Shearing Demo

Saturday while attending the Fiber Fair at Montpelier Station, we watched a gentleman shear a sheep. It was interesting. I don't remember if I have ever watched a shearing before, I don't think so. I know I have heard about it and talked with Ora about how Irv would shear. But I enjoyed watching someone actually shearing. It was a good interlude to shopping and keeping track of everyone.

I spent a bit of time spinning yesterday and continued working on socks. "A-b" and I also went to a couple of museums: the Udvar-Hazy and the National Firearms museum. "A-b" was ready to leave both museums way before I was. We started taking the free tour at the Udvar-Hazy and "A-b" only lasted about 15 minutes before he was complaining that he was hungry and he couldn't stand there any longer. I think I need to go back without children and take the tour again. Today is slated for the National Zoo, but then "A-b" and ES stayed up way too late and I don't know when we will get into the Zoo.

Happy knitting & spinning.

DC Last Friday

There has been a lot going on these past few days. There might be enough to keep me going with blog fodder for a day or two. On Friday "A-b" and I headed into DC so that "A-b" could be introduced to ES's co-workers. The other purpose behind the trip was so that father and son could spend some time together in our new area of residence. "A-b" and I wandered around the Jim Henson exhibit and then met ES for lunch and a walk through the moon garden. This hibiscus picture was taken there.

After lunch father and son went to the American Indian museum and I got to visit my favorite place, so far, in DC-The botanical gardens. That is where this yellow flower picture was taken. It was so nice to just wander. I didn't have to worry about where anyone was. I could just sit and look and relax all I wanted to. There were more begonias this time than the last time I went. There are so many different varieties and I keep thinking I would like that plant at home. But then ES is glad I don't have them all at home.

I finished one spinning project and started another. This fiber on the Lendrum is from Judy's Novelty Wool in the Spring Fling color. I picked it up at the Idaho Falls Fiber Fair this past May. Imagine that, spinning a fiber the same year I bought it! It's a good thing to spin this, as I bought more fiber this past Saturday. But, more on that in another post. This bobbin is now almost completely full. And it holds almost one complete 4 oz bump of this fiber. I have two bumps of 4 ozs for spinning. I really like how the colors are coming out.

Well, off to plan the sight seeing trip for "A-b" today. If you haven't already, go back to this post and guess how many socks I'll get done in Socktoberfest. You could get some sock yarn if you guess correctly.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Can You Hear Me Now????

There hasn't been a lot going on around here. We did go yesterday to get "C" a new phone. His quit working about a week ago and it was time that I could get a new one, so I did. I got a newer version of my old phone, but this one is in purple. "C" now gets to use my old phone which is pink. He doesn't like that too much, but if he wants a phone he has to go with it!


I have spent quite a bit of time lately looking out the front window. I have enjoyed watching the birds land in the tree right outside. It has given me something to watch as I have sat at the spinning wheel for my ten minutes a day spinning time. During my ten minutes daily I have been able to spin a number of fibers from the stash. I latest has just been washed and when its dry I'll take pictures to post. Now to go stash diving again for something else to spin on the Lendrum.

"A-b" will be here this evening for a ten day stay. He is out of school for spud harvest and hasn't been out here yet. He is flying by himself, don't know how that will go over-but will find out tonight. We have trips to DC planned and battlefield to visit. Don't know how much we will do, we have to save some stuff for his next visit. ES will be working so the sight-seeing will just be the two of us. "C" will be in school daily, so he can't come.

I started a new sock for Sockotberfest. I kind of want to see how many pair I can get done during this month. Anyone care to guess how many I can get done in October? Remember, I am taking a trip back to IF for ten days! I will send sock yarn to the one how guesses the closest. Okay, if it's one of my family members ( I know you don't knit!) I'll send you a pair of socks.

