Happy Birthday.....

Miss SofeeSu.....  Eight years old today!!!!!

And on the 4th day of Tour De Fleece:

I realized that I am way behind on my blog duties.  I admit that I've been concentrating on this crazy TDF event.  It's fun - in a sort of crazy way! 

So far, I have spun up two skeins of yarn. 

 Both are traditional 3-ply.  180 and 195 yards, high twist fingering weight.  They are approx 60grams each in weight.  Eventually will be colorwork.

Today I divided a braid of fiber, used hand-cards to blend the colors (and bloody my knuckles).

I have only 1 bobbin actually spun up, but since my goal was to spin one hour a day, well, I think I'm still meeting the goal for today.

Since we last chatted, BG celebrated his 5th birthday.  As confirmation that he's growing, during his pre-kindergarten physical, it was revealed that he's grown 2 1/2 inches and gained 8LBs since last summer!!!  School starts for him on July 25th.  They are having a busy summer, and he is so enjoying his time with his stay at home mom.  We get together for special days....one of which was a recent viewing of the new movie "Monster University"(really cute movie) and a sleep-over.  Baby sister will be here in less than 2 months.  WOW.....  exciting times!

The hubbs and I went to an Art Fair this past weekend.  It's a pretty good sized production here in Des Moines.  I bought a yarn bowl.

I've been wanting one, and wanted to avoid paying shipping on an Etsy purchase.  This one is just perfect - meeting all my needs and is totally "my" color.  ;)  Really like it!

Our crazy weather continues.  My sister who lives in Idaho is experiencing uncommonly hot weather, we on the other hand have had a realively cool summer so far.  In fact, just yesterday we were treated to a very chilly surprise!

Yes, a nice refreshing hail storm in July!!!  The news talked of one small town in Iowa where the hail accumulated to a measurable 3" deep.  The photos looked like a snow cover!! 

I spent a bit of  time pitting these beautiful cherries last evening:

Aren't they pretty!  I wish the tree was in our backyard, but alas.....they came courtesy of a generous neighbor.  I must admit that I have never made a cherry pie from fresh cherries before. 

The hubbs was pretty happy with the results of my efforts though.  There's enough for pie #2 in a couple of days also.  Nice Neighbor!

I've started the Mystery Mittens KAL.  First clue produced directions for knitting lacy cuffs.  Two for each mitten.  It's intriguing.  Next clue comes out Friday. 

If the two blue cuffs do not look like they are the same color, you are correct.  They are not.  These are knit from my handspun - blended colors.  There will be enough variation in the color throughout the mitten that the cuffs should not look strange when it's all said and done.  At least that is my hope at this point.  I did not use handcards to blend the colors when I divided that fiber braid.  One reason why I DID use handcards today.  We'll see which technique and outcome I prefer.

Will be back in a few days with some colorwork mittens that are nearing completion.

Update on Sofee.  Her vet is happy with her dental recovery.  The jaw bone is also doing well.  The "hot spot" or whatever it is on her hip remains a problem.  We are trying new medication and hoping for the best.  She has 2 weeks - and if not better will make another visit to her doc.  We're keeping fingers crossed.  Allergy season will be starting soon.  I hate that she's not 100% going into it..... 

Enjoy your summer....it's slipping by fast it seems.  Take care - catch ya later! k

Summer.....

has officially arrived in Iowa!  It's been in the 90's the last few days, but fortunately we are still receiving rain fairly often.  So, the garden, flowers and grass are loving it!  I imagine the corn in the farmer's fields are quite happy with the high temps too.  I'm not a farm girl, but as I understand, corn needs the heat to really thrive.  For the next week or so, those little corn plants should be quite happy!

As for me.....it's nice staying inside with the AC on.  Good time to craft and plan for what's to come.

Which is:  Tour De Fleece!  I imagine most folks know, but just in case.....  It's a spinning "event" that runs parallel to the Tour de France biking event.  You are supposed to self challenge yourself to spin while the bikers are racing, and rest on their rest days.  Goals are to be set, with challenges.  Groups are aplenty on Ravelry, with prizes to be won!!!

So, my plans are basically to spin each day, a minimum of one hour.  To spin fiber from FatCatKnits.  That's it.  No lofty goals for me.  I've joined two teams.  Team FCK's and Team Schacht.  I will be spinning on my Schacht wheel - hence the team.  I suppose I could join the Lendrum team also, as I plan to ply on my Lendrum.  Hmmm....I'll have to think about that.

