I haven't died, honest

I've just been quietly sitting here and playing with Scott is all. Yes, playing with my little lad since St. Pat's day back in March. 7 weeks and 5 days of wonderful wonderful fun time. He's visiting his other grandparents up in MN for a few weeks, since his Papa Carl is having to undergo 2 operations to fix a disc in his neck. Scott will be here for his birthday, and pretty much until further notice. J and I worked out a 50/50 custody split, but the reason Scott's here is because J still doesn't have a job, or a place to stay. He's crashing at HIS grandparents place in CA, and that's gonna have to end soon. Then he'll most likely be out here in MI too.

In the craft world, I've been spinning. LOTS. Right now it's a blend of Ashland Bay's Merino top in a beautiful green color with stripes of browns and such, all carded together (cause I'm odd like that) with about an ounce of Pomeranian fur for my great-gran's dog Teddy. I plan on knitting something out of the yarn for her.

I'm also working on samples for the Phat Fiber Box again, for the month of July. July is the non wool month, so I'm doing a blend of natural colored cottons, mohair, angora, and soy silk. All in natural colors. The longer fibers spin up so nicely, and the cotton gives it an almost wooly feel, by core-spinning around the other fibers. Those as well as samples of my Isis yarn in an organic naturally brown cotton will be there in July.

Also for Jessie at Phat Fiber I'm working on shawl kits for her to have in her shop. A custom design by me, paired with the Twilight Dawn colorway of Isis. Approx 1200 yards of yarn are there, more than enough for the shawl.

I'm knitting socks again. I never did get past the first little armor one I made for Scott. But the main hostess for the Secret Pal swaps was a sweetheart and got me an angel package for SP12 (since my partner vanished off the face of the Earth) and sent me some amazing things. 4 oz of alpaca roving in a colorway called Crocus Crochet. Blues and purples. Reminds me a lot of my Twilight Dawn colors, and I LOVE it! Also, a skein of Mmmmmmmalabrigo Sock in Botticelli Red, which is this brick/tomato red kettle dyed color. I have been petting it like made lately. And some Addi's to knit socks on (right now they have mitts on them, couldn't get gauge with them for socks) and a nifty little keyring that had a small crochet hook on it, to help pick up stitches. That's come in handy already, trust me. There's also a beautiful pattern for bamboo patterned socks, that I may convert to toe up. I have odd feet (really high arches) so I like toe up construction.

My first socks WILL be done for whenever Harry Potter 6 comes to the big screen. I'm calling them my Griffenclaw socks. They couldn't sort me into just one house at work, when book 6 came out, but instead said I should be in both Griffendor and Ravenclaw. So I will be having socks with gray toes, heels, and cuffs (Knitpicks Bare I dyed myself) and a semisolid red body from a yarn I totally forgot what it is. I remember it was $18 a skein though, does that count?

Off to rest and make more samples. I've been having a fibro flare lately, which is why I haven't posted in a while. That and adjusting to a new psych med. Which causes cluster headaches whenever they up the dosage. I foresee a new medication soon. I don't like going to the ER to get an injection to make it stop.

I'm plugging away on my Veil of Isis shawl, just started knitting the edging charts today. Already on row 7 of 31! Considering row 7 will have 504 stitches in it, that's a feat in itself. I just started knitting them today.

I'm still in MN visiting with Scott. Because of the Army screwing over the roommate who was to loan me the money for my trip back to MI I'm still here. I'd complain, but I get to spend time with Scott. Yeah, ouch, twist my arm why don't ya?

No spinning, cause the wheel is in MI.

I'll be sending out a big box to my SP12 partner once I actually have money. I may add the VOI to it, since I want to knit other ones. :) Just need a reason.

SP 12 Questions

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?
Um, the All Around Gymnastics? I do just about everything, and can usually do it well. Except Socks, don't know why.


Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?

I have thought about it, and really want to. Maybe Next year.

Grrrrr

No, no more spinning on the sweater silk has been done. Sad to say I had to quit one of my meds for a few weeks, because i couldn't get it (it's pricey) but that'll be changed manana. So right now there's lots of pain.

On a knitting note, I just finished a commission to knit an Owl backpack. This link was the inspiration for the lady. Here's a link to pictures of the finished item. Ok, bad pictures, but still.

I'm to go and see Scott next week, for 2 WHOLE WEEKS!!!!!! Yeah, had to say it like that. I still think I"m getting the shaft time wise but it's better than before, I got it upped to 2 weeks every 2 months, instead of 1. 1 week every 2 months was called reasonable parenting time. Excuse me, 12% of the year? 6 weeks a year was reasonable???? What planet does the law live in? 12 weeks isn't much better, but it's almost a quarter of the year, and I have it in writing from J that once we're both in CA (planning by New Years) that it'll be changed. I know, it's something small to pin my hopes on, but I'll take what I can get.

Off to find more patterns for things. And look at my wheel wishing I had an electric attachment for it, or the cash to get one. Soon.

Weeks 7 and 8

Question of the Week #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?


For added flavor (Get it?..."flavor"...I crack myself up!), post a photo or recipe link.

A light spinach salad, with a bacon vinaigrette on it. Maybe tossed with bacon pieces, hard boiled eggs, and craisens (or currents). I'm a dressing snob though, ONLY the stuff in the diamond shaped bottled is good enough for this. I can't tell you the name right now, cause I can't find it this summer. :'( But it's tasty

Question of the Week #7

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit?
Usually the computer chair, bed, or in the car. I don't watch a lot of TV (sad, I know) but I'll watch DVD's on the 'puter at night.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?
Some good music, or a decent movie for background noise. No one coming in and pestering me while I'm counting. You'd think they'd learn that me muttering 54,55,56,um.......damn would be a sign to run the other way, but nope. Nice light is useful too.

