Bammers Knits and Blabbers

I might as well admit it

2011-08-05T20:27:00.002-04:00

I was way overwhelmed with changes, and life, and stress, and when i left the podcast i used to be a part of, i sort of had a crisis in people in general.
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But, enormous changes have happened and I am getting my feet back under me.

The short of it is, I still read your blogs (if I read and commented in the past), I'm sorry i dropped off the face of the earth. At least i didn't fake my own death ala the internet weirdos.

And, I moved my blog. Visit me here if you want to know what the hell has happened to me.

Again, if you missed me, I'm sorry. i was just overwhelmed, and I suspect a bit depressed (maybe a lot).

I'll be Brief

2010-03-08T20:39:00.002-05:00

I finished socks

And The B-side is patiently waiting for it's zipper (ordered but not arrived).

I spun today, so my mojo may be back, but it's really too soon to tell.

Stephen King has helped me realize that hate is the root of all evil (not like in person) so I'm going to work on my issues with hating people. I'm already doing better.

Back soon!

Looks Almost like a Sweater!

2010-02-26T09:08:00.002-05:00

I've had this irrational anxiety about putting the sleeves on this cardigan. I think it's because I knit the sleeves in the round instead of flat, and that means I had to set a tube in a hole and i was worried that I couldn't do it.

Turns out, no need to be worried. I have one pinned in and it set right in there.

But! I have to finish My February socks before I sew this son of a nutcracker in here. I'm about 30% done with the second sock, so I should be able to manage a finish.

And, I've picked up three sides of the border on the Queen Silvia, so that is nearly there too!

We've had a bit of a long hard week here. This is one of the ways you can tell

I went to the basement to spend some time with my old friend NordicTrak and when I got back upstairs, he was standing in the family room CLEARLY just woken up. I said "just wake up?" He said "No, what?"

Um, yeah ya did.

So I went into the kitchen to get some water boiling for poached salmon and taters. Five minutes later, I walked back into the family room to this. Doesn't that just look like a fabu spot to curl up?

Guess Who's Back On Lace Again

2010-02-23T09:31:00.003-05:00

Dear Lace,

Why have we stayed apart so long? I didn't miss you a bit, but once you were back in my lap, well. . . . And why didn't you tell me how much better the nickel needles would work for Nupps?

Love,

Me

I'm on the 16th out of 20 repeats for the center rectangle. Suddenly this piece of lace is just flying!

In a few days I'll be on border, I think!

I also finished a scarf for the Red Scarf Project. I thought maybe if I knit a few throughout the year, I could just pop them in the mail when it comes time this year. It's black, so it doesn't photograph well. I don't really enjoy knitting scarves, so this way I get to space some out over the year, and still do something good for somebody at the end.

I'm ready to put the sleeves on the B-Side too, but first I have things to go out and do. The sun is shining, so time to go and get busy!

Daisies are my favorite

2010-02-18T08:16:00.003-05:00

Not surprising that a Gallup Poll found this place to be the second happiest place to live. A bunch of people on a Statewide site had terrible comments to say, but the ones who actually live here mostly had nothing but good to say. So, I guess we're happy if we live here, and everybody else hates us for it? hehehehe. Screw them!

I've got the shawl collar more than half knitted on my B-side and those sleeves are STILL pinned to my blocking board. I kinda screwed them up blockimng them the first time, but I've fixed them now. I may have a finished photo (except for zipper, must order from YKK)anytime now.

Yesterday I threw a great big roast into the leftover french onion soup with a can of cream of mushroom soup and it was a FABU dinner. I heated up some frozen pierogies and peas to go with it. Tonight is make your own pizza. YUMMMMMMMMMM. I've been thinking about pizza for days.

Also, thanks to that darn, Meghan I'm obsessed with the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. This is not my usual type of book. I usually read horror and murder mysteries and stuff like that. This book is mostly set in mid 1700s Scotland. I don't know if it's accurate in its description of the people back then. I suspect the level of brutality would be quite a bit higher, but the personalities are so much like my mostly Scottish husband, it's kind of scary. I've already ordered the second book from the library :|.

Oh, and I love snow, but I'm also ready to see a crocus or something. Yes, I said it, I'm feeling like I'm ready for Spring to come now. Hence, the blog's new looks.

2010-02-17T13:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know I look funny today. I'll be straightening out soon!

So the Rhubarb Pie was a problem

2010-02-16T15:51:00.003-05:00

Last summer our big freezer was left open and lots of stuff thawed. Apparently the rhubarb was a casualty. When I went down to get it yesterday and bake the pie, well it was plainly not going to work. I guess as it thawed, the liquid largely seeped out of it so it was really weird in the bags.

OH WELL!

Instead we put together an impromptu cookie tower with candle and the real cake will be Sunday.

I did some spinning today - an alpaca/Finn blend that I quickly whipped up on the drum carder this morning. And Lulu made dinner. I made Paula Dean's French Onion soup this morning and she's been simmering it all day. Put on top of that some croutons made from the leftover garlic bread (last night) and some broiled cheese and you get an after school snack for the boy and dinner for The Chief and me.

I also took a photo of the body of B-Side. The photo stinks, but that wouldn't be anything new here.

Other than that, no knitting, lots of work on books and things. Happy Tuesday!

Life is Just Like That Sometimes

2010-02-15T10:30:00.002-05:00

Well a lot has been going on around here really. I've wimped out on Ravelympics already. In fact, I haven't been able to focus on knitting much at all for a little bit, but I did get a little bit done.

I finished the sleeves for the B-Side Cardigan, but they're blocking right now. I also sewed up the shoulder seams and blocked the body of the sweater so I can pick up stitches for the collar now. Photos of that soon!

I also finished one of the Marina Labyrinth Socks. The second is Cast On.

As usual, my photos suck, so I do recommend checking this pattern out. I knit it for the Sock Knitters Anonymous February challenge and it's in the Underappreciated category. Although I normally don't favor a short0row heel, this one is not too bad really.

We don't exactly celebrate Valentine's Day. It's not that we flatly reject the idea of showing that person you love some appreciation, but shouldn't it be a bit all year long? And is buying me jewelry (I don't wear much anyway) or flowers or candy really what I want out of my relationship? My Darling Husband did make me dinner (the same dinner he made me on our very first date) and we spent the weekend together.

And today is his birthday. I'll be making one of his favorite dinners and a rhubarb pie to celebrate having him around another year. The real celebration is Sunday evening though.

I missed posting a lot of other stuff that happened while I was "out". Life is a rollercoaster. Remember that scene in Parenthood when Steve Martin can hear rollercoaster sounds when his life appears to be spinning out of control and he looks like he's going to puke? Yeah, it's safe to say that's us right now. We'll adjust though!

Nothin' to See Here

2010-02-04T15:51:00.001-05:00

I'm gonna take a week or two off. I've been feeling really worn out. I'm not dead!

I'm done!

2010-02-02T11:28:00.002-05:00

I finished my Kilkenny Shawl about ten minutes ago. I have an idea about the shawl pin, but we'll just see how that goes shall we?

I wasn't that sure if I loved the yarn with the pattern at first, but I found that I need to get a good chunk of pattern done before I can tell. It's still true. After I finished a few inches, I loved my squishy Jacob lamb fleece and yarn, and now it's sort of gone. So sad!

Close up!

Next I need to finish up the B-side before Ravelympics. I'm doing Charity Curling for my event, and I would rather not have a bunch of projects hanging over my head (that's why I have a good finish rate; they hang over my head). Happy Groundhog day.

I Still Hate People

2010-02-01T13:55:00.003-05:00

Well only some people really.

but, I meant to write about this two weeks ago. I was admiring this coffee cup at B&N just over two weeks ago. I mean honestly, it's pink, it's purple and some of those daisy are shiny, hot pink foil. What's not to like about that? I coveted it and walked away. When we hit the truck, my husband went back and bought it for me.

Yes, my wildly overpriced, but pink, purple, shiny, daisy covered travel mug was bought for me just because i admired it.

I guess sometimes it pays to be part Magpie.

My Kilkenny is only about two inches from the ending border. Granted it's two inches of 330 stitches, but I'm getting very close now!

Pictures of Knitting

2010-01-28T07:23:00.002-05:00

I haz them!

The Wildfoote colorway is Rhapsody. I believe I got this yarn at like 60% off from Little Knits.

I would love to show you more knitting, but I have been focusing on that Kilkenney Shawl pretty exclusively and it would just be a picture of a bigger shawl that looks exactly like the last one. I am up to 20 inches wide (out of 28 before the ending border) so I'm getting there now.

I did get some of the black alpaca that the Chief bought me before Christmas washed last night. I don't think I've ever had a fleece in the house that waited that long for washing before. Every time I look at this fiber drying on the floor of my laundry room, I can't stop thinking of the Gorilla soldiers from Planet of the Apes. Not really the nicest, softest, yarn related image. I want to blend some with black shetland that's been rattling around my stash for awhile. Later for that though!

(That VM pretty much falls out during carding so no worries. Alpaca just doesn't seem to hang onto the grass and chaff the way wool does)

And we have a new addition to our family!

Why yes, I do name inanimate objects! Thank you for noticing! Our old crockpot had a crack in it on Tuesday morning when I took it out of the sink to clean it. I was just beside myself. I've been a bit obsessed with crockpot cooking for awhile now and I only have one crockpot. That crack meant I had NO CROCKPOT. On the way home from work on Tuesday, The Chief picked up Lulu for me. She is very new fangled and has the locking, sealing lid for taking potluck things. We think she's pretty special. Her maiden voyage was potatoes and sausage for breakfast which I threw a pair of eggs on this morning for everybody. Another crockpot success!

It's the Same Old Story

2010-01-27T09:36:00.003-05:00

You have these two friendly acquaintances, or maybe casual friends, and they have some kind of falling out. Let's call them L and U. So L starts saying horrible things to the entire world about U. U keeps mum and some of the people you all like are listening to the bad things that L is spewing (some of which you are 90% sure are not true.

When you really think about it, wouldn't it be better to stick with U? U is being respectful and not saying bad things even though you're pretty sure she's being backstabbed to death. Isn't it a safe bet that if L thinks you've done something wrong, she'll stab the shit out of you too? Why don't people see that? It's weird, man!

In other news, on my spinning goal, in short: I ROCK!

I have my first fleece completely picked and roughcarded. The second carding is only two batts in, but it's started. The problem really is that it's going to take four passes to blend thoroughly (poop). The good news is that it is HEAVENLY. I've processed a number of Jacob lamb fleeces before, but this one is like buttah. I will definitely be contacting this Shepherd for a sister of this lamb's fleece next year. (I'm up to my armpits in fleece, :P) I've also just finished the third bobbin of the fleece that is in the goal for spinning.

Picked jacob

Shetland lamb fleece being spun

OH my, Lola needs a dusting doesn't she?

I've tarted knitting a blueberry waffle sock with Wildfoote. The yarn is really so colorful that I didn't want to try a "real" pattern with it. I tried to knit the Naive Socks with this yarn and the pattern just got totally lost. Later for the Naives.

I got one more thing. I have opinions. I don't think that comes as a surprise to any readers of this little thing I call my blog. (i blame my parents who had the audacity to encourage their X chromosomed children to express themselves. I mean really wth) So, if people have different ideas than me, I am cool with that. I don't feel like the world has to agree with me. Why is it so many people on Ravelry freak out if you just express an opinion that doesn't match up with theirs. Have we really wussified this country so much that we have to have everybody agreeing with us to keep our self-esteem out of the toilet?

If you don't agree with my opinions, I'm not sorry. In fact, that's great. You have every right to your opinion, and I am happy to listen. (but please for the love of all that's holy, have some type of back-up or reason. It makes it so much more interesting to listen to) Buck up, little soldiers! I'm sure I'll say something offensive any minute!

Annie Was Right

2010-01-22T11:18:00.003-05:00

She mentioned that the bag really needed bedazzling. The reason it's funny is because: A) I already had three big rhinestones on the back pocket, you know, just for fun. and 2) I had already bedazzled a bow on Conchita's creepy, purple head.

That's right, my bedazzling skills are 100% unrivaled!

Also, I have a goal regarding raw fleece. The people who need to know what it is, already know. I have the first fleece half picked. It's a yearling, Jacob fleece (Laila) plus a couple of handfuls of the first Jacob fleece I bought last year. That's right, HALF DONE picking.

**not part of the goal**
Last year I got some Cormo and I've been having a tough time gettint it really, really clean. There is like mud on the tips and I have done everything I know of. If I remove the tips (1/4 inch) it's super awesome. I took a few ounces and soaked it for TWO weeks and then scoured it in a teeny lingerie bag. And everybody says you can't card Cormo. I say, Bullshit!

