More gentle rain

As of yesterday have had nearly 2 inches of rain (52.6 mm) and more of the loverly stuff still coming down. After as dry and scary as it was in here no one (I hope) is complaining, I think its wonderful. Temperature tho with the heavy cloud and rain is a bit cooler than I am happy with, 47° F now at just after 8 am. And it was a bit cooler than that when I got up just before 6 am.

Finally a pix of the finished bobbin of the super wash merino I got from Cindie while at conference. Have another 8 ox of plain white s/w on order and will spin it after sock summit and then ply the 2 together. Not sure just yet what will be headed towards spinning wheel next, maybe some Abstract BFL or Crown Mtn Farms s/w merino, may have to flip a quarter to see.

Orion's sox are moving right along a bit big and loose at the ankle but am sure once they are washed and handled everything will tighten up some. This yarn is not s/w straight wool so some shrinking when I wash will happen, will make sure of that.

Am very much enjoying reading Shannyn Moore and Maureen Dowd (NYT) political news & views, very interesting stuff and ever so glad I stumbled onto them. What fun politics can be.

Thunderman and Lightfoot

And glorious rain, fell almost all night and still gently coming down now at 6:30. The first real rain this year, needless to say we needed it verra much. My yard that had been cut a couple of weeks ago was about as brown and yellow as it could get, will now green right up (I hope). Lightening woke me up just after midnight, as storm moved south and thunder was almost as close as it could get the rain started.

Orion's sock is down to the heel, will get on with that yet today. Slipped sock o my leg and its going to be OK, ribbing at the top could have been a bit looser but will be able to wear them. Certainly happier with them this way than before I ripped first go round out. Should get a pix tomorrow showing progress.

Pix is an oldie, The Grandie with me behind her, brothers Mike and Denny and Rick on Grandie's lap, my guess the year would have been 1949 or 1950. Long time ago.

Orion's redux

I am about half way down the leg of the redo of Orion's socks, and afraid to try them on, almost looks like upper leg will be plenty loose. The first pattern has floats a lot longer than what I am happy with, in some cases I am carrying the unused color 11 stitches. But am committed to having them done to either wear or at least show at Sock Summit in Portland. Added beads in appropriate places, used the small crochet hook method and it does work slick. Sure adds lots of time to the knitting tho. Our gal from NO Calif that was to share with Rena and I has backed out, might be better without the added roll away and all the goodies I was to bring for her can now stay in BC, more room in the car.

Summer has finally arrived, temp the last 3 days in low 80's, sure feels good. But lack of rain is scary, haven't had much measurable precip since last November, forecast is for showers over the next few sure hope it materializes.

Socks

No more a blind follower, should have known better, especially with the number of socks I have done. Pattern as written was good, but blindly following just doesn't want to fit my foot, main part of sock was to short, did like the heel but then the increasing to 72 stitches after heel just made the whole thing way to big at the top. So from this-----



To this in less than 10 minutes.



Will now start over and do socks from the top down, which I should have done from the first. Comfort zone is far more important than blindly following. And will have to get going on them if I want to have them done to wear in Portland in less than a month.

Have had 3 mornings of frost in the last week, one morning even down to 26°, nice for sleeping but a bit hard on gardens. A friend a bit further up the valley had her potatoes black right to the ground, but now the rest of this week and into next are supposed to be more seasonal temperatures, so maybe they might come back.

Watched a small weasel of some sort try and catch birds this morning, the birds were aware of the critter and I think were taunting it, would land about 10 feet away then when weasel would move would fly away. Not in a place to get pix tho, tried ESP to get it to move out into yard and away from the big Saskatoon bushes, but no luck for me or the weasel.

Orion's Socks

Orion's socks from the Sock Summits swag page, knew as soon as I saw them that I would want the pattern and want to maybe have them done to wear in Portland. Started toe up as pattern dictates when soccer game started, after 3 tries at toe up directions, finally went with fluffy debs cast on for toe up socks, even then it took another 3 tries before I got it going right. Didn't think that it mattered much which way increases slanted, duh, you betcha it makes a difference. So finally on try # mumble mumble its all going the way it should, so far. First pix is my toe up start with the mango handspun, variegated red will be used for the patterns. 2nd pix is Kathleen Taylor's finished first sock out of Koigu I think, 3rd pix is from the Sock Summit site. So now for me this is sox pair #4 under way, not certainly the first time for so many, but with time getting close for SS will concentrate on the Orion's sox for now, just a little over 4 weeks before I leave for Portland.

