Although this academic year finished for the Stepson last week and he returned to us by Friday he had to go back to Cambridge today to get his second year examination results (they won't post them or contact the candidates in any way). He rang us up this evening to say that he had achieved a First! That's really good news, which means that if he continues to work well the chances are that he'll get a good degree next year. The Husband was kind enough to say that my influence had some contribution in his childhood as I was the one who encouraged the Stepson's love of reading, which helped to develop into his great love of History.
A fox seems to have taken up occupation in our garden. We've seen it wandering about the garden quite a few times. A couple of weeks ago, when the Husband was opening a window he disturbed the fox, which was sunbathing in the flowerbed immediately outside the window. This morning when I opened the curtains to that window there, on the grass below the window, was the fox which clearly did not realise that it was being observed and kept on sauntering across the garden. It's odd that there can be such mixed feelings towards foxes in this country. The country lobby just wishes that hunting was still permitted (my own opinion is that the banning of hunting was one of the best things to happen in this Parliament). In urban areas foxes are very popular with people. Not with our cats though: very shortly after the fox had sauntered through the garden Nimrod went outside and almost immediately shot back in through the catflap with his tail like a brush. I suspect that he didn't enjoy some of the scents he came across.
The finger seems to be healing nicely and I have started knitting without problems, though there is a limit to the amount I can do at any one time. I am working on a cardigan in 4-ply, suitable for summer evenings. Crochet I still cannot do - I think that I shall have to reteach myself to crochet so that I thread the yarn through my fingers in what is, for me, a different way.
8 comments:
Foxes are so beautiful. Hunky Husband espied one in our woods, when we first moved here (whilst I was still gainfully employed and not having time to sit gazing into our yard!) Our cats would go crazy, too, were the fox to return (or the coyotes that we saw scampering about in the snow a few winters ago). Nimrod shows good sense.
Such good news on your hand! As to knitting, four-ply is easier to work with than two- or three-ply; but, it is a bit heavy for summer wear, here. I envy you your climate--I think! This could be "the grass is always greener" on my part, though. Cop Car
I was a little surprised only to see one fox. Are they pack animals? I just don't know.
Over here the most common weights of knitting yarn are Double Knit and Chunky, with 4 ply and Aran following on behind. Knitting patterns for summer weight clothes are common in 4 ply when the summer weather can, to say the least, be a bit unpredictable and a bit chilly at times (although we are finally coming out of a fortnight of incredibly hot weather - over 90 and very high humidity). You can find 2 and 3 ply yarns in the shops for babies: to find it for adults requires searching for very specialist yarn producers, usually a small business that supplies by mail order. In fact knitting for adults using finer yarns than 4 ply is very rare over here.
Foxes: If one knows where the den is, one might be treated to the sight of a vixen and her kits; but, other than that, don't think I've ever seen more than one fox at a time. One must consider, however, that in my whole life, I've seen few.
I'm trying to recall the ply-weight of the yarn from which I made Dudette's lacy poncho. It was either 2 or 3. I found it in adult colors at a shop up in Wichita--near the Red Cross chapter office. Much of our home-knit wear is as much for fashion as it is for warmth. We tend to use man-made materials, rather than wool, too. Wool is so expensive that I haven't tried using it yet. When I wear wool (of which almost all of my work pants and jackets were made), I prefer a tropical weight that can be worn all year. Even my 2-ply cardigan-style cashmere sweaters were too warm to be worn more than 4 months of the year.
You have been having our weather. How freaky! It is 65 degrees, this morning, but it's been weeks since the temperature has been that low. Even with that, the temperature will reach nearly 90, today (after several days of high 90s). Keep the fans going!
Cop Car
I live in an area called the "Fox Valley." I understand that we have foxes in the area, but I've never seen one. What's so odd about that is that our yard is the runway connecting Federal land with a forest preserve, so we see all kinds of wildlife. It must be fascinating to have the chance to observe your fox, although I'm sure Nimrod doesn't think so!
I'm glad to know that you're getting back the use of your hand. I hope you'll find a comfortable way to re-tension the yarn so that you can crochet.
Congratulations on your step-son's great grades! His success must be very gratifying for you.
Buffy
CopCar,
Are you quite sure that we are talking about the same weight of yarn. 4-ply for us is quite fine certainly finer than our DK which is, of course, quite thinner than your worsted yarn weight I'm not certain but I suspect that 4-ply yarn is finer than your fingering weight yarn. Certainly it is suitable for summer weght cardigans.
Ah, Perhaps foxes usually do go around on their own and not in packs - that explains why our one (who I have to admit we haven't seen since I posted this) is always on his/her own.
Buffy,
Glad to see you back! Hope your knee is feeling better.
I suspect that our fox is one of the Urban kind. I saw a tv documentary on urban feral creatures and it said that it takes a fox a year to adapt to urban living. We live in the suburbs and perhaps he/she has got used to living amongst people. It sounds as if your type of foxes are the rural type.
CopCar,
Going back to your note about yarn I must admit I try to knit with wool whenever I can afford it. There is no greater pleasure in knitting with pure wool, rather than man-made yarns. I can't explain it, it is just so much nicer to knit with. It is, though, much more expensive to knit with - probably at least £50 for the wool alone to knit a jersey for a man (I knit one for the Husband in pure wool and although it was expensive it was worth it).
Yoiks, Val, it takes skill much beyond mine to venture into knitting with such expensive yarns. I may never get to that point. The man-made yarns are so inexpensive (about $1.25/3 oz or $3.50/8 oz) that I am not fearful of waste with them. I agree that knitting with real wools should be much more agreeable.
There must be a difference in the way our yarns are categorized. Our worsted weight yarn is labeled: "worsted weight/4 ply". To me, it is a rather coarse yarn, best knit using #8 - #13 (that is, 5 - 9 mm) needles.
I remember, back in secondary school, knitting with a 2- or 3-ply yarn, using #4 needles, to make items for babies (nothing as complicated as clothing). Even that yarn/needle combination produced fabric bulkier than I should wish in a cardigan. (But, then, I suffer from heat and do not wish to wear overly-warm clothing.)
Cop Car
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