It's OVER over.

Here you have BFML messing with his iPhone and taking a funny stampede picture of himself. I had to take a deep breath when I saw it, because I felt transported into a HeeHaw script. He's good that way, the BFML... he doesn't care what he does to his face in photos; it's all for the love of art. Or something. Perhaps it's just for fun. He makes me smile every time, but that particular photo made me laugh out loud.

But it's OVER. Stampede I mean. When I arrived at work this morning, I was was met with this big pile outside of a nearby office. I can still smell fireworks (well, not really, but you get my drift), but it's time to get.that.crap.outa.here.

I can remember working at Nova, and being so thrilled to wear jeans to work. By the middle of the week I would be wishing that I could stop dressing up as a cowgirl, and just get back to 'normal'. I think the dudes down the building from me had that same exact feeling when they arrived at 8:00 and had the place ditched out by 8:15. Cowboy hat and all.

Following you will find Mug's new normal! She worked for 11 days at the Stampede, selling corndogs and lemonade. I have to say that the corndogs were horrible (I'm glad to say that she didn't prepare them), but the lemonade was fantastic (Proud to say that she did!). Mug received a cheque for her first 3 days, and she was quite delighted. Me too. I've very proud of her. As you can see by her photo, she was very, very thrilled to discover her mother in line taking pictures of her.

I think that I'm going to try to get back on track with blogging. I miss doing it, and often imaginary-blog in my head. Since my computer crashed, I just haven't had the energy to make a new situation work. So.. let's see how it goes.

Soon I'll talk about knitting, and then everything will get back to normal!

Blocked swatch

Just sayin.

BFML says hi

A few Mexico pictures

Thousands upon thousands were taken; here are a few of Jim's. Please note that there are several disturbing photos of dogs in this collection.

On images 4403 and 4404 you can see a collection of plywood and black plastic to the left (and you can also see Brenda, a little neighbor girl who is recovering from an unfortunate head shaving incident.. try to imagine her with pigtails). That is the back wall of the house that our family was sharing with relatives. The relatives will remain in the old house.

And the little girl in the picture? The one with clear brown eyes, rosy skin and golden hair; the soccer whiz who is doing great at school? She's sleeping in a house with 4 walls. Also, for the first time in her life, she has a real bed, with a real mattress. She's 11.

You were part of that.

Progress

Only half of the dog is on the pillow.



Gosh, he's adorable.

And, progress is made with the Tibetan spindle (using hand painted silk hankies). I believe this is really going to help me conquer the Russian spindles. I'm thinking that I can do this.



And Jacinda, my girl... I'll make you videos.

In which I share my angst and some other stuff.

Ok.. some MORE of it.

I went for coffee yesterday morning, as always.. and all three of the Heartland girls were missing. I asked of Jeanette, and *they* (a new they.. where are my old theys?) said that she was taking an early lunch. So here I am at 4am, wondering if all three of the girls have been terribly whisked away somehow. I am plotting how I will respond to this in a few short hours.

I am also singing 'Always look on the bright side of life' to myself (even though it is 4 something in the morning). It's stuck in my head... If you'd like it stuck in yours as well, purchase a copy of the Spamalot soundtrack from iTunes. If you'd like to fall over laughing when you sing it, then you ought to see Spamalot too so that you have the complete visual.

I planned to wear a black armband while Aunty Tink was away.. but since I don't actually have one, I had to wear an entire black shirt yesterday. Perhaps today I'll wear a black outfit. I think everyone should. I am probably too sad for a tiara. I have new pink gum boots, but they seem a bit too festive for the ensemble.

Definitely, Gale, I'll take the recipe. I need to have my waffle skills up to par by Saturday morning when the BGAidan shows up.

I'm pondering Qiviut.. do I continue with singles and then spin/ply a thin, thin strand of burnished gold silk? I think yes. I'm leaning towards it. It's starting to take shape in my imagination... I'm starting to imagine the yarn, the shawl.. and now (somehow) beads.

