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Dear Ellen,

It has been hot here…very hot for Colorado Springs. We’ve been in the mid-90s most of the week. So, I decided that at knitting group yesterday I would have to work on something that would evoke visions of crisp autumn air. I dragged out the project bag containing my efforts at Bernat’s Fitted Cardigan from brochure 530132, Get Smart. I call my version Autumn Glory because the colors of the yarn I’m using capture for me a golden sun-filled day with the leaves all in their colorful death throes glory. All I have left on it is the remainder of one sleeve, piecing and the neck and button bands. It is a bit fussy given that the striping pattern has you working with 4 balls of yarn, (and I did choose mohair to add to the fussiness — can you see the blue and green solid stripes amidst the variegated?). I think that is one reason it became a UFO. The other is that it got packed up for the move from my apartment in Norfolk to the house in Portsmouth about a year ago. I was content to leave it packed till I got here and got my organization plan in gear for my office. Then it was in plain sight…and it kept looking at me, shaking its head and making those little “tsk tsk” noises. I did get about 4 inches accomplished at knit group and it is in my active knitting basket, so I declare it is no longer a UFO, but now a WIP. It made me do it.

Speaking of group, we had a very good time Saturday. We all accomplished a lot given that we took over this corner of the coffee shop for about 6 hours! We are lucky to have venues that let us REALLY relax. The thing that caused the most stir was the fact that Anne started a crochet project…and with acrylic yarn at that! Those who have been with the group since its beginning were amazed as the Anne we know and love does NOT crochet or use acrylic. A banner day for her open-mindedness. The yarn she was using was the Berocco Comfort yarn, and I have to admit, I really liked the feel of it. How great for baby stuff! I brought some mint plants and cut mint to MJ. She in turn brought me the Teosinte pattern that I had left at group last week. A good trade.

I was there for about 4 1/2 of the 6 hours and worked on my Teosinte socks as well as the sleeve of the cardigan. (I had to frog about 2 inches — hadn’t paid attention to the striping, and though it’s subtle, I would have known. Love frogging mohair — especially that has been carried in a twist up the side!) I didn’t make the progress on Teosinte as I’d hoped while traveling. The problem of traveling with folks from work is that you actually do work during the flights! That’s okay, I’m at the heel gusset now. It’s an interesting one — not the one called for in the pattern, it’s one I’ve adapted from a Wendy Knits freebie.

The rest of the weekend has been quite enjoyable too. The dogs and I (of course) have taken several walks and counted many bunnies. I shot a few pictures this morning. The bunnie pattern is to sit up and take notice of us and then to freeze. If it thinks we’ll get close, it will then transition into a flattended crouch to try to pretend that it is really just a rock and nothing to which anyone should pay any mind. When you get to about 10 feet away they take off in a flash of bumping white tail speeding off into the distance.

I also got a box with some VERY lovely gifts . In it was hand spun Betsy Viola yarn in a gorgeous magenta and blue-grey colorway, the Harlot’s Things I Learned While Knitting book and a really great CD by Regina Spektor. I didn’t even know Regina Spektor. She’s awesome. I think my favorite song is probably “That Time” — so cheap and JUIcy! The gifts were for my belated birthday from my twin. I know she remembered the birthday, so I’m not upset the actual recognition came a few days later. In fact it rather extended my birthday enjoyment.

Dear Ellen,

Today was a lovely day. I started out with our now routine dog walk (a record 18 bunnies were sighted this morning!), unpacked a few more boxes and then got to run out to the “Knitters with Altitude” knitting group. I had a good time with these ladies and they are not only people with whom it is easy to sit, knit and chat, but they meet Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Those timings make it far more likely I’ll be able to become a regular. The big topic of excitement is that Kirsten is on the verge of having all the necessary arrangements to open her own yarn shop. She finds out if the loan is approved on Monday. Also, Christi (or Christy or Kristie or Kristy — no, I didn’t find out) is shifting from employment to avocation. She’s clearing enough on her own hand-dyed yarn, roving and spinning tools (Crazy Monkey Creations) on Etsy, that she quit her job and isn’t intending to go back. Oh, and I also got a few inches done on my sock. No camera at the group, so you’ll have to suffice with the sock photo. I’ve decided on a simple spiral rib for the pattern.

