Boston - Day 6

Hi,





Our last full day!! Sad? Sort of, but on the other hand the hotel room is small and without fresh air, so won't be sorry to leave that behind. This morning whilst the loud disturbing neighbours had gone, they had kindly left their alarm set for 5.55 so that rang for an hour!! Touching reminder of their presence!!

I was up early and eventually roused Jon so that we started our day at the Flat Black at around 8. 30 ish. Excellent flat white coffees again after a weekend without and we discussed our options for the day. We decided on the Boston Library followed by lunch at Figs on Charles road. Heartily recommended for excellent food particularly pizza's. We only allow ourselves one pizza a week so it has got to be good - therefore research is important. So the Boston Library has some interesting features firstly it is huge and was intended to be the largest library in the US. Not sure that it retains that title now. It has some fantastic features including some murals by John Singer Sargent and the hugest reference library I have ever seen. On the down side there were parts of it that we uncared for and tatty - but this didn't detract from the magnificence of the building. I particularly like the newer part where the walls were covered in embroidered wall hanging depicting the worlds changes and mans relationship to nature and the planet.



I left Jon reading whilst I went to chase a DVD order at Barnes at Nobel. No luck there though and we meet up again at Figs, where on ordering our Pizza's the waitress kindly told us we would probably manage one between the two of us as the are 16"/ Phew thank god she did, so we had two different toppings and got stuck in. It did not defeat us until afterwards when we were only good to flop on the bed for a couple of hours moaning at the walls. However, refreshed we walked back up to Trinity church and admired both the garden and the stained glass windows. A stroll down Newbury street followed desperately trying to find something to bring home for Georgina. No luck. Then suddenly, I was walked out and just had to stop. 6 days of energetically walking the streets of Boston had finally caught up with me and I flopped onto a bench in the Prudential Centre (there are worse places!!) and Jon left me there bravely eating some Ben and Jerry's whilst he spent $12 to go to the very top of the building. He found me still eating - I did confess I'd gone back for seconds - with my energy restored we caught the T back via the Whole Foods store where Jon stocked up for his supper.

Today I am booked into the Aveda store for a hair cut and manicure. Only way I know to end a holiday. You may be wondering about the knitting. Well, this has taken a bit of a back seat primarily due to the lack of i-pod and listening material to keep me amused whilst knitting and secondly I went wrong.

Bye for now.

Boston Day 5

Hi,

After yesterday we were both pleased to have a good nights sleep even though our neighbours again woke us at 6.15am. Bless them. We staggered up to Starbucks for our now routine breakfast and then after a discussion caught a train from North Station to Salem. What a fascinating place. I loved the residential areas - very very pretty and we now have a sense of what the famous "fall" looks like, the leaves fluttered down around us as we walked on bricked sidewalks surrounded by these huge shuttered houses. Stunning. However, we then stumbled across the 'mall' and it was so commercialised that we couldn't wait to leave. We'd checked the guide book for a recommendation for lunch and found Red's the sandwich store. Say sandwich to me and I conjure up ciabatta, rye, pumpernickel, soda, wholewheat and other varieties of bread and a huge selection of fillings, mozzarella, pesto, hams etc. I did not imagine, deep fried eggs (any which way) Hovis style bread, chunks of potato fried within an inch of its life and tomato ketchup. Hey ho. Jon had a lovely meal and I bought freshly made spicy tomato soup on the way back to the station. We concluded the day by finishing the remainder of the trolley bus tour we hadn't done yesterday and got off at the Christian Science Headquarters which is stunning.

Found, better late than never, the Whole Foods shop and finally managed to buy some fresh salad stuff and fruit. First apple for almost a week. Anyway we ended up in the public park having a competition to see who could take the best picture of the bronze duck sculpture given to the park by one of the presidents wives. It is only one of two sculpture based on a children's book. The other is in Gorky park in Moscow. We will see the photos when we get home.

Last full day tomorrow, sadly so I think we will go to the Boston Library and take it from there.

