celebrating the growing chasm in the center of my lace yarn cake—just look at that . . i might be almost done soon (amazing how much faster a project goes when i actually knit on it). meanwhile the stole itself looks pretty much the same, so i won’t bore you with another photo of that, heh.
by yesterday afternoon, i had also caught up with the tomatoes; everything that was ripe enough had either been cooked or dried. this pan of multi-colored cherry tomatoes was just about to go into the oven when i snapped the picture—the first sun we’d had in days was lighting up each color with such juicy passion, mmm.
i’m a sucker for trying all different varieties of vegetables—this year i think i planted 12 or 14 different kinds of tomatoes, just one or two plants each. i like to compare them with each other for flavor and in the big ones, there are major differences sometimes. the funny thing is that of the small ones, i already know from experience that the red ones are the sweetest, but i insist on growing all the colors just for variety (even in the case of ones i don’t care for all that much).
i have these really ugly big tomatoes that i’ve been avoiding all summer—they are grayish greenish pink (i swear) and lumpy and really, really unattractive—they never look appetizingly ripe. but i found one split open the other day, so in order not to waste it (i have a thing about not wasting food), i sliced it up for a sandwich.
oh. my. gravy. it was spectacular.
and the plant it came off of is full of them (i think everyone else has been avoiding them too, hehehe).
i’m not really sure what the heck that box contains, but whatever it is, it’s NOT my yarn from sock summit. the cool thing is that my big box of sock summit yarn arrived with it (far right) and it looks positively miniscule next to whatever that is.
not that david cares, but it makes me feel a little better.
i meant to open and photograph that yarn box for this post, but then the day passed and it was getting dark before i knew it—tomorrow we’ll do a yarn parade, ok? a little post-summit replay, if you will (i did come away with some beautiful yarn . . .)
i’m compiling a bunch of stuff to send ot my SIL, nan, to fuel her budding knitting habit. i have loads of sock leftovers that she can use for baby and boy-sized socks and little hats as well. i need to write a simple set of hat instructions for her—i told her a hat would be a nice diversion if she tired of socks and that baby hats are a snap to kit (and micah will need some). now i have to distill the pattern to a few simple steps and knit a sample that she can follow (she’s really good at seeing what she needs to do from a knitted piece).
ok, now that i’m several paragraphs into this post, i’ll be right up front about it: i don’t have much sharable knitting today. i did start a couple for new projects, but two of them are gifts and one has to be a secret for a little while longer (not too long).
i started sewing the sleeves into my gray maze sweater during my monday afternoon class
everything is fitting together just fine—all i need now is to sit and work on it during daylight hours one day this week so i can get it finished. it’s a little difficult for me to see at night, unfortunately (and i’m committed to finishing nightingale at night).
just before i left for sock summit in the beginning of the month, we found a great deal on a new town bike for me. i’m still using my beloved old bianchi, but the gear shifting on it has been shaky since last year. we looked into upgrading/fixing it, but then david found this new bike with the gear system we wanted for 55% off—about what the parts alone would cost
i was unsure about the fit, but after taking back to the shop today for a little comparison with another bike, i think it’s going to work well. tomorrow i can take it for its first really hard ride.
BTW, there are great deals everywhere on bikes right now; if you’ve been thinking about switching to alternative transportation and/or looking for a great exercise option, this is your chance.
biking is a wonderful way to get around town and to stay in good shape. i live in a city that is not at all bike-friendly, but riding is still my preferred method of getting from here to there. of course i don’t usually ride my bike on the same routes i would drive, but it’s not hard to plan alternative routes that are safe and enjoyable—bikes can often take shortcuts that cars cannot. biking also save tons of time because you are combining commuting with exercise.
i was very impressed while visiting portland that so many people ride bikes everywhere. i really wish my city was more like that . . .
ok, well, i think i said something about needing to knit—since i’m caught up on almost everything else, now is the time i guess.
31 thoughts on “light at the end of the tunnel”
I love your new bike! Rick got one this summer during one of the big sales around here — his first road bike in a long while. Those tomatoes look absolutely delish; I wish I were there to relieve you of some!
I dry tons of tomatoes like that every year… I keep saying I am going to get a dehydrator, they are super good if you put them in olive oil, garlic, salt and basil and keep in the fridge to eat on sammies and salads. Nice Bike, we have to get you to the Finger Lakes so we can go for a ride together!
You’ll have to knit yourself a bike seat cover! I saw one awhile back on the net somewhere. It cushes it up a bit!
Looking forward to seeing your new yarn.
And I didn’t comment a few days ago, but your new front stoop is beautiful!
Oh the tomatoes are glorious! Is the ugly one a Cherokee Purple? They look – well ugly – but taste divine. Wonderful for grilling, topped with a little purple onion and some gorgonzola.
I love when the cake becomes a shell of it’s former self…
What yummy looking tomatoes! Did you drizzle olive oil and basil on them just for me? After reading your post I’m inspired to take down my mountain bike from where it has rested all summer. I live in the mountains for crying out loud and should have no excuses for why I can’t use a mountain bike in the mountains. The bike you were using is such a pretty color!