The Lendrum. Its a heartbreaker to be honest. I am going to beg Bessthespinner to take it off my hands for a while and see what she thinks of it. What the heck am I doing wrong? What have I missed? Are the wheel and I simply a bad match? The sum is lesser than the two parts I (am beginning) to believe.

I am not knitting one interesting thing at the moment. However, copies of Custom Knits came into the shop yesterday and I immediately canceled my Amazon.ca order and took one of those babies home with me. It was a good decision. It passed the '3 project' queue minimum (in order to justify a book purchase). I really like Ingenue... that's #1. Did I ever mention that I read instructional books and all magazines from back to front? There's a bit of this book that has me flumoxed, and I'm hoping that if I re-read the book from front to back that it will become clear.

My dog needed a drink of water, and he was keeping me awake due to incessant dry-mouth swallowing. The BF was.. ok.. he was snoring. There was a song stuck in my head. I have been worrying about 3 girls that I care about being MIA. All this is not terribly conducive of sleep, but I need to try. 2 hours from now the day starts.

* Photo? Storefront window (an inside view) of Cafe Vieux Montreal, in Victoria. Finest cafe on the planet, if you ask me.

Gas leak day

BF snapped a picture (and I was thinking.. Gas leak. Camera. How do these two go together?)

It was a bit busy that day. To quote: Click to enbiggen.

In which Nini has her first sleepover at Nan's.

It went pretty well, over all. She came equipped with a stroller, a car seat, a bag of toys and books and diapers and clothes and snacks and God only knows what else... and her little self was quite pleased to be at Nan's. She played with Aidan and Anna for ages, until she finally just fell over from exhaustion. I took her up to bed, and she was having none of that, so I just sat her beside me and eventually realized she was asleep sitting up. When she woke up in the night and realized that I was not, in fact, her mother she decided that things were in pretty sad shape. After a little drink of milk she and I settled in Aidan's bed and she slept on and off for the rest of the night.

This morning was a pleasure. We laid in bed together and played a game involving me kissing her toes about a million times; then sang twinkle twinkle (and other songs from the Nini hit parade). She was totally enthralled with the flowers and rainbow painted on the walls.. Dida and I had painted the room for Maddie years ago. I was thinking how magic it was that Dida's baby would enjoy the art that we'd painted together.

Ike showed up at 9am.. turns out that a baby-free night is fun, but not super fun... As it should be, right?

A few more precious flowers, from Whippletree Junction, for your viewing pleasure.

Yarn stores!

I'll bet you were beginning to think that I didn't go to any! Two actually...

On Friday we walked downtown from one end to the other, and went to see the Beehive. I have been shopping there since I was a little girl, because at one point, the Beehive was really the only game in town. There were no other choices.

A lot has changed since the early 60s! They have a new location across from the Bay (which has been gutted - but the facade has been preserved). It once was the Mexican Gift shop, way back when. Anyway, it was hot in there, and really crammed with yarn. There were a few that I liked and lots of Fleece Artist. Lots of everything, really. I liked that they had accent pieces.. Interesting, jewelry-like bits for shawls, sweaters and wraps. I didn't buy anything that day. My only disappointment (and it is relatively minor) is that Prudence Mapstone was giving a free workshop on Saturday night, and I wasn't able to make it. That would have been beyond great.



On Saturday we drove up to Mill Bay to Whippletree Junction, where at the suggestion of Aunty Tink, we found The Loom. Crazy place, that! The ceilings are low, and the entire place is jam packed with yarn. There is so much there that it would take days to get a feeling for the entire contents. Thankfully there was a really nice lady working there who knew the exact location of everything they have to offer. They also were loaded with Fleece Artist products, tho some were very old and dusty. I bought 2 slivers of silk/wool which was dyed in incredible, saturated, dense colours, and 3 skeins of similar sock yarn. It was kind of funny, because she had a big basket of sock yarn hidden under another basket of something of lesser interest. I had to ask for it in particular, or I would have never known!