Jane

Boston Day 4

Firstly I apologise for incorrectly naming the museum the Isabella Stuart museum. The correct name is the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum. I am such an ignorant. Apologies to anyone I offended. Anyway we went to the play - in the rain - down Commonwealth Avenue and had huge fun dashing from shop cover to shop cover trying to find somewhere to eat and stay dry until the theatre opened. We went to a place called T Anthony's. This restaurant is dedicated to students and Red Sox. Knowing nothing about such matters the photos on the wall were lost on us but the food was great. The theatre was tiny and had no bar just some cozy seats to sit on whilst waiting for the performance. The author of the play was there and chatting to some drama students who had come to support him. The play - Five Down and One Across - was about a middle aged woman whose elderly mother was living with her. The daughter Betty is in a same sex relationship that she has to deny to her mother. Her gay friends are there visiting too and her son from a former marriage calls round to tell her he's gay. It was a very good play and we enjoyed it.

Yesterday - Saturday the weather was glorious. Clear blue skies, sunny and warmish. Jon's cold had got really bad and couple with very loud neighbours we didn't sleep much. However I left Jon in the park and went down to the shops where I spent a happy few hours wandering around the Bond Street of Boston Newbury Street. I didn't really go into any shops but it was lovely soaking up the atmosphere. I met Jon in the Market area round the harbour and we decided on Wagamama's for lunch. We shared our table with a couple of ladies who were delightful. One is an administrator up at Harvard and the other, Laura, an attorney who is also a knitter. We shared many laughs and exchanged Ravelry names and will stay in contact on the forum. The other lady, whose name escapes had with her her lovely 4mth old daughter Katie. Never heard a peep from her. A real sweetie.

Our afternoon was spent watching street performers and then doing a trolley bus tour. Excellent - Big Al told us much more than we'd got from the books and we saw the Cheers Bar, Kennedy's address in Beacon Hill, the Scientology Church and fountain area in Back Bay and the whole tour was really really interesting.

Jon still felt rough when we went to bed but I'm hopeful for a better day today. Thanks for emailing me Jenny to let me know the finale squares on the Mystery Blanket 2010. They sound wonderful as does the edging.

More tomorrow.

Jane

Boston-Day 3

Hi,

Woke early again, but didn't fancy a walk so just sat at the computer laughing at emails from the lovely Georgina!! Yes you Georgie! Sadly then disaster struck and I forgot I had my beloved and well used i-pod touch in the back pocket of my jeans - went to the restroom and the rest, as they say is history. I cried, yes laughter and tears all before 7.00 am. However, recalling the memorial to the Holocaust survivors I got a firm grip of myself and Jon and I then had a lovely breakfast together at Starbucks whilst waiting for the now elusive rain to arrive. Latest information said 10.00am. Next back to Flat Black for a Flat White and Dry Cap to go. Still no rain so we caught a variety of T's to the Museum of Art somewhere in Boston weighed down with wet weather gear in temperatures of 75+!! We did weep a little at the entrance costs as would much rather spend our money on food but when there are Monet's to be seen and the odd Picasso then I suppose it's worth it. And it was. There was one particular artist called Kirsten Baker that I really loved. Will try to find some of her other work. Stunning.

The Monet's etc were also absolutely breathtaking and worth each painful step along the way. As it was now approaching lunchtime we headed for the Isabella Stuart Museum in the same area where the restaurant came with recommendations. Defiantly worth a visit - food was some of the best we've had. Excellent. The museum was left (according to her will) exactly as she left it on the day she died and goes around a central covered courtyard that houses some beautiful flowers and trees. The Museum is on 3 floors and the Art is both quirky and imposing with letters from Napoleon and George Washington as well as some impressive painting from artists including Titan and Rubens. Loads more, just can't bring them to mind. On leaving the museum we discovered it was raining. At last. 24 hours coming and finally here. We then caught the T to the Apple Store where I reluctantly confessed what had happen to the beloved i-pod and then promptly went into debt to buy the new and improved model - one that I can access my emails from in any area that has internet connection. Who knew!! Camera's pretty nifty too.



Anyway we are off to the theatre tonight as this seems to be our big culture day. Will let you know what the play is like tomorrow.



Knitting went reasonably well today. Slowed down a bit as spending more time doing than sitting. Hey ho.