Friday morning woke up to a hard freeze, 26° at just after 6 am, with bedroom window wide open the big down comforter sure felt good, am glad that I haven't gotten around to changing it yet. Not unusual to have it this cold in early June but this guys is the end of the month, two more days until July. According to environment Canada's Tatlayoko weather pages frost is on for tonight and again for Wednesday night. Now at 2 pm looks like high in here for today is 55° F or 13° C. Even caved and turned heat on for awhile this morning.

Stuff

Headed into town yesterday, uneventful trip except for seeing about 12 big horn sheep at the top of what is called Lee's hill. Used to be a very active lumber mill there but its been closed now for a year or so. Sheep (including one of this years babies) were just wandering thru, at first I thought it was a bunch of deer so slowed down for closer look, verra surprised to see sheep, first time ever in that location. Next pix going up is the Fraser River in high water stage, right in the middle of the river pix is a really big rock, usually sticking up out of the water 8-10 feet, very nearly completely under water, again have only ever seen that once or twice before. Clickety click for bigger views of pix.

Then my latest mini socks, left and right sides of pix are handspun, others leftover sock yarns. And lastly my latest Monstersock, main color is some leftover Opal and then lots of odds & sods.

Will we were gone yesterday Dee & her Mom Swede came and cleaned up all the piles of the raked up grass (hay), her pasture is low so critters will have lots to eat again for awhile.

Super Wash Merino

Started spinning this batch of S/W Merino yesterday morning, after so many years of thinking I couldn't do justice to super nice roving have found my fingers must be remembering stuff from a previous life or something. Did the batch from Crown Mtn Farms last year and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it came out, now this batch is even easier for my fingers. Only have 8 oz so will ply it with some plain s/w white merino. Lately every batch I finish I keep thinking how nice it would be in a shawl, the one Shelia gave me last spring started the wheels in motion. Again thinking I just can't do charts I found a really simple pattern and someday am going to give it a go. But first have to finish 3 pair of socks, first sock of each is almost done, then need to make another sock monkey in oranges for the one stolen, then at least 2 of the Knit Picks Mr. Foster also sock monkeys. Having trouble finding the right color of orange, the first one I used Koigu (it was perfect), and will be on the look for it at the Sock Summit (coming up now in just over 5 weeks), and I still want to have a bunch more of the mini socks to fit on the key chain sock blocker thingies. Bought 10 and got one in my goody bag at conference so between the socks to go on my back, the blockers and some for trading I will need a good sized zip lock bag full. But every one is different and what fun. Latest mini is orange with a variegated red Koigu for the patterns, sweet.

Lorelee in yesterday to tip brush cutter on its side to drain oil, then added new and started cutting my way to big yard, will be glad to see it all knocked down especially the toad-flax, nasty, nasty weed. Often wished I had a riding mower to attend to this place. Keeping it cut helps with skeeter problem and might decrease fire hazard (a bit).

No critters (that I have seen) since the 2 on Wednesday evening.

37° this morning just after 6, woolies all round.

More bear activity

Last night while checking email and news just before 9 pm, saw a smallish black bear over along my east fence, grabbed the camera and hoped to get a pix, no luck as it went into an area that I couldn't get a clear shot. But then over at the other end of same fence was a huge black (assume it to be the male), was able to get a couple of pix of this critter. Could have got a better shot if I could have stepped out on north steps but by then bear was pretty close. And I thought being smart was worth more than a better pix. Most unusual to see 2 at the same time, and probably only the 2nd or 3rd time since I have lived here.



Went to a knitting bee in hall in glorious downtown Tatla Lake yesterday, there was a book signing in library and a big crowd was there for that most came thru to see what we were up to. Jeanie brought a new gal that was camping on Horn Lake, to bad she is moving on soon, would be a good fit with our group.

Made a couple more of the mini socks last night while watching 'The National', premiere news program for Canada, I try and catch it as often as I can. On my dish I can get it starting at 6 pm and then all the other time zones across the country with last at 10 pm from Vancouver station.

I am being inundated with small ants, so far just on kitchen counter, even keeping it clean and clear of anything they might be looking for hasn't helped, so next week will go to town and buy a couple of what I call ant buttons. Have to go in to pay property taxes, do some banking and various other things.