Saturday turned out to be the most fabulous day! After we left The Loom, we drove 5 minutes away to my Aunt's house, and found another Uncle there as well. We had such a great visit... I hope to be back soon.

I have so much to say that I don't know where to start

Last weekend BF and I were in Victoria. I am a really tentative flyer, to say the least. I like it best when my feet are on terra-firma, but instead we took two flights there and one flight back. Apparently BF's right middle finger bends allllll they way back now. Perhaps I was holding on just a little too tightly?



The entire weekend was glorious. One of two suspects bought him (and me, by default) a night at the Victoria Inner Harbour Marriott. It was beautiful beyond description.. but I'll save that for later.



We arrived in Victoria an hour early, and were able to spend that hour sitting outside the airport sharing an egg salad sandwich and Timmy's (black, thank you very much). BF's sister Donna came to pick us up and the very first thing we did was take a walk along the breakwater. BF and Donna had some details to work out regarding the wedding they'd shot in Edmonton. Anyway... the breakwater is a pleasure for me; an absolute, unmitigated pleasure. You see, my dad worked on it in the early 50's. Every step I take along it reminds me of him and I feel so proud that something he did.. well, stayed done. Uncountable feet have stepped there.



Mine. His.



So, thanks Pop; it was good to be where you were. I wish you were here still.

It takes a village

Let me take a moment from plastering self-congratulatory Ravelry posts to show you this:



I am so darned excited that I can barely think straight. The story goes like this...

Some months ago I read a blog post by Aunty Tink in which she encouraged knitters to enter their work into the Calgary Stampede Western Showcase. I remembered all the times I've walked by arts displays and thought that I ought to give it a try.. yet I never did.

After discussions with Marilynn (AT herself) I decided that I'd re-knit Evelyn Clark's Heartland Lace Shawl (I had already knitted it once for Jim's mom; we both loved it!). The shawl is inspired by and designed around a bison hoof print.. a great idea for a western themed celebration, don't you think? And she also suggested that I consider using bison.

Have you ever tried to get your hands on 100% bison? At first I considered spinning for it, but I just couldn't get the fiber in time, and the price would have knocked me right out of business anyway.. I began looking for suppliers for the intended yarn (Buffalo Gold), but place after place was sold out. Right at that time I had developed a deep and unexpected friendship with an indi-dyer in Australia; Mandie of EGMTK. Imagine my surprise when I noticed Buffalo Gold on her website!!! After a very brief discussion, Mandie had the yarn in the mail to me.

It takes a little while for a parcel to come from Australia, but it was SO worth it (thanks again Canada Customs). I was totally ready; the project was knitting itself in my imagination and in my heart. Soon it was on my needles, and then blocking wires; finally in Marilynn's hands.. she delivered it to the Stampede Grounds for me because I had to work that day.

Today I found out that it had won second place in the knitted lace accessories category of the Western Showcase! I cannot even begin to relate to you how thrilled and excited I am.. (tho there are a half dozen knitters who could probably relate the story quite well - I might have become the Happy Hour floor show!).

I really want to thank Marilynn and Mandie, and Evelyn too.. It took all four of us to add up to a really great shawl, a beautiful blue ribbon, and about a million really huge smiles.



Who got #1? That would be the same person who won the knitting category overall with her wonderful 'Phoenix Rising' shawl.



Marilynn. She's amazing in so many ways.

Fish pictures? They'll have to wait until tomorrow!

Chuck

I spent the weekend in Edmonton.

This nearly blows my mind, because I lived there for years when I was a teenager, and honestly I cannot remember enjoying it in the least. It's nothing to do with the Calgary/Edmonton thing, but more likely with the move from Victoria to what I then considered the bowels of hell, and youth.