Here are some of the braids of fiber that I plan to attack:

I'm thinking about breaking this braid apart and spinning seperate colors - for colorwork:

My fear is that I will want to knit then, and not spin.  I'll have to decide later. 

To muddy the waters, the Mystery Mitten KAL also starts on July 1st, and I know I'll want to get started on that project.  So, I'm sure I will be torn.  Hopefully I'll get some spinning in each day.

On the knitting front, I finished the Mystery Shawl KAL.  It's a design by Wendy Johnson.  It's just now drying:

It's ok - I guess.  I wish there was a little more variation in the stitch pattern.  It got a little boring before I managed to complete it.  But it's just for me, to wrap up in this fall/winter when it's NOT 90 degrees outside.  It's alpaca, which is supposed to be extremely warm.  I've never had an alpaca shawl.  I know it's soft!  I'll take a glamor shot of it once it's dry.  I'm sure it will look nicer when it's in a more relaxed state.

I spun up another braid of fiber this week.  I'm thinking colorwork mittens.

These to be exact.  I've knit that pattern several times before, and it's a ton of fun.

Sofee's "hot spot" is still a bit of a concern, but she's adjusting to her toothless (or almost) lifestyle quite nicely.  She returns to see her doctor on July 2nd.  We may have to make a trip sooner though.  I'm taking it day by day.  She's not in any distress or discomfort, so not to worry. 

I leave you with a photo of a little plant that I have growing on my patio.  I call it the Candy Corn plant, although I'm sure there is a more dignified name for it.   It's a climbing vine, a happy little plant.  It's growing quite rapidly.

BG enjoys checking on it each time he comes to grandma's.  Last time he was here, we discovered a little baby cardinal that was obviously out for his first outing precariously balanced on one of the cross beams of the trellace.  I wish I'd snaped a photo, but I didn't want to disturb the little guy. 

Oh - and the hubbs came in the other day telling me there were deer tracks in his garden!  We are city dwellers, with a fenced in back yard.  Apparently, he could see where the deer had jumped over the fence and landed (hard) in the soft soil of the garden, ran across and jumped the other fence out of our yard.  Wish I would have seen that.  We did see a deer in the backyard several years ago, but it is a rare event.

Have a great week - hopefully you can enjoy your weather, be it rain or shine.  k

All's well....

A week later, and Sofee is doing well.  She has developed a "hot spot" on her hip that is somewhat concerning.  I'm treating it, as I have in the past.  She has a post-dental check soon, so if possible, I'll wait and have it looked at then.  She's still on antibiotics and anti-inflammatorys, so she is eating frequent, small meals....she loves that!.  She is taking daily walks and getting her strength and energy built back up.  But of course, she's a couch potato at heart, so she continues to snooze a great deal!

As for spinning, I completed the spinning of the individual colors for the mitten kal. 

It's a mystery kal that starts on July 1st, and I must admit, I am anxious to get started with them.  If you will remember, I tore up this braid of fiber and spun the individual colors.

The exception is the natural yarn on the left - that is variegated BFL fiber.  All of these are traditional 3-ply yarns, spun on my Matchless spinning wheel, and plied on my Lendrum.  I like that combination of wheel usage.  Reason to keep them both around and near by!

Speaking of KAL's the 3rd clue of Wendy Johnson's Summer Shawl KAL will be out in a few hours.  I JUST completed the 2nd clue:

I'm really enjoying this project.  I may knit this again, in a dark purple and send to my New Mexico kids.  They received a nice sum of money for the other shawls I sent for their silent auction for the Alzheimer's association.  I don't remember the dollar amount right now, but I do know it was a good amount.  Made me happy!

And, who has green feet?  Hmmmm.....perhaps a tooth monster?

 Yep, here he is just lounging around.  I thought perhaps I would allow him to go toothless, but when I took a vote at my local knitting group, all the ladies thought he did indeed need a tooth - at least one.

 So, he has one.  And one is enough!  That was the hardest part of this guy....sewing on that tooth! The pattern called for glue, but I didn't like the sound of that, so sewing it was!

 I added a nose too, which was absent in the original pattern. I also emphasized his mouth with a row of black stitches.  Other than that, I think I followed the pattern spot on.  Which, btw, is by Rebecca Danger. I used a double strand of handspun, and didn't worry about gauge.  I just wanted a thick fabric that would not allow the fiber-fill to show through.

I put a tooth pocket on his backside.  I'm pretty happy with him.  Hope BG likes him.  2 weeks from today is his birthday, so I'll know soon.

