He was fascinated by the neolithic Ring of Brodgar site. Totally different time period, but your photo reminded me of that. The march of civilizations is a series of defenses that man has put up against the dread of pure existence.
The Ring of Brodgar lies on a narrow spit between two lochs. There's an amazing archaeological excavation going on, which you can visit if you go in the summer, of the surprisingly large and sophisticated wall and buildings that blocked the approach to the circle.
This photo was taken on 12 August: the night of the Perseid meteor shower. We met a couple of guys there who were intending to watch them from the circle. I was kicking myself for not thinking of that (the Perseids were why we'd timed our trip for that week), but we weren't equipped to stay in the open all night. Because it was cold. Even in August.
I don't remember seeing anything as good as that. I think the current fashion is for fewer, more muted colours (probably easier and quicker to knit, too), but they don't show off the knitter's craft anywhere near so well.
Here's the New Mexico version of a Fair Isle vest. I'm not sure what makes it Fair Isle rather than Orkney patterning. But the colors here are definitely desert.
My mum used to be considered a good knitter (before the bifocals) of the complex cabling variety, but she wouldn't do Fair Isle.
Me...I can't keep an even tension for a single line, never mind choose how many stitches to the inch.
My Mum taught me to knit when I was about 5. Hands are more agile then and can learn to do these things....
I'm a fiberholic--have bags of fleeces ready to spin and dye, and boxes of yarns. Eoghan the cat loves to knit too, but not in a helpful way ;-) Elaine
