Sunshine Knitter

2012-01-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

Not a lot going on this week.

Wool Stuff

This isn't knitting or spinning, but does involve wool. In the early 1960's (1962 maybe) I got a troll doll in California while on a family vacation. He had white wool hair, not dyed like so many of them. And I'm sure it was wool, not mohair. The colored-hair trolls never appealed to me. Through the years, my troll suffered some insect damage, and his remaining hair looked very sad. So I removed the old piece of sheepskin, cut a strip off a sheepskin I have, and gave him a new hairdo. I know it ruined the troll's value as a collectible, but I don't care. I'm glad I did it. He looks absolutely lovely. The small troll in the photo (actually a pencil topper) isn't quite as old, and still has original wool hair and felt clothes. I can't say why the bugs left that one alone, as they were always together.

Reading Stuff

I read A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith. It's a multigenerational epic novel about Florida. Very good and highly recommended. The Chick Magnet is reading it now.

I'm currently reading The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius. A huge book about fibers and the animals we get it from.

Garden Stuff

I've picked a few peppers, and the kale is still fantastic. We have a lot of onions, as well. The pansies are beautiful.

2012-01-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of time this week getting ready for the Textile Guild's "yard sale", which was yesterday. I didn't get rich, but sold some excess yarn and a little bit of fabric. I am very glad to find homes for the yarn, in particular. I'd still like to sell more of the fabric.

Spinning Stuff

I'm working on the pink singles for the Sunrise yarn. I have quite a bit of the first skein knitted up into a throw. I'll need more soon.

Here are the first three yarns from the Spin Art spinalong. Not my finest moments, but any means, but interesting to do. It's always good to try something new and learn a new technique.

Knitting Stuff

Working on the above-mentioned throw.

Garden Stuff

I divided and moved the iris this week, plus cut back or removed the frost-damaged/killed sage plants. I have a lot of good cuttings of the sages. I like to have a lot of them in the garden. Not only are they pretty and durable, the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds rely on them.

Reading Stuff

Hybrids by Robert J Sawyer. Sci-fi about humans, neanderthals, and alternate universes, with a little ecology and philosophy thrown in.

2012-01-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

Spinning Stuff

I'm participating in the Ravelry spin-along for Jacey Boggs' new book Spin Art. In January we are all working on the first chapter. I've spun up samples of "Racing Stripe", "Auto Wrap", and "Tornado". These are all singles yarns with wraps. I almost always overspin my singles yarns, so I can't say I'm a screaming success at any of these. Pictures next week, as they are drying now after washing and whacking.

Why I Love the Chick Magnet

Last week a frog got in the house. Frogs have to be captured and removed quickly, because they dry out and die at an alarming speed. I was unable to catch this one, a lively brown Pine Woods Tree Frog. That evening, I saw it on the window near the orchids, and pointed it out to the Chick Magnet. He was able to catch it, and took it outside. I would have released it as soon as I got to some plants, but he took it around to the outside of the window where he'd caught it, and put it there, on the other side of the glass. We've seen this frog a couple of times since then. The brown ones are unusual enough that we're sure it's the same one. It spent the cold spell in my watering can.

Garden Stuff

Our "greenhouse" shelter over the tomatoes and peppers got a real test this week. We had two nights with several hours of temps in the 20's, all the way down to 22 degrees one morning. We put blankets over the plants inside the plastic-covered shelter. Anything that touched plastic died, but the covered plants survived very nicely.

Reading Stuff

The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure. "My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie" This is a fun book about visiting all the Laura Ingalls Wilder destinations.

2011-12-30T10:27:00.000-08:00

Spinning Stuff

I finished a skein of the Sunrise yarn. I'm really not a pastel person, but this yarn is beautiful.

Knitting Stuff

Because I love the Sunrise yarn, I really want to make something with it. Because is looks putrid against my skin, I can't use it for a garment. So I started a light weight throw. I'm using a pattern with ziggy-zaggies and garter stitch, and I'll put a lace edging around it.

Garden Stuff

I put a bunch of kale in the freezer, and there's still plenty in the garden for greens for the Chick Magnet for New Year's dinner. We put the frame over the tomatoes and peppers, and I got the plastic over it for frost protection.

I put in four more broccoli plants. They're purple, just for something different!

I bought an amaryllis bulb (Lemon Star) for indoor culture a couple of weeks ago. They are always fun to grow, as they grow so fast you can almost see it. It's just starting to bloom. I have a pot of paper whites, too, but they're not in bloom yet.

Reading Stuff

I'm still working on Voyage of the Beagle. It's not really a page turner, and I've been a bit distracted by spinning and knitting.

2011-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Seems like I've been busy this week, but there isn't much to talk about.

Knitting Stuff

I finished a hat and started a pair of summer socks for me! It's an older yarn in sherbet colors. They will be refreshing and pretty.

Spinning Stuff

I've nearly filled a bobbin with pink for the Sunrise yarn.

Dyeing Stuff

I've been dyeing silk. I did a bunch of silk carrier rods. Now I'm working on silk hankies. Silk is really different from wool to dye. One batch of reddish brown I may keep for my own spinning.

Reading Stuff

The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin. It's interesting as a period piece for scientific thought as well as social norms.

2011-12-17T14:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick posting.

Here is Walker in his new cozy cave. He loves it.

I got a Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder http://strauchfiber.com,

and boy is it ever nice. I just had an el cheapo brand X plastic ball winder before. Good tools are a true joy.

This is pepper Lemon Drop. Beautiful and lethal.

2011-12-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

Disaster struck last week: my computer refused to turn on. The initial diagnosis is the motherboard is fried. Fortunately, I keep most of my files on an external hard drive, so they're easy to move to another computer. After considering our options, the Chick Magnet and I decided we could share his big computer, and I would get an iPad for my email and small work. And play, of course. So I am now the happy owner of an iPad, and the unhappy sharer of the Chick Magnet's computer. Because it is, after all, his computer, his table, his chair, his area. I miss my window. I did install my mouse as I have a far superior model.

Doggie Stuff

Drs. Foster and Smith had a lot of stuff on sale, and free shipping, so we got Walker a cozy cave. It's pretty nice, and the cover is removeable so it can be washed (very important). No pictures this week, as I need to do something to get my pictures off my camera and onto this computer. Sigh.

Garden Stuff

Wonderful vegetables. We had cabbage a couple of nights ago. I set out a few pansies, always one of my favorites.

Spinning Stuff

I got my poinsettias last week. I went to the technical school, which sells them from their greenhouse. I got one red, one

dark pink, and one that is really different. Imagine the bracts being light yellow, overlaid with dense pink dots. It makes it seem like the flowers glow. The more I look at it, the better I like it.

Why is this under spinning?

Last summer at Athens I bought a bag of yellow romney with white cotswold locks. I didn't know what I was going to do with it (yellow really isn't my color), but it looked intriguing and different, so it came home with me. Enter the poinsettia. I spun up a sample 2-ply: one strand is the yellow carded with undyed merino and undyed silk carrier rods, and the other strand is pink merino carded with undyed merino and silk carrier rods. I'm happy enough with the yarn that I'm going to spin up a good bit of it, maybe for a warm wrap of some kind. I don't know the name of the poinsettia, but I'm calling the yarn "Sunrise".

Knitting Stuff

I just finished a dishcloth.

2011-11-26T10:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with the Bowen clan. Our drive there was pretty quiet until we were almost there. A storm came up just about sundown, and it was like the lights went out. Pouring down rain and pitch black. We went thru a small town and all the lights really were out there. A road block was set up because of a transformer on fire, and sent us off onto an alternate path, which fortunately the Chick Magnet knew how to navigate. While all this was going on, Walker was throwing up in the back seat (never buy dog chews at a gas station). Luckily, he threw up on the lid of the cooler, which was very easy to clean up.

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner with family. Far too much food, all of it good.

It's always good to see family and talk with people face to face.

Doggie Stuff

Walker's big adventure while visiting wasn't throwing up in the car, memorable as that was. One night I was sitting at the kitchen table reading, when I heard coyotes right outside the car port. Walker (and everyone else) had already gone to bed, but he tore out of his sleeping bag, yelling out great, ferocious barks. He ran by me all bristled up and wild-eyed. He couldn't believe I didn't let him out to take care of those interlopers. The coyotes left.

Knitting

I started an elf hat for the Chick Magnet, because he'd said he needed a new one. I had this one about half done, when he told me he didn't need a new one, he'd found his old one. Rippit, rippit, rippit.

I'm working on a summer top with mitered squares. I don't have enough done yet to know if it's going to work the way I imagine.

Spinning

I'm chain-plying the first bobbin of BFL/silk.

Garden

I may take out the broom corn this week. There are still seed heads, but I can cut them and save them for cold weather.

2011-11-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

I chanced upon some broccoli seedlings in K-Mart, so I now have 14 little plants in the garden, plus one plant that was with them that I think is collards. The kale is just fantastic. I planted a different variety this year, Gulag Stars, which has a variety of leaf shapes. Some of them are really huge. The Chick Magnet says it's really good to eat. I don't like kale to eat, I just like to grow it.

Spinning Stuff

I'm still spinning the BFL/silk. It's a wonderful blend to spin and makes beautiful yarn.

Knitting Stuff

Still working on socks. But I'm giving serious thought to a sleeveless top, and may get started on that soon. I have a well-aged cotton/linen/rayon/acrylic blend that should

be about perfect for what I have in mind.

Reading Stuff

Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan. The chapter on color alone is worth the price of the book.

2011-11-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

We had frost this morning. I'd remembered at the last minute to cover things, so there was no damage to even really tender plants. I have a couple that have to come into the house if the temp gets below 50.

The camellias are still really beautiful. The bushes seem to be responding well to the increased sunlight since we had the trees removed. I tried growing my own pansies this year, but not a single seed germinated. I've only done this once in the past, so I don't think I'm really skilled at it.

I've had one salad so far.

Knitting Stuff

I've worn my Ida vest to rave reviews this past week. Knitters and non-knitters alike find it to be intriguing. I think it is comfortable to wear, as well as being a fun garment. I'm currently working on a pair of socks.

Spinning Stuff

I joined the Textile Art Guild of St. Augustine. I've attended some of their events, but never in costume. Now that I'm a member, I need to get a period costume. With this in mind, I'm spinning some wool/silk blend to make a pair of stockings for my costume.

Reading Stuff

Persuader by Lee Child. Another Jack Reacher novel. Good stories with a lot of detail.

Pet Stuff

Walker loves to chase a soccer ball. I know, not exactly professional photography, but I have really limited equipment.

2011-11-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Beautiful weather. Just beautiful.

Garden Stuff

We've had peppers, kale, a

nd bunching onions this week. Little Ray has had a steady supply of radish leaves, as well as a little kale. We will have lettuce very soon. Four of the camellia bushes are

covered with flowers. None of these do really well as cut flowers, but I bring

one in the house occasionally just the same.

This orchid burst into bloom a few days ago.

Knitting Stuff

I've been knitting dishcloths using reversible mitered squares. I love how flat they turn out. And really and truly reversible. Regular mitered squares are almost, but not quite, reversible. But these are. Even in the (slightly garish) multicolor, it's really hard to tell one side from the other. I'm working on a dishcloth in a solid color, and it's almost magical.

The Ida vest is finished, although I may take out the I-cord in the armholes and redo it. I

think it's a little bit too tight. I've worn it around the house a couple of times, and it's comfy and warm.

Pet Stuff

Little Ray is singing beautifully. I've tried a few times to get a recording, but my equipment isn't good enough. Even with the microphone about 3 inches from his beak, I barely get a squeak. However, I've got a lot of respect for the people who get recordings of wild birds, no matter how good their equipment is!

Reading Stuff

Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters. A Brother Cadfael mystery, I think the best one yet.

2011-10-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

I got my flu shot today.

Garden Stuff

The garden looks good. I need to plant some more carrots, beets, and radishes. We should have lettuce and kale soon.

The camellias are blooming; mostly the sassanquas, but one japonica is starting to bloom, and one bush I think is another species, but I can't

remember it's

name, has a lot of bloom.

Knitting Stuff

Here is a better picture of the Castle Scarf.

I have one front, the back, and part of the second front finished on the Ida vest. It is looking really nice. I haven't decided yet how to finish the edges of the armhol

es and the fronts. I'll have to do some swatching and experimenting to see what looks the best.

This part isn't knitting. I watched a video on YouTube showing how to do continuous-strand weaving on a potholder loom. It looked interesting, and a potholder loom isn't exactly

a big investment, so I gave it a try. Here it is, done with Cascade 220, before and after felting. This

isn't something I would want to do every day, but it is always fun to learn new things.

Reading Stuff

The Tangled Bank by Carl Zimmer. A textbook on evolution. A lot of it is over my head. Science has moved on a bit since I left school.

Pet Stuff

Little Ray is singing, not a lot and not very loudly, but singing nonetheless.

2011-10-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

The weather has suddenly turned cool, and it is really beautiful. I did a bunch of weeding in the garden this morning. I transplanted one little lettuce seedling that was growing too close to it's neighbor, and one cabbage seedling that is a mystery. I bought cabbage seedlings to transplant, I didn't plant any seeds. Yet here was this young cabbage plant in an unexpected place.

