tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10627453776444229262024-03-13T03:46:33.324-07:00Lazy Sock MonkeyLishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-1689973618764514882017-05-12T18:38:00.000-07:002017-05-12T18:38:56.096-07:00Hey friends,<br />
So, my little dog Kasey has been by my side through a lot the last few years. Multiple cross country moves, the loss of my spouse ( her heart person ), regaining her heart person in my former spouses son, etc. She integrated well into the family pack when we arrived here last fall but last night a serious altercation ensued between her and another dog here. I have her with me tonight for the first time in like 6 months and she's stressed over it. I don't know how to reassure her and it makes me sad.Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-52285603609486476322017-05-06T20:27:00.000-07:002017-05-06T20:27:05.473-07:00Calm. This is my mantra. It works for me, sporadically and I guess that's the best to hope for! I seriously feel the need to fulfill so much for so many people I love. Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-15090713957021865142017-04-09T12:46:00.000-07:002017-04-09T12:46:26.136-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sweet old man loves his outdoor walks!Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-90006010334298404062015-06-28T16:28:00.001-07:002017-04-05T18:08:56.330-07:00April 2017Wow. This is still here and christ, it's so much easier than Medium. I'm just me, nothing to see here.<br />
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But, this afternoon i had an online conversation with an old (7 years) friend. She has horrendous health issues, some of which she's explained, some she has not. I've tried to learn her various challenges, made notes, remembered what to remember and tonight it wasnt enough. </div>
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I (perhaps mistakenly) offered my perception of her anxiety level, which I felt was high.</div>
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I wanted her to see that someone who loved her saw an escalation in her anxiety level. Those around her saw differently.</div>
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Evidently I wasted my energy. Sad about my friend. I'm awake and worried. Not a great post but whatever. I care and my fiber related stuff can follow if anyone is still interested </div>
Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-24733009746681509952015-06-22T17:25:00.001-07:002015-06-22T17:25:43.769-07:00So...I saw today a post where it says that writing for 2 minutes a day about a positive experience in the last 24 hours can increase happiness dramatically. Seems like it's worth a shot.<br />
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Today I washed my incredibly filthy car, thanks to my landlady reassuring me that it was ok to use the water here for something like that. I also did some gardening..repotted a few things, got a baby violet plant ready to take to a friend at work, checked the tomato and basil and rosemary. Started a pot of pasta sauce for a casserole for the week. Little things but such steps forward to me. <br />
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I also took my dog, Kasey for a long walk. She has plenty of room here to run outside but she so enjoys different smells and paths. She is a joy. She is currently outside with me here and intent on the baby kittens just beyond her sight in the garage. <br />
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I enjoyed taking the time to groom the cats-they give me so much joy also! All in all, it's been a nice, relaxing 2 days off of work and I feel ready to face the week tomorrow!<br />
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Namaste'!<br />
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<br />Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-7446048770748575212015-06-21T19:06:00.000-07:002015-06-21T19:06:13.493-07:00So...again a long time, blog. <br />
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I'm sitting outside in glorious Oregon at my home. It's tiny, perfect and I love it. <br />
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That said, life hasn't been so perfect. We moved here last June, got legally married in August, found this place in December. It's 32 miles one way from work but a gorgeous drive every day. I don't mind it. <br />
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In mid April, things were great. Loved our home, I got hired full time at Lowe's instead of seasonal, things were balancing. Then on April 29, Jack (Maureen) left me suddenly and without warning. It appears for someone else..she's told me she is seeing someone although I didn't ask who. I guess it really doesn't matter, you know?<br />
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So life for me right now is about finding balance. Getting ok in my own skin, shedding the pounds of guilt I've managed to acquire in my 11 year relationship/marriage. Learning to live alone again and budget and get up every day in spite of the hurt and anger and keep moving forward.<br />
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It's not easy.<br />
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<br />Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-84954379597454835192014-06-06T15:27:00.000-07:002014-06-06T15:27:15.422-07:00PartingI've been working for Kroger (store 410) for 4 1/2 years. This week is my last week there and I have been thinking a lot about how much time one spends at work and how miserable it must be to actively dislike your job or coworkers. I've been lucky.<br />
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Generally speaking, I don't care for retail. My face shows incredulous instantly no matter how hard I try and there are just too many incredulous moments when dealing with the public. I have stumbled through though and for the last 2 years have been the store receiver, interacting with vendors and the whole other world that exists behind the front end.<br />
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I have gotten to know so many people I wouldn't have known otherwise. The personalities are huge and funny and sometimes infuriating but I wouldn't have missed it. <br />