No neps and dude, it is so soft, it's almost like you aren't touching anything. That's carded IN MY DRUM CARDER, but at like .01% normal speed. It's ridiculous how much trouble I'll go to to process an awesome fleece.

Also, have you ever been digging in your stash and something turned up that made you say, "WTF??!!"? Happened to me . . . this morning . . . a couple of times.

January Goal: Check!

2010-01-20T08:52:00.003-05:00

So I am not really a hoarder exactly, but I hate throwing away certain things. I have a stash of jeans that have holes or were grown out of in my fabric stash. I grabbed a pair of my husband's old jeans (Yes, Carrie, Hot husband had his ass in these) and made myself a new sock bag. I loved my old bag because it was the perfect size, but I bought it for a dollar at a flea market and it was getting frayed, and the lining was really getting shredded.

Meet my new bag!

I lined it with a purple bandana from my underwear drawer and folded the bandana over the top. Then last night we were looking at it and throwing out some ideas and I decided to use the leftover bandana to cut a skull to iron on. I looked online for the perfect free skull graphic and couldn't find one, so I designed one in Inkscape and used it to create a Cricut image. A little iron on fusible web and a lot of practice cuts so that I could make sure I had the placement right on the fabric. I only had one corner left and I wanted it to be pretty much centered.

Anyhoo, yay, it's a win for me! (I might add a little bow on the skulls head with rhinestones, but I haven't decided yet.)

Also, I forgot that I was supposed to show some photos of the stuff I was spinning last week. It's about 800 yards of thick singles. It's a mystery fiber that got to me on quite a weird trip; It appears to be mohair and wool. I'm thinking it might make a nice purse, but how knows!?

It is slightly darker than the photo turns up on my monitor. The wool was a dark blue, and the mohair was a nice venomy green.

Later!

I Didn't Resolve . . .

2010-01-19T09:17:00.002-05:00

to post more here in 2010, and yet, I have. Weird.

This morning, I finally finished blending the Border Leicester lamb that was dyed a month or so ago. I love it. It's 2 parts very blue, one part tealy blue and one part barbie pink. The thing I ended up liking about it is that the pink and green seem to knock the edge off the flat blue and tone it just slightly less vibrant which is good. I love me some color with depth. I'm planning on spinning it longdraw because really it is just so much faster!

I have a gift I need to spin up first anyway.

And also, I'm going to achieve my January goal today!

(notice the fluff was still in my hand and is now framing the picture. Love that!)

Come back and see what I sewed!

So You Know How It Is

2010-01-18T08:34:00.002-05:00

I took photo after photo of the Kilkenny and could NOT get anything decent. The flash was just showing the color variations in the yarn, but obscuring the pattern. So Annoying!!!!

I took a flashless picture this morning with the sad light that passes for full daylight around here. At least the pattern finally shows in a photo!

I love, love, LOVE this yarn and pattern too. It probably would have been even prettier in a yarn that had no or less tonal variation, but it's still beautiful, soft and squishy. I'm really looking forward to being able to wear it.

I do feel a little bit sad that this fleece is going to be used up. It's silly, but it stops having potential when you finish knitting a project with it. Every step of the process narrows the potential of the fleece, and this is the very end. Boo!

Good thing sheep keep growing wool huh?

I also finished a sleeve for the B-Side and it fits! That means one more sleeve, a collar and the construction. If I can force myself to block the body today, it would be great, but I'm not holding my breath (hint: You shouldn't either).

I'm making some tough decisions right now too. But, one thing I've learned from my husband (and annoyingly, I have had a lot to learn) is that I shouldn't make them out of emotion or too quickly. Wish me luck!

Muahahahahaha

2010-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

It's Cookie's Birthday! Happy Birthday to youuuuuu! Click Here to wish her a happy birthday today!

Kilkenny!

2010-01-14T16:52:00.002-05:00

I got started on the patterning yesterday for the Kilkenny Cable Shawl. I'm using Jacob lamb handspun, and the color variation is kind of hiding the pattern. Doesn't matter. It is very soft and scrumpshy (it's a word. I'm knitting this wrap with THIS handspun and that's it. Deal!

I finished up some handspun too. Mystery fiber (which I am sure is mohair and some type of wool) that was given to me by a new spinner who felt her stash was too big (thanks, M). I worked on fat singles with it. Still needs to be skeined, washed, and thwacked. I do think I managed a good handle on the fat singles though. It took a bit. In fact I'll have to throw out some perfectly good yarn that is just too thin to be knit up with the rest. It's only probably about 10 yards or so though. Pics tomorrow? I never know!

Tonight is Jr. Rifle League so I'll be going north for the evening. I'm too tired to do this on Thursdays!

I effed an oh, Bitches!

2010-01-13T08:45:00.002-05:00

Oh shit, just deleted first post.

Last night I finished this pair of lovelies. The pattern is quite busy, so I went ahead and used a mostly plain yarn. It's Knitpicks Stroll tweed. The pattern is The Boyfriend Socks by Alice Bell. I didn't modify them much. I used a Turkish Cast On instead of the one the pattern called for, and I changed the cuff to a 2x2 rib that followed the pattern of the sock all the way up.

I love, love LOVE these socks and I will definitely be making these again. Really, I love them. A lot.

And, the cranberry, cinnamon, pecan caramel corn, well, yum.

I've cast on for the Kilkenny Cable Shawl which is our local New Years Cast on. Pics soon! Like who knows, maybe tomorrow even!

Oh and I'm trying to finish up some mystery fiber I'm spinning. I believe it's wool and mohair, and I'm working on thicker singles. I should have it all spun up sometime today!

So, Here's the Thing

2010-01-12T09:45:00.002-05:00

I got a Cricut Expression for Christmas. And, being me, I want to be able to cut things that I design myself. I don't want to buy the stupid cartridges with designs that somebody else did. Plus, they cost a fortune right? Soooooo, there is this software program called Sure Cuts A Lot where you can cut anything that's an SVG file.

I'm not even going to go into what an SVG file is.

Anywho, there is a free download that allows you to create just about anything you want in SVG format, so i downloaded it and I've been learning to use it. Which reminds me, how the hell did we learn to do stuff before Youtube?

but, I digress.

So I made that button over there > and I'm spending like 20 minutes a day learning to go on from there. Hey I'm beginner! (but I did finish up a possible logo option for something else that could be announced here in the next month or so).

I had to rip back the sleeve for my B-Side. Cookie's brilliant suggestion for this whole "trying it on" thing told me that my arms are too fat for it, so I'll be adding back those two stitches.

poop.

I've been carding on that Border Leicester Fleece, but it's on it's first pass through the carder and still looks kinda like shit. Not to worry, it's been my experience that subsequent passes will fix the shitness.

I spent my KP gift card that I got for Christmas.

Three sweaters worth of yarn. How fun is that?

And last, much like half the blogs I've been reading, it's cold here.

but tonight, we are staying home with a fire and a movie and bowls of chili.

Extreme Close-UP!!!

2010-01-10T19:10:00.002-05:00

Remember those? Me too.

Wouldn't you swear he's like right inside your screen? The Chief took that picture and it just cracks me up.

I am working on a sleeve for the B-side. I've modified the pattern to knit the sleeves in the round. I just thought it seemed silly to knit the body all in one piece and then knit the sleeves flat to be seamed. Silly. I do hope I did not screw up. In fact maybe someone will have an opinion. All I really did for the part I'm on is eliminated two stitches that I figured I would use for seaming if I was knitting if flat. Otherwise the counts are exactly the same, but it seems narrow. I'm sure it'll be fine.

Oh and The Chief made a fabulous batch of homemade bagels along with some Giardiniera (sp?) cream cheese which is my absolute FAVORITE. Having a husband who can cook rocks the party, swearz.

Cuz I'm Scintillating Company

2010-01-07T11:19:00.003-05:00

But, isn't he a cute boy though?

So yesterday I sampled from the fleece I dyed on Tuesday. It's nice and it spins up like buttah! The Barbie pink just adds a little bit of purpley depth, so that works well. I figured it would work out, but life is just an experiment for me really (which some would say is part of my charm, and some find very annoying) :S.

You can't really see the colors well in the photo, but there will be plenty more where this came from once I get this fleece all carded up. Probably TOO many.

Oh! And hey! Guess who has two more fleeces to wash! Yeah, it's me.

This is up next. It came on Christmas day but I've been way too busy to fool with it. The shepherdess sent me some washed locks from this ewe and they are loverly. I really am looking forward to getting her washed up and dyed.

Last, I have a bit of a situation with B-Side. KP sent me one ball of a different dye lot, which normally is not a problem because I typically order one extra and I almost never have to use it. I can't tell by just holding the balls (yes, I was holding balls today) if there is a color difference, but we've all been there. What if I start knitting and there is one? You know it's happened to you. Knitterly denial is the only kind I've found more powerful than the family denial I use to cope.

So ok, here's what I'm thinkin': B-Side has a shawl collar, and right now i am just about 20-24 rows from the shoulder on the back. Do I dare use the wrong dye lot ball for that since the shawl collar will pretty much cover it? I probably don't even NEED this ball to finish the sweater. Or, does it make sense to use it for the ribbing on the sleeves because there's going to be a change when it goes to stockinette and your eye will fool you into thinking that's all you see? (because it will). Or should i just stick the poor singleton in my stash to be knitted up into a scarf later along with a ball or two of plain black? Any advice for me?

It's snowinggggggg

2010-01-05T15:13:00.003-05:00

i love it.

So today we got U-verse (instead of cable) and the guys were here for literally HOURS. Since the TV and internet could/would be down for any period during that time, I decided to do projects. I cleaned all the stray wool and alpaca out of the drum carder thingies. Then I dyed the Border Leicester lamb I had washed up for my next sweater!

Oh and did I mention that yesterday i washed a charcoal alpaca fleece? I did.

My kitchen table right now.

I'm going to blend the raspberry, teal and blue for my next sweater. Yes, I am blending crazy. Don't read the Ashford book of carding or you will be blending crazy too.

I also did go ahead and take a photo of the yarn for the Chief's next sweater. The color of the singles in the last post is closer, but I couldn't quite get it right by fixing the exposure. Kinda weird since I used sunlight, but whatever.

I am excited to work with it, but I won't be able to until I finish this:

My B-Side Cardigan! woo hoo! I'm using the Knitpicks City Tweed and I love it. I'm almost done with the body now. It is a super quick knit (and yes I did screw up the cable but no one will know unless they stare at my left boob and I will punch them if they do that.

Oh yeah, and I've been working on a pair of socks too. It's the Boyfriend Sock pattern and I'm using Knitpicks Essential Tweed for those. Hopefully I'll make some progress coming up here soon!

Soooooo it's 2010

2010-01-04T09:30:00.002-05:00

I'm not going to do the retrospective thing. I don't really want to review last year!

But!

This year I plan to make myself a monthly goal/challenge/resolution. January will be to sew something from my fabric stash. I can sew, but anything beyond beginner is beyond me. I thought maybe I would try to challenge myself a little bit.

Oh and remember that Romney I washed, carded, dyed and blended?

Not much of a sweater huh?

I got about 1600 yds out of it a three ply worsted. That should be plenty for a sweater for my hubs. I spun American supported longdraw from carded batts. I'll show the yarn sometime soon.

Everybody is back to work and school and I am off and running now. Hopefully I'll bbs!

My Job is Over!

2009-12-26T18:14:00.004-05:00

Well the holiday came off wonderfully here, although we really aren't finished celebrating. I used to stress out hugely trying to have the Christmas of the lovechild of Norman Rockwell and Martha Stewart, but I have since learned that everyone is just as happy without my stress. What an epiphany!

Now we try to make sure there is tons of food including treats, that everybody gets a happy surprise to unwrap and that we get to be together as much as possible. My Christmases are so much better with a husband who pitches in to get ready. I took a pre-Christmas brunch photo of the food. That weird thing in the back is this thing that the Dutch of the area make and it's sort of a holiday tradition. Personally, I think it is horrid. It's a sort of sweet, crusty pastry filled with almond paste (yack) and then coated with frosting. It doesn't have to have the frosting, but honestly. Frosting, hello?!? Everything is better with it.

Now, I'm tired!

Oh yeah, and I finished the knitting on Mom's sweater, so all it needs is buttons which is FANTABULOUS!!! After this, I just know that I can conquer any knitting project in the whole world. So, Mom, Thanks for picking such a challenging sweater for me! :|

Hey and it's nearly time to say goodbye to 2009. Who's ready to slam the door and open one on a fresh, new year?

