a southern gal in the north

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Published 19 November 2007 – Malachy Tallack  (New Statesman) wrestles with his desire to knit, a practice synonymous with his Fair Isle home.

A strange and unnatural urge has come over me this week . . . I am thinking about knitting a jumper.

For the past two years, a knitting machine has occupied the corner of our kitchen, and I have barely looked at it for most of that time. But suddenly I find myself compelled to create something on it; a desire that is neither sensible nor entirely explicable. Particularly since, for the brief period when I did use a knitting machine, not long after we first moved to the island, I was terrible at it. And it nearly drove me mad.

For most people, Fair Isle is synonymous with knitting and knitwear. The brightly coloured, banded patterns that are now associated with the island first came to prominence towards the end of the 19th century, though their origins are less clear. Because of their alleged similarity to certain aspects of Moorish design, legend had it that the patterns were borrowed from the Spanish sailors who were stranded here in 1588, when the Armada vessel El Gran Griffon wrecked on the island. But that is not a theory that is given much credence these days.

In fact, original Fair Isle patterns bear an uncanny resemblance to the traditional patterns of certain other sub-arctic regions, which makes some sense, though it is not obvious why the patterns here should be so different from traditional patterns in Shetland. It is not a puzzle that is likely to be solved easily.

Read the rest here

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a longer update re birthday celebrations later today… sneak preview

Guess where I spent Friday night! and with whom!

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Get them here

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<!– NewsBriefItem: 6199350
Created: 2007/11/14 23:29:17
Modified: 2007/11/14 23:29:17
Generated: 2007/11/14 23:29:17 –>Now I really don’t want to fly again! Can you imagine the lines at Security after this!!!??

Airport Screeners Missed Bomb Parts
WASHINGTON
(AP) – Government investigators smuggled liquid explosives and
detonators past airport security, exposing a dangerous hole in the
nation’s ability to keep these forbidden items off of airplanes,
according to a report made public Wednesday. The investigators learned
about the components to make an improvised explosive device and an
improvised incendiary device on the Internet and purchased the parts at
local stores, said the report by the Government Accountability Office.
Investigators were able to purchase the components for the two devices
for under $150, and they studied the published guidelines for screening
to determine how to conceal the prohibited items as they went through
checkpoint security.

Read rest here

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quick post – last night went into the CITY to see DIE ZAUBERFLUTE at the Metropolitan Opera - its the infamous Julie Taymor production and VERY well designed – very cleverly done – she is quite a genius and so creative – puppetry features very largely in the production and is very well incorporated – the puppeteers got well deserved applause.  [iClick on photo to see more from the original cast]

Interestingly the house was about 1/3 empty – the entire back third of the Dress Circle was empty – the last three rows !  Maybe Tuesday is just not a popular night… but I was glad to have finally seen this production …more anon on the singers – but Diana Damrau did not disapppoint – after seeing her in the premiere of Die Aegyptische Helena last year it was good to see her in a different rep… curiously her costume is entirely different from the original one – and one other quick note – Stephane Degout is adorable…sigh (Papgeno)

This is one of my favorite Mozart operas – I saw the Ingmar Bergman film before I ever saw a live production and that is a great way to see it.  Then I saw many of the previous production and am glad I have added this one to my opera experiences.  That overture is incredible and the flautist was fabulous as was to be expected.  It seems to me (in peering at the orchestra pit) that many of the members are in a younger range than they used to be.  The chorus btw was good – solid and steady and not a warblng tremelo to be heard.  And it seemed there were new faces there too.

in other news, fall is definitely here – the leaves are changing colors daily…and family here from near and far next week.  And I have a ton of garden chores to do – with a birthday this Friday and family coming in next week – its that time of year.

The Moderne Log Cabin Blanket is finished – blocked and another couple of rows of crochet edging added so there is a nice border (photo later have to dash now to run errands)

Sunday night, started my adaptation of Elizabeth Lovick’s Jess's Gansey  [from Knitting Daily] for my nephew – swatched and figured gauge etc and picked the patterns to fit this size…   here’s a quick photo and more discussion about this process later.

