Sunday, April 14, 2013

Orchids and Rosa's number 2

Yesterday my husband and I went to an orchid farm fairly close by.  It was fascinating to hear about how they grow, which ones need sun and which ones need more darkness.  The orchid was a gift for someone he works with.  I wish my photography skills were better, I should have taken my really good camera. 


 The owners had several different greenhouses filled with plants.


Some hanging and some in pots.  Some flowers bloom twice a year and some only once.


These gorgeous orchids had a very large flower and hung in the air from what looked like nothing, no pot or soil, just roots sticking out every which way.


The lighting was strange in the greenhouses so picture taking was not ideal, but you get an idea of how beautiful they are.

  
Mr. Peacock also lives on the premisses.  He had just put down his beautiful finery before I could get my camera out.  He doesn't like his picture taken apparently, because as soon as I got my camera out he turned around and walked away.


 Rosa's Sleeveless Cardi number 2 is complete.  Before you all go crazy on my knitting speed this is a very easy, and very fast knit.  Once you are past the sleeves you just keep knitting, and knitting, and knitting.  Caroline was thrilled to see the outside today, it is overcast and dreary out, so there was not going to be a photo shoot inside the house.


This is a bit wider and longer than my first one, I added about 34 stitches to the neckline and about 45 rows to the body of the sweater.  I also went up to a size 10 needle.  The pattern calls for bulky yarn and a size 11 needle neither of which I used. It think this will be worn more for cooler weather over a long sleeved shirt.


This was made with Noro Silk Garden yarn.  My love/hate affair with Noro continues.  I think with this expensive of yarn I should not have random joins in the middle of a skein, and should I really be picking out plant matter from the yarn as I knit?  I vow not to buy Noro again, ever, and then the color combinations lure me back, time and time again.  Before this purchase I haven't bought any Noro in a long time so at least I am trying to stick to my guns on this one.

Finished project 15, with a total of 6,520 yards used so far this year.  

I read the best book a few weeks ago, The Last Summer by Judith Kinghorn.  If you like history and Downton Abbey you will love it.  I was riveted and seriously could not put it down.

If you like reading don't forget to pop by and catch up reading Legends of Aeternus 
by my favorite 16 year old author.  I promise you will be impressed by this lovely young woman's writing skills.  She is the daughter of one of my favorite bloggers, Mrs D Crochets, etc.

Shari at Kashmere Kisses is having a great give away.  Shari has a lovely, beautiful and peaceful blog and she makes incredible things, you will be amazed.  But be sure not to put your name in the drawing because I want the bunny she made and is giving away, and the less people who enter the better my chances are.

And my very dear, dear friend Sitichy McFloss is having a doily CAL and a KAL.  You can join in at her blog.  I am trying to hold steady and not succumb but I am weakening, I can tell you after seeing the KAL pattern, I am weakening.

What have you been up to this weekend?  

28 comments:

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

So my master plan of enticing the Yarn Whisper into a KAL is working. Yay! I know, you are not there yet...but come on, admit it that doily is awesome. It's thread...it's knitted, it's fun! :)

Love your sweater! The colors are perfect. It will look really nice on you.

I haven't bought any Noro, but if I did and there was a join and plant matter in the skein, I think I would be really P' Od!
I mean, at that price it should be perfect.

Looking forward to seeing your up dates on the doily. :)

Blessing always dear friend.

Babajeza said...

This went quick. It's nice! I've never used Noro .... Have a nice week! Hugs, Regula

Suzan said...

Wish I could have joined you to the orchid greenhouses!! BEAUTIFUL!! I want them all! My Dad use to grow the large purple orchids that you showed with the dark pink throat. When they bloomed, he would have them made into a corsage for his Mom.
Another lovely sweater --- you ARE amazing!!

kathy b said...

Mere

Your card is nothing less than amazing. I love the peacock even when the feathers are down.....so so lovely What a creature.

I worked until 0300 last night...am dragging.
Finishing our GOLF cake now and heading to our friends MASTERS golf party!

Teresa Kasner said...

Your sweater is gorgeous.. come on.. show it on you for us! Upon your recommendation I went to iTunes and bought that book. It's on my iPad now! We're just relaxing right now.. but I want an orchid! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

* said...

Wow, those orchids are stunning, I thought at first glance the first picture was a daff, then I saw the centres and thought it was a poppy...they are gorgeous. I don't really do orchids as I'm pretty rubbish at remembering to water house plants, my mil has a good few I've been stressing that while they are away they 'll die even though I've not been left responsible for them...my mil knows me well!

The second sweater is lovel too, the Noro looks so pretty, what a pain it's always got so many joins in it.

Lillie and Moss said...

LOL, Meredith, thanks so much for posting a little something about my giveaway. I believe you now have 60 plus people you have to compete with so much luck to you! (your so funny)
I haven't had the pleasure to work with Noro yarn but after hearing your adventures with it, i am not sure if I want to. But you are right, the colors are truly amazing!
another beautiful sweater!
Keep them coming.
Hugs, Shari

Unknown said...

The orchids are beautiful! I should try to grow one again. I think last time i had forgotten that they die back and threw mine out. At least some do. Your sweater looks great. Nice for cooler days. But not heavy. I went over to Kashmere and love her work also. Thanks for suggesting her site. I also am glad that you made the book suggestion. I am ready for a new book.

Kris said...