Stuff

Pix of of the fiber that chased me home from Conference 09. First pix is the roving that came with the 'spin your scraps' first prize (the bugly yarn), 2nd is the only fiber I bought from friend Cindie Kitchin, 3rd is the blue & green BFL from Abstract Fibers door prize, last is the stuff I was spinning while at conference. Had 2 bundles of pencil roving from Crown Mtn Farms, bought at BSG last year. Yarn once plied will be added to stash for who knows what.

Lots of cattle coming down from the high mountain summer range, usual suspects to drive them down this time of year is increased grizzly activity. Will check in by and by with people that own this bunch and see what they think. Most ranchers keep a range rider up with cows the few few weeks they are on range to make sure everything is OK, then they usually go back every couple of weeks checking. Only time its bothersome is the middle of the night when a cow & calf get separated, then cow bellows until calf finds her. So far they have all stayed on the outside of my fence.

Was cool enuff this morning (low 40's) that I had a wool sweater on until well after noon. Still no rain tho, am sure once someone cuts the first batch of hay it will rain then for days.

Conference 09

Left Tacoma and another great conference, got back to BC just after 5 pm on Sunday with minimal wait at the border, maybe 20 minutes, not bad at all. Didn't buy much of anything, one pattern and a bit of dyed roving from Cindie. Won some BFL from Abstract Fibers in door prize draw and loved the colors. Weather on Thursday was really hot and muggy inside the tennis pavilion where we met this year was brutal with hardly any air moving. Then rest of the weekend was practically perfect.

The sock clothes line was nearly full, verra difficult with my camera to get a pix of the whole thing so just got a shot of my socks up on the line. Julius II enjoyed the do almost as much as I did. Had both sock monkeys sitting on my little table along with Sparkle fully dressed with 6 mini socks, can be seen beside the sock monkeys.

Gail and I stopped at new store front for Little Knits in Seattle on the way down, oh my goodness, the sock yarn store to die for, got 6 balls of Regia sock yarn in Kaffe Fasset colors, will get pix once I am home and get stuff sorted in car.

Probably heading north on Thursday, into Kamloops for a day or two then home.

Chores

Because of company and an invite out for supper yesterday I didn't even think about chores. Now today have started the dreaded ironing, can get 2 shirts done before hip starts yelling at me, a break to read email for a few then at another couple and so on. Tomorrow will pack and load the car, 2 chairs (one for Gail), small folding table, spinning wheel, laptop, suitcase, socks for display, knitting, pillow, fleece throw (in case its cool at night),and a good bit more, hope there is room in the car for everything. Then once I get to Gail's will have to get in her wheel and stuff. So far have never been skunked when it comes to getting everything in, sometimes gets kind of tight. Sometimes feel like I am going for the summer instead of 10-12 days.

Will take car to a garage in Williams Lake for a look see for new strange noise in rear end, sure wish the Subaru dealer in WL was still there, now closest dealer is Kamloops just 300 miles from here. Will stay overnight in WL and its my friends husband that will look the car over at the shop where he works.

Have a very active spiders nest on the 'outside' of my screen in a window I rarely open, interesting to see how quick the critter is when something lands on the web, has been eating well the last couple of days, only miss was a big bee of some sort.

Off to iron a bit more.

Black Bears

Have seen 2 black bears so far today, first one just after 5:30 when barking dogs woke me up, got up in time to see a black run along my north fence line then up hill and across my driveway and then right up across the main road and out of sight, the dogs had really put the run on this one. 2nd was just about 10 am and was eating grass right close to south side of the house, stepped briefly out on porch with door held open and got a petty good shot, really wasn't this close used the zoom on the camera. Two today makes my count 9 for this season so far. Could be some are the same bear, no way of knowing. Often can tell by size or color.

Have decided to put aside the handspun sock I had been thinking about taking to NwRSA spinning conference in Tacoma, one yarn was over spun and the other not plied well enuff and since this is a spinners competition judges would see the flaws straight away, really kind of a relief would have had to really scramble to get them done in time. Will eventually finish them but for my own use.

As I have been thinking of stuff I want to take with me I go immediately and put same in a laundry basket right in living room, hopefully this way I won't forget anything. Even charged camera battery this morning then put charger in laptop back pack. Ironing is the next big hurdle. And of course have a master list I am checking things off of as I gather them up. Organization yeehaw.

