C's Found a Friend

I love this picture which was taken on Thanksgiving. We went to ES' sister's house for the afternoon. They have a couple of birds that C fell in love with. After we had been there for a couple of hours the birds decided we could hold them. Jewell found her favorite spot on C and kept migrating back there whenever she was moved. The best spot in her opinion, the spot between the collar of his shirt and his neck. C now says he wants a bird like Jewell.

There is lots of Christmas knitting going on here. Things are being blocked and readied to be shipped to their destinations. After Christmas, I will have lots of pictures to share.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten Dream Vacations

This weeks ten is Ten Dream Vacations. I couldn't pass this one up, there are so many places I would like to go.

1. Australia. J-b went there with People to People and he talks about it with fondness.
   
2. Ireland. R says he's a little leprechaun and he does have some Irish in his background.
3. Hawaii. ES says when he goes there for inspection of the facility there, I get to go!!
4. Alaska. I would love to do the boat tour of the glaciers and the inland strait.
   
5. A cruise through the Caribbean. I think that would be lots of fun.
6. Take all the kids, their spouses, and the grand kids to Glacier National Park and the Bitteroot Valley for a week or so.
   
7. Sister's Retreat. My sisters, mom and aunt did this in 2006. We need to do it again.
8. Snowmobiling in West Yellowstone. C says he'll go with me.
9. Scotland. I've always been fascinated with this country.
   
10. A Weekend Getaway with my honey anywhere, anytime!

Okay, this really was harder than I thought it would be. Where do you want to go for your dream vacation?

Happy knitting and spinning.

Robin's Nest All Spun Up

The fiber I picked up in Logan, when I visited the kids in July, has been turned into these singles:




Which was then Navajo plied into this bobbin:




And has been turned into these two skeins. I don't know how many yards I've ended up with. I didn't want to count that yet. But this yarn, I think, will turn into a pair of fingerless mitts for myself and maybe a hat to go along with them. The knitting of the mitts will have to wait until all the Christmas knitting is done though and I don't know when that will be for sure.

Happy knitting and spinning.

PIF Package

In February Vicky posted that she would like to do a PIF Challenge. I signed up and last Tuesday I received a package in the mail. It was a very fun package too!

Vicky is a very talented lady and I have really enjoyed getting to know her through the blogosphere. Her blog is one of the first ones I started reading on a regular basis just about three years ago.

There was this wonderful bag in the package which Vicky had embroidered. I love bags and can never have enough project/tote bags. This one is going to be my knit night bag from now on and it states what I like: 'knitting with handspun'.

Vicky had also included the book One Skein-30 quick projects to knit. I had looked at buying this book a couple of times, but hadn't yet decided. I love having it available now. Vicky had also included some chocolate bars. ES and C said they would take them off my hands if I decided I didn't want them. They haven't succeeded!

There is also four ounces of a wool combed top from Eagle's Find Fiber which sadly is closed at the moment. The colorway is Deep Blue Sea and it is really pretty. The Scholar is calling it's name, having been freed from it's fiber last week and is currently sitting bare.

There were two dishcloths in the package also along with a candy tube and a googly eye pen. When C saw the pen he took it and ran wanting to show his friend how fun it was. I had just been thinking it was about time to make some dishcloths, mine were looking pretty yucky.

Thank you, Vicky, for the wonderful package! It was a fun surprise and I really am going to enjoy everything you have included. I am thankful to call you a friend!

Happy knitting and spinning.

Merino/Tensel in October

I received the October shipment from the Yarn Pirate. This month's colorway is Night Magic. It is a merino/tensel blend and I have started spinning it on the Kiwi. I am using the high speed whorl for the first time and I'm liking how it is turning out, so far. The colors in the first picture is closer to the actual color, but the second one shows the shine from the tensel better.


Life has been pretty crazy lately, but I am still getting in about ten minutes a day, or more, at the spinning wheel. There is so many pretty bumps in my stash that I want to spin right now. I don't have enough wheels or drop spindles to get it all done, so I have to work on that ten minutes a day. I am surprised at how much can get spun in just that amount of time. I have two newly completed bobbins on two different wheel in just the past week.

