Weekend getaway

No running this past weekend - actually my last run was to work on Thursday morning - bit icy that one! Glad I took the time to put the screws back in my shoes.

Headed north to Grand Marais and snow for a weekend of cross-country skiing. They had received 5 inches+ of new snow and the skiing was fantastic! Stopped on our way up to ski the Sugarbush system off the Sawbill Trail. Got in 15k of nice diagonal on some hilly trails. Didn't look like anyone had been on the SHT in that area. Photos from that day:





Pretty sure a wolf was using the trail - what do you think? Sorry for the lack of reference object in the photo - but you could consider the ski track your reference. Tracks were almost as large as my hand - not that that is saying much ;-> (hand is 6" from base of palm to tip of longest finger). Look carefully - do you see nail prints??? That would be a distinguishing feature between canid and feline options.

Saturday was also the day I was reminded that skiing beyond a certain distance means blisters. Glad we skied with packs and I had the first aid kit with. Had to stop midway and patch up my heels. Nothing like stomping down a spot in the woods with your skis, then stepping off and sinking past your knees! Ended up 'perched' atop my crossed skis, with boots off trying to tape up the backs of my heels. Of course the hotspots were towards the lateral sides of my heels, hardest to see and reach easily.

Tape applied I climbed back out of the snow and onto my skis and took off. By now I had cooled off just a little bit, but overall felt warm. Unfortunately my glove/half mitt combo was wet and on the subsequent downhill I went from feeling okay to losing all circulation in my fingers. Not good - Raynauds is nothing to mess with out in the woods. Quick stop to switch out mittens (Mr. Wildknits kindly loaned me an extra set of his choppers as I could get to them with numb fingers quickly vs my extra pair buried in my pack). A vigorous ski soon reestablished circulation to my fingers and we finished out the day with all digits intact.

We spent Saturday through Monday at a friends place on Lake Superior just outside Grand Marais. The Lake was just outside the door - and so were the deer. Sunday morning we woke to a little herd browsing the lichen off the birch and the cedars and basically lounging around. View out the window:


Sunday we headed for the Deer Yard Trail. Located northwest of Cascade State Park - we had a fun time finding this trail as the directions we had did not match up with current road names. Great trail system - very woodsy, nice hills (though I once again proved I need to work on my snowplow turns as I "missed" a turn and headed right for a large birch - saved only by the deep snow which stopped me inches from the tree. I am nothing if not a source of a good laugh when skiing) and a beautiful lake that can be reached by a short side trail. We opted not to do the "advanced" loop after my little detour off trail.
View into the woods near the fateful curve

Trail system map:


Instead we headed to Pincushion Mountain and skied the Pincushion Mountain Loop (for a total of 17.9k). Of course, we couldn't drive near an airport without stopping in to see what was up (Mr. Wildknits being an airplane mechanic and pilot). Apparently I missed out on some really cool airplanes when I opted to wait in the truck while he headed into the shop ;->

View from Pincushion Mountain trailhead to Grand Marais Harbor:


Saved my best fall for last. As we were finishing up at Pincushion I managed to trip over my own poles on the flat ground and give myself a slight pull to a hip flexor. I'd like to blame it on the lack of tracks and sloped trail, but to be honest the more tired I am the klutzier I get on skis.

Headed into town to soothe the bruised ego with a beer and some tacos from Hughies Taco's. Then back to the apartment to settle down with a good book, truffles (left over from Valentines Day) and some arnica gel.

Home today to find my porch under attack from the neighborhood grey squirrels. They can't get up to the bird feeder but they can get into the galvanized garbage can we keep the seed in. We keep devising systems to keep them out, they keep outwitting us. Needless to say, we are not on friendly terms with the grey squirrels. But when this little guy shows up....



I stop everything and take pictures. What can I say - red squirrels are rare in my neighborhood, so therefor they are cute and tolerated. Besides, it is fun to watch him/her looking for intact seeds amongst the shoes and stuff on the porch.

Did have some knitting along, though no pictures to prove it. Worked on a pair of half mittens out of fingering weight wool. One (almost) done, one to go. Think I may wander back to sock knitting soon - have a request for socks for a 5 year old - should be pretty quick knitting after the latest ventures into knitting for people with really big feet.

Total training for the past week:
Monday - 0 (no surprise there)
Tuesday - 0 (sense a trend?)
Wednesday - 7.58 m (in 1:09, slow but steady)
Thursday - 2.7 m (icy, 26:10)
Friday: 0
Saturday: no run, skied 15k
Sunday: no run, skied 17.9k

Today I walked three miles. School is out this week so will only have one job to get to which means plenty of time to run tomorrow before I head in to work at 11:30 am. Tested the snowmobile trail today on my walk so think I will head there and run west, aiming for an hour run. The trail is very hilly; a good workout and a nice break from pavement.

Hartley Hat

Why is this hat named after a park and nature center in Duluth???

The original Hartley Hat was designed for a silent auction fundraiser back in the days when Hartley Nature Center staff (including me) worked out of the trunks of our cars, offering environmental education programs to school children throughout the Twin Ports area and up on the Iron Range. What was the fundraising for? Programing, equipment and a building. I stopped working for Hartley Nature Center about the same time the building became a reality - went back to school and changed careers ;->

Patterns include: Latvian Braid; Heart Crook, unnamed pattern of my own design for the crown, and i-cord knot to finish it off.

Pictures of the finished hat blocking:





Glass head from Pier 1. Not sure what it's real 'purpose' was, but it is great for blocking hats. Usually sits atop our piano decorated with a green cloth top hat and a tiara. Yeah, we are rather eclectic decorators. Tonight it will sit atop the heating vent in hopes that it will be dry by morning (really want to wear it on my run to work and show it off - did I mention I am in love with this hat?).

This week in running:

Not much to report.

Sunday: Soccer (1.5 hours) where I received a lovely bruise on the medial side of my right lower leg, from knee on down to mid-calf. Took me a while to figure out what caused it: hard blow to the shinguard from a soccer ball fired at me as I guarded the goal. Stopped the shot at least.
Monday: 0 - my day off after a weekend of running
Tuesday: 0 - skipped my run - it was another "ice day/rain day" and a bad day at work - opted for a pint of Beamish and the company of good friends instead.
Wednesday: 7.57 miles - usually do 5.2, but got sucked along into an out and back and out again by the promise of a ride back to my car and the guilt of skipping Tuesday's run. Could also work as my long run for this week if the anticipated ski weekend materializes, assuming all the snow hasn't been washed away.

On the knitting needles:

Nothing yet (hush, we do not mention the lace curtains in polite company!). Thinking about a pair of fingerless mittens in some fingering weight that surfaced the other day. Pattern idea, needles and yarn all packed away waiting for me to cast-on.