Feeding frenzy

Got into the chaos of registration for the Super Sock Summit in Portland yesterday. Everything opened right at 10am and crashed their system, I had decided to wait until after I had brunch, got in right at 10:31 and with instructions printed out right in front of me was able to sail right thru. Got 2 of my first choice classes and 1 second choice (and now think its a better fit for me). Also got the Opening Nite Reception, Luminary Panel (with the who's who of the sock knitting world) and 1 One Hour Wonder class. Am I happy you betcha. Even started thinking about what needles I will take with me, got out my worm bag and even put a few thing inside.

I will be picking up an incoming friend from Texas at Portland airport then heading downtown, airport is about 10 miles from motels and convention center. Easy peasy. Would ideally like to have someone that wanted a ride down to Portland from Langley area of BC, but if that doesn't happen will undertake journey by myself, bringing IPod with somewhere around 3000 songs on it with me. Lots of Celtic piano music right thru Bruce Springsteen. I will leave Langley early-ish Wednesday August 5th and be coming back Monday 10th

Washing fleece

Washed a fleece I have had around for awhile, British Suffolk, and nice stuff. I bought it from a place in Wisconsin and had it delivered to a friend in OR that promptly moved and somehow took the box with her to NM, she knew that in a short time she would be back in either WA or OR so I said just haul it back with you when you come. She is now back in WA without the jerk off guy she moved to be closer to, and I think has learned lots. Anyways fleece is super nice and if I had known that was going too happen would have ordered a good bit more that the 4 lb I got. Wool will eventually be carded with some mohair and the yarn shipped to another friend to knit socks for her son stationed in the high arctic for the next couple of years. Don't think I will be getting to this mix until after summer travels are over with, the last do I have on my plate is Desert Mesa in October then home hopefully with snow tires on the car for the winter.

Will watch at some of the places I go to that have fleece for sale for maybe another of something soft but strong, maybe Romney or Wesleydale (sp).

More Mini Socks

Have 11 pair and 8 single mini socks done (so far), plan on doing as many as my fingers will allow. Will use the singles on mini key chain sock blockers that I ordered and to dress up Sparkle the mini sock peacock. Am thinking I will use the key chain blockers for thank you gifts as well as a few of the pairs. Some I will keep for trading at SS09, maybe will even tack a few on one of my white shirts for show & tell and trading again.

I ordered some 4 inch Hiya Hiya dp needles in oo and ooo sizes, will be way better for my mini's than the 8 inch 00 I have been using. Will be gathering them up on my way to conference next Thursday.

Washing some premium Suffolk fleece this morning, will down the road be blended with mohair and resulting yarn will be going to a friend to knit socks for her son, stationed in the high arctic for the next couple of years. The Suffolk yarn is pretty hard to felt or shrink, while still warm especially with the mohair added. And of course wool doesn't readily burn in case of fires.

Happy long weekend to all my stateside family that are still working, now with a glorious 3 day weekend to loaf and barbecue.

Critters

Have now seen 4 bears in or close to my house yard in last 5 days. Had a neighbor in to walk my barbed wire fence this morning, either a bear or deer or both have chosen to come thru the wire instead of under of over. He repaired the fence so am good now again until something big decides to use a short cut. See any where from 4 to 10 deer daily, I call them rats with long skinny legs, now that sun is out the grass is starting to grow (finally) so deer are coming into valley looking for lunch. Next major project will be to get someone with a big machine to lift cattle guard and dig out the hole underneath.

winter again or still.

Got some much needed rain late yesterday afternoon, was still raining when I went to bed but changed over to snow sometime during the night, woke up this morning to 30° and the ground all white. Mother Nature is a fickle lady fer sure. It now at just after 8:30 am, snow starting to melt, once sun comes over east mountains it will go fast. Moisture is moisture, but guys its the 19th of May.

Will wear the lil sock as a necklace when I go to SS09, the little pewter sock I tacked on it will be joined by another one on other side as it twists and ends up with lil sock in back side, so I'll fool it with one on each. Will work on last mini sock for awhile this morning, want to get back to the handspun sock, about half way down the foot on first sock. Hopefully with a hockey game on later might even get started on second.