SP12

Question 6

What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

Shawls, scarves, and baby items. Anything lace really

I know, I know

I haven't been blogging much this week, I've been working my rear end off trying to get stock ready for the garage sale. Anyone want to label over 60 skeins of yarn for me? Or maybe wrap the soaps I have. Write up the various meanings of the friendship bracelets I've made? My family runs when I say I need help now, except my sister, who's helping make bracelets.

And I have to make cookies, brownies, and lemonade (none of that powder stuff for us) for my 5 year old nieces Lemonade stand. She'll be helping me make the things, and her mommy will be helping sell them.

Anyone in the Kalamazoo/Portage area wanna stop by? Yarns are on sale.

The divorce papers have been drawn up, and are supposedly in transit to me in MI. Joygasam. I finally got the application for federal disability filed, and have an appointment on the 22nd. I laughed because I got the call to schedule about 12 hours after I filed. I love smaller towns, there's not the backlog of applicants as there was in CA. It took my mom a few weeks just to get an appointment scheduled, and than that was for over a month away. Maybe all this will be wrapped up by Christmas. *crosses fingers and thinks happy thoughts*

Secret Pal Questions week 4

1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?

Hm, this is a tough one. Right now I'd say Southern CA, or the Twin Cities, MN because those are the 2 places I really want to be right now. But than I could also say Benton CA, a tiny little town with the most beautiful scenery I'd seen, nestled between 2 mountain ranges in central CA. Or How about the UK? It's a place I've got family, and would love to go. Especially Scotland and Ireland.

So I don't know really where I'd like to go. Too many choices for this one

2) Where is one place you'd like to go?
Ok, this one is easier. Ireland and Scotland win. Dream vacation right there. Though how would I get all the yarns and fibers back?

SP12 question week 3

This week's question posted by our SP 12 Hostesses was "What would you consider the PERFECT amount of stash?"

Um, there's no perfect amount of stash, except MORE. You can never have enough fiber or yarn. Never in a million years. When you start running out of room, start stuffing beds and couches with it. :)

On a lighter note

I'm spinning and crocheting a storm up right now, trying to get all my yarns labeled and make washcloths up for a garage sale the mum is having. Might as well try and get some money for myself out of it. Or so I think. Hopefully I'll be using it for a bus ticket back to MN and Scott.

Questions of the week

Ok, I forgot about the questions, but with the stuff in my life hopefully I'll be forgiven.



As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?



What is your favorite summertime drink??

Iced tea and slurpies. There's a 7-11 in town here, I have to go and get one. Or just nice cool water, not really cold. Lemonade is a good one too

Bleh

For some unknown reason I'm still awake, and it's almost 3am. I just can't seem to sleep, even with sleeping pills. It sucks but what's a girl to do?

I spun up some bamboo, the first thing I've really SPUN on my wheel since the bump on the noggin. I've plied up some cotton yarn for sale, but that's not the same. I've never used a wheel in my memory, but obviously the muscle memory is there, and it's tucked up into my brain as well. I just sat down one night and started spinning on it, and it worked.

I finished my gran's shawl, and just have to weave in the ends. It took a whole ball of yarn. And I'm not talking about a regular ball, but one of those 1 pound balls o' cotton that you can get at the craft stores. I'll be taking a picture and trying to figure out if I want to dye it in the next few days.

It's been pouring rain today, and so the kids were a little antsy. We took them to the mall so they could play in the play area there. That was a success, and they both crashed once we got home from shopping. Tomorrow will be much the same, with a trip to Jo-ann's for yarn for Mum, Cold Stone for ice cream shakes (they do 1/2 price until 5pm), and the store to get things to make truffles. Those are for some friends of ours who are having a going away party on Saturday. We were told Sunday (with all our other friends) that they are moving to Washington state on the 17th. Short notice, but their roommate is an abusive woman and they need to get themselves and the 7 year old daughter out of the house NOW. I'll miss them dearly but it's what's best for them, and for my friend's health. MN winters don't do very much for those with Fibromyalgia (which she also has).

Gonna try sleeping again. Here's hoping it works.

What did I do?

I think I ate too much is what. Never go to Chipotle if you're not really hungry, cause you can't finish a burrito bowl. So I sit here, typing, and feeling so stuffed one wrong move will make me explode.

On other what was I thinking notes, I had my mom and 5 year old niece come out for a visit. They're driving me up the wall already. But she's cute, and my mom is a big help. I also taught my niece how to use a spindle and a spinning wheel. Yes, that's right, a 5 year old is spinning. Granted, it's not real spinning, but more plying cotton singles together, but it's something.

Scott turns 2 on Monday, and he's so cute. We're going to the zoo with his auntie and some cousins and than having a small party at home. Speaking of parties, i have to make his cake tomorrow, and get a cheesecake made tonight for our usual craft potluck day at friends. Cheesecake and pasta salad are what I'm taking. But I'm not making a heavy mayo salad, more of a light one in Italian dressing. There's a friend there who can't do meat and other protein items due to health problems so the salad is for her, and the cake is also for her if she wants to dare it.

I finished crocheting a shawl for me, and I'm making a cape type thing for my Gamma (great-gran). Both are pineapple patterns, and both are kinda my patterns. I say kinda because they are based on pictures of patterns I've seen, but never actually seen the pattern. I have a knack for getting patterns from crocheted items and even just pictures of them. My high point was taking a cheap plastic tablecloth from the dollar store and sitting there and writing out the pattern for the crocheted item it was pressed from. Took a while, but the folks at the dollar store were amazed when I took the finished item down there to show them.

Off to make cheesecakes. Woohoo!