Planning on having a couple of friends over in a week and a half for a stash dive. Will open up the bins and 'free' myself of some yarn. The key will be to not go through it ahead of time and hold too much back. Though I am secretly hoping neither of them loves lace weight the way I do. A comment was made by Mr. Wildknits that I shouldn't free myself of so much yarn I have to go shopping. Good point. Will need to find a balance point there I guess.

"Ice Day"

Funny, it isn't even raining anymore...

All Duluth schools are closed (didn't know that as no longer have kids in school, though does explain why the commute to work was relatively child-free).

Opted to get a ride to work today, anticipating ice accumulation and an inability to get back home in the evening with my car (new tires are crap on snow and ice). About 10:00 am our clinic decided to close due to the weather! So, yeah, it was raining when I headed to work but that was all - no ice accumulation. Took us awhile to shut down as we needed to see the patients that were actually present and contact everyone scheduled for today (and tomorrow - just in case). Walked outside at noon: no rain, almost dry roads!!! Granted, it is a little icy up at my house (higher on the hillside) and I did have a patient report ice at his place over the hill; but enough to close down?!?!


A rant could be forthcoming about how wimpy we all are and how I do not remember closing down due to predicted bad weather when I was a kid, but what would be the point?

On the other hand... I have a LOT of work to do for the boards I am on, so will take this "free day" to get at that stuff during daylight hours (and maybe head out the door for a run - once I put the screw back in my shoes ;-> ; and/or fire up the sauna)

Drive safe if you are in the zone of icy weather!

Miscellanea

Not much going on around here, lots of work, lots of board work, some running, some knitting, little housework.

Weather has been variable in the Duluth area. Warm, then cold, then warm again. Personally, I would rather it stayed in the 20's and we got some snow, than the threat of "freezing drizzle"! Haven't cross-country skied since the last thaw (hate using 'peanut butter' on my skis). Hear the local trail is in good shape though, so may give it a try in the morning when it is cooler.

Runs this week:

Monday: 0
Tuesday: 0 (usually run, but between Job A and Job B have only an hour and due to other stressors opted to accomplish a few errands instead vs adding yet another one)
Wednesday: 5.2 miles (amazing sunset over the hills of Duluth)
Thursday: 2.7 miles (Run to work and first time I have used the nano during a run, turned down low)
Friday: 0
Saturday: 7.3 miles (nice, hilly run from home up to Skyline, out to Oneota and back)
Sunday: planned - 1.5 hours of soccer, possibly a ski in the morning.

All of my recent runs have been on pavement. Time of the year - hard to hit the trails right now with my schedule. Do manage to slip in a short section of trail on my way to work on thursdays. This week I really did slip on that section of trail! Had taken the screws out of my shoes as the roads were pretty clear, but with the melt/freeze cycle... lets just say the trails are a bit slick!

The last few long runs have been from my house, heading west on Skyline Boulevard. Leaving my house I encounter a small dip, then it is relatively flat for a few blocks. Have to cross a four lane 'highway' which is always good for getting the heart rate up as I try to predict if a car is coming around the blind corner or not. Another couple of flat blocks and then I need to head uphill if I want to get to Skyline. It is steep and goes on for three blocks before I can take a short reprieve on a gentler slope. Once I reach Skyline I loop back two blocks to meet my running partner (it beats adding those two blocks onto the steep uphill part!). From then on we stay on Skyline, heading west to the Oneota Cemetery, which for now is my turn around point. Skyline is one of those interesting roads in Duluth: uphill in both directions; built on an ancient beach left over from Glacial Lake Duluth; winds around a lot of rock outcrops and creeks; mostly undeveloped on the western portions; and a favorite hangout of teenagers and folks who like to drive fast on curvy roads. All the hills and curves make for an interesting run. The teenagers and other folks hanging out at the overlooks in the summer mean I usually run with a partner or my cell phone - just in case.

On the way back I never seem to notice the downhills as much as I did the uphills - that is until I get closer to home and have the 4+ blocks of straight downhill running. Of course that is all undone by the little dip a block from my house - now a steep incline! All of this followed by the need to climb 36 steps to get into the house - who needs a stairmaster?!

Discussed the Isle Royale trip with my usual backpacking partner (third annual, in September) and may head out there in May to check out the wildflowers. I had been asked about the wisdom of paying the ferry fee to see what I could very well see on the mainland, but confirmed today that there are species on Isle Royale that cannot be seen along the north shore. Settled. Will head out to the island after the Superior 25k and before the vacationing hoards (and black flies) descend. Mr. Wildknits is interested in coming along even though this falls during a busy time of year for him. He has much experience, though none recently, hanging out while I get all geeky over flowers ;->

Got a new camera last week - lighter weight and more portable than my other digital. Plus has a great macro feature that will allow me to zoom in on those flowers! Expect to see more photos from spring runs. In the meantime enjoy some photos of my latest knitting project:




"Hartley Hat" Fingering weight yarns. 180 sts (9sts/inch). Debating how deep I want the hat - over the ears, or a bit shorter so it works better when I wear it indoors (in other words, I can hear)?

Had to go diving into my stash today to find just the right shade of teal to match a friends sweater that I was darning. I am usually not much of a darner, but this was a little hole on the elbow that I had pointed out to her and should have been a fairly simple fix. It was in the end, but it took a few tries to get a decent looking patch. In the process I found all kinds of fun yarn and patterns that had gone missing! I really need to spread all of my yarn out and see what I have. May invite a friend or two over to take away some yarn at the same time. I have a lot (really a lot - like a paper grocery bag full) of partial skeins of sock yarn. Not sure what to do with it. If you have any ideas feel free to post them in the comments.

What passes for entertainment

Ribbed Hat - completed:






Hartley Hat - just started:





180 sts. Mid-process in a Latvian Braid. For the uninitiated that is a technique which results in the two yarns wrapping themselves ever more tightly around each other as you progress; gets a bit tricky about halfway through the round. Then, on the next round the yarn progressively untwists itself. The result is a very cool looking braid. The whole process takes three rounds. On the first round you knit, alternating the two colors (easy to do - one yarn in each hand, no twisting). The second and third rounds involve purling (which I have not mastered with two colors in two hands - this means a lot of dropping and picking up of yarns), with the alternate colors being brought over (and on the third round, under) each other - hence the twisting and untwisting of yarn.

I did this twice, in order to have a two braid edge to this hat (maybe next time I should reverse the order of over and under and see if the braid 'heads' in the other direction...). Figuring my gauge is going to be somewhere in the 9 sts to the inch range (I hope, or will be looking for someone with an even smaller head than mine!)

