Hi All,
I have been slammed here at work; no time to blog. Wah. Sorry about the lack of pictures (Marti), but just think of the workout your imagination is getting :)

I am still drifting between projects. Oh yes, I have made 2 tatted and beaded bracelets since Saturday, and just about finished the fingerless mitts, and progress continues on the blue socks and the peppermint socks, but I have no big project to work on. I suppose I should finish up the grey sweater ("Aud") and get spinning for "Jasmine". There is such a lack of spinning time.

The entrelac on the peppermint socks is a big job, but very fiddly, so I can only work on that for a few minutes at a time.

In my non-knitting life, I am going to yoga, still slogging thru algebra (although I have been ignoring my homework), still petting the pets, and have rekindled my romance with the library. Current reading list "Sibleys Field Guide to Western Birds", "The Worst Hard Time", "Beethoven's Hair", and something I forgot the name of. It covers medical curiosities through history; conjoined twins and such.

Spinning classes start up at Knit N Stitch on Wednesday - I am excited and nervous and unprepared. Situation normal.

The beginning of the endings: I finished the body of the Adamas shawl last night and am going to start the 12 rows of the border tonight after my algebra exam. I think I can also finish the Purple Earth socks tonight. I am just about to the casting-off part. I hope I don't leave myself with no airplane knitting. I suppose I could *gasp* bring a book, as the flight is only an hour.

I did no chores last night, but I did ply the demo yarn off my good spindle and watch "Lost". And today I sucked it up and bought my new textbook. So I am not an entirely hopeless case.

Ahhhh, Wednesday. A new Megatokyo comic (things are heating up for our heroes), an actual lunch HOUR, during which I accomplished some knitting, some good news about staffing here at work (it's a secret), and the undying love of Fishy IV.

I am hopelessly behind in my cleaning schedule before I leave for AZ. I hope the petsitter will still be friends with me. I am committing to cleaning pet cages, sweeping everywhere, and taking out the trash.

Math is nearly done. We had an exam last night (I think I did well), then review tonight, then our Final tomorrow, then a whole weekend off before the Spring term begins again on Tuesday. Whew. I am still unreasonably annoyed by people who did not take any of the prerequisites, who flat out refuse to read the book, who don't ask the teacher questions, and who talk during lecture asking me for help / answers. The meek may inherit the earth, but I will be the one who passes math.

The plying for grandma's mittens is nearly complete. I will finish that tonight as I survey my freshly swept kingdom. It looks like I will be knitting them there, which has the upshot of having grandma right there for a fitting.

Knitting has been slow. I am at the ending point of a bunch of things.

• Adamas Shawl: I have decided NOT to play russian roulette with my yarn, and will go directly to the edging after this last row. I have a half row of purling to go and then I need to find my edging chart.
• Purple Earth Socks: At the ribbing and nearly done. They have been languishing for a week now. I need to find my notes so I can figure out where I am. Time to finishing - maybe 6 hours knitting. Probably less.
• Peppermint Socks: 2 feet and heels are finished and languishing. I keep forgetting to look up a pattern for knitting entrelac in the round. At this rate, it will be next Yule before they are done.
• Aud: This is the grey sweater. It is on my next-to-the-bed bookcase. Guess what? It's languishing. I need to spindle some more yarn. I have front back and 2/3 of both sleeves done. A week's hard knitting, maybe. I am in dread of the sewing up, which is probably why I have not been working on it.
• Sock yarn: this has been sold, sight unseen, and unspun too. I love spinning it, but have been sick and tired this last 2 weeks. It is first on the list of spinning projects when I get back from AZ. It makes good movie spinning.
• Lemonfrost Ingeo: One skein (4oz) done. Need to spin the other 4 oz.

Well, that's enough of UFO identification for now. There are a couple other projects half finished which may get frogged, a couple which might get abandoned, a couple which are plain lost, and who knows what else lies in the bottom of the closet...

I just remembered I was supposed to go buy my textbook at lunch today. Dang me. Tomorrow for sure!