It's knitting night tonight at Nature's Yarns. I'll be there with knitting in tow. That Christmas knitting has to get done sometime or another, you know. I might even take a drop spindle and finish off some fiber on one of those. Three drop spindles currently have fiber on them. Time to get them finished off also.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Lavender and Polworth

Sunday was the perfect day to go outside and get some pictures. There is lavender blooming again in the pot on the front steps. It's not as full of blooms as earlier in the summer, but still pretty and smells really good.

Sunday was also the day I finally finished plying the Polworth in the Water's Edge color from Misty Mountain. It is four ounces of a variegated blue which I really like. I chained plied it, wanting to keep the color variations. Not to mention, chain plying is my favorite form of plying.

This was the maiden fiber for my new to me Kiwi. It only took me two months to spin this fiber. Maybe it took so long because I have too many projects going right now. Four other spinning projects (no time limit on these) and about twelve knitting projects which I would like to have done in time for Christmas.

Now I have to find the perfect spinning project to put with with Kiwi. There is two ounces of silk going onto the Lendrum, four ounces of Crosspatch Creations going onto the Scholar, four ounces of "Fiona" going onto the Traditional, and four ounces of fiber from River's Edge going onto the Hitchiker. Can you tell I like the four ounces? They are perfect for a shawl or small accessories. Plus I usually don't get bored with spinning the fiber before I am done with it.

Well, off to do my daily spinning. Happy knitting and spinning.

Since attending the Montpelier Fiber Festival on Saturday, my desire to sit at the spinning wheel and get some spinning done has increased. On Monday I was able to go to a new friend's house and spin for a couple of hours. She is a new spinner and is doing a wonderful job with her spinning.

I remember what it was like when I first learned to spin. There is a fiber guild in Pocatello and I was invited to attend. For the first couple of meetings, I would go in and watch everything that was going on. I would watch how Edie, Phyllis and Anna Lucy spun and then I would go home, take my wheel out of the car, and sit down and practice what I had seen that day. That's right, I wouldn't even take my wheel into the guild meeting. It just stayed in the car until about the third meeting I attended when something was said and I said my wheel was out in the car and Edie had me bring it in so I could spin there. That was twenty years ago and since then there have been many enjoyable hours spent at my wheels.

I am so glad I made the comment to R & C's father saying I would like to learn how to spin and then he and Tim got me a wheel for Christmas that year. I don't know what I would do without my spinning now.

This is the last bump of fiber I purchased at the fiber festival last Saturday. As you can tell, there is a little bit of green, but it is very muted. I really like all the fiber that I've added to my stash. On Monday I started spinning the second to the last batch of fiber I picked up at last year's fiber festival. So this bump will probably sit in the stash for about a year before I get to spinning it. But then again, the anticipation of wanting to see how it will be as yarn may take over and it will be spun quickly.

What was your first spinning experience?

Happy knitting and spinning.

There is Something Drawing Me to Those Greens

Yesterday I was able to attend the Montpelier Fiber Festival, my first and only festival this year. I got there early, by 10:35 am and stayed until 4 pm. I probably went through the booths about six times both by myself and with the rest of the gang.

It seems like just about everything I was drawn to this year had some green in it. I had a strict budget this year and I stuck to it! My first stop was at the Creatively Dyed booth. I know how crowded her booth can get. I thought if I went there first I would avoid most of the crowd. I picked up the fiber the first picture there, the one with the shawl pin. I then wandered and looked to see what else would jump out and grab me.

The Finn locks I picked up at the Misty Mountain booth. I remember buying some Finn roving from them the first time I attended the SOAR vender event. I made a pair of felted mittens and a cowl from that fiber and have absolutely loved them. It's time for some new felted mittens.

I have the rest of the weekend to play with fiber and get some knitting done. I am currently working on lots of Christmas knitting and it is coming along quickly.

Happy knitting and spinning.