Will (hopefully) post pictures of the hat in progress as well as on completion. Any guesses for how long that will take?

Running is going pretty well. A little bit of lateral knee soreness the past couple of days. Combined with the shins being a bit touchy I am wondering about all the time I am spending running on roads and downhill. Thursday's are still 'running to work' days; and that may be the problem. The first mile plus involves a fair amount of downhill running (at one point about 4 or so blocks straight). May need to explore the old route through the woods and fields and see if it is runnable to spare the legs. Total mileage for the week (don't laugh!):17. Yup - the reality is that I am a low mileage runner. For example, lets look at what a typical week of running is like:

Monday: 0 miles
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 5.2 miles
Thursday: 2.7 miles
Friday: 0 miles
Saturday: 6 - 7 miles
Edited:
Sunday: 1.5 to 3 hours of soccer (aka speedwork)

Granted, right now I am in that stage of my training plan where I just want to get consistent about running. Soon the long runs will get longer and I will be looking for rides out east or west so I can run the whole time with the wind at my back. But still, my high mileage months look like other runners weeks ;->

Loving all the sunshine we have been having, though longing for a bit of a warmup and for the winds to die down. I know, live in the wrong place for that - but a girl can hope!

Too much....

Ever feel like taking a vacation from your life?

Work has been very stressful. We have been short-staffed for over a month and even with everyone pitching in and doing their best, things are getting left undone. Today I totaled up my "overtime" (no such thing as I am salaried, just supposed to compensate at some point). I am up to 174 minutes - of the time I have been tracking. And yet I have a lot of "my" work still to do. On a positive note: I have gained an even deeper appreciation for what CMA's do! They rock and I am at best a remedial student of their ways with scheduling and tracking down results and records. I bow to their abilities to get it all done!

To top it all off life at home has had it's own unique stressors (enjoy your kids while they are young - the late teens/early adult years.... yowzer - are they tough times to parent!)

My refuge of late: running,knitting (when I can find the time for that) and reading (if I can stay awake long enough).

Got in a nice trail run Monday before donating blood. Then a day off (from running at least). Wednesday is the usual group run - this time with temperatures in the mid to upper 20's (hardly knew how to dress). Almost didn't make it there because of work - but managed to get out the door and to Canal Park without making the group wait too long. Thursday's are for running to work ;-> Vitally important this week as the stress builds!

Will take Friday off (may get a ski in with a friend) then Saturday is the "long" run. My schedule says 5-6 miles, but since I did 7 last week I may stick with that. Temps are supposed to plummet in the next day, making it another cold one, but if I run the same route I should at least have the wind at my back on the way home.

Sunday's are for skiing and soccer. Start the day with a 4k classical ski at a local trail, then in the afternoon it is indoor soccer. Last week (18th) was the first game of the season. So, what did I do - played two back-to-back. Yup - just about crippled the next day ;-> Had a heck of a bruise from getting hit with the ball (can still see it), prompting a run to the co-op for more arnica gel. This past Sunday I only played one game, but managed to take a ball to the face and get taken down, landing on my chest, left arm and apparently my left shoulder - hard. Bounced right back up, but had more than a few players asking if I was really okay. Felt fine at the time, but have since discovered that I must have hit harder than I thought. Left shoulder by Tuesday was really bugging me and had limited range of motion. Better now, but not back to normal.

Sauna Sunday night did a lot to relax the muscles and the mind. Got to remember to fire the sauna up more often (and a great way to dispose of items that need shredding ;-> )

On the knitting front: Another pair of rather large socks are done and gifted. Took one whole skein of Plymouth Yarn Sockin' Sox (60% superwash wool, 25% bamboo, 15% nylon) plus a little from a second skein (one skein is supposed to make a pair of socks). What to do with the almost full skein? Why a hat of course! Cast on for a ribbed hat (nice, soothing 2x2 ribbing). Once that is done I may be ready to tackle some color knitting in way of a Hartley Hat in fingering weight wool.

Reading: Dana Stabenow - couple of her thrillers. Preceded that with some Anne Lamott. On order: a new (to me) Connie Willis.

Playtime at Wildknits

It has been years since we have had a sledding fest here at the Wildknits home. Family came for a visit and we headed out to enjoy the sunshine, warm temps (relatively) and abundance of snow.

Our yard has a 'significant' slope. Takes 26 steps to get up to the front yard proper, then 20+ feet of sloped sidewalk followed by another 10 steps to get to the front door. The rest of the yard is another 100 feet or so uphill. We are bordered by an unbuilt road - otherwise known as the sledding hill. Total length... good question, depends on where you start your run ;-> For the most part we stayed near the yard, starting above at the neighbors and heading downhill a hundred feet or so to roll out before going into the road. Not too many obstacles to avoid - other than the pesky street sign at the bottom. There is a point about midway down the hill where you really pick up speed! After a few runs your choice was to "hockey stop" your sled or wind up going over the snow ridge into the road and across to the other side (and possibly over that ridge and into the woods). Not for the faint of heart! Also requires an adult posted at the bottom to watch for cars when kids are on the hill.


Looking up towards the top of the hill from 2/3rds of the way down.


My awesome steering technique as I whiz past family members.

Much fun was had by all - even the timid four year old. She then requested we hike to the "creek". This involved another couple hundred foot climb through knee deep snow till we reached the Superior Hiking Trail. From there it was easy sailing on a packed trail to the creek. On the way up we talked a little bit about Porter. The last time we made this hike together Porter and my niece were inseparable. She was pretty matter of fact about him being dead, though did comment that he is with God. ;->



Running:
Got in a 7 mile run yesterday morning in an inch of fresh snow, then home to shovel all those steps and sidewalks, then some "hill repeats" while sledding ;-> Overall a good workout for the day. Only one soccer game today so should be in good shape for a run tomorrow (unlike last week when 3 hours of soccer just about crippled me for two days). Looking forward to a day off of work and time to enjoy daylight and relax a bit before the work week gets going.

Thursdays ARE for running to work

Left my house around 7:45 am. Air temp: -18 F; winds 12+ mph out of the northwest; windchill around -42F or so.

Distance: somewhere in the two mile + range (I kept hitting dead end streets in the maze that is Lincoln Park/West End).

Sunrise over the lake: worth it

I was toasty warm the whole way thanks to the hundreds of dollars of warm running clothes I have accumulated over the years (birthday and christmas gifts mostly). Once again I proclaim my love of Sporthill 3SP products. I wore the same layers as yesterday, kept the balaclava pulled over my face (ran into the wind most of the way which makes me wonder about the north; report from the lake said SW winds), and did not shed any layers. Had quite the frost buildup around the opening of balaclava and on my eyelashes by the time I got to work.