Jane

Boston Diary - Day 2

Hi,



Woke early, so without disturbing Jon I left the hotel and legged it round Boston Common for 3/4 hour ending up in Starbucks for a peppermint tea. Had to fight with the lace knitting from yesterday and lost ended up in the frog pond but now - 8 hours later - back to where I was before I hit my knitting wall. Hey ho. Anyway after a rocky start to the day, Jon and I got our act together and went back to Flat Black, a wonderful coffee shop near the harbour in Milk street where we enjoyed another excellent coffee before we set off for a day in the museums. We had been primed for heavy rain but after speaking the lady in Windsor Button (popped in for a quickie) we changed our minds. She promised the rain would not arrived in Boston until 3.00 pm so we decided against the Art galleries and hit Harvard instead.



What a revelation Harvard is. It is beautiful and rich. Everything is white if you know what I mean. Neat, tidy, clean and symmetrical. The buildings are spotless and well maintained and it is quite stunning. Like yesterday we followed a walk that took us through the university and back down over bridges and the Harvard Business School. Amazing. We had a fabulous lunch in a veggie place that was rough and ready but very good food.



I splashed out and bought a new Swatch Watch called Rebel. At 53 I'm delighted that I'm still drawn to purple and even more thrilled that the style is called Rebel. Sad but true. Anyway we then caught the T back to Park and then Government Hall where we stood in awe at the Holocaust Memorial. The finest I have ever seen. I felt utterly humbled.



Anyway we are now shattered after all the walking and so taking a rest for the evening. Fab day though and still waiting for the rain!!

Bye for now.

Boston

Hi,

I know, I know, still no photo of the sequin square. It will have to wait as events have overtaken me. Here I am sitting in downtown Boston having seriously broken my vow of not buying any yarn whilst away. OMG The Windsor Button is THE most fantastic shop. The guys in there are delightful and helped in every way possible including finding me the Highlighter Tape that not only does the Yarn Harlot love but is impossible to find in UK. Still, I have some in my hot sweaty hand. Anyway back to the start. Travelling here was seamless and uneventful in fact really quite a pleasure. I switch off and dozed on the flight and suddenly we had arrived at Logan Airport, Boston. Taxi to hotel and then straight out for dinner. The hotel room is basic, very very basic but we don't intend to be in it for long except to shower and sleep. So it will do. First stop this morning was Starbucks for breakfast - thank god for the Multi grain bagel and then off to the Freedom Trail. I might add here that the sun was so hot today that I sweltered even without my vest on!!!! The trail took us around all the hugely significant historical sights from the Boston Tea Party thing to the first City Hall and for the most part it was interesting. Of course the best bit was straying from the trail and going to the Windsor Button where I bought some exquisite yarn. Some sparkly Dream in Colour (black with silver sparkles) and some Madeline Tosh Lace (Magenta) and two wee skeins of Elite Merino in the shade green to knit the Prairie Rose shawl. The second we stooped for coffee I was knitting, same with lunch. I feel my holiday has officially started. Anyway we completed the trail and ended up at the harbour where we sat for a while, then made our way back to the hotel reluctant to go indoors as we know the weather tomorrow is rain. Still an excellent introduction to Boston. Plus, I popped back to the WB and bought some stitch markers and some more Addi lace needles - as if I don't have enough!!

Anyway huge thanks to Janie B for recommending the shop and for my Guilty Knitter friend Judie for saying I'd love Boston. She is right.

Catch up soon.

Jane

Whoops!

Hi,

When I last posted about the .......... (insert your own swear word) sequin square it seems I completely overlooked the fact that a few days later I am off on holiday for a week to Boston in the States. No reason why you should care much however, firstly this lead to the camera being packed early - I'm not in charge of camera packing - hence no picture! Secondly what am I going to knit on the plane and the week away? Anyone know this one? So I think, lovely I can knit with the exquisite green silk yarn from Fyberspates and make another shawl like the Prairie Rose Shawl. All was going well until my good knitting Buddie pointed out that this yarn was not doing to give me a lovely cosy shawl like my other one (see Jane13 Ravelry page). She is absolutely right and consequently this lead to further panic and a dash to Loop my favourite London Knitting Store to buy some cashmere yarn. But who knew they no longer open on Mondays!!! The disappointment was huge especially as half the purpose of all this knitting stuff stops me thinking about the journey to Boston which is not my favourite part.

