Marilynn is dead. Long live Marilynn.

Dead by socks, delivered Fed-Ex. My socks start their journey to me on Monday morning!

Denny, you ought to have been at the yarn store!

A group of us were at Make One yesterday afternoon, enjoying the first thursday happy hour of the summer season, when doesn't Pumper #1 come sailing by! Everybody shouted your name in unison. We recognized 'your' fireman (reasonable facsimilie posted above).

There was some discussion regarding pulling the fire alarm, or somehow getting a kitten into the tree outside. I admit it.

Wish you were here! Mango Margaritas were served.

Regarding Sock Wars? Marilynn and I are still in it... but not for long. Both of us have socks on the way soon. Marilynn probably has time for a second 'kill'. My SIPs are never coming, so a second kill is out of the question.

And yes, it's 4:30 am. Geez. This sleeping thing just isn't working for me. I hope the cold hits the road sometime soon. I'm done with it.

4:21, and I can't sleep

I have a cold; blech.

So, some good news. First of all, Dida, Ike and Nini moved into their new house. It's not too close but it's not hours away either, so I'm really happy. They really needed to get out of the condo. Soon Nini is going to need a fenced yard to play in, and they definitely needed more room. The new house is beautiful, and they have almost everything unpacked and put away now. I think it's been an exhausting week for them.

And.. more good news. I got back into the eye doctor's office, and she felt that Lenscrafters had used a cheaper lense in my glasses (polycarbonate). Apparently at really strong prescriptions, your eyes may become super sensitive to that material. So all I had to do was (of course!) pay $55.00 more dollars (so much for the free Birks!) and have them switch back to plastic lenses. Maybe I'm speaking too soon, because it'll be at least another 4 or 5 days before they're ready.. but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to see out of them this time.

I've been 'dyeing' to post the above picture. It's my colourway (Hearth fire), spun and Navajo plied by Amy. I think she did an amazing job (took that fabulous picture too). I'm totally in love with it.

Ok.. back to bed for me.

Bwaaaa-hahaaaaaaaa

My assassin is dead!!! Long knit my assassin!

Round 2 of Sock Wars III, here I come (If, in fact, my target's target actually did mail me the socks-in-progress. I wouldn't bet money on it)

Post Script: DAMN. Double DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN. My assassin is the winner of Sock Wars II. I'm not even kidding a little bit. Oh well, I'm gonna get me some celebrity socks. Let's hope it's soon!

Marilynn, I can hear you laughing from here. It does NOT become you.

:)

I've been thinking...

I have a problem (well, perhaps more than one, but let's stick with this for now), that when met with unexplainable kindness, that I feel so inadequate that I'm not able to voice my feelings, and I disappear while I process. These last two weeks have been prime examples.


Many months ago, I was reading the blog of Spin, Knit, Repeat As Necessary, and Linda had an offer I couldn't refuse... Pay it Forward. The plan was that she would knit something for the first three people who commented on her blog, and in exchange, they would post the same offer - casting bread upon the water. I was lucky enough to be one of those three people. Well, 13 days ago, this arrived:





It is the Wavy Feathers Wimple, knit in the softest alpaca. I haven't ever had a wimple before and now I wonder how I managed without one. You pull it over your head and wear it around your neck like a cowl or a scarf, but when needed, you can pull it up and over your ears. It's excellent, warm, soft, useful, and unbelievably, indescribably kind. I mean.. who the heck DOES something like this? I was fully expecting a wash cloth or a toque.. but an intricate piece of lace? There still not words to describe how blown away I am. Thank you Linda.. just, Thank You.

And then there's Gigi.

Gigi is my friend from Iceland; she is the friend who sent me a bag of Lopi to knit with; enabled me to knit the Hela. I adore the Hela... it is the best thing I've ever knit, and it is the perfect sweater for me. I love it in every way. Anyway, a while back Gigi sent me a link to look at. She asked me if I would appreciate these as a gift from her, because she wanted to give me something special that I would use. It was the perfect choice.. and since they have arrived, I have used them every single day. Yes.. a set of Harmony Circular needles... They melt me, they are so beautiful. And now I can knit as much as I want without having to worry about needles.. they're all there at the tip of my fingers.

Here is a sock I'm knitting for Jim... I love knitting with Silk Garden Lite, and I love that sock recipe, and I LOVE those needles. All together it becomes something Zen. Thank you so much Gigi; you couldn't have made a better choice.