The beets and carrots are up. You have to look really close to see the carrots. The onions are beginning to send up shoots.

I gave Little Ray a radish leaf, just because the chickens really like radish leaves. He does, too. It's pretty amazing how quickly that tiny little bird can consume an entire leaf.

Knitting Stuff

Here is the finished Castle Scarf. I'm very pleased. It is truly reversible, a very good thing in a scarf.

I started on my third skein of yarn for my Ida vest, and realized it doesn't have as much twist as what I'd already used, and really like for this project. So I had to do some thinking and make some decisions. I still had some unspun top, so I started spinning some more yarn. I frogged the yarn I didn't like (there's enough for another project), and started using the yarn I'd spun up for part of the lower edge. It's lighter in color than what I wanted, but it's the right texture. I'm taking out the parts that are really light. If I have to, I can over-dye the entire garment.

Spinning Stuff

I'm spinning more yarn for the Ida vest. It won't match the color of the first part perfectly, but fortunately that doesn't matter in this pattern. However, I need to get enough yarn to finish the vest out of this pile of top, as it was dyed with dyes I can no longer get. And another dye lot wouldn't be the same anyway.

Pet Stuff

I keep thinking Little Ray is going to burst into song any day now. It hasn't happened yet. But soon.

2011-10-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to click on the little date flag to see the entire post.

The Chick Magnet and I have had terrible colds this week.

Garden Stuff

Nearly everything is growing well. The single exception is the tomatoes. We haven't had cool nights, and I've lost one plant to wilt. Another is not well but may recover if the nights stay below 70 degrees. I was able to get onion sets and get the rest of the onions in the ground. Everyone else must have also been waiting anxiously for them; I kind of got the dregs. However, I'm sure they'll do fine.

More amaryllis leaves have put in an appearance. I'm so glad.

The camellias are beginning to bloom. No pictures yet.

Spinning and Knitting Stuff

I spun up four more bobbins of fat singles and felted them. The "Castle" Scarf is

almost finished. No pictures of the knitting yet, but it is spawning new ideas for other items as well, possibly a pullover summer top.

Reading Stuff

I just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The most compelling and horrific book on World War II I've ever read.

Even if you don't think you like war books or history, read it.

2011-10-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

I'm trying out a new format for my blog. You may have to click on the little date flag in order to see the whole post. Let me know what you think.

Doggie Stuff

Walker gave us a bad scare Monday. About mid-afternoon he had a bad reaction to the pyrethrins in his flea shampoo, and started staggering and having tremors. We took him to a nearby veterinarian, who kept him for a couple of hours to give him a blood test and administer drugs.

About closing time she called and said we needed to take him to St. Augustine to an overnight emergency clinic, where they would keep an eye on him and give him fluids. Since we can do both of those things, we brought him home.

We held him safely while he came down off the drugs, and I made him some dilute chicken soup, which pretty much guaranteed he would drink. By about 1:00 am I was able to put his basket right next to our bed and go to bed myself. He's back to normal now.

Garden Stuff

We've had a little rain, which is always nice. The kale and silverbeet have all been transplanted to their permanent sites, and seem to be doing well. The little cabbages are big enough to see from the house and are starting to head nicely. I planted beets and carrots this morning, in a bit of a hurry, as there was thunder all around. But so far, no rain today. The bunching onions have greened up, but I still don't have any sets to put in for green onions and sweet onions.

Spinning Stuff

I spun up a small amount of merino as a low-twist single. Then I slightly felted it. It's drying right now. I intend to use this for an experimental scarf I have in mind. If the knitting goes well, I'll spin up more of the yarn.

Knitting Stuff

The Ida vest is under way. It's made in one diagonal piece. I have one front and

part of the back done

. I'm enjoying working on it.

Here is my finished shoulder cape. I decided against the button, as it was too heavy.

Reading Stuff

A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters. An Amelia Peabody mystery by one of my favorite authors. All of her books are good, and Amelia Peabody is one of the best characters ever.

2011-09-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

Tiny frogs are really cute.

We're still having summer weather (hot days, warm nights) but the garden is doing well. The radishes, kale, and swiss chard are all up. The broccoli seed was really old, so I'm not surprised that it didn't germinate. I have bunching onions and lettuce in the ground, too. I hope to be able to get onion sets at the feed store next week. The peppers are setting on, and one tomato plant has a couple of tiny tomatoes.

A few amaryllis bulbs are bravely putting out leaves. I had feared after being eaten off by grasshoppers last year, moved this spring, eaten off by grasshoppers this year, and suffering a long hot summer, that most if not all had given up. I'm happy to see them again.

Spinning Stuff

I spun some darker Reubie and some lighter Reubie. I hope to get started on my Ida vest this week.

Knitting Stuff

I'm working in the ends on my mitered square shoulder cape. I put an I-cord edge around it. I started with regular I-cord, but I decided it was too smooth to look good with all the garter stitch, so I ripped it out and did a garter stitch I-cord. Slow and annoying to do, but it looks really good. Pictures next week.

Reading Stuff

I tried, and failed, to read Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. I know he's a successful author with a devoted following, but I just couldn't get into it at all.

2011-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Florida Fiber In

Last weekend was the Florida Fiber In. I always describe it as a party with shopping. People who come only for the vendors are disappointed, as it is a small event. To really get the full benefit of the Fiber In, you need to sit and spin/knit/crochet/embroider/braid/tat/whatever fiber-ish thing you like to do, and just hang out with people who understand why you do these things. We also do silly things like wear funny hats. We go out to eat and leave memorable impressions on the wait staff. We have demo's on a variety of subjects. All in all, we have a lot of fun.

The Chick Magnet's Sweater

.... is finally finished! It's 'way too warm to wear it yet, as we are still having summer weather. And it is a warm s

weater. Here it is being modeled by the Chick Magnet and by his (not really) twin.

I put a facing around the neck to help support the weight of the sweater and to make the placket lay

flat. I like the way it looks and feels.

Garden Stuff

I've pretty much got the major weeding done. I've set out tomatoes, peppers, and cabbages. I've seeded broccoli, swiss chard, radishes, and kale. I'm still having trouble with the lubber grasshoppers. A red

shouldered hawk has been hanging around and hunting in the yard, and I hope it has big grasshoppers on the menu.

Knitting Stuff

I'm ready to put the border on the mitered square shoulder cape. I think I'm going to go with I-cord. I thought about putting something fancier on the bottom edges, but I don't really think it needs it. I have a wonderful button to close the neck.

Spinning Stuff

I don't have anything on the wheel right now, but I may spin up some more Reubie wool for my Ida vest. I might pull out the darker sections of top and spin some yarn that is slightly darker to use for the lower row of squares.

2011-09-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, after the Brush Up class at A Stitch in Time, I asked for the new schedule. I was told I wasn't on it, except for occasional teaching. So I'm retired.

Knitting Stuff

I started knitting the Cape with Fringe on page 77 of Knit to Be Square by Vivian Hoxbro. It's a very clever design made with mitered squares. I'm not doing the fringe. I using some handspun from 2009 made from wool and angelina, plied with a singles yarn from silk hankies. It's mostly lavender with orange and green. It's going along at a good rate. I have almost half of it knitted. I'm not sure what I will do with the edge, but I'm pretty sure it won't be fringe!

Spinning Stuff

I haven't done any spinning since I got home.

Garden Stuff

Weeding and more weeding. And dreaming and deciding where I will plant what in a couple of weeks.

I'm not sure what the orange flowers are, but I think they are a kind of mini bird of paradise.

Reading Stuff

I've been kind of jumping around from magazines to various books.

2011-09-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

I've been busy since my last post.

Plying the Arts

The first weekend in August I went to Athens, GA, for Plying the Arts. I set up my booth and sold wool, both dyed and undyed, and patterns. It was held in beautiful Lyndon House. I had an enjoyable weekend with fellow fiber fiends. Several were staying in the same hotel, so there was always company for breakfast.

The event was different from other fiber events I've attended. There were very few stray people during classes, so the vendors has a lot of down time.

The Next Leg of the Journey

I loaded all my stuff into Murray and headed for Alabama and my father-in-law's house. The Chick Magnet and Walker met me there. We unloaded Murray; some of the stuff went in the basement and some into the Chick Magnet's car. On Tuesday, Aug 9, the Chick Magnet returned to FL. Walker and I headed for Minnesota.

I had two long days of driving. I spent one night on the road, at the Hannibal Inn in Hannibal, MO. Walker is a good traveller, and good company. He does get bored, though.

Marshall, Minnesota

I spent two weeks with my cousin (hereafter referred to as Sunshine Sister 1), her husband, and their dog, Sam.

Mom was in a rehab center in Marshall for swallow therapy following neck surgery she'd had earlier in the summer. She was glad to see Walker and me. I spent nearly every afternoon with her. We talked, did puzzles, and went for short walks outside. Many times we were driven back inside by people smoking right outside the door on the "front porch" area. We went out for lunch a few times, which was always a nice change from the institutional food.

Sunshine Sister 1 and I spent a day in Sioux Falls looking at assisted living facilities, but in the end Mom is going home and is going to have home health care. She is going home this afternoon.

The Return Home

I spent two more long days of driving to get back to AL. I was very proud that I didn't get lost on the back roads on the way to the house. I loaded up my stuff from the basement, spent one night with the Chick Magnet's dad, and then came home to FL. We got home Monday, August 29.

Home Again

I've spent the last few days doing things around the house, working in the garden, and spending time on the phone making sure the home care is arranged.

Knitting Stuff

Sunshine Brother 2's aran cardigan is finished. I finished knitting the pieces and put it together in MN. Sunshine Sister 1 put in the zipper. I'm currently working on a pair of socks.

Reading Stuff

I'm still working my way through a pile of back newspapers.

2011-07-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

My back is still bothering me. No more dyeing for a few more days at least.

Garden Stuff

My first purple coneflower opened, and as you can see, it's white. Not a bad thing, just an unexpected thing. Now I can hardly wait to see what color the other one is! It's been a bit overshadowed by the sages, so it doesn't have any buds yet. I did a little pruning to help that situation.

Tuesday morning I took Walker for a walk on the other side of the highway where there's a little shade in the morning. Deep in the ditch I spied a rudbeckia (black-eyed susan) in bloom. Knowing that it would be dead in the first heavy rain, I grabbed a piece of broken plastic, dug it up, took it home, and put it in the garden. Just in time, as we got almost 2" of rain yesterday. It drooped a bit the first day in the garden, but since then it hasn't looked back.

Spinning Stuff

I'm feeling a little more relaxed about my knitting projects for some reason, so I've done a bit of spinning this week. I'm still spinning the Reubie wool.

I think I need to change my brake band, as I've had some trouble adjusting the tension. I'm still using the original that came with the wheel, so it has quite a few miles on it.

Knitting Stuff

Pretty much the same as before.

Pet Stuff

Little Ray is molting; there are feathers everywhere. He has sung just a little this week, which is surprising.

Not a pet, but the hummingbird has been visiting the feeder. She doesn't like it when a bubble rises.

The cardinals are busy with the sunflowers. The seeds are about twice as big as commercial sunflower seeds. They're picking the broom corn, too.

2011-07-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Wool Work

Tuesday I was rinsing some wool when something in my lower back went pop! and I was in serious pain. I hobbled around the yard for awhile, then walked more in the house. I took Aleeve and had the Chick Magnet put some capsacin gel on the appropriate area. I moved pretty slowly for a couple of days, but I'm pretty much back to normal now. I haven't dyed any more wool this week.

Spinning Stuff

I've done some work on the Reubie wool.

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater is nearly finished. I need to finish the placket lining and get it sewn in place.

I'm also working on SunshineBrother2's aran cardigan. One of the fronts is about half finished. It's worsted weight yarn (Encore), so it goes pretty quickly. All the cables and texture make it interesting to knit.

Garden Stuff

A couple of days ago a hummingbird flew up to the window and looked me in the eye, as if to say, "Have you seen the deplorable condition of this garden?" I took the hint and mixed up some "red kool-ade" and put out a feeder.

Doggie Stuff

Just relaxin' in his basket.

2011-07-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

We've had more rain. There was a small drip from the pipe into the pond this morning.

Peppers, flowers, and a few herbs are all that is left in the garden. Most of it is mulched down for the summer. The cardinals are beginning to harvest the sunflowers and the broom corn, which is a millet rather than corn. Most of it didn't get very tall this year, I'm guessing because of the lack of rain.

The hummingbirds fight over the flowers. They also seem to pick tiny insects off the broom corn. There's no nectar there for them, of course.

Dyeing Stuff

I dyed a little more Panda (this is Smokey Lisette), but now I'm back to dyeing merino, which is the most popular fiber I sell. Here is Electric Evening.

Spinning Stuff

I spun up a small amount of Electric Evening as a sample.

Knitting Stuff

Still working on the Chick Magnet's sweater. The second sleeve is nearly half done.

Reading Stuff

Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. A new thriller, with a new main character, from two of my favorite authors.

2011-06-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

We had rain yesterday, and may get more today! Everything needs rain, and the salvia in particular are desperate for it. The water from the hose keeps them alive, but it has too much salt and bleach to make them really happy.

