Too Much!!!!!

.....I eat too much, I drink too much, I want too much, Too much!!!!!!! Dave Matthews

Something has to give. All, well not all, but many of my blog friends are really beginning to make me feel kinda creepy. I don't want to name names, but I feel I will be a healthier person if I do.

Well there is Roseann. Look at that list of things she has completed over this short year. Then there is Peggy. All you have to do is skim through her blog to see what all she has accomplished over the past year. AND folks, she didn't even learn to knit until last September, yeah, September 2006. And then Loribird. While I was writing this post, this is what I received from Lori:

"Aw, so sorry to be on your nerves! *heehee* I knit too much. Seriously. And all the practice makes me fast. I knit while I read blogs in the morning over coffee, I knit while I'm with the kids at the library or the playground, I knit in line at the post office... I knit while I'm making dinner and while I'm watching tv. If it's just stockingette, I knit while I read. I'm thoroughly obsessed, and I'm surprised that my husband encourages me by giving me my own room... The other secret to tons of FO's is to have too many projects going at once... and a determination to get them all done! Cheers! Lori"

Yeah, Cheers!!!! Thanks for rubbing it in LORI!!!! These women are unbelievable.

I've been trying to figure out what my problem is. I have a list of possibilities:

1. I'm a slow knitter.
2. I'm lazy.
3. I read too many blogs.
4. I'm on email too much due to the Yahoo Groups I belong to.
5. I blog too much.
6. I'm a slow knitter.
7. I have too many projects OTN.
8. Many of the projects I have OTN are too intricate.
9. Many of the projects I have OTN aren't just sit down and knit projects. Ya gotta think.
10. I'm a slow knitter.
11. I'm just far too talented and intelligent for my own good. Which exhibits itself..........somehow
12. I am ADD or possibly ADHD.
13. I'm a slow knitter.
14. I getting old and slow.
15. I'm a slow knitter.

I blog too much, I read blogs too much, I want too much, Too Much!!!!!

Actually I think it is what the Oregon Peggy quoted from Bilbo Baggins, I'm "Like butter scraped over too much bread." I got too many irons in the fire. I got too many dogs in the hunt. I got too many fish on the line. Or, I ain't got the sense God gave a goose.

Now on to other things. I told you I'm in a lace craze. Understatement of the week. Last post I told you about the Secret of the Stole I joined, well I've joined another. As if I needed another, but you know me, one or two is never enough. I can't help it. I told you I wanted to be a double 0 spy but I can't stand to be chased so that knocked me out. But deep down that double 0 is still there ---the world is not enough!!!!! This particular one is called The Secret of Chrysopolis. And it is in German!!!! Nope, I don't speak German. Yep, I'm an idiot!!!! I did find a really cool on-line translator here. Cool huh? So, I had to go pick up some lace weight didn't I? Here are the goodies I "picked up."

You can get the low down on all these by going to my Flickr account.

And then today I ordered some lovely 100% Merino lace weight yarns from Knit Picks. Lost Lake Heather and Campfire Heather.


I WANT TOO MUCH..................TOO MUCH!!!!

The Swan Goes To Church

Today I wore my MS3, Swan Lake Stole, to church. Everyone loved it. Those in the knitting class I teach were quite amazed. I have someone that is wanting me to knit them one just like mine. :) We will see. You know non-knitters do not always understand the cost of the materials alone. Often they figure you can just pick the yarn up at Walmart for around $10. Muggles!!!!! Anyways, here is a better picture of the stole. Not of me, I think I look kinda crazed, but maybe that is how I do look!!!!

Monogamous? Never!!!!!

There is a lot to be said about virtue, purity and faithfulness. But, basically it spells - NO FUN!!!! B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!!!! Why settle down to just one when you can have so many at your beck and call? Oh, sure, some get their feelings hurt particularly when you ignore them for weeks, months or even years on end. They had their day in the sun and I didn't see them feeling sorry for the last fella. Exactly what, tell me WHAT is a fun loving chick like me supposed to do? Settle down, quit sowing my wild oats? PLEASE!!!!! NEVER!!!!! THE MAN AIN'T PULLING ME DOWN, EVER!!!!

