A Night At the Spreckels

On March 10th, 2016, just over two weeks ago, I got to go to an incredible concert at the Spreckels Theater in downtown San Diego. 

For those of you who don't know already, I am a big fan of Loreena McKennitt.  Her music is primarily Celtic, but is often infused with a myriad of other global influences.  I've been hooked since the seventh grade, courtesy of my Literature and Language Arts teacher Mrs. Rienick.  We were studying Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman" in class and she played Loreena's recording at the end of that week.  After getting the entire album (The Book of Secrets) for my 13th birthday, I had been enjoying song after song, and eagerly awaiting each album for close to eleven years. 

I had missed out on seeing Loreena twice since I had been introduced to her music.  The first time was when she performed at Humphrey's Concerts By the Bay; I found out she was touring the day after the concert.  The second time I missed her was just after I had booked my flights in and out of Seattle (I was planning a visit with my aunt) when I found out that she was scheduled to play at Woodland Park Zoo on the day of my flight back home.  I guess the third time really was the charm, and being able to attend in such a beautiful and intimate venue as Spreckels more than made up for the close calls and temporary disappointment. 

And speaking of charm, take a look at the theater...




The stage, all set up...

...and directly above.  I had to crane my neck for this shot, but oh was it worth it! 

To the left of the mural...

...and the right.  Can you imagine all the work that went into every beautiful detail, and then the work of maintaining it all?

The concert was a trio performance with Loreena herself, guitarist Brian Hughes, and cellist Caroline Lavelle.  They were all absolutely incredible--Brian and Caroline are stellar musicians in their own right, and it was wonderful to see their talent shine as they each played multiple instruments.  Alongside her cello, Caroline was wonderful on the concertina and recorder; as was Brian on acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki, and oud.  The concert opened with "Samain Night" from the album Parallel Dreams--I was thrilled to hear that one in a live performance, and it was the perfect starting piece along with "All Souls Night" (The Visit).  Her live rendition of "Annachie Gordon" had me on the verge of tears; the recording on Parallel Dreams is already emotionally loaded, but the atmosphere in the theater took it to another level. 

After "Between the Shadows" and "Bonny Portmore" (The Visit), the first set wrapped up with a series entitled "Tears of Grosse Île," named for an island near Quebec--Canada's version of Ellis Island, if you will.  After starting with the lively Morrison's Jig (Featuring crew member Errol Fischer on the fiddle), Loreena read aloud passages from her own journal entries as well as narratives depicting emigration from the famine and the notorious Easter Uprising some decades later.  I was absolutely swept away; although I had read about these instances through my own curiosity, and had learned further from my own trip to Ireland with my family, the emotion was so strong that is was as though I were learning of these tragedies for the first time.  The readings were peppered between "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," "Down by the Sally Gardens," and "The Emigration Tunes" (The Wind That Shakes the Barley).  The set finished with a particularly gorgeous rendition of "Lark in the Clear Air."  I love the version from her debut album Elemental, but with Loreena opting for the piano instead of the harp, this had to be the best rendition I had ever heard. 

After the intermission, the second set picked up with "On a Bright May Morning," followed by favorites like "The Stolen Child" (Elemental), "Penelope's Song" (An Ancient Muse), "The Lady of Shalott" and "The Old Ways" (The Visit), with talks and introductions in between.  The concert finished with "Dante's Prayer" (The Book of Secrets) as the "official" ending piece, but our troubadours were kind enough to return for an encore, with "The Mummers' Dance" (The Book of Secrets) and "Full Circle" (The Mask and Mirror). 



***

Loreena's talks in between songs seemed more like conversations than just introducing the next piece; when "Annachie Gordon" had me all choked up during the first half, her humorous anecdotes about her past travels, as well as the journeys between cities on the current tour, had me in stitches! 

Her stories also revealed much about us as a society, and how we parallel, converge, and diverge with others.  The accounts that particularly fascinated me were those of the importance of oral tradition around the world, and how those that still practice oral tradition can memorize verse after verse of epic ballads. or even an entire family tree; also fascinating was her input on connection technologies (or as Loreena so aptly puts it, "distraction technologies") and how they actually tend to disconnect us from others and the physical and natural world that surrounds us; I also noticed that it often removes us from true human interaction such as face-to-face conversations, eye contact, and the list goes on.  Yes, even as I write a blog about my experience, I agree.  Technology can be really cool sometimes, helpful even.  But we do need to just step back from the screen and be a part of the world we're trying to connect to. 

After the concert, I was debating whether or not to stay in the lobby, just in case Loreena came up for a meet-and-greet.  My mom, who attended the concert with me, waited a few minutes but wanted to get on the road soon--the drive back home is an hour, 45 minutes if we're lucky.  After going back and forth between the lobby and downstairs to check on the parking garage conga line, I heard a voice announce that Loreena was upstairs in the lobby meeting the remaining concertgoers.  I sprinted back upstairs and finally got to meet her!  She was so sweet, and very gracious!  I brought the booklet from my copy of The Book of Secrets, which she signed along with the program.  I really wanted to talk some more, but I flubbed by not letting myself.  I wanted to tell her about my introduction to her music starting with "The Highwayman" and how other songs of hers had helped me through other projects up through high school.  I'd hoped to be able to say how I originally wanted to be a veterinarian, too, and that connection struck a chord with me.  But a combination of excitement and just being frazzled from the week's events made it difficult for the words to come out. 

