Sunday, February 22, 2009

New Sea Chest

We picked up our new maple Sea Chest today made by:


Henderson & Vinci, Historical Cabinetmakers & Joyners
205 Birch Street, N.E.
Leesburg, Virginia 20176-2521, USA
(703) 777-3923 Fax (703) 777-9507


henderson.and.vinci@erols.com







It is beautiful. Normally, Sea Chests are painted. But I loved the wood so much that I just can't see painting it.
We put it at the end of our bed. However, Gwen the cockatoo believes that it is a striped, maple, cockatoo eater. So, for now, we had to cover it up. We will slowly uncover it so that she can get used to it slowly.
I finished a custom order for a pair of silk stockings. These stockings have my new toe and heel. Since I am mimicking 18th Century hand knit stockings (which were knit with fine needles), I didn't like my machine knit toe and heel for my reproduction stockings.
I am apprehensive on whether the customer will like these stockings as much as I do. He is an expert on 18th Century clothing and has had some actually garments in his collection.












Saturday, February 07, 2009

Finally a Vacation

We are finally well enough after our bout with stomach flu to actually be doing our usual vacation things such as road bike riding. Although the weather has been a little rainy, we have been getting a ride in everyday since Tuesday. We even tried to fit in a mountain bike ride with a bunch of folks from The Hilo Bike Hub. Turned out to be not such a good idea.

Mountain biking is not a skill I hold. And after last night, I am not sure that I will be willing to try again. I did a "great" fall trying to jump over a log. Didn't do either well - I didn't jump the log and I didn't fall well. First picture is of my left arm and the other is of my left knee.






I would have kept riding even after wiping out except on the fall, I somehow messed up my left hand. Scratches and bruises have never stopped me from riding but when I can't hold unto the handlebar, I have no option but to quit. I have had the wrist immobilized since last night following icing and it hurts much less today although it is still swollen (not much). I don't think anything is broken just really bruised. I was able to ride the bike to breakfast (with the wrist splint) and also to take a 10 mile road bike ride this afternoon without too much pain.

Will try to knit some more on my Oak Leaf and Acorn Scarf. Hopefully my wrist injury doesn't stop me from knitting. I will run out of yarn before finishing. Another skein awaits me at home. I could have finished it with one skein if I had done the pattern length - I decided to add a little more.

And to top a not so great vacation, United has upgraded us to 1st Class on the flight back - yeah! Something good at last.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Something Other Than Knitting

I know this isn't knitting but I wanted to show off the new curtain and pillows I made.


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More Oak Leaves and Acorns

Because my husband was flat out sick (literally), I managed to knit more on my Oak Leaves and Acorn scarf without interruption.  In fact, I am just over half-way there.  I am not in love with the join at the middle but because I made some mistakes at the very beginning before I had the pattern down, I am just going to leave it as it is.
 
Yesterday I made a curtain for the back window along with some matching pillows.  Very nice!
 
Felt well enough to ride my bike yesterday - up hill for seven miles, then a fun ride downhill for seven.  I didn't want to over extend myself just yet.
 
Very rainy today so after cleaning the apartment up for a homeowner's association meeting here, I should be able to get even more knitting down.
 
 

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