Queen Bee Knits

Knitting, Living, Loving, Baking, Tips, Tools and Idle Chatter

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Hueblein Tower, Simsbury, CT

When I was a little girl, my parents lived on Avon Mountain in Avon, CT. Our house was on the top of the same mountain as this tower … just way to the right of the tower in this picture (out of the picture, in fact.)

Looking back, that was such a beautiful place to grow up. Each season was beautiful. We were lucky.

We often took “hikes” to the Heublein Tower. Way back then, the tower had fallen into disrepair but the grounds were still gorgeous. A great trail to follow that made it family friendly. And beautiful views from the trail’s edge. Often there were hang gliders jumping off the edge of the mountain from just below the trail … it was awesome watching them take off and fly.

I remember my father telling stories about an Indian (now we’d say Native American) chief who hid in one of the caves just under the tower during a war long, long ago. The cave was called King Phillip’s Cave. At least that’s what we called it in our family. (I just now Googled it and it seems to be mostly true. The chief, King Phillip, was watching his tribe burn the town of Simsbury to the ground during King Phillip’s War.)

Anyway, this vista of the mountain and the tower took me right back to my home. I love the fall in New England and can’t wait to return there to live full-time in the near future.

Gone knitting.

Pondering my Craft

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

My little guy is very thoughtful.

I caught him sitting in my atelier today just staring …. I’m not sure if he’s admiring the lovely wool that was gifted to me or if he was missing his favorite porch in Maine (the bags are from my knitting shop in Waterville … circa 1985 bags). Maybe he’s simply pondering my craft.

Gone knitting.

Re-homed

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Re-homed

When you’re a knitter, occasionally your projects take on a life of their own.

This one sure did! I had intended it to be a Christmas gift but one of my college friends (who I adore and with whom I share lots of fond, fun, singing memories) loved it and asked if I would sell it to her. Well, after figuring out what it cost me to knit, I decided to send it to her with the hope that it will not only keep her neck warm but that it will also keep her heart warm.

I know it will look wonderful with her beautiful blue eyes!

I may not be knitting a whole bunch but I am so glad that she loves her new scarf!

Gone knitting.

Sexing a Lobster

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Lobster Specimen – Cooked to Perfection!

I’ve been privileged to eat lobster in Maine since I was a very little girl. Every time we have a lobster dinner (or brunch as we did today), we thank the lobster for feeding us. If I had to kill the live animals that I eat, I’d probably be a vegetarian. But being closer to the food we eat is, I believe, an eye-opening experience. I am grateful to my parents, my foodie friends, and all of those who have given me perspective on eating animals. Or crustaceans. As it were.

If I were on death row and had to choose a last meal, mine would be a Maine lobster. Not a rock lobster like you get in the islands or in some fancy schmancy restaurants. A Maine lobster. And the first thing I’d do when I got it is the same thing that I have done no matter where I’ve eaten a lobster for as long as I’ve lived – find out whether it’s a boy or a girl. Yup! I know how to sex a lobster.

Today’s lobster will be my example. When you flip the lobster over (and you must), it looks like this. At the top of the picture are the legs which you’re going to want to pull off and eat. But it’s the first set of “flippers” that is critical to deciding whether your lobster is male or female. You can see that my finger is pointing to the first pair of flippers (under the legs and before the soft flippers that are under the tail.

The first set of flippers will tell you if it’s a boy or a girl.

The next picture is a better one. If it is hard it’s a boy (as mine was today). If it is soft like the rest of the flippers, it would have been a girl. Next time I have a lobster and it’s a girl, I’ll post a picture, too. The only real difference that I can figure out is that the females have roe or clusters of eggs inside the body cavity. Some people (my father, for example, and my brothers) like to eat the roe. I do not. Nor do I like the tamale (since I learned what it was. If you like it, don’t find out.) But I do love my Maine lobsters! And when I’m done with it, there’s nothing (NOTHING!) left that is edible.

It’s a boy!
Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s a flipper!)

It was good. And gone in a flash!

Gone knitting!

Third Grade Field Trip

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Orlando Science Center “Dino Digs”

I loved being a stay-at-home mom! What I loved most about it was being with my kids and volunteering at their schools. When they all grew up and moved out of my house, I missed having kids around and that’s why I have been working in an elementary school.

Yesterday, we went on a third grade field trip to the Orlando Science Center. While it wasn’t nearly enough time to really SEE stuff, we had fun. The kids were happy. And it brought back wonderful memories of trips with my kids when they were young.

Gone knitting!

Certification Interview Butterflies

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Queen Bee Knits Original Design – Baby Sweater – for CYC Certification

I’m awaiting the phone call from my CYC (Craft Yarn Council) Master Teacher who has received all of my Level 2 Knitting Certification materials! I’m a little bit nervous and anticipating that I did well because I’m a good knitter. I’m a good knitting instructor, too. I know this but I am also human and, as such, I have that tiny kernel of doubt or the concern that I made a mistake.

When we put ourselves out there to be critiqued by another person, it’s humbling. It makes us feel, in the process of having our work judged, a little bit judged ourselves. But having put the effort into the work and knowing that I can do it all, I am eager, too, to grow from the experience.

But I do have butterflies in my stomach!

