Rocks and stones

It's a week and a day since one single person in Norway decided his political views was more important than others, and that it needed a 'sacrifice' of more than 70 young people. I still don't understand his justifications, nor am I sure I want to.

It takes a while before you feel you can focus on everyday life again. It all feels so unimportant. But, we Norwegians are pragmatic, if nothing else, and life has to go on. With a slightly more grey lining for a while yet, but still.

The week before I had my first of two weeks of summer vacation, and spent it on Öland, a small island off the coast of Sweden.

It has a lot of old history - like Norway. And a lot of them are connected to stones...
In the background, you see the ruins of a chapel, Saint Birgitte Chapel, from 1200 or so... The cross is from the same era. And the little tower between the two, is a lighthouse made of iron! For some reason...
I was fascinated by the one wall remaining, and the view from 'within'. On the other side of the wall, birds were nesting on the rock wall high up. I like that:) Still in use.
As most of Viking related areas, the burial sites were marked either by mounds or stone circles, or both. This one was different though, shaped like a ship.

These, though, were different from what I have seen before. They are called King's stones, and were big, flat and thin stones. The stories are that the bones of the kings were burned and the ashes buried beneath the stone. Oh, and this one has another story to it. You can't really see it on this one, but almost at the bottom of the stones are two slits, or holes, in the rock.

Like this. And that was called 'Odin's axe'. I guess only the axe of a Norse god could make holes in a stone slab like this....

I am at a loss...

for words. I never thought it would happen here, in this little quiet part of the world. I am angry and sad. Angry that a human being believed his opinions were worth the lives of over 90 people, most of them just in the beginning of their lives. I am sad thinking about all the people who have lost family and friends, that their lives have been changed forever. My thoughts are with them.
I am amazed at how quickly the police, hospitals, firemen and all the volunteers rose to the occasion, even at this time of summer. I am proud of being a Norwegian today.We will not let this destroy us.

Mistakes can be useful

I bought a lovely white fabric with lots of beautiful flowers. Then pre-washed it with a black fabric and two - 2- sheets of colorcatcher. Sigh. Here you are, trying to be ecological, and what happens....? Yup. Grey.... After swearing at myself for a little while, I decided to test it out with a crisp white.
Not so bad, right?

Can't decide if I want to use a different color binding, like red or green... will have to test it out.

Summer!

Finally a vacation! Just two weeks, but sooo lovely. While preparing for my trip (there will be pictures later) I am spending a few days just crafting. I am trying something differen in knitting.
Yes, it looks like a twisted thing, and it is supposed to be so. It is a moebius (?). I am looking forward to seeing it when it is off the needles. I can not see the logic, yet.

And I just finished a little flimsy. Trying things out. Solid white is a new thing. I like the cripsness of the red og the white, and I kind of like all the seams:) We shall see how it works out when it is all quilted.

Look what I did!

Funny thing, I have knitted since I was 11 years old. It is something I do with 'half a brain', while watching TV or talking with friends. I have, however, not done a lot of lace. When I saw this pattern, I just had to try it out. The spiderwebiness (yes, I do know that is not a word) of it fascinated me, I could not understand how it could be possible - with knitting! So I tried. And it worked!
Ok, so I had to block it, which hurts my fiberloving heart sooo much! (Can you guess I do not like blocking knitted fabric? :))The softness of the yarn is gone, as expected. But... maybe I can just keep it on the wall to look at? :)

Amazing what you can do with thin yarn and two sharpish needles. I bow to the genius of the designer. (Pattern is Rock Island Shawl by Jared Flood. I got mine on Ravelry)

Looking up

My newish job lies in a very noble area of the city. The apartment buildings are old, but well taken care of. Twice or three times a week, I go down this street to get hot and bothered (i.e the gym, so therefore no particular joy connected to that hot and botheredness - unfortunately :)). I do what I tend to do when I am downtown, I look up. I see things like this:

and this,

and this, which looks even gorgeous in the fall and winter!

This one, though, looks like a temple. And when you look closer, you see things like this:

Is it not gorgeous?

Of course, not of all them are 'nice':) I guess they are the Norwegian form of gargoyles?

No water sprouting of out them, though. Just for decorations.

I wonder if the architectures of old had fun when they thought these things up? I am so glad that they are taking care of them even now. What a wonderful heritage:)

Long time, many stitches

I started a sweater as a Christmas gift last year. However, shoulder issues kept me from finishing it in time. So when I finished knitting Rock Island, I decided to not allow myself to start something new until I have done with this.

It's an old Norwegian pattern, the yarn a thin wool that slides comfortably enough on the needles. The only problem is that there are almost 400 stitches! By the time I was at the top of the sweater, it was long and quite heavy! Not helping on the shoulder, I must say. But now the body is done, and I only have to do the sleeves! They are featherweights in comparison!

This particular pattern has an interesting addition of embroidery around the neck:) I will keep you posted as I start embroidering it.

It Rocks!

I made it! The shawl got done before the yarn went out! It was a true race in the end, fewer and fewer stitches, lesser and lesser yarn. But the shawl won! :)

Now I just need to block it. I am so against blocking knitted material, it truly pains me to have to do it. I feel it destroys the quality of yarn completely. I still don't know why people would block a beautifully knitted elastic and fluffy garment into something completely... not! But... the pattern of this shawl would not really show without it, and it also needs to be twice it size. And it was the cobweb look of the pattern that drew me to it. So I guess I have to 'woman up' to it. Next weekend, maybe.

On the other hand, I try to sew a little now and then. I did not like the way I put the stars together earlier, so I wanted to try something else. I think I like this better. More white, with a little of red. I think it will look nice in the end.