Month: April 2020
Clash of Eagles – Alan Smale
This was an interesting concept – a Roman Empire that never fell to the northern tribes, who eventually subjugated the Vikings, and was therefore able to use their ships to go to the New World in the 13th century. They send an army, but once there, it’s obliterated by the native population, leaving only the Praetor alive. He eventually throws in with the native Cahokian people against their Iroqua enemies.
The Cahokians do have one piece of technology that’s really cool, pretty much instantly earning them Marcellinus’ respect. I think my quibble with the story is that the Romans should have had some better technology available to them – they don’t seem very far advanced beyond what they had in the time that they fell in our real world.
Still, it’s an enjoyable story, and I’m interested to see where he takes it from here.
Knitting Notes
Here’s the clean up of the last of the Quince and Co Finch yarn from the Sibella sweater.
In other news, I was in the second to last chart of my Laminara shawlette, and fudged it so badly I ripped the entire thing out and started over again. I’d been fudging a few things up until that point that had been fixable, but that particular mistake was just so bad, I couldn’t recover. Oh well.
Garden Notes
Things are finally starting to green up in earnest – here’s my garlic. I was a little nervous – this is seed garlic I bought at the Bennington Garlic Festival. I was pretty sure garlic from upstate New York by way of Vermont would be fine over here in Maine, but I was definitely happy to see how much of it did sprout.
Other than that, not much else happening in the community garden bed. I did clear out the dregs of last year’s kale, and I will shortly be able to sow a few seeds directly. The seedlings are coming along nicely inside, but they’re certainly nowhere near ready to go out.
Knitting Notes
I’ve finished the test knitting project I was working on. It was not due until 5/22, which gives you an idea of the quality knitting time I’m getting while self isolating. The pattern’s being released on 6/22, so I’ll post pictures and finish post then.
I’m now back to working on the Laminaria shawl, and finishing off the yarn ends from the Sibella sweater.
Feast of the Mother – Miranda Honfleur and Nicolette Andrews
Not a bad little book. Brygida is a witch, living outside a little village in a vaguely Medieval Eastern Europe, with her mothers. They hold themselves apart from the villagers, until one day, a handsome young man ventures to Brygida’s lake. He invites her to the village for the harvest feast. And while Brygida is there, a young woman is murdered.
Brygida now must find out who was responsible – she’s now the Reaper of Death, responsible to bring the guilty party to the rusalkas of the lake for justice. Of course, it’s her handsome new friend who’s the main suspect.
This was a diverting little story – seemed a bit short for a full book, but the set up was good for more stories – I’ll be interested to see where they go with other aspects of Slavic mythology.
Garden Notes
Today’s exciting activity – clear out the iris! It’s amazing how much they’ve popped up already.
All the herb pots are out of the garage. The chives are the only one showing any activity at the moment, but I imagine the rest will be coming along shortly.
Knitting Notes
Pattern: Sibella by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Yarn: Quince and Co Finch in Bird’s Egg
Needles: Size 5 circs
This winter’s sweater project is done. And it’s not quite warm enough to wear in my new full time home office. But, it’ll probably be in a week or two, so I’ll get to road test it then.
Really like the yarn – it’s as good a workhorse as Lark.
Knitting Notes
Pattern: Salal by Andi Satterlund
Yarn: The Fibre Company Knightsbridge (old version) in Burgundy
Needles: Size 8 circs
So I’ve been sitting on this sweater since September, aiming to make a grosgrain ribbon reinforced button band. Since I made an entire new sweater, with buttons, since then, I decided I should bow to realty and just add the buttons.
This ended up not being quite as cropped as I feared it would be, so it should be nice to wear with a variety of things. And I’m glad I finally found a pattern that I could use this discontinued yarn with.
The North Wind and the Sea 