my weekend

Miss A, my Beloved, and myself went to the Austin Maker's Fair this weekend.  I was not disappointed because it was as I expected but not as good as I hoped.  I learned some things about building a travel trailer that were very cool.  I watched a paper making demonstration that did not use authentic tools so the process was streamlined.  I talked to a wood block printer.  Something I want to do but have not made the time to do it.  Part of that is I have not drawn something I like well enough to print.

My Beloved and myself did our first bit of primitive camping.  I have not primitive camped in much too long.  This was only a mile walk into the site and there was an outhouse.  The only reason that you might have wanted to call it a hike would be because as soon as you put that backpack on it becomes harder then just a mer walk.  The setup for a hike in is better then it was but it still not perfect.  I lost some skin on a shoulder and there are a few aches and pains.  

But can I say this?  I liked the primitive site.  You are not as on top of each other as in the regular campground.  And the regular campground is much better then a KOA.  There can be no open flame at this state park but it was not December or January so a fire was not a necessity.  I really enjoyed myself.  I might actually chose to stay there more often.

The conclusion from my weekend.  Not much inspiration but a nice change of pace.  Most of what I am working on is long projects so I will have to see what I have to say this week.  The destruction sweater is about ten inches long.  My hands are a little tired.  It is always so hard to come back from the "woods."

WIP destruction!

Many months ago, I purchased the Wool and The Gang for their quarterback sweater.  It speaks to me.  But it is knit, so I have been converting it to crochet.  Even though it is basically rectangles, it has been a harder convert for my head then some of the more complicated conversions I have done.  I was down to one sleeve yet I was having a very difficult time picking it up to finish.

Yesterday morning, I was soaking in salt water (it helps me to move easier) and got to pondering.  I really liked the stitch pattern I had been using in the Calm Cowl.   Both the Calm Cowl and the other sweater I have been converting from knit have a bit of eyelet pattern.  I like the detail.  

I then took measurements of the bit of the sweater I had done.  It was longer then the pattern and narrow enough that I might not wear it.  I like things that skim nicely but do not cling.  This would have clung and I would have only had a few select dresses that I could have worn under it.  

I am ripping it out.  It is actually not the first time.  I even started the sweater again and had to rip a bit out already.  Twice!  I get laughed at about this because I do not even get frustrated anymore.  It is just part and parcel of converting a sweater from knit to crochet and having something that you are willing to wear later.  Actually, it is part and parcel of my crocheting most of the time.

We are off to a large Maker's Fair this weekend.  Put on by Make magazine.  I am hoping for inspiration. If nothing else, I get two nights in a tent.  With tea.  No toast though.  I can be very simple.

calm cowl

When the Tall Short Person was in Washington with me, I dragged her to a yarn/fiber store and a fabric store.  I always make her pick out fabrics for me because she just likes different things.  It changes my bags and quilts.

At the yarn store, she found a cowl that she liked.  It is the Calm Cowl.   A free pattern.  She found some Rowan Lima yarn she liked the colour of.  A fast crochet.  The cowl is already in the mail even though I had to wait for my box to get here.  

I think the yellow roving is definitely going with the grey I am currently spinning to make myself a sweater.  I just hope I will have enough grey because I have more then enough yellow!  I just need more hours in the day.  Spinning and quilting are both time consuming.

I made a kouign amann this evening.  The house smells so good!

some how it is lighter

I made a sour cream green chile enchiladas on Saturday.  But I am having issues with corn.  It is causing a lot of inflammation.  My hands swell up badly and it makes everything harder to do.  I notice the inflammation in my hips, knees, and any place of recent injury.  Poultry is the same which is why you see so few recipes with anything poultry related.  I know I have substituted potatoes before for the corn tortillas but not what I wanted.  I wanted something closer to a tortilla.

We have been using mjukstut for tortillas lately.  So much flavour!  I figured why not.  I made a batch of mjukstut and used them in the enchiladas.  I also used about 1/4 cup of sour cream in the enchiladas instead of a full cup.  I do not know how, but the enchiladas were very light!  I actually was able to eat a much larger portion then normal.  And the added flavour!  It was excellent.  So, try it!  It is a fusion that some grandmothers are probably rolling over in their graves but so good!  It is going to become a standard.

There was only one problem with this meal.  Not enough leftovers for the next day.  Sigh . . .

getting ready for quilting

I did get the back done for this quilt.  And I got it basted ready for quilting.  Then I fell asleep for three hours.  This ear infection is just hanging on.  The allergy component is probably what is doing it but the stress of work is not helping.

I am still working on things that seem to take forever so I am not feeling very creative.  Even what I am doing for baking right now feels "routine."  I am trying to get caught up with bread from when I was gone.  I have baked everyday.  Between work and sleeping.  I described myself as fading around the edges today because that is how I feel.  By the end of the day, fading at the edges.

I am obviously more then a bit frustrated!  It will get better and maybe I will get more inspired.  Or at least projects will get finished.  The actual quilting of this quilt will be a work out.  I will need to be less faded.