I may be 50, but by golly I got many, many, many more years of wild knits to sow. And I've found a new love. Do I feel guilty about leaving my other projects OTN (on the needles)? Stuffing the little fellers in Kroger bags, tying a knot and hiding them under the bed or in the closet or where ever they can't eye me and scream at me every time I turn around. If they would just lay there patiently and quietly they wouldn't get the bag. But nooooooooooo, they won't, every time I see them they start screaming and putting a lot of condemnation and guilt on me. "Quitter" "You loved me!!!!" "@#@!$%" "You are never going to amount to anything." "If only the other knitters knew how you acted." I tell you it is just too much. So, pull out the bag, tie it really tight and give it a toss in a nice dark place with only the dust bunnies to keep them company.

Now that I have that off my chest. Let me tell you about my new love. Oh, my, what is there not so love. Soft, sensitive to my every move, open, encircles me with warmth and love...............makes me feel like the feminine queen of the world, nay, of the universe!!!!! My new love? Knitting lace.

I finished my Mystery Stole 3, Swan Lake.





And I just purchased Victorian Lace Today found here. Oh my, let the lusting begin. Every picture is a must have. I'm having a hard time deciding which will come first. Any ideas?

Now, I have not left my love of knitting socks. In fact I have cast on another pair. It is in this yarn and the pattern can be found here. It is a tribute to Fawkes, Dumbeldore's beloved, faithful phoenix.

So in keeping with my love of knitting socks, my love of swaps and my love of everything Harry Potter. I LOVE YOU HARRY!!!!! I joined the Hogwarts Scarf/Sock Kit Swap. Sounds like lots of fun. Come join us. Part of the swap is you have to be sorted into one of the Hogwarts Houses by taking an on-line test. And, thankfully I was sorted into Gryffindor. I shutter to think I would be sorted into any of the others. Hufflepuff's are just to affable, Ravenclaw's too brainy and Slytherin's....well Voldemort and Draco Malfoy - enough said.

One last thing. Abby is going to have a Winter Batt Club!!!! Of course, I had to re-new my membership. You can check out her blog here for all the info. The two pictures with a pool behind it are mine. :) You will not be sorry, really!!!!

Heck, join me in knitting one of the shawls out of Victorian Lace Today, the Hogwarts Swap and Abby's Winter Batt Club. All or one. It will be fun. Like a sleepover of sorts. Come on, give up that boring monogamous lifestyle. Live on the wild side. Keep those needles guessing.

Are You Always Here?

David and I picked Emma Belle up Friday afternoon. When we were just pulling out of her subdivision I was asking her all about school, what she ate, what she did, did she make any new friends, etc., etc. She said, "Gammy, when I'm at school are you here?" I was somewhat confused, nothing new I know, and I said, "When you are in school I'm at my house." She said, "No, I mean when I'm at school are you always here.............hmmmmmmmmmmm.............when I'm at school are you always in my heart?" "Oh, Emma Belle, Gammy is always in your heart no matter where you are and you are always in my heart. I think about you every day and pray to Jesus that you have a good day and you do really well in school, you are ALWAYS in Gammy's heart." Tear, tear, cry, cry, isn't that the sweetest thing you ever heard?

Oh, and I thought I'd show you just how neglected my bunnies that I gave to Mackensie are. They really, really have it bad, don't they? Isn't that about the cutest thing you ever did see?

Three Little Batts All In A Row

NANNY UPDATE: (If you aren't interested, fiber news at the bottom.) :)

Hiyah, things seem to be going okay on the Nanny front. When I got up there yesterday Nanny and Sheila had gotten themselves all worked up into a tizzy. Apparently my sister, Sheila, had over heard a couple Aunts discussing what the options for Nanny and Sheila's care would be and Sheila, being Sheila, misunderstood and told Nanny all she had heard. Sheila had called one of the Aunts that has been such a great help and more or less told her off. I had a nice little time of defusing that volatile situation. Once again, ever seen the movie "Dream Team?" I live it!!!!!