So what am I going to do on the plane? I'm still not sure, I am taking some bright pink Madeline Tosh Yarn but when I get an idea fixed in my mind it is very hard to budge it so hey ho I'm guessing my first stop in Boston will be the highly recommended Windsor Button to seek that elusive Cashmere yarn.

Catch up soon

Jane

Fish and other News!

This is a short post until I have got round to taking a photo of the ... square.

As you know I am a huge fan of Debbie Abraham's and her skills as a designer of blankets but on some rare occasions I have been known to mutter her name with a few added swear words. Those of you who know me will know that I don't hold back when it comes to externalising my feelings!!!! So during the week when I started a new square I was excited to be doing the sequined one. Then on reading the pattern I discover there are 153 sequins per square. Yes 153 sequins!! Anyway they were duly threaded onto the cotton glace (colour Tickle - what a name) and over a couple of evenings I completed the square. It is stunning. So worth the effort. This is turning into the very best blanket ever.

There is another important event going on for me at the moment. Many years ago when my contemporaries were finishing school and going onto university I became very unwell and had a breakdown. Nothing that remarkable but the consequences of bowing out of the rat race for a while meant I missed many of the normal events that my peer group experienced. I was having a whole range of experiences that I'm not sure others would particularly want to have!! Psychiatric wards back in the late '70's were not that brilliant for a 19 year old and it was a very sad time for me and my family. Anyway I'll get to the point, yesterday I enrolled at university. This brings tears to my eyes. Yes I have professional qualifications - I caught up a bit later in life - and I am studying a new model of psychotherapy rather than getting a degree in Ancient Roman History or some other grand subject but none the less I have experienced the enrolment process and felt so welcome. I thought to myself "better late than never"!!! My 50's are proving to be an exciting time of life.

The course is part time, 26 Thursday's a year, and I am doing it for myself, I'm pleased that I don't really need the qualification for work, so I am under no external pressures. I feel very lucky and am really looking forward to the course starting. I shall keep you informed and hope I keep up this positive frame of mind when I'm knee deep in reading and assignments!!

Jane

Fish Blanket

So, here are some photos of the first strip of the Fish Blanket completed. Before you say it, yes I agree, the photo trying to capture the whole strip is pretty pathetic, even for an amateur which is why I did the close ups!! When I browse others blogs I am constantly in awe of how they photograph detailed knitting project that are the size of a small house whereas I can't seem to get a decent shot of my first blanket strip!!! Hey ho, hopefully you get the idea.

I have now progressed to the second strip having completed this months Mystery Blanket square and I am still delighted with each new square. Even when they are repeats.

A true joy.

Jane

Knitter in Distress

When the phone rings very early on a Monday morning there are a number of thoughts that can go through my head. One is " that's it, the cancer (or heart failure) has finally beaten my mother and she died in the night" another is " daughter has had a accident and is lying in hospital in Sardinia" (just to clarify she is on holiday there at the moment) one more thought is " husband has forgotten to tell me something before leaving for work 10 minutes ago". You'll notice that as these thought bombard my brain they are getting less and less important but non the less in the 5-10 seconds it takes me to reach the phone not once did I think this is a friend in a Knitting Crisis. But it was. This friend was in a real frenzy regarding the very serious matter of knitting a garment that when tried on (knitting a top down garment allows for this joy) was not just large but actually resembled a tent - her words not mine!!! So with blue light flashing I of course respond with equal seriousness and we arrange to meet later to discuss the way forward.

I can't go into the details of this trauma but suffice to say that my poor knitting friend is going to have to 'frog' a huge amount of knitting and what's more it is 2 ply lace weight yarn. Need I say anymore!!! The good news is that she is, for the most part, a process knitter and now that my heart has returned to normal I resolve to remember that when the phone rings either early or late I shall remind myself that the most likely reason is a Knitter in Distress.