Answers

2009-12-23T17:51:00.003-05:00

Cookie: Only 8 because they are very big (despite looking fairly normal size when photographed next to my husband's ginormous gorilla hands) and because that was all I could fit into the Priority mail medium box with good cushioning.

Carrie: Because she dreams of them. She loves them with a passion that burns white hot. (and I am not even joking. Perhaps she will comment and tell you how she loves them)And she can't come for Christmas because she will be feeling poorly so this way at least she has 8 huge santa cookies to look forward to.

ToadyJoe: I wish you could too damnit! But I would help you cut them out and stuff. You can't keep helpers if you make them do all the work. I've tried it!

ETA: We're making pizza tonight and my husband's crust is so perfect I had to take a picture. If you look very closely, you can see a big blue skein of yarn over next to the giant coffee urn. What? You don't have yarn in your kitchen?

I LOVE YOU TOO, AMY!!!

2009-12-22T19:47:00.002-05:00

And I don't feel too bad about that. This year it hasn't been very stressful though so yay!

In fact yesterday, I was frosting The Santas (my sister and mom will know what that means) and my husband colored the blue and red, and packed up the old disposable pastry bags to help! Fabulous!

I absolutely had to get them done yesterday because that cream cheese frosting needs to set up a little before you can MAIL YOUR SISTER 8 COOKIES!!! (which I did today)

(see that's going to make her pee)

Last weekend we had so much fun. I know I'm always gross about him and it's probably annoying and eyerollworthy but he really is good to me. Anywho, Sunday we decided to drive to the beach (which is like two miles away) to see how it looked with snow. It was very pretty, but not that frozen really.

I took this

Not really that thrilling, but I like living here.

And there is obviously a conspicuous lack of knitting content right now, but I believe by this time tomorrow, I will have something to show! Did you know it takes approximately 7 hours to weave in an assload of ends. Half an assload takes almost four hours. I don't know why the math works out that way, but it just does.

8 random things

2009-12-18T14:34:00.002-05:00

1. So, back in August or so, I made a decision to work on getting rid of some really negative stuff in my life. And I did it, and I'm finding out that it was a fabulous decision, because the main thing I rid myself of is WAYYYYYYYYYY more negative than I had any idea of. I feel like I dodged a bullet big time, and that makes me way happy! I made a big mistake, but I admitted it and made some hard decisions to redirect things. Accomplishment!

2. I've been spinning for Hub's next sweater on the Romney and it's turning out really nice. The first skein.

After watching a youtube video by Beth Smith of the spinning loft, I feel like I'm really getting the hang of The "American Supported Long Draw" (or at least that's what they call it in the latest Spin-Off magazine).

3. The Stitch It Podcast group on Ravelry has inspired me to start using my breadmaker again, and I was using it TWICE a day! They inhale those wee 1 lb loaves around here (oh and I used the dough setting to make dinner rolls. LOVE) So, we got a 2 pounder off Ebay and it came today! French bread on it's way, yay!

4. We did some more Christmas shopping today and I MUST finish the last sleeve of my mom's Christmas present this weekend, MUST!

5. I've started twitting, or tweeting, or whatever. It's fun. More fun than I actually thought it would be. I'm Bammerkt; come tweet me (that sounds kinda dirty).

6. I found out if I just remove the tips of that damn Cormo fleece with a scissors, I totally love it, so I am gonna go ahead and do that now.

7. I sampled the Border Leicester lamb fleece I had and it is FAB. It washed up beautifully and easily and it's spinning up purdy awesome. Must decide what colors to dye the locks for blending.

8. I'm hooked on the blending.

Normally . . Or Yellow Alligator Shoes

2009-12-14T08:10:00.003-05:00

I don't advocate being nice, and I actually hate the shit out of Spongebob, BUT . . .

Just about two years ago, my sister found out she had to have another surgery right after the holidays, so between Christmas and New Years', my mom and I drove there to go to a Dr. appointment with her about it. We went back home, and a day or two later, I drove back in a storm to take her for her surgery.

Leaving out the whining details, the hospital and every last staff person (until I ran into a knitter near the end of the day) was absolutely horrible. I saw them treat others very poorly also and on only a few hours sleep, I was a bit of a wreck myself. (don't worry the point of this story is coming)

I went into a cafe inside the hospital and there was this man, who worked there, and was laughing and showing off these really chartreusey yellow alligator loafers with tassels to a lady that was a cashier. He had on a matching vest and he looked pretty dapper. After I got my food and paid, that man noticed that I was juggling my stuff around and a tray and he helped me get a table and asked me if i would like help getting condiments and things. I promptly burst into tears. I was so grateful that somebody had been nice to me, that it just happened. It's not particularly normal for me to do anything like that at all.

I think of that man a lot, but especially this time of year. It taught me that you can't always tell by looking at somebody if they're having one of the worst days of their lives, and one small thing you do for them just to be nice might make that day not suck donkey ass. And even though I really am a bitch, and I don't have a lot of patience for people and their bullshit, i do try to do something nice now and then. I often look at people and wonder if this is their worst day ever. (I don't think that really WAS my worst day, but you get the point.) Even on that day, i would never have guessed that two years later I would feel like that man changed my attitude a little bit and remember him and I bet he never thought of me again.

Kind of awesome really.

I've been spinning too, photos soon maybe - oh and I'm on the LAST SLEEVE of the poodle sweater and going to block the fronts and back today! WOO HOO!

Oh and we bought a bigger bread maker so I could keep up with the snarfing of the homemade bread around here!

Hello, My Name is . . .

2009-12-10T16:14:00.002-05:00

Big Bag of AWESOME!!!

Blending won, and now I have a 1 pound 9 oz. bag of beautiful blue/gray Romney which will soon be spun up to make a sweater for my husband. That SHOULD be enough of this lustrous, pretty (i really don't enjoy the word yummy associated with yarn. That's not a personal attack, I just don't like it). And I have enough of the natural colored gray romney for something else later. Eight ounces maybe?

What Mr. D and I have in Common

2009-12-09T10:02:00.003-05:00

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the wonderful Mr. Darcy says this about himself,

"My good opinion once lost, is lost forever."

Unfortunately, one of my failings also.

The good thing is, once you're my friend (which takes me a long time) I will make excuses for you and you would pretty much have to eat people you murdered to lose my good opinion. The sad flip side is that once you have, no amount of ass kissing will really make me like you again. It really is a failing indeed.

Fun fact about Bams.

I finished some fingerless gloves for my mom. The color isn't quite right. The interesting thing is that I took two photos. Both have totally different coloration, and neither is correct. Isn't that super fun? (no)

I guess the second one is closer on my monitor, but hey who knows what yours will tell you?

Also, I have mentioned this intarsia sweater that my mom picked out of a Rowan book for her Christmas gift. Last night i finished the right front while watching Dexter with my Darling Husband. That means I am really close PUHLUS, she only wants one poodle on each sleeve, so those are going to go like nobody's business. (please do not point out that it now will need blocking and seaming and the weaving in of countless ends because I am enjoying the delusion that I'm close to the finish line).

It's my first foray with intarsia except for the skull I knitted using a cheat technique to knit intarsia in the round. It was quite a bit different from this really.

Remember?

yoked skully

Not PC

2009-12-08T21:52:00.002-05:00

So we're not the most politically correct couple in the world. In the car on the way to son's first band concert. Something happened and I was jokingly telling me I was upset about something very lame.

So he was laughing.

And I said "look, your wife is upset! This is not time to titter."

Of course he said to me, " huh huh huh huh . . . . You said tit."

How can I not love this man?

So, A Dilemma!

2009-12-08T13:04:00.003-05:00

Awhile back, in summer I guess, I bought a really nice Romney fleece on Ebay. The fleece was gray, but all shades from a silver to a dark charcoal. It's really pretty fabulous. This lady had a super awesome crimp and a nice long lock. I bet she had all the rams bothering her.

Anywho, I washed the fleece as soon as it got here. Then I put it in fleece storage. (it's nice there - lots of friends and whatnot) So I pulled it out to process last week. I picked about two thirds of it and carded a bunch of the natural fleece. The batts spin up beautifully with a longdraw. So now comes the dilemma.

I've been reading the Ashford book of carding. It's fabu. It made me want to try all different stuff with all different junk floating around in my stash. In fact I pulled out a dyed four oz. batch of Suffolk to spin up some sock yarn, but I didn't love the dye arrangement (mine) so I thought I'd divide it up, card it all together and make more of a tweedy thing. Pictures of that tangent later (which incidentally, I love). So I was spinning up a sample of this romney and I thought, gray and blue would look fantastic blended up together, and hey maybe I should dye the last third of that fleece and blend it.

On Sunday, I dyed up that batch of unpicked locks. It turned out all shades of blue, from nearly black to a nice cobalty color in the silver. (There is quite a bit less silver than charcoal) The dyed fleece is just gorgeous. I carded up a straight batt, split it, blended about half of it with gray and then compared.

People I don't know what to do!! Once it's blended, I can't unblend it, and it is BEAUTIFUL. So damnit!

I can't decide what to do!

Oh and I knitted a swatch with the dark blue and the blended blue and gray. Still didn't help me decide. So, you know, not any help.

Anyway, I also have some finished projects to show and maybe a WIP, but later for that!

Uncle!

2009-12-03T17:13:00.004-05:00

Even though things are hectic this time of year, we're having a blast.

I finished my Darling Hubs' sweater. It fits him just wonderfully and it is his THIRD sweater this year. What a lucky man. Here he is, in his famous 1978 JCPenney catalog pose, just for you all.

Personally, I think he's the greatest, but nobody gets him like I do.

We had a very nice holiday and did all our Christmas decorating and even some of the baking already. I love the holidays. My mom helped The Chief put up the tree while I was making dinner.

Ignore the devil eyes. I've always had my suspicions, but enough said on that score.

The kids helped get the decorations on and i did the rest of the house decorating the next day (after they all went back to wherever it is they go for the day). The house looks fabulous, and it's even snowing right now yay!

Moving on . .

The other night I happened to glance out the window and see this really pretty sky from the family room so I ran out and snapped a quick photo.

Yeah just a random thing to share.

I have spinning and a wee bread mishap to show you soon too. Thanks for stopping, and sorry it took so long!

A Meme? From Me? Me?

2009-11-20T14:03:00.005-05:00

I don't usually do the Memes. I don't know if you you are even that interested in what I do around here unless it's knitting related, but THIS is just way too "something I cannot pass up trying for"!

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

I just told my mom I would be fine and happy if people made donations in my name to a good charity, but I can think of stuff:
a. My sister's cancer to miraculously GO AWAY
b. Our children to have another happy, healthy year
c. All the wool I can spin and knit for a year (and clearly a bit more since I seem to come out of every year with more than I went in)
d. A self-cleaning house
e. A huge craft studio!

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

-A bracelet my son made me in pre-school. It has wooden beads and pinwheel noodles. I mean what mama doesn't love some pasta jewelry?

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

-There are so many! I would love to make a funny family T-shirt for everybody

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

-When i was in about third or fourth grade, i got a ton of books and I was so excited about them. Some of them are still faves to this day.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

-Well they haven't finished their lists yet, but they want all kinds of different stuff!

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

-Mashed potatoes - and cookies!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

-I already did two dozen cards and am knitting up a storm. There's never enough time to do all I want to!

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

- Elf and Love, Actually (sorry two favorites)

9. Favorite holiday song?

-All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

- Baking!

This meme is from the Todaysmama holiday giveaway. I hope you enter too and I hope you even win second place to me! Hehehehe.

Thankful Thursday!

2009-11-19T13:11:00.002-05:00

Audiopost soon, but I do have something grande to be thankful for.

I have two sisters and the oldest of the three of us has been battling breast cancer for more than three and a half years now. We recently got news that her markers were way up and that she would be trying a chemo pill. The odds of efficacy were less than 50%, but she was still wanting to avoid a port an IV chemo so she did it.

She needed the results early and got them today.

Her markers are down more than 25% after nine days of this pill. That is FABULOUS NEWS!

I am very thankful.

I am thankful for both my sisters too. This is the three of us oh about 32 years ago or so. And yes, that is me with the braids.

I sure did hate to put on a dress back then.

No Socks For You!

2009-11-16T08:35:00.002-05:00

Leaf Sucker

The Chief's sweater. You can tell the front is blocked, but not the sleeves. What a difference blocking makes when your stockinette stitch is uneven, like mine!.

The Merino/Tencel laceweight. now I need to figure out what I can knit with it. Of course I have to finish Queen Silvia first.

Hate On Me

2009-11-12T10:39:00.002-05:00

I finally decided to start audioblogging (um yeah I'm slow). It will get better once I get used to it!