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There was the time the milk delivery person arrived so early that he went to bed in his truck cab. One of my coworkers went to wake him at 6 and he jumped up-buck naked. To this day I can't look at the guy without laughing. My coworker was so indignant and grumbled all day about things swingin' in the wind. <br />
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The time I kept seeing something in my peripheral, so many times that I questioned my health only to realize a large bird had made it's way inside.<br />
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The all around job guy that sings Kroger radio like a boss, changing the lyrics to make Kroger the bad guy, or the good guy or the discarded lover. He's also a Redskins fan and we're a rare breed these days.<br />
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The time they put a mouse trap in my desk..the countless times they've put something in my reclaim bin deliberately upside down and open. <br />
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All of the crazy makes me sad to leave it tomorrow. I'm excited for our move but wish I were keeping my work family. I'll miss them a lot. Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-5980722053961950402014-05-31T13:59:00.000-07:002014-05-31T13:59:03.076-07:00Coming TogetherA few days later and things are starting to come together. The minpins have a new home together with a family that really wanted them. It was touching, Jack said. They have an autistic son and the 'fierce' minpin, Sake jumped into his lap almost instantly and laid down. Fate.<br />
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Lucy the imperial tortie went to live with our friends at the Gayboy Mansion. She is being spoiled rotten and is finally the Queen she obviously felt entitled to be. <br />
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My two beloved black boys, RuPaul and Fey Wray went to live with the lady who found them originally, running under parked cars at 4 weeks old. It was a difficult parting but they're together with a new family that will love them like I do.<br />
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Someone is coming today for the tarantulas-he has THIRTY (Oh My God) so I have confidence in his ability to care for them. Anyone with 30 spiders is some kind of special, I guess. Yikes.<br />
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I've gotten more done this week than I could initially see. The garage is packed full of things for next week's sale and the stacks of boxes in the house have grown. I've purged a ton of stuff as I went so it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Still a lot to do however.<br />
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19 days till moving day. 5 more days of work till my last day (coincidentally the day of the sale, bwahahahaha).Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-86758394630689127142014-05-28T15:48:00.002-07:002014-05-28T15:48:38.783-07:00Moving to PortlandOregon, that is. We have exactly 21 days until the moving van arrives and I am not ready. It seems no matter how much I purge or how much I pack that every surface is covered with things and stuff and such. Very frustrating.<br />
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We have wanted to leave Memphis for nearly as long as we've been here. It has not been a comfortable place for us to live as a gay couple and the racism here is terrifying. So is the poverty. I realize these are things that exist nearly everywhere but in Memphis it is amplified somehow to a pitch somewhere just under the shriek of a 2 year old.<br />
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We believe Oregon is more progressive and plan to marry there after our arrival. It is clearly the fiber mecca and I have information on 5 guilds/groups that meet in the Portland area on a regular basis. I have my spindles and wheel packed and ready to go into our little pull along trailer. Such things cannot be handed over to movers.<br />
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Everything has come to a halt to prepare for moving. No knitting, spinning or exercising. Our entire world revolves around moving and work. It is starting to wear me down. Rehoming all our rescues has been emotionally draining and I've cried frequently. <br />
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21 more days. <br />
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<br />Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-2542953343284311772013-03-27T04:00:00.000-07:002013-03-27T04:05:06.155-07:00Back In The SaddleAt least for today....<br />
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So. Here we are, blog. We grew so distant and I don't understand why. Actually I do-I am LAZY.<br />
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That said, it's been an eventful few years. Chez L-Robinson boasts a current rescue level of 10. Five each cats/kittens and dogs. Two tarantulas, a ball python and a 29 gallon reef aquarium that's really taking off nicely. We like animals here. I don't think anyone's noticed yet however. Keep that to yourself.<br />
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In 2012 I decided to try this little app called Couch to 5K (By Active - there are several different ones).<br />
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Changed my life.<br />
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After smoking for 30 years and quitting, gaining enough weight to begin struggling with breath when I tied my shoes and buying progressively larger clothes I became A.Runner. I did it on a treadmill and entered my first 5K last fall. My second is this June and I'm repeating the program outdoors because there is a HUGE difference in treadmill and outdoor running. The injury I sustained in the first 5K reminds me of that every time I'm up at this ungodly hour to go to physical therapy on a day off. Still and yet - I want to run. I can't believe it is me. <br />
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I'm still knitting but not at the intensity of a few years ago. I spin all the time now and mostly on spindles. All sorts-heavy, light, Navajo, support, top whorl, bottom whorl, kick-crazy obsessed. I also started a little Etsy shop full of things that interest me on a production level. Orifice hooks for wheels and project bags for knitters are my primary gig. I am vending my first festival in May - <a href="http://www.msff.net/" target="_blank">Magnolia State Fiber Festival</a>. I will also be teaching a class for Beginner Spinning - Non Wheel. I'm very interested in what new spinners want (or think they want) to learn in their first class. Comment here or email me at lazysockmonkey at gmaildotcom if you have thoughts on this!<br />
