Yes, It's Tuesday Orchid Watch

Yes, it is Tuesday and that means it is orchid watch day. If you look at the picture, you'll probably say, "This is the same picture as last week." But really it isn't. The center here is a little whiter than last week's picture. It is fun, for me at least, to watch my plants and see the changes happening to them.

Not much new is happening here. I packed more boxes before work this morning. I finished knitting the shawl that was on my summer knitting list. (I will block it tonight or tomorrow and have pictures for you soon.) I have worked on my SoS 2008 socks and started another pair. Yes, I have startitis right now! I have been digging out all the sock yarn I can find, that hasn't been packed yet, and making a list of what I want to get done before the summer of socks is over. So far, I have found yarn for seven pairs of sock and I'm not done looking yet. I know, ES, I have too many skeins of sock yarn in your opinion.

Tomorrow I get to teach a neighbor how to spin on a drop spindle and wash some wool. She has been a weaver before, but never a spinner. And now she wants to learn how to spin, before I leave the area. I think it will be fun! I'll let you know.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Ten Minutes per day

I thought I would show you what this past two weeks of 10-minutes per day spinning has produced. (On that link it is the June 12th post.) It is this jumbo flyer bobbin for the Lendrum full of two-plied yarn. I don't know how many yards are on the bobbin, haven't put it on the niddy noddy yet. I do have about 15 wraps of this yarn that wouldn't fit onto this bobbin. I think it will make a nice Luna Moth shawl, if I have enough yarn.

Today has been spent packing boxes, cleaning the yard up, doing some spinning and taking the dog to the vet. I have one full row of boxes against the one wall. I have started on the second row, but sometimes I think it is going very slowly. I don't know if I will ever get everything packed. I am taking one room at a time and going through things as I pack. Getting rid of things as I pack has become the mantra. I am a pack-rat, so that makes it hard to get rid of things. I have a great big box ready to go to the Goodwill though.

I'm looking forward to the spinner's monthly meeting this Saturday. It will be good to catch up with everyone. Saturday is also the first day of the Summer of Socks 2008, so that's what I'll be working on. I have my pattern picked out and the yarn ready to go. I might get all the socks for Christmas done with this challenge!

Happy knitting & spinning.

Busy Saturday

Yesterday morning there was a heavy frost on the trees and windows again. I can never get the pictures like these, but I can sure enjoy the beauty for myself.

The frost on the branches was very interesting. The boys thought I was crazy taking pictures and wandering around. They don't think I'm anything but crazy, so I guess it doesn't matter. As you can tell, there is still an awful lot of snow around here. This afternoon, I went to loosen up some of the ice on the sidewalks and the water was just running down the street under the ice. I was able to get some of the ice off but, there is still a lot there.

I have finished all the knitting on Mr Greenjeans. See him there relaxing in the sun? I still have to weave in all the ends, block the sweater, and sew on the button. But, I could be wearing this sweater tomorrow. What do you think?

I spent the morning packing boxes and finishing Mr Greenjeans. I then went to lunch with the birthday group and when I got home there was a phone call saying that my uncle and aunt were coming up tomorrow to get the piano. It's their piano, I've just been borrowing it and now it is going to another home. Consequently, I packed the piano books and pictures that were on the piano. Maybe that is one way to get me to go through things and pack! I will miss having a piano in the home, even if I don't play it all that often. It is nice to have the piano just in case I want to play. Besides, I'm sure ES is glad to not be moving it now.

I was able to do some spinning on the silk project today. I have two ideas on how I want to finish this yarn, so I might have to do some experimenting and see which I like better. We only have six weeks to get this project finished. That's not very long when you consider how fast this past week has gone by. And we, the boys and I, are going to be gone for ten days the end of the month and I probably won't take this project with me.

Happy knitting & spinning. Don't forget to "spring" forward tonight!

Sorry the link doesn't work. I need to learn how to do this!!

Peak Experience

This past week has just flown by. There has been so much happening and so many things to get done. I took the "Sock of the Month" class on Saturday. We used a Fiber Trends pattern: Peak Experience. The pattern is fairly easy and goes really quickly. I have both cuffs at about three inches in length. Tish told me, at the class, that it wasn't fair because I made this pattern look way too easy.

I thought I might keep this pair for myself. But, you know, Christmas is not very far off and I still need lots of gifts. With four kids each, a child's spouse, girlfriend/boyfriends, ES and myself it makes for quite a lot of shopping and/or knitting. And that list doesn't include parents and siblings.

The past few days, by the time I get done with work, I just want to sit and knit and relax for a while. Not much is getting done around the house. ES and I did make a commitment to get some boxes unpacked and gone through. We have lived in this house for four years and still haven't gone through them all. We spent an hour last night going through, throwing stuff out, getting rid of, and repacking. Some of the things I just can't get rid of yet.

This next weekend is the Pocatello fiber guild's yearly retreat to Driggs. I am so looking forward to spending some relaxing time spinning, knitting, and eating. We alway have an enjoyable time and I look forward to whatever time I can "steal" away. Maybe that is why this week seems to be going to s-l-o-w.