The big sunflowers are nearly all in bloom, and most are nodding. The flowers are too big for the stems to hold upright. I'm anxious to see the mature seeds, to see if they are as large as the seeds I planted. The dry weather may make a difference.

Spinning Stuff

I don't think I've done any spinning at all this week. I've really been concentrating on knitting and dyeing.

Knitting Stuff

I've been working hard on the Chick Magnet's sweater. I've just started the second sleeve. This is an awfully big project to have in my lap in the summer, but I'm determined to get it done and out of my head.

Dyeing Stuff

I've been hitting the dye pots pretty hard. I'm dyeing Panda (60% SW Merino, 30 % rayon process bamboo, 10 % nylon) blend now. A new color this week is Fairburn Agate. I also dyed Deede, Bright Fire, and Degrees of Purple. Notice how different Deede looks in Panda (this week) as compared to SW BFL (last week). The blend really makes the dye take-up different.

I keep track of my dyed fibers in an Excel file, and I've been having trouble keeping everything straight when I sync it with my iPod. I don't know why, but it's a major headache. I really need a relaible record on both the computer and the iPod. I spent about 2 1/2 hours this morning checking the files against the actual wool. Really tedious stuff, and annoying when I found mistakes.

Reading Stuff

Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan. This seems to be a very good basic dyeing book for beginners. Good pictures and common sense. Very good color exercises.

2011-06-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

It's a noisy day, as we're having some trees removed. The big industrial-strength chippers are really noisy, and the occasional house-shaking thud is a bit distracting. I'm glad to have these trees gone. One in particular has really been worrying me.

It's been kind of interesting watching the tree guys work, although their lack of protective gear is suprising. I think I'd be wearing a hard hat and safety glasses.

Spinning Stuff

I have done very little spinning this week. I've done a lot of dyeing. I've done a lot of merino and SW Blue-faced Leicester, and am now working on Panda blend.

This is a new color called "Deede".

Knitting Stuff

I've been getting ready for a class on basic cables. We will be starting a little pouch bag, and I worked up a couple of other samples as well.

Garden Stuff

More sunflowers are blooming, and those in bloom last week are bigger. There are a few datil peppers.

This a green paph blooming in the house. It's much more lime than it appears in the photo.

2011-06-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's smoky again this afternoon. I'm not sure which fire this is from. It's not really nearby.

Garden Stuff

Here is the Chick Magnet with the sunflowers. He is six feet tall, so that gives you an idea how tall the sunflowers are. The tallest one isn't showing color yet, and doesn't show up very well in this photo. The cardinals are already chekcing them out and keeping an eye on their progress.

For those of you who remember our pond in it's heyday, here's a sad photo of it's current state. Mostly, we try not to think about it. In our memories, it's still deep, clean, clear, and full of big fish. And swimming children.

Spinning and Knitting Stuff

I haven't done much spinning or knitting this week. I've spent a lot of time working on dyeing, weighing, pricing, and labeling wool.

Reading Stuff

The End of the Road by Sue Henry. A Maxie and Stretch mystery. Our heroes are a lady and her dachshund. Good stories.

Doggie Stuff

Just relaxing in the grass.

2011-06-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the house with it's new roof.

Our elderly dishwasher died a sudden death and could not be revived. So we got a new one this week. Yea, modern technology!

Garden Stuff

The flowers are pretty much the whole show. The sunflowers are really getting into the swing of things now. One of the monster sunflowers has opened, but the flower isn't very big yet. They are really, really tall. I had to put in a support system for them, built out of metal uprights and twine. So far it's doing the job. The broom corn is also starting to head.

I'm going to pull the tomatoes in a few days. Most of what I've picked over the last week is dry and full of damage from stink bugs. The chickens have enjoyed them.

Spinning Stuff

I finished the second bobbin of singles and have just started the third.

Knitting Stuff

No new projects to report.

Doggie Stuff

Walker enjoys the nice cool floor when he comes inside.

2011-05-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

A New Roof

Our roof has been needing attention for quite awhile. Last week we had a new metal roof put on, and boy are we ever glad. It's very comforting to know that everything is secure up there.

We had two Velux solar tubular sky lights put in at the same time. I love them. The one in the dining room is a rigid tube and casts a beautiful bright clean light. It's bright without being glaring. I can still easily see the screen on my iPod, which isn't true out in the sun. My spinning and knitting are a delight to behold.

The one in the bathroom is a flexible indirect tube, and casts a pale blue diffuse light. This is in the second bathroom, which is windowless and was formerly a black pit.

Garden Stuff

I'm still picking a few tomatoes, but the quality has really fallen off. We're starting to get a few peppers, which are the only vegetable to survive the summer. I'm still enjoying my flowers. There is one sunflower blooming, a volunteer from last year. The giant sunflowers are still growing. Most of them are about 9 feet tall.

This is a variegated mint growing on the back porch.

Spinning Stuff

Same project. The second bobbin is about 3/4 full. I need to do another one before I can start knitting.

Knitting Stuff

The book mark is finished. I had extra thread, so I made a tiny bookmark, too, for short stories, I guess.

Reading Stuff

Just finished The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel. The newest chapter in the Clan of the Cave Bear series. No real surprises.

2011-05-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

We got about an inch of rain last Saturday. It was pretty exciting.

Knitting Stuff

I finished the Undulating Scarf. I'm glad I did it over; I think it looks much better without the border. It undulates better. I've moved on to an undulating bookmark. Also very pretty. But very tiny knitting, using perle 8 on #00 needles.

Spinning Stuff

I'm spinning a bit, but only small amounts at a time.

Garden Stuff

Most of my garden work is putting the garden to bed for the summer. I have some weeding to do around the sunflowers and broom corn. The flowers continue to be beautiful. I'm so glad I moved the daylilies. I've never enjoyed them as much as I have this year.

Reading Stuff

A Midwife's Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. The Life of Martha Ballard, based on her diary, 1785 - 1812. Really interesting stuff about daily life in a Maine community. Includes intriguing references to spinning, weaving, and knitting. The spinning and weaving mentioned so far seem to be mostly flax, which was grown by most households. The knitting mentioned is "stockins".

2011-05-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Alligator Farm

Last Sunday the Chick Magnet and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Alligator Farm to see and photograph the birds. It's always an amazing sight: all these wild birds nesting so close to so many people, some of them within arm's reach.

There were several pairs of spoonbills nesting this year. We didn't count them, but I'd guess a dozen or so pairs. One nest had three large chicks. Spoonbills and wood storks are my favorites. Spoonbills because they are so beautiful, and wood storks because they look so prehistoric. Wood storks are fairly sensitive, and their nesting success or failure is an indication of the overall health of the local environment. They were nesting in good numbers.

This year we went in both the morning and the afternoon. We were there from 9:00 to about noon, then we went back at 4:30 til about 6:00. The Chick Magnet took a few hundred photos. I don't have even half of them editted yet. These are all from my camera, and no where near as good as his.

Garden Stuff

Summer has arrived with a vengence. The Better Boy tomatoes are dying of wilt. The Better Bush plants are still lush, so we may get a few more tomatoes from them. The potato vines are beginning to die back with no sign of bloom.

The flowers are still beautiful. The sunflowers are getting tall. One little volunteer, planted by a careless cardinal, is in bloom. Indigo Spires sage is big and bountiful.

Knitting Stuff

Same old, same old.

Spinning Stuff

I'm spinning just a little at a time. My hand is a lot better, but still sore.

Reading Stuff

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. A story about witches, vampires, and an ancient document.

2011-05-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what is going on with Blogger. The previous post spontaneously posted, then I was unable to edit and finish it. So here is the rest of the post.

Knitting Stuff

Here is the picture of the new version of the Undulating Scarf.

Spinning Stuff

I've been doing a little bit of spinning. I'm still working on the Reubie wool for (possibly) an Ida vest. I still have a lot to do.

Reading Stuff

Death Match by Lincoln Child. A thriller about computer information gathering in modern life, which is far more frightening than the fictional murders.

Garden Stuff

Here is a funny picture of one of my orchids.

2011-05-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Rain! We actually had wet stuff falling from the sky this morning! Not a lot, but I'll take all I can get.
Garden Stuff
The pansies are done. A few plants are still showing a bit of color, but it's all over. I'm leaving them in place until I get something to replace them. That means a trip to St. Augustine, which I don't just do on a whim, because of gas prices.
We've eaten a couple of cherry tomatoes. The big tomatoes are still green. I topped the plants a few days ago. Their life expectancy is no more than 6 weeks, more likely a month or less.
No bloom yet on the potatoes.
Knitting Stuff
The revised Undulating Scarf is coming along nicely. I'm much happier with it without the garter stitch border.

2011-04-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Pictures to go with the Previous Post

2011-04-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff
The flowers are beautiful. The daylilies are starting to bloom. The amaryllises are nearly done. They didn't have a very good show this year, possibly because I moved them about when they were ready to set buds. The indigo spires sage is starting to bloom, and the hummingbirds and bees are very happy. No ripe tomatoes yet, but they really look good. The potatoes are lush, no bloom yet.
Knitting Stuff
My hand is still swollen and sore, but I'm able to work on lightweight projects.
I frogged the undulating scarf and started over. I took a good look at it and decided I didn't like the borders on the ends or the sides. So it's narrower now, and I like the way it's just ribbing without the garter border.
Spinning Stuff
Very little, due to hand problems.
Reading Stuff
Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Always a fun author.
Pet Stuff
Little Ray is a delight. I love to listen to him sing. He hasn't met a green vegie yet that he doesn't like, although he wasn't really wild about the kale (which was probably tough). Deertongue lettuce, though, he can consume with truly horrific speed. Walker is still not very accepting of a bird in the house, but mostly he leaves him alone.
Blogger Stuff
Blogger is not loading pictures for some reason. I'll try again later.

2011-04-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

Every year when I've gone to the Garden Expo, I've looked at the Flower Show and thought, I have plants at home that look just as good or better. This year I decided to act, so I entered a little potted jade plant that looked nice. When I went back on Saturday and checked out the Flower Show, guess what! it had a blue ribbon. I'm so proud.

The amaryllises are starting to bloom. The tomatoes are looking good. I dug all the beets, and very good they were, too. The potatoes are lush, but no blooms yet.

Knitting Stuff

I have a knitting injury. I've been working on a customer's cotton top in the shop that needs a new neckline. Heavy cotton, two-color knitting, so the tension is very important. My left hand is swollen and very sore. Soo not very much knitting has been going on.

Spinning Stuff

See above.

Pet Stuff

The Chick Magnet bought me a canary for my birthday and Mother's Day. I didn't realize how much I'd missed hearing one sing. He's mostly green and yellow, with "lizard" markings. He's a pet, not a show bird, so he's not a classic lizard canary. But boy can he sing! His name is Little Ray.

Reading Stuff

Running Blind by Lee Child.

2011-04-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

Knitting Stuff

The Mitts for Mom are done, in the mail, possibly even on her hands. I didn't think about taking a picture until about 10 minutes after I left the post office.

Spinning Stuff

Not much.

Garden Stuff

The flowers are just so beautiful! The pansies are still with us, very bright and cheerful as pansies should be. The salvia are like little, flowery soldiers, all upright and stiff. The marigolds are just beginning to bloom. One perennial sage is blooming, having survived winter on it's own. The broom corn and sunflowers are off and running. The rootstock roses have been blooming.

The tomato plants are sturdy and sporting little tomatoes. The potatoes are growing well. I harvested some beets this morning; we'll have them for supper tonight. We might have one more small cutting of brocolli offshoots. I had cabbage offshoots for supper earlier this week. The kale is done; it was beautiful.

Dyeing Stuff

I haven't been doing any dyeing lately, but ordered some wool about a week ago from Ashland Bay. The box came promptly and I opened it with great expectations, only to find, instead of Panda blend top, Panda blend yarn. I got on the phone right away, and it's all straightened out. They sent a call slip so I could ship it back, and I'm expecting my Panda top any day now.

Reading Stuff

Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery. An Anne of Green Gables book.

Make Your Mother Proud

Sunshine Son saved a man from choking. That's my boy!

You Should Watch This

http://http//www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Live video from an eagles' nest, with three chicks.

2011-03-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

I dug about half of the onions. The multiplier onions are still in the ground, and will stay there until their tops die down, usually May or June.

I saw a hummingbird a few days ago, enjoying the flowers.

The brocolli is nearly done, but we've had quite a bit. We won't have many beets, but even a few will be good. The tomato plants have blooms and are starting to set on tiny tomatoes.

I moved the amaryllisses this morning. They are just now starting to send up bloom stalks. I can hardly wait.

I planted broom corn and sunflowers about a week ago. Some of the sunflowers are "Mongolian Giants", supposedly the largest sunflower (plant, bloom, and seed) that there is. The seeds certainly were big. The little seedlings just leaped out of the ground. I'm looking forward to watching their progress.

The citrus trees are mostly in bloom. The lemon tree is nearly done and the grapefruit tree doesn't appear to be setting bloom this year. The bees are very happy.

