Attract and Engage

The heart of our wonderful story is that knitting brings people together. I'm not just talking about the twenty people who joined our group to make a farmyard blanket. Of course, we are bound together in friendship. We're a knitting family of friends. I'm talking about complete strangers. The ones who watch curiously from a distance. The people in the waiting room or the ice arena who can't help but ask, "What are you making?" They are amazed, impressed, and inspired by the project. The sight of someone working with her hands, the sound of the needles, the beauty of the rich colors, the warmth of the wool; all of these things draw people in. Conversations are started, smiles exchanged, acquaintances made. Perhaps the curious onlooker will decide to visit a yarn shop and finally sign up for that class.


I hope everyone had a chance to get outside for more than a few minutes today. The past two days have been unseasonably warm. Temperatures soared into the high sixties, nearly breaking a state record! These turtles warmed their backs and watched a goldfish at Metro Beach.


Here is Natalie's river, an original pattern, complete with a goldfish of its own. She chose blue skyways to show swift, sparkling waters, oatmeal for the quaint beach and oregano for the wetland grasses. I imagine a canoe or kayak can put-in here quite easily.

Not far from Metro Beach is the farm at Wollcott Mill. Its a metropark that welcomes visitors year round. Their main attraction is the cow barn, but I prefer to walk outside and visit the other animals, especially the horses. These strong gentlemen will put in a good day's work when the time comes, but not this Saturday. Notice the dusting of hay on big red's back from rolling on the warm ground. He's enjoying his day off. Soon these eager workhorses will make deep furrows in the nearby fields.




Here are Toni's raised beds, a warm and dusty combination of sable and roasted coffee. The knitted and purled rows create a ribbed effect. She steamed the ribbing to keep its shape and to match the size of the other squares. The extra step paid off, as you can see. It looks just right attached to the horse pasture. The road in between them is roasted coffee, mixed with forest shadows and spruce.

Knitting is a sure way to mix business and pleasure. Its portable and lightweight, so you can take it wherever you go. There never has to be a dull moment. We happily add rows while doing other things. We knit and purl while our children play music, practice gymnastics, horseback ride, Irish dance, swim, ice skate, or ski. It gives us a sense of accomplishment to finish a row while the children finish a lesson. Whole farmyard fields emerge while we travel to a vacation spot, relax at the beach, wait for a car repair or to see a doctor. The fun and convenience of handwork should not be overlooked.

Still Winter

Some locals say that we have four seasons in Michigan: almost winter, winter, still winter, and warm weather at last! We are definitely in the still winter season. The ice is almost completely melted on the trails and creeks, and patches of brown-green grass are everywhere to be seen. There is happy birdsong in the air, and teenagers wearing thin layers of clothes, trying to look warm. The sun is here to stay, and blue skies make us think the temperature is above 25 degrees. My daughter and I took a drive north, in search of local farms. We spotted a few cows and horses in the pastures, and a few farmers here and there getting work done.


Along the way, we listened to an audio version of Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter R. Brooks, one of my childhood favorites. Its an imaginative tale of Mr. Bean's barnyard animals, who decide to migrate, on paw and hoof, to greener pastures. They have many adventures along the way, and return home safely in Spring. Not a bad idea!


Check your local library for a copy of this beloved book and others in the series. If you'd like to own a copy, visit Chinaberry http://www.chinaberry.com/family/freddy-detective-freddy-florida-flip-book.shtml

We returned home and enjoyed the last day of mid-winter break doing practically nothing. I washed and ironed some fabric, with the help of a couple of kittens.

Gather and Giggle

The day just flew by!
What a wonderful Monday morning at Jaime’s house. We decided to get-together during mid-winter break just to keep the rhythm going. There was plenty of visiting, and good food to eat, but not a lot of handwork happening.

We took a good look at the farmyard blanket by laying it out on the bed. There are a few squares connected, but lots of road work yet to be done. We discussed color and texture and logical placement of things. We decided there has to be a two track road, a sandy path leading to the river, and shrubbery, as well as the cobblestone path and the big gravel road. I hear the needle gnomes calling...get back to work!