Well, today I will become an official Virginia resident and get my Virginia driver's license. So off to accomplish this.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Lunch with ES

On Wednesday I went into DC to have lunch with ES. After lunch I had the chance to wander around a couple of the museums by myself. I wandered where I wanted and stayed as long as I wanted in any one place. I think my favorite place that day was this waterfall on the mall side of the building. I hadn't seen this when the boys and I were there in March. I took the time to listen to the water rushing over the rocks. It was a quiet sound when compared to the people and the traffic. Wednesday was also my first time getting out of the metro in the wrong spot too. ES had to come find me. Luckily I was only a few blocks away from where I was supposed to be and I probably could have found my way around, but I just kind of froze and had to call. The lunch was outside the Hirshhorn building where it was really windy. We had hamburgers, chips, pop, and dessert. Not the best of lunches, but the company was good.

My shawl project is almost done. Only about three more rows and then the bind off. The next project is planned and ready for the needles. I bought the yarn for it Wednesday night at Knit night.

"C" had his first accident since moving here and consequently the first trip to a doctor here. He either broke his thumb or has a very bad sprang. We took x-rays yesterday, so we will know in a couple of days whether it is broken or not. For right now it is in a splint and wrapped pretty good. Not too bad, six weeks or so in between visits to the doc. Pretty good for him.

Off to finish the shawl. Happy knitting & spinning.

Surprise in the Mail

Friday in the mail, I received a package from Catherine. It is 236 yards of 2-ply Monadale which she hand-painted and submitted at the fair. She received a third place ribbon on it! It is so pretty. I will have to find a project which will show off all the colors and what a nice job she did on the spinning.
When "C" saw this he said, "I thought you weren't buying anymore wool." I told him I didn't buy it and that it was a gift. He just rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. He doesn't care for all the yarn in the house, although he likes the items he gets when I
make something for him out of that wool.



The other project that I wanted to show you were the prayer flags I bought from Linda Wolfe during the past two seasons. The colored ones had been hanging up between my entry and livingroom at the old house. When we moved to the new house I also wanted to display them and found the perfect place for them in the kitchen. The colored ones hang above my sink and greet me each time I walk into the kitchen. The white flags are above the stove and can be seen from the balcony when I look in through the kitchen window. I am glad I have the flags where I can see them and brighten my day each time I see them.

Not much else is going on. There is progress on the shawl for the wedding and I have half a pair of booties done for Master "B's" blessing outfit. "Au" called and asked if I would make a pair to go along with his little tuxedo which she is making for him. I hope they will be what she wants.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Spinning is Happening

Spinning is happening again. I couldn't stand it anymore and dug out some fiber I ordered from Zarzuela just before leaving Idaho Falls. It is in the Thinking of Fall color which I don't see on her etsy shop right now. It spun up really fast and beautifully, I think. This skein ended up with about 160 yards of navajo plied fiber. I am thinking of making a cowl with this, but my mind could be swayed in other directions.


These are just my colors.


I couldn't let the Lendrum stay empty for very long. So the same day I plied Thinking of Fall I rummaged around in the stash. I started spinning this fiber which is five ounces of a merino/columbia blend. I bought this blend at the Idaho Falls fiber festival in 2007 from the Going to the Sun Fiber Mill vendor. It is spinning up very nicely, but has a little bit of a greasy feel to the fiber. It has been prepared as a pencil roving which is very nice as I don't have to do very much pre-drafting. I already have one of the three bumps spun and just need to take some time daily to do some more spinning. It has felt good to be doing some spinning daily again.

Happy knitting & spinning.

What Color are You

So I couldn't resist taking this quiz when I say it on Terri's blog. I didn't know I would be Black.

You are most like: Black
You are bold with a dark side. You make clear lines wherever you go, though you color outside of the lines. Many people may just see the surface of you and think you are merely plain, but you have a lot of depth to you as well.
Take this quiz: Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Are You?
Visit Toys For Your Blog.com for more blog quizzes

Not much progress here. Still just plugging away on my current shawl and take along socks. When I get the current pair of socks done, I'll take pictures.