I got a new toy.

I got a new spinning wheel. No, I don't really need one, but I got it anyway. It is a real Rick Reeves spinning wheel which aren't made anymore. Maybe now Thing #4 will fix my Ashford Traveller before it falls apart.

Thing #1 inspecting Thing #2 inspectingThing#3 inspecting

Summer of Socks 2008 update: I'm way behind. Right now I only have 9 pairs done and 6 pairs on the needles. The person in the lead has done 20 pairs. Even if I only size 4 or bigger needles, I don't know if I will ever catch up.

Horcrux Socks (worsted weight version)

Blueberry Waffle.

If you look at my Ravelry profile, they are the shut him up socks. Thing #4 thinks that all socks should be his. There isn't any such thing as too girly. He says he is man enough to wear anything or he'll wear boots. Any and all comments will be passed on to him.
Broadripple.

The yarn for these is a 3 ply handspun from a Sheep 2 Shoe kit. If I see anymore, I do believe I will pick up a couple.

Springtime socks. Okay it is a basic sock pattern, but the colors are springy.

Circle Socks

Relay for Life socks for Jen.

These aren't part of the Summer of Socks, because they were started before June 21st.

Easy Aran socks - Another pair for Thing #4

This Week in Socks

Only two more pairs done, but there are about 7 pairs on the needles. What can I say. I get bored easily plus changing it up keeps my hand from completely failing.

The first sock is a basic toe up sock made from Patons Decor on size 3 needles. The helper #4 decided this pair needed a long term test of about 24 hours before I pried them off his feet. Yes, he is on probation. He only gets to try one sock on at a time.


The second pair is Brigid from Goddess Knits made with Sugar'n Cream Confectionary Colors in Caramel on size 4 needles.


Here is a preview of a couple of the other pairs I'm working on.

First Pair Done

I have finished the first pair of socks.

They aren't pretty, but done. They are made out of Sugar'n Cream yarn on size 3 needles. Just a touch too small of a needle. The socks are for Dave the almost brother in law who claims he is allergic to wool. This was the first time that I have attempted a peasant or afterthought heel. I'm not to taken with it. I think I will stick with the basic Dutch heel that I usually do. I would have been done sooner, but there are so many patterns I want to try. I'm going to try to limit myself to 3 on the needles at any time: one cuff down, one toe-up, and one other technique like modular or sideways.

Oh the 4th helper wanted me to mention that he claims he is my offical sock tester. Back to knitting, maybe I'll finish a toe-up pair before the day is done.

Summer of Socks - The Helpers

I started on the Summer of Socks on Saturday. I'm so bad. I already have casted on 4 different sock patterns and have only finished 2 socks that aren't even from the same pair. Anyway while I focus on finishing a pair, I thought you might want to meet my helpers, the cats. All three are essentially strays and have their own special needs.

Thing #1 - Pepper Anne
She is the oldest of the three cats. Her main assistance is to keep my lap warm and to distract me from time to time. She is also known to have seizures which is another distraction. The seizures are that bad. She is the second cat that I've had that has had them. I adopted her because of the seizures. Yep. I'm a glutton for punishment.




Thing #2 - Tubby
He truly lives up to his name. The boy weighs in at about 16 pounds and we dread going to the vet because we get the cat is fat lecture. We could control his food all we like, but he has snacks when he is outside. He was born with 4 legs, but at slightly over a year old some (fill in the blank with word of your choice) shot him. He really doesn't think that he only has 3 legs sometimes. He can still bulldoze you over when he is running full tilt. His main job is to keep my lap warm and to cut off the circulation in my legs.


Thing #3 - Violet
This is the newest edition to the family. She is reliving her inner kitten. The baby of the family was an indirect Christmas present. Indirect, because we were just going to watch her until the folks Troy got her from came back from a trip. They really didn't want her in the first place, but she ended up in a live trap they had. She was pretty messed up and underfed. Her job is to annoy the heck out of me, which does very well. Any and all balls, yarns, and needles are hers to be played with. Plus she has to be with me all of the time. The worst of it is that she doesn't really meow. She squeaks.

This is a posed shot, but it is cute anyway. From the top is Pepper, Violet, and the Tubby.

Thing #4 - Troy
I still haven't figured out his purpose is. Probably never will.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

What have I been doing for the last couple of months? Taking pictures and knitting, silly.