My birth Mother, Nanny's sister, went with us yesterday to take her to the doctor and to check into some things. She seems to be a lot more cognizant of what is going on around her and much more stable on her feet. It is our, and the doctor's, belief that she had not been taking her medicine correctly and that was the cause of the hallucinations and the primary reason for her inability to walk straight. We shall see. Myself, Mother and Nanny's other sisters have developed a scheme that I think will help keep things on track. I'm going up again Thursday to take her for a CT scan and to check on a couple other things. I know that in her present condition, if Nanny did have to move to a nursing home or probably even move out of her own house it would be her downfall. I so want to keep things as normal as possible for both her and Sheila.

FIBER NEWS:
Since my wonderful husband, David, went with me yesterday I didn't have to drive. Which means I got to knit!!!! As usual, I took enough knitting with me to last for at least a week. I took three pairs of socks and Aaron's satchel. You never know where you might get stuck and for how long. Ya gotta be prepared!!!! I got quite a bit of work done on these "Basic Cable" socks. I purchased this yarn at the first of the year. For the last three years or so I have made socks for Christmas gifts to be given to my half-sisters, sisters-in-law and such. So every year right after Christmas I buy the yarn "so I will get the socks done way in advance." Yeah, right. This yarn is STEP by Austermann, 75% superwash wool/25% nylon. It also has Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oils in it making this yarn oh so very soft.

I'm a sucker. I ordered some more wonderful batts from Abby. Some for me and some for my Spindle and Wheel Fiber Frenzy Swap partner. Say that five times in a row. I can't remember what they are all made from, I gotta retrieve that info and I'll post it later. But the names of these beauties from left to right are: Bluegrass (I had to have that one since I'm from The Bluegrass State, think maybe Abby saw me coming?), Orange You Glad and Pine. I know the Pine is 33% Superfine Merino/33% Cashmere/33% Tussah Silk. YUMMY!!

In the next day or so I should have a picture of my MS3 finished and blocked. I can't wait to see it myself!!!!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly?

The Good: I finished spinning and plying two of the gorgeous solid colored batts I received from Abby for July's Batt Club. I have yet to spin the other solid batt and the multi-colored, not to mention the unbelievable batts she sent for August's installment. Being my first time spinning this kind of fiber I am pretty happy with it. Room for improvement as always, but still not bad. I ended up with 278 yards. The weight is probably somewhere between a fingering and a DK. And it is 2 ply.

The Bad: Nanny, my aunt that raised me, is not doing well at all. She turned 84 May 30th. She is at the point where she is going to require some sort of assisted living or a nursing home. This is primarily due to the fact she keeps falling, is disoriented at times, at times hallucinating, she doesn't take her medication like she is supposed to, on and on and on. This is very sad and difficult for me. Myself and my sister, Sheila, are her only "children." Sheila is somewhat mentally challenged. So the majority of the weight falls on me. Although, I do not know what I would do without her sisters. They have been carrying a great deal of the weight since I live about 2 hours away. It has just gotten to the point it isn't safe for her and Sheila to live alone. What do you do? I do not know that either of them would be happy living with us. With all her sisters living so far away and in new surroundings. Of course, if she goes to live in an assisted living or nursing home, that too is going to be unfamiliar. And then there is Sheila. Right now I am at a loss. But plans and hard decisions are going to have to be made. And I don't think she is going to be real happy with any of it no matter what.

The Ugly: Hmmmmm, trying to think of the ugly part. Oh, yeah, the garbage disposal quit working Thursday. I didn't think it was a big deal, we have a great plumber at church and I thought I'd talk to him Sunday about taking a look at it. David and I were in Louisville last night, he had a meeting he was speaking at last night and this morning. And we picked up our little piece of joy, Emma Belle. When we got home this afternoon, Jordan informed me that there was water leaking out of the dishwasher. When I opened it up I realized that the water from the garbage disposal sink was backing up in the dishwasher. Nice!!!!! The main sink is okay though. I called "David the plumber" and explained the situation. He is bringing me a little tool tomorrow that I can use to "unlock" the disposal. He said it sounds like it has gotten too full or something and has locked up. Since the dishwasher and the disposal are connected, blah, blah, blah, that should fix it. If not then he will come out and see what's up.