New Socks on the way - Boyfriend Socks

This pile is just about as long as my car (which is not a big car, but still), however it is not as tall as my car. Unfortunately, I need to make another pile that big at least from the rest of the yard!

Hate on Me by Jill Scott

Talk soon!

Hey! Guess Whose Husband

2009-11-10T20:38:00.002-05:00

Carded up his very first rolag last night. Muahahahahahahahaha!

And yes, I am aware that it looks quite a bit like it came straight out ofa 1970s Playboy, and no, it is actually just Romney wool. But yes, you do have a gross and perverted mind!

I forgot to take a photograph of the socks I finished and gifted during the retreat so Poop on that, but I am just a few inches from finishing the sleeves on my darling husband's gansey, so pictures soon maybe?

I'm getting close to finishing the merino tencel laceweight singles that are taking FOR FREAKING EVER.

I don't have any socks on the needles which is super weird.

I am already engaged in planning the next retreat, because I had a good time and i am a little slice of crazy pie.

I need to make myself some kind of spinning goal for the winter. Spin down stash or something. 15 minutes a day spinning? Maybe 30? I need to do like four hours a day. I'm going to include prepping time for anything I prep too. I gotta spin this fiber stash down!

You Know It's Fun When. . .

2009-11-08T20:09:00.003-05:00

People fall asleep on the couch because they don't want to go to bed.

I had lots of fun meeting new friends and hanging with the ones I already knew.

Hope you all had a great weekend, and I hope I get to see all these friends again soon!

Gone Fishin'

2009-11-05T07:34:00.003-05:00

I'll be at the Fiber in the Forest Autumn 2009 retreat until Sunday. I hope you have a great weekend!

I know I'm late

2009-11-03T08:05:00.002-05:00

So here are the boys. Mine is the hobo. He insisted on being one even though I feel like it's kind of a cop out. Just put on a bunch of old, dirty clothes and beg for candy. It seems too easy that way, but I have let him choose his costume since he was three, so this year is no exception.

And the girls - they are stick people. That's why I'm giving you the dark version.

It was a fun Halloween.

Also, if you've read my blog with any regularity at all, you know I hate people. I do. In fact if I meet a new person, I've noticed that I assume they're going to be jerks until I find out otherwise. Isn't that awful? You know why though?

Have you ever noticed that a lot of people feel free to give advice or judge you when they have no right? For example, morbidly obese people (and let me tell you I have no problem with people of different weights, that is NOT the point here) giving out weight loss advice? Or someone who has never married a person with children telling you how you should handle it? Or maybe someone who lives in something akin to squalor giving you advice on how you can be a better housekeeper. . . I know it's happened to every single person who reads this blog, and I know that's way more people than comments. Do you just laugh it off? Are you ever tempted to say, "Gee thanks, Dr. Phil"? I am tempted to laugh in the face of these people, but I never do. Why can't I kindly point out that I would rather take weight loss advice from someone who appears to have some experience in weight loss? Or someone who has blended a family as a parent and understands the foibles and pitfalls therein?

I friggin hate people. They are largely fuckknuckles and asshats. And it ain't getting any better out there, folks.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T11:33:00.003-04:00

I am actually having kind of a rough day, but it's ok. I am shaking it off!

Last night The Chief fixed this most favoritest Halloween decoration of my sons. From the first year he could walk he would toddle his buns over and start this thing over and over and over. The poor bobble head was broken and my husband wired it back together last night.

(notice how I slipped in a sock for knitting content. This is a knitting blog after all (kinda).

I took a better pic of the socks here too.

Just in time to be packed up and mailed off to one of my sisters for her November 7th birthday.

And last: Just for you, Carrie.

I even put on my horrible fleece just to complete the picture. You can actually tell I had just put it over my head if you look really closely, because my eyebrow hairs are all caddywumpus from pulling it over my head. Fun fact for ya.

Someone new subscribed to my blog yesterday. I don't know why that makes me so darn happy, but it does. I'm weird!

and now, time to try to pretend we don't have a ton of candy in the house!

Behold! The Jackass or No Knitting Content

2009-10-29T14:44:00.003-04:00

I had a bit of a rant today about this idiot neighbor of mine. He is very yard obsessed and we love in a neighborhood full of really humongous beech trees. Now that means that this time of year, I have to go outside and move piles of leaves as big as my car. I do have a smallish car, but I'm not exaggerating about the size of the piles here.

Every time I go out to work on leaves, he HAS to come outside and start mowing up leaves in his yard. He's freaky anyway. He never looks you in the eye and tells you what's going on with each family on the block (which makes me wonder what he thinks is going on in my house and tells people about even though he has no clue). he also does that thing where he talks to you, then you answer, and he goes on to some other topic without even acknowledging that you answered as if he was thinking about his next statement the whole time.

I hate this guy! And i kinneared him just for you.

It was a very Pink Panther moment with me hiding behind one of the rhodos. Boo Hiss! Hate him from afar for me!

Also, Carrie wanted a picture of my head. Oh and my mom left me a phone message. She said her bowels are working properly, but I'm not sure if that means she DID shit or didn't when she saw the last post.

Pay no attention to the crazy swirlylike thing on the top of my head oh and the hideous lumberjack fleece I've had since before I had my 11 year old child. I didn't exactly prep for the picture.

Have a fabulous Thursday! Oh and knitting content soon!

Wanna See Something Creepy? or My Mom's going to Shit!

2009-10-27T20:27:00.002-04:00

Guess what this is!

No it's not a serial killer trophy (but clearly I'm watching too much Dexter)

Nope, I didn't scalp a Barbie!

I'm sending my hair to Locks of Love. For those of you who aren't in the U.S., Locks of Love makes wigs for kids who have various illnesses and conditions and either can't grow hair, or their hair has fallen out permanently. They can have it. I'm glad it's gone!

It's kind of freaky having them cut that ponytail off your head. the whole salon was rapt.

I've been boring. . .

2009-10-26T08:42:00.002-04:00

It's been raining here a lot, and it just makes me want to nest. I've been cleaning, getting rid of things we don't use anymore. I've been getting ready for the retreat in November too. Busy busy!

Although I have been spinning! This is a Merino/Tencel blend dyed by Hungry for Handspun. Isn't it pretty?

Also, I finished the front and back on the Chief's gansey. They are currently blocking while I work on the sleeves! I figured then I can attach the front and back at the shoulders and get a better idea on sleeve length for DH, aka ape arms. I am always surprised at how much better my sweater pieces look once blocked. I hate blocking and tend to just leave it for far too long, but it really is like magic. It can take a piece that looks a little uneven and funkay and make it look perfect! It can make a piece of lace that looks like a hot mess of grody ramen that's gone a very wrong color into something really beauteous. (Can you tell I'm trying to convince myself that blocking doesn't suck? Yep)

Pics of the blocked front and back soon!

Moondance Anyone?

2009-10-21T08:35:00.003-04:00

Most days, I get up and fix my husband some breakfast before he heads off to work, and he needs to leave the house by about 6:10 am so it's pretty early for most people.

About two weeks ago, as he was finished and in his truck to leave, I decided I needed to bring out a bag to the dumpster, and while returning through the headlights of his truck, I stopped and mooned him. Yep, I just thought it would make him laugh. Well, he did chuckle, then backed down the driveway, turned his head to the left, and saw a neighbor of ours standing on the corner in the dark with her dog.

No charge on the show, lady.

Anywho! I'm knitting that same DH a sweater. It's a gansey from Arans & Celtics. Someone liked it enough to take a wee snooze on it yesterday.

I know, he looks possessed, but when the camera comes on, it makes a little beepbeep noise and wakes him.

Also, last Friday, there was no school, and this time of year, no school looks like this more often than not.

Lord of the Rings movie marathon.

Last, I finally finished spinning that Jacob fleece! Say hello to Clarissa!

Her fleece came from Sweetgrass Jacobs (a Michington farm) and her mama sent along a photo of her. I think that is a super cool thing for us spinners.

You see I bought my very first fleece, which was a Jacob lamb, from this same farm and contacted her for more awhile ago. Clarissa was picked out especially for me, and her fleece was fabulous. It was springy, soft and lovely to process and spin. Now it's 1888 yards of DK to worsted (not sure yet, must thwack and dry and count wpi, but honestly my guess is worsted). She'll make someone around here a very fine sweater!

Proof

2009-10-13T20:45:00.003-04:00

That Goofiness is indeed hereditary, but clearly skips a generation since I am goof-free.

Further proof that I finished the sweater that started out being for me and ended up being for number 5.

See a Penny

2009-10-11T19:51:00.002-04:00

My husband picked up a lost penny today. I guess it really was sort of a lucky day because . .

I finished the handspun raglan. It's blocking right now and I'll get a photo tomorrow. Yay!

Next I am planning an experimental sweater for my husband. it might be interesting :S.

The better news is that my DH went over to fix a little issue at my old house which we currently rent out. We have fabulous tenants. They have never missed rent, they only call me when there really is something going on, and they are just really nice people. Plus they're having a wee bebeh which I always like.

Awhile ago we mentioned that we would be willing to sell the house if they wanted it. I guess I figure they're in their third year there. They like the neighborhood and have made friend. Plus with them having a baby, I guess we felt like they might be thinking "hey it's time to buy". I'm not saying it IS time to buy, but that whole baby thing does tend to make people want to make grownup kinda moves.

They told my husband they are considering it based on that tax credit this year for first time home buyers.

I peed! I would love to sell that house! Wish me luck!

It's Official!

2009-10-09T16:59:00.003-04:00

Fall is definitely here when my husband gets a load of firewood delivered and we get to snuggle up in front of a nice warm fire.

It does NOT suck!

Tomorrow I hope to do something similar after the football game, but it will include a new accessory in the photo.

Oh yeah, and the handspun sweater had some problems. One sleeve is finished, but i feel like the cuff is too loose, so will be frogged back six rows and just the cuff reknit and bound off again. I also intended it originally to be a turtleneck, so the neck opening was fairly tight, but since it's going to number 5 instead, well it needs a bigger headhole. So perhaps tomorrow I'll be doing the frogging from the start end. Is that really frogging? gorfing? Whatever, I'll rip out the neckhole, knit some short rows on the back of the neck and then do some ribbing rows instead. I think it will be a bit more wearable and I'll like it better and that's what counts. Besides - lurning experiensh.

Plus - clue two of Through the Loops Socktoberfest KAL is out so lots to do and no more time to type!

Miscellania

2009-10-08T11:34:00.003-04:00

Well first of all, let me say that KNITTER WON!!!!!!!!!!!! Please email me your mailing info to inspiredandinsane@gmail.com to claim your prize! I'm sorry I don't have more to give away though!

(but don't worry, SexyThroughAdversity, there is a chance that Santa will bring you a twin)

To Colin: You are right, he is the cutest thing in the post. He is my sweet boy and just got a nice belly rub!

To BethanyG: It makes me look like this guy

Which was not the look I was going for. He's all I could think about when I was trying to arrange it on my head so I didn't look stupid.

In other news, I'm nearly finished with the raglan, but it will be going to my son. The weird part is, it actually does fit me. When he grows out of it, I won't be bringing it to charity, but keeping it. It's very strange to have your little baby wearing stuff that fits you.

The ribs make it look skinnier than it is, but blocking will straighten that out a wee bit and even out the stitches. It does fit him quite nicely. I just started to feel like maybe the yarn was more manly than I wanted in a sweater for myself and I was pretty sure it would fit him as is, so NEW PLAN!

And this weekend we decided to cook up the turkey from the freezer. My husband REALLY knows how to cook a turkey, but I was a little taken aback by the fact that the ankles seemed to have been stuffed through what used to be what we like to refer to around here as "the poop chute". (that's more because the kids think it's funny, but whatever) I've cooked turkeys before, but I never saw that. Usually I have seem them with that little plastic thing that holds the ankles together.

Anywho so I was commenting and we were all staring down at this beauty after it came out of the oven and with a straight face and quite off-handedly my mom mutters, "you'd think you'd trip."

Oh man I just laughed so hard. Well heck yeah you'd trip! But the turkey was fantastic. It was already another dinner with plans for turkey soup with what I have left over the weekend!

And yes, I know that's not technically the exit, but just a big flap of skin that the legs are shoved through. I was just being funny.

Excitement Abounds

2009-10-01T13:59:00.003-04:00

Oh yeah

I've been knitting!

I made an Anemoon. This is a super cute hat and a well written pattern that just so happens to look hideous on me :D. I need to point out too that I do not ask that kid to model for me. He gets home from school and I tell him I finished something. He immediately puts it on and poses. I'm not even kidding!

