Friday, October 05, 2007

Roving!

20 more rows of Clementine have been completed. I think I noticed a mistake though about 4 rows back. And, since I have become newly emboldened with ripping lace, not to mention that the mistake is quite noticeable, those 4 rows will have to go. Ah well.

Next week, Thursday to be exact, I take my first spinning class! I am very excited. It's a drop spindle class, not wheel though. Drop spindles are much cheaper. I want to see if I like it first before I invest in a wheel.

A while back I had ordered a drop spindle kit. It came with a small amount of roving, but it was Blue Suffolk. I wanted something a little bit softer. I ordered some white roving from The Sheep Shed Studio. They've got really good prices and boy was the customer service great. They sent my order (in two days), and with it was some Yellow and Brown superwash roving as a thank you. How cool is that? I can't remember the last time I ordered something, received it that fast and got a freebie with it. Now, I can't guarantee they'll do that every time an order is placed with them, but they definitely earned a return customer today. And to top it off, the roving is sooooooo soft!

mmmmm, soft!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

knitting video

I don't have a lot to show for my knitting today. I've been tending a kid with a tummy virus for the past two days while keeping the other one from tearing the house down around my ears.

But!

Have you ever seen Stephanie McPhee knit? Have you seen how fast this woman is with the needles? Here's a link to a video that a lady took while at the Bluegrass Festival of Books in Lexington, KY, April 21, 2007. She makes it look like I knit in slow motion.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Young Preying Mantis

Hanging by a thread

I found this little guy hanging around in the side windows around our front door tonight. I know the neighbors are now convinced that I am batshiat crazy for trying over and over and over with and without flash to get these shots. Thought I'd share the ones I liked with you. Click on them to enlarge them.

Preying Mantis Helps Decorate for Upcoming Holiday


Before you ask, Yes, I have a lot of spider webs in these windows (on the outside, trust me.) I try not to look at it like I'm lazy with cleaning or anything. I prefer to look at it like I'm decorating for Halloween early.

Shot with my hand reflected in background. He looks like he's glowing.

From Inside

From Outside

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Tasers and Knitting

Well. He did it again. More gray hair for me. Only This time though, he wasn't using a knife.

This afternoon the Eldest came home from school with a sinus migraine (and threw up in the car on too as a bonus and had a bloody nose) and needed Mom's full attention. I thought Dad was paying attention to the Youngest. Dad thought I was watching him. Meanwhile, Youngest was being extra quiet. Always a bad sign.

Anyway, I got the Eldest settled and went back downstairs to find the little twerp standing in my office chair (which spins by the way and is on rollers), leaning on my desk, and this time he was playing around with and trying to chew on one of my knitting needles. Now what if he had fallen with that needle in his mouth?

I'm tellin' ya, this child may be the death of me.

My Mom came up with a suggestion. Wouldn't it be great if we could come up with a child taser? You know, one that wouldn't do permanent damage, but would only feel like it does when you bump your funnybone?

I would like to add to that thought. That idea is fine and all, but maybe while it's doing it's thing with the funnybone feeling, it would dose me with one shot of valium in one arm and one shot of margarita on the rocks with salt in the other arm. We could make millions by marketing this to all the Moms out there with hellions like mine.

Knitting Progress Report:

I have been knitting some. Not a lot, but I am making progress. I put in a lifeline (since I got a little tired of frogging) and finished about 40 rows of the Clementine Shawlette.


Pic taken in Shea's Big Comfy Leather Rocker that she won't share with the hubby.

Sideways Crazy Action Shot - Just to get you excited about the knit.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

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It's a Happy Birthday Shout Out! To Jennifer! She's now officially 25 days older (ahem, that would be the big Three-Eight.) than me! Yeah!

It just makes me feel good to point that little statistic out.

Since I don't have a recent pic of her, here's a pic of her dog (also not recent, but whatever.)