The Sun Gets In Your Eyes

 Once a month seems to be my cadence for posting.

 April 8th was the much anticipated solar eclipse.  We were just outside the path of totality.  If we had been at our old house, we may have been in it.  I'm not entirely sure where the edge was.  As it was, it was still pretty interesting.  As the sun got covered, everything took on a weird green aura.  I tried taking some pictures with my phone using the cheapo glasses I had, but the pictures really didn't turn out.  But my bedroom blinds did serve as a camera obscura.

My son, Blake, took the day off work and went with some friends to a spot that was in the totality.  Below is one of the pictures he sent us.  He said it did get very dark.

During the eclipse, Ed and I noticed this bee acting strangely.  It was just hanging out on the railing of our deck.  I think it was confused, not expecting the darkness at that point of the day. 

Ed was getting very stressed out about work so I made him an Emotional Support Chicken.  I named her Doris, but he said he's going to come up with a different name.  As of yet, he hasn't mentioned anything.  Well, nothing appropriate anyway.

Our grandson likes the chicken so I'll have to make him one.  I might just sneak it into his room when I visit sometime and not tell his parents.  We'll see how long it takes for them to notice.

I finally pulled out my spinning wheel.  It has been in hibernations since at least October 2022.  She let me know how upset she was at being stowed away for so long by breaking her driveband as soon as I tried spinning anything.  I ordered a new band from the Woolery.  Once it came I spun up an ounce of punis that my sister gifted me last year.

I'm a little out of practice, as evidence by this skein.  I have enough here for a headband or fingerless mitts.  I have another packet of punis.  I'll spin that before I move on to some roving.  When I get to the roving, I want to try fractal spinning.

Another sister gave me some of her sourdough starter.  I found an easy recipe for bread that I thought I'd give a try.

Here's my loaf  of whole wheat sourdough after proofing overnight but before baking.

And here it is after baking.  I think I left it in just a bit too long, but other than a few burn edges on the top, it turned out great.  Ed even liked it.  And he has always declared that he hates sourdough.

My plan is to make a loaf each week instead of buying bread from the store.  I'm activating the starter for this week's batch, which I'll probably bake on Friday after I'm done babysitting my grandson.

The sister that gave me the sourdough starter had one of her daughters get married this past weekend.  Most of my siblings were in attendance.  Kristin was a bridesmaid and Trisha did a reading at the Mass.  The bride was beautiful and the groom handsome.

Here is my whole family (minus Jameson - no kids allowed) at the reception.

I finished Yume.  I started this last summer, using some Berocco Remix Light that I bought from a yarn shop outside of Cincinnati.  

This was a bit more of a slog than I had hoped for.  After I knit the yoke, it just looked too big so I ripped it out and cast on for a smaller size.  I'm pretty happy with the fit, except there's too much room in the underarm.  When I block it, I'm going to be careful to not stretch it.  

I also made a Baby Sophisticate for a friend of my oldest daughter who is due to have her first baby any day.  This is made out of some Plymouth Encore that I had in my stash.  This was a very easy knit.  I think this is going to be my go-to baby gift knit.

I cast on Nila by Natasja Hornby.  I'm using Purl Soho Linen Quill in the colorway Crocus.  I've had 3 skeins of this in my stash for about a year, waiting for the perfect project.

As with the other Natasja Hornby pattern I made, this one is a bit of a challenge.  The instructions are fantastic.  It just is an interesting construction that I've never attempted before.  My only complaint is that I wish she had a few more measurements noted on the pattern.  I finished the back yoke and am not completely sure I have the edge of the back of the arm long enough to accomodate for when the sleeves are picked up.  My row gauge is a bit off.  I'm hoping that doesn't cause me problems in the future.  Stay tuned.

Because I'm not knitting monogamous, and I need something straight forward as I work Nila, I cast on another Rock It Tee.  This one is also out of Classic Merino Bamboo from Knitting Notions, like my original. I'm am not making this one striped, though.  I'm only using the Crimson colorway.  This should work up quickly and be part of my wardrobe for the summer.