SS09

Have pretty well decided to give up Black Sheep in favor of getting new glasses and attending the big do called the Sock Summit 09 in Portland, OR. Have reservations at La Quinta in Portland and a possible roommate coming from Calif. Have been remembering the fun I had at Stitches in Minneapolis (way back when), I had lightly tacked 40 or so mini socks to the back of my shirt and every time someone made a bit of a fuss was able to tell them to help themselves to a mini. Got to meet lots of neat people that way. So kind of think I'll do the same for SS09, only this time everyone there will be a sock knitter, so only the bestest can go on the back. Have 8 pair done and will try and get in another pair or two today. Once hockey playoffs resume will work on the big sock, handspun going with me down to conference in Tacoma. There will be a sock clothes line in Tacoma, everyone is supposed to bring what ever they have in the way of hand knit socks, I'll be bringing all my Monstersocks and what ever else is colorful, leaving the plain jane solid colored ones at home.

I bought a Louet S10 while at the Williams Lake spin in, for a nursing friend now stationed at Cape Dorset in the high arctic, a long ago house fire got her first one. This is a vintage S10 but everything works and a bit of wood wax will make it look like new.

Yesterday mornings low temp was in the upper teens, not verra fair for the middle of May. And Thursday on the way to town there were several places between my place and Tatla Lake that had fresh snow. This morning its a good bit warmer with the wind blowing from the south. The poplar trees have popped their leaves out in last couple of days and a prettier green has never been found.

Socks & Lumps

Some tome ago I did a bunch of stuff on the supercarder, blended some turquoise with a few other close colors, resulting mix IMO was insipid, tried spinning some and just wasn't impressed with the color. So decided to re-card it and add a few other colors, had some variegated reds, a blue orange mix and threw in a couple of bits of fawn colored angora. Lumps are better but still not what I was thinking about. Original color on the left in the pix and the newer blend.

Finished the unknown roving stuff, socks are way better than I ever thought they would be. Knitting now on socks I will be taking down to conference, first go round hit the frog pond, this time is way better. Am just about to the start of the heel, will I think drop down to a 2mm needle for the heel and the bottom of the foot. Yarn is quite fine so won't have any trouble doing this. Have about 3 weeks to have these done, as long as hockey playoffs continue should make the deadline, knitting and hockey games what could be better.

Washing more yarn

Just washed 3 skeins of dyed black Corriedale from Aurelia Fibers in Merritt, BC, bought the roving at Desert Mesa and got right at the spinning. Want the yarn to be in several patterns for upcoming handspun socks. Also washed 6 200 yd skeins of Crown Mtn. superwash Merino, in what I am thinking is the weight for their sock hop yarns. Was quite hard on the Merino, washed in no rinse wool wash then dipped into cold water and beat up against the freezer after it came out of spin cycle on washer. Nice stuff even tho I was a bit ruff on it. Now hanging on hooks above my heater (still on). Raining (hooray) and cold again, so verra glad to see the rain, about the first rain since last fall, but I'd bet my stash that there will be new snow on surrounding mountains again today. Oh well its only 1/4 of the way thru May.

Pix of whats on spinning wheel now, from Abstract Fibers, verra soft BFL, only complaint would be the amount of kempy fibers I am picking out, even some fine pieces of black baling twine. 2nd pix is the tapestry done by some local ladies and students at the school in honor of a teacher that passed away nearly a year ago. Each square signifies something to each of the weavers, was a very nice tea at the public unveiling of the tapestry.

Williams Lake Spin In 09

Went into town Friday morning, I had a dentist appointment at 10:30, once that was taken care of several stops around town, stuff like bank, prescription refills, and several others. Checked into motel just after 1 pm to hook up puter and relax awhile before heading back out.

Saturday Lorelee and I headed up to St Andrew's church for the 'Willies' spin in, got everything hauled and set up then Lorelee took off with my car to hit various grocery stores and what ever else was on her list, she also had my list and got my groceries, how handy is that. I bought 2 bundles each of 3 colors of spinning fiber, one is almost a mahogany brown and am looking forward to getting into it. Took the last of the black with me and very nearly got it all done, had a piece of roving about 15 inches left to do and finished it this morning.

Denise at Desert Mesa had brought an older wool blanket that had been visited by moth's so she embroidered bright colors of bits of fiber and yarn over some of the major holes, then after getting lots more bits of fiber she and a friend really went to work on it. A work of art in progress.

