Do-overs
Posted by Lanea on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
I’ve been repeating myself a lot lately. As I’ve mentioned, it’s been quite a spring here for us. I’ve been feeling overtaxed and overwhelmed and not terribly interested in taking on challenging projects–unless dirt and stone were involved. Hence, the wall, mindless reading, and some repetitive knitting.
As I was building, I had a bad stacking day. You can see where my relatively smooth (I say “relatively” fully aware that an actual mason would point and laugh at my efforts) wall turned into a chaotic mess once it curved past the downspout.
Well, out it came. I removed about half of the wall and restacked, just as I would rip back if I found a nasty mistake in a sock. Of course, I couldn’t just drop down to the error, and stones are much heavier than yarn, but you see the analogy, no?
The wall is done. At least for now. When the time comes to replace the (horribly placed, crumbling, evil, ugly, plant frying) sidewalk and reface the (ugly, crumbling, boring, stained) front porch, I know at least part of this will be removed and reworked. I’m ok with that. Frogged stones rebound even better than frogged yarn does.
My knitting projects are revolving around old favorites. Old favorite yarns and patterns, preferably associated with dear friends and destined for loved ones. I made another Fand’s Stole to use up the last of the gorgeous yarn from Spirit Trail. It still needs to be blocked and I have a few stray ends to weave in, and I don’t know whether I get to keep it, but I love it.
And I’m working on another pair of Hedgerow socks for my Mom.
I’m making these out of Frija with some grey that Anj gave me on the heels and toes. There’s more knitting waiting in the wings for my Mom–specifically a chemo cap or two. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy last Friday. She is healing well from the surgery, is brave and strong and ready for what comes next. Once she heals from the surgery, she’ll undergo chemo and radiation, and then cozy handknits will come in handy. It’s the least I can do. In fact, I plan to do more, and to hit you up for donations and help as I do, gentle reader. Who feels like kicking cancer’s ass with us, hmmm?
Filed in blather,gardening,knitting | 7 responses so far
anjon 02 Jul 2009 at 12:44 pm 1I am always up for kicking cancer’s ass!
Janeon 02 Jul 2009 at 7:02 pm 2Me too!
rachelon 02 Jul 2009 at 8:11 pm 3She’s been in my thoughts–as have you, my dear–I’ve just been too crazy busy to stop by. But I’ve got my kicking shoes on!
Bullwinkleon 04 Jul 2009 at 6:39 am 4O.k. (before we go kick cancer’s ass) lets take a moment to admire that stone wall. It is an amazing amount of (back-breaking) work and I’m duly impressed. (I was actually gaping and a bit speechless as I realized the extent of it. Then you humbly turned our attention away from admiring your work, to your mom. And dropped a bomb.)
(Seriously – I’ve contemplated making a wall myself. (ouch!) Did you have any training? Guidance?)
O.k. back to the important stuff. Your mom – I’m in. I’ll be thinking of you both. Breast cancer is beatable. Hang in there.
gayleon 04 Jul 2009 at 6:41 am 5I definitely feel like kicking.
Love your wall. I’ve got a long term wall-building project going on – I’m terracing a hill with herb garden beds. My goal is fairy-wall – tattered and ancient-looking and moss-covered. My husband keeps trying to help, but his wall is too straight and regular. I keep asking which side of Hadrian’s wall he’s living on…
Jinannon 16 Jul 2009 at 5:10 pm 6Yup…let’s kick it!
Your wall looks great! Your hard work really paid off.
lellaon 05 Aug 2009 at 2:52 pm 7*kick!* Damn cancer… dammit! *Kick!*
And that rock wall looks fine! It isn’t so high it would pose a danger if it did fall over somehow, though highly unlikely that it ever will.
I built two rock walls myself and they are still up and doing fine because they were short in height, like yours, and this is even earthquake country. The natural walls always look much better. Good for you to work off your nervous energy in a positive way.