So, I'm really suffering!!! I'm having to do dishes by hand!!! YES!!!! Talk about cutting into my knitting and spinning time!!! Now, before you get on your high horse, I'm only kidding. I am doing dishes by hand but I realize that I truly am not suffering.

Please pray for me, that I have the wisdom needed in dealing with Nanny's situation. And that He will grant Nanny and Sheila the ability to adjust to new things.

I do not like this part of life.

Aaron's Satchel

I've begun knitting Aaron's Satchel. It is from my very first hand spun yarn. The yarn is not consistent but it should felt just fine. Wish I could remember what all I did to dye the variegated yarn. I know I first dyed it orange with Kool-Aid but then I used some other dyes, maybe Wilton's Leaf Green or Wilton's Kelly Green. Does the Wilton Greens split? I know the black does. Anyways, it started out like this.


After over-dyeing, it looks like this.

And the beginning of the satchel.

No More Mr. Dust Bunny, No More Mr. Clean!!!!!

Don't you just love toys? I am a tech junky. If I had the money I would own all the newest gadgets. But I don't, so I don't. It seems that in the realm of knitting and spinning I have been somewhat, and am still, behind the times. I own an old swift I purchased off of Ebay a couple of years ago. But it is kinda rickety and it will not extend out far enough for the hanks that come off of my size 72" niddy noddy. So last week I purchased a brand spankin new really swifty swift.

When it came to rolling balls I have been using the method I learned in 4th grade. Wrap, turn, wrap, turn, wrap, turn and so on and so on and so on until all the yarn was just one big round ball. The kind of ball that when you begin to knit from it rolls all around the room and typically, if you live in my universe, it rolls completely under the bed or the couch or the chair, whatever just to cause you to have to get down on all fours to dig the little sucker out. Again, if you live in my universe, that sweet little ball of yarn doesn't come out willingly. It runs and runs and rolls and rolls and when you do finally track it down it brings some somewhat fibery friends with it. Yep.......those every loving dust bunnies. Not any more!!!! My new theme song is, "Goodbye Dust Bunny Goodbye, Goodbye Dust Bunny Don't Cry." I KNOW they are still there, but by golly, if you can't see 'em they ain't there!!!!! You say you don't have any of those little fellers? Remember friend, we are in my universe.

I can hear you saying, "Well, if you would put that ball in a big bowl it will just roll around the bowl nice and happy like." I don't know how many times I have to tell you. I don't think like that. Oh, sometimes I do. But usually I just don't have the time or patience to think ahead. My husband puts it this way. He is the type personality that if he were drawing a firearm to shoot at a target he would say, "Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim." Whereas, I would say, "Ready, fire, aim." That pretty much sums it up.

Back to the subject. I also purchased a ball winder. Man, both of these babies are fun. I might just spend the whole day winding balls!!!! Ya got any you need wound? Send 'em on over.

Aren't these beautiful? This is some Romney I had gotten from Joanne months ago, I just recently purchased some more of this awesome fiber from her. I spun this up way back some time and it has just been hanging on my yarn door until this morning. I am getting ready to cast on to make my oldest, Aaron, this awesome satchel.

Now I gotta get one of those little thingys that counts your yarn yardage as you wind or something or other.

Who can tell me what song I altered for my post title? If you can tell me I will send you your very own dust bunny family!!!!!!!

First Day Of School - Ain't She Cool!!!!!

Perfect Form!!!

Have a look see at my little bowler. Have you ever seen such beautiful form?

And a little joy!!!! Look at those little feet jumping with glee while the baby sister claps with joy and the good mommy cheers encouragement.