Jane

....and on

I haven't got a photo to display yet but work on the Fish blanket is progressing well. In the meantime following on from thoughts about the perfect knitting project it occurred to me that this can be extended into just how much knitting each day, week, month year etc is perfect. Well, for a start off I need to delete the word perfect from my vocabulary as it is over rated and in my case unrealistic. So how much knitting is good enough to keep me this side of sane and happy. Again I shall use my blanket square as a good example. It is 38 st x 50 rows on 3mm needles with cotton glace which is almost a DK weight. One square depending on its pattern takes me a day too knit. Before you leap off your chair in amazement at how weedily slow my knitting is I do not mean I sit down at 9.00am and finish a square at 5.00pm, I mean with the 1/2 hr in the morning, maybe a couple of rows are managed during the day and the bulk in the evening I can usually get a square done. But, of course, this doesn't take note of the fluctuations in mood and energy levels. Because these play a huge part in my relationship to my knitting (and everything and everyone else in my life) sometimes I manage a square (or equivalent) a week and on other worrying occasions I might be so hyper that I managed 2 nay 3 squares in one day. Yes, this has happened often when I'm on holiday and have oodles of time free from the drudgery of shopping, washing, cooking and work (although I do love my work). So to get the balance right if I knit one square (or equivalent) a day, I am happy and pleased with my knitting output, more or less needs looking at!!!

Following On.......................

The perfect project for me at the moment is then a blanket, I’ve now got 3 on the go, the Mystery Blanket ’10, a small one from a Sublime booklet 600 and now Fish from Debbie Abrahams book.

I have had such a lovely time sourcing the discontinued Rowan Glace yarns and speaking with some utterly delightful people all of whom helped hugely. Firstly Debbie herself who has promised to send 4 balls of Hyacinth, beads and sequins (when she’s down off of cloud 9 after her wedding on Saturday) to a gentleman in Ilkley Yorkshire who climbed ladders to see if he did have two balls of Tickle!! I began my search in Surry at The Yarn House, where, I bought one ball of the Hyacinth – in case Debbie is away a while. I next found Tickle at Create with Wool in Ilkley via their on-line shop but when I rang a kind young man discovered that they didn’t actually have it after all but they did have 6 balls of Pier another hard to find colour. I got a call the next morning from a lovely lady who wanted to check if I minded that one ball of Pier was from a different dye lot. At this stage I cared not a hoot. She then went on to talk with me for ages about our love of knitting, creativity in general and we discussed Debbie and her wedding.

I then was relieved to find 2 balls of Tickle (the exact requirements) on eBay and received them promptly 2 days later – thank God for PayPal. I sourced Buttercup on the website of British Yarn a ball of Ecru in my stash (left over from knitting Afternoon Tea) and finally bought the rest from Liberties.

Of course I then photocopied and laminated the pattern then found my wonderful 3mm blue Signature needles and started – the results speak for themselves.

Another New Project

Hi

In the 40 odd years since I first started knitting I have begun many more projects than I have finished. Since the recent knitting revival and the advent of Ravelry and my favourite knitting group The Guilty Knitters I have completed many more projects, and much to my surprise even worn some of them. However, knitting jumpers or cardigans is not doing it for me at the moment. Of course this might change in the future. Consequently I have been searching for a project that fulfils my knitting needs. I thought the Knit Camp Vest would do it but I genuinely have an issue with my finger and if it had been on straights I might have continued but on circulars then no way.

I sincerely believe that if you are not enjoying your hobby then do something different. As I have got older and I like to think a little wiser, I cannot see the point in ‘making’ myself do something that is not giving me any pleasure. This could be viewed as an excuse for giving up on projects that appear challenging and in some instances that might well be true – and my response is so what. I can always come back to it and in the words of the Yarn Harlot, the knitting police are not looking at me.

Anyway back to the search for a project, I have decided to knit another blanket from Debbie Abrahams book “100 more blankets”. This project is perfect because each square is different and can be completed without hassle, you can complete a strip and sew to the next completed strip and before you know it you have an exquisite blanket. However, half the colours Debbie suggests have been discontinued so I’m on the lookout for some yarn, cotton glace, in Tickle, Buttercup, Hyacinth and Pier. This part of starting a project is so exciting.