How Did It Know

My horoscope for today:

Though life can be rather stressful today, you need to respond in thoughtful ways if you don't want to make things worse. Your left brain is your best asset for the time being, so make the most of it!

It already knew we were going to be a person short at work today on our busiest day of the week. I am so looking forward to coming home tonight and doing some knitting or even some spinning. I received some fiber in the mail this week and I am anxious to start spinning it. I might even get some pictures before I start that spinning.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday the Football Edition

Today's topic is 10 Reasons to Watch Football. This one isn't really hard for me, but I like the college games better than the pros. There are also a few more of them to watch which works really well when......

1. It's not very long until Christmas and when better to work on all those knitted gifts.
2. The Weather is starting to cool off. That means it's sweater wearing time again.
3. I can get more time at the wheels while watching the games. I really need a reason to spin more.
4. Friends and family seem to gather together more during a game.
   
5. Food. Some of the best snacks are football snacks.
6. Did I mention Knitting time?
7. It's a good time to take an afternoon nap and still not miss much of the game especially if I'm watching by myself. ES isn't a big football person, but he will watch with me occasionally.
   
8. Reminds me of my dad and watching high school games with him. That also meant spending time at the field getting all the lines white again and passing out uniforms in the basement of the gym. Yeah, this only worked when we were younger.
   
9. It only lasts a few short months.
10. Yeah for knitting time!!

What do you like about football season?

I am almost finished spinning what is on the Kiwi. Soon I will have finished yarn to show you.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Pear Butter

What do you do with six past ripe pears?

I have been craving some apple or pear butter and couldn't get it out of my mind. My mom used to make apple butter every few years while I was growing up and she would sometimes make pear butter. It really wasn't one of my favorite things to put on my toast, but the older I got the more I liked it. Imagine that! Hence the craving for some fruit butter and those pears were just staring me in the face.

I looked on line for a recipe, but everything called for 'a lot' of pears and I only had six. So I loosely followed the recipe and came up with just this one container. It turned out a little darker than I thought it would, but man does it just hit the spot. I even took it and some bread to work yesterday, to share with my co-worker. She liked it also.

Last night I went to knit night. My Shetland Pi shawl is coming along nicely. I am on clue four. I also ripped out one shawl and restarted it in a different pattern. The new pattern isn't as easy to memorize as the previous one, but I will have enough yarn to complete it. Knitting pictures should be coming soon. I have a lot of FO, but they are Christmas gifts so no pictures till they are gifted.

Well, off to have some more pear butter and get this day going. Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

Today's Ten on Tuesday is 10 Ways to Lighten Your Mood. Sometimes this comes in very handy especially when you're around grumps or when you, yourself, feel grumpy.

1. Go Outside. Look what I found on my deck Sunday night. I haven't seen a Praying Mantis since moving to VA. Walking Cleo also helps. You can't stay mad when there's a dog or other animal involved.

2. Knit for a while. My current project is the Shetland Pi Shawl KAL. I really like how it is turning out and I hope it will be well loved.

3. Spin for a while. ES knows by the sound of the wheel what kind of day I've had and whether it's safe to talk to me or to give me a little more time before asking how the day's gone.


4. Call a friend or family member especially if they make you laugh. I have a sister who makes me laugh each time I talk with her.

5. Have a good cry. I'm always amazed at how good I feel after having a crying session. It seems like I can handle anything after a crying session.

6. Go for a massage. Yes, I need one soon!!

7. Help someone else. There's always someone worse off than yourself. You just have to go find them.

8. Watch a sunrise or sunset. There is beauty in the sun as it rises and sets which sets the tone for my day or night. One of the best things for me lately is watching the sun set as I drive home from work.

9. Read your scriptures. You can't stay mad or "blue" when reading the words of God.

10. Listen to some good music. We went Saturday night and listened to some Beatles songs. It was fun, got us singing along and feeling upbeat for the rest of the night.

That's a partial list for me. Some days one thing works better than another, but there's always something to help lighten my mood. How do you lighten your mood?

Happy knitting and spinning.