Several major (almost) fires already burning in BC, one at 70 mile house had the main hiway thru the interior closed and then one more at Anahim Reserve out west of the Willie, drove thru many miles of smoke and saw two copters with water buckets. Everyone is hoping and now praying for several days of rain.

Handspun Yarn

Put off getting this stuff washed as long as I possibly could, finally yesterday bit the bullet and just did it. 17 skeins, 3 large light gray, 6 of the mango (aka egg yolk), 5 white and 3 of the brown. One of each of the skeins along with black still on spinning wheel will be going into socks, still in the percolating stage, not yet sure what I want to do. Still leaning on the light gray for the base color (I think). The white is Finn and some of the wool mohair mix from the Wool Shed in Wyoming, mohair mix has a pinkish tinge until its washed then really white. It and the mango are both soft enuff for next to babies skin, gray is OK but not as soft as first two, the brown will be OK for patterns in socks.

More sock stuff

Finished another pair of Monstersocks last night, will be the last pair for awhile. Still have lots more odds & sods but will concentrate on finishing the second of the handspun socks, once they are done will go hard at the ones I want to take to NwRSA spinners conference the first weekend of June. All the yarn is ready to go (except for the black but its coming).

Will be heading into Williams Lake on Friday, hoping to get in to see dentist for routine maintenance (overdue), then Saturday is Williams Lake annual spinning day. Will take some BFL from Abstract Fibers to spin, have first bobbin of the mixed greens done, just in case I finish it will take more of the Crown Mtn Farms pencil roving. So glad to have empty bobbins again and of course must remember that I can use the blonde wood version just fine. Have a pile of things on floor of wool room, stuff I want to take, Wool-lee Winder, small tool kit (extra belts etc.), the Abstract fiber, my chair, sheepskin, as I think of something I add it to the pile.

Plying stuff

Yesterday morning spent a bit over 90 minutes plying this & that, lil bits left over from other major plying jobs. Started with about 2 oz of 2 different whites, then the rest of the white with some of the bugly leftovers, then a variegated green with a deep dark forest green and so on. Emptied 8 bobbins (much needed), still have a few more to do but a couple of them really have enuff on them that it might be smart to find something to spin to then it ply with. The black I am currently spinning will be plied hopefully in next few days, will give me two more empties then. Plying is not my favorite part of the job so often put it off until I run low on empties. The first 4 oz of the black is nearly finished, will start on second bobbin straight away.

Lotsa of what I call rats with long skinny legs about this time of year. Came home after knitting bee Wednesday to find 8 of them bedded down right outside east wool room windows, no time for pix by the time I had seen them they saw car driving in and moved away right smartly.

Nearly to the toe decreases on current Monstersocks once they are finished will get into something to take to conference, handspun is all ready (except for the black), so now will lay awake at night trying to come up with something unique but not screaming my name or style of knitting.

Had a short nap yesterday with the new shawl over my arms and shoulders, heaven.

April 23

Woke up just before 6 am (a flicker drumming on house) to see the ground all white, 20° F. Snow won't last once sun comes over east mountain. Even had to turn propane heat on in wool room. Want to finish spinning the black and get rest of white into skeins so I can get it washed. Pix of yarn is for an upcoming sock project, not yet sure which I will use for the base color. Have been leaning towards the light gray but until fingers kick in gear and I get started its subject to change.

Pix of the shawl that Sheila gave me at Desert Mesa, unfortunately my face looks sunburned but its just a Roscea flare up. Happens all the time and I'd give half my interest in hell to find a magic pill I could take to get rid of it.

Desert Mesa 09 Spinning weekend

Got home Sunday just after 8 pm from DM spring fling in Cache Creek, delayed a bit by an accident on the highway. Came down the drive to see Lorelee in her van waiting for me, she unloaded car, got her groceries and then drove my car over to garage and put winter tires away. I know for sure I would have got groceries in and then left the rest until today so really nice getting everything in house right away.

We always have show & tell and as it went around the room some absolutely gorgeous stuff appeared from behind chairs, then came Sheila Kirks turn and she had this wonderful soft looking dark gray shawl as she told about it she walked into middle of the room and said it was to be mine. Gobsmacked & Speechless. Its wonderful. And as soon as someone sends me a pix will get it up on blog. Sheila and Donna do such an incredible job on DM, everything runs smoothly, stuff happens on time, meals done by the church ladies were awesome, even the weather co operated, and they always bring bottled water so we can stay hydrated.