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Pics next post! Lots of spindle candy to show! (just ask Jack) (she'll tell you) <br />
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<br />Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-1737702903027026592009-07-18T03:15:00.000-07:002009-07-18T03:25:17.284-07:00Not alot!I don't have alot of great pics to share unfortunately. Things have been uber busy here though, my family came to visit for a week, I've registered for school, I'm up at 4:30 because of the dog...hurrah!<br /><br />I've been knitting like mad and never seem to get anything finished. I'm working on Nadine, the sweater from hell for what seems like years and continually fail to get it right on putting together the finished pieces. I am taking out a side panel for the FIFTH time beecause I can't get it right. Me. Not the yarn (although that was the culprit the first 3 times). We sidestepped that by substituting sock yarn in a matching color and then I very neatly assembled the panel..upside down. Here I went again, picking out nearly 90 stitches of Kitchener and cursing like mad. This last time, it's just puckered and I can tell I didn't pick up stitches as neatly as I could have, hence go round #5.<br /><br />I've done a few preemie caps, have a dog snuggie on the needles, did a couple of crocheted gnomes..Mostly I've been spinning. The spinning goddess smiled upon me and allowed me nearly a laceweight in a merino, something before unattainable for me..yay! I am plying it with a fine, sparkly thread and it's lovely. Rather it was before it began falling apart because I failed to give it enough twist to begin with. ARGH. I re-spun it and this time it seems to be holding its own much as I'm holding my breath every time I sit down to ply a few more yards. It truly is lovely if I can just finish it before spinning guild tomorrow. <br /><br />Thats my news, not much at all.Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-53786790204602084372009-07-07T16:59:00.001-07:002009-07-07T16:59:45.412-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SlPhaSBkRnI/AAAAAAAAAdw/3cB0ailUMQQ/s1600-h/IMG_1974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SlPhaSBkRnI/AAAAAAAAAdw/3cB0ailUMQQ/s320/IMG_1974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355872223504909938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SlPhaCr0boI/AAAAAAAAAdo/wBUv1wsX758/s1600-h/IMG_1976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SlPhaCr0boI/AAAAAAAAAdo/wBUv1wsX758/s320/IMG_1976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355872219387162242" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-74712629357243024122009-06-11T03:40:00.000-07:002009-06-11T03:55:17.230-07:00I've been knitting on my first baby sweater ever for my friend Christy's baby shower last week. I knit <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/baby-child/bamboozle-babyset-jacket.html">Bamboozle</a> in Caron's simply soft shadows, dark blue and I love the way it turned out. Hate moss stitch with a purple passion though, just FYI.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SjDgdKUa0mI/AAAAAAAAAdI/4d6knYQVO7c/s1600-h/IMG_1960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SjDgdKUa0mI/AAAAAAAAAdI/4d6knYQVO7c/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346019549279605346" border="0" /></a><br />I just haven't taken alot of pictures of other blog-worthy stuff although I'll look and see if anything is worth viewing here:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SjDh1S_kXrI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/chqyIXr9lyM/s1600-h/IMG_1947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SjDh1S_kXrI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/chqyIXr9lyM/s320/IMG_1947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346021063436558002" border="0" /></a>Jack and Sarah in the pool last week..Sarah isn't so sure about this although Jack Russell's are supposed to love swimming...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SjDh1xmo40I/AAAAAAAAAdg/dK9A1EZmPjc/s1600-h/IMG_1950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SjDh1xmo40I/AAAAAAAAAdg/dK9A1EZmPjc/s320/IMG_1950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346021071653495618" border="0" /></a>I finished painting the master bedroom. As you can see the walls were sort of mud green/gray previously and I think the golden yellow is the bomb. The one wall with the door is now a very dark maroon and the whole room looks so much better!Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-37669721489776313612009-05-25T14:46:00.001-07:002009-05-25T15:17:54.426-07:00Happy Memorial Day!It's been a good holiday weekend for me - Saturday was the Middle TN Fiber Festival in Dickson, TN and my friend Nichol drove us both over there for the day. I watched shearing:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMkFZ6qI/AAAAAAAAAcg/mmOqIJ4YrAA/s1600-h/IMG_1926.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMkFZ6qI/AAAAAAAAAcg/mmOqIJ4YrAA/s320/IMG_1926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339888387301698210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And tried new wheels:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMoQt4sI/AAAAAAAAAco/A3-BbXUgDOo/s1600-h/IMG_1930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMoQt4sI/AAAAAAAAAco/A3-BbXUgDOo/s320/IMG_1930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339888388422886082" border="0" /></a><br />And bought fiber (sorry, no pics of that yet)<br /><br />Then today I continued on the wash the wool program after spinning up a lovely bobbin of it this morning:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMPXgX7I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/1jQYR8S9oTI/s1600-h/IMG_1937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMPXgX7I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/1jQYR8S9oTI/s320/IMG_1937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339888381740474290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The washing is gross, people. The water is gross,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYLzMy4vI/AAAAAAAAAcI/bS_XC9CXXfI/s1600-h/IMG_1936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYLzMy4vI/AAAAAAAAAcI/bS_XC9CXXfI/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339888374179357426" border="0" /></a> the slimy feeling is gross and I'm damn glad to have it to do regardless, this wool is BEAUTIFUL! <br /><br />I'm fortunate that my other friend Mary has lent me her hand carders for the weekend so here's my little bundles of wool, ready to spin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMSoE5AI/AAAAAAAAAcY/GJvAgGOZOSA/s1600-h/IMG_1938.