On the other hand, we did get a great picture...



...believe me, even from the look on my face you will never know just how wonderful the experience was and just how much it meant to me. 

Here's to great music, an incredible night, and a wonderful memory!  Thanks for everything, Loreena! 

A Sister Blog!

Hi, everyone! 
Lately, it's come into my head that I should have another blog. 

Alright, alright.  I can hear some gasps.  No, I am not abandoning Knitting Safari, nor did I suddenly go crazy.  The thing is, while I'm having a lot of fun with this blog, I need something fresh, and that invites a wider audience than just people that share the fiber arts connection.  These two blogs will work side-by-side advertising one another, maintaining a bond while keeping their own unique identities. 

So with that, I have two titles in the works, and I need some help deciding.  Is it going to be...?

Harp and Beagle

or

Orange Blossom Special

Please vote in the comments below; or if you have a suggestion to combine both into one title, I'd love to hear it! 

Thanks a bunch!

On Hooks and Needles: A (personal) Crafting Comparison

Honestly, it's been way too long since I've had a post that actually pertains to two of my crafts of choice. 

So, I thought I'd do a little Q and A regarding questions and comments I've received from others who are either skilled enough in one but don't like the other, or from those who don't craft at all but are interested.  Since I craft in public frequently, it does garner a bit of interest. 

Some of these involve comparisons between knitting and crochet, others regard techniques on one or the other. 

So without further ado...here we go! 

Q.  Non-Crafter:  That's really cool!  So, what's the difference between the two?  They both do the same thing, don't they?                          

A.  *chuckles lightly*  Ah, you are new to this, aren't you?  In knitting, you use a set of two needles (sometimes more, but I don't want to scare you too badly).  In crochet, it's just a single hook.  The resulting fabrics are pretty different, too--crocheted fabric tends to be a bit thicker, and the individual stitches look very dissimilar to those in knitting, as well.  Knitter, crocheter, blogger and illustrator extraordinaire Franklin Habit further clarifies in this wonderfully funny post on the Lion Brand Blog, and describes how to navigate if you would like to write your own story on it.   

Q.  Other Knitter (Crocheter):  Wow!  You do both?  Which do you like better?  Is it hard to learn to crochet (knit)?  I've tried and I don't get it.      
     
A.  As far as how hard it is to learn one when you're well-established in the other, I can't really say.  I learned both within a short timeframe of each other--maybe a couple months, tops.  But just like how you took your time to learn and know your craft, it will take time to get to know the other.  Which do I like better?  When I first started, I somewhat preferred the process of knitting, but I was more inclined and ready  to start a crochet project; my grandmother had given me her set of hooks since she was no longer crafting, so I could just jump right into a new project if I had the yarn.  Nowadays, it really depends on my mood and current circumstances.  A long ride on a packed bus, plane or car?  Definitely crochet.  My elbows tend to spread out when I knit, and dropping stitches isn't as big a deal if you've got a bumpy ride.  On the other hand, if I'm at home working on a large project, then I'll knit.  I could go on and on, but I won't.  Suffice it to say, they each have their merits.  And, on occasion, I'll even use both for a single project!

Q.  Non-knitter:  How do you do it at all?  I don't have that kind of patience! 
A.  Just practice.  You wouldn't believe the awful stuff I was cranking out when I first started. 

Q.  Newbie Knitter:  which is better--English or Continental?  

A.  Like comparing knitting and crochet, that one is pretty subjective.  For the unfamiliar:  Continental knitting has the working end of your yarn in your left hand, English in the right.  I learned in the Continental style, so that's what I'm used to.  Having tried English knitting once, I don't like how slow it seems having to transfer your right needle to your left hand just to wrap the yarn around for every stitch.  But there are some English knitters out there that can knit faster than I can.  This youtube clip has one of the better demonstrations.  There is a benefit to learning both:  if one hand gets tired from using one method, you can give it a break by using the other.   So there you go.


Q.  Non-Crafter:  You're really good at that!  Would you ever sell what you make for money?  You could probably make a lot!  

A.  Ah, thanks but no thanks.  Some people do sell what they make and they enjoy it, and others have their reasons for not selling.  It's really more than I want to get into now, but since I have a job (soon to be two) that pays well, I just don't care to do so.  Granted, that's not to say I don't create things for others--I love to!  But, I like being able to pick out the pattern, select the yarn and other materials, and surprise the recipient.  

Q.  So, your blog is "The Knitting Safari," but you say you crochet too.  Prove it. 

A.  Well, first, that's not really a question.  Second, I will!  Stay tuned for another post on crochet, what it can (and can't) do, and how to use it to its full potential!  It will take a lot of planning, but I will get it done! 

See ya later! 

Alex

Spring Has Sprung!

Halloooooooo, everybody! 