Those tomoatoes look fantastic!! Oh my!! 🙂
Don’t you love when your yarn cake turns into a tunnel!? Love that!
Love the new bike! PDX is an awesome city for bikers, indeed!
Yay for a light at the end of the tunnel! I’m feeling quite the same way these days.
I think your tomato glut looks prettier than my courgette & runner bean glut! I could photograph them but its tipping it down with rain here in Yorkshire. Maybe later!!!!
Yummmm! Those tomatoes look fantastic! And speaking of…what variety are your “ugly” tomatoes? Can you take a picture to put in a future blog?
Your sweater is looking great…can’t wait to see it on you.
Love the Tomato picture. You should make it into a poster. What are you going to do with the tomatoes in the oven? Can’t wait to see the shawl.
I’m still riding the 10 speed that I bought myself as a graduation present from college. Thanks for the tip. I think I’ll go look at a new bike.
The sweater is so gorgeous. I love it. I have a racing bike, a Trek, that I’ve had for twenty years. It scares the heck out of me now! I want a calmer version. Your bike looks great. I’m not going to talk about the tomatoes.
The sweater is looking great. What is the pattern. I’d love to have it.
Oooh, wouldn’t those glowing tomato colors be glorious in a hand-painted yarn?
I’ve been thinking of getting a bike. You may have pushed me over the edge! Thanks, Anne.
Oh Anne, you’re such a tease! First you tell us about butt ugly but incredible tomatoes and no pics and then you show us the box of yarn but make us wait for the goodies inside. And what WAS in that big box? The maze sweater looks aMAZing. Ok, I’ll go away now!
Oh, those tomatoes are absolutely art! You will have the taste of summer all winter – lucky!
I can’t wait to see the biked tricked out in all it’s glory…..
When we were in China, we were amazed at how many people rode bikes. Think of a city the size of NYC and 90% of the people rode bikes. We saw bikes with huge plates of glass (think living room window size) strapped to each side of the bike, cages of ducks piled sky high over the back wheel, produce, furniture, you-name-it it was strapped to a bike. Our guide rode her bike 5 miles back and forth to our hotel, several times per day, dressed in a black business suit. Rush hour was pretty fun to watch as there were so many bikes and scooters waiting at the lights. Even though the rodes are marked for turns and people are to ride single file, it didn’t work that way. If you saw a spot to move into, you took it.
Eeek! The stole! I can not wait to see it – I love how it looks like a big fluffy cloud. And those tomatoes, stunning. That in itself could be a stole pattern.
we’ve had a few of those ugly tomatoes here, too.
i’m needing to get to the store tomorrow so i can make salsa to freeze.
I truly enjoy your blog. Your tomatoes made my mouth water! And I want a bike like that! Off to shop…
My own pitifully small tomato harvest is in the dehydrator now. Your “non-productive” knitting days usually yield more progress than a full day of knitting at my house! Love the misty blue lace and I can’t wait to see it blocked.
Tomatoes look yummy. Can’t wait for the maze sweater pattern. I love it!
I always swoon over your garden, especially the tomatoes. I have such a small space myself. If you like lots of varieties of vegetables, you might be interested in perusing seedsavers.org, or getting one of their catalogs. They mostly sell seeds, but you can get some of their tomatoes, peppers, and a few other things as transplants.
I did a fair bit of damage at Sock Summit myself, all lovely skeins.
If you want to compare, http://nenewbieknitter.blogspot.com/2009/08/sock-summit-stashed-skeins.html
I just bought a bike for myself recently. I live on a small military base so once everyone gets off work the streets are deserted and I have little worry about traffic which is great since my toddler loves to be pulled around in her enclosed bike trailer. 🙂 We also have a paved trail that runs around the river that is wonderful to bike on. 🙂
That tomato photo is AMAZING. And I envy you your new bike. My city/town is amazingly hard to navigate on a bike. Very disappointing.
I just got a new bike, too! I hadn’t had one in 25 years, so I was a little nervous about riding, but it really was like “riding a bike”! 😉 Of course, where I live now is very hilly, so that’s something to get used to.
I love that sweater pattern – Maze you call it? where is it from? I’d love to know 🙂
Ann,
re: knitting at night: check out an ott light if you don’t have one. My bifocals are getting really long in the tooth, but i don’t have any trouble reading or seeing my knitting if my work is lit by my ott light. You can find them at joann’s if your LYS doesn’t have one.
Check them out online: http://www.ott-lite.com And don’t pass out at the price. [it’s a business expense!!] You will be able to see stitches, and see colors like you never had after the sun goes down. These are full spectrum lights that many crafters use and they are recommended for people in the Northwest who are affected by SAD [seasonal affective disorder]
Note: you can also just buy their light bulb that fits in your regular lamp. It’s a compact fluorescent, costs about $30 and is good for 9000 hour or so. I’ve only ever seen those online. Hope this isn’t TMI.
Who are you kidding, Anne? That box of Sock Summit yarn is HUGE! 🙂
Check out “Everybody’s Bike Book” for good info on maintaining/repairing your trusty old Bianchi.
Bianchi; now, that’s a bike. I’ve got one…rode it from Cleveland to Athens a few years ago.
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