Lettuce Sea

Well, let's see, let's see..................................I've been so busy the only way I can keep up with what to post is looking at the pictures I've been taking. I really gotta start posting more often again, I know there are things slipping through the cracks over here.

So, hmmmmmmmmm, where to start. Welp, I got a Woolee Winder for my Sonata. This little baby is worth every penny believe me. There is a slight learning curve in using it. This past Tuesday I went out to Enchanted for a spinner's meeting. It was soooooooo cool. There were about six or so of us all sitting under the gazebo by the butterfly garden spinning our little hearts out. More like spinning our little toes off. Practically all of us, if not all, spin barefoot. Oh, gosh, that gives me an idea for our guild name.............The Barefoot Spinners. Anyways, before I left for the group I posted a question on the Kromski Owners group on Ravelry stating I was having a bit of an issue and someone asked if I had put a little drop of oil on the little spring thingy. I did this and low and behold it was much easier. Then once I got to the spinning group I was talking to the co-owner of Enchanted, RoLynn, and she agreed that for some reason my bobbin sometimes slips back and becomes disengaged from the flyer part of the Woolee Winder. RoLynn is so helpful, before I knew it she was off in her workshop finding two little washers that were just the right size. I turned around and she had already placed them on the flyer thingy...........problem solved. She is like that. I think she may be a genius!!!!!!! And a pretty one at that. So, here is my new Woolee Winder toy. I'm spinning some gorgeous alpaca/merino roving I received in a swap last year.









I also started a class out there that meets after the spinning group. It is a class based on The Sweater Workshop by Jacqueline Fee. We are knitting the Sweater Sampler. In knitting this funny little item you end up taking in every concept used in knitting a sweater. Once I've completed this class I'll be known as Sweater Woman. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, to stop speeding bullets, nothing will be able to stop me for I will be Sweater Woman. And if it don't work out.....................I'll just stuff the mangled results in the wool room with that stupid tomten!!!!!! I am enjoying the class so far. Here is my completed homework:












Remember the yarn I dyed a month or so ago? Wow, it turned out so pretty. I'm making a scarf using the Fan & Feathers pattern (Feathers & Fan?). I am so pleased with it.









And then finally. A precious friend of mine, Sandy, and her husband, The Attorney, gave me a delightful gift in lieu of sending flowers when my father recently passed away. Sandy knowing my obsession with knitting went to one of our LYS's, Crafty Hands, and purchased the pictured items for me. Isn't that sweet????? It is some of that Flat Feet yarn, some itty bitty circular needles and a precious little Lantern Moon sticky pad holder.

I'm going to try to post more often, I know I'm leaving out lots of stuff.

Dreamy

Heidi from Norway and I met sometime last year on a spinning list. We developed a friendship and over the last year or so and have shipped various knitting related items to one another that either could not find in our native country. We used to chat quite a bit on Messenger Live but for the last six months or so I haven't been on that much.

Heidi recently contacted me requesting my mailing address stating that she had made something for Emma Belle. A couple of weeks ago I received a package from Norway that contained a nicely wrapped present for Emma. I waited for her to come back for a visit to have her open it. Here is a picture of my Emma Belle with an adorable hat that Heidi made for her. People are so nice to me, I find it astounding. I believe that she spun this yarn as well. All of Heidi's work is gorgeous and she now has her own web store. I love this picture, I entitled it dreamy. :)

I am so tired and everywhere I look all I see are messes. Allergy season for me is in high gear. It isn't that I have bad allergies but I do find the need to take some over the counter meds that make me even tireder. Now, if you wanted me to go to a yarn store or knit or spin I would probably perk right up so it isn't all that bad. I have soooooooo much stuff all over my house. Some of it is my knitting/spinning stuff and some of it is stuff I've brought home from daddy's and some of it is just stuff. Eventually, I hope, I'll get the "getting stuff put away and in order" bug. But in the mean time it seems I'm kinda keeping my head above water. I haven't seen the health department house condemning van in my drive so I suppose I'm good to go for a bit.

Butterflys, Cows & Babies

I don't know what is wrong with me...............too much on my mind I suppose. Another happy thing we did a couple weeks ago was we went to Lost River Cave's Civil War Days here in Bowling Green. There are some walking trails that are quite beautiful and a butterfly house that is pretty cool. We didn't get to go on a cave tour because they were all sold out. I tell ya, that cool cave would have been a huge relief as it was extremely hot, hot, hot. Here are some pictures from that trip. The one of the cow was taken by Emma Belle, that is a Civil War cow. :)



















On another happy note, I got a new baby this week. A Kromski Sonata. He is such a joy to spin on, I'm loving it. Now that I have a portable/traveling wheel I can take part in the spinning group just starting up at Enchanted Yarn & Fiber next week. I can hardly wait. I've also ordered a WooleeWinder and some extra bobbins. That will make spinning even easier since I won't have to be stopping to change hooks ever so often. Presently I'm spinning some alpaca/merino blend roving I received in a swap last year. It is turning out quite nice. I cannot wait to get it all spun up so I can ply it.

Hugs & Kisses For YOU!!!!!!!

A huge hug and kiss to all of you for your well wishes, thoughts and prayers. Things are going fairly well. I'm getting ready to head back to Paducah to begin the settling of daddy's estate process. One of these days I may write about my childhood and all. It was neat talking to all these people whose lives had been greatly impacted, for good, by my daddy. Why is it many times we wait until the person is deceased before we pay tribute to their kindnesses? I so want to live my life in a manner that shows love and appreciation while the person is still here to enjoy it.