Gulf Fritillary …
Mating Season

Which reminds me of this photograph that I took at school this week.

We have a butterfly garden in the center of the campus. Our class has watched the eggs on the leaves, hatching into baby caterpillars and then growing into big fat caterpillars and then forming the “J” of the chrysalis. There are butterflies in the garden now and these two are mating. They are a beautiful bright orange butterfly when in flight but when sitting on a branch, they are nearly invisible with their coloring.

Gotta love Mother Nature!

Gone knitting!

PS – I passed my level 2 certification this afternoon. Yay, me! What a fun conversation with my master teacher!

Not Blogging … Not Really Knitting

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Gee, this working full-time sure does cut into my knitting time! It seems to affect my blogging time, too!

A Pretty Picture from Third Grade!

But the work is rewarding and fulfillng even at the (what did the Principal say at the time of my interview?) horribly low pay. Apparently my pay comes from the state which funds the special services program and it’s lower than what the school district would pay a temporary employee. The good news is that I chose well and I love the classroom that I’m working in and enjoy working with the other teachers and our students, too.

And today our teacher is proctoring the FCAT so it’ll be the Assistant and me in the classroom. She’s the sub and I’m the assistant and it’s “Fun Friday” so we’re going to be doing some Science and will be sprouting beans in our classroom and keeping watch over them and taking notes about what happens! Yesterday they were excited about it … and we hope they will be today!

But enough of that, I’ve go to run to get ready and out of the house …

Gone teaching!

Finished!

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

There! It’s finished … well, off the needles

My Bermuda shawl is ~~one row away from being~~ finished. If I weren’t so lazy on this Sunday morning, it’d be finished already … but I just got back from my atelier and forgot to get my bigger needles so that I can bind off “very” loosely.

So I decided to blog instead.

I replaced my wrong-sized needles yesterday (with a bit of attitude from the LYS owner who sold them to me on Tuesday. What?!) and they will have to be the next project re-started and finished because I have eleven days until my brother’s birthday. I’d hate to disappoint! But he may be getting one sock instead of two! 🙂

Gone knitting.

Knitting Interrupted

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

This work thing sure has cut my knitting time!

I used to knit for hours each day. Now I’m lucky to have a few minutes here and there throughout the day to even think about yarn. Today I actually took a break at lunchtime and knitted a 2-stitch i-cord for ears of a tiny bunny for my mentee. (Her request; an award for completing her goals!) I only have to give it eyes and a tail and it’s a gift that will be loved.

Sleeves to frog and re-knit (wider to fit the arm holes), a back to re-knit because I must have been “on something” when I changed balls of yarn smack dab in the middle of the back at mid-shoulder height.

Tunic to finish (ha! Maybe by winter!)

Socks for the youngest brother’s 50th birthday – after I replace the chewed needles.

So much knitting … so little time.

Gone knitting!

Not Knitting but Grateful

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

My new school – teaching on a beautiful day!

Well, I’ve once again joined the working world with a temporary job outside of my home.

While I am enjoying working with children in the elementary school environment, I am noticing that I am not knitting enough to feed my passion and art. Partly because at the end of the day I am pretty tired and partly because I still have all my work at the house to do, too. And my little dogs (and now our new big dog) have missed me and need some of my undivided attention … as does their “father”!

I have a pair of socks for my nearly 50 year-old brother on the needles. I reverted to my favorite (go to) sock pattern and have had some lovely green (with a hint of blue) yarn that I bought for exactly this reason last summer. His favorite color is green and this yarn by Plymouth Yarn Co. called “Happy Feet” is a superwash Merino and with my brother’s feet, I bought three skeins (he wears a size 14 shoe!)

Seacolors Yarn …

I have deconstructed the sleeve on my Boxy Cardigan that I started last summer with my Maine wool from Sea Colors Yarns. The pattern was pretty straight forward but someone clearly forgot to have the sweater test knitted – the sleeves are at least two inches too narrow to fit into the shoulder. (You do get what you pay for! This was a free pattern. Lesson learned!) I will unknit them and then add more increases to make up for the two inches and see how that works. I hope I don’t have to start over from scratch because I don’t like it – and I spent a lot of money on the wool and want to love the garment that it becomes!

Dropps Tunic (Pattern #111-21) in Berroco Pure Pima (color 2243)

I still have my Pima Cotton tank on the needles. The back is done and the front is getting close but, honestly, I haven’t worked on it much at all! It’s really time to focus on this garment as we’re getting ready for that sleeveless shirt season!

I have several ideas that I want to knit when I’ve wrapped up a few of my WIPs … a tea cozy by the Queen of Tea Cozies, Loani Prior … it’s the daffodil one. We don’t have daffodils here in Florida and I miss them. A Stash Buster Shawl and I have yarn for a sweater and hat for my niece. I also want to knit myself a Wonderful Wallaby! It would be perfect for those cool (or even cold) evenings in Maine this summer.

I’m so grateful to be working with these great kids who really need the extra support to bring them up to grade level by the end of the year. I love the teachers that I’m working with and I am blessed to have the opportunity to work close enough to my home that I can (well, I could) walk to work. And since it’s temporary, I am hoping to pick up the needles more when I get to Maine after school ends.

Gone knitting!