Spinning Stuff

Last Saturday was the Spin In at the Visitor's Center in St. Augustine. A bunch of us bring our wheels and spindles, and spin and answer questions most of the day. It's always a lot of fun. For some reason I was really tired when I got home. We did a fiber exchange this year, and I got a baggie of fiber from an alpaca named Rhonda in exchange for some dyed merino.

I spent the day working on my red SE BFL. I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped.

Knitting Stuff

Mitts for Mom. Sounds like a slogan.

Reading Stuff

Blackveil by Kristen Britain. Book four in the Green Rider series.

2011-03-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

I promise not to do this very often. This video will just about make you wet your pants.
http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVwlMVYqMu4
Editted: I cannot make either of the links in this post work, but I don't know if it's a local problem or just bad links. If you can't get this link to work, go to YouTube and search for Two Dogs Dining.

Garden Stuff
I set out two flats of salvia. Now the hummingbirds will have flowers when they arrive. I planted some peas, just enough for eating fresh. I'm doing three bags of potatoes again this year. The tomato plants have buds, blooms soon. I put in four hills of squash and one of little mini pumpkins. The pansies are still really pretty. The camellias are still blooming, but they're almost done.

Knitting Stuff
I started a scarf using the blue/green yarn. I'm not sure how long this will end up. If it's too short, I will frog it and use a different pattern.

Spinning Stuff
I'm still working on the red BFL. I have one bobbin nearly packed full.

Because a couple of people have said I need to talk it up, the Helix Scarf from a few weeks ago is on the Interweave web site.
http://http//www.spinningdaily.com/media/p/6265.aspx

Editted: If you can't get this link to work, go to Interweave.com, Spin-Off Magazine, more info, Free Stuff, Projects, Handspun Gallery of Helix Scarves.
Other Stuff
Four little baby chicks are in their box in the front hall. Two black sex links and two ameraucanas that I passionately hope are pullets. Walker seems more confused than interested.
More Other Stuff
The Chick Magnet and I went to the Seafood Festival last Sunday. The weather was perfect: sunny with a cool breeze. I'm sure the organizers were rubbing their hands with glee. We ate our big platefuls of grouper and shrimp, looked over the vendors, and listened to music. We sat near the mechanical bull, and it was great fun to watch the kids riding the bull. The fellow running it was very good at tailoring the ride to the rider.

Reading Stuff
Knitter's Magazine, Fall 2010

2011-03-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

This odd litttle orchid is blooming on the back porch. The camellia is Queenie's Bush, a seedling I planted with a hand trowel many years ago.

Knitting Stuff

I had to take my car in for an oil change today, so I worked on a sock while I was waiting.

Spinning Stuff

This is the yarn from the "blue" batt. It has a lovely sheen. There's only about 270 yds of this, so I'm not sure what will become of it. I finished spinning the singles from the "red" batt, which in fact was far more purple than red. I don't have anything yet to ply with this, so it's just waiting. Currently I'm spinning some red SW BFL. I hope to have enough to make a vest.

Reading Stuff

The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. A trip to Pern is always enjoyable.

2011-02-26T09:58:00.001-08:00

Garden Stuff

The weather has been beautiful. I've done a lot of weeding and prep work in the garden. The cabbage has been delicious. The onions are still great. I really love having onions and shallots in the garden to use in cooking.

Knitting Stuff
My gloves are finished. This pattern was in Piecework, not the issue that just hit the newsstands, but the previous issue, the special historical knitting issue. These will be wonderful for walking with Walker next winter. I've never had a pair of gloves that fit as well as these.

Spinning Stuff

I made a small skein of corespun yarn. I used a commercial mohair blend, which I overspun before corespinning, as the core. The outer wool is a small batt from Destin. The mohair blend was a worsted weight, so this is a substantial little skein of yarn.

I spun up the blue/green batt, too. I just spun it into a fine singles. I'm currently spinning fine singles out of odd lots of Panda blend to ply with it. No plans for this yarn.

Reading Stuff
I'm still pecking at magazines.

2011-02-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

We had more broccoli that was delicious: tender and flavorful. The camellias are probably at their peak. Four big bushes are nearly covered with flowers.

Spinning Stuff

I finished spinning the silk singles and plied it with the wool. Wonderful, gorgeous yarn. This will make a scarf, for sure.

Knitting Stuff

The gloves are progressing. I had to start the thumb gussets three times. The first time I knitted them, I followed the directions (I know, hard to imagine), but I didn't like the look of the increase. One side in particular, the side that didn't show in the photograph, was pretty ugly. So off to the frog pond. The second knitting took place during TV watching, and I got distracted and did too many increases too fast. Darn CSI for trying to bomb Nick! Rip, rip, rip. The third try is looking good, so far at least.

Reading Stuff

I'm catching up on magazines. They tend to pile up starting in December, and I'm still behind.

2011-02-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

I cut some broccoli, but it was too tough to eat. The chickens will enjoy it. I had to cut two cabbages, as they were split. We ate some for supper this evening.

I have some tiny seedling tomatoes. The peppers aren't up yet.

This Paph is blooming in the house and one like it on the back porch.

Spinning Stuff

I'm spinning silk hankies to ply with the wool singles I mentioned last week. It isn't going too fast, because I got distracted by a knitting project.

Knitting Stuff

Interweave put out a call for submissions for Spin-Off, this time for a hat called "Three-rib Beret". It's an odd-looking thing. But I had some yarn already spun that seemed right for it. So I knitted it up in a couple of days. It is definitely a peculiar hat, but the more I look at it, the better I like it. It can also double as a tea cosy. I spent most of this afternoon working on the write up. I'll get it in the mail in a couple of days.

Reading Stuff

Ape House by Sara Gruen. A book about bonobos, language, humanity, and honesty. Very enjoyable.

2011-02-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Spinning Stuff
Last week I went to Destin, FL, to the January Spin-In, which is pretty much a party with shopping. I provided some of the shopping. I sold a lot of dyed top and silk hankies, plus a few patterns. I had a very good time and did a lot of spinning. I enjoy visiting with friends I only see once or twice a year.

One of the vendors had drum carders set up so customers could make their own custom batts. What fun! I made two and had another given to me. I haven't spun them yet; they're just sitting around being pretty.

I'm spinning up singles of SW BFL dyed with leftover bits of dye. It's mostly purples, blues, and greens. I'll probably ply it with a hankie silk singles. Since it will be a 2-ply, it will be aimed for a lace project of some kind. I hope there will be enough to do a shawl.

Garden Stuff

We've had a little rain. We won't have a huge crop of broccoli, but we'll have some to eat soon.

The camellias are still beautiful and wonderful.

Knitting Stuff

I'm working on a pair of socks out of some yarn that is mottled browns and greys, which I bought to make socks for Dad and never did. The pattern I used on the leg makes them look like tree bark.

Reading Stuff
One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters. A Brother Cadfael mystery. Good plot and charachters.

2011-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

I've been insanely busy this week.

Garden Stuff

In a weak moment, I bought another flat of pansies. Now I have a bigger bright spot in the garden. I also put in four more little cabbages. I think we might as well start eating the older ones, even though they aren't very big. The cold, dry weather hasn't been very encouraging.

Spinning Stuff

Nothing.

Knitting Stuff

The vest is done. I wore it in the shop one day to rave reviews. It's very warm, with that big collar across the shouldes.

I want to start a pair of socks, but am having trouble making up my mind as to pattern. So I've been playing with new (to me) kumihimo braid patterns instead of knitting.

House Stuff

In the same 24-hour period, our shower head fell apart and our coffeemaker died. Before we could get a new showerhead, the bathtub drain toggle went ka-blooey. The Chick Magnet has worked his plumbing magic, and shower and bath are both fully functional again. We also have a new coffeemaker, which we both like much better than the old one.

Reading Stuff

The Sunbird by Wilbur Smith. A fairly early novel by a prolific author. It's about an archeological dig in south Africa. It's very enjoyable.

2011-01-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

Knitting Stuff
I'd hoped to have the vest finished and photographed, but it hasn't happened. I'm still working on the edging, which means it's all in a wad and a photo would be meaningless. Watch for it next week.
Remember the Helix scarf from a few weeks ago? I sent it to Interweave for possible inclusion in Spin-Off magazine. I received a contract from them, so it will be either in the magazine or on the web site for the spring issue. I'm very excited.

Spinning Stuff
Still nothing.

Garden Stuff
Cold, dry weather means not much is going on. The onions continue to thrive, the cabbage is plodding along, and the broccoli is beginning to head, with little enthusiasm. The pansies are a bright spot. The wild violets aren't blooming. I assume that's because of the lack of rain. I miss them.
The camellias are blooming, but the flowers all show cold damage. I'm looking forward to prettier flowers this week.

Reading Stuff
The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins. An intelligent book about the science behind evolution. Sometimes too intelligent, as the chemistry and physics flies right over my feeble little brain.

2011-01-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

We got about 1/2" of rain! My main rain barrel is now about half full again. I had moved the day lilies and set out the pansies, so I'm sure they appreciated the shower. I still have to move the amaryllises.

Knitting Stuff

The vest is over half done. I'm really loving the way the color is working out. No pictures yet. It's an odd shape, so it doesn't look like it will be a vest when it's done. Except for the development of the color, it's kind of boring knitting.

Spinning and Dyeing Stuff

No spinning. I've dyed some silk hankies. I'm having to be very severe with myself: I want to spin them, now, just to see the silk and the colors.

Reading Stuff

The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. I loved this book as a kid.

2010-12-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I spent the cold days this week dyeing. I dyed a bunch of Wensleydale wool. Next week I intend to do some silk hankies. The January Spin-In is rapidly approaching, and I need to be sure I have a good variety of fibers and colors.

Garden Stuff

The winter vegies are hanging in there. We are still very, very dry. I have some flowers that need to be moved before the season progresses much more.

Seed catalogs have been arriving, and I love looking at them. So many exciting possibilites! Mostly, though, it's kind of like reading science fiction: realistically, most of that isn't going to happen.

Knitting Stuff

I started (and re-started and re-started) a vest out of some handspun. I spun most of it at the January Spin-In a couple of years ago and never really knew what to do with it. The patttern is Plymouth 1662. http://http//www.plymouthyarn.com/index.php?nav=cYarn.yarnDetail&y arnid=000055&searchcollection=000005&pattern_id=002317#pattern-tab I have about 5" done.

Spinning Stuff

Nothing on the wheel right now.

Reading Stuff

Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. These guys write such good books. It's all I can do to keep from ordering them all from the library and just having an orgy.

2010-12-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

The Chick Magnet and I had a quiet Christmas at home. We had a nice Christmas dinner with Sunshine Son, his girlfriend, and her family.

Spinning Stuff

I'm still spinning samples of various yarns for display purposes. This is kind of fun as I get to work with lots of different colors and fibers in a short amount of time. I'm also using this opportunity to work on my skills a bit.

Knitting Stuff

I'm finishing up some socks which were originally knit as samples. Now I'm lengthening them so I can wear them. That means, of course, ripping out the toe, adding extra rounds to the foot, and reknitting the toe.

The Horn of Plenty scarf is finished, and I'm very pleased with it. I've worn it a couple of times to rave reviews.

Garden Stuff

It's cold outside.

The camillia japonicas are beginning to bloom, but not very enthusiastically. The c. sasanquas are mostly done.

Reading Stuff

The Transformation of Batholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson. A fiction book about P. T. Barnum and his museum of human oddities. More about the human oddities than Barnum. Very good characters, intiguing story.

2010-12-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

With seriously cold temperatures forecast, the Chick Magnet and I built a little greenhouse to set up in the garden. We put it over the tomatoes and one pepper that just happened to be in that area. We had two long cold nights with temps in the low 20's. Our greenhouse wasn't too successful. Only one tomato plant survived, and it has really bad damage. However, we feel we learned a lot, and another time we will do better. It was cold enough to damage the broccoli. The onions looked kind of sad for a couple of days, but they've perked right up again.

The wax myrtles (bayberries) have a good crop of berries this year.

Spinning Stuff

I finished the hot pink panda and did some silver grey panda. Which leads right into. . .

Knitting Stuff

I decided to make a narrow scarf as a sample, using the K 1 Below technique. I have about 6 inches done, but I'm probably going to start over. I don't like the edge the way the pattern is written. I'll be doing some swatching and experimenting.

The Horn of Plenty Scarf (purple wool/silk) is finished and on the blocking board. Picture next week.

Surprise!

I came home from work Thursday evening and found a 1947 Singer sewing machine which Sunshine Son had bought for me. It appears to be in good condition. I need to find a bobbin for it and see how it works.

Friday morning I opened my blinds to see a flat of pansies (and one small poinsettia) on the front porch, also courtesy of Sunshine Son.

Pet Stuff

Here are Holly and Bella.

2010-12-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

Garden Stuff

We've had two light freezes. The garden is still alive. I covered the tomatoes, of course, and some of the peppers. I hope I can keep them going.

Knitting Stuff

I mailed the helix scarf off to Interweave.

I'm putting the second border on the purple merino/silk. It's not as wide as I'd hoped, but I have a limited amount of yarn to work with, so I have to take what I can get. The color is beautiful and the yarn has a lovely sheen.

Spinning Stuff

I'm spinning up some Panda in the Red Hot color just because it is beautiful. I have no plans for this yarn beyond using it as a sample.

