Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Almost October

We just got back from a trip to the cemetery and to Lake Michigan at Pier Cove. The wind was howling and the waves were crashing. It was marvelous. The beach was virtually gone because the water is so high. My hair is a mess - it will take some time to de-tangle.

I have been knitting mittens mittens mittens! My goal is to have 10 pairs for Char to take to Ann Arbor in October. I am halfway there. I love the feel of the angora. I love working with it.

The carder was successfully moved to the front porch last week. Now I must keep a work space clear to operate the machine. I have been blending Shetland and alpaca - I am trying to spin up enough to ply a skein of it. I would like to have it done by Sunday. So far, it looks wonderful. And I still love the carder!

I found a spinning diary that I had started back in 1989 - what a hoot! Only a couple entries in it. I think I will continue it as if I just left off. Maybe another 20 years will go by so quick...

My shawl is at a standstill. I will start in on it again for a break during the mitten project, as soon as the Shetland/alpaca skein is done.

Then also fit in visiting with friends and hunting. Life is good, but also busy.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Week of the New Carder

My new carder came this week, so the shawl is really on the back burner. And it could be there for some time.

First, I have been using the new carder - it is totally awesome! And it needs a good test - or so I am telling myself. I unearthed all my available angora - purchases over the past several years - and have made really good progress to having it all carded. The carding should be done today, and all the white should be spun today also. I am really pleased with this purchase.

Then, I am working at making room for the carder on the front porch. What a job! I am sorting all my card-making stuff and planning to sell most of it on eBay. Since fiber is my main focus now, I just don't have time or inclination to work on my cards. I will save some of the stuff, but I have way too much of it and it must go. I can finally get to the table again - it was behind bags and bags of fiber which is now sorted and moved out to the garage and the barn. Then all the rubber stamp sets must be sorted as to be gone or to keep. I hope to keep my will power up so that most of them will go.

Maggie bought my old carder and she called the other day to tell me how happy she is with it and how great it is working for her. That made me so happy! I hope it will give her as many good years as it did for me. I think that if you spend the bucks initially for good quality, it will pay off in the end in satisfaction and service.

The Back Row Spinners spin and grin was last Sunday and we had an excellent turnout. I personally had a really good time, but I think I usually do. I wore a dress - the third time I have worn a dress since 1996! Steve painted my toenails for me - bless his heart! He did a good job too. I can hardly wait until next month.

Anyway, my shawl is really on hold for now. I must have the porch work done before November. Between carding, spinning, and oh yes - knitting mittens for Charlotte to take to try to sell for me in October - I will not have much time to work on my shawl. Maybe it is good to take a bit of a break. And of course, small game hunting season opened this week, so we will be doing some of that too.

How did I ever have time to have a real job?

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Into September

Well, it just took me over 30 minutes to get into my blog to make another post. I couldn't remember which account I was using or what my password was. It just sucks to get old. I have it written down now, so hopefully, my next post won't waste my time before I even start.

I had a wonderful birthday last week. Hunting doves in Indiana, as I have on most past birthdays for several years now. Staying at the Tortuga Inn was great again, and seeing all of our hunting buddies really made my week. Settling back into the home routine also didn't seem as daunting this year, for some reason. I even managed to hike my trail yesterday.

Labor Day was a fun day for me - Jim and I met Steve R. and Bill S. for lunch and shopping. What a fun time it was! I bought a few things (too many actually) - mostly clothes. Jim bought a hat. Then we made our way back to Steve's for a chicken dinner and ice cream sundaes. It was a fun time with good friends.

I have some kind of crud from the week in Indiana - my arms have itchy welts. I don't know if it was caused by something in the sunflower fields or what. I am hoping that it goes away and I don't have to go to the doctor with it.

After a full week away from spinning, I started up again yesterday. It is proceeding slowly but surely. I have pretty much decided to do another feather and fan shawl, this time with two-ply cormo. I am spinning a rather fine single which I will then ply.

And I am still waiting on my new Supercard. I found out it wasn't shipping out until today, so it will not get here this week. I had hoped to have it by the next spin, but that will not be. We are spinning this Sunday - first regular spin since July because of no spin in August due to the Festival. I am really looking forward to getting together with the gang.

Back to spinning.