Just back from the Easter Weekend in Halifax, organized by the Halifax Irish Set Dancers led by Elizabeth MacDonald. And taught, of course, by the incomparable Pat Murphy. What a great teacher he is.
We learned three dances, and danced quite a few more, on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon in the Old Triangle Pub.
I brought some socks to knit on in the odd moments of not dancing, and met Colleen, another dancing knitter (or knitting dancer, I don't know which). She was making a sort of bobby-sox with a turn-down cuff out of Opal 6-ply on 3.25 bamboos. They were very cute, and coming along much faster than mine, which were on 2.25 needles in Kroy sock. However they will all get finished in more or less time.
Now, to try to remember the new dances, come class on Wednesday!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patrick's Day!
Here we are in the middle of the Day and so far I've played my whistle for an hour (rehearsal) and then in public for about two hours. Now I'm dry but it's a bit early for drinking.
More music and then dancing later at the BIS Hall. It's too bad that the Day has to fall on a Monday, as it will have to be an early night.
Next week is Set Dancing with Pat Murphy in Halifax, an annual Easter treat which is coming up very fast due to the early Easter this year. Winter is still here in force (it must be wind chill in the minus teens today, I almost think I'd prefer a Paddy's Day storm! No, wait, on second thought we've had enough of that!) but the prospect of Easter is cheering.
Happy Day, All!
More music and then dancing later at the BIS Hall. It's too bad that the Day has to fall on a Monday, as it will have to be an early night.
Next week is Set Dancing with Pat Murphy in Halifax, an annual Easter treat which is coming up very fast due to the early Easter this year. Winter is still here in force (it must be wind chill in the minus teens today, I almost think I'd prefer a Paddy's Day storm! No, wait, on second thought we've had enough of that!) but the prospect of Easter is cheering.
Happy Day, All!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
My yarn has arrived!
I have received the alpaca-and-nylon yarn I ordered at Belfast Mini Mills. It's beautiful to look at, but even more beautiful to touch. I have been having camera woes so no photos yet. Anyway I'll put the photos on Ravelry, I expect. It's a lovely warm beige colour, and who knew (certainly not *me*) - the Thomson tartan is a camel colour. This should work out well. Now to swatch and locate my Folk Socks book.
Yet more winter, although the most recent dose of snow-and-then-rain has been much less destructive than the last. We've been so busy with the various heritage-related activities (Awards last night, public meeting last Thursday and another tonight) that we've no time for music or dance, even when the weather allows.
Today, however, I went for a walk at lunchtime because it is a simply beautiful bright day - wind a bit brisk from the west but lovely when on the return journey. And the days are drawing out quite noticeably. Spring is on the way!
Yet more winter, although the most recent dose of snow-and-then-rain has been much less destructive than the last. We've been so busy with the various heritage-related activities (Awards last night, public meeting last Thursday and another tonight) that we've no time for music or dance, even when the weather allows.
Today, however, I went for a walk at lunchtime because it is a simply beautiful bright day - wind a bit brisk from the west but lovely when on the return journey. And the days are drawing out quite noticeably. Spring is on the way!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Out of the dark, into the light
PEI is recuperating from a long spell of lack of electricity, although we were very lucky and didn't lose power for more than a few hours, just when almost all of the Island was out. I may be on the receiving end of a large lightning bolt for saying this, but we seldom do lose power. I think it is compensation for having no cell phone service and no access to high speed internet in our little corner of the Island universe.
However, friends did suffer during this latest blackout. 85 hours without power means everything in the freezer is unfit for human consumption. Hmmm. Should we buy a generator? Or should Maritime Electric / Fortis get their fingers out and start putting the wires underground? In the twenty-odd years I've been saying this, they could have had a goodly portion of the Island changed over to underground, and just think of the mess of unsightly wires which would be gone. C'mon, Maritime Electric / Fortis! PEI is a small place. The soil is sandy. Easy to dig. You could start today! There would be no more power outages, no more expensive cleanups in dangerous weather conditions, no more throwing out spoiled food, no more broken water pipes.
On the knitting front, I visited Belfast Mini Mills recently, and what a time it was! First, they have all kinds of interesting fibres and products (Qiviut! Camel! Samoyed!) and lovely yarns made from them. They make glorious felt and sell needle-felting kits (I bought one!). They will make you yarn, to your own specifications! They have a sock-knitting machine and sell socks at the shop!
Sorry about the excited exclamations. It was wonderful. You should GO!