In tonight’s opera on Sirius, Anne-Carolyn Bird of the concert blog is making a role debut as Barbarina – unfortunately the website at the Met’s Archives has no photo of Ms. Bird but here is a tempting one… 

TUNE in at 8 pm!  Break a leg Anne!

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO  Mozart-Da Ponte
Figaro………………Bryn Terfel
Susanna……………..Ekaterina Siuruna
Count Almaviva……….Simon Keenlyside
Countess Almaviva…….Anja Harteros
Cherubino……………Kate Lindsey
Dr. Bartolo………….Maurizio Muraro
Marcellina…………..Marie McLaughlin
Don Basilio………….Greg Fedderly
Antonio……………..Patrick Carfizzi
Barbarina……………Anne-Carolyn Bird
Don Curzio…………..Tony Stevenson
Peasant……………..Jennifer Black
Peasant……………..Leah Wool

Milos Repicky: Harpsichord David Heiss: Cello

Conductor……………Philippe Jordan

Production…………..Jonathan Miller
Stage Director……….Robin Guarino
Set designer…………Peter J. Davison
Costume designer……..James Acheson
Lighting designer…….Mark McCullough
Choreographer………..Terry John Bates

Broadcast live on Sirius Metropolitan Opera Radio

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quick post – just back a bit ago from the opera – DIE ZAUBERFLUTE at the Metropolitan – its the infamous Julie Taymor production and VERY well designed – very cleverly done – she is quite a genius and so creative – puppetry features very largely in the production and is very well incorporated – the puppeteers got well deserved applause.  [iClick on photo to see more from the original cast]

Interestingly the house was about 1/3 empty – the entire back third of the Dress Circle was empty – the last three rows !  Maybe Tuesday is just not a popular night… but I was glad to have finally seen this production …more anon on the singers – but Diana Damrau did not disapppoint – after seeing her in the premiere of Die Aegyptische Helena last year it was good to see her in a different rep… curiously her costume is entirely different from the original one – and one other quick note – Stephane Degout is adorable…sigh (Papgeno)

This is one of my favorite Mozart operas – I saw the Ingmar Bergman film before I ever saw a live production and that is a great way to see it.  Then I saw many of the previous production and am glad I have added this one to my opera experiences.  That overture is incredible and the flautist was fabulous as was to be expected.  It seems to me (in peering at the orchestra pit) that many of the members are in a younger range than they used to be.  The chorus btw was good – solid and steady and not a warblng tremelo to be heard.  And it seemed there were new faces there too.

in other news, fall is definitely here – the leaves are changing colors daily…and family here from near and far next week.  And I have a ton of garden chores to do – with a birthday this Friday and family coming in next week – its that time of year.

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DID YOU SEE THIS!?  uh oh another one to add to the MUST KNIT list!

Oblique by Véronik Avery

‘Oblique’ is a cardigan meant to be comfortable yet presentable – those of us who work from home or in very casual workplaces sometime have to make an effort not to equate flannel with everyday wear. Wrap cardigans are perfect for us.When designing it, I started off with a loose idea in mind of what silhouette I was after and sketched it out; the strokes, cross-hatching and marks of the pencil informed my stitch choices while I attempted to bring together a sense of style in a fun to knit project. I’d been eyeing this yarn for  a while, too – its halo feels girly yet none of the stitch definition is lost.

model: Genevieve photos: Véronik Avery

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Well, that Fall went by fast!

We are under a freeze/cold weather warning tonight and today my furnace came on – a little bit during the afternoon and then just now more fully.  That means that its chilly outside as I have my programmable thermostat set at 55 night and 58 days.  Well at least I made it to November this year!

So out to the garden and a little quick cleanup.  First the basil gets a haircut …

and then some pots are brought in.

Bay Leaf and Rosemary and a Geranium (red of course)

And what to do with all of this? 

Freezing Basil
How to Freeze Fresh Herbs: Rosemary and Thyme
More about Freezing Fresh Herbs: Freezing Thai Basil, Sage, Tarragon, and Mint