I am joining the St. Brigid poetry day out there in blogland (http://www.creatingtextiles.com/). Here is one of my favorite poems, learnt in high school and, amazingly, still committed to memory (mostly). However, I can never remember where I put my cell phone.

Fire and Ice - Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire,
I find with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

I spoke too soon. My cow-orker's cold from last week made its way over to me and I was felled, I say, felled by it Tuesday and Wednesday. No school, no yoga, no spinning, almost no knitting, could barely watch tv. I did a lot of sleeping and snuffling. And laundry. And pushing the cats off of me while I slept. The dogs were happy to have me home. Back to work today and in desperate need of a nap. And some soup.

I did get a few rows in on the Adamas shawl. I have reached the point of being worried about the amount of yarn remaining. I *think* I can get in one more pattern repeat before beginning the edging. I will put in a lifeline at the end of this repeat in case I have to rip back. I hope not.

I have only the ribbing left on Mandy's socks, and it is going slowly. Man, I hate ribbing. Then I need to look up a way to do entrelac in the round for the peppermint socks, and I will be nigh out of sock yarn. I have one skein in reserve, but am not sure I want socks out of it. It might be a pet skein. I need to get spinning and make my own sock yarn. This is spin from my stash year, after all. I also need to get moving on my grey sweater and the Christmas mittens.

I want desperately to start the wool blanket, but have been too wiped to do my weft calculations and measure my warp, much less warp the loom. Perhaps this weekend. I have been reading my weaving books for motivation and guidance. Now I don't know if I am eager to start or frightened I will "mess it up". I don't want to make swatches forever.

I finished the grey-purple BFL and found I do not have the yardage I need to make the shawl I wanted it for. So I need to find a 500 yd pattern for a circular shawl and then spin 1200 yds for the Rona shawl.

OK, I am just muttering now. Must go snooze in the car.

Not Dead Yet. I have been working away on a bunch of things - including trips to LA for work, which cuts into my internet and blog-updating time. Last night I finally wound off the silver - purple BFL fingering weight handspun and it made a 500 yd skein. It is destined to be a circular shawl with a silver center and darkening rings of purple. You are probably all sick of hearing about it.

I started spinning up some hand painted corriedale (my own) that is gold, teal, sapphire, and burgundy. There are some white bits inside that lighten the colors. I split 11oz of roving into 4 balls and will ply each bobbin full upon itself (my kingdom for a ball winder) so they will all be related.

Finished the Purple Midnght socks - would have worn them today but I have to weave the ends in still and I was already 10 minutes late leaving for work. Tomorrow. Measured M for the Purple Earth socks and that will be my math class knitting this week.

Going to visit Grandma on Feb 10th - I need to get moving on her mittens. They are still in an unspun state. Aunt K needs bobby socks in July - at the rate I am going I had better start those now too.

I think I am socked out. Maybe I will start spinning for the Jasmine sweater. It is the "knit and spin from my stash" year after all.

Sorry about the utter lack of pictures.

Well, the felted scarf adventure turned out well (sorry, no picture). I have some thin spots, but plan on freaking out and blaming them on the first person who notices.

Did no homework this weekend - I suspect I will be up late into the night tonight. I must yoga, as I have been skipping again. What I really want to do is hide under the covers again, maybe popping my head out to watch some more "Jeeves and Wooster".

I still hate my crappy job. What motivates me to drive here every morning? Oh yeah, the rent.

Practically no knitting progress this weekend - finished the leg of the first "purple midnight" sock (ribbing pending), but that was only a couple inches. Ho Hum. It just gets cold in the house and my fingers won't cooperate.

So. Freaking. Happy. The laptop is here and I am at the Coffee Depot not-studying (although I did buy a coffee). A giant, enormous, huge, bear hug of a thank you to Randy and Mandy. Now begins my "where are all the wifi connections in Riverside" hunt. And, hopefully, some WOW to make me even less social than I am now.

Knitted the foot of a sock in class tonight - now I have two feet and no legs or cuffs. The shawl has again been relegated to "I'm too tired" status. Poor thing.

