The Long Weekend
Getting out of Dublin and away from the internet for a few days is a good thing. Occasionally I need to remind myself that life isn’t a competition, and that I really don’t need to excel at everything I do. I excel at being me, and that’s good enough.
So, it’s St Patrick’s weekend. Where’s the best place to be? “Dublin!” I hear you cry (yep, I’m looking at you Brian). No, no no no. Not Dublin is the best place to be.
With that in mind we headed out to Leitrim for relaxation in the damp countryside. My towny nature showed itself immediately as I jumped out of my skin at a cow mooing in the dark. I settled in though and was soon collecting drinking water from the well like a pro. (ok, it’s a tap now, but the principle stands).
The weather leant itself to looking out of the window:
And sitting next to a log and peat fire while consuming buckets of tea and coffee and scones and hot cross buns.
I decided to give spinning a go with the CD drop spindle that Cheryl made for me:
However, I just couldn’t get the hang of it, and, given that one of my goals of the weekend was to be happy in what I can do rather than frustrated by what I can’t, I put it away.
Does that look like a thin strip of roving just badly wound around a spindle to you, rather than an attempt at spinning? That’s what it looks like to me, because that’s essentially what it is.
Instead, I picked up my needles and knitted this:
(Ruffle rib socks from Interweave Knits Better Than Booties Baby Socks - more details when I finish them)
All in all, a very relaxing weekend, and just what I needed.
Looks a bit isolated for a towny but quite good for thinking processes - but you need a dog!
19 Mar 2007 at 10:32 pm
To be honest, I think I would have preferred your version of St. Patrick’s Day weekend (I need some quiet time to think.) Over here it is of course way too obnoxious and over-simplified, as far as what “being Irish” means, but at least the Jameson’s on sale and it means the Pogues play the U.S.
19 Mar 2007 at 11:06 pm
I second your type of weekend over the overpopulated and chilly streets of Dublin. We had a similar weekend in Clare, and the storm raged around us while we sat in front of fires in both the cottage and local pub :-D
Extremely satisfying. And I finished a sock too!
20 Mar 2007 at 9:05 am
What a cool weekend! I recognize that sock yarn…great job on the baby socks. I hated the toe bind off on that pattern, but it looks like you successfully completed it!
20 Mar 2007 at 1:17 pm
Very nice indeed! Well done on separating yourself from the internet. I can sympathise with the draw that it has and the need to be content with who I am and where I am.
We took the Kiddies to the parade. Very cold with varying degrees of wind and drizzle. Brrr.
Sorry about the spindling….wish I could help, but I’m hopeless at drop spindling. Could that be why I gave it to you?
Love the booties and you’ve given me a great idea about what to do with the leftover sock yarn…but alas, have no more babies to knit for at present….
Looking forward to catching up with ya!
20 Mar 2007 at 1:48 pm
Hi - just made a ‘meme’ -’What flavour of knitter are you, and why?’ - current blog entry gives my flavours and reasons.
Answers on a postcard, well, your blog, then go tag someone else - but only if you want to ;0)
India
20 Mar 2007 at 2:31 pm
I love that top picture, just beautiful, and certainly perfect for fires and tea and scones. I had about the same results with spindling and decided it would have to wait for some hands on lessons–or never, we’ll see.
05 Apr 2007 at 1:44 am