Anyway, when BF told me he and his sister had a wedding to shoot in Edmonton I wasn't what you'd call excited. He wanted me to come, so I took a day off of work and did so... thinking that the high point of the weekend would be stopping off at Olds Fiber Week (merchant mall, don't you know) on the way home.

Instead, I had a great time. On Friday night we went to the Legislature building to scope out locations for wedding photography (met his sister and her husband there). Even though I'd lived in Edmonton, I'd never taken the time to visit the Legislature before. Imagine that. It is really beautiful, and if you have the chance, you should have a walk around. There's a truly amazing wading pool and an ice cream vendor (you'd understand this reference if you knew how hot it was that day). The gardens are lovely.

Friday evening we went to an Indian buffet together, and had the pleasure (and, ok.. a little pain) of watching a whole lot of belly dancing students do their first public performance. My, my. You had to be there.

Saturday, BF and I had an early breakfast, and then went to the Bay to shop. He'd reconsidered his apparel for the wedding, and it was so darned hot out that it was clear that he was also going to need a hat. Later he left, and I walked from downtown to River City Yarns. I was hoping for STR, but there were only 2 lone skeins to be had, and the colourway made it pretty clear why they were still hanging around. I did buy some Fleece Artist/Handmaiden for Dida though (she looked after the dogs for us, and kept company with Mug as well)... merino/cashmere sock yarn, some silk, some seawool.. all as beautiful as you might imagine.

Man.. it was a long, hot, hot, hot walk. Did I mention hot? Phew. Great little store though.

On the way back to the hotel I stopped at a boardwalk market (where I bought a handmade monster stuffie for someone's Christmas present). I stumbled upon a gathering of bicycles in a nearby park. There were all kinds of sales, booths and events associated with that, and tons of people. By then I was about 90% melted, so I made my way back to the hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon knitting my magical cardi.

We did make it to Olds on Sunday.. stopped briefly at the merchant mall to visit with Sandra (Make One has a booth). We checked out fleeces that were up for silent auction, but were too early to bid.

It turned out to be a really great weekend; and I really think that Calgary could make an effort to revitalize the downtown area by having similar markets and events.

The high point of the weekend? Spending time alone with BF.

PS: It was hot. But then, I told you that already, didn't I? ;)

June 22 in the mountains

That is snow you are seeing in the picture (not the best snow picture actually.. there was lots of it on the mountains and on the sides of the highway). Two comments from our party while at the summit: 'Do you think that guy would take $10 to let me sit in his car?' And, as a RV drove in: 'I used to mock those people.' I believe there were some nasty comments regarding the weather service as well.

The next time someone says to you that the highway you'll be riding on has the highest elevation in the province, THINK. That might mean that you're about to freeze your butt completely off. OMG it was cold up there. And wet... as we approached the summit, it was like being in a frozen mist. It was really not a great day for riding most of the day. In Cochrane it rained. Neither Jordana nor Paul had leathers on, so they had wet jeans for a good long time. The wind was very strong; and at points I was doing some serious praying. There would be a roaring in my left ear, an in a split second the roaring would stop and my right shoulder would pitch forward. Scared me half to death (but only half, as clearly I survived).

There are parts of riding that I really love... You'll be flying along, and all of a sudden you can smell something (like.. flowers, or manure, a skunk, chinese food.. surprising things). Or, today, we saw a cow standing on THE edge of the road. Then 3 Big Horn sheep in the exact middle of the road.. then shortly thereafter, approximately 10 more. I saw a wild horse and it's baby. We saw some incredible scenery; it is such a blessing to live near mountains and rivers.

We were on the road for 8 hours today. Phew.

Now I'm waiting for pizza to be delivered. BF is having a short nap (after fighting that wind all day, I'd say he earned both). After I eat, I'm going to reblock the Heartland Lace shawl; Marilynn is going to take it to the Stampede grounds on the 25th (I'll be working, so she's doing me a big favour). That's probably the sum total of fiber related stuff for the day.

A shower? YES. Bad hair day.