Spinning Update

I have been spinning, but definitely not dusting. My self imposed spinning for ten minutes on a couple of wheels a day is going fairly well. The first picture is the second two ounces of Yarn Pirates Heart of Gold fiber. This fiber has been my main focus when sitting down to spin each day. It is being spun on the Traditional and shouldn't be too much longer until I will be plying it. I am pretty sure it will be a two-ply for a shawl. Shawls are becoming addictive and I don't have to worry too much about gauge if I start top down.

The Scholar is being used to spin the Crosspatch Fibers which I bought in Logan. I really like how it is turning out. I like the nubbies of the silk noil and all the sheen of the silk that is carded in with the wool. I don't know for sure what I will make with this yarn, but I am sure it will be pretty.

Not much else is going on around here, although ES and I celebrated our anniversary last Friday with a special meal out. It was very good, but I don't think we will do it again anytime soon. There was so much food. Neither one of us slept really well that night.

Well, off to get ready for work. Enjoy your weekend. Happy knitting and spinning.

My Spinning Circle

Yesterday I got to leave work early, because the power was out again, so I came home and spent some time at the spinning wheels. I set up my spinning circle. I really like how it is set up and that I can spend some time at each wheel with different fibers.

The first picture is of the Crosspatch Creations fiber which I picked up in Logan when I was there in July. It is being spun on the Scholar.

This fiber, the vibrant reds, greens, and golds, is silk which I am spinning on the Lendrum. There are two ounces which I am hoping to get balanced bobbins and ply two ply. I am thinking a scarf or shawl with it, but am leaving myself open to ideas. There isn't much on the bobbin yet, but it is the fifth bag in my own personal fiber club. This means there are only two bags left and I should have them done before the fiber fair in Montpelier. At least I would like to have them done before I bring in too much more fiber.

This is my spinning circle. Clockwise from the back right to the front left: the Lendrum (silk), the Kiwi (Polworth), the Scholar (Crosspatch Creations), the Hitchiker (my own batt preparation), and the Traditional (Yarn Pirate, Heart of Gold from her last Booty Club). The circle has worked really well. I just turn my chair when I want to change to a different wheel. I am trying to spin at least ten minutes each day on each wheel. I'll see how long that lasts, but I've been having fun with it so far.

Happy knitting and spinning.

New to Me

Today was a good day. I knew there was a reason why I would remember 8-9-10. I have missed having a piano in my home and have haphazardly been looking for a keyboard/piano since we moved to Virginia. Last night while browsing Craig's List, I saw a keyboard which had just been listed at a price I could afford and it looked like it would serve my purpose. I called and we arrange to meet today. I got to bring her home and have had the chance to sit down and play with her for a little bit. I don't play very often and very seldom in public, but now my desire to play sometimes can be met. She doesn't have the weighted keys, but for me to relearn hymns it will be just right. Besides there is a whole slew of songs on there, I can use it when I want music to spin by and don't want to use the MP3 player.


I also had the opportunity to purchase a used Kiwi, about two weeks ago. I really like how she is spinning. The Kiwi is a little harder to cart around than the Lendrum or the Scholar, but she fits really well in my spinning wheel circle. I am working on my second four ounces of fiber on her. The first fiber I spun on her was a bump of fiber from Notlwonk Springs (second section down on that page). I think it was the last bump of prepared fiber I have from them. The second four ounces is some Polworth I purchased from Misty Mountain when I went up there with Sue three weeks ago. The Polworth is spinning up very nicely. It's that pretty blue on the bobbin right now. It's called Water's Edge and I'm pretty sure I know what I want to make with it.

I have been pretty consistent at sitting at one of the wheels each day and getting some spinning time in. It has helped relax the tension in my shoulders to spend that time at a wheel and on top of that I am getting a lot of spinning done. Before I know it I will have spun up all I had set out to accomplish in my own personal fiber club. There are only three bags left.

Happy knitting and spinning.

8-9-10

I have been looking forward to this day for a few days. There isn't anything really special planned, but who can pass up a day that will never come again. It's 8-9-10!! Have some fun today!