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShsYMSoE5AI/AAAAAAAAAcY/GJvAgGOZOSA/s320/IMG_1938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339888382615282690" border="0" /></a><br />I'd like to be ambitious and say I want to get a sweater out of this fleece but the reality is that I'll probably get a great purse/tote and some other smaller items. I'm not spinning well enough yet to produce sweater yarn, I don't think.Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-37947756455887197232009-05-20T08:07:00.000-07:002009-05-20T08:37:01.328-07:00Social NetworkingIs Everywhere! I swear, I spend so much time social networking that I never socially network for real it seems! By the time I get pictures onto Flickr, or Ravelry or Facebook (a new one for me) I forget I need to blog and post here!<br /><br />It's been busy around here. I spent yesterday in the first step of processing that fleece which meant laying it out on a sheet so that all cut sides were down and tip ends up. This took a bit since it'd been compacted into a box from Colorado to be shipped here. Next, I gathered pieces into 12x15 zippered mesh bags, the kind you get at Dollar Tree 3 for a buck. I bought 12 and filled them all; this accounted for about a quarter of my fleece.<br /><br />Next I put it into water in containers in my backyard where it's soaking until tomorrow to get the first round of goop out. My friend Mary says this is an exceptionally clean fleece and it might take only 1 soaking before we wash.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQha2t9JcI/AAAAAAAAAbg/Nel-NsnCLGY/s1600-h/IMG_1886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQha2t9JcI/AAAAAAAAAbg/Nel-NsnCLGY/s320/IMG_1886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337928203589461442" border="0" /></a>Last Saturday I went to a Dye Class that Mary taught for the Spinners on the River Guild. It was very cool in that each of the 10 folks there chose a different color to recreate then followed the recipe out of Mary's master book and to get the shade. Each of us got a card from one another with the recipe written out, including any variances we found that day that affected the final colors. It was amazing. I chose shades of green (go figure) and set about making my dye. I ended up with this amazing Big Bird screaming yellow. THEN, I put it into an indigo bath for 5 minutes. The interesting thing about indigo is that it requires oxygen to complete the color change. You can imagine what people inside the University of Memphis thought to see a bunch of adult women out on the lawn spinning lengths of yard madly to get the oxygen into them. It was a sight to put it mildly. The end result was almost exactly the same as the master book. My variances were 90 minutes cooking instead of 60 and 1 indigo dip instead of 2. I'm very happy with the results and wish I had a bunch of undyed yarn and the materials to recreate this colorway at home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQhaYWRovI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/F5UE2v9xwOA/s1600-h/IMG_1879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQhaYWRovI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/F5UE2v9xwOA/s320/IMG_1879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337928195437077234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQha2HtTVI/AAAAAAAAAbY/XljtQH8GqVw/s1600-h/IMG_1885.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQha2HtTVI/AAAAAAAAAbY/XljtQH8GqVw/s320/IMG_1885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337928203429039442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQhbczs7EI/AAAAAAAAAbw/-bwAMylPwCk/s1600-h/IMG_1864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQhbczs7EI/AAAAAAAAAbw/-bwAMylPwCk/s320/IMG_1864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337928213814111298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQjCeRK8HI/AAAAAAAAAb4/lUTu9CstOW8/s1600-h/IMG_1881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQjCeRK8HI/AAAAAAAAAb4/lUTu9CstOW8/s320/IMG_1881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337929983732674674" border="0" /></a>Sunday was Spinning Guild and our program was on short fibers. We had samples of yak, cashmere, cotton, denim, New Zealand opossum with gorgeous merino to blend it all with. I brought home little samples of everything and spun a few inches of opossum and merino while there on my drop spindle. Short fibers aren't my favorite yet. I mostly spun a batt of some blue roving that came with my wheel. It has a sister batt in a ruby shade of the same fiber blend; I'll probably ply the two to get more yardage. I still have no clue how many yards I will get out of anything I try to spin.<br /><br />Finally, I spun some raw alpaca and got 7 good yards (don't laugh, I really struggle with raw locks still!) to send into the Spin Off thing by June 1st.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQhbF2hfxI/AAAAAAAAAbo/qNDdQPd1m2g/s1600-h/IMG_1887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQhbF2hfxI/AAAAAAAAAbo/qNDdQPd1m2g/s320/IMG_1887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337928207651929874" border="0" /></a>In between all this I am knitting the now never ending sweater, a market bag for Mary, a gift for an upcoming shower and the nefarious second sock. Obligatory knitting content inserted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Serene Cat Photo</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQjCsxjMJI/AAAAAAAAAcA/oaeo1Bc9QIo/s1600-h/IMG_1882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/ShQjCsxjMJI/AAAAAAAAAcA/oaeo1Bc9QIo/s320/IMG_1882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337929987626578066" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-65272533155188499782009-05-11T16:18:00.000-07:002009-05-11T16:31:50.163-07:00New Wool!There's new wool all around here on the home front or will be! I will have new 'wool' tomorrow after I go and get my hair put into dreds, something I've wanted to do forever! I'm getting tiny ones and hopefully it won't make my hair so short I look umm...strange. We'll see.