In love...again

After the bliss of finishing Wisteria last month, I've been wanting to tackle another big project, and have been looking at gazillions of sweaters on Ravelry. I settled on the Scholar's Jacket, from Cheryl Oberle's book, Knitted Jackets.
It has so many details I love: cables, a collar, variety of texture, a classic and cozy shape, generous length, forgiving shape. And pockets. I adore pockets. I have often made clothing-choice decisions strictly on the basis of pockets. Must.Have.Pockets. On my planet the perfect boyfriend is not only funny, smart, thoughtful, cat-loving, quirky, tender, a good cook, but also has built-in pockets.

I'm using some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran that I bought at half price last year, in a color I would never have imagined knitting or wearing a few years ago...it's a deep, earthy, foresty brownish-green.

It looks exactly like some of our favorite tea, 1989 aged green Pu-Erh from Imperial Tea Court.

So I'm calling this my Tea Scholar's Jacket.

I've been knitting feverishly along for the last two days, feeling rather like the movie "The Red Shoes," and had to force myself to stop for awhile today and do housework and errands. I know. I'm at the point where I divide for pockets.


It's so nice to be in love again. But it is early in the relationship. I've been in love before.

Better late than never

We took a wonderful tea class last Saturday in SF, at Imperial Tea Court, with Master Roy. The 2007 harvest of Green teas is in, personally scrutinized, manicured and finished, in many cases, by Roy himself. He makes several trips to China every year, and says that the recent changes in the economy and culture have made the tea business very frustrating and difficult. We're glad he persists, and his classes are amazing. We prepared and tasted half a dozen teas, each unique and complex, with many layers of complex flavors and mouth feel. As always, Roy is generous sharing his knowledge and passion for tea. After the class, we all headed across the Bay Bridge to the Berkeley wing of his teahouse, and had a fabulous lunch that Roy describes as ideal home cooking. I had the hand-pulled noodles, Sean the spicy noodles, and we shared the green onion pancakes. Topped off with Special Reserve Puerh, prepared with love by Roy himself...ahh! There is nothing left to say. If you are ever anywhere near the Bay area, this should be a "must" on your schedule.