Some Icelandic Sheep, some Vegetables and a Pair of Socklets

Here are some Icelandic sheep which I saw in April. At that point, there were very few to be seen. We left just a few days before the annual release of the sheep from the barns. There were a few around, sticking close to home. I was told, however, that on a certain day, when the good weather comes, everyone lets out their sheep and they wander at will around the countryside. On an agreed upon date in the Fall, everyone chips in and helps round up the sheep from around the country. For helping, you may receive a sheep in return. If there are any Icelanders listening, am I correct? This is what I heard from a transplanted German. Anyway, this photo was taken from the car, somewhere south of Þingvallavatn. This is where the LOPI comes from!


















I've been busy, but not knitting. I just finished three huge work related projects and I'm feeling good about that. It's beginning to feel like summer here in Western New York. Today I picked sour cherries at Schutt's. There's a good website for our area which you can use to identify farms where you can pick various kinds of fruit and veg yourself. I look forward to the sour cherries every year. They weren't advertising them as ripe today, but I looked through the trees anyway and found some that were ready. Sorry I don't have photos of the cherry trees. They are beautiful.

In our own garden, the most successful thing this year, besides the rhubarb, are the radishes. This is the first time I've ever planted radishes and I'm pleased that we've been able to start eating them after what seems less than a month since planted the seeds.



















I wonder though - have I thinned them out enough?



















Here's how the vegetable garden, er, patch looks overall. It's small, but it has room for everything we want: 1 large rhubarb plant, 8 tomato plants, 3 cucumber vines (they'll have to grow upwards on old tomato cages) , radishes, some strawberries and a few herbs.


















All I have to show for my knitting is this pair of socklets.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in the shade 'Persia'
60 stitches cast on 2mm needles
Stitch pattern: Checkered Acre.




Comments

Harpa Jónsdóttir said…
The rounding up of the sheep is called réttir and the farmers help each other with that. They have a highly specialised routine, with well planned routes and overnight stops in cabins. The weather can get really bad so this can be dangerous work. They sometimes let tourist join in, but they won't get a sheep in return I'm afraid.
July 6, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Raveller said…
Thank you Harpa. The person who told us about the sheep round-up was a local. What I was trying to say was that even people who do not own sheep may be involved in the round up. I didn't mean to convey that this was an activity for tourists.

Heavens, no! I think it would finish most of us off. :-)
July 6, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Helen said…
Radishes give me chest pains, but I love rhubarb. I would rather have rhubarb than strawberries, most of the time. Mmmmm, rhubarb.
July 8, 2009 at 8:03 PM
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