<br /><br />I had new wool going on in the sweater I'm knitting, Nadine from French Girl Knits. It's a llama/cotton blend that is delightful to work with. I'm a little worried about drape though, I did a hat out of it with a lacey sort of pattern and it is softened and lost in the translation. At any rate, I have the 2 side panels done, they double as shoulder straps and more boring sweater parts I don't think I've ever knitted. They made reverse stockinette exciting when I started the connecting center panel. Truly.<br /><br />I belong to this Thrifty Knitters n Spinners group on Ravelry cuz I'm often broke and looking for ways to get more bang (or fiber) for my buck. One morning I was reading along as I had coffee and behold! Right there in the "Cheap or free fiber" thread was a lady in CO who Had Enough Wool. Really. She had All She Needed. (this is an alien concept to me but ok). As a result, she had 3 fleeces to offer, either half or whole for little more than the cost of shipping. I danced, screamed, waved my hands and sent off a PM hoping to snag the gray one. It arrived today, all in it's smelly, skirted glory. I've put it aside until next week when my friend Mary can help me lay it out into a sheep but of course I had to grab a few handfuls to wash.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Sgi04X2Db9I/AAAAAAAAAbA/Pey0sgcCLkI/s1600-h/IMG_1844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Sgi04X2Db9I/AAAAAAAAAbA/Pey0sgcCLkI/s320/IMG_1844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334712639186759634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Sgi04lZgpeI/AAAAAAAAAbI/ukfsvd9RUKc/s1600-h/IMG_1845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Sgi04lZgpeI/AAAAAAAAAbI/ukfsvd9RUKc/s320/IMG_1845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334712642825135586" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not sure the camera does the smoky, silvery gray justice but this thing is to die for. I spun it out in the washer and it should be dry enough to spin in the morning. Oh fiber goddess, you are truly divine...Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-87100381814020923892009-05-06T17:23:00.000-07:002009-05-19T20:45:03.073-07:00OldReally old. I mean, this sock has grown gray hair and a beard. I have dragged this poor sock on it's size 2 needles up and down the red line when I lived at Lawrence and Pulaski. Then to the end of the line when I moved to East Rogers Park. I bought the yarn in the old Loopy location when I had a fixation for sock yarn and yarn in particular that had aloe and jojoba in it even though $22 for a sock yarn was outside of my budget. I bought the yarn after taking Vicki's sock class, knitting several pair and giving away every damn pair. These were for me. It's been napped on after I zoned out at the beach. It's travelled to DC on vacation and survived a switch from Clover to Crystal Palace needles after Krista talked me into them at the new Loopy location.<br /><br />Do you think I can knit a second?<br /><br />All mourn the never ending sock - it ended. (I actually WON a ball of yarn at a guild meeting for having the oldest project there) I told my friend Kirsten I finished and she said "the one you had at the Yarn Harlot appearance?" Embarrassing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SgIrZrEW3cI/AAAAAAAAAa4/fMXQeF0iGoU/s1600-h/IMG_1790.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SgIrZrEW3cI/AAAAAAAAAa4/fMXQeF0iGoU/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332872628817812930" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-13600308492347944832009-05-05T05:16:00.001-07:002009-05-05T05:19:07.173-07:003 Ply AttemptsSo, this is my attempt at 3 ply yarn. It was going to be for a <a href="http://www.woolywormhead.com/">Wooly Wormhead</a> hat but then I found out their (UK) bulky was really an Aran or something crazy to me so now it's just another pretty yarn. Tragic.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SgAukhQ_tWI/AAAAAAAAAaw/uh4H7i8BNY8/s1600-h/IMG_1789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SgAukhQ_tWI/AAAAAAAAAaw/uh4H7i8BNY8/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332313163746489698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SgAukW6qcsI/AAAAAAAAAao/sozq99LO6IA/s1600-h/IMG_1788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SgAukW6qcsI/AAAAAAAAAao/sozq99LO6IA/s320/IMG_1788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332313160968467138" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-86167983610238951212009-04-29T18:59:00.000-07:002009-04-29T19:35:34.142-07:00Raining/pouring...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrmC0GOI/AAAAAAAAAag/mQTcihMjzfs/s1600-h/IMG_1771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 309px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrmC0GOI/AAAAAAAAAag/mQTcihMjzfs/s320/IMG_1771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330306676567578850" border="0" /></a>My new basket supposedly made in Ghana to decrease the poverty levels and create financial independence amonth the women there..LOVE this basket, seriously.<br /><br />It's been a 'rains and pours' kind of day, kind of couple days really. Knitting guild last night and I think the swap went pretty well, everyone seemed happy with their gifts. Nancy made me 3 cloths in chocolate and lime that were just lovely! They seemed so thick as to be double knitted and I immediately rolled them up into a basket in my guest bath, see? I hope my swap person liked her stuff - of course I forgot to take pictures before I sent it along, stupid me! I made her a Grrlfriend Bag and tried to make her a blue row counter bracelet with limited success. It was pretty though!