Okay, so on to the week prior to daddy's death. Emma Belle's mother and sister, Tabitha and Ava, came down for a girls day of spinning at Enchanted Yarn & Fiber and some swimming. We had such a good time. Tabitha and I are so much alike. Well, I think we are. We seem to think the same things are funny. I didn't get any pictures of she or myself (I wonder why), but I did get a picture of the girls playing on the playground at Enchanted. Ava is sooooooooooo funny!!!! She found this wonderfully soft pink alpaca yarn and said, "Oh, I have to take this home so me and mommy can have some knitting problems." HA!!!!!! I told her she could do that at my house. And then she said, "Oh, I must have two so I don't waste!!!!" She is learning young folks.

After we left the shop we went back to my house for the girls to swim. They had a ball with Gampy while I taught Tabby how to knit socks on two circulars using a Turkish cast on for a toe up design. It was fun? Yes, it was, we had a wonderful time. I purchased this gorgeous yarn for a cardigan, not sure the pattern yet.

I also purchase some yarn to make a shrug. I would have finished it in time for the Idina Menzel concert but stupid mapquest didn't give very good directions so I had to put it away while I used my Blackberry to lead us to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. The concert of great. Emma Belle and I had a very good time and we both got the t-shirts to show for it.

While I was at Daddy's viewing I received the sweetest email from Emma Belle. It truly warmed my heart:

i am sorry your daddy went to heaven but he is special because he gets to see jesus. if you are sad gammy think of how much i love you. infinity.

love emma

Happier Times

I've been getting many messages wondering what is up with me and people making sure everything is fine. I so appreciate every one's concern. I do have a lot of happy things to blog about from last week when we had a girl's day out of spinning/knitting and many happy things with Emma Belle including knitting to show for it.


I will be posting on that at a later date. For the time being I am occupied with the death of my birth father. My life is a strange story!!!! But, I guess whose isn't? Once I have everything taken care of with this I'll post and answer emails/messages. I so appreciate all your love and prayers, it truly does mean a lot to me.


Here is a picture from a couple years ago. Daddy and my precious Emma Belle.

Do You Hear Voices?

Do you hear voices inside your head? I do. And they are getting louder and multiplying. We moved to Bowling Green, about 4.5 years ago, that is when I really started noticing the voices. Well, actually they didn't start until I found the local yarn store (LYS), Crafty Hands. At that point there were the voices of various yarns, knitting paraphernalia and patterns that started to work their way into my mind. At times it was almost like they were in control and I'd find myself almost by magic transported to the yarn store, but I wouldn't come to my senses until I was out of the store typically found holding not one bag but several.

I realized what was happening and began using mental warfare to ward off these yearnings. However, recently I have discovered a deluge of new voices and I think I know where they are coming from. Well, I don't think I know, I KNOW where their origin lies. It is Russellville, KY. You see, I built up a pretty good defense against the one yarn store, but now there are two. With the opening of Enchanted Yarns & Fiber a whole new portal has been opened. This new portal is multi-faceted. For there is to be found new yarns not offered at the other store AND spinning wheels AND fiber.

Tomorrow, my precious Emma Belle, her mommy, Tabitha and her little sister are coming down for a "girls" day out. We are going for to visit the enchanted land. Knowing that I am soon to visit again, the spinning wheels and a particularly lovely shade of coral yarn from Frog Tree, or is it Tree Frog, have been whispering sweet everythings in my ears. I am extremely vulnerable at this time and they know it. But, I figure this.........what if I come home with a bunch of new yarn and other goodies as long as I don't succumb to the cries of the wheel? I'll still be victor over that one voice, right? Pray people, PRAY!!!!!! (but not too hard, I really want that yarn)

I've finished one item. A laptop case. I got this pattern from Interweave Knits Fall 2005. And I've made some progress on Chantal, a lovely cardigan from the Norah Gaughan Collection Vol. 1 put out by Berroco.

Where Have YOU Been??????

I don't know about you guys, but I been one busy little girl. It has been first one thing and then another. Busy entertaining, busy with church stuff, busy with family, busy picking blackberries and make jam.....busy, busy, busy.

And I've been busy with some knitting. I know many of you will doubt this to be true, or even possible. The proof is truly to be found in the pudding. I have successfully de-addicted myself from KALs. It is true!!!!! It wasn't a pretty sight but I am living proof it can be done. Too many KALs can be very difficult mistresses, taking all your time away from your other loves. So to show you how free I am, the other day Enchanted Yarn & Fiber had a July 4th celebration on the 5th. We had such a lovely time dyeing yarn with kool aid, talking of knitting and spinning and of course eating. You can see the festivities here. I even conned, ummmmm, got David to go. Anyways, while looking at all the new goodies in the shop Ashley said, "Oh, did you see this new yarn we just got in?" I picked it up and told her very nicely, "Yes, it is very lovely, however, it is lace weight and I have been delivered from lace KALs." I think she was quite impressed with my handling of the situation, I didn't even break out in a sweat or miss a step.

So, since I've had all this knitting time here are some of the fruits of my labors. 1) The first of the McGregor's Garden socks by The Woolen Rabbit. These are toe up and another shocker, I enjoyed it immensely AND Ms. Ashley taught me a Turkish Cast On using two circulars. I love using two circulars. Now, this may not be a big deal to you, but, I'm kinda old school in some areas and was pretty determined I was going to stick with my dpns, thank you very much. Who says you can't teach an old dog? I kinda screwed up the pattern by not reading through it, but it turned out nice. 2) The first of a pair of socks for a surprise person who cannot be named as they may read this. 3) My very first Baby Surprise Jacket. I love this pattern, but, who doesn't?























The month of July is "Anything Lace" and "Turning UFOs Into FOs" month for A Loose Knit Group. I'm trying to be good. I'll leave you with this question though. We all know what UFOs are (unfinished objects)but, when does an object become a UFO? Is it when and only when the item has been cast on or does it become an UFO from the very moment the item is envisioned in your mind?