On top of this, Mandie sent me a whole wack of stuff to help me along with the Art Yarn spinning.. I'm going to save that for another post. It's been raining here for days, and I can't get a good picture of anything. Believe me, it's all fun.

How does one become so blessed? How did I get so lucky?

Devil Pup, your demise is imminent

Enclosed is a very heart-felt sympathy card. I hope those scratchy socks improve with washing; honestly, I would have done that for you if I could have managed to get them dried by morning. No such luck.

So, unless I'm assassinated (I haven't heard a word from my assassin), there is a slim chance I may survive until round 2.

The good news and the bad news

The good news is that it's mother's day and it's Survivor finale to boot, AND I got a call today that my glasses are ready! I was so excited... Jim told me that AMA members get a significant discount, so I asked Lensecrafters about it, and they said.. no problem. Now THAT is good news. I bought Birks with the windfall.

The bad news? I can only see out of the new glasses if I put my ear on my left shoulder.

I wish I was kidding.

The Detonator socks are grinding along. I am very sad at the way they are turning out, so I think I'll make it up to my target with beautiful sock yarn. It's the least I can do.

One down, one to go.

Man, those are some BIG socks. I finished one, and it's too big for Jim. I hope that my recipient (I mean 'target') has a hubby with big feet, or these socks are going into the dumpster. Come on.. 72 stitches? On a 2.75mm needle???? I'll be 'dead' long before the second sock is done, I'm quite sure.

Today we went to the HWSD fiber sale at Old's college. I was hoping to find a fleece or two, but no such luck. What I got was a whole crapload of silk from Treenway Silk, 2 - 600 yd skeins of softly spun alpaca and 3 bags of fiber. I came away quite happy.

Afterwards we went geocaching; logged 7 finds today (which is a pretty darned good afternoon, if I do say so).

And tomorrow's Mother's day. I'm talking poached egg, home made card, I'll probably see Dida and Nini, Survivor finale kind of Mother's day. If I finished the second sock, it'd be completely overwhelming. Honestly.

Twas the night before sock wars...

The Night Before Sock Wars
by Tracy Simmons

Twas the night before sock wars
And all through the house
Every creature was stirring even our mouse

My needles were sharpened and waxed with great care
With hopes that the pattern and dossier would soon be here
My yarn was picked and sat by my chair
And the family knew to stay out of my hair

When from my computer there rose such a clatter
It was my pattern and dossier
Now NOTHING else matters

I cast on with care so lovely and quick
I must now kill with my Addi Turbo sticks

My needles were flying my yarn all a muck
I may win this war with a little luck

My socks will soon be mailed with great care
In hopes that another unfinished will appear

I will knit til the end
I will not give up
My feet will not be cold
And I wish everyone
BEST OF LUCK

This one time at band camp

Nothing happened. Nothing at all. Nada. Zip.

Cuz, it's Mug at band camp; her first school trip away from home. (Please accept this stolen picture as a fair representation of imaginary band camp which my newly minted teenage daughter happens to be attending - might I say geek band camp?)

She is not having any fun at all. She's practicing trumpet. And I am sticking to that.

Friday.Hurry.Up.

A perfect (soft) poached egg

Here's how you do it, just in case you don't have a BF to teach you (and mine happens to be the king of egg preperation).

Bring several inches of water (with a dash of vinegar) to a boil. Crack your egg into a cup, and then slide the raw egg into the boiling water. Leave pan uncovered. Wait until the water comes back to a rolling boil, and then turn the heat off. Put 2 minutes on the timer (if you live at high elevation), and remove the egg with a slotted spoon when the timer goes off.

Sit that egg on some good rough toast, garnish with minced shallots and fresh ground pepper and realize that you have, in fact, reached nirvana.


Ahhhhh.. it's raining outside.

Tonight I swatch for Sock Wars. Bwahahaaaaaaa..

The elephant has left the building

It looks downright spacious in here without it. As well, all the paint was rehomed to a local fire station, so we're making some real progress here! BF and I have made a promise to make some kind of impact (small or large) every weekend. This weekend and last would fall under the category of LARGE.

Do you own the possessions, or do the possessions own you?

So, here's a crazy little story for you. Scroll back and you'll see that Mug was in her school play on April 23 and 24. After the last performance, her drama teacher gave each student a red rose in thanks. Mug cut the bottom off the rose and put it in a vase in the kitchen. The picture I've posted is that rose, approximately 10 minutes ago. It hasn't softened, it is only now in the process of opening, and it has somehow grown a branch with some tender green leaves.