MS3 Clue 6 Down - One More To Go!!!!

I just finished Clue 6 of the MS3. It is really turning out nice. There is only one more clue which will be out this coming Friday. I have the beautiful black alpaca lace weight yarn and some gorgeous beads you can see here that I plan on making another stole out of. There is also supposed to be a double winged pattern released, I may wait for that. Anyways, here's MS3.



The pin up job looks pretty crappy. To tell you the truf, I don't feel all that great. There's been some kind of bug going around, I think maybe it got me. AND, I think those dang stitches could tell I didn't feel very good and that I was being kinda lax with my pinning and this time some on both edges attempted to ruin my life. Again, my calm yet cat like reflexes kicked in and single handed I was able to apprehend all rogue stitches. All is well once more. :)

The Batts of August

In this morning's mail came the August installment for Abby's Batt Club. Wow, this stuff is so beautiful and so soft. She left it in neutral tones so we can use our creativity. Gosh, what a test, not only will I have to spin it I'll also have to think of a good color scheme and dye it as well. Should be fun. Without further adieu, here she is:

40 % Creamy White Merino/Natural Brown Blue Face Leicester

40% Natural colored Tussah Silk

20% Caramel-colored Came Down/Rich Brown Yak Down

Yummy, yummy, yummy!!!!

If you have never purchased any of Abby's fiber you really need to go on over and treat yourself to some unbelievably awesome stuff, really, you should. You can find her store at this location: Franquemont Fibers

She's Got Wooool, And She Knows How To Use It!!!

Well............ she does have wool!!!! Man I have scored and I have scored big time!!!! When we went to David's family reunion back in July, I found out that his cousin and her husband, amongst other things, operate an alpaca farm for the owners, Catalpa Creek Alpacas. You can see the little fellers this fiber came from on their site as well. The animals are: Coco, Amarosa, Mary and Pandora. :) She doesn't knit or spin but they go to the shows and all and have friends that knit and spin. How can you be around all that luscious fiber and not knit or spin? I don't know. There are some things in this complicated world I guess I will never understand. Another question for God when I talk to him face to face.

Anyways, once they found out that I knit and spin they took my address and said they'd send me some of their recently sheered fleece. I figured a gallon zip-lock bag or so. Yesterday the UPS man sauntered up to my front door with a huge box, left it on my door stop and skedaddled. I recognized the name on the box but I had no idea they would send this much fiber. They sent me this:

4 1/2 lbs of the Dark Brown - Coco

4 1/2 lbs of the Tri-Colored - Pandora

3 + lbs of the Black - Amarosa

4 1/2 lbs of the Cream - Mary

I'm preparing these babies for a trip to the processors. Isn't that unbelievable? I'm totally freaked!!!!

I Can't Stand It!!!!!! Can't, Can't, CAN'T!!!!!!

What can I not stand? Look at this and I think you will know why!!!!!

It Is HOT In This Piece!!!!! & The Debil Is Alive And Well!!!!

Good gravy Marie!!!! It is HOTTER than "H E double hockey sticks" around here. At 2:30pm the temp here is 99 degrees and the heat index is 103. HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!! Our little pond has totally dried up. And the big one is so shallow, you can see how far the water has retreated from the bank in the picture below. This time last year the trunk and on up the branches of that little fallen tree was submerged. We are in bad shape. My heart goes out to those whose livelihood depends on crops or their animals being able to graze.









Well, that is the HOT portion. I swear, I didn't aim to do it. Again, it just sorta happened. I went into my LYS, Crafty Hands today JUST to pick up the newest Limited Edition Tofutsie by SWTC and to get some sock yarn to include in the Sockamaniacsocknitters swap package due to be sent out by the 13th. You can see here what my swap partner sent to me!!!

