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.

My Own Personal Fiber Club

I noticed last night that I had two open blossoms on my 18 year old Christmas cactus. I was excited to see a couple other buds there also. This cactus also had blossoms a month ago, before I left for Idaho. I just thought I would share the pretty pink blossoms with you.


The main reason for this post is to show you my own personal fiber club. I have so many bins of fiber! It seems like I can't ever decide what to spin next or even if I'll get it spun before the next fiber fair. So in order to try to get some of it spun, I decided to give myself a challenge.

Each one of those seven bags contains anywhere from two to eight ounces of fiber, most of them are four ounces. There is fiber I got at the Fiber Fair in Montpelier this past October and fiber from the only SOAR I have attended which was in 1996. There is merino, silk, bfl, alpaca, and I'm not even sure what else is there, but I know that when I open each bag I will be surprised and have a challenge on my hands. My plan is to open and spin one bag each month and I will start as soon as the fiber I am spinning on the Traditional is finished. That will leave fiber on only one wheel at the moment, the Scholar, and I might even wait to start this challenge when that is completely spun. That is seven months of fun there!

I have had a spinning weekend. I have been plying what was on the Hitchiker, eight ounces of a merino/silk blend, and I think there is about 900 yds of fingering weight there. It will make a nice shawl for the 10 Shawls in 2010 group on Ravelry. I am hoping I can make the ten shawls this year along with the other knitting being planned also, Christmas for the grandsons.

Anyone care to join me in your own personal fiber club?

Happy knitting and spinning.

Sorry it's Been so Long

I can't believe how fast this month has flown by. I was talking with one of my bosses and I had to turn the calendar page over, she couldn't believe that it is almost March. She thought the month of February had flown by also.

I have to show you a small skein which wasn't a skein too long ago. This fiber had been sitting on one of my Ashford bobbins for the past FOUR years. Yes, you read that right! Four years is an awfully long time waiting to be made into a skein of yarn. This is a combination of a brown fleece purchased from Fred and Jo and some mohair locks I picked up from somewhere. I thought the yarn turned out ok. Not the best plying job, but then when I set the twist I didn't really whack it too much. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, so it will probably sit in the stash for a while.

My begonia from Catherine is blooming very nicely. I have had blooms on it for most of the month. I like to check it out every day to see how it looks.

I have been busy knitting, but it's not my place to show you what I have been working on. I am planning a number of baby projects. I have two new grandbabies due this year, so I'll need to get working on little things soon. It may take me most of that time to get knit what I want to for these little new babies.

Not much else is going on here except for life. It gets really hectic sometimes! I will try to keep in touch more often.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Finished Cowl

I have been busy knitting the past few days. On Friday night I finished the Sherbrooke Cowl. I made it from the yarn ES had brought me the previous Friday. I thought it turned out really well. I have worn it every day since Saturday morning, when I wove in the ends. It has helped on the dog walks for the past couple of mornings.

This picture shows the variegation in the Malabrigo which was a pleasure to work with. Now I understand why everyone has enjoyed this yarn, for the most part. It is so soft and nice to wear close to the face. I haven't decided what to do with the second skein yet, I am trying to decide if I want to make something for ES seeing as how he got me the yarn.

Sherbrooke Cowl; Time worked: January 13-17, 2009. Used all but one yard of the skein, about 149 yards. Cast on 80 stitches on size 8 needles. Dimensions: 11 inches long, 8 1/2 inches wide. Slouches really well and covers the nose when walking.

I am busy now working on a baby gift for my cousin and her husband. They have had a baby due in February and the little miss decided to make an early presence this past weekend. I didn't know this cousin was expecting until early last week, so hence the baby knitting now.

On a completely different topic: Catherine, my begonia is getting ready to bloom again! I couldn't believe it when I looked over on Saturday and saw the blossoms there. They are standing much taller today, but you get Saturday's picture. The begonia must like the evening sun. This will be the second time they have bloomed since I got the start in, I think, 2007. The plant has gotten really big since then and I have enjoyed watching it grow.