This plant was hanging right above me the last time I went to the Botanical Gardens. I love that place and is a must see each time I go downtown.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Missed Ten on Tuesday

Yesterday's Ten on Tuesday topic was 10 Things to Bring on Vacation. These are the things I just took on my vacation:

1. Knitting project.
2. A book to read.
3. Back-up knitting project. The first one could be finished, you know.
   
4. Camera. You never know when you'll see the Blue Angels flying overhead and need to get a picture or two or three.
5. A Sudoku book.
6. The GPS.
7. A back-up, back-up knitting project. You'll never know when you'll be stuck in an airport.
8. Water bottle with my favorite drink packets.
9. Gifts for the grand-babies.
10. Patience and a happy attitude.

Why yes, all three knitting projects came into play during my last trip. It did help that I had layovers and flight delays on both legs of my flights. I just relaxed, knit, played sudoku, and watched people for the ten hours I was at different airports. I was ready to come home though and sleep in my own bed.

Knitting content coming soon. There are some finished projects that need to be blocked and photographed.

In the meantime, Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

Today's topic.....10 Things to do Instead of Watching TV. I really don't watch a lot of tv and when I do I'm knitting or it's late at night. But here's my list:

1. Knit. What did you think would be number one?
2. Spin. There is a LOT of fiber in the storage room.
3. Walk the dog. The Dr called and said I need more exercise.
4. Start exercising more.
5. De-clutter something in every room. We've lived here for two full years and I still haven't gone through all the boxes.
6. Spend time with the family. Game night anyone?
   
7. Travel to visit family.
   
8. Visit a different museum.
9. Read a book. My summer reading program isn't moving along very quickly.
10. Water the plants inside and outside.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week visiting the kids and grandbabies. I even spent time with all my siblings and my mom and have the pictures to prove it. Now it's back to reality.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

Today's topic is 10 Things to Bring on a Camping Trip which would be a lot easier to do if we actually went camping very often. The last time ES and I were camping in a tent was five years ago. Our camping involves going to the vacation spot and renting a hotel room. Given that fact here is what I brought on the last camping trip:

1. A book to read.
2. Good hiking/walking shoes.
3. A swimsuit for floating and wading in the river.
4. A good flashlight for those evening walks when there aren't any streetlights around.
5. My knitting!
6. Favorite drinks. It's too far to the local store, you know.
7. Dinner ingredients for our night to prepare dinner. We take turns preparing dinners.
8. Spinning wheel. There is nothing better than sitting by the river and watching people wade, float, and fish while I get to spin.
9. A comfy camp chair. I don't like sitting on the ground.
10. My willingness to go with the flow. Just relax and enjoy the family time.

What do you bring on a camping trip?

I am visiting the kids and grandkids this week and enjoying the chance to spend time with my family. I have completed a shawl project. It helped, in completing the shawl, that I had a flight delay on the way West. I will have pictures of the shawl when I get home and can use my own computer to download the pictures.

This week is my birthday and I'd like to do a contest for some hand spun yarn. Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite birthday memory is and I'll have a drawing for the yarn when I get home next Tuesday. I want to know what you remember about your birthdays. My favorite memory is having angel food cake, homemade by my Grandma Wheeler at her house, when I was about 10 years old. It was the best cake that I remember ever having.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Happy While Waiting

The other night as I came home from work, the gladiolas had started blooming. I love this picture. If you enlarge it, you can see the ant on the middle bloom.

I have been busy the past few days getting ready for my trip out to see the grand-babies. I am so excited. I started packing my bag two days ago, as I was getting laundry done. No waiting for the last minute for me. No sirrry, Bob, or in this case, ES.

With my week off of work, I have been sewing, two skirts for work. I have been spinning, completed the Lambspun fiber on the Hitchiker and started some Yarn Pirate fiber on the Traditional. I have even done some knitting, but nothing finished to show yet. This week I've even taken C and myself for physicals. I'm doing my bloodwork this morning then heading downtown to have lunch with ES. All this just ties into the ending thought from TUT this morning.........