We continue to get lots of rain, and relatively cool weather.  The garden is thriving like no other year that I can remember.  And the grass is rebounding nicely from last years drought.  I must admit that I love this weather.  As do the roses

I had a hybrid T-rose that reverted back to the natural, wild rose stage.  We were going to dig it up, but it's actually very pretty and I have enjoyed it so much this year.  I'm glad we kept it.

Enjoy the weekend.....hug your dad on Father's day, or think kind thoughts of him.  I think of mine often.  :)  k

It's a better day.....

But I know one little pup who is still keeping to the safety of her "dog cave".  She had her dental work done yesterday, and poor little girl, she had quite a time of it!  Once they had her asleep and were able to xray and "probe", etc..... I got a phone call.  She had abscesses under the gum line, and was going to lose a great many teeth.  Eleven, in all.  The biggest fear that phone call brought, however, was the risk that in the process of pulling one of her molars, because of the position of her tooth in relationship to her jaw bone, the jaw might break.  He just wanted me to know that was a possibility - although a slim one.  So....I paced, and paced some more while I waited for the phone call with the outcome of his work.  Finally the phone rang and my husband took the call.  I was so afraid of bad news, well - what are husbands for if not to help out in a time of need.  Anyway - the jaw was intact.  He'd had to pull 11 teeth (and come to find out she was already short 13 others - I guess such small dogs often times don't have room for all their teeth, and they just don't grow in).  He did bone grafts to her jaw bone in 3 places.  She had some excessive bleeding, and they had trouble keeping her body temperature up, but everything had eventually mellowed out and she was ok.  We were allowed to pick her up very late yesterday afternoon, and now the healing process has begun. 

She is doing remarkably well.  In lieu of changing her diet (she has a sensitive tummy) I am soaking and smashing up her normal dry kibble.  She's having tiny snack meals throughout the day today.  She is on 3 medications - pain, anti-inflammatory, and an antibiotic.  They are all liquid and I'm putting it in her food, so along with many mini-meals, she's getting her medications.  She is actually liking this frequent eating thing - and the extra lap time she is getting.  If she's not on one of our laps, she is in her kennel - as it's her safe place.  She is sore and uncomfortable, but doing much better than I would be, given the same dental procedure!

So....I'm glad she made it through ok.  I have copies of her x-rays, and the position of that molar in relationship to her jaw bone....the dark shadows of abscesses --- it all makes me shudder!  I am grateful that her doctor was able to take good care of her.  He gave me his home phone number in case I needed him during the night, and he also called late last night to see how she was doing.  I just feel so bad that all this has been going on, and we were not aware.  I think the brushing of her teeth and treating her water, etc, perhaps made the visible teeth look good, and gave no clue as to what was happening below the surface of the gum line.  Anyway.... thanks for those of you who have sent best wishes and prayers her way.  Just thought I'd give everyone an update.  Only the dog-lovers out there will understand, but I do think there are a fair share of you that are....(and cat-lovers) also of course.

So, back to the knitting part of this show:

There's a monster in the making.  He's going to have some sort of pocket and be a cousin to the tooth-fairy, or an assistant, or ...... you get the idea.  Some little man I know will be loosing those front teeth one of these days.  (OH NO!!! Ijust realized, I'm still on "teeth".)  Ok - enough of that......

I've signed up for a Mitten Mystery KAL with the "I Make Mittens" Ravelry group.  It starts in July.  With a certain amount of hesitation, I decided to take this braid of fiber:

and separate out the colors.

I'm trying to create small skeins of yarns for the colorwork in the mittens.  It may well be an epic fail, and I admit that I'm not quite sure of what I'm doing, but I'm trying it.  I do kind of like this little skein.

I have adequate yardage (90 yards needed) for this to be one of the "main" colors.  I need another of this amount (hoping for the red to produce this much) and several small skeins.  We'll see what happens.  If nothing else, I'm learning lots, not to mention having fun!  I'm spinning on my Matchless and plying on my Lendrum.  Works well that way.

I've also joined in on a Mystery Shawl KAL - one by Wendy Johnson.  The first clue is completed.  I believe the next clue comes out tomorrow. 

It's been quite some time since I've knit this type of lace-work, and I must admit it's been fun.  I'm using some deep stash fingering weight yarn - an Alpaca blend.  Super soft, and of course, "my" color.  I'm knitting the large size - 393 cast on stitches that will diminish as I knit it.  I enjoy those types rather than the ones that become longer and longer rounds. 

Our local sheep/wool festival is tomorrow.  I plan on going with a friend.  Should be fun.  Sofee will be in good hands with "daddy", and I'll try not to worry......not TOO much anyway.