Big plans? AZ to visit the cousins and grandma before mid-Feb, Riverspinners meeting this weekend, Dickens in early Feb, yoga all the time. I tweaked something in my neck - may have to soak tonight.

Off to do some algebra and dream of knitblogs....

It has been a long 3 days of review, but finally I learned something new in math last night! Hopefully my book will come in on Monday so I can do my homework for next week.

This is what I did in class on Wednesday:





Last night I worked all the way to the heel and made all the decreases. At this rate I will have all my sock yarn knit up by week 3. Perhaps I should switch to mittens. I sure needed some last night when I left class and walked to my car in the pouring drizzle. However, I like drizzle so was happy. Damp but happy.

The yarn pictured is the Purple Earth colorway by Claudia Handpainted, purchased from the lovely Sheri at The Loopy Ewe. (Ewe go, girl) I am knitting on #1 needles, as is my wont.

I have dusted off the Adamas shawl and have added another half a repeat this week. Slowly but surely it will get finished! Tonight is open spinning at the studio - I plan on plying the silver / purple BFL fingeringweight singles (destined to be a round shawl) and then spinning up the rest of the Sea Oyster Ingeo (destined to be a summer tank top) if there is time. Tomorrow is the party at Knit N Stitch and I can finish it then. Or Sunday.

Compacting is going well so far. I am cooking food again (instead of going thru the drive-thru three times a day), I am not wandering around in Borders until something calls to me, and I am avoiding the yarn store like the plague. That will last until the party on Saturday - but I will bring a work-in-progress to keep myself occupied. I bought my math text online, used.

I finished the Sadie socks on Monday while watching the Rose Parade at home. I can wholeheartedly recommend The Yarn Pirate merino / tencel sock yarn from The Loopy Ewe. It was a joy to work with. I will try to get some pictures up soon.

Saturday was open spinning at the studio, Peggy and Fran came and we had a lovely time. I worked on the Adamas shawl, Peggy worked on a prayer shawl, and Fran held me hostage until I showed her how to make toe-up socks. She made me the most gorgeous knitting bag though, so I caved. I am looking forward to open spinning this Friday night.

Winter session at RCC started yesterday - I am taking Introductory Algebra. It was review of the same crap I spent all Fall learning. We meet from 6-10 on T, W, and Th, but I got the ok to knit along if I pay attention to the lecture and keep my grades up. I hope to see many socks in my future. Or perhaps a very easy sweater.

All in all, a good start to the year!

The best laid plans....

Well, there was no exciting trip to Big Sur. Instead there was a lazy weekend full of TV, knitting, visiting, and eating. Let's weigh the pros and cons, shall we?

Not Driving to Big Sur: Con - It is gorgeous and I missed it. Pro - I didn't spend $200 in gas this weekend.

Not Camping in Winter: Con - It is deserted and gorgeous and I would have had some fun without electricity. Pro - It is awfully nice to wake up all snuggled under a bunch of blankets and then walk to the kitchen barefoot to make tea.

Not Visiting Morro Fleece Works: Con - I didn't get to visit with Shari and I didn't get to drop off that Romney fleece that is taking up half of the closet. Pro - I will save $20 in gas by mailing the damn thing.

Knitting: Con - in Big Sur it was 65 degrees. Pro - in Riverside it was upwards of 80 outside and room temperature inside Knit N Stitch (where I practically took up residence this weekend).

So I am pretty happy with the quiet weekend I had.

Christmas Goodies....
Outgoing - The first batch of knitted socks was well received, I am pleased to say. I was quite nervous that they would not fit / be appreciated and I can rest easy on both counts now. Half the stuff I collected for presents is still at the house, awaiting gift wrap and packaging and addressing and mailing. Maybe by tomorrow. Don't they say that Christmas should last all year?