Man, I love that face!

If you'd like to own this lovely hat, just leave me a comment. If there are more than one I'll choose at random and mail you the hat. Tempting I know :|.

Also, it's Socktober! That's right people! Time to have the pants scared off you by ghouls and goblins and time to knit ya some socks! I'm participating in a Mystery sock Knitalong hosted by Through the Loops. I haven't been in a real knitalong since the lace knitalong debacle of 2007, so I thought it was time. Exciting so far right?

Pay no attention to that size 1 aluminum needle in there. I snapped a bamboo needle this morning. EZ says it doesn't matter and even though I'm not technically a disciple, on this one I'm going with her.

Happy Socktober!

Autumn Woo hoo!

2009-09-29T09:05:00.002-04:00

I like fall. It's very pretty here in Western Michigan and although it sometimes feels like we are living in the center of a crumbling piece of our country, we keep on truckin'. There are houses for sale on every corner and people without work everywhere you go. I'm not talking about people who are trying to stay out of work. I honestly mean people who have never been without a job before in their adult lives. Even though we are nowhere near the Detroit automotive part of Michigan, it's been a sad thing to watch and be part of.

But!

There's been knitting.

Last year I knitted up a hat for the boy (you know, when he lost one AGAIN), but I still had a pretty big chunk of the handspun camo from it. I pulled it out of my stash to find a use for it and ended up making some gauntlets for him! Perfect.

Just look at those meathooks! I'm tall, therefore long fingers, reasonably big hands for a woman (don't conjure up pictures of Jerry Seinfeld's manhands episode. They are still distinctly female) and his hands are only a tiny bit smaller than mine. He's only 11!

Also, I've been asked for modeled pics of Vivian. I can't take photos of myself and actually it's only basted shut for the zipper. When I showed him, he put it on immediately. I didn't ask!

Oh man it was very funny. Although it did make me think he needs a cardigan. It looked pretty good actually

Sooooooo since Viv is almost a wrap, i started a new sweater with my Tour De Fleece Handspun (knit from tomato red Shetland blended with Jacob lamb to get it all lovely and tweedy). I'm working on the incredible custom-fit raglan. It's one of those formula type patterns instead of straight instructions. I seem to like those an awful lot. I am modifying the pattern to be a nice turtleneck with a 3x2 rib. I will definitely be doing waist shaping and hopefully the ribbing will help with shaping. The yarn and pattern should be kind of a snuggly, rustickish look and I hope will be nice with jeans . .

Which brings me to my last point of the day. I was noticing yesterday that my shoulders are less flabby than they were. I know that's weird, but I was feeling the bones and muscles as i reached to scratch it. I decided to try on some jeans I haven't been able to wear since I was dating my husband about five years ago and THEY FIT. I wore them comfortably the rest of the afternoon and evening! I really still have a very long way to go and the weight loss has not been fast, but it felt like a victory. Wish me luck on the last 74 days of the program I'm working!

Fabulousness . .

2009-09-24T10:13:00.003-04:00

Thy name is, Teh Cookie! She sent me a box of sock yarn blanket (in kit form of course) that she pulled out of her stash. Thanks again! I really appreciate you offering to contribute your leftovers.

Oh and my mom thanks you for the leftovers that needed winding. It's awfully good for her OCD.

The blanket is growing slowly and is getting pretty. I am being pretty random about color choices. Basically I am trying to keep the colors broken up a bit, but that's it.

Also, it turns out I can still knit stuff that's not socks. I found out because Vivian and I made up. The construction of this sweater is not like any I have knit before. I love it, but I don't know if it's new or just unknown to me. The pattern is good, but I have messed up twice. Both messups were big enough to make me frog. Basically 75% of this sweater has been knitted twice. You have to really like it for that.

The best part is this: I have lost some weight (not loads or anything) and I was wondering if it was going to fit me once I finished. So I realize I've made the second big mistake and will have to frog back to the arm joins. Well CAHRAP!!! Anyway, I bit the bullet, frogged, reknit and then was like - WTF! I don't have enough stitches here to do all the decreases! This is terrible! Am I going to have to frog again?

Turns out I decided to make a smaller size after I frogged the body (you know, after the first major screw up) and forgot. I knitted nearly the whole sweater, and forgot what size I was making all the time worrying that I had chosen a size that would end up too big. Yay me.

I'm on the hood now. I will knit this again someday which is a real statement about how much i like it. I don't knit many things twice.

It will benefit from a good blocking, but seems to fit fairly well at this point. The sleeves are long, and since I'm 5'10'', that doesn't happen to me very often, but I will block them a tiny bit wider, and lose some length I suppose.

Finished football socks too! Pictures when I remember where I put them after I finished them.

Still Hate People, but I Made Socks

2009-09-23T19:08:00.003-04:00

People are still annoying the crap out of me. I'd elaborate, but there are just so many reasons and my blog is only so big.

BUT (and that's a big but)

I finished the Oak Leaf Socks! The first picture is a better representation of the color. They are knit from a blank I dyed made from Ashland Bay Panda (a favorite sock yarn of mine).

The stitch pattern gets lost in the yarn, but I don't mind. I was dying to knit a NONvanilla pair of socks, so I did it, and I'm NOT SORRY!

Oh yeah, and I've started the hood on Vivian. Pictures soon? Your guess is as good as mine!

You Have Now Entered Panther Country

2009-09-22T16:15:00.002-04:00

Hey! Guess who won his very first ever football game?

Oh yeah, it was this guy! He was even on the line when they scored, and then when they stopped the point after for the other team to win. It was quite the nail biter!

We were pretty happy, he's making a face, but I always look like that.

Honestly, I do not care if they win or not. When I say that I will be proud of him if he has a good time and works hard, I really mean it. But it sure was fun to win the season opener!

Back soon - with knitting even!

Phone Photos aka Last Weekend

2009-09-16T17:30:00.006-04:00

I hate people. I know I've said it before, but sometimes people just burn me up. Stop blaming the economy for the fact that you can't afford to do normal things if you're blowing money on things offered for free. That is making me SO MAD. I know a lot of people have been hit hard, so stop using this as an excuse to take from local agencies when you are just wasting your money! Leave that stuff for the people who really need it!

Assholes!

Anywho, lat weekend my mom and sister went camping at that fair campground which is just 2.3 miles from my house. Natch, I came out to visit and knit on Friday and I have BIG NEWS . . .

My sister finished her very first sock. (Not without much wailing and gnashing of teeth, mind you)

It's a little bigger than she wanted it, but she's going to go down a needle size on her next pair. I taught her to do them Toe-Up starting with a Turkish Caston. Not bad for a beginning sock knitter eh?

Also, our mom has this love of untangling things. If you're cleaning out your jewelry, or you've seriously screwed up some laceweight, you can just drop it with her and it will be returned to you, in one piece and untangled. She would up all the tiny skeins sent to me by Javanut.

Then Saturday, Number Five had his very first scrimmage. He's in there somewhere.

Which was lots of fun. I have met a couple of cool moms, even though a lot of them in this town are just a certain way. Like if your child isn't up to their ass in activities and stressed out to the max, then you are a bad parent. I don't agree with our tendency in this country to schedule our kids right out of fun time. Isn't school, three nights of football and a Saturday game enough?

And after the scrimmage, we headed home on the country roads and ran into this:

Hellooooooooooooooooo, Beautiful! We got vine ripened Big Boy tomatoes, Paula Red apples and some Peaches that smelled so fragrantly that they seemed like she sprayed peach scent on them. It was all fabulous! Also, the farmer lady was really nice and let me wash a peach so I could eat it in the car, and she had platinum and pink pigtails. Of course I think that's a nice touch because really only in Michington do we have those types of peoples.

I'm going back to her house ;)

Oh yeah, and I'm thinking of doing a little audioblogging. Like you would just press play, and listen to the post and look at pictures once in awhile. Any opinions? It's not because I think you all are too lazy to read, it's more for me than anything. Bad idea?

Ok So Yesterday Didn't Really Work Out

2009-09-11T07:32:00.003-04:00

But today is going to be better. It's 7:32, I've already gotten number five stuffed with breakfast and off to school, loaded and started the dishwasher, and swept and mopped the hideously disgusting kitchen floor. Woo hoo!

I've been sort of re-ordering my life as I feel maybe my priorities have been mixed up for awhile. It's been a pretty busy process really. This morning, my husband estimated that I must have lost 20 pounds and yesterday my sister said she could tell I had lost some in the last three weeks (since she was last here) so at least that gave me a wee bit of motivation. After all, I am on day 88 now. I also have the next 90 days lined up after for workouts. It should be quite interesting.

Anyway, I didn't post the pictures I promised yesterday because I couldn't find the camera until later in the day. I mean honestly, who does that? Anyway so the pictures aren't great, but that's my M.O. so it won't surprise anybody.

First, I have a new project. I've been saving sock yarn remnants (like most knitters) for quite awhile. I had also been eyeing this beautiful sock yarn blankie being knit by JavaNut

I finally Cast on for it

The wonderful JavaNut sent me a whole bag of tiny sock yarn remnant skeins. It was awesome of her. I hadn't realized I was going to need so many. Oh well. I keep knitting socks right? And hey if you want to send me your bag of sock yarn remnants ;).

I'm done with the second heel flap for the Oak Leaf Socks too. I think the pattern would have shown up better with plain yarn, but I couldn't stand the thought of another plain sock at the time - bleh!

I also am close to the increases on the toe-up football sock.

I haven't been spinning much, but trying to get some projects wrapped up. I'm currently working on the fleece of sweet Clarissa, A Jacob lamb I processed awhile ago. It's boring to look at anyway!

Goodbye Summer

2009-09-08T10:31:00.002-04:00

I bet you're wondering what the heck I've been up to. Well, lots of stuff. I've been spending so much time getting number five ready for his first year at middle school (and ignoring the know-it-alls who keep giving us wrong information about how it's going to be) going to football practices and camping, I haven't accomplished that much. It's hard to take a chart to football ya know. Of course that means I had to start some more or less plain socks.

I hate stockinette socks. I feel like they don't fit right unless they are ribbed at least. Maybe I have weird feet :|.

Knitting Progress:

Queen Silvia - The last picture you saw, well that's where she sits. Poor thing.
Oak Leaf Socks - Yay I finally finished one and started the second. I am through the second repeat of the pattern on the cuff, so finally progressing! Picture soon of the finished one
Vivian - Yay here too! I finally got to the point where I could join the sleeves to the body of the sweater and started knitting up the yoke. I'm even decreasing, but it's big and heavy and taking me awhile. What a beautiful sweater though!
Football socks - They're getting the most attention since we haven't been home much. They're Opal, but I don't know where the label went. One is finished that the second is OTN now. Probably with three practices and a scrimmage this week, I'll be on to a new pair of plain ribbed socks soon!

One thing I've been up to is this.

(sorry the color is jacked up. I took it with my phone)

I live less than 4 miles from this. Can you believe I only went once this year. Inconceivable! It was a fabulous day at the beach.

A weekend or two before, My mom and sister were camping at the state park near here and I ran down ery early in the morning to see if we could get a spot to pitch our tents (they were full), but snapped this on the way back home. This is just over two miles from home.

Doesn't seem fair does it?

On that same weekend we did go out visiting. When we were growing up camping here, we used to make trips down to this old, beachy, no shirts and shoes, kinda general store and load up on candy. My sister brought us some of the old standbys; those big ringpops, and these guys.

I'm sorry but soooooooooooooooooooooo funny. AND, my mom received the hideous Opal Rainbow socks WITH the stripes matched as she requested. Which daughter rocks?

Oh yeah and I got Ice Cream on my splurge day. Who invented this Chocolate Monster flavor and where can I send him/her a thank you note?

Srsly, I'm 11, I promise!

Fiber in the Forest Autumn 2009

2009-08-19T09:14:00.003-04:00

We're full! As of today, we are officially full on registrations and paid (well one check is coming, but I trust the person that it's on the way).

Overall it's supposed to be a relaxing getaway. The perfect chance to knit, crochet, or spin on those holiday gifts and get away before the Thanksgiving madness starts. We'll even have Meghan from Stitch It podcaster and Beth from the Spinning Loft in Howell as guests!

We'll have attendees from Idaho to New York and as far south as Kentucky this time, and I am working hard! Donations for door prizes and goodybags are starting to arrive (which is probably really pissing off my worthless postal carrier), and opening them (to paw through them) is like Christmas!

Remember us while you're NOT sitting by the Lake this November 5th - 8th.