In April, Troy and I were at The Fiber Event in Greencastle, Indiana. I tried to sell fleeces, roving, yarn and cross-stitch kits.

Troy brought one of his braiding machines. The big seller was the britch wool roving. Who knew butt wool would be so popular. Fleeces, roving and yarn are still available if anyone is interested.

I finished the nephew's hockey stick cozies, aka the kilt socks. They are huge. Each one measures 34 inches long. The socks were suppose to be for the prom, but the date didn't want him going in his kilt. I said, very colorfully, to get a new date.

I made a few dishcloths.

The LYS had a Build-a-Bear Party and sweater contest. Meet Prudence Charity. Her intials are PCB. Had Troy liked the other name I was going to go with, her intials were going to be PMS.

He got PMS either way.

I was test knitting the Ivy Shawl by Jeanne Townsend. There is a Yahoo group KAL for it.

a little better detail

Spinning with the Back Row Spinners. There is even picture proof I was there.

And spending way too much time surfing Ravelry. If you aren't there, invites are down to about a day.

Now, I'm going to pick up my CSA share, go home, and work on a star afghan. So there Michelle.

Beware I have a camera

No the Easter Bunny didn't bring me one. I had to go spend my own hard earned money. Anyway, here are a few pictures of the over 70 ducks now nesting at my desk at work.

The Duck Choir

My duck rockers

More ducks

More ducks

Her Majesty

It's a Girl and another girl

The first lambs arrived today. Twin white BFLs.

Sheep Shearing Party

The new shearer just called last night and moved up shearing a week to Saturday, February 16th. I'm not ready. I was going to use that weekend to get ready! Needless to say he isn't scoring points in my eyes right now. Also, the list of reserved fleeces has disappeared. I remember a few, but there were so many. More panic. Now I'm just trying to let everyone know the change. Even more panic. This will teach me to plan ahead.

So with that, everyone is invited to our annual sheep shearing party on Saturday, February 16, 2008. We have purebred Shetlands and Blue Face Leicester. We will be starting at 10 am and going until all 62 sheep are naked. The farm is at 3031 102nd Avenue; Allegan, MI 49010-9734. There will be spinning, knitting, crocheting and visiting. Please send me a message if you need a phone number or directions. It would be swell if folks brought a dish to pass. The guys from Wooly Knob are coming up on Sunday, February 17th if anyone has fleeces to drop off. They are usually at the farm around 2pm and leave about 5pm.

One victim down

I've killed my first victim in Death by Socks and she was nice enough to send me a picture of her demise. I'm waiting for the next victim's socks to arrive. I think I will give up on the camera fairy and go buy one myself. I just became a part of Raverly.com and pictures of projects would be a really good thing. If you aren't part of it, you should check it out. Its a dangerous place really. All sorts of patterns and groups to get a person in trouble. And here I thought I would do some stash busting this year.

We have a new cat, even though the boy friend keeps saying she's temporary. I've named her Violet Temperance and she was rescued from Bowen's Mills. She is a cute grey and white little girl with thumbs (extra claws). I think that she is starting to settle in and the other two are tolerating her existance.

I've gone back to school and I can say that I'm not impressed with my instructor. Both of my classes are web based, which I think is the way to go. My instructor has discussion questions in one of the classes and so far they have been watch tv or the Superbowl for the commercials and discuss them. I'm trying to severely cut back my tv viewing. I'm not a big football person either. At least she could have given us the option of the Superbowl or Daytona. I would much rather watch Daytona. Better for projects anyway. The local embroidery shop had their annual Superbowl sale and I think that I got every pattern that had a sheep on it. Now just to find the time to work on them.

Death by Socks starts soon

My second round of Death by Socks starts on Tuesday. I'm spinning some lovely bright green wool/mohair from Jehovah Jireh Farm for the occasion. My next victim lives in New York. I'm afraid she might not make it to the weekend or at least that is my goal. It all depends on the pattern which is a surprise.

I finally went to visit my lastest grandsheep. I have no excuses not to as she and her mother live down the street. She really cute and small, even for a Shetland. She even let me pet her. No name for her yet. Marilyn, the mother, stood a way aways and glared at me, as usual. It looks like I am getting Isabella's fleece, though it doesn't really matter which great great grandsheep's fleece I get. I just like her name.