Christmas Cactus Blooms

For the past couple of mornings, I have watched the morning sun shine on this Christmas cactus. It has been a beautiful sight to see. The cactus has this halo around it and I thought it was time to share the blooms. I gave a start to ES's step-sister and she even has buds on her plant. But then, I did tell her the best kept secret of the castor oil.

It seems fitting that we should have the cactus' blooming, seeing as how we had a Christmas party last night. ES and I were in charge of the church Christmas dinner/party which was held last night. It went off very well, at least I think so. We did run out of meat, but not until close to the end. I think everyone that wanted meat got some. We had lots of potatoes left, so divided them up and sent them home to different people. We spent more than we probably should have, but isn't that what happens at Christmas time anyway. Now that this party is over, I think I can get my own home ready for the season. And finish up that Christmas shopping and get things sent back to the kids.

I have been busy working on Christmas knitting and it is coming along fairly well. I have to get it done soon so it will be at the respective homes to open on Christmas day. Only a few more things to go.

ES got us tickets to see The Polar Express in 3-D at the IMAX theater in one of the museums tonight. We are taking my sister, who is visiting, with us. We are going to ride the metro down and it should be a fun night. We might even go see the National Christmas Tree, but won't know until we get down there and start doing stuff. We took Beth to the Udvar-Hazy museum when we picked her up Friday night. She had fun seeing some of the planes and kept saying, "I'll have to bring the boys now." Their little ones are really into planes, space shuttles, and they know all the stats on the different planes which is really amazing for ones so young.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Stitches Purchases

Guess what? One of my Christmas cactus has buds on it. I am so excited to see it blooming again. I checked the older cactus also and I think it has a bud. I'll have to wait a couple of days to see though. It makes me happy to see the Christmas cactus in bloom. Plus having moved it clear across the country, it's still blooming. The move didn't hurt the plant.


Yesterday I spent some time plying the fiber that has been sitting on the Scholar for the past 8 to 10 months. It is some superwash that I dyed last winter, the same fiber I used to ply with my silk challenge fiber last spring. I have 90 yards of a lace/fingering weight to do something with. I don't know what to use it for yet, but I'm sure something will come to me. Maybe a cowl.

I also have pictures of the fiber I bought when Sheryl and I went to Stitches East. I bought two 4 oz bumps of fiber and two skeins of sock weight yarn. The dark skein has 436 yards and I'm not sure how many yarns are in the other skein. The second from the left is fiber dyed by Lisa Souza. Lisa is the dyer that Alison talks about in Wrapped in Comfort and on her blog.

I have fiber on three of my four wheels. All from different dyers and all different colors. It is interesting to watch how each of the fibers are spinning up. I have been spending at least ten minutes daily doing some spinning which is helping me get some fiber spun and keeping my stress level manageable.

Happy knitting & spinning.

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.

Tuesday Orchid Update

To start off with, there is a orchid update.

This week there is not much change in the orchid from last week. The buds are a little bit bigger and lightening up just a little and if you squint really hard to can see a little bit of white in the center of the bud. I know, probably not very interesting to you. But I've never had a orchid before these and I am really excited to get to see them bloom in my very own home.

I have been doing some knitting. These are my projects from the WWKIP day. They are another pair of the Pieces of Eight by Susan Lawrence. They worked up really quickly and I had them done by Sunday night.

I have also been packing more boxes. Are you tired of hearing that yet? One day I will show you the progress of the boxes moving across the "staging area" bedroom. It's amazing to me to see how much "crap" we have! Now I need to go pack some more. We have a house in Virginia so now I know how much I can take with me and what I will have to get rid of.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Tuesday Orchid Watch

This is the living-room orchid watch. The buds are coming along really well. As long as I don't leave the windows open for very long when it is chilly outside, like it is this morning. I am hoping that this one will bloom before we move from this house the end of July. The orchid in the bathroom had two good blooms on it. You saw the one bloom a couple of weeks ago. Although I keep watching for the second bloom to open, it never has yet.



At the Idaho Falls Fiber Fair last month, I picked up some of this "Dark Lagoon" from Judy at Wasatch Watercolours. I like how it is spinning up. I am thinking of making this a two ply and using it to make the Luna Moth Shawl from elann. I guess I should put this on the Ravelry page in the que, but I have to learn to do that still.

