Monday, March 31, 2008

Someone Pinch Me Please

This just in... a co-worker of mine (an avid knitter in a past life) and I were talking today. I think my compulsion joy of knitting is rubbing off on her. She seems to have converted herself into a 'casual knitter' again. I mentioned my purchasing drop spindle and wanting to spin my own yarn.

Here's the part where I need pinching....She said she has her own spinning wheel, etc. I said I would rent it from her (or knit something of her choice) if she wasn't using it (thought I'd practice before deciding to purchase a wheel in the distant future). She said all she would want is some YARN. Well, let me think, do I have enough???? YES! (I'll flash my stash in the near future. It's like walking in front of a mirror in a swimsuit...tad embarassing)

I will totally keep you posted, I sooooo excited about this. How will I sleep tonight?

Sunday, March 30, 2008

A Bit of Quilting

Last Thanksgiving, we decided to take part in a 'quilt swap' so to speak. Everyone was assigned to make 13 quilt squares using three required fabrics. The only requirements are that we need to use the three pre-determined fabrics and the blocks need to be 12" finished squares. (If you look closely, the required fabrics are the red poinsettia [6 diagonal blocks], the light greenish/white-ish [2 diagonal blocks at the bottom], and yellow 'thistle' [2 diagonal blocks at the top]). When we get together next Thanksgiving, we will swap blocks so everyone has one from each female in family.

Below are my finished blocks.



Pony Express Star
Depression Block

Thursday, March 27, 2008

As Promised

Here is my first official batch of home spun yarn. The color looks more blue than I think it looks in real life. To me, there is a tad more purple in it. What is on the spindle is just a fraction of what came from the bag. I will admit that I'm surprised how far it actually goes. I'm loving it.
Gratuitous close up
I'm no pro, but I TOTALLY know the super thin piece in the middle shouldn't be there. Not to worry, it will never wind up the in end product. I already have a project in mind for this. I can't say what, but you'll see :) I'm VERY excited about it.

(note to anyone who knows me, don't say ANYTHING about the number of projects I actually have on the needles, seriously)

My New Toy

I just purchased my first drop spindle. It's an Ashford. I also purchased some Cherryrove Hand Painted Roving.

I am fiddling with it tonight. I don't have pictures as I am too busy messing up my 'hand spun yarn'. I'm a bit embarassed bout how it looks. I want some sock yarn and am winding up with chunky. I promise I'll have pictures later. I just want to practice a bit more before showing you. After all, would you step out of the dressing room wearing the first thing off the rack?

Please feel free to give me any suggestions. The LYS doesn't offer classes or anything like that. I asked if anyone teaches it and one person knows how, but doesn't spin. I want to learn from someone who has something in mind and makes it look that way (outside of their mind).

Should my yarn be twisting on itself when it's relaxed? I'm thinking no. I could be wrong. I think I'll be going to the library tomorrow and laugh at their limited selection of 'how to' books on this particular subject.

I have it in my mind that I need to fashion an niddy-noddy (sp?) at the hardware store so I can rinse and set the twist. Again...suggestion?

ALSO, my fingers are the color of the dye. Argh! I'm going natural colors next time...

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Budding Scientist

Do you recall the Play-Doh incident? Well, my son's school had a science fair and students had the opportunity to participate. His experiment was titled, "Dry Play-Doh Dry". How cute!

He wanted to find the fastest way for Play-Doh to dry. We chose five methods:
  1. in a container (control)
  2. on the counter
  3. outside (mind you, this is March in Nebraska)
  4. in the freezer
  5. in the toaster
His hypothesis was: I think the Play-Doh will dry the fastest in the toaster because it's hot.

The Result: The toaster dried the Play-Doh the fastest, but, be careful because it can burn if it's too hot.
some pre-science fair dinner

anxiously awaiting the judging

explaining his project
(I knew we were in for a great evening when he started with,
"It's quite simple really...")
Apparently, discussing the various ways to dry Play-Doh requires lots of body language.
Who knew?

Saturday, March 15, 2008

New Sweater

My DH showed interest in this sweater. Naturally, I stopped all projects, ordered yarn, and quickly began to whip it up. My hope is to have it finished so he can wear it during soccer season. I know the photo does absolutely NO justice for the colors, but I wanted to show my sister the progress. All of the stockinette is putting me to sleep. I think I need to work on the monkey sock during this project too....for sanity's sake.

Please don't judge on the colors (they are really light gray, charcoal, and a hunter green) I promise better pictures to come!

Just for fun

I found this on Prairie Gumbo's blog. Being the owner of a cat AND dog, it was too funny to pass up. (note - date changed to Saturday, as I found it on Saturday)

Enjoy!




Dogs on Saturday: Dogs 1, Cats 0



How to give a cat a pill:

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little darling's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any dogs.







How To Give A Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.
2. Toss it in the air.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Poor little puppy-upper-kins

Porter

Our little Porter. Well, maybe little is a bit off, he is 86+ lbs. after all. Or should I make that was. Our little fluffer-nutter hurt his back leg. We thought he tore his ACL (so did his doc). The vet checked it out, putting him under and everything. Everyone was prepared for surgery. Turns out, he's got arthritis. The doc was surprised to see it in such a young dog (he's 1 1/2 yrs. old). The icing on the cake is he's not eating very well. In the past two weeks, he's dropped weight to a light 77lbs. The vet did blood work and didn't find anything. WHAT'S THE DEAL?!?!?

I'm so sad.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Just for fun

Found this online. Took it. Apparently this is how fast I am. When I worked at a newspaper, I could type close to 100 wpm. Hmmmm...

79 words

Speedtest


What kind of world do we live in?

What is the world coming to? I have been searching in vain for the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2007 magazine. You might even have it. I f you don't know what I'm talking about, talke a lookie-lou: Granted, you're probably saying, "It's her own fault for not buying it when it was in stores LAST YEAR." I know. I blame myself. The search has been quite fun however. I've looked in all of the shops in my area of the state, bookstores too. All have had the same answer. Sorry, we're sold out.

I sat thinking about it the other evening at home. I remembered taking a road trip with mom to central Nebraska just to visit yarn stores (we have priorities). I purchased scads of back issues at The Plum Nelly in Hastings. I took a chance and contacted them to see if they might have one. Turns out they did.

Here's the part that floored me. I told them I wanted to buy it but couldn't come to their store until the weekend. They said they could mail it to me. (This is the part you'll want to sit for.) I said that would be great, let me know the total and I could pay with my credit card or a check. I was prepared to mail the check yesterday when hubby brought the mail in. Too late. Hubby brought the mail in and I had a package. It was the magazine with a recipt. They mailed it to me and asked me to send them a check. Can you believe it!?!?!?

They totally made my year. I love it! They probably leave their car doors unlocked and just flip the sign to closed without locking up. Isn't it refreshing to stumble upon trustworthy people? I am glad these type of people still exist. I sent them a thank you and payment (of course).

Now I just need to decide which project to start on first...