Enjoy your weekend......  k

Funny how that works....

Lumpy, Bumpy yarn:

Knits up into Lumpy, Bumpy mittens:

They are getting a nice warm wool-wash bath.  That should help the situation a little.  But, considering the yarn I knit them with, well, not sure how they could have turned out any other way!

I've had this book since January, 2010, and always intended to knit the cover mittens, but just one of those (many) projects that I'd never gotten around to doing.  The small balls of my first spun yarns from my new wheel (mystery fiber complete with lots of neps) seemed just perfect for this pattern.

 

The washing did help, but they are still pretty "rustic" - but then, I guess most sheep are pretty rustic themselves.  I do like them - they fit nicely and will be warm and cozy this winter. 

Sheep are always a good thing on mittens!

Even if you have to squint (just a bit) to see them.  LOL. 

I'm kind of between new projects right now.  The Breckon body is complete, but I need to re-knit the sleeve caps.  Prior to blocking, I basted the sweater together, proving the sleeves to be too long.  I thought perhaps that would be the case, so I had completed only one sleeve - Less to rip and reknit.  I'm glad I did that now.

Besides the Breckon WIP, I am thinking (only thinking) about starting a mystery KAL - Wendy knits has a shawl KAL that started yesterday.  I purchased the pattern, but not sure if I want to start it now or not.  We'll see.....  I have two skeins of Classic Elite's Alpaca Sox that would be sufficient yardage to knit the largest size.  It's Deep - DEEP stash yarn, and it would be so nice to allow it some fresh air and sunshine, not to mention it would knit into an amazingly soft shawl.  Perhaps.....

On the schedule for July is a Mystery Mitten KAL.  Yes, I think somewhere in the archives of this blog, you will find a "No More Mystery KAL's" statement.  Almost sure of it.....but sometimes I am a slow learner.  The yarn for this project will be these:

These are from my Knitpicks stash - Palette skeins.  I am really not worried about a mystery knit with this group/designer.  She creates beautiful mittens, and rarely am I bored or disappointed with a color-work mitten project anyway.  You know me and mittens!!!

I also made a personal commitment to spin in the TourDeFleece this year.  I think I was an epic fail one other year, and other than that I have not participated.  I'm trying to refrain from spinning much between now and the end of June, so my enthusiasm will be high when the even starts.  I'll be spinning on the Schacht team and also the FatCatKnit's team, as I hope to spin up some of FCK's fiber on my Matchless.  I may spin some on my Lendrum also, and I could still count that for the FCK's team.  We'll see how it all goes.

We had BG1 for a couple of days this weekend.  He was pretty mesmerized with Granma's new toy.

After he treadled himself, he discovered what was going on on the back side of the wheel, and actually spent more time taking all that action in while I treadled.  He approved, I might add.  Oh, and just now, I remember that he told me he wanted me to knit him a Monster.  Hmmmm.....I suppose I better put that on my list.  He has a birthday later this month.  Perhaps I can create a creature of his liking. 

Take care, all, and enjoy whatever it is that you choose to do........  k

Firsts:

The first harvest from the garden.  Truth be known, we should have been picking it sooner, but with all the rain, I didn't even realize the garden was so far along.  It's my hubbs hobby - I just (occasionally) harvest things, and always do the preparing.  It works for us!

We have had so many rainy days....and more to come.  I think with the drought we had last year, people were praying for rain just way too much!  The answers are finally coming in this year.....  a little to an extreme, I fear.

Another "first" - the first real spinning job on my new wheel:

 My mission was a traditional 3-ply fingering weight yarn.  Hard spun, tightly plied for a good colorwork mitten yarn.

I'm pretty happy with it.  Out of 2oz, I got 210+ yards. 

Speaking of prayers, say a little one for my SofeeSu.  She had to go to the doctor last week, as she was having some tummy issues.  I think she's on the mend from that, but we got the news that she needs some dental work done.  She gets her teeth brushed daily - always has - and has an additive in her drinking water that is suppose to help cut down on plaque build up.  Her teeth look really good, but her doctor discovered that her back-most molar is loose.  So, she needs to have a dental cleaning, and xrays to see whats going on below the gum line.  And, that tooth pulled of course.  I'm sure she will do just fine, but I worry so much about the anesthetic, her being so tiny and all.  I am confident that she has a good doctor though.  The procedure is scheduled for June 6th.  She will be 8 this summer.  It doesn't seem possible.

Well, along with the salad makings, I picked some rhubarb, so off to make the hubbs a treat for dinner.  Not the first harvest of that for this year though.  We don't eat as much rhubarb as we used to.  We've cut way back on deserts, but this is a spring treat, so a couple of times will not be too bad for us.