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrAa_s2I/AAAAAAAAAaA/anvR4ZghzhE/s1600-h/IMG_1774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrAa_s2I/AAAAAAAAAaA/anvR4ZghzhE/s320/IMG_1774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330306666468455266" border="0" /></a><br />Jack has been working hard at designing me a skein winder in her garage and nearly has it figured out. She made me this small prototype and finished it yesterday and I'm pretty proud of her for it. I wound a little alpaca I'd tried to spin into a mini skein on it tonight and it turned out really well also. See how small it is in relation to the tennis ball? From this experiment we have decided we'd rather have a full size winder that was not a windmill style, rather a table style. She is putting a long bolt on the end so I can wind from my spinning wheel bobbins if I want.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrddct3I/AAAAAAAAAaI/niPB5uU8GM4/s1600-h/IMG_1765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrddct3I/AAAAAAAAAaI/niPB5uU8GM4/s320/IMG_1765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330306674263373682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrbIYLfI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/q3JKNq_aaa8/s1600-h/IMG_1767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNrbIYLfI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/q3JKNq_aaa8/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330306673638125042" border="0" /></a><br />I've been knitting a Wooly Wormhead hat in cotton to celebrate my upcoming dred-dom, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meret-mystery-beret">Meret</a>. This was interrupted by some yard work I tried to do today. I had the big green city can rolling it around the backyard for bits of tree I'd trimmed all over the yard. Took a step forward with my right foot and stepped onto the giant lid..lid slid forward, wheels turned, can began to tilt and I'm trapped on this wild escaping trash can thats sliding all over the place. Lovely. Ended up on my left shoulder (and my face) in the yard with some serious contusions and swelling. Double effing lovely. I get my dreds on the 12th and it will take around 3 hours to do. I'm excited because I've wanted them FOREVER!<br /><br />On Friday I am going to Collierville with my friend Mary for a school's Pioneer Day. We're going to demonstrate spinning and I think knitting and it should be alot of fun! I like spending time with Mary, she's very smart and funny and her studio just makes my mouth hang open.<br /><br />Last but not least here's my funny girl. She follows me everywhere and barks incessantly like someone just blew helium into her gut. Times like that I don't mind that they had her de-barked so much.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNriPvkdI/AAAAAAAAAaY/GxAn28vGbuY/s1600-h/IMG_1773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfkNriPvkdI/AAAAAAAAAaY/GxAn28vGbuY/s320/IMG_1773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330306675548066258" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-43592416803526601702009-04-27T05:32:00.000-07:002009-04-27T09:30:33.205-07:00Meerkat in Memphis!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfWmGItYObI/AAAAAAAAAZw/kQ9unVeuveg/s1600-h/IMG_1759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfWmGItYObI/AAAAAAAAAZw/kQ9unVeuveg/s320/IMG_1759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329348358410090930" border="0" /></a><br />What a Handsome Fellow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our friends from Chicago were visiting last week and it was a great chance to see some of the things Memphis has to offer that of course we've been too busy to just stop and visit ourselves!<br />We went (of course) to the Zoo and it was a BEAUTIFUL facility! Almost all the exhibits contained running water and overall it was clean and friendly and didn't cost an arm and a leg and some quivit for entry. This guy stole my heart along with the other meerkats there..between they and the lemurs I am smitten!<br /><br />Yesterday I mowed for the first time this season..saw something wriggling, wriggling like mad and swooped on it. Baby bullfrog I nearly chopped into soup! Yikes! I gathered him up and of course in his distress he 'peeped' at me repeatedly while I carried him through the house insisting to Jack that we put him into an aquarium. Jack convinced me to release him next to the pool however. We were also in the pool for the first time yesterday - water temp was 77 and It Is Not Even May. Woo Hoo, take <span style="font-weight: bold;">THAT</span> Chicago!<br /></div></div><br />Our Spinning guild met last Sunday and did the 2nd half of our program on silk that Mary was teaching. We soaked cocoons, pulled out baby silkworms and their 'ahem' leavings, stretched them over frames we'd built, reeled silk onto cardboard and dyed a layer of silk hankies all in one afternoon! Some of my new friends were there and it was fun to sit and chat with them also! I don't feel as if I learned much other than how to remove the worms from the cocoon honestly..there were alot of participants and it was difficult at times to hear but I had great fun and brought home a little sample pack of all the offerings for my spinning notebook!<br /><br />I've been deadline knitting for 2 weeks and most of it is swap/secret pal stuff that I can't post pics of until after our Knitting guild on Tuesday. I have 2 projects going for that plus the sweater from French Girl Knits that I don't have any decent pictures of yet.<br /><br />May 9th is <a href="http://www.allaboutwomentn.org/">All About Women</a> and I'm excited about being there in a spinning/knitting capacity in the 'life' section of the convention, where women learn about ways to enjoy life and just have some down time. On May 1st I'm scheduled to help my friend Mary with Pioneer Days at a school in Collierville with a spinning demo as well. Fun!<br /><br />Ok, enough for now. May 1st is NOT that far off and I also have 35 of Jack's Department Heads and Managers coming to our house that day for a quarterly meeting which means 'get busy'!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One more pic - Buddah helps us keep it in perspective (to his belly, that is!)