I commented to co-workers that I was actually warmer on my run than I am when driving to work ;->

Even managed to run trails for a short while before returning to the roads! The weirdest part of the commute was how so much of the run was uphill. I live near the top of the hill and work at the bottom. And yet, in the first mile I was descending and climbing quite often. Partially this was due to the multiple dead ends I hit and the need to find a new route/retrace my steps. But it is also due to the nature of traversing a hillside.

I run with a pack so I can carry a few important supplies: keys for work, date book, lightweight coat (liner from winter jacket), knitting (for trip home), cell phone (just in case - packed in a spare pair of mittens for insulation), and thermos of coffee (gotta have that second cup).

I try to stockpile food and a change of inner layers at work and always leave plenty of scrubs there so I can change on arrival (besides, scrubs are paper thin and terrible to wear outside in the winter).

Due to the cold and school being canceled I had the roads almost entirely to myself, even when I hit the main thoroughfare. It was nice to run in daylight, been a while since I have done that.

In the past few days I have run across quite a few pictures of Porter when he was quite young. So cute, and so little!


Hard to believe he was ever so small after so many years with him as a 100 lb dog. Still have his ashes here, waiting for the right time to distribute them.

Stay warm!

Winter Running in Northern Minnesota

Made it outdoors for a run tonight. Air temperature was somewhere between -4 to -8 degrees (depends on who's stats you take, the official NWS reading is over the hill and usually colder than by the lake, at least in the winter ;->). Winds were W 8 mph or NW up to 21 mph, again depending on who's stats you use.

Either way, it was a bit chilly out there, especially on the way back when we were running into the wind (funny how you don't notice the wind when it is at your back).

I was a bit overdressed it turned out, but on the upside my hands and feet were essentially warm for the whole run. Usually I deal with numb fingers and thumbs for the first 10 - 15 minutes (Raynauds).

So, what do you wear when running in subzero weather? I had on (from the inside out and top down):

Base layer - warmskin (lotion to face and hands); balaclava; long, winter weight running bra; Sporthill 3SP top; running tights; Darn Tough winter socks; polypro liner gloves

Middle layer - Sporthill running pants; Sugoi hoodie (wore the hood); long-sleeved fleece; wool/silk mittens; wool/alpaca hat

Outer layer - LL Bean anorak (with hood); Sporthill windpants; wool mittens

Ended up peeling a few layers off during the run: the wool hat, wool mittens and folded up the balaclava. Almost regretted the last one on the way back into the wind.

Five miles as the sun was setting and the stars were coming out. That is the beauty of running in subzero temperatures. The sky is so clear. We got to see a bunch of ducks sitting in a small pool of open water on the Big Lake. And, once you are out the door... well then it's all good.

So.... do I run to work in the morning??? Forecast: Partly cloudy, with a low around -15. Wind chill values as low as -36. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

They are already canceling schools up here.

Today I wussed out

It was -22F at my house this morning, predicted high of -4 or so. Winds calm, so wind chill was not a factor.[Side note: are you as annoyed as I am by the weather folks reporting the wind chill factor as if it was the true air temperature?] Packed up my bag with all the gear I would need to run in subzero temps with the intention of leaving work at 5:30pm ready to hit the Lakewalk and get a 3 mile run in before my board meeting. So what happened?

Stressful day of work. It was dark. I was tired (see my day at work). It was cold (about -4 F at the time). And I would be running alone. Yup, I wimped out.

Ultimately, when it comes to running in extreme conditions I need company. Tomorrow I will have that, but today.... couldn't get motivated to be out there alone.

I have run plenty of times alone - long runs, in the winter even. But something about the combination of cold and dark did me in.

Not a great way to start my 18 week training plan for the Superior 25K.

I will add that I had played 3 hours of indoor soccer on Sunday and am still a bit sore from that (the bruising is just beginning to show). Speedwork is happening at least ;-> The muscle groups used are quite different than in running and I can feel it, even today. As the 10 week season progresses it should get better and I won't spend Monday's hobbling around work.

On the knitting front:

I am on the second sock of another pair of socks for another large-footed person. This is the week of board meetings - both lasting upwards of 3 - 4 hours. The perfect venue for getting socks knit. Cast on the leg of the sock at Saturday's meeting and made great progress there. Tonight I finished the heel flap, turned the heel, picked up stitches along the heel flap and got through most of the gusset before the meeting was over. If all goes well these will be done in plenty of time for gifting on Saturday.

The other day someone asked me how long it takes to knit a pair of socks. Right now it seems to be working out to 2 weeks. Of course, that all depends on what else I have going on. At one time I timed myself and could finish a pair of socks in 8 hours. Let's just say they were not a men's sz 12!

Have some yarn sitting out, waiting for the socks to be finished. Actually went searching through my stash for this stuff. Thinking about creating a fingering weight version of the "Hartley Hat" (named for the original design knit for a silent auction to benefit the Hartley Nature Center in Duluth). I have knit multiple versions of this hat - it is a fun and easy pattern incorporating Lavtian braids and a 10 row pattern called "Heart Crook", plus a design of my own for the area between the top decreases.

Though, I did come across a picture of a hat that I knit and donated to another silent auction (Superior Hiking Trail Association) and would love to recreate that hat also - it was hard to give away the original.

Plus, speaking of silent auctions... The Superior Hiking Trail Association's Annual Meeting is fast approaching (first weekend in May) and I usually contribute a few items to that (as well as solicit items from folks I know). Then there is the NMTC Runs and their end of series give-away. I really need to get moving on some projects!

Stay warm. Remember (for those in Minnesota): we live in a "cold weather state"; it is supposed to get cold here; temperatures below zero are normal in our latitude; people have survived in weather like this for centuries (and with fewer resources than we have).

Embrace the beauty of a sub-zero day!!!

Thursday's are not for running to work

So, my plan to run to work Thursday mornings has been derailed. First it was the holidays (both Christmas and New Years Day fell on a Thursday). Then this week I had to get my car up to the dealer and Thursday was the only morning I could coordinate their appointment schedule with my work schedule. Briefly thought about dropping the car off and running to work from the dealer, but that was a bit more time than I was willing to give (I am so not a morning person).

Why did my car need a visit to the dealer? The back windshield wiper fluid nozzle had disappeared. Apparently there is a 'bulletin' out about this happening in "cold weather states". Though they imply owner fault, my dealer said it would be covered under warranty. First car I have ever owned that this has happened to. Maybe a better grade of rubber Honda?

Did wonder what the trails would be like with the 6 inches of snow we got last weekend. Hoping the snowmobilers have been out packing trail across the meadow I traverse on my way to work (nothing like a trail run as the sun rises over Lake Superior).

