Saturday, July 15, 2006

Just one more row...

I took this picture two days ago at 0030 in the morning. It is not dark but a bit darker than some days ago. I don't mind that the shadows are growing from the corners... I have enjoyed this soft light and it has been difficult to give up the knitting at midnight to go to bed. I have told myself over and over again that I'll do this one row only and then I'll go...
The shawl is almost done. It has gone quickly thanks to the big needles, entertaining and easy pattern and these quiet nights. I might be able to cast off tonight. But blocking is yet there and sometimes that is the hardest step to take.
I had a pleasure to meet this family while I was knitting on the steps facing the lake. (They were quite happy and calm until I went to get my camera and the old black dog spotted them too... Sometimes I think she has problems with her eye sight and it surprises me that she is able to see after all.) This mother seems to have a handful at the moment while I'm having a very quiet house. Two out of my three teenagers are away at the moment and one teenager can be extremely quiet. She is buried in her room upstairs with books. Every once in a while she comes down to grab a bite and I get a detailed description of the plot of the book she is reading. I can still remember those lazy summer days decades ago when I could read hours on...

But this is not bad. Didn't I just say that I have been knitting hours on...

18 comments:

  1. What beautiful light to knit by and beautiful knitting, as always.

    Happy Summer (how do you say that in Finnish?).

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  2. Anonymous19:16

    oh, that red is jsut the color of watermelon in the heart of summer. the lake i so beautiful . . .
    i enjoy the excitement of blocking! for me it is the part where a lump of knitting turns into a fantastic, ethereal thing! as i pin, the mystery of what it will be unfolds right before my eyes.

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  3. I so relate to"...I'll do this one row only and then I'll go......" this has kept me up from sleep and away from thing that "have" to be done on many occasions!
    my non-knitting friends think it is just like "just one more drink." I of course don't :-)

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  4. Anonymous20:05

    I know about "just one more row". There's just something about knitting, it's hard to put it down to make a meal or clean the house. But today I am being very good. The knitting is down because I'm packing to go to the cottage. Knitting, and painting stuff, will of course go with me.

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  5. So happy to see your bird back! She is one busy Mom! Love the 'raspberry' shawl and await the photo of it blocking! Beautiful sky - keep this memory for the long days of 'dark' sky winter, Lene!

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  6. It's going to be a nice big shawl, isn't it? The yarn looks thicker than KSH, and not quite as fragile. I'm very excited to see it blocked and hanging from the shawl tree by the water. :-)

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  7. Anonymous23:31

    'One more row' a wonderful way of delaying the 'routine' of life. Aah I remember well those teenage days of being lost in a book. Does she knit your daughter?

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  8. Anonymous02:06

    Thanks for the beautiful sky picture. I always wondered what the nights were like in the "land of the midnight sun", and now I know. Thanks!

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  9. Anonymous04:01

    I have never seen a picture of the northern summer night before, it is beautiful. Gorgeous colour for you shawl. Your drawings are lovely.

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  10. Oh I just noticed Miss B has mittens ..that is so adorable.She has a fan club in my family .

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  11. Sounds like a wonderful, peaceful time. The shawl is coming along really nicely.

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  12. When I was a teenager, my mother had to literally pull the book out from under my nose to break my attention.

    The shawl is lovely, I can't wait to see it blocked! Thanks for the Finnish!

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  13. You live in one of the most beautiful places in the world!

    For the short time I've been a knitter, I have said "one more row" countless times.

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  14. I love the mess of the lace before blocking. It looks so soft and mysterious. And the color is fabulous.

    I can see why you keep staying in this challenging land... what a sky. I'd love to meet her at midnight, knitting in hand. Just one more row..

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  15. What is it about "one more row" that we all can relate to, especially when we should be going to bed?

    Your bird family both real and art are lovely, as is the raspberry.

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  16. Anonymous10:10

    Hei Lene! I've been reading and enjoying your blog for some time now, and today I just have to delurk...I've been knitting all summer in our summer place at Lake Saimaa, and admiring the mothering skills of water birds. As a joke, we started to talk "duck" with the kids ( like pip pip instead of äitiäiti)...and yesterday I forgot we are back in Helsinki, I said "qwak qwak" to make sure my kids were following me when we were crossing a busy street...

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  17. Anonymous20:24

    Lene, here in Pennsylvania [I live between New York City and Washington, DC, to help you figure out where I am] we think it's extraordinary when it's not all the way dark by 9 p.m. Someday I will visit your latitude during the summer! It's on my list of the top 10 things I hope to do.

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  18. Hi Lene!
    It has taken me a long time to get caught up on your blog reading.
    I was gone from the computer for so long, but now I am glad to read your blogs often. I always learn so much from you and your pictures are so beautiful!
    Does the sun ever really set in Finland in the winter?

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