Reading Stuff

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. The first really big book in a long sci-fi series. I'm enjoying the story, but the book is so big it can only be read comfortably at the table, so that limits my reading time.

Web Site

I've added some photos of dyed wool to my web site, with more on the way.

2010-11-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Helix scarf is done. It is now named Spanish Dancer in a Turquoise Sea. The ties on the buttons represent the Spanish Dancer's naked gills. I have the write-up done, and it will all be sent off to Interweave next week.

Garden Stuff

There are a few little tomatoes on the two tomato plants. The onions are doing great. The cabbages, kale, and broccoli are growing well. The beets really aren't doing much. The peppers continue to produce. We still really need rain. We've had less than 1/4 inch in the last two months.

Knitting Stuff

I'm back to work on the purple wool/silk.

Spinning Stuff

I've been spinning a lot of small samples of my hand-dyed wool.

Reading Stuff

Intervention by Robin Cook. Not a very good book. So-so plot, stilted conversations, flat characters. I keep hoping it will get better.

2010-11-20T11:41:00.001-08:00

Spinning/Knitting Stuff

The Helix scarf is over half done. I chain-plied the yarn to keep the colors clear. The knitting got off to a big start because I had a doctor's appointment on Monday and had a really long wait, so there was a lot of knitting time. It's all garter stitch, so it's rather tedious knitting, with just enough counting to make it so I can't read while working on it.

Garden Stuff
We really, really need rain.

Reading Stuff

Nimisha's Ship by Anne McCaffrey. Science fiction about a woman who designs space ships and some of her adeventures.

Dyeing Stuff

I've been dyeing a lot of merino. Here are a few of the colors.

2010-11-12T12:39:00.000-08:00

Spinning Stuff
I'm nearly done spinning the singles for the Helix scarf. I hope to get done tomorrow so I can ply and get started knitting by Monday.

Music Stuff

While working on this blog, I've been listening to

http://http/magnatune.com/artists/albums/cbooth-wcroft/

Garden Stuff

Weeding and watering. Nothing new going on.

Knitting Stuff

The Horn of Plenty scarf is moving along. The rows are very long now, so I don't get the same feeling of accomplishment I got while working on the edging. I've also been devoting more time to spinning since starting the Helix project. There are only so many hours in the day, after all.

Dental Stuff

I had to have a crown replaced, so I spent part of Monday in the dentist's chair. What an ordeal. I felt like he wanted to be kneeling on my chest to get a better angle at cracking that thing out of my mouth. My gums and jawbone are still very sore. I'll be relieved to get the temp out of my mouth in three weeks.

Reading Stuff

Wings by Aprilynne Pike. A story about faeries.

2010-11-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff
We finally got some rain! Only a little over 1/4 inch, but after a bone-dry October, we'll take every drop we can get. Weeding still needs to be done, but doesn't it always? We've been enjoying onions, peppers, and lettuce. There are still two tomato plants alive, and they are in bloom.

I love my camellia bushes.

Spinning Stuff
I decided to spin and knit the Helix scarf for the Spin-Off project. My wheel still makes noise, but I guess I'm going to live with it. I'm using SW BFL hand-dyed by me in the Tropical Butterfly color. I plan to chain-plying this to keep the colors together.

Knitting Stuff

I have almost all of the first edging done for my Horn of Plenty Scarf. This is a wonderful fiber to work with. The faggotting sections have a lovely texture to them. I'll be working on the center of this scarf until I get the yarn spun for Helix, then it will be set aside so I can concentrate on Helix, which has to be mailed early in December.

Reading Stuff
Wendy Knits by Wendy D. Johnson. A book about, you guessed it, knitting.

Doggie Stuff

Walker, going and coming.

2010-10-30T10:21:00.001-07:00

This hasn't been a very eventful week.

Garden Stuff

We still need rain. I need to do a bunch of weeding. We should have lettuce very soon. The sassanqua camellias are really looking pretty.

Spinning Stuff

I called Nathan Lee at Woolee Winder. He suggested heavy grease for the noisy area. It hasn't helped.

Knitting Stuff

I've been working on the embroidery for the indigo cardigan. I sketched it on the cardi with white sewing thread yesterday, and decided my motifs are far too big. I'll have to rethink it and redo it.

The purple wool/silk lace is coming along nicely.

Reading Stuff

Pirate Latitiudes by Michael Crichton. A ficitonal pirate adventure in the Caribbean.

2010-10-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

The beets are up! I need to go water later this afternoon. We really, really need rain.

Spinning Stuff

The wheel is still making noise, in spite of my best efforts. I'm going to try to call the woolee winder people this week.

Knitting Stuff

I worked up a swatch of the "Horn of Plenty" pattern from 5o Fabulous Knitted Borders, and worked it through a progression of changes to reach the version I like. The original is on the right, and the changes are mostly minor, to the upper curve of the "horn". I wound the purple wool/silk and started knitting a big scarf. I think I'm going to like this.

Reading Stuff

Brother Wind by Sue Harrison. More prehistoric Alaska.

2010-10-17T11:15:00.001-07:00

Garden Stuff
I've ordered some seeds, so I replanted beets yesterday, carefully avoiding the one lonely plant from the previous planting. I also planted some potatoes from seed. What an adventure! I set out nine little broccoli plants, which are looking bright and perky today. We'll have little onions to eat very soon.

The camellias are getting into the swing of things.

Knitting Stuff

The indigo cardi is all knitted, but the embroidery has yet to be done. I'm considering various ideas for the purple merino/silk, but haven't settled on anything yet.

Spinning Stuff

The finished skein from the mini Turkish spindle, shown here with neat scissors.

Historical Stuff

Last week the Chick Magnet, Walker, and I went walking around the Castillo de San Marco. They were having cannon firings, which are very loud and pretty fun to watch. We also went to the Colonial Arts Fair. I bought a really neat pair of scissors.

Reading Stuff
Mother Earth, Father Sky by Sue Harrison. The first book in a really good series about prehistoric Alaska. Yes, I've read it before.

2010-10-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff
The radishes are up, but nothing else is showing up. Old seed strikes again. I'll have to buy new and replant.

The onions and older cabbages are growing strongly. The peppers are producing steadily. Three tomato plants are still alive and growing. The cooler nights have been wonderful.

The camellias are just starting to bloom. The red double sassanqua is blooming.

Spinning Stuff

Due to spacing issues with Blogger, the captions do not match the photos.

I finished the singles on the mini Turkish spindle.

The shaft has been pulled out of the ball of singles.

The first arm has been removed.

The second arm has been removed.

I'm currently making a 2-ply using both ends of the ball, from the middle and from the outside.

I finished plying the merino/silk.

Knitting Stuff

I have one cuff left to knit on the indigo cardigan, then it will be washed and the embroidery will be worked. It's almost impossible to work on at night. I'm also knitting a pouch for my "over" dark glasses, using the "Happiness" pattern.

Dyeing Stuff

I'm dyeing merino. I was very low on dyed merino, due to a couple of hard hits by felters, even before the Fiber In. I'm almost done with the merino on hand, but I have another bump on order and in transit.

Reading Stuff

Mount Dragon by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. A bio-thriller about genetic engineering.

2010-10-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

Now that I no longer have to worry about the Cable TV cable (which was installed far too close to the garden) I'm going to straighten out and expand the garden. The Chick Magnet and I spent about an hour putting down newspapers and covering them with chicken poop, so the grass underneath can rot over the winter. There is still more to do, but I'm going to have to read more newspapers. I'm going to move the flowers to the end closest to the house so we can see and enjoy them more.

I've had to pull three tomato plants because of wilt. Another is just hanging on. I have hopes because it looks like the nights are going to dip into the 60's. The peppers are mostly doing well. The little onions are starting to grow. I planted more cabbages, some kale, broccoli, beets, and radishes. The broom corn has seed heads in all stages of development and is being enjoyed by the cardinals.

This beautifully wierd orchid is Thrixspermum elongatum.

Knitting Stuff

The bands are done on the indigo cardi. The sleeves are almost done. It looks like I'm just going to have enough yarn.

Spinning Stuff

I'm plying the merino/silk. I'm making a 2-ply, as I plan to use this for a lace scarf.

I mustered my nerve and broke down my woolee winder for cleaning and oiling. It really needed it. What a mess it was. Unfortunately, while the winder is working perfectly, the head is making noise from an undetermined source. It's pretty annoying. Nothing seems to be wrong, but the noise says differently. Everything has been cleaned and oiled, all the bushings seem to be there, nothing is hitting anything else.

While at the Fiber In, I got to play with a mini Turkish spindle. It was wonderful, so I rushed to my computer and ordered my own. I got it this week, a beauty in black and white ebony. I've done some spinning on it, but not enough to pull it apart and ply from the ball yet.

Reading Stuff

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Really compelling and thought provoking book about education in Muslim nations.

2010-09-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Fiber Stuff

The Florida Fiber-In is over for another year, dramatic sigh with a tiny sob. It's hard to describe what it's like. I always tell people it's a party with shopping, but it's so much more than that. It's a time to get together with other people who love to do things with fiber and string, without having to (attempt to) explain why you love this so much. It's a time to learn new things, see new things, meet new friends, try new fibers and equipment and toys. It's a time to eat (chocolate), drink (beverage of choice), and be merry with fiber, for tomorrow we have to go back to our real lives where most people don't understand that this isn't just a hobby, it's a lifestyle.

Knitting Stuff

I didn't knit a single stitch at the Fiber-In. I'm still working on the indigo cardigan. The sleeves are mostly done. I'm currently working on the body edging. Yesterday I was knitting away thinking happily about finishing the edging and then the sleeves, when I suddenly remembered: Buttons! I hadn't made any buttonholes, and of course I was a couple of (really long) rounds beyond where the buttonholes needed to be. Dang. So I spent last night tinking. I raided by button collection and came up with the perfect buttons.

Spinning Stuff

At the Fiber-In, I worked on the second bobbin of the wool/silk singles of which I spunn the first bobbin before going to South Dakota. It's about half done. I need to break down my Woolee Winder for some maintainance pretty soon.

Garden Stuff

I'm beginning to regret putting the tomatoes in the ground, as the nights have been well above 70 degrees, which means wilt is rearing it's ugly head. All I can do is wait and hope.

The cabbages are in the ground, and a lot of assorted onions.

Reading Stuff

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. A very different sort of novel, raw and full of suspence.

Doggie Stuff

Walker couldn't decide which toy to play with!

2010-09-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Gardening Stuff

I've been setting out tomatoes and a couple more peppers. I bought big started plants at Ace Hardware. I don't know if it's just this Ace or if all of them are doing it, but they are stocking heirloom varieties of tomatoes and peppers, which makes me very happy. I have two "black" tomatoes, which are ugly but really tasty, plus a few others. I have some cabbage plants to put in, too, but I need to do some weeding before that happens.

Reading Stuff

National Geographic, the one with King Tut on the cover.

Knitting Stuff

I'm still working on the indigo cotton cardigan. Last night I decided I need to rework parts of the sleeves, so I'm heading for the frog pond.

Spinning Stuff

I haven't done any wheel spinning since before I left for South Dakota. I've done a little bit of spindle spinning, but it's just sample work, not a real project.

I've been getting dyed wool and silk hankies ready to take to the Florida Fiber In. I have a good variety of colors and fibers.

2010-09-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

Home again in Florida!

At Mom's house, Walker's bed was in the downstairs bathroom. Most evenings, he would go down to his bed during the evening. He apparently got tired of being alone, because on Saturday evening he dragged his bed upstairs and spent the evening with us.

We headed for home on Sunday. We stopped for a visit with my brother and his wife, but only stayed a couple of hours before moving on. I stopped to visit Sunshine Daughter briefly as well.

We got home about supper time on Tuesday. We were glad to see the Chick Magnet and he was glad to see us.

I've spent most of the week shopping, cleaning, doing laundry, and reading newspapers.

Rest Stops

Rest stops are very important on a long car trip. I ate lunch out of my cooler, so I not only needed a place to "rest", I needed a picnic table and some shade. I like the variety in state-to-state rest stops. One had fresh cut flowers in the lady's room. Some even have museums, which is nice. The best rest stops by far are in Iowa. They are nicely landscaped and maintained, and they have wi-fi! I had to send the Chick Magnet an email just because I could.

2010-08-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

I just gave Mom a haircut. It doesn't look quite like I used the weed eater to do the job.

Last Sunday Walker and I went to the Black Hills. We got to Spearfish about mid-afternoon, and right away headed up Spearfish Canyon to Roughlock Falls, which is one of my favorite places on the planet. There have been a lot of improvements to the area over the years: better picnic tables, toilets, fishing platforms, and walkways. One thing that is not an improvement is the fact that you can no longer get directly below the falls, so the view is a bit obscured. It's still a beautiful spot, though, and the water is really cold, which is a big attraction on hot days. It was about 100 degrees when we got there, so we didn't do any serious hiking around. There were a lot of people there.

We got a motel room in Spearfish, I called an old college friend, and we went out to supper. He gave me the nickel tour of the new Spearfish, as of course the town has changed a lot since our college days.