Somebody needs to explain that to me, because I've never had a rose that lasted more than a day or two before it collapsed in a heap.

Sock wars starts this coming week; I'm expecting my target information on May 9th. I think I'm going to have to put down the Hemlock Ring, it's killing my wrists and I need them in good shape for my first assassination. :)

And.. I'm officially out of the hardwood business. Emptied the truck, put my tools in the basement and turned down the job. That was then, and this is now.

Hey, Aunty Lene, it's not ALLL about knitting today!

I'm going to speak our language.

I got new frames for my glasses yesterday. Well, I don't actually have them, but they are on their way. I did end up getting Prada again; it was all some kind of miracle that went like this....

The reason I can't see is because my vision has improved (in the long range that is, but somewhat worsened in the reading range). I cannot have a narrow frame because I need progressives (which I love, by the way!). I couldn't find a darned thing that was wide enough and I was about to give up when Dida found a super great pair of black Pradas (PR17G) that have a lilac interior and arm. Ya baby! They are big enough and funky enough, and I am happy. I was sad about having to give up the ones I have now, but I'll put them away in case my vision craps out again.

Turns out we are having unexpected company today, so the agenda just took an abrupt turn. Back to the drawing board..

(Just a little knitting: The Bison Heartland Lace shawl is blocked to a 6' wingspan. It is very beautiful and the detail and stitch definition is amazing. I'm so happy.)

I have too much going on.

Somehow I need more hours in each and every day.

So here's a list of some of the things that are happening.

Joan Shrouder is in town, and she is just amazing. I'm not in any of her classes, because today I worked, and this weekend I'm just too busy. If you don't know about Joan Shrouder you should find out about her. Not only is she an amazing and prolific knitter, but she's as kind and nice as they come. If you ever have an opportunity to be in her company, make sure it happens.

I need to make lace blocking kits. Somehow this weekend that is going to be done.

I haven't done my taxes yet. Man, that is the first time I've ever been late. I have a bag of receipts and the bag is too big, and there you go. The brick wall is actually the size of a Make One Yarn Studio paper bag.

I finally have brown dye, so I need to dye a small sample for Trish. And, to tell you the truth, I'd like to dye all weekend, because I have IDEAS. All of my ideas are in colour, and they are quite annoying when they are floating around in the gray matter. They need to be let out.

Also.. Mandie the great was able to identify the bulky spinner that I got at the Purses for Africa Sale. It's a Princess Indian Spinner. I am just thrilled (and amazingly.. shockingly.. just a few days later the exact same wheel came to her as well, so now we both have matching wheels. I can't wrap my head around it, but I'm happy).. BF figured out a small problem with the orifice, and now that's sorted out. I realize it needs some tension, but I can't imagine how it ought to be set up. Does anybody know this wheel and have any pictures or hints? Anyway, sometime during this weekend I would like to do a few experiments. I'm spinning some singles on the Lendrum right now so that I can use them when I have the time to learn how to make wrapped yarn. As I'm spinning the singles, more and more and more and more and more ideas are assaulting me. I need more time.

5 wheels is too many. I'm just saying.

I need to sand/stain/wax the new piece that BF and I made for the Leclerc wheel.

I got a call for a hardwood repair. I need to decide if I'm going to do it or not.

I finished the Bison Heartland Lace shawl, and OMG.. it is so soft and beautiful. This weekend I'm going to block it. Yes I am.

I have to go to the eye doctor's office tomorrow and I told Mug I'd take her shopping (she has a handful of birthday gift certificates); I KNOW I'm going to be getting new glasses.. so to the mall we go. Goodbye purple Prada frames, I loved you more than you'll ever know.

Did I mention that I'm knitting the Hemlock Ring? I'd show you a picture, but it's just a big gray blob at this point.

There is a pile of boxes/bags the size of an elephant sitting in the living room from last weekend when I did some spring downsizing/organizing. BF took two boxes of stuff away this afternoon, and the rest of it needs to disappear as well. I can't open my cabinet. Also; well, it's the size of an elephant. In the living room.

I don't need to eat 1/2 of a lemon cheesecake, that's for sure. But I'd like to.

I have some Llama that I want to spin. I was thinking that I'd like to make Nini a Cowichan sweater.

There's more, but the colours are cutting off blood flow to my brain.

I hope your weekend is calm. I also hope that Michelle comes home soon. Nobody has called me Bananie in days!