Ooops, we did it again

Another blizzard; endless it seems.

Following is a link to a photo gallery of pics that BF took yesterday, along with a few of Aidan at his birthday dinner, and Spike. You'll also see a really super fab skein of Optim that Mandie sent to me.. well, she sent fiber, and I spun it. Anyway, it's great, and I'm so happy.

http://gallery.mac.com/lcritter#100051

These last few days I've been reading Intertwined and getting a feel for what I need to get and what I need to do in order to spin Art Yarn. Here is an album showing my first attempts at carding and spinning. I call the result: Fireworks and Clowns. Later I knit it into the grooviest little stuff bag for my Lendrum.

http://gallery.mac.com/lcritter#100046

I knit a pair of socks this weekend... yes, you heard it right. A PAIR of socks, for Jim. I am crazy in love with Noro Silk Garden Lite, and these socks are a strange pair for sure, but definately of the same colourway. I think the fact that they only partially match adds to their charm.



There's just too much to talk about.. too much going on. Except for the taxes. They are going nowhere. Nowhere fast.

Here bunny bunny...

I mentioned that I left M1 on saturday with an armload of fiber. Graciously, I was offered a bag to put it in, but I was excited and jangled and I figured, what the hay, I'm only walking down the hill.... The next day I realized that 50 grams of angora and I had parted company. Checked the price of angora lately? Frick. Could it not have been something less valuable?

I had my boots on in no time flat, and retraced my footsteps. Can you believe it??? The angora was sitting pretty, right where I dropped it, and in pristine condition. Talk about your lucky break. Phew.

I don't really have anything interesting to say except that the Heartland is going very well, and I'm on the third repeat of rows 25-44. I've hardly frogged anything, which just blows my mind after Mystic Waters.

I feel so bad about the Cat's Paw. I promised to work on it, but honestly, I'm sick to death of it, and I just want it to go away. Never knit a wrap with 3 pattern rows, it's just too boring (tho beautiful).

Have you ever heard of Sock Wars? It's an online game where players register their names, addresses and shoe size. The idea is to knit socks day and night, and get em mailed out asap. When the recipient receives their sock, they are 'dead', and out of the game. Last *man* standing is the winner and receives; well. socks. The whole concept excites me, and I've joined the Sock Wars group on Ravelry to keep my eye on the game.

Just for fun; here's a link for Arachne Sock Calculator, for custom sizing knee high socks. You just input your numbers, and presto.. a (plain - you add the fancy) pattern.

By the way; that's no bunny up there. That's my boy Spike. The world's best dog, says I. Pssst: don't click on him unless you'd like to see him bigger than life-size. Me and re-sizing just haven't come to terms.

Today was Amy's 30th birthday spin-in

I really enjoyed talking to new people and admiring all kinds of different wheels. I dunno... I wanted a Ladybug, then I didn't, then I did. All I know for sure is that it is a solid as a rock and spins as thin as can be. After today, I'm leaning more towards.. want it.

I dyed 4oz. of Alpaca/Merino/Silk in 'Spaceball Jams' for Amy's gift. Colourway loosely based on Sandra's jams at the Emerald Lake Retreat. (I saw a picture!)

It was a really great to see people there spinning my fiber; in fact, all the stock is nearly gone. How cool is that? I left with an armload of fiber to dye, and a new pair of not-pink, not-plastic, Addie Turbo circs (I'm going to come to terms with circs if it is the last thing I do).

As far as projects, I've been working on all kind of things, including the Cat's Paw Wrap:


The missing thumb on a pair of Maine Mitts (the darned second mitt is two rows longer than the first, so I have to frog it a bit):


and a Knitty Sock Monkey hat for Katie (almost done...):


Earlier in the week I attended Maddie's first ever band concert. They all received their instruments in October, so I think they did very well. It was a *classic* first concert; there were times when I wasn't too sure if it was a song we were listening to, or a flock of geese. I took knitting; yes, I cop to starting a sock. Below you'll find my new trumpet player, followed by one concert's worth of ToFutsies sock goodness.





