Tis the (Shoulder) Season

Hey Y'all,

Well Memorial Day just passed, and so even if the calendar doesn't agree, it sort of is (un)officially summer. For those of you who travel to Monhegan Island from other parts of the country, you might not know that the very beginning of the season and the very end of the season are known as "shoulder season." I learned that term from Holden at the Monhegan House, where we'll be staying. Seems easy enough to decipher-- like it's the week or so on either side of the prime days of summer. Maybe there's another reason they call it that. I suggest we get Holden a wee bit tipsy and see if we can get him to tell us the long story behind the title, even if he has to make it up.

Meanwhile, here's a not-so-secret for you: I actually prefer shoulder season. The island isn't crowded, you can really spread out. And while it's entirely possible we'll have super warm and sunny weather, and get to wear our summer clothes, it's also entirely possible we'll get to wear our hand knit sweaters and hats and mittens and scarves and (in my case) eighties style leg warmers and bust out our umbrellas. Then there's a third possibility, known as All of the Above. I just love that about shoulder season-- really unpredictable but in the best sense of the word.

Those of you joining us on the Knitting and Yoga Retreat on Monhegan Island need not start packing yet. But Lisa, our fearless leader, and Susan Mills, who will be back teaching this year (YAY!), did do a little prep work recently. Up above, at the top, is Susan's beautiful daughter Mackenzie, who you might recognize as a model in knitting magazines. Susan and Lisa took Mackenzie to Port Clyde last weekend where she boarded the Laura B and headed over on the little ferry to work at Monhegan House for the summer. So you'll get to meet her.

While they were out that way, the talked about the project Susan is working up for us-- a Pi Shawl. Pi Shawls are SO fun to make, and rewarding, and even if you aren't a shawl person they look great as throws. They also popped by the Lobster Shack to do a little quality control check and I can assure you you will not be disappointed when we stop for lobster rolls.

We aren't quite at the 100 Day Countdown yet, but we sure are getting close. I'm going to go on a mission of my own in mid-June, and take a bunch of writers to the island. I'll report back with some pictures and all the exciting news I can cajole out of Holden. Until then, Happy Summer, Happy Shoulder Season!

Spike

What Are You Working On?

Hey Y'all,
Spike here, checking in from Austin, TX, where we are having an utterly bizarre break in the weather. Usually it's pushing toward 100 degrees by now. And we did have a couple of borderline scorchers recently. But just for a couple of days now it's been downright cool and very wet. Not only is this weather so welcome in the land of perpetual drought, it also gives me an added measure of happiness because it SO REMINDS ME OF MONHEGAN ISLAND.

And how much do I love Monhegan Island? I love it so much that in addition to preparing for our big Knitting and Yoga Adventures trip there in September-- which will be my 6th with the group -- I also now go in June. That's when I take a group of memoir writers off to my HAPPIEST PLACE. We hang out with Holden. We have enforced quiet time. And we write to our heart's content.

Last year was the first year I did the memoir trip and folks loved it so much I immediately booked rooms for this year. We head up in four short weeks and I cannot wait. In the picture up above you can see I am working on the first of what is hopefully going to be a pair of socks. And those socks will hopefully be ready for the June trip. I say hopefully because, as is the case with so many of us passionate knitters, I always have Other Projects pop up that prompt me to set down whatever I'm working on for me so I can make something for someone else. It's not such a bad problem to have. For instance, take a look at this:

That's a baby blanket for my grand-nephew, Parker. Parker isn't even born yet, but he already has a name and not one but two color schemes. Really. Isn't that hilarious? I remember when my son was born in 1990. Color schemes were the last thing on my mind and it took me nearly a week to name him. But kids these days (I mean our adult kids and nieces and nephews) seem to be more on top of these things. And so Parker will get a cool blanket that matches his bedroom. Or his wardrobe. I can't even remember which now. I just know when my sister Kitty, who will be Parker's grandmother (or Mom-Mom as we say in our family) told me this color scheme, I rushed right out (any excuse) to my LYS, Hill Country Weavers, and scored some Blue Sky cotton and some Noro Tanabata. Yes, this is going to be the world's most expensive hand knit baby blanket and also it'll be hand wash only. Look, I didn't say I was going to make a practical gift. I said it would be exquisite.

I'm using a chevron pattern designed by Suzanne Middlebrooks, who owns Hill Country Weavers. It's one of those best-of-both-world patterns-- simple enough for me to memorize it but with enough switching around from stitch to stitch that I don't get totally bored. I have a hunch Parker is going to beat me and make his appearance in the world before I bind off. But that's okay. Because just on my side of the family he's got fourteen other great aunts/uncles, plus his grandparents. No doubt they're all getting ready to heap on the gifts, too. So mine can wait a little bit. Maybe I'll even set it down this week and do a few rows on my socks.

How about you? What are you working on? And will you be bringing it to Monhegan? If so, and if you haven't registered yet, here are all the details. 

See you in September,
Spike