Incoming - I made out like a bandit. Pet treats, a new can opener, a fabulous dress-'em-up lawn flamingo (inherited from my Uncle Jon which makes it extra special!), some awesome North Ronaldsay roving (the spinning has already begun) from Pat in anticipation of our impending venture to Scotland, some very nice gift cards, and a spectacular one-of-a-kind picture for my wall here at work. A triptych, really, of bat eared foxes, a leopard, and black backed jackals, from Mandy's friend's trip to Africa. They are professional photographers and made this up for me special *sniff*.

I heard about The Compact (http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/) on NPR and I think 2007 will be the year I try to get rid of a bunch of stuff cluttering up the house. I don't know if I can make the full commitment (buying nothing brand new for a year), but I am willing to make some deep cuts in my consumption! I will try to get some outgoing barter items listed here, or on spindlers, or on ebay / craigslist soon. 2006 was the year of buying stuff because I can finally afford it - but now I see that just because I can, doesn't mean I have to (or should).

Hope your holiday is / has been special to you too.

Happy Holidays! Here is a holiday poem to cheer you:

"The shopping is done,
the wrapping has begun,
the mailing will be late,
the knitting is quite effeminate."

Now you know why I don't quit my day job and become a poet. Out of 7 pairs of socks and one pair of mittens that were on the list, I have 3 pairs and 2/3 of a sock done. I have revised my expectations of finishing downward and bought backup gifts as appropriate. Everybody stay alive long enough to have a birthday next year. I still don't think that is bad knitting progress considering I began Thanksgiving weekend and am still doing all my normal activities (work, yoga, RCC, soap) plus doing my holiday shopping.

I was not planning on making any New Year's resolutions in January, but then Wendy (http://wendyknits.net) announced her "knit from your stash" plan. A goodly plan, methinks, and worth pursuing. So I am vowing to add nothing to the stash (fleece, roving or yarn) (sock yarn excepted) until Lambtown in July. Of course, I will still be dyeing and selling roving to non-knit from your stashers. We can't all do it at once or the world economy will collapse. Or something.

Today's vacation picture of the day:

Vacation may get pushed back one day - me leaving on Friday instead of Thursday. I will ask the checkbook fairy. I may need to spend Thursday knitting a hat to wear on vacation.

Had a great day at the Riverspinners party on Saturday. Spinning, food, games, shopping, selling, talking, and planning.

Sunday was spent making big soap and spinning plans for the new season, tidying up the basement, and listing items on ebay for the holiday season (ebay ID thesoapplantation) - roving, spinners' gift baskets, and soap. It's already time to start booking shows for 2007!

The Christmas knitting continues - I finished another sock last night and cast on its mate.

Plans for vacation are proceeding well - the dogs are staying home due to the chance of rain. Camping - yes. Camping in Rain - yes. Camping with Dogs - yes. Camping with WET Dogs - no way. Here is hint #2:

Well, apparently I have a funny idea of when "tomorrow" is, because many weeks have passed since my last post. Sorry. I am working away at the holiday knitting - 2 pairs of socks are done and a 3rd is in the works, but progressing slowly. It is so pretty, I think that I don't want the yarn to end. No pictures until after the holidays!!

Today is payday, so tonight I will also be working away at the holiday shopping. I hope everyone likes soap, so that I can finish my shopping down in the basement. *hahahhaha* I thought I might post a couple items I would like to have, if anyone is so inclined. I have a lot of stuff already, so donations to Heifer International or another worthy cause would be super too.

heifer international

Any sock yarn from The Loopy Ewe would be welcome - click the button on the sidebar. Sheri (the owner) knows just what I like. I am a big big fan of Fleece Artist.

Lord of the Rings box set

Fawlty Towers complete series

"Japa" (CD) by Dave Stringer Japa

"Parcel of Rogues" (CD) by Steeleye Span Parcel of Rogues

I have a lot of fiber, but no bison roving

It might get cold this winter and this would keep me warm: Kimiko

In other news, The Soap Plantation has its last show of the year on Saturday in Riverside. We will be at the Riverspinners Holiday Party (6515 Clay St) from 10-4.

Janel from Spindlicity and Plantation Productions have been working feverishly on The Alaska Cruise and are taking reservations NOW. Come join in the fun!