Learning to be happy while you wait, Laura, is worth learning. And to help learn this, just keep yourself busy.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

Today's Ten on Tuesday topic: 10 Things you like about where you live. Having moved here only two years ago this month, there are still lots of things I'm learning about where we live. But here we go.......

1. All the historical areas to visit. There is still a long list of places I would like to visit. I'm adding to it so when someone comes to visit we can go to new places.
   
2. The Smithsonian. I should go downtown more often. Oh wait, I am going down on Friday.
3. All the different restaurants to try out. I tried Cuban food for the first time today on an outing with my friend Sue. She said it was the best she's had since leaving Florida.
4. I love all the trees. Which brings me to my favorite season
5. I love Autumn out here. There is sooooooo much color and I'm an Autumn person.
6. I really like having an Air Conditioner. We really could have used this when we lived in Idaho, but I'm glad I don't have to live without it here.
7. Church and the friends I've made here.
8. I love my job, just wish I didn't have to drive the beltway.
9. Yarn shops. There are three or four within a ten mile distance from my house. I like visiting all of them. Sue and I visited three different fiber places just today all but one of them were new to me.
   
10. I have to add - the Library. So many books to chose from!

I really have enjoyed living where we do. There are so many things to do and see, but most of all I like that I am with my husband and we get to do things together.

What are some things you like about where you live?
Happy knitting and spinning.

New Glasses

I don't do pictures very well, but thought I would share this one of me wearing my new glasses.

About a month ago, I decided I could not wear my old glasses anymore. The nose piece would not stay where it was supposed to and it kept digging into the bridge of my nose. That was it! The first pair of glasses were purchased in July 2008 before we moved to DC. It had been two years and I thought it was time to get my eyes checked again. My eye sight had definitely changed and a new set of glasses ordered. I've been wearing them now for about three weeks and really like them. They were not as hard to get adjusted to as the first pair and the best part is..........no nose piece.

On the knitting front, I finished the baby afghan for J-b and K's friends baby. By the way kids, I need their address. I will have a picture up in the next couple of days. It was too dark last night by the time I finished the bind off.

Concerning the AC, it is FIXED and working well. Am I ever glad to have that working again. Just to think I went over 40 years without any AC at all and to be without it for one whole day was agony. How did I ever survive without it before? Oh yeah, it was NOT humid where I lived for the first part of my life.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

This week's Ten on Tuesday's topic is 10 Ways to Enjoy Summer. The list could be swayed by the fact that we have no air conditioner on a 100 degree day.

1. Camping or hiking in the mountains.
2. Spend time with my kids and grand-sons. I get to do that in ten days or so.
3. Seeing the sights. C and I did that two years ago when we saw Indy, nothing planned this year so far.
4. Go swimming.
5. Spend time in front of the fan--knitting, maybe spinning.
6. Watch my Nascar races.
7. Read some books in front of the fan or air-conditioner.
8. BBQ. We have a new grill, you know.
9. Take care of my garden, planted in pots on the balcony.
10. Spend some time in the water.

Hopefully this heat wave passes soon or the air-conditioner gets fixed quickly. And I'm glad it's not too humid.

Happy knitting and spinning.

P's and Q's

Hi Laura! Here is your Daily Horoscope for Saturday, July 3 Your anger is a little closer to the outside world today -- but that can be a really good thing! Make sure that you're firing only at the right targets, though, as you don't want any collateral damage. I better watch my P's and Q's today especially since we will be short two people at work and expect it to be pretty busy. I bought meats, cheeses, crackers and fruit to put in the backroom, in case we miss our lunches. That will help avoid the collateral damage, I think. I need to also take this into account at home. A-b is here for a few weeks and all he does is stay on the computer. I can't even use my own computer without a big hassle! Hence no post yesterday which I had been planning. I am still working on my gift knitting project. At least, the end is in sight. I will be sure to take it with me tonight when we go to watch the fireworks in Fairfax. Tomorrow night, I might take the socks that have been on the needles since oh about January. I don't want a big project on the metro with all the people expected in DC. Enjoy the Fourth of July weekend! Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