Take care - enjoy! 

PS - I DID get back to work on my breckon.  It took me awhile to reacquaint myself with the pattern/project (which I think is why I hate going back to a hibernating project), but I'm on a roll  now.  Should be blocking it by the weekend.  Photos will come soon.....

Per Special Request.....

Laina asked that I post a photo of the bookcase that I mentioned in my previous blog post.  I do so with a certain amount of trepidation..... It's probably "tacky" in many ways, but I do love it. 

Every edge is worn, and I probably need to sand it down and refinish it to make it look more presentable, but for me, that would remove so much of the character.

This housed my grandfather's set of encyclopedias when I was a little girl, and they were nothing if not a treasure trove full of wonderment!  And, then there was my grandma's constant concern that I would make the entire bookcase topple over on top of myself whenever I got within a 3-foot radius of it.  Grandmas and their concerns and worries.  How I can relate at this point in my life.  Anyway, there you go, Laina.  I have several other pieces of equally beautiful, (lol) and memory filled items around my house.  I'll share a couple of others sometime. 

Right  now, I'll tell you about what sits along side my spinning wheel lamp up there on top:

Back in my pottery making days, this is actually a casserole dish that I made.  One of my favorite pieces actually, and one of just a few that I still have.

I use it to store little Yankee candles.  I usually have one burning in here - my "woman's cave" as the hubbs calls it.  Everybody needs a place to call their own!  :)

So....back to the "knittin" of this blog:

The giant socks are finished.  They fit, and he seems quite happy with them!  I was glad to have them finished, as I really don't like the look of the yarn.  Not sure why - perhaps just too bland, and the crazy striping part (zebra??), well, I'm just glad he seems to like them.  Goes to show that even after being married to someone for 43 years, he can surprise you!

I must admit that most of my free time has been monopolized by my new spinning wheel.

Each one of these small skeins is an ounce of fiber - the white one on the left is 2oz..  I had some "sampler" packs that I bought back when I got my first wheel - when I had no idea what I was buying.  So, the prep on these wools was not very good, and the type of wool is unknown, but for some reason, I started spinning on these as a "test and trial" project to get acquainted with my new wheel.  Not sure what (if anything) I will do with the finished yarns.  I played with the Double Drive set up on my wheel, as well as Scotch Tension.  And, I discovered that I can also run it in "Irish Tension".  Who knew - I'd never even heard of Irish Tension before, but I think I will really like it for plying.  What I have always heard about the Schacht Matchless being the BMW of spinning wheels  is true!  It's so lovely to use.  I think we're going to have a long and lasting relationship.  Since I'm a Honda girl at heart though, my Lendrum still owns a happy corner of my room - and in my heart.  I don't plan on us parting ways anytime soon.

Except for finishing the socks, the only knitting that I have done this week is a little felted bag for my new wheel.

Before the felting process:  Knit from scraps of Cascade 220. 

And after:  I have a "gentle front loader" type of washing machine, but still have success in felting.  I have an old pair of tennis shoes that I used exclusively for felting.  I throw them in with a couple of big towels, and let the machine do it's thing.  It takes two cycles, but I do manage to get a good felting accomplished. 

Just the right size for a little bottle of oil, scissors, and some balls of yarn for tying skeins of yarn. 

Next on the schedule is that I MUST finish my Breckon sweater.  I MUST.  MUST.

For the Chihuahua lovers out there....(you know who you are!)

Barnes and Noble has Friday specials available for their Nook users.  Last week, their weekly email told me about this book.  Apparently it's first in a series of books by this author.  For $.99, I could not resist.  I'm not too far into it, but so far it's cute.  Totally light and frivolous, but a "right before bedtime" escape reading type of book.  Chihuahua fans might get a grin or giggle...... 

BG1 graduated from preschool last night.  It was a non-traditional graduation in that they had a small ceremony, received their diplomas, and then there was an old fashioned Fun Night!  Remember those?  Face Painting, Shaped Balloons, and Silly Games - complete with worthless (but much coveted) prizes.  My photos were most disappointing.  Guess all those kids giving "miss kathy" good by hugs was a distraction to me....so when I actually looked at my camera's content, well I fell sadly short.  :(  I know his parents got some good photos though..... )

By this time, we had moved to the refreshment stage of the event, and he was into making funny faces whenever he saw a camera.  Ahhhh...what a corker!  Kindergarten starts on July 25th.  Blink....5 years gone!  Hold onto your hats..........