Top pix is towards the end Gudie showing her new dread lock hat, then a pix of our live music, the last two are just part of the spinning circle. Several of us agreed that this group is family to many (me included). My closest family is in Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and so on. So this group is really my closest family period.

several pix

Finished the bugly socks last night while watching hockey game (Canucks won), next will be to get a pix of them on Katie, then will wash and have ready to take various places this spring and summer. Have enuff yarn left to make another pair and maybe mittens to match.

The blue variegated pencil roving from Crown Mountain Farms is what I took with me to Whidbey, had hoped to find something to go with, but no luck so will take the bobbin with me to conference in June and will no doubt find something there. Every time I find something I really like in either blues or greens keep thinking I will make myself a shawl but seems like socks always get in the way.

The yarn on the niddy noddy is a BFL from I think Sandi Sitzman from several years ago, its a deep teal, blues, greens and purples, this skein is 348 yards and I have 3 more at 200 yards each.

Plans today are to start plying 2 really full bobbins of white, once this is done will have everything ready to start socks for NwRSA conference. The theme this year is 'From the Knee Down' says socks to me.

Home again

Left Gail's 6:30 am Tuesday for the long drive home, 12 hours including a quick stop in SaveOn in Williams Lake for groceries. Down my driveway just after 6 pm. Called Lorelee about her stuff and she came up to get the things and then helped unload my car, would have prolly taken me 2 days and she had it done in just a few minutes. To tired yesterday to do much, feeling much better today. Got spinning wheel set up and a big handful of the blue variegated Corriedale pencil roving spun, 2 skeins of a fingering weight mixed purple, blue stuff done and most everything else is put away. Next will be laundry.

Thinking about making macaroni salad for Easter supper, lots of celery on hand, and have some sharp cheddar cheese to put in, will have to check and see how I am situated for eggs before I get to gung ho. Brought one turkey breast back with me from states, smaller one for me, just $11 and I'll get 3 main meals, a couple days of sandwiches and then turkey noodle soup.

Am within about 10 rows of starting toe decreases on bugly socks, then a pix of Katie with them on to make sure of fit.

Heading north after Whidbey Spinning Weekend

Arrived back at Gail's 6:30 ish last night, easy border crossing 15 minute wait instead of sometimes 2 + hours, of course not having any cigarettes or booze greatly helps the crossing. I only bought some no rinse wool wash, 1 book and groceries (stuff I can't get here, or the price difference is worth bring back with me). Whidbey as usual was perfect, good company, great venue and the weather was about as nice as it could be. The flowers tho are about 2 weeks late this year, one bright red rhodo was just starting to show color. But the grass was green instead of brown and ugly like home.

When we first arrived I got a pix of all the chairs set up for the spinners, then another a couple of hours later showing some of the crowd, Connie and Doris featured. Then one of Gail wearing her new Monstersocks, and Orange Julius visiting. Will try and remember to take OJ on my travels this year, next will be 2 local trips, later this month just to Cache Creek a short 5 hour drive instead of my usual 12 + down to coast or into the states, then a one day into Williams Lake for their annual spinners day. Was so glad to have my snow tires still on the car for trip from home, terrible road conditions, heavy blizzard like snow, white out conditions for most of 2 hours, unplowed roads, took me an extra 90 minutes to make it in. I do believe had I known it was going to be so bad that I would have stayed put and tried again the next day.

I put all my pix of the various stages of the bugly yarn on 3 pieces of heavy weight white board, had it on display at Whidbey, will do so again at Desert Mesa, and maybe even NwRSA conference in early June. Lots of people reading about the buglies.

Finishing

Finished the first bobbin of the 'beast, a mix of brown and an off white, am thinking that there must be nearly a pound on the bobbin. Spun a good bit heavier than what is normal for me, will eventually do another bobbin of same weight (or as close as I can get) then will ply the two together and will sometime before Christmas this year make a couple of pair of the Fiber Trends felted clogs.

Went to clinic in Tatla yesterday and got the way to itchy stitches out, relief. Then had my birthday lunch from 2008 with Deb at the cafe.

Stopped at Katie's on the way out to see how socks were going to fit, ended up having to frog 3 rows, now think they will be perfect. Will take sock #2 with me down to Whidbey. Planning on getting prints made of the various steps then will put pix and socks out at Whidbey for display. Interesting experiment.