Found the perfect sock yarn for my swap pal - CHECK. Found the new SWTC Limited Edition Tofutsie sock yarn - CHECK. Then it happened. The debil herself started running all over the store like a crazed banshee showing me all the new sock yarns all the while pointing other things out to the her other victims in the store. She did show me some really neat new sock yarn by Crystal Palace Yarns - Maizy. This yarn is 82% corn fiber and 18% elastic nylon. The colors are gorgeous and there was this one coral called Hibiscus.........well, when I walked out of the store I had the swap pal yarn, the new Tofutsie, the Maizy, two really adorable tape measures (one for me and one for somebody), 3 new sets of dpns (sizes 0,1, & 2), a swift and a ball winder. HEY, I needed to last two things!!!!!








My new theme song is "Crazy, I'm Crazy For Feeling So Lonely." I know I'm crazy for feeling so lonely but what are you!!!!!! Just as much a crazed fool as me, that's what!!!!!

I'm Winging It - And The Harrowing Escape Attempt

Last Friday Clue 5 of MS3 was released. Along with the latest clue Melanie also released the theme. DaTaDaDa!!!!! Swan Lake!!!! Cool huh? And she just announced an extra pattern that consists of two wings!!!! Gotta make that one!!!!

Last night I finished Clue 5. Yesterday, while working on said project one of the needles came slightly unscrewed causing a stitch or two to fall into that little crevice. While I was distracted about ten of those little stitch's buddies thought they would take that chance to make a run for it. Yep, one by one they jumped the needle. Thankfully I am the possessor of a calm and calculating mind. While others would be screaming and crying and cussing..........me? Oh no, I calmly began picking those little fellers off one by one. Two really thought they had made it but my cunning eyes spotted them. I quickly called in back up forces. Desperate times require desperate measures!!!! The local Size 2 DPN and the dreaded Cable Needle were brought out of temporary retirement and called into action. You can run, but by golly you can't hide!!!!

Due to the disobedience of those two little stitches the whole stole had to pay a price. I tinked it back two rows, one agonizing stitch at a time. Serves 'em right. Then I just kepta knittin. Crime never pays dudes!!!! NEVER!!!!!

Here are two pictures of the MS3 with Clue 5 completed. The one on a left shows the stole with the wing portion. The pic on the right is a close up of the wing. Aren't those feathers just gorgeous?

Good Golly Gee Batman!!! Part Deux

I have finally begun spinning the gloriously beautiful batts that Abby sent as July's Batt Club fiber. These are so soft and easy to work with. My spinning of them is going fairly well. I guess the real proof will be in the plying and setting of twist huh? I've included the original picture of the batts and two pictures of what I've spun thus far.

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes

I don't know what it is. Maybe it is having this stupid cold/allergy thing going now for over two weeks. I do live in Kentucky you know. Maybe it is since I've been sick for over two weeks and I haven't gotten much mowing done, like maybe 1 acre of 10? Possibly because I have my Aunt that raised me along with my sister visiting and I have to either repeat everything I say or explain it. For that matter I have to do that when anyone talks. Maybe because there are so many things to knit or spin and so little time? Heck, I don't know. Maybe I'm just a grouch or the big "B" word. I know, I know, it doesn't seem possible, not me. But, apparently something is amiss.

Today I took Emma Belle and my sister, Sheila, to see "The Order Of The Phoenix." It was my second time seeing it. It was just as good as the first time. Maybe better since I've read "Deathly Hallows." I did cry this second time. Anyways, all the way there I was ranting and raving about the stupid people not moving fast enough or just sitting there when the light had turned green. Listen people, when I'm sitting at a red light, I may be knitting but my foot is on the gas ready to go. There ain't no sense in not being ready to hit it as soon as the light turns green. I just don't understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the way home I saw someone on the side of the interstate with car trouble. Before you get your panties in a wad, someone else was already there helping them, okay? Anyways again, when I saw them I said, "Bless their heart, they're having car trouble." Emma Belle said, "Gammy, why are you nice to some people but not to others? Is it just the stupid people you are mean to?" Hmmmmmmmmm, makes ya think huh?

Sorry for the poor picture quality. Emma Belle has taken a dislike for flashes and you know being Gammy. And that fact that I'm only mean to stupid people I couldn't use the flash on her. :)