Today looks like it will be a dark and dreary day. It will be a good day to be at work and maybe do some spinning tonight while "C" is at scouts and "R" is busy.

Happy knitting & spinning

Onions!

Last night I sewed on the buttons of this sweater I made, nearly a year ago, for this little guy:
Spencer and Grandma Laurel. The sweater has been knit and waiting for Spencer's dad and mom to let me know where they were living or come to our house. Well today was the day that Spencer got his sweater. The good part: it will still fit him! Dad and Mom made it to our house to participate in a b-i-g family dinner. It was quite a fun afternoon, but I'm glad that stress is over.

After people left this afternoon, I went into the backyard to see how the tulip and daffodils were coming along. I was surprised to see that I have some volunteer onions coming up from last years planting. Granted the garden, what there is of it, is next to the cement of the foundation of the garage so gets quite warm. There are weeds and grass growing in my garden spot as well, but for the next day or two they will be ignored. In the front yard I still have some snow. It is still where there is not much in the way of sunlight and it melts a little each day as it gets warmer, or if I rake/shovel the snow out into the sunlight.

I gave four of my house plants away this evening. I sent them home to live with A-g and her husband, G. G likes plants and will take care of them very well, as long as A-g doesn't touch them, so he says. I know ES will be glad to know I don't have to move quite so many plants.

Happy knitting & spinning.

New Sock Yarn

I thought I would let you know, we are home and almost back into our routine. Look what greeted us in the sun-room when we got home on Sunday. The amaryllis has two full open blooms and one bud yet to open. ES says its about on time. The last time the amaryllis bloomed, we had our house fire. That was one year ago today! Hard to believe that much time has gone past already.



I have to show what I picked up from one of the two yarn stores I visited in the DC area. At the first shop, in Chantilly, I picked up some yarn for baby booties and buttons for my button-up socks. I didn't have the socks with me, but the buttons match really, really well. At the second shop, in Manassas, I picked up some of Berroco's new yarn, Custom Sock. I got two different colors: gray and a brown/gray variegated. The mix is 50% super fine nylon and 50% super fine acrylic. Custom Sock is very soft and I think I can get some socks for the men in the family without any complaints of itchiness. The two skeins on the right are Plymouth Yarn company's new "Happy Feet" in color #2. It is 90% superwash Merino wool and 10% nylon. There are 192 yards per skein, so I might have some left over after making a pair of socks. I'm kind of anxious to try the Happy Feet, but it will have to wait until after the silk challenge is completed.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Mid-Week Knitting

I have to show you what I found yesterday as I was checking out the plants in the sun-room. Susan was such a beauty that I thought I would share my copy of Susan also. This is the third year in a row that she has bloomed. It always amazes me that this amaryllis continues to bloom year after year. It must like the sunshine in the corner of the sun-room.

I got out for a bit tonight and attended UFO night at the LYS. I haven't ever done this before, but it was fun and I got a chance to catch up with a couple of people that I haven't seen in a while. Four people were working on socks, Tish was working on a baby hat, one lady was working on an Aran design and one girl was trying out a stitch pattern. Me, I was working on the third (in a month) baby sweater. It is almost done. I am really liking how the yarn is working up. I will bring it to spinners on Saturday to show it off. Along with Mr Greenjeans.

Last night I packed more boxes. J-g's old room is beginning to look like a storage unit! I still have a lot to go, but I can see some progress. I need to get the stuff in A-g's room packed before she gets home in two weeks. Her stuff is already packed from when she went to Bolivia. The stuff in her room is extra clothes, blankets and so on.

Well, I still need to do my spinning requirement for today. The silk is working up fairly quickly now. There's still one divided ball left to spin, so it shouldn't take very long. A couple of hours maybe.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Plant purchased and home grown

First up today, I have to show you the Flowers ES brought me on Friday night. Yes, it is flowers with a capital F. I love to get flowers from him and he always makes me feel special when he gives them to me. And the Flowers smell s-o-o-o pretty. As I walk by daily, I have to take a sniff. It's required, you know.




Next. Remember this baby sweater? I took it to it's intended recipient this evening and "Momma" really liked it. The baby won't be able to wear it for a few months, maybe even a year, but that didn't matter. "Momma" really liked it.