Carole's Ten on Tuesday list is 10 Books on Your Summer Reading List. Seeing as how I joined the group I better post my list, although it may not be ten long. I don't seem to get much reading done lately. The list:

1. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for four years and this year is the year to read it.
2. Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. I have checked this book out of the library, but recently received it from Interweave's Hurt Book sale. It's time to reread it and make the Wool Peddler's shawl.
3. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I started this a couple of years ago, but it got put down for some reason. Time to get it read.
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan. I've read the first three and really enjoyed them. I need to read this one and The Last Olympian (as soon as it comes out in paperback).
5. It's All too Much by Peter Walsh. There is too much stuff in my house and I'm hoping this book will help me get organized.
6. The Book of Mormon. I have taken the challenge to have this read by the time the kids start school in the Fall.
   

The rest of my Summer reading will probably be magazines. There is a time issue, work issue, knitting issue, and spinning issue which contribute to how much time I spend reading.

I used to love to read, so I am looking forward to some of the suggestions on this weeks list. Maybe they will motivate me to read some more. What's on your reading list??

TUT Notes

I like to see what the message for the day will be and once in a while it really hits home. Kind of like today's note:

One of life's great ironies, Laura, is that very often the "stuff" you're trying to avoid right now is the same "stuff" you're going to miss most once you move on.

Ha, ha... Oh, my -
The Universe

Thoughts become things... choose the good ones! ® © www.tut.com ®

You know, Laura, like challenges, responsibilities, and boredom. True.

I guess this hits because yesterday morning and this morning we were up wayyyy too early getting one boy off to see his grandma and the other boy off to Youth Conference. Both of the nights before all of us were up wayyyy too late. I know eventually I will miss this hurried 'get you out the door' moments, but for right now I have a headache and it isn't even 8 a.m. yet!

I have spinning progress and even some knitting, but not much. Off to get ready for work. Happy knitting and spinning.

Ten on Tuesday

It has been hard to come up with a topic to write about here, when my spinning and knitting has slowed down. I am still knitting and I just finished plying two different fibers, but haven't taken pictures yet. So I thought I would join the Ten on Tuesday group. At least, that would motivate me to post on Tuesdays.

Today's topic is: Ten ways to Entertain a Child. Taking into account that my baby will be nineteen this year, some of these ideas may not work so well in present day. Also take into account that I only had boys in my house.........

1. Lego's, these would keep the boys entertained for hours and they played with them even into their later teen years. Every once in a while they still play with them even as adults and as fathers.
   
2. Bubbles, especially when they were younger. The boys would chase them for as long as someone would blow them.
3. Puppies/kittens. Boys and animals chasing around the yard, enough said.
4. Dirt. Enough area in the yard that the boys could dig and get as dirty as they wanted. Also a wonderful area to play with........
5. Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars. These went with us everywhere, because it would keep the boys entertained while we were out of the house. A very versatile toy which showed up in their Christmas stockings every year. To go along with the Hot Wheels......
6. A Fabric Town Mat. Ours was made by my mother with customized names for the lakes and schools. It's still around here somewhere just waiting for the grand kids to come visit.
7. Fisher Price towns. We had the school, the A-frame house, the two story house and the barn. The boys would set these up and play for hours. I still have a couple of the buildings and most of the people, animals and cars tucked away waiting for young children to visit our house.
   
8. Coloring books. This worked very well at Church and they usually stayed quiet during the meetings.
9. Bikes. My kids rode all over town and loved to be on their bikes.
10. Paper Airplanes. It's amazing what kind of airplanes the boys would come up with, but you could always count on paper airplane contests to get the boys in a better, more cooperative mood.

It will be interesting to see what else people come up with.

Next time there will be some spinning pictures, until then - Happy knitting and spinning.