Might As Well Face It

2009-08-17T14:08:00.002-04:00

I'm Addicted to Nupps :|

Queen Silvia in progress. It's merino silk from Skaska Designs. I cannot pass them by when I'm at the Fiber Festival. I just can't keep walking. I try, but it totally doesn't work.

I also completely frogged and restarted my Vivian. I had a mistake in this back seed stitch panel and it was making me insane. Now at least that part will be right!

Hey, I'm spinning too (and washing and I bought a bunch of stuff at an estate sale and fiber festival last week). Last week I finished this Finn top dyed in the Emerald City colorway from Zarzuela's Fibers. I just fricken love spinning finn. I was trying for a bulky weight and I almost got there. It's true that spinning thicker gets more difficult, but I'm not giving up! It ended up being a three ply heavy worsted. Next time! (The colors are a slight bit greener in person. I tried to fix, but hey I suck!)

Not gonna happen!

2009-08-13T11:29:00.002-04:00

This is not destined to become one of those blogs without pictures. I promise.

In fact I will probably have to take a few photos for the podcast today, so I should have something for you soon in that line.

I'm totally exhausted (as is my husband) and we have company coming this weekend. It's one of his buddies for guy time, so I don't have to entertain much - just dinners - but still the thought just makes me more tired.

We're getting results back on breast cancer sister's most recent scans on Monday. I'm prepared for the worst, but still hoping it's not that bad.

I could use a break. Like a real one, not where I have to talk to people, or try to pick stuff on tv that they might not hate. One where I am alone and I can eat nothing but triscuits with cottage cheese and louisiana hot sauce on them for the entire weekend. (you shan't judge my food choices). It doesn't look like a break is coming anytime soon though.

Everything is ok - I'm just wearing down.

I'm home

2009-08-11T21:21:00.001-04:00

the doctor was 12

the MIL was gassy. Like she was making a hotel reservation for a followup visit and totally ripped one in front of the front desk. I'm not much of a fart in public kind of person but it was not easy to keep a straight face.

She will be fine.

I will have to go back for more stuff with her probably.

My ears are tired. Is that even possible?

Change of plans!

2009-08-10T11:34:00.003-04:00

Or as I like to say to my husband dramatically when things don't work out:

NEW PLAN!!!

I'm not even gonna go into why or what the new plan is. Sometimes it's just easier that way.

Five points to BethanyG! You sock, sista!

I'll be back when i'm back.

Also, I am now on day 65 of my diet/working out and I have done my six workouts per week EVERY SINGLE WEEK, and with the exception of a splurge day every other Friday, i have kept my calories in the parameters. Why do I not look like Cindy Crawford yet? Unacceptable.

However, i will be continuing through my 90 day commitment and then making a new goal. What do you think of 30 day goals after the 90? I know I have reduced in size. I'm still not weighing myself. My endurance and strength seems to be building, but I really wish I had a treadmill so i could run at home. I still can't comfortably wear the skinny jeans, but eventually.

Happy Monday!

Go Back to Your Knitting!`

2009-08-09T09:52:00.003-04:00

And five points if you can tell me what movie that's from.

I gotta take my MIL to the Cleveland Clinic for a doctor visit. It's for a second opinion on her heart condition, so it's not a dire situation or anything (as far as we know) but I will be gone a few days.

Honk if Cleveland Rocks!

P.S. I won't even get to visit yarn stores because she would not understand. Woe is me!

So Good News! Or Why You Should Never Fuck With a Knitter

2009-08-03T10:02:00.003-04:00

I finished the knitting on the Faux Russian Stole this morning! I was really trying to finish before bed last night, but I couldn't do it. I will wash and block it either this afternoon, or tomorrow, but woo hoo!

PuhLUS I picked out my next lace project, but I'm going to force myself to finish Vivian first.

Also, there is a lesson in this post. I love movies. The other day i went to the video store for the first time in quite awhile and realized that i could sit and knit and watch new movies for a week solid. I digress . . .

So I watch movies On Demand quite a bit. Recently - in two separate movies - I saw people murdered with knitting needles. So of course, because I love youse guys, I took pictures.

I don't know, size 15 maybe? Hard to say. He was a bad guy, so you know, not too upsetting.

Come to think of it, this one is a bad guy too. Plus the needle wielder (say that five times fast) has a broken leg. Poor thing, but she had the needle hidden in her cast. She slid that bitch out and BLAM! He never knew what purled him.

All I can say is: Let this be a lesson to those who might feel the need to comment on the size of the stash or something.

Spinning Skillz! I Haz Them!

2009-07-31T14:33:00.003-04:00

Ok, this is not a single. This is a three ply yarn, and I'm not stretching it. I'm just holding it straight across the dime for scale.

It's a Lincoln Merino Cross sent to me by a wonderful listener. Guess who needs another fleece now!

I don't even know yet what I'll do with this yarn yet. It's thinner than fingering weight even!

MUST HAVE MORE!

Grossness Alert!

2009-07-30T11:53:00.002-04:00

But first - I have other stuff. I have no FO's, but everything except My Vivian has been coming right along. My Viv is just on hold for the mo. I like it though.

Soooooooo. .

1. I am on the fifth repeat of the Faux Russian Stole. that means I'm getting pretty close really since there are 5.5 repeats.

2. I have nine rows to go before I hit the heel flap on my first Oak Leaf Sock

3. In order to go to the new HP movie, I had to start a new sock with no chart. I had three projects going and they all had charts. Normally I try to avoid that, but i am not really normal right now. So I started a pair of plain, toe up, fleegle heel, Clowny Opal yarn lookin things. I'll show you when one is done. I just can't sit in a theater for 2.5 hours with nothing in my hands. It's kind of messed up really.

4. My poor viv is not moving.

I almost never have four projects going at once.

Ok, so here comes the grossness.

I have an unnatural level of anxiety. I don't know if it was learned or if its chemical, but I do know that it is not normal. I can only tell by watching other people, but I am sure. Other than that, I am pretty healthy and all.

I work on the anxiety in lots of ways. I knit and spin, I work on cognitive restructuring although that only works if you actually do it. Go figure. Sometimes I am still seriously overwhelmed by anxiety and it's not pretty. I try to act normal, and sometimes it kind of works. Well lots of times. I find that people are not that observant really.

Anyway, that's not the gross part. Here it comes.

There are only a few external things that help at all. The main one is:

This guy. (He's hot too right?) One of the reasons I knew I should marry him is because he has infinite patience and a wife with high anxiety tries that. Plus he looks mean right? I love that. He puts up with an enormous amount of crap, and I don't deserve him. Luckily I am not going to let that stop me from keeping him.

He's great! And did I mention I think he's hot? I'll post some photos of something done soon (i hope)

Because I said So

2009-07-24T22:00:00.003-04:00

I said I would post a photo of my Faux Russian Stole today. Cookie said she was interested and seeing one and since it's really thanks to her that I'm even knitting it, i thought I oughta.

See, I had the book this Stole pattern was published in, but I would not have looked at it twice if it wasn't for the fact that she knitted a really beautiful one.

Yes, I knit with old aluminum straights. I think they are just as good as any other fancy needle. I like them. I have had people put them down, but they knit as well as any needle. An artist will create art with whatever's handy ya know? not that I'm an artist.

So I'm about halfway through the fourth repeat of the design (you gotta knit 5.5 repeats and then some edging you attach as you go. I guess it's almost time to pick a new lace project :(

I also finished ALL the singles for the sweater project I am working on for the Tour de Fleece. I even think I might have picked out a sweater to knit - more later.

Tomorrow I'll ply and be done! Woo hoo!

In Case of Emergency

2009-07-23T15:02:00.001-04:00

Shake Ass

let's face it. I have no shame when it comes to music. No shame at all.

I'll show a picture of the Faux Russian Stole tomorrow

Not a photographer

2009-07-22T08:35:00.004-04:00

My husband takes some really awesome photographs. The banner up there ^ for instance is one of his. It's just a bit north up the shore of Lake Michigan from where we live. Tomorrow, it will be three years since he asked me to marry him, and it's nearly five since our first date coming up next month. Where does the time go anyway?

He also took this

And this - plus a ton more of awesome shots

And although he has corrected my bad grilling habits, he has done nothing to correct my horrible photography skillz. I haven't either, because I'm just that lazy.

Oh well

This is the sweater I've been working on for a few weeks. It's Vivian by Ysolda Teague
I fully intend to make another later.

Of course the color is wrong. See above.

I also did spin up a sample of the fleece I've been prepping recently to give myself a break from the endless red spinning.

It was like butter. I am now pissed that I have to finish the red before diving into this gray. If only I were one of those people who can push a half finished project aside for a new love. Darn the fidelity anyway.

I also cast on for a new pair of socks. It's my last blank. I haven't felt like dyeing lately, but I suppose it's inevitable soon. Whether it's more blanks, or fiber, or just some new sock yarns.

the new socks are Oak Leaf Socks. I'm hoping the stripes on the blank don't interfere with the pattern too much. So far, they look ok, but I'm not really far enough down the leg for YOU to be able to see that.

Oh yeah, and I have gone quite a bit past the halfway point of my Faux Russian Stole too. I guess waiting so long to post has it's perks!

Saturday!

2009-07-18T10:19:00.002-04:00

I realized earlier in the week that I had been so excited to start the Tour de Fleece, I forgot to post a photo of the yarn I finished right before.

It was 4 ounces of merino/bamboo in the colorway Pel Mel from Yarnhollow. This stuff was super easy to draft and spin. My 4 little ounces ended up being 1030 yards of a medium laceweight. I don't know what it will become yet. I did browse some patterns a bit. I think I'm leaning towards a rectangular stole right now. We'll see!

Seriously, if you like to spin lace, this stuff was out of this world.

Also, yesterday I had lunch with a friend who got socks for her birthday. (sorry about the blurry photo. You know how I suck)

Andddddddddd I did finish the Bitch Tweeds.

They did end up pretty, but I'm not keepin' 'em!

Getting Out

2009-07-17T09:31:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I gathered up my stuff so I could spin outside. It was a really beautiful day, and I thought I would spin in the sun. You see, we live in a subdivision that used to be really dense woods and is still really shady. Our backyard does not get sun at all, all day, no joke. We can't even grow grass on it.

Sooooooo I was spinning in my front yard (which is weird because you almost never see adults just hanging out in their front yards in this neighborhood. We are backyard folks. Anyway, When my neighbor got back from her day at the marina pool, she decided to walk over and see what I was doing. She was totally fascinated with it. Wouldn't it be fun if I got a neighbor interested and had a spinning friend right across the street?

(yes, it would).

I was listening to a book on my mp3 player and enjoying the mid 70 degree weather, the breeze and the sunshine. (plus the being outside when all the kids are inside thing)

I should also be finishing up the Bitch Tweed socks today. Hopefully a photo tomorrow.

Multiples - I mean POSTS

2009-07-15T20:53:00.002-04:00

So OK, first of all. I apparently am answering questions now when I blog that are only in my head. I ended my last post with "I don't know". See in my head I was thinking - what the hell am I doing with this fleece?

Now, I've been spinning for Tour de Fleece. I missed Sunday because we were going down to see Number 1 and our granddaughter. Otherwise I have been doing my spinning every day. I think I mentioned it before. I took some red Shetland that I totally didn't like and blended it with some charcoal Jacob ewe lamb - and came up with enough fleece for a sweater AND I actually like it!

So far, I have about 550 yds of 3-ply (navajo) aran/heavy worsted + two bobbins of singles (approx another 250 yds once plied). PLUS about four or five batts to go. (the reason I don't actually know how many batts are left is because I am spinning a strip off a batt, then a strip off of another so as to further mix up the blending.

My son says the color is spot on, my husband says it's too watermelony.

Trying to fix red is too hard for my dumb photography skills.

Still crabby and so ready for a day off the diet drinking some martinis or somethin!

Laundry Was Caught Up

2009-07-15T14:05:00.002-04:00

Honestly - it was. . . And you know what that means!!

I washed a fleece. Meet Laila! She is from a Jacob yearling. I had her sister's fleece last year (her lamb fleece though). This fleece is a real beauty! However, it was a skanky mess before I washed it.

Can you imagine how patient of a man I must be married to? He pulls up to his home and sees a couple of old towels stretched out on the lawn covered in this!

Um yeah, I know that is probably not Laila's best side. She's all jumbled up because I asked said husband to please bring her in. He is so obliging. He bundled her all up, and she got a bit jumbled, but whatevs! She's clean!

I don't know

Oh whew!

2009-07-13T13:04:00.002-04:00

I don't want to post a spoiler, but geez. Does it mean you've never been loved if the lover hasn't slaughtered a whole bunch of people just to be with you?