I have been working on Mr Greenjeans. I have both sleeves done and am ready to start the button band. It shouldn't be too much longer until the sweater is done and keeping the chill off. I think I will really like this sweater, but will have to wait until it's done to know for sure.

Last of all, I have to show you the new blossoms on the Christmas cactus. This is the first blossom I have seen that is standing upright. They usually are hanging bloom down. I have really enjoyed all the blooming plants in my house this winter. It has made each room the plants are in much more cheerful and warm.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Lunar Experience

Last night, ES and I watched some of the lunar eclipse together. It was a fun experience to be able to see the same thing in the sky at the same time. Especially when we are 3000 miles apart. ES says it was our "American Tale" adventure. R and C even watched it a little bit. They both thought it was cool and wanted to take pictures, even if none of the pictures turned out any good. I didn't watch the whole thing, but I enjoyed what I saw.


One of my other Christmas cactus is blooming again. This one bloomed also in October/November if I remember right. It has at least 18 bud/blossoms in various stages right now. The first blooms are starting to open and they are really pretty, I think. I never get tired of watching the Christmas cactus bloom.



Lyn, remember I told you I only had two more "bumps" of the Moab Desert color? Well, I lied. I found another bag with 4 more ozs in it. This means I have to do a lot of spinning this week if I want to get the fiber spun to knit in March. I am kind of getting tired of spinning this, but I will persevere until it's done.


Yesterday morning when I woke up, the frost on the window gave me a pretty picture. The design here reminds me of the Tree of Life. Wouldn't it be a nice design in some sweater? I wish I could chart something and include it in something. Maybe that should be my new challenge. Take a design and make it tangible.


I just thought it was so pretty, I had to take a number of pictures of it. The boys thought I was crazy!

I could have a finished item, the button up socks, by the end of the week. The toe shaping is progressing nicely. I just need to find the buttons for the project, now.

Happy knitting & spinning.

New Toys

I got a new toy for Christmas and I have been having some fun the past two days playing with it. I got a lot, 70 and some odd, songs downloaded before my free trial ran out. Even with that number of songs, I still have plenty of room left to put other things on. I need to learn how to download podcasts, I guess. It has been nice to have my own music that is right where I am while I am doing chores, spinning, and hanging out on the "net".

Speaking of spinning, I thought I would show you my latest spinning project. It is one of Judy's Novelty Wool, Merino in the "Dew on the Moab Desert" color. I picked this up at the Idaho Falls Fiber Fair in 2006 and it has just been marinating in my fiber tote. I decided this is the current Lendrum project. I have16 ozs. and you know how I can't spin anything but fine. I will have quite a bit of this as yarn.
Catherine, this one is for you. Remember the start I got from your plant in the front entry? Well, it has a blossom on it!!

Thanks for the plant!

Happy knitting & spinning.

Christmas Cactus

I have to show you all a picture of my Christmas cactus which is actually blooming at Christmas. I got a start of this cactus about 14 years ago from the wonderful woman who watched the two younger boys while I worked. It was actually a start from her Grandmother. This is the first year in that 14 years that it has bloomed. Last year there were a few blooms on it, but the kids and dog knocked the blooms off before they had a chance to blossom. This year just look at it! There are many blossoms and still lots of buds to open up. I like my other Christmas cactus's, but this one has a special meaning and to think that this year it is actually celebrating with us.


There is not much in the way of knitting. The tenth pair of fingerless mitts is done and ready to be wrapped. I only have one more pair to actually get done before Christmas and that pair is started. I am hoping to get them done before the weekend is over. I will do a few more pair after Christmas to give to special people, but I have told them I am not stressing it before Christmas.

ES officially gave his notice at the site. His last day will be January 3rd and then off to DC. His first day there is January 7th. The move is really happening and there is s-o-o-o much to accomplish in the next few months. ES has said that if he knew how fun it was to tell everyone he was leaving, he would have done it a lot sooner. Next Thursday they are planning a going away get together for him. I hope I get to attend, that's my late night to work. It will be quite an adjustment to not have ES right here with us, but we are strong and we will survive!

Happy knitting & spinning.