Ran the snowmobile trail Tuesday and it was a bit soft yet. Definitely a workout, especially on the uphills. My goal is to not have to walk the last big hill on the way back by the end of winter. It doesn't seem like much as you head down it, but there is a gradual, long incline before hitting the steep bit and then it keeps rising for a bit afterwards. No lack of hills in West Duluth ;->

Ran the Lakewalk last night with the usual cast of Wednesday night regulars plus a few new additions (including one guy who just started running this month and ended up doing 5 miles!). Inspirational! The surface was pretty mushy and slow going. Effort felt the same, pace was about a minute slower. The best was the half mile start into the wind. Blowing over 10 mph and providing us all with a natural dermabrasion treatment due to the "moisture" in the air.

Not much else going on around here but work. That and preparing for board meetings (two in the next 5 days) and knitting in my spare time. The nice thing about simpler projects is that a lot of knitting can happen while I catch up on blog reading. Socks are progressing nicely. Hope to get the pair done before the 17th. Wish me luck - the recipient has size 12 feet. I really need to check peoples shoe size before I agree to knit for them!

Catching up

Lots has been happening in the last 7 days, and not much time to write about it.

Highlights:

Bird Mittens finished and gifted (they have been worn every time I have seen the recipient).

Socks finished late last night and gifted. A little effort at tears is effective in getting socks apparently.



These were for my sister, who wasn't as neglected as she let on. Had another pair of hand knit socks (by me) on her feet when I arrived.

Cast on another pair of socks this morning, already to the heel flap this evening. Using a new yarn to me: Plymouth Yarn Sockin' Sox; 60% superwash wool, 25% bamboo, 15% nylon. Feels wonderful! If they weren't several sizes too big I would be tempted to keep them ;-> Knitting them up on my 2.25mm (SZ 1) Knitpicks Harmony double points (love these needles).

On the running front:

School is out, so I have had a little extra free time (no school = no work, at least at one job). Last Tuesday I met a friend for a run at one of the local snowmobile trails. It was a cold morning and the trail was pretty firm. Ran for an hour, around 5.7 - 6 miles: Avg HR: 166, Peak HR: 211; Min HR for the run: 92 (Note tonight my resting HR was 48). Lots of hills on this route, which is good for the legs. Then on Wednesday I met up with the usual group for 5 miles on the Lakewalk. Not very hilly which is good as I was feeling pretty tired and not really up for a run at all. Thursday was the New Years Day Run at Hartley Park (now dubbed the Barely Organized Run). Logged another 4.5 miles, give or take, on narrow single track. Lots of fun followed by a potluck and time to visit with folks.

After all the running my IT band is a bit sore, so it is a good thing I missed a few runs this weekend. Guess my New Years resolution should involve stretching and use of a foam roller on a regular basis.

Hope everyone had a good holiday season! Stay warm, temps here are down to -9 F and predicted to go lower overnight.

Saturday Morning Run

Despite yesterday's rain and mist the roads were not glare ice this morning so I headed out for my Saturday morning run. I meet a group of folks in Proctor and hit the roads for 5 miles, followed by breakfast. With all the snow we have had, the roads have been pretty mushy. Not much helps when running in that stuff. Screw shoes aren't very effective, but they were great on the sections of plowed road that had a bit of ice on them.

Have started using the heart rate monitor again. Interesting observations on todays run:

5 miles - 45:53
Average HR: 165
Peak HR: 215
Minimum HR: 92

Was chatting with another runner the whole time, though not always easily ;-> Now, according to previous calculations my max HR should be around 200 bpm. After all I am 43. So, what does this mean???? Either my max HR calculation is way off or.... I have an innate ability to run at higher heart rates and this bodes well for longer distance races. Like the positive spin on that ;->

Would love some input on this. Don't think it is an issue with the monitor as these type of readings have been pretty consistent since I got the thing.

Took this past week off of running. Just couldn't get motivated to run in the dark and cold Wednesday - or any other day for that matter. Did get a couple days of skiing in (classic) on a local trail. First time out in almost a year (bad snow year for most of 2008, plus dislike using waxes/klister for over 30 degrees). Could feel it in all those little muscles that don't get much use otherwise.

So, hope to get in a ski at least twice per week and run 2-3 days a week while the snow lasts. Need to finalize my training plan soon, in only a few weeks I need to get consistent about running and start building mileage.

On the knitting front:





Finished! On Christmas Day even, so though the recipient will not receive them for a week or so at least I got them done for Christmas ;->

No pictures of the socks in progress.... that will happen when they are finished and gifted. They are very colorful though, more so than I expected by looking at the skein.

A Wildknits Christmas

Sunrise over the harbor - Christmas morning





Our christmas tree(unknown variety of citrus):


Planning a ski for sometime today. Quality time with my knitting needles (only the thumb left on the bird mittens, plus the socks I am working on. Ploughed Acre scarf was gifted earlier this week - all 74.5 x 8.5 inches of it). Family, dinner, and sauna with friends later in the evening.

Merry Christmas!

In Memory of Porter

Porter passed away today at 4:40 pm.

Yesterday he was diagnosed with anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease which is treatable, and was placed on doxycycline. We expected that he would start feeling better within 24 - 48 hours. To complicate matters it was confirmed today that his prothrombin time was way out of range, meaning his blood was not clotting and minor trauma would cause him to bleed (something we had noted Wednesday night and part of what led us to the vet's office Thursday morning). He was to start Vitamin K today for that. But it was not to be. We think he may have had a seizure (strokes due to the inability of his blood to clot?) and, combined with the fact that he was not eating or drinking, couldn't get up any longer.... well, it was clear his time had come.

Porter came to us - a 7 week old puppy - on New Years Eve 1998. He was a shy, fluffy 10 lb puppy that liked to hide under the couch. He grew into a 95 lb dog, still shy at times, a bit anxious without his human pack, but with an interesting personality all the same.

As a pup he learned to open pocket doors and escape all manner of kennels. Liked to pull the girls hair so he could have the bean bag chair. Learned he could tree bears, and was proud of the fact. Took a great interest in "grooming" our pet rabbit. Tried to stay out of his harness, but then would obviously enjoy a skijor once we got going. Eventually figured out he would never catch the local deer. Never met a dog (or postal carrier) he didn't like. Learned that the UPS driver was good for really large biscuits and could spot their truck coming a half mile away (apparently he is so well known at UPS that when they made a delivery today the extra help stopped to peek in on him). Known as the "airport dog" by visitors to the end of Park Point. NMTC trail run participant for many years. Part of my 'crew' for this years Half Voyageur Trail Marathon and aid station volunteer for the Voyageur Ultra.

