Scarves For Massachusetts

Day 266: Weaving on a floor loom generates a lot of  "too short to use, but too long to throw away" ends. The technical jargon for this potential waste material is "thrums," an interesting word in and of itself. Its origins are Norse, rooted in the same word which also gives us "term" in the sense of "a limited time." In any event, my thrum pile was threatening to overwhelm my craft room, so I determined to terminate it (clever etymologist that you are, you see what I did there, I'm sure). That said, I was sure I could find order in chaos if I worked at it hard enough, so with the addition of balls of yarn not large enough for a project but too large to toss, I began making scarves on my 10" rigid heddle. A lot of planning goes into each one of these in order to find a pleasant mix of colours as well as a balance between them; even so, there are many possibilities for variation in the width of the stripes and in their order. I suspect that by the time COVID-19 has run its course and I am again able to get out to the post office, I will have sufficient scarves ready to send to the Joppa Flats Education Center to keep half the state of Massachusetts warm through the winter. I might also have a little more space in my yarn storage bins.

Oniscus Asellus, European Sowbug

Day 195: Inspired by a recent blog post from Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center (you know, the people I make knit hats for!), I went sowbug hunting in my yard with a mind to enlightening my readership with regard to these helpful little crustaceans. Yep, that's your first lesson right there: crustaceans. Sowbugs and Pillbugs (aka Roly-polys) are not insects. In fact, they are more closely akin to crayfish (crawdads) than to insects. They belong to the greater taxonomic Order of Isopoda (isopods). Sowbugs and Pillbugs both belong to the suborder Oniscidea, Sowbugs to the taxonomic family Oniscidae (note the spelling difference in the ending, please) and Pillbugs to Armadillidiidae (proofreader's nightmare, that one). The scientific name of Pillbugs should give you a clue on how to tell them apart. Pillbugs can roll up like an armadillo; Sowbugs cannot. Another physical difference is that Sowbugs have two short tails. Pillbugs have none. Sowbugs also have two pair of antennae, although the second pair is difficult to see without a magnifier. Although many people get "creeped out" at the thought of Roly-polys, they are in fact harmless and helpful. They thrive on decaying plant matter, and do not bite or sting. There are a number of species in each Family, and on this occasion, those I could find seeking cool, moist places under rocks and old wood in my yard all appeared to be an introduced species, Oniscus asellus, the European Sowbug.

Joppa Flats Hats

Day 54: I like to call this the "Flats Hats Project" (a little word-play, though some of you may not understand the reference to the NPS "flat hat" without this word of explanation). Last week, I learned that the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center ("Mass" for Massachusetts) has had volunteer knitters working for them for the last several years, producing warm-fuzzies for sale in the Center's gift shop. I had visited Joppa Flats when I was staying with a friend in New Hampshire and was very impressed with their interpretive programs, especially those geared to young people. It occurred to me that this was an opportunity for me to contribute without significant financial burden. I immediately picked up needles and yarn and started working. In the past week, I've turned out five hats and have just started a sixth. When I have 10-12 done, I will mail them off. All proceeds go to support Mass Audubon's bird-banding station.

In these tortured political times, I am driven to do more for the environmental causes which are so close to my heart. While National Parks are obviously suffering under the current administration, smaller conservancies are being hard-hit as their funding organizations are shut down or reduced. Although I don't know that Joppa Flats has been affected, the Nisqually Land Trust certainly has. These smaller environmental groups may be our only hope. Please, if you can, find a way to give them support, even if you knit it.