Hi Meredith. Your new sweater is lovely. How fast your needles fly!!
The orchids are so pretty. I have never had much luck with them, but I think they are so pretty.
I will check out those books. I may have bought the English one, it sounds familiar to me. I though it sounded so good, and reminded me of Downton Abbey. I must admit, my curiosity is piqued with the 16 year old author!!!
We are going to go to see the Jackie Robinson movie this afternoon. Chilly and overcast here.
XO Kris

cockney blonde said...

What a whizz getting yet another jumper finished. As for those orchids. Those colours and shapes are amazing, thanks for sharing their beauty, x

Anonymous said...

Your new little sweater is ADORABLE! Can't wait to see you model it.

Looks like you had fun at the orchid farm. I have the top three orchids. The bottom is a vanda and those ...I just NOT do well with vandas. :-(

Wishing you a very happy week.

Olga Poltava said...

Oh, those orchids are so beautiful. I love the ones in the second photo; they are so unusual.
The cardi looks pretty and so soft. It must be very comfy.

JCDiTaranto said...

Lovely orchid pictures. I've never seen anything like the red and white ones before. So cool!

The second tank is great, too. I only got to use Noro once, but you're so right about the color combinations. They're almost irresistible!

Thanks again for mentioning my daughter's blog. You've certainly helped her readership!

Wishing you a great start to the week!

Betsy said...

What a fun post! The orchids are gorgeous and your sweater even more so. I'm sure Carolyn was happy to be outside today. It gets tiring being cooped up inside all the time. I've also joined Shari's giveaway so you have a bit of competition from me. :-). Have a wonderful evening!
Blessings,
Betsy

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Ok, I won't go crazy and harass you of how fast of a knitter you are..lol. I agree on the color of that yarn..very soft and subtle, but weird pieces of stuff in it is odd. Interesting about the orchids...it's neat that there is a farm near you too. I would love to visit a lavendar farm. I love those and have seen some pics of some that my friend in St Louis went to. My weekend didn't start off well at all but today was gorgeous and we got lots of yard work done, flower beds cleaned out. I am relieved it is done! Happy almost Monday! ~Hugs, Patti

Pammy Sue said...

Your sweater us wonderful...such pretty colors. I have two skeins of Noro in my stash that have been there for years. Two similar but different colorways. I just haven't had the right project come along yet.

Made one square for the Abelia Vest a few minutes ago from a denim blue yarn and a peach yarn. It looks good, but my gauge is 3.5" instead of 3.0". Will ponder on it a while to make sure it's what I want. I really wanted red to go with the denim blue, but I don't have any and don't want to go buy more. I must use what I have. The peach is more subtle and girly.

Elisabeth said...

Those orchids are beautiful! The third photo is so pretty, the colors are amazing. And your sweater is lovely, the stripes in it are so cute. I hate it when yarn has breaks in the middle, especially when it is more expensive yarn. Last week I was working with some yarn that cost me more than twice what I normally spend on yarn and in one skein there were 4 breaks :( It's so frustrating! But like you say, the amazing colors often make us go back for more :) Have a great week Meredith! Hugs, Elisabeth x

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Meredith, Lovely Rosa number 2! Gorgeous orchids, I'm a real lover of them, would have so enjoyed going to that orchid farm. I have 10 orchids and they do really well for me, I must have the touch but am completely amazed by my good luck with them! Must be the window exposure and watering. That peacock is stunning, but not a social one!!!
Thanks for all the news at the end. I need to find a new good book, xoRobin

Pradeepa said...

Gorgeous flowers! Even I have never had any luck with peacocks. There are plenty here but they always refuse to pose. Your sleeveless cardi is fabulous.

Toni said...

Oh, the orchids are amazing!

You are a much more forgiving person with Noro than I am--I have one sweater from Noro, and between all the knots (which totally disrupted the color changes), the vegetation, and the insane prices, I've never used it again.

Unknown said...

Those orchids look beautiful I bet it was a such a lovely array of colour. Love your daughters top the colours are lovely, dee x

kathyinozarks said...

how awesome to be able to view so many beautiful orchids in one place-how fun!
I really love your new knitted top too, looks really comfy.
we are bracing for more t storms this week-we will be unplugging from the wall from now on-since serge protectors don't work-lol
have a great week Kathy

linda said...

The orchids are beautiful but so expensive and hard to look after my friend has just received a beautiful orchid as a gift and is afraid in case she kills it! Well done on completing the sweater so quickly, it's beautiful, I hate it when you get a join in the middle it really shouldn't happen when it's so expensive. xx

Gracie Saylor said...

You and I shared flower adventures this weekend, Meredith. Your orchids are beautiful and fascinating...so many curves and shades and textures.

Most of my family piled in my mini-van yesterday afternoon and drove through rain showers for about an hour to get to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. A visual treat...intense and varied colors.

I admire your latest sweater! Bravo :-)
xx,
Gracie

RURAL said...

Everything is beautiful today, the flowers, the yarn, the top.

I love DA, thanks for the hint.

Jen

Taci simmons said...

The orchids are just gorgeous and even though you say it's a fast knit I still think you must have a motor attached to your hands... You're the "speedy Gonzalez" of knitting my friend :)

Charlotte Wilson said...

Hi, I found you from Tree Hugger and noticed that you are a knitter. I share your frustration with the more expensive yarns.
I love your sleaveless cardigan...very pretty.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I love the colors in this one even more than the first. You must be a speedy knitter to finish something wearable so quickly. We've seen greenhouses of beautiful orchids in Sri Lanka at the botanical gardens. Absolutely amazing -- especially those that grow seemingly out of nothing. Best wishes, Tammy