Running companion, skijor partner, hiking buddy, defender of the wildknit's household from all manner of furry visitors.

He will be missed!

Bird Mittens Revisited

What to do in a blizzard? Tackle a project you have been putting off due to the attention it needed.

First the charts:





As you can see, for a while there I have three separate charts going. I decided the speediest way to tackle this was to photocopy the originals and tape them to a large piece of cardboard (cookie sheet was suggested after all the work was done). Then I affixed the thumb gusset chart to the "proper" place on the charts (after triple-checking it against the original mitten).

Off I went, merrily knitting away until I had about 14 rounds done when I noticed I had messed up in the first couple of rounds. Aagh!!! Ripped back and started over - again. If I was superstitious I would begin to think these mittens have it in for me - or that I am not supposed to finish them.




Completed mitten on the left, mitten in progress in the center (note progress made today, I had ripped back to the cuff after the misplaced thumb incident) and prototype on the right.

Time for a break! I am off to the sauna. Temperatures have dropped to 4 F, winds have switched to the northwest (still gusting into the 20+ mph range), which means we are really feeling them at the wildknits' home.

Schools are closed tomorrow in the area - but will work be closed???? Only time will tell.

First Winter Storm!!!!!

Some where out there,just a block a way, is Hwy 53/Piedmont Ave. Can you find it?


Looking towards the harbor - really, it is out there.


Heading out to drop a friend off and run an errand. Good thing we have four-wheel drive ;->


Porter, waiting to come back in after his morning 'constitutional'. Doesn't he look thrilled with the wind?

Last night we were getting a mix of precipitation. Today the temperature is still in the mid-20's with the wind gusting up to 35 mph from the east (off of the big lake = potential for lots of snow!). Opted to cancel the morning trail run - wasn't sure the roads were safe for driving to the trailhead. Will probably get out at some point today to walk Porter and play on the trail above the house.

The big question is will there be work tomorrow??? They are predicting over a foot of snow today and overnight. The clinic I work at does not close it's doors unless the DTA (bus service) cancels service. The DTA has a new policy to keep at least the mainline buses (= flat streets) running, so I may have to find my way to work even if I can't drive (or get to the mainline route). First opportunity to ski to work?

A blizzard presents the perfect opportunity to knit. Spent part of the morning prepping the Bird Mitten charts for easy reading in hopes of getting that left mitten knit up today. I have some new sock wool I would love to get at but have told myself no new projects until I finish the mittens.

Re-instituted "Thursday's are for Running to Work" this past week. Woke up Thursday morning to our first below zero temperatures and was very thankful for the balaclava that was given to me the night before. Kept my forehead, ears and neck cozy, though I still can't stand to have anything over my mouth (and it wasn't all that cold so not necessary any way). It was a beautiful morning - clear skies and my route allowed me to watch the sun rise over the Lake/Bay. I am fortunate in that I can run a combination of roads and trails to work - though that will be changing in the future as the school district plunks a new building in the middle of my route (a controversial project in Duluth which I will not comment on, except to say as a taxpayer I knew nothing of these plans until I saw the survey stakes go up in the meadow and did some investigating).

Part of my route follows the Superior Hiking Trail, then it is off onto deer trails and snowmobile trails. At one point I descend quite a bit, in the loose snow it was a bit slippery and I found myself wishing I could grab on to something to stabilize myself. The only thing available though was hawthorns. If you have never seen this shrub just know that they are "protected" from browsing by 1-2 inch thorns. I figured it was better to fall than risk impalement, which is exactly what happened at one point.

Once I am through the woods and meadow I cross an active railroad track (ore trains coming down from the range) and run alongside that for a few blocks before cutting down through the neighborhood and on to work. The footing Thursday was pretty good, not too slippery except on the descents.

Since than I have added screws to my shoes (we have gotten more snow). They work pretty well on hard packed snow, less well in the slush that covered the roads yesterday. Kept reminding myself during those 5 miles that I could consider this strength training.

Bridge to Peace 5K

The race was held on the Lakewalk this past Saturday. Friday night it began to snow, not too much, but enough to make the roads pretty slick (all the more so when you live in "Goat Hill" - one of the steepest neighborhoods in Duluth). I ventured out anyway to pre-register for the race. Good thing I did as Saturday morning dawned sunny, but cold (single digits to low teens) and with the wind gusting upwards of 20 mph from the north/northwest. I kept telling myself the alternative was 5 miles on the roads in Proctor, so 3.1 wasn't too bad ;->

It was a small, but enthusiastic group that turned out for this inaugural run. Some of the top competitors in the area mixed in with a lot of other folks. Fun to see all of the kids and families out there. Weird though to be lining up a row or two back from the speedsters. The Lakewalk had been swept clear of some of the snow, but there were still patches, especially on the side of the path. Overall though the footing was great and the sun made it feel pretty warm even with the high winds.

Of course, as I do with all races I headed out too fast. Easy to do with a 20 mph wind at your back, but after about 3/4 of a mile we hit a turnaround and... well... a wall of wind. For the next half mile it was a battle to stay on pace and I then determined who it was I wanted to keep in sight for the rest of the run. Once we reached the "corner of the Lake" there was more protection from the wind and that was a relief. On to the race start - and on by. The clock threw me for a bit, I couldn't believe the time on it, mistakingly believing it was a 2 mile split (silly me). I would prefer not to know my splits most of the time as I tend to psych myself out.

The course went on another 3/4 mile or so (less?) and then we came to another cone, a well-bundled race volunteer, and turned around to head back to the finish line. The fun thing about this loop course is the opportunity to see all of the runners a couple of times. It offers a wonderful opportunity to cheer on and encourage lots of runners. I traded "good jobs" with quite a few folks during the race (though someone pointed out I should save my energy for running vs talking). The best was meeting a young kid (friend of a friend) and chatting with him about his plans before the race, seeing him along the course, and then exchanging "good run" comments afterwards while waiting for awards.

The race organizers did a fantastic job. Registration was well organized, t-shirts were great (long-sleeve cotton, black with a stylish logo); lots of water and snacks on hand after the race (including home-baked goodies which I heard were great - think "church lady". I didn't partake for the simple reason I am having trouble with allergies right now and couldn't identify ingredients). The race was a fundraiser for the Central Asia Institute; a non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Prizes were given to the top finishers overall and in each age group. I was out of the running, but overall happy with how I did. I had set a "stars and planets are aligned" goal of 24 minutes based on recent runs, but amended that to anything under 27 minutes due to the weather and a persistent and nagging cough. Finished in 26:26 race time (26:29 on my watch). Good enough for me.

