Emma – Page 2

Walking With Emma: A Pattern

Published on June 20, 2019May 24, 2024 by Jen5 Comments

jenjoycedesign© Walking-With-Emma 2 — From The Archives: January 2012 “Paws”

On the eve of the Summer solstice I am celebrating fourteen years

of Walking With Emma.

jenjoycedesignc2a9-paws-2018 — From The Archives: July 2018 “Out Walking”

And as Emma naps beside me at my feet, I am enjoying coffee in the pause of a cool morning, putting finishing touches on the pattern pdf. You see, I have been knitting Ten At A Time socks with an impossible deadline to finish, and as the time for knitting lessens while the house rebuild work increases, I have jubilantly decided to put the pattern & photos together “as is”, and get it submitted today.
jenjoycedesign© Walking With Emma ribbed

An ensemble I am naming “Walking With Emma”.

jenjoycedesign© WWE cabled variations

Eight socks, one pattern.

(( click image below for enlarged detail ))

Walking With Emma is a collection of classic cables & ribs. If knit with a rustic wool they are the quintessence of country socks, and so befitting of wandering in the rural spaces, as I have with my dog Emma! And if made with fine to very-fine yarn, these socks can be as elegant as any occasion could ask for. Four classic cables in a progression of 1/1, 2/1, and two variations of 2/2 cable cross, as well as four plain ribbed variations, making eight ways to knit a sock. This is an epic sock pattern for me because not only do I give it four charts, but six sizes to fit men, women, teens & kids…. and…. the pattern includes a gauge substitution chart so that you can use several weights of your favorite yarns, from rustic hand-spun to fine fingering, and even lace weight!

Please go get the latest pattern and set yourself in motion walking (or sitting) while knitting one or two or three or more of this collection . . .

pattern is live on Ravelry HERE.

In closing, I’d like to mention that Emma and I are still “walking together” as you can see posted over here, and we will greet the Summer Solstice this way! Please click through this epic slideshow and view some great photos I have taken over the years, out trail-making and walking with Emma in our mountain landscape …

Plastering dog fur !

Published on June 4, 2019May 24, 2024 by Jen9 Comments

Our construction folk won’t be here this week so I’ve decided to plaster the loft room by myself, incorporating Emma’s fur into the mud. The style is haphazard, but excellently artful and as this is my studio room as well as guest room, that suits everybody just fine.

I will go over the surface with a damp sponge to knock off the sharp high spots, and then the many coats of paint will completely soften the rough surface, and be less “hairy”, and hopefully end up looking rather old-architectural style. Most importantly, part of Emma is now embedded in the walls of the room, and that means a lot to me.

Just for the sake of interest, the tree pictograph ” Po ” continues to be a photo opportunity, and in itself, a marvel!

And with the rest of the week ahead all by myself, I’m going to see if I can get the room painted to my liking, as before; an undercoat of primer, then a couple of coats of the lightest tones in the fir (a peachy tan), with the deepest tones in the grain to be rubbed on for glaze (a sienna brown).

Our little spot.

Published on May 31, 2019May 24, 2024 by Jen8 Comments

jenjoycedesign© knitting lane 4
Introducing Emma’s and my walking lane, where we can still walk together. It is only about a tenth of a mile long, and walking the length of it out and back five times it is a mile. She and I are working on a new sock pattern by the way, which will be tribute to all the walking we’ve done over the years.
jenjoycedesign© knitting lane 6
This is our new private spot, where nobody is ever around but maybe occasional workers in the vineyard, and being so quiet it offers wonderful solitude, especially in the mornings. It is a sort of base camp where I can park at one shady end, walk back and forth while working or knitting, and Emma can be with me, because since turning fourteen, she hangs out in the back of the car and watches.
jenjoycedesign© knitting lane 9
This little spot was a very over-grown access road for power lines which borders ours and a neighboring parcel, and is really quite secluded. This is just one of those things I don’t know why I didn’t focus on earlier, but I’m glad I am now, for I can drive Emma down here every morning for our walk “together” and afternoons too if its not too hot.
jenjoycedesign© knitting lane 8
While over the years Emma and I walked regularly up the ridge to the peak of the mountain and beyond, the wildfire destroyed so much that for sheer tree fall, walking up the ridge is impossible presently. Also Jeff had recently got a heavy duty rechargeable battery operated dual line weed-whacker, and so now I can mow and maintain this little lane, and what is amazing is that on our property this is the only level spot. Presently I am having to move quite a lot of rocks and battling wild black berries, but I’ll get there eventually.
jenjoycedesign© knitting lane 2 I think I’ll officially name it Emma’s Lane. And here she this morning, hunkering down in her castle, watching me and keeping company while I work.

A day of days!

Published on May 20, 2019May 24, 2024 by Jen12 Comments

jenjoycedesign© after the rain 3
I’m in a robust mood this morning early, a beautiful golden sunrise through the glistening air of recent days of rain. Right now the forest is alive with promise!

Ignore the charred black trunks, because what is going on beneath the surface is nothing less than a miracle. I want to emulate the forest, and allow myself to sprout renewed growth from such a vibrant place within, the place of true life .
jenjoycedesign© after the rain 1
In the mood to step outside with camera and capture the moment, vivid as it can be; the wildlife stirring, Emma napping quite oblivious to it, the knitting trail ready to be worked & walked . What a day of days!

A couple cups of rich strong French Roast and I am ready for the day!

If good moods are contagious, I hope everyone out there is feeling the day as wonderful as this.

Emma is Fourteen

Published on May 2, 2019May 24, 2024 by Jen29 Comments

Emma is fourteen today!

She is surprising us all how she is hanging in there . . .

. . . for another spring on the mountain . . .

. . . for another May birthday . . .

. . . perhaps a few more months yet, to move into the new house with us . . .

. . . she has lived beyond her breed’s life expectancy, and our old girl is a real trooper!

The three of us have lived in our ~~shoebox~~ tiny house for exactly a year now, although Emma has quite taken to wanting to be in ‘her car’ a lot of the time. She being around has made it so much easier for us to get through this time. I must accredit Emma’s incredible longevity to her extreme athletic youth, running all over the mountain chasing critters, in part to the wonderful veterinarians at Napa Small Animal , as well as the two raw eggs she gets every day, a very good recipe for a healthy happy old dog. Emma, we love you, and what a happy day it is indeed!

((click 1st photo in mosaic to see slideshow))