In the morning I got up to drizzle and 50 degree temps. In spite of the drizzle, I decided to hike the trail from Savoy to Roughlock, as I'd wanted to do that for several years. So Walker and I parked at the trailhead and took our time rambling up to the falls. He stopped to sniff a lot of things, I took pictures, and we had a nice time. We got some nice pictures of the falls and the canyon. Just as we started to head back down to the car, the drizzle increased to light rain. Walker was highly motivated to get back to the car, so he didn't stop to sniff every tree on the way down.

The weather improved as I drove south across the Hills. I did some business for Mom in Keystone, then went on to the Iron Mountain Road. The Iron Mountain Road is a narrow, winding scenic highway with pigtail bridges and tunnels. It is meant to be driven slowly. People pull off the road to take pictures at the bridges, tunnels, and assorted beauty spots. The tunnels vary from narrow to really, really narrow. All of this makes for interesting driving. About halfway along the road, I caught up with a fellow in a big white Suburban who clearly had no idea how to drive on narrow roads. He was going about 7 mph, which is really slow even for the Iron Mt. Rd. Most of the time he was right in the middle of the road; I'm sure the people who were coming from the opposite direction were just thrilled to meet him. He eventually had a long caterpillar of cars strung out behind him, and he did get off the road to let us all go by. I enjoyed the scenery in spite of these annoyances.

The next step is the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road. It was afternoon by this time, so I didn't expect to see great herds of wildlife. I saw a few pronghorns and some bison, and of course the burros. Walker was horrified when the burros came up to the car to beg. The burros looked beautifully healthy.

I moved on to the Needles Highway. The Iron Mountain Road is merely narrow and twisty. The Needles Highway is Really, Really Narrow and Twisty and the tunnels are Really, Really Narrow. Plus everybody pulls off at random spots to gawk at the scenery and take pictures, so there are people running around like ants at any odd moment. It seems like a recipe for disaster, but it works because everybody knows this is how it is. It is also physically impossible to drive fast on this road. And of course the driver of the Suburban, having survived the Iron Mountain Road, apparently felt capable of tackling the Needles Highway. And of course I caught up with him again. Luckily he'd learned to get out of the way when he had a couple of cars behind him, so I didn't have to put up with him for long.

I stopped at the Cathedral Spires area, and Walker and I went for a hike along the trail. A nice lady took our picture.

We went on the Hill City, took care of some business for Mom, and got a motel room.

In the morning I did some more business for Mom, then headed east for Hartford. It wasn't as hot as the day I came to the Hills, so I stopped at a few places in the Badlands to walk some of the trails. Walker was amazed at all the grasshoppers.

2010-08-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

I'm still in South Dakota.

Mom isn't too lively after her surgery, so we've been spending most of our time at home. Walker and I go for long walks morning and evening, and he spends a lot of time outside barking at kids at the swimming pool and skateboard park.

Yesterday we went to Brookings and went to the McCrory Gardens. I wrestled Mom's wheel chair out of the car and struggled to get it put together, then pushed her across the parking lot and up a narrow, rough ramp to get to the entrance to the gardens. And there we were stopped by the complete absence of sidewalks, trails, or any kind of walkway. The wheelchair was not designed to be pushed across acres of lawn.

There was an employee right there, however, and he let us use the golf cart for our tour. So I drove all over the place and we stopped wherever we wanted for a closer look or pictures. We had a great time. McCrory Gardens is a lovely place, well planned and planted, and well maintained. We both were fascinated by the black petunias, some of which have yellow stars. There were a lot of butterflies enjoying the flowers, too.

Knitting Stuff

I'm knitting fast on the indigo cardigan. I hope I have enough yarn.

Reading Stuff

Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert. A mystery book incorporating some history of the Shakers.

2010-08-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings from South Dakota!

Early Monday morning Walker and I headed out for South Dakota. It's a three day drive, but we had a good time. We saw some beautiful country (and a few really annoying cities). We spent the first night in Tupelo, Mississippi.

We went through the Ozarks on the second day, stopping once for lunch at an overlook. I was ready to take some pictures - it was really hot but very clear - but the camera wasn't ready: "battery exhausted". Dang. I stopped at Nellie's store and bought a couple of baskets. Don't bother trying to Google her, she has no online presence. But I'd recommend it as a stop if you are ever on Arkansas 7.

We spent the night in Butler, Missouri, and got to Kansas City just in time for early rush hour. We had one hairy lane change, but otherwise no problems with any of the traffic. We got into Hartford about 3:00 in the afternoon.

Mom is doing well after her neck surgery, although she's not ready to run any races. If you want to buy a few pounds of Wyoming jade or Montana agate, let me know. Mom has quite a bit for sale.

Knitting Stuff

I'm working on a cardigan for me from indigo dyed cotton, DK weight. I'm thinking of doing some embroidery on the yoke area.

Reading Stuff

I just started Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton.

Doggie Stuff

Just south of Sioux Falls, Walker woke up, stuck his nose in the air, and remained alert for the rest of the trip. It's very clear he remembers being here from last year. Mom was happy to see him and is enjoying his antics. He's a funny dog.

2010-07-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

The brutal weather just goes on and on. Most of the garden is mulched down. The peppers continue, and the sunflowers and broomcorn are growing and growing. The lubber grasshoppers have been more prevalent than usual this summer and have pretty much eaten the leaves off the amaryllis bulbs. I watched a great blue heron manage, after quite a bit of work, to eat one. Yeah, heron, but, ooh, yuck.

Spinning Stuff

I haven't done much spinning this week.

Knitting Stuff

The adult Onion Domes Hat is finished and the baby version is over half done. This will definitely be a class, on the 4th of September at A Stitch in Time.

Reading Stuff

Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson. A thriller, but so far I'm only moderately excited.

2010-07-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of my adopted mothers died this week. She was 92, and died at home with her daughter and their beloved pets nearby. I can't begin to express how much I will miss her. We were in the St. Johns County Art Society together and also shared interests in pets and gardening.

Pet Stuff

Last Sunday the Chick Magnet and I boxed up the two cats and took them down the road to the Pet Caravan for their rabies shots. It's always a small circus getting them into their crates. Like most cats, they really don't want to do this, and even dropping them in so they can't see where they're going (yeah, right, like they don't really know) requires a certain amount of skill and luck. But they got 3-year rabies this year, so we don't have to do it again til 2013.

Spinning Stuff

I'm spinning some merino/tussah silk very fine, to be 2-plied into a lace-weight yarn. It's easy to work with without any pre-drafting.

Knitting Stuff

I'm still working on the Onion Domes Socks. One is finished and the other is past the heel, into the gusset. I also started an Onion Domes Hat. I think this one will be a class, as it involves doing a provisional cast-on and a tubular bind-off.

Garden Stuff

The Chick Magnet is eating peppers regularly. The sunflowers are beginning to bloom. I'll try to get some pictures this week. The broomcorn just gets taller and taller. It hasn't started to form seed heads yet.

Kitchen Stuff

Wednesday eve the Chick Magnet was heating some spaghetti sauce in the microwave when it gave a big bang, which apparently was it's swan song. I heated his sauce on the stove, and while he ate it he shopped for a new microwave on the computer, called Target to reserve what we wanted, and after supper we picked it up. We were without a microwave for about three hours.

2010-07-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Knitting Stuff

I've decided to re-issue the Onion Domes Socks (which were originally published in KnitNet) for the Florida Fiber In. This year's theme is Russia, and Onion Domes certainly fit. I still have and wear the originals, made out of Lorna's Laces Socknitter's Rainbow and Regia Cotton. I'm making a new pair out of handspun Panda blend. This yarn isn't fingering weight, so I'm using bigger needles than I used in the originals. I think the finer gauge in the originals looks better, but we'll see how the new ones look once they've been washed.

The Chick Magnet's sweater is stalled. I need a day to devote to knitting to work on it. Hasn't happened yet.

Spinning Stuff

I don't really have a spinning project going right now. I have a couple of spindle fired up with "ply on the fly" work, but the yarn isn't intended for anything beyond just making it.

Garden Stuff

Peppers, broomcorn, and sunflowers are all that remain in the garden. They can take the heat.

Reading Stuff

Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla R. Miller. This is not so much a biography of Betsy Ross as a biography of the infant United States. Interesting but not a page turner.

2010-07-02T12:17:00.001-07:00

Knitting Stuff

The wide borders on the scarf really bothered me. I pondered on the problem a bit, knitted some swatches, and experimented with various, totally disastrous methods of getting rid of the extra stitches. In the end I just hemmed the ends, and now the scarf looks nice. It's finished and I'm happy.

Spinning Stuff

I watched a video on YouTube and taught myself how to "Navaho Ply on the Fly". It's pretty amazing, and I have to admit it's nice to go from fluff to finished on one spindle.

Garden Stuff

I bought a few miscellaneous pepper plants on sale and put them in the garden. I enjoy growing the various sizes, shapes, and colors of peppers the way other people like to grow flowers. I'm still dividing and repotting orchids, as I only do one or two a day.

The achimenes are starting to bloom. I need to divide those, too.

Reading Stuff

The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Another well-written thriller.

2010-06-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

Spinning Stuff

I made some "super coils" yarn ala Jacey Boggs. The small sample (tiny wadded up skein in the finished photo) I made at the workshop was badly overspun and didn't make me happy at all. That's why it's so small. For the big skein, I over spun the base yarn in the "Z" direction, then worked my super coils in the "S" direction, and it's a better balanced yarn. I don't have any real plans for this yarn.

Knitting Stuff

The honeycomb scarf is finished. I'm mostly pleased with it. I wish I hadn't put the wide borders on the ends. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I ran out of yarn while binding off, and was preparing to take out the bind off and the last two rows to remove one row and thus have plenty of yarn for binding off. It suddenly occurred to me that I could just spin up a little more yarn and finish binding off. So I spun up another handful of wool and bamboo. I measured it and had enough to do another row plus the bindoff, so I ended up frogging the bind off and one row anyway in order to insert another pattern row. But I finished up with less than a yard of yarn left over, so it all worked out well.

Garden Stuff

Mostly just mulching down for summer. I've started separating and repotting orchids.

Reading Stuff

Cities of Gold: A Journey Across the American Southwest in Pursuit of Coronado by Douglas Preston. True adventure and history combined with a tiny bit of ecology thrown in. I'm enjoying this a lot.

2010-06-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff

The weather has been brutal this week. Very hot, only a little rain, although we appreciated what we got! I've worked in the garden, but mostly mulching down for the summer. The sunflowers and broomcorn (for the birds) have been just lapping up the heat and really growing. Everything else is struggling.

Knitting Stuff

The honeycomb scarf is about half finished. I still don't have a good grasp of the pattern structure.

Spinning Stuff

I spun up some wool/mohair singles and am making a novelty yarn ala Jacey Boggs. I hope to be able to combine it with other yarns from the workshop to make a sort of sampler piece. I want to make some more of the super coil yarn, too.

I've been dyeing wool once or twice a week. I have a couple of new blends to try out. If you have any special requests for colors, be sure to let me know.

Reading Stuff

The Artist in the Office by Summer Pierre. This book is full of suggestions for taking small steps to work at your creative works while holding down a "day" job.

2010-06-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Spinning Stuff
I finished spinning the SW BFL/Carbonized Bamboo, and chain-plied it. It has now become:

Knitting Stuff

I decided to make a scarf. I thought about using the BFL/CB with another yarn to make a vest, and decided I didn't like the color well enough to do that.

My scarf thoughts turned to the Honeycomb Scarf in the most recent Piecework magazine (MayJune 2010), which I thought looked intriguing. I worked up a generous swatch and was pleased with how it looked. I am working this the long way, so I will have long, veritical stripes instead of wide, horizontal bands of color. I figured up my cast on number and confidently started knitting. I finally got the pattern right on the third try. The honeycomb stitch is definitely a challenge. I have about 3" done, and still don't have it figured out to the point that I can work it without looking at the chart at the beginning and end of every row.

Reading Stuff

Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. A thriller set in Utah involving Anasazi, archeology, and ritual witchcraft. I'm really enjoying it.

2010-06-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

Garden Stuff
Two of the three potato plants have died back, without ever blooming. I dug one today (actually, tipped the pot over), and I'm really pleased with the number of potatoes from one plant. I hope the others yield the same.

It's summer here; the night temps are above 70 degrees, so the tomato plants are keeling over at an appalling rate. The hanging tomatoes are doing OK, but their fruit isn't developing very fast. The peppers will continue through the summer.

Spinning Stuff
I hope to finish the BFL/carbonized bamboo singles tonight. I'm anxious to see the finished yarn.

Reading Stuff

First Friend: A History of Dogs and Humans by Katharine M. Rogers. I always enjoy reading about dogs.

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater is showing some progress. The body is knitted and I'm working on the neck facings.

I had to visit the retina specialist, and knitted about half of a dish cloth while I was there.

Doggie Stuff
We've had Walker for a year. A wonderful year; we love our long little doggie.

2010-05-29T11:50:00.001-07:00

Not much is new this week.

Spinning Stuff
I'm still spinning singles of BFL and carbonized bamboo. I'm over half done. I think I will chain-ply this, even though the singles are turning out thicker than what I'd originally planned. This yarn will end up being about 5.5 sts per inch.

