PINK SWEATER
There are many reasons it is not wise to knit when one has a sinus headache, especially the severe prolonged kind that lay one low for several days. The body of the sweater has been completed and assembled and I was pushing to finish the knitted-on cowl but I realized I had made a mistake, more than one mistake in fact, and somewhere I crossed the line bordering tolerable and unacceptable. First, I neglected to twist my knitting, allowing the cowl to lie properly, although it took me a few rows to see this, and my head hurt enough that I decided I could live with that. Until I noticed that in my pain-induced haze I was often failing to switch from knit to purl and back again at the row marker. Knitting garter stitch in the round is a bit of a pain, and apparently too much for my headache-addled brain. So much for mindlessness. Yesterday I ripped the cowl out and began again. This was sad because I was about half done with the cowl and ripped a full skein of yarn before starting again. On the other hand, the odds are high that I have missed this year’s window of wearing opportunity anyway.
GARDEN PLANNING
We are rapidly moving into spring and I have as yet to start playing with a rough plan on paper. I do not need to stick to said plan, but I do need it as a starting point just to sketch out some broad coherent form to the evolving garden, and to help stem my magpie instincts when in nurseries and browsing plant catalogs.
Admittedly my ability to plan was dependent on completion of certain bigger projects. The raised beds for what, at least at this point is planned as vegetables, or perhaps mixed vegetables and flowers were completed in late January. And at the moment I am having more fun thinking about what I can plant here than I am in terms of drawing up rough plans for the landscaping. Partly this is good because it is time to start planting early spring crops and start seeds, and bad because I also need to start thinking about perennials and shrubs, even though I know I will be able to completely finishing planting all the beds around the house this year.
In December the ornamental trees were planted, and the wattle fence was finished in the front yard, which helped me to start to imagine the space, although I am only now realizing that although this photo was posted to instagram, it never made it here.
The general plan was that January and February would be devoted to research and getting some plans on paper. To that end, I read two useful books, both of which have helped me refine amorphous ideas. The most useful of those, may well be Michael Dirr’s Hydrangeas for American Gardens. I adore hydrangeas, and loved the hydrangeas that were initially around the house, even as I acknowledged that they were too large to be situated as close to the house as they were. Now I have the opportunity to replant, and my goal is to have a variety of different hydrangeas in the front space making this book both a good source of inspiration and practical information. I am also reminded that planning is important and that it is sometimes better to work slowly with intention, than to quickly fill a space. Expect the front garden to develop over the course of a few years.
The other garden book is less focused on a single type of plant, but possibly more practical. I suspect Tracy Disabato-Aust’s 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants will end up being one of those books that I reach for again and again when I need to solve a problem, or feel at a loss for ideas. It actually sits on my garden shelf next to a book I’ve had for ages, Nicola Ferguson’s Right Plant, Right Place, a book that has proven its worth in my gardens. I hope this book does the same, but even in the short term, it is helping me with refining ideas. If this garden is going to work long term, I have to admit that the energy of the young gardener is long gone, and I must balance my love of pretty things and unusual plants with my actual ability to work in the garden. Low-maintenance plantings are also critical to success.
As February is coming to a close other projects are competing with garden and knitting. I have yet to do my taxes, and I my need for clothes will become critical once the weather warms up. I am also going on another sewing retreat, but although I have worked in the studio and done hand work and embroidery, I have not looked at garment sewing since the holiday evening pants. As usual, I haven’t even started and I am already behind. And so goes life, always fun, never dull.