No other running this past weekend and it will be a low mileage week overall due to outside commitments, but that is okay. I have time to continue a build-up before I need to commit to training. So far the IT band is behaving so I am hopeful I can stay injury free and be ready for the Superior 25K on May 16th.

The trouble with hanging around with ultra runners is that they start talking you into thinking about longer races ;-> As we sat around after the race I repeatedly heard - "You can do a 50K, it's only a few miles more than a marathon". "You could do the Half Voyageur and then two weeks later the Voyageur". Dangerous folks - and some people worry about dope dealers! ;->

Did get me to thinking about a 50K in the fall though (see what I mean?!). The Superior Fall races are really close to an annual backpacking trip, so Wild Duluth would be the most likely choice for my first ultra. It is located on trails that I train on, includes some of my favorite spots in Duluth, and runs right by my house - which could be dangerous as this is in the last few miles of the race ;-> If I do decide I am up to it I will be looking for crew on the third weekend in October. Same goes for the Half Voyageur - put it on your calendar - July 11th, I believe. Crewing for a runner is a great pastime, especially if you: * are looking for an excuse to stand around on trails and roads in all kinds of weather; like doling out food and encouragement; enjoy hopping into a car and driving frantically to the next aid station* and are willing to repeat from * to *.

OKC: No progress on the Bird Mittens. I know, stop procrastinating and get with it! I will, but sounds like I have until at least January 2nd to get them done ;-> The Ploughed Acre scarf is now 44 inches long (unblocked). I started the second ball of yarn as of this evening (board meetings are good for something besides governing non-profits and schools), not sure how long I will make this scarf. Any suggestions? I think I know who this is for, so have a "deadline" now. Will probably have enough yarn left over for a hat and then I may have reached the end of the 'eternal cone of yarn".

Sock orders are rolling in (got to love it when a family member points out that they long ago wore out their only pair of hand knit socks (no tears but I swear I heard a sniffle - and a shoe size) so will have plenty of portable knitting to get me through the winter months. Though this does mean a trip to the yarn store as I do not have adequate supplies of sock wool on hand. Well, I do, but they are all partial skeins and, well, it is a lot of work to make stripy socks that way.

Insomniac documenting her knitting....

...before gifting it tomorrow.

Baby Surprise Jacket




Knit a while ago, just because this pattern intrigues me, and waiting for the right person. A pregnant co-worker and an impending baby shower provided just the incentive I needed to venture out and find some buttons. I think I did okay with these... what do you think?

Often knitting disappears with no documentation, but tonight I remembered to snap some photos. I think I posted before about the yarns used for this sweater - a strand of 100% wool and a strand of fingering weight sock yarn. Brand name on the wool.... Tuna. (Chris remember this stuff? Yet another of my amazing, never-ending skeins of yarn). These jackets are supposed to help me get rid of my rather large stash of odd balls of sock yarn, but in this case I ended up heading to the yarn store to purchase another skein of the yarn as I liked the look. Ah, well.

The temperature is rapidly dropping at the head of the lakes. Down to 8 F already. No snow to speak of, though they keep saying it is on the way. Will need to bundle up Saturday morning for the Bridge to Peace Run if these temps and winds keep up.

For an interesting review of what is going on in Canadian politics take a look at the Yarn Harlots blog (desperately wishing the link feature would work on blogger - always fools me into thinking it does, but I am wise to it's ways now). When we first heard there was something up we tried to research the issue on our own, her explanation made it all come clear. Note to any non-knitters who read this blog: she is also posting tips for shopping for knitters. Very informative, though ignore the link to the Signature needles unless you truly love your knitter (or need to make up for previous blunders) ;->

Personally, I am pretty infatuated with the double pointed Harmony wood needles from Knit Picks. Durable, nice points, pretty, feel good in the hand and reasonably priced(www.KnitPicks.com). So far I still have 6 size 0 needles, despite reknitting those mittens a couple of times.

Ploughed Acre scarf is still under construction (a morning of meetings at work was helpful in making some progress); Bird Mittens are still in a time out. I know they need to be done soon, but the recipient is not due back until after Christmas so I have time.

Running is still going well. Speed - what there is of it - is coming back and I am starting to look forward to training for some longer races (remind me I said that when it is 9 degrees out, the wind is blowing, and I need to get an 11 mile run in).

Tuesday running

Tuesdays are a long day. Used to be I would head to work by 11:30 am (clinic is open till 8:00 pm and I work the 'late' shift), leaving me plenty of time to lounge about and get a run in. That all changed this fall when I took a second job. It is only three hours a week, but those three hours fall when I am not at my full-time job so bye-bye leisurely Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons. I am at job #1 by 8:30 am and leave job #2 at 8:30 pm.

This change in work schedule has really messed up my running in daylight in winter schedule (not to mention what it will do to skiing if we ever get snow). I have managed a couple of runs by foregoing any errand running in the hour between jobs, but hit on a real solution today: go to work dressed in my running clothes (with a layer of more professional stuff over the top). Cuts down on changing time and means a quicker escape out the door and onto the trails = more time to run. Lucky for me I work at a school (Why yes, I am a school nurse now. How funny is that? And at the school my girls attended so I know all the teachers and a smattering of the students) so the dress code is more casual than say a business office. And, since I change into scrubs at my 'regular' job, clothing is not a problem. The school job is downtown, regular job out west and lots of trails in between.

Today I headed for the Piedmont Ski Trail. The dusting of snow left over from Thanksgiving provided just enough traction on the icy spots so footing was good. I love the frost heaves and sunken rocks that are evident all over the trail at this time of year. Though it does mean paying attention so as to not roll an ankle. The deer were all over the place and I must have flushed at least a dozen and almost ran into one that didn't move as I came by. Did see a blood trail for a couple of hundred feet so at least one bowhunter got lucky.

I pretty much had the trail to myself and being in the woods was a nice break from the wind. These trails have some pretty significant hills - good workout over all and I was pretty pleased with my time for the approximately 5k course(28.33). I have been feeling pretty slow of late, so will take this as a good sign that I am getting back into shape.

Another benefit of running on Tuesdays: my running stuff is at work and waiting for the afterwork run on Wednesdays. Though this week I may need to add a layer as today's run was in the mid-20's and tomorrow's high is in the teens with strong winds. But it wouldn't be a Wednesday run on the Lakewalk without a 20 mph headwind ;->

Want to experience the joys of running along the shore of Lake Superior in the winter? Join us at 5:00pm Wednesdays at the corner of Morse St and Lake Ave in Canal Park. Distance ranges up to 5+ miles. Wind guaranteed (usually on the way back).

Thanksgiving Day Knitting

What to do when you finish a large pair of socks and want a simple knitting project to work on while visiting on Thanksgiving Day(Bird mittens? What bird mittens?).