Reading Stuff
Skeleton Justice by Michael Baden and Linda Kenney Baden. Kind of CSI Meets Perry Mason.

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater has slowed down because it is so big, which makes it hot to work on. The body is nearly done.

I'm also making dish cloths.

Garden Stuff

We continue to enjoy tomatoes and the occasional pepper. The Chick Magnet is still eating onions.

2010-05-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

Spinning Stuff

I've been doing a little spinning. Instead of working on novelty yarns from the Jacey Boggs workshop, I've gone back to the carbonized bamboo.

It's strange stuff, and I really can't imagine spinning it by itself. In spite of being bamboo, it's really a synthetic yarn made up of cooked bamboo imbedded in a polymer base. I've been carding it with some rainbow SW BFL that suffered from equipment failure during the dye process, and had muddy colors. I put a thin layer of BFL on the card, then a layer of carbonized bamboo, then another layer of BFL. I card and transfer about three times. I'm not rolling this into a rolag, just pulling a cloud off the card and spinning from that. The color is turning out kind of like an oil slick.

I'm not carding ahead, just carding one cloud and spinning it, then doing another.

Garden Stuff

Some of the tomato plants are already showing signs of bacterial wilt, including one that is in a pot that is set on newspaper. "Sweet Baby Girl" must have zero resistance to wilt. The peppers are coming on slowly but surely. The amaryllis are done for the year. The daylilies and sages are looking good.

Reading Stuff
A Killer Stitch by Maggie Sefton. A knitting mystery (number 4 in a series) set in Colorado. A fun read.

2010-05-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

This week is a week like any other week: work, housework, gardening.

Alligator Farm

Last Sunday the Chick Magnet and I went to the Alligator Farm for our annual overdose of nesting shorebirds. It's quite an experience. The noise is simply stunning. Somehow when you watch these tall, graceful waders going about their daily business you don't think of them as being vocal. But they are; they produce a variety of growls, barks, and gobbles.

There were a lot of spoonbills there this year. They don't nest there, they just come to hang out and party with all the other birds. They're so beautiful. The Chick Magnet's photos are much better than mine, so all of these are his work.

Spinning Stuff

None at all. There just hasn't been time.

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater is moving right along. The body is nearly done. The sleeves will be knitted in, and will take some time to do. But it will be done well before he needs it.

Garden Stuff

We are eating a few tomatoes and peppers. The hanging tomatoes are just beginning to set on. They are both Florida varieties; we'll see how they perform as the summer wears on. The amaryllis are nearly done blooming. The daylilies are just getting started. I see hummingbirds around the sages, but they don't come to the feeder.

Reading Stuff

I just finished reading Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen. This is an excellent biography I would recommend to anyone.

2010-05-09T18:31:00.001-07:00

Blogspot and I are not seeing eye to eye this evening, so here are the photos to go with the previous post.

I'll write about the trip to the Alligator Farm later.

2010-05-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

The Jacey Boggs workshop was really great. I got up early Saturday morning and drove to Anna Maria Island, which is near Bradenton, FL. It's a tiny barrier island that is full of houses on postage-stamp sized lots. The workshop was in a house on a canal, which had manatees in it on Sunday. We started by spinning thick and thin singles, then plied those with commercially spun lace weight to make a coiled yarn. A little bit tricky but it makes interesting yarn.

The next yarn was a variation on this with little tiny coils. I took the time to spin both singles for this, as I didn't like using the commercial yarn for one part. I'm really pleased with this yarn.

We then made a yarn with wool wrapped around a core of commercial yarn and the whole thing wrapped in thread. I used a silver metallic thread, which worked pretty well, I thought.

The next yarn we made has little tails of overspun singles sticking out at odd angles and soft halos of wrapped wool. I wasn't very good at the halos, so my sample skein only has one.

Our last sample has "super coils". I wasn't at all happy with the way this one turned out, so I only made a tiny skein. I need to work on this one some more.

I worked four days this week, so have not had time to spin.

2010-04-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

I've spent the week working in the shop, working in the garden, and getting ready for the Jacey Boggs workshop. I think I'm ready to go, except for last minute things like packing the cooler and my toiletries. I should have wonderful pictures and exciting things to write about next week.

Garden Stuff

Nearly everything is in the garden that will go there this year. The tomatoes all look good, the peppers are beginning to look like they will grow. The bagged potatoes still look happy. The amaryllis flowers are really wonderful. We won't get much in the way of carrots or beets (the seed was really old), but even a little will be good.

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater is almost up to the shoulder shaping in the back.

I knitted a name tag.

Reading Stuff

Fingerprints of God: The Search for the Science of Spirituality by Barbara Bradley Hagerty. It's interesting, but not really a page-turner.

2010-04-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater is above the armhole shaping. I'm a couple of inches into the back (or the front; I haven't decided yet) above the armholes. It's getting very awkward to carry, and I may not haul it around any more. It's time to cast on another dish cloth.

Spinning Stuff
I'm getting things together to take to the Jacey Boggs workshop. I'm so excited about this, I can hardly stand the wait.

Reading Stuff

Songs from the Loom: A Navaho Girl Learns to Weave by Monty Roessel. Look for this excellent book in the children's section of the library. The only really jarring note was the text describing "combing" wool when in the pictures they are using hand cards and are clearly carding it.

Doggie Stuff

Walker is now one year old, and went to the vet for his yearly visit. He officially weighs 14 pounds. He was not really excited to be at the vet's office.

Garden Stuff

More amaryllis flowers. We may have early tomatoes in a couple of weeks or so.

2010-04-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Spinning Stuff

Here's the sample skein of SW BFL and Carbonized Bamboo. It's very soft.

I've decided not to start a new spinning project. Instead, I'm dedicating my time to working on . . . .

Knitting Stuff
The Chick Magnet's sweater. I'm about 2" shy of the armhole shaping. It's almost too big to be easily hauled around. When it reaches that point I'll have to start a small, portable project.

Garden Stuff

Yesterday I went to the Garden Expo, which is always fun. I got herbs and orchids. The amaryllis guy wasn't there, so I'm glad I didn't have to replace any of mine. I got a big jar of wildflower honey for the Chick Magnet. There wasn't a big supply this year, so I was fortunate to get there early in the day before it was all sold out.

I got the hanging tomatoes potted and hanging. I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the potting bags that came with the system. This is from Gardener's Supply, and the bags are already falling apart. It seems like I should have been able to get more than two seasons out of them.

Zephyr lilies are blooming.

Reading Stuff

I just finished Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, a cute story.

2010-04-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

Spinning Stuff
I plied the baby camel/silk with the silk hankie singles and made beautiful yarn. It hasn't been washed yet, so no photograph. Maybe next week.

I did a small sample skein of carbonized bamboo and SW BFL. I carded them together on my hand cards. I chain-plied the sample, although I will probably do a regular 3-ply if I decide to go ahead with this. I want to knit up the sample, too. I'm reluctant to get started on a spinning project before the workshop in 3 weeks. But 3 weeks without spinning! I don't think I can stand it.

Knitting Stuff
I unexpectedly got a lot of knitting time one day last week. I took my car in for an oil change, and discovered the car really needed a new CV joint. So I spent the morning knitting a "spa cloth", which is a dish cloth with a lace edging. The car runs great.

Fun Stuff

On Saturday I loaded the car with wool, my wheel, and my knitting, and went to Geneva for a Fiber Frolic. I sold a bunch a wool and had a lot of fun. We had a great picnic, did some felting, and did a little dyeing.

Garden Stuff

Amazingly, not only did all of the amaryllises survive the winter, almost all of them are going to bloom! Two are in bloom right now; the others are sending up big bloom stalks and new leaves. The potatoes are still looking very lush.

2010-04-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

I've spent a lot of time in the garden this week. I have tomatoes and peppers in the ground now. I don't have the hanging tomatoes ready yet, although I bought the peat, vermiculite, and perlite for the potting medium. The potted potatoes are shooting skyward. I hope this is a successful experiment. It's stuff like this that makes gardening fun.

Spinning Stuff

I'm still spinning silk hankies to be plied with the silk/baby camel.

I've signed up for a spinning workshop with Jacey Boggs. I'm very excited! and looking forward to learning new things.

Knitting Stuff

I'm back to work on the Chick Magnet's sweater. Eleven inches of the body are worked.

Reading Stuff

Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn. Another detective story told from the dog's point of view. I've only just started it, and am expecting a fun read.

2010-03-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Spinning Stuff

On Saturday I took my wheel and some supplies and went to the Visitor Center in Saint Augustine to spin in public. Here's a picture from last year's event that was in the paper on Friday. http://http//staugustine.com/living/seniors/2010-03-26/stepping-back-time Scroll down a bit to read the article, as the first part is about the Girl Scouts. I don't know why they chose to put this in the "Seniors" section of the paper. And here are pictures from this year's event.

One nice thing about something like this is I can devote hours to spinning! I almost finished spinning the silk/baby camel, and in fact, finished it last night at home. I started spinning some silk hankies to ply with it. I plied up a short section to be certain this was what I wanted to do. It will be really beautiful.

Knitting Stuff

I've taught two classes recently. One, at A Stitch in Time, was the first class for the Sideways Cardigan that was the Vogue cover sweater, spring 08. It seemed to go well, although I don't feel that I did a very good job. The other, at Fran's Knitting Boutique, was for my Happiness Socks, which have a free-standing cable that's a little bit different. Everyone worked very hard and made good progress.

Garden Stuff

Here's a houseplant that is just looking really pretty.

I've been working in the garden. I have three potatoes in soft pots that are doing well. I planted radishes, lettuce, carrots, and beets today. I still want to do a few more beets. Tomatoes and peppers are yet to come.

Reading Stuff

Chicks with Sticks (KnitWise) by Elizabeth Lenhard. Book Three in a series about four high school girls and their knitting, etc. Not exactly great literature, but I'm enjoying reading them.

2010-03-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day. I worked out in the garden for a little while, but it's really too wet to do much work. I'm pretty sure all my amaryllis bulbs survived. We've eaten two of the cabbages, as they had started to split, even though they weren't very big.

The camellias are still blooming. I think the cold was actually good for the late bloomers, such as Pope Pious. These are (from top left): Purple Dawn, Pope Pious, and Blood of China.

The Carolina Jasmine vines are blooming, making the bushes they climb appear to be in full bloom.

Spinning Stuff

I started spinning the baby camel/silk blend I bought at Uncommon Threads at Destin. It is really beautiful, a silvery tan color. I have to spin short sections of it to keep the short camel down with the long silk strands. I'm spinning it fine and will probably 2-ply it with itself. Or possibly 2-ply it with a strand of silk. I screams to be knitted into something lacy.

Knitting Stuff

The Chick Magnet's sweater is coming along nicely. I have 8.5 inches done. The shadow stripes and the texture interact for a varied and interesting appearance.

2010-03-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

It's been one of those weeks where I've been busy, but I don't have much to show for it.

Spinning Stuff

I haven't done a thing.

Dyeing Stuff

I dyed some yellow/orange merino and mostly yellow with a little orange silk hankies.

Knitting Stuff

I've been working on the Chick Magnet's sweater. About 4.5" are knitted.

I taught a class at Fran's Knitting Boutique on knitting a mini mitered square bag. It's a cute little bag and a good way to learn how to work mitered squares.

Garden Stuff

It's still too cold to plant. The birds are busy. As usual for this time of year, I'm enjoying watching the robins and wishing a pair would stay for the summer.

Reading Stuff

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. This excellent book interweaves the Salem witch trials with a modern story. It takes the slant that at least some of the witchcraft was, in fact, real.

2010-02-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

Knitting Stuff

About a week ago I suddenly remembered that about a year ago I had almost finished knitting a vest using rose-grey handspun yarn. I had put it away when the weather turned warm and my mind turned to other projects. I have been wearing the same three vests over and over again all this cold winter, so I really needed another vest! I dug it out, found the yarn, and finished it. All it lacked were the shoulder seams, the armhole trim, and the edging trim.

I think doing the finishing work on a sweater is very gratifying. You start with a fairly shapeless lump of knitting, and suddenly it begins to come together. A certain amount of faith is required, as you frequently cannot lay it flat to see how it will look. I did the outer border all in one piece on two 40" circulars. It was a trifle awkward.

I love how this one turned out. I've already worn it twice, because, yes, we are still having cold weather.

I have done nothing on the Chick Magnet's sweater, because I devoted all my knitting time to my rose-grey vest.

Doggie Stuff
It's a wet, dreary, chilly day, but Walker and I went for our walk this morning. I put him in his little coat, so he stayed warm and dry.

Reading Stuff
The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson. A novel about a young stable hand who has two elephants put into his care. So far, very good. The characters are wonderful.

Spinning Stuff

Since finishing my vest, I've returned to spinning the rainbow top. There isn't much left to do. My next spinning project will probably be the Black Welch Mountain I bought at Destin.

2010-02-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

Life has been pretty routine. The weather has been mostly cold, but it's beautiful today.

Garden Stuff

I'm beginning to have serious garden thoughts.

