W is for...

Wonderful Wednesday, when I go whale watching. Every Wednesday, 'til the end of March. I go as a volunteer with the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Last Wednesday we saw; (click on any to biggify)

New Horizon, Scripps Research Vessel, maybe taking sediment samples in the bay.

Helicopter wash, Naval Air Station North Island

Lighthouse at Pt. Loma

Navy plane. Maybe C-130? Later we saw paratroopers (Navy Seals?) jumping out. I have video to post later.

4 Gray whales headed to Baja. (yes, we do see whales too!) Its been a good season so far!

Common dolphins, playing in the wake. We're seeing lots of these.

In the distance, Hotel Del Coranado.

One of the things I love about going out whale watching, I never know what we might see.

Ending on a (large) High Note

Or "Holy Leviathan!" Or "Thar She Blows!" (or skip this post if you're not into whales)

One of the many things I enjoy about whale watching is the pure unpredictability of the day. Sometimes unusual things happen before I get to the boat, like the day I first notices the plaid Volvo station wagon. I know I have a picture of it somewhere, (here it is, on my cell phone) and now I see it almost every time I head down to the boat.

Some things might be considered unusual in a different setting, but are common place in San Diego Bay. Like seeing an aircraft carrier every time I go whale watching, because the carrier basin is just across the bay, and the Midway Museum is just south of where the boat ties up. I sorta take it for granted that they're there and so seldom take pictures. Same thing with the Navy security boats. But still, even though I see some of these things every week, they're not commonplace every where. If you're interested in seeing some pictures, click here.

Back to unusual things. I volunteer with the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and we go out looking for Gray Whales, which migrate south and then north past San Diego from late December until late March. (I don't know why I didn't talk about this sooner!) While we're looking for Grays, we might also see several types of dolphins, sea lions, seals and just maybe other types of whales. Last week we saw Fin whales, today we thought we were seeing a Fin, but it turned out to be a Blue Whale! A Blue Whale! The largest animal to ever inhabit the Earth. I did not get any pictures, but Caitlin did and she posts a whale watching blog for the Birch Aquarium. Her picture(s) of the Blue whale should show up later this week. I didn't think I'd ever see a Blue whale. What a way to wrap up my last day of whale watching this season.

Whale watch boat

End of season

Sigh. Today is my last scheduled day of whale watching for this season. I drop Offspring #2 at school, and because I have plenty of time, I take the coast route part way to San Diego. It gives me a chance to check ocean conditions.
Still early, I park along the water front, near the Maritime Museum. Usually I knit, today I blog.
Here's my view of the museum, and my knitting.

Still Undoing...

Bah! I re-knit that beret, and still managed to end up with the headband too large. I'm gonna try one more time to get it right. I might just wimp out knit a ribbed band.

In between knitting and frogging the beret, I've been working on a ripple stitch scarf, using my hand spun made from Redfish Dyeworks roving. I like the scarf, it shows the color changes in the yarn.


Moving from sticks to string, I've started 2 plying the singles made from the wool/seacell blend from Creatively Dyed Yarns. It seems to 'puff' up as its plied. I've been plying on the Pocket Wheel, it's got such great big bobbins. But, I'm not as smooth treadling in the backwards direction.  Maybe I just need more practice. For variety, I'm also spinning a bit of natural brown wool of unknown lineage, probably Cormo/Tahrgee something. I'm practicing spinning a bit thinner than I'm used to doing. I really like spinning from batts.

From string to random stuff. Every (almost) Tuesday morning since Christmas I've gone out on a whale watching boat as a volunteer for the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. I absolutely love doing this. I love being out on the water, looking for whales, and talking with the guests. Every day is a bit different, and we never know what we'll find. We're looking for Gray Whales, and we usually find them; but sometimes we find other things too. Last Tuesday we found Fin whales; at least 2 adults and perhaps a calf. Fin whales are the second largest animal to ever inhabit the planet, after Blue whales. Its really special to have a chance to see an animal like that. I didn't get any pictures; for an animal as large at they are, surprisingly little shows at the surface, and for a very short time. I'll take my video camera next week, and maybe I'll get lucky.

We see other interesting, large things. These are mostly above water and so much easier to get pictures of.

I do have some very wobbly video of 3 Gray whales being very, ahem, social together, but it really needs some editing. I will post it up once I've clean it up a bit. There are only a few more weeks of whale watching season left, we usually run until the end of March. I'll miss my time on the ocean.

Some Days...

Just start out good. Last night I dreamed about furniture joinery, never done that before. This morning, I solved a Sudoku puzzle that's been stumping me for months. Not an especially hard one, but my brain just kept balking after getting to a certain point. Something was different this morning, and suddenly the light bulb lit and the puzzle was solved.

But it gets better; I saw a bobcat in my driveway; and I mean a real live, bewhiskered fur bearing animal, not the little tractor thingy. I know bobcats live around here, but this was my first sighting. It coolly strolled to the fence, stopped for a second to look at me (I said good morning) and then continued into the brush. I was surprised at how big it was, looked nearly as tall as a coyote. Which, by the way, look much bigger in person than they do in captivity. At least around here. I wish I'd gotten a picture, of the bobcat I mean.

Then I went whale watching as a volunteer with the Birch Aquarium, something I do every Tuesday morning during this whale watching season. The weather and sea conditions were fantastic and we found 3 Grey Whales just outside the whistle buoy plus saw 4 species of dolphin, sea lions, and aircraft carrier and another naval vessel that I don't know the name of. 

What a fantastic day.

Aw Nuts!

I didn't get any knitting done yesterday! No, wait. I managed one round on the socks, at least I'm finally past the toe increases. Next time I post, the back section of the PSC will be done!

For you whale watch enthusiasts, we did see 2 Gray Whales yesterday, but had to go out about 13 miles to find them. Also saw Risso's and Common Dolphins. Back to knitting!

Thar she blows!

Whale watch day today, and what a great day indeed. Beautiful spring-like weather, very light breezes and no swells out on the sea. We spotted 4 Gray Whales this morning, and only a few miles from shore. (At this time of year we expect to travel 9 or more miles west after leaving San Diego Bay to find migrating whales.) Three whales looked like juveniles traveling together, and one large whale about another mile an 1/2 out. Keeping this knitting related, the naturalist on board, Catie, is a kniting and spinner.

Steady progress being made on the PSC (Printed Silk Cardigan), gauge is a little off, 23 sts/4 inches. I can get gauge using a different set of #5s, but I like the softer drape at the 23sts/4 inch size and so will stick with that. I’ll knit the 38 inch size, (my actual bust is 40”) am wanting just a bit of negative ease at the bust when complete.

I've only knitted a 2 tops with shaping, and none so far with set in sleeves. Its been months since I've tried a sweater with shaping and real finishing, I wonder how I'll do? I've done some studying on both, and believe I have more understanding of how things are done, I'm anxious to try out my skills.



I've also started a pair of toe up socks, magic loop style. I've done toe-ups before, but always on dpns. Making 2 socks at the same time makes so much sense. I wonder if I'll feel the same way once I start the heels?