Monday, January 25, 2010

A Change Of Scene

I was very lucky this past weekend to have the opportunity to escape this:





which, let's face it, gets a little old after a while.  I got to spend a whole 36 hours in much more welcoming weather.



Ahhhhhhhh... doesn't that look much better?  I was in Los Angeles this weekend playing an audition for grad school and was so glad to have timed it perfectly to catch the day or two of sun between all the rain they've been having in California (although I don't actually know if it was as far south as LA).  It was nice to enjoy the warmth, to see hummingbirds and palm trees, to walk on grass again, to hang out with my favorite birds ever*, and to spend a day in the company of my sister and brother-in-law, who were kind enough to drive up to LA for the day and accompany me to my audition (and take me out to lunch, and to dinner, and keep me company, and take me to Unwind, etc...).

I even brought some knitting on my day-long trip.  Normally I'm not a public knitter because I think it draws too much attention to myself and I don't like being in the spotlight, and I tend to be patient enough to not need it to keep me sane.  However, I knew that I would be spending plenty of time on airplanes and that I have a lot of knitting projects that have been on the needles for months that I want to get done.  I actually almost cast on a pair of socks to bring on the trip, but at the last minute - because I couldn't find my swatch measurements anywhere and didn't want to knit yet another swatch just for a pair of socks - I instead grabbed my Fernfrost and went on my merry way.




and look!  It's almost done now.  And yes, you get a B&W picture because my camera wasn't cooperating.  The yarn is white anyway, so it's not a big deal.  That there I think is 9 of the recommended 11 repeats for the scarf.  I'm a bit worried though, because the finished measurements say it should be 48" long, and I don't think mine is anywhere near that.  I'm just going to knit until I run out of yarn anyway (which most likely will be in about two repeats, go figure) and block it to death.  Sound good?

Oh, and I know I promised more pictures of Brigade, but uh, don't hold your breath, ok?  Thanks.  He was actually lost for a while, but then I found him (on the way to the airport, he was in my back seat) and, well, I just don't think I'll ever get around to taking more pictures of it.  Sorry.

Also, I'll probably continue to be relatively absent from the blog for the next couple of weeks.  I'm only back in town for two days and then I have to drive to Michigan for another audition, and then another city in Michigan the next day, and then I have to drive back to Wisconsin and fly out to Pittsburgh and, well, I don't predict there will be much knitting to show in the near future.

*My sister likes to make fun of me for being so excited about my favorite birds being in the tree outside my audition building in Los Angeles, but really, it was wonderful.  Cedar Waxwings I think are both really beautiful to look at, and their talking (I wouldn't call it chirping, and I don't think you can call it singing, I guess it's more like whistling) is so relaxing and peaceful.  They're not loud or piercing, it's just a gentle background chatter they have going on and I love listening to them.  (Although seagulls - more accurately I suppose I should just say "gulls" as those of the "sea" variety are just one of the many kinds -  are a close runner-up because I love watching them fly.)

20 comments:

  1. We had a cedar waxwing nest in the sumacs on our hillside a couple of summers ago. She abandoned the nest, though - not sure if the eggs were duds or if a cat might have gotten her - and I haven't seen one since.

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  2. Maybe your favorite bird was there as a sign of good luck :-) the scarf is beautiful, I love it! I also LOVE the snow, I grew up in an area where it snowed all the time and I miss it!! The grass is always greener on the other side :-)

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  3. I didn't even notice the photo was B&W, It's looking GREAT! If it really does end up far shorter than you want, think about picking up and knitting something complimentary on each end.

    If you like gulls, check out terns. They are sleeker, faster birds, that overall are sharper looking too, but you don't see them inland as much. Arctic terns have the longest migration route! (arctic to antarctic)

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  4. Oooh - Warmth and palm trees. Sounds fantastic. I am SO sorry about Pittsburgh. I used to have to fly there every 6 weeks for business and egads, there are few and far between times when it is pleasant to go there. :P

    Good plan for Fernfrost. Bet it'll block out longer than you expected.

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  5. Good luck with all of your auditions!

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  6. Fernfrost is beautiful! You're making me want to knit one!

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  7. Gah! Jealous! I'm so ready for green and blue right now. The scarf is coming along nicely, and if you hadn't told me it was a B&W picture I'd never have known.

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  8. Lucky you! A change of scenery is always good for the soul! The scarf is looking good and I am so happy you found your sweater.

    There was an audible "gasp" in my house when I read you had lost it.

    Good luck with your auditions! They would be fools not to take you. =)

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  9. good luck on all the auditions. hey, I take my signs where I can get them.

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  10. All that driving in winter, now I'm worried. And I think I have a partial skein of the white cashmere, would you like me to send it?

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  11. Sounds like a good plan as does taking our Joan up on her offer.

    Good luck and be careful!

    xo

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  12. Thanks for posting the link to the birds so I know what you were going on and on about! ;-) They are cute, I'll give you that.

    And yes, LA was getting a lot of rain last week--so were we! I think we're supposed to get more again today and tomorrow.

    Good luck with the next few weeks!

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  13. How great that you were able to escape the cold and snow to LA. It was great that you also got to visit your sister. Good luck on all of your auditions! I'm sure that you will have lots of offers when you are finished.

    Fernfrost is beautifully stitched and looks very nice in the white yarn. It has an airy, lacy feel to it.

    I looked at the picture of the cedar waxwing and listened to its song online, but I cannot ever remember seeing or hearing one in Tennessee. Maybe this is not part of their range. Anyway, it's definitely a very nice bird. I'm partial to hummingbirds and we also have a family of sandpipers that have claimed our yard during the summer. Their babies are like little chickens that follow their mothers around...so cute.

    Good luck with everything, have fun and safe travels!

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  14. Your Fernfrost is looking amazing!
    It's nice that you were able to see your sister again, and so soon after the holidays!

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  15. Fernfrost looks good. I hope all of your audtions go well and you get lots of exceptances including wherever you want most to go.

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  16. I'm glad to hear that you had some nice weather and a good time!! I hope that the audition went well.

    Your Fernfrost looks gorgeous, by the way. Sometimes black and white photos are nice; they help show off the stitch definition a bit better, I think.

    Anyway, sorry to hear that you'll be gone for a while but I hope the auditions are a success. Good luck!!

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  17. I love taking trips because they provide a nice way to feel productive in my knitting, and when I look up, I'm someplace new! Woodshedding at its best. Too bad it doesn't work for the harp. That could use a lot of woodshedding.

    I think I like public knitting because I like sharing anything I enjoy...the more, the merrier. I'm not very good at connecting with people I've never met, but knitting seems to give people an excuse to say hello. I like that, even if it is attention.

    I've been turning blue over the Brigade pics. Thanks for the heads up that it's okay to breathe again.

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  18. Death by Blocking...that's a new one on me.

    Good luck on all your auditions. I'm sure you'll be brilliant.

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  19. This is my first time on your blog, and I really enjoy it. Amazing stuff, great photos and you're fun to read.

    Love the white lacy scarf. Gorgeous. Hope the audition went well!

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  20. wait... you were in Los Angeles and didn't get in touch so we could knit together?! grrrr.

    make a promise next time that you'll meet up with all the guys who knit in Los Angeles!!!

    :)

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