Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Knitting and Astronomy; Thanks to Amy

I'm sure all of you know what I'm talking about in the title to this post. Yes, the BLACK HOLE. I am sucked into the never ending portion of a triangular shawl. I have only the last 36 rows of the landscape shawl. the longest 36 rows of the shawl. I haven't counted stitches, but I can calculate. It is LOTS!! I reduced the size of the shawl because it is for a summer wedding and the bride did not want such a long shawl. Nevertheless, this is a lot of steady, production knitting that I am into. I am on the last of the five stitch patterns. My husband the mathematician tells me that 20% of the shawl remains to be done--not counting the edging on the hypotenuse. Man alive, my goal of 15 rows per evening until I finish this shawl is unattainable. Nine or ten rows is my max, I find. I knit and knit, and purl and purl, and yarn over and knit two together and I don't get any further towards my goal. I have a severe case of start-itis for a new project.

Meanwhile, to add brightness to my knitting life, I won some yarn from Amy at Frenchy Knits. My photo in the sun does not do the yarn justice. It is a skein of Andes Yarn, 100% wool.It has my favorite color, purple, along with some luscious olive-y green. I can't wait to knit with it. I will make a scarf using the seafoam stitch. It will be awesome. Thanks, Amy!!!!


I love to garden, but I'm not a good gardener. I love shades of green in the garden more than the colors. But, my astilbe are blooming beautifully.
And, I love my day lilies, which require no attention once they get started.


Now, here is something else in my yard. What could it be?? A laundry basket, upside down, with a rope?? When the yellow rope ends, a black one is tied on.

And, the black robe disappears into the neighbor's garden, under a tree.
What could this weird contraption be used for???

Leave your answer in the comments and I will draw a name from the accurate guesses. The lucky winner will receive some yarn--as yet to be determined--from the stash that is taking over the house!!!

13 comments:

Vicki Knitorious said...

Heheheh, I can't wait to find out what that is. First thing that comes to mind is that it's a trap of some sort, but if the trappee can get in, then it can surely get out... unless there's something more... or more "final" under the basket. ; )

Yeah, go ahead and laugh! I'm not very good at mysteries or riddles.

HPNY KNITS said...

love a good mystery...

the Babette's blanket is the only reason I am crocheting...
go ahead... you know you want to...

Diana said...

Shawls seem to take forever and especially when you are at the last of it! The end is near!
The mystery I think is a little boy trying to catch a squirrel or something small and furry! Like Vicki said though it can get in and out in those big holes. Might be something yummy to eat under there! Well, if I dwell on it I'll turn it into something more complicated than it is!

sherriknits said...

All I could think of was a trap, too. My neighbor used to have a cat trap in his yard, much to the dismay of the other neighbors!

Your shawl is going to be beautiful. I have one that is not anywhere close to that far and I already dread all of those long rows! lol

betta said...

i'm not very inspired either. a trap is all i've been able to think of.

Karen said...

Gail...I also am knitting the Landscape Shawl but mine has been in the closet for years! I really need to finish it or else frog the darn thing and reuse that yarn.

How ever did you get your neighbors to do your laundry?? I wish I could put my laundry out and have it mystically pulled into the next yard.
If it's not a laundry fairy then I say some sort of gardening thing...weeds container for a compost heap?? Maybe??

Karen

Kate said...

An outdoor pen for a small pet? A neighbour's attempt to capture a ball lost in your yard? Drying yarn that you don't want anything to get into?

Your flowers are lovely. Here on the BC coast my daylilies aren't quite blooming, thanks to a week of wierd, slightly cool weather. I do love them, though.

Melissa said...

Great photos!
I can only guess that it's a trap of some sort.
Good luck on the shawl.

Frenchy said...

I'm so glad you like the yarn! Your photography skills are much better than mine. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha I really wonder what it is ; actually I think your neighbour is a "secret" knitter, he doesn't want his wife to know that, and you are his officially provider of yarn... The basket is obviously upside down in order to protect the yarn from the sun, but it has got holes because everyone knows that yarn needs to be aired !

Besos desde Francia,
Béa

Pilar said...

It takes forever to finish those last rows. It help me to have a side proyect to run to when I get to tired of lace :)
Hmmm..., looks like you asked a man on your life to lay a rope to hang some freshly launded hand knitted socks...and did it upside down :)
I love your lilies :)

Anonymous said...

Hello! I think it´s a little playzone for cats or rabbits :-) .

Anonymous said...

Also, it can be a trap for garden animals or it´s simply used to limit a zone of the garden...or maybe there is something to care under the laundry basket... ummm...