<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfWqwKr-SfI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/ZrqRALOvGhE/s1600-h/IMG_1714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SfWqwKr-SfI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/ZrqRALOvGhE/s320/IMG_1714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329353478542084594" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-21872453450482215242009-04-15T19:59:00.000-07:002009-04-19T06:14:59.774-07:00Pearl after a bath<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Sesjw7oMMfI/AAAAAAAAAZo/3PjNgDFT5aI/s1600-h/IMG_1468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Sesjw7oMMfI/AAAAAAAAAZo/3PjNgDFT5aI/s320/IMG_1468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326390307842699762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SeafIDVpG7I/AAAAAAAAAZg/wuv3DZBSwB4/s1600-h/IMG_1468.JPG"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I went over my wheel Pearl with some fine sandpaper and a bottle of wood feed/cleaner today because she's going to be travelling just a little and needs to look good and I think she does! Her wood is really coming into it's own after some care and removal of old paint and decorations</span>.</a><br /><br />This was a good spinny week for me - Mary's package arrived from the Butterflygirldesigns Spindle and Fiber Club and it's a beauty. No pics yet but it's a flower shaped spindle of gold flecked glass and 3 oz. of Tuscany fiber which is exactly what it brings to mind..golds, rusts, deep reds and wood tones. It's 1.3 oz and very fast from the little twirl I gave her!<br /><br />Our friends Nancy and Chris arrived last night from Chicago and it's SO good to see them! They are our first houseguests and the closest thing we have to family as a couple. They also brought Artemis, who is recovering from bone cancer and chemo with an expermental drug treatment. Artemis is 120 lbs of very loving Rottie and it is great to see her looking so good although our little dogs aren't sure how to act!<br /><br />I am knitting a secret swap gift and knitting like mad to meet next week's deadline. I had started a pattern and it was looking very strange and scary so I opted to start something else less experimental for my swap partner. Once I finish I'll post a link to the pattern cuz I thought it was just the coolest concept EVER and it's very fun to knit!<br /><br />I also need to post pics of the guest bedroom now that it's finished..it looks awesome even if I did do it myself! Jack has been busy with her new tools and made stretching frames for my spinning class on silk for myself and a new spinner that's joining me today. They are nifty and I'll take lots of pictures today.<br /><br />It's a monsoon out there..I love the storms but jeez..I'd like to unload my wheel without trying to protect it.Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-54900760349352224202009-04-07T06:17:00.000-07:002009-04-07T06:47:48.282-07:00AlpacaA friend recently gifted me with a couple plastic grocery bags of raw Alpaca seconds (from these trash bags full she was gifted with!) Since my experience with less-than-processed fiber is minimal, I decided to try and flick a bit to see how it looked after I messed it up, I mean worked with it. I'd been told it was still quite full of vm so I put down an old pillowcase to catch the fallout and got started. I didn't know Alpaca had no lanolin until my friend told me! She also said I could spin directly from the wool but I wanted to see what it looked like before and after flicking. (I also didn't feel particularly like spinning right that second!)<br /><br />Lump O Alpaca- I think the crimp is lovely (especially for free fiber!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6KhJ5EI/AAAAAAAAAYo/nwKldMHQQwY/s1600-h/IMG_1397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6KhJ5EI/AAAAAAAAAYo/nwKldMHQQwY/s320/IMG_1397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944041435817026" border="0" /></a><br />One little lock<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6SRjXWI/AAAAAAAAAZI/rJNTDNU5bEA/s1600-h/IMG_1410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6SRjXWI/AAAAAAAAAZI/rJNTDNU5bEA/s320/IMG_1410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944043517861218" border="0" /></a>Nice shot of crimpola, gad I love it<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6AWRYqI/AAAAAAAAAYw/vLmHI0Nng-w/s1600-h/IMG_1398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6AWRYqI/AAAAAAAAAYw/vLmHI0Nng-w/s320/IMG_1398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944038705816226" border="0" /></a>pile of fiber with nice 5 inch staple<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6dxGO1I/AAAAAAAAAY4/AIatJlAo4J0/s1600-h/IMG_1402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtX6dxGO1I/AAAAAAAAAY4/AIatJlAo4J0/s320/IMG_1402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944046602959698" border="0" /></a><br />Thirds (I guess..this is the stuff out of the brush after flicking) I am always a little horrified at the 'waste' but I guess I'll learn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtYIZdxgmI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/i0I9Ph5rwZ4/s1600-h/IMG_1416.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtYIZdxgmI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/i0I9Ph5rwZ4/s320/IMG_1416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944285966336610" border="0" /></a>Finished little basket of fiber<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtYIWuVVSI/AAAAAAAAAZY/yxMwDzoxlF4/s1600-h/IMG_1420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdtYIWuVVSI/AAAAAAAAAZY/yxMwDzoxlF4/s320/IMG_1420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944285230486818" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-82572653685756468662009-03-30T05:15:00.000-07:002009-03-30T05:43:51.796-07:00Monday Already!I'm not sure where the weekends go! I did manage to finish a square for a chemo-afghan and Jack dropped it off at <a href="http://www.hankofyarn.com/">Hank's </a>for me on Saturday. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC7WlweLUI/AAAAAAAAAXo/cbGDnGbo0n0/s1600-h/IMG_1361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC7WlweLUI/AAAAAAAAAXo/cbGDnGbo0n0/s320/IMG_1361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318957156691488066" border="0" /></a> I also frogged back mohair lace (sigh) a few rows to find out where I was on a pattern I'd put down for a bit, Voyager Stole from Elann that I'm making for my mother for Mother's Day. (I have too many projects going) I don't know why this picture insists on being sideways..just turn your head to the right and you'll get the idea....