I hope everyone enjoyed their Leap Day three days ago; I was hoping to get a post up in time, but life happens.  I've been fighting a nasty cold since about Saturday, and since I'm hardly ever sick it threw me for a loop.  Let's just say I didn't exactly do a whole lot with my extra day on the calendar.   I've also been on the job hunt (more to come on that), and working on projects (more on that, too). 

It's an absolutely beautiful day today, and even through my cold I can smell the orange blossoms in bloom on the trees surrounding the house and backyard.  Absolute heaven! 

Juggling Jobs

Up to now, there hasn't been much happening at the Safari Park, so I've been on the job search.  After two interviews with one company (I'm not saying who just yet--I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch) and being scheduled for a third, the manager I had been communicating with called me and essentially said forget the third interview, we want you on our team.  Not a direct quote, mind you, but it does show off the spirit. 

Unfortunately, there have been a few snags along the way. 

First my online application wouldn't pull up, so I had to re-submit the whole thing.  Then, even though the application has been in their system, the official acceptance e-mail that I was supposed to receive hasn't come yet.   

Now, to top the whole crazy thing off, after months of nothing on the books followed by maybe one meeting or new training session per week for several weeks, I'm downright bombarded with events for the park.   

I really don't know what to do.  I don't want to call it quits at the park--I love the job and the people I work with (not to mention the perks...)--but at the same time, I really want to be part of this other company.  It's something that I know I'll enjoy, and I can really see myself there.   

I honestly wouldn't mind the idea of working two jobs, especially if they entail things I genuinely love.  But sacrificing one for the other?  That's nothing I'm comfortable thinking about right now. 

I guess all I can do at this point is wait and see. 

 

Projects

Shore Thing

Finally, after months of work, hibernation, and more work, I have bound off the back half of my Shore Thing!

Yeah, it's unblocked, slightly misshapen, and I have loose ends everywhere, but I'm pretty darned proud of my work so far!  I just finished casting on for the front, but I'm wondering if I should take another break for something else (you'll see why). 

 

Blanket

At this point, I'm getting tired of the blanket.  Yes, I still think it looks beautiful.  Yes, I like crochet just as much as I like knitting.  No, it's not big enough to just leave it as-is.  Trust me, it's not even big enough to be a bulky shawl, let alone a blanket. 

Maybe it's the fact that I'm crocheting the same.  stitch.  over.  and.   over.  again.  After all, repeating the pattern of *extended single-crochet, chain one, skip the next stitch*  for a total circumference of 290 stitches gets really old, really fast. 

Maybe it's the fact that the warming weather is making it less and less comfortable.  I don't think using a bulky yarn and having the project resting on my lap helps, either. 

What I don't want to happen...



Not going to happen.  Nice try. 

 

Freeze the whole thing into a big yarncicle, huh?  If I have the freezer space, that might work...
 

At any rate, it's slow-going at best.  I might actually break down and follow the pattern!

A Hat For Dad

My dad is the family tease. 

He's the one to make me and my mom laugh. 

Sometimes it's a rib on some idiosyncrasy that either of us has; sometimes it's an over-exaggerated, "oh my gosh, this is delicious!" in a silly voice when my mom makes a particular dinner for the first time.  You know, little things to lightheartedly push our buttons and, despite our best efforts not to cave in, make us laugh. 

Even my knitting and crocheting hasn't been safe. 

Which brings me to a seemingly normal Monday in February.  About 7-ish in the evening. 

"Hey, Al!  You wanna make me a hat?" 

This wasn't the first time he had asked me to make him something, but it was the first time he had requested something "normal."  As opposed to some knitted monstrosity he had seen on some nighttime comedy show and I was unfortunate enough to witness.  Seriously, it looked like someone had kidnapped a Yeti and felted the poor thing.

"Um, sure..." I replied, my voice trailing upward slightly, but not enough to sound like I wasn't taking him seriously. 

"The hat I have, you know, the one I take up to Big Bear?  It's getting too tight for me.  It's fine when I'm just wearing it around, but I get a pounding headache every time I wear it taking the beast out at night, or going on a walk.  I'll get it out so you can see what it looks like."  ("The beast" is our nickname for the dog)

 As he left the kitchen, my mom and I exchange a look that essentially read, "wonders never cease."

"Wow!"  Mom said.  "That's pretty cool!"

"Yeah, he really wasn't kidding." 

He returned with the hat-in-question in tow.  The grey wool beanie, which had obviously lost the elasticity that animal fibers are so famous for, was stretched over his head, and it didn't look comfortable. 

Here's the thing itself, not on a head. 

 

He handed it to me, and I turned it inside-out.  The construction is simple enough:  knit flat, band doubled over and grafted on the inside with no ribbing (which is half the problem, since ribbing adds extra warmth and stretch without adding a second layer), and the sides and the top are seamed shut with the corners tacked together on the inside. 

Inside-out view

 

 

I would like to get one project off my needles before I start another, but I think that's something I can manage to get finished before another cold snap.    And a great guy like him?  He deserves it! 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully it won't be so long until the next post; I'll definitely have something in just over a week, on an event I've been waiting years for...I'm so excited! 

 

Until then, enjoy your life's adventures!