Fog and the Flock

Sometimes, if you’re driving in the early evening and it’s foggy, you will see birds or deer in the gloaming, and the effect is almost grainy, like a bit of old film.

One night, while heading south on 83 into northern Baltimore, I stopped at Northern Parkway and waited at the light. The fog was lit up by 83 below the other side of the bridge. And in the dusky sky, lit from below by yellow and white car lights speeding like search beams, were a hundred or so sharp winged swifts darting to catch bugs in the evening. The ones backlit and closest to my intersection were in sharp relief, but the ones in the background were almost like stop reel animation.

I’m looking for inspiration for the new cycle in Project Spectrum, which is yellow, air, East, and wood and Spring. This visual event was magically brief, but I’m not sure how to translate it into the project (beyond getting out my woodcutting tools and doing a printer’s block of the scene).

Update on the Dreamswatch

Dreamswatch in progress

I’ve finally made a bit of progress on the Dreamswatch. I’m up to 25 inches, and hoping to finish it up today. Maybe pictures soon?

I love this yarn (Panda Cotton), given to me by a friend last year. Just a lovely gift — especially the colors. I’m having fun thinking how nice it might look on the recipient too, due to coloring and straight red hair.

If it looks really cute on me, I might need to buy some more Panda Cotton, maybe in Muir Woods so I can make another one of these now that I’ve memorized the pattern. Or, maybe I’ll invest in enough to make a vest with the center panel in the Dream swatch pattern (or, while I’m at it, maybe I should just adapt some thicker weight wool to that, so I don’t really tackle a project that becomes huge because I’m using sock-weight yarn). It’s a hobby, right?

Future projects

Binoculars and mug

Originally uploaded by rjknits

Projects I want to work on:
1. Finish the Hiiummas Stashbusting socks.
2. Finish the arches scarf (which is looking more like pillars, but never mind).
3. Finally get gauge for Rusted Root, and make some progress.
4. I have 2 vests’ worth of lovely yarn, gifted to me in 2008. And, since I’m pretty spectacularly cold at the office, it would be great to use up this largesse.
5. Attempt to do more photography of my knitting. I mean, I’m able to take pictures of mugs and binoculars that look great… why not woolly things?

So, any challenges that you’re looking forward to?

My Quick Resolutions for the New Year

1. Work hard.
2. Learn new things (we’ve already practiced “life is hard in 2008″ so I’m hoping I get to learn “life is rewarding in 2009″… or start language tapes to deal with a ginormous daily commute).
3. Save up for travel.
4. Love being in love.*

My less grandiose resolutions:

1. Finish some of my WIPs in the knitting pile.**
2. Continue reducing clutter.*
3. Sing more.
4. Set aside time to write, draw and paint.

*Some of these are carryovers from previous years. Some of them have been easier to keep than others.

**I currently have one pair of socks barely begun and 2 gifts that are still on the to do pile, giving me guilt. So, any carryovers from 2008 of projects or goals you still want to accomplish? Spill here!