photo my daughter shared… and I just laughed right out loud!
Vivi, the chicken wrangler!
Finally, buds are appearing on my forsythia and lilac bush in my yard. It makes me smile to see them! Happy Monday everyone! See you all back here on Wednesday!
Oh how cute!!! Vivi the chicken herder!!! 😀
She is cute and growing fast! What is this gauge you speak about? (ha ha ha)
There are so many good things in this post, Kat! I’m not much of a podcast listener, but I am going to download those episodes of The Writer’s Almanac and On being for my walk. Your forsythia looks farther along than others I have seen, and Vivi is the BEST! That is one photo that will never fail to make me smile, and I’m glad you shared it with us!
That photo of Vivi is awesome – she looks like YOU!
Aw, Vivi!!! And I agree… she looks like you!!
What a marvelous photograph of Vivi!! A chicken wrangler indeed (love her boots). I’m looking forward to your Daytripper Cardigan and seeing what colors you have chosen.
I absolutely love that photo of Vivi’s VERY FULL hands! Does she resemble you, or what?! And Happy Birthday, Billy Collins 🙂 Off to listen to that, thank you!
Gauge is such a mystery, isn’t it? I applaud your efforts to get it right. (and to attempt maths when you don’t!) ALSO, that Vivi is a doll … does she like to harvest eggs, too?!
Vivi, the chicken wrangler, is darling. She is braver then I was at her age. I love it when kids get to dress as they wish. I’m glad you got gauge on that sweater. Sometimes gauge is just a mystery, an impossible one at that.
I am so impressed that you kept going until you got gauge… eek! Gauge is totally my knitting nemesis.
I haven’t heard of the Writers Almanac – thank you!!
That picture of Vivi is perfect – I love her combination of snow boots + shorts and sleeveless shirt. that’s how we roll around here too 🙂
I am so glad you finally got gauge! And on the plus side, as you said, this will be a fast sweater to knit up!
Vivi is adorable. I agree with Carole that she does look like you here! Now she just needs to put a bow tie on that chicken. 😉
Okay. That photo of Vivi is a wonderful way to start the day! (And she is looking so much like you!!!!!) So sweet.
And YIKES with the gauge. So glad you got it figured out! (Because it is a struggle sometimes.) The Daytripper cardigan is great — too bad I can’t wear the Lopi . . . I’ll just watch you knit yours and enjoy the vicarious ride.