On return I worked away in the bathroom/bedroom and I’m confident I’ll finish tonight in there. While I was beavering away at unpacking, Dale figured out how to get our granite kitchen table into the house and then decided it was time to give the new gas grill its christening. He did a most lovely job on steaks, corn, roasted onions and peppers and baked potatoes. Yummy and I didn’t cook. Neither of us could finish our steaks, but the pups had a very good time with the bones. Max had to do major rolls afterwards and then hung out with Dale to show his appreciation. Ruby found the remainder of his bone while he was cavorting. This little dove kept us company all through dinner.

We really enjoy our backyard and the entire locale. We don’t have a lot of flowers, but we do have a few star asters and Rocky Mountain Columbine. I have a corner full of mint and a raised bed that is unplanted and just begging for a garden fork and some color. It will wait another weekend or two, but then I’ll plant whatever looks good at the garden center with thoughts about what should go in for next spring. On our morning walks we can see the mountains at the end of the path and there are plenty of local flowers and squirrels and bunnies to keep us entertained.

My postings of late are rather filled with the routine of life and settling in to a new home. Maybe not the most exciting, but I am so much appreciating the moment and with that am compelled to share it.

Love, Jan

Hi Ellen!

Three weeks ago we finally hung the last of the pictures that we wanted to put up in this house. After 8 months of poorly conceived efforts Cox Cable figured out what was wrong with the configuration here on base and we now have perfect HDTV and lightning fast internet. The extreme frustration and hard work to untangle the dysfunctional organization at work is just starting to pay dividends and morale is heading upwards. Dale got offered the chance to supervise execution of a NASA grant at the Virginia Air and Space Museum AND a position with Nauticus, the landmark maritime museum in Norfolk. I found a hair stylist. And this morning I attended a knitting group with which I fell in love. Yes, that’s right, it’s time to move.

We’ll be uprooting next month and heading out to Colorado Springs. (I was going to add the state, but figured you knew it was Colorado.) The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command (NORTHCOM) are both headquartered there on Peterson Air Force Base. Because it’s an Air Force base, we will have access to an excellent officer’s club, golf course, fitness center, recreational center, shopping facilities and housing. Oh…and they do have an airfield too. We’ll be packing household goods the 14th and 15th of May, shipping them on the 16th and actually leaving Norfolk on the 21st. Allen’s graduation from Supply School is the 23rd, so we’ll head down there and then either head straight out to ‘the Springs’ (as I’m told we are to refer to it if we don’t want to stand out as outsiders) or do a drive-by through Ohio. I have to be there the 29th, so in any case, we’ll get a lot of miles under our wheels. The job is a really good one — working in the J6 for both commands. That’s the communications and computer networks for both. It will require a lot of work with state, tribal and local governments, non-governmental agencies like Red Cross, and other nations. The mission is both defense of the continent and providing military support to civil agencies in response to natural disasters or other crises. Yes, I am pleased about the opportunity, though I would rather have made the move about 3-4 months from now.

As for the knitting group, I found it when Dale and I stopped in the local coffee shop and discovered they hosted a knitting group. The waitress took my e-mail address and promised to pass it on to the group the next time they were there. She did and they contacted me and I was able to join them this morning. The group is called “Yarn for Breakfast” as it meets in the AM (though they’ve spun off “Yarn for Supper” for an evening gathering as well.) Yarn for Breakfast is both low fat and high fiber.

I talked two friends (Pat and Kathy) into joining me. Kathy is a lightning fast knitter and Pat is a remarkable beginner. That’s Pat showing off her dishcloth first project. Kathy is working on the first sleeve for a ribbed raglan she’s making. We all had fun with these ladies. They are a wonderfully eclectic and fun group of knitters of all levels of experience. It was a great three hours of knitting and talking and drinking great coffee. All this and it’s less than a mile from my house. If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard.

Speaking of the back yard. It’s really greening up…and look what I found!

I know I still owe a photo of the capital steps socks, but you may have to wait till I finish sock number two. It’s about a third of the way done, so that shouldn’t be too long.

Love, Jan