City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

Let's see, it was about a week ago on a sunny, but still chilly day, that I took a walk across Central Park. It was a day that did not require gloves, and so I was able to take a few photographs. I planned to write one of these posts later that day.

I did not get around to writing on that day or on any of the days in the following week. This New Year finds me dawdling a lot when I am not at the shop. At the shop, dawdling is impossible.

Allow me to share some of the pictures I took on that blue-skied day. These red berries managed to cling to these branches during our recent snow storm, and subsequent windy rain storms. These are tough berries!

The above picture was taken as I walked along the edge of what is known to many as dog hill. It has always been a very popular spot for lots and lots of dogs to frolic around. Years ago, they got to be leash free in their frolicking; this is no longer so, except for some renegades who like a taste of freedom.

The picture below shows some row boats stacked against the edge of the frozen lake. Around April the boats will be available to rent by the hour.


Here is another westward view across the frozen lake. The towers in the background are atop an elegant apartment building on Central Park West, the road that, logically, is on the western edge of Central Park.

I did get lots of exercise that day, and took more pictures. Many are similar to others I have previously shown you all.

Because it has been so very busy at the shop, with semi-annual inventory, various sales, meetings, and much more going on, it has been a pleasure to seek another sense of time by continuing with the various knit and crochet projects that I began just after Christmas.

I finally finished the hat and mitts set. The hat is crocheted from a mixture of wool dk, tweedy wood dk, and a silk mohair. The view below gives an idea of the textures and pointy dome top of the hat.

The photo below gives you an idea of what it looks like on my head.

The mitts were knit with the same wool dk and tweedy wool dk. I decided to leave the silk mohair out of the mix! In the background you can see yet another section of my fair isle patchwork coverlet.

And, here's the newest project, my second pair of socks. I am using a Crofter dk yarn, and wonder if I really like that gauge for socks, as well as I did the four-ply merino I used for my first pair of socks. Guess I will know more when I finish.

I have finished knitting another project, a pair of "house" slippers, done with double strands of harmonizing dk. Now I am in the process of felting them up a bit. If I ever get the result I am after, I might just take another photo.

This is a very quiet post. Perhaps as you read my words, you will share the relaxation that I have found in working on these projects.

Although the days are definitely gradually growing longer, the sun has now set, so I will now wish each of you all a good evening from New York.