Thank you for hanging with me during my blog free days. Karen is now back at home, and although you could not call her well, she's not in dire straights, and we can breathe a sigh of relief.

Also, thank you Linda (from one spinknit to another) for your shawl comment. That's what I'll talk about tomorrow.. Shawls, and why I love them.

Please take a moment to read back to: Pay it forward. I have zero takers!

Finally, here's a bonus pic of the devine Miss K (and my fabulous SIL's hairy hands) in a shrug I dyed/spun/knit for her before she was born. The fiber is Alpaca, and the colourway is called: Nina's wildflower garden.

Sheep to shawl

As the summer waned, BF and I took a long motorcycle ride which brought us to the Millarville/Priddis Fair. We were thrilled to discover there was a sheep to shawl competion going on; three teams were competing. We stayed for quite a long time, just watching in amazement. The Heritage Weavers and Spinners Guild was there; three barefooted ladies were spinning up a storm. Another lady wound the bobbins, and a fifth was doing the weaving. The wool came straight from the sheep; uncleaned, in the grease. It was quickly combed by hand before being handed off to spinners. Although 'our team' didn't win, I was the lucky winner of the silent auction afterwards, and I now enjoy that same shawl. It's so warm and cozy... I think partially due to the fact that I was so (emotionally) involved in it's preparation. Honestly, the competition was the real reason I joined the Guild... It was just too great to miss.

So, here's a photo of my really special shawl, and a link to some pictures that BF took during our day at the fair.



Today is dying day (yesterday was too), and I have some cashmere packaged. It's all good, and I'm really happy.

I'm happy

Amy was happy with the fiber, and I have more to deliver (but I need some smaller bags for the cashmere). I can't stop smiling.

so... Here's one of my favorite pictures. BF took it 3 summers ago in Long Beach.



I hope you smile too.

Tomorrow's the big day

I spent this afternoon considering the packaging and labeling for my dyed fiber. I think I have it pretty clear in my imagination, so we'll see what tonight brings (when the rubber hits the road - or, more accurately, when the fiber hits the bags).

Right now I have cashmere steaming, as well as an alpaca/merino/silk blend. Another two pieces of alpaca are soaking. I have a clear idea what the colourways will be.

So, tomorrow, I'll take 6 or 7 packages in to Make One, and the next day I'll have another 5.

I'm excited. I think it's all very beautiful, and it makes me want to keep it all and spin, spin, spin.

All those pictures are still outstanding! But they are SO coming.

A day without Cal is like a day without sunshine

I have been wanting a copy of 'Gathering of Lace'; honestly, it's about all I think of lately. I have lace-itis in the worst way. Anyway, today I was forced to wait for a customer to drive to the outskirts of Calgary from downtown, and I was thinking that I had just enough time to drive to Shuttleworks. So I added 30 minutes to my schedule because if you know Cal, you will know that it is totally impossible to forego an opportunity to chat with him. He has some interesting stories, that's for sure.

I have my book, safe and sound and in BF's hands. He's going to give it to me for Christmas. Yeah baby. Oh, and I also got 3 new dye colours in the orange family. I have a new colourway percolating in my imagination.

This evening I had the pleasure of going to Make One to celebrate SANDRA and AMY'S marriage (please note pecking order). There was much laughter, food and drink, and plenty of knitting as well. If I understand correctly, Marilynn and Amy are competing to finish their versions of the Tulip Baby Cardigan (please note that I'm on the waiting list for this pattern/yarn, and that my Nini will be wearing it soon) - anyway, Marilynn was working on the Tulip. That darned sweater is so yummy.

Hey... I went to a yarn shop and I didn't spend a dime. Holy smokes.

ps: BF took the attached picture 2 summers ago, and I'm posting it because I think it's fab and because the stall is inhabited by 'Annie'.