Finally, I have a secret (but not for long) - I am going on a vacation for Yule. Just me and.... me. Here's a hint...

A big day... because I finished the 2nd pumpkin sock, I added The Loopy Ewe to my blog button area, I did it all by myself, I added the picture of the 1st pumpkin sock to the post that has been on hold, I remembered to petsit for Anne, and my tea order came in. Now, I am ready for some dinner.

Tomorrow, a Yuletide wish list for anyone who hasn't figured out how much I love yarn, roving, spindles, bobbin lace, bobbins, and books about all of the above.

Catching up....

November 4 -5: I had a lovely weekend at the Lace Day on Saturday and the Handweaver's show on Sunday. Sold some stuff, bought some stuff, stuffed myself with cookies and coffee. Dropped off a finewool fleece with Sheri of Morro Fleece Works, did NOT buy any spindles, wheels, or other fiber tools, and made an effort to buy gift wool for the holidays. Handed out many, many cards for the cruise.

Nov 7: Managed to make it to my polling place and vote - thanks to Mandy for looking it up for me. I hate it when people don't vote, especially when they then complain about how things are.

Nov 8: I actually made it to yoga at 6:30 am and had a great time. Set up in the afternoon for our in-home show in Chino Hills and was later crippled by a big bad "icepick" headache. Now I carry my advil with me everywhere.

Nov 9: Went to Algebra, took (aced) the test, and was done by 7:30. No new material, so no homework for the week. Worked on a bobbin lace project in the evening - I have a class this weekend and am way behind on my practicing. I am working on spiders and would love to work on roseground before my class... we will see how far I get. Winding the bobbins for the moon is taking forever.

Nov 10: Made it to 6:30 am yoga again *yay me* In the evening Val came over and we went to go see "Flushed Away" and have some dinner at my renovated Marie Callender's. The movie was fabulous. Really really enjoyed it. Pat was right - the slugs rock.

Nov 11: I spent all day at the in-home show. Did some selling, did some shopping, ate some tamales, and spun 2 oz of ingeo on the Millie. I really really love the ingeo and the time really flew. I think I will make it into a tank top for summer.

Nov 12: Another show, this time in lovely downtown Hermosa Beach. Sold some soap, ate some snacks, spun another 2 oz of the ingeo, and finished winding off the silver - purple BFL off the bobbins. Now that they are in balls, I can ply the 3 singles together (silver end first) and move along closer to my planned circle / spiral shawl. Wish me luck on getting a lot of yardage!

Today... I am still chipping away at the pumpkin socks. There was very little knitting this weekend (spinning makes a better demo project for me). I am still chipping away at the Adamas shawl - I seem to have misplaced the pattern card I made up. I started a Christmas gift project last week - handspun mittens for my Grandma. I need to get cracking on those, but they knit up fast. After that there is a whole flock of gift socks on my plate. I love my spinning friends - I can just give them roving and let them do the work :)

Today's pick is from the pumpkin patch. Sock #1:

Happy Halloween!

(Imagine finished Pumpkin Sock #1 here)

The sock is willing, but the server is weak.

Progress on the Pumpkin socks is slow. I knit a little every day, but the ribbing just goes on and on. I like the way they are turning out, though. And when I say they, I mean sock #1. Sock #2 is a distant dream, although I suppose it would be a good idea to put the ribbing on waste yarn, knit sock #2 up to the ribbing, and then switch back. Then my life will be all ribbing, all the time, instead of stressing about remembering the changes I make to the sock body when I get to #2.

I tried it on this morning and learned that I should have knit about 1" of plain stockinette before beginning the ribbing to make them really comfy.

I am also working on the Adamas shawl at home. One row takes 20 - 30 minutes so it is not a good "knit a couple stitches and then set it down" project anymore. I have 14 1/2 sets of diamonds done now. The picture shows 16 sets of diamonds before starting the edging - we will see how much yarn I have left. Maybe I should add a lifeline at the 16th repeat. All in all, I am completely in love with it, and completely in denial about the 2 mistakes I know are in it (so far).