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC8xVmwh0I/AAAAAAAAAYY/uaS4DeQTdZc/s1600-h/IMG_1256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC8xVmwh0I/AAAAAAAAAYY/uaS4DeQTdZc/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318958715723876162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I finished the Lemur King for Jack. ARGH, the knitting was easy..the putting together, see for yourself:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC8QveTI-I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/-V2VFxYp5xs/s1600-h/IMG_1266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC8QveTI-I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/-V2VFxYp5xs/s320/IMG_1266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318958155732034530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC8QRvwzcI/AAAAAAAAAYI/l84L1syRV54/s1600-h/IMG_1265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC8QRvwzcI/AAAAAAAAAYI/l84L1syRV54/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318958147752218050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC7XPa1vmI/AAAAAAAAAYA/LciWpEHAgr4/s1600-h/IMG_1352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC7XPa1vmI/AAAAAAAAAYA/LciWpEHAgr4/s320/IMG_1352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318957167875047010" border="0" /></a>I stripped the original warp off of my pvc loom and started a simple strap for my Traddy. Angela showed me this ingenious strap she wove that she just ties on and it makes a shoulder strap for her wheel! When not in use, it just falls out of the way to the floor! This is the first foot or so of that:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC7XDA2RTI/AAAAAAAAAX4/aytXuZ8bOdk/s1600-h/IMG_1359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC7XDA2RTI/AAAAAAAAAX4/aytXuZ8bOdk/s320/IMG_1359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318957164544804146" border="0" /></a>It's going to be interesting because the loom really isn't designed for longer pieces but I wanted it all woven at once for strength. If you look you'll see the 'V' shaped improvs, we'll see how it works in reality. Right now it's holding a tight enough warp for weaving easily. Here's another pic of the pretty colors (Peaches & Creme cotton)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC-Je_cE2I/AAAAAAAAAYg/QTmjPTxyIWc/s1600-h/IMG_1360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/SdC-Je_cE2I/AAAAAAAAAYg/QTmjPTxyIWc/s320/IMG_1360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318960230071800674" border="0" /></a>Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-67375478972908302352009-03-22T17:38:00.000-07:002009-03-22T17:52:56.190-07:00Trying to keep up!I've decided to 'try' and keep up a little with blogging here - there's SO much I'm doing, spinning, knitting and I've gotten really lazy about uploading pictures and messing with Blogger. Sorry about that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba40fOz3I/AAAAAAAAAXA/GVArGNouOdI/s1600-h/IMG_1304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba40fOz3I/AAAAAAAAAXA/GVArGNouOdI/s320/IMG_1304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316177079854616434" border="0" /></a>This is Jack and our new dog renamed Sarah..they are howling at the moon together while Kasey looks on in amazement. (and me, I never heard a person howl quite like that)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba5uf0u3I/AAAAAAAAAXI/7KhNZl5m-1U/s1600-h/IMG_1291.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba5uf0u3I/AAAAAAAAAXI/7KhNZl5m-1U/s320/IMG_1291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316177095426358130" border="0" /></a>This is some yarn I spun recently. An Etsy seller named Michelle is on Etsy as Knitkass. She is like the nicest person EVER in my book. She sent me a part for my brand new wheel I'd broken without ever talking to or meeting me! Wouldn't even take postage! I got her first handspindle from her store along with this fiber. It's hard to tell but it has a little 'glitz' in it also, and my technique is getting SO much better! Yeah!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba5xkc5GI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/gRmPtoamzFQ/s1600-h/IMG_1299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba5xkc5GI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/gRmPtoamzFQ/s320/IMG_1299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316177096251073634" border="0" /></a>This is my first spindle and fiber from the Butterflygirl Designs spindle/fiber club and I'm loving it so far. It's merino/bamboo/firestar blend and I'm going to do it in a SAL challenge on Ravelry. Again, the pic doesn't do justice, the fiber has this gorgeous blue/green sparkle to the bamboo that looks amazing with the black merino. The spindle is Italian Resin and I adore it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba6Mj9kmI/AAAAAAAAAXY/4QThjkXmS-I/s1600-h/IMG_1267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nfjJtKmbhDA/Scba6Mj9kmI/AAAAAAAAAXY/4QThjkXmS-I/s320/IMG_1267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316177103496778338" border="0" /></a>Here is a picture of Sarah - she is ALL Jack Russell and has adopted me as her forever person. The former owner had her de-barked (ugh, I don't want to know details) but it's made her sound really funny, like she's sucking helium right before she barks, heheheh.<br /><br />Other than this stuff, you can always find me hanging out around Ravelry, most often on the spinning boards. I'll try to get better about keeping up here!Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062745377644422926.post-72965820686200570892009-03-20T05:46:00.000-07:002009-03-20T06:00:20.643-07:00Finally Friday!I don't know what I'm whining about, being home all the time means Fridays are not nearly as big as for those who work outside the home! I'm really tired lately though, not sleeping well so perhaps I'm dreaming of a sleep in on a Sunday morning...<br /><br />The keyword around here is S P I N<br /><br />It's all I want to do. If I'm not spinning on my wheel I'm playing with spindles. I've jumped into trying Merino even though it hates me and I can't spin it. I've stopped looking at my stash as if it's gold and I'm poor and stopped being afraid to try it (for the most part)<br /><br />I do still have a lb of forest green merino I won't touch but that's for laceweight someday. Right now I'm trying for laceweight (and getting fingering) on a light spindle from Butterflygirl Designs that was part of her fiber/spindle club.Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17090945358613341446noreply@blogger.com1