I don't know if I will have any amaryllis flowers this year. The cold really hit them hard. Time will tell. The onions look good. I have both "scallions" (long day onions which will probably never bulb) and bunching onions. I didn't put in any short day onions as they are only sold in bundles of 100 and I need 100 onions like I need a hole in the head. These don't store well, either, so that really isn't an option.

Spinning Stuff

I've been working on the rainbow yarn. I have two skeins finished. One has been washed and whack and the other hasn't. There is a visible difference.

Knitting Stuff
I had to restart the Chick Magnet's sweater, as it was too big. It doesn't look much different from the previous picture.

Reading Stuff

I just started reading The 13th Reality by James Dashner. It looks like it will be enjoyable.

Doggie Stuff

Walker likes to sit with the Chick Magnet.

2010-02-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

My sore throat developed into a cold which in turn became a sinus infection. It really had me down for several days, but I've been to the doctor and am on meds now, so I'm a new woman! Sort of.

Spinning Stuff
I'm spinning up some Random Rainbow SW BFL just because I want to. Sometimes I think it will be a scarf and other times I think it wants to be a vest. Time will tell. This wool is such a pleasure to spin.

Knitting Stuff

I have begun knitting the Chick Magnet's sweater. I'm using a stitch that's kind of like a seed stitch but isn't quite as tedious. I'm happy with it so far. This wool is not only a pleasure to spin, it's great to knit with as well. I can't imagine anyone complaining about this sweater being itchy.

Garden Stuff

The pansies are beautiful. The azaleas have a few blooms here and there, but it's really a bit early for them. Another Paph. orchid is in bloom, and looking just lovely.

Reading Stuff

Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos. A really good book with wonderful characters.

Doggie Stuff

Life is good.

January Spin-In

2010-01-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Destin, Florida, home of the January Spin-In.

I worked at the shop for a half-day on Tuesday, then went home and loaded all my display racks and wool into Murray. I got up very early on Wednesday and left for Destin. About 1/3 of the way there I realized my car charger for my iPod wasn't charging, so I had to do without music for most of the rest of the trip. What a tragedy!

I got to Destin in good time, ate lunch in the car because I was really hungry, then unloaded my stuff and set up my booth. I wasn't the first one set up, but I was much earlier than some. I'd forgotten to bring a lamp, but I was able to rent two of them, payment being made in wool.

Spinners kind of trickled in all afternoon. I sold some wool, did some spinning (Panda blend for socks) and knitting (sock #2 for Sunshine Daughter), and a lot of talking with old friends and new. Several people wondered where the Chick Magnet was, and I had to tell them he'd decided to stay home with the new Long Dog. I forced people to look at pictures of Walker all weekend.

Here are Ginger and Jane, members of the Precision Niddy-Noddy Drill Team.

I had a lot of fun and sold a lot of wool. I received several nice comments about the colors and spinability of the wool. A few people were spinning their wool on the spot and it's always nice to see what someone else does with the colors.

Not too surprisingly, when you put together people from all over the country, the cold germs had a field day. I have a terrible sore throat.

2010-01-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day today. Yesterday was very stormy; the yard is filled with downed branches and tree debris. Today it is sunny and warm, with just a slight breeze. I worked out in the garden for about an hour.

Spinning Stuff

I'm still spinning undyed Panda. It has a silky hand and is very pleasant to spin. I look forward to knitting socks with it.

Knitting Stuff

The Chair pad turned out really pretty. I felted it so it is thick and the colors are slightly blurred. I'm nearly finished with sock #1 for Sunshine Daughter. Then on to sock #2. By the time it is finished, I'll be done spinning the Panda and can start on socks from handspun.

Reading Stuff

I just finished Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice. It was enjoyable, but predictable.

Doggie Stuff

Walker is enjoying his sleeping bag, even when he really doesn't need it to stay warm. He's asleep, not playing, in this photo.

2010-01-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

It seems like all I've been doing is covering plants and going to work, but that's not quite true.

Garden Stuff

We had a long cold spell. Several nights with four hours or more in the lower 20's, which is really deadly here. I was glad I'd taken cuttings of all the sages, as I lost all but one. Incredibly, one pepper plant may have survived, but it looks very unhappy and may yet succumb. I lost one small orchid in the back porch green house and one on the front porch was badly damaged. I don't know about the amaryllises; they lost all their leaves, but I hope the bulbs are OK.

Spinning Stuff

The green wool is all plied, it's been washed and whacked, and some of it has been wound so I can start swatching for the sweater.

I spun up some thick and thin yarn to knit up into a chair pad. The folding chair I take to spinning events really needs a pad for comfort, and I decided it should be knitted out of handspun. This yarn is thick and is part mohair, so it should make a comfy and sturdy chair cushion.

I'm currently spinning some undyed Panda for sock knitting.

Doggie Stuff

Last Sunday we took Walker to a dog show. He wasn't entered; he's a pet, not a show dog. It was an outside show, and it was a freezing cold afternoon. We went to visit one of the Chick Magnet's friends, who is a professional dog handler. He was showing a Black Russian Terrier, which was bred to be a gigantic and truly frightening guard dog. I think the breeding program was successful. Mackxie is a nice dog, but very impossing. If he decided to start something, it would be on a very large scale.

We all enjoyed ourselves, in spite of the cold. I bought a sleeping bag for Walker. He loves it: double layers of poly fleece to snuggle into. A dachshund's dream.

Reading Stuff

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. Definitely not serious reading.

Knitting Stuff

Socks for Sunshine Daughter.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Spinning Stuff

Woo-hoo! The singles of the green wool are finished and I have started plying the yarn. So far, it looks good. There's a lot to ply, so I won't get this done right away.

While the singles were resting, I spun up some samples of "Panda" blend: superwash wool, rayon-process bamboo, and nylon. It makes really pretty yarn with a nice sheen and a soft handle. I'll use these in socks that have a slip-stitch pattern.

Other Wool Stuff

I did a lot of dyeing this week. It's always interesting how the different wools and blends take color differently.

Garden Stuff
We'll probably have our first frost (freeze?) in a night or two. I have peppers and a few tomato plants to cover, plus the orchids on the back porch. They get covered at 50 degrees, so a freeze is always a concern. There's a lot of fruit on the trees, but it would take a long, very cold freeze to damage it.

The hens are laying well.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

We had a quiet Christmas. Just the Chick Magnet, Sunshine Son, and I. And Walker, who celebrated his first Christmas. He got a long walk, a bunch of food, and pictures with a Santa hat. Then another walk.

Spinning Stuff

I'm working on bobbin #12. The end is in sight. I'm not starting any big knitting projects because when this yarn is finished, I'll be working on the Chick Magnet's sweater.

Garden Stuff

Nothing new.

Reading Stuff

The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It's kinda like Harry Potter for adults. I'm about half-way through and so far have been really enjoying it.

2009-12-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

Another quiet week. I dyed wool, got my brakes fixed, went to work.

Spinning Stuff

I just started the 10th bobbin of the green wool. I'm getting excited about being close to the end.

Garden Stuff

The vegies are growing nicely. We had onion and pepper from the garden this week.

Two Paph. orchids are blooming. This is one of my favorite types of orchid. I like the colors and the shapes, as well as the variety in the leaves.

2009-12-12T11:01:00.000-08:00

There isn't much new this week. I've dyed some more wool, worked on Christmas cards, and gone to work.

Spinning Stuff

I'm working on the 9th bobbin of green wool for the Chick Magnet's sweater. I still hope to have the singles all spun by the end of the year.

Here is the final skein of the core-spinning experiment. The color is better in the full picture.

Garden Stuff
It's a grey, rainy day today. The little cabbages, lettuces, and onions are all big enough to admire from the window. The pansies are looking a little droopy and down-trodden.

Reading Stuff

The Margarets by Sherri S. Tepper. This is an enjoyable, complex tale with a theme of over-population and it's consequences.

2009-12-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

This week's paddle trip took us back to Six Mile Creek. We put in at Outback Crab Shack, which put us right into the best part of the creek. We mostly had it to ourselves. The reflections on the water were just stunning. We had a hard time getting pictures, though, because stopping and turning the kayaks would send ripples across our target area. I saw a raccoon looking at me from a tree, but was unable to get a picture of it. We heard something big splashing through the woods: pig? bear? really heavy-footed deer? We have no idea.

Jazz Concert

Wednesday afternoon we drove down to Melbourne for a Smooth Jazz Christmas concert. Dave Koz (saxophone), David Benoit (piano), Peter White (guitar), Rick Braun (trumpet), and Brenda Russell (vocals). I think it was the best concert I've ever attended. My favorite part was watching David Benoit perform. You gotta love a piano man! At least half the concert was just a wonderful jazz performance, not holiday music. It was all really, really good.

Spinning Stuff

The 7th bobbin of green wool is over half done. I'm still enjoying looking at my experiments from last week.

Dye Works

I'm dyeing wool again. If you have any special requests, let me know. I have merino, superwash BFL, a wool/ bamboo blend, and merino/silk blend.

Reading Stuff

The Quest by Wilbur Smith. The subtitle is "A Novel of Ancient Egypt", but that really has to be taken with a grain of salt. This is pretty much fantasy. Good characters and a good story, but nowhere near as good as the first three books in the series.

Coil Spinning

2009-11-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

Spinning Stuff

I finished the 6th bobbin of green wool. This marks the half-way point of the singles. Inspired by the "Coils" article by Jacey Boggs in the current Spin-Off magazine, I decided to play around with some novelty spinning for a few days.

I grabbed a short piece of blue variegated merino for my first attempt. Right away I learned that this was a bad choice for a beginner. The fibers are too short. Even with serious over-spinning, I had some problems with the singles drifting apart during plying, which is where the coiling takes place.

Next I moved onto some orange/brown superwash wool from Brown Sheep. This was much easier to work with and I got better, although not great results. I kind of liked the knotty spots better than the coiled spots, so I did a bit like that.

I had some green superwash BFL (go figure) so I used that next. In an attempt to keep the coils neater, I didn't make the thick sections very thick. That helped a little, but not much.

Then I took some blue/grey SW BFL and spun two singles pretty much the same. I coiled them using the same techniques as before. The coils aren't as big and I didn't really try to keep them neat, but it's amazing how poofy they are, coming from an overspun smooth singles.

There is some yellow SE BFL on the wheel now. This time I'm really going to work on neat coils.

Reading Stuff

I just finished Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It was an excellent book. It has a common theme, an asteroid hitting the moon, and the effects on the world and one family in particular. The book is written as the diary of a hight school girl, and is truly compelling reading.

Garden Stuff

We've had rain, so the garden looks good.

Doggie Stuff

Like a lot of dogs, Walker is finding the cooler weather to be stiumalting. He really enjoys his walks. He's still doing a lot of chewing.

Big Adventure

2009-11-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday the Chick Magnet, Walker, and I took the kayaks to the Palmo Fish Camp Boat Ramp and went on our maiden kayak voyage. I didn't make a complete fool of myself, which is always reassuring. Palmo Fish Camp is where Six Mile Creek joins the St. Johns River. The Chick Magnet had the faster kayak. Walker rode with me in the more stable kayak. He jumped in twice and wasn't happy when we weren't in a tight formation. He really likes to keep his family close together. We all had great fun.

On Sunday we went to Trout Creek for a longer paddle. It's a bit more intimate and has nice scenery. I got very tired.

Today we went back to Six Mile Creek and went for a long paddle. The wind came up on the way back and it was frightfully hard to paddle against. I didn't dare stop to rest as I immediately lost ground and it was very hard to get started again. I was stiff and tired when I got in, and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow.

Spinning Stuff

I'm working on the 6th bobbin of green wool. I need to dye one more batch of green, then get busy dyeing other colors.

Garden Stuff

I set out the pansies a few days ago and they are really pretty. I have lettuce growing. The cabbages, peppers, and tomatoes are looking good.

Reading Stuff

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson about hiking the Apppalachian Trail. An enjoyable read and oddly disturbing.

2009-11-13T16:04:00.000-08:00

It's been another quiet week.

Spinning Stuff

I'm almost done with the 4th bobbin of the green wool. I'm hoping to finish this project before the end of the year. This SW BFL is a true delight to spin and makes such beautiful yarn. I'll have to plan a sweater for me, too.

Garden Stuff

A new amaryllis bulb is blooming at the wrong season, as it was intended for the Christmas market. I won't expect it to bloom next spring.

I got two flats of pansies today and will set them out tomorrow or Sunday. The ones I had last year did really well and I expect to enjoy this batch just as much. The little onions are sprouting. The cabbages are looking good and sturdy and are forming little heads.

The tangerines are ripe enough to eat. I had one today and it was very tasty. The lemons are ripening, too. There are more there than what I'd thought earlier in the year. I hope they have good flavor this year. They weren't very good last year.

Doggie Stuff

Walker still has his baby fangs, although they are very crowded by his adult teeth. He's been chewing more than ever this last week

He nearly has to fold himself in half to fit in his basket.

Camellia Photos

2009-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

It's been a very dull week, so here are some photos of the early camellias.

I have the garden weeded. It looks a lot better now, plus I found a pepper plant. I put in some little onions and hope to get some more things in the ground soon.

I'm working on the third bobbin of the green wool.

The Chick Magnet spent much of the week under the weather, but he's feeling much better now.

Walker is still a walking dog.