There will be a big announcement in tomorrow's post - stay tuned!

I am back from Vegas and all in one piece! I left Friday about 6:30, after finishing laundry and making a stab at tidying the homestead. Got in around 10, but then got lost in Henderson for an hour. You would think that after 5 years I could remember how to get there. Saw lots of friends on my way to Whimsy, and they were happy to see me too. Got dressed up in something wenchy and went to work selling clothes. There was some great new designs this year. The drizzle that I drove thru near Baker arrived in Vegas about 3pm, and then it cleared up, and then about 7 or so (right around dark), it started pouring rain, and there was thunder, lightning, and wind. We got the clothes in, threw the tarps up, and closed down. I went home with Deb and Trinidad (who I stayed with last year). We threw our sodden clothes in the laundry and went out for dinner. We stayed up talking for a while and I got some knitting in.


This is sock #1. I am really enjoying this pumpkin yarn (still more orange and less red in person), although I like the way the colors stack in the toes and heels more than the striping in the foot. But the colors aren't pooling in big patches, which tends to bug me, so I am happy. The yarn itself is smooth and soft. I am starting to pick up the short rows, and need to make a decision about the leg pattern (if any) I want to use. I think it might be fun to do the whole leg in 2x2 ribbing and use up all the yarn, and then turn the cuffs down. I was fooling around with the Mermaid socks, tried that, and liked the effect. It also solves the problem of whether or not to increase for the calf and make knee socks.

Friday night and Saturday morning had more of the same - amazing, fearsome, stormy weather. Henderson (south of us) got marble-sized hail. It abated about 10 and we got the word that Faire would open at 12 instead of 10, but was still on. The weather for the rest of the day was quite nice, and the crowds started by late after noon. I worked hard, ate many meat pies, and we bartered Guinness for bloomers with the ale wench. Did quite a lot of flirting and flouncing, but no real takers. I did enjoy viewing all the kilted patrons. Did a little shopping, but I have most of the faire gear I "need". I found an awesome tankard at Moonstruck - it has a deer on it (pictures someday), and a pottery teapot from Lodema the Potter. Saturday night I could barely knit for tiredness (we closed at 10) and slept well.

Sunday was also gorgeous, and finally we saw real crowds. The place was Puh-acked. We finally got the last of the stock out and were busy, busy, busy. For my part, I was busty, being in a better fitting bodice now that I am all skinny. We closed around 5 ish (the hordes of patrons were still shopping with a vengeance, trying to make up for missing Friday night and Saturday morning). We did a little wage-bartering and I was wayyyy overpaid in clothes and $, but still we are all happy with the arrangement and I will be back next year, with bells on! Said goodbye to Todd, Judy, the kids, and the bulge (due at Christmas), and wished them a safe drive home to AZ. I was finally back at the apartment about 8 (got lost again, Deb had to come rescue me).

Left around 10am Monday morning, right on schedule. Took the scenic route down Flamingo to the freeway, missed all the construction traffic (repaving mostly, and in the other direction). Saw the coolest thing - the dry lake outside Primm was filled with water (it actually flooded the freeway on Saturday morning, so I couldn't have left early anyway). It looked really really neat to see this huge lake in the desert. It was clear and sunny in the desert, not a cloud in the sky, until I got to Hesperia and drove straight into a wall of cloud, under which were San Bernardino and Riverside.

Got home around 2, chatted with the neighbors, watered the roses, and took a NAP. Then I was up and off to yoga at 6. Took Julie's beginner class (worked on warrior and sun salutations), Scott's deep stretch class (lots of shoulder stretches), and managed to stay for Laura's Meditation class - the whole 25 minutes!!!!! But then I was beat and it was home to bed for me.

Now I am back at work, and getting so much done, as you can see :) Whimsy will be at the Dickens Festival in the Bay area this year (4 weekends starting Thanksgiving) so I am thinking of driving up for a day there, just to hang out. I haven't ever been to that show.