Dive into the stash, grab a cone of yarn from Scotland and cast on for a lace scarf (Ploughed Acre Scarf - lace pattern from a Barbara Walker Treasury, scarf pattern by wildknits).



As you may have noticed I have started to wind off the yarn into a 'cake'/center-pull ball. Cones are not very portable and I have travel plans for this scarf.

Now, deciding to wind this off mid-project has involved a bit of breaking of yarn and then spit splicing. My intention was one break but... well the yarn had another idea! About a quarter of the way through the first cake it went flying across the room. Yup, yarn a little too slippery for the ball winder. So I applied my high tech solution to this problem



After adding the rubber band I was on my way. Due to the tangle that ensued (yarn from the outside interfering with the center pull feature during the trip across the room) I had to break the yarn once more. Finished winding the initial flying cake, spit spliced the yarn together and began winding off the cone again. Everything was going great and then I took a hard look at the ball-winder, the cone and back again. The yarn was not all going to fit! Another break in the yarn was needed. Second ball wound up in no time though, and only slightly smaller than the first.

Originally I was a little concerned about having enough yarn for a long scarf (unblocked this scarf is over 6 inches wide) but now I am less worried. This has been an amazing cone of yarn! Bought it at a knitting retreat years ago from someone cleaning out her stash. Knit a large shawl from it (gifted to our pastor when she was going through treatment for breast cancer), and have knit at least one hat with it. The yarn is a little stiff as is, due to the oils left on it for machine knitting, but once it is washed up fluffs and has a wonderful feel.

So far no recipient in mind for this scarf - we shall see what presents itself ;->


Been running consistently - at least for me - and pulled out the training plan last night I used for the Superior 25k. Time to start planning for next years races. I am running about 14 miles per week right now and need to get that up another few miles before I jump into the training plan. I have found that I need a long build-up and longer miles to 'race' well, so will start the formal plan mid-January for a mid - May race. If all goes well, I will have a perfect base and be in a good place for training for my second marathon (going back to the Half Voyageur, non-Jarrow's Beach year).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a nice break from your routine(s), can gather with an interesting group of people, have an opportunity to be outdoors enjoying the beauty of a late fall day and get to eat your fill of delicious food.

Preparations have begun at Wildknits: Turkey was picked up yesterday from our local farmer; pumpkin was baked, pie filling was prepared and the pies are in the over; beets are cooking; bread is rising; groceries are purchased. The rest of the meal will be prepared tomorrow. Fresh turkeys cook pretty quick so there will be time for a run in the morning on one of my favorite sections of the SHT - Knife River.

This section may eventually be abandoned as the trail is built from Duluth to Two Harbors, but for now it is the site of some memorable runs year round. It is a rooty, twisty hilly section - all the best of the SHT. Portions run along the Knife River - high above and close to the riverside. Demands your attention or you will trip over a root, run into a tree or step into a puddle. Not too long - maybe 4 miles top, trendy downhill- if you start at the top :->

After the run it will be back to the house to get the turkey in the oven, start the herb puffs, make cranberry sauce and finish up all of the last minute stuff that is Thanksgiving in America.

Enjoy!

Pickled Herring, Holiday Cheer and Broken Windows

It must be winter!

The temperatures are dropping (though still no snow) and car windows are frosty - leading to comical attempts at scraping (I am short, my car has a lot of glass, attempts to reach the middle of the windshield without leaning on the car in my work clothes.... amusing). Apparently it was so cold overnight yesterday that it broke auto glass:



This window was just replaced in August (trauma induced by a bass amp). The theory is that something was wrong with the installation and the cold (low yesterday morning 7 F) lead to the break. Sigh! Thankfully the damage is covered by the warranty as that car does not have glass coverage. And lucky for me - that is not my primary vehicle. Unbelievably, I did not notice the window was broken when I left for work - too focused on scraping windows and getting going on time. In my defense, I do not park on the same side of the street as this car ;->

Over the past week there has been a large container moving in and out of our refrigerator. I am not initiated into the mysteries of pickling fish, but that is what has been happening in the Wildknit's kitchen. Started with last Sundays catch of Lake Superior Herring Once they were cleaned and filleted (saw a lot of roe which can be sold for the caviar market in Sweden) the fish was cut into chunks and went into our crockpot insert with a brine solution. After an overnight stay in the refrigerator the fish is rinsed and then covered with white vinegar for another overnight stay in the fridge. One more rinsing, and then the fish goes into the pickling jars and is covered with pickling solution. After 5 days it will be ready for consumption. This recipe does not involve canning - just refrigeration. Now, I am NOT a fan of commercial pickled herring - 'shudder' - but do find this to be quite edible.

More to my liking is the Holiday Cheer that was also cooked up this weekend. Otherwise known as "Christmas Beer". Traditionally, we start talking about brewing this up for the holiday season in the fall and then procrastinate to the point that we are brewing on Christmas Eve and the beer will not really be ready for consumption until well into the new year. But this year we got the timing a little better. The recipe includes honey, ginger root, cinnamon, and grated orange peel in addition to the requisite malt extract, malts, hops and ale yeast. It is now sitting in a 5 gallon carboy. The first 24-72 hours involves a lot of noise! Active fermentation is taking place and there is a lot of gurgling as the excess gases escape through a hose and into a container of water. All is quiet now though - fermentation lock is in place and the carboy sits, wrapped in a sleeping bag, under the kitchen table. Rather than bottling 5 gallons of beer, we now move it into a soda keg when fermentation is complete.

Made it sound like I was busy this past weekend, huh?! I was only an assistant for all of this cooking. I do the shopping and help out with some prep, but am not the chief cook or brewer. Jon has been pretty busy of late - and I notice that the sourdough starter has moved from the fridge to the kitchen table so bread is also on the way. And we have not even started to assemble the Thanksgiving Day menu!

As non-traditional as we can be there are some stand-bys that are expected on the table. This year there will be turkey (fresh from our local CSA), herb puffs (Laurel's Kitchen - one child has already requested the recipe for her meal far away in Montana),cranberries from a local supplier and pies made from the pumpkin we got with our last summer Food Farm (CSA) share. There is talk of a brussel sprout salad (now, give it a chance! Shredded brussel sprouts, peccarino cheese, walnuts... quite tasty) and we just downloaded a recipe for a cranberry-walnut upside down cake from the Almanac (www.tpt.org) website. As you can see we cook for a crowd and like variety.

Another Thanksgiving Day tradition is to head out for a walk in the woods. For a few years now that has included spotting a porcupine! Wonder if we will see one this year? Luckily Porter has never gotten ahold of one on a holiday.

From last weekend:


Playtime at wildknits - Porter and Hobbes (standard poodle)