I am embarrassed to say that i was pretty sure it was something like it turned out to be, and I was pretty sure that the accomplice was who it was but mainly because of CASTING which is kind of like a cheat and they totally could have tricked me that way.

Poor Trish
Poor Sully - I really did feel awful for him
Danny - well I didn't like Danny that much. It may have been the "in living colour" hairdo
Phew Jimmy

Even though I had an inkling of where they were going, I still thought it was BIG FAT FUN!!!!

Now I'm sad it's over though. I hope Dexter is starting soon.

Thou Shalt Not Ruin It for Me!

2009-07-13T09:48:00.001-04:00

I am settling down to watch the last two episodes of Harper's Island in a few minutes. I have had it narrowed down to either Henry or Jimmy since episode four or so. Then Wakefield showed up, but he can't be doing all of it alone!

I have deliberately stayed off anything that might give it away, so now I'm going to go watch. I cried when Chloe jumped after Cal (and I don't do that too much anymore) so let's see where the end of this takes us, shall we?

Hermitty

2009-07-07T09:55:00.003-04:00

I don't have any idea why, but I don't really feel like talking. Nothing in particular is wrong.

I decided to sell all my machine knitting stuff. I just never have quite gotten the hang anyway. I'm going to keep just one to knit up blanks with. I do like to dye me some blanks.

I'm nearly done with the first sock of my second SOS pair. yay me.

I'm about 2/3 done with the third bobbin of my first goal for Tour de Fleece (got that?). I have 11 batts to spin for this project. At first I really didn't like the singles which nearly stopped me spinning, but then I decided to ply and knit up a swatch. Sometimes I find I like the knitting more than I expect to, and turns out sometimes is now.

It's not actually that bright, but you know how hard I try with the photos (not very)and it's for a sweater. You may be wondering why it has six holes in it. It's because my memory sucks and I won't remember what size needle I used if I don't do that. I used a six ya see?

I have seen some really beautiful spinning at the Tour de Fleece group. Makes me feel inferior (which I sort of am. I mean I've only been spinning for just over a year and a half). Even if you don't want to spin, I recommend checking out the photo board in that group. Wow!

Hey for someone who didn't feel like talking, I sure had a lot to say.

Socks - Check!

2009-07-02T15:33:00.002-04:00

Ok I finally finished Jack Sparrow's Favorite Socks. I don't like them, but my son does.

I hate afterthought heels. The don't fit our high instep feet right. I should have knit more like 15 rows before I started the stranded part, but ya live, ya learn, ya move on to a pair of socks that you don't hate!

Sooooooo, I went with Cookie's suggestion for the Harris Tweed socks and I'm glad. I hate combing my queue for a sock pattern that won't fight with a colorful yarn, and i get so bored when I'm knitting plain socks that I will pick up lace or cables and my poor socks go ignored.

Ya'll know I have an aversion to having more than one of each project type going right?

Here's the first cuff from the Harris Bitch Tweed Socks!

What do you all think? I can't really decide. I mean I like them, but will I wear socks this wild? Yeah probably.

The Sock Queue

2009-06-29T21:40:00.002-04:00

I always have this mental queue (as well as my supersized Rav queue) of what is up next. Normally there is a sock queue, a bigger project (sweater or that sort of thing) and a lace queue.

I have nearly finished the second of these. In fact I think tomorrow morning will see me weaving in some ends.

I thought you might be interested in seeing what is "up next" in my sock queue. I haven't picked a pattern yet, because I will need something that you can knit with a busy yarn. The first time I knit a blank, I didn't like it because the yarn is wormy from being dyed while knit and unwound, but luckily, once washed the yarn is normal, so I'm going to do the old "leap of faith" thing and knit up this bad boy.

This weekend we are having family visiting, but NEXT WEEK!!! There will be no kids here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!! Don't get me wrong, I love these guys, but I am looking forward to a break from having hooligans hanging from the rafters next week. I'm already making a list of stuff I'll do. Recaulking our bathroom shower is number one.

Oh yes, I am a party animal.

It's Weirder Than it Sounds

2009-06-27T21:22:00.002-04:00

I love reading blogs and I read A LOT of them, but I don't comment that much. There are lots of reasons for this, but it's not because i don't read them. It's just that sometimes I don't have anything worth saying that hasn't already been said. That's not a reflection on the blog content, but more a reflection on me I think, but anywho . . . Sometimes on a blog, you read sad stuff. I have actually wanted to send a little something to a blogger (just a pick-me-up or what have you) to cheer them, or maybe to congratulate them on something, but I never do it.

The reasons for that are even weirder than you can imagine. But whatever. .

I just wonder if people get attached to bloggers who don't even know them, because i sort of do. I don't lie awake wondering where they live or anything, but I wouldn't like anything bad to happen to them, and if it does, I feel bad. Weird, huh?

My son has a friend over every Tuesday. His friend's name is Tim, so we like to call those days, TimmyTuesdays. It's lame, but that's how I roll. Anywho, we picked up said Timmy last week and were driving home discussing the best weapon to have in a zombie infestation and whatnot (frankly I feel that the crowbar and machete should not be counted out so easily - you can't run out of ammo) and we drove past this guy.

And I swear I am NOT making fun of him because this guy rocked. I was really afraid you couldn't see it in the photo. We had to turn around to drive past again to take it. His beard is so long, it is actually fluttering and bouncing over his shoulders as he runs. It's like seeing one of those garden gnomes running down the street.

Pretty cool - Ima try and blow it up for you.

So that's what Santa's doin' in June right?

Quandary

2009-06-25T16:25:00.002-04:00

What do you do when someone continually treats you as if your time is less important than theirs?

Usually, I would go to the person and try to tell them that I feel that I went the extra mile when necessary and now expect the PROMISED reciprocation. And here's the rub: The person is not mature enough to handle it. Wait I have to go back in time.

Awhile ago, he/she was confronted by a good (read: only) friend regarding some behavior that was deemed questionable if not outright inappropriate. I believe that the friend came to him/her directly because it was the mature thing to do, and I heard an earful behind "the friend's" back and the relationship was severed as far as I know.

Is this emotional blackmail? If I can't tell someone outright that in my opinion their behavior is inappropriate without thinking "well that's the last time he/she will ever talk to me" isn't emotional blackmail exactly what it is?

I have a laundry list of gripes really and can't air them because the maturity level is just not there.

So what do you do? Do you do what you would normally do and let them deal with their own reactions? Normally I would try to say "hey it's not cool for you to plan a whole day for me." or "hey what about how you said that after I did my part to help you out, then you would do this for me?" And then if he/she can't handle it, then so be it?

Vent over

Meanwhile, I am furiously carding this (which looks disturbingly like Morticia Addams hair) Jacob fleece so I can work on blending my stuff for the Tour de Fleece.

Imagine trying to eat your dinner with THAT pile of fluff leaning over behind you at the dining table. It's a lamb fleece and it's heavenly. I'm trying to blend it until it's fairly even by splitting the batts repeatedly and blending with eachother. That makes no sense, but whatever I'm crabby, I'm dieting, and I have PMS and it's really hot, so Pffffffffffffft.

I keep picturing myself whirling in a circle on one leg until I fly apart into pieces like in a fairy tale. Isn't that cool? That's how crabby I am!

Just a bunch of unrelated stuff to catch up

2009-06-24T08:44:00.002-04:00

1. It is hot. Like "face of the sun" hot around here and I am a fat person. I get crabby.

2. I finished my first sock for Summer of Socks '09. I don't love them, but hey they aren't for me. I can knit skulls in my sleep now, which isn't a talent I was going for, but honestly who am I to turn one away?

3. Zarzuela Is doing a mini-interview tonight with me via speaker phone about the Summer of Socks '09 group. It will be in Next week's episode of The High Fiber Diet. Kind of cool. I've never done a phone one before.

4. Yesterday, Diana from my knitting group happened to drive by with her beeyouuuuutiful daughters as I was hopping down from the truck. her elder daughter brushed off my zipper fear (CPH) with "zippers are easy" and I sat down and sewed that nasty bitch in. I rock.

Now I can weave in the last few ends and give it to my mom. She put it on back in Feb and hinted that she wanted it, so i decided to give it to her for Mothers' Day. The kicker is she not only could not remember wanting it, but could not actually remember its existence.

The color is wrong, but honestly all that matters is that little brass glint of an actual working zipper ya know.

5. I am spinning up 4 ounces of the most purtiest fiber I have ever had. It's Merino/bamboo from Yarnhollow and I'm going to ply it into a 2 play laceweight when I'm done, but hey laceweight goes SLOWLYYYYYYYYYYY. It had pink, it was shiny, and I had to have it.

Last for today:

6. I am also signed up for the Tour de Fleece on Team Crankypants. I am pmsing, plus it is hotter than the Devil's sweaty you know whats around here so it seemed fitting. Plus, one of my favorite bloggers ever posted it on her blog and since I am no longer addicted to Lace Knitalongs I figured "why not?"

I had about 10 ounces of really pretty Jacob lamb from the West Michigan Fibre Festival (last year) and decided that I'll be blending it with some red Shetland (that is like blah city) because the two together seem to be nice and springy, heathery and will make me a nice sweater. So that's my goal for the Tour de Fleece. Now I just need a Team Crankypants Ravatar.

We Had a Storm

2009-06-22T09:08:00.002-04:00

All photos taken within a block from my house, and only a very small sampling of the really terrible damage here. We were without power for less than 24 hours thanks to the awesomeness that is the Holland Board of Public Works. A funny thing happens when the neighborhood has no power. Everybody comes out! We pretended we were camping in a super fantastic trailer (because our house is fairly average, but compared to a lot of campers, it rocks). We had hot water, our grill and gas stove and the freezer stayed frozen, so what is there to bitch about?

I've never seen a storm this bad before. Some neighbors of ours have literally lost their homes, and when I say neighbors, there are two houses between us and them.

It's heartbreaking, but we are so thankful no one was hurt (that we know of). One of our rentals had water in the basement (first time ever). We went over and pulled out the carpet pad and put the carpet on 2x4s to dry out with fans, humidifier and a prayer. The good news is that there was no visible mold under the carpet from before this happened, so if we can get that carpet dried out, there is a good chance we are straight.

Why yes, those are my pink, fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror. I am nothing if not a dork.

And my 11 year old miracle's favorite.

I have other stuff to talk about and have to apologize for the silence. Summer vacay adjustments and the like are keeping me kinda busy.

I'm already sick of sweating.

I made myself a note about all the stuff I want to blog about tomorrow!

Oh My, Indeed

2009-06-05T06:35:00.002-04:00

So you can see my problem with the birdbath. Ironically, the water comes out of a hose in the middle of the bowl, not from where you would think.

This morning my wee boy is graduating elementary school. At the risk of being a cliche, Where on earth did the time go anyway? I'll have pics to share later I hope.

The Chief's sweater was dry last night and when he tried it on, we both got a very happy surprise.

It fits! And he totally should have been a JCPenney model circa 1976. We always laugh about those poses with the five men in various stages of undress from bathrobe and slippers to nothing but a pair of 70's jockeys standing around chuckling and holding coffee cups. Don't you agree he missed his calling?

Doesn't his hand look Tim Burton GINORMOUS? Like circus huge? I love that. May I also remind you that I got that sweater as a stinky, dirty, right off the sheep fleece and turned it into that? I am ridiculously proud of that. I guess you can't tell.

Treading Water

2009-06-04T13:54:00.002-04:00

Well I am still feeling a bit under the weather, but whatever. I take it John is pretty much tired of me being sick.

I'm still spinning on the alpaca/shetland blend.

Still working on the faux Russian stole

No photos because there is really not much new to photograph, so . . .

When we moved into this house, there was a birdbath/fountainey thing in the back yard already. It is disturbing. I have considered selling it or giving it away, but I'm afraid someone creepy will take it and that's even worse. Can you spot what makes this thing super creepy?

So what do I do? We very seldom fill it with water and turn on the pump because the sound of running water makes me have to pee immediately. Should we just break it into bits? Creepy thing.

How Codeine Saved the World (Mine at Least)

2009-06-03T15:12:00.003-04:00

Two thing really saved me. I stopped using so much Proventil. I hadn't thought about the albuterol making me jittery, but luckily Carrie reminded me(who incidentally I really only know from her blog, but she always responds to comments and seems cool despite the threat of sending Cookie after me), AND a dose of codeine laced cough syrup leftover from the Chief's last bronchitis before bed.

I slept actually fairly well and woke up feeling like a human. I don't feel all better, and I sound like Bea Arthur's smoker grandmother, but it's actually an improvement.