Catch up soon

Another WIP

I would like to ponder for just a moment on the quest for the perfect knitting project. Due to nearly 45 years of knitting history, I think I kind of know when to throw the towel in on a project and sadly it looks as if the Knit Camp Vest may be going the same way as several other "works in progress" or put another way "abandoned knitting disasters". The perfect knitting project has to be somewhere between a challenge and a nightmare. The vest is nudging towards the nightmare end of the scale. Not, I hasten to add because of the fairisle but because it is knitted in the round and therefore requires circular needles (usually a joy) that constantly needs shoving by my poor finger currently battered and bruised. Most non knitters will not understand this concept but believe me, my finger can't take any more. Plus I've gone wrong and can't be arsed to frog it back and correct the error. What's more ( adopt an indignant voice here) I snapped a brand new Knit Pro wooden needle before I'd even completed one round. The knitting gods are yelling at me to gently put this down before I stab someone with the left over Knit Pro needle.

The perfect knitting project for me is a blanket, manageable, colorful and at the same time challenging. Plus no possibility that it won't fit. Utterly perfect.

So, (adopt calmer voice here) I have been seduced into knitting a garter stitch baby blanket for a friend who is still only 5 months pregnant. See photo above. It is knitted in Sirdar Sublime which I bought from Purl a delightful independent knitting shop behind Brighton's main station. My daughter and I spent a glorious couple of days in Sussex conquering the shops and eateries in Lewes and Brighton and one stop was Purl. The yarn is soft and squidgy and a pleasure to knit with, on straight needles, Signatures by the way. I was never going to wear the Knit Camp Vest anyway (adopt truculent teenagers voice here). So it will end up with a few other unwanted and unloved projects until I can legitimately dispose of it. Please don't ask me how or where. That's a secret!!

Jane

Soldiering on

Mystery Blanket squares done for this month so now back to the challenge of my knitting life. The Knit Camp Vest. This can be seen on the Jamieson and Smith website www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk where it issold a kit. Pattern is a download from Ravelry by the designer Ann Kingstone. Anyway it is my first serious fairilse and I'm trying hard to use a 'picking and throwing' method. At least I think that's what it's called. I've made it past the corrugated rib and I'm now on row 18!! My good friend, who I need to state here and now, is retired is storming ahead and I'm determined not to start a race to the finish!! Photo next time. I'm off to Beach Head, Brighton, Lewes and Burling Gap for the next 3 days for a mini break with my daughter. Can't wait.

Jane

Relief from the fight

Phew, my parcel from Debbie Abrahams arrived today. What this means is that I can legitimately turn my back on the Corrugated Rib and fight the fight with beads and intarsia instead. I'm sharing a picture of some of the squares completely. As someone who struggles not to be a 'good girl' I always complete the square each month so that I stay on track. I have a horror of getting left behind or left out come to that. Hey ho another 'issue' for my therapist. Will keep in touch.

Jane

The Battle of the German Twisted Cast On

A new blog, a new project and renewed hope. Let battle commence. First I found a design in a magazine The Knit Camp Vest by Ann Kingstone and bought the Kit by Jamieson and Smith only to find there was no pattern. Not defeated yet - found the pattern on Ravelry. Good bless its armoury, downloaded the pattern and wept. Realising I would need reinforcements I gently persuaded a fellow knitter to join me in this quest to achieve our first Fairisle garment. So we gathered our weapons, Addi circulars/knit pro or Addi Lace and battle commenced. Firstly we had to learn a completely new cast on method - Twisted German Cast on to be precise. Pages of notes and a quick peak at a you tube video and we were off. Number of stitches required is 256 the number will be forever printed on my mind. This new cast on involved a long tail. Something that seems utterly beyond me and after 4/5 attempts I made a decision to cave in and do a simple cable cast on. One battle to the Kitting Gods. Next learn the Corrugated Rib technique. So far so good. It looked simple enough, 3 knit stitches in white, 1 purl stitch in pale blue. But no another look at You Tube and I discover that the way to do a proper corrugated rib involves knitting 2 rows before you actually complete one. So yes that's 512 stitches before one row is completed. This is a real challenge. Only 7 or should I say 14 rows to go until the Fairisle starts. The pain in one finger is already causes me to wince so may have to break for a while to do Mystery Blanket squares then yippee back to some more corrugated rib!!!

Catch up soon.