Firestarters!

multi blue louet
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

On my flight to Brisbane yesterday (yes, traveling for business again) I cast on a firestarters.

Well, I cast on a toe using Judy's magic toe and then stalled until I could get to my hotel room and find an appropriate toe-up patten.

I'm only on my second repeat (busy up here, too busy) but I messed up the first one.

Oh well, turns out I'm the kind of knitter who lives with her mistakes.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

This grasshopper rode the train to work on my foot on Monday morning.

He crawled around on there for 30 minutes or so before I moved him onto my book and then onto the floor.

A few years ago, I was riding my motorcycle when a grasshopper crawled up my trouser leg and bit me.

Blog Action Day

Crimson Rosella
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

I believe that we here at Spiraling are pretty environmentally responsible. Our niddy noddies are made from recycled hardwoods, our sock blockers from reclaimed boards and our fibres sourced locally and often processed from fleece.

I ride a vespa and Pants drives a diesel Land Rover which are both consumption responsible vehicles, although we do have a couple of motorcycles that aren't as friendly as the vespa, but are certainly more friendly than most cars.

We recycle, reduce water usage, avoid fast food and imported goods.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with our collective footprint.

However, I'm about to catch my fifteenth flight for the year.

Fifteen. Four of which have been international.

Outrageous. I travel for business, I'm currently in a motel in Nth Qld, but I also travel a lot for pleasure. Pants and I went to Radelaide to see Hilltop Hoods perform with the ASO earlier this year and to Melbourne for his Birthday.

There are plenty of carbon offset programs, it's easy enough to click that button when you book a flight, but something makes me hesitate.

I want to do something a bit more personal, so Pants and I are going to go to a friend's farm and plant trees. Then I'm going to chase the pregnant alpacas around a field.

This little guy is a crimson rosella I met on a recent weekend at Bendalong. See? Mother Nature doesn't hate me for all the air travel.

Sumo Sock

Spiraling Sumo Sock Peach Schnapps & Cranberry
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Hand-dyed Sumo Sock in Peach Schnapps & Cranberry, my drink of choice. Sometimes.

This stuff knits up into socks in no time, but I think I'm going to cast on a bainbridge scarf.

Pants Sock

Pants Sock
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Aparently, no one has ever knit anything for Pants, which makes me (and his mum, frankly) terribly remiss.

To whit, I've started a pair of socks. I cast on last weekend around the campfire at Bendalong.

Since this photo was taken yesterday, I've caught two flights, so the heel is done and about an inch of foot.

I'm away on business for four days, so I'll have to stop before I get to the toe so he can try it on.

I'm really happy with the yarn, though, it's Opal Prisma.

Nephling Sock

nephling sock
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Teeny, tiny sock, just perfect for my teeny, tiny soon-to-be-nephew.

Now I just have to make the other one...

simple sock

simple sock
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Socks! Oh, how I love socks. They're so quick and mindless, especially a simple cuff-down stocking stitch number like this, with a basic hourglass heel.

This badboy is all mine, made from Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Hot Pink and Turquoise.

Perfect road trip knitting.