Even better: I knitted today! (in addition to a few things I've been neglecting like posting orders)

Finally here is a photo of the Faux Russian Stole. I've never knit garter lace before. I like it a lot. It doesn't roll up as much. It's shown on my very high tech lace chart holder. Yep it's a crappy old cookie sheet with magnets. I use a tiny rare earth magnet to keep track of the edge row I'm on, and a strip for the wide center part. Oh yeah, I am a classy bitch.

I also sewed up the armpits on the hub's sweater and a few of the ends. It is soaking for it's final block right now. I tell you if he doesn't wear it, I am stealing it. It's sort of a fakeout of Cobblestone and I spun this yarn myself, spinned? whatever. And it's really nice BFL from Beechtree Farms here in Michigan. Excuse slightly over exposed pics.

Actually it looks a lot better on him than it does just lying limp, but whatever.

I was trying to get a tweed. I think it's not bad. It's really soft, so I guess that's even better.

Did I show you the Xbox yarn i dyed a few weeks ago? I just noticed it matches the game boxes.

I have now. Time for a nap. I'm not all the way better, but I do have to say that the threat of sending me Cookie didn't scare me. I suspect she is a buttload of fun, although laughing a lot is not good right now.

Drowning or Why I am a Hot, Snotty Mess

2009-06-02T13:34:00.002-04:00

I started to feel a wee bit of the fuzz in the chest on Saturday, by Sunday I was sporting a low grade fever and very lethargic. Yesterday no fever but painful chest pressure, today I have a higher fever.

let me tell you I have NO qualms about taking tons of OTC drugs during a cold or flu. (I think this qualifies as flu but I am never quite clear on the differences) Anywho, I have barely touched yarn. That's how sick I feel. You can't understand how sick I have to be to lie in bed and not feel good enough TO KNIT. I am drowning in chest congestion people! Get this elephant off my chest! Oh never mind, those are just boobs.

On Saturday, I wasn't feeling as bad, so I did start spinning the lovely Shetland/Suri Alpaca blend for sock yarn. It is spinning up just beautifully, but I didn't take a picture. Here's a picture of the blended batts. It is very uninspiring, but the yarn is going to knock your socks off. Bad pun alert.

If you feel the need to see the spinning, just picture it in your head. Srsly how many photos of singles on a bobbin do you need to see before you can figure it out? Cut me some slack here. I'm sick.

I did finish the knitting on hubby's sweater on Sunday (or something) but I haven't sewed up the armpit holes or blocked it yet. As soon as I feel better i will get on that.

I haven't cast on yet for the second viking sock. That cable pattern has just looked too hard for my fevered brain to handle.

I have knit a wee bit on the Faux Russian stole, but I'm not even done with the first repeat. How the hell does Cookie do it?

Yes, I am aware that I should consider the doctor. However, I am apparently phobic since my sister got the (whispered) cancer. I am young (sort of) and strong (like bull) and I will kick it. Plus I have been huffing proventil and taking other fun stuff like it's going out of style. I should be so decongested that my blood has turned to powder, but ALAS.

See ya'll when i feel better.

Hey Flamboyant Vikings, Eat Your Hearts Out!!

2009-05-23T20:45:00.003-04:00

I have one sock done! (yeah the photo was taken a little before it was done) I love these and they do actually fit. (woo fricken hoo)

Yes, I am due for a pedicure. I'll remedy that tomorrow.

I've also finished the body on the Chief's handspun BFL sweater. I'll be posting a photo this week. I'm curious what you all will think. I was trying to achieve a tweedy yarn and it is soft as hell! I am going to want to hug him whenever he wears this sucka!

I'm also going to knit the Faux Russian Stole (in fact I'm going to go get my yarn and cast on as soon as I'm done posting) in a lovely red merino.

I have my first lily of the valley. I got these plants from my mom but they've never bloomed. One of these bitches finally came through!

I love those little guys.

Some Assembly Required

2009-05-21T16:21:00.002-04:00

but considering that I started with stinky ram fleece (which fyi truly is stinkier than a ewe) I think the assembly is coming along fairly well.

John's future sweater.

We had lots of company last weekend. I cooked and cleaned constantly. John's oldest brought our granddaughter over on Sunday.

She really REALLY wanted to kiss our surly Poley. She really gave it her all.

It was a lot of excitement so a nap on Grandpa was in order as well.

Now that doesn't suck.

I started (then frogged) a Viking sock. Any viking that would wear this sock would have to be quite a flamboyant kinda Viking, but whatever. I do enjoy flamboyance. I'm pretty sure it comes from all those years of watching musicals with my sisters (who can actually sing).

I'm actually almost done with the first sock of this poor frogged thing.

We're finally having nice weather. It's in the 70s and sunny, but the bummer is that the pollen count is knocking me flat on my fat 'tocks. I know . . never happy. That's me!

Long time . . .

2009-05-14T06:57:00.002-04:00

I've been doing lots of stuff, but haven't felt much like blogging. I don't know why. I guess the podcast and taking care of this lot is taking up mot of my time nowadays.

I finished two pairs of socks. Both went to my mom and I didn't take pictures. Lately I have been doing stuff in a hurry, like everything in a hurry so I mess up. Frustrating, but hey, it'll pass.

I did finish up a sweater yesterday for number five. He had asked for a sweater from Stitch N Bitch book. It was a floppy pullover with a skull and crossbones on each upper arm. He didn't like the crossbones, wanted a jaw, and I wanted seamless so I adapted EZ's pattern and knit up the skull in the round (um yeah what a pain).

That's a goofy boy alright. Yep those are a few ends that needed weaving in, and an armpit that needed seaming. Those are done now and it's ONWARD!

I'll be casting on a new pair of socks today. Darned if I can recall the name of the pattern. I mean I printed it like fifteen minutes ago. How can I be expected to remember it this long!

Ok, I looked, it's Viking Socks with some lavendarish Cascade sock yarn. Wish me luck!

Well Hello, Handsome

2009-04-20T11:38:00.003-04:00

Yes, you see some little bumps. If you listen to the podcast, you already know that I am working on a BFL fleece that had brittle, blonde tips. I'm spinning the broken off little blonde nubs to make the yarn "tweedy".
It's a nice lustrous dark brown, and will be a three ply yarn eventually.

I finished the Regia socks. They're being modeled by my son whose feet are smaller than the intended recipient. The pattern is Cookie A.'s BFF socks. Love them!

I finished my second charity blanket too. I think it turned out nice. Nothing spectacular, but hopefully some little one will enjoy it.

It's a cold, rainy day here. so much laundry, so little time and all that!

Lately

2009-04-14T08:53:00.002-04:00

I don't usually mention this, but I am a work at home mom who sells books on Alibris.com and Amazon.com. I hope you are all buying used as much as possible. It's good for the environment and it's good for your pocketbook.

I'm working on another charity afghan and a pair of Regia socks. You just can't beat that yarn with the Kaffe Fassett colorways. I love them and the yarn is nice and springy. I also still need to get the ribbing down on my CPH, but I am trying to focus on the second afghan because I'm under a time crunch if I want to get it in on time.

I'm spinning up a big bunch of Colored BFL. I left it a tiny bit greasy and I'm hoping to get enough for a sweater for the Chief. I'm spinning it up very fine, but the tips were sunburnt blond so there are some small blonde tweedy bits in it. Maybe I'll take a photo of singles one of these days, but right now just spinning and spinning (and picking out nepps, but that's you didnt hear that from me).

I've also almost finished washing up the Finn Fleece. Isn't it beautiful? A nice chocolate brown and the tips have lightened but are not burnt so not brittle.

Oh yeah and I am slowly carding up the Suffolk fleece I got back in February. My goal is two batts a day. It cards up so quickly and easily that it only takes about 15 minutes to just go ahead and get a few done.

Oh and I'm doing some spring cleaning too bit by bit. I guess I am more busy than I thought.

Finally

2009-04-06T08:58:00.002-04:00

I could finally have control of the remote for more than the 14 minutes I got yesterday and what do I do? I listen to the audiobook I have. It just proves that I only want what I can't have.

I'm in a terrible mood. I want to run away.

Now watch everyone call me that read my blog. DON'T PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT FIXING. IF I DO I WILL COME TO YOU.

I crocheted a charity afghan for some National Guard members who want to be able to give them to their children before they are deployed later this year.

I'm working on a pink and white one now too. It will take longer though since the yarn is smaller.

The Chief baked bread to have with Saturday (red clam sauce) dinner.

It was great! I guess I don't have to bake anymore since he's into it now ;)

You Know You Want To

2009-04-03T15:36:00.002-04:00

We got my mom a wireless router today. She's live people!

I really do identify with Elinor Dashwood probably more than any other Austen character, so there ya go.

Take the Quiz here!

Also, I totally forgot to post about this, but I was soooooooooo tickled. We have a Ravelry group for the listeners of our podcast. I know we're not for everybody. What can I say? But anyway, we had a "Say Goodbye to Winter" swap and it was AWESOME!! My partner was Slackerella and she spoiled me!

I got some of the Knit Picks alpaca handpainted sock yarn, dark chocolate, Really pretty Corriedale roving, adorable stitch markers, a wee conch shell that she picked up on vacation, AND a gift card for Coldstone Creamery. Thank you, again! I love my swap and I didn't realize that I was so behind on posting my photo!

I know I'm Awful

2009-04-03T09:08:00.002-04:00

I just haven't posted much lately. I'd like to make an excuse but I really don't have one. I don't know why!

Second pair of Shur'Tagals are all finished.

I am to the point where I just need to do the ribbing and put the zipper into the CPH.

I've been spinning a lot lately and I am attaching squares for a charity afghan so maybe I'll have more pics coming here soon.

Sometimes my taste in music can be questionable. I don't even pretend it's not. I can't find my CD for this so I looked it up to see if I could just listen online.

Makes me happy!

Oh stuff

2009-03-23T11:47:00.001-04:00

I forgot to post a picture of the latest pair of fingerless gloves I made for number 5. He lost one of the first pair. Hey it happens when you're ten. I knit them from leftover yarn from my first handknit sweater. I had two skeins left, dyed one charcoal and got to knittin! It's almost like free gloves. . . almost :S

Also, a listener from the podcast sent me and my co-host some alpaca to spin. It was Huacaya which I've never had the chance to spin before and it was soooooooo wonderful. I carded it up, stripped it into batts and dyed it (scroll down and you'll see it). Well, the spinning is done too. I wanted laceweight and I think it's my best laceweight yet.

This morning I finally sewed in my second sleeve on my CPH. You know that means I have underarm seams and ribbing to do and I'm DONE!!

I think the reason I hate the finishing part is because I really want it to be absolutely perfect and no matter how slow I go, or how careful I am, I never feel like it's perfect. I avoid the finishing because of it.

Oh well, it will be done soon! Hope it fits.

Wow, Two Days in a Row??!!

2009-03-17T08:55:00.003-04:00

Over the weekend, a friend brought over her dog for a playdate. Poley has always been extremely aggressive towards other dogs. Since I got him from someone who did not socialize him at all, we have worked with him in any way we could. That includes a lot of "The Dog Whisperer".

Anyway, he was EXCELLENT. He played well and was not overly aggressive at all (whew). It was very funny actually. Basil (Dachshund) was quite submissive, and Poley basically accepted his bows and strutted around like King Shit.

Hey there's a reason we named him Napoleon.

It was a very tiring visit. Even Princey got all worn out.

Gosh he is cute when he's not doing anything naughty isn't he?

Hey! Guess Who's Still Alive!

2009-03-16T13:23:00.002-04:00

It's me!!

A lot of stuff has been going on around here. I finished the Shur'Tagals for my mom. I bet she'll be excited to read this too.

I started a pair of them for myself. I'll show you those once I have one done. I also did some dyeing over the weekend. I received some Huacaya Alpaca from a wonderful listener. Last week I carded it on the drumcarder. On Sunday, I soaked the batts in vinegar water, and dyed them up. After they were almost 100% dry, I stripped the batts (turned them into roving).

Say Hello to the Miss Piggy colorway.

Also, I finished up that first light brown alpaca. I have now spun a WHOLE alpaca blanket (oh yes, I AM, in fact, the proverbial SHIT). I finished by spinning the last few ounces into 630 yards of laceweight and dyed them as well

Really, it's teal, but I had a hard time getting it quite as green as it should be.

Also, The Chief broke a rib on Saturday night. We were leaving our favorite Indian restaurant and he coughed hard (he's been working on some bronchitis) and felt something pop. Long story short, we were at the Emergency Room about half an hour later and he actually FRACTURED a rib coughing. I just didn't even know how that could happen to a guys.

Now a broken rib is painful, but when you have bronchitis and can't stop coughing, it is terrible. Poor guy!