Meg's Shawl

It has been a while since I last showed knitting content. I used my favorite quick pattern, the Forest Canopy Shawl.
I used Blue Ridge Yarn fiber in the Rock Climbing color . It doesn't look like they have it listed anymore.
I had four ounces which I spun and two-plied. I think it would have almost looked better Navajo-plied, but I didn't think I would have enough fiber to make the shawl then. I still like how it turned out and I have just a little yarn left to add to my collection of hand-spun leftovers.
It took me about four months to spin the fiber. What can I say, I got bored with it. But once I decided what I was going to do with the fiber the rest of the spinning and plying went very quickly. The knitting only took about two weeks and it was ready when ES left to go to Utah/Idaho for graduations and Arizona for work.

Meg likes the shawl and hopefully she will wear it often. ES told her it wasn't hand-spun, but I called right away and took care of that misconception.

I do have another shawl started, but then I also started a baby afghan for Bug's friend's expected little one due in June.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Left Over Dye

This morning I did an over-dye experiment with a piece of clothing. I had left over dye and couldn't waste it, so I found some white roving and wound it into a ball. I then put it in the dye crock-pot until it took up all the dye. The outside is darker and the inside lighter. I am waiting for it to dry so I can spin it on one of the drop spindles. There isn't much there, only about two ounces. I think I like how it turned out, but will have to wait until it is spun to say for sure.

I am enjoying my day off, in case you can't tell. Happy knitting and spinning.

New Spinning Project

In January I started my own personal fiber club. I have now dug into only the second of seven bags. The second bag contains 4 oz of Lambspun Merino/silk blend which I picked up many years ago. In looking around the stash, I found some of this already spun which I am sure I won't be able to match. My spinning has changed in the ensuing years. The blend I have I picked up when I attended SOAR in 1996 or when I went to the vendors market when it was back at Snowbird or when it was in Park City, I can't remember for sure and I didn't keep any records.

I am not getting enough spinning time. Too much time is taken up by Facebook and playing stupid/entertaining games. I am going to try to cut back on the Facebook time though and do some more spinning. It is time! Our morning routine has changed also and that didn't help.

My knitting project is coming along, slowly. I will take it to knitting group tonight and see how much I can work on it. But then it is the third Wednesday and that means it's spinning night, so who knows if the knitting will get touched tonight.

Well, off to get ready for work and then Knit night. Happy knitting and spinning.

Aunt Gloria's Shawl

I was finally able to get pictures of my aunt in the shawl which Corb was holding up in the last post. Aunt Gloria says she really likes the shawl and has worn it already. It ended up being a good size for her. I am glad she likes it and will use it.


There hasn't been much going on around here besides work, commute, and taking pictures of flowers.

The photo of the plied yarn is the Gale's Art BFL 4ozs that I picked up at the Montpelier Fiber Festival last October. I did mostly a two ply which turned out fairly well, but then I had a little left over which I Navajo plied and I really liked how it turned out. After finishing the plying of it, I wished I had done it all as a Navajo ply and done away with the two ply. But I will put the two ply to use as some type of a shawl for the 10 in 2010 challenge which I am not doing too well on. I do have another shawl on the needles though and it is coming along fairly well.

There has been such beauty around these parts. Everything is blooming and I am have fun taking lots of pictures of the flowers and the contrasts of colors. I am also learning about the setting on my camera and trying to use them a little more.

I have been a little more consistent in attending Wednesday night knit nights and that has helped with renewing my desire to knit more and spin more. I am needing to whittle a little more time from the day for those activities, seeing as how life is changing some around here and the time that used to be there isn't there anymore.

Off to get some things done before church. Have a great week. Happy knitting and spinning.

Shawl One for 2010

I finally listened to my phone messages last night, so know that this shawl has arrived and was well received. I spun this yarn from 8 oz of a discontinued color and fiber from Dianne. I love her fibers and get a new one each time I see her at a fiber fair.

I used Evelyn Clark's book Knitting Lace Triangles to design this shawl. The knitting went really fast. I think it took me only two weeks to knit and that was only knit night and my Nascar race watching knitting at that.

I'm glad that Aunt Gloria will be able to use this shawl and hope she will enjoy it for many years to come. I know it is warm and big enough. I had to try it out before sending it to her. C was even kind enough to hold it up for me one morning. With his dark suit on, you can even see some of the pattern.

Happy knitting and spinning.