However, friends did suffer during this latest blackout. 85 hours without power means everything in the freezer is unfit for human consumption. Hmmm. Should we buy a generator? Or should Maritime Electric / Fortis get their fingers out and start putting the wires underground? In the twenty-odd years I've been saying this, they could have had a goodly portion of the Island changed over to underground, and just think of the mess of unsightly wires which would be gone. C'mon, Maritime Electric / Fortis! PEI is a small place. The soil is sandy. Easy to dig. You could start today! There would be no more power outages, no more expensive cleanups in dangerous weather conditions, no more throwing out spoiled food, no more broken water pipes.
On the knitting front, I visited Belfast Mini Mills recently, and what a time it was! First, they have all kinds of interesting fibres and products (Qiviut! Camel! Samoyed!) and lovely yarns made from them. They make glorious felt and sell needle-felting kits (I bought one!). They will make you yarn, to your own specifications! They have a sock-knitting machine and sell socks at the shop!
Sorry about the excited exclamations. It was wonderful. You should GO!
Monday, January 21, 2008
New Year's Res: Blog More
If I was on high speed at home it would make life so much easier. And the computer needs an upgrade as well - however the former has to happen before the latter.
Knitting is going on apace - I have socks to finish (one slightly-more-than half for Emily and one whole one for her bf Jeremy), and I've made one of several Ice Queens from Knitty Winter 2007. What a gorgeous pattern. And I have started a Durrow sweater for Fred ( that pattern is from Mag Knits). I have to finish up the socks so I can move on to other things. Ravelry is terrific for helping plan new projects - just looking at what others have done is SO inspiring.
On the dancing front we went out to a great dance at the BIS on Saturday - it was a bilingual event with a dance teacher from Montreal - never introduced - who had us dancing Quebec-style square sets. They're quite a bit longer and QUITE repetitive compared to the Irish ones. And they're called too, so no need to remember anything for too long.
In any event it was a great time, with many participants, and quite a few musicians - in fact, each grouping played for only one set. They were all 15-20 minutes long, though, which must have been exhausting.
Knitting is going on apace - I have socks to finish (one slightly-more-than half for Emily and one whole one for her bf Jeremy), and I've made one of several Ice Queens from Knitty Winter 2007. What a gorgeous pattern. And I have started a Durrow sweater for Fred ( that pattern is from Mag Knits). I have to finish up the socks so I can move on to other things. Ravelry is terrific for helping plan new projects - just looking at what others have done is SO inspiring.
On the dancing front we went out to a great dance at the BIS on Saturday - it was a bilingual event with a dance teacher from Montreal - never introduced - who had us dancing Quebec-style square sets. They're quite a bit longer and QUITE repetitive compared to the Irish ones. And they're called too, so no need to remember anything for too long.
In any event it was a great time, with many participants, and quite a few musicians - in fact, each grouping played for only one set. They were all 15-20 minutes long, though, which must have been exhausting.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Some dancing, less knitting
We had a great time with Bert and Annie Moran from Co. Cork who came to PEI and taught at the dance class last Wednesday night. We danced the Black Valley jig set, it was lots of fun. A really neat slide- and -kick around the house move. Then Thursday there was a workshop for the pipers and then a seisiun, where we played and danced. Lovely.
Knitting is on the back burner a bit as I adjust to a new part-time job. I have almost finished the second Pomatomus leg, and knit a bit on the Secret Stole...still on Clue #1, while keeners in the group have finished Clue #3! It is getting easier as there's finally something to hold on to while manipulating this tiny lace weight yarn. My beads are small - 11's - so I am putting then on with a needle and thread. Much better than my attempt with wire from a needle-threader. There's much to learn from the group but sometimes the sheer volume of mail is overwhelming.
So here I am being overwhelmed.
Knitting is on the back burner a bit as I adjust to a new part-time job. I have almost finished the second Pomatomus leg, and knit a bit on the Secret Stole...still on Clue #1, while keeners in the group have finished Clue #3! It is getting easier as there's finally something to hold on to while manipulating this tiny lace weight yarn. My beads are small - 11's - so I am putting then on with a needle and thread. Much better than my attempt with wire from a needle-threader. There's much to learn from the group but sometimes the sheer volume of mail is overwhelming.
So here I am being overwhelmed.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
I can't believe it's October!
The red Kroy (it's called Retro Red, isn't that great?) is slowly becoming Pomatomus socks. It's a really neat pattern but a bit time-consuming because almost all the knit stitches are tbl - which takes a bit more time. However, they look good! Very ribby but good stretch.
The loon socks are done and put away in the "Christmas chest". I find the colour-work so much easier than cables that I'm looking for "celtic key" patterns to do some colour-work sock designing.
The loon socks are done and put away in the "Christmas chest". I find the colour-